When Living Ain\'t Easy

See Prologue for warnings, notes, disclaimers, etc.


Chapter Four: Come Out of Your Shell

Severus stared into his glass, memorizing the waves of amber liquid as they gently sloshed against the clear crystal.

In theory, he could come up with a witty (or most likely sarcastic) rejoiner to his favored pupil\'s question. In reality... he voted to let Lucius field this one. Just to see how well the tall blond handled things, naturally.

The blond in question smirked at his son, softened his smirk to an almost smile for Harry, then growled at his old friend. \"Thanks so very much, Sev.\"

\"Always willing to help out, Luc,\" the dark Slytherin replied with a droll grin of his own.

Harry watched the interaction between the two men, shaking his head. From his perch nearby Draco heard the teen muttering, \"Don\'t ask, probably don\'t want to know anyways.\"

Although... despite Harry\'s denial, he found the biplay more than a little fascinating. Here was his stern Potions Master, almost teasing, in a much better humor than he\'d ever seen before. The elder Malfoy too seemed more relaxed, as if he\'d finally thrown off some heavy weight.

Watching the various emotions crossing his classmate\'s face, Draco wanted to sneer at the Golden Boy. He could practically hear Harry\'s surprised thoughts. And what should anyone expect? With the Dark Lord back in business, even his most faithful were nervous and watchful. But here, ah here his father and honorary uncle were, as close to free as two traitors could get. Draco decided to give his rival the benefit of the doubt this one time -- for even thought Harry was in a precarious position, these two were much more likely to be killed. Rather sooner than later.

Nudging an elbow in Harry\'s ribs, Draco addressed the older wizards again, \"Well, if you aren\'t planning on sharing the humor, maybe we can get started? Personally, I\'d like a decent night\'s sleep for a change.\"

Both older wizards emitted something between a snort and a cough, before the Potions master said, \"Very well, if you\'ll make yourselves comfortable, this might take awhile.\"

As the teens settled into place, Lucius joined his friend on the sofa. He waved his wand, uttered a soft incantation, and replenished everyone\'s drinks. Harry muttered a thanks, but his attention was fixed on his teacher.

\"I suppose you deserve a bit of background first, Mr. Potter.\" Tapping a finger against his chin, Severus took a moment to collect his thoughts. \"Shortly before the beginning of last school year, I was approached by one Narcissa Malfoy. Accompanying her was her cousin, Bellatrix LeStrange. As you can imagine, it was a... tedious meeting. Apparently, the Dark Lord expected Draco to assassinate Headmaster Dumbledore.\" Here Harry gasped, choking on his drink. \"If he failed in this task, both he and his parents were to be killed in the most painful of ways.\"

The Gryffindor shot a sympathetic glance at both blonds. While he abhored their situation and many of their past actions, Harry fully sympathized with their plight. He too was expected to kill, or watch his loved ones die through his inactivity.

\"Narcissa begged me to aid her son, calling for an old -- and unbreakable -- Wizard\'s Oath. Had we not suspected such an eventuality, I would have blown my cover that night.\" Sinking into memories, Snape\'s voice took on a mezmerizing quality.

\"Albus and I had discussed the likelihood that one or more of my Slytherins would be commissioned to make an attempt on his life. As per his express orders, I had to agree to help, without actively helping, until such time as it became mandatory.\" He lifted his glass and drained it before ending with, \"In order to save my own life. The manipulative old fool insisted that we needed a spy in the Inner Circle more than him surviving merely another few months.\"

\"But,\" Harry couldn\'t keep from interrupting, \"I thought the curse was stopped. His hand... That\'s what-\"

\"That is what he wished everyone to believe, Potter.\" Shaking his head, Severus cursed his mentor under his breath. \"He would have been dead before you finished your final year, regardless of all my efforts. Did you not notice how slowly he moved toward the end? His body was decaying at an alarming rate, and it quickly became immune to every potion or spell we used to retard the process. If he had not... if I had not cast... had he survived the Astronomy Tower, his mind would now be as blackened rot as you saw his right hand to be.\"

The Head of Slytherin allowed his student a few moments for this new information to sink in, taking the opportunity to refill his glass. He drained it in one long swallow, then topped it off again.

\"So, let me see if I\'ve got this right,\" Harry began, speaking with slow thoughtfulness, \"the Headmaster figured that you would be tested, that one of the Death Eaters\' kids would be told to kill him, and ordered you to time it just right to save your position as a spy for the Order.\"

\"Yes, that sums it up well enough.\"

\"And even if the perfect opportunity hadn\'t happened, he would still die soon. Without his usual power, all his Occlumency skills would be gone, and Voldie could just waltz in and rape his memories.\" What had begun as a quiet recitation of facts ended in almost panic, as Harry deduced the full extent of the probable ramifications.

His boarderline hysteria was averted by a snicker from the chair beside him. \"Well what do you know. Potty can put two and two together without the know-it-all\'s help.\"

It was Harry\'s turn poke his rival with an elbow, moderately relieved at the change of topic. \"Hey now, Hermione doesn\'t do all the thinking! Just... most of the dry, historical stuff. I can\'t help it if she memorizes everything she reads. Something called photogetic memory... must be nice.\"

Draco\'s snort threatened to encourage a lengthy debate, stopped only by his Head of House.

