"Since we couldn't have our dinner at The Spaghetti House, I decided to bring it to you. Salmon with Pesto for Harry," Remus said as he placed the take away containers from The Spaghetti House in front of Harry, "Sea Bass with lemon and herbs for Draco and Spinach & Ricotta Tortellini with Porcini Cream sauce for me."

Harry smiled at Remus and set to tasting the scrumptious looking food in front of him.

Draco bent down and inhaled deeply trying to identify the various herbs used in the seasoning and looked up with a bit of a frown on his face.

Remus, seeing Draco's face, laughed and said, "And for the sweet tooth at the table, we have a selection of dessert choices."

Draco's eyes grew as each dish was placed on the table, "Chocolate cake with a drizzled hot fudge sauce, warm apple tart with fresh cream and finally, tiramisu."

Harry laughed loudly at the reverence he heard in Draco's voice as he named each treat. He looked at Remus and said, "Maybe we should leave them all alone. It sounds like Draco would like a little time with them for….personal reasons."

Remus laughed hard and clapped Harry on the back. Both men almost fell out of their chairs with laughter when Draco looked up and said, "What's so funny?"

The laughter died down as the trio tucked into their meals and no one spoke until they argued over dessert. Eventually, it was decided that Draco could taste all three but the Chocolate cake was his alone.

"Sweet Merlin," Remus whispered to Harry, "does he always sound like that when he eats dessert?"

"What, you mean like he's about to orgasm?" Harry said, watching the ecstasy crossing Draco's face, "only when it's chocolate."

Remus raised an eyebrow and whispered, "And how do you know what he sounds like when he's about to orgasm?"

Harry's reply was a very deep blush and "You know what I mean."

The pleasantly full men retired to the library to talk while their food settled. Remus lit the fireplace and sconces as they walked into the room, casting a warm glow over the walls and making everyone feel relaxed.

"Okay, first things first," Remus began as he sat on the chair opposite the boys, who were curled up on opposite ends of the couch. "Harry, did Draco tell you about his visit with his father yet?"

Harry looked at Draco, gauging his reaction as he said, "Yes, he told me what the bastard wanted. I told him no one would touch him as long I have anything to say about it and I meant it. Remus, is there anything we can do to assure Lucius dies in that place?"

"Unfortunately for now, no. He's been given a life sentence and unless the Ministry suddenly has a total meltdown and the world begins to turn backward, he's not getting out. The only way to change the sentence would be new evidence of his innocence, or more proof of guilt requiring his sentence to be upgraded."

Harry nodded and added, "I wonder if we can find a way to change the wards around the Manor to protect Draco from him?"

Draco looked at the brunette next to him and wondered anew at their friendship, "I've already taken care of that. The minute my Mum became ill, I removed my fa…Lucius from the wards. He will no longer be able to apparate into the Manor or onto the grounds. And as of this morning, Remus has been added."

Remus nodded at the blonde.

"Draco," Harry said turning so he was facing the blonde, "I saw Narcissa today, I hope you aren't mad."

Draco looked surprised but far from mad, "Why? I mean, it's okay, but why would you want to see my Mum?"

"Well, there're a few reasons. First, I've been to visit her a few times mainly because I wanted to make sure she's being treated right. Today though I think I've found a new reason and I think we're going to need some help."

"As I was leaving, your Mum called my name and raised her hand on her own," Harry stopped when Draco and Remus gasped and waited a moment before continuing. "The healer you call Healer Sunshine came in as I was leaving and I'm pretty sure she was listening outside while I talked to Narcissa. I don't trust her. I stayed and watched her session, but she didn't do anything other than move Narcissa's legs and arms a little and then shift her on the bed. I'm pretty sure whatever she was going to do, she didn't, because I was there."

"Harry, are you saying that the reason Narcissa hasn't recovered is because of this healer?" Remus asked, leaning forward in his chair. Draco scooted a little closer waiting to hear the answer.

"I'm not saying that's what's holding her back, but I think something is keeping her in that state. She moved her hand today, all on her own, and called my name. That alone has to prove she's not just suspended in that state by choice."

Draco stood and walked to the fireplace, staring into the flame. He slowly ran his fingers through his hair as he contemplated what Harry had said. Was this healer complicit in his mother's lack of progress? Is it possible that the Ministry was holding her in the close to catatonic state? Maybe his betrayal hadn't caused this problem in the first place. If he truly believed Harry, then his mother wasn't upset by his change of heart, but was actually proud of it and him. All indications were that Harry was correct in his assumptions, given the fact that his mother had put everything into his name.

His mind made up, he turned and said, "I believe Harry is correct in his assumptions. I've not trusted Sunshine since the first time I met her and that hasn't changed. I believe the care my mother has been getting, while good, has been hampered by an outside source causing her to remain in her suspended state longer than she should have. I also do not believe the reason for her state is entirely the shock of my betrayal."

Remus watched the determined blonde walk back to the couch and sit next to Harry. It seemed so natural to see them sitting next to each other, so comfortable. He became even more intrigued by the pair, when Draco began to explain his reasoning.

