Unsung Hero - Part 2

[sesheta66]

Unsung Hero - Part 2

This left Harry to his own devices, somewhat perplexed that Malfoy hadn't been posted outside the room, waiting to pounce as soon as the door opened.

His progress towards the dining room was halted abruptly by voices coming from one of the rooms. As he approached, Harry recognised the one voice as Draco's, and the other as Snape's. So this was where his former Potions professor resided.

The respectful thing to do would have been to announce his own presence; however, when Harry heard his own name, he stopped and listened. Ordinarily, he tried to avoid eavesdropping, but it seemed only fair when he was the one under discussion. Besides, he might gain some insight into what was going on with Raef.

"… can't just leave this to chance." Malfoy sounded even more out of sorts that he had a few minutes ago.

"Draco, it's been long enough. Don't you think it's time you had some help?" Definitely Snape's voice, though Harry had never heard it so … caring before.

"I have help."

"House-elves and portraits don't count."

"Mother managed just fine with me that way. It's not as it Father ever did much." There was a hint of bitterness as he spoke of Lucius.

"Ah, yes … and what little he did do worked out so well." Harry rolled his eyes. Not that he wished being fatherless on anyone, but with a choice between that or Lucius Malfoy, he wondered if it might not have been better.

"Nevertheless."

"Your mother didn't have the added duties of keeping you from being seen, teaching you all your lessons, and controlling an Animagus." Snape's voice began to rise.

"I can manage."

"Just like you managed in sixth year?"

Ouch.

"That was low. Even for you."

Harry had to agree. In fact, his earlier frustration with Malfoy had all but vanished as he realised just how difficult his life must have been since the war. Sure, others had it harder, and didn't live in a palatial estate, but they also weren't waiting for the axe to fall if they stepped a toe out of line. Merlin, first his old schoolboy attraction had resurfaced, and now he was feeling sympathy for Malfoy. What was wrong with him? Still, Snape had crossed a line there.

"Perhaps," Snape conceded, "but no less true."

"What good does it do to dredge up the past like this?"

"Must I spell everything out for you?" Harry heard him sigh, and he could just picture the look of disdain on his face. "You refused help then, and you're refusing help now."

"Potter's not offering to help me. He just wants answers so he can wrap up his precious case and get back to his perfect life."

"Have you even asked for his help?"

Malfoy laughed. "Yeah, right. Like Potter would help me."

"He's helped you in the past."

"Oh, must you? Why is it that I can't escape how much perfect Potter has made my life so wonderful. Insufferable git."

"You told me that Potter works in the Animagus whatever-it-is department?"

"Registration office, or something."

"Have you thought to ask why?"

"Over tea and crumpets, just the other day." Harry barely held back a snort. The picture of the two of them chatting over tea was laughable.

"There is no need for sarcasm, Draco."

"But you taught me so well," he retorted. Touché.

"Draco, be serious. Potter is always wanting to help out. He's an orphan. Raef is an orphan. Potter adores children, though why anyone would --"

"Yes, yes … we all know how much you suffered in the service of rug rats. Are you planning to make your point sometime this century?"

"My point, you ungrateful brat, is that Potter is probably at loose ends - I can't imagine any other reason why he would do a job so beneath him. Oh, don't look so shocked, Draco. We all know Potter could have any job he wanted. Yet he chose this one. I suspect he is trying to work out what he wants to do with his life. As I'm sure you're aware, he taught Defence to his whatever-they-called-that-club. I think he might enjoy helping with Raef."

"What? I don't need help with Raef. He's brilliant!"

"Indeed. But it does a student well to have more than one teacher."

"He has you, too."

"Fortunately for him. But a second live teacher - one whose skills complement your own - would be helpful."

"What makes you think Potter would help?"

"He can't help himself. It's the Gryffindor in him."

Harry wasn't able to hold in the snort that time. Snape's disparaging tone when he said Gryffindor was too much.

"What say you, Mr Potter? Have you heard enough yet?"

~*~*~

Draco spun round and threw open the door. Sure enough, Potter was standing right there.

"Mr Potter." Severus's voice held a familiar contempt. "It is true some things never change, then. Still like lurking around in the shadows, I see."

"Professor," he said, offering nothing.

Severus's image scowled reprovingly. "What makes you think you have the right to listen in on private conversations?" he demanded.

"Not that you'll believe me," Potter defended himself, "but I hadn't intended to listen in on anything."

"Oh, really," Draco sneered.

"Well …" The prat at least had the decency to flush with embarrassment. "I was finished speaking with Raef, and I heard voices - heated voices. So I came to see what was wrong."

"Ah, ever the hero you are," Severus taunted. "Fancied yourself saving Draco from a deadly debate, did you?" He levelled Potter with a superior look. "Or perhaps you wanted to drum up some grounds for arrest?"

"No!" Potter retorted.

"Not that you could anyway, now you work with Animagi."

Draco was glad Severus was taking the lead. Though most days he wouldn't have a problem holding his own, Draco recognised that he hadn't been this vulnerable in a long time. His concern for Raef was overriding his own self interest. And he didn't have the best track record for intelligent decision-making during such times.

