So school has started up once more and I will be busy with my classes. I'm almost done with school completely, I only have two more semesters to go and then I will be somewhat free until I find a job…blah…

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own anyone from Harry Potter; if I did I would have sex slaves everywhere and then get arrested for rape and molestation.

The next few days passed with very little incidents, life at Spinner's End for Harry took some getting used to. After being trapped in a small room for weeks, being allowed to roam the house freely was a blessing and a curse as he went to great length to try and avoid Malfoy who seemed to actively seek him out and question him relentlessly. He took to spending most of his days in the kitchens with Jily, who surprisingly didn't mind him helping out with the cooking. He was chopping vegetables for Jily when Draco found him; he had been searching all over the house for Harry and finally decided to check the last place he would ever look.

The kitchen.

He stood in the doorway and just watched the Gryffindor smile softly at the house elf, which was looking up at him adoringly. Draco rolled his eyes and decided to make his presence known.

"So Potter, finally settling into your appropriate station?" Draco smirked when Harry froze, his smile disappearing quickly.

"What do you want Malfoy?"

Draco opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by an excited house elf.

"Oh Master Draco, is you hungry? Jily is almost being done with supper." Jily said sweetly, oblivious to the growing tension in the room. She turned to the counter to grab some biscuits for Draco but stopped when he spoke.

"No Jily, I don't want anything. I just came to see Potter." Draco's smirk was still firmly in place as Harry just chose to glare at his cutting board and slice the vegetables viciously.

"I'll ask again, what do you want Malfoy?" Harry refused to look up from his task but he could feel Draco's stare on him, burning into the side of his face causing a slight flush to appear.

"Why Potter I only came to talk." He moved closer, trapping the smaller boy against the counter; caging him in, thus preventing any possible escape. His smirk grew when Harry visibly stiffened and tried to move away, pressing himself closer to the counter. Neither of the boys saw the distraught house elf leave the kitchen.

"I don't want to talk to you Malfoy." Harry glared down at the knife in his hand and contemplated stabbing the blonde that was touching him. Snape might not like that though; apparently he cares for the arrogant young man.

"Well I want to talk to you Potter." Draco purred, not the least bit put off by the Gryffindor's behavior. There was something going on that he didn't know and my Merlin he was going to find out.

Harry stiffened even further, if that was even possible. His breathing began to become erratic as his magic began to build up inside of him. Harry could feel his magic continue to grow and dance almost painfully along his skin. He relished the pain and smirked inwardly when Draco released him with a curse. Harry slowly turned to face his rival, still holding the large knife in his hand, an evil smile on his face; which made Draco quickly hide behind Severus, who had entered the kitchen while both boys were distracted. Severus' eyes were firmly trained on the knife in Harry's hand, he was about to calmly talk Harry down when his stupid godson decided to open his mouth.

"Potter what the bloody hell are you doing?!" Draco screamed from behind his godfather.

"I think I'm going to skin me a snake." Harry responded calmly while starting to make his way the blonde that was only partially in his view.

Severus quickly shielded Draco from Harry's view and shot Draco a look that clearly said 'Don't say a word.' He quickly turned his attention back to the enraged Gryffindor, who was breathing hard and underneath the anger, Severus could see some slight fear and had to wonder what had happened.

"Harry."

Large green eyes turned to his rescuer, before looking for possible escape routes.

"Harry, please put the knife down. Talk to me. What happened?" Severus slowly began reaching for his wand while still keeping an eye on the knife.

Harry scowled. "Why don't you ask the ferret? He is the one who wouldn't leave me alone. I just wanted to cook with Jily, as a way to escape everything including him. But no, he wouldn't let me and has been cornering me whenever he gets the chance! I just want to be left alone!" Harry screamed and threw the knife on the ground before turning to exit the kitchen but stopped when he reached the doorway.

"And tell him that the next time he tries to touch me, I will make sure that he will never be able to enjoy sexual release again." Harry glared coldly once more before exiting the kitchen and securing himself in his room. He threw himself on his bed and tried to stop the shaking in his hands as his heart was beating a mile a minute. A soft 'hoot' tore him from his panicked state as he turned to look at Hedwig, who was watching him. He smiled softly and beckoned her over. She flew gracefully from her cage and landed on the bed next to his head.

"Hi Hed."

"Hoot." Hedwig nipped his nose affectionately, drawing a smile from Harry, who was trying very hard not to start cry.

"I don't know what to do Hedwig. I want to forget and move on but it is so hard, and Malfoy's not making it any easier. Why can't he just leave me alone? What did I do to him?" Harry whispered as tears flowed steadily down his cheeks and hugged a pillow to his chest.

"What do I do?"

As soon as Harry left the kitchen, Severus turned to his godson who was staring at him coolly.

"What did you do?!" Severus spat and smirked inwardly when Draco flinched.

