Disclaimer: J.K. and Warner Bros. own them

Authors Notes: Man! It's been over two months. Is anyone still out there? Hello...? My apologies for the ridiculously long hiatus. A financial setback had me too bummed out to write. I probably should be extremely contrite, and I am, but I'm also excited to be posting again. Thanks for taking the time to read this chapter. I hope it's not too hard to remember where the story left off after so long. There was a prison break at Azkaban. Sev's missing and maybe dead. Kreacher is about to report to Harry and Malfoy on what he saw in Voldie's lair.

I was reading an awesome fic while I was away sulking. It's A Year Like No Other over at skyhawkedotnet, by Aspen in the Sunlight. It is a Snape/Harry/Draco, mentor/father fic, and I highly recommend it, even if you are not sulking.

excessivelyperky? Yeah, she rocks! And she gets full credit for suggesting Harry lose control of his wand before he began his...er...duel with Tonks at the end of this chapter. Many thanks for your insight and suggestions. You're awesome!

Enjoy

Chapter 27

The Age of Independence I

The most useful thing about Kreacher's report was the information that Voldemort had ordered all of his servants to remain sequestered in the hideout. Plans were being developed on how to best use the talents and manpower of his newly reunited Death Eaters to get Harry Potter and gain a strong hold in the Ministry. No one would be allowed to leave the lair without the Dark Lord's express permission until further notice.

After conveying that important bit of intelligence, Kreacher's report became more form than substance as he went on about how regal Madame Lestrange was. He fairly gushed over what a credit she was to the Most Noble Ancient House of Black. When he started in on how very much she reminded him of his former mistress, Harry started to get nauseous, and Malfoy rolled his eyes. At approximately the same moment they both cast a Legillimens at the elf.

"Sorry," Harry said, as he felt himself bump into Malfoy's consciousness when he tried to enter the Kreacher's mind.

"No, no. I beg your pardon, Potter. He's your elf," Draco said, sounding a tad embarrassed. "I'll just run to the loo while you have a look," the blond boy said as he slipped on a pair of hard-soled leather slippers and a silky Slytherin green housecoat.

When Harry reentered Kreacher's mind, he saw Bellatrix Lestrange putting Lucius Malfoy under the Cruciatus Curse. She held it for a full minute, looking positively rapturous at the sound of his screams. The witch gave Voldemort a little curtsy before retaking her place in the circle, and the evil bastard rewarded her with an approving nod.

"How are you enjoying your punishment thusss far Luciusss?" Voldemort addressed the badly twitching wizard. "We have only begun. There are many more delightsss to come."

"I live to serve my lord," Malfoy returned in a raspy voice.

"I'm heartened to hear it," Voldemort said dismissively. "Ah, Severusss, I think next," he said addressing the tall, dark wizard. "I ssso enjoyed the Fisssure hex you cast on Goyle."

Harry's heartbeat quickened almost painfully at the sight of the man alive and well. He watched Snape, looking not at all worse for wear, approaching a prone Malfoy on the stone floor. Harry wondered for a moment if Snape would have any reservations about torturing Malfoy Sr. That notion was quickly put to rest as Snape raised his wand.

"Knout," the man incanted, and a magical version of the medieval torture device, complete with spiky metal barbs, began to thrash Lucius down the front of his body. Malfoy emitted a startled scream as the crude whip and silvery barbs of the hex approached his face, and he threw himself onto his belly. He flipped himself back and forth several times trying in vain to escape the agony. Severus held the curse until Malfoy's screams had began to sound like piteous sobs before he finally canceled the spell. But Snape was not done. Stepping close, he grabbed Malfoy roughly by the throat, and held the gray gaze for half a minute. The wails the blond wizard emitted then made the anguished cries brought on by the Knout hex sound tame in comparison. Severus disdainfully released him with a shove toward the floor and began to return to his place in the circle.

"Deiciousssly sssevere, my Severusss," Voldemort smiled appreciatively. "Please tell me, what was that last ssspell?"

