The "Draco Malfoy" Thing (Drarry)

A Father's Concern

"I don't see him." Harry told Ron as he scanned the Great Hall for Draco's pale blonde hair.

"Maybe he went to bed." Hermione suggested.

"Maybe," he agreed, his eyes still wandering around the room.

"Have you guys talked about how you're going to handle things here?" Ron asked, pausing his rapid eating only long enough to get the question out.

"Not really, but we both think that it's best to keep it private for now, only close friends and the people who absolutely have to know." Harry shrugged.

"And how do you feel about that, Harry?" Hermione asked with a furrowed brow.

Harry shrugged again, "I'd like for some people to know, but at the same time, being public figures would just complicate things. We both have a lot of attention directed towards us, and I don't want my personal relationship to become a subject of public gossip and interest."

"Understandable." Ron muttered through a mouth full of pudding.

"Try finishing your food before speaking, Weasley. It saves the rest of us the endeavor of having to watch your disgusting habits." The Trio turned around to find Professor Snape's disapproving glare staring down at them. 

"Evening, Sir, can we help you?" Harry asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Something has come to my attention, Potter, and you are expected to meet me in my office promptly after the feast." Without waiting for a response, he stalked off with his robe flapping behind him. 

"What an arse." Ron mumbled.

Hermione laughed, "I thought you two would have expected this." The boys stared at her with confused gaze, "Seriously? Snape is Draco's godfather, and if Draco's not staying with his parents, then it falls to Snape to take care of him. This new relationship between you and Draco is his concern, whether you like it or not."

***

After the feast, Harry made his way towards Snape's dungeon classroom and into his office. He tentavely knocked on the office door and heard Snape bid him entry from inside. He closed the door behind him, "You wanted to see me, Sir?" Harry said nervously. 

"Yes, I wanted to discuss this latest... development." Snape folded his hands on top of his desk and waited for Harry to sit in the seat in front of the desk. "Potter, for some unknown reason, my godson has taken a liking to you. Now, I'm not saying that I approve of this relationship, but..." Snape sighed and leaned back in his chair, "I do want to thank you for making him feel accepted."

Harry gaped at his potions professor, "You're thanking me for making out with your godson?"

"No, and to be perfectly clear, I didn't need to hear that part. No, I'm thanking you for letting him know that people actually care about him, and that it's okay for him to be himself."

"Can I ask you something, Sir?" Harry sat up in his chair and stared at his hands for a moment.

"If you must."

"If you knew of the problems he faced at home, why didn't you pull him out sooner?"

Snape sighed, "To be perfectly honest, I didn't know how bad it was until a couple of months ago. Before then, I thought Draco was exaggerating. Him and I had very similar upbringings, and I didn't think that Lucius would go as far as he did." Snape studied Harry and watched the boy process what he'd just heard, "Potter, I need to know that you'll protect him? Not just you, but the people that Draco will be with if he insists on spending time with you. He needs people who will keep him safe from his family, and from himself."

Harry looked into Snape's dark eyes and saw genuine concern behind them, "I promise you, Professor, we would do nothing to endanger or hurt him. He's safe with us."

Snape nodded and was about to send Harry away when he stopped the dark haired boy, "Potter," he barked, harsher than intended, "this can't get out. Your relationship with Draco, I mean. If it get's back to Lucius or, Merlin forbid, the Dark Lord, they will use it against you, and you will watch each other die. Do you understand?"

Harry nodded, "I understand, Sir."

Harry left Snape's office with a rising panic crawling up his spine. Maybe this isn't a good idea. I could get him killed. Harry thought back to his 4th year when he'd watched Cedric's death. He'd replayed it a million times in his head, trying to find a way to blame himself, but he knew there was no one who could pay for Cedric's murder, besides, the murderer was as good as dead, Harry would make sure of it; he'd be damned if he let Voldemort take anyone else he loved from him.