To Eat Death or Not To Eat Death?

To Eat Death or Not to Eat Death? That is the Question.

(A tale of three boys' Rite of Passage)

Prologue: An Appetizer

Draco couldn't see a thing, as he was being led down what seemed to a long, steep, stone staircase. He could smell a musty scent that reminded him of being in the dungeons at Hogwarts. The air was cold, but that wasn't why he shivered. His eyes were blindfolded and the cloth he desperately wanted to remove. He couldn't though, as his hands were bound and bleeding from the thorned vine they used to do so. Another shiver went down his spine as they descended upon the dirt floor. No turning back now... he was going to be a Death Eater and now his father would have to be proud of him.

~*.*~

Lucius's eyes were locked on his son. He was dirty, bleeding, and... scared. Lucius may not been around much while he grew up, but he did know his son well enough to tell that he was scared. Draco was seventeen now and it was time for him to join the circle of Death Eaters and become a man. "Draco..." he whispered to himself. I can't believe I'm having second thoughts about this now. This is what I raised him to do. He is my only heir. And yet I can remember me when I was just a boy... At that moment Lucius caught Snape's eye.

~*.*~

Chapter One: Tears and Eclairs

Severus Snape strolled into the empty Slytherin common room. He was a tall, thin, sickly looking boy with long black oily hair extending half way down his back. He sighed as he slumped down in a velvet green armchair by the fire trying to get in a comfortable position to read. Just what I was hoping for, a nice, quiet, study period without any of distractions. Stupid party, I didn't want to go anyway

With that, a very pissed off Lucius Malfoy came sauntering in with four girls. Three of which were Slytherin, the other one Severus didn't recognize. Must be from another house. "What are you doing here? Don't you have somewhere else to read?" Lucius threw himself down on a couch. Severus was just about to throw a retort at him when, of course, Lucius opened his mouth to hear himself speak again. "Merlin! Just wait until my father hears about this! They'll be sorry then." One of the girls attempted to slide her hand down Lucius pants. "Don't! What did I tell you before? I'm not interested. I don't want any of your diseases. Merlin! Don't you think I'm a little young for that." The raven-haired girl giggled and tried to grope him. "You know what? You know what! Out. Just get out. I'm not old enough for this. Out!" Lucius's thirteen-year-old voice squeaked. Geez, just because I'm pretty...

Severus slammed his book shut a stalked to his dormitory room. "I'm not going to get any reading done there. Doesn't he ever shut-up?" He mumbled to himself.

It was only a couple weeks into Severus's fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and of course the usual sorting of the firsties was finished. Then there was the student sorting by popular was selected from the unpopular and the diseased from the unpopular and so on. Severus was a brain. In fact he was the Slytherin brain. He already was knee high in "business ventures" this year or rather he'd do papers and potions for other Slytherin students, for a price of course.

He didn't fit in, and it wasn't like he was in the wrong house. Oh no, he was a Slytherin all right. He knew more curses than any of the other students. He just didn't fit in anywhere. His father told him when he was younger that was the price you pay when you're a genius. He thought he'd grow out of it. But he didn't.

Then there were prats like Lucius Malfoy, rich, spoiled, and stupid. Lucius never shut his mouth. Ever. He didn't get it. How could a white-haired, pale, short, girly looking third year be so, so popular? Seventh year girls wanted him. Why? Cause he's a Malfoy. That's why. Still it wasn't right. He was he in his fifth year and the seventh year girls didn't even bother to talk to him, unless they needed facial potion, stupid vain bitches. What was even worse was this brat, Malfoy, shared his dormitory. The bugger got beat up last year by some kid in his dorm because the guy's girlfriend was all over Malfoy. Anyway he got moved into the fifth year dormitory. He probably complained to his father and wanted a bigger room.

Severus spent the rest of the night reading More Potente Potions until, Guy Parkinson, Phoenix Zabini, and Lucius came in for bed. Who knew where their other roommate was? He was probably off diddling some Ravenclaw. For a while the three boys talked about the party that had taken place that night in the forbidden forest and sometime while eavesdropping on their conversation Severus fell asleep.

~*.*~

Severus's dark eyes fluttered open suddenly, there were quiet sobs coming from the bed next to him, Lucius's bed. Severus didn't know what to do. He lay there a few minutes trying to fall back to sleep. He figured he'd pretend like he hadn't heard anything. It wasn't working; he needed the bathroom too badly. So he sat up. The sobs were quickly stifled.

Severus was just comfortable and back in bed again when a small voice asked if he was awake. "No. I'm not."

"Oh. Well then."

"Why?"

"I'm hungry."

"So?"

"Are you?"

"No."

"I really want an éclair. Are you sure you aren't hungry."