Potter walked closer to the portrait and crossed his arms over his chest before speaking again. "I heard voices and I came towards the noise out of concern." Draco nearly laughed as he saw Severus prepare to berate Potter - no doubt something about his hero status again. But Potter raised a hand to stop him. "It's second nature to me. When I heard your voice and Malfoy's, I turned around to leave, acutely aware that whatever you might be discussing was none of my business."

"And yet, here you are," Draco interjected.

"I was leaving, until I heard my own name. Only then did I make the decision to listen. You see, you made it my business."

"And somewhere in that Gryffindor mind of yours, you justified this to yourself?" Draco mocked.

Potter grinned. "I rather suspect it was the Slytherin part of me that found my actions acceptable." Potter raised his eyebrows at Draco in challenge. "Don't even try to tell me that you wouldn't have listened in."

Draco waved him off, knowing full well that's exactly what he would have done.

"After all," Potter continued, "Slytherins pride themselves on being resourceful, don't they? And the hat had considered putting me in your house from the start."

What? Draco shot a quick glance at Severus, who looked just as surprised as he felt. Then he turned and stared at Potter incredulously. Potter had the nerve to chuckle. "Did Dumbledore never tell you that?" he asked Severus.

Severus, adept at concealing his thoughts, recovered quickly. "Apparently the Headmaster did not wish to torment me any further than he already had."

Potter began to laugh. Severus merely raised an eyebrow, considering Potter as though he had sprouted an extra nose. Draco simply stared, too shocked to say anything.

Honestly. The bloody saviour of the world … a Slytherin? Preposterous.

"So what were you arguing about?" Potter asked.

"Oh, don't pretend you didn't hear," Draco snapped.

"Fine. Do you want my help with Raef?"

"No!"

"Yes."

Draco glared at Severus, but the bastard wasn't to be stopped.

"I believe Draco could use some assistance, yes," the traitor said.

"Hello?" Draco interjected. "Still in the room!"

Unbelievably - and infuriatingly - they both ignored him.

"What do you suggest?" Potter asked.

Wait … what? Surely Potter wasn't considering this. "We hate each other," Draco pointed out. How the two of them could have forgotten such a key point was beyond him.

"He has a point," Potter agreed. Finally, some rational thought! Wait … Potter was agreeing with him?

"Hate is a strong word, Mr Potter."

"I just heard him go on about how insufferable I am," Potter told him. Draco nodded, glad to have someone else on his side, even if it was Potter.

Severus let out an exasperated sigh. "Are you suggesting that you're not?" he challenged. "I should think your presence here, spying and eavesdropping on private conversations, tells a different story."

Draco sniggered. Potter threw up his hands in defeat. "Fine! I'm infuriating," he agreed. Really, there was no point arguing. "But so is he!"

Severus chuckled. "Indeed."

"What?" Draco exclaimed. That was insulting.

"I agreed with Potter here. You are both insufferable. Which is why you deserve each other." And for the second time in as many days, Severus walked out of his portrait.

Draco turned on Potter. "Did you get what you need?"

"I … I don't know what you mean."

"Did you get enough from Raef to have me put away? Are you satisfied now?"

"Malfoy, I have no desire to have you put away."

"Right."

"I helped you stay out of prison. Why would I want to see you incarcerated now?"

"Must everyone keep reminding me of that!" Draco huffed in frustration. "Why are you here, Potter, if not to see me locked up?"

"I have a job to do!" he replied, his incredulity evident in his tone.

Draco considered him, and wondered why it was Potter hadn't simply written his report and been done with it. Perhaps Severus had a point. Maybe …

"Why haven't you reported us yet?"

Potter looked taken aback at the question, as though the mere suggestion were absurd. "Because you asked me for a chance to explain," he said simply.

Oh. "But … you didn't have to agree."

"Well … no. I suppose I didn't. But what good would it do not to?"

Draco shrugged.

"Look, Malfoy, I'm … sorry. I hadn't intended to listen in," he explained.

Did he just apologise? Draco considered Potter for a moment, then steeled himself for what he was about to say. He needed all the strength he had for this. "You know what, Potter? You may not be as big an arse as I've taken you for."

Potter's eyes threatened to leap from their sockets before he burst into laughter. He laughed so hard and for so long, it became contagious. Draco found himself gasping for breath after a while, and they were bracing themselves against each other, preventing them from falling down.

And that was how Severus found them when he returned.

"Oh for the love of Merlin," he complained. "I leave for five minutes and come back to find … I'm almost afraid to ask."

"Apparently," Potter said between chuckles, "I'm not as much of an arse as Malfoy thought."

"Yes you are!" Severus argued.

"Actually, I think you may have been right," Draco said.

Severus glared, demanding more in that patronising way he had.

"Maybe it is time I asked for some help," Draco clarified.

Potter cocked his head, looking at Draco oddly. "You want my help?"

"Of course not!" Draco insisted. "But a Slytherin always knows when to reconsider his position and make the most of the resources available to him."

Potter gave him a curious look, one Draco would have to consider later. "So now I'm your resource?" Potter asked.

