By the time Friday's classes had ended, House found himself completely exhausted. Teaching, lesson plans, nightly patrols, on top of his own continued education had worn him down a lot farther than he'd anticipated. He'd checked in on Snape twice during the week as well, spending a an hour or so with him each time. Snape was slowly recovering physically, but emotionally, he was still wrecked. His moods swung between deep, grieving despair to raging anger, all of which House bore with a careful indifference. He let him rant and weep about being saved, having hoped for death's final release. House knew how that felt, to wish for death so much, and to have it denied. The only way to cleanse and heal this wound was to let all those feelings pour out. House was the only one around Snape that didn't have any personal feelings with from the war; that made him the safe one to take it all out on. He wouldn't begrudge Snape that chance but it added to what had already been an exhausting week.

House collapsed into his armchair Friday afternoon with a fierce headache pounding in his temples. He didn't think he could keep anything down at dinner or even stand the smell of food, so he simply covered himself with an afghan and put out all the lights in his quarters after taking his potions, hoping that a long night's sleep would help.

Draco noticed House's absence and was worried about him. He'd seen him grimacing in pain more and more as the week progressed, even absently rubbing his bad leg and leaning more heavily on his cane. He knew that he had a tendency to forget to eat when he was deeply intent on something. Narcissa had noticed at the flat and warned Draco to watch for it at school. After eating his own dinner, Draco made up a plate, cast a warming charm on it and headed out of the hall. He rolled his eyes when he realized he was being followed and waited around the corner for the Golden Trio to appear.

"Why are you following me?" he demanded as soon as they did so.

"Making sure you're not up to any of your old tricks, Malfoy," Ron sniped.

"Ron!" Hermione admonished sharply.

"We wondered if you were taking that to Headmaster Snape. We wanted to ask how he was doing," Harry said, giving Ron a disappointed look.

"Headmaster Snape is a bit better. His voice is still raspy and little more than a whisper but he isn't coughing as much," Draco responded. "He's still quite upset though. But this isn't for him. It's for Professor House. He wasn't at dinner so I thought I'd take dinner to him."

"Snape's upset? Boo hoo for him!" Ron snapped, stomping off in the direction of Gryffindor Tower. Harry and Hermione looked apologetically at Draco and then Hermione went off after Ron.

"Sorry. He's still having a bad time with Fred's death," Harry said quietly. "I didn't realize you knew Professor House," he added, coming up alongside Draco.

Draco studied Harry for a long moment then turned and started walking, glancing back over his shoulder at Harry as if to ask if he were coming or not. Harry nodded and walked along with him.

"My mother and I have been living with him since the middle of July. The Ministry froze all our assets and barred us from any of our houses. He offered to let us move into his flat in Hogsmeade. Mother is still there. While living with him, we noticed that when he gets intensely involved in something he neither eats nor sleeps. Much like Severus," Draco said with a smirk. "So when he didn't show up at dinner, I thought maybe I should take dinner to him."

"Good thinking. I'm sorry you and your mother are barred from your house, Malfoy. That hardly seems fair to leave you with nowhere to go," Harry said with a frown.

"Well, we have somewhere now so… this is his quarters," Draco said, stopping at a door and knocking. After a moment of silence, Draco knocked again, louder this time.

"Maybe he isn't there," Harry said. "Maybe he's checking in on the Snape."

Draco considered that for a moment but knocked again anyway, calling out to him to open the door before he sent word to his mother. Harry snorted at the threat. Draco eyed him with a challenge but Harry held up his hands in surrender. Suddenly the door jerked open to reveal a very irritated Professor House.

"What the hell, the school better be on fire!" House snapped as he focused on the two boys. Draco sighed, seeing all the signs of a migraine on the older man's face.

"I brought your dinner. Did you take your potions?" Draco asked as he pushed past House and into the room. House and Harry stared at each other, each stunned by Draco's audacity, until House roughly grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him in as well.

"Yes, I took my potions," House ground out as he went back to his chair. "Set the food aside, I can't eat right now, it'll just make a return visit."

Draco took the food into the tiny kitchenette and then walked into the attached bathroom, coming back with a cold, wet washcloth which he folded in half and put over House's forehead, holding it in place as the older man sighed with relief.

"Maybe some broth would be better, and some crackers," Harry offered. At Draco's nod, he called out, "Winky!"

The little elf appeared with a pop. "Yes, Harry Potter sir?" she asked with a bow.

"Professor House isn't feeling well. Could you bring him some chicken broth and crackers?"

Winky nodded vigorously and popped away, returning in moments with a bowl of broth, crackers and a steaming mug of tea.

"Thank you, Winky, that's perfect," Harry said, bringing a smile to her face as she popped away again.

"Didn't know you knew the Hogwarts elves by name, Potter," Draco said with a smirk.

