Disclaimer – Isn't mine.

Chapter 6 - Honesty

'Leo, come on, you have to get up.' Severus murmured gently shaking Harry's shoulder. 'Leo, come on.'

'Go 'way.' Harry mumbled, turning onto his side and wrapping himself around the warm human pillow next to him.

The older man snorted softly and gently untangled Harry's arms from around his waist. 'Leo, come on, we're going to Diagon Alley.'

'Why do you call me that?' Harry finally cracked an eye open and peered up at his lover.

Severus gently ran his fingers through the messy black hair. 'Because you are the original Gryffindor lion. You are brave and strong and defiant and you stand up to anything and anyone to get what you want. You are fiercely loyal to those you class as family if they are loyal to you and deep down you have a heart as big as a lion's.' Severus face morphed into a wicked smirk as he ruffled Harry's hair. 'Besides, this just screams mane.' He quipped.

Harry laughed. 'You're mental, you know that don't you.'

Severus leant down and captured Harry's lips with his own. 'I'd have to be to be sleeping with you.' He murmured. Harry, refusing to dignify the insult with one of his own, just returned his lips to the older man's before placing kisses down his jaw to the base of his neck where he began sucking softly.

Snape moaned. 'This isn't getting you up.' He gasped as Harry nibbled on his collar bone.

'Wanna bet.' Harry mumbled, rising up and straddling Snape's legs as his lips traveled further down the pale chest.

'I meant out of bed, you impertinent brat.' Snape's voice took on a husky quality that made Harry shiver.

'I know what you meant.' Harry continued his trail lower until Snape, unable to stand the soft teasing any longer reached down and hauled the Boy-Who-Lived up to lie flat on his chest kissing him softly before tucking Harry's head into his neck.

Harry took the hint and both lay still as they tried to calm their raging hormones, Harry in particular. Several minutes later Snape ran his fingers down Harry's cheek and placed a gentle kiss on his temple before sitting them both up.

'They will be waiting for us.' He said simply as he slid out of the bed and tossed his robe over his naked form before slipping from the room and across the hall to his own. Harry watched him go with a smile before he too got up to shower and change.

Harry noticed Tom and Lucius watching both Severus and himself intently to see if any tension existed. The almost smoldering kiss the potions master gave him just before he took the Polyjuice quickly put any concerns to rest however.

'What was that for?' Harry asked breathlessly.

The potions master smirked. 'Make sure I remembered you before you changed.' He said casually.

Harry blushed as Tom and the Malfoys laughed and quickly swallowed the potion, wincing slightly as his bones, skin and muscles changed. When the change was complete Harry looked back up hopefully at the older man. Black eyes traveled over his new face and the potions master sniffed. 'Sorry, Zabini's just not my type.' He drawled and both Harry and Draco burst out laughing.

After a warning from Tom to be careful the two adults and two teenagers quickly flooed to the Leaky Cauldron. Once again Snape and Lucius Malfoy created a small stir upon their arrival. Malfoy in particular and Harry glanced up at the man as they hurried through to the rear courtyard.

'Not to be rude or anything, but just how did you get out of Azkaban last year?' He asked curiously.

Malfoy smirked at him. 'I was innocent, Potter, naturally.' He sneered.

'Oh naturally.' Harry said agreeably. 'Did that innocence cost a lot then?' he added with a smirk of his own.

Lucius scowled and Draco quickly covered his snort of laughter with a fit of coughing. It didn't work though and the blond aristocrat was less than pleased.

'That wasn't very polite.' Snape murmured as he clamped a hand on Harry's shoulder and steered him through the now open archway.

'No. But it was bloody funny.' Draco snorted wincing as his father's hand met the side of his head.

'Draco, please for once use the brains you were given and keep your mouth closed if you can say anything remotely civilised.' Lucius chided quietly.

Harry swallowed a laugh and from the minute hiss from the man behind him he guessed Severus was doing the same as the four headed down the alley towards Flourish and Blotts.

