Ensnaring The Senses

a/n the song Severus fractures is "My Way", sung by Frank Sinatra.

~*~*~**~~~

Severus Snape entered his apartments, his mood as black as the jumper he wore. Too late! His conscience jeered at him as he poured himself a tumbler of firewhiskey. It burned his throat as it slide down.

All the self doubts that had flooded his mind twelve years came back to him as he his senses became impaired. He'd never been a wizard taken to drink to often. In his past activities as a spy it could have meant his death, as an inebriated Death Eater often meant loose lips and an open mind. Voldemort would have had a field day in his brain if that had happened. So, for the Dark Lord's celebrations he'd take his drink, tap his wand secretly on his glass then pretend he was higher then a kite. Deception had been his forte, and he was so damned good at it. He'd stumble around, laugh and then pass out halfway through, blessedly missing most of the 'fun' that had so entertained his evil master.

The prisoners' tortures had been the worst for him. In the beginning, Severus had participated in a few of the rapes, the beatings and the general reveling the Dark Lord required of his minions. Those that had survived the 'party' were then murdered for Voldemort's pleasure.

Severus had become the 'assasin'. Dumbledore had tried for years to make him believe that they had been done in mercy's sake, but he still hated himself for them. And, now in his drunken state the ghosts came to visit him. They floated around his head like a Muggle's pink elephant.

As Severus sang, “Regrets, I've had a few. But then again to few to mention. I did what I had to do, and did it without exemption.” He hiccuped and remembered his father, drunk in front of the fire at home, singing those same words off-key by some Muggle singer. “Salute, pops!” He raised his glass high before draining it.

The glass tumbled from his hand a rolled across the floor as he passed out in a chair by the crackling fire.


~*~


Hermione laughed at Draco, then jumped as the door slammed shut. She hadn't felt a breeze so thought maybe Peeves had done it.

“You'll be fine, Draco. She loves you and actually wants to marry you. You're not going to have a hard time getting a yes.” Hermione told him as he dropped to one knee in a practice attempt.

“That look good?” He asked anxiously.

“Perfect! Just mean it and she'll be happy.” Hermione smiled as he stood up and leaned close to her.

“When are you going to tell Cissa about Dad?” Draco whispered as he kept an eye out for the sharp eared little girl. The Weasley twins' Extendible Ears had nothing on that tiny witch.

“Soon because I don't want her to be told by someone other than us.” Hermione said as Cissa came in the room, dressed up in one of her mum's dress robes. The black robe fit Hermione's curves to perfection, but on the little witch it was big and billowy. A miniature Severus Snape. She thought as her eyes teared up. She looked at Draco and saw the same expression.

“Look Mum and Draco!” Cissa said as she strode between the sickbeds, the robes flowing behind her in her mock Professor Snape stride. “I've been practicing!” She exclaimed as she got to them.

“Very,” Draco coughed to cover up his laughter, “Impressive, Cis. You'll have to show the Professor that one day soon.”

“No!” Hermione said horrified. “Not a good idea to mock your teachers, dear.”

“You could always raise your hand and answer questions before anyone else. That impresses Professor Snape most of all.” Draco ducked Hermione's hand as she swatted at his shoulder. “Okay, okay... Bad idea!”

“Okay, poppet. Time for bed. Kiss your brother goodnight and go get ready.” Hermione said.

“But mummy, Draco just got here!” Cissa batted her long lashes at her mum.

“You have classes tomorrow. Now go.” Hermione ordered. Cissa kissed Draco's cheek, huffed at her mum and turned majestically in her borrowed robes.

“She does that quite well.” Draco smiled at Hermione's expression.

“Too well. It won't be hidden too much longer.” She sighed as she headed to her private apartments. “Night Draco.”

“Night, mum.” Draco smirked as she rolled her eyes before shutting the privacy doors.

Time to beard the bat in his cave! Draco thought as he travelled down the hallways to his former Head's rooms.


~*~

Draco knocked softly on the door and pushed it open after he got no answer. “Dad?” He said as he entered and closed the door behind. How unlike him not to lock and ward the door.

The whiskey smell permeated the room, and Draco finally saw him in the chair, snoring. “Merlin, I've never seen him this bad.” He thought out loud as he walked to Severus private bathroom. Draco opened up the small Potions cabinet and spied the small vial of Pepper-up. He grabbed it and returned to the sitting room.

Draco shook Severus by the arm and jumped back as the former spy flung a nice rounder as he bounced up from the chair.

“Nice moves, Dad. Drink this,” He said as he offered the older wizard the vial.

“So, when is the wedding?” Severus slurred out, as his hand batted for the potion and missing.

“I haven't asked her yet!” Draco laughed and then paused for a second. “Legilimens!” He said as he entered the drunken wizard's mind. Severus didn't even try and stop him.

Draco watched as memory-Severus dressed and entered the the infirmary to hear Draco ask Hermione to marry him. Ouch! Draco thought as the door slammed and memory-Severus flew down the corridors in a rage. Memory-Severus spied the same group of Seventh years he had previously passed and un-spelled himself.

“Fifty points each off of Gryffindor,” Memory-Severus said snidely, “Detention with Filch for a week also.”

Draco watched as memory-Severus drained his glass and started singing. He broke off the connection then.

“You should have made your presence known.” Draco said as Severus finally took the vial and drank it down, grimacing at the taste. “I am planning to ask Ginger to marry me and make me an honest wizard. I was trying to get tips from Hermione on how to do it without looking stupid.”

Severus groaned as he set the vial on a table.

“Hermione is also going to have a hippogriff about those points. Not even the first scheduled day and Gryffindor is already behind. And, Dad.... You sound like a screech owl when you sing Sinatra drunk.” Draco added for good measure. After spending time with Hermione at her parents' house, he knew a lot about the 'golden oldies' as they called them.

Once again, Severus thought. I've been a bloody git.

~**~**~*~*~

Next installment~~ Cissa's first Potions class.