Black Truth [READ DESCRIPTION]

chapter five

Chapter Five: Matching Auras

"You look three-fourths dead," Lucius stated as Snape made his way into the room at seven in the morning.

"Thanks for caring," Snape shot back spitefully. "Seeing as you're the reason I and forty other people are like this right now." He winced as he put weight on muscles that were loath to do anything. "And why in Merlin's name didn't you keep the fire going?"

Lucius shrugged in the darkness (he hadn't minded the cold of the dungeon room) as his eyes wandered in the direction of the fireplace. There was a slight shift in the air of the room and flames leapt up from nothing, flooding the room with light.

"I hate when you do that," Snape muttered, slowly making his way to the couch.

"It's as natural to me as your wand is to you," Lucius commented casually.

"And Draco's going to learn how to do that?" Snape eased his Crucio-battered body onto the plush cushions of the couch. "I'm getting too old for this."

Lucius's eyebrows rose. "And yet I'm older than you." Switching subjects he continued, "I take it he was slightly displeased."

"Furious, seething, fire and brimstone and all that. You name it, he was ten times worse. Not a fun evening."

"Sounds like it." A pause. "You're in no shape to teach today."

"Have to. Albus has me teaching both Potions and Defense this year. Too many classes to just cancel them all."

"I'll cover them for you. I need something to do anyway." Lucius smirked. "I'm sure I can think of something to do in your Defense classes on the subject of the Dark Arts."

"Emphases on Defense, Lucius."

"The elder Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Ruin my fun will you?"

"That's my job," Snape muttered, his body slipping into sleep.

"One of many," Lucius remarked before getting up. He needed to have a discussion with the Headmaster.

"Harry, mate. You need to wake up sooner or later." Ron's voice argued with the lump that was a sleepy Harry.

"Don't wanna," Harry mumbled into his pillow.

"Yeah, I wouldn't either, but you have to."

"Ron, it's Monday."

"And you have Potions first thing, I know. We do this every week."

Harry had to admit that Ron had a point.

"Harry, if you don't get up I'm going to have to resort to drastic measures-"

Harry groaned as he remembered the cascade of water that had been used to drag him from his bed last week.

"-and you never know, maybe Snape will want to cancel class today too."

Nothing.

"Sorry, mate you asked for it."

And Harry yelped as cold water flooded down on top of him.

Draco also was having a hard time getting his own self down to breakfast. His was not a sleep problem, no he had gotten up as he always did, and had gone through his normal morning routine... his was a different sort of problem. A dread kind of problem. He had awoken to his second Aspectus, which had reminded him that this would be a horrible day. All night he was sure that the rumor mill of Hogwarts had been churning, and now at breakfast the finest gossip Hogwarts could offer would be handed to him on a silver platter. Well, not literally, but close enough. Draco entertained the thought of just not going to breakfast and appearing in his godfather's class for Potions, the one place where he knew he could find some amount of sympathy this morning. But he was a Malfoy, and Malfoys did not care what people thought of them... sometimes he wished he could change some of these rules.