Series: 3 of 4 (Originally, this was only going to be a single story but just keeps getting bigger and bigger! ;))

Author: Bell Pie toggledog@yahoo.com

Fandom: Harry Potter

Pairing: Harry/Draco

Rating: PG13. Warning: Major violence. I don’t know what comes over me, sometimes. J

Author’s Notes: Snape’s POV. Despite the listed pairing, no Harry in this one.

Snape kept near the back of the pub, feeling secure in the shadows that played across his face, obscuring his features. His dark eyes followed the muggles’ movements with interest. The drunken groping on the dance floor, the loud braying laughter at the bar, the shouts and cheers at the pool tables. He would visit these places often, endeavoring to understand the muggle lifestyle that he was disgusted to admit intrigued him so. Earlier that night, he had gone to a similar bar. This one, however catered for men who were interested in their own sex. Snape did not care for any of that cater. Indeed, he looked down upon these feeble mortals for allowing sex to clutter their emotions. Severus was glad he did not have that distraction. From either gender.

A pretty brunette by the bar had caught his attention, but that was all decoration to him. It was fun to admire her movements, the slender curve of her long neck. One aspect that intrigued him most was the potential danger of this place. Indeed, he could feel it in the atmosphere. The men were getting steadily drunk. He noticed many of the women were leaving. He watched the dark haired girl laugh with friends as she likewise headed for the entrance.

As she stepped out, a familiar figure walked in.

What was he doing here?

The young blonde looked around, for a moment his face betraying his anxiety, before squaring his shoulders, regaining the usual scowl and heading for the bar. Snape did not detest Draco. Indeed, that required effort. He simply didn’t like him either. Even so, he felt he had some principles.

Leave. He thought to himself. I rather think they don’t like pretty little snooty aesthetes in here. Indeed, one man by the bar was taking Draco’s measure. Snape had been watching this man steadily. He had been getting steadily drunk all night. Though his actions consisted mainly of bragging loudly and harassing women as they walked past, Snape could see the potential violence in him. Indeed, it rolled off him in waves.

Snape watched as Draco sat on one of the bar stools, frowning at the bottles behind the counter. He pointed to one, as the man pulled up the stool next to him. Snape reassured his wand was tucked into the inside of his black trenchcoat.

"Hey, boy. I think you owe us something."

Draco regarded him, then stared back forward once more.

"I’ll have a brandy, thanks." The man turned to the half a dozen or so men beside him. "What do you want?"

Instantly, the men started calling out drinks.

"Well?"

The bartender frowned at the man, snapping at him to shut up.

"Get us our drinks."

Draco snapped something at the man. Snape didn’t hear what it was. It must have been harsh, however. Suddenly, the boy was hoisted up and slammed down on the bar top. Snape looked in concern around the room. Everyone appeared to suddenly be unable to look in direction of the action. Snape stood up. Everything that happened next was so fast, Snape barely had time to react. The man grabbed a muggle device off the bar top, a box Snape knew was for creating fire. He reached for his wand, but was a moment too late as the man hastily opened the box, flicked the match against the side and placed it against Draco’s hair. The transluscent strands, wet with alcohol spilt on the bar top suddenly coloured intense orange, red and blue. Draco screamed and the man was flung to the far side of the room. The boy had been able to take out his wand but was obviously too slow reacting.

"No!" He was screaming in agony as the flames quickly engulfed his body. Indeed, he was turning around and around, in a desperate attempt to escape the horrendous pain. Snape was well aware that it was illegal to use magic directly in front of muggles, but this was an emergency. He pointed his wand at the blazing inferno.

"Finite Incentium!"

Instantly, the flames disappeared. Draco collapsed to the floor, skin bubbling, body jolting. The muggles around were staring at Snape, including the man who had caused the problem. Draco’s screams were so grating to Snape’s ears that he pointed his wand back at the boy on the ground.

"Blisentus!"

Instantly the screaming ceased as the anti-pain spell took effect. The others stood back, unsurely. Snape felt instant anger directed at the ex-Slytherin. He would be in trouble now, from the Ministry of Magic. He turned to the man who had caused the problem in the first place. Damned arrogant muggle! He pointed his wand at him.

