Ch. 14: You Will Do As You're Told, Potter.

As bright rays of afternoon sunlight slid across the wall of the bedroom Harry and Draco shared, Harry found himself completely alone. Unlike the morning before, Harry didn't hear the sound of the shower running or singing.

Harry quickly climbed out of bed and pulled on a shirt, grabbing his wand, despite the fact that it could help Lucius pinpoint their location.

A sort of dread settled in the pit of his stomach. Draco's cane was still leaning against the wall where he had put it the night before.

He couldn't help but worry that the Death Eaters had somehow found a way into the house and taken Draco. He sped out of the room and called, "Draco?"

He was met with silence. Harry's breath began to come in a more rapid pace, trying to keep up with his heart. "Draco? Remus?"

He started to jog down the stairs and looked around wildly. "Where are you?" He said in a slightly desperate tone, peeking his head into the kitchen.

A search of the kitchen only turned up a note Hermione had left explaining she had taken the day to purchase items for Harry's party. There was no information about where Draco and Remus might be.

Harry backtracked into the living room, a garden of scenarios coursing through his brain. What if they had been gone for some time and he had slept through it? What if they were still in the house somewhere, possibly being tortured, they could be dead, and he was just standing there in the middle of the living room.

He yelled, "Draco!" one last time and tightened his grip on his wand, preparing himself to search the lot of Grimmauld Place.

"Harry? Is that you?"

The Gryffindor almost collapsed from relief. He looked outside to see Remus, Draco, and Snape sitting on the concrete bench in the back garden. Snape had an arm around Draco's shoulder and the blonde seemed to be trying to stop crying or trying to keep from doing so.

Harry took a deep breath and pushed the glass door to the back garden open. Remus stood up from his seat beside Draco and allowed Harry to sit.

"You look like you had a nice jog around the street Harry," Remus said with a tense chuckle.

Harry smiled and looked over to Draco and said, "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

Severus narrowed his eyes at Harry, and then whispered to Draco, "Do you want to get Potter involved?"

"I'm already involved," Harry said forcefully but Snape ignored him.

When Draco nodded the Potions Master said, "Do you want me to tell him?"

Draco laid his hands in his lap and nodded again.

Snape stood and smoothed his robes. He cleared his throat and toned, "Last night the Dark Lord called a meeting to discuss the whereabouts and the pending capture of one Draco Malfoy. They decided to position teams at the entrance of Platform 9 ¾, on the platform itself, Hogsmeade, as well as having me on the inside of the school."

He took this time to cross his arms over his chest, pointedly avoiding looking at the teens seated in front of him.

"I spoke with Dumbledore and we came to the conclusion that the best way for Mr. Malfoy to continue his education and remain safe from both his father and Lord Voldemort is for him not to return to Hogwarts but instead have a few select professors come here and teach him."

Remus added, "I have volunteered to teach the subjects I am certified to teach, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and Astronomy. Severus can teach Potions, Ancient Runes, and History of Magic. We'll just have to talk with his other professors and see what we can work out. I'm sure it will be fine."

Harry looked over to Draco, who had an expressionless look not only in his eyes, but also all over his face. Harry turned his eyes back to Severus and said, "There's nothing Dumbledore can do to protect him? Voldemort's been after me since first year and they always seemed to find a way to keep me safe."

"These are completely different circumstances Mr. Potter, and I applaud your ability to turn any conversation to you," Snape snarled.

"Severus," Remus said with a sigh, "There is no reason to bite Harry's head off."

Severus crossed let his arms drop to his side and muttered something akin to 'sorry'.

Harry looked at Remus with a gratuitous smile on his face but steeled himself against Snape and said, "I'll stay with him, of course."

"I'm afraid not Mr. Potter," Severus said in a flat tone. "It would only attract more attention. We must give the illusion that everything is as normal as possible."

"I'm not going to leave him alone in this house, no matter what you say," Harry said forcefully. "It's not fair for him to be punished for something his father did."

Severus narrowed his eyes and said, "You will do what you are told, Potter."

"We can see if we can find a way you can come and visit whenever you want," Remus added helpfully. "We just want to find a way that is safe for you and Draco both."

Harry shook his head and said, "This isn't fair. Why can't we just kill them all and let Draco do whatever the hell he wants? Was his feelings even brought into consideration?"