The day actually went quite quickly and Harry was able to relax again after the last week or so. By the time they returned to the manor he realised that he had laughed and smiled more that day than he had since before his birthday and he thanked all three when they returned. The two Malfoys just shrugged it off but Severus knew exactly how much it meant to Harry and gave his young lover a small smile as they all moved into the library.

Harry snuggled up to his side. 'Don't you want to kiss me?' he asked slyly earning himself a chuckle from Draco.

'Not when you look like that.' Severus said firmly. 'You'll have to wait till the potion wears off.'

'Oh, so you're just after me for my looks then?' Harry pouted.

'When you look like that, yes.' Severus agreed. Lucius and Tom joined in the laughter.

'Don't you feel anything for what's inside me?'

'They're not your insides, Potter. They're Zabini's essentially.'

'Please.' Harry leaned closer and placed a hand on Snape's chest.

'What on earth has gotten into you?' Severus asked wryly as the others watched this suddenly playful Harry with interest. 'Did you eat or drink anything you didn't check?'

'No.' Harry said bluntly, his hand traveling up to wrap around the potions master's neck as he tugged the head down and kissed his lover gently.

Snape pulled away. 'Merlin, you even taste like Zabini.' He grimaced. Draco clapped both hands over his eyes and groaned as Tom and Lucius snorted softly.

Harry folded his arms over his chest and raised a dark eyebrow. 'And just how would you know what Blaise Zabini tastes like?' He asked mildly.

Snape's black eyes glittered in amusement. 'Didn't you know, Potter? I kiss all my students.' He drawled. At that point the Polyjuice wore off but Harry didn't show any sign of acknowledgement.

'Oh that's alright then, as long as you aren't sleeping with them all.' He sniffed.

Severus gave him a wicked grin and reached out, grabbing the Boy-Who-Lived and yanking him hard up against his chest. 'Of course not.' He sneered. 'I'd be exhausted.'

Harry couldn't help it, even as Severus leant down to kiss him he burst out laughing, Draco the only one to laugh with him as Tom and Lucius saw a side to Harry that none had any inkling even existed. It was like he had suddenly regressed to a normal seventeen year old. Oh that's right; he was a seventeen year old. There was just nothing normal about him.

'You're acting very odd.' Lucius said curiously as he glanced between Harry and his son.

Suddenly Severus grasped Harry's chin and stared into the slightly glazed green eyes. 'Strawberries.' He groaned. 'On the sundae. You had bloody strawberries on your sundae, didn't you?'

Harry grinned wickedly. 'That'll teach you to make me and Draco stay behind when you go to Knockturn Alley.' He scolded with a laugh. 'Besides, it was Draco's turn to choose the sundae.'

'What on earth are you talking about?' Lucius cut in and it was easy to see that Tom was also extremely curious as to what Snape meant.

'Lucius and I had some business in Knockturn Alley so we left Harry and Draco at Florean's while we concluded it. I thought they would behave responsibly but obviously not.'

'Hey, I didn't know he shouldn't have strawberries. He didn't tell me.' Draco scowled at his godfather.

'What do strawberries have to do with anything?' Tom asked, handing Severus and Lucius a glass of brandy.

Snape immediately placed his down on the table and gestured to the others to do the same. 'Because it means that now we have to spend the next four hours working them back out of Harry's system. And not in that way you're thinking Draco.' He chided at the brilliant blush that had spread across the young Slytherin's cheeks.

'And in just what way do you mean, Severus? And why do we have to work them through anyway? What will happen?'

'Harry, stop that.' Severus snapped at the young man who was now idly rearranging the books on the bookshelves wandlessly, all the while humming a melody softly under his breath. 'Harry's allergic to strawberries; they act like a hallucinogenic on him.'

'So, he'll walk around as if he's stoned for a few hours, who cares?' Lucius rolled his eyes.

