AN: Another chapter done! I hope you all like it!


Snape paused outside Draco's bedroom door when he heard murmured voices from inside. Harry and Draco had been hanging out upstairs for the last hour, but it was time for dinner now and Evelyn was waiting for them.

He knocked on the door and waited to hear Draco softly say, "Come in."

Draco was sitting at the head of the bed with his knees brought up to his chest, while Harry was lying on his back, sideways across the other end, his feet dangling off the side.

"It's time for dinner, boys," Snape said.

"I'm not hungry," Draco replied without even glancing up at him.

Snape turned to Harry who was already sitting up. "Head on downstairs, please," he said. "Evelyn is already there and I believe you had something you needed to say to her anyway."

Harry looked as if that were the last thing he wanted to do, but he must have realized that Snape wanted to talk to Draco alone, because he stood and left without a word.

"Draco," Snape said moving further into the room, "you didn't eat lunch, and I'm willing to bet you didn't have breakfast before you came here. I know you've had a terrible day but I'm going to insist that you try and eat. It doesn't have to be a lot," he added when Draco looked like he was about to complain. "But it does need to be something."

Draco sighed as he let his legs stretch out in front of him, and said "Fine, but do I have to eat down there? I don't want to be around everybody."

Snape took a moment to really look at Draco. Despite the nap he had taken on the couch, the boy still looked exhausted. His hair stuck up in odd angles, as if he had repeatedly run his hands through it. His clothes, which had been neat and wrinkle free when he arrived, we're now rumpled, and the collar of the light blue shirt was stretched out. Snape knew that was from Draco pulling at it, a nervous habit he'd had since he was young.

Young. As if fourteen were so old.

Merlin, what was he going to do with these boys? How was he going to help them? Part of him was so afraid that he was going to make everything worse, but another, bigger part knew that not trying at all would guarantee that outcome.

"Alright," he said, "I'll send Jenka up with your dinner, but maybe you can come down for tea with us later?"

Draco nodded. "Sure."

Snape left him alone, closing the door behind him softly. One thing was certain; he would never give up on them. Not ever.


When Snape made it back downstairs, he found Harry and Evelyn standing together in the kitchen. Harry was smiling, so he took that as a good sign that perhaps all was well between them. He had no doubt that Harry had apologized for the way he spoke to her the day before. Harry was the type of person that would feel guilty about something until it was sorted, and Snape knew that he would feel better now that everything was behind him.

Snape thought back to the time he had snuck out to Hogsmede the year before, and how if he hadn't confessed, he might have gotten away with it. He shook his head. It was a really good thing that Harry had no inclination towards spy work.

"All right," he said, pulling out his chair at the head of the table. "Shall we eat?"

Harry took his usual seat at Snape's right hand, and Evelyn sat across from him. She caught his eyes and sent him a questioning look.

Snape shook his head.

"Jenka," he said half a second before the small elf appeared.

"Yes, Master Snape?"

"Please take Draco a plate of food up to his room. He doesn't feel much like eating down here tonight."

"Yes, sir, Master Snape. Jenka will take Master Draco his favorite, sir!"

"Thank you."

Jenka disappeared with a small pop, then Snape tapped the table, and as usual it filled itself with food.

Roast chicken, potatoes, asparagus, and buttery soft rolls.

"This looks delicious," Evelyn said, placing her napkin on her lap.

Snape started to agree with her, but the look that Harry was giving him made him pause. He sighed. "He's going to be fine."

"How do you know? We shouldn't have let him go back in the first place. Then none of this would have happened."

"Maybe you're right," Snape said, spearing a piece of chicken and putting it on Harry's plate. Normally Harry served himself, but Snape needed something to do with his hands. "But what's done is done, and there's no way of knowing what might have happened if we didn't let him go back either."

"But-"

"He's right," Evelyn agreed. "The best thing that any of us can do for Draco right now, is simply to be there for him. If he wants to talk, we'll listen, and if he's not ready yet, that's all right, too. He'll get through this.

Harry frowned. "I hope you're right."


It had been a few days since Draco had come back permanently to the Manor. He hadn't gone down for tea that night and when Snape had come to check on him, he'd pretended to be asleep. But the days since had been better. Not great or anything, but he was settling back in, and he didn't feel so out of sorts anymore. He was having a hard time trying to figure out how he was feeling though. Draco supposed if he accepted Snape's offer to talk with him about it, he might be able to understand it, but Draco wasn't ready for that. Not yet.

Draco left his room and met Harry in the hallway. "Morning," he said, his voice still thick with sleep.

Harry's only answer was a short wave before they headed downstairs.

Snape was, as always, already at the table with the Daily Prophet up, covering his face. "Good morning, boys," he said. Draco thought he sounded far too cheery for this early in the morning. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah," Harry answered quickly.

Draco frowned. He wondered why Harry wasn't telling Snape about the nightmare he'd had. Draco had heard him crying from his room and for reasons unknown to him, he decided to check. He'd found Harry sitting up in his bed, clutching the front his his shirt while he worked to calm his breathing. Rook was curled up against Harry's side, his nose pressed against his leg, making a low keening noise as if he were also distressed.

