For a second after Draco had raced out of the study, the others just stood in stunned amazement. From his office, they heard Dumbledore's voice calling Draco's name, but no response.

Then Severus shook his head. "I should have realized that he is still terribly wounded," he murmured to no one in particular and strode quickly out of the room, black robes billowing.

Harry hurried after him.

Draco was not in Dumbledore's office and the headmaster was already gliding towards the open door leading to the circular staircase. Severus and Harry followed him out of the room and down the twisting stairs until they saw Draco huddled at the foot of the steps, his back to the closed door leading to the outside corridor, drawing in quick shaky breaths.

"Draco," Severus began.

But before he or the headmaster could say or do anything else, Harry slipped by them and went to kneel beside the other boy. He wasn't exactly sure why, but something about Draco's fear reminded him of himself, when he had been small and imprisoned in a dark cupboard at the Dursleys, or even later, after Voldemort's return at the end of the Triwizard Tournament.

It was terrible to be so frightened and alone. Harry knew all about that.

"It's all right, Draco," he said softly. "Don't be afraid. Remus won't hurt you."

The blond boy swallowed and slowly focused his gaze on Harry. "But he's...one of them, a werewolf."

"Remus is a werewolf, but he's nothing like Greyback," Harry replied firmly. "Remus is very careful to make sure he doesn't hurt anyone."

The small voice in his head that had an irritating habit of pointing out uncomfortable truths reminded Harry that as a boy Remus had run free about the countryside with his Animagus companions and even more recently that there had been a time when he had neglected to take Wolfsbane and had placed Harry and his friends in danger. But Harry knew that Remus had been deeply shaken by those failings and surely he was more careful now.

So Harry pushed the little voice away and continued to reassure Draco. "You can't just judge a whole group of people by one of them. Some wizards are evil, like Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange...and Dolohov," he added, remembering that Dolohov was also one of the those who had attacked the Malfoys. "But then a lot of wizards are good, like Severus and Dumbledore. Everybody's different. And werewolves are the same. Just because Greyback is horrible that doesn't mean you have to be afraid of Remus. Remus has never done anything to you, and he never will."

"But he doesn't like me. I know he doesn't." Spots of faint color tinged Draco's pale cheeks. "I was not always very nice back in third year."

Harry couldn't help it. He had to laugh. His own mixed-up emotions combined with Draco's euphemistic words overcame him and he laughed and laughed.

"No, you weren't always very nice back in third year. Actually, Draco, you were horrible back in third year, and fourth year, and fifth year wasn't a glowing character reference for you, either."

Draco looked at Harry as if he'd lost his mind, but then slowly his anxiety faded and the blond boy's lips twitched. He gave a hiccupping little laugh that almost sounded like a sob. "You're crazy, Potter."

"Yep, and so are you, Malfoy," Harry agreed cheerfully.

Draco was silent a moment and then said quietly, "You know, I think I like it better when we're calling each other by our first names."

"Yeah, me too." Harry stood and held out a hand. "So how about it, Draco? Let's go back upstairs."

When Draco still hesitated, he added. "Remus would never hurt you, Draco. I promise."

"Harry is right," Remus spoke up.

Both boys looked up to find the three men, Remus, Severus, and Dumbledore, standing on the stairs above them. Remus slowly slipped by the headmaster and then Severus, a feat that required some dexterity as the circular staircase was rather narrow. But he stopped several steps away and then sat down on the stair. Harry thought he was probably trying not to crowd too close to Draco, but to give him as much room as possible in the cramped space.

"Draco, I'm very sorry that Greyback killed your mother and has caused you so much suffering," Remus continued softly.

Draco's eyes grew bright at the mention of Narcissa and he quickly looked away, dragging in a deep ragged breath.

"He has caused me great suffering too. He is the werewolf who attacked me when I was only six years old," Remus told them. "He tried to kidnap me and take me to live with his pack of followers, to rob me of anything resembling a normal life. He is a monster and he seeks to create an army of monsters like him."

