Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Universe belongs to JKR and anyone she legally lets use them. Not me.

A/N: Hello everyone! I apologize again for the long wait. I know this is a short chapter, but I figured I'd post this and then post the other half at some point next week [so you guys don't murder me completely xD] Thank you everyone for the lovey reviews and for the fave and alert adds! Enjoy!

Chapter 29

Harry gaped at Blaise, "What?"

Blaise raised an eyebrow, "My cousin just Flooed me, quite late I might add, asking me about one Evan Black. And so I think to myself, who is he talking about? I don't know an Evan Black, and just as I go to tell him this, I pause and realize I do know a man who is heir to the Black fortune. Whose mother had the last name Evans. Who is desperate enough to disguise himself and go out to meet people."

Harry gulped and realized the breath he'd been holding. "Blaise...thank you. I..."

"I hope you know what you're doing, Harry," Blaise cut him off, chidingly. "Aidan is my cousin, and while he has many of the family Slytherin traits, in the end he is a Ravenclaw. He believes you, and he likes you. It's been a long time since he's truly felt attracted to someone, for more than a one night stand. Don't...don't mess with his emotions please."

Harry looked at his friend in alarm, "No, Blaise, it's not like that! I like Aidan. It's just...I met him under the disguise; he was attracted to me in when I had the glamour on. Until I know...until I know that this might actually be something more than a few dates, I'm unwilling to reveal who I am and let more of society know that my marriage is a sham. The bond thing between Severus and me is already strained as it is."

"Strained?" Blaise's voice was sharp and Harry suddenly had the feeling that Blaise meant more than his words were saying.

"Yea, you know, because so many people know..."

"Why did you use that word though? Strained?"

Harry shrugged, "It's an odd feeling. I thought that there was no bond so I didn't really look into how much he would affect me. But, it's as if...there's something pulling between us and it's thin and it…aches, sharply. I just want him to either leave me alone or at least respect me. His constant digs at me, and Malfoy and his...almost childish perception of me...it's irritating and I think maybe the bond thing is taking that into account. I don't know what to do."

Harry knew he looked downright miserable, judging by Blaise's expression, evidence that it was time to end this call. "Thanks though Blaise, I promise that if I don't think it will work out with Aidan I'll let him down gently. But...don't judge me yet, please."

Blaise smiled, "I apologize Harry. I just..."

"I know. Thank you though."

Blaise nodded and ended the call just as Harry sat back on his heels in exhaustion. He just wanted life to go back to how it had been. Without all this...

If only.

Severus sat in an armchair in his office, sipping two fingers of cognac slowly, Draco's words from earlier in the evening ringing in his mind.

"His eyes are grey. Like mine. His hair is jet black, long, and he's older. Like you. He's slender, like me. Tall like you"

"Draco, are you suggesting that Potter has a crush on both of us and is pursuing this man because he reminds him of us?"

"That is exactly what I'm saying."

Could it be true? Did Potter have a crush on them? Or rather, was Potter still in love with Draco, and somehow also had feelings for him, his husband? Was it even possible?

Severus was fairly sure that Potter had not stopped loving Draco, his actions and words were proof enough for that, but as to Potter's supposed feelings for his self…

And did these things actually matter?

That was the real question, was it not? If Potter did care about both of them, did they care? Severus did not doubt that the idea of manipulating Potter into their bed, simply for their pleasure, had crossed Draco's mind. But the whole situation suddenly seemed much more complicated.

Because Severus could not deny the slight clenching of his stomach at the sight of a groomed Potter, a bedraggled Potter, an angry Potter…

Draco ignited a soft passion, tender emotions, but Potter…Potter somehow called to the darker, rougher, burning, part of him. Potter angered him, tested him, puzzled him, challenged him. Draco kept him human.

In truth, having both…having both would complete Severus in a way that scared the man.

Draco's words suddenly caused a strange hope to ignite within Severus. One that he did not understand, and most certainly did not desire. He did not want to get to know Potter, to understand him, to actually make him a part of their lives.

Did he?

Draco and Severus froze in the doorway of the kitchen as they watched Potter set a silver-grey Pensieve and a rack of green glass vials holding what were unmistakably Draco's memories onto the table. Another rack of memories sat next to these, most likely Potter's corresponding memories. Turning around, Potter gave the two men a cold, detached look before saying neutrally, "The green vials are Draco's memories. These are mine. Please do not destroy or lose them. I would like them back after."

Potter walked towards the door that led to the parlor before pausing, "I would recommend Severus watch any memories from Draco's point of view if you wish to see his...perspective."

And then he silently disappeared through the door, the distinctive sound of the Floo filling the silence following his departure.

Draco swallowed and ran his fingers along the tops of the vials. Glancing up at Severus he whispered, "Mine or Potter's?"

Severus stared thoughtfully at the vials before saying, "Let's start with Potter's."

Draco nodded, his fingers still outlining the tops of the vials.

"Ready?"

Draco nodded, "As I'll ever be."

Severus extracted Potter's first memory.

Potter sat silently in the Hogwarts Hospital Wing, reading a magazine, when Draco floated in, Severus's wand holding him up. He looked up in surprise, mouth gaping at Draco's damaged form, before asking,

"What happened?!"

Severus stayed focused on Draco, but responded, "Attacked. POPPY!"

"Clearly, Snape. But normally that doesn't warrant looking like your skin is going to fall right off. Is he okay?"

"Does he look okay to you, Potter? Use your miniscule brain, would you! Do not bother me with imbecilic questions while I try to keep Draco alive!"

Potter looked chagrined though he inched slowly off the bed and sat near Draco's bed as Madame Pomfrey raced out of her office and began waving her wand instantly as she set eyes on Draco's immobile body.

