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After the war was over	By : Lucie Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 10162 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
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- 6
PART FIVE - SEEKING WHAT WAS HIDDEN
Severus Snape was not having a good day. He had been away on retreat in West Wales as he had been every year since the defeat of Voldemort. Annually, he got away from the chaos that was Hogwarts and indulged in quiet and structured meditation in a glorious sanctuary by the sea. He sometimes believed that this retreat was all that kept him sane.

But now he had returned to mayhem!

There were people gathered outside the gates. What they were here for he had no clue, and he was not planning on speaking to any of them as they all looked like rabble to him. He would question Minerva about it later. He hoped they had not had another shrivelfig disaster this close to the start of the school term, because that was just the thing the gutter press liked to revel in.

Once he had got past the obstacles at the gate he had run into another group gathered in the entrance hall. This party included a gaggle of very small children, and Severus did not do children in the school holidays, especially not ones as young as this group seemed to be. He had swept past, robe flying out dramatically behind him. He trusted that the formidable air that he still cultivated would once again keep him safe. Hermione had called after him, that there was something they needed to talk about urgently. He waved her off, signalling that he would catch up with her later and returned to his class-room looking forward to sorting through the potion ingredients that were supposed to have arrived whilst he was away.

He had spent a very pleasant hour cataloguing all the ingredients that had arrived, and an even more pleasant hour muttering darkly about those that had not. Severus had always expected to be let down in his life. By everyone, and he simply could not suppress a tiny surge of glee when his dire predictions were proved correct yet again.

He was going to see Minerva. It was just not good enough he had decided, some of the most important things on his list had not arrived and Severus did not see why he should have to put up with problems like this on his first day back. He was not a happy man! Was it too much to ask that he might get some peace and quiet before school started he wondered? He spent all year dealing with odious little brats and did not feel that he should have to put up with them in the holidays too.

He stormed along the corridors, cloak still flying out behind him, muttering to himself. He was well aware of the frightening figure that he presented; he rejoiced in it. He was after all somewhat out of sorts. He had still not got over the memorial and he did not like such things hanging over him. Not only tha, but he could not shake the thought that Scrimgeour was up to something nefarious, which Severus felt did not bode well for the future of the wizarding world.

He was cross, more than cross, disgruntled, unsettled. He was still feeling guilty after all these years, over his handling of the Potter child. No one did long term guilt trips as well as Severus did. So he remained generally out of sorts and well, thoroughly pissed off! And these latest events were not soothing his temper, not soothing it at all! He turned the corner into the Charms corridor the one that bisected Transfiguration, lifting his eyes as he caught the flash of something ahead. He was about to bawl out the miscreant for getting in his way. Then he saw what was ahead of him and his breath caught in his chest and the blood drained from his face.

Twenty feet away, standing in the shadows of the hallway, was Lily Potter. Not just Lily. Lily has she�d been when he saw her last, a young mother a woman on the threshold of life, but Lily as he first remembered her, an eleven-year-old girl. This Lily was not a ghost however. She was solid matter, full of colour and vibrancy, not nearly transparent and unearthly pale. Was she some manifestation of vengeance seeking recompense for the way he had treated her son? Severus knew that his time had come and he was chilled to the very bone.

She lifted her hand and pointed at him. And in a cold clear voice she said, �There you are, I found you. Don�t think you can get away this time!�

And Severus Snape, the man who had fought Voldemort, the terror of many a child�s dreamtime landscape and the scourge of Hogwarts pupils for twenty six years fainted clear away on the cold stone floor like some Victorian maiden in a florid romance. Just before he passed into darkness he heard a child�s voice say, �Flora, I think you killed him.� And he knew no more.

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He woke with a start to find James Potter staring down at him, panicked he lifted his arms to protect his face and started babbling. �I am so sorry James. I didn�t want to allow him to be so hurt. I�.we had no choice. I tried so hard to get him out, but it was too late.�

�Professor Snape?� said the apparition, interrupting this rambling string of words. �What on earth is the matter? I�m sorry my daughter gave you a fright, but I�m not James, I�m Harry.�

There was total silence whilst Severus processed this information.

This was not James

�Lily?� He queried

�No that was my daughter Flora. She was playing hide and seek with her brother Rory. She does look extraordinarily like her grandmother so Minerva says, they did not mean to frighten you I am dreadfully sorry.�

There was yet more silence whilst he processed that information too.

