Severus Snape wandered the halls deep in thought and taking little notice of his surroundings, his slow tread a far cry from the typical gait he was known for which sent his robes billowing with every stride. So lost in his thoughts was he that the potions professor had passed no less than three couples snogging in alcoves without even a word, never mind his usual harsh reprimand and deduction of points from both parties. The students could hardly believe their good fortune, so cowed were they by his typical behavior that each had hastened quietly off to their dorms, not wishing to tempt fate.

As Severus reached the Entrance Hall, he began to feel claustrophobic and was struck by the sudden desire to get some fresh air. He paused for a moment to consider Poppy's likely reaction to the news that he'd been wandering the grounds at night before shrugging the thought off and proceeding to the main entrance. He figured it was probable that he would already be facing her wrath for being out of bed in the first place, 'in for a knut, in for a galleon,' as the saying goes.

As he emerged into the moonlit courtyard, Severus took a deep breath of the crisp September air and let it out slowly. As he gazed out across the grounds towards the Black Lake, he could not help feeling a twinge of nostalgia. Hogwarts had been his home almost since his arrival with the Hogwarts Express at eleven years old, a shining beacon of hope to a child who'd grown up poor, neglected, and continuously surrounded by the bickering of his parents.

It's little wonder that, despite the torments inflicted upon him by The Marauders, Hogwarts rapidly eclipsed his parents' house in Cokeworth as the place he called home. Even during the four years he had spent in Voldemort's service following graduation, he'd never been able to distance himself entirely from that feeling. He'd often stolen away to Hogsmeade on quiet afternoons when his absence wouldn't be missed to gaze longingly upon the castle and immerse himself in its environs.

After that horrible Halloween night, when the Dark Lord had struck down the only person who'd ever cared for him, he'd been a hollow shell when Albus had found him. Beside himself with regret, he'd only been able to begin piecing himself back together after the headmaster had practically dragged him to the castle. Despite the memories that haunted Severus as he'd roamed the halls that first year, the magic of the place and being surrounded by the students, however much he detested their lighthearted frivolity, had breathed new life into him. Hogwarts had been the only true home he'd ever known, and he'd miss her dearly.

Crossing the courtyard, Severus found himself torn from his reflections by the sound of voices. While he was by no means on active duty the thought of catching delinquent students unawares and meting out punishment sent a small thrill coursing through his veins. Casting his gaze about across the grounds in search of the miscreant students, Snape found himself bemused by his inability to spot anyone. Suddenly, the sound of a shouted banishing charm from on high found him palming his wand as he wrenched his gaze skyward to the top of the Astronomy Tower, driving a brief twinge of pain through the still-healing scar tissue in his neck.

A few moments passed, the voice muffled as whoever was casting moved further from the edge before silence settled once again only to be broken by a second voice and the unmistakable words of a full body-bind. Severus felt a painful twinge in his gut, and his mind raced as he briefly flashed back to another night, another conflict atop the Astronomy Tower, as, with mounting horror, he watched a shadow detach itself from the tower and begin plummetting toward the ground.

"Harry, No!"

His strained words hung heavy in the air as Draco scrambled to the balustrade surrounding the top level of the tower, his heart caught in his throat. Unbidden, repressed visions of the night Dumbledore had died were sent coursing through his mind, and he blinked away sudden tears as he stretched out over the railing to look down expecting the worst. Draco nearly sobbed in relief when he spotted Harry's body dangling just a meter or so below where he now stood, supported by his cloak which had gotten caught up on one of the ornate iron balusters.

With a heavy sigh, Draco began moving to stow away his wand in its holster when he heard a sound that sent a chill racing down his spine. With mounting dread, Draco turned his gaze back to Harry's body dangling just out of his reach as the sound of ripping fabric and popping seams seemed to echo in the still night that surrounded him. Before Draco could react to the developing situation, the midweight fabric of Potter's light autumn cloak tore free from around his arms, and his body began to fall, bouncing off the parapet of the walkway below with a dull thud, before continuing in a rapid descent towards the ground.

