Chapter 44: Slytherin Tact
Malfoy Manor, Wizarding World...
Lucius Abraxas Malfoy had been fuming as his haunting gray eyes met the cold obsidian gaze of Severus Sebastian Snape. He had been informed of his only son, Draco's condition pertaining to being a werewolf via Albus Dumbledore and had been positively livid as a result. There had been bits of broken glass and toppled furniture as He gripped his wand aiming it at Severus. The Potions Professor simply stood there not making any sudden movements or any sound for that matter as his oldest friend glared at him rather murderously.
"YOU'VE INFECTED MY SON!" shouted Lucius enraged. "I GIVE YOU THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LOOKING AFTER MY ONLY CHILD AND YOU'VE TURNED HIM INTO A SODDING WOLF-BEAST!"
Snape still said nothing as the irate Malfoy continued.
"DAMN YOU SEVERUS!" he shouted.
Narcissa could do little but watch the scene unfold. She had not known what to make of this situation. She had been quite angered that Severus of all people was hiding the fact that he had been a werewolf and that he had as far as they know deliberately infected their son.
"How could you Severus?" she asked in a voice with a combination of sorrow and anger. "When you became his godfather you assured us that you would always do right by Draco...now this...how do you expect us to ever trust you again?"
Snape remained silent not at all having an adequate defense for himself. They knew nothing about his relationship with Hermione Granger and even less about his werewolf status aside from him turning Draco.
"IT'S NOT HIS FAULT!" shouted Draco as he stepped through the floo.
His raised voice had gotten the attention of his parents.
"Like hell it isn't." muttered Lucius. "He's the one that infected you."
"Father, will you please listen...he was infected by those damned Gryffindors and had not known until recently." Draco lied rather smoothly. "He had simply been doing his job as a Potions Master when his transformation took place."
Lucius looked at Severus whom had said nothing the entire time he had arrived. The back at his son...or what was left of his son.
"The Gryffindors are to blame and you know it father." said Draco narrowing his gray eyes at the senior Malfoy.
"But he bit you." said Lucius gripping his wand.
"It wasn't on purpose...I should not have been out after curfew...even when he told me to go to bed." said the gray eyed younger wizard.
Lucius sighed.
"Even if this were true, why didn't Severus tell us himself?" he asked clearly still bitter about the whole ordeal.
"That simpleton Dumbledore didn't give him a chance." muttered Draco. "He knew you'd be upset with him...you know perfectly well that the old coots been a thorn in godfather's side for years."
Lucius nodded.
"That is true." he said stroking his chin in thought. "But what of your...new status...the dark lord will not look too kindly upon you with beast blood."
"He won't...and that is why Uncle Severus is doing everything he can to protect me." replied Draco. "I've been bunking with him since this all occurred and I shall have to remain in his private quarters due to my status until we are safely away from the full moon."
Narcissa sighed this time.
"But you are cursed...both of you are cursed." she said looking back n forth between them.
"Mother please, said Draco with a bit of confidence. "We are no more cursed than you or father...how easily you forget that we are Slytherin...the gifts this new status can be used to our advantage just as any other."
Lucius nodded once more seeing his son's point.
"Think of it...I am no more an easy mark for the likes of Potter or the other death eaters." said Draco with a wicked little smirk. "No more hiding in the shadows like a weeping child...I now have the power to defend myself and you if need be."
Snape looked on resisting the urge to smirk at the boy's obvious grasp of Slytherin tact. Still he played his part well, that of the sorrowful, guilt ridden Professor wishing to comply by any means of "punishment" for the transgression he committed. This had been going along so well that Snape could not have thought it better if he planned it himself.
"The name of Malfoy will be both feared and respected once more." said Draco laying it on a bit thick, but he knew how to speak to his parents to get what he wanted.
"Very well Draco." said Lucius putting away his wand. "And I apologize Severus."
Snape nodded.
"As do I." replied Narcissa. "We found ourselves thinking along the lines of emotionally imbalanced Gryffindors and it is fortunate that our son reminded us of our true Slytherin roots."
Draco made his way over toward his uncle.
He flashed a big smile and embraced the dour wizard. Snape rolled his eyes and briefly hugged the little pup back noting his scent for the first time. He had smelled of sweat and something else...something foreign.
The Potions Master released the boy and turned his attention to helping Lucius right the wrongs that had been done to the timeless but elegant and quite expensive furniture via his wand.
At length, the Malfoys and Snape discussed how things were going to proceed and they thought it best that he handle the majority of Draco's education in the ways of the werewolf and concealment in a bid to keep not only the wizarding world from knowing his status but the dark lord as well.
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Draco Malfoy had been a ball of energy once he and Snape got back from his family's manor. Snape had not particularly liked this aspect of the young Slytherin's changes but he had noted his own energy seemed to be a bit limitless. Draco stretched and suddenly got the urge to wrestle with the dour wizard not at all recalling that Severus Snape had not been a kind man.
"Come on uncle, let's have some fun." said the younger Malfoy happily.
Snape narrowed his eyes at the young Slytherin.
"Have you lost what little mind you possess?" he asked in a dangerous tone.
"Hey is that the way you treat the bloke that saved your neck just now?" asked Draco folding his arms across his chest.
Snape could not believe the little monster was actually trying to use this to his advantage. Slytherin tact as it's finest.
He smirked and before Draco knew it Snape had him lifted off the floor and dangling in the air with just his out stretched palm in the center of the boy's chest. With his eyes widened and his limbs flailing, the younger Malfoy had no choice but to concede defeat when it came to his Head of House being a good deal stronger than he had initially realized.
"Bloody hell." said Draco stunned when Snape put him back onto the ground. "What are you?"
Snape rolled his eyes and made his way over toward his firewhiskey.
"Class will begin in a few hours." he said uncorking the elven crystal bottle. "I suggest you rest up...wouldn't want Potter or Weasley to get the better of you when this weeks Quidditch match comes into play."
Draco sighed.
He had to admit he had been feeling a bit run down after that display from his godfather. The younger Malfoy wondered if he too would start to see some development with his new abilities as time passed. He was also looking forward to seeing the looks on Potter and Weasley's faces once he was out doing them on the Quidditch field.
It had been enough of a thought to give him relatively good dreams.
Meanwhile Snape had been fortunate that he dodged yet another Muggle bullet. He had not known how the Malfoys would have reacted to his status and Draco had convinced them it was in their best interest to go along with him. He had been quite proud of the little opportunist, he not only managed to quell his parents from their justified rage but he turned even the Potions Master's outlook about his werewolf status into a positive thing.
Sitting back in his favorite arm chair, Snape made a toast to his godson and drifted off to his more pleasant thoughts of a certain bushy haired witch with amber eyes. Once manner of crisis seemed to be averted for the day and Snape did not doubt that there would be more in the near future. Especially where Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore were concerned.