AN: Hello all!! Hope New Year finds you all well. Sorry it's been a while but I have had a wicked case of writers block…hopefully it's gone now. Hope you enjoy the next chapter….Bare in mind I don't own these characters…I just like to play.
"Hey Mum, I'm back." Draco greeted his mother the same way each time he saw her. He tried to make it seem as though everything was fine and she wasn't locked up with a bunch of nutters in St. Mungo's, but no matter how casual he tried to sound, to his own ears, it sounded hollow.
Draco sat down in the vacant chair beside Narcissa's bed and took her hand in his. He ran his thumb over the sallow skin of her hand before leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on it. "I love you, Mum," he began, "and I'm glad that you made the changes that have allowed me to have all that I do, but I just don't understand why you did it. I wish you would wake up and tell me what you were thinking."
Draco ran his free hand through his hair and sat back in his chair, still holding her hand and began the babbling that was his daily update. "So let's see, what have I told you about? Well, Harry's finally reacted to what happened. Severus is worried that if he doesn't start to talk about it or at least consciously acknowledge it that he's going to have a break down. He watches Harry all the time, looking for the cracks he thinks are coming. I don't see them. I took him shopping the other day and got him some new clothes."
He stopped and looked around the room for a moment and tried to think about what else he could tell her that wouldn't upset her. He was about to start the one-sided dialogue again when a mediwitch came in to see how they were doing.
"Good morning Mr. Malfoy, and how are we today?" she asked as she ran her morning diagnostic spells over his mother's body.
"Fine, thank you. And you?" Draco truly didn't care about how she was but he wouldn't disappoint his mother by forgetting his manners.
"Very well, thank you. Your mother had a restful night and only one nightmare. From what I understand it wasn't a bad one either, no screaming and very little talking. She's making improvements every day."
Draco knew she was trying to give him hope but he didn't believe that his mother would ever really improve enough to truly be herself again. He would never let on that the mediwitch's kind words weren't doing a thing for him though.
"Thank you, that's so good to hear."
"I think it's wonderful that you come and visit. The talking to her is helpful. It keeps her in touch with what's going on."
"That's my hope," he replied as she walked out. "So, where was I before we were interrupted?" He could almost hear his mother's laugh as his sarcastic nature made itself known.
"Good morning Harry, sleep well?" Severus inquired as he looked up from the Prophet.
Harry sat down in the chair next to the fireplace and sighed, "Better I guess. I didn't have as many dreams and the only thing I remember about them this morning are eyes looking at me. Did I keep you guys up last night?"
"I don't believe so. Draco didn't make any indication before he left this morning that he had heard you in the night and I did not." Severus looked Harry up and down before commenting as he waved his hand up and down, "Is this something new?"
"Oh uh…yeah. It's one of the outfits Draco bought me yesterday. Does it look okay?" Harry was a little nervous about all the new clothes, having never had any before but he had to admit, they did feel good to have. He smiled as he thought about actually having to make a decision about what to wear that morning.
"Yes, it looks quite nice," Severus said as he noticed the smile on Harry's face. It was such a welcome sight that he was curious as to what brought it on, "Why are you smiling?"
Harry became self-conscious and his smile faltered a bit as he said, "I was just thinking about how strange it was to open the closet and actually have to decide if these went together. I've never exactly had a 'wardrobe' before and I didn't know if this would look good."
There was a pleasant pause in the conversation as Harry stared into the fire. He wanted to talk to Severus about his and Draco's relationship and make sure he wasn't a third wheel but he didn't know how to go about it. 'It's not like I can just say….so how long have you been shagging Draco?' he thought. He didn't want to get kicked out of the house as he was really enjoying being there. It felt safe and welcoming to him. He never thought in a million years he would ever say that about Malfoy Manor.
"So, did Draco go to visit his Mum this morning?" Harry asked.
