Chapter 11
"How did you obtain all of those?" Lucius questioned the moment they got back into the common room, after a cursory look around to ensure nobody else was nearby. The common room was quite empty, which Severus found himself grateful of. Instead, he folded his arms, turned and looked away from the Slytherin Prefect, ignoring him as best as he could. He was not about to answer such a stupid question. He felt Lucius' presence shift, hovering over his body. He tried to curl his way deeper into the armchair, but felt thin fingers press under his chin and force his head up, leaving him to glare angrily at the Prefect. "Well?" Lucius questioned, his voice tinging on impatient. Severus realized he was crossing a rather thin line. It would seem Lucius had quite the temper when being disobeyed. Or at least, rebelled against. Such things were dangerous, Severus knew from intimate experience.
"Where do you think?" He growled, narrowing his own eyes towards the Prefect. "Or did you magically forget why we went to Madam Pomfrey in the first place?" The question at Lucius' memory left the Pureblood annoyed, though he did finally drop Severus' chin from his hold, sitting down across from him once more. Severus allowed himself to relax slightly. He knew that Lucius knew there was more, but Severus would be damned before he admitted what his home was like. Absolutely not. That would be a level of humiliation that he simply could not allow himself. He knew better than to anger the Prefect, but at the same time, he had his own pride, what little was left of it at least.
"I know that is not everything," Lucius began with, and Severus could not help but roll his eyes at that, "But I am willing, for this sake, to let it go, temporarily. I will figure out what is going on sooner or later...make no mistake of that." The words were spoken lowly, and laced with some sort of threat. Severus merely shrugged. He doubted that the other would truly figure things out, and if he did, great, but Severus was not exactly going to make it easy on him. Not that the Pureblood was making things easy on him anyways. "How long will it be, do you think, until Potter and his friends attempt another retaliation?" Lucius questioned.
"Well, if you stopped lingering around me like an overbearing puppy than they would have already." Severus grumbled. The Prefect seemed a bit surprised by his words, but managed to hide it well enough. Severus supposed it was what it was. He was not going to change his words because the prefect was getting annoyed. He should...but some part of him just couldn't help it. He hated trying to watch his language. He was rather honest, and maybe it caused him trouble, but at the end of the day, it was better than lying. He hated lies. Half truths were not the same, but lies? Severus would rather slice the other in half who dared to utter them to him.
"I see, I shall inform the other Purebloods what to be on the look out for, and I shall dangle more in the shadows. Is that acceptable?" Severus huffed, but nodded. It was not as though his words were going to change the Prefect's mind. He knew, purebloods had an annoying way of being horrifically stubborn. Lucius leaned back, assessing Severus and picking him apart with his blue-eyed gaze. He was not intimidated, Severus had been assessed and picked apart by other more disturbing creatures, but he would admit that he did not really like being assessed in any manner. However, at least Lucius was not Dumbledore, who also had this pesky habit of trying to sneak looks into his mind. Not that Severus was unprepared for such things, but it still irked him more and more. It would seem that Severus could not go a meager meeting without the old man doing something like that. It was highly distasteful. "Of course, if you would simply allow your memories to be viewed, we would not need the others to retaliate." Severus narrowed his eyes, frowning. He did not like what Lucius was trying to do. "I understand it would be rather complicated, allowing yourself to be vulnerable like that, however it would avoid us having to deal with the Mauraders retaliating in a more advanced form."
"My memories...I see," Severus folded his arms, staring Lucius down. Lucius had to say, the other had some spirit, which was definitely fascinating. "If I allow the release of my memories, I request you gain memories from others who have dealt similar treatment. I will not be having my memories be the only ones shown to a panel." Severus stated clearly. "I will also not release these memories until the panel begins. If you want them so badly, those are the requirements for them." Severus had thought of not giving them at all, but he really would rather try and avoid a potential spat if possible. He knew that was going to be nearly impossible, but he could hope.
"Very well. I will speak to Regulus about ensuring your safety whilst I am unable to escort you during class hours." Severus gave a tight nod, a bit unnerved at how far Lucius was going for him. It was surprising enough that it left him startled.
Lucius stood, tilting his head down at Severus. It was a good thing that Severus was used to steadying his eyes against others. He hated averting his eyes. It was a weakness he could not stand. Yet, Lucius' gaze was rather difficult on him to maintain. He ignored the displeasure that briefly flinted across the Pureblood's face.
"I have some people to speak to, naturally, Regulus will talk to you soon enough." He stated simply, the dismissal obvious. Severus rushed towards the common room door, but was held back by a grip snatching the back of his robes. "Do not...leave the common room, Severus, I would think you knew better until Regulus is able to attend to you." Severus narrowed his eyes, but thought better about fighting Lucius regarding it, swiftly changing his steps to make his way hastily up to the dorm rooms.