"Then, once you add the Glumbumble, the potion should change to a deep violet, and that's the final step except to let it simmer for a half-hour. Then that's it; you're done," Draco finished.

Harry was impressed in spite of himself at Draco's easy familiarity with the steps to the complex anti-dote. "That's a lot to remember."

"Well, it is a NEWT level potion, Potter," Draco drawled. Immediately he looked alarmed. "Sorry, I meant to call you ‘Harry'. I just forgot, but I didn't mean anything." He seemed to realize that he was babbling and abruptly stopped.

Harry shrugged. "S'okay. I'm not sure whether to think of you as ‘Draco' or ‘Malfoy'."

The other boy was quiet for a moment before hesitantly offering, "You could call me ‘Draco'. If you wanted, that is..."

Harry gave him a considering look. "All right."

Draco smiled again, one of his rare genuine smiles, but before he could speak, there was the sound of someone clearing his throat from the doorway and both boys turned to find Severus standing there, watching them.

Harry thought his father must have been shocked to find the two of them voluntarily spending time together...he was still rather shocked by it himself...but as usual, Severus was composed, only raising an eyebrow as he stepped into the library.

"I must say that I did not expect to find the two of you together."

Harry grinned and jumped up to greet him. "Hi, Dad. You were gone a long time."

He went over to Severus and his father's hand curled around the back of his neck as Severus smiled down at him.

"Yes, unfortunately Albus was having a busy morning. We were interrupted several times." He looked from Harry to Draco sitting at the table covered with parchment and back to Harry. "It seems that you two have been busy."

Harry nodded. "Draco was helping me study. I think I understand how to brew that anti-dote now. Hey, could we go down to the lab and I could try it, while it's still fresh in my mind?"

"You're asking to brew a potion? This is a day for miracles," Severus remarked dryly before agreeing. "But yes, I suppose we could. Draco, as it is also your study time, I want you to read chapter nine from your Charms text, on memory charms."

Draco nodded. "Yes, sir."

He stood to leave, his face closed and emotionless again. Watching him, Harry felt a pang of compassion. It must be hard for Draco, to see Severus and Harry so close and to feel left out and alone. Harry remembered what the other boy had said about being lonely and an idea popped into his mind. For a second he hesitated, unsure if he really wanted to invite Draco or not.

But then as Draco turned to face them, Harry caught a glimpse of hurt in his silver eyes. Draco tried so hard to hide his emotions, Harry knew...it must be a Slytherin trait. But he hadn't been able to conceal his pain these last few days and Harry couldn't help being touched by it.

And he didn't have to worry that his father would care more for Draco now. Severus' hand, still curled around the back of his neck, was warm and protective and steady...just like his father's love for him. Harry knew that now, without any reservations. That knowledge made him feel even more compassionate towards Draco and made it easier to reach out to him.

He turned to his father. "Dad, could Draco come too and help? You do let us work with a partner in class after all."

Severus might have been able to hide his surprise earlier, but this request seemed to be too much even for his equilibrium. He stared at his son in stunned speechlessness for long moments. Harry glanced over at Draco and found the blond boy also gazing at him in bug-eyed shock.

Hmm, he would have to mark this day on his calendar. It wasn't often that he could completely dumbfound two of the most composed Slytherins. Harry grinned at the thought.

"Well?" He pressed after a few moments of silence. "Is it all right? If Draco wants to, that is," He added, giving the other boy a questioning look.

Draco nodded, and he and Harry both gazed entreatingly at Severus.

Severus finally recovered the power of speech. "Who are you and what did you do with my son?"

"Wow, Dad, you're actually joking now too," Harry said approvingly.

"Only partially," Severus responded. But then he agreed. "Very well. I suppose it would be all right if you and Draco are both amenable to the idea."

Harry nodded and Draco said, trying not to sound eager but not entirely succeeding, "Yes, sir. I've already read that chapter on memory charms anyway."

"Good. We'll have a quiz on it tomorrow," Severus told him.

Draco groaned, but not even that news could dampen his pleasure at being included. He turned to Harry. "Um, thanks. Thanks for letting me come along, Harry."

"It's all right, no big deal," Harry replied, feeling a little embarrassed that the small gesture seemed to mean so much to Draco.

But Draco shook his head and said quietly, "Yes, it is. It is a big deal and I'm grateful."

Harry could feel himself turning red, but before he had to answer Severus' hand, still curled around the back of his neck, gave a gentle squeeze and his father spoke, "Well then, let's go, shall we, gentlemen?"

Harry went to grab his notes and potions text and then the three of them headed downstairs to the enormous cellar that Severus had converted to a laboratory, office, and storerooms. The curved staircase opened into the laboratory, a large room with stone walls lined with shelves and cabinets, a stone floor, and a long worktable in the center.

