Severus sighed and let his eyes close ever so briefly as his tea worked its way through his body, warming him and easing, however minutely, the tension and headache he'd been unable to rid himself of for days, nearly a week. He opened his eyes and looked to the empty chairs on his right, only two of the main sources of his stress. He frowned slightly at his friends' absences. He hadn't seen or heard from Leif since Friday nearly six days ago and he hadn't seen Alexei since the previous evening when they finally told Draco about the new arrangements for him. Suffice to say, Draco had not been overly enthused at, not only being moved out of the Slytherin dorms despite the danger he faced there, but also at being confined to Severus' rooms unless he had someone with him. Just another thing to add to his list of stressors, a resentful teenager he was just trying to keep safe.

He sighed again, taking another sip of tea as he glanced out at Harry, finding the Gryffindor sitting near Granger and Weasley, but at a small distance. He could see the looks they kept sending Harry and the tightness in Harry's face as he poked at his dinner. Severus didn't know what was happening between the three, but it was clearly upsetting Harry, something the child did not need as he healed, worried about Draco despite being told Draco would be fine, and dealt with the nightmares he still couldn't remember.

His attention was pulled from the Gryffindor by minor commotion down the table. Siguard had skidded his chair backwards while reading a scroll and jumped to his feet. Severus frowned in curious confusion as Siguard hurried over to Dumbledore, saying something in the headmaster's ear. Dumbledore's face tightened as he nodded at Siguard. As Siguard rushed through the staff entrance, Dumbledore turned to Severus who frowned deeper at the glint in the blue eyes that was decidedly not the usual sparkle. This was something harder. The look made Severus uneasy and, as Dumbledore also disappeared through the staff entrance, left him with a strong need to check on Harry and Draco.

He looked back out at the Hall. Harry was still at Gryffindor table, but was now engaged in conversation with the Weasley twins and Lovegood who had joined him. He moved his gaze to Slytherin table, noting the absences, one of which was not expected. Four were those who had attacked Draco and subsequently vanished from Hogwarts, presumably running back to their parents. One was Draco, still in the infirmary though he would finally be released to Severus on Friday in two days. The curious absence was that of Blaise Zabini, particularly as his usual group of friends were there; they weren't often apart.

Making a decision and needing to go to his House anyway, he finished off his tea and left the Great Hall with one last glance at Harry. He headed down to the dungeons, winding through until he found the door with the snakes carved into it and the stone snake that made an archway over it. He pressed his palm to the amaryllis carved near a snake tail-the way for him as Head of Slytherin to enter without having to worry about passwords-and pushed into the common room. It was mostly empty, the majority of his House at dinner. There were a couple of seventh years in a far corner and a handful of third years spread around a large table that was covered in notebooks, parchments, and textbooks. No one of concern to see or hear them, so he made his way to the lone figure sitting on a sofa near the fireplace, gazing into the blazing flames. He sat on the sofa opposite from Blaise, crossing his legs and eyes dancing over the boy.

Blaise had been released from the infirmary that morning, the serious nature of his skull fracture finally taken care of. It had been quite the head injury along with a cracked cheekbone and orbital socket. The boy's left eye was still blackened and scabbed-over cuts still sat on his cheek and lip, Blaise apparently having refused treatment for them.

"I'm sorry," Blaise said quietly, surprising Severus.

"What for, Mr. Zabini?" Severus asked and sad brown eyes turned to him.

"Draco. I failed. I was supposed to protect him and I failed," Blaise said. "I'm a poor excuse for a legacy."

"That is not what I see, nor do your parents," Severus assured. "There was two of you and nearly a dozen of them. They had the upper hand."

"But I should have known or expected it! That was my job and I walked him right into the attack," Blaise argued.

"Regardless of if you are a legacy or not, you are still just fifteen and you have done well protecting Draco," Severus said. "No matter what, we will never be able to keep him safe from everything at all times. We can only do our best, which you have."

Blaise's eyes flickered back to the fire briefly and then returned to Severus. "You talked to my parents?"

Severus nodded. "They are proud of your conduct as both a legacy and a friend."

Blaise's lips turned up briefly into the smallest of smiles. "Is Draco okay?"

"Yes. He is being released on Friday," Severus assured him.

"What happens now?" Blaise asked. "A few are gone and others probably will be after break-"

"What do you mean?" Severus interrupted.

"The Council will be after a bunch of them for what happened. I've been able to give enough reports for them to go after some of the families," Blaise told him. "You can expect a few to go into hiding, meaning their kids won't be back. Draco will still be in danger though."

"He will be moving into my rooms for the foreseeable future," Severus said.

