Dis: Usual applies. Not mine. No money.

Chapter Three

By the time that Draco had finished, Duncan was in a rage so bad that he was ready to kill the next thing that moved. Luckily for him it was his snakes that did. They had felt his rage and had come out, sensing that the other in the house was magical just like their Master. They slithered across the floor and up the leg of his pants, to curl around his arm and neck.

Duncan felt them enter the kitchen and had stood still, waiting for the calming that always occurred at their touch. Neither were magical but it was their presence that seemed to bleed out his emotions to an acceptable level. Usually it was an overwhelming sadness that they helped him with.

Several minutes later, he was calm enough to speak. "I'm sorry Draco. I didn't mean to lose control like that. I don't know if you know what happened after I killed Voldemort, but in the backlash of his death, I received all of his power. Unfortunately, I also received his range of emotions. That's why it hurts so much to think of Severus, hence the attacks. It's the anger that's the worst of it all. That after all was his dominant emotion. Heh and Hauhet are the only remedy that I have found since I lost Severus to that slut. Funny enough though, they are just regular snakes, nothing magical about them at all. Isn't that right, my babies." He had slipped into Parseltongue that last sentence and he saw Malfoy shiver. He sent him an apologetic look.

Draco snorted. "The Parseltongue doesn't bother me that way, Duncan."

Duncan blushed. "Must be a Slytherin thing then?"

Draco laughed. "Perhaps it is. So tell me, what do you plan on doing about Severus with this information?"

Duncan looked at him blankly. "What do you expect me to do? He obviously doesn't want me to know. He swore that the only reason he would ever go back to Hogwart's was if he had no choice. But I left instructions with Gringotts, that should anything ever happen between he and Hermione, to have an account released for him. He has enough money to do whatever he wants."

Draco looked at him angrily. "That's the most selfish thing I have ever heard. Did he mean anything to you?"

Duncan whipped around and grabbed Draco by the shirt. "Mean anything to me? MEAN ANYTHING TO ME! That man was my life. My reason for breathing. He left me! HE LEFT ME! There were days that I couldn't continue living, but the only thing that kept me alive was the thought of my parents disappointment in me if I took my own life. I am sorry for what he went thru but he sent me to hell and I have only just crawled out. I can't go back there knowing he could leave me again. I couldn't. . .I couldn't take it again, Draco. I just couldn't." He let go of the blond's shirt.

Draco saw his error. Severus had meant everything to Harry. That was why he'd never go back. He had barely survived him leaving once. Harry couldn't trust him not to do it again and continue living. "I'm so sorry Harry. . .Duncan. I have no idea how hard it is to live with. I'm just used to seeing him hurting. I didn't realize how much you were hurting as well."

Duncan looked to him with gratitude. "Thank you Draco. For understanding. That being said though, I do believe a little revenge is in order for a certain dirty blooded slut."

Draco had never though he would see Harry with such a feral look on his face. "Merlin , you look hot like that. If that's the look you had right before you headed out to meet Riddle, no wonder Severus made you late. Er. . Sorry."He cringed.

Duncan laughed. Mostly because it was that reason. "It's fine, because it's true. Now, how are we going to clear Severus name, get him back his fortune and free him from Hogwarts, without him knowing it's me you're working with?"

Draco looked thoughtful. "Well, you could always come as you are. The co-owner of Qadesh Antiquities, helping me to settle my inheritance. You just also happen to be a wizard. We'll tell everyone that your partner has no idea and you want to keep it that way. With all your power, you should be able to disguise your face and magical signature."

Duncan nodded. "That would work. But it won't be for at least a month. One of our biggest clients passed away a few months back and his estate is ready for appraisal. I can't pass it up simply because it's in his will that only I am allowed to do it. I can't make the family wait any longer than they already have. Besides, I do believe he has some books that would be of great interest to our world."

Draco took note but made no mention of the fact that Harry had referred to it as his world again."Oh really, and what would they be?"

