On Sunday, five days after Lucius' appearance in the Defense classroom, Harry sat in one of eight communal common rooms set up by Dumbledore at the first of the year in the 'spirit of school solidarity' – an announcement the Gryffindor had apparently missed. The common rooms were just unused classrooms that the elves had cleaned up and furnished appropriately. Mostly they'd been left fairly nondescript and the students had been encouraged to decorate however they saw fit.

So far the idea had only been a mild success but it did allow Ron and Hermione to drag him and Draco to spend time with them, Luna and Neville. Draco, of course, had to be included or the blonde would throw the biggest hissy fit Harry had ever seen and unfortunately the Gryffindor had first hand experience with Slytherin hissys. Truthfully he didn't really mind. Malfoy could be, and often was a prick but he was family now and since that little bombshell Draco had been rather rabidly looking out for Harry.

Yeah, he didn't mind at all.

He was also amazed that Ron and Hermione were still willing to give him the time of day, much less spend any time with him. He'd barely seen them outside of classes since school started, what with his extra lessons and his prowling the corridors trying to 'accidentally' run into the Defense Professor, but here they were, the five founding members of the DA plus one.

And speaking of the DA...

"I think we should do a newsletter or something, especially since we're not an active group anymore," Hermione suggested, not even looking up from the book she was perusing.

"'bout what," Ron mumbled around a mouthful of chocolate frog.

"Oh honestly Ronald! What are we sitting here reading about?"

The redhead went pale, "You want to tell the whole school about demons," he squeaked.

"Well why not? It's obvious the Wizarding community knows absolutely nothing about them and the Ministry won't add the subject to the curriculum. If You-Know-Who is employing demons then I think it falls to the DA to inform the student body!"

"And a newsletter would allow you to reach non-DA members," Luna added as she flipped through this week's Quibbler.

"Exactly," Hermione exclaimed.

"But won't the school Governors still get upset? I mean, if they won't allow Dumbledore to teach us about it then won't they try to expel us or something like what happened last year?"

The group fell silent.

"Well it's not like there's anyone actually out to get us this time around, is there," Ron said, examining a new Frog card.

Harry snorted in disgust.

"So disguise it – make it look like somebody's notes," Draco suggested hesitantly, "it's not a Forbidden subject so they can't do anything if your private study notes get bandied about."

Hermione blinked... "That's brilliant Draco! We could do it on Muggle notebook paper..." She trailed off and began scribbling frantically on a piece of parchment muttering about color coding and copying spells.

Harry looked wide eyed at an equally gobsmacked Draco. After a moment he realized that Luna and Neville had similar looks on their faces, but not Ron. Ron was either very, very used to Hermione's antics or he was just blissfully unaware.

"Scary, Harry...really scary," Draco whispered.

Harry just nodded.

When it became obvious that Hermione was going to stay in 'scary mode' Draco stood. "C'mon Harry, we have an appointment this afternoon."

"We do?"

"Yes."

"What for?"

Draco rolled his eyes, "It's a follow-up session on Tuesday night's topic."

It took Harry a minute and then he jumped to his feet, "Oh! Okay. See you guys later!"

The others nodded and Harry gave a small wave as Draco dragged him from the room."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outside the Hospital Wing doors Harry pulled away from his blonde companion.

"What's the matter Potter, scared?" The blonde sneered.

Harry narrowed his eyes at the boy, "I thought we were going to see William."

Draco's sneer changed to an expression of utter disbelief, "Surely you're not that dense Harry."

It slightly amused the Gryffindor that Draco went back and forth between 'Potter' and 'Harry', although come to think of it, Harry did the same thing with 'Draco' and 'Malfoy' and was he completely avoiding this confrontation?

"Potter!"

Harry blinked and found Draco right in front of him clutching his arms.

"Are you alright Harry," the blonde asked softly.

Harry looked down and shuffled his feet, "Yeah... it's just... Him... Ya know?"

"Yeah. Believe it or not, I do."

Looking up, the Gryffindor saw only sincerity in Draco's Slytherin silver eyes.

"What does he want," he whispered.

Draco grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently, "He probably just wants to give the 'What it means to be a Malfoy' speech."

"You think?"

"Either that or he wants to glower at the first non-Pureblood Malfoy in five-hundred years."

Harry bit his lip.

"C'mon Potter, where's that Gryffindor bravery? Besides... if he's too much of a bastard we'll sic Uncle Willy on him, yeah?"

The brunette couldn't help himself, he laughed, "All right Draco, you win. Let us face the Dragon!" He waved his free arm as if wielding a sword.

Draco rolled his eyes again and, pulling the boy into the hospital wing said, "You are so gay!"

"Am not – oh wait... Yes I am... But not in the way you mean, prick!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dumbledore waited until he could no longer hear the boy's friendly insults before stepping from the shadows in the corridor outside the hospital wing, eyes twinkling like mad.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lucius looked over his ancestor's mate with narrowed eyes. The boy stood halfway between the door and the bed looking like he would bolt at the slightest provocation. He had to admit Potter was... cute; all innocent and flustered looking. The boy had a proven track record of surviving which was a good trait in a Savior and he was powerful...

