Wow, super OOC Snape in that last chapter. I feel like I didn't do a good enough job justifying why there is such a big change in the way he now views Harry. Know that yes, he did hate Harry, but after seeing the abuse he realized he was very wrong… yeah… anyways have fun with some fluff kidlets.

Danielle: I had put this on the back burner because I have been working on other things, but when an author receives a review like this how could they say 'no!... You have to wait!', so just for you here is a new chapter!

Chapter 9

Talk It Out

Snape woke up the next morning to Draco lightly shaking his shoulder. He blinked slowly as his eyes adjusted to the light streaming in through the window next to his bed. Finally he turned his head to look at Draco. "Harry's awake and ready to talk or listen depending on whatever you need from him." Snape nodded. He sat up and swung his long legs over the edge of the bed. With a groan he stood up on stiff aching legs. It had been a very long last few days.

"How is he?"Snape rumbled as he stretched his arms above his head.

"He's okay, just really… well he's not very confident with himself. And if you move to quickly he flinches like you're going to hit him any second… he's just broken… He needs help being repaired but I don't know if he knows he can fully trust us or not. It's hard…" Snape nodded.

"I understand that, but from what I saw of you two last night when I came back he seems to at least trust you. He held your hand the entire night as you slept am I correct?"

Draco blushed lightly. "Yes, the entire night, we woke up with our hands still together… he asked me to stay with him and who was I deny him anything after what he's been through?" He was trying to justify his actions to Snape which amused the man to no end.

"You don't have to defend yourself to me Draco, I understand, Harry needed that, it was very kind of you to do that for him…but don't get to mad with me when I tell you that you too had a little smile on your own face as you slept curled around him." Snape smirked as his godsons face turned even darker red.

"That information does not leave these rooms do you understand?" Severus laughed at his godson's flustered face.

"Who am I going to tell, and even if I did, even coming from me the story would sound much too farfetched! 'Did you know that Draco slept curled around the boy-who-lived as he slept after being beaten by his own aunt and uncle!' no one would believe it Draco… I still have a hard time wrapping my own mind around it and I've seen firsthand what they did to him!" Draco huffed but nodded satisfied with that answer.

With that understood he turned on his heel and marched back through the connecting doors down to Harry's rooms. He pushed the door open with a flourish. Snape followed close behind. Harry was sitting on the bed with a tray on his lap. He was eating a bowl of fruit and a piece of toast with some sort of jam spread lightly over it. He looked up at them as they entered.

A shy delicate smile spread over his lips as he saw them. "Hello" he mumbled as his slid the toast into his mouth taking a tiny nibble of it. Snape nodded in response, before striding into the room and seating himself in the chair next to the bed. Draco slid onto the bed next to Harry where he had slept.

Harry stared down at his food, trying not to make eye contact. Snape started hesitantly not wanting to scare harry. "I spoke with Dumbledore last night. Unfortunately I found things I wish I hadn't. Dumbledore is not the man I believed he was and because of that I am starting to believe I must take matters into my own hands." He sighed and rubbed his temples with his long fingers. Harry's eyes finally looking up at his face as he did so.

"What did he tell you?" Harry asked in a tentative voice.

With another sigh, "I told him a half truth that Draco had said he had seen you and that you looked 'worse than usual' which at the time would have made anyone curious coming from Draco. Worry about you on any degree is not something anyone would have taken lightly five days ago. He then asked if I should check on you… he tried to assure me you were fine and that no harm was coming to you, you were well taken care of with them."Harry snorted.

"Oh yeah, especially if well taken care of means daily beatings and no food… yeah really good care!" The sudden anger and sarcasm surprised the two Slytherin's. But in a good way?

"Yes, well, his unwillingness to help you means we are on our own. But I have plans forming… it will require help from some of the order members… but only the ones more faithful to you then to Dumbledore."

Harry nodded stiffly… he wasn't sure if there were any order members more faithful to him then Dumbledore. That didn't really seem like a possibility.

"I must also tell you of the rules to staying here, you most likely won't like them much but they are easy to follow. Basically don't leave the room or talk above your normal voice. I had the elves modify the wards just enough so that you won't alert my father to your presences unless you leave this room. It's the best I can do, but as long as you stay in here you'll be safe." Draco gave him a sorry smile form the tough situation. "Betty!" Draco called out.

"Yes little master Draco sir?" Draco smiled down at the house elf.

"This is Harry, the one I spoke to you about a few days ago." She nodded and walked around the bed to Harry. She bowed until her nose met the carpet.

"Hello Mister Harry sir. I will be taking cares of you while you be staying here. Anything yous will be wanting I can gets for you." Harry smiled at her and nodded.

"Thank you Betty, I will be sure to remember that."

The elf eeped and blushed at Harry's kindness with another bow she scampered back around to Draco. "Is there anything else yous be wanting master Draco sir?" Draco shook his head no and so with a little pop she disappeared.

"She is my personal house elf so she answers only to me if I tell her not to do something she can't do it not even if my father asks. I told her to keep you a secret and to bring anything you ask for since you can't really leave the rooms.

Harry shrugged. "Anything is better than the Dursley's. Maybe as long as I have a book… or one of you to talk to? I'd ask for my summer work but I already finished it." Snape looked surprised and didn't try and hide it he snorted.

