Chapter 13 ? A Manual, An Offer And A Bamboo Rod

Thank you once again to those of you who have taken the time to read this story and leave me such lovely reviews.

As you will notice in this chapter, I have moved things along a bit.

All canon characters belong to JKR.

Thanks as always to June for all of her help and suggestions.

Chapter 13 – A Manual, An Offer And A Bamboo Rod

Three weeks passed and all seemed well.

Severus and Hermione found a way to slowly infuse Voldemort's stamina potions with a special additional mixture that kept him strong, yet would enable the Order at the proper moment to cast a simple spell that would deplete him of half his magical power. It would allow Harry to meet him on a more even keel as well as keep the Dark Lord's possible victims on the battlefield safe from his full power.

While the potion modification was developed fairly quickly by Severus and Hermione, Severus' time at the Riddle home seemed to go as slow as pouring honey. After "Higgenbottom" began giving Voldemort the "new and improved" potion, Dolohov was allowed to once again torment the hapless minor Death Eater. The Dark Lord's meetings were now being held twice a week, and Severus would usually arrive in his rooms with welts on his back from the caning he'd taken at the hands of Dolohov.

Hermione was incensed every time he returned, but there was nothing either of them could do; Severus had to play the part of the docile potions maker. However, with the help of the book Lucius had given her, Ginny was able to prescribe a fast acting balm, which promoted quick healing and left no scarring. It was usually after she'd healed Severus that Hermione and her own potions maker had their most heated lovemaking sessions.

After Lucius informed Albus of the information Rodolphus had given him, the Order members readied themselves. As Minister of Magic, Arthur had the authority to post Aurors wherever he saw fit without having to explain his actions. By his instructions, St. Mungo's was watched day and night, as were all of the wizarding schools in the world.

Lucius continued to court Ginny, much to her immense pleasure. She'd never imagined dating an older man would be such a different experience than all the younger men she'd gone out with.

He was patient, and always seemed genuinely interested in listening to her ideas and views when they were together. Lucius never embarrassed Ginny by making her feel she was less intelligent than him. He'd also made only a few subtle flirtatious remarks about attempting to bed her, which made her wonder if he was even remotely interested in her that way. She worried that he only wanted to be her "friend" or "uncle" – which was not what she wanted.

One evening, Ginny decided to ask her mother if all wizards Lucius' age were like that.

"Ginny, dear Lucius is just more experienced. Older men don't like to rush into things; they've been taught to act like gentlemen and treat women with respect," said Molly as she tried to comfort her daughter. "Besides, he would have to be blind not to think you were the loveliest young woman in the world."

Still, Ginny wondered how Lucius really felt about her. She would learn soon enough – this very evening, in fact – but the news would make her more nervous than happy.

That evening, Hermione was in Severus' rooms looking for an old manual he'd told her she could use for her class, when she thought she heard someone knocking at her own door. She ran down the hallway that connected both their rooms and opened her front door.

"Ginny!" Hermione was out of breath from running. "I didn't expect you here tonight. I thought you and Lucius would be doing something together, since it's Friday evening."

The young healer walked into the room. "I'm seeing him later. He's having dinner with Draco. He wants to tell him about us."

"I thought Draco already knew you were seeing each other," said Hermione.

Ginny shook her head.

"No, Lucius has been afraid to say anything. It hasn't been long since...since Narcissa's death," Ginny whispered. She and Draco had been friends for several years, having buried the hatchet long ago. She knew how hurt he'd been to know his mother was a concubine to Voldemort; however, the loss of his mother still haunted him. Ginny hoped that Draco would accept her in his father's life, despite her being a year younger than Draco.

Hermione wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulder and guided her into Severus' rooms.

"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. Now, why don't you help me look for the manual I need for my class next week. I've been looking for the bloody thing for over half an hour."

They chatted together as they searched Severus' small library, distracting each other from their fears. Ginny was nervous about Lucius' dinner with his son; Hermione was tense because Severus had been Summoned to Voldemort's side this afternoon. Two women in love with two Death Eater spies, yet neither realized that they would soon learn something the men had kept a secret for many years. But that would come later.

~*~*~*~

At Malfoy Manor Lucius, Draco and Harry were sitting in the study and having drinks while waiting for Emil to usher them to the dining room. Lucius had asked Emil and Dari to make sure that all of Draco's favorite foods be served.

"I've missed this place," said Draco as he looked around the room.

"This is your home, Draco; it will always be your home. You are more than welcome to live here." Lucius looked towards Harry. "Harry, you are welcome here as well."

"We wouldn't want to intrude on you," said Harry. Truth be told, he and Draco had been looking for a larger place to live. While number twelve, Grimmauld Place belonged to Harry, he'd decided long ago to allow all Order members to stay in the home whenever they needed. At first Harry lived there fulltime, but he quickly found that privacy was an issue. When he and Draco became lovers, they moved into a small flat in Godric's Hollow, "small" being the operative word. After nearly three years together, they felt that more space was needed.

"You wouldn't be intruding," Lucius reassured him. "As you can see there is ample room, but you could always move into the guest house across the gardens." Lucius knew that the young men lived in a very small flat, as Ginny had mentioned it on several occasions. He didn't like knowing his son was living in such a small home.

Draco and Harry looked at one another, both knowing what the other was thinking. Draco voiced their concerns.

"What if Voldemort finds out we're living here?" said Draco.

Lucius shook his head.

"Draco, your grandfather warded this property with impenetrable magic. You are probably safer here than anywhere else in the wizarding world."

Emil walked into the study. "Dinner is ready."

The three wizards stood and followed the small elf to the door.

