Birthday Celebrations

Malfoy and Snape landed, none too gracefully, outside a small flower-girt garden.

“Where have you brought me?” Draco whined.

“You are somewhere safe, at least for the time being.” Snape replied haughtily.

“Are you sure? I’m worn out by all that Apparating and backtracking.”

Under Snape’s guidance they had jumped around all over Britain, and, Malfoy suspected, some of Europe too. They had walked miles between landing and takeoff, even going as far as swimming to an island in what he thought was one of the Italian lakes. They had left behind exploding facsimiles of themselves too, in an effort to jinx anyone following them.

“Malfoy; if I hear you complain again, I will be sorely tempted to hex you into oblivion.”

“Yes Sir!” Malfoy exclaimed with petulance and sarcasm.
Snape scowled at him darkly and Malfoy decided he had pushed his protector almost too far.

“This is my special house. Albus knew of it, but no one else. Now you are into my secret too. I trust I will not have to hex you into not revealing my secret?”

“No Sir. I'll not betray it. It protects me also, however, what about my parents?”

“Your father is in Azkaban and cannot easily be touched. So the problem is your mother. Until they know where we are, and on whose side we’re on, the Death Eaters are unlikely to touch her. Even if it becomes apparent that we’re on the side of light, they may well hurt her a little. However I doubt they will kill her, if by threatening to do so, they hope to turn you. You are too well versed in Slytherin slyness not to be able to play that game for a few days, surely?”

“It’s not your mother they’re playing with is it?” Malfoy began to loose his cool. “Dumbledore said that he could protect us, just before you killed him.”

“Mr Malfoy, I suggest we go inside before you forget yourself entirely. The lawn of my cottage is not a seemly place for these discussions.”

Malfoy glared at Snape and pulled himself together. ‘A Malfoy does not show his feelings in public,’ he admonished himself inwardly, scowled and followed the ex Potions Professor into his house.

“Master! Master! How good it is to see you.” Malfoy looked wide eyed as a smiling elderly house-elf greeted Snape.

“Gudrun! It’s good to be back where you can look after me. How is Chetrum?”

“She’s in the kitchen preparing something for you to eat. Where’s Whiskus? Is this a new friend?”

“Whiskus won’t be coming again, he’s dead.”

“Oh Master! How terrible for you. Did you get the one who did this?”

“No! You see it was I who killed him.”

Gudrun looked at Snape in total shocked bewilderment. Snape looked into his house-elf’s eyes, understanding the shock and fear registered therein.

“Whiskus was dying from some sort of soul poison, and I had to do something before the Death Eaters took his soul and memory. It was heartbreaking.”

Draco could see the tears welling in Severus’s eyes, and the sympathy in Gudrun’s. This revelation changed Draco’s perception of Snide Snape into a more sympathetic understanding. He realised that there had been a great friendship between Whiskus, whom he supposed was Dumbledore, and Severus, and wondered how deep it had been. He also realised that the two had kept a very rigid façade in front of the whole magical community, and considered why, including various sexual connotations.

Severus shook himself and adopted his usual cool attitude. “Gudrun, this is Draco Malfoy.”

“Master No! Don’t send me back? Please? He’s a Death Eater’s son.” Gudrun was hiding behind Severus’s legs.

“It’s all right Gudrun. He’s on our side. Least I hope he is?”
Draco gave a faint affirmative nod, astounded at the relationship between Severus and his house-elves. ‘The Malfoys would never do this,’ he thought.

“Are you sure Master? He’s not going to beat me, or torture me, is he?”

“No Gudrun, he won’t do that. Will you Draco?”

“N-N-No! I suppose I won’t.”

“Good. D’you think that one of your sons could be his personal-elf?”

“Sempra could do it Master. He will be lost now that Whiskus is no more. I’ll go and ask him. Shall I?”

Not waiting for Severus’s answer the house-elf disappeared. Severus showed Draco into his low beamed comfortable sitting room, and they sat in a deep soft armchair each. Another house-elf appeared carrying a tray with tea and assorted cakes on it.
She looked askance at Draco and enquired of Severus, “Are you sure he’s all right, Master?”

“Yes Chetrum. He won’t abuse our hospitality; the Malfoy code won’t let him.”

Draco’s mouth hung open for a minute; Softie Severus was astounding. “Err! Yes! Your Master is quite right. I shall do nothing to flout his hospitality …Thank you!” That last was for his tea and a plate which Chetrum had given him. ‘I feel like Potter! Granger would love me for treating house-elves like people!’ were the uppermost thoughts in Draco’s mind.

