Legacy
by
Jeslyn Nighthawk
A/N: This is more, or less unbeta-ed, but I did have Lunziek look over it for me. I hope Taya will be able to get a more thoroughly done version back to me soon. Sorry for the wait, as usual, my muse is entirely spastic. Oh, and no Hermione in this one. Too many other issues I felt I needed to deal with first. Though considering the fanbase reading this, I wouldn't be surprised to find that no one cared. After all, we only read for Sev, right? Herms is just an added bonus.
Disclaimer: Don't own them, and will fix any damage done to Sev's nose before I return him.
Chapter 10
Needless to say, neither Hermione nor Severus spoke for the rest of the evening. Minerva, hoping to avert any further disasters, had gathered up her recalcitrant young people, and herded them out the door and into the carriage. Once in the relative privacy of said carriage, she laid into them with all the formidable power of her razor tongue. By the time they had reached her townhouse, Minerva was suitably convinced that Hermione was repentant enough to never put on such an undignified display again. She was not so sure about Severus.
Minerva was now sure, even more than she had been before, that Severus enjoyed baiting her niece, that he enjoyed pushing her buttons until she would take no more and explode. Still, as amusing as the fireworks undoubtedly were, they were undignified, and likely to put this whole escapade in danger of being exposed. The attention was unwanted. Furthermore, Severus was going to have to stop if he wished his nose to remain the same shape for much longer. Hell, Minerva thought, the man was lucky she didn't hex him….
When they pulled up to her townhouse, Minerva tersely ordered Hermione to get to bed, and demanded Severus' presence in her study.
"Well, Severus," Minerva finally asked, after they were seated in her study, brandy in their glasses, "Care to explain what the hell you were thinking baiting her in public?"
Severus sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I should think that would be obvious, Minerva. It was fun."
"Severus," Now it was Minerva's turn to sigh, "I realize you derive some sort of sadistic pleasure from upsetting others, but must you do it in such a public manner? It's embarrassing."
"Well at least you aren't going to ask me to stop," Severus' voice was dry, "just change venues…"
"Of course I would like you to stop!" She took another sip of her drink, "But God knows that I wouldn't expect you to change now."
"Good to know."
Minerva sighed again in exasperation. "Oh, get out of here, you insufferable man!"
Severus stood up and bowed to her, mockingly. "As you wish, Minerva." As he reached the door to her study he looked over his shoulder, "I shall see you tomorrow evening, then?"
"Hmph. I suppose." Just as he was about to leave, Minerva called, "Oh, and Severus, if you would like to avoid having your nose rearranged in a most unpleasant way… I do suggest you stop looking down her bodice. Or at least stop telling her you are doing so."
Severus didn't bother to answer.
So Uncle Severus wanted to talk with him, Draco mused as his carriage wound its way through the London streets to his townhouse. Somehow he doubted it had anything to do with the pretty little witch Severus was escorting… Still, she was something of a puzzle. What did that little Gryffindor girl have that would impress his godfather to the point of declaring for her, however covertly? Draco was not oblivious to the symbolism of her gown, especially after witnessing that display on the dance floor.
More importantly, Draco could have sworn that Lady Amelia was practically engaged to on Sir Harry Potter; or at least she was according to Potter. Potter was besotted with the girl, and from the letters he had shared with Draco, she was just as besotted as he. Yet there was no doubt in Draco's mind that the girl had it bad for his uncle… The sexual tension between the two could be cut with a knife. So it begged the question: was Amelia Lupin just a tart? Or was there something else going on? Draco was willing to lay odds on the latter, for Severus would never settle for a common girl.
Still he was sure that Severus didn't want him to come over just to talk about his godfather's love life. iSo it must have something to do with the fight I had with Father./i
Lucius Malfoy's fanatical devotion to the puffed up half-blood Voldemort was a source of strife between father and son. Draco couldn't understand following a hypocrite and megalomaniacal madman all for some promised future power… and Lucius would not forgive him that. At this point Draco would not be surprised to learn that his father had disinherited him, but he hoped it would not come to that.
Well, whatever it was that Severus wanted, Draco wouldn't know until morning, so he might as well get some much needed sleep. His last thought was that the morning's meeting would likely prove interesting.
Severus woke the next morning with what could only be called a raging headache. The combined tensions of his dealings with Hermione and planning what exactly he was going to say to his godson this morning, heaped as they were upon barely four hours of sleep, had him in a foul mood with an aching head. As he peeled himself from bed and began his morning ablutions, Severus summoned a House Elf to give instructions to have a vial of Headache Relief placed next to his morning tea.
After breakfast, and a good dose of a potion, Severus was feeling much improved and fully prepared to take on guiding his godson in a direction that would not lead the boy to the noose. For Severus had no doubt that Lucius' plans for the lad would lead there. Voldemort was an enemy of the crown, and following him was High Treason.
He was seated in his study, the early afternoon sun warm upon his back, when his butler came to inform him of Draco's arrival. "Marquess Malfoy is here, Your Grace."
Severus looked up briefly from the reports he had received that morning from his eyes down at the docks. "Show him in, then. And we're not to be disturbed. For any reason."
