*

"Draco...Pansy owled, she wants to know who to put on the guest list." Severus peeked into Draco's office and sighed when he noticed how morose the blonde looked.

"What guest list?" Draco asked after a moment, sounding distracted.

"For the nineteenth?" He could have chuckled when Draco didn't recognize the date…But after so many months of Draco's depressed and distracted mood, it just wasn't that funny that his lover didn't even recognize his own birthday.

Draco gave him a blank look and he scowled, "December nineteenth, your bloody birthday party!"

"Oh right of course." Draco blinked in wry amusement, "Do we have too? I mean honestly I don't want a big party."

With a sigh, Severus stepped fully into the office and walked over to the desk. He pointedly grabbed the folder in front of Draco and moved it away. "Hey! I'm working here!" Draco looked at him in surprise.

"Yes I know! It's all you ever do anymore!" Severus added sarcastically.

Finally an emotion spread across Draco's face, "What do you mean? I do not work all the time!"

Severus rolled his eyes, "When I get up, you're gone, when I come home, you're in here. Even on your days off Draco. It's all you ever do anymore!"

"I've been busy Severus! This job is…a lot of responsibility! Every other branch in the Ministry has to come to me and I have to take every claim and request seriously!"

"Draco I've talked to your secretary. Even she's said that you're taking on more cases than necessary." He lowered his voice, and made his tone calmer.

Silver eyes bored into his and Draco tipped his head to the side, "Why are you making a big deal out of this Severus. It's not affecting our…Relationship."

"It is and you know it is Draco. Half the time you're working and the other half you're depressed and distant. And bloody hell you don't even remember your own birthday!" he leaned down and laid his palms on Draco's neck, "I'm worried about you…What's going on?"

"I'm just…A little out of it. You aren't exactly yourself either Severus! So why don't you tell me what's wrong. Maybe we'll find a similarity!" Draco's voice was tight.

Blinking Severus pulled back. He knew Draco's words were true. He hadn't been himself, he had been depressed. He had thought that he was hiding it well enough but apparently Draco had seen what was going on with him, just as he'd seen his own lover's mood changes. The abrupt loss of Harry from their lives was apparently not as easy to get rid of as the both of them had thought. It was like Draco had often said. It was like missing a huge piece of their hearts.

"You see…" Draco raised his eyebrow at him and nodded, "We both have issues."

"We can't let this ruin us Draco! I want to be with you and I need you back." He sounded desperate and upset and hated the emotion in his voice.

"I'm sorry…I-I want to fix this and I want to be normal! But I don't know how Severus." Draco whimpered and shook his head. He laid his head on Severus's upper legs and sighed.

"I know Draco. Don't worry. I'm not going to leave you. I just want you back…" his long fingers ran through the silky blonde hair and adored finally being able to touch Draco so affectionately.

Severus watched Draco lift his head and blink up into his eyes, "Me too, Severus."

He pushed a kiss to Draco's forehead and sat straight up, lightly pushing him back, "I need to go out, promise me that you'll be done with work by the time I'm home."

Draco hesitated but nodded, "I will."

"Good. I'll be back." Severus smiled and kissed him lightly.

He got off the desk and walked out of the room, sighing when he heard Draco's long morose sigh. He grabbed his wand and twirled, Apparating to Pansy's flat. She jumped her hand over her heart and scowled at him, "Merlin Severus!"

He tried not to smirk and shrugged, "I told you what time I would be here."

"Why isn't Draco here?" She asked after scowling at him for a long moment.

Shaking his head, Severus sighed, "Why do you think?"

An incredulous look crossed her face and she frowned, "It's been months and he's still moping over Potter?"

Trying not to scowl at the stupid, little women and failed immensely. He enjoyed how she cringed at his look and said, "he's not moping Parkinson. He lost someone he had feelings for. How would you feel if that happened to you?"

Pansy studied him seriously, "He really loved Potter?"

"Yes he does."

She moved her purse off her couch and sat heavily, "I didn't know that when I said…"

"When you said what?"

"It was few months ago…he came over asking for me to talk to Potter, to convince him to be with you both. I-I didn't believe him, I thought he just wanted to have sex with him…And I refused I told him to get over having his conquest with Harry. I told him that he didn't really love Harry, and that Harry must have figured it out as well." She peeked up at him and flinched at his stone cold glare. "I didn't know Severus…I just thought it was just one of Draco's games."