Draco had swiftly moved to the door, saying that he was going for Snape, but Harry had shaken his head so frantically that he'd stopped. He'd waited a few moments, nervously shifting from foot to foot, but as Harry calmed down, he grew more relaxed as well.

"Bad dream," Harry had said. "I'm fine now."

So reluctantly, Draco had retreated to his own room, though he left his door that connected with the bathroom open. Just in case.

"Draco?"

Draco snapped his head up, looking at Snape who had placed the paper down beside his plate. "What?"

Snape sighed. "I asked how you slept? Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine," Draco promised. He pulled out his chair and sat down across from Harry. "I was just thinking about something. Sorry."

Snape shook his head. "Alright." He tapped the table and it filled with food. "Harry, Remus sent word that Black was in for a few days. He said you can come visit today if you'd like?"

"Sure," Harry said before shoving a forkful of eggs in his mouth. "What about Draco?"

"Don't talk with food in your mouth," Snape scolded. "Draco is coming with me to do some shopping."

Draco put down the glass of pumpkin juice. "What for? I don't need anything."

"Didn't we just go shopping a couple weeks ago?" Harry asked at the same time.

"Yes," Snape answered, "but that was mostly for school things. Draco will need some things for here as well."

"Like what?"

"Things for your room, for instance. To decorate it and make it feel more like your own."

Draco shrugged. "I like my room how it is. I've never had to decorate it before."

"That was before you lived here permanently. It's hardly more than a guest room as it is now."

"It's fine, Uncle Sev. Why are you being weird about it?"

"You shouldn't have to go shopping if you don't want to," Harry added. He spread a bit of jam on his toast. "You can come with me to see Remus and Sirius instead."

Snape firmly put down his fork and glared at them both. He pointed to Harry. "You are going to visit with Remus and your godfather," he said sternly before turning to Draco. "And you are coming with me to London where we are going to buy you new room things and anything else I decide that you need, and I don't want to hear another word about it."

Draco and Harry exchanged looks. "Fine," Draco said, barely stopping himself from rolling his eyes. "I'll come shopping if it means that much to you."

"Yeah, Dad," Harry went on, "there's no need to go mental about it."

Snape opened his mouth to reply but then closed it again without saying a word. Instead, he turned to his coffee and took a long sip before sitting it down gently. "We are leaving in thirty minutes. I expect you both to eat and go back upstairs to get ready."

Harry stuffed his last bite of food in his mouth and stood up. "I'm getting a shower first."

"Why you?" Draco asked, though he wasn't even half finished with his own food.

"Because you take all the hot water, Your Highness. Going first is the only way I can make sure I don't have to take a cold shower."

Draco didn't hide his eye roll that time. "Fair."


Snape apparated with Draco to an alleyway behind some shops in London, then promptly turned and began walking toward the street.

"Uncle Sev?" Draco asked, hurrying to catch up with him.

"Yes," Snape answered. He began rolling up the sleeves of his black collared shirt to just below his elbows. He had opted for muggle clothing today since they would be in Muggle London, but he hadn't realized that it would be so warm out.

"What are we really doing? You know that I really am fine with how my room is, right?"

Snape cast him a side long look before turning right and heading towards a shop on the corner. "I know," he said finally, "but I want you to feel at home at the Manor and I just thought that might be easier if you had more of your things there. You've hardly brought anything back with you. I know you don't need new things, but wouldn't you still like to have some?"

Draco shrugged as he followed him along. "Sure, I guess. Maybe I'd like a different bed set, but I still don't have to have it."

Snape smirked. He stopped in front of the shop and held the door open for Draco to move past him. "Then a different one it is."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, but I still think there is something else going on."

Snape stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Alright," he said, "to be perfectly honest, I wanted to spend some time with you, and as I needed to get out for some errands anyway, I thought this would work out well."

"What kind of errands?" Draco asked.

"A birthday present for Harry, and supplies for a surprise party." Draco's mouth fell open and Snape shot him a glare. "What?"

"You're planning a surprise party? You?"

"Yes," Snape said. "What's wrong with that?"

Draco shook his head before gesturing towards Snape. "You're not exactly the party planning type, Uncle Sev?"

Snape reached his hand up to scratch at his neck. "Yes, well, neither Mum or Evelyn would do it. They said it was my responsibility."

Draco smirked. "Okay, okay, I'll help you with the party, but then I get to buy whatever I want for my room."

"You were going to be able to do that anyway," Snape said, raising a brow. "You're just playing into what I already wanted to do for you."

"Remember that when you go to pay," Draco warned with a laugh.


They shopped for the next hour or so. Draco hadn't been exaggerating about buying new stuff, though Snape was still sure that he was only getting it to appease him. Whenever Draco picked something out, whether it be a new pair of curtains or a poster for the wall, he glanced up to Snape before putting it in their cart. It was as if each time he was silently asking if it was alright.

It was more than alright.

