Chapter 40
Andraste led them in silence to the living room, and let them both sit quietly while she opened a bottle of wine and poured them each a glass.
"Isn't he a bit young for wine?" Draegon asked snidely, earning himself yet another angry glare from Draco.
"I think he's old enough to make that decision himself," she said before turning to Draco and putting a glass in his hands. "Am I wrong in thinking it seems like it's been far more than sixteen years?" Draco nodded slightly in response, grasping the glass with both hands and sipping at it slowly.
"Where's Snape?" he asked eventually, "and why does your little vampire friend have to be here?"
"Do you promise to stay calm?" she asked him, wanting the full truth to come out before either gave in to another outburst. As soon as he agreed, Andi waved her hand lightly, and Severus was sitting before them, once again in his own form. The look of shock that formed on Malfoy's face slowly gave way to confusion, and then burning anger.
"You!" he seethed, baring his teeth much the way Severus did as a vampire.
"Yes, Malfoy. Me," Snape shot back, his voice cold and vicious.
"Stop it. Both of you," Andi insisted. "We're not here to fight. We're here to talk."
"I have nothing to say to him," Draco told her, never taking his eyes off the man in front of him as he stood up and set his glass on the table hard enough to spill much of its contents. "This was a mistake. I never should have come down here."
"Draco," Andraste said, her voice close to pleading. "Listen to me, please."
"NO!" Draco shouted, his anger obviously building as he met Severus' cold stare. "You betrayed us, you bastard."
"And if I had the chance, I'd do it again. Your master is nothing but a megalomaniacal psychopath." Severus' eyes barely had time to register what was going on before Draco had jumped out of his chair and lunged himself at his former teacher, knocking them both to the ground.
"Don't you ever call him my master again. I will NEVER serve him!"
"Is that so?" Severus asked, standing and then pulling Draco up behind him, seeing the horror in the younger man's face as he grasped his forearm and pushed up his sleeve to reveal the dark mark. "Then what is that?" The hurt that built in Draco's eyes was more than the pain of a scar fresh enough to still be bleeding; it was shame that he would forever bear the mark of a monster.
"This is your own fault," Andraste said to them as the zippers that formed on their mouths kept them from screaming with the anger and astonishment that was clear in their eyes. "Now," she said, not even attempting to hide the amusement that she felt, "are you two going to sit down and behave, or should I make you?" Much to her disappointment both begrudgingly sat down, staring at her with frustrated resignation. "We're going to act like adults. That means no screaming, yelling, or physical contact of any kind. Understood?" Both nodded in irritated concession as Andraste removed the zippers with a wave of her hand and walked over to Draco, again kneeling at his feet. "May I?" she asked gently, pushing up his sleeve. Tears were starting to roll down his cheeks again as he stared at the wall, refusing to look at the mark Andraste was studying.
"I didn't have a choice," he said simply. "Someone had to replace my father, and my dear mother volunteered me." Severus watched in silence as Andraste looked at Draco's face intently.
"Draco, we didn't kill your father. I'm not going to lie and say that we wouldn't have, but fate decided otherwise."
"I don't care if he's dead. It's just..." Draco said, his voice shaking with the emotions that were threatening his entire body. "I hated him...but he wouldn't let them mark me until I was of age. As soon as he died my mother offered me up to her master."
"Do you want this?" Andraste asked softly, reconfirming the obvious. "If you could take it back, would you?"
"Of course I would," he said, his tone borderline offended that she had even asked. "I don't want to be tied to him. I don't have a master, I never will. Especially one like that."
"How long ago?" she asked, not feeling the need to specify what she meant.
"Today. A few hours. It still hurts."
"It's impossible, Andi," Severus interrupted, sure of what she was intending. If there was a way to remove the mark, he would have done it years ago.
"Don't be so sure, Severus. It's still fresh, I might be able to."
"Might be able to what?" the young boy asked.
