Quid 2, Posts 16 - 20
Title: Quid 2
Series: Posting 16 - 20
Pairing: Threesome: S/H/D
Posting began: August 22, 2006
Posting ended: April 7, 2007
Warnings, etc.: See Post 1
Quid 2, Post 16
Two heads are better than one.
**********
Snape nearly broke his neck, trying to get to his wand and the door at the same time since his trousers and underwear were around his knees. He had to take a moment to re-dress himself, managing to button up the shirt with one hand as he raced up the stairs to find the cause of the Magic.
"Up there," called Minerva, wearing a tartan dressing gown over her nightgown.
Side by side they raced up the stairway, up to the tower that now housed Potter and Black.
They slammed into an invisible wall and bounced back. Snape, barely managing to keep to his feet, caught Minerva against him, keeping her from hitting the floor. They both staggered a little, finding their balance.
"What the hell..." Snape sputtered.
"No idea." Minerva held out her wand and began chanting a revelation spell.
"The boys!" Snape kept out of her way, but got as close to the invisible wall as he could and yelled, "Draco! Harry!"
"It's a simple repulsion ward."
"Simple? There's nothing simple about it. It knocked me on my arse."
"Woke me up," murmured Minerva, still examining the point in the hallway where they'd been stopped. "But..."
"But?" Now knowing what the ward was, Snape was using his wand to see if he could find a weak spot.
"Something's been added to it. I can't quite make it out."
"We mixed in a protection spell."
The two professors looked up from their examinations. Harry and Draco were watching them from the entrance of their room. Dressed in robes, both looking like cats who had eaten the canary.
"What is the meaning of this, gentlemen?" Minerva used her Head voice in addition to her Head glare. Snape, whose heart had been beating double time since he'd become aware of the location of the spell, added his glare to hers.
The two young wizards moved out into the hallway. Harry leaned negligently against the wall, staring at his wand as though it had revealed something quite bizarre to him. Draco seemed to have been appointed spokesman. He stepped closer to the invisible wall and, with a smile that Snape would have at any other time found enchanting, slipped his hand through the barrier.
He laughed happily as he turned to Harry. "Worked beautifully."
Harry grinned back, shaking his head. "As you predicted."
But something in his tone told Snape that he was only now believing.
"I asked," snapped Minerva, "as to the meaning of this. I would like an answer."
Snape tried to slip his hand through at the same spot that Draco had, to no avail.
Draco smiled at them. "Certainly. We decided that we preferred a certain level of privacy. No little surprise visitations from anyone, be they friend or foe."
"There is more to this ward than that," challenged Minerva.
Draco shrugged. "We modified it a little." He was trying very hard to sound non-chalant about the whole matter, but the glitter of his eyes gave him away. Whatever they had done, the results were a surprise to them as well.
"How does it work?" Snape reduced the level of his glare to professional curiosity. They were high, his brats, on achievement. Authority would go nowhere with them, but the need to explain what they had done and how might appeal to them.
"You know the Malfoy family crypt?"
Minerva didn't, but Snape did. He nodded. "It's protected by a ward that allows only family members and their guests to enter."
"To keep the riffraff out," said Draco.
Minerva snorted, but softly. This was not a time to challenge Draco.
"Well, we too decided to keep the riffraff out. People like Granger and Pansy and..." Draco glanced at Minerva, "others who are less than pleased with us."
"Yes?" encouraged Snape. He knew that ward, knew that it had been renewed several times since the original Malfoy had set it. Even with his limited inspection, he knew this one was many times stronger.
"Of course, there is the additional challenge of Death Eaters and others who follow Voldemort. We thought, just in case, Harry and I, we needed a safe and secure place in which to find a haven."
"A haven? Here at Hogwarts? Really, Mister Black, your paranoia..."
Harry stepped forward. "Not paranoia. Need I remind you about the many attempts Voldemort has made here at Hogwarts itself? Not to mention the fact that there's a very good chance that he'll decide to take a stand right here."
"Right here!" Minerva tried to laugh that off. It sounded false, even to her ears.
"Why not? His greatest enemy, in his eyes, is the Headmaster. Where better to gain the upper hand if not on the Headmaster's own territory?"
"So," continued Draco, "we took the crypt ward, interwove a little protection spell and...and here we are."
Except that the interweaving was anything but simple. It had taken a great deal of power for the two spells to have been mixed as they were.
Minerva took a step back, wand at the ready. Snape felt her nervousness and went to her side.
"How much of the castle have you warded in this manner?" Snape asked.
The two wizards looked at each other. Draco shrugged and Harry nodded. He was the one who answered. "All this tower from over the roof to the bedrock."
Minerva was speechless. The amount of Magic that required... If it were true... "Dear Merlin!" she whispered.
Snape had to agree with her. "Which one of you two..."
They shook their heads. "Together. We worked this together."
Snape was torn between being aghast at the thought of that much power generated by two young wizards barely into their powers and pride at what his brats had accomplished.
The sound of a throat clearing interjected itself into the tense atmosphere.
Minerva and Snape shared a look of resignation before they turned to face the figure who was now standing at the top of the stairs.
**********
Quid 2, Post 17
You don't always get what you want.
**********
"Take it down."
Albus Dumbledore was glaring at the two young wizards who were standing shoulder to shoulder on their side of the warded hallway.
He hadn't been happy with this arrangement from the beginning and he was definitely less so now that he'd discovered that a part of the Castle had been warded off limits to himself. In all the history of Hogwarts, no part of the Castle had ever been denied its Headmaster.
"Now, gentlemen."
Minerva and Snape, standing behind the Headmaster, exchanged a glance. The young men had been very silent since the appearance of the Headmaster. But, having been their Heads for more than six years, they knew them well enough to understand, from the set of their mouths, this was not going to be an easy encounter between them and the Headmaster.
Neither Draco nor Harry moved.
Dumbledore took a step closer to the barrier. His voice clipped, his eyes icy over the top of his glasses, he tilted his head forward, looking as though he intended to force his way through. "I do not intend to repeat myself, gentlemen. I have given you an order and I expect it to be obeyed."
Draco took a deep breath, sighed and then grimaced slightly.
Harry found something very interesting on the ceiling.
Snape shook his head. His brats were going to be in such trouble.
Minerva chewed her lower lip in her attempt to keep from getting involved. This was definitely between the Headmaster and these boys.
"I don't think we can, Headmaster," Draco finally said.