Severus put the completed paper down on the table next to the couch where he was currently stretched out relaxing, "Yes he did. He should be back anytime. We'll be leaving for Hogwarts at about three o'clock and will be having dinner there with everyone before the service. I have been asked to say a few words. There will also be time for you to say something if you wish."
Harry was suddenly very nervous and stammered, "Well, I uh…I'm not….uh…"
"Harry, you don't have to speak if you don't want to," Severus said reaching for the boy's hand.
Harry allowed his hand to be captured and only pulled back when Draco came in and cleared his throat, "Am I interrupting something?"
Harry looked up and saw the smirk on the blonde's face and stuck his tongue out at him.
Draco laughed and knocking Severus' legs off the couch he was lounging on, sat down and grabbed the abandoned Prophet, "You don't suppose anyone from the paper will be at the funeral do you?"
"Yes, there will be a reporter there from the Prophet but no other press will be allowed within the castle grounds. I was just telling Harry that I have been asked to speak…"
"Oh good, there will be time for a nap," Draco said, somehow keeping a straight face.
"And there will time for others to speak if they wish," Severus continued as though Draco hadn't spoken and didn't acknowledge the stifled laughter coming from Harry.
Draco looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow, "Will you be speaking Harry?"
Harry flushed slightly and mumbled, "I don't know. Excuse me." He hastily left the room before either man could see the panic that was welling up in him.
They watched Harry leave before Severus asked, "Did you have a nice time with Narcissa?"
Draco's smile left his face and he tossed the paper back onto the table as he replied, "Yes, I suppose so."
"And how is she? Any change?"
"No, she's the same. I told her about my shopping trip with Harry and waited to see if she would respond. Part of me wanted her to sit up and smack me for spending time and money on Harry Potter, and the other part wanted her to tell me that she was proud of me for helping him."
Severus looked at Draco and, for the first time, saw the man he had become on that night. "Draco, you don't need her approval. You did what you thought was right and that's all she ever wanted you to do. I truly believe she knew you wouldn't kill Albus and have no doubt that she is very proud of you for standing up to Lucius the way you did."
Draco nodded his head and got up to leave, "Thanks Sev. I'm gonna go have a shower and get ready to leave."
The small group arrived at the gates of their former home minutes before dinner was to be served. Harry had been having a hard time getting ready as each time he thought about being back there and seeing Dumbledore's pyre, he would begin to have a panic attack.
Severus had tried to assure him that no one was expecting anything from him and that everyone would just be glad to see him there, but the only thing that helped was when Draco came in and sat on the bed talking to him about absolutely nothing.
"So have you spoken to The Weasley's lately? I heard the Twins shop is doing well and they are considering opening another." Draco knew Harry wouldn't answer so he continued talking, "I also saw Longbottom today when I was at St. Mungo's. I think he was there visiting someone but I don't know who."
He continued to chat casually as Harry dressed and by the time they were ready to leave, Harry was breathing normally and had some colour back in his face.
As they walked through the doors of the castle, Harry stopped and refused to move. Severus and Draco had walked ahead a few steps before they realised he wasn't between them any longer.
Draco waved Severus off and quietly said, "I'll handle this. We'll be along in a minute."
Draco approached Harry and asked, "Harry, you coming? You know Ron will eat all the food if we don't get in there soon."
Harry had been looking around the entry hall and stopped at Draco's comment. He smiled and looked at the blonde who was quickly becoming a good friend and took a deep breath, "Yeah, let's get this over with."
The Great Hall had been transformed into a comfortable sitting room, complete with multiple tables for the diners and pictures lining the wall showing Albus over the years. There were pictures of his childhood, showing a smiling, gap-toothed child trying to learn to fly; Albus with his sister and brother riding atop an Elephant on a family vacation in India prior to their tragedy; Albus and his mother, Kendra, the photo of them prior to her death; Albus and his lover Gellert Grindewald before his death, and many of Albus at Hogwarts over the years.
