The next few weeks passed in relative peace. Draco's new comradeship with Harry and his friends signaled a virtual end to the messier of the House rivalries, though there were still definite tensions. Overall, though, the faculty agreed that this new development was a most pleasing one.

Except for Severus Snape. He had spent his time in observation, and had so far come to no concrete conclusions. Harry certainly didn't act like he had more than friendly feelings for Draco...but then again, Draco gave no outward signs that he was enamoured with Harry. Deciding that he'd never get anywhere that way, he instead watched Harry, trying to just what it was that was attracting Draco so much.

Besides the obvious, anyway. Even Snape had to admit that Harry had grown into a very attractive young man, with his ebony hair and eyes that reminded him of an untouched forest in their green. He could see the two boys making a very attractive pair, Harry's darker features contrasting with the paleness of Draco. Much different than what Harry would look like with him....

Snape killed that train of thought and moved on. He supposed that Draco admired things like Harry's braveness, his kindness. The way that Harry's eyes would shine with emotion, or how Harry's normal small smile would soften when gazing into nothingness. He could almost imagine how those eyes would look in the heights off passion, that mouth curving with moans as--

Blinking, Snape tried to clear his mind. Had he been *fantasizing* about Harry *Potter*? He was trying to help *Draco*, not fall in love himself!

With a groan, Snape realized what exactly had happened. He had looked so hard to see what was lovable in and about Harry that he had gone and fallen himself. Snape muttered a curse under his breath. To find someone so compelling and know that doing anything would break the heart of a student he cared about so much....

A rap on the door interrupted his self-criticizing. Of course. He had almost forgot about Draco-though why he would when the boy had been showing up like clockwork for the past three weeks, he had no idea. "Enter."

Draco came in and sat in his customary seat. Before he could say anything, Snape stated, "It would be much easier for me to comprehend why you come in here and ask questions about love if you would tell me who is in love with who."

Draco's eyes narrowed for a second, gathering himself. "I cannot do that, sir."

"May I ask *why*?" His life would be much simpler if he could at least get Draco to admit that he was one of the parties in this romantic game.

"Why? Because disclosing that information could harm one of the parties...possibly both. And I have no wish to do that."

"Very well." Snape stood and started to pace. "I do not know what you've been trying to accomplish in talking to me all this time, but it is possible that you're looking for advice. Tell whoever it is that you're trying to consul to just go up to the person they love and *tell* them."

Draco blinked, shocked. "Just tell them...I don't think that would work. Actually, I think that would be very bad."

"Explain, please, how directness and honesty could be 'bad'."

Draco stood and walked to stand in front of Snape. "Let me ask you something-if someone were to walk up to you, and say, 'Severus Snape, I love you. I've loved you for quite some time, and I don't want to imagine my life without you,' what would you do?"

Snape frowned for a second, caught off-guard. "If it were me...I'd be surprised, but reject them. I have no need for love in my life." 'You're lying, Severus...I just have poor luck in choosing who I love.' He covered his lie with a sneer.

Draco shrugged. "You see my point them. Imagine you were the person who just got rejected. It would be...crushing, to say the least. No one desires to go through that." Draco looked up and met Snape's eyes, smiling sadly. "And...I think I've learned all I need to. Good night, sir." He turned to leave.

"Wait." Draco paused at the door. "I hope you know, Draco, if you ever desire to tell me something...I'm here."

"I know that, sir." Draco left the room, carefully closing the door behind him. Staring at the wood, he murmured, "But I'm not the one with something to tell you...and I don't know if telling you is a good idea anymore."

**********

Harry sat in the Gryffindor common room, staring into the fireplace. He was lost in thought, daydreaming about things he wanted but never thought he could have. Like love.... Harry sighed, then jumped when he heard knocking outside the room. Cautiously, he went to the door and crept towards the exit, the knocking getting louder. As he exited, he saw Draco standing in the corridor, biting his lip and looking concerned. "Draco?"

Draco looked up at Harry's voice. "I need to talk to you...I think it's important." He took a deep breath. "I spoke to him again."

"With who?"

"Snape. I've been talking to him lately...trying to judge what he thought about relationships in general...I think he got annoyed by all my questions, though."

Harry sank to the floor in shock. "You...told him...."

"No! Nothing like that." Draco took a seat next to Harry. "I used no names...but I think he got the point." He laughed. "Or *a* point. He gave me some advice tonight-to just tell the person that you love them. He thinks it's best."

"Tell him? Is that what you're telling me?"

"I'm afraid not." Draco took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I was...shocked by his directness, so I questioned him by turning his advice on himself. You know, what would his reaction be if someone told him they loved him. I really *was* trying to help. Harry!"

"If the next words out of your mouth are 'Severus is in love with me,' I *will* hurt you."

Draco let out a barking laugh. "I wish it were that simple. No, he told me that he'd refuse any advance...because he has no use for love."

Harry's mouth opened and shut a few times. "No...use...?"

"I'm *sorry*, Harry! Really I am! I just...wanted to help...wanted to try and make up for how I've treated you all of these years...I didn't want to find out this."

Harry slowly stood. "I'm...going to bed now, Draco. You do the same. I'll see you in the morning." He looked at the portrait. "Flying fish," he spoke to it, and it slid aside.

"Are you mad at me, Harry?"

Harry turned around, and Draco wished he hadn't-the smile that they had all worked on getting was gone, the eyes filled with sadness. "I'm not mad at you, Draco. You only wanted to help." He left before anything more could be said.

