Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
Harry has an confrontation with his friends
Harry and Draco enjoys their Sunday morning

Disclaimer:
See chapter one

A/N:
You can find my responses to some of my reviews for chapter 20 at: www . livejournal . com / users / janarae / 927 . html (remove the spaces.)

This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.

Thank you Keikokin for checking my grammar, any mistakes left are my own.

More Confrontations

"You two look like you have been enjoying yourselves," Lucius said looking up at the two teens as they entered their rooms, looking windblown and happy.

"Hello father! Yes, we've been out riding with Blaise. We had a race to see whose horse was fastest and Harry's won," Draco said bounding over to the coffee table and the tray with refreshments. Pouring himself a goblet of juice, he drank from it eagerly, not pausing to breathe until he had finished.

Lucius looked over at Harry, an eyebrow raised in inquiry.

"It was my idea," Harry answered the unvoiced question. He shrugged slightly. "They were friends before I came into the picture. I'd hate for them to stop being friends because of me."

"I see. That is very mature of you," Lucius said once more thanking the deities for the kindness they had bestowed upon his son.

"Not really, I know how important friends are and how much it hurts when you loose one. Sometimes it is unavoidable and sometimes all it takes is some effort. Draco is not my slave. He is free to have whomever friends he likes." Eying the tray Harry changed the subject. "Are you hungry? I am starved."

"So am I," Draco piped in, pouring himself some more juice. "How about some more Italian? I'm in the mood for some pasta."

"That's fine with me, I'll just need to go and get cleaned up first," Harry nodded his agreement.

"I guess pasta it is," Lucius said with amusement to the empty room. At Harry's words Draco had rushed to his bedroom to shower and change as well, leaving the elder Malfoy alone.

"Hey dad! You are never going to believe what potion it was that Harry used when he pranked the Great Hall," Draco said eagerly once they were sitting down at the table, their plates loaded with food.

Lucius merely raised an eyebrow, it wasn't exactly a question he had lost any sleep over, but by the way Draco was fairly vibrating with excitement it must have been something spectacular that had been used. "Then why don't you spare me the effort?" he drawled with a teasing smile.

"Black Truth!" Draco crowed timing his reply to when his father put some pasta into his mouth, laughing in delight as his father promptly choked.

"Black Truth!" Lucius managed to wheeze out, grabbing for his wine glass in an effort to get his windpipe unblocked.

"Black Truth," Draco nodded in confirmation.

"Where, in Merlin's name, did you find the recipe for that thrice-cursed potion boy?" Lucius roared, turning his now blazing gaze on the brunet sitting next to his son.

Harry shrank back from the angry man, having a flashback to his uncle. The shout of 'boy' did not help him stay in the here and now. Sitting there, frozen in fear, Harry soon bolted from the room when Lucius suddenly reached out to grab him by the front of his vest.

Running into his bedroom, Harry threw up the strongest warding charms he knew before looking widely around the room. He shouldn't have run in here, now he was trapped! Cursing vehemently at his own stupidity, Harry dived into the wardrobe, slamming it shut and warding it as well. He hoped by doing so that either they didn't manage to break down the doors, leaving him alone, or that by the time they reached him they'd be exhausted and he would be able to slip past them and get away.

In the living room two blond men stared at the seat where Harry moments earlier had been seated. Then the surprise wore off and Draco rounded on his father. "What did you do that for? "he shouted incensed. "Harry didn't know the history that potion holds to our family! But thanks to him we now know who the inventor was; who it was that used that thing to spike those drinks, and you will never guess who it was! Montgomery Black! Which means that the Blacks owe us retribution! And that is why I brought it up, because this means we will be able to take an even more effective revenge on mum than just kicking her out of the family! But you had to scare Harry off with your display! How could you?" Draco screamed, his worry for his mate overriding everything else.

Lucius had by now calmed down, realising that his reaction had perhaps not been the best when dealing with an abused child. However, he was not about to allow his own son to talk to him like that.

Glaring at the youth, he sent a powerful calming spell his way, waiting for it to take effect. Once he had calmed down, Lucius glared at his son and hissed, "I know he is your mate, but you are never to speak to me like that again, understood?"

Draco gulped and nodded wearily, he had for a moment forgotten how scary his father could be when truly angered.

"Good, as for my reaction, how did you think I would react? Calmly say, 'that's good Harry, would you mind telling me who the inventor is?'" Lucius asked his voice laced with sarcasm. "Of course I was going to hit the roof! It took the Malfoys years to win back their good name as providers of excellent potions ingredients, and we never truly managed completely; thus forcing my great-great-grandfather to give up on that avenue after the mess with the Weasleys. You know very well how much money we lost then."

