Life Renovations
Chapter Four
Secure...Or?
"Poppy! Remove blondie off my godson!" Sirius demanded once he'd entered the room and immediately caught sight of Malfoy, whose body lay slumped over Harry's chest. Sirius charged forward and reached out to grab Draco to pull the youth away.
"Stop Sirius! We don't know what will happen if you do that," Madam Pomfrey said pushing the taller shaggy haired man away from the two boys.
"Why? What's going on?"
"It would have been wise to have asked that before barging in here, insipid mutt!" Severus hissed from his dark corner where he sat watching the boys. Yes, Snape was actually watching after both boys. He had a book in his lap from which he'd been trying to make sense of what was happening between Draco and Harry. "We're not sure what is going on, Black. But I assure you, having you here disturbing the peace is not going to help."
"This is my house, Snivellus, and Harry is my godson. If I want to be here than I have every right to be."
"Wizards, if you please!" The witch sent them both a hard glare. "I will send both of you out if you cannot get along. You aren't in school anymore which makes this rivalry ridiculous. You should have matured enough to realize that your actions and words are beneath you-" The scolding Severus and Sirius were receiving was interrupted when Draco was suddenly thrown across the room and landed in a crumpled heap of robes at the feet of a surprised Sirius.
"Oi! Malfoy?" Sirius crouched down to get a better look at the kid and he noticed something troubling. "Poppy, he isn't breathing."
Madam Pomfrey pushed Sirius out of the way and rushed her wand over Draco. "I don't understand. The diagnostic says he's fine. He should be breathing."
"Do it again." Severus' tone was calm, but if someone were to look in his eyes, they would have seen how terrified for his godson he was.
"No change, Severus. Come; let's get him on the bed. We still have a bit of time."
After levitating Draco onto the bed next to Harry's, Madam Pomfrey sent a quick Patronus message to Dumbledore. After the 'bit of time' ran out, they were all thinking that nothing was going to work and that Draco Malfoy might never breathe again. Dumbledore entered and with one look at Draco, the twinkle in his eyes was replaced by feigned concern. Sirius looked at Severus then and saw the gut wrenching sadness and pain of loss swimming in those obsidian eyes. Never knew he had those kinds of feelings, Sirius thought. Human feelings. Weird. Sirius pulled his eyes away from Severus and turned back to the dying boy on the bed, eyes trailing over his familiar features. Draco looked so much like his father it was almost uncanny. His breath caught in painful memories at that.
Sirius turned to Harry to wrench away from those thoughts. Harry's pale face and black hair standing out the most. They'd had a conversation about Malfoy at the beginning of the summer holiday before Dumbledore had forced Harry back to the Dursleys to 'secure the blood wards'. Sirius had been surprised when Harry expressed his regret that he and Malfoy were enemies and that he wanted to rectify that. During sixth year Harry had an almost obsessive attitude about Draco Malfoy and had watched the blond closely all year.
Harry claimed to have witnessed changes in Draco; apparently the blond had stopped tormenting others, he'd stopped treating people like they deserved to be nothing more than mud under his dragon hide boots, and how Draco had withdrawn and was always caught in a contemplative mood. Harry explained to him that Draco had changed for the better and would make a good ally and friend and he also explained to Sirius how he thought the Slytherins were misunderstood and could be helpful to their side in the war. Sirius hadn't believed nor did he agree with any of it. It had been a difficult discussion and one they didn't walk away from without having several shouting matches under their belts.
Sirius didn't believe it then, and he didn't believe Malfoy had changed now, but he did know that whenever Harry woke up, and he was sure his godson would wake up, Harry would be devastated by the loss of the blond. He knew this because by the time that conversation had finished, Sirius had come away with the knowledge that Harry had some very strong feelings for little Malfoy and it wasn't just a friendship his godson was hoping for.
Sirius narrowed his eyes and stared at the pale face with growing blue lips and he cursed little Malfoy to Hades for being another problem that Harry had to fight his way through. But at the same time, he was panicked at the thought of how much Harry had been through already. How would his godson cope with such a loss, despite Sirius' thoughts that dealings with any Malfoys would lead you to nowhere but trouble. He was an expert on that. But Malfoy's death could very well be the last nail on the coffin and Harry might slip through all their fingers to be lost to those who love him forever.