Severus' expression changed to one of disbelief. 'You actually want to let an enormously powerful wizard, one capable of fairly unimaginable levels of wandless magic, and one who has a rather difficult time controlling his emotions, walk around hallucinating for what will be a fair while longer than a few hours?'

'How long?' Tom could quite hold his curiosity.

'Several days.' Snape replied. 'Harry, don't!'

There was a crash and Harry spun around eyeing them all guiltily. 'Oops.' He stammered, Draco turning away as he tried to smother his laughter at the sight of his father's face. Harry had animated a priceless fourteenth century French statue and was making it turn somersaults in mid air. At Snape's cry his concentration had broken and the artifact had dropped to the stone floor, shattering into thousands of pieces and showing quite distinctly that even magic would be unlikely to return it to its former state.

'You were saying, Lucius?' Snape said dryly.

'Merlin.' Lucius breathed, staring at the minute shards of onyx that were scattered far and wide on the library floor before suddenly raising his head and his wand. 'Do you have any idea how much that was worth?' He positively growled.

Harry shrugged. 'Nope.' He said simply, gazing up at the ceiling.

'You irresponsible, reckless, spoiled brat. I invite you into my home and you destroy a priceless artifact with no thought or care.'

'Lucius, calm down, it's not his fault. He can't tell what's real and what's not at the moment.' Severus tried to reason with the angry man.

'Besides, it's priceless. In other words it has no value.' Harry added seemingly undisturbed at the wand pointing directly at his chest.

'IT HAD VALUE, YOU USELESS BRAT.' Lucius roared.

'Lucius!' Riddle hissed loudly and even in his haze of anger the blond aristocrat listened. 'I think at this present time we should concentrate on returning Harry to normal before he does any more damage.'

'Like Potter can ever be normal.' Lucius muttered.

'Hey.' Harry said indignantly before his caught sight of the piano in the corner and his eyes sparkled mischievously.

'Harry!' Severus growled stomping across the room and grabbing the young man's arm before dragging him towards the door.

Almost seven hours later they were all exhausted and Harry had finally come down off his high. They had begun dueling with both magic and weapons altogether against the Boy-Who-Lived before Riddle quickly realised that they were in for the long haul and called in reinforcements including the Parkinsons, the Zabinis, the Notts, the Crabbes and the Goyles. In fact all the parents of the seventh year students along with some of the more trusted inner circle members. None were told exactly what was going on and Riddle made sure to stay at one side as if watching over the proceedings like a fond grandparent. His red eyes glowed in well hidden pride as he watched the almost unstoppable force that was the Boy-Who-Lived.

The sheer amount of magic Harry had flowing around him after the first few hours had most in the room breathless and dazed and it soon became clear that they could only stay in the room for up to half an hour before requiring a break. Eventually the magic in the air began to wane and Lucius and Severus stepped back into the duel as Riddle dismissed the others and sent them home before joining them. An hour later Harry, gasping for breath, dropped the sword he had almost impaled Lucius Malfoy with moments before and collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving and limbs trembling.

Severus quickly crossed and knelt beside the young man grasping his shoulders gently and turning him over and laying him down. 'Breathe slowly, Harry. Just close your eyes and try to calm yourself before you make it worse.'

'Sev.' Harry croaked his eyes screwed up in pain.

'Draco, up in my room, there's a purple potion in the second drawer, bring it.' Severus ordered without looking up. Draco immediately ran from the room as Tom and Lucius exchanged concerned glances.

'Severus, what is it?' Tom asked hesitantly. 'What's wrong with him?'

Snape didn't answer for several moments as he summoned a pillow and placed it under Harry's head. He gently began massaging the teenager's temples as a stray tear leaked from Harry's eye. 'Migraine.' He said eventually. 'He's had a couple before, when he overuses his magic it runs rampant through the electrical connections in his brain and causes a sort of short circuit.'

'Short circuit?'

'Overloads it till it explodes.' Snape simplified.

'His head will explode?' Draco stammered as he hurried across the room and handed his godfather the vial.

