On the Differences Between Soulmates and Lifemates
disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters therein belong to J.K. Rowling and are borrowed by the author. Any other, original characters belong to the author. Don't take them they'll run away and come back home to me.
Chapter 7: Draco's Visitor
Draco had barely finished half the food on his plate when his fireplace burst into flame and the head of a very pissed off certain potions-turned-defense against the dark arts teacher appeared therein. Severus Snape had gotten the job of his dreams, but it hadn't softened him one bit. Draco pushed his plate back and got up to walk over to the fireplace when Snape pulled himself out and into the room.
"Sit down, Draco. We need to talk. You visited your family today, as we planned?" Snape got right to business.
"Yes," Draco replied, "I did, and it wasn't pretty. My first chore is an errand. He wants an object from Dumbledore's office. He doesn't care what, but said he'll know if it comes from anywhere else."
"Good. It would seem the Dark one hasn't changed a bit. Do you know your father had the same errand when he came into service?" Snape asked, eyeing Draco for any sign of weakness.
"No, I didn't. we don't often have father-son heart-to-hearts, you know?" Draco hissed. "Is the headmaster ready?"
"Yes. He's waiting for you. You're to go and physically pick something form his office. He mentioned that Voldemort may be able to discern if you actually picked the object up from the office, and that is why I didn't just bring you something. Come along, Draco. We can't wait around for you to sneak girls in and out all night," Snape almost laughed, and Draco saw why his mother had been so enamored of him: he truly cared about her, and Draco.
"Surely you jest, Professor. I'm a prefect of high standing. I would never do anythi"
"Like you wouldn't be caught dead with Granger, yet I saw you with her Thursday, Thursday night, Friday morning, and I saw her leave your rooms before I arrived. You're playing with fire, Draco. No one else knows you're a member of the Order," with that, Snape turned and led Draco from the room.
Draco didn't know what to say. He knew Hermione was a member of the Order, it was just logic that the quad would be involved; they were Dumbledore's pets, by and large, and Draco knew that at some point he would be obliged to work with them. But he also knew that Hermione would now be suspicious, and he had to come up with a way to keep her from finding out the truth, even if it meant playing the dark.
"Good luck trying to keep Granger's nose out this. She's just like you, you know, Draco. Stubborn, tough as nails, and damn loyal to her own. A little too like you, at times. You two were my very best potions students," Snape said as the two rounded corners and climbed stairs to get to Dumbledore's office.
"So why aren't you teaching Potions, anymore?" Draco asked.
"I've wanted to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts for a long time, Draco," Snape dodged the question. "Look, we're here. Lime crickets," he said to the door.
The door to the final stairway leading to the Headmaster's office was revealed through the doorway. Draco started up first, with Snape closing the door tightly and following the young man.
"You've grown so much since your mother birthed you. I was there, you know. Your father refused to be there. So I found the midwife and brought her to your mother. Narcissa was my best friend from the time we were wee children, Draco. She's always been number one in my life, even during my brief service to Voldemort. In fact, she's the reason Dumbledore was able to pull me back from the edge."
"Your soulmate," Draco said as they reached the inner sanctum, Dumbledore's office. Snape couldn't say anymore because Albus Dumbledore threw the door open wide for them, ushering the two in as if they were just stopping by for a cup of tea, not to grab an artifact of some sort in order to fool the most evil, dark wizard of all.
"Severus, Draco. Come in, we need to do this quickly," Dumbledore said as he ushered the two men into his office, closing the door firmly behind them. "Draco, I'll turn my back as you select an item from my office. It is important that you, and only you, touch the object. You must choose the item yourself, and not tell me. I'll find out soon enough, after you've left. I won't look for anything until you've taken the object back to your father. Good luck, my boy."
Snape also turned his back to Draco's choice. Draco chose quickly, knowing he had to be able to draw a blank when he delivered the object to Voldemort. Draco chose a small pillbox inlaid with mother-of-pearl, which he assumed had been a gift to the Headmaster. Instead of mentioning his choice, Draco let himself quietly out of the office, leaving Snape and Dumbledore to each other.
"He can do this, Severus. He has your strength, you know. And Narcissa raised him to be as strong as she could, and he's had you since he was an infant. Trust him, and trust yourself," Dumbledore said quietly, fixing his half-moon spectacles on his nose.
"I know, Albus, but he's barely more than a babe," Snape began, but Dumbledore cut him off.
"And he'll be seventeen on his next birthday. Get him through this, and worry about that later. I promise you, Severus, you will get a chance to make up for all the lost time. Have faith in the line," Dumbledore said, turning to the door that led to his living quarters, leaving Severus Snape alone with his thoughts.