"Certainly," Draco replied. "As I recall, you did say you were all mine, did you not?"

Severus made a rather undignified gagging sound in the background, and Draco could see him exit once again.

Potter's face turned a delicious shade of red. "Er …"

"Oh, there you are!" Raef said as he scurried into the room. "Harry's staying for dinner!" he announced. "Isn't that great?"

~*~*~

As the decadent flavours of the meal - something with a fancy French name he couldn't pronounce, no doubt - caressed his taste buds, Harry wondered how he'd ended up in such a surreal setting. Here he was, sharing a meal with his former school rival - someone he had somewhere along the way developed an interest in, but who no doubt still harboured loathing for Harry - and a boy who was talking a mile a minute about anything and everything he could wrap his mind around.

Raef was, in a word, a whirlwind. He reminded Harry very much of Colin Creevey, minus the slightly creepy adoration factor. As Harry thought back, he smiled. A bittersweet smile, to be sure, but still, he remembered Colin fondly. Raef seemed to possess all those good qualities - he was smart, witty, and in possession of an almost uncontainable exuberance for life, not matched by anyone else Harry had ever met.

Harry was exhausted just listening to him. As he reached for his glass of wine, he caught Malfoy's eye, and they shared a knowing look. One of fond exasperation.

"So what are you going to help me with, Harry?" Raef asked.

Harry had to finish chewing a mouthful before he could speak - the first opportunity he'd had since sitting down a good twenty minutes earlier.

"Er …" he mumbled.

"Eloquent as ever, Potter," Malfoy teased. Missing was that caustic edge Malfoy's tongue usually had when it was directed at Harry.

Unwittingly, the thought of Malfoy's tongue sent Harry's mind in a completely unrelated - and highly inappropriate - direction.

"Actually, Raef," Malfoy explained, "we haven't discussed anything besides Potter's willingness to help."

I'd be willing to help with a lot more than Raef, Harry thought. Merlin, he was going to have to keep his mind from wandering, or he wouldn't be able to leave the table without embarrassing himself.

"Are you going to live here with us?" Raef asked.

Harry began to choke. Where did the boy get these ideas? Harry managed to wash down his food with some water, as he watched Malfoy's face fight to hold back laughter.

"Ha, ha! Laugh it up, Malfoy. I'd like to see how elegant you are when you're choking." Harry regretted the words before they'd completely left his mouth. Detailed images flew into Harry's mind of what Malfoy would look like choking on … well. Unfortunate choice of words. He was really going to have to stop his mind wandering down that road if he was going to be spending time here on a regular basis.

How was it that he got roped into agreeing to this anyway?

Malfoy gave Harry the strangest look then. If he didn't know better, Harry would have thought that Malfoy's mind had just travelled that same road. And he didn't look troubled by that. Which, in itself, was very troubling.

"Well, are you?" Raef was not to be deterred. "There's plenty of room, and there's lots of space to go flying. You're a Seeker, right? Just like Draco. I love Quidditch. We have our own pitch out back, don't we Draco? It would be so much fun if you stayed here …"

And he was off again.

Malfoy grinned playfully as Raef's words blended into one another. Harry wondered for a brief moment if the boy might pass out from a lack of oxygen. Somehow, he suspected that Malfoy was thinking the same thing.

"… have fifteen flavours of ice cream, Harry."

Harry looked up at the sound of his name.

"Which one would you like? I can name them all for you."

Harry put up his had to circumvent another verbal tangent. "Thank you, Raef, but I am too full for dessert today." Raef looked disappointed.

"I'm sure Potter will have another chance to taste the various flavours we have to offer."

Oh, God. Malfoy needed to stop saying things like that. Harry couldn’t look at him for fear his attraction was written all over his face.

"Can I eat my dessert with Professor Snape, then?"

"May you," Malfoy corrected.

"May I?"

"Yes, you may."

Raef turned to Harry. "So, are you staying?" he asked hopefully.

"Not tonight," Harry replied. Now why had he said it like that, as thought there were a chance he'd be staying sometime in the future? Because you'd like to, a voice in his head taunted.

"Well don't leave without saying goodbye," Raef instructed Harry.

"Perhaps Potter can stay another time," Malfoy offered. Thankfully, Harry wasn't eating this time. He wasn’t sure he'd have survived another choking incident.

"Why do you two do that?" Raef asked.

Harry and Malfoy exchanged puzzled looks.

"Do what?" Malfoy asked.

"Call each other by your last names."

Harry shrugged. "We always have."

"Well, it's weird. You should use your first names like everyone else."

"I don't know," Harry pondered. "For us that would be weird."

Raef crossed his arms over his chest and huffed. "Professor Snape is right. You two are like children when you're around each other." And with that, he left the room.

"Well … he certainly told us, didn't he?" Harry offered.

For the next hour, he and Malfoy - Draco - made small talk, and at some point along the way, Harry had relaxed. He found Draco to be charming in his own sarcastic and snarky way. What had been taunting and teasing back in school now seemed to be a wry sense of humour.

They talked about current events, caught up on the comings and goings of a few former classmates, and by unspoken agreement, started calling each other by their first names. While Harry's mind surprisingly only wandered down that path a few times, he found himself more attracted to Draco as the night pressed on.

