分卷阅读8（1 / 2）

But the Forest wasn’t so bad, once the more hostile creatures had figured out that you could aptly protect yourself at any moment you chose to. The centaurs were, well, they were quite weird at times, yet helpful at others. They were much more open to him now that he was seen as another of the Forest’s creatures and not just a rogue wizard who happened to be in the vicinity. This attitude irked Draco for some reason, but it didn’t really matter, he decided. Yes, it would be interesting when Potter finally figured out that he would have to go rooting around in the Forest for certain ingredients…scratch that, most of the ingredients. This could have some interesting prospects after all.

Lucius paced up and down in front of the fire place angrily. Up. Down. Up. Down. If Snape had ever watched muggle tennis, he would have been able to make a comparison, but since he didn’t make a point of watching muggle sports, he could only watch as Lucius walked from one end of his range of vision to the other and back again with a forceful stride.

“Stop pacing Lucius, you’re giving me a headache.” He spoke finally.

The elder Malfoy stopped and instead turned to watch the slightly green flames that were crackling noisily in the fire place.

“He doesn’t get it yet.” Lucius spoke finally. “He was so preoccupied over that Potions assignment you gave him to think clearly at all.”

“It might not be as bad—”

Lucius turned to fix the other Slytherin graduate with a glare. Snape shut up quickly.

“Not as bad. Just wait until the rumor mill gets working. By morning, the least descriptive story will be something along the lines of ‘The Dark Lord is trying to come up with the perfect mix of blood for magic and so his most trusted family decided to experiment with their own son’ and that will probably come from the Slytherins who have known Draco.”

“The Gryffindors will merely stop at ‘He’s a freak.’” Snape put in helpfully.

“And the Ravenclaws will want to study him,” Lucius snapped. “If I didn’t already want to ring Weasley’s neck, I surely would now!”

“Which one?” Snape asked sarcastically. “Because I’ll help.” He paused to hand Lucius a glass of brandy, which the elder Malfoy promptly drank in one shot. “Lucius, Draco may be the talk of the school tomorrow, but he’ll handle it. He’ll probably enjoy it, strangely enough. The first real chance he’s had to use the full reputation of the Malfoy family, you can’t tell me he won’t live it up to its full potential. He wouldn’t be Draco if he didn’t.”

Anything else Severus would have added was cut off by a burning pain on his arm. He hissed, at the same time as Lucius did, and while his hand went to his arm in an attempt to numb the burning feeling, Lucius was busy working something off the middle finger of his right hand. Severus blinked as whatever Lucius was working on came off and flew to land on the floor with a clatter. Small, golden, and circular. Snape looked at Lucius in surprise as he recognized the tell-tale crest of the Malfoy family that was etched into the black stone of the ring, the black stone that was glowing a bright red.

“I’m having another one made, but it will take a month or so.” Lucius spoke, answering the unspoken question. “Until then it would be unbecoming of the head of the Malfoy household not to wear the signet ring, don’t you think?” Snape’s eyes traveled to Lucius’s hand where he could see a band of scar tissue that marked the spot on Lucius’s finger where the metal had met skin.

“Are you going?”

“No.”

“I’ll have to tell him then.”

“Forgive me for saying I’m glad it’s you and not me.”

Snape smiled ruefully as he made his way towards the door.

“Do you want me to wait up for you?” the question came softly, but firmly from in front of the fireplace.