Snape and Minerva exchanged 'What the hell!' looks. Dumbledore grew very still.
"Perhaps," he enunciated very clearly, "you would like to expand on that."
Draco stepped closer to Harry and whispered in his ear. Harry, eyes on Dumbledore, listened, dragged his lower lip into his mouth and looked thoughtful.
Draco pulled back and shrugged. Harry nodded.
"It's this way, Sir," Harry began. "We don't quite know how we accomplished this in the first place."
"Again?" The Headmaster's voice was cold.
"Draco contributed the ward his grandfather taught him and I added the spell against intrusion by uninvited guests."
"Added."
Draco nodded. "But we don't know how they intermingled. And since we didn't have any idea they would be this powerful, we didn't..."
"Didn't what?"
Minerva winced at the Headmaster's tone. It had been obvious from his appearance that he had arrived tired and not in the best of moods. This situation was only making matters worse.
Harry dared to meet the Headmaster's eyes. "We didn't put an end to it. The spell," he looked at Draco, "...loops for want of a better term."
"Loops?"
Both wizards nodded.
Harry continued. "We wanted to make sure no one would get in through any means so we decided to set the Magic to continue uninterrupted, from above the roof, through the tower, down to the bedrock. Where we thought it would end. But instead, somehow, it flows back up to above the roof."
"Where it starts all over again," added Draco.
Snape caught his breath. No wonder there was no weak spot. There was no beginning, no end. But how had they...
"And you did this by yourselves?"
Draco managed to look insulted enough for both of them. "Of course. Considering," he sneered, "the support we've been given since this began, whom do you think might break the unspoken law that Harry and I are to stand by ourselves?"
Snape appreciated the attempt to exclude him. Dumbledore wasn't swallowing it completely. He looked over his shoulder at the two Heads, but his eyes rested on Snape.
"I find it strange that two young men of untried power..."
Minerva shook her head. "The Castle has released its control over them," she said, drawing the Headmaster's eyes to her. Dumbledore turned to face the two Heads of House.
"The Castle has what?"
Minerva nodded. "Since you've been gone, Headmaster." She didn't say so, but her implication was that he'd been taking care of his business, not Hogwarts business. "Many of the seventh years are finding that they have more ease with difficult spells. Even the weakest students are finding they have greater skills than they had before Yule holidays."
Snape wanted to moan aloud. Over the last days, he'd had other things on his mind. He'd somehow missed that, but, thinking about what Minerva had just said, he realised that she was right.
But it wasn't necessarily the Castle that had relinquished control; rather that Mother Earth had been awakened. The foundations of Hogwarts were centuries older than the Castle. And two of her newest favourites inhabited the Castle. There was bound to be some spill-over.
The reason the spells cast had looped had to have something to do with Her influence. Snape needed time to discuss the casting with his brats. Had they consciously called upon Her to aid them? Dear Merlin, did they even need to?
"Severus. Do you have something you need to tell me?"
The Headmaster's voice was soft but no less threatening for that.
Minerva looked from one man to the other, wondering what she had missed.
"Why would Professor Snape have anything to tell you, Headmaster?" Draco tried to draw attention to himself. The Headmaster didn't move.
Snape wondered how the old man would react to knowing that the Old Ways were alive and well and awakened in the foundations of the Castle. Whom was he kidding? Once Dumbledore clued in, Snape's head would roll. He was the only one here with knowledge of the Old Ways.
Before he could respond to the Headmaster's request, the Dark Mark on his arm flared so sharply that he couldn't prevent the gasp of pain.
"Severus!" Minerva reached out and touched the arm bearing the Mark. Snape had to grit his teeth to hold back the scream. She pulled her hand back immediately. "What is it?"
The Headmaster frowned as though wanting to challenge the timing of the Summons.
Snape gasped, "My excuses, Headmaster, my other Master calls." Turning, he hurried back to his quarters to dress properly for his audience with the Dark Lord.
Minerva shook her head. "So, he is still the one spying for us." She glared at Dumbledore. "You might have told me, Headmaster." With that she spun around angrily and disappeared down the stairs, leaving Dumbledore alone with the two students.
Frustrated and knowing there was information being denied him, the Headmaster turned to deal with the two young men. He was just in time to see the bedroom door close.
How dare they! He wasn't through with them!
Dumbledore took two steps forward before remembering. If Potter and Mal...and bloody Black were correct, he would not be able to get through.
He looked about, verifying that he was indeed alone. He reached out with his hand and encountered the block. Checking again that there were no witnesses, he pulled out his wand and cast several dissolution spells, one after the other, some in combination.
Nothing.
He used his connection to the Castle, a connection that came with the position of Headmaster. He didn't call on it often, but this was the first time it failed him.
Muttering angrily to himself, the Headmaster headed back to his quarters.
**********
Quid 2, Post 18
Consolations.
**********
"Is he going to be all right?" Harry sagged down on the edge of their bed. He didn't need to specify which 'he'; Draco would know he could only mean Severus.
Draco rubbed his face with his hands. "I don't see why not. He's always been all right."
"Has he?"
Draco took in the worried face on Harry. He went and sat next to him. "As far as I know."
Harry leaned his head against Draco's. "How far do you know?"
Draco reached for the squarish hand worrying the edge of a robe. He squeezed it tightly. "Not that far. We both know that Severus is not the most gregarious of men."
Harry made a sound that could have been a laugh had it not been so choked off. Draco sighed.
They both stared into the fire on their hearth for several long minutes.
"We need to get in some practice," murmured Harry.
Draco thought a moment then nodded. "Mother Earth practice."
"It's a Hogsmeade weekend tomorrow. Surely we won't be missed if we..."
Draco grinned, suddenly relieved from the impending cloud of depression that Severus's being Summoned had cast on them.
"The island?"
Harry grinned back. "Why not? The weather's supposed to be decent tomorrow. An afternoon with Mother Earth will do us both good. Severus need never know until..."
Draco laughed, throwing himself back onto the bed. "Until it's too late to deny us the right."
Neither indicated that he hoped Severus would be back for him to deny them that right.
Decision made, the very air in the room seemed to lighten.
"Did you see the Headmaster's face when we told him we couldn't deward the tower?"
Harry actually laughed aloud. "Oh, we are sooo going to be made to pay for that!"
Draco shook his head. "But well worth whatever detention he gives us." Then he suddenly sat up. "You don't think he can prevent us from going out tomorrow?"
Harry shrugged. "Doesn't matter. There are ways of getting out."
