(Untitled)

[dmalfoy_purbld]

Characters: Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy
Where: Spinner's End
When: Monday night, late (January 28, 2002)
Rating: Going to head for R already

Comments

[vincere_aut_mor]

He forced deep breaths into himself. Apparition was second nature to him, but the tight knot in his stomach and white knuckles did nothing for his concentration

[subtle_simmer]

What on earth had this become, Kings Cross Station? Severus detected the second intrusion upon his wards tonight with a frown of consternation.

If June or Zak had been entertaining at the house, they were going to have words! Everyone was supposed to know that no visitors were allowed on full-moon nights

[vincere_aut_mor]

As angry as he might be, Lucius wasn't about to explain outside the house. For all he knew, they were being watched at this very moment. For all he knew, Severus could have the Minister of Magic behind that door. He looked over his shoulder, wondering who the little shit daring to threaten him was.

"Severus," he said, stepping towards the half-open door the instant the offer was made.

"I--" With barely two feet inside the door, Lucius almost fell out of it again. His eyes widened, fingers already wrapped around his wand.

"Is that---what the fuck!" He half lifted his wand, too taken back for any action. With his eye-line full of teeth, his memory failed to serve him the information that of course Severus lived in a house full of them. Lucius swore again loudly, attempting to retreat back behind the door.

Werewolves were not an unfamiliar sight to Lucius, and he was not a coward, but he wasn't a fool either. He was no match for three large werewolves.

[subtle_simmer]

It was very strange how life could throw things at you. Less than half an hour ago, Severus had been sitting in his favourite chair, the werewolf-form of his lover cozily warming his feet, reading a potions journal and yawning lazily.

Now, the merest fraction of a second and sharp reflexes were all that stood between him and tragedy.

The tiny, frightened movement of Lucius with his wand might have easily been enough to frighten less battle-honed werewolves into attacking. The sudden, instinctive near shout of threatening roars from three werewolves and the way four bodies inside the house moved as though each were determined to shield the others from wand-fire, might have easily terrified a less war-hardened wizard into uttering a fatal curse.

Any of those things would have quickly threatened to be fatal for all of them, bringing the Ministry down on their heads like what had happened to Mandy

[vincere_aut_mor]

Lucius stuffed his wand away irritably. He wanted to point out how ridiculous the description 'family' was, they were snarling wolves! Was Severus using them as guard dogs?

"Hm," he said, lifting his hands to show them empty. Over Severus' shoulder he cast a glance at the wolves. Ridiculous or not, these were...people...that Severus lived with. He supposed one of them was Remus Lupin.

"It isn't surprising that you don't entertain guests, if this is their welcome," he muttered. Unexpected or not, what was Severus thinking, opening his door with a pack of wolves lurking behind it? Lucius wondered if Severus had realised it was him before opening it.

Lucius glared, directing his words at the too-close face "I'd like to speak with you," all too aware of the animal presence nearby he added "alone."

[subtle_simmer]

"This is precisely how we greet unexpected guests on full moon nights, old friend," he drawled sardonically. He instinctively reached out and curled his fingers momentarily through the thick, luxurious ruff of fur at Remus' neck, though it was still bristling with displeasure. The touch was as much to make a point with Lucius - 'This is where my loyalty lies' - as to offer and receive reassurance. His eyes never left Lucius' haughty mien, meeting him, stubborn arrogance to stubborn arrogance.

Severus was not unwilling to speak privately with the man. He'd received the letter just before moon rise, so there hadn't been time to discuss it with Remus. He still hadn't decided how he was going to deal with it or whether to involve Remus at all. His natural preference would be to protect his lover from the unpleasantness associated with his Death Eater past as much as possible.

So. Private conversation at this juncture was the wisest choice.

But whereTo take Lucius to his cellar lab, they would have to walk right through the

[vincere_aut_mor]

Lucius was becoming irritated. Granted, he'd arrived at an unfortunate time. It was none of his business what Severus did in his own home. He didn't care about Severus' relationship with the now-wolf Remus Lupin (though he didn't allow his mind to dwell too much on the idea). If Severus cared as much as his display suggested, it was even more important that they spoke quickly.

It isn't me he needs protecting from, he thought, watching as Severus ran his hand through the wolf's fur

[subtle_simmer]

'Subtle paranoia'? Considering all this motley family-unit had endured in the last two years and beyond, full-fledged pathological paranoia, at least on full-moon nights, would probably be more accurate

[vincere_aut_mor]

"Of course," said Lucius without surprise. He'd known Severus both sociably and as a comrade for far to long to be surprise by even the most extreme feats of logic, and of course he knew Severus was capable of peering into his mind.

Lucius withdrew the letter from his inner pocket and handed it across. He was a little surprised to find that he was almost relieved Severus had also received a letter. Not that he wished harm on his family, or the discomfort that Severus must feel.

"They must be a Death Eater, to have that level of information," Lucius indicated to the letter he'd given to Severus "It asks for money to be left, so I think that everyone is safe. If they want money, they'll wait for it. Even so, Draco was not at the Manor when I left..."

