Authors Note: Thanks again for following etc my story. I'm really happy about it. I hope you will enjoy this chapter too and enjoy watching Draco and Harry finally interact with each other.


Chapter 9

What Harry doesn't know is that around the same time Remus came to talk to him, Severus is also getting a visitor.

Voldemort looks around the small living room he used to be in so often. He and Severus hadn't officially lived together but he had been with his husband most of the time unless he was busy with a death eater meeting, a raid or other important things.

Still, this little house, Severus' house, had become his sanctuary from the war and he misses it dearly. When alone with Severus or later him and their son, he wasn't the dark Lord, he was just himself. Severus had even called him Tom. Insisting that since he refused to call his husband Lord or anything else than his proper name. They had argued about it for a while and Tom had tried to talk him into at least using his second name and sometimes Severus even had, but only when he wanted to be particularly nice for some reason. Usually to thank him for something or when he wanted something from him. But most of the time, he was just Tom.

"What are YOU doing here?" The very same man that used to great him so differently says now, standing in the doorway to his potions lab.

"I want to talk to you." The dark Lord replies.

"I have nothing to say to you." Severus replies and turns again.

Tom just follows him inside unwilling to just give up, "Then don't say anything, just listen." He doesn't get a response so he just walks after him and watches him brew for a moment. His focus completely on the potion. "I miss you, Severus."

"That is your problem, not mine." Severus replies calmly, still focused on the potion.

"I know I don't actually look tempting at the moment." He grumbles. "But if Harry will ever give me the potion, will you forgive me then? Will you come back to me when I look good again?"

"No." Is the simple answer he receives.

"Why not?" Tom asks angered.

"You should know." Severus drawls, "I left you long before your good looks left you. So why should regaining that make a difference?"

"Because back then we had lost more than just each other." He replies, "Why do you think I never came before? I know that I should have protected him better. I thought he'd be safe because of my wards. I thought myself too powerful and underestimated Dumbledore. I thought him dead. I was so sure that he'd died and that I didn't deserve to be forgiven for that ever. But he's back. We've got him back."

"That's where you're wrong." Severus says, placing the potion under a stasis spell and looking at the other man. "We don't have him back. He might have been here but he could hardly bare being around me. He hates being our son. He doesn't even want to believe it because the thought is too terrible for him to accept. And right now, he hates you even more than me. The only chance I have of ever getting him to open up to me a little to at least earn his trust is by staying as far from you as I can."

Tom stares at him for a moment. "And if I can make him care about me?"

"There is no way for you to do that." Severus sighs. "And you have only yourself to blame for it. I told you not to attack any child his age. I told you he might be alive and hidden as someone else. I told you that you could kill your own son if you did. But did you ever listen to me? No, you went and killed people wherever you went. Not caring about anything but your own anger. You tried to kill my son. He had started to care about Cedric as a friend. Do you even remember who that is?"

"The second boy in the graveyard." Tom replies gloomily.

"The boy you ordered to be killed right in front of our son, who cared about him." Severus replies. "You, my Lord, won't ever be able to make up for that." Severus sees the wince the other man makes when being addressed as my Lord in this house and by his own husband. "Harry will never be able to accept Lord Voldemort as his father."

"What if he does?" Tom asks, unwilling to just give up. "What if I can talk him into giving me a chance?"

"He won't." Severus insists.

"You can't know that." Tom nearly shouts. "Just answer my question. Will you give me another chance if our son accepts me? If it won't cause you any risk of a father son relation ship, will you give me a chance?"

"I don't know." Severus replies. "You could have killed my son." Severus looks right into the red eyes of the face that once upon a time had been beautiful and belongs to a man he used to love and not only for that beauty. "I don't know if I can forgive that."

Tom walks closer to his husband and tries to place a hand on the other mans cheek, only to have Severus turn his face and look away to avoid the touch. He is about to let it drop but half way down he grabs the mans robe and pulls him closer and uses his other hand to force Severus to look back at him before he says, "I don't care what it takes but I will get you back and I will get our son back. I will not give up on either of you again."

"Let me go." Severus orders angrily, trying to cover up what he truly feels in that moment. He used to love the possessiveness and the strength in his husbands voice. It used to arouse him every time the other man was in that mood. Even now, looking the way he does, Severus still feels drawn towards him.

Tom lets go of him and Severus isn't sure if he's relieved or saddened by that fact. "I know you still care for me, Severus. And you will be mine again." With that the powerful man leaves the potions lab and floos back to where he came from.

While Severus is trying to calm his beating heart, Lord Voldemort already amplifies his voice wandlessly and silently before letting his voice boom through the mansion. "Lucius, get your son to me NOW!"

Lucius scrambles to find his son who in turn ran to look for his father. Once the two have managed to find each other without running into the clearly upset dark Lord, Lucius asks, "What did you do?"

"That's just what I wanted to ask you, I didn't do anything." Draco replies scared.

"You must have done something because I didn't." Lucius says dragging his son towards the dark Lord. "But whatever it is, don't talk unless he asks you a direct question and try to stay a little behind me, so I can cover you quickly should I need to and in case he truly gets murderous you'll run to Severus, do you understand?"

