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FIC: Aftermaths, Part 5
Title: Aftermaths, Part 5
Rating: NC-17 overall, but most chapters are closer to PG-13
Pairing: Snape/Lupin, Theodore/Blaise, and a few other minor pairings
Word count: ~8,330
Warning: AU; written pre-HBP
Author's notes: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, Phoenix Rising
Summary: Draco and Narcissa have dinner at Grimmauld Place; Draco and Damien pay a visit to the Lupin-Snape household.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
***
"Some things never change," Blackmore said one night with an amused smile, no doubt recalling the Hufflepuff students who had been caught by Snape committing a similar theft for the same reason last year.
Narcissa blushed and smiled sheepishly. "I was just a silly thirteen-year old girl," she laughed. "We did some dumb things back then."
Black chuckled and said in a voice that was both nostalgic and rueful, "We all did."
Meanwhile, Draco and Harry Potter found themselves feeling even more uncomfortable than Black and Narcissa did. It felt downright weird to be having dinner with a Gryffindor, and not just any Gryffindor, but his (former?) archenemy. Potter did not really seem hostile, though, but rather looked as if he didn't know what to say or how to act. They each pushed their food around their plates with their forks, eyeing each other warily.
"Have you decided which N.E.W.T.s you intend to take next year, Draco?" Blackmore asked casually, in an obvious attempt to break the ice and draw him into the conversation.
Draco gave her a nervous look; he wasn't used to Blackmore either addressing him by his first name or speaking to him kindly. It was almost as shocking as Snape showing up at the Slytherin dorm with mugs of hot chocolate.
"Give the kid a break, Branwen!" Black protested, before Draco had a chance to reply. "Summer vacation just started, after all. Give him a chance to enjoy it before grilling him about exams!" Draco didn't bother to tell him that he wasn't really "enjoying" his summer vacation. He wasn't sure which was worse: spending a boring summer as a social outcast, or going back to school and having to face everyone, knowing that the entire school knew how far the Malfoys had fallen.
"I've never been of the opinion that children should let their brains rot during the summer, Sirius," Blackmore retorted in a tone of cool sarcasm. "Their minds need to be kept active in order to remain sharp."
"You'd assign homework during the summer if you could," Sirius said accusingly.
"Hmm, now that's an idea," Blackmore said in a musing tone.
"Thanks a lot, Sirius," Potter said, giving his godfather a disgruntled look, and Blackmore laughed merrily--another startling and unfamiliar sight.
"In any case," Blackmore continued, "I was merely making conversation. But it is important for Mr. Malfoy--and Mr. Potter, for that matter--to decide in advance which N.E.W.T.s they wish to take, since it is a prerequisite for certain professions. Have you given any thought as to what you will do after you graduate, Draco?"
"I dunno," Draco said, a little sullenly. "Dad was going to fix me up with a Ministry job, but..." His voice trailed off.
"You have many options still open to you, Draco," Blackmore said briskly. There was no hint of pity in her eyes or voice, for which Draco was grateful--being pitied was even worse than being sneered at or shunned. "Severus says that you have a talent for potion-brewing, and Remus was quite pleased with your work in his class, as well. And I must admit, your work in my class has been of high caliber--when you stopped feuding with the Gryffindors long enough to concentrate, that is." Both Draco and Potter blushed. "It might be difficult to make a living as a Summoner, though. People seem to have the misconception that Summoning spells are Dark Magic, even though that isn't true, strictly speaking, although they can be put to evil purposes."
"That's partly your own fault, Branwen," Black pointed out. "After you disappeared, people assumed that one of your Summonings had gone awry, and that you'd been carried off by a horde of demons or something."
"What did happen to you, anyway?" Narcissa asked her former teacher apprehensively. "The Daily Prophet was very vague about that, and the Headmaster's explanations weren't much more enlightening."
Blackmore smiled. "I was carried off by an ally I had summoned, but for my own safety. Bane and I were badly wounded after the battle with the Death Eaters, and in need of healing. But time passes differently in the realms of the elementals and their like; one day in their world could be a minute or a decade in ours. Like the old tales and legends of people who visited the faerie realm for a single night of dancing and feasting, and returned to find that centuries had passed in their own world, and all the people they knew were dead and gone. I am very fortunate that only fourteen years passed during my absence."
"Fortunate for both of us," Black said with a loving smile, and to Draco's amazement, Professor Blackmore actually blushed! He noticed that Blackmore had not really answered his mother's question, and wondered if her mysterious "ally" was a demon, as everyone seemed to think, but he suspected she wouldn't give him a straight answer--and quite frankly, he wasn't sure that he really wanted to know.
"What about you, Harry?" Blackmore asked. "Have you given any thought as to what sort of career you might be interested in?"
"Well, I wanted to be an Auror, but now that the Death Eaters are--" Potter flushed and abruptly closed his mouth when he saw Narcissa wince. "Um...I mean, I haven't really decided yet."
"Well, you have shown a great aptitude for Defense Against the Dark Arts," Blackmore said, "which is certainly a desirable quality in an Auror, but there are many other things you can do with that specialty--become a Curse-Breaker, for instance. Or you might consider going into Muggle Relations; you have a unique perspective, after all, having lived in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds." Everyone still looked a little uncomfortable, and Blackmore abruptly turned to Sirius and changed the subject. "By the way, dear, I got a letter from Severus the other day."
"Really?" Black asked cautiously. "What did it say?"
"He offered to assist us in restoring Blackmore Manor."
"Snape?" Black said dubiously, raising his eyebrows. "Offering to clean house?"
Blackmore grinned. "He probably wants to get a look at my father's library."
"I should have known," Black said, shaking his head. "Nothing else could make Snape stoop to performing so demeaning a task as housework."
"Oh, I can think of a few other things," Blackmore said with a sly smile, "and they all involve Remus."
"Branwen! Not in front of the kids!"
"What are you talking about, Sirius?" Blackmore asked innocently. "All I meant was that Severus helped Remus and the boys clean up the cottage when they moved in at the start of summer."
Sirius flushed. "You were insinuating--"
"It's not my fault that you have a dirty mind," Blackmore interrupted, and laughed as her fiance glared at her.
Draco noticed that Potter looked just as red as his godfather, but embarrassed rather than angry. Draco had been just as shocked as everyone else to find out that Snape and Lupin were lovers, but the idea of two men having sex with each other was hardly a big deal. In fact, from eavesdropping on his mother's gossip sessions with her friends over the years, he had learned that Snape's peers had long suspected he was gay, mainly because he had never shown any interest in his female classmates at Hogwarts, and because he had never married and sired an heir.
"You Gryffindors are such prudes," Draco drawled, and was pleased to see Potter's blush deepen. "It's not a big deal." He turned to Black and said with a mocking grin, "Though I thank you for trying to protect our virgin ears." Potter's face was now a deep shade of crimson.
Black looked taken aback, and for a moment, Draco thought he'd gone too far. Then his cousin threw his head back and burst out laughing.
"Draco!" Narcissa scolded, but she seemed to be trying to hold back laughter herself.
"I should have known better than to try and protect a Slytherin's tender youthful innocence," Black said, still chuckling. "If Gryffindors are prudes, then Slytherins are sybarites."
"What's a sy...sybarite?" Potter asked.
Before Draco could make a condescending reply, Blackmore explained with an amused smile, "A hedonist; one devoted to pleasure and luxury. But Sirius, I would hardly call the Gryffindors innocents, though perhaps they aren't as jaded as the Slytherins. I seem to recall you getting detention for being caught in a...compromising postion...with a young lady in the Quidditch supplies storeroom...?"
"BRANWEN!" Black howled indignantly. The women started laughing, and so did Draco and Potter, although the Gryffindor boy was still blushing. Even Bane started laughing, in a hoarse, cawing voice. Black glared at them all for a minute, then gave in and laughed as well. "Well," he said ruefully, "there are some disadvantages to marrying your former Professor, I see."
"Behave yourself, Sirius," Narcissa teased, "or she might give you detention," and everyone laughed again. Dinner progressed much more smoothly after that; Draco and Potter didn't say much, but were content to listen to the adults joking around with each other. Draco was pleased to see his mother looking happy and relaxed for a change; it was even worth the discomfort of dining with his Gryffindor rival.
Blackmore gave Narcissa a motherly hug and kiss, and Black gave her a peck on the cheek as they said goodnight. No one tried to hug or kiss Draco, much to his relief.
"Well, uh, see you around, Malfoy," Potter said awkwardly.
"Yeah, see you around, Potter," Draco mumbled.
As he left through the fireplace with his mother, he heard Black say, "Oh, stop looking so smug, Branwen," and Blackmore reply, "Inter-House cooperation, dear."
***
Not long after that, a letter arrived from Dylan Rosier, inviting Draco to visit his new home, the cottage he shared with Nott, Lupin, and Snape. The letter said that Pierce was also coming over, although it said nothing about Zabini, which was rather odd. Rosier, Pierce, Nott, and Zabini had all been fast friends ever since Dylan had arrived at Hogwarts during Draco's fourth year. He stared at the letter, wondering why Dylan had invited him over; was it pity? Had either Lupin or Snape put him up to it? He wasn't sure about Snape, whose toadying up to Draco's father had apparently all been an act; on the other hand, Snape--along with Lupin--had saved Draco's life, and seemed genuinely concerned about him. He remembered that late night discussion in the Slytherin dorm, when Snape had said that he had been trying to save Draco from the Death Eaters. Still, despite all the startling things Draco had learned about Snape, he still didn't think that the Potions Master was the sympathetic or sentimental type. However, Lupin was, and he might well have talked Rosier into issuing the invitation. Draco didn't want to be anybody's charity case, but on the other hand, he was bored, and it wasn't like the invitations were pouring in...
"What is it, Draco?" Narcissa asked.
"Rosier's invited me to come visit him and Nott," Draco replied, still not sure whether he should accept or not.
"You should go!" Narcissa said enthusiastically, perhaps relieved that her son was not a total social outcast. "I'm sure it will be fun!" When Draco looked dubious, she added practically, "Besides, Severus is Dylan's guardian now, and it can't hurt to curry a little favor with your Head of House."
Draco scowled; he was used to having people curry favor with him, not the other way around. But his mother looked happy about the invitation, and he didn't want to burst her bubble--she had little enough to smile about these days--so he sent off a reply saying that he would come.
