12 Grim Old Place

Title: 12 Grim Old Place
Date: 02-27-07
Pairing: None yet. Future DM/HP
Disclaimer: Yep. Don't own them. Wish I did...but nope. The idea wasn't even mine. It was Yami Bakura's. I had thought of something like this... but my idea was a lot stickier so I knew deep down I'd never write it. XD http://hp.adult-fanfiction.org/authors.php?no=1296771786

"DON'T CALL ME COWARD!" Snape growled, his hand tightening on the back of Malfoy's robes. The fair haired boy looked a little more than shocked. Fear had contorted his features and he looked like he may have keeled over at any second.

Harry was about to scream another attempt when a rustle of soft gray feathers swooped past. Snape jerked back and Malfoy fell, silver eyes wide as he made the first sound since he'd fled the castle. He screamed. It wasn't the first time Harry'd heard Malfoy scream but this was different. Before he could look back up there was the signature pop and Snape had grabbed Malfoy and the brother and sister and the enormous Death Eater were all gone.

With another loud crack Snape and Draco appeared in a small dingy room, the likes of which normally would have any Malfoy cringe but Draco simply fell to the dusty floor. Snape instantly began pacing. This couldn't have happened. Surely, one of the things he feared would happen now. It was unbelieveable. Uncomprehendable. This had to be the end. Draco suddenly shooting up snapped Snape from his thoughts.

"NO! Take me to the manor! I must save Mo-"

"NO!" Snape cut in sharply, causing Draco to look all the more hysteric. "You're mother will be dead by now. Once the Dark Lord finds out what has happened... It's over..."

Draco's eyes shot up from whatever he had previously be looking at. He tensed visably. Snape knew in that instant Draco would never be cut out to be a Death Eater. He lacked the mental strength for it. No matter what conditioning his father had put him through, he wasn't prepared. He was primped and prompted to look like the perfect heir, but he didn't have what it took on the inside. Draco would never be his father despite what either of them had tried.

"No... she can't be... He wouldn't have killed her!"

"You failed Draco." Snape said with a coolness that made the boy flinch and seem to curl towards himself. Snape knew that deep down Draco knew. It was a horrible feat to look even half as calm as the boy did now. He wasn't crying, or screaming, or even frightened.

"He'll kill me, too... If he doesn't kill be Bloody Harry Potter will!" The fair haired boy turned away from Snape and stared at the wall as if he might burn through it with his glare.

"The Order will understand."

Draco turned to Snape, his silver eyes were wide and a mixture of emotions screwed his face up considerably. Much to Snape's discomfort, he continued. He knew that he had to help the boy.

"You were seen." Much to Snape's dismay the boy didn't seem to relax the slightest. Being seen by a member of the Order of the Phoenix seemed to only frighten Draco more.

"You have to go to them!" Snape barked, his voice coming fairly close to that of the tone he used on Harry just minutes ago that seemed like forever. He stepped closer to the boy who seemed to shy away like a cornered animal. "If you don't you'll be killed! I cannot allow you to be killed like her!"

"Who saw me!" Draco screamed, sounding as if he was in pain, though for the most part he was completely undamaged aside from a few brusies from his trip across the Hogwarts Grounds.

"That isn't important."

"WHO?!" He bellowed.

"Potter."

Draco blanched, making him look almost ghostly pale compared to the stark contrast of his clothes. If that didn't make it perfect. He suddenly shivered, all of his previous Malfoy composure breaking down in a matter of seconds. It felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured atop him and he was suddenly painly aware of everything. Of Snape, of what had happened since that second that he was grabbed and jerked around in a blur that he couldn't fully comprehend at the time.

The room was horribly dirty and he didn't have a clue where he was. He was alone with the man that killed Dumbledore. He dirty and his clothes were lightly sticking to his body and the sheen of sweat on his body felt horribly cold.

Snape seemed to be waiting calmly as the realization dawned on Draco. He waited for him to look up, knowing the question before any sound escaped Malfoy's lips.

"You're a member of the Order of the Phoenix...? You... weren't on our side...?"

"Not any more, I'm sure." Snape said calmly though there was a trace of bitterness that was in his tone that made Draco shudder. "It's nothing to concern yourself with. I will handle things."

Snape had betrayed his parents and the Dark Lord, yet he was still a Death Eater. It made no sense whatsoever. Draco wasn't even sure of anything. He felt strongly bitter and slowly looked around.

"I can take you there, but not now. You must have permisson to enter the house. Permission which I cannot give you." Snape said coolly, carefully measuring his words so that they would hit the boy perfectly.

"Then take me home..."

"I cannot do that."

"WHY NOT?!" Draco demanded. It was his house, his home, with all his belongings and his mother's things. It had his father's books and the house elves and everything that he needed.

"You have to stay put. If anyone so much as sees you then you will be killed in an instant." Snape winced faintly, but Draco seemed too stunned to notice the faint burning of his arm. "The Dark Lord calls... do not leave this room. I will be back as soon as I can." Snape reached forward and pulled Draco's cloak swiftly from him, nodding once.

