Who Knew

“Father!” Draco frantically called out, as he flung his bedroom door open and ran out.

Blaise understood Draco’s need to want to speak with his father, so he retreated out of his room and down the stairs, making his way over to the door. He sadly looked up at the second floor and sighed, wishing there was something he could do for his best mate. He hugged his jacket snuggly around his body, as he opened the door, feeling the cold weather nip at his chest, before exiting the manor.

Draco hurried through the manor, searching each room to locate his father. His eyes were streaming with tears, as he continued his search. He continued wiping his eyes, while running up the stairs, hoping to find him in his study.

He burst open the door and quickly looked around, noticing the room was empty. His body began to shake now, wondering where he could possibly be. He suddenly felt someone’s presence behind him and hurriedly turned around.

“Draco, what’s wrong?” his father worriedly asked, as he entered his study.

Draco rushed over to him and tightly wrapped his arms around him, not wanting to let go. He didn’t stop the tears anymore, allowing them to flow freely. He gripped his father’s shirt, scrunching it in his fists.

Lucius became very concerned with his son’s behavior. He had never seen him this upset before, which pained him deeply. He had always told his son he would be there to help him and protect him, yet as he listened to the muffled cries of his son, he knew it was already too late to do anything.

He wrapped his arms around him, knowing all he could do right now was hug him back. “Draco, please tell me what has happened,” he tried again. “Is it your mother?”

Draco shook his head, which was buried on his father’s chest. Lucius felt a bit more relaxed, knowing his wife was okay. He tried to think of other things that could’ve possibly made him this upset, but nothing was coming to mind. He suddenly thought of Snape who was still downstairs, wondering if he should call him up to help. Surprisingly, Snape was always much better at these types of things than he was and would definitely know how to handle a situation like this.

“Father, it hurts so much,” Draco wept.

“Did somebody just attack you?” Lucius frantically asked, as he pulled his son away from him to examine his body. “Where does it hurt?”

Draco’s lip started to quiver, when he placed his hand over his heart and started to pound on it. “Make it stop, father. Please, just make it stop,” he wailed, before falling to his knees and clenching his chest.

Lucius dropped to his knees, trying desperately to help ease his son’s pain. “I can’t make it stop, unless I know where exactly the pain is coming from. Was it a spell?” he asked, as he firmly grabbed Draco’s shoulders, making him look into his eyes. “You have to try and remember. What were the words they cast on you?”

Fresh tears started to fall, as Draco shook his head. “Nobody cast a spell on me,” he answered.

Lucius breathed a sigh of relief, yet still was confused by what was causing Draco so much pain. “Then what has happened?” he curiously wondered.

“He’s…gone,” he cried, as he buried his head on his father’s chest again. “Please tell me you didn’t do it.”

“Son, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he worriedly responded, looking around the room for anything that could possibly help him understand. “Who’s gone?”

“My life will never be complete without him,” he sobbed, ignoring his father’s question. “I loved him so much, father. Tell me it wasn’t you.”

Lucius stared down at the sobbing child’s head resting on his chest, shocked by the sudden announcement. “Him?” was all he could muster.

Snape hurried into the room, taking notice of the crying young boy wrapped around his father’s body. He had heard the cries from all the way downstairs and became very worried. He looked over at Lucius, seeing how pale he had become. “What has happened?” he asked.

Lucius was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts, as he looked over at Snape and shook his head, letting him know he was still unsure himself. He ran his hand through his son’s hair, wanting to comfort him. The sobs were still strong, causing him much heartache. He returned his attention to Snape, motioning for him to come closer.

Snape nodded, as he moved slowly behind Draco, gently beginning to rub his back. Draco sniffed, as he turned away from his father and cried on the chest of his godfather.

Lucius took a deep breath and stood up, smiling, when he saw Snape wrap his arms around his godson. He always knew he had made the right choice, naming Snape as Draco’s godfather, knowing how much he cared for him as if he was truly his own son.

Snape tried to hush Draco’s cries, while holding him tighter against his chest. He stared sadly over at Lucius, knowing that he was as confused as he was.

“Our love was supposed to be forever,” Draco quietly said. “Forever and ever. He promised.”

