Chapter 34 – Swim Against the Tide
"What happened to your face?" Albus asks in concern the moment he lays eyes on Regulus coming through the Floo. "Did Sirius lose his temper?"
"Not Sirius," Regulus denies. Though the assumption isn't unreasonable, Regulus wouldn't throw his brother under the Knight Bus for something he didn't do. Not when the wizard is already blamed for someone else's actions.
"Dudley might have expressed his displeasure at Harry's injuries. He believed I'd broken a promise by allowing Harry to be hurt again," Regulus confesses quietly.
Albus's eyes sadden in remembrance of the night they'd visited the Dursleys. Albus had dismantled the Wards that night, so the Dursleys no longer had the benefits of the Blood wards. However, Regulus is hoping he might be able to use those wards to protect Harry and Dudley in his own home.
Andromeda had already healed his loose teeth this morning when she came through to Grimmauld Place.
His jaw still aches and he'd refused to use the Bruise balm she left behind. He feels like he deserves the reminder. He did promise Dudley that no one would hurt Harry again, and he'd failed. He'd meant to come back to Hogwarts last night after taking Dudley back but stayed to check on the boy. Listening to this confession to Sirius about his own treatment of Harry in their childhood broke Regulus's heart. Then he'd ended up staying up all night to listen to Sirius unload his own feelings.
Sirius and Regulus hadn't shared anything like that, ever. They were both stoic from their upbringing. He realised how little they'd actually trusted each other. Perhaps that was going to change.
This new generation had much more maturity than Regulus's. Regulus felt like he made all the wrong decisions growing up. He hadn't stepped up until he'd almost lost his life. It had been easier to conform to his mother's wishes.
This morning, after barely any sleep, Dudley had come down, looking not much well rested either. He'd apologised for losing his temper, looking as if he'd expected to be kicked out.
"I have something to ask you before the others get here," Regulus says evenly.
"Regulus, I will not allow Dra-"
"It's about Dudley. Not Draco," Regulus interrupts.
Albus nods for him to proceed.
"Dudley told me he doesn't want to return to his parents' house. Yesterday was really upsetting for him, seeing Harry hurt as he was. He'd witnessed too many occurrences within his own home to feel like he was ready to go back."
"I see," Albus acknowledges with another nod.
"I've offered him a home with me," Regulus tells the Headmaster.
"We shall have to talk about this more in-depth later, Regulus," Albus says with a look at the clock. "As sure as I am that your intentions are admirable, you cannot take a boy from his parents and not expect a fight."
"Those people aren't fit to be called parents," Regulus scoffs but promises to revisit the topic at a later date.
Regulus needs to have a more thorough and less emotional conversation with Dudley, but he plans to go ahead with looking after Dudley with or without Albus's help.
"Is Draco awake?" he changes the topic.
"I believe he is," Albus replies. "Poppy has already discharged him. Everyone should be here in a few minutes."
Regulus wants to press Albus on the topic of Draco, hoping the old man doesn't cop out of a decent punishment. What Draco did warrants more than a handful of detentions, which is the worst thing Draco could suffer from as it wouldn't teach him that actions such as his have consequences.
Otherwise, he has every intention of following through on his threats and removing Harry and Holly from Hogwarts.
In September, he'd caved to Harry's pleas of not having Severus sacked or arrested because Harry and Holly had only been united for barely a day. Harry also believed that Holly deserved a chance to get to know her father, which would have been impossible with Severus in Azkaban, but it would have meant Holly would have been sent to live with Narcissa, as had been originally intended. Lucius might have been on Harry's side for his own purposes, but he wouldn't have kept Holly in Hogwarts against Severus's wishes.
With Lucius as Holly's legal godfather, things were sticky, for sure. However, Regulus has been setting things up since September. That being said, Eileen's very legal will, which he'd managed to read courtesy of Arabella Figg as Executor, gives Harry full custody of Holly in the scenario that Severus isn't up to the task of being an adequate father.
Eileen had worded the will in such a way that the adequate father could mean anything; absent father if he'd decided that he didn't want Holly in his life. Or if he'd been sentenced to Azkaban.
Only Harry's young age would be a factor that Severus and the Malfoys would argue against.
However, Regulus could even use the current situation to his advantage and claim Severus hadn't looked out for Holly's best interest at heart. The best thing was that Lucius couldn't fight this if Regulus was forced to go down that route. After all, it's Draco who placed them in this situation. Holly will never consent to stay with Draco ever again.
Now, it all depends on Albus's punishment.
ooOoo
"I trusted you with Holly," Severus says in a quiet voice that makes Draco flinch.
Draco knows he messed up really badly yesterday.
His parents look at him with twin looks of disappointment. They've never looked at him like that. Even during the summer, when he'd made the mudblood comment in front of Holly, they hadn't looked at him like this.
He hates it. He wishes he could turn back time and take back everything that happened yesterday. Wishes he didn't see Potter's almost dead form every time he closes his eyes.
"I'm sorry," Draco whispers contritely, knowing the words are inadequate in the face of everything he'd done. "I wasn't thinking –"
"No, you clearly weren't," his father snaps in a way he never has before.
"Lucius," Narcissa whispers calmly, laying a hand on her husband's arm.
Lucius turns away and says in a cold voice, "I might not be able to save you from this, Draco. You used a dark spell in front of witnesses. You almost killed Harry. In front of Holly."
His mother takes a deep, dragging breath, trying to stem her tears.
"Is Holly okay? And Potter?" Draco voices the questions hesitantly.
"Poppy won't tell us," Narcissa replies. "Holly won't come away from Harry, and no one Regulus hasn't approved is allowed to go back there. Even his friends have been turned away."
"Regulus is furious with you," Severus continues in the same quiet voice, bringing him back to the topic. "You could be sent to Azkaban. They could snap your wand."
Draco pales further, his unhealed bruises standing out harshly.
"Regulus is pushing for you to be expelled," Severus says, looking at Draco intently. "I could lose my daughter if he thinks you're going to let off without any punishment. He's threatening to take Potter and Holly and leave."
Draco swallows hard, his breathing becoming harsh.
