Harry shivered at the chilly wind that had picked up but otherwise ignored it. He, instead, continued with his extremely important task of throwing small chunks of ice into the Black Lake. The Giant Squid would make an occasional appearance, swatting at the surface as the ice hit the water. He frowned, contemplating, once again, how to accomplish the Second Task.

He glanced around before his next toss, spotting a very familiar Gryffindor coming to join him.

"Hey, Neville," he said, throwing his next ice piece.

"Hey," Neville said, coming to stand next to him. "Little cold to just be standing out here."

Harry shrugged. "A little." He threw a piece of ice. "Just needed to think."

"Lots on your mind?" Neville asked, proceeding to join Harry in the ice throwing.

Harry nodded.

"Anything you want to talk about?"

Harry remained quiet for a little while as he contemplated. Neville was likely able to understand better than most.

"Say you had this person that had been helping you and you knew they cared about you. Then they tell you this huge secret. They did something bad and did terrible things. What would you do?"

"Is this person still bad? Still doing these terrible things?"

"I don't think so but I don't know for sure."

"Do you trust this person? Even after learning this secret?"

Harry thought and tossed an ice chunk. "Yeah, I do. With my life."

"Do you think this person still cares about you?"

Harry thought again and nodded.

"Then I don't see a reason to risk losing this person and this chance," Neville said. "It could become more. Give them a chance to fully explain. They told you this to open up the trust between you even more."

Harry looked at him and smiled. "Thanks, Neville."

Neville grinned and shrugged a shoulder. "You need Snape and he needs you. Don't lose it over something that might be nothing."

"How did you-"

Neville gave him a pointed glance and Harry chuckled, shaking his head and throwing more ice.

"Neville, I've got something else to ask," Harry said, having an idea about solving the Second Task.

"Anything."

"You know Herbology," Harry said. "Is there any chance you know of a plant that could make me breathe underwater for a long period of time?"

"How long?"

"An hour."

"There's gillyweed," Neville said and Harry's eyes widened. "It gives you actual gills and generally lasts about an hour. The amount you take effects the length."

"Gillyweed," Harry repeated quietly. "Is it grown in the greenhouses?"

Neville shook his head. "It's not that common. It doesn't even grow anywhere in Britain."

Harry groaned and chucked an ice chunk hard. There went that idea. "Thanks anyway."

"Glad to help," Neville said.

"How is Narcissa?" Snape asked as he and Lucius strolled the school grounds.

Lucius sighed. "She has been virtually unresponsive since she was brought here. Nothing has worked. She just lies in bed. On occasion she cries."

"It is still early," Snape said. "Draco only died two months ago."

Lucius nodded.

"I, quite frankly, am surprised at how well you have been coping."

Lucius' lips twitched into a small smile. "Trust me, it's not been easy. Back at the manor I have lost count of my breakdowns, and Draco's room still remains as it was. However, I have found it easier to bear with Harry. He has helped more than he will ever know."

Snape gave his own small smile. "I don't think that boy realizes the effect he has on anyone." He paused as he looked towards the lake. "Speaking of."

Lucius glanced over and smiled at the sight of Harry and the Longbottom boy throwing something in the water and playing with the squid.

"He is quite a child," Lucius said wistfully. Snape nodded in agreement and they continued their walk. "I do fear the worst, though, about Narcissa. I just do not see her making any progress. She has given up."

Snape sighed sadly. He was about to speak when a dove Patronus appeared in front of them. He felt his heart stutter and glanced at Lucius. It was Madam Pomfrey's Patronus.

"Come quickly. She is fading."

Lucius turned horror-stricken eyes to his friend before hurrying back into the castle. Snape watched him go sadly and began to follow. He was intercepted, however, by Harry who had a worried expression.

"What's going on?" he asked. "Lucius looked scared."

"It's Narcissa," Snape said and Harry's eyes widened. "It seems she has attempted to take her life again and is fading quickly."

"But can't you save her? You did the first time," Harry said, his voice breaking.

