Proper Care and Feeding of Dragons Round . . . . where are we now?

[subtle_simmer]

Date: Tuesday, 25 March
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Werewolf Clinic then Malfoy Manor
Characters Involved: Severus Snape, Ginevra Weasley, Draco Malfoy, possibly Narcissa Malfoy if Alpha wants
Rating: Not more than PG-ish

Comments

[subtle_simmer]

Being an unmitigated bastard was highly entertaining. Severus had sustained himself through some of the worst moments of his life by deriving deep, satisfying, if admittedly sadistic pleasure out of striking abject terror in the hearts of many a student.

While his tactics did not endear him to any but the hardiest of his Snakelets, they did earn him the highest N.E.W.T.-pass rates of any of Hogwarts previous Potions Masters. And they amused him.

Only in the past year had he begun to reap the rewards of deeds done in sincere benevolence. Honestly, even now he would argue that there was less benevolence than personal self-interest even in this gesture to Ginevra's clinic. Still, he'd rarely done anything that would inspire sincere pleasure in anyone, let alone sudden burst of hugs or cheek-kissing.

Lately, it was almost becoming a habit. It was impossible to suppress the flush of heat rushing to his face as Ginevra flew at him, but he managed not to flinch or push her away.

"Silly girl," he muttered under his breath as she flounced away to gather her things. Raising his voice to call after her, he defended himself lest his reputation as a heartless bastard be forever tattered. "It's not as though I do not derive immediate benefit from your work here!"

Hell, he'd given her half his Order of Merlin award funds to help get it off the ground, and more than half his Viewer income to keep it afloat. This was not philanthropy - it was to ensure Remus remained pleased with him. Nothing more.

By the time she returned, he'd regained a measure of composure, though he had a sneaking suspicion that he looked rather like a disgruntled raven whose feathers had been disarrayed by strong winds.

"Come now," he said imperiously, holding his arm out to her with as much dignity as he could muster while his face still burned. "You will need to hold my arm - once we are beyond the wards here, I will side-along Apparate you to the Manor."

[neverginevra]

"Don't worry, if anyone asks I'll tell them you hate every moment you spend with me and you're a begrudging tight-wad about money and supplies. Your reputation will remain safe outside these walls. And hell, your reputation with me was shot a long time ago."

Ginny grinned her way to the salve and grinned her way back. She might as well have been handed an energizing draught, as awake as she suddenly was. She grabbed a few pre-packed supplies she wanted on her just in case, and shoved the jar of salve in the bag. Slinging it over her shoulder, she moved back to Severus.

She almost giggled when she saw his face. "I didn't even know you could blush. I assumed your complexion wouldn't dare give you away like that." She bit back the smile, though, because pushing him about his inner softie was always a dangerous thing.

Ginny moved to his side, hiked the bag higher on her shoulder, and took his arm with what little dignity she was capable of. Luckily where her lack of high-society training might show she was blessed with some natural grace.

"Lead on, then."

[subtle_simmer]

Cloaking his rather battered dignity around himself like a shroud, he tightened his arm against his side as though to maintain a better grip on the feminine hand placed there. It would be best for his composure not to discuss the betrayal of his complexion. Apparently it required some degree of entanglement of his 'softer' emotions to elicit the reaction. During his time as a spy among the Death Eaters, there was nothing that had ever made his face heat - but there was no one among them whose good opinions mattered to him more than his task and personal survival.

"Enough cheek if you please, Healer Weasley," he admonished with exaggerated formality. He checked his usual long, brisk strides to match hers so she was not forced to trot along to keep up with him.

When they were beyond the wards of the Clinic, he placed his free hand over hers where it rested in the crook of his arm to eliminate any risk of splinching. Acutely aware and more than a little humbled to know how much trust it required to allow another person to side-along Apparate you when you're a fully qualified wizard, he was exceedingly cautious as he focused his intent on their location. As gracefully as if he were dancing (after interminable lessons decades ago), he stepped into a gentle turn and tugged her along.

In a moment they were in a small copse of trees with the gates to Malfoy Manor just visible through the foliage. Being considerably further south than Hogsmeade and Scotland, the breeze was not nearly so icy, though the sky remained grey and overcast. Early spring in England. Severus was glad there was no bone-soaking fog.

"I think you will be pleasantly surprised at your reception here, considering your rocky history with the family. People do not behave at their best under duress."

Though Severus did not know of the full story behind the diary, and would have been hard-pressed to defend Lucius' actions in that situation. He'd become rather shockingly self-deceiving where the Malfoys were concerned. If he, Severus, was allowed to make such a dramatic attempt at a 'fresh start' after the grave errors of his life, why not Lucius?

The outer gates admitted him - with her on his arm - without breaking his stride, swinging silently open and startling one of the snowy white peacocks out of its foraging with an annoyed squawk. Gravel crunched beneath their feet as they made their way up the drive to the enormous stately manor house.