Duncan smirked. "5 manuscripts written in a unidentifiable language, bound in the skin of an unidentifiable breed of snake."

Draco took a sharp breath. "Oh my God! Where would your client get the Diaries of Salazar Slytherin?"

Duncan smiled, loving how quick Draco could reason things out. Reminded him of Severus. Ignoring the ache at even thinking of his ex lover, he answered Draco. "His name was Tipton. And if I am not mistaken his father was living in London during the war with Grindelwald. You know what it was like after that war, which ran the same time as the Second Great War of the Muggles. Estates were being plundered, things stolen and sold at ridiculous amounts. I believe his grandfather just thought they may have been of value and bought them. I've never seen them but I have a hunch that's what they are."

Draco still sat there with his mouth open. "My Merlin, Harry they would be the greatest find in over five centuries."

Duncan nodded. "I know. That's part of the reason I need to do this estate personally. I'll have to buy them myself."

Draco hurried to speak. "Let me know if you need more money. I'd gladly give it to you just to read them. After you translated of course." He smirked.

Duncan chuckled at Draco's slyness. "I doubt I'll need it but thanks. His son has already gone thru a large part of his monetary inheritance, so I believe that whatever I offer him for books that he can't read, he'll take. I won't cheat him but I won't let on to their true value."

Draco snorted. "Stupid Muggles. No offense, but some of them are as dumb as rocks."

Duncan snorted as well. "Yes they are. But sometimes it's the dumb ones you need to watch out for. So, once that's done, I'll be free to come to England Mr. Malfoy, to appraise your estate."

Draco nodded and stuck out his hand. "Fair enough. I'll start looking thru the trial records and find out why, after all the work you did to clear his name, that Severus' past was able to be used against him."

Duncan nodded as he shook the blond's hand. "Perfect. I am going to make sure that bitch pays, Draco."

Draco nodded. "And I'm going to help you. I want you to make a promise to me though."

Duncan looked at him shrewdly. "If I can I will."

Draco nodded his acceptance at that and smirked evilly. "I want you to promise, when she's locked up in Azkaban for false accusations, conspiracy, fraud and whatever else we can pin on her, that you'll visit her as Harry."

Duncan looked at the blond in front of him for a moment, before smirking just as evilly. "Oh , that's a request I can promise I will keep. Now I need one from you."

Draco knew what it was immediately. "I, Draco Malfoy, swear to never reveal the new identity of Harry James Potter, the location of his new life nor the manner in which I discovered him. Unless his life be in danger or he need be summoned for a dire reason. I make this vow on my magic to not end until my death." He let out a slow breath, hoping Harry wouldn't kill him for amending his vow a little.

Duncan smirked as he heard Draco's vow. "Forever a Slytherin, hmm Draco." He wasn't angry. He did want to be contacted should something arise, especially now knowing of his goddaughter. Oh, his goddaughter. "Shit, Draco, as soon as I enter the UK, Magic will recognize me and I will be bonded to my goddaughter. I can't disguise my signature from Magic herself."

Draco frowned. He had forgotten about that. There was only one recourse. "You'll have to take Remus and Tonks into your confidence then Har. . shit sorry Duncan."

Duncan laughed at Draco's swearing. "I think that when we're alone like this, Draco, you can call me Harry. I may not have been him for a long time, but if I'm returning, then I'll have to get used to it from Remus and Tonks."

Draco nodded his thanks. "Okay, so that's the plan so far. You do your appraisal and then come to England. Works out that Christian knows you're going to do my estate, so you won't have to lie to him. I'll head back and start some discreet prying. Hmm, Blaise works in Records in the Ministry. I'll be able to access the report of his arrest and their statements. And, hmm. . .I believe that as an upstanding member and seat holder of the Wizengamout, I should be able to go thru old trails."

Duncan smirked. "Hmm, upstanding member my ass. But yeah that'll work. Do I still have my seat as well?"

