Chapter Thirty Four: It's been a long time coming, down this road (but now I know)
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"It's stupid to get upset over a murderer, isn't it?" Draco asked, perched on the cleanest spot in the dusty room - an old couch that Harry had spelled somewhat clean.
"Not at all," Harry protested, pushing his glasses up as he attempted to spell-clean another of the armchairs. It was stubbornly refusing to part with it's decades worth of dust. "It's perfectly justified!"
"Even if he's not a murderer like you thought, just a coward."
"He's still a murderer," Harry pointed out, giving up on the armchair. He settled on the couch next to Draco instead. "He's still killed people."
"Like Rossier," Draco murmured, resting his head in his hands, elbows on his knees.
"Rossier?" Harry prompted, confused before remembering what Lucius had said. Rossier had known the risks. "He killed him."
Draco nodded. "To prove his loyalty. Loyalty to a mad-man that he ended up leaving anyway." The laugh stuck in his throat, almost hysterical. "I knew he wasn't all goody-goody like you, Potter, but I didn't really think..."
Harry wrapped an arm around the pale boy's shoulders, allowing him to lean on him. "No one does," Harry confessed. "We all want to believe the best in the people we love, doesn't matter who they are."
Draco resisted at first, but slowly let his head rest on the golden boy's chest, focusing on breathing, instead of thinking.
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"Harry?" Hermione called out, leading Ron by the arm down the empty hallway.
"Why are there so many rooms?" Ron whined, but quietened at his girlfriend's - was she his girlfriend? They hadn't really talked about labels yet. So complicated, he groaned - dark look.
"We just need to be logical about where we search, Ronald," she said firmly. "If we keep track of what hallways we search, we'll find them without getting lost ourselves."
"Great," Ron muttered. "Why did Harry run off with Mal- Draco, anyway?"
"Professor Lupin said something about Draco being upset, so Harry took him away to comfort him," Hermione reminded.
"Geeze, Hermione, he hasn't been our professor in years. Just call him Remus like everyone else," Ron teased, but was once again quelled by her dark look. Bookish, yes, but Hermione could be scary if she wanted.
In order to look like he was doing something, he darted to the side and pushed open one of the doors, peering instead. He choked.
"What is it, Ron?" Hermione asked, hurrying over to his side, only to stiffle a gasp.
Harry was on the only couch in the room, one leg along the cushion, the other with his foot on the floor. He was asleep, which wasn't really that odd as he hadn't been sleeping well. Draco was perched on the same couch, both feet tucked beneath him, and the rest of his body laid on Harry's, his head resting on Harry's chest and one arm around the black haired boy's waist. He was sound asleep.
"Oh," Hermione said, eyes wide as she tried to take in what she was seeing. "Oh!" She grabbed Ron's arm and tugged him backwards, closing the door behind them. "Oh."
"Stop saying 'oh'!" Ron groaned, covering his eyes with his hand. "What the hell was that?"
"Let's get away from the door," Hermione decided, tugging him down the hallway and ignoring his grumbles until they had gotten to a 'safe' distance from the room. Far enough away that they would not wake the slumbering pair within. "Maybe it's not anything. They weren't doing anything...sexual -" Ron gagged a little. "- they were just sleeping on the same couch. They probably fell asleep while Harry was comforting him."
"That was not 'friendly', 'Mione!" Ron announced. "I have been best mates with Harry for years and I can safely say that we have never ever slept like that. Ever."
"Well, thank God for that," Hermione teased, rolling her eyes at her boyfriend. "But that doesn't mean that Harry and Draco are...involved."
"Stop saying stuff like that!" Ron protested. "It's freaking me out."
"Well, what do you think is going on then, Mr. Smartypants?" She snapped.
Ron opened his mouth, and closed it with a snap. "I don't know, but whatever it is, it's weird."
They fell silent, resting on the walls at either side of the hallway. Hermione giggled.
"What?" Ron prompted.
"If Harry and Draco do get together - oh, don't shudder, Ron! It's not that disgusting - then there is one good point for you."
Ron wasn't sure if he wanted to hear this but still he asked, "what?"
"You don't need to worry about Harry putting the moves on Ginny." Hermione continued to giggle, as Ron looked pleased, then relieved, before finally turning green with nausea.
"Oh, ew!" Ron muttered. "Now I have to think about Harry putting the moves on Draco. I need to go wash my mind out."
Hermione shook her head at Ron's childish attitude. He is going to whine about this for ages, she thought. Well, she couldn't have that. "You could always put the moves on me," Hermione said quietly, her cheeks going red at her daring. "To, ahem, get the images out of your head."
Ron perked up dramatically, darting across to grab her hand. "Let's go!" He sped down the hallway, ignoring Hermione's laughing directions back to his room, in his eagerness.
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Harry stirred, stretching his leg which had begun to cramp. There was a weight preventing it's movement, and he froze, opening one eye slightly to stare at the weight. Gray eyes stared up at him from his chest.
Oh.
His eyes opened all the way, blinking down at Draco, concerned when the bluriness didn't clear. He soon realised his glasses were beside him on the couch.
"Hi," Harry said, dumbly.
"Hello," Draco responded, sounding dryly amused. "Lovely weather we're having."
Harry glanced up, as if he could see the weather outside through the roof. Draco snorted. "You're not too bright in the morning, are you?" Draco taunted, but still didn't move from his spot.
"It's morning?" Harry asked, panicked. Had he slept through yesterday and the night?