Sirius rushed over to the bed and shoved Severus out of the way. "Damn you, Malfoy! You are not going to do this to him!" he shouted as he raised his fist above Draco's chest. "Wake. The. Hell. Up!" With each word, he pounded his fist against the teen's chest just over his heart. Pomfrey and Severus moved as one to stop Sirius but stopped themselves when Draco astonishingly responded.
Draco's back arched off the bed, his eyes staring open wide yet blind at the ceiling, and the only sound in the room to be heard was the loud shuddering inhale coming from his wide-open mouth.
"D-Draco?"
Severus' voice was raspy and his eyes looked suspiciously wet. He started when his godson starting to scream for Potter. "Harry! Harry, come back!"
"Move away, both of you!" Madam Pomfrey barked and started running diagnostics. "He's in shock, physically and mentally, but other than that he seems to be perfectly healthy. I will be running further tests."
"Harry!" The blond continued to scream, thrashing in his bed until Severus came forward and hit Draco across the face; a slap to each cheek.
"Calm yourself, Draco… That's right take deep breaths." Severus was happy to see that Draco was quickly coming back to consciousness. "Draco, can you hear me?"
"Yes," Draco coughed out and fell back against the pillows as he closed his eyes; his chest heaving in the air he had previously been deprived of. He opened his eyes again and saw nothing but a bright white light, though he could hear familiar voices. He bit back a moan of pain brought on when he tried to move his head. What had happened to him? Where was he? He couldn't remember…someone was calling his name again.
"Draco?"
"What?"
"How do you feel?" Draco knew that voice.
"How do you think I feel, Sev? I feel like I've been run over by a pack of Hippogriffs."
"What were you doing with Harry?" someone barked at Draco, causing him to wince from the headache. Whose voice does that belong to? It was familiar, but Draco couldn't place it.
"Sirius, let's just make sure Mr. Malfoy is in good health before inquiring after anything else." Ah, that's the old fool. Then a thought hit him. Sirius. Sirius Black. Sirius was Harry's godfather. Harry!
"Someone must help him. The Dark Lord's invaded his mind!"
"Draco, calm down."
"Yeah. Who's with You-Know-Who?"
"Harry!"
"All right, Mr. Malfoy. Take a deep breath and tell us from the beginning. Then we will know best what to do." Draco nodded, for once listening to the headmaster without one snide thought. He took three deep breaths and began to speak, beginning with him sitting on the bed, and figuring out that Harry was battling a nightmare and told them everything that happened after, ending his tale at the present. He left the part out where he and Harry ended up conversing telepathically.
"Merlin! Does he really feel like that?" Sirius asked, staring with watery blue eyes at Harry. "Why does Voldemort think that he's condemned Harry to death by killing Draco?" he asked the headmaster.
"I am uncertain..." Dumbledore turned to Severus, his eyes narrowed just slightly. "Severus, have you any ideas?"
"You know just as much as I, Headmaster," Severus promptly answered, keeping his gaze locked onto Draco.
"Never mind. I need to go back and get the idiot Gryff before he decides to stay there permanently." Draco sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
"Now wait just a minute, Mr. Malfoy, where do you think you're going?" Madam Pomfrey loomed over him. "You're not going anywhere right now. You were forcibly pushed out of Mr. Potter's mind and you had not been breathing. You need to remain in bed!"
Draco's eyes narrowed on the witch. He gritted his teeth and tried to explain as calmly as possible. "You don't understand how close to the edge Harry is. He's going to jump and stay forever if he isn't talked to. And if you know of someone else who is likely able to jump into Potter's mind, then please by all means Madam Pomfrey, let us know." He sounded calm, but really he felt anything but. He felt ready to jump out of his skin; his nerves were all tingling and his heart had yet to calm down since he regained consciousness. And all he wanted to was to get back to Harry.
A hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed gently. Draco turned and was surprised to see the headmaster looking at him with somber eyes." Unfortunately you are correct, Draco." The headmaster said and then turned to his colleagues, while Draco jerked his shoulder free. "I'm afraid Mr. Malfoy can't wait. Harry will need someone now, and he seems to be the only one able to pass through the magical barriers Harry has placed around his mind. We cannot allow Harry to fade away. We need him."
You had better stay away from him, you old manipulating fool, Draco thought darkly. Harry's mine.
"But Albus, Mr. Malfoy was nearly killed. He should be in bed resting."