\"If we can proceed, gentlemen?\" Severus waited long enough for the teens to exchange mock-glares. \"Thank you ever so,\" under his breath finishing with \'matched set of reprobates\', to which Lucius choked on a burst of laughter. \"And you aren\'t any better, Luc.\"

Bowing his head gracefully, the elder blond haughtily said, \"Why Sev, that\'s the nicest thing you\'ve said about me in years.\"

Ebony eyes rolled heavenward. \"Moving along. Shortly after meeting with the former Mrs. Malfoy-\"

\"Former? What? When?\"

\"Potter, if you can contain your inane questions for a short while, all will be answered.\" Snape waited for his student to settle down. \"Former inasmuch as she renounced both father and son after Draco failed his mission. I believe she was fairly disappointed to discover that, even in prison, Lucius could prevent her from absconding with the family fortune.

\"All beside the point, as interesting as it may be.\" He raised an eyebrow, receiving a guilty grin in apology for the interruption. \"When Albus left the castle just after last term began, he made a brief -- and highly unauthorized -- visit to Azkaban. The first of three, if I\'m not mistaken. He took a variety of my better healing potions, brought Lucius back from the edge of insanity, and began negotiations. I could only wish he had bothered to inform me of his plans. Imagine my predicament, upon arriving at an Unplottable retreat known only to Albus and myself, finding this one lounging about my sitting room as if he owned the place.\"

As intended, Severus\' turn of phrase loosened the mood, both students chuckling at their teacher\'s expense.

\"The next part of the story is mine, I believe.\" Lucius took a sip of brandy, then stood to pace the room while he collected his thoughts.

\"Salazar knows, I am no muggle lover. However, when a Malfoy takes an oath, and the recipient turns their back on their side of the vow, we no longer hold any loyalty toward the offending party.\"

\"Father, speak slowly and use smaller words.\" Draco smirked at his classmate\'s glassy expression. \"What my dear parent means is that the Dark Lord left him to rot in Azkaban, never trying to break him out. Even when he took the Dementors. Although, I must say that his treachery started well before then.\" The young blond\'s speech trailed off to a bitter note, heavily laden with contempt.

\"Quite. But that topic can wait, yes?\" Clearly, neither Malfoy was ready for full disclosure. Harry found a new sympathy for both dark wizards, even if he didn\'t agree with their politics. Honor and loyalty were highly valued traits to the Gryffindor.

A clearing throat redirected his attention to the prowling speaker, still stalking across the length of the parlor in aggitation.

\"When my father insisted that I join the Dark Lord\'s service, I did so eagerly. He saw many troubles within our world, and had developed a plan to protect and nourish all magical people. And yet, even before his fall, our Lord-\" he sneered the title \"-had become a farce of what he once was. Chasing down prophecies and killing infants? These are not the proper occupations of a true leader. My father was killed for the dastardly crime of accidentally ripping Riddle\'s favorite robes. Mother followed only days later, killed at her husband\'s funeral for daring to question the reasons behind Father\'s death.\"

Here he stood still, directly behind his son\'s chair. With a gentle hand, Lucius lovingly stroked the pale hair of his only child. \"Narcissa had just disclosed her pregnancy to me. It was... the most bittersweet moment of my life. Finally I would have my heir, and yet I could not share the joy with my parents.\"

Draco\'s hand crept up to join his father\'s, each resting on the younger man\'s shoulder.

\"needless to say, I was not heartbroken when the bastard became non-corporeal. After his return, Riddle was more unhinged than ever. I did what I could to remove my son and myself from his influence. Before that debacle at the Department of Mysteries, my plan was going quite nicely.\"

Harry watched the interaction between the blonds, clamping down a sharp stab of jealousy. So Draco\'s dad wasn\'t made of ice. That was no reason to want such obvious affection aimed toward himself. He took a gulp of brandy, sputtered as it burned his throat, and addressed what he\'d just learned. \"So, Professor Dumbledore\'s visits didn\'t cause you to change sides, just made it more official?\"

Grey eyes flickered across the room, passing a silent message to the Potions Master. Returning his gaze to the young Gryffindor, Lucius smiled. \"Yes and no. He offered amnesty and sanctuary for my family, in exchange for information. He also asked if I would spy for him. The first part was accepted, the second denied. During his last visit, we came to a... reasonable agreement.\"

\"Uh huh, there\'s more to it than that,\" Harry began, holding up a hand to forestall Lucius\' rebuttal. \"Don\'t worry, I won\'t get nosy here. If you need me to know, I\'ll hear about it. If one of my friends dies because I *didn\'t* know... you\'ll learn why the Sorting Hat first chose Slytherin for me.\"

Accepting the nominal pardon at face value, Lucius inclined his head in Harry\'s direction. \"So here we are, and here is where your summer tutilage shall take place.\"

Looking at each of the Slytherins, Harry frowned. \"You\'ve forgotten something. How did you get Uncle Vernon to \'sell\' me for the summer? And does this deal have strings attached?\" Chewing his lip, Harry made his eyes narrow in consternation. \"I\'m not going to have to pimp myself out for this training, am I?\"

A trio of wide eyes met this last question. It took all of Harry\'s considerable will power to keep a straight, almost innocent, expression on his face. Inwardly, he patted himself on the back for having left these three particular wizards in stunned silence.