~~~~SS~~~~

Sunday 16 November 1997

"I still can't believe you actually told her!"

Slightly annoyed at Harry's loud interruption, Severus glared over Oliver Ackerly's exam on Boggarts, Red Caps, and Hinkypunks which Minerva kindly administered on his behalf last Tuesday. Someone - he speculated his esteemed colleague-turned friend - left the substantial stack of exams and essays prominently displayed on his office desk, giving him no plausible means of missing them when he returned to the castle barely four hours ago.

Grudgingly, Dr Swanson discharged Harry, as planned, back to Hogwarts under the condition Healer Smithe arrived each morning to test Harry's blood counts until they reached the level to safely move about the castle; a condition Harry appeared more than pleased to oblige. Since their arrival back to the school, Severus unpacked, spent time in his classroom office catching up on his class notes for his return to teaching on Tuesday, and began the arduous process of marking six days' worth of exams, quizzes, and essays; the latter of which he estimated would take up most of his Sunday, plus his extra day off tomorrow if he could remain focused. Harry, on the other hand, hardly had time to remove his shoes before he fell fast asleep in his bed. Based on the bundle of laundry currently in the young wizard's arms as he plopped down on his usual spot on the sofa with a yawn, Severus presumed that he was only now getting up and unpacked. Staring across the table separating them, Severus tried his hardest to ignore the teen's still sickly, pallid features in an attempt to pretend that coming home meant they were able to simply push aside everything they'd experienced at the hospital; as if they could now move on like nothing in the past ten days happened.

"So you've been saying almost constantly for the past two days. In fact, I'm surprised no one questioned you about it for as often as the muggles overheard you," the professor flatly replied, dipping his quill in the red ink to continue his task at hand; getting behind this early in the process would only hinder him later. "Tell me... which part of my explanation did you not fully comprehend? My verbal revelation to Mae about being magical or my demonstration of spells to her?"

Harry gave a half-hearted scowl. "I understood all of it, but I'm still a little… I dunno… it was weird seeing her at the hospital yesterday knowing she knew, and she knew I knew she knew, and none of us could say a word about it."

Severus waved his wand over the completed exam, instantly drying his latest notes, then placed it overturned onto the table to prevent Harry from seeing his former third-year nemesis's work. Turning his attention back to Harry, he flourished his wand for a second time - overly enjoying his ability to use it after living in the muggle hospital for a week - sending Harry's soiled laundry into the basket near the fireplace to be separately laundered by the House Elves.

"Ah, yes," Severus agreed, "I'll admit, the proverbial hippogriff in the room made for a rather interesting afternoon. I'm hopeful we'll have time to clear the air, so to say, soon to help alleviate the issue going forward. Nevertheless, you both appeared to have a delightful time regardless of the awkwardness."

"I like Mae," Harry blurted out, "and I'm really glad things worked out between you guys."

Severus watched Harry's face attempt to redden against his excessively pale skin. Desperate for a distraction from his embarrassing proclamation, the Gryffindor pulled his bare feet up onto the sofa and rolled over into his back, so he faced the ceiling rather than Severus. Without speaking a word, the professor summoned Harry's charmed red blanket out of his bedroom, then beginning at his sure-to-be-cold bare feet, magically positioned it on top of him. Harry settled the blanket tightly around his chest, mumbling a hurried, "Thanks."

"You really should not be walking around here barefoot," Severus scolded the teen. "I'm rather confident Dr Swanson did not want you released this morning and I have no doubt she will have no hesitation in readmitting you at even the slightest hint of an infection. Do not make me regret my decision to persuade her to discharge you early. Your safety from Death Eaters does no good if you land yourself back there or die from an infection."

Despite not facing the professor, Severus could feel the young wizard rolling his eyes, proving how simply being home, and sleeping in one's own bed healed certain wounds almost as well as any muggle medicines or magical potions. It was also exactly why no matter how much Severus wanted to jump right into asking Harry about his intentions regarding his future cycles - given the difficulties he'd just endured - he felt it best to wait. They both needed to take this time to mend the things which could not be measured by blood counts or temperature readings.

