"See how annoyed McGonagall was today?" Draco said to Blaise as they, along with Simon, Adelaide, and Daphne, headed up to the seventh floor, dodging Umbridge and enemy Slytherins as they went.

"Umbridge started her inspections and evaluations of the teachers," Blaise said. "Apparently, she's been bombarding them during their free periods with basically interrogations."

"Can't believe she walked away from McGonagall alive," Daphne said.

"And Snape," Adelaide added.

"Just wait until she sits in on classes," Blaise said.

"Think she'll actually try to get rid of any of the professors?" Simon said.

"Depends on what she thinks she finds," Draco said and they looked at each other grimly.

They waited until the Carrow girls disappeared before rounding the final corner and walking to the stretch of wall across from Barnabus the Barmy. Draco paced three times, calling for the door through which they quickly slipped. Inside, they found a large room virtually identical to the training room Draco and Harry used with Leif and Alexei. This one, however, only had one connecting doorway and it was covered with an opalescent grey curtain.

Leif, Alexei, and Harry were already there, along with about two dozen students from all the Houses. Draco was stunned by the turnout, having never expected so many to be willing to take the risk. The five of them got stares as others noticed them and Draco couldn't help but tense, knowing the reputation he still had among basically the entire school. He glanced at Blaise, Simon, Adelaide, and Daphne, and found all except Blaise looking slightly unsure. He didn't blame them. It was mostly Gryffindors and they were the only Slytherins.

"Draco!" Harry called, jogging over to him from where he'd been talking to the Weasley twins and Jordan. "Glad you guys could come," he said to the other Slytherins.

"No one else was willing," Draco said, remembering the reactions he'd seen when the sign-up page appeared in Slytherin common room.

"I think they're waiting to see if we come back," Blaise said and Harry laughed. Draco had to admit he was surprised at the easy exchange as Harry and Blaise had never spoken before.

"Whenever you're ready, boys," Leif called to them, he and Alexei standing off to the side where they had been quietly talking.

"Ready?" Harry said and Draco nodded.

They stood next to each other, facing all the other students who quickly settled down and turned to them expectantly. Draco suddenly found himself extremely nervous.

"Uh, hi, everyone," Harry started awkwardly. "We're glad to see so many."

Harry paused and Draco glanced over at Leif and Alexei, receiving nods of encouragement.

"So, if you're here then you aren't happy with this year's Defense curriculum," Draco jumped in and murmurs of agreement ran through the crowd.

"I also need to know," Harry said. "Who believes me about Voldemort?"

Draco immediately found Thomas and Finnigan, knowing they had been some of the most vocal deniers. More than half raised their hands; only six didn't, including Thomas and Finnigan.

"It's not that I don't believe you, Harry," Thomas said. "I think it's more I'm afraid to, knowing I can't do anything if that kind of danger is actually out there."

"But that doesn't mean it's not real," Finnigan said, surprising Draco.

"What changed your mind?" Harry asked.

"Umbridge," Finnigan said. "No one does any of what she's doing if they're not trying to hide something."

"And you will be able to do something," Draco said. "That's why we're all here, to learn to do something."

"What is this exactly?" Cho Chang asked.

"A Defense and duelling club," Harry said. "We'll learn real Defense and how to fight."

"How do we do that without a teacher?" Angelina Johnson asked.

"We'll be the teachers as well as them," Harry said, gesturing to Leif and Alexei.

"They're going to help mostly with the duelling," Draco said. "Leif and Alexei."

"So, how will it work?" Granger asked.

"Every week will be different and those sign-up sheets in the common rooms are how you'll know what's going on," Harry said. "Draco and I will post what's going to be taught and by who so you know if it's a session you want to sign up for."

"Every session will also have the opportunity for duelling practice with Leif or Alexei," Draco added. "Anything written on the sign-up pages will only be visible to you. No one else should be able to find out about this. To anyone else, the sign-up page will now look like announcements about Quidditch."

"And how do we know we can trust Slytherins?" Terry Boot said, looking at Draco and his friends suspiciously.

"Because I trust them and they know which Slytherins we can trust," Harry said quickly. "If you can't handle them being here, leave now, because they're staying. They deserve to learn to defend themselves as much as any of us."

Looks were exchanged and comments whispered, but no one moved. Draco was surprised once again. He'd been sure some would demand he leave or would refuse to stay.

"Good," Harry said, seemingly satisfied. "Let's get started, yeah?"

He and Draco turned to Leif and Alexei, then, the immortals coming to stand with them.

