Chapter 28

The next day, buoyed a bit by the dinner the night before and the enthusiasm of the boys, Severus went about his duties as if in a fog. He watched Scorpius as carefully as he usually did. But the rest of the time, he thought about what he could show Scorpius next...what might finally change his mind once and for all about his grandfather. Severus felt nervous and depressed about the whole situation. Granted, the memories showed some hard times. However, no one knew the depth of his and Lucius' friendship. More times than not, they'd saved each other in situations that Voldemort had put them in. Sure, they fought and had come to blows a few times, but he cared about Lucius. Lucius was gone now; he did not think he could ever forgive him for what he'd done to Hermione. If the only way he could help him was to save Scorpius, then so be it. He would relive every memory he had that was appropriate for the boy to see. Showing him the murder had been very harsh but necessary. There were other things they had done that he would never show or tell anyone about. After Voldemort died the first time, Lucius had changed; he had married Narcissa and seemed quite devoted to her. Then Draco had been born. Those had been good years. The Dark Lord's army had been dispersed. They became a family like any other, and Severus had become an uncle. Only that had helped him survive the loss of Lily. Having baby Draco to entertain him had been his salvation. He'd never had to deal with a baby before. Draco had given him life in his tiny, curious way.

Yet Lucius had never embraced the wizarding world in general. He had acquired a lot of Dark Magic by then and finally felt he had the means to rise to power himself. He'd been recruiting loyal followers when the Dark Lord reappeared. They'd all been horribly shocked from their comfortable lives. Severus was already deep in his role as spy, but he'd never felt that much danger with Lucius, his friend, in charge. Voldemort's return was like being hit by a train. When the Dark Mark had once again activated, they were all subject to his whims. They had to face the terror of the constant tortures he used to keep his subordinates in line.

He needed to show Scorpius what Voldemort had been like after his return. The Dark Lord's visage would have scared anyone to death. Everyone had seen his picture, but being in his presence had been a different horror.

Severus regretted he had been so incapacitated that he had not seen the final fall of Voldemort. After all, he felt, who had deserved more than he to see that creature fall and die? Maybe Hermione would share that memory with him one day.

Well, back to Scorpius, he thought. Maybe that time in Lucius' own house... Yes, maybe he should see his grandfather's fit of rage.

What had Scorpius said the last time? He has loved me and my father with all that he was. Severus remembered a time when things had gone wrong with Voldemort and Lucius had been in a terrible fit of rage. Yes, this is where we will go tonight. Relieved to have his subject picked out, he settled back to wait for the boy.

*****

Scorpius, walked slowly like a man going to his own execution. He didn't want to see any more of his grandfather's shame. He didn't want to know that the man who had loved him and cared for him most of his life, since his parents had gone to work, was a monster. However, the stubbornness of his heart would not let Professor Snape win for now. He'd almost started to like him yesterday, but last night he'd thought about his grandfather and let the bitterness overwhelm him. The anger had returned. He would make that man suffer by reliving his horrible memories. He could see how painful it was for Professor Snape, and he had vowed he would make him hurt over and over for bringing pain to his grandfather. Wasn't it Snape who'd made his grandfather murder that woman? If he'd had the potion and had given it to her himself, his grandfather wouldn't have been forced to kill her with his hands. He tried to ignore the fact that Lucius had enjoyed it. He shoved that part to the back of his thoughts. The evil gleam in Lucius' eyes had scared him more than anything else. What horrible thing would Professor Snape want him to see tonight? He was already having terrible nightmares. He had woken screaming last night. He had visions of himself with his hands around the woman's throat. It had been terrible, and he hadn't been able to sleep again.

He already knew he didn't want to have anything else to do with dark magic or dark potions. That was not who he was inside. He was deeply disturbed by what had happened to Snape while he'd been invisible. He'd had no idea what the potion would do to Madam Granger when he'd found it in one of his grandfather's books. He'd thought it would only knock her out, maybe make her sick. He thanked Merlin he had not seen much of what had happened because Albus had punched him so hard he'd blacked out while Madam Pomfrey had worked on the professor. He knew he was lucky to not be expelled. Only his father's job had saved him. He'd felt horrible standing before his father, trying to tell him why he'd done what he'd done, and seeing the disappointment on his father's face had hurt him deeply. He knew his father and grandfather were different. His father had told him that he'd been hard and arrogant as a child and then the war had changed him. It made him see that all people, Muggle-borns, half-bloods, and full-bloods all had fought for the side of good. Those people had saved him even though they had hated him.