Draco's bedroom had been decorated years ago when Draco was still a very small child. When he had first been named his Godfather, Snape had decorated the room himself, knowing that eventually Draco would come to stay with him for visits. The room had been painted a light blue, with a mural covering the entire back wall which portrayed a field of magical creatures that walked and flew around the wall. He distinctly remembered that Lucius had hated it because it was so bright. Draco had overheard him talking about it once when he was about seven, and then he'd made a show of asking Snape to give him a big kid room for when he came to visit next. Snape had let Narcissa redesign it. In fact, she had designed Harry's room as well. And they were fine, of course, but they were both more than likely a bit more elegant than either of the teenagers would have chosen for themselves.

Harry had, over the last year, changed his room quite a bit. Though the walls and furnishings were the same, he had at least added a few touches that were more to his taste. He had several posters on the walls, along with pictures of his friends. He'd asked Snape to cover up the hardwood floors with carpet, which personally Snape thought was ridiculous, but Harry liked it and that was all that mattered.

He wanted the same to be said for Draco. He wanted the room he had to feel like more than simply a place he slept when he visited. It was officially, permanently his now, and Draco deserved to have it decorated how he saw fit.

"There we go," Draco said, pulling him from his thoughts.

Snape looked down at the cart and frowned. It was barely filled. "That's all?"

Draco shrugged. "I like the green bed stuff that I already have. But these curtains block out the light better than the ones that are up now. I'd like a different color on the walls, but we don't actually have to buy paint for that," he added with a roll of his eyes. "Besides that, I just wanted some things to hang on the wall and stuff. And this," he picked up an over the door basketball hoop and held it out for Snape to see. "I know it's for kids, really, but–" he trailed off, ducking his head.

Snape noticed the way Draco was blushing and he held his hand out for the toy. "I don't think I've played basketball since the summer before my mother died," he mused. "There was a park in our neighborhood and sometimes Lily and I would play a game or two, though neither of us were ever very good," he added with a small laugh.

He put the hoop in the cart and began pushing it down the aisle. "This gives me an idea," he said. "Come along, Draco, we'll have to hurry."


Back at Remus's house, Harry sat on the couch with Sirius to his left while they looked through one of Remus's old photo albums.

"Oh, Merlin," Sirius exclaimed as he pointed to a picture of himself in the top, left hand corner.

Harry looked down at the picture. It was Sirius, Remus, James, and Peter when they were all teenagers. They were dressed up as little old ladies with grey hair, bright floral robes, and they each carried a walker or cane. Sirius's hair was in rollers on the top of his head, and they were all wearing red lipstick, entirely too much blush, and blue eyeshadow.

Laughing, he said, "I can't believe you kept this, Moony,"

Harry held up the photo album for Remus to see from his spot in his armchair.

Remus's eyes lit up and he grinned brightly. "That was fourth year, wasn't it?" He asked.

Sirius nodded. "We used the tunnel to sneak out of Hogwarts to go trick-or-treating in Hogsmede."

"Which we do not condone, by the way," Remus added.

"We don't? asked Sirius

Remus glared at him sternly. "No, we do not."

Just then a beeping noise could be heard from the kitchen, and Remus stood up. "That must be lunch," he said, before disappearing through the doorway that led to the kitchen.

Sirius looked down at Harry with his signature mischievous grin. "Well, he said he doesn't condone it, but I'm of the mind that sneaking out for Halloween candy is always a good idea. Just be careful not to get caught."

Before Harry could say anything to that, Remus called them into the kitchen for lunch.

Sirius stood and said, "Great, I'm starving."

"I'll just put this away," said Harry, as he began to close the book.

Sirius turned back from where he stood near the doorway and said only loud enough for Harry to hear, "Actually, can you just nip that photo out of the book and put it in my bag over there?"

Harry looked up at him in shock. "You want me to steal his picture?"

"Oh, don't worry about it. I'll make him another copy. He won't mind. There's a little envelope in the inside pocket of the bag that I keep all the pictures in. Just put it there."

Harry shook his head, but pulled the picture out of the little plastic protector that it was in all the same.

After Sirius left the room, Harry stood to pick up the knapsack Sirius had left beside the couch. When he opened it up, he was surprised to find that the bag was magical. It was only about the size of a regular school backpack, but it seemed to hold so much more, it was filled from with everything from Sirius's broomstick, and a tent, to boxes and clothes. It reminded Harry of Mary Poppins' bag, which he had seen on television once.

Harry found the envelope labeled photos, then he opened it up, and dropped the picture into it. But just as he was putting it back a small wooden box caught his eye. This one was labeled "Dreamless Sleep."

Suddenly, Harry could feel his heart racing as he put the photo's down and picked up the box. It had a small latch on the front that held it closed.

Harry glanced behind him. He was sure that Sirius or Remus would be there any moment, but when he didn't see anyone, he carefully opened the latch and lifted the lid. Inside, he found several small vials of the potion. They were all in neat little spaces so that they wouldn't get jostled about. Harry counted twenty slots and only three were empty.

Harry jumped when he heard Remus's voice calling to him from the kitchen.

Without taking the time to talk himself out of it, Harry grabbed four vials, then quickly closed the box and put it back in the bag. He placed it back at the edge of the couch, and then moved to his own bag that he brought with him from home. Harry tucked the vials into a side pocket, hoping that it would be enough to keep them safe, then he went to have lunch with his uncle and godfather.