Chapter 54.

Space Travel, Part XI: Loyalty Problem

11:09 am, July 27th, 1993

In the Boy-Who-Lived's headquarter office, Lucius watched as Mad-Eye Moody disappeared in green flames to do background checks on the list of top wizards that Lucius provided. Lucius hoped this mission could keep the old Auror busy for a while. And as the Boy-Who-Lived and the Girl-Who-Revived went to the newly conjured neighboring room to do some experiments, there were just Severus and Lucius left in this headquarter.

Lucius looked at Severus, who was noting down numbers on the experiment of how much "oxygen" Stella consumed while resting in a sealed transparent box. Lucius didn't quite know what to do with his best friend.

When the Boy-Who-Lived told Lucius about the whole Baikov matter, Lucius was almost speechless at the lack of tactfulness on Severus' part.

The lack of loyalty exhibited in Severus' dealing with Baikov wasn't a problem for Lucius at all - Lucius himself wasn't that loyal to the Boy-Who-Lived, either. He served this new Light Lord because he didn't want the world to end, and because he wanted Draco to secure his position in the new power structure. To be honest, if there was another powerful lord who could ensure the safety of the world, Lucius had no problem switching his loyalty again.

However, the lack of true loyalty to a leader didn't mean that you let the leader knew about it before you could kick your previous master to hell; especially, you shouldn't let your current master knew about it before you even get yourself a new one. And Severus, in his naivety and stupidity, had exactly done that.

-In the name of Merlin, how did Severus Snape survive serving both the Dark Lord and Albus Dumbledore?

-Or does Severus think that he will die in the Moon mission, so he simply doesn't care? And that's why Severus has a phoenix on his shoulder now.

This hypothesis brought quite some horror to Lucius' heart. Lucius knew that Severus was the most powerful wizard that he could cling to, and both the length of his prison sentence and the level of privilege that he would have in Nurmengard depended on Severus. Strangely, Lucius found himself caring about Severus' life for reasons beyond that. Lucius knew true life debts might lead to unknown bonding between the two parties involved, and Lucius had almost lost count on how many life debts he owed Severus. Moreover, Severus had treated Draco and Lucius with friendship and loyalty that Lucius didn't quite expect and couldn't repay in the foreseeable future. Now, Lucius found himself caring that mannerless halfblood more than he had realized, at the time that he might lose him. Suddenly, Lucius was glad that Severus made a deal with Baikov behind Potter's back - the Boy-Who-Lived might veto the deal for security reasons, and Mad-Eye would surely object this deal with all means possible.

However, this didn't mean Severus had to do it so tactlessly - Lucius could name hundreds of ways to make the whole matter look better in the eyes of the Boy-Who-Lived. He really needed to teach the halfblood some maneuver.

An hour ago, under Potter's inquiry, Lucius could only let the Light Lord know that Severus had problems seeing dangers unless it was imminent.

-What else can I say? Severus showed disobedience because he thought he would probably die? Or Severus doesn't want to die, but you might veto his plan to increase his chances of survival?

Lucius didn't assume the Boy-Who-Lived was satisfied with his answer, for now he was left alone with Severus. Potter didn't exactly ask Lucius to help him align Severus' loyalty, but the indication was clear enough.

Lucius pondered his words, and then asked: "Severus, how dangerous is the Moon thing? Muggles went there and came back alive, right?"

The black-haired man started warding the place. After Severus was done, the black-haired wizard sighed, "I have no idea, Lucius. Both Americans and Soviets had tried to send wizards to the space by Muggle rockets, and both wizards were killed. We are trying to do it with magic."

"Severus, my brother -" Lucius let emotions run into his vocal cords, and heard his own voice tremble.

Severus sat down across the table from Lucius, and briefly avoided Lucius' eyes: "I am sorry, Lucius. If I were to know that I may make Draco lose someone again, I - I probably wouldn't be so close with him."

Lucius was a bit baffled by Severus' train of thoughts, but he quickly replied: "Oh, Severus, you don't need to worry about this. Or if you have to, just come back safely."

Severus smiled bitterly: "Lucius, I am truly sorry that my certain actions had put you and Draco into a hard position, I should have been more thoughtful."

This sentence from Severus horrified Lucius: Does he really expect himself to die?

Lucius tried to smile, and proudly announced: "Severus, you don't have to worry about us, we are the Malfoys."

Severus looked at Lucius as if looking at some naughty but cute kid, which annoyed and horrified Lucius on some unspeakable level.

-Why is he looking at me as if I am a child asking for icecreams? This isn't a good sign.

The black-haired man then smile: "Lucius, I've started to feel all the petty squabbles between normal wizards quite pathetic, and I don't care about those things that much. For example, the rivalry between me and Mad-Eye, it wouldn't even be there if either of us wields real power."

Lucius' jaw slightly dropped. He didn't expect this from Severus. He knew wizards like Grindelwald cared more about the origin of magic than an unpleasant Unbreakable Vow, but Grindelwald still cared about mundane matters enough to start a war.

-If Severus feels the rivalry between normal wizards pathetic, then what use can the Malfoys be to him?

Severus rubbed his temple, and smiled with some self-deprecation: "Yeah, who am I to say such things? I am not a Lord, - at least, not in five to ten years. However, when I heard Oleg Baikov talking about his suicidal plan to Apparate multiple times to the space, just for a chance to know whether the Interdicts could be bypassed, and to be able to read Comrade Shakhov's collection of notes, I was really moved, and let my judgement slip." Severus blushed a little, and sighed, "Now, I know I should think more."

-Oh, Merlin, Severus wouldn't take this Baikov as his new best friend, would he?

Lucius suddenly felt his position as Severus' best friend shaken. He needed to formulate a rescue plan, fast.

Lucius was glad that they didn't conduct this conversation in Parseltongue, for he was saying "Severus, I understand", while as a matter of fact, Lucius didn't quite understand this mentality. "However, you need to be careful, and you need to remind Baikov to be careful as well."

Then, Lucius began to exaggerate the danger that Severus might face after he came back alive, in case the news of his mission got out.

This time, it was Severus' turn to drop his jaw. Obviously, before this point, the black-haired Lord-wannabe hadn't thought of that possibility at all.

Now, Lucius began to understand why all the top wizards he knew cared about mundane matters: Those who didn't care about such matter were all killed before they got a chance.

Lucius had to prevent his eyes from sparkling: Merlin, this can be my position to Severus! Oh, and my position in the world, too! Hmm, Draco and his Lord are friends, and I should learn how to serve a Lord who is also my friend as well. It would be ideal that if Draco's Lord and my Lord are allies.

For the ex-Lord Malfoy, helping a potential new lord who was currently in alliance with the Light Lord that both of them were serving didn't even constitute betrayal. Lucius was pretty sure that he could still claim his loyalty to the Boy-Who-Lived in Parseltongue, but he had to check on it in private.

Lucius fought down his impulse to smile, and started selling his service at mundane matters to the black-haired wizard who had twice defeated a Comrade-to-be.