Disclaimer: I don't own, J.K. Rowling and friends don't sue... Deal?
fanandfuturewriter: Thank you dear! I know all about close-minded husbands. My own nearly had a heart attack when he found out what type of story I was writing. Then again... He has a miniature flip-out anytime I do anything involving support of the LBGT community, so I'm used to it. Lol. I'm trying here, I really am. It's all I can really do. Thank you so much for the continuing review and support. You have no idea how helpful reviews like yours (appreciative yet constructive) help. I'll keep in mind what you said about leaving out some of the more explicit details. It might make it a little less embarrassing to write!
DeathEatersAreGreat: Thank goodness! A kindred spirit! Thank you for the support, and if you need anything (we writers have to stick together) feel free to PM. Thank you for the support honey! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!
sapphyredragon-rn:... I'm married... with a kid. Yikes! I'm thinking my husband and I are going to have to have a long talk about my oral skills. Lol. Thank you dear! Seriously, no matter how much I play, the support is necessary and needed and I can't thank you enough for it!
cinnmin: Thanks sugar! I need a little bit of fluffiness. For my own sanity, Lol.
Hawkfire28: Doll, it doesn't matter to me how long it is between your reviews. The fact that you take the time to do it at all is an honor. So thank you. As for the conference, it's not up yet, but we're getting there. My next update, I promise!
Nami: Thank you!
MaryAliceB1: Thanks honey!
TwistedlySweetFiction: *blushes* I'm honored. Truly. Thank you so much. I love Harry/Severus fiction as well! As for the bit of slash, apparently I'm just really bad at... well, you know, not inexperienced. Or maybe I just get so embarrassed when I'm writing it that it makes me a bit off. Who knows? Thank you so much for the review! And I hope you like the coming chapters!
Mego225: I love making Cissy shocking! There's not much about her in the books or the movies, so I get to play with her and make her into a kind of canonical OC... if that makes any sense whatsoever. Lol. As for the lemon scene, as I said, I have a right to be paranoid. Straight female. This is unchartered territory for me and technically always will be. Texas is awesome! We're surrounded by woods too! I take my daughter exploring in them every day! Have you asked your neighbors about borrowing one of their horses? I'm telling you, there no better way to relax than to go for a long ride. You get on that horse and just start going as fast as you possibly can and it's like all your stress and worries melt away with the wind. Yes I actually called my cousin! She's fourteen! I didn't want her reading this. And I don't care how overprotective that makes me sound, that's the way it is! Lol. She did think I was nuts, then asked what pen name I wrote under so that she could see what all the fuss was about. Needless to say, she didn't get it. :D Here's four chapters for you love, I hope you like them!
R: That how I feel! Thank you for the support dear!
Les Dowich: Thank you! And yes, there is definitely more! This story is far from over. The spelling on this site is something I've never been able to understand. They even offer spellcheck when you upload you're chapters, something that, trust me, I take advantage of just in case my regular spellchecker missed something. Thank you again, for the review, the support, and the follow. I hope the coming chapters don't disappoint!
saranya1555: Continuation posted. Thank you love! Truly.
AND NOW, A SPECIAL SECTION FOR MY FIRST FLAMES! ALL FUTURE FLAMERS WILL BE LAUGHED AT AND ROASTED OVER YOUR OWN SPITS! JUST WARNING YOU NOW!
Fred: We're all entitled to our opinions dear. But, while you might believe that Ron should "kick [Draco's] ass" and that Draco should have to work for "months if not years", I do not. I believe in forgive-and-forget and second chances, and since the real world rarely works that way, I created a world where it did. Because this is my story, something that seems to have slipped your mind. You see, I'm the one who writes this. I'm the one who stays up late trying to balance my daughter, my family, my original works, and school, all while also writing this so that I can release a bit of stress and hopefully entertain others in the process. I'm the one who worries for hours about whether I'm making the characters to OOC, whether or not I've edited properly, whether or not people will even like it. You're just someone who came along and decided to criticize because the characters didn't behave the way you thought they should. Let me explain something to you, as writers, of anything, be it fanfiction, regular fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc., we pour a little bit of ourselves into every story we write. There are thousands of stories out there with this pairing. If you don't like the way one story progresses, back track and find one that you do like. Don't sit there and judge or try to tell an author how they should write their story. It's rude, it's disrespectful, and it shows a short-sightedness that only comes with a far too much ego and not enough grey matter.