~*~*~

"Why don't I show you where Draco teaches me?" Harry nodded and let an enthusiastic Raef lead the way.

It had been a week since Harry had spent a bizarre evening with Malfoy and Raef … and Snape. Harry had filed an interim report which was basically the truth, citing no further incidents, and no conclusive evidence of wrongdoing on Malfoy's part. In fact, Harry was able to conclude, from an analysis of the Muggle photograph, that the picture was not of Draco. Which did not impress his boss. The case remained open, but Harry spent most of his time now on another case he'd been assigned, and finishing up what paperwork remained of his old cases.

Kingsley had visited Harry's office, with virtually the same message Snape had given Draco. He knew Harry's job wasn't keeping him busy any longer, and Harry would be welcome back in the Auror Corps any time. Harry politely declined.

"Draco says it's important to have a separate place to learn."

Raef's words brought Harry back to the present. "Does he now?"

"Mm-hmm." He smiled and nodded. "He says that sometimes work can get frustrating, and you don't want to bring that into where you live."

A hard task if you teach from home, Harry reckoned. He thought back to Hermione and her incessant studying … and her hounding for them to get their work done, when all he and Ron - and most others in the common room - wanted to do was relax and wind down.

He found himself agreeing. "Draco makes a very good point."

"See?" Raef insisted. "He's a good teacher."

Harry couldn't suppress his grin.

Raef showed Harry into what he described as his classroom, which in reality turned out to be two rooms. The first felt more like a common room, wrapped in warm colours and varying textures. To the left sat an empty fireplace, with a coffee table in front, surrounded by three comfy-looking, overstuffed chairs. The more conventional work area took up the right side of the room, with a wall of books and a large wooden desk, covered with piles of papers. There was no teacher's desk, no designated teaching area as far as Harry could tell. Nothing about this room matched Harry's notion of Draco, but then not a lot had since he'd arrived at the manor.

Adjoining the classroom was a potions lab, the likes Harry had never seen before. In sharp contrast to Snape's dungeon at Hogwarts, this room felt welcoming, bathed with natural light shining through a wall of picture windows. To one side rested floor-to-ceiling shelves of jars filled with ingredients for what Harry guessed was every potion he'd ever studied, and hundreds more. He'd never seen such an extensive collection, not even in an apothecary. The opposite wall would have made Hermione squeal with glee - floor to ceiling books. All, by the looks of things, on the subject of potions.

In the centre of the room rested a series of work tables, strewn with all manner of materials, ingredients, and scribbled notes. "Draco will kill me if he sees this," he grumbled. Harry chuckled as Raef made to clear away the mess. "I mean --"

Harry placed a hand on his shoulder. "Relax. I know what you mean." Raef looked relieved. "Although …" Harry mused, "given the opportunity, my Potions professor might actually have done it."

Raef looked confused. "Didn't Professor Snape teach you potions?"

"He did indeed," Harry agreed.

After an hour of Raef's testimony, Harry had to admit that Draco seemed to know what he was doing. Certainly he was more organised than Harry had ever been. Hermione, he was sure, would be impressed.

"So what's your favourite subject?" Harry asked.

"Hmm." Raef pondered the question. "It's a tie between Potions and Defence."

His answer surprised Harry. "Not Transfiguration?"

"Nah. I might be good at it," he said confidently, "but I'm more interested in the others."

"Why is that?"

"Well, potions are cool. Almost like Muggle magic."

Harry laughed at the analogy. "Don't let Professor Snape hear you say that."

Raef grinned mischievously. "He rolled his eyes at me when I told him that."

"And what did Draco do?"

"He agreed with me."

Harry was sure he'd misheard. "What?"

Raef looked perplexed. "When I told him that it was a lot like Muggle chemistry, he did a bunch of research and came to the conclusion that science was as close to magic as Muggles could get."

"Well, I'll be."

"Why does that surprise you?" Raef asked.

Harry worded his response carefully. "I guess the Draco I know - knew - wasn't all that interested in Muggles."

"Oh, that's right. He did tell me that."

Again, Harry found himself surprised at the Draco Raef described, not at all like the boy Harry had known growing up. In fact, the more he heard, the more Harry figured he probably didn't know Draco at all. How about that.

"I think I've seen enough for today," Harry ventured as Raef started yet another tangent about how wonderful Draco was.

"So I can stay?" Raef asked hopefully. "You won't tell anyone?"

Harry still had a lot of questions for the boy, ones that went beyond the curriculum Draco - and Snape, no doubt - had set. Like what his life as a virtual prisoner here was like. Harry thought about his own childhood, and whilst he hadn't technically been a prisoner - he left the house to go to school at least - he would have traded his life for Raef's in a heartbeat. Truth be told, Harry wanted to find out a way for Raef not to have to hide, in Animagus form or otherwise.

"You don't need to keep asking me that. I told you I wouldn't say anything for now. I won't let anyone at the Ministry know without talking to you first. You have my word."