"As much as I loathe to admit it, the headmaster is right. Draco must go. He is the only one who can. That's what all the signs are pointing to. Potter and Draco are connected."
Sirius nodded his head in agreement with Severus. "Yes. If Harry will listen to anyone at this point in time then it will be the little Malfoy."
Not wasting any more time, and ignoring his need to ask what exactly Black meant by that, Draco stood up and made his way over to Harry's bed, making sure he had his wand with him, even though he knew it wouldn't travel to where he was going.
Right, you stupid Gryffindor. You're coming back with me, whether you like it or not. Draco took a deep breath and placed his palms over Harry's temple again. It was somewhat of a surprise when the trip into the Gryffindor's mind wasn't as uncomfortable as before and it took less time for Draco to get over the disorientation.
He didn't know where to start looking but he figured finding the place where You-Know-Who had struck him with the Killing Curse would be the best place to start, even though he doubted everything would be just the same as it was before old snake face tried to kill him, the bastard! Nobody tries to kill a Malfoy and gets away with it.
He'd been walking for ages, and Draco was rapidly becoming frustrated when he had yet to find anything. And that was literally. For miles it seemed the foggy grayness went on with no change, except for Draco's disturbance here and there, but he continued to walk on. He picked one direction and stuck to it until becoming bored, and then sharply turned down another direction, almost continuously calling out Harry's name, making sure he hadn't suddenly gone deaf, as there was also no noise to be heard. Complete silence surrounded him; not even his own movements yielded any sound.
"This is ridiculous! I always knew his brain was full of nothing. Come on, Potter. WHERE ARE YOU?" WHERE ARE YOU? He called out in his mind as well; trying to push his thoughts out passed the thick grayness on the off chance that he and Harry could still hear each other's thoughts. Having that ability had been strange and had seemed to mean something important.
Draco?
He hadn't expected an answer. Really he didn't, so when he heard Harry's voice in his head, Draco surprised and shamed himself when he jumped and screamed like a little girl.
Yes, Potter, he hissed angrily, trying to cover the embarrassment he felt. Of course it's me. Who else did you expect? Where are you?
Draco's dead. I saw it. You're not real either. Leave me alone.
It was strange listening to that tone coming from Harry. It really wasn't what Draco expected. He thought by now Voldemort would have tortured Harry's mind to hysterics or at least numbness, but that's not what it sounded like. Harry seemed to have a determined edge to his voice, as well as annoyance.
The Dark Lord can't really kill in the mind, I guess. Your godfather saved me. I'll have to thank him for that.
My godfather? Now Harry sounded hopeful.
Yes. You know, your godfather, Sirius Black.
How am I supposed to know if you're real or not?
We could argue about it here like this all day, or you could make this simple and tell me how to find you. I've been here for ages.
Fine.
Draco sighed in relief and waited for Harry to tell him where to go.
You should be able to sense my magical signature. I can sense yours and feel where you are.
Right. Well then why don't you come find me? I'm tired of walking.
Stop whining, you git. I would come to you but unfortunately that's not possible right now.
Potter, if you're in another pity state, I swear…
No, I'm sort of passed that I guess. But I've made some decisions. And I would love to get out of here and get on with my plans, but I can't move. I need your help.
Why can't you move?
I'm under some weird version of the Pertrificus Totalus spell. I can't move or talk.
Fine. I'll be there as soon as I can.
Thanks Malfoy.
Whatever, Potter. Just remember you owe me.
I'd be happy to give you whatever you want, Draco, Harry answered in a low tone.
Draco stopped walking suddenly. Maybe he was hearing things he only wanted to hear, because he could have sworn Potter had just purred his name at him, and it really shouldn't have sent as many shocking tremors through his body as it did.
With a shake of his head, he closed his eyes to focus back on Harry's magical signature and began to follow it again. Eventually Draco passed through a thick fog, and was surprised to see a large group of people standing in a half circle around a corner of the room. He couldn't see what was in front of the group, but after listening to some of the things these familiar figments were spewing from their mouths it didn't take Draco any time at all to figure out who would be against the wall.
Potter? Are you in front of all those people? Is that the entire Weasley family I see? Oh look I even see that stupid oaf, Hagrid.
Don't call him stupid. Stop insulting people and get your arse up here. I can't leave until you get here.
