Chapter 25

Harry stole quietly down the halls. He didn't have his invisibility cloak but he did have the Mauraders map so he felt generally safe. Filch was patrolling near the Hufflepuff dorms and Mrs. Norris was walking around the library. Harry was generally safe where he was. But he'd never feel fully safe here.

He was venturing down into the snake pit.

He had to follow his map closely as the deeper he got into the dungeons the more unfamiliar everything became. The farthest he'd every traveled down here was to Snape's office for detention or something. Draco had told him not to go venturing around down here but honestly, the snakes had already seen him once. And he really needed to talk to Draco. As long as no one said his name it should be safe. But as he searched the map he realized Draco hadn't gone back to the Slytherin Dorms like he said he would. He was in a room that wasn't too far from where Harry was now. Snape's personal quarters from what Harry could tell. Harry only briefly wondered what he was doing, but it didn't matter. He had to see him.

As he walked further down the dark corridor and stopped a little ways away watching Snape's door; waiting for Draco to come out. Eventually, he heard the sound of a door creaking open, flooding the corridor with light. It was only then that he remembered he wasn't invisible and he was standing in clear sight. Panicking, Harry ducked behind a statue to watch from the shadows.

It was Draco. He was leaving the room now. Harry was anxious to talk to him already.

"Thanks again Sev. For… well, everything I suppose."

**Sev? Snape lets people call him Sev?**

Harry watched as the dark figure of Severus Snape filled the doorframe, "It is nothing else but my duty, Draco. Now hurry off to bed. You're out after curfew."

Harry watched the familiar look of amused annoyance on Draco's face, "Whatever you say Sevvy."

Snape glared for a moment longer before going back into his chambers and closing the door harshly. Harry watched as Draco stretched and began heading down the corridor. As soon as the blond was about to pass him, Harry reached out and pulled him, covering his mouth at the same time.

He was glad he'd covered his mouth because he could feel Draco let out a slew of expletives against his fingers.

"Shh, Draco. It's just me."

Harry instantly felt the change in Draco's body. All of his muscles relaxed and he sighed leaning back against Harry. Harry couldn't suppress a smile. He let Draco go slowly and the blond turned to glare at him but the look held no true anger.

"What the fuck are you doing sneaking around the dungeons at two in the morning, Mr. Potter?"

Harry rolled his eyes, "I was looking for you."

"Obviously. I didn't think you had many Slytherin friends who would appreciate a late night visit like this."

"What were you doing?"

Draco paused for a moment, "What do you mean?"

"Talking with Snape. It is two in the morning. Why would you be in Snape's chambers?"

Draco rolled his eyes but didn't say anything, "Well…" he started slowly, "It's a long story."

"I've got time."

"No, you haven't. You're in the middle a labyrinth of dungeons and it's apparent that you don't have your invisibility cloak. What explanation would you come up with if you're caught, hm?"

Harry ignored the question, "Come with me to the tower room again. I can't sleep in Gryffindor tower tonight."

Harry watched as Draco bit his lips and glanced around, "I would but…I have some things to take care of first."

"Like what? What could be more important?"

"My friends. It's Christmas. I know they're usually not the type to wait up but I have to spend at least a little time with them."

Harry sighed in true annoyance. He really just wanted to take Draco with him right now and be done with it. But he had to respect that Draco was trying not to neglect his friends as they had both been doing an awful lot of lately.

"I'll go there and wait for you." Harry reluctantly said.

Draco nodded and smiled a little, "Kiss me first."

Harry smiled back and pulled Draco into his arms. He felt perfect there, as though Harry was meant to hold him just like he was now. At first he only kissed Draco's face: his cheeks, his chin, the tip of his nose. Harry liked doing this. Not just because no matter where Harry happened to kiss him, Draco's skin was soft and smooth. But also because when he kissed all over Draco's face eventually the blond would start to blush. And it was Harry's goal in life to see that blush every day. Draco's blush wasn't splotchy or burning red. It was the lightest pink rising up beneath his pale skin, making it much warmer against Harry's lips. It was perfect.

Even now Harry felt Draco's skin begin to get warmer and so finally, he pressed his lips against Draco's in a soft kiss. The kiss was chaste and slow, their lips pressing together gently and their tongues only just reaching out to taste each other. But Harry knew of all that was hidden behind those lips. And he was tempted to simply delve inside and discover it again. But he pulled away slowly.

Seeing Draco's pout made him laugh quietly, "Meet me later and you can have more."

Draco cursed, "You bloody tease."

"Hey, it's not my fault you've got your friends to attend to. You should have done it earlier."

