Title: The Boy Who Survived

Writer: Azure K Mello

Part:11/?

Pairing: Draco/Harry

Overall plot: what does it take to make Harry trust his stalker?

Segment plot: Severus finds out.

Disclaimer: please don't sue me. I have no money and I don't pretend to own these things.

Warning: angst.

NOTE: I cannot believe I'm finally back to this story. I'm posting two to make up for the three year gap you've gone through. I have up through chapter seventeen written and I plan to publish a few over the next few weeks. I want to complete this story within a few months. If you're a returning reader, I'm sorry for the wait. If you're new here have fun.

Kingsley is standing in the entrance hall awkwardly. I feel my shields slip up and your hand is in mine grounding me. I let go of you to hug him. Right now I have to be the Harry Potter he likes. "Kingsley, it's so good to see you." He hugs me back and holds on slightly too long and I know that he knows and is concerned. I hope you can lie now; I know you said you aren't good at it but right now I need you to be. And failing that stay silent. "I haven't seen you ages, Minister." The last word is teasing. I had been present at the Ministry the day he took office.

"Harry, I come with some sad news. I need a word alone." Snape and your father leave and he looks at you and says, "Mr. Malfoy?"

"It's okay," I say, "Draco can be here."

"Harry, something's happened at your house and to some of your uncle's friends."

"Right." I take your hand again and squeeze gently.

"They've lost the ability to speak; they don't even seem to be aware of what's going on around them."

"Right."

"I hate to ask you this, but where were you today?"

"Draco and I went Christmas shopping, it was pointless though: we didn't buy anything. Then we went over to Remus to have a cup of tea."

"How is he?"

"Depressed, as always. But he seemed quite pleased that we'd come."

"You had a falling out with Ron Weasley this morning."

"He found out that Draco and I are seeing each other he told me I needed to choose between him and Draco. It was rather distressing. Draco and I decided to bunk off Herbology."

"Were you at your house today?"

"What do you think, Kingsley?"

"I think you went, for some reason against your will, and they got what they deserved. I know that there was a huge magical phenomenon on that street, at ten fifty-six this morning; the air reeks of lightening and salt. What I need to know is what that phenomenon was, what the fall out will be, and whether this can be traced to you."

"Nothing would have happened if he hadn't tried to touch me. He sent for me and I didn't know what was going to happen so I took precautions. It was a protection spell. But it can't be traced because I wove Draco's power with mine. It doesn't have a signature. It's not going to wear off and they won't regain the ability to speak. Moreover it wasn't visibly cast it was designed under my skin, the physical contact cast it not a spoken spell."

I pray that you don't speak up now. Kingsley will accept me protecting myself he will not accept you booby trapping me. Even if he's revolted by my actions he will accept them. Not only because he's vaguely aware of my past and likes me but because he, like most people, fears me. He doesn't fear you nor does he like you. We worked together before the last battle, like a unit and he respected you but didn't warm to you. And if you speak up now, say that you cast the protection spell he will think that it was something else and I'm covering for you.

Kingsley looks between us and says, "So it was an attack from an unknown party against your family. Probably a Death Eater that is as of yet not apprehended. I'm very sorry about your family, Mr. Potter."

"Thank you, Minister, that's very kind of you."

"Of course, Harry, Mr. Malfoy." He nods and is about to leave when he suddenly says, "Harry, where's your scar?"

"Gone, Draco got rid of it for me."

Kingsley turns his gaze on you and said, "Excellent, I didn't think anyone could do that."

You nod silently and now he really does leave. And once the door is shut you say, "How much does he know?"

"Not much. He knows they weren't very nice to me. He knows about as much as Remus which isn't much. I'm sure he has no idea why those men are suffering, why it's not just my family. But he knows there's more to it than I ever said so he isn't going to ask about the connection. I think he doesn't want to know. He doesn't know that they systematically raped and abused me for seven years while paying my uncle for the pleasure. And I'd like to keep it that way." I hear a slight gasp and turn to see Snape standing wide eyed. He'd come in silently, had stood in the shadows, probably wanting to know why Kingsley had come and thought it was better to spy than ask. "Typical, just bloody typical."

You pull me by the hand and shoot him a glance maybe you even mouth something but I don't see it. You lead me back up stairs and into your room and say. "It doesn't matter. He doesn't matter."

"He does to you."

"Just because I love him doesn't mean his opinions matter. And while I love him I'm not blind to the way he's treated you."

"Yes, but how long can this last with me actively disliking your godfather?"

"It's not your job to make the effort. Are you okay?"

"I would be a lot better if he never breathed a word of it to anyone."

You wipe a hand over your eyes and say, "I'll deal with him. Why don't you make yourself comfortable, look around, whatever. I'll be back in a little while. I'll deal with this."

"Draco?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"It's all going to be alright." You reach out and touch my face gently. "I'll make it be alright."

"No, I mean thank you for everything."

"Don't worry about that." You let go of me and say, "I'll be back soon."

You leave and I don't know exactly what to do. You said I can look around but it feels awkward. I crouch by your book shelf and start looking through the titles. It's clear that it's your childhood room because the books are all aimed at children. I see one called, "The Mysterious Happening on Bainbridge Road" that actually looks quite interesting. I start reading the back and it sounds good: a young wizard apparently killed by a muggle except that things weren't adding up.

Lying down on the bed I began to read, trying to calm myself down. You're handling it. I keep telling myself that over and over. But he knows, Draco, Severus Fucking Snape knows and I feel cold thinking about it. I curl up on my side still vaguely reading, but it's all just washing over me. The bed moves slightly and I turn over to see a very sleek grey cat climbing over the sheets. "Hey," I say softly. A cat? I really would not have expected that. I know that you have the Eurasian Eagle Owl but a cat? Cats just seem too gentle. But you're gentle with me. The cat settles in the middle of my chest and promptly falls asleep. It purrs in its sleep and the vibrations reverberate through my sternum and that, more than anything calms me down.

I feel hungry, nauseous, and shaky all at once. Two cups of tea and some toast can't really get a person through the most emotionally charged day of one's life. And as ridiculous as it sounds I could eat a hippogriff. I lie there with your cat on my chest and feel very safe for the first time in years.