Hi, everyone! Exciting chapter ahead! My beta was squealing in happiness!

********** Chapter 8 **********

A nearby cock crowed to indicate the rising sun. Harry's eyes popped open and he took stock of his surroundings. Although the curtains were still drawn, the window was already being manned by Ron and Blaise who were already dressed and using Pansy's spell to see properly through them. He sat up and set aside the pillow he'd been hugging tightly. Clearing his throat, Harry frowned at the thought of this pillow having taken Draco's place in such a way as he watched Ron hurry to the door and call down the staircase to his mother.

"Harry's awake, Mum!" The redhead turned to speak to the prince who'd become a fast friend. "She asked me to let her know so she could bring up our morning meal."

Harry stifled a yawn and nodded while pulling his clothing on. "Any sign of visitors?" The tunic just barely reached the middle of his thighs while his leggings lightly hugged his legs.

Blaise turned to join the conversation as Harry laced up his boots. "Not yet, Harry. An owl arrived a short while ago but that's all. No word yet from the elders as to whom it was that contacted us."

"It was from Peter." Sirius told them as he placed a large tray next to Harry on the bed. There were three dishes – each with the same foods on them in equal measure – eggs bacon and toast. The boys began to eat as Sirius filled them in. "He wants to meet in a pub rather than here. I'm going alone with Dumbledore who will use his glamour to look like you again, Harry."

The younger brunette sighed. "Why can't we do the same as last night, only there? I'd be with Ron, Blaise and the girls in a room upstairs and we could all listen while you talk to him in the actual pub."

"The pub he wants to use doesn't have rooms – just the bar area and some booths." Sirius grumbled. He was dressed very similarly to Harry but his leggings and tunic were made of very fine and magically woven material. "I don't like it any more than you do, Harry. This is much safer for our purposes but Peter is refusing to attend unless we change the location."

"Which tells us he has something to hide, Sirius!" Blaise pointed out as he stood up and made for the door. "I'd like to discuss something with Mr. Dumbledore."

"He's right, Siri." Harry nodded. "I believe Pettigrew is the spy and that means Remus is cleared. We must move forward with the other plans in good faith with him."

Sirius saw their point but still worried. "What if we're wrong?"

"Then we have the Weasleys as well as your friend Shacklebolt to help us overpower Remus." Harry sighed but clasped his godfather's arm. "I'm fairly certain we'd be able to tell whether or not he's our man… He did pass your truth serum questioning."

"I wonder…" Ron commented. "Is there a way for us to fill the pub with our people – without anyone realizing?"

"I doubt it. They'd have to be invisible! At least most of them would…" Sirius sighed in frustration but that gave way to a shocked chuckle. "Say, Harry? I don't suppose I've ever told you about your father's invisibility cloak – have I?"

Harry's green eyes widened. "You've had an invisibility cloak? All this time?"

"It's yours, actually." His godfather's cheeks flooded with embarrassment. "It's hidden at my townhouse. I'll have my elf fetch it so that I can give it back to its rightful owner as soon as possible. Kreacher!?"

Harry looked bewildered. "You'd give it back? Now?"

"Of course! It doesn't belong to me…" Sirius frowned and called for his elf again.

"Even though you're afraid I'll go off half-cocked?" Harry bit his lip.

"I…Aw, Harry…" Sighing, Sirius ran a hand through his hair and called his elf one last time before he finally appeared. He told the elf what he wanted as he agonized internally over having made his godson think he wasn't trusted. The older man sent Ron from the room with a glance. "I think we've convinced you that it would hurt Draco to go on without at least a plan. Haven't we?"

The younger brunette took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes. You're right – of course – I must be perfectly prepared."

It had also been a good few months since Harry had made any overt references to a possible rush job of a rescue, so Sirius looked into his godson's eyes and seemed to find what he was looking for because he embraced the boy. "I'm glad…because that means I'm right to trust you with this quest and the cloak – the latter of which will help quite a bit with the first."

A knock sounded at the door, and they turned to find Blaise and Dumbledore standing there.

"Excuse us, Sirius." Blaise said quietly. "The professor has some information you both should hear."

"We must leave this place! Sirius, Harry, I tested the parchment on which the letter from Peter was written with numerous spells and have discovered that it was treated with a potion prior to being used." Albus Dumbledore informed them hurriedly. "It was a variation of a very common potion which allows a healer to locate damaged cells within a body. It had been modified to locate the next person to touch it!"

"So it's confirmed – Peter's the spy." Sirius nodded grimly. "Which means there's little time to waste."

Harry nodded and quickly threw on his new cloak before shrinking his trunk with a spell and turning to face his godfather. "Time to move on the castle, Siri."