"Do you think she's scared of you?"

Severus frowned at the sudden change of topic. "Dr Swanson?"

"No, I meant Mae," Harry huffed. "Do you think Mae's scared of you knowing that you're a wizard?"

Hearing Harry not identify himself as a wizard greatly alarmed Severus, prompting him to sternly correct Harry. "You meant us, right?

"Whatever," Harry grumbled, likely followed by another set of eye-rolling. "You know what I meant… Do you think she's afraid of magic?"

Severus thought hard about the question, specifically concerning Mae's interaction with them since learning of magic and their world. Nothing she did or said over the last two days, either publicly or privately, gave him the impression she had any issues with his real identity - or at least close enough to his true identity; she still had a lot to learn about Severus and Harry's unique positions in the wizarding world.

And I am in no rush to tell her.

Returning to the question at hand, he confidently stated, "No, I believe it's safe to say most people would not voluntarily place themselves in situations they fear… your aunt and uncle, for example -" Harry thoughtfully nodded his head in agreement, fully understanding what it felt like to be truly feared, "-therefore, I doubt she would've spent the entirety of her evening yesterday in our company had she, even remotely, feared our magic."

"I guess you make a good point," Harry admitted, and when he didn't immediately provide any more thoughts on the subject, Severus conjured a kettle and two teacups, summoned his selection of tea from the kitchen, then proceeded to make them a cup of orange tea.

"No thanks," the Gryffindor said, declining the offered tea without even turning to attempt to grab the cup.

Placing it down on a spot closest to Harry, Severus picked up another exam to mark all the while carefully monitoring the Gryffindor in his peripheral vision. They sat in a companionable silence interrupted only by Severus's feverishly scratching quill, the clanking of his teacup on the saucer following each sip, and a groan from Harry when he moved to pull his charmed Galleon out of the pocket of his pyjama bottoms. Harry's instant relief upon seeing his method of communication to his friends returned to him on Saturday left Severus with a thin layer of guilt for not having the forethought to replace the lost object when he learned of its disappearance. Given the week he'd just experienced, Harry likely wouldn't have used the new coin had he gotten one, nevertheless, Severus understood Harry's friends were important to him and a significant part of the young wizard's support system. He needed them more available, not less, during those tough times.

"When's he coming back?"

Like a bucket of ice-cold water being thrown onto his head, Harry's innocent question jerked Severus back into the present, onto the other major event happening that day: Draco's return to the castle, followed immediately by his mandatory house meeting to reintroduce the blonde Slytherin into their ranks. As the time ticked closer not even the monotony of his marking kept him from running through his unprepared lecture - filled to the brim with no uncertain warnings - hoping he covered every aspect he needed to make and in the most effective manner possible.

Once Severus learned Lucius arranged for a delay in the Daily Prophet's news on Draco's release, a long debate in Albus's office yesterday afternoon yielded the plan for Draco to arrive via floo directly into Severus's quarters. This would allow Severus the opportunity to sit down with Draco for the first time since Halloween and adjust his announcement of the Malfoy heir's return accordingly. Any duration in Azkaban, no matter how large or small, left its own mark on the former prisoners, and Severus needed to know what to prepare them for. Albus, though, insisted on Severus telling the Slytherins straight away, however, the former Death Eater fought for a later notification. Releasing the information too early would give them too much time to organize and potentially ostracize Draco. By making the announcement directly before the teen's reintroduction not only allowed Severus to be present to monitor the situation, but it left them caught equally off guard and hopefully the ranks would reset to a less hostile level. As many of the Slytherin students were the children of Death Eaters - most of whom ended up in Azkaban following the Battle of Malfoy Manor - their reactions could run the gamut: from shunning Draco for finding a loophole release to standing behind him for setting a precedent of possible DMLE error arrests.

"Shall I assume it is Miss Granger asking?" Severus lifted his brows, motioning to the coin clutched in Harry's hand. "I told you about Draco's release under the condition that you were not to give out any information as the papers won't be running the full story until tomorrow morning."

