Severus was led outdoors, to the field just beyond the Malfoy gardens. Two chairs had been placed beside a chalk circle drawn in a wide arc on the ground. Narcissa extended a graceful hand.

"Our battlefield, "she swept a hand toward the chairs. "Our audience." Draco and Granger appeared in the seats. Draco wore a thin silver collar around his neck. "They won't be able to interfere. I've seen fit to give Draco his present from Lord Voldemort as well. That collar is attuned to both myself and Our Lord. If either one of us is caused pain by any source, "she raised one finger like a lecturing teacher, "Draco will feel it as well. "

It was cheating. But this was no formal tournament; there were no judges and no witnesses. Narcissa raised her hands and whispered a spell. The air shimmered around them and when Severus stepped a few feet to the side and waved his hand through it, the air bounced back like a rubber bubble.

"No one gets in, no one gets out, "Narcissa said. "Until one of us dies or until I break the spell."

"Are we starting now?"

She nodded curtly. They both bowed, and turned and walked a few paces away. Then they turned back.

"Tremoria!" It hit him quickly. Severus found himself trembling involuntarily; he raised his shaking wand arm.

"Le Carnum Inflamara!" Her dress caught on fire. Narcissa screamed and shot a jet of water from her wand. She then sent a stream of boiling water at Severus, who felt it hit his arm. He howled as it seared his skin.

Severus threw a curse that slammed Narcissa into the wall of the bubble. She bounced and crashed to the ground. Severus was distracted by Draco's shriek of horror. He didn't see Narcissa struggle to her feet and just managed to dodge a sharp silver dagger that flew at his heart.

He caused green snakes to writhe up out of the ground and coil around her. Narcissa growled and transformed. Her eyes turned yellow, her face grew beakish. Huge wings sprouted on her back and the claws came out. She easily kicked the snakes away.

"Terra Tremoria!" The ground beneath them began to shake and crack, but only within the bubble. Draco watched them, his face growing paler and paler. He bit his lower lip. Granger squeezed his hand.

"Lava arise!" Molten red lava burst from the cracks and slid toward Narcissa.

"Springs, I call you forth!" Water streamed over the lava, cooling it before it reached her. They were too evenly matched to win this honestly. Severus decided in a split second, that if anyone was going to play dirty first, it would be him.

"CRUCIO!" And he heard Draco scream at the same time.

Slowly, Narcissa's knees buckled as she sank to the ground in a boneless heap. She was still breathing, but not able to move much. Her features returned to human form. He stood over her, watching her try to reach for the wand that lay a few feet away. He took it away from her and looked down at her slack jawed face.

"It's over, Narcissa."

"You won't do this to me..It's. ."

"It's the Slytherin way. Will I kill you? I don't know. I'd like to think I wouldn't be the type to kill someone who is practically my sister, but I've surprised myself before. "

"Severus."

"How does it feel to be weak and helpless? At the mercy of someone else? Break the spell. "

Naricssa groaned, but she murmured the words to her spell. The bubble dissolved. Severus shot thin black ropes out of the end of his wand, they wrapped around her. Granger ran up to him, with Draco close behind.

"I wrote to Dumbledore before I left my house, he'll probably send Aurors."

"Good, "said Severus without looking at her. "She isn't going anywhere right now."

"Severus!" Draco threw his arms around Severus and almost knocked the wind out of him. Severus just held him tightly, so glad to see Draco whole and mostly unmarked. He was trembling violently, a normal after effect of Cruciatus. "It's all over. Aurors are on their way."

With a terrified cry, Draco broke free of Severus' arms and ran away back to the manor.

"Draco!"

Draco had a head start, but with Severus' long legs, he arrived only a minute before the older wizard. Severus found Draco in the library, pitching his "portfolio" into the fire.

"Draco, that's evidence."

"They're not going to see it, they're not going to know!"

"It's evidence that could send your mother to jail, you could stop all of this."

Draco looked at him, frightened and desperate.