"Just a couple of them," Harry said, a bit saddened as he thought of Dobby. "Here, sir, try some of the broth," he said, bringing the mug over to House.

House opened his eyes, a bit perturbed to be cared for by the two young men, but after remembering what his life had come down to before and Wilson's death, he swallowed his pride and gingerly took the hot mug. After blowing on it a bit, he took a couple of small sips and nodded when it seemed it would agree with him. Harry smiled and sat down on a chair while Draco refreshed the cloth and put it on the back of House's neck while he drank the broth.

"Are you ill too, Professor?" Harry asked. "I mean, to be taking potions? It sounded a bit more regular than just a pain potion for a headache."

"Good observation, Potter," House said, wincing as another sharp twinge of pain made itself known. "I do take regular potions, for the leg. I'm not ill; the headache is so bad it's making me nauseous. Just worn down after the first week. It's been a lot more time consuming work than I thought it would be, plus I'm still learning what I need to know."

"You're trying to do too much at once," Draco said disapprovingly, coming around to pull another chair over and sit next to Harry. "Making yourself sick is only going to bring the wrath of my mother down on you."

House gave a low chuckle, remembering when Narcissa had done just that a couple of weeks earlier. "Yeah, she's no one to mess with. Wish she was here now."

"Why don't you invite her?" Harry asked. "You said she was in Hogsmeade, didn't you Draco?"

"Yes, but… well, we're not exactly welcome anywhere anymore Potter," Draco said hesitantly. "They have to let me in here, Ministry's orders, but they don't have to let Mother in."

"You two were cleared of all charges," Harry said fiercely. "That means she's as welcome as any other parent."

"Most parents only visit when there's an emergency or for the house quidditch matches," Draco reminded him.

Harry didn't look mollified in the least. "What about a floo call?"

"With a migraine? Not likely," Draco scoffed. "Unless he wants to feel like his head will explode."

"No thanks. Been there, done that. Not fun," House groaned, taking slow sips of the hot tea.

"Well… can we help at all?" Harry asked, letting it go for the moment.

"You already have," House answered. "I'm going to take a sleeping draught and go to bed. Thanks for this and the food. Go on, it's Friday, you're young. You must have better things to do than mother hen me," he gruffly ordered, gesturing toward the door as he got up and headed for his bedroom. Draco followed him anyway, making sure he got the potion then came out and left with Harry, locking the door behind them.

"Thanks, Potter," Draco said quietly, not meeting his eyes. "He's been a big help for my mother and me."

"Your welcome, any time," Harry answered. After a moment more, he and Draco parted ways. Draco to the library to do homework, but Harry decided to go see McGonagall.

"Can I speak with you, Professor?" he asked after she called out for him to come in.

"Of course, Mr. Potter. What's on your mind this evening?" Minerva asked, gesturing for him to take a seat.

"I've just come from Professor House's quarters with Malfoy," Harry explained. "The professor didn't come to dinner and Malfoy was worried so he took him a plate from the hall. He had a bad migraine, the professor that is, enough that he didn't even want to eat. Draco made sure he took his potions and got a cold cloth for his head and I had Winky bring some broth and crackers for him. He was a bit better when we left after drinking some broth but was taking a sleeping potion. Draco thinks he's pushing himself to do too much and that's what gave him the migraine."

"I appreciate you letting me know this, Potter, but I'm not sure what I can do. Professor House drastically changed the curriculum and it would take a couple of days for me to even get on board enough to help him."

"Well, that's what I really wanted to talk to you about," Harry said. "You know that Draco and his mother are living with the professor in Hogsmeade?" he asked. Minerva nodded. "Well, the professor made the comment that he wished Mrs. Malfoy was here. Is there some way she can come to visit him, on weekends or something? Can he go to Hogsmeade on his day off?"

"He can leave the school grounds on his day off, certainly, he simply needs to inform us that he's leaving," Minerva answered. "A professor is also allowed to have guests in their quarters, so long as they do not roam the school grounds without permission. I'll make sure that he knows that he can invite Mrs. Malfoy to his quarters. Thank you for bringing that misunderstanding to me."

Harry nodded, relieved the solution was that easy. "Draco was worried that his mother wouldn't be welcome here."

"I'm sure there are some who wouldn't welcome her. Fortunately, neither I nor the headmaster are among them," Minerva responded with a bit of a smirk. "Have a good evening, Harry."

Harry made his way back to Gryffindor tower, finding Ron and Hermione sitting in silence in front of the fireplace.

"Was there anything to be worried about, Harry?" Hermione asked as Ron just glared at him.

"Yeah, Professor House had a bad migraine but he's had some broth and tea and taken a potion to go to sleep," Harry answered, sitting on the sofa next to her.

"Took you long enough to get back here," Ron ground out. "Getting chummy with Malfoy now?"