Uncle Severus could lose Holly because of him? That would break him. Uncle Severus loves Holly. He'd never recover if Holly was taken from him. Yet, Draco couldn't go to Azkaban. He shudders at the memory of the last time he'd been in the presence of Dementors in his third year. They'd been horrible. They leeched all good feelings and warmth around them. Draco couldn't survive Azkaban.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Sev. I'm so sorry. Please. Mother, don't let them send me to Azkaban," Draco begs, lunging for his mother. "Father, I – "
"Enough acting like a child," Lucius says in the same cold voice. "It's time you listen to me, Draco. I won't allow Regulus to send you to Azkaban, no matter what. However, you need to think about the impact of your actions."
Draco's mouth dries, but he manages to ask in a croaky voice, "Is Dumbledore going to expel me? He's never expelled anyone before."
He doesn't want to be expelled, either.
"You need to understand, Draco, Hogwarts is dangerous for you right now. I've been telling you for months that you need to stay away from Harry, and you've not heeded a single one of my warnings. You've insisted on treating him like your enemy and failed to realise how many people are on his side. Did you even pay attention to the number of people who jumped in to stop your fight? How many were on your side? You endangered Holly. You wanted a chance to prove to Holly that you could take care of her and you failed. Even your friends are against you because of how you neglected her."
He wishes he'd listened to Blaise and Theo as his mother tells him how they'd caught Holly just before she entered the Hogs Head.
His godfather's eyes bore into him. Severus has never been so angry at Draco before. Severus explains in a stony voice about the spell Umbridge used and the damage it did to Potter. How close it had been to hitting Holly.
"It's not just Harry's friends you have to worry about, Draco," Lucius hammers the point home. "You've single-handedly weakened our position against those who still support the Dark Lord within the castle. Whatever you've been thinking with, it's not your brain!"
Draco lets the tears fall as he listens to his father berate him. He's messed things up so bad. His eyes stray to the curtains behind which Potter lays. How will he ever face anyone again?
ooOoo
"I would like for you to explain yourself," Albus asks Draco in a sombre voice.
Regulus bites his tongue at making snide comments that wouldn't help. Lucius and Severus had walked into Albus's office with stoic looks on their faces, but Regulus could see they were edgy about the outcome.
Narcissa and Draco looked like they'd been crying. He regrets putting Narcissa through this, but she and Lucius have spoiled Draco to such a degree that the boy will never learn without harsh consequences. Regulus doesn't want to send Draco to Azkaban. But the others don't know that.
"I don't have one," Draco admits, avoiding Albus's eyes and looking at the rug in front of the desk instead. "I lost my temper."
Minerva, representing Harry as his Housemaster, speaks up, "Where did you learn that spell, Mr Malfoy?"
Draco swallows and darts a fearful glance towards Severus.
"I – I found a book in the Potions cupboard while Professor Snape was suspended. I recognised the handwriting as his and took the book."
Severus, blanching, asks, "What book?"
"Advanced Potions Making," Draco confesses. "It had that spell in it."
Regulus has no idea about the book Draco could be referring to, but the spell was a popular one from his Death Eater days. Sectemsempra had been a favourite spell to use once Severus shared it with the Dark Lord and his comrades.
"Did you know what the effects of the spell would be?" Albus questions.
"No," Draco whispers, looking back down as he avoids eye contact with everyone. "I- It-It just said for enemies."
Albus closes his eyes and shakes his head.
"You understand I cannot let this go unpunished?"
Draco nods as he begins to shake.
"You are young and could have a bright future ahead of you," Albus says, "which is why I am not handing you over to Aurors and having you sent to Azkaban."
Some tension leaches from Lucius's shoulders.
"With respect, you're just Harry's headmaster. You don't get to decide who gets to press charges," Regulus argues for the sake of showing his stance on the matter.
"And you are not his legal guardian, Regulus," Albus replies calmly. "Besides which, I have already spoken to the Aurors and vouched for Draco on his behalf."
Regulus, of course, already knows this. He is relieved at this also but doesn't show it. Truthfully, he never expected Dumbledore to enact such a consequence, even though, given Tonks's presence as an Auror and several witnesses against Draco, he really should have charges pressed against him.
Regardless, there's still a matter of adequate punishment.
Albus waits for the Malfoys and Severus to gather themselves before continuing, "I have not expelled a single student since I have become Headmaster," even the portraits, who have been silent thus far, remain quiet, after a suitable dramatic pause, Albus continues, "and I will not do so today."
The portraits begin muttering amongst themselves while looking at their reactions.
Severus aims a fearful look in Regulus's direction. On the one hand, his godson is safe. On the other, Severus might just end up losing his daughter. Regulus doesn't know what outcome he hopes for. As Albus pointed out, Regulus isn't Harry's legal guardian, despite the Dursleys giving up all responsibility towards the boy. That doesn't mean Regulus won't follow through on his threat of taking Harry and Holly away from the war, which could be the answer to everything until he can find a way to extract the Horcrux from Harry without killing him. Unfortunately, Brazil had been a bust, but Egypt could have potential. He will need to speak to Bill. He'd finally managed to get a response from the Goblins, using their Brazilian counterparts, who'd confirmed that no such ritual existed that could remove a Horcrux from a living host without killing said host.
Albus could try to stop him, but Regulus wouldn't let the old man stop him.
He reminds himself to get back in touch with Constance Noble (he slants a glance in Severus's direction) to organise Muggle passports for himself, Harry, Holly and Sirius. Dudley, too, if the boy doesn't already have one.
"As I said, that is not to say that you will go unpunished," Albus says, recalling everyone's attention back to himself. Albus heaves a deep sigh, looking regretful. "You shall be suspended for … the remaining duration of this term."
"That's not nearly long enough, Albus," Regulus interjects.
Ignoring Regulus's interruption, Albus continues, "As for your Prefect status, given your recent conduct, I believe we all agree that your behaviour does not reflect a student in that position. As such, you are stripped of your Prefect badge. Professor Snape shall decide on your replacement."