"The mark is a type of soul magic, Draco. It isn't just physical. It seeps in and marks your soul, too. But, as fresh as it is, I might be able to get rid of it...if you want." Draco didn't reply, but the look in his eyes was enough to convince Andraste to attempt it. Without another word to either of them, she stood up and headed towards the room that contained Severus' private stock. When she returned a few moments later, she was carrying a small vial that her husband knew to contain the precious Phoenix tears that Fawkes had given him. Uncorking it, she drew a thin line of the liquid across the center of the mark on Draco's forearm. The two watched in silence as she then set the vial to the side, and cut the tip of her finger with a knife that they hadn't noticed. After she had set a line of her own blood to either side of the Phoenix tears, she clasped both of her hands over the mark and began to chant quietly. Ten minutes passed as under her breath she spoke words neither could hear; but the change in her expression was obvious to both. As her concentration grew, her skin paled and a gray glow began to envelope her. Severus watched in silence, desperate to stop what she was doing for fear that it would have a personal cost for his wife, but knowing that she was too stubborn to listen. When she finally pulled away, her voice was weak and her hands were shaking; but the mark that had marred Draco's skin was gone.
"It's done," she said, trying to push herself to her feet, but settling for leaning against the couch instead. Draco stared at his arm in stunned silence as Severus rushed over to Andi's side.
"Is she okay?" he asked quietly, amazed that any one would do for him what she just did.
"Yes," Severus said. "She's just tired. Stay here, I'm going to take her back to the bedroom."
"No, I'm fine," she objected, laying back on to the couch. "I just need a minute."
A less than comfortable silence had settled over the room by the time Andraste began to regain her strength. "If you two would just talk, this would be a whole lot easier," she said, rubbing her temples in hopes of ridding herself of the recently acquired migraine.
"How did you know what to do?" Severus asked as soon as he felt Andraste was up to talking.
"Instinct, the way I do everything." She looked hard at her husband for a moment, before turning back to a still astonished Draco. "You're going to have to stay here until this is over now. You know that, don't you?"
"Why?" Draco asked, unsure of how to react.
"The mark connected you to Voldemort," Severus broke in. "I'm sure he knows that it's been removed, and I doubt that he is pleased."
"I can't come back," Draco said desperately. "The other Slytherins..."
"Will be dealt with appropriately," Professor Snape interrupted. The anger that Andraste had hoped was gone with the dark mark showed itself in Malfoy's eyes again.
"That's what started this you know," he said snidely. "As soon you met your little Gryffindor girlfriend you stopped caring and started 'dealing' with us."
"That's ridiculous Malfoy," Severus replied, ignoring the Gryffindor comment because he himself had wondered before what house his wife would have been in. "Professor Andraste being here changed nothing."
"How can you say that? You used to be there if we needed you. You don't give a damn about any of us anymore."
"Language, Malfoy," Severus said, his tone harsh and cold.
"Severus, calm down," Andraste interrupted. "Draco, what makes you think that?"
"It doesn't even matter," he said, refusing to meet either of their eyes. "I can't stay here."
"Draco," Andraste said gently, "you don't have a choice. It's too dangerous for you anywhere else." Draco was staring blankly at the wall, obviously contemplating his lack of options when they were interrupted by a knock at the door. Severus excused himself to answer it, and a few short moments later Andraste and Draco could hear arguing coming from the hallway.
"This really isn't a good time, I'll tell you her stopped by."
"Just let us see that she's okay," Harry pleaded. "Then we'll leave."
"Damnit," Andraste said under her breath. "Can you help me with something?" Draco gave her a look of confusion, but quickly nodded his head to agree. "They're going to see Draegon, not you. And be nice." Andraste waved her hand and transformed Draco into the Elvin vampire that Severus had been playing the role of. "It's okay, Severus," she shouted. "Go ahead and let them in." Severus did as she suggested and had to hide his own surprise as he walked back into the living room to find Andraste having a glass of wine with Draegon. "Hi guys," she said, addressing the trio that had followed him in. "Why aren't you at the party?"