It had not been Lily either

The apparition had been a real child. Lily�s granddaughter

Severus counted to ten and opened his eyes.

People surrounded him. Ron and Hermione were there and Minerva. The girl with the red hair, who did indeed look very like Lily Potter when she was that age. More children, some Muggle women, one of whom he noticed absently had rather glorious cloudy dark hair. Oh yes and Potter himself.

Severus had had enough. For twelve years he had nursed the guilt that he had been unable to rescue Harry. He had seen what the boy had gone through and could not imagine how he had endured it, had been unable to help him in any way without giving up his cover as a spy. Had cursed the fact that Harry had rescued him and not the other way around.

Then of course there was the way he had treated him as a pupil. And not only had Snape been horrible to the child just because of his father, but it had been his fault that Voldemort had gone after the Potters in the first place as he had told him the prophecy that he had overheard at the Hog�s Head that day.

Oh and of course after what Hermione had told him he had felt even worse about things because he had known then that everything that had happened to Harry, all of the bad things from the Dursley childhood to the rape and torture why they were all his fault too.

Now here the Potter boy stood, mocking him. Mocking his guilt and his anguish. Looking fit and healthy and happy, surrounded by his obviously loving family and very clearly no longer a boy. Severus couldn�t help himself. After twelve years of keeping the lid on his simmering emotions Severus exploded. �You fucking bastard.� He said coldly and lunged for Harry�s throat.

The room erupted into chaos

It took several minutes to calm everyone down after that. Ron had needed all of his considerable strength to subdue an incensed Severus, who was intent it seemed, on doing Harry some serious harm. The children were crying and Hermione hugged as many of them as she could all at once. Finally she and Fi led them away from the escalating argument. Minerva was somewhat desperately trying to calm things down and Severus was threatening murder.

�You bastard!� he spat again, �all those years of guilt! All those years of regret, wishing you were here so I could make things up to you. Where were you huh, tucked away somewhere, breeding babies and laughing at us? I am going to kill you! I am going to rip you limb from limb you sneaky, ungrateful little sod!� The Muggle woman, the cloudy haired one, (who Severus noticed absently, had the most amazing ultramarine eyes) was waving her hands around and Harry was watching her intently not listening to a word Severus said.

�Just like old times then is it? Potter as always, too fucking arrogant to listen to anything I say� Severus roared, �just like your precious father, too good for the likes of me huh?� Severus yelled, he was beside himself with fury now

He turned on the woman suddenly. �Will you stop waving your bloody arms about I am trying to discuss something with this selfish bastard here and you, woman, are distracting me!�

The woman looked stunned but only for a second and then she flew at Severus bellowing back and giving as good as she got. She was still waving her hands about as she shouted back at Severus.

�You think he is selfish and self obsessed what about you? Have you waited to hear where he has been all these years? No. Did you even bother to ask? No you did not! You assume the worst of him with no evidence to back up your assumptions. You Sir are an arrogant bully! Do you think I am waving my hands about for the good of my health? Do you think it is some sort of bizarre exercise programme? This is sign language and I am trying to translate your senseless ramblings because, despite your bellowing like an enraged buffalo Harry is deaf and he unlike the rest of us, cannot hear a word you are saying. Which is just as well because ninety percent of that was self-righteous bullshit!

Now sit down and speak slowly and calmly and perhaps he will be able to follow a civilised conversation. If you think you are capable of having one that is!�

Severus sat. Stunned into silence.

No one had spoken to him like that in years. Not since a red haired hell cat of a girl had told him off when they were children.

For the first time he looked directly at Harry. �You are deaf?� he asked

Harry nodded

�You were watching her because you can not hear me and she is translating for you?�

Harry nodded again

�But you can understand what I am saying now?�

�Yes, I can,� said Harry. �But you are speaking slowly and you are sitting still so I can see your lips clearly.�

�Oh!� Severus said, as he took a moment to digest that, and then

�You weren�t hiding deliberately just to upset us?�

Harry looked shocked

�Why on earth would I want to do that?� He enquired, �You are obviously very troubled professor, which is why I will overlook how much you have upset my children. I am really sorry that I seem to have distressed so many people including you it seems?� This last was said with a raised eyebrow and a querying look at Severus who nodded curtly just once. �Things were very hard for me for a while, I guess it just took a long time to get well again, a lot that happened, it is very complicated, but I can try and explain it if that helps?�

Severus saw that once again he had jumped to conclusions about Harry. He had seen Harry just hours before the last battle, when he had passed him the information about the Horcruxes. He had been frightened that it was all too late and that Harry would be too weak to fulfil the task of killing Voldemort. They had all worried about that. But Severus had been the only one to see the worst. To understand what had truly happened to Harry.