"As this is the first session, we decided to see where everyone is in their Defense skills," Alexei said. "We will then arrange lessons from there."

"You will form pairs and then walk through that doorway," Leif said. "Two sets of pairs will be placed in a random arena to battle. No dangerous spells. We do not want anyone truly hurt."

"If you are beaten, you will be brought back to this room," Alexei said. "So, pair up and head to your random arenas."

"Good luck," Leif said.

Draco watched everyone break off into teams and begin walking to the curtained doorway, knowing he would be pairing up with Harry. Excitement had the atmosphere buzzing.

"No Elemental or Aether Magic, you two," Alexei said once most of the pairs had disappeared through the curtain.

Draco and Harry looked at each other, disappointed.

"You know it wouldn't be fair," Alexei said.

"No, but it would be fun," Draco said, he and Harry snickering as their mentors rolled their eyes.

"Your magic is also meant to be a secret," Leif said pointedly.

"Fine," Harry said while Draco sighed and nodded.

Leif and Alexei exchanged their own exasperated and amused look.

"Go," Leif said, waving them toward the arena entrance.

Excited once more, Draco ran to the doorway with Harry. He held the curtain aside and let Harry enter ahead of him, following close behind. Draco felt the air spark and swirl until the darkness in front of them morphed into a huge scenery. They were outside, it was dark aside from a full moon above and some immediately visible torches with blue flames instead of orange, and they were staring at a massive hedge maze. Instantly worried and feeling a shudder next to him, he turned to Harry. The Gryffindor was staring at the maze, eyes distant, likely back in June, and his face had paled and tightened. Draco couldn't imagine what the memories were like for Harry. He'd felt his own fear when Harry and Cedric had reappeared, and he'd realized Cedric was dead. Having gotten hints throughout the year from his father about what was coming, he'd immediately realized what Cedric's death meant, and it had been terrifying. Yet, he knew it couldn't compare to Harry's experience and own terror.

"Harry?" Draco said quietly. "Are you okay?"

A couple of minutes passed before Harry seemed to shake himself from the past.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry said though Draco heard the slight tremble in the Gryffindor's voice.

"We can get a different arena," Draco said.

"No, I'm fine, really," Harry said, pulling his wand.

Draco was still hesitant as he pulled his own wand, especially when he heard Harry mumble, "It's not a graveyard."

Despite Draco's hesitations and Harry's obvious panic brewing just beneath the surface, they walked into the maze. When the entrance closed behind them, Draco saw Harry tense and heard him take a shuddering breath. Draco wanted to make them leave, but knew Harry would only become more resistant if he pushed the issue. So, they continued, Draco keeping one worried eye on his friend.

They walked in silence for a long while, choosing paths and rounding corners. Every sound made Harry stiffen or flinch, making Draco wonder what happened to the Gryffindor in that maze before even getting to the graveyard.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Draco asked.

"About what?" Harry asked tensely.

"The maze," Draco said and turned to Harry when the Gryffindor suddenly stopped. Even in the dark, Draco could see the panic keeping the green eyes bright.

"It was like another world," Harry eventually said, surprising Draco. He hadn't expected any response. "You could feel it changing things, changing us. It was pulling us away."

Draco swallowed thickly, hearing the fear that clearly still resided in Harry.

"Krum was bewitched to take out the others. He hurt Fleur who was lost, in the maze, in her mind," Harry said, voice growing distant. "He tried to kill Cedric. I had to stop him. Everything was dark...the place, the people. It consumed everything and everyone."

Draco stayed silent, listening in sympathetic horror.

"Honestly, the maze itself didn't do much to me. It was cursed to attack everyone else, not me. I just kept being where the others were," Harry said. "Until the end. The maze tried to take Cedric and I almost let it. It convinced me I was alone and should be alone. I was alone in the end. How it always goes."

Draco reached out and put a hand on Harry's shoulder, finally bringing the green eyes to him. "You're not alone now."

They stared at each other for a few moments before Harry nodded. With a small half-smile, Draco gestured for them to take the right path of the fork they were at. They walked for a few more minutes before finally coming upon their opponents, the Weasley twins. They grinned at Draco and Harry before simultaneously casting Stunning Spells, making Draco and Harry dive apart. As the flurry of magic increased, Draco's Aether Magic was desperate to be used, but he held it back, sending a Tripping Jinx instead.

Their battle was fairly even, all spells just barely being deflected or avoided. Draco had just managed to disarm the twin he'd been fighting when the other suddenly shouted.

