Harry blinked blankly at Severus, trying to understand what his guardian had just said. They were in the sitting room and Severus was helping Harry with his Potions assignment. However, it wasn’t going well as Harry was still not fully understanding.

“I’m still confused,” Harry said.

“What is still confusing you?” Severus asked.

“Okay, I get that I have to do all kinds of research but that’s about it,” Harry said and Severus chuckled.

“You choose an ingredient and research its properties and how those properties change based on its preparation. You also choose one potion the ingredient is in and research its use in the potion,” Severus said and Harry nodded, following so far. “The second half of the assignment is to research how your chosen potion would change if you prepared your ingredient in three different ways. You then have the option to make the potion using one of those other preparation techniques.”

“Oh!” Harry exclaimed, finally understanding. “Wait, you want me to brew a potion on my own?”

Severus laughed again. “You do not have to. That part is optional. I have it there to give some students a chance to practice their brewing.”

Harry looked at him. “You want me to do it, don’t you?”

“It is your decision, but it would be a good opportunity,” Severus said and Harry rolled his eyes.

“So, yes,” Harry said. “Someone has to be there when I brew it.”

“One of us will help you,” Severus said, a slight smirk on his face.

“Thanks for helping,” Harry said.

Severus inclined his head. “Remember to ask for help if you need it from now on.”

“I’ll try.”

The door opened and they both looked up to see Alexei poking his head inside. Harry furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

“Oh, rebenok, good, you’re here,” Alexei said.

“Yeah,” Harry said slowly, frowning at the odd gleam in the vampire’s eyes.  

Alexei smiled. “We have a surprise for you.”

Harry put his homework aside and watched Alexei walk into the room, opening the door all the way. His eyes grew wide at the figure that followed Alexei inside. He got to his feet, staring at the other man he had missed so much.

“Lucius?” he whispered and Lucius looked past his long, messy hair at the child. The man’s hair was no longer its brilliant white blonde. It was very grimy and lank. The man’s face was skeletal and, by the way the clothes hung off him, Harry knew the man’s body was the same way. His face was dirty as well, adding to the sunken look of his eyes and cheeks. The silver-grey eyes were dull, broken, and haunted but some light returned as they rested on Harry.

While he was still hesitant about being touched since the incident with Sirius, Harry pushed it aside and rushed to hug Lucius tightly. He didn’t care that the man was dirty. He was just so happy to have Lucius back after all this time. It had been nearly three months.

Lucius eventually pulled back and cupped Harry’s face. “I have missed you,” he whispered.

Harry smiled. “I’ve missed you too.”

“Harry, he’ll be staying here so you can bring him to the room beside yours,” Severus said and Harry nodded, only vaguely noticing that the other room was a new addition. Severus stopped them as they walked by, pulling Lucius into his own hug. “Welcome back home.”

Lucius smiled gratefully at him, continuing to follow Harry to the new bedroom. Harry supported him as they entered the room and helped him sit on the bed. Lucius slowly pulled his feet up onto the bed and arranged himself so he was sitting propped up against the mound of pillows. Harry perched on the side beside Lucius’ legs.

“So, you’re staying here?” Harry said. “For how long?”

“Until the end of school and then I will be going to wherever we all decide to live,” Lucius said, taking a sip of the water that had been on the bedside table.

“You live with Severus now?” Harry said, doing his best to contain his joy.

“I live with all of you,” Lucius said. “You live and will be living with Severus too, and we’ve already decided to live with Alexei as well.” A brief thought had Lucius wondering why Harry seemed to have regained some of his doubts and uncertainties.

Harry began grinning. “But what about your manor?”

“I put it up for sale before I was arrested,” Lucius said. “I was never going to be able to live there again.”

Harry nodded in understanding.

“So, what has been going on around here while I’ve been gone?” Lucius asked. “I am sure there is a lot to discuss.”

“Do you want to wash up or get some sleep first?” Harry said, not sure if he should tell the man what happened only a week ago.

“Not yet,” Lucius said, smiling. “I want to spend more time with you first. You are the only reason I survived in there.”

Harry flushed, slightly embarrassed. It continued to surprise him when any of the men directly showed how much they cared about him. It really helped him realize Sirius was wrong and Ron was right. However, the question remained: should he tell Lucius what happened with Sirius? The man would probably find out eventually from Severus or Alexei. It might be better coming from him directly.

He let out a deep breath and looked at Lucius. “A lot has happened,” he began and Lucius looked at him curiously, waiting.

