For a moment his lips twisted as if in pain, and then he blinked and looked towards the fire. "She was someone worth dying for."

The ghost opened her mouth to speak when the door to the room reopened. Her eyes went up instead.

Draco knew who it was by the click of boots and the tension in the air. He wiped his face with both hands as if waking from sleep and then he turned his head.

The black eyes looked down and into Draco's. The expression was guarded instead of the anger Draco was certain brewed under the surface.

"I requested-"

"That the auror left. Filius has done so as well. I'm the only one left. Your magic core is in no state to be left alone. I won't offer you any potions, but I can monitor you until you are back to health - as well as call upon a healer if your condition worsens."

Draco couldn't detect a hint of a lie. "A healer of my choosing."

"Who?" Severus asked, "Should your condition worsen."

That should have been obvious. There was only one healer for the Malfoy family. "Mister Alberton."

Severus' brow tilted, "He passed three years ago." The eyes then narrowed, as if trying to discern something. "How long has it been since you've been out in wizarding society?"

Draco gave a click of his teeth, not answering. Thinking was making him feel sicker. He let his head rest against the thigh of the tiger and let his eyes fall from the man's face and to the fireplace.

Was Vega ok?

Severus gave a loud sigh and walked around the ghost to the armchair on the other side of the couch, but strangely the man did not sit. Instead, he came back and sat directly in front of Draco on the coffee table, forcing Draco to look at him unless he closed his eyes or moved from the comfortable position.

The high cheekbones looked more eerie in the light. The swallow skin looked more yellow than before. Ill, like the man was recovering from a sickness. Draco's eyes followed the neck, a small line of a scar.

"What happened to your neck?" If the man was just going to stare at him, he might as well get some information out of him.

The head tilted to the side, and Draco could get a clearer look, the scar went further down and got thicker as it went. However it disappeared under the turtleneck.

"I got bit by a snake."

A black diamond from Africa perhaps for fecionsho potion - Severus had always claimed that is what he would make one day if he had enough money. "You're getting old if you are letting your ingredients get the best of you."

A thin wire of a smile, not really a smile to most, but it was his godfather's smile nonetheless. "It wasn't your average potion ingredient. I got bit prior to your leave of school. I'm surprised you didn't read about it in the prophet."

The daily prophet. He hadn't touched one even before the Dark Lord's fall. Draco looked towards the ceiling, best not to bring up those memories, "I cancelled my subscription long before that. I felt my time was better spent not reading lies, manipulations, and opinions. I kept my head down my remainder of Hogwarts, not really sure I looked up from a book except when in class."

"You can miss a lot of life that way."

Sometimes one didn't want to look at life or those in it or the consequences of it… "That was the plan."

"Your mother mentions you and Blaise are still on the best of terms, went to the game last week?"

Draco's jaw clenched. One, Severus was still in contact with his parents. Two, that Severus obviously asked the question because he knew he'd been lying.

Caught. Stuck. He hated it. "My life is fairly -" He didn't know the best word for it.

"Reclusive?" Severus suggested.

"There was no need to worry her."

"You do realize her sentence will be done in the next few months and she'll be released. At what point are you intending to worry her?"

Really, the man had him on his toes and thinking again, when he didn't feel like dodging and sidestepping words. Verbal spars were an annoyance to him now even when well. There was no fun in them, not when you had to do it to survive.

Draco sighed instead. He hadn't wanted to think about her returning. He didn't really know what to think about having another person in the house.

As if knowing the conversation had ended. The man switched topics. "How did your last school year go; I'm afraid I missed it."

"I passed my exams."

"Is that it?"

"Yes."

He could see that the man was unhappy with the information. "Filius says you were the top in every one of your exams - and the highest score in potions and charms in the last fifteen years."

"Really?" the ghost finally spoke in deep surprise, as if she didn't know he'd been right behind her in grades every year.

Grades had done him nothing. He shouldn't have returned that year - it wouldn't have made a difference. "Yes." He watched Severus' head tilt again - what was the man getting at?

"Did you apply for any master programs?"

Draco kept his expression blank, he'd applied for every single posting listed in England, Scotland and Ireland. He hadn't been allowed anywhere outside of the Ministry of Magic's district during his probation. "Yes."