"Yes." Sirius took Harry into the hallway. "Now, Blaise has a Portkey to the safehouse you'll be using for the rest of the preparation time and your betrothal chest is in your trunk. Kreacher should be here with your father's…" Sirius closed his eyes in apology. "Your cloak…your cloak should be here in moments." The elf appeared suddenly with a wrapped package. Sirius took it from him and unwrapped it carefully. Once the cloak was in his hands, Sirius turned to Harry again holding out the folded cloth. "Your father gave this into my care, Harry, so that it might keep you safe. Now I pass it on to you for exactly that reason. Use it well."

Harry reached out and touched the cloak. "It's so soft…it feels familiar…" He took it properly and wrapped it around himself. "Did my father ever take me under it?"

"Several times…" Sirius began, but they were interrupted by a loud blaring siren. "The wards! The stories will have to wait."

Harry's eyes met his godfather's and he suddenly wondered if he was ready for this.

"Go, Harry. Take your friends and Remus. The Weasleys and I will hold them off before disappearing as planned. Severus will be spending more time with Draco while the rest of us are in hiding." Sirius hugged him quickly before stepping back and bowing formally. "I wish you good luck in all things, my prince and future king."

Tears stung Harry's eyes as he bowed back. "And I you, Siri."

The rest of their party began to assemble as Ron held out a knapsack. "No time to get that into your trunk, Harry. Stick it in here with the other supplies for now and we can go."

The first to arrive were Ron's older brothers. Three of them – Charlie and the twins – Fred and George – were joining them for the assault on Malfoy castle while the rest of the family would wait at Sirius' home for a signal before making the journey.

Remus and the girls arrived as Harry was fastening the bag. "Portkey. Now!"

Blaise unfurled the long length of rope so that everyone could grab hold and, once the entire party was gripping it tightly, Harry spoke the trigger phrase. "Hogwarts or bust!"

********** LTF **********

The group arrived in what looked like the mudroom of a house without incident and when Harry heard only silence he chuckled mischievously. "I'd heard my muggle cousin's mates say that kind of thing when going on – what they called – a road trip. 'Brighton or bust!' 'London or bust!' I quite like appropriating certain phrases from muggle culture. It's a small bit of fun in a world that is only experiencing sadness at the moment."

"My parents are muggles." Hermione smiled at him as the Weasley brothers took a quick look around the house telling Harry and his friends to stay put for the moment. "I knew what you meant because I had seen neighborhood kids go away on vacations and they'd joke around and yell things like that sometimes as they drove away down the street."

Harry frowned. "Neighborhood kids?"

"Hmm…?" She seemed startled.

"Why 'Hogwarts' though?" Pansy asked with an amused smirk.

"In this case, we wanted the attackers to think we were heading to Hogwarts rather than London." Harry grinned at her before turning back to Hermione. "Why do you talk about them that way?" Harry asked quietly, confused. "Were they not friends or even acquaintances?"

Hermione glanced at the others but Ron Blaise and Pansy were carrying on their own conversation and not really paying attention to her or the prince. Hermione's cheeks flushed slightly. "They were just people my age. Some of them poked fun at my expense and others simply didn't know I was there. I was a very quiet child, you see."

Harry nodded slowly. "I think I do see."

"Ladies, gentlemen and ickle brother, welcome to the safehouse." One of the Weasley twins said lightly.

"It's an old Prewett family property. We're across town from the castle but we should be able see it from the roof." The other twin told their guests.

"There are only three bedrooms but there's a living area and kitchen." The first twin informed them. "The ladies will bunk together in one room and the boys in another. That's on the top floor. Remus, you and Charlie will be with us in our room on the floor beneath that."

Charlie interrupted. "I'll have first watch with Remus."

"You all know Charlie but, in case you've forgotten, I'm Fred." The second twin grinned as he gestured toward his counterpart. "And this is George."

Ron sighed, rolling his eyes. "Stop trying to trick them, guys. I grew up with you. I know which is which."

George just grinned and motioned for the group to follow him. He pointed out each room as they passed it. "The kitchen is on the north side and the living area is towards the south."

Fred tapped a door that was located on the western-most facing wall. "There's a courtyard just through this magical door here where we can practice our skills to make ourselves ready for the battle."

"We'll need to watch the castle and figure out the best time to make our move." Remus told them.

Blaise nodded and lightly tapped Ron's arm. "We'll scope out the distance and make a plan."

Ron didn't have to say a word as his expression spoke volumes but when he did speak, he insisted on a proactive approach. "Let's take our things to our rooms and prepare our bunks. We'll be here for a good week or so, after all. Then we can go up to the roof and look over our strategic options."

