“Albus, I have told you I’m through having this discussion,” Severus said as he entered the study with the headmaster.

“You know what the disturbance in the Ministry means,” Dumbledore said. “The power to defeat Voldemort has awakened in Harry and it has activated the prophecy. He must be trained.”

“He is being trained. He and Mr. Malfoy began a few days ago,” Severus said.

“With who?” Dumbledore asked.

Severus crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. “You know perfectly well who. They are the only natural masters in the world.”

“A vampire known to go rogue and an immortal with no loyalties to speak of?” Dumbledore said. “I cannot allow Harry to be trained by such a person, not when our world lays on him.”

Severus glared. “That is a mistake you made. I’ve said it before, Potter is not a soldier to train and send to slaughter. He is a boy.”

“I am not the one that marked him,” Dumbledore said.

“No, but you are contributing to the belief that it means something,” Severus said.

“He is connected to Voldemort in a way no one else is,” Dumbledore said.

“Magical compatibility that morphed into a Mind Link due to the Resurrection Ritual, I would assume,” Severus said. “If you want Potter to be strong enough to fight the Dark Lord, no need to fear. Alexei can train him to be strong enough. However, he will not be sent to fight a battle that is ours to fight.”

“That is not how Voldemort sees it,” Dumbledore said.

“And we are to let him dictate our actions?” Severus said dryly.

“Voldemort is gaining power quickly, Severus. Harry must be ready.”

“To survive, not fight,” Severus said shortly.

Dumbledore gave him a searching look. “Not so long ago you did not defend Harry so fiercely.”

“Not so long ago I knew nothing but lies of my own making about the boy, lies you did nothing to disprove,” Severus said, eyes narrowing.

“Have you come to care for him?”

Severus hesitated for a fraction. “I am uncertain, but I know I will not allow him to be your sacrifice in the war you helped create.”

“You are playing a dangerous game that could risk both of you.”

“I was unaware I ever stopped being at risk,” Severus said with a slight sneer.

Dumbledore sighed. “He must fulfil the prophecy.”

“Prophecies go unfulfilled all the time,” Severus said with a hint of irritation.

“Voldemort will not stop hunting him.”

“Then we help him in the fight, not abandon him to it.”

Severus glared at the headmaster, frustrated with his obsession with the prophecy. He’d told the truth; he didn’t know how he felt about Potter or Malfoy. The only things he knew was that he did not feel the same way he did in June and he refused to leave them in Dumbledore’s plans. Dumbledore was concerned about his ‘greater good’, not two hurt and lost fifteen-year-old boys.

“Albus, I will not have this discussion again. I will not have my choices questioned,” Severus said.

“I am afraid we will have to discuss it at least once more for you are only their unofficial guardian for the summer. Come their return to Hogwarts, Mr. Malfoy’s care reverts to Lucius and Harry to me,” Dumbledore.

“Why send them to me in the first place if you did not want us involved?” Severus asked, ignoring the odd pull in his chest at Dumbledore’s veiled threat.

“I never believed anything would change. You were the one I believed would remain firm in your role and that would keep everything on track.”

“Why would that matter?”

“We all have roles to play and some of those roles are not meant to crossover.”

Severus couldn't help how his glare hardened. “They are fifteen.”

“Yes, the same age when I lost you. I hoped to avoid repeating the past,” Dumbledore said, an air of sadness and regret oozing from the words.

Severus' lip curled at the jab. “You were on track to do just that from what I have seen.”

“Perhaps,” Dumbledore said. “Take what redemption you can from this. Come September first, it ends.”

Severus didn’t know how to respond so he just glared, wondering when Dumbledore had become a stranger to him. He watched the headmaster begin to leave only to meet Potter in the doorway. Severus’ eyes narrowed at the boy’s sudden appearance.

“Ah, Harry,” Dumbledore said in a cheerful tone that was the complete opposite to how he’d been speaking to Severus. “I hope you enjoyed your visit. How has your stay with Professor Snape been?”