'It's a figure of speech, Draco.' Severus rolled his eyes as he plucked the vial out of the Slytherin's hand and uncorked it. 'Harry, open up.' He placed the vial at Harry's lips and Harry obediently opened his mouth and swallowed the potion, sighing as it slowly began its numbing work. Severus gently brushed back the damp hair on Harry's forehead.

Several minutes later Harry's eyes opened and he looked at the four faces looking down at him in concern finally meeting the potions master.

'I'm sorry. That was irresponsible of me. I should know better than that.' He whispered.

'I'll not fault you there, Harry. Your actions could have had far reaching repercussions. If you had remained in Diagon Alley much longer the resulting display would have undoubtedly asked questions that as Blaise Zabini you would have been hard pressed to answer.'

'I know. I don't know why I ate them. I knew what would happen. I guess I was just angry because you left me behind like a child.'

Severus raised an eyebrow. 'Your actions did nothing to dispel that notion.'

'I know, again I apologise. I do realise now what could have happened.'

'Perhaps a little more forethought in future might be prudent.'

'Yes, Sir.' Harry said meekly.

'Come on. You have work to do.' Snape said, hauling the Boy-Who-Lived up off the floor and, to the surprise of the others, pushing him back out the doorway and towards the library. Tom and Lucius exchanged glances before following quickly.

Riddle and the two Malfoys stopped in the doorway of the library to see Harry staring in horror at the remains of the statue.

'Repair it.' The potions master ordered.

'I...I...' Harry trailed off unable to contemplate the possibility.

'You can do it, Potter. Just concentrate.' Snape's voice was oddly commanding in comparison to how he had spoken to Harry over the last month.

'Sir, I...'

'Now, Mr Potter. Do not make me wait any longer.'

It was quickly becoming clear that this was how Harry's "training" was usually conducted. Sure enough Harry closed his eyes and held out his hands, palms down.

'Wingardium Leviosa.' He murmured and the hundreds of thousands of pieces rose into the air, Snape stepped back several steps, the reason for this becoming clear moments later as with another murmured incantation the pieces all shot towards each other fusing together with a sharp crack.

Harry slowly opened his eyes, the statue floating in mid air in front of him. Snape stepped forward and reached out to grasp the statue, turning it over several times in his hands before looking up.

'Incorrect, Potter. Do it again.' He said curtly before throwing the statue on the floor once more. A strangled scream rang out from the doorway where Lucius found himself held in place by Riddle's wand.

Harry continued as if he didn't hear, closing his eyes and levitating the pieces once again.

This was continued a further eight times before Snape gave the Boy-Who-Lived a small smile. 'Very good, Harry.' He said quietly and the three spectators in the doorway all watched the effect the older man's praise had on Harry as he too smiled, his shoulders visibly sagging in relief. Snape placed the statue back in Harry's hands and he turned and crossed the room, to stand before the Malfoy patriarch.

'I'm terribly sorry, Lucius. I have no excuse for my actions and will accept any punishment you deem fit.' Harry said softly, his eyes downcast as he held the priceless statue out in front of him.

Lucius reached out and took the onyx figurine with shaking hands and opened his mouth to speak, a soft cough from the Dark Lord halting his words momentarily. Lucius glanced at Snape, whose face was as impassive as usual to Draco's who was staring at him with a pleading gaze.

'I believe that if you return my books to their correct places, Mr Potter, everything will be returned to normal. After the events of the last eight hours I feel you have punished yourself quite sufficiently.' Malfoy replied.

Harry turned to the bookcase. 'Returnus.' He murmured, flicking his wrist up and to the left. Books flew through the air and within moments the book were all back neatly where they belonged and Harry turned back once again. 'Thank you.' He said softly.

'Well, looking at the late hour, or in this case early hour, I believe it would be sensible if we all got some sleep.' Tom said moments later.

Everyone murmured an agreement and as one they headed up towards their rooms, Lucius and Tom stopping on the second floor with Draco calling out a quick goodnight before disappearing through his own door leaving Severus and Harry standing in the middle of the hall.