"No spell at all my lord," Severus informed him. "I simply showed Lucius one of the many images of you chastising young Draco."

"And thiss caused Luciusss to react in sseemingly more pain than the thrashing of your most impressive Knout..." the Dark Lord said in confusion. "You must tell me Ssseveruss how you knew it would have thisss effect..."

"I guessed, my lord," Severus informed him humbly. "But I am glad my lord found it pleasing."

"There is perhapss more to it than that. I believe it possible to be more tormented by sseeing a loved one tortured than if one is ssuffering themselvess," Voldemort mused proudly, as though he were sharing a previously undiscovered formula. "I believe I have sseen evidence of this in Muggles. And perhapss it iss what made that Mudblood Evanss so desperate to protect her whelp." Voldemort gave Snape an assessing gaze. "We will discusss thiss further Severuss. But later, after we have enjoyed ourselvesss fully," he amended heartily, gesturing grandly for Severus to join his fellows.

"Your servant, my lord," Snape intoned as he took his place in the circle.

Harry exited Kreacher's mind as though from a dream, thoroughly sickened by Voldemort's mention of his mum. The bit with him questioning if someone suffered more when a loved one was hurt was just plain weird. Who the bloody hell doesn't understand that? Harry thought quizzically.

Draco had returned from the loo, but Harry wasn't sure whether he should let him view the memory himself or simply tell him that Snape and his father were all right. Well, strictly speaking, Malfoy Sr. wasn't all right. And it looked like he had a long night ahead of him yet. Something in Harry's expression must have given away his indecision because after a moment, Draco spoke.

"What is it Potter?" he asked a tad anxiously, pulling his robe more tightly around his body "Is Snape..."

"He's fine, actually..." Harry began uncertainly, making note that Draco seemed more worried about Snape than his father. Before he could say more, Malfoy had his wand out.

"Legillimens," Draco intoned, pointing his wand at Kreacher, and his eyes took on an unfocused look. He took about five minutes to view the full memory and Harry made note that he didn't seem overly damaged by the experience.

"Well, Snape seems fine," the blond boy drawled. "I've seen my father look better though."

Harry wanted to ask if Malfoy was okay, but didn't reckon their trust extended that far yet.

"I guess Voldemort is really furious at them for getting sent to Azkaban," Harry ventured after a bit.

"I expect Father can handle it," Malfoy opined with a shrug. "Merlin knows he's used that Knout hex on me often enough.

"Your father has used that hex on you?" Harry asked in horror.

"It usually wasn't that severe," Malfoy returned defensively. "When he used it here at school he'd cast a silencing spell on Snape's office, and it was just a six of the best sort of thing when I got poor marks or..." the blond boy clamped his mouth shut with a horrified sounding snap and donned a look of angry embarrassment. He speared Harry with a glare, as though he had somehow been tricked into revealing something so personal.

"When the hell have you ever gotten poor marks?" Harry asked in dismay, ignoring Draco's embarrassment. "You do almost as well as Hermione," he asserted.

"I believe that was Father's point as well," the blond responded haughtily. "What the hell would you know about it Potter, raised by Muggles as you were?" he sneered.

Harry thought about that. If Uncle Vernon had been a wizard, Harry was certain he would have obtained first hand knowledge of the effects of the Cruciatus before age eleven. He considered telling Malfoy this, but thought better of it.

"Well, at least Snape's alive," he said instead. "Now all we have to do is hope he can find a way to contact us." As if on cue, a tawny owl shot from the floo and came to land gracefully on Draco's bed.

"You guys have fireplaces in your dorm rooms?" Harry asked having somehow failed to notice the hearth earlier.

"How else would we get mail down here, Potter?" Malfoy sneered, as though he thought Harry was incredibly dense. "No windows, you'll note." Draco led the bird to a perch in the corner and offered it an owl treat. Unfurling the parchment, he began to read silently. After scanning it once more he looked up at Harry and began to read aloud.

