Redemption

Chapter Thirty-Eight:

Heero had arrived in the Hogs Head late Wednesday night after housing his Thestral in the nearby Hogsmeade Stables. Before he'd even checked in, several shady looking characters seemed to have pegged him as an easy target. He disillusioned them all quickly by taking out the first idiot who decided that a kid with no apparent means of magic was going to put food on his decrepit table.

Having warned off most of his would-be attackers, he'd approached the barman/innkeeper and booked a room for a month, payment by the day. Once that was settled, with a little haggling over prices and extras, he ordered a Firewhiskey and took a seat, surveying all exits, entrances and current clientele. Careful not to let the drink go to his head, he took his time, sipping it slowly for a long while. By the time he'd finally drained the large mug, he'd learnt a lot of interesting secrets that, to him, were completely useless. Except for one possibly alleged, suspected rumor that five muscle-bound thick skulled Muggle idiots were guarding Hogwarts. Funnily enough, he had no inclination to dissuade that rumor. In fact, he intended to nurture it.

That was why he was currently whispering in pronounced undertones to an old hag, saying that he'd seen a massive man with muscles like boulders and a face like day old steak and kidney pie. Just as she gasped and scuttled off to share this juicy tidbit, someone apparated in behind him and ordered fountain ale for two.

Recognizing the voice, Heero did not turn around, but continued to swirl his drink and take a long drag. Not long after, he heard another pop, the new arrival heading straight for the table that Snape had claimed.

.................................................................................................................................

Severus Snape had to fight down a gasp when his old friend and lover took a seat across from him. Lucius' regal face was disfigured by a harsh slash that cut straight through one brow, over the bridge of his nose, and through the corner of his lips. He hadn't seen the man in a long time. Long gone were the days when Lucius Malfoy could freely traverse the wizarding world.

Knowing full well the dangers of this meeting, despite the silencing charms he'd placed around their booth, Severus did not whisper as he would have liked. Rather, he mouthed the man's name. His face was lined with pity, but he soon learned that this was a mistake.

"Don't look at me like that, you old fool," Lucius growled, the corners of his lips curling downwards in distaste.

A retort hot on his lips, Severus backed down. "You're right. Sorry." He pushed Lucius' ale mug towards him, resisting the urge to glance up into the hooded face before him. "So, what news?"

Lucius sighed deeply. "Five enemies inside Hogwarts. Muggles. Apparently they're there to protect Potter. Have you seen them?"

"I have," Snape said coolly. "What interest could He have in Muggles? Surely He doesn't see them as a threat."

"Of course not. To Him, their employment is a fact of sheer amusement," Lucius replied, downing his ale quickly. "And a way of further torturing me," he added so quietly that Severus had to lean forward to catch the whole phrase.

"What do you mean?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

Apparently, Lucius took that as a sign that he was in trouble, immediately straightening his shoulders and fixing Severus with a haughty glare. "Don't even think of scolding me. I have every right to be angry."

"You misjudge me, Lucius," Severus sighed. "I'm merely concerned for you." After a long moment, Malfoy backed down, slumping against his seat. "You aren't yourself at all."

"How can I be? My self is proud and strong. I am but a shell," Lucius whispered his eyes downcast.

"So, what do you mean?" Severus asked again, changing the subject.

"My son. He uses him against me. Threatens me with my son's demise and worse. I have been ordered to use my son to spy on the Muggles."

"What?" A sudden rage filled Severus. Draco was as much of a son to him as he'd ever have, but he'd never tell that to the boy, or his father. "I am there, a teacher, in far better a position to spy than a student! What can He be thinking?"

"Calm down, and keep your voice down. Like I said, He uses my son as leverage over me," said Lucius sadly.

"Then I'll pass you the information and you can say-"

"You should know better than that," Lucius growled, his icy eyes flashing. "If He found out, all three of us would be condemned."

"Of course. I'm not thinking clearly." At that moment, Severus wanted to confess, to tell the man that he was still in love with of how he was spying for Albus Dumbledore. Of how he had been since before the Dark Lord's downfall. He wanted to confide in Lucius, and apparently, this was quite readable, or else Lucius knew him far too well.

For a long moment, the man watched him, as if sizing him up. "Sev," he began, taking a deep breath and plunging on. "I - I know. At least, I think I do. What you've been doing..."

Severus froze, drawing in a long breath. "Whatever you do, don't say what it is you're thinking. Not here."

Far from saving his own hide, Severus' thoughts were trained upon Lucius. If he was revealed to have known all along that Severus was a double agent, then, again, both of them as well as Draco, would go down together.

Slowly, Lucius nodded, understanding the danger.

"How?" Snape finally asked.

"I know you better than anyone. It isn't obvious. In fact, you're brilliant at it. That's why I figured it out. The 'devotion' you show, you only feel for one person. Yourself."

Oh how he would love to correct that, to say that he was devoted to Lucius in so many ways the man would never understand. "Why have you never said anything?" Severus said suddenly, tapping into a new feeling of hope.

Malfoy stared for yet another long moment, and then looked away. "I may have a wife and child, but you will always be my first love," he said very quietly.

Drawing in a very long, painful breath, Severus leant back in his chair. "Thank you," he whispered, lost for anything else to say.

Suddenly, Lucius grimaced, a hand clamping over his forearm. "Watch over my son for me. P - Pass on the message. There is no other choice."

Before the man could dissaparate, Snape grabbed his shoulder. "You could always join me," he said desperately.

"Maybe someday," he heard faintly, seconds before Lucius disappeared with a pop.

Settling back into his chair, Severus ran a hand over his face, gathering himself together to 'run into' Heero. Perhaps he truly would get himself sloshed.

