Disclaimer: see Chapter One
Secrets and Lies
Author's note: This chapter 23. Some people got the Author Alert from when I originally uploaded while others did not.
Chapter 23: AfterAs two scarlet-robed Aurors examined the bodies of Draco and Lucius, Kingsley questioned Dobby.
"You were forced to do the Malfoys' bidding because of a curse called… what again?" asked the tall Auror as he made notations in his notebook, which he had retrieved from beside Draco's feet.
"Former Master Malfoy used the Dominatus curse and then Dobby had no choice and had to do what former Master said." Dobby's huge eyes glistened with tears.
Inside the small bathroom off to the side, Albus was thoroughly exhausted. His joints screamed as he tried to shift his weight a bit to take the pressure off his aching knees. He still knelt on the cold stone floor holding Severus' black head in his lap, as he continuously stroked his friend's dark hair. Severus had quieted and his breathing was slowing. He was either coming down from his drop attack or falling asleep…or both. Albus cringed and his knees burned in pain as he tried to shift again, lamenting that his body was so old and decrepit. The headmaster's eyes were drawn back to the two bodies as the Aurors covered them with sheets. Frowning, he fervently hoped that Severus would be still until they had gone. Albus knew how Draco's death would affect Severus and his friend would not wish to be seen in such a vulnerable position, particularly by Aurors. He felt Severus begin to stir.
Severus' head was pounding painfully; the pressure behind his eyes had mounted to where he wouldn't be surprised to have his head explode from his body in a most violent manner. Slitting his eyes open he drew in his breath with a sharp hiss, the light in the room burning his eyes and causing him to shield them with the long, slender fingers of one hand. He felt a hand stroking his hair and he lessened his grip on the robes fisted tightly in his other hand. It must be Albus, he thought. As his mind became less befuddled he realized he could hear voices, but they sounded muffled and far away. Realizing that his head was in Albus' lap and his good ear was pressed down Severus slowly lifted his head.
"No sudden movements, child. Take it slowly," soothed Albus, as he helped Severus to a sitting position. "We should go to see Madam Pomfrey and have her examine you."
In the next room Dobby continued to plead his case with Kingsley. "Dobby could not control the blood magic! Former master Malfoy told Dobby to stun Auror Shacklebolt and Professor Snape."
The Aurors stopped what they were doing and stared agape at Kingsley.
"Yes, a house-elf stunned me. What of it?" Kingsley said to his colleagues, defensiveness coloring his tone. He was irked that they had stopped what they were doing to turn and smirk at him, their eyes twinkling with merriment.
Severus sat and contemplated what he had just heard, his brow furrowing. "Dobby stunned us and put us in here so Draco could escape?" he asked rhetorically. "Doesn't Draco realize that he's safer here than out there?" he said, jabbing his finger toward the doors irritably. He lowered his pounding head to his hands and bit his lip before looking back to Albus. "Why would he leave? He's going to get himself killed!"
Albus remained silent, his sorrowful eyes speaking volumes. The headmaster decided that he would try to remove Severus from the area as quickly as possible. If I have any say at all in the matter, Albus thought, Severus will not find out about Draco's death in this way. Severus was already in a vulnerable state and he wanted to protect his friend's dignity. He would tell him about Draco once they were alone and he could grieve away from prying eyes.
"Let's go to see the mediwitch." Albus stood slowly, his joints creaking in protest at the sudden change of position. He stiffly ambled to the doorway in an attempt to shield Severus from seeing the two Aurors conjure stretchers to transport the bodies.
"I have no need to see the mediwitch," Severus snapped. "I cannot go to the hospital wing every time I have an attack. It's absurd." He stood swaying only slightly and slapping at Albus' proffered hand. "Do not treat me like a child, Albus," he irritably snapped.
"I do apologize, Severus," Albus said as he walked out of the room ahead of Severus and used his body to shield the Aurors' work from the Potion Master's line of sight. "We can go to your rooms instead and I'll get you a headache potion." Albus continued with his somewhat awkward gait, gently steering the Potions Master forward as the older wizard winced slightly from the pain in his joints.
"Are you well, Albus?" asked Severus, concern replacing his harsh tone as he spied Albus' uncharacteristic wince.
