Broken and Bound

Chapter 4

I don't own Harry Potter. I don't want to own Harry Potter either. Now Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) I wouldn't mind owning him, but sadly I don't own him either. I do however own other soon to be known Characters. I also own the plot of the story. I adopted this fic from SpikesWoman77, and I hope to do her some justice. I posted this fic on my web groups. If you would like to check out the groups go to my profile. Summary—This is an abused Harry bonds with Snape fic. Harry is kidnapped by Death Eaters, tortured and raped. Severus happens upon him and alerts the Order. Harry is brought back to headquarters where he has to face what he's gone through while dealing with the death of Sirius. Dumbledore is his usual meddling self and finds a way to "help" his two most important "friends". Features a slightly OOC Snape and dark Lupin. This will be HP-SS slash. I hope it's original enough for you all and I hope you enjoy. And don't forget to review!

Warning—this chapter contains mentions of Rape and Torture though I will not be describing much of it. Be warned! I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. I would also like to suggest if you like Flaming then light a match. No one is perfect so please be nice constructive criticism is one thing but to be rude is not.

Thanks,
Serena (Rena)

Snape stepped gracefully out of the grate and brushed the soot off his robes in an irritated fashion. He looked around the comfortable lounge and found Draco curled up in the corner of one of the couches reading. Or it looked like he was reading.

To the trained spy, however, it was clear that the silver orbs were not actually moving over the words. The teen was clearly lost in thought. If he knew Snape was there, he gave no sign.

"We have to leave Draco," Severus said softly, sitting near the teen.

Draco shifted his position and let the book drop to the floor. Snape winced at Draco's carelessness with his tomes but he didn't chastise the teen. "Where're we going?" Draco asked in a hollow sort of voice. "Has my father gotten out?"

"No," Snape said softly but firmly. "As of right now, I do not know what has become of your mother and father."

"Do the Aurors know I'm here then?"

"Draco, there are some Aurors who know full well the extent you participated in Potter's torture," he said carefully but honestly. "And you are not to be charged."

Draco looked up at him for the first time, his eyebrow raised. "Indeed? I'm not to be charged with harming their precious golden boy?" He spoke the words as he had done many times before, only this time, they were laced with regret and bitterness.

Severus sighed and shook his head. "We all do stupid things to survive, Draco. I've done much worse than you have. And…I've spoken to Harry about you."

Draco's breath hitched a little but that was the only outward sign of emotion he allowed himself to have. "Oh?" was all he said.

"He…he wanted to make sure you were okay." Severus was unsure what affect the words would have on the teen, but he had to make Draco comfortable enough to stay at Grimauld Place for an extended period of time. Dumbledore may have said Molly was available in two days but Severus could see the old man was just manipulating him.

Draco wrapped his arms around his body and sighed softly. "Is he…er..."

"The bloody werewolf caused far more damage than you did Draco," Severus spat. He told Draco the muted version of what Harry had gone through and what Lupin had done.

"I don't see how that's worse," Draco said wryly.

"It was worse Draco," Severus said, slightly annoyed, "because Lupin was Harry's second godfather. Not officially, but he was just as close to the Potters. That is…until they suspected him of being the spy. But they would have forgiven him and Harry knows that. Harry wanted love and respect from the one remaining link to his family…and he was denied that."

Draco nodded, understanding exactly what Severus meant. Most of his life, all he'd ever wanted from his father was love and respect. It was very rare that the teen ever received it. "Severus," he said softly after a moment. "Why did you bring that up? Why do we have to leave?"

"Lupin was the only one who could take care of Potter…and now he's gone. Dumbledore has asked me to stay with him until the start of term. Well…for two days but I know the old coot will stretch it until the start of term."

Draco shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know if that's the best idea Severus. I mean…Harry…if he sees me…" he trailed off with a shrug.

"I have complete faith the two of you can survive under the same roof for one month."

Draco sighed. "Could I come back here if it becomes too much?"