"And -"

"I have an unsavory personality." A lie. He hadn't even gotten an interview, just rejection letters. He'd even compiled a book of them.

"And you didn't think to attempt to adapt."

"No," Nothing could fix a series of bad decisions. "And I eventually found something else to consume my time."

A noise came then from Severus and he casted tempus. "You can take more medicine."

Draco called to Porridge gratefully. And she fetched another bottle.

"May I see your core," Severus asked.

Draco complied.

"It's looking better," the ghost commented.

"Good." Draco narrowed his gaze at his core. The magic replenisher was working - that much was good. His eyes went to Severus'. The black eyes seemed to be looking past the core and at him. Draco raised a brow. Then the man gave a nod, he had been looking at him and not his core.

"Tell me. I find it strange - you've always been an outgoing person. Why have you hidden yourself in this house?"

Draco watched him carefully, the man was up to something. What he wasn't sure. He didn't like it though. "People change."

"I'm not so sure-"

Best to stop the man in his tracks, the best way to do that; turn the tables. "Since when did you say the word 'lovely'?"

The man gave a quiet chuckle. Draco hadn't heard the sound since he was five. "We tend to pick up words from those around us. I'm afraid I've been staying too long with the Weasleys'. With their attempts to apologize to me by caring for me on my deathbed. The least I could do in thank you was to adapt to a more agreeable and grateful demeanor - as much as it pained me."

"Your deathbed?" Had his godfather been so ill?

The man pointed at his scar. "Delayed anti-venom. I don't recommend being bitten by a poisonous nor magically enchanted creature."

Oh. "Nagini, you were bitten by her?" No wonder Severus hadn't reached out. Draco was the one who should have made contact. Well, there was little he could do now - that bridge was burnt. If it was anything he'd learned – apologies were meaningless.

"Yes, it wasn't released to the papers until much later - as I was still undergoing treatment. They didn't want any uncaught Death Eaters to know of my location or condition, especially my condition. Very few would be brave or daring enough to take me on well; they'd think differently if I was unable to fend for myself."

That explained it. That was why he'd only heard Severus was a hero. "That was a surprisingly smart move for the ministry."

"Not so much for Minerva and Filius."

"No, that is not so surprising."

"What I do find surprising is your current state. Out of all my Slytherins I would not have imagined you as you are. You were a consistent -"

"Idiot who followed along in pathetic ideologies," Draco cut him off, "Consistently following whatever was told of me - to do what was expected or die trying."

"You were consistent in leadership. Even in second year the fifth year followed your every step."

"I've seen what leaders do. Crabbe followed me, and by the time it was too late I could not dissuade him."

Severus' lips returned to a straight line. "So it wasn't worth attempting to revive the house Slytherin?"

"I guarantee you, staying away from me helped the entire house of Slytherin."

Severus' eyes flashed but he didn't move. "And now that it has all died down?"

"What do you imagine of me?" Draco asked. His nostrils flared.

"Balls, dances and for you to be sitting at the Wizengamot making rules and regulations?"

Appearances, masks, politics. Was he only a replica of his parents? "Charles has been doing a brilliant job filling the Malfoy seat." He'd had Greg relay the meetings, ensuring Charles implemented his wishes. The man was good, for only having correspondences via floo.

"No one is sure if he is a puppet or given authority only to make the family look good to the public. It would mean more if you sat on the seat yourself."

And have stones thrown at him in court? "Poor Charles would be out of a job. But like you said earlier, my mother will be out soon. I'm sure she'll attend."

A small sigh escaped Severus's lips. "Your mother hasn't changed much, Draco. She'll likely undo all of Charles's hard work, although she'll regain old allies while doing it."

Draco's lips twitched, and his eyes narrowed. That would not be good. He made a non-committed hum in his throat. He wouldn't let his mother go to one then. His family's 'old friends' were better off staying far away from them.

"Again - when are you planning to tell her? Would you prefer for me to do it? I find her letters to me hard to answer since I have no idea what lies you've strewn."

"You can do as you please."

"She'll find a way to get an early release if she knows you've been lying to her."

At that Draco scoffed, "If she could have gotten an early release she would have done so by now."

