Aftermaths, Part 8

by Geri ([email protected])

Rating: Mostly PG-13, but NC-17 for overall story

Pairing: Snape/Lupin, Theodore/Blaise

Warning: AU; events that occurred at the end of Order of the Phoenix were significantly altered from the book.

Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, and Phoenix Rising.

Summary: The various characters deal with the aftermath of the war, and Snape and Lupin try to build a family together with Theodore and Dylan. However, some people are unable to let go of the past...

Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to J.K. Rowling, except Hob, who belongs to William Mayne; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
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Draco emerged from the fireplace, fastidiously dusting ashes off his robe and broomstick. He looked around the cottage, idly noting that the entire building could almost fit in the Malfoy living room. "Hi Draco," Dylan said, smiling at him pleasantly. Damien was already there, and also gave Draco a friendly smile; Theodore, on the other hand, was regarding him warily.

"Hello Draco," Lupin said cheerfully. "It's nice to see you again." Snape just nodded at him.

"Um, hi," Draco said, feeling a little uncomfortable about how the balance of power had shifted between himself and the other boys. Maybe Rosier and Pierce didn't hold a grudge against him, but he suspected Nott still did, judging by the look in his eyes.

"Well, you boys run along," Lupin continued blithely, not seeming to notice the tension in the room. "Lunch will be ready in about an hour."

"Thanks, Remus," Dylan said. "Come on, let's go."

"You call him 'Remus'?" Draco asked after they had left the cottage.

"Yeah, sure," Dylan replied casually. "He asked us to. He said we're not in school right now, so we could call him by name."

Draco felt a brief pang of envy, although he wasn't sure why. "You don't call Snape 'Severus,' do you?"

Dylan laughed. "Merlin, no! He made it quite clear that he prefers to be called 'Professor'! It wouldn't feel right, anyway, calling Snape by his first name." He and Theodore grinned at each other.

Draco was relieved to see Nott looking less hostile, but at the same time, a little put out as he realized that he would probably no longer be Snape's most favored student. Slytherins always favored their own, and now that Snape no longer had to cater to Lucius Malfoy, he would probably favor his two foster sons over the rest of the students, especially since Dylan had been his pet practically from the moment he had set foot on the school grounds...

"Catch," Dylan said, interrupting Draco's train of thought. Draco blinked and managed to get his hands up in time to prevent a Quaffle from hitting him in the face. "Lupin borrowed a Quaffle and a Snitch from Hogwarts for us to practice with," Dylan said. "I figured we could do without the Bludgers for now."

"Definitely," Damien said, wincing a little; he had been hit by one during their match against Ravenclaw.

Draco felt a brief flicker of resentment at the way Rosier had taken charge of things, but fought back the urge to snap at the other boy. Things were different now, after all, whether he liked it or not. And Dylan was smiling at him in a friendly manner, and didn't seem to be trying to lord it over him. In fact, all three of the boys seemed to be waiting for his approval before starting their practice. It was probably just force of habit, but it made Draco feel a little better. Even if he'd lost status in Slytherin, at least he was still the Captain of the Quidditch team. That was a small comfort, and he tried not to think about the possibility of Snape demoting him in favor of Dylan.

"Well, let's get started, then," Draco said, in a tone of only slightly forced cheer. He did enjoy himself once they were up in the air; he had always loved flying, and the sense of freedom that accompanied it. Things went well for the better part of an hour; they mainly practiced passing and blocking, trying to become accustomed to working with Nott and vice versa. Draco decided that Nott would probably make a good Chaser; he was pretty good on a broomstick, and able to react quickly in response to his teammates' or opponents' actions. Although those qualities would also come in handy for a Keeper, come to think of it.

They landed to take a break after a good workout. Draco had noticed while they were up in the air that the house was surrounded by forest, and that there were no other buildings visible as far as the eye could see. "This place is really out in the middle of nowhere," he said.

Theodore scowled at him, but Dylan smiled and said, "Lupin says that's why his parents built the cottage here; so that there would be no neighbors to hear him howling during the full moon."

"Yeah, that's right," Draco acknowledged. "I almost forgot there was no Wolfsbane Potion back then, so he'd have to be locked up." He flushed a little, remembering how he had insulted Lupin in the past, and how Lucius Malfoy had helped influence the Ministry into passing the anti-werewolf legislation that had only been recently rescinded.

"So what's there to do out here?" Damien asked curiously.

