Chapter Ten: Can I Slither-in?

CRACKLE!

"Uncle Sev?"

Oh Shit, the Floo. Draco. Harry. Me. All here together.

"Coming!" Severus chimed, in an unusual tone of voice. Harry was silent.

Draco flinched at his godfather's voice. It wasn't ever that high-pitched. I hope I'm not walking in on something…he shuddered, smoothing out his robes. If Potter was here, he would not make a fool of himself.

He looked around the familiar living area, eyeing some tarts on a silver tray. He shrugged, popping a blueberry one into his mouth. His gaze drifted to the empty glasses and whiskey bottle. Trying hard not to imagine Potter and Snape drinking, he decided to spell everything back into their proper cabinets. He sighed, taking another bite-sized blueberry tart. The less awkward, the better.

~~HPSS~~

Snape looked at Harry, then at the door, rubbing his forehead. Draco's going to find out anyway… He considered, wondering how he got into this mess.

Noticing the older's distress, Harry sighed. "Look, I can stay in here until Malfoy leaves, or you can cast an invisibility spell on me…or something…" Harry bit his lip. "I know this is all new and everything…it doesn't bother me that you don't want to tell him. Really, it doesn't, I understand." Who would want a real, public relationship with me anyway? All anyone's ever wanted from me was a share of my fame and inheritance…I'm such a freak…Harry looked down at the floor, then up at Severus. Snape held out a hand, and Harry took it easily, standing up next to him.

He clutched Harry, pulling him into an embrace. Potter's mind was like an open-book—Severus knew he shouldn't pry, but he needed to know if the boy was serious about this or not. Harry sighed into his professor's neck. Severus smirked and kissed the top of Harry's head.

"Harry?"

Harry perked up, looking at him eagerly.

"You may stay, if you wish to. Of course," he paused, scanning Harry for a reaction, "I cannot keep this secret from Draco for long, but I will do so if it makes you more comfortable."

Harry smiled, kissing Sev lightly on the lips. Then, he furrowed his brow in confusion. "I thought Malf—Draco already knew about us?"

Snape stoked Harry's bangs, pushing them out of his face. "It is true that he knows we've kissed, but, not much more than that. I admit, it does seem to be very…soon…to be discussing the seriousness of…" Severus stopped, trying to find the right etiquette in this situation.

"Our relationship." Harry finished for him, giving him a lopsided grin. Severus kissed him hard, pulling away just as quickly to say, "Is that what you want?" With his eyes closed, Harry murmured, "I—would like that—I mean—if you want that too. Do you?" Harry waited for a negative remark. Of course not…why would he want to be with The Boy Who Lived?

Severus stroked Harry's cheek, waiting for the green eyes to open. He smiled at him, feeling happier than he's felt in perhaps twenty years. Harry grinned back sheepishly, still not used to Sev's lovely smile.

"Harry—I hope you believe me when I say that, although I was surprised at the turn of our friendship together, I care about you, more than anything." Severus kissed his forehead lightly, speaking slowly against Harry, "I want…to be with you." Harry trembled with joy. He wasn't expecting that response!

He gave Sev's hand a squeeze, and another light kiss on the lips.

Severus started, "Draco is probably wondering where I am." He broke away from Harry, all except his hand. "Shall we?" Harry could tell Severus was nervous, but he nodded happily, trailing behind him as his professor opened the door.

Draco heard the doorknob turn as he swallowed the tart down. He coughed.

"Uncle Sev! Thank you for inviting me." He stopped talking when he saw Harry next to him at the doorway.

"Hello Draco. Yes, of course, we have much to discuss. I hope you do not mind Harry joining us?" They walked closer, grips tightening against each other's hands.

"Not at all. Potter." He bowed at Harry, as if to welcome him. Harry smirked playfully, unclasping his hand from Snape's. "Thanks, you can just call me Harry if you'd like." He stuck his hand out to Draco.

Malfoy wore a surprised look, eying him, shaking his hand. "Uh…thank you. Harry. You may address me as Draco." Harry smiled at him.

Severus smiled at them: two rivals shaking hands. Draco removed his hand from Harry's and looked at his godfather smiling. His right eyebrow shot up in surprise.

"Let's all have a seat, shall we?" Snape conjured a fresh tray of biscuits and lemon tarts, along with three cups of tea.

Draco took the seat across from Potter and Snape, sipping his juice. This is bloody weird. He felt so awkward—even after thinking about his Uncle Sev and Potter from last night, the whole thing seemed so bloody unlikely.

