A Closer Look In The Snake Nest

Chapter 4

--

Both Snape and Lucius let go of their offspring´s hands, Lucius more reluctantly. Draco looked around, studying his surroundings. They were on a damp dungeon.

The basement of Voldemort´s Headquarters.

Few torches illuminated the place, but their fire held the colour of the Slytherin house. Chains and cuffs and other antique, medieval torture instruments contributed to the eerie look of the place. Not so surprisingly there was even fog that reached people´s knees.

There was a circle of awaiting Death Eaters. Their silhouettes were visible but Draco couldn´t make out their faces in the dim, greenish light.

Everybody was wearing black attires; only Draco was dressed in white. For some incomprehensible reason he couldn´t help picturing himself as the helpless virgin on some Celtic, ancient pagan cult.

Only that I´m not helpless. And I´m definitely not a virgin.

He could feel Lucius´ hand on his shoulder as his father walked with him in the general direction of the awaiting circle of Death Eaters. He could also feel Lucius´ presence with him, and his empath abilities made it possible for him to feel calmness emanating from his father.

Both Lucius and Snape took the empty spaces in the circle, completing it. Lucius squeezed his son´s shoulder and then let go of it, pressing his index finger gently against his Draco´s back to indicate that he should keep walking.

Draco stopped after a few footsteps that echoed through the silent dungeon. He ran his eyes for the circle, now recognising many of the faces there. His eyes stopped for a moment on Severus Snape, whose face was a stoic mask, before he continued examining his father´s companions.

It wasn´t that big a group, fifty people maybe.

He ran his eyes for the circle around him, suddenly feeling much like a lamb standing alone in the middle of the Death Eaters and waiting to be sacrificed. He then felt warmth overcome the tingles in the back of his neck. Draco could have smiled then.

I´m not alone. I´ve got Father with me.

Reassured by that, he lifted his eyes defiantly and finally fixed them on the only figure that still kept his hood up.

Voldemort.

Draco saw a cruel smile flash inside the darkness of the hood, and red eyes opened to stare into Draco´s grey ones. The younger wizard wondered for a second if Voldemort could read his mind, before holding the Dark Lord´s stare challengingly.

I´m a Malfoy and he cannot break me. He hasn´t broken Father and he won´t break me.

Pale strong hands provided of black, claw-like nails pulled the hood down, allowing Draco a vision of Voldemort. The boy couldn´t have been more surprised.

Tom Riddle had actually been good-looking, and so was the restored form of Voldemort. He had spiky black hair, pale complexion, a roman nose and a pinkish, full bottom lip. What made him look unnatural were mostly the piercing red eyes and the feral smile that gave sight of his sharpen teeth. When he spoke, his voice was velvet.

"Young Draco Malfoy, I believe."

"Yes Milord."

Voldemort seemed pleased by this treatment and reduced his smile until his mouth was a thin line on his face. He strode towards Draco, his black robes swirling around him and making it look like he were floating, stopping close enough to have invaded the boy´s personal space and therefore cause a sensation of discomfort.

Draco could actually feel the interest and appreciation he was causing on the Dark Lord. Those feelings increased his already considerable self-confidence and, were Draco not a Malfoy, he would have smiled.

A muffled squeak was heard, but Draco didn´t move a muscle to acknowledge its owner. Because he knew perfectly well who it was, he´d have recognised her voice anywhere.

Voldemort wouldn´t, so he turned to the right angrily. All Death Eaters automatically took a step backwards, leaving a slim figure with long black hair and dazzling ice blue eyes standing alone.

"Pansy Parkinson."

"Yes, My Lord?"

She lifted her chin showing no sign of fear.

Riddle smiled ferally. He didn´t need to see fear. He could *smell* it.

"You squeaked."

He stated rather calmly.

"It was a hiccup sir."

"Why do I have the sensation that you are not telling me the truth?"

His voice dripped sarcasm, and he spit the words slowly as if he was talking to a small child.

"Your ways are not ours to question. I have not the slightest idea, sir."

"IF it was a hiccup, how does it come that you´re not hiccuping anymore, Pansy, my dear?"

He saw her eyes widen for a second before narrowing again and continued his speech.

"Did I scare you? Or," he saw her lips forming an answer but cut her short, "Did Draco do it?"

By then Draco was starring at the scene. He was watching as Voldemort entangled Pansy on his web, and made a mental note never to squeak in front of him.