Dylan shrugged. "It's no worse than being stuck out on Uncle Math's estate in Wales, and at least I'm not a prisoner here. We walk through the woods, play chess and cards, fly on our broomsticks...and Snape keeps us busy." Dylan grinned. "He says he doesn't believe in letting children remain idle all summer--he has us studying to prepare for next year's classes and exams, and he assigned us regular chores to do. We helped him brew the Wolfsbane Potion for Lupin, and we help with the cooking and cleaning and gardening--"

"Chores?" Draco asked in horror. "You have to cook and clean like a house-elf?!"

"Shut your mouth, Malfoy!" Theodore snapped.

"How dare you talk to me that way!" Draco retorted automatically, forgetting for a moment that he had no power over his fellow Slytherins anymore.

Theodore just sneered at him. "Still acting all high and mighty, Malfoy?"

"Take it easy, you two," Damien said nervously, but they both ignored him.

"You're forgetting your place, Nott!"

"You're the one who's forgotten your place, Malfoy! I've had to suck up to you since I was five years old, and I'm sick of it! You're nothing now that you don't have your daddy to protect you--"

Draco let out a wordless cry of anger and lunged at Nott; Damien grabbed him and held him back, while Dylan tried, without success, to calm Nott down.

"Theo, that's enough already, please!"

Meanwhile, Draco struggled to break out of Damien's grip. "Don't you talk about my father that way!"

"I don't have to listen to you anymore," Theodore taunted. "Your precious father is dead; there's nothing he can do to me now!"

"Your father's dead, too!" Draco shouted.

Theodore's gray-green eyes glittered strangely, and for a moment, he didn't look entirely sane. "Yes, and I'm glad!" he screamed. "I hate him, I hate all the Death Eaters, I wish they were all dead--"

"Stop it!" Dylan shouted, looking a little frightened. "Stop it, both of you!"

Draco managed to free himself, shoved Damien away, and reached for his wand; Nott did likewise.

"STOP THIS INSTANT OR I'LL GIVE YOU ALL DETENTION FOR A MONTH!" Professor Snape roared. All four boys instantly froze in place. There was a very long silence, and then Lupin piped up cheerfully:

"But Severus, you can't give them detention; it's summer vacation."

That seemed to break the tension, and Dylan laughed weakly, although the other three boys were still too intimidated to laugh in the face of the Potions Master's anger. But Lupin was grinning, and although Snape was giving him a sour look, he no longer looked quite so furious. "Well then, I can give them detention when school starts again," he said grumpily.

"That's not really fair, is it?" Lupin pointed out. "To give them detention for something that happened during the summer?"

"I'm a Slytherin, Lupin," Snape said dryly. "The word 'fair' isn't in my vocabulary."

Lupin chuckled, then walked over to Theodore and slipped an arm around the boy's shoulders. "Draco has made some mistakes in the past," Lupin said kindly, "but so have we all. We're very lucky that we've been granted a second chance to start over again."

"I know," Theodore mumbled, flushing and looking ashamed of himself. Draco wondered what Nott was ashamed of--that he had not stood up to the Death Eaters before? Or perhaps the recently revealed news about his uncle's murder? Then Draco went over Lupin's words in his mind again, and he wondered about something else.

"Um, Professor?" Draco asked hesitantly. "You said 'we all' have made mistakes in the past. What mistakes did you make?"

"I made many mistakes, Draco," Lupin said with a sad smile. "I didn't stand up to my Gryffindor friends when they played cruel pranks on the Slytherins, or even when they simply made prejudiced and insulting remarks about them. I regret that I didn't trust Severus enough to tell him about my lycanthropy, and I regret that I didn't trust my Gryffindor friends enough to tell them about my love for Severus. I regret that I believed my friend Sirius was a traitor. I regret that I didn't try harder to mend the rift between Severus and myself when--"

"Enough, Lupin," Snape interrupted gruffly, looking a little guilty. "Don't wallow in self-pity. As you said, we've all made mistakes."

Lupin smiled at him, gave Theodore a hug, then walked over to Draco and laid a hand on his shoulder. "And Draco, I know it's hard to break old habits, but if you want to have friends--real friends, not just people who are interested in your money or your power--you need to learn to treat them with kindness and respect."

"I know," Draco muttered, remembering that Damien had told him something similar. "It's just...I'm not used to this. Almost overnight, people went from respecting us to looking down on us."