Dragon,

I don't know if you heard yet, but our dads are out. Mum got an owl from mine earlier today. I'm not sure how much is safe to put in this letter or if your mail is being checked by McGonagall. Mum says you are at Hogwarts and You-Know-Who is plenty ticked. Professor Snape and your dad reckon you're being held hostage, but YKW isn't buying it. My dad has summoned me and I'm supposed to come to him on August 1st. I'm pretty sure he's going to make me take the Mark, and I don't know what the bloody hell to do. If you're not being held or anything, could you clear it with McGonagall and see if it would be all right if I came and talked to you? Even if you are being held, I'd still like to speak with you. I'm scared Dragon. I never was cut out for the shite our dads and the others get up to. Let me know, all right mate? You know I won't betray you.

Your mate,

Goyle

P.S. If that Potter git is there too, the arrogant little sod had better stay put because YKW is dead serious about getting his arse this time. If that Gryffingit knows what's good for him he'd better do some serious training as well.

"When you write him back you can tell your little friend thanks for the message" Harry said a trifle indignantly. "Gryffingit? How many of those idiotic names do you lot have for us?"

"That one's new," Draco replied.

"New is it?" Harry responded a hotly. "Well, right after you tell him you're not falling for his pathetic trap, you can tell that fat-headed Goyle to take his advice shove it up his fat..."

"The note isn't from Greg," Draco interrupted.

"What?" Harry asked his anger giving way to confusion. "Whadaya mean it's not from Goyle?

"I'm fairly sure it's from Snape," Draco continued.

"What?" Harry asked again dumbly, as he took the parchment from Malfoy's outstretched hand. He read over the note, moving his lips slightly and frowning as he went. "Why do you think it's from Snape?" he wanted to know.

"My friends don't call me Dragon," Draco explained. "The only one who ever does is Snape. He started it when I was little."

Harry shook his head even as he digested this new bit of information. "It still might be a trap," he insisted. "Others know he calls you that..."

"He rarely does these days and only it in private. No one knows..." Draco interrupted.

"Except your father, for example," Harry cut him off. "This could be a trick to get you back to Voldemort."

"My father didn't look in any shape to be hatching plans," Draco retorted.

"We only saw a fraction of what went on tonight," Harry insisted. "Kreacher," he said, as he turned back to the elf, "Did Voldemort give Lucius Malfoy any orders regarding Draco?"

"Kreacher heard nothing Master," the elf informed Harry and then intoned in a silky sotto voice. "Foul half-blood Master dares to speak his name. The Dark Lord will soon make the filthy whelp pay. Yes."

Harry had been forcing himself to ignore or laugh off Kreacher's comments up to this point, but this remark made a thrill of cold fear ripple down his spine. His thoughts turned immediately to how the treacherous little sod had lied to him about Sirius the night he was killed. He'd lied and gotten information to the opposing side like some miniature mutant Death Eater. Harry was contemplating wrapping his hands around the elf's neck and slowly increasing the pressure, when Kreacher let out a startled squeak of pain. Harry quickly determined the source when he saw Malfoy's angry expression as the blond wizard brandished his wand.

"Why don't you go bang your head against that wardrobe, and then apologize to your Master, you fetid little beast," Malfoy ordered in an enraged tone as he pointed his wand to a dark wooden wardrobe in the corner.

"Malfoy..." Harry was uncertain what he was about to say. He wanted nothing more than to bang Kreacher's head against the hard wood himself.

"Don't argue that it's fine, Potter! It is most certainly not fine," Malfoy returned. "I'll not have an elf threaten a wizard in my presence. Now, move!" Malfoy ordered again as Kreacher looked at him in disgruntled defiance. "Potter, tell your elf to obey me, or by Merlin I'll make him," Malfoy threatened

Harry really wanted to see what cleverly cruel hexes Malfoy might come up with to make the elf comply, but he tried to rein in the darkness that was threatening to overtake him.

"Do as he says, Kreacher," Harry ordered sternly.

Kreacher gave Harry a disdainful glare as he made his way to the wardrobe and banged his head half-heartedly against it.