Severus nodded but he didn't mean it. "There are other things you must know and I must tell you quickly." He waited for Draco to give a sign he was listening. The blonde nodded after a moment so he continued. "The place we are going is the old Black estate in London. That is the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix."

"The resistance Dumbledore is leading to fight the Dark Lord." Draco said simply. Lucius must have told him about it.

Severus nodded. "I know the Order wont be happy I've told you this even though you clearly know…but for now it would be best to play ignorant. I doubt they will be holding meetings there for the rest of the summer and if they do, they wont be important. They won't risk letting out information with you in the area."

Draco snorted. "Yes well, that's no surprise to me. What about Granger and the Weasel? Are they there?"

Severus shook his head. "No and I do not think they will be. Now, we should be going so pack your things quickly."

Draco moved from the couch and disappeared. Severus heaved a great sigh, heavily irritated with the situation and wanting more than anything to retire with a nice big bottle of fire whiskey and a long novel. But that wasn't to be. No, he was to be counselling two traumatized teens…and that was to be added onto his duties as a spy.

Draco returned shortly with his small amount of belongings. He had his school trunk delivered earlier that week, but nothing else. He'd settled for wearing some of Severus' robes, as they were now nearly the same height though Draco was of a slimmer build.

"Ready," Draco said heaving his trunk to the floor.

Severus pointed his wand at it and shrunk it. He slipped it into his pocket and motioned for Draco to go first. "Number 12 Grimauld Place," he instructed the teen.

Draco nodded and in a flash of green flame, he was gone. Severus stepped into the fire and followed suit.

8888

Dumbledore went to check on Harry about an hour after Severus was gone. The teen was just waking though he was still quite groggy. The Headmaster walked into the room as the raven-haired teen rubbed his eyes and reached for a glass of water on the nightstand.

"Can I get you anything Harry," Dumbledore asked softly.

Harry looked up at him, mildly surprised to see him there. "No thank you sir. Er…I didn't realize you would be the one to look after me."

Dumbledore chuckled as he took a seat in the chair near Harry's bed. "I'm not. Professor Snape has that happy privilege."

"I bet he's ecstatic," Harry joked.

"He doesn't mind. But I have to let you know that he will be bringing Mr. Malfoy with him. Are you prepared to handle that Harry?"

Harry swallowed and nodded. "I…I understand why Draco did what he did, sir. He did it to stay alive."

Dumbledore looked at the teen with a strange expression. "You think that's an excuse for what he did to you?" There was no heat in his voice, only curiosity.

Harry shrugged. "We do things we don't like when we have to," Harry stated. "Professor Snape does things that…well that I wouldn't even like to think about in the service of Voldemort. He does it because he has to, and he pretends to like it. Draco didn't do anything different, only it was to protect himself from his father."

Dumbledore ran his hand over his beard. "You're mature beyond your years Harry. I wish you didn't have to be but in times such as these, I am grateful for it."

Harry gave a small smile. "Thank you sir."

"I'd like to speak with you about the start of term Harry," he said after a moment of silence. "I have considered making you a prefect…"

"No thank you," Harry said quickly. "You were right last year and if anything, it's gotten worse this year. I'd rather let some others handle it."

Dumbledore nodded. "All right Harry. It will be Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley of course."

Harry smiled. "Good, though I don't think Ron did his best last year."

Dumbledore chuckled. "That might be true, but the twins are gone now and he may have an easier time of it."

Harry remembered his unwillingness to punish his brothers and grinned. "Yeah, I guess that's true."

"I have the utmost faith in Mr. Weasley. He only needs to apply himself." Dumbledore stood up and clapped his hands together. "Now then, I believe I heard the floo and I must go and greet our guests. I'm sure Severus wouldn't mind if you joined him for dinner later."

"Er," Harry said swiftly. "What about Remus? Where is he?"

Dumbledore searched Harry's face, unsure of why the teen wanted to know. When he saw nothing more than concern in the emerald eyes, he sighed softly. "Remus is in St. Mungo's and will be for a spell. I had hoped he would fill the DADA position but alas, that's not to be."