Draco mentally rolled his eyes and began pushing his way through the crowd of people who were spouting out their hatred for the boy. When he got to the front and could finally see Harry, Draco was surprised to find the boy crouched down in a shadowed corner staring at two people in particular with a dead expression. Draco looked closer and realized with a gasp that he was looking at James and Lily Potter, Harry's parents. And his mother was being vicious.
"Had I known what would come from sacrificing myself for you, I would have stepped aside and let that curse have you. I hope you don't think we're proud of you or that we love you, because we don't. We could never love someone like you."
Lily Potter said all this in a natural calm voice that was very believable and even Draco would have started to believe her words if he hadn't seen what was behind her eyes; there was simply nothing there. She wasn't real, and what she was saying meant nothing.
"Potter?"
Harry's eyes snapped away from his parents and he breathed a mental sigh of relief when he spotted Draco. Voldemort's not here. After he… well after you were gone, I was able to build up my Occlumancy shields again. Don't know why I didn't do that before. Anyway, he can't get in anymore. But he was able to leave this little party for me before he had to go.
"How nice of him."
Hmm.
"You are stuck in that position?"
Yes. So if you could hurry up and do Finite, it would be appreciated.
"How am I supposed to do that? I don't have my wand, remember," Draco said, sneering in disdain at the Potters and all the others in the large group throwing negative words towards them. Harry was pleasantly surprised to not be the one receiving the look of death from Draco.
You have your wand now. Look.
"How in Hades did you manage to get my wand to come through with me, yet you can't get out of a simple spell?"
Not in the mood to talk about anything right now, okay Malfoy? Just release the spell. I want to get out of here.
Draco nodded and found his wand tucked into the waistband of his pajamas. How the hell had he missed it before? He quickly undid the spell on Harry and was more than a little surprised and wary when all it took to undo a spell done by the Dark Lord was a simple Finite Incantatum.
"Right. Now that we've got you moving, care to enlighten me as to how we are going to get out of here." Draco leaned down and grasped Harry's arm to help him stand. Neither of them cared to notice when Draco did not let go of Harry's elbow after he was on his feet. "The only reason why I woke up last time was because that medieval psychopath tried to kill me." He felt Harry stiffen beside him.
"Err…I'm going to be honest with you, and I don't really care how you take it, but that affected me." Harry stared at the ground while he spoke, rubbing the back of his neck in an obvious nervous gesture. "It was painful and I nearly lost it. It's unexplainable, but that's how it was. I just wanted to let you know."
Draco was surprised at the honest confession, but only a little because Harry had always been easy to read. It was something that always attracted Draco to the brunet. The way his face revealed his every emotion and right now he looked very much confused. It was cute the way his brow was wrinkled in perplexed lines, and his eyes were wide open as if looking for the answer. He looked down at Harry and nearly smiled. He quite liked the fact that he was taller than him. It made him feel like the protector, the one to be leaned on. And Harry needed someone- Draco- to take care of him while he took care of the fate of the Wizarding World. Two faced idiots that they were.
He didn't say any of that however, and only nodded, telling Harry that he understood.
"I don't know what's going on here," Harry stated, silently indicating the strange connection they seemed to share.
"Neither do I. But I think I know who does."
"Good. We can deal with that when the time comes."
Harry was back to looking like the assured Gryffindor that he'd always been, but Draco was worried. Harry hadn't once looked back to the group of figments still belting out curses since he'd laid eyes on Draco, but he knew Harry could hear them, sure he was listening, and probably storing everything away. He was sure that sooner or later, it would crack through Harry's shields, and when it happened it wouldn't be a pleasant episode. Draco promised himself then and there that he wouldn't allow Harry to go through that alone. Draco would be there and he would surround Harry by people who loved him, who were completely loyal to him. And maybe he'd have some new friends as well. He still needed help getting Pansy, Blaise, Theo, Vince, and Greg out of their situations, and he was pretty sure that Harry would help if asked. All Draco would need to do was prove to Harry that the other Slytherins wanted to fight alongside Harry just as he did.
"Now it's time to go, so do whatever it is you need to do to get us out of here."
Harry had managed to get them out of there faster than either of them could really explain, but the transfer from Harry's mind back into his body was not painless. When he felt himself realign with his body, there was an explosion of voices and bright needling light, which spiraled around squeezing his head in vice like agony. And by the groans coming from the body below him, he suspected Harry was feeling the same way. Harry's raspy, "bloody hell," confirmed it.
