Dragon Rose

A/N This chapter at this time is unbeta'd... I'm sorry.

Disclaimer.... Not mine ~sighs~


Chapter Nine.


Bill and Charlie rejoined those in the living room, both slightly drained from their talk with Harry. Gratfully accepting the offered tea, Bill looked around at the others, and smiled weakly when he met Severus' eyes. “He's asleep.” He told them all, and watched as the tension immediately decreased.

“Did he tell you what caused him to explode?” Lucius asked.

“Yes, Mr. Malfoy he did. And knowing him as well as I do, I'm not surprised in the least.”

“Explain!” Severus demanded sharply, the only one in the room who did not totally relax when informed that Harry was asleep.

“Easy Severus, I'll explain.” Bill said raising his hands in submission. “It seems that when Ma.. Draco decided to keep the bond between him and Harry, he triggered a panic attack that Harry was already fighting to keep under control. In his own way, Harry was hoping that Draco would agree to break the bond in order to keep himself from becoming an even larger target then he already was. It's really no secret that anyone close to Harry will be taken out in order to break his support system, effectively rendering him harmless, or at least to the point that one tiny shove would break him beyond repair.”

“It is as I expected then.” Albus sighed. “I'm truly surprised that he allowed Galahad and Morgan to get as close as they did in such a very short amount of time.”

“That we can explain as well.” Charlie said into the silence.

“Well.” Morgan demanded.

“Headmaster did you know that Harry has some creature blood in him?” Charlie asked.

“No I did not.”

Sighing Charlie and Bill shared a long look, trying to decide exactly what to tell everyone, without breaking trust with their younger brother. Before either of them could say anything, Gali, Morgan and Draco all went stiff for a moment before relaxing. “Potter said to tell you to tell us everything.” Draco told them all.

“And how do we know that you're just not saying that to get what you want to know?” The Weasley twins said as one glaring at the younger blond.

“Mischief Managed.” the Annerson twins replied with a glare of their own.

Both sets of twins continued to glare at each other for a long moment, before Fred turned to George. “Well Forge?”

“Oh indeed Gred, having anther set of twins in the family is going to be just grand.”

“I agree totally. We'll just have to figure out how to use this to our advantage later.”

“Oh yes.”

Turning to look at their older brothers, and ignoring the looks they were getting from the others they nodded their heads. “It's true, go ahead and explain.”

Groaning in unison, Charlie and Bill shared a pained look with everyone before settling down to expain everything that they had gathered to the rest of the room.

~~hp~~

Three hours and many questions later, Severus and Lucius finally managed to kick everyone out of the apartment and sat sipping at glasses of single malt scotch, each lost in their own thoughts.

The Weasly twins and Draco had been sent to show Morgan and Galahad around the castle, Albus had gone back to his office, his twinkle going full blast due to what he had just heard, and Charlie and Bill had gone back to their own homes.

Sighing deeply Lucius looked over and caught a set of black eyes. “This is going to be a really interesting year.”

“Indeed. More so then usual.”

“Father figure to the Boy Who Lived.” Lucius commented softly, “I'm really not sure if I'm up to that challenge.” he admitted.

“How very un-Slytherin like Luc, admitting that outloud.”

Lucius smirked, “Oh, like you can say you saw being his mate in your future.” he snorted.

“I should have.” Was the very quiet reply

Lucius knowing his friend as well as he did, just sat silently and sipped his drink, and let Severus proceed in his own time.

“I have always known where in the Castle he was, it made trying to keep him out of trouble easier.” Severus started, as part of a longer explaination

“I don't even want to count how many times you complained about him getting into life or death situations. Every time you did, I could see just how the effected you.” Lucius said softly. “I thought of first that it was pure hate. But looking back now, I can see something different.” When no answer was forthcoming he added on last thing before leaving things alone. “There's a very fine line between love and hate.”

A nod of his head was his only response.

~~hp~~

Harry woke slowly from his nap, and stretched like a cat, causing vertabri to pop all the way down his back. Curling up into the warmth of the covers, he allowed the comforting sound of chatter in his mind loll him back to a light doze. A familier drawl in one of the voices had Harry shooting up in bed, :Malfoy!:

:Yes? Did you need something Scarhead?: The voice came again, this time laced with amusement.