"I'm simply old, Severus," said Albus smiling softly. "There's no potion for that, I'm afraid." They neared the door to the hallway and Albus quickly opened it and put his hand on Severus' back, gently urging him forward.
Severus took a step towards the open doorway and then stopped, turning on his heel. "If you need to question me I'll be in my rooms," he said to Kingsley and the two other Aurors that he could see, who were busily draping something out of his line of vision.
"We'll be fine, Severus," said Kingsley. "You go on ahead."
Severus felt Albus' hand again pushing him through the doorway and he took a step forward when Dobby bounded forward and grabbed his arm tightly clenching it.
"Dobby is sorry, Professor, sir! So sorry!" moaned the house-elf, squeezing Severus' wrist in a viselike grip.
Severus felt the pain shoot up through his arm to his head. "It's fine, Dobby. You're forgiven. Please release me." Severus peeled the elf's fingers from his reddening wrist.
Dobby released the Potions Master's wrist and dropped to his knees, clutching Severus' legs tightly as he wailed louder. "Dobby didn't know! Dobby didn't know what young Master would do!"
"I know that, Dobby," hissed Severus through clenched teeth. "Do let go of me!" He pulled at the elf's arms, his frustration mounting. "Release me at once! It's not your fault that Draco has escaped." Severus glared into the eyes of the house-elf.
None too gently Albus nudged Dobby backward with his foot and again tried to propel the Potions Master out the door. "Let us go now, Severus."
Severus could not tear his eyes away from the house-elf's huge tennis-ball sized eyes, mesmerized as he was by the huge tears trickling down the elf's face as Dobby sadly shook his head, his ears flopping.
"Master Draco is dead."
Albus released Severus' arm and hung his head, his shoulders slumping.
Severus turned back to regard the headmaster. "Is this true?" he asked, his voice faint.
"Yes," replied Albus. "I'm sorry. Draco had Dobby stun you and then took your form to duel his father."
Turning his attention to the house-elf, Albus curtly told Dobby to go to the hospital wing to tell Madam Pomfrey that they would be along shortly. The tearful house-elf obediently complied exiting with a soft plop.
"Lucius?" Severus' head tilted as he stared at the floor, his expression incredulous. Even more softly he asked, "Lucius killed Draco?"
"Yes, Lucius then killed himself with poison."
Severus stood stock-still, his brow creased and his head titled to one side, his eyes moving back and forth as he digested the information. After a few moments he looked back to where the Aurors stood loading the two stretchers.
"There was nothing you could do," offered Kingsley as he came to stand beside Severus.
As the covered stretchers were moved one pale hand flopped from one stretcher and into view before the Auror snatched it back to cover it again.
Severus suddenly felt weak in the knees and Kingsley took one arm, Albus the other.
"Come here and sit for a moment," Kingsley said, maneuvering Severus toward a chair.
"No!" Severus shouted, pulling away and stumbling toward the Aurors, his heart racing. He looked down at the two sheets and quickly drew one back, seeing Lucius Malfoy's pale, pointed face. Heart hammering in his chest he reached for the other and stopped, hovering just above, as if frozen.
"Don't do this to yourself, Severus," Albus implored, reaching out for Severus' arm.
Severus quickly jerked his arm back then yanked the sheet away. A small sound escaped from the back of the Potions Master's throat as the sheet slipped through his now slack fingers. The sheet slowly slid off the body, pooling onto the floor as Severus felt his heart skip a beat. He was unprepared for Draco's lifeless eyes and was astounded, staggering back against Kingsley, who took his arm to steady him.
Severus was certain for a moment that he would faint. His world was spinning off its axis. This child, only sixteen years old, who he had promised to protect and defend, was now dead. He felt as if he was dreaming, that this was not reality. "He cannot be dead," Severus murmured, as if to convince himself. "It's not possible."
Albus acted quickly helping Kingsley lead Severus back to a chair to seat the now unresisting Potions Master, who swayed as he sat.
"Just sit here for a moment," said Kingsley as he retrieved the sheet to place back over Draco.
"Don't do that! He can't breathe if you do that!" shoutedSeverus, leaping up from the chair and stumbling forward, his black eyes now glinting with a savage ferocity.
Albus grabbed Severus firmly by the arms, and stood directly in front of him. "Severus you aren't thinking clearly. Let's go now and let the Aurors do their work."
