Corpselike figures sat around a table and stared down on their breakfast. Heavy rain against the windows hammered in their ears. None of them was able to eat. The only somewhat shiny person at the table was Luna, but even she was far from happiness. Dreamingly as always, she watched the water run down the glass, though her expression was more one of a lonesome Banshee that would never be able to scream again. Every now and then, Ginny would be the only one to look at her. She wondered whether Luna was worried about her father. He had Disapparated from the wedding and not given them any sign of life since.
Something was out there. They all could feel it. It was like someone was watching them. A hungry pack of wolves, ready to attack the first living being that left the house. A knock on the door. Everyone but Ginny and Luna startled. The girls had been waiting for it ever since they had been told. Bloodshot eyes from the lack of sleep, they looked at each other. Mr Weasley raised, his wand in hand. Slightly staggering, he went for the door and looked out through the window in it. A tall man sneered inside, pressing an identification card to the glass.
“Good morning, Yaxley,”, Mr Weasley said stiff and let the man enter.
In fact, that was the only thing he could do to save his family. Yaxley wasn’t alone. Another two stepped in after him. They fitted the image of the hungry beasts that were supposedly watching The Burrow. Long faces, animal-like. All three of them grinned artificially. Molly Weasley was on her feet, looking at them ferociously.
“A very good morning as well.”, Yaxley raised his deep, smeary voice. “I am sorry to disturb you at such an early hour, but maybe you have read the Daily Prophet already anyway.”
“What do you want?”, Mr Weasley said curtly.
“Well, since you’re known to be familiar with the boy, it was the Minister’s idea to send us for some questions. After all, that coward Harry Potter is still missing, even though the whole country searches for him. There are rumours he has been sighted with one of your children.”
“And you believe, he might be here?”
“Oh I don’t believe anything, lately. But I have orders, you see? Potter is the most important witness in the case of Albus Dumbledore’s lamentable demise. And now he ran away. There are rumours already, that he might have even been behind Dumbledore’s death in ways,”
Since two more people who had been on the tower stood right behind him, it couldn’t have been a bigger lie. Ginny got up and walked towards them, coming to halt next to her father.
“And the other rumours say, he was seen with your youngest son – Rowan, or what was his name?”
“Ronald.”, Mr Weasley said cold. “And he is upstairs, suffering from spattergroit.”
“Then it must have been another of your kids, hanging around with Potter.”, he looked along the table, visibly counting.
“Well, you should know, that Potter is no longer a friend of this family.”
“Ginny – ”, her mother whispered.
“Shut it.”, she snapped back.
“Ginevra,”, her father warned but backed away immediately when she barked at him.
“I said, shut up!”, the fury in her face could have been real. “Now,”, she continued, speaking surprisingly calm to Yaxley, “If there is nothing important left to say, I ask you to leave this house.”
“What d’you mean, by `no longer a friend´, girl? Wasn’t he – your – boyfriend?”, the twins behind him snickered like little children.
“I broke up with that filthy coward.”, Ginny said coldly and crossed her arms.
“Did you, girl?”, the woman to Yaxley’s right said. “What an incredibly bad lie.”
“Alecto Carrow, isn’t it? I see. It might interest you, that I am close friends with your new boss. You don’t want me to contact him so he can throw you out before you even started working at that pathetic school.”, Alecto’s grin froze. “Any words against me and you will experience what `influence´ actually means. I am sure, the Dark Lord will not be pleased to hear of your disloyalty,”
“You dare speaking of him, girl?”, Yaxley murmured.
“I speak of whom I want. It has not escaped our notice, whom the so quickly appointed new Minister is working for. I must daresay, the change was badly needed.”
There was not a single pair of eyes that didn’t stare at her with shock; well, there was, but Luna tried her best to hide it. The three in front of her exchanged some surprised glimpses.
“The way you say that, it sounds like you might be a Death Eater?”, Amycus Carrow asked. “I don’t recall, the Lord has ever let Blood Traitors into his ranks?”
“You must know, I like it comfortable, even if this means that I have to share a house with a bunch of Blood Traitors and I also like my skin the way it is. I don’t need any branding to tell me where I belong.”, Ginny replied harsh. “Put one and one together, if you can. Should you not be good enough at simple calculations, I would be grateful if you didn’t disturb my breakfast any longer. Otherwise I might actually find myself unable to wait until September. I am sure, it will take a long time to find more capable teachers to replace the two of you. So, the earlier he knows, the better, don’t you think? Now, if you don’t mind,”, she pointed her arm at the door, “You know your way out.”
