The tension in the manor in the following days was even more palpable than it had been when he and Potter had first gotten there. The only time any of them spoke was when they were talking to Leif and Alexei. They only saw Snape at meals and even those seemed to be becoming sporadic. Despite their conversation, Potter refused to interact with him, only leaving his room for meals and training with Alexei. Occlumency lessons were no longer happening, nor was brewing. Potter had abandoned their daily walks and chess, and, if the boy was being woken by visions and nightmares, they never heard and Potter never left his room. Snape seemed to be ignoring everything to do with both of them, never even bothering to give them a glare, let alone a comment.

Whatever had been happening that summer, if anything, had clearly ended. They were all taking steps back, returning to what they used to be, doing as he’d heard Dumbledore tell Snape. He never thought he’d agree with the headmaster, but he did. Nothing could ever truly change between him, Potter, and Snape. They hated each other too much, had too much history, and they were a danger to each other.

Associating with him kept Snape in a risky position given his role. It would be well known among the Slytherins that he had turned his back on Voldemort and the Death Eaters. If Lucius didn’t find a way to get to him at Hogwarts, the Slytherins would do the job fine. Anyone that associated with him would be at risk of whatever the Slytherins would likely do to him. It would be best for him to deal with it alone. It was his decision to leave, after all. He would bear the consequences.

He studiously ignored the growing loneliness and fear inside him, kept them hidden behind the person he’d pretended to be all his life. He had a week and a half to get that person back. He’d been too lax that summer.

Foolish.

He glanced out the kitchen window when he saw a flash of light. Alexei was putting out the relatively large fire that was consuming the grass between him and Potter. It seemed like Potter was struggling to control his Elemental Magic again.

He frowned at his scone, knowing he was no better. He had been training with Leif every day despite believing it to be pointless with their fast approaching return to Hogwarts, and he was struggling as well. He could barely get his magic to leave his body and, when he did, he fought not to drain the first signature he found. His magic was reacting to something, but he didn’t know what, or, maybe he did know, but refused to admit it.

“Draco?”

He looked up at Leif. He and Alexei had been acting odd as well, and Draco assumed they were readying themselves to leave…and forget. He may have only known the two immortals for going on three weeks, but he was going to miss them. They’d brought something to the manor and it would be hard to let it go. Everything about that summer would be hard to let go.

“Time for training,” Leif said and, abandoning his scone, Draco followed him upstairs. “Severus has told me you have a magical tracker.”

“I suppose,” Draco said. “I never knew about it.”

“We are going to get rid of it. Well, you are,” Leif said.

Draco frowned. “How?”

“You can use your magic to cancel any other magic,” Leif said. “Somewhere within you is your father’s magic. You will get rid of it.”

“But…I haven’t done anything like that yet,” Draco said, unsure considering the current instability of his magic. He’d still only been working on exploring and identifying, not interaction. He’d kept his fear about doing more to himself.

“It is time to move beyond identification,” Leif said. “It is time you learned more about your magic.”

“Why? What’s the point?” Draco snapped before he could stop himself. “We go back to Hogwarts soon and all of this is over. There’s no point in doing any more training when it can’t even continue.”

“Is that what you think will happen?”

Draco sent the immortal a sneer. “I heard Dumbledore and Snape that day, and Snape didn’t disagree. So, yeah, that’s what I think, what I know will happen. This summer meant nothing.”

“You would be surprised at what this summer has meant, paidí,” Leif said gently.

Draco scoffed, ignoring the pull in his chest. “Whatever. Let’s just do this.”

Leif sighed. “You will have to explore your own body to find the tracker. Try to see yourself with your magic the way you see others.”

Draco gave a sharp nod and let his eyes close. He tried to relax as he gathered his Aether Magic. Once he had it relatively under control, he guided it around his body, searching for magic that didn’t look like his. It was difficult as his magic wanted nothing more than to run and connect, likely with Potter and Snape. They were who his magic always sought out. He chose not to think about the implications.