As if Harry could read Draco's mind, he sipped his tea next to Severus, thinking how awkward the present situation has become. He looked over at Severus, waiting for him to say something.

Malfoy cleared his throat. Severus looked at him knowingly, and put his tea down. "I've come across a very important potion—the one we've been looking for."

Draco widened his eyes. "You don't mean—"

Severus nodded slowly.

Harry narrowed his eyes at the two of them, sipping his tea. He felt a little out of place, but he didn't want to pry.

"Yes. I've informed Minerva about the new improvement to our summer research sessions. Of course, there are many…risks involved." Severus wrinkled his forehead, sullenly.

Draco gulped, clasping the robes on his knees. "What kind of risks?"

Severus sighed. He looked at Harry, who was trying hard not to look confused. Harry met his gaze, then looked back at Malfoy. "I suppose…you are curious to know what we are discussing." Severus said with a blank expression.

"No, no—it sounds private. I don't need to—" Harry was interrupted by Draco.

"I really don't mind Potter—I mean, Harry—knowing. Uh…" he turned to Harry, "I never really thanked you." Harry stared at him, unsure of what to say. In all honesty, so many things had happened the day of Voldemort's downfall, everything seemed like a blur.

"Well," Harry gulped, "I just…"

"Thank you for saving me." Draco said, without nervousness or fear.

"I…of course, Draco. I mean, I couldn't just let you stay there. Actually…" Harry wondered if this was the right time to bring this up. He pinched his eyes shut, then looked at the floor.

"Yes?" Draco asked softly.

"I was hoping that we could make amends…give friendship a try?" Harry's eyes looked genuine enough, Draco pondered. He put a hand to his chin, thinking it over.

Nodding, he said, "Yes, well. We have had quite a history, Potter."

Harry quickly added, "I think we just got off on the wrong foot, really—"

"I couldn't agree more." Draco smiled, laying a hand on Harry's. "Friends?"

Harry blushed a little from the unexpected contact, nodding vigorously. "Yeah!"

Severus eyed the two and beamed inside. Draco took his hand away.

"Erm…there's also something I've been meaning to tell Sev—I mean, Professor Snape. I might as well tell it to both of you.

"It's a long story, really, but—earlier in the week, I was speaking with Professor McGonagall in her office. I eyed the sorting hat, asking it why I was put in Gryffindor…" Harry bit his lip.

Draco raised an eyebrow in unison with Snape.

"Anyway, before it could answer, Professor McGonagall informed me that she was about to go into a meeting. So, you see, I asked the hat if…if I could try it on again. When she was gone, I mean." Harry started sweating at his forehead. He wiped it away.

"The hat said something I didn't understand: a riddle of some sort. What I got from it was," Harry licked his lips, "If I put it on, I had to accept any consequences that came with it."

Snape interrupted, "Harry, do you mean to tell me that you put the hat on, expecting—"

"To get sorted into Gryffindor? Yes. Particularly, I wanted to know why I should be in Gryffindor." Harry said.

"Why would you want to know? Aren't you comfortable being a Gryffindor?" Draco said quietly.

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose so. More than anything, I was curious. In my first year at sorting, it contemplated putting me in either Gryffindor or…" Harry looked at Snape, "or Slytherin."

He continued, watching their mouths gape open. Suddenly, Snape knew where he was going with this.

"I put it on my head, out of sheer curiosity. It claimed Slytherin!" Harry threw up his hands in dramatic effect. "I immediately put the hat back in its place, but it was laughing…and I felt kind of pale, like I'd just eaten an earwax bean.

"McGonagall came back into her office, and after I told her what happened, she said it 'couldn't be undone.'"

Snape paused. "Wait, Harry. Are you trying to say—"

"That you are in Slytherin?!" Draco finished, in exclamation.

Harry bit his lip and nodded. "Officially, yes. McGonagall said it's the first time in history for someone to switch houses."

Snape and Malfoy stared at him in silence.

"So…what's all this about summer research?" Harry casually sipped his tea, not wanting them to know yet that he was excited to be in Slytherin house.

~~To Be Continued~~

Hi everyone! Thank you for all the follows and reviews, you guys are the best! I hope you like this one, it's a major cliff hanger! There's a LOT more plot to come. I have so many twists and turns in store for you all, it's going to get crazy!

Thanks again :)