“Who promised?” Snape asked.

“Harry,” Draco cried.

Snape’s eyes opened wide as he stared over at Lucius, who also looked shocked. He was suddenly reminded of the initials he found in the cave just the night before. So it really was their initials, he mused. He took a big gulp, as more of that memory went through his mind. “And why do you think he broke that promise?” he softly asked Draco, as he held his gaze with Lucius.

Without knowing, Lucius licked his lips, as he stared longingly into Snape’s eyes. Seeing this man comfort his son so lovingly, always around when needed, never passing judgment on him through the years, it was enough to make him go insane. It was then when he realized how much he truly loved this man, which scared him immensely.

“Because he’s dead,” Draco mumbled so low, that neither of them heard.

“What?” Lucius asked, as he broke free of his stare with Snape, leaning in closer to hear.

Draco backed away from Snape’s chest and turned to his father. “Because he’s dead!” he screamed, before falling to his knees once again and crying into his hands.

Lucius raised his eyebrows in shock, as Snape backed away a little. Lucius looked over at Snape and shook his head, seeing him nod in response. He took a deep breath and moved closer to his son, placing his hand on his shoulder and tightly squeezing it. “Son, who told you Potter was dead?”

“Blaise. He said…his body was found,” he hiccupped. “Burned…by a Fiendfyre curse. They did…tests. Found…evidence.”

Lucius looked again over at Snape, furrowing his eyebrows. Snape sighed, as he approached his godson, placing his hand on his other shoulder. “Draco, I think you may have been mistaken.”

Draco shook his head. “No, Blaise said they did tests, and they came back positive,” he sniffed. “And then he showed me the ring they discovered in the ashes, which was the same ring I gave Harry before he left,” he started to cry again, feeling very light headed all of a sudden. “Harry’s…Harry’s dead.”

“Draco!” Lucius yelled, dropping to his knees, after seeing his son collapse to the ground.

Snape quickly lowered to the ground as well, helping Lucius lift the boy. They carefully moved him toward the couch, fearful of hurting him.

Snape shook his head, while looking over at Lucius, who kept his eyes on his son. “It…it’s not possible, right?” he quietly asked.

Lucius shook his head, finally shifting his eyes away from his son and over toward Snape. “If that body really did belong to Potter, then there would have been no way for the Dark Lord to go inside his mind last night.”

Snape nodded, remembering why they were suddenly called off their mission last night. The Dark Lord had summoned them to express his enjoyment of seeing another one of Potter’s visions, helping him figure out his whereabouts.

“Is he going to be okay?” Snape asked, looking back at his godson with great concern.

Lucius brushed Draco’s hair away from his face and slowly nodded, feeling a tear roll down his cheek. He sadly looked over at Snape, as more tears suddenly fell. “His screams pained me so much,” he shakily whispered.

Snape frowned and slowly moved forward, pulling Lucius into a tight embrace. Lucius wrapped his arms around him, needing to feel his comfort. After a few more minutes, they backed away from one another, still with their arms wrapped around the other’s waist, as they stared into each other’s eyes.

Lucius softly touched the man’s cheek, causing him to close his eyes from the touch. “Severus?” he suddenly whispered into his ear.

“Yes?” Snape moaned.

“Just between us?”

Snape quickly opened his eyes, staring at his friend in question. When he saw Lucius lick his lips, he knew immediately what he was asking. Without another word, he darted forward, pressing their lips firmly together, happy to know their time last night would not be left in the cave as previously thought.

*****
Harry Potter, the boy who survived the killing curse as a baby, died tragically at the hands of some unknown person who had used the Fiendfyre curse. It is uncertain why Potter was there in the first place, but after thorough examinations around the area, finding much evidence to verify suspicions, his death was finally confirmed.

“He was a good man,” Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, expressed. “Sure we had some problems in the past, but I always believed him to be a trusting person. It was a shame when I heard the news about his death, but I want you to know that this will not deter us from finding He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. We will continue forward.”

Potter will surely be missed by everyone who has ever known him. The-Boy-Who-Lived will always remain alive in our hearts.