"And you would know this how?"
Harry grinned. "The Weasley Twins."
Draco rolled his eyes. "They would."
"Yes, and because they did, I now know." Harry reached up and, clasping Draco's shoulder, dragged him down next to him. "We're going to need some wine, to offer our apologies to Mother Earth for having ignored Her these weeks."
Draco's finger found itself tracing the line of Harry's eyebrows. "Not a problem. I still have several that I liberated from the Manor's cellars the last time I was there."
Harry cupped Draco's head and brought it closer so that they could kiss. He liked kissing, Harry had discovered while in the Chamber. And Draco's mouth was oh, so very kissable.
Draco liked being kissed. He liked anything that paid attention to him, and Harry was very attentive when he engaged in kissing.
First there were the lips. Harry lightly skimmed his back and forth across Draco's, occasionally nipping at them until Draco's lips became so sensitised that each pass was painful pleasure.
Which caused him to slip his tongue out to wet them.
Which allowed Harry to nip at his tongue. Or to try to. They played at catch-the-tongue until Harry did, with his lips, and then held it between his front teeth, lightly so as not to hurt, but firmly enough so that the tongue knew it should remain still if it didn't want to feel those teeth a little more strongly.
Harry pulled hard on Draco's hips, drawing closer so that their hips rested against each other. This was the sign that serious kissing was about to begin. Draco wrapped an arm around Harry, anchoring himself.
With a soft moan, Harry plunged his tongue into Draco's mouth and proceeded to invade it with his taste. Draco loved the taste of Harry when he was aroused, as he was now. It was sharper than the usual morning kiss. It meant business.
Draco was surprised with the part of himself that loved being taken over. He had been raised never to take second place to anyone. That had been...exhausting. This was so much easier. Not giving in. It wasn't surrender. How could it be surrender when it felt so very good?
No, this was just his respecting someone else's talent, a talent that he himself did not have to such a degree.
Harry, as Severus had indicated, was oral. Draco was not. Not anywhere near to the extent that Harry was. Draco didn't get Harry's extreme need for this kind of touch. Mind, it was only fair as Harry didn't get Draco's equivalent extreme need for spanking. Still, it seemed to engender the same result; he could feel Harry already hard against him. Not that his own cock didn't react, it was happily twitching, but hard? Not yet.
Harry sensed that. His hand slipped down Draco's body, taking its time reaching the waistband of his trousers. Draco jerked his hips in protest.
Mouth open, Harry clamped down hard on Draco's mouth as his hand gripped Draco's cock through the wool of his trousers. He sucked on Draco's tongue, his hand squeezing on and off, until Draco was as hard as he was.
Using his new wandless power, Harry quickly unclothed both of them. With one last deep kiss, he released Draco only to slip down his body to capture Draco's cock between his lips.
Draco keened at the sensation of wet hot mouth. He dug his hands into the bedclothes and, swearing, raised his hips hoping to get more of his cock deep within Harry's mouth.
Harry was having none of that. He grabbed both of Draco's hips, shoved and held them against the bed while he positioned himself above Draco. He raised his head and looked at Draco, head thrown back, throat offered as though in sacrifice, and licked his own lips in anticipation.
This was what he liked. The look of a body at his mercy. Draco, straining for release, and being made to wait for it.
With a chuckle, Harry looked down at the cock begging for his attention. He snickered. Well, it would have to beg a lot more before he gave in.
**********
Quid 2, Post 19
The GOOTC Club.
**********
Blaise Zabini was a compilation of many different ethnic backgrounds. The most obvious was caucasian, what with the Italian surname; but then with his colouring, there was obviously some sub-Saharan; from the slant of his almond-shaped eyes, mongolian. All wrapped up in an exotic, slim, almost feline-graced body. Dean Thomas, the Muggle-born, often referred to the Slytherin as "Heinz 57", a nickname he'd had to explain to the others.
If Harry were not already having sex with Draco, Blaise might have been his second choice, assuming that he could get the attention of the rather stand-apart Zabini.
Which was why it took him a moment or so to realise that Blaise was not just passing by the end of the Slytherin table he and Draco had taken over, but was in fact stopped and waiting for their attention.
"Yes, Zabini," drawled Draco, who was far too aware of the attention Harry was giving his House-mate.
Zabini's lips moved slightly, in what might have been a smile. When it came to aristocratic arrogance, Harry thought Blaise could hold his own against Draco and any other British old family pure-blood with ease.
"I was wondering if I might join you." The words were spoken in that velvety voice that held just a hint of purr.
"Join us?" Draco's eyebrows rose high. His Malfoy training rose equally high. "Us? Whyever for, Zabini?"
Blaise shifted his focus from Draco to Harry. His smile grew with a certain insouciance. "Ah, I wasn't aware that this was a private club."
Harry rose to the bait. "Private club? What are you talking about, Zabini?"
"The GOOTC Club." Zabini turned as though he were leaving.
"The what?" Draco glanced from Harry to his House rival. Before this year, he, Draco, had been more than House prefect; he'd been the unofficial ruler of the Slytherins. His only competition, as Pansy had taken such delight in reminding him, was this man, who never seemed at all interested in either position.
"The GOOTC Club," Zabini said in the most reasonable of tones. He leaned over slightly. "The Got Out Of The Closet Club."
Draco blinked. Harry looked from Blaise to Draco and then back again to Blaise, who merely smirked. "What? Did you two think you were the only shirt-lifters in the place?"
Harry coughed to clear his throat. "Are you certain you want to be seen associating with us, even if you are out of the closet?"
Blaise's eyes were on Draco. "More security in numbers."
Draco nodded. "Just so you understand right off that he's mine."
Harry blushed but added, "And he's mine."
Blaise slipped gracefully onto the bench opposite the two. "Not a problem. I have mine." Then the facade slipped a little and Draco caught the sadness. "At least, I thought I had."
Draco pushed over the pot of tea and conjured up another mug. Harry called for Dobby and another plate and accoutrements.
Up at the staff table, the Headmaster, just arriving, took his place. "What is going on at the end of the Slytherin table?"
Minerva glared coldly at him. "A re-alignment of truces. Which you'd know, if you'd been here. Headmaster."
Dumbledore glared at her, which she patently ignored. She was angry with the Headmaster and didn't really care who knew it. Next to her, Professor Sprout pretended to be very interested in her bowl of muesli, all the while watching the little drama from under her eyelashes.