Draco wiggled, stretching over Harry further to reach the wand that had fallen to the ground. It sparked at his touch, but allowed him to cast the tempus spell. "No, it's...five-thirty though. We slept through the afternoon." He settled back in his spot, spinning the wand between his fingers.
"That explains why I'm hungry," Harry said, stretching his arms out, before replacing one around Draco's shoulder. He stared at his lightly tanned fingers on the hand-me-down clothes that Draco wore for a moment, before asking, "what are we doing?"
"Resting on a couch."
"Not that, I can see that, but - " Harry gestured to the way they laid. "What is this?"
"Cuddling," Draco responded, so bland-faced that Harry snorted. "Hey, why are you laughing?"
"You just pulled such a Slytherin face," he snickered, "and said cuddling. How Un-Slytherin a word is that?"
"What? You'd rather I said PG-lazy dry humping while sleeping?" Draco sneered, taking offense to the laughter.
Harry's face went red. "Uh, no." He shifted, uncomfortable. "Cuddling's fine."
Draco pinched his side. "Stop moving. You're comfortable." He rested his head back on the fellow male's chest.
"Sorry, I'll just lay here forever and be your personal pillow," Harry said, trying out sarcasm.
"Perfect. Do that." Draco yawned, closing his eyes.
"Hey, don't go back to sleep!" Harry said, shaking his shoulder's lightly. "We need to get up soon, get some food."
"Bring it to me," Draco commanded.
"And feed it to you, too?"
Draco smirked. "That sounds good. Gets some grapes...and one of those big palm fans, we may as well go all the way with this."
Harry snickered, and moved, pushing Draco upright despite his protesting whine. He had kept his arm around Draco's shoulder, and as they'd sat up, Harry's leg had gone along the back of the couch, while Draco sat between them on his knees. Their faces ended up nearly touching.
"We should, uh, get food," Harry said quietly, disturbed at how pale Draco's eyes looked close-up.
"We should." Draco draped his arms over Harry's shoulders, linking them behind his neck.
"Do not act foolishly. I did not save you only for you to kill yourself over the first male to show you affection." Lucius' voice rang in his head.
Foolish, Father? He thought bitterly. Who, me? Never.
He lent forward, closing the distance between them and pressing his lips against Harry's cutting off his stumbling excuses. It took a moment, but soon Harry's arms were tightening around one, one hand coming up to tangle in his hair and pull him even closer. They sunk back down onto the couch, and Draco wanted to laugh.
If only his father could see him now, he crowed, content that it would give his father a panic attack.
Harry shifted beneath him, tugging him closer and slipping one hand up the back of Draco's shirt, the first touch of skin on skin, and all thoughts of Lucius the murderer flew out of Draco's head. He stifled a moan into Harry's mouth, and felt those lips twist upwards into a smile, his own following suit.
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Lucius had been given nothing to entertain himself with. They did not trust him with books as they were potential projectiles. All furniture had been spelled to the floor, so they could not move and be similarly used as weapons.
In short, everything was rather...boring, being a captive.
At least in the Dark Lord's captivity, you knew what to expect. Torture and then death. Lucius had no assurances like that in this situation.
The sound of the door opening made him shift his gaze from the ceiling where he'd been counting cracks. He expected an Auror, or an Order Member, or do-gooder Potter. He shot upright in the most graceful fashion possible when he caught sight of greasy locks.
"Severus," he breathed, unable to stop himself.
Severus paused just inside the door, closing it behind him with a solid click. He tilted his jaw up, unknowingly accentuating his huge nose. "Lucius," he responded coldly.
Lucius scoffed, pushing himself to his feet. "They failed to get information out of me with Draco and so they send you?"
"No," Severus denied, glancing at the wall that held the hidden mirror with disdain. "They are not aware that I am here."
"Liar," Lucius snarled. "They have wards all over the room, they would know."
"No, Arthur would know and he has no desire to tell them," Severus scoffed, stepping forward. "We're alone, Lucius."
The blond eyed him, suspiciously as he took two steps forward to match the dark male's. "I do not believe you."
"Admitting my...fondness for you, would be an admittance of my own weakness, not merely of yours. Why would I tell people what they do not need to know?"
Lucius smirked. "To save yourself."
"I am saved," Severus sneered, grabbing the back of his lover's head, fist clenching in hair. He tugged it, causing Lucius to hiss and arch his neck to relieve some of the pressure. "Tell me why."
"Why what? You know why I let her die, you know why I did what I did. You know, so don't you dare ask me why!"
"No," Severus corrected, shoving the blond away, a disgusted look on his face. "Why do I still care if you die?"
Lucius threw his head back and laughed. "Because you still love me." He stalked forward, shoving Severus back with gentleness that had not been present in Severus' shove. He clenched his hands in the fabric of Severus' shirt collar, keeping him captive with only the barest restraints. "Are you going to save me?" He breathed, staring into the dark eyes of his lover.
"No," Severus denied. "Save yourself."
"I laid myself at the alter of 'good' to find you, and you won't even bother to save me?" He tempted, hovering his mouth close to Severus'.
"You did it to escape, not to find us. You didn't know that they had us, not until the Order came along with the Aurors."
"Oh, Severus," Lucius laughed. "You always were too clever for my deceptions." He pressed a kiss to the corner of Severus' mouth, firm and fast. "Does this mean that you came to say goodbye? Are you going to let them kill me soon?"
