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Chapter Text

Ever since Draco could remember, Uncle Severus had been a fixture in his life.

He had known of course that the hook-nosed, black haired man was not a Malfoy or Black, and that any relation they did have hadn't been important enough to show up on the various family trees or histories. But while he had an inordinate number of cousins, he, like his father, had no siblings. And while his mother did have sisters, they never saw either of them.

So he liked to think that he understood why his parents had adopted the younger man. Severus didn't have any siblings either.

When he was much much younger, Draco had assumed this meant that Severus would be eager to play with him. But this was not the case. Uncle Severus hated playing Garden Quidditch almost as much as Mummy. He would refuse any role but Keeper, and then stand dourly in front of the little hoops they had set up and leave the majority of the defending to whomever he had teamed up with.

At first Draco thought that Uncle Severus didn't like him. Everyone else loved him, Mummy, Daddy, the elves, his cousins.

None of them let him fall and skin his knees, and when he did, they would pick him up, pet his hair and call him a brave boy and carefully clean and heal his scraped skin.

Uncle Severus wouldn't even help him up, just stand there, arms folded looking down his hooked nose at him and then make him explain why he'd fallen.

"You pushed me!"

" I did not."

He would sniffle and look pathetic, which normally worked on adults, and Severus would look at him dispassionately with his black eyes fixed on Draco. Eventually he had to give it up and admit the truth. 

"It's the broom's fault."

"Was it?" He had had to think long and hard about that, cheeks still red from earlier and childish pout comical in its excess. 

"I went a bit fast." 

Looking back, remembering the slow nod and the way Severus had half-smiled at him then, he was almost embarassed at how happy he had been. How the small training broom being handed to him by long, stained fingers had felt like an olive branch. 


"Try again, then."

Chapter Text

Once he had had a tantrum because Mummy had said he was to read quietly for half an hour while she and Daddy dealt with the man who did the hedges. He'd wanted Severus to play with him, instead of sitting indoors in the library looking at boring old books that didn't even have good pictures. So he had tried to climb into the other man's lap, force him to pay proper attention. His reward had been Severus shoving him off his thin legs onto the sofa next to him. But his little hands had already grabbed hold of the fabric of Severus' robes, so he'd clung on, wailing and kicking at the injustice of not being allowed to do as he liked.

There had been a moment then, when thin fingers had wrapped around his ankle and wrist hard enough to hurt and hold him still, when he'd thought that Severus would hit him. It was a wild fear he'd never really had before, but he'd gone dreadfully silent as the dark haired man had breathed through crooked teeth, clearly winded, clearly livid with anger. 

He cried properly then, with the fear and the realisation that he had upset his playmate, and those genuine tears had done something to Severus. His father's friend had let go of him as if burned, and he'd stood, escaping the crying child, looking odd. Later, much later, Draco would realise it had been fear that had made his Uncle Severus pale, though he had never understood quite what he had been afraid of. 

Mummy had hurried in, probably one of the elves had told her about the screaming, and looked between the two of them; her son weeping, the grown wizard backed up against the bookcase, and the dropped book on the floor.

At the time he had thought only that he didn't want to be told off, so he had lied, "He hurt me!" It was of course, stupid, Severus would make him admit the truth, and Mummy liked Severus, so she might even believe him. 
But when his mother had looked at Uncle Severus with a silent demand that he explain, the other man had stared down at his hands and apologised. 
"I am sorry- I didn't mean to-"
"We will discuss this later." 
Severus had given a sharp nod at that and left the room, head down, greasy hair hiding his face and a tiny dusty shoe print on his black robes over his chest. Mummy had soothed him and wiped his tears, and when he was put to bed later, he could hear her and Daddy talk about Uncle Severus in hushed voices outside his room.

A week later when he'd asked when Severus would be coming over again, Mummy had given him an odd look and he'd admitted that it hadn't even hurt that much, they'd just been playing a bit rough and Uncle Severus was too tall so it was unfair. 
"Severus isn't like the Urquhart boys, darling. He doesn't like roughhousing." 

Chapter Text

It had been almost a month before he saw Severus again. He had been roaming around the house on his wooden dragon, a transfigured saucepan lid as a shield and one of his father's hats low on his head, playing a combination of hide and seek and jousting with Blaise, while their mothers chatted in the orangery when he'd heard Daddy's drawl from the library. Most of Daddy's friends met him in the smoking room.

"Another Weasley you say?"
"Yes, but this one is at least a little canny." That second voice was Severus. He was sure of it. 

He'd pushed the library door open and lifted the hat a little to look around properly. 

Daddy had been leaning back in one of the armchairs with a glass of wine, and Severus had been stark against the cream curtains, looking out over the grounds. 

"You know their twins will soon be Hogwarts age, as well." 

"Don't remind me. It's bad enough with these three." 

"Oh, hello, Draco! Where is Blaise?" Draco didn't look at his father as he leaned forward to pull him onto his lap, he was staring at Severus, who was looking at him warily. 

"Hello Uncle Severus, are you talking about Hogwarts?" 

"I am." 

"I hope you're not friends with the Weasleys. I'll be cross if you are." Draco didn't like the boisterous, loud family he had seen a few times when out, and he knew Daddy didn't get on with them either. 

Severus had given him a slightly amused look through his fringe. "No. I am not in the habit of making friends with my students." 

"Oh good. But when I go you'll be my friend, won't you?" 

"Yes, Severus will look after you. He'll be your Head of House. " Daddy had lifted the hat with a finger, smiling at him, "Where did you get this boater from, Draco?" 

"Found it. So you're Head wizard of Slytherin. That's what I'm going to be, because I'm clever and confident." He grinned then giggled, squirming as his father tickled him slightly. 

Severus looked him over appraisingly and sat opposite them on the sofa. "And devious." 

"I think cunning is a little more politic, Severus." 
"Lucius, you know I don't play those games." 
"I'm a powerful wizard too. I've already done loads of magic." 
"Have you now?"
"Malfoys have always shown signs earlier than most. Blood will out, after all." Daddy's proud smile had suddenly tightened though and he'd looked across at Uncle Severus, who looked a bit like he had tummy ache. "Figure of speech." 
"Uncle Severus, what House do the Snapes normally sort in? Did you have cousins at Hogwarts?" 

Both adults seemed to hold a conversation above his head with their eyes. He always hated it when people did that. 

Severus spoke slowly after a moment."I take after my mother's side of the family. The Princes were mostly Slytherin, with a few Ravenclaws." 

Draco had wanted to ask more about Uncle Severus' family, because then he could work out which portraits to ask about the Snapes. None of them had recognised the name so far. But as he opened his mouth, hid father had picked him up and gently moved him off the sofa.

"I'm sure you don't want to listen to us talk about work, Draco, and Blaise must be wondering where you are." 
"I can't find him. Help me, Uncle Severus." 
"Severus is busy at the moment, Draco-" Daddy was giving him the Look he sometimes gave him that meant he was on the edge of being naughty, like when he had tried to blow out the candles on Greggy Goyle's 6th Birthday cake. But Severus' low voice interrupted the Look.
"It's alright, Lucius. We can't have Mrs. Zabini thinking you have stolen away her child. Even I may not be able to brew an antidote quick enough." 
Draco wriggled free of his father, taking up his wooden steed once more and leaving the transfigured shield on the floor to hold out a hand to Uncle Severus. The older man had looked down at it, then slowly placed his hand in Draco's smaller one. Uncle Severus had cold hands and little rough patches of skin on his fingers. "Lead the way."
"Well I can see that I am evidently not wanted. I had better see what those two are talking about." Daddy had called after them as they left in search of Blaise. 
"I'm sure one afternoon won't be enough for Narcissa to decide to take your fortune. For some reason she seems able to stand you more than most."
Draco didn't really listen to what they were talking about, eagerly tugging Severus behind him along the corridor as he heard Daddy give one of those quick loud laughs that meant he really had found the joke funny. Draco was just glad to have found a game that Uncle Severus did like. 

Chapter Text

"Is Uncle Severus here yet?" Draco was practically bouncing with excitement. He had been asking after his godfather since Christmas Dinner had ended, and actually, before the pudding had been lit aflame, certain that Uncle Severus, as the Potion Master of Hogwarts, would be better suited to lighting a ladleful of brandy than his father. Daddy had warned him that Severus was needed at Hogwarts until the Christmas feast was over but Draco knew better. Uncle Severus always visited at Christmas, and always brought the strangest present. 
"Not yet, darling." 
"He will come though, won't he?" Draco beamed at his mother, sitting next to the tree and stack of gifts. Mummy and Daddy had been misbehaving, so he thought, because he had a lot more presents than either of them.
"I'm sure he will do his best. Why don't you open another present while we wait?"
Mummy had handed him a brightly wrapped box from Father Christmas(Father Christmas used red and green paper and marked the presents with a simple initial), and while he'd been shredding the wrapping paper and wrangling the ribbon free, she'd perched on the arm of Daddy's chair. He listened in to their quiet conversation.
"Something must have come up at the school."
"Surely there can't be that many students staying over Christmas Break?" 
"The feast has probably only just finished, perhaps he spilled gravy on his robes." 
Draco had revealed a complete set of 'DUEL WIZARDS! addditional Stage sold separately' and placed the set of toy warlocks and their decorative wooden box next to his other presents before he had pouted, folding his arms. 