"But --"

"Raef, I'm not going to pretend that the decision rests with me, because it doesn't. But I won't say anything to anyone right now." Harry saw the boy's formerly animated face fall at the mere thought that he might have to leave, and Harry's heart ached.

That night Harry broke his promise not to tell anyone. But he figured he would be forgiven if it all worked out in the end.

~*~*~

A few weeks passed, Harry visiting after work, a few days a week. Each time, as Harry prepared to leave, Raef begged him to stay for dinner, and Draco rolled his eyes, grumbling about having no privacy. But Harry saw through that. Draco seemed pleased to have the company. Maybe a little more than pleased. Certainly Harry had enjoyed getting to know Draco better.

"Professor Snape wants to talk to you," Raef told Harry when he arrived one evening.

Harry made his way to the study where Snape's portrait hung. "You wanted to see me?" he asked.

"Yes, Potter. Much as it pains me, I feel I must."

Harry gave him a bemused chuckle. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"How are things going with our young Raef?"

Harry smiled. "Very well. He's improving every day. He's focussed and dedicated and has a real thirst for knowledge."

"And you?"

"Me?" Harry had no idea where this was going. "What about me?"

"What are your plans?"

"I … what does that matter?"

"I see Raef. He likes you. Though I'm sure I don't know why."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes, well, he likes you too, and I can't figure that out."

"Why, Potter, you have a sense of humour. Who knew?"

"Most everyone but you … and Draco, I believe."

"Be that as it may, I am concerned for the boy."

Harry frowned. "Why would you be concerned?"

Snape looked contemplative. "Two reasons. First, I don't want to see him grow too attached, if you're going to disappear someday."

"I wouldn't dream of deserting him."

Snape nodded. "I suspected as much. I would have thought, however, that you'd have taken him out of here by now."

Harry was shocked. "What? Why would I take him away?"

"Not away, Potter. Out. I should think you'd like to see him enjoy more of the world."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "You sneaky bastard."

"No need for name calling, Potter. I know very well who my father was."

Everything clicked into place for Harry. "You tricked Draco into asking for my help, when the whole time you expected me to fix things so that Raef wouldn't have to hide any more."

Snape waved Harry's accusation away. "Believe what you will."

"I'm trying to work things out, but not because of your mastermind scheme. I just couldn’t watch him remain confined like he has been."

Snape leaned forward in his frame until Harry feared he would jump out of it. His triumphant smile spread slowly. "Exactly the way I knew you'd feel."

Harry had to hand it to the man. He was good. Harry wasn't sure how he felt about being manipulated, though. Again.

"Don’t say anything to Draco or Raef," Harry requested. "I don't want them to get their hopes up, in case it doesn't work out."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

~*~*~

Harry was awoken abruptly as a noise carried upstairs to his room. Shaking off sleep, he reached for his wand and made his way out into the hall.

"Harry! Harry! Are you there?" It was Raef, and he sounded upset. Harry ran down the stairs to see the boy's head in the fire.

"I'm right here, Raef. What is it?"

"It's Draco!"

Harry's stomach lurched. "What happened? Is he all right? Where is he?"

"I don't know!" Harry could see tears in his eyes.

"Is he hurt?"

The boy's entire body was shaking. "Um … I don't think so."

"Raef, you need to calm down. What happened?"

He blinked rapidly, looking desperately into Harry's eyes. "Aurors came to the house and took him away."

"What? Aurors? On what grounds?"

"I don't know. All I know is he came and woke me up, and told me to hide. He said someone was at the door, and he might have to go talk to them, but not to worry."

"So they just took him in for questioning?"

Raef shook his head. "I listened in as they were taking him away, and one of them said that it was time Draco paid - whatever that meant. Then the other one laughed and said they had a cell waiting at Azkaban with Draco's name on it. Then they took him."

"When did this happen?"

"Just a few minutes ago. I waited until I was sure they were gone, then I called you."

Harry's mind was racing. What could they possibly have on Draco? Surely they didn't know …. No. That wasn't possible. At least he hoped it wasn't.

Raef looked like he was ready to explode. His face was full of anguish … and guilt. "It's all my fault, isn't it?"

"Absolutely not," Harry assured him.

"But if I'd never come here … if I'd never insisted that he take me …"

Harry looked at the boy, hoping to reassure him. "You don't know why they took him. This is NOT your fault. Just get that idea out of your head right now."

"But --"

"Raef, I need you to be strong right now. Draco needs you to be strong. Can you do that for me?"

He nodded frantically, looking as determined as a disembodied head could under the circumstances.

"Good. Now go tell Professor Snape what's happened, and I'll go to the Ministry and try to sort this out, okay?"

Raef smiled and looked a little hopeful. "You'll make everything okay, won't you, Harry?"

A hand around Harry's heart squeezed at the words. He certainly hoped he could. "I'll do my best," he promised. "I'll come by the manor when I have more news, okay?"

"Mm-hmm." Raef's head began to pull away, then popped back in. "Thank you, Harry."

"You're welcome," Harry said with a smile. "And remember, it's not your fault."

~*~*~

Harry made short work of getting dressed, then he made a Floo call before Apparating to the Ministry.

