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Suddenly, the fire in the fire place flared and Draco hastily hid behind the sofa.

"Severus, my dear friend, are you there? Mind if I step through?"

Draco gasped. It was his father.

Snape motioned Draco to leave the room. Draco hurried out of the living room, but stayed within earshot.

"Ah Lucius. How good to hear from you. Be my guest," Snape's smooth voice said.

He could hear his father step through the fire place and Draco's emotions went on a roller coaster. He was delighted to have his father close, but the betrayal and sadness he also felt wrenched his gut.

"My, my, Severus. You look... awfully gaunt. Are you eating enough?" Lucius' voice drawled, but it did not sound cruel, rather friendly, teasing.

Draco had noticed the loss of weight during the year as well. Severus must have had a few rather stressful months, but he didn't seem unhappy, Draco thought. Not exactly happy, either - he wouldn't even know how to recognize a happy Snape if he saw one - but he was teaching DADA, which had long been his dream, the students were infinitely better at this subject than at potions, they seemed to enjoy it more as well, and the healing of the Longbottoms had been a total success. Generally speaking, Snape was in a far better mood than Draco had ever seen him in.

"Ah, I fear working for two masters, tutoring the less... gifted, brewing potions for the Infirmary, managing the Triwizard Tournament, teaching dunderheads and supervising countless detentions leave little time for eating," Snape answered Lucius.

Lucius chuckled. "I am afraid you have no one to blame for the last one but yourself."

"Fair enough," agreed Snape.

"You've always eaten little, even at school. You should visit Narcissa and I for dinner-"

"Lucius, surely you haven't visited me today to talk about my health or my eating habits," Snape interrupted. "Why are you bothering me during the holidays?"

"Would you prefer I bother you during classes?" he could hear his father tease. Draco felt jealous. Why did Snape get to have a good relationship with his father when he didn't?

"Lucius," Snape's tone was even.

A pause.

"No, indeed not," Lucius admitted.

Another pause. The temperature seemed to drop by a few degrees. The playful banter was gone and made room for a serious conversation.

"I believe you have heard about my... falling out with Draco," Lucius started.

Pause. Draco held his breath. This was about him.

"So the rumors are true?" asked Snape carefully.

Another, longer pause. It seemed like both men were measuring each and every word they exchanged. Draco knew this from the first time he had been a part of this war. You never knew how much you could tell your supposed friends, especially when the subject was one that could potentially lead to trouble if one of the two parties passed the information on to the Dark Lord.

"Yes," Lucius finally sighed and Draco could hear him sit down on the sofa. "We had to disown him."

Draco exhaled slowly, suppressing the impulse to do something he would most definitely regret.

"Had to? Surely this wasn't necessary." Snape walked to the liquor cabinet and Draco could hear him serve two glasses of what he presumed was most likely Firewhiskey.

"Severus... How frank can I be with you? I am sure you have noticed that Draco has... changed his tune."

"I have noticed he has made some new friends this year," Snape agreed.

"This is not the only thing he has done this year. His recent actions have led me to believe that he will not be on our side, should the Dark Lord return," Lucius sighed again, "Indeed, I believe Draco has chosen to become a blood traitor."

A longer pause. Draco had to fight the urge to peer around the corner to see their facial expressions.

"Don't you think your actions were rash?" Snape carefully said, "With time, I am sure, we could have set him back on the right path."

"Maybe," Lucius agreed. "But time is a luxury which I do not have. The Dark Lord will return soon. You know it and I know it."

"You do not sound happy about that," ventured Snape.

Draco was surprised his father was ready to divulge so much. He seemed to trust Severus quite a bit. It made Draco wonder how his godfather really felt about his family. Did he really consider them friends or were they just a source of information for the spy? Why had he taken Draco in? Because Dumbledore told him to or because he actually wanted to?

"Oh- don't get me wrong, his return is something I have longed for these many years. But..." Lucius trailed off. "It has come to my attention that he is interested in my son."

"Indeed?" Snape sounded surprised. Draco was as well. He edged closer to the door and held his breath so he wouldn't miss anything they said.

"It would have been marvelous news, had Draco not strayed from the rightful path," sighed Lucius.

"You fear for the boy's safety?" Snape asked.

"I-He-" Lucius seemed to struggle to find the right words. "He is my only son. You know just as well as I do how the Dark Lord takes to traitors."

Draco gasped. He was leaning against the wall separating him from Severus and Lucius, but now sank down, hugging his knees.

Another pause. "How does Narcissa take to all of this?"

Draco could hear his father gulp. "She... She is a mess. If she doesn't control herself in time, I fear that I must worry about her as well," Lucius voice wavered.

"Severus... I know you would never betray our master. Neither would I. There is nothing more important to me than our cause... but... could you keep an eye on Draco? While you're at Hogwarts? And make sure he is alright?"

Snape stayed quiet for an awfully long time. "I will do everything I can as long as it won't defy our master."

"Thank you, Severus. I knew I could count on you."

Soon after that, Lucius left. Draco could not keep still much longer as a sob escaped him.

A few seconds after his father's departure, Snape sank down next to him. Uncharacteristically for his godfather, he put an arm around Draco and let him cry on his shoulder.

TBC

Surprise ;) Did you expect this? What do you think of Lucius' way of protecting his son? What do you think does Voldemort want from Draco?

Most of your reviews and pm were about how much you hate Lucius... but some also commented that kicking out Draco seemed out of character for him... I think Lucius is an evil bastard, but I think he truly loves his son...

This was the last pre-written chapter, so updates might take a bit longer again from now on.