Chapter 43
Chapter 42
Tibsby had come to inform her master of the increasing amount of visitors at the gates. “Tell the elves to ready bedrooms and to stock up on enough food for our new guests,”
“You think it’s Draco?” Harry asked as he quickly put his shirt back on.
“If it’s not then they are in for a rude awakening,” Severus uttered as he walked towards the door with Harry hot on his heel.
What awaited them at the gates of the estate was a surprise. “Wow,” Harry stated as he looked at all the young children Narcissa was corralling. He even recognized some of his schoolmates.
“Draco,” Severus uttered, catching the blonde’s attention.
“Uncle, we managed to get most of them out,” The blonde pursed his lips. “Crabbe and Goyle refused to join us and Flint stayed behind to get his brother out,” he gestured to a young boy crying in Narcissa’s arms. “It seems their parents hadn’t left yet when the Dark Lord summoned his followers and they saw Marcus and Andrew heading towards the end of the estate wards,”
“The younger children can come inside the wards immediately but I will need to see if any of my students have been marked yet,” Severus stated.
“I understand,” Draco said though he didn’t look too happy about it.
“Uhm… excuse me,” A timid voice uttered. Severus and Harry turned to see an unsure-looking girl approaching while clutching her arm. “I… uhm… was marked… but I didn’t want to be… do I need to leave?”
Severus frowned as he looked at the girl. She looked a little older than Draco though he hadn’t seen her before. “You aren’t one of my students,” he remarked.
“Ah… sorry, sir. Elenor Rowle. I was homeschooled. I’ll swear on my magic if I have to that I didn’t want to take the Mark. Father dragged me before the Dark Lord after his resurrection.”
“Knowing Rowle he was hoping you would seduce the Dark Lord,” Severus stated as he grasped the situation.
“Ew…” Draco and Harry said at the same time.
“If those with the Mark vow on their magic that no harm will come to the residents of this estate then they are free to cross the wards. If not then leave now!”
Three other teens raised their hands and agreed to take the vow. Severus noted that they were all older than Draco. One he remembered had even been last year’s Head boy.
“Professor,” someone called out. Snape noticed one of his students approaching. “Miss Bullstrode,” he acknowledged.
“I don’t really believe in the Light side’s ideology, sir. I just want to keep my little sister safe. Will the Light side expect me to fight for them?”
“Miss Bullstrode, I don’t care if you believe the Dark Lord to be a pigeon. If you are here because you need a safe haven then that is what you will get. Who you choose to fight for is entirely up to you but at least you had more than half a mind to get your sibling out of that situation,”
Harry had taken a few steps back to observe Snape interacting with his students and former students. In the future, he had heard from former Slytherins that their Head of House was completely different when dealing with them as opposed to the rest of the school. He had felt it hard to believe at first but at Snape’s funeral, one former student shared a magical picture of their former Head of House celebrating with his students in the Slytherin common room. It had struck a chord with Harry that there were more sides to a person than what they showed in public. Snape looked happy in that picture as one of the boys managed to magic a reindeer headband on his head.
The four marked teens and Lucius had been told to wait until everyone was inside the wards and being shown into the chateau.
“The reason I had you lot stay behind was for privacy reasons. I won’t say how yet…” Severus looked pointedly at Lucius as the man already was told. “But there is a way to remove the Marks. A painful way, but an out nonetheless.” He now bared his unblemished arm as evidence. “If during your stay here you decide you wish to get rid of it then feel free to approach either me or my partner,”
Harry gave a slight wave as the teens watched him curiously. They nodded, though visibly shocked that the Mark could be removed. “I don’t need to tell you that this bit of information is to be kept a secret. You may enter the estate. Call for Tibsby or one of the elves and they shall escort you to your rooms,”
The teens nodded but Lucius stayed. “There is something I wish to speak to you about. It concerns my magic,”
“Let us head inside Lucius. We will speak in detail in my study,” Severus offered.
Once inside, Harry excused himself. He had a feeling that this was pretty personal for Lucius. Severus guided him to the study and once they sat down two tumblers of what was suspected to be Firewhiskey appeared before them.
“Your elf spoils you,” Lucius remarked as he picked up the crystal tumbler and examined it before taking a swig.
Severus waited, taking a swig of his own. He had a feeling that he might need alcohol for this. As the Potion master waited Lucius blurted out “I don't have my Veela inheritance,”
“Excuse me, what?”
“I said it Severus. I do not have my Veela inheritance!” Lucius reiterated. “It’s embarrassing to be the only Malfoy that never got it!”
“But, you... Abraxas…” Severus was caught off guard. “I went to your coming-of-age party!”
“The party was more to celebrate me taking the Mark!” Lucius admitted. “You should have seen Father’s disappointment when I showed no signs of Veela magic,”
“Okay look, I am handsome enough to pass for a Veela I suppose….” Lucius said ignoring the look Severus shot at him. “Father was disappointed but he made me swear I’d never tell anyone. I had to prove myself all over again as his future heir. He was even contemplating giving the family fortune and status to my hippie cousin of all people! A HIPPIE, SEVERUS… A HIPPIE!”
“I just thought… father made me take the Dark Mark before my coming-of-age. Would that have affected me?”
“I don’t know,” Severus stated. “It is possible,”
“Do you think I might get the magic I was destined for if I have the Mark removed?”
“I don’t know,” Severus stated once more.
Lucius shot the other man a look but Snape only responded with “What do you expect me to know, Lucius? Harry only ever removed one Dark Mark. I was already of age when I took it so I have no idea how it affects the incoming family magic of minors.”
“So even if this mark is removed I might never get the family magic now?” Lucius uttered while looking defeated.
“I don’t know,” Severus repeated. “What I do know, and have inferred is that removing that Mark weakens the Dark Lord. All those Crucios you’ve endured Lucius, done with part of your own magic. Don't you just want to… hurt him a little,”