'Goodnight, Severus.' Harry whispered.

Severus leant down placing a gentle kiss on Harry's lips. 'Get some sleep, Harry. I'll see you in the morning.'

Harry nodded and returned the gesture before stepping into his room and closing the door.

'How did you know Harry was allergic to strawberries?' Tom's voice was quiet enough that Harry couldn't hear through the door. Severus sighed and walked back down the flight of stairs knowing the Dark Lord did not like to look up at anybody.

'We found out last Christmas. Dobby made him a strawberry flan for dessert and Harry, being Harry and not wanting to disappoint the creature, ate it. The result was a mess. It took three days for the haze to wear off and Dumbledore kept him in the shrieking shack under a full body bind the entire time. Potter's friends weren't there so he wasn't missed.'

'Why the shrieking shack? Why not just keep him at the school?' Tom asked curiously.

'Harry's magic can be...volatile...at times. He almost destroyed half the hospital wing and Albus didn't want to take the chance of his drawing the extra magic from the air around him and bringing the castle down around our ears.'

'He can draw on magic?'

Severus nodded. 'It was one of the first talents Albus was able to discover. Harry's a Sorcerer.'

Tom sucked in a breath. 'A Sorcerer? He's a Sorcerer?'

Snape nodded. 'That's where the migraines come from. He's only had a couple but I think this year, having come into his inheritance, there will be many more.'

'You will watch out for him at Hogwarts, Severus.' It was not a question and the potions master nodded quickly.

Riddle eyed him for several minutes before nodding curtly and stalking off down the darkened hallway.

Severus let out a quiet breath and walked slowly back up the stairs, he hesitated outside Harry's door as he heard a soft cry. He waited a few moments but there was only silence and he sighed again before crossing the hallway to his own room.

Harry didn't come down for breakfast the next morning and when Draco checked on him he advised the Dark Lord that the Boy-Who-Lived was still asleep.

Draco used the day to finish his summer homework under the watchful eye of his father.

Tom Riddle used it to summon many of his followers and gift them with new orders without the use of the Cruciatus Curse, mindful of the fact that its use would probably wake Harry.

And Snape used the day to check on both Dumbledore and Blaise Zabini.

And finally, at just about dinner time, Harry woke. When he walked into the dining room Narcissa, who had spent the last few days in bed herself looked at him in surprise.

'Harry, my dear, you look awful. Do you wish me to call a medi-wizard?'

Harry blushed. 'No thank you ma'am. I'm just a little tired.' He said quietly as he slipped into his seat between Draco and Severus.

Narcissa didn't look convinced but at a look from her husband didn't pursue it further.

After a fairly silent meal they Narcissa dragged Draco off to help her do something none of the others could even fathom and they retired once more to the library.

'Did you not sleep very well?' Severus murmured in concern as he pushed Harry down onto the sofa and placed a blanket over his lap.

'Nightmares.' Was all Harry would say but he did look up at Tom and smile. 'Thanks by the way.'

Tom raised an eyebrow. 'You saw?'

Harry nodded. 'Some of it. Bet you almost gave them all heart failure when you let them leave without hexing them.' He chuckled quietly.

Tom smirked. 'It will just make them all the more nervous the next time.'

Harry shook his head in resignation. 'You're incorrigible.'

'Our Lord has to keep them in line somehow.' Lucius said stiffly.

Harry pinned the blonde with an annoyed look, one dark eyebrow raised in question. 'You do realise there are other ways, don't you?' he asked glancing at Tom.

'Nothing that works quite so efficiently.' Lucius retorted.

'Efficiently for whom?'

'Our Lord has many ways of making sure we stay loyal.'

Another black eyebrow rose. 'I'm sure he does.' Harry murmured just loud enough for the others to hear. Lucius was almost shaking in anger at the amount of disrespect Harry was showing but to Snape's surprise Tom was just watching the growing argument with interest and no small amount of amusement.

