Chapter 53
Within in fifteen minutes of seeing the headmaster in the staff room, Lucius was in his office and he felt as if he had been caged once more.
Somehow it was worse that Severus was there. He felt as if he was responsible to him in a way that he was not to the headmaster. But his best friend looked at him with cold eyes as Severus continued to seethe over what he had told Jane when they had been together.
Just when Severus had thought Lucius could not be a worse father to Draco, he had gone and proved him wrong. The Potions Master did not want to look at Lucius at that moment. He didn't want to be anywhere near him for fear of what he was going to do.
"I want to go and be with my son."
"It is a shame you have not had the same care throughout this year, isn't it?" Severus shot back as he shook his head.
He did not think he had ever hated someone with such a passion since James Potter – that said a lot about Lucius.
"Severus please," Dumbledore interrupted the two of them. Like a dog who had been called to heel by its benevolent master Severus backed off and walked over to the window looking out of it with longing.
He had to say he did not know why he had had to come. Why was he not allowed to be in the hospital wing with Draco when Jane had been allowed to be?
"What is this even about Professor?" asked Severus without looking at him.
"The care of the boy I believe you refer to as your nephew." Albus knew that Severus had not cared about another human as much as he cared about Draco since he had loved Lily. As long as it was about the boy then he was going nowhere.
"If he needs a new home then you know I am going to open my doors to him. You don't even have to ask Albus."
"But Draco does not need a new home!" growled Lucius protectively, sick of the two of them talking as if he was not in the room. "He has a home. A home where he is much loved," he said and he knew if he was not careful then he was going to cry again in public which was something he had not done since he had been a child.
He did not want that muggle loving idiot to see him in that state and he knew if he were to cry in front of the man he had once thought of as his closest friend, he was going to get no sympathy.
"I am not casting doubt on how much you love you son Lucius, I think we all know how much young Draco means to you. But on the same hand, we have to consider how safe he really is when he is in your care." The headmaster said sadly.
Lucius shook his head because he did not have a word in his own defence. He knew he had done wrong and he had brought harm to his son and no matter what he said to the contra, if the headmaster did not have a comeback then Severus was certainly going to and he did not want to being himself down in Severus ' opinion any lower – if that was even possible.
"The authorities are naturally going to have to be informed of what has happened here Lucius. If I am not very much mistaken there was a custody case involving Mrs Tonks and yourself when you had just got out of Azkaban, was there not?" Lucius nodded. He hated to remember that time in his life. He just wanted to shout and tell his old headmaster to shut up but there was nothing he could do but sit and listen. "It would be doubtful if the case went to court for a second time that the outcome would be the same, especially considering these circumstances. It was Arthurs Weasley's daughter you intended to be in the Chamber, wasn't it?"
He nodded. "It was." He admitted as he thought over what the headmaster had said to him.
It would be doubtful if the case went to court for a second time that the outcome would be the same...
It would be doubtful if the case went to court for a second time...
If...
He looked at Severus, the first time he had done so since the two of them had been in the room and he saw his old friend was having the same thought as he was.
Lucius turned back to Dumbledore.
"What's your price Dumbledore?" he said, knowing that no matter what the headmaster said everyone had a price. He just had to find it. No matter what it was, he was going to pay. His son was utterly priceless and there was nothing Lucius would not do at that moment to ensure their joint future. It was the only future he wanted.
Indeed, without his son, he had no future.
"What's your price for this not going to court?" Severus looked at Dumbledore. And he knew what he was going to ask. Because he had asked it of him.
"Its ok sweetheart, I'm here. You're safe."
Draco opened his eyes to see it was Jane who had been holding his hand. She was looked at him through red rimmed eyes and she looked as if she had been crying for hours.
He squeezed he hand. "Jane, I am so sorry – all the things I did – I didn't mean too,"
"Hush, darling, hush. None of this is your fault and no one is mad at you. You just have to get better."
"She is right my darling, no one is mad with you." Said Andy from where she had been sitting on his other side.
"Where are dad and uncles Sev?" he asked unsure that he wanted to see his father just then any way after what he had been told when he had been in the chamber, that it had been Voldemort's school diary he had had his in his possession all year and that had been what his father had given to Ginny.
It was so sick.
"They are with Dumbledore," sighed Jane.
"Are they coming?"
"I don't know." She shook her head.
She didn't know anything of what was going to happen to all of them at that moment. All she knew was there was going to be a fall out from this. There would be consequences; there had to be.
