DISCLAIMER: All characters, settings, and magical occurrences were all conceived and created in the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Nothing except the glorious plot is property of mine. No profits are being made from my writing.

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Chapter 13

With impending holidays fresh on his mind, Draco had a few decisions he needed to make. He knew he was slowly running out of time, but what he decided was going to change things more than he might have been prepared to deal with. So with all of this fresh on his mind, days passed a lot slower with the impending events.

He'd received a letter, not even a week ago. His father had spoke of special events to celebrate the holiday. Now his parents weren't of any sort of religion so he knew exactly what that meant. Lucius was often discreet in his letters. Most wouldn't have gotten anything out of them unless they knew what they were looking for. He just wasn't sure if he were prepared for what events his father spoke of.

He'd shared all of this with Pansy already though she hadn't been much help. She didn't understand his reasoning. She couldn't though. But to be fair to her, she'd been a lot stronger than he had. So despite her advice begin very inadequate, he still valued it. In fact, he valued his friendship with Pansy a lot more these days. She'd changed a lot that year and Draco was slightly surprised to see what a good person she'd actually become. Though, deep down, she was still a cold hearted Slytherin always.

Having none of his friends to turn to, Draco decided it might be time to make a more professional visit to Remus. He'd been over there a bit lately, though he was careful not to over stay his welcome. But it obvious lately that his company had been appreciated by his host.

After checking his quarters and finding them empty, Draco had headed for the classroom where he found what he'd been looking for. Remus had been in his office, quill in hand, scribbling down grades and notes on the essay's he was grading. He stood in the doorway a moment watching him before the professor looked up, feeling eyes locked upon him.

"Draco." He gave a slight nod, inviting him in. Draco took his cue and sat down in the chair across from him. Remus wrote a final comment on an essay and set his quill down on the desk. "Is there something I can help you with?" He wasn't sure what to expect from such a visit. After all, it seemed Draco had sought him out. Normally things would just wait until that evening.

"I received a letter from my father last week." He handed over the parchment, sitting on the edge of his chair. Remus read over the document a couple of times before setting it down upon his desk and letting his eyes reach Draco's. "I assume you understand what this means for me." He said quietly, taking it back. He folded it quickly and stuck it back inside his pocket.

"I do indeed. What are your feelings on this?"

"I've been giving this a lot of thought. I don't think I can go home. I've done a lot of things thus far, but this might be the limit for me. I just fear that it might not be well received by my father." The formality was intended between them. For if someone were to step in at that moment, there would be yet another person who could put them in more danger. That was the last thing they needed at the moment.

"So then you wish to stay over the Holidays?" Draco just gave a sincere nod, his eyes betraying him though. He was worried. For the first time in his life, he honestly didn't want to return home. "I shall speak to the Headmaster this evening. I'm sure he'll be able to figure something out. In the mean time, it's best not to mention that you won't be returning to your father."

"Of course. Thank you, sir. You don't know how much this means to me." He gave a weak smile to the other man before standing to exit the offices.

Remus sat there a few more moments letting the words they'd shared sink in. He'd known a while that Draco didn't really want to go home. He'd left subtle hints about it, but he'd never outright said he didn't want to go back to the Manor. It was his home after all as he'd often said. For him to come right out and basically say he didn't want to return was a big thing. And that meant Remus would have to do everything he could to insure that it didn't happen.

.-.

"Albus, I'm afraid I'm going to need your help." Remus explained after taking a seat in Dumbledore's office. The headmaster had already busied himself with pouring two cups of tea, setting one before Remus.

"I take this has to do with Draco?" Dumbledore took a drink from his own cup, settling into his large chair.

"He's received a letter from home. It seems Lucius has some things planned over the holiday and especially wants his son involved. He came to my office this afternoon to express his anxiety in such a visit as well as to tell me that he just doesn't want to go back there." Remus explained, not yet touching his own cup.

He wasn't going a very good job of showing how exhausted he was with worry over the situation. He'd been giving it so much thought all day. It didn't help that Draco had looked more than terrible at dinner. Even Ron had noticed and he'd refrained from making a hateful comment. Though Remus suspected there was more to it than just that. He should've figured Harry would've told his friends.

