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 13: Prelude to the Meeting
Draco had fled the Headmaster's office when Snape had motioned him to leave. Snape was gasping in pain, and Albus Dumbledore could only do so much; the rest would have to come from Snape and Draco. Snape groaned and closed his eyes, waiting for the Headmaster to say something.
"Severus, are you going to be well enough to take Draco to his meeting? He can't go alone, and I don't know that there is anyone else we can trust to guard him. But I won't risk you, my friend," Albus said, resting his hand on Snape's shoulder as he tried to assess the damage that had been done.
"Albus, I won't send him into the vipers nest alone, nor will I send him with anyone other than me. Do what you can, and perhaps I can visit Poppy for any lingering effects. But I maintain that I will do as I have always done: protect him, though he doesn't know why," Snape said and sighed, passing out due to his pain.
"I know, my friend," Albus said softly, going to work on Severus's wounds while the younger man was unconscious and impervious to the pain of the healing spells.
Draco had gone straight to his room to change and gather what he needed for the meeting after he left Dumbledore's office. He changed out of his clothes from the night before and donned black slacks and a black button-down shirt, quickly placing his dress-robes over them before he turned around to grab the object from Dumbledore's office.
Draco was almost out of his rooms with the pillbox from Dumbledore's office when Hermione bounded up to him.
"Draco, where're you going, all dressed up?" Hermione asked, obviously confused. "We need to start on our potions project, and I thought we could get something to eat before we started. You do look mighty swift, though."
Draco forced a smile on his face, and tried to figure out what to say.
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you. Besides which, I don't think you'd believe me."
"Try me."
"I'm going to meet with the Dark Lord and hand over something I stole from Dumbledore's office," Draco said, smiling slightly, pulling Hermione in for a quick embrace.
Hermione laughed. "Alright, so you don't want to tell me what you're doing. Find me when you get back, will you?"
Draco nodded, but as he left, he turned to face Hermione again. "Who're you spending time with today?"
"Probably just the regulars. Why?"
"Good. Ah, nothing. See you for dinner tonight?"
"Sure. My rooms, this time, though," Hermione gave Draco a quick peck on the cheek before she headed to her own rooms.
Draco looked to the ceiling before he headed for Dumbledore's office, the first stretch of his journey for the day.
Snape had gone down to the hospital ward and come back to Dumbledore's office by the time Draco got back. The young man was breathless and looked quite sallow. Dumbledore was pacing, which he never did. Draco had stuffed the pillbox in his pocket and knocked on the final door to the office.
Dumbledore opened the door with a crack. He let Draco in silently, and closed the door firmly behind him. Snape was standing, leaning on the back of an overstuffed chair. Draco approached his favorite teacher carefully.
"Are you alright, Professor?" Draco said evenly, looking at Snape with something akin to affection in his eyes.
"Yes, Draco. This will be a short meeting, and then we will not be going back for a while. What did you tell Granger?" Snape said, standing up straight, the pain showing in his eyes.
"The truth. I knew she wouldn't believe it. She probably thinks I'm out with someone else," Draco said, looking at the floor.
Dumbledore had to laugh. "You and our Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy? And what has Mr. Weasley to say about this?"
"They are 'seeing other people', as some would put it. In fact, she's spending today with him," Draco said, blushing slightly. He definitely did not want to be discussing his love life with his headmaster and professor.
"As she did with you last night?"
"She better not be!" it was out before Draco could think, and he just groaned. "Can we get this finished? I want to be back here sooner rather than later, now that I have that to consider."
"Very well. I will be Apparating the both of us to Malfoy Manor today. You will be called by the Dark One, give your report, hand over the object, be dismissed, and then we will come back here straight away," Snape said, worry clear in his eyes. He frowned, then spoke again. "Don't worry, my boy, I'll be right beside you the entire time, as always."
Albus smiled at the younger men and spoke one last time. "Draco, pay attention to your professor and nothing will happen to you. We will protect you."
Draco nodded, and Snape embraced the boy to Apparate to Malfoy Manor.
Draco and Snape arrived at Malfoy Manor almost instantly. Each took a moment to make sure everything had arrived along with them, and then they were walking up the long path to the manor proper.
When they stood outside the immense double-doors, Snape turned to Draco and embraced him firmly. The doors swung open, and Lucius Malfoy tried to punch Snape, who grabbed the blonde man's fist mid-swing.
"So, Severus, it isn't enough that you love my wife, now you're after my son," Lucius said severely, wrenching his fist from the dark haired man's grip.
Snape kept his arm around Draco's shoulders as he spoke to Lucius. "Narcissa loves as she would. But I can tell you that she has never once cheated on you in the time that you've been married to her. All, what about 16 years? And Draco was born not long after you married, nine months almost to the day. So apparently, you weren't beating her back then."
Lucius raised his hand again, aiming for Draco. Snape grabbed his fist again, and hissed at Lucius. "You will not harm him this day!"
Lucius wrenched his hand free again and let it rest at his side. Draco was confused by the entire display, but his attention was diverted when a small, frail blonde figure appeared in the hall coming toward the three men.
"Mum!" Draco said, starting for her before he realized his father was in the way.
"Narcissa, get back to your damned music room!" Lucius roared, wand raised.
Draco snapped. He raised his hand immediately Lucius's wand caught fire. Lucius swore and dropped the expensive piece of wood, reeling on Draco.
"You're a bastard! Pyrokinesis doesn't run in the Malfoy family! You," he growled, turning on Snape. "When?"
Snape stiffened and paled as Lucius, Draco and Narcissa all stared at him with different questions in their eyes. Lucius, angry and wanting to know when he had been betrayed; Narcissa, begging him to save her; Draco, wondering what had happened and who he was.
"I told you. Narcissa never cheated on you during the time you have been married," Snape said quietly.
Narcissa stepped forward, towards Severus. "I never wanted to marry you, Lucius. You are cruel and dark. So on the night before I wed you, I gave myself to my true husband. Draco is the product of that night, not of the vicious rape you perpetrated on me the night I was forced to wed you."
Draco was dazed, but Lucius was livid. "You bloody cunt! How dare you?! I raised this boy as if he were my own flesh and blood. How dare you?!" Lucius could only raise his fist to strike his wife, but Draco's eyes flashed to Lucius.
"I wouldn't, if I were you. Flesh will burn as easily as wood for me. You've gotten what you deserve, you prick. Now, I have an appointment to keep. We can all discuss this after that. And don't think of mentioning this to the Dark Lord, Lucius. He would be much more likely to kill you for lack of a son than for being tricked or caught up in young love," Draco said in a dead voice. He strode into the house with confidence, but inside he was crippled and young.
The trio of adults stood mortified by the entrance to the manor. Snape was outside, Lucius inside, and Narcissa in the doorway.
"He wasn't supposed to find out like this," Snape thought.
"They were never supposed to find out," Narcissa thought.
"Bloody fuck. The Dark Lord will kill us all," Lucius thought.