Then of course the sheer magnitude of magic that Harry had released that day had been phenomenal. If nothing else, the boy would have surely suffered for a very long time with a case of magical exhaustion. Of course it would have taken Harry a long time to get over everything that had happened. The miracle was that he was here at all, never mind looking as well and as sane as he obviously was.

How could he have forgotten that? It was just here, at Hogwarts, being confronted by someone who truly did seem to be the image of his dead father, Severus had lost all logic along with his temper.

�I..I�I am sorry Potter� Severus said, I may have over reacted, �but all these years of worrying I just saw red I am afraid.�

�I am sorry Professor but I don�t understand. Are you saying that you were worried about me. Harry? Why would you? I mean I know you saved my life on several occasions, and don�t think I�m not grateful but you never liked me why would you care what happened to me after the war?�

Severus felt wounded, as if Harry had just kicked him hard in a tender spot. But he forced himself to meet those green eyes without flinching.

�I have cared for some while about you Potter.� Severus said, knowing that finally after all these years it was time for the truth. It was not how he had pictured telling Harry, but Severus knew that he owed him years worth of penance and right here and now was when he had to start paying. He knew very little about deafness but he realised enough from what Harry�s relative had said that he needed to follow her advice. So careful to look directly at Harry he said as slowly and distinctly as he could.

�I have cared deeply about your well being since I found out that you are my sister�s son.�

Harry stared at him with his mouth hanging open

�Wwwhat?� He asked, �What did you say.�

�You are my nephew Harry. Lily Potter was my sister�

�Well I was so not expecting that!� said Harry and sat down with a thud on the chair behind him.

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It took a very long time indeed for Severus to tell his story. Once or twice he got somewhat upset and couldn�t continue for a while. Sometimes Harry could not seem to follow what was being said and Severus would have to wait for Iona to relay his words which he found very frustrating. But then how much more frustrating must it be for Harry? To have to have everything explained like that.

The story he had to tell was such a complicated one, so emotionally difficult for he, who had always been such a private man to share with all these people. It would always have taken a long time to tell, even in the most normal of circumstances which this situation most surely was not.

But he did it, he told his story and Harry absorbed it and Ron and Minerva, Iona and Draco - who had quietly appeared and stood now at the back of the room half hidden in shadows � listened. As his tale unfolded, Severus felt a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, because when he had finished his tale it would be up to Harry to decide what to do about it all and he would not have to make a decision any more.

�After the battle, everything was in chaos. I was arrested immediately as was any known supporter of Voldemort and poor Draco, who really should have been in St. Mungos not in a holding cell in the Ministry.� He looked towards Draco as he said this and the young man smiled sadly in acknowledgement.

�Hermione came to visit me frequently; she is such a fine person, because goodness knows I had done nothing to deserve her support. We talked about all kinds of things. What was happening with the arrested Death Eaters and what was happening in the search for you. They did search you know? Hermione and Ron and the Weasleys, the other Order members, they all wanted to find you. They knew you were badly wounded at best, but even if you had been dead we wanted something to bury. Do you know how bad it has been not knowing what happened to you?�

Harry hung his head at this, obviously upset, breathing deeply and refusing to meet anyone�s eyes for a moment or two and Severus had to wait for him to look up again before he could carry on.

�Anyway� he continued firmly, �there was such a mess after the building collapsed; according to Hermione there were blood and body parts everywhere and they couldn�t tell who was who. Who had died, whether anyone was still at large, who we needed to be searching for. So Hermione came up with the ingenious idea of searching for Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, it�s what Muggles use to identify dead bodies which are not visually recognisable for whatever reason. It is unique for each individual, except of course for identical twins and it works in just the same way for wizards. Hermione suggested it as a way for searching for evidence of you.