"Harry? Are you alright? George!"

Draco looked to his left where Harry and Fred had been duelling, and found them both on the ground. Harry was on his hands and knees with Fred crouched next to him. Draco and George hurried over.

"What happened?" George asked.

"I don't know," Fred said. "We were duelling and he used some vine spell, and then he just froze and collapsed."

"Harry?" Draco said, putting a hand on Harry's back. He looked at the twins in alarm when he felt the violent trembling and harshly hitching breaths. "I think he's having a panic attack. We need Leif or Alexei."

"How do we get them?" Fred asked.

Draco focused on the Room.

Get rid of the maze, we need help, he thought over and over.

It took almost a minute, but, soon, the maze faded away from around them and they were left in a normal, empty room.

"Go!" Draco said and the twins dashed to the door that had appeared. "Harry. Harry, you're okay, everything's okay."

Harry began shaking his head, fighting for breaths as tears pooled in his eyes. "I...I tried...I tried to help...I need to...help...I...I could...couldn't..."

"Harry, you're not there, you're not in the maze or graveyard," Draco said. "You're okay, you're at Hogwarts."

"A...alone...always...alone...can't...can't be..." Harry gasped.

"You're not alone, I'm here," Draco said. "You're my best friend, you know that? You're not alone anymore."

The door opened then and Draco looked up to see Leif and Alexei hurrying over to them. Alexei dropped beside Harry while Leif helped Draco to his feet to give them room.

"I think he's having a panic attack about the third task," Draco said. "It was a maze. He said he was okay to be in the maze arena." He watched, anxious, as Alexei whispered to Harry, eventually putting a hand on the side of Harry's neck. Harry gave a small nod and Alexei helped him up.

"I'm going to bring him to Severus," Alexei said, an arm wrapped around Harry's shoulders as the Gryffindor kept his head bowed.

"I'll wrap up," Leif said, hand on Draco's shoulder.

Draco watched as another door appeared, and Alexei and Harry disappeared through it. With assurance from Leif that Harry would be alright, Draco followed Leif back to the main room where all the other students were milling around, most excitedly discussing their duel. Leif jumped in and wrapped up the session, indicating they would do spell work next week. He sent everyone on their way then and left himself, presumably to check on Harry.

Draco left with Blaise and they were quickly caught up to by Granger, Weasley, and the twins.

"What happened?" Granger asked.

"Our arena was a maze and a spell Harry used triggered a panic attack," Draco said. "Alexei's helping him."

Blaise gave him a look, the only one who knew they were remotely close to Snape.

"I'm going to go check on him," Draco said.

"We should," Weasley said quickly. "He's our friend."

"He's mine too," Draco snapped, hurt he still wasn't being accepted in Harry's life. He glared at them before turning to Blaise. "I'll see you later in the common room."

"Are you sure?" Blaise said, obviously thinking about the Slytherins constantly waiting for a chance to attack him.

Draco nodded. "I'll be fine."

With another glare at Granger and Weasley, he walked away, starting the long walk to the dungeons. He had to hide from Umbridge and some Slytherins a couple of times, slipping into alcoves. He was traversing the dungeons when he was suddenly hit with a spell and thrown into a wall. He crumpled to the floor with a groan, rolling over to find Nott towering over him. Draco immediately gathered his raw Aether Magic and pushed it out in a blast that flung Nott down the corridor. He knew he needed to get up, but his head was pounding and spinning from connecting with the wall. He pushed himself to his knees just for Nott to kick him viciously in the chest, knocking him back and the air from his lungs. He reached out with his magic and quickly connected to Nott's core, changing an incoming Cutting Curse's direction last minute, making it hit the stone above his head.

"Warrington said you've got some kind of freak magic," Nott sneered. "Looks like he was right."

Draco glared, only to cry out when Nott kicked him in the stomach and followed it up with an electric shock curse. Twitching, Draco tried to manipulate Nott's magic, but found his connection weakening. Nott knelt beside him, wand poking his throat.

"What a nice Christmas gift for your father," Nott said tauntingly. "He wants you home this holiday."

"Not happening," Draco ground out, holding back a scream as the wand was dragged along the side of his face, leaving a deep gash from his hairline to his chin.

"It's not an invitation, it's an order," Nott said sharply. "There's a special celebration waiting for you."

Draco clenched his teeth as a burn was put on his chest, tears springing to the corners of his eyes.

"I don't think you realize that you will always return to Daddy," Nott said. "You belong to him, no one and nowhere else."

