Light the candle

~Six~

Their footsteps echo through the empty corridors.

"Potter, I must say that your sense of direction is declining." Severus sneers, noticing that the brat is going straight on instead of to the right. Potter did not reply and continued on his way.

The spy gritted his teeth as he noticed the arrogant kid ignoring him. His face went blank. When he sees that the Potter spawn is heading for the dungeons. He blinks. He didn't know how to react to that.

▬♣▬

"So?" The blond asks, putting his cup of tea on the table. The black-haaired stares at him. It's their monthly rendezvous. The two of them get together at the end of every month to talk about anything and everything. For nearly 7 years now, they've been getting together at the weekend over a nice cup of black tea.

"Oh, come on Uncle Sev. I know something is going on in your life and it's not the creation of a new potion." Draco says. Severus raises an eyebrow but says nothing. Draco shigs, his eyes landing on the cake on the table. The head of Slytherin House followed his gaze but took no action to serve him. He took a sip of tea.

"May I have a piece of cake?" Severus stared at his godson, ignoring his question. Draco raised an eyebrow at his godfather's lack of response.

"Uncle Sev?" The potion teacher blinks and starts cutting a piece of cake for his godson. The young man looks at the tiny portion his godfather is putting on his plate.

"I mean you've been moody for more than a...Oh that's good! You have to tell me which elf did make that." Draco beams amazed by the taste of the cake. The Potion Master watches his Slytherin student swallow a piece of his favourite cake without a blink.

"So tell me uncle Sev. What's got you in such a state these last few weeks? I know you're usually moody but these weeks were something." The blond emphasises the 'something'. Severus looked at him, then took another sip of tea.

"Oh come on." The Malfoy heir only acts like this with people he trusts completely. He usually wears a mask that shows no emotion, as befits a true Malfoy. His godfather remains silent. He sighs.

"When are you going to introduce him to me?" Severus finally speaks. He knows that his godson has met someone who makes him happy. From his observations, it is not a romantic relationship. He watches Draco's cheeks pinkish.

"Not now." The blond simply replies.

¶HP/SS¶

Severus goes to his room to sleep, but he can't get through the door. He stares at the empty bed. Potter had warned him that this weekend he would not be attending.

Tonight he'll have to sleep alone as his body is used to Potter's presence every night now. He feels it's a waste of time trying to go to sleep when he knows he won't get a wink of sleep. Severus returned to the sitting room and sat down in his armchair.

"Accio safe containing Potter's presents." The safe arrives in his lap. He opens it by infusing his magic into the runes that seal the safe. He strokes the letters with his fingers. A glint passes through his dark eyes. He puts the bracelet back on his wrist. He feels a sense of calm. Then he takes out a limited edition potion book and starts to read it.

¶HP/SS¶

The spy walked a little faster than usual towards his quarters as he left the great hall after dinner. He enters and looks around the living room. Sitting on the sofa reading is the young man with emerald green eyes. He releases the breath he didn't realise he was holding.