"Well, I am now that you're talking about éclairs."

"Good because I don't like to eat alone."

Suddenly Severus was shoved aside as Lucius came crawling into his bed, making himself quite cozy under the covers. He was holding a bag and a jug. Severus sat up beside Lucius glowered at the thin white-haired boy. "I didn't invite you. Some people sleep at night."

"Those people are snoring in the other beds. You were awake."

Severus continued to scowl at him.

"Oh knock it off. I know you dislike anything breathing in comparison to books and wolfsbane but I'm giving you food. Here take one. I've got a ton. I nicked a bunch at dinner."

Severus dropped his scowl and opted for one of the eclairs instead. "Um... Thanks."

Lucius picked bits off his éclair and put some in his mouth. "This is fun. How come you didn't go to the party? I didn't see you there at all."

"I wasn't invited," he admitted.

"Oh." Severus watched Lucius pick at his éclair.

"Why do you eat like that?"

Lucius shrugged. "It's Malfoy manners."

What, to eat like a pussy boy," Severus retorted.

"No. Not to eat like a pig," Lucius replied as Severus took another huge bite of éclair, pudding dripping on his chin. They ate in silence for a while. Severus ate three in the time it took Lucius to eat one éclair. "You want a drink. I've got pumpkin juice in here." He held out the jug and Severus took a swig. "Thanks."

Lucius made a sideward glance a Severus. "Hey, um, you won't tell anyone about me crying right? Malfoys aren't supposed to cry and besides it's embarrassing."

"I won't tell. I could care less."

"Right, then. Goodnight." Lucius scooted out of the bed with the empty bag and jug. Severus couldn't help thinking that was strangest thing. He hadn't much bothered with Lucius. Just figured him for a rich, whiny brat. Seemed to be what he did best most of the time. Severus fell back to sleep wondering what Lucius was upset about.

~*.*~

It wasn't until December twenty-ninth that Severus woke up to crying again.

"Who's there?" There was some sniffling and clearing of the throat before an answer came.

"It's Malfoy."

"What are you doing here? Didn't you go home for Holiday?"

"My father sent me back." His voice cracked at father and the silent flow of tears seemed to be the loudest thing in the room.

"Hey, Lucius? You, uh, okay?" There was no reply. "Lucius?"

Severus could hear Lucius padding over to his bed. Lucius climbed into his bed holding a fist full of handkerchiefs. "Can I talk to you?" Tears threatened to spill out over Lucius's gray-silver eyes, and there was a bruise on his left cheek bone.

"You can, but I'm warning you I don't know the whole console someone thing."

"You can't tell anyone."

"Like I have anyone to tell," he joked. A faint smile formed on Lucius lips.

"Okay then." Lucius took a moment. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Severus was patient. See tonight my father got drunk, you know being the holidays and all. I normally stay out of his way, but I hadn't wanted to stop torturing this house elf in the study so I didn't go to my room." Lucius forced a small laugh. Anyway he came in and started in on me about what a failure and disgrace I am and so on. I couldn't take it, I couldn't keep my mouth shut. That's how I got this bruise and it's not the only one I've got on me. My mother sent me back here where I'd be safe until he sobers up. Lucius paused before he spoke. "He tried to kill me."

Severus stared at him not knowing what to say. He took in all of Lucius. In the dark he could see bruising around Lucius's pale throat. Lucius's face was splotchy from crying and his nose was red. "Wow, um, I mean, are you okay?"

Lucius laughed a little. "You were right. You are bad at this consoling thing."

Severus laughed. "Yeah, I am. Sorry."

"No it's okay. Yeah I'm fine. I just don't know what to do. This happens a lot."

Severus was quiet. "I understand that. When I lived with my Aunt and Uncle on my mum's side they abused me."

"You don't live with your parents? I didn't know that. I thought... I assumed. I assumed you were like the rest of us."

"Yeah, well, my parents died when I was seven. I live with my Grandfather Snape now. He, uh, he takes care of all my financial needs, like Hogwarts. He's old fashioned though, and I know my place. He's a good man."

"Sorry about your parents."

Severus looked at Lucius. He looked sincere. "You know, I always took you for a prat."

Lucius laughed. "Yeah, well, don't let it get out I'm not entirely. Then my father would really kill me." After a pause between the two of them Lucius shifted a bit, "Hey, um, you think we could be friends after this, Crabbe and Goyle aren't much conversation, the girls get annoying, and it'd be really good if I had a friend to help me maybe with potions and stuff. So you think we could be?"

Severus was taken back a bit. "I guess we could be. I mean we have a lot in common, sucky family life, we both hate your friends..."

"Hey I didn't say I hated them."

They laughed and talked awhile until before both fell asleep in Severus's bed.