Hello... I feel rather sheepish at the moment.

So it's been an immensely long time since I updated. I'm really sorry. This chapter has been kicking my backside, which doesn't really make sense, since it's quite dreadfully boring. It is also rather short, but I felt like I couldn't wait another day uploading it, so there you are.

Updates will, however, be farther between. I'm facing a rather hectic term at school, and, well... It needs to come first. The story is not forgotten, and will be completed (it might just take a wee bit longer than I might have originally expected...).

Anyway, enough rambling. Please try to enjoy the chapter, and do tell me if you find any errors etc. It hasn't been proofread quite as carefully as is my custom...

Ivy

Harry kept his eyes focused on the problem he had before him, trying to ignore Draco's huffing beside him. They were sitting in the library, Harry working on his homework while Draco pretended to be interested in the book he was reading. Or supposed to be reading, rather. All he'd done for the past twenty minutes had been to shift in his chair and emit the occasional puff of air in his boredom.

"Is this all you do all days?" the blonde asked eventually, letting the volume fall closed with a thud as he placed his elbows on the polished wooden table.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, not tearing his eyes from the numbers.

"This," Draco repeated, emphasised with a shake of his hand.

"I don't study all the time," Harry retorted, affronted that this stranger of a boy seemed to think him to be a complete teacher's pet.

"Well then what do you do?" Draco demanded, letting his arms drop down into his lap, staring wide-eyed at Harry while he waited expectantly.

"I help Snape with potions sometimes," Harry said slowly.

"Don't you have any friends?" This simple question was a jab unlike anything Draco could really imagine. No, Harry thought sombrely, I don't have any friends.

"Not here," he said as a form of negotiation. He could hardly tell Malfoy that he actually spent all this time with one professor or other now that Henry and Joanne had graduated. Thinking about them made him feel even more miserable, and he began to wonder what he would do when the school year started again and they weren't there. Would Snape assign him a new set of babysitters, or would be permitted to stay on his own? He snorted at the latter. Likely story.

"Yeah, why are you here?" Draco asked, continuing his insistent interrogation. Harry threw his pencil down and frowned across the table at the petulant boy.

"None of your business," he muttered.

"I was only asking," Draco drawled. "Come on, let's go do something else." Harry frowned again, this time from uncertainty.

"I think we're supposed to wait here for Professor Snape."

"Uncle Sev won't mind if we take a break," Draco said with a roll of his eyes.

"I have to finish this though," Harry said, nodding towards the paper.

"You can do it later! Come on." Reluctantly, Harry got up from his chair and followed Draco to the large doors. The blonde threw them open with such vigour; they hit the outside walls, creating a loud bang that made Harry wince. Draco spun around and beckoned for the smaller boy to follow. "Hurry up, then." Harry threw a final glance at the library before he tore off after the now running Malfoy.

The two boys leaned out through the open window, ignoring the hair that was sent across their faces by the warm breeze. They were up in the seventh floor, and the corridor was deserted save for a couple of mice that were scuttling from corner to corner in the far end.

"Do you reckon they'll come?" Harry asked in a hushed voice, his eyes not tearing from the treetops of the Forbidden Forest.

"'Course," Draco replied with confidence. They had nicked a few pieces of bacon from a passing House Elf, and Draco had told Harry they'd surely be able to coax an eagle or two close with the meat. Harry didn't even know there were eagles at Hogwarts, but then, Draco lived in a wizard family and probably knew more about Hogwarts than Harry.

"But what if they don't?"

"Schh…" Harry fell silent instantly, straining his eyes to try and see any kind of bird of prey. Seven minutes of staring later, though, they still hadn't spotted anything except a couple of magpies and an owl heading for the owlery. Harry was glad that he had grown used to this kind of post: he couldn't imagine what Draco would say if he'd shown any kind of awe by the bird delivering letters. He emitted a sigh and pulled himself into the castle again.

"This isn't working," he stated critically. When he noticed that the sun seemed to be on its way down, he bit his lip, and cast anxious glances down both ways of the corridor. "Maybe we should go back to the library. Snape might be back soon." Harrumphing, Draco pulled himself inside, too, and flicked his hair out of his face.

"Oh all right. We'd best go; I'm not sure of the way back." Harry gaped at him, but the blonde started down the hallway and Harry had no choice but to follow.

