Chapter 9

"What is going on in here?" Narcissa Malfoy demands of the two young men exchanging blows and hexes. "I tell you to keep an eye of Severus and you come in here and try to kill each other." Seeing that she had neither of the boy's attention she activates a watering spell and douses both young men in ice cold water, which finally stops the fight. They looked up from the startling cold water into the furious eyes of Draco's mother. "I repeat, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? I left you to keep an eye on Severus and you two try to kill each other!" Draco and Harry looked at each other, each dripping with blood and water, began laughing hysterically. "Would you two mind explaining WHAT is so funny?" asked a highly agitated Narcissa.

Harry still laughing held is hand out "Accio two towels," catching the towels he handed one to Draco and replied to Narcissa, "We were just working out our differences, by the way, nice left hook Draco."

Draco accepting the towel acknowledged the complement with a nod and asked "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Remind me to tell you about my relatives sometime. Now answer your Mother's question about Snape, because you were the one who said they were taking the first watch." Harry casually replied while trying to stop the blood still flowing from his nose.

Draco looked at Harry curiously "Uncle Sev woke up enough to kick me out of his room. Said that as far as he could tell everything was healed and he just needed to sleep and recharge his 'energy'." He quoted while rolling his eyes, "The man could be on his death bed and still say that he was fine and just needed to 'recharge his energy".

Narcissa smiled and Harry started laughing again, "Isn't that the truth, I don't know which one of us has spent more time in the hospital since I started school. Madame Pomfrey swears she's going to rename the hospital ward to Potter/Snape ward. Believe it or not we even have our own beds in there; she doesn't ever put anyone else in them because she never knows when we will show up."

Draco and Narcissa looked at him incredulity "I can't believe you're laughing about being in the hospital so much." Narcissa whispered.

Harry looked at her and shrugged, "When you've been as abused, battered, and hexed as many times as we have you learned to either laugh about it or let it turn you bitter and snarky. I choose to laugh and Snape chose the later, although I have been working on him to accept what has happened and let it go. Personally I try to use each experience as a learning tool, find out what curse or maneuver they used and learn to do and counter the move for the next go round." He looked at Draco and Narcissa "What I just told you goes no further Finitly secrectus nox memorious."

Narcissa nodded regally and Draco glared at him, "What did you just do?"

Harry looked at Narcissa with a raised eyebrow and a questioning glance. Acknowledging the look, she told Draco "He just assured that we can't talk to anyone about what he just told us and he also 'locked' the memory of it so no one can access the information with Legilimency. In fact, we won't be able to discuss anything that is said during our entire stay. That's a very powerful spell Mr. Potter, how long have you been able to do wandless magic?"

"That my dear Lady is none of your business. Do I need to Obliviate you instead of just sealing your lips on what you've seen and heard?" Narcissa gave a small shake of her head while Draco puffs up in anger again.

"Don't talk to my Mother like that you pompous jerk, you treat her with respect!"

"I have treated both of you with respect, I asked instead of just doing. What do you think I'm just going to let the two of you walk out of here without any safeguards on what has been said and done in these rooms? NOW THAT would be stupid and would put both mine and your 'Uncle Sev's' life in danger."

"Harry that's enough," came from behind them in a raspy voice, "they understand the situation as well as or better than we do."

Harry spun around wand drawn until he realized who it was behind him. "What in the bloody HELL do you think you are doing out of bed? Get your arse back in there now before I levitate you there."

"You will do no such thing." Snape started to say when interrupted by the other two people in the room.

"You will go back to bed or we will help Harry magically bind you to it." Draco and Narcissa said in unison. Harry noticing that Snape strength was fading fast quickly walked over to him and slipped an arm around Snape's waist and put the unbroken arm around his shoulder.

"Get off me, you're soaking wet and bloody on top of it." Snape snarled.

Harry glanced at him and smirked, "Get over it. Now back to your room." With that he led Snape back to his room and settled him as comfortably as he could.

"Seallus Silenco Room!. Now do you want to tell me what that was all about?" Snape asked in a demanding tone.

"Which? The obvious first fight with fist's and hexes or the argument that you interrupted?" Harry asked causally.

"Young man if you don't start talking right now there will be absolutely NO Hogsmeade weekends for you this year."

Harry looked at Snape and grinned, "I thought you said you wouldn't go all parental on me when the papers went through…." Snape glared at Harry as he started laughing. "God that look is priceless." Then he glanced at Snape again and quickly started explaining, "Ok, ok I'll explain. Draco saw you getting arse kicked by Tom and his Merry Band of Arseholes, as a matter of fact, he got to see his father in action. Tom was told that you were dead and they left, evidently Draco had enough sense to stay hidden until they left. According to him when he (Lucius) checked on you, there was no pulse and you weren't breathing, but when Draco (thinking you were dead) finally got to you, you were badly injured, yet alive. He called Narcissa who stabilized you and then I came in for our 'lessons', then more Death Eaters showed up and I portkeyed all of us out of there to here. By the way I had Crabby pack all your stuff and send it here." He paused to glance at Snape to make sure he wasn't upset about that move, when Snape nodded he continued. "Anyway I discussed our options with Professor Dumbledore and we are all now encased in the Room of Requirements, which is warded to keep anyone but the two hand chosen house elves out. Now as for the fight, well that was just Draco and I trying to work out our differences and put the past behind us. By the way, are you the one who taught him how to throw a punch? He's got a killer left hook." Harry said as he rubbed his nose.