Once they entered, Severus stood aside. He usually had Harry start a potion on his own while he observed from a slight distance, only stepping in if it were necessary. He had the idea that letting Harry work independently and not hanging over his shoulder would help his son to feel more comfortable about brewing. Harry wasn't sure if Severus' strategy was working or not; he still felt anxious whenever it came time to work on the practical sessions of potions.

But today was going to be different, he told himself as he set his materials on a corner of the work table. He had studied hard and he felt more confident than usual about brewing the anti-dote. Besides, Draco was helping and the Slytherin boy was excellent at potions.

He glanced over at Draco, expecting him to take charge as he always had back in class at Hogwarts, but to his surprise, Draco was hanging back too, allowing Harry to take the lead.

Oh great. Now he decides not to be a show off. But okay, I can do this. Harry took a deep breath.

"Okay, um...Draco, why don't you get a cauldron and set the water to boiling...the cauldrons are in that cabinet over there...while I get the ingredients."

He wasn't accustomed to Draco's improved attitude and half-expected him to argue or complain, but Draco cheerfully agreed and headed for the cauldron cabinet. After a second Harry turned to the shelf stocked with various plant leaves. He caught his father's eye as he did so, and Severus smiled at him, a warm reassuring smile.

Harry smiled back, and the knot of tension inside his stomach eased.

***

"You did very well today," Severus commented later that night. He was sitting on the sofa in his upstairs sitting room, with Harry curled comfortably on the other end. They were alone; Draco had returned to his room to study on his own, and they each had a book open, but so far neither had read much.

Harry grinned, feeling inordinately pleased with himself, but then again, he didn't often have such unqualified success with potions. "I can't believe you gave me an ‘O'! I've never gotten an ‘O' in potions before."

"You deserved it. The anti-dote was perfect. I couldn't have done a better job myself. But, as well as you did there, I was not referring only to your brewing." Severus smiled at his son and his black eyes glowed with pride and warmth.

"Oh, you mean with Draco?"

"You have such a generous and forgiving nature, Harry," Severus told him quietly. "When I think of all that you have suffered, and yet you remain so kindhearted and selfless, always so willing to give others a chance, even if they have hurt you...well, it puts me to shame."

"Dad..." Harry began uncomfortably. He did love knowing that his father was proud of him, but praise always made him feel awkward and he also hated for Severus to put himself down.

But Severus shook his head. "I don't mean to embarrass you, but you are a truly noble person, Harry. I want you to know that I admire you and that I wish I had handled my own troubles with half as much grace as you have. I wish I had had your compassion and empathy."

Harry wasn't sure how to respond but before he could think of a way, Severus cleared his throat and spoke more briskly, "I have news for you."

"About Draco? What did you and Dumbledore decide to do about him?" Even as he asked, Harry realized that he wasn't sure what he wanted Severus' answer to be. At one time, even just a couple of days ago, he had wanted Draco gone, though not sent to Azkaban. But now...well, now he wasn't so sure what he wanted.

He didn't want Draco living at Prince Hall permanently, but he supposed it might be all right for him to stay a while longer. Harry certainly didn't want the other boy to go to Azkaban now. Some people probably wouldn't understand that, after all that Draco had done to hurt him. Harry had a feeling that Ron might not, not at first anyway. But Draco really hadn't known what he was doing then; he truly had thought that the curse would be some minor and temporary inconvenience. As horrible as the slavery curse was, and Harry was still crushed inside when he thought about being a slave, he didn't want Draco to have to suffer in Azkaban.

Especially now that he seemed to be changing. Azkaban would punish Draco, but it wouldn't make him into better person. Harry was sure of that. And he wanted Draco to become a better person, he realized. The other boy had potential. It wasn't his fault that his parents had been abusive bigoted idiots.

Now, being around Harry and Severus, Norie and Zan...it did seem to be helping Draco and Harry decided that it would be all right for him to stay on, at least for a while.

He realized suddenly that Severus was speaking.

"...are going to be related, anyhow, after the wedding. We thought it might be a good solution for everyone."

"Um, sorry, Dad, I missed most of that," Harry admitted.

Severus looked at him in fond exasperation. "I said that your werewolf friend, Lupin, is going to help with tutoring you and Draco. That will give me more time to spend with you and, as Lupin is going to marry Draco's cousin in the spring, it seemed like a good idea to have the two of them spend some time together."

Harry stared at him in slack-jawed amazement. "Remus! He's going to tutor us? And marry...who?" For a moment Harry was so overcome with shock that he couldn't think of who Draco's cousin would be, and why in the world Remus would want to marry into the Malfoy family.

Then something in his brain clicked. Narcissa Malfoy and Andromeda Tonks were sisters, weren't they? Which would mean...

"Tonks? Remus is marrying Tonks?"