�They took hairs from your comb apparently. Although I must admit it was news to me that you had one!� This last comment was said rather dryly but Severus moved quickly on at a scathing look from the perennially annoying Iona. �DNA is apparently also a good way of tracking �matrilineage� which as should be obvious means the genetic line of the mother. Apparently it can be inconclusive as it can be contaminated very easily, but Hermione devised a spell for keeping the samples separated that every one was very happy with. They took a sample of blood from everyone who was present and apparently, your blood and mine it� well it showed we were related. Closely related.

It showed that there was a very high probability that I was a sibling of your mother�s. Hermione and I kept this quiet; she �mislaid� the findings in a folder somewhere because we felt it might look like I was trying to curry favour, claiming to be related to the �Chosen One� and I didn�t want anyone to know until you had found out, until I knew how you felt about being related to me.�

Snape looked around the room to see how his audience were taking his tale, and seeing that they were following his words carefully continued.

�I didn�t just accept it easily you know. When Hermione first told me I scoffed at her. I dismissed this Muggle stuff as inconclusive, but a few days later my mother came to visit me and. �eventually�she told me everything.�

Severus stopped for a moment, this was very painful for him and he hoped they understood, because for Severus it felt that so much of his life had been a lie. Growing up he had been so lonely, he had longed for someone, anyone that would be a playmate and like him for himself, and all along in another part of the country there had been Lily, his sister.

No one said a word whilst he gathered himself, and finally after several moments he felt able to continue.

The day that Eileen Prince had come to visit him had turned his life upside down and he thought of it now and it hurt. She had come into his cell as usual, bustling a bit as she tended to do and he had asked her, straight out in the blunt way that she had always encouraged.

�Mother. Do I have a sister?�

Eileen had been searching in the copious carpetbag that she always carried for the treats she had brought for her son when she froze at his question.

�Severus dear,� she said softly. �I don�t know what you mean.�

And Severus knew at once that she was lying because when she said this his loving, caring mother had refused to meet his eyes. She did know what he was talking about, of course she knew. He had a sister, because it had to be a sister, he was not related to James. Hermione had only mentioned mitochondrial DNA which apparently came from the mother, and Lily was supposedly related to him so closely that the evidence was virtually incontestable

�Mother.� He said warningly �please don�t lie to me I know that I had a sister, please tell me the truth�

�Oh love,� she said, �I am sorry, so very sorry.� She leaned forward and stroked his cheek with such tenderness that he was nearly undone and without further ado she told him everything

�My father was a drunkard and a bully,� Severus carried on, shaking his head a little to clear the memories. �Just after Mother brought me home from the hospital, maybe a week or so, he got drunk one night and beat her so badly she could hardly move, and then he forced himself upon her.�

Severus couldn�t quite bring himself to say the word �rape� it was too stark, too violent although of course that is what it was. �She fell pregnant.� He continued, �and seven and a half months later she gave birth to my sister. Mother was terrified. Father had grown increasingly more violent and abusive, she despaired of keeping me safe from him never mind herself so when she was two months pregnant she contacted the only person she thought who might be able to help; my father�s sister Rosemary.

�Rosemary hated Tobias and they never spoke, she lived at the other end of England, she already had a daughter Mother said, but there had been complications at the birth and she couldn�t have more children. Rosemary knew Tobias for what he was and she agreed to take the baby. So when she was born, Rosemary came to see Mother when my father was not around.

�They had to be careful, he hadn�t to see what was going on because he probably would have killed them both and then killed the child. So they were very careful, Rosemary stayed away from her family and as close to mother as she could for several months and it was her�s and her husband�s name put on the birth certificate. Nobody except my mother, my aunt and my aunt�s husband ever knew what had really happened.

�Mother never saw her daughter again. The little girl grew up happily, Mother said. Sometimes, in secret my aunt would send Mother photographs and little notes of my sister�s progress. She treasured them, but she hid them away because if my father had known he would have gone mad!

