"To say the least," Snape caustically put in. "I understand that the item has been passed down to you from James, but you have put it to more than sentimental use these past several years. I strongly suggest you place it in your trunk and keep it there, is that clear?"
"Yes, sir, perfectly clear," Harry all but gulped.
"I think perhaps there may be something we can do for Draco, all the same," Snape mused, his expression lightening. "Perhaps we can go somewhere for Christmas."
Harry blinked with astonishment. "Are you serious? That'd be great! But uh... would it be safe? You know Draco's father's going to be looking for him... not to mention me... and then there's always Voldemort out to get me..."
"I think something can be arranged. After all, Harry, neither Voldemort nor any of his minions will have reason to suspect we aren't here. The place I have in mind should be at least as safe as Black's old house. No, safer still, as the fireplace has never been on the Floo network."
Harry felt his face go chill, and wondered if the blood was draining from it. "But Professor, Sirius' house was so unsafe that Lucius got his hands on me there..."
"Only because Lupin led him to it, and you accidentally ended up outside the building proper. That won't happen again. Everything will be all right." Somehow, those last words sounded like Snape was talking about several things at once. "Shall we go inform Draco?"
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Snape wasn't too pleased when he realized that Harry's door was charmed shut and that silencing wards were blocking out his every call for Draco. Unlike Harry, however, Snape knew how to deal with it. He drew his wand from a deep trouser pocket and made short work of Draco's makeshift wards, then strode straight in without even knocking.
Draco was sitting cross-legged on his bed, awake but staring into space. He cast Snape a cursory glance when the man flung the door wide, but other than that, didn't react.
"How would you like to go away for Christmas?" Snape opened the conversation.
Draco briefly looked up, his silver eyes wounded. "I... I don't have any place to go, Severus. I thought you understood, my relatives have sided with my father, every one. But you and Harry will be wanting to have a father and son holiday, I suppose--"
"No, Draco," Harry said, coming to sit beside the distraught boy. He hesitated a second, then laid a hand on Draco's knee. He almost expected to feel the Samhain needles again, or at least a sick reluctance churning in his belly, but no... it was okay. Maybe, he was finally over it, finally healed, inside and out. "We want to get away from the dungeons for Christmas," Harry explained. "All of us. Snape and I never once considered not having you along. Don't be silly."
Draco gave a weak smile, though distress still lurked deep in his eyes. "Oh. Well, that's all right, then. I think if I had to look at these stone walls all through the holiday... well, never mind. Yeah, let's get away." He drew in a deep breath and looked fully at Snape. "Anyplace in particular?"
"Yes, but I do believe I'll keep it a surprise," Snape smoothly returned. "I'll go request dinner for the three of us."
"When can we leave?" Harry asked, eager to be somewhere else now that he knew it was a possibility.
"The Hogwarts' express will take most of the students home for holidays on Saturday morning. I think... that evening," Snape decided. "We'll be gone most of a fortnight, so pack accordingly."
Harry laughed. "Three days to get packed. I think I can manage it."
Draco dragged himself slowly to his feet, acting more like a man of sixty than a boy of sixteen. "I think I'll have a shower."
"No," Snape sternly announced. "Wait until after dinner, and until after you show me what you've accomplished today in your courses."
"Well, that won't take long," Draco muttered under his breath.
Snape ignored the comment, though later he did insist on Draco catching up on the work he'd neglected during the day.
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"Ready, Harry?" Snape asked, eyeing the worn duffle Harry was carrying hefted over his shoulder. When Harry nodded, Snape turned to Draco, who was levitating an entire trunk behind him.
Harry couldn't help but goggle. "We're only going to be gone two weeks!"
Draco gave Harry a superior sort of smirk, the kind of expression that would have once had Harry longing to smack him. Now, his main reaction was relief that Draco was finally acting more like himself. Harry suspected, however, that the problem, whatever it had been, hadn't really been solved; Draco was just managing to ignore it. Avoidance... it was a technique Harry recognized in himself as well, though he wouldn't have known what to call it if not for that book of Snape's.
"I can't possibly live out of a duffel," Draco drawled, his tone suggesting the prospect to be a fate worse than death. "Some of us have standards, Potter. Some of us have a certain je ne sais quoi without which we'd just be peasants..."
For once, Snape didn't threaten points over the "Potter" part of the comment. Harry liked that.
"Some of us know how to pack," Harry teased back. "You don't bring your entire wardrobe with you on a trip, Malfoy. You prioritize."
Draco laughed. "Please. You prioritize; I'll accessorize."
"Enough banter," Snape announced. "We'll all Floo together--"
Harry swallowed hard, all amusement abruptly vanishing. "Ah... didn't you say this place was off the Floo network?"
"Unless you want to walk across the grounds to the Apparation boundary, which would put you in full view of any Death Eaters lurking about, not to mention the few Slytherins who have stayed here for the holidays, Flooing is the best way to depart."
"Portkey," Harry suggested, grimacing.
"I haven't one prepared," Snape said, narrowing his eyes. "You've been using the Floo a bit of late. Don't tell me you still think it will roast you alive."
"Well..."
"Harry, you will be with me. My magic will pull you through regardless of the state of your own."
"And mine," Draco chimed in.
"But--"
Snape looked him square in the eyes. "You are my son," he stated quietly. "Can you truly believe I would do anything to bring you to harm?"
"Or do you think you know magical principles better than Severus does?" Draco added.
Harry thought about that, and nodded. "All right. I guess I'm just remembering... ah, Samhain. I think I sort of have a thing about fire, after that." He swallowed. "But if spell residue from the Floo made Sals sick, she certainly can't go through it with us."
"Excellent point," Snape announced. "You have her in your pocket, there? Wrap her around your wrist."
Harry did, angling his body away from Draco. Incanting something under his breath, Snape touched Sals lightly with his wand and changed her into a coil of gold. Harry gasped, but before he could protest, Snape was assuring him, "She'll be fine, Harry. Much better than if she had to Floo in her corporeal state."
Draco regarded the bracelet with distaste. "We could always leave her here," he pointed out, clearly not enthralled with the prospect of bringing Sals along on holiday. "She's a snake; she knows how to take care of herself."
"She's a nice little snake," Harry sternly announced. "You shouldn't judge her as evil just because she's a snake. I mean, I got over you being a Slytherin, didn't I?"
To Harry's surprise, Draco sort of paled. It wasn't a good look on a boy who was already so fair-skinned to start with.
"Shall we just go?" Snape suggested, his voice all at once exhausted.