CHAPTER 13

Disclaimer: Does it really need saying?

"Stupefy!"

The form of Remus Lupin hit the ground with a loud thud and Hermione screamed.

"What are you doing, Draco?!" Harry yelled, wand trained on the blonde, who had switched from pointing his wand at the inert body of their former professor to pointing it at Harry.

"I was buying us time! You saw his face!"

"So you stun him?! Why not petrify him?!"

"It was a reflex, ok?" Draco said loudly. He took a deep breath and strode over to the body. "Shall I enerverate him, or wipe his memory?"

Harry looked torn. "I'm tempted to hear what he has to say on the topic, even though that wasn't how I envisioned him finding out," he said wryly, looking at Hermione.

"Harry, I'm so sorry! I came back to apologize, and I didn't realize Remus was here!" she cried, tears forming. "I'm so, so sorry."

Taking a deep breath, Harry just nodded, and then looked at Draco. "Wake him up."

A moment later, Remus Lupin was on his feet, pointing his wand at Draco.

"Don't you ever stun me again! I should curse you into next month, you little shite! And you," he yelled, spinning to look at Harry, "what the hell is Hermione talking about?"

"Remus, let's just sit down for a minute, okay? Please."

Remus stared at Harry for a moment before nodding curtly. "But keep him away from me," he said, jerking his head towards Draco, who just smirked in response.

So Harry led the best friend of his father and godfather over to the couch and came out. He sat there staring into the eyes of the only father-type figure he had left in his life and unflinchingly told his story. When he told Remus that he had felt like falling from the quidditch tower, the shame burned high on his cheeks, but he refused to break his stare.

When he told him of his first time with Draco, and the months of binge drinking and random men that followed, he would not stop eye contact.

It was only when he spoke of Draco and their reunion did he finally look away, only for a second, to meet the eyes of his partner. Then they were right back to Remus, staring him down as he finally finished talking, challenge in every muscle.

Hermione had never been more proud of him.

Silence reigned over the room, thick and full of tension, threatening to suffocate them at a moment's notice.

Finally, Remus sighed and stood up, Harry following his lead.

Closing his eyes and rubbing the bridge of his nose, Remus seemed to age that day. Eventually, he looked at Harry, still carefully avoiding Draco.

"This isn't what I ever thought I'd hear you say, Harry. I can't condone what you're doing with your life. No," he said, holding up a hand when Harry opened his mouth, "you said your part, now I'll say mine. This is wrong. This isn't what I wanted for you."

Remus walked to the fire place and grabbed some floo powder, then paused, back facing Harry.

"With all that being said, I still love you, but please don't expect me to agree with you. I won't say anything to the public, because it's your business." He turned his head to look at Harry and saw the hurt in his eyes. "Goodbye, Harry."

He was gone.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

After Lupin's departure, Harry went out to the living area and slumped into the couch where he curled into himself and stared at the wall. Hermione decide to make herself busy making tea when Draco went to sit next to him, attempting to comfort him.

When she came back in, she poured them all a strong cup of tea, made stronger with the splash of fire whiskey she found in the kitchen, and told Harry the gist of her conversation with Snape.

Finally Harry looked at her.

"I'm friends with you for seven years, and all it takes is a conversation with Snape to make you admit you're wrong? I need to learn his technique." Harry smiled slightly when Draco and Hermione laughed, then became serious again. "I knew he would be upset, but I didn't think he would be so…disgusted. Are we really wrong?" He directed this last part to Draco.

"No, Harry. Don't think that, ever. What you feel…what I feel…how can something so right be so wrong? How can love be wrong? We're not out trying to have sex with children or animals. We're just two men who happen to care madly for the other, regardless of gender." He put his cup down and placed his hands on the sides of Harry's face. "We are right, Harry. Our feelings are a miracle. To find someone else in the midst of this insanity we were thrust into…WE are a miracle. It's the problem of others who take issue with us. Any chance someone has at love in these times should grab hold and never let go."

Harry closed his eyes and Draco leaned in and kissed his forehead.

After a few more minutes of silence, Hermione cleared her throat.

"Also, Harry, if you could kindly go visit the Headmaster or reply to an owl at some point, it would be appreciated. He's been hammering me about you for a long time."

Harry discreetly wiped his eyes and nodded, yawning slightly. "Yeah, I have no problem believing that. I'll go see him tomorrow, maybe. You guys only have a short time left and it's the weekend so it should be good."

Draco nodded. "I think I'll stop in to see Severus. My father isn't home, so there's no point in me going there. And it will go in my favor, I hope, that I'm checking in with Severus as much as possible. He's probably itching to say a few choice words at my silence to him as well."

"I wouldn't mind seeing Severus again," Hermione mused, stirring her tea, thinking of their last encounter and smiling. When she noticed it was silent, she glanced back at her friends. "What?"

Harry and Draco exchanged looks.

"Is there, uh, something you want to tell us, Hermione?" Harry asked hesitantly, as though scared for the answer.

"No…," Hermione answered, confused.

"Because, really, it's like you told me: I love you. And I'll love you, no matter, uh, who you like. And it's okay, really. Because I accept you," Harry finished lamely, somehow making the ending sound like a question.

Hermione just stared.

Rolling his eyes, Draco huffed. "Oh, for Merlin's sake. Hermione, do you or do you not fancy Severus Snape?"

Eyes going wide as they could, Hermione sputtered. When she finally found her voice, all she could get out was a very defensive sounding, "What?! No!"

"Really?" Draco said, cocking an eyebrow. "Because it sure seems like you do. And I have to say, it's extremely bizarre."

"But I'm okay with bizarre!" Harry quickly added.

"And I suppose, looking at it from an angle, it does sort of make an odd sort of sense. You two are very different but very alike," Draco continued.

"Which is completely okay! I love how you are!" Harry injected.

"Harry! Enough with the placating! You two are both mad," Hermione said, standing up. "Completely and utterly insane, the pair of you. I'm going to sleep. See you both in the morning."

"The first step is acceptance, Hermione!" Draco yelled to her retreating back going up the stairs. "Accept yourself and accept the truth!"

"And I accept you, Hermione!" Harry couldn't help but add. Hermione thought her eyes would fall out of her head from rolling them so hard.

Still, as she lay down in bed, staring at the wall, she couldn't stop the blush she felt come across her cheeks or the smile she felt forming.

He trusted her. Well, he trusted her enough to listen to her and keep the memory. He may not remember what was said, but he kept his word and retained some of the emotions. And one day, Gods willing, he would be around to pull that memory back out and remember that there was someone who believed in him.

Someone who trusted him.

And she hoped she could be there when he realized it.

Author's note: I have no excuses. It's been…months. I have repeatedly pulled up this story and just stared at it for hours. My new job has been insane, and I'm not so sure I'm in a better place than I was before, but I digress. You didn't come here to read my sob story.

I can only apologize.

If there are still any readers out there who still follow this story, or me, I just want to say sorry again. And thank you. You are the only reason I have not deleted this story completely, even though I have often wanted to.

I will try to keep up with this. I really will.

I know this chapter is RIDICULOUSLY short, but I knew that if I didn't post SOMETHING tonight, then I never would. So I told myself I couldn't go to sleep until I had ANYTHING I could actually put up. So, here it is. 11:45pm my time, and I have work in a few hours…but here is my little chapter.

Thank you, again.