Draco Malfoy, Broken

Chapter 44 – Love Actually

Published: 3/25/2019

Draco watched as Professor Flitwick pointed his wand at Dean, who did not like being part of the demonstration. Draco smiled with a vindictive kind of pleasure at his helplessness.

"But Professor..." Dean whined.

"Tut tut. What are the words you are supposed to remember?" the tiny professor asked, raising his wand.

"Sugar mice," he said, clenching up slightly and then winced from the pain of the hemorrhoid hex.

Draco smiled, again.

"Obliviate!" Professor Flitwick said, aiming at Dean.

Dean looked around dazed for a second, his eyes distant. He looked a little spaced, like he had just woken up. "Are you going to do it, Sir?"

"See, now? What's the last thing you remember, Mr. Thomas?"

"Umm... you said to stand up and that you were going to use a Memory Charm on me," he said, uncertainly. He had the look like he wasn't sure about the whole thing.

"Thank you, Mr. Thomas. Have a seat," Flitwick said.

Dean was still a little confused and went back to a different seat. He just sat on the bare wooden chair, instead of his donut cushion, and yelped. He swore a few times and the professor chastised his words. Draco sniggered loud enough to earn a glare from Dean. Daphne whispered into Theo's ear. He cast a look a Draco and gave Draco a smile, too.

"What?" he whispered as Professor Flitwick continued to question Dean about the two words that had just been wiped from his memory.

"Nothing," Theo muttered, still smiling.

Blaise opened the door, mumbled an apology to Professor Flitwick and took his seat next to Draco. He merely nodded, but looked a little better than before. Draco gave him a look-over, but straightened up as the professor told them to pay attention to the signs that a Memory Charm has been placed over someone, namely unfocused eye movement, confusion and disorientation. He then went on into memory recovery. Draco was honestly more concerned with Blaise, but he was drawn to Flitwick's lecture.

"Now, when I told you to stand up... what do you think happened next... don't try to remember too hard... some of it comes from guessing," Flitwick said, trying to get Dean to answer.

"I'm sorry," Dean murmured, trying to remember, despite Flitwick's instructions. "I think I moved... over there... you pointed your wand at me, and... I didn't like it."

"Very good! Did you see how I asked questions to help his mind fill the gap that has been removed? But be very careful when you question someone. You can't use leading questions... you can't tell them what happened. They might adopt that idea as the memory. Some can even do it as they cast Obliviate. That is called memory augmentation and isn't easy to recover from, as the memories get muddled. With memory erasure, however, some of the memory may be irretrievable. We were able to get at least a partial restoration just after a few questions. He could have guessed the positioning, but he remembered specifically not liking it."

Dean looked at Seamus next to him, for answers, but he only shrugged.

"Now... what are some reasons why Mr. Thomas was able to gain back part of the memory?" the deputy headmaster asked.

Hermione's hand shot up.

"Ms. Granger?"

"Sensory input. We are at the place where the memory was lost."

"Correct. Take ten points. Just being in the same surroundings helped to fill the gaps. Another reason? Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco hadn't read ahead, but he understood Memory Charms. "Because you didn't use a lot of force in your spell?"

"Good. Ten to Slytherin. As one uses a Memory Charm, they have to decide the amount of pressure on the block. The more power you use, the less likely they will remember. However, using high-level charms will result in permanent brain damage and noticeable disorientation. It would make the memory augmentation known, obvious, and therefore, the potential for others to repair it. If you know the signs, you will know that a Memory Charm was used. The main purpose for using such a charm is to escape notice. Whether using it legitimately as a Ministry-approved reason or illegally, to hide illicit activity. Using memory charms, in that sense, is, of course, highly punishable under the law and would result in a lengthily prison sentence.

"But the subtler the erasure, the less likely that residual signs will remain and the more difficult to know that there is a lost memory to recover. However, it will be easier to recover a memory that only employs a weaker spell. Now, Ms. Granger stated that just being where the memory was taken helped, but what if you don't know where or when a memory was taken? Who was here? Or why? That's why we need to know the signs that a Memory Charm was used and why employing a heavy spell, that shows more obvious signs that a memory augmentation occurred, is so imprudent.

"So, when you employ a Memory Charm, it is better to use a less powerful spell, even when it comes to protecting the International Statute of Secrecy. If the muggle remembers bits of what happened, they will most likely think it was a dream or their imagination. However, the more traumatizing the event, the more force will be needed and the side effects will be obvious and dangerous. If it is too powerful, the mind may never recover properly either."

Draco nodded. He heard Lockhart never did get his memory back.

"There was one other reason why Dean got some his memory back quite easily... does anyone know?"

Hermione again had her hand up, but the professor picked Harry, who bit his lip considering it. "He was afraid."