Considering I’m already in trouble. And this man has spoilt a rather nice evening.

"Crucio!"

The muggle instantly dropped, jerking madly in agony, his body snapping back and forth with such ferocity, Snape was sure his back would break.

"Finite Incantium."

Snape had seen enough torture and death in the past three years of Voldermont’s reign. He couldn’t stand by and watch someone, particularly a muggle, enact useless brutality without punishment. Perhaps he had gone too far, he reasoned to himself. But these muggles, they don’t know. This man deserved to be punished for being an ignorant violent moron.

Most of the other muggles had left, running madly outside. The bar tender was hiding under his bar. Snape regarded Draco a moment. He was still convulsing on the ground, skin still bubbling, hair burnt completely off. Snape felt irritation at his responsibility now to heal him.

"Come on. You can walk." He snapped. The boy put his head in his hands and sobbed. Snape grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him to his feet.

"Just kill me." Draco sobbed. "Look at me. I look like a freak. I can’t believe he did that."

"You’ll be fine." Snape’s voice was cold.

"Please… kill me."

Snape had enough. He pointed his wand at the boy and stated

"Unico."

Instantly, Draco flopped down, unconscious.

The next morning, as he suspected, the Head Minister for the Ministry of Magic appeared in his apartment. Arthur Weasly looked around the room and squinted.

"Do you think you could open some blinds here, Severus. Let a bit of light in. You do look like you have beautiful furniture."

He gasped in excited surprize as he saw the antique wood carved chair in the corner of the room. Snape had bought it off a muggle vendor ten years before. He had simply liked the design and had planned to change it into a couch but never got round to it. Arthur was running his hands over the smooth planes of wood, with as much tenderness and crooning as if it was his own wife’s body. Snape simply watched him, feeling disgusted. He cleared his throat.

"Ah." Arthur stood up. "Severus, I’m here because of an.. ah.. .incident yesterday evening. It seems you used improper magic. Beyond that, you used a forbidden curse on a mortal. This is a very serious matter."

"I see." Snape simply. He continued to stare at Arthur, who fidgeted uncomfortably.

"However, there is the consideration that the man was torturing a wizard at the time. Is Draco here?" He asked, softly.

Snape nodded and strode down the hall, opening the far door and gesturing Arthur in. Draco had healed well, thanks to Snape’s ministrations. He had been able to heal the skin and erase the scarring and burns. The Artimus plant needed for such an endeavor had caused Severus an adventure of his own as he stole into the garden of the only man in the vicinity he knew of who kept the plant. Jonus Coombs was a half giant with the exact opposite temperament of Reubus Hagrid. Snape had been very lucky he had escaped the man with only a few bruises to show for it.

Physically, it looked now as though the burning never took place. Snape’s pride in his work could only allow perfection. The only aspect he was unpleased with was Draco’s hair. He had been a little too lenient with the Growth formula and now the blonde strands lay in messy tangles about the pillow, very much reminiscent of… But Snape could not even think to go there. As far as he was concerned, the Boy who Lived had died as soon as he finished at Hogwarts.

"Snape, you have to be congratulated!" Arthur sat down beside the bed where the boy was resting. "I expected him to be at least scarred. Why, it’s as if nothing happened."

Snape didn’t need to hear this. Particularly from Arthur Weasly.

Arthur continued to regard Draco as he spoke, his forehead crinkled in consternation and worry. "There is also the consideration that the man has been picked up by muggle police on a charge of robbery and murder. He is not a very nice man. It’s a difficult thing." He stood up, faced Snape. "There will be an enquiry."

"I stand by my actions." Snape looked him straight in the eye.

Arthur glanced back at Draco. "Off the record, Severus, if I saw a man light a match to a kid I knew, I can’t say I wouldn’t be tempted to do the same thing."

He apparated without another word.