"Tell me, Headmaster, is Severus back from the...the ahem errand he is performing at your behest?"
Dumbledore's usual happy mien disappeared. Sprout wondered just what was going on, especially as the twinkle that usually made her think the Headmaster was laughing to himself at all of them also disappeared. She had noted that Severus's chair at the table was empty, but it was Saturday and he often spent the entire weekend in his personal laboratory. All the more reason to pay closer attention.
"Minerva..." The Headmaster's voice was chilling.
Minerva McGonagall turned to face him. Sprout reminded herself that Minerva was the descendent of a long line of independently-minded witches and wizards. She hoped the Headmaster would as well.
"Later, Albus. I shall bring you up to date at the usual time. But first, I have to see to those going to Hogsmeade and that the first and second years have something to do with their free time."
Sprout swallowed her mouthful of tea before she spat it all out. Minerva must certainly be extremely angry with the Headmaster to speak to him in that tone. The last time...
But something caught her attention and she watched as another little drama unfolded in front of them all.
Blaise and Draco were talking about the Arithmancy assignment, more as a way of feeling each other out than out of educational interest. Harry was listening, interjecting a comment now and then when he thought voices were getting a little strained. So the addition of yet another voice took them all by surprise.
"May I join you?"
Blaise stilled and it was a dangerous stillness. Harry bit his lip and Draco merely looked peeved at the interruption.
"It's not that I was ashamed to be seen with you," said the quiet voice. "And not embarrassed either."
Harry and Draco exchanged astonished glances, but were wise enough to shut up and let the other two settle what had obviously been an argument.
"It's just...that...I'm a coward. I was afraid."
Blaise Zabini looked up from his plate at the person standing to one side of him. "Not a coward. I did spring this on you rather quickly. I know it takes you time to think things out. And, for the record, I'm scared shitless."
Harry pushed out the bench in front of him with his foot. With a rather wobbly smile, Neville Longbottom joined them.
Blaise reached out and grabbed the hand being offered him. He brought it up to his mouth and placed a light kiss in the centre of its palm. Neville's smile was bashful, but none the less strong for that.
Sprout looked over at the Headmaster, whose mouth was open. She glanced up at Minerva who was blinking behind her glasses, as though not certain she was seeing what she was seeing.
With a small shrug, Professor Sprout poured herself another cup of tea. "Well, that explains why Zabini's marks in Herbology are so good this year."
**********
Quid 2, Post 20
Why 1.
**********
"Would you like to explain to me how the hell you ended up with Longbottom of all people?"
Draco was accompanying Blaise back to the Slytherin common room where Zabini had left his winter cloak and gloves. Harry was doing the same for Longbottom. They themselves had brought down their outdoor gear with them, including the lunch Harry had asked Dobby to prepare for them and the bottle of wine Draco was contributing for Mother Earth.
They had both decided that, considering some of the reactions to the newly outed couple, each might need back-up.
Blaise was better at haughty than Draco was, expert though he be. It had something to do, Draco decided, with the slant of the eyes, the way the lids drooped over the almost golden-brown eyes.
"Knock it off, Blaise. You could have anyone you wanted. All you'd have to do is beckon him over with your little finger."
Blaise looked around and pulled Draco into an empty classroom. He closed the door then leaned back against it, looking for all the world as though he was slumming in the sun. Draco crossed his arms and leaned back against one of the desks. "Well?"
Blaise slipped his hands into his trouser pockets and stared at the floor.
Draco said nothing. The step Zabini had taken this morning was a huge one for Slytherin House. Oh, there were boys in the House who snuck into bed with other boys, who huddled in closets together, but openly? Not in Slytherin House. If two males paired up at Hogwarts, they waited until after graduation to indicate they were a couple. It was all-round easier for everyone that way. And far easier if it was a mixed House relationship.
"You ever watch Neville in Herbology?"
Draco shook his head. "Can't say that I ever have."
"The way he touches the plants... With those hands of his." Blaise looked up. "They're always just a bit dirty, especially under the nails. And just a little rough because he doesn't pay much attention to the condition of his hands."
Draco only nodded. This wasn't the time to comment that nothing about Longbottom had ever attracted his attention, other than to tease him. And that had stopped after second year.
"He touches every plant the same way. With the same gentleness, the same consideration. The same love. Doesn't matter if the plant is a common dandelion or the rarest black rose. Every plant is worthy of awe and attention, to Neville."
Draco began to get a glimmer.
"He sees the plant for all its worth. Its external beauty is...is..." Blaise chewed on his lower lip.
"Not important?" offered Draco.
Blaise shrugged, "Not the only thing."
He pushed himself off the door and paced back and forth, as though trying to find the words. "We worked together on a project last year. Sprout thought I was slacking off and figured by putting me with her star boy I'd rise to the challenge. I didn't think much of the idea. I mean, Neville Longbottom. Clumsy, inarticulate. Failure at Potions. All right, good at Herbology but still..."
Draco grunted, but softly.
"He talked to me, Draco. He didn't see me any differently than one of his plants. I asked him once didn't he find me beautiful and he had to think about it. Seriously think about it. See, the reason he treats dandelions like black roses is that he doesn't see any difference between them."
"So why would he put up with you, Zabini? You're arrogant, picky, snide, sarcastic, go for the weak points..."
Blaise suddenly laughed. "Yeah, all that and more." He came to a stop in front of Draco. "It's just that I'm not like that with him. He talks to me, listens when I speak. He finds my snideness and sarcasm funny and laughs at me and with me a lot. He gets sad when he thinks I'm not being kind. Hell, Draco, he thinks I'm kind."
Draco swallowed the laugh that wanted out. He, too, could be nasty but, so far, Harry seemed to have countered that.
Blaise's voice softened. "He sings to his plants to make them grow and..."
Draco blinked at the slow blush building up Blaise's face.
"And he sings to me when we make love."
Draco could only stare at his Housemate, the one with the reputation of being cool under any circumstance, never bothered by anything. Who was now staring at the toes of his boots and almost wriggling.
"And he touches me the way he touches his plants, with those rough, blunt fingers of his and he makes me sing."
After a long pause, Draco nodded. "Harry makes me sing, too."
Blaise smiled, face still hued a little pink from his confession. "I'd kill anyone who hurt him."
"Me, too."
"Not exactly Slytherin behaviour."
Draco thought about Severus, who still hadn't returned from that Summons. "Let's just say that it's the behaviour that seems to be expected of us. But that maybe it's time we broke those expectations."
