Firesword: Thank you, cool091688, for pointing the small mistake at the end of the chapter. Hehe, you're right.

Fic Title: Pulling Him Up
Chapter Title: Braver (21 of ?)
Author: Firesword
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters belong to JK Rowling and so on. I just own the little bits of plot.
Rating: M or Red Flame (For Fluffiness)

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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: BRAVER
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Harry stared at Severus in disbelief and for several moments, he just stood, frozen, beside Draco. The wizard beside him regained composure quicker than he did and promptly reminded Severus to check his shoulder. Severus' sly smile disappeared and seriousness took over at once.

"Go sit on the bed," Severus said to him. When he did not move, Draco took his elbow and tugged at him.

Draco's fingers slipped under the hem of his T-shirt and he raised his arms obediently. He sat down and looked at Draco in surprise when the silver-haired wizard kissed his cheek soundly.

"I'm going down to my room, okay?" Draco told his lovers and Harry gave him an inquiring look. Then he tilted his face to one side as he regarded Severus.

"What are you going to do there?" Severus asked in a distant voice.

"I'd like to get all of my things up here ... and I also want Harry to try on a shirt."

"I suppose that it is blue in color?" Amusement and sarcasm were in Severus' voice when he had said it.

Draco chuckled and waved. "I'll be back in a bit."

"Be careful, and don't take too long!" Harry watched as Draco left and closed to door to leave him and Severus in privacy. Harry looked back at Severus, who appeared to be searching for something.

"What are you looking for?"

"My salve," Severus answered in a preoccupied tone.

Sounds of jars and bottles being carefully pushed aside reached Harry's ear and he suddenly realized that he had never looked into the drawers of the desk. After a while, he heard the sound of a drawer being pushed close, and he saw Severus rising to his feet and straightening his back carefully. Then the older wizard walked toward him and on the way, he absently grabbed a stool that Ron had sat on earlier. Severus planted the small piece of furniture in front of Harry and sat down, and he arranged his robes as he did so.

Their eyes met and held. Harry's hand moved on its own accord to cup the right side of Severus' face. He continued to stare into the pair of black eyes as he brushed his thumb gently along Severus' cheek. Both of them started to smile at almost the same time. As seconds passed, Harry's gentle smile became sillier, and Severus' smile turned amused. Harry's cheeks warmed and he chuckled softly. It was perhaps a little foolish of him, but he was feeling quite happy being there with Severus.

The Potions Master leaned toward him with a somewhat ... seductive look. Harry laughed but it faded quickly, and he returned the kiss lovingly.

"I'm glad that you're okay," Harry murmured and gave Severus a light peck on the lips. He stroked the dark black hair fondly as he gazed intently into the older man's eyes.

"I will tell you what had happened last night when Draco returns," Severus said softly.

"Okay."

He watched in silence as Severus shook the glass bottle vigorously for several seconds before pulling the stopper out carefully. The alluring scent slowly diffused into the air and he stared at Severus suspiciously.

"Severus, is that medicine or cologne?" he asked in a dubious tone.

"It is a salve," Severus answered with a slight roll of his eyes.

"Why does it smell so..." Harry did not finish his statement as Severus had given him a challenging sort of stare.

He sighed. Severus applied the aromatic, light green gel on his shoulder tenderly, however, despite the stern expression. The teacher poured more of the substance on a palm and made him hold the bottle. Severus rubbed his hands together. When he touched Harry's shoulder with warmed palms, the salve already on his skin took on a cooling effect immediately.

"That feels wonderful," Harry sighed. He closed his eyes and relaxed.

After a while, he realized that the wonderful scent of the salve had intensified. The smell was making him think of very strange and inappropriate things, and finally, he could not hold back his curiosity.

"Severus, why does it have to smell so ... sexy?" he blurted with a helpless look.

Serene, black eyes lifted to stare at him. After looking into his eyes for several moments, Severus dropped his gaze. Then he answered in a very smug voice. "It has such a scent because I have made it specifically for you."

"What?" Harry's eyes widened.

Severus smiled crookedly.

Someone laughed and Harry turned his head swiftly. He had not felt Draco's presence earlier, but his other lover was standing by the door and he was holding on to something blue in one hand.

"Where are the rest of your things?"

"I'm too lazy to get all of them, Severus," Draco said brightly as he entered and closed the door firmly. "Besides, it doesn't make sense for me to bring my things up, when, in a few days, we're going home. I'll pack my stuff soon, and Harry can bring his down." Then he sat beside Harry and Draco sniffed audibly, much to the Gryffindor's embarrassment.

