It was hours later when Draco was pulled from the depths of his sleep by a nudge on his shoulder. Lying there, with his eyes still closed, he thought for a moment that it was Ian coming to wake him up. He was just about to make some comment about staying in bed a little longer when he finally managed to crack his eyes open and saw the dark green hangings of his bed at Hogwarts. The next thing he saw was Professor Snape’s face looming over him.

To say he was surprised would be an understatement. Within seconds Draco found himself wide awake and sitting up so fast it made his head spin. It all came back to him: the rumor, his confrontation with Granger, and shit, he had completely skipped his morning classes. What was wrong with him? Was he subconsciously trying to get himself into more trouble?

“Mr. Malfoy,” Snape began as soon as he saw Draco was awake, “I was hoping you could enlighten me as to why you seem to have slept through my class this morning as well as your Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. I do hope you have a good reason since your absence resulted in the unpleasant event of Lupin and his mutt paying me a visit.”

“Professor,” Draco started, embarrassed at the slightly groggy quality of his voice, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I...”

“I have a very good idea of what came over you, if the current topic circulating the rumor mill is any indication. I’ll also wager it has a good bit to do with a certain meeting in the Headmaster’s office I was told I needed to attend today after classes. Am I correct, Mr. Malfoy?”

During the entire conversation Snape’s expression had not changed and Draco was getting nervous wondering where the Professor stood on the subject, not to mention that it was a little uncomfortable chatting with his Head of House while he was still sitting in a pile of his rumpled sheets. Draco managed to find his voice after a moment, “Yes sir, that would be correct.”

“Well then,” Snape continued, “If I am to know how I will proceed at this meeting I expect you to answer one question for me very truthfully: are you responsible for Miss Parkinson’s pregnancy?”

Draco shook his head emphatically, “No sir, absolutely not.”

Snape nodded, “I thought as much from what I saw this morning, but I needed to be sure.”

“So, you believe me?” Draco asked nervously.

“Would you rather I didn’t?” Snape countered looking slightly amused, “I assure you Mr. Malfoy, I know the students in my House very well. The rest of the school might not have noticed, but with the change in you over the past year I found it hard to accept what is being said as truth.”

“Thank you, Professor,” Draco finally said, surprised that the usually unsympathetic Potions Masters had actually bothered to pay that much attention to him.

“I wouldn’t be thanking me just yet. There is still the matter of your skipping classes,” Snape looked at him critically for a moment. “However, given the circumstances, and the fact that you do look a little worse for wear, I will limit your punishment to one detention where you will be organizing my potions store for the year. From now on, remember that if you are feeling unwell, a visit to Madame Pompfry is required. Is that clear?”

Draco sat stunned for a moment, was he really getting off this easy? “Yes sir.”

“Good. Now, seeing as how I already wiped the smile off Black’s face by informing him you were ill and missing classes with my permission, I suggest you get some more sleep. A house elf will be up with some lunch shortly. If you find you cannot sleep, then I suggest you get started on your first potions assignment of the year which I have left on your trunk. I will expect it to be handed in on time.”

With no further comment and without waiting for any reply at all, Snape turned and walked out of the seventh year dormitory. Draco sat for several minutes afterward in both relief and astonishment. A weight seemed to lift from him as he realized that at least someone would be on his side this afternoon. He never imagined that someone, especially Snape would stand up for him. He had a feeling that a good part of Snape’s willingness to step in had to do with his love of pissing off Sirius Black, but Draco had no complaints.

Before he could think about it any further, Draco heard a POP! And on his night stand was a tray with a large bowl of chicken noodle soup, brimming with large noodles and vegetables. Suddenly hungry, Draco quickly consumed several spoonfuls before a pang in his stomach reminded him to slow down. He managed to eat half the bowl before losing interest in the food and sitting the tray aside. It disappeared with another POP a moment later.

Try as he might, Draco just could seem to get to sleep again after that. His stomach was pleasantly full and he felt much more relaxed, but he just couldn’t seem to drift off despite the lethargy he could still feel in his limbs. After a half hour, he finally gave up and reached for the assignment Snape had left him. It was only a brief review of last year, but it took him longer than it should have because he kept checking the time. Despite feeling better about the situation and now being clear minded enough to realize he could deal with this, the panic from before was still clinging to the edges of his thoughts.