Harry nodded his acceptance as he followed his friends. The rest of the day was filled with discussion of scheduling watches on the house as well as the not too distant target. The girls spent some of that time scheduling the practice times in between the watches. Harry wanted to see what was involved in sentry duties so he insisted on joining the first shift.

The young prince watched as Charlie and Remus went about checking the defensive spells on each and every window and door of the house. He learned a couple of new spells and even found a similarity between warding and occlumency. After the first tour of the house, Charlie asked if Harry or Remus would like some refreshment. Harry asked for a simple glass of water while Remus requested tea. It wasn't quite dusk but Harry was sure it was only moments away as Charlie left them alone for several moments.

"Mr. Lupin, may I ask you a question or two?" Harry carefully broached the subject.

The older man seemed startled. "Anything, Your Highness."

Rolling his eyes, Harry finally gave his father's old friend leave to use his given name. "As we are alone and it's been proven that you aren't the spy, I'm sure Siri wouldn't mind me dismissing use of my title."

"Thank you Harry." Remus smiled slightly. "What can I answer for you?"

"Did you try to contact Sirius over the last fifteen years?" Harry wanted to know. "If you'd tried then …well I'm confused as to why you were still suspect in Siri's eyes?"

Remus took a deep breath. "It's difficult to explain, Harry…I wanted to – truly – I did wish to contact him…but every time I thought about doing it I would suddenly forget where he lived. I looked it up once and found a spell called the Fidelius Charm. It's a type of ward spell which causes just the effect I've described. When I went to our old professor to ask him more about it, he would only tell me that Sirius had asked him to perform it upon a particular property for his personal protection as well as yours."

Harry nodded slowly. "Not even an owl could pass through such a ward?"

"Not unless the writer of the letter it carried knew the address." Remus informed him. "Now, Sirius did occasionally write short notes to me but I could not write back."

"Why has Voldemort never found you if his forces are looking for supporters of me and my family?" Harry asked as Charlie rejoined them.

Seeing that this was a serious discussion, he delivered the tea tray and Harry's glass of water before bowing out to check the roof access again.

"He did, Harry." Remus told the young prince. "He found me and his men questioned me. I gave them all the answers I had. Under Veritaserum, I had no choice. When they found that I knew nothing of consequence, they set me free to live my life but I knew I'd be watched. When I proceeded to live a normal existence with so little contact with you and Sirius, they eventually stopped watching."

That made an awful kind of sense but Harry felt better for the asking. They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, just sipping their beverages. He took the last sip of his water and set the glass down. "Well, I'm for bed, Mr. Lupin. Good night."

The older man seemed thoughtful but he simply offered the young prince permission to use his given name and said good night.

It wasn't long after Harry got into his bed that his head began to ache. The young brunette had a strange feeling. Unfortunately, young Harry would once again watch events unfold as they were meant to without being able to help in any way…

********** LTF **********

The blond boy Harry could now lovingly identify as Draco was sitting beside a window. It seemed near to dusk... as it had been while Harry had spoken to Remus. Could he be seeing into the past? That's not how his dreams usually worked but he supposed that anything was possible.

A knock sounded upon the door and Draco took up his wand to let his unexpected visitor enter.

"Uncle Severus!" Draco grinned at the man. "I'm so happy you came back to see me after whatever my guardian needed."

"Draco, are you occluding?" Severus whispered urgently as he began to rummage through the boy's drawers and closet.

The grin fell from the younger man's face. "I never stop, Uncle."

"Are there any pictures left of the boy?" Severus asked frowning at his godson.

"No, Uncle. I didn't wish to take the chance." Draco tried to make sense of his uncle's actions.

A loud noise came from the staircase causing them both to turn.

"Hello, my pet." Tom Riddle said softly.

Draco bowed respectfully. "Hello, sir."

"I am here for our nightly visit, Draco-dear." Riddle told him as he swept into the room.

Draco smiled slightly. "Of course, sir. Would you care for a game of chess this evening? Perhaps just reading in silence?"

"This evening will be different." He told the boy. He twisted his wrist and suddenly his wand was in his hand and pointing in the direction of Draco's head.

The blond gasped and stepped backward while Severus took a step that put him between the two.

"Severus, you will not stop this." Riddle informed him in a cold tone. "I wish to see the boy's mind. I am his guardian and I will see what thoughts are hidden there."

A swish of Riddle's wand had Severus obeying his master but the dark haired man was anything but happy about it. He brought to mind the snake shaped dagger that was his occlumental focus and tried to fight the spell Riddle had used on him.