"My apologies, Master," Kreacher said. He walked back to stand before Harry and executed a scornful bow.

Malfoy seemed to be having none of it.

"Oh, I'm sure you can do better than that," Draco opined angrily as he bounced from the bed and grabbed the elf by one floppy ear. He gave Kreacher a few solid kicks, his slipper leaving black smudge marks on the back of the crisp white tea towel. It was all too reminiscent of Lucius Malfoy and Dobby. Kreacher looked frightened as the blond wizard loomed over him and the elf began banging his head in earnest while tentatively squawking.

"Bad...Kreacher. Bad Kreacher?"

Harry felt he should tell him to stop; if it had been Dobby he would have. But he was suddenly enveloped in the same darkness that he had let himself succumb to when he was tormenting Filch while he had the man under the Petrificus his last night at Hogwarts. There was some dark portion of his mind that reveled in seeing the creepy little elf get a bit of what was coming to him. But this time Harry didn't have Hermione to tell him to stop, so he near lost himself in the mesmerizing cadence as bone hit wood again and again.There was no Hermione to tell him to stop and no Snape to caution him against it.

He shook his head trying to clear it. True, Snape wasn't here, but if he found out about this he would be furious with Harry for letting his dark thoughts rule him this way. Harry tried his best to dismiss that thought as hypocritical rubbish. After all, he had just seen an image of Snape torturing the hell out of Lucius Malfoy. He couldn't very well refuse though could he? Harry reasoned. And he might have used that particular hex to pay Lucius back for using it on Draco. It adds up with him showing him memories of Voldemort's torture sessions with Malfoy. This line of reasoning was interrupted by the memory of the of the Potions Master's rather stern admonishment that his and Harry's roles in this war were completely different. It was the ultimate do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do.

Harry tried to force himself to think of the effect the darkness must be having on his magical receptors. He watched in satisfaction as a shiny dark green knot began to form on Kreacher's head, and he heard Malfoy order the elf to begin slapping his ears back as well. Harry tried to say it was enough, but the dark pleasure had taken hold, and it was immensely satisfying to see the putrid little traitor slap himself silly between bangs of his large head. Harry admired Kreacher's coordination as he drank in the little whimpers the elf had begun to emit. Taking a deep breath and shaking himself again, Harry tried to employ the Occlumency technique Snape had taught him earlier. But he hated Kreacher's guts and couldn't come up with a positive image to overlay the negative one with. He tried to focus on the elf's loyalty to his mistress, much as Snape had done with Sirius' loyalty to Lupin. However, it didn't work because from Harry's experience with her portrait, the Black family matriarch had been a strident old cow and Kreacher comparing her to that bitch Bellatrix only reinforced that image.

Harry watched as the elf viciously slapped his own ears. His Bad Kreacher sounded terribly contrite now. It isn't like the little sod doesn't deserve it; I just wish I wasn't enjoying it so much, Harry thought. The boy shocked himself by emitting a choked laugh as the huge green ears took on a pinkish tinge as they flew back and forth with the force of the slaps. Harry determined that he had better practice his Occlumency diligently before he next saw Snape, because the man would most likely be livid if he ever found out about his delight in a scene such as this.

However, when Harry gave it some thought, he realized things had grown more complicated than that. On the surface he might be worried about Snape's wrath, but if he dug just a bit deeper, Harry knew he was much more concerned that he might disappoint the man. The thought was extraordinarily confusing, and a bit embarassing as well, that he should be concerned about disappointing Snape. The caustic blaze of Snape's most scathing lecture suddenly paled under the realization that the Potions Master might now expect better of him.

Finally, it was thinking of Snape that allowed Harry to push away the dark emotions. Feeling a bit soft doing so, Harry forced himself to think of the almost affectionate way the man had bid him good night when Harry had written I am a servant of the light, I am a child of the light, I am light. He stopped thinking about how much trouble he would be in if the older wizard found out about his cruelty. Instead he concentrated on the gentle concern he had shown Harry after the nightmare and even the angry insistence when he ordered him to the Burrow. Harry focused on how proud the man had seemed when Harry had been successful with the Occlumency technique. Even Dumbledore had said Snape had been pleased. Harry cast his memory back to the warm steady hand on his shoulder and the sternly uttered well done when they had finished the lesson. He let himself be bathed in the feeling of it as he overlaid these images above his anger for Kreacher.