'You insolent little half-blood.' Lucius snarled.

Harry didn't respond, instead gifting Tom with a knowing look. 'You never told him then.' He stated.

'Don't even think about it, Potter.' Tom said evenly.

'I think you really should tell him.' Harry countered.

'Why?'

'I don't think it's fair for him as a pureblood not to know that two of the most powerful wizards of the age are not.'

'Not what?' Malfoy burst out.

'Harry.' Snape said warningly but Harry's eyes remained locked with Tom's.

'Not what?' Lucius snapped again.

'Pureblood.' Tom said quietly.

A deathly silence filled the room as Harry and Tom continued staring at one another and Lucius gaped at them openly.

'See, that wasn't that hard, was it?' Harry said softly. It had been an admission he had been trying to get from the Dark Lord since he had arrived.

Tom stood and walked to the window staring out at the gathering darkness. Harry glanced at Severus before pushing the blanket from his knees and standing up. Lucius was still unable to speak as he watched Harry cross the room and place a hand on Riddle's arm.

'I don't know if it means anything to you but I'm proud of you.' He whispered. Riddle turned and looked down at the Boy-Who-Lived. 'Your heritage isn't something to be ashamed of, Tom. You have much to be proud of and you have accomplished many things a lesser person would have failed at. Your followers are not loyal to you because they think you're a pureblood. They're loyal to you because of who you are. A powerful wizard. Muggle blood or wizard blood, it matters not. All that matters is what's in here.' Harry said honestly as he placed a hand over Riddle's heart. 'Your beliefs and you will to succeed are what makes people follow you, not the purity of your blood.'

Tom looked unconvinced and Harry turned to the two men still standing by the fireplace. 'Lucius, do you think less of your Lord now you know the truth?'

'No, of course not.' Malfoy answered automatically. 'It was just a shock, My Lord. I do apologise if I offended you.'

'My Lord, I have known of your heritage for many years and they did nothing to change my views of you.' Severus murmured. 'In fact, it is your concern of Mr Potter's welfare that finally swayed me fully to your side.'

'I beg your pardon?' Tom face was mildly curious but Harry could see an underlying anger there.

'Severus.' Harry began but the potions master shook his head.

'He deserves to know, Harry.' Severus' black eyes displayed an emotion Harry couldn't quite discern but he nodded anyway.

'My Lord, when I first joined you I believed in your words and your ideas. I thought you were a visionary. But then you found part of that prophecy and it turned into an obsession. I'm sorry to say that at that point, your words and actions caused my loyalty to you to waver and I returned to Dumbledore who welcomed me with open arms.'

Harry heard Tom suck in a sharp breath and clasped the dark Lord's arm tightly.

'Many years passed and then you were resurrected. Your obsession with Harry Potter after that event did nothing but reaffirm my earlier decision. It was only this year, as your concern for Harry became evident and Albus Dumbledore's disregard for him made itself painfully obvious that I realised I had been wrong. Your vision may have been clouded for some time but deep down it was still there and it was vision that would lead to a safer world. The purity of your blood has no bearing on my choices; instead it is your will to change our world for the better that makes me follow you.'

Riddle was silent for several minutes before raising a shaking hand and pointing it at the potions master, wand clasped tightly within. 'I should kill you where you stand.' He hissed.

Harry's eyes widened in horror and he looked between Tom and Severus trying desperately to figure out how to end this.

Severus eyes lowered. 'I apologise for lying to you, My Lord, but I will not apologise for following what I believe to be right.'

'You're a traitor.' Riddle hissed darkly.

'Yes, to myself.' Snape said quietly.

'How much did you tell that muggle loving fool? How many loyal followers did I lose to your treachery?'

'None.' Snape murmured. 'I told only small details, leaving the old man to work out it out on his own. My only treachery involved Harry and keeping him safe, and for that I don't feel any remorse.'

Harry beamed at the older man when Snape's eyes flicked to him.