"Another ten to Gryffindor. Fear... fear drives your memories and emotions more than anything else, especially the fear of pain. People remember fear. It leaves the most lasting memories... even more than the actual pain does, and it is harder to forget it, or erase it. If the memory was one of intense fear or pain, a powerful spell will be required, though I do not advise ever putting more force into a Memory Charm, if you are inexperienced. The Ministry has trained Obliviators for a reason. Even after a stronger spell is used, there will still be remnants, like a sort of déjà vu. Little things that they will remember, even if they couldn't remember why."

"Now, there are several ways to detect Memory Charms, aside from the signs, but the spell is difficult to use, the longer time has passed," Flitwick went on, showing the class how to magically detect Memory Charms and they took notes as he spoke and went over the correct wand movements and pronunciation.

Dean hated all the attention on him. Draco, however, caught Flitwick giving him a wink, and knew he was targeting Dean for a reason. Draco gave a low chuckle under his breath, again. He glanced to Blaise, took advantage of their non-break and put his hand on Blaise's arm: a request for information.

"I'm okay... honest. I'm better," Blaise whispered, but his confidence was shattered. He glanced longingly at Neville, who was openly sleeping on the other side of the room.

"You don't look it," Draco muttered.

"Had something things to work out. Thank you... for last night," he murmured quietly.

Draco nodded. Blaise had held him enough times when his dark moments came. He was glad he was able to return the favor for once.

Professor Flitwick got in front of the class, again, climbing his tower of books to see over them. "Ah... now Ms. Granger said sensory input. The easiest way to recover a memory, whether purposely or not, is through the use of your senses. Sight... you're in the room where it happened. You see the people who were there and the things around you. But there are other senses... smell, taste, hearing and touch. Each carries their own distinctive memory imprint and it is difficult to erase them all, especially if it's a light spell or rushed. You can attempt to regain those memories by focusing on those senses in particular."

"But it was so short, Professor. He wasn't smelling, tasting, hearing, or touching anything," Fay snorted.

"But Ms. Dunbar... the mind connects those senses with the word. Just saying... pass me the parchment... causes a myriad of thoughts and memories associated with that word. The smell of fresh parchment, the feel of it as you press down, the sound of it ripping or a scratching of the quill, or even the bitter taste of ink on your tongue. That is just thinking the word parchment," the tiny professor explained, ignoring her snub.

"So we let him taste it? Or shove it under his nose?" she said, haughtily.

"Not exactly. Sometimes the direct approach works. Seeing a roll of parchment and suddenly the memory comes back in a flash. But with a long time period having passed, the better way is more of a therapeutic connection: a guided walkthrough their memories. Mr. Finnegan? Would you like to try? See if you can get him to remember. But no filling in information and no clues. Focus on the other senses, the other things in the room."

Seamus spent ten minutes trying to get Dean to remember anything, but Dean wasn't having any breakthroughs. The class was losing focus on them, but Flitwick quietened them with a Silencing Charm.

"Continue," he encouraged.

Seamus tried everything, all five senses, where he was standing, what he remembered seeing, what happened after Flitwick told him to stand up, but Dean's memory was gone and he was getting frustrated. Thankfully, the class was nearing an end, Draco thought relieved.

"So where was I?" Seamus tried a different approach.

"Sitting in your chair?" Dean said, guessing.

"Yeah, but in relation to where you were. Where was I when you got up?"

"Well, you were next to me... I stood up and walked past you to the front. You were behind me, then."

The class looked at them. Dean had remembered something else. Draco looked between the two of them as they stared into each other's eyes. Crap.

"Alright... what did you do then?" Seamus tried.

"I looked back at you... I was worried...." Dean admitted, closing his eyes.

"What were you worried about?" Seamus asked, quietly.

"He said he would take away my memory..." Dean whispered.

"Then what did he say?"

"I don't...."

"Do you remember any noises... the sound of something?" Seamus said, changing tack.

"People laughing. I was embarrassed," Dean said, admitted.

Draco nodded, impressed. Memory Charms could be nasty. One second you know what happened, the way the world works, your own hi온라인카지노게임 and the next it's ripped away and you don't remember you had it. Malicious use of Memory Charms carried a twenty-five-year sentence if someone used it without sanction, depending on the severity of the removal.

"Who was laughing?" Seamus asked.

"I didn't look."

"Do you remember tasting anything... a flavor?"

"I don't know. It was sweet... sugary..." Dean said, but jolted slightly. He wrenched his eyes open. "Sugar mice... that's what he said! After he pointed his wand at me!"

Professor Flitwick lifted the Silencing Charm and chapped. "Well done... well done, Mr. Finnegan. Do you remember everything?"

"I think so?" Dean said, uncertainly.

"Well, we shall make sure, Meminisso!" Professor Flitwick said, pointing his wand, again at Dean.

Dean looked a little dazed and shook his head. "I remember."