Guest: Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahah aha! Ok, sorry. I just had to get that out. Oh honey... That stick is shoved so far up your ass that you can't even find the end, can you? So let's start with you're complaints, shall we. 1) Are you seriously trying to tell me that you've never become uncomfortable thanks to someone who was being overly emotional and tried to dispel that awkwardness with humor? Tell me you you haven't and I'll brand you as a liar. That's all Harry and Draco were trying to do. It's what any of us would try to do. Any of us with a sense of humor that is, which you seem to be sorely lacking. Don't worry about it. I've come to discover it's a genetic defect. You're not to be blamed. 2) Really? Really? I'm sorry. You have to give me a moment to wrap my head around the sheer stupidity of that statement. I've labeled Draco as a "stereotypical homosexual slut"? Give me a break. It was one paragraph in which I described Draco as promiscuous. News flash, there are promiscuous people out there, of every orientation. The fact that Draco was gay had nothing to do with it. It had to do with what I believed his personality to be. If you had continued to read, you would have seen that Charlie and Seamus are gay as well, and I've never made them out to be promiscuous, or that when Harry and Draco finally got together, I made sure to emphasize that Harry was only interested in a long-term, monogamous relationship. Something I promote between all the couples in this story. Get over yourself. As for your comment that I should "Try and meet some real gay people", don't make me laugh. Of my grand total of two best friends (I'm really not a nice person. I'm kind online, mainly because I can stop and filter most of the sarcasm that flows from my mouth, but in real life I'm a total bitch.) Bobby is gay and Stephanie is bi. I know very well how varied the LBGT community is, I work with Wipe OUt Homophobia, and I've marched in every Pride Parade in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas since I was seventeen, purely to show my support. You, on the other hand, need to learn not to judge. If you had continued to read, you would have found all this out anyway. But no, you wanted to jump to conclusions and leave a scathing review citing information that had no practical backing. You were right to say "good riddance", because I really don't need people like you reading or reviewing my story.
Author's Note 1: I am so sorry it took me so long to update! First my laptop charger crapped out, then the Criminal Minds fanfic bit me in the ass yet again, then it was one of my originals. But I'm back with a vengeance loves! I can't promise this will never happen again (the holiday season is upon after all. It seems like in seasons of cheer, everything wants to go to hell in a handbasket.), but I can promise I will not abandon this story!
Author's Note 2: Considering the fact that I got my first flames (I now know why they're called that. They certainly made my blood boil), I have to say this. To all the reviewers out there who have supported me, given me advice, and shored up my constantly flailing self-esteem, you guys are amazing! Words cannot express how happy it makes me to log in and see a review telling me that one of you enjoyed my story, that I made you laugh, cry, "squeal like a girly girl" (in the words of cinnamin), or just feel something. When I started writing fanfiction, it was because I wanted to release some of my own stress and entertain others out there while I was doing it. It's thanks to the reviewers who take time out of their days to tell me about how my story affects them that I'm able to know I've achieved what I set out to do. I'm sending internet kisses to you all. You're all my personal heroes!
Author's Note 3: This is completely off topic, but I have to share this. MY DAUGHTER STARTED WALKING! I'm so proud of her! Just a few days ago she was taking teeny-tiny steps away from the couch and now she's running through the house and around the yard like she's been doing it for years! It's amazing! Ok, über mommy moment over. I just had to tell every one. If I didn't think I'd fall off, I'd literally shout it from the rooftops!
"Draco! Harry! We're home!" Narcissa called up the stairs.
Severus shook his head. He'd remembered Narcissa from his school days. She'd been a happy and vibrant girl, but there had always been that trace of Slytherin arrogance about her. Now that she was free of Lucius and all the Pureblood nonsense, even that trace of arrogance was gone. It was hard to believe she'd been able to hide this warmth and zest for life for so many years. He thought briefly of her sister Andromeda and how close the two had been, giggling and whispering in the common room, the sly glint that was always in their eyes when they were together. Maybe it wasn't so hard to imagine. Maybe he just hadn't known her well enough.
She looked at him over her shoulder and gave a brilliant smile and Severus felt his heart give a painful lurch. It had been so long since someone had looked at him with such happiness. Fear, respect, even sympathy, but never as if they were actually happy to have him around. He shook it off. Harry. He had to focus on Harry. The boy needed him and he owed it to Lily to ensure Harry's future.
"Hi Mum!" Draco said brightly, bouncing down the stairs. Harry followed more sedately, shaking his head. Severus smirked. The Potions Master had a feeling the Boy-Who-Lived was entertaining the same thoughts that he himself had just been entertaining. "How was your visit?"