Draco nodded absently. "Yes you do. They've tried to send notices of all the major meetings. There have been several major constitutional changes since you disappeared. Mostly good. Some not so. Creature laws are much better, as I said but some things aren't. Ever since she got Severus' seat, Granger has been a driving force to allow laxer laws for Muggleborns. Being able to tell family without getting special dispensation. Forcing a law to make sure that a certain number of key positions go to Muggleborns each year. . ." Draco's voice trailed off as his eyes widen.

Duncan looked to Draco with a look of shock and fury on his face. "That devious conniving whore. That was it. The whole time. Everything. She seduced Severus, forcing me to leave. Had him locked away so she would gain sympathy. Then took over his seat on the Wizengamout so she could force thru laws of her own making. She was always bitter that even after the Dark Lord was gone, that Muggleborns were not raised to a higher standing. She often ranted to me about not using my power to make it so. It was after our last fight that she started acting different. And only months later, Severus had left me. I wonder what she said to convince him to leave me?"

Draco could only shake his head. "I don't know Harry. But it couldn't have been a potion or spell because Severus would have noticed the potion. And he is so much stronger than she is, that any spell would have worn off. Of course, if it was a spell at first and then wore off, he may have felt no recourse but to stay with her after hurting you so badly. Or she may have used that time to convince him that no one else would want him. We have to get this bitch Harry. She has been the cause of so much suffering and now she's ruining our world."

Duncan nodded. "We'll have to do this carefully though. She is a very smart witch and will have covered her tracks very well. What we need is. . .Is she seeing anyone right now? Or have an interest in anyone?"

Draco grimaced slightly. "Ironically, she has made advances on most of the rich, eligible, pure blooded men in our society. She looks down on the poor ones. I know that Blaise has turned her down. As well as Fred and George. She even went so far as to proposition me but I told her in no uncertain terms that she and I could not share company for many reasons. The least of which was that I'm gay. She was a little miffed. Why?"

Duncan smirked at the thought of the slut not being able to find anyone willing to start a relationship with. "Well, if we could get someone close to her, say a wealthy pure blood from the States, then we would have an insider. Privy to information that others wouldn't be."

Draco look concerned. "I don't know Harry. Could you trust yourself not to kill her?"

Duncan looked at him sharply. "Of course, well. . .maybe. I'd have to now wouldn't I, if I'm going to clear Sev's name." Draco still looked skeptical, so he offered his own vow.

"I, Harry James Potter, swear on my magic to refrain from killing Hermione Jane Granger, henceforth known as 'The Slut', until we clear the name of Severus Ares Snape. He vowed. "Unless she threatens any of my family or friends or acquaintances or the general public. This I swear on my magic to not end until my death."

Draco snorted. "Slytherin yourself, Harry."

Duncan grinned a little at that. "What? I've never mentioned that I had to convince the Sorting Hat into placing me in Gryffindor? Said I would do well in Slytherin. Help me on my path to greatness."

Draco just shook his head. "No, but I'm not really surprised. Okay, let's head back into the city. If you have no objections, I would very much like to accompany you to the Tipton estate today?"

Duncan smiled genuinely as he responded. "That would be great. Having another wizard around will make it easier to detect magical things. I doubt Tipton's grandfather only bought those books back then. Plus, as a Syltherin, there may be curses on the book that I can't detect that you could."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence but you and I both know that you need no help it that area. You were more powerful than me before absorbing Riddle's power. Besides, absorbing his magic at the final battle probably gave you more of his signature than the night he murdered your. . . Maybe you just need to access his magic, Harry." Draco stood still for a moment as he pondered that.

Duncan stood thoughtfully as well. He wondered if he could just access Riddle's power and combine it with his to change his magical signature. Draco appeared to be thinking about it as well. So deep in thought were the two wizards, that they ate not noticing until their plates were empty.

"Draco. I wouldn't be able to use Riddle's magic. If I have to go to Hogwarts to see Moony, then Severus will detect it. He would know that signature as well as his won. Then he would know it was me, right away." Duncan grimaced again at the ache that resonated their his heart. He would need Heh and Hauhet desperately when he finally went back. . . home.

