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Beta by Kristine Thorne .
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Chapter Summary - Severus is working on a potion and Harry and Ron have to take turns going in to see Draco who has nothing better to do than think of ways to taunt them.
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Chapter Twenty-Nine – Conversations With A Death Eater's Son

That evening it was Harry's turn to go in to Draco as Severus continued to work. Ron was staying the night and had agreed to do lunch if Severus would cover breakfast. Ron was sitting on the sofa settling down to a cup of coffee after they had returned from their own dinner and he laughed when he saw Harry emerging from his bedroom carrying a handful of chocolate.

"Decided to be generous with your stash?" Ron asked.

"No, just need something to munch on while I deal with him, if it can help with the effects of encountering Dementors it ought to work on a Malfoy."

When Harry went in to Draco he was much his normal self despite his condition. Harry found that the comments were being hurled his way before he even sat down.

"I can see what has happened to you," Draco began as Harry popped a chunk of chocolate into his mouth and knelt down by the fire to get the meal for Draco.

"Yes?" Harry responded hoping that his tone of voice might send Draco some kind of warning.

Draco, however, was oblivious; "Porky Potter is what we should be calling you now."

Harry sighed and sat down on the chair, he offered a spoonful of food, thinking of how Draco couldn't possible realise how pleased he was to be called Porky.

"I bet you've been guzzling chocolate the whole time I was on my own and starving," Draco said just before he took the first mouthful.

"No, I haven't," Harry tried to reply simply.

Draco carried on eating despite his wish to taunt, as if they were two separate things and he didn't have to be nice to Harry in order to be fed.

Of course Draco was correct, Harry was determined to complete his duties because he didn't want his Kin to be overburdened and that would surely happen if he had to deal with more than just making the potion. He presumed that Draco might think he could get away with it for other reasons, maybe he would assume that he was still scared of Severus.

"You say you killed the Dark Lord but I bet you haven't," Draco continued.

Harry observed the bowl of food and found with dismay that the house elves were increasing the amounts that Draco was to be given as per instructions and this visit was going to take longer to complete, "I said the Dark Lord was dead, I never claimed the success for myself, I can assure you that Severus was the one who did it," Harry answered keeping up the pretence that it had been his Kin who had got rid of their long time enemy.

"Well that makes sense," Draco retorted, "You couldn't even keep up with a prophecy, not that it matters since that wasn't the real Dark Lord."

Harry couldn't help but allow the panic to flood through him, he felt his chest become tight and a trickle of sweat ran down his back, he did not offer Draco another mouthful as he waited for his adversary to continue.

"How can that be?" Harry asked to prompt Draco who seemed satisfied to lie in bed watching Harry's worried expression.

"Even Severus and all of the so called 'Order' couldn't defeat the Dark Lord, it must have been a decoy meant to fool you, really Harry, you didn't think of that?"

Harry breathed deeply, fighting back the panic, taking refuge in that fact that Draco did not know the whole truth, "The Dark Lord IS dead," he insisted.

"Whatever, believe it if you want," Draco responded, "So what is it with you and those robes?"

"School uniform," Harry answered keeping to his story.

"Right, a teacher's uniform, I don't think so," Draco continued, "Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do."

"And what would that be?" Harry answered, his anger rising even though he had sworn not to fail his Kin and remain calm.

"Toadying your way into Severus' good books now that you have nowhere else to go and Albus isn't here to mollycoddle you anymore, it won't work, no matter what you choose to wear."

Harry's anger eased a bit as he realised for sure that Draco definitely didn't have a clue, "Why is that?" he asked.

"I am back now and I was always his favourite student, you will be nothing now I am here, remember, Defence teachers only last a year and I will make sure that we won't be breaking with tradition this year." Draco threatened.

"I don't think so," Harry said confidentially.

"Mark my words," Draco continued, "You are history, and you can't stand in the way of what was meant to be."

Harry had to stifle a smile as he fed Draco the final mouthful and he allowed himself another piece of chocolate, he suspected now that Draco might be aware of the story regarding Severus and the Kin Bond swords, maybe he now wanted one for himself, "We'll see."

"Yes we will," Draco said with venom.