"I, um, where's Malfoy?" Harry stuttered.
"Oh, that," Andraste said laughing. "That was Severus. He was just helping me get off the stage."
"But that doesn't make any sense," Ron said, eyeing Draegon suspiciously. "Professor Snape is Draegon."
"What would give you an absurd idea like that?" Severus asked, his voice somewhere between genuine curiosity and mild irritation.
"Really, Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, "that is just silly."
"No, it's not," Ron insisted, slightly irritated at having to defend himself once again. "I'm sure of it. Professor Snape was Draegon. So you," he said, wheeling around to face Severus, "you have to be Malfoy."
"That is what we said, Mr. Weasley. I was Malfoy. Now I'm me, and Draegon is still Draegon. Must I write it down for you?"
"Ignore him," Harry said tersely. "We just wanted to know that you were okay. Are you coming back to the party?" Andraste and Severus had to hide their irritation when Draco spoke for the first time.
"Of course we are. If you want to go ahead, we'll be there shortly."
"Sure, Draegon," Hermione said, looking at him as though she would do anything he requested. "Come on, guys." Without waiting for another word, she grabbed each of the boys by an arm and headed for the door. Severus and Andraste sat in silence until they were sure the students were gone before speaking.
"What were you thinking?" Andraste demanded, her voice harsher than she had meant it to be.
"No," Severus said, a small smile forming on his lips. "It will be fine."
"Oh, stop it," Andi said, shooting him an irritated look. "You just don't want anyone to know that you're Draegon." Severus started to defend his decision, but was interrupted by a small laugh coming from Draco that slowly grew in volume.
"And what do you find so funny, Mr. Malfoy?"
"You," Draco said, trying to control his breathing enough to talk. "You're...with the..."
"Are you having trouble speaking?" Severus demanded angrily. Draco took a deep breath to calm himself and then continued, his voice finally even.
"I'm sorry, sir. It's just... I just now realized that since you were Draegon, that you were the one up there singing and playing guitar. Of course," Draco said, pausing with a humored grin, "I'm not the only one that knows. It's a good thing he's too stupid for anyone to ever believe him."
"Draco," Andraste said sternly, "he is not stupid. And if you're going to be out there as Draegon, you are going to have to behave. I like them, and you're going to have to like them too."
"But do not," Severus interrupted, "use your appearance to your advantage. If I find out that you did, you will have to answer to me, and it will not be pleasant."
"And stay close to us" Andraste added as she stood. "Let's get this over with, but understand this conversation isn't over – and a lot will depend on how well you handle yourself tonight." Andi barely had time to collect herself and wonder if the evening was going to end in disaster when they walked back into the Great Hall. Severus and Draco had been quietly talking during the walk, a great improvement in Andi's eyes, but she was so preoccupied with her own thoughts that she hadn't paid any attention to what they said. "Let's go talk to Professor Dumbledore," she said, heading for the small group that Albus was standing in. They had gotten only a few steps towards him when he noticed their presence and met them half way.
"Have we resolved the situation?" Albus asked quietly, giving Draegon a hard look.
"Yes we have, Headmaster," Andraste replied. "And Draegon will be on his best behavior, you have my word."
"I certainly hope so, Draco," he said, staring the vampire in the eyes. "As long as you are in my school, especially appearing the way you do, I expect nothing less than perfect behavior. Do I have your word?"
"Yes sir. I'm sorry about earlier," he said, looking intently at the floor.
"It is forgotten. I do, however, expect the three of you in my office in the morning. I would like to know what you plan on doing on a more permanent basis; you can't simply stay Draegon forever." Albus gave them all a small nod and turned away, heading back to the conversation he had been in.
"What?" Andraste asked innocently, trying to decipher the look Severus was giving her.
"You look like your planning something," Severus said warily.
"And what's wrong with that?"
"Your plans tend to get me in trouble, darling."