"No, what you should have done was find me alone and tell me this in private. Harry might be a part of this family now, but some things are better told when alone, and don't you ever forget that." Lucius pierced his son with a dark glare, still infuriated at how immaturely Draco had handled the entire thing.

Draco sighed and hung his head. His father was right. He had just been so eager to share the good news, but thinking back at how he himself had reacted, he could see that this was not the best way to go about it. "You are correct father, and I apologise. I did not think, I just…"

"I understand my Dragon; believe it or not, I still remember how it was to be young and impulsive." Lucius smiled warmly, placing a gentle hand on his son's shoulder, pulling him into a hug.

Draco fairly melted into the hug, it showed him better than any words that his father had forgiven him.

"What about Harry?" Draco eventually asked, pulling away with regret. Now that his worries with his father had been sorted out, his concern for his mate was back in full strength.

"Let's see if we can convince him to come out," Lucius mused, grabbing hold of his necklace. "I felt the strength of those wards he put up and I do not wish to attempt to break them down. He will be truly formidable once his powers have fully developed."

Draco beamed with pride, taking hold of his own necklace, intending to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"Harry? Can you hear me child? I wish to apologise for my outburst, it was most un-courteous on my part and I wish to beg your pardon," Lucius stated formally.

Draco snorted; no way was that speech going to get Harry to come out from his room!

Harry was sitting curled up on the floor of the wardrobe when Lucius' voice suddenly appeared at the back of his mind. Stiffening, the brunet listened intently. The elder Malfoy didn't sound angry, but you never knew. He hadn't known the older man for that long, what if it was just a trick to lure him out?

"Harry?" Lucius asked once more, a bit worried that the teen hadn't answered him. Just how badly had he frightened the boy?

"Hey Harry, it's alright. Dad isn't mad anymore," Draco chimed in helpfully.

Harry slowly backed further into the wardrobe; he was confused and didn't know what to do. He wanted to believe them, but did he dare to?

"Harry? Please answer me if you can hear me," Lucius said getting extremely worried.

Slowly Harry grabbed hold of his necklace. Lucius sounded worried; there wasn't a hint of anger in his voice. Uncle Vernon had never managed to mask his emotions that well, maybe it was safe? "Lucius?" he all but whispered, as if speaking the blond's name would bring him crashing into the room.

"Harry," Lucius said, his voice filled with relief. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine sir," Harry replied automatically.

"Somehow I don't think you are," Lucius stated dryly. "I'm sorry I scared you, I wasn't thinking… Would you please come out so we can finish our lunch? You must be starved by now and I promise not to do anything to upset you again."

"Lunch? You're still going to feed me?" Harry asked without thinking, revealing more than he'd intended to the two Malfoys.

Lucius hung his head in sorrow; did the child really think they would withhold food? Then he mentally shook his head, of course he would think that, that was the lesson those blasted muggles had instilled again and again.

"I want you to know something Harry, and I want you to believe what I'm about to tell you. As long as I am alive and breathing, you will never want for food ever again, understand?"

"Yes," Harry whispered, although deep down in his heart he did not believe Malfoy at all.

Lucius sighed, but did not push the matter, only time would tell the boy that he could trust them to take care of him. "Will you please come out? The food is getting cold and Draco is wearing a path in the carpet."

Draco looked up from where he was standing next to his father and stuck his tongue out.

"You promise not to shout?" Harry asked timidly, wanting so badly to believe Lucius when he said he wasn't angry anymore.

"Yes, Harry, you have my word as a Malfoy," Lucius replied, willing the skittish youth to emerge from his room.

For several long moments Harry just sat there, clasping the necklace tightly. Then he sighed and dropped it. He couldn't stay here for the rest of his life, so he might as well go out and face the music. And the next time he fled, he'd make sure not to box himself in like this!

Taking the ward down, Harry emerged into his bedroom. Sending his senses out, he listened intently, but nothing could be heard. Knowing he had no other options, he took a deep breath and took down the wards on the bedroom door.

In the living room, the Malfoys let out a sigh of relief when they felt the ward go down. Eagerly they waited for the door to open.

It took another five minutes before it opened though, and Harry timidly peeked out through the small crack. Being met with twin reassuring smiles, Harry emerged from the bedroom, still looking tense and ready to run.

"There you are," Draco said in delight, bounding over to his mate, wrapping a friendly arm around stiff shoulders. Steering Harry towards the table, he decided he better apologise to the brunet as well.