***
Lupin suggested a sleepover, but Snape wasn't sure that he was up to supervising four teenage boys all night long. It was true that he was the Head of Slytherin, but he kept separate quarters from the children at school; it wasn't as if he slept in the dorm with them. Snape's parents had not exactly been ideal role models, so sometimes he felt as if he were fumbling in the dark, learning by trial and error how to become a good father to Dylan and Theodore. Dylan was usually calm and self-controlled, but the combination of Damien's mischievousness, Draco's arrogance, and Theodore's sullenness held the potential for trouble, so he thought it would be best to keep their first visit together fairly brief--he didn't want to overtax his rather shaky parenting skills, after all. If things went well, then perhaps the next visit could be an overnight one.
"You worry too much, Severus," Lupin said with an amused look on his face, but didn't argue with him. So it was decided that Damien and Draco would come over Saturday afternoon for a few hours of lunch, Quidditch practice, and whatever else the boys wanted to do to entertain themselves.
"What about studying?" Snape asked pointedly. "That was your original suggestion, after all, Mr. Rosier."
"It's summer vacation, Severus," Lupin chided. "Let them have a little fun."
"We can do some studying, too," Dylan said, without much enthusiasm.
Well, the boys had been very diligent about studying for at least an hour or two every day, Snape conceded to himself. "Oh, never mind, Rosier," Snape said gruffly. "The two of you have been working hard at your chores and your studies; I suppose it's all right if you take a break this once."
Dylan and Theodore stared at him in amazement, then Dylan grinned and said, "Thank you, Professor!"
"But don't think I'm going to let you slack off for the entire summer!" Snape warned.
"Yes, sir," the boys chorused meekly, although they didn't seem to be fooled by his stern tone of voice, because Dylan kept grinning and even Theodore smiled a little. Snape sighed to himself, thinking that yes, he was definitely losing his edge, and it was all Lupin's fault. He glared at his lover, who just laughed and gave him a hug.
"Cut that out, Lupin!"
Lupin ignored him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and the boys giggled. Ah well, all in all, things were going pretty well, Snape supposed. He could finally live openly with his lover, even if that lover seemed to take a perverse pleasure in embarrassing him in public, and at least the werewolf's antics seemed to keep the boys amused. So far Dylan and Theodore had adapted remarkably well to their new life, and Snape knew that was due in great part to Lupin, who instinctively seemed to know when to joke with them and make them laugh, and when to offer a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. So he simply stood there and let Lupin hold him and nuzzle him affectionately, although he made a great show of heaving a long-suffering sigh of resignation.
***
Draco emerged from the fireplace, fastidiously dusting ashes off his robe and broomstick. He looked around the cottage, idly noting that the entire building could almost fit in the Malfoy living room. "Hi, Draco," Dylan said, smiling at him pleasantly. Damien was already there, and also gave Draco a friendly smile; Theodore, on the other hand, was regarding him warily.
"Hello, Draco," Lupin said cheerfully. "It's nice to see you again." Snape just nodded at him.
"Um, hi," Draco said, feeling a little uncomfortable about how the balance of power had shifted between himself and the other boys. Maybe Rosier and Pierce didn't hold a grudge against him, but he suspected Nott still did, judging by the look in his eyes.
"Well, you boys run along," Lupin continued blithely, not seeming to notice the tension in the room. "Lunch will be ready in about an hour."
"Thanks, Remus," Dylan said. "Come on, let's go."
"You call him 'Remus'?" Draco asked after they had left the cottage.
"Yeah, sure," Dylan replied casually. "He asked us to. He said we're not in school right now, so we could call him by name."
Draco felt a brief pang of envy, although he wasn't sure why. "You don't call Snape 'Severus,' do you?"
Dylan laughed. "Merlin, no! He made it quite clear that he prefers to be called 'Professor'! It wouldn't feel right, anyway, calling Snape by his first name." He and Theodore grinned at each other.
Draco was relieved to see Nott looking less hostile, but at the same time, a little put out as he realized that he would probably no longer be Snape's most favored student. Slytherins always favored their own, and now that Snape no longer had to cater to Lucius Malfoy, he would probably favor his two foster sons over the rest of the students, especially since Dylan had been his pet practically from the moment he had set foot on the school grounds...
"Catch," Dylan said, interrupting Draco's train of thought. Draco blinked and managed to get his hands up in time to prevent a Quaffle from hitting him in the face. "Lupin borrowed a Quaffle and a Snitch from Hogwarts for us to practice with," Dylan said. "I figured we could do without the Bludgers for now."
"Definitely," Damien said, wincing a little; he had been hit by one during their match against Ravenclaw.
Draco felt a brief flicker of resentment at the way Rosier had taken charge of things, but fought back the urge to snap at the other boy. Things were different now, after all, whether he liked it or not. And Dylan was smiling at him in a friendly manner, and didn't seem to be trying to lord it over him. In fact, all three of the boys seemed to be waiting for his approval before starting their practice. It was probably just force of habit, but it made Draco feel a little better. Even if he'd lost status in Slytherin, at least he was still the Captain of the Quidditch team. That was a small comfort, and he tried not to think about the possibility of Snape demoting him in favor of Dylan.
"Well, let's get started, then," Draco said, in a tone of only slightly forced cheer. He did enjoy himself once they were up in the air; he had always loved flying, and the sense of freedom that accompanied it. Things went well for the better part of an hour; they mainly practiced passing and blocking, trying to become accustomed to working with Nott and vice versa. Draco decided that Nott would probably make a good Chaser; he was pretty good on a broomstick, and able to react quickly in response to his teammates' or opponents' actions. Although those qualities would also come in handy for a Keeper, come to think of it.
They landed to take a break after a good workout. Draco had noticed while they were up in the air that the house was surrounded by forest, and that there were no other buildings visible as far as the eye could see. "This place is really out in the middle of nowhere," he said.
Theodore scowled at him, but Dylan smiled and said, "Lupin says that's why his parents built the cottage here; so that there would be no neighbors to hear him howling during the full moon."
"Yeah, that's right," Draco acknowledged. "I almost forgot there was no Wolfsbane Potion back then, so he'd have to be locked up." He flushed a little, remembering how he had insulted Lupin in the past, and how Lucius Malfoy had helped influence the Ministry into passing the anti-werewolf legislation that had only been recently rescinded.
"So what's there to do out here?" Damien asked curiously.
Dylan shrugged. "It's no worse than being stuck out on Uncle Math's estate in Wales, and at least I'm not a prisoner here. We walk through the woods, play chess and cards, fly on our broomsticks...and Snape keeps us busy." Dylan grinned. "He says he doesn't believe in letting children remain idle all summer--he has us studying to prepare for next year's classes and exams, and he assigned us regular chores to do. We helped him brew the Wolfsbane Potion for Lupin, and we help with the cooking and cleaning and gardening--"
"Chores?" Draco asked in horror. "You have to cook and clean like a house-elf?!"
"Shut your mouth, Malfoy!" Theodore snapped.
"How dare you talk to me that way!" Draco retorted automatically, forgetting for a moment that he had no power over his fellow Slytherins anymore.
Theodore just sneered at him. "Still acting all high and mighty, Malfoy?"
"Take it easy, you two," Damien said nervously, but they both ignored him.
"You're forgetting your place, Nott!"
"You're the one who's forgotten your place, Malfoy! I've had to suck up to you since I was five years old, and I'm sick of it! You're nothing now that you don't have your daddy to protect you--"
Draco let out a wordless cry of anger and lunged at Nott; Damien grabbed him and held him back, while Dylan tried, without success, to calm Nott down.
"Theo, that's enough already, please!"
Meanwhile, Draco struggled to break out of Damien's grip. "Don't you talk about my father that way!"
"I don't have to listen to you anymore," Theodore taunted. "Your precious father is dead; there's nothing he can do to me now!"
"Your father's dead, too!" Draco shouted.
Theodore's gray-green eyes glittered strangely, and for a moment, he didn't look entirely sane. "Yes, and I'm glad!" he screamed. "I hate him, I hate all the Death Eaters, I wish they were all dead--"
"Stop it!" Dylan shouted, looking a little frightened. "Stop it, both of you!"
Draco managed to free himself, shoved Damien away, and reached for his wand; Nott did likewise.
"STOP THIS INSTANT OR I'LL GIVE YOU ALL DETENTION FOR A MONTH!" Professor Snape roared. All four boys instantly froze in place. There was a very long silence, and then Lupin piped up cheerfully:
"But Severus, you can't give them detention; it's summer vacation."
That seemed to break the tension, and Dylan laughed weakly, although the other three boys were still too intimidated to laugh in the face of the Potions Master's anger. But Lupin was grinning, and although Snape was giving him a sour look, he no longer looked quite so furious. "Well then, I can give them detention when school starts again," he said grumpily.
"That's not really fair, is it?" Lupin pointed out. "To give them detention for something that happened during the summer?"
"I'm a Slytherin, Lupin," Snape said dryly. "The word 'fair' isn't in my vocabulary."
Lupin chuckled, then walked over to Theodore and slipped an arm around the boy's shoulders. "Draco has made some mistakes in the past," Lupin said kindly, "but so have we all. We're very lucky that we've been granted a second chance to start over again."
"I know," Theodore mumbled, flushing and looking ashamed of himself. Draco wondered what Nott was ashamed of--that he had not stood up to the Death Eaters before? Or perhaps the recently revealed news about his uncle's murder? Then Draco went over Lupin's words in his mind again, and he wondered about something else.
"Um, Professor?" Draco asked hesitantly. "You said 'we all' have made mistakes in the past. What mistakes did you make?"
"I made many mistakes, Draco," Lupin said with a sad smile. "I didn't stand up to my Gryffindor friends when they played cruel pranks on the Slytherins, or even when they simply made prejudiced and insulting remarks about them. I regret that I didn't trust Severus enough to tell him about my lycanthropy, and I regret that I didn't trust my Gryffindor friends enough to tell them about my love for Severus. I regret that I believed my friend Sirius was a traitor. I regret that I didn't try harder to mend the rift between Severus and myself when--"
"Enough, Lupin," Snape interrupted gruffly, looking a little guilty. "Don't wallow in self-pity. As you said, we've all made mistakes."
Lupin smiled at him, gave Theodore a hug, then walked over to Draco and laid a hand on his shoulder. "And Draco, I know it's hard to break old habits, but if you want to have friends--real friends, not just people who are interested in your money or your power--you need to learn to treat them with kindness and respect."