"They do not!" she said, starting to defend herself, but stopping when she saw the look of amusement on Draco's face. "And what do you find so funny, Draegon?" she asked, emphasizing his assumed name.
"Nothing, Andi," he replied with a smirk, knowing that this was probably the only time he'd ever get away with speaking to her so casually. "I just owe you an apology."
"For what?" she sighed, unsure of if she even wanted to know.
"For calling you a Gryffindor," he said laughing. "You're Slytherin through and through."
"I need a drink," she said in response to the look of agreement that Severus was giving him; and then walked off, leaving them laughing behind her.
"Albus," she said quietly, interrupting a conversation about American candy that he was having with the Weasley twins. "Can I have a word with you?"
"Excuse me, boys. Do try to behave," he said, winking mischievously at Fred and George before leading Andraste off towards the refreshment table.
"You know, Albus, if I didn't know better; I'd say you were giving those two ideas." The headmaster gave her a mock look of astonishment and smiled brightly.
"What they do with the knowledge of my travels that I pass on is out of my hands, my dear. Now what can I do for you?"
"I have a stupid question. What house do you think I would have been in?"
"That is much more an interesting question than a stupid one, and something I myself have wondered. All I am sure of is that it certainly would not have been Ravenclaw; you are far from studious," he said with a teasing smile. "You plan like a Slytherin, but rush in like a Gryffindor; and you certainly possess the loyalty of a Hufflepuff. And while you do have the snake's desire for self-protection, you surely have the lion's bravery if need be. It seems to me that you possess all of the best qualities of the houses, sometimes to a fault, my dear." He let the conversation fall quiet for a moment while she thought on his words.
"You realize that wasn't much help, right?" she asked, smiling brightly at him.
"Well then," he said, "if you would like, tomorrow we can let the Sorting Hat tell us."
"I'll think about it," she said, giving him a hug that surprised him, but made his eyes light up with fatherly love nonetheless. "I'll let you know tomorrow," he heard her chime; then he watched her walk off, amazed at how much a part of life at Hogwarts she had become in such a short time.
Andraste made her way through the groups of students to a crowd of Slytherins that were gathering in the corner. She had no doubt that she would find Draco and Severus at the middle. "There you are," she said, weaving through the kids until she had reached her husband's side. It was obvious by the change in mood as soon as she approached that Draco wasn't alone in his opinion of her, but judging by how they moved out of her way, they at least respected her power. "You know, I'm married to your head of house," she said, addressing the students unexpectedly. "You're eventually going to have to deal with that. I can be a very powerful ally to all of you, or a friend to none of you. That is your choice."
"It seems to us that you've already made your choice, Professor," Jacob, one of the older Slytherins said in a way that made him sound like a younger Severus.
"I will not warn you again to watch your tone with her," Severus said viciously.
"No, it's okay," she told Severus before turning a harsh glare on the student. "And what makes you think that?" she asked him, letting authority fill her voice.
"You're constantly with the so-called "Golden Trio," the boy said, ignoring Snape's warning to be respectful. "Just like all the other teachers, you let them do anything. Even Professor Snape is turning into one of them."
"You know what?" Andraste said, not even attempting to hide her irritation. "I'm going to explain this one more time, and it will be the last time. You all have ten minutes to find the other Slytherins and meet me in your common room. Anybody not present will receive a week of detention." Without stopping to listen to the objections that they were in the middle of a party, she walked off heading for the Dungeon hall that held the entrance to the Slytherin rooms. Severus, who was trying to pull himself away from the complaints of his students, watched as Andraste had a brief conversation with Albus that left them both smiling in a way that made Severus uncomfortable.
She had managed to reach the bottom of the stairs before Severus caught up with her, Draegon tailing close behind. "What was that about?" Severus asked, concerned at how much her temper seemed to have flared.
"That was about the fact that I'm sick of the way they treat me. I can't make them like me, but I can sure as Hell make them respect me."