Remus' voice grew firm. "But I am not like Greyback. Draco, my greatest fear is that I might harm someone during a full moon. But thanks to Severus," Remus paused to nod and smile at the Potions Master. "There is Wolfsbane and it helps me to keep my right mind when I'm in werewolf form. I isolate myself and put up strong wards around my room, just in case anything should go wrong. Dora helps too, by going over the wards to be certain that they're done correctly. I never, never want to hurt anyone as Greyback has."

"As for your behavior during third year, well, we all make mistakes. I'm willing to start over...if you are?" Remus finished with a questioning tone.

Draco stared back at him in silence and Harry wasn't sure what he was thinking or if he would agree to a new beginning with Remus. But finally Draco nodded. "All right...sir."

Remus smiled. "You may call me by name if you'd like."

Draco looked very uncertain but he agreed. "I'll try, hmm, Remus."

Remus smiled encouragingly as he stood. Harry held out his hand again and this time Draco took it and hauled himself back to his feet, taking another deep breath as he did so.

"Well done, Draco," Severus spoke quietly for the first time.

Draco straightened his shoulders and flashed him a grateful look, obviously pleased to have Severus' approval.

Harry just smiled. At one time he would have jealous, but now he knew how much his father loved him and that nothing could affect that. It was a good feeling, to have someone that he could count on to always love him and be there for him.

His gaze strayed to Remus and Harry's smile faded. His parents' friend should have been that person, but for whatever reason, Remus only wanted a casual relationship with Harry.

Well, he had wanted them to be closer...he wanted it still, for that matter, but Harry could accept Remus' desire for emotional distance because he had his father now. He only hoped that Remus would be more open to Draco, as Severus and Dumbledore hoped. With Remus marrying Dora Tonks in the spring, they would be Draco's new family and the other boy needed someone to love and care for him, not someone who would disappear whenever Draco needed him.

"Well done, indeed." Dumbledore beamed at all of them. "Now that everything is settled, I'm afraid I must leave you. Severus, perhaps we can finish our conversation this evening if you and Harry come. But I have a lunch appointment with an applicant for the Potions position...unless Severus and Harry might consider returning?" He ended hopefully.

Harry immediately shook his head. He felt a little bad for disappointing Dumbledore, but he could not bear the thought of leaving his sanctuary at Prince Hall and facing everyone at Hogwarts.

"No, Albus. Harry does not wish to," Severus replied at the same time.

Dumbledore sighed and acquised. "Very well then, I'll be off to my appointment. But Severus, Harry, if you should change your mind, you're always welcome here...and I will not be hiring a replacement until after this term."

He moved down the stairs and the doors swung open. Then he was out of sight.

"Well, Draco, you and I are quite late on our lessons. Let's go back to the study and we might have time to run through a few Temperature Charms before Transfiguration," Remus said.

At Dumbledore's words, Draco had looked sharply at Severus and then at Harry. Then he had dropped his head and stared at the floor. As Remus beckoned to him, the blond boy raised his head and for a moment his eyes met Harry's. Draco's silver eyes were filled with guilt and sorrow. He seemed to want to say something, but then he just dropped his gaze again and silently headed back up the stairs.

Severus reached to touch his shoulder as he went by. "Draco, are you all right now?"

Draco nodded. "Yes, sir," he mumbled and then he disappeared up the circular staircase.

"Severus." Remus inclined his head. Then he turned to Harry. "Harry, it was wonderful to see you again. Read chapter eleven in your Transfiguration text for tomorrow."

"All right," Harry said as Remus followed Draco upstairs, leaving Severus and Harry alone.

Severus held out his arm to Harry, who promptly went to him and leaned close.

Severus' arm tightened about him. "When did you become so mature and wise?"

Harry laughed. "I'm not."

"I disagree, though it does seem like only yesterday that you were a little tyke always sneaking about and rushing headlong into danger. Oh, wait. It was yesterday."

Harry grinned. "Don't worry, Dad. I know better now."