After some time spent searching, he finally found it. Hidden close to his core was a swirling dark spot and, as he pushed his magic towards it, he recognized Lucius’ magic.

“Have you found it?”

Draco just nodded, not wanting to risk his still fairly tenuous hold on his magic.

“Good,” Leif said. “Interacting with it will feel different from identifying and draining. Your magic wants other magic. You have to control what it does with other magic. Let yourself feel the tracker, feel the magic’s intent, and listen to what your magic wants.”

Draco took slow breaths as he got closer to the little ball of magic. He could feel the harshness of it, the darkness in such direct contrast to his Aether Magic. He could feel the sinister intent and wanted to pull away, but stayed where he was.

He pushed his magic to the ball and watched it almost instantly wrap around and dive into the center of the magic. Leif was right. It felt completely different. His magic was trying to meld with the other magic as well as possible, wanting to do anything with it. He focused on his hate of Lucius and desire to destroy the tracker, and watched his magic swirl more vigorously around the ball, consuming it. It didn’t take more than a few seconds for his magic to completely devour the ball and he could no longer see or feel Lucius’ magic.

He had a brief moment of relief at knowing Lucius would be unable to track him before he was pulled away from himself by his now out of control magic. It went tearing through all the other magical signatures and systems around until it found Potter.

He immediately began to panic as his magic pulsed, excitedly tangling with Potter’s very active multicoloured strands. Anytime this happened, it was like their magic was playing and he was overwhelmed by the odd feelings and sensations it fostered deep within him. Some of his magic went further until he was staring at Potter’s core, the coloured tendrils bleeding out at they were used. He continued panicking, trying to pull his magic back before it could attach to Potter’s core and begin to drain him, but his magic refused to listen. Instead, a small tendril reached out and touched Potter’s core. He waited to feel the pulsing of magic, but it never came. Rather, he was overwhelmed with emotions: pain, sadness, rage, betrayal, confusion, fear, and, the strongest of all, loneliness.

He barely had time to comprehend before his magic was carefully detangling from Potter’s and rushing around again. There was nothing he could do but follow. He knew he could open his eyes, lower his hands, end it immediately, or ask Leif for help, but a part of him wanted to keep going. There was something about being with Potter’s and Snape’s magic like this…he couldn’t explain it. And, knowing everything would be over in just over a week…well, he wanted to ‘see’ them before that happened.

So, he followed his magic to the massive bundle of gold and black with hundreds of threads constantly ebbing and flowing and swirling around that he knew was Snape. Just like with Potter, his magic rushed out to meet Snape’s, tangling with it. His and Snape’s magic interacted differently, not quite as playful as his and Potter’s magic. He could almost swear Snape’s magic was trying to hold his like an embrace and a deep sense of…something came with the interaction.

He watched as, just like with Potter, a few of his threads floated past the tangled magic and to Snape’s core. He briefly worried about draining, but, then, the same thing happened and he was filled with emotions again: self-hatred, pain, despair, loss, loathing, rage, fear, and, again the strongest of all, loneliness. There was also a very faint undercurrent of what seemed to be affection.

He frowned, watching his magic float happily around Snape’s, his chest aching.

How was he supposed to just forget about all of this?

Harry shook as he struggled to control the air current he was currently guiding around Alexei in steady circles. His magic wanted to explode away from him, wanted to go and mesh with Malfoy’s and Snape’s, but he couldn’t allow that. It made him lose control and he had to stay away, especially from Snape. He needed to forget whatever had been happening that summer, go back to Hogwarts, and pretend it had all been his imagination. It was all a lie anyway, just like his entire life.

“Stay calm, rebenok,” he heard Alexei say and knew his Air Magic must have started getting more violent in response to his simmering emotions.

He drew in a deep breath, trying to keep the magic calm and steady. It seemed to settle a bit and he decided to try something. Alexei always had his hair pulled back in a low ponytail with a strip of loose leather. He focused and directed the circling Air Magic around the vampire and to the leather. He gathered the magic to wrap around the hair and tie, and began to tug. He knew Alexei would realize what he was doing, but continued until one particular rush of magic had the leather coming undone and falling from Alexei’s hair.

