CHAPTER 18 - THE MALFOYS

Notes:

Hello dear reader!
Here we go, the Malfoys are back!
ENJOY!

.

The soft light filtering through the high windows of the Hospital Wing cast long, uneven shadows across the floor. Harry stood by one of the windows, staring out at the Hogwarts grounds with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His thoughts swirled in a tense mix of anticipation and worry. The cool glass against his forehead felt grounding. His hands in his pockets clenched, fingers pressing into his thighs as if trying to root himself in the moment.

Behind him, Severus sat in his armchair, outwardly composed, yet Harry could sense the truth. The tension in Severus's jaw and the subtle flexing of his fingers revealed just how heavily this meeting weighed on him.

Severus had requested the elves to bring his customary dark clothes, refusing to meet the Malfoys dressed in a pair of joggers and an old T-shirt. Harry had helped him to put on his many layers of clothes, and now he was looking more like his old self.

Harry glanced toward the door, straining to hear the sound of approaching footsteps.

A moment later, he heard them.

Faint at first, then growing louder—clacking high heels accompanied by two pairs of dress shoes.

He strained to focus on the sounds, mentally matching each pair of steps. A clacking of heels he knew to be Narcissa's, softer but deliberate. Lucius, always measured, each step clicking in a calculated rhythm. Then the lighter pair—Draco—his walk more hesitant and less audible, lacking its usual bravado.

"They're here," Harry whispered.

Severus nodded, the tension radiating from his body in sharp, nearly imperceptible waves.

Harry stepped closer, and with both hands gripping the armrests of Severus's chair, he leaned down until their faces were level. He paused, his breath ghosting between them, as though waiting for Severus to acknowledge the closeness.

The tension in Harry's posture spiked. Every instinct screamed at him not to leave Severus alone with the Malfoys, but he had made a promise. His fingers twitched, aching to linger, and then one hand moved forward—tentative, slow—to brush the back of his finger along Severus's cheek.

Severus exhaled, his eyes fluttering shut, as if the simple touch had eased the weight pressing on him. His skin was cool, but soft, and he unconsciously leaned into the touch. When he opened his eyes again, their familiar darkness had softened, just for a moment.

"I'll leave you to it," Harry murmured, voice taut but gentle. "At least for now. When you're ready, come find me. I won't go far."

Severus's eyes flickered with something warmer than Harry had ever expected to see, though his mouth remained pressed into a tight line. He nodded once, curtly, but with a quiet acknowledgment.

Not long ago, Harry might have insisted on staying, unable to stand the idea of Severus facing the Malfoys alone. The very thought of Severus being trapped with people who had walked the darkest paths alongside him gnawed at Harry. Even though he knew Severus could defend himself, something about today—about Severus's weariness—made him doubt.

But this was more than protection. Harry had seen it now—Severus didn't need another master. He had always had one, whether it was the Dark Lord or Dumbledore.

No more.

If Harry had any say, Severus would answer only to himself from now on.

That's why, despite the instinct to stay, Harry had promised himself he would give Severus the space he deserved, to let him decide. He didn't like it, but he would leave. He would stay close, though—just in case, always willing to jump should Severus need him.

And he made sure Severus knew that he would be closeby, that he was not alone in this.

Harry lingered a moment longer, his heart heavy with reluctance, but knowing he had to go. Slowly, he leaned in, closing the space between them. His nose brushed softly against Severus's temple, and he pressed a gentle kiss just below his hairline.

Severus's breath hitched in his throat, and though Harry couldn't see it, he felt the faint tug on his shirt as Severus's fingers curled into the fabric. Severus leaned forward, pressing his forehead against his shoulder; as if the simple act of touching Harry was grounding him, helping him gather his strength. The vulnerability in Severus's response was so palpable that it made Harry tremble, and he pulled him in just a little bit closer.

"If you need me for anything, don't hesitate. Alright?" Harry whispered against his hair.

When he finally pulled back, Severus's eyes darted away, avoiding his gaze, but a soft flush of pink had crept across his pale cheeks. Harry's heart swelled at the sight—who would have thought Severus could be so sweet when shown affection? A comforting warmth filled him, one that radiated from his chest and spread through his limbs.