"Oh, was that not the one you wanted, Draco?" Daddy had nudged Mummy aside and sat on the rug next to him and the tree. "They duel if you pair them up...here why don't you pick one as your champion and I'll-"

"No. I want to wait until Severus is here." Daddy had looked back at Mummy then, and while he hadn't seen the look his father had given, Mummy had raised both her eyebrows. 

"oh look... why don't we have some of these chocolate frogs and maybe you can find a card you want to give to him when he arrives?" Daddy had slid the mountainous stack of sweets closer but Draco had twisted away, turning his small pointed face up away from Daddy. 

"Darling, you know that Severus is very important for the Slytherins at Hogwarts. One of them might be sad that they aren't able to spend Christmas with their parents." 

"So? I'm sad I can't give him his present." Being sad on Christmas was the worst thing that had ever happened to him in his short life, he was absolutely certain. 

"Draco, you remember that we spoke about how people are allowed to have other friends?" Daddy had closed ranks with Mummy. Both of them were trying to tell him off, but Draco knew without a shadow of a doubt that Uncle Severus would come and bring him his gift. 

Draco did remember, and while he understood the principle, in this case above all others he didn't think it was fair. Severus had been Draco's friend first, and if he was giving other boys and girls presents, Draco was going to be cross with him. 
"Don't pull that face, darling." Mummy was using the tone she used to warn him that she could and would take his broom away if he didn't share. He stared at the tree angrily, not looking at her. "Lucius. Your son." 
Daddy had sighed and then scooped him up under one arm like an over sized quaffle. 

"Why don't we give the horses an apple each as a present?" 

It had been hard to stay sulking throughout that, as thick hairy lips brushed his palm and one of the abraxans chewed at the end of his scarf. 
When father and son had returned to the house, cheeks pink from the cold and boots snowy, Mummy had been waiting for them. 
"Draco darling, let me cast a warming charm. Why didn't you put his mittens on? He could get frostbite." 
"Cissy, he's fine. It's hardly arctic out." Daddy sounded frustrated but he still kissed Mummy's cheek so it couldn't have been a real argument.
 
Draco felt his mother's magic surround him and chase the tingling cold from the tips of his fingers, just as a bell rang from Daddy's study. His parents had looked at each other, confused and surprised by the rudeness.
"who Firecalls on Christmas?" 
"Father Christmas does, Daddy." Draco supplied quickly, not sure how his parents could have made this obvious oversight. 
"Oh yes, of course. How silly of me. I'll see if he's back with another gift shall I?"

Mummy had walked him back to sit near the tree with a mug of hot chocolate that Dobby had made, and shown him the cards they had received from his cousins. 
Just as he was admiring a card from the Shafiqs with a robin that flitted in and out of a snowy window, the door had opened, and Daddy had given Mummy a relieved sort of look. Draco only had eyes for the dark haired man who had followed Daddy into the room, and had scrambled off his mother's lap to stand in front of him. 
"Happy Christmas, Uncle Severus!" 
"Happy Christmas, Draco. Narcissa." Draco didn't want Uncle Severus to give Mummy a gift before him, so he pulled at the dark, slightly sooty robes.
"Mummy didn't think you'd come but I knew you would. I got you a present too." 

Severus had nodded at his parents, but they had both looked surprised when he rummaged around the back of the tree and pulled out a small box, wrapped expertly in silver and green. Draco thought the best part of it was the large wiggly snake he had drawn on the ribbon before giving it to the elf to use.

 "This one is from me only. Dobby helped me wrap it but I did the snake." He beamed and held it out to Severus. The older man look strangely touched when Draco placed it into his hand. 

Uncle Severus was very careful with his unwrapping. He didn't tear the paper like Draco, but carefully unstuck the spellotape and slid the box out of the paper without so much as a rip. 
"Thank you, Draco." 

"You can store ingredients in it." Draco knew he didn't need to tell Uncle Severus this, after all, it was very obvious. He had painted it on the lid himself. 

"What a lovely gift..where did you get that from, Draco?" Draco waved Daddy's question aside, pleased that Uncle Severus must have liked the box because he was pretending not to smile.  Anyway, Daddy had loads of cufflink boxes, so he probably wouldn't even notice this one was missing.

"I have a gift for you as well, Draco." Severus reached into his robes and pulled out a slim square present that even before he held it, Draco could tell was a book. Uncle Severus normally gave him books. He hoped it wasn't one he already had. 
He tore back the paper and looked at the present. The cover was flimsy paper, and the picture on it was totally still. Draco looked up at his father, hoping Daddy would know if this was normal, but Daddy was giving Uncle Severus the same questioning look. 

"What has Severus kindly given you, Draco?" He'd turned and shown it to Mummy, but she had also looked slightly perplexed as she smiled. 

"Thank you?" Draco had looked up at Severus then, and been met with black eyes, gleaming with satisfaction. The man had ignored his parents and bent to be closer to Draco. "They are logic puzzles. Here, let me test one on you." Long fingers had plucked the book from his hands and turned the first page. 

"A man is looking at a photograph. When asked who it is of, he speaks thusly, 'Brothers and sisters have I none, but that man's father, is my father's son.' Who is the picture of, Draco?" Draco frowned, trying to remember what Severus had said. The man didn't have any brothers or sisters, like Draco and Severus and Daddy...but his- 

"Ah I see." Daddy had figured it out, which only made Draco frown harder, determined to get the answer right as well. 
"Don't tell me! Read it again, " He demanded. 

Chapter Text

It had taken him a little while, but Severus had patiently read the poem a further two times, taking a seat on the sofa, and chided him for guessing wildly, but he did eventually manage to work it out and explain how he knew he was right, which earned him praise from his father, but more importantly a small smile and nod from Uncle Severus. He was so pleased that he had immediately sat on the floor by Severus' feet, and begun to look at the next puzzle. 

"That doesn't look the kind of book one finds in Diagon Alley, Severus." He tried to ignore the adults talking over his head, focussing on the words on the page, moving his mouth slightly as he read.. 

"No... It isn't." Uncle Severus sounded like he was smiling. Which had still been very distracting. 

"Am I to understand that it is a...non-magical book?" Daddy's voice sounded a little bit careful but with the polite, bright note that he sometimes used when telling off his coworkers at the Ministry. 

"Books are words on a page, Lucius. Anyone could buy your son a spellbook. And you need not worry, they are only puzzles."

"I'm trying to think!" He glared over his shoulder at Uncle Severus, who inclined his head although he didn't seem that apologetic. 

When the clock struck 10, Draco realised he was very sleepy after all, because he'd been leaning his back against one of Severus' legs and the movement of them had startled him awake. 

"Bed time, I think." Through hal-lidded eyes he had watched as Mummy nodded her head towards him and Daddy set down his drink.

" 'm not tired, " Draco had said, stifling his yawn and blinking slowly at the book in his hands. 

 Long pale fingers had wrested the book from his grip, closed it, and set it on the mantlepiece, which was out of reach for Draco, unless his magic made things fall off it. But he had been so tired, and really, even if he wanted to work out which Door Guardian was lying and which was telling the truth, the circular logic required had made his head spin. 

"Sometimes we happen upon the answer after a while away from the book, Draco." 

He had nodded, but he was tired, so had turned and hugged one of the skinny legs. He was surprised that Severus wore trousers under his robes, but it was December and Scotland was probably a lot colder than Wiltshire, so he ignored this in favour of pressing his cheek against the bony shin. 

"Right-o, up we go, little one." He struggled feebly against his father's hold, but clung to Severus.  

"Severus, I'm so sorry-" 

"Perhaps if I accompany him as far as the stairs?" 

Daddy had still been carrying him, but he had kept a hand fisted in Severus' robes, and petulantly refused to let go of them. 

After a moment of prevarication, Uncle Severus had slipped out of them, careful not to dislodge his hand. 
"Just have an elf deliver them to Hogwarts." 

"Severus. They are robes." 
"They aren't your robes. Surely once he's asleep you can have Dobby bring-"
"I think not."
"Lucius, I am not asking you to launder them." 
"They're clothes."
"Oh..."In the liminal space between dreams and wakefulness, Draco heard Uncle Severus' voice as if far away. "Perhaps a governor might wish  to meet the Head of Slytherin House?"

"Good idea. Oh and Severus? Cissy has a gift for you, from the three of us." 
"Even after gifting your son a Muggle book?" He could not be sure how long the silence ha dstretched between Daddy and Uncle Severus. 
"...Even then, old friend." 

Chapter Text

Draco had been allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve, to welcome in the New Year. He had, entirely his own decision, and not at all to do with Daddy's threats that he would miss Uncle Severus, decided to have a brief nap for three hours, but Mummy had come to wake him at 11, and helped him pull on a nice set of robes over his pajamas, even though he could have done it himself. Holding her hand, the two of them had descended the stairs to the hall where the rest of the guests were waiting, talking among themselves and nibbling various small snacks. 

Draco felt very pleased to see that he was the youngest person there, and ran to join his cousins under one of the long tables where they had snagged a plate of delicately flaky sausage rolls. Marcus, who was going to Hogwarts this year, had been rubbing it in everyone else's faces that he had a wand, even if he hadn't been allowed to bring it to the party. 

They had been joined by Peregrine Derrick with another plate full of snacks, but these had been topped with little black pearls of caviar. 

"Perry, you're such a dunce." Draco nodded fervently at Marcus' assessment, "They're definitely going to notice these are missing. Go get another." 

"Why can't he get it? He's youngest." 