"No," Severus admitted, scowling as he grasped Malfoy's robes. "Neither I nor Draco wish to see you dead."
"Could have fooled me," Lucius scoffed, and tried to pull back, uncomfortable with the shift of conversation to his son.
"You killed his mother, how did you expect him to react?" Severus sneered.
"I didn't kill her!" Lucius bellowed. "I -"
"let her die. Her blood is still on your hands, Lucius. You could have saved her."
"And doomed you and Draco?" Lucius scoffed. "Narcissa came second to you, to him. She knew."
Severus stared. "He might never forgive you."
Lucius laughed, finally pulling free of Severus. "But he will be alive. Perhaps him dying while loving me might be more soothing to my ego, but I would rather him alive and hating me, personally."
There was a flicker of something that Lucius hadn't seen for years in Severus' eyes. "You always were a girl when it came to Draco," Severus sneered, but he walked forward to grab at his partner again.
"You would know," Lucius snorted. "You were there when he was born."
"When you passed out." Severus smirked, and earned a dark look from Lucius.
"And now I am to have another child," Lucius remarked dryly.
"Ah yes. Anna." Severus did not reach for him.
"She was impregnated as Narcissa was," Lucius said sharply. "Potions and spells."
"I did not doubt. You never had much of an interest in the fairer sex."
"No." Lucius smirked, cupping the back of Severus' neck. "My tastes always ran in the darker range."
Severus went willingly this time, his hands grasping at at his robe, at his body, at skin.
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It was almost seven by the time Draco and Harry returned from their self-imposed exile. Harry was bombarded with questions which he deflected, saying that they lost track of time and had ended up falling asleep. Which was true. They had just woken up hours ago and spent that time together in more constructive ways. Draco smirked.
"Are you hungry, dears?" Molly asked, fussing over Draco as well. "I can reheat some dinner."
"That'd be great," Harry agreed readily. "I'm starved."
"Must be due to all that sleeping," Draco said smoothly, slipping passed him into the kitchen and smirking at the blush on the Golden Boy's cheeks.
"Did you two see Severus?" Molly prompted. "We haven't seen him for a while."
"No," Draco denied, taking the plate of warmed vegetables and roast beef from Molly. "He's probably in his room, ignoring us all."
"We checked," Remus admitted. "He's not."
"He probably found a potions lab somewhere then," Draco suggested, shrugging. "I wouldn't worry. He can't go far."
Arthur gave Draco a suspicious glance, and Draco raised a eyebrow in response. The eldest Weasley male smiled. "Perhaps Draco would like to take some dinner to his father as well?" Arthur asked. "We really shouldn't forget to be civil."
Draco's eyes narrowed. Oh. So that's where Severus was. "May as well. Can't let him starve before we get answers out of him," Draco said with a faint sneer, ignoring Harry's look of concern. He gave a slight nod to Arthur as he took the plate for his father - which had been spelled unbreakable for the next few hours.
"Do you want someone to go with you?" Molly fussed.
"No, it's fine. He's harmless right now." Draco doubted his father would be in any fit state to launch an attack anyway. "I'll be back in a bit," he told them, stealing a potato from his own plate to eat on the way.
Draco didn't knock when he reached his father's room. He pushed open the door and almost wanted to laugh. It was like being back at the manor.
"Hello Father. Severus. I'd suggest re-clothing as soon as possible, seeing as you can't lock the door."
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Harry watched Draco leave with a concerned expression on his face, barely hidden by a mask of disinterest.
"Harry!" Hermione called out, smiling as her and Ron entered the kitchen. "There you are. We looked for you earlier but we, uh, couldn't find you."
"Yeah mate, you just disappeared," Ron added, looking slightly green as he tried to keep up the pretense.
"Just wanted to get away for a little while," Harry excused. "Sorry if I worried you. What did you need me for?"
"Oh, nothing too important." Hermione waved a dismissive hand. "But we did have something we wanted to talk about you now. It can wait until after you've finished your dinner though."
Ron grabbed a potato off Harry's plate, ignoring the disapproving look from his girlfriend. Harry just rolled his eyes but didn't protest the poaching.
Half way through Harry's dinner, Draco re-entered the room. He nodded his head at the collected trio, taking his seat next to Harry to finish his own meal.
Severus entered the room shortly after, looking perfectly composed. Draco was smirking at his plate, but winced as Severus whacked him over the head while Arthur and Molly weren't looking. The Golden Trio gave them confused look, but Draco merely snorted and rubbed the back of his head where it now throbbed.
"Ah, there you are, Severus, we saved you some food too," Molly greeted him, handing him some food despite he did not say he was hungry. He nodded, glaring at Arthur who was grinning at him.
Severus sat at the table, trying to ignore the eyes on him and decided that too many people knew about his love life.
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"All done," Harry announced, pushing away his empty - almost spotless - plate. "That was delicious, Molly."
"That's good, dear! You don't want anymore?" She queried, taking his plate for washing.
"No, I'm stuffed," Harry said with a grin. "Thanks though." He pushed his chair back, and glanced at Hermione and Ron. "Wanna talk now?" He asked.
"Sure," Hermione agreed, bouncing out of her chair. "We can go to the library."
"This is just some trick to get us to read more, isn't it?" Harry groaned, but followed after them as they left. He felt bad about leaving Draco, but the blond was playing with his food rather than eating and did not seem eager to leave the kitchen.