He crinkled up the paper and threw it on the ground, not able to read anymore. He could feel the tears forming in his eyes and became angry at the thought. He had no idea how this even happened.

He furiously began pacing in the Shrieking Shack, uncertain how he would be able to correct it. He began thinking of the Weasleys, not sure how to break the news to them. He still couldn’t believe what he read. Him dead? What the bloody hell were they even thinking? What tests and evidence did they possibly find to believe it was really him who had died, instead of his best mate? Instead of Ron.

He stopped and buried his head in his hands, as he began thinking about Ron. The image of him screaming his name, when the curse hit him in the back, continued to run through his head, not allowing him to sleep. He just couldn’t free his mind of it. To see the flames engulf him so quickly like that was enough to go crazy. And because of it, he knew his mind was no longer guarded, allowing Voldemort to freely go inside, which he definitely felt him do last night.

He couldn’t believe that his best friend’s remains went unnoticed, not able to get the proper recognition he deserved. And now he had to return to them, to the Weasleys, and let them all know the horrible truth.

“Draco,” he suddenly gasped, as he glanced over at the crinkled Daily Prophet sitting on the dirty floor.

He pictured Draco reading the front-page article after he woke this morning, bawling his eyes out from the news. He had to get to him. He had to let him know he was okay. He shook his head, realizing how difficult it would be to get to him. He hadn’t spoken to him in a few weeks now, ever since the hunt for Hufflepuff’s Cup, so he had no idea where he even was at the moment. He noted the date on the newspaper, realizing it was Christmas Day, and wondered if perhaps he had gone home for the break.

He sighed, as he looked down at his hand, trying to imagine the ring that was no longer there. He didn’t even know how or when he lost it. He recognized that it was missing a few days ago, as well as his wand. He figured his wand had probably fallen out of his pocket when he jumped that one curse before touching the Portkey, but he still had no idea about the ring.

“I have to get to you,” he whispered, thinking of Draco. “I have to let you know I’m alright.”

After taking one last look around the empty room, noticing nothing he would need to bring with him, he hurried out, thinking of only one place. He knew it was a risk, but he didn’t care anymore. He had to go. He had to at least try and see if he was there.

*****
“So what are you going to do?” he asked, as he sat in the chair across from him in the study, very early the next morning.

He shook his head, while staring into the crackling fireplace. He turned toward Snape and sighed, “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but we have to protect him.”

Snape nodded, while turning toward the fireplace. The two remained silent, aware of the consequences involved. A light sniffle was heard, causing Snape to turn toward his lover, seeing him wipe his eyes. “Lucius?” he quietly said.

“He was scared to tell me,” he softly answered, as he continued to wipe his tears away. “Scared that I wouldn’t be able to accept it, or accept him.”

“Well, it isn’t an easy thing to admit,” Snape explained.

Lucius sighed, as he turned to look at him. “Guess he and I have another thing in common now, huh?” he smirked.

Snape chuckled, as he stood and moved closer to Lucius, pulling him up out of his chair and into a loving embrace. They remained silent in each other’s arms, enjoying the comfort they both offered.

“Come to the Order, Lucius,” Snape whispered in his ear, a few minutes later. “You’ll be safe there.”

Lucius closed his eyes and sighed, wishing it were that easy. “I can’t, Severus,” he mumbled.

Snape nodded, knowing he would say that. He held him closer, as he glanced toward the door, and then quickly released him.

Lucius furrowed his eyebrows, not sure why he released him so suddenly. He saw Snape staring at the doorway and followed his eyes over toward that direction. His body tensed, when he saw the boy with raven hair standing in the entrance.

“H…hi,” Harry stammered, still feeling a bit wary of Lucius Malfoy, even after knowing the truth about him from Draco.

“Potter,” Snape greeted, in his usual drawling tone. “Still alive I see.”

Harry glanced down at the floor, shuffling his feet. “You saw the paper then?” he quietly asked.

“Potter, you should know I’m never one to read such garbage,” Snape responded.

“Oh, I just figured,” he paused, as he slowly looked up at him, carefully avoiding Malfoy’s eyes.