"I'm a Malfoy." Both boys hadn't taken this as the argument ender Draco had been sure it would be. "And if I get caught Mummy will send me to bed and I'll miss Uncle Severus." 

Marcus had waved Perry off, and then huddled up next to Draco. "You know Snape then?" 

"Only Sev'rus, I haven't met his family," Draco had been busy eating the last sausage roll and he didn't care to share too much about his quasi-godfather. He had a feeling that Severus was very private and therefore as his best friend, Draco was not prepared to spill his secrets. 

"What's he like? Only I'm going to Hogwarts and I'll probably Sort Slytherin." 

Draco wiped his hand off on the back of the tablecloth. "He's really clever and he likes books. Oh! Here, I know a puzzle! So, pretend you haven't got any brothers or sisters, but there's a picture and-"

"Aha. Found you." Daddy's face, slightly pink from the champagne had appeared at the edge of the table. "Good Evening, Marcus."

"Evening, Mr. Malfoy." 

"Why don't you two fine boys come and join me? Avery was just asking after you, Draco." Daddy had phrased it like a question, but he'd also given the plate a very significant glance. 

They edged out from under the table, and Daddy had led them over to a boring wizard with a serious expression and they had talked about some tunnel the Muggles were digging under the sea to get to France. 

Eventually, what felt like at least two hours later, the clock began to chime and the grown-ups went around kissing and shaking hands. He didn't like that he had to get involved with that, but it would all be worth it. But still, Uncle Severus had not appeared. 

Even as the last of the greetings were being exchanged, one of the elves cracked into being next to Daddy and bowed low as they muttered something. 

"Please, stay and enjoy yourselves as long as you like, my friends. And a very Happy New Year." Daddy had raised a toast, and Draco lifted his own fizzy apple juice, just to feel involved. "If you'll excuse me one moment." 

And then Daddy was striding to the door, leaving him stuck with Mummy. He decided that she probably could hold the fort on her own, and put his glass down to run after Daddy. 

Just as he reached the foyer, he saw Daddy wave his wand to open the front door. Whoever it was had probably missed all the food, so they must have been very stupid or very bad at timing. 

"First footing again?" Daddy was talking to someone standing on the step outside, but Draco couldn't see so he moved closer.

"It's tradition, Lucius." In recognition at the low voice, Draco had gasped, shoved his way past Daddy and grabbed a handful of Severus' robes, moving to drag the man inside. Before he could get back across the threshold, Uncle Severus had gracefully, turned, pulling Draco back. 

"You shouldn't rush at people, Draco. We've talked about this."

"And now you will have to wait a moment." 

"Why? It's cold." 

"Because you are not the First-foot."

"are you?" 

"Yes." 

"Why? I can do it with you, Uncle Severus."

"Unfortunately, Draco. You lack the prerequisites." Uncle Severus had lifted a small brown paper package. "it would be unlucky."

Draco wasn't sure why it would be unlucky for him to enter his own home, but before he could ask, Severus had crossed the threshold and handed Daddy the package. 

"Can I come in now?" 

Both men had smiled and Daddy had extended his free hand. 

"Is that a present?" 

"Yes, Severus has brought us some auspicious items." 

"why?" He looked up at the dark haired man, who was now drawing a bottle of whiskey from his robes. 

"Because, that is what the First-foot does apparently." And then Daddy had looked at Uncle Severus with a fond tilt of the head "I'm sorry, Severus, he's gotten it in his head to ask why about everything lately."

"well then I had better answer." Severus had met Daddy's gaze and taken over the explanation, showing Draco the items he had brought. There was a singular Sickle, a lump of coal, a small packet of some white crystalline powder, and a wedge of a slightly wet looking cake.

"Silver for prosperity. Coal for warmth. Salt for flavour. Parkin for food. Whiskey for cheer." 

"Can I do it next year?" 

"Now that's an idea, Severus, you should show him, then when he's at Hogwarts he can come and do it for you." 

Uncle Severus had looked both awkward and amused at that. "That would not be very auspicious." 

"Whyever not?" Daddy had asked at the same time as Draco had asked his own 'Why?'

"Your hair is not dark."

"So?"

"First foot should be a dark-haired man. Tall for preference." 

"Why?" 

Severus had gone quiet then, and turned the sickle in his hand over and over with his eyebrows drawn down. "I'm not actually sure why. Maybe something to do with Vikings?" 

"But we're French."

"Precisely, Draco. So come in and have some Champagne." 

"Some would say that's worse, Lucius." 

Draco followed Daddy and Uncle Severus back towards the hall, but as they got closer, he saw Uncle Severus' expression shift into a sort of blankness as the murmur of people grew louder. 
"I can't be gone too long from the school." 

When Daddy had replied, Draco had had to strain to catch it. "It's been 5 years, Severus. Everyone did what they could to stay out of-" Daddy had looked down at him then. "You know where." 
"Still. I'd better not." 
"Don't be antisocial. Avery's here. You two were at school- "
"Happy New Year, Lucius. Draco. Give my best to Narcissa."
And then, without even a proper goodbye, Severus had left. 

Chapter Text

Draco was surprised when Mummy sent one of the elves for a birthday cake. Draco's birthday was in June, and he didn't like coffee and walnut cake. He liked chocolate cake at the time, chocolate everything really. But only the right kind of chocolate. Not the nasty thin black squares that Daddy had with coffee.

He thought there was probably something wrong with that chocolate because when he'd gotten into the box and taken a bite, it had snapped, not melted, and even though he'd only just started reading "Zany Potions for Cool Wizards" he was sure that Daddy's chocolates were poisoned. 
When he'd told his father as much, he had just chuckled and said that it was Dark Chocolate and not poisoned. 
Draco intended to ask Uncle Severus what rituals someone had to inform to reverse the curse on chocolate, but it had been a week and Hogwarts term had started. 

Still, if it was going to be Draco's half birthday, maybe the man would come and he could ask him in person. 
"When are we having cake, Mummy?"
"Darling you had mousse au chocolat for pudding. You don't need cake as well." 
This struck Draco as distinctly unfair. Not only had Mummy ordered a cake he didn't like, but now he wasn't allowed to have any. 
He made a nuisance of himself in the evening, when they were all sat in Daddy's study, by insisting they played pretend. 
He was the Minister for Magic, obviously, and that meant he got to sit on Daddy's chair and wear one of Daddy's cravats and stamp wax seals onto parchment. 
His decrees so far had been the important ones:
1.No one is allowed to ruffle the Minister's hair.
2.Only the Minister gets to be the Seeker. 
3.No girls allowed in the Minister's room. 
He had been petitioned by his two loyal undersecretaries to add an amendment to the last decree, and because he'd been allowed to use the Malfoy crest to seal it in silver wax, had relented. 
3a. Mummy is allowed in the Minister's room.

Undersecretary Daddy had been dutifully helping heat the wax, but when the clock gave a chime, had abandoned his post. Minister Draco was not pleased with this, because he needed someone to help him spell 'frequent'. 
"Daddy no!"
"Just wait a moment, Draco." He had waved his wand at the fireplace and Draco had slumped back in the wooden chair, arms folded. Whenever Daddy did that it meant Firecalls and then Draco would have to leave the room.
Sure enough the fire blazed green and a face appeared in the flames. 
Draco began to write a decree banning Floo powder on Saturday evenings.
"Happy Birthday. I'm afraid I must ask if you have an appointment with Minister Draco."
"Minister? Already? I must have missed the election." The crackle of the logs and rush of air in the chimney made the voice sound strange but familiar.
"I assure you it was quite unanimous."
"Alas, I do not have an appointment. Perhaps the Minister will make an exception?"
Draco had just settled on spelling Saturday with a u and not an e (having copied the diary on Daddy's desk) when he realised why the voice was familiar. He stood on the chair and leaned over the desk to peer at the fire. 
There, wreathed in green flames he saw the hawkish profile of his favourite person in the world. After Brutus, his newly acquired hunting dog who had been a christmas present. Maybe equal favourites, but Brutus was a lot softer and fluffier than Uncle Severus, even if he had come from the Bulstrodes.
"Hello Uncle Severus!" He bellowed, scrambling off the desk and sending parchment and quills tumbling. "I'll make you in charge of Ministry Puzzles, if you like."
"Are you coming through, Severus?" 
"Sadly not, Narcissa. I am required for rounds tonight."
Draco scooted closer on the rug, ignoring Mummy's attempt to interrupt his conversation.
"Uncle Severus, do you know about the Dark Arts?"
The face in the fire blinked and then nodded slowly. "I have done some study in the subject."
"OK, good. How do you stop chocolate being Dark?"
That had gotten him a frown, and Uncle Severus had looked up at his parents. 
"I see..." His mouth moved slightly as Uncle Severus seemed to be trying out spells or maybe working out an answer. "Is it a play on Honeydukes?"
Draco frowned. He could hear Daddy sniggering into his hand, but Severus was still working on his problem, so he gave him time. 
"Does one..ugh... cast a counter-cocoa-urse?"
Draco shot a glare at Daddy who was now not even trying to stop himself distracting Uncle Severus. 
"I'm sorry, Draco. I give up. How does one stop chocolate from being Dark?"
"I don't know. I thought you would."
"I havent heard this one before. Lucius, put us all out of our misery. What painful punchline have you prepared?"
Daddy was absolutely hopeless as Draco and Uncle Severus' flaming head both stared at him, muttering 'counter cocoa-urse' and wiping his eyes. 
Draco smacked him on the leg to make him shut up.