"I was so scared Jane," he said to her and he nodded. The fear he had no doubt felt when he had been in the chamber was in his eyes.
"I know you were but you are safe now my love. I am here and if I get my way then I am never going to let you out of my sight for the rest of our lives."
She knew it was never going to happen but it was the way she felt at that moment.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" if he could not have his father or his uncle then, as usual, it was her she wanted but his side and not his aunt.
She smiled and he knew he hadn't even had to ask. She was not going to go anywhere for a very long time he did not think.
Sometimes the cool head of the headmaster amazed even Severus Snape. In a situation when a child had been hurt, he was still to work for the light. He was still thinking of the Order.
And that was why he had asked Lucius Malfoy for something you could not put a price on when they were talking about the fate of the man's son.
His loyalty.
"We all know that the Lord Voldemort is not going to stay as he is now." Dumbledore said to the two Slytherin's before him. "That he should rise again seems to be your dearest wish Lucius for you nearly sacrificed that which I thought was most thing to precious to you in the world."
"He is precious to me!" spat Lucius unable to not defend himself when it sounded as if someone was accusing him of not loving Draco. He did love him.
"So by that then I can take it that the defence and safest of your son is more important to you than the return of Lord Voldemort?" he asked looking above his glasses.
"Of course it is you foolish man!"
Though he had to say he was the only fool in the room at that moment.
"You want me to turn spy for the order?"
Dumbledore sat back. "I merely want to ensure that when your son goes home for the summer that he is going to be safe."
It was another way of saying yes and Lucius knew it as well as Severus did.
Severus.
"You're a spy."
For the second time that day Severus' saw a look of utter despair on Lucius' face. All the time they had considered themselves a family he had a secret from him. On any other day, Severus would have felt beyond guilty when they had been so close to have kept it from him; even now when they had been estranged for the year. But considering what had happened to Draco, he felt nothing even close to it.
"Indeed I am." He sighed as he looked out of the window, desperately wanting to leave the room so he might go and see his nephew.
Lucius put his head in his hands. God, he didn't want to do this. He had been loyal for so long. But if it was a choice between losing his son and joining the Order¸ then in fact there was no choice at all.
He really had to get to his sons side.
"Very well. If you can ensure that my son and I will remain together, you have my loyalty." He nodded. Severus turned.
He had to say he did not know how wise this was for Dumbledore. Lucius had always been a loyal Death Eater, even after the fall. To take his loyalty when he was so down was not a good idea. It was hollow loyalty.
"If you should break your promise, I will ensure you lose him."
He nodded. Lucius knew to some Dumbledore seemed like a wise old man but there was another side to him. The side that was not only headmaster but also a political player. He may not be in government but he was well aware he had power in the wizarding world that was derived from the great prestige he had. That went unsaid.
"I know you will." Lucius nodded. "Now I am begging you, let me go to the side of my son."
Dumbledore had seen a shadow in the man's eyes when he had said he was begging him. He understood perfectly well that begging was not something that Malfoy's did.
"Very well. Just one more thing."
Lucius nodded hurryingly, agitated.
"As well as joining the order, you will sign a guardianship contract."
"A what?"
"Despite what you both must think, I do have a care for Draco's safety. And in order to keep him safe, I will draw up a joint guardianship contact for his protection."
"Joint guardianship."
"Yes."
"With whom?"
"You will have majority guardianship, but as long as they are both agreeable, with both Severus and Miss Jane Greenwood."
Well, it could be worse. He would be able to raise his son with both Jane and Severus at his side. In fact, nothing much was going to change. And it was much better to share guardianship with them rather than with Andromeda. He did not have time to stall. He had to get to his son. After what he had done he would agree to anything as long as he was allowed to go to his son.
"Very well. Now can I go?"
Motioning to the door with his hand, he nodded.
Within two seconds Lucius was out of the door.
"That could back fire on us all Professor." Severus voiced his opinion. "If he was to go against the Order..."
"He won't."
Lucius knew full well that this was going to hang over him till the day his son turned of age. And he should imagine that by that time Draco's own views will influence his father's more than anyone could guess.
That young man knew who he was and what he believed.
He believed in justice; fairness; equality. And Dumbledore believed he could stay true to those things and still be his father's son. He just did not realise it yet.
When they had heard what Draco had gone through (for nothing was a secret at Hogwarts for long) the Ravenclaw's and the Slytherin's went straight to the hospitals wing so that they might check on Draco.