He didn't pause to ascertain if his companion was nervous at being where she was. There was nothing she needed to fear, here and now, though during the war this had been a place of horrors for all of them. He wondered how long Narcissa had worked the house-elves, and how many additional house-elves she'd procured for the task, to scrub the house of all its bloody taint after she returned from her sequester. The work was immaculately done - only those who had been forced to bear witness to the depravity within would hear the haunting echoes of tortured screams.

Severus forced the memories savagely aside as he raised his hand to work the elegant door-knocker, still pinning Ginevra's hand to his side.

[neverginevra]

Ginny screwed her face up in some approximation of solemnity and stood straight beside him the moment before he apparated them both.

It was a strange experience being side-apparated, especially once a person was old enough to have apparated themselves. Something of the hook feeling of a portkey, but all over the body instead of just grabbing her in the gut.

Still, she trusted Severus more than she trusted anyone in the world who wasn't related to her, and she was relaxed enough not to tense up as they made the blink-of-an-eye trip.

She loked around in vague interest when the world altered around them. It was warmer there, but she shivered unconsciously. Severus might have been reading her mind - it was hard for her sometimes to deal with Draco, remembering their school history. It was hard to hear mention of Lucius without seeing him in the book shoppe before her first year without feeling the heft of Tom Riddle's journal.

She was just too old for those memories to stop her. Or so she told herself.

"I'm not worried about my reception, at least when I'm here with something they need." It was with some forced levity that she spoke as they moved through the gate. "Bloody hell. They have strutting white peacocks on their grounds. They're not subtle, are they?"

She was pleased when her voice managed to carry the humour and not the waiver of intimidation she was pushing down inside. Still, she hung close to him and was glad when he didn't shake her off to go striding up to the door on his own.

She was nervous, she wasn't self-deluded enough to pretend otherwise. But she was a grown woman, a healer. She had faced much worse than the Malfoy family on their home territory.

Ginny shot Severus a look after he knocked, her determination in her eyes. "I'll try not to embarrass you unduly," she said with the glimmer of a smile.

[regal_narcissa]

Narcissa knew to expect them at the prescribed time; Lucius had let her know that Severus and Ginny Weasley would be by to check on Draco and his progress. She had decided she would wait in the sitting room, and as per her request, the house-elf would inform her of their arrival.

She had ended her visit with Bellatrix, and had plans with her to meet her again. It had been a strained meeting; she was distracted but pleased that Bella had seemed satisfied with the information she had received.

Tibby interrupted Narcissa in her contemplation of today's events, to inform her of Professor Snape's arrival. She rose to stand in the entry, while the house-elf opened the door for he and the young healer.

"Severus. Miss. Wealsey. Thank you for coming. I hope we did not keep you waiting."

Her tone was polite; she knew she looked tired, but she was glad to see their arrival. She was just as eager as Draco to hear how he was progressing, and what types of predictions they would make.

"Please, you are both very welcome. I will take you to his room directly. If you would follow me?"

She made a gesture towards the staircase, and paused a moment, "Do you need anything? I can have the house-elf fetch whatever may assist your visit."

She was quite sure he would decline any offer; she knew Severus too well to know that he would come, fully prepared but it was polite to offer.

[subtle_simmer]

"Narcissa," he greeted her with a polite nod and followed her into the house, still matching his stride to Ginevra's.

"We need nothing, thank you. I'm sure between Healer Weasley and myself, we could probably treat half of St. Mungo's."

He deliberately used Ginevra's title as a way of setting the tone. After all his assurances of good treatment here, he wanted to make sure Narcissa was aware that he expected a polite interaction.

At Draco's room, he knocked, not needing Narcissa to show him the way or to announce his presence.

"Draco? Ginevra and I have come to see you."

[neverginevra]

Ginny strode in beside Severus, who had yet to release her arm. No doubt there were things going on below the surface - his calling Ginny by her title, and speaking for them both.

That was the trouble with Slytherins, she had found in her dealings with them, and her friendship with Severus. There were always things under the surface. They were nothing like the blunt and open Gryffindors she had known all her life.

Still, she was capable of speaking for herself and did, casting a polite smile at Narcissa. "The offer is appreciated, though, Mrs. Malfoy."

Clamped to Severus's side, aware that she was just one more tool he had brought along with his bag full of supplies to help Draco however he could, Ginny bit her tongue then and waited to be let in.

[dmalfoy_purbld]

Draco had tried to rest after Potter left, and while he'd only been marginally successful, it was better than focusing on the fact that he was now coherent enough to demand answers to questions he wasn't entirely certain he wanted to ask.

He turned to face the door, smiling as he heard Severus' voice. The smile instantly faded when he mentioned Ginevra. Splendid. He'd hoped he could be asleep for this and just demand the answers of Severus after. No help for that now.