"The Malfoys were not precisely respected, Draco," Snape said, but not unkindly. "They were feared; there is a difference."

"And now that they don't fear us anymore," Draco said slowly, working things out in his mind, "they feel free to hate us, or gloat at us, to get back at us for the times that we...um...bossed them around?" He flushed, recalling the way Damien had said that he bossed everyone in Slytherin around.

"Exactly, Malfoy," Snape said, looking both amused and sympathetic at the same time. It was a little shocking to see Snape, of all people, with a look of sympathy on his face.

"You did not have friends before, Draco," Lupin said. "They were simply people who feared you or wanted favors from you. But now you have a chance to make some real friends, people who will care about you and stand by you through thick and thin."

"But everyone hates me!" Draco wailed, then cringed at how pathetic he sounded.

The other boys stared at him thoughtfully for a moment, then Dylan stepped forward. "Well, the Headmaster believes in second chances," he said. "He allowed me to enter Hogwarts when everyone was telling him not to. And Professor Snape helped me even though I was stupid and got myself mixed up with the Death Eaters. So I'm willing to be your friend, Draco--so long as you treat me like a friend, not a lackey."

Damien grinned and slapped Draco on the back. "You're all right, Malfoy, when you're not acting all lordly. Just remember that no one's going to suck up to you anymore. I think we can break you of the habit, with a little practice." Draco looked affronted for a moment, but the other boy kept grinning at him, and Draco managed a tentative smile in response.

Everyone turned and looked at Theodore--Draco apprehensively, and the others expectantly. Theodore scowled at them sullenly.

"Aw, come on, Theo," Damien cajoled. "Give him a chance. You can always change your mind if he starts acting like a prat again."

"Gee, thanks," Draco said a little sarcastically, not sure whether to be pleased or insulted by his new friend's efforts to help him.

"That's what friends are for," Damien said cheerfully, apparently unoffended.

"He did fight against the Death Eaters in the end," Dylan reminded Theodore.

Nott hunched his shoulders a little, still looking stubborn, but also unhappy, as if he felt bad about resisting his friends' entreaties. "Look, I'm sorry about what I said before, about working like a house-elf," Draco said awkwardly; he wasn't used to making apologies. "I just wasn't thinking, okay?" Theodore stared at him silently, looking uncertain and a little suspicious. "Do you really hate me that much, Nott?" Draco asked, feeling rather puzzled. Of course he had known all along that their "friendship" had been one dictated by their parents' alliance, but he hadn't realized how much hostility the other boy had been carrying towards him, and the Death Eaters in general. Crabbe and Goyle, and even Rosier, didn't seem to resent him the way Nott did.

Theodore snorted derisively. "Do you think it's fun listening to, 'Fetch this for me, Nott,' and 'Fetch that for me, Nott,' and 'Do my homework for me, Nott,' all the time?"

Draco flushed at the way Nott had imitated his voice, and wondered if he really sounded that snotty, or if Nott was just exaggerating. Probably the former, he reluctantly admitted to himself. "I guess not," Draco mumbled.

"Are you really mad at Draco?" Lupin asked gently. "Or is it someone else that you're really angry at? The Death Eaters, or your father, perhaps...?"

Theodore hung his head, his dark hair falling forward over his face, not quite hiding the sudden redness spreading across his cheeks. "I hated being Draco's lackey," he whispered, "because it reminded me of the way my father acted like Lucius Malfoy's lapdog. Because it reminded me that someday I'd have to join the Death Eaters, too."

That whisper unnerved Draco far more than Nott's earlier shouted insults. "I didn't know that you hated the Death Eaters, Nott," he said in a subdued voice. "I mean, not until the final battle."

Theodore looked up and met his eyes, looking more weary than angry now. "I'm not stupid, Draco. If I'd said what I really thought, your father would have had me killed--providing my father didn't beat him to it."

"Why did you hate the Death Eaters?" Draco asked. Apparently both Theodore and Serafina had never wanted to become Death Eaters, and Dylan had been actively working against them ever since he was Marked. It made Draco feel a little stupid and completely out of the loop. Was he the only one besides Crabbe and Goyle (who were none too bright themselves) who had not seen the Death Eaters for what they really were?

"Because my father was one," Theodore said in a flat voice, "and he's been torturing me with hexes for as long as I can remember." Draco stared at him in shock. "And because he killed my uncle, who threatened to expose him. When we met our fathers in Hogsmeade on Halloween, he told me that if I refused to become a Death Eater, I would still serve the Dark Lord as a sacrifice--and I almost did. If it hadn't been for Professor Lupin and Professor Snape..." He shuddered a little, and Snape patted him awkwardly on the shoulder.