“I hope you make my Master as happy as Whiskus did.”

Draco nearly dropped his cup in shock; wondering if he could stomach sexual advances from Snape.

“Chetrum! He is one of my pupils and has come to stay under our protection, that is all!”

“Oh! Sorry Master. Sorry Mr Malfoy. Chetrum didn’t understand.”

Now Draco’s mind was whirling; relived of one distasteful idea: ‘A complete change of character in Severus Snape?’ He thought he knew the answer. ‘Not Dumbledore and Snape, surely? I could be wrong? I’ll keep it to myself in case I am wrong. Malfoys do not easily make fools of themselves. I’ll fish for clues.’ “I didn’t know that you and our ex headmaster were such close friends?”

“Does it surprise you? He was my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather, I’m seven generations removed and as you know seven is special in wizarding; perhaps now you realise why I would not betray him. Neither would I let those dirty Death Eaters have any part of him.” Severus’s eyes clouded over and tears started to flow.

Draco didn’t know what to do, looking around helplessly. Then he saw Chetrum who managed to signal about comforting arms. Feeling very ‘Potter’ and very hot under the collar; Draco put his arms round the sobbing professor’s shoulders. Severus turned and buried his head into Draco’s chest, and the full waterworks commenced. Chetrum smiled at him and quietly removed the tea things. Draco revised his conclusions as to the ties between Severus and Albus; ‘Whiskus? Really?’
As the sobbing and crying continued; Draco felt highly embarrassed at the nearness of another man, then honoured that he could help to comfort a soul in need. He shook as he realised some of the emotions he was experiencing also, and his eyes started to leak in sympathy. He might have broken down too, but he kept on reminding himself about Malfoy rectitude.
Eventually the professorial storm receded.

“Thank you Draco! Thank you for your understanding! Thank you for being there when I needed someone.” Severus looked at his charge and smiled through his tears.

Draco did not know what to say: “Erm … It’s all right. Erm ... I’m glad I was here. Erm ...” ‘Granger would know what to do,’ he thought. “Erm ... Are you feeling a little better?”

“Yes thank you Draco. I’m sorry to have spoiled your tea.”

“Not to worry! We can tell ... Erm ... Ask, one of the house-elves to make us some more.”

Chetrum appeared tea tray in hand before either of them could sort their thoughts out. Draco served Severus first then poured some Earl Grey for himself.

“I think the wards here will be strong enough for tonight, but we had better reinforce them tomorrow morning. Then I have some new potions to try out, perhaps you would like to help me? … Would you please, Draco?”

“Erm … Yes Professor, I would like to help, especially if it will keep those angry hordes away.”

“That reminds me. The Order has developed a new flying charm that makes you invisible. You might like to try that out, I know how much you like flying, and we will need to keep a sharp look out for possible intruders. It has the advantage of repelling magical attacks too. I am rather tired, so if you don’t mind I won’t have any dinner but go upstairs and sleep. Chetrum, please would you introduce your son to Draco, then perhaps Sempra can make him comfortable in the guest room, and you can feed him up.”

“Yes Master! He does look a bit thin.”

Draco bristled; then he caught a gentle smile on Chetrum’s face and a slightly amused one on Severus’s.

“There are some old books about Quidditch you might be interested in, or then again Sempra is very good at wizard chess. Goodnight Draco.”

“Goodnight Sir, I hope you feel a little better in the morning.”

“I’ll try, although I may not be good company for a while yet.”

Severus went upstairs. Draco wandered around the house. As well as the comfortable sitting room, there was a library/den full of books with a large elaborate oaken desk, a beautiful panelled dining room and what could be described as part morning and part garden room. He also found Chetrum’s domain, full of delicious smells and small elves.

“Mr Malfoy, Sir!”

Draco looked round to see who was addressing him and spied a teenage elf, much the same age as himself he thought. “Yes?”

“I’m Sempra. My dad says that I am to be your personal-elf whilst you are staying here.”

Draco almost became his normal imperious self; then he remembered the shattering revelations and they intervened. “Thank you Sempra, I look forward to your helping me. Perhaps you could show me to my room?”

“Oh yes Sir, I’d love to. Please follow me.”

