Harry found himself enjoying the potions lessons far more than he ever imagined. Once Snape's tricks started working even in the main potions class, he started getting more and more excited about the subject. Sure, Snape would never praise him during class, and he would barely do so during remedial potions, but Harry felt overly content that Snape had nothing bad to say about his potions. Considering how critical the other was about his subject.

Sure, remedial potions mostly consisted in Snape criticising his technique but at the end of the day, the boring potions the other always assigned him to do would always end up improving the fault Snape had noticed at the start.

It slowly started to become something he looked forward to more than DA gatherings. Although teaching Draco Malfoy had proven to be its own little experience. They'd met up about five times in the last five weeks and not once has Malfoy opened his mouth to spout any of the nonsense he usually says.

In fact, he rarely spoke at all nowadays. It amused Harry because it meant that the blonde found it increasingly hard not to say something rude or obnoxious if he were to decide to start talking.

Malfoy had yet to conjure up a corporeal patronus, but the wall of light was of a decent enough size that it could hold off several dementors at a time.

Draco often enough came over at random times when he would need help for one thing or another.

"I don't trust that git mate… I bet his slimy dad is trying to get him to spy on you." Ron said as the three of them sat in the common room. Hermione had a book on her lap, of course, but she barely looked down to read what it actually said. She seemed lost in thought.

"There's nothing he can possibly spy on." Harry said. Although… he wondered what Voldemort would do with the names of those on the DA and a sinking feeling nestled into the pit of his stomach. Even if Malfoy never intended to tell, he wasn't sure the other knew occlumency and Malfoy had no blood wards to hide behind. All Voldemort needed to do was order Lucius to bring his son back in the next holiday season and all the information would be his for the taking.

Then again, the information was even less safe in Harry's own mind. Almost every night he had the same sickening dream. Voldemort's outstretched hand, beckoning him to come forward and take it. It made him terrified to even go to sleep. As if accepting meant tying the puppet strings to his very own wrists voluntarily.

If he couldn't kick himself out what right did he have to keep Malfoy out when he seriously seemed to be focusing on his spells?

"Harry… you said something about Lucius and the ministry." Hermione said making both boys jump, startled by her sudden intervention.

"Uh… yeah. I saw him outside my hearing… I think that door I keep dreaming about was there." He said.

"And you heard something about a prophecy?" She asked. Harry's mind went back to the prophecy. How could he possibly have forgotten that?

"Yeah… why?" He asked sitting down beside her on the carpet, looking at her book. One page was filled with an image of a dark room with glowing orbs drawn as far as the eye can see.

"In the ministry, there is a room called the hall of prophecies, if there is a prophecy about you then it would be there." She said, the urgency in her tone made him catch up quickly.

"So… Voldemort wants me to go there?" he asked confused. His friends flinched at the name but Hermione nodded.

"Only those who the prophecy is about can take the prophecy from the room. I think he wants to lure you there… and then maybe into a trap."

And in that trap, Lucius Malfoy had probably been told to capture him. Was that why Draco was pushing to spend time with them? With him? To help his father's mission somehow? It couldn't be, Draco's anger at his father's mistakes seemed genuine. Then again, that could simply mean Draco is angry about having to participate when it could bring so much problems to their family.

He briefly wondered if it was hard for Lucius too. He had his wife and son to think about. What would James Potter had done if instead of Voldemort murdering them, he'd moved into the Potter house and demanded James go do something for him?

Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't. He figured with Slytherins it was harder to know where their true loyalties lie. Cunning was really annoying when you weren't inherently gifted with it.

He shook his head. No point empathising with death eaters.

"How's your hand Harry?" Hermione asked. He instinctively held his hand close to him, so the two wouldn't see that the bandages went a lot further up than just his hands.

"It's alright. Healing better." They were very slow at healing. Snape would change the bandages for him every three days but it made Harry very uncomfortable. Every time Snape changed his bandages he looked about ready to kill someone.

"Let me take a look, it should have healed by now." Hermione said and Harry pulled his arm away from her reach. Both friends blinked at him in surprise.

"It's fine Hermione. Leave it." He said. She frowned but didn't push the matter, though she did give him a look filled with suspicion.

"I suppose your potions grades are getting better. You can probably make boat loads of that healing salve by now." Ron said trying to mediate the situation, though Hermione still looked miffed at not being allowed to help him out.

"Yeah… anyway guys, I'm tired. I'm going to go try and get some sleep." Harry said, getting up and leaving before either one could argue and convince him to stay. He was tired. Even though he was terrified of falling asleep it still sounded like such a wonderful thing. To lie in your bed, close your eyes and forget about your worries.