Memories galloped through Draco's head at lightning speed. Meeting Potter in Madam Malkin's, being rejected on the train, countless conflicts throughout the years, the day the snatchers had dragged the Golden Trio into Malfoy Manor, the day Harry had returned his wand. Digging deep as recollections of their third year flashed before his eyes, Draco grasped hold of every last fragment of magic he could muster in his core and poured it into his wand before bellowing out the first spell that came to mind, he could only hope it would be enough.

"ARRESTO MOMENTUM!"

Severus' blood ran cold as he fought against the crippling pain that seemed to wrap around his very core and lurch into motion, hastening towards the base of the tower and doing his best not to stumble on the irregular terrain. He had experienced a brief instant of relief as the form falling from the tower had faltered in its descent, appearing to have been caught up on something, only to have that relief stricken away as the shape separated from another and resume its plunge toward the grounds below.

He winced as he watched the shape careen off of the crenelations of one of the exterior walkways and made to draw his wand, cursing as he stumbled on a loose cobble sending his wand skittering across the ground ahead. He threw himself forward, biting back a snarl as his knee struck the cobbles hard and scrabbled about for his wand. Dimly, he heard a shouted spell and looked up as he reclaimed his wand, grateful to whoever had cast the spell that slowed the shape's descent long enough for him to recover his wand, though lamenting the fact that they hadn't managed to stop it altogether.

What little doubt he'd had that the object in question was a body vanished as he was able to discern the flapping of fabric about their still form, apparently the recipient of the body-bind he'd heard, and the shapes of individual limbs became visible. With a determined vow to himself that he wouldn't see yet another soul pass on the grounds of a school which had become all too familiar with death these past years, Severus raised his wand and cast.

"LEVICORPUS!"

Draco looked on panicked as his best attempt at saving Harry failed before him, his body continuing to recede into the distance below him. He thrust himself back from the railing and dashed to the stairs, taking them three and four at a time. Draco wasn't sure what he would find when upon reaching the base of the tower, but he'd do his damnedest to give Potter the best possible odds for survival. He wove his way through the halls at breakneck speeds, diving down staircases with reckless haste determined to reach his destination.

Not once did Draco even pause to consider the possible ramifications for himself should Potter's fall lead to his untimely death. The fact that his family's role as spies for the light had only been given serious consideration upon Harry's corroboration before the Wizengamot was the only reason he'd even been given probation. There were many among the wizarding public that would have liked to see the Malfoy family ruined for the atrocities they'd been forced to commit in their efforts to retain favor with the Dark Lord and maintain access to the information he would only reveal to his inner circle. There was little doubt that the death of The Vanquisher of Voldemort while under the effects of a body-bind cast with his wand would be enough to seal his fate and send him to Azkaban but Draco didn't even spare it a thought.

As he reached the fourth floor, Draco diverted from the Grand Staircase and flew through the corridor, taking the staircase to the Hospital Wing in leaps and bounds and throwing the doors open with a bang. He rushed through the infirmary without thought for whose sleep he might be disturbing, entered the office without pause and began beating frantically upon the door to the matron's quarters. When Madam Pomfrey opened her door, lit wand in hand and clad only in a nightshirt and a pair of fuzzy slippers, Draco wasted no time in grabbing he wrist and tugging her forward. "Emergency… Potter!" he gasped.

If Madam Pomfrey thought it odd that Harry Potter's long-time rival showed such concern for his wellbeing she made no indication. With a grave nod, the matron wasted no time, summoning her emergency kit with a flick of her wand and allowing Draco to lead her out through the ward before he released her arm and broke into a run.

With adrenaline coursing through his body, Severus watched with dismay as his spell splashed uselessly against the stone of the tower just above the falling body, his aim based on his estimate of the rate of descent off by only a few meters. Taking a deep breath and fighting against the pain in his gut, he brought his wand up close beside his head and aimed with care before letting his spell fly forth once more.

"LEVICORPUS!"

Severus nearly crowed in triumph when his spell struck true, the plummeting body's descent came to an abrupt halt, yanked upside down by the right ankle as though snatched out of the air by an invisible hook. Severus guided the motionless form to the ground, taking painstaking care to rest the head gently upon the grass and maneuvering the body such that it was nearly horizontal before a whispered "liberacorpus" released the spell.