"Draco." Harry shot a pained look at the wizard sniffing him.

Draco laughed. "He does smell edible," he said teasingly to Severus. "Here, Harry. This shirt will suit you more than it suits me."

"Thanks." Harry smiled. He was pleasantly surprised when Draco went to lie down on his lap.

"So, Severus, how come some of the students were left behind in Hogsmeade?" Draco asked with a contented expression.

"They were left stranded ... and some had caught unnecessary attention," Severus replied solemnly.

"Maybe you should start from the beginning," Harry suggested as he stroked Draco's hair with his right hand, while keeping himself still so that Severus could work on his other shoulder with ease.

"We know that some students cannot enter the castle because of the new protections that have been created. Were those students Death Eaters?" Draco asked.

Harry looked down and saw that Draco's eyes were closed and his expression was calm. He also noticed that his right hand was caressing Severus' knee lazily and he smiled inwardly. I guess I can conclude that we like to be near each other and be able to touch each other. Then Draco's words came back to him and he looked at Severus. But Severus could enter the castle... "Severus."

"I am no longer one, Harry." Severus smiled faintly and so did he.

"I see. So that's why those wizards were surprised," Harry said thoughtfully. Slowly, he felt his face turning grim. "I'm glad that they couldn't do anything to you."

"Put a rein to your thoughts, Harry," Severus said calmly. "Though I'm flattered by your protective nature toward me, I do not want you to become a murderer."

"I killed Voldemort," he reminded Severus in a quiet voice.

"You destroyed him. The Dark Lord was not a being that could be ... murdered, although he had turned back into a mortal. There is a difference. He was not human." Severus looked at him briefly and he blushed upon seeing the tender expression.

"You said something about some of them attracting unwanted attention," Draco said to Severus.

"A group of foreign wizards had caught their scents," Severus sighed. "Shacklebolt and a few others had dueled with them in efforts to make them restrain their killing instincts. The Headmaster and I had to get the parents to fetch their children immediately. It was a few hours later that your friend, Tonks, had returned with several colleagues."

"With a sketch of the Weasley girl?" Draco inquired.

Severus nodded. "Lift your arm," he instructed.

Harry raised it and he yelped when Draco teased his armpit. "Draco!" His face burned hotly. Severus made an exasperated sound and pinched both of them.

"Owww!" Draco shrieked and then laughed.

"Draco," Harry whined. His face was still flaming. He fell quiet after Severus gave him an annoyed look. Draco continued to chuckle and he took hold of Harry's right hand.

"Sorry," Draco said after a while.

The emerald-eyed wizard sighed helplessly and resumed stroking Draco's hair. Severus, in the meantime, was pressing his fingers soothingly into the sore spots of his shoulder.

"The Aurors had gone on to interrogate Miss Weasley. I was not with them when they had done so - I had stayed behind in Hogsmeade to help Professor Dumbledore search for students who were still missing."

"They were probably terrified," Draco mumbled.

"The Aurors returned to Hogsmeade afterward and Moody discovered Miss Greengrass with a few Ravenclaw girls."

"What?" Harry turned cold. "Not Luna..."

"No, Harry. There were a couple of fifth year Ravenclaws that my student had managed to deceive." Severus paused. "Fools," he muttered, looking very displeased.

"No wonder you were exhausted when you had come in."

"It was trying to keep those people from attacking the students that had me wearied. Do you feel better?"

"Yeah. Thanks." His stomach chose that moment to grumble. Since Draco's ear was pressed against his abdomen, the gray-eyed Slytherin was probably deafened by it. Draco looked at him with wide eyes before exploding into laughter. Harry sighed and he wore the shirt that Draco had given him. "If this is yours, Draco, why haven't I seen you wear it?" he asked blandly.

"You had noticed what I had worn ... before?"

Harry flushed pink and remained mute.

Draco blinked and then he grinned. "Well, because it is too tight for me. Too body-clinging," Draco answered cheerfully as he sat up.

The three of them went to sit around the desk and started to eat some sandwiches for their light lunch. After that, Severus surprised Harry, as well as Draco, by dragging both of them back to the bed. Severus pointed his wand at the door and cast several spells on it. Then, with a thoughtful expression, he removed his robes and shoes.

Draco had already settled behind Harry quickly once he had removed his shoes, and Harry could not quite turn as Draco had a firm grasp on him. Then Severus had him sandwiched after that. Harry was quite bewildered by the actions of his Slytherin lovers.

