Before Harry Met Sevy

Chapter 13: The Malfoys' Party
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For three nights and four days, Severus wondered what his father had planned. Silias didn't go near the basement, and despite Lily's attempt to convince him otherwise, Severus was sure that his holiday plans had been altered. On Christmas Eve, the door creaked open, causing the boy to leap to his feet. His father had failed to disarm him upon his homecoming, and the boy grasped the handle of his wand, anticipating a confrontation. Silias, however, looked - happy. Severus withdrew his hand from his wand, utterly perplexed.

"Get your dress robes on," snapped his father. "Your mother's had them cleaned and pressed. I trust I do not need to remind you of how to behave?" Severus shook his head, excitement coursing through his veins. That's why he kept me here, he realized. He wanted to be sure I was on my best behavior tonight. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he failed to hear Silias' next sentence. "Are you listening, boy?"

"Yes, sir," responded Severus immediately.

"Hmph." Silias continued to glare at the boy for a moment before turning to make his way up the stairs. "You have one hour before we are to leave. I suggest you be ready." Severus smirked behind his back as he followed him up the stairs. His father was concerned that he'd embarrass him at the party, and Severus was equally concerned that Silias would do something to embarrass him. Wordlessly, he climbed the stairs to his bedroom, where his trunk, surprisingly enough, had already been brought. A set of dress robes lay on his bed, and as he pulled off the clothes he'd worn for four days, he realized it might be wise for him to bathe before changing. Making his way down the hall to the bathroom, he didn't see or hear a single member of his family stirring. That's odd, he thought as he turned on the tap and climbed in.

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Thirty minutes later, cleansed and dressed, Severus lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had still not heard a sound from the rest of the house, but automatically assumed he should not seek the others out. Silias would let him know when he was preparing to leave - he'd already demonstrated to his son that he desired his presence at the event, and Severus was sure he would not neglect to inform him when they left. As he lay there, he thought about his uncle's words from the previous summer, and thought also of Silias' wish to be considered the Malfoys' equal. That doesn't mean they're the same as him, Severus rationalized. Just because he wants their approval. Maybe they're just powerful. That has to be it. Even with his attempt at explaining it, Silias' interest in the Malfoys did not sit easy with him. Normally, anything which Silias found desirable was something Severus would strive to avoid. Yet now - he had a trac! e of a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, reaching for the same goal as his father. But was he really? It wasn't the entire Malfoy family Severus wished to cling to - merely Lucius, his friend - the one person at school, aside from Lily, who accepted him as he was.

"Severus?" The small voice that spoke from the doorway broke into his thoughts, causing him to look up. Steven stood in the doorway, dressed in similar black robes, struggling to restrain himself from rushing to his brother's side, and failing miserably. "What's Hogwarts like? Is it much better there? Are you learning lots of spells? Will you teach me some? Will you-"

"Slow down!" interrupted Severus, shaking his head. "Did Father send you up?" Steven nodded as Severus leapt from the bed. "Excellent. Let's get going, then." He strode through the door, his brother close at his heels.

"But do they really have ghosts? What's your favorite subject? Are the professors nice?"

"Yes," Severus answered obliquely.

"To which part?" asked Steven, evidently confused. Severus was spared from a further barrage of questions as the pair arrived in the living room, where their parents were waiting. Rebekah did not acknowledge her sons in any way - indeed, she looked far worse than Severus ever remembered seeing her. There were no visible blemishes on her green velvet robes, nor were there any signs of injury in any form, but her eyes were dull and devoid of emotion, sending a chill down the boy's spine. As his father spotted the pair of them, he pushed his eldest son inside the fireplace.

Severus grabbed a handful of Floo powder, and yelled, "Malfoy Manor," not bothering to hide the excitement from his voice. He stepped out of the ornate fireplace to which he'd been Flooed, and nearly tripped over a wizened house elf.

"Good evening, sir," the elf wheezed, bowing to the floor. "You come alone?" Severus shook his head.

"No, the others are-" before he finished, his mother emerged from the hearth, followed shortly by Steven and Silias.