Still, after the bloody interview, especially knowing how close Potter had come to facing his aunt, Draco could imagine this would be easier.

"Come in, Severus," he called back, shifting slightly.

He wondered if June had mentioned her visit yesterday. Not that it mattered much. Still, Severus here would make up for Weasley's presence. It wasn't that he didn't realize how much good she was doing for him, it was that he did realize it and he hated it. He didn't want to be indebted to her.

[subtle_simmer]

Had Severus known Ginevra's thoughts, he would have been annoyed to discover she thought he couldn't speak for herself. He was merely trying to shield her from any unnecessary interaction with an individual he knew she had numerous reasons to dislike and distrust.

Had he known Draco's thoughts, he would have been annoyed to discover that Draco was deliberately trying to ignore Ginevra's presence or the vital assistance she could offer toward his recovery.

As an annoyed Severus Snape is never pleasant company, it is probably just as well that he was blissfully unaware of the thoughts of everyone other than himself at the moment. It was one of the early lessons Legilimency drove home - in many cases, ignorance was truly bliss.

He opened the door at the invitation and held it for Ginevra to precede him inside.

The room was almost as familiar as Spinner's End, despite the changes it had undergone throughout the life of its occupant. From the cot, changing table, stacks of nappies and scads of toys when it was an infant's nursery to the blocks and paints and more sophisticated toys for the young boy to the books and desk and opulent furnishings of the youth growing into young man, only the windows and the location within the house had remained unchanged.

Now, Draco looked far too small lying in the centre of the enormous four-poster bed. The desk in the corner was littered with neatly arranged stacks of parchment and there were two extra chairs near the bed which must have been brought in from other rooms in the house to accommodate visitors.

The desk was too cluttered for his supplies, so Severus conjured a simple rolling table of the sorts used in hospitals. It was slightly wobbly and the wheels didn't all want to steer in the same direction, transfiguration not being his strong-suit, but it was adequate to their needs.

"How are you feeling today?" Surely the most clichéd question on the planet, but Severus couldn't quite bring himself to say, 'you look like shite', which was what he was thinking.

Too thin. Too pale. Too altogether helpless. A Malfoy should never appear so utterly vulnerable.

"Ginevra and I ought to have a look at your injuries."

It was easier to endure his own grief and remorse over Draco's situation if he kept himself in the clinically detached head space for the present. There would be time for idle chatter later, when he was not facing the prospect of ascertaining just how debilitated Draco was going to be from now on.

[neverginevra]

Had Ginny been aware of Severus's thoughts, she would have reminded him that being thought of as someone who needed shielding was just as insulting as being thought of as someone who couldn't speak for herself.

But then Ginny was never a legilimens and had no desire to become one.

She did, however, possess a sense of empathy, and her experiences at St. Mungo's and her clinic had given her a stronger than natural sense of perception about her patients and their feelings. She was aware that Draco hadn't acknowledged her, and that Severus specifically had.

For a moment she was hesitant to speak - it might have been best to let the tension simmer under the surface, to play the dutiful nurse and allow the two men in the room to handle this entire check-up between them.

Luckily she remembered who she was and pushed down any notion of being quiet and respectful. She cleared her throat, moving past Severus and his rickety table and going to the bed where Draco Malfoy lay. He looked awful - that pale unwholesome look of a truly ailing person. But she had seen worse.

"Draco." For all her determination her voice was soft - a healer's voice. "Keep in mind a one-word answer isn't suitable. We need to know exactly how you're feeling, and how things have improved or gotten worse since we last saw you." She opened her bag, tugging out her small jar of salve. "Can I see that leg?"

[dmalfoy_purbld]

As they entered, Draco grudgingly acknowledged Ginevra. He sighed and nodded to the girl.

He was propped up on several pillows, bare aside from bandages above the coverlet that rested mid stomach. The four-poster bed was obviously well-loved. Mahogany posts polished with some slight scratches still evident. The scratches had been intentionally left by Draco, each notch not quite what others might imagine, but simply signals to himself of the child he'd once been.

Plaques and pennants hung on the wall, and a stack of papers set on the foot of the bed far from Draco's feet.

"Hello, Severus, Ginevra," the latter said very distinctly. He wanted to irritate her, at least some.

That she was being almost pleasant was disturbing, far too similar to the voice she'd used the last time he'd gotten in trouble where she was concerned. He pushed that from his mind, as much as he could and closed his eyes briefly, trying to focus on the questions presented.

"I'm bored. I don't want to be in the bed anymore." He raised a challenging eyebrow at Severus, as if he could do anything about it. As if Severus were the one who could fix everything. Draco always believed he could.

"I'm doing ok mentally, just want to get out. Otherwise? Sore, stiff, and I haven't tried to put weight on my legs." But oh am I close to it.