"I am still a bit tired," Severus said and Harry felt his lips brushing lightly on his forehead. "And I hope you will not complain that I wish to rest with you."

"You're not going to hear it from me," Draco murmured.

Harry smiled and pressed his face against Severus' chest while his hands clasped over Draco's affectionately. "Not from me as well," he whispered and turned his face slightly so that he could kiss Severus' throat. I think I do deserve to rest a little.

He had fallen into a meditative trance but only for a while. Draco's lips behind his ear were making his heart pound faster. "Draco, what are you doing?" he whispered. His eyes crossed when Draco kissed his neck several times, and he gasped when he felt the unmistakable nip and suction.

"Experimenting," Draco answered him in a preoccupied voice.

"But!" Harry groaned and he opened his eyes to look at Severus. No ... Severus! You can't - He moaned softly into Severus' mouth, a bit bewildered at first, when Severus drew him close without warning. Their kiss was passionate and Harry was tilting his head back more and more to expose his throat. A minute or two passed, and he belatedly realized that he had moved on to kiss Severus' chin, and then throat. It was too late, however, for him to stop nibbling gently on the pale flesh. When he pulled back, he saw that Severus sported more love bites. "Severus, I think you bruise easily," he said meekly.

Black eyes seemed to flicker with ... something. Harry blinked and he slowly pulled back. Lips curved into a dangerous smile and an alarm bell went off inside Harry's head.

Bloody hell.

He was aware that Draco was chuckling evilly behind his ear.

No way! "Severus! What-!"

By Tuesday, rumors that Harry and Draco were a couple were going around like wildfire. It had not reached the ears and eyes of the media, but Draco was not disturbed by the thought of it.

He smiled faintly as he wrote down the answer for the last question of a Charms revision test. He turned his head and watched Harry in amusement. His eyes lingered on the dark red patches on Harry's throat and neck.

Draco grinned and turned back to the parchment before him. He continued to work on it while his hand unconsciously rubbed at the bite that Severus had given him on his neck. I think Severus will be more than indignant if I ever say to him that he is as playful as a cat. He stopped writing and stared blankly at the blackboard. No, I'd better not say it where he could hear me. He might make me drink something unpleasant. Half an hour later, when Flitwick went around to collect the papers, another thought floated in his mind. I'd never dreamt that the three of us would be so daring... Draco blushed and rubbed at his wrist nervously. He blushed even more when he stared at the love bite on it. Well, I can't blame Harry for being quite the ... ah ... adventurer. He discreetly rubbed his cheeks for several seconds. Why do I keep thinking that Harry would like to give me love bites on other places other than the neck? On the wrist ... that's quite secretive of him. He shook his head vigorously before his mind could make a list of areas where he would not mind getting nips.

Flitwick dismissed them and Draco watched as Harry's friends pestered the emerald-eyed Gryffindor for the truth.

"Who the heck gave you this?" Seamus Finnigan pulled Harry's collar roughly. "No way! He did not give you that!"

When the Gryffindor turned to look at him with a skeptical expression, Draco raised his eyebrow instead of smirking. Finnigan looked more troubled than ever. Draco caught Harry's eye and he waved a little at his lover before joining Millicent - one of the senior Slytherins that had managed to stay out of trouble - to go down to the Great Hall.

"Why didn't you just admit that you are his boyfriend?" the burly witch asked him with a curious tone. "You could save Potter from their annoying behavior."

"He doesn't need saving," Draco said with a dreamy smile. "I am fairly certain he will be joining us for supper."

"What?" Millicent exclaimed. She stopped in her tracks but Draco continued to walk on. "Draco!"

Draco did not wait for her. He is getting exasperated by the hour... So, he is doing it just to get away from his friends, or he is doing it to confirm our relationship. He absently pushed his silver hair back. At least we have discussed this with Severus, so it won't matter much even if we proclaim that Harry and I are a couple. It is our relationship with Severus that we have to hide for the moment.

Although he was entertaining his own thoughts, he was still able to recognize the change in feeling and when he had slowed his pace, Harry was suddenly there beside him.

"I had asked them whether if I had any girlfriend that they know who would give me the love bites," Harry said conversationally before Draco could ask anything. "Then I had asked them with whom I've been with for the past several days. Ron had also added a question of his own."

"What?" Draco met Harry's sarcastic-looking eyes.

"Do you remember that time when we had come down to look for him?"

"Uh-huh." Draco nodded. "We were holding hands when we had entered, weren't we?"