Severus's eyes glittered, "You mother isn't one to throw her weight around needlessly - above all she is patient, waiting to strike. She'll snap if she becomes aware of your situation. You're lucky I've dissuaded her from continuing her relationship with Mrs. Parkinson."

Draco's lip curled in distaste of the woman and her family.

"But, I thought you and Pansy were close?" Snape questioned slyly.

At Draco not answering, Severus continued. "Now - where is your dragon?"

"Vega?"

"Unlike Potter, it seems to me it was just an accident. I take it Jiffy has taken him somewhere?"

Severus was becoming far too scary at deducing information.

"It would have taken a lot for the patriarch house-elf to leave his manor in such a state." Severus motioned to Draco's palm. He'd noticed it had been a different mark than the others then. "Judging by the amount of magic in the room with the willow - and the fact it is still lingering hours later when I checked it; whatever you promised was powerful. Very few strike bargains with house elves anymore, let alone one already under their service."

"Their magic becomes amplified during bargains," Draco argued.

"No doubt a room made for ritual would have amplified it even more." At Draco's silence, Severus continued, "What did you give in return for Vega's safety?"

The name of his firstborn. Of the child that would have been his heir. Who would have been Jiffy's master. Names were powerful to all fae.

"That is between us."

Severus gave a nod, the man hadn't been expecting the truth. So why was he pestering him about it?

"Very well. Then answer me this. Who was the girl Ms. Granger saw under the willow that she felt the need to ask us for confirmation about her existence?"

Draco didn't even glance at the ghost. She hadn't known better, the nosy girl. No wonder she had fled the room. "I mentioned there was an entity, Master Snape. It is of no concern to you." He felt as if he was being cornered.

"I'm afraid it is. You see, I'm not so sure the entity is haunting the manor."

"And who do you believe it is haunting?" Draco raised his brow.

The man didn't speak at first. Instead, he raised his hands in Draco's view and then they seemed to clasp an invisible object. A chill went up Draco's spine. It was how he'd folded Granger's hands on his child.

"May I attempt to summarize what I believe has occurred?" Severus asked.

Draco could not form words at the horror of understanding what was taking place. He'd bound Granger here.

"In the manor a newborn was killed by one, or more likely with Death Eaters, both parents for not having magic." Severus stood then. His form casted a long shadow that reached the couch. "You believed the child had magic however." The man began to pace in thought. "If she did, the chances of the girl's spirit turning into a Sethcoria, was great. You used Miss Granger's body in a placating ritual to save the household from having their breath stolen from them in their sleep." He paused having reached his conclusion and his eyes went for Draco's.

The ghost gave a gasp.

"It explains why the manor is so intent on keeping her here." A step closer. "And it explains why Miss Granger has a shadow memory associated with the ritual." He again held up his hands clasping something that did not exist. "You've somehow tied Miss Granger's soul to this manor. Along with this entity of a child. It would have departed if its parents are dead - most Death Eaters are by now." Taking the silence as validation he continued, "We need to undo the ritual, that will free Miss Granger."

Draco put his head to his knees. He felt like vomiting. Of course, the ritual would have played a role in all of this.

"How could I have placated it?" the ghost asked.

"Draco used you as a surrogate parent." Severus turned his attention to the ghost. "Typically, a body is used with permission and payment. The body is used to bury a child with a parental like figure - protectively holding them," he mimicked the action again. "It is meant to appease the dead. Supposedly it gives them a sense of peace, of love they did not receive in this life. It sounds like a wives' tale, but the creature has been documented and so has the ritual. There were several rituals that could have been used… But regardless, Draco must have used you as you were on hand. Filius recognized the type of grasp. He will need time to research a way to undo such a ritual. Theoretically something like this could be undone if we had the blood of the parent of the child. But… well it is safe to release the binding at this point."

"So this Sethcoria only stops when the parents are dead?" Granger asked.

"Yes," Severus replied shortly.

Draco looked up to see Severus had walked around the table and began pacing in front of the fireplace. Draco let his eyes drift to the ghost.

She hovered so that she looked down upon them all.

"We need to get Miss Granger's body out of the catacombs," Severus spoke.

Draco looked back at the man. Severus wasn't looking at him anymore, he stood off to the side looking into the fire. "I told you, she isn't here."

"Where then?" Severus asked, eyes flicking back to him.