"None of you did, My Lord."

"Hmmm. I see. Our dearest Draco´s pretty face would never scare a girl, now would it?"

He used his left hand to squeeze Draco´s cheeks, turning his face towards Pansy. The boy felt his claw-like nails dig into the flesh. She shook her head and Voldemort released Draco.

"Nor could my..." He made a gesture indicating himself, "handsome features. Am I right, Miss Parkinson?"

"Yes, My Lord."

"I don´t frighten you then?" He smiled.

"No, My Lord."

"Well, I should." He said calmly and then smiled a full-teeth feral smile. "We can fix that."

Voldemort´s hand went for his wand. Pansy was quicker.

"No need, My Lord. I am willing to re-phrase it."

"So I suppose you´re frightened now, Pansy?"

"Yes, My Lord."

"Good." He went on to talk to Draco. "Young miss Parkinson has stolen a few of our precious minutes, Draco, so I can´t tell you all the things I should, about us," he waved a hand indicating the circle, "or me. But I´m sure Lucius did a fine work of telling you about the Cause. He has, hasn´t he?"

"Yes, Milord."

Draco experienced conflicting emotions. Voldemort was confusing. What he had done to Pansy had been foolish and hilarious, but scary and domineering nonetheless. And he was appealing on that moment, when his red eyes locked with Draco´s. The boy felt a wave of discomfort overcome him, and immediately understood that it was Lucius´ jealousy. He silently thanked his father for not allowing him to surrender to Voldemort´s magnetism, and wondered how had Lucius been able to do it with nothing restraining him. He forced himself to focus on the Dark Lord.

"...and I´m sure you´ll be every bit of the efficient, dedicated soldier that your father is."

"I´ll do my best, Milord. My only wish is to serve you and the Cause."

Draco felt Lucius´ heart skip a beat, and the mixture of pride and jealousy that took over his father. At the same time, there were the pleasure waves emanating from Voldemort. Draco tried his best to shut everybody´s feelings away. He lifted his eyes and met the Dark Lord´s red ones, with its vertical, snake-like pupils.

"I can see it. But to be willing to help is not enough, Draco. Perhaps Lucius hasn´t told you about this, but you must prove yourself before joining us. It is very much like a group of wolves. We´re hunting the Mudbloods together. There´s a leader. And all new members must fight to earn their acceptance. Are you with me so far?"

"Yes, Milord."

"Lucius is your mentor, am I right?"

Draco merely nodded.

"Take a step forward, Lucius. Now tell us who is going to duel young Draco."

Lucius´ feet made almost no sound when they hit the stone floor, and although Draco was facing the other side of the room he could feel the gaze his father was giving Voldemort. A thick, anxious silence followed.

"I am."

There were very audible gasps at this announcement, some of relief but most out of surprise. With the corner of his eye, Draco saw Snape´s eyes widen.

He didn´t know.

Looking at Voldemort, Draco felt something inside him twist. The Dark Lord was smiling fully, and waves of something Draco didn´t fail to recognise oozed from him.

Lust. Already?

Half of Draco congratulated himself on being able to awake Voldemort´s desire; the other half wished he could tell his father.

"Very well. Take your position, Lucius. The others, to the corners. No need for repelling charms. Find places where you will not interfere. We all have seen Lucius duelling, and it isn´t a pretty sight."

Voldemort licked his lips after saying this, and Draco nearly smiled. The Dark Lord would be an easy catch.

Wacko. Blood is what turns him on.

Draco stored that information to pay it proper attention and use later. It never crossed his mind that, more than the blood, it was Lucius that turned Voldemort on. Lucius, and himself.

All the Death Eaters obeyed their master. Draco caught a glimpse of Pansy´s worried eyes as she passed by him. Soon all of them had their hoods up and were standing next to the stony walls. All except one. Voldemort craved his eyes on the sole figure.

"Severus Snape. Do you have a problem with my order?"

"No, My Lord. I just believe that there has been a mistake on Lucius´ part. He cannot duel Draco."

"And why is that?"

You know that hurting his son will kill Lucius, and you just can´t bare to see him ache can you Severus? Vouching for him every now and then, looking after his son with disgusting favouritism. Lucius has always been your Achilles´ heel. I knew that on the second you were brought to me, Severus. You weren´t here because of me, and yet you served the Cause with all due loyalty. I have no reason to complain of you, none except your displays of affection for Lucius. I honestly can´t begin to understand why doesn´t he despise you. The only reason I do not is because the same happens to me. But not in this blatant way.