Completely still, the anger was burning up in Severus's veins. Stupid little girl! How could she judge Draco so callously and still claim to be his friend. He remembered the lonely and hurt look that Draco had been wearing when he'd come back from Pansy's and know he understood why he had looked like that. His best friend had hurt him cruelly. Sparks flew out of his wand, which was tucked in his pocket and Pansy squeaked frightfully.

Taking a deep breath, Severus narrowed his eyes, "How dare you tell him that! Don't you know him at all? How could you claim to be his friend at all you ignorant woman?"

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't imagine Draco loving Potter. I mean its Potter. You both hated him so much when we were in school, and Draco seemed so stressed out and frustrated by Potter rejecting you both. I just wanted him to let it go and be happy." Pansy sighed and shook her head, "If I had known he was serious than I would have done what he wanted."

"It's too late for that. Harry's been gone for months and…I don't think that he feels the same for us anymore."

"Of course he does you silly, silly man." Pansy wore an amused look and rolled her eyes, "If there is one thing that is consistent about Harry Potter, it's that he wants what he should have, he does what he shouldn't and he loves those that all the evidence concludes that he shouldn't. Like his murder accused god father and that trampy Weasley girl. If you both are feeling so awful about losing him, than Potter with his self induced martyrdom is probably feeling the same if not worse."

Severus cocked his head and studied the girl seriously. She…wasn't wrong. Harry did have the martyrdom. He did make himself feel worse than necessary. Maybe there was a chance that he missed them and was feeling horrible. His stomach tightened at the thought of Harry suffering alone, like he would be, because Harry never would share his pain with anyone. He shook his head and frowned.

"What can we do? He refuses to see us."

Pansy's smile made Severus's eyes widen and he realized why Draco liked her so much. She was completely conniving and sneaky. She stood and sauntered over to her desk pulling out a piece of parchment, saying at the same time, "Yes Severus, he refuses to see 'you'."

Smirking Severus shook his head, "But he won't refuse to see you."

She wrote quickly on the parchment and walked over to her regal eagle owl, "Come here Morgana." The owl blinked her eyes and hooted as she flew onto Pansy's outstretched arm. Pansy tied the parchment onto the owl's leg and walked over to the window, pushing it open. "Take this as fast as you can to Harry Potter."

Morgana hooted and soared out into the air. Pansy turned back to Severus, smirking, her eyes bright with sneakiness. "She'll find him and I requested to a private meeting with him, anonymously of course."

Admiring the girl's cunning, Severus smiled, "Well done Pansy, he won't turn someone down when he thinks they might need his help."

"Exactly." Pansy grinned and sat back down on the couch, "There now, now we can concentrate on Draco's birthday party."

Chuckling Severus moved to sit in the seat across from Pansy. If she couldn't convince Harry that he should be with them, then no one could.

*

"Harry I am not going to allow you to stay in this house any longer. You've been 'hiding' for ages!"

Trying not to roll his eyes at Hermione's dramatics, Harry sat up in his seat, "Hermione I have not been 'hiding'! I've been working!" When she gave him a doubting look, Harry waved the piece of parchment in front of her, "See I've got a meeting today."

Snatching the parchment out of his hand, Hermione read it, her eyes moving quickly over the writing. He'd gotten the letter, requesting an urgent meeting with him, a few days ago. It was anonymous but the writer had seemed very desperate to meet with him. He couldn't turn the stranger down, especially if they could be in danger or some sort of trouble.

"Who is this from?" Hermione asked looking up her eyes flashing with suspicion.

"What? I don't know. But they need my help."

Hermione didn't hesitate to roll her eyes, she muttered something about his, 'saving people thing', and sighed, "Harry, you are far too trusting."

"What do you mean? No one's out to hurt me anymore, it's been years since I killed Voldemort!"

Rolling her eyes again, Hermione sighed, "Fine have your meeting Harry. But I'm staying too."

"Okay you can stay. But I want you to stay in the kitchen, I wouldn't want to offend this person or make them think that I'm willing to invade their privacy."