Draco's eyes widen at the Albus's pronouncements. Everyone looks in Regulus's direction to see his reaction. Regulus takes on a thoughtful countenance. Truthfully, he'd forgotten that Draco was a prefect, and it's definitely fitting for him to lose the badge and the position in Slytherin that comes with it. Draco's also, effectively, suspended for two months, which is frankly a lot longer than he believed Albus would suspend the boy for, but still not for as long as Draco deserves.
"I am not done."
All heads snap back to Albus.
"Given this is your OWL year, I believe your concentration should be on passing your exams. So, taking this into consideration, I am also banning you from the Quidditch team for the remainder of the school year. Perhaps next year, you could try out for the team and gain your position back. As long as your conduct remains spotless."
Regulus gives Draco a hard stare as the boy fidgets under his gaze.
"You have no idea how light that punishment is. Is there no way you'd consider suspending Draco until the end of the school year?" Regulus presses. It would give Harry much-needed time away from a boy who insisted on antagonising him at every turn. Harry has enough worries without watching over his shoulder for Draco.
"Mr Malfoy will also spend every weekend in detention upon his return until Easter term."
Lucius opens his mouth to argue but Severus beats him to it, giving Regulus an imploring look and adds, "That's fitting."
"Agreed," Regulus says softly.
That doesn't mean he won't take precautions when getting those muggle passports. It never hurts to be prepared.
"Your suspension is effective immediately," Albus announces. "You can speak to your father here and then use the Floo to return to Regulus's home. If that is where you're going," Albus slants a look in Regulus's direction. "Professor Snape will supervise the retrieval of your personal effects from your dorms and have them sent to you."
Draco nods wordlessly.
ooOoo
"That went better than expected," Minerva comments as the others leave. Regulus heads to the Hospital wing, seeing as he's there to visit Harry and Holly. Severus will return with Draco's school trunk for Regulus to take with him.
"Do you think I did the right thing?" Albus asks, staring at the door Regulus and Lucius exited from.
"You could have been harsher," Minerva admits. "Regulus is right; Mr Malfoy should have been suspended for much longer. In fact, it would have been fitting if he had to repeat his fifth year."
"I couldn't separate Holly from Severus. I did enough to have Regulus keep her here," Albus explains.
Not when there is still a big secret that Severus does not yet know. Last night, upon his return from his talk with Poppy, he had brought out his Pensieve and added the memory of Severus after Lily's death to view. The man had been broken, ready to kill himself.
It was in that man, full of tears and suffering, that Albus knew could be redeemed. So he gave Severus a chance, many others still do not believe he deserved.
Lucius, for his many faults, cared for Severus like a brother. Albus would not trust Lucius with a kneazle, let alone a school full of children. But Lucius loved Severus and looked after him as Severus deserved, considering the life he's lived.
Severus deserves to know his daughter. And he deserves to know about Eileen. None of that could have happened if he had let Draco go unpunished, but he also saw Draco's remorse. There's every chance that Draco will come back with a better temperament.
And- as much as he hates to admit it, Harry is an integral part of this war. That Horcrux inside the boy's head guarantees it.
Many people believed Albus and took his every word as the ultimate order. Some dared to argue, but in the end, they all caved to him. All except Regulus.
Regulus would follow through on his threat of removing Harry from Hogwarts. Where Herry went, so would Holly.
ooOoo
Severus takes his time walking down to the Slytherin Common room. The corridors are still mostly empty and any students he does see turn the other way when they lay eyes on him.
Frankly, he needs the time to gather his thoughts. He might have slept for an hour or two last night, having fallen into an exhausted slumber after weeping on Regulus's shoulder.
His child has brought him to his knees, bawling his eyes out on countless occasions. Is this how it feels to have a child? He doesn't remember Lucius or Narcissa ever getting this upset over Draco's actions. Of course, their relationship has never been as contentious as his and Holly's.
He'd come so close to losing Holly today. He's always protected Draco to the best of his ability. Swept alot of his misdemeanours under the rug. Yet today, he hoped his punishment was harsh enough so that Regulus had no problems with it. Just so Holly wouldn't be taken away from him.
Having custody over his child didn't matter, not when his child didn't even care to stay with him. She's made no secret of her preference for everyone but Severus.
Truthfully, he's bitterly disappointed in his godson. Having Draco looking after Holly had been his way of keeping her out of Potter's reach, that's true. Regulus had seen right through that. However, he also had to give Draco a chance to build bridges with Holly. Make amends.
Hearing of Draco's actions before he lost his temper had been enough. He'd done enough by that point to distance Holly from himself. Hurting Potter? That was unforgivable. He knows.
The more he thinks about it, the more he realises how lucky he is that his daughter forgave him at all. Especially after he'd been caught invading her privacy. If she ever finds out that the spell Draco used was his creation…
Nothing short of a Memory Charm will help Draco recover from this.
He doesn't realise he's standing in front of the entrance of the Slytherin Common room until the portrait slides open, and a startled student stands before him.
"Professor Snape," she announces as she steps back.
Severus enters the Common area as the conversations die down.
Draco doesn't realise how far-reaching his actions are, Severus thinks as he surveys the students. Severus, too, when it came down to it. Last night, Holly had been his priority. Now, he realises, as he's about to announce Draco's suspension, there will be a power vacuum. Luckily, Lucius already seemed to be planning ahead.
Draco's name alone gives him privileges within Slytherin. Lucius's position in the school elevated even more, even with his defection from the Dark Lord. Now, with Draco suspended, the likes of Yaxley would be stupid not to take advantage and try to recover from his duel with Potter.
He slowly sweeps his eyes around the Common room. Yaxley and his friends are not present.
Parkinson steps forward, asking, "Should I bring everyone down from the dorms, Professor?"
Severus nods and watches everyone as they all pay attention to him. He sees many calculating looks.
Five minutes later, everyone has gathered in the Common room, having been summoned from their dorms.
"As I'm sure you've all heard about the... incident...between Malfoy and Potter yesterday," Severus begins in a quiet voice. Potter and Draco's rivalry is well-known among all Slytherins. The whole school, in fact. "Due to the severe nature of the spell Mr Malfoy used, the Headmaster has seen fit to suspend Mr Malfoy until the end of the term. He will resume his schooling in the new year."