Truly fascinated, the trio needed some seconds to realise that they had just been verbally overpowered by a fifteen year old girl. Without further words, they left the Weasleys’ kitchen through the door they had come in and Disapparated. Suddenly, the feeling of being encircled, vanished from the house. Ginny took a deep breath, dropped her shoulders and turned to her family.
“Sorry, Mum, Dad.”, she smirked.
“That was – scary!”, Fred laughed.
“But epic!”, George added.
“Horrible, though rather fantastic.”, Bill nodded.
“Yes, really brilliant.”, Luna grinned.
“Yeah. Threatening them with Snape – ”, Fred shook his head, “Ingenious! They really are afraid of him, it seems.”
“I suppose so.”, Ginny sighed. “At least I know now what might await me in September.”
“The next year will be so much fun,”, Luna turned back to her breakfast when Ginny sat down and started eating, lastly with a little joy.
“Snape?”, Mr Weasley frowned and got back to his chair. “What makes you think that – ”
“Haven’t you heard the rumours?”, Ginny said immediately. “Everyone at the wedding was saying it.”
“Er – no?”
“Well, there have been stories that, if the Ministry falls and You-Know-Who takes over Hogwarts as well, then he might make Snape the new Headmaster. You know, for killing Dumbledore and stuff. You said yourself that those Carrows are famous for being favourites of You-Know-Who. Malfoy’s been talking about them quite a lot too and since he turned out to be a Death Eater, the case is clear. And anyway, they just confirmed that these rumours are true, didn’t they?”
“Actually – yes – ”, her father considered and added a chuckle.
“But you know what that means, Dad?”, Bill noticed.
“What?”
“That they managed to get in yesterday and blow up the wedding, or now – Scrimgeour must have unknowingly told a mole about the Fidelius Charm on our house. That’s how they could enter the barrier. It’s down. We have to put up protection again.”
~~#~~
Tiredly, he leaned on his right arm and studied the messed, blond, greasy waves, listening to the rain against the window. It was late morning already and a greyish light tried to force its way through the thick clouds, into the room. A bare shoulder could be seen between the edge of the white blanket and the fair strands. His right cheek on the white pillow and his mouth wide open, Lucius laid prone, vast asleep. Severus, still in his blue pyjamas, was recumbent on the blanket and stared at the back of his friend’s head. In the doorframe, the latter’s wife had her chin resting on her right knuckles, her elbow supported by her left fist.
“I would have sent him straight to hell a long time ago already, if I was you.”, Severus said quiet.
“I could say the same.”, Narcissa replied equally low.
“We are the only friends he has.”
“You don’t stand to him out of sympathy.”
“No.”, he said honest, lightly lifting a bundle of Lucius’ hair in thoughts. “Even though he’s a nasty, selfish git sometimes, I liked him from the beginning.”
“I could say the same.”, Narcissa repeated with a smirk, making Severus look at her, his eyebrow raised. “You are as imperturbable as he is.”, his confusion was however gone in a second when Lucius moaned in his sleep. “He tends to react to such.”, Narcissa snickered under her breath and nodded to Severus’ hand still holding the hair. “His hair is his weak spot. Play a bit with it and watch me telling the truth.”
“Narcissa – ”
“Come on, he’s still passed out.”
“Are you actually forcing me to play with your husband’s hair?”, Severus chuckled.
“I’d like to see whether you get it right.”, she thoughtfully bit her fingers with a terribly evil smirk.
Severus curled his lips for a moment, but then wiped some strands from Lucius face. Another moan. Not losing his childish smile, Severus stroked more hair behind the other man’s ear. With every touch, he could see him move his lips with obvious delight. Severus then gently brushed through the thicker parts and Lucius let out a very questionable, quiet groan. Narcissa giggled into her hand, slightly blushing like Severus, whose eyes stood widely open. It was so bizarre, it was already irresistible. Severus let his fingers glide through the hair from his neck up. What Lucius moaned then, was rather unclear, but it was enough to make Severus blink.
“Did he just say `horse´?”, Severus startled and Narcissa gasped into her hand, spinning left in shock.
“You are up already, darling?”, she sang, her hand on her mouth.
“Yeah.”, Draco murmured. “What the heck are you two doing?”
“Your mother had a very peculiar paroxysm of perversity.”, Severus grunted and pulled back his hand.
“Shush!”, Narcissa giggled, into her hand again.