And so he dove in. He told Lucius everything that had happened in the last three months. Lucius was quiet through it all, just listening, though Harry could see his expressions and eyes changing. When he finally got to what had just happened, Lucius’ face hardened. Harry found that it was difficult to talk about what happened, but it also felt like a bit of weight was being lifted from him at the same time. It was a little therapeutic to talk about it.

“I’m getting better though,” Harry said, coming to the end. “I don’t hurt anymore and I’m getting back to where I was on the whole touching thing. Obviously, Severus and Alexei have been really helping. I’ve still been having a lot of nightmares, though, but they said those will start to slowly go away eventually.”

Lucius stared at Harry for a while, making the boy shift nervously. “Where are Black and Lupin now?”

“St. Mungo’s,” Harry said. “Dumbledore sent them and they were officially admitted to the psych ward.”

“Good,” Lucius said. “You are really alright, kid?”

Harry smiled and nodded. He reached out and grasped one of Lucius’ hands, squeezing gently. “I’m alright and I’ll be even better now that you’re finally home.”

Lucius just smiled, his eyes a little teary.

Harry flew up in his bed, breathing heavily. His nightmares had gotten worse since the incident with Sirius. They were always a mixture of the graveyard scene and Sirius torturing him. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and looked at the clock. It was only three in the morning. He blew out a breath and threw his covers aside, getting out of bed. He pulled his sleeves down from where they had rolled up his arms while he slept.

He shuffled quietly out of his room and headed into the kitchen. He put the kettle on to make some tea and then opened the fridge. He pulled out the leftover chicken and sat at the table, picking at the cold food. Once the water began to boil, he rose and prepared his tea.

“Harry?” He looked over his shoulder to see Severus in the doorway, pulling a robe on. “Why are you up? What’s wrong?”

Harry sat with his tea and tore off another piece of chicken, tossing it in his mouth. “Nightmare,” he said shortly.

Severus sighed and made his own tea, sitting across from the boy. “Are you alright? Do you want to talk about it?”

“It’s the same one I’ve told you about every night this week,” Harry said somewhat irritably. “I want them to end.”

“I know, child, and they will given time,” Severus said. “You don’t dream about the Dursleys as often anymore and the same will happen with this nightmare.”

Harry gave a small nod. “Except the graveyard. I don’t think that’ll stop until Voldemort’s plan happens, whatever it is.”

“Is your scar hurting?” Severus asked and Harry shook his head.

“Not this time,” Harry said, sipping his tea. “It was the beginning of the nightmare, though, so I think it was negated by the Sirius part.”

Severus didn’t respond as Harry looked down, playing with the remaining chicken. The entire subject of Sirius was quite sensitive and they really only approached it if Harry did first.

“He really didn’t want me to be with you,” Harry said quietly.

“You know he is unstable and we hated each other,” Severus said.

“I really don’t think that’s an excuse,” Harry said. “If it had been the other way around, you wouldn’t have tried to break the guardianship or anything.”

“Not unless Black had proven himself dangerous, which he obviously did,” Severus said, taking a drink of his own tea and swiping a chunk of chicken.

“What if he was normal?” Harry asked.

“Then no, I would have left the two of you alone,” Severus said. “As long as you were happy with him, I would have accepted it.”

Harry nodded. “And that’s why hating each other isn’t a good enough reason. You don’t try to destroy something if people are happy. He didn’t want me happy.”

Severus sighed. “He can only destroy this and your happiness if you let him.”

Harry quirked a smile. “Alexei said almost the same thing the day you were arrested.”

Severus smiled back. “Great minds think alike.”

Harry chuckled and took another drink of tea. “Are we all really going to live together after school ends?”

Severus nodded. “Once we all decide where we would like to live. Alexei has many properties for us to look at.”

Harry gave another small smile. “I never expected that would happen. Living with you, any of you. I honestly thought you all would have left by now like everyone else.”

“Well, we are obviously not like everyone else,” Severus said with a grin, trying to keep the atmosphere light.

“You’re definitely not,” Harry said, laughing quietly again.

They both sobered and Severus gave him a gentle look. “You are really alright, child?”

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Harry said. “I’ll be okay.”

They were interrupted then by a quiet ringing and Harry looked at his guardian in question.

“It is a monitoring charm I put on Lucius’ room in case he needs help or has nightmares,” Severus explained, getting to his feet. “I am going to check on him. Would you make him a cup of tea?”

Harry nodded. “Definitely.”

As the boy prepared another cup of tea, Severus walked through the sitting room and into Lucius’ room. The ringing ceased the moment he entered the room and the small lamp on the bedside table illuminated. Lucius was still lying in the bed but his eyes were wide open and staring up at the ceiling. As Severus entered, Lucius turned his head to look at his friend and maneuvered so he was sitting.

