Hello before I do this yet again, lol, I should perhaps say that this fic is rather long already (as u know cuz u have to read it -hahahaha) but trust me I do know what's going to happen because obviously their summer hols can't last forever and that will probably be the end of our adventure. It is likely that some things will never be resolved in this fic. I have however, got the basic plots for this and the next chapter mapped out in my head. so onward we go....

Last line of part 11-

"What use is a stag?" he said, outloud. Draco frowned at him.
Part 12 of 'Flying the Nest'-

Draco Lucius Rhonchus (Latin-sneer) Malfoy paced the kitchen of Number 12, Grimmauld Place. Harry James Potter was sitting on the draining board with his feet in the sink, his brow furrowed in thought because he was engrossed with his potions essay which he had finally got round to. Harry reckoned that is Snape was likely to be coming round that night, it should at least appear that he'd attempted the homework they'd been set. He was debating within himself whether to ask Draco for help, he being the resident Potions geek. He glanced up. Draco was pacing. Up and down. Up and down. He'd wear out the floor soon and fall into the ancient foundations.

Hortense apparated into view, almost on top of Draco who had been about to cover that bit of floor-space. He glared at her. She glared back and addressed Harry; "Has dere been any verd?"

"No...Mrs Weasley hasn't left the study all day either. Don't worry -they'll be here, he's probably having trouble convincing Snape. He won't want to come here..." he trailed off and hid his nose behind his quill, absorbed in his essay, one that he knew Snape would be particularly interested in testing him on: the making process and administration of Veritaserum. Hortense glanced at it as she filled the kettle, trying to budge his feet out the way.

"You haff put too much bicorn horn -you only need two shavings or de potion is too potent. Though you might vant a little more monkshood. It is de odour, it helps to affect the brain faster for a fast verking result."

Harry studied what he'd written so far. "Hey, that's great!" he crossed out his mistakes and added a few more lines on how the making process was affecting how much potion to give the recipient. He brushed his chin with the tip of the quill in thought. "Hey, you should be a potions teacher."

"I vos, for a time. At Durmstrang. I vos a student there. I took a position later to... to monitor de actions of Kararoff. He vos a Death Eater, you know."

"Yeah, yeah I knew that," said Harry. Draco had stopped pacing and looked annoyed that Harry had been privy to this information before him, and had just made up his mind to have a fresh rant about this when there was a violent crash from the fireplace and a slightly sooty wizard flooed in. The wizard being no other than Severus Snape, former Death Eater turned spy, and Potions master of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Snape edged gingerly out of the grate, slowly, as if he was dragging something rather heavy. It was a few moments before the occupants of the kitchen realised that the man he was supporting was Remus Lupin.

"Oh my God," Hortense rushed over to help him lift Lupin onto the table. His skin had turned a deathly pale, his blue veins standing out, his face was drenched in sweat and his whole body was shaking so much, despite the extra blankets and cloak that Snape had obviously wrapped him in to keep him from any cold, that the table rattled as he lay on it, slightly curled up, unconscious in a raging fever. Hortense felt his forehead and drew away quickly as though burned. She rounded on Snape who was conjuring a fire in the grate although it was the height of summer and the kitchen was warm enough for the others. "Vot happened, Answer me Severus, vot haff you done to him?"

"It was my fault," Snape was pale. "I miscalculated one of the ingredients. I told him to wait till full moon to test it when he was stronger as a wolf but he said no. I should have prevented it." He drew a shuddering breath and pulled a hand through his hair. Harry gaped. He had never seen Snape on edge over anything. This was a man who had stood in front of Voldemort. "I've tried everything. I thought I had got everything just right, I had prepared a back up potion to neutralise it, I had... I miscalculated something. Probably the nightshade. Something I did made the back up potion... ineffective. Hortense," he grasped her upper arm and she locked her gaze to his. Snape's black eyes were swimming with something he obviously didn't encounter a lot in his potion making: defeat. Hortense's green orbs were frantic and afraid. "Hortense we might. We, might lose him."

Hortense stumbled. Draco, who was behind her, studying Lupin with a terrified fascination, grabbed her by the waist and steered her into the nearest chair. She screwed up her eyes and took some deliberate breaths. "S- Severus. Ve haff only just found each other again." Draco's gaze flicked to Harry, who tried to look more puzzled. Lupin's body suddenly contorted and he let out a howl of pain. They all jumped except for Snape, who said,

"I'll stay then. I have some utensils and ingredients here. I can mix him other potions so bring down the fever. But we will need to carry out tests first. I don't know how they would react together. This unfortunately is the price of producing a new potion. There are always ...undesirable consequences."

"Undesirable?" said Harry, angrily. Snape whirled round to face him but didn't speak. Behind him, Harry noticed Draco shake his head. So he didn't continue.

"I am trying to save Remus Lupin, Potter. Either help or shut up. Where is his room? I will administer the potions through a tube into his throat. And someone will have to stay with him."

"I vill." it was instantaneous.

"No," they turned to look at Draco. "Potter and I will stay with him until Mrs Weasley comes. You'll get things done faster if Hortense helps you with the potions."

Hortense squeezed his hand. "Thank you," she whispered. Despite himself, Harry smiled slightly, secretly: Draco had given his consent.
OK SO THAT WAS V SHORT AND IM GETTING BITTEN BY MOSQUITOES!

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