Draco grabbed Severus's hand as he watched.

Potter frowned as he took in Severus's tense and frustrated stance as Madame Pomfrey pushed him away and began healing Draco on her own.

What exactly had happened to Draco?

Ironically enough Potter turned to Severus and asked the same thing, "What really happened? Who attacked him?"

Severus turned an awful shade of purple and snarled, "His beloved Aunt, Bella. Aunty Bella thought he needed to learn a lesson, after not torturing a Muggle girl correctly." Clearly seeing Draco in this state had led him to some place where he was willing to admit this to Potter.

And evidently he knew this too as he snapped back to himself and turned to Potter, "And nobody else needs to hear about this, right Potter? Especially not your little friends, the red-head and the know-it-all."

Potter looked scandalized, "Of course not Professor!" Potter's eyes narrowed, however, "Torturing a Muggle girl?"

Severus clenched his jaw, "Aunty Bella also drugged her precious nephew so she could drag him to the Dark Lord's feet and force his arm forward in order to take his disgusting mark."

Potter's eyes widened, almost comically, as he said, "Oh no…"

Severus clenched his eyes shut and turned to leave, "Potter, do I need to Obliviate you?"

Potter shook his head, even though Severus couldn't see him, "No sir, I'll keep my mouth shut."

Severus nodded once before sweeping out of the Infirmary as the memory faded.

Gasping, Draco and Severus pulled out of the memory to stare simply at the Pensieve.

"That's the same story you told me."

Severus looked at Draco questioningly.

"When I woke up from that coma, you said that Bella had cursed me so bad I'd fallen into a coma."

"Ah. So not a complete lie then."

"Hmm."

"Next one?"

Draco nodded

Draco and Severus landed in the Hogwarts' Infirmary once more, this time to see Draco awaken slowly from sleep, Potter in the chair next to the Slytherin's bed. Draco looked around slowly, obviously waiting for his head to clear.

"Potter?" Draco asked, his voice rough from disuse, his tone incredulous.

The Gryffindor looked up and acknowledged Draco, "Good morning, Malfoy. You're at Hogwarts, in the Infirmary. I'll just call Pomfrey now…"

After Madame Pomfrey was done checking Draco over, tutting over him irritatingly and forcing a number of potions down his throat, she ordered him to stay in bed and left. Draco stared at his own body for a while, processing that all visible skin was covered with bandages.

Draco looked at Potter again, as if trying to discern his true motives. "What are you doing here, Potter?"

Potter looked up again from the book he was reading, his face carefully neutral, "I'm sick."

"Really?" Draco drawled.

Potter nodded and turned back to his book.

Pinching his lips together in annoyance, Draco asked again, "I meant, what are you doing here by my bedside?"

Potter looked up again, "Reading."

"Are you being purposefully obtuse?" Draco snapped, and then began to cough.

Potter rose to gently pat Draco on the back and returned to his seat only when Draco's cough went away.

"Potter!"

Potter sighed, "Look Malfoy, you've been here for a week now, and you've been in a coma. I'm bored, I've been by myself, so I decided that I'd sit here and read since you're at least human presence, in comparison to just having empty beds as company. You have the mark, which Snape informs me you were forced to take."

Draco flinched.

"The fact that your Aunty Bella is a crazy bitch is something we can both agree on, yes? She killed my only family, my godfather, and she has robbed you of your freedom. Frankly, that makes me think we're on the same side here. So, rather than wasting energy hating each other, why don't we work together to get rid of her and her crazy Lord? I have better things to worry about than hating you, Malfoy. If you can agree to not bait me every second we're in this empty Infirmary together, we may actually be able to coexist and do so without wasting all our time fighting and in detention."

With that none too impassioned speech, Potter turned to reading his book, leaving Draco staring, gobsmacked, at the Gryffindor.

"Fine."

Potter looked up, a flash of surprise visible in his eyes. "Oh?"

The memory faded away as another took its place.

Potter gasped as he awoke in the dead of night, looking around to discern what had awoken him. Draco lay in his infirmary bed, twisted in what seemed to be a very uncomfortable position, mouth open in a silent scream. Scrambling out of bed, Potter hurried toward Draco, shaking his shoulder to break the nightmare.

"Draco! Draco, wake up! You're having a nightmare!"

Draco's eyes slammed open and he panted, eyes fling from right to left wildly. When they finally settled on Potter, Draco took a few deep breaths as he whispered, "Harry?"

To Severus and Draco's surprise, Harry enveloped Draco in his arms and drew him into an embrace. "You're fine, you're safe. It was just a dream."

"Not a dream."

"No?"

"A memory. Aunt Bella's not here right?"

"No, of course not. I'd have cursed her out the window if she was," Potter said, trying to make a joke.

Draco smiled weakly, though his fingers wrapped themselves tighter in the Gryffindor's pajamas.

"Don't leave."

Harry looked down at the Slytherin, blinking slowly. "Do you want me to…"

Draco stiffened as he seemed to realize where he was, who he was speaking with, and what exactly he had asked for. "Never mind, Potter, forget it."

Harry's eyebrow twitched. "Potter? Back to my last name already? I guess I'll have to stay here until you get it right."

Draco raised an eyebrow, a Slytherin smirk twitching at the corner of his mouth.

Harry nodded, drawing Draco down onto the bed and covering them with the duvet. "Oh yes. Can't let you forget out truce already."

The two Slytherins watched in amazement as Draco curled into Potter's arms and fell asleep.

Draco stepped out of the Pensieve and stared at in shock. "…I…"

Severus had a blank expression on his face. "Should we watch this one from your point of view?"

Draco nodded, his mind racing, trying to understand how he could have been so…relaxed in Potter's presence, so much so that he had curled up in bed with him?

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