Hello or Goodbye

Do we say hello, or am I dead to you still?

It had been two days since Hermione Granger had deigned to visit, and finally Severus felt strong enough to face others, having forcefully declined any further attentions the moment she had left. He was still unsure how he felt about what had been revealed and had spent the better part of his respite begging old copies of the Daily Prophet off of the healers in attendance to him. It was believed he would be free to go in a week, which didn’t gall him nearly as much as it would have were it not for the fact he would be free to go. He would not, in fact, be arrested for killing Albus Dumbledore. A grace afforded him by none other than Harry Potter and Kingsley Shacklebolt, neither of whom he would have ever anticipated such acts of kindness from.

The Healer-in-Charge had felt obligated to inform Severus of the fact that one Lucius Malfoy was most adamant in seeing him, concerned that there may perhaps be a risk there. Instead, for the briefest of moments, the man had seen a flash of something almost akin to pleasure on his dour patient’s features. It had shuttered quickly, and Severus had informed the man that he would only meet with Lucius in the Visitors Section. His pride could not bear for Lucius to see him sequestered in a hospital bed, wrapped in healing poultices and looking even more dead than he had been believed to be.

Despite the concerns expressed about him walking, Severus had argued that he had been walking just fine in far worse conditions just days ago. When that only earned him a dubious look, he had added that he would not gain any strength by being bedridden. The promotion of better health a more convincing manipulation tactic, Severus was afforded the dignity of a robe and was allowed to the fifth floor under the strict condition that he took a cane that was provided for him.

Finding the cane favorable to a bedside visit, Severus had taken it without argument and made the slow journey to the fifth floor, knowing that by the time he arrived, Lucius would have been waiting. He wondered what his old friend would think, to see him using a cane for support rather than decoration as Lucius preferred, then thought perhaps Lucius would be less likely to scorn than before. The Second War had not been kind to the man. It had not been kind to anyone, true, but Lucius had suffered especially. For all he had switched sides, Severus had never lost his care, nor his friendship with Lucius.

It was as he thought on this that Severus finally realized the source of the Healer-in-Charge’s concerns. He was once more revealed the spy, more thoroughly than ever before. In his eagerness, his foolish boldness to see someone he still cared for, had he been blind to a darker truth? Had Lucius come here for vengeance?

Thinking he would rather die at Lucius’ hands than be a coward any longer, Severus shook his head and shuffled his way to the visitors area, noting Lucius immediately. He went still, debating with himself, before sighing and making his slow way over and taking a seat across from the man, resting the cane over his legs once he sat, and his hands clutching it carefully. His right lacked all strength, but his left was able to flex and relax, which was a good exercise for it. Meeting grey eyes with as much dignity as he could muster, Severus murmured, “Hello, Lucius.”

Lucius Malfoy

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Lucius wasn’t sure how he felt about hearing that his long-time friend was still alive. Nor was he entirely how he felt about hearing that Severus had been a traitor all this time. Though he supposed that they might be in the same boat right now since Lucius was considered a traitor on both sides, but Snape at least had the hero thing going for him. All Lucius had was his wife lying to the Dark Lord and him generally being a sniveling coward.

But at least he wasn’t in Azkaban nor were his son or wife but the cost was rather steep, and more than just the sheer amount of money he had to pay. For Lucius, the worse thing was the loss of his wand. They allowed him to keep his walking stick and snake-head but he was so used to there being a wand in it that he kept catching himself trying to pull it out when he had to do something. He was glad that he had learned some wandless magic over the years or else he'd have to rely on others.

But today was not about him and his staying out of Azkaban but rather to see how his friend was doing, for Lucius realized that Severus had been a friend before the Wars and was still his friend after everything that had happened. He even admired his guts for deceiving the Dark Lord so well. So it was with that in mind that Lucius had Floo'ed to St. Mungo's and insisted in seeing Severus Snape, assuring the MediWizards and Witches that he did not plan on harming their patient. He waited rather patiently as they had to check to make sure that Severus wanted to see him, a fear that Lucius had.

But soon, he heard the shuffling steps approach and Lucius turned to look at his friend, who looked far better than someone who was near death usually looked, though he still looked awful. Not that Lucius looked much better, the stress of the last year since he escaped from Azkaban weighing heavily on him. He stood from his seat. "Severus, it is good to see you alive and mostly well, my friend." He gave the younger man a slight smile, truly pleased to see Snape.