"I certainly hope so." Severus' voice grew serious. "I couldn't live without you."

A warm feeling spread throughout Harry's chest as he met his father's soft black eyes. "I couldn't live without you either."

Severus bowed his head against Harry's for a moment before straightening. He cleared his throat and said lightly, "With that in mind, I was going to ask if you would like for us to fly this afternoon before tea. But you must promise not to perform any of those death-defying aerial stunts that you're so fond of."

"No death-defying stunts?" Harry pretended to pout. "Aw, Dad, you're no fun."

"Or you could begin studying that chapter for Transfiguration," Severus continued.

"Flying it is," Harry said quickly.

Severus smiled as they went up to Dumbledore's office to Floo home.

***

"Harry, tell me you're not becoming mates with Draco Malfoy." Ron scowled down at his cup of cocoa at the mention of the Slytherin boy's name.

It was evening and after a fun afternoon of flying, playing card games, and then dinner, Harry and Severus were back at Hogwarts. Severus and the headmaster were once again perusing through the mountain of historical archives from around the world that they all hoped might contain some clue to abolishing the slavery spell. Harry was visiting with Ron and Hermione in Dumbledore's sitting room.

The first half hour Harry's friends had kept him entertained with school news. Hufflepuff had won their Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. Seamus and Dean had continued to work with Daphne Greengrass and Pansy Parkinson even though Professor Grubbly-Plank had long ago allowed everyone to pick new partners in Potions. Bill had given Ron an Acceptable on his latest Defense quiz, which Ron was quite indignant over because he felt he had deserved Exceeds Expectations at the very least.

"Just because he's my brother he says he has to be especially tough on me so no one will think he's playing favorites," Ron had grumbled. "I mean, like that's bloody likely!"

"Well, he did say he would give you extra credit if you wrote an essay on three types of offensive skills and how they can be counteracted," Hermione had pointed out.

"Acceptable's not that bad, I guess," Ron had quickly replied.

But then Harry had begun telling them about events of the past couple days, and Ron and Hermione were not exactly pleased to learn that Harry and Draco were becoming amiable. Ron in particular seemed upset.

"I wouldn't say we're mates, but he's not so bad." Harry answered defensively.

"Not so bad!" Ron exclaimed in disbelief. "Harry, this is Malfoy we're talking about. The same git who's made us all miserable for the past five years. The same git who calls Hermione that awful name. And the same git who enslaved you and then told everyone about it, just in case you've forgotten."

Harry abruptly jumped up from the sofa and stalked over to the window to stare out at the darkening sky. He was so angry that he didn't trust himself to speak, but it was more than just anger that caused his throat to close and the heaviness in his chest. It was the same raw pain that he had struggled against for months, ever since summer. He was able to hold it at bay a lot of the time now. Sometimes he could even forget it entirely.

But the pain was always there, threatening to overwhelm him.

"Ron," Hermione's voice was quiet but forceful. "How could you say such a thing? Of course Harry hasn't forgotten any of that. And he's having a hard enough time right now. He doesn't need us making it even worse."

She went to Harry's side and took his hand. "Harry, I can't say I like the situation, but I guess it's a good thing that you and Draco are getting on better...if he's really changed. Ron and I just don't want you getting hurt again."

"Is there a problem?" A new voice asked from the doorway.

They all turned to see Severus standing there, his sharp gaze falling on each of them in turn.

Harry found his voice. He appreciated Hermione's support, and he knew deep down that Ron was truly concerned too, but he was still hurt and angry. Suddenly he just wanted to leave and be back at home. He squeezed Hermione's fingers lightly to show his thanks, but moved away to walk over to his father.

"Dad, I need to go. I've still got to read that chapter for Transfiguration."

Severus studied him intently. He started to say something but then stopped, nodded, and only said, "Very well. Let's go then."

"Harry..." Hermione called after him.

But Harry didn't respond. He just couldn't. He hurried through the door to Dumbledore's office, ignoring the headmaster's curious stare, and a few seconds later he was on his way back to Prince Hall.