**********
on to the next part
Series: Posting 16 - 20
Pairing: Threesome: S/H/D
Posting began: August 22, 2006
Posting ended: April 7, 2007
Warnings, etc.: See Post 1
Quid 2, Post 16
Two heads are better than one.
**********
Snape nearly broke his neck, trying to get to his wand and the door at the same time since his trousers and underwear were around his knees. He had to take a moment to re-dress himself, managing to button up the shirt with one hand as he raced up the stairs to find the cause of the Magic.
"Up there," called Minerva, wearing a tartan dressing gown over her nightgown.
Side by side they raced up the stairway, up to the tower that now housed Potter and Black.
They slammed into an invisible wall and bounced back. Snape, barely managing to keep to his feet, caught Minerva against him, keeping her from hitting the floor. They both staggered a little, finding their balance.
"What the hell..." Snape sputtered.
"No idea." Minerva held out her wand and began chanting a revelation spell.
"The boys!" Snape kept out of her way, but got as close to the invisible wall as he could and yelled, "Draco! Harry!"
"It's a simple repulsion ward."
"Simple? There's nothing simple about it. It knocked me on my arse."
"Woke me up," murmured Minerva, still examining the point in the hallway where they'd been stopped. "But..."
"But?" Now knowing what the ward was, Snape was using his wand to see if he could find a weak spot.
"Something's been added to it. I can't quite make it out."
"We mixed in a protection spell."
The two professors looked up from their examinations. Harry and Draco were watching them from the entrance of their room. Dressed in robes, both looking like cats who had eaten the canary.
"What is the meaning of this, gentlemen?" Minerva used her Head voice in addition to her Head glare. Snape, whose heart had been beating double time since he'd become aware of the location of the spell, added his glare to hers.
The two young wizards moved out into the hallway. Harry leaned negligently against the wall, staring at his wand as though it had revealed something quite bizarre to him. Draco seemed to have been appointed spokesman. He stepped closer to the invisible wall and, with a smile that Snape would have at any other time found enchanting, slipped his hand through the barrier.
He laughed happily as he turned to Harry. "Worked beautifully."
Harry grinned back, shaking his head. "As you predicted."
But something in his tone told Snape that he was only now believing.
"I asked," snapped Minerva, "as to the meaning of this. I would like an answer."
Snape tried to slip his hand through at the same spot that Draco had, to no avail.
Draco smiled at them. "Certainly. We decided that we preferred a certain level of privacy. No little surprise visitations from anyone, be they friend or foe."
"There is more to this ward than that," challenged Minerva.
Draco shrugged. "We modified it a little." He was trying very hard to sound non-chalant about the whole matter, but the glitter of his eyes gave him away. Whatever they had done, the results were a surprise to them as well.
"How does it work?" Snape reduced the level of his glare to professional curiosity. They were high, his brats, on achievement. Authority would go nowhere with them, but the need to explain what they had done and how might appeal to them.
"You know the Malfoy family crypt?"
Minerva didn't, but Snape did. He nodded. "It's protected by a ward that allows only family members and their guests to enter."
"To keep the riffraff out," said Draco.
Minerva snorted, but softly. This was not a time to challenge Draco.
"Well, we too decided to keep the riffraff out. People like Granger and Pansy and..." Draco glanced at Minerva, "others who are less than pleased with us."
"Yes?" encouraged Snape. He knew that ward, knew that it had been renewed several times since the original Malfoy had set it. Even with his limited inspection, he knew this one was many times stronger.
"Of course, there is the additional challenge of Death Eaters and others who follow Voldemort. We thought, just in case, Harry and I, we needed a safe and secure place in which to find a haven."
"A haven? Here at Hogwarts? Really, Mister Black, your paranoia..."
Harry stepped forward. "Not paranoia. Need I remind you about the many attempts Voldemort has made here at Hogwarts itself? Not to mention the fact that there's a very good chance that he'll decide to take a stand right here."
"Right here!" Minerva tried to laugh that off. It sounded false, even to her ears.
"Why not? His greatest enemy, in his eyes, is the Headmaster. Where better to gain the upper hand if not on the Headmaster's own territory?"
"So," continued Draco, "we took the crypt ward, interwove a little protection spell and...and here we are."
Except that the interweaving was anything but simple. It had taken a great deal of power for the two spells to have been mixed as they were.
Minerva took a step back, wand at the ready. Snape felt her nervousness and went to her side.
"How much of the castle have you warded in this manner?" Snape asked.
The two wizards looked at each other. Draco shrugged and Harry nodded. He was the one who answered. "All this tower from over the roof to the bedrock."
Minerva was speechless. The amount of Magic that required... If it were true... "Dear Merlin!" she whispered.
Snape had to agree with her. "Which one of you two..."
They shook their heads. "Together. We worked this together."
Snape was torn between being aghast at the thought of that much power generated by two young wizards barely into their powers and pride at what his brats had accomplished.
The sound of a throat clearing interjected itself into the tense atmosphere.
Minerva and Snape shared a look of resignation before they turned to face the figure who was now standing at the top of the stairs.
**********
Quid 2, Post 17
You don't always get what you want.
**********
"Take it down."
Albus Dumbledore was glaring at the two young wizards who were standing shoulder to shoulder on their side of the warded hallway.
He hadn't been happy with this arrangement from the beginning and he was definitely less so now that he'd discovered that a part of the Castle had been warded off limits to himself. In all the history of Hogwarts, no part of the Castle had ever been denied its Headmaster.
"Now, gentlemen."
Minerva and Snape, standing behind the Headmaster, exchanged a glance. The young men had been very silent since the appearance of the Headmaster. But, having been their Heads for more than six years, they knew them well enough to understand, from the set of their mouths, this was not going to be an easy encounter between them and the Headmaster.
Neither Draco nor Harry moved.
Dumbledore took a step closer to the barrier. His voice clipped, his eyes icy over the top of his glasses, he tilted his head forward, looking as though he intended to force his way through. "I do not intend to repeat myself, gentlemen. I have given you an order and I expect it to be obeyed."
Draco took a deep breath, sighed and then grimaced slightly.
Harry found something very interesting on the ceiling.
Snape shook his head. His brats were going to be in such trouble.
Minerva chewed her lower lip in her attempt to keep from getting involved. This was definitely between the Headmaster and these boys.
"I don't think we can, Headmaster," Draco finally said.
Snape and Minerva exchanged 'What the hell!' looks. Dumbledore grew very still.