"I will go there and see what I can do, but there may be nothing to be done this time," Snape said. "She has given up on living. It is very difficult to save someone who doesn't want to live."

Harry thought of the few times in his childhood when he took longer to heal because he couldn't see any point. "But you'll try?"

Snape put a hand on the boy's shoulder and met his eyes. "I promise."

Harry nodded and watched the man whisk into the school. He hardly noticed Neville come up beside him.

"Is something wrong?" the other Gryffindor asked.

"It-it's Mrs. Malfoy, something's happened," Harry said. "I-I have to go."

"Yeah, of course," Neville said and Harry took off.

He ran through the halls, his mind spinning. He couldn't believe this was happening. It couldn't happen! He had enough he had to deal with and he had too much to lose. True, he hadn't spent as much time with Mrs. Malfoy but he wanted to know her the way he had with Lucius. Plus, Lucius might leave if she died and he didn't want Lucius to leave, he couldn't lose yet another person. Finally he crashed into the Hospital Wing. Snape, Lucius, and Pomfrey were all crowded around the bed holding Mrs. Malfoy.

Snape and Pomfrey appeared to be attempting treatments while Lucius stood by, observing, with his arms crossed. Harry quietly moved to stand beside the blonde who had clear tear tracks on his cheeks. He reached out and gently put a hand on Lucius' arm, causing the man to look down at him. Lucius' lips raised a touch and he draped an arm around Harry's shoulders, pulling him close.

"How-how is she?" Harry whispered.

It was at that moment that Snape and Pomfrey straightened and took a step back. Snape turned to them, despair in his eyes, and shook his head. A sob bubbled out of Lucius' throat and his grip tightened on Harry unintentionally. Harry felt his own heart stutter to a halt.

"What-" Lucius swallowed, "what did she do?"

"She cut into a major vein and inserted hemlock directly into the blood stream," Pomfrey said.

"There is nothing we can do," Snape added.

"What about a bezoar?" Harry asked.

"The poison has already reached her heart," Snape said. "She has moments left."

"I'll-I'll leave you alone," Harry said, pulling away from Lucius.

"No," Lucius said, looking at Harry as he moved to stand beside his wife. "I would like for you both to stay." He glanced at Snape who inclined his head.

Harry shifted closer to Snape, giving Lucius space as he leaned down to Narcissa.

"Narcissa, I am so sorry," Lucius whispered. "I'm sorry I couldn't save Draco for you. I know how much you missed him. You can be with him now so maybe you can be happy again. Tell Draco how much I love and miss him. Goodbye, my love."

Harry's head dropped at the same time as Lucius', a tear rolling down his cheek. He glanced back at the Malfoys and felt his heart break as Lucius broke down.

Narcissa was gone.

Hours had passed. Lucius was sitting in a chair beside the empty bed, his arms on his legs and his head bowed. Harry was sitting on a nearby bed and Snape was leaning against the wall near Harry, his arms crossed.

Harry looked up at his professor. "I think we should talk."

Snape gave him a slightly surprised look before nodding.

"Finally."

They both looked over at Lucius who had spoken but hadn't moved.

"Go, talk," Lucius continued. "You've taken too long to talk so, please, do it, finally."

Snape smirked and Harry tried to give a smile of his own. After a wave from Lucius, Harry and Snape left, walking down to the dungeons in a slightly awkward silence. They entered Snape's rooms and automatically took their respective seats. The quiet remained with them for some time as they both looked anywhere but at each other. Eventually Harry took the initiative.

"I still don't understand," he said, "but I guess that's the point of talking. I never let you finish explaining and I've been told by multiple people that I should have."

He took a pause and finally looked up at the professor.

"So explain."

Snape took a deep breath before launching in his story. "I joined the Death Eaters when I was in my seventh year. Your mother and I fell out in our fifth year and it was the final step. I will not lie to you. I joined of my own accord and, for a time, I enjoyed what I was a part of. Not for the reasons you think, however. In the beginning, I did, horrifically, enjoy hurting people and that's all it was. Hurting them but in ways they could still heal. It was an expression of my rage and hatred and loneliness. I quickly lost this enjoyment. I liked it for a very brief time.

