Chapter Seventeen: Continued Chaos
Severus was furious and a little scared. He knew that the ministry would be poking into Lucian's life just because of that damnable mark on his arm. It wasn't like he hadn't risked his life to bring them back information when he
was a spy. But they didn't care about how you atoned for your sins; you would always be guilty and never redeemable in their eyes. He led Lucian back toward the Great Hall to meet up with Lucius and Draco. Remus had said that he was going to try and talk to Albus and then he would meet them back down in his quarters.
Lucian was following his father blindly through the corridors, his body still tense from the assault from the Auror. He could feel the bruises forming on his arms where he was grabbed so roughly. He really needed Draco and his unwavering support right now. Tonight was going to be hell. His transformation was still going to be hard even with the forced shift from the previous night and Wolfsbane potion. He was just glad that Remus was here, he understood what he was going through; it would really help if there were going to be more than one person with him during and after the transformation tonight. He would see if Remus could stay with them tonight.
Lucian took a deep breath he was so tired and worn out. He hated how weak he felt before the transformations.
Lucian looked up at his father. He could see that he was still furious, he was just as mad but also a little scared. He swallowed harshly, Merlin his throat was starting to hurt again. It had been over four hours since he had last taken the numbing potion for his damaged throat. He needed another dose but it was in his room down in the dungeons. He looked back over at his father and seen that he didn't look as mad but his face was masked of all emotions. He noticed that he did that often when out around a lot of people, he definitely needed to practice doing that as well. Lucian thought that he was used to drawing attention to himself but this was different and definitely not what he had expected. He had no idea that there where laws in place that he could be subjected to just because his father had at one time been a Deatheater. Maybe once they realized that his father had been a spy things would be easier, but he had a feeling that they where only going to get worse.
They finally reached the Great Hall and Lucian noticed that Lucius and Draco were standing off to the side in the shadows so not to draw much attention to themselves. Severus walked up to Lucius and in a hushed voice told him what had just happened and said that they needed to get the boys back down to his quarters. Lucian felt Draco grab his hand and he squeezed it reassuringly. Draco had given him what he needed the most right then, his unwavering support and love.
Severus glanced at his son and seen that he was leaning into Draco for support. This morning had taken a toll on his son; tonight was going to be hell. He was thinking about asking Remus if he would stay with them tonight, he had a feeling that Lucian would need that extra support. He had been thinking about Remus a lot lately. It was rather odd that the man had gone from being the one of the men that he had hated with a passion to someone that he missed when he left the room.
Severus felt his heart clench, he was starting to feel something for the blasted werewolf. Merlin only knows were this was going to lead him. He seriously doubted that Remus would ever feel anything for him other than friendship. The man would never get over Black. Severus still couldn't believe what that filthy mutt had done. Minerva had told him that Remus was coming back to teach and for him not to be an ass toward him. She then had proceeded to fill him in on what he didn't know about Remus and Black's past. He had just known about them being together after Lucian's fourth year, evidently Remus and Black had been seeing each other before Black had got himself carted off to Azkaban and after he escaped Dumbledore had sent him to Remus's to recuperate. They had gotten back together sometime after that and things were good for a while. Until Black had been teamed up with Bill Weasley and sent out on various missions for Dumbledore did things start to go wrong. When Black had come back in May he had announced it to the entire Order that he and Bill where engaged.
He had never told Remus that he was seeing someone other than him and didn't have the decency to tell him about Bill before he told everyone else. He had wanted to kill Black when he seen the look on Remus's face that night. Remus didn't say anything to Black; he just stood from the table and walked out of the room slowly. It was only then had Black realized what he had done. Remus hadn't talked to Black since that night and Black had left
London the next day and hadn't returned. The last he had heard was that Black was staying with Weasley in Egypt. He hoped that he stayed there.
He had a distinct feeling that if he where to see the bastard he would probably kill him, if Lucian didn't get to him first. To say that Lucian was upset at his godfather's actions would be a mild statement. Black had done something in Lucian's book that was unforgivable; He had hurt someone that Lucian considered part of his family. Severus knew that Lucian would be out for blood if Black ever came back. He could honestly say that he was
Surprised that the mutt hadn't been here yet today. After all his beloved Godson had been declared dead just a few hours before. But it was just as well that he hadn't showed up here yet. Because then he would have to keep
Remus and Lucian from staining his floor with blood, and oh how he hated it when there where blood stains on his dungeon floors.
Such a pain to clean.
Lucius glanced back at his son and Lucian. It was hard to believe everything that had happened in the last couple hours. Then again nothing ever seemed to be normal around Lucian. Lucius thought back to the press conference and the look on the minister's face when Dumbledore had announced The Boy-Who-Lived had died. He would savor that moment for the rest of his life. He hated the Minister with a passion. There was just something about the man that made him rest uneasy. Narcissa had never liked the man either, Merlin how he missed her. He knew that he would never find a woman like her ever again, he didn't want to either. She had been a one in a million, his Cissa. She had been a great mother to Draco when he had to be an absolute bastard to the boy. He could remember the many nights that she had held him while he cried for having to be particularly cruel to Draco. He could remember her soft words of reassurance that one day they would be able to be the family they were meant to be, and that Draco was a strong boy and would understand and forgive him.
Lucius hastily swiped the tears from his eyes before they could fall. Cissa would have wanted him to be strong and not cry over her death after all she died the way that she had wanted to. For her loved ones.
Lucian was gripping Draco's hand tightly as the walked a few steps behind their fathers. As they walked into the corridor that lead to Severus's quarters Lucian glanced up at the door and noticed that Remus was standing in front of the door waiting on them. When they got closer Lucian noticed that Remus was leaning against the wall for support, he was shaking violently. The group rushed toward Remus and just as Severus reached him, Remus collapsed into his arms.
"Lucian, open the door!" Severus barked out. He scooped Remus up into his arms and walked through the now open door. Severus walked briskly over to the couch and laid Remus down on it as gently as he could.
"Remus…Remus…wake up." Severus said softly to the unconscious man in front of him. "Come on Remy, wake up so you can tell us what's wrong." He whispered urgently.
"Ugh…" Remus's eyes snapped open, "Oh Merlin Sev, we are in such deep shit!"
This statement definitely alarmed the rest of the occupants of the room. Lucian looked up sharply at Draco and then at his father. Whatever it was, it most likely would affect him and not for the better.
"What happened, what's wrong?" Severus asked Remus calmly. It would not be good for anyone if they were all hysterical before they even knew what was going on.
"Albus told me to meet him in his office, something had happened and he needed to inform me and you." Remus said his voice oddly high pitched and tense.
"The Ministry is going to start rounding up all of the Werewolves. They are going to brand us and put a monitoring charm on us. If any refuse, the Ministry is calling for immediate execution on the grounds of treason. It is the Ministry's last-ditch effort to look good in the eyes of the public by saying that they are doing something to prevent 'Dark Creatures' from joining Voldemort."
Lucian looked at Draco and then back to his father and Remus, "We're Fucked."