"I don't want her to get hurt. And I don't want anyone to see my pictures!"

"Accio album!" It flew out of the fireplace and into Snape's hands. It was still on fire and he almost dropped it before using a water spell to douse the flames. Draco held out a hand.

"Give that back."

"I can't, " Severus wanted badly to save Draco's dignity by allowing him to destroy the photos, he agonized over the decision. Finally, he handed the book back to Draco. "It's your choice."

Draco clutched it to his chest for a moment. He turned and deliberately threw it back on the fire. They stood and watched the last pieces of paper curl, crumple and turn to ash just as six Aurors broke down the front door. Narcissa was floating behind them, bound with thin black ropes. Granger ran over to Severus and gave him his wand back. She and Draco stood looking at each other awkwardly.

"We'd like your side of the story, Mr. Snape, "said one of the Aurors.

"Narcissa Malfoy murdered her husband, and kept her son, and a friend, imprisoned in his bedroom for 24 hours, repeatedly forcing sex on him and threatening to prostitute him to You Know Who."

Draco flushed. Granger moved to touch his arm but Draco flinched away.

"Where you at all involved, Snape?"

"No, I wasn't bloody involved!" Severus snapped. "I was forced to duel Narcissa Malfoy to save her son from Voldemort, but if you must know, I have spent the majority of the time unconscious."

"How do you expect us to believe you, Snape? Lucius Malfoy is dead, and you and his wife have been here, alone, all weekend, with only these children as witnesses. Why didn't you alert us sooner? "

"I was unconscious, "Severus insisted. "Miss Granger owled Professor Dumbledore from her own home before she arrived here. "

The Auror turned to Granger.

"What did you see when you arrived here?"

"I flew here on my broomstick as soon as Draco sent me his letter. When I got to the house, he was hiding in his bedroom. He told me his mother had killed his father and was trying to hurt him as well."

"And what of Professor Snape?"

"He would never hurt Draco. And, well, you can trust me when I say that because I don't like Professor Snape much at all. He risked his own life to save us. "

"Did he now?"

Severus kept his own face impassive. If the Aurors saw any sign of relief, they would make things difficult for him on purpose.

"Miss Granger, you witnessed Narcissa Malfoy and her underage son engaging in sexual intercourse?"

"She raped him, "Granger said loudly and clearly. "Don't make it sound as if they were just being kinky, she raped him. She'd been doing it for years, she-"

"That will be enough for now, Miss Granger," the Auror said, just as Draco gasped, "Hermione, stop!"

"I don't think she should get away with what she did!"

"But Hermione, I can't-I-I-"

"Granger, stop pushing him, "said Severus. Granger looked taken aback, but she shut up. In her relationship with Draco, she needed to learn his boundaries. They were harangued for at least an hour before Narcissa was removed into Ministry custody. Severus, Granger, Draco and the Malfoy body servant who had dug the grave for Lucius each were required to come in later that week and make a full statement to Ministry officials.

Severus was left with two big eyed children staring at him, waiting for an adult to make a concrete decision and tell them what to do next.

"Er, I'll go down to the kitchens and see if I might coax a meal out of the house elf."

**

"How could you do that?" Draco asked.

"Draco, I- I only want to help, "said Hermione. They were sitting together on the sofa, close to touching but not quite.

"I don't want people to know what she did. If you tell the Ministry, it'll come up as evidence in Mother's trial. A jury might hear it- reporters will hear it, Ron's dad'll know. And if his dad knows, he'll know and then everyone will. "

"This is about what Harry and Ron think of you?"

"You haven't told them yet? I thought you three shared everything, "Draco said bitterly.

"I haven't told them any of your secrets. Believe it or not, Draco, your trust is important to me. And not just because I like topping you. "

"I figured you were just using me, "Draco shrugged. "You have me in such a great chokehold. And you can give me the kind of thing I-need- you know."

