A change seemed to come over Draco in the last few days. He seemed to have decided something. And when the students met in the Great Hall for breakfast, he didn't go to the Slytherin table as he usually did, even though some were beginning to talk to him again. He hovered near Gryffindor until Colin Creevy stood up from his place on the bench and faced him. "W-what do you want, Malfoy?"

Harry hadn't noticed Draco there and he whipped his head around.

Ron stood up next but instead of rounding on Malfoy as Harry expected, he turned to Colin. "You bloody well know why he's here. Cut him a break."

Colin stared at Ron as if he didn't recognize him. "We have to put up with him and Harry, but we don't have to put up with him here."

Hermione stood up next. "Yes, we do. It looks to me as if Draco needs to say something. Go ahead, Draco."

Draco wore an expression as Harry had never seen before. He was bereft of all his snottiness, which was saying something. He looked helplessly from each grim Gryffindor face to another. Finally, some of that old Malfoy sneer returned and he drew up straight and tall again. "I want to sit with Harry," he said in a strong voice.

"There's no room," said Colin.

"Then we'll make room," said the surprisingly clear voice of Neville. Everyone turned to him. He blushed and scooted over. "If everyone scoots this way, they'll be room. Won't there, Harry?"

Harry blinked. His eyes swept the faces of his housemates, each wearing various vexatious expressions. "It would be really appreciated," he said.

Colin's scowl fell away and he looked at Malfoy with narrowed eyes. Finally, he sat back down next to his brother and scooted over ever so slightly. The others on the bench followed suit and Draco found a spot between Hermione and Harry. He squeezed in and Harry looked at him lovingly. "What made you come over?" he said to him quietly while the others resumed their breakfasts.

He looked back at Slytherin and shrugged. "I don't care what anyone thinks anymore. Besides, they all know we're together. There's no point in denying it. I want to sit meals with you. I want to do homework with you. I want...." He lowered his voice and rumbled, "I want to hold your hand between classes."

Harry's mouth fell open. "You do?"

"Yes. To hell with everyone. Other couples get to do it. I want to. We're a couple."

"Yeah," said Ron. "A couple of gits. Do you realize the backlash if you did that?"

"I thought this was a private conversation, Weasley," he snarled.

Ron looked up and down the table. All eyes were on the Slytherin and the Gryffindor. "Hardly," he said.

Draco glared at them all and he placed his hands firmly on the table. "Look, you," he said, addressing the table. "He's my boyfriend, got it? I'm bloody well going to hold his hand when I bloody well want to. And I'm bloody well going to eat meals with him from now on. Because he's my effing boyfriend! So if you've got anything to say-"

"You'll have all of us to answer to," said Hermione with a nod of finality.

"Yeah," said Neville.

"Yeah," said Dean, a little uncertainly.

The Creavy brothers wouldn't stop glaring at Draco, but the others seemed to stand down and murmured amongst themselves over their flakes and eggs.

Harry couldn't stop smiling. He squeezed Draco's thigh under the table and made certain that his leg remained in contact with his for the whole meal. He felt one hundred percent better with Draco beside him. He couldn't seem to get enough of the Slytherin. Draco for his part ate his breakfast silently, rubbing his foot against Harry's ankle from time to time.

When they had finished breakfast Draco was as good as his word and once he'd slid his book bag over his shoulder, he reached down and grasped Harry's hand. Startled, Harry looked at the blond. "Well," said Draco. "I said I wanted to hold your hand and I meant it."

Harry looked around and he noticed many eyes on them. It was accompanied by a lot of whispering but Draco didn't seem to mind it. Slytherin began hissing as they passed and Harry giggled uncontrollably.

"What's the matter with you?" asked Draco, sneering back at his former housemates.

"They don't realize it," said Harry, trying to control his laughter, "but in Parseltongue they're saying 'pretzel'."

Draco stared at him for a moment before he laughed too, looking back at his hissing housemates.