"Work!" Severus barked. "What work? What are they going to do to him? I can't let them take him! He's just a child!" Wild-eyed, Severus tried to turn back to Draco but the headmaster used every last bit of his energy to hold the dangerously distraught Potions Master.
Kingsley briskly motioned to the Aurors and they hastily levitated the stretchers toward the door.
"No! You can't take him to the Ministry! You can't do that! I told him he wouldn't have to go there! He's just a child!" Severus roughly shoved Albus to the ground and sprinted toward the door as Kingsley lunged forward and grabbed Severus from the side. The Auror snaked his arms around the Potions Master's body, pinning his arms to his sides. "Let me go!" Severus growled low in his throat as he thrashed against the Auror's grip, trying to get his hand into his pocket for his wand.
"Calm yourself, Severus," said Shacklebolt calmly as the Aurors retreated into the hall. Kingsley's years of rigorous physical training meant his strength far surpassed that of the Slytherin Head of House and he was able to maintain a firm grip on the Potions Master, even in Severus' presently unstable frame of mind.
"NO! NO!" Severus frantically pulled backward and fell to the ground the Auror tumbling atop him. "Get off me! Get off now!" Severus brought his leg up hard to the Auror's groin eliciting a hiss of pain from Shacklebolt, but the stoic Auror adamantly refused to relent.
Dumbledore awkwardly pushed himself up from the floor and crossed to the two, touching Snape's temple and whispering a soft incantation. The Potions Master stopped struggling instantly as his body went limp as a result of the muscle relaxant charm.
§§§§§§
In the solitude of the hospital wing Ron sighed to himself, spying the sleeping potion warily. The mediwitch had been called away from his bedside by Dobby and she had left the potion there for him to drink.
Ron couldn't explain why he felt so tense. Right before the house-elf arrived he began to experience an inexplicable uneasiness that weighed heavily on his heart. It makes no sense, he thought. Everything is going well. Malfoy is in custody—all is right with the world. So why the bloody hell do I feel like I'm about to jump out of my skin? The Gryffindor sat up and rubbed his chest, willing the strange apprehensiveness away.
He glanced back to Madam Pomfrey who was busily arranging potion bottles on a tray. Dobby bounced from foot to foot whimpering and banging his head with a spare tray until Madam Pomfrey roughly snatched the tray from him and barked an order to the elf who rapidly popped out. Something's up. Madam Pomfrey isn't usually so short with the house-elves and her hands are shaking. Ron snatched up his wand and performed a quick Evanesco on the sleeping potion before settling himself back in the bed to feign sleep.
The teen began to think that he had made the wrong decision. The anxiety that was eating at the edge of his sanity before was now clawing at his midsection. Ron fisted the duvet in discomfort, sweat beading on his upper lip. Just as he was about to shout to Madam Pomfrey to end his suffering, the sensation abruptly ceased, leaving him breathing heavily and wiping the sweat from his brow with a shaky hand. What was that? he thought wearily
Eyes shut, Ron lay there trying to relax when he heard the doors open and rapidly approaching footsteps. He heard a bed creak as something, or someone, was laid upon it. Next came the hurried whispering of the mediwitch and voices, one of which he recognized as Dumbledore, before the mediwitch led the voices away from him. He slowly cracked open his eyes and looked about the room. Atop the bed in the row opposite him was Professor Snape. Ron slowly moved his head to peer back to where Dumbledore, Pomfrey and Kingsley Shacklebolt were standing. Madam Pomfrey looked shaken and was dabbing at her eyes with the corner of her apron.
Ron slid out of the bed and stealthily crept over to Professor Snape. Snape had not moved at all since Ron first saw him, and he lay sprawled on the bed, arms hanging off the sides and his head at an odd quirked angle which looked to be fairly uncomfortable and leaving the man looking more like a rag doll than a wizard. "Professor Snape?" asked Ron softly. He drew back, awaiting the inevitable recriminations from the surly teacher, but none came. Ron edged closer and could see that Snape's eyes were wide open. Ron leaned over him and spoke again. "Professor Snape?"
"What are you doing young man?" thundered the mediwitch from behind Ron.
Startled, Ron jumped and whirled around facing the red-rimmed eyes of the mediwitch. "I…I…uh," he stammered.