As for Ron and Harry they had been unwilling to leave him as well.
Suddenly, so much made sense; why Draco had been acting as he had.
He sat up surrounded by his friends, still shaken by the events of the day and yet feeling strangely calm. It wasn't the calmness he had known when Tom had had command of his body.
It was a tired calm as if his body was saying to him; 'I give up now.'
Tucked underneath Jane's arm despite his friend's presence, he smiled at his aunt, uncle and cousin who were also there. Pomfrey, he knew, was annoyed at the amount of guests he had but he felt loved and safe when they were all there.
He had not felt that in so long.
He wasn't going to do anything he shouldn't. He was under his own command.
His friends were talking about him and he was sure to nod and smile in the right place but the truth was he was going to glad when they had all gone and he had been left with Jane.
He wanted Severus as well.
But until the moment the Potions Master got there he was happy for his friends to stay. There chatter kept thoughts away and he did not think he could handle his own thoughts at that moment if he was left to them.
The door opened and he froze though.
The one person he did not want there was the one person he had always, always longed for in other situations.
"Son," sighed Lucius as he came in not caring who Draco was talking to as long as he was alive.
Nothing else in the world mattered.
Even the air about them seemed to stop moving as his friends tensed. The Slytherin's knew how possessive he could be when knew as concerned for his son and the Ravenclaw's thought that their friends fathers reputation proceeding him a little too much.
As for the Gryffindor's, Ron and Harry did not care for him at all for reasons which were too obvious for Draco.
And if it was a choice between his friends and his father at that moment, for the first time, Lucius didn't win.
"Why are you here?" Draco said as he held on to Jane tighter.
"I think it would be better if you were to come in the morning," said Ted as he rose to his nephews defence. "The boy needs to sleep."
"Don't be ridiculous." Lucius sneered at the muggle born before he turned to his son with a look of confusion on his face. "Look at the state of you son; why do you think I am here? We need to talk." He said looking about the bed at the children and insinuating with his actions they should go.
Antony was the first to take the hint. "We'll see you in the morning mate."
"No, don't go!" said Draco as he sat up more. "He is the one who is going to go; I bet my dad could go and have an interesting chat with Ron's little sister in fact."
Lucius was silenced. It was rare enough that his timid son ever spoke back to him as he did at that moment but to do it when they were so surrounded by people...
He knew he had had hurt him and he had every right to be mad with him.
But did Draco not see all he wanted to do was hold in.
A terrible thought dawned on him as he was cast back to the summer before. All his son had wanted him to do was to hold him and yet he had rejected him time and time again. This is pay back.
He remembered when his son had come into his room and asked to sleep by his side as he had when he had been a child.
What had he said. "Don't be ridiculous Draco, you're not a baby anymore. Go back to bed."
Fool! Fool! Fool!
"Oh, dragon you don't know how sorry I am for what I have done. And I swear I will say sorry to Weasley's sister but we need to talk about this – I need to say sorry to you for so much."
But the fact remained his son was not ready to hear it.
It had not been his father trapped in the chamber that day had it?
"And guess what dad? I don't care how sorry you are!" tears shone in his eyes as he took his eyes away from his dad. "I hate you." He mumbled.
"Now that is enough." Said Jane knowing she had to come between them before they destroyed one another with words. Lucius looked at if his son had just ripped his heart out. "Lucius, I know you want to talk to him but I really think it would be best for you if you were to leave it till the morning; for both of you. He is too tired to do this tonight."
He nodded in a manner bewilder and turned. Draco had never rejected him before.
Ever. Not like that.
"I think it is for the best if you all go back to your dorms now."
The kids about Jane and Draco nodded and they were soon trailing out once they had mumbled there goodbyes leaving the governess to tenderly cradle her sobbing charge.
"Oh my darling." She said as she and Andromeda caught each other eyes, both filled with love and pity for the lad.
"I hate him, Jane! I hate him!"
"No ,you don't baby, you love him. That's why it hurts so much – because you love him."
"He looked at me as if I was a stranger."
"At the moment, you are."
Severus had never been one to mince his words Lucius was reminded. When he had left the hospital wing he had been about to go home for the night as he had been told to when his olds friends had seen him and told him he could stay with him for the night, even though if he was honest, Lucius did not think Severus was able to stand the sight of him.
But then he had to say at that moment the feeling was rather mutual.
