A Family Affair

Fully dressed and fully composed once again, Draco set out in search of the three adults. As soon as he stepped out of his bedroom, he heard the raised voices drifting up the stairwell. Sirius and Severus in confined quarters was even worse than Draco and Harry - or worse Ron Weasley - in confined quarters, the boy knew. Feeling the beginning of a headache, he headed down the stairs.

"I don't know what Albus was thinking entrusting that boy to your care," Severus snapped.

"You would think the worst, you sorry bastard," Sirius snarled in response.

"Gentlemen," Remus said sharply, stepping between the two men as Sirius' hands curled into fists. "This is neither the time nor the place for this little feud of yours."

"Perhaps you are correct," Severus replied stiffly. "I'll return to Hogwarts immediately. Good day, Lupin."

Draco stepped into the parlour just in time to see Severus Snape disappear into the fireplace.

"Would anyone care to enlighten me as to what the hell that was all about?" Draco drawled.

With a slight grin, Remus turned to address the boy. "Severus seems to believe that Sirius has developed a taste for young boys."

Draco's grey eyes widened slightly as he let out a surprised laugh. "He thought...oh gods... he thought Sirius was trying to molest me?" he managed to choke out around his laughter.

"It isn't funny," Sirius snapped. "It's insulting."

"Oh but it is funny," Draco insisted. "The thought of you harbouring impure thoughts about me is about as ridiculous as oh... the idea of Snape having a torrid affair with Potter. Even if you a) fancied men and b) fancied very young men there remains the fact that you completely detest me," he explained.

A pained expression flitted across the older man's face. "I don't detest you, Draco," he said softly. His hands clenching into fists again, he turned and strode out of the room.

Draco turned to Remus and raised one eyebrow quizzically. The old werewolf sighed, settled into his chair before the fire again, and gestured for the boy to take the seat across from him. Draco sat down in the offered chair and waited.

After taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Remus spoke. "Sirius cares a great deal about you, Draco."

"He hardly knows me."

"Regardless, he cares about you. I would say he cares as much about you as he does Harry."

A spark of emotion flickered across the boy's face, gone before Remus could put a name to it.

"Severus' accusations that Sirius would do anything to hurt you.... Well Sirius took that much more to heart than he should have. Ridiculous or not, that accusation wounded him. Severus always has known just how to find Sirius' weak spots."

"It's a Slytherin trait," Draco smirked.

*********

Some time later, Sirius rejoined Remus and Draco in the sitting room. Remus was scouring texts, working on some sort of research. The man seemed to always have his nose in a book. Draco was staring into the flickering flames of the hearth fire, his mind a million miles away.

Sirius pulled a low ottoman up beside Draco's chair and dropped down onto it, putting himself eye to eye with the boy who had turned to look at him.

"How are you feeling?" Sirius asked quietly.

"I'm fine, Sirius."

"You look a little pensive."

Draco shrugged. "Just thinking. I have quite a bit on my plate these days, you know - quite a lot to think about."

Sirius nodded. "Draco...I wanted to apologise for this morning."

Shaking his head, Draco replied smoothly, "Don't mention it. No, I mean it, honestly. Don't mention it. Let's just forget today ever happened, shall we?"

"Absolutely," Sirius agreed, smiling.

Just then, Albus Dumbledore's head appeared in the fire, startling them both. "Ah, good. You're all here," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"Good evening, Albus," Remus said, looking up from his book.

"Good evening to you, Remus. And to you Sirius, and Michael."

"Albus," Sirius replied. Draco merely acknowledged the Headmaster with a nod.

"What can we do for you, Albus?" Remus asked.

The old wizard frowned slightly. "Severus is very concerned about young Mr. Talbot. He believes that Michael would be better off if he were placed in Nathan's custody immediately."

"What?!" Sirius cried.

"Do you mean to say he actually believes I'm in danger here?" Draco asked indignantly.

"Severus is most concerned about the incident involving the sleeping potion," Dumbledore explained. "Originally, we thought that Draco --pardon me, Michael--would benefit from being in somewhat familiar environs. However, we feel that perhaps a clean break and a fresh start might help him more."

"Do I have no say whatever in what happens in my own life?" Draco snapped.

"Of course you do, Michael. If you have serious objections to this change in plans, by all means speak your mind."

"I have serious objections!" Sirius interjected. "The boy knows very little about Muggle life. We can't just throw him to the wolves! Erm... Sorry Remus, but you know what I mean. We can't just turn the boy loose at Heathrow and hope he makes his way to Jaffe without blowing his cover."