They endured the stares of all the students and a few wandering teachers as they made their way through the corridors. Hermione and Ron walked on either side of them, determined looks on their faces as if daring someone to say something. Once or twice some seventh year looked as if they might, but Ron stared them down, his wand gripped tight in his hand.

What they failed to do was release their hold of each other soon enough in Potions and Snape swiveled toward them and glared, a particular look of glee in his eye.

Harry sat in his usual spot but Draco scooted in next to him, seemingly oblivious to the snickers from the others.

Snape looked as if Christmas had come early.

"Well, well, well." Harry cringed. Why couldn't the man just leave them alone and teach for Merlin's sake? "Changing seats, are you Malfoy? I don't know that you'd get much done with your-now let me think. What shall we call him? Your 'special friend'? Your 'partner'? Your-"

"He's my lover!" said Draco, rather loudly. Harry blanched. Even that was a bit much for him in the light of day. He dared a look at the rest of the class and they were sitting stock still.

"Indeed!" chortled Snape unpleasantly. "'Lover', is it? My, my. Aren't we mature. Isn't this just the height of gentility. 'Lover'. I daresay, Mr. Malfoy, that is far more information than we all needed so quickly after breakfast." The Slytherins laughed. The others were horrified. Snape turned to his house to wallow in their glee. "Well, then, Mr. Malfoy, I'm not certain if it is prudent that you and your... lover... should work together. Too many distractions. Too many little shared looks and sighs-"

"Why don't you just get on with the class and let us work... Sir."

Snape smiled. "Detention, Mr. Potter, for insolence." It seemed to be what he was waiting for, and he turned to the board and flicked his wand toward it. Instantly, potion instructions came up on the dark surface.

Hermione looked witheringly at Harry but he ignored her. He just couldn't listen to Snape for one more moment. He wrenched open his bag and slammed his utensils to the table. Draco gave him a warning glare, but he ignored that too. 'Lover.' What kind of stupid thing was that to say to Snape? It was asking for it, that's what it was! And between having to put up with Lucius Malfoy's private lessons, his sneering at Harry, and Harry's imminent fight with Voldemort, Harry was feeling a bit on edge.

When class was over, Harry took his time returning his things to his bag. Draco looked back regretfully but Harry lifted his chin to Snape instead. He was sitting at his own desk reading over something in a book. He let Harry wait a long time until Harry sighed a bit loudly and he looked up, his eyes narrowing. "Well, Mr. Potter. Here we are again."

"Yes, sir," he said wearily.

"You need to tame that 'lover' of yours. Using words like that is dangerous in these climes."

"Everyone already knows. Isn't that why he can't be in Slytherin?"

Snape leaned forward. "It's best not to spell it out. You're already in enough danger."

"Yes, I know. So why are you giving me detention on top of it? Sir."

He stood and slowly came around the desk. He swept toward Harry and looked down his large nose at him. "Because it is the only way in which I can talk to you privately, Potter, without arousing suspicion."

That took Harry aback and he slumped in his chair. "Huh?"

Snape huffed a breath. "And here the English language with all its treasury of synonyms, the only thing you can come up with is 'huh'? I am appalled."

"I just...y-you just want to talk to me?"

"Yes, Potter. As much as it pains me to say. Have there been any more incidents of accidental or unexplainable magic?"

"Unexplainable?"

"Inexplicable. Out of the ordinary. Unusual. You see. A veritable treasury of words, Potter."

He kept his anger in check. "No, sir. Not lately." Should he mention about the Unforgivables? He didn't think so.

"And Lucius Malfoy. Has he made any overt overtures of any kind?"

"I don't know what you mean, sir."

"Of course you don't. Perhaps I should use words of only one syllable." Harry glared. "Is he asking questions? Has he asked about your particular situation with Lord Voldemort?"

Harry tried to remember. He frowned thinking of it. "No. He's never asked me about Voldemort. He's the one who knows him."