"Perhaps," he enunciated very clearly, "you would like to expand on that."
Draco stepped closer to Harry and whispered in his ear. Harry, eyes on Dumbledore, listened, dragged his lower lip into his mouth and looked thoughtful.
Draco pulled back and shrugged. Harry nodded.
"It's this way, Sir," Harry began. "We don't quite know how we accomplished this in the first place."
"Again?" The Headmaster's voice was cold.
"Draco contributed the ward his grandfather taught him and I added the spell against intrusion by uninvited guests."
"Added."
Draco nodded. "But we don't know how they intermingled. And since we didn't have any idea they would be this powerful, we didn't..."
"Didn't what?"
Minerva winced at the Headmaster's tone. It had been obvious from his appearance that he had arrived tired and not in the best of moods. This situation was only making matters worse.
Harry dared to meet the Headmaster's eyes. "We didn't put an end to it. The spell," he looked at Draco, "...loops for want of a better term."
"Loops?"
Both wizards nodded.
Harry continued. "We wanted to make sure no one would get in through any means so we decided to set the Magic to continue uninterrupted, from above the roof, through the tower, down to the bedrock. Where we thought it would end. But instead, somehow, it flows back up to above the roof."
"Where it starts all over again," added Draco.
Snape caught his breath. No wonder there was no weak spot. There was no beginning, no end. But how had they...
"And you did this by yourselves?"
Draco managed to look insulted enough for both of them. "Of course. Considering," he sneered, "the support we've been given since this began, whom do you think might break the unspoken law that Harry and I are to stand by ourselves?"
Snape appreciated the attempt to exclude him. Dumbledore wasn't swallowing it completely. He looked over his shoulder at the two Heads, but his eyes rested on Snape.
"I find it strange that two young men of untried power..."
Minerva shook her head. "The Castle has released its control over them," she said, drawing the Headmaster's eyes to her. Dumbledore turned to face the two Heads of House.
"The Castle has what?"
Minerva nodded. "Since you've been gone, Headmaster." She didn't say so, but her implication was that he'd been taking care of his business, not Hogwarts business. "Many of the seventh years are finding that they have more ease with difficult spells. Even the weakest students are finding they have greater skills than they had before Yule holidays."
Snape wanted to moan aloud. Over the last days, he'd had other things on his mind. He'd somehow missed that, but, thinking about what Minerva had just said, he realised that she was right.
But it wasn't necessarily the Castle that had relinquished control; rather that Mother Earth had been awakened. The foundations of Hogwarts were centuries older than the Castle. And two of her newest favourites inhabited the Castle. There was bound to be some spill-over.
The reason the spells cast had looped had to have something to do with Her influence. Snape needed time to discuss the casting with his brats. Had they consciously called upon Her to aid them? Dear Merlin, did they even need to?
"Severus. Do you have something you need to tell me?"
The Headmaster's voice was soft but no less threatening for that.
Minerva looked from one man to the other, wondering what she had missed.
"Why would Professor Snape have anything to tell you, Headmaster?" Draco tried to draw attention to himself. The Headmaster didn't move.
Snape wondered how the old man would react to knowing that the Old Ways were alive and well and awakened in the foundations of the Castle. Whom was he kidding? Once Dumbledore clued in, Snape's head would roll. He was the only one here with knowledge of the Old Ways.
Before he could respond to the Headmaster's request, the Dark Mark on his arm flared so sharply that he couldn't prevent the gasp of pain.
"Severus!" Minerva reached out and touched the arm bearing the Mark. Snape had to grit his teeth to hold back the scream. She pulled her hand back immediately. "What is it?"
The Headmaster frowned as though wanting to challenge the timing of the Summons.
Snape gasped, "My excuses, Headmaster, my other Master calls." Turning, he hurried back to his quarters to dress properly for his audience with the Dark Lord.
Minerva shook her head. "So, he is still the one spying for us." She glared at Dumbledore. "You might have told me, Headmaster." With that she spun around angrily and disappeared down the stairs, leaving Dumbledore alone with the two students.
Frustrated and knowing there was information being denied him, the Headmaster turned to deal with the two young men. He was just in time to see the bedroom door close.
How dare they! He wasn't through with them!
Dumbledore took two steps forward before remembering. If Potter and Mal...and bloody Black were correct, he would not be able to get through.
He looked about, verifying that he was indeed alone. He reached out with his hand and encountered the block. Checking again that there were no witnesses, he pulled out his wand and cast several dissolution spells, one after the other, some in combination.
Nothing.
He used his connection to the Castle, a connection that came with the position of Headmaster. He didn't call on it often, but this was the first time it failed him.
Muttering angrily to himself, the Headmaster headed back to his quarters.
**********
Quid 2, Post 18
Consolations.
**********
"Is he going to be all right?" Harry sagged down on the edge of their bed. He didn't need to specify which 'he'; Draco would know he could only mean Severus.
Draco rubbed his face with his hands. "I don't see why not. He's always been all right."
"Has he?"
Draco took in the worried face on Harry. He went and sat next to him. "As far as I know."
Harry leaned his head against Draco's. "How far do you know?"
Draco reached for the squarish hand worrying the edge of a robe. He squeezed it tightly. "Not that far. We both know that Severus is not the most gregarious of men."
Harry made a sound that could have been a laugh had it not been so choked off. Draco sighed.
They both stared into the fire on their hearth for several long minutes.
"We need to get in some practice," murmured Harry.
Draco thought a moment then nodded. "Mother Earth practice."
"It's a Hogsmeade weekend tomorrow. Surely we won't be missed if we..."
Draco grinned, suddenly relieved from the impending cloud of depression that Severus's being Summoned had cast on them.
"The island?"
Harry grinned back. "Why not? The weather's supposed to be decent tomorrow. An afternoon with Mother Earth will do us both good. Severus need never know until..."
Draco laughed, throwing himself back onto the bed. "Until it's too late to deny us the right."
Neither indicated that he hoped Severus would be back for him to deny them that right.
Decision made, the very air in the room seemed to lighten.
"Did you see the Headmaster's face when we told him we couldn't deward the tower?"
Harry actually laughed aloud. "Oh, we are sooo going to be made to pay for that!"
Draco shook his head. "But well worth whatever detention he gives us." Then he suddenly sat up. "You don't think he can prevent us from going out tomorrow?"
Harry shrugged. "Doesn't matter. There are ways of getting out."
"And you would know this how?"
