And the fifth and final part of the main story. I've decided to do an epilogue sort thing, so that will be coming, but this chapter marks the end of the main body of the story.
Hope enjoy it.
More silence as the two stared at each other. Finally, the boy spoke evenly, his emotions finally under control: "I am not a child." He pulled back his cuff, revealing something that made the other flinch, as if he'd been slapped in return.
"Put that away."
"I'm not--"
"Away!"
Before Draco could close the gap any more, Severus grabbed the boy's shoulders and pushed him roughly away. "Go to your dormitory."
"Severus--"
"You will call me 'professor' at all times. Am I clear?" His voice had once more taken on that dangerous edge.
After looking at his teacher for several seconds, Draco started for the door. When he rested his hand on the knob, he paused and looked back. "I know what I want."
Severus raised an amused eyebrow. "You don't know anything."
A moment later, the door banged shut. Draco was finally gone.
Rubbing his eyes wearily, Severus sank onto his chair and buried his face in his hands.
It was all he wanted. Silver eyes looking at him with longing. With something that might have been love. But they were the wrong eyes. Draco was not Lucius. Oh, they were very much alike, but they were not the same. And Severus, though it pained him to always wonder, "What if...?" preferred his never-to-be dream to any semblance of Lucius that he might be able to extract from the man's son, no matter how willing those haunting eyes were...
An unreadable expression. Thoughtfulness, maybe. Guilt. Just a hint of guilt in those grey eyes... "Severus, go back to your room and play with your toys."
"I did it for you!" Desperation.
Lucius's voice was tired. "Go away." He walked out to the hall, rejoining the party, leaving the seventeen-year old boy standing alone in the middle of an empty room.
END