"Why do you automatically assume that I did something?" Draco huffed and crossed his arms.

"You mean other than the fact that he as much as told me you did. Your entire demeanor just screams arrogant guilt." Severus glared. "Now tell me what you did."

"Nothing."

"Draco."

"Nope."

"Fine then. Jily!" Draco's eyes widened when Jily popped into existence.

"Yes Master Severus? Jily is here to serve."

Severus looked down at the diminutive house elf at his feet. "Jily, what happened in here before you came to get me?" He listened intently as Jily recounted what had happened and at one point had to freeze Draco as he attempted to make his escape. When Jily was done, Severus was fuming and gave Draco a look that promised excruciating pain before making his way up to Harry's room. He knocked on the door but received no response. He opened the door and slowly peeked into the room and saw Harry, curled up on the bed while hugging a pillow to his chest with tears streaming down his cheeks. His attention was quickly taken by Hedwig, who was hooting dolefully next to her young master. Severus made his way into the room and sat on the bed next to Harry's quivering form, wincing inwardly when he noticed Harry stiffen and his breathing become erratic. He waited, hoping that Harry would relax and realize that no one was here to hurt him. When he noticed that Harry remained tense, he sighed and gently ran his fingers through the young man's hair; something he remembered Lily liked. He was rewarded with Harry beginning to melt into the bed.

"Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you all right?"

"…I suppose." Came the muffled response and he clung tighter to the pillow as if it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

"Jily told me what happened, Harry. I am not going to make excuses for Draco but his is used to getting what he wants and hates when there is a secret that he doesn't know. I can tell you that he won't stop until he figures out what happened with you." Severus continued running his fingers in Harry's soft hair. Harry remained silent for a few minutes and Severus was content to let the silence continue.

"You can tell him." Came Harry's whispered reply.

Severus looked down, trying to get a good look at Harry's face but was unable to since that face was buried in a pillow. "Are you sure?"

Harry nodded and pulled his face out of his pillow. He smiled weakly at Severus and hesitantly placed a hand on his arm.

"Thank you sir."

"For what?"

"For everything you've done for me. I know I'm not your favorite person and you didn't have to come and save me. I know I would've died if Hedwig hadn't come to you." Harry paused and looked up a Severus; he bit his lip and frowned slightly.

"What's wrong Harry?" Severus asked, still running his fingers through Harry's hair.

"I don't hate you!" Harry blurted to a very surprised Severus. "I don't think I ever really did, I just never understood and still don't understand why you seemed to hate me as soon as I stepped into Hogwarts." Harry became very flustered when Severus didn't respond beyond raising an eyebrow.

"It appears that my memory that you ventured into uninvited wasn't very clear." Severus smirked when Harry blushed furiously and smiled sheepishly.

"I never did apologize for that did I? I felt horrible while watching that, I understand why you hated my dad…" Harry hesitated before looking at Severus with his large green eyes. "Is that why you hate me? Because of what my dad and S-Sirius did?"

Severus stayed silent for a few minutes as he contemplated on how to respond. He studied Harry's face and saw the honest sincerity that was easily visible. "Yes that is why. That wasn't the only instance where your father publicly humiliated me. There were many times, I was your father's favorite of course. But the feeling was mutual; we hated each other as soon as we stepped onto the train." He spoke softly, so softly that Harry had to strain his ears in his attempt to hear him. Harry could see, for once, the pain that came from his memories.

"I'm sorry sir."

An eyebrow rose. "For what?"

"For what my dad and Sirius did to you while you were at Hogwarts. There was no reason for them to be bullies, I hate bullies. They always pick on people they actually feel threatened by and those who can't always protect themselves." Harry huffed and slouched against the headboard of the bed.

Severus was stumped to say the least; he never expected Harry would apologize for what Potter and the mutt did. But then again he really shouldn't be surprised. This was exactly something Lily would've done, to an extent anyway, she wasn't as forgiving as Harry was. That was one of the main differences between them that Severus had noticed. He hoped that he could forgive Draco as well, no one else knew but Severus was able to see that Draco secretly fancied Harry.

"Thank you Harry, although there is no reason why you should apologize. I appreciate it though, but it was in the past. Done and over with, I just need to make myself move one." Severus attempted to smile but was still somewhat in shock.

Harry nodded reluctantly.

"Harry," Severus paused until he was sure he had the young man's attention. "Do you think you would be able to forgive Draco? I am not trying to push but you must realize that Draco is the way his is because he was brought up that way. It's not completely his fault."

Harry mulled it over for a few seconds before answering truthfully.

"I don't know."

Okay so not as much Draco in this chapter but never fear! The next chapter will definitely have more Draco sexiness, and he will get an explanation on why Harry is acting the way he is. Will Draco understand and back of a bit or will he continue to push and eventually push Harry over the edge of no return?

Rayne.