"Ron, shut up," Harry snapped, thoroughly annoyed with him. "I'd rather be friendly to Malfoy than sworn enemies, thank you very much."

"You want to get all the Death Eaters as friends now, don't you?" Ron demanded angrily. "First Snape, then Malfoy and his mother. Why don't you go join their family instead of hanging around with mine! In fact, why don't you go stay in the dungeons with the rest of the snakes!"

"Ron, stop it! What's wrong with you?" Hermione cried out in dismay.

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with him? Death Eaters killed Fred, Remus, Tonks, Moody, Dobby! Now he's going to go be friendly with them? They don't even deserve to be in school anymore let alone running free. Every last one of them should be in Azkaban!" Ron shouted, red-faced and furious.

"That's the same way the Death Eaters thought about the muggle born," Harry snapped back. "You're acting exactly the same way they did, Ron!"

"We have to be one society again, Ron," Hermione said urgently, "don't you see that? We have to let them make themselves better, like Headmaster Snape did."

"They don't deserve to be part of wizarding Britain!" Ron exploded. "They should all leave the country and never come back!" He stomped away, up the staircase, leaving Hermione and Harry behind, stunned at the level of hatred Ron was carrying.

"He needs help, Hermione," Harry said after a moment. "I know a lot of this is from losing Fred and the rest but if he acts on his feelings, he could wind up in prison himself."

"I know," Hermione said tearfully. "I've tried to talk to him about it but he just insists that makes me on their side."

"Maybe we could go talk to Bill tomorrow morning," Harry suggested.

"I think you're right," Hermione agreed. They both sat in silence for a long moment, staring into the fire while they pondered how to help Ron.

"Draco and his mother are living with Professor House in his flat in Hogsmeade. The Ministry has barred them from their house," Harry said quietly after a while. "They've been there since my birthday, thereabout. Mrs. Malfoy is still there."

"I'd heard the Ministry had barred them from the Manor, since that had been Voldemort's headquarters, but I didn't think they'd bar them from all of their properties," Hermione said with a frown. "Somehow it's hard to imagine Mrs. Malfoy in a flat in Hogsmeade," she added with a chuckle, "especially with Professor House. He doesn't really fit their personalities."

"Maybe not before the war," Harry agreed with a smile, "but him and Draco seemed pretty at ease with each other. Draco pushed his way into his quarters when House opened the door, really angry at being disturbed, but he didn't do or say anything about it. In fact, he pulled me inside and went back to his chair, acting like nothing outlandish happened."

Following Minerva's visit the next morning, House was pleased to firecall Narcissa and see her reaction to the prospect of visiting him.

"I don't think I'm ready to visit you at Hogwarts, Gregory," Narcissa said after a moment. "It's not you, it's just… the last time I was there…"

"No, I understand. Too fresh, too soon. Would you have a problem with me coming there?"

"It's your home. Why would I have any say at all?" Narcissa asked, puzzled.

"It's not the flat I'm coming to see," he growled, wondering now if the friendship they'd had over the summer was one more of necessity and proximity than a true friendship. "Forget it."

"Gregory, wait," Narcissa commanded. "I think we're misunderstanding each other. I thought you wanted to continue your lessons and asked me to come to Hogwarts because it would be more convenient, since you are busy teaching two courses. If that's not what you're asking, please explain to me, don't just cut off the call."

House was silent for a moment, uncertain whether to explain or not. He wasn't sure he could handle finding out that there might not be a real friendship. When she remained on line, waiting for him to think through his response, he decided to risk it. Better to know for sure after all.

"I thought that we made pretty good friends over the summer lessons and living together. I enjoyed just talking with you. I was hoping maybe you liked that too."

Narcissa was quiet as she thought about what to say. "Gregory, I very much enjoyed the lessons and just talking with you," she said sincerely. "And it is quite lonely with both you and Draco gone to school now. Please come visit tomorrow. I'll see to a dinner for us to share."

House gave her a nervous but hopeful smile. "Okay. Then I'll see you tomorrow. Around eleven?"

"I'll expect you then," she answered with a smile and ended the call.

Narcissa got up from the fireplace and went to sit down on the sofa. She wasn't sure what to think about this. On one hand she was very happy to have him as a friend. He was protective and caring, observant to her and Draco's needs. She enjoyed his sense of humor a great deal. But on the other hand, it hadn't been long since Lucius' death. Despite the strain on their marriage during the war, she had loved Lucius with all her heart and still mourned him. Was it right to have a new male friendship? Severus had been their friend for two decades; it was acceptable that he should remain so. She wished there was someone she could talk this out with but there was no one left but Severus and he was still so ill and upset himself, it wouldn't be fair to burden him with this.