"But he doesn't know the Prophecy, imbecile! Nor does he know of the...the items you are in search of."

Harry narrowed his eyes at Snape. "And how do you know about the...the items?"

"Don't be a fool. I know about his Horcruxes. How many times must you be told that Dumbledore trusts me?"

Harry didn't trust him and that's what counted in his book. "Then how does Voldemort know that most of them are destroyed? I thought he couldn't feel it when they were gone."

"I suspect because someone is telling him."

Harry mulled this. "But Mr. Malfoy doesn't know about them, or he wouldn't have given the diary away."

"Malfoy junior does."

"What? Draco wouldn't tell Voldemort! That's mental!"

"What is mental, Potter, is your extreme ignorance and naïveté. Of course Draco would not tell the Dark Lord. But he might tell his father."

"Shit." Harry slumped. No, Draco wouldn't be that stupid. Would he? "No, I don't think he has."

"Best ask him, eh?"

"Yeah. I...I guess so." Harry worried his bottom lip with his teeth. Draco might have told to impress his father with his knowledge of the inner circle. He was like that. Harry hoped that this was not the case.

Maybe a distraction for Draco. He offered to work on that potion, so... "Sir. I wonder...." But how was he to say without getting Snape involved. "I was wondering about certain potions, but the ones I want aren't in the library. I know you have lots of books here..."

"Restricted books, Potter." But there was a gleam in his black eyes. He looked around the room and stared pointedly at his book shelf. "Take out a quill and parchment, Potter. I want you to write 'I will not be insolent'...ten times. I think that should jar your memory. If you need to spell 'insolent'-" He waved his wand and cast the word on the board. "I don't have time to sit and watch you in your detention. When you are through, leave it on my desk."

"Sir? Ten times?"

"Yes, Potter. Do you wish to pen more times?"

"No, sir."

"Very well." Snape looked at the book shelf once more before he left the dungeons. Harry watched him go. Ten times? Only ten? Harry supposed it was merely an excuse for him to leave the room and give Harry enough time to rummage through his potions books. He wondered which ones he'd need. How was he to know? Draco was supposed to be the one stealing the one he needed, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. He supposed Snape could legitimately keep this incident out of his thoughts and away from Voldemort's mind probing.

Harry quickly scribbled his detention, tossed the parchment on Snape's desk, and scoured the book shelf. Potions for Forcing Love and Friendship. He supposed that would be good enough. He grabbed it and stuffed it in his book bag. He'd be late for Transfiguration, but he hoped McGonagall would be understanding.

* * *

Harry, Hermione, and Ron sat by the lake doing their homework when a blond figure came striding up.

"What do you want now, Malfoy?" said Ron, barely acknowledging him.

"What do you mean 'what do I want now'? I'm just coming to do homework with my boyfriend, if you don't mind!"

Harry smiled and patted the grass beside him. "Well this is nice," he said, darting a glance at Ron.

"Yes, I thought it would be." He sat next to Harry and placed his bag beside him. "I'm...sorry about Snape today. I didn't mean to say it. It just came out. He was being such a prick."

"I know. It was just a shock, is all."

"Bloody hell," Ron agreed. "Just because you are, doesn't mean you have to parade your business in front of everyone."

"And if it were a girl, Weasel, it would be all right, I suppose."

"No, it would not!" said Hermione primly. "Honestly. Can't you all control your emotions and your hormones? It's getting critical."

"How is the Ravenclaw research coming?" asked Harry, happy to change the subject.

"Slowly," she said, lifting the large book in front of her. "Ravenclaw didn't seem to have many possessions and not many survived from the past."

"What about a Timeturner!" said Harry, suddenly sick at the idea that Voldemort might have used one.

"No, they were all destroyed in the department of Mysteries. Don't you remember?"

Harry nodded. They had certainly made a mess of the place when Lucius Malfoy and the other Death Eaters tried to ambush them. Thoughts of it made him cringe and glance quickly at Draco. And then he also remembered what was in his book bag. He drew out the potions book and flopped it in front of Draco's book. "How's this? Will this do?"

