Chapter Three
What Are Friends For?
"And Severus Snape moved off to the other side of the Hall,
away from Lily,
to where the Slytherin's were cheering him,
to where Lucius Malfoy, a prefect badge gleaming upon his chest,
patted Snape on the back as he sat down beside him..."
-Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Page 673-
Severus sat at the base of the stairs dripping wet. He couldn't will himself to face his fathers twisted body. Instead he stared out into space for what seemed like hours, tracing his silver ring. It was a desperate day indeed ,when Severus Snape needed help from a Malfoy, but what was he to do?
Bury his father in the cramped back yard?
Cut him up into little pieces and throw him into the river with mother?
"fucking Malfoy." Severus sighed, removing his hand from the ring.
No. He couldn't even bear the thought of bringing a Malfoy here, no matter how dire the situation. Then again in comparison to touching Tobias, Severus wondered which of the two evils he could live with.
The only contact he'd ever had with his father was through a fist or a belt. Merlin, how he hated that belt!
His head throbbed from where his father cracked it against the wall. Severus touched it gently finding it still bleeding. Carefully he reached inside of his pockets, cursing himself for not taking it sooner, and pulled out one of his healing potions.
Yes, it was just wonderful being the top Potions student, Severus thought grimly, pulling the stopper out of the vial. He downed the contents quickly, making a mental note to try and tweak his potions a bit for better flavor.
Within moments he could feel the throbbing in his head lessen. It must have been serious because Severus noticed his neck still ached. The potion worked its way to the more crucial points of injury, then slowly spread through the rest of his system, but who knows how long that would take.
He sighed, before standing to head up the rickety old stairs and into the bathroom. Quickly he stripped, forgetting for a moment the nights events . He peeled off his Muggle clothes and cast them quickly aside. He stepped into the bath. He turned on the water. Hot and steaming. He needed the heat, the deliciously hot water was all that mattered.
He stood under the scalding water for a long time. His head hung, curtaining his face like a veil. Then after a while longer he sat beneath the water, unmoved even as the water began turning cold.
With his head leaning back against the edge of the tub, Severus found himself wanting to sleep there.
Instead, he wept.
Finally when he exhausted himself, Severus turned off the icy water and stepped out of the bath. He wrapped his towel around his waist and left the bathroom, avoiding the mirror as he did. When he entered his room Severus noticed two things.
One. His silver ring was burning his finger.
And Two. He wasn't alone.
In a flash Severus leaped aside, shoving his wand into the intruders only thing that stopped him from uttering a rather nasty curse was the icy blue eyes that stared back into his with an amused glint.
"Lucius!" Severus roared jerking away.
"Nice towel." The blond smirked, appraising the length of his body.
Severus blushed, turning quickly away to grab a pair underwear , cotton trousers, and a sweatshirt from his dresser drawer. He couldn't speak out of humiliation and fury. How could Lucous have found him, how did he know?
"you called." Lucius answered as though reading his mind. "or rather, cursed...'fucking Malfoy', was it not?"
"I didn't mean to call you-"
Lucius tutted, waving a silver snake cane in front of Severus."Ah but based on the dead body I passed on my way up makes me think that isn't entirely true."
"I don't need your help. I perfectly capable of cleaning my own messes. I'm not some pampered prince who needs others to do that for me." Severus sneered, quickly dressing. "Your presence is neither required nor desired."
Down stairs the two young wizards stood over Tobias's body.
At Lucius's amused expression at his fathers body, Severus felt an odd mixture of gratitude and shame.
"Wouldn't have thought of that. Interesting," He remarked at his fathers twisted neck "But creative."
On the one hand he was thankful Lucius wasn't coddling him, or giving him looks of pity. He wouldn't treat Severus as if he were fragile or weak. No, Lucius would never do that, even if Severus did want it.
On the other hand ,having Lucius Malfoy stalking about his house was almost too humiliating to bear. Severus had never brought anyone into his house before, not even Lily. It was a hovel at best.
Seeing Lucius ,immaculately dressed: in fairy silk robes, jeweled rings, and dragon hide boots, made Severus want to crawl into a hole and die. Of course he was never one to give a second thought to how he looked, but wearing rags in front of a Malfoy made Severus feel three inches tall.
"Charming Severus," Lucius smirked tearing his eyes away from Tobias to glance around the sitting room, "but I'm afraid this won't do at all."
"Lucius, I didn't call you for decorating advice. It is not wanted, nor is it desired." Severus snapped, sneering at the aristocratic blond. "Just help me transfigure the body- you know I'm not old enough to use my wand yet."