"I know," Draco muttered, remembering that Damien had told him something similar. "It's just...I'm not used to this. Almost overnight, people went from respecting us to looking down on us."
"The Malfoys were not precisely respected, Draco," Snape said, but not unkindly. "They were feared; there is a difference."
"And now that they don't fear us anymore," Draco said slowly, working things out in his mind, "they feel free to hate us, or gloat at us, to get back at us for the times that we...um...bossed them around?" He flushed, recalling the way Damien had said that he bossed everyone in Slytherin around.
"Exactly, Malfoy," Snape said, looking both amused and sympathetic at the same time. It was a little shocking to see Snape, of all people, with a look of sympathy on his face.
"You did not have friends before, Draco," Lupin said. "They were simply people who feared you or wanted favors from you. But now you have a chance to make some real friends, people who will care about you and stand by you through thick and thin."
"But everyone hates me!" Draco wailed, then cringed at how pathetic he sounded.
The other boys stared at him thoughtfully for a moment, then Dylan stepped forward. "Well, the Headmaster believes in second chances," he said. "He allowed me to enter Hogwarts when everyone was telling him not to. And Professor Snape helped me even though I was stupid and got myself mixed up with the Death Eaters. So I'm willing to be your friend, Draco--so long as you treat me like a friend, not a lackey."
Damien grinned and slapped Draco on the back. "You're all right, Malfoy, when you're not acting all lordly. Just remember that no one's going to suck up to you anymore. I think we can break you of the habit, with a little practice." Draco looked affronted for a moment, but the other boy kept grinning at him, and Draco managed a tentative smile in response.
Everyone turned and looked at Theodore--Draco apprehensively, and the others expectantly. Theodore scowled at them sullenly.
"Aw, come on, Theo," Damien cajoled. "Give him a chance. You can always change your mind if he starts acting like a prat again."
"Gee, thanks," Draco said a little sarcastically, not sure whether to be pleased or insulted by his new friend's efforts to help him.
"That's what friends are for," Damien said cheerfully, apparently unoffended.
"He did fight against the Death Eaters in the end," Dylan reminded Theodore.
Nott hunched his shoulders a little, still looking stubborn, but also unhappy, as if he felt bad about resisting his friends' entreaties. "Look, I'm sorry about what I said before, about working like a house-elf," Draco said awkwardly; he wasn't used to making apologies. "I just wasn't thinking, okay?" Theodore stared at him silently, looking uncertain and a little suspicious. "Do you really hate me that much, Nott?" Draco asked, feeling rather puzzled. Of course he had known all along that their "friendship" had been one dictated by their parents' alliance, but he hadn't realized how much hostility the other boy had been carrying towards him, and the Death Eaters in general. Crabbe and Goyle, and even Rosier, didn't seem to resent him the way Nott did.
Theodore snorted derisively. "Do you think it's fun listening to, 'Fetch this for me, Nott,' and 'Fetch that for me, Nott,' and 'Do my homework for me, Nott,' all the time?"
Draco flushed at the way Nott had imitated his voice, and wondered if he really sounded that snotty, or if Nott was just exaggerating. Probably the former, he reluctantly admitted to himself. "I guess not," Draco mumbled.
"Are you really mad at Draco?" Lupin asked gently. "Or is it someone else that you're really angry at? The Death Eaters, or your father, perhaps...?"
Theodore hung his head, his dark hair falling forward over his face, not quite hiding the sudden redness spreading across his cheeks. "I hated being Draco's lackey," he whispered, "because it reminded me of the way my father acted like Lucius Malfoy's lapdog. Because it reminded me that someday I'd have to join the Death Eaters, too."
That whisper unnerved Draco far more than Nott's earlier shouted insults. "I didn't know that you hated the Death Eaters, Nott," he said in a subdued voice. "I mean, not until the final battle."
Theodore looked up and met his eyes, looking more weary than angry now. "I'm not stupid, Draco. If I'd said what I really thought, your father would have had me killed--providing my father didn't beat him to it."
"Why did you hate the Death Eaters?" Draco asked. Apparently both Theodore and Serafina had never wanted to become Death Eaters, and Dylan had been actively working against them ever since he was Marked. It made Draco feel a little stupid and completely out of the loop. Was he the only one besides Crabbe and Goyle (who were none too bright themselves) who had not seen the Death Eaters for what they really were?
"Because my father was one," Theodore said in a flat voice, "and he's been torturing me with hexes for as long as I can remember." Draco stared at him in shock. "And because he killed my uncle, who threatened to expose him. When we met our fathers in Hogsmeade on Halloween, he told me that if I refused to become a Death Eater, I would still serve the Dark Lord as a sacrifice--and I almost did. If it hadn't been for Professor Lupin and Professor Snape..." He shuddered a little, and Snape patted him awkwardly on the shoulder.
"I...I didn't know," Draco whispered.
"You were sheltered, Draco," Snape told him gravely. "Partly because you never saw the inner workings of the Death Eaters, never saw them scheming and fighting to win the Dark Lord's favor, never saw the way the Dark Lord punished his servants when they displeased him. I am sure that your father told you only about the power and glory the Death Eaters would reap, not about the times that Voldemort inflicted Cruciatus Curses on us and made us grovel at his feet. And also because Lucius left your upbringing mainly to Narcissa, and she was a loving and indulgent mother. Too indulgent sometimes; quite frankly, I thought you were spoiled, but I guess she didn't mess things up completely, since you're not dead or in Azkaban..."
Lupin rolled his eyes. "Thank you for being so tactful as always, Severus," he said. Dylan laughed, and the other boys smiled a little.
"Sarcasm does not become you, Lupin," Snape said coolly, but the corners of his mouth twitched upwards slightly. "It is better suited to a Slytherin, not a softhearted Gryffindor. And the word 'tact'--"
"Is not in your vocabulary," Lupin finished with a grin. "I know, I know. Shall we go in and have lunch now?"
Everyone turned to look at Theodore and Draco. Draco hesitantly held out his hand and said, "Truce, Nott?" He found himself holding his breath as Theodore stared at him intently for what seemed to Draco like a very long time.
Theodore glanced over at Lupin, who smiled at him encouragingly. "All right," he sighed, a little reluctantly, and reached out and shook Draco's hand. "Truce. But if you start ordering me about--"
"No point in that," Draco said, trying not to sound sulky. "It's pretty clear that nobody will listen to me if I do." Dylan, Damien, and Lupin started chuckling, and Draco bristled for a moment until he realized that they were laughing with him, not at him, and he gave in and laughed, too. It was a surprisingly good feeling. Theodore didn't laugh, but he did smile at them.
"I'm so proud of you two!" Lupin declared, giving first Theodore, and then a very startled Draco each a hug.
"Don't mind the werewolf, Draco," Snape said sardonically, but there was a glimmer of laughter in his black eyes. "He tends to get emotional at times, particularly near the full moon. Lupin, will you please try to restrain yourself?"
"Sorry, Sev," Lupin said with a wide grin, not looking very contrite. "Come on, lunch is getting cold."
So they went back to the cottage for lunch, and Lupin served them sandwiches and soup and butterbeer. "Severus made the soup," he said cheerily.
As Draco's mouth fell open, Snape glared at the werewolf and snapped, "Dammit, Lupin, I told you not to say anything about that!"
"I don't know why you're making such a fuss," Lupin said with a look of innocent bewilderment. "Didn't you say that cooking is rather like potion brewing--following the recipe and mixing the proper ingredients?" Snape began to make a low sound deep in his throat that sounded suspiciously like a growl. "Besides, it's very good soup--don't you think so, Draco?"
Draco tried a spoonful; it really was good. "It's delicious, Professor," he said, giving Snape a nervous smile. Snape did not look very mollified.
"Stop glowering like that, Severus," Lupin said calmly. "You'll ruin the boys' appetites and curdle the butterbeer."
"Butterbeer doesn't curdle," Snape retorted in a snippy tone of voice, but toned down his glare and started eating. "I wish you'd stop embarrassing me in front of the children," he grumbled.
"What, you mean like this?" Lupin asked, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.
"LUPIN!"
"They do this all the time," Dylan reassured a wide-eyed Draco and Damien.
"I think I'm actually starting to get used to it," Theodore said.
"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to that," Damien said.
"I still can't believe it," Draco muttered, shaking his head. "Snape and the werewolf..." Theodore glared at him, and he added, "Oh, don't get your shorts in a twist, Nott. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, just that it's hard to believe. They saved my life, too, you know."
Snape might have gotten annoyed at his students discussing his love life at the kitchen table in front of him, except that he was too busy fending off Lupin to notice. The werewolf had put his arms around Snape and was nuzzling him affectionately, ignoring his spluttering and blustering. "Lupin, will you stop that?!"
"I can't help it; it's the wolf in me," Lupin laughed, but he let go of Snape.
"The full moon's already passed, Lupin," Snape growled, then changed the subject. "I hope you've been thinking about which N.E.W.T.s you plan to take next year, Mr. Malfoy. It's not too early to start studying for them."
"Really, Severus," Lupin said, "can't you just let them enjoy their summer vacation?"
"Professor Blackmore already told me the same thing," Draco said quickly, before Snape could make a retort. "But I haven't really decided yet. Dad had everything planned out; he was going to get me an apprenticeship at the Ministry, but..." His voice trailed off. He looked down at his plate to avoid seeing any pity in his companions' eyes.
"You might consider a career in Potions," Snape suggested.
"I think you would be well-suited to a career in advertising or publicity," Lupin said. Draco looked up in surprise to see the werewolf's blue eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Er...what do you mean, sir?"
"I was just remembering the 'Weasley Is Our King' song and the roses you ordered for the Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch match last year," Lupin replied. "Very creative. Not very nice, perhaps, but very creative. And certainly effective."
"That was so embarrassing," Dylan groaned.
"I don't know what you're complaining about," Damien told him. "I'd love to have a horde of admiring fans waving flowers at me!"
"You're welcome to them," Dylan said.
"Hey, I know what I wanna do when I graduate!" Damien laughed. "Become a professional Quidditch player! Women love 'em--you remember the way all the girls swooned over Krum!"
"Be serious, Mr. Pierce," Snape told him sourly.
"I AM serious," Damien protested.
Snape rolled his eyes heavenward and sighed, "Merlin help us!"
"You might want to have a backup plan," Lupin suggested gently. "Just in case the Quidditch thing doesn't pan out."
"Advertising, hmm?" Draco said thoughtfully. It was not quite what he'd had in mind, but it did sound sort of intriguing. "What kind of classes would I have to take?"