Mutters break out as Severus pauses to check everyone's reactions.
"That does also mean that Slytheirn is without a Seeker for the upcoming match with Gryffindor," Severus continues. He doesn't say that the Headmaster has banned Draco until the next school year. Montague, the Quidditch captain, will work that out for himself. If Draco plays it right, on his return he can make it seem like it's his own decision not to play the sport.
Several students snap their attention back to Severus at that pronouncement. The Potions Master refrains from rolling his eyes at that. He's not a big fan of Quidditch himself, and the amount of attention the sport gets is, frankly, ridiculous. However, within Slytherin, it is also a status thing.
"Additionally, a new Prefect will also be chosen to replace Draco," Severus tells them.
"What about that witch who cursed Potter as well? Who was she?" A sixth-year asks from the back.
"Madam Delores Umbridge," Severus announces, seemingly unconcerned. "A disgruntled Ministry employee, aiming for Draco after his father took the Defence position she coveted. Potter was collateral damage."
Albus had informed them this morning, following a Veritaserum-induced interrogation, Umbridge had confessed to not caring who got hit, having a grudge against both Potter and Lucius. If anything, Draco would have been collateral damage as revenge against Lucius.
"What about Potter? Is he still in the Hospital Wing?"
Adopting a bored tone, he says, "Potter is in bed milking his injury for all he can. He's expected to make a full recovery."
Catching Zabini and Nott's eyes, he nods towards the dorms.
After answering a few more probing questions, Severus makes his way to the fifth-year boy's dorms, where the boys in question are already waiting for him.
He recognises Draco's bed and desk straight away. Before he makes his way to collect Draco's things, he removes Draco's prefect badge from his pocket and places it on the empty desk that might have gone to Crabbe or Goyle.
"Both your grades are equal," he says quietly. "I shall let you decide between you who should get the badge. Once you've made the decision, come to my office tomorrow after the final classes."
He knows it's a cop-out to not make the decision of who should replace Draco, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't mean much to Severus.
He quickly gathers and packs Draco's belongings. "I expected you both to assist Draco in looking after Holly," he tells them in disappointment. "It's a sad day when Gryffindors exhibit more maturity."
He shrinks Draco's trunk and exits the dorm without a backward glance.
ooOoo
Meanwhile, up in the Hospital Wing, Regulus tries to coax Holly to eat something. She's sitting on his lap, staring down at Harry's still sleeping form.
"He'll wake up, won't he?" she asks.
"He will, darling," Regulus promises.
"Oma didn't wake up," Holly says with a sob. "What if Harry doesn't either?"
"He will," Regulus repeats. "Will you eat something? Please?"
"I'm not hungry," the girl sniffles, eyes still glued to her brother.
"Just a few bites," Regulus pleads.
He manages to get Holly to take a few (tiny) spoonfuls of porridge, which he has no choice but to consider a win.
"Did you get any sleep last night?" he asks.
"Aunt Poppy gave me a potion," Holly admits.
Despite the potion, Holly looks as exhausted as Regulus feels.
"Did Dudley really hit you?" she asks, looking up at his bruised jaw.
"He lost his temper," Regulus defends the boy. "I told him I wouldn't let anyone hurt Harry again. He was angry that I broke that promise. He apologised this morning."
Holly stays silent as she takes that in.
"I never used to like Dudley," she finally says, her eyes on Harry as she leans with her back against Regulus. "He used to be a bully, and he hurt Harry lots."
"He told me," Regulus replies carefully. It had been one of the first things Dudley confessed when they'd begun to talk at the beginning of the year. Regulus had seen the shame when Dudley first mentioned it, but last night had been a guilt-fueled admission, showing Regulus how much it still weighed on the boy. "He's afraid you think he's still a bully."
"Oma said Dudley already proved himself by wanting to change," Holly says after a tense silence. "I didn't trust him at first. I saw how much he liked to hurt Harry. How he used to laugh. Oma said children love their parents, so Dudley tried to make his parents happy because they thought it was okay to hurt Harry."
"He loves you and Harry," Regulus assures her. "He doesn't want to go back to his parent's house again."
"Harry and I already forgave Dudley," Holly whispers.
Regulus smiles above her.
"He said he hit Draco, too."
"He did," Regulus confirms.
"I don't want to see Draco again," she says.
"Draco's suspended," Regulus informs her. "He won't be back until after Christmas."
"I want Harry to wake up," Holly cries, ignoring the Draco issue completely.
"He will, my darling," he promises again, holding her close.
ooOoo
Several hours later, after having Holly fall asleep in his arms, Regulus heads back to Albus's office. Severus is already waiting for him with Draco's belongings.
"How is Holly?" Severus asks immediately upon seeing the other man.
Albus busies himself with his parchments, and the portraits pretend to sleep as they like to do when trying to be unobtrusive.
"She won't stop crying," Regulus answers with a sigh. "She's afraid he won't wake up, like her grandmother."
Severus flinches at the reminder.
"Will she allow me to see her?" Severus asks, hesitant at the answer.
"You can try," Regulus says with a shrug.
Regulus holds out his hand for Draco's things. Severus silently hands over the shrunken trunk.
"How is Potter?" the question more hesitant than the previous one.
"Still alive, despite other's attempts to challenge his title," Regulus says sardonically.
Severus takes in a harsh breath as the point hits home.
"I'll take my leave now, Albus," Regulus says in a less challenging tone. "I'll be back at the same time tomorrow, but please let me know if anything changes."
Albus acknowledges his words with a solemn promise.
He freezes before he takes a pinch of Floo powder.
"Severus," he says abruptly, gaining his one-time friend's attention.
Severus looks at him expectantly.
"Harry doesn't ever expect you to like him. The best he expects from you is to look after Holly. I was delusional in ever thinking you could change your opinion of Harry. I suppose I thought I – well, it doesn't matter now. I've given up anyhow. No one ever expects you to be kind to Harry, but perhaps, for Holly's sake, you can be civil. Or at least, pretend a little better."
