Simple

Chapter 12

The winter wind whipped Harry harshly and he racked with shivers. He wrapped his arms around his shaking body as he hopped from one foot to another.

Larry was shrouded by a self-heating blanket to keep his body temperature up and make sure he was ready when the time calls for action.

Draco was one of two Death Eaters who were to guard Nagini while she hunted. The other was Vincent Crabbe's father. Justifiably, Draco was not worried as intelligence did run in the Crabbe family.

"Okay, it's on," Draco whispered suddenly in Harry's right ear.

"She's hunting near us?"

"Yes. I managed to distract Crabbe by claiming I heard something in the opposite direction. The bright spark will not dare come back to me until he has found something."

Harry nodded and bent down to inform Larry of the development.

"Okay, she's close. Turn on the charm so we can all get home before the night is out," he hissed.

Larry did a snake's best interpretation of a nod and slid into the night.

"You alright?" Harry mumbled finally, the tedious silence beginning to ache.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Neville…he kinda freaked out," Harry murmured.

"That's what children do I guess…"

"Well that's not very nice…"

"Neither was his reaction. He does not understand. I'm not doing this for the danger or to hurt him. I am trying to do the right thing for once. My family are notorious for taking the snide route. I am trying to give myself, and him, a future…"

"You should tell him that," Harry said,

"He wouldn't understand…He's too Griffyndor for that."

"I understand and I am a Griffyndor."

"You're not really. No Griffyndor would be all gooey over Snape."

"What do you mean? Neville wants you…"

"Yeah but Potter, I'm gorgeous. Everyone wants a piece of me…"

"I don't…"

"Pfft…You do really…"

"Are you always like this? Surely the looks thing dies…"

"I'm an interesting person. Neville likes me for more than one reason. That's what makes him worth it."

"Worth it?"

"Yeah. He's irrational a lot. Thinks I don't understand anything but he won't tell me. I know more than he has told me simply because my aunt is an arsehole but…I wish he would trust me."

"Like his parents?"

"Yeah…He hasn't told me but he's obviously told you…" Draco snapped.

"No, he didn't. I found out by accident. Honestly," Harry said. "I think he's embarrassed."

"He's embarrassed by everything…"

"What do you mean?"

"You know him, being at all confident is impossible…"

"I guess…It'll grow if you keep being there for him…"

"If he lets me…"

Larry caught sight of the desired female in seconds, she was very striking. Her scales shone in the moonlight and she moved with an elegant grace. He flicked his tongue out to catch her scent, his mind going blank with love.

Finally, Harry caught sight of Larry. He noticed he was alone and was apprehensive.

"Harry, she is nervous of you. She says her master wants you dead," said Larry, panicked. " She says you are a very bad person."

"Me? Never. Honestly. It's her master. He killed my parents. You know Neville? My friend. One of his followers tortured his parents until they went crazy. He's a bad person. Tell her she should be better with us…I will look after the both of you."

Larry nodded and went back into the evening.

"What's going on?" asked Draco.

"She thinks I'm evil…"

"That is hilarious," Draco snorted.

Finally, Larry managed to persuade Nagini to accompany them if she journeyed with Draco. He was not happy about this suggestion but Harry forced him, adopting Severus' motto of "it's for the greater good."

When they arrived back at Hogwarts, they almost skipped to Severus' rooms with Nagini and Larry following in the shadows.

"Severus?" called Draco when they entered the rooms to find them dark.

"In here," cried a muffled voice from his study.

Harry and Draco went in, the snakes trailing behind. When Nagini's eyes connected with Severus' face, she began to hiss louder and louder.

"No! Its okay, Voldemort bad. Severus good," hissed Harry sharply.

Nagini did not reply but backed away, hiding behind Draco.

"Think she likes you Draco," smiled Severus. "I never liked her…"

"Well your input is irrelevant," said Harry. "Potion good?"

"Nearly," said Severus distantly, his attention once again absorbed in the five bubbling cauldrons in front of him.

Draco and Harry sat on the floor, their backs flat against the wall.