"I promise it's not," Hermione assured him, but was grinning - something that Harry didn't find particularly comfortable. They trudged to the library in silence.
"Sit down," Hermione told them, closing the library door behind them. She took the seat beside Ron, across from Harry.
"Is this an intervention?" Harry joked, and Hermione giggled. Ron just looked confused at the muggle reference. "Never mind," he said to Ron. "Just a bad joke."
"I could figure that part out, Mate," Ron responded dryly.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Harry prompted, leaning back on the couch. He was tired, despite having actually slept for a few hours earlier.
"It's about Draco," Hermione launched in.
"What about him?" That got Harry's attention.
"Well," Hermione started, before pausing, looking confused as to how to continue.
"We found you, early," Ron saved her the trouble. "When we went looking for you? We found the room you and Draco were in, mate."
Harry paled, his eyes going wide. Oh. "I swear, I don't know why I keep kissing him," he blurted out, trying to explain his behaviour in the room.
Ron choked and Hermione's eyes went wide and her face pinked.
"Kiss?" They repeated in unison.
Oh crap. "That's not what you saw, was it?" Harry groaned, covering his face with his hands as his cheeks burnt red.
"No!" Ron said, gagging.
"We saw you on the couch, sleeping. You were, sorta - " Hermione floundered for the right word.
"Cuddling?" Harry suggested dryly, repeating Draco's words.
"Yes!" She agreed quickly. "But you actually...kissed him?"
"Wait, wait," Ron broke in before Harry could formulate a response. "You said you don't know why you keep kissing him? You've been - ugh - kissing Malfoy BEFORE?"
Harry wanted to disappear through the floor and hide, but in his dazed mind he realised Draco still had his wand. "A couple of times," Harry finally admitted in a mumble.
"Why?" Hermione prompted.
"I don't know!" He groaned, slumping on the couch. "I just do and then I can't figure out why but I don't stop either."
"Do you like him?" She asked, looking curious - as if he was some fascinating bug to study.
"I don't know!" He paused. "I guess I must, if I kiss him?"
"Can we not talk about kissing and Malfoy, please?" Ron begged, looking green. "I might hurl."
"Oh grow up, Ron," Hermione chastised. "Harry's having a situation here."
"No, I agree, let's just...not talk about this." Harry launched himself to his feet. "I'm perfectly happy with that."
"Harry," Hermione protested, standing also. She grabbed his arm. "It's okay, you know. If you do...like Draco. He's not that much of a jerk anymore, and I guess, if you like him...he can't be too bad?" She looked uncertain even as she spoke.
Feeling a rush of affection for his friend, he hugged her. "Thanks 'Mione."
"So, do you?" She prompted.
"Do I - ? "
"Like Draco?"
"Uh," Harry hesitated, glancing at the door as if wondering if he could sprint out with Hermione catching him. Instead, he could remember Draco leaning against teh door downstairs, exhausted. Could see him fighting with his father. Could see him injured, countless times, because of him...but he saw Draco kissing him. Draco laughing. Draco teasing him - or rather, taunting, but it was not always mean spirited. Draco talked to him. Tried to help. He'd opened his eyes up to more than black and white. "Yeah," Harry finally admitted. "I do."
"Ugh," Ron groaned from the coach, but was ignored.
"Okay then," Hermione said firmly, wrapping her arms around Harry. "Then that's okay with us. Right, Ron?"
Ron looked green, but nodded at Hermione's prompting. Harry grinned.
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Draco sat on his bed, staring at Severus who'd taken a seat nearby. "So," he said. "You still - ? "
Severus gave him a dark look. "Yes."
"What are you going to do?"
"I have not devised a plan yet, but I will."
"Do you want my assistance?"
"No, Draco. This is not you concern."
"I don't see how it's not! Considering it involves my fathers...I mean, my father and his partner." Draco flushed, and Severus looked surprised.
They both ignored the slip-up, though Severus moved to the bed and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder.
"You do not need to be incriminated in this plan," Severus said stiffly. "Potter's protection will only give you so much room to move."
"And if it goes wrong? Then what's the plan?" Draco snapped. "You have no protection, other than my influence on Potter."
"Influence?" Severus smirked. "Is that what sneaking off with him was?"
Draco's cheeks burned red. "That's not what we're talking about here."
"No, but we should," Severus said firmly, grabbing Draco's jaw to make him look him in the eyes. "Is he the reason you asked about homosexuality being hereditary?"
Draco scowled, but knew there was no use lying to Severus. He already knew, anyway. "Yes."
"You kissed him then."
"No, he kissed me!" He protested, before amending. "Well, that time he did."
"You have continued to have a physical relationship."
He crinkled his nose at the sound of that. "Yes."
"As much as it pains me to ask, as I am the only parental figure you have in your life other than Weasley's, I will ask it anyway. Do you care for him?"
"No!" Draco denied, but the dark stare of the elder Slytherin made him flinch. "Maybe." He continued to stare and Draco jerked his head out of his hold. "Okay, yes! Merlin, you should be an interrogator. You'd make murderers cry just by looking at them - and please, on Merlin, please, do not make some comment about my father."
Severus, who had opened his mouth, closed it with a smirk. "Very well."
Draco sighed, and flopped back ungracefully onto the bed. "Looks like we both chose people to care about that'll probably get us killed."
"Or kill us," Severus added, patting Draco's knee in what was probably an attempt to comfort.
"Gee, I hadn't thought of that," Draco sneered.