"How long have you been a spy for them?"
"Long enough." He said.
For Lucius, Severus had got a coffee. For himself, a fire whisky.
After what the two of them had had to endure that day he thought they both needed something but he was going to be damned if he let his old friend slip in to what he had hoped were his old ways.
"In the last war?"
"Yes, I had been turned by then."
He did not know why he had to answer such questions.
It struck him that Lucius was asking these questions as if they were of little importance and with the detachment of a historian. As if he had not even been there....
He supposed the only way he was going to get through that night was if he was detached after his son had said to him. 'I hate you'; it rang in his ears. Draco had said it as if he meant it.
"And now I have been in a matter of hours. Funny how your life can change in a few hours isn't it?"
"Hysterical."
Lucius looked up at him. He had heard him take that tone with many people but he did not think he had ever used it to him before.
"You resent me being here?"
"I resent I can't be with your son as long as you are here but I am not going to let you go and wallow in your pride and your guilt for the for fear you might say or worse do something stupid."
"I would never – Severus, if I was going to commit suicide don't you think I would have done so as soon as I lost Cissy?"
"I am not talking about you killing yourself; I am referring to the moment in the staff room when you nearly gave up Draco to Andromeda!"
"I was confused."
"As usual you were thinking about what was going to be best for you. I hope to god Draco never finds out what you said; it would break his heart!" Severus growled. "As if you haven't done that already though."
"And don't you think I know what I have done? I saw him when he came back!"
"Did you really? And do you honestly think I am just referring to what you have done to him when he got his hands on the diary. Or does it penetrate your tiny mind that you have been hurting him for a lot longer than that?"
It was high time for his old friend to hear a few home truths.
"Do you think I could be referring to the fact that I have had him crying in my rooms before Christmas because he thought you were never going to forgive him for what he had done when he had just been comforting a friend? Do you think I might be referring to the fact that Andromeda and Jane told me on the day of Eliza's funeral you did not so much as hold his hand, and yet you kept me from the funeral so I couldn't hold it either. You denied him of his comforts when he lost someone he adored! Do you realise how close you came to destroying our family on more than one occasion since you took leave of your god damn senses?"
Severus looked at his friend. He looked as if the words he was saying were crushing him.
"Save your tears Lucius, they won't soften me." The blonde had no answer to what he had said to him he knew and shock his head.
Severus knew had to get out of there before he turned his wand on him quite frankly.
"Go into the guest room and try to get some sleep."
"Where are you going?"
Severs gave a weary sigh. "Where do you think I am going?"
"Jane?" asked Severus once he had calmed himself enough to into the hospital wing.
It seemed as if the Tonks had gone home for the night for she was the only one by Draco's side when he got there. The boy had gone to sleep at last. She too had been dozing but came about quickly when he entered the room.
Severus was by her side and had put a hand on her shoulder which she soon covered with her own. "How is he?"
"Tired, but he'll survive. He lost some blood and is pretty drained. Nothing a few good meals and a few days bed rest won't soon out Pomfrey said." She sighed.
Severus nodded assured.
"Has Dumbledore been here?"
"Yes – he told me about the contract."
"You're going to sign?"
"In all good faith, I would be letting Draco down if I did not after today. You'll sign too?
"Naturally."
"Good."
She looked at the body on the bed. "How the hell did we end up here?"
"I don't know." He said as his own guilt kicked in. How had he not read the signs? How had he not known what was going on all these months?
"I wish Eliza was here. She'd handle this so much better than me." She admitted.
"Perhaps. But wishing is not going to bring her back. We have to deal with this one." he sighed.
She nodded in a manner which told him she knew that.
"It's not over yet. I have a feeling the next few days are going to be pretty tough."
"Snap." She agreed. "But we're going to get through them, just as long as we find the courage to stand by one another. I can't help thinking it is a pity Lucius, you and myself are not Gryffindor's."
He smirked weakly. "Things will never be that bad, Jane."
Please review!
Author note: Hey all! Two weeks to go until my final exam now, then FS has my (almost) undivided attention for two weeks before I start work for the summer (my very first paying job! Wahoo!). Another huge thank you to all of you guys who reviewed chapter 52. You really don't know how much they kept me smiling through a difficult week of revision! (I study history at university and was getting ready for my twentieth century Europe exams; lots of depressing –ism's and wars, but you guys keep me going!) I hope the twist did not disappoint!