Strangely enough, his son seemed to have taken up with Potter if their clasped hands were anything to go by. Although he supposed he shouldn't be surprised. Draco had always been rather needy; a problem created by having unbalanced killers traipsing in and out of the manor at all hours, not to mention the surprise Auror raids that hadn't stopped until the year before Draco started Hogwarts. Now with Narcissa's death...

He shook his head at his own mental babbling. He was looking at the newest Malfoy – a half-blood... but then this waiflike half-blood was a Bearer, wasn't he, with his Muggle mother while the Malfoys, the purest of the Pure had never produced such a power.

"Have a seat Harry," he said stiffly, waving to a nearby chair. He watched as the brunette cautiously perched on the seat and Draco moved behind it, resting his hands on Harry's shoulders.

Lucius cleared his throat and tried to moderate his tone. There were bridges to be rebuilt here after all, no sense making this harder than it had to be and he was already at a disadvantage. He had to play nice and they both knew it, returning to Voldemort was not an option and Azkaban was still a very real possibility. Quite simply... he needed Harry.

"I asked you here today to welcome you to the family and to congratulate you on the upcoming birth of your child."

"Thank you Sir," Harry murmured.

"I am curious, however, to know why you have kept William's part in all of this from Dumbledore. Your mate was most insistent that I keep my knowledge of it to myself."

The boy cocked his head to the side as if studying the older man and Lucius was startled by the intelligence in that gaze. Perhaps he had underestimated the Gryffindor.

"The short answer Sir...he annoyed me."

Lucius blinked.

Then blinked again.

Then before he realized it he was laughing. Laughing like he hadn't done since he'd graduated from Hogwarts.

This boy was priceless.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dumbledore was pacing when Severus entered the Headmaster's office and the Potion Master couldn't help his mental grimace. With a sigh he sat and waited for the older Wizard to reveal why he'd been summoned. When Dumbledore paced, storm clouds were brewing.

"I understand you have been observing Mister Potter's and Mister Malfoy's extra Defense lessons."

Severus nodded, wondering where this was going and worried by Dumbledore's lack of the customary offers of tea and lemon drops.

"Has Mister Potter hinted at the identity of his baby's father?"

The Slytherin frowned, "You know I would have told you if he had Albus."

"And what of young Mister Malfoy?"

"I'm not quite sure what you are asking Albus, but his lessons are going well. He seems to be flourishing under his Uncle's attention. The... animosity between the boys has diminished somewhat, but by no means would I consider them friends. I have noticed Draco spending more time outside the lessons with the Gryffindor – especially since Lucius's appearance – but they don't speak. It's almost as if he feels compelled to remain in Potter's presence."

Dumbledore finally sat; petting his beard like it was a cat, eyes unfocused and far away.

"I thought as much... they are not quite ready yet... but soon I think."

"Are you going to let me in on what you are thinking Albus or should I return to my lab?"

Dumbledore frowned slightly but he finally focused on his surroundings.

"Mister Malfoy is the father of Mister Potter's child."

Severus sputtered, "W-what!" He cringed when the question came out rather high pitched.

The Headmaster quirked an eyebrow, "I have not revealed this information to the public because I believe it would destroy their burgeoning relationship... it will be a tumultuous union under the best of circumstances, and these are not those."

"Of course," Severus repeated numbly. Potter and his Godson? Surely not! The old man had finally lost it!

"Mister Malfoy would not have been my first choice but he will make it possible for Harry to move in circles previously barred to him. Being a Bearer opens all doors to the boy, but does not grant acceptance and the Malfoy name will gain that for him. This union will also prevent the Purebloods from being ostracized after the war; it may even bring some of the Death Eater's children back to the Light."

Albus was lost in his own thoughts once again and the Potion Master was glad for the man's distraction as he was having trouble controlling his reaction to this news, never mind the Headmaster's blatant scheming.

"If you know that Draco is the other Father, why are you still trying to force Potter to tell you?"

He shivered when those hard blue eyes focused on him.

"Because Severus, I will not indulge his childish rebellion. He must learn that he cannot keep such secrets from me. I will be the one to lead us through this war and I need him by my side. If he cannot follow my lead then he will get himself killed. I had thought he'd learned his lesson at the Department of Mysteries but apparently he is just as stubborn as his father ever was."

Severus scowled at the mention of James; he couldn't help it, it was an ingrained reaction by now.

"What do you need from me?"

"Unfortunately, Fudge is pushing me to reveal the second father. I've been putting him off but I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to do so; the boys must be able to present a united front when the time comes. I merely need you to observe them when I cannot and perhaps encourage any inclinations they already have to be together."

The Slytherin nodded and swept from the room. He headed back to his quarters without thought. He couldn't believe the old man – he couldn't believe Potter with his Godson... He just couldn't believe!

He spotted Rupert waiting patiently outside his chamber door. Wonderful. On top of everything else, he was late for their dinner date and he was in no shape to be proper company. Well, it wasn't as if he had expected this to go anywhere anyway...