"Who is going to now, sir?"

"I'm sure I will come up with someone Harry," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "No one from the Ministry, of course, but someone fully competent."

Harry laughed. "Good luck sir."

Dumbledore gave Harry a small wave before leaving the room, closing the door behind him. He walked swiftly down the stairs and found Severus and a very pale Draco standing near the grate, brushing soot off their robes.

"Ah, Severus, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said good-naturedly. "So glad you could return so swiftly."

Draco glanced over at Severus with a nervous expression. Severus merely smirked at Dumbledore. "Yes well…I am here, as you requested."

Dumbledore smiled. "So you are. I must say Mr. Malfoy, you certainly have grown quite tall over the holidays."

Draco shrugged. "Er… sir, I have." His tone was impassive and emotionless.

"Well, any room is yours for the taking. Any thing you need in the way of bedding should be found in the cupboard in the hall. I must apologize for not staying but I'm afraid I have rather pressing matters to attend to." He extended his hand to Severus who shook it briefly. He did the same for Draco and the teen shook it with a quirked eyebrow. "Make yourselves comfortable. The kitchen is well stocked. I shall be in contact with you in a few days. Severus, you know where to reach me should anything happen."

The Potion's Master sneered. "Yes, I do."

"See you both then." Dumbledore stepped into the flames and was gone.

Draco shifted his weight back and forth between his feet. "Er…" he said after a moment of silence.

Severus started, having forgotten the teen was there for a moment. "Would you like something to eat, or some tea perhaps?"

"Tea might be nice," Draco said, looking around the room. He followed Severus into the kitchen where the older man began to prepare the kettle. "So this is the Black estate?"

Severus nodded. "It is. Belongs to Harry now, though your family is free to fight for it. You are related after all and Harry is not."

Draco sat down at the table and stared at Severus. "You called him Harry," he pointed out absently.

Severus mentally slapped himself. He had yet to tell Draco of his true position though he knew the teen suspected as much. "Slip of the tongue," he said after a moment of not being able to come up with a good excuse.

Draco shrugged and continued to stare down at his hands. "Severus…what am I doing here? Why don't they just cart me off to Azkaban with my parents?"

"Because they have hope still," Severus replied softly. "Well…Dumbledore does anyway."

"Hope in what," Draco asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That you might turn away from Voldemort."

Draco shrugged. "I don't…" he stopped and bit down on his lip. He'd almost let it slip to a Death Eater that he didn't want to be one.

Severus sighed and took a seat across from the blonde. "It's time you knew Draco…and what I'm going to tell you will endanger my life should you ever choose to relinquish the information to anyone who is associated with your father."

Draco looked up at Severus with a curious expression. "You have my word, Severus. I wont say anything. I owe you that much at least."

Severus studied his face, finding only honesty, and nodded. "I'm a spy, Draco. I have been for some time now. Since before the Dark Lord's fall the first time."

Draco's eyes widened slightly. "I er…suspected as much, though I couldn't be sure."

Severus nodded. "I thought you might have picked up on some things. Of course, the Dark Lord believes I am spying for him…but I do not know that he fully trusts me. Your father doesn't though he does respect me and he trusts me fully with your safety."

Draco nodded. "So you work for Dumbledore then?"

Severus snorted. "I'm afraid so."

"But you don't like it?"

Severus shrugged. "I do not like working for anyone, Draco."

"Nor do I," the blonde replied. "I would prefer not to choose sides in this war."

"You may have to, Draco. Sometimes we must choose between the lesser of the two evils."

"I just…" the teen trailed off at a loss for words. "I really don't understand why I should fight for anyone. I'm fucked no matter which way this war is won."

"You aren't," came a hoarse voice from the doorway.

Both Slytherins looked over to see a dishevelled Harry leaning against the doorframe. "Harry's right," Severus said cautiously.

Draco paled even further at the sight of Harry but said nothing. The raven-haired teen moved to the table and took a seat a few spaces away from the blonde.