Voldemort seemed amused, and Draco could tell on that moment that Snape didn´t stand up to him very often.

No one stands up to him very often.

"If you grant me permission to speak, Milord," Lucius waited for Voldemort´s agreeing nod to proceed. "This matter is mine alone. I shall duel Draco."

Don´t you dare meddling into my affairs again, Severus. He is the one who wants to duel me. I wouldn´t deny Draco.

"But you are his father."

"Right now I´m a Death Eater; I´m nobody´s family and nobody´s friend. I´ll hurt and kill to serve the Cause and my Master."

Snape cursed under his breath.

Draco felt a sting and looked over at Voldemort with the corner of his eye. He could feel the Dark Lord´s desire increasing as he heard Lucius speak.

He likes to be praised.

"Sure. To serve and protect. Lucius Malfoy."

Severus´ voice dripped sarcasm.

Damn you Lucius. You can read nearly everyone´s mind, but you can´t get it when I´m concerned. I know that you´re capable of hurting Draco, I just worry that you might do too much of it.

"Why can´t anybody be reason-"

"Enough, Severus. I like the idea, and Lucius will duel his son."

Snape eyed Voldemort, holding his chin high. The black pools of his eyes showed all his hatred.

Of course you like the idea. Anything that involves Lucius getting hurt turns you on for a good three rounds, you horny masochist bastard. Why do I even come here?

"With all due respect, sir, it-"

"I said, *enough* Severus. Vermillious!"

Draco´s eyes almost widened as he saw Snape jerk violently backwards, his head and body going forward and his arms and legs being pulled in the opposite direction by some invisible force. It felt terribly unreal to see it happening and none of the Death Eaters making a sound, and Draco felt like he was trapped inside a nightmare.

Snape resisted for a few instants before falling to his knees. His face was contorted and his hands were closed tight, his nails digging into the flesh as he always did when he was nervous. But he did not let out a sound. Voldemort didn´t seem to be pleased by this and stopped abruptly. Snape fell with his face to the stone floor.

"Get on your feet, Severus."

He did. When he finally lifted her face, there was a thin trail of blood running down his nose. His oily hair was a mess in front of the lowered head, but his eyes still held the challenging glare. Voldemort cringed his teeth.

"Crucio!"

Scream for me, Severus. Scream in front of your beloved Lucius. Show him your pain and weakness.

Draco looked at his father.

The unbreakable Malfoy facade.

Lucius seemed incredibly calm. Draco could feel the it as well, and could only blame it on boredom over watching it at a frequent basis.

"Ah..."

Snape´s voice attracted Draco´s attention to the agonising Potions Master. Following Lucius´ steps, he didn´t show any emotion.

Severus opened his mouth, not letting out a sound yet. Voldemort curled a corner of his mouth in a smirk. But what came out of the Potions Master´s mouth wasn´t exactly a plead.

"Lucius shouldn´t-"

"Stupefy!"

Snape´s rigid body fell to the floor with a thud.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

Severus´ limp form was lifted from the ground and dropped next to the wall. Nobody made the smallest sound at this, and Voldemort turned his attention back to the Malfoys.

Like nothing happened. Like he had just killed an inopportune fly that was buzzing around our heads.

"Very well, Lucius. Good luck, young Draco."

Draco felt that he too was eyed with desire by the Dark Lord, but dismissed the thought quickly.

Voldemort walked up to an iron throne and sat on it. His robes swirled around him in a vampiric effect. He smiled ferally.

"Shall Draco´s examination begin!"

Both Lucius and Draco drew out their wands and held them like swords. They complimented each other, and the Silver Dragon saw his father´s eyes narrowing.

Voldemort watched eagerly as Lucius and his son exchanged spells and enchantments. Draco was Lucius reborn, he looked exactly like his father, the same arrogant expression in the face, the same blonde hair and perfect features.

The pale complexion that will look so good when stained with blood.

And now there were two of them, hurting themselves, making themselves bleed. They loved each other and yet they did it. Pain and pleasure, love and hurt. For the Dark Lord it almost felt like watching Lucius jerk off. There was the palpable love and the tension, the fastened breath, the blood streaming down the silvery blonde hair. The same blood that would run down Lucius´ legs if the Dark Lord ever got around to fucking him.