"That will do Kreacher," Harry was finally able to tell the elf, his voice sounding almost kind. It was as though he could finally draw breath after far too long in dark murky waters. The elf gave one furtive look at Malfoy before approaching Harry. His eyes were wide like Dobby's, instead of their usual, suspicious squint.

"Kreacher is sorry, Master," the elf said his voice catching slightly as he sniffled wetly.

"That's fine, Kreacher," Harry said still sounding kind "However, you are to watch how you speak from here on," he instructed.

The elf nodded its head adamantly, its pinkish green ears flapping back and forth.

"Good," Harry said in a level tone, though he failed to believe the elf had a change of heart. Harry realized suddenly he might have taken a chance sending Kreacher to Voldemort's lair. He probably should have cleared sending him instead of Dobby with the Headmaster. Yet another thing to worry about getting told off for later. Harry's musings were interrupted by a the arrival of Dobby giving everyone a mighty start. It was as though Harry's thoughts had summoned the little creature.

"Disgusting free elf," Kreacher spat, his usual rancor returning as he gave Dobby a haughty glare.

Dobby gave him quite a disapproving look in return.

"Master Harry Potter, sir," he greeted Harry happily. "It is safe to speak?" Dobby asked, eying Kreacher and Malfoy distrustfully.

"Go, Kreacher," Harry told the elf.

Kreacher departed with his usual sotto voice commentary, but the only discernible words were a repetition of poor Kreacher amid wet sniffles.

"What have you heard, Dobby?" Harry said, nearly as anxious as the elf.

"Are you being sure, Master Harry sir?" Dobby said, giving Draco a look that clearly spoke of distrust. "What about naughty ex-Master Draco?"

"Yeah, he's fine, Dobby," Harry told him. "Go ahead."

Dobby looked doubtful.

"Him is not a very nice wizard, Master Harry sir," the squeaked plaintively.

"How many house elves do you own these days, Potter?" Draco sneered. "Shall I teach this one some manners as well?" he said pulling out his wand.

"No," Harry said quickly. "I'll handle Dobby."

"You're sure, Potter," Malfoy asked fingering his wand. "Dobby and I go way back."

"Bugger off, Malfoy! You've had your fun," Harry said hotly and was immediately ashamed. It was he who enjoyed Kreacher's suffering much more than he should have.

"I'll have a say as to how I'm spoken to by elves in my own dorm room," Malfoy returned haughtily. "I'll have a say about how I'm spoken to by wizards as well."

"Well I don't need to stay in your bloody dorm room do I?" Harry responded angrily. "It's a big dungeon. I could move across the hall have a dorm room to myself."

"You can move across the common room to the girls for that matter, Potter," Malfoy told him disinterestedly. "Have a whole dorm wing to yourself."

"I believe I will," Harry agreed tossing what few items he had unpacked back in his knapsack. "It tops staying here with someone who gets off on torturing house elves," Harry asserted in a disgusted tone. It was painfully more self-disgust than he was comfortable with.

"Fine," Malfoy responded

"Good," Harry returned, and got to his feet. After a brief pause he turned to Dobby. "What do you have to report, Dobby?"

"If you are being sure Master Harry, sir?" the elf said.

