Draco placed the apple in the cupboard and shut the door as Severus cast the spell. He opened the door again to find the apple gone. He stared at the inside of the empty cupboard and wasn't sure what to think. Severus clasped his hand to his shoulder and Draco appreciated the support in that moment. His godfather knew what he needed as he sighed.

"Is this my part done?" Draco questioned quietly.

"Not yet," Severus answered. "I need you to keep an eye on Potter…not that that will be much of a problem for you."

Draco snorted and looked up at Severus.

"We have two months Draco," Severus told him. "Albus has worked out the time frame and we just have to work with it."

"Okay," Draco agreed. "You just tell me what I need to do."

"You need to be very careful," Severus warned as he tightened his grip on his shoulder. "Are you sure that you can do this Draco? It may involve Potter as well."

"Yes," Draco answered straight away. "I've picked my side, Severus."

"Even if it comes down to cursing Potter or using your wand to kill?"

Draco swallowed the lump in his throat before nodding.

"You must play the loyal Malfoy until then," Severus added.

"I can do that," Draco said with a smirk. "It's a role I was born to."

Severus chuckled and gave him a soft look.

"Regardless of what happens," Severus said, his voice soft. "I'm proud of you."

xXx

"Did you get in another fight?" Draco groaned and Potter looked over to him.

"Ron," Potter replied and laid his head back against the wall. "For a pureblood, he forgets that he's a wizard too much. I think it comes from having too many brothers."

Draco snorted and looked down at the Gryffindor before him. Potter was bruised and bloody and Draco wondered just how far that fight had gone. He'd washed his face but Draco could see the faint bruising, a cut near his hairline and blood on his uniform as he sat against the wall beside one of the windows in the unused classroom. It was one of Potter's current hiding spots and he noticed that he didn't have his guitar with him this time.

"You didn't think to go to the hospital wing?" Draco questioned as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Madam Pomfrey threatened to spell me to a bed if I ended up there for fighting again," Potter drawled. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"

"Keeping an eye on you," Draco replied and Potter's eyes flicked to him.

"Is that part of the plan?" Potter asked then used the wall to get to his feet.

Draco stepped back to give him room and didn't miss the wince as Potter settled on his feet. He reached out and touched his fingers to the other boy's arm and Potter started. Green eyes locked with his but he didn't pull away.

"Yes," Draco answered. "Has Dumbledore spoken to you."

"Yes," Potter groaned and leaned back on the wall and Draco let his hand drop. " He's been doing nothing but 'talk' to me…I don't like this."

Draco nodded in agreement and stepped closer. Potter just eyed him off. They hadn't been this close since Draco had kissed him. He settled in front of Potter and felt that urge again. The other boy just watched him in interest, his last move had been met with distain. He let his hand rest on Potter's arm again and when he wasn't shrugged off, he ran his hand down.

He started when Potter grabbed his wrist, stopping him. His eyes shot up to his green ones. Draco couldn't read the expression on his face.

"Is this part of the plan?" Potter questioned, his voice hoarse.

"No," Draco replied, honestly.

Potter's eyes burned into him and Draco felt himself responding to that. He let the other boy see how he felt as he stood there and waited. He felt that this could go either way as his eyes caught on the bruising on the other boy's skin and the blood on his collar. His eyes caught on Potter's other hand when he reached up then touched his hair. Draco held still as those fingers ran through his hair and a smile came to his face.

"How much product do you use?" Potter whispered as his fingers slipped down and touched on his neck.

"Don't mess up the hair," Draco warned.

Potter chuckled as he brought his hand back up and curled it around the back of his head. Potter drew him down and Draco met him in a kiss. His hand slipped around his back while Potter still held his wrist. He expected the kiss to be rough but it wasn't as Draco opened his mouth and Potter teased him. They took their time as Draco drew Potter closer until there was no space between them.

Potter trailed kisses down his neck and Draco groaned at the feeling. The other boy's fingers played with the hair at the base of his neck and he felt a shiver go down his back. He started slightly when Potter slipped his hand under his shirt and touched on his back then chuckled.

"What do you find so funny?" Draco gasped as Potter's breath ghosted over his neck.

"Nothing," Potter answered and pulled back.

Draco looked into those dancing green eyes and could feel his chest tighten as his cock strained against his pants. Draco made the first move this time as he ran his hands into that shaggy mess of hair and captured Potter's lips. He deepened the kiss as he pushed into Potter then groaned when a hand found the front of his pants and rubbed him. He hadn't expected this as Potter rubbed him. He rocked his hips forward into the other boy as Potter stepped back into the wall. Draco took over control as one of his hands grabbed Potter's ass as he rubbed himself into him.

Potter pulled him close as he broke off the kiss as his hand slipped down his pants and grabbed him. Draco groaned loudly as his eyes slipped shut as the other man played with him. He could feel himself getting closer and his eyes flicked open and locked with Potter.

