Severus clenched his jaw tight trying to calm down. How dare the Potter brat make him wait constantly. Severus Snape was not about to humiliate himself by chasing the obnoxious little fool around. The boy didn't want his help? So be it. He was so stupid for even thinking about trying to help the Gryffindor.
"And let him try and start a fight again. I'll be sure to get my hands on him before McGonagall even finds out what he did." He hissed angrily correcting potions essays, viciously insulting the ineptitude of some of the worst ones in the pile.
He winced as he felt the dark mark activate. It resembled how he would imagine a fire snake would feel slithering under the skin of his arm, twisting and curling around the ligaments and muscle. It was worse when the other was angry. Although he hoped more for anger when it came to his duty of protecting Potter.
He stood and left all his work as it was. He took advantage of his present anger for the Gryffindor to occlude all other memories of where he had been insane enough to start liking him. Then he went to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo powder.
"Malfoy Manor." He spoke clearly and watched his office melt away into green flames, Malfoy's parlour appearing instead.
He went to the meeting area and kneeled before the Dark Lord, who was sitting regally at the head of the table, one hand absently caressing an old book with yellowed pages, bound in stiff black leather with silver clasps.
"Severus, I'm so glad you could make it."
"Of course my lord." Severus said, inclining his head a little further.
"Rise now, join us. I was just explaining my most recent plan of action." He said. A secret plan since not everyone from the inner circle was here. Only Lucius was here, not even Bellatrix was present, though she may still be struggling to get back in the Dark Lord's good graces. "I have sent Draco a personal request on my part."
The hairs on the back of Severus' neck stood on end. His affiliation to the Malfoys was purely for the cause and for his position as spy. When he became Draco's godfather he didn't do it due to any friendliness towards Lucius or Narcissa, in fact to this day he could barely stand the spoilt heir. The Malfoys only chose him because he had been in good favours with the Dark Lord back then. However, he could not overlook that Draco was as much a child as Potter was. He couldn't imagine what pressure the boy would have in order to carry out this mission properly or risk getting his parents killed… or worse.
"A request my lord?" Lucius asked, emotionless. He was not an occlumens but he was a Slytherin and was trained in the skilful art of showing little care for the things most important to him. That way people will target something else if they tried to get to Lucius. Even the Dark Lord.
"I have asked him to befriend Harry Potter. Tell me Severus, what is their relationship?" Red eyes turned to him and Severus occluded.
"They are not on good terms to say the least, my lord. It will take a lot for Draco to be able to get on Potter's good side." He said.
"And Harry? How is he?" Severus felt a chill as the man used the boy's first name.
"Mostly isolated. His little interview has gotten him some favour back with the students but not much. He seems much more quiet than usual and keeps to himself." The Dark Lord smirked and chuckled as he thought of something. Severus wished he could know what that was. If he knew the Dark Lord well enough, the other would keep his true intentions secret for a while longer.
"I will ask you, Severus, to assist the young Malfoy to have more chances alone with Harry. It would help my plan move along faster." He said.
"To get the prophecy my lord?" Lucius asked. Voldemort paused and grinned, chuckling softly.
"Yes… the prophecy… of course." Severus felt an uncomfortable knot forming in his stomach. There was a new plan… but what?
Potter would never become friends with Draco Malfoy. He doubted Draco could even manage to swallow his pride long enough to pretend to like the Gryffindor.
"Should Draco Malfoy fail?" Severus asked. The Dark Lord rose his hand to pet the large snake that had risen to rest against the back of his chair. Severus could see that the book was bound with the crest of Salazar Slytherin.
"Well… then I suppose we could initiate him early and teach him a thing or two about insubordination." In the dimly illuminated room, Severus wasn't sure, but he swore he saw the Malfoy patriarch pale slightly, though his expression remained as cool and impassive as before.
"I will make sure my son makes you proud my Lord." Malfoy said without missing a beat.
oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo
Severus arrived home to the surprise of delivered parcels stacked neatly on the desk of his office. He checked the labels and made sure they were not cursed. Opening them and laying them out to the side he took a deep breath as he placed them down with increasing care realising they were the rare and expensive ingredients he had yet to order again.