Potter seemed caught off guard. “Uh, alright, I suppose.”

“Excellent,” Dumbledore said. “Don’t you worry. Just a little over two more weeks and then you’ll be back at Hogwarts.”

“Yeah, can’t wait,” Potter said though Severus couldn’t help but notice the distinct lack of enthusiasm in the boy’s words.

Dumbledore smiled at Potter, but it faltered when he looked back at Severus before he left the study. Severus sighed and looked at the frowning Potter. He didn’t seem to be overly joyful considering he got to spend a few hours with his friends and the mutt.

“Eavesdropping, Potter?” Severus said, smirking slightly as the green eyes widened comically.

“No, sir, I swear, I didn’t hear anything,” Potter said quickly.

Severus raised an eyebrow. “Are you certain?”

Potter flushed lightly. “Okay, maybe the very end, but not on purpose. I was looking for you.”

“Oh?”

“I was hoping we could go back to the manor,” Potter said, surprising Severus. “I’m not feeling great.”

“Are you unwell?”

“No, I don’t think so. Just…I don’t know, stress or something maybe,” Potter said with a small shrug.

“Very well,” Severus said and he led Potter through the Floo.

He watched the boy carefully, remembering the state he’d found Potter in upon their arrival at Grimmauld Place. Aside from a stumble accompanied by a quiet curse that made Severus’ lips twitch, the return trip was uneventful.

“Would you like to do an Occlumency lesson?” Severus asked.

“Not really, but fine,” Potter said and Severus smirked at him.

He lightly pushed Potter’s shoulder to make him lead the way to the upstairs study. Neither Potter or Malfoy had made much progress in Occlumency. Malfoy was one step ahead of Potter, able to eventually replace a memory with inconsequential ones, but only after several attempts. Potter got lost in his memories easily and lost all control, only managing to eventually blast Severus from his mind using magic. Severus was beginning to wonder if he should develop a different approach with the Gryffindor. He set up the usual chair for Potter and stood facing him.

“Take a minute or two to get your mind in order. Let everything flow normally with important memories concealed amongst the ordinary,” Severus instructed and watched Potter close his eyes, taking deep breaths.

Despite the lack of progress, he was impressed at the effort both boys had put into the lessons. He waited until Potter opened his eyes and gave him a nod. He pulled his wand and pointed it at Potter.

“Legilimens,” he said and easily entered Potter’s mind. The Gryffindor had a chaotic mind, loud and scattered. While his memories and thoughts did fly in large circles, often there were memories or thoughts that succeeded in breaking away, typically followed by several others. He dove into the mess, quickly finding a memory of his Muggle relatives. He’d seen a few of them, and every one set him on fire and pulled at the abused boy inside of him. This was no different as he watched a young Potter of about eight get beat with a belt for daring to drink from the garden hose after being kept outside all day in the blaring sun. He was wrenched from Potter’s mind by a blast of power that made him take a step back.

Potter was hunched over in the chair, his face buried in his hands. Severus gave him a moment to compose himself, watching him sit back up.

“Have you been using your journal?” Severus asked casually, knowing better than to push Potter about his abuse. The boy had no interest in opening up to him and he still honestly had no idea how to deal with abused children.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good,” Severus said. “Again.”

Potter nodded and sat up straight, meeting his eyes.

“Legilimens.”

Potter struggled not to think of the things he needed to keep hidden. He’d been coming to realize that it was just how Potter was. He was desperate to understand which kept the thoughts and memories at the forefront of his mind. The boy was always thinking, haunted by what had hurt him and why. It was another reason the boy was struggling with Occlumency.

He bounced between two memories—the graveyard and Potter’s dream of the strange door—before he was thrown from the teen’s mind again.

“Ugh, I can’t do this,” Potter said, clearly frustrated as he massaged his no doubt aching head.

“What do you think of while I am in your mind?” Severus asked, wondering what other approach he could take.