Harry smiled crookedly and nodded.

"Hmmmm." Draco tentatively laced his fingers with his lover's and he smiled shyly at Harry. "I'm surprised that your friend had actually seen that."

They walked into the Great Hall and Draco purposefully allowed Harry to take the lead. The raven-haired Gryffindor led him to the table where he often sat and Harry tugged at his hand gently. Draco nodded and they sat down. It felt a bit strange to have Harry sitting beside him on a place designated for Slytherins only, and yet, it felt comfortable. Harry shifted closer until his warm side pressed against Draco's reassuringly.

"What are you going to eat?" Draco asked as he kneaded Harry's knee gently.

"I don't know ... but I hope spaghetti is on the menu. For some reason, I am craving for it."

Several minutes later, Harry got his wish. Draco poured pumpkin juice from a jug into the cold, empty glasses that Harry had taken for the two of them, while Harry served him some spaghetti. He watched his lover take a small sip from the glass and then he allowed his eyes to drift. He noticed Remus Lupin watching him - or perhaps the werewolf was watching the wizard beside him - with a very intent expression. I wonder if he knows anything... Draco sighed and wondered where Severus could be. Is he skipping dinner? Should we go down to the kitchen and bring food up just in case?

Millicent came, finally, and the witch hesitantly sat across him.

"I hope Snape isn't going to deduct points, Draco," she muttered as she helped herself to dinner.

"If he does, I'm sure Dumbledore is going to add the points back, for the truce between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or something equally silly," he said absently. His eyes were fixed on a group of Gryffindors going to their tables. Granger was looking in his direction with a sardonic little smile and several moments later, she had rolled her eyes. Draco raised his eyebrow and studied the rest of Harry's friends.

Thomas and Finnigan appeared distinctively green, Weasley looked somewhat resigned, Longbottom looked quite calm, and Ginny Weasley - she had just walked in with Luna - looked ... quite unhappy.

Draco snorted to himself. Then he looked at his plate, which was heaped with a lot of spaghetti. Gray eyes stared inquiringly at Harry. His lover smiled and leaned toward him. "You should eat more," Harry whispered.

Before he could stop himself, he felt his cheeks starting to burn. In front of him, Millicent spluttered and coughed violently. Then she stared hard at him. For some reason, he could not control his blush and he quickly busied himself with getting some chicken wings for Harry. Then he ate and kept his eyes on his food for a very long time.

Something made him look up a while later and he squirmed uncomfortably at the questioning stare.

"Mister Malfoy," Severus began silkily, "I believe that that place is meant for a Slytherin only?"

Well, yes... Draco assumed a faintly, adorable expression. "But-"

"Five points from Gryffindor," Severus said and he walked to the teachers' tables. "Go back to your seat, Potter, before I deduct more points from your house."

Draco shrank at the stern voice but he did not want Harry to leave his side. "Don't move," Draco muttered and laid his hand firmly on Harry's thigh.

"Draco, I have to," Harry groaned softly. "They'll kill me - Draco!"

"You are not going anywhere," he said smugly and he glanced at their chained feet critically.

"Draco..."

"Potter! Fif-"

Draco immediately looked around Harry's head and watched the Potions Master critically. Severus was glaring at the Defense professor.

"Five points to Gryffindor and Slytherin each," Lupin said cheerfully, "for not being afraid to start anew with friendship."

"It is too late to start forging bonds between Slytherin and Gryffindor, Lupin," Severus grated after he had broken the Silencing Charm that Lupin had set on him.

"It is never too late to strike up a friendship between individuals, Severus," the hazel-eyed wizard answered calmly.

Draco blinked and turned his head. "Harry, is Lupin any danger?" He whispered his question.

"What?" Harry looked at him immediately and gave him an astonished look. "No way!"

"I'm just asking."

Severus scowled throughout the meal and ate his supper stiffly. On his other side, Vector muttered something under her breath but he ignored her completely. I suppose I should have ignored Harry and Draco sitting together, but years - no, decades - of enmity between my house and his house is not something that can be erased in a day. Professor McGonagall entered the Great Hall somewhat hurriedly and passed on some scrolls to the prefects of the four houses. His scowl eased just a little, and he smirked. His eyes flitted swiftly to watch his lover's bushy-haired friend. Granger was keeping her expression remarkably calm, however, and she had not turned her face fully to look at him. She had given the scroll to her red-haired partner and she was now walking to Harry. She stopped several feet away from Millicent Bulstrode and spoke to Harry quietly.