Hermione agreed and they talked for awhile, just until a knock came at the door. Harry made sure that Hermione was tucked away into kitchen and then stepped over to the front door, smoothing down his unruly hair. He opened the door and relaxed when he saw a women's small frame, hidden under a long clock like coat, the hood covering her face from view.

"Er…Come in." Harry stepped back and let the woman into his house. Once she was in he shuffled uncomfortably, "You sent the letter?"

The women reached up with pale, manicure hands and pulled back her hood, revealing a pinched, satisfied face that even he could remember. Harry stumbled back, and gasped, "You! What are you doing here Parkinson?"

Pansy smirked at him, "I'm sure you could figure it out Potter."

"Still? They haven't given up yet?" Despite his annoyed tone, Harry got an odd thrill at hearing that the two Slytherin's were still interested in him.

"Yes still." Pansy rolled her eyes, reminding him of Hermione for a fleeting moment.

He watched her look around his house, with critical eyes and walked into the living room, sitting heavily on the couch, "Okay well now what? Now you're their little messenger girl?"

The female slytherin sneered at him as she wiped the imaginary germs off a chair and sat lightly in it. "No I am not their 'little messenger girl' Potter. I happened to er…Hurt Draco's feelings and owed him a favor."

Wincing at the thought of her hurting Dra…Malfoy's feelings, Harry frowned, "Well get on with it. Tell me how they miss me and want me to forgive them. How they want me in a relationship and not just to screw me. That is their message isn't it?"

Wearing a bored expression, Pansy raised an eyebrow at him, "Are you quite finished Potter?"

Scowling, Harry grudgingly nodded, "Yes."

"Excellent. Now listen and try not to interrupt." She settled further into her chair and gazed at him seriously, "You cared about Severus and Draco, yes?" Harry nodded slowly and she shook her head, "Then why haven't you noticed how Draco is so exhausted and depressed looking? Or how Severus is moodier and has this sad little wrinkle in his forehead all the time?"

Harry couldn't seem to drag his eyes away from Pansy's dead serious and slightly angry blue ones. She carried on, "You haven't seen Draco in ages have you? No of course you haven't. He's been holed up in his office and flat, working himself into exhaustion. He refuses to stop, because if he does he'll just think of you and get even more depressed."

She shook her head, "He couldn't even remember his own birthday for merlin's sake. Severus is so worried about him, so stressed that he won't allow himself to relax. And if you have ever seen Severus mope, you know how awful it is."

"You should see the dead looks in their eyes. It's like they've lost part of themselves and can't seem to function without it." Concern flashing across her face made Harry blink in surprise. He didn't think that she could show any other emotion besides a sneer and contempt for anything 'below' her. "It's awful…Seeing them like that."

"I-I don't think that I could believe them."

"Honestly…Neither did I Potter. That's why when Draco came to me, months ago, and begged for me to talk to you. To convince you that their motives weren't deceitful and cruel, that they had genuine feelings for you. I didn't believe him. And I told him so…Rather cruelly not that I think of it. I think I hurt him horribly for telling him that he couldn't have feelings for you. You should have seen his face, it was like I'd hit him or killed his mum." She snorted and shook her head.

Her eyes flashed back up to his and for a long moment, Harry was shocked that she couldn't hear his heart beating so loudly and quickly. She studied him, "They do, by the way, care for you, intensely actually. It's confusing and slightly disturbing that the 'Slytherin Prince and the former Slytherin head of house, have fallen for the Gryffindor, boy who lived. But they have. And nothing I say or do can seem to change their minds. Ugh."

"As much as I don't like it, I won't allow my best friend and his lover to be hurt so horribly. Not without trying at least. And if that meant deceiving you and sneaking over here then that's what I'll do." She nodded and smirked again, "Repeatedly."

Snorting in surprising amusement, Harry pursed his lips, "I'm not saying I believe you…But why 'me'?"

"You think I know?" Pansy snapped, sneering at him, "I've no idea why they would choose you to be their third. But they did and if I even question that I get my head chewed off." She let out a bewildered sigh and stood, "I don't know why they have feelings for you Potter but what I do know is that I've never seen them so depressed, then when you left them."

Harry felt his stomach tighten and stood slowly, "Don't you think I feel horrible too?"