"Charms, Illusion, possibly Transfiguration," Lupin said.
"Will Hogwarts still have Illusion classes next semester?" Draco asked. "Isn't Master Satoshi going back to Japan?"
"No, he's decided to stay at Hogwarts for at least another year," Lupin replied. "Apparently he really enjoyed teaching all of you."
"Really?" Snape asked skeptically. "Karasu told me it was because there were still a few jealous husbands and swindled customers looking for the tanuki back in Japan."
"Now, now, Severus," Lupin scolded, "it isn't very professional to gossip about your fellow teachers, particularly in front of the students."
"I had no idea you were so concerned with propriety, Lupin," Snape retorted. "It's not very professional to kiss a fellow teacher in front of your students, either." He instantly realized that he had made a mistake by saying that, but it was too late to take it back.
"You mean like this?"
"LUPIN!"
The boys quickly finished their lunch and retreated to Dylan's and Theodore's room, sparing the Potions Master further humiliation. "Watching them is actually kind of entertaining," Damien chuckled as they started to play a game of cards.
"You should see the way Potter blushes whenever anyone even mentions their names," Draco laughed. "The Gryffindors are such prudes!" Then he noticed that all three of the other boys were staring at him in shock.
"Since when do you hang around with Potter?" Damien asked.
"He's Sirius Black's godson," Draco said, a little defensively. "And Black is my mother's cousin. He's been helping my mum out, hired a lawyer to keep the Ministry from confiscating our estate. So we have dinner with him once in awhile. And since Potter and Blackmore live with him..."
"That's right, I almost forgot he's engaged to Professor Blackmore!" Damien said, then snickered a little. "I almost feel sorry for Potter; I wonder what it's like, having Blackmore for a stepmother?"
"She's not so bad, really," Draco admitted. "She's not as scary as she is in the classroom, though I still wouldn't cross her. What's it like having Snape for a foster father?"
"Not so bad," Dylan said with a grin. "Lupin keeps him from being too tough on us. Don't tell Snape I said so, but whenever they argue, Lupin usually ends up winning..."
The boys spent a pleasant hour playing cards and gossiping about their teachers until it was time for Damien and Draco to leave.
"Feel free to stop by again sometime," Lupin said cheerfully. "Maybe next weekend?"
Draco and Theodore both hesitated, staring at each other, then Theodore shrugged and said, "Sure, why not? We need to practice if we're to beat Gryffindor next year."
"You can practice for your N.E.W.T.s as well," Snape said, the hint of sadistic glee in his eyes making him look much more like the old Snape that they were used to seeing. "I'll prepare some practice exam sheets for you."
"Sure you still want to come?" Dylan laughed.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Draco said firmly, and he meant it.
***
Snape and Lupin were having a cup of tea and enjoying each other's company one morning when an owl arrived with a letter for Snape. Lupin noticed that the envelope was sealed with a blob of blue wax stamped with a stylized Z that resembled a lightning bolt. Snape broke the seal, read the letter, and frowned.
"What's wrong, Severus?" Lupin asked.
"Where is Theodore?" Snape asked, without answering Lupin's question.
Severus looked troubled and a little angry, so Lupin didn't bother trying to coax or tease the information out of him as he would normally have done. "He and Dylan are working in the garden."
"Bring them in here, please."
Severus had just said "please" without any hint of sarcasm or humor; this must be serious. Lupin immediately got up to fetch the boys.
As they walked in, staring at Snape nervously, he held up the letter and asked, "Mr. Nott, would you care to tell me why Mr. Zabini--the elder Mr. Zabini, that is--has asked me to assign his son a new roommate next term?"
Theodore gasped, looking stricken, and Snape regretted being so blunt, but as Lupin had once pointed out, he wasn't very good at being tactful, and there was really no nice way to break this sort of news, after all. "I...I don't know," Theodore stammered. "But...but I suspected, after Blaise's letter, that they didn't want him to see me. I mean, it's kind of odd for his dad not to let him have a day off. I was worried that maybe his parents didn't want him hanging around a Death Eater's son, but I was hoping that I was wrong..."
"You're not going to split up Blaise and Theo, are you?" Dylan asked anxiously.
"What does the letter say?" Lupin asked simultaneously.
Snape chose to answer Lupin first. "Marius was never one to play politics, but he isn't stupid enough to openly insult my foster son. He gives a lot of vague reasons, such as Blaise needing to concentrate more on his studies and not be distracted by friends, and the benefits of learning to associate with people outside of his inner circle of friends, but reading between the lines, I would say that Theodore is correct."
"But--" Theodore began.
"Calm down, Mr. Nott," Snape said in a cool voice, but there was a hint of sympathy in his eyes. "I see no reason to change your current living arrangements; I don't allow the parents to dictate such things to me." {Now that Lucius Malfoy is dead,} he added silently.
"Besides," Dylan pointed out practically, "all the other boys in Theo's age group are the sons of Death Eaters as well."
"Please don't make me room with Crabbe or Goyle," Theodore groaned with a look of exaggerated horror. "Or worse, Malfoy!"
Snape chuckled a little. "No, I don't think that will be necessary. However, I believe that a little chat with Marius Zabini is in order."
"Is that really necessary?" Theodore asked nervously. "Won't it just make things worse?"
"Perhaps we can allay Mr. Zabini's fears," Snape replied. "Or at least make it clear to him that one does not tell the Head of Slytherin what to do."
Theodore looked even more worried, and Lupin said dryly, "Perhaps you should let me do the talking, Severus. We might try tact before you bring out the threats and intimidation."
Snape shrugged. "As you wish, Lupin. Personally, I find threats and intimidation to be far more effective."
"There is a difference between respect and fear, Severus," Lupin said, quoting what Snape had said to Draco during his visit.
Snape scowled and flushed a little. "Fine. But I warn you, you have your work cut out for you. The Zabinis aren't quite as snobbish as the other Slytherin families--mainly because they aren't in a position to look down on others--but they were one of the families who wrote to me protesting about a werewolf being allowed to teach their children."
"Things are different now," Lupin said in a quiet but determined voice. "I'm a hero of the war; the Daily Prophet said so. I don't like exploiting that bit of propaganda, but I will if I have to. And I've been dealing with bigots all my life; I'm not afraid of a few insults."
"Very well," Snape said, regarding his lover with a look of respect; Lupin wasn't really as soft as he appeared to be at times. "I have an appointment with my lawyer the day after tomorrow. You can all come along; Theodore and Dylan ought to meet her, since she's been working on their behalf. Then we can stop by the Zabinis' shop in Diagon Alley." He seemed calmer now that he had decided on a course of action, and gave the boys a nod of dismissal.
"Everything will be all right," Lupin said with a kind and reassuring smile.
Theodore, however, was not reassured. As he and Dylan headed back to the garden, he said gloomily, "Well, that's just great. If Blaise's father starts insulting Lupin, Snape will probably turn him into a toad."
"Yeah, but then Lupin will change him back," Dylan said with a grin.
"It's not funny!" Theodore protested.
"Sorry, Theo," Dylan said soothingly. "I was just trying to cheer you up. Don't worry, everything will work out. Snape's already said that he won't separate you two; the Zabinis can forbid Blaise to see you during the summer, but they can't do anything once you're back in school. And after you guys turn eighteen and graduate--"
"What if they threaten to disown him?" Theodore interrupted, voicing his worst fear. "Would he really choose me over his family?"
"My mother chose my father over her family," Dylan reminded him quietly. "But hopefully it won't come to that."
"I know that all the girls in Slytherin think that story about your parents is the most romantic thing they've ever heard," Theodore said, still looking frantic. "But one of the reasons why they find it so romantic is because it's the kind of thing you read about in books that almost never happens in real life. You grew up in exile, away from all the politics, so I don't know if you realize how much family and carrying on the bloodline means to the purebloods, Dylan. Even if Snape manages to smooth this over now, sooner or later they'll want to arrange a marriage for Blaise, and when they find out about us, they'll hit the roof. Personally, I don't care if the Nott line dies out, but Blaise's parents aren't like mine, and he loves them..."
"He loves you, too, Theo," Dylan said gently. "He won't abandon you. If he wouldn't let the Death Eaters scare him away from you, he certainly won't let his parents come between you."
"But his family--"
"I've met them at the Quidditch matches," Dylan said. "They seem like nice people, and they love him. They might be upset when they find out that you two are lovers, but I don't think they'll disown him over it."
"Are you sure?" Theodore asked, sounding both hopeful and skeptical at the same time.
"Pretty sure," Dylan replied. "They don't strike me as being as stubborn as my grandmother. Uncle Math says she was different when she was younger, but she always seemed cold and hard to me. Not just because of the way she treated my mother, but the way she was able to kill her sons without batting an eye. Blaise's parents aren't like her."
"But they'll still want an heir," Theodore said. "Maybe...maybe if he has to get married, we could still...you know..." That was the way it had been done for hundreds of years, after all: people made political marriages and had heirs of the proper bloodlines to satisfy their families, and discreetly kept lovers of their own choosing on the side. But even the thought of making such an arrangement with Blaise made Theo feel sick; he didn't think he could stand to share Blaise with someone else, and it all seemed so sordid, somehow...maybe some of Lupin's Gryffindor idealism had rubbed off on him.
"Don't be stupid!" Dylan said, sounding angry. "Blaise wouldn't do something like that!"
Theodore felt a peculiar sense of relief at the indignation in his friend's voice. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
"Of course I'm right, you stupid git," Dylan said, but in an affectionate tone. "He loves you. Don't worry about it. And besides, he has a sister, right?"
"Yeah, Allegra. She's supposed to be starting at Hogwarts next term, I think."
"Well then, the Zabini line won't die out if she has kids someday."
"But she's a girl..."
Dylan shrugged. "So what? The Donner title and the Blackmore title are passed down from mother to daughter. And a woman can inherit the title in other families if there's no male heir available to claim it: Serafina will inherit the Avery estate since her father had no sons."
Theodore wasn't sure that the Zabinis would see it that way, but at least it gave him a little hope--more than if Blaise had been an only child, anyway. Sometimes he envied his foster brother's close relationship with Snape, but right now he was very, very glad that Dylan was here. "I'm really glad that you're my brother now, Dylan."