"Just think about it; you don't have to answer me now. But, before we go to dinner, there is something I need to speak with you about." Lucius stopped and looked at Harry. "Harry, I need to speak with Draco in private. We'll join you in a moment."

Harry smiled at Draco and nodded, then walked to the dining room with Emil.

"Is something wrong?" asked Draco, wondering why his father had sent Harry away. Could it be that his father wanted to tell him that he really didn't approve of his and Harry's relationship?

"Nothing is wrong, quite the opposite." Lucius smiled sadly. "I hope that you can understand me, Draco. I don't know what I would do at this point if you were to become angry or disappointed in me."

Draco frowned. "Father, I could never be angry at you. You've done so much to keep me out of danger. You and mother."

Lucius sighed heavily. "Draco, I need to tell you something. I've..." Lucius took a huge gulp of his drink and set the glass heavily on the table next to him. "I've been seeing someone."

Draco looked stunned.

"Please understand, son, I know the death of your mother is still weighing heavily on the both of us, but..."

Draco approached Lucius and placed his hand on his father's shoulder.

"It's all right, Father. I understand, I really do. She left us seven years ago."

Lucius looked at Draco and felt relief wash over his entire body.

"I loved your mother; despite all she did, I loved her." Lucius' eyes glittered with tears. While he knew his feelings for Ginny were growing, his heart would never completely let go of Narcissa; they'd had a child together.

"She would understand." Draco now began to lead Lucius out of the study and both men walked to the dining room.

"So, who's the lucky woman?" he asked, wanting to lighten the mood.

Lucius smirked. "One Miss Ginevra Weasley."

Draco's jaw dropped. Not only had his father found a woman who was intelligent and beautiful, but he'd found one half his age. He started laughing. "Father, you are a lecherous old man."

Lucius arched his perfect brow. "Not yet, son, but I hope to be soon."

~*~*~*~*~

Severus had been called to the Riddle home alone. Voldemort wanted to have extra stamina potion for the weekend, and Severus guessed this meant that this was the weekend Rodolphus had warned them about.

He was almost finished making the extra doses of stamina potion Voldemort had requested of him. It was quite simple for him to add in the mixture he and Hermione made in order to weaken the Dark Lord's power during the final battle. The only problem Severus had was that, for the last two weeks, Antonin Dolohov had been given the nod by Voldemort to continue torturing "Higgenbottom."

Much to his dismay Dolohov was almost always there in the potions lab, watching him. Severus came to realize that it wasn't so much that Dolohov just wanted to cause him pain or rattle him, but that Voldemort didn't completely trust Higgenbottom. Dolohov was there to watch him on behalf of the Dark Lord, and the fact that he could annoy and hurt "Higgenbottom" while doing so, made things more pleasant for the sadistic wizard. The only glitch in that plan was that Dolohov was and had always been horrible at potions; he could watch Severus day and night without noticing anything wrong. The man couldn't tell water from urine, he was that bad. Whenever Dolohov asked what an ingredient was and why it was necessary, Severus very smoothly gave his answer.

But Severus was quickly growing tired of the wizard.

That evening, when he arrived, Dolohov decided to push the potions maker to the limit. Little did he know that Voldemort's potions maker was the "deceased" Severus Snape.

Dolohov held a thin rod of bamboo in his hand. He began hitting it against the table, each time getting nearer and near Severus' workstation.

"If you continue making those noises, I will not be able to concentrate," said Severus in the weak tone of the wizard he'd been impersonating.

"Then finish quickly so that I can use the rod on you and not the table," laughed Dolohov, who then began poking Severus in the back with the rod.

Severus held himself back. He had to restrain his temper not only because he needed to finish the potion for Voldemort, but because he could not give himself away. The Pensieve of Higgenbottom's memories clearly showed that the wizard was afraid of Dolohov, but Severus was growing weary of the act. He wasn't used to allowing someone else to abuse him in such a way. While he'd taken many a beating at the hands of Voldemort, he'd never allowed another Death Eater to so much as lift a finger against him. But this same routine went on every time he visited the Riddle home to make the Dark Lord's potions.

Just as he put his final ingredients in the potion, Severus heard the telltale whooshing sound of the rod coming at him and quickly felt the shooting pain on his back from the strike. Then he heard laughter.

Severus took a deep breath. He finished the potion, but he was also losing time. He needed to take another dose of Polyjuice Potion soon, yet he could not until Dolohov left the room.

Another hit came from Dolohov.

Severus was not only growing agitated but he felt himself changing to his own form.

"Stop hitting me and please allow me to finish the Dark Lord's potion. Leave," said Severus-as-Higgenbottom.

Again Dolohov laughed. "You've finished. I have watched you make this potion before. All you need to do now is allow it to settle, and it can do that on its own. Now it's my turn to have a bit of fun." He swung his arm hard, and again the bamboo rod connected with Severus' back.

Severus held himself against the table, his hands gripping the edge; he felt his body now begin to morph back to himself. Something unpleasant was about to happen.

"I am asking you one more time, don't do this. Please leave," said Severus as he kept his back to Dolohov.

Dolohov stepped forward and ripped the back of the thin robes Severus wore as Higgenbottom. He swung again and – this time hitting Severus' bare back – drew blood.

"I'm in the mood to see blood. I don't want to leave."

Severus, who had now finished morphing back to his own body, turned so quickly that to Dolohov, he was a mere blur of motion. He grabbed Dolohov by the throat and shoved him roughly against the wall.

Dolohov's eyes grew wide at the sight of a man who was supposed to be dead.

Severus narrowed his eyes and smiled. "That's too bad, Dolohov. Because now you can't leave."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm building up to a few things so I thank you all for your patience.