But now... he looked utterly bereft.
"It's all right," Harry said, feeling really bad for his brother. Not that he blamed Snape, who'd tried lesser punishments first. "It's not so bad as you think. Remember how long I went without any magic, Draco... and at least you can still use the Floo and such; you don't need a wand for that..."
The other boy glanced up, his eyes dull-hued and listless. "But I'm not like you, Harry."
I'm a pureblood, Harry expected him to say. I'm a real wizard and you're just a boy with a Muggleborn mother.
But that wasn't what Draco was thinking.
"You're brave," he whispered, looking about as lost and hopeless as Harry had ever seen. "You stood up to... him. And I can't even say his name!" His tone started to go high-pitched, tilting towards hysteria. "I couldn't even stand up to my father and tell him I wouldn't go into that madman's service! All I could do was crawl to him and steal your wand." And then, eyes wild, "I gave his wand back, Severus! His wand, and you know how important his wand is-- you have to give me mine!"
He lunged, his hand making a clawing motion as he tried to reach inside Snape's robes.
Snape took one step back, which caused Draco to pitch forward and lose his balance. Righting himself at once, he glared.
At Snape and Harry both.
The Potions Master kept to the same calm voice he'd used throughout. "You shall have your wand back when you begin to conduct yourself as a proper young wizard."
"Oh, what's so fucking proper about lines?" Draco snarled.
"I won't argue this point again. Go to your room."
For a long moment, Draco looked as though he would defy that. But in the end, he turned away without a word and left them. The bedroom door closed softly. No slam. But Harry thought the noise ominous, all the same.
"Um, I lived down here without magic," he had to say. "And it's sort of tough. He won't be able to turn the lights off at night, for starters. At least the loo will flush but--"
Snape raised an eyebrow and cast a silencing spell. "You think I was too harsh?"
"Well, no... that was pretty sneaky, him finding a way to cheat on his lines, and I guess he can't do it again, not without a wand, but... I mean, didn't you use to let him cheat, like he said?"
"Not on something as serious as learning that I mean what I say." Snape made a scoffing noise. "He's referring to Messieurs Crabbe and Goyle in any case. Draco let them copy his homework."
"But you didn't stop it--"
"No, because those two are so thick that copying might well be the only way they'll learn something. There's always one or two such students each year. At any rate, Harry, you must let me handle Draco as I see fit. You aren't down here all week long seeing the sort of rubbish I have to deal with."
"I'll come down more--"
"Yes, do. But it's still my responsibility to rear him, not yours. Don't forget that. And don't do any magic for him. He can do without until he's decided to behave."
Harry felt distinctly uncomfortable about that. "Draco did magic for me all the time when I couldn't do any. He was really helpful, and I hardly appreciated it at all at the time."
"And if Draco fell ill and lost his magic I'd fully support your stepping in. But not when he's being punished."
"Well...all right. But what about the lights?"
"I'll arrange some sort of Tempus spell," Snape conceded. "And as you pointed out, he'll have the Floo. He'll be fine, Harry."
"He'll be miserable."
Snape's answering expression was grim. "That's the general idea, yes. But enough of that. Are you all right? You don't look very well to my eye."
"I feel a little rough," Harry admitted. "I thought I was through with accidental magic. Well, I almost loosed some when I saw Lucius Malfoy at the expulsion hearing, but that hardly surprised me."
Snape's dark eyes went thoughtful. "Not surprising, no. Significant, perhaps. Another thing I should have considered more closely. It would seem to me that if your dark powers are again surging forth when you grow angry, it may mean they have been repressed for too long. You should make it a priority to do some wanded magic every week, I would think."
"We could go out to Devon in the evening occasionally."
"Yes. We'll be there a week from today in any case. For the spring holiday."
"Oh, that'll be nice." Harry couldn't help but glance at his bedroom door, though, and wonder if Draco would ruin the holiday with sulks and tantrums and insults.
Snape wryly nodded to show he understood. "Now, to other matters. I have forgiven your father," he said earnestly, dark eyes steady on Harry. "Truly. I couldn't find a way to love James Potter's son and still hate him. He's part of you."
Harry drew in a shaky breath. "That's sort of scary. Oh, I don't mean me, I mean Draco."
"Ah. Well, Lucius is no doubt part of him as well. We'd be foolish to disregard that. It's something he must strive to overcome."
Harry frowned. "Yeah, I see that. And I understand he isn't his father. Took a while to sink in, but... anyway though, you did find a way to love Lucius Malfoy's son and still hate him, you know."
"Because Lucius hurt you, Harry. Or rather, you and Draco both. James... he only hurt me, and really, only my pride." Snape leaned down a little and spoke even more softly. "And what is more, James was devoted to you, Harry. I can appreciate that now. Lucius doesn't deserve to have anyone call him father."
"I understand." Harry sighed, feeling pretty awful that he'd blown up like that. Why scream and yell about his cloak? Snape meant more to him than any of the things he'd taken away. "And about my stuff... you know, the map and all, I'm not that upset about it."
His father cast a glance at the water pooling on the floor as Harry's conjured ice melted. "Events here today would appear to contradict that."
"Well, I didn't think I was that upset, anyway. It's just... hard for me."
"Come into my office for some wine," Snape suggested. "We still ought to go visit Slytherin, but I think something to bolster you might be apropos."
"But we can drink our wine out here, can't we?"
Snape gave him a look. A work-with-me look.
"Oh, all right," Harry murmured, figuring his father needed to talk to him out of Draco's hearing. Though that didn't make a whole lot of sense considering the bedroom door was already warded... Shrugging, Harry gave up trying to figure it out. Once in the office, he sank down into his favourite chair and rubbed a bit at his eyes. "Do we really still have to visit Slytherin? I feel sort of done in by... everything."
"It's the optimal time," murmured Snape, sitting in the chair opposite. His hands reached out for Harry's. "This may not sound credible, but it is in fact the truth. I never realised I was steadily taking from you every last thing you ever had that was James'."
Harry heaved a sigh. "It's all right--"
"No, I don't think it is, now that I've seen it through your eyes. Now, as for the map, Albus has it, you realise, and we are still endeavouring to discover how it could have misled us."
"I know."
"The mirror is also problematic. The way you used it last has altered it. It's leaking magic now, so much so that I found it necessary to cast a stasis spell on it when I boxed it up for you."
"You're keeping it safe," Harry said, nodding. "I understand. I know I sounded like I didn't, but I do--"
"I fear you are missing my point." Snape squeezed his hands before letting go. "The mirror in its current state could truly pose a hazard; the stasis spell needs to be monitored. This, however..." Reaching behind him, Snape pulled a book off a shelf and tapped it lightly, whispering a spell. When he opened it, there were no pages inside.