A knock on the door sounded. "Uh, Draco?" Harry asked, hesitantly through the door.
Draco wanted to hide, but he did actually sort-of want to see the bespectacled git. "Come in, Potter," he called out tiredly, covering his eyes with one arm.
He heard the door open and Potter hesitate in the doorway. "Snape," he greeted coldly.
"Potter," Severus responded, voice just as chilled. Turning to Draco, Severus continued, for all intents and purposes ignoring Harry altogether. "I do hope you know what you are doing, Draco. I plan to retire to my room, try to deter anyone wishing to bother me." He got to his feet, the springs moving on the bed as his weight was removed. He sneered at Harry as he passed him, ignoring how Harry stepped into the room rather than back to let him pass.
Draco waited until Severus' footsteps sounded down the hall before he removed the arm from across his eyes, glancing at the nervous Harry by the door. "You can sit down," he drawled, pushing himself up on his elbows. "Considering what we've done, I don't think it counts as too personal to sit on my bed with me."
Harry's face was instantly red, though he closed the door and moved to sit next to Draco. "It's not that."
"It's not?" Draco repeated, sounding sceptical and still amused. "Thank Merlin for that." He reached out, placing a hand boldly on Harry's leg, far higher than his knee. Harry startled but didn't push him away, instead he stared at the pale fingers on his grey pants.
"Hermione and Ron know we've kissed," he blurted out, and suddenly that hand was gone.
"What?" Draco yelled.
.
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After kicking Harry out of his room, Draco collapsed back onto the bed, horrified. The Weasel and the Bookworm knew he'd kissed the Golden Boy - how as he not dead? He hadn't really listened to Harry's attempted explanation, too concerned by the possible ramifications of his actions.
Now he kind of wish he knew what Harry had been saying when he was trying to calm him down.
Too late now.
Draco groaned into his hands, elbows resting on his knees and face buried in his palms. Okay, so he knew that the possibility of his little...encounter with Potter staying a secret was pretty damn low, and he didn't even really care if Severus knew since, well, it was Severus, but the fact that now all of the golden trio knew what he'd done? It was humiliating, especially when he hadn't quite come to grips with how much he actually cared about Potter - not that it was a lot, he wasn't a girl or anything, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't care a little. He did make out with the boy, after all.
What was he going to do now?
Or rather, what were they going to do to him now?
He shook his head, trying to dispel his paranoia but it wasn't working. He was still worried.
Heaving a sigh, he pushed himself off the bed. He needed to talk to Severus.
However, when he got to the man's room, it was empty. The bed was still perfectly made, and everything was still kept neatly where it was supposed to be, even down to the stack of potions books he had gotten to read at night when he couldn't sleep.
The only thing out of place or missing, was the man himself.
Draco lent on the door frame, staring at the perfectly organised room. He knew where Severus was. In the room downstairs which doubled as a cell, with the man who he was trying to save.
Pushing aside his thoughts of the golden trio, Draco firmed his resolve on one thing - the only thing that could distract him from his uncertainty with Potter. Helping to get his father out of the house - with Severus by his side.
Although he was a mastermind when he put his brain to use, Severus was too close to the issue, too distracted. Draco wanted Severus happy - and his father gone.
He smirked.
And he knew the perfect accomplice for his plan.
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Draco took the stairs two at a time, ignoring the fact it made his footsteps louder as he missed one step at a time on his descent. Molly poked her head out of the kitchen, peering up at the staircase with an amused look.
"I haven't heard that noise since Fred and George were lads," she remarked. "They used to see how many stairs they could skip. I think they got up to five before Fred tripped and broke his leg."
Draco came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. "Fascinating. Where's Arthur?"
"In the study, with a few of the order members," she said, unconcerned by his abrupt question. "Did you need something, Dear?"
"Just to talk to Arthur," Draco waved off the question, and took off down the hall towards the study - making sure to keep his pace slow so as not to seem rushed or panicked. This had to go off flawlessly.
He wrapped his knuckles on the door, waiting for it to be pulled open by the werewolf before calling out to Arthur.
Arthur replaced Remus in the doorway, smiling at Draco. "What do you need, Draco?" He asked. They both ignored the distrustful glares Draco was getting.
"I need to talk to you...in private," he said, shifting.
"Ahh," Arthur said, nodding, as if he knew exactly what the conversation was about. He turned back to the order members, and smiled. "Continue without me, boys. I'll be back soon."
"Are you sure, Arthur?" One of the Order members asked, still watching Draco suspiciously.
"I'll be fine, Draco's harmless," Arthur said with a loud laugh, clasping his hand on Draco's shoulder. "Continue on! Come on, lad, let's go talk." He pulled Draco away, pulling the door closed before people could protest too much.
"Now, do you need it to be private, or private private?" Arthur asked, walking down the hallway with a smile.
"The second one."
"Ah, I know just the place!" He hurried them further down the hallway and pulled open the door with a dramatic flare which was ruined by the cloud of dust which poured out due to disuse. They began to cough, and Arthur quickly waved away the dust with a quick spell.
"Sorry, I forgot this room hasn't been cleaned yet," Arthur apologised and ushered Draco inside. He spelled two of the armchairs clean and motioned for Draco to sit. "What did you need?"
"I know you're the secret keeper," Draco said blandly. "I need your assistance with something."
Arthur peered at him with a curious expression on his face, before smiling. "Certainly. Please, continue."
Draco opened his mouth, and began to plan, Arthur nodding professionally or offering suggestions.