Draco looked at it and then looked up at Harry. "How did you get this?"

"Snape was...helpful." There was no other word for it.

"Really?" said Hermione. "That's odd, don't you think?"

"I think everyone's anxious for this war to be over," said Harry thoughtfully. "War makes strange bedfellows after all."

"It certainly does," mumbled Ron.

Draco leafed through the book. "Yeah," he said thoughtfully. "Wouldn't be surprised if something in here did the trick. The only problem is...." He looked up at them, particularly Hermione. "How do we administer it?"

It suddenly struck Harry how Draco had easily accepted Hermione after all those years of calling her the foulest thing a wizard could call another. And Hermione seemed to have let bygones be bygones rather quickly as well. It was just the continued animosity between Draco and Ron that couldn't seem to be put to bed.

Hermione and Draco put their heads together and offered suggestions back and forth, although he did continue to insult her from time to time. She chose to ignore it.

Harry glanced up at a frowning Ron and smiled. "Looks like we're both out in the cold, mate."

Ron looked up at him with a puzzled expression until it dawned on his face. He smiled sheepishly. "Yeah. Well. We're just extraneous boyfriends at the moment."

Harry smiled. He wanted to hug Ron for that bit of acceptance but knew very well how his best friend would take that. Harry returned to his homework instead, thinking that this was perhaps one of the pleasantest bouts of school work he had ever undertaken.

* * *

Harry melted into Draco's arms when he Portkeyed over. They shed their clothes and kissed. Harry's mouth reached for Draco's, his tongue running over those pink lips, over his teeth, over his moist tongue with searing heat. He clamped his opened mouth on Draco's and kissed him with abandon, rubbing his lips against the Slytherin's until they were both breathless and helplessly aroused.

"God, Harry," whispered Draco to his lips just inches away. "That was some kiss."

"Yeah," he gasped. "I've been wanting to do that all day." He leaned forward and caressed Draco's cheek with his own. Both their cheeks were warm from mere proximity. He further rubbed his nose, his open lips, his chin against Draco's face, relishing the hot skin, the smell of sweat, the trembling of the other boy's body as he did so. "Oh Draco. I love you so much."

Draco's arms tightened around Harry and squeezed. The Slytherin's hands ran up and down Harry's slim back, fingers ghosting here and there. It made Harry squirm, made him rub his naked body against Draco's. Their erect cocks slithered over each other.

"Harry, I just want to rub against you," he hissed.

As Draco did so, he jutted his hips into Harry's. Scrotum to scrotum, cock to cock, both groins rubbed harder and harder, up and down, pre-cum their only lubricant. Draco's hands fell to Harry's buttocks and he grabbed each cheek and forced Harry's groin even tighter against him.

Harry was dazed how exquisite it was to feel Draco's length along his own, how the blonde's glans would catch on his and pass over it. His balls were on fire with aching need. He wanted to rub his balls against Draco's but it was difficult in this position. He bent his knees and thrust upward. Yes! That was much better. The angle of his penis jabbed over Draco's stiff shaft and caused a groan to billow from his lover's mouth. They were going to come this way, standing up, rubbing against the other, and Harry clutched at his lover tightly, his hands curled around the back of his neck, lifting his silky hair over sweaty skin. "Oh!" cried Harry, the sensations rising from his gut and swooping up from his balls. "Oh Draco!"

"Harry! Gods!"

They pumped faster, flesh rubbing vigorously over flesh. Until-Draco cried out first. His spunk spurted over Harry's stomach, and the feel of that sudden hot release on his skin forced Harry's orgasm over the brink. He shot white sticky strings up as far as Draco's chest and kept pumping his groin up and down against the Slytherin's white blond pubic hair. "Yes! Yes!" It was so good. So good. The enormous feeling gradually lessened, leaving behind a glorious warm glow where they sunk against each other's chests, just holding the other up.