"What about you and mother?" He asks still scared.

"We'll be fine, just make sure to get the hell out of it if this is too much to deal with." Lucius orders.

After receiving one final nod from his son Lucius walks into the room the dark Lord is usually occupying these days and kneels in front of him. Draco follows his example a little further away. "Draco." The dark Lord's voice is still raised but at least not magically. "School is starting soon and I have a very important mission. You can't fail, do you understand?"

"Yes, my Lord." Draco quickly replies to the question but doesn't dare to ask what mission it could be.

"Get Harry Potter to talk to me." The dark Lord orders and Draco pales and glances towards his father. "Is there a problem?" The dark Lord asks seeing that reaction and sounds threateningly.

"No, my Lord. I will do as ordered." Draco says still looking scared, "I'm just not sure, how yet. But I'll think of something."

"Annoy him until he sees no other way to get rid of you than to do as I want. Make him talk to me." The dark Lord suggests.

Draco grins a little, feeling much better about the mission all of a sudden. He might even get to enjoy himself a little while he's at it. "I'm sure I can manage that, my Lord."

"You'd better." The dark Lord grumbles. "Now get out of here, both of you."

Both Malfoys scramble to get out of the room, glad to be out without a single curse thrown their way.

Harry is happy when soon after Remus' visit he and his friends, together with Hermione and the Weasleys, are going to Diagon Alley to shop for their school supplies. Remus is also with them for added protection. Harry is just happy that Mad Eye isn't around. By now Harry knows that Hercules is as insulting towards him as he is with Sirius. Hercules is with him, having refused to be left behind.

Everyone had tried to talk Harry into leaving the snake behind with force if it has to be. They claimed that it would be really bad if the press saw him with that huge snake curled around his body but he insisted that Hercules is protecting him and that he won't hurt the snake just because he worries. He also had insisted that it's no point in changing who he is, since people are going to bad talk him as long as they want to anyway. Might as well go down with a bang as he called it.

In the end he had won and now everyone is staring at him and whispering around him, pointing towards the boy with the huge snake around him. They cautioned him to avoid talking to Hercules but Harry already had decided to decide that depending on the situation.

They are in Flourish and Blotts looking for their books and Remus is constantly standing right next to Harry when Hercules starts to hiss something for the first time. I know that I'm not allowed to kill your friends, but what about the nuisance? Hercules suddenly asks, Can I kill him? Or at least break a bone or two if he starts to wail again?

Harry stars at the snake, this is the first time the snake sounds actually whiny. Who is the nuisance and why do you call him that?

He's the little brat your father wanted to betroth to you. Hercules replies

My father wanted WHAT? Harry hisses loudly enough to get many looks. Please, tell me he didn't.

You're not snake speaking parent stopped him. At least that's what my mother told me. Hercules replies.

Remind me to thank the man, Harry mumbles. But why are you calling him a nuisance?

He always wailed, or hit me with his tiny palm, or he wailed, or he puked up his milk, or he wailed, or he drooled his spit all over me but most of the time, he just wailed. Hercules complains, I hate his wailing.

Harry just grins. Why are you bringing that up now? Is he around?

I can smell him on the other side of this bookshelf. After hearing that Harry whispers to Remus to wait for him while he goes to the other side to see something and then walks around and sees no one else but Draco Malfoy. Can I bite him? Hercules asks also looking towards the blond boy that is currently grinning towards them evilly.

I'm tempted to say yes, Harry says but before Hercules can rejoice and go ahead he adds, But we both get in trouble and Malfoy is not worth that, so no.

Party pooper. Hercules grumbles and lowers his head onto Harry's in disappointment.

Harry grins a little after hearing that and Draco walks up to him.

"Hello Potter." He says and quietly adds, "Or did that change?"

"Shut up." Harry grumbles unhappy that Draco obviously knows way too much and planning on writing both his fathers to get them to threaten the boy to keep his mouth shut.

"Don't worry," Draco says, "My lips are sealed."

"That'd be a first." Harry grumbles. "But will it help to keep them zipped if I tell you that Hercules is currently begging me to allow him to at least break a bone or two of yours. He really doesn't like you."

"Why would he?" Draco asks whiningly eyeing the snake skeptically. "I never did anything to him."

Stupid whining brat tell him to quit his wailing or I will make him. Hercules hisses angrily enough to make Draco step back.

"That's why, he doesn't like whining and wailing and apparently you did the later a lot while you were little and are still doing the whining." Harry grins, "It hurts his ears. He calls you the nuisance and doesn't like a nuisance."

"Then we have a problem." Draco says grinning a little again. "I'm ordered to be a nuisance."

"What?" Harry asks, "Why and by whom?"

"Someone really wants you to talk to him and I'm to make you." Draco says, "And when I said it wouldn't be easy he suggested to just annoy you until you talk to him just to get me off your back."

Harry just groans. "Can't we two make a deal? You leave me alone and I write one complain after the other about you towards him, so he won't know you don't do anything?"