Sempra took Draco up the main stairs along a short passageway and into a dormer windowed room, partly in the roof of the cottage. It felt comfortable and welcoming, something the Slytherin dungeon had never felt. There were some sweet smelling flowers in a vase by the window and a wide four-poster bed big enough for two.

“I found some clothes that I think will fit you Sir, they’re in these two wardrobes. If they are not quite what you want, then I dare say my mum can charm them to suit. I haven’t got used to those spells yet, Sir.”

“Thank you Sempra, I’ll have a look at them and let you know.” ‘This new found courtesy could grow on me,’ thought Draco. ‘It’s much easier than kicking them.’

“This is your bathroom, Sir. Perhaps I could run a bath for you before dinner?”

“Yes please, Sempra. I feel all gritty from our journey. I’d like mine almost too hot to enter, please.” Draco sat down on a chair whilst sundry gurgling sounds came from his closet.

Sempra was back swiftly and started to unfasten Draco’s shoes. Draco was slightly embarrassed; then he remembered that his Father’s personal-elf always helped him dressing. Draco’s embarrassment deepened the nearer he came to complete déshabillé, but Sempra seemed not to notice. By the time he clambered into the hot bath the blush had spread all over Draco’s body. It would have deepened, if that were possible, as Sempra started to wield a large soapy sponge to help his temporary master cleanse himself.

“Sir seems very tense; perhaps Sempra could give him a massage afterwards?”

Draco inwardly kicked himself and tried to relax. Then there was another changeover in his perceptions, once past rigid embarrassment the sponge became delightfully restful, slowly soothing away his aches and tiredness.

After the bath Draco was persuaded on to the massage table and lay face downward enjoying Sempra’s attentions. ‘I wonder what Potter would think of this,’ started languid thoughts about his arch enemy. ‘Then perhaps Potter wasn’t so bad after all. He’s good at potions now and an excellent flyer’. Next, came the remembrance of Harry and Draco playing Quidditch matches. Meanwhile Sempra was applying a beautifully smelling lavender body oil which made Draco glow all over. This was followed by the elf helping Draco to dress before he went down to Dinner.

“I hope the dinner jacket is to your taste sir?”

Draco admired himself in the mirror. ‘I wonder how Father would deal with this. Some smiling Malfoy condescension, I think.’ “Yes thank you Sempra, the whole experience was excellent.”

“My mum says that dinner will be served in quarter of an hour. The Master has some excellent sherry, if you would like some, Sir.”

Draco followed his personal-elf into the garden room, and had to admit the sherry was excellent. The dinner that followed was delicious. Sempra served quietly without intruding. Draco found he was basking in the loving efficiency of it, and wondering if this was how the great families ought to behave. ‘Dinners at home are so formal and stiff. Maybe I can poach Sempra when I become Lord Malfoy in my turn; perhaps he could turn our oafs into something decent? Then again, maybe it’s the way we’ve treated them that has turned them into oafs … Now there’s a thought!’ Later, Draco lingered in the sitting room looking through some of the old Quidditch journals and some very interesting spell books.

On retiring, Draco found Sempra waiting to help him to bed.

Once snuggled in Draco soon found that he was dreaming about being chased by Potter on a broomstick. With fantastic Quidditch matches played in the great hall, over Hogwarts lake and other strange environments. Sometimes his team won, sometimes Potter’s did. It was a curious dream in which the members of each team changed as they played.

§§§§§

Draco woke with a smile on his lips and a slight worry over the implications of his dreams. He watched Sempra open the room’s curtains and prepare Draco’s clothes.

At breakfast Severus seemed to be more like his old self, but mellower somehow. Draco’s heightened sensitivity to the loving warmth surrounding him, made him less spiky too. Snape and Draco agreed about the potions to be made and had a gentle discussion about strengthening their defences. Once the wards had been strengthened and some of the potions set to boil Severus introduced Draco to Avio Incognito explaining most of the drawbacks, but forgetting about the half mile rule. Draco spent an hour on a borrowed broomstick flying around and telling Severus, via the shell, what he was seeing. On his return, they agreed about the timing of further patrols, rolled up their sleeves and continued potion making in the laboratory at the bottom of the garden.

“Masters, it is well past lunch time,” admonished Gudrun.

“Ten minutes, then we can break!”

“Yes Master. All will be ready.”

On the walk up to the cottage they were met by Gudrun and Sempra each bearing steaming bowls of scented water and towels.
‘What a difference,’ Draco thought, ‘from all the ordering around and harsh words at home.’