Part of Scorpius was realizing that his father might be right. Maybe goodness was the better way. His teachers seemed to care. Why else would they do what they were doing if not to help him? They certainly had a right to hate him.

With these thoughts in his head, he stepped into the Potions classroom and headed for the professor's office.

Madam Granger was at her desk grading papers, and she looked up and smiled at him. "Mr. Malfoy, go on in. He's waiting for you."

Scorpius nodded at her and gave her a weak smile. He was glad that she did not hold a grudge; he was learning so much in her classroom. He found Potions to be the most stimulating class he had. He knew Snape was in there only during his fifth hour to watch him, but together they had taught him more than he'd learned from any other teacher. He turned toward the door and went in.

Professor Snape sat up a bit straighter as he entered. "Good evening, Mr. Malfoy."

"Sir," he said, giving the man a little bit of respect. Was his vow to his grandfather and himself worth this horror? Was this man really so bad? Would Scorpius have wanted to live in a world where Voldemort was Lord? He didn't think so now. It definitely wasn't like his grandfather had painted it. Sure he'd had a fancy house and fine clothes and food, but he'd pimped himself out for it, hadn't he? Had the torture been worth that?

Severus stood and went toward the Pensieve, eager to get this one over. He would later bury himself in the arms of his wife and try to forget the hell of his past. He only prayed this memory would do the trick. He had no desire to keep looking into the past. Hermione had only nodded when he'd told her he still did not want her to see the deeds of his past. She told him later she understood, and maybe he was right. He thought she did not want to see his shame as he now considered it. He was no longer that man in her eyes.

He used his wand to draw the silver thread of a memory out and then dropped it into the Pensieve. Scorpius stood back looking at the Pensieve as if it was crawling with flesh-eating ants.

"Do you wish to continue these lessons?" he asked again.

Scorpius nodded though his eyes said no.

Severus sighed. "Very well, come join me then. Scorpius, there is no shame in changing your path. Hermione and I are very proud of the work you have done so far. I know your father is too."

"How do you know what my father feels?" he asked sarcastically.

"I am his godfather, and I do communicate with him. He has wanted to stay in contact considering our lessons. I have been unable to share much with him, however, because you leave after each lesson. Do you not wish to stay and talk about what you have seen?"

Scorpius shook his head. "No." He stepped closer, letting Severus know that tonight he didn't plan to talk either.

Severus nodded. "Come then. I thought you might like to see Voldemort after he changed. Go!" he commanded, and they plunged their face into the silver memory.

Scorpius was shocked to find himself in his own living room. Yet it was different. There was a richness to it that no longer existed in his life today. The carpets were new, thick, and fluffy. There were statues and fine mirrors. The fireplace, which was seldom lit in his house, was blazing with fire. His grandmother was sitting in a chair, her blonde hair brushed to shine. He barely remembered dull, graying hair. Lucius, looking young, fit and handsome, stood near the fire. He was brandishing his walking stick, swinging it here and there. Scorpius knew his wand was inside the head of the snake.

Narcissa said, "Put that thing down before you hurt someone. I warned you not to drink so much. You know he could come any moment."

"I care not whether he comes or not. We have the things I got into this for. It's my hope that Harry Potter does do him in," Lucius slurred, reaching for a goblet on the fireplace mantel. "I have toiled and sweated and experienced pain for what reason...to be looked down on, to be tortured while Severus here is in his back pocket."

Scorpius turned to see a brooding Snape sitting back in a chair holding his own goblet of red liquid. "If you dislike me so much, Lucius, then why ask me to come here?" Snape got to his feet and set the glass down. "I am tired, and we have waited for four hours. I do not think he is coming tonight."

Lucius said, "You can't go. He is likely waiting for someone to give up, and then he will torture me to the brink of death. I can't afford to go through that now; I haven't recovered from the last time." He pounded the mantle with his fist. "We live like rats in a cage. He pulls our strings and we dance like puppets."

Narcissa stood up nervously. "Severus, do something. If The Dark Lord comes now, we are all in for it. Can't you sober him up?"

