Once more, thanks for the reviews! It's great to hear from you all!

Guest: I'm not completely sure what you meant by the review, but it was not my intention to mislead anyone with the summary, and I'll be sure to remember this for the future, so thanks! Also, it's great that you like it!

TheEscapeFromReality: Thank you!

Skyla11: There will be more explanations on the Voldemort/Quirrel stuff once Drarry has progressed :) And definitely more Severitus soon, so enjoy!

notwritten: Thanks! I will :D

takingitinstride: I guess this isn't exactly soon…But here you go :)

….

Instead of retreating to the room where he usually stayed, Draco followed Potter to where he was residing and sat in an armchair across from him.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Potter asked.

The words were normal; something he would ask Draco at Hogwarts, but the delivery was different. This time, there was no bite and Potter seemed cautious and afraid instead of haughty and confrontational. It increased Draco's curiosity tenfold.

"I think we…got off on the wrong foot," Draco replied, shifting uncomfortably. "Now that we'll be staying together, it would be in our best interest to not be enemies."

For the second time since they had met, Draco held out his hand.

"Truce?"

…

Harry had no idea how to respond. He knew that during school, if Malfoy had held out his hand, Harry would probably have gotten down on one knee and kissed it (or he would just take the offered hand).

But this was Summer, and Summer was different. Harry was programmed to respond to orders and pain during Summer.

He didn't know if he could overcome his expectations.

For a full minute, Harry sat looking at Malfoy's hand in shock. He was at war with himself.

This isn't Hogwarts, where you can safely express your emotions with the occasional flinch. But he seems so sincere, and I've been waiting for this for three years since Hermione's punch set him straight.

Finally, Harry broke the silence and tension in the room. "Agreed, Draco," he said, stuttering at the name which he was unaccustomed to say.

Draco's face lit up as Harry hesitantly reached out and grasped his hand. An electric shock seemed to unite them for a brief moment, but then they broke apart and it was over as soon as it had started.

When Harry realized what he had done, he flinched slightly, expecting a blow. None came.

Instead, he remembered Snape's words from earlier. "You do know that…what you went through at the Dursleys was wrong?"

And for a split second, Harry could almost believe it.

…

As Harry sat in the armchair staring thoughtfully at the ground, Draco took the time to study his face. Strangely, Harry seemed more at peace than before, even with his slight flinch.

If Draco really thought about it, though, he supposed he was much more relaxed as well.

His body wasn't tensed up as if it was expecting the Cruciatus, and Draco's breathing had evened out.

While Harry sat and pondered what Snape said, Draco pondered his relationship with Harry.

He knew that somehow, the handshake had affected them both. It didn't feel like a magical effect, however. It was as though Draco and Harry gave each other strength and comfort through the brief touch.

Draco had no idea how he could have been enemies with the other boy for so long.

Cautiously, he crept off the armchair and sat at the base of Harry's armchair, pressing into his legs.

Deep in thought, Harry startled, but he did not flinch.

Instead, Draco felt Harry's hand rest lightly on his shoulder, and he leaned into the touch.

Neither of them noticed the door open.

…

Severus spent the time before dinner alone in his basement, concocting potions. The methodical cutting and stirring calmed him, and the fumes emanating from the cauldron cleared his mind.

When Severus had taken Draco early, he'd completely forgotten that the Slytherin's rival was currently staying with him. Luckily, neither boy had seemed eager to fight, and many problems were averted.

Severus hoped he would be able to help both boys. Their unsatisfactory home lives were so different, and what would comfort Draco might frighten Harry and vice versa.

When he had spoken to Harry and made it clear that he wouldn't need to do chores, Severus took great pains to ignore Draco's curious glances. The last thing Harry needed was someone prying into his state of being.

Severus poured his potion into a glass bottle and put a cork in the top before reluctantly leaving the basement.

He hoped against hope that both boys were in their respective rooms reading or participating in some equally harmless activity.

That was not the case, he discovered, after checking his godson's room first.

"What have Draco and Harry gotten themselves into now?" he muttered.

As Severus paused in front of Harry's closed door, he could almost imagine: one of them laughing, the other in tears; one of them bothering the other; one of them incapacitated; almost anything could have gone wrong.

But the situation behind the door was the exact opposite of what he expected.

Harry sat lounging in an armchair, Draco sitting against its base. Harry's hand, Severus was surprised to see, was on the Slytherin's shoulder. Likewise, Draco's side was pressed against Harry's leg. Neither of them looked hurt or frightened, and Severus took a moment to understand the situation.

Finally, he cleared his throat, and the boys looked up at him with shock.

Draco quickly jumped up from where he sat and smoothed his robes, blushing slightly. Harry rubbed his hands together and pulled his legs up on the armchair with him.

It would almost be funny if they didn't look ready for punishment.

Not wanting to broach the subject quite yet, Severus turned slightly to face the door. "Dinner is ready," he said. Without waiting for a reply, he swept out.

Just as Severus had expected, the two boys didn't start moving until he was already down the stairs.

…

Well, that was unexpected! What did you think?