Guilty as Sin

CHAPTER 47

“I do wish you’d watch where you’re going Potter.” Snape pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes tightly as Harry swung the car around another bend in the winding narrow lane.

“I am trying but it’s icy and the car is sliding!” Harry snapped irritably as he dropped the car down into first gear as he tried to get a little more traction up the snowy hill.

“I knew we should have just apperated and risked being tracked.” Snape sighed heavily as Harry bunny hopped his way to the top of the hill before pulling on the handbrake and turning off the engine when they’d reached the peak so that he could collect his shattered nerves. Driving without license or prior knowledge was bad enough but in the driving snow they were experiencing now it was virtually impossible. It had come as some surprise to Harry to find that Lucius Malfoy kept a large collection of vintage muggle cars in his basement; the self confessed muggle hater’s secret stash an unexpected find in the least. The cars or more specifically the Bentley they were sitting in served it’s purpose though which was to get them from Malfoy Manor in Wales to the Scottish town of Killdaren where Snape’s family home was. They’d made good time so far but as they’d entered the lower regions of Scotland the snow had started in earnest. Harry had seen more muggles since they’d reached Scotland than he’d seen in months in England. It seemed the entire populace had escaped from the war raging in London’s center into the highlands of the virtually inaccessible Scotland.

“What apperate in through the wards and end up like mince meat. I don’t think so Severus.” Harry spat pointedly as he wiped a patch of condensation away from his side window so that he could see the wooden signpost beside the road. “Besides it says there we’re only ¼ mile from Killdaren, we can walk that if we get a move on.” Harry turned back to stare at Severus who was still looking a little green around the gills, the elder wizards dislike of muggle transport clearly caused by motion sickness.

“Walk a ¼ mile in this!” Severus growled in disbelief of Harry’s suggestion before glancing into the back seat where Draco was asleep along the bench several blankets covering his weak form. Snape had given them two days after Draco’s miscarriage to get ready to leave. It had hardly been enough time to pack let alone for Draco to recover but Snape had insisted they leave. The ministry would undoubtedly be turning up to recover the assets and would take every opportunity of searching the manor of a known death eater in the hopes of gaining something against Voldemort in the war. “And what about Draco? He’s in no fit state to be walking anywhere he barely made it down the stairs this morning and he’s still loosing blood.” Harry sighed heavily as he glanced in the rearview mirror at Draco’s pale face cuddle up amongst the heavy woolen blankets.

“Okay fine I’ll drive but if we crash and die I’ll haunt your soul for eternity!” Harry started the engine again and slowly eased off the handbrake to begin letting them roll off the top of the crest of the hill.

“Promises, promises.” Severus muttered as he closed his eyes again and gripped the edge of his seat in a white knuckled hold.

Harry didn’t touch the accelerator once as he slid the car slowly down the winding snowy lane. There was a twinkle of lights at the bottom of the hill a sure sign of the village. Harry winced sympathetically as he took the final corner into the main street of the little town too sharply and scratched the passenger side door on the brambles lining the roadway. Lucius was probably revolving in his grave, if indeed the house elves had buried the wizard’s body or merely just left it to rot in the courtyard, as Harry would have liked.

“Wasn’t too bad.” Harry muttered as he drove the car slowly towards the pub at the end of the village, which looked to be the only place occupied at present. Snape looked across at Harry in silence, one eyebrow smoothly raised in skeptical sarcasm.

“Wait here I want to find out some information before we go up to the house. If the place is being watched we will have to remove them before attempting to enter it.” Harry nodded as Snape turned his wand on himself and with a quick disguising charm transfigured himself into an ordinary looking muggle pub patron. Snape glanced at Harry for approval of his disguise and after Harry had nodded the elder wizard stepped out of the car before striding away into the alehouse.

“I’m cold, where are we?” Harry heard Draco stir in the back seat and turned around to smile down at the blonde who was pulling the blankets up further around his body in an effort to keep warm. Living at Malfoy manor for the past months had lulled them into a false sense of warmth and now that they were outside the protective wards of the manor they were exposed to the true icy cold of the Analysian Curse that had taken over the country.

“Scotland.” Harry chuckled matter of factly as he reached across to the passenger side and took two dry biscuits out of the packet, handing them both to Draco. The blonde seemed pleased to be given something to eat and nibbled ravenously on the two biscuits. “How are you feeling?” Harry inquired his gaze flickering around the deserted little town incase someone was about.

“Tired and sore. I don’t think my rear end is ever going to forgive me.” Draco managed a weak smile as he polished off the two biscuits and settled back down into the bundle of blankets tucked around him. Harry smiled sadly down at the blonde trying not to broach the subject of Draco’s second terminated child for fear of upsetting him.

“Don’t worry I’m sure we’ll be there soon.” Just as Harry spoke his words of comfort Snape’s figure appeared from the entrance to the pub and scuttled over to the car. Harry obligingly opened the door for the other man who shivered as he sat back down in the Bentley and shut the door.

