Startled, Severus shoved the picture frame under his pillow and rubbed the tear tracks from his face. The curtains surrounding his four-poster opened before he could reply, and he bit his lip as he stared into the concerned eyes of Lucius Malfoy. The older boy sat down on his bed without invitation and looked at him with understanding, and Severus almost lost control again right then. He did when Lucius took his hand and said, “I know it’s been a year. I can’t imagine-”
Falling into his warm, welcoming arms with a sigh that was half relief and half despair, Severus cried.