"Is that safe for you?" Blaise asked. "The Council can't protect you from Him."

"I am aware, but it must be done for Draco," Severus said. "I will handle it."

"Anything I can do?" Blaise asked.

"He will be unable to go anywhere alone-"

"I'm sure he's thrilled about that," Blaise said with a grin.

Severus smirked. "Indeed. I will need you to accompany him sometimes."

"I can do that," Blaise agreed.

"And keep being his friend," Severus said. "While he has Harry, he still feels very disconnected from who he was, from what he had in Slytherin before."

Blaise gave him a somber nod. "I've noticed."

Severus looked at him curiously.

"There's something you should see," Blaise said and led Severus to the dormitory he shared with Draco. Severus watched as Blaise opened the drawer on Draco's nightstand and pulled something out. "He doesn't know I know about this, but I heard him one night, crying.  Next morning, I found this."

Severus took the item held out to him, finding it to be a framed photo of the Malfoys, the one he had grabbed from Draco's room that summer. Only now, it had been defaced. Light scratches passed through the faces of Lucius and Narcissa, but Draco's face had been completely burned from the photo. Severus sighed.

"He wants to blame his parents, to hate them, but I don't think he knows how, so he's trying to cut himself out of that life instead," Blaise said. "He doesn't know where he belongs anymore. That much he's told me."

"Thank you for showing me this," Severus said, already thinking about how to address Draco's identity crisis.

"Thank you for getting him away from them," Blaise said. "I could never do anything."

"You're doing something now," Severus said and Blaise nodded with another small smile. "Get some dinner, Mr. Zabini."

"Yes, sir," Blaise said and passed Severus to leave the dorm.

With another sigh, Severus put the photo in his pocket and waved his wand, packing up Draco's belongings. Everything together, he left the common room with the boy's trunk and school bag floating behind him, and headed to his rooms. Just as he walked in, his fireplace flared lime-green and Alexei stepped out. He immediately noticed the strain in the vampire's face and frowned, sending Draco's things to the boys' room and turning to his friend.

"What's happened?" Severus asked, immediately knowing something was wrong.

"Leif..." Alexei said, clearing his throat before continuing. "Lucius has the transcripts."

"What about Leif?" Severus said, growing concerned as Alexei's face tightened.

"Lucius, he got away," Alexei said, seeming to be unable to focus. "Voldemort will-"

"Alexei," Severus interrupted, alarmed. "Leif. What's happened to Leif?"

Alexei's misty blue eyes shimmered with tears as he met Severus' eyes. "Lucius attacked him, destroyed his tattoos...severed his magic..."

Severus felt his body grow cold as his blood froze in his veins, as the air froze in his lungs. This couldn't be happening, not after Harry and Draco, not now he had his friends back after so long alone...

"Is he..." Severus trailed off, unable to even articulate the terrible possibility.

"He's alive, he's at St. Mungo's, but..." Alexei paused, also seeming to struggle, "it could be too late. There could be too much damage."

Severus ran a hand through his hair, mind racing with all the time they'd lost out of sheer stupidity and stubbornness and poor choices.

"I...I have to get back. My magic...I..." Alexei blew out a shaky breath. Severus had never seen the vampire this way before. "Siguard is there to try and restore Leif's tattoos, and my magic helps pull at Leif's, gives a bit of a binding point, so I have to get back, but I wanted you to hear about it from me."

Severus swallowed thickly and nodded. "If there is a chance he can survive, go. I will tell the boys, but try and bring him back to us. They've lost too much."

"We all have," Alexei said quietly before stepping back through the fireplace, returning to the hospital. 

Severus let his eyes close, paralyzing fear and despair at the idea of losing Leif coursing through him as he wondered how he was supposed to tell Harry and Draco.

Draco groaned and blew out a breath as he collapsed onto the sofa despite Snape's insistence he go to bed. He cradled his still-healing skinned arm, wincing at all the residual pain making itself known with every movement. Multiple pillows were stacked behind him and he was helped to stretch out, Harry sitting by his feet at the end of the sofa.

"Harry, you will be unable to stay for long," Snape said. "This is not a regular time for you to be here and we cannot have your friends asking questions."

Draco looked at Harry when the Gryffindor cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly. He had to hold back a grin at Harry's flush when Snape narrowed his eyes.

"Harry," Snape said warningly. "Something you'd like to tell me?"

"Um," Harry hummed and Draco couldn't help but snort at his friend, receiving a scowl. "Ron and Hermione might know."

"Might know?" Snape repeated. "Might know what exactly?"