She got up to tidy up the flat, though it was already perfectly clean, just to have something to do, trying to avoid the truth that the reason this was so unnerving was that she already thought of Gregory as more than a friend. Did she want to feel that? Did he feel the same? And what would Draco think? Draco like Gregory a great deal but what would he think of him being more than just a friendly benefactor to her? After everything that she and Lucius had sacrificed for Draco under Voldemort's reign of terror, she wasn't going to alienate him now. Draco was all the family she had left. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Her sister, Andromeda, was still alive, raising her grandchild, though they had spoken for twenty years. And since her daughter and son-in-law had died at the Battle of Hogwarts, she didn't begin to hope that Andy would care to hear from her. A couple of stray tears escaped before she was able to compose herself. Finally she went to get some parchment from the cabinet drawer and sat down to write a letter to Andromeda, to ask for forgiveness and see if she could salvage the last dregs of family she had.

Andromeda Tonks was feeding Teddy when an owl arrived bearing a letter. Once Teddy finished eating and she'd lulled him to sleep, she came back to take the letter, giving the bird water and some owl treats. She unrolled the parchment and sat down hard when she saw Narcissa's name. She was tempted to simply throw it into the fire but curiosity won out and she began to read.

Dear Andromeda,

I would call you Andy, as we did in our youth, but I feel I have long since lost that right. I send my sincere condolences on the loss of Nymphadora and Remus Lupin. I hope that your grandson brings you joy.

I don't know whether you are following the Daily Prophet right now, so I will not assume what you do or do not know. Lucius died of a brain aneurysm ten days after the Battle of Hogwarts. Draco and I owe a great life debt to Harry Potter, for his testimony allowed us to avoid Azkaban. The Ministry has frozen all of our assets and seized our properties here in Britain whilst barring us from leaving the country. One blessing is that Draco was ordered to return to Hogwarts to complete his education.

We were at St Mungo's to visit Severus Snape when we were accosted by angry group of mourning families. A stranger defended us and demanded security disperse them. Through an unusual twist of fate, the stranger had known Severus for the summer holidays the year they were both thirteen. He was a doctor in the muggle world and was at St Mungo's for treatment of an old injury. He was able to adjust Severus' treatment and ultimately set him on the road to recovery. During this time, he discovered Draco and I had nowhere to go and invited us to stay with him in his flat at Hogsmeade.

It has been quite enjoyable, though I think few would believe Draco and I could be content there. I have the small bedroom; he and Draco sleep on bunkbeds that are tucked into a corner behind a curtain. His name is Gregory House and it turns out he is a wizard. His family was in the muggle military and the family moved so frequently he never received a letter to any wizard school. He was able to find a job teaching muggle studies at Hogwarts and he is also teaching an introduction to healing arts. Draco and I helped him learn a good repertoire of basic spells and potions, as well as introducing him to wizard culture. Now that he and Draco have both gone to Hogwarts, I am still living in his flat and he and I have become friends.

It was realizing that point and that I am content in his company, that brought to mind just how much family has been lost on all sides of this war and to you and I particularly. I am so very sorry that all of this pureblood supremacy foolishness tore our families apart. I was so wrong to think that way and to let Lucius forbid us to see each other. I know it is probably no consolation at this point, but even Lucius saw the fallacy of pureblood supremacy at the end. I won't blame you for refusing me, but I feel I must ask for your forgiveness anyway. I would like to get to know you and your grandson if you will allow it. Perhaps you can meet Gregory at some point. I think you would find him refreshingly direct. I am quite confused about my feelings for him, as a friend, as a companion. It is so soon since losing Lucius. I won't risk angering Draco, although he likes Gregory a great deal. Gregory was able to fill a male mentor role that Draco desperately needed. As there is still no word on when we might be allowed back into our properties, if you decide to send a reply, address it to Hogsmeade.

I truly am sorry. Narcissa.

Andromeda read the letter several times that day and even went to find out what the Daily Prophet had reported about Lucius' death, the trials, and even the recovery of Severus Snape. She found a picture of them at St Mungo's being defended by an angry man with a cane, identified as Gregory House, a muggle doctor who was given treating rights as a healer for Headmaster Snape. She had to smile at the picture. Trust Narcissa to come across another man with a cane, although the subsequent pictures of his posting at Hogwarts demonstrated that he actually needed the cane to help him walk not just as an affectation as Lucius had used it.

She wanted very much to stay angry at Narcissa, for the loss of Dora and Remus and so many others, but like her, she was keenly feeling the loss of family. She had the Weasleys for friends. Who did Narcissa have? Well, clearly this Gregory fellow. A muggleborn who'd never been schooled as a wizard, who'd have ever thought it possible? And yet, it had been a muggleborn who showed mercy to her sister and nephew. She wondered if he knew the part they had played in the war and the general ill-will against muggleborns. Well, if Narcissa truly wanted forgiveness, Andromeda was willing to give her the chance to have family again. Making up her mind, she wrote out a reply and sent it off to Narcissa.