"If Voldemort wins this war…you'll be punished for serving Dumbledore. He'll turn you into his slave if he takes pity on you, and you'll be just like your father and the others. But if Dumbledore wins…you'll go on with your life. Things will not change much. You'll be free to do as you please and there will be no supreme power. The Minister of Magic will continue to do his job along with the rest of the Ministry. It will be just as it was when we were in first year." Harry's voice was calm and collected as he spoke. "Believe me Draco, I've thought this out for a very long time. Ever since I learned that I had to be the one to bring Voldemort down. I've thought on it a lot in the past few days and…well Severus was right. Sometimes we do have to choose between the lesser of the two evils."

Draco took in a shaky breath and looked at Severus. "It's er…a lot to think about," he said finally.

Severus nodded and stood up to prepare the tea. "Would you like a cup, Harry?"

"Please," the teen said softly. "I can return to my room if my presence disturbs you though."

Draco shook his head softly. "I'll go." He stood up and walked into the lounge to sit on the couch.

Severus turned to Harry and shrugged. "It's going to take some time."

Harry nodded. "We'll probably never be friends. We hated each other and now he's done something terrible. I've forgiven him but he has to forgive himself first."

Severus crossed his arms, momentarily forgetting about the tea. "You would consider being his friend, Harry?"

The teen shrugged softly. "Perhaps. A year ago, I would have told you no. I would have told you I would never befriend an arrogant git like Malfoy. But…my perspective has changed this summer. I see the need for bonds, for friendships and love. Cos if we don't have them to balance out the evil and hurt in our lives…we sink too deep and there isn't much hope of coming back out again."

Again, Severus was astounded at the level of maturity the teen had reached. A year ago that day, Harry had been still a child, making rash decisions and even though he had been darker, angrier, he still carried the air of a child about him. This Harry was completely different.

"That's true Harry," he said finally. He turned back to the tea and handed a cup to Harry. "Maybe it would be a good idea if you spoke with Draco."

Harry nodded. "I should give him a few days though. I don't think he's ready to talk with me yet."

"You have a month," Severus said simply.

Harry nodded. "I should probably go up to my room and lie down. That potion you gave me made me rather groggy."

"Food will help," Severus said firmly. "I'll make you something to eat and bring it up to you."

Harry smiled softly. "I'd like that, thank you." He walked out of the room and paused when he reached the entrance to the lounge. Draco was sitting on the couch his eyes slightly unfocused. "If you need anything, I'll be upstairs," Harry said softly.

The blonde nodded but did not look up or speak. Harry sighed and walked back upstairs, wondering if they were actually ever going to speak at all. Hell, fighting and hexing each other was far better than the lost look on his face when he addressed Harry.

8888

The next few days passed without incident. No one visited and Severus wasn't called. He had realized on the second day that he would have no one to protect the two vulnerable teens should he be called and he decided to take it up with Dumbledore.

The old man arrived on the forth night while Severus was in the kitchen fixing dinner and grumbling to himself about playing nursemaid to a couple of teenagers. Dumbledore chuckled, alerting the man to his presence and took a seat at the table.

"The only thing missing is a nice white apron Severus," he said with a grin.

Severus fixed him with an icy glare. "Not funny old man," he growled.

"How are they?"

Severus sighed. "Draco is still inside his shell, wont talk to me about what happened. I told him the truth about my…situation in hopes he'd open up."

"He needs time. He needs time to let it all sink in and deal with what he's done."

Severus nodded at the older man. "He has decided not to join the Dark Lord for the moment, but that could change."

"Do you have any reason to suspect he would betray your position?"

Severus shook his head. "He would not."

"That's the important thing," Dumbledore said with a small smile. "And Harry? How is he doing?"

"Better I think," Severus said softly. "Though I do not know what's going on in his mind. He has…matured. Quite unnerving really."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Unnerving because he is so much less like his father than you want him to be or unnerving because you find yourself caring?"

Severus glowered, hating that the doddery old man was always right. "Both," he grunted.

"I had noticed myself," Dumbledore said lightly, ignoring his tone. "I worry though, what this could do to him in the long run."