"Me too," said Dylan. "It was lonely sometimes, out on Uncle Math's estate. None of the villagers would let their children play with me. I loved my mother and Math and Goewin, but I used to wish that I had a brother or sister, and now I do." Dylan teared up a little at the thought of his mother, but he smiled, and Theodore smiled back at him, feeling some of his anxiety ease. "Everything will be all right," Dylan said, and Theodore tried to believe him.
Part 6
"Some things never change," Blackmore said one night with an amused smile, no doubt recalling the Hufflepuff students who had been caught by Snape committing a similar theft for the same reason last year.
Narcissa blushed and smiled sheepishly. "I was just a silly thirteen-year old girl," she laughed. "We did some dumb things back then."
Black chuckled and said in a voice that was both nostalgic and rueful, "We all did."
Meanwhile, Draco and Harry Potter found themselves feeling even more uncomfortable than Black and Narcissa did. It felt downright weird to be having dinner with a Gryffindor, and not just any Gryffindor, but his (former?) archenemy. Potter did not really seem hostile, though, but rather looked as if he didn't know what to say or how to act. They each pushed their food around their plates with their forks, eyeing each other warily.
"Have you decided which N.E.W.T.s you intend to take next year, Draco?" Blackmore asked casually, in an obvious attempt to break the ice and draw him into the conversation.
Draco gave her a nervous look; he wasn't used to Blackmore either addressing him by his first name or speaking to him kindly. It was almost as shocking as Snape showing up at the Slytherin dorm with mugs of hot chocolate.
"Give the kid a break, Branwen!" Black protested, before Draco had a chance to reply. "Summer vacation just started, after all. Give him a chance to enjoy it before grilling him about exams!" Draco didn't bother to tell him that he wasn't really "enjoying" his summer vacation. He wasn't sure which was worse: spending a boring summer as a social outcast, or going back to school and having to face everyone, knowing that the entire school knew how far the Malfoys had fallen.
"I've never been of the opinion that children should let their brains rot during the summer, Sirius," Blackmore retorted in a tone of cool sarcasm. "Their minds need to be kept active in order to remain sharp."
"You'd assign homework during the summer if you could," Sirius said accusingly.
"Hmm, now that's an idea," Blackmore said in a musing tone.
"Thanks a lot, Sirius," Potter said, giving his godfather a disgruntled look, and Blackmore laughed merrily--another startling and unfamiliar sight.
"In any case," Blackmore continued, "I was merely making conversation. But it is important for Mr. Malfoy--and Mr. Potter, for that matter--to decide in advance which N.E.W.T.s they wish to take, since it is a prerequisite for certain professions. Have you given any thought as to what you will do after you graduate, Draco?"
"I dunno," Draco said, a little sullenly. "Dad was going to fix me up with a Ministry job, but..." His voice trailed off.
"You have many options still open to you, Draco," Blackmore said briskly. There was no hint of pity in her eyes or voice, for which Draco was grateful--being pitied was even worse than being sneered at or shunned. "Severus says that you have a talent for potion-brewing, and Remus was quite pleased with your work in his class, as well. And I must admit, your work in my class has been of high caliber--when you stopped feuding with the Gryffindors long enough to concentrate, that is." Both Draco and Potter blushed. "It might be difficult to make a living as a Summoner, though. People seem to have the misconception that Summoning spells are Dark Magic, even though that isn't true, strictly speaking, although they can be put to evil purposes."
"That's partly your own fault, Branwen," Black pointed out. "After you disappeared, people assumed that one of your Summonings had gone awry, and that you'd been carried off by a horde of demons or something."
"What did happen to you, anyway?" Narcissa asked her former teacher apprehensively. "The Daily Prophet was very vague about that, and the Headmaster's explanations weren't much more enlightening."
Blackmore smiled. "I was carried off by an ally I had summoned, but for my own safety. Bane and I were badly wounded after the battle with the Death Eaters, and in need of healing. But time passes differently in the realms of the elementals and their like; one day in their world could be a minute or a decade in ours. Like the old tales and legends of people who visited the faerie realm for a single night of dancing and feasting, and returned to find that centuries had passed in their own world, and all the people they knew were dead and gone. I am very fortunate that only fourteen years passed during my absence."
"Fortunate for both of us," Black said with a loving smile, and to Draco's amazement, Professor Blackmore actually blushed! He noticed that Blackmore had not really answered his mother's question, and wondered if her mysterious "ally" was a demon, as everyone seemed to think, but he suspected she wouldn't give him a straight answer--and quite frankly, he wasn't sure that he really wanted to know.
"What about you, Harry?" Blackmore asked. "Have you given any thought as to what sort of career you might be interested in?"
"Well, I wanted to be an Auror, but now that the Death Eaters are--" Potter flushed and abruptly closed his mouth when he saw Narcissa wince. "Um...I mean, I haven't really decided yet."
"Well, you have shown a great aptitude for Defense Against the Dark Arts," Blackmore said, "which is certainly a desirable quality in an Auror, but there are many other things you can do with that specialty--become a Curse-Breaker, for instance. Or you might consider going into Muggle Relations; you have a unique perspective, after all, having lived in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds." Everyone still looked a little uncomfortable, and Blackmore abruptly turned to Sirius and changed the subject. "By the way, dear, I got a letter from Severus the other day."
"Really?" Black asked cautiously. "What did it say?"
"He offered to assist us in restoring Blackmore Manor."
"Snape?" Black said dubiously, raising his eyebrows. "Offering to clean house?"
Blackmore grinned. "He probably wants to get a look at my father's library."
"I should have known," Black said, shaking his head. "Nothing else could make Snape stoop to performing so demeaning a task as housework."
"Oh, I can think of a few other things," Blackmore said with a sly smile, "and they all involve Remus."
"Branwen! Not in front of the kids!"
"What are you talking about, Sirius?" Blackmore asked innocently. "All I meant was that Severus helped Remus and the boys clean up the cottage when they moved in at the start of summer."
Sirius flushed. "You were insinuating--"
"It's not my fault that you have a dirty mind," Blackmore interrupted, and laughed as her fiance glared at her.
Draco noticed that Potter looked just as red as his godfather, but embarrassed rather than angry. Draco had been just as shocked as everyone else to find out that Snape and Lupin were lovers, but the idea of two men having sex with each other was hardly a big deal. In fact, from eavesdropping on his mother's gossip sessions with her friends over the years, he had learned that Snape's peers had long suspected he was gay, mainly because he had never shown any interest in his female classmates at Hogwarts, and because he had never married and sired an heir.
"You Gryffindors are such prudes," Draco drawled, and was pleased to see Potter's blush deepen. "It's not a big deal." He turned to Black and said with a mocking grin, "Though I thank you for trying to protect our virgin ears." Potter's face was now a deep shade of crimson.
Black looked taken aback, and for a moment, Draco thought he'd gone too far. Then his cousin threw his head back and burst out laughing.
"Draco!" Narcissa scolded, but she seemed to be trying to hold back laughter herself.
"I should have known better than to try and protect a Slytherin's tender youthful innocence," Black said, still chuckling. "If Gryffindors are prudes, then Slytherins are sybarites."
"What's a sy...sybarite?" Potter asked.
Before Draco could make a condescending reply, Blackmore explained with an amused smile, "A hedonist; one devoted to pleasure and luxury. But Sirius, I would hardly call the Gryffindors innocents, though perhaps they aren't as jaded as the Slytherins. I seem to recall you getting detention for being caught in a...compromising postion...with a young lady in the Quidditch supplies storeroom...?"
"BRANWEN!" Black howled indignantly. The women started laughing, and so did Draco and Potter, although the Gryffindor boy was still blushing. Even Bane started laughing, in a hoarse, cawing voice. Black glared at them all for a minute, then gave in and laughed as well. "Well," he said ruefully, "there are some disadvantages to marrying your former Professor, I see."
"Behave yourself, Sirius," Narcissa teased, "or she might give you detention," and everyone laughed again. Dinner progressed much more smoothly after that; Draco and Potter didn't say much, but were content to listen to the adults joking around with each other. Draco was pleased to see his mother looking happy and relaxed for a change; it was even worth the discomfort of dining with his Gryffindor rival.
Blackmore gave Narcissa a motherly hug and kiss, and Black gave her a peck on the cheek as they said goodnight. No one tried to hug or kiss Draco, much to his relief.
"Well, uh, see you around, Malfoy," Potter said awkwardly.
"Yeah, see you around, Potter," Draco mumbled.
As he left through the fireplace with his mother, he heard Black say, "Oh, stop looking so smug, Branwen," and Blackmore reply, "Inter-House cooperation, dear."
***
Not long after that, a letter arrived from Dylan Rosier, inviting Draco to visit his new home, the cottage he shared with Nott, Lupin, and Snape. The letter said that Pierce was also coming over, although it said nothing about Zabini, which was rather odd. Rosier, Pierce, Nott, and Zabini had all been fast friends ever since Dylan had arrived at Hogwarts during Draco's fourth year. He stared at the letter, wondering why Dylan had invited him over; was it pity? Had either Lupin or Snape put him up to it? He wasn't sure about Snape, whose toadying up to Draco's father had apparently all been an act; on the other hand, Snape--along with Lupin--had saved Draco's life, and seemed genuinely concerned about him. He remembered that late night discussion in the Slytherin dorm, when Snape had said that he had been trying to save Draco from the Death Eaters. Still, despite all the startling things Draco had learned about Snape, he still didn't think that the Potions Master was the sympathetic or sentimental type. However, Lupin was, and he might well have talked Rosier into issuing the invitation. Draco didn't want to be anybody's charity case, but on the other hand, he was bored, and it wasn't like the invitations were pouring in...
"What is it, Draco?" Narcissa asked.
"Rosier's invited me to come visit him and Nott," Draco replied, still not sure whether he should accept or not.
"You should go!" Narcissa said enthusiastically, perhaps relieved that her son was not a total social outcast. "I'm sure it will be fun!" When Draco looked dubious, she added practically, "Besides, Severus is Dylan's guardian now, and it can't hurt to curry a little favor with your Head of House."
Draco scowled; he was used to having people curry favor with him, not the other way around. But his mother looked happy about the invitation, and he didn't want to burst her bubble--she had little enough to smile about these days--so he sent off a reply saying that he would come.