Draco screamed as a Cruciatus ravaged his nerves.

"He'll see you soon," Nott sneered.

"No!" Draco yelled and his Aether Magic burst out again. Nott was flung high into the ceiling and he fell to the floor, unconscious. He pushed himself up shakily and stared at Nott, pain, fear, and anger filling him. His head whipped around when he heard footsteps, terrified it was more Slytherins to attack him or, somehow, Lucius come to reclaim him.

"Lucius is planning something. He's determined to get Draco back."

"We won't let that happen."

"You don't know how dangerous a determined Lucius is. I fear he could succeed in taking Draco right out of our grasp."

"Perhaps we could all go back-"

"No!" Draco yelled, throwing a ball of magic in the direction of the voices. "I'm not going back!"

"Draco?"

"Gods, what's happened to you, paidí?"

"I...I can't go back," Draco said brokenly. "I won't...I...I don't...I don't want to die." He collapsed into sobs, hardly noticing Leif and Alexei hurrying to him. A hand touched his back and he flinched, manifesting Lucius there with him about to drag him back to Malfoy Manor.

"Draco, it's us, paidí," a gentle voice said. "It's Leif and Alexei."

"He's...he's coming..." Draco choked out. "He's going to...to take me b...back."

"No, Draco, we won't let that happen," Leif said, hand landing on Draco's back again and being accepted this time.

"Leif, this one needs the Hospital Wing," Alexei said.

"Not that he deserves it," Leif muttered. "Go, take him. I'll help Draco."

As Draco continued trembling and sobbing into the stone, he felt light magic swirl in the air and heard footsteps that soon faded into the distance. The corridor fell silent aside from Draco's hiccoughing sobs.

"Draco?" Leif said quietly. "Let's get out of the corridor so I can take a look at you, alright?"

Draco didn't say anything, too lost in his pain and fear. He just let Leif pull him carefully to his feet and guide him into a nearby classroom. He was pushed towards a dusty desk, but, before he could be pushed into the chair, he spun around and wrapped his arms around Leif, burying his face in the immortal's chest, ignoring the pain it caused from the laceration down the side of his face. Leif held him tightly.

"What's going on?" Leif asked softly after several minutes of silence.

"My father wants me back," Draco said. "He's going to take me back."

"Why do you think that?" Leif asked.

"Nott said so, and..." Draco paused and pulled away from Leif who watched curiously as he took a piece of parchment from his pocket. "He sent this a couple days ago."

Leif took it and read the short message Draco had been unable to stop repeating in his mind.

Dear Draco,

You are to come home for Christmas this year. I have quite the celebration waiting. It will be unforgettable and it is time you returned home.

I will see you soon, my son.

Lucius

"Sit, paidí," Leif said as he finished reading and Draco fell heavily into the chair. Leif crouched in front of him. "Why didn't you tell any of us about this?"

Draco swiped at his damp cheeks. "Because it doesn't matter. I can't run away from him forever and, if he wants me, he'll find a way to get me."

"You know none of us will allow him to hurt you," Leif said.

Draco shook his head, a fresh round of tears pouring down his face. "You can't forever and I can't do this anymore. I can't keep running and hiding and fighting. I can't anymore. I'm just...tired." He hunched over, burying his face in his hands as he cried, every bit of emotion he'd held back all his life rushing out of him all at once.

"I spent years running and fighting who I was," Leif said after a few moments. "Surviving Arthur's attempt to sacrifice me didn't mean I was safe. Morgan's war lasted for several more years and Camelot continued to come after me. Even once the war was over, I was known to be the sole Aetherion and people wanted the magic of the gods, the source of magic. I ran far away and didn't use my magic for decades."

Draco dropped his hands and looked at Leif when his mentor paused. He found he couldn't help but listen to the man's story.

"It didn't feel like I could escape what had happened or what people wanted from me. So, I became someone else, someone no one could ever want anything from," Leif said. "You know I was involved in the wars."

Draco nodded.

Leif's eyes turned distant. "I captured soldiers and civilians, and helped with the vampire and werewolf initiatives. I helped turn hundreds and trained them to be ‘soldiers'. Really, they were feral, tortured monsters turned into weapons so they wouldn't be killed. I was no longer wanted for my magic. Now, I was feared and left alone."

"So, what happened?" Draco asked quietly.

"The wars ended and I realized what I'd become. I was no better than those who had hunted me in Camelot, no better than the dark wizards I'd helped," Leif said. "I realized I couldn't hide from who I was, couldn't run anymore."