Finally, Harry whispered to Draco's neck, being where his face landed, "Let's go to the bed."

Draco only nodded. He kept an arm wrapped around Harry's naked waist and escorted him to the bed. They flopped down together and immediately rolled to their backs.

Harry wasn't certain if he dozed for a second. It didn't matter. He turned his head fractionally to look at his lover's profile. That sharp nose was almost a silhouette against the hearth flames. "You still alive over there?"

"No," came the soft reply. "I don't know that I've ever come so hard. And I wasn't even inside you."

"I know. Me too. It just felt so good to rub against you."

"I could tell." He turned then and Harry looked into those grey eyes. The firelight changed them constantly, like lightning in a storm cloud. Harry couldn't tear his gaze away. "I am so in love with you, Harry. I hope you know that. Really know it."

Harry grinned like a madman. "Yeah. I know it. It's a wonderful feeling. You don't know how long I've wanted to feel it from someone. I'm glad it's you."

"I'm glad you'll never have to see those Dursleys again. They were positively ghastly."

"I'm on my own, that's for sure."

Draco sat up suddenly and looked down on his lover. "Harry, if you ever need any money...well. I have plenty. I don't mind sharing with you."

Harry chuckled and reached up to stroke Draco's cheek. "That's really sweet of you." He knew how much of a sacrifice it was for Draco to offer it. "But I'm okay. My mum and dad left me a vault at Gringott's and it's pretty full."

"Really?" This seemed to test his Pureblood sensibilities. After all, what were Halfbloods and Mudbloods doing with money? Harry saw it all play out on his face. Draco hid his distaste artfully. "Oh. Then those awful clothes-"

"I told you. That was because my aunt and uncle would never buy anything for me. They were my cousin's hand-me-downs."

"Gawd!" Draco clearly had a picture of Dudley in his mind. "I'd rather have burned them than worn them."

"Well I didn't have much choice, now did I?"

"That's the first thing we're doing on the next Hogsmeade weekend; we're shopping!"

Harry grasped Draco's hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. "You're too good to me. But we'll probably not be allowed to go, you and I. For our own safety."

"What? Fuck that! We'll sneak out. I'm sure you know how to do that."

"Yeah. Did it all the time." He kept hold of Draco's hand and squeezed it.

This was news to Draco. "You did? You sneaky son-of-a-Gryffindor."

"Cloak's good for that, don't you know."

Draco nodded and sighed. "And you didn't think we had anything in common!"

They snuggled and kissed a bit, but they were both sleepy. Face pressed against Draco's neck, Harry briefly thought about Snape's question. Was Draco telling his father the things they were doing? But if he asked Draco now, the Slytherin would likely get angry and Harry was too weary to fight with him now. The question could wait.

* * *

The weekend arrived and Draco spent his days off in his rooms reading the potions book Harry stole for him. Surprisingly, Snape had not mentioned missing a book though surely he knew it was missing.

Harry snuck into the room when the corridor was clear. Draco sat in the squashy chair absorbed by the large tome in his hands. Harry crept up behind and lightly touched the blond hair with his fingertips.

Draco startled, but a quick glance behind him calmed him down. "Shit, Harry. Don't do that."

"I only wanted to run my hands through your hair...and down your shoulders...and maybe across your chest."

"Harry, I'm working here."

Harry frowned and came around to the front of the chair. "But...we have the afternoon free. Don't you want to...you know."

"If you can't say it," he muttered into his book, "then maybe you shouldn't be doing it."

Harry grabbed the book and pulled it down. Draco glared up accusingly at him.

"Hey!" said Harry. "What's gotten into you? You're always up for a shag. There. I said it. Sex. Sex, sex, sex."

Draco dragged the book back in place. "Not funny, Potter. I'm working."

"To hell with that." Harry raised his wand, swished and flicked, and the book rose from Draco's hand.

"That isn't funny, Harry! Give it back!" But the book was floating up toward the ceiling.