"Yes, who can tell me why Mr. Finnegan couldn't cast that charm?" he asked the class and picked the Head Girl to answer.

"The counter charm only works if the person who initially used the Memory Charm restores the memories," Hermione replied. "Generally, anyway. Healers can do partial restorations, but they take a long time."

"Correct on both accounts. But it works the other way as well. The person removing the memory needs to know what they are removing in order to remove it. They have to have focus. Now, Obliviators are often called to places to wipe the memories of muggles periodically. They must investigate to more safely modify what they saw. It is a lot easier to skim off the most recent memory, certainly. But for something that happened in the past... say altering your tenth birthday. That person would have to have intimate knowledge of that memory to go back nearly a decade to erase or alter it, and it certainly will be easier to regain it back. Long-term memory is more difficult to erase than short-term memory by far, and it is easier to regain the memories back."

Professor Flitwick dished out some last-minute points to Gryffindor House, gave them some homework and dismissed them for lunch. He then nearly fell out of his chair getting down, but safety latched onto Fay's robes, ripping them slightly.

"Oh sorry, my dear. I just slipped slightly," he said and stood up walking into his office, his head high. He had charmed it to be the size he wanted.

Harry smirked, and then gently kicked Neville awake after the undesirables had left.

"I'm here," he said, sitting bolt upright, imprints of the desk on his face. Blaise was staring right at him and smiled.

"Class is over, Neville," Harry said.

"Oh... why didn't you wake me up?" Neville said, getting up slowly and walked out the door with him. Hermione and Ron were slightly ahead of him, giggling like lovesick fools.

"Mate, you were drooling. Did you even sleep last night?" Harry asked.

Draco, Theo and Daphne copied Blaise's movements and quietly followed close enough to hear.

"No... I couldn't. I had to patrol the hallways."

"All night? Why?"

"McGonagall said that she couldn't put me into detention cause I'm a professor and all. So, she put me on patrols all night."

"What for?"

"Abusing my position... amongst other things," he said, lowering his head.

"Hey, we've all gotten a verbal-lashing by the headmistress before. It's okay, alright?" Harry said, supportively tapping his hand on Neville's shoulder.

"I honestly am not worried about her. Blaise said...." Neville started, but Blaise found his voice.

"Neville?"

Both Harry and Neville stopped, but Ron and Hermione kept going. Theo and Daphne did the same. Harry put up the privacy wards.

"Blaise... are you okay? You were so...."

"I'm better."

"I'm not going to agree to it, Blaise," Neville said, picking up at where their conversation ended in Potions.

"I didn't think so...."

"I don't think it's that big of a deal."

"I almost got you fired," Blaise said, flatly. Draco shared a look with Harry, asking if they should leave. He just shrugged and continued to watch.

"No, you didn't. She wouldn't do that," Neville insisted.

"But it's not okay that you're a professor and I'm a student."

"I can quit. Professor Sprout can take over my classes, again," Neville said.

"You love teaching," Blaise said.

"I love being with you more," Neville declared fervently.

Blaise faltered slightly. "As do I. But you're a great teacher. All the first and second years love you. Even the Slytherin brats look up to you. I don't want to take that away. We can only be friends, Neville. I'm sorry."

"We can be quiet...."

"No. It's not safe or right. If you want to be with me... then you will have to wait."

"Wait?" Neville clarified.

"Yeah... till school ends. I'll be out and there won't be a problem."

"You're saying that we just have to wait until school is over?" Neville said, again. "Then we can be together?"

"If you want to wait that long. I'll understand if you don't," Blaise said, lowering his head. "I considering quitting, but I can't...."

"Don't. I'll wait forever for you, Blaise," Neville vowed.

"It won't have to be that long."

"But you'll still talk to me at least?" Neville said, worriedly.

"Of course, just no physical contact. I'm sorry about this morning. I panicked. I thought it'd be better if we stopped everything. But we needn't be that extreme. We just have to be careful, no more wandering around by ourselves."

"So you need chaperones?" Harry said, interrupting their non-private conversation. Draco smiled.

"If you must put it like that, Potter," Blaise said, eyeing him darkly, like he wanted to hex him. He turned back to Neville. "Besides, you barely know me."

"I know who you are," Neville said. "I don't care about the past, Blaise."

"But you need to know it."

Neville smiled. "So, you are saying that we should take this time to get to know each other?"

"Yes."

"That sounds great. We'll change it up... I'll only sit with you guys at lunch. I can sit next to Draco, if you want it to be more... subtler."

"Fine... we better get going, I'm hungry," Blaise said, and Neville looked happier than he had when they left Potions. They still walked next to each other as they went toward the Great Hall. Harry fell in next to Draco.

"Did that conversation sound familiar to you?" Draco murmured to Harry.

