[HP] Shh, it's a secret

For a whole week, Draco didn't show up at Hogwarts.The students at the castle hadn't noticed his absence until the Quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Slytherin three days earlier.It was later heard that it was because of illness, his mother asked for sick leave for him, and the head of Slytherin granted him half a month's leave.

Draco.Malfoy is sick.Not many people believe this.Part of the school thought it was him and Harry.The aftermath of Potter's duel, after all, that incident was full of fanfare because of Myrtle's hype; the other part thinks that he really can't stay anymore, his father is a Death Eater, has been confirmed and entered Azkaban .Later it was said that relatives saw him in St Mungo's intensive care unit.

"... so thin that I can only breathe..." The man described it vividly, as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

"Oh, Merlin, it's unbelievable." Some of the onlookers covered their mouths, some sighed contentedly, and some were eager to get more information.

"Hey buddy, what's his reason?"

"...had a strange disease...or maybe..." The man stopped, rolling his eyes pretending to be mysterious, "...he was cursed." Then he proudly admired the terrified expressions on everyone's faces.

"Look, is that him?" Someone suddenly called out, pointing out the window.

All the people standing at the window poked their heads out following the finger, followed by a gasp in unison, and turned their faces away in panic.

Draco.Malfoy and Severus.Snape appeared on the large lawn of the school one after the other, as if he had just come from the gate.

The man walking in front frowns fiercely, while the boy behind... is too thin... terrible, creepy.The skin was a sickly gray, the eyes were sunken, and the well-fitting navy blue traveling cloak now looked like a wide hood...

The man in front suddenly slowed down, and they were soon side by side.

"Your mother asked you for half a month's leave, and it's only been a week now... You should be at St. Mungo's or Malfoy Manor or wherever, not here." Snape said deadpan.

Draco smiled strangely, then raised his bandaged left arm: "It tells me that I must be here. There are still unfinished tasks, I thought you remembered, Professor."

Snape fell silent immediately.

When he chased out of Dumbledore's office a week ago, the boy in front of him had disappeared from Hogwarts.Later, Narcissa.Malfoy, his mother had found him, given him leave of absence and taken away dozens of potions but she hadn't said anything to him.

But soon he got the information from the mouse that "borrowed" at his house.

He was tortured, all night.

Cruciatus, Legilimency... anything Snape had seen or could imagine.It was a miracle in itself that he survived and remained sober, the boy he'd watched growing up... his godson.

The tower bell rang, heralding the beginning of a lesson.

"Lesson is on," Draco laughed viciously, "Defense Against the Dark Arts class in fourth year. Aren't you going, Mr. Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who finally got his wish?"

Snape gave him a thoughtful look and left, leaving a "wait in the office".

Go to the office and wait...as if someone stipulated that he must go.Draco smiled sarcasticly as he looked at the retreating figure.

The sky was misty, and there were snowflakes.It's already March and this may be the last snow of the year before it melts and winter is over.

On the other side of the lawn, there are flying lessons for first-year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.The freshmen were waiting there excitedly, and Mrs. Hooch, the flight professor, came out of the castle with a broom.It didn't take long before Draco heard a series of various "up" sounds.He followed the sound, and some brooms immediately flew up, some rolled in the snow, and some... didn't move at all.

Draco stared blankly and laughed happily.

On Christmas Day in 1987, there was snow in the sky.Six-year-old Draco was competing with a Comet 260 twice his length by the fountain in his manor——

"Up!" "Up!" "Up!"...

The boy's eyebrows furrowed.

"If you don't up again...I'll tell daddy to use you as firewood!...u—p!"

"..."

"Damnit!"

The boy violently kicked his uncooperative partner and managed to tumble himself onto the snow.

He decided, he hated brooms.

At this moment, a pair of extra feet appeared beside him, and he looked up——

"Teach...Godfather." The boy immediately got up from the ground, blushing.

The man who was always serious and silent and who was extremely strict with his "preschool education" unexpectedly said nothing.Young Draco just stood there awkwardly, hoping that someone would walk by and take him away, even if it was some house-elf who was always nagging.

"It should be like this," said Snape suddenly, "with your hand directly above you, with enough clarity and precision to pronounce...up!"

Immediately, the broom jumped into his hands, he said.

The young boy's eyes widened blankly, not because of the suddenly obedient broom, but because of the man who was holding it, his godfather... smiled, looking at the hand holding the broomstick.

It was an expression Draco had never seen on that man's face, like looking at something else through the broom, or nostalgic.The smile is very shallow, the eyes are half closed, and the expression is satisfied.Even the sallow and dry skin revealed a gentle radiance.It's weird, it's soft, it's warm, and it's beautiful.

He decided, he likes brooms.

……

"Draco, is that you?"

At some point, Goyle and Crabbe were already standing in front of him.Draco looked away and nodded at his two tall friends.

"Oh Merlin's beard, what they... what they said turned out to be true." Goyle exclaimed.

"Your hand... are you okay?" Crabbe asked.

"I can't die." Draco raised his chin, smiled arrogantly, and led his two friends towards the castle with big strides.

Behind them, Mrs. Hooch shouted loudly with her whistle in her mouth: "As soon as I whistle, you kick your legs off the ground, push hard, hard..."