"Work later."

"NO! I want to work now!"

Harry was so startled the book came crashing down. Draco had barely enough time to jump back on the chair and snatch his feet out of the way.

"You idiot! You could have killed me!" But something of what the blond said affected Draco and he hid his crimson face under his fringe and picked up the book from the floor.

"Draco!"

"Harry." His voice was suddenly strained and hoarse. "If I can't find this potion and brew it then I will have failed you. And I don't...I can't afford to fail you. Don't you get it? It's your life we're talking about!"

So Harry wasn't the only one to be feeling the pressure of an imminent battle. Draco snapped pages aside, reading and rejecting potion after potion. Harry watched him for a moment before he knelt at Draco's feet. He touched his lover's knee. "Hey Draco," he said softly. "The potion was only another tool. I never expected that I would have to rely on it."

Draco did not look up. "I know. But it gives me something to do."

Harry ran his hand higher, squeezing his thigh. "Draco. Put it aside for a bit. Talk to me."

He slammed the book shut and tossed it on the floor. "What good am I? What good am I to you? Ron and Hermione have been your friends and fought at your side far longer. They know what you need and when you need it. What am I? I'm no good to you. I can't help for shite." His eyes glossed.

"That's not true. You give me the love and support I've never had before."

"They've loved you. And supported you. And they were there. Usually fighting against me."

"That's the past. It's over. We're lovers now, Malfoy. We're never going back to the way it was, are we? And I think this was a brilliant idea you doing this potion. It really could help. You never know."

"But how are we to give it to him? 'Pardon me, Lord Voldemort, but will you drink this bit of potion before you duel Harry? Oh no, it's nothing harmful.' That's really marvelous, isn't it?"

"I've already got an idea about that. But you've got to find the right potion. You know I'm rubbish in potions. I think it's a really good idea that you do that, Draco. I'll leave you alone so you can get back to it. All right?" He rose and touched the Slytherin on his cheek. "I'm sorry I disturbed you."

But before Harry could pull away, Draco had grabbed his hand and pressed it firmly to his cheek. He lifted it away once to kiss it. "No. I can put it aside for now. I'd rather take a moment to cuddle with you anyway."

"You sure? We don't have to..."

Draco pulled him down on his lap and grabbed him around the waist. Harry laughed and tried to right himself by grabbing Draco around the neck. "Hey!"

Draco smiled up at him. He reached up to the back of Harry's neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Harry slid down until he was almost cradled by Draco. "I've never sat on your lap before. It's nice." Harry wriggled his bottom and an answering erection poked him from Draco's lap. "It's very nice, actually."

"Yes it is," said Draco, voice low and seductive. He leaned forward and touched his lips to Harry's, offering small pecking kisses and an occasional swipe of his tongue.

But as much as Harry wanted to sink into this wonderful feeling, Harry knew he couldn't put off asking anymore. "Er...Draco. Hold a minute. I was just wondering. You aren't mentioning any of this stuff to your father, are you?"

Draco's crocodile smile rubbed against Harry's lips. "What...this? I'm sure he'd rather not know."

"Erm...no. About...the other stuff. You know. Horcruxes and stuff."

"Why should you worry about that?" But just as Draco began nuzzling his neck, he suddenly stopped, jerked upright, and stared at Harry. A look of horror crept over his face. "Oh God," he said softly. Harry got up from his lap and Draco was trembling. "Oh God. Harry. How could I have been so stupid?"

Harry was thinking the same thing. But he tried not to show it on his face. Draco was feeling horrible enough as it is.

"I've killed you," he was saying. "My bloody father! I trusted him. He's my father. He wouldn't hurt me. What an IDIOT I am!"

"Wait, Draco. Let's just calm down. Let's go to see him and find out what is what. Now before we go, what exactly did you tell him?"

Draco's face was awash with tears. "I told him about the Horcruxes. I assumed he knew. And I told him...oh God. About the potion I was going to work on!"