Severus smiled when Harry paled and he met the pair of surprised eyes calmly. He waited until his lovers were finished with their meal before standing up. His long and heavy robes swished lightly around his legs as he walked and he paused before Draco almost thoughtfully.

"Well?" He raised his eyebrow. "Do you need me to bark at you so that you would get moving?"

"No, sir," Draco answered him with a soft sigh. The younger wizard stood up, waved his wand at something under the table and pulled Harry to his feet as well.

Why does he look so reluctant? Severus wondered with amusement as he allowed Harry and Draco to exit from the Great Hall first. He followed and smiled crookedly at the silence.

Draco stopped and paused in front of his office.

"No," Severus said with a slight shake of his head. "To the classroom." He felt his cheeks warming when he realized that he had talked to Draco in a tender voice. I hope there aren't any students hiding in the alcoves. He walked on and waved his wand at the door. It swung open and they entered.

Two cauldrons stood ready near the front of the classroom, and on top of three tables, jars and bottles of ingredients waited to be used. The younger wizards moved toward the blackboard while Severus locked the door. He whispered a charm and turned around to face his lovers when he was finished.

"Although I do enjoy spending time with you up there," he began, and Harry and Draco turned their faces to look at him. "I think it is more fruitful for the two of you to use your knowledge as well as do something productive, and..."

"And?"

"We can be together at the same time."

"Right." Draco grinned.

The emerald-eyed wizard just gave him a tremulous smile before shifting his eyes to look at the floor.

"Harry?" Severus cupped Harry's chin and titled it up. His lover looked up and Severus saw something like apprehension in them.

"What if I screw up?" Harry mumbled.

Severus started to chuckle at the helpless tone. Harry's cheeks began to change color because of him. Several feet away, Draco stood with one hand wrapped around his stomach and the other hand braced against a desk.

Soft laughter faded away into silence as Severus pulled Harry into a loving embrace and simply rested his cheek against Harry's hair. His fingers combed the black strands near Harry's nape absently but they suddenly took position at the base of his neck. Severus pulled away and stared into Harry's eyes, and slowly, he leaned forward to give Harry a gentle kiss. His stomach tightened when pink lips parted readily. He allowed his tongue to enter, to curl briefly around Harry's.

Not while we're still in Hogwarts... The thought drifted into his mind.

After licking, suckling, and kissing several times, Severus finally broke the kiss and stared again into Harry's eyes, now dark and a little glazed. The brightness returned after a few seconds and Harry licked his wet, reddened lips dreamily.

"You are a constant delight to me, Harry," he said softly.

"And a constant delicacy, I suppose?"

Severus ignored his inner voice.

"What? Do you mean you take delight in knowing that I'll screw up?" Harry asked him in an accusing tone.

"Partly," Severus answered blandly. "But it is not predetermined - whether you'll screw up or not."

"How disappointing." Harry glared at him and stormed away.

"You are sulking over that?" Severus looked at him with amusement.

"Hmmmm." Harry sat on a desk grumpily. "It's not funny, Draco," the Gryffindor muttered darkly.

Severus strode over gracefully to the space in front of Harry and casually laid his hands on top of Harry's thighs and pushed them apart. With equal calm, he stepped forward and looked up at Harry, whose face was now several inches higher.

"Is it wrong of me to take delight in your honesty, Mister Potter?" he murmured. He studied his lover and took note of Harry's excitement. His breathing had become more rapid and his muscles were tense under his fingers. A distant part of him decided that he should keep this information well for the future. "Well?"

Harry continued to breathe hard and Severus reminded himself repeatedly that they were still in Hogwarts.

"As delicious as the two of you appear right now," Draco spoke and even he sounded out of breath, "but you have to stop it and get to work, or Severus' efforts to make us do something more useful than snuggling all night in bed will be a waste."

"Right," Harry said shakily. "We should get to brewing."

Severus smiled faintly and nodded. "Work together with Draco." He moved away and absently kissed Draco before removing a chopping board and a knife from their holders. He was about to slice some roots when Harry had moaned.

"What if I screw something up?"

"You won't," Severus answered with exasperation.

"Especially if I'm your supervisor, silly," Draco added.

"But still ... what if I can't follow your instructions?"

"Harry James Potter. Take the mortar and pestle now, and grind these leaves," Draco ordered sternly. "And I mean 'grind'. Don't pound."

Severus smiled as Harry sighed explosively.

To Be Continued On Chapter Twenty-two