Chapter 36: Pitfalls of The Disingenuous
{A/N: Another upload...late post...sorry for the misspells...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Unknown Location, Wizarding World...
A storm had been brewing on the horizon. Winds picked up as the first trickling of rain started to fall into the dry grayish dirt below the ebony dragon hide boots of one Severus Snape. The Potions Master stood firm as the winds lashed at his ebony robes and lengthy raven hair. His obsidian eyes focused on the form of yet another death eater come to have a chat on a most auspicious day. Gone had been the luxurious bounce and tantalizing streaks of platinum blond from the head of one formerly handsome and charismatic Lucius Abraxas Malfoy. The effortless gentleman like posture and elegant poise that had been so long attached to his common grace when in appearance had gone as well, replaced by the beaten a broken mass still struggling to get to his feet as the blood dripped from various slash wounds that lacerated his otherwise perfectly smooth alabaster flesh.
He had been sickeningly pale from his exploits, his once charming smile and mischievous glint behind his captivating gray eyes replaced fear and anguish, his expression grim and his overall appeal that of a truly broken wizard. Despite the blood that ran through his veins being pure, Lucius knew the fate that awaited him. His existence a cold and dismal shell of what it once had been as he looked back into the eyes of his long time friend...his "little brother."
"Lucius." said Snape trying his best not to shower the man in pity, for he himself had hated when it was done on his own behalf.
The beaten wizard simply held up a trembling pale hand.
"This meeting will be short...Severus." he said struggling to keep his voice from cracking under the weight of strain. "I must return and accept my fate but I will do so when I have your assurance that you will look after my wife and son in my absence."
"I already told you that I would." replied Snape stepping ever so slowly toward his friend.
Lucius was barely holding up. Any moment his knees would give way and he would double over. His pride in shreds and his humiliation realized before the very eyes of the young wizard he once mentored in the ways of the dark lord.
"I know." replied Lucius. "I just needed to hear it again..."
"Reassurance?" asked Snape emotionless.
"Something like that." replied Lucius.
Before he knew it, the formerly handsome blond wizard's knees buckled but it had been fortunate for him that Severus had managed to catch him before he fell over completely. The senior Malfoy had taken quite a beating in the wake of his failure at the Ministry of Magic.
"Severus..." said Lucius now coughing up blood as he double over sheltered by Snape's ebony clad arms as they wrapped around him to steady him.
"Lucius you have my word that I will look after Narcissa and Draco while you are away." he said. "But they still need you...the up-coming battles are not going to be without their share of casualties."
Lucius caught his breath and gripped Snape's sleeve taking on the appearance of a frightened child rather than seasoned death eater.
"I-I don't think I'll survive this, Severus." said Lucius letting his little brother know just how vulnerable he had been in this moment.
Snape tried to look passed the broken being before him as he met his fearful gray eyes. He had never seen Lucius Malfoy like this before. The feeling of hopelessness was something he had been use to but to see it in another was well and truly daunting.
"He wants Dumbledore dead." said Lucius. "He's asked that Draco..."
Snape knew exactly how this was to all play out. Draco was to kill Dumbledore in a bid to get his father freed from Azkaban and Narcissa would be subject to whatever torments the dark lord had in store for her at Malfoy Manor in her husband's absence. Draco had been a wild and unpredictable student while he attended Hogwarts, he knew nothing about the true weight of his responsibilities as the son of a death eater and being forced to take the dark mark wasn't going to help his already distorted persona.
It was going to be hell trying to get through to the boy if he could manage it at all. If Lucius was this fearful then there was no doubt in his mind that Draco would be terrified given all that was happening to his family.
"I'm sorry." said Snape knowing all too well what was being asked of the boy.
Once again Dumbledore would have his way and Severus would have to do his bidding. It was his relationship with Hermione put up against his history with The Malfoys.
"You do whatever you have to do to survive." said Snape in a firm tone.
Lucius nodded.
Snape helped the senior Malfoy to his feet.
"I mean it, Lucius." he said in a deathly serious tone. "Survive."
The implication in his little brother's tone was enough to put steel in his spine.
"I will." said Lucius.
Snape sighed.
This was going to be a long war indeed and already he had suffered the most losses.
"Whatever happens." said the Potions Master still with a serious expression. "Know that I will always have your best interest at heart."
"I do." replied Lucius. "Little Brother."
The senior Malfoy took his leave of Snape, going with a bit more dignity than when he arrived and a promise to survive whatever The Dark Lord threw at him. It had been the least he could do, for his wife and son and for his little brother whom had given up so much to keep him safe.
Lucius returned to Malfoy Manor where he was immediately set upon by his fellow death eaters and dragged to Azkaban for failing the dark lord. Narcissa and Draco found themselves alone with their home overrun by unwelcome guests and a seemingly deranged Bellatrix as their only protection.
Unable to take any more of the madness that befell her family, Narcissa could think of only one other who would be able to help her son and save him from the grisly fate that awaited him in a bid to protect those he loved. Lucius' only remaining friend within the ranks of the death eaters, Severus Snape.