Harry walked out without another word, unwillingly to get provoked into an argument with someone who couldn't lay a finger on him or his Kin.

When Harry returned to Ron, however, he couldn't help feeling a little bit down in spirits. He was left in an awkward position with Draco behaving as he was, he had to keep it a secret from Severus otherwise his Kin would put the young man out onto the streets or worse, kill him. Draco might well be using his insults as a defence mechanism to compensate for his obvious disadvantage and did not deserve to be thrown out into the wilderness for it. On the other hand he didn't want to keep anything from Severus and, Harry remembered, there was only so far that he could allow himself to be pushed, and there were many mealtimes ahead to be endured.

"How was it?" Ron asked with obvious concern when he saw Harry's face.

"He's just the same as he was at school except that now we can't smack him one." Harry answered before sitting himself down on the sofa.

"What did he say?" Ron queried, he was going in next and he needed to know what to expect.

"That I am porky and that my days are numbered at Hogwarts because Severus will prefer him." Harry answered.

Ron looked stunned for a second then exploded into hysterical laughter.

Ron was quickly finding that he couldn't control himself and ended up curled up on the sofa clutching his belly with tears streaming down his face. Harry had to smile at the absurd situation and admit that it was actually quite funny and he would have been able to appreciate it more if Draco hadn't also given him quite a fright.

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The next day Severus once more handled breakfast before returning to his work in the potions room. Ron went in to Draco later that day, a plate with Draco's lunch upon it was already waiting on the hearth. As he entered the room he felt very nervous, this was the first time that he had encountered Draco whilst properly awake since the last day of school.

"What happened to you?" Draco called out as Ron entered.

Ron was stunned, everybody at Hogwarts was so used to how things were that it was never referred to, Draco, however, had been immediately drawn into mentioning the problems that the curse had left him with.

"Curse," Ron answered reluctantly and simply as he self-consciously lowered himself down onto the floor to pick the plate up off the hearth. Even though he had known that the meeting would be awkward he had never thought that it would be like this, he wasn't at all used to being stared at, it wasn't something that Harry had done when he had returned. Harry hated scrutiny himself and he was a friend, Draco had neither of these qualities.

"I see you still wear the same tatty old clothes you always did," Draco commented as Ron pulled himself up into the chair, "All the little Gryffindors running to Severus Snape with nowhere else to go, how funny."

Ron held a spoonful of food out to Draco, he was beginning to understand how Harry had felt, he really wanted to hit Draco despite everything, "A bit like your own situation," Ron retorted instead.

"Not at all, Severus is glad to have me here, he's not just merely tolerating me and using me as his little slave."

Ron sighed, although he really wanted to commit an act of violence against Draco, he still felt compelled to save him from a worse and imminent fate, he also couldn't bear to see the young man embarrassing himself in this way, "I wouldn't torment Harry if I were you," He warned, "You can say what you like to me, but leave him alone."

"Why? Still the sainted Potter being protected by all his little flunkies, how sweet."

"Fine," Ron shrugged, "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"It's not as if he can do anything to me is it, how would that look?"

Ron refrained from replying to that comment, "Come on eat up," He encouraged instead, "The sooner you finish this the sooner I can leave, something we both want."

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When Severus finally emerged from his long day in the potion's room he found both Harry and Ron hugging a cup of cocoa each and not looking very happy. Harry made every effort to look more cheerful however, when he saw his Kin.

"How was everything, is he still eating?" Severus asked.

"Yes, it went well," Harry answered quickly before Ron had a chance to say otherwise, "He ate everything that we gave him."

"His arms were cold I think," Ron added, "I didn't think he would want me to touch him but you might want to give him another blanket."

Severus went through to Draco, trying not to be annoyed with the young man. He could read between Harry's words well enough and it didn't take much imagination to visualise Draco giving the two former Gryffindors as much trouble as possible.

As Draco noticed that it was Severus coming to see him he looked up with an expression that was as friendly and open as could be. Severus was not fooled by the display of innocence; he knew what Draco was like.

"It would do you good to get out of the bedroom," Severus announced, "Tomorrow you are going to sit up in a chair and you are going to sit with me in the potions room."

