Rebellion

The hand that closed over Draco’s mouth gripped his face firmly, and he cried out in surprise against it.

“Hush,” a voice whispered hoarsely.

Draco, eyes wide, struggled feebly, but the wandtip pressed against his ribs convinced him to give in. The hand relaxed, and he turned.

“Father!”

The elder Malfoy’s cheekbones protruded more than Draco remembered. His head had been shaved, leaving only pale fuzz.

“What are you doing here?” Draco asked.

“I came for you,” he said.

“They said you escaped,” Draco said. “The Dark Lord is very angry with you for not checking in.”

“That’s not the reason,” Lucius said. He knelt beside the sofa and kissed Draco deeply. Draco melted against his father’s body. He had never felt more acutely how much he had missed Lucius.

“Oh, god,” he whispered. “So much has been happening. I needed you.”

“I’m sorry, love,” Lucius said, stroking Draco’s hair. “Right now I need you to come with me, and not ask me any questions. Bring only what you can carry easily.”

“What?”

“No questions.” Lucius kissed Draco gently on the cheek and stood, going to the window. “We have only a little while longer.”

Draco went to his closet and Lucius pushed aside the heavy curtain to look out across the grounds.

“Severus will meet us outside,” Lucius said.

“I don’t understand,” Draco said, gathering some things into his old school bag.

“I’ll explain everything once we’re safely away. For now, I need you to trust me.” He looked back at Draco and his face softened. “You’ve grown.”

“Four centimeters,” Draco said proudly. “I’m ready.”

It was cool out, and Draco drew his cloak about himself closely. Snape met them by the rear gate and they slipped out. No words passed between them as Lucius led them to the small forest on the estate. They found the old well cap easily, and Lucius tapped it with his wand. The stone lid slid aside and Lucius picked up something from inside, using the edge of his cloak so as not to touch it.

“Take one,” he said, offering Draco a small piece of metal.

“What is it?” Draco asked.

“A portkey.” He held one out to Severus, who took it and disappeared with a pop.

Draco felt uneasy, but he took one of the remaining discs. The trees vanished.

Snape steadied him as he stumbled into existence in a new place.

“Mind the slope,” Snape said. Draco righted himself and followed the older wizard a short distance away. After a moment, Lucius appeared.

“Where are we?” Draco asked.

“Somewhere safe.” Lucius looked up, and Draco followed his gaze. Silhouetted against the waning moon was a crumbling stone tower. “Come along.”

“Are you going to explain to me now?” Draco asked. He jogged to keep up as Lucius set off at a quick pace. Snape followed them silently.

“I didn’t escape from Azkaban,” Lucius said softly.

“Then how?”

“I was released.” He stopped short, and Draco came up beside him. Lucius cupped his cheek gently, and then his brow furrowed. “Draco, what is this?”

“It’s not serious,” Draco said. Lucius touched the wound on his neck gently.

“Severus?” he asked, looking at the other wizard.

“I can’t be sure,” Snape said. “But I think it was Greyback.”

Lucius’ face twisted with fury.

“How dare he,” he muttered darkly.

“‘For the sins of your fathers you, though guiltless, must suffer,’” Snape said solemnly.

Draco followed his father down to the bottom of the hill and waited while he spelled open the door to the tower.

“What is this place?” he asked, as Lucius lit torches by the door. Snape closed it behind them.

“It belongs to Severus,” Lucius said.

“It does?”

“My mother’s father left it to me,” Snape said. “The Dark Lord doesn’t know about it.”

“We won’t stay here long,” Lucius said. “But it was the best we could do on such short notice.”

“It has a certain rustic charm,” Snape said, smiling wryly.

“Now have a seat, and I’ll give you the explanation I promised,” Lucius said, gesturing.

Snape got a fire roaring in the grate and disappeared into one of the other rooms. Draco and his father sat at the small table.

“Severus has been working for both sides for a long time now,” Lucius said.

“Spying on Dumbledore for the Dark Lord,” Draco agreed.

“Not exactly.” Lucius waved a hand. “Even I don’t know all the details of Severus’ service for both sides, but what it comes down to is this: through his connections with the Order of the Phoenix, he got me released from Azkaban.”

“On what conditions?”

“I am to deliver you to them,” he said, meeting Draco’s eye.

