Disclaimer: lalalala Because I agree with "How Harry Potter Should Have Ended" (on youtube btw! Watch it if you haven't already. It's a scream.) I therefore have no real claim Harry and Co.

A/N: May I just say that the reviews I received yesterday brought such immense light into my day. To know I am making others' days better... there is no greater compliment. And I love Snape and Draco in this chapter. Their interactions... well you'll see.

11- Lack of Information

Defense was a weird affair, for lack of the better words. The Gryffindor side was more subdued than usual, while the Golden…Duo looked worriedly confused. Whispers shot from mouth to mouth as speculation rose on the whereabouts of the Boy Who Lived. Apparently, Ron and Hermione had not seen Harry since before dinner the night before. Concerned, they searched for him, and came up empty. Draco frowned slightly at this, wondering if Snape had went back to the Astronomy Tower and cleaned up the evidence of Harry's tortured break down. He knew there had been traces of blood on the floor from Harry's hands.

He glanced at his Head of House as the man stalked into the room, looking for all intents and purposes to be a deadly tornado of doom. His face was paler than normal and his eyes bore the signs of a sleepless night. Draco felt a slight pang of worry for the older man. As much as Harry's ordeal had changed him, he now had to wonder if it hadn't done the same for the surly Potions Master. Their eyes locked, silver speaking to black. Severus dipped his head, then turned back to the black board, bringing the instructions for their research assignment into sight.

Working quickly and efficiently, Draco waited until Severus was right beside his table to mummer lowly "The lion meowed briefly, but was made to catnap again."

Ron, overhearing his statement, snorted. "What kinda stupid riddle is that, Malfoy? Your father teach you that one?"

Hermione, still the smarter of the two, elbowed him sharply as Severus turned around, his black eyes glittering with disgust. "Ron, hush. You've knocked over your ink," she squawked. He blanched and redirected his attention to his now ruined parchment.

Draco sneered as Hermione gave him a confused look. Blushing lightly, she ducked her head and focused on her own essay. Severus watched it all with an amused expression in his eyes. He caught Draco's gaze and nodded. Without another word, he resumed his perusal of the dismal attempts at writing out the known sighting of Threstals and the reasons why. The rest of the class went by in an odd sort of apprehensive silence.

When the bell rang, Draco slowly gathered up his book and packed away his quill and ink. He could feel Hermione's stare burning a hole into his head but paid her no attention. With an indignant huff, she vacated the room, leaving him alone with Severus. He made his way up to the front of the room, calmly pausing in front of the Professor's impressive desk. He waited until the man raised his head and gave him his full attention.

"So he woke up?"

The blond nodded. "Yes, but only for a few seconds. He was thrashing around. I think he was in pain as well. Pomfrey gave him a Dreamless Sleep combined with a Calming Draught that knocked him back out. She said he needs a lot more sleep."

Severus hmm-ed, his gaze searching. "What else did she say?" he asked knowingly.

Draco glanced at the door, making sure there were no signs of nosy little mice peeking about. "She requested that his condition not be spoken about to anyone who wasn't there last night. She made a point of including his friends in that." He shook his head. "Why do I get the feeling there is so much more going on here that anyone has thought of before?"

Severus seemed to ponder the question for a few moments then gave a half shrug. "I informed you last night that his situation is complex," he simply answered. Draco knew any other answer would have to come from the Gryffindor himself. "It's best for now that we do as requested. I'll check in on him during my free class."

"Fine. I have Potions next, bloody idiotic Slughorn. Why'd you let him take over your post?" Draco grumbled.

"That, I'm afraid, really isn't something I can disclose," Severus replied with a warning look.

Draco lifted his lip in a sneer, then sighed heavily. "After dinner then?" he asked, striding slowly towards the door.

"Of course."

With one last look, Draco was out the door. It struck him that they had fallen into a strange sort of camaraderie since the previous evening. It was almost as if Severus already knew what Draco had decided, and as such, was more kindly in his mannerisms towards the stressed Slytherin. He didn't think it would be so if he had went the other way. However, that was not something he really wanted to discover in the near future.

Then he snorted with self derision. Seriously, what had happened to the Prince of Slytherin in all his sly cunning? Some snake he was being. Although, perhaps keeping the truth from Harry's friends was remarkably clever. After all, who would ever think of him as protector of the Golden Boy? He grinned grimly. It would have to do, for now. Somehow, he had the inkling that his Slytherin traits would come in handy sooner than they thought.