Severus swallows as he understands the reference to last night's conversation between Holly and Dudley.
He takes a pinch of Floo powder, calls out his destination and steps into the Fireplace.
"Albus? May I borrow your Pensieve?" he hears as he's whisked away.
He wishes he could rest a while, but there's still so much to do.
He needs to have another talk with Dudley and then take the boy back to school. Talk to his Headmaster while he's there.
He heads downstairs towards the kitchen to find everyone but Dudley there. He correctly assumes Dudley's absence is due to Draco's presence.
The atmosphere is sombre as Regulus takes a seat.
He gratefully accepts the tea.
"How's Harry?" Sirius asks.
"Poppy put him a healing sleep," Regulus answers, wiping his hand over his face. "It'll be a few days before she thinks he'll be ready to be woken. He'll be on Blood Replenishers for a while to battle the anaemia she thinks he'll develop."
Sirius nods.
"Dudley's waiting for you in his room once you're done here."
"Has he eaten yet?"
"I took him up a plate," Sirius confirms. "It came back empty, so I'm hoping he did eat."
"Thanks," Regulus smiles.
"I'll be in the lab if you need me," Sirius tells him.
"I'll join you," Andromeda says, picking up her tea and following behind.
"I'll keep them company," Nimmy says, sending him an unreadable look.
Narcissa waits until he's drunk most of his tea before looking him in the eyes.
"Do you want us to leave?" Narcissa asks.
"Do you want to?" he volleys back.
He heaves a sigh when she looks away.
"Narcissa, despite the political climate, there is a war going on. Malfoy Manor might be safely under the Fidelius, but I know you moved here because you would have been alone otherwise. You're still family," he assures her solemnly. "I'm not going to kick you out."
Turning to Draco, he says in a harsher tone, "Even though you would deserve it."
Draco nods and looks away, unable to maintain eye contact.
"I don't know what your issue with Harry is, but you're going to stay away from him," Regulus orders.
Draco hesitates. "I'd like to apologise to him. And Holly."
"I'll think about it," Regulus says after a moment's thought, not having expected that offer. Cynically, he wonders if Lucius and Narcissa have coached him to try to mitigate the damage.
He wants to observe Draco's behaviour if Narcissa decides to stay instead of returning to Malfoy Manor.
"Severus will deliver your assignments every Saturday," Regulus informs the boy. "If you've had any in the meantime, make sure you complete them and have them ready for Severus to collect."
The boy is lucky the teachers have agreed to mark his homework during his suspension. Regulus's sure that's a courtesy Draco deserves. Draco nods his understanding.
Regulus knows Narcissa doesn't want to return to Malfoy Manor, even though Draco's presence means she won't be alone. She has a now-established routine. She and Andromeda have reconnected. She's getting to know Nimmy. Even though Sirius can be an arse, he and Narcissa also have their own bond.
She joins the Order for their exercises every morning. Goes to Yoga three times a week.
She can still do that from Manor, but it wouldn't be the same despite the ease of travel via apparition.
"You'll have to follow some rules," Regulus says with a hard look at the boy.
He and Draco have never been close, though he's visited Narcissa almost as often as he's visited Andromeda. Despite that, he knows the boy well enough to know he's spoiled and lazy. That's how his parents have raised him.
"I want to talk to Draco alone," he says, not taking his eyes off the lad.
Narcissa gives her son a reassuring nod and pleading look at Regulus before she pushes back her chair and exits the kitchen.
Regulus allows the silence to lengthen, watching Draco fidget before he begins in a gentle tone;
"Growing up, I had no adult I could rely on. The Blacks are a decent size family. Yet, I couldn't depend on any of them: not my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, not even my brother – no one. That's how I was raised.
"Then, when I went to Hogwarts, I thought maybe there could be someone there who would help me. But still, everyone let me down. All of my teachers. My classmates. People I thought were my friends.
"The only difference between my parents and yours, Draco, is that your parents love you. But they've still let you down as much as my parents did me. Perhaps in a different way than mine did, yet they've let you down.
"I'm not sure you'll ever understand the struggles they had to conceive you. You'll never understand the relief they felt when you were born and held you for the first time. You mean so much to them.
"I want to say I understand, but frankly, they spoiled you and set you up to fail in life. Your mother indulged you too much, and your father threw money at you because it's the only way he knows how to show his love.
"You're lazy and entitled, expecting everything to fall into your lap simply because of a circumstance of birth. No one can force you to change. I'm not expecting you to change. You need to decide for yourself how you want to live your life. For all of Lucius's faults, he's earned his wealth. If there's anything your father knows how to do, it's make money. And your mother? If her parents had let her study instead of marrying her off as quickly as they did? She would have been a Healer like Andromeda."
He rolls up his left sleeve and shows Draco his Dark Mark.
"We all make mistakes, Draco," he continues in the same gentle tone he uses throughout his speech, which is somehow worse than the cold tone his father used earlier. "I'm not expecting you to be perfect. I expect you to think about how you want to live your life. When you leave Hogwarts, what do you want your future to look like?"
Draco's stricken expression is enough to assure Regulus that the boy will think about his words.
"Let me show you to your room," Regulus says, covering his Mark once more.
ooOoo
Knowing the others had gathered in Potions Lab, Narcissa makes her way down there, fighting her every instinct to stay with Draco.
Perhaps, had she known precisely what Regulus would say to her child, she might have stayed. However, she does know that Regulus would say some harsh things to Draco, but she also knows she's wrapped her son in cotton wool too long.
"Where's Sirius?" she asks, seeing only Andromeda and her daughter.
"He left his notes from the twins in his room," Nimmy answers, concentrating on chopping her batch of comfrey.
Andromeda has a healing potion brewing, and Narcissa spots Murtlap tentacles soaking in a solution on the bench at the back of the room.
"Dudley won't speak to me," Narcissa comments, picking up a quill and idly twirling it.
"Does it really matter?" Andromeda asks, not even looking at her sister.
"It does," Narcissa confesses. "He matters to me."
It's not something she ever expected to say about a squib boy she barely knew.