'If I find you have lied to me, Severus.' Riddle hissed in warning.

'I haven't, as I'm sure you will discover. My gratitude to you has only grown after this summer and that is why I felt you deserved to know the truth.'

Riddle's red eyes bored into his and Snape felt the Dark Lord probing at his mind. For once Snape dropped his Occlumency and allowed Riddle free reign to rummage through his memories for several minutes before the Dark Lord pulled away.

'You are one very odd man, Severus.' Tom said quietly.

Severus raised an eyebrow. 'So I've been told.' He murmured and Harry snorted softly.

Riddle looked at him further. 'You know, I do believe you are loyal, Severus.'

'Yes, my Lord.'

'Although I'm not sure that loyalty is to me or to young Harry.' Riddle had put his wand away by this point and folded his arms across his chest, his eyes glinting in amusement.

'I don't think it's loyalty that Severus feels for Mr Potter.' Lucius drawled.

Harry scowled at the blond aristocrat. 'Can you please stop calling me that?' He growled. 'I detest being called "Mr Potter" more than anything else. My name is Harry and it would please me if you would use it.'

Lucius smirked at him. 'Certainly Mr Potter.'

Harry rolled his eyes and turned slightly dropping his head on Tom's shoulder and sighing heavily. 'Please can I hex him?' He groaned. 'Nothing nasty. Just something annoying or irritating.'

'Talking about yourself again?' Severus snickered.

Harry glanced over at his lover and couldn't help but snort at the amusement dancing in the black eyes. 'Careful or I'll hex you too.' He scolded.

Severus raised an eyebrow and glanced over at his old friend. 'I warn you, Lucius, Harry does know an inconceivable amount of mildly annoying to incredibly irritating hexes that he won't hesitate to use. If you don't believe me talk to Healer Scarap at St Mungo's who had to remove over thirty of them from Kingsley and Moody the last time the two pissed him off.'

`Thirty?' Riddle sounded impressed.

Harry smirked wickedly. 'It would have been more but the bastards just wouldn't stand still.' He said simply and Tom laughed.

'I think it's time we called it a night.' Severus offered and Tom nodded in agreement.

'I should go and rescue my son from the clutches of his mother. Merlin knows what she's dressed him in now.' Lucius sighed as he bowed to Tom and slipped across the room and out the door.

Tom, Harry and Severus followed shortly thereafter the two younger men stopping on the second floor landing as Tom turned to them.

'Your honesty was refreshing, Severus, especially considering the topic of that honesty could have got you killed.' The Dark Lord said wryly.

Snape gave him a small bow. 'As I mentioned, My Lord, you did deserve the truth.'

'Thank you, Severus. Goodnight. Harry.' Tom gave the Gryffindor a pat on the shoulder before walking away.

'Night Tom.' Harry called after him before Riddle could disappear through the doorway.

They heard the door close and Severus took Harry's arm and guided him up the stairs to the next floor stopping just outside their rooms.

'Harry, I...' Severus began but Harry cut him off wrapping his arms around the potions master's neck and kissing him soundly. Severus moaned as Harry pressed himself flush against the older man, his fingers fiddling with the hair at the back of Snape's neck causing the potions master to shudder. Harry pulled away after a few moments, his bright green eyes pleading.

'Stay with me.' he whispered and Severus found himself unable to say no. Instead allowing himself to be tugged into Harry's room and the door closed firmly behind him.

'I can't believe they're together.' Draco whispered from the bottom of the stairs.

'It does boggle the mind, Draco, to be sure.'

'Severus's good for Harry though, isn't he?'

'And I believe Mr Potter is actually good for Severus too.' Lucius said grudgingly.

'That hurt, didn't it?' Draco snickered.

Lucius scowled at his son. 'Go to bed, you insolent brat.'

Draco just laughed and darted up the stairs. 'Night Father.' He called out.

'Goodnight son.'

Lucius sighed 'I do hope you know what you're doing, Severus.' He said softly before he too turned and walked away.