“Harry!” Alexei said loudly, laughing.

Harry grinned, watching the vampire push his now loose and messy hair out of his face and behind his ear. He undid the action with another gust of air, making Alexei huff good-naturedly. He was going to keep messing with the vampire when he felt something brush against his magic. He froze and closed his eyes, wanting to see what was happening.

He saw it almost immediately, the silver-white threads that were tangling with his. He watched, feeling an ache bloom in his chest as his and Malfoy’s magic danced around as though playing with each other. It brought emotions with it that he couldn’t identify, similar to when his magic got to be wrapped up in Snape’s. Whatever it was, was overwhelming and addicting. It was part of the reason he refused to interact with their magic anymore. He couldn’t keep feeling it, not if he would have to give it up in ten days.

Yet, he couldn’t pull away. He let their magic twist and play, reveling in whatever it was filling him with. Then Malfoy’s magic disappeared and the warmth he’d felt with it. He jerked at the sudden change and felt his magic begin to whip around. It happened fast, the pressure in his chest exploding outwards in a burst of heat.

His eyes flew open in time to find his fireball engulfed in Alexei’s ball of water. He dropped his hands, pained and defeated, ceasing his Elemental Magic. He clenched his hands into fists as everything he’d been able to push away in his moment of fun with Alexei came rushing back, and he remembered the hurt, the betrayal, the loneliness.

“Harry?” Alexei said softly and he met the blue eyes.

They were misty, but still so piercing, filled with a kindness and affection and concern that he’d thought existed in other blue eyes. Only those eyes had hid betrayal, had convinced Harry they cared when they controlled instead. They’d been involved, no different from hateful black and evil red.

Everything was a lie.

“Harry, you need to talk about this,” Alexei said. “You can’t control your magic with such emotional turmoil.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Harry said. “They lied. They caused all of it. My entire life has been nothing but lies and control.”

“Severus did not lie, rebenok, he simply didn’t tell you,” Alexei said. “He didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Never stopped him before,” Harry snapped. “He was doing what he was told, using me for some sick redemption. As if I could forgive him for what he did.”

“No one expects you to, but I do expect you to try and have some perspective,” Alexei said. “He is not solely to blame.”

“But he is to blame!” Harry shouted. “Nothing he’s done has been real!”

“Did it feel real?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Harry said. “It all goes back to the way it should be back at Hogwarts. It won’t have meant anything.”

“You don’t believe that.”

“I have to.”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t do it again. I can’t be left alone.” Harry shook his head slowly, clenching his fists tighter as he fought back the tears that prickled in the corner of his eyes.

“You’re not alone, rebenok,” Alexei said gently and Harry so badly wanted to just accept and believe the vampire's words.

He stared hard at the ground between them, tears threatening the very edges of his eyes. “I’m always alone.”

Alexei stormed into the upstairs study though he managed to do so far more calmly than he thought he was capable. He knew most of his anger was for Dumbledore, but the headmaster wasn’t there, leaving the second source of his anger: Severus. He marched up to stand in front of the desk the man was sitting at, seemingly doing some kind of work. However, given that they returned to Hogwarts in ten days, he knew there was no work for Severus to be doing. He had finished his preparations a week earlier already. Instead, Severus was stewing and denying. He crossed his arms and glared down at his friend.

“What the hell are you doing?” he said and met Severus’ narrowed eyes steadily.

“Excuse me?” Severus drawled.

Alexei hardened his glare. “What is the plan? The three of you go back to Hogwarts and you ignore them? Pretend they don’t exist?”

Severus snorted derisively. “I should be so lucky that I could pretend such a thing.”

Alexei couldn’t help the small growl that escaped him at his friend’s callousness. He saw the man’s eye twitch minutely, the only reaction to the more animalistic sound that didn’t often escape Alexei.

“It is for the best,” Severus said.