Severus stood and went to a cabinet to get a potion when suddenly Voldemort was in the room.

"Ah, you're still all here, patiently waiting." His voice dripped like honey laced with venom.

The younger Severus tightened the rein on his emotions, pushing them behind the walls in his mind. Had he been observing them invisibly?

"Of course we are here, My Lord, as commended." Lucius said, raising a glass to the Dark Lord. Narcissa's eyes got huge.

"I would hope you'd be here because this is where you wish to be," Voldemort said with a hiss.

"It is my living room," Lucius said. "I am usually here." He swallowed another big gulp of wine, not noticing that Voldemort's eyes had begun to glow deep red.

Severus stood frozen in place, trying to warn Lucius with his eyes, but his friend was too far gone.

The observer Severus stood with a dread-filled heart; but as before, there was nothing to do but watch the past play out again. Scorpius had been standing away from him. When Voldemort had appeared, he'd backed up again and stood in front of Severus. Severus put his hands on the boy's shoulders to give him support and courage. He felt the boy's body shaking with fear.

Voldemort eyed Lucius with amusement laced with anger. "I have come to see your son, Lucius. I have a plan for him; he might be of use to us, being at Hogwarts."

Lucius sobered a bit. He might place himself in danger, but his son was another matter. "My Lord, he is a boy. What use could he be?"

The younger Severus had moved to hold Narcissa back with a warning by taking her arm and tightening his grip on it. Her eyes were as round as saucers. They had hoped that keeping Draco out of Voldemort's sight would make him forget about of the boy."

"Bring him," Voldemort commended, turning to Severus.

Severus bowed, avoiding his master's eyes. He backed away, his eyes warning Narcissa to keep quiet.

Severus left the room and went up some stairs, down a long hallway of doors. They followed because it was Snape's memory, and it pulled them along. Scorpius knew this hall well. They went to the door of his father's old room, now his own room at home. Severus knocked then went in. Draco was sitting on his bed, knees drawn up. Fear was all over his face, and he paled when he saw Severus' face.

"Come, the Dark Lord wishes to see you." Severus grabbed Draco by the arm and pulled him from the bed. "We must hurry. He is not in a good mood, and your father is drunk and spouting off his mouth. Kneel when you get in front of him, and do not look him in the eye. Do you understand, Draco?"

Draco nodded, gulping convulsively in fear.

"Agree to whatever he says. Do not contradict him or you will pay the price," Severus hissed as they neared the entrance to the living room.

They entered the room, and Severus and Scorpius stood to the side again.

Scorpius glanced up at Severus. He could see the dread on the man's face, and he found he no longer wished him ill. The comfort of his professor's hands on his shoulders had conveyed the man's care and concern for him. Nevertheless, this must play out. He had chosen to force Snape to bring him on another journey. He felt tightness in his chest. What would happen here? He turned back to the horrible snake-like Voldemort. The pictures he'd seen could not have conveyed the terror of looking upon the man in the flesh. The red eyes were horrible, and Scorpius could not fathom the horror of having them trained on him.

Snape pushed Draco forward, "Here he is, My Lord."

Draco went to his knees and kissed the Dark Lord's bare feet. Voldemort looked pleased.

"Lucius, you have trained the boy well. See, he shows me proper respect." Always flamboyant, Voldermort waved his wand around. "Rise." He placed it under Draco's chin and made him look at him. "Fear is a healthy response to meeting one's god," Voldemort said. "I will ask a great deal of you, Draco. You will help me infiltrate Hogwarts."

Draco knew better than to protest. "Yes, my Lord," he said, quaking inside.

"Severus, come hold the boy's arm. He will take the mark."

Snape came, took Draco's arm, and pulled up his sleeve.

Draco, in his fear and stupidity, exclaimed, "No, my Lord. I can do it without the mark. "

Voldemort whirled on Lucius. "Crucio," he cried out. "Maybe you have not taught your son well enough."

Lucius hit the carpeted floor writhing in pain. Snape was holding Draco's arm so tightly that he would leave bruises, and he was staring into Narcissa's eyes, willing her to stay quiet.

Her body was so taut that it looked made of stone.

Lucius screamed and thrashed for what seemed an eternity.