Potter dropped his hands, but stayed leaning on his knees. “It changes. I try to just let everything look normal, but then I feel you looking and I guess I panic so I start thinking about hiding what I don’t want you to see. Then I know that’s not what I’m supposed to do, but it’s too late so then I just want you out, but I get…stuck for a while before I can do anything, just like in the memories. I always freeze.”

Severus nodded, understanding. “Do you think of any spell or magic specifically to force me out?”

Potter shook his head. “No, but I feel the same pressure in my chest that I’ve felt when I accidentally used my Elemental Magic.”

Severus looked at him sharply. It was Air Magic forcing him from the boy’s mind? Could Elemental and Mind Magic be used together?

“One more time, Potter,” Severus said. “However, this time, I want you to choose an element and follow me as I search your mind. Do what feels natural with it.”

Potter frowned, but nodded and sat back up. Severus gave him a moment again while he himself wondered what to expect. If this worked, he would have to talk to Alexei.

“Ready?” he asked when Potter looked at him.

“I think so.”

“Legilimens.”

Upon entering, Potter’s mind looked the same so he started searching. He reached out for one that looked promising, but let it go when it felt like he’d been burned. Curious, he tried again, pulling at another memory. This one he got playing and found it was the fight Potter and Malfoy had had the other day while flying. He was surprised at the terrible things they’d both said to each other, but was even more surprised at the guilt he felt encircling the memory. It had just gotten to when Potter and Malfoy sat on the sofa when flames began to lick their way up the memory, engulfing it before a blast of air sent it flying away. He pulled out of Potter’s mind.

He stared at Potter in wonder. He’d never heard of Elemental Magic being used to accomplish Mind Magic. It still needed a lot of work, but Potter had succeeded. Potter had accomplished Occlumency, however briefly. He summoned a Pain Reliever and handed it to the boy who was breathing heavily. Using his Elemental Magic to accomplish Occlumency was clearly draining. They would need Alexei’s guidance.

“Congratulations, Mr. Potter. You managed to occlude though in quite an unorthodox way,” Severus said with a small smirk.

“Well, that’s me, I suppose,” Potter said, almost flippantly. “Normal’s not really on the table.”

Severus’ smirk grew larger and he raised an eyebrow, amused. He grew curious when the Gryffindor began to fidget, a frown on his face.

“Professor, I…I wanted to…apologize for the other day, the fight with Malfoy,” Potter said awkwardly, surprising Severus again.

“It is not me to whom you should be apologizing,” Severus said, remembering what he’d seen, both himself that day and in the boy’s memory.

“I know, but I do need to. Apologize to you that is,” Potter said. “For fighting with Malfoy when you told us to stop and for making you so angry. Surprised you didn’t…”

“Didn’t what? Hit you?” Severus said with a slight growl at the mere idea as the boy trailed off.

Potter looked at him from beneath his fringe, clearly afraid of getting in trouble for the thought. “Or sent us away. I know you said you wouldn’t do either of those things, but…people say a lot of things.”

Severus sighed, cursing Muggles, Malfoys, and headmasters. “I suppose they do, but I do not just ‘say things’. I will not hit you, nor will I send you away.”

“Probably would’ve deserved it,” Potter said. “I did punch him off a broom.”

Severus’ lips twitched at Potter’s blunt description. “Indeed you did. However, even that does not mean you deserve to be harmed or sent away. Besides, I trust your impact with the ground and that guilt I felt in your mind have been punishment enough.”

Potter gave a half-smile. “Yes, sir.”

“Go rest for a bit before dinner,” Severus said and watched Potter nod before leaving the study. As Potter left, Dumbledore’s words echoed in his head.

Come September first, it ends.

Draco walked towards the glowing orb in the distance, determined to get it this time. He’d failed a dozen times; he wouldn’t fail again. Whatever it was belonged to him and he had to get it. He had no idea where he was, but it didn’t matter, not as long as he reached the glow.

