Chapter 4: Save Us, for this House is too Cold

Snape and Harry made their way through Snape's house. Snape never really called it home. He didn't have a home. Home was a place where a person felt wanted, and Snape had never felt wanted. True, his mother had at one time loved and wanted him, but his time with her hadn't lasted long, and wasn't a home supposed to be long lasting? Permanent, even? Yes, families move, but they still have each other. Lovers travel, but their home remains in each other's arms. Snape had no home, and he had long ago resigned himself to forever be "homeless".

"Mr. Potter," Snape said, coming to a halt outside one of the upper level rooms, "There is something I must explain to you before we enter this room." Snape paused to make sure he had Harry's full attention.

Harry waited patiently for Snape to continue.

"Beyond this door lies the matching cupboard to the one in Malfoy Manor which was used on…that night." Harry's eyes widened, and Snape could feel him tense in barely checked anger. "Before you ask, I didn't tell you because one, the topic hasn't come up before in my presence, and two, I wanted to protect Draco."

The wall hangings began to shake, but Snape ploughed on. He wanted to explain his reasoning, and get his point across. "I have watched over Draco since the day he took his first breath. I will not allow him to be mangled by self-righteous aurors who think they know how to 'handle death eaters'. Draco is not a death eater, and any part he had in the raid was a direct response to the threat against his family."

"Would you have told me where the cupboard was if I had asked?" Harry was beyond angry, but he was still willing to give Snape an out.

"Yes, but only you." The house began to settle again. "I tell you this now because this is how we will reach Draco. I have the suspicion that Draco is hiding in the Manor, and I also feel that Lucius is now hiding with him. If Draco is truly behind the break out, then the Manor is where the two shall be."

" How have they managed to hide from the auror raids of the Manor?"

"The house protects its' own," was Snape's short reply. Harry accepted the answer, knowing how old the Malfoy family was.

They walked into the room, and crossed to the cupboard. Snape stepped in first and closed the door. Harry counted, then opened the door and stepped trough. On the other side Snape was waiting for him. They turned to the door leading to the rest of Malfoy Manor, and found Draco already standing there.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to come." Draco addressed Snape before turning to Harry. "I'm sure you had planned on hiding before I could catch sight of you. I'm glad the plan failed, for I have some things to speak with you about. Come."

Harry recovered from his momentary shock, and followed Snape and Draco to a sitting room across the hall. The place looked rundown and uninhabited. Harry suspected the look had something to do with the wards in and surrounding the Manor. The three each took seats, and the two Order members waited for Draco to begin.

"I feel that time is running short in this war, and so I'll cut right to the chase. You're here because you suspect that I broke my father out of Azkaban. I admit freely that I did. The woman who doesn't really like to call herself my mother ran to France right after the Dark Lord found out about my failings. He threatened her and she ran, leaving me here to pick up the pieces and try and save father.

Funny, that. She forced Lucius to become a death eater when they married, threatening him with my unborn self and claiming that she loved "Dearest Voldemort" and that Lucius was a coward if he didn't take the mark and instead tried to flee, and yet when the Dark Lord turns on her it's all of a sudden ok to turn tail and run. Lucius only ever became a death eater to save me, and has tried for years to keep me away from that monster. The Dark Lord sent my father to the ministry during our fifth year knowing full well that he could very likely be caught and sent to Azkaban…."

"But what about second year?!" Harry interrupted, "He put that diary with Ginny!"

"He put the diary there because my mother was standing a few feet away and pointing her wand in my direction. He might not care too much for his own safety, but if she had killed me ( which she would've if he hadn't done as told) it would've destroyed him. He was hoping you would catch on as you had during first year with the stone.

Back to my original thought, Narcissa and the Dark Lord were trying to get my father out of the way so that they could initiate me. Dumbledore was to be my initiation. Narcissa was so proud until the stakes were announced. When her life became threatened she made the deal with Severus that should I fail, he would be charged with finishing the task."

"This, along with the oath I made to Albus is why I did what I did."

"You could've just chosen to die!" Harry argued, and then upon realizing what he had said, began to apologize.

"No Harry, you're right. But Albus also made me promise to look after you. I refuse to be a ghost, and I can't very well protect you if I'm dead. I did what I was asked to do by Albus, even though the decision was hard and I often hate myself for following it."

Harry was startled. So Snape did feel guilt. Harry had never really been sure 'till that moment whether or not Snape was genuine in his regret. Hearing that the man even hated himself put things into a new perspective.

It was also interesting to find that Lucius and Draco had been blackmailed with each other's lives. He still didn't approve of Lucius' past, but he could understand wanting to save one's own unborn child.

"What about the anti-muggle, mudblood mantras you two seem to have?" He really wanted to be sure of where Draco stood.

"Well, you can't really support muggles and muggle-borns openly when you have a mad man out to kill anyone who does, and you happen to be in forced service for him."

Well, that definitely made since.

"And where do you stand Draco?"

"I'm not a complete goody two-shoes if that's what you're hoping, but I don't have a problem personally with muggles in anyway. Neither does Father, though we'll never say that in public until the Dark Lord is dead fro sure."

Harry sat back and mulled over the information. He was willing to give second chances. Lord knew they needed all the help they could get, but he wasn't willing to trust whole hug and he made that fact clear.

"I'll need to talk to Lucius, and you WILL be watched twenty-four/seven until I feel you are trustworthy enough to be left on your own. Understood?"

Draco nodded. "When will that trust be given, do you think?"

"Probably after the war is over."

" I can accept that."

"It's all I'll give you."

Draco excused himself to find his father.

"Thank you for giving them a chance." Harry nearly fell out of his chair at Snape's 'thanks'. Today was truly a strange one.

When Lucius entered the room, Harry immediately felt something off in the man's demeanor. Where before there had been arrogance, there was now fatigue. It seemed that Azkaban had affected the man deeply. There was also something else in Lucius' walk that seemed almost off, as if something had just happened within the last twenty minutes to distract and emotionally upset the man. Harry and Snape stood, and Harry approached Lucius.

"Mr. Potter," Lucius greeted, extending his right hand.

"Mr. Malfoy," Harry shook the offered hand. "your son has explained your situation. Where do you stand?"

"I raised my son to protect himself on the outside, and know the truth on the inside. There is nothing wrong with blood, but one must protect himself in whatever way is best." Lucius did his best to focus on Harry and not the ache that had intensified since his dream.

"Spoken like a true Slytherin. I trust Draco has told you my terms?"

"Yes, and I accept."

"Alright then. Gather only what you need. You're coming with us."

Lucius and Draco gave the slightest start, and then quickly did as told. They were both ready to leave their gloomy residence. Once packed, they traveled back the way Harry and Snap had come. After they all came through to the Snape house, the there cupboard was broken to prevent anyone from following them. They couldn't afford death eaters so near to Snape or the Order member assigned to him at any given time.

After bringing the Malfoys to headquarters, Harry explained the meeting, and told the Order that the Malfoys were now under his roof and his protection. Again, there was a lot of fighting and hexing, but the Malfoys took the hexes in stride, and let Harry fight it out before he healed the two. Then Harry showed them each a room for which to stay in, and after placing tracking charms on each Malfoy and letting the Order place wards around their rooms, he wished them goodnight and headed to his own bed. Tomorrow he would get more information out of them, and decide how to deal with Voldemort when he discovered the two Malfoys missing from his ranks and Azkaban cells respectively.