Savior by Torina Archelda Title: Savior Author:torina_archelda Pairing: None Rating: PG Word Count: 1.3k Warnings: Mild language Summary: Severus deals with the aftermath of the Marauders’ latest prank. Hints of future HPSS at the end, if you squint. Really, really hard. From the same universe as the "One" Drabble Series, but can be read alone. A/N: Written for the lovely whitecotton on her birthday. Hope you have a wonderful one! Thanks to shoeboxes4all for the beta.
Lucius didn’t talk to him anymore.
The older Slytherin had graduated two years ago, and at first they’d kept fairly regular contact. Lucius owled him about once a week, and Severus responded immediately and then got through the rest of the week by reading and rereading his letters over and over again. But gradually the time between letters had grown further apart, and today marked three months and twelve days since he had last heard from his friend.
It probably shouldn’t have been that harsh of a blow, but it was. He’d known enough pain in his life- physical at the hands of his father, emotional at the loss of his mother. A mixture of both that he wasn’t sure how to describe at the Marauders’ taunts. And he still had Lily- well, sort of. They’d been growing apart lately. But if he went to her with this, he knew she would listen.
Somehow that wasn’t enough.
He should be angry, he knew. But at the moment all he could feel was hurt and lost and alone. The fear had mostly gone for now- after the first heart-stopping moment it had given way to shock. He could feel it trickling back, though, and knew that if he didn’t regain his lost control soon he’d fall to pieces. Maybe he would anyway- maybe it was inevitable. Maybe he was too bent and broken to ever recover. Maybe Black and Potter were right- maybe he was beyond saving. Maybe there wasn’t anything in him worth saving.
Dumbledore clearly hadn’t thought so. Severus had been so sure the man would come to his rescue. But he’d simply looked at him with those twinkling blue eyes and assured him that it was just a prank, that certainly they hadn’t meant any harm; and what with Lupin’s delicate condition-
“Severus?” He turned sharply at the unexpected intrusion, surprised to see a worried-looking Narcissa Black standing a few feet away from the armchair he was curled up in. “Are you all right?” she asked, nervously twisting the pendant she always wore around her neck.
To his horror, Severus found himself unable to reply. There was a lump in his throat, and he felt tears prickling at his eyes. He was not going to cry, damn it!
“Oh, you’re not,” she said sadly, and Severus willed himself to say something, anything, if only to make her leave him be. He couldn’t bring himself to speak, though, and instead focused his attention on keeping his eyes dry.
He turned his head sharply when she sat down on the arm of the chair, and she was suddenly entirely too close for comfort. He pulled away from her instinctively and opened his mouth to ask her what she was doing, but before he could say a word she lifted the pendant from her neck and dropped it over his head.
“Domus,” she said softly, and Severus barely had time to gasp before a brilliant white light surrounded him and he was yanked from his armchair to reappear in the middle of an unfamiliar room. He glanced around wildly, attempting to get his bearings. There didn’t appear to be anyone around, and Severus was just beginning to relax enough to stand and find his way out when the grandfather clock to his left struck one. He jumped, clapping a hand over his mouth to stifle a startled scream.
Suddenly the double doors burst open, and Lucius rushed inside. “Narcissa, what-” He came to an abrupt halt and just stood there a moment, blinking owlishly at Severus. Severus’ heart started beating a mile a minute, and he couldn’t take his eyes off the sleepy, pajama-clad form of the man who had been there for him through so much. There was no room in his mind for questions or confusion, not now. Severus could only feel intense relief at the sight of him.
Severus’ presence finally seemed to register for Lucius and he came closer, crouching down in front of Severus and looking him in the eye. “Severus?” he asked, the question clear in his voice. He reached out and carefully pulled Severus’ hair up, the weight of the pendant sliding the chain down the long black strands and leaving it to rest coolly against the back of his neck. He let go and Severus’ hair fluttered back into place, fanning out and almost disappearing against the black material of his cloak. “What happened?” Lucius asked softly, and Severus fell apart.
He threw himself into Lucius’ arms with a cry; Lucius let out a startled grunt at the action and rocked back a bit before moving into a sitting position and gathering Severus into his arms. For several minutes Severus simply sobbed, his face buried in the soft blue fabric at the man’s shoulder and his hands clutching desperately at his back.
Lucius hushed him, rubbing soothing circles on his back, his other hand petting Severus’ hair. “Shh,” he said softly into Severus’ ear. “Everything is going to be fine, Severus. Tell me what ha–”
“What in god’s name is going on here?” a sharp voice demanded, and both Severus and Lucius’ heads snapped up.
“Father,” Lucius acknowledged, looking up at the man but maintaining his hold on Severus. “Severus–“
“Snape?” the man spat, the name like a curse on his tongue. “The filthy half-blood that trailed around after you like a lost puppy at Hogwarts?” Lucius bristled, and Severus shrunk back at the man’s words. “I’ve told you how I feel about you associating with the likes of him. The Dark Lord won’t be pleased–”
“The hell with him, then,” Lucius snapped, fire in his gaze. “I’ll associate with whomever I please. And neither you nor this lord of yours are going to stop me.”
“Don’t be a fool!” Abraxas exclaimed, shock and anger mixing on his face. “He’s rising to power, Lucius, make no mistake, and we must join him–“
“I am a Malfoy,” Lucius replied coldly, his face stone and his eyes still aflame. “If you have taught me anything, Father, it is that I must do nothing. I will choose my own companions, and you may choose yours as you like.” He returned his gaze to Severus, whose eyes were tearstained and frightened. “As for the moment,” he continued, “I have a friend in need. And that is my choice.”
Unable to bear the weight of either gaze any longer, Severus hid his head in the crook of Lucius’ neck and closed his eyes. He couldn’t see Abraxas’ face, but knew it would be contorted in rage. “Mark my words, Lucius,” the man snarled. “The day will come when you will regret this!” He marched loudly from the room, and Severus jumped slightly when the door slammed shut.
“Somehow I doubt that,” Lucius murmured, and Severus looked up at him sharply. The man reached up and brushed the hair from Severus’ eyes, his touch gentle and calming against his skin. “Now,” he said quietly, “why don’t you tell me what happened?”
A hole Severus hadn’t known was in his heart suddenly mended. And he knew he could be saved.
*****
“Harry Potter was sorted into Slytherin today,” Severus intoned, his voice rife with horror.
His friend simply laughed. “As was my son, you forget. We ought to be celebrating!”
Severus shook his head. “There was never any doubt of that. But a Potter! Slytherin!” He shook his head again. “It boggles the mind.”
Lucius smiled and handed him a glass. “Perhaps it’s a sign he’s not his father, then, hm?” He took a chair across from Severus’ and took a sip. “We weren’t ours, after all.”
Severus hummed noncommittally. “Perhaps,” he allowed, taking a large gulp and then shaking his head once more. “Slytherin!” he exclaimed again, and Lucius let out a hearty guffaw.
“Come now. Enough of that. I absolutely refuse to listen to you prattle on about this all night. Tell me about that experimental potion you’ve been working on. Something about eucalyptus…”