A Place to Call Home

The Talk

Disclaimer: On the new book that just came out, did anyone see my name anywhere on it…no didn't think so.

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, I'm really surprised at the positive response I've got for this story. I hope this one is up to everyone's standards. Also, I'd like to take this chance and plug my newest fic, The Founders. It's an AU, but I really like the way it's turning out. I'd love if I could get some more criticism and comments on it. Finally, if there are any questions, comments, or criticisms: please review!

Summary: (AU) A vampiric Draco who finds himself with a new blood donor in Harry Potter must now face the challenges of Hogwarts anew and this time he has more than just himself to worry about. DMHP.

Harry turned to face his friends with something like trepidation. They had snuck back into Hogwarts and were now huddled around the Slytherin common room fire. He would have to tell them everything now; there wasn't any other choice.

"Guys," Harry's dry, tired voice snapped both Ron and Hermione to attention. "I guess I should tell you what's going on. And…I…I really should have told you guys from the beginning but I was…I don't know, scared I think."

"Of what Harry?" Ron asked, wrapping his arm around Harry's shoulders.

Harry shrugged and decided to start from the beginning. "Snape's a vampire." he said bluntly.

"What!" Ron and Hermione's combined shrieks made Harry start backwards.

"How can Snape be a vampire?" Hermione questioned hotly, "Dumbledore would never let-"

Harry shot her a pointed look and she subsided. "I don't know why he's here." he began slowly. "But Dumbledore knows and Snape…he saw us…you know, doing it."

"Snape saw you two…together?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded. "And he said that he wouldn't tell the school if I became his blood donor and-" Harry cut himself off and pulled down his collar showing his two friends the slightly higher bite marks above his jugular.

"That's why you're so tired." Ron suddenly said. Then frowning, he pushed Harry onto a couch and wrapped a blanket around him ignoring Harry's protests. "Stop that Harry. You obviously haven't been taking care of yourself. If you're giving blood to two then you have to sleep more and not exercise as much. You're lucky you haven't fainted yet!"

"And don't you worry Harry," Hermione added, "We'll find some way out of this. Snape's not going to get away with this!"

Harry looked at his friends and smiled, a heavy weight lifting from his stomach like a bird in flight. "Thanks guys." He suddenly stood and pulled Hermione and Ron into hard hug. "Thanks so much."

Ron awkwardly patted him on the back and exchanged sharp glances with Hermione over Harry's shaking shoulders. "Harry," he murmured, "Harry, it's okay. It's all okay. We'll help. We promise."

Hermione lightly touched the small of his back. "Just ask. Anything you need. It'll be there; we'll be there, but I think you to go to bed now. You're…" upset "tired and you need your rest."

"I can't-" Harry paused, stopping himself from what he was going to say. "I mean, yeah. Sure." Harry kissed Hermione lightly on the cheek and hugged Ron again before ambling towards the stairs.

"I'm come up and spend the night in your dorm, alright mate?" Ron called after Harry.

Harry smiled at him and continued up the stairs. He seemed to be in a daze.

As he left the room, Ron and Hermione sat down on the couches, staring at each other. It was Hermione who broke the silence. "Do you think that that's it?"

"That's it?" Ron asked incredulously, "That's a lot, Hermione! Poor Harry. He's been dealing with so much and we…we…" Ron stuttered, flailing a bit, "I just don't understand why he didn't tell us." Ron whispered.

"I don't think he could, Ron." Hermione sighed. "It would have been hard for him. I think that sometimes he feels like he has to protect us and then, he probably thinks it's shameful- being used like this…almost like a travesty of what he and Draco have."

"Oh yeah, Draco." Ron drew out the vampire's name like a curse word. "Why isn't he here? Why isn't he helping Harry? Harry's a bloody mess and Draco's off somewhere else. He should be here." Ron picked up a pillow and threw it across the room.

"Ron-"

"NO!" Ron jumped up and kicked the couch, "He isn't allowed to do this. That- that arse! I-" Ron's face crumpled and he sat back next to Hermione, voice hitching. "I always knew that one day Harry was going to go somewhere where I wouldn't be able to take care of him. That's why I put up with Draco following us everywhere, always butting into everything. He's supposed to. Be. HERE!"

Hermione calmly put a hand on Ron's shaking shoulder. "He's not though. We are. You are. Maybe you were wrong about not being able to always follow him, Ron. I mean, you're the only one here that can."

"I guess-"

"No, you have to be sure, because Harry needs you. He really, really needs you." Hermione insisted.

"Okay, okay, jeez…stop putting so much pressure on me." Ron exclaimed, giving her a light shove and a watery smile.

Hermione laughed. "Let's talk later. You need to go make sure Harry's okay. He's been through a lot tonight and we never even found out why he was in the Forbidden Forest to begin with."

"Right. I'll meet you in the Great Hall at the Ravenclaw table tomorrow morning before Harry wakes up. See you then." Ron got up, making sure to wipe his eyes hurriedly and walked up the stairs to Harry's dormitory.

Hermione, however, stayed in the Slytherin common room looking around. She walked over to a corner farthest away from the fire. There was an old wooden desk in the dark alcove and as Hermione absentmindedly stacked some of books that were lying haphazardly around the desk into a neat pile, she recognized them. Looking closer, she realized that they were hers. At least, some of them were; the others must have been Harry's since he was the only one Hermione would ever lend her books out to.

This was Harry's desk.

Feeling vaguely guilty, Hermione shifted through the various parchment littered on the desk. Some of it was class work, scraps and bits of essays or notes, but the rest was pieces of esoteric writings. Rolling her eyes, Hermione put the papers down and stepped away the desk. Harry was such a slob. He couldn't even be bothered to write down his notes properly. She'd have to scold him later.

Smiling, Hermione turned to leave the room, when her eyes caught sight of a piece of paper hanging out of one of Harry's books. Frowning, she stepped forward to put it back properly, shaking her head at the untidiness of boys. But then she read the top of the parchment and her world flipped upside down.

Upstairs, shifting in an uncomfortable sleep, Harry clutched some mistletoe, snatched from a doorway on the way to his dormitory, tight to his chest as if to ward off nightmares.

It didn't work.

To Be Continued…