"Near the ocean."

Again Severus paced. "The ocean, that would give a ghost power, a Sethcoria power."

"Moving water appeases the dead, it gives them freedom."

Severus stopped and turned. "You didn't believe she'd be a Sethcoria?"

"The ritual for the Sethcoria is to appease the dead - the ocean too. I was attempting to, as you said before, give the child what she did not get in this life."

"Sadly, I'm afraid you've made matters worse." Severus began pacing again, "This would have made the bond stronger. You talked the parent into believing the child would become a Sethocoria for the ritual, used their blood and Granger's body, this will not be easy to undo. And then went ahead and put them near a body of water."

Another chime. The man came back around to ensure Draco drank another bottle of magic replenisher, sitting again on the edge of the table.

When Draco finished drinking, he spoke. "I'll put in a motion to exhume the coffin."

Severus tilted his head in confusion.

"Muggle graveyard," Draco said slowly. "If the press were to catch word of tampering with muggle grounds - I'm not sure I'd be spared a stake. I'll get the casket here legally. The muggle process is slow though. It took several weeks to buy the plot and bury them. It will likely take a month to undo."

Severus's eyes flicked back and forth in thought. Finally, he gave a nod. "Three weeks will give Filius and I enough time to come up with an alternative way of removing the binding, without parental blood."

Severus turned to the ghost. "We should be able to free you then. Three weeks will not be a long time."

No - not long at all. Enough money and he could get that casket here by Wednesday. However the release ritual would require a lot of magic. He needed at least a week to replenish. A week more to prepare two new caskets. The timeline would be difficult to manage.

Granger gave a nod of acceptance.

Draco's core was back, although the circular shape looked oblong and the edges were even more obscure than before.

Severus sat in front of Draco to inspect his core. He gave a sigh, not liking the edge his finger traced. "What possessed you to apparate without a wand? To even heal yourself without one?"

"You threatened to shoot Vega," Draco steeled his gaze on the man.

Severus rolled his eyes as if Draco was being dramatic, "With a stunning spell - nothing that would have injured you."

"He would not have been impacted by such a spell. Simple hexes and stuns would have been repelled."

Severus's eyes widened a fraction. But then he recovered from his shock and scowled. "You created a creature you could not control."

"I created what is referred to in my family's writing as a guard. After creating small creatures, I moved onto a more advanced project."

"You redesigned a ballroom; no doubt having done something to the floor along with the staircase. Minerva always complains about standing and yet she didn't, not here. And then the dining room. But still you felt the need for more."

"I felt the need to master my family's craft." Why was everything he did was questioned? Why did everyone assume there was a devious purpose? He wanted to be left alone - he'd do nothing to garner anyone's attention.

"For what purpose?" Severus demanded more answers.

Draco glared, "Not all things require a purpose."

"I'm not so sure. Have you sold any of these things - in particular, any guards."

"I have given gifts to Greg's family, but Vega is the only guard. They are different from any other creature in that they don't sleep. The duty of a guard is to guard the crafter. That may entail from other wizards, especially one that is a crafter, or, other crafted creatures. I will only be able to make one in my lifetime - and Vega is it."

"That manor is what then, one of these guards?" Severus questioned.

"Vega would have stopped the manor - if he had been in the residence, he would have been able to deflect the manor's magic. The manor is a residence entity - a permanence that can be used in times of conflict if needed. It can lock down the location, absorb some spelling too, but not like Vega. They were mostly used for times of war, to keep families fairly safe and ease upkeep."

"It wasn't used during this war," Severus noted.

"Thankfully…" Draco said, the Dark Lord with such a power would have been far more difficult to kill. "Potter would never have escaped had it been. It would have full control over all apparition wards, not even a house elf would be able to get through. It was asleep at the time."

"And somehow it has awakened… Enough to make a bargain with Ms. Granger," Severus' eyes flicked to the ghost and then they went back to Draco, "and to save you."

Draco shifted, "I suspect the ritual room and the amplified magics were enough to upset it into thinking an attack may have happened…"

"But the spellcasting fight and flight of Potter didn't bother it?" Severus asked.

"I get the sense it does not like waking - there are other several creatures like that here. They were made a long time ago and do not enjoy this world."