"Close," Draco whispered.

Potter just quicken his pace before drawing him into another kiss. Draco lost control and bucked his hips forward as he came. He grunted loudly then groaned as Potter's hand kept moving before stilling. Draco had his forehead resting on Potter's shoulder as he slipped his hand back out of his pants and he felt a spell pass over him. The sticky feeling disappeared as he caught his breath and pulled back. He reached out and cupped Potter but the other boy's hand wrapped around his wrist, stopping him.

Draco's eyes locked with Potter's with a frown.

"You don't want me to help you out?" Draco asked, he could feel how hard the other boy was.

"No," Potter whispered.

Draco stumbled back at that word and felt something cold settle in his stomach. Potter just watched him as he leaned back into the wall behind him. His eyes darted down to the bugle in his pants, he could clearly see that Potter was interested.

"Why?" Draco demanded, his temper flaring.

Potter frowned at that and pushed away from the wall. He went to walk past him. Draco's hand shot out and grabbed his arm. Potter pulled away from him sharply and Draco didn't miss the wince when he stepped back. Draco froze at that move and Potter blew out a breath.

"Sorry," Potter offered. "Head is killing me."

"You helped me," Draco countered. "And you're hard."

"I know, Draco." Potter sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

Draco reached out and placed his hand on his arm and Potter looked at it. His eyes looked a little lost and Draco felt for him. He was sure that Potter was dealing with more than just a hard on and a headache in that moment.

"Perhaps a few less hits to the head might help," Draco suggested and Potter quirked a smile. "I'm sure that I could sneak a potion from Severus?"

Potter chuckled and covered Draco's hand with his own.

"Have a good night, Malfoy." Potter said softly before limping away.

Draco didn't stop him this time as he looked down at the blanket that Potter had left behind. He crouched down and noticed a few books and picked them up. Muggle fiction greeted him and he was sure that this was Potter's new hiding spot. He sat down on the blanket and read through the blurbs on the back of the books in interest. It was a good half an hour before he left the classroom and headed down to the dungeons.

He found himself at Severus's door and he knocked loudly.

"Draco," Severus greeted with a smile. "Come in."

"How are you, Severus?" Draco asked, once the door was closed behind him.

"Well," Severus replied and looked him over. "Something on your mind?"

"Potter looked like he'd been in another fight," Draco reported. "He's limping and wouldn't go to the hospital wing."

Severus's eyes sharpened and Draco carefully blanked his mind.

"What else aren't you telling me?" Severus questioned.

"He said that his head was killing him," Draco added, reluctantly. "I think he's hurting more than he was admitting."

"He's becoming a wild card," Severus remarked. "I'll speak to Albus and see if he can help him. He seems to talk to you more than anyone else."

Draco blushed and Severus cocked his head to the side.

"What aren't you telling me?" Severus pressed and Draco looked away.

"Um," Draco stuttered and could feel his face heating up.

"Is this something I should be concerned with?" Severus requested with a sigh.

"No," Draco muttered.

"Very well," Severus consented. "You will tell me if this becomes an issue, Draco."

"Yes, sir."

xXx

Draco's eyes caught on Potter and Granger sitting together at the Gryffindor table. Weasley sat further down the table with Thomas and Longbottom between them. Granger had a book out on the table and Potter had an odd look on his face. He frowned slightly at that expression and the way that Granger kept tapping the book.

"What's caught your attention, Draco?" Blaise asked.

"Nothing," Draco answered.

"Wouldn't be Potter would it?"

"More likely to be Rebecca Kettleson," Greg butt in.

"Yeah," Vincent added. "I could stare at her for hours."

"As long as she doesn't catch you."

"I wouldn't mind her catching me," Vincent said with a leer. "I bet that she'd be a wild one."

Draco tuned the two boys out as their descriptions got more graphic then noticed the way that Blaise looked at Potter. There was a glint in his eyes and Draco felt a cold stone settle in his stomach.

"Shame that he's still here," Blaise uttered under his breath.

"You know that they won't expel him," Draco grumbled and Blaise looked at him with a smirk.

"I mean still alive," Blaise commented with a sneer. "If only he hadn't been found so quickly."

Draco felt cold flood through him as Blaise looked back over at the Gryffindor table. Potter looked up then narrowed his eyes as Blaise smirked then gave him an air kiss. Potter's face tightened as Granger looked up then she said something to him, drawing his attention back. Draco felt that coldness spread as he connected the dots.

"How's your mother doing?" Draco asked softly and Blaise's eyes flicked to him.

"My aunt has been helping her," Blaise said. "It's a good thing that we have a big family. It makes it easier on mum…since dad died."

Draco nodded as that feeling spread.

xXx

Draco slammed open the door to the unused classroom. Potter turned on him with his wand out. Draco then slammed the door behind him before pulling his wand and throwing out a spell. Potter yelped as he dodged to the side.