"This way," instructed the house elf, disappearing through a set of large wooden doors in the wall directly opposite where they stood. They followed immediately, though eyeing the new environment with curiosity. The room they had entered was overly large; the furniture which it housed equally so. As they passed through the double doors and into the dining room, Severus heard his father let out a soft moan of longing. A brilliant crystal chandelier hung above a table in the center of the enclosure. Made of solid mahogany, both the table and the matching high-backed chairs were massive. Large enough to seat at least a hundred guests, it was draped with a black tablecloth and adorned with the most dazzling dinnerware Severus had ever seen. The flatware looked to be solid silver, with gold etchings on the handles. The plates were the same, but the goblets - Severus looked back at his father, who had stopped in his procession to openly gawk at the goblet! s inlaid with emeralds and rubies. He saw the lust and envy in Silias' eyes as he began to walk once again behind his family. That's what he wants, Severus suddenly realized. It isn't anything to do with who the Malfoys are. It's what they are that he cares about. Rich. Powerful. The thought raised his spirits somewhat - he wasn't after the same thing his father yearned for at all. Unable to suppress the grin that graced his features, he triumphantly followed the house elf out of the French doors and onto the veranda.

The yard was decorated even more beautifully than the dining room, with brilliant glowing spheres of every shade floating overhead, and fairies darting through the fountain in its center. A live band was set up near the fountain, playing songs which Severus had never heard before. The yard and veranda were filled with witches and wizards, most of whom Severus did not recognize. His view was soon blocked by the arrival of their hosts. Braeden and Lucius approached the foursome, matching cold smiles on their faces. As Lucius turned with his father, however, Severus swore he saw the older boy wink at him.

"Silias," Braeden greeted, inclining his head the tiniest bit. "I was beginning to doubt you would come at all."

"The invitation which I received specified nine o'clock," Silias said coolly, though Severus could see he had been caught off guard. Braeden glanced at his watch, then flicked his eyes back to Silias.

"Indeed. It is curious that none of our other guests kept us waiting," Braeden drawled, his eyes fixed onto Silias' face, which was growing increasingly redder.

"It was the boy, I assure you," he stammered, jabbing his finger at Severus. The child narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to speak, pausing only at the nearly imperceptible shake of Lucius' head. Severus tore his angry gaze from his father, and stared instead at Braeden, who was studying him in turn.

"Well," Braeden began slowly, "that certainly does not sound like the young man Lucius has been singing the praises of." His eyes moved from the boy to his father. "Or perhaps you are saying that my son has made an error in judgment, Silias?" A grim feeling of triumph arose in Severus' body as he watched his father squirm uncomfortably.

"I - I didn't mean to imply -" he stammered.

"Father, may I escort Severus and his brother to where the other children are waiting?" A brief nod from his father had Lucius motioning for the boys to follow him. "Don't worry about it," Lucius advised as Severus shot a look back at his parents. "Father doesn't believe him any more than I do." Severus nodded absently, his eyes still focused on his father, who seemed to be squirming under the scrutiny of Braeden Malfoy. His attention was brought back to Lucius as Steven tugged on the sleeve of his robe, pointing towards a group of children, ranging in ages from those as young as Steven to a few seventh years Severus recognized from school. The assembly was separated into two unequal units, the smaller of which was continually glaring at the larger. Severus stopped in his tracks as he recognized Sirius amidst the smaller group.

"What's he doing here?" he hissed. Lucius smiled in an offhand manner as he made his way towards the larger group.

"His parents are good friends with Father," he said simply. "I believe he's forced to come. Most of the pureblooded families try and attach themselves to Father's side. They believe they'll be as respected as he is." Lucius cast a disapproving stare towards Silias."Of course, some are sorely mistaken. However, sacrifices must be made for the children of those sorry sods. Particularly when they display the qualities of their bloodline." Despite Lucius' words to placate him, Sirius' presence at the party served to cloud Severus' good mood. He continued to glare at the boy as they approached the larger group of children, earning a look of curiosity from Steven.

"Who is he?" the boy asked quietly, looking between the two classmates.

"Nobody," Severus replied shortly, tearing his eyes from his nemesis. "Nobody important." His attention became focused on the group of children which now surrounded him, and he studied their faces as Lucius introduced Steven to the group. The entire group of Slytherins with whom Lucius and Severus spent their time were present, along with a few scattered faces from higher years which he recognized. He greeted his companions, then stole another look over to the group in which Sirius stood.