Soon, the plan was set.
Draco smirked.
Sometimes it was just too fun to be a Slytherin.
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Arthur organised the interrogation of Lucius at Severus' request, though Draco had been delighted at the plan as well. The interrogation room - one of the many old sitting rooms - was filled swiftly and Lucius was positioned in the center of the room, with his chair.
Civilised.
The order had filled the room, and Draco as well as the golden trio and Severus were all crowded in as well. Draco took his spot beside Arthur - and denied that he had done so because that placed him next to Harry, who was standing with the other Weasley's. Severus was nearby, watching Lucius through lidded eyes.
"This is getting repetitive," Lucius said drolly, watching them all through annoyed eyes, though the silver gaze repeatedly slid back to where Severus stood.
"If you'd just tell us what we need to know, than we could end all of this business," Arthur responded brightly, stepping forward to begin in the interrogation, Remus once again assisting.
The questions they asked didn't matter. Draco's gaze was fixed on his father.
The silver gaze met his finally, and Draco offered him a short, pained smile as the orb he held in his fist slid out, crashing to the ground with an unholy thud and cracking. Gas filled the room, and the panic set in.
"Get the prisoner!" Someone shrieked, but by the point, Arthur would have already released Lucius, and Draco pushed through, detaching Harry's hand which had somehow found his in the panic. He found Severus easily, as he was clinging to Lucius in a most dignified manner.
He reached out, pressing something into Severus' hand which drew his attention away from Lucius. A wand. Severus stared. "Who?" He demanded, but Draco waved off the question, pulling something out of his pocket. It was on a chain, and he quickly looped it around Lucius' neck. The small pendant rested against his chest.
"Be happy, dammit," Draco told them roughly. "I'm not going through all this trouble again if you get caught."
Severus cuffed him around the head, but drew him in for a quick embrace, recognising what the pendant must be.
The smoke began to disappear in the room, and Draco stepped back from them, his chest tight as he whispered "home" to his father, before stumbling back into Harry. Harry grabbed him around the waist, casting him a suspicious look as the order pointed their wands at Lucius and Severus.
Severus scowled, but did not remove his arm around Lucius waist, just as Lucius did not remove his. Lucius looked far more amused than he should have.
"Stop!" Remus bellowed, but Arthur smiled at them though none of the order member's saw.
Draco nodded to Severus and Lucius.
Lucius threw his head back and laughed, before pulling his lover close to him and planting a wet kiss on Severus' mouth, in front of the whole order. Severus rolled his eyes, but raised his free hand, the wand now safely tucked in his pocket, up to cup his lover's cheek.
"I'm sick of this place," Lucius said dramatically, keeping a firm grasp on his lover, who's hand had drifted down to touch the pendant, entwining with Lucius' own fingers. "I think I want to go home."
The portkey in the necklace activated and with a simple flash of light, they were gone.
Draco heaved a sigh, relaxing back into Harry as the room exploded in furious bellows.
"You planned that," Harry muttered, eyes wide. "How did you..."
"A Slytherin never tells," Draco responded firmly, but did not move away from Harry. He was now surrounded by Griffendors. Utterly surrounded.
Wonderful.
.
.
"They were lovers?" Ron's voice could be heard loudly as the noise began to die down.
Draco reminded himself that while they all knew of Severus and Lucius, his...interactions with Harry were still not known and forceably pulled himself away from Harry as people swung around to look at him - likely for explanations.
"Why are you not freaking out?" Ron demanded, pointing on Draco.
"Walking in on them in more compromising situations does take some of the surprise out of such declarations," Draco said dryly.
"You," Moody growled, liming forward and pointing a wand at Draco. "You did this! You planned this!"
"Me?" Draco looked insulted. "Why would I want the man who killed my mother to go free? Plus, how would I do it? I'm wandless." He laid his hands out as if to prove his innocence, unable to resist a slight smirk.
Moody growled out a hex, sending Draco to his knees as the feeling of needles exploded over his skin. He bit back a scream, knowing the hex would end in seconds when Harry realised what happened - and it did. He felt arms wrap around his shoulders.
"What are you doing?" Harry bellowed. "He was standing next to me the whole time!" Liar, Draco thought fondly. "He couldn't have done a thing!"
"I saw him there," Hermione spoke up, drawing a surprised look from Draco. "I was right next to Harry too, it's not like Draco could have snuck away. The fog wasn't that thick." She cast Moody a disapproving look, though clutched Ron's arm when the glass eye swivelled to gaze at her.
"Hey, back off," Ron blustered at Moody when the gaze became a glare. "I didn't see Malfoy move either and I'm always next to Hermione."
"Neither did I," Arthur admitted, when Remus glanced at him. "I was near my family the whole time, especially when the smoke appeared. He would have had to move passed me to get to his father and Severus, but I didn't see him."
"Mark my words," Moody snarled, pointing at Draco. "He did something! I swear to you, he did!"
"He can't do much from over there," Remus admitted with an annoyed look. "Especially wandless. Lucius must have planned this all along. He must have gotten caught to free his...lover...and himself." Remus looked disturbed at the word 'lover' being applied to Severus Snape, as did many others in the room.
"How long had that been going on?" Molly muttered, looking stunned.
"Oh, since Severus' Seventh Year," Draco remarked coolly, with an amused look at all the stunned glances. "Hey, they're Slytherin's. If they've got something to hide, they hide it."