Draco coughed slightly. He looked at Lucius, uncertain what to say.

“Nothing like that, love,” Lucius told him.

“Then what?” Draco asked. “I’m a Death Eater, remember? And so are you.”

“Things are not always so black and white, Draco,” Lucius chided softly.

“I think they are,” Draco said. His voice trembled with barely-restrained anger. “I hope you thought this through, father.”

“I have.”

“And I’ve been punished for it,” Draco hissed. “If Snape is right, and Greyback bit me, you know what will happen.”

“I’m sorry,” Lucius said. “I never intended for any of this to happen.”

Draco was taken aback. Lucius had never apologized to him about anything before.

“He meant you to fail, you know,” he whispered, looking away from Draco. His eyes reflected the flickering flames in the fireplace.

“Why would the Dark Lord want that?” Draco asked. “I obeyed his orders.”

“Because he knew you would enable them to take out Dumbledore, and he wanted you dead.”

“Right,” Draco said, standing. He walked away from his father. “Azkaban has made you paranoid.”

“It’s true,” Severus said, coming back in. He handed Draco a slip of parchment. “Put this on the tip of your tongue for a moment.”

Draco obeyed, and Snape took it back from him. The parchment darkened to an orange color, and Snape wrinkled up his nose.

“What?” Draco asked.

“You’ve been exposed to lycanthropy,” Severus said.

“Why would Greyback bite me?” Draco said.

“The Dark Lord probably ordered it,” Lucius said. “Or Fenrir was angry at me for turning coat. Either way, it would accomplish His goals. If you choose to stay with the Death Eaters as part of the werewolf army, so much the better. But if you decide to strike out on your own, you’ll probably be killed.”

“All in a neat little package,” Snape said. He threw the parchment on the fire.

“The Dark Lord said if Dumbledore was killed then all debts were absolved,” Draco said stubbornly, sticking out his chin.

“He told you what you needed to hear to keep you in line,” Lucius said.

“You said you were taking me to the Order,” Draco said. “What do they want with me?”

“Before he died, Dumbledore gave you something. The Order wants it back.”

“He didn’t give me anything,” Draco said. He looked at Severus. “You never cease to amaze, Snape. All this time I thought you were on the level.”

Snape laughed hollowly.

“Of all the people,” he said, shaking his head.

Draco frowned.

“Severus has always been quite adept at serving his own needs,” Lucius chuckled. “You might learn from that.”

“What about you?” Draco asked. “What did it take to turn you?”

“They offered me a promise,” Lucius said soberly. He looked up at Draco.

“What promise?”

“Your life,” Lucius said. “And mine, though that’s not worth much anymore.”

“Who are they to promise you that?” Draco asked.

“It’s not so hard to give a man his life,” Lucius said. “All you have to do is kill him.”

At Draco’s confused look, Severus spoke.

“They’re going to fake your death and hide you from the Dark Lord.”

“And you, Snape? What are you going to do?”

“Go back to Malfoy Manor and act like nothing happened,” Snape said, smiling. “In fact, now that you two are settled, I should be leaving.”

“Godspeed, Sev,” Lucius said, rising. He offered the other wizard his hand. “Thank you.”

“You’ll pay me back when the time comes,” he said. “Draco, I hope you’ll appreciate in time what your father has done for you.”

“Goodbye,” Draco said hesitantly. Severus offered him his hand and they shook. He smiled at Draco and left, closing the door behind him.

“This is all too weird,” Draco said.

“I know.” Lucius took his hands and kissed him gently. “I’ve missed you so, Draco.”

“I was so mad at you for getting caught,” Draco said. “I thought I might never see you again.”

Lucius pulled Draco into his arms. His father’s body felt strange to Draco, somehow fragile, and Draco realized he could feel the older man’s ribs.

“You look awful,” he laughed, pressing his cheek into Lucius’ shoulder.

“I know,” Lucius chuckled. He kissed Draco’s temple. Draco looked up at him and the confusion and mistrust, the anger and frustration and sorrow, all seemed to melt out of his heart. He pulled Lucius down into a firm kiss.

“If you leave me again,” he threatened.

“I won’t,” Lucius promised. He bent to kiss Draco’s neck, carefully avoiding the side with the open wound.