�Mother told me that my aunt�s husband was called George Evans and that they already had a daughter Petunia, and that Rosemary had insisted that Mother choose a name her child as they would have no contact from then on. So she named her after her favourite flower, she called her Lily. Lily Eileen Evans.�

Severus stopped again for a bit, to gather himself, and while he did the room was completely still. His audience were waiting patiently for him to continue. They were not making a sound, but were looking upon him with such sympathy that he did not quite know what to do. Severus did not realise that all the time he had been talking tears had been flowing unchecked down his pale cold cheeks.

He was trembling now, and then before he could do or say anything Minerva was sitting beside him. She was holding his hand and smiling her encouragement through her tears

�She didn�t tell me,� Severus whispered, �she didn�t tell me because of what I had become.�

�When I was a child it was too dangerous for me to know. He had a way of getting things out of me, my father did. Mother had planned to tell me when I was seventeen. But�..�

Severus was choking on the words; he could not seem to say them. He was shaking and could not seem to still his trembling. He swallowed several times and then found a glass of water pressed into his hands; he looked up to see Ron standing above him.

�Just whisper it,� He said, kindly with understanding in his eyes, �under your breath�

So Severus did

�I became a Death Eater!�

Then all at once the words were tumbling out again with no stopping them and Severus was telling them about school and how he and Lily had been drawn to one another.

�But not in that way, there was no sexual attraction between us. Somehow we just felt comfortable in each other�s company. I feel I should have known though. Because Lily loved potions too, because she always supported me, even when I was being stupid, and those green eyes of hers, those lovely green eyes.

�Mother�s eyes are green too, just not that shade. Not the iridescent emerald that Lily�s eyes were. I loved her eyes they were so expressive, so beautiful, that�s one of the reasons I hated you so much Potter.� Snape said glaring at Harry as he spoke, as if he had done this deliberately. �Because you have her eyes, in his face and it is too much of a reminder of what he took from me.

�I loved her like a sister, she was my only real friend at school and I was difficult, a challenge to have around but when I behaved badly she constantly forgave me. We rowed of course, we rowed a lot, but we always made it up in the end. But when she started dating James I stopped speaking to her. I hated him so much that I returned her notes, ignored her, refused to speak.

�Two weeks after their relationship started I finally decided that I would join Voldemort because Muggles could not be trusted, look at my father, look at what my Muggle born friend Lily had done. That was the justification I used. I was so angry. So full of hate, that I over came the last of my doubts and joined the Dark Lord.

I never spoke to Lily again.�

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Severus took some time to calm down again after this revelation, Harry left for a while, intending to check on his children he�d said but promising to return. Not that Severus believed him of course. He knew that Harry was disgusted by him and would not be quick to come back, if he ever returned at all

It was Draco that helped him regain control; he sat beside Severus and drew gentle comforting circles on his back with one hand. Where had he learned to do that Severus wondered? How did he know it would be so soothing?

�I�ve been here for a while.� Draco said, �I�m sorry for listening, but now I know, I am here for you Severus. I came to talk to you but I did not want to see Harry or have Harry see me for that matter. It�s not hard to hide from him you just need to remain out of his line of sight and he doesn�t even know that you are there.�

Severus did not quite know what to say. Why on earth was Draco hiding from Potter? Did he really think Potter hated him that much; surely the only one that justified such hatred was Severus himself?

The two men sat in silence for a while. Each wrapped up tightly in his own thoughts.

But then the door of Severus� chambers opened again and in came Harry. Severus turned to Draco to say something but Draco seemed to have melted back into the shadows again, and Harry was speaking so Severus put Draco�s worries to the back of his mind for a while and listened to what his nephew was saying.

�I stopped by the kitchen for some refreshments, it seems to me that you need a little nourishment.� Harry said, laying the tray of goodies that he carried on the table in front of them and sitting down. Iona had returned with Harry, but McGonagall and Ron had tactfully taken themselves somewhere else. They obviously did not want to be around when Harry exploded at him. Wherever they were Harry was evidently not expecting their return at any time soon though because there were only three cups on the tray.

�Are you feeling any better?� Harry asked him, green eyes shining with - was that concern? Harry Potter was worried about Severus Snape? Well that would all stop when he finished his story when Potter knew what Severus had truly done. So Severus carried on with his tale, the next few facts were so dreadful that Severus did not try to sugar coat them. How could he after all? There really was nothing he could say that would excuse his complicity.

