Draco's End, Part 38: New things

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 "George?" Arthur eyed the Muggle. "What are you doing?"

"We found Professor Snape," breathed George. "Fred is with him now. But they will not let him go out of the hospital."

Remus got to his feet.

"Take us there," he said.

George nodded, and they all scrambled in to the elevator. The Muggle stared at the memo paper planes over his head. Arthur cleared his throat; this was clearly a errand for his department. He found himself quite fascinated over the things on the policeman's belt, but tried to ignore the feeling.

"Arthur Weasley," he said holding out his hand. This is my friend Remus Lupin."

"Simon Goodman," cracked the Muggle, trembling shaking hands but still holding on to George.

"And what are your intentions with my son?"

"Wha…" the Muggle looked down to his clasping hand, quickly letting go.

"Dad!" George squeaked, sounding disappointed.

"Why did you bring him here?" asked Remus as they embarked at the lobby.

"He followed me," George grabbed hold of the policeman's arm to help him keep up, and not stop and stare at everything. "I could not just leave him, I am not allowed to Obliviate. Anyway I am crap at it. And… he is really cute."

Arthur rolled his eyes. They arrived at the floo.

"Not again," the Muggle grunted.

"It is okay," said George reassuringly. "Most people only throw up the first time."

"I am going to let your mother have a long talk to you about this, son."

George went pale.

---

"That is Dum… err… Albus," Fred cleared his throat. "A… A… friend of yours."

Severus looked down at the picture. He knew that Fred was not telling the entire truth, and he was grateful for that. He had no will to let the doctor know more than necessary.

"Mr. Snape," said Thurstin with a smile, probably thinking that he made a breakthrough. "You mentioned this name earlier; let us see if your friend can help us with the others."

Snape felt ashamed, he noticed how Fred's hold on his hand tightened. He hid his shame behind a most comfortable mask. The doctor leafed in his notebook.

"Here we go… 'Hagrid',"

"He works at the school," Fred's voice was strained. "Caretaker…"

"Ah, and Mr. Snape, how do you feel about this?"

Snape stared at the man. How did he feel? Should he feel something over that a school had a caretaker? Actually, he found it strange that he was a teacher; he did not really like children. Some were tolerable, he supposed, but a whole school of them, perish the thought! And chemistry? He could not grasp this thought, what did a chemist do? He did not know.

Thurstin seemed to wait for an answer; Snape cast a look to Fred.

"Severus does not like Hagrid," said Fred.

"'Sirius'?" read Thurstin.

"They… They went to school together. He is dead. Severus did not like him."

"'Fillius'?"

"He is a… teacher, I do not think he likes him either."

"Hmhm… 'Lucius'?"

"Oh, he is an old friend of Sev… But I do not think they like each other anymore…"

"But he likes Albus?"

The pained look on Thurstin's face was more amusing to Severus than the distress over that he did not seem to like anyone. Actually, there was no distress to talk about.

"Well," Fred gave him a glance. "Severus did kill him when he asked him to…"

Doctor Thurstin was almost as white as his coat. Severus found it entertaining, not really caring that Fred had confirmed the fact that he was a murderer. The doctor trembled a bit and looked down to his notes.

"'Remus'" he read, seemingly not wanting to know.

"That would be me!" said a sand haired man stepping in to the room.

He was wearing a brown suit and a red tie, his face and hands were scared.

"Severus does not like him," piped Fred with a relived voice.

"The feeling is mutual," smiled Remus and shook Snape's hand. "Hello, you old scallywag. Let me be the first to thank you for what you have done."

Another man followed, clearly the twins' father, judging on the likeness. Snape had a feeling that he did not like him either. The thought made him worry. What if he did not like Fred?

---

"So…" George looked sheepishly at Simon.

They were standing outside the hospital room. The policeman pushed his cap back as far as it went. His brown eyes moving rapidly though the recent happenings.

"What is Obliviate?" he asked.

"They take away your memories, sometimes they change them."

"Is that what happened to that man in there? Am I going to be like him?"

"No!" George held up his hands. "The professor lost his memory after a near death poisoning and a… well, a spell. You will be nothing like him!"

"So you are going to let them do it to me?"

"Muggles are not supposed to know about us… Not yet anyway…"

"But… but…" Simon hesitated.

"What?"

"What if I wanted to see more?"

George felt a boisterous smile spread over his face. Casting a quick look at the door he held out his hand.

"Want to visit my shop?"

"You have a shop?" Simon took the offered hand without wavering.

"Only the best shop in the world, Handsome," laughed George and Apparated.

---

Draco watched as Hermione and the Weasleys prepared the ritual. His father had stood up and was studying the scene like he was back in school. He was not going to last long locked up in this house, thought Draco. Not his mother either. But still, he shivered, it was better than Azkaban. Again he thought about Vincent Crabbe, he felt really sorry for him. He thought about Slytherin house and how it had changed, how many who would be gone, including him. His eyes darted to Granger and the Weasel, neither of them had finished school. Draco sighed; he would have liked to study for the NEWTs. Draco sighed again; at least he would see to it that Harry got the opportunity to get his.

"Stop sighing," said Mrs. Weasley. "Come, I will take you to wash up and change."

"Mom…"

"Oh hush up, Percy. Come on dear."

Draco let himself be led out of the room. He would like to wash and change. Mrs. Weasley untied his hands, he looked at her.

"I am not going to scrub your back, young man," said the matronly woman. "And you have to do up your own pants."

"Thank you."

He suddenly stopped, having caught something in the corner of his eye. Curiously he stepped over to the Tea Room and glanced though the open door.

His mother and… and her sister, were sitting on the Louis XV sofa holding teacups. On the floor sat a pink haired child laughingly playing with some house elves. Draco moved away, not wanting to disturb them. Mrs. Weasley smiled.