"Mr Potter, the Minister is busy," Kingsley's secretary informed Harry as he barged his way past her desk.

"Not too busy to see me," Harry retorted. He vaguely heard her indignant grunt as he opened Kingsley's door and marched in.

"… as you see, Minister --"

"Harry," Kingsley greeted him with a frown. "Always good to see you, of course, but as you can see, I'm busy at the mo --"

"This is an urgent matter that can't wait."

The gentleman in the guest chair huffed.

"The Aurors have made an arrest, and I need to know about it," Harry continued.

"Excuse us, Marshall, will you?" Kingsley addressed the other man. "I'm sure this won't take long. Perhaps Celia could get you some tea while you wait?"

The man - Marshall - nodded graciously to Kingsley and glared at Harry on his way out.

"Harry," Kingsley said once the office door was shut. "While you enjoy my friendship and a certain open-door policy I reserve for very few people, I draw the line at you barging in on my meetings."

The magnitude of what Harry had just done hit him, and he felt a little ashamed. "I'm sorry, Kingsley. It's just … well, there's been a terrible mistake made; I'm sure of it."

"What has happened that can't wait half an hour for me to conclude my meeting?"

"The Aurors arrived at Malfoy Manor in the early hours of the morning and took Draco Malfoy away, claiming they had a cell waiting for him in Azkaban."

"What is he being charged with?"

"I don't know."

"Well, what did the Aurors say?"

"I don't know. I haven't spoken with them."

"But they let you talk to Malfoy?"

"Er … no."

Kingsley levelled him with a stare that clearly said, out with it!

"There was someone there - a witness - that contacted me."

"And where is this witness now?"

"That's not important," Harry was quick to respond. "Right now, I need to get Draco out of custody."

Kingsley looked contemplative. "Since when are you Draco Malfoy's champion?"

Harry toyed with the idea - very briefly - of telling Kingsley everything. But this wasn't his own life he was dealing with. It wasn't even just Draco's life, but the lives of Draco and Raef. And if he were honest with himself, he'd have to acknowledge it was his own, and in some strange way, Snape's life too. They had grown into this strange sort of family unit, and Harry was feeling fiercely protective of that. He would do just about anything for them.

"Please don’t ask me to explain right now," Harry implored. "Just trust me when I say that this isn't right."

Kingsley considered him for a moment, then nodded. "You realise I can't release him based on just your word."

Harry nodded.

"And I won't interfere in a legitimate investigation. Not even for you."

"Of course not." None of that mattered, because Harry knew there had to have been a mistake. "I wouldn't ask you to."

Kingsley shot him a disbelieving look, but relented in the end. "I'll speak to the Head Auror and get back to you shortly."

"Thanks, Kingsley."

"Will you be in your office?"

"No." Harry knew where he needed to be right now. "You can reach me at Malfoy Manor."

To his credit, Kingsley only raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement.

~*~*~

Harry exited the Floo at the Manor, then had to duck to avoid … a shoe?

"How could you?" Raef screamed, throwing his other shoe at Harry's head. Harry pulled out his wand and cast a quick Protego.

"Calm down, Raef."

"I will not!" he yelled, reaching for a vase that Harry suspected was worth more than most people's annual salary. He waved his wand, and the vase returned to its rightful place, and Raef was plunked onto his favourite chair.

"Let me up!" he growled at Harry.

Sighing, Harry shook his head. "Not until you start acting rationally."

"Rationally?" Raef screeched. "You turned Draco in and you have the nerve --"

"Wait a minute!" Harry interjected. "I didn't do anything of the sort."

Raef scowled, and Harry knew he was itching to throw something else. "You might as well have."

"What do you mean?"

"Professor Snape told me that you had talked to someone. Now Draco's gone." Harry could see the boy's defences start to crumble. "I thought it was all my fault, but now I find out you did this. Draco was right all along. We never should have trusted you!"

Ouch. That hurt more than Harry cared to admit. He had thought that he and Draco had moved past their distrust of each other. They'd forged a friendship, and if Harry was reading things right, there were feelings that went beyond that, on both their parts. Harry honestly felt like part of a family here, however odd that might seem to others. And to think that Draco still didn't trust him. Well. That cut deep.

"I think we should go talk to Professor Snape, together."

"Fine," Raef snapped. "Will you lift the spell now?"

"Only if you promise not to throw any more things at me." Raef didn't look receptive to that idea, so Harry added, "At least until you've heard me out."

Raef didn't answer, just maintained his hard look in Harry's direction. Harry took his chances, lifted the spell, and led the way to see Snape.

"Satisfied with yourself, Potter?" Snape shot at him as soon as they walked through the door.

"I didn't cause this," Harry defended himself.

"Oh, really?" Snape asked. "And just how many of your friends - ones that probably carry a grudge against Draco - did you tell in your quest to make all things right in the world?"

Harry felt his cheeks flush and anger surge at the unwarranted accusation. He reined in his emotions, knowing that Snape was just worried about Draco.

"I told Hermione. Just Hermione." He turned to Raef. "She's the witch I told you about, the one you remind me of, because you're so smart." Raef continued glaring at Harry.