Draco smiling at Sempra and thanking him, brought forth a shy smile in return.

After lunch, and after checking on their bubbling cauldrons, Severus and Draco sat outside watching busy bees in the blooming borders.

“I think you understand now, how close Albus and I were.”

“Yes sir! This last twenty-four hours has been quite an eye-opener for me. You have challenged a lot of my thinking, especially in the way I behave. There’s something about this place which breathes peace and happiness.”

“Albus and I tried to keep our worries and magical politics away from this place. It was our haven when outside pressures became too much. We could carry it in our hearts and take quick remembrances to keep us going when we were away.”

“It is so different from my home. I suppose there is love there, but the code of the Malfoys always seemed to intrude whenever tender moments might have taken place. I am truly worried about my mother, but I’m not sure she would fit into a place like this. She seems unable to relax; as I think perhaps that I’m learning to, she needs always to be in charge. Then, when he was at home, my father was even worse. I was severely punished for the slightest misdemeanour. Bad marks at school had me locked in a dark room for days. I wanted to be like my father, because he seemed so strong and brave, but it all went wrong when that horrible man-thing came back.”

“I’m glad you didn’t say his name. Albus and I just use V when we wanted to talk about him. Even then we tried to avoid mentioning things about him here. It seemed to sully the atmosphere somehow.”

“Yes, I can understand that, Sir. I’ll try not to speak about him here, if that will help.”

“Thank you Draco. I think you must call me Severus, at least whilst we’re here. It will keep the friendly atmosphere intact. Have you thought what has yet to be done?”

“I’m not sure I could call you by your first name, at least for the time being. Would you mind becoming an honorary uncle instead?”

“I’d be pleased to, thank you Draco. However you haven’t answered the last part of the question.”

“That sounds like one of your probing questions in the classroom.” Draco smiled at his new uncle and received one back. “I imagine I will have to join up with others to fight the darkness, probably Potter’s gang. Although how I can do that at the moment beats me.”

“I have a feeling that the way may be smoother than either you or Potter imagines. Try thinking of him as Harry, instead of Potter; as I think of Albus not Headmaster or Dumbledore.”

“Yes, I see! I’ll try that, Uncle. How are we going to rescue my mother, and where can we hide her? Not here please, she’d ruin the atmosphere. Then there is defeating the unmentionable one too. I wonder how I could help Pot … Harry in that.”

“Albus and I have known for some time that you and Harry had to team up, but you always seemed to be at each other’s throats. There is a way you can help and I shall tell you about it. Some time ago the horrible one split his soul into several pieces; each rite was attached to a murder. Blood is the old, dark and forbidden magic, as you well know. He hid these parts of his soul in different items and places which had special meaning for him. The containers are all different in shape but together they are classed as Horcruxes. Two of them have been found and destroyed. One of them burnt dear Albus’s hand when he did it.”

“I’d wondered how that happened.”

“Harry and Albus went after another, but it was missing. Unfortunately my relation was soul poisoned in doing so. That’s how you managed to defeat him so easily. His powers were waning rapidly, and I knew he would be too week to resist the soul-draining of that werewolf. You saw how he pleaded with me, and then I knew I had to make him into an ancestor. I shall have an Albus-shaped hole in my psyche as long as I live.” Severus broke off there looking mournful. He stared over the garden, remembering the happy hours Albus and he had had whilst planning, making and tending their garden.

Draco now understood, not only his new uncle’s and the headmaster’s bond of unity, but also the one that was probably waiting for him in the shape of P … Harry. It put into perspective the dreams of the previous night and he wondered if he would ever have the courage to become a true partner to Harry.

Severus awoke from his reverie. “Not far from here is the place where that abomination killed his forebear, which was one of the steps towards what he is today. Albus and I felt that one of the Horcruxes would be hidden there. So I left a few hints with the new headmistress about its suspected whereabouts. I think Harry’s little team will agree to come and hunt for it very soon, because Minerva thinks she knows the vicinity of our hideout. If Harry does as I think he will, he’ll share his Horcrux knowledge with her, and she’ll advise him to look in this area.”

“So with the Avio charm I have to look out for them and then arrange some sort of rapprochement? Wow! First assignment for the light and I have to alter Harry and his team’s whole attitude towards me. Then help him find the Horcrux. When d’you expect them to arrive, Uncle?”

“Sometime tomorrow; come along my new Nephew, we have cauldrons to stir and ingredients to prepare, and you need to make a couple more sorties with your borrowed broom before it gets dark.