"Give him time then," Andromeda suggests pragmatically. "Your son hurt the boy he loves like a brother. If anything, I believe it's wise of him to avoid you, given how angry he was yesterday. It means he's trying not to lash out at you. He just needs time to process his feelings. He's avoiding everyone, not just you. That's why he's locked himself away."
Narcissa nods, allowing the advice to wash over her. Her sister's words make her feel better. Dudley had come to mean a lot to her.
"He respects you," Nimmy adds, reaching for the next batch of comfrey. "He stopped beating Draco to a pulp as soon as you asked him to."
Begged, Narcissa thought silently. She'd begged Dudley to stop hurting her son. And he had.
"How are we going to recover from this, Andi?" Narcissa questions in a doleful voice. "Holly's angry. So angry. She's just like Severus when it comes to holding grudges."
Nimmy freezes for a brief second before continuing with her chopping.
"Holly, Harry, Dudley – they all share such a strong bond," Narcissa continues. "I've never seen anything like it."
"I don't know," Andromeda disagrees. "I believe Sirius and James had a strong bond too."
"Those boys were never mature in the way these children are," Narcissa remarks with a shake of her head.
Andromeda scoffs, "As if Sirius knew the meaning of maturity when he was fifteen."
"My ears are burning," Sirius teases as he enters the Lab with a sheaf of papers.
"They should be," Andromeda states. "We're praising your maturity during your teen years."
Sirius takes on a rueful expression.
"James and I were berks," Sirius agrees without argument. "He grew up a lot faster than I did. That was more due to Lily's influence than anything else."
"What was she like?" Narcissa asks curiously. Despite knowing Severus's love, bordering on obsession for his old friend, Severus never spoke much of Lily and their friendship.
Lucius never held the witch in any regard, partly due to her heritage but primarily due to her treatment of Severus.
"Beyond James's league," Sirius laughs. "She spent six years ignoring his existence, trying to get him to back off. James was a little spoiled. Took the idiot his whole time at Hogwarts to understand he needed to grow up before Lily would give him the time of day. You know what made Lily think James grew up? When he walked onto the platform on the first day of school with the Head Boy badge pinned to his robes. Lily thought if McGonagall thought James was suitable for that position, then he must have had those qualities. Took the wind from his broom when she finally said yes to dating him."
Breaking Severus's heart in the process, Narcissa finishes silently.
"Lily was special. She was soft, compassionate, caring. She had a vicious temper when it came to her friends."
He looks at Narcissa uncomfortably and says, "James and Lily used to clash most over Snape. The more she defended him, the more he wanted to tear them apart. He hated how close they were. He never understood why they were."
"You helped him," Narcissa points out.
"I did," Sirius admits softly, looking away. Then, looking back, he suddenly says, "Did you know James and I met on the train? I was already on the train when he came. We were just talking when Snape and Lily came in. They were talking about Houses. Snape wanted to be in Slytherin. I remember thinking, why? Why would anyone choose that House?"
"We weren't all bad in Slytherin," Andromeda says pointedly. "You didn't trust us."
"Still, you can understand why I wanted to get away," Sirius says almost defensively. "So, when Snape practically ordered Lily to choose Slytherin, I just ... I decided I didn't like anyone who would want to choose Slytherin. I chose Gryffindor. I don't regret it at all. Gryffindor was my home. But I've come to regret some of my actions."
"Took you long enough," Andromeda tells him.
"Lily always did say I was the slowest to learn," Sirius laughs sombrely. "She tried to get me and James to apologise to Snape. She missed her friend. James and I used to torment Snape even after she and James started dating. She thought we'd stopped, but we just got sneakier."
Looking ashamed, he doesn't look anyone in the eye as he confesses, "I didn't want Snape to interfere, so I made Snape think that Lily didn't care."
"Oh, Sirius," Narcissa sighs. It didn't seem to have mattered to Severus, who still hasn't been able to forget Lily and move on. His treatment of women is a testament to that.
She is beginning to understand the depth of Severus's obsession.
"There's more," Nimmy says, eyes narrowed at Sirius.
"Snape had this pendant," Sirius says, looking guilty. "It was an expensive lily pendant. He didn't notice he'd dropped it. I picked it up and realised Snape wanted to give it to Lily. It was almost her birthday. I gave it to James and said I found it in a jewellery store and asked if he wanted to give it to Lily. James thought it was perfect and paid me for it. He gave it to Lily for her birthday. No one knew except me that it was supposed to be from Snape."
Narcissa makes a noise that gets their attention.
"Severus spent almost two years saving up for that pendant. Even after he and Lily fell out, he never stopped hoping she would give him another chance. He spent his spare time doing odd jobs and tutoring others in whatever subject he could to make money. During his summer, he would pick up odd jobs, forgoing basic necessities like food so he could put it all towards the pendant we all knew was for Lily but he would never admit it."
Lucius used to pretend to celebrate something or another just to feed Severus without offending the younger wizard. Narcissa can still remember the stark relief in Lucius's eyes when he'd told her Abraxas had agreed to take on Severus as his ward. Narcissa also remembers the way Severus's eyes had lit up when he'd handed over his hard earned galleons and held the pendant for the first time. His heartbreak when he thought he'd lost it. He carried it with him everywhere, believing it too precious to leave in his trunk in the dorms.
"You know, Sirius," Narcissa says scathingly, "for someone who wanted to get away from his family's legacy, you weren't really that different from all the dishonest Slytherins you were trying to distance yourself from."
Unknowingly echoing Regulus's words from the summer about his dislike of Slytherins, Narcissa walks out of the lab to her own room so she can calm down.
At least she now has an answer as to what happened to Lily's gift. It might not have come from Severus as initially intended, but at least it had gone to the right recipient. Following her death, it would be obvious that Harry would inherit her belongings. Harry then gifted it to Holly.
She laughs bitterly at life's little coincidences, debating whether to relieve Severus's mind of this one mystery.
ooOoo
"Reparo," Lucius incants dully.
Once repaired, he sends out several Blasting curses towards the spare chairs and tables.
