By the time they got back to Cornwall the next day it was nearly dinner time as there had been a few delays in leaving London. Harry had woken once again in his own bed and once again with a bottle of pain reliever next to him, dressed once again. At dinner he saw Lucius watching him every so often but he didn't need any reminder of what was expected of him tonight and probably every other night for two years to come.

When his godfathers were asleep or occupied Harry slipped from his room to Lucius' room where he gently knocked and the door opened. "Come in my little love."

Harry came in but he stopped dead in his tracks when he realized they weren't alone. "Snape? What is he doing here? You promised no one else would know."

Lucius held him. "Little love he is my best friend and knows everything. You need a doctor and I knew you wouldn't allow me to take you to one for your brands."

Severus smirked. "Indeed Harry. I may be no Madam Pomfrey but I have medic training and Lucius has informed me of your slight predicament here."

Lucius slid his robe from his body. "Its okay Harry, go lie down on the pillows like you did last night and allow Severus to help you please."

Harry eyed Severus with a mix of emotions as he went and lay down on the bed, propped up by several pillows. Severus waived his wand but to Harry's relief didn't remove his boxers, just shrunk them into briefs so he could see Harry's legs. Harry jerked away from his touch.

"Potter just calm down and let me help you please." Severus reprimanded him.

Harry tried to stay still. "Why are you doing this Snape?"

Severus smirked. "Because Lucius is like a brother and he asked me to help with his new little lover. I'd reprimand you but Luc has suggested I let you call me Severus in private." He put emphasis on the last word.

Lucius came to Harry's side. "I know I promised no one but Albus needed to know but Sev knows everything about me. I'd have not told you but you need help."

Severus began examining his brands and sighed. He reached over to where Harry realized there was a number of different potions and creams. He went to put some on Harry but Harry jerked away again but more violently from his touch that he stopped.

Severus turned to Lucius. "Perhaps he'll let you do it. He has a serious infection. I'm not sure how he got it and I'm surprised he doesn't have a fever from it."

Lucius took the bottles from him. "These will help him?"

Severus nodded. "One will fight the infection which he must have got from the brands being unbandaged and open to the air before they healed. The other will stop a fever."

Lucius looked at Harry. "I know the scars on his back are old but is there something you can do for them. Harry shouldn't bear such scars from his Uncle's hatred."

Severus looked at Harry. "I'd like to see if I can help you Harry but you're going to have to let me take a look for you."

Lucius nodded so Harry slowly moved away from the pillows so he could see the whip marks from a belt that ran down his back. Severus showed no reaction but to gently examine a few of them. He surprised Harry with his gentleness when he lowered Harry back on the pillows.

"Some of them were infected at some point so I won't be able to remove all the scars fully, but I should be able to make it better. It'll take me time to brew the potion."

Lucius looked relieved. "Thanks Sev for doing this."

Severus looked down at Harry. "You really do care about that boy don't you Luc? I'd never have guessed. Harry needs bandages and those potions for another week before I'd suggest any contact with him. I'll make the potion for his back."

Harry watched as Severus left and Lucius came over to his bedside. He gently lowered Harry back against the pillows and started to apply the first bottle to the brands. He realized the potion had been mixed into the cream Lucius had been used and he had to admit slight relief as it gently was worked in. Lucius gently rebandaged his legs for him when he was done.

Harry looked at him. "Why?"

"I'm sorry I already explained why I told Sev. I never intended for you to know but you needed help Harry." Lucius told him.

"I mean why do you care. I mean you didn't have to get him to look at my back." Harry explained his question.

"No one should brand you, not even me Harry. I was required to. I wanted to remove that from you. You never deserved what the man did to you."

Harry allowed himself to be fed not only the fever potion but another pain reliever draught and again found himself drifting off but before he was fully asleep he managed to mutter a "Thanks".

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Harry woke in the morning in his own bed as usual and along with a pain reliever he once again found a note on his pillow but he was surprised by this one.

'Sev says you need a week to heal. You don't need to come to me again till they do. Sev or I will come to you at night with the potions. Luc'

Harry sipped the pain reliever potion and slipped out of bed. "A week's reprieve from his bed, I guess I should be grateful for that." Harry muttered.

Harry took a shower and changed into some fresh clothes. When he made it into the dinning room he found both Malfoys and Snape as well as his godfathers sitting at the table. He couldn't even look in the direction of either Lucius or Severus after last night.