"Wonderful my Dragon." She replied, giving her son a tight hug. Releasing him, she pulled Harry into an equally crushing embrace. "But it brought up some things we need to talk to you two about."
Harry pulled back and looked up in to her eyes worriedly. "Is everything ok Cissy?"
"That all depends on you Harry. Come on." Narcissa released the green-eyed boy. "Let's go into the parlor and sit down. We'll get Kreacher to bring some tea and a plate of those little treacle tarts you love, then we'll talk."
Severus snorted at the bemused expression on his godson's face and the wary one on Harry's. Both boys were skittish about what was to come. Draco sighed, as if it were inevitable, and in a way, it was, and followed his mother into the parlor. The Boy-Who-Lived-Twice chewed the corner of his lip, looking as if he were debating between following or running for the attic. "It'll be ok." He told Harry, pushing slightly between the boy's shoulder blades. "She's not planning anything nefarious."
Harry sent Severus a sheepish smile. "I know. Still, Narcissa saying we need to talk feels like Hagrid saying he has a new creature."
Snape threw his head back and laughed. Leave it to Harry to come up with such a description. "It won't be that bad. I promise you."
"I'm holding you to that Sev."
~*~GREY~*~
"You want to what?!" Harry exclaimed, recoiling back onto the settee.
Draco gripped his hand, running a soothing thumb over his boyfriend's knuckles. "They want to hold a press conference and tell the wizarding world you're not their puppet. They want to tell everyone that you've sacrificed enough and to stop asking more of you." He cupped Harry's cheek in his palm, forcing the darker teen to look at him. "They want to give you a chance to have a life that's truly your own Harry. And not just Mum and Sev. Everyone wants to give you that. The Weasleys, Granger, Thomas, Finnegan, even Hagrid and Madam Maxine. Everyone who cares about you. Your…" He paused for a moment. "Your family. Because that's what we are now. We're you're family."
Harry ducked his head, hiding the tears that comment raised, and pulled Draco to him. He tucked the blonde's head under his chin and wrapped his arms round the slim torso. "Of course you're my family Dray. It just… I don't know if I can do this. I hate disappointing people and the wizarding world needs someone and…"
"And you're willing to sacrifice your own happiness for this?" Severus interrupted sharply. "When you've already given everything else? Friends, family, even your own life?"
Green eyes clashed with black. "I'm not giving up my happiness. I'm just making a couple adjustments to try to make everyone happy."
"You'll never make everyone happy Harry." Narcissa said, holding up a hand to stall Snape's no-doubt scathing retort. "There's always going to be someone who will complain. There will always be someone who thinks you should have been an Auror instead. Or someone who thinks you should have stayed with Ginny. Someone who believes you should have gone back to Hogwarts for your seventh year instead of studying at home to take the N.E.W.T.S., or that you should do this-that-or-the-other besides what you are doing because it what they think you should do. And we're just as guilty of it." She said, sitting back. "We're trying to tell you that holding this press conference and telling everyone that you're not their hero anymore is best for you, but it's what we think. You're the only one who really knows what you want and what's going to be the best course of action."
Severus stared at Narcissa in shock before reaching over and giving her hand a small squeeze in thanks. He needed to sit down and get a long list of tips from her. She was much better at this parenting thing than he was. Then Harry's next words cut into his brain, and it became apparent that the talk would have to wait. "I just want to do what my parents would have wanted me to do."
The words were said in such a small voice, that Severus felt his heart break. "Narcissa. Draco. I think Harry and I need a few moments alone. Why don't you two go to Black Manor. I'm sure there are loads of stories you can tell your son about that place Cissy."
Draco glared at his godfather for even suggesting the he leave Harry right now. Stubbornly, he curled against his boyfriend even tighter, gripping a handful of Harry's t-shirt in his fist and smiling slightly when he felt the soft kiss placed in his hair. Then he felt the small push against the small of his back and looked up curiously. Harry silently communicated with his eyes that it would be ok for Draco to leave. The blond huffed and rolled his eyes, but gave Harry a brief kiss and got up from the couch. "We'll go upstairs. Not to Black Manor."
Harry nodded, giving Draco a brief smile. "Just to let you know, this room was spelled against Extendable Ears during the war."
Draco scowled. "Fine, but we're still not leaving the house."
"That's fine, Dragon." Narcissa responded, smiling at the hint of willful brat coming out in her son. "But I think Harry and Severus need to talk, so let's go. You can show me that interesting attic while we wait."