"They prefer to think of themselves as morally above us," spoke a feminine voice directly beside him. Severus turned to see Narcissa next to him, her blue eyes dancing in the light from the overhead spheres. She raised a slim finger to point to a slender girl who stood by Sirius. The girl looked vaguely familiar, but Severus could not place where he'd seen her. "Our sister, Andromeda. She enjoys our cousin's company more than our own, though her attempts at restraining little Regulus are proving useless." Severus followed her stare to a young boy, not much older than Steven, having a heated discussion with both Andromeda and Sirius.

"Your brother?" Severus inquired idly.

"Cousin," replied Narcissa evenly. "He has the misfortune of being the sibling of your dear friend over there." He looked again towards the young boy, who had ceased his debate with his cousin, and turned instead to Sirius, who was shaking his head adamantly. The boy crossed his arms angrily and made to leave the group, but Sirius grabbed his arm and forced him to sit. Each of the boys began to glare in the opposite direction, evidently no longer on speaking terms.

"That always happens at these things," Rodolphus commented as he approached the pair. "They'll stay like that for ages, with Andromeda attempting to keep the peace."

"All we'll hear for days is how we've been a horrible influence on Regulus, and how we should stop 'poisoning his mind' with our 'wicked beliefs'." Narcissa smirked.

"Andromeda's a fool," snapped Bellatrix, joining them as they continued to stare at the trio. "We have had little influence on Regulus' choices. His parents have been seeing to it that he follows the right path. It is she and Sirius who are polluting his mind, attempting to 'reform' his thinking."

"The more you force your ideas on others, the more they'll fight them," Severus remarked quietly, thinking of his own family. The rest of the group eyed him with curiosity.

"You sound as if you've had experience in that matter," Lucius observed. The younger boy turned his head, realizing he'd inadvertently revealed a bit of his private life.

"Haven't I made it clear how I respond when attempts to change my beliefs are made?" Severus remarked in an effort to divert the attention to his school life.

"Indeed you have," commented the prefect. Lucius glanced around at his guests, then took the younger boy by the arm. "If you'll all excuse us for a moment or two," he drawled, leading Severus away from the party and beyond the sphere's illumination. He did not speak until they reached the edge of a large pond, where he instructed the boy to sit. Severus obeyed and looked out at the water, watching the moonlight dance over the surface. Lucius sat beside him, his piercing gray eyes studying his face. Severus felt slightly uneasy, not really knowing why Lucius had led him here. "Your father shares the beliefs of my father," he finally said, his voice low yet strong.

"And?"

"I presume he has attempted to press them onto you?" Severus looked over at him, their eyes meeting briefly.

"You could say that." Slowly and deliberately, Lucius slipped his arm free of his robes, and showed it to Severus. The boy blanched at the sight: a jagged scar ran from the base of his neck to just above his elbow. Though the wound looked as though it had been there for years, it remained red and oozing, as if it had been recently re-opened. After a moment, Lucius replaced his sleeve, then looked at Severus expectantly. He had no idea what he was supposed to say, and so remained silent.

"I began to change my beliefs to suit his after that," Lucius explained quietly. "Every man has a breaking point, Severus. Finding it is not always an easy task, but one which is necessary to survive."

"Does he still - I mean, you seem to get on with him quite well," Severus stated stupidly.

"Wouldn't want to make him unhappy, would I?" He smirked, but there was no trace of the usual cockiness when he spoke. "He's all I have left, Severus. Mum's been gone for ages, and my brother -" he stopped, leaving a thousand questions burning in Severus' mind.

"You have a brother?" Lucius smirked humorlessly again.

"One. He graduated six years ago. He did not agree with Father, about anything. Most likely the reason Father made a stronger effort to, er, convince me to see things his way." Severus' thoughts went immediately to his own brother. Would Silias make a renewed effort on Steven, once Severus seemed a lost cause to him? His heart began thudding in his chest at the possibility.

"Why hasn't your brother helped you?" he asked of his friend.

"He was killed," Lucius replied flatly.

"By your father?"

"I have my suspicions, but no valid proof. He's too clever for that."

"What happened?" Lucius did not answer his question, but stood abruptly.

"I am being a poor host. We should be getting back. I just wanted you to know - you are fighting a losing battle."