"I liked being a part of the Death Eaters because I was a part of it. I finally truly belonged somewhere. I had people to care about me. I had power. I was no longer the weak child that could be beaten and bullied. I had a place."

Harry swallowed thickly, noticing glaring similarities between them.

"In 1980, Voldemort was at the height of his power and we were at the height of the war. At this point, I was already considering leaving the Death Eaters for various reasons. I was not performing my...duties adequately and I was not in Voldemort's good graces.

"One night I was to meet Professor Dumbledore at an inn in Hogsmeade. On my way, I heard voices in one of the rooms and I stopped to listen. What I overheard was a prophecy, a prophecy that told of the downfall of Voldemort. I brought this prophecy to Voldemort to get back into his favour and it worked...at a terrible cost.

"Voldemort believe the prophecy to be a true telling of his fate. As such, he made the decision to eliminate the one prophesized to be his defeat."

Snape stopped as he dropped his head to gaze at the floor.

"When I learned what Voldemort was going to do, I ran to Dumbledore. I begged him to protect your mother. Selfishly and horribly, I only cared about her life. Through a deal, Dumbledore protected all of you, at least until Pettigrew."

A heavy, almost suffocating silence settled on them. Harry felt his eyes burning but he refused to cry. He needed a clear head.

"What did this prophecy say?" he asked quietly.

"A child born at the end of July with parents that had previously defied Voldemort would have power he didn't and would be able to defeat Voldemort."

"So he figured it was me."

Snape nodded. "You and another. Another boy fit the same description and he went after the other as well."

"Who was the other boy?"

"Neville Longbottom."

Harry's eyes widened. "That's why his parents were attacked."

Snape nodded again. "The Longbottoms were attacked shortly before your parents. Luckily, the child wasn't home at the time and escaped a potentially horrific fate."

"But that made him choose me," Harry said. 

"Yes, but also because of what happened that Halloween. You survived the curse which he's perceived as a power he doesn't have. He also marked you," Snape said and Harry frowned. "Your scar. Because he left a mark on you, it confirms for him that you are his equal and can destroy him."

Harry bit his lip and ran a hand through his messy hair. "Why exactly did you get the Mark?"

"There are a mess of reasons," Snape said with a sigh. "I couldn't handle losing Lily. It was just the final blow to go along with my already terrible past. I had a childhood extremely similar to yours. My father was anything but a kind man. Ultimately, however, it was somewhere I could be accepted and not bullied. It was an escape. I really don't have a truly good reason."

Harry bobbed his head, choosing not to vocalize his understanding of wanting a place to be accepted.

"What deal did Dumbledore make you take?"

"I was to become a spy," Snape said. "Continue to work in Voldemort's ranks but give information to Dumbledore."

"Isn't that dangerous?" Harry frowned. Why would Dumbledore make someone do such a thing?

"It is. If I were to ever be discovered, I would be killed instantly. Plus, not everyone on the ‘Light' side believes I am a spy. Many believe I am still a loyal Death Eater."

"Are you?" Harry asked bluntly, looking back at Snape.

The man met his eyes steadily and held them as he spoke. "No, I am not. I am truly a spy for the Light. I have not been loyal to Voldemort since the night I made this deal with Dumbledore."

Harry felt something inside him settle as he believed the man's words. "How did you know my mother?"

Snape gave a tiny, soft smile. "We were neighbours. She was my only friend. She knew what my father was like and did her best to help. I helped her discover she was a witch."

Harry's eyes fell as he smiled, finally learning something about his mother. The smile disappeared as one final question fluttered into the forefront of his mind. "Do you actually care about me?"

Snape felt his heart stutter painfully at the question. How could the boy even ask such a thing? "You have no idea how much."