“Alright the place has already been swept by the Ministry months back, it seems Albus thought I might be stupid enough to bring you both straight here. More fool him. There’s a few Auror’s stationed in the town but they don’t seem bothered by the manor, apparently Voldemort has already been here too and was driven out by the wizards who’d fled here at the start of the war. It seems too that my families ward’s are still operational so that will have kept it in good condition and repair, as well as keeping out both the Ministry and Voldemort.” Snape smiled at Harry and then glanced over his shoulder when he heard Draco cough a little. “Ah you’re awake.” Snape declared pointedly as Draco nodded in silence.

“So are we going up there now?” Harry inquired as he reached for the key to the engine hoping to start the heater again and keep them warm.

“Not tonight the road up is blocked with snow we will stay in the pub until tomorrow morning.” Harry sighed heavily but silently agreed. The last thing he needed was a night cooped up in some seedy little pub room, with a bed where the springs squeaked and the sheets smelt fusty. Before Harry could complain however Snape was already out of the car, collecting their trunks from the boot leaving Harry to help Draco out of the backseat. It was ten times colder out of the car and in the wind and Harry tucked his hands in one of the folds of Draco’s many blankets as he helped the boy shuffle painfully towards the pub entrance. Snape was waiting for them just inside the entrance hall. With a flick of his wand Snape had performed two charms on the boy’s disguising their features before leading them both inside. There was lively music and dancing in the pub the most activity Harry had seen from muggles in months. Everyone seemed to be happily chatting and drinking, unaware it seemed that a war raged around them outside the walls of the pub. Snape booked the room across the bar, paying for it with muggle money he’d conjured from some tissues out of his pocket. Snape also ordered some hot tea to be sent up to their room before leading the two boys upstairs and out of the mayhem of the pub.

“Room 12 on the right.” Snape muttered as he held the rotten looking key distastefully between thumb and forefinger. Reaching the door number Snape turned the key in the lock and after some jiggling around the dusty door swung open revealing a dingy little room beyond.

“Ugh.” Draco muttered beneath his breath as the trio stepped into the room, Snape lighting a few of the candles around the place to reveal with some disgust a horrible little single bed that was meant to sleep all three of them for the night. A wardrobe with no doors and a fair amount of cobwebs sat on one wall, while on the other wall was a washstand with a rusted basin of cold water and a dirty bar of soap. A cracked corner of mirror sat propped up between paperclips behind the basin. The windowpanes despite being iced up were filthy too and the curtains hung off the rails in moth eaten holes.

“It is only for one night and it was the only thing available.” Snape declared as he hastily stripped off the bedclothes from the single bed before flicking his wand at the bed and transfiguring it into a nice new mattress and some clean fresh white blankets. The small change made Harry feel a little better to be sleeping on something clean but it did nothing to bright Draco’s sprits as the boy stepped over to a tin bucket sitting in the corner of the room.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Draco whispered as he turned back to Snape and Harry who dubiously stared at the bucket that Draco was looking at.

“Perhaps we might have been better sleeping in the car.” Snape sighed as pushed open the window a little and gestured to Draco. “Just do it out the window Draco, we will just have to make do for one night.”

“It’s freezing in here.” Harry complained as he pulled off his cloak but put on another jumper from the trunk Snape had just resized in the middle of the floor. There was no way Harry was getting undressed to sleep tonight the place was just too drafty. “I’m getting into bed, hurry up and shut the window.” Harry muttered as he climbed onto the new clean mattress and curled up on the edge knowing that both Draco and Snape would have to get in too behind him.

“Alright, Alright.” Draco muttered as he finished emptying his bladder and hastily shut the window to again. Draco was still bleeding and without a shower or some water to wash in the boy made do with a scourify spell, before climbing in beside Harry. Snape waited up for the tea, which arrived quickly. All three sipped quietly on the warm liquid before finally Snape climbed into bed beside his two Inferei. Spooned together like three lap dogs the trio slowly drifted to sleep, listening to the sounds of the wind whining outside and in the warmth of each other’s arms.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A/N Alas I promised updates but thy god of shity work kicked my arse and I was forced to actually work from my pay..... I also brought the second series of That 70's Show and spent the weekend lying on the couch with popcorn laughing my head off at Fez......

Anyway Thank-you sooooo much for all the reviews, I don't think I've had so many with one chapter before and it's sooo appreciated. It tells me that my writing's getting at least a little attention...*Winks* I also regret to announce that I have edited this story a little so the ten chapters I warned you of leading up to the end has turned into 15 chapters...*Shrugs* Anyway things have to get worse before they get better in this story and I hope I didn't ruin anyone's expectations by taking away Draco's kid...if indeed there was one in the first place.

Alright I'll endeavour to update Tuesday if not before so savour the delights of Harry's driving skills and Snape's motion sickness and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Cheers for the Reviews

RIFFRAFF