Before his 'date' could say anything, Severus grabbed his hand and pulled the man inside.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A bemused Rupert Giles sat himself down on his date's sofa and watched the normally stoic Wizard pacing back and forth, muttering under his breath and throwing his hands around.

He cleared his throat.

Severus kept pacing.

"Severus?"

Still pacing.

"Sev!"

Nothing.

Finally Rupert stood and grabbed the man's hand. Bracing himself, he jerked the Professor into his arms and kissed him. The lips beneath his own parted, probably in shock, but the Watcher had no problem with taking advantage and quickly slid his tongue between them.

Severus moaned.

Thin but surprisingly strong arms wrapped tightly around him and pulled him into Severus's harder and slightly smaller form.

Rupert ran his fingers through long, soft black tresses – free now from potion residue - and slowly pulled Severus's head back, breaking the kiss.

Another moan, disappointed this time.

He couldn't stop his smile. "Do I have your attention now, Sev?"

His companion blinked a few times, "Most assuredly Rupert."

"Good." He moved them over to the sofa and sat, the smaller man still tucked against him, "Now tell me what has you so upset."

Severus was looking at him wide-eyed, "Is that how you deal with all hysterics, or just me?"

Rupert blushed, he couldn't help it – he could be brash when the situation called for it, but at heart he truly was the bashful librarian.

"Uhhmmmm. Oh. Well, you see..."

Severus laughed softly, "Well it seems rather effective."

He blushed again, "So it seems."

After a moment the Potion Master sighed and relaxed against him, "Albus gave me some news that upset me – more news actually."

Rupert nodded, "Ah yes. You were rather distraught about Spike – a feeling I am most familiar with when it comes to him. I must admit I was surprised Dumbledore hadn't made the rest of the staff aware that Spike was a vampire."

"Yes, he does enjoy his secrets," Sev murmured. "Dumbledore thought it was a harmless omission. I cannot believe he waited until Lucius was nearly killed to tell me a Malfoy vampire was at the school. I could have done damage control with the Dark Lord! Now Dumbledore has lost any advantage having a Master Vampire on our side would have garnered and I can no longer spy, all because he has to control everything!"

The Watcher rubbed a soothing hand up and down his companion's back, "And what did he tell you tonight?"

Severus sighed, "This is in the highest confidence."

Rupert frowned and pushed his glasses further up his nose, "Of course."

"Dumbledore believes that Draco is the other father of Potter's child."

He cleared his throat, "What!"

"He has asked me to encourage them to spend as much time as possible together."

"If he already knows, then why does he insist on interrogating Harry about it?"

Sev grinned sickly, "I asked the same thing. Albus seems to see it as a type of punishment for the boy's defiance. He wants Potter to do as he's told and be a good little soldier."

"Good Lord."

They were silent for awhile, both considering the implications of the situation.

"Spike will need to be told," Rupert stated quietly watching the man beside him.

Severus nodded, "Yes that had occurred to me. If Albus is correct, then not only is Potter technically a Malfoy now, but that little fact could heavily impact the Unbreakable Vow Spike made to Narcissa – depending on the wording. If he vowed to protect the Malfoy heir instead of Draco in particular, then Potter is the one he will need to focus his attention on."

"Indeed. But even if the Vow were not an issue, Spike will be enraged if something to do with his family were kept from him. He's always been rather obsessive over what he considers his, with or without his soul," Rupert added nervously.

"That's all we need; a Dark Lord, a dead Savior and a rampaging Master Vampire... Potter will never forgive this, you realize."

Rupert quirked an eyebrow and waited.

Severus studiously examined his hands as he explained, "I've never agreed with Dumbledore's methods of dealing with Potter. You can't just tell someone – much less an eleven year old child – that the most powerful Wizard alive is out to kill you and expect them to just calmly go about their life. Potter has been very nearly killed every year he's been in this school. He's seen two people killed right in front of him and killed another, himself, at the age of eleven."

The Slytherin rubbed a hand over his face before continuing, "I absolutely cannot stand the boy but what Dumbledore has done is unconscionable – as are his future plans. He hasn't revealed Draco as the other father yet because he fears the boys will go their separate ways. He needs Draco to lure away the Death Eater's Pureblood children – and their money. As a Malfoy, Draco lends a level of respectability to Potter in certain circles – and thus to Dumbledore as his advisor- he otherwise couldn't access, much less influence. Potter and his child are merely tools to increase Dumbledore's power and solidify his hold on the Wizarding World. The problem is, Potter doesn't want to play his game and has made that clear to Albus. When he finds out about this newest manipulation... it will not be pretty."

"Dear Lord."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Severus accompanied him to that night's lesson with the boys and they had a quick whispered conversation in the furthest corner of the room, whereupon Spike got the strangest look on his face.

Before either of them could stop him, the Vampire had made his way over to the quietly bickering boys who were helping each other stretch.

Rupert kept Severus with him in the corner, well away from the imminent explosion.

Spike revealed Dumbledore's knowledge and... Draco turned a virulent green while Harry fell over and laughed.

And laughed.

And laughed.

"Somehow I feel Headmaster Dumbledore was mistaken," Rupert murmured.

"Indeed."