Draco started and almost dropped the book in his hand when a knock sounded at the front door. He grabbed his wand and crept forward.
"Draco?" Severus called out.
Draco relaxed as he grabbed the door handle and opened it up to see Severus on the other side. He grinned as he stood to the side and the older man stepped in and drew him into a hug. He hugged his godfather back before Severus pushed him to arm's length and looked him over.
"You're looking well," Severus remarked as he let him go.
"Potter knows how to cook," Draco replied with a smirk.
"Where is he?" Severus asked with a frown.
"Hunting," Draco answered. "He knows his stuff when it comes to berries and setting traps."
Severus nodded slowly.
"You had Legilimency lessons with him?" Draco broached. "What was his childhood like?"
Severus drew himself up and crossed his arms over his chest and Draco sighed. He wouldn't be getting anything out of his godfather.
"When will he be back?" Severus questioned.
"Not sure," Draco said with a shrug. "After Lunch, probably. How are you, Severus?"
"Tired," Severus replied. "The last month has not been kind."
Severus's dark eyes rested on him then he smirked.
"Looks like the time has been kinder on you," Severus drawled and Draco shifted.
"Surprisingly," Draco remarked mildly. "Potter isn't too hard to live with."
"Is that so," Severus said with a smirk as he leaned forward in his chair and looked at him. "No other reason?"
Draco could feel his face heating as Severus gave him a look that had him blushing. Draco was saved from replying when chopping started up from outside and they looked over that way.
"Potter mustn't have caught anything," Draco explained. "He always comes back in a mood when he doesn't get anything."
"There is some fishing gear in the shed out the back," Severus added and Draco gave him a nod.
"Yeah, Potter found them. His skills don't progress into fishing."
Severus snorted as the front door opened and Potter came in with his arms full of wood. He paused when he saw Severus and his look darkened but so did Severus's. Draco knew that they didn't like the other but they had proved that they could work together.
"Snape," Potter greeted. "Thank you for the potions."
"You're welcome," Severus replied as he sat back in his seat.
Potter knelt down with the wood and started to stack it up as the Slytherins watched him.
"Draco informs me that you have taken up fishing, Potter?" Severus questioned and Potter glanced at him.
"Not well," Potter muttered. "I haven't gone too far down the stream. Does it get deeper?"
"Yes," Severus answered mildly. "Further upstream."
"Right," Potter said. "I only headed downstream where it widens but isn't very deep."
"Making yourself at home, Potter?"
Potter stood up and glanced around before focusing on Severus.
"I don't have much of a choice now do I, Snape?" Potter bit back.
Severus stood up smoothly and Draco noticed Potter tense. The taller man stepped towards the younger man but he held his ground as he watched him, warily.
"Where did Albus take you?" Severus questioned. "He didn't say that he was going to leave and take you with him."
Potter crossed his arms over his chest.
"He decided that his last act was going to find a Horcrux," Potter said slowly.
"Where is it?" Severus asked.
"It was useless," Potter spat with a glint in his eyes. "A fake."
Severus opened his mouth then paused and Potter gave him a nod. He walked out of the room and returned quickly with a gold locket on a chain. He held it out to Severus and the potion master took it in his hand. He frowned as he opened it up then something cleared from his face.
"Regulus," Severus uttered.
"Who?" Draco asked as Potter settled next to him on the lounge.
"Regulus Black," Severus stated.
"Sirius's brother?" Potter asked as he sat forward on the lounge in interest.
"Yes," Severus answered. "He was a Death Eater and it looks like he had second thoughts. He died before the end of the last war. This gives us a clue about where the real Horcrux could be."
"So, it wasn't a complete bust?" Potter asked with an odd note in his voice.
"No," Severus answered and looked them over. "What else happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Potter answered and Severus's expression darkened.
"Severus," Draco warned.
Severus's eyes flicked to him before he nodded and let it go.
"Very well," Severus relented. "I should be going. Be careful, both of you. If anything changes, you know how to contact me."
Draco stood up and Severus embraced him in a hug and held him tight for a second before releasing him. His dark eyes looked him over before giving him a small smile.
"Your mother contacted me," Severus said softly. "She's missing you."
"Does she know?" Draco asked.
"She knows that something is going on," Severus replied as he clasped a hand to his shoulder. "She knows that Lucius and the Dark Lord don't have you."
Draco nodded and Severus released him. The taller man glanced at Potter but he looked away from them.
"Keep him safe, Potter." Severus warned and Potter's eyes flicked to him in surprise. "If my godson is killed…"
Severus let the threat hang as Potter glared at him.
"I'll be sure to jump in the way of the killing curse then," Potter drawled. "And save you the trouble of hunting me down."
"Potter!" Draco yelped as Severus snorted.
Severus gave them a nod before leaving and Draco watched him as he disappeared out the door. He looked back at Potter but he was looking down at the floor. Draco placed his hand on his knee. The man just stood up and walked into the bedroom without a word. Draco was left alone with just his own thoughts and feeling a little empty.
xXx
Potter was quiet that night as he made up dinner and they ate with more space between them than normal. Draco wasn't sure what to say as he sat there. Unsure what had caused the distance between them.
"Why are you here?" Potter asked, breaking the silence.
"Severus-"
"No," Potter cut him off. "Why are you here with me? You don't have to be here."
Draco eyed Potter off but he was giving nothing away as he ate.
"I am where I want to be," Draco replied and Potter raised an eyebrow. "With you."
"That sounds very sentimental for a Malfoy," Potter drawled.
Draco could feel his temper flaring at those words then realised that's what Potter wanted. He'd been around him long enough to know when Potter was trying to stoke his temper.
"Would you rather that I say that I wanted to fuck you?" Draco stated mildly.