"I Flooed her this morning, right after Raef called me," Harry told Snape. "She assures me that she told no one."

"And you believe her. How typical."

"I have no reason not to. She's been working hard at finding a solution to Raef's situation."

"I don't need a solution. I'm just fine here." He gave Harry a derisive look, worthy of Snape's admiration. "At least I was until you came along."

Harry knew it was true, only … he didn't think it had anything to do with his presence there. Draco had told Harry, back when he'd started his investigation into the Animagus sightings, that he thought the Aurors were trying to make up something to charge him with.

"Draco suspected this would happen," Harry told them. "He said the Aurors always wanted to see him behind bars, and he wouldn't put anything past them."

"You talk like you're not one of them!" Raef spat.

"I'm not," Harry assured him. "I used to be, but I'm not any more."

"Why is that?" Raef asked. It was a question he'd been asked many times, but Harry never remembered it being tossed out like an accusation before.

"I saw something that was so horrific that I just couldn't do it any more. I might tell you about it someday, but just know it wasn't because the Aurors were bad people. They are a good bunch of people, but every group has its misguided members. I'm hoping that's all this is."

Raef didn't look satisfied - not by a long shot.

"I will tell you. Later. I think you'll agree that we have more important things to do right now."

"Like tracking down which of your friends has taken Draco into custody?" Snape threw at him.

Harry didn't bother responding to the dig. There would be time for debating and arguing later. "Kingsley will be contacting me shortly."

"Then hadn't you best be going?" Snape suggested.

"I told him he could reach me here."

Snape's eyebrows shot up. "Rather presumptuous of you, wouldn't you say?"

"Look, you may not believe me, and that's your choice, but I care about Draco. More than I probably should. And I care very much about you, Raef. I care about all of you." At Snape's incredulous look, Harry continued. "Yes, even you, you thoroughly infuriating, utterly exasperating, full-of-yourself pain in the arse."

Harry only just held back from laughing at Raef's slack-jawed, stunned expression.

"I would never do anything to hurt any of you, or to ruin the family you have built for yourselves. So could we please get past this, and save the fighting for later? Right now I want to find Draco and get him back home where he belongs."

"And what about me?" Raef asked, in a slightly less accusatory tone.

"You belong here, with Draco."

"And what about you?"

Harry smiled. "Let's just worry about Draco for now, shall we?"

Snape and Harry went through the list of Aurors on staff that might have a grudge against Draco, and Snape was helpful with providing background information on many of them. His years as a spy still served him well.

"Harry, the Minister is calling on the Floo for you."

Harry and Snape shared a look of unease at Raef's pronouncement.

"You didn't answer the Floo, did you?" Harry asked.

Raef rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Harry, you'd think I hadn't been living a stealthy life for the past five years. Sheesh! Of course I didn't. Mitsy did." He rolled his eyes once more as Harry brushed past him.

"Harry," Kingsley said, looking uncharacteristically ruffled. Harry's instincts were suddenly on high alert.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid … well, there's no easy way to say this. We have no record of Malfoy being arrested."

Harry's stomach plummeted. "But … he was taken hours ago now."

"I know, Harry. All our on-duty Aurors have been accounted for, and none made any arrests. Further, there are no current arrest warrants in Malfoy's name."

Harry felt positively ill. "What about the off-duty Aurors."

"We're looking into that right now. About half have been contacted, but we still have seven to go."

"I've been speaking to Snape --"

"Severus Snape?"

"The one and only," Harry said. "A portrait of him is here at the manor. Anyway, he and I came up with a short list of potentially over-zealous Aurors with a grudge against Draco." He handed Kingsley a piece of parchment.

"Harry, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but --"

"I know, Kingsley. It could have been a couple of people just posing as Aurors."

"It would help if your witness would come forward to identify them."

"I'll see about that."

"I'll do it," Raef said, much to Harry's dismay. The boy was surely going to be the death of him.

"Ah …" Kingsley said with a broad smile. "You must be Raef."

Raef's eyes went wide as he looked at Harry. Harry gave him an equally puzzled look. "You know?" Harry asked.

"Hermione told me."

Harry heard something that sounded vaguely like I told you so coming from Raef's direction.

"She assured me that she had told no one."

"And she was telling the truth, Harry. She only told me five minutes ago." He turned his attention to Raef. "Don’t worry, young man," Kingsley told him. "I think everything will work out in the end."

"Once we find Draco," Harry reminded him.

Kingsley nodded. "Once we find Draco."

"I want to help," Harry said.

"No."

Harry glared at the Minister. "I need to do something."

"What you need to do, Harry, is take care of Raef."

"I can take care of myself," Raef announced, and Harry heartily agreed with him.

"The answer is still no, Harry. If these are our own people, they'll be immediately suspicious if an ex-Auror - specifically you - starts poking around. They'll have contacts feeding them information, and you are not exactly unrecognisable."

Kingsley looked from Harry to Raef. "Would you help him remove the memory, so we can identify whoever the culprits are?" he asked Harry. "It will save him the trauma of coming down to identify them."

"Sure," Harry agreed. "It might take a while, though."

Kingsley nodded. "We're already searching for the rest."