Chapter Text

"I think Draco has misunderstood my husband."
Mummy was back and she was levitating the cake on a little silver salver with candles in it. 
Suddenly, something clicked in Draco's mind. 
"It's your birthday?! You didn't invite me!"
"There was no party, Draco."
"We invite you to all my birthday parties!"
"Draco, as you get older it just becomes another day."
"How old are you then?"
"28." 
Draco had never realised before, and was horrified at the realisation. 
"That's so old!" 
"Yes, thank you, Darling. Severus would you like a piece of this?"
"How about a fifth, to represent how much of your life you've lived?"
Of course Daddy was right, Uncle Severus still had at least a hundred years, but it was still strange to imagine being friends with someone who was almost thirty. 
As Mummy cut the slice and reached for the tongs to pass it over, Draco snatched them first, knocking the poker stand over. 
"I want to do it."
"Draco, let your mother." Daddy had hold of his wrist and wasn't letting go, even as he spoke to the face in the fire. "He'll end up knocking one of your teeth out."
Draco struggled a little, then looked to Severus for support. Surely Uncle Severus would indulge him, since Draco was his best friend. Strangely, Uncle Severus seemed nervous of the tongs. Daddy shouldn't have said anything because Uncle Severus had closed his mouth and run his tongue over his teeth. 
"Perhaps one of you could help him."
"Here, darling. Mummy will just hold the cake, and you can direct it."
That was probably for the best because the tongs were heavy. 
Draco let her manoeuvre the tongs around the slice of cake, and hold them out towards the fire before he stepped up to nudge them towards Severus' mouth. 
Uncle Severus flinched slightly, then leaned forward to take a bite of the cake. It wasn't a very big one, so Draco tried to prompt Mummy forward, and while she held him back for the most part, it knocked one of the walnut halves into the grate and made Severus' disembodied head lurch sideways to avoid a faceful of icing. Draco turned to scowl at her.
"Did you receive the owl we sent?"
Draco was still caught in a battle of wills with Mummy who was hissing at him to behave. 
"Mm. Yes, thank you. Though it must have been expensive."
"First editions normally are. Just don't go writing in that one."
"I will restrain myself to my old copy."
"That's enough, Draco!" Mummy snatched back the tongs, between the jaws of which was now a very squashed piece of cake. "If you cannot behave you can sit there and think about your actions."
She pointed to the rug and Draco got to his feet in protest, cheeks pink, little fists clenched at his side. 
"I want to do it!"
"No. You didn't do as Mummy said and now-"
"Perhaps I should leav-"
"Now look! You've embarrassed yourself in front of Severus."
Draco didn't want to hear that, so he scowled harder and wrenched the cravat off his neck, hurling it at Mummy. It was Mummy's fault. She had been holding the tongs and hadn't let him direct it even after she'd said she would let him. 
"You didn't let me! I wanted to do it!"
Draco's voice was shrill as he shouted, turning to pick up some of the dropped cake and thrust it towards Severus. When Daddy tried to pull him away from the fire, Draco dropped the cake and felt a strange tingle building in his toes. 

He was not going to be stopped from getting to Uncle Severus.
He yanked his hands free, something making Daddy slide backwards across the floor until he hit the closed study door, and leapt at the hearth, trying to hug Uncle Severus' head. 
"Draco, no!"
"Foo-
Both his parents sprang forward, but before either could catch him, he felt a whoosh of hot air and his face smashed into the very hard, but very here knee that had appeared in front of him covered in soot. 
"-lish boy." Strong hands gripped his shoulders before he could fall backwards.
"Thank Circe!" Suddenly Mummy was hugging him even though she was clearly still angry at him. "Don't you ever do that again! You could have been burned!"
Everyone was angry at him, which was very unfair because it wasn't his fault and now his head hurt where he'd banged it. He started to cry, not really sure why, but Mummy was so angry as she was hugging him and Daddy sounded like he was about to pass out. 
"Good god. I thought-  Severus." 
Draco gave a sad little hiccup against his mother's shoulder as she petted his hair and clutched at her dress.
"Believe me, Lucius, stopping children from burning themselves is the first thing on my job description."
"Not exactly the birthday you had planned?"Daddy's voice was strained as he tried to force out some semblance of humour.
And then Draco realised that regardless of who was to blame- although it definitely wasn't him, because he was the only one injured-Uncle Severus' birthday had been ruined. He wailed and started to sob again, even as Mummy picked him up and rocked him side to side, the shrillness leaving her voice as she tried to soothe him. 
"Now now, Darling. Everything is alright. Let me look at your head." 
"I expect he will have a lump come tomorrow, if my knee is anything to go by."
"Darling, let me see, my brave boy..." Draco sniffed and raised his head, as Mummy smoothed back his hair and looked at what must have been a gaping wound, because it hurt so much, but it was Severus' voice he heard behind him. 
"Draco. Do you know why this happened?"
"M-mummy wouldn't-"
"No, Draco." Uncle Severus didn't exactly sound angry, but he did sound firm. 
"I banged my head on you."
"And why did you bang your head?"
Draco felt his lower lip tremble and let Mummy wipe the tears off his cheeks. 
"..jumped at the fire."
He felt a brief touch to his back, butterfly light. 
"Yes. I think you had better apologise to your parents." 
Draco sniffled his assent, and the hand was gone, replaced by Daddy ruffling up his hair while squeezing Mummy's shoulder. 

"I am afraid I must return for my rounds."

"Say goodbye to Severus, Draco."
He sniffed again and twisted in his mother's arms to see the dark haired wizard picking up a handful of Floo powder. Uncle Severus paused to look at him, and there was still soot on the end of his hooked nose. 
He waved, hoping that they could still be friends and he'd be invited to the next birthday. 
Uncle Severus raised one pale hand, then stepped into the fireplace, and disappeared with a rush of green flame and a pop. 

Draco's eyes fell to the coffee table and saw the small neatly wrapped present with Mummy's handwriting 'From Draco'. It took them another quarter of an hour to calm him down, and when they did, he was so cried out he fell straight into sleep.