There, Severus thought, that's the closest he'll get to getting me to admit I need help.
"Then how did you... dispose... of him?" Lucius asked curiously poking Tobias' dead body with the tip of his cane. "Surly you didn't use Muggle means! Merlin Snape -how dreadfully savage!"
Lucius chuckled darkly, hiding his mouth with his smooth, jeweled fingers. Severus clenched his teeth, balling his hands into fists.
"It was accidental magic you dunderhead. By Hecate! I swear one day the Ministry will find a way to detect accidental magic." Severus said in a cold voice, pinching the bridge of his hooked nose. "And stop doing that!"
Immediately Lucius stopped poking the body, rolling his gray eyes. "You just have to take the fun out of everything don't you? Really Snape, I think Dolohov's right about you, you need to relax a little."
Severus wheeled about, glaring at Lucius. "Relax? You expect me to relax when my mothers body is at the bottom of the river- being devoured by fish, and my fathers is in a twisted heap in front of us? By my own hand no less!"
"Wait...You disposed of your mother as well?" Lucius said in an awe inspired tone. "I say Severus, the Dark Lord will be most pleased at your efforts to cleanse your line. A filthy Muggle, and his Blood traitorous whore-
WHAM!
All thought had left Severus as his fist connected to the side of Lucius' face.
"Do. Not .Speak .Of .Her," Severus spoke in a deadly voice, "Ever."
Lucius scrambled to his feet, whipping his wand out with a curse on his lips, but stopped when he saw Severus' expression.
He had always know Snape to be stoic, almost apathetic at times. He schooled his emotions well, and rarely expressed them. Lucius had never once ,in all the years of knowing Snape, seen him smile, or cry. He respected him more for it. Severus was well disciplined.
So the look of agony behind his black eyes, stopped Lucius short. For as hard as Severus tried closing his emotions off, Lucius realized just how much all of this was affecting the younger man. Instead he straitened his robes, turned towards the body and transfigured it into a bone.
"A little trick Crouch showed me at our last raid." Lucius explained, bending down to pick up the bone. Ever see his his tooth necklace?"
Lucius didn't look at Severus as he spoke, smirking as he pocketed the bone.
"Turns his kills into a tooth and adds it to his necklace, says it makes tedious raids more exciting. Even Bella asked him to make her a choker- those two belong together- although I don't know what Rodopholus is going to say when he sees it!"
Lucius glanced over. Severus appeared cooler now, masking his face behind a facade of annoyance.
"I'd rather not dwell on Bellatrix's love life," Severus shivered, crossing his arms, as is his outburst never happened. "I'd like to be able to sleep without nightmares tonight, if that's all right with you. I can't imagine anything more distasteful."
"At least she's not going to be your sister-in-law." Lucius snorted. "Although the prospect of having Cissy at my side makes it worth being related to her. Did I mention the date of our wedding yet?"
"I don't think now is the time." Severus sighed, crossing the room to lead Lucius towards the front door. "Give the bone to Crouch if you want. Throw it in the sewers, bury it, burn it. Give it your a bloody house elf. I don't care, but for now I'd like to get myself settled. You have my gratitude for assisting me-"
"Pardon?" Lucius stopped, raising an elegant eyebrow. "You don't honestly expect me to leave a friend alone during a time of need, do you?"
"Yes, I do. Now kindly leave."
"Severus, Severus, Severus." Lucius tsked waving his cane back and forth. "I'm not going anywhere without you. This year you'll spend the summer with me!"
"Over my cold .Dead .Body. And as you can see from tonight. I mean that."
"Severus, your under the Dark Lords protection. I've told him all about your ambitions."
"You speak to him of me?" Severus asked, startled. Something like a cold stone dropped in the pit of his belly.
"But of course- Avery, and Mulciber speak of you too. Your talents have peaked our Lord's interests, which means you must be properly groomed before introductions!"
Severus' mind was spinning. In the pit of his stomach he felt something sickening crawl. The Dark Lord was expecting him?
Severus thought on Lily's last words, unable to stop himself.
"'You and your precious little Death Eater friends- you see, you don't even deny it! You don't even deny that's what you're all aiming to be! You can't wait to join You-Know-Who, can you?'"
Was that what he really wanted?
Severus wanted to be a man people respected. No one respected a weak man. He knew if he was powerful enough- if he made something great of himself, that Lily would love him again. All would be as it was. He could also protect her. Being on the inside, that rot about blood supremacy. In reality, it didn't matter.
It was the faint hope that he could win Lily back, and protect her, that made Severus stop short.