"Last week, my Mum spoke once and only one word at the time. There have been other indications of her trying to break through the stasis but nothing too large. Every time she has a moment of progress, she has a setback. I would like to see about having the healers changed and see if that makes a difference."

"Draco, why didn't you say anything about her trying to talk?" Harry asked quietly.

"Because quite honestly, I wasn't sure how much to trust you with. We've only just found this comfortable place, this friendship, and I just wasn't sure about how much to tell you. Severus doesn't know either."

"I see," Harry said tightly.

"Harry, don't get upset with me. You know I'm right. You haven't trusted me enough to tell me about your agenda either. I figured it out though, and while I think it's foolhardy to pursue, I understand."

"Harry, what agenda is Draco talking about?" Remus finally spoke up.

Draco sat back and watched as emotions flicked across Harry's face. Anger, fear, sadness, hope and finally resolve. "I'm planning on finding a way to get Percy Weasley back together with the family. He's helping me with a project and if it all turns out well, then I should have no problem with reuniting them."

Remus, not blind to Harry's mistruth, smiled, "Well Harry, I think that's a noble thing to do but I have to ask pup, exactly what project is he helping you with?"

"That's not relevant right now. We're talking about Narcissa and what we're going to do about the situation." Harry turned to Draco, "How do you want to proceed?"

"I will be spending the day with my Mum tomorrow so I can watch everything that's done and how people interact with her before I decide but I think I would like to see about bringing her home and seeing to her care myself."

Before Remus could express his concerns, Harry asked, "Draco, are you sure? You do realise the responsibility you'd be taking on?"

The blonde leaned back on the couch and looked at both men before quietly answering, "It's the right thing to do. She's my Mum and it's my job to take care of her now."

Harry and Remus nodded in understanding. "Okay, so we need to get a room ready and determine the level of care she'll need…" Remus continued mumbling a list of things they would need as he walked from the room, leaving the boys to talk.

An uncomfortable silence settled between the boys as they sat on the couch. Neither knew the best way to begin the conversations they needed to have, nor which should come first. In the end, they muttered their goodnights to each other and went to their separate rooms.

Draco settled on his bed in his favourite emerald silk sleep pants, a gift from his mother the previous Christmas and worked on his plan for bringing her home. He sat with parchment in his lap intent on getting the ideas swarming in his head in some semblance of order but only found himself doodling. He set the parchment on his bedside table and snuggled into his bed, falling asleep as his head sank into his pillow.

Harry settled in his chair by his window and opened his journal. He put quill to parchment and wrote without thinking and was surprised to see what had come out when he read it the following morning.

1030p

So, here I sit again, writing without thought. It seems to be more and more I take to these pages just to get my mind emptied and to try and organise these random thoughts.

So I think I have observed enough of Narcissa to say that she is not the woman I thought she was. She's much stronger than I thought and I don't believe she was the reason Draco turned into the prat he was in school. I have come to the decision that Lucius is the only reason for Draco's attitude and his ego.

Said ego is no longer an issue. Draco has turned into someone I can happily be around. I don't know where this is going though. I have found myself in a new arena and I don't know how to navigate through it.

Here's my dilemma, until very recently, I always believed that I would end up with Ginny and live happily ever after. Now however, I find out that she has been with the darkness since our second year and is likely part of the reason for the many problems I have had over the years. She's been feeding information about me and the others on the side of light for years and is no longer hiding that.

I've found myself wondering on these pages, quite a lot actually, if I was really ever in love with her or just the idea of having the family that I would have by being with her. It's a bit disconcerting to find that my attraction to her is less about her and more about the rest of the family. I thought I was better than using people but I guess not.

That's all in the past however, as I find myself looking at others with a new eye. I don't know how to approach the feelings I have and to find out if they're reciprocated. It'll be hard because this will be a new level of our relationship, which is just beginning to expand. I don't even know how to determine if he'd be interested in anything more with me at this point.

Okay, so the first step is really to just admit to myself that I'm attracted to him. So, I fancy…

Harry looked up as his door opened, and blushed furiously when Remus walked in, "Pup, what time are you leaving tomorrow?"

Harry hurriedly put his journal under his pillow, before saying, "Um, Nine. I expect to be at Hogwarts most of the morning."

Remus walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, "Are you okay? You seem to be a little preoccupied."

"Yeah, I'm fine, just writing in my journal."

"Sorry I interrupted; must have been really good though because you're quite red right now."

"Yeah, well sometimes I get embarrassed that I have to use such a girly thing as a diary to get my feelings out."

Remus knew that wasn't the only reason for the deep crimson of Harry's face, but decided not to pursue it just then, "Well, you know you can talk to me about anything. No matter what." He leaned over and kissed Harry on the head and headed for the door. Just before reaching the door, he turned back and said, "You never answered my question earlier, how do you know what Draco sounds like?

Harry laughed and shrugged, "After I blew up my first room, he and I shared until this one was ready. I heard him in the shower. He's not quiet by any stretch of the imagination."

Remus laughed and wished him a good night as he left.