"Legilimens!" Riddle hissed with another wand motion. Soon he cried out in pain and was thrown out of Draco's head. "What is this?"

Draco stared at his guardian. "What is what, sir?"

Riddle glared at the boy. "What is that sword doing in your mind?"

"I don't understand, sir. What sword?" Draco's innocent act wasn't fooling the older man.

Riddle's eyes swept the room only to focus on Severus. "You've been teaching him occlumency."

"I only mentioned the subject in passing, my lord." Severus was much more convincing but the suspicious dark wizard was catching on quickly.

"What do you know of that sword, Severus?" Riddle asked with narrowed eyes.

Severus blinked twice. "Is it a special sword, my lord?"

"Have you truly not looked into the boy's mind?" Riddle watched for his servant's body language.

"I would not presume to do so, my lord." Severus stared into Riddle's eyes as he answered.

Riddle's glare shifted to Draco. "What do you know of it, pet?"

"Please, sir. I don't understand? What's wrong with thinking of a sword?" Draco asked shaking his head in apparent confusion.

"Well, I'm not taking any chances." Riddle told them as he once again pointed his wand at his young captive. "Sleep, Draconis!"

Draco shook his head in shock and turned slightly to look at his godfather. "No…" He whispered, but it was too late. Draco's eyes closed of their own volition and Severus was just barely able to catch him before his head hit the floor.

********** LTF **********

Harry woke with a shocked gasp that echoed his beloved. "No!" He shouted shaking in fear for his blond boy. His friends woke at the shout.

"Harry?" Ron was rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he looked toward Harry's side of the room. "What's going on?"

"Draco's curse!" Harry told his friends through tearful green eyes.

"Huh? What about it?" Blaise yawned.

"I dreamed that Draco's guardian changed the curse." Harry said as he used the breathing technique Severus had taught him as part of his occlumency. "Draco has entered an unending sleep which will continue until I get to him."

Ron grabbed his bathrobe and hurried out into the hallway. He rushed to his brother's doorway and knocked loudly. "Mr. Lupin! Charlie! Guys, wake up! Something's happened!"

Charlie and Remus came to the door and Ron could tell that they weren't fully awake as the twins came running up the stairwell. They all followed Ron back to the room where Harry was waiting. The girls appeared as Harry was about to retell the story of his dream.

Harry recounted every detail that he could and he could tell that Remus was worried. "We can't go rushing off to his rescue, Harry … you do know that, don't you?"

"Yes." Harry sighed with a noticeable wince. "It would just put us all in danger… including Draco and Severus."

"Still, we must get to them soon." Remus told the group with grim determination.

Pansy and Hermione hurried back to their room to dress for the day's activities while Ron and his brothers shared a look. "Let's take a look at the castle from the roof." They each took off to get properly dressed before beginning their self appointed mission.

"Blaise, you should go with them." Harry suggested as he too reached for his clothing. "The girls and I will step up our training and clue you two in as time allows."

The darker skinned boy nodded grimly. "I've been wanting to see that view for a while now."

********** LTF **********

Severus woke the next morning from his exhausted sleep and thought over this new development. Voldemort's men had lost against the Weasley family as well as Sirius and their allies. He had come up into Draco's tower in order to punish the boy and succeeded. After Severus had caught Draco from his fall Voldemort had told him all of this and accused him of being disloyal in his actions when he taught Draco a subject like occlumency which could be used to deceive him. Voldemort had then locked Severus in the tower with his godson and left.

"Dobby?" Severus called softly.

The elf appeared but remained quiet.

"I'd like something to eat, please." Severus told him.

"Dobby is allowed to be doing that, sir." The elf nodded and blinked in the direction of the table. A tray of breakfast foods appeared on it. "Dobby is allowed to be doing some things but not others, sir."

"Can you help me take care of Draco? He needs to be changed. He needs potions to be spelled into his stomach or he'll starve in this enchanted sleep." Severus was breathless in his desperation to save his godson.

Suddenly he heard a voice…an unwelcome voice. "He will not need potions. The spell young Draco is under will keep his current health preserved and lift when the Scottish prince has been defeated or his true love kisses him. You may bathe and dress him as you wish. The elves will bring you food and books to keep you busy…unless you'd prefer to be sleeping as well…?"

"No, my lord. My place is in caring for him not joining him in your displeasure." Severus bowed his head.

"I'm pleased that you remember but displeased that you required a reminder." The voice hissed but finally faded.

"Will he watch and listen to me all the time?" Severus whispered to the elf, afraid to find out.

"No, sir." Dobby answered. "Master Draco was only watched a short while per day."

Severus considered this. "Can you bring me the bag that I left in my suite?"