"Is that all?"

He swiped at his face, only smearing the tears and snot. "Yes. That was all. I'll kill him myself. And then I'll cut my own throat."

Harry felt a little numb and replied dazedly, "No you won't. I'm rather fond of that throat. But we'll go talk to him and see how much damage has been done."

Draco moved sluggishly. He certainly didn't want to face this. Harry wasn't too keen on it either, but it had to be done. Then, of course, they had to see Dumbledore.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was open but no one was there. But Harry saw a light coming from under the door of the study. On instinct, Harry walked quietly up the stairs and as he approached the door, he heard Lucius talking to someone. Suddenly angry beyond words, Harry threw the door open. Lucius was kneeling before the fire, obviously talking to it. But the flames suddenly erupted in gusts and diminished. Lucius glared at the doorway and slowly rose.

"Telling Voldemort more secrets?" Harry accused. His wand was in his hand before he realized it. Lucius stood immobile looking daggers at Harry.

Draco came in right after and Harry heard the hurt in his voice. "Father. How could you? I trusted you."

A strange expression passed over Malfoy's face, but he kept his gaze on Harry when he spoke. "My little dragon. You see how you can trust absolutely no one."

"I trust Harry! Because he loves me! Something you can't seem to manage to do!"

"Trust Potter? For a shag, perhaps. But with your life? Do you honestly think if it came down to him or you he would choose you?"

"Yes!" he cried, his voice cracking. "I do!"

"And this is the son I raised."

Draco pulled his wand, though it caught in his robes and he angrily tossed them aside, tearing the fabric. "I've never been good at Avada Kedavra," he said between clenched teeth, "but just let me try it one more time!"

Harry whirled and grabbed Draco's arm. "Draco, NO!"

He wrenched himself from Harry's grip. "All right. If not that, then how about a good old-fashioned Cruciatus?"

"Draco, I will not allow you to curse your father...much as he may deserve it. You don't deserve the guilt that will surely follow."

He looked at Harry, his face red and blotchy from tears. "And this is the man you despise, Father. See how he defends you...because of me. You have me to thank that he won't curse you either. Of course, if I weren't standing here, it would probably be a whole different situation."

Lucius did not look as cool as he did before. A trickle of perspiration trailed down his temple. "Well then. Why are the two of you gracing my door?"

"Sit down," said Harry, urging him to it with a gesture of his wand. "Get his wand, Draco."

Draco stretched forward, opened his father's robes, and plucked out his wand.

Lucius never wavered his gaze from Harry, backed to the chair, and sat on the edge.

Harry stood before him, wand at eye height. "Now then. I want to know what Voldemort knows. What did you tell him?"

Lucius eased back a fraction. He licked his lips. Suddenly, he looked old to Harry. His hair looked more white than blond and he realized that this was probably so. The long hair must have changed while he was in Azkaban.

"Was that Voldemort you were talking to?"

His flicked his gaze to Draco for the barest of seconds. "No. It was...Narcissa."

"Mother," Draco whispered.

"I had to tell the Dark Lord of the Horcruxes. He would have realized it soon in any case. But I told him nothing else."

"Why?" Harry gripped his wand. His arm trembled. He didn't know how he was preventing himself from hexing Lucius like he deserved. "Why, after Dumbledore promised to protect you?"

"Promised. Ha!" The sneer was back, but the dark circles under his eyes were more pronounced. "I told him nothing more than he already would have soon known."

"The potion, Father. Did you tell him about the potion?"

He turned anxious eyes to his son. "No, Draco. I did not. I told you before, Harry Potter is the best hope we have of defeating him."

"Then why are you helping that evil creature?"

And then, Harry saw something in Lucius Malfoy's eyes he never expected to see. Tears.

"Because the Death Eaters have taken over Malfoy Manor...and have taken your mother prisoner."


On to Part Five
"Horcrux"

Back to Part Three
"Prisoner"

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