Harry froze as went into the room and saw a house-elf setting down a soft, and very comfortable looking duvet, arranging it on his bed.

"Um… excuse me… but that's not mine." He said. The house-elf turned in surprise and bowed its head over and over again in a way that would make Harry lightheaded after a while.

"Oh! Harry Potter! This, is yours now. A gift." The house-elf looked around to ensure they were alone and looked at Harry eagerly. "A gift from professor Snape." It said, finishing its arrangement and popping away.

Harry felt his face heating up as the meaning of the elf's words settled into his mind. A gift. From Snape. A gift from Snape. Snape gave him the duvet he'd asked for but… oh god this was so embarrassing! It would have been easier that the other had just told him the transfiguration spell. Still, his bed now looked eternally inviting.

In the room, alone, with no one to judge him, he allowed himself a brief moment of infantile behaviour and jumped on the bed, laughing softly under his breath as he curled under the covers. Maybe the other boys would not understand the absolute delight of getting something so mundane, but to Harry, who had never known a real bed until he was eleven, who had rarely known a warm night's sleep, it was a wonderful thing to be given.

He snuggled into the pillow and sighed, feeling warm for another reason. Rarely had he had an adult understand why he asked for something, or why he refused something. Even if it seemed obvious to Harry… adults rarely delved deeper. He would have thought that was a good thing… but now that Snape had done the opposite he realised he'd wanted someone to do that all along. Then again Snape had seen glimpses of how he used to live with the Dursleys, so maybe it was easier for him to realise why he wanted a duvet.

Hmm… maybe he should get the other something. He'll think on what later. For now, sleep beckoned. And if he was lucky, it would be a dreamless night.

Harry opened his eyes to the lavish living spaces of what he now realised was Malfoy Manor. He stared at the kneeling form of Lucius Malfoy and glanced at Narcissa, who was sitting on the side of the room, staring at the opposite wall, as if unable to see her husband on his knees.

"Everything is ready my Lord." Lucius said. Harry felt delight that his master's plans were going ahead. He looked up to see his master's pleased expression and felt his hand petting his head. Harry closed his eyes and purred, turning his attention to Lucius.

"Good… Severus, how is that potion going?" Harry pulled back a bit and turned to look at Snape. He shuddered in disgust as his mind was able to separate a bit from Nagini's.

"It will be ready my lord. I admit I can only interpret what its potency will be… seeing as the instructions did not imply any effect." Harry watched as Severus came over and bowed low, almost to the same level as Malfoy.

"That is because its true effects are a surprise Severus." Harry felt Nagini's mind overpowering him once more and felt the delight of the snake, as if it knew what the potion could do. The snake was glad to be in a superior position to Snape.

An image appeared in Harry's consciousness that the snake was thinking about, but he couldn't make sense of it. It looked like two overlapping circles encased within a large ring.

"Now, Lucius, about your son…" Harry perked up at that and saw Voldemort picking up a folded piece of parchment. "He gives me an enchanting description of defence against the dark arts lessons given by one Harry Potter, however he tells me little that could be of use to me."

So Draco was feeding back to Voldemort… and Snape knew but didn't tell him. No… Snape had tried to warn him about Malfoy.

"I will tell him to try harder my Lord." Lucius said.

"See that you do… I want him to tell me more. About Potter's family, his fears, his darkest secrets. Make sure he can get as much as he can… and see if he could start speaking… convincingly about me." Harry tensed and saw Lucius look confused. Even Snape.

"My lord? Any way I could help?" Snape asked.

"No, no. This may be something only a friend of Harry can do. Get him to introduce convincing arguments for joining my side."

"Very well… my Lord." Harry could tell that Lucius had little faith in Draco to accomplish that.

oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo

Harry sat impatiently at breakfast, glancing discretely at Malfoy every once in a while. He barely managed two spoonfuls of porridge, but when he glanced at Snape and saw his intense glare he hurried up and ate with a bit more enthusiasm.

When the post arrived Harry looked at Draco. Saw him open a back envelope and saw him keep a stony face as he read it. He didn't look at his classmates, or at anyone. He simply grabbed his bag and walked out. Harry waited a few seconds before getting up and following him. Ron was too asleep to notice and Hermione was busy revising her essay.

He saw Malfoy running as he turned the corner and Harry ran after him.

Malfoy seemed to be too distracted to even look back. He made his way into the forbidden forest and Harry ran straight after him.