Unable to resist, Harry pressed another kiss to Severus's temple, softer this time, lingering for just a second longer. Then he straightened, forcing himself to break the moment.

Severus steeled himself, taking a deep breath and squaring his shoulders. When he looked at Harry again, his gave a brief nod.

And with that, Harry rose, turned, and quietly made his way out of the Hospital Wing.

He slipped into the shadows of the corridor, unseen, just as Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy approached the Hospital Wing with hurried steps. Behind them walked Draco Malfoy, his nearly grey hair falling into his eyes, his head bowed as if he feared raising his gaze.

Harry stood there, heart pounding like a drum in his chest, barely breathing.

Then he heard Severus's name from Narcissa's lips, followed by a soft whimper, and Severus's unusually gentle voice whispering.

Harry sighed and nodded to himself. From the sound of Narcissa's muffled sobs, it was clear they had mourned Severus.

And that was no small matter.

No matter how much he hated the family or the trouble they had caused him, they respected Severus. They appreciated him. They grieved for him.

He couldn't forget that.

Leaning against the cool stone wall just outside, he listened to the muffled sounds of their conversation.

.

Only a few moments passed after Harry left when there was a knock on the door. He breathed, steeling himself, and got up from the chair as he smoothed the wrinkles on his clothes.

"Enter," Severus commanded, trying to steady his voice and maintain an air of authority.

Narcissa Malfoy's blue eyes were the first thing he saw. She stood at the open door, gasping, her hands covering her mouth in disbelief as Severus took a step forward.

"Narcissa. Glad to see you again," he said, tilting his head slightly, his voice low and respectful.

But then, to his shock, the dignity she had maintained all these years crumbled away. Her nostrils flared, her eyes filled to the brim with tears, and she whimpered his name in a soft, broken voice. Only seconds later she closed the distance between them and threw her arms around him, her composure shattered.

"We thought—oh, Severus—we thought you were dead…"

Severus stiffened at the contact, momentarily taken aback by the sudden closeness. To say that his mind froze was an understatement. He felt a rush of conflicting emotions—surprise, confusion, and something else he couldn't quite identify. The sudden weight of Narcissa's embrace startled him. Her perfume—sharp, like something bitter—swirled around him. He froze, unsure where to place his hands.

The last time anyone had touched him so was Harry, and that was different—Harry was so different.

But the tremor of her sobs reverberated through his chest, grounding him in the here and now.

It was perhaps that familiar scent that made him relax in her grip. His rigid posture softened, and he found himself throwing an arm around her back, rubbing gently as her quiet sobs filled the air. Her hands gripped his robes with desperation; as if holding onto the very fabric of hope.

"Narcissa," he murmured, his voice a quiet rasp. "I'm alive. I'm fine. It's all over."

As he spoke, he felt a pang of empathy for her raw grief. He had never seen her like this—vulnerable, stripped of all formality and dignity.

Behind Narcissa, Lucius stood beside Draco, both hovering at the edge of the room. Lucius's pale face betrayed little, though his eyes were glistening, and his lips were tensed into a thin line. His stern façade faltered for a second as their gazes locked, a glimmer of raw relief shining through his usual stoic demeanor. He nodded, and Severus replied in kind.

Draco, however, looked more shaken. His usual mask of indifference was nowhere to be seen; his eyes wide open as he stared at Severus, unable to look away. He looked as though he didn't know whether to step forward or stay rooted in place.

After a long moment, Narcissa pulled back, her eyes red but fierce as she looked Severus over, as if making sure he was real.

Lucius cleared his throat, stepping forward slightly.

"Severus…" he rasped, and Severus heard the depth of his worry, "I am… glad you're back with us."

Lucius's voice cracked, barely detectable. But spy Severus, who had spent years reading the smallest of tells, heard it clearly. Lucius, too, had been burdened by loss.

Severus bowed his head.

"As am I, Lucius," came his reply.

"It seems there are... stories that need explaining," Lucius said, his voice as measured as ever, though a slight tremor belied his control. "We heard rumours. Articles in the Prophet, about you. About Potter." His lips curled slightly at the name.

Severus straightened, pulling his cloak around him.

"I am aware of the article in the Prophet. But little of what was written is true," he said with a firm voice, his gaze meeting Lucius's. "A web of lies, woven in the only truth Skeeter ever said."

