A New Me Chapter Two
The great hall of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry was gloriously decorated in the reds and greens of Christmas. There was a large tree in each corner of the great hall that practically glowed with light from the candles that were all over it. House colors adorned each of the trees. Red and green curtains that were interwoven with each other covered the walls and wreaths were on every window. It was a shame that not many people were there to witness it.
The teachers that had remained in the school over break were enjoying their Christmas. It had been quiet around the school, since most of the students had gone home to their families around a week ago. More and more parents were requesting that their children come home for the holidays, each passing year. Albus supposed that it had something to do with the rising of Voldemort, but one could never be to sure. After all, Hogwarts really was the safest place for their children to be (yes, despite the chaos that seemed to follow a Mr. Harry Potter around like a lost puppy). Whatever the reason, there was no doubt that it provided the teachers with a much needed break.
The house elves had really outdone themselves this year with the Christmas feast (the one on Christmas eve, not to say that the one with all of the students hadn't been wonderful as well, but there was something special about this one). There had been all kinds of foods, ham, yams, a marvelous goose, stuffing, cranberries, and green beans. Then to top it off there had been a delightful chocolate truffle. After the dinner, many of the teachers had retired to the teacher's wing common room for some drinks. Dumbledore noted that even Severus seemed to be enjoying himself, which was a rare occurrence indeed (of course that might have had something to do with the large amounts of firewhiskey the man had consumed over the course of the evening).
After a few drinks himself, Albus returned to his office to look of some papers that he had been meaning to look at since the beginning of the term. He was halfway through the stack and about to drift off when a soot covered figure rolled out of his fireplace with a slight moan. Now that wasn't normal.
He looked surprised for a split second, before rushing forward to examine the figure. A shock of blonde hair revealed that his surprise visitor was one Draco Malfoy. A very puzzling occurrence indeed. He gently rolled the boy over, and received his second surprise of the night. The boy looked like death warmed over. His normally pale skin was a pasty white, that made the visible bruises on the boy's face and arms stand out all the much more. Judging by his appearance, Albus would almost say he got hit by the killing curse, but the boy was still breathing.
He silently cursed himself for not seeing something like this coming. He should have known that Draco was in danger. The boy was too much like his grandmother to take the dark mark. With a flick of his wand, the boy levitated behind him and they were off to the infirmary, where hopefully Poppy was sober enough to save his life.
x
Madam Pomfrey practically fainted into her chair. She had tried to convince Albus that young Mr. Malfoy need to go to St. Mungo's but the old bat would hear none of it. In fact, he flat out refused to leave the room, acting almost as if he felt guilty for some reason. She had managed to keep the boy alive, but only after hours of work. It was obvious that Malfoy had been hit with the killing curse, but hadn't died. It was puzzling to say the least, but maybe the fact that Mr. Malfoy had been flooing at the time the spell had hit saved him from immediate death. The thing almost more curious than hi surviving was that now, in the middle of his back, was a small lightning bolt scar, identical to Mr. Potter's. Mr. Malfoy was sure to get a kick out of that.
It had been patch work trying to save him. Really, how does one treat a survivor of the killing curse? But, with her arsenal of spells and potions, she had stabilized him. Of course there still was the chance he would never wake up. Or even if he did wake up that he wouldn't be all there. There were countless other things that could happen as well, but she didn't want to even think about them. He still lived, and that was the important thing.
"How is he?" came the voice of Snape from seemingly nowhere. Pomfrey had been so caught up in her thought that she hadn't even noticed the black clad man enter.
"He'll survive, if that's what you're asking. If you want to know how he is. He's half starved and half dead. He'll be here at least a month. And no visitors! He may be unconscious but he still needs peace and quiet! Out with you!" the nurse ranted. She really didn't like that man. He needed to wash his hair. It was unsanitary.
Severus looked like he was going to argue, but thought better and turned to leave with his robes billowing behind him.
Pomfrey sighed and turned again to her patient. His hair was also unwashed, and hung limply around him, but that was the least of his problems. He looked thin, as she had said before half starved. There were visible bruises on his body that looked even worse then they were because he was so pale. Thankfully, his breathing was strong as his chest rose and fell in a regular pattern, and he didn't look half as bad as he had when the Headmaster had brought him in.
"Poor boy," she thought. "And on Christmas Eve too. What is the world coming to?"
x
No sooner had he walked out of the door, Severus Snape nearly collapsed as a searing pain ripped through him, starting at his arm. The Dark Lord was calling and by the feel of things he was right pissed.
Severus quickly gathered his cloak and mask before leaving school grounds and apparating to Malfoy Manner.