***
Lupin suggested a sleepover, but Snape wasn't sure that he was up to supervising four teenage boys all night long. It was true that he was the Head of Slytherin, but he kept separate quarters from the children at school; it wasn't as if he slept in the dorm with them. Snape's parents had not exactly been ideal role models, so sometimes he felt as if he were fumbling in the dark, learning by trial and error how to become a good father to Dylan and Theodore. Dylan was usually calm and self-controlled, but the combination of Damien's mischievousness, Draco's arrogance, and Theodore's sullenness held the potential for trouble, so he thought it would be best to keep their first visit together fairly brief--he didn't want to overtax his rather shaky parenting skills, after all. If things went well, then perhaps the next visit could be an overnight one.
"You worry too much, Severus," Lupin said with an amused look on his face, but didn't argue with him. So it was decided that Damien and Draco would come over Saturday afternoon for a few hours of lunch, Quidditch practice, and whatever else the boys wanted to do to entertain themselves.
"What about studying?" Snape asked pointedly. "That was your original suggestion, after all, Mr. Rosier."
"It's summer vacation, Severus," Lupin chided. "Let them have a little fun."
"We can do some studying, too," Dylan said, without much enthusiasm.
Well, the boys had been very diligent about studying for at least an hour or two every day, Snape conceded to himself. "Oh, never mind, Rosier," Snape said gruffly. "The two of you have been working hard at your chores and your studies; I suppose it's all right if you take a break this once."
Dylan and Theodore stared at him in amazement, then Dylan grinned and said, "Thank you, Professor!"
"But don't think I'm going to let you slack off for the entire summer!" Snape warned.
"Yes, sir," the boys chorused meekly, although they didn't seem to be fooled by his stern tone of voice, because Dylan kept grinning and even Theodore smiled a little. Snape sighed to himself, thinking that yes, he was definitely losing his edge, and it was all Lupin's fault. He glared at his lover, who just laughed and gave him a hug.
"Cut that out, Lupin!"
Lupin ignored him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and the boys giggled. Ah well, all in all, things were going pretty well, Snape supposed. He could finally live openly with his lover, even if that lover seemed to take a perverse pleasure in embarrassing him in public, and at least the werewolf's antics seemed to keep the boys amused. So far Dylan and Theodore had adapted remarkably well to their new life, and Snape knew that was due in great part to Lupin, who instinctively seemed to know when to joke with them and make them laugh, and when to offer a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. So he simply stood there and let Lupin hold him and nuzzle him affectionately, although he made a great show of heaving a long-suffering sigh of resignation.
***
Draco emerged from the fireplace, fastidiously dusting ashes off his robe and broomstick. He looked around the cottage, idly noting that the entire building could almost fit in the Malfoy living room. "Hi, Draco," Dylan said, smiling at him pleasantly. Damien was already there, and also gave Draco a friendly smile; Theodore, on the other hand, was regarding him warily.
"Hello, Draco," Lupin said cheerfully. "It's nice to see you again." Snape just nodded at him.
"Um, hi," Draco said, feeling a little uncomfortable about how the balance of power had shifted between himself and the other boys. Maybe Rosier and Pierce didn't hold a grudge against him, but he suspected Nott still did, judging by the look in his eyes.
"Well, you boys run along," Lupin continued blithely, not seeming to notice the tension in the room. "Lunch will be ready in about an hour."
"Thanks, Remus," Dylan said. "Come on, let's go."
"You call him 'Remus'?" Draco asked after they had left the cottage.
"Yeah, sure," Dylan replied casually. "He asked us to. He said we're not in school right now, so we could call him by name."
Draco felt a brief pang of envy, although he wasn't sure why. "You don't call Snape 'Severus,' do you?"
Dylan laughed. "Merlin, no! He made it quite clear that he prefers to be called 'Professor'! It wouldn't feel right, anyway, calling Snape by his first name." He and Theodore grinned at each other.
Draco was relieved to see Nott looking less hostile, but at the same time, a little put out as he realized that he would probably no longer be Snape's most favored student. Slytherins always favored their own, and now that Snape no longer had to cater to Lucius Malfoy, he would probably favor his two foster sons over the rest of the students, especially since Dylan had been his pet practically from the moment he had set foot on the school grounds...
"Catch," Dylan said, interrupting Draco's train of thought. Draco blinked and managed to get his hands up in time to prevent a Quaffle from hitting him in the face. "Lupin borrowed a Quaffle and a Snitch from Hogwarts for us to practice with," Dylan said. "I figured we could do without the Bludgers for now."
"Definitely," Damien said, wincing a little; he had been hit by one during their match against Ravenclaw.
Draco felt a brief flicker of resentment at the way Rosier had taken charge of things, but fought back the urge to snap at the other boy. Things were different now, after all, whether he liked it or not. And Dylan was smiling at him in a friendly manner, and didn't seem to be trying to lord it over him. In fact, all three of the boys seemed to be waiting for his approval before starting their practice. It was probably just force of habit, but it made Draco feel a little better. Even if he'd lost status in Slytherin, at least he was still the Captain of the Quidditch team. That was a small comfort, and he tried not to think about the possibility of Snape demoting him in favor of Dylan.
"Well, let's get started, then," Draco said, in a tone of only slightly forced cheer. He did enjoy himself once they were up in the air; he had always loved flying, and the sense of freedom that accompanied it. Things went well for the better part of an hour; they mainly practiced passing and blocking, trying to become accustomed to working with Nott and vice versa. Draco decided that Nott would probably make a good Chaser; he was pretty good on a broomstick, and able to react quickly in response to his teammates' or opponents' actions. Although those qualities would also come in handy for a Keeper, come to think of it.
They landed to take a break after a good workout. Draco had noticed while they were up in the air that the house was surrounded by forest, and that there were no other buildings visible as far as the eye could see. "This place is really out in the middle of nowhere," he said.
Theodore scowled at him, but Dylan smiled and said, "Lupin says that's why his parents built the cottage here; so that there would be no neighbors to hear him howling during the full moon."
"Yeah, that's right," Draco acknowledged. "I almost forgot there was no Wolfsbane Potion back then, so he'd have to be locked up." He flushed a little, remembering how he had insulted Lupin in the past, and how Lucius Malfoy had helped influence the Ministry into passing the anti-werewolf legislation that had only been recently rescinded.
"So what's there to do out here?" Damien asked curiously.
Dylan shrugged. "It's no worse than being stuck out on Uncle Math's estate in Wales, and at least I'm not a prisoner here. We walk through the woods, play chess and cards, fly on our broomsticks...and Snape keeps us busy." Dylan grinned. "He says he doesn't believe in letting children remain idle all summer--he has us studying to prepare for next year's classes and exams, and he assigned us regular chores to do. We helped him brew the Wolfsbane Potion for Lupin, and we help with the cooking and cleaning and gardening--"
"Chores?" Draco asked in horror. "You have to cook and clean like a house-elf?!"
"Shut your mouth, Malfoy!" Theodore snapped.
"How dare you talk to me that way!" Draco retorted automatically, forgetting for a moment that he had no power over his fellow Slytherins anymore.
Theodore just sneered at him. "Still acting all high and mighty, Malfoy?"
"Take it easy, you two," Damien said nervously, but they both ignored him.
"You're forgetting your place, Nott!"
"You're the one who's forgotten your place, Malfoy! I've had to suck up to you since I was five years old, and I'm sick of it! You're nothing now that you don't have your daddy to protect you--"
Draco let out a wordless cry of anger and lunged at Nott; Damien grabbed him and held him back, while Dylan tried, without success, to calm Nott down.
"Theo, that's enough already, please!"
Meanwhile, Draco struggled to break out of Damien's grip. "Don't you talk about my father that way!"
"I don't have to listen to you anymore," Theodore taunted. "Your precious father is dead; there's nothing he can do to me now!"
"Your father's dead, too!" Draco shouted.
Theodore's gray-green eyes glittered strangely, and for a moment, he didn't look entirely sane. "Yes, and I'm glad!" he screamed. "I hate him, I hate all the Death Eaters, I wish they were all dead--"
"Stop it!" Dylan shouted, looking a little frightened. "Stop it, both of you!"
Draco managed to free himself, shoved Damien away, and reached for his wand; Nott did likewise.
"STOP THIS INSTANT OR I'LL GIVE YOU ALL DETENTION FOR A MONTH!" Professor Snape roared. All four boys instantly froze in place. There was a very long silence, and then Lupin piped up cheerfully:
"But Severus, you can't give them detention; it's summer vacation."
That seemed to break the tension, and Dylan laughed weakly, although the other three boys were still too intimidated to laugh in the face of the Potions Master's anger. But Lupin was grinning, and although Snape was giving him a sour look, he no longer looked quite so furious. "Well then, I can give them detention when school starts again," he said grumpily.
"That's not really fair, is it?" Lupin pointed out. "To give them detention for something that happened during the summer?"
"I'm a Slytherin, Lupin," Snape said dryly. "The word 'fair' isn't in my vocabulary."
Lupin chuckled, then walked over to Theodore and slipped an arm around the boy's shoulders. "Draco has made some mistakes in the past," Lupin said kindly, "but so have we all. We're very lucky that we've been granted a second chance to start over again."
"I know," Theodore mumbled, flushing and looking ashamed of himself. Draco wondered what Nott was ashamed of--that he had not stood up to the Death Eaters before? Or perhaps the recently revealed news about his uncle's murder? Then Draco went over Lupin's words in his mind again, and he wondered about something else.
"Um, Professor?" Draco asked hesitantly. "You said 'we all' have made mistakes in the past. What mistakes did you make?"
"I made many mistakes, Draco," Lupin said with a sad smile. "I didn't stand up to my Gryffindor friends when they played cruel pranks on the Slytherins, or even when they simply made prejudiced and insulting remarks about them. I regret that I didn't trust Severus enough to tell him about my lycanthropy, and I regret that I didn't trust my Gryffindor friends enough to tell them about my love for Severus. I regret that I believed my friend Sirius was a traitor. I regret that I didn't try harder to mend the rift between Severus and myself when--"
"Enough, Lupin," Snape interrupted gruffly, looking a little guilty. "Don't wallow in self-pity. As you said, we've all made mistakes."
Lupin smiled at him, gave Theodore a hug, then walked over to Draco and laid a hand on his shoulder. "And Draco, I know it's hard to break old habits, but if you want to have friends--real friends, not just people who are interested in your money or your power--you need to learn to treat them with kindness and respect."
"I know," Draco muttered, remembering that Damien had told him something similar. "It's just...I'm not used to this. Almost overnight, people went from respecting us to looking down on us."
"The Malfoys were not precisely respected, Draco," Snape said, but not unkindly. "They were feared; there is a difference."