Draco closed his eyes and nodded. He rubbed his forehead with is fingers. "Damn. Can you combine the two? Make a new signature all together?"

Duncan shrugged his shoulders. "I could try. Be better to try with someone here in case something goes wrong. Give me a moment." He closed his eyes and fell into a relaxed state. It was the same state that helped him Occlude his mind. He searched for the black oily mass that resided in him since the Final Battle. It was unbelievable that his own magic could co-exist with that of the former Dark Lords. But it did. They even seemed to compliment each other. Not that Duncan would admit that to anyone. Only. . .Severus.

He looked at the black mass and then to the bright green of his own. He could see that the magic had already started to entwine on it's own. Perhaps that meant that he was on his way to healing. He imagined squeezing the two sources of power but both rebelled against the force. He stopped immediately and thought about braiding them together as if strands of hair. Both seemed more flexible and in mere moments the two power sources started combined themselves. Duncan watched in fascination as black twisted around green, and green seemed to cradle the black. When it was done, he was jolted out of his own mind and looked around.

Draco was pale and his eyes were wide. The brunette looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong, Draco?"

Draco shivered and began to whisper. "I've never felt anything like that before. It was like having a hundred pound blanket of pure magic thrown over me. I couldn't move or think really. Just feel. Merlin, Potter! How powerful are you now?"

Duncan's eyes rolled nervously. "I don't know. We never got around to testing it before the slut made her move." He drew in a sharp breath as the familiar ache echoed thru his body.

Draco touched the hand that lay on the counter top. "We'll get her, Harry. And even if you never see or speak to Severus again, you'll at least know that he's safe once more."

Duncan nodded. "Yes. I need to make sure he's okay. I will love him til the day I draw my last breath and most likely beyond. He took care of me for so long. I will return the favor." He took a cleansing breath and stood straighter. "Now, I'm going to phone Tipton's son and tell him that I'm on my way over with a fellow appraiser, who's just starting out. He'll act less pompous if he's not trying to impress you."

Draco smirked. "I believe I can manage the part."

Duncan smiled at Draco then. A real honest to Merlin, genuine smile. In that moment, Draco saw exactly what his godfather had seen in the Gryffindor Golden Boy. He was handsome. Yes, Draco had always known that. But his eyes held a warmth and an honestness that you could not fake.

No matter what he had promised, he would find a way to get Harry and Severus back together. Perhaps he could enlist the help of Remus and Tonks. They had remained friends with Severus as well, never believing his guilt. Draco smirked mentally. One way or another, he would find out what had happened to Severus to make him leave Harry. Then he would reunite the two devastated lovers with their other half. He loved it when a plan began to take form.

Duncan never saw the calculating look in Draco's eyes. Nor the small smirk that found it's way to his lips. If he had he might have questioned it. But, fate had decided to keep him ignorant for the moment. He had called his client as Draco had started mentally plotting and was just ending the phone call when Draco tapped his arm.

"I will have to get changed before we go. I don't think a three thousand dollar suit will be believable for a new appraiser." He gestured to his dark grey outfit. Duncan chuckled.

"No. Definitely not. Alright, let's go. Merlin, I would love to just grab those books and go." Normally he would enjoy going thru the collection, but with his mind set on revenge and the new levels of combined power coursing thru his system, he wanted to use his magic again for more than just hearing enhancement spells and the occasional Scorgify when he made a mess cooking. "Hey Draco. When we're done with Tipton for the day, want to go somewhere and duel?"

The childlike joy in Duncan's voice made Draco laugh. "I don't know about that. You're oozing power right now. Not sure I want that directed at me, friendly or not."

Duncan pouted. But a gleam entered his eyes and he smiled evilly. "Scared, Malfoy?"

Draco snorted and returned the grin. "You wish, Potter."

Both men, former enemies, then casual acquaintances and now new friends laughed at the shared memory. They headed out the door, hearts a little lighter than when they had entered.