Harry felt tears well up and he gazed at the man. There was that expression again, filled with gentleness and affection. His heart pounded and he got to his feet. After some hesitation, he shuffled a few steps and then wrapped his arms around Snape's neck.

Severus glanced up as the door to his quarters opened and he was surprised to see Lucius. 

"What are you doing here?" he asked his friend quietly, ensuring he didn't wake Harry.

Lucius sat in the chair usually occupied by Harry. "I needed to get away and I don't fancy spending my night in the Hospital Wing. I hoped to stay here."

"Of course you can," Severus said, nodding.

Lucius inclined his head in thanks before smiling as he looked at Harry. The boy was asleep, stretched out under a blanket on the sofa and his head on Severus' thigh. "I take it things have been worked out."

"Yes, he let me explain and he seemed to understand," Severus said. "He asked me if I care about him. It astounded me."

"Well, he's really only ever had terrible experiences when it comes to this sort of thing," Lucius said. "After everything, he, of course, thought there was yet another person who had lied to him."

Severus sighed and looked down, sliding his fingers through the black hair. "I sincerely hope he knows I do."

Lucius smiled softly. "I'm sure he does and, in time, it'll be natural and he won't second guess."

Severus nodded, giving his friend an appreciative look. "How are you?" he asked, changing the subject.

Lucius sighed again. "As well as I can be. There won't be a funeral. I will say my goodbyes the day she is buried privately, though the both of you are welcome as well, of course. It will be this coming Sunday."

Severus looked at him with sympathy. "I'm sure we will both be there."

Their quiet conversation was halted as Harry began to stir in Severus' lap. They both watched indulgently as the boy slowly woke and sat up, rubbing an eye.

"M'sorry, sir," Harry mumbled. "I'll go back to the Tower."

"Nonsense, child," Severus said. "Stay in the guestroom. Go on, head off to bed."

Harry smiled sleepily. "Thank you, sir."

"Sleep well."

Harry nodded and dragged himself to his feet. "Good night, Lucius."

"And you, my boy."

Harry smiled again and shuffled into the familiar guestroom he had stayed in before. He was out nearly instantly.

Harry wandered up to Lucius who stood at the lake's edge. He couldn't help but muse at how often he was by the Black Lake these days. It was a few days now after Narcissa had been buried and they all said their goodbyes. As Lucius had promised, there was no funeral, only a day to pass through and bid farewell to the woman. Now she was gone and put to rest, and Harry had never seen Lucius look more lost. He couldn't help but relate and want to help.

The man was alone and he knew what it was to be alone.

He silently stood next to the man, looking down at Ron's and Draco's graves while Lucius stared at the water. He wasn't sure what to do now. While he knew what it was to be alone, he didn't know how to comfort or fix it. He'd never had it done for him, not really, so he had no examples to go by. What should he say? Should he say anything at all? He bit his lip and considered leaving when, shockingly, Lucius slowly reached out and put a gentle arm around his shoulders, pulling him close.

It was then that words came.

"I was suicidal once," he said quietly, still staring at the headstones. "About a year before I got my letter. Nothing was getting better, nothing was okay. I had spent so much time hoping and wishing that one day I would be taken away and I'd finally be happy. I hoped and wished to get a real family. But it never happened and after wishing for the tenth birthday in a row, I gave up. I finally accepted that that was my life and I would never escape. The next night I held a stolen razor blade for hours. I never touched my skin with it but I held it and stared at it. I can't even remember what I thought but, eventually, I put it down and left my cupboard to do my chores. I did the same thing every night for almost three weeks. At some point I just...stopped and a year later I got my letter."

Lucius said nothing. He just held Harry tighter to his side.

"It may not be even close to the same, but you've still got Professor Snape," Harry added quietly. "And I'd like for you to stay around."

At this, Lucius turned his head and looked down at Harry. He smiled slightly, ran a hand through Harry's hair, and kissed the top of his head.

"I would very much like to stay around," Lucius whispered.

Harry smiled and they fell quiet, gazing at the lake and the graves of friends and sons.