Chapter Text

He had to wait for the Easter holidays before he next saw Uncle Severus. 
Mummy made him dress up after Daddy had Flooed into work and then the two of them Popped to Hogsmeade. 
Draco didn't especially enjoy Popping, because it made him feel like he was being squished into a tunnel far too small for even him, and he always worried he'd forget to hold tight to her hand. 
He hadn't done, but after the Pop was finished and they arrived into brisk Saturday morning air, he tried to, to show how adult he was to all the other people. 
Mummy wouldn't let go of his hand though. 
"I won't run off!" 
"I know, darling, but we have a reservation and I'm just showing you the way."
"I want to look at that!" He pointed at a shop front at random. 
"Afterwards, Mummy will take you to Honeydukes, and you may pick out anything you like."
He groused a little but went along with her as they neared a small cafe and tea room. 
Draco ignored Mummy and the other lady talking, squinting around at the other customers and trying to see if Daddy was right and he could tell which ones had mud in their veins. He couldn't.
Once they were settled at their table, the waitress transfiguring the chair so that Draco was level with Mummy, they did not have to wait too long. 
"Oh, Professor! Such a surprise to-"
"The Malfoy party."
"Right this way, sir."
The witch in the apron lead a scowling dark-haired man to their table, and Draco beamed at Uncle Severus as Mummy bumped her cheek against his. 
"Yuck! Look!"
"Don't point at people, darling." Mummy pushed his hand down, but Uncle Severus had twisted to look over his shoulder.  
"Kissing is yucky, Uncle Severus." Draco explained wisely.
"Professor Snape, Draco."
"Why?"
"Because here, that is who I am."
"Why?"
"Darling you're not going to start this again. Severus has an important position here and you should respect that."
Draco frowned at his spoon because Mummy hadnt called Uncle Severus Professor Snape. 
"And I am neither of your parents' sibling."
That didn't seem a good enough explanation, because one of the portraits had told him all about their friend who had been loved more than a brother, who had been dearer to him than his own wife, and how he had been so overcome with emotion at the other wizard's wedding that he had wept for days to know they would never share a bed with their dearest friend as they had in their youth. 
His wife had been leaning on the edge of a frame opposite him and surveying the little and painted Malfoy's conversation with a bit of a pained expression. 
He told Mummy and Uncle Severus about Aymeric Malfoy and what he'd said. They shot each other a glance.
"Yes, well,that is a little different, Darling." Mummy sounded a bit like she needed a wee and Uncle Severus seemed to take a long time to rearrange his cutlery.
"Wh-" Mummy raised an eyebrow at him while Uncle Severus became very invested in the menu of different teas. 
"Mrs. Malfoy, Professor Snape, how can I help?" 
After they'd ordered, Russian Caravan for Uncle Severus and Darjeeling for Mummy, and pumpkin Juice for him.
"Lucius says Slytherin is doing well in the Quidditch Cup this year."
"Yes, it'll be us or Hufflepuff. I'm loathe to see the cup leave my office but the last match is Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor and their seeker is unfortunately quite good."
"I'm a seeker."
"Yes you are, darling. It's one of the Weasley's brood, isn't it?"
"Yes. Weasley the second. Charles. I doubt you came to ask after the Quidditch scores, however."
"Any other students of interest?"
Uncle Severus had fixed Mummy with a very intense look, a lot like the one he sometimes gave Draco when he told lies. 
"Perhaps."
Grown-ups engaged in a staring match, Draco looked around for something to do and was pleased to find a set of crayons and some parchment appear on his napkin. 
He decided to draw Uncle Severus, since he was sitting across from him, and Daddy always recognised him among Draco's doodles even though they were just as detailed and true to life as the ones of Mummy and Daddy. 
There wasn't a black crayon so he settled for purple, and sticking his tongue between his teeth, started to scribble long strands of hair. 
Their drinks and a tower of sandwiches and pastries arrived and Draco was forced to abandon his drawing so that he wouldn't miss out on the best cakes. 
Mummy didn't let him serve himself, but levitated a few sandwiches onto their plates. 
"Shall I be mother?" Severus had asked dryly(which was silly since he wasn't Mummy) before pouring the two teas and adding milk to his own. 
"I believe you were just telling me about your students?"
"Was I?" 
"You were." They had another one of those staring matches, both lifting their cups. Mummy, of course, held hers delicately, pinching the handle, but Uncle Severus slipped two fingers through the handle, long fingers curled around the porcelain. When he lowered it back to the saucer, he wrapped his other hand around it, and Draco had to wonder if the cup was charmed not to get hot or if Uncle Severus was cold.
"There is a Hufflepuff. 4th year. Half-blood"
"Oh?" Mummy sounded like she couldn't care less -rightfully so, slytherins were best- but her cup rattled her saucer slightly as she set it down. 
"Yes. A metamorphmagus, which I believe to be fairly uncommon...  Incredibly clumsy."
"You must have a specific incident in mind."
Uncle Severus was peeling up the top of his sandwich to investigate the contents. 
"She managed, beyond all expectations, to not only explode her cauldron twice, but also break a shelf in the ingredients cupboard and melt a hole in her desk. In the space of a fortnight."
"Not everyone can do potions." Draco decided to add his input at this point. 
"No, but I am still obliged to try and teach the little buggers."
"That's a naughty word." And Draco was delighted, whispering over the table.
"Yes, darling it is." Mummy was giving Uncle Severus a look that said he wasn't going to get pudding if he didn't eat his vegetables. 
Uncle Severus very carefully took a bite of his sandwich. 
"So I assume you had to dock points?" 
"I gave her a week of detentions."
Mummy sipped her tea again and tilted her head, the way she did when Draco told her about his day and what Brutus and he had gotten up to. 
"She only served two with me. The girl is a walking catastrophe. I had Filch deal with the others. I don't know what task he set her to."
"I don't want to hear about Hufflepuffs. Tell me about the disgustingiest thing you put in a potion!" 
Uncle Severus looked at Mummy, who put her a cup down and started to spread jam and cream on a scone for Draco. 
"There are many ingredients that can be used in Potions-"
"What's the slimiest?"
Severus considered this as he sipped his tea.
"Flobberworm mucus. Or possibly fermented leeches."
"Eurgh!" Draco giggled, swinging his legs happily under the table and pulled a face. "That's yucky. What's the smelliest?"
"Armadillo bile." 
"Blurgh." He grinned, licking jam off his fingertips, his grey eyes wide with excitement. "What's the-"
"I think we've heard enough about that subject, thank you."
Draco disagreed but Mummy seemed angrier at Uncle Severus than she was at him and he didn't want to get his friend in trouble. 
They finished the rest of the cakes, and Uncle Severus traded him a finger sandwich for carrot cake, which was due to excellent negotiation on Draco's part; he'd pulled a face at the raisins in the coronation chicken and nudged it towards the edge of his plate, all while staring plaintively at the cake left on the tower. 
He'd also been allowed to try their teas, as Mummy said he should learn to develop his palate, and this could count as his one new food for the week. 
He didn't mind Mummy's darjeeling, -it wasn't as sweet as he'd hoped- but he didn't like Severus' tea very much. It tasted like someone had burnt it and he wondered why the older man hadn't sent it back the way Daddy did when the house-elves messed something up. 
Uncle Severus said it was an acquired taste, and Draco felt very sad at what ever potions accident had lead to Severus acquiring it. 
Eventually, their tea was finished and after a bit of argument between the two grown-ups, Mummy won and got to pay. 
As they were stepping out of the tea room, Draco remembered his drawing and tried to get Mummy to go back inside.
"I need it! It's a really good one!"
"Darling, someone has probably tidied it away by now-" 
"Mummy pleaaaaase." He'd hung all of his weight off her arm, the way he did when he wanted Daddy to pick him up. But leaning his head back, he could see the shop's entrance.
Uncle Severus had already strode over to it, billowing black robes making him look cool, a bit like one of the DUEL WIZARDS he had received for Christmas. 
They had stopped to wait for him, but when he did reappear, he was holding the piece of parchment strangely, like it was a secret.
"Was this what you had forgotten?"
Draco looked down at the drawing with a critical eye. He hadn't finished drawing Uncle Severus' hands, but there was still enough to be recognisable. He was quite proud of it actually. 
"Do you like it? I didn't have black so I did purple, but I gave you green robes for Slytherin."
"I see." Uncle Severus took it back carefully to avoid crumpling the parchment. He was silent for a long time. 
 "May I... keep hold of this a little while longer?"
"Yeah, it's for you. I've got lots at home." 
"Thank you." Severus had tucked it away into his robes. 
"Allow me to escort you to the Apparition point." 
"Oh actually, Draco wanted to visit Honeydukes before we leave."
"Ah. Please give my regards to Lucius then." Uncle Severus often said things like that to his parents. 
"I can do that!" Mummy did it too often, and he wanted to have a go. 
"Enjoy the rest of your afternoon."
"You too, Severus. It's good to get out into the sun now and then."
As they began to walk their separate ways, Draco turned back. 
"Professor Severus, you can send me a picture when you owl!"
He wasn't sure if he had been heard, but a week later, Daddy had opened the post at breakfast and slid a small folded letter across the table to him. 
There was quite a nice pencil sketch-it had shading and everything- of a little glass bottle and a long wiggly worm thing with arrows pointing to them. 'Smelly' for the vial and 'slimy' for the worm. 
Draco had Dobby put the picture up on his wall. 

Chapter Text

Voices echoed along the hallway.

"What do you mean, absconded?"
"He just up and left. Middle of the night, no warning, just a note saying he was 'needed back in Greece'." Draco crept down the stairs, a hand on Brutus' collar as they neared the kitchen. He'd had a nightmare about owls pecking him while he flew around the Manor on his broom and couldn't get into any of the rooms, and was now looking for Daddy, because Mummy was away visiting some cousin.  
"So who's teaching Defence now?"
"We've all been picking up the slack, split between ourselves. Did you hear that?" He held Brutus back as they peered around the corner, the hunting hound eager to rush in and greet Daddy and probably sniff Uncle Severus. The dog gave a quiet bluff and Draco put a little hand over his snout.
"Can't the Headmaster step in? It's not as though he does much else." Daddy was leaning against the pantry door with a glass of wine and would have to turn his head all the way to see Brutus. 
"He's too busy apparently. Lucius, I heard something." Brutus broke free and rushed into the kitchen.
"Ridiculous. What on earth that man does all day- Oh, Brutus. No, down- Damn!"
Draco poked his head around the corner to see Brutus had indeed bounded over to Uncle Severus, who had backed up against the fireplace. Daddy was struggling to pull him back, sloshing wine onto the floor. 
"Sorry, old friend, It's only because he hasn't met you before. I'm sure once he gets the scent of you-"
"Get back-" Uncle Severus looked scared, paler than usual, and face turned away from Draco's sweet little 44kg friend. 
"Brutus! Why are you even down here?"
Draco watched as the dog, tongue lolling out, whined and tugged at his collar. 
"Severus, honestly, just let him smell your hand-"
"He's really friendly!" Draco stepped into the kitchen, trying to help the situation and enable his two favourite friends to get along.
Uncle Severus just shook his head and made a motion that almost looked like he was going to try and kick Brutus. 
"I don't-" He shook his head again, edging along the fireplace. "I don't like dogs." 
"Brutus is nice-"
"No!" Uncle Severus never shouted at him like that, looking wild as he kept away from Brutus. "Get that fucking dog out of here."
"Language!" Daddy had hissed as he dragged Brutus to the kitchen door, which meant fucking was definitely a naughty word, and Draco secretly vowed to remember it. 
"Draco why are you out of bed?" Daddy asked him, closing the door on Brutus who whined. 
"Brutus heard something and we wanted to check!" Draco lied before rounding on Uncle Severus, who was resting his head on the wall with his eyes closed. 
"You were mean to Brutus! He just wanted to be your friend!" Black eyes blinked open and looked down to where Draco stood defending his furred friend's honour. They quickly slid to Daddy as he began to try and excuse Uncle Severus' bad behaviour. 
"Draco, Severus is...nervous around dogs."
"You said it was a fucking-" Uncle Severus was hissing at Daddy with a really nasty expression and ignored the pointed "Language!" to tell him off for saying 'fucking' again. Draco decided to learn how to spell it. "-puppy!"
"Well he's only-"
"That's not an arsing puppy!"
The way Daddy had clamped his hands onto Draco's ears meant that arsing was another word he should definitely remember. 
However, he was angry at Uncle Severus.
"If you're not friends with Brutus, you can't be my friend!"
"Good riddance then!"
Draco and his father both turned to stare at Uncle Severus, who seemed to have realised what he'd said a moment afterwards. His face fell. But it was too late because Draco had heard him. His lip trembled as grey eyes already filling with tears met black one's widening in surprise.
 Uncle Severus took a step forward, "Draco, I didnt-"
"I hate you! I hateyouhateyouhateyou!" He wailed, burying his face in Daddy's shirt. 
"I think you should go back to the castle, Professor. With one teacher down, you are needed there and not here."
Daddy sounded cold and very very angry. As angry as when Dobby hadn't got all the bones out of his soup and Draco had cracked a tooth and then Dobby had been told to have one of the horses stand on his foot. 
"I-"
"Send an owl when you've formulated a proper apology," Daddy snapped, hoisting Draco up onto his hip and stroking his hair.
"Yes. I will, I-"
"Send him one as well! And it had better be bloody good."
"Lucius-"
"Go, Severus."
After a moment, Draco heard footsteps going towards the back door, and then the muffled whipcrack of someone Popping. 