“Yes Uncle! I take it that your relationship with Albus was very, very deep.”

“Yes it was! We went through a special ceremony to seal it. Why do you ask?”

“Well I had some dreams about Harry last night, and we seemed to be swapping roles and leading each other’s team. Do you think that that is what is in store for us too?”

“Well … Albus and I thought that that was a possibility. However, your partnership will be quite different to ours, if it does happen; then you will both benefit from the other’s magical aura. We did, that’s how Hogwarts became so impregnable. At least until you and the cabinets came along.”

“Yes Uncle! I am truly sorry for what I did. I hadn’t realised that the horrible werewolf would be there. I now know I cannot kill in cold blood, the headmaster said as much to me before you burst in at the top of the tower. You know, there was a puzzle there. Only the headmaster was on the top and yet there were two broomsticks propped up on the wall? I’m sure no one passed me on the stairs.’

“Well, Harry was with Albus. Maybe Harry had his cloak of invisibility with him.”

“Okay. But why didn’t Harry attack me then?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you’ll have to ask him when you get together.”

“That's fine … ‘Hi Harry, I’m your new soul mate! Why were you cowering in fright under your cloak that night?’ That’ll be a wonderful way of starting a new friendship.”

“Now then Draco, your slimy Slytherin is showing.”

“Oh yes … So it was … Sorry Uncle."

Gudrun had to come and remind them about dinner again. Severus endured a smiling admonishment from Chetrum as she served up. Afterwards, whilst Severus checked on the potions, Draco played wizard chess with Sempra, and found him a reasonable opponent. Draco’s three games to Sempra’s two left them both aching for more, but Sempra could see his new master’s tiredness, and refused another game.

As he was helping Draco to prepare for bed, Sempra asked, “I like you Sir. Will you become my master when you leave? My dad says I will soon have to find a proper master and somewhere for which to be responsible.”

Draco was flabbergasted and had no inkling how to answer, he felt very Harry-like. Then the Malfoy condescension kicked in. “Erm … Thank you for asking, Sempra; I don’t have my own establishment as yet, but I will bear you in mind though. You see I have to meet my new partner soon, and he will have to say yes too.”

“Would that be Harry Potter, Sir?”

“Erm … Probably … Erm… How did you know?”

“Well you were shouting his name in your sleep last night, and you became very worked up. I know his elf, Dobby, and we get on well together, so I thought that if you paired up maybe you would become a good master for me. Then Dobby and I would become a team also. We both escaped from your father’s house you know, and your Uncle and Whiskus made my family very welcome here.”

“My, you are up-to-date. Do you listen in to all our conversations?”

“Well we do have to anticipate your needs, that’s what makes us good house-elves, doesn’t it?”

“Yes I suppose it does! I’ve never really thought about it like that before.”

By the end of the conversation Draco was undressed, showered and lying on the massage table having all the kinks of the day worked out, and slowly sliding into a dream-like daze. The Harry dreams that night were more cooperative. They flew together, studied together, made potions together, even talked amicably; there was no hint of competition this time.

§§§§§§

In the morning Draco and Severus ate a companionable breakfast then went to the laboratory to continue potion making. Next, Draco made an exploratory flight round the area. When he came back he chatted to Severus during their coffee break.

“Uncle, the forest edges look regular almost star like.”

“There are two conjunct pentacles and the points are joined by the edges of the forest. The inner pentacle has its root in the next triangle, so Albus and I chose this point, as it is the safest. Then we made our own wards and cleared some of the trees to make the gardens. Also we made our pentacle inside the outer one, thus making it doubly safe. To all but the most magical eye the forest looks whole, that’s our first line of defence, so to speak.”

Draco felt pleased at the compliment and took another flight just before lunch. After some time searching he could just see where his uncle’s wards finished and the inner pentacle started. Once he had found it the edge was easy to spot, because the warded trees were slightly fuzzy.

Lunch over; Severus took Draco round the mini estate. Albus and Severus had planted many of the rarer herbs. Not only magical, but medicinal and edible, some of that latter category were gathered and given to Chetrum for their side-salad at dinner. Another bubble sortie at tea time found no intruders. Draco landed as near to the porch as he dare because it was raining.

“Uncle did you know that the bubble is also waterproof.”

“That’s useful, isn’t it? I tell the Order about that when I can.”

The weather cleared just before dinner so Draco took off on another flight …