Lucius arched an eyebrow, but his expression remained guarded.

"So, then," he said carefully, "you and Potter...?"

Draco shifted awkwardly beside him, his gaze darting between Severus and his father, his discomfort palpable. Narcissa stood a step away now, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, awaiting Severus's response.

Severus felt his resolve harden, though not out of anger. A surge of determination coursed through him as he held his head high as he uttered the words with conviction.

"Harry Potter saved my life."

As he spoke, he felt the intensity of their stares.

Narcissa's eyes widened slightly, and Lucius's brows furrowed.

Draco looked downright bewildered.

"He found me," Severus continued, his voice steady, his hands clasped behind his back. "After the battle. When everyone thought I was dead, he went to retrieve my body, wanted to bury me here, with the former Headmaster. Instead, he found me alive. He brought me here, made sure I was healed and helped in the process. And in time..." He paused, glancing toward the door where Harry had disappeared. "In time, we came to understand one another."

Lucius opened his mouth to speak, but Severus raised a hand, cutting him off.

"Before you ask—no. This is not some manipulation, as Skeeter suggested. On either part. There's no ulterior motive. Against all odds, we have become... friends. And it is by our choice, not his or mine alone." His voice carried an edge of finality, daring any of them to question him.

As the words left his mouth, Severus felt a strange lightness—an almost foreign sensation—like peeling back layers of armor. He had never been one to discuss his private life so openly, but something about his friendship with Harry felt undeniable now. Tangible in a way he could no longer brush aside, in a way that couldn't be denied.

And the truth is that he didn't want to.

It was almost laughable—the son of his enemy now stood as the one person he could rely on.

The room fell into silence.

Narcissa blinked, still absorbing his words, while Lucius's expression remained unreadable.

"It is true, then," Narcissa said, and her voice was not accusatory, "you did Dumbledore's deeds under the shadows for years. What Potter said that fateful day was true."

"Yes, it is," Severus admitted, as he nodded, his head held high.

"It's difficult to accept, Severus, when I've seen you scorn the Headmaster, Potter and everything to do with them," Lucius added. "Tell me, were you truly lying when you sworn allegiance to the Dark Lord? When you took the Dark Mark, the same night I did?"

"No. I wasn't lying that night," Severus replied, "I truly did believe what we were doing was the right thing, and at that time I was naive and desirous to belong. But… I saw it, Lucius. I saw the atrocities."

He looked to his left, where his forearm was covered, but underneath the layers of clothes, he knew of the Dark Mark etched onto his skin. He shivered, blinking as he watched the three Malfoys.

"I do not and have not ever believed muggleborns should be murdered in the most brutal of ways, or at all. That is not me, Lucius," he stopped his pacing, staring at Lucius's blue eyes. "And I do not believe a man so drunk in power, so obsessed with his own immortality, should ever rule over everyone else."

All three Malfoys were looking decidely shocked, Draco blinked repetedly as he stood, staring at Severus.

He sighed, shaking his head.

"I will not apologise for fighting for what I believe is right, and for the cause I believed in," Severus said. "But I will understand if you decide to cut all ties with me."

Lucius merely shook his head, but Narcissa was more effusive. She closed the distance between them and placed a hand on Severus's upper arm, squeezing.

"Do not speak of such nonsense, Severus. You are a friend of ours, and that will never change," she said in a warm whisper.

Severus watched her through narrowed eyes.

"Not even after learning I am traitor?"

At that, Lucius, who'd been silent, took one step forward.

"Our circumstances are less than ideal as well," he said, his long blond hair moving as he brushed it out of his face with thin, elongated fingers. "He… would have sacrificed everything and everyone to achieve his goal, and would have no qualms about it. But you already know he would, do you not?"

Severus nodded and let out a soft sigh, lowering his gaze.

"Really, Severus, Evans? Even after all these years?"

For a brief instant, Severus felt the sharp pang of old wounds—a flash of a red-haired woman he once loved and lost—before he quickly stamped it down, forcing his expression to remain impassive.

He nodded, and his lips tensed into a small smile as he raised his gaze.