Chapter Text

A page of very cramped handwriting was delivered by owl four days later. 

Draco Malfoy Esq
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire

Dear Mr. Malfoy,

My apologies for the delay in sending this letter. I have prevaricated over the best way to ask for forgiveness and this is the best I have before I feel the delay would be read as a slight against you and your parents.

I am writing to you regarding the incident last week. I spoke without thinking and take full responsibility for the cruel words I used. As an adult, I should have been in better control of myself and I am embarrassed by my failure to do so. 
It is no excuse, but I owe you explanation at least. I was reacting from a place of deep discomfort. As your father alluded to, I have had unpleasant experiences with large dogs in the past and allowed it to colour my perceptions of your pet, Brutus. 

I can only hope that you will accept my heartfelt apologies for the distress and pain that I have caused you and that given time we can move beyond this.

Sincerely yours,

Professor S Snape.
Hogwarts Castle
Hogsmeade

Draco had Daddy write his reply exactly as he dictated it, since they disagreed on certain things like how to address it and titles, but he insisted thar he be allowed to seal the envelope.

Professor Uncle S Snape
Hogwarts Castle
Hogsmeade

Dear Uncle Professor,

You were very mean to me and Brutus but I showed him your letter and we will think about it. You are still uninvited from my birthday party unless you agree to give Brutus three pats on his head and let him lick your hand. 
It is very tickly and wet when he does but it is nice and will show you that Brutus is a good friend and not mean like you. 

Also you have to play garden Quidditch and do it properly this time. 

Angry regards,
Minister Seeker Draco Malfoy

Malfoy Manor,
Wiltshire

P.S. 
Draco deadly serious about terms, advise you to accept. ~L

P.P.S. Cissy wants words when you visit. Not kind ones. 

Chapter Text

"Dobby said you were here. So I suppose you had better come in."
"Thank you, Lucius."
"Honestly, Severus,I had to read your letter to him. I do hope you at least adjust the reading level for your students when you mark their essays. "
Draco watched them from the landing, peeking between the legs of a suit of armour.
"I..am not good at apologies." Uncle Severus' fingers were flexing as if he had cramp in them. 
"I'll say. Still, you're lucky that he at least is a proper gentleman."
"Might I speak to him?"
"He's taking a nap upstairs." Draco ducked back as the two men looked up. He re-emerged at the sound of the sitting room door creaking; just in time for Mummy's voice to drift up to him.
"Is that him, Lucius?"
"Yes, my love."
"Narcissa, please allow me-" 
Mummy waved a hand and for a second Draco thought it was a silencing spell. 
"Drawing room. Now, if you please, Severus."

They disappeared from view and Draco crawled along the landing  above the drawing room. He hadn't heard Mummy so angry since he'd pulled Pansy's hair because she had called him 'tiddly' and 'as stupid as a squib'.
"Close the door, and sit." Draco bent
to press his ear to the floor as the door closed, ignoring the odd look Dobby gave him as he carried fresh linen into a cupboard. He couldn't hear Uncle Severus properly, but now and then Mummy's voice came through. 
"- RIDDANCE?! AFTER ALL THAT WE HAVE DONE FOR YOU?!" 
"..."
"- accepted you into our home, despite what others said, Despite the risk to Lucius' reputation?"
"..." 
"We don't all have the Headmaster of Hogwarts convinced to vouch for us, Severus!"
"..."
"Have you so many friends that you can spare to lose more?"
"..."
It was silent for a few seconds, and Draco saw Daddy nervously peer around the study door at the Drawing room. Draco heard the door below him open, watched Daddy's head whip out of sight and craned his head. 
"It was utterly beneath you."

"I know. I can only apologise. I understand if you wish not to see me again." Draco almost panicked, as nasty as Uncle Severus had been, he didn't really want to uninvite him from his birthday party. 

"Oh no, you will not get away with this that easily, Severus Snape!" He saw Mummy fold her arms and knew she was very cross because she'd said Uncle Severus' full name the way she sometimes said his or Daddy's when they were naughty.

"You are Lucius' oldest friend who is not-" she pinched the bridge of her nose, "do try to understand how odd it must look to other people that he remains friends with the wizard who supposedly placed him under the imperius." Draco frowned and crept closer, because that last part didn't make sense.
"I do understand...when will Draco wake?"
"I'm not sure. You may wait for him in the orangery."

Draco rushed into his room and climbed into bed, eyes closed, pretending to be asleep and hoping he could get his breathing to normal before Mummy or Daddy came to check on him. 
The door opened and the wedge of light was interrupted by a figure, and there was the sound of snuffling.

Chapter Text

The snuffling came closer as did some foot steps and Draco bit his lip so he didnt give away that he was awake. He wasnt supposed to listen in when Grown up conversations were happening, but he often tried. When he felt a cold nose against the back of his neck, Draco giggled, opening his eyes to the picture Uncle Severus had drawn him, next to one of him, Mummy, Daddy and Brutus and a recently folded over and hidden fifth figure in black that Pansy had said looked like a dementor with a beak because she was silly and didnt appreciate art. He rolled over to wrap his arms around Brutus. 
The bed sagged as Daddy sat down and tickled his foot. 
"How are you feeling, sleepyhead? Would you like to come down? Severus is here."
Burying his face into Brutus' coarse fur as his friend panted hot air onto his head, Draco nodded. He was going to be very grown up about this. 
Daddy's hand moved to squeeze his calf gently. "You know that you don't have to."
"I know...he's your friend, Daddy."
Daddy dragged him along the bed and hefted him into his arms. "Not if he upsets you, he's not. You're much more important than you know, Draydray.... But I do believe that he's desperately sorry. He's got past form." Draco nodded and twisted, holding a hand out to Brutus, who had curled up on his bed. 
"OK. Let's go, Brutus. And make sure you give him a big lick."
Brutus trailed after them as Daddy carried him down the stairs and through the hall, and Draco heard some of the portraits give him advice ranging from "make the cur grovel at your feet" and "his ilk should never have been allowed in the house; you should demand satisfaction" to "a Malfoy is merciful to her subjects" and "One can hardly expect the lower classes to behave, have your man thrash him and he will learn his lesson."
Daddy stopped at the hall that lead to the orangery. 
"Would you like me to carry you, or will you walk?"
Draco wriggled a little, then rested his head on his father's shoulder. He wanted to be adult height. 
"Carry."
Hefting him higher on his hip, Daddy strode into the orangery. 
Mummy was perched on a wicker chair and Uncle Severus was pacing. 
The tap tap of Daddy's shoes and Brutus' claws announced their presence and Draco watched Uncle Severus freeze, then turn slowly, wrapping his robes tighter around himself. 
"Draco."
"Professor Severus." 
Uncle Severus didn't seem to want to get any closer as Brutus sat by Daddy's foot. 
"I have come to apologise in person and-" Draco watched his black eyes flick to where Brutus was. "To agree to your terms."
Draco nodded, face set in a very grown up expression and looked pointedly down at Brutus. 
Uncle Severus was looking at Daddy and Draco could see his father's face was blank, but the way his eyes and eyebrows were slightly tilted looked like he wasn't as angry as he was trying to seem. 
Draco pushed his face against Daddy's hair and whispered, "can you tell Brutus to go over there?'
Daddy gave no sign he had heard Draco, but put a hand on Brutus' head and pointed him towards Uncle Severus, who was holding his robes even tighter and avoiding looking at Brutus. 
As he watched, Brutus padded over to Uncle Severus and began to sniff his shoes and then where his hands were tucked in. 
He flinched and twisted when Brutus tried to push his nose into Uncle Severus's crotch, but otherwise he stayed very still. 

