YOU'RE TIED FOR BEST THING IN MY LIFE, MOONY.

"I HATE YOU. I hate you. I hate you!" Ivy squealed, hiding her head in Sirius' chest, who was laughing at her reaction.

"Darling, it's not that scary," he told her.

Harry scoffed from his spot on Sirius' other side. "Sirius, you said this was a movie about kids and agriculture."

"He didn't lie," Remus muttered, smirking down at the glass of scotch he was drinking.

Ethen covered his mouth, unable to tear his eyes from the screen. "Did He Who Walks Behind the Rows just possess him?"

"What do you think?" Val asked, scoffing. Then she sighed and looked at Ivy, who was shaking. "Do we need to turn the light on?"

"Please," she muttered, her eyes still screwed shut. But then she screamed as thunder boomed outside, only adding to her anxiety. "I hate you."

"I'm sorry," Sirius said while reaching to pause the movie. And Ethan threw his hands up in annoyance, as it was nearing the exciting end. "I'll take you up to sleep while the others finish."

Ivy glared up at him. "How am I supposed to sleep—"

She was cut off by frantic knocking on the front door, and Ivy flinched, still wound up from the movie. Val snickered at her before going to answer the door since she was already up and getting the light.

Much to her surprise, Draco was on the other side, soaking wet from the rain, blood dripping down his forehead from a cut, and clutching his right arm painfully.

"Shit, Dray," she muttered, pulling him inside instantly. "Ivy, get some medical supplies! Harry, go up to your room?"

"What?" Harry asked, getting off the couch. But Remus was faster, having gotten up as soon as Valerie yelled. He spotted Harry's boyfriend in such a ragged state and turned Harry around, not letting him see.

"Up to your room," he said again. "We'll come get you in a bit."

When Harry didn't budge, Ethan took it upon himself to shove him lightly toward the stairs. And he didn't come down until Harry was safely in his room. By the time he rejoined them, Draco was lying on the couch, nearly unconscious as Sirius wrapped blankets and towels around him while Ivy began checking his head wound.

"Dray, keep your eyes open, please," Ivy begged, tears welling in her eyes as she doctored the fifteen-year-old who was passing out. "What happened?"

"Guys," Val said suddenly, her voice going cold. She was searching for other injuries, remembering how he was cradling his arm. She'd pulled back his sleeve, spotting a fresh tattoo that was still red around the edges of the ink.

All of them but Ivy froze, seeing Voldemort's mark on his skin.

"What the hell?" Ethan asked, his face scrunched up. "They can't still be giving those out. There's no point. You-Know-Who is gone. He can't call his followers to him anymore."

"It's still a sign of faith," Remus muttered. "Flashing it gets Severus in every door still. With Lucius in Azkaban..."

"They need a representative from the Malfoy family," Sirius finished for him.

"Do you think they forced it on him?" Val asked. "Or he took it willingly?"

"Of course, not!" Ivy spoke for the first time, still crying. "He - he's hurt. He needed somewhere safe."

"But what if he leads them here?" she asked, already reaching for her wand like she was expecting an attack. "He couldn't Apparate. He ran here. They could've followed."

"If they find us, they find us," Sirius muttered, looking down sadly at Draco. Was this what he'd looked like when he ran to the Potters'? He didn't remember much from that night — only Regulus sobbing as their father cast the curse and then Euphemia's gentle voice the next day when he woke. "Remus, see about something to clean the tattoo. Doesn't need to get infected."

Remus nodded and went off to his personal stash of healing equipment, knowing he'd have plenty to take care of Draco.

"We need to tell HJ," Ivy muttered while pushing Draco's soaking hair off his forehead.

"Are we sure that's a good idea?" Ethan asked nervously.

She nodded, as did Sirius. "Dray was there every time Harry got hurt last term. We're already keeping so much from him about the Order. This, he can know."

"As for what Draco decides to share when he's awake, that's up to him," Sirius added.

Ethan nodded and went back upstairs, slowly opening Harry's door, seeing the boy pacing the room. In an instant, he looked up with wide eyes. "Whose hurt? Is it Mr. Weasley? Professor McGonagall?"