Harry glanced at a couple of himself with Albus and felt the tears gathering in his eyes. He didn't want to cry in front of everyone, so he steered himself away from the photographic tribute and found his assigned table for dinner. He was seated with Draco at the Weasley table. "Does the universe truly hate me this much?" he mumbled as he sat.
"No one hates you Harry," Draco whispered as he took his seat, draping his arm over the back of Harry's chair, "Minerva just felt that you would like to be with family." Draco left his arm where it was and Harry began to relax a little.
Molly, Ron, Hermione and the Twins arrived shortly thereafter and she watched as Draco casually removed his arm from Harry's chair and called Harry's attention to the family.
Harry stood becoming engulfed in Molly's embrace and could no longer hold back his emotions allowing silent tears to fall. He was passed from Molly to Hermione who held on as though her life depended on it and then through the boys, one after another, and none for long, before being taken in again by Molly.
"We've missed you dear, how are you doing?" she asked as she wiped Harry's tears with Arthur's handkerchief.
"I'm okay Molly. Severus and Draco have been very gracious about letting me stay at the Manor and Draco even took me shopping the other day for some clothes." Knowing what Molly would ask next, he added, "And yes, they have been feeding me just fine." Harry smiled at his 'Mom' and pulled the chair next to him out for her.
Dinner was served and as usual, Ron dug in with both hands. Hermione chuckled as Fred observed, "Nothing will change his appetite."
Harry ate some but Draco noticed he played with his food more that eating it. He saw Molly watching this as well and they shared a nod of acknowledgement and worry.
Minerva motioned for Molly to come over to her table and Draco watched as they spoke and glanced at Harry. He tried to quietly urge Harry to eat when dessert appeared but Harry's stomach just wouldn't tolerate any thing.
Molly returned to the table and sitting, took Harry's hand in hers, holding it in her lap, and looked at the faces around the table. "Family, I believe we have someone new to welcome today and I would like to be the first to say, Welcome Draco."
Draco spit his water back into his glass as he cough around it. He placed his glass on the table and looked at Molly with wide eyes and she smiled at him.
"You have taken one of ours in and taken care of him when we couldn't and for that I will always be thankful. You are welcome in our home anytime, son."
Before Draco could respond, Minerva stood and drew everyone's attention to the front of the candlelit room. The food disappeared from the tables and was replaced by large flower centerpieces and pictures of Albus.
"Thank you everyone for coming today. I know Albus would have been touched to see you all here. While the house elves finish preparing I wanted to ask Severus Snape to say a few words."
Severus stood and took a deep breath. He looked around the room and began to speak in a tremulous voice that carried easily through the silence.
"Good Evening. I have been asked to say a few words about Albus Dumbledore, so please bare with me as I attempt to do the man justice." He took a deep breath and continued, "Albus was a man of few words and those he did speak were often cryptic," he paused to listen to the laughter that filled the room, "but I never had to decipher what he said when he talked about this school, the students and the staff he considered his family. Although there were times in the last fifty years when Albus considered retiring from his life here, his heart was never really behind it as he knew this castle was truly his home. I think many of you will agree with me when I say that Albus and Minerva were very much like an old married couple in the way they argued and behaved toward each other but I doubt many knew that Albus looked at Minerva as an equal from the day he met her. He would often talk about one of the best decisions he made as headmaster was appointing Minerva his second in command. He knew that she would remain fair, where he was biased," Severus looked toward Harry with a small smile on his face, "and would remind him to look at things logically when he was prone to flights of fancy."
Severus felt Minerva take his hand and gently squeezed to remind him to stay on track, "Sorry," he whispered to her before continuing, "Albus considered his greatest legacy to be this school and its students; I believe his greatest legacy to be his unlimited capacity for true unconditional love and unending faith in those he came into contact with. He would have been so proud to see you all here today to honour him in this way and I speak on behalf of our fallen leader when I say, thank you for everything you have done over these hard years. I hope we can continue to live up to his faith is us in the future." Severus sat down hard and unashamedly wiped the free falling tears from his face.