After deep sigh, he made his way to the bar, wondering if he should count himself lucky that there was a spare stool next to Heero. Ignoring the boy for the moment, he hailed the bartender. "What is most likely to get me drunk?" he asked, straight to the point.

Not quite trusting the grin he received at that question, or the name 'Dire Illusion', Severus ordered a bottle of Magna's Scale Scotch. Ignoring the reproving glare of his neighbor, he downed a glass of the horrible liquor and grimaced.

.................................................................................................................................

Quatre had dragged over a couple more chairs, but though there were enough, they didn't quite fit around the table. He frowned.

"Not to worry," Lupin assured them. With a flick of his wand, the table extended. It was now large enough to accommodate all of the chairs and those pulling them out to sit down.

Hermione offered to order for everybody, taking mental note of all the preferences and hurried off to the counter. As the others exchanged greetings, she called back to them. "What was it you wanted, Harry?"

"Harry? Oh! Mr. Potter, it's you! I assume you want the usual. Oh, no, you silly girl. You'll get all of them on the house. It's a treat to have you here this far into term."

Duo raised an eyebrow at Harry, who just shrugged. "The perks of being me," he said in a dry tone.

Ron positively beamed at him. "You make it sound like such a hardship, mate." A moment later, he conceded. "Well it is, true enough, but... perks!" he exclaimed as Hermione came back with a tray carrying two sundaes, one Chocolate Volcano and four floating cones.

Conversation halted as everyone dug in, enjoying the warm sun beating down on them and the cool ice cream to fill their bellies. Duo was particularly delighted. His Chocolate Volcano continually erupted with chocolate sauce as soon as the stuff depleted along with the ice cream crater. He'd never tasted something so rich, so creamy. Ice cream, especially chocolate, had always provided him with an orgasmic-like satisfaction. But this glorious, wonderful.... amazing creation wrangled from him a moan of happiness, causing all but Trowa to glance at him oddly.

Once they were finished, Milliardo and Lupin opted to visit a coffee shop and leave the others to relax.

Hermione snorted. "Some supervision."

Ginny laughed at her. "You're not actually complaining, are you?"

"Of course not. I just think it's very lax of them."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Hermione. How much trouble can we get into in Diagon Alley?"

Grinning, Duo slid back his chair. "Let's find out, shall we?"

But as he stood to undertake this mission, a tiny black sparrow swooped at him. "Hey!" he cried.

The bird landed on the cobblestone, several steps away from the braided boy. It looked up at him insolently, and seemed to radiate impudence.

"I don't believe it," Hermione breathed, standing very slowly to see the bird over the table. "It can't be."

"What?" Ginny asked.

"It's a black sparrow," Hermione answered.

Though sure that this was something significant, Duo couldn't quite asses why that was so. The fact that the creature was a black sparrow was quite obvious and didn't explain why it was so fascinating. However, he had managed to get over his shock at the bird's 'attitude' and glared at it, swinging his hand at it to shoo it away.

"Oh, don't," Hermione moaned. "Do you have any idea how rare that is?"

"Hermione, what are you talking about?" Ron finally asked, rolling his eyes. "Just explain for once, will you?"

"Black sparrows are very rare. They never show up in populated areas. I can't imagine why this one's here now, but most importantly," she took her eyes off of the sparrow for an instant, looking around at the group. "The black sparrow is said to be a messenger of death. If one is lucky enough to come across a black sparrow, they say the person can contact the deceased. Some more obscure texts even say that those who died under certain circumstances are allowed to send a message via sparrow to a loved one."

A silence fell over the group until Harry's whisper broke it. "Sirius..." He raised his eyes hopefully to Hermione, who looked aggrieved.

"Oh, Harry. It's just a legend. I don't think... It couldn't be..." she trailed off, stricken by the desperation of that uttered name.

Observing the exchange, Duo kept a cautious eye on the group as he bent low. He extended his hand for the bird. Having heard its story, he was intrigued. Significantly more so when it hopped onto his hand, chirping reproachfully.

Unaware that seven pairs of eyes were trained on him, Duo lifted his palm up to eye level, inspecting the little bird. He half expected it to start spouting off some ethereal message or something. It didn't. Long seconds ticked by and still nothing happened. Finally, after what seemed over a minute, the sparrow leapt into the air and landed on Duo's head, burrowing into his hair. "What the fuck!?" he cried, trying in vain to look up at the creature now nestled in his chestnut locks.

Suddenly, the tension exploded in laughter. Everyone's faces were split with grins.

"I think it likes you, mate," Ron sniggered.

Duo whirled on Hermione who just shrugged. Snarling, he reached up to try and dislodge the bird, but sustained a painful bite to his finger. "Oh, come on. Will somebody please help me?"

Trowa, who had watched the whole thing silently, grinned and got to his feet. "I don't think there's anything we can do at the moment," he answered with a curiously light lilt to his voice. "I don't really want to be bitten myself."

"Hello.... Magic!" Duo cried, glaring at the wizards and witches of their party.

Ginny put on a mask of shock. "Oh, we couldn't! Imagine if we ended up levitating your head off of yours shoulders. Or worse, blew it up!"

"But... but..." Duo sputtered, appealing to Hermione and then Harry in turn. "Fine!" he finally growled. "Just wait till I find that bastard Zechs. I just KNOW he can get rid of this thing." Turning on his heel, he walked away from the ice cream store, attempting to ignore the muffled laughter behind him. "Coming?" he asked, even as Wufei's comment reached his ears.

"Even if he could, I get the feeling Milliardo wouldn't be so inclined to help..."