“No, we didn’t need a paper to tell us you died,” Snape sternly voiced, remembering the pain he saw on his godson’s face. “Hearing Draco scream it was enough.”

Harry blushed, as he stole a quick glance over at Malfoy. He could see the pain on the man’s face and frowned. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“Why are you here, Potter?” Snape questioned, before shaking his head. “No, more importantly, how are you here? How did you get inside the Manor?”

“I sneaked around back, climbed up a ladder to get on the roof, found an open window, and slipped inside,” he blushed over at Snape.

“Ever hear of just knocking?” Snape drawled, trying to keep up his little façade.

“Yes, but what’s the fun in that?” he smirked.

“Guess we should add trespassing and breaking and entering to your list of crimes,” Snape responded.

“Yeah, well, if you were me, would you go knocking on the door of some Death Eater’s house?” he shot back.

“That’s enough,” Lucius snarled, causing both of them to look at him in alarm. He shook his head, as he stared at Potter, knowing the real reason why he came. “He’s up in his room, still out from when he collapsed last night after telling us of your unfortunate death.”

Harry’s eyes opened wide in worriment. “Is he okay?” he asked.

“Besides being completely devastated and heartbroken, yes, he’s fine.”

Harry nervously bit his lower lip. “So I take it you’re aware of Draco and I?”

Lucius nodded, “I am.”

Harry sighed, as he looked into Malfoy’s hard gaze, knowing how protective he had to be feeling right then. “Sir, I want you to know that I would never intentionally hurt your son,” he expressed, needing him to understand.

Lucius crossed his arms over his chest, as he continued staring at the boy before him. “Do you really love him?” he suddenly asked.

“With all my heart,” Harry answered, without even a touch of hesitation in his voice.

Lucius took a deep breath, as the words went through his mind. “I believe you,” he softly said, before adding, “but if I ever see him in pain like that again because of you, I will hand you over to the Dark Lord so fast-”

“I understand,” Harry nodded, before chewing on his lower lip, waiting for him to let him go see Draco.

Seeing his want to be with his son, Lucius sighed, “Second floor, fifth door on the left.”

Harry smiled, as he sped out of the room and over toward the stairs, taking them two at a time. He hurried over to Draco’s door, placing his hand over the doorknob. He took a deep breath, before slowly turning the handle.

He opened the door slightly, peering inside the dark room, trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb his sleep. He couldn’t wait to see him, to hold him in his arms again, to tell him he was still alive. His heart suddenly stopped, as he stood in front of the empty bed, noticing the tear-stained piece of parchment that lay on top of the sheets.

I’m sorry and love you all.
-Draco

*****
A/N: *quickly hides under bed* Don't hurt me. At least I gave you Harry back. Okay okay, I know I'm evil. But thanks to everyone who has reviewed.

yaoiObsessed: Wow! First off, thanks for the long review. And don't you dare apologize for writing so much. I love it! It's awesome to see people reacting to my stories like that. :) Yes, Ron is dead. It is pretty sad, but on the other hand you have to feel a little bit happy knowing it wasn't Harry. At least he died having accepted his friends' relationships. Aw, yeah. Poor Luna, too. :( haha Glad you liked that little scene with Harry and Ron. I thought I needed to add a little humor there, especially with what was about to happen. haha I'm happy you saw my little "slip" about the ring. And I'm glad you didn't lose faith in me... *gulps* Now comes the next part. Your second review made my jaw drop when I read it. All I can say is that I'm very sorry to keep doing this to your heart.

thrnbrooke: Very good observation. Yes, Ron was still wearing the ring when the curse hit him. Here's Chapter 17. And I'm sure you're already craving for 18. Am I right? :)

SilentInvictus: haha Yes, Harry is alive. But now what's going to happen to Draco? AH! lol :) More coming soon.

Deefresh84: Thank you so much! Yes, I do love surprises. Glad you're enjoying them! :)

Black Padfoot: Well, I'm guessing this chapter answered that question. :) Hopefully Draco will find out the truth before it's too late. *cross fingers*

Jeni: So glad you found my story and are hooked! Hope you continue to like it. :) Mmm, yes. That earlier bathroom scene was pretty good. Thanks for reading!