Severus shrugged. "Perhaps you could speak with him?"

"I cant," Dumbledore said lightly. "I'm afraid this is going to be my last visit for the rest of the holiday. The Order had begun working on a new plan. I will fill you in as soon as it is humanly possible, but for now, I would like you to concentrate on your immediate duties."

Severus groaned and rubbed his face in annoyance. "Yes fine…my immediate duties. Good to see my skills aren't being wasted," he added sarcastically.

Dumbledore gave a hearty laugh. "You have many useful skills, even if you choose not to acknowledge them."

Severus grumbled something under his breath.

"What was that Severus," the old man asked, his blue eyes twinkling madly.

"Nothing," he snapped back. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"

Dumbledore stood up. "Yes as a matter of fact I do. I will be in contact and if there is an emergency, you know where to find me."

"Oh," Severus said stopping the old man. "If I am called…I will have to go. I will need to know that Harry and Draco are safe."

"Firecall me and I will provide someone. Let's just hope it wont come down to that."

Severus nodded and saw the Headmaster out. He mused that the old man decided to leave the old fashioned way…by the front door. Severus put a locking charm on the door and set the wards quickly before returning to the main part of the house. Draco was locked up in his room again and Harry was in the bath as far as he knew. He was a little uneasy about letting Harry off on his own for long periods of time, but he was fairly sure the teen wasn't going to try anything stupid.

Severus was having a hard time of all of this. Caring for Potter was a foreign emotion to him and he wasn't sure how to act on it. Potter wasn't the arrogant rule-breaking teenager his father was and he certainly had changed from the irrational teen with a hero complex he had been in the previous years.

Severus finished up with the dinner of roast chicken and vegetables and served the three plates. He knew that Draco would take his food in his room so he prepared the tray. He was surprised a moment later when Draco appeared in the kitchen and took a seat at the table.

"Will you be joining us tonight?" Severus asked carefully.

Draco nodded. "I think I've finished with my moping…for a while at least. Where's Potter?"

"In the bath. He'll be down shortly," Severus replied setting the table for three.
"What will you take to drink?"

"Wine," Draco said softly. "I need to calm my nerves."

Severus nodded and poured three glasses of a soft red wine. He took his seat across from Draco and a moment later, Harry appeared in the kitchen. He looked at Draco with mild surprise as he took his place beside the blonde at the table.

He eyed his plate and the wine with a small grin. "Are we celebrating?"

Severus snorted. "Yes Potter, we're celebrating the idiocy of Dumbledore and his mad plans."

Harry laughed outright. "That's a lot of celebrating then!"

Draco gave a half smile as he chewed slowly on his chicken and took a small sip of his wine. Harry looked over at him and offered him an open smile. He wondered for a moment what the real Draco was like. Not Malfoy who hid behind his icy taunts and gorilla like goons, but the one that sat around his common room with his friends and studied, the one that went home on the holidays and sat in his room doing normal teenage things. He wondered what the real Draco thought of the acts that Malfoy had to perform.

Draco seemed to sense Harry's train of thoughts and quickly grew uncomfortable. He pushed his plate of half eaten food away from him and excused himself from the table.

Harry and Severus watched him go before returning to their own food in a tense silence.

"Is it me," Harry asked sadly.

Severus sighed softly. "Yes Harry, but not in a way you should feel guilty about."

Harry stared at his food glumly. "Isn't there anything I can do? I don't like it that he's not eating his dinner just because he's in the same room as me."

"Draco came down here of his own accord tonight. He's trying…he's just having a hard time with his thoughts. Guilt is a foreign emotion to him and he's had a rather hefty dose of it in a very short span of time."

Harry bit his lip and nodded. He understood what Severus was saying though he had never experienced such a thing. Harry had been brought up feeling guilty for the fact that he was even born. He was used to guilt.

"He'll come around," Severus said absently as he finished his food.

Harry pushed the vegetables around his plate, lost in his thoughts. He wanted to do something but it was pretty clear there was nothing to be done about Draco.