"For the love of Merlin, will everybody shut up and put out the lights!" Draco cried out as he backed away from Harry's bed.
"Yes, he's quite right. Everybody out now." Madam Pomfrey said, waving her arms in a sweeping motion, herding the visitors towards the door while Severus helped Draco to his own bed. "Headmaster, I shall inform you when I have finished their exams."
"Very good, Poppy," the headmaster quipped before closing the door behind himself and Severus as they left.
Madam Pomfrey turned to her charges and stood at the end between the two beds, scrutinizing the boys closely. Both were frowning and staring at the ceiling, but with two different looks on their faces. Harry, the poor dear, was staring straight up with wide terrified eyes; there was a world of hurt and need in those expressive green eyes, begging for reassurance. Draco's frown was colder, more controlled on his face. She couldn't get what was going on inside his head; even his eyes were cold silver walls.
"Now then, how do you feel, Mr. Potter?" she asked, moving to his side and started to run her wand over his slight body.
"I'm fine, Madam Pomfrey. Just a bit of a headache. It'll be gone in a moment, so there's nothing for you to be worried about."
"Don't be ridiculous, Mr. Potter! You have much more than a headache, I'm sure. You sustained serious bodily damage yesterday and then put yourself into a magically induced coma."
"I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble," Harry whispered. The mediwitch could only stare, astonished at his tone. Where was the bright eyed, spirited young man she'd seen last term?
"Oh Harry, you could never cause me too much trouble, dear." She softly brushed the fringe of black hair away from his surprised eyes. "I'll bet you're tired, aren't you?" she nodded her head, answering for him and picked up a vial of potion from the tray on the table beside the bed. "Here now. Dreamless Sleep Potion. You'll get a full rest."
"Are you sure he should be going back to sleep so soon? He only just woke up."
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Malfoy, but I assure you I know what I'm doing."
"Thanks," Harry muttered after she held out the vial to him. "I could do with some undisturbed sleep." He tossed back to contents of the vial and grimaced as it made its way down to his stomach. "That never gets any better."
"And you too, Mr. Malfoy." Pomfrey handed him his vial once she'd finished Draco's tests.
"I don't want to take this. I don't need it," Draco drawled, his nose rising up into the air.
"Mr. Malfoy, I promise I wouldn't give this to you if you really didn't need it. But you do, and therefore you will take it. You both have lost a large amount of energy and sleep will help you recharge."
"Look, this isn't Hogwarts. You can't make me take this." Draco crossed his arms over his chest as if that was all that needed to be said.
Harry would have laughed had he enough energy, because Madam Pomfrey looked on the verge of blasting Malfoy's mouth open with a spell and throwing the potion down his throat. "You're being difficult again, Draco."
Harry had rolled over onto his side and was watching Draco with drooping eyelids, the sleeping draught working already. There was something almost soft, caressing about the way Harry was looking at him and Draco's breath caught in his throat. Without another word, he grabbed the potion from Madam Pomfrey's outstretched hand and drank it down. "I'm never difficult, Po…Harry. It's everyone else around me that is."
It was clear to even Madam Pomfrey that using Harry's first name had been the right thing to do when Harry broke out into a huge sleepy grin. The mediwitch was more surprised to see Draco smile warmly in return before the potion started to overtake him too and he lay back down amongst the sheets and blankets of his bed. Their behavior towards each other was confusing. Especially to someone who was used to seeing the two young men fighting and regarding each other with hate and distain.
"Oh well. Time to report to Albus."
Harry? Can you hear me? Draco thought while trying to fight the potion just for a little longer. He wanted to know if they could still hear each other, still feel each other telepathically, or if it had been some fluke that happened just within the confines of Harry's mind.
Hmmm? Harry's reply was like a soft caress against his tired mind.
Harry, you will promise me right now that you are going to wake up after this.
M'kay. I promise this time…Harry's voice faded as sleep took him. As Draco fell into unconsciousness, he frowned. He hadn't at all been pleased by Harry's reply. But at least there was a reply. And for some reason, Draco was happy that they could still communicate like that. What was his world coming to?
"How are they, Poppy?" Albus Dumbledore asked from his sitting chair near the fire in the library once the mediwitch had shown up to report.
