"It's a generalization many in your House have contributed to, including yourself," Snape retorted.
"Oh, I was just supposed to let the Basilisk roam the halls?"
"You were supposed to tell a teacher what you knew."
"Yeah, well the year before we did tell McGonagall... um, I mean Professor McGonagall, about the Philosopher's Stone being in danger, and that worked out well, didn't it?"
"I am sorry your Head of House let you down," Snape replied, staring at Harry in a way that would be hard to miss. Now you have me... that was what Harry read in the dark tunnels that were Snape's eyes. Harry gave a nod to say that he understood.
Snape nodded too, and then proving that he hadn't forgotten Draco, suddenly leaned over and cautioned, "Mind you don't misspell Gryffindor or you might find yourself doing the entire set over."
"Very funny," Draco snarled, but Harry noticed he did give the word a good look. The Slytherin boy's pale face flushed as with a growl of irritation, he found a way to squeeze in a second "f" beside the first one. Then sighing deeply, Draco neatly numbered a "2" on the sheet of parchment and began yet another line.
"No," Snape gently told him, leaning down to take the quill from his hand. "You may resume tomorrow, after you have spent the day pursuing your subjects."
"Wonderful," Draco sighed.
"And Draco..." Snape laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Your impetuousness has put us all in a rather untenable position. But... I remember being sixteen and making unwise choices. My regard for you has not changed. Do you understand?"
Draco looked down at his shoes as he nodded.
"It is time I returned to assist with matters at Hogwarts, I think," Snape pronounced, stepping away. "Draco, please do use care with the Calming Draught. I understand that you may need it, but no more than one dose every ten hours. Harry, I will return for you in the morning and we will make a treatment decision about that eye. It's just as well that you are here; I've no desire for the Aurors to see you in your current state, and they may well decide to pay Draco's quarters a visit."
"If they ask for me, what are you going to say?"
Snape looked back from the door. "You recall that in class you are to look a bit inept managing your new magic?"
"Yeah, to throw Voldemort off the scent..."
"In that same spirit, I plan to tell the Aurors that since Samhain you have been most fragile emotionally and were having so much difficulty dealing with the stress of a death right there at Hogwarts that I removed you to help avert a nervous breakdown--"
"You're going to tell them I've become a nutcase?" Harry shouted, appalled.
"Not in those words, no. It's strategy, Harry. And though the imputation may be unfair to you--"
"Unfair!" Harry choked back a bitter laugh. "I want to be an Auror, in case you've forgotten. You get the Aurors Corps thinking I'm mental and they'll never let me in!"
"They also won't let you in if you're dead," Snape bluntly announced. "If my ruse keeps you alive by lulling Voldemort into thinking you will be easy prey, I am not disposed to alter course, whatever you may think of the misdirection."
Seeing the look on Snape's face, Harry felt his outrage subsiding. "Oh, all right," he groused, though he didn't like it any too well.
Snape glanced at both his sons. "You both need rest. Do not stay up too late. As I told Draco already, Harry, shouting that you need me will trip a ward alerting me to a problem here in the cottage. Stay inside at all times--"
"And be sure to use a cleaning spell on your teeth before bed," Draco interrupted. "Do you also want to tell us to use the toilet, Severus? For pity's sake!"
The Potions Master gave them a longish glance, clearly reluctant to leave at all. "Be good," he added to all he'd said. Letting that be his final word, Snape he walked outside, shutting the cottage door with a definite click. Harry watched through the window but it was too black outside to see the Potions Master once he stepped away from the house.
Draco waited until they heard the tiny noise of Apparation, then asked, his voice intense, "I have to know about your dreams, Harry--"
"I think we'd better heed what Severus said earlier," Harry interrupted. "No details, all right? He'll assign me ten thousand lines, I bet."
The Slytherin boy scowled. "Funny how you objected to that left, right, and centre when it was Weasley who had to write them."
"I stood up for you too," Harry assured him. "But it didn't do any good. Just like with Ron."
Draco searched his features, then shrugged. "Well, all right. Anyway, I wasn't going to ask about your Lucius dream, Harry. I'd just like to know one thing... have you had any about dreams this, about what I can expect? I know... well, you thought I was going to be killed, I know..." He looked away. "But now that you know that was all wrong, can you think of anything you dreamed that would tell you if I'm going to stand trial?"
"Sorry, I've no idea what you might have to face," Harry admitted. "But Draco, whatever it is, Severus and I will stand by you. Even if we all have to leave Hogwarts to keep you safe."
"Yeah," Draco said, his voice thick in his throat. "Yeah. Um, do you happen to know if Severus has any money? Any real money, that is? Because... my vault, the terms of the trust... I'm pretty sure that my entire inheritance will revert to Lucius if I'm expelled or even if I leave school on my own." He looked away, his gaze seeking out the blackness outside the window. "So... Severus quitting his job isn't such a good idea, see? I mean, unless he can support us without it."
"He has some money," Harry said, and at Draco's quick glance. "Not that he's ever discussed it with me, but there was a section on finances in the adoption application. Don't worry, Draco. He can take care of us."
"Good," Draco sighed. "Well, not good, actually, but better than having to..."
"What, depend on my vault?" Harry shrugged. "Snape has the key. If he needs to use it to help the family I have no problem with that."
"Well I have a problem with it," Draco snapped.
"Come on, all this worry is just going to make you sick. Let's get to bed... Have you sorted out the bedroom?"
"No," Draco sighed, glancing at his watch. "Ha, time for cocoa again. Well, a hot drink'll help me sleep, so I'm going to see if that stupid box will let me have some. You want any?"
"Yeah, and get us some biscuits too," Harry said, trying to make light of matters. What else was there to do?
"You transfigure the bed," Draco added.
"I don't know the spell in Parseltongue," Harry yawned, slipping off his cloak.
"All right, I'll go do it... you light a fire for us. It's getting a little cold in here."
They drank their cocoa in silence, the only noise the steady munching of shortbread. The quiet was actually rather soothing, Harry thought, after the kind of day both he and Draco had had.
Evidently, though, it wasn't soothing for the Slytherin boy. He was fidgeting restlessly, his silver gaze repeatedly darting between Harry and the table. The longer they sat there, the more nervous Draco seemed to get.
Nervous, and upset.
"I have to tell you something," Draco suddenly blurted.
Harry licked a bit of whipped cream from the corner of his mouth. "Hmm?"
The Slytherin boy swallowed and backed his chair away. "Remember how you said you loved me?"
Harry felt himself flushing red, but he wasn't about to go back on it, so he brazened it out. "Yeah, what of it?" Hmm, that had come out sounding a tad belligerent, he realised after the fact.
Draco didn't appear to notice. Wrapping his hands around his mug, now empty, he held to it as though it were some sort of lifeline. "Well, I wanted to make sure I told you that I love you too," he whispered, tension in every line of his face. "I love you with everything that's in me. With all my heart."