Being present in the castle when the students read about whatever details the Daily Prophet managed to uncover was really the only downfall to having Harry home early. Not even the prospect of a good night's sleep in his own bed could make him feel any better about watching the reaction to the news live, particularly when he had no clue if his personal involvement in the case would be included.

"She won't tell anyone," Harry faithfully argued, as if that fully justified his deliberate disobedience. "I had to tell her something. First, they were all worried about me and what was I going to say-"

"The truth is typically a good place to start."

If nothing else, the sarcastically valid comment caused a reaction out of the teen, who lifted and contorted his body just enough to send another icy glare towards Severus.

"Well, after worrying about me all week, it seemed wrong for her not to know," Harry argued. "Is anyone going to announce it to the school or are you going to wait until he just shows up in the Great Hall or at breakfast?"

"Though I don't see how it's any of your concern," Severus dropped the unfinished exam down onto the table, "Professors McGonagall, Sprout, and Flitwick will also be having a similar, though I suspect a bit less hostile, conversation with their houses regarding Draco's arrival."

"Oh." Harry's face scrunched. "Guess that makes sense, but you still didn't answer my question… when is he actually getting back?"

Turning to check the clock on the mantle his lip upturned slightly. Never again would he be able to look at the object without the memory of its transfiguration, and with so few things to laugh about lately, he had no intention of ever replacing the fixture.

"He should be arriving within the hour," the professor explained. "And you absolutely should not be here when he does."

"Oh, c'mon," Harry half-heartedly complained. "Don't you think that's a little much?" Severus's hardened face left no room for Harry to contend. "Fine, then where do you expect me to go?"

"So long as you are unseen until I can determine Draco's state of mind, I do not care where you go."

"Gryffindor Tower?" Harry asked, hopefully.

The small perk of his mood for the first time in over a week almost made Severus reconsider his stance on allowing Harry the flexibility to leave. Unfortunately, with his next chemotherapy appointment a week away - the last major event before his next check for remission - taking too many unnecessary risks was out of the question.

"I should think your bedroom is sufficient," Severus amended his previous statement. "I will not be giving Draco an intimate tour of our home and therefore you will be unseen there."

"You can't blame me for trying," Harry shrugged, then turned back to continue writing to his friends through his Galleon. "Is it alright if my friends come over? After you and Draco leave, of course. And once McGonagall is done with their house meeting? For what it's worth, they technically don't know what the meeting's about." Severus skeptically raised his eyebrows at the contradictory statement. "What I meant was... Ron just told me McGonagall hasn't said what the meeting is about so-"

"Had you not told them anything in the first place," Severus harshly placed his now empty teacup into the saucer, causing it to rattle loudly, "your friends would be none the wiser when the last minute, mandatory Sunday house meeting was announced."

"Erm… yeah," Harry sheepishly replied. "I guess the rumour in the tower is that it's a Quidditch announcement. Either rearranging this weekend's game or cancelling it altogether. It's supposed to be Slytherin versus Ravenclaw on Saturday, right?"

"You are correct," Severus carefully acknowledged, well aware of Harry's technique to distract him away from the young wizard's transgression. As luck would have it, Harry's next point promptly altered Severus's mood.

"Maybe they're changing the game to Friday night instead of Saturday? It's not the first time they-"

"Harry," Severus gently interrupted the Gryffindor's train of thought, not wanting him to get too far ahead of himself. The optimism in the teen voice over the prospect of potentially getting to attend the Quidditch game rather than chemotherapy, combined with the look of confusion in his green eyes, made Severus's next words all the more difficult to say out loud. "You already know the meeting is regarding Draco's return."

"What?"

The professor released a heavy sigh, already hating himself for the correction he'd have to make. "McGonagall's meeting," he calmly reiterated. "You already know it's not about Quidditch… they are not rescheduling the game. Nevertheless, your friends may stop by as long as it's after Draco, Miss Granger uses the sanitizing spell upon their arrival, and they keep the visit succinct."

"Thanks," Harry muttered, though the embarrassment over mixing up such a simple conversation at the age of seventeen - indicating how taxing his treatment had been on his mind lately - had already overtaken the Gryffindor's face. Severus watched him closely as he slowly stood, his legs trembling slightly. "I think I'm going to grab a glass of ginger ale and then take a shower… wash off the stale hospital smell. Do you need anything from the kitchen or want me to take the tea kettle back?"