Draco watched as with a loud crack the one man that seemed still able to believe he wouldn't be killed within seconds apparated to who knows where. As he sat there the dull pain was becoming more apparent and he pulled up the sleeve of his sweater to look at the mark which would probably brand him for life.

He was a traitor and a disgrace to his family name. Then again, it was acceptable wasn't it? He had disarmed Dumbledore, one thing that many couldn't have. Perhaps it would be enough to allow him to live! No, that would never happen. The Dark Lord was never so kind. Not even to his followers. His father had made that clear to him. He looked around, replaying a few of the events. What Dumbledore had told him.

He was innocent... That certainly wasn't true. He'd used so many hexes he should have been sent away and locked up. But...Dumbledore believed that in him. He wanted him to change sides. For a fleeting moment Draco had felt like there might be hope. For him, for his mother. If only he could save his mother. Then it had all happened so quickly. The Death Eaters, Snape, Dumbledore dead...

Dumbledore was dead. The one person that he thought may have been able to help him was gone. Dumbledore was the only one that the Dark Lord was afraid of. If Dumbledore was gone... what hope did he have left? Who else could he turn to? Surely no one...
Then a little voice in the back of his head said... Harry Potter.

He shuddered violently at the thought. There was no way that would happen. That horrible halfblood hated him. There was no way that he would willingly take him in and help him. That was as hopeless as believeing that the Dark Lord wouldn't kill his mother for his failure.

As much as he hated it... he knew deep down that he may have to turn to a halfblood to help save himself. His father had done it... Lowered himself in such a way. Now it seemed that he would have to do the same.

***

Snape appeared in the old and foggy graveyard. He held his head high and carefully sealed his mind to any that may want to pry. He stepped through the crowd of talking Death Eaters, looking for Voldemort. He found him standing there, a thin body having fallen a few feet behind him. The shining platinum blonde hair gave it's owner away instantly. He fought against his body as it tried to shudder and stepped directly to Voldemort, eyeing Fenrir, who was standing very close to the Lord.

"Severus..." Voldemort spoke with a soft hiss to his voice. Undoubtedly, Fenrir had told of what happened. "Where's the boy...?"

Snape hadn't had time to mentally prepare for the question so he answered quickly and without much thought. "Apparated."

"With you." Fenrir nearly growled, his voice sounding even more raspy than before. Voldemort narrowed his eyes at the werewolf before paying no further attention to him.

"Where... is the boy?" Voldemort repeated, his eyes forming slits as he slowly stepped closer to Snape, who made no sign of discomfort.

Snape dropped the cloak. "I had the misfortune of losing him, My Lord." He bowed his head, eyes closing as the dark hair spilled about his face. "He must have learned to apparate without my knowledge. All I arrived with was his cloak."

"Where were you?" Voldemort seemed convinced, after all, to him, Snapes mind was filled with the image of apparating into mother's old home with only the cloak in his hand.

"My mother's house. I assumed it would please you, My Lord, that I would not purposefully lead someone to your whereabouts, as I'm sure many of those here have done." Snape's dark eyes turned to the werewolf, who growled lowly under his breath.

"You completed his task for him."

"I knew he wouldn't be able to do so. The boy is weak of mind, My Lord. I thought it would please you."

"Very well... He won't last long.... but I have other things to worry with now. He'll be mad once he finds his way home and appears in an empty house." Voldemort's head tipped back faintly as he gave a hissing laugh and turned away with a sweep of his cloak.

Snape lifted his chin proudly, he had to give the air about him as being proud that he had been the one to kill the one wizard that Voldemort openly fear. He hated doing it, but Dumbledore asked him to.

He turned and strode off, a few of the other Death Eaters were leaving, having done their reports. Many of them looked at Snape and he grinned maliciously at them all and continued on his way until apparating back to the old shabby room.

***

Draco eventually sat on the dusty but at least somewhat comfortable bed. The longer he was left alone the more he thought. The more he thought the more he just wanted to go home and go to sleep and wake up from this horrible nightmare. He wanted to go back to Hogwarts. To confess. To do almost anything. A Malfoy never begged. That was one thing his father had taught him. His father was a bloody huge contridiction, though.

When the loud snap sounded Snape's return Draco only looked up, his face the very picture of bored uncaring. He was a Malfoy, after all.

Snape made a face before waving his wand to make quick work of the dust and other mess. Sometimes being able to do nonverbal magic was pleasing. Draco continued to watch him, seemingly uninterested but his eyes shone with slight adoration.

"Are you hungry?"

Draco shook his head and pushed some of the blonde hair from his face.

"You should eat something."

"I don't bloody want anything... Trai-" He caught himself, looking up with an almost frightened expression. If anyone could hex him into next year it would be Snape. He always had been adoring of Snape's clear level of skill, but he didn't find even the smallest hint of malice on his features. Merely concern which made Draco feel like a slapped child.

"I understand." That was probably one of the worst things that Snape could have said in Draco's opinion but he didn't dare voice something.

"The room is clean now and you're to sleep here. Don't leave this house. I'll bring you something to eat later. I still need to try and contact the Order though they may not wish to hear from me. If I can get them to meet me, I may be able to prove myself back to them again. I hope for both of our sake's that is the case."

With a nod and another loud bang Snape was gone and Draco let himself fall back on the bed.