"I...I didn't know," Draco whispered.

"You were sheltered, Draco," Snape told him gravely. "Partly because you never saw the inner workings of the Death Eaters, never saw them scheming and fighting to win the Dark Lord's favor, never saw the way the Dark Lord punished his servants when they displeased him. I am sure that your father told you only about the power and glory the Death Eaters would reap, not about the times that Voldemort inflicted Cruciatus Curses on us and made us grovel at his feet. And also because Lucius left your upbringing mainly to Narcissa, and she was a loving and indulgent mother. Too indulgent sometimes; quite frankly, I thought you were spoiled, but I guess she didn't mess things up completely, since you're not dead or in Azkaban..."

Lupin rolled his eyes. "Thank you for being so tactful as always, Severus," he said. Dylan laughed, and the other boys smiled a little.

"Sarcasm does not become you, Lupin," Snape said coolly, but the corners of his mouth twitched upwards slightly. "It is better suited to a Slytherin, not a softhearted Gryffindor. And the word 'tact'--"

"Is not in your vocabulary," Lupin finished with a grin. "I know, I know. Shall we go in and have lunch now?"

Everyone turned to look at Theodore and Draco. Draco hesitantly held out his hand and said, "Truce, Nott?" He found himself holding his breath as Theodore stared at him intently for what seemed to Draco like a very long time.

Theodore glanced over at Lupin, who smiled at him encouragingly. "All right," he sighed, a little reluctantly, and reached out and shook Draco's hand. "Truce. But if you start ordering me about--"

"No point in that," Draco said, trying not to sound sulky. "It's pretty clear that nobody will listen to me if I do." Dylan, Damien, and Lupin started chuckling, and Draco bristled for a moment until he realized that they were laughing with him, not at him, and he gave in and laughed, too. It was a surprisingly good feeling. Theodore didn't laugh, but he did smile at them.

"I'm so proud of you two!" Lupin declared, giving first Theodore, and then a very startled Draco each a hug.

"Don't mind the werewolf, Draco," Snape said sardonically, but there was a glimmer of laughter in his black eyes. "He tends to get emotional at times, particularly near the full moon. Lupin, will you please try to restrain yourself?"

"Sorry, Sev," Lupin said with a wide grin, not looking very contrite. "Come on, lunch is getting cold."

So they went back to the cottage for lunch, and Lupin served them sandwiches and soup and butterbeer. "Severus made the soup," he said cheerily.

As Draco's mouth fell open, Snape glared at the werewolf and snapped, "Dammit, Lupin, I told you not to say anything about that!"

"I don't know why you're making such a fuss," Lupin said with a look of innocent bewilderment. "Didn't you say that cooking is rather like potion brewing--following the recipe and mixing the proper ingredients?" Snape began to make a low sound deep in his throat that sounded suspiciously like a growl. "Besides, it's very good soup--don't you think so, Draco?"

Draco tried a spoonful; it really was good. "It's delicious, Professor," he said, giving Snape a nervous smile. Snape did not look very mollified.

"Stop glowering like that, Severus," Lupin said calmly. "You'll ruin the boys' appetites and curdle the butterbeer."

"Butterbeer doesn't curdle," Snape retorted in a snippy tone of voice, but toned down his glare and started eating. "I wish you'd stop embarrassing me in front of the children," he grumbled.

"What, you mean like this?" Lupin asked, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.

"LUPIN!"

"They do this all the time," Dylan reassured a wide-eyed Draco and Damien.

"I think I'm actually starting to get used to it," Theodore said.

"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to that," Damien said.

"I still can't believe it," Draco muttered, shaking his head. "Snape and the werewolf..." Theodore glared at him, and he added, "Oh, don't get your shorts in a twist, Nott. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, just that it's hard to believe. They saved my life, too, you know."

Snape might have gotten annoyed at his students discussing his love life at the kitchen table in front of him, except that he was too busy fending off Lupin to notice. The werewolf had put his arms around Snape and was nuzzling him affectionately, ignoring his spluttering and blustering. "Lupin, will you stop that?!"

"I can't help it; it's the wolf in me," Lupin laughed, but he let go of Snape.