"I'm sorry Harry. This whole mess is my fault. I should have known how dad would react to our news, and I should have told him in private. That potion really is a sore point for us Malfoys and I really, really should have known better, and…"

Harry couldn't help but chuckle. "Draco, you're babbling. I forgive you. Besides, I overreacted as well." Shrugging slightly Harry settled back in his chair, picking up his fork, determined to put the entire episode behind him.

The Malfoys were no less eager, and they too resumed eating, chatting pleasantly about nothing at all.

Privately though, Lucius was determined to find out what had set Harry off, there had to be more to it than him merely loosing his temper.

However, the three of them were destined not to have a quiet meal in peace. They had barely taken three bites of their lunch when there suddenly was a ruckus outside the door. It almost sounded as if someone was screaming at Salazar.

"Maybe we should put up a temporary painting to avoid situations like this," Harry mused, wincing at a particularly loud scream.

"Circe and Merlin, what is going on out there?" Lucius demanded getting to his feet, making sure not to show his growing irritation, afraid he'd set off Harry again. Throwing the portrait open he found a red-faced Hermione Granger standing there, wand in hand, and her hair transfigured into a horse's tail.

"Miss Granger, what is the meaning of this?"

"I want to see Harry!" Hermione demanded, levelling her wand on the aristocrat.

"And for that you see fit to cause such a ruckus? Who told you where he was if I may ask?" Lucius asked having a feeling it hadn't been Harry who'd told her of his new whereabouts.

"Does it matter? You have no right keeping his friends from him!" Hermione snapped.

"I suppose it was Dumbledore then. Very well, you had better come in I suppose. I do hope you have better manners sitting at the table then you have displayed so far."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked entering the living room.

"We were just sitting down to eat lunch. I assume you wish to join us?" Lucius said with a long suffering sigh.

"I, um, I don't want to impose," Hermione said a bit uncomfortably, she hadn't counted on Malfoy senior to be present. But what did I expect? They are keeping him a prisoner here, forcing poor Harry to be rude to his friends. Well I'm going to show him that no matter what, he still has friends. No matter what he is forced to do to push us away.

"Since you already are..." Lucius said meaningly causing Hermione to blush.

Holding her head up high she stated, "Then I'd be delighted to join you for lunch."

"Splendid. I am sure the elves made enough for one more," Lucius said with air of a martyr, causing Harry to choke on a giggle.

"Hello Hermione, I wasn't expecting you. Is everything alright?" Harry said doing his best to be polite. He didn't feel like being a good host though, he had come to cherish these moments when it was only him and the Malfoys, and he was resenting this intrusion very much. Added to that was the fact that he still felt shaky and insecure about the incident earlier… He did not need to deal with the extra strain of having Hermione present.

"Yes, everything is fine," Hermione replied sitting down between the two Malfoys, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Her eyes widened when she finally noticed what was being served and she dug in with relish.

Beside her, Draco rolled his eyes but he refrained from saying anything. He was too busy wishing the witch to the other side of the earth. He wanted to reassure himself that Harry really was all right. Besides, he still hadn't forgiven her and the Weasel for the things they had said to Harry. Those three were supposed to be the best of friends! How dare they treat Harry like that?

"I didn't think you and Ron were talking to me, considering the things you said before the healing class," Harry prodded rolling some spaghetti onto his fork, mirroring the actions of Lucius and Draco to the best of his ability. The Dursleys had never bothered with good manners at the dinner table and Harry didn't want the Malfoys to feel ashamed of him.

"Oh? And what did they say?" Lucius inquired. If those immature brats were interfering with Draco and his mate they would rue they day they where born.

"Nothing of importance," Harry waved the question aside, not wanting to go through that argument again, especially not in front of Lucius.

"Harry! How can you say that! Ron had some valid points and you know it!" Hermione snapped levelling a glare at the boy sitting opposite her.

"And what exactly did Mr. Weasley say?" Lucius purred.

"What didn't he say? He sprouted the usual nonsense that all Slytherins are slimy snakes, not to mention that you are both Malfoys. Then he was miffed I could look past the way Draco has been treating us for the past five years, as if we have been behaving any better," Harry snorted earning himself another glare from Hermione.

"How dare you Harry! Have you already forgotten all the times Malfoy there called me a mudblood? Or all the times he's insulted you and Ron? If you say you have I won't believe you and I will drag you to see Madame Pomfrey to check for memory charms or other spells!"

"No one has memory charmed me, but maybe someone has done that to you? Yes, Draco has made it a sport to torment us, but tell me Hermione, would he have continued to do so if we hadn't raised to the bait each and every time? It is no fun teasing someone who doesn't react. We have said and done some pretty nasty things too. What about the time Ron tried to hex Draco into spewing up slugs? You didn't seem to mind that very much. What about the time you slapped him? If you had ignored him he would have gone away, instead you gave him power over you, we all did."