Voldemort licked his lips. He had absolutely loved the idea of Lucius duelling his son, and he had liked the young Draco.

So much like his father, but not as strong. Draco I can bend to my will, and by doing so I´ll break Lucius. You can wait, my hatred enemy. In love shall lay your ruin.

-*-

Draco rolled to the side, avoiding a spell. Blood was running down the corner of his mouth, his robes were ripped in several places where he had been hit by the charms. His father wasn´t in much better shape. Adrenaline didn´t allow the Silver Dragon to feel the pain of his wounds. Draco could sense Lucius determination as well as he could see it; his father´s cobalt eyes had never shone so much. They were the colour of ice now.

Lucius was running towards him, and Draco lay in the floor. He couldn´t allow his father to come close.

"Accio Dungbomb!"

In a few instants, a dungbomb was in his hand. He threw it at the floor in front of his father, and Lucius slipped and fell to the floor on all fours. This gave Draco the time to get up and get hold of his wand. He used his right hand to wipe away the blood that kept running from the corner of his mouth.

One side glance at Voldemort and Draco knew that his cock was hard as well as if it were pressed against his butt, that the Dark Lord was opening and closing his hands like a cat in eager anticipation and pure pleasure.

The bastard likes blood.

But there was no time to worry about whatever it was that turned Voldemort on. Lucius was on the floor, recovering, and it was time for Draco to use the special trick he had being practising in secret. He would need a little time for it.

He concealed his wand in his robe and shut his eyes to concentrate better. Wandless magic would have to do.

Lucius was having a hard time getting up, for the floor was slippery. He knew that he was completely exposed lying on his belly as he was, and was afraid of what Draco would do. His son was proving himself to be a worthy match. He heard a roar and looked up.

His eyes met metallic-green lizard scales, four feet provided with sharpen claws, a long tail with silvery stings, dragon wings stretching. Draco had transfigured himself into a greenish-silver dragon with sharp teeth and cruel eyes. Lucius was astonished to see that the Dragon still had the silver chain with the Uylessea stone around its neck.

Draco turned to face his father and opened his mouth menacingly. He wasn´t able to spit fire, but he did have sharpen teeth and powerful claws and tail.

"Very good!"

Draco turned around to see that the Dark Lord had jumped out of his throne and had his mouth open in pure excitement. He stretched his wings and lifted himself from the ground, producing wind that drew away the fog at his father´s feet. He flew until he was hanging just above Lucius, and tried to scratch him.

Lucius ducked his son´s paws, and for a few minutes it was all he did. Until Draco used his tail on him. In one hit, Lucius´ arm was shred to pieces. The older Malfoy backed off and placed his hand over the rent to stop the blood from dripping of it. His arm hurt like hell, and surely there were two or three points were it had been broken. Lucius´ eyes narrowed. He would have to stand still for a few seconds, but he´d end Draco´s party.

Draco saw that his father had an arm bleeding profusely and apparently broken. He was standing still. That was his chance. He came at full speed upon Lucius.

"Incarcifors!"

A cage was conjured around Dragon Draco, who fought desperately to get rid of it as he fell to the floor with a great thud. He let out a scream as many ribs were damaged, and instantly transfigured himself back to his human form.

Unfortunately for Lucius, Draco had excellent aim. That meant that he had landed right on top of his father, knocking him to the floor with a wing, and that both of them were now inside the cage.

It was hard for Lucius to get on his feet without the aid of his broken arm. However he managed to do so before Draco, who was clutching his side, the upper left side of his clothing had just been shred.

Lucius knew better than to hesitate before his knocked down son. He was one of the finest duellists because he never let go of an opportunity. Never, ever.

Not even when it´s my son who´s lying on the floor.

"Serpensort-"

"Expelliarmus!"

Draco had had the time to get his wand and get on his knees.

Lucius´ wand flew away from its owner, and the powered spell was enough to throw him backwards, at least the lower part of his body. He fell flat on his belly with his face in the dungbomb dirt. He couldn´t be more happy.

"Finite Incantem!"

It was Voldemort, who evidently thought the duel to be over. The cage dematerialised.