“I’ll let him sleep, if you don’t mind. I don’t want to explain to him why his wife is close to suffocate, every time she looks at his hair.”, Severus sighed.
“Yes.”, she finally let go of her mouth. “We should let him debauch in memories of his schooldays.”
“You know?”, Severus frowned.
“Didn’t you just say, I’m his wife?”, she sang immaturely, her face at the ceiling as she slowly turned and went downstairs, her son staring after her.
“What was that?”, he panted at Severus who had reached him.
“I think, she has a particular urge to act like a teenage girl today.”, Severus smiled softly, his hand on Draco’s left cheek. “Grant her the fun. She hasn’t had much, lately.”
“No. None at all.”, Draco turned out of his hand and walked over to the stairs. “Give him some Sleeping Potion.”
“Are you sure?”
“Definitely.”, he was out of sight. “I don’t mind having lunch alone, if you know what I mean.”
And again, words killed a smile. His lips ajar, he turned back to Lucius, a weary dolorousness drifting into his face when he approached his sleeping friend and carefully turned him onto his right shoulder. Life wasn’t fair. Not really.
He pushed his arms under the man and lifted him from the bed. Stirring a bit, Lucius slowly woke up from the movement and the sudden change of temperature, as well as of course, the touch. When the bathroom door opened seemingly on its own, his grey eyes blinked at Severus, not fully able to see him in the gloomy, windowless room.
“Sev’rus?”, he mumbled dazed and very quiet when that one sat him onto the toilet. “Where’re we?”
“Bathroom.”, Severus whispered, kneeling beside the older man. “You’re sitting on the toilet now. Just let it flow.”
“Huh?”
“Wake up!”, he hissed with a snap of his fingers in front of Lucius’ face, who immediately sat straight. “Get that damn booze out of your bladder or I’ll let you wash the bed sheets by hand, if you spoil them.”
“Are you forcing me to – ”
“Yes.”
Severus stood up, turned around and crossed his arms, waiting. Half a minute later, he was already studying the nails of his left hand in the very dim light coming in through the corridor, from the open doors of the bedrooms, but the only sound he heard, was a very quiet snore. Clutching his fingers with annoyance, he slowly turned back, only to see a slack Lucius spread-eagled against the tiles, his arms hanging down to his sides and the head with totally messed long hair askew on his shoulder, mouth open like a mute white lion that tried desperately to roar. Severus’ lips curled as he stiffened and took the few steps back to him. A little rough, he straightened the head, shut the jar, held his left hand over the mouth and gave Lucius a finally wakening clap around the ear with the other.
“Ow!”, he moaned into Severus’ hand.
“Can you remember what I just told you?”
“Datchu like me ta – ”, he muttered, his eyes as open as his mouth had been.
“Exactly. Now come on. Do it, then you can go back to sleep.”, Severus murmured and let go of him, taking in the position from before.
Finally there was some splashing sound. And what a sound. Severus sighed at how full to bursting Lucius’ bladder had been. Glad that he had ventured the step, he waited for Lucius to win his battle with the toilet paper and turned once more. Another snap and the flush did its job. Severus dragged his friend over to the basin where he washed and dried his hands, and back to his and Narcissa’s room. Blinded by the change of light, Lucius limply tried to cover his eyes with his left arm, but Severus shut the curtains magically while he gently pushed him over to the bed. A little clumsy, Lucius failed at the attempt of climbing under the blanket without help. All he could do when he was covered at last, was throwing Severus a thankful nod.
Seeing him falling back to sleep instantly, cost Severus a faint chuckle and smile. He patted Lucius head, but nevertheless rummaged for a certain bottle and a glass. eight drops in wandless conjured water went down an unconscious Lucius Malfoy’s throat and a bottle as well as a glass, back into the pouch. Then he closed the door behind and walked down into the kitchen, where he found his breakfast ready and the other two eating.
~~#~~
Rivers of tears, cried for – hell only knew. The sky cried a lot theses days. Studying the cold flows running down the old glass, he stood in half light, a cracked wand held loosely between his long white fingers in front of his stomach. His mouth was ajar and his eyes drifted over the splashes of rain, blurring the view on the hedges below. Being in thoughts, his bare toes shortly crumpled on the dark wooden floor, drawing the attention of the gigantic snake that was rolled up to his feet. Life is a huge maze and if you intend to find yourself at the exit, victorious, I suggest you consider your steps..but if you are so fixated that you do not see where you need help, then I will unfortunately have to accept that you rather die on your path to glory than anticipating one, single, advice..The words hammered in his head like the rain on the high windows.
