Dragon's Tears

The Waiting Game

I had the perfect gift to give to Reni for her seventh birthday. Lucius had given me a cloak for my seventh birthday that had been my pride and joy. The cloak was made of a deep emerald green velvet, soft to the touch, and iridescent in hue, and the lining was the softest rabbit fur I had ever felt, just off-white, with a silvery tint. Slytherin colors. I had paraded around in it for days, despite the fact that my birthday was in April, and the cloak was stifling in the heat. I had always promised myself that I would pass it along to my own son at the same age, but this would be far more gratifying. Watching Lucius try to figure out how the girl had got the cloak, and why it seemed so familiar.

I knew Reni would love it. Her gasp as she opened the parcel was quite rewarding, but the true reward came several days later when Lucius and the girls appeared outside once more, so that Kali could spend some time on her broom, Teecie still in her usual pack on Lucius's front. I could see Lucius looking at his eldest daughter askance, as though he should remember something, but wasn't quite sure what it was. Reni twirled in her new cloak, then sped off to the top of the hill to wait for "Dragon" to arrive.

I waited until his attention had settled on Kali before going over to talk with Reni.

"Hello, little one."

Reni grinned up at me. "Hi, Dragon!"

"Did your papa like your new cloak?" the curiosity was overwhelming. I had to know how she had managed to keep the cloak, and whether or not Lucius had recognized it.

"He...he seemed like he didn't like it. But I told him that Uncle Sev sent it to me. He didn't like that much more, but he's learned not to upset mummy by throwing stuff out that Uncle Sev sends."

True Slytherin, this sister of mine. I only hoped the others were at least as Slytherin. Not that I'd like them better, but it would at least make them tolerable.

Reni went on to describe all her gifts in detail. She had received several packages from "Uncle Sev," a gift from Alastor Moody, one each from her parents, and two more from her sisters. There were new clothes, hair things, an enchanted tea set that served real tea in Slytherin colors, and a new album in green for all her mementos and memories to be placed in.

She told me how her mother and Severus had visited for the day, despite the fact that it was a school day, and that they had had party hats, and her favourite flavour of cake, chocolate, along with strawberry ice-cream, and they had then gone out to the movies and seen the latest Disney movie. When I asked what a movie was, she told me that was like pictures in wizarding books, but on the wall, and so huge that it covered the entire wall, and there were sounds, as well as the picture. She said that if she'd had her way, it would have been the Hobbit they would have gone to see, but Lucius had insisted on something lighter, for her sisters' sakes.

Then Severus had treated them to dinner at a nearby restaurant, before he and that woman had gone back to the school and Lucius had made his way back home with all three of the girls in tow. My father, the house-husband. Never mind that they weren't even married. I decided it was time to go, as it was hard to disguise my disgust from my sister, despite her distraction. I told her I would be back again at the end of the week, and that we could visit again then.

Time passed, interspersed with visits, and soon it was late spring once more. I had spent a great deal of time working on convincing Reni that I should meet her younger sister, Kali. I already knew how much she hated talking about her younger sister, but I had no idea she disliked her quite so much. I only managed to convince her to bring her up to meet me with the promise that I would not give her nearly so many cool presents.

So, shortly before Kali's fourth birthday, I spent days going through all my memorabilia from my father for the perfect gift. I was at a loss until I recalled Kali's fascination with flying. What better to give her than my now defunct Nimbus 2001? I had a new broom, top of the line, that I had bought myself my final year at school, but that had still not given me the ability to beat Potter when it came to Quidditch. I certainly wouldn't miss my old broom at all.

And it was the perfect gift to give her to worm my way into another of Lucius's daughters' hearts.

The week before Kali's birthday, Lucius sent the two girls outside, as Teecie was teething, and he needed the peace, since that woman had disappeared earlier that morning. Probably off with another man. Reni immediately set off up our little hill, dragging her sister behind her. I stepped out of my hiding spot to meet them. Kali was startled at my appearance, and hid behind her sister. Reni just laughed, and jumped forward to give me a hug. "Dragon!"

"Hello, little one. I see you brought your sister."

She wrinkled her nose at me, then glanced behind her. "Yeah. Kali, come here."

I had been waiting for this meeting for days now, and had told Reni not to visit with me until she could bring her sister with her. Now, as the girl timidly walked towards me, I could feel my victory against Lucius coming closer. This was too easy. "Aren't you going to introduce us properly, little one?"

Reni glared at me for a moment, then took a deep breath and stood straighter. "Dragon, this is my sister, Kalare Leda Orendes."

I knelt down to be face to face with the girl, and held out my hand to her. "Hello, Kalare. It's good to meet you." I was surprisingly pleased that up close, she looked much less like her mother than I had thought.

Kalare looked up at me with huge eyes, touched her hand to mine for a second, nodded, then pulled away and hid behind her sister again.

I looked at her and smiled. "Your sister tells me it's your birthday in a few days. How old will you be?" She held out her hand, four fingers sticking up, and smiled shyly. "Four, hm? You know, when I was four, I got my first broom. Do you like to fly, Kalare?" She looked up and nodded wildly, a grin spreading across her face. "I have a present for you, but you have to promise me that you'll be careful on it, because it's not a practice broom." The broom she'd used with my father's help was a simple practice broom that could never get more than a few feet from the ground. "Would you like it?"

"Yes," she whispered. I walked to my hiding place and pulled out the package. When she saw the shape, her eyes became huge. I watched the grin spread across her face as she tore at the paper. When the ebony black stick appeared, she looked as though she would explode with happiness. "Fly now?" She looked up at me.