"It was her, at the beginning. But it's been a long time since that has been just one of my reasons," Severus said. "You have seen how he would stop at nothing, sacrifice whatever necessary, even his most loyal servants. No Lord should call themselves Lord if they are capable of doing that."

He then shifted his gaze to the door, through which Harry had disappeared, and was probably waiting for his call.

"Harry is… unique. Much like his mother was," he said, and his voice carried an undertone of sadness that was clear in his eyes, and no Malfoy seemed to overlook.

When Draco, who'd been standing away from his parents and Severus, took a step forward, Severus shifted his gaze to him, blinking.

"But… really Professor? Potter?" he asked incredulously. "I've seen you throw insults at him and actively make his life harder, just for the sake of it. And he—he insulted you! Attacked you! Even after all of that, you've forgiven him?"

Severus's gaze softened just a fraction as he looked at Draco, the boy's bewilderment something he was intimately familiar with. He had grappled with it himself for weeks.

"Yes, Draco. Even after all of that."

Severus stared at him, almost seeing the clogs in his mind, his brow furrowed as he concentrated in confusion.

He took a deep breath, his thoughts spinning in his mind.

"It is not only me who has forgiven him, he has forgiven me too. We both did and said things in the past, we both judged too quickly. But we've found a common ground now," he explained, his voice steady, controlled.

Narcissa exchanged a silent glance with Lucius. Severus noticed the brief hesitation in Lucius's expression—a rare moment where his control wavered, though it was quickly restored.

"Then… it seems we are in Potter's debt," Lucius said, his gaze lowering in acknowledgement. Severus could sense the unspoken reluctance in Lucius—acknowledging a debt to Potter was a bitter pill for a Malfoy to swallow.

Narcissa nodded, her expression torn between gratitude and disbelief.

"He saved us once, too," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Severus's gaze lingered on Narcissa, nodding.

"He told me," he replied softly, tilting his head. "He also told me you lied to the Dark Lord, keeping the fact that Harry was alive a secret until the moment he could attack."

Draco looked as if he wanted to speak, but he stopped himself. For a beat, nobody spoke, the silence thickening with Severus's words.

He then took a large, deep breath and expelled it, before squeezing his hands tight behind his back.

"There is something else," he said quietly. "He is outside. I'd like you to see him as well."

Narcissa blinked, surprised. "Potter… wants to see us?"

Severus rose and crossed the room towards the door, his steps deliberate. He paused for just a moment before opening it and stepping out into the corridor.

"Harry?" His voice was soft, but it carried through the quiet hall.

Almost instantly, Harry appeared from behind a suit of armour, his expression warm as it always was. What he'd done to deserve that gaze, he couldn't say.

He smiled at Severus, who gestured with his hand for him to join them, stepping back into the room together.

Harry's eyes quickly scanned the scene, catching sight of the Malfoys with a neutral but respectful demeanour.

He moved to stand beside Severus, to his right and slightly ahead, his legs open and feet angled outward. His hands were clasped behind his back, projecting a steady presence that Severus caught immediately.

Harry stood with his body angled protectively toward Severus, a subtle barrier between him and the Malfoys. Severus silently commended Harry's intelligence, he hadn't needed to say a word to say where he stood.

The shift in the room was palpable the moment Harry stepped in, the dynamic changing as Lucius and Narcissa turned their full attention to him.

Severus watched him, as if seeing Harry through a different lens for the first time.

The boy who had once charged into rooms with recklessness now moved with quiet purpose. He carried himself with a confidence that surprised even Severus, something so subtle yet undeniable. A surge of warmth tingled down his spine. For a brief second, he felt his knees weaken, overwhelmed by unexpected emotion.

He had never felt this protected before.

Severus had known for months now that Harry was more than the impetuous boy he once taught. But seeing him here, standing tall among his former peers, his gaze calm but defiant, brought the reality crashing home in a way he hadn't expected. This was the man who now stood by him, who now shared his life.

And the fact that all of them, even Lucius, reacted and respected that left Severus momentarily stunned.

He blinked, focusing his eyes on Harry, who was oblivious to his thoughts and had his gaze focused on the Malfoys.

For a moment, the room was silent again, the air thick. Then, he addressed the three members of the family.

"I wanted to give you privacy with Severus," Harry said calmly. "And while I didn't want to intrude, he and I both thought it was important for me to be here. I don't want any misunderstandings."