Severus's dark eyes shifted to his wand prominently resting on the table between them, his gaze lingering a split second too long on the object. Harry's eyes followed and giving a sad, silent nod, he slowly left the room without speaking another word. How could he make such a foolish oversight? The last thing Harry needed from him at that moment was the reminder of how he had magic to do those mundane tasks, and Severus knew better than to insinuate such.

Frustrated over how quickly the atmosphere between them changed, Severus angrily snatched up the exam he'd been marking, tearing the parchment in the process. He'd barely thrown the exam back into the pile - not actively seeing it miss the table then flutter to the ground - when the floo to his left burst into bright green flames and Draco appeared as soon as they subsided. An emotion Severus wasn't prepared to deal with fought against his hard exterior at the sight of his former protege stepping out of the small, at least by the Malfoy Manor standards, fireplace wearing a perfectly tailored set of black robes, gripping tight onto his school bag slung over his shoulder; the only outward sign of his inherent apprehension.

"Professor," Draco greeted, with a small incline of his head, though he didn't take a step closer.

Severus stood, torn between stepping into his two roles for the teen: being his professor or his mentor. Having spent the last fortnight in prison, Severus felt he had no right to be called Draco's mentor any longer, but would do whatever it took to earn the title back.

As if the situation wasn't complicated enough, the sound of a glass shattering behind him - if he had to wager a guess, coming from somewhere between the kitchen and bedroom corridor - had Severus physically cringing. Apparently, it was too much to ask the fates for Harry to have already been in the shower. In fact, had Severus not been sitting next to the Gryffindor and observed the circumstances surrounding his plans, Severus might have said that Harry somehow planned this encounter all along.

"Draco!" Harry called, racing up to the pair of Slytherin's with more speed and agility than he'd seen out of the young wizard since Draco's trial.

Severus closed his eyes against his rising anger. "Harry," he spat out through clenched teeth, "we spoke about where you are supposed to be right now."

His tone had its intended effect because the pattering of Harry's still bare feet came to a halt somewhere near the back of the sofa.

"He's fine, Severus," Draco announced. "Unless, of course, you think it's me who's the dangerous one."

A challenge. Draco was equally skeptical of the environment he'd be coming back into; that mentality would serve him well in navigating Slytherin House. Taking his silence as acceptance, Harry finished the short trip walking to the sofa, towards the fireplace, stopping when he stood directly between Severus - strategically out of the professor's reach - and Draco.

"You look like shite," Draco harshly greeted.

Harry, though, took it in stride and didn't flinch at the insult. "You owe me, Malfoy."

Draco gave an arrogant chuckle. "Get in line, Potter. Do I even want to try to guess why the saviour of the wizarding world thinks I owe him a favour?"

They stared at each other like two wild creatures daring the other to make the first contentious move, or else decide they were allies. For now, given the light bantering which had become the standard fare of their friendship, Severus would let them continue.

"You used your kitten form -" the professor had no doubt Harry's emphasis on Draco's animagus form was to insult the Malfoy heir, "- to spy on me."

In response, Draco's previous chuckle turned into a full-fledged laugh. "Don't flatter yourself, I never spied on you."

"After the Owlery?" Harry challenged but gave no more explanation or evidence for Severus to ascertain the validity of Harry's claim. If Draco did use his animagus to intentionally spy on students, it'd require Severus to adjust his warnings to the blonde.

Suddenly, a spark of recollection flashed onto Draco's face. "I hardly think you can call that spying," he defended. "Perhaps it goes to show how you should be more careful of who - or what - you decide to pour your heart out to like some first-year Hufflepuff."

Harry narrowed his eyes, obviously trying to come up with some kind of comeback.

"Nice tattoo you got there," the Gryffindor said, craning his neck to get a better look at the blonde's exceedingly dark and visible Azkaban tattoo; something Severus noticed immediately, yet would never have commented upon. "You were starting to look a little too studious lately, so this is a good look for you."