:Ah hell, I thought I had dreamed it all!: Harry whined.

:Sorry Kitten, but it's all true.: Morgan giggled.

Grumbling to himself, Harry once again made himself comfortable within his blankets. :What are you three up to at the moment?:

Draco snorted softly and cast a look at the two sets of twins that he was following. :I'm being shown more of Hogwarts then I had ever hoped to know.:

:Ah, a tour of Hogwarts, Weasley style.: Harry snickered back.

:Indeed. Maybe you can join us?: Questioned Gali.

:No, I think I'll stay here. I have things that I need to discuss with the elders for this school year.: Was the quiet reply colored with a yawn.

Harry felt a shield go up and two of the voices became muted. :Are you alright Harry?: Draco asked softly.

:I think so.: Harry replied after a moment. :I'm sorry I freaked out like that. It's just that – I just can't – I just can't lose anyone else Draco.: He tried to explain.

:I know, and I understand. If I was you I more then likely would have done the same thing.:

Draco was content to follow along behind the others, knowing that nothing would happen with the Weasley twins there to retaliate, as he waited for Harry to respond, either by acknowledging what he had just said or by changing the subject. He suspected it would be the latter of the two. His suspicious were confirmed a few minutes later.

:Are all the Weasleys with you?:

:The twins are more then enough thank you very much.: Draco responded, his mental tone snotty.

:Yeah yeah yeah. Please be kind enough to explain why the Twins are still here.:

:Well from what I could understand, all four of them came here to ask the Headmaster if the Twins could come back to finish there schooling. The Headmaster asked the Founders what they thought, and the four of them said if they had permission from their Head of Family they could re-enroll and be sorted once again.: Draco explained. :Now I guess they just have to contact whoever is the new Head of the Weasley Family.: he finished.

By the time Draco had finished explaining, Harry was howling with laughter.

~~hp~~

Pulling himself together, Harry allowed himself another stretch before uncurling from the blankets and headed for the shower, his skin crawling from the dirt he could still feel from the summer past.

Half an hour later, feeling somewhat better, he made his way nervously into the living room, stopping just outside the room when he saw both men sitting there quietly. Glancing around the room, and not seeing any damage from earler, he let out a shaky breath and slowly stepped into the room, the movement drawing the attention of both its occupants.

Finishing the last of his drink, Lucius stood and moved towards the door. “I think this conversation is best left to two of you. I'm sure I'll find something that needs my attention within my new office.” He stated softly.

Harry, unsure on how the news that Bill and Charlie gave had been taken, looked down at the floor for a second before reaching out and stopping the man from leaving. “Mr. Malfoy – Lucius....” he trailed off, not knowing how exactly to voice what he was feeling.

Glancing down into green eyes filled with uncertainty and fear, Lucius felt his heart swell for the young man before. “I know Harry.” He whispered, “no more needs to be said. Fate has a way with playing with our lives, but in the end it will all work out for the best.” Without giving Harry a chance to reply, Lucius left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Harry stood watching the door for a few minutes before slowly turning to the man who sat in front of the fireplace, the play of flames casting flickering shadows on his face, and hiding his eyes from view. But Harry could tell the that those dark eyes would be glittering in their intensity as the watched him. “S..Severus?”

“Come here Harry.” Severus' voice was just above a whisper, and he watched as the teen moved towards him, and could see the tremors going through the young man that he was just figuring out he had always loved. When Harry stopped just within arms reach, he moved forward slightly and drew him onto his lap and wrapped both arms firmly around him, not letting go when Harry stiffened in his embrace.

Slowly Harry relaxed and allowed himself to be cradled against the strong body holding him. Fingers nimble from years of working with delicate potions and their ingredients, started to run through his hair, and Harry melted fully, a contented noise voiced deep from the back of his throat.

Severus chuckled slightly at the sound that could almost be classified as a purr. “I think my children were correct in calling you kitten.” he stated softly, never stopping in his movements.

Allowing the silence to go on for long moments, Severus finally started talking once again, his voice just loud enough to be heard. “Whatever this is between us, I never would have expected it to happen. Especially with the past five years between us, and the bad blood between myself and your family before.”