"I can't," Draco attempted to protest.

"Yes, you can," Severus insisted, he took the phial that he brought with him and made Draco drink it down, "That will help with some of the symptoms, it should stop the spasms at least, I have some idea what I am going to begin brewing tomorrow and you can talk to me while I work."

"All right then," Draco agreed.

Severus was actually surprised when Draco changed his direction and agreed to be moved after all. He made a note to himself to remain vigilant where Draco was concerned, he felt sure that the boy was up to something, and even if he wasn't on the side of the Death Eaters he was still very capable of creating mischief just for the joy of it.

Severus reached out a hand and touched Draco's arm, it was indeed quite cold, "You should tell me if you are uncomfortable," He chastised Draco before getting him another blanket and covering him up.

"I would have had to tell THEM and I am sure they're having enough of a laugh at my expense without that," Draco grumbled.

"I assure you that they are not laughing at you," Severus insisted, "And you would do well to leave your school years behind you as you will all be living together if you choose to remain at Hogwarts."

"If THEY will," Draco replied huffily, "Where's that Grainger girl anyway, I thought you said that she was here too? I would have thought that she would have come to gloat."

"She is resting I imagine," Severus kindly excused Hermione, "She is seven months pregnant."

Draco laughed, "More Weasleys, my father tries to wipe them out and they just start breeding again!"

Severus was getting angry, "That kind of remark is exactly the sort that I wish for you to keep to yourself!" He snapped. He realised of course that he had just created a problem, if Draco goaded Ron about the baby there would be trouble, "The child however, is not Ron's." He added.

Draco tried not to laugh again but the glint in his eyes gave him away, "Oh dear, cheated and dumped, even better."

Severus began to wish that he had never started the conversation.

"It wasn't Potter was it?" Draco went on, unable to hide his amusement, "I would have thought that that was more likely."

"You will not cause trouble in my quarters," Severus warned in a booming voice, hoping to minimise the problem.

Draco went white and mumbled an apology, "I didn't mean to," He backtracked, "It's just that it's THEM, I didn't think you would be bothered."

"There have been many changes here and Harry and Ron are valuable members of my staff now, you would do well to remember that," Severus continued to warn.

"I won't say anything to them, I won't cause trouble," Draco gushed.

"Good," Severus said shortly, he then left Draco, he wanted to leave him still in an unsure state, it would do the boy good to worry about his position in the Snape household for a while.

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Harry took his turn with supper that evening and was determined to feed Draco in silence and then get out. He was still feeling a little bit upset and he didn't want to get noticeably upset in front of Draco.

Draco however, had little else to do all day but think about taunting Gryffindors and he was fairly confident that Harry and Ron had not been running to Severus telling tales. Severus had only become annoyed after he had openly said things about the two so he couldn't have known about the other things that he had actually said to them beforehand. Severus hadn't denied that Harry was the father of Hermione's baby either.

"Well Potter, you have been busy haven't you?" Draco said as Harry sat himself down by the bed.

"Have I?" Harry replied nervously.

"Severus was just telling me about the baby," Draco added.

"Was he," Harry grizzled feeling a little annoyed that he hadn't known that Severus was going to tell Draco about either of their pregnancies.

Draco could tell that Harry was irritated and so he was encouraged to go on, "Going behind Ron's back as well, or are you Gryffindors such good friends now that you share your mudblood girlfriends with each other too, it's disgusting."

"What are you talking about?" Harry demanded to know.

"You and Grainger."

Harry finally guessed what Draco was insinuating, "I was with Severus in the middle of nowhere when that happened and I am guessing that you definitely didn't get that from Severus."

"No, I didn't," Draco admitted, "But it was fun."

Harry refrained from saying anything further to Draco till he had finished all the food and then Harry decided to give him something else to think about. He stood up ready to flounce out of the room once he was done, "The father of Hermione's baby is Oliver Wood who is dead. You came here looking like Oliver Wood and the simplest thing to do if you ever leave these quarters is to make you look like him again, if you go round looking like your real self sooner or later somebody is going to try to kill you. So, as Oliver Wood, everybody in the entire castle will think that the child is yours, including Hermione." Harry made his planned exit.

