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

[dmalfoy_purbld]

Draco nodded blandly as Severus mentioned potions. Of course. Severus found comfort in the potions he could provide, and in truth, Draco found comfort in those potions as well.

Then he talked about leaving? No, he'd just gotten there. No. And leaving him with Weasley? Alone?

"You are going to leave me alone? With her? Severus..." he whined. As a child, the whine had gotten him anything he'd wanted. As an adult, it had helped him still. Though a quick search of Severus' face told him all he needed to know. Or perhaps it had just been the pause it gave him.

Weasley was the best there was. Hell. Bloody fucking hell. He trusted her. Damnit, Severus, why can't you trust someone worthy? Why can't you trust someone who doesn't hate me? Who I don't hate?

He rolled his eyes, making it appear, he hoped, that the whine was him being dramatic and only playing. "I'll be perfectly fine with her. Not like I can hurt her or compromise her such as I am, now can I, Severus?" His eyes were positively dancing with harassment.

It wasn't likely Weasley would see through the facade. Severus would likely know the whine was true and that the latter was his attempt at peace. Perhaps another comment, one not so volatile?

Great, didn't I give up this second voice a while ago?

"I'll be fine. She'll be fine. I promise I'll be a good boy." He closed his eyes and laid back dramatically.

[subtle_simmer]

There had been no sleep whatsoever Sunday night after Draco's attack, and precious little last night out of fretting over being unable to follow Draco here to tend to him. What time he might have spent catching up on lost sleep was spent, instead, consuming dangerous levels of Strengthening Draughts so he could brew the potions necessary for Draco's treatment.

All of which meant his patience was stretched far thinner than a man with his explosive temperament ought to ever permit. He was grinding his teeth so fiercely his jaw throbbed with the ache of it.

"I am not leaving you, idiot boy!" he snapped. Tact was gone as was his willingness to mollycoddle the boy's sensibilities.

"I am trying to be courteous and spare you whatever indignity might be involved in tending your leg. Last I saw, the claw marks raked right over your skinny arse.

"Now, I've seen the view often enough, having taken my share of Dragon-bathing over the years, I couldn't care less. If you would prefer I stay, I will stay. If you would prefer I go, I will go. I do not want to listen to your cheek and your whinging in the process!"

His teeth clattered shut like a trap-door as mortification washed over him - had he really just spoken to Draco like that in mixed company? Heat rushed to his face as irritation drained out of him like a punctured balloon.

"Draco . . . I ought not to have . . . let my temper get away with me. I wish to aid you. I do not know how best to accomplish that aim. You know how I loathe to be helpless! I want to . . . do something. I am concerned for you . . . for your recovery. I know no one better than Miss Weasley to ensure the best outcome possible. What do you want me to do?"

[dmalfoy_purbld]

Draco paled considerably, which was its own feat, as Severus' temper exploded. It was a rare thing to see it so unfettered, and Draco instantly regretted the tease.

It wasn't as if he himself wasn't out of his mind with boredom. He'd been stuck here, unable to move, unable to do anything for days. On top of which, despite the flood of visitors, he wasn't overly social himself. The person he'd wanted to lean on the most, well, had hoped he could lean on, was Daphne, and he hadn't really expected her to be there for him after the attack. That whole possible partial werewolf bit.

He'd wanted Severus but now he realized he had pushed the man too far, too hard. Of course, Severus had his own things. His own life. He was getting Bond--

Draco's mind froze. Oh Circe, he'd been selfish. And he hadn't even meant to!

"No, it's...fine, Severus. I'm sorry." It didn't matter to him that the other two occupants of the room would kill for the respect he showed the older man. It didn't matter that with the apology, he was killing his reputation in front of Weasley.

"Knowing that you are there for me always means more than you can imagine." His voice was soft, contrite. Perhaps only his father had been able to elicit such remorse from him. "I'll be good for her. Go, I'll be fine. I promise I'll be cooperative, pleasant even."

Only for Severus would such a promise be made. Only for Severus would he even consider it. But consider it he did. More than that, he offered it. Would do it.

He looked up into Severus' black eyes. "I'll do whatever necessary to make sure I heal quickly. Anything. You do more for me than I ever expected."

He didn't drop his gaze, but instead turned to Ginevra. "I'm your patient. What do you want me to do?" no ire, no bitterness, just resigned obedience. Greyback wouldn't break him, but Severus' temper was a very different thing and touched him in ways no physical violence ever could. Not broken, but certainly more effective.

