There was a moment of silence, each person caught up in their own thoughts. Harry was confused with his friends' behaviour. After the chat they had on the train he thought that Severus's actions should have been praised, not shunned. Severus felt guilty, he had just taken Draco's mother away from him. Lucius was disappointed, he had believed his son would have agreed. Harry looked at the adults and wondered if he should follow his friend. However, before he could offer, Lucius strode from the room at break-neck speed. Left with Severus, Harry wasn't sure what to do. "Are you okay, Severus?" Harry questioned nervously noticing the faraway look in the mans' eyes.
Severus Snape had been spiralling in guilt until he heard the words from his young student. Snapped out of his thoughts, he turned to Harry and looked at him properly. He shook like a leaf, and his eyes showed a range of emotions: concern, pride, fear, anger, shock and embarrassment. Severus walked over to the loveseat Harry was sitting upon and gently sat beside him. He placed an arm around the boys' shoulders, and said, "No Harry, not really. I was trying to help a good friend and in doing so may have caused irreparable harm. I may have lost my godson."
The man sighed, and Harry noticed a stray tear fall down his face. Harry wanted nothing more than to take the mans' pain away. "Severus, Draco will forgive you. He told me about his mother, not that she could really be called that. He wanted nothing to do with her. He may be in shock. She is the woman who gave birth to him," Harry tried to explain.
Severus thought on this and decided Harry was right. He pulled the boy into a tight hug and whispered, "Thank you, Little Snake. You are wise beyond your years."
Harry fiercely hugged the man back. They were interrupted a minute later by a throat being cleared. Spinning around, they found both Draco and Lucius standing in the doorway. Lucius had an amused look on his face, with a twinkle in his eye. Draco, on the other hand, had a strange look on his face. He looked both guilty and amused. It was quite a combination on his pale complexion. Draco slowly took a step forward into the room and Severus took a step back.
This stopped Draco in his tracks, and he lowered his head. "Uncle Sev, I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I am grateful that you are helping Dad. The thing is I still love her even after everything. I know I probably shouldn't. I think she loves me too, deep down. I don't think she knows HOW to show it," Draco said contritely, still looking toward the floor.
Severus heaved out the breath he didn't realise he had been holding. He fell to his knees and started to weep, muttering, "I thought I had lost you." Over and over again.
Draco ran forward and pulled his Godfather into a bear hug. Harry sensed the privateness of their moment and shuffled away from Severus's side. Eventually, he came to stand next to the Malfoy patriarch. Lucius looked to his right and saw the Potter boy standing beside him. "Thank you, Harry," he said sincerely.
"For what, Sir?"
"For being there for both of them, they are both so lonely," Lucius sighed.
"And what about you, Mr Malfoy? Are you lonely too?" Harry questioned innocently.
"Very."
Harry wasn't sure what to say. He hadn't expected the man to answer him. Grown-ups usually told him to mind his own business. They stood in silence together and observed the scene before them. Finally, Draco and Severus pulled apart, both had tears streaming down their faces. The two of them looked more peaceful than Harry had ever seen them.