"Seriously, Potter, how else do you expect them to keep track of the convicts? By our names?" Draco retorted a little too proudly given the topic at hand. "Fun fact I quickly learned my first day there - it matches my father's… the first two symbols, at least… I'm guessing the numbers have something to do with our location in that hellhole."

"Shite, really?" Harry cursed, quite obviously not expecting as thorough, and serious, of an explanation. To be honest, Severus hadn't either.

"Yeah. And if my Ancient Runes knowledge is at least halfway decent, I believe it translates to AO492, but I haven't a clue what the AO stands for." Draco ran his fingers lightly over the black text standing out against his otherwise excessively pale skin. "Maybe my father and I will start a new Malfoy tradition of branding our firstborn sons with the symbols. We'll have to use a different location, though."

"That's brilliant," Harry laughed, any hint of tension now gone. "I'm sure Hermione won't have any issues whatsoever with that, what with all of the other pureblood customs she's learning, I'm sure she won't even notice this one."

Crossing the line into Draco's relationship tipped the scale for Severus to end this impromptu meeting.

"Weren't you about to take a shower?" Severus hastily asked Harry. As much as he enjoyed seeing these two boys bond over their separate tragedies - balancing one another in a way none of his other friends could - Severus was more than ready to get this moving along.

"Well I was, but obviously then Draco-" Harry cut off at the glare Severus threw his way. "You know what? I think I'll just head to the shower now. You said Hermione and Ron can stop by later, right? After the house meetings?"

If it were any other moment, Severus might have been proud of Harry's conniving plan. Although the Gryffindor's memory was, at best, unstable lately, he did not doubt one bit that asking for Severus's confirmation was meant for Draco's ears; to let his friend know the rest of their group would be here when they were done.

"Yes, I did. And don't make me change my mind," Severus menacingly warned. "A small, yet powerful update - specifically one to deny your friends entry - to my exterior door enchantments during my departure is not out of the realm of possibilities."

The widening green eyes glaring back at him confirmed Harry understood the message completely. A quick 'see you later' saw Severus and Draco alone once again.

The professor gestured for Draco to sit in the armchair on the other side of the table, his typical choice when he temporarily lived in Severus's quarters almost a year ago. Interestingly, Draco bypassed the moderately plush piece of furniture and opted for the sofa instead; opposite Harry's usual side. In an awkward silence, Severus vanished Harry's untouched cup of tea and the teapot to the kitchen for cleaning later and conjured a new cup, saucer, and pot. Making sure to keep everything in clear view for Draco, Severus remade a fresh pot of tea - one guaranteed to be free of any nefarious potions - and prepared the Malfoy heir's cup with a small pinch of sugar, precisely as he liked it, then levitated it over to the teen.

"I heard I have you to thank for my release," Draco eventually broke the silence, leaving his cup untouched on the table. It would be the second cup of tea he made in a single hour that might possibly be wasted. "I'm sure Williamson pissed himself when he saw it."

"He was quite… irritated… yes," Severus cautiously began, simultaneously gauging how much Draco already knew of the incident and how he'd take the news of Albus's involvement given their turbulent history. "And as much as I'd love to take the full credit for the actions leading up to your release, it was the Headmaster's doing."

"It's about fucking time, don't you think?" the teen exclaimed. "What'd it take for him to finally stand up for the likes of me?"

Severus would allow Draco to release whatever pent up aggression he had against Albus; better to do it in the relative safety of Severus's quarters than out in the open corridors or, even worse, with the Slytherins in their common room. The school certainly had its own issues to contend with, adding a rebellion of Slytherins against their headmaster served no purpose.

"Back at the beginning of the year, when the DMLE announced they'd be doing random wand inspections, he put a contingency plan in place," the professor clarified. "Ultimately, he trusted you to do no real harm and didn't want to see you punished for your role in helping the Order."

Pretending not to care about the Headmaster's feelings towards him, Draco bumped himself up to the edge of the sofa cushion. "Did he confund you to forget to sign the report? I heard that's how Crouch Jr got Potter in for the tournament. It'd be an interesting turn of events to have the leader of the light fall to the same depths of a Death Eater, especially for me."