"Of course, Your Grace." With a polished bow, the man let himself out.
Draco entered the room with an arrogant raised brow and a haughty smirk, trademark to his nature. Severus glowered at him. The damned boy was too good looking for his own good, and knew it very well. Slytherin that Draco was, he was not above using his looks to his advantage. Severus knew very well that Draco likely offered him his only competition for Hermione's affections. The boy was sharply intelligent, almost as dark in his humor as Severus himself, and highly attractive and charming. Beyond this, Draco was one of the few young men that Severus was sure would recognize Hermione for the treasure she was. Severus knew that if he were to fall short in his pursuit of the girl, Draco would not be far behind ready to take her for himself, consequences be damned. But that was not why they were both here.
"Would you like a glass of brandy, Draco? This does not promise to be a light conversation."
He could see the connections forming behind those impossibly silver eyes. "Brandy sounds just the thing then," Draco replied. Severus busied himself pouring for the both of them, covertly slipping a half dose of Veratiserum into Draco's. It would loosen his tongue only; make him more inclined towards honesty, without the full out drugged state of the full dose.
He handed the glass to Draco, sipping from his own at the same time. Draco downed his in one shot, and moved to the sideboard to pour another. When he noticed his godfather's slightly incredulous look, Draco simply shrugged and moved to a seat in front of Severus' desk. Severus himself sat behind the desk, and peered at the young man through hooded eyes. He decided that now was not the time for beating around the bush. "Tell me, Draco, what do you think of the Death Eaters?"
Draco's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he paused before answering. "Honestly?" At Severus' nod, "They're all bloody insane, if you ask me. But then my opinion isn't exactly a secret."
"Nor is it exactly well known." Severus considered his next question carefully, "How many besides myself and your father know of your opinion?"
"I would say a few House Elves. No one else. People know Father and I are having a difference of opinion, and that the old bastard has once again threatened to disown me, but he's done that so many times over the last few years, that it's no new news." He paused and considered. "They might know I am reluctant to join, but not my reasons for that reluctance."
"Funny, I heard of your spat with Lucius, and the reason for it, from Alfred Parkinson, at last night's ball."
"Well, I had to tell him at least a bit, didn't I? I'm courting that horrid excuse for a young woman they call daughter."
"Then you hold no affection for Lady Pansy?"
"God, no!" Draco's face distorted in disgust. "The girl is a pug: ugly as one of those horrid dogs, and just as nasty. It's what Father wants."
"I see."
"Do you?"
"You seek Lucius' approval in at least one aspect of your life, if for no other reason than to save your inheritance."
"I assure you, Uncle Severus, it is for no other reason."
"And if I told you Lucius was a traitor?" Here was the delicate part: the boy might not love his father, but Lucius iwas/i his father.
"I would believe you." No hesitation there.
"Ah, but would you help me?" The crux of the matter, at last.
"What did you have in mind?" Draco even looked mildly eager. Severus wondered how long that would last.
It was a much more subdued Draco Malfoy that sat down early that evening to have dinner with his godfather. What Severus had asked him to do… It was foolhardy, dangerous, and so positively devious that only a true Slytherin would be able to undertake it and survive. It was perfect. It would free him from his father, and hopefully clear his own name of any connections with that madman Voldemort.
Draco scowled at his dinner, forcing his mind to turn away from these serious thoughts. No use ruining a perfectly good dinner… Now how to pose his question… "So, Uncle Severus," Draco began, a sharp glint in his eye, "tell me why you are courting Harry Potter's fiancée?"
The sight of his godfather spewing his wine halfway across the table in surprise would be a memory that would get Draco through all the hard times he would encounter for the rest of his days.
"iHarry Potter's/i fiancée?!"
"Amelia Lupin, by her own hand, accepted Potter's proposal more than six months ago. I saw the letter myself." Draco could barely control his laughter at the look of murderous rage on Severus' face.
"That insolent brat! Of course she wouldn't mention who the idiot boy was!"
"So you knew your girl was engaged to another man?" Draco was honestly confused by this. He thought his godfather had more honor than that.
Severus, however, was obviously not thinking clearly at that moment for he let slip the girls secret, however unwittingly. "Of course not! I knew her cousin was engaged!" Pieces clicked in Draco's brain.
"That wasn't Amelia Lupin!" He was shocked to say the least. He also had the dubious, and incredibly rare, pleasure of seeing a look of minor panic flash across his Uncle Severus' features.
"What are you talking about? Of course it was," Severus actually sounded quite calm, considering.
"No, I'd be willing to wager my new stud that the girl I danced with last night was the inestimable Miss Hermione Granger."
TBC
A/N: So there it is. Any bets on how long it will take the entire ton to find out? Please leave a review. They really do help me write.
Review Responses:
Taya: We all miss things sometimes.
Besa: Well, you know how I feel about it being easy. I did mean for them to say it that way. As for the Kat one. She is still only a plot device, and I am uncomfortable continuing it until I know more about her. Hopefully the RP will help.
Anarane Anwamane: He did, didn't he?
Sinj: I'm only now developing a taste for Regency. I find Jane Austin is much more likable when I'm writing my own story.
Everyone else: Huge thanks and lots of hugs.