"Reasonably," Harry admitted and shrugged his shoulders with an in-for-a-penny-in-for-a-pound expression. It occurred to him he hadn't cleared with the Headmaster that he was sharing all this information with Malfoy either. Harry wondered how much of this he might be called on the carpet for later. "Go ahead, Dobby,"

Unlike Kreacher's report, Dobby's was full of useful information. It confirmed Malfoy's suspicion that the owl he had received was indeed from Snape. The Potions Master had gone to the brewing lab on the pretext of improving upon the quick-brew Polyjuice potion they kept in store. He assured Voldemort he wished to make his impersonation of Goyle as convincing as possible, and had recently been pondering some improvements that could be made to the formula. Once he set up his cauldrons, he cast wards and silencing charms and summoned Dobby. He informed the elf that he had been ordered to impersonate Goyle and attempt to lure Potter and Malfoy to the Apparition boundary near Hogwarts so they could be captured. The capture was to take place on July 31st, Harry's birthday.

Dobby wrung his hands nervously as he delivered the news, while Draco fingered his wand as though daring the little creature to put a toe out of line. Harry, for his part, tried to placate then both.

"So far so good, Dobby. The letter proves Snape wanted Malfoy included," Harry told the elf. "You were dead to rights about that letter," Harry said to the blond wizard. "We'll inform McGonagall before we draft a response." Draco donned a look that Harry thought meant he knew he was being patronized, and Harry gave him an embarrassed little shrug.

Snape was to come a few days before Harry's birthday, disguised as Goyle, Dobby reported. And through Draco, he was to encourage a gathering for Harry's coming of age, if such an event was not already planned. In the natural diversion that would be brought on by the gathering, Snape was to inspire the boys to mischief as only befitting a wizard reaching the age of independence. He was to lure both boys away from their keepers and into the waiting arms of Death Eaters at the Apparition barrier. Snape had instructed Dobby to go to Harry and inform him, and make sure the coded message he sent Malfoy was understood. Snape especially wanted to make certain Harry was clear on the bit about remaining at Hogwarts for the present and continuing with his training. Harry thought back to the wording of the postscript. It said if Harry knew what was good for him, he'd do some serious training. That did sound like Snape, now Harry thought of it.

"Well that's it then," Harry said repositioning his knapsack on his shoulder and preparing to go. "We'll finish getting things sorted in the morning."

"Which is a few hours from now," Malfoy pointed out as he rolled over to punch his pillow into a more comfortable lump. "Be sure to take your elf with you so I won't be tempted to hex him," he threatened without rancor. "The first thing I want hear about is this training. We may as well do it together as you were supposed to teach me the spells you learned to pass on to the Slytherins. This will put us ahead of the game when the school year starts."

"Makes sense," Harry said, one side of his mouth quirking upward. "But you have to be sure to be respectful of our instructor."

"Who's our instructor?" Malfoy asked quizzically .

"You just ordered him from your room and threatened to hex him," Harry informed him.

Draco sat up straight.

"A house elf? You're being trained by a house elf?" he asked incredulously.

"Was that arachnid charm or was it not the coolest thing you have ever seen?" Harry asked with a smile.

"You can teach us that?" Malfoy asked Dobby, his mouth slightly agape.

Dobby looked from one wizard to the other.

"Arachnid charm? Oh yes, indeed. Dobby can teach. Tomorrow, Master Harry?"

Harry raised a challenging eyebrow at the boy, and an uncharacteristic grin split Malfoy's pale visage.

"See you in the morning," Draco said, still grinning faintly as he prepared to roll over again.

"Do I need a spell to get into the girls dorm or anything?" Harry asked as he made his way to the door.

"You only need to be invited in by a girl," the blond Slytherin told him. "But since none are here you just walk in."

As it turned out there was a girl in the dorm, and she was sitting on the couch in the hallway crying.

The outer door was locked when Harry tried it, but it was spelled open easily with an Alohomora. There was an invisible barrier that kept him from walking across the threshold, but he could see the bright hair and tear stained face from where he stood.

"You all right, Tonks?" Harry asked tentatively from the open door.

He had only meant to comfort her, but the night quickly produced several kisses that were slightly more than chaste. Soon it was she who needed to comfort him. It was tragic really, given one of his boyhood dreams was on the verge of coming true.

"It's all right, Harry," she said, running a hand over his messy raven head and pulling it to her breast. "It happens to lads your age. Especially on their first go."

With and audible groan, Harry attempted to pull away from her.

