It was dark with only the light from the fireplace giving the room a soft glow. Snape sat in the armchair, in trousers and shirtsleeves, and gazed into the flames, sipping on a fine year of wine. He didn't usually imbibe during the school year and definitely not wine, but he knew he would need the fortification of a relaxant if the night would pan out as he assumed it would. Life, Snape had decided, was anything but unpredictable.
The flames turned green, casting a sickly tint onto the furniture. A figure stepped through the massive opening and gloved fingers began brushing off the obviously expensive cloak.
"Ah, Draco, not one for an invitation, are we?" Snape drawled. Silver eyes turned to him and Draco took a step closer.
"I'm not in the mood, Sev. That idiot has gone completely insane and is now missing!"
"And which idiot would you be referring to?"
The blond began to pace in front of the fireplace. "The one I married, of course. Would I bother with any other?" Draco turned, his cloak swinging around him. "Harry has lost his mind. He came to the Ministry today and made such a scene he was nearly arrested. Apparently, he tossed a bunch of Aurors about and dragged me out of an extremely important meeting with my department head! I go home, after avoiding reporters all day and attempting to clean up the stain of being an unstable animal cast on my career, to find my house destroyed and the house-elf too terrified to fix it. Harry has thrown my clothes everywhere and tossed plants in the hall, he put every one of my favourite books in our bed and had moved my office around so much it'll take me weeks to figure out where he put everything! But the idiot wasn't there. I was reduced to hunting down the mudblood and weasel and am told that Harry accosted them with a knife! On top of which, they haven't seen him since this afternoon!"
"Sounds as if you have had a rather rough day."
Draco glared at his former teacher and put his hands on his hips. "Very acute observation, Sev. It's a wonder you haven't gone into a precise field of some sort," he said sarcastically. "Have you heard what I said? Harry has gone daft and is wandering about somewhere out of his head!"
"He's in the bedroom." Snape nodded to the slightly open doorway across the room. Silver eyes widened and footsteps were heard quickly crossing the stone floor. Silence reigned as Draco looked into the room for a moment and then slowly walked back to Snape, moving close until he stood over the other man. That irked Snape, but the wine had done its job and he allowed the intimidating stance.
"Why, may I ask, is my sub sleeping naked in your bed while you have obviously gone off the potion?" Draco growled.
"You have been neglecting him."
The atmosphere became charged with violence. Draco took a step back and snarled at the still seated man. "And you decided to fix it, I see."
"I suggest you calm down, Draco. You do not want to fight me."
"The hell I don't! He is carrying my young. You do not touch what is mine!" Draco's voice had become rough in its growl. When Snape finally looked up, Draco was in full Supero stance, his eyes slitted and cheeks slashed silver.
"I did not wish to touch him, but he required it. In fact, he required more than just touch. He is severely undernourished and dehydrated, not to mention beyond exhausted." Snape held eye contact but kept his tone calm.
Draco's eyes widened and his stance faltered. "What are you talking about?"
Shaking his head, Snape set his wine glass down and stood up. "When was the last time you touched him?"
"We share the same bed-."
"I mean, put your skin on his for more than a brief instant. You have not read one paragraph of the paper I drew up for you, I see." Snape stepped closer to the younger man. "Harry requires touch. During this time he requires it more than ever. He needs it to stabilize himself and to keep him aware that he is with a dominant. Breeding is hard on the body and the mind. Without touch, Harry's instincts will begin to believe he is alone and will need to abort the pregnancy. Subicios do not breed alone. Fortunately, he is nearing the end and was surrounded by your scent enough to confuse his instincts and sustain the pregnancy. But, obviously, you have not been enough to sustain Harry."