Forty-five minutes before the meeting, Draco gave up. There was no way he could just sit and do his homework. He needed move around. Getting up, he took one glance at himself in the mirror and had to look twice. Snape had been kind to say he was ‘a little worse for wear’. Draco’s skin was pasty and his hair matted down from a fitful sleep. He had bags under his eyes, which looked hazy with fatigue. Maybe it wasn’t just stress. Maybe he was coming down with something.

A quick shower at least made him look marginally better. At least his hair wasn’t sticking up and the warmth from the water had brought some color back into his cheeks, but no one looking at him would deny he was a little under the weather. Checking the time again, he realized it was time to leave. A hard knot formed in the middle of Draco’s stomach, but he tried to ignore it as he made his way to the Headmaster’s office. He was thankful to find Snape waiting for him as he passed the Great Hall and together they made the rest of the journey.

Neither of them said anything until the reached the statue that guarded Dumbledore’s office. Draco have never seen it in action and watched in fascination as Snape muttered, “Wine Gums,” and the statue leaped aside to reveal a staircase. Following Snape’s example, he stepped forward and soon they were on their way up. The ride was smooth but the odd movement made him slightly dizzy. Snape must have sensed it because the Slytherin felt the man grip his shoulder. The dizziness did not completely abate as they reached the top. No, just as Draco felt he had his bearings, the door open and he saw that they were the last to arrive.

Five chairs were situated in the room facing the headmaster’s desk, three of them already occupied by Black, Granger, and Pansy. Draco felt a firm pressure on his back and Snape gently urged him forward. As they passed by, Black and Granger gave him hard looks while Pansy continued to look down at her hands neatly folded in her lap. Draco found himself sitting next to her as he and Snape took the two remaining seats.

As soon as they were settled Dumbledore spoke, “Could I offer anyone a lemon drop? Tea? No. Well then, before we begin, does are there any questions?”

“Yes Headmaster,” Snape spoke up with a sneer in his voice, “I was wondering as to what purpose Professor Black and Miss Granger are here? From my understanding, this is a private matter that does not concern them.”

“As I understand it,” Dumbledore began, completely failing to respond to Snape’s tone, “Miss Granger is here in support of Miss Parkinson and because of the nature of the discussion, I could not find fault with her being here.”

“And I am here as an unbiased party in the discussion,” Black spoke for himself.

“Unbiased,” Snape snorted, “I doubt you know how to spell the word much less the meaning of it.”

Draco knew he should not find the situation amusing, but seeing Snape play so easily with the other man’s temper was enough to distract him, if only for a moment Granger however, was not finding it funny in the least, judging by the displeasure written all over her face. As for Pansy, the Slytherin girl had yet to react at all.

“Gentleman!” Dumbledore interrupted before Black could reply to Snape’s taunt, “Due to the changes in our society, the structure and procedure of all institutions are being watched carefully, even here at Hogwarts. Because of this, it is advisable that any meeting resulting from students within the same house being at odds, if you will, also include an outside staff member other than the students’ Head of House. Both students must have individual representation. Now, shall we begin?”

The Headmaster delivered the last words in such an offhanded way that Draco almost didn’t register the words until the man continued, “ We are here today because of the talk going around that Miss Parkinson is with child and that Mr. Malfoy is responsible for her in that respect. Should this be the case, both of your parents will be contacted immediately after this meeting. Now, Miss Parkinson here has already visited Madame Pompfry earlier today and I have been informed that she is indeed about two months along. Mr. Malfoy, do you deny that you are the father?”

Draco cleared his throat, “I am not the father.” At his words he could see Granger glaring at him even as he comforted Pansy by placing a hand on her arm.

Dumbledore didn’t pause or react, “Miss Parkinson, what have you to say about these rumors?”

Pansy didn’t look up, “He is the father.”

“You know well I am not!” Draco shot out at her.

“Mr. Malfoy, if you please. Now, Madame Pompfry has informed me that due to the early stage of the pregnancy, a paternity spell would not be accurate and it could also interfere with the forming magical energy of the child. We will have to wait until the end of the first trimester to use such a spell, however I am hoping we can solve this ourselves. It is obvious one party in this room is not being completely truthful. A truth potion could always be administered to at least Mr. Malfoy but I would rather get this settled now.”