"That you're the one I stayed with this summer and you're my guardian," Harry said and Draco raised an eyebrow, wondering how that had happened. Harry could be reckless and constantly put himself in danger, but he wasn't like that with anyone he cared about. He wouldn't just tell anyone about Snape, not after keeping it secret for this long. Harry looked at him and they both looked at Snape when the man sighed, sitting on the coffee table in front of them.

"Harry," Snape said disapprovingly.

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tell them, but they just wouldn't leave me alone," Harry explained. "It just slipped out."

Draco looked at the Gryffindor sympathetically. No matter what Harry said or they promised, Weasley and Granger just couldn't seem to trust Harry and leave things alone.

"They won't tell anyone," Harry promised. "They're just going to wait for you to hand me over to Voldemort, prove them right."

"Is this what's been bothering you?" Snape asked. "Your friends?"

Harry just shrugged while Snape sighed again.

"You will still have to leave shortly. There are plenty of others who will ask questions or tell the wrong person," Snape said and Harry nodded. "However, before you go, there is something I must tell the both of you."

Draco shared another look with Harry, a pit suddenly settling in his stomach as Snape's face and tone grew grave. Whatever they were about to be told was nothing good. Snape gazed at them for a long while, clearly trying to figure out how to tell them whatever it was, and it made cold dread wash over Draco. He suddenly felt like the semblance of life he was finding was about to be ripped away.

Snape took a deep breath. "Two days ago, the Archives were broken into and Leif was attacked by Lucius Malfoy. Leif is at St. Mungo's."

Draco felt his heart stop. His father had done it. After weeks, Lucius had finally gone after Leif...and it was his fault.

"The hospital?" Harry echoed. "Why is he still there after two days? He should be fine."

The sadness that shone in Snape's eyes caused the sharpest pain Draco had ever felt in his chest.

"He...he's fine, right?" Harry said, eyes widening with his growing terror.

Snape shook his head. "No, he was seriously injured."

"But...he's immortal," Draco argued weakly, unable to believe his mentor was in mortal danger.

"Lucius destroyed Leif's tattoos, and cut the connection between them and his magic," Snape explained. "Professor Siguard is still trying to restore the tattoos. It is why Ancient Runes was cancelled today."

"So, he'll be okay?" Harry asked.

"He'll survive?" Draco added.

"It is still uncertain," Snape said. "The damage was extensive and the magic complex. It is all extremely difficult to repair."

"Can we see him?" Harry asked.

"You know that is impossible," Snape said. "It would be too dangerous to bring you there, especially now Lucius got what he's been wanting: the transcripts. Leif fought to keep you safe. We will not dismiss that by putting you at risk."

Draco couldn't believe this was happening, couldn't believe he'd brought this on the only people to ever care about him. If he hadn't been such a desperate coward, Leif wouldn't be...

He could hardly even think it. Eyes stinging, Draco swung his legs off the sofa and stood. He felt Harry's and Snape's eyes snap to him, startled, but he couldn't look at them. He couldn't look at them when he'd caused this pain. He didn't deserve them. 

Blinking rapidly, he walked from the sitting room as quick as he was able, closing the door to his new bedroom behind him and sitting heavily on his bed, the furthest of the two. He leaned on his knees, ignoring any pain it caused to still-healing injuries, and buried his face in his hands, fighting to hold back the tears burning his eyes. When he heard the door open and close gently, he dropped his hands and looked at Snape, tears immediately pooling at the gentleness he found in the dark eyes.

"I'm sorry," Draco whispered and laid down on the bed, turning his back to the professor. He heard Snape's light footsteps approach and felt the mattress dip as the man sat on the edge of the bed behind him.

"Why are you sorry?" Snape asked.

Draco swallowed thickly. "Just send me back. Just give me back to him."

"I will never do that," Snape said.

"I'm what he wants," Draco said. "It's my fault. Leif's going to die because of me." He squeezed his eyes shut as the tears began to pour out.

"Draco..."

When a hand came to rest on his leg, Draco jerked away, unwilling to accept the care he'd done nothing to earn. He was the last person that deserved comfort.

"No! If I hadn't run away, none of this would have happened!" Draco snapped.

"Draco-" Snape tried again.

Draco rolled over and sat up, shaking his head. "If I hadn't run away, my magic wouldn't have activated and you wouldn't have called Leif and Lucius wouldn't have been told to get the prophecy because it never would have activated and Leif wouldn't be dying right now! He's been alive for a thousand years! He meets me and now he's going to die!" he cried. "Everything that's happened is because of me because I'm a Malfoy and we destroy everything we touch!"