Severus maintained his composure, though his heart raced. His steady voice commanded respect. The boy he had taught—unruly and quick to anger, wearing his heart on his sleeve—seemed like a distant memory.

This new Harry Potter was different.

And he was his friend.

Not only that, he was happy to call him a friend.

It was a connection he had never anticipated, but one that filled him with a sense of belonging he had long thought lost.

As Harry spoke, Lucius's eyes narrowed slightly, though his voice remained polite.

"We appreciate the… clarity, Potter." There was no sneer to the name this time, just a note of caution.

Harry took a step forward, extending his hand.

"I know we've had our differences. A lot of them," he said, "And we may not like each other. But you are an important part of Severus's life, and I respect that. I'd like you to respect that I am in his life too."

Draco stared at Harry's extended hand, his face unreadable. Lucius's expression was one of quiet consideration, as though weighing the gesture carefully. It was Narcissa who moved first, stepping forward and taking Harry's hand. Her grip was firm, and she gave him a slight nod.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice steady but filled with meaning. "For saving Severus. And my son."

Harry shook her hand as he stared at her blue eyes.

"You saved my life too. I can't forget that," he replied.

Lucius followed suit, gripping and shaking Harry's hand.

"It seems we owe you, Potter," Lucius said, his gaze shifting in a way Severus couldn't quite place—yet this time, it lacked menace.

"No, you don't. I did what was right, nothing more," he replied.

Finally, once the older Malfoys stepped back, Harry turned his attention to Draco.

Severus's gaze shifted to the younger man, whose eyes widened under Harry's penetrating green stare. Draco swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, before he cleared his throat to speak.

"I've watched you for years, Potter," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "You never had any appreciation for Slytherins—not for me, and certainly not for him." He gestured toward Severus with a tilt of his head. "So why help him after everything that's happened?"

Harry didn't hesitate.

Instead of stepping closer to Draco, he turned back and walked slowly toward Severus. Severus watched as Harry moved quietly beside him, offering a warm smile that he returned with a curt nod. Harry then pivoted back to Draco, standing just a few feet in front of Severus.

"Because he deserved to live. After everything he gave—his life, his loyalty—for a future he thought he wouldn't see. I realized… there's more to him than I ever saw. He's earned my respect. And more."

Those words, spoken so calmly yet filled with genuine warmth, sent a shiver down Severus's spine. Harry turned back to him, and their eyes met, igniting a spark of warmth within Severus. Harry's brief smile made something leap in his chest before he turned back to face Draco.

The younger Malfoy was avoiding his gaze, looking down, his posture changing and shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

Harry hesitated for a second, his jaw tightening as he kept his gaze steady on Draco, a flicker of uncertainty flashing in his green eyes.

"Look," he began, voice steady but quieter now, "I know we've hated each other for years. And I know there's still a lot of history between us. But even at your worst—at your most desperate—you couldn't kill Dumbledore." He saw Draco flinch at the mention, but Harry pressed on, his tone sincere. "That counts for something. You might've wanted to follow in your father's footsteps, but you're not cut out to follow Voldemort. I knew it then, and I still know it now. You weren't made to be a killer."

Draco blinked, the surprise clear in his eyes as if he'd never expected such words from Harry Potter.

"And for what it's worth," Harry continued, his words slow and deliberate, "I'm not saying I trust you—not yet. But I'm willing to be civil. For Severus's sake. Because he's important to me, and I know you are to him. That's enough for now."

The room seemed to hold its breath in the silence that followed. Draco's eyes flickered towards Severus, then back to Harry. He opened his mouth to respond, but the words seemed to catch in his throat.

He paused, swallowing hard before he finally spoke.

"I am a Malfoy. I don't want to keep centering my life around you and—Him," Draco said, his left arm, where the Dark Mark was, shaking slightly. He glanced briefly at Harry before looking away. "And I will not be in the school. So, what happens between you two... it's none of my business."

Harry nodded, and walking towards him, offered his hand with a small nod.

"That works for me, Draco."

Draco hesitated. His fingers hovered for a moment, the slight tremor barely noticeable as he contemplated Harry's extended hand. His gaze flickered to the floor, then to Severus, before settling, still hesitant, on Harry.