"It's Draco, Harry," he told him softly. "Come down. He's not awake yet, so we don't know what happened. Val just panicked. She didn't want you to see him when he first got here."

"Dray's hurt?" he asked in disbelief. Then he was pushing past Ethan, running back downstairs. He froze in the entrance to the living room, taking it all in. He didn't really give a damn about the tattoo that Remus was wrapping up. He just cared about the steady rise and fall of Draco's chest. "Is he... is he okay?"

"He will be," Ivy said softly.

Merlin, how she hoped she wasn't lying to him.

| | |

When Draco woke, everyone but Sirius, Ivy, and Harry made themselves scarce. Draco clung to Ivy, who was on the couch with him and slowly helping him eat some food so he'd have something on his stomach with the pain potion they'd given him.

"Dray, what happened?" Harry asked, his throat feeling tight. Draco was always so... untouchable and perfect and strong, so how could he be hurting like this?

He kept his blue eyes down, beginning to tremble a bit. "They said... they said I had to make up for Father's mistakes," he whispered. "They've been coming and going all month — ever since we got back from school. Threatening Mother when she tried to keep them away. At first, they made me sit in on the meetings even though Mother tried to stop them, then Snape made me start speaking up, asking for my opinions. Then last night, they - they..."

"It's okay, Draco," Sirius told him. "You're safe now and we won't let them near you."

Tears spilled over Draco's eyes and he shook his head. "They told me I had to get the mark. Said I couldn't be trusted without it. Said it was a sign of my loyalty. I - I didn't want it, but they hit me and held me down. As soon as they left, I just... I just ran. Merlin, I left my mother alone in that house."

"I'll get word to Narcissa that you're safe," Sirius promised. He could at least do that without jeopardizing their location. "But you just worry about feeling better. You went through a lot."

"I can't go back there, Sirius," Draco muttered. "Please, don't make me go back there. They never leave."

"You aren't going back," Ivy said, running her fingers through his hair. "I wouldn't dare let you. You'll stay here until September. We have plenty of room."

"Are you sure?" he asked in a small voice, showing how young and scared he really was.

Sirius nodded, his chest aching as so many unpleasant memories swam to the surface of his mind. "I'm sure."

| | |

It was safe to say that living at Grimmauld Place was an adjustment for Draco, who wasn't used to a home that was so full of light and love — they'd really turned the place around since the Order began meeting there. He still cowered away any time Snape was in the house, just reminded of seeing him in those meetings at his manor. He told Harry that he didn't believe he was a good enough actor to be faking his loyalty.

Sirius made all the arrangements for Draco, getting him new clothes and everything he'd need for school, and setting him up in a room near Harry's. Kreacher was so delighted to have someone like Draco to wait on, and Dobby was just as pleased by his old master's arrival.

Sirius had been a bit off since his arrival, something that only Ivy and Remus noticed. But Ivy knew he needed time to come to terms with the similarities — it was a hard time for him. And even though Remus knew that as well, he still checked in on his friend as he'd actually been there when it all happened to him.

"I'm proud of you, Pads," Remus said while passing a joint back and forth in the study. Sirius needed something a little stronger than a cigarette for once. "Taking Draco in. I know it's hard."

"It's bloody terrifying," Sirius sighed, leaning his head back on the couch. "Fuck, I hate my family. We poison everything we touch."

"Not everything," Remus told him gently. "Not you."

Sirius scoffed at that. "Yeah, right."

"I'm serious."

He only looked at him, smirking. "No, I am."

Remus rolled his eyes and shoved him a bit. "Fuck off, yeah? I'm being genuine, if you will. Look at Harry. You've given that boy a proper home where he feels the love and adoration that he deserves. And Ivy? Merlin, I'm jealous of how much love there is between you. It's like something out of a book. And don't forget about me, Sirius Black. My life has only been better for having you in it."

Sirius hummed and looked at his lap, not entirely convinced as he passed the joint back. "Harry's parents are dead because I suggested swapping with Peter. Ivy lost her parents and was kidnapped and tortured for months because I didn't keep an eye on her. I'd call that poison."

