Fog

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Harry Potter or anything related. =(

"How's your lover, Draco?" followed by mock kissing sounds.

"— sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Even Crabbe and Goyle were pretending to kiss, hug, and generally be sickeningly mushy.

"Uh nooo Crabbe! I love you more!"

"No, I love you more!"

"Oh Crabbe-y pooh, no one could love you more than me!"

Professor Snape was faring slightly better on the teacher's table. He decided today would not be a good day for conversation and brought a stack of essays to grade, pampering himself by putting low grades on the top of each scroll. Professor McGonagall had been glaring at him the entire morning. She was the harshest of the entire faculty, as everyone else pretended he didn't exist or simply never looked him in the eye. (Dumbledore still spoke to him, except his eyes shown disappointment with every word.) Since this ploy with Draco had been discovered, curt replies and huffs were issued to him more often than usual. Severus picked up a new scroll and started skimming over it.

"Minerva, will you please pass the butter?"

McGonagall did not look at him but still reached for the plate of butter. Satisfied that the butter would come eventually, Severus continued over his work. Suddenly, a yellow goopy substance splashed on face, and the essay had similar oily splotches. An unstable dish landing on the table accompanied this explosion of butter. Looking up in surprise, he found Minerva still glaring, but now with a trace of anger. She flung the butter at me! But before he could offer her a wounding sarcastic statement, the double doors of the Grand Hall burst open with a resounding boom.

There stood Lucius Malfoy, who did not look the least bit happy.
Professor Dumbledore and Snape accompanied by Draco and Lucius were soon walking towards the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore and Snape took the lead, while Lucius and Draco walked a small distance behind, discussing the matter. Severus looked back to take a peek at the pair: Lucius was frowning at his son, who had taken up to waving his hands around like a dolphin and shrieking. Draco's face was pink from yelling, and his tone was growing more insolent by the second. Lucius grabbed Draco by the shoulder, stopping the boy in his tracks. Severus halted (and at that moment, without even looking behind himself, Dumbledore stopped too.) A sharp look with equally sharp words quieted Draco. After Draco looked repentant enough for his father's liking, Lucius motioned for the group to continue walking.

When the entire group (and a subdued Draco) were finally inside Dumbledore's office, Severus closed the door and waited for the worst from Lucius.

"I came here with regard to rumors that you have been in a romantic relationship with my son. Is that true?"

"It seems to be that way."

Lucius' tone was just barely restrained, "You mean that my son has been diddling and tramping around with you for the last four months?"

Aware of his own flashing temper, Severus shook and desperately tried to rein in his anger, "Five months and two weeks to be exact," Snape met Lucius' eyes for emphasis, "and it will continue to be this way for as long as Draco attends Hogwarts."

Lucius stepped back and examined the potions teacher for a minute before turning around to gather his thoughts and battle his emotional turmoil. He steadied his ragged breath, and then feeling ready to speak, turned to Severus. Hatred dominated his face and voice as he spoke his next words, "I then withdraw Draco from Hogwarts." Without waiting for anyone's reply or reaction, Lucius gripped Draco's arm, flung open the door, and left.

Snape was in a state of absolute shock and felt a sudden, powerful need to run to Draco and pull him back. A moment later, his sense came back, and could only watch his love being dragged away. Leaning his arm against the wall, he allowed himself a small lapse in energy and to be silent in his own thoughts.

"We both knew it had to be done," Dumbledore mentioned quietly, softly patting his colleague, "Come now, lets go get something to eat."

Exasperated, Snape gasped unbelievingly at this stupid, stupid man, "How can you let them go like that?" Growing angrier, Snape growled, "Why did you not stop them?"

"Now Severus –"

"Good God, man! I cannot believe you let them go! You – you just let – Draco go," Severus trembled and feel silent. Dumbledore asked to be understood, "I'm sorry, Severus. Sometimes affairs just have to be this way."

Intent on keeping his dignity, Severus silenced himself long enough to think clearly. Anger faded, and now regret crept into Snape. Regret for not stopping Draco and keeping him from Lucius. Regret for not showing the boy he cared when they walked to this office. Feeling sadness take hold of himself, Severus wretched himself from the room and stormed despairingly to his chamber.
Not so far away, Lucius was roughly gripping his son's arm in the train station. Noticing that the train didn't leave for half an hour, Lucius found a secluded room to go over his son's behavior with him. Putting on his best "mean-father" look, Lucius drew himself to his full height to make his authority known to Draco.

"I do not approve of your flirting with Snape, Draco. How could you be so inconsiderate of your reputation? Of mine? And his?"

Draco's cheeks grew hot, "Why did you humiliate me like that? Dragging me out of the Grand Hall and office? You can't talk to me like this!"

"Do you insist on acting like a wild, reckless child with absolutely no regard for his lineage?" Lucius bent closer, enunciating his next words, "Keep this up, and you will turn out to be nothing. Eloping with your professor will do nothing for your future. You'll never amount to anything at all and be on the streets; I will not have a son such as you."

Carefully and slowly, Draco pronounced his next statement, "But Father, I ... I love him."

Lucius stood silent and stared down at his son, "Stop seeing the man."

"No, Father. I won't. I can't. I have never felt, nor never will feel this way about anyone! I will not stop loving him for your sake. If I have to run back and –"

"Do as you like, for you are no longer mine."

Draco's mouth fell.

"Starve on the streets and beg for money, for you will have no love or connection with me. Do not address me by, 'Father' anymore." At this moment a slow, metallic rumble sounded over the distance, "There'd the train. Goodbye, Draco."

At this point Draco threw his pride away to plead with this awful possibility, "No – no! Father, you can't do this! Don't do this to me, please, you can't leave me here – I'm sorry – please, Father!"

"Will you forget your professor then?"

Draco bit his bottom lip in contemplation. How much he wanted to be in the arms of Severus, warm and safe; but also how much he wanted – and needed – to be with his father! The train had stopped and was calling for passengers. All he needed was to get on the train and he could once again be with his father. But the thought of Severus, his hair, his eyes, his voice, his arms, and everything about him could not be brought out of Draco's mind.

Quietly and pained to say it himself, Draco's voice broke, "No. No, I'm sorry. I can't forget him."

"Then I am not your sire anymore. Goodbye." Lucius turned towards the train, which was on last call for passengers.

Draco fell to his knees and grasped his father's pants, "Father, forgive me, please! Just take me –"

Lucius plodded Draco roughly in the stomach, and only looked at Draco with shame. Draco was on the floor and clutching his stomach. Lucius climbed into the train. Draco tried to speak again, but his words were thin, like dust falling in the sunlight. The train started moving and Lucius' figure was slowly moving away. Each moment his father was moving away from his sight, and away from his life. Draco vainly called out to his father, his voice strangled and unintelligible. At this moment, Draco bowed his head and cried for the loss of the two most important men in his life.

tbc