It's Sunday. He would have had duelling lessons with Potter today, but given current circumstances, Lucius decides to use the time to take out his anger and frustration.
Draco being suspended isn't the best outcome; however, it's infinitely better than Draco in Azkaban. Suspension is still better than expulsion. It means Draco can keep his wand, and he will get to come back to Hogwarts in January.
The situation could have been a lot worse. So much worse. Draco's injuries are almost healed, with just a few bruises remaining. Umbridge's curse didn't hit Draco. He mentally tallies all of Draco's injuries. Draco used to fall off his broom when he was still learning. There were a few sprained ankles and wrists from back then. The usual scrapes when his son was learning to walk. Clumsy nicks from a knife when he'd been learning to handle potion ingredients.
The most significant injury had been a few years ago when he'd been clawed by Hagrid's beast. Lucius had pushed hard to have the animal executed, but Dumbledore managed to have Scamander take it away. Lucius had had no choice but to let it go. As long as it was nowhere near his son, he'd allowed himself to be content with that. Scamander's expertise had swayed the committee, even with Macnair on Lucius's side.
All in all, he tells himself, Draco's situation could have been much worse. He sends another Blasting curse to the remaining table, repairing it again with a flick of his wand.
That doesn't mean he wouldn't have Umbridge broken. The bitch who dared try to hurt his son. It was his mistake to underestimate a witch like Umbridge. Lucius would bury the toad. Rip her apart and scatter her bones to the werewolves she liked to put down. He'll make Umbridge regret her every action. And with Regulus advocating for Harry, he's sure he can get the other wizard on board.
"Your son tried to kill mine!" Regulus had yelled in Dumbledore's office only yesterday.
The emotions behind Regulus's statement had been unexpected. Regulus had been willing to send Draco to Azkaban – for Harry Potter. Lucius hadn't entirely realised how close Regulus and Harry had become.
Holly spoke often of the letters she exchanged with Regulus, Narcissa and even Tobias. But Harry never discussed anything personal. The boy is engaging and knowledgable when it comes to classwork and Duelling, but Lucius realised when talking to the boy that he never spoken about anything personal. Lucius hadn't been offended. He knew he would have to earn the boy's trust still. Holly was familiar ground for both.
Unlike Draco, Harry took all criticism and feedback seriously. There was never a single session when Harry had made the same mistake twice when duelling. In fact, the boy never exhibited any of the arrogance, entitlement and ego Severus and Draco often complained about.
Lucius knows he's spoiled Draco throughout his life. He can certainly afford to. He's got more galleons in his vault than he can ever spend in his lifetime, and he's more than capable of making more. His father had made Lucius earn every knut, and by Merlin, Lucius had. Lucius had worked hard to keep his grades up. There were standards Lucius had been made to adhere to. Lucius had completed Hogwarts with nine NEWTs, all Outstanding. It had been difficult, but he'd accomplished it.
Lucius hated his father, but the man had made sure that Lucius lived up to the Malfoy name. Lucius hadn't wanted Draco working under the same pressure, but he is beginning to realise he'd gone too much in the other direction. He hadn't wanted Draco to earn his toys like Abraxas had made Lucius earn them. When Draco was born, Lucius had kept his wife and child away from the old man as much as possible. He hadn't mourned for his father at all when he'd passed away. In fact, he got some satisfaction from knowing it was a silly disease that got his father. An inglorious death, befitting a man who pushed for glory.
He pushes more magic in his next Blasting Curse, splinters flying in every direction. He doesn't even flinch as they pass him by.
His mind turns to the children left in the Hospital Wing. Harry and Holly. Inseparable, no matter what Severus did. Perhaps he was coming to realise he'd never be able to break their bond. Everyone but Severus seemed to understand that.
Regulus threatening to leave Hogwarts with Harry and take Holly with him had been a jolt for everyone. Dumbledore would never allow for Potter to be taken from him. He was too important in the war against the Dark Lord. He doesn't know what hold Regulus has on the Headmaster for that threat to be credible, but it had forced the old man to take strict action against Draco.
Dumbledore never liked to kick anyone out of school. He'd been a school governor long enough to understand that.
Lucius had worked very hard these last few months to try and gain Harry's trust. He thought he already had Holly's.
Holly isn't his child, Lucius reminds himself. He tells himself her words don't hurt.
Yet, they do.
The last thing he'd expected to hear the previous night had been Holly's assessment of his relationship with Harry.
"At least Uncle Luc pretended to like Harry. He knew it would make me happy. The Professor and Draco couldn't even pretend."
Trying to think about his own behaviour, Lucius tries to recall when he's ever given the impression that he's only pretended to like Harry.
Lucius never really had any opinions of Harry one way or another. Even with the diary fiasco, after his initial anger of his plot failing, he'd had no real enmity against the boy. If anything, he'd reluctantly admired the boy, after cursing him out, by the masterful way he'd tricked Lucius into freeing his House-Elf.
No one has ever dared do such a thing to Lucius.
Then, he'd heard of the boy's Patronus. To perform a Patronus at thirteen, it reeked of power. That was when Lucius's opinion of Harry began to change. Then, his performance in the Triwizard Tournament. His dignified behaviour when Rita Skeeter raked him across the coals. Despite popular opinion, Lucius never believed Harry put his own name in the Tournament.
Had the boy been as arrogant as Severus and Draco believed, he would have shouted it across the Daily Prophet. Even if he had lost his nerve, his bravado would have meant he would have soldiered through. Still, the boy kept his silence even after the tide changed in his favour following his success at the first task.
Lucius firmly believes he made the best decision by changing camps. If he hadn't, he might have lost Narcissa, for she had threatened to leave him forever if he ever returned to the Dark Lord's side. His own life would have been forfeit when the Dark Lord realised that the diary he'd given Abraxas for safekeeping was destroyed.
As Lucius examines his own feelings, whatever pretence he'd had at the beginning of his association with Harry had developed into genuine regard for the boy. He doesn't know when the change occurred. Just knows that he looked forward to every workout in the gym in the mornings and every duelling session on Sundays.