Severus stood again, moving to the fire. He began pacing. "And they prefer this… astral plane?"

"I don't know."

"But Vega cannot sleep, cannot go to this plane?"

"Not until I die."

Another chime, another magic replenisher. Again, there was concern as the fuzzing edges seemed more like threads branching out from his center core. The dark eyes looked over the core now that it was clearer to see. "I would really like it if you got a professional healer's opinion about your core. This is not normal."

Absolutely not. "It's an impact from the astral plane. If I had more time to recuperate between these interactions, I'm sure my core would go back to normal. As it is, I'm away from death's door. I believe I can be left alone at this time." Leave.

The black eyes narrowed. "Draco -"

"Master Snape," Draco cut him off and the glare strengthened. Granger had been so nice to give him that weapon and its effectiveness. Names were powerful. "You've done your due diligence. I will not take legal action."

The name really did seem to set him off. The man stood abruptly, and without even a goodbye left the room - his robes sweeping above the floor.

Draco waited, to see if he might return. Eventually he called Porridge, asking if all guests had left. They had. They were gone. Finally.

He then watched the fireplace crackle. But at some point, he couldn't avert his gaze any longer. He looked at the hovering ghost, her eyes staring at the fire, but not reflecting its light. "I'm sorry, Granger. I did not intend to bind you to this damnable place."

Her eyes looked at him then. The expression was strangely void for a moment before she looked sorrowful. "The girl is your daughter, isn't she? Her mother killed her…"

Draco blinked at how the ghost changed the subject, but then nodded.

"I'm sorry for your loss." The ghost returned her gaze to the fireplace. "How old was she?"

"Not even nine months," Draco said quietly. "I was away at school. I didn't know...I…" words failed him - because they would have been lies. He did know what Bella was like. "I did know… I just was…" too scared, too happy to escape back to class and ignore the problem at home. "I refused to see it or do anything about it."

"She was a horrible woman."

"Yes," Draco conceded.

There was more silence between them, and the fire light danced in the room.

"She ruined both of our lives…"

Draco gulped and his hands shook.

"I'm not a fool Draco - I did follow her everywhere I could. I never could follow her into the wings of the building. But I am smart. I suppose I refused to see it too."

He would not let the conversation go further. "I need to check on Vega," he stood, legs partially shaking, but he stood. Because he couldn't be in the room any longer. Not without some medicine. Not talking about this. "Would you mind watching after Antares?" a task to do, so she would not bother him anymore.

The tiger tilted its ears and lifted a lip to show a tooth, "I do not need watching after."

"Would you mind entertaining Antares?" He asked, changing his wording - but keeping the same tone.

The ghost gave a hesitant nod. He could see it in her expression, sorrow. She was crying again.

The tiger looked to rise beside him, but Draco shook his head. "Watch after the ghost," he told the tiger.

As he left the room she spoke. "I won't speak of it again or say anything to anyone. But if you ever need an ear…"

He was glad to shut the door. He let his hand trail the wall, but he followed the connection he felt to Vega, it led him outside. He left the house through the kitchen door. "Jiffy," Draco commanded. The elf appeared before him. There was a calculating look in its eyes.

"Take me to Vega." He commanded. And he was apparated by the elf.

They were in the woods. The Malfoy woods. The creaking of branches overhead due to the wind and the sunlight was blocked in patches from reaching the ground. The elf had popped away again.

Draco knew where he was as if he'd been here many times. In dreams, yes, but only several times in reality. His feet knew where to take him, and there in the center of the Malfoy woods - was the first tree to have ever been planted.

It was an oak. The old branches spread out wildly, some bouncing along the ground. Upon one of those branches, he saw eyes peering down upon him. The claws were not embedded into the bark, instead the claws, brown all the way to the tips from dried blood - were gently curled so as to not hurt the tree. The tail was curled around a smaller branch keeping the creature balanced. The back was hunched, as if wanting to slink further into the shadows casted by the larger branches overhead.

Draco waited. Eyes keeping contact. And for a time, the only sound was the trees and the wind howling from the moorland to the east and into the forest. He was worried, worried that the creature would never be the same. Incidents like these were used to force aging, intellect and power, but he'd never wanted that for Vega.