He searched for the note from the store owner which he found tucked at the bottom.
'Professor Snape, here is a fresh order of a batch of ingredients already paid for by one Draco Malfoy. I hear he caused some accidental waste of your supply. I have added an extra couple of measurements on each ingredient and hope you continue to seek our services for any further purchases.'
"Potter!" He hissed and scrunched the paper. "If you have so much time to brew polyjuice potion then work on your curriculum potions." He hissed throwing the note to the fire. The brat's pride clearly did not want to owe Severus anything. Severus couldn't blame him. He would have done the exact same thing, but to think the brat walked all the way to Hogsmeade with that much money in his pockets.
Even as Draco Malfoy he could have gotten attacked.
"By Merlin… this boy is one headache after another." He said as he took a deep breath.
Now he had to assist with Draco's mission. He had to go tell Dumbledore. He carefully put the ingredients away and went to inform the headmaster.
oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo
Draco paled and shuddered as he read who was addressing this letter to him. It was the reason he was told to stay in the castle for Christmas instead than with his mother.
He had been given a mission. A mission by he-who-must-not-be-named. And it was an impossible mission.
He faintly heard his classmates calling his name, asking what was wrong. He simply scrunched up the letter and threw it into the common room's fire place, as if the parchment itself had scolded his skin. Terror coursed through his veins as he sat down trying to think.
"Draco!" Pansy exclaimed for what seemed like the tenth time. He turned to her and the rest of his group of Slytherins.
"Be silent! Do not talk to me!" He snapped and stood, heading out.
"But Draco! I-!" Draco didn't hear the rest as the portrait slammed shut behind him and he stalked the quiet corridors, only half an hour until curfew. It wasn't his turn to check the corridors tonight but he still would use his status as prefect if any other dolt tried to stop him.
How on earth was he supposed to become friends with Potter? Finally he was getting some recognition for being in the inquisitor squad and now the Dark Lord wants him to befriend the boy-who-lived.
It seemed like the opportunity was sent from the souls up above. As he rounded the corner following several minutes of wandering and desperately thinking just how much he needed Potter's friendship to protect his mother, he saw a door materialising and he blinked in surprise. He looked both ways down the corridor to make sure no one was around and opened the door. The calling of spells suddenly came to a halt and he looked at all the shocked faces looking back at him.
Animals of white mist still fluttered around the room and he couldn't believe it. Finally he had found out where Potter and all his followers had been sneaking off to. He finally found out what they were up to, sort of. And finally he could present them to Umbridge on a silver platter. Except that he couldn't.
"Malfoy! What are you doing here?" Weasley was the one to exclaim. Malfoy heard steps from behind and shut the door instead, stepping back from the door, watching it melt away. He turned in time to see Umbridge coming round the corner, looking pleased with herself.
oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo
Everyone scrambled to get their stuff and Harry made sure to help anyone who was the slowest. A different door materialised and the students quietly but in a hurry, left the room. Harry, Hermione and Ron were the last.
"Mister Malfoy! What a surprise, I didn't know you were on duty tonight." Umbridge's voice said just around the corner. There was no way of closing the door without her hearing it. The three remained frozen, hearing out to see what Malfoy would say, to see if they made a run for it.
"Should have brought my cloak." Harry whispered. Hermione pinched him to be quiet.
"I had to come see you professor! I have a plan for catching Potter. I believe they are doing something in the greenhouse at some point one of these nights. I thought I heard whispers about it." All three were taken back. Was… Draco Malfoy… lying for them? Malfoy had them one wall away and still wouldn't tell on them?
"Oh then we must go at once to check!" She said, the clicking of her shoes drawing closer.
"O-oh wait! Professor… I... I…" Draco Malfoy, stuttering was very amusing. But it was likely he would not keep her still for long. "I thought I heard someone running this way! Come!" And Umbridge fell for it because the clicking of her shoes were heard getting further and further away.
The trio looked at each other and closed the door, running to the safety of the Gryffindor common room. Once there, as they caught their breath, Hermione was the only one to speak.
"Gentlemen… I believe hell hath frozen over." And neither knew whether to laugh or not.
