Sirius Issues (7th July)

[stoppered_death]

Snape prowled around his rooms. Maddening. Absolutely bloody maddening. Draco had wheedled his way into occupying part of Snape's suite the night before last; the most insane letter had arrived from him in the wee small hours of last night, and ever since then, the brat had been nowhere near the rooms he'd been so damn determined to occupy such a

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[path_draco]

Between saying goodbye to Theo, repeatedly, and all the correspondance with his father and Harry, Draco was running behind. He was sure that Severus would be upset, but then he had so many things to share with him, that the anger could be easily diverted.

He put his best 'I really love you, and I'm so glad to see you' smile on, as he entered Severus's suite. "Good afternoon, Severus."

[stoppered_death]

"What a perverse definition of 'good' you have," Snape declared waspishly as he flicked a piece of parchment up off his desk at Draco. It whirled through the air toward him like a shuriken, but for once Snape's bark was worse than his bite, and it turned out he'd made no untoward modifications to Draco's letter.

"Just how the hell did that cur slink out from behind that bloody Veil?" he snarled, lips drawn back from jagged teeth in an expression ironically resembling an attack dog.

[path_draco]

"Don't get so upset; it's not good for you, and I have no idea how it happened. I wrote to you as soon as I learned about him," Draco started. As he spoke he moved toward Severus, and with a hand behind Severus's back, he led the man to the couch (and not the hard chairs he seemed to prefer, unless they were there to torture his visitors and discourage them to return). "So I wrote Pansy, but even with her resources, she couldn't tell me anything."

Draco sat next to Severus, surprised that he hadn't been hexed yet. "I did the only possible thing. I wrote Harry, and, I know you'll be shocked to learn, that they don't know how he returned, however Harry is quite sure that it truly is Black, and not some impostor. I'll try to see what else I can learn."

[stoppered_death]

The back under Draco's hand was taut with suppressed fury or nerves: so bony that each separate knob of Snape's spine stood out almost as hard and sharp as a dragon's dorsal spikes. That narrow chest was never still for an instant, his breathing so rapid and so shallow that it created an illusion of inhuman stillness and poise that only such a touch could break.

That, and the solicitous shepherding toward the only vaguely comfortable seat in the room, were liberties that Snape accepted from Draco, without consequence or even comment. It was a unique concession: not even Lucius could safely be permitted such overt gestures, not without potential complications for Snape's position as the Dark Lord's second-in-command.

When they seated themselves, Snape's hands settled on his knees, spindly fingers slowly curving to clutch his kneecaps like claws. As if only by such a grip could he restrain them from going for his wand. Or, worse, from shaking with wrath or adrenalin.

"You wrote him." Snape's voice was toneless with distraction

[path_draco]

"That's the point, isn't it? He refused to listen to you, because he can't stand you and because he had people around to protect him. Now, he wants to learn, and he feels there is no one around to teach him, and apparently he trusts me." Draco grinned. "Some information, a shoulder to lean on, and never underestimate the Malfoy charm. We only need to teach him the necessary he needs until he destroys those horcruxes."

[stoppered_death]

"Wrong." Snape declared flatly. "Unless you expect him to triumph on his first try, that is. Otherwise, he will need to learn well enough to resist his opponent's Legilimency, or we'll both be..." A smile like a skull. "Not dead, perhaps, but completely sincerly wishing we were."

[path_draco]

"I know, Severus, and I know I'm taking a risk. Just talking to him is a risk. Meeting is a risk. Everything is a risk. However, he's not learning from anyone. We have no choice." Draco gave Severus a sarcastic smile. "I survived my aunt Bella, I can't be a worse teacher. We also know that your methods don't work. Harry and I will have to find what works for him, won't we?"

[stoppered_death]

Snape gave a wordless murmur of agreement to that last question. A thoughtful gaze rested on Draco's face for a long moment, before he added, "Tell me when and where you intend to meet him, before each meeting occurs. And report to me afterwards. When dealing with a 'student' as arrogant and undisciplined as Potter, any instructor needs all the help he can get."

[path_draco]

"Thank you," he whispered. Draco turned his head, and his lips met Severus's for a fleeting moment, a show of affection that Severus would rarely allow, but he was so overwhelmed by what he'd been told. He had made Severus Snape proud. He didn't think there was a highest praise. He knew there wasn't. "It means the world to me."

He let go, and sat back, but his fingers stayed closed around Severus's. "I'm sure there have been moments you wanted to throttle me," he said, with a grin. He didn't think either of them could take much more of this sweetness, and Severus was as comfortable with declaration of affection as a fish in a tank filled with piranas.

[stoppered_death]

The kiss was brief, barely a moment, but dark eyes widened in surprise. When Draco released him, Snape settled back, relaxing a little as a more normal amount of distance was restored.

Draco's comment was rewarded with a huff of amusement. "More like, moments when I haven't," Snape parried. "Wanting to throttle you - and everyone else - is far more my usual state." An evil little smirk, "I shall be astonished if you're not the same after a single lesson with The Boy Who Bitched."

[path_draco]

Draco laughed. "I shall have to remember the name. Still, one lesson can't compete with years of teaching. We'll have to wait for the second or third before I'll want to throttle everyone."

The pop of apparation signalled the arrival of the house elf with their food. Draco motion to the coffee table. It wasn't proper to eat while sitting on the couch, but he doubted Severus would care. Draco gave one last squeeze, and then let go of Severus's hand before reaching for his food.

No one would believe what had just transpired in this room. Snape was a bastard, Malfoys were evil, they couldn't have feeling. No would would believe otherwise and it was better this way.