"And now that they don't fear us anymore," Draco said slowly, working things out in his mind, "they feel free to hate us, or gloat at us, to get back at us for the times that we...um...bossed them around?" He flushed, recalling the way Damien had said that he bossed everyone in Slytherin around.
"Exactly, Malfoy," Snape said, looking both amused and sympathetic at the same time. It was a little shocking to see Snape, of all people, with a look of sympathy on his face.
"You did not have friends before, Draco," Lupin said. "They were simply people who feared you or wanted favors from you. But now you have a chance to make some real friends, people who will care about you and stand by you through thick and thin."
"But everyone hates me!" Draco wailed, then cringed at how pathetic he sounded.
The other boys stared at him thoughtfully for a moment, then Dylan stepped forward. "Well, the Headmaster believes in second chances," he said. "He allowed me to enter Hogwarts when everyone was telling him not to. And Professor Snape helped me even though I was stupid and got myself mixed up with the Death Eaters. So I'm willing to be your friend, Draco--so long as you treat me like a friend, not a lackey."
Damien grinned and slapped Draco on the back. "You're all right, Malfoy, when you're not acting all lordly. Just remember that no one's going to suck up to you anymore. I think we can break you of the habit, with a little practice." Draco looked affronted for a moment, but the other boy kept grinning at him, and Draco managed a tentative smile in response.
Everyone turned and looked at Theodore--Draco apprehensively, and the others expectantly. Theodore scowled at them sullenly.
"Aw, come on, Theo," Damien cajoled. "Give him a chance. You can always change your mind if he starts acting like a prat again."
"Gee, thanks," Draco said a little sarcastically, not sure whether to be pleased or insulted by his new friend's efforts to help him.
"That's what friends are for," Damien said cheerfully, apparently unoffended.
"He did fight against the Death Eaters in the end," Dylan reminded Theodore.
Nott hunched his shoulders a little, still looking stubborn, but also unhappy, as if he felt bad about resisting his friends' entreaties. "Look, I'm sorry about what I said before, about working like a house-elf," Draco said awkwardly; he wasn't used to making apologies. "I just wasn't thinking, okay?" Theodore stared at him silently, looking uncertain and a little suspicious. "Do you really hate me that much, Nott?" Draco asked, feeling rather puzzled. Of course he had known all along that their "friendship" had been one dictated by their parents' alliance, but he hadn't realized how much hostility the other boy had been carrying towards him, and the Death Eaters in general. Crabbe and Goyle, and even Rosier, didn't seem to resent him the way Nott did.
Theodore snorted derisively. "Do you think it's fun listening to, 'Fetch this for me, Nott,' and 'Fetch that for me, Nott,' and 'Do my homework for me, Nott,' all the time?"
Draco flushed at the way Nott had imitated his voice, and wondered if he really sounded that snotty, or if Nott was just exaggerating. Probably the former, he reluctantly admitted to himself. "I guess not," Draco mumbled.
"Are you really mad at Draco?" Lupin asked gently. "Or is it someone else that you're really angry at? The Death Eaters, or your father, perhaps...?"
Theodore hung his head, his dark hair falling forward over his face, not quite hiding the sudden redness spreading across his cheeks. "I hated being Draco's lackey," he whispered, "because it reminded me of the way my father acted like Lucius Malfoy's lapdog. Because it reminded me that someday I'd have to join the Death Eaters, too."
That whisper unnerved Draco far more than Nott's earlier shouted insults. "I didn't know that you hated the Death Eaters, Nott," he said in a subdued voice. "I mean, not until the final battle."
Theodore looked up and met his eyes, looking more weary than angry now. "I'm not stupid, Draco. If I'd said what I really thought, your father would have had me killed--providing my father didn't beat him to it."
"Why did you hate the Death Eaters?" Draco asked. Apparently both Theodore and Serafina had never wanted to become Death Eaters, and Dylan had been actively working against them ever since he was Marked. It made Draco feel a little stupid and completely out of the loop. Was he the only one besides Crabbe and Goyle (who were none too bright themselves) who had not seen the Death Eaters for what they really were?
"Because my father was one," Theodore said in a flat voice, "and he's been torturing me with hexes for as long as I can remember." Draco stared at him in shock. "And because he killed my uncle, who threatened to expose him. When we met our fathers in Hogsmeade on Halloween, he told me that if I refused to become a Death Eater, I would still serve the Dark Lord as a sacrifice--and I almost did. If it hadn't been for Professor Lupin and Professor Snape..." He shuddered a little, and Snape patted him awkwardly on the shoulder.
"I...I didn't know," Draco whispered.
"You were sheltered, Draco," Snape told him gravely. "Partly because you never saw the inner workings of the Death Eaters, never saw them scheming and fighting to win the Dark Lord's favor, never saw the way the Dark Lord punished his servants when they displeased him. I am sure that your father told you only about the power and glory the Death Eaters would reap, not about the times that Voldemort inflicted Cruciatus Curses on us and made us grovel at his feet. And also because Lucius left your upbringing mainly to Narcissa, and she was a loving and indulgent mother. Too indulgent sometimes; quite frankly, I thought you were spoiled, but I guess she didn't mess things up completely, since you're not dead or in Azkaban..."
Lupin rolled his eyes. "Thank you for being so tactful as always, Severus," he said. Dylan laughed, and the other boys smiled a little.
"Sarcasm does not become you, Lupin," Snape said coolly, but the corners of his mouth twitched upwards slightly. "It is better suited to a Slytherin, not a softhearted Gryffindor. And the word 'tact'--"
"Is not in your vocabulary," Lupin finished with a grin. "I know, I know. Shall we go in and have lunch now?"
Everyone turned to look at Theodore and Draco. Draco hesitantly held out his hand and said, "Truce, Nott?" He found himself holding his breath as Theodore stared at him intently for what seemed to Draco like a very long time.
Theodore glanced over at Lupin, who smiled at him encouragingly. "All right," he sighed, a little reluctantly, and reached out and shook Draco's hand. "Truce. But if you start ordering me about--"
"No point in that," Draco said, trying not to sound sulky. "It's pretty clear that nobody will listen to me if I do." Dylan, Damien, and Lupin started chuckling, and Draco bristled for a moment until he realized that they were laughing with him, not at him, and he gave in and laughed, too. It was a surprisingly good feeling. Theodore didn't laugh, but he did smile at them.
"I'm so proud of you two!" Lupin declared, giving first Theodore, and then a very startled Draco each a hug.
"Don't mind the werewolf, Draco," Snape said sardonically, but there was a glimmer of laughter in his black eyes. "He tends to get emotional at times, particularly near the full moon. Lupin, will you please try to restrain yourself?"
"Sorry, Sev," Lupin said with a wide grin, not looking very contrite. "Come on, lunch is getting cold."
So they went back to the cottage for lunch, and Lupin served them sandwiches and soup and butterbeer. "Severus made the soup," he said cheerily.
As Draco's mouth fell open, Snape glared at the werewolf and snapped, "Dammit, Lupin, I told you not to say anything about that!"
"I don't know why you're making such a fuss," Lupin said with a look of innocent bewilderment. "Didn't you say that cooking is rather like potion brewing--following the recipe and mixing the proper ingredients?" Snape began to make a low sound deep in his throat that sounded suspiciously like a growl. "Besides, it's very good soup--don't you think so, Draco?"
Draco tried a spoonful; it really was good. "It's delicious, Professor," he said, giving Snape a nervous smile. Snape did not look very mollified.
"Stop glowering like that, Severus," Lupin said calmly. "You'll ruin the boys' appetites and curdle the butterbeer."
"Butterbeer doesn't curdle," Snape retorted in a snippy tone of voice, but toned down his glare and started eating. "I wish you'd stop embarrassing me in front of the children," he grumbled.
"What, you mean like this?" Lupin asked, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.
"LUPIN!"
"They do this all the time," Dylan reassured a wide-eyed Draco and Damien.
"I think I'm actually starting to get used to it," Theodore said.
"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to that," Damien said.
"I still can't believe it," Draco muttered, shaking his head. "Snape and the werewolf..." Theodore glared at him, and he added, "Oh, don't get your shorts in a twist, Nott. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, just that it's hard to believe. They saved my life, too, you know."
Snape might have gotten annoyed at his students discussing his love life at the kitchen table in front of him, except that he was too busy fending off Lupin to notice. The werewolf had put his arms around Snape and was nuzzling him affectionately, ignoring his spluttering and blustering. "Lupin, will you stop that?!"
"I can't help it; it's the wolf in me," Lupin laughed, but he let go of Snape.
"The full moon's already passed, Lupin," Snape growled, then changed the subject. "I hope you've been thinking about which N.E.W.T.s you plan to take next year, Mr. Malfoy. It's not too early to start studying for them."
"Really, Severus," Lupin said, "can't you just let them enjoy their summer vacation?"
"Professor Blackmore already told me the same thing," Draco said quickly, before Snape could make a retort. "But I haven't really decided yet. Dad had everything planned out; he was going to get me an apprenticeship at the Ministry, but..." His voice trailed off. He looked down at his plate to avoid seeing any pity in his companions' eyes.
"You might consider a career in Potions," Snape suggested.
"I think you would be well-suited to a career in advertising or publicity," Lupin said. Draco looked up in surprise to see the werewolf's blue eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Er...what do you mean, sir?"
"I was just remembering the 'Weasley Is Our King' song and the roses you ordered for the Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch match last year," Lupin replied. "Very creative. Not very nice, perhaps, but very creative. And certainly effective."
"That was so embarrassing," Dylan groaned.
"I don't know what you're complaining about," Damien told him. "I'd love to have a horde of admiring fans waving flowers at me!"
"You're welcome to them," Dylan said.
"Hey, I know what I wanna do when I graduate!" Damien laughed. "Become a professional Quidditch player! Women love 'em--you remember the way all the girls swooned over Krum!"
"Be serious, Mr. Pierce," Snape told him sourly.
"I AM serious," Damien protested.
Snape rolled his eyes heavenward and sighed, "Merlin help us!"
"You might want to have a backup plan," Lupin suggested gently. "Just in case the Quidditch thing doesn't pan out."
"Advertising, hmm?" Draco said thoughtfully. It was not quite what he'd had in mind, but it did sound sort of intriguing. "What kind of classes would I have to take?"
"Charms, Illusion, possibly Transfiguration," Lupin said.
"Will Hogwarts still have Illusion classes next semester?" Draco asked. "Isn't Master Satoshi going back to Japan?"