Potter barked a laugh and the tension that had been there since Severus had left, broke. Potter reached out and placed his hand on Draco's arm and rubbed it.
"Limiting my choices?" Potter pondered with a smirk.
"Then have my way with you," Draco added.
"That's sounding more like a Malfoy," Potter said with a smile.
"Of course," Draco intoned with a sniff. "The grand plan."
Potter gave him a look that Draco hadn't seen before. He had a soft look in his eyes and a smile on his lips. Draco did the only thing that he could at that look. He leaned forward and captured his lips in a kiss. Potter slipped his hand into his hair while he deepened the kiss. Draco could tell that he'd had practise as their tongues tangled while Draco tasted the man.
Potter pulled back but didn't release his hold and Draco looked him in the eyes. He'd never thought he would find himself in this situation and he hadn't been lying to Potter. He was where he wanted to be.
"Very well," Potter said softly. "I suppose I better teach you to cook then."
Draco gave him a smile.
"I can live with that," Draco replied.
Potter gave him a smile before pulling him into another kiss.
xXx
Draco watched Potter as he cooked up some chicken for their dinner in interest. He'd never cooked for himself since house elves had done all the cooking in his life. He hadn't watched someone cook, not even his parents. Potter flicked the pan and turned the heat down and grabbed up a jar before freezing. Draco frowned as Potter quickly shut off the cooker and grabbed the side of the table.
"Potter?"
Potter's hand clenched on the bench and Draco knew that something was very wrong. He quickly rushed to the shorter man and grabbed his shoulder. Potter had his eyes screwed shut as he panted. He then dropped to his knees with a groan and Draco felt panic run through him.
"Harry!" Draco yelped.
"Scar," Potter gasped in pain.
Draco cursed and grabbed his shoulder as he knelt before him.
"Call…" Potter tried to say but trailed off as he grabbed his head.
"Severus," Draco quickly finished and was torn. "I have to get the communicator, Harry."
"Go," Potter groaned as he grabbed his head in both hands as he slipped further down to the floor. "Oh, god."
Draco was up and running for the communication device. He just hoped that Severus had it on him and could answer it. He looked back into the kitchen as he activated it. Potter was curled up in a ball on the floor with his hands curled around his head. He quickly rushed back to him and grabbed his shoulder. He could feel him shaking under his hand.
"Draco?" Severus voice came through the device.
"The Dark Lord is trying to attack Potter through the scar," Draco said quickly.
"Give me five minutes," Severus answered. "Tell Potter to do the exercises that we practised."
"He's a little out of it," Draco reported.
"Is he yelling in pain?"
"No."
"Then he's doing what he has too," Severus said. "I'll be there soon."
Draco slipped the device away into his pocket as he settled on the floor beside Potter. He gently rubbed his shoulder as he waited, each whimper that Potter made sent a bolt of concern through him. Potter curled up in a tight ball with his hands clenched around his skull. Draco gently stroked his shoulder until he heard the door open. He looked up when Severus swept into the room and quickly knelt before them.
"Potter!" Severus snapped as grabbed his wrist.
Potter groaned and squinted his eyes open. Draco shivered at the red tint to his eyes and Severus quickly placed his hand over Potter's eyes. He fumbled his potion pouch from his robes with one hand. Draco grabbed it and opened it up and Severus nodded. He kept his hand over Potter's eyes as he grabbed one potion. Draco broke the seal and placed it to Potter's lips.
"Harry," Draco said softly. "Take this."
Potter grabbed it while Severus kept his hand in place. Once he'd drank it down, he relaxed back on the floor and Severus carefully lifted his hand. Drugged green eyes peered up at them.
"Can you feel him in your mind?" Severus whispered.
"No," Potter slurred. "Gone."
"Right," Severus said. "Let's get you sitting up."
Potter groaned as they helped him sit up against the cupboard. He tilted his head back as he closed his eyes.
"Explain what happened?" Severus pressed.
Potter blinked his eyes open and looked at him and Draco shivered at his expression.
"Have a look," Potter whispered, hoarsely. "I'm not sure."
Draco could tell that Potter had shocked Severus as his godfather paused before pulling his wand. Potter just held his eyes as he sat there.
"Legilimens," Severus intoned softly.
Draco held still as Potter's eyes slipped out of focus while Severus cast the spell. They held locked in that stare for a while before Potter blinked his eyes. Severus lowered his wand with a frown. Potter pushed his glasses up and rubbed his eyes. Draco stood and filled a glass of water for him. He held it out and Potter took it from his hand with a nod and a soft look.
"This is concerning, Potter." Severus remarked as he slipped out a couple of other potions.
"That's what I thought," Potter stated. "This feels different than before…like he has a foothold…"
"Yes," Severus agreed and Draco felt cold at those words. "Something is letting him in. Like a back door to your mind."
"Not me," Potter added tiredly and looked down at the potions. "What did you give me?"
"Pain killer and blocker," Severus replied. "You may feel a little…disconnected."
"Fuzzy?" Potter asked, vaguely.
"That too," Severus amended. "Something new that I've been working on."
"Guinea pig," Potter remarked and Severus quirked his lips up.
"If you wish to think of yourself that way, Potter." Severus said lightly and looked him over. "How do you feel?"
"Head's pounding," Potter replied and Draco looked at him sharply.
"Is there a bit of truth serum in there?" Draco questioned.
"More like less self-council before he says something," Severus answered. "We need to work out how the Dark Lord is getting through to him without eye contact."
Draco looked back at Potter to see that he had his head tilted back and his eyes closed. He knew he wasn't asleep as he rested there. That fact alone gave him an idea of how he felt. Potter would go out of his way to not show a weakness.
"We'll get him settled in the bedroom," Severus announced. "I'll come by tomorrow after he's slept that potion off."