Insulted at the accusation of being so easily manipulated, Severus replied, "I did not get confunded. He had me sign the document using a self-inking quill which pulled from a well of disappearing ink. Your second layer of appreciation goes to the Weasley twins for gifting the headmaster such an object."

"Damn." Draco casually leaned back, crossing his arms around his chest.

"My sentiments exactly," Severus concurred. "Obviously, it's in all of our best interests that none of these details leave this room. Harry doesn't even know the semantics of your release. I'd told him that given everything going on in Albus's office leading up to your arrest, I'd forgotten to sign the inspection report."

"And he believed you?"

"At first? No. And when the Prophet reports on the supposedly falsified copy, it will negate everything I told him." Severus grimaced at the memory of him attempting to convince Harry to drop his incessant inquiries, then resorting to using the Gryffindor's ill health to get out of any further conversation regarding it. "However, he may not have been in the best frame of mind during the conversation. By then, I'd be surprised if he remembered much of the details I gave him."

Shifting his weight, the blonde averted his eyes uncomfortably. "I wasn't lying when I said he looks like shite." he quietly admitted. "Is he alright?"

The question we all want to know.

"He's recovering," Severus vaguely answered. But Draco's lingering silence prompted him to add, "Let's just say this past week has been difficult on us for very different reasons. I think we'll all do well to get back to a bit of normalcy."

"So what?" Draco sneered, "I spend a fortnight in Azkaban, get forced to see my therapist not only once but twice in two days, and then waltz back into classes and my life as if nothing happened?"

"Though all valid concerns, I do hope you realize all of your professors are intimately aware of your unique situation," Severus reasoned. "Albus and your father are making arrangements for you to make more frequent visits to your muggle therapist in the coming weeks, as needed, to help you through the transition.

"For your class, you'll be given until the end of term to make up any missing assignments. And then any pending examinations in the next fortnight will be rescheduled to a later date to ensure you have sufficient time to study. Each professor will meet with you this week to discuss any tutoring you feel necessary to help you catch up, however, dare I say, Miss Granger will likely be able to provide adequate enough lessons... assuming you can both stay focused on said lessons."

"Severus!" Draco's face instantly reddened. "I don't want to talk about… that... with you."

Severus pretended not to feel equally distressed by the current subject of their conversation by taking a long sip of his tea. "As your Head of House, I'm afraid that topic falls under my justification. Which reminds me, I need you to sign this," Severus wandlessly summoned a piece of parchment off of the desk in his office and offered it to Draco. "It's an agreement stating you understand the policies surrounding your animagus form. As you'll see, there is a particular emphasis on how the use of your animagus kitten-"

"Cat!"

"- to wander the corridors after curfew, specifically to visit your girlfriend's room, is strictly prohibited," Severus spoke in the same manner as if he were telling a new set of first-years how to extract beetle eyes. "To be fair, Professor McGonagall will have Miss Granger sign a similar document reminding her of the visitor policy for the Head Girl's rooms. Should either of you be found in contempt of the rules, you will serve detention every Friday night until your N.E.W.T.s are completed and Miss Granger will lose her status as Head Girl, effective immediately. Is there any piece of this policy you fail to understand?"

True to his Slytherin nature, Draco's grey eyes scanned over each and every word on the parchment. On two occasions, Severus saw them pause and go back up to reread a section. The teen never asked for clarification nor did Severus offer any further explanation. On his own terms, Draco reached out for the quill lying beside the stack of exams, then signed his agreement to the school's reasonable policies.

"What else do I have to do before you release me back into the general public?"

Draco's seemingly excited mood didn't fool the former spy in the slightest. Narrowing his dark eyes at his student, he demanded, "Tell me about Azkaban."

"You're having me on, right?!" The anxious laugh which followed did not come as a surprise. "But wait-" Draco made an exaggerated movement to look towards Severus's neck, "I forgot you actually managed to stay out of there. Unless you're hiding your tattoo under those high collared robes."

