Morning at St. Mungo's
Lucius Malfoy walked confidently through the hospital corridor. He believed today was the right day—the day he would impress Lord Voldemort, the man whose attention he had been trying to capture for the past three years, albeit unsuccessfully. He couldn't offer anything other than money, of which he had plenty. Unfortunately, it seemed that the Dark Lord was not interested in wealth, or at least pretended not to be. Perhaps he was waiting for Lucius to fully inherit his fortune and offer even more money. However, the young Malfoy wanted to gain the favor of this powerful man not just through the possession of a vast estate. He hoped to be appreciated for his qualities, even though he lacked significant magical talents or knowledge. In terms of magic and related skills, he was only a slightly above-average wizard. However, he believed he excelled in manipulation, intrigues, and politics. He desired power, control over society. Should he patiently wait for it? Be an obedient son and stand in his father's shadow until the old man dies, allowing him to take over his office and functions? Endure until he becomes a venerable elder and can finally sit on the Wizengamot? That was not his intention; he wanted to go towards power, gain Lord's favor, whose influence was growing every day. And now, finally, he could achieve that.
When he was awakened early in the morning by the two-way mirror, he was initially frightened. He had high hopes for Severus Snape. While others ignored the small, poorly dressed, and socially awkward boy, Lucius saw potential in him. In the first moment, not so much he, but Narcissa. It was thanks to him that he had the cleverness and sense to acknowledge the opinion of the beautiful Miss Black and began to pay a bit more attention to the half-blood. Not too much, not too conspicuously; the boy was sharp, much more than expected. However, he was also very distrustful and didn't want charity, especially not from a Slytherin, and above all, not from someone who befriended a Muggle-born Gryffindor. In the current circumstances, he could hardly openly support him.
So, Lucius waited and observed the situation from afar. He believed that the opportune time had now come. He intended to invite Snape to the Malfoy Manor this summer, offering him official patronage. He would provide him with the means to fully utilize his exceptional talent. Lucius aimed to make him a vassal, a strong ally for the impending times. And now, Snape might ruin it all, destroy any chance he ever had for success. A suicide attempt, what nonsense! An unforgivable act, a distasteful act. Muggles might do it, but no one expects it from a wizard. Only the insane, crazy people commit suicide. And magical society tends to ignore those who end up in the lunatic asylum. Polite magical society simply doesn't talk about them.
Fortunately, Narcissa continued and shared more information with her fiancé about what had happened at Hogwarts in the past 24 hours. His mind immediately figured out how to use it all. From what occurred at the school of magic, he could create an opportunity to remove Albus Dumbledore from the position of headmaster! Even if the investigation didn't lead to Dumbledore's removal, it would certainly not escape the attention of Lord Voldemort, and he would surely appreciate Lucius and his efforts.
Malfoy glanced at the Auror walking by his side. He couldn't wish for a better investigator. Thanks to his informants, he knew that Basilus Tadpole was a Hufflepuff, a half-blood or Muggle-born from a poor family. There was a certain resemblance between him and Snape, which could be helpful. Hopefully, he would see the incident similarly. Now, he just hoped Severus wouldn't say something foolish, wouldn't deny what happened. He didn't refuse to reveal who caused the head injury.
"I fear the injured boy won't be too willing to talk," Lucius addressed Basilus. "From what I remember from school years, he often got into conflicts with those boys. Especially because of his origin, I believe he's Muggle-born or half-blood, whereas the others belong to pure-blood families. And you know, nowadays, there are more and more prejudices among wizards. Apparently, even among the teachers at Hogwarts." Before he could continue, the Auror interrupted him.
"Lord Malfoy, unless my memory deceives me, your father also holds these blood superiority prejudices. You surely don't share his views?" Lucius quickly retorted, "And you, Mr. Tadpole, do you have the same opinions as your father?" The Auror smiled, "You know, I don't."
Together they entered the hospital room. Beds lined both sides of the room, more than a dozen in total. On one of them, a nurse was arranging a pillow behind the just-awakened Snape. Beside the bed stood a doctor and Master Potter, as far as Malfoy could tell. Malfoy swallowed and wondered what the latter was doing there. Could Dumbledore have realized the danger to him and his protégés and started to act? That would completely jeopardize, if not destroy, his plan.
"Lucius!" Severus widened his eyes at his new visitor. The world spun for him, the whole room darkened, and his former classmate transformed before his eyes. Instead of a young, energetic lad, he saw an exhausted, frightened man. A man who no longer desired power and control over others, a man who just wanted it all to end, ensuring the safety of his loved ones—son and wife. A man whom Snape had transformed into this. Because this summer, he wanted to ask him for help when his NKÚ exam results came. He would have evidence to show what he was capable of. And young Malfoy would welcome him with open arms. He would set up his own laboratory, pay for any books he wanted. And then, at the end of the summer, at Lucius and Narcissa's wedding, he would make a big impression on the powerful man who would offer him what he had longed for since childhood—to belong somewhere. And his patron would join him; the Dark Lord would appreciate that he was the first to take Severus, who led him to him. Snape would indirectly destroy him, and not just him but also Draco and Narcissa. The feeling of guilt overwhelmed him again. And the conviction that he must prevent it, that it must not happen. And the moment he made his decision in his mind, Lucius changed back before his eyes. From a tired Death Eater to a young wizard.