Lucius realised he was wringing his hands, and forced them onto his knees instead. He was starting to wonder if he should have stayed with Narcissa, but he could not have entrusted this conversation with Severus to a letter.

[subtle_simmer]

Capable of such a feat, but not stupid enough to exercise the ability. Severus had both endured and participated in mind-rape often enough in the war as to make him unwilling to inflict the talent on anyone, anymore, without stringent motivation. Besides, Lucius had enough skill in the area as to easily detect any such attempt, which would utterly destroy any trust between them.

Not wise, now. Like Lucius, Severus realised that their best hope of thwarting this threat was to keep calm, think logically and work together.

He quickly perused Lucius' letter after fishing his own out of his pocket and passing it over

[vincere_aut_mor]

Lucius read over Severus' letter, it was in the same vein as his own. He nodded thoughtfully at the comments of there being more than one. It was likely true. It would have occurred to Lucius if he hadn't been fixed on the idea of a single shadow-faced Wizard stalking his family.

"The lack of a figure is interesting, they could have asked for quite a sum. Though I do know this, I won't be leaving any amount. Once they've received one payment, there would soon be another demand," he nodded again and Severus' insistence that he would not be blackmailed.

"The only route is to attempt to discover the culprit," he looked down at his own letter momentarily "the goblins will surely reveal nothing, and gold won't buy their information."

Lucius put his own letter away, looking over to Severus.

"What do they want, if not money? Perhaps their true intent could reveal something."

[subtle_simmer]

"No idea," Severus said, shaking his head. "If not money, what, indeed. The threat is 'exposure'. I need not tell you how ugly things could get for me, and quickly, if some of my activities with the Death Eaters became public knowledge.

"Remus knows already. June has been told some of it. The others . . ."

He shrugged.

"It would make Remus' efforts in connecting with other werewolves far more challenging. Why would they interact with someone Bonded with 'The Executioner'?"

Lucius' fidgeting did not escape his notice. He was better at concealing outward signs of inner turmoil after years of practise, but he could empathise with Lucius' concerns.

"I believe we are in agreement that we need to find this idiot before he carries through on his threats. The challenge will be how."

[vincere_aut_mor]

Lucius gave thought to the idea of 'exposure'. Truly, Lucius did not know all of the details of Severus' activities. He had been given a role of his own, and it was hardly as though the two of them discussed it over a cup of tea. However, Lucius own expriences and what he did know was more than enough to supply his mind with details of what Severus had done.

"Narcissa knows nothing," Lucius said, in a tone that suggested he'd like to keep it that way. He had always spared her the details. There was no reason for her to know his exact activities. It was better that she did not.

It went without saying that Draco didn't either. It never was the top of his list to sit down with his son and tell him the details of all the atrocities of war that he never even got to see.

Naturally Severus' skills at concealing signs of inner turmoil would be better, generally speaking Lucius didn't have any. He was used to boiling down emotion to it's barest form and using it wisely. But this was personal, dangerous, and most importantly it was not

[subtle_simmer]

"He has already 'acted rashly'," Severus said tersely. "He has threatened me and mine. I may be collared like an animal, but I am not remotely tamed."

Severus was neither astonished nor disturbed at the hint of Lucius' less-than-savoury 'connections'. He would have tried to maintain more of his own questionable connections, himself, after the war had his publicity not prevented it.

No one would trust the word or deeds of a twice-over traitor, after all. Still, Severus had managed to keep a fair number of his rather 'shady' Potions suppliers. They had never been betrayed by him - his business and his gold were always welcome, so long as they were not revealed

[vincere_aut_mor]

"I know," Lucius said in calmer tone of voice, "you've read my letter. My family have been threatened too...I was merely pointing out that for the moment, it remains a threat."

It wasn't as though he was didn't care about his family being threatened. His family had been used as a bargaining point before, and Lucius had previously believed that Draco would never be harmed (as ardent believers in the quality of pure blood, it seemed unlikely that they would kill the heir to two of the purest lines), he never desired to see Draco harmed again as he had been at the hands of his fellow Death Eaters.

He knew that Severus understood this fully now, since he claimed those downstairs as his family.

"That seems a reasonable course of action," Lucius agreed. He was quiet for a moment, giving thought to the vault and other ways to gain information.

"It is agreed, then. Further investigations will be made, and if there is further contact, we will try the trace."

[subtle_simmer]

"Agreed," Severus repeated with a nod. That was not quite all he wished to agree upon, however.

"For the moment, Remus is unaware of the situation. I would prefer to keep it that way until it becomes clear what we are dealing with.

"It would be best if we arise at a plausible reason for you to be here tonight."

Better, still, if Draco would make an appearance! Severus had already determined not to come between the boy and his family. If they could resolve their issues, now, Severus could merely tell Remus that Lucius had come to discuss Draco - which was not entirely untrue - and that Severus was trying to allow Draco to decide how and when to face the proverbial music, which was completely honest.

And then the knock came at the door.

"Ah. That might be a 'plausible reason', now," he said dryly, bracing himself for Lucius' anger at his silence until now.