Here's the eleventh chapter! Short but it's leading somewhere, really it is. ^_~ Also, I just realized that I forgot to put a disclaimer on this fic. So, here it is: I don't own any of it, so don't sue. Good? Well anyways, enjoy.

Eleven: The Visit

Draco awoke warm but to the oddest sound...

"Bloody shove it!" Someone yelled. He thought for a moment it was Harry, but Harry didn't sleep in the Slythrin dorms...it was then that he realized he had fallen asleep in Harry's room. The sound continued. It was almost like a horn of some kind, but muffled, as if it were being played into a wall. Harry finally jerked up and stomped across the room. Uncaring of his nudity, he flipped the frame over. The knight got an eyeful-obviously-and his jaw dropped open.

"Sometimes I wish I weren't a portrait..." he muttered helplessly. Harry glared at him.

"What are you doing?!" He hissed, moving closer to the frame so he was at least partially hidden from the knight's eyes.

"Professor Snape came by last night during your...tutoring session...and asked that I keep Draco here and wake you both up at four-thirty. His father is coming for a visit or something..." Unseen to Harry, Draco's eyes grew wide and his face drained of color. Swallowing hard, he glanced at the calendar even though he already knew what day it was. December eighteenth. One week before Christmas. Harry was still growling at the knight so Draco had a chance to calm himself and get his quickly rising panic under control. However, apparently he wasn't under enough control. The second Harry turned around (unwittingly showing his back side to the still flabbergasted knight) he knew something was wrong with Draco.

"Are you alright?" He asked anxiously. Draco yawned.

"Yah, I'm fine. Really, just a bit disorientated that's all." He explained. Harry wasn't convinced, but let the explanation slide.

At fifteen to five, Severus showed up, announced by the seemingly nocturnal knight.

"Are you two ready?" Harry looked up from his book.

"Us two? You want me to come?" He asked in confusion.

"Lucius wants us both there as well as Draco." Severus shrugged and pretended that he wasn't worried. Harry was. However, he said nothing only pulled his hair back and followed Severus and Draco to a small conference room in the front of the school.

"Funny" Harry commented. "I wouldn't have pegged Lucius as being one to be late." Draco got no amusement out of the joke. In fact he hadn't said a single thing since he learned his father was coming to visit. Likewise, Severus was too uptight to gain any amusement from the subtly joke.

"Actually, Lucius is known to be fashionably late. He'll be here in about thirty seconds or so." Harry nodded vaguely, but his eyes were trained on Draco. The blonde was chewing on the inside of his cheek and discreetly wringing his hands. He opened his mouth to say something comforting, but Lucius chose that exact moment to sweep into the room in a customized dramatic entrance.

"Ah, Severus! So good to see you again." He said, holding his arms out. Severus reluctantly stepped into the embrace and allowed Lucius to lay a chaste kiss on his cheek before stepping away. "Mr. Potter..." He acknowledged.

"Professor Potter." Harry corrected sternly. As a rule, he really didn't like the title, but he found himself needing to establish some working title with the elder Malfoy. As if he wanted or needed Lucius Malfoy's respect, or-heaven forbid-his approval. Lucius locked him with a trademark Malfoy look. Not quite a glare or a sneer, in fact almost neutral, but definitely not pleasant.

"Professor Potter." He amended.. He then turned his attention to his son. Draco had stood as soon as his father had entered the room and had waited patiently for him to finish his greets. "Hello Draco. You look well; it's been a long time since I've seen you." Draco smiled a little shakily and nodded.

"You look well yourself, Father." He complimented, pulling out his every ounce of self-confidence and accepting the polite hug and feather kiss his father presented him with. Harry did not miss Draco slight wince. Lucius gestured that they should all be seated.

"I apologize for the early hour, however I have a very busy week planned. As you know it's a week from Christmas, and I would like to Draco back with me this morning, so if you could go and gather you things, Draco." Draco rose smoothly and left without a word. Once again, Harry did not miss his shudder. "While Draco is gone, I have a few things to discuss with you two." His eyes moved politely from Harry to Severus, and then repeated the process. "As I do every year, I'm throwing a Christmas party in a week. I would like you both to attend if you can get away." Harry was shocked. Severus wasn't. Lucius sensed Harry's confusion and turned to him. "I realize you and I haven't exactly been on good terms, Professor Potter, but I feel that perhaps you and I should get to know each other a little better. Maybe get on better terms. After all, you are grown now, and you\rquote re not the boy I thought you were. I would really like it if you came." Harry was barely suppressing the urge to glare at the elder Malfoy. Lucius tone was too honey-sweet, his smile to genuine. It scared him.

"I'll consider it. Was that all? I'm sure you two have a lot to discuss." Lucius smiled at him encouragingly.

"Quite perceptive Mr. Potter. Actually we do." Harry inclined his head by way of farewell and gently ran a hand across Severus' shoulders as he left.

"I'll see you at breakfast, Severus." He said quietly, before squaring his shoulders and walking out of the room. Lucius watched him go.

"What was that?" He inquired when the door had closed.

"We've developed a bit of a friendship." Severus said simply. He had immediately realized what Harry was doing and decided he was going to play along. By making hints that they might be lovers it took all suspicion off the fact that Harry and Draco /were/ lovers. Lucius chose to say nothing, but Severus could tell that the other man was very carefully filling away the information.

"You will of course be coming to the party, yes?" Severus nodded. "And could you please try to convince Mr. Potter to come along as well?" Here Severus hesitated,

"Will Lord Voldermort be there?" Lucius smiled.

"Do you think I would invite The-Boy-Who-Lived to a gather in which his archenemy was present...? Okay, perhaps I would, but no, he won't be there this Christmas." Severus nodded.

"I'll see what I can do. He can be quite stubborn at times though." Lucius only gave him that unnerving smile again and stood. \par

"Well, I'll simply collect my son and be gone then. I'll see you and hopefully Mr. Potter in a week." He said by way of dismissal as Draco came back in the room.
*~*~*

As soon as Harry was out of the door he quickened his pace toward the dungeons. He spotted Draco immediately and he looked awful. His face was two shades too pale, his skin glistening in a thin sheen of sweat.

"Harry, don't say anything, please." He pleaded, placing a finger over Harry's mouth when he opened his mouth to speak. "I'll see you in a few weeks, okay. I'll be fine really." He assured his lover, but Harry wasn't convinced.

"Draco..."

"No, Harry. Please." He affirmed his plead with a soft kiss before hurrying off toward the conference room, chest floating along behind him. Harry narrowed his eyes as he watched his lover leave. Perhaps he would attend the Christmas party after all.
~*~*~

Author's notes: Can any one guess where it's going? As always, thank you Jennifer for correcting the spelling!