Malfoy smiled gently at the patient. "Good to see you, Severus. And if you're wondering what I'm doing here, Narcissa told me everything that happened. I had to make sure you're okay. She wouldn't let me be if I didn't." The boy in the bed lowered his head, his hands starting to tremble.
"I, I..." he couldn't find any words to explain what happened. He didn't understand it himself. Should he tell them everything? About the nightmare, about Lily's death, about Lucius's terrified son? What was his name? Snape was sure that just a few seconds ago, he knew the name and face of the boy he was thinking about, but suddenly, he couldn't recall either. It didn't matter anyway. Could the nightmare excuse what he had done? Did it even matter? Potter and his gang had humiliated him in front of the whole school again. Tears stung his eyes as the memory of hanging in the air in front of the students, upside down, while the Gryffindor Quidditch star magically removed his trousers and underwear. Laughter echoing from so many throats... Such humiliation, such shame. Nothing could compare.
His former prefect's hand gripped his thin shoulder. "You? Did you cause that injury yourself? Did you hex yourself on the head? Or did you fall down the stairs?" Lucius asked with deliberately incredulous tone.
Severus lifted his head and stared at the blond with a bewildered look, wondering what he was asking. He thought he would get a lecture about what he attempted, but apparently, Malfoy wanted something else. Why?
"Severus, it's important for you to tell us exactly what happened yesterday. Not at night, we all know about that, but what preceded it," Lucius hardened his voice. "If you don't tell us, they will win. Nobody will punish them, as always. It will be just you, the bad one." Malfoy hoped Snape's vindictiveness would make him speak. He knew from his own experience that the younger Slytherin never shied away from revenge. He was vindictive to a fault, to his own detriment. Now, however, this trait of his could come in very handy.
In Severus, it truly simmered. A part of him wanted nothing more than for Potter and Black to finally get what they deserved. At the same time, he didn't care anymore; he didn't want to return to Hogwarts and face the mockery. But what would happen to him if he didn't return? With just the NKÚ, no Potions Master would accept him as an apprentice. And if he asked Lucius to send him to Krumval... The world shook again; he had been to Krumval, for further studies, and... Lucius's face momentarily transformed again into an older one. No, he must not ask him for anything like that; he must stay at Hogwarts. Whatever happens. Or try to die again. However, he realized that the desire to die was not as strong as yesterday. In fact, he didn't want to die; he couldn't understand why he had done it yesterday. The loss of friendship with Lily was painful but not unexpected. He had feared it since they boarded the Hogwarts Express together. He knew that day would come. But he wanted to prove to her that Potter was no better than him. This was his last chance. He took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears.
"After the Defense exam, I was by the lake, I didn't do anything to anyone, Lucius, believe me, I didn't provoke them," Severus choked up, remembering how Lucius had scolded him several times for unnecessarily costing Slytherin points by provoking others. "They just came after me, disarmed me, used the Levicorpus spell, and..." tears started flowing, he tried to control himself, but just thinking about that event drained all his strength. "Then they took off my trousers and, and..." he began to stutter. Lucius gently squeezed his shoulder again and finished the sentence for him, "And also underwear, stripped you naked, right? And then they released the spell and let you fall to the ground."
Sobbing and trembling, Severus nodded. "Y-yes."
On the other side of the bed, Fleamont Potter approached him, handing him a vial of potion. "Take a sip, lad, for calming down; it will be okay now." Severus tried to push the potion away. "I'm allergic to..."
"I know, I know, but the potion is modified; there's dragon's heart instead of crocodile." He held the vial to Severus's mouth. The boy drank, whispering, "It's unnecessarily expensive. Just need..."
"And asleep," Fleamont said as Severus fell asleep.
Lucius turned to the healer. "Your opinion, Master Healer?" Nyriplica looked at the patient, opened his file, and with a wave of his wand, supplemented the information he had heard. "Severe emotional trauma, followed by a fall from a height onto the head, causing head injury, concussion. It's not surprising he was confused and shaken afterward, he might have had hallucinations. Suicide was probably not intentional and should be entirely irrelevant for further treatment."
"And the investigation!" Malfoy added, turning to the Auror.
"Of course, Lord Malfoy, I'll immediately go to Hogwarts to thoroughly investigate the whole incident."
Fleamont also nodded, "I personally hope that the headmaster has already investigated and punished the culprits! Such behavior cannot be tolerated!"
Lucius trembled with joy; so he doesn't know, he has no idea that his son is involved! That's good; everything will go as planned. And if Dumbledore punishes the Gryffindors? On his own? When that happens, hell will freeze over, and pigs will fly! He looked around the dismal hospital room; it's necessary to strike while the iron is hot.
"Couldn't the boy be moved to a private room? It will be hard for him to recover in peace here." Nyriplica shrugged, "It's currently a charitable case; his parents haven't contacted us yet."
"Well, well, why his parents? The costs of treatment should be borne by the parents of those who injured him!" declared Fleamont.
"I completely agree, Mr. Potter!" Lucius was beside himself with joy. "This is exactly what I wanted to suggest. And if, by chance, the parents of those ruffians don't step forward, I'll cover his treatment myself!" With a slight bow, he headed for the exit.