"Of course they were. I think you're more upset about us not factoring in your feelings," Severus hissed. "Just because Dumbledore asked you to help Draco in a time of need, doesn't mean you are his official spokesman. This has nothing to do with you Potter. You just happen to be here. Draco can speak for himself."

"Then why don't you bloody let me?" Draco said softly. "Severus, stop being such a git to Harry, he only wants to help."

Draco shifted his blank gaze to the side, suddenly feeling cold in his silken pants and robe. "Harry, it will be fine. I was scared to go back anyway. I guess it's better this way. As long, as you don't abandon me or forget about me or anything. I need someone to fight with."

"Okay," Harry said softly, "As long as you're all right with it."

"I am."

Severus tucked a solitary hand in the pocket of his robes. "Excellent. Now, I have a couple of potions that should give me an idea about what kind of potion to make more of. Draco, if you would come with me…"

"I'll take him," Harry interrupted.

Severus started to protest but Remus made a warning noise. The Potions Master sighed. "Very well. There are four phials sitting on the counter in the kitchen. Give him one, wait five minutes, and write down what happens, if anything happens at all. I assume you can do that?"

"Of course," Harry said crossly and grabbed Draco's hand. "Let's go," Harry whispered to the blonde and they rose and left.

"Potter infuriates me," Severus snarled and plopped down next to Remus in a manner not very common to the professor.

"I'm sure he would say the same of you," Remus said with a smirk.

Severus rolled his eyes. "You aren't helping."

"Wasn't trying to."

Snape looked over to the werewolf. "You seem…" he paused, narrowing his eyes in thought. "I don't know, different, I suppose."

Remus lowered his head and said, "Yeah, I… I have something to tell you."

"Don't. Anyway, I think I have a pretty good inclination," Severus said firmly. "Would what you are going to tell me explain why you are now extremely nervous around me?"

Remus sighed. "Yeah."

"Are you a woman?"

"No. That's absurd."

Severus shrugged. "I'm just trying to narrow the field down a bit. Alright, would it explain why you are suddenly extremely desirable, or more desirable than normal?"

"I suppose."

"Will it also explain why my stomach feels like it has wings when I see you?" Severus said with a trace of bitterness.

Remus bit his lip. "More than likely."

"I knew it," Severus said with resolution in his voice. "You've drugged me. You're trying to make me your slave or something."

"I didn't bloody drug you, You're…"

"I'm your mate, aren't I?" Severus said softly.

The werewolf closed his eyes and said, "Yeah."

Severus drew his bottom lip between his teeth but didn't say anything. Remus opened his eyes and when he saw Severus' face he hastily added, "You… you don't have to like me or be with me or anything if you don't want to. I… I didn't mean to pick you, it just… happened. I'm sorry."

"You're not sorry, don't ever be sorry," the Potions Master said very softly.

Remus felt an unwelcome blush rise on his cheeks. He clasped his hands together in his lap, trying to calm himself down. The near-intoxicating scent of the man next to him was making him feel hot and dizzy.

Snape looked over to the werewolf with a raised eyebrow. "Does this mean that I will have to spend more time with Potter?"

Remus opened his mouth, and then closed it again. "I… I suppose."

Severus rubbed his temples and grumbled, "Wonderful."

Remus looked up at the Potions master and said, "You're actually considering this?"

Severus shrugged. "I see no point in denying you of something that both of us want."

"You, you mean…"

"Has Potter's thickness rubbed off on you?" Severus said in an exasperated tone. "You know exactly what I mean. I've liked you since I first saw you. Why else would I have agreed to help with your Wolfsbane potion and promise not to tell a soul about your condition?"

"You told the entire Slytherin house about my lycanthropy," Remus said in a deadpan.

"That was an accident."

Remus couldn't help it. He laughed. This was a side of Severus that he had never seen, and he wasn't sure if any had actually seen it. This wasn't a snarky, vindictive bastard; this was a funny, interesting man. Never had the man sitting next to him seemed so appealing, with his black eyes sparkling pleasantly and a sincere smile on his face.

Severus looked over at Remus and decided in an instant to lean over and kiss the werewolf.

To neither of their surprise, the kiss was answered by equal, if not more, fervour.

"Ow!"

"What?"

"You bit me. I don't think it drew blood, though. But Ow."

"Sorry. I… I just… Sorry?"

"Shut up Lupin, I didn't say I didn't like it."

"…Oh…"

Thanks to brionyjae for the beta!