"In this you are correct, Sirius. Of course, you can not accompany the boy due to your notoriety. Remus can not accompany him due to his condition, Severus would be a liability due to his affiliations, and I myself would be far too conspicuous. However, I have made arrangements with a dear friend of mine to travel with young Mr. Talbot."

"You've made arrangements, yet you say I have a choice in this matter," Draco fumed.

"I wanted the details settled. Such arrangements are far easier to undo than they are to set up."

Draco nodded. He sat in silence for a moment, weighing his options. "What do you honestly think is best, Headmaster?"

"Truthfully, Michael, I believe that your best option is to leave straightaway."

"I trust your judgement, sir. When do I need to be ready to go?"

"I'll send Bill around tomorrow morning. We'll have your itinerary by then, and you can plan accordingly."

"I had best go and see if I have anything I can actually take with me," Draco said, levering himself up out of his armchair. He hurried out of the room before anyone could say another word.

"Albus, you can't. You mustn't." Sirius sputtered.

"It truly is what is best for Draco."

"Don't take him away from me," Sirius pleaded hoarsely.

"Sirius, the time will come -whether now or in a few more days--when Draco must leave. I believe that a speedy departure will be easier on you in the long run, and I believe that the sooner the boy leaves the sooner he will be able to put his past behind him."

Sirius bowed his head, unable to look at his old friend any longer.

"We'll make sure that Draco is ready to leave tomorrow, Albus," Remus assured him.

"I'm certain that you will, Remus. I will bid you goodnight now."

"Goodnight, Albus," he replied, and then the Headmaster disappeared from the fireplace. Leaning forward in his chair, Remus rested a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "Sirius, I can only imagine how you feel. Everyone you care about is taken from you sooner or later. Everyone except one cranky old werewolf," he said with a wry grin. "You know this really is what's best for the boy."

Sirius nodded, but did not lift his bowed head. "First Harry, and now Draco," he repined.

"Go and help him pack, Sirius. Take advantage of the time you have left, and hope that we can bring them both home soon."

Slowly, Sirius lifted his head to look into his friend's eyes. The sorrow swimming in his friend's eyes was almost more than Remus could bear. Hadn't they all had enough of sorrow? Resolve gradually replaced the sorrow, and Sirius covered the hand on his shoulder with one of his own hands. He forced a small smile before taking Remus' advice and heading upstairs to help Draco sort through his belongings.

********

In RoseWild's master bedroom, the meagre contents of Draco's magically expanded school bag were strewn across the bed. The boy himself was standing before the fireplace. As Sirius pushed open the door which had been left slightly ajar, he saw Draco point his wand towards the fireplace and speak a single word: "Incendio." The scrap of fabric lying on the grate burst into flames, and a satisfied grin spread across Draco's pale face.

"Feeling destructive?" Sirius inquired, amused.

"Not particularly. I just wanted to put those horrid things out of my misery," Draco replied.

"What horrid things?"

The boy blushed slightly, a faint pink tinge highlighting his cheekbones. "Those dreadful underpants that Pansy Parkinson insisted on inflicting on me. I'm certain that she found them amusing. She would have likely found it even more amusing that Snape actually saw me in them. I've never been so humiliated in my life."

Sirius chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. "I didn't realise that Snape would be likely to pay attention to your boxer shorts."

Draco shrugged as he crossed the room to begin sorting through the items on the bed. "How could anyone not pay attention to those things? They scream for attention. Honestly, I don't know what that stupid cow was thinking. I don't know what I was thinking for actually wearing the damned things."

"You weren't exactly expecting to show them off," Sirius offered, moving from the doorway to scoop up two vials of sleeping potion that lay on the bed.

"Give those back," Draco demanded, eyes flashing.

"You can't have magical potions in the Muggle world, you know," Sirius replied calmly.

Scowling, Draco turned away from the older man without acknowledging his comment. He sat on the edge of the bed and picked up a photograph from the pile of his belongings. "Do you think Remus would mind if I kept this?" he asked. Leaning over the boy's shoulder, he saw that the photo was the one that Draco had found of The Marauders with Narcissa and Lily.

"No, I don't think Remus would mind at all," he said softly as he sat down beside the boy.

"This all just seems...unreal. It feels like I'm caught up in a nightmare that I can't wake from. Actually, I've had nightmares that are more vivid. It feels as though my entire life is in black and white now."

"I know just what you mean, Draco. I felt that way after Lily and James died."

"Michael," Draco corrected firmly. "Draco Malfoy no longer exists."

Sirius had the urge to hug the boy, but doubted that Draco would take well to such a display of affection. He settled instead for clapping him on the back. "You're stronger than you realise. You're going to be all right, you know."

"Of course I will be all right," Draco replied as he resumed his perusal of his belongings. "I haven't any choice."