He raised his hand out gently to the creature, palm up, and made his way towards the thick large branch. He ended up touching the bark of the tree. He then easing himself to sit on the ground with his back to the bark. From there he looked up into the eyes of the creature.

It lowered itself then, neck lying flat on the curve so it could look directly down at him. It gave a gentle and sad crooning noise.

Draco raised his hand and the creature lowered itself to it. Until it slid down the branch and curled beside him. Its neck in his hands and head against his chest.

"I'm sorry," Draco said. He was a terrible crafter, among many other things.

It crooned again this time louder.

Draco pressed his hand to the creature's throat, allowing a small amount of magic to open the pathways there and drew the ruin upon its chest for speech. The rune glowed momentarily before dissolving, as if it had never been. The magical exhaustion crept upon him again and he dropped his hands with the weight of them.

Vega's head slid to his lap and it blinked up at him. He lifted one arm to wrap around it and brushed at its shoulder. "Are you alright?" Draco asked.

The body tensed, frozen almost against him. "I am fine." There was a calmness to the words, but it had movement like the wind from the moor. There was no uncertainty of speech, like when Antares had spoken his first words, it was as if the creature had always spoken. It eyed him. "Are you alright?" it asked him back.

He brushed the top of its head and leaned in and kissed its snout. "Yes," he laughed, "I'm fine."

"Yes, I'm fine." The creature repeated. This time the tone was shaking, like a board shaved too thin to hold weight and was bent close to snapping. Its eyes watched him as it did this.

It took Draco a second to realize the dragon was copying him, his vocal inflections. He brushed more solemnly at its head. "I suppose the means neither of us are ok…" His words trailed off, to be snatched by the wind and dragged away into the woods.

It was quiet for several long minutes before the creature spoke. "No, not now, but maybe later."

Time would heal wounds. He wasn't so sure, but he acknowledged the creature's words with a nod.

It shook off his hand then and raised its head, standing.

Draco removed his hands from the vicinity of the creature, worried about upsetting it further - knowing his own emotions would be more likely to seep into the creature's from touch. He was doing a poor job at helping it. "I am sorry."

"A Malfoy shouldn't apologize when they haven't done anything wrong." The dragon tilted its head as if listening to something not there. Its eyes went to the center of the great tree. "Not everything that goes wrong is your fault. Sometimes things just happen."

Its gaze went back to Draco. "Jiffy," Vega called out.

The elf came, magic replenisher in hand. It gave it to Draco before popping away. Draco drank it.

For a while, Draco sat watching as the dragon continued to appear to be listening to the tree. Eventually the sky dimmed into an orange and pink hue. Then Vega moved, walking a ways from the tree before turning to look back at him expectantly.

Draco got up then and shakily followed the creature. When he got to it, it raised its head up under his hand, giving him some support.

"I am sorry." The voice seemed stressed, under tension, in severe pain.

"You didn't -" Draco got halfway towards answering - when he realized the creature was copying his vocal inflections again. "- know any better."

"Neither did you," the voice went back to being calm, tranquil. Silence swept in between them, and they walked away from the tree and back toward the manor. After some time, it spoke again, "I will do my job better in the future."

"I will too," Draco promised. He couldn't, wouldn't, allow his creations to suffer because of him again.

"Then we will be ok. Not now, but later."

Draco scratched the creature's head. "Your wisdom and solemnity worry me."

It did not look up at him. "Now, but not later. I cannot keep it at bay if I am not on equal footing with it."

"It?"

The dragon's head bobbed and Draco looked up. The manor stood before them.

"The manor?" Draco asked again.

"It's not alright either."

"What's wrong with it?" Draco asked with some alarm.

"What is wrong with us? It failed its job. It fights for its purpose now."

"It's fighting what?"

"It plans to keep us all safe by keeping the status quo." Before Draco could ask what that meant the dragon continued, "It will keep them both here for all eternity if that is what it takes. It won't let them go without a fight."

Draco blinked and his hands tightened into a fist with concern. "They are not happy here."

"Neither are you." The dragon said quietly. "Sometimes we do things to keep what we love safe. And sometimes we end up hurting them more had we not intervened. It will have to learn the lesson again. It was sleeping when it was taught."

"What do you mean?"