Finally, he extended his hand and shook it.

Severus let out a sigh of relief and met Lucius's gaze. It was a small gesture, and it was clear Draco was still unsure about it. But it was more than either of them had managed in the eight years since they'd first crossed paths.

The tension didn't exactly disappear after Harry and Draco let go of their hands, but the room definitely felt less suffocating. Severus took out his wand, and brandishing it, he produced a few chairs around a small coffee table, and a big teapot with cups.

"Please," he said, gesturing with open arms, "have a seat. Let us play host for once."

Lucius smirked at Severus's choice of words, nodding as he sat down dignifiedly in the chair opposite, cane resting beside him. Harry settled into the chair next to Severus and began to pour tea for all present. Narcissa and Draco took their seats, backs straight and eyes flitting around the room.

It was an odd sight for sure, sitting in the middle of the Hospital Wing. The sunlight of the late afternoon was coming through the big windows, casting long shadows of the occupants of the room, sitting around a small table and surrounded by empty beds.

The smell of antiseptic soon was overpowered by the smell of tea and pastries, and Severus accepted Harry's offer of his cup of tea, exactly as he liked it.

Before long, the conversation began to flow, breaking the tension like a dam bursting.

Lucius inquired about Severus's recovery in the Hospital Wing and how long until he was expected to make a full recovery. Narcissa told him about the possibility of gifting him some of the objects they had uncovered during the extensive renovations of their Manor.

Almost without realizing it, Severus found himself growing more comfortable in their presence. He had forgotten how easy it was to engage with them, how knowledgeable they were. And it was refreshing to connect again, even if it felt unfamiliar and strange to him at the same time. The way they showed their respect and affection was completely different from the way Harry did.

Speaking of Harry, Severus turned to him and was surprised—almost shocked—to see that Draco had taken a seat beside him, actively conversing. Draco, his blonde hair falling over his forehead and eyes, sat cross-legged with a cup of tea cradled in his hands, leaning back against the chair. Harry leaned forward, legs spread, elbows resting on his knees, clearly engaged in the discussion.

As soon as he noticed Severus's gaze, Harry turned to his right and smirked.

"I was just telling Draco about the news of your return to your Potions post," he said, beaming at him. "And how I'll finally have a chance to excel now that he won't be butchering my potions."

Severus smirked, scoffing.

"Be careful, Harry; you may not need Draco to ruin your potions. Last I saw you, you seemed quite capable on your own," he replied, prompting a stifled chuckle from Draco.

"Oh, you're insufferable…" Harry said, feigning annoyance, which made Severus's smirk grow wider.

He suddenly grew acutely aware of Harry's hand on his leg, as he swatted him and blew a raspberry in response. Severus scoffed, shaking his head, and couldn't help but feel a warmth spreading within him.

He hadn't overlooked the two sets of blue eyes on him, but he found he didn't mind. He felt at ease in Harry's presence, his shoulders relaxing a notch, as he hid his smirk behind his cup of tea.

When it was finally time for the Malfoys to leave, a pang of something unexpected tugged at his chest.

It suddenly dawned on him that he didn't want them to go.

"Be sure to visit soon," Severus said, extending his hand to Lucius. "I fear I'll be confined to this place for quite some time."

"Oh yes, even longer if I have any say in it. We can't risk it," Harry chimed in, eliciting a slight shake of Severus's head.

Lucius's eyebrows shot up in mock shock at the exchange.

"It's been good to see you, Severus. We'll make it a point to visit," Narcissa replied as she shook his hand.

Both Draco and Lucius shook Harry's hand, and Draco nodded his head before they turned around and left the room, their feet echoing in the stone floor.

Once the Malfoys had departed, Harry let out a sigh, his body sinking into the chair he had occupied while speaking with Draco.

"I… wasn't expecting that," he admitted, still processing the encounter.

Severus shook his head in disbelief as he surveyed the scattered teacups and crumpled napkins on the table.

"No, neither was I," he murmured.

Severus stood by the window, watching the Malfoys fade into the shadows at the edge of the castle wards. The room felt quieter, as if their departure had drawn away the last of the tension. He turned his gaze to Harry, still sitting on his chair, his expression unreadable as he sipped his tea.