Harry grinned. "The Weasley Twins."
Draco rolled his eyes. "They would."
"Yes, and because they did, I now know." Harry reached up and, clasping Draco's shoulder, dragged him down next to him. "We're going to need some wine, to offer our apologies to Mother Earth for having ignored Her these weeks."
Draco's finger found itself tracing the line of Harry's eyebrows. "Not a problem. I still have several that I liberated from the Manor's cellars the last time I was there."
Harry cupped Draco's head and brought it closer so that they could kiss. He liked kissing, Harry had discovered while in the Chamber. And Draco's mouth was oh, so very kissable.
Draco liked being kissed. He liked anything that paid attention to him, and Harry was very attentive when he engaged in kissing.
First there were the lips. Harry lightly skimmed his back and forth across Draco's, occasionally nipping at them until Draco's lips became so sensitised that each pass was painful pleasure.
Which caused him to slip his tongue out to wet them.
Which allowed Harry to nip at his tongue. Or to try to. They played at catch-the-tongue until Harry did, with his lips, and then held it between his front teeth, lightly so as not to hurt, but firmly enough so that the tongue knew it should remain still if it didn't want to feel those teeth a little more strongly.
Harry pulled hard on Draco's hips, drawing closer so that their hips rested against each other. This was the sign that serious kissing was about to begin. Draco wrapped an arm around Harry, anchoring himself.
With a soft moan, Harry plunged his tongue into Draco's mouth and proceeded to invade it with his taste. Draco loved the taste of Harry when he was aroused, as he was now. It was sharper than the usual morning kiss. It meant business.
Draco was surprised with the part of himself that loved being taken over. He had been raised never to take second place to anyone. That had been...exhausting. This was so much easier. Not giving in. It wasn't surrender. How could it be surrender when it felt so very good?
No, this was just his respecting someone else's talent, a talent that he himself did not have to such a degree.
Harry, as Severus had indicated, was oral. Draco was not. Not anywhere near to the extent that Harry was. Draco didn't get Harry's extreme need for this kind of touch. Mind, it was only fair as Harry didn't get Draco's equivalent extreme need for spanking. Still, it seemed to engender the same result; he could feel Harry already hard against him. Not that his own cock didn't react, it was happily twitching, but hard? Not yet.
Harry sensed that. His hand slipped down Draco's body, taking its time reaching the waistband of his trousers. Draco jerked his hips in protest.
Mouth open, Harry clamped down hard on Draco's mouth as his hand gripped Draco's cock through the wool of his trousers. He sucked on Draco's tongue, his hand squeezing on and off, until Draco was as hard as he was.
Using his new wandless power, Harry quickly unclothed both of them. With one last deep kiss, he released Draco only to slip down his body to capture Draco's cock between his lips.
Draco keened at the sensation of wet hot mouth. He dug his hands into the bedclothes and, swearing, raised his hips hoping to get more of his cock deep within Harry's mouth.
Harry was having none of that. He grabbed both of Draco's hips, shoved and held them against the bed while he positioned himself above Draco. He raised his head and looked at Draco, head thrown back, throat offered as though in sacrifice, and licked his own lips in anticipation.
This was what he liked. The look of a body at his mercy. Draco, straining for release, and being made to wait for it.
With a chuckle, Harry looked down at the cock begging for his attention. He snickered. Well, it would have to beg a lot more before he gave in.
**********
Quid 2, Post 19
The GOOTC Club.
**********
Blaise Zabini was a compilation of many different ethnic backgrounds. The most obvious was caucasian, what with the Italian surname; but then with his colouring, there was obviously some sub-Saharan; from the slant of his almond-shaped eyes, mongolian. All wrapped up in an exotic, slim, almost feline-graced body. Dean Thomas, the Muggle-born, often referred to the Slytherin as "Heinz 57", a nickname he'd had to explain to the others.
If Harry were not already having sex with Draco, Blaise might have been his second choice, assuming that he could get the attention of the rather stand-apart Zabini.
Which was why it took him a moment or so to realise that Blaise was not just passing by the end of the Slytherin table he and Draco had taken over, but was in fact stopped and waiting for their attention.
"Yes, Zabini," drawled Draco, who was far too aware of the attention Harry was giving his House-mate.
Zabini's lips moved slightly, in what might have been a smile. When it came to aristocratic arrogance, Harry thought Blaise could hold his own against Draco and any other British old family pure-blood with ease.
"I was wondering if I might join you." The words were spoken in that velvety voice that held just a hint of purr.
"Join us?" Draco's eyebrows rose high. His Malfoy training rose equally high. "Us? Whyever for, Zabini?"
Blaise shifted his focus from Draco to Harry. His smile grew with a certain insouciance. "Ah, I wasn't aware that this was a private club."
Harry rose to the bait. "Private club? What are you talking about, Zabini?"
"The GOOTC Club." Zabini turned as though he were leaving.
"The what?" Draco glanced from Harry to his House rival. Before this year, he, Draco, had been more than House prefect; he'd been the unofficial ruler of the Slytherins. His only competition, as Pansy had taken such delight in reminding him, was this man, who never seemed at all interested in either position.
"The GOOTC Club," Zabini said in the most reasonable of tones. He leaned over slightly. "The Got Out Of The Closet Club."
Draco blinked. Harry looked from Blaise to Draco and then back again to Blaise, who merely smirked. "What? Did you two think you were the only shirt-lifters in the place?"
Harry coughed to clear his throat. "Are you certain you want to be seen associating with us, even if you are out of the closet?"
Blaise's eyes were on Draco. "More security in numbers."
Draco nodded. "Just so you understand right off that he's mine."
Harry blushed but added, "And he's mine."
Blaise slipped gracefully onto the bench opposite the two. "Not a problem. I have mine." Then the facade slipped a little and Draco caught the sadness. "At least, I thought I had."
Draco pushed over the pot of tea and conjured up another mug. Harry called for Dobby and another plate and accoutrements.
Up at the staff table, the Headmaster, just arriving, took his place. "What is going on at the end of the Slytherin table?"
Minerva glared coldly at him. "A re-alignment of truces. Which you'd know, if you'd been here. Headmaster."
Dumbledore glared at her, which she patently ignored. She was angry with the Headmaster and didn't really care who knew it. Next to her, Professor Sprout pretended to be very interested in her bowl of muesli, all the while watching the little drama from under her eyelashes.
"Tell me, Headmaster, is Severus back from the...the ahem errand he is performing at your behest?"