"Since when do you finish summer assignments?"

"I finished them as because I had them, I wasn't sure when or if my uncle was going to take away my school things so I did it while I still could. Usually he locks it in the cupboard under the stairs so I can't get to it." Snape stared at him with disbelief.

"Well I'm sure Draco can go find you some books… or even Betty can." Snape paused, the look in Harry's eyes, gratitude for all they were doing for him shone brightly. "Yes, and I will look over your summer work and check for errors or plain Gryffindor stupidity."

Harry smirked at the Potions Master before nodding. "That would be nice Severus. Maybe my potions essay will finally be up to your standards this year." He smirked again as he met Snape's eyes.

Snape couldn't help but smirk back. His eyes swept over to Draco, "perhaps Harry can help you complete yours since I am almost positive you lied to your father when you told him you had already completed all of your assignments." Draco had the decency to blush.

He cleared his throat before choosing to respond. "Yes Harry, it would be most welcome if you were to help me with some of my essays, especially DADA since that is your biggest strength anyways." Harry gave Draco a little smile at the very poorly concealed compliment.

"I would love to Draco." Harry smiled sweetly and Draco couldn't even muster up the fake sarcasm to roll his eyes.

Finally though the moment was broken as Harry remembered something. "What am I supposed to do about the Weasley's? They expect to be able to pick me up in just a few days… but with all that's happened I don't really know what is supposed to be okay or not." In truth Harry wasn't really sure he wanted to leave the surprisingly pleasurable company of Snape or Draco. And he wasn't a fool; he knew opportunity when he saw it. He could learn a lot about Voldemort from Snape especially now that he knew Snape was really on his side. And frankly he couldn't bring himself to regret having Draco as company. When Harry had felt the most down on himself Draco had been there, had offered refuge from a home he could never think of as home. They had saved him and now he was expected to leave.

He loved the Weasley's, which was true, they were his first real taste of true family, but he had opportunities here, more than friendship. There was something here that he could almost see but not quiet feel yet, but he desperately wanted to.

Snape sighed dejectedly. Unfortunately you will have to go with them. I set up a little trick I supposed you would call it to make it appear you are still with those horrid muggles, but because of that Dumbledore also assumes you are there waiting for rescue from the Weasley's and they will come to the rescue as soon as they can I am sure. I can think of no plausible excuse that you could use to stop that. It would seem suspicious if you suddenly no longer wished to see your friends." Harry nodded that made sense. He just wished it didn't.

"So when Ron sends me a letter I have to go with him to the Burrow?" Snape nodded slowly.

"Yes that would be best. And for now it will keep Dumbledore happily oblivious. This of course is what we want. Harry sighed again.

Snape and Draco could tell Harry wanted to say something… be able to stay, but they couldn't exactly figure out why yet. "When you get back to school Harry things are going to be different. I'm going to make sure of that. Dumbledore is keeping things from you that he shouldn't and I'm going to make sure that you're prepared to face them, because unlike that old fool I know you can handle the information and use it to your advantage. I'm sure you must feel so in the dark most of the time with that crazy coot as your mentor… but I'm a Slytherin and this is my greatest strength… plotting, and I assure you, I will help you succeed from here on out."

Harry felt relief flood his whole body and Draco and Snape could see his body relax against the pillows. "I've been waiting so long to hear someone tell me that. I've lost too many people because I was kept in the dark, because everyone believed I was too young to understand. But they don't understand… after a life like mine I understand hard truths more than anything else." There was a sad silence before Draco reached over and grabbed Harry's hand. He kissed the knuckles before placing in back on the bed and resting his hand over it lightly.

"We are with you Harry, no more of the backstabbing, no more lies, no more desertment. I can't guarantee it will be any easier… in fact it might be harder being friends with two Slytherin's… but know that we are here for you from now on. If Weasley decides to hate you again, if Granger is being too much of a pushy busy-body, if Dumbledore tries to manipulate you, if The Dark Lord decides to try and kill you again. This time… we are here for you. No matter what we believe in you."

They all held their breath as the words sank in. Harry nodded his understanding. "My week is up in two days, and I'll get a letter from Ron the day after telling me when he's going to pick me up. So Draco you might want to use my Defense knowledge while you have it." Draco gave Harry a tiny smile as he squeezed Harry's hand lightly. He got up from the bed and walked out of the room to his own where Harry assumed he kept his school work. "Severus, where did you put my trunk? I'll need if I want you to read over my essays." He smiled at the usually snarky man as Severus stood up and walked over to the corner of the room and flipped open the lid.

Severus rifled through the contents for a few moments before pulling out a pile of scrolls. He held them up, silently asking if they were the correct scrolls. When he received the nod from Harry he tucked them under his arm and went back to his previous seat. He made himself comfortable and then drew out his wand, with a flick of his wrist a jar of red ink and a quill flew through the door, followed by Draco carrying a scroll of his own.

They spent the rest of the afternoon going over homework and discussing theories… and for the first time in a long time Harry could forget that he wasn't a hero he was boy helping a friend with homework as a godfather like figure helped him with his own work.

Filler mostly, plot mover…. Whatevers! Sorry more action in the next chapter which I hope to update next week. I have it planned out so it will be good I'm hoping!