"But he always started it!" Hermione cried out in righteous anger.

"Oh, please! What are we, five years old? It is all in the past, let it go Hermione, I have."

"What about the diary he gave Ginny? Huh? What about that? Or when Sirius died? He was there that night too!"

"Is there a point to all this?" Harry asked through gritted teeth. He was starting to get angry, tired at being on the defensive. He had actually thought Hermione would be able to support his decision in giving Draco a chance, clearly he had been hoping for too much.

"The point is that you can't trust them Harry! Don't you see? They are turning you away from your true friends, by alienating them until all you have are them. They are Death Eaters. They are on Riddle's side. They will turn you over to him once they have earned your trust, can't you see that? Come back Harry, come back to the tower where you belong before it is too late."

Harry slowly rose from his chair, his eyes glowing with suppressed rage and power. "I think it is you who should return to the Gryffindor Tower, Hermione. And you can tell the Headmaster that you did your best, but I am not about to turn my back on the Malfoys. Yes, they have acted as enemies in the past, but in the past week they have acted more like true friends than you and Ron have in a long time. If I am forced to choose, then I chose them. Not you and Ron. Them. Stew on that why don't you? And while you are at it, I suggest you re-read those books on Veelas I know you've been going through. Clearly the information missed your brain and hit further south!" he snapped, stalking over to the door and flinging it open, pointedly waiting for Hermione to leave.

The witch sat in her chair, stunned. Seeing the disapproving stares the Malfoys were directing at her Hermione gave off a soft eeep and fled the room, not daring to stay a moment longer.

"I'm sorry you were subjected to that," Harry said with a tired sigh, sinking back into his chair, looking at his food with distaste before pushing the plate away, unable to stomach the food on it anymore.

"I am more concerned about you," Lucius replied pushing the plate back. The child had hardly eaten anything at all. "Eat a little, you will feel better afterwards," he coaxed gently.

"I'm not really hungry anymore." Harry said with a wry grin.

"I know, but you need to eat, how about one of the croissants?"

Harry gave in and took one of the breads, split and buttered it. He bit into it and chewed but Lucius was betting a pretty Knut that the child didn't taste what he was eating.

HPDM

Lucius watched as Harry and Draco made themselves comfortable, stretching out on the two couches, each holding an old journal from one of the trunks. The events from earlier in the day were praying heavily on his mind. Harry had more issues than he'd suspected, but he shouldn't have been surprised by the boy's reaction to anger. He came from an abusive household for Merlin's sake; of course the child was going to react badly to displays of anger. They needed to address what had happened, yet, at the same time Lucius didn't think it was wise to bring it up so soon.

Then there were the things Granger had said. By Salazar, could she have brought up the events at the Department of Mystery at a worse time? Harry was already dealing with so much; he didn't need the reminders of that night, not after that nightmare… Maybe he could ease the child's mind when it came to his involvement in that fiasco. Making up his mind, Lucius made his way over to the couch Harry was occupying, saying softly, "I wasn't there that night you know, the night the Dark Lord lured you to the Ministry."

"I know," Harry replied dully, not wanting to talk about it.

Sighing softly, Lucius settled next to the teen. He knew he was treading on dangerous ground, but the boy needed to realise that what had happened wasn't his fault.

Before he could say anything, Harry continued in a monotone voice, "It was Avery using Polyjuice. Dumbledore told me this summer. He didn't want me to fly off the handle if I was to find out that you were out and about. Apparently no one told my 'friends' this little fact." Harry snorted. "For some reason I wasn't allowed to read the Prophet. Was Fudge using his usual approach when dealing with unpleasant facts?"

"You could say that yes. He was forced to admit that the Dark Lord is indeed back, and he tried to get the heat off himself by attempting to prosecute you for breaking into the Department of Mysteries. I don't know what Dumbledore did to prevent that going to trial and frankly, I don't care."

Harry nodded, not interested either. "Why did he polyjuice Avery? Why not send you if he wanted you there?"

"The Dark Lord wasn't sure his plans were going to work. Moreover, he needs me too much to risk having me arrested and my good name smeared any more than it already is. So he sent in Avery in my place, thinking that if it blew up in our faces, as it did, it would muddle the waters and make people think that the other times they'd seen me, maybe it wasn't actually me."

He looked down at Harry and added, "Harry I have done a lot of things I'm not proud of in the name of the Dark Lord."