"I assumed this would happen. Though I must say that I'm surprised that Draco has already said he wishes to stay over holidays." Dumbledore took a drink, looking very thoughtful. "I'll owl Lucius tonight. I believe that Draco has been working with Minerva on Animagi training with some of the others. I'll just have to inform him that she's requested he stay for a bit more training. If I know Lucius, I should think he'll be glad about it. There are so few Animagi that they'll assume it'll work for their advantage." His words alone helped to soothe Remus' worry some. He had remembered many a session where he'd helped tutor Draco on some of the finer theoretical points of his future transformations.

"I'll let him know this evening." Remus stood to exit but Albus put a hand up for him to wait.

"Remus, I just want you to be careful. I understand that you care about Draco's welfare but I don't want it to effect you too much." There was obviously more he meant to say with such an underlying tone but there was nothing else. Perhaps it was only because he had a soft spot inside.

"I understand. I know. I know." He gave a reluctant smile, before leaving the office. Not paying much attention, he ran into someone at the bottom of the stairs. "I'm Sorry…Harry."

"I'm sorry, Remus. I wasn't paying attention either." He studied him for a moment. "Are you ok?"

"What? Oh I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind right now."

"Well I don't mean to add to it…but the other night Ron saw Malfoy outside of your rooms and well he was making all sorts of accusations and I had to explain to him and Hermione what was going on. I didn't want him spreading rumors of false loyalties."

"I understand, Harry. It's alright. I'd assumed you'd have told them anyway. I've always trusted Ron and Hermione in the past and I see no reason not to now. But thank you for telling me nonetheless." There weren't anymore words shared between them, just a silent understanding as Harry climbed the staircase.

.-.

"Draco, another letter from your father." Pansy said lazily, without looking up from her book. Inside she was rather on edge about if Draco would return home or not but she maintained her cool exterior throughout it all.

Draco went to let the owl in and accept the letter it brought. It didn't wait on a reply and was gone as quick as it came. It hadn't ever lingered long in the past.

Draco,

I've received a letter from the Headmaster and it seems you've been requested to remain at school over the holidays. Normally I'd have objected but it seems to be for a very good cause indeed. It may prove to be helpful in the future. I only regret you'll miss the holiday festivities at home. Your mother sends her love.

Your Father,

Lucius Malfoy

It felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from his chest at those very words. As most of his letters were, they were short and to the point. But none of anything else mattered. He'd gotten the help he needed from Dumbledore but mostly Remus.

Though he knew that Remus already knew of Dumbledore's plans, he still felt he should go over and tell him of the letter from his father. Pansy had looked up from her book momentarily as he gather his stuff in haste and left the common room. She didn't know what to think anymore, but despite her better judgement, Draco seemed to be a lot better off lately. Even if she couldn't understand why.

Remus had been in his own quarters reading when there was the customary knock of courtesy. Draco had known the password for so long though when he visited he always waited to be let in. He assumed that was more etiquette growing up than anything else. He wasn't surprised in the least bit when he found who was standing there. In fact, he might have been surprised if it had been someone else. And inwardly, he knew he'd have been disappointed.

Draco set the small amount of things he'd brought with him down upon the couch and pulled the letter from the mess. "I got a letter from my father not too long ago. It seems that whatever it was that Dumbledore thought up worked." He handed over the letter and Remus read quickly. He gave a nod of satisfaction in the document. He handed it back to Draco and set his book down upon the small table.

"Are many of your friends staying over holiday?" Remus was trying to keep the mood in the room as light as possible. It was getting rather hard to do lately.

"To my knowledge only Pansy. But for obvious reasons. She's still not very happy about it." Draco couldn't really blame. For if there was one person almost as spoiled as he had been himself it was Pansy. She was so used to being pleased and pampered that all of this was tearing her up.

"Well if you two get lonely, you're welcome to stop by." He was surprised at himself for getting such a comment out.

"You'd let her come down here with me?"