Poppy frowned at him and he was very aware that it had nothing to do with her report on the boys. The others, Minerva, Severus, and Sirius were all listening intently to what the mediwitch had to say. Sirius was sprawled in a chair on the other side of the fire, his dark features splashed in shadows by the light of the fire. Severus sat next to Dumbledore with his elbows on his knees, his chin grasped between his long fingers. And Minerva, bless her, was sitting on the edge of her seat, waiting patiently.
"Mr. Malfoy will be perfectly fine after a couple days rest. Mr. Potter, however, will need to take nutrient potions to help with his malnourished state for weeks to come, and I suggest we make sure he takes the dreamless draught at least three times a week until we are sure he is sleeping properly. He will not heal completely without the proper amount of sleep. Not only does he suffer severe hydration and lack of nutrition, but his mind and body is severely exhausted. I think it's safe to say he hasn't been sleeping well for a very long time," she ended with a dark tone at the end.
"I will see to it that you receive a fresh batch of nutrient potions first thing in the morning, Poppy."
Sirius was more surprised than anyone at Snape's cooperation. Since when did the snarky Potion's Master hurry to do anything helpful for Harry? Or anyone for that matter?
"Headmaster? What are we going to do about Potter's home situation?" Minerva asked, sitting forward in her chair. "I hate to say this, Albus, but I told you so. I told you Potter's remaining family was the worst sort of muggles imaginable."
"I know, Minerva. But at the time, there was no other choice. He had to be protected…"
"Protected? PROTECTED?" Sirius bounced from his seat and pointed a trembling finger at the somber older wizard. "Is that what you call what's happened to him? How could you condone the action of sending him back year after year? Was it that you were unaware of what was going on? I find that hard to believe."
"I was not aware that the abuse was so volatile."
"But you were aware that there was abuse of some kind?" Poppy exclaimed, utterly shocked.
"And he never said anything?" Severus asked skeptically.
"I remember him bringing the subject of his family and home up once. He wanted to know if there wasn't somewhere else he could go during the summer holidays. He said he and his family didn't really get along…" a snort that suspiciously came from the direction of Sirius Black interrupted him. "Harry said the Dursleys hated him and the only time they weren't showing him how much hate consumed them was when asleep. I didn't believe him, of course. Not to that extent. He was only embellishing on the truth. I understood he was only saying these things because he was going through a normal teenage phase and was letting his imagination get the best of him."
"Did you just say his imagination?" barked Sirius, eyeing Dumbledore incredulously just as the others were doing.
"Albus," Minerva whispered, staring at him in disbelief.
"Headmaster, you sent Potter back to that torment time and again because you thought the boy was making it all up? You know better than anyone how I despised Potter, but I can honestly say I've never known him to lie outrageously like that." The others nodded with support for Severus' thought. "I would have at least looked into his accusations to find the truth of the matter!"
"There was no reason to suspect the Dursleys were doing anything more than being overzealous with Harry's chore list."
"At least you could have checked up on him."
"I did not feel it was necessary."
"This is insane! You are insane!" Sirius yelled out, his hands darted up to pull at his shaggy black hair. "The entire time, you knew! He told you, asked you for help, and you didn't so much as lift a finger! He asked you for help!"
"Sirius, you need to calm down now," Minerva urged, though she too was feeling a little betrayed by Dumbledore's lack of action regarding Harry.
"No! No, I will not calm down! This is not something that will go away, that I'll forgive and forget. Just like I'll never forget I was left to rot in Azkaban an innocent man!" Sirius turned to glare into the fire. "From here on out, the only person I'm loyal to is my godson."
"You must be reasonable, Sirius…"
"No," the Animagus growled. "I'm tired of your manipulations. They never seem to work out how you plan them, Headmaster. You are always willing to sacrifice people we love for the Greater Good. I'm not going to do it anymore. Harry is the only family I have left, and I let him down, just like everyone has let him down. I'm going to spend the rest of my life making up for it. You and the Order will have to go on without me." He threw one more cold look at Dumbledore, ignored the rest, and strode out of the room.
Sirius was silent all the way up to Harry's room. He conjured a chair and sat down beside the bed, but he couldn't seem to look at Harry, so instead kept his eyes on the floor. He was swamped by the pain of guilt, for letting down James and Lily, and especially Harry. "I swear to you I will never again allow Dumbledore to send you anywhere you don't want to go, pup."