Mother and son left the room, and Severus chuckled. At Harry's questioning gaze, the former spy said, "I thought it was only you who was protective over him."
Harry laughed. "No. We tend to protect each other."
"Quite the change from when you were in school together."
"Not so much, really." Harry said, looking thoughtful. "We never really hurt each other. With the exception of sixth year. And even then, I didn't know what the spell did and his heart wasn't in the Cruciatus, that's why it didn't work. Anytime we fought before that, it was more to annoy each other than to actually cause damage."
"Pulling pigtails then?"
"Pretty much."
Severus sighed. "And to think, I'm going to have to go back to that for at least three years."
Harry perked up. "Three years?"
"It'll take at least that long for Draco to become a Potions Master." Snape explained. "It take a year for each step. Apprentice, Journeyman, then Master."
"Really? Cool. I didn't know that."
Severus smiled. "There's a lot you don't know. The ailment of youth."
"Whatever you say old man." Harry joked, but a nervousness showed in his eyes. "What do you need to talk about Sev?"
The older man paused, thinking for a moment while trying to word what he wanted to say. Finally, the best he came up with was a simple question. "Are you ready to talk about what you saw in my memories?"
~*~GREY~*~
You know what I think of your father. You've seen it and you've admitted that you understand my hatred of the man now. But you know very little about your mother and I.
Lily was my first friend. I didn't have a wonderful childhood. My father was abusive and my mother, while a strong and independent witch in her youth, withered during her marriage to him. You saw how we met. My mother had explained to me, from a young age, what I was. Lily had no idea. It was wonderful to have someone like me. Someone who wouldn't be afraid of what I was.
We spent our childhood together. Every day we ran in the parks and woods near Spinner's End and played, sometimes including Petunia, but leaving her behind most of the time. When it came time, and we got out letters to Hogwarts, we went to Diagon Alley together, and the train. We stayed by each other's sides up until the sorting and we were forced into different houses. Even then, we stayed together in between classes and studying in the library together instead of in our common rooms.
We weren't well liked for it. A Slytherin and a Gryffindor friends? More importantly, as the years passed and she became a prefect, a Gryffindor prefect who defended a Slytherin against her own house.
Your mother… your mother was amazing. She never flinched in the face of all the criticism. Lily just held her head high and stood by me, almost daring anyone to try to hurt me. I… I wasn't so strong. Maybe I'm just not made of the same mettle as her, or maybe it was the torture from Sirius and James on top of everyone hissing at me for defiling the Golden Girl of Gryffindor with my presence, but I couldn't handle it nearly as well as she could.
You saw what happened when it all came to a head. I said something unforgivable and lost my longest friend and staunchest ally. Lily… years later, after she was already married to your father and pregnant with you, she tried to rekindle our friendship. She was willing to forgive me. That thought still floors me. But by that point, I had already joined the Deatheaters and had to turn her away. I was harsh, and cruel. I wanted to protect her for once, and knew that, as a muggle-born, she'd come into the Dark Lord's sights much sooner if she was to be my friend. I didn't want to. The things I said that day… Harry, I made myself sick. I literally ran to the toilet and retched after she left. Especially when she looked so small and sad on my doorstep, asking for her best friend back.
All I wanted to do was pull her into a hug and tell her that I would always be there for her, be anything she needed me to be. But I couldn't. The next week, I found out about the prophecy and Voldemort's plan for your parents. I couldn't let that happen, so I turned to Albus and became a spy.
Obviously, I still failed. When I walked into Godric's Hollow that night and saw your mother on the floor, I broke. I held her and wailed and then I looked to the crib and saw you. You with your father's hair and your mother's eyes. So I picked you up and I carried you from the rubble and waited for Albus and Minerva and Hagrid to arrive.
I made Albus swear never to tell a soul. And later, after they were buried, I went to Lily's grave and made a promise to protect you, no matter what.
You said you wanted to do what you thought your parents would want you to do, then let me say this. I can't speak for James. I didn't know him. I didn't like him. He will forever be etched into my memory as the bully that made my school years a living hell. But your mother… your mother I knew like I know myself. She would want you to be happy. She would tell you that you've done your duty, now walk away and live your life. She would tell you that it doesn't matter what the rest of the world thinks, as long as you know in your heart that what you're doing is right, then it is the right thing to do. That's what she did, standing by me all those years. That's what she was trying to do when she came back to me, offering an olive branch. And it's what she would want of you. How you choose to do that is up to you Harry.