~*~*~

It had taken some time to safely extract Raef's memory of the abduction. Once done, sure enough, Harry had recognised an Auror, but the accomplice wasn't one. To no one's surprise, each of them had a family member who'd been tortured by Lucius. The sins of the father, all over again.

Armed with the evidence, a team had gone after them.

Several agonising hours later, Kingsley called. "Harry, can you come down to the Ministry?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Raef can come too."

Raef's body stiffened beside Harry.

"What for?"

"There's someone here who would like very much to see you both."

"Draco?" Raef exclaimed.

Kingsley smiled. "Yes, indeed, my young man."

Raef threw himself into Harry's arms. "Let's go get him!" he said. Then suddenly he drew back and looked at the Minister suspiciously. "Why doesn't Draco just come home?"

Good question, Harry thought.

Kingsley laughed. "You know, you are vigilant enough to make a very good Auror someday," he said. "As a matter of fact, Draco may return to the manor, but he has to make a statement first. We have a number of questions for him, and he said that he has some interesting tales from the past five years or so to tell us. So I suspect he'll be a while. And he specifically said that he doesn't want to wait to see you."

Harry nodded. "The Minister is one of the good guys, Raef." He looked at Kingsley. "More than that, he's a friend. You can trust him."

Kingsley smiled again. "I believe there also might be some paperwork that we can take care of while you're here." He winked at Harry. "Courtesy of a Ms Granger.

All at once, it seemed that things would be okay.

~*~*~

Epilogue

Harry grinned down at Draco. What a gorgeous picture he made, tied to Harry's bedposts with Slytherin-green silk ties, scowling at Harry's teasing.

"Get on with it, Potter!" he snapped.

Harry chuckled. He'd already had Draco writhing beneath him, when first Harry's fingers, and then Harry's tongue plunged into him. Then, just as he'd sensed that Draco was about to come, Harry had stopped, which had earned him some rather creative expletives, and the current look Draco was firing his way.

"Oh, I think I'd rather take my time with this," Harry said tauntingly.

Ignoring the glare he received in response, Harry reached across Draco, then picked up and shook the ice-filled glass he'd brought in for their games. Draco's eyes gleamed. Oh, yes. Harry would definitely be taking his time today.

Meanwhile …

"… and Harry's moving in today. He's going to be here every day now. Isn't that great?"

Severus groaned. How wonderful.

"Harry and Draco are together now. Isn't that fantastic? But you probably knew that already. I mean they just told me yesterday, but I knew it would happen. Even before I caught them smooching a few times. You were right, you know. Hate is a really strong word. You always said they didn't hate each other as much as they liked to think. What's that expression? Oh, yeah. There's a fine line between love and hate. It's really true with them, isn't it?"

Severus sighed. How romantic.

"And we're going to the Beltane Festival! Can you believe it? They have a huge bonfire and drums. Remember reading about it with me last year? Ever since then, I've wanted to go. It sounds so cool, don't you think? And it's perfect for us, because … well, you know. It's all about new beginnings, and now that Draco and Harry are together, and Harry is moving in, and Draco officially adopted me, and I get to start at Hogwarts in September …" He took a deep breath before continuing. "Well, it's all about new beginnings for us, isn't it?"

Severus grunted this time. Clearly the boy wasn't getting the message.

"Is there something wrong, Professor? You seem unwell. Shall I go get Harry? He always makes me feel better when I'm sick. He's great at that."

Raef left the room without waiting for a reply. Severus pondered this latest turn of events. He really ought to have seen it coming. After all, they had always been rather obsessive about each other.

"Sorry, Professor, Harry's not here yet. But he will be soon, and just think. You can see him every day. Any time you want." Raef flashed him a big grin. "And you know what the best part of all this is?"

Severus could hardly wait to hear.

"It never would have happened if it weren't for you."

Severus was convinced that he had paid dearly during his lifetime for all the bad choices he had made along the way. It would seem he was mistaken. Apparently, he was going to pay for the rest of his after-life too.

How perfect.

~ FIN ~

Comments

[cassie-black12.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed that. I'm not usually a fan of OC's, but Raef was delightful. And Portrait!Snape was just perfect.

[miss-speller.livejournal.com]

Poor Snape... I about died laughing at "It never would have happened if it wasn't for you!"

I was disappointed that we never got to find out why Raef was an Animagus in the first place, but I guess it was probably similar to why Harry left the Aurors.

The interaction between Harry and Draco was great, though Snape definitely was my favorite character in this fic.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Yikes! I totally fail at responding to comments. Thanks, hon. Glad you liked Raef (I enjoyed writing him). :)

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

First, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.

As for the reason Raef was an Animagus, I imagined that he felt trapped, having to stay hidden at the manor all the time, and he - not unlike the Marauders, wanting to keep their werewolf friend company - was determined to learn to transform. That and a natural ability at transfiguration. When Harry asked him how he'd managed it, he hadn't wanted to tell Harry that he'd felt trapped, for fear he'd take him away from Draco. Something that he wouldn't likely tell anyone until he was much older.

Glad you liked Snape. His torment was fun to write. :)