Sirius smiled. "Hey cub. It seems we came back from London at the wrong time. There are supposed to be storms off and on all week. We'll be stuck inside."

Harry shrugged. "I guess I have some homework to start for next year."

Remus laughed. "Don't worry you won't be stuck in doors all week and I'm sure there are other things we can find to do around here as well."

Draco looked up from where he was sitting. "I was working on my potions essay if you wanted to perhaps work on it together."

Harry was a bit surprised. "Sure though considering the fact I'm sure I won't make it into the NEWT class in the fall, I'm not sure why I am trying."

Snape looked up. "I expect the homework from all students no matter if you go on. Besides you don't have your OWLs yet. Don't count them before you do."

Harry was a bit surprised and wondered if Snape knew what he had got. He knew he was required to have an O to continue with Severus and considering the best he had ever managed was an E, he had been sure he'd not be able to continue. He wasn't sure if he had wanted to anyways. He was reconsidering being an auror since the war had ended.

Harry smiled at Draco. "Sure Draco, I'd like to work with you on the essay. Perhaps you can help me from flunking the last potions homework I will ever have."

Severus shot him a look he was having a hard time understanding but Draco nodded. "I'm set up in the library."

Harry went to his rooms and got his books. Working with the son of his lover seemed odd. He wondered if Draco knew if Severus did but he had a feeling from the way Draco was acting, he had no idea. He'd know soon enough Harry was his dad's apprentice but Draco wouldn't be so calm if he knew the truth about this.

Harry found Draco in the library as said but as he looked at Draco's papers, he hadn't done any. "I had thought you had been working on your homework."

Draco looked up. "I've been trying but I have had a hard time trying to concentrate on anything. I keep reading the same page over again."

Harry sunk down next to him. "You know I know what it's like Draco. I understand. If you need someone to talk to or just play chess with, I'd be willing."

Draco looked up surprised. "Why? I haven't been anything but horrible to you before this."

"Because like I said I know how it feels. I also know you were like that because your dad was a spy. And if we're spending the summer together we should try and get along better." Harry explained.

Draco nodded. "I talk enough to dad and Sev but I could use some distraction. Maybe when we finish our homework we could play a game of chess."

Harry agreed and they poured over their books and spent the morning and part of the afternoon finishing their potions essays together. They were deep in a game of chess when Severus came in to tell them it was dinner time.

"If you two would like me to look over your essays and give you some suggestions, I'd be happy to." Severus offered.

Draco looked at Harry. "Uncle Sev always helped me revise my potions essays. It's one of the reasons I have always done well in his class."

Harry agreed that it couldn't hurt and handed his essay over with Draco. He hoped for once that his would not come back looking like someone had bled all over it from the red ink but he thought with Draco's help he had probably done a better job then before. He sat with Draco discussing chess moves at dinner and he could see looks from both ends of the table.

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He was nearly asleep later that night when he felt a set of warm lips pressed against his and his eyes fluttered open Lucius was sitting next to him on the bed and had brought the potions and new bandages.

"You looked like sleeping beauty my little love, I couldn't resist." Lucius smiled.

Harry nodded. "You came to do my bandages again."

Lucius gently moved his blankets and removed his boxers with the wand. "My note said I would. I promise you need not come to me for a week. I or Sev will tend to you."

Harry allowed himself to relax a bit as Lucius gently began to unbandage his legs and gently started to apply the cream. As he was doing the bandages back up Lucius smiled at him.

"Thank you for what you're doing for my son." Lucius said.

""I know what it feels like. Draco and I have never been friends before but we have to live together now so I thought maybe we could be friends. And well you..."

Lucius kissed him gently. "I promise he doesn't know. He'll know you're my apprentice but nothing else. I do appreciate the friendship you're showing him though."

"Draco is pretty cool when I give him the chance and it will make this summer pass quicker for both of us. Maybe at school it can continue." Harry admitted.

Lucius handed him the fever potion and then the pain reliever. "Severus said the other potion will be ready by tomorrow. He'll come instead tomorrow night."

Harry was starting to drift off so Lucius took his wand and put Harry's boxers back on him and covered the boy back up with his blankets. He kissed Harry one last time before Harry fell asleep. He was anxious to have Harry share his bed properly again but he didn't want to hurt Harry. He'd wait until his little lover was better.