"Maybe," Severus said forcefully. "But I'm not giving in just yet." Lucius smiled down at him, not his usual arrogant smirk, but one filled with respect and understanding.

"Good man."

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The guests were seated in the dining room at ten minutes to midnight, with Lucius residing over the children at one end of the table, and Braeden overseeing the adults at the opposing end. Though separated by sixty-odd people, Severus could feel his father's eyes boring into him, waiting for him to say or do anything he deemed unsuitable. For his own part, he kept his eyes locked onto either his plate or his brother, who seemed to have grown rather attached to Sirius' younger brother.

"When do you go to Hogwarts?" Steven ventured as the soup appeared. Regulus stared at him, as if he were shocked that someone other than his brother and cousin had spoken to him.

"Two years," the boy responded, eyeing Steven carefully. Severus smirked. Sirius was silently fuming next to his brother, the presence of their parents prohibiting him from discouraging the boys' conversation. He turned his attention further down the table, to where his parents sat. His mother's movements were so wooden that he feared she was here only through the Imperius Curse. Rebekah, to his knowledge, had not spoken a word all evening, and the boy was beginning to worry. This was what his uncle considered fine? Even he could tell his mother was not the same, and the memory of that evening before term haunted his thoughts. Had his actions been for nothing? Had his father finally succeeded in obtaining, through force, an obedient and loyal wife? She had always followed his orders, yet knowing that she'd at last been defeated -

"Severus?" The sound of his name being called broke into his thoughts, causing him to seek the speaker. Narcissa, who was seated next to him, was eyeing him with concern. "Are you all right?" she questioned.

"Fine," he answered absently. She didn't look quite convinced as she looked between him and his parents.

"That's your mother down there, isn't it? Just across from mine?" Severus nodded, not having to look up to see if she was correct. "Is she ill?"

"You might say that," he said quietly, hoping she wouldn't force the issue.

"I understand," said Narcissa instead, eliciting a raised eyebrow from Severus. "She isn't the only one, you know," she stated, turning back to her food. "It is a bit commonplace, I'm afraid, within the families at this table." Her hand stopped midway to her fork, and her eyes snapped to where her parents sat. Her father was glaring at her, a look of fury in his eyes. Narcissa met his gaze unwaveringly, and it was he who finally broke contact first.

"You'll pay for that bit of pride," Bellatrix noted smoothly, her own gaze focused on her younger sister.

"It doesn't matter," Narcissa said carelessly. "I've stopped caring, really." Severus felt his heart stop for a moment. Fist Lucius, and now Narcissa, had revealed their own suffering. They truly understood what it was like, to grow up in a loveless home. His soul filled with a sense of belonging, and he knew that his place was here, with these people. He looked around at the faces surrounding him, acutely aware of the fact that it was he, and not his father, whose presence had been requested at this party. No longer focusing on his mother's behavior, he found himself picking up bits of the conversations from the others at the table.

"-an unparalleled catastrophe," said a thick-looking man sitting closest to them. He was addressing Braeden, and all of the adults seemed to be interested in the conversation.

"Yes, Dumbledore's appointment as headmaster was a bit of a disappointment. I had hoped to find a more suitable candidate, though the governors apparently feel quite differently."

"I was under the impression that you controlled the governors decisions," Silias put in. "Surely a simple thing like this could have been avoided?" Braeden stared coldly at Silias as every pair of eyes in the room focused on him.

"Evidently," he drawled, "your preconceptions of my business contacts are ill-conceived. Know that everything which was in my power to do has been done to advocate the replacement of that mudblood-loving old fool." The room grew quiet as even the children paused in their conversations to listen to the two men.

"And yet he remains at the school," Silias noted. "Losing your effectiveness, Braeden?"

"Braeden is the most influential man at this table," spoke Mr. Black, Narcissa's father, quietly. His lips turned up in a sneer as he continued, "A damn sight better than you, at any rate. What is it you do at the Ministry again? Janitorial work, is it?" His father's face turned red as he stood abruptly from the table, though his mother seemed not to hear or care what was being said. Before Silias could speak, Braeden had stood, one hand up in his direction, the other towards Mr. Black.