"Expelliarmus!" Draco snapped.

"Protego," Potter countered as he flicked his wand.

"Reducto."

Draco watched in satisfaction as the desk that he'd pointed his wand at splinted into puff. Potter yelped and quickly threw his arms up as wood bounced off his shield.

"Reducto," Draco intoned and another desk went up.

"Malfoy!" Potter shouted as he kept moving.

"Reducto."

"Stupefy."

Draco flicked his wand and the red spell curved around him. He held his wand out as the dust cleared while Potter panted as he looked at him with wide eyes.

"What has gotten into you!" Potter yelled.

Draco stalked forward as rage ran through him but it wasn't for the boy in front of him. Potter held his wand out but Draco could see that he was reluctant to use it.

"I know who attacked you!" Draco hissed as he pushed Potter's wand to the side.

"You!" Potter yelped with wide eyes. "Just then!"

Draco stepped in close and Potter looked up at him.

"Just after Christmas," Draco uttered.

Potter stepped back sharply as his face paled. His hand dropped and Draco held his eyes.

"Why did you protect him?" Draco demanded. "It was his father's own fault for getting killed!"

Potter just stared at him as Draco curled his hand around his wrist and slipped his wand out of his hand. Potter just let it go and Draco placed both of their wands on a table close by.

"What would have been the point!" Potter exclaimed.

"It wasn't just him, Potter." Draco countered. "I saw you after you were attacked in the hospital wing."

Potter stepped back from those words, his eyes were large in his pale face.

"Why?" Potter uttered.

"Not the point," Draco countered. "The fact that Blaise let others into this school and beat you to a bloody pulp is!"

"And using that cupboard is going to be any different!"

"Stop deflecting!"

Draco found himself in Potter's face, those green eyes blazing. Draco just grabbed him and pulled him into a heated kiss. Potter met that heat as he pulled him close and deepened the kiss. His hands were rough on Draco's skin before Potter pulled back with a gasp. Draco's hands were still bundled up in Potter's uniform as he looked down into those eyes.

"What is really bothering you?" Potter questioned softly.

"That you would cover for him," Draco hissed and slipped his hands down to Potter's hips.

"Draco," Potter whispered and he shivered at the use of his first name. "I didn't plan to cover for him. That was not my intention…"

"Then what?"

Potter glanced away.

"There were more," Potter said so softly that Draco had to strain to hear him. "I had problems remembering, I knew that Zabini had something to do with it but there were others."

Draco carefully stepped back and Potter let him. The other boy crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the floor.

"Tell me what happened?" Draco pushed.

"I'm not sure," Potter said slowly. "I was hit from behind…then they pulled a bag over my head."

Draco felt his heart clench at the words and wished that Potter would look up. He let him go at the pace he needed to.

"I recognized Zabini's voice," Potter said into the silence. "There were others, I tried to fight back. I managed to get the bag off my head but they were wearing masks and they knew what they were doing. They knew where to hit to make it count. They wanted to draw it out…"

Potter trailed off and Draco couldn't resist the temptation to reach out and grab his arm. Potter slowly looked up and Draco sucked in a breath at the raw look in his eyes.

"He said that it was my fault," Potter whispered hoarsely. "That his father was dead and it was my fault. I remember that clearly."

"You didn't say anything," Draco pressed.

Potter just waved a hand with a guarded look in his eyes.

"I wasn't protecting him," Potter tried to explain. "It's just that…I'm not used to adults believing me and…I wasn't sure myself what had happened…Snape…"

Potter trailed off again and looked down at the floor.

"What about Severus?" Draco broached.

"I could feel him trying to pick up the memories," Potter confessed with an odd tone to his voice.

"In your lessons?" Draco asked.

"Yes," Potter answered. "But I think he was having as much trouble pulling them up as I was remembering them. I could feel his frustration as I was trying to block him…"

"But you weren't at the same time?"

Potter nodded and his eyes snapped back into focus as he hugged himself. Draco wanted to wrap his arms around him and offer some type of comfort but could tell that he would have refused it. Draco just rubbed his arm, offering what he could.

"Severus would have said something if he knew who did it," Draco told him and Potter cocked his head to the side.

"You are close with him?" Potter inquired.

"He's more like a father," Draco admitted. "Not that I had much of a comparison."

Potter quirked a smile and dropped his arms and stepped forward. Draco was surprised when Potter grabbed him in a tight hug. Draco just wrapped his arms around the shorter man and took in the feel and smell of him. He had no idea where this was going, nor did he care.

"We haven't got long," Draco told him.

"Now?" Potter questioned.

"Until everything happens," Draco clarified. "Just remember that we have our roles to play, Harry."

Potter tightened his hold before he stepped back and Draco reluctantly let him go. Those green eyes looked him over before a mask seemed to fall into place and he nodded.

"I can do that," Potter said with a smirk.