"Hush. It's okay," she said comfortingly, and held him fast as she cast a quick cleaning charm. "But perhaps it is a sign we shouldn't be doing this."

"It might be a sign we should have done it faster," Harry quipped, his voice muffled from its place between her breasts. "But I'd hate for you to regret anything, Tonks," he told her soberly, voice still muffled.

"Would you regret it Harry?" she asked, pulling up his chin to look him in the eye.

"You've got be joking?" he asked, his face still red, but a slight grin playing at the edge of his mouth. "I dunno... but I guess we shouldn't...right? We shouldn't?" He asked, almost pleading with her to disagree.

"Right..." Tonks said with a sigh. "We shouldn't."

Harry sighed as well. In the end, he settled for holding her, or her holding him. Those breasts were mighty comfortable, so long as he reminded himself every so often to behave. Mostly they talked about Remus.

The morning somehow found them in a fit of giggles, as Harry rushed to get dressed before they were found out. Although nothing had really happened they were fairly certain their story might be a hard sell.

-888-

Draco Malfoy had hardly slept a wink as his mind ran excitedly over the possibilities of the arachnid charm. He had never known wizards could learn magic from house elves. Of course he knew they were powerful, but he wasn't aware they knew such spells. Draco hoped they could learn the cloaking charm as well, the charm Kreacher hadn't been able to manage. Both charms could prove invaluable in battle. Draco made his way across the common room to the girls dorm intent on asking Potter just how soon they could begin.

When he approached the door, he was puzzled to find it locked and even more surprised to hear the sound of laughter from within. Slightly more shocking still was the fact that one of the voices was distinctly female.

Malfoy's musings over what to make of this discovery were interrupted by Remus Lupin entering through the common room door.

"Ah, good morning Mr. Malfoy. I don't suppose you've seen Ms. Tonks this morning," he asked amiably.

"Tonks...Nymphadora?" Malfoy asked dumbly. "Ah, no sir."

"Hmm," Remus intoned running a hand through his graying brown hair. "Is Harry about then? Breakfast is in the Great Hall today. I could walk down with him when he's ready."

"I'm not sure where Potter is, sir," Draco responded more loudly than there was need. It did nothing to drown out the sound of giggles that emitted from the girls dormitory.

"What's going on here, Mr. Malfoy? Lupin asked sternly as he finally caught the sound. He approached the girls dorm and gave the locked door a tug.

"Please, sir," Malfoy said, putting himself between Lupin and the door, "I wouldn't go in there if I were you."

"Alohomora," Lupin commanded, shifting Draco to one side.

It was Potter who responded first as Lupin bounced against the barrier looking almost feral.

"Remus take it easy! It's not what you think," Potter said standing up as he did up the zipper on his jeans. Draco noticed he said it with the kind of desperation one might have when confronted with an angry manticore.

"How would you know what I think, blast you!" Lupin bellowed. "You get yourself out here young man and I'll show you what I think," the werewolf said as he bounced of the barrier yet again.

"Remus, for goodness sake calm down and come in, " Tonks said in what sounded like an exasperated tone. "You're making an arse of yourself."

Lupin rushed forth and rounded on Potter. Malfoy made note that the younger wizard tried not to flinch.

"Remus, if you'd just calm down for a minute... nothing happened really," Potter said patting the air in front of him.

"Don't you dare tell me to calm down, Harry Potter! And don't insult my intelligence by lying. I wouldn't have believed it of you, Tonks. Of either of you. He's just a child," Lupin said turning toward Tonks. "I'm disappointed, frankly," he said, looking overly so.

"Get out!" Tonks screamed, and Lupin was swept from his feet and out into the common room where he landed with a loud thud. Malfoy suppressed a grin at the look on Potter's face as he discovered what happened when a male was uninvited from the Slytherin girl's dormitory.

Tonks gathered herself up and quickly made her way out of the dorm and to the common room. "You're pathetic!" She shot over her shoulder at Lupin before making her way through the door. "You're too bloody scared to admit you love me, yet you couldn't stand the thought of me with someone else." The portrait closed behind her with a bang.

