A/N: I dedicate this one to cute-squishy-cheeks. Thank you for being my first reader. I hope you enjoy it:)

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Draco was not ready for the arrival of his godfather the next evening. Severus Snape came out of the fireplace into the living room, where Fred, George, Ginny and Draco were playing a card game at the table. Severus landed on the carpet so smoothly that the inhabitants would not have heard him if it was not for the whooshing sound the fire made.

They looked up at the sudden visitor and the three Weasleys smiled politely. Draco just looked at him nervously, trying to gauge his reaction. But Severus did not show much reaction. Instead, he stepped around the sofa towards them. “Good evening.” He said in his usual monotonous voice.

“Evening.” The Weasleys mumbled back. Draco still did not say anything.

“Severus?” A voice came from the kitchen and a few seconds later, Mrs Weasley entered the room. “Oh, you´re already here. To be honest, I expected Remus to be here first. Oh well, make yourself comfortable. Ron! Harry! Come here and greet Professor Snape.”

Ginny, Fred, George and Draco sniggered at the groans that were heard. The latter froze when he noticed Severus´ eyes on him and quickly schooled his expression into a neutral one. “That´s really not necessary, Molly-” Severus said, but at this moment, Potter and Ron already entered the room.

“Hi, Professor Snape.” Potter said awkwardly. He nudged his best friend when an awkward silence followed.

“Umm, good evening, Sir.” The Weasley was spared from any awkward silences or responses when there was a knock on the door.

“This will be Remus.” Mrs Weasley said. Potter and Ron hurried to open the door. “Then we can close the floo network. It´s safer.” She swished the wand quickly and went to greet Lupin, as did all the other Weasleys. Lupin got a way more hearted greeting than Severus, and Draco thought that was unfair. His godfather was way more important for the order and Hogwarts, better dressed, and a better man than this werewolf.

He knew he could not let his disagreements show though. He still liked living with the Weasleys for some reason.

“Hello Severus.” Lupin said, joining them at the table, followed by the other Weasleys and Potter. “Draco. Fancy seeing you here.” Draco just gave a polite nod in response and inched closer to Severus. He did not like that this man was more liked than his godfather. Especially since he knew how Lupin and his friends had made a hell out of Severus´ school years.

Bill and Fleur came down the stairs a few minutes later to join the gathering, whereas Mrs Weasley stood up. “Arthur should be home in a few minutes. Dinner is almost ready. I´m gonna finish.” She disappeared into the kitchen.

Severus nudged Draco. “Let´s go outside for a bit of privacy.” He said lowly. Draco tensed but nodded stiffly. They stood up and he followed his godfather out the door, grabbing a warmer robe on the way and slipping into his shoes.

“Harry, what are you-”

Draco heard a chair scrape against the floor and a hiss. As Draco stepped out of the house behind Severus, he saw something red disappear behind the rosebushes. Severus and Draco slowly walked along the garden in silence. They could not wander off too far because of the wards surrounding the house.

“How are you?” Severus finally said.

Draco stood taller. “Fine.”

Severus stopped walking abruptly and faced Draco, looking at him pervasively. “Take off this Malfoy mask for a second, Draco.”

Draco raised his eyes to Severus´, trying to decipher the look on his face. “Only if you take off yours.”

Severus did not break the stare for what seemed like ages, but Draco did not back down. He had learned early not to be the one to back down. A Malfoy always won. Severus´ mouth twitched. “Okay.” He turned and started the wander around the garden again. “So?”

Draco was not sure what his godfather wanted to hear. He also did not know what he wanted to tell him. So he asked the thing that kept him awake at night the most. “How´s mother?”

“She´s... unharmed.” Severus said. “Worried though.”

Draco nodded. He had thought this much. “Uncle Sev..." Draco said, looking at his godfather pleadingly, although he made sure not to seem too submissive. "Please make sure she´s okay.” 