As the body settled lightly to the ground, the gutwrenching pain vanished without a trace and Snape collapsed to his knees in relief. He drew in a few shuddering gasps of air, attempting to collect himself before hastening off to check on the individual he'd saved. Just as he was working to regain his feet, the postern entrance to the Grand Staircase flew open with a bang, drawing his attention; the shock of white-blond hair he observed rushing out the door nearly drove him to his knees with a broken gasp. "Draco…"

Draco burst through the stairwell door and set out across the lawn at a sprint, making a beeline for the base of the tower with Madam Pomfrey hastening after him. When he reached the lump, lying motionless in the grass and practically invisible within the tower's shadow, he collapsed to his knees and began pleading desperately.

"Come on, Harry, please be all right. Please be all right, please, please, please be all right. Don't you dare go dying, Potter! I didn't mean for you to fall!"

As he processed his godson's words, Severus began to see red. Harry? Potter? HARRY POTTER?! What was Draco thinking, dueling Potter like this? Of all the short-sighted, petty, inconsiderate, downright asinine moves he could have made, to risk Azkaban over a petty schoolboy rivalry was unconscionable. It was only thanks to Potter's testimony (backstopping that of Kingsley Shacklebolt which had failed to sway the majority) that the Malfoys' position as spies for the Order had even been accepted and now Draco was throwing it all away over some sort ridiculous grudge?

Severus allowed his indignation to fuel his efforts as he rose once again to his feet, observing nonplussed as Madam Pomfrey arrived at the scene - no doubt Granger had run to fetch her once the dispute had gotten out of hand. Severus gathered his fury about him like a cloak and crushed it down with Occlumency until it simmered just below the surface before stalking forwards.

"Mister Malfoy," he hissed, drawing out the honorific, "you will proceed directly to my quarters and await my return."

Draco turned in surprise, evidently caught off guard by his presence. "Uncle Sev…"

"Now, Mister Malfoy," Severus interrupted in a tone that brooked no argument.

"Wait, Uncle Sev, I need to-" Draco stammered.

"Fifty points from Slytherin." Draco reeled back, eyes wide as though he'd been slapped. For a moment, Severus thought the boy had taken the hint until a shadow crossed his face and he opened his mouth to speak. Severus flicked his wand. "Silencio. You will go to my quarters at once, you will not speak to anyone, and you will await me in my sitting room. While you are waiting, you will reflect upon the relative value of a school rivalry as compared to your continued freedom.

"As soon as I have seen Mister Potter to the Hospital Wing and a determination has been made as to his wellbeing, I will be down. At that time we will discuss a suitable punishment for your reckless behavior. If you are fortunate, I will be able to prevail upon Mister Potter's Gryffindor nature on your behalf, and this mistake will not result in a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Finite Incantatem. Go, Mister Malfoy."

Draco opened his mouth as though to object, but a raised eyebrow was sufficient encouragement for him to reconsider that course of action. With a dark scowl crossing his face, Draco stormed off towards the main entrance and Severus turned his attention to more pressing affairs. Madam Pomfrey was hovering over Potter, waving her wand in a complex series of movements Severus recognized as those of a diagnostic spell. At his approach, the matron looked up at him with a reproachful expression on her face.

"Severus Tobias Snape, just what do you have to say for yourself? I left you in your bed mere hours ago, trusting you to go to sleep like a responsible adult, and here I find you cavorting about the grounds exerting yourself." Severus winced and opened his mouth to respond only to be cut off before he could begin. "Rest assured, young man, that I will be running a full panel of diagnostics on you just as soon as I've finished with Mr. Potter. If I find that you've overexerted yourself, you can just forget any notion of being discharged in the morning. Honestly, Severus, considering the nature of the injuries you received, I'd have thought that you of all people could be trusted to take your recuperation seriously."

Recognizing a losing battle without even having to begin, Severus simply nodded his acceptance. "And how is Mister Potter?"

With a sniff, Poppy turned away and began conjuring a stretcher. "He's got extensive bruising on his right-hand side, one broken and three fractured ribs, and his collarbone is shattered, it's no wonder he's passed out from the pain. Furthermore, he shows signs of fatigue, both physical and magical. I daresay he'll be joining you in the ward tonight, and I'll likely be keeping him through the end of the week. After everything we've gone through I really would have expected the active participants in the war to have learned to take better care of themselves.