Severus had a hold of Scorpius; he'd slipped his arms around the boy's shoulders to hold him close. He was trying to lend comfort for him as well as himself. He felt tears dripping onto his arms.

Voldermort let Lucius go, and he slumped onto the floor whimpering. He struggled to turn and see that Voldemort had turned to Draco and was pressing his wand into Draco's arm. The Dark Mark bubbled to the surface, and Severus had a hand clamped over Draco's mouth to keep him from screaming.

Voldemort laughed. "This is the next generation of Malfoys. You will serve me well...your sons, their sons without end. Come to Borgin and Burkes on Friday night, and I will tell you my plan."

"Lucius, teach your son to accept what he must, or he will die," Voldemort told him as he vanished.

Severus dropped Draco's arm, devastated that this had been forced on the boy. He'd turned to take hold of a crying Narcissa.

Lucius, still in his drunken state and furious at himself and now Draco, climbed to his feet and attacked Draco, who had reached down to help him up. He pummeled the boy with his fists, bloodying his lips and nose, punching him in the gut before Severus realized what was happening and hit Lucius with a body bind.

Narcissa was screaming and had grabbed Draco to her. "Lucius, if you ever touch him again, I will kill you. Do you understand?" She ordered, "Severus, get him out of here before I change my mind and do it now."

Severus grabbed Lucius, but Lucius screamed back, "If he ever makes the Dark Lord turn on me again, I will kill him myself."

Severus dragged Scorpius from the memory, and they stood in his office. The boy's knees gave out, and he nearly fell. Severus held him up and pushed him into the high-backed chair. Scorpius looked like a small, lost boy. His face was red from crying, and he was shaking.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Professor Snape. No more, please, I cannot see anymore. My grandfather is a monster. How could he treat me as he has and have done that to his own son?"

Severus kneeled down and held the boy to his chest. "Lucius can be a wonderful man, but he loses himself from time to time, and that was the result. I show you this only to let you know that participation in the Dark Lord's service or in the clutches of Dark Magic can only destroy you and those around you." He pushed the boy back and got him a handkerchief. "After Voldemort was killed, Lucius was able to relax, and he was devoted to Draco and Narcissa. The evilness that was in us all when the Dark Mark vanished left as well."

"If it left," the boy hiccoughed through his emotion as he dapped at his face, "why would he kidnap Madam Granger?"

"Was he drinking heavily again?" Severus asked, sitting on the edge of his desk and looking down at the boy.

"Yes. Ever since my grandmother died, he did little else. I had to watch what I said to him myself, but he never laid a hand on me."

"Drink always brought the worst out in him, Scorpius. After the war, after my betrayal, he blamed me for his loss of status and wealth. The Wizengamgot stripped him of many of his holdings and land. This left him only the mansion in disrepair and a stipend to live on. That was only because he did not participate in much of the final battle. His concern over the safety of his wife and child had kept him from the fight. Also, somehow he'd alerted several members of the Order and helped avert some deaths. It helped him avoid a prison term. Yet he was placed on probation and was pretty much a prisoner in the house."

Scorpius nodded, mopping at his red nose. "He was so bitter the last years. He was not the same man I knew as a small child. He was getting more and more bitter. I think when he heard you were back, it put him over the edge."

Severus nodded. "Scorpius, I know what I have shown you was horrible. I meant to scare you and show you reasons not to follow your grandfather's path. Your father has always honored Lucius by taking care of him, but he is his own man...a man you can be proud of."

Scorpius nodded and stood. "Thank you, sir. I will not disappoint you. I will never again hurt another person, intentionally."

"Scorpius, we do need to talk more at length. Please come to me if you have any questions. I would be happy to tutor you in more advanced potion making if you desire. You are more gifted than any of Madam Granger's other students with the exception of Albus. You'd do well to partner with him."

"I know that you placed him there to watch me. I do not blame you for that. But he may wish another partner," Scorpius said.

"I think you'll find Albus is very much a boy of his own mind. I think he admires your work, and that's a great place to build a friendship."

Scorpius nodded. "May I go to dinner, sir? I'm starving."

Severus smiled down at him and squeezed his shoulder. "I think that's a good idea. I find I'm very hungry myself, tonight."

They headed through the door.

Lisa, thank you for your beta work.

Becky and Angela, thank you for reading the chapters and giving me your opinions.