Snape walked over to Draco’s bedside, tempted to shake him awake. He was as good as healed and he wanted him out of his apartment. The blonde had been more than an inconvenience the past night. But, Severus knew not to rush things. He checked his pulse, then turned and stumbled back a little in shock to see Lucius Malfoy standing right behind him, having just apparated in the room.

"I’d like to know, Severus, what you are doing with my son?"

"Lucius. I thought you’d be trying to destroy evidence of your involvement with helping Voldermont kill and torture muggles." Snape smiled bitterly.

Lucius stepped forward, temple throbbing with anger. "A teacher at Hogwarts. Disgusting."

"I’d suggest you leave my apartment now. Your presence here is so not wanted as to be causing me physical illness."

Lucius stepped towards the bed and regarded his son, an ambiguous emotion flashing across his face, momentarily.

"You have healed him well." He said, dispassionately.

"Either tell me why you darken me with your presence, or leave." Snape’s dark eyes glittered.

"So, he managed to get to you, too. I’ll admit, Severus. I thought you had more strength in you." He advanced towards Snape, who tentatively fingered his wand, ready to use it, if necessary. "Draco belongs to no one else but me. He is my son."

Snape sighed. He had no idea what Lucius was talking about and, frankly, he was boring him.

"Fine. Take him back to your house, then. He’s as good as healed."

Lucius seemed a little taken aback. "What assurance do I have that you won’t go near him again? He must be cured of this… this evil. There is still hope for him. I have my doubts for you and Potter, however."

The mention of Potter grew an unwilling kernel of intrigue in his stomach. He began to get an idea as to the reason behind Lucius’ ramblings, and felt disgust and anger build.

"I can assure you, Malfoy." He forced the words out. "That is furtherest from the truth. I bought Draco here to heal him. To suggest that I would… with one of my students…to even consider it, shows what kind of a man you are." He moved forward as he spoke the words, forcing Lucius back against the wall. Fear flickered in Lucius’ light blue eyes and Snape welcomed it. How fun it would be to use the Cruciatus curse on this worm of a man. But, he was in enough trouble as it was.

Lucius pulled his wand out and aimed it at Snape, who stepped back, not feeling the least bit threatened.

"You won’t threaten me. I don’t know what kind of sick sex ring you and Potter and Black and Lupin have going, but it won’t involve my son! Do you hear?"

Snape burst out laughing. He couldn’t help it. The whole thing was so ridiculous. As this was such a rarity for him, Lucius stepped back, unsure for a moment. Snape snatched the wand from his hand and held it towards him. Lucius shrank back against the wall.

"Now, you can answer me some questions. Number one, what on earth are you blabbering about?"

Lucius said nothing, simply stared at the Slytherin teacher.

"Father!" Draco took the worst opportunity to wake up. He sat straight up in the bed, looking around at his surroundings, looking a little disorientated.

"What is going on? What are you doing? Take your wand off my father." He looked around the area beside him.

"No need, Draco." Severus kept his eyes on Lucius. "Your wand burnt up with the rest of you."

"Then I’ll fight you." Draco dragged his body out of the bed and stumbled towards Severus. He looked so pathetic to him at that moment that Severus felt he had no choice but to lower the wand, grimacing at the boy’s lack of pride.

"Draco, whose robes are those?" Lucius regarded the torn black cloth with distaste.

"They’re mine." Severus looked him in the eye. "In fact, they were given to me twenty years ago. Albus Dumbledore himself gave them to me."

Lucius flinched at the mention of the great wizard’s name. Draco looked down at the robes in interest.

"Come along, Draco." Lucius commanded. Draco simply looked at his father. "You mean-?"

"I’ll allow you back into the Malfoy Manor."

If Severus had been a different man, he would have been touched by the relieved smile that spread over the boy’s features.

Draco turned to Snape. "Thank you. You saved my life."

Snape nodded, then looked up to glare at Lucius.

"Good luck with the enquiry." Lucius smirked. Snape added, just as coldly. "Good luck with your enquiry."

"Come along, boy." Lucius apparated. Draco turned to Snape and did an awkward smile, before apparating, leaving Snape thankfully alone in his apartment.

TBC