Sirius looked up then, but instead of Harry, he focused on the little Malfoy. He was sleeping on his back, his blond hair fell over his closed eyes and cheek, his face was to the side as if he had fallen asleep looking at Harry. It was surprising to see a faint smile on the normally sneering lips. Sirius gathered his courage and looked down at his godson. He choked back a sob when he saw Harry was facing little Malfoy, and there was a smile on his face as well. Anything to bring a smile onto Harry's face was a godsend to Sirius. He hadn't seen Harry really smile in months.
"You've surprised me, Black. I must admit to it being a pleasant surprise," Severus' voice penetrated the quiet as he glided to stand beside Malfoy's bed.
"I really don't care what you think right now, Snape. But I meant what I said. The only side I'm on is his side," Sirius said, nodding to Harry. "And Dumbledore is not on Harry's side. Surely after all this time, you've felt there wasn't something right with him, Snape?"
Severus raised his wand to first conjure himself a chair and once that was done he cast a silencing charm on the room before casting a bubble of silence around himself, the two beds and Black. Sirius, for his part, watched all this with a raised eyebrow.
"I'll assume you realize this will be an important conversation," Snape said slowly, his onyx eyes staring coldly into Sirius' surprised blue eyes. "Surely I don't have to make myself clear to you."
Sirius sat back in his chair, trying to absorb the shock and shut it away. He understood what Snape was saying, and he wasn't sure he wanted to have this conversation. But…he was truthful when he proclaimed his allegiance with Harry and that meant he went where Harry went, and knowing his godson, it would probably be well far away from Dumbledore when he had the strength for it. And lately he'd been sure that Snape wasn't just playing for Dumbledore's side anymore. It would be good information to know what was going on with everyone. And it couldn't hurt to hear what old Snivellus had to say. So he sat forward in the chair and gave Snape a sharp nod.
"Right then. We are only having this discussion to protect our godsons. I only want what is best for Draco, and Draco feels that Harry Potter's allegiance is what is best. However, my godson is still a pureblood and a Dark wizard. And like most Dark wizards, he still believes in certain ideals; ideals, I'm sure, that you still believe in, even if you are a Gryffindor."
"Let's just leave the school houses out of this, Snape. It will only complicate matters."
"This is true. How very astute of you to have recognized that."
"Watch it, Snivellus. Anyway, yes I still do believe in some things as others do. But the man you know is going about it the wrong way; the insane way. He's obsessed by his plans to kill Harry."
"Perhaps this wizard I know has seen the error of his ways. Perhaps he has made some changes in his organization. What would you say then?"
"I would say that it doesn't matter," Sirius growled. "That wizard just tried to kill Harry, and he tried to do that by killing Draco Malfoy, whom you just said you only wanted what was best for him. Why are you trying to talk to me about You-Know-Who?"
"He's made a grave error, he's come to terms with that and plans to change things. However, he still hasn't completely formed these new plans of his yet. I never liked Potter, but I know his power rivals that of Dumbledore and Voldemort, and the Dark Lord knows this. He can't go anywhere if Potter is in the way. But if Potter were to back Voldemort's new plans, then his life wouldn't be the first thing Voldemort thinks about taking."
Severus sat back and watched as Black tried to work through everything he had told him. He could see distrust was weighing heavily on his decision. "It is right that you should not trust me," Sirius snorted at that. "But you don't have to take my word for it. There are always ways of discovering the truth for yourself."
Sirius started to nod. "I can't make any decisions until I've spoken to Harry. We all know how much he hates Voldemort for what he did to his parents, what happened to me, how his life has turned out…I don't think he'll ever switch sides like that."
"He may when I tell him what Dumbledore has been doing. I've come across some interesting pensive memories… Dumbledore has done far more damage than anything the Dark Lord could have done."
"Tell me."
"No. I will discuss this with you only when Potter is ready to hear it. Also I wanted to discuss this with the werewolf as well."
"Moony?" Sirius perked up. "Why would you even ask for Remus? I thought you couldn't stand the sight of him."
"We came to an understanding not long ago. And since he's far more intelligent than you are, it would be prudent to have him on our side."
"Whoa, Snape. There is no our side. Not now. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Understand?"
Severus waved his wand, breaking the silent bubble around them. "We'll speak again when the boys have woken," he said and then stood and walked out of the room.