Lucius rose to greet him, a sign of respect that set Severus at ease quite swiftly. Once settled across from him, Severus found himself surprised and gladdened by the smile his old friend bestowed upon him, feeling some of the tension leave him at the sight of it. Escaping Voldemort and Nagini, blocking himself from the truth of the war, had left scars upon Severus that were more than just physical. He knew now who lived and who did not and while some names had brought him relief, just as many had brought him unexpected grief. Knowing as he did now that all three of the Malfoys were not only alive, but free of Azkaban thanks to Harry Potter of all people, left Severus utterly baffled but also, incredibly grateful. Gratitude, perhaps, was what softened him now.

Looking at Lucius, Severus smiled back, a very rare expression indeed. It was small, but it held true relief and genuine joy, however subdued, at the sight of the other. "It is good to see you are the same," The younger of the two responded. "You look better than when we last met," He observed quietly, looking Lucius over carefully. He seemed cleaner, more put together. He wasn't as haunted as he had been over the course of last year, but it was clear that many things still weighed heavily upon him. Yet he was alive and well tended, from the look of it, which pleased Severus considerably.

"I feel you have much to tell me," Severus stated then, his voice soft. He had lost more than just the strength of his right hand and his left leg; he had lost the acidity of his voice. There was something subdued now, something tired that bordered on defeated which had replaced his once biting and caustic tones. Bitterness washed clean by brokenness. "How is Draco?" Severus asked, a small urgency creeping into his voice as he thought of his godson, a pain coursing through his heart briefly at the thought of how close he had come to failing that child, as well. He knew Lucius would understand that Severus jumped to worry about the boy, when his friend sat right before him, but even still he followed up with a quiet, "How have you fared, Lucius?"

It was odd to him to think that he owed most of his comparable freedom, and that of his family, to Harry Potter, whom he had blamed for his fall into disgrace. Of course, anymore, Lucius was slowly realizing that in many ways it was actually his own fault and no one else's. He had chosen to join Voldemort all those years ago and he had chosen to return to His side when He returned. His true reasons of doing so to protect himself and his family were not really all that important in the long-run, just that he had messed up royally. And he wasn’t sure what to do to fix things.

Lucius received a truly rare gift from Severus, a smile, small like his was but genuine nonetheless, sitting once his friend did. If he wasn’t so weary of everything, Lucius might have laughed at Severus' comments about him looking better. "Cissa had a lot to do with that. I don't think she could stand her husband looking like a sickly bum." Which was entirely true, that along with his considerable vanity. His hair would take a bit longer to looking like its old self again, but Lucius was patient. It wasn’t like he had much else to do.

He raised an eyebrow at Severus' words about him having much to say. "There is much that you are likely not aware of but I am not sure where to start, old friend." The question about Draco drew a sigh from the Malfoy patriarch. "My son…blames me for everything that happened lately, which I hardly blame him for. He is mostly correct. It was my failings that brought all this upon my family." His voice was tired and he gave a defeated chuckle at the question about how he was. "At the mercy of the Ministry." They were in charge of his fate and that of both Narcissa and Draco, something he was less than pleased with but there was little he could do. "But I am surviving the best I can. I've been studying wandless magic since I'm not allowed a wand for at least six months."

Severus could only imagine how quickly Narcissa must have taken over matters after the Dark Lord’s fall. Lucius had deteriorated so much during that last year that Severus had been genuinely concerned for his friend’s mental welfare toward the end. Of course, recently Severus had been keeping himself in a haze of unawareness, refusing to allow himself to find out who survived and who hadn’t until finally, his own need for survival had pushed him to the very hospital they were now sitting in. his first and most unexpected visitor had guided him to the need to know; the survival of the Malfoy’s and their protection thanks to Potter were among his greatest feelings of gratitude.

“It is good to see all the same,” He insisted quietly, “Gauntness does not suit you,” Severus added, his tone sincere and still quite unlike his normally acerbic self. While he had always been warmer with the Malfoys, there had always been a bite to him. It seemed the war and his injuries had taken the last of the fight from him.

Looking at Lucius quietly, Severus could not help but shake his head slightly. “I do not think that Draco would hold you accountable, Lucius. He is a very intelligent child. There is no doubt in my mind that he understands you did exactly what you had to do to protect him and Narcissa both.” Though Lucius had done many foolish things and many truly despicable acts, Severus understood that at the core of them was a man who cared deeply for his family and those he considered close.

“Better the Ministry’s mercy than the Dark Lord’s,” Severus stated bluntly then, his tone a little bit firmer. He had seen the devastation the Dark Lord had wrought upon Malfoy Manor, thank you very much. There was no love for his own followers in that tyrant, and Severus was already outed as a traitor, so he did not see fit to curb his tongue on the matter any longer. The Dark Lord’s actions against the Malfoys had infuriated him considerably.

At Lucius comment about wandless magic, Severus raised a brow. “Always finding your way around the rules,” He murmured, before affording the other a slim smile. “How do your efforts come along?”