"You could always go into his room and talk to him," Severus said answering his unspoken thoughts.

Harry looked up at him with a frown. "Would he even let me?"

Severus shrugged. "I suppose you wont know until you try. You don't have to talk about the incident. You could talk about something…stupid, like Quiditch."

"Quiditch isn't stupid," Harry retorted with a slight grin.

"I'm sure Draco feels the same. You don't have to Harry. But if you want to try, that's the best way."

Harry nodded and stood up. "I guess it wont make matters any worse. If anything, he'll just yell at me or try and hex me. And that's better than the way he's acting towards me right now."

Severus nodded a little and began to clear up the mess. Harry moved to help him but Severus stayed him with his hand. "I don't mind Potter. Just go talk to Draco."

Harry sighed and turned to leave the kitchen. He crept past the covered portrait of Mrs. Black who had remained blessedly quiet during their stay, as no one wanted to disturb the curtain covering her. Harry didn't know if he could handle Sirius' mum screaming curses at him right then. He was hardly ready to accept the death of his godfather let alone endure the taunts from his family.

Draco was staying a few rooms down from Harry, in the room the twins had occupied the summer before. He paused and raised his fist, still unsure about trying to build a bridge between him and his school rival. Then he realized something and snorted inwardly. School rival. Yes, that's all he and Draco were in reality. And school certainly wasn't forever. Too soon they would be grown up, graduated and off doing other things. Hogwarts would never be forgotten but it would be done with, for good. Why should a petty house rivalry follow him in the years to come? It was rather shallow really, and stupid. He couldn't be a Gryffindor after graduation. Gryffindor didn't extend past the halls of the castle and couldn't follow him, even if it wanted to.

"Might as well start on that path now," Harry whispered to himself and knocked firmly on the door.

There was no answer for quite sometime and Harry began to wonder if Draco was actually in there. He chanced another knock and finally he heard a voice call out, "What?"

"It's me…Harry," he said softly. "I was wondering if er…I could come in?"

"Why?" he demanded loudly.

"Just thought we could…talk. I was feeling a bit bored and all Professor Snape wants to talk about is Potions. We both know how dreadful I am at that so…I was hoping you'd like to talk about Quiditch or something." Harry was getting rather annoyed at talking to a door.

After a moment, Draco called out, "I guess."

Harry grinned and pushed the door open. Draco was sitting on his bed, his back against the headboard and his things were scattered about the blanket. He looked around and saw there was no place besides the bed for him to sit.

Draco gestured to the foot of the bed and Harry walked over to have a seat. Looking down, he saw Draco was sorting through his school things.

"We're going to have to go to Diagon Alley," Harry said after a moment. "I expect we'll be receiving our book list in a couple of days."

Draco nodded. "And the O.W.L. results."

"Doubt I made the required O in potions to get in to Snape's class," Harry mused aloud.

Draco snorted. "I have no doubt of that Potter."

"I'll admit I'm dreadful though Snape doesn't make it easier when he's breathing down my neck."

"Do you actually want to take potions," Draco asked with a quirked eyebrow.

Harry shrugged. "Well…I guess not. I mean, I thought I wanted to be an Auror…but now I wonder if it was just something I thought I had to do. I mean, if the boy-who-sodding-lived didn't become a dark wizard catcher, what else would he be?"

"Potter, kindly stop referring to yourself in the third person. It's creepy."

Harry smiled as he heard the familiar drawl start to enter Draco's voice. "Sorry," he said.

"So did you really wanna talk about Quiditch," Draco asked with a raised eyebrow.

Harry shrugged. "I guess not. Quiditch is fun but it's more Ron's thing."

"The Weasel's not half bad when he actually tries," Draco admitted. "I nearly fainted when he won last year."

Harry laughed. "Yeah. Pity I wasn't at the game."

Draco's eyes widened. "You missed your best friend who was absolutely dreadful up until that game win the cup?"

"It does sound bad when you put it like that," Harry said with a laugh. "But yeah, Hermione and I were sort of busy."