He went to start jogging, but stopped and spun around, staring into the dark that surrounded him. Something had changed. He wasn’t alone anymore. He continued turning, trying to see through the thick black that surrounded him. All he heard was his own breathing, sounding harsher than it was.

He turned back to the glow and started towards it once again, jogging to reach it quicker. He felt his heart pound harder and harder as he ran, realizing the glow didn’t seem to be getting any closer.

He stopped suddenly when a familiar sound echoed through the dark. His heart beat faster with fear as he listened to the clunk he knew belonged to his father’s cane. He spun in the dark again, desperate to find Lucius before Lucius could find him. He couldn’t go through it again, not anymore. His hand came up to his sternum, running down the long scar that lay there.

He turned only to scream as the Cruciatus tore through his body. He fell to his knees and whimpered as his father’s wand ran down his sternum, reopening the wound that was nothing but years of painful scar tissue. He cried out, wishing it would stop, that he could finally escape.

What felt like a hand landed on his shoulder and he was going to pull away until he realized the pain had stopped. He looked to his left. He couldn’t see anything, but he could feel a presence next to him. There was strong familiarity and a wave of comfort that made him relax. It allowed him to realize the glow he’d been fighting to get to was right in front of him. It was just a glowing sphere, but he knew it was for him.

It pulsed and he was startled when he heard a whisper.

“A bond for the ages…”

He frowned and reached out a hand, wanting to grasp whatever it was. As his fingers got close, the glow disappeared and the sound of shattering glass made him jerk awake.

Draco sat up in bed with a startled gasp. His eyes darted around, confirming he was in his room at Prince Manor and he had knocked his glass of water onto the floor. He sighed at the water and broken glass, and grabbed his wand.

“Reparo. Evanesco,” he muttered, placing the glass back on the bedside table. He stared at it for a few seconds, trying to calm his heart and breathing, before running a hand through his normally perfect but currently messy hair.

He’d had the same dream at least a dozen times that summer. He was in the dark, though he could tell something like shelves filled the space around him, he just couldn’t see them. There was a glowing orb in the distance and he tried to get to it, but he never could. It always ended with Lucius torturing him though he couldn’t see his father. It was always the same…except this time. Someone else was there, had saved him from Lucius and helped him get to the orb though he still had no idea what it was. It was the first time it had changed. He absently touched his scar as it stung with ghosting pain.

Shaking his head, he threw his blanket off and slipped out of bed. He left his room, looking anxiously at Snape’s door. It wasn’t the first time he was wandering at night and he had yet to get in trouble for doing so, but it didn’t stop him from worrying especially considering how angry they’d made the man the other day from their fight. He was sure there was nothing stopping Snape from hurting them or getting rid of them now. He couldn’t expect much else when even his own father did such things to him. Why would his professor keep him or refrain from hurting him when his father had no qualms about either?

He kept his steps light as he passed Snape’s room and headed to the library. He cracked the one of the double doors just enough to fit through, closing it gently behind him. He just barely contained his jump when he realized Potter was also there, sitting on the floor at the coffee table and very slowly setting up the chessboard. The room and Potter were lightly illuminated by the moonlight, allowing him to see the tightness in the Gryffindor’s face. The other boy had obviously had a nightmare as well.

He felt awkward being there with Potter. He’d felt…off since their fight. It had been different than their other fights. Normally, he remained angry, fuelling his hatred. This time, though, he felt…well, he wasn’t sure what, but he thought it might be guilt. He didn’t like how things were between them, tense and unsure. It made him want a repeat of their day of chess or almost-fun brewing session. He didn’t know what was becoming of their relationship, but it was definitely changing and, if he allowed himself to admit it, he didn’t mind the changes. They weren’t friends, he wasn’t sure he liked Potter, but there was…an understanding that he’d never had before. For the first time ever, he didn’t feel like he had to be Draco Malfoy. With Snape and Potter, it felt like he could be Draco, though he was still learning what that entailed.

“Want to play?” Potter asked quietly, the question sounding loud in the heavy silence.