"Come with me Severus- I'll take you under my wing like I did at Hogwarts. It'll be like old times!" Lucius continued, seeing the his calculating eyes shift. "You'll be well received- the Death Eaters are ferociously loyal, but you have talents they can only dream of. You came into Hogwarts ,as a first year ,knowing more curses than most seventh years- You excel in every lesson- invent your own spells and curses- and have the potential of becoming one of the youngest Potions Masters in history!"
"And my linage?" Severus asked curtly. "You can't tell me it means nothing. I'm a half-blood."
Lucius smirked, placing a jeweled hand on Snape's shoulder. Severus tried leaning away from the touch, hating their proximity.
"Our Lord is reasonable. He understands that some things cannot be helped. All he asks is for our loyalty." Lucius said softly, motioning his hand around. "You cannot tell me you wish to remain here the rest of your life do you? You are meant to do great things Severus Snape. With his help, you can."
Lucius smiled, leaning forward to whisper into his ear.
"And I'm sure he'd allow you to claim a certain green eyed Gryffindor all for yourself...oh yes Severus, I know all about your infatuation- its all Avery and Mulciber ever talked about. They couldn't understand your obsession with her, but I understand."
There was silence. Severus froze, his expressionless eyes flickered. For a moment it appeared Severus quivered. His shoulders slumped slightly as if holding some massive weight upon his shoulders.
"You don't." Severus whispered, turning away from the tall blond. "You understand nothing."
"You want her- you crave for her." Lucius chuckled. "The others see it as a phase, but you and I know you wont stop until you've had her in your bed. Its no use denying it. We've all had our weak moments with the lower filth. Mudbloods have to be good for something, right?"
Severus was silent. Inside, however he sighed in relief. For a moment he thought Lucius knew that he- Severus- loved Lily. Was this the reason his fellow housemates didn't seem to mind Severus' chasing after a Muggle Born? Did they all really use them for sex?
The thought of sex was inconceivable in Severus's mind. Lily was something much more that a carnal interest. She was someone to be worshiped and adored. His Lily was perfect.
She was the first person to make him feel as if he wasn't worthless. She was his first and only friend. She encouraged him to smile, and laugh. Just hearing Lily say his name could send him floating with happiness for days.
When she looked at him, she saw him. She listened to him, and fought him, and defended him...then like the fool that he was, threw it all back. He wasn't worthy of her. Oh, how he begged her to forgive him!
He was sorry, so very sorry he'd ever spoken that foul word to her. He would of gladly severed his tongue if it meant that they could be best friends again.
And unlike him, she was good, pure, innocent...and unforgiving.
Perhaps he could help protect her. It was possible to keep her safe if he was part of the Death Eaters inner circle. He would know firsthand knowledge of the Dark Lord, and know when, where , and who their raids would be planned on. Severus knew he could do it.
He would show Lily how brave he was. He'd show her he wasn't a coward. He'd impress her with his power and knowledge. He would get her back. All would be well again.
She would never look at him with respect if he remained as he was. He needed this. Lucius was right, he did have talents. He only needed the rest of the world to see just how great he was.
Severus swallowed, turning to face Lucius, studying the blonds pointed face with a long clear calculating expression. "When can I meet him?"
His voice was colorless. If Lucius did not know Severus so well he would have found his expression impossible to read. One had to pay special attention to the corners of Snape's deep black eyes. They appeared quite blank to the untrained eye, but if you studied them long enough you could see the slight flicker of life behind them, as if calculating a puzzle only he could solve.
Indeed, Snape had always been an enigma.
The tension in Lucius' frame relaxed. "I'm throwing a summer ball in August. I'll be announcing my engagement to Narcissa then, and with any luck The Dark Lord will be there as well."
"Great." Severus said shortly, rolling his eyes.
"Isn't it? Ah but what am I prattling on about anyway? Let us go, there's so much work to be done!" Lucius smiled, tossing his cane into the air and catching it with ease.
"Lucius."
"Yes?"
"I hate your cane."
This time it was Lucius's turn to roll his eyes in the most undignified way. "You know you love it." He laughed pulling Severus close to him "Next stop, Malfoy Manor!"
Severus gave his home one last glance. There was so many ghosts here. His mother, cleaning and cowering before his father. Tobias, drinking. Tobias beating his wife and son. Tobias laying face down in a pool of his own blood, dead by the hand of his only 'good fur nuthin' son.
Nothing would ever drive away their memories. Severus knew this, but still couldn't help his heart from aching.
It seemed a hush fell over the depressing little house on Spinners End, and if anyone listened carefully enough they would have heard the sound of two wizards apparating away.