"Ah, Severus. How nice of you to join us," Voldemort hissed, his red eyes flashing. "I'm sure by now you know of what happened tonight?"
Severus nodded, not trusting himself to speak, in case he told the Dark Lord how he really felt about Draco's refusal. Proud.
"Well, report."
"He survived if that's what you're asking," Severus drawled as he glared at Lucius. The man looked completely indifferent to the fact he had just nearly killed his own son. This was definitely no the Lucius he had known during school. It couldn't even be the same Lucius that had looked down at his first born son with complete love and devotion as he had cradled the boy in his arms. No, this man was a complete and utter bastard.
"Now-now, none of your cheek Severus. Crucio."
Severus' knees buckled as the curse hit. He made no sound except for one slight groan as he hit the ground. Sadly enough, this was really becoming old hat.
"Listen to me and listen well. I want that boy either kneeling here before me, or dead by the end of the week. If he's not one or the other, you will be the one that will die, and then I'll find someone else to kill him. Is that clear?"
Severus nodded.
"Good. Finite Incartium. Now get out of my sight."
x
"Get off of me woman! I'm perfectly fine!"
"But Albus said you were called, and you never come back in one piece! Now let me check you over!"
"There's no time woman. Besides you couldn't get me out of here fast enough earlier. Concentrate on Draco. He needs your help more than I do."
"There's nothing more I can do for him. He just needs time to heal. You on the other hand I can do something about."
"Not now. I have to talk to the headmaster. It's quite important."
After this, Albus decided he had been eavesdropping on Poppy and Severus long enough. "I'm right here, so you may talk as she checks you over."
Severus sighed and gave in to the over zealous mediwitch He wants me to either persuade Draco to take the mark or kill him by the end of this week. We have no choice but to try and hide him. If I fail, he will just send someone else.
Dumbledore looked thoughtful at this for a moment. Hogwarts was really the safest place for him, but unfortunately it wasn't very safe at all. There were the children of known death eaters and known sympathizers throughout his house, as well as others. If they kept him here, there was a good chance that he would be attacked, but those chances were doubled if they sent him away.
"No, I believe he will be safer if we keep him here. But you are right that something must be done to protect him... and you," Albus finally reasoned. An idea was blooming in his head. It would require a great deal of compliance from Mr. Malfoy. "We will stage his death."
The great hall of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry was gloriously decorated in the reds and greens of Christmas. There was a large tree in each corner of the great hall that practically glowed with light from the candles that were all over it. House colors adorned each of the trees. Red and green curtains that were interwoven with each other covered the walls and wreaths were on every window. It was a shame that not many people were there to witness it.
The teachers that had remained in the school over break were enjoying their Christmas. It had been quiet around the school, since most of the students had gone home to their families around a week ago. More and more parents were requesting that their children come home for the holidays, each passing year. Albus supposed that it had something to do with the rising of Voldemort, but one could never be to sure. After all, Hogwarts really was the safest place for their children to be (yes, despite the chaos that seemed to follow a Mr. Harry Potter around like a lost puppy). Whatever the reason, there was no doubt that it provided the teachers with a much needed break.
The house elves had really outdone themselves this year with the Christmas feast (the one on Christmas eve, not to say that the one with all of the students hadn't been wonderful as well, but there was something special about this one). There had been all kinds of foods, ham, yams, a marvelous goose, stuffing, cranberries, and green beans. Then to top it off there had been a delightful chocolate truffle. After the dinner, many of the teachers had retired to the teacher's wing common room for some drinks. Dumbledore noted that even Severus seemed to be enjoying himself, which was a rare occurrence indeed (of course that might have had something to do with the large amounts of firewhiskey the man had consumed over the course of the evening).
After a few drinks himself, Albus returned to his office to look of some papers that he had been meaning to look at since the beginning of the term. He was halfway through the stack and about to drift off when a soot covered figure rolled out of his fireplace with a slight moan. Now that wasn't normal.
He looked surprised for a split second, before rushing forward to examine the figure. A shock of blonde hair revealed that his surprise visitor was one Draco Malfoy. A very puzzling occurrence indeed. He gently rolled the boy over, and received his second surprise of the night. The boy looked like death warmed over. His normally pale skin was a pasty white, that made the visible bruises on the boy's face and arms stand out all the much more. Judging by his appearance, Albus would almost say he got hit by the killing curse, but the boy was still breathing.