The next morning after Harry, Severus and Ron had returned from breakfast Severus went through to Draco to get him out of bed.

Harry and Ron were going to hide underneath the invisibility cloak while Severus was intending to levitate Draco into the armchair and then levitate the armchair through to the potions room. They were already sat on the sofa with their legs up on the seat huddled together to make sure the cloak covered both of them. Harry had some of his chocolate with him and he gave some to Ron who had been looking at it.

"I would have thought that you would have had all this eaten by now," Ron commented as they munched together.

"I've been trying to save it, every time I leave the castle something weird happens and I don't want to have to go down to Hogsmeade for some more." Harry explained.

"You're the Headmaster, you could just get somebody else to get it for you," Ron suggested.

Harry shrugged, "I keep forgetting about that."

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Severus went in to Draco and the young man looked up at him with an apprehensive expression. He remembered what was going to happen.

"Are they there?" Draco asked.

"No, they are elsewhere in the castle," Severus answered knowing that Draco was enquiring about Harry and Ron.

"I don't want to be levitated," Draco stated.

Severus frowned, "They're not there, it's only you and me."

Draco gave Severus a sheepish smile, "I don't feel safe, you don't know what it's like being like this."

"I have more idea than you think," Severus replied remembering the time his brother had taken him from Hogwarts and made him his Kin, how ill he had been and how his brother had carried him because he hadn't liked being levitated either.

Severus took the armchair through to the potions room empty and explained what he was going to do to Harry and Ron as he passed back through the living room. Harry wasn't happy about him carrying anything but with the medicloak making Draco virtually weightless, Severus was sure that it would be perfectly manageable.

The medicloak was already spread out underneath the sheets and all Severus had to do was untuck the covers and wrap the cloak around Draco. Once the cloak was properly wrapped Severus scooped Draco up into his arms without any effort at all. Draco lay limply in Severus' arms and his head flopped to lie snuggled against his chest.

Harry and Ron watched Severus carry Draco through to the potion's room from their position beneath the invisibility cloak. They had been sworn to silence but as soon as Severus closed the door behind him Harry spoke to Ron.

"I don't think you realise how ill he is until you see something like that," Harry reflected, "When he's just lying in the bed annoying us he just looks like Draco lying down."

"Just as well he doesn't stand a chance with your Sev though, did you see the way he refused to be levitated, bet it has something to do with him finding his way into Severus' affections." Ron added.

"Idiot, I thought he of all people would guess, I mean his father was Sev's brother's friend. He was around them when they were Kin together, Lucius was jealous enough to have Sev's brother murdered."

"You don't think that Draco might have a similar agenda do you?" Ron asked looking very worried.

"He might have, I will have to speak to Severus about it but I am sure it will have occurred to him too."

"Speak to him as soon as you can," Ron warned, "I really don't want to live with you both gone."

Harry was touched that he would be missed so much and that Ron now knew and accepted the consequences of such a problem, he wrapped his arms around his friend and gave him the kind of hug he would never have initiated whilst a student.

"Girly again," Ron grumbled but he didn't push Harry away.

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Severus lowered Draco into the armchair and pushed a pillow behind his head, Draco looked at Severus the whole time, an affable expression upon his face. He covered the young man with a couple of blankets and then opened the window wide. It was a warm and sunny day with only a light breeze; with a spell on the window to stop any particles getting in the room it was ideal for brewing. Severus thought that while he was letting the fumes out he would also be allowing Draco to get a bit of fresh air without having to venture elsewhere in the castle, and he was right where he could keep an eye on him.

Draco looked a bit startled when the cooler air hit him but he didn't complain. Severus began setting up his cauldron and ingredients ready for the potion.

"You may talk to me as I brew," Severus informed Draco, "I have committed the directions to memory."

Severus began to make the potion that would hopefully help Draco though regrettably, although the curses had been cast from the same wand, it would do nothing to help Ron's condition. Draco remained quiet for a while but Severus could tell that he was being watched as he worked.

"So you weren't tempted to return to them after all?" Draco asked after a while.