The boy's hard work in and out of the classroom and the way he interacts with his friends and classmates. The effortless way he commands attention. The creativity and ruthlessness in dealing with Yaxley. His protectiveness over Holly. His respect for Lucius. His patience when it came to teaching. The boy never went back on his word and antagonised Draco.
He's never seen Harry's friends roll their eyes behind his back the way he's seen Draco's friend do the same. The respectful way he treated his girlfriend. Draco's always taken Pansy's presence in his life for granted, but Harry treats Luna Lovegood with such reverence.
He's seen the signs of Pansy and Draco's imminent break up for months. Despite being childhood friends, Draco's relationship with Pansy simply wasn't strong enough. Because Draco's feelings for Pansy weren't strong.
He catches himself thinking of his wish that Draco was more like Harry and freezes mid-spell. Moving backwards until he hits the wall, Lucius scrutinises the thought thoroughly.
Why did he think that?
He loves Draco, he assures himself. His love for Draco is unconditional; it doesn't matter what Draco is like. Draco is his son, and he will always be there for him.
Yet, he wishes Draco behaved better than he does.
Harry and Holly have displayed more cunning behaviour than Draco. Lucius is no stranger to disappointment, but he's never given in to tantrums like Draco. He might take out his frustrations as he is now, but he makes plans to move on.
"If I were yours, I would be spoiled and bratty like Draco. I'm not like him."
The words had hurt at the time, Lucius recalls. He had put it down to loyalty to Harry; truthfully, Holly had seen Draco's true character and found him wanting. He had hoped with time, Holly would give Draco the same chance she'd given Harry. And she had. It was Draco who let her down.
Lucius knows Holly will not give Draco another chance. Not after seeing her brother almost die.
And Lucius realises he could lose them both. Holly and Harry.
Harry made an impact on Lucius. The Malfoy patriarch doesn't understand when it happened. When Harry became more than a way to align himself to a powerful wizard. He still believes all of that. The plan had certainly never been to actually like the boy. The strategy had been to get the boy to like Lucius, to depend on him, respect him, and come to him for advice.
It was never supposed to be mutual.
As angry as he had been to know that Regulus would have been willing to send Draco to prison for his mistake, the thought of never seeing Holly and Harry had also been upsetting. Severus had only been concerned about losing Holly, but Lucius had come to realise he didn't want to lose Harry either.
Despite Draco's suspension, there's still a real chance that upon awakening, Harry could decide to leave. Holly would be sure to follow. She would never consent to be left behind.
He couldn't lose either of them.
He and Narcissa tried to speak to Holly this morning, but she wouldn't even look in their direction. It hurt unbearably. Severus was the one who got the silent treatment from the girl. Not Lucius.
What if she never speaks to him again? Will he forever be on the outside like Severus?
He needs to fix things. Show her his feelings for Harry were never a pretence.
His scheming is interrupted by a knock on his door.
"Come in," he calls automatically.
Minerva enters the classroom, pausing to take in the debris from his frustrations. Arching a brow in his direction, she asks, "Feeling any better?"
"No. I am not," Lucius confesses.
Minerva waves her wand around the room, repairing everything in one spell and Vanishing what her first spell couldn't fix with another.
"I'll have the House-elves send replacements," she says once the room is restored to a better state.
"May I help you with something?" Lucius asks as politely as he's able.
He and the Transfiguration teacher have a good working relationship. In their limited spare time, they occasionally play chess in the staffroom, exchange theories from the latest Transfiguration Weekly magazine, converse about the merits of updating the curriculum to include the newer theories, projects her NEWT students are working on, some of the wards around the gym and the work that went into making the equipment.
"Let's head into your office," Minerva suggests.
Lucius follows, though he is in no mood to entertain guests today. There's simply too much on his mind, too many threads he needs to unravel, and he needs to resolve this as much as possible.
He needs Holly and Harry to believe he cares for them. Not just for political reasons in the case of the latter. He also needs to show the Dark Lord supporters that he is not weakened, regardless of Draco's suspension. Lucius and Severus need to present a united front despite the events of Hogsmeade. With Potter's display at the first Duelling club against Yaxley, Lucius had been able to sow seeds of doubt in the minds of the Dark Lord's supporters. Draco's loss of temper undermined all of Lucius's efforts. He will have to ask Draco's friends to observe and report the atmosphere in the Slytherin Common room over the next few weeks.
Once Minerva and Lucius settle in the latter's office, the former brings out a bottle of aged whiskey. It's not a label Lucius recognises and correctly deduces that it is muggle.
Lucius does not take a sip straight away, though he wants nothing more than to down the whole bottle to reach oblivion.
"Albus was very torn on how to handle your son's punishment," Minerva begins, staring at Lucius as her own glass remains untouched.
"He shouldn't have needed to punish Draco at all," Lucius says with a weary sigh. As a student, Lucius had no opinion of Minerva McGonagall. She was just another teacher. She might believe she's unbiased, but Lucius observed her enough from her interactions with the so-called Marauders that they would always be believed over any Slytherin.
Slughorn, despite being the Slytherin Housemaster, was actually the least biased. However, that was only because he believed in currying favour with the rich, powerful or talented. Anyone in those categories could have come from any Hogwarts House.
Yet, now, Lucius is Minerva's equal in that they are both teachers. Her position ranks higher, given that she is a Housemaster and a Deputy, but the Scottish witch has never pulled rank over him.
He's come to find he respects her intelligence and her opinion.
"That is true," she agrees without judgment.
He reaches for his glass to swirl the amber liquid.
"I'm trying to protect my family," Lucius tells her without looking at the witch.
"I understand the sentiment," Minerva says.
The thoughts swirl in his mind faster than the whiskey in his glass. He downs the whole glass in one large gulp.
"I blame Severus," Lucius confesses, the words leaving his lips without his permission.
"How so?" Minerva asks with a bemused frown, leaning forward.
Lucius closes his eyes, wishing he could take the words back. Instead, he reaches for the bottle, pours himself another drink and downs the second in a single breath.
"I blame Severus," Lucius repeats bitterly and spills his pent-up emotions from mid-summer that he's desperately tried to suppress over the last few months.