"She's right, Professor Snape," Draco said, knowing full well that he probably shouldn't get involved; but figuring that he knew those particular Slytherins better than either of his Professors. "You telling us to respect her only makes us think she can't stand up for herself. She has to earn it, you know that."
"We both know that, Draco," Andraste replied. "But I don't think any of them are going to like what I've got in mind."
"And what do you have in mind?" Severus asked warily as Draco found himself grateful that he wasn't technically a student anymore.
"You'll have to wait and see," Andraste said as she walked into the Slytherin common room. She had called the meeting fifteen minutes before, and was pleased to see that every one of the students was in attendance; they had at least learned not to take her threats lightly.
"It was a wise decision for you all to join me," she said walking to the front of a room with a hand raised to silence those that were talking.
"You don't have a right to do this," Jacob said, staring at her the same defiant way he had in the Great Hall.
"Mr. Slade," Severus began, but he was quickly interrupted by Andraste.
"You are quite mistaken on that account. I am a professor here, and therefore I have every right to do this. You have all treated the staff of this school with disregard for long enough. Professor Snape is not the only one here that you must have respect for, and you are going to learn that if it kills all of us. So, since you seem so keen on challenging me, I am going to give you all an opportunity, once and only once; starting with you Mr. Slade."
"And what would that be?" Jacob asked disdainfully.
"If you want to test me, have enough courage to do it the proper way," she said, walking up to him so that their faces were only inches apart. "Or shut up and show some respect. Of course," she added, turning back to the rest of the students; "maybe courage is only a Gryffindor trait."
"How dare you!" Jacob exclaimed angrily. "We're a hundred times more brave than any Gryffindor!"
"No, Mr. Slade," Andraste replied, allowing her husbands normal venom to seep through her voice. "As you pointed out in the Great Hall, I know more than one Gryffindor well; and as of yet, you have done nothing to prove yourself worthy of comparing yourself to them in any way."
"I don't need to prove myself to you."
"Do you or do you not wish to challenge me, Jacob?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous.
"I'm not that stupid. I know full well that you're more powerful than I am."
"Far more," Andraste added. "Does anyone here think that they are capable?" The room fell completely silent as the students glanced nervously at one and other. "That is what I thought," she said, glaring at those around her. "Until such time as one of you feel yourselves accomplished enough to challenge me, you will treat me with respect. But I will give you fair warning, I doubt such a time will come. Now, I want you all to listen very carefully. It is obvious that you feel I prefer the Gryffindor's, some of you having gone far enough to say that I'm one myself." She gave a quick but disdainful glance at Draco. "That is ridiculous, because you all know full well that I don't belong to any house. I will tell you this much though. I detest cheating, I detest lying, and blatant rudeness is something I can obviously not stand for. I have seen all of those things in this house in ways that go far beyond youthful idiocy. I want you all to take a good look at your Head of House. He is honest, he is strong, and he is worth the Slytherin name. I have no doubt that Salazar would be horrified at what you have turned his proud house into."
"You know nothing about Slytherin," a too-brave-for-his-own-good 6th year said.
"Do not interrupt me when I'm speaking," Andraste said, her voice still quiet, but taking on a lethal tone. "The Slytherin house has become one known for treachery, but it takes no intelligence to be cruel. You will all learn to play by the rules, or you will answer to me." She waved her hand and the 6th year boy lifted in to the air and flew to her, hovering above the ground as she looked up at him. "Have I made myself clear, William?"
"Yes ma'am," he said, terror in his eyes as she turned him on his side and let him drop to the floor with a quiet thud.
"Tomorrow morning," she continued, "this will be answered once and for all. I would suggest you all hope that it doesn't turn out that I am Slytherin. It would not bode well for you. That said, I will be back at 10 a.m. I expect two of you from each year to be ready to leave with me. Decide who it is yourselves." Andraste turned and walked out of the common room, hearing Professor Snape address the students as she left but not caring what he was saying to them.