Draco´s first impulse was to run over and help his father, but he restrained himself. He watched as Lucius struggled to get to his feet, and then as his father ached with every step he took towards himself and Voldemort. But he could feel his father´s joy and pride, and understood that Lucius was happy that he had won.

"Congratulations, Draco."

He said, flashing his son a dazzling veela smile. Draco smiled back.

"Indeed, very well, young Draco. I think we can expect great things from you. You´ve passed your test, and now we must leave our companions, for the next step of the initiation shall be taken by you alone."

I got Father with me.

"If you shall follow me?"

Draco walked speechless after Voldemort, following him to a trapdoor. Before going downstairs he cast his father one last glance, and saw him using a healing charm on his injured arm. Taking a deep breath, he strode down the trapdoor.

-*-

Draco just couldn´t help it but feel that people made the Dark Lord all too terrifying and evil.

The way I see it, Voldemort is very insecure and so neurotic about this control thing that he is nearly ridiculous sometimes. Dangerous and frightening yes, but ridiculous nevertheless. The formal tone on which he says the most absurd accusations, like `you squeaked´... he actually believes that he is punishing not proper behaviour, and showing everybody just how mighty he is. He´s not a poor, sobbing weak fellow but he isn´t as evil and unshakeable as people make him look. And I can bend him, horny bastard that he is and sexy bastard that I am.

These were Draco´s thoughts as he followed Voldemort downstairs. The room there was even more depressing than the dungeon they had just exited. It was a small room with stone walls and wooden floor. A single cauldron was in the middle of the room, a torch illuminated it. And that was about all.

"Draco."

"Yes, Milord."

"You were successful where many have failed. You can congratulate yourself on defeating Lucius Malfoy."

"Thank you Milord."

Upon this answer Voldemort gripped Draco´s wrists in a swift movement and held them close to his face, sinking his claws on them. He pulled the boy so close that Draco could smell his breath as he gazed into the hypnotising red eyes. They stayed like that for what seemed an eternity.

Voldemort dug his nails so deep that blood was spilling from the small cuts on Draco´s wrists. He pulled his left hand in a cat-like scratch, turning the small cuts into big rips. The boy did not feel the pain. The Dark Lord then let go of Draco, who felt weak and dizzy, and held only the boy´s left wrist.

Draco forced himself to focus on Voldemort, who had his wand in his hand and was using a spell to mess with the blood on his arm.

Not mess. Draw. The Mark.

So that was how it was made. Blood. Pure wizard blood.

Blood was running down his arm by then. Voldemort took him by the hand until they were next to the smoking cauldron, then he caught a spoonful of the potion inside it and promptly threw it at Draco´s wounds.

It hurt. A lot. Draco almost screamed. He was feeling cold. He was feeling desperately alone and aching.

Then there was warmth, and he felt like Lucius were near him, holding him close. That gave him strength. Once more, Voldemort´s red eyes were upon his.

"You are now to join my service. To bear my Mark. I am about to become a part of you, Draco Malfoy."

"I embrace you."

Draco had no idea where these words had come from. Someone might have whispered them into his ear, weren´t it for the fact that he and Voldemort were the two living beings in that room.

"In order to embrace me, you must allow me in. You must want me in. Do you want me inside you, Draco Malfoy?"

"You and I shall be one being."

"I take you, Draco Malfoy, to my service and the Cause!"

"I my will is yours to do as you please."

"I enter you, Draco Malfoy, I break into your very soul."

"I welcome you in me."

Voldemort then raised his left hand and used his teeth to rip his own right wrist. Blood dripped from it, and he fed it to Draco.

"Drink."

Draco sucked at the wound, feeling much like a baby. The blood seemed to ease his own pain, and he didn´t like it when the Dark Lord pulled away. He tried to reach for the arm like as a baby he would have reached for his mother´s breast, but Voldemort didn´t allow him to.

"Easy, child."

Before Draco could protest, he carried on.

"You´re a child. My child. I was also a child once, Draco."

A strap of his blood ran down the corner of Draco´s mouth. He felt that single strap run down his neck and arm causing painful burning and leaving a trail of hurt until it reached the freshly made Mark. There it seemed to penetrate his very skin, and then there was pain. He looked up at Voldemort.

"I am you, Draco Malfoy, and you are me. And now that my blood runs entangled with yours, you can remember. Come."