"Don't start lecturing me, Potter." Draco said his voice for a moment sounding as harsh and cold as it did all the years before this one. But Draco leaned in and kissed his lips fleetingly again, "I'll see you later." He whispered before he turned and left.

Harry stood where he was a moment longer, half to catch his breath and half to make sure he'd be able to make it to the tower room undetected. He looked at the map for a long while the names blurring as his mind wandered. But he forced himself to concentrate. Filch was a long ways away but seemed to be heading down to the dungeons. If Harry hoped to get past him he'd have to leave now to get to the tower. And Mrs. Norris was wandering around the upper floors near the Room of Requirement.

Harry glanced around the statue to make sure no one was coming before he stepped out from behind it. As soon as he did, someone grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled him back. Harry didn't cry out but he was shocked out of his socks. He'd been sure he hadn't seen anyone.

Snape turned him around easily and stared at him, his black gaze burning right into Harry's soul.

"Potter." He spat but said no more.

Harry stood still, waiting for the lecture and the inevitable loss of plenty more house points. But instead, Snape let go of his collar swiftly and took a step back.

Shocked, Harry slowly straightened out his robes. Snape was letting him go? Without even a single insult? Without taking a single point? Had the world gone mad?

"I expect you to leave my dungeons posthaste, Potter. And I will not catch you sneaking around here again. Is. That. Understood?"

"Understood, sir." Harry responded quickly, already backing up.

He wasn't going to stay and test his luck. He was going to get out of there as quick as possible and thank every god and deity for the miracle that had just occurred.

Snape continued to glare meanly as Harry backed away before finally, Harry turned the nearest corner. He couldn't run; he'd make too much noise. But he certainly felt like running. He was overly careful the rest of the way to the tower room, sneaking around every corner and creeping through every shadow, even though he knew where everyone was from his map. Filch now down searching the dungeons, Snape now back in his living quarters and Draco… Draco was with alone with Pansy and Blaise in the 6th years boys' dorm. But Crabbe and Goyle were at the door apparently trying to get in.

**Odd…What would he want to keep from those two anyway?**

Harry shrugged it off. Maybe he didn't buy gifts for them or something.

Harry made it to the tower room without any more misfortunes. He sighed once he was safely inside. It was as though he felt nothing could reach him here, nothing except for Draco of course. And that would be cause only for happiness. Harry considered transfiguring something into a bed but he knew that if he did so he'd only fall asleep. So instead he moved the many pillows on the window seat around until he could recline comfortably.

He laid there for a while, staring up at the dark sky. There was no moon tonight. And yet, it wasn't dark—not at all. He relaxed and closed his eyes.

**I'm not going to sleep. I'm only resting my eyes**

Xx--XxX--xX

Draco sat at Snape's table looking over this new letter.

A letter straight from the hand of the Dark Lord.

Well, well it was less of a letter and more of a hastily scrawled note.

Even still, Draco read it over and over but the words it didn't seem to register. Snape pulled out the chair next to him and it scrapped loudly against the stone floor. Draco didn't even flinch when Snape sat down next to him and pulled the letter from his lax hands.

To the Young Malfoy

The time has come for a move on our part. But the plan has changed. It seems that a past attempt at glory has left loose ends that must be tied up immediately. Severus will explain your task to you thoroughly. I expect results.

I will allow no delay. Already, others have suffered because of your lack of action. Your mother did scream spectacularly. Cowardice is not permissible among my ranks.

Show me where your loyalties lie.

"Are you done reading it?" Snape asked.

Draco nodded quickly and pushed the letter away as though it were some foul thing that he couldn't stand to touch for another second. At that Snape stood taking the letter and throwing it into the fire where they watched it curl and burn to ashes. It was a long time before either of them spoke again, each of them lost in their own thoughts. But eventually Snape turned back to him.

"If I were to advise you wisely, I would tell you that whatever nonsense you have with Potter should stop here and now. For both your benefit and his. But because I know the stubborn idiocy of youth and of Potter in particular, I will say nothing on the subject. But…. Are there any others who know?"

Draco stared into Snape's black eyes trying to read his intent. It was clear enough even without that. No one else should know. Draco sighed, resting his elbows on the table and putting his head in his hands as he thought. Sev was right. This was a time for clear thinking. And he couldn't trust anyone right now. Not Snape, not Harry, not anyone. He'd have to make these decisions on his own.

Draco swallowed thickly, "No one else knows. We've been extremely careful. Will you please just tell me what this new assignment is?"

Snape's face settled into an even harsher expression, "You must kill Ginny Weasley."