"Why are you telling me this?" Draco asked.

The distance left Leif's green eyes and they focused firmly on Draco again. "Because you are who you are and who you are is stronger than you believe. You do not deserve anything that's happened to you and you can fight."

Draco shook his head. "I can't escape my father. I can't fight him."

"I did," Leif said. "You are not destined to what others decide is your fate. You make your own choices and you decide what people get from you. Do not give them your life, paidí."

Draco sniffed, more tears falling. "But how? He's my father. I have nowhere else to go. I have no one else outside of this school."

Leif sighed. "You have so much more than Lucius would have you believe."

Draco looked at him brokenly. "He'll take it, take me."

Leif reached out and grasped Draco's hands. "Only if you let him."

Draco looked at their joined hands, letting the comfort chase away at least some of his fear and despair. He sniffed again and took a few deep, shaky breaths. He looked up when one of Leif's hands released his and cupped his cheek, meeting the compassionate soft green eyes.

"We will do anything to keep you safe and take care of you," Leif said. "Come on, let's get you to Severus."

Draco nodded and stood, accepting Leif's arm around his shoulders, and allowed himself to be guided to Snape's rooms.

"What in Merlin's name has happened?" Severus said as he took in a very clearly injured and distraught Draco entering his rooms with Leif. He left his spot on the coffee table where he'd been calming Harry and pulled Draco close to examine him. The boy was quivering with the obvious effects of the Cruciatus, had an angry cut running from his hair to chin on the side of his face, and multiple injuries elsewhere.

"Another attack," Leif said.

Severus sighed, summoning the Pain Reliever for Cruciatus tremours, Bruise Paste, and Burn Paste. He encouraged Draco to drink the potion, ran his wand down the laceration repeatedly to close it, and began applying the balms.

"This cannot continue," Severus said.

"I know," Leif said. "There are also increasing threats from Lucius."

"What kind of threats?" Severus asked, brushing aside some of Draco's hair on his forehead to see another fairly deep cut and dark bruise.

"He says I'm going home for Christmas," Draco said.

Severus looked at the boy, alarmed, and then at Leif who nodded.

"He's determined," Leif said.

Severus shook his head, feeling concerned but keeping it hidden. He looked back at Draco. "Do not concern yourself. You do not have to return."

"Maybe not for Christmas, but I'll have to eventually. When school ends, I have to go back," Draco said with a frown and Severus could see the fear the young Slytherin was trying to hide.

Severus sighed again. "Go sit with Harry. Try to relax."

He watched Draco sit on the sofa close to Harry, leaning in as they started talking quietly. It still amazed him just how close those two had become over the last few months.

"Stay here, boys," Severus said. "Leif and I have some things to discuss."

Harry and Draco nodded at him and he led Leif to the kitchen, closing the door behind them. He summoned wine and they sat at the table. Severus took a long drink and then rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache forming.

"Lucius is planning something to get Draco back," Leif said. "Something has to be done."

"I know, but Dumbledore won't do anything," Severus said, shaking his head at the headmaster's lack of action.

"Then you have to," Leif said.

Severus blew out a breath and looked at his friend. "How? I can't keep Draco from his father. I can't keep either of them with me. I'm only their professor. Not to mention, no one can know anything about this."

"Keeping it secret is not the problem," Leif said. "You are the only one who can protect them the way they need."

"But, I can't," Severus said, frustrated. "They aren't mine."

"Do you want them to be?"

"Of course!" Severus said, hand clenching around his wineglass as he glared at it.

"Severus."

He looked up at Leif, finding the man holding out a roll of parchment. He frowned.

"She was waiting for you," Leif said, confusing Severus even more. He took the parchment and unrolled it.

This document hereby declares

Severus Tobias Snape

to be the legal guardian, responsible
for the education, safety, and well-being, of the following minors:

Harry James Potter

and

Draco Lucius Malfoy

as hereby proclaimed by the
Ministry of Magic 
and
Her Lady Magic
on this 9th day of November of the year 1995.

Severus looked up at Leif, stunned and extraordinarily confused. "What is this?"

"This has been forming in my office since August," Leif said. "Lady Magic has acted again, as she did with my and Alexei's apprenticeship contracts. She is creating what she needs and wants. She was simply waiting for you to want and need it as well."

Severus gazed at the document, hardly ale to comprehend. "This cannot be possible."

"I have learned in my long life not to question the will of magic," Leif said. "They are yours now."

"And when this is found at the Ministry?" Severus said, already imagining his and the boys' end if Lucius or anyone were to see such a document.