"I know. You don't have to explain," Harry said gently, placing a hand on the older man's arm. "I can't tell you how I know, but I know that Severus will find a way to remove the Dark Mark and you two will be free to be together as you should have been all along."

"How did you know?" Lucius asked in shock.

"I'm not sure," Harry tried to explain. "But ever since my birthday I have had dreams. At first I thought they were more visions from dear old Voldie, but I'm not so sure anymore. I saw you coming into your inheritance. I saw how you found your mate in Severus. You were so happy." He smiled at the memory. "Then your fathers decided to step in and I saw how they forced you to take the mark, tearing you apart. But I have also dreamed a dream where you two are together, free of the mark, free of that bitch Narcissa, and the four of us are living as one big happy family. I couldn't make sense out of that one but then I found out that Draco was a Veela and I was his mate and I couldn't help but wonder if that had been a glimpse from the future and..."

Harry wasn't aware he was crying until Lucius pulled him up and into a gentle hug. Burying his face into the strong shoulder Harry let the tears flow, for the first time not ashamed of them. Then an added warmth appeared at his back and he realised it was Draco, silently offering his support as well.

"Harry, I promise you that we will do our utmost to make that dream come true. You have my word as a Malfoy," Lucius whispered, rocking all of them until Harry had cried himself to sleep.

Easing the boy back down on the couch, tucking a blanket around him, Lucius sat and just looked at the youth who had given him so much hope.

"Father?"

"Yes son?"

"Do you think he is a Seer?"

"I don't know my Dragon. It is centuries since the Potters produced a true Seer and Lily was supposedly muggle born. I am beginning to doubt that though. All we can do for now is be there for him and keeping his secrets. It is clear that he has told no one and I'm guessing he has good reasons for it. Who knows what he has 'seen'.

Draco settled on the floor next to his father, pressing into his legs. "Thank you for being there for him father."

"That is what families are for son. A true family never lets its member's struggle through life

alone."

Draco looked pensively at his mate, who looked so peaceful while he slept. It was dawning on him how... drawn Harry looked while awake. As if he carried a heavy burden on his shoulders. Silently he cursed the wizarding world for doing this to his mate. He did not deserve that. The state of the world was not his fault, or his responsibility and he couldn't help but wonder how different Harry's life would have been if his parents had been alive. That reminded him of their conversation in the bookshop and he turned troubled eyes on his father.

"Dad? Do the Potter's have a Manor?"

"A Manor? The Potters? I would guess so son. Why do you ask?"

"It was something Harry said while we were shopping the other day. He said he didn't think the Potters had a Manor, because if they had, why didn't they go there when they went into hiding? You've always told me that if the Manor's Blood Wards were raised, no being would be able to penetrate them and that we would be perfectly safe there..." his voice trailed off and he looked expectantly at his father.

"That is true Draco. I've never thought about it before, but Godric's Hollow is, well, was, nothing but a big cottage. It sure as hell was no Manor. Considering how old the Potter Family line is, yes, they should have a Manor, if not a Castle (even). I wonder why James didn't take his family there? He must have known they would be safer there than under even the Fidelius Charm. After all, there are ways to get around that charm. There is no way around

Blood Wards." Lucius stared into space as he tried to remember the things he'd been told of the Potters.

"Do you think it was more meddling by Dumbledore? After all, he knew the entire prophecy. Maybe there was something in it that he considered worth sacrificing some of his most loyal followers for in hopes of bringing Riddle down."

"I don't know. Considering the way he has been treating Harry all these years, I'm beginning to wonder. I have always considered Albus Dumbledore a meddling old fool. I never took him for being a ruthless bastard as well." He looked Draco in the eyes, trying to convey how serious he was. "I want you to be very careful Draco. Make sure you always carry your portkey, and I will be giving one to Harry as well. Considering the actions of his friends, I am beginning to fear that Dumbledore might try and separate the two of you, no matter how supportive of your union he seems to be."

"Dad?"

"I know he is desperate to get the two of us on his side in this war, but at the same time he is even more desperate to have Harry completely under his thumb. He wants to have a pawn, not a warrior. Harry is starting to show his independence and I fear the blame will be put on us. Promise me that you will be extremely careful from now on, Dragon. Don't trust anyone or anything unless it is given to you by me or Severus."

"I promise Father." Draco swore solemnly. "What have you found out? Has Dumbles done something else to hurt Harry?"

Lucius considered carefully what to tell his son, but in the end he opted to tell the truth – the full truth. His son deserved to know and he needed to know if he was to help his mate heal. "While you were sleeping in the infirmary, Poppy had a few things she whished to share with me..."

Next Time:
Dumbledore steps up his meddling and Harry hits the roof,
Stay tuned…