On the sill, a number of bottles, lined neatly – filled with liquid as clear as the rain. He placed the broken wand next to them and picked one, his thin, white fingers wrapping around the cold glass. A plopping sound and the stopper was in his other hand. He sought through his slit-like nostrils. A perfect brew. Not a note away from what it should smell like. Footsteps approaching, the stopper was back in place.
It took him quite long to climb the stairs. Dragging the wet seam of a long black cloak across the floor, the tall man entered and came to halt some feet into the hall, where he made a short bow. His master’s eyes however, were back on the window.
“You have asked for me, my Lord?”, the deep voice spoke.
“Indeed, indeed. The time has come, Corban, to see whether our dear Severus really is the greatest Potions Master of his age. Take this – ”, the last word resounded as a hiss when he took a black pouch that laid on the sill as well and the bottles disappeared floating inside, “To Dolores Umbridge. It will be most useful for her in her new position.”
“You have let him make this half a year ago, my Lord, in a rush of hurry. Why not having given him the time it would have needed? The potion might be – ”
“Might be what, Corban?”, subsequent to a long sneer, the pouch slowly flew towards him and he grabbed it, still looking at his master with interest. “As I have said, this was a test – and since it could have been necessary to possess in the week after already, it was no wrong step. Do you question my decisions, Corban?”
“Of course not, my Lord.”, Yaxley bowed again.
“Good. Then this would be all.”
“My Lord,”
He bowed another time and walked off, and with him, the rain was gone as well, like someone had turned off the tap. Frowning, what was left of Tom Riddle, glanced back at the high glass. With a swoosh, a window to his left jumped open, even able to make him startle. Momentarily annoyed, he slammed it shut with a flick of his hand.
~~#~~
Slowly, the sky cleared up. There were signs that it could actually become a bright summer’s day. Everything glistened outside. Even the burnt down tent looked like a wondrous, shimmering cottage. Someone was wandering around between the fabric ruins, barefoot. Her fair mane divinely reflected the sunlight. Sitting on her desk at the window, Ginny watched her as she bowed to pick up something. It was one half of a big crystal bowl which had contained some apples. Those were spread all over the burnt grass around her. Dreamily, Luna held the glass against the every now and then drifting out sun and studied the light falling through or the shadows cast by the clouds.
“What are you doing out there, dear?”, Ginny heard her mother call and Luna took her eyes off the broken bowl, still holding it up. “Get back inside, please. Arthur will take care of that all later.”
“Alright, Mrs Weasley.”, Luna sang, but apparently waited for her to be gone.
Then the girl drew her wand from her pocket, gave it a thoughtful wave and Ginny’s jaw dropped. Flummoxed, she watched the rumble move. Objects soared towards the scene from everywhere on the grounds. Within less than a minute, the entire tent stood in the grass as if there had never been an attack. Only the grass was still burnt – and the half bowl in Luna’s hand was fighting against her firm grip. She let go and it flew back into the tent, the apples following out of sight. Luna tucked back her wand and with a visible broad smile, she hopped into the house. Yes, the next year would indeed be rather interesting.
Eager to know more, Ginny jumped off her desk and hurried downstairs, where she found her mother talking to the girl again.
“The boys decided to play grumpy in their rooms and I can hardly ask Fleur and Bill to assist me at the moment. Now would you mind helping me with the dishes, dear?”
“Okay.”, she said when Mrs Weasley turned to see who joined them.
“How did you do that?”, the other ginger panted.
“How did I do what, Ginny dear?”, her mother asked.
“Oh – you saw me?”, Ginny nodded to Luna. “Well, my Dad tends to get a bit rough when he’s frustrated. It can happen that he destroys half the house.”, she answered like it was an everyday occurrence to witness. “So he taught me how to repair everything if he should be too far away with his thoughts to do it.”, Luna answered and picked a plate to dry it manually. “Probably the only useful thing he ever taught me.”, she sighed and her smile slid off with a shrug.
“What is this about?”
“Oh nothing.”, Ginny shrugged as well and went over for another plate as she had no idea what else to do. “Luna just took some work off Dad’s hands.”
“And what would that be?”
“Nothing too special. We could just continue with the wedding.”
Eyes gaping, Mrs Weasley put down the plate and dishtowel in her own hands and hurried to the door. The girls only giggled when they heard her scream.