He drew his knees to his chest and buried his face in them, gripping his hair tightly.

"You'll all die because of me, because I couldn't just be who I was supposed to be," Draco whispered brokenly into his knees.

"Listen to me," Snape said gently. Draco didn't lift his head, but he was still compelled to listen. "You did not run away, meaning the action of doing so has not caused anything. The only thing you have done is wish for a home, for safety, for things any child deserves to have. Your magic presented itself to protect you, not as a result of you running away."

Hands landed on his and pulled lightly, making Draco release his hair and look up through teary eyes. He met Snape's steady gaze, his heart pounding with both his painful guilt and the clear affection in Snape's face.

"You are a Malfoy, that is true, but you are who you are meant to be and it is not your parents nor what they wanted you to be. What you are is a remarkable, intelligent, powerful young man who, along with Harry, has given me a second chance in many ways, including with Leif and Alexei," Snape said.

"But, Leif was attacked because I came to you this summer and activated the prophecy, and because he's my mentor," Draco argued. "He wouldn't be dying if he hadn't known me because he never would've been here, been involved."

"It is very likely Leif would have become a target whether he came into our lives or not. Remember, Trelawney's Prophecy exists and was on Voldemort's radar already," Snape told him. "What's happened to Leif is not your fault."

Draco choked on a quiet sob.

"You haven't destroyed anything, child," Snape said softly. "Rather, you have been a part of building something I never thought possible and reuniting me with beloved friends I thought long lost."

"But now you could lose Leif for good," Draco whispered.

"At least we had him for the time we did if we do," Snape said.

"I don't want him to die," Draco mumbled and collapsed into sobs when he was pulled against Snape's chest in a tight hug.

"Nor do I," Snape said, "but, if we do, it is not your fault and I will never allow Lucius to have you."

He was still drowning in his grief and guilt and fear and self-hatred, but he allowed himself to sink against the professor. He may not deserve it, this care, this affection, but he wanted it, needed it. He needed, for now, to pretend he wouldn't fall to his name and father in some way. He needed to pretend he could actually have a family, the family his own blood had refused to be. He needed to pretend Leif would live and they would all stay.

He just needed to pretend.

It started as a nightmare, at least, that's what Harry thought. After all, he didn't seem to be seeing through Voldemort, but was instead watching from the sidelines. It wasn't until he realized what he was witnessing that he realized it was not just a nightmare, but a vision showing him a memory.

He watched with a pounding heart pumping fear through his veins as Leif and Lucius fought, the Archives exploding around them. He couldn't stop himself from crying out for Leif when he was paralyzed on the floor and approached by Lucius. It was a struggle to hold back tears as Leif screamed under Lucius' torture, watching the runic tattoos burn away to a blackened and bloody mess. He didn't want to see this; didn't want to see how he was going to lose one of the men that had come to mean so much to him. It wasn't fair. What he'd found with the Slytherins and immortals was all he'd ever wanted and now he would lose it? He'd been selfish, putting aside the danger he was putting them in for his own sake, and now he would have to face those consequences...he would have to lose them.

"I will take them all," Voldemort's voice whispered ominously as Leif lost consciousness.

"No!" Harry shouted desperately as the scene disappeared and he found himself in a familiar space once again.

Harry frowned at the prophecy. Something was wrong. It and the three strands of magic twisting together and touching the prophecy were still the only sources of light in the dark space, but something was happening. Sharp black threads were spread across the surface of the prophecy like a hard, consuming spiderweb. Beneath them, the prophecy's soft glow was waxing and waning as though it was fighting being extinguished.

"Fate is threatened," the voice of the prophecy echoed around him. "The bond is weakening."

Harry looked at the braided magic of him, Snape, and Draco. It was still connected to the prophecy and tangled together, but, like the prophecy, something was wrong. Every few seconds, the normally wispy magic stuttered and its light flickered as though something was also trying to extinguish their magic.

"Do not let him in," Lady Magic implored. "Do not let the bond break."

"Who? What's causing this?" Harry asked.

"Love and protection make the bond," Lady Magic said. "Love and protection will save the bond."

"What does that mean?" Harry asked.

He gained no response, but was temporarily drenched in darkness when both the prophecy and the magic went out before slowly illuminating again.

"Harry Potter."

Harry spun around at the breathy call of his name. His eyes widened as red eyes glowed through the darkness at him.

"I will see you soon," Voldemort threatened. "Say goodbye."

The light of the prophecy and magic went out again, and Harry was left in the suffocating darkness. Agony ripped through him and he could do nothing but scream. Once again, he would wake with no memory of the visions shown to him.