"Nymphadora Tonks." Severus nodded. "Yes, in the spring, according to Albus. He also said that the two of them are in the process of acquiring a larger flat in London. Once they have procured it, Draco might be able to go and live there, unless Albus decides to re-admit him to Hogwarts. He said that he wanted to speak with you about your feelings towards Draco before making a decision on that."

Harry just blinked at him, blindsided by this news. Remus...showing up out of the blue after all these months, tutoring them, marrying Tonks, Draco living with them. It was just too much to take in all at once. He shook his head, feeling dazed.

"Harry? Are you all right?" Severus leaned towards him in concern. "I thought you would be happy."

Harry tried to recover his composure. "I am. I'm just...surprised, that's all. I haven't heard from Remus for a long time."

Not since last spring at the Department of Mysteries. But Harry didn't want to think about that. He didn't want to remember how pale and stricken Remus had looked after Sirius had died, or wonder if Remus hated him now.

He didn't want to remember how Remus had vanished into thin air all through that long fourth-year when Harry had been so overwhelmed and anxious about the Triwizard Tournament or later, when he had been terrified and guilt-ridden over Voldemort's return.

A small voice in the back of Harry's mind tried to whisper that for someone who supposedly had been such a good friend to James and Lily, Remus had not been very supportive of their son.

But how could he blame Remus for any of that after he, Harry, had caused Sirius' death? How could he blame Remus for not wanting to be around him? Sirius' death had been hard for Harry, but it must have been much worse for Remus. After all, Sirius had been his childhood friend. How would he, Harry, feel towards someone who killed Ron or Hermione?

But he couldn't bear to think of any of that. Harry tried desperately to push those thoughts away and concentrate on the present.

"You don't look very happy," Severus said softly.

Harry realized that his father was watching him in concern. "I am...really. I just can't believe it. How come you agreed to let Remus tutor? I thought you hated him."

Severus shrugged. "Hate is too strong a word, though Lupin is certainly not one of my favourite persons. But allowing him to share the workload just seems like a perfect solution to our situation. I will have more time to spend with you now, and perhaps Lupin and Draco could learn to get along."

Harry thought back to third-year. "I don't know about that, Dad. They didn't get on so well when Remus was at Hogwarts."

"Yes, well, a great deal has changed since then, and as they are going to be related soon, it would behoove them both to make amends," Severus responded.

Harry had to smile at him. "Did you know that you and Hermione are the only people I know who talk like you've swallowed a dictionary?"

"There is no fault in having a proper vocabulary." Severus raised an eyebrow at him. Then he reached to take Harry's fingers in his own, squeezing them lightly before letting go.

"I also know that you are close to Lupin and I will not restrict your friendship."

Harry himself wasn't so sure about whether or not he and Remus were such good friends, but he decided not to mention that to his father right now. A discussion about his relationship with Remus could easily lead to a discussion about Sirius, and Harry didn't feel up to that.

He took a deep breath. "So how is this going to work? Remus tutoring us? And will Draco and I still work separately?"

"I had planned for the two of you to continue studying on your own, but I suppose that could be up to you, Harry. If you wish to study with Draco, I suppose you could."

Harry wasn't sure about that either. "Can I think about that one?"

"Of course," Severus nodded. "Anyway, Lupin is going to take over tutoring in Charms and Transfiguration while I will continue to teach Defense and Potions, of course. Albus sent him copies of my plans today so he could see what we've covered these past weeks and he will begin working with you tomorrow morning, at Hogwarts."

Tomorrow, Harry thought. Tomorrow he would see Remus again. At once the time seemed both too soon and too far away.

Then he looked back up at his father. "Hogwarts? Not with other students though, right?"

"No, not with other students, not unless you wish it," Severus reassured him. "Albus has said that you may use his private study."

Harry sighed in relief. He loved seeing his friends, Ron and Hermione, and Ginny, Neville, and Luna, too. But he wasn't ready to see anyone else and he didn't know if he would ever want to. "Good."

Severus looked at him sorrowfully for a moment, but he only said, "It's growing late and we have to be up early."

"You're going too?" Harry asked him.

"Yes, for tomorrow morning at least. I want to go over Lupin's plans and make sure they are satisfactory. I won't have your education lacking," Severus replied.

In spite of Severus' rather condescending words, Harry thought there might be more to it than that. His father was quite observant and he might have noticed that Harry was a little uneasy about seeing Remus again...well, a lot uneasy, to be honest.

He smiled at his father. "Thanks, Dad. Good night, then."

Harry headed off to his own room and slipped into bed a few minutes later, but sleep was elusive. When it finally came, his dreams were haunted by visions of Sirius falling through the veil and Remus turning to him with bitter, hate-filled eyes before he too vanished into the mists, leaving Harry alone with his grief.