Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Trouble
Madeleine waited by the door to hear a response from Severus who frowned and then turned to his son who had a bewildered look on his face. He had no idea what Malfoy was doing in his home and on Christmas of all days. He just hoped that it wasn't Voldemort who sent him because then he would be forced to leave Harry alone in the house. While he was thinking about the reason for Malfoy's presence there, Harry was waiting impatiently for his father to tell him what to do.
''Harry, I think it would be best if you hide until he leaves, he shouldn't see you here.'' Severus quickly stood up; he didn't like this at all.
''Where should I go? I mean, I can't go out now, he'll notice me.'' Harry said nervously. Severus narrowed his eyes. He didn't think about that.
''You're right,'' Severus walked over the room in a quick pace, ''Hide in here.'' He said, opening the door which led to a very small room.
''What should I say to our guest?'' Madeleine asked with a concerned frown. Severus turned over to her, his eyes intently focused on hers.
''Let him in.'' He decidedly responded.
''Fine, as you wish.'' With those words she closed the door behind her with a worried look.
''Stay here until I come to get you out.'' Severus ordered and closed the door behind him.
Harry looked around the room, the walls were light blue and there wasn't any light coming from outside so he lit the torch by the door. There was a sofa on the other end and a small bookcase, but not like the ones in the study room. The books on this shelve seemed really old. There wasn't enough space for anything else in the room except a small table by the sofa.
Harry didn't notice another portrait on the wall until he sat on the sofa. It was a young girl, maybe 17 years old. She had light brown, almost red hair and black eyes that stared right into his. In Harry's opinion, she looked different from the other portraits he saw in this house but nonetheless freaky just as the rest. She was glaring at the young boy as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the right words. Harry was about to ask who she was but then he heard voices coming from the living room belonging to Lucius and his father. He came closer to the door hoping he'd hear what the men were talking about.
''Good day, Severus.'' Lucius greeted formally as he slowly entered the living room. Severus could see by his face that he was gloating and he had no doubt he would soon find out why.
''Good day. What good brings you here?'' Severus tried to keep a polite conversation, if at all possible.
''I'm afraid no good, at least not for you. As a matter of fact, this won't be a pleasant visit at all.'' Malfoy couldn't hide his contempt.
''It never is.'' Severus spat.
''I didn't know you celebrate Christmas, I wonder for whom are this presents for?'' He added with a fake smile.
''What do you want?'' Severus asked even tones, never minding Malfoy's question.
''You know, I thought that at least you would be smarter than to keep secrets from the Dark Lord.''
''What are you talking about, Malfoy?'' Snape was shocked for a moment, but quickly regained his composure before any of surprise showed on his face.
''I'm talking about a certain brat, living at your house.'' Lucius took a seat opposite to Severus, who remained standing with a cautious look on his pale face.
''I don't know what you...''
''Don't play stupid with me, Severus. I know Potter is here.''
Severus froze on the spot. He didn't respond, but rather waited to see the consequences. If he played this well, maybe he would manage to turn it in his favor. Knowing Malfoy like he did, he was aware that he would do anything to get him in even more trouble with Voldemort so he had to watch his every word.
''I see.'' Severus whispered. ''I suppose you're going to tell it to the Dark Lord.''
''Be sure that I will. I was watching you for a while and waited for you to make a wrong step. It paid off. The Dark Lord will be pleased when I tell him that his spy keeps his worst enemy in his own house.''
''Of course, just be sure to also tell him that the brat now completely trusts me. If I wanted I could have killed him, but I wanted to bring him to the Dark Lord myself. But if you want, you can tell him that I captured Potter in my house, I'm sure he would be interested in why it wasn't you who did it.'' Severus added in a vengeful hiss.
Malfoy suddenly turned pale; this wasn't exactly what he expected when he decided to come to Severus' house. Potions Master enjoyed the confused look on his face. Malfoy's plan had backfired.
''That's not true... You're lying because I got through you, that's it. No one will believe you.'' Lucius growled.
''Be reasonable, Lucius. Why in the world would I ever keep a spoiled self-centered mudblood in my house if not for our cause? You are familiar with the oath we gave to the Dark Lord and I for once always respected it.''
''Then why didn't you say anything sooner? Why wait all this time? Potter is in your house for a while now and no one knows except me.'' Lucius narrowed his eyes.
''Because I had to earn his trust! How else do you think I would gain control of him? For Merlin's sake he even managed to escape the Dark Lord, several times in fact. Not that I'm saying our Lord is incompetent, but the brat is tough to handle.''
Lucius came closer, glaring at the man as if he was trying to see the truth in his deep black eyes. Severus held his calmness.
''Let's just say you're telling the truth; how did Potter end up in your house anyway? I doubt Dumbledore would let him go out of his sight.'' Lucius scoffed at the old man's name.
''Just the opposite, Dumbledore was the one who made the suggestion that Potter should stay with someone who could keep him safe because he was too busy to watch over him with all this fuss at the Ministry. I volunteered, knowing that I could finally get the kid where I wanted him - under my supervision. Dumbledore accepted, but little did he know that he was making one of the worst moves in his career. We, along with certain members of the Order tricked Potter by telling him some things about his past that involved me and his mother. Before you ask, I won't tell you what we told him, what is important is that now he thinks I'm on his side. What a fool.''