“Oh my god!”, her voice echoed in; immediately doors crashed open and people came running downstairs, Arthur ahead. “Oh my – GOD!”
“Molly!”, he cried. “What happened? Are you alright? Molly? Oh my – ”, he gasped when he arrived at her side and saw what was going on.
“Oh mon dieu!”, Fleur said, stopping at a window, Bill right behind her. “Mais c’est impossible!”
~~#~~
“When did she start again?”, sighed Severus while washing an exceptionally honey-smeared plate.
“Again?”, Draco chuckled, sitting on the buffet with his legs dangling and looked across the kitchen as well as the living room, through the window in front of which his mother stood under the roof over the veranda. “I can’t remember that she skipped one of her cigarette days. Or at least she didn’t when I was at home.”
“Days?”
“Yeah. Usually it’s the third of the month. Seems, she needed an acceleration.”, he frowned.
“Interesting. So she never fully gave it up.”
“You say, she stopped?”
“When she was pregnant.”
“Oh. She smoked more often before?”
“Frequently. Ever since she was in her fifth year.”
“Whow.”, Draco lightly shook his head. “I didn’t know.”
“She was the youngest in that girls’ gang. They nicked all sorts of herbs from the greenhouses and made their own cigarettes. The constant reek in the common room was quite annoying, but another good reason for me to spend my time with Lily. Did you ever try?”
“Once, last year. But you’re right. It’s disgusting. Dunno what it gives her. Dad used to smoke as well.”
“I know.”
“Sure. But when I started school, he must have strangely lost his interest.”
“No. He found a different way to slowly kill himself.”, Severus sighed again and gave the sink an emptying wave of his hand.
“Yeah. You might be right.”
“I endorse neither, but I’d rather see him back at smoking, if I was to pick regarding the effect either has on him. Yet thinking globally, the booze wouldn’t ruin everyone’s air. Might turn out to be the hardest decision of my life; but again, I’d prefer if I could pick destroying all of both addictive substances in a blink.”
He walked around Draco and sat himself to the boy’s right, legs hanging down like his, shoulder to shoulder.
“How deep are the girls in the plan?”, Draco spoke after a minute of silence.
“They know the basics.”, an understanding nod and Severus looked at him. “You will have to be careful. All three of you. Alecto and Amycus may be dunces in some ways, but they are not to be messed with.”
Draco gave him another nod and hesitantly moved his right hand in an attempt he wasn’t sure of himself either, but Severus saw it and gently took the even paler hand into his. When their fingers intertwined, Draco leaned his head on Severus’ shoulder and closed his eyes. Some seconds of uncertainty later, Severus nestled his cheek in the boy’s hair likewise.
Minutes passed. Narcissa lit another cigarette. The rain was still forming a waterfall in front of her and on the window behind the two on the dresser. Draco’s breath became more steady and he slowly began to slide along the other male’s shoulder. Severus just stopped him by gently pressing Draco’s head to his collarbone. Very quiet snoring, the sound similar to his father’s. Suddenly Draco startled up with a sniff and bit his lips, trying to figure out what had happened. Severus tilted him back up with a smile.
“Do you want to go back upstairs?”
“Yeah. I need to change. These pyjamas always make me tired.”, Severus couldn’t help laughing.
“Oh shut up.”, Draco joined in flatly and jumped off, forgetting about his hand; that pulled an unprepared Severus with him. “Oh my – sorry! Are you okay?”
“Yes.”, Severus smiled broadly and pulled him close once more, briskly stroking down his head and upper arm. “Come, before you fall asleep again.”
“I said, shut it.”, Draco grumbled and let himself be dragged to their room, where he slipped free from Severus’ hand and threw himself onto the bed.
There he crawled under Severus’ blanket, pulling it over his face and waited for something to come. When nothing happened, he raised his head and looked around. Severus was gone. But where? He sat up more and gasped. Severus was lying right behind him, under the blanket as well.
“How – ?”, Draco murmured, but Severus only presented him with a mischievous smirk. “Damn it!”, he snorted and sank back down, turning to him in mid-move.
“I thought, you wanted to change?”
“Yeah. Just changed the plan, didn’t I?”, Severus laughed heart-warmingly to the ceiling.
“Going to bed after meals makes you fat.”, he calmed down.
“Relax. ’Twas just breakfast.”, the teenager grumbled and cuddled onto Severus’ chest from the side. “How long will he sleep?”
“Long enough for another quiet breakfast.”, Severus smiled sadly and put his arm around Draco’s back.
~~#~~