He silently cursed himself for not seeing something like this coming. He should have known that Draco was in danger. The boy was too much like his grandmother to take the dark mark. With a flick of his wand, the boy levitated behind him and they were off to the infirmary, where hopefully Poppy was sober enough to save his life.
x
Madam Pomfrey practically fainted into her chair. She had tried to convince Albus that young Mr. Malfoy need to go to St. Mungo's but the old bat would hear none of it. In fact, he flat out refused to leave the room, acting almost as if he felt guilty for some reason. She had managed to keep the boy alive, but only after hours of work. It was obvious that Malfoy had been hit with the killing curse, but hadn't died. It was puzzling to say the least, but maybe the fact that Mr. Malfoy had been flooing at the time the spell had hit saved him from immediate death. The thing almost more curious than hi surviving was that now, in the middle of his back, was a small lightning bolt scar, identical to Mr. Potter's. Mr. Malfoy was sure to get a kick out of that.
It had been patch work trying to save him. Really, how does one treat a survivor of the killing curse? But, with her arsenal of spells and potions, she had stabilized him. Of course there still was the chance he would never wake up. Or even if he did wake up that he wouldn't be all there. There were countless other things that could happen as well, but she didn't want to even think about them. He still lived, and that was the important thing.
"How is he?" came the voice of Snape from seemingly nowhere. Pomfrey had been so caught up in her thought that she hadn't even noticed the black clad man enter.
"He'll survive, if that's what you're asking. If you want to know how he is. He's half starved and half dead. He'll be here at least a month. And no visitors! He may be unconscious but he still needs peace and quiet! Out with you!" the nurse ranted. She really didn't like that man. He needed to wash his hair. It was unsanitary.
Severus looked like he was going to argue, but thought better and turned to leave with his robes billowing behind him.
Pomfrey sighed and turned again to her patient. His hair was also unwashed, and hung limply around him, but that was the least of his problems. He looked thin, as she had said before half starved. There were visible bruises on his body that looked even worse then they were because he was so pale. Thankfully, his breathing was strong as his chest rose and fell in a regular pattern, and he didn't look half as bad as he had when the Headmaster had brought him in.
"Poor boy," she thought. "And on Christmas Eve too. What is the world coming to?"
x
No sooner had he walked out of the door, Severus Snape nearly collapsed as a searing pain ripped through him, starting at his arm. The Dark Lord was calling and by the feel of things he was right pissed.
Severus quickly gathered his cloak and mask before leaving school grounds and apparating to Malfoy Manner.
"Ah, Severus. How nice of you to join us," Voldemort hissed, his red eyes flashing. "I'm sure by now you know of what happened tonight?"
Severus nodded, not trusting himself to speak, in case he told the Dark Lord how he really felt about Draco's refusal. Proud.
"Well, report."
"He survived if that's what you're asking," Severus drawled as he glared at Lucius. The man looked completely indifferent to the fact he had just nearly killed his own son. This was definitely no the Lucius he had known during school. It couldn't even be the same Lucius that had looked down at his first born son with complete love and devotion as he had cradled the boy in his arms. No, this man was a complete and utter bastard.
"Now-now, none of your cheek Severus. Crucio."
Severus' knees buckled as the curse hit. He made no sound except for one slight groan as he hit the ground. Sadly enough, this was really becoming old hat.
"Listen to me and listen well. I want that boy either kneeling here before me, or dead by the end of the week. If he's not one or the other, you will be the one that will die, and then I'll find someone else to kill him. Is that clear?"
Severus nodded.
"Good. Finite Incartium. Now get out of my sight."
x
"Get off of me woman! I'm perfectly fine!"
"But Albus said you were called, and you never come back in one piece! Now let me check you over!"
"There's no time woman. Besides you couldn't get me out of here fast enough earlier. Concentrate on Draco. He needs your help more than I do."
"There's nothing more I can do for him. He just needs time to heal. You on the other hand I can do something about."
"Not now. I have to talk to the headmaster. It's quite important."
After this, Albus decided he had been eavesdropping on Poppy and Severus long enough. "I'm right here, so you may talk as she checks you over."
Severus sighed and gave in to the over zealous mediwitch He wants me to either persuade Draco to take the mark or kill him by the end of this week. We have no choice but to try and hide him. If I fail, he will just send someone else.
Dumbledore looked thoughtful at this for a moment. Hogwarts was really the safest place for him, but unfortunately it wasn't very safe at all. There were the children of known death eaters and known sympathizers throughout his house, as well as others. If they kept him here, there was a good chance that he would be attacked, but those chances were doubled if they sent him away.
"No, I believe he will be safer if we keep him here. But you are right that something must be done to protect him... and you," Albus finally reasoned. An idea was blooming in his head. It would require a great deal of compliance from Mr. Malfoy. "We will stage his death."