"But your mother...you," Molly pointed out.
"Potions," Draco explained. "Having a Potion's Master as your lover does come in handy sometimes."
Remus shook his head, probably trying to dispel images, before glancing at Arthur. "We should put together a search party," he pointed out.
"It was a portkey," Arthur said, tiredly. "They would not have set it anywhere nearby, and to make one of those, they must have a wand - though I'm baffled how they got such a thing - they would be long gone now." He sighed, and rubbed his head, as if this was all exhausting, though he shot Draco a small smile. "No, best we focus on the war, instead of chasing after them. We'd only waste time and effort."
Draco smirked, but wiped it from his face when he noticed Harry staring at him.
"Would he go back to Voldemort?" He asked, loud enough that others heard him, but it was a question obviously meant for Draco.
"No," Draco responded calmly. "He'd never go back to him. He loves Severus too much -" people within the room shuddered, similar to when Harry said the Dark Lord's name, "-and while Father likes to believe he's in charge, Severus would never let him go back."
Harry nodded, as if that answered the last question needing answers.
Draco stared at the spot where his family had disappeared, while the noise in the room grew as the plans for their next actions were plotted. Draco was proud of himself, but he hated the feeling of tightness in his chest that just wouldn't go away.
.
.
The suspicion of Draco only grew after Lucius' disappearance, and he was forced out of more and more Order meetings, despite Harry's protests. Draco didn't mind, but he put up a show - as if he did, mostly to annoy the order members who were coming to realise how much Harry would fight for Draco's rights.
He let them have one Order meeting without him though, a week after his father had disappeared, simply because he couldn't be bothered acting. He had assured Harry that he wasn't acting (for once) and that he was perfectly happy to not attend the meeting.
Anyway, he had plans of how he wanted to spend the time of the meeting.
He had someone to visit.
He knocked on the door, knowing it was locked from the inside but he wanted to give her some sense of privacy.
"Come in," a voice called out, and Draco did so. Arthur would become aware of where he was going, but that didn't matter, since Arthur already knew. It was useful having the Secret Keeper on your side, he decided, peering into the lightly lit room.
"Oh," the girl said, eyes wide. "You're...wow, you must be Lucius' son." Anna got to her feet, resting a hand on the small swell of her stomach.
"Yeah," Draco admitted, unable to find much to say, even though he'd planned out the conversation hundreds of times over the last week.
Anna gave him a weak smile. "You look a lot like him."
"I know." Draco hesitated before stepping forward. He didn't take offense when Anna flinched back. He sat on one of the chairs that had been left there by an Order member. "How are you?"
She looked stunned, before taking her seat on the armchair again. "Sore, grumpy and hungry, permanently, it seems," she said honestly. "But you don't really care about me." She stared at her stomach. "The baby's fine. Unharmed. Growing normally, or so they tell me." She glanced up at him, her dark eyes cold. "I don't want this baby."
Draco didn't look surprised. "I wouldn't want a baby who had been forced on me either," Draco said dryly. "So why didn't you kill it?"
"Kill it? "Anna's eyes were huge. "I couldn't!"
"You were a Hufflepuff." It wasn't a question.
"No," Anna denied. "I didn't got to Hogwarts, but that doesn't mean I could kill a baby. She, or he, didn't do anything to deserve to die."
"My father on the other hand..." he trailed off, but Anna didn't deny it. He changed the subject. "Call it a she."
"Why?" Anna asked, suspiciously.
"It'll serve my father right, if it was a girl," he told her, before adding hesitantly. "My mtoher was pregnant with a daughter, when she was killed."
Anna blanched. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault he killed her," Draco said bluntly.
They fell quiet, the silence filling the room until Draco finally said what was on his mind.
"If you still feel like you don't want her, and the war is over, I'll take her."
Anna looked stunned. "What? You're only a kid."
"I'm almost the same age as you," Draco reminded her coldly. "And that baby is my sibling, whether born of my mother or not." Not to mention, by that time, he would have heard from his father and could drop the baby off with him, if necessary. Severus would probably enjoy raising yet another Malfoy brat to be more a Snape than a Malfoy anyway.
"Are you sure?" Anna asked sceptically.
"I never say anything I'm not sure of," he lied.
Anna hesitated, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Deal."
.
.
Draco retired to Harry's room, collapsing on the Golden Boy's bed, and wrapping himself up in the quilt. Harry would be finished his meeting soon, and would probably go looking for Draco - only to return, disapointed, only to discover a present in his bed, named Draco. He smirked.
His little plan was ruined when Harry merely walked straight to his room after the meeting, though the surprise was still the same.
"You weren't going to come find me?" Draco demanded, looking put out. Harry gave a tired smile, and closed the door behind him. He kicked off his shoes, and collapsed next to Draco.
"No."
"What?" Draco was offended and promptly pushed Harry from the bed.
Harry groaned and stared up at Draco from the floor. "What was that for?" He demanded.
"You weren't coming to look for me, you bastard," Draco snapped.
"It was easier that way, okay?" Harry snapped, pushing himself from the floor with a wince.
"Easier? Why was that easier?" Draco continued to pout, though he allowed himself to be gathered up in Harry's arms. He lifted his head for the kiss he knew was coming and was not disappointed.
"I'm leaving," Harry whispered against Draco's lips as the kiss turned from one into many.
Draco shoved him off the bed again.
"Ouch, goddammit!" Harry yelled from the floor, jerking up. "Stop doing that!"