"And where would be the fun in that?" Draco grins.

"In not having broken bones." Harry suggests.

"I'm sure you'll stop Hercules from killing me and Madam Pomfrey is very good in fixing bones and I just get my godfather to keep me provided with emergency pain relievers." Draco says.

"Who is your godfather?" Harry asks surprised that he apparently gets potions rather easily that way.

"Severus Snape." Draco grins.

"Oh good." Harry claims, "I'll talk him into not providing them."

"I know him longer and he likes me." Draco states smugly.

"Whatever." Harry grumbles. "I'm sure I can get you off my back on my own."

"We'll see." Draco replies. "And by the way." Draco gets closer and moves his lips close to Harry's ears. Harry doesn't move, certain that whatever Draco is about to say isn't meant to be overheard. So he better not tempt him to say it out loud. "You could also keep my lips zipped, as you called it, if you kiss them."

Harry blushes a dark red while Draco just walks away. Draco is just gone when Remus appears next to Harry with a grin, "I think Muggles have something to stick to someones mouth to quiet them. Maybe we should get some of that?"

"You heard that last part, didn't you?" Harry asks mortified.

"Every word." Remus still grins. "But don't worry. I'm sure he just wants to annoy you a little with that comment."

"I really hope he does." Harry says, "Especially after what Hercules just told me. But I'll tell you that later when we're alone, okay?"

"Sure." He says and puts a hand on his shoulder. "Everything else okay?"

"Fine." Harry mumbles. "But can you help me get something nice for Professor Snape? It seems like I really owe him an even bigger thank you than I thought for helping me before."

"Isn't there a dead Basilisk in your school?" Remus suggests. "A tooth or two would be very appreciated by every potions master and a bit of shaded skin or some scales from the dead beast would be welcomed by them too. As long as the skin isn't too old by now I don't know much about that. But I'm sure there is still some shaded around and that stays good for many years."

"Cool." Harry replies, "Thanks for the idea. But I'd also like to buy something. He knows that the other one won't be much of a bother for me to get right now."

"Maybe a potions book?" Remus suggests.

"But he already has so many." Harry stats. "I wouldn't know what to get him."

"I'm sure we'll find something." Remus calms and looks around with him before going to the next shop and keep looking there. A little later Harry is in a smallish potions shop. He's been in everyone he passed so far and by now the Weasleys aren't even with him inside. Even Hermione got bored of them and they just wait outside looking into other shops. Remus walks to the shop keeper and asks if he can give them some advice what to get a potions master as a thank you present.

Every shop keep so far had looked at Remus and suggested some of the cheaper ingredients and after realizing that Harry is the one paying, they showed everything expensive. This one doesn't even look at them and just continues staring into his book while replying, "That depends which one. Is it one working at Mungo's or a research facility, if the later which one?"

"He's a Professor at Hogwarts." Harry replies.

"Professor Snape has recently asked me to inform him when that self-steering-cauldron is on sale." He replies in a calm manner. "I'm sure he'd be glad to get that if it's within the price range. If not, he usually buys a lot of different ingredients and I can prepare some of those depending on the amount of money you're willing to spend, certain that they will eventually come in handy."

"I take that cauldron." Harry replies happily. The man looks at him with a raised eyebrow for the first time and sees the snake. "Is that a magically altered snake you have there?"

"No, it's the son of one." Harry replies.

"I give you a discount for some poison from it." The man says. Harry looks towards Remus who shrugs.

That man wants some of your poison. Harry tells Hercules, getting a strange look from the clerk.

He can get it through his skin and no other way. Hercules grumbles.

Not even for me? Harry asks. He'll give me a discount.

And risk them develop a good working anti venom and save those that I want dead? Hercules asks sarcastically. I'd rather bite my own tail. The most he can get is some of my scales. It's starting to itch and I'm sure if I rub myself a little some of the scales will come off.

You're shading? Harry asks.

It seems to start again, yes. Hercules replies, That does not leave me in the best of moods just as a warning.

"Sorry." Harry replies, "He's a little cranky because his scales start itching and refuses to give his potion to anyone unless it's through their skin and I doubt you'd find that acceptable. But he thinks that he can get some off for you if that's acceptable too."

"I give you off a galleon for each ounce." The clerk replies

Harry looks towards Remus who gives a little nod and Harry agrees. In the end Hercules manages to get enough scales off to nearly get half a price and Harry jokes that now it's a present from both of them for Snape.

"I assume that's why he was so cranky when Draco was around." Remus mumbles towards Harry when they leave.

"Could be." Harry replies "But he also said that Draco wailed a lot, and threw up his milk and wailed and drooled and wailed and you get the picture."

"Sounds like a lot of wailing." Remus chuckles.


Authors Note: Finally we saw Draco and soon they'll be back to Hogwarts. How will Harry deal with a flirty Malfoy that is actually trying to annoy him enough to talk to his father? And will Snape get closer to his son once they see each other regularly? WIll Harry be able to make up with Sirius before he returns to Hogwarts or will Siri have to stew while Harry is gone?