"March, young man!" she barked, pointing toward his bed. She followed the cowering teen and tucked him none too gently under the covers before Accioing a potion bottle and pouring some of the contents into his empty glass. "Drink!" she ordered.
Ron sat up and sheepishly took the glass, the familiar aroma of a sleeping potion assaulting his senses. He downed the contents obediently. As he lay back and sleep pulled at the edges of his mind he could swear he heard the mediwitch crying.
§§§§§§
Few people knew the true circumstances of the deaths of Lucius and Draco Malfoy. Rumors abounded, the most commonly held theory being that Lucius killed his wife in a fit of jealous rage and then killed his son as well. The Daily Prophet ran headlines for almost a week regarding the deaths, stating that the Aurors would not reveal the circumstances and calling for an investigation.
Gossip and innuendo stoked the fires against the Malfoy name until it was vilified. The Prophet's headlines in the second week heralded the start of the feeding frenzy over the considerable Malfoy fortune. There were no living Malfoys but there were scads of cousins, plus a large contingent from the Ministry who were determined to see some of that money go to reparations for victims of Death Eater atrocities. Albus Dumbledore strongly urged the Ministry to have Andromeda Tonks named as executrix of the estate. Following the acknowledgment of the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Minister Fudge, bowing to public opinion, acquiesced to the request, angering members of the family on both sides.
§§§§§§
A week after the deaths of the Malfoys, and the day before his official return to teaching, Severus set up a meeting with Ron in his office. Severus sat at his desk, frowning and shaking his head as he read the essays his students had written for the substitute, when he heard someone clearing his throat. "Yes, what is it?" he snapped, peering out through the open doorway as he sat the essay down on his desk.
"It's Ron Weasley, sir. I was told you wanted to see me?" he answered calmly.
"Yes. Do come in, Mr. Weasley." Severus did not get up but sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he rested his elbows on the arms of his chair. Severus watched the redhead confidently enter the room and take the seat before the desk.
"I asked you here for a reason, Mr. Weasley. It is my understanding that you got an 'Exceeds Expectations' for your OWL in potions?" Snape rose an eyebrow.
"Yes, sir," Ron said defensively.
"I have also been told that you have been doing independent study in potions with Miss Granger? Is this true?"
"Yes, sir. I'd like to be an Auror and potions are required."
"You expect to sit for the NEWT potions exam, not having had the NEWT level classes?" Snape asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Yes. I will be an Auror, sir." Ron's ears turned red and he swallowed hard, but he held his chin high, meeting Professor Snape's gaze levelly.
"I see." Snape leaned forward on the table. "Professor McGonagall has informed me that you are becoming more studious, that you are doing exemplary well in your classes this year?" He asked this question almost as if it were an accusation.
"If I am to become an Auror I need to get good marks, sir."
"Why this sudden urge to become an Auror?" Snape asked with an air of indifference, as he reached over to stack the sheaf of essays into a neat pile on his desk.
"I want to be able to help people. I can do it, sir." Ron said passionately, his eyes glinting with an inner fire.
Severus tilted his head to one side and surveyed the teen with keen eyes. "If I were to allow you into my NEWT level class, and I'm not saying that I will, but if I were to do that, would you study hard and get decent marks?"
Ron's eyes boggled and he took a few seconds to find his voice. "Yes, sir! I-I would get very good marks, sir." he stammered, taken aback.
"I will allow you a one month trial period in my NEWT level class. IF you perform well, you may stay in the class, but if you do not…" he trailed off awaiting the teen's response.
"Thank you, sir. You won't regret it sir!" Ron stood up and quickly left the room before Snape could change his mind.
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Author's Notes: It's seems to be getting harder and harder to get a chapter out! Does anyone else have this problem? I know this was supposed to be the end but I have at least one more chapter in my head. I want to at least give Draco a funeral of some type. I've no idea what that would be like so if any of you have ideas please let me know.
Special thanks to Xiao Gui for her help with this chapter. You're a good friend.
As you may notice there are no Review Responses and the previous chapters no longer have them as well. It is apparently against the rules. Sorry about that. I can respond individually via email to anyone who I am able to contact.
Thanks so much for reading and if you're feeling magnanimous leave a review. Thanks.