�It was my fault your mother died.� Severus said. �I went to Voldemort and told him the prophecy. That�s what made him kill your parents, I caused the death of my own sister and it was my fault that you were raised by your dreadful uncle and aunt.� He almost flinched when he said that, because he knew that what he had done was something that Harry could not forgive, how could he, as Severus was unable to forgive himself?

�I know that you told him the prophecy Professor, I have known it since the night Dumbledore died.� Harry�s voice was calm, �But you did not cause the death of my parents. You like me were just doing as you were told. Voldemort killed my parents and if anyone else is to blame then it was not you but Dumbledore.�

Severus went completely white, all the blood drained from his face and he thought he was going to faint.

�How? What? How did you�?�

Severus was bewildered; he simply could not speak properly any more, construct a sentence even. How did Potter know? He stared at the boy. No, the man, that Po�that Harry had become, in total astonishment. And Harry unflinching, stared coolly back

�It took me a long time to work it out, but then I was a long time in that cellar! I saw Trelawney the night that Dumbledore died I was on my way to warn him about Malfoy.�

Severus was distracted for a sec. But only momentarily, because Harry was speaking again.

�When I ran in to her she told me that it had been you that had overheard the prophecy that night, along with a lot of guff about how Dumbledore saw through you and how rude you were. For a long time I hated you Professor. But then, I have never been the brightest button in the box!� He said depreciatingly. �Without help that Remus said Hermione gave me, I had to work things out for myself.

�There was something puzzling me though,� Harry continued even looking rather puzzled as he explained things. �If you heard all of the prophecy, or even just the last bit then why did you only tell Voldemort the first few lines? Just enough of it so that he would seek me out? Just enough for him to fulfil the second part and mark me as his equal. Why would a loyal Death Eater do that? Why risk giving his master competition? I thought about it for a long time. It just didn�t make sense and then I realised that the only people that would get any benefit from Voldemort marking someone as his equal were those who were fighting against him.

�Dumbledore was desperate. He knew that Voldemort was creating Horcruxes, and was aiming to become immortal. He knew how powerful Tom Riddle had become, how ruthless he was. Tom Marvolo Riddle was a psychopath, pure and simple.� Harry looked at Iona, seemingly seeking confirmation of what he was saying; when she nodded he carried on.

�Psychopaths have no moral responsibility you see. They know what they are doing is wrong but they simply don�t care. They have no conscience. Dumbledore knew that he had to stop him; he was the only one who had all the knowledge, the only one who could prevent him from taking over the world.

�So he blackmailed you didn�t he Professor? He promised to protect you, as Death Eaters were becoming ever more reviled and the danger was rising. You never really belonged with them anyway did you and you already regretted your involvement? I had already worked out that it was mostly some sort of spite against my father and Sirius that had motivated you to join him in the first place, and you wanted out didn�t you? So that was the price albeit unknown to you both at that time. The price for his defeat was my family

�Oh I know that Dumbledore did not know what the outcome of his plotting would be, neither of you did. He was desperate, people were dying every day and he had to do something and this prophecy must have seemed like his only hope, sent by providence, sent by God.

�He didn�t think anything of seeing Trelawney that night, he felt sorry for her perhaps. It was you he was there to see wasn�t it Professor? He was killing time waiting for you. But when she made the prophecy it must have seemed like the answer to his prayers.

�So when you barged in to Trelawney�s interview, Aberforth kept you there at the inn. Because wasn�t that who the barman of the Hog�s Head was, Albus� brother? He knew he was safe there, why else he risk interviewing you in a place like that? He was safer there than anyone else. He bound you to him somehow and he sent to back to Tom to tell him what Dumbledore needed him to know to provide impetus to his downfall.

�But neither of you knew how Tom would mark his equal and by the time you did. Well by then Havoc had been cried, and it was too late to bring back the dogs of war.

�I think what happened to my parents and to me was Dumbledore�s greatest regret. But events had been set in motion by then and however hard he tried there was nothing he could do and just like you Professor I don�t think he ever quite got over his guilt.�

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When Draco awoke he was too sore to move. His neck was stiff and his back ached! Why in the hell Severus still had this great heap of a horsehair sofa he really didn�t know. It had been covered in nubbly green tweed, several years ago now though, someone who obviously hated his fellow man, so Draco suspected anyway, had chosen the combination. He had transfigured it many times in the past into either a more comfortable or pleasing piece of furniture but it resisted such beautification and always reverted to form at the most inconvenient moment. In that Draco supposed, it was very like the man who owned it, contrary and downright cantankerous.