"Of course you do Potter, but only because you're letting yourself feel that way. If you would just listen to and give them a chance, then these last few months wouldn't have been so horrible for the three of you." Pansy shrugged and started buttoning her cloak again.

Walking with her to the door and pulling it open for her, Harry stepped back and rubbed his hair, "So…They're really not doing well?"

Stepping out onto the step and looking up as light snow floated down on to her, Pansy pulled up her hood, "No, they're really not. Oh!" She blinked in realization and dug around in her pocket for a long moment, before pulling out a small, ivory envelope, "You don't have to come, just wanted you to be aware of it."

With another sniff Pansy nodded, "Goodbye Potter."

"Parkinson." Harry smirked as she sneered at him and turned to walk away. The sneer didn't hold the same maliciousness from when they had been schoolmates, instead it held cautious curiosity. It was a little unsettling, and made him want to believe her assurances.

"That…was unexpected."

Harry turned at the sound of Hermione's voice and nodded, "Yeah little bit."

"I think…We should talk about this."

"Hermione it's really not necessary." She'd always been mothering but ever since she became an actual mother she'd been worse than ever.

"Yes it is…Because I think I made a mistake." Her eyes were cast downward and she shuffled back into the living room.

"You Hermione Weasley made a mistake? Impossible!" Harry laughed when she flipped him off and collapsed onto the couch.

Harry sat across from her, "Never expected Pansy Parkinson to come on their behalf."

"Did you believe her?"

Looking away from her, Harry nodded, "I don't know…It could be another trick couldn't it?"

"I don't…I don't think so Harry. Didn't you hear it in her voice? She's just as confused and surprised about them liking you as everyone else is."

Looking up sharply, Harry frowned, "So I'm just supposed to believe her? Hermione you're the one who talked me into realizing who they are!"

With a guilty noise and a flinch, Hermione chuckled weakly, "Yes well that's where might have been wrong."

"I don't know Hermione…"

"Yes you do Harry. It's obvious that your feelings haven't changed for them. And it appears that they haven't gotten over you either. It didn't sound like Parkinson was lying, Harry. Snape and Malfoy are depressed over…losing you." She sounded so bewildered that Harry laughed and she gave him an apologetic look, "That's not how I meant it…You remember the day that Snape came and talked to you, that last time? I saw his expression when you walked away. He looked so distraught and lost, like he didn't know whether or not to chase you down or let you go."

"I think I was wrong, by telling you that they just wanted to lose you. They obviously don't just want a threesome or a one night stand. Snape and Malfoy would have gotten over it if that's what it was." She pushed back her hair and leaned in, "Now don't get mad but…I think that um…They might have actual feelings for you Harry."

Harry took a deep breath and sat completely back, sinking into the couch, "They have feelings for me?"

"I think they might."

"But…Why wouldn't they just tell me that they were together in the beginning?"

"Why didn't you tell Snape that you were seeing Malfoy, or Malfoy that you were seeing Snape, right from the beginning?"

Jumping up, Harry began picking up tea cups and a plate with scones. His mind was simply buzzing. First Hermione was telling him that he should stay away from Dra…Malfoy and Snape that they were just trying to get him into bed. And now after a surprise visit from Pansy Parkinson of all people, she was telling him that they 'did' have feelings for him!

What the hell was he supposed to think?

And why couldn't he just get a simple answer from someone? Just the truth? That would be nice just having facts for once and not having to figure everything out like it was a bloody riddle.

He tossed everything into the sink and scowled when he heard the china breaking. Of course he missed Severus and Draco. But he wasn't about to jump without a parachute. He needed assurances that they weren't messing around with him, trying to humiliate him or something else, equally as cruel.

"Reparo." Hermione said behind him, the dishes in the sink mending themselves in front of his eyes.

"I'm sorry that I got it wrong Harry. I just didn't want you to get hurt. But I don't think they are out to hurt you."

"But I can't know that for sure can I?"

"There's only one way to know for sure Harry." Hermione put a soft hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. "You have to talk to them."

Looking up and out the window, Harry stared out into the night, his heart beating quickly.

*

A/N: Sorry it's taking so long to put up new chaps! Enjoy : )