''Pretty clever, Severus! But there is one problem, why should I confirm your story? A few people know where I am and they are all waiting for my response. I could easily find and kill Potter and if you try to stop me, I'd make sure everyone thinks you a traitor.''
''First of all, you wouldn't stand a chance killing the kid in my presence so I wouldn't even bother if I were you. But now that you know, I could let you take a part of the credit in capturing Potter. I have to admit that I thought no one would suspect a thing until it was all over and Potter was dead. You could really go to the Dark Lord and tell him whatever you want; who knows, maybe he'd even believe you, but on the other hand you can join me and together we could finish the job I started. That way you'll prove yourself to the Lord and no one would need to know I kept the brat in my house without letting anyone know.'' Severus suggested hoping Malfoy was greedy enough to accept the offer. Then he'd have more time to think about getting Harry out of here.
''How do I know that you aren't going to fool me like you fooled Potter? In the end, what will Dumbledore do if he finds out?''
''By the time he finds out, Potter will be dead and it will all be over.'' Severus explained.
''I'll believe you this time, but if you try to do anything to trick me, you'll regret it.'' Lucius threatened, ''So, what's the plan?''
Severus felt like a heavy rock was lifted from his chest, he now has Lucius just where he wanted him. The problem was that when all this ends, he wouldn't be able to be a spy anymore. Now he just had to get rid of Malfoy and think of a safe place to hide his son.
''First, you're going to tell your people that it was all a false alarm, we don't want anyone to find out or it will all go to hell and we could kiss our lives goodbye.'' Severus carried out his plan. ''I'll meet you tomorrow at the chapel on the graveyard at 8 p.m. to clear out the details. I hope you'll be smart enough not to come here again. And please, Lucius, do try not to mess this up.''
''Funny, who would have thought that we would cooperate one day?'' Lucius raised his eyebrow.
''Circumstances sometimes force us to accept the most unusual terms for a proper cause.'' Severus calmly said, pleased with the outgoing of the situation.
''I'll be going now Severus, see you tomorrow. I'll walk myself out.'' Malfoy nodded and left the room in a cheerful pace, pleased with himself.
Severus sighed in relief; he never thought this would turn up like this. Lucky for him, Malfoy was never a very smart man. But Severus didn't know that he had another problem, maybe even worse. Harry heard everything the men said to each other, he was sitting at the sofa, speechless. He remained sitting until Severus opened the door.
''You can go out now, Malfoy is gone.'' Severus said.
''I know.'' Harry replied coldly.
''What's wrong?''
''I heard what you were talking about.''
''Oh, I wasn't aware...'' Severus looked like he was hit by a quaffle, he didn't think his son would hear a thing. He obviously forgot to put a silencing charm around the room, and the fact Harry heard his father calling him a mudblood really wasn't going to help him.
''What should I believe now?''
''What do you mean? Don't tell me you believed in what I said to Malfoy, for the love of Merlin, I had to assure him...''
''Don't bother; I heard what you were assuring him. Maybe I wouldn't have believed it if you didn't have such a good explanation for everything, and it seems a bit hard to believe that you made that up along the way.'' Harry raised his voice.
''Harry, I've been doing this for a very long time; it's in a job description to learn to lie as you go. Else I would've been dead along time ago.''
''I heard you say that certain members of the Order helped to trick me in believing you are my father, and to tell you the truth, I'm starting to think it's true. I really do.'' Harry hissed, keeping his distance. ''And you know what? I don't want to have anything to do with a greasy Death Eater who only thinks how to please his Lord.''
''Don't be ridiculous, I had to do what I had to do whether you like it or not. It was for your own safety.''
''Don't give me that crap; I'm not falling for that again. After all this, after the way you treated me for years, I find it very strange at how you didn't discover sooner that I was your son. Why don't you go kiss Voldemort's robes, after all, you only care for what he thinks!'' Harry yelled enraged, he couldn't stand being fooled over and over again.
''In case you forgot, I put my life on the line to be a spy. I would have been killed before you were born if anyone suspected a thing. Do you think I enjoy being called a greasy git by everyone? Do you think I like handing out detentions, staying up all night pretending to be a cruel bastard with no feelings? Believe me; it's not nice to be put under the cruciatus curse every night wondering if I will live to see another day, scared to sit in case he realizes I'm the spy? So don't you dare to criticize my acts, I'm doing everything in my power to keep you out of danger.'' Severus snapped.
''You know what? I don't care, I really don't care aynmore. Just stay the hell away from me. I'd rather have no father than to have one I don't trust.'' Harry muttered in a cold blooded voice as he stood up and passed by Severus who remained standing by the door. In a try to save his son's life, he had lost his hard obtained trust.
A/N: I finally finished the chapter thnaks to Aine Indil who helped and also edited it.
Do you have any wishes for the next chapter? I'm slowly reaching the end of the story so tell me should Harry believe Severus and stay with him or refuse to live with him and go back to the Dursleys?
Lily