Dumbledore's usual happy mien disappeared. Sprout wondered just what was going on, especially as the twinkle that usually made her think the Headmaster was laughing to himself at all of them also disappeared. She had noted that Severus's chair at the table was empty, but it was Saturday and he often spent the entire weekend in his personal laboratory. All the more reason to pay closer attention.
"Minerva..." The Headmaster's voice was chilling.
Minerva McGonagall turned to face him. Sprout reminded herself that Minerva was the descendent of a long line of independently-minded witches and wizards. She hoped the Headmaster would as well.
"Later, Albus. I shall bring you up to date at the usual time. But first, I have to see to those going to Hogsmeade and that the first and second years have something to do with their free time."
Sprout swallowed her mouthful of tea before she spat it all out. Minerva must certainly be extremely angry with the Headmaster to speak to him in that tone. The last time...
But something caught her attention and she watched as another little drama unfolded in front of them all.
Blaise and Draco were talking about the Arithmancy assignment, more as a way of feeling each other out than out of educational interest. Harry was listening, interjecting a comment now and then when he thought voices were getting a little strained. So the addition of yet another voice took them all by surprise.
"May I join you?"
Blaise stilled and it was a dangerous stillness. Harry bit his lip and Draco merely looked peeved at the interruption.
"It's not that I was ashamed to be seen with you," said the quiet voice. "And not embarrassed either."
Harry and Draco exchanged astonished glances, but were wise enough to shut up and let the other two settle what had obviously been an argument.
"It's just...that...I'm a coward. I was afraid."
Blaise Zabini looked up from his plate at the person standing to one side of him. "Not a coward. I did spring this on you rather quickly. I know it takes you time to think things out. And, for the record, I'm scared shitless."
Harry pushed out the bench in front of him with his foot. With a rather wobbly smile, Neville Longbottom joined them.
Blaise reached out and grabbed the hand being offered him. He brought it up to his mouth and placed a light kiss in the centre of its palm. Neville's smile was bashful, but none the less strong for that.
Sprout looked over at the Headmaster, whose mouth was open. She glanced up at Minerva who was blinking behind her glasses, as though not certain she was seeing what she was seeing.
With a small shrug, Professor Sprout poured herself another cup of tea. "Well, that explains why Zabini's marks in Herbology are so good this year."
**********
Quid 2, Post 20
Why 1.
**********
"Would you like to explain to me how the hell you ended up with Longbottom of all people?"
Draco was accompanying Blaise back to the Slytherin common room where Zabini had left his winter cloak and gloves. Harry was doing the same for Longbottom. They themselves had brought down their outdoor gear with them, including the lunch Harry had asked Dobby to prepare for them and the bottle of wine Draco was contributing for Mother Earth.
They had both decided that, considering some of the reactions to the newly outed couple, each might need back-up.
Blaise was better at haughty than Draco was, expert though he be. It had something to do, Draco decided, with the slant of the eyes, the way the lids drooped over the almost golden-brown eyes.
"Knock it off, Blaise. You could have anyone you wanted. All you'd have to do is beckon him over with your little finger."
Blaise looked around and pulled Draco into an empty classroom. He closed the door then leaned back against it, looking for all the world as though he was slumming in the sun. Draco crossed his arms and leaned back against one of the desks. "Well?"
Blaise slipped his hands into his trouser pockets and stared at the floor.
Draco said nothing. The step Zabini had taken this morning was a huge one for Slytherin House. Oh, there were boys in the House who snuck into bed with other boys, who huddled in closets together, but openly? Not in Slytherin House. If two males paired up at Hogwarts, they waited until after graduation to indicate they were a couple. It was all-round easier for everyone that way. And far easier if it was a mixed House relationship.
"You ever watch Neville in Herbology?"
Draco shook his head. "Can't say that I ever have."
"The way he touches the plants... With those hands of his." Blaise looked up. "They're always just a bit dirty, especially under the nails. And just a little rough because he doesn't pay much attention to the condition of his hands."
Draco only nodded. This wasn't the time to comment that nothing about Longbottom had ever attracted his attention, other than to tease him. And that had stopped after second year.
"He touches every plant the same way. With the same gentleness, the same consideration. The same love. Doesn't matter if the plant is a common dandelion or the rarest black rose. Every plant is worthy of awe and attention, to Neville."
Draco began to get a glimmer.
"He sees the plant for all its worth. Its external beauty is...is..." Blaise chewed on his lower lip.
"Not important?" offered Draco.
Blaise shrugged, "Not the only thing."
He pushed himself off the door and paced back and forth, as though trying to find the words. "We worked together on a project last year. Sprout thought I was slacking off and figured by putting me with her star boy I'd rise to the challenge. I didn't think much of the idea. I mean, Neville Longbottom. Clumsy, inarticulate. Failure at Potions. All right, good at Herbology but still..."
Draco grunted, but softly.
"He talked to me, Draco. He didn't see me any differently than one of his plants. I asked him once didn't he find me beautiful and he had to think about it. Seriously think about it. See, the reason he treats dandelions like black roses is that he doesn't see any difference between them."
"So why would he put up with you, Zabini? You're arrogant, picky, snide, sarcastic, go for the weak points..."
Blaise suddenly laughed. "Yeah, all that and more." He came to a stop in front of Draco. "It's just that I'm not like that with him. He talks to me, listens when I speak. He finds my snideness and sarcasm funny and laughs at me and with me a lot. He gets sad when he thinks I'm not being kind. Hell, Draco, he thinks I'm kind."
Draco swallowed the laugh that wanted out. He, too, could be nasty but, so far, Harry seemed to have countered that.
Blaise's voice softened. "He sings to his plants to make them grow and..."
Draco blinked at the slow blush building up Blaise's face.
"And he sings to me when we make love."
Draco could only stare at his Housemate, the one with the reputation of being cool under any circumstance, never bothered by anything. Who was now staring at the toes of his boots and almost wriggling.
"And he touches me the way he touches his plants, with those rough, blunt fingers of his and he makes me sing."
After a long pause, Draco nodded. "Harry makes me sing, too."
Blaise smiled, face still hued a little pink from his confession. "I'd kill anyone who hurt him."
"Me, too."
"Not exactly Slytherin behaviour."
Draco thought about Severus, who still hadn't returned from that Summons. "Let's just say that it's the behaviour that seems to be expected of us. But that maybe it's time we broke those expectations."
**********
on to the next part