"Daddy, down." Daddy kept his eyes on Uncle Severus, but as he lowered Draco down he made a little twitching motion and widened his eyes. Uncle Severus just kept looking between Daddy and the puppy.
"You have to pat him," Draco reminded, going to stand by Mummy so she could stroke his hair back into place. She wasn't paying any attention to his friends, but he let her keep rearranging his hair.  "-and say sorry to him."
Uncle Severus unhooked one hand from his robes and lowered it towards Brutus, but when his dog leapt up to try and sniff it, he snatched his hand back, took a step away and bumped into a loveseat. Daddy hadn't moved, but his face twitches were gently encouraging now. Mummy was watching now but still looked as stern and haughty as when they had entered.
The bump on Uncle Severus' neck went up and down as he swallowed, but his face went very blank and he lowered his hand again and lightly tapped Brutus on the head 3 times. 
"I apologise, Brutus." Brutus mostly seemed confused but his tail was wagging, so Draco assumed he had accepted.
He nodded and walked a few steps forward. 
"Now let him lick your hand. Then we can be friends again."
Uncle Severus' face was still all weird as he let his hand fall in front Brutus' nose. Brutus sniffed it a few more times, then licked the back of Uncle Severus' knuckles and nosed at his palm a little. 
Daddy stepped forward and gave a sharp whistle and Brutus bounded over, tail wagging even harder. "Good boy. Now, Draco, do you accept Severus' apology?"
Before he could answer, Mummy crossed her legs and gave Uncle Severus a sharp look, "You don't have to, darling."
Draco thought that was a bit silly, because he'd made a deal with Uncle Severus so he did have to. And anyway he wanted Uncle Severus to come to his birthday party and play garden quidditch like he'd said in the letter. 
He walked over to look up at Uncle Severus and stuck out his chubby hand.
"I accept. You're invited again, Uncle Severus."
Uncle Severus' hand was cold when he took Draco's but his eyes were warm enough. 
"Thank you, Draco."
They shook and Draco heard Daddy sigh with relief, and he thought Mummy looked reassured as well, but she hid it better.
And that, as far as Draco was concerned, was that. He climbed up onto the loveseat near where Uncle Severus stood and looked up at him curiously, swinging his legs. 
Uncle Severus looked like a great weight had come off his narrow shoulders and sank down in the seat next to him. 
"Uncle Severus?"
"Yes, Draco?" He would probably answer anything Draco asked him right now, which was ideal. He had a single burning question.
"Why did you imperius Daddy?"

Chapter Text

Draco had the sudden sense that  he'd said something wrong. Like asking about his aunties, or why he didnt have any siblings. All the grown-ups were looking at him. Mummy had whipped her head around as quickly as when he tripped or dropped something breakable. 
He turned back to look at Uncle Severus, who had slowly turned from staring at him as though he had grown a fluffy tail like Brutus to give Mummy a pained expression Like he needed a poo but it wouldn't come. Daddy looked a bit like he'd just accidentally done one. His face was frozen in the half-smile he had been wearing a second ago.  Draco saw his parents exchange glances.
"Draco, what on earth gave you the idea that Severus had done such a thing to me?" Daddy didn't exactly sound upset, just a little choked.
Draco didn't want to admit to listening in, and he thought that now was probably not a good time to try and blame it on the only other person in the orangery who was not Mummy or Daddy. 
He thought quickly of who to blame and then slowly said, "I heard one of the portraits talking about it."
"Ah...well, you know how they are, they're a little odd sometimes. Saying things that aren't true."
But Mummy had said it, and it hadn't sounded like a lie. 
"The imperius is a bad spell, so Uncle Severus wouldn't want to cast it on you, Daddy... You're his friend."
The grown ups were still looking between each other. 
"Darling, you know how sometimes you have to go and sit on the naughty step? Even though your father and I love you?"
Draco nodded slowly, hoping he wasn't about to be sent there. 
"Sometimes adults have to do things they don't want to. To show they care. Do you understand? "
Just as Uncle Severus did a moment ago. He wasn't silly, he knew it would take a little bit longer before Brutus and Severus were proper friends.
"Mhm..." Draco wasn't sure why everyone was talking very slowly to him either.
Daddy had reached Mummy's chair. 
"- might be old enough to-"
"- not, Lucius. He's just a -."
He didn't hear the rest of their whispered conversation because Uncle Severus began to talk to him. 
"Draco, what kind of dog is Brutus?"
"He's a Scottish Deerhound." Draco didn't totally understand how this was related, but Uncle Severus wouldn't lie to him because they were friends again.
"And what sorts of games do you play with him?"
"Oh all kinds. Sometimes he chases jarveys and gnomes in the garden and he plays with the quaffle if you throw it for him. Today we took him out in the woods and he went whoosh like a Cleansweep at a squirrel. Daddy had to call him three times and I got to give him a biscuit for coming back." Draco happily began to babble about his other friend, getting up onto his knees to lean in close to Uncle Severus, whose breath smelled like smoke but not the way Daddy's other friends did after they'd been in the smoking room. 
"And how old is he?"
"He's a year old, so he's still little but he's really fast. Bet he's faster than you!"
Uncle Severus looked a bit upset by this, which made sense: no one wanted to lose a race. Daddy sometimes got so angry he would throw down his hat when Draco beat him to the end of the garden and back and demanded a rematch. But when Mummy joined in Daddy didnt eant to be seen to lose so he wouldnt take it seriously; they would trip each other, or Daddy would pick Mummy up. He wondered how fast Uncle Severus could run. 
"I see."
Draco remembered something suddenly and shuffled closer to Uncle Severus, who was now leaning against the opposite arm of the loveseat. 
"Brutus and you can be really good friends, because I'm not allowed to play rough with him either."
Uncle Severus got that stuck-poo face again. 
"Yes, perhaps."
Draco twisted to look at Brutus, who was stretched out under Mummy's feet as his parents watched Uncle Severus talking to him. 
"Do you want to stroke his chin? He likes it."
"Ah...I think another time."
"Yes, Severus, do you have somewhere to be?" Daddy looked a bit less tense than before, maybe because Mummy was stroking his back. 
"You may as well stay for supper. You would not be unwelcome." She sounded less annoyed, 
"No, I should return."
He'd stood up very stiffly and got a few steps in the direction of Mummy and Daddy and Brutus before Daddy had gotten up and crossed the rest of the distance. Mummy kept idly stroking Brutus and he was happy to laze around on the floor as Daddy clapped Uncle Severus on the arm and shook his hand. 
"Will you come by next week?"
"You should, Severus. Lucius has been in an awful funk since I returned from the continent."
Uncle Severus finally seemed to relax a little and his thin lips twitched.
"Perhaps after exam season." Daddy squeezed Uncle Severus's arm. 

When Draco went back to his bed, he made Daddy carefully unfold the drawing on his wall and tuck him in. 

Chapter Text

June wasnt as warm as they had been expecting, but it was dry and sunny on his birthday. Draco was glad Uncle Severus had been able to come to his party after all, and he thought that the letter Daddy had sent after they'd agreed Brutus would only be allowed on the lawns and not near the food and drinks had probably helped. They were in the garden with a long table of wines, summer cup and lemonades charmed to stay cold and lots of his family and friends in fancy summer dress robes and he had eaten three slices of chocolate cake and learned how to play squibby-in-the-middle, which he quite liked as long as he wasn't in the middle. He decided not to play with his older cousins because they cheated by being taller than him, and was now looking for a thin black line somewhere among the colour. 
Daddy had been introducing him to various people throughout the day and so Draco hadn't yet had much chance to talk to Uncle Severus, aside from thanking him for his gift, which he had been instructed not to open until after the party and in Daddy or Mummy's direct supervision. It was probably something very cool and Uncle Severus didn't want the other children to know that Draco was his best friend, so that was alright. 

He spotted Daddy walking over to a shaded set of table and chairs where he could see a darker shadow sitting rigidly next to a blonde witch in a floral dress. He pushed his way through a group of wizards and rushed over to grab Daddy's hand. 
"Let's go talk to Uncle Severus." 
Daddy had given him an amused glance, "You do know he's possibly the only person here who isn't actually related to you, Draco?"
Draco ignored him and tugged him towards the table. 
"Do you like my party?"
"Yes, how are you enjoying yourselves? Severus?" Daddy was giving Uncle Severus a strange smile. He did not return it. He was probably too hot in black. He should have worn light blue and then Draco and Mummy and Daddy and Uncle Severus could all be matching.

"It's not bad."
"Oh yes, it is a lovely affair. I must ask Narcissa who arranged the flowers. Eryngiums, you said, Severus? He is very knowledgeable about plants."
"So kind of you to say." Daddy raised his eyebrows at Uncle Severus, who was still sitting stiffly and paying the lady very little attention beyond a nod. "I hear congratulations are in order, Professor."
"Ah the House cup. Yes, thank you."Uncle Severus did look up then and gave a small private smile to them both. The French witch(Draco thought she might have been his third cousin, something like that) he had been sitting with picked up her wine glass, gave a small nod and left them in privacy. She seemed to have given up on something from the look she shot Daddy. 
Daddy slid into the space she had occupied while Draco tugged his father's robes until he leaned back enough to be able to climb onto his lap. 
"Three years on the trot, is this the start of an era?"
"We'll see. Quidditch will be harder. We'll be losing our beaters next year."
"Positive thinking, Severus, you might try it once in a while." Daddy drawled as he bounced Draco on his knee then leaned across the table slightly, lowering his voice and raising an eyebrow.
"So? how were you and Camille getting on? Talk about anything beyond the flowers?"
Uncle Severus took a sip and pulled a face. Draco wondered if his drink tasted bad.
"Poorly. She is...gregarious."
"Chatty and a gossip, you mean?" Daddy set down his drink and wiped chocolate off the edge of Draco's mouth.
"Quite. She asks very personal questions."
"Its called getting to know someone. She's your age, beautiful, intelligent. And very wealthy." Daddy said, as if this was an argument against the chattiness. Draco could see where this was going and folded his arms, pulling away from Daddy's finger petulantly. 
"You're not going to do kissing with Cousin Cammy are you? I don't want to see kissing on my birthday."
"Et tu, Draco?" Daddy had said the french all funny in the wrong accent and it sounded odd like that.
"No. I will not be." 
"Whyever not, Severus?!" Draco gave his father an affronted look for trying to undermine his birthday rules. 
"She's-" Uncle Severus was slouching in the chair now and glaring at the other children chasing the enchanted bubbles coming from Mr Crabbe's wand. 
"A girl," Draco supplied.
"Young, single and pretty!" Daddy spoke over the top of him.
"If you like that sort of thing." 
"Girls are as bad as Muggles." Draco said firmly, agreeing with his very sensible friend. 
"Don't say that sort of thing, Draco." Daddy didn't sound very angry as he picked his glass of Pimms back up and chivvied Draco off his lap, a smile curling his mouth. 
"Prefer a mature witch then, eh, you sly dog? Message-" He winked, which seemed to horrify Uncle Severus, who scrambled to lower his drink and swallow- "received." He scooped Draco up under one arm and behind him Draco heard a hissed,"Lucius!", but they were already striding off. 