"Speaking of which, I don't suppose you'd be able to shed any light on just how the boy ended up in this condition? I had planned to ask Mr. Malfoy, but you sent him away before I had a chance. Based upon the injuries, I'd suspect an object thrown with a strong Banishing Charm, but there's no sign of any potential projectile in the immediate area."

Severus looked down and pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand in an attempt to stave off the headache he could feel fast approaching before he responded. "He fell from the Astronomy Tower."

"Now is hardly the time for jokes, Severus," Pomfrey huffed as she carefully levitated Harry's body onto the conjured stretcher.

"I am, regretfully, quite sincere. I was out taking a walk to clear my head when I heard voices and spells being cast. After hearing the incantation for the body-bind, I watched the whole thing. Potter fell some ten meters, struck one of the upper parapets, and then proceeded to fall the rest of the way. Thankfully, Mr. Malfoy appears to have reconsidered the wisdom of killing the Savior of the Wizarding World as his Deceleration Charm was integral to my success in catching Potter before he reached the ground."

Poppy's eyes widened, and the blanching of her skin was visible even in the light of the moon. "Thank Merlin you were here. Not that it excuses your being out of bed, mind, but I shudder to think what might have- no, best leave that thought alone. At least the body-bind kept him from moving about; while his collarbone was shattered, all of the pieces remained properly aligned which makes fusing them back together much easier, believe you me. Right then, off we go. Follow me, Mr. Snape." With a flourish of her wand, the matron levitated the stretcher bearing Harry Potter in front of her and set off into the school.

As he followed Madam Pomfrey, Severus turned his thoughts back to his errant godson. He'd known the boy had grown up a bit spoiled due to his parents' attentions, despite Severus' best efforts to keep him grounded, but he'd genuinely believed the boy to be turning over a new leaf now that the play-acting for the Dark Lord was behind them. The boy had certainly carried on about mending fences when he'd come to visit Severus in the hospital wing, so much so that he'd allowed himself to feel optimistic about his godson's future. Now, every last bit of that optimism had been torn to shreds in an instant.

If Draco had gotten himself into such an altercation with anyone other than Potter, there was little doubt in his mind that the Aurors would be called and Draco would have ended up on the first Portkey to Azkaban come morning. As it stands, depending on Potter's mood and what they'd fought about, he gave his godson even odds of surviving this without being sent to the prison. He could only hope that Potter's over-developed sense of fair play would prevent the Gryffindor for condemning Draco to such a fate. Whether he'd survive Severus' wrath, on the other hand, would remain to be seen.

And to think, he'd been thinking the boy responsible enough to consider a business partnership. Clearly, he had gravely misjudged his godson's development. There was nothing for it, if Draco wasn't ready to comport himself like an adult then he'd watch over him like the child he acted. Honestly, midnight duels atop the Astronomy Tower? What is this, first year? He'd expect no less from Potter, but he'd genuinely thought his godson had grown beyond such childish behavior. He could only hope that Potter would be forgiving and that he'd be able to come up with a suitable punishment before the incident was reported to the headmistress.

Draco slammed the portrait to his godfather's quarters behind him and sat down in an armchair with an indignant huff. It wasn't bloody fair. Uncle Sev hadn't even let him get a word of explanation in before scolding him and sending him off.

And taking points! Sure, if he'd really been caught dueling in the halls, he'd have expected no less, but to deduct all those points without waiting for or even asking for an explanation was infuriating. He was being treated like a naughty child without getting the chance to explain himself. It was only made worse by his innocence. For the first time in his life, Draco could truly appreciate what it must have been like for Harry in Snape's classroom, being blamed for mishaps when it was pranks played by the Slytherins that caused the issues. To describe the feeling as unpleasant would be putting things mildly.

With a shake of his head, Draco dismissed the thought for later consideration and began clearing his head. He needed to get his thoughts in order so that he could defend himself whenever his godfather deigned to arrive. Whatever was going on with Harry, Draco couldn't do much alone, and he desperately needed to convince his godfather of the severity of the situation before things got any worse. Draco stared into the fire as he composed his thoughts and awaited his godfather's arrival.