[neverginevra]

As bland as Ginny's St. Mungo's persona could be, the blandness vanished quickly when she felt that one of her patients was at risk. That the risk this time came from Severus himself was s shock, but not enough to dull her reaction.

She moved from Draco's bed towards Severus. "Right, that's enough. Both of you. There will be no whinging from the patient, and no shouting from the healers." She looked at Severus with a sharper gaze than she would normally dare to level at him. "Go. I'm sure there's questions you can ask Mrs. Malfoy. We will be fine here." She leveled a glower back at Draco, as sharp-eyed as Poppy Pomfrey herself. "Won't we?"

[subtle_simmer]

Contrition was not a good 'look' for Severus Snape, but that was definitely the mood weighing upon his countenance, now. Every bit of dociility Draco offered toward him, he returned in spades to both Draco and Ginevra.

It was a very good thing he let Lily Evans convince him he'd be a wretched Healer decades ago. "Imagine the whinging, Sev - you'd hex them as fast as cure them. You'd best do something where you don't have to have very much direct contact with patients."

Ginevra Weasley did not closely resemble Lily Evans, though there was nothing deficient in her appearance. Her hair was bright like flame rather than dark like fresh bricks in the sunset and her eyes brown instead of shocking green. Still, there was a similarity in keen intellect and sharp wit which echoed the deceased woman. He could not have felt more ashamed of himself at this moment if Lily, herself, stood there admonishing him.

"Of course." He shrugged off his heavy satchel of supplies and set it on his poorly conjured table for her use. "We will just . . . step out, then. If you need anything, we're easily summoned. I would . . . like to speak with you, Draco, before I leave for the evening. If you are not too fatigued."

Almost thoughtlessly, he smoothed a hand over Draco's coverlet, offering his silent, ineffectual apology.

"Narcissa, if it is not too much to ask - perhaps you might allow me a measure of Lucius' Brandy?" he said, moving back toward the door and holding it for her to precede him.

[regal_narcissa]

Narcissa listened to the interchange between Draco and Severus greedily. Her son idolized the man; she was glad that Draco would at least follow one person's advice to help him improve his health. She was very concerned about his leg; she had helped Lucius change the bandages, and the extent of the injuries Draco had suffered were daunting. That Severus had such supreme faith in the Weasley girl was encouraging. She turned to Draco, and caught his eye, and just gave him a small smirk without any words.

"Thank you, Healer Weasley. Severus, I think that perhaps you can have at least a measure of Lucius's Brandy. I am sure I could find you more to take home with you when you leave after today's services; how does five bottles sound to you?"

She smirked at him as well, knowing that Lucius would grumble initially but then be more than pleased to pass on his private stocks to his friend. They were both in his debt.

She moved next to him, down the wide corridor to the stairs, to go sit and wait in her sitting room. The afternoon light through the window gave the more intimate surroundings a warm glow. She would not make him sit in the drawing room; she wanted him to realize that she was very grateful to him and Remus. When they entered the room, she took out her wand and paused to transfigure a chair into a large oversized chaise lounge. She motioned for him to take it.

Tibby appeared and she spoke, "Bring us Master Lucius's brandy, two glasses and hot tea, with some sandwiches and biscuits."

She sat on the adjacent couch with an audible sigh, and turned to see if he had taken her suggestion.

"I know you are tired, Severus. We don't have to talk, if you prefer to just stretch out and rest."

[subtle_simmer]

It was still difficult to know how to read this woman, even after over twenty years of acquaintance. Mercurial at the best of times, her efforts to make amends for her earlier unpleasant behaviour continued to throw him off.

Today he was too tired and too worried to be able to make the effort to try and read ulteriour motives into her offer.

"You do not need to send any home with me, but I will take a healthy measure now," he said wearily. He did not take the offered chaise - it was impossible for him to let his guard down so completely in front of almost anyone, and surely not here in this house. Instead he took a chair near the fire which had often been his repose.

"No offence, Narcissa," he said, knowing she might easily take offence at his blatant refusal to accept her graciousness. "If I allow myself to sit over-long, I am likely to fall asleep. I would rather be at home before that happens. This is sufficiently comfortable."

He glanced over at her and raised his brows inquiringly.

"This has been very difficult for you. How are you holding up?"