Dragon's Tears

Embracing the Dragon

I turned towards the door when I heard a footstep. Snape stood there, just staring at us for several minutes, his expression unreadable. Luicus pulled himself up, and I stood as well, brushing myself off. By this point my anger had rekindled. "Is there something you needed?" I sneered at him.

His eyes flashed. He ignored me and turned to Lucius. "Are you alright, Lucius?"

He nodded. "Draco and I have reached an...understanding, I think," he said as he looked at me.

I glared at Snape, then looked at Lucius. "We...understand each other, I think. But others have things to answer for."

Snape smiled thinly. "You think you're going to ambush me like you did your father, boy? Because I didn't cow tow to everything you wanted? Think again." I'd always admired that sneer, but now it just fed my anger.

"What do you know, you old fool? I was just a nuisance, wasn't I? Were you pleased when I was finally out of your hair? I bet you wish father and I had killed each other, don't you? Then your way would be clear, wouldn't it?"

Snape rolled his eyes. He glanced at Lucius, who was trying to look under the desk to find his wand. "Did you actually put up with this the whole time, Lucius? I'm amazed you didn't gag the boy within minutes."

Lucius looked up and growled at him, but before he could speak, I narrowed my eyes and advanced on the man. "Don't talk about me like I'm not here. You have a lot to answer for. Where were you when I needed you?" I growled.

Snape snorted and turned to me, looking down at me coldly. "I was exactly where you expected me to be, Draco. You knew just where to find me. If you didn't come to me, don't blame me for your little..." he looked me up and down. "...Temper tantrum. I don't coddle my Slytherins, Draco. You know that. If you wanted something from me, you knew exactly where to find me."

"Right, and you would have dropped everything for me? I don't think so."

"You're right. I probably wouldn't have. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't have made any time for you, boy. Wake up, Draco. The world isn't a perfect place. Everyone needs to deal with their own problems. Life is hard for everyone. You're nothing special."

I knew he was right. Who was I? No one. But it wasn't though he had done anything for me since I had left the school...No, that was wrong. I took a deep breath. He was right. I'd known where to find him. He'd never shut the door on me, even when he thought I was out to hurt the girls, he'd welcomed me into his office with open arms. I hadn't even tried to see him until he had tried to interfere with my plans for the girls. But I could hardly say that to him. "So I'm just supposed to forget everything that happened?"

Lucius chuckled rustily. "No, Draco. No one expects that. But maybe it's time to let go, and to move on?"

I turned away from them. "Move on to what, exactly?"

"Draco, you were one of the top students at Hogwarts. Surely at least one of those subjects calls to you?"

I closed my eyes as Potions classes came back to me. The ingredients; the perfect, precise measurements; the way they all came together, just so. It was the only time I'd felt truly in my element at school. And, too, I was surrounded by my peers, Gryffindors to sneer at, and...my favourite teacher... I turned to look at him now. The grey hair and the lines in his face stood out to me again. It hadn't been so long since I'd left school, had it? "There was only ever one subject I enjoyed. Well, maybe two."

The corner of his mouth twitched. "Two?"

"Well, Arithmancy, of course..." I smirked at him.

He narrowed his eyes. He'd never liked game-playing much. "And?"

I looked at him pointedly, a slight grin on my face. "What do you think? You know me so well, after all..."

"Well, if you want to play games, Draco, I can always offer Miss Granger the apprenticeship position that a colleague just told me about..."

"And why would I want to answer to anyone?"

"Because, Draco. You're good. But inside you know you can be great." His face was bland. "And you know you can't get there without training. And I can get you that position. And possibly a job after. But only if you're interested. And done playing games," he sneered.

"You'd do that for me? Even after all this?"

"You didn't hurt anyone, and I think between your father and myself, we can keep the girls' mother from charging you, or anything more drastic... As long as you try to fix this. We can't do everything for you, Draco. You have to meet us halfway. You have to try. This is your life. We can't tell you what to do anymore. You're an adult. But that also doesn't mean you have to do everything alone." He placed his hand on my shoulder. "I'd be proud to have you as a colleague, Draco. I know you'd make me proud."

I was speechless. This was huge praise from Snape. Even to his Slytherins, he'd always been less than approachable. He was always willing to stand up for us, but he expected us to stand our own ground as well, and praise was nearly unheard of. Even for his favourite student. I could feel my cheeks heat. "Thank you, sir."

"Does that mean you'll take the position?"

I thought for a moment, but really, what was there to think about? I nodded to him. "I'll give it a try, sir."

He smiled. "Good." He turned to Lucius, his eyebrow raised. "Do you need a hand, or are you steadier on your feet now?"

Lucius's eyes narrowed. "I'm fine, Snape." He turned to me. "Could you retrieve my wand from where it rolled, Draco? I can't seem to find it."

I accioed his wand, which flew to my hand, then handed it to him.

Snape turned and started towards the door, leaving us to trail in his wake. I felt odd to be leaving here once again. It felt wrong. This was still home, despite the bad memories, the fact that it had been used by Voldemort for his hideout for a time, the fact that it had been deserted for years...It always would be home. Perhaps I could come back someday and reclaim it. Or...perhaps it was time to move on, like father and Snape suggested. Find a new place to call home. Start a new life.

As we walked out onto the drive, I looked up at the sky. There was only a thin crescent moon, which made the stars stand out much sharper. And there it was. Draco. Pale stars shining in the chilly black night. My constellation. I remembered my father's words... "Dragons are these majestic, powerful creatures. They represent freedom to me. Freedom from chains, able to fly freely through the air." Lucius had learned to live free, like the dragons. Perhaps I could use this new chance to do the same for me.

We're our own dragons as well as our own heroes, and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves.

Tom Robbins