"As you know, similar to the Dark Mark, the magic imbibed in the runes cannot be magically removed," Severus explained, ignoring the sting of Draco's insult, "however as your conviction was officially overturned, the magic was altered to allow you to cover it. If you'd like, I can teach you a strong glamour spell."

"You mean like this?" The blonde lifted his wand to his neck and muttered the spell to seamlessly cover up the tattoo. "I don't exactly feel like keeping a glamour up constantly."

"There are other cosmetic ways to conceal it," Severus clinically suggested.

"Great," Draco snorted, "I'll just share Hermione's make-up for all of eternity. Listen, it's not as if the entire wizarding world doesn't know I went to Azkaban. I say let them stare at it."

"What about during your muggle education?" The professor brought up. "Your father mentioned a Cambridge interview over the Christmas holiday. Do you still intend on pursuing your dual healing career?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Draco snapped, and Severus breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll cover it up then… either using magic or Hermione's makeup. It's not a big deal to me, Severus, so don't try to make it one."

"That's fair. Then going back, I asked you about Azkaban," the professor reminded Draco.

In the end, it took more prompting on Severus's part and at least two additional detours - Narcissa's positive change of demeanour towards her son and Draco's acceptance of his cat form -, but when Draco began to speak of Azkaban the words flowed smoother than either wizard anticipated. According to Draco, most of his time was spent asleep, or as close to it as he could bearing all of the noise throughout the day, figuring he couldn't get into any unintentional trouble if he stayed in his cell. The rest of the day was broken up by meals, their mandatory yard time, and visits with his solicitor.

"To be honest, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it'd be, especially considering I joined the Order... of all things... just to avoid it. It was better than being held hostage as a blood sacrifice in my own Manor, which is where my Order membership got me. Don't get me wrong-" Draco lifted his hand to combat Severus's predictable argument to this train of thought, "- I fully understand had I not switched side when I did, I would've been in the cells saved for the marked Death Eater getting tortured by the dementors day in and day out as a convicted war criminal rather than this unregistered animagus bullocks. But based on the stories I heard, a lot changed when they pulled the dementors out of the medium and low-security cells, and much to the Aurors' dismay, their harassment doesn't really compare.

"Most of the other inmates were just trying to get through the day and if they managed to score Fog Sour Candies or Crocodile Crisps all the better. Hell, even Greyback wasn't a horrible cellmate. I was actually thinking the private cell for the four days a month he'd be isolated sounded incredibly boring. Who knows, though, maybe it'd change as the year went on and everyone adjusted to the Auror guards."

"Tell me about living with Greyback," Severus curiously ventured.

"He's paranoid, for one. Wouldn't so much as take a bite of any food without smelling it first. Guess a benefit to being a werewolf is the ability to smell poison, which he absolutely believes is a possibility," Draco casually picked up his tea, tapping his wand on the edge to rewarm it, and took a sip. "But, honestly, I got lucky with him. Like I said, there are at least a half dozen other inmates I could list off in that place who'd be worse to bunk with than Greyback - Nott Jr being damn near the top."

"And for good reasons," Severus muttered. Never did he ever think he'd be grateful for Draco's cell assignment, yet the young wizard was correct in his assessment: Greyback having never been a fanatic follower of Voldemort meant he'd be the least likely to hold any personal grudges towards Draco. "Go back a minute," Severus said when something the teen mentioned finally worked its way into his conscious thoughts, "why did Greyback think his food would be poisoned?"

Draco's face contorted going back to their lunchtime conversation. "I don't think he used those words, per se, but that was the gist of it. I told you, Severus, he's paranoid. A werewolf in Azkaban? Let's just say he didn't make a great first impression on the other inmates, and even the Aurors kept their distance. If I were him, you bet I'd be watching my back at every turn."

"And how were you perceived?"

"Honestly, I think most of them were hoping I'd put a good word in with my father for reduced sentences. I used to think if anyone was going to get out on a favour, it bloody hell better be me and lo and behold-" he swept his hands around the room, "-although none of them will know it wasn't not my father's doing. I doubt the Prophet will get those details."