He took Draco by the hand until they reached the cauldron. Draco was dizzy, and had to do a huge effort to focus; thus he almost fell to the ground when Voldemort let go of his hands. He forced himself to stand, although his knees were shaking, and he saw the Dark Lord lift the heavy cauldron. Under it there was a basin full of a silvery liquid.

"Look in here, Draco. Remember."

The liquid started spinning, and Draco couldn´t fight the sudden desire to touch it. He did, and in a matter of seconds his head was spinning too. Everything went black.

-*-

Draco woke up with his head in pain. He was lying next to a small boy that was crouching behind a door. The boy looked an awful lot like Harry Potter.

Very like Potter, to be eavesdropping like this. But how the hell did Voldemort´s pensieve take me to Potter´s past?

"... returned again, Priest."

"Heaven above! It is the 8^th time! Will we ever find a family for Thomas Riddle?! What did they say this time?"

"The same of the other times. The boy is... abnormal."

"That he is for sure."

Draco looked to the side and saw a single tear working its way down the boy´s cheek. In a flash, he understood. The little boy was Voldemort as a kid.

Anger. I can feel his anger as my own. Fucking mudbloods who fail to recognise a great wizard and treat him like dirt!

Everything started to spin again. Draco was now on a huge dormitory. He looked around for Tom Riddle, but didn´t see him. He heard noise of children screaming, and went to the window.

Down on the orphanage´s courtyard, he saw a boy running for dear life. All the other kids were chasing him. The running boy was Riddle, and he was soon cornered against a wall.

"Came back again, eh?"

"Freak!"

"Freaky-iddle-Riddle can´t find a family!"

"That´s because he´s a freak, an aberration!"

All the children broke into cries of "Freak! Freak! Freak!".

Draco was getting desperate. He could feel all of Riddle´s fear, his panic and despair. How utterly alone he was. Instinctively, Draco´s hand went for the Uylessea stone hanging close to his chest. An explosion shook him out of his state.

Outside, Riddle had just executed wandless magic and petrified one of the boys´ hand. The rest of the crow jumped on him in fury and they started beating him. Draco could feel every blow as if he were taking it. He fell to the floor and everything started spinning again.

He was now in a bathroom which he recognised instantly as Hogwarts´. There was a girl washing her face. She wore big glasses, and her eyes were red from crying. She was mumbling something, and Draco tried hard to hear.

"Olivia... ugly and.. and... mudblood!"

She burst out crying again. Draco felt disgusted. He looked around for Riddle, and found him leaning against a wall inside one of the cubicles. Then he heard a whisper.

"Isss that the girl?"

"Yesss. Kill her."

It weren´t whispers. It were hisses.

The basilisk.

Draco knew very well what came next; his father had told him. The basilisk slipped out of one toilet sink, scarring the hell out of the mudblood girl and killing her.

Joy. Revenge. Riddle´s revenge.

Draco could feel Riddle´s thrilling over his first kill as if it were his own. Suddenly he understood what made Voldemort tickle, why did he like blood so much.

It´s all about revenge.

His world started spinning again.

-*-

Lucius finished fixing his arm, or as much of it as he could get done without any aid, and looked around. All the Death Eaters were divided in small groups, gossiping. Lucius rolled his eyes at their idiocy. Then two bent down figures caught his attention, because the one who was actually lying in the floor was Severus Snape.

He quickly strode to Pansy Parkinson´s side.

"Ah... Mr. Malfoy."

In one look he could tell she was desperately worried.

"Yes? Has he been out for long?"

"No. But how will he get back to the school?"

"I´ll take care of that. He has to take Draco back."

Excuses. Ever so needed, so people won´t think Severus is a friend of mine. Because I´m a Death Eater; I´m nobody´s friend and nobody´s family.

His own bitter words echoed on his mind. Pansy´s worried eyes were still upon him.

"Sir..."

Using that tone, she could as well have tugged on my sleeve.

"Yes?"

Before Pansy could open her pretty mouth to say what was it that was worrying her so much, the trapdoor opened. All eyes converted to Voldemort, who was climbing the stairs carrying the limp body of Draco.

Lucius was there with a few quick strides. He took Draco on his arms, unconsciously clutching him close to his own body.

Take your hands out of my son.

Voldemort smiled at that sight. So obvious.

He loves his son. Himself. Ah, Lucius... vanity is my personal favourite sin.

"Companions."