“Only one person really has reason enough to lie,” Black interjected, but Dumbledore completely ignored the comment.

Draco watched the old man closely for any hint of what he was thinking. The Headmaster’s attention seemed to be completely focused on Pansy’s bowed head with none of the usual mirth in his eyes. He couldn’t tell what the man was thinking, which only put him more on edge.

“Miss Parkinson, since your intimate contact with Mr Malfoy must have taken place over the summer, would you mind telling me how you came to be together? Did you plan to meet?” Dumbledore asked, not averting his gaze.

When Pansy spoke Draco could detect the slightest hitch in her voice. If he didn’t feel so betrayed he would almost feel sorry for her. “No, we didn’t plan to meet,” she answered, “I was out with some friend from school and so was he. We met, had a few drinks, and...”

“Did any of your friends see you with Mr. Malfoy?” Dumbledore asked.

Pansy nodded, “But they had had a bit much to drink.”

“Can any of your friend vouch for you during this occasion Mr. Malfoy?”

“There was no such occasion. I never went out with friends from school during the summer,” Draco replied with conviction.

Black snorted, “I find that hard to believe.”

“And I find it hard to believe you can count beyond you ten fingers and ten toes,” Snape sneered. “Draco, can your mother account for your whereabouts this summer?”

“We stayed with Ben Pierce and his family all but the last two weeks of break. I spent nearly every waking moment with Ben’s older brother. Ben can confirm that and I’m sure his brother would be willing to vouch for me,” Draco replied, though he really didn’t want to bring Ben or Ian into this.

“You are a hormonal teenager Malfoy, do you expect us to believe that you never snuck out during the night to find a little companionship? With or without your friend?” Black asked icily, “It is known that you do not have a girlfriend at the moment to keep you occupied.”

Even Granger looked a bit stunned at Black’s bluntness, but Draco barely noticed. “No, Professor Black,” Draco spat, “not that its any of your business but no, I do not have a girlfriend. I have a BOYfriend. Girls do not interest me in the least, especially since I spent all summer with the man I am very much in love with!”

Draco was taking deep breaths to calm himself down by the time he was done. It wasn’t until he registered all the surprised faces looking at him that he realized what he had just spouted out. Even Pansy was staring at him now. All of it –the interrogation, the betrayal, the fact that he had just outed himself to five people, most of whom he didn’t even like– it was just too much. Without waiting for them to regain their senses, Draco shot to his feet and fairly sprinted to the door, not even pausing to take note of Pansy who was now sobbing something that sounded like ‘sorry’.

Before he knew it Draco was back in his room, gasping for air as his lungs tried to catch up with him after his mad dash. He had passed a couple people in the common room, including Blaise, who had tried to talk to him, but Draco had walked right passed and slammed the door to the dormitory. Why? Why was this happening now when he actually had a reason to be happy, something to look forward to? For once, he hadn’t done anything to anybody and this is what happened. He didn’t want to be here. Why did he have to be here?

Still in the mix of his emotions, Draco practically tore his robe off of his shoulders, throwing it on the floor to be joined by his tie and shoes a moment later. It was only after he flung himself on his bed and drew the curtains shut that he felt comfortable enough to stop and let the adrenaline that rushing through his system fade away. He pulled his CD player from under his pillow and turned it on. The quiet strumming calmed him enough that he was able to make some sense of his thought and what he had just done.

It wasn’t that admitting his sexuality was a bad thing. It wasn’t that big a deal to most people, but it was the fact that he had let out something so personal –a tidbit that people could toss casually back and forth until it became yesterday’s news. It was something he hadn’t even told his mother yet because he and Ian had agreed to wait until after school so they could officially declare their relationship. Betrayed by a member of his own house. Violated by being forced to show a part of himself he wasn’t ready to let out. The emotions ripped their way through his body.

Draco didn’t know how long he laid there with his eyes closed and the music turned up loud enough to drown out the sound of his dorm mates if they came in. In the safe place he created for himself, hours could have passed. He had a sense of déjà vu when out of nowhere came a nudge on his shoulder, stirring him from his trance. Expecting to see Snape scowling down at him, Draco cracked an eye open. He nearly fell out of bed in surprise when he realized it was not Professor Snape. No, it was Hermione Granger.