He had not been able to leave Severus last night, as his godfather had been too upset to be on his own. Draco had put him to bed, whilst Severus had muttered under his breath about Potter, and how dare he? And who could have guessed he would be like that?

Severus seemed unable to cope with the fact that Harry had forgiven him.

Completely and without reservation, with no caveat or promises extracted, ignoring all the wrong deeds Severus insisted that he had done to him over the years Harry Potter had forgiven Severus Snape.

Draco had sat in the corner of Severus sitting room last night and listened unashamedly to the discussion that the two men had held late into the night. Iona had looked at him strangely a couple of times, but as Severus seemed to be doing nothing about him, she finally just ignored his presence and Draco was glad to be ignored.

Severus had been astounded at Harry�s words

�Don�t you care about what happened? Don�t you care that you grew up with out a family? That you grew up with those fucking Muggles?�

Then it had been Harry�s turn to explode at Severus

�Of course I bloody care you stupid bastard.� He�d bellowed back

�Do you think I like what happened to me?

�I have been manipulated since before I was even born, used as a weapon. I never had a childhood, because I couldn�t stay with anyone in the wizarding world could I? Not after what had happened to the Longbottoms. No one would have wanted to take in someone who could bring such danger to their family, and I was a danger wasn�t I? Dumbledore knew I was.

�Because he also knew that Voldemort wasn�t dead, that he would come back and that nowhere would be completely safe then, that wasn�t bathed in the blood of my mother�s sacrifice.

And how do you think I feel about that?

�And yeah, Severus, I�ve worked it out. You are my uncle, my closest living relative, closer to my mother than Aunt Petunia who it turns out was only her cousin after all. If we had known that I could have lived with you. And that would have been so much better!�

�I would have taken you Harry,� Severus had said softly turning Harry to face him as he spoke, �you are my family, the only family I have. I have to believe that if I had known the truth I would have been able to see through your resemblance to James, and that we could have come to some sort of understanding of each oth�..�

�Professor!� Harry said sharply, cutting him off. �Even if you had not changed your attitude one whit, one iota, you would have been better than they were to me. You would not have beaten or starved me or shoved me in a cupboard. You at least would not have sold me to Voldemort!�

Harry had been pacing, back and forth all evening. Stopping only to watch Iona sign, or stare intently at Severus when he spoke. He didn�t see Draco hiding in his corner, not all evening long. Not that Draco minded, he could have watched Harry move and talk all night. But Harry sat then and took Severus� long slim hands in his own square, roughened ones

�My family were�. what do the Americans call it? Collateral damage, and that�s what you were too Professor. We were in the way of two opposing forces and that what happened to us was unfortunate, but there are always such casualties in the time of war are there not?� Harry sounded angry now, bitter and even the loyal Iona flinched when he spat out his next words.

�What happened to me was one of the reasons that I stayed away from the wizarding world. I could not face the way that I thought they would treat me when I returned, the conquering hero or the tragic cripple. I am neither, I am simply a man, who also happens to be a wizard,� This last said rather wryly. �I am in truth a very powerful wizard and I did not want to take the risk, once my magic returned, of hexing someone into next week!� He grinned then, rather ruefully. �I have more control of myself now.

�I don�t hate you, I did, for a long time I did. I didn�t understand why you were so nasty to me as a child, but then I got to the stage that I didn�t care anymore. You were kind to me when it mattered when I was Voldemort�s prisoner, you gave me potions and touched me gently when you soothed my wounds and not many people in my life had touched me at all before then. You were there when I needed you and I won�t forget that easily.�

Severus was crying openly now. Severus Snape who in all the years Draco had known him had rarely shed a tear was sobbing like a baby.