"It won't be," Leif said. "This is a document created by Lady Magic. The only other copy will be in my office and I will keep it hidden. No one will learn of this until it is safe."

"This is real?" Severus said quietly, staring at the document in growing awe.

"Realer than if you had gone through the Ministry's process," Leif said with a gentle smile.

Severus couldn't take his eyes off the document. He couldn't believe it was there in front of him. He wasn't sure how long he'd wanted this; unconsciously, probably longer than he realized. Now, it was there, put into place by Lady Magic herself. Clearly, this was what she wanted, was the path they were meant to take. This was the way things were meant to be.

"I'm going to go to the Ministry," Leif said. "Go be with them."

Severus was still staring at the document when Leif left, squeezing Severus' shoulder as he passed. Severus heard the man bid good night to Harry and Draco, and then heard the door open and close. He was left in silence aside from the slight flutter of parchment, and the muffled mumbles of Harry and Draco out in the sitting room.

He focused on the boys, feeling their tangled magic drifting lazily around his rooms. He felt his own magic change as it wrapped around theirs as it always did. He felt the normalcy that permeated the rooms as though everything was exactly as it was meant to be. When he heard quiet laughter, he felt a peace he'd never before experienced. Until that moment, he thought he'd known what he'd been fighting for for the last twenty years, but he hadn't because somehow, before it could have ever been a sliver of consideration, this was what he'd actually been fighting for. This was what his life had needed all along, what he'd been unknowingly waiting for.

So, he rolled the document back up, grabbed his wine, and walked out into the sitting room. He stood in the doorway for a moment, taking in what was now his life.

Harry and Draco were sitting on either end of the sofa, chess board on the cushion between them. They were talking quietly, smiling, and clearly comfortable. Draco made a move and, by Harry's reaction, took one of the Gryffindor's pieces. Draco laughed, Harry grumbled good-naturedly. They looked...at home. It was as though no other reality had ever existed, like this was the way it had always been. Perhaps, in some way, it was true and things had been this way underneath, just waiting for them to see.

"Professor?"

Severus blinked at Draco's voice and found the boys looking at him curiously, game temporarily forgotten between them.

"Do we need to leave?" Harry asked.

Severus gave them a small smile. "No, finish your game."

"That won't take long," Draco said, moving a piece with a grin. "Check."

"Bloody hell!" Harry groaned, turning back to the board.

Severus walked over and looked over the Gryffindor's shoulder. "Move that bishop," he said, pointing.

"Hey! Cheating!" Draco said in mock offense.

Severus gave him an amused look. "You are still going to win."

"Rude!" Harry said, affronted.

"No, true," Draco said, grinning. "Check."

Harry grumbled, examining the board for any desperate move.

Severus moved to his wingback and watched the boys continue their game. As Draco anticipated, it was over soon in just a few more moves. He was amused and filled with affection as Draco laughed and Harry flopped back against the arm of the sofa.

"Thirty-eight to zero," Draco said.

Harry rolled his eyes.

"You're getting better," Draco said and Harry sighed.

"I guess," Harry said.

"You will get there," Severus said. "Keep practicing."

Harry nodded with a smile.

"We'll go back to our common rooms now," Draco said, moving the chess board to the coffee table, a symbol of their return to play soon.

"Thanks for helping, Professor," Harry said.

"No need for thanks," Severus said. "Before you go, I have something to show you."

The boys looked at him curiously, Harry taking the roll of parchment as Severus held it out. Draco shuffled across the sofa to be beside Harry so he could see the document as well. He watched their eyes dart across the page, widening as they absorbed the words. After a few minutes, green and grey eyes snapped to him.

"Wha...what is...how?" Draco stuttered. "What about my father?"

"Why?" Harry said, the single word breaking Severus' heart.

"Lady Magic has made her wants known once again," Severus said. "Also mine. This is something I want as well."

"Why?" Harry repeated.

"Because I will do anything to protect you, because I want you to be happy," Severus said. "Because I can no longer imagine my life without you and Lady Magic apparently agrees."

Harry and Draco glanced at each other before dropping the document on the coffee table and rising from the sofa. Severus wasn't sure what he expected, but the boys wrapping themselves around him in tight hugs was not it. He was startled, surprised by the physical affection they had had yet to show each other and from boys so hurt in their pasts. He was also surprised at their ability to hug him at the same time in his chair without hurting each other or him.

Though surprised and unfamiliar with such displays, he brought his arms around to rest his hands on their backs, holding them close.