"The full moon's already passed, Lupin," Snape growled, then changed the subject. "I hope you've been thinking about which N.E.W.T.s you plan to take next year, Mr. Malfoy. It's not too early to start studying for them."

"Really, Severus," Lupin said, "can't you just let them enjoy their summer vacation?"

"Professor Blackmore already told me the same thing," Draco said quickly, before Snape could make a retort. "But I haven't really decided yet. Dad had everything planned out; he was going to get me an apprenticeship at the Ministry, but..." His voice trailed off. He looked down at his plate to avoid seeing any pity in his companions' eyes.

"You might consider a career in Potions," Snape suggested.

"I think you would be well-suited to a career in advertising or publicity," Lupin said. Draco looked up in surprise to see the werewolf's blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Er...what do you mean, sir?"

"I was just remembering the 'Weasley Is Our King' song and the roses you ordered for the Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch match last year," Lupin replied. "Very creative. Not very nice, perhaps, but very creative. And certainly effective."

"That was so embarrassing," Dylan groaned.

"I don't know what you're complaining about," Damien told him. "I'd love to have a horde of admiring fans waving flowers at me!"

"You're welcome to them," Dylan said.

"Hey, I know what I wanna do when I graduate!" Damien laughed. "Become a professional Quidditch player! Women love 'em--you remember the way all the girls swooned over Krum!"

"Be serious, Mr. Pierce," Snape told him sourly.

"I AM serious," Damien protested.

Snape rolled his eyes heavenward and sighed, "Merlin help us!"

"You might want to have a backup plan," Lupin suggested gently. "Just in case the Quidditch thing doesn't pan out."

"Advertising, hmm?" Draco said thoughtfully. It was not quite what he'd had in mind, but it did sound sort of intriguing. "What kind of classes would I have to take?"

"Charms, Illusion, possibly Transfiguration," Lupin said.

"Will Hogwarts still have Illusion classes next semester?" Draco asked. "Isn't Master Satoshi going back to Japan?"

"No, he's decided to stay at Hogwarts for at least another year," Lupin replied. "Apparently he really enjoyed teaching all of you."

"Really?" Snape asked skeptically. "Karasu told me it was because there were still a few jealous husbands and swindled customers looking for the tanuki back in Japan."

"Now, now, Severus," Lupin scolded, "it isn't very professional to gossip about your fellow teachers, particularly in front of the students."

"I had no idea you were so concerned with propriety, Lupin," Snape retorted. "It's not very professional to kiss a fellow teacher in front of your students, either." He instantly realized that he had made a mistake by saying that, but it was too late to take it back.

"You mean like this?"

"LUPIN!"

The boys quickly finished their lunch and retreated to Dylan's and Theodore's room, sparing the Potions Master further humiliation. "Watching them is actually kind of entertaining," Damien chuckled as they started to play a game of cards.

"You should see the way Potter blushes whenever anyone even mentions their names," Draco laughed. "The Gryffindors are such prudes!" Then he noticed that all three of the other boys were staring at him in shock.

"Since when do you hang around with Potter?" Damien asked.

"He's Sirius Black's godson," Draco said, a little defensively. "And Black is my mother's cousin. He's been helping my mum out, hired a lawyer to keep the Ministry from confiscating our estate. So we have dinner with him once in awhile. And since Potter and Blackmore live with him..."

"That's right, I almost forgot he's engaged to Professor Blackmore!" Damien said, then snickered a little. "I almost feel sorry for Potter; I wonder what it's like, having Blackmore for a stepmother?"

"She's not so bad, really," Draco admitted. "She's not as scary as she is in the classroom, though I still wouldn't cross her. What's it like having Snape for a foster father?"

"Not so bad," Dylan said with a grin. "Lupin keeps him from being too tough on us. Don't tell Snape I said so, but whenever they argue, Lupin usually ends up winning..."

The boys spent a pleasant hour playing cards and gossiping about their teachers until it was time for Damien and Draco to leave.

"Feel free to stop by again sometime," Lupin said cheerfully. "Maybe next weekend?"

Draco and Theodore both hesitated, staring at each other, then Theodore shrugged and said, "Sure, why not? We need to practice if we're to beat Gryffindor next year."

"You can practice for your N.E.W.T.s as well," Snape said, the hint of sadistic glee in his eyes making him look much more like the old Snape that they were used to seeing. "I'll prepare some practice exam sheets for you."

"Sure you still want to come?" Dylan laughed.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Draco said firmly, and he meant it.

 

Part 9