"What if Snape comes back though?" Harry asked worriedly, wringing his hands as he hurried to keep up with the taller boy. Draco wafted his hand dismissively, though Harry noticed that he sped up slightly.

"We'll just say we needed the loo," he answered simply, turning down a staircase, letting his hand drag squeakily along the rail. Harry didn't answer, but did his best to keep next to Draco. The got down to the Entrance Hall, realised they had gone too far down and had to turn and run back up the stairs. As they jogged around a corner, they spotted the broad, black back of the Potions Master at the other end, conversing with Professor Dumbledore. Stiffening, Harry stopped dead in his tracks. Draco, in a fit of desperation, grabbed hold of the bespectacled boy's sleeve and tugged him forward. They walked quietly, and then Draco let go of Harry, opened the door to the library and closed it noisily. Snape spun around instantly, and his eyes zeroed in on the boys. Giving a curt comment to the Headmaster, he then proceeded down the corridor, his robes billowing after him after him as he approached the children. Harry stared up at his guardian with big eyes behind his glasses.

"We were going to the loo," Draco said after having been glared at for almost an entire minute of silence. He hooked his thumb over his shoulder: "It's that way, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Snape nodded, raising a single, black eyebrow. "Both of you at the same time?" Draco shrugged. "Hm." Harry squirmed in the pressing silence. "Very well. But you might as well fetch your things and come back to my quarters." They both nodded obediently, and hurried to gather their things.

Upon entering Snape's quarters, he instantly pointed to Harry's room from behind his desk.

"Go play for a while. The Headmaster will be along in a few minutes and I wish to share a conversation in private with him." He eyed the children in foreboding silence. "Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," Harry nodded quickly. Snape gave a curt nod and the boys trotted through the corridor to Harry's room, closing the door behind them.

"What do you reckon that's about?" Malfoy asked as soon as the door clicked shut.

"Dunno," Harry replied uninterestedly, placing his things carefully on his small desk. "What are you doing?" he added with a frown as Draco edged towards the door and leaned the side of his head against the wood.

"Pipe down will you," he retaliated, and waved his hand for Harry to be silent. Of course, Harry then realised just what this other strange boy was doing, and his eyes widened.

"No," he hissed, grabbing Draco's arm forcefully, attempting to drag him back. "No, you mustn't," he added.

"Don't be such a girls' blouse," Draco huffed, yanking himself free.

"We'll get in trouble," Harry whispered.

"Of course we won't," Draco answered with a roll of his eyes. "Don't be silly."

"But if Snape finds out—"

"And just how would he find out?"

"I dunno, but he always does," Harry mumbled. This was true. Harry had stayed up after his bedtime several times, and the dour professor always found out. He had skipped lunch when with Henry, and Snape had found out. He had lounged with Henry in the Slytherin commons when Henry was supposed to have class, and Snape had caught them. The man had an uncanny ability to be right where there was mischief going on, and Harry had a scary feeling that would be the case this time, too.

"Oh please," Draco scoffed. "If we're listening in we'll hear him coming and have time to clear up. It'll be fine." He leaned against the door again, his eyes rather vacant as he strained to hear the exchange between the Headmaster and the Potions professor. Harry, deciding he didn't like Draco at all, scowled at the door, crossing his arms as he sat down heavily on his bed.

"I heard your name," Draco whispered after about a minute, biting his tongue in concentration. At this revelation, Harry felt a slight twitch, sort of itching to just creep over to the door and join in. Snape wouldn't know. And if he did, why did it matter? They were talking about him. He should be allowed to know what was going on. He wrung his hands, feeling terribly torn about the whole situation. "Oh come here!" Draco hissed, waving his arm. Still with a sinking feeling in his stomach, Harry rose and walked over to the door. Since Snape's quarters were rather small, it wasn't too difficult to hear the quiet conversation beyond the door. At least it wasn't if you breathed really slowly and tried to make sure your heart didn't beat at a gallop.

"… Black's trial," came Snape's muffled and serious voice.

"It shouldn't be long," was Dumbledore's reply to the question Harry had not heard. "There is already a certain amount of suspicious around the delay, and I doubt the Minister will deny my request in getting this ordeal over with as soon as possible."

"Is he still in Azkaban?"

