A strong grip on his left arm and Harry was pulled back before he could apparate. He stumbled, almost falling to the ground. When he turned around, Malfoy was staring at him, his iron grip still on Harry's arm.

"What the hell is going on here, Potter?" Malfoy's eyes were glowing and he was out of breath from running.

Harry tried to shake off Malfoy's hand. "Let go of me. I don't have time-"

"You're not going anywhere! Where's Severus? And why did he get fired?"

Harry freed himself from Malfoy's grip and was about to apparate when a thought hit him. Maybe it was a good thing that Malfoy had followed him out of the Great Hall...

"You have to help me. I need to find him."

Draco examined him for a while. "How come you suddenly care so much about him?"

After all these years of animosity, how was Harry supposed to gain Malfoy's trust? He had to try. Draco probably knew where Snape lived, and if Harry could only make clear to him how serious this was...

Harry tried to look directly into Malfoy's eyes. "Please. He'll be gone if we don't hurry. You need to convince him to stay."

"Gone? Potter, what the fuck happened?"

Harry blushed but forced himself not to look away. "Snape is leaving...probably for good this time."

"Why - what did you do?"

Instead of answering, Harry just closed his eyes, overcome by guilt. Now was not the right time for lengthy explanations. And Malfoy mustn't know, or he would never help him.

Harry opened his eyes. Malfoy was still staring at him, demanding an answer.

"We don't have the time to discuss this now if we want to keep him from leaving. I'll explain it on the way. Are you going to help me now or not?"

Draco held his gaze. The moment felt like an eternity to Harry. Finally, Draco turned away from him and looked back up towards the castle while trying to keep his voice neutral. "What do you need me to do?"

The door to Severus Snape's house was unlocked. That couldn't be a good sign.

Harry and Malfoy went in, side by side, wands drawn. A dark, uninviting hallway, leading to one room, then another, then another. Greasy floors, the walls and surfaces covered in books, magazines, newspapers - and dust, the old-fashioned furniture hardly visible beneath it. All curtains closed.

It was not a pleasant place; it had a strange smell to it, probably coming from the laboratory in the cellar, though that seemed to be the only clean room in the house. Maybe some ingredients had gone bad. Maybe it was just this sombre feeling that came with the house, and the flashes of Snape's memories that popped into Harry's head at every turn.

Two things were clear very quickly: Snape had been here today - and he had already set off again.

The teapot was still warm, and according to Malfoy, some of his more personal belongings were gone - certain books, a few photographs and a variety of magical items.

Harry felt utterly helpless. At least, Draco seemed to fully believe him now that this was serious, and their mutual desperation and helplessness felt oddly comforting.

In silence, they walked out into the little overgrown back garden and Draco retrieved a pack of Muggle cigarettes from his pocket. Harry just stared at him.

"One of the few things Muggles got right," Malfoy said nonchalantly. "Want one?"

Harry looked at him and at the cigarettes. "Yeah, why not." Harry's voice was brittle and his hand shaking as he accepted the cigarette. He needed to think of something. This couldn't be it. It just couldn't.

Draco lit their cigarettes with his wand, then took a drag. "Will you tell me now what happened?"

Draco was calm, almost friendly. He would certainly not be friendly anymore if he knew the whole truth.

Harry started coughing. This was his first cigarette in a long while. "You already know. Snape got fired."

They sat in silence for a few minutes.

"What happened between the two of you?" Malfoy turned around to face him. "I know you've met with him a couple of times because of some kind of issue you had...he wouldn't quite tell me."

Harry avoided Malfoy's gaze. "He just helped me...with a problem."

"And he got fired for that." Draco stubbed out his cigarette.

"Not exactly." Harry didn't really know what else to say. Part of him wanted to tell someone, quite desperately. Another part told him that this was a very bad idea.

"Why did McGonagall let him go?"

Malfoy would probably punch him. In the face. Maybe that was what Harry needed right now. What he deserved.

Malfoy stood up. "I demand an explanation. Now."

Harry sat still, taking a drag.

"Hogwarts was his home. Why would he just leave? Without a word. He would never just leave without at least telling me. He would never-" Malfoy teared up with anger as his voice steadily rose. "I have a fucking right to know what happened!"

Harry stood up, too. His pulse was quickening.

Malfoy grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. "What - the fuck - happened?"

When Harry didn't reply, Draco pushed him to the ground. Harry fell, his coat sliding upwards, and several coins flew out of his pocket, scattered all around him on the ground. Harry landed quite hard on his side. He expected a blow or a kick, at least a tirade of ranting and swearing. But when nothing happened, he dared to look back up again. Malfoy was standing above him, his arms still stretched out, staring at Harry's Knuts and Sickles on the floor.

"Gringotts," he said.

Harry looked up at him questioningly. "What?"

"Gringotts!" Malfoy repeated. "He wouldn't have been able to empty out his vault, yet. He'll need money - and he has some valuable possessions down there - he wouldn't just leave those behind."

He looked at his watch.

"Gringotts just opened. If we hurry-" They shared a look.

Draco helped Harry up and together, they raced out of the village and outside Snape's apparition wards. As soon as they were sufficiently far away, Malfoy harshly grabbed Harry's arm and they turned on the spot.