Harry opened his mouth to defend both of them, only to be stopped by a gentle finger against his lips. “Shh, let me finish. I'm not one for speaking my feelings or thoughts out loud, and I fully expect this to be the last time I ever speak of this again. Just let me finish. Please.” Harry found himself nodding in agreement. After all it was the only thing he could really do.

“I am not a nice man. I stepped into the Dark Lords service eager to please Him, thinking a finally found a spot that I belonged. It took only weeks for me to figure out my mistake, and even longer to find away out of it. Over the years, I have killed many, either directly or with the use of the potions that I created for His pleasure. My saving grace came the day that you stepped into this school, and my task became clear, when I was set as your protector. I never expected anything more to come of this, and fully expected to die to save your life. My redemption would have come in the form of saving you.”

Stopping for a moment to refill his glass, Severus held it in front of Harry silently asking if he wanted a glass himself. His surprise was almost complete despite everything else when instead Harry reached out and took a small sip from his glass and handed it back. Repeating the same motion for himself, he set the glass to the side and continued. “My world turned upside down yesterday morning when I saw you with the twins, and my every belief was torn away as I learned the truth about you. Learning today that I was your mate, was perhaps not as surprising to me as it was to the others, almost like I have always known that you were more important to me then I would ever allow myself to admit. Now I can only promise that I will do everything in my power to prove myself worthy to stand at your side.”

Harry sat silently for a few more mintues before pulling away gently from Severus' warmth. “My life until I found myself here at Hogwarts was not pleasent, and nothing can ever change that fact. When I came here, I thought my life would get better, but then I ran into the Boy Who Lived nonsence and I realized that I had only exchanged one prison to another. My only constant during all this time has been you. No matter what anyone else said or did, no matter if I was being made out to be the villian or the hero, you were always the same.” Locking his eyes with the dark ones before him, he finished all he was going to say on this subject, before putting it behind them both. “No matter what else happens Severus Snape, promise me one thing. Never change. I like you just the way you are, complete with your evil, snarky attitude. Never change.”

Severus let out the breath he had been holding and smiled slightly. “You have my promise Harry Potter, now until forever.”

~~hp~~

After another good nights sleep, this time with the help of a few sips of Dreamless Sleep, Harry found himself walking with Draco Malfoy of all people, to the Great Hall for breakfast. Neither of them talked much, and Harry could already hear the new set of rumors whispered as he passed his follow students.

Pausing just inside the door, Harry glanced around trying to figure out where to sit, knowing that he would not be welcomed at the Gryffindor table, even with twins sitting alone at one end of it. Running his eyes over the Ravenclaw table, he was surprised to see Luna looking back at him with a vague smile on her face, that fooled everyone but him. Shrugging his shoulders slightly, he made his way towards her, when she waved him over, and almost collapesed in shock when she threw her arms around his neck in a giant hug. A glance at the head table reassured him that everything was alright, and Harry happily took his place beside her and dug into the food set out in front of him, occasionally adding to one of the conversations going on around him.

Finished with his plate, Harry enjoyed the way the Ravens didn't block him out, or try to blame him for what happened over the summer, and he could tell that those who didn't know what to think had decided to suspend judgement until all the facts where in. So deep into the converstation with a 7th year debating Dark vs. Light magic, he wasn't aware of the growing silence until his debate partners eyes grew wide as he stopped in mid sentence. Tipping his head back to see who was behind him, even though he knew only one person could cause this reaction, Harry looked up into the glittering eyes of Professor Snape. “Good morning Professor.” he greeted, forcefully holding down the smile that wanted to spread across his face.

“Mr. Potter, if you are finished with your meal, the Headmaster would like you to join him in his office.” Snape stated coldly, though Harry could see the warmth in his eyes.

“Of course Sir. I'll be up in a minute.” Turning back on the Potion's Master, knowing it would cause the older man to seemingly grow angry, Harry made one last point to the 7th year. “Light doesn't mean good, and Dark doesn't mean evil. After all 'Avada Kedavra' in the hands of a healer can give a merciful ending to one suffering saving them from an even more painfilled years, just like 'Wingardium Leviosa' can kill if you direct a person high enough into the air.” he stated calmly, hopeing it would make those around them to rethink some of their ways.

“Now Potter!” he heard growled behind him.

“Yes Sir.” Harry stated, grabbing a final peice of bacon, and hurrying after his Professor, letting his smile out when no one else could see.