Lucius' drunken voice rises from the darkness, despite their best efforts to remain as quiet as possible. He staggers towards them and Severus shies away, but Harry stands his ground. He finds Severus' hand and pulls him forward. Lucius sees their interlocking fingers and sneers. He does what has become instinct to him and raises his hand, but before it can find it's mark Harry catches it at the wrist and forces it back down. Lucius glares at him, and he glares back with superior vehemence. He switches targets, Severus being so much easier to intimidate after years spent breaking him.
"You're not leaving." Severus almost agrees, but Harry's hand tightens around his. He tries to swallow but his mouth's too dry.
"Yes I am, Lucius. Do you understand? I am." Lucius' confidence wavers and replaced by anger.
"And what are you going to do when he loses interest in you? When he realises that you're a pathetic, half-blood, son of a -"
"Enough!" Harry steps in front of Severus protectively. "We're leaving, Mr Malfoy. I suggest you find someone else to take your anger out on." Lucius leans over Harry, so close that he can smell the alcohol on his breath and see dark smudges of charcoal eyeliner.
"You don't know what the hell you're talking about, Potter. Whatever lies he's been feeding you, I'm afraid that his sole intention was to lure you into his bed."
"I don't know what I'm talking about? I've seen the bruises, and the burns, and the cuts. How long did you think it could go on without somebody noticing?" Harry's shouting, and that gives Severus the courage he needs to stand beside him, rather than use him as a sort of human shield. "You're sick, Malfoy." Lucius' gaze returns to Severus.
"I thought we'd agreed not to tell, Sev. I'm afraid you're going to have to pay for breaking our pact." Harry speaks up again.
"No. He won't."
"Harry?" Draco seems confused to find all three of them there at some godforsaken hour of the morning, but his eyes widen in surprise and sudden understanding when he glimpses Harry and Severus' joined hands.
"Are you leaving me?" His lip trembles slightly but he holds back his tears. Harry steps towards him, surrendering Severus' hand for the time being.
"I'm so sorry, Draco." Lucius scoffs.
"So you were just going to go without telling me? Without even trying to explain why?" Lucius stands beside his son, placing a perfectly manicured hand on his shoulder in a gesture of mock comfort.
"I tried to tell you, Draco. I said he'd hurt you."
"Don't listen to a word he says." Severus' voice wavers slightly, but he holds on to the morsel of authority he still has.
"But hey, listen to your esteemed godfather. How long do you think he's been screwing your boyfriend when your back was turned?"
"Your father's hardly perfect either. He's put me through hell, and I doubt Narcissa fared much better."
"Shut up!" There are tears streaming freely from Draco's eyes, eyes so much like his father's apart from the cruel glint they adopt when inflicting pain. Lucius and Severus back down and Harry steps forward gingerly. Draco smiles grimly.
"I thought you loved me."
"I do, Draco. Please believe me. I love you more than you'll ever know."
"But you love him more?" Harry runs his hand through his unruly hair.
"No…yes. Oh, I don't know! It's too complicated. I'm sorry, Draco. I have to go."
"So you keep saying."
While Harry and Draco talk, Severus watches Lucius. He's pacing again, that strict figure eight, and his breathing is harsh. His hands clench and unclench at his sides compulsively, and Severus knows that he'll hit him if they don't leave soon, regardless of Harry and Draco's presence. He becomes scared for Draco, perfectly aware of how much Lucius could cause him to suffer.
"Draco, you should leave with us." Lucius laughs coldly and Severus steps back instinctively.
"Wouldn't that be a cosy little arrangement? Can I come too?" Harry and Severus wince and Severus addresses Draco again.
"Please don't stay here. Not with him." Draco rounds on him.
"He's not the one who's hurt me!" Over his head Severus sees Lucius grin triumphantly. The expression's horrible, twisting his perfect features and making them ugly.
"Harry, we should go."
"Please." Draco's voice is barely above a whisper. "I need you."
"No you don't. You'll find someone else, someone who deserves you." Harry smiles despondently. "You're beautiful." He tries to brush the tears from Draco's face but he pushes his hand away.
"Don't touch me." Harry looks down before moving towards the door, taking Severus' hand. He feels something hit his back and turns inelegantly. He bends down and picks the silver engagement ring from the floor. On Draco's finger it was unpretentious and elegant, perfect. Now it looked plain.
"So much for promises."
22
Lucius sat in the dark and drank. He wanted Severus back. He needed to hurt him, more than he ever had before. He wanted to hear his bones crack and his voice hoarse from screaming. He wanted to see him broken and bleeding and begging for forgiveness he would never receive. Potter too.
He thought of how Potter had looked when dancing with Draco, when walking with him in the gardens, when telling him again and again that he needed to go. He remembered the sorrow and guilt in his eyes.
I suggest you find someone else to take your anger out on.
He grinned and stumbled clumsily to his feet, thinking 'you know what, Harry? I might just do that.'
333
Daily Prophet. 11th October
'Murder' at Malfoy Manor?
This morning, police were alerted by Lucius Malfoy about the death of his son, Draco Malfoy.
The distraught divorcee phoned the authorities at about 7am, claiming that his son was bleeding profusely and that 'he needs help quick. Before it's too late.' He was proclaimed dead by a bullet to the brain at 7.15 am.
After allegations of unlawful death, the auror leading the investigation, Alastor Moody, said that 'the case is being treated as suspicious, but we cannot insist on murder so early on in the proceedings.'
Lucius Malfoy, 52, is of the opinion that his son, 26, committed suicide after a tragic incident between his fiancé, Harry Potter,and his godfather, Severus Snape, who are being tracked down for their statements.
The promising young man's heartache came after a steady battle with depression after the sudden departure of his mother, Narcissa Black, some years ago. Mr Malfoy said that, the night before his death, Draco been so unhappy that he had 'feared he would do something stupid.'
Investigations continue.
4444
Lucius was confident that that people would accept the suicide story. He hadn't left any evidence, even in his drunken stupor, and if they did find some he'd overlooked he was unlikely to suffer for it. He'd learnt a long time ago that money goes a long way.
Draco had been a high price to pay for their misery, but by God were they hurting. Lucius wished that he could feel their pain, savour it, and then he would be able to say, with utter conviction, that he'd won. Just like he always wins.
Fin.
I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from. I didn't mean for it to be so dark. Oops.