Severus´ mouth twitched again. It was rare to see him ever show a real smile. “Funny.” He said. “She said the same thing about you.” They had stopped walking to watch a Gnom fighting the cold by running around and picking up rotten leaves. “Why didn´t you ask about your father though?”

Draco threw him a glance before looking back at the Gnom. It looked like it was yelling at someone else now. Draco could not detect at whom though. “Did he ask about me?” Severus stayed silent. “See.” Draco said, feeling his Malfoy mask building up again.

“He loves you, Draco.” Severus said, turning to face him but Draco did not look back. “But he was raised by a similar father to yours.”

“Are you defending him?” Draco sneered, but he did not look at Severus. He instead decided to sneer at the Gnom. Draco still loved his father, but it was hard showing care for him when he dragged Draco and his mother into this whole mess. He had believed his father everything he had taught him, even that everything the Dark Lord did was right.

When his father had landed himself in Azkaban last summer, though, Draco had time to think for himself. He had been angry at Potter and his friends for getting his father locked up in the first place. But then, he was introduced into the inner Death Eater circle to replace his father. Draco was supposed to be proud. And he kind of was. He was eager to prove himself.

But then he started to pick up on things. He saw how the Dark Lord controlled every single person, no matter what blood status they possessed. He noticed how most Death Eaters grimaced in disgust as soon as they turned away from the Dark Lord. They were just on his side because of fear, not conviction that this was the right thing to do. They were not loyal to him. They were not even loyal to each other. Draco saw how Death Eaters incriminated one another instead of sticking together, how they deceived and betrayed each other. The only aim was survival.

So then, Draco found himself struggling with his ideals. If not even most Death Eaters thought the Dark Lord was doing great things, then who did? What was this even for? It had little to do with blood status. And then Draco was getting lesser and lesser sleep, his new perceptions warring with what he had learned his whole life.

He still was not sure if he was doing the right thing, questioning the Dark Lord, questioning his father...

“When I first heard you were here,” Severus pulled him out of his musings. “I was not sure if I should be extremely angry or proud of you.”

Draco pulled his gaze away from the spot of frozen grass his eyes had been glued on. The Gnom was nowhere in sight. “And?” He looked at his godfather.

“You know what the difference between you and your father is?” Severus did not let Draco answer. “Half a year ago you would have done anything to try to make your father proud... Your father still has not stopped trying.” Severus turned to look into Draco´s eyes. There was something sparkling behind those black orbs. “I´m proud of you, Draco.”

Draco blinked. Then, he registered the words. He blinked harder. This time, to try to get rid of the sudden wetness in his eyes. He had waited for is father to say this for years. But he knew his own father was way too proud to actually say it. Hearing it from his godfather was the closest he could get.

He fell around Severus´ neck and buried his face in his godfather´s shoulder. Severus seemed surprised, standing stiff. Then, slowly, he wrapped his arms around his sniffling godson. His sniffles were so quiet that no one but Severus could hear them and Draco was glad his back was turned to the rose bushes.

“Don´t worry.” Severus whispered after a while when Draco had calmed down. “I´m going to complete the task.” Draco pulled back, looking at his godfather with a horrified expression. “It´s all planned. He knows.”

Draco pressed his lips together tightly and frowned. He knew. And he still wanted to go through with it? It did not make any sense to Draco.

“Don´t worry.” Severus repeated and finally stepped away from his godson completely. “Let´s go have dinner.”

Draco nodded, but before he could follow Severus back into the house, he hesitated. “You can go in. I´ll come after.”

Severus turned to him. His eyes strayed to the rose bushes for a second. So he had also been aware of their audience.

Draco nodded subtly in response. Severus nodded back, then turned around swiftly and disappeared into the Burrow.

Draco leaned his shoulder against the house wall and crossed his arms casually, facing the moving rose bushes. “Are you that obsessed with me that you have to listen to my private conversations now, Potter?” Draco said.

A loud “Ow!” Came from behind the rose bushes before a ginger head appeared. He stood up and muttered, “You have no idea.” Potter appeared next to him and elbowed his best friend. “Ow! I mean... Shove off, Malfoy.”