It didn't answer as its tail curled around the doorknob. It twisted and the door opened. "I will deal with the manor. You are not well and should rest."

"Vega-"

The creature looked at him then, eyes watching with intensity that left him shaken. Words died in Draco's throat at the look.

"How is Antares?" Vega asked him.

Draco recognized it as a diversion, but he allowed it. He gave a nod, "He is well." He dropped his gaze from the beast unable to hold the look much longer.

It pressed its snout against his hand. "Good, I am glad they did not take vengeance upon him."

Draco followed the creature as it moved through the hallways.

"Shall we sleep in the library?" Vega asked.

Draco blinked, the willow room - would he be able to go back? "We'll use the room with the reflection pool."

"No," the dragon denied him, "Your magic is not well enough."

Draco blinked at the determined tone and that the dragon had paused in front of the open door to the library. Its tail curled behind his legs pushing him forward into the room.

Hermione was reading a book aloud and the tiger sat beside her, looking at the pages with interest.

"Jiffy," Draco called quietly. The ghost and tiger glanced up but then returned to the story

The elf appeared before him. "Bring some pillows and clear a spot on the second floor of the library for me. I'll be sleeping here for the time being."

The elf, without its normal harsh retort about strange requests, bowed and popped away.

Hermione must have finished whatever page she was on, for she then closed the book. The tiger then stood, stretching. The tiger came over to Vega and they sniffed at each other's snouts for a time, before the tiger tilted its head and began to lick at Vega's claws to clean them.

"How are you, Vega?" The ghost asked, eyes watching the creature.

"Well enough." Was its quiet reply. Antares' ears went back at the sound of the voice, but it glanced between Draco and Vega several times before going back to lick at the claws.

The ghost tsked though. "I assume that took magic," her eyes glared at Draco, "Aren't you magically exhausted?"

Draco gave a sigh as the ghost continued to tsk her tongue at him.

"I will not do any more magic tonight, that I promise."

"Good." The ghost declared, "You'd be a fool too."

"Porridge," Draco called, "bring food to the desk here. I do not feel well enough to eat in the east parlor."

"Of course," came the chirp, leaving only to reappear with food seconds later - which she sat upon the desk. Then she came back with silverware. His mother would have been quite upset at the two trips - but Draco did not comment. The elf ended up taking a third trip to remember to bring a napkin.

The smell was refreshing. Warm bread and a thin broth soup. He ate at the desk in the room. The ghost and tiger returned to the book - it was one filled with children's tales - many he hadn't heard for a long time. Vega did not move from his side; it rested his head in his lap.

The tiger would interrupt the ghost frequently to ask questions about something - such as why a character would do an action. The ghost would have the tone of that he'd known so well in school, know-it-all, as she'd attempt to explain the interactions within the tales - going so far as to analyze the writer's background and era in the process.

Draco's left hand drifted down and scratched Vega's head while he ate. His mother would have yelled at him for such an action in childhood, but he could barely bring himself to care about keeping up appearances in a library with a ghost and several wooden creatures as company.

After dinner, he turned to the ghost. "I will remove the binding that is keeping you here, Granger."

The ghost looked up at him, but then shook her head. "No, you don't understand. The manor reminded me of the deal -"

"Deal? What deal?" Draco growled out.

"That he would make sure that Harry and Ron survived the war."

Draco raised a brow, "Your friends were long gone Granger; that manor did not save anyone." She opened her mouth to refute him when he talked over her. "I will undo the binding. It's not just keeping you here; both of you deserve the freedom to leave this place."

"But -"

"If you choose to stay here, after the binding is released, that is your choice. However, if I want to remove what is keeping my daughter in the place of her death, that is mine."

The ghost gave him a worried look.

"Or do you think forcing her to stay in this dark manor will be pleasant for all of eternity? If she chooses to stay, then that is her choice as well."

The ghost looked ready to say more, but instead she then glanced around the room. "Should I read up on this then?"

Draco told her several books that would have the theories and the ghost then began floating around and collecting them.

The day caught up to him after that. The second he sat upon the couch in the upper part of the library, fully intending to read, he fell asleep. Vega curled on the back, head resting in Draco's lap. The sleeping man missed the fact that when Antares came to curl at his feet, the dragon hissed and nipped till the tiger returned to the ghost's side.