Chapter Text

When they next found Uncle Severus he had retreated to stand against the stone railing away from the tables and had a cigarette in his mouth. Draco was testing out his new training broom. It went even higher than the top of Uncle Severus' head and had little grips to hang off.
"Where did Agatha go? You didn't scare her off did you?" Draco stuck his tongue out at Uncle Severus from behind Daddy while he was upside down. 
"I am not a very good conversationalist it seems." Uncle Severus smirked and looked a bit like a dragon as smoke billowed out of his nostrils.
"You are when you want to be, Severus. Honestly, do you want to be one of those crotchety old bachelors when you're 70?" Draco decided to show off, pulling himself back on the broom and doing figure eights, watching to see what Uncle Severus thought of his brilliant flying. He received a little head nod and grinned. 
"Would you consider just dropping it, Lucius?" 
"No!" Daddy sounded personally offended as he watched Uncle Severus turn away from them and tap ash onto the stonework.
"Look, I have no desire to make small talk with anymore eligible young witches unless they are interested in poisons or curses."
"Well." Daddy set his drink down and leaned easily on the railing with one hand, " I can't say I like the idea but Mrs. Zabini is back on the market if you want a-"
"I'm not interested in finding a wife, Lucius!" Draco thought this was very sensible and flew over the railing to dive towards the lawns and back up the stairs.
When he reached their level again the two men were staring at each other, Uncle Severus glaring and Daddy with his head tilted to one side. Uncle Severus looked away to give Draco a resigned look. 
"Oh...Ah yes, I see. Cissy did wonder whether-" Uncle Severus' head turned so quickly he had to flick hair out of his mouth.
"What did she wonder?" He seemed angry or nervous, (it was sometimes hard to tell with Uncle Severus) and quite offended.
"Well you don't have any pressure to provide an heir, I can't see that it would be a problem. "
"No, Lucius. I am- working on my career at this time, not on-" Uncle Severus gestured at the party vaguely with his drink. "That sort of thing."
"Alright, alright." Daddy swirled the last of his drink around. "Even my own ancestors-"
Uncle Severus gave a groan and flicked his cigarette at a peacock. It pecked at the butt a few times before Dobby appeared on a rose bush and with a snap of his fingers vanished the litter.
"I'm getting another drink." 
"Good idea, I could do with a top-up." 
"Draco and I are getting another drink. You can sod-" he glanced at Draco and Draco's grey eyes lit up, aware that Uncle Severus had been about to say another bad word(for which he was almost as good a source as Daddy's friend Macnair)
"Socialise with other guests." Draco pouted, slumping on the broom. "I don't wish to monopolise your time any more than I have."

Chapter Text

Draco held his head high as he flew along next to Uncle Severus, because clearly he was much more gorwn up than the other children.

"Do you want to watch me do a loop de loop?" 

"Why does your father insist on meddling all the time?" Draco did the loop-de-loop, very impressively so he thought.

"Did you see it? I can do three in a row."

"And how dare they conspire behind my back?"

Draco got the sense that Uncle Severus was not paying attention to his loopdeloops, and also he felt a teensy bit dizzy. He landed and looked from the training broom to Uncle Severus, running a few steps to get ahead of him and holding the broom up.

"You can have a go if you want."

"What? Oh." Uncle Severus had gripped the broom without thinking, and looked down at it. "No, it's your birthday."

"I don't mind."

Uncle Severus held the broom back out to him. 

"I don't like brooms."

"...like dogs?"

Uncle Severus's frown lessened, "No, not like dogs. I'm just not very good on them."

"That's probably because you need practice. I'll show you how to do a starfish and stick."

Uncle Severus suddenly stopped at the table of snacks. "Oh look, olives."

This was an excellent opportunity to display how being 8 years old meant he was almost a grown up. 

"Vin- Mr. Crabbe puts them in his drinks. Mummy says that makes the drinks dirty."

Uncle Severus peered down at him as he put one into his mouth, then eyed the table mid chew. 

"They've got stones in," Draco supplied helpfully, and watched Uncle Severus subtly spit the stone into his hand, and was fascinated to watch as instead of vanishing it like Daddy did, Uncle Severus dropped it and kicked it under the table of snacks. 

"Mummy told me not to eat any because I've got a wobbly tooth." He looked up at his taller friend, then double checked that Mummy was still busy cooing over a chubby little baby that he certainly hadn't put on his friend-list.

"Do you want to see it?" Draco wondered if Severus still had wobbly teeth, because his weren't very straight. 

"How loose is it?" 

"Really wobbly, look I can do this with my tongue." He waggled it back and forth, pulling his lip down to show it better.

Uncle Severus watched, and he didn't tell Draco to stop doing it like Mummy did. 

"Isn't it annoying?"

"A bit. Daddy says you have to stand at one end of the portrait gallery and get someone to summon it."

"That wouldn't work until it actually falls out. It's part of your Thaumatic field. You can't summon attached body parts." 

"What so it's going to be loose forever?" Draco grumbled and wobbled it again. He didn't want it to keep wiggling like that, even if currently it was very good at freaking out the other children. And if it didn't fall out like the others had how was he supposed to exchange it for a Galleon?

"You could always tie a string to it and the other end to a door handle and slam the latter."

Draco laughed at the silly idea but Uncle Severus didn't seem to be joking, so he frowned. 

"Won't that hurt?"

"Intensely, but only for a moment." Draco watched as the older man ate another olive, a black one this time.

"Will I still get a Galleon?"

Uncle Severus inhaled the olive stone.

Chapter Text

When Uncle Severus had finished coughing and swallowed the stone(despite Draco's warnings that a tree would grow in his tummy and bowtruckles would try to climb up his bottom at night), they both went over to the drinks and Draco mounted his broom again so that he could see properly above the table edge. 
"I want the red one."
Uncle Severus picked up the lemonade and poured a glass. 
"No, that's not red! That one."
"This is for me. Pour your own."
Draco spotted an opportunity and flew close enough to bump his friend's shoulder reaching towards the large jug. Uncle Severus pushed the handle of the broom with one finger, making Draco drift away. He looped around to Uncle Severus' other side, but Uncle aseverus had sidestepped to block him from the intriguing jug again. 
"Can't I have the one with the strawberries in? It looks like a potion!" He exclaimed eagerly.
"Absolutely not."
"Why not? Daddy's had four."
"It contains alcohol."
Draco huffed, blowing his fringe upwards. "Uncle Severus, I'm 8 now. I can have whatever I want on my birthday."
He got a very strange look from Uncle Severus then. Sort of cold but not a glare. 
"Not from me."
"Why not? Pleeeeease" Draco opened his grey eyes wide, turning the corners of his mouth down, sure that this would work.
"Because alcohol is a poison."
Uncle Severus had to be joking now. But he looked deadly serious. 
Draco's eyes turned slowly to the collection of grown-ups, all laughing or speaking to each other. Almost everyone had a glass of the summery red liquid, mint leaves and fruit pieces floating among the ice cubes. He could already see the first victim, a bald wizard who worked with Daddy and who was currently slumped backwards on a chair. And Daddy had had four glasses!
"Draco."
"We have to stop them!"
A hand grabbed the back of his broom as he tried to fly off. 
"Let go! EVERYONE STMhhh-" his tongue was stuck to the top of his mouth.
A few people looked over at them, still holding their poisoned glasses, but Uncle Severus got an awkward look and leaned in very close. His breath smelled like smoke and lemon and olives. 
"Listen to me, Draco, the poison- This dosage...is not fatal for adults."
Draco stared Uncle Severus in the eyes. He glanced at the other adults. Mummy was picking her way towards them,smiling at guests but giving him a Look. Draco nodded slowly at Uncle Severus, and his tongue relaxed again.
"D'you promise it's ok?"
"Do you promise not to drink any?"
"What about when I'm grown up?"
Uncle Severus looked at the other guests and then his hand holding the back of the broom. 
"I promise that your parents will be alright."
"And everyone else?"
"No-one will die."
"Because you're a potioneer? Promise?"
Uncle Severus gave a sigh and his long pale face looked down for a moment. 
"Alright. I promise not to let anyone die at your birthday party."
When he let go of the broom, Draco wheeled it around and stuck out his hand. 
"You have to make the Vow."
"The what?!" Uncle Severus' face had gone pale.
"The Pinky Vow." Draco reckoned he should know all about this, because he knew about magic and curses. "If you break a Pinky Vow your magic makes all your toes fall off." 
Uncle Severus blinked at him once, but seemed less concerned and took a sip before he wiped the condensation off his hand to loop his finger with Draco's. His finger was still cold.
"Pinkius Promisus." Draco solemnly cast the spell Greggy Goyle had taught him when the other boy had let him join Vince and he in their secret den. 
"Ah I see. And I must also repeat the incantation?"
"Obviously, dont you know anything?"
"Ahem. Pinkius Promisus."