I had debated with myself about this. Could I get away with helping her fly? But I had decided on the side of discretion. The broom would be enough to set Lucius worrying. I didn't want to give him a chance to catch me. Not yet, anyway. "I think you need to talk to your papa about that, Kalare. But I hope you enjoy it."

We parted soon after. I could tell that Kali was desperate to show her father her new toy. But Reni came out a few days later and told me how their father had been quite suspicious about the broom, so she'd told him that she'd found it on the border of the property, partially covered by a bush. It seemed he'd accepted the excuse, but he was now more cautious with the girls. He was much more watchful with them when he was out with them, and Kali did not get to use her new broom, no matter how much she wailed.

More time passed, and this time when Christmas rolled around, I made sure to be gone for the entire month. I spent the month with mother, and was horrified to hear that Severus Snape had been trying to get in touch with me for most of the year, and had been getting more persistent since August. This was something I would have to deal with. Perhaps Lucius had recognized the presents I had given the girls. I would have to throw them off the scent.

I called on my former teacher a few days before Christmas. Severus had taken over as Headmaster after Dumbledore had died in the final battle against Voldemort. It had shocked many, but everyone knew that McGonagall had not wanted the job, and he had quickly settled into the role. As I made my way up to the Head's office, I wondered what I would say to put him off my scent if he was thinking that I was watching Lucius and his new family.

McGonagall was waiting for me at the gargoyle. "Mr. Malfoy. How good to see you."

I winced. It had been years since I had been called that. "Black, Professor. I haven't been a Malfoy since my sixth year, remember?"

The damned woman smiled at me, and said, "Oh, of course, Mr. Black. How I could I forget?" She turned to the gargoyle. "Veritas." The gargoyle jumped aside, and I stepped onto the stairs, and soon found myself in front of that damned door.

I knocked, and heard the familiar growl of my old Potions Master. "Enter." I stepped into the office, and was horrified by the nostalgia that swept over me. It had not hit me through the entire trek through the school, but now, seeing Snape, I had to stop for a moment and regain my composure. He had changed over the years. His black hair had heavy streaks of silver, and though he was as tall and slender as he had been when I had attended Hogwarts, his back was curved in, as though he had the weight of the world resting on it. But those black eyes were as probing as ever.

"Draco. Do sit down. Would you like something to drink, perhaps? I could have the house-elves bring something up."

I knew better than that. If he was onto me, he'd try to get it out of me, any way possible. "No, thank you, Headmaster."

"Now, Draco, no need for formality between us. Call me Severus."

I took a deep breath as I took my seat, then looked back at him. "Severus," I smiled. "Mother said you've been trying to contact me this year. I'm sorry that I did not get back to you sooner, but I've been doing a bit of traveling. Been incommunicado. What did you need to talk to me about?"

"Traveling? On your broom, perhaps?"

I laughed at this, though my stomach sank. "Why on earth would I do that, Severus? Such a cold way to travel."

"So you left it behind, your Nimbus?"

"My Nimbus? Why on earth would I take that? I haven't used that for years."

"So, it's just lying around your house somewhere?"

"Unless mother has seen fit to donate it to someone."

"Donate it?" I could tell from his darkening expression that I was playing a dangerous game here, but I couldn't stop. They couldn't know. I wouldn't let them.

"Of course, Severus. Mother spends a great deal of time doing charity work. She often finds things lying around the house that are no longer used, and donates them to worthy causes."

"I see. I did not realize that stalking people was a 'charitable work.' Perhaps your mother is not as 'charitable' as you think? This," he pulled the Nimbus from under his desk and dropped it sharply on his desk, "Was found on the edge of the Orendes property, Draco. What would it be doing there?"

One of the most important skills I had learned from Lucius was how to bluff perfectly when I was panicking inside. "Orendes property? Should that mean something to me, Severus? And how should I know how it got to be there?" I glared at him as though he had accused me of stealing from him. My sneer was perfect.

But he wasn't fooled. He stood and towered over the broom, his desk, and me. "Don't play me for a fool, Draco. I know you put it there. What I want to know is what charms you put on it to hurt those girls. Or was this meant for your father?"

I could not stop the sneering smile that spread across my face. "My father? You mean Lucius?" I drawled. "I have no idea where the man is, so how could I send anything to him to hurt him? And as for girls, I have no idea what you're talking about, Severus." I stood and looked him straight in the eye. "I think we're done here. Perhaps we should do this again some time. I'll owl you when I'm feeling the need to be accused. Good afternoon."

The long-fingered hand snatched my wrist before I could so much as turn. "Don't play games with me, Draco. I know you remember your sister. The little girl I swore you to secrecy about? And I told you then, I will not allow harm come to her. That now extends to her sisters as well. You don't want me as your enemy, Draco. Stop whatever it is you're doing. Now."

I snorted. "So father had more mongrels with that woman? He really has sunk to new depths." I pulled my wrist from his grasp. "Good bye, Severus. It's been...interesting." Then I turned and swept from the office.

By the time I reached the hallway once more, I was fuming. How dare he? How dare he threaten me. How dare he stand by that...man...who called himself my father? Snape would pay too. But first, I had to finish with my...father and his mistress. But I'd have to cut back on the presents. They were getting far too suspicious.

I walked towards the front entrance, entranced in my thoughts, when I noticed a small, dark-haired woman pass by me and enter the Great Hall. Her. Here. How could I have forgotten? I looked through the doors to the hall to see her stride up the house tables to take her place next to Snape's seat at the head table. I wondered what father would think of that. I smiled. The woman was probably cheating on him all the time, probably with every man at the school. And he just stayed home like a house-elf and took care of all of her brats. He deserved whatever he got. And so did she.