Harry was sucked back into Severus' vortex, staring hungrily at his husband. The grace with which he waltzed from cauldron to cauldron, his fingers sprinkling ingredients at exactly the right time, stirring with fluid and experienced waves of his arm. The muscles that tensed in his arm consumed Harry's lust filled eyes.

"You're practically drooling Potter," said Draco quietly, his elbow jabbing Harry sharply in the rib.

"Shut up!"

"Look, I am going to see if I can hunt down Mr Longbottom. See you guys later. Good luck with Weasley," Draco announced to the room.

He darted up the stairs, taking them three at a time as his heart pumped erratically in his chest. When he finally reached Griffyndor Tower he found his feet stuck fast to the ground, the horrible truth looming. Maybe Neville really didn't want to talk it over this time. Maybe he had confused reality with what he wanted…Wouldn't be the first time…

Swallowing all nervousness, Draco drew on his love and rapped on the potrait.

The Fat Lady was very disgruntled and whined at Draco for about five minutes, ranting incessantly about how it was terribly important she got her beauty sleep.

Finally, she went into the Common Room and brought out a first year.

She had long, blonde hair which sat straight on her shoulders, her deep blue eyes stared at him in shock…

"Let me in, blondie," he grunted.

"No...You have no right to be here," she squeaked, trying to sound strong.

"Look…Just let me in and everything will be fine here…"

"No…" she said, her voice losing its earlier fieriness.

Draco sighed and pushed past the slight figure of the girl, hoping he had not been too forceful.

He was disappointed by the apparent cosiness of the Griffyndor Common Room, the Slytherin one was Artic in the height of the summer. Even the wore armchairs looked more inviting and the fire that blazed in the hearth made him drowsy.

"Where is the seventh year boy dorm?" he barked at a shy looking youngster.

"Up those stairs, at the top," he mumbled, pointing towards a hidden spiral staircase.

Draco nodded, deciding to take the steps slower this time. Planning what he would say to Neville and praying he was alone, this was not the type of conversation he could afford to have here. He could let no one know of his tentative relationship with Neville as it could get back to the Dark Lord and the Order would be rid of another spy…

When he came to the top, he knew which bed was Neville's straight away. Around it, clothes and books were littered across the ground and the trunk at the end of his bed was open and had pyjamas and cloaks hanging messily out of it. He smiled to himself, delighting in Neville's quaint Griffyndorness.

His smile grew wider as he observed his lover, splayed on his bed. A black t-shirt belonging to Draco, riding up his back to reveal stretches of milky white skin, dotted with an array of freckles.

As quietly as possible, he tip-toed to Neville's bed, sitting beside him. Running his fingertips soothingly over the soft skin before him.

Neville sighed in his sleep and rolled over, the touches clearly tickling his overly sensitive skin. Draco lay on his side, curved around Neville's from. His hand rubbing delicately up and down the sides.

After half an hour of staring, Draco desired a little more and shook Neville awake, more roughly than necessarily called for.

"Dray… Is that you? Hmm…Draco!" he groggily said, throwing himself into his partner's waiting arms.

"It's me Nev," he said warmly, his hand tangling Neville's ruffled and knotted mane.

"You are alright?"

"Of course, easy enough mission…"

"How are you going to cover for your disppearance though?"

"Crabbe will take the blame, I have already organised my memories and everything which means I will have to go back tomorrow. But tonight," Draco grinned. "I am all yours…"

Neville's eyes became feral and a grin spread across his features…

"Sounds like fun," he said, capturing Draco's lips in a demanding kiss.

"I'm ready for the blood Harry," said Severus suddenly.

"Hmm…What?" Harry said, rudely awakened from his thoughts of a certain Potions Master writhing in pleasure…

"Blood, for Nagini…For Mr Weasley. Your best friend? Any of this ringing a bell?"

"Shush…Do I need to do it?"

"Yes, now hurry up. I do not know how much time we have…"

Harry grimaced and crawled towards the living room, where Larry and Nagini were intertwined in front of the fire.