"What do you mean you're leaving?" Draco demanded, swinging his legs from the bed and rising to his feet.
"It means I'm leaving!" Harry snapped. "The war is getting crazy and Voldemort is getting more irrational. I have a chance to end this, and end it soon, and I need to take that chance."
Draco scowled. "Does this 'chance' involve you dying?" He demanded, shoving Harry. The bespecticaled male stumbled, but didn't fall. He grabbed at Draco's arms, to keep himself steady and to keep hold of the blond.
"Not any more," he told him firmly, staring boldly into Draco's eyes.
That seemed to soothe Draco for the moment, and he grew still. "When do you leave?" He asked coldly.
"Tonight."
"Tonight?" Draco pushed Harry, furious, and once again, Harry fell to the floor."You were going to leave without telling me!"
Harry stayed on the floor, and began to laugh.
"What are you laughing about, you idiot?" Draco demanded.
"You make me fall," Harry laughed, staring up at Draco with a dopey grin. "I've fallen for you...oh, three times now."
"You're an idiot," Draco told him bluntly, but couldn't stop the slight smile on his face.
"Yeah," Harry agreed, pushing himself up into a sitting position, tugging at Draco until he collapsed to the floor also. "Wanna make my last night here really idiotic?" He asked gently, cupping Draco's face.
Well, Draco couldn't turn down that sort of invitation, could he?
"If you die, I'll kill you," Draco breathed against Harry's lips, and felt him laugh.
"Got it."
.
.
Harry was late.
Ron and Hermione shifted awkwardly in the front hallway, glancing up the stairs and hoping he'd appear soon - before someone else did.
"What's keeping him?" Ron hissed to his girlfriend.
"I don't know, Ron, I'm not omniscient," she hissed back.
Ron blinked. "You're omniscient to me?" He said, cautiously, thinking it was a way of saying 'smart' and Hermione was simpy being insecure.
Hermione smiled, rolling her eyes. She kissed his lips quickly. "Thanks, Ron," she said, only slightly patronising. Ron grinned.
Quiet footsteps caught their attention, and they finally spotted Harry creeping down the stairs. He reached their side before he spoke in a hushed whisper. "Sorry! Didn't notice the time."
Spotting his messy hair and slightly red lips, Ron winced and decided not to ask what had detained him.
"Ready?" Hermione asked the boys, shrinking Harry's rucksack for easier travel, before handing it back to him to put in his pocket.
"Ready," Ron said firmly.
"Ready," Harry agreed.
"Ready," a fourth voice said, cockily.
They spun around to face the voice. Harry stared at surprise at Draco leaning up against the railing of the stairs, watching them with a smirk - though Harry spotted insecurity lingering in his actions.
"Draco," Harry gasped, and Draco crossed the last few steps between them. "What are you doing?"
"Coming with you, of course," Draco said with a smirk. Ron groaned behind them, but was shushed by Hermione.
"What? Why?" Harry demanded, quietly.
"There's nothing for me here now, Harry," Draco said, purposely softly so only Harry could hear. "My father, Severus...you. They'll be gone and I'm just expected to sit around and wait like some housewife? No."
"What about Anna, and your half-sibling?" Harry pointed out, though the tightness in his chest was lifting.
"The Weasley's can take care of her and Anna for a while," Draco announced, with a wave of his hand. That drew stunned looks from the golden trio.
"Did you just sa-" Ron began.
"Yes, I'm aware of the irony of me allowing a Weasley to do anything for me, but we're family. Kind of." Draco frowned. "In some distant way... that involves poorness."
Ron rolled his eyes.
Harry was now grinning at Draco. "You're really coming with me? I mean, us?" He asked, and Draco smirked, looping an arm around his neck.
"Yup," he said, making the 'p' pop as he spoke.
Harry drew him close, kissing him firmly.
"I think I'm going to hurl," Ron groaned quietly.
"Oh shut up Ron," Hermione scolded. "It's romantic...although we really should leave before people wake up."
Draco blanched. "Us? Romantic? Never!" He protested quietly, pulling away from Harry and allowing Hermione to shrink his own rucksack. "C'mon Four-Eyes," he commanded Harry, striding towrads the door with quiet steps.
Harry grinned, hurrying after him with Ron and Hermione close behind. "After you, Git-Face," he said smoothly, opening the door for Draco.
Arthur watched from the top staircase, smothering the disturbance of the wards caused by the door opening with his own wand, and watching the four teenagers disappear.
"Am I doing the right thing?" He asked himself quietly, glancing at the picture frame next to him, seeking some sort of answers.
He heaved a sigh when no answer came.
"Guess we'll find out," he muttered, and turned back towards his room - to the waiting warm body that would stave away the chill of war for just a little longer.
- f i n -
Author's Note:
Wow, it's over. This is my longest story to date, and only the second multi-chaptered story I've ever finished. I wish I had retained my inspiration for this story longer, because I had so many more plans for this story, but it just wasn't to be. Sorry that this didn't round off completely, but it was the best I could do - this story was supposed to have two sequels, so ending it in under 20,000 words was rough.
This will likely be my last Harry Potter story, though you'll likely still see me around fanfiction, just in other fandoms.
Thank you very much to anyone who put this story on their alerts, favourites, or who reviewed. Even more thanks to any of you who put up with me for two years. You've been a big inspiration and brought me hundreds of smiles!
With lots of love & fond farewells,
- Lying in An angels Arms