Minerva stood and placed her hand on his shoulder as she beckoned others who wished to speak to "please stand and pay tribute."
Harry watched as various witches and wizards stood to pay their respects to their friend, professor, headmaster and colleague. Some he recognized but most he didn't. He felt Draco lean toward him and he tipped his head toward the boy, "Harry, are you gonna say anything?"
Harry took a deep breath, slowly stood, his hands at his sides, and looked around the room before beginning, "I'm Harry Potter, for those who may not know me, and I wanted to try and say something about Albus." His voiced hitched and tears began to fall again as he took a deep breath, "Professor Dumbel…Albus, was more than just a mentor or teacher to me. From the moment I met him he was…"he paused to gain control of his emotions and felt Draco and Molly take his shaking hands into theirs. He felt a renewed strength at their presence and continued, "From the moment I met him, he was the father I lost as a baby. He showed me the way when I thought I was lost, he reminded me of who I was when I couldn't see the truth in the mirror and he gave me a family when I thought I was an orphan. He helped me see that no matter what path we choose to follow, there will always be someone who is in our corner to ground us and keep us true. I loved Albus and I will miss him for the length of my life but I will never forget that who I am is because of who he was." Harry sat and smiled at his family that surrounded his table.
Molly leaned in and kissed his cheek and whispered, "That was beautiful sweetheart, Albus would be very proud of your courage."
"Thank you to everyone for sharing your memories of this great man. It's time for our goodbye to be completed now so if you will al proceed to the Black Lake, we will light the pyre and say our final goodbye."
Harry stood, inconsolable, beside the ivory sarcophagus that had sprung from the pyre, and laid his hand on the surface, rubbing it back and forth. He couldn't form words so he sent all the emotions that threatened to blow his heart apart, through his arm and hand into the smooth surface.
Draco walked up and placed his arm around Harry's shoulders saying, "We've got to go home now Harry. It's time."
Harry allowed himself to be led away from the resting place of the only father he'd ever known and didn't look back.
Severus made sure that Harry was settled into his bed with a dreamless sleep potion in his system before he allowed himself the chance to feel everything that had happened that day. He had been so proud of the boy when he stood and spoke. And to see the strength he showed when he stood by Minerva as she lit the pyre had astounded him.
He sat in the study in front of the fire watching the flames dance across the logs as he sipped a glass of Lagavulin whiskey, the last gift from Albus before the battle. "Three fingers, neat, my boy and you will be in heaven." he smiled remembering how Albus had insisted that the bottle only be opened in celebration, as the first sip burned down his throat.
Severus held the glass up saying, "Cheers. You will be missed." He downed the last swallow and retired to his room for the evening.
Harry woke to light coming through his bedroom window. He lay there thinking about the previous night. He didn't remember what he had said or how people had reacted but he figured it couldn't have been too bad. He got out of bed and was heading for the loo when he heard a soft knock at the door, "Come in," he said as he kept walking, "I'll be right out."
Harry walked back into his room to see who had come into his room, "Ron!" he yelled as he embraced his dearest friend, "What are you doing here mate?"
Ron returned the embrace and clapped Harry on the back, "Mum sent me."
The boys climbed onto the bed and leaned against the headboard as Ron explained why he was there, "Mum wanted me to come and check up on you. Make sure everything really was okay."
Harry laughed knowing Molly wouldn't believe him no matter how many times he said everything was fine.
"So, what's it really like here mate? Are you going crazy yet?"
"No, I'm doing okay here. It's actually kinda nice. Severus and Draco do their thing and pretty much leave me alone. I've been working with Severus on a sleeping potion that will keep me from having the nightmares and Draco took me shopping the other day and bought me some clothes. It's kinda weird but we had fun together until we hit Diagon Alley."