"Our honored guest should be arriving shortly, and it would not do to have him find us squabbling amongst ourselves. Now take your seats and do try to restrain yourselves." Severus watched as Silias remained standing, and feared that his father would succeed in getting the whole family booted from the manor. Apparently, however, the mysterious visitor who was due to arrive held some interest for him, and he sat.

The remainder of the dinner was spent in quiet conversation among the adults, and awkward silence among the children. None of Severus' friends attempted to address his father's outburst, and for that he was grateful. When the house elf came to announce the arrival of the final guest, Severus breathed a sigh of relief. As the adults retreated into the library off of the dining room, the children were told to amuse themselves in the yard. Bellatrix, however, staked out a spot immediately in front of the library doors, her ear pressed against the crack.

"Bella! If Father finds you -"

"Father is far too interested in hearing what this man has to say," Bellatrix snapped at her youngest sister. "He will neither notice nor care what we overhear." She resumed her position at the door, waving her hand to silence the others. It wasn't until Lucius joined her that the others followed, jostling for the best position. Severus found himself lying on the floor, his ear to the crevice beneath the door.

"Muggles and their mudblood supporters have denied purebloods their exclusive rights to Hogwarts for centuries," spoke a high, cold voice which Severus could not place. A chill crept up the boy's spine as the speaker continued on - who was this man? "Now they have appointed the champion of mudbloods himself, Albus Dumbledore, to the head of that institution. This man will be teaching your children, instructing them, no doubt, in the 'proper' way to treat that type of filth. It is time that we arrange for a few lessons of our own." What lessons the man was planning on teaching, the children failed to hear as Sirius suddenly fell from the chair he'd been perched on, sending the group at the door sprawling in every direction, and creating a great deal of noise. Time seemed to move in slow motion as Severus met Lucius' eyes amidst the flailing body parts of the others, each of the boys coming to the same conclusion: they had to run. Q! uickly.

Disentangling himself from the mob, Severus found his brother's cloak and pulled him from the ground, racing towards the doors to the yard. He could hear several of the others doing the same, but he did not look back until he had rounded the corner of the house and was out of sight. Within minutes, the others had joined them, little Regulus bringing up the rear.

"I heard the door open as I rounded the corner," he offered breathlessly. The children immediately began to put on placid expressions, as though they'd been standing outside all along. Braeden swept out of the doorway, accompanied by many of the men from the other room. They eyed their offspring with scrutiny, all eyes finally focusing on Lucius.

"Explain," Braeden demanded softly, his gaze alight with fury.

"Explain what, Father?" the boy responded, his gaze never wavering. Severus swallowed the lump in his throat as he witnessed the exchange. It was entirely too reminiscent of those he had first-hand knowledge of.

"You were to be entertaining your friends, away from our discussion. An overturned chair in the dining hall is evidence that you have been neglecting our guests." Lucius refrained from speaking, though his gaze remained on his father's face. Suddenly, the same cold, high voice Severus had heard from behind the doors spoke.

"It is apparent that you are ill prepared to meet with me this evening." Severus craned his neck to see the speaker, but to no avail. He remained hidden amongst the adults, his voice carrying easily through them.

"My apologies," Braeden said quickly, turning towards the voice. "I had thought my son would be capable of occupying a few children. Evidently, I was mistaken. It will not happen again, I assure you."

"See that it doesn't, Braeden. I will be in contact with you after the new year." With a loud crack, the man was gone. Severus couldn't help but feel disappointed - the adults, on the other hand, were seething. Each set of parents collected their children in stony silence, their angry glares saying volumes as to the treatment each was sure to receive upon returning home.

As they reached their living room, Severus and Steven headed immediately for the stairs, intent on getting out of their father's sight before he could take his disapproval out on them. Silias, however, seemed slightly pleased by the fact that the night was over.

"Try and tell me how to raise children, will he? Did you see the look on his face, when that Volde-what's-his-name told him off? Thinks he's so damn superior." There was no response from Rebekah, and Severus paused at the door to his room, his hand on the knob. Any minute, the punishment for her disrespect would be audible. No sound came, and after a moment, he heard her climbing the stairs as the familiar creak of Silias settling in his armchair reached his ears. He closed his door and lay on his bed, his mind spinning. This was entirely new. How could things have changed so much in mere months? What exactly was going on?

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