Only when he was sure he was alone did Harry allow himself the luxury of a tear. "I should've known," he whispered miserably. He wiped away a few more tears before crawling into bed and trying not to dream.

**********

Ron cast a worried look at Hermione. "I don't know what to do anymore-he's been like this for *days*!" Ron's eyes strayed to Harry, who was leaning against a tree staring at the sky. "He hasn't been eating, I don't think he's sleeping well...and have you seen his eyes lately?"

Hermione nodded. "Empty. They didn't even look that bad after...." She swallowed, years of ingrained fear not allowing her to say the name. "There has to be *something* we can do."

"But what?" Draco separated himself from the wall that had apparently doing double duty of holding both him and the castle up. "Everything we've tried doesn't help."

Hermione bit her lip in thought. "Are you *sure* that Snape meant what he said? Maybe he lied-you know, to save face in front of a student."

Ron snorted. "Have you *ever* known that git to lie about anything? Honestly, I'd be more likely to believe that he's a heartless bastard than anything else." Ron looked at Harry again, and his anger melted away some. "I just wish that Harry could've seen that. Snape's not worth Harry's pain."

Sighing, Hermione nodded. "I know, but...Harry doesn't respond to *anything* anymore. I just wish...." Biting back a sob, she leaned into her boyfriend's embrace.

Draco walked over to Harry. "Harry? It's almost dinnertime...come in, please."

"I can't do it." Harry's voice was flat, lifeless. "I can't go in there and see him sitting up there. It hurts too much."

Draco put a tentative arm around his friend's shoulder. "Don't let him ruin your life," he whispered. "He may not love you, might not be able to love at all, but there are still people who care about you, and we don't like seeing you neglect yourself." He gestured to Ron and Hermione, who were watching the pair with worried eyes. "Please. For us."

Harry sighed and shook his head, but allowed himself to be steered into the dining hall. Draco was right-they all were. He had to...move on.

But why did it have to be so damn *hard*?

**********

Snape sighed in annoyance as he watched Harry flinch out of the corner of his eye. Normally, this wouldn't bother him, but the boy had been doing it all class. "Potter!"

Harry jumped and bit his lip, looking down at the desk. "Yes, sir?"

"Why are you so jumpy, pray tell? You're starting at shadows, and it is very wearing on my nerves."

"I'm sorry, sir." Harry's eyes stayed glued to his desk.

"Oh, quit apologizing. I don't know what's worse-the nervousness or the constant apologizing! You're a seventeen year-old boy--*act* like it and *not* like a wounded puppy!"

Harry seemed to visibly shrink into himself. Rather than say anything else, he shook his head miserably. Ron reddened, and Hermione had to grab onto him to keep him from attacking.

Draco crossed the room and moved to stand between Harry and Snape. "Sir, Harry's been having a rough time lately."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Sticking up for a Gryffindor, Mr. Malfoy?"

"In this case, yes. In my opinion, you're being too harsh."

Snape's mood, already frayed from having been watching a flagging Harry of late, did not improve with this. "Potter, Malfoy, stay here. The rest of you-go."

Shooting sidelong glances at each other, the class obeyed. Ron and Hermione paused long enough to place a hand on Harry's shoulder in support before leaving, closing the door behind them.

Snape looked at the two students in front of him and steeled himself for what he was about to say. "I've been watching both of you lately, and coupled with some intriguing chats I've had with Draco of late, I think I've figured out what's going on."

Harry sank back on his stool, closing his eyes tightly. 'Please...,' he thought, not sure what he was hoping for.

Snape continued. "It is very obvious to be what is going on here-I see the signs. Draco, I know."

"Know?" Draco tried to play innocent.

"Yes, I know." 'Now for the hardest part....' "I don't know what you see in Potter-such a clumsy, fragile, unkempt, plain thing-but it is obvious to me that you...care for him." Rolled his eyes. "And though he would be my *last* choice for a mate, would just *tell* Mr. Potter that you love him and save us all a lot of grief?"

Both boys sat in shock, trying to digest what they had just heard. Tears began to fall from Harry's eyes just as Draco started to talk. "Sir, I don't know what I said, but you've got it wrong! I--"

His words were interrupted by Harry suddenly standing, knocking back his stool in the process. "He doesn't get it," he murmured. "Here I thought I was being so *obvious*...and to hear that...." He wiped at his face. "I have to get out of here!" Harry bolted for the door.

"Harry, wait!" The door slammed shut behind him, and Draco whirled on Snape. "How could you?" he hissed.

Snape blinked. This had gone against everything he had planned on. "How could I? Well, you were never going to tell him, and...why did he react like that?"

"Because I don't *love* Harry Potter, nor does he love me! Do you want to know who he loves?" Draco stormed up to Snape and poked him in the chest, sending him staggering back a couple steps with the force. "You! He loves *you* Professor Severus Snape! He loves you, and I wanted to help him, and you just managed to break his *heart*! I hope you're happy with yourself, *sir*." Draco stormed towards the door. "Ron was right-you're not worth his pain. And if you'll excuse me, I've got a friend to comfort."

For the second time that afternoon the door slammed shut.

Snape staggered back into his chair, eyes wide in shock. 'He...loves me? Harry Potter loves me?' For a moment, the joy was overwhelming. Then, remembering what he had just said to Harry,

"Dear Lord, what have I done?" He took off after Harry.