"Well, what would you call a selfless little boy who decided to become an Animagus to help me, his friend, on full moons? One who has always taken care of me when I'm at my worst. A man that's saved my life, helped me learn how to talk to girls, who taught me how to properly fly on a broom because our teacher first year was rubbish? You're not poisoning anyone, Sirius Black. You're just being angsty."

Though he wanted to smile, Sirius just shook his head. "I am not angsty."

"Please," he scoffed. "And I'm not a Werewolf."

"Blimey! You're a Werewolf?" Sirius asked in mock surprise, making Remus chuckle.

"Fuck you," he said, still laughing. "If you're poison, then so am I."

"Now, that's really not true," he told him, watching as Remus took a slow drag. "You're tied for best thing in my life, Moony. Always have been."

"I'm guessing your little Bunny is my competition," he teased, bumping his shoulder. "Suppose I can't be jealous — James would be though."

"Merlin, he'd be so jealous," he laughed, putting his hand to his forehead. Then he smiled sadly. "You think he'd like her?"

"Oh, he'd just adore her and you know it. He'd spend ages trying to corrupt her and get her to pull pranks on you."

"Oh, no, I've tried to get her to help prank you. She's very resilient."

Remus scoffed in annoyance. "Prank me? What are we? Fifteen again?"

"Feels like with so many kids around the house now," he admitted, thinking of all the mischief the twins caused when visiting. "What about Lily? She'd like her?"

"She'd kill you, first, because of her age. But yeah, she'd love her," he admitted. "And she'd be really proud of the way you've treated her over the last year — two if you count the Snuffles year."

Sirius nodded while staring up at the ceiling. "I want to spend the rest of my life with this girl."

Remus smiled and looked at his friend. "I know, mate. She's something special — even I can see it. Ivy's amazing. Makes me jealous at times."

Sure, Sirius was a bit high, but even he paused, raising his eyebrow as Remus mentioned jealousy a second time. "Have you got feelings for my girl, Moony?"

"Merlin, no," he said, shaking his head. "I mean, she is bloody perfect, Pads. I would... kill for someone to love me like you two love each other, but no one ever will."

Sirius sighed and leaned against the taller man's chest while grabbing the joint, wrapping his free arm around Remus. "I love you. Ivy loves you."

"It's not the same. Don't humor me," he said, rolling his eyes. "It is what it is. But don't worry — I don't want your girl."

"I don't know if I should be offended or relieved that you've not thought about fucking her," Sirius admitted, releasing a puff of smoke.

Remus snorted and shook his head. "That's different. Merlin, yeah, I've thought about it. I could probably paint a very accurate picture of her cunt from how in-depthly you've described it to me."

Sirius groaned and shut his eyes almost tiredly. "It is really pretty," he mumbled. "Merlin, and so tight. I can't even describe it properly — you'd have to try it yourself, though I'm still on the fence about letting that happen."

He just laughed again — Sirius got sleepy when he was high, and Remus just laughed at nearly everything. "Don't tell me you're inviting me into your bed, Pads."

Sirius just shrugged and opened his eyes. "Wouldn't be the first time we've shared. Can practically picture it."

The tips of Remus' ears turned red, remembering a Halloween party in their seventh year that had ended rather sloppily. "Ivy wouldn't want us talking about this."

"Bunny can't say the word 'sex' without blushing and stuttering. Of course, she wouldn't like it," he claimed. "It's so cute how flustered she gets even after everything. Like she wasn't sitting on my cock for an hour last night while I was reading at that desk."

Remus peered at Sirius and then at the desk. "Hold on," he said, taking another drag. "When I came in last night asking about dinner, she was on your lap."

"Yeah," he grinned. "She was taking me so well, and you didn't even know it."

"Fuck, Pads, stop it or I'm gonna get hard."

"You always get hard when you're high," he informed him matter-of-factly. "And giggly."

As if proving his point, Remus snickered down at the man who was still holding him. "And you get sleepy and touch-starved."

"Like those are bad things," he mumbled, letting out a yawn. "'M gonna go find Ivy, yeah?"

"Yeah. I'll be here if she yells at me for smoking."

"She thinks it's sexy when I smoke."

"She also thinks you're going to die of cancer, which is decidedly not as sexy."