"No I believe he is being held in a more… humane environment," Dumbledore replied delicately. Snape snorted. Or at least Harry thought so. It might've been the crackle of the fire, or Dumbledore coughing slightly.

"Imagine the havoc should he be found guilty," Snape mused.

"He is innocent, Severus, you know this as well as I."

"Hardly reason enough for the Wizengamot to release him," said Snape contemptuously.

"We shall see," was Dumbledore's muffled comment.

At this point, Harry had had enough and, rather forcefully, pulled Draco away from the door to prevent them from hearing anything more.

"Oi! What're you doing?"

"We've heard them talk now, so we should leave it," Harry said. He hadn't been with Snape that long and he certainly did not feel comfortable eavesdropping on the man. Not yet. Then again, he wasn't sure children used to listen in on their parents. No one in school had spoken to him, and it wasn't as if he'd discussed parents with Henry and Joanne.

Draco merely snorted in irritation, but didn't persist. Despite his nonchalant air, Harry didn't really believe he didn't care about getting into trouble. He had seemed rather afraid of his father, actually.

"What do you suggest we do then?" he asked, sounding bored rather than irritated now.

"We could play chess," Harry suggested. Snape had played with him three times before. Harry knew the rules of chess, but had been taken aback by the wizard variant of the game. He found it entertaining though, and thought it'd be an all right pastime.

"All right," Draco said, almost unexpectedly, and sat down on the carpet-clad floor. Harry retrieved the set from his desk and they set up the pieces on the board between them.

"Surely you trust me, Severus," Dumbledore said placidly.

"Certainly, Headmaster."

"Then you can rest assured that the Wizengamot will have no reason to deny Sirius the freedom he should never have been deprived of." Severus silently cursed the elderly wizard's calmness and assurance of his own influence. Not to mention his flaunty wordings, he thought. "Something else is troubling you," Dumbledore continued, his teacup clinking as it was set onto the saucer resting on the low table.

"Always so perceptive."

"Come now, Severus. There is no need for that." And there most certainly is no need for you to address me as though I am some petulant child.

"The boy would give even the most patient wizard a headache," the Potions Master retorted.

"Ah, Harry," Dumbledore nodded. "From what I've seen, he seems to be a perfectly agreeable child. You seem to be getting along just fine."

"He is too much like his father to be labelled agreeable," Snape spat, knowing somewhere that he didn't entirely believe his own words.

"I think we both know that Harry is like James in looks, but his heart and mind is Lily's." Of course, having taken care of the boy for several weeks, Severus had noticed this quality in Potter. He hadn't liked it, had even attempted something as petty as denying it, but it was no use. Harry was most definitely Lily's child, despite his jet black hair and crooked glasses.

"Of course," Dumbledore continued, interrupting Severus short reverie, "Both Lily and James were Gryffindors. It is probable that Harry will have inherited some of their more… rash sides." Blue eyes twinkled and robes swished as Dumbledore rose. "I had best be off. Dinner will be served soon."

"Yes," Severus agreed, also rising. "I ought to send Draco home."

"Yes, Draco. How are the boys getting along?" Severus' eyes narrowed slightly.

"Well, so far. I don't, however, trust them alone together, which is why I would like to see to them." Dumbledore, polite as he was, nodding smilingly, taking the hint, and departed.

As Severus banished the tea cups and was heading for Harry's room, the Floo roared to life, casting the room, for a moment, in bright green light. Spinning around, wand delicately hidden behind his arm, he faced the fireplace, only to be met by Lucius Malfoy.

"Lucius," he greeted, slipping his wand into its holster again.

"Severus," Malfoy nodded curtly. "I'm afraid Narcissa insisted I collect Draco myself." He pursed his lips. "I doubt it will happen again."

"Certainly. Shall I collect him for you?"

"Yes, thank you." Severus turned without another word, stalking through the short hallway and into Harry's room.

The boys jumped then the door was opened suddenly, scattering a few of their chess pieces onto the carpet. Severus, almost pleased to se he'd startled them, towered over the children.

"Draco, your father is here." Draco immediately rose, his playful air vanishing almost as quickly as the pleasant atmosphere in the room. Severus spared one glance for Harry before he swept out of the room, leading Draco out. Harry sat alone on his bedroom floor, the trace of a grin slowly dripping off his face.