Draco waggled his eyebrows. "Oh really," he drawled.

Harry blushed. "Erm, not like that. I don't fancy Hermione."

"Who would," Draco sneered.

"Ron," Harry said, choosing not to comment on the insult.

"You fancy blokes then?" Draco asked openly.

Harry shrugged. "I guess I never gave that much thought," he confessed. "George Weasley swings that way and it's never bothered me but after the disaster with Cho…well I just decided that a romance was too complicated to deal with."

"Cho Chang," Draco asked with wide eyes. "The one who spent most of her days blubbering into whoever's shoulder that happened to get too close?"

Harry laughed loudly. "The same. She and I had a date in Hogsmeade but erm…I kind if mucked it up by telling her I was supposed to meet with Hermione later."

Draco snorted. "Nice Potter. Very slick."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yeah whatever. I didn't mean it like that, she just took it the wrong way. She made a huge scene and stormed out before I could explain why I was meeting with Hermione."

Draco smirked, "I take it, it wasn't for a secret snogging session in the back of the Three Broomsticks."

"Nope," Harry answered lightly. "I was giving and interview with Rita Skeeter. For the Quibbler."

Draco snorted. "I remember that article."

Harry shook his head and ruffled his already mussed up hair. "Last year was…"

"Insane," Draco offered. "The most insane and blatantly fucked up year we've ever had at Hogwarts?"

"Mmm," Harry said in agreement. "That about sums it up. Umbridge," he said and gave a small shudder.

Draco eyed the scar that was still apparent on the top of Harry's hand. "Detention a lot with her, then?"

Harry absently rubbed the scar and nodded. "Too many times."

"Sometimes being a suck up pays off Potter. You know all about that with Dumbledore."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I never asked for his favouritism you know. It's not my fault he lets me get away with all that stuff."

Draco snorted. "But you love it!"

Harry laughed. "Comes in handy every now and then. Just like you and Snape. Or you and Umbridge. I remember the look on your face when you got to bust up the D.A."

Draco smiled fondly at the memory. "It was one of the highlights of that year. Fucked up though, how she tried to use an Unforgivable. I certainly didn't see that coming. I mean, she wasn't a Death Eater, just a Ministry official. I was pretty shocked."

Harry nodded. He realized he had just spent the better part of an hour chatting with Draco and he smiled inwardly. Maybe his plan would work after all. "Draco…erm, I know that we can't really be civil in school. I mean, I wouldn't want you to put yourself in danger for me. But erm…thanks for talking to me."

Draco stared at Harry, slightly taken aback. "Sure, whatever Potter."

"I'm going to head off to bed. I'm still pretty weak and tired from…stuff. But if you ever want to, you know, talk about stuff and Snape's not available, you can always come talk to me. About anything." He put a lot of emphasis on the word anything. He wanted Draco to know that he was okay with what happened and he needed the blonde to know that he had forgiven him.

Draco swallowed hard and nodded. He stared down at his hands as Harry walked to the door and made to leave. "Harry," Draco called out suddenly.

The raven-haired teen turned and looked at the blonde, meeting the silver orbs with kindness. "Yeah?"

"I…thanks. And er…sorry."

Harry simply nodded and walked out.

A/N—whoooo! Eleven pages! Not bad then, eh? I get the comp all to myself since my flatmate's has gone for a week! But don't get too used to the updates being so fast. Hope you all like though. Draco is sooo OOC but oh well, I don't really care. If you don't like it, don't read it…isn't that hard.

The next two chapters will have the return to school and the bonding scene, which I've been sooo looking forward to writing! As always, feedback is appreciated and I'm so happy about all the reviews I've been getting. I don't know where I'm going with In the Silence so that won't be updated until my muse comes up with something. Sorry about that but I like this story more anyway. I'll be posting it on Adult fan fiction soon enough, when I have to omit some of the yummy snarry smut! Hehe!

Thanks to all my lovely reviewers! Glad you like and I hope you continue to enjoy!