"I admit, it all started as a sex and power thing. I'd never had sex that incredible before, I'd never had sex before, full stop. " She blushed. Draco smirked.

"I knew it. "

"But then I started to care. I don't think I'm the sort of person who can go around not caring. When your mother attacked me, there was no going back. When I said I loved you, I don't really know what I meant, but I know I care about you. "

"So-so what are we now? Friends, lovers, Master and Slave, going steady? "Draco looked at her from beneath his eyelashes.

"Friends with benefits sounds right to me. Although Master and Slave has a nice ring to it, it would be difficult to manage full time while we're at school, "Hermione giggled. Draco managed a weak smile. He seemed exhausted, physically and emotionally. At most, he was only two or three inches taller than her, and he had never looked smaller and less capable of holding himself up before. "C'mere."

Draco sank gratefully, and wordlessly, down to lay with his head in her lap.

**

Severus watched them silently from the doorway. He felt some disappointment that Draco had chosen Granger, but was also quite relieved that he himself was no longer the object of Draco's infatuation. It left him free to just be Draco's good friend, instead of having to constantly worry that he was "leading the boy on", or sending out inappropriate signals.

Which was good, because the Malfoys had named him as Draco's legal guardian in the event of their deaths and or incapacitations. There were papers to sign, custody agreements to wrangle out, rules to be discussed, and firstly, they had to get that collar off Draco and break the bond with Voldemort.

Dinner was quiet, and Draco excused himself early to go and get some sleep. Which left Severus alone with Granger-er-Hermione, he supposed he'd have to call her now.

"I don't plan on going away, so you'd better get used to me, "she said flatly.

"You seem to be familiar with Draco's past. Tell me, why do you think I'm so suspicious of anyone wanting to date him?"

"I'm not going to hurt him."

"You, and your friends have been feuding with Draco for nearly six years. All of sudden there's been a change of heart? "

"Draco's no saint."

"He's a good boy, considering his circumstances. He's not any less 'nice' than Weasley and Potter."

"So what do you want me to say? "

"Come with me, I want to show you something." Severus stood and walked to the library. Once inside, he directed her to a large silver mirror hanging on a wall. "I want to give you the opportunity to get to know the real Draco. I want you to see him as he used to be. This is a Mirror of Past, many wealthy wizard families have them. It records events that happen in the room where it hangs. Draco forgot to destroy it when he burned his portfolio. I imagine his mind wasn't very clear at the time. But those scenes aren't what I want to show you. "He looked at the mirror. "Show me..Christmas Morning, Draco at age three."

Silver mist parted, revealing an exact picture of the Malfoy library, decorated for Christmas, encased in the frame. A blond toddler burst into the scene, shrieking joyfully.

"PRESENTH!"

Three young looking versions of Lucius, Narcissa and Severus followed him at a much slower, sleepier pace. Draco turned around, fairly bouncing on his little feet, his face tipped up hopefully.

"Dey all mine?"

"All yours, "said Lucius.

Draco's hands scrabbled at the wrapping paper. When Lucius reached over to help him, Draco pulled the box away.

"I do it myself!"

In minutes, the floor was covered in wrapping paper and ribbon and gift labels. Draco received stuffed animals, dolls, books, a tiny broomstick, exciting stuff for a little kid.

"Lub you, Daddy, lub you Mummy, lub you Theveruth!" He ran around and hugged all of them around the knees. Severus grabbed him and hoisted the giggling boy into his arms. Narcissa and Lucius scooted closer to them. Lucius tickled Draco's bare foot, as Narcissa touseled his hair.

"You are such a sweet baby," Severus whispered.

"I know dat, "Draco said proudly. "An' I'm cute too."

"Enough, " Present Day Severus ordered. The screen faded and it was a mirror again. "THAT is the Draco I know. THAT is the Draco I want brought back to us. "

THE END (for now)

NOTES: I will be doing two sequels. One slash, one het. By reason of this, they will not be all posted in same category, but will still be under my account.