"I need your help Nagini," he hissed, lying flat on his stomach close to the knot of snakes.

"With what Mr Potter?"

"Call me Harry and to save my friend."

"And what am I to do?" she said.

"Just give me a little blood…"

"I do not like the sound of this…"

"It will be fine, you bit him. I dunno if you remember but he will die without this remedy…please…I will do anything you want…Even let you go back to your Master…"

"That would please me. Just some blood?"

"Yes…"

"Okay then, but Larry is staying with me during the process."

"Just give me a second so I can get the equipment…"

Harry ventured into the lab to see Severus, stirring again. The hand which was not occupied by the cauldrons was arched as he tapped his fingers in a fast paced rhythm on the table.

"She has agreed but she wants to go back to him…"

"We will do what she wants. I will wipe her memory, do not worry…"

"But Draco?"

"Will be fine, take this and let's save your friend hmm?"

Harry clasped the syringe in his hand, mesmerised by the length and thickness of the needle.

He sat next to Nagini and hissed comforting words at her, they were pointless as Severus has dipped the end of the needle in numbing potion and she could not feel anything as it slipped into her skin.

He grinned, as the tube filled to the brim with rich, syrupy blood.

"Sevvy! Got it!"

"Good," smiled Severus lightly as he emptied the contents into the fizzing cauldron. A grin evident on his features when a haze of fog rose from it, bright green in colour.

"Has it worked?"

"Yes…But we will not know until Weasley has it…"

"I know… but it's a start right…"

Poppy stared dismissively into the vial, her eyes plainly unsure.

"Severus…it's not that I do not trust you. I know you are a dying breed of master…But this is so risky…"

"I am aware of that Poppy but you are not doing anything for him either. This could save him. I do not think it is fair having Mr and Mrs Weasley watch their youngest son die when I have something in my hand which could cure him…"

"Your confidence is a comfort. You will need to consult Molly and Arthur. This is not my decision."

"Of course," Severus said nodding.

"You want help?" Harry offered.

"Yes, they are much more likely to listen to someone they trust."

"Mr and Mrs Weasley?" Harry asked, shyly.

"Oh Harry dear," said Molly but her normal joy was absent from her voice, making her sound like a ghost.

"Severus…Sorry Professor Snape, thinks he might have found something to help Ron…Make him better…2

"What?!" Arthur said, his eyes coming to life.

"A potion I made, from her blood…I am almost positive it will save your son…"

"How did you get her blood?" Arthur asked.

"We used some resources. Will you allow me to give this to your son?"

"Of course, anything that could help…" said Molly, her eyes overflowing with tears.

Severus leaned over Ron, his fingers prying Ron's mouth open and tilting the contents of the vial straight down this throat. The fingers on his other hand, rubbing the skin surrounding Ron's Adam's Apple, stimulating the swallowing reflex.

Harry stared, his mouth open and his insides trembling as sweat developed at his temples. His hands forming and informing fists.

Ron lay very still and Severus stepped back. Molly and Arthur eagerly clutching to Ron's arms on either side. Their eyes glued to his sealed eyes.

After ten minutes both of them grew anxious but Severus stayed still and tall, pride apparent on his face. Harry did not want to make any comments on the reality that his best friend lay comatose, Severus' miracle potion not performing it's desired affect.

Harry sighed, jiggling on both feet as he tried to stop himself from panicking, praying Severus had not failed…

The Ron's left arm twitched slightly and Molly's face broke into day, her eyes like the sun and her skin glowing with the sudden restlessly from her son.

Slowly, little movements became more wide spread and more frequent.

"I'm leaving," Severus whispered in Harry's ear.

"I'll come," mumbled Harry, secretly not wanting to leave before Ron woke.

"You stay, he's gonna want to see you and I know how much you want to see him."

"Okay, I will see you later."

"That you will…"

"Severus?" Harry questioned, mystified but Severus' last words…

But then his attention was drawn back to Ron, who unsteadily lifted his right arm.

Another chapter done =]

Proud of me? I am.

Hope you enjoyed it and review please ^^