“Just nightmares,” Lucius said before Severus could ask.

“Do you need anything?” Severus asked and Lucius shook his head.

“I’m alright,” Lucius said just as Harry poked his head into the room. He came inside when he saw Lucius awake and talking to Severus.

“I brought tea,” Harry said, bringing it to Lucius in the bed.

The man smiled, taking the cup. “Thank you.”

“You are sure you don’t need anything else?” Severus said, receiving a nod in response.

“Go back to bed,” Lucius said, taking a drink from his tea.

“Very well,” Severus said and looked at Harry.

“Um, I know it’s late, but do you mind if I stay up with Lucius for a little bit?” Harry asked, looking at his guardian.

Severus gave him a small smile. “Of course, but try to get some more sleep.”

Harry nodded, sitting on the edge of Lucius’ bed. “I will.”

Severus inclined his head. “Good night, gentlemen,” he said and left the room, heading back to his own to get some more sleep.

“You should be getting back to bed, too,” Lucius said and Harry looked at him.

“I know, but I can’t sleep yet,” Harry said.

“Did you have a nightmare?” Lucius asked and Harry nodded. “Would you like to talk about it?”

“Will you talk about yours?” Harry asked and Lucius gave him a slightly surprised expression, not expecting the retort.

“That’s not necessary,” Lucius said. “You do not need to hear about what I see in my nightmares.”

“You guys make me talk about mine, say it helps,” Harry said, scooting back across the bed so he was leaning against the wall.

“That is because you have been through so much this year.”

“So, have you,” Harry argued and Lucius blinked, taken aback by the logic. “Is that what you dream about? Draco?”

Lucius sighed, staring down into his tea. “Sometimes. The Dementors made it an even more prominent memory.”

Harry looked down at his lap. “I always dream about Ron, not usually about his death though. Except tonight, along with what happened with Sirius.”

“I wish I had been here,” Lucius said regretfully.

“You are now and I think that’s more important,” Harry said. “You’ll help me get better.”

“Of course I will,” Lucius said. “We all will.”

“And we’ll help you,” Harry said. “You really think I got better about Ron on my own? You can’t even imagine how much Severus helped me.”

“I think I can,” Lucius said. Harry looked at him curiously, “because you helped me in the same way after Draco.”

Harry frowned. “I don’t remember doing anything.”

“You did more than you think,” Lucius said. “I may have been lost after Draco without you.”

Harry flushed slightly before breaking into a yawn.

“You need to get back to sleep,” Lucius said.

Harry shook his head. “I’m okay.”

Lucius put his teacup on the bedside table and motioned for Harry to come lay beside him. Harry moved beside the man, lying against the pillow with Lucius’ arm under his shoulders. They were silent for a while as they got comfortable.

“Tell me about Draco,” Harry said and Lucius looked down at him questioningly. “I never knew him, not really. What was the Draco you knew like?”

“I’ll tell you stories if you also tell me about Ron,” Lucius said. Harry nodded in agreement. He settled in and began to listen to a story about a four-year-old Draco who had thought he could fly if he held a wand. Harry eventually found himself involuntarily drifting off during the story of Draco’s first tiresome rant about that ‘Perfect Potter’.

Severus and Alexei were sitting at the bottom of the Slytherin stands at the Quidditch Pitch, watching Harry and the twins. The three Gryffindors had asked them to supervise while Harry practiced spells he may need to use in the Third Task. Fred and George also wanted to teach Harry some higher-level spells in hopes they could provide more help. Severus and Alexei had agreed and followed the boys to the pitch. Now they sat watching while also engaged in their own conversation.

“Are you sure about this?” Alexei said, a little shocked by Severus’ revelation.

“I’m still thinking about it,” Severus said. “I haven’t actually officially decided yet.”

“But this is what you want to do?” Alexei said, watching as Harry practiced the Shield Charm the twins had taught him.

“I think so,” Severus said after a brief hesitation.

“What about…everything?”

“That is what is making me reconsider,” Severus said. “If Voldemort returns, I will have to spy again. It could make this dangerous. No one could ever know until Voldemort was destroyed or I am discovered. None of that would be fair.”

They both looked out at Harry who had used Tripping Charms on the twins repeatedly and was on his knees, laughing.

“We won’t be letting go,” Alexei said.

“I know,” Severus said, “but this makes it all so much more.”

Alexei nodded, understanding. “When you decide, I can get everything you need. I would suggest trying to gauge his thoughts on such a situation.”

“I will.”

And they both continued watching the three young Gryffindors.