Dobby didn't answer but as he popped out of sight the bag was magically deposited in front of him.

Severus hurriedly took out his parchment and quill. The parchment was connected to one in Sirius' private desk and so he'd be able to inform his lover of all that had happened since he'd left Black Manor. What surprised him was that there were words already appearing before he put his quill to the parchment. He read them silently.

Severus,

Harry just owled me with the news. He dreamed…Is it true that the curse Draco's under has been made worse? If he's sleeping that long will he be alright? Will his health diminish? Is he in the same condition as he was at the beginning of this curse? Write as soon as you can.

Siri

That hadn't been something he'd thought of. Severus stood and hurried to the window and looked out to see the large dragon sitting upon the opposite tower. It stared at him and the dark haired man sighed in silent sympathy for his godson. He shook his head as he turned to write back to his lover. He updated the other man with all the details of what he already knew and then hid the parchment and quill under a loose floorboard that was held in place with one leg of Draco's bed. Finally calm and somewhat collected, Severus called Dobby.

"What is Master Snape wishing?" Dobby asked pulling at what passed for clothing.

"I presume that I am forbidden use of my wand?" Severus allowed one eyebrow to rise.

Dobby shook his head violently and wrung his hands. "No, no-no-no-no-no! No wand for Master Snape!"

"As I thought…" Severus glared at it. "Calm yourself, elf. Now, if I'm to stay in the tower with Draco, I'll need some things."

"Dobby is allowed to be helping Master Snape settle in!" Dobby quickly became happy and excited. "Dobby can be doing magical things for Master Snape in that way! Please to be telling Dobby!"

"To start with, I'll need a bed to sleep in." Severus told the elf and nodded toward the next room. "You can transfigure the bench in the dressing room. Also, I'd like to dress him formally. He'd be upset if he was lying here in his pyjamas for however long."

"Dobby be getting Missy Cissa!" Dobby bounced on the balls of his feet. "Missy Cissa can be helping Master Snape!" He popped out of sight and then back again. "Missy Cissa being up soonest." He hurried into Draco's dressing room to do as he'd been asked.

Only a moment later, the door opened with a quiet snick sound. "Severus? Dobby said you needed help with the prince." Narcissa walked in and shut the door behind her.

"His lordship has seen fit to keep Draco asleep indefinitely." Severus confided gently as he motioned toward the bed.

Narcissa's hand flew to her lips but a gasp escaped them anyway. "That poor child! What can I do to help you?"

"You know how well our Draco would take to lying around in his sleepwear." Severus shared a sad look with his friend. "I would see him appropriately attired to wait for his awakening…however it may take place."

She nodded. "Yes. If you could lift him, I will wash and dress him as befits his station."

"I am forbidden my wand." He told her.

"I'll have Dobby call Lucius. He will help us." Narcissa frowned. Dobby had heard her and Lucius joined them quickly.

Together they worked. Lucius used a charm to levitate the body of the boy he didn't know was his son while allowing Narcissa to tend to it.

Once Draco was cleaned, Severus went into his pocket and brought out a small chest and handed it to the woman who didn't know she was this boy's mother. "If you could unshrink this, you will find something suitable for the occasion."

Upon opening it, Narcissa smiled. "Was this to be a gift for him?"

"Indeed." Severus remarked. "I would've given it to him this Christmas – the chest as well as the suit of clothes." He looked up at Draco's face. "Please, Cissa…"

"Of course, Severus." She nodded to him even as Lucius began to line the pieces up. "He will look very regal in it."

Startled, Severus called for Dobby. "Where is the prince's favorite crimson cape? He would wish to wear it."

The faithful elf snapped his fingers and the cape appeared.

Severus laid it next to the rest and went to eat his meal. When he was finished, he looked up to see Lucius fastening the red cape over Draco's black clad shoulders while Dobby quietly made the bed. Blinking back tears, Severus helped his friends lay their son neatly down on the bed. Severus pulled a chair over to the bedside and sat. He bowed his head and slipped one of his hands into that of his godson and whispered a wish into the boy's ear.

"Draco…" Severus barely breathed his words to keep them private. "I wish for your beloved to get here as quickly and safely as possible. I wish for you to recognize him no matter which form your soul has taken. I wish for you to wake in his embrace at the soonest opportunity."

********** LTF **********

Harry gripped the hilt of his sword as he gazed toward his goal.

It had taken almost another month before the group knew they were ready. Now, on All Hallow's Eve, Harry stood on the roof of the safehouse. The rest of his party awaited him downstairs and, in less than an hour, they would go forth to take Malfoy Castle from their enemy.