Snape started laughing "I did teach him a few fundamentals of fisticuffs. What pray tell was all that respect my Mother speech about…?"

Harry raised an eyebrow and looked faintly put out, "Draco got his knickers in a twist because I asked if I needed to Obliviate Narcissa as well as the secret and memory spell I put on them. I told them it would be stupid not to protect myself and you in some way."

Snape glared at Harry, "And WHAT did you say to them that they would need such a spell?"

Harry flinched at Snape's tone of voice, "Nothing much…just about us having our own beds in the hospital wing and how I try to learn how to counter each experience for the next time." Then he looked away and mumbles, "Ialsodidsomewandlessmagicinfrontofthem."

"You did what!"

"I said I, unthinkingly, did some wandless magic in front of them. But I'm going to have to practice it, and we are all going to be living here together, they were bound to see me do it before the 1st anyway." He said rapidly, "So don't get to pissed off, ok? I'm trying my best to trust them and I slipped up. Now I will have to trust them or I will lose what advantage I have over Tom," as he sighed disgustedly, "why do I always do this to myself?"

Snape looked at Harry tiredly, "How strong of a spell was it?"

Harry looked sheepishly at Snape, "We can talk about that later. Right now you need to rest, do you want me to wake you for dinner?" he asked while rising to his feet, at Snape's nod, he then waved his hand at the door canceling Snape's locking spell. Snape fell asleep with a look of amazement on his face at what his Harry just did.

………………………………………………………..

Draco and Narcissa watched Harry lead Severus out of the room, then decided that it was a good time for them to have a mother/son chat. Narcissa told Draco that when he had been born that she and Lucius made up trust papers stating that Severus would be the executor until he (Draco) came of age, and not only had they made Severus his Godfather the papers also state that he has the option of adopting Draco. When Draco started to question what that would do to his inheritance, his mother just smiled and said it would just be familial adoption, so he would always have family. She also told him about the power of wizardry papers she had drawn up.

"Now if your Father should get arrested again, or Merlin forbid, should something happen to me as well, the Ministry of Magic will not be able to touch our family homes or fortune. Because my dear little Dragon, as of last month everything is in your name. Your Father and I are allowed a place to live and a small stipend for expenses." Narcissa grinned at the thought of Lucius having to ask his son for money, if he could find him. "You don't have to give any more galleons than the monthly compensation."

Draco looked at his Mother disbelievingly, "You mean everything is mine?" Narcissa nodded still smiling. "My parents have to ask me before making any estate decisions or before taking any money? When; how did you get Father to agree to this? I can't believe he would willingly do this."

Narcissa laughed, "We can make decisions that will gain the estate money, but we cannot sell or remove any items without your approval. Yes your Father knows all of this as he also had to sign the power of wizardry papers. After the Ministry of Magic disaster, he knows his time is limited, of course he also thinks you are going to continue to help support the Dark Lord's war. He signed the papers just before he went into Azkaban." As Draco stared at her dumbfounded, Harry walked back into the room.

"Am I interrupting? If so I can go somewhere else." He said while looking back and forth at Draco and Narcissa.

"No Harry you're not interrupting, as a matter of fact, you are right on time. There is something that I want to discuss with both of you, and neither of you will probably like it." The young men looked at each other and then her with a feeling of dread that they really, really weren't going to like the subject. "I want to discuss the fact that you are both just about of age. In our world, as you know Draco, betrothals are usually arranged on the day of birth, and yours with Pansy was broken when your Father was arrested. Knowing that you prefer wizards I feel I have found the best bond mate for you, and if I'm not mistaken you'll be soul mates as well."

"NO!" Draco shouted, "I know where this is going and ABSOLUTELY NOT. NO WAY IN HELL AM I MARRYING HIM." Harry had been looking confused until this statement and was now looking horrified and shaking his head no.

"What he said. We can't stand each other, did you not just break up a fight between us? Or was the blood and water that was dripping off us just my imagination.?" As a panicking Harry started backing out of the room, "I just wanted to know if you were ready for dinner." With that he ran out of the room. Draco looked at his Mother in astonishment.

"I can't believe that the brave Gryffindor just ran out of the room at the word marriage." He snorted in amusement, "I'm not that bad, although Mother he does have a point, we really can't stand each other."

Narcissa laughed at the contradictions her son was making in his comments. "I noticed that you're not objecting too much at the idea of marrying Harry." She said slyly, "Would you like to?"