Draco was surprised by the offer, but nodded and moved to join Potter on the floor on the opposite side of the coffee table. He watched the Gryffindor finish setting up the board before turning it so Draco had the white pieces. He looked at Potter in question.

“I was white in our last game,” Potter said. “I still lost so first move advantage clearly didn’t benefit me.”

Draco felt his lips twitch as he moved a pawn. “You’re getting better.”

“High praise,” Potter said lightly. “You should play Ron.”

His sneer was automatic.

“I know you don’t like him, but he’s a really good player,” Potter said, moving a knight. “He’d actually give you a challenge.”

Draco moved a bishop. “Like I said, you’re getting better.” He could hardly believe he wanted to play with Potter, no need to push his insanity to include Weasleys.

They each made a few moves in silence, Draco taking a pawn and a rook much to Potter’s chagrin. Despite the losses, Potter was clearly learning small strategies that had been absent just a few games before.

“Hey, um, I…I wanted to say…sorry,” Potter said, “for the other day.”

Draco looked at the Gryffindor across the board in slight shock. He never expected Potter to apologize for the fight. Even he hadn’t been sure if he would ever apologize despite the odd guilt he’d been feeling.

“I shouldn’t have hit you or said anything about your father,” Potter said, furthering Draco’s shock.

“Well, there is a lot to be said about him,” Draco said dryly, unsure what to do with Potter’s apology.

“True, but not what I said. I shouldn’t have said anything, not when I’m no better, not when I get it,” Potter said.

“I shouldn’t have said anything either, same reasons,” Draco said, remembering his horrible comments about the Muggles and Potter’s parents.

“Truce?” Potter said, moving a bishop. “At least on the home-family stuff?”

Draco moved a knight and stared at Potter. He never wanted anyone to know the truth about his life, but Potter and Snape knew, nothing to be done about it now. Instead of horror that they knew, it had settled into acceptance and even relief because they knew, they understood. They all had very similar lives with the only difference being that Potter had no parents instead of being harmed by them.

What was worse? Losing and never knowing parents you knew loved you, or having parents that despised and hurt you?

Draco nodded. “Truce.” He moved a rook and smirked. “Check.”

Potter cursed and he watched, amused, as the Gryffindor fought to save his king. They played quietly for a time as Draco chased Potter around the board, picking off his pieces one by one, though Potter did manage to get a few of Draco’s pieces as well. An ease settled on them again, much to Draco’s secret delight. He enjoyed having someone around, even if it was Potter. He was beginning to see that there could be worse people to spend his summer with than Potter and Snape.

“I heard Snape and Dumbledore talking at headquarters today, well, yesterday, I guess,” Potter said.

“About what?” Draco asked, protecting his king from Potter’s surprise move that put him in check.

“Us again,” Potter said and Draco felt his body stiffen. They both knew the headmaster wasn’t thrilled about their extended stay with Snape. Draco was just waiting for Dumbledore to drag him back to Malfoy Manor or for Snape to finally listen to the old man and send him off. He didn’t want to go back and, more than that, he was discovering he didn’t want to leave.

“I only got the end of it,” Potter said, frowning at his lost knight. “Dumbledore said something about Snape getting redemption and that ‘it ends’ on September first. Neither of them looked very happy.”

“Not that Snape ever does,” Draco said, moving his king.

Potter hummed in agreement.

“Obviously Dumbledore meant us staying with Snape ends when school starts,” Draco said.

“Yeah, probably,” Potter said, moving his remaining bishop. “Just seemed like it meant more than that. Plus, what is Snape getting redemption for?”

Draco shrugged, taking Potter’s bishop. “He is an arse, but I guess that’s not quite enough to require redemption. Maybe something from a long time ago, from the first war, maybe?”

“Maybe,” Potter hummed, muttering to himself as he was checked once again. “You know, I’m not sure I want this summer to end.”

Draco glanced at the Gryffindor. “Yeah, me neither.” He moved his queen. “Checkmate.”

Come September first, it ends.