�But I did so little, Hhharry, I wwwanted to take you away from there, they should not have treated you like that, you and Ddddraco. You were just children and�.and it was so hard watching you suffer, both of you. In there I forgot whose son you were and how much I had disliked your fffather and I just saw you as a child, a frightened child�.� Severus had completely broken down now. He was crying so hard that he could not speak. ��M sorry,� he sobbed �so sorry.�

�Its all right Sir.� Harry said. �Please don�t cry.� But Severus had not been able to stop himself. So Harry Potter, like the Gryffindor he was had crossed the divide between them, the barrier of hate and distrust that had proved more durable over the years than the bricks and mortar of Riddle Manor. He had taken his hated potions professor in his arms and held him until the sobs that wracked his body stilled and until he could speak again.

�I am not a child Potter, kindly unhand me,� Severus had snarled as he pushed himself away from Harry�s embrace. As soon as he had recovered himself well enough to do so.

�I wanted to apologise.� He said somewhat stiffly. �For my treatment of you over the years, for not getting you away from Voldemort sooner, for what happened to your parents, and to�.Black.�

Harry smiled, the expression lighting up his face until Draco nearly melted with the beauty of him. �S�okay Professor, �it�s all forgotten.n� this time waving a hand in dismissal

Then Severus, more agitated. �You don�t understand Potter. I wanted to say I am sorry, if you knew the things that I have done, th��

Harry interrupting Severus once again �No you don�t understand. I know what you did. I know everything. All the stuff that you are guilt tripping over. If I could forgive Dumbledore for what he did to me, to my family and I have forgiven him. Don�t you think I could forgive you too? It�s done, finished, finito, forgotten, in the past. You get a �get out jail free card� Professor.

I forgive you. For everything. �

Harry had left soon after that, telling Severus to get some sleep, as he would be taking him to meet his great nephews and nieces in the morning.
But it was a long time before Severus was ready to sleep; he and Draco sat up for a long time and talked. Severus told Draco how awful he had been when he was spying for Dumbledore and how sorry he was that he had not forcibly taken Draco away. That he had let Voldemort take him, but Draco had shushed him.
�I probably wouldn�t have listened,� Draco said, �I was a dreadful little snot back then and thought you were just out for glory.

�I deserved what happened to me.�

�No you did not,� said Severus forcefully, he seemed appalled. �No one deserves what happened to you. You were a child; you did nothing to deserve such treatment Draco. Nothing at all. Do you hear me?�

Draco hung his head

Then he nodded once sadly and looked away.

Severus put his hand under his godson�s chin and lifted his face up gently. What�s going on with you and Potter, Draco,� he asked, �why are you avoiding him?�

Draco pulled back none too gently, �nothing,� he said, �there�s nothing going on and shouldn�t you be calling him Harry, now that you know you�re related?�

�Draco Lucius Malfoy, do not try to change the subject. I have known y. �Tell me what is going on with you and Harry and tell me NOW!�

Draco gulped

Severus was obviously not in the mood for any excuses so Draco told him everything.

How he had fallen in love with Harry down in that awful cellar and how Harry it seemed, had fallen for him too. He told Severus how Harry had saved his sanity and how all these years he had somehow managed to stay alive because he hoped deep down that Harry was still alive and that they could one day be together.

�But look at him Sev, he is so strong, so together. Why would he want me? I can�t even walk properly, I am used up and tired out, on the scrap heap at 29!�

And Severus did look, He looked at the man that Draco had become. This young man, his godson had overcome so much to still be here. And he was so proud of him that he hardly knew what to say.

Many people would have been destroyed by what had happened to him, but Draco had picked himself up and albeit with a number of setbacks and disasters had carried on living. He had not realised how much the boys had helped each other and did not recall ever seeing them together. In fact when he thought about it he did not recall seeing Draco much at all in the last couple of weeks that they had been prisoners and indeed he was rather shocked to realise that he had forgotten him. So that is what Harry had done? A blanket notice-me-not, which he rather suspected Draco now utilised against Harry himself to facilitate his pursual of the man he loved.

�Oh Draco,� he�d said, when Draco finally finished his tale. �You must speak to him. Despite all I thought of him when you were at school I think he will be kind to you and listen to you. If only we could restore his memories somehow!�

�Don�t you understand Sev?� Draco said, his voice breaking with sadness.
�I don�t want his kindness, I want him to remember me! To love me for what I am. But how can he after all that I have done? All that I have been? I don�t want his pity. I deserve more that. Pity would destroy me. Oh Severus I want his love, I just want to be loved by the man who captured my heart when I was just seventeen-years-old.�
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After the war was over