“For who?” Alexei snapped, using Severus’ own response to Dumbledore saying the same thing. “For you? Because this is hard? Because it could mean something? Because they could mean something?”

“Do not presume to know anything about my actions,” Severus ground out.

Alexei leaned his palms on the desks and leaned in, matching Severus’ glare. “I think I can presume. More than ten years and you still run when things get too hard.”

He knew it was low, but he couldn’t let Severus think what he was doing was right. He didn’t want to fight, didn’t want to allude to their last fight back in Italy, but he also knew Severus wasn’t one to listen to kind words when in such a state of denial.

“Stop being a bastard, moy drug,” Alexei said, still firmly but with less anger. “You cannot possibly believe this will be best for them, not after this summer.”

“It was a temporary situation,” Severus said stiffly. “Seven weeks is not enough time to erase the past.”

“You’ve fought for them already to keep them from Dumbledore,” Alexei said. “Why won’t you fight for them again?”

“It was necessary in the moment. It is not what they need or want,” Severus said. “I cannot do my job with them around.”

“You’ve seemed to manage fine,” Alexei pointed out.

“Short-term. It is too dangerous.”

“Why are you listening to Dumbledore, after everything?” Alexei said, frowning. Was Severus really so lost to Dumbledore's control?

“Nothing has changed and any of us would be a fool to believe otherwise,” Severus said and Alexei's eyes narrowed again, hearing the underlying meaning and feeling that he was sure even Severus wasn't aware of.

“Magic doesn’t lie, Severus! Your magic chose this place, chose each other! How can you say nothing’s changed?”

Alexei pulled away and straightened when Severus slammed his hands on the desk and jumped to his feet. The dark eyes blazed with rage, but Alexei could see past it, could see the self-hatred and the pain Severus would never admit.

“Because if we all want to survive, nothing can ever change!” Severus shouted.

“So, you’ll abandon them? You’ll break two already broken boys?” Alexei said, purposely making his tone harsh. Severus needed to listen, needed to understand.

“So they survive, yes!”

“But they won’t! Not now! Not without this! Without you!” Alexei yelled. “Whether any of you realize it or not, something’s changed and it means something! Life Bonds don’t activate for no reason! You have no idea what you can be for each other!”

“Nothing but misery and death! Do remember who you’re talking to, what I am, what I’ve done!” Severus said angrily, bitterness heavy in his voice.

“A lost, broken man that’s made mistakes and been taken advantage of! No different than those two boys!" Alexei said, feeling his own regret at causing Severus to return to Dumbledore boil up inside him. What had he and Leif done? "You want redemption so badly, fight for them! They are your redemption!”

“My death will be my redemption!” Severus ground out.

“And what about theirs when they are left to Dumbledore’s grand plans?” Alexei shot back.

For the first time, Severus faltered.

“There is more to this summer than you know, moy drug, but you cannot abandon them. You cannot be like everyone else,” Alexei said almost pleadingly, desperate for Severus to understand.

“I am worse than everyone else," Severus said, his voice falling in volume.

Alexei's hard eyes softened as he watched his friend deflate. “Except you are the first to care.”

“I do not care.”

Alexei nearly snorted at the pitiful denial. “Whether you realize it or not, you do, or they would have been gone last month. You all deserve this, a life.”

“They do, but not with me,” Severus said with a small shake of his head.

Alexei's heart ached at the pain he could hear in Severus' voice. How desperately the man wanted anything to convince him he wasn't the monster he believed himself to be, the monster Dumbledore had only encouraged, yet he would never admit to wanting such a thing.

“Do not lose them,” Alexei said quietly.

Severus looked at him before slowly sinking back down into his abandoned chair. “They are not mine to lose.”

“Then make them. Do something right,” Alexei said.

“This is right. I will not hurt them,” Severus said.

Alexei stared at Severus whose own eyes were gazing absently at the paperwork on the table. He could see the tension in the man, the pain in the eyes that refused to meet his, and he sighed sadly. “You already have.”