He clapped hands to get people´s attention.

"Tonight young Draco Malfoy has joined our Cause. You´ve all seen him duel Lucius; I´m pretty sure I don´t need to advise anybody to be careful around him. Lucius, the boy is tired out. You´re all dismissed for tonight."

Lucius nodded as means of bow, and turned away, heading to Severus´ body. With aid of Pansy, he held both his son and his friend and disapparated to Malfoy Manor.

-*-

"Winnie!"

Winnie woke up most frightened. Master Lucius was calling.

Mid-night again. Master covered in blood.

She ran to the drawing room, and couldn´t help but let out a scream as she caught sight of Lucius and young master Draco covered in blood and the visit Snape knocked out. Master Lucius was, as always, very calm.

"Take Severus to the guest room."

"Yes sir."

Lucius himself climbed the stairs holding Draco´s light body.

He inherited Narcissa´s light bone structure; I might as well be carrying a tissue instead of my son.

He strode through the corridors until he reached Draco´s room. There he lay his son on his bed carefully, and started undressing him. He felt his heart prodding when he saw the Mark in coagulating blood. He squeezed his eyes shut, hating that view.

My son bears the mark of slavery.

He carried on with the examination. There were scratches on Draco´s wrists, and the greenish purple on his side where his ribs were broken, not counting lots of minor bruises.

I did these. But you fought bravely, Draco.

Lucius started applying healing charms to his son´s wounds; he was very good at those. Draco would be as good as new in the morning. Once he was finished he dressed Draco and tucked him in bed, pulling the covers up to the boy´s chin.

Sleep well, my Dragon.

He closed the door and took a deep breath. It was time to go see Severus.

Confusing thoughts raced in his head as he walked through the corridors in search of the guest room Snape used to occupy, stopping by his storage room to get some Mandrake tonic first.

Stupefied. Served him right, after the little dramatic moment he created for himself. I had never thought Sev would be so... un-Slytherin.

Winnie was still there, placing Severus in the bed. Apparently it was hard for a House Elf to wander around Malfoy Manor carrying a man´s body. Lucius were not a Malfoy, he would have sighed in exasperation.

"Winnie. Go back to your bed."

"But visit Snape needs care, sir, and so do you and Young Master Draco, sir. Must not take Young Master Draco place Master Lucius gets covered in blood!"

"It was an *order*, Winnie."

Winnie gulped and exited the room. She knew better than to argue with nervous Master Lucius.

Now young Master Draco comes mid-night covered in blood too! He too young for that! And they bring visit Snape! More work for Winnie!

Lucius saw the elf exiting the room and sat by Severus, forcing the potion down his friend´s throat.

Severus woke, coughing and spitting mandrake tonic all over Lucius´ robes. Lucius didn´t mind; they were so ripped, dirty and stained with blood that they were going to be burnt anyway. He forced Severus to lay back down.

"Lucius... where´s..."

"Sleep, Sev. You´ll take Draco back to the school tomorrow."

He exited the room, finally going towards his own one.

The House Elf has the most enervating way of standing up to her Masters and acting like their nanny. I must have let out all the anxiety on the her. I hadn´t felt this nervous in years.

Lucius then realised that he was nervous about Draco.

I needn´t be. It´s over, it´s finally over.

As much as his rational side told him so, and Lucius´ rational side was taken in consideration most of the time, he was unease.

He changed directions so that he now was heading to Draco´s room.

Draco was sleeping peacefully, and Lucius pulled a chair and sat by Draco´s bed. He found that it was most therapeutic and relaxing to watch his son sleep, and he allowed himself to get lost on Draco.

Lucius traced every line of his son´s body with his eyes, marvelling at how perfect Draco was, not realising that his son was a copy of himself. He then felt compelled to do something he hadn´t done in years. Not giving it a second thought he leaned down and kissed Draco´s forehead. He smelled the rich scent of his son´s silvery blond hair, then gave the bruised lips a quick peck. In spite off the metallic taste of blood, Draco tasted sweet, and Lucius felt his heart squeezing.

Too sweet.

-*-

"Don´t. You. Dare. Ask."

This is about all the explanation Severus ever got from Lucius when the latter sneaked under his sheets in the middle of the night, naked. Then it was wonder.

Severus´ senses went blurry; he heard himself screaming for Lucius when he came, and that was all he could remember.