Draco smirked at the blushing Potter. Ron just looked annoyed. They both were covered in scratches and the Weasley was petting his clothes and hair to get old brown leaves and dirt off of them. “Why should I shove off? You´re the one hiding behind rose bushes to stalk me.”

“We weren´t stalking you, Malfoy.” Potter spat. “Not everything is about you.”

Draco raised his eyebrows. “What else where you doing behind the bushes then?”

“That´s none of your business.” Potter glared although his cheeks were still tinted pink. Draco liked it.

“Sucks getting caught, doesn´t it, Potter?” Draco teased. “Maybe try to be more subtle next time. Or, you know... Just talk to me if you´re so obsessed with me.”

“Shut up, Malfoy.” Potter said, grabbing Ron´s sleeve to pull him into the house, stomping past Draco. The blonde just smirked after them. He loved getting under Potter´s skin.

The glee Draco felt from teasing Potter soon ebbed away when the dinner drew to an end and he remembered he had to sleep in a room with Potter and Ron tonight. It was getting late and one after another excused themselves from the dinner table to get ready for bed. When Severus also got up, Draco followed closely.

Like always, he changed into Ron´s pyjamas in the bathroom where no one could see him. Severus would bring him his own pyjamas and other necessities tomorrow, but tonight, Ron´s cotton pyjama would have to suffice.

He entered the attic, which was, like all rooms it seemed, small enough to accommodate a bed and another mattress on the floor. There were some cartons, broken chairs and pieces of wood scattered in different corners of the room. It was the fullest room Draco had seen in the Burrow yet. There was a window on the sloping ceiling and on clear days they could probably have a beautiful view on the stars. Today, it was overcast though and the only light in the room was coming from two candles on opposite walls.

As soon as Draco entered the room, Potter and Ron jumped onto the real bed. “You sleep on the floor, Malfoy.” Potter said, trying to make himself comfortable beside his best friend.

Draco wondered if this was worth putting up a fight over. A Malfoy did not sleep on the floor.

Then he just shrugged. At least he had a bed of his own. He guessed there were advantages of not being liked. He laid himself down on the mattress on the floor, pulling the duvet over himself and closed his eyes.

“Who´s gonna turn off the candles?” Ron asked into the silence of the room.

“How about Malfoy?” Potter said.

“Why?” Draco said. “I don´t care about the light.” After a few moments of silence, he wondered, “How did you even enlighten them without magic?”

“We borrowed Bill´s wand.” Ron said.

Harry laughed. “Now we have to blow them off like muggles. Quite a task for the two purebloods, isn´t it?” Ron huffed. After a few more minutes, he finally stood up, blew off the candles and got back into the bed beside Potter.

But it was not silent for long. In the bed beside Draco the boys started to shuffle around until Potter exclaimed, “Ugh Ron! Stop taking up so much space.”

“I´m not.” Ron argued. “I barely have enough space myself.”

“But I´m gonna fall off.” Potter said. “And stop kicking me.”

“I´m sorry.” Ron said. “I´m not used to sharing a bed. By the way, Percy once told me I´m kicking while I´m asleep. Don´t know if it´s true though.” Potter groaned.

“You know,” Draco said. “If one of you is at risk of falling off the bed, it´s smarter to sleep on the floor. Not such a deep fall.”

Potter scoffed. “Nice try, Malfoy.”

Draco shrugged. “Just saying.” If he was being completely honest, Draco was starting to get uneasy on his makeshift bed. He could not see anything in the darkness underneath the bed beside him, he was right next to the door, and he was hearing strange noises in and around the house. And the knowledge that there were loads of cartons with unknown content in the room did not help.

It got worse when Potter did not answer. No one said anything. It seemed like they adjusted to the small sleeping space and were trying to fall asleep now.