It hadn't escaped Severus how the Malfoys had behaved towards Harry—civil, almost respectful. Narcissa's handshake, Lucius's measured politeness. Even Draco had managed more than expected.

But Harry had bridged the gap—had done so without hesitation. For him.

Severus felt a warmth rise in his chest. He hadn't asked for this, hadn't expected it. And yet, somehow, it felt… fitting.

Watching Harry interact with the Malfoys, speaking to Draco of all people, for his sake, made a swell of gratitude and affection surge within Severus.

He walked towards him and sat down on the chair he'd occupied, dragging it closer to Harry, who was sitting with his legs open.

With slow hesitation, he placed a hand on Harry's knee. His green eyes shot up, half-closed.

"Thank you, Harry," he whispered, leaning forward, his voice rumbling, "You have no idea how—" he paused, unsure of how to word it. "I know you don't like them and don't trust them. But you did this for me. I cannot find the words…"

Harry only smiled, and leaned to his right, until he let his chin rest against Severus's shoulder. He felt a pair of strong arms surrounding his midframe, and soon his body was being held by him.

"You needed this, I wasn't about to let you do it on your own. And it wasn't entirely selfless, I too wanted to see them," Harry whispered close to his ear.

At Severus's raised eyebrow, he pulled back a bit and continued.

"Draco has always tried to be like Lucius, has always tried to be a copy of him. But I stand by my words, I saw it even that night at the Astronomy tower. Draco might be a brat and might have been forced to make bad choices, but he's no killer."

He shook his head slightly.

"Of course, that night I was blaming everything on you. But then, at Malfoy Manor, he didn't hand me in right away," Harry said, and his voice sounded as if he was speaking more to himself.

"He was frightened," Severus shook his head. "The Dark Lord had made him a scapegoat for his father's failures, and it was too much responsibility for him."

"Yeah, no wonder," Harry said, glancing at the fireplace. "In any case, I've had this feud with Draco since we met, and I'm tired of it. This has given me the chance to clear the air and move on. Bury the hatchet, so to speak."

Severus smirked.

"Well, it certainly appears you've utterly flummoxed poor Draco. I was almost certain his eyes would dislocate themselves from their sockets," he drawled, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Harry immediately chuckled and ran a hand through his hair, disheveling it.

"I did, didn't I?" he laughed, and then shook his head and pulled his glasses up. "As long as they stay in their lane, and don't try to abuse their power as they did before, I'm fine with them. I think they've finally learned their lesson."

Severus nodded, his eyes darting to where Narcissa had sat.

"To them, family is their priority. I have been a friend of the family for a long time. And it seems their worry and concern for me was as genuine as Draco's letter suggested," he said, "so now that's settled."

Harry nodded, and sighed, looking back at him. One of his hands travelled to his face, gently stroking his cheek with the back of his finger and brushing the hair away.

"How are you holding up, then? The news on the Daily Prophet upset you quite a bit this morning," he turned around in his chair, leaning forward towards Severus.

Severus only shrugged, sighing.

"I don't appreciate my past being dragged around as a weapon against me," he said, "but... you were right. This was bound to be known. I guess that sooner or later, doesn't make a difference. I just would've liked it to be on my terms."

Harry nodded and leaning forward a bit more, he reached until his lips touched his cheek. They stayed there, pressing a kiss, and Severus held onto him as a pleasant tingle spread from his lower tummy.

"You can make it on your terms, once the students are back," Harry only said, squeezing him tight. Severus nodded, his cold hands seeking the warmth of Harry's fingers.

They stayed in the same position for a while, drawing comfort from each other, until Severus allowed himself to be drawn into a game of chess.

Harry claimed to be brilliant, having learned from Weasley, but his skills left much to be desired. Severus knew, deep down, that Weasley was in fact a good player but he enjoyed teasing Harry.

Harry, despite his feigned annoyance, appeared to enjoy the teasing, if his pouts were anything to judge from. Their games took them well into the night, until Severus called it a night when yet another piece slipped through Harry's fingers.

He fell asleep as soon as Harry was out of the Hospital Wing.

.

Notes:

SO THAT'S IT! What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

As always, thanks for your continuous support, I love your comments and your insights
I'll try to be back with another update as soon as I can!