The Last Command

Severus walked into the sitting room where his young ward was reading a piece of parchment.

"Where have you been?" Draco asked.

"I assure you, if it had been for you to know, I would have informed you."

Draco opened his mouth, then shut it. Severus watched him open it again, close it, and swallow.

"Draco, are you impersonating a cod for any particular reason, or do you have something to say?"

"Severus... my mother sent a letter."

Severus raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, waiting for Draco to go on.

"She... she thinks that I should go. She wants me to go back with her."

"And where would you go? I assure you, there are Aurors at her house daily. They wait for when you should arrive. They want to take you to Azkaban, where you can share a cell with your father, but first they will torture you. They will torture you mercilessly until you break. They will want information, confessions, and they will stop at nothing to get it. They will want you to betray our lord. They will want you to betray me. To tell them where you have been."

"I...I can't. The Fidelius..."

"The Fidelius will prevent you from speaking of this place, yes. But the Aurors won't care."

"Severus... I think my mother wants me to betray the Dark Lord."

"What makes you say that?" He gazed into the boy's eyes.

"It's nothing. Just a feeling I have. I think... I don't know. I know she still believes in the cause. It's..." Draco stopped; Severus's glare still boring into him. "It's just a feeling I have," he repeated.

"I see. Forgive me if I don't rush off to inform our master that you "have a feeling" your mother may have strayed."

Draco's eyes widened. "No. Don't, I mean..." He took a deep breath. "Would it be so bad for her to get away from this?"

"I guarantee you, it would be bad for her." Severus gauged the young man in front of him.

"Other than that."

"Your mother is a fully trained witch, well capable of handling herself. She knew the stakes when she joined the Dark Lord. She knows the stakes now. I am not sure what it is you are asking me."

Draco shook his head. "Never mind," he said quietly.

Perhaps there is hope for the boy after all, Snape thought. "Draco, remember that there are far worse fates than being in hiding." He gestured to the book-covered walls. "There is plenty of reading material here. Make yourself at home. It is as much your place as it is mine for the time being."

"How long do I have to stay here?"

"I will speak with our master. He may see fit to include you in one of the raids. I am sure there will be enough carnage to satisfy any urges you may have to leave the confines of my home for a fair period of time."

Draco paled a bit, but a small smirk appeared on his face. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. I have seen first hand what can happen when a person is caged for too long. I have no desire to see that happen to you."

"So, I can really look at any of the books here I wish?"

"I did say so. You are of age, and already know more than the others of your year. Just be sure not to tell Wormtail what you read," he hissed the last part.

Draco looked puzzled for a minute and started when a voice came from behind him.

"You won't let me touch your books," Wormtail whined. "He's just a kid, he doesn't know the power some of those books have."

"How long have you been listening?" Draco blanched.

"Long enough to hear you griping at being locked in." Wormtail shot back. "As if we had a choice. Who would choose to be stuck with Snape?"

Severus drew his wand, and before Wormtail realized he had it out, he was knocked across the room with a bruise appearing on his face. Severus stood and loomed over the quivering man. "You have one purpose, Wormtail, and that is to assist me. I serve the Dark Lord in many ways, one of which is developing new potions. I am sure I can find a use for human tongue in one of them."

The little man gulped, and ran from the room. Draco had a hand over his mouth in a vain attempt to cover his laughter.

"I have no use for the man. You are far better at research, potions... well everything, than he is." Severus allowed a small smile to reach his lips. "Draco, come here."

Draco walked over to Severus, who took his hand. He placed it near one of the shelves. Draco yelped as if he had been burned, and tried to pull his hand back. Severus kept it in place, and the books' wards glowed red for a minute while he adjusted them to allow the young man access.

"Now, would you care to assist me in my lab again?"

"I'd rather read, if it's all the same to you."

"Very well."

Draco ran his hands along the books. He found one with its spine almost completely broken and pulled it out. He blew on the top of the front cover, and a plume of dust arose, making him cough. "Hmm...'Untraceable Poisons of Ancient Egypt.' I think this could be interesting."

Severus cocked his head. "As long as you don't practice any of those on me."

"I won't... I can't promise anything when it comes to Wormtail though." Draco smirked, and Severus held back a chuckle.

"Please try and hold back... I'd hate to have to explain to the Dark Lord why Wormtail cannot attend any future engagements." Draco's smirk just grew, and he sat down on the worn sofa and began to read.