Draco closed his eyes, but the knowledge of the black space underneath the bed beside him made unwanted images flashed beneath his eyelids. A snake jumping at him, its fangs bared and ready to strike. Draco could practically hear the hissing noises. Mean red eyes encouraging-

He sat up with a start, inhaling sharply. His heart was beating rapidly against his ribs. Then he laid back down slowly.

“Malfoy?” Potter whispered.

“What?” Draco snapped defensively.

There were a few seconds of silence. Potter was probably trying to decide if he should question further. “Nothing.” He said in the end. Draco wished he would have asked. It was unlikely that Draco would have answered truthfully, but at least he would be able to concentrate on his irritation instead of his fear.

Draco heard steps somewhere on a floor beneath them. He wanted to inch away from the door. Images of a man in long robes standing in the doorway taunted him. Being closest to the door, he would get to Draco first. But inching away from the door would mean he would be closer to the terrifying darkness underneath the bed. Anything could be under there. Boggarts, snakes, Dementors, rats, ferrets, Death Eaters...

He tried laying on his side, but turning his back to either the door of the bed seemed even more terrifying. And he could not even reassure himself by gripping his wand. Mr Weasley still had it. He was defenceless.

He grabbed the duvet and pulled it over his head, his heart beating wildly in his chest. He did not dare to move. But the images in his head grew steadily more gruesome, a mixture of memories and fears.

Creatures jumping out the cartons, men hexing him in his most vulnerable state, curses flying, Draco crying for help, but his mother was being tortured herself, a huge snake jumping on him, himself being a ferret and flopping through the air helplessly, hundreds of rats running all over him, biting him, a wand pointing at him, mean, red eyes watching him, merciless and gloating, a high-pitched, mean voice throwing curses, Draco´s left forearm burning, a Dementor getting closer, but this time, there was no one to defend him, a snake again, his own father pointing his wand at him, his mother crying, a pale, snakelike face laughing...

Draco shifted a bit, scared that whatever could be watching was now aware of him...

He swallowed harshly and whispered into the darkness, “Potter? Weasley?”

“Hmm...” A sleepy grumble sounded from the bed.

“Can I... borrow one of your wands? Just for tonight?” Draco whispered.

There were a few seconds of silence where they seemed to process the question. Then Potter demanded, “Why would we trust you with a wand? Especially while we´re asleep.” He sounded more awake now.

“For Merlin´s sake.” Draco hissed back. “I won´t hurt any of you. I have nowhere to go if I mess up.”

“And why should we believe you?” Potter said. “Why should we believe anything you´re saying?”

“I-” A loud snore interrupted him. Potter groaned and Draco sniggered. Arguing with Potter seemed to help him seeing humour in this situation.

“Ow!” Potter exclaimed. “That idiot is kicking-” A moment later, Potter landed half on Draco with a thump. “Ow, Ron!” He moved away from Draco and went to stand up to wake his kicking friend.

Draco hurried to lay a hand on his shoulder, preventing him from taking any action. “No, let him sleep. It´s fine.”

Potter looked at him in confusion. Draco avoided his gaze. Even in the dark, Potter seemed to find something, though. “Are you scared, Malfoy?”

“No!” Draco denied loudly, then lowered his voice to a whisper. “I mean, no. Of course not.”

“You´re scared.” Potter smirked. Draco blushed, but it was not like Potter could see it. It was way too dark.

"I´m not scared, Potter. Shut up.”

“Whatever you say.” Potter said. “I´m just gonna stay down here and be your comforting presence. So you´re not scared anymore.”

“I´m not scared.” Draco argued.

“Good.” Potter said. “Then I can go up to sleep in Ron´s bed again.”

“No!” Draco said.

“Then admit you´re scared.” Potter said.

“No.”

“Ha!” Potter gloated. “You just denied that you won´t admit it. You didn´t deny that you´re scared. You´re scared of the bad, dark Weasley attic.”

“I´m not.” Draco said weakly, inching closer to Potter. “Shut up.”

Potter just laughed. Draco could finally fall asleep.