Alphas

…………………………………………………………………

Draco was stalking through Malfoy Manor doing his best to hunt down his father. Any other day a house elf would have told him, but his very Slytherin father had ordered them not to tell him. His mother was - as usual - of no help. Draco could not help but dislike the woman. She was just such a whore, and she even had the guts to bring her lovers home. They even had breakfast with them in the mornings. He knew that his father had taken no lovers after he was born, he had told him so himself when he asked why he didn’t, when his mother did it all the time. Draco didn’t realise until now that his father never answered the actual question.

He had nearly given up when he heard the loud sound of a smashing bottle and an even louder string of curses. He tip toed into the dark hall, to the door the noise was coming from and laid his ear to the warm wood.

“Fuck!” his father yelled. “Answer the question Lucius.” He mimicked Voldemort’s stern, slightly deeper voice. “We’d all like to know.” Another three hundred year old bottle of Odegon’s firewhiskey smashed to a million pieces over the fireplace. The flames flared when the alcohol dripped down onto the glowing wood.

“Calm down Luc…” Severus’ silky baritone flowed through the room.

“Calm down? Calm down! That is what you told me to do when the bastard left at three in the morning with a note saying “ gone to get your son. Don’t worry, won’t be long.” Lucius snapped. “A week later the world is celebrating his death!”

“Okay, don’t calm down, just stop breaking things.”

“I will break whatever the fuck I like!” he yelled back. Draco was still standing with his ear to the door, but his eyebrows had refastened themselves quite a bit higher up. He knew his father had quite of a knack for torture- he had turned it into an art form, but he had always thought of him to be a patient man.

“We were alright you know. When he was gone.” Lucius sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Draco became a good looking, happy and well-adjusted kid, Logan turned up. They’re both getting married with children on the way. Everything was just great. I was even beginning to be able to fool myself to believe that I was over it.”

‘What the hell is he talking about?’ Draco wondered. He could hear his father pacing back and forth, wearing out the old Persian carpets.

“Then! Then he has the ‘nerve’ to come back!” Yet another bottle went to its death without satisfying a single tongue. Draco could hear his father’s voice beginning to crack.

“And he doesn’t remember ‘anything’” Draco dropped silently to his knees and peeked through the keyhole. His father had sat down with his back leaning on the marble frame of the massive fireplace with his head in his hands. Severus walked over to him and sat down in front of him. He stroked Lucius’ hair away from his face and let the icy blond locks pool on his shoulders and down his back.

“Luc. One day he might be all right again, but until then, you must do what you can to protect your sons. If the world, Merlin, if anyone found out…”

“I know…but it’s so hard seeing him like this.” Severus tipped Lucius’ chin up. Draco could barely hold back a gasp. His father was crying. His eyes were red and puffy around the edges, and the tears had left pink streaks on his cheeks.

“It will be alright Luc. I can’t promise, but I have a good feeling about it.” Draco could see Severus jerking in pain as his mark burned. Draco had yet to be marked. It would do no good if he was caught spying, and the mark would be a one-way ticket to Azkaban. The fact that Lucius’ arm didn’t flich slipped Draco’s notice.

Glassy silver eyes stared wide-eyed up at his best friend. “Stay here. You are in no way fit to face him now.” Severus said gently. Lucius just nodded and let his head fall back into his hands as Severus apparated away.

…………………………………………………………………

When Severus arrived the meeting had already started. They were in a smaller room this time, as only the Elites of the Inner Circle were in attendance.

“Since Malfoy saw it fit to not attend, this will be a shorter meeting than anticipated.” The Dark Lord drawled. “I would like to know why it is that young Draco is a natural parsel tongue, yet neither the Back or Malfoy lines carry the abilities. Anyone?” He glanced around the room. His eyes settled on Severus.

“Severus. You are like a brother to him, you must know.” Severus felt fury bubbling in the pit of his stomach.

“Yes.”

“Please do share.”

“If I may speak freely, my Lord?”

“Go ahead.” Severus took a deep breath. Merlin, he had wanted to say this for so bloody long. Sixteen years.

“You are an idiotic, unsympathetic, and for once I can say unintelligent bastard!” He snapped icily. “Did it ever occur to you that Lucius had not told anyone about his son’s abilities because it was simply for the best?” Voldemort said nothing and was joined by the Elite in shocked silence. “No? I thought not.” Severus’ eyes narrowed in anger.

“Did it ever cross your mind that you are not the only one your memory loss affects? Lucius was the one who held everything together while you were gone, most of us out of prison, and none of us executed as well and I promise you it wasn’t easy on him, so you better get your head around the bend, because if you loose him, not only do you loose this war, you will loose him and everything he brings. The financial support, the spies in the ministry, the Minister himself is cradled in his hand. Who do you think Logan will follow, his father, who has been there for him from day one, or his grandfather, who has only tried to kill him a few times? Until Lucius is good and ready to talk, I suggest you keep your lips sealed.” He finished. Good Merlin that felt good.

Voldemort stared wide-eyed at Severus, then glanced at his daughter for support. Well, he was the Dark Lord, but it felt good not to stand alone when in opposition.

Bellatrix hooked a manicured brow and folded her arms on her chest. “Sorry father, but I’m with Sev’ on this one. Leave Luc alone until he is good and ready, or until you get your memories back. It’s the best for everyone. There are innocents in this mess as well.” Bellatrix, who still had her memory mostly intract remembered that her father and Lucius had been close, though she never knew the full depth of their relationship.

“You are telling ‘me’ that Lucius holds the key to my success?” his voice was void of any emotion.

Bellatrix nodded. The Dark Lord was not comfortable in this new position of helplessness. “What can I do to secure them?”

“Just leave him alone. That is what he needs. If he is further angered of upset, I fear that the Malfoy Firewhiskey cellar will be empty before nightfall.” Severus said faintly. Voldemort scoffed at that. The Malfoy Firewhiskey cellar was vast. “Nonsense. No one can drink that much in a lifetime.”

“If he drank it, at least the Manor would be spared the destructing effects of his temper. He is not a thirsty man, but the bottles fly from his hands in rage.” Severus said in a thoughtful voice. Bella snickered. She remembered the tantrums he had thrown with fondness. It had been delightful to watch as long as she was not the target of its destruction, as her father had been more than once.

Voldemort flinched as a ray of images sped across his mind. It was images he had not seen before; Lucius was only wearing black trousers and a loose white linen shirt, and he was ‘angry’. He could not hear the words he was shouting, but knew that they were directed at him, and they were personal, very personal. God he was beautiful in his rage.

“I remember his temper yes. It’s not very pleasant to be in its way. Less than mine, even so.” He tapped his chin with his index finger in deep thought and completely ignored the looks of astonishment from the rest of the Elite. “I think I will need a bit of –“ he made face that resembled that of a child who had eaten a sour lemon “- help….” He said. “Severus, do you know of some one? I an afraid most of my contacts are long dead. I can’t remember, but she…She never was one for magical flamboyance. I’m not sure of where she lives, but I’m sure you could find out in a heartbeat. If only I could remember…”

…………………………………………………………………


A/N; i was going to wait until tomorrow with updating, but i figured since it's my birthday i should do it today. please do review and ask many questions. i still haven tfinished the story so your questions remind me of things i have forgotten - like *missing rings!*