"Well," Lupin glared at Potter while scrambling to his feet. "What have you got to say for yourself?"

"Only that I'm not a child," Potter said mildly. "I wasn't a child all those years living with the Dursleys. And I certainly haven't been a child all these years at school battling and being possessed by Voldemort."

Malfoy suppressed a gasp. Possessed by Volde...?

"You aren't of age, Harry," Lupin said in a stern scolding tone. "And there are definite rules about underage wizards and full grown witches. Now I know you've always had a crush on Tonks. It's been plain for anyone who knows you to see..."

"I'm as good as of age!" Potter retorted getting angry now. "And what business is it of yours anyway? You broke up with Tonks. You hurt her, Remus," Potter said stridently. "She's is only twenty three. As far as I'm concerned you're too old for her."

Draco didn't even see the hex coming. The well aimed lasso hex pulled Potter from the common room and up through the castle towards McGonagall's office.

"As good as are you?" Lupin taunted angrily as he towed a struggling Potter behind. "By my reckoning you're still a week and a half away from the age of independence. And you are still a student at this school. We we'll see what the Headmistress has to say about your inappropriate behavior."

"Actually I'm not a student here anymore. Not to mention it's summer time, you ruddy git!" Potter roared, causing Lupin to cast a Silencio. Malfoy followed the pair through the empty halls. There was a time he would have paid a sack of Galleons to see Potter in a jam like this. Now here he was watching the show for free.

Lupin removed both hexes when they entered McGonagall's office.

"Well," he prompted Potter. "What do you have to say to the Headmistress?"

"Frankly, Remus, I don't see that this concerns the Headmistress. No offense ma'am," Potter said to McGonagall, who inclined her head and raised a questioning eyebrow. "If anything it's your own personal business and I shouldn't think you'd want it aired publicly."

"Privacy be damned, Harry," Lupin said angrily. "You and Tonks crossed the line and I won't sit still for it," Lupin crossed his arms as though he would wait all day if necessary.

"Harry," McGonagall prompted.

"At about four this morning Draco and I decided the dungeon was plenty big enough for us to each have our own wing, so I decided to bunk over in the girls," Potter began. "When I got there I found Tonks upset over a converstion she had with Remus. I stayed with her for the next few hours and comforted her."

"I see," McGonagall said tentatively. "Was there anything else?" She asked looking from Potter to Lupin.

"No, I think that about covers it," Potter said casually.

"That most certainly does not cover it," Lupin said waspishly. "You were putting on your trousers when I arrived. Do you think I'm a fool?"

"Yes," Potter said plainly.

"Harry!" McGonagall scolded.

"He asked, ma'am," Potter shrugged. "Personally I agree with Tonks too. He's a bit pathetic and afraid to admit he loves her. Doesn't deserve her if you ask me..."

"You were putting on your trousers!" Lupin repeated stridently.

"It was four in the morning! When I came in I was in my pajamas, wasn't I?" Harry returned with equal force. "And I didn't know Tonks was in there, did I? I just stayed on the couch in the hall with her. Mostly we talked about what a prat you are."

"I see," McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. "Was there something more?"

"Yes ma'am," Potter said after a few moments thought. "May I have an age of independence celebration?"

Malfoy used McGonagall's agreement and Lupin's storming from the office as and opening to broach the topic of Snape's letter.

"So you just comforted her?" Malfoy asked as he and Potter made their way down to breakfast.

"For the most part," Harry acknowledged, as they walked through the doors of the Great Hall.

I hope you enjoyed it; please don't forget to review.

Chapter 28

The Age of Independence II

It was Lupin's lasso hex from earlier that made Harry think it might work with the web. Dobby had spent all morning showing he and Draco how to turn themselves into spiders and now they were working on throwing webs. Harry noticed that if you arched slightly as you cast the strong silky substance, you could wrap it around something. He couldn't resist trying it on the ankle of an unsuspecting Filch as the caretaker passed their way.