"What happened there?"
Harry went on to tell Ron what happened in Diagon Alley as he got dressed for the day. After living in the same dorm together for seven years, he didn't have to worry about changing in front of Ron - they had seen it all before.
"Wait, so you're saying Malfoy not only bought you clothes but he defended you against Greyback?"
Harry nodded and whispered, "And Ginny."
"Ginny?"
"Yeah, she was there with Greyback and they apparated as the Aurors arrived." He looked up and saw the confusion and concern on Ron's face and added, "She looked okay Ron."
"Yeah, I just…well, I guess I still didn't believe it. Did she say anything?"
"Yeah, well I was trying to hex Greyback when she showed up. I asked her why and she said she went where she was treated as an equal and would be valued. She also said with them, she wants for nothing."
Ron shook his head as he watched Harry's face. He knew it hurt Harry to tell him all that but he was glad he knew. Now he had to find a way to not let his mum find out about it. It would kill her to know what Ginny had said.
"Let's go and have something for breakfast. I'm sure Draco and Severus have cleared out by now. They usually have an argument in the morning and then head off to whatever they have to do. I'm pretty sure they're shagging too."
Harry turned at the sound of gagging behind him and burst out laughing at the look on Ron's face. "Yeah, well I don't know for sure because I haven't seen anything, it's just a feeling I get."
They walked into the kitchen to find Draco and Severus still sipping tea and reading the paper. "Good morning Mr. Weasley," Severus said, "To what do we owe this pleasure?"
"Morning sir, my Mum asked me to come and see if Harry wanted to come to the Burrow for a while."
"So she's afraid we aren't treating him right?" Draco asked.
Ron blushed but didn't answer.
"Well, I guess I can't blame her given his past," Draco said, "but as you can see, we're feeding and watering him at regular intervals and he's got clothes that fit."
Harry and Severus burst out laughing and Ron's face got redder.
Severus stopped laughing and said, "Harry, if you want to go to the Burrow, feel free. You're welcome back here anytime."
Harry smiled and sat next to Draco, stealing a sausage off his plate, "I'm good here for now but maybe I'll pop over this weekend."
"Just owl when you're ready to come by and we'll make room," Ron said and then apparated home.
Harry grabbed another sausage off Draco's plate and said, "You didn't have to say that stuff to him you know."
"Well, did they really think we would treat you badly?" Draco said offended, "I mean really, after everything his Mum said yesterday and she still sends him to check up on you."
"I don't think she did," Severus said. "I believe Ron took it upon himself to come and check on Harry.
Both boys looked at Severus like he'd grown another head saying, "What?"
"I believe Ron was concerned by how Draco seemed to take care of you yesterday and he wanted to check up on you."
"Why would that concern him? Draco was just giving me support, same as you."
"Harry, you were in no shape to see what I did yesterday. Ron was watching you two very closely. Given that Molly gave Draco an open pass to the Burrow, I'm fairly sure Ron was worried that Draco was trying to replace him in your life."
"Ron's been my best mate since our first day at Hogwarts. No one could replace him."
Draco had finally caught on to what Severus was saying, "Harry, I think Ron's concerned that you and I are…a couple. That I'm trying to steal you from him."
"What! He and I aren't a couple. We aren't dating. He loves Hermione. I'm not seeing anyone. Besides, I would never try and take someone else's boyfriend and Ron knows that."
Now it was Draco's turn to be confused, "I'm not seeing anyone either so who would you be taking me from?"
Harry blushed, "I thought you…I mean…well, Severus."
Severus and Draco were laughing so hard that Harry was beginning to get angry. He hated it when people laughed at his expense.
"It's not that funny. I mean aren't you two a couple. You sure fight like one."
Severus stopped laughing and replied, "Harry, Draco is my godson and that's all. My heart belongs to someone else entirely."
Draco hiccupped and added, "Yeah, besides that's just gross."