"No, it was never an option," Severus replied not knowing why Draco wanted to know and feeling quite wary of him.

"But you were one before, what made you do it then?" Draco continued.

"Did you want to join them?" Severus asked Draco instead of replying.

"No, my father wanted it," Draco replied.

"Well there you are," Severus said without looking up from his cauldron, "We are quite alike."

"Not quite," Draco observed, "My father told me all about your brother."

Severus was a little surprised, it seemed that Draco was feeling quite brave in his new situation; Severus had never discussed his first Kinship openly with anybody other than Albus or Harry and Draco knew that it had always been a no go subject. He wondered if Lucius had told the boy the truth or the rather twisted version of it that had masqueraded for the truth for many years.

"What did he tell you?" Severus asked.

"That you had these swords and that they bound you in some way, made you very powerful until he was killed," Draco answered.

Severus was not surprised to hear that Draco had not been told the raw truth, "I recently discovered that it was your father who killed my Kin, out of jealousy no doubt."

"Or on the Dark Lord's orders," Draco added.

Severus tensed, he wondered if Draco did know the truth after all and had been testing him out.

"You were more powerful than him, weren't you? He wouldn't stand for that." Draco observed when Severus didn't reply.

Severus nodded, "That could well be true."

"Do you still have them?" Draco asked.

Severus hesitated for a moment not knowing how much he should reveal, then he thought better of it, with Draco in his current state and the swords already holding a Bond between himself and Harry there was no harm at all in telling him, "Yes."

"Can I see one?" Draco asked enthusiastically.

"No, not until you can live here peacefully without upsetting anyone."

"I said I would leave them alone," Draco whined.

"I know what you said," Severus growled knowingly.

"I won't, I will leave them alone."

Severus turned all his attention back to his potion, "Make sure that you do." He warned.

Severus continued to brew and when he received no further conversation from Draco he decided to ask a question of his own.

"What plans did your father have for you?" Severus asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," Draco replied stubbornly.

Severus had expected that he wouldn't tell Harry but he had thought that he might reveal it to his old house head, "Is it something that I need to be aware of?"

Draco thought for a while, obviously trying to decide whether he should give the incorrect answer or the one that would lead to further persistence from Severus, "My father might still be quite determined to find me in order to complete his wishes, although there is no Dark Lord to join anymore he might still want it."

Severus decided that Draco needed to be told no matter what his feelings at the news might be, "Draco," Severus began, "I am afraid that your father is dead, he was killed during the battle which saw the defeat of the Dark Lord."

Draco's face was at once a jumble of mixed emotions, relief, grief and joy all in one, then guilt at feeling glad about it at all, "Then his plans died with him," Draco said with a note of finality, ending Severus' hope that he might find out what had been going on.

Severus left Draco apparently taking a nap when he returned to the living room to join Harry for lunch. Harry had been playing chess with Ron and he turned his attention to Severus as soon as the door to the potions room was closed.

"How has it been?" Harry asked as Severus took his place on the sofa next to him.

"As pleasant as could be." Severus replied.

"Great," Harry grumbled.

"There's something he wants and I've threatened him with never getting it if he gives either of you any more trouble," Severus informed his Kin in order to cheer him up.

"What does he want?" Harry asked.

"He knows I have the swords and he wants to see one."

"I'll show him mine anytime he likes," Harry continued to grumble as he made his next move on the chessboard.

"I don't think that will work, he seems quite determined," Ron added.

"Well if it doesn't, he's getting sent to Gryffindor to keep Hermione's company." Severus replied.

"Even he doesn't deserve that!" Ron quipped as Harry laughed.

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After lunch Severus returned to Draco with a plate of food for him. He found that his former student was awake once again and proceeded to give him his lunch and then resumed his work.

"Can I work here too?" Draco asked as Severus brewed.

Severus turned to Draco, "Let's see how well this potion works and how well you get on with the others first shall we?" Severus replied firmly.

Draco looked like he might protest for a moment but then thought better of it and turned to look out of the window instead.

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TBC soon .
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Chapter Thirty Summary - Just Like Old Times - With Severus' potion helping Draco to be back on his feet again how long will it be before there is trouble in the Headmaster's quarters.