*Puts hand over heart* bless everyone who reads and reviews this honestly. This ones a bit weird and doesn't focus on Draco as much as the last chapters do. I just sort of wanted to delve a little deeper into things (like Percy being in Slytherin and more Sevv and Remus stuff). It all takes place second year and I'm not mentioning much of what happens in canon. Oh well.

Alrighty, I love you guys that review and give me motivation to keep writing. Its really nice to know somone likes what I'm doing in my tiny lil corner over here.

I own nothing.

X X X X

In hindsight, Severus should have expected this to one day happen. His kitchen wasn't that big, and during Christmas it often got busy, even though it was just him and Draco...And Remus, he had to add him into that too.

But this year Percy Weasley had asked to spend the holiday at Hogwarts, but at the same time, no other Slytherins were staying, and neither was the head of house. Molly and Arthur hadn't even cared that much when it was suggested Percy spend the winter break with Severus and Draco.

At first, he'd been ok with it - Percy was a good student and Draco's favorite babysitter and the only Weasley he liked - but the kitchen was even more crowded now.

For that reason, he had turned, only to crash into Remus and have the man catch him before either could fall. Now it was rather awkward, for Severus was close enough to feel the roughness of the other man's scruff (there really wasn't enough to call it a beard) and to smell the heady scent of musk and rain and grass coming off of his clothes. The fact that Remus' arms were around him and his hands touching his waist, and the professor's own hands on the werewolf's chest and shoulders...

"I, um, I'll j-just...go over here." Remus slipped away, face flushed, and started to fiddle with the tea kettle. Severus stood still for a moment, watching him with wide eyes, before he, too, moved away. In fact, he left the kitchen, ignoring the way the eldest child in the house raised his eyebrows at his teacher from where he was playing chess with Draco.

He said nothing, but Severus got the idea that Percy already knew of the awkwardness between the two men.

X X X X

"Don't talk to him Oliver, he's a Slytherin! He might try and hex us!"

Percy had been accepted as he was by most of his family, but this...He turned his head to glare at his two younger brother, Fred and George. He supposed they felt betrayed by him, but the hat had sorted him and he couldn't change that. It wasn't like he was no longer their brother, or that he'd hex them.

He would never hurt them, even if they were jerks sometimes.

"I just wanna say hi! I've met all your other brothers, haven't I?" Oliver Wood was captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, keeper as well. He was a bit obsessed, but Percy didn't know him well; like he'd said, they'd never met. Plus, he was always busy watching and cheering for Marcus to really care what Oliver was doing.

Still.

"Hello Wood, George, Fred. Nice day, isn't it?" He kept his tone cold, clipped and to the point, trying to let them know he didn't want to talk. It was a nice day, sunny and pleasantly warm, and Percy had already taken off his cloak to get rid of the excess heat. He and Marcus were supposed to be studying together, out here on the grass, but Marcus wasn't here yet and the twins were.

Poor Oliver. He didn't need to get dragged into the family drama.

"Seriously Oliver, look, he doesn't even want to talk to us." Fred was surprisingly observant. Perhaps Percy should spend more time outside his room?

"After all, Slytherins don't get along with anyone, do they?"

"Thats because they're such cowards -"

"-they can't stand up to real men!"

Percy stood suddenly, eyes mysteriously stinging and hands curled into fists at his side. He wanted to hurt the twins. Wanted to make them run away and leave him alone. Was that too much to ask?

"And what is happening here?" Severus Snape's voice made all four boys jump and turn as one. Behind Percy, the potions teacher stood with a scowl on his face and Draco next to him. The blond was out of breath and had fresh grass stains on his knees and elbows, and Percy realized the boy had probably run for help.

He made a mental note to give him some candy next time he had any.

Further behind them, he could see Marcus coming down the pathway towards them. The other Slytherin looked quite unhappy. Before his friend could get to him, Percy gathered his things and ran up the path. When Marcus demanded that the twins pay for what they said, Percy hugged him and told him not to get into trouble.

He would get into detention, and then who would be Percy's study partner and remind him to eat?

X X X X

Draco knew a few things.

He knew that Severus and Remus had weird icky feelings for each other, but Remus made Severus smile sometimes, so he quietly hoped that they'd realize their feelings soon and do other gross adult things.

He knew Percy cried in his sleep sometimes, and that he really missed playing fun with his brothers and being the one they looked up to. He also knew that Percy didn't regret being a Slytherin, that he loved chocolate and was maybe, just a little bit, in love with Marcus Flint.

And if he knew the two older boys, they wouldn't admit to anything unless forced.

Draco idly wondered if there were any spells to trap two people in a closet together.