Draco pondered his reactions and thought about the young man that he was getting to know. He thought about all of the facets that made up Harry's personality, "Well he is the most eligible bachelor, next to me, around. He isn't hard on the eyes, his main fault is that he's a Gryffindork, but I could teach him to be more like a Slytherin. He has a quick temper, deplorable taste in clothing, he like's muggle-borns, but I guess I can tolerate that if I have too, and we have hated each other for the last six years." He finished musing, smiled at his Mother and said, "I don't think I would mind too much at all, if you can talk him into it. Ten galleons that you can't."

Narcissa beamed, "I'll get the betrothal contract made up as soon as possible. You know I always get what I want, and I want you two together and happy. As for you two hating each other, you know what they say…. There's a fine line between love and hate." With that a smug Narcissa Malfoy walked out of the room to summon a house-elf.

……………………………………………….

An agitated Harry carried a tray with a soft meal into Severus' room and gently set it on the bedside table. Noticing that he was still asleep Harry started pacing back and forth across the room thinking about what had just been tossed in his lap. 'Marriage! To Malfoy? No way, no how! I'd have to be crazy. No wait, I AM crazy to even be thinking about this. Bloody hell MARRIAGE, I'm just 17, or I will be in a few days. Damn I wish Sev would wake up so I could talk to him about this. Although knowing him, with this being his precious Godson, he'll be all for it. I mean we've already had some hellish fights about our age difference. I feel like I'm in the freaking Twilight Zone, would someone PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, wake me up from this nightmare."

"WOULD YOU STOP THAT INFERNAL PACING, YOU'RE STARTING TO ANNOY ME." Severus commanded in his usual snarky tone.

Harry jumped, and spun around, "Don't do that! You scared about 10 years out of me, and I can't afford that!"

Severus' smirk quickly became a grimace as pain lanced through his body again. Harry noticing this handed him a dose of pain potion, which was quickly downed. "Thank you. Now would you like to tell me what has you so worked up?"

Harry eyed him warily, "I don't know if I want to tell you or not. Knowing who all is involved, you'll probably be all for it, no make that you'll help push me into it."

"Would you tell me what that cryptic statement is supposed to mean?" An exasperated Severus asked, "I would like to get some peace sometime tonight…. And a meal wouldn't be too much to ask would it?"

"Oh sorry," Harry grabbed the dinner tray (that he had charmed to keep warm) and settled it over Severus' lap, "I didn't forget to bring you dinner; I just forgot to give it to you when you woke up." Noticing that Severus' hands were trembling too much to hold his silverware steady, he slowly helped Severus eat his supper. After Severus was finished with his meal he looked at Harry with a question mark in his eyes, and Harry knew it was time to face the music and tell what was bothering him. "Narcissa wants me to bond to Draco."

Severus' face clouded over in a possessive expression, "OVER MY DEAD BODY! YOU are mine and we have the betrothal contract to prove it!" Then uncertainty crossed over his face; Draco is a lot younger and closer to Harry's age maybe Harry wants to be with him. He looked at Harry and noticed the look of relief on his face and then he felt his possessiveness take over again.

"Possessive much?" Harry asked with a smirk on his face, he then leaned forward and placed a light kiss on Severus' lips, which was quickly deepened by the injured potions master. Things were quickly escalating when Harry inadvertently bumped Severus' healing ribs and arm causing him to groan in pain.

"Oh, I'm sorry Sev," Harry said in a panicked voice as he ran his hands over the healing ribs, making sure that he hadn't rebroke any. "I guess this is fates way of telling us to wait until we are officially bonded." He then looked at Severus and started snickering at the look on his face, a cross of pain and sexual frustration.

"You think this funny huh? Just you wait, I will get even." Severus said as he slid his hand up to caress Harry's groin. Soon there was another frustrated groan in the air, especially when there was a knock at the door. Getting themselves back under control Severus growled out "Enter".

Draco stepped into the room looked at them and asked them dreaded question of, "What's going on in here? And don't tell me nothing I can tell Potter, you've been panicking since Mother mentioned marriage." Harry looked over at Severus and saw the dark storm of possessiveness clouding his face again. Draco, being oblivious, continued, "I mean I know that we have never gotten along, but really I'm not that bad. After all I am one of the most eligible bachelors."

Harry looked at Draco incredulously, "Can you possibly get anymore arrogant? Yes, I'll admit that the thought of marriage scares the hell out of me, because of the fact that I am so young that I'm afraid that my BETROTHED will think of me more as his son than his partner." He watched as two faces looked back at him, one with unconditional love, and the other astounded by the fact that Harry was already engaged.

Draco slowly drew in a deep breath and released it, then he started snickering "I'm not the one who is going to tell Mother that her latest plot isn't going to happen, but I do thank you for the 10 galleons you just won me." Going into a full belly laugh at the thought of his Mother's face when she found out Golden Boy is unavailable. "So who's the lucky man?"