"She knows about what you've been doing as of late and I just assumed you wouldn't want to leave her alone in the common room."

"So it's more like incentive for me to come down. That I can even bring Pansy if I'd like." Draco questioned playfully, a smirk meeting his lips.

"That isn't what meant…"

"Because I don't really ever need incentive to come visit." Draco finished his original statement, his smirk softening into more of a smile.

"Oh you know what I meant." Remus told him, flustered by his words having been twisted around.

"I do. I just enjoy giving you a rather hard time about it." He got more comfortable upon the couch, moving his things down.

"But I do mean it. You are welcome to bring her by."

"I'm not sure how well that might be received but I'll think about it."

"What do you mean?" Remus questioned, sitting up from the back of the armchair he occupied.

"She's honestly still not sure what to think of you. True Slytherin at heart." Draco explained as carefully as possible. He left out any misconceptions she still harbored about the pair of them and the nature of their relationship.

"What does that say about you exactly?"

"I know, it seems I'm going all Gryffindor. I will have to work on that."

There was silence between them for a moment. Not so uncomfortable as one might have suspected. Just a bit of a break between the conversation. There were still so many things that Remus felt he could say about what had happened recently. Things he needed to finally say.

"I never got to thank you for visiting after the full moon the other night. I'm not really used to company." Remus finally got out. He'd been meaning to say some of that to him for a bit now, it just hadn't even been a good time.

"You don't have to thank me for anything. I just wanted to make sure you were alright. It's just what you do when you care about someone." His omission was made as his eyes sunk down upon the ground. He'd been shot down numerous times over similar situations.

Remus would be angry with himself for it later but he couldn't help himself. He leaned forward from the chair and lifted the blonde's head from the ground and brought their lips together for the second time since their forged alliance. Draco was taken back at first but it took no time at all for him to respond. Their kiss grew, their tongues finding one another much easier than the first time. Draco moved from the couch and was lingering nearer to the armchair.

Just as Draco's arms wound themselves around him, Remus pulled himself away quickly. It was wrong. He couldn't do this. He'd told himself that over and over before. Though he felt more like damning reason at that moment. He stood himself, pushing away from Draco who was standing there, blank expression taking over his face.

"What?" Was his only question he could form. Though Draco knew what response he would receive. He couldn't do this any longer. He was very slowly falling for the other man and any time they seemed to get closer, Remus would take an entire step backwards away from him.

"I'm you're teacher. This could get us both into trouble." Was the only excuse he managed to use at that moment. It was enough for Draco though. He began to gather his things, without another glance at Remus.

As he collected the last bit of his work, he started for the door. He hadn't made another comment since Remus' excuse and sudden ending of their contact. He gave a look back at him with a sad smile. "I'll only be your student a few more months and then you'll have to start feeding yourself another lie." With that Draco made his exit, in a much worse mood than he'd been in when he'd arrived.

Remus sank back down in the chair again. Draco had been right. He knew he had been. But he just didn't know what more he was supposed to do. He'd spent years convincing himself he didn't deserve to be happy. Then there was Sirius. But it hadn't ended well at all, and it seemed more like a reminder he'd been right all along. Now happiness was looming right in front of him again and he wasn't sure he could risk it all over again. The pain had overruled the happiness in the end.

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A/N: There you have it. It took me a while again, but I've been sick and busy with school and etc. But nevertheless, here you have it. Of course, I love to hear from you and get your thoughts on the chapter, so don't hesitate. Leave me review! And for those who have from the last chapter, a small token of my deep appreciation…

Empath89: Thanks you tons and tons for the review! As always, much appreciated. And just for you, I have included some Zabini to come next chapter. I'm actually proud. I have that one written so the wait shouldn't be as big. I'm continuing on this Slytherin kick. Snape might have to make an appearance. Hmm…Anywho though, thanks bunches!

Flame Rhiannon: LoL On the review. It took me a second to get the right beat to that song. Chalk it up to lack of sleep I suppose. But thanks so much for the review as well as the invitation ;-) Thanks so much for the very kind words and I'll get back to you on a schedule opening :-D Thanks!