"Let us all hope not." Severus placed his teacup back onto the saucer on the table ready to conclude their meeting. Outside of a small twinge of his institution telling him a visit to Greyback in Azkaban might be worth his while, based on Draco's demeanour he saw no reason to delay his house meeting any longer, leaving him one last, exceedingly important topic for his young Slytherin. "I need you to answer my next question honestly in regards to you personally, not based on what you believe your girlfriend, your father, or even I would want to hear. Do you understand?"

"Sure."

Severus leaned over, never averting his eyes away from his student. Although not anywhere close to being satisfied by the mediocre reply, ultimately it was the best he'd get out of the teen and it would have to do. "Do you feel safe re-entering Slytherin house? Utilizing your private dormitory, of course. Or would you prefer to return to a room here until we can ascertain how the balance of power will fall within the house?"

Again, the Malfoy heir took his time considering the two options, surely debating how to weigh his personal safety with the Slytherins versus having less freedom under Severus's strict watch.

"I want to stay in my private dorm in Slytherin." The cockiness laced beneath his answer caused Severus to hold back a smile. "The way I see it is if they weren't trying to kill me before my time in Azkaban, I think I'll be fine now."

"Might I remind you someone might have been targeting you less than a month ago at the Three Broomsticks?" It felt wrong to bring up the potential attack, but the point was still a valid one.

"What can they honestly be angry at me over?" Draco argued.

"Just taking a wild guess," Severus feigned confusion, "getting out of Azkaban on a technicality reeking of some sort of assistance, either your father or Albus, while their family continues to rot there alone?"

The half-grin spread on the Malfoy heir's face was one Lucius certainly would approve of. "I guess I'll have my work cut out for me to try and convince them how such a large DMLE error might actually help their interests in Azkaban. I guarantee you the Wizengamot will be flooded with appeals before the preliminary inspection report is dry."

Not only was he not surprised by Draco's logic, but it also made sense for every convict to try and use the "error" to reopen their case in court. "Then, of course," Severus continued his rationale for Draco to be concerned over his safety, "there's the small issue of Harper being officially removed from the Quidditch team, though in your defense that happened shortly after Halloween."

"What the fuck does Harper's incompetence on the pitch have to do with me?" Draco practically shouted.

"Lower your voice," the professor turned to the corridor leading to Harry's bedroom. Having never heard the shower start, Severus had no doubt he'd find the Gryffindor sitting at his door trying to eavesdrop. Heeding his own advice, Severus quietly explained, "Based on what I've heard, Harper did not handle the news well, going as far as to continue attending practices and making blatant threats to the team, the latter of which is a top priority for me to handle this week. Presumably, your return to the castle may potentially exacerbate the problem."

"Quidditch?!" The teen threw his hands into the air. "If a school game is the biggest problem Harper has to worry about, I'll be sure to help set his priorities straight."

"You're still under probation," Severus reminded. "Dropping the unregistered Animagus charges did not nullify your plea agreement for Harry's kidnapping. And you can be certain if Williamson wasn't out for blood before, he will be now."

"Shite."

"I also suggest you actively attempt to curb your choice of language." Severus stood ready to move on to his Slytherin meeting. Draco followed suit. "I'll provide you the flexibility, however, don't expect the same courtesy from your other professors."

"Duly noted," Draco flatly said. As they approached the door leading out to the corridor, Draco casually asked, "So who's replacing Harper? The game's Saturday, right? I doubt it's enough time to get any reasonable practice in as a newbie Seeker."

"As far as I know, no one's been officially selected yet. If you remember, the pool of adequate Seekers at trials was, unfortunately, limited to Harper," Severus slyly stated. "Being the current Head of Slytherin does have its advantages should you know someone interested and willing to play on a limited practice schedule."

A stealthy glance out of the corner of his eye told Severus if everything went well at the house meeting, they'd have their Seeker and a higher probability of winning the Quidditch cup in both Slytherins' final year. Suddenly, being back at Hogwarts with both of "his boys" on their way to recovering from their horrors and his girlfriend not only forgiving him for his violent acts but knowing and accepting his magic made thinking about whatever may come tomorrow much easier to manage.