"No, he's decided to stay at Hogwarts for at least another year," Lupin replied. "Apparently he really enjoyed teaching all of you."
"Really?" Snape asked skeptically. "Karasu told me it was because there were still a few jealous husbands and swindled customers looking for the tanuki back in Japan."
"Now, now, Severus," Lupin scolded, "it isn't very professional to gossip about your fellow teachers, particularly in front of the students."
"I had no idea you were so concerned with propriety, Lupin," Snape retorted. "It's not very professional to kiss a fellow teacher in front of your students, either." He instantly realized that he had made a mistake by saying that, but it was too late to take it back.
"You mean like this?"
"LUPIN!"
The boys quickly finished their lunch and retreated to Dylan's and Theodore's room, sparing the Potions Master further humiliation. "Watching them is actually kind of entertaining," Damien chuckled as they started to play a game of cards.
"You should see the way Potter blushes whenever anyone even mentions their names," Draco laughed. "The Gryffindors are such prudes!" Then he noticed that all three of the other boys were staring at him in shock.
"Since when do you hang around with Potter?" Damien asked.
"He's Sirius Black's godson," Draco said, a little defensively. "And Black is my mother's cousin. He's been helping my mum out, hired a lawyer to keep the Ministry from confiscating our estate. So we have dinner with him once in awhile. And since Potter and Blackmore live with him..."
"That's right, I almost forgot he's engaged to Professor Blackmore!" Damien said, then snickered a little. "I almost feel sorry for Potter; I wonder what it's like, having Blackmore for a stepmother?"
"She's not so bad, really," Draco admitted. "She's not as scary as she is in the classroom, though I still wouldn't cross her. What's it like having Snape for a foster father?"
"Not so bad," Dylan said with a grin. "Lupin keeps him from being too tough on us. Don't tell Snape I said so, but whenever they argue, Lupin usually ends up winning..."
The boys spent a pleasant hour playing cards and gossiping about their teachers until it was time for Damien and Draco to leave.
"Feel free to stop by again sometime," Lupin said cheerfully. "Maybe next weekend?"
Draco and Theodore both hesitated, staring at each other, then Theodore shrugged and said, "Sure, why not? We need to practice if we're to beat Gryffindor next year."
"You can practice for your N.E.W.T.s as well," Snape said, the hint of sadistic glee in his eyes making him look much more like the old Snape that they were used to seeing. "I'll prepare some practice exam sheets for you."
"Sure you still want to come?" Dylan laughed.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Draco said firmly, and he meant it.
***
Snape and Lupin were having a cup of tea and enjoying each other's company one morning when an owl arrived with a letter for Snape. Lupin noticed that the envelope was sealed with a blob of blue wax stamped with a stylized Z that resembled a lightning bolt. Snape broke the seal, read the letter, and frowned.
"What's wrong, Severus?" Lupin asked.
"Where is Theodore?" Snape asked, without answering Lupin's question.
Severus looked troubled and a little angry, so Lupin didn't bother trying to coax or tease the information out of him as he would normally have done. "He and Dylan are working in the garden."
"Bring them in here, please."
Severus had just said "please" without any hint of sarcasm or humor; this must be serious. Lupin immediately got up to fetch the boys.
As they walked in, staring at Snape nervously, he held up the letter and asked, "Mr. Nott, would you care to tell me why Mr. Zabini--the elder Mr. Zabini, that is--has asked me to assign his son a new roommate next term?"
Theodore gasped, looking stricken, and Snape regretted being so blunt, but as Lupin had once pointed out, he wasn't very good at being tactful, and there was really no nice way to break this sort of news, after all. "I...I don't know," Theodore stammered. "But...but I suspected, after Blaise's letter, that they didn't want him to see me. I mean, it's kind of odd for his dad not to let him have a day off. I was worried that maybe his parents didn't want him hanging around a Death Eater's son, but I was hoping that I was wrong..."
"You're not going to split up Blaise and Theo, are you?" Dylan asked anxiously.
"What does the letter say?" Lupin asked simultaneously.
Snape chose to answer Lupin first. "Marius was never one to play politics, but he isn't stupid enough to openly insult my foster son. He gives a lot of vague reasons, such as Blaise needing to concentrate more on his studies and not be distracted by friends, and the benefits of learning to associate with people outside of his inner circle of friends, but reading between the lines, I would say that Theodore is correct."
"But--" Theodore began.
"Calm down, Mr. Nott," Snape said in a cool voice, but there was a hint of sympathy in his eyes. "I see no reason to change your current living arrangements; I don't allow the parents to dictate such things to me." {Now that Lucius Malfoy is dead,} he added silently.
"Besides," Dylan pointed out practically, "all the other boys in Theo's age group are the sons of Death Eaters as well."
"Please don't make me room with Crabbe or Goyle," Theodore groaned with a look of exaggerated horror. "Or worse, Malfoy!"
Snape chuckled a little. "No, I don't think that will be necessary. However, I believe that a little chat with Marius Zabini is in order."
"Is that really necessary?" Theodore asked nervously. "Won't it just make things worse?"
"Perhaps we can allay Mr. Zabini's fears," Snape replied. "Or at least make it clear to him that one does not tell the Head of Slytherin what to do."
Theodore looked even more worried, and Lupin said dryly, "Perhaps you should let me do the talking, Severus. We might try tact before you bring out the threats and intimidation."
Snape shrugged. "As you wish, Lupin. Personally, I find threats and intimidation to be far more effective."
"There is a difference between respect and fear, Severus," Lupin said, quoting what Snape had said to Draco during his visit.
Snape scowled and flushed a little. "Fine. But I warn you, you have your work cut out for you. The Zabinis aren't quite as snobbish as the other Slytherin families--mainly because they aren't in a position to look down on others--but they were one of the families who wrote to me protesting about a werewolf being allowed to teach their children."
"Things are different now," Lupin said in a quiet but determined voice. "I'm a hero of the war; the Daily Prophet said so. I don't like exploiting that bit of propaganda, but I will if I have to. And I've been dealing with bigots all my life; I'm not afraid of a few insults."
"Very well," Snape said, regarding his lover with a look of respect; Lupin wasn't really as soft as he appeared to be at times. "I have an appointment with my lawyer the day after tomorrow. You can all come along; Theodore and Dylan ought to meet her, since she's been working on their behalf. Then we can stop by the Zabinis' shop in Diagon Alley." He seemed calmer now that he had decided on a course of action, and gave the boys a nod of dismissal.
"Everything will be all right," Lupin said with a kind and reassuring smile.
Theodore, however, was not reassured. As he and Dylan headed back to the garden, he said gloomily, "Well, that's just great. If Blaise's father starts insulting Lupin, Snape will probably turn him into a toad."
"Yeah, but then Lupin will change him back," Dylan said with a grin.
"It's not funny!" Theodore protested.
"Sorry, Theo," Dylan said soothingly. "I was just trying to cheer you up. Don't worry, everything will work out. Snape's already said that he won't separate you two; the Zabinis can forbid Blaise to see you during the summer, but they can't do anything once you're back in school. And after you guys turn eighteen and graduate--"
"What if they threaten to disown him?" Theodore interrupted, voicing his worst fear. "Would he really choose me over his family?"
"My mother chose my father over her family," Dylan reminded him quietly. "But hopefully it won't come to that."
"I know that all the girls in Slytherin think that story about your parents is the most romantic thing they've ever heard," Theodore said, still looking frantic. "But one of the reasons why they find it so romantic is because it's the kind of thing you read about in books that almost never happens in real life. You grew up in exile, away from all the politics, so I don't know if you realize how much family and carrying on the bloodline means to the purebloods, Dylan. Even if Snape manages to smooth this over now, sooner or later they'll want to arrange a marriage for Blaise, and when they find out about us, they'll hit the roof. Personally, I don't care if the Nott line dies out, but Blaise's parents aren't like mine, and he loves them..."
"He loves you, too, Theo," Dylan said gently. "He won't abandon you. If he wouldn't let the Death Eaters scare him away from you, he certainly won't let his parents come between you."
"But his family--"
"I've met them at the Quidditch matches," Dylan said. "They seem like nice people, and they love him. They might be upset when they find out that you two are lovers, but I don't think they'll disown him over it."
"Are you sure?" Theodore asked, sounding both hopeful and skeptical at the same time.
"Pretty sure," Dylan replied. "They don't strike me as being as stubborn as my grandmother. Uncle Math says she was different when she was younger, but she always seemed cold and hard to me. Not just because of the way she treated my mother, but the way she was able to kill her sons without batting an eye. Blaise's parents aren't like her."
"But they'll still want an heir," Theodore said. "Maybe...maybe if he has to get married, we could still...you know..." That was the way it had been done for hundreds of years, after all: people made political marriages and had heirs of the proper bloodlines to satisfy their families, and discreetly kept lovers of their own choosing on the side. But even the thought of making such an arrangement with Blaise made Theo feel sick; he didn't think he could stand to share Blaise with someone else, and it all seemed so sordid, somehow...maybe some of Lupin's Gryffindor idealism had rubbed off on him.
"Don't be stupid!" Dylan said, sounding angry. "Blaise wouldn't do something like that!"
Theodore felt a peculiar sense of relief at the indignation in his friend's voice. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
"Of course I'm right, you stupid git," Dylan said, but in an affectionate tone. "He loves you. Don't worry about it. And besides, he has a sister, right?"
"Yeah, Allegra. She's supposed to be starting at Hogwarts next term, I think."
"Well then, the Zabini line won't die out if she has kids someday."
"But she's a girl..."
Dylan shrugged. "So what? The Donner title and the Blackmore title are passed down from mother to daughter. And a woman can inherit the title in other families if there's no male heir available to claim it: Serafina will inherit the Avery estate since her father had no sons."
Theodore wasn't sure that the Zabinis would see it that way, but at least it gave him a little hope--more than if Blaise had been an only child, anyway. Sometimes he envied his foster brother's close relationship with Snape, but right now he was very, very glad that Dylan was here. "I'm really glad that you're my brother now, Dylan."
"Me too," said Dylan. "It was lonely sometimes, out on Uncle Math's estate. None of the villagers would let their children play with me. I loved my mother and Math and Goewin, but I used to wish that I had a brother or sister, and now I do." Dylan teared up a little at the thought of his mother, but he smiled, and Theodore smiled back at him, feeling some of his anxiety ease. "Everything will be all right," Dylan said, and Theodore tried to believe him.
Part 6