"Maybe, just as long as you don't say anything that they just said... to me," Harry grumbled.

"I won't. But you won't wait forever for me?"

"Shut up... but yes, I will... I just don't have to wait. We do have class tonight..." Harry said, and then whispered. "...and after."

Draco smiled, but managed to smooth it out before entering the lunchroom. Harry moved a little further away and sat down next to Hermione. Draco sat between Daphne and Neville. Blaise had taken his usual spot on the other side of the table with Theo. Neville took the time to make conversation not just with Blaise, but Draco, too. There was a tense moment where Neville, in all friendliness, put his hand on Draco's arm and he couldn't stop himself from flinching from the unexpected contact. Neville realized his mistake immediately and apologized. Draco said it was fine, but Neville shared a look with Blaise, who nodded.

They ate lunch, quietly, but was interrupted when McGonagall announced that Quidditch will be starting up. Nearly the whole school was standing and shouting in celebration. It took several minutes for McGonagall to get them to calm down. Draco didn't even pay attention to the details. Even if the Slytherins wanted him on their team, he'd be knocked out within the first ten minutes by the other team, if someone didn't hex him off his broom.

"You guys gonna play?" Neville asked.

"I don't even own a broom," Theo stated. Daphne rolled her eyes at the thought of playing.

"I'm not especially fond of it," Blaise said. He never tried out for the Slytherin team, but occasionally flew with Draco when they wanted to have some fun.

"Me neither," Neville said and looked at Draco, who hadn't responded.

"Draco?" Blaise asked.

"I can't be on a team," he muttered.

"Sure you can. Besides, there are no other eighth-year seekers besides you and Harry."

"So?"

"McGonagall said there's going to be two eighth-year teams. Weren't you listening?" Neville said.

"Not really. You want me to be Harry's opponent?" Draco scoffed. He had never beaten Harry and their last match bugged him too much. No, they shouldn't play against each other.

"You can't be on the same team, Draco," Blaise said.

"I won't be on any team," he said, dryly.

"We'll see what Potter says to that," Blaise chuckled.

Draco snorted and stabbed his food with more aggression than was warranted.

"Hey, what's up with Corner?" Theo said, suddenly.

They all turned to see Michael Corner talking with Filch, grabbing his arm and pleading with him.

"But Argus, I love you!" Corner yelled for the whole hall to hear. "I can't live without you!"

"Get off of me!" the caretaker yelped, embarrassed and ran from the hall.

"Come back, Argie! I want to kiss you!" Michael yelled, running after him as the school burst out laughing.

Draco looked at Harry, who was bright red from laughing so hard and sharing a look with the headmistress. She shook her head, disapprovingly, and motioned for Professor Slughorn to go remedy the situation. Harry turned to face Hermione, who didn't look happy.

"What?" he said.

"She said not to...."

"...hex, curse or jinx him... I didn't do any of those things, did I?" Harry pointed out and shared a look with Draco, who couldn't help but smile.

"I should put you in detention..." she muttered and continued eating.

Ron just stared and slowly started eating, too. Draco idly wondered if they were even talking to each other anymore. They didn't seem to be arguing at the very least.

Draco turned to his own plate and caught Neville and Blaise staring at each other. He smirked. Theo nodded approvingly, too. Draco glanced upward as the late mail arrived and saw a school owl dropped a letter in front of Harry. He picked it up, read it and whispered into Hermione's ear. She nodded and pulled him upward and they ran out of the Great Hall. Ron sighed and Luna and Ginny came over to sit with him. They were talking too low for Draco to hear, but Luna had a way with people.

"Interesting... what do you think Harry got?" Blaise said.

"No idea," Draco said.

"I did see him go up to the Owlery last night. Maybe he got an answer back?" Neville piped in.

"Maybe," he muttered back.

"I like that they didn't even talk to Ron," Daphne said aloud.

"Is that normal?" Blaise asked Neville.

"Asking Hermione questions and she runs off without explaining anything... yeah that happens," Neville said, laughing. "But... Harry doesn't usually go with her."

"Potter got some mail last week, too? Know anything about that?"

Neville shook his head. "Sorry. Our room is pretty quiet... except at night. Between the snoring and Harry's scre-nightmares, I usually wake up a few times."

Draco frowned and looked over at Ron, who was glaring at him. He looked away. He couldn't handle eye contact with Weasley for any amount of time.

"Hmm... it's nearly time for class," Blaise said, quietly, looking at Draco.

Draco lifted his head up and stared at him. Neville looked between the two of them, uncertain the problem, but Draco knew. Blaise was trying to get him to take command, again. He frowned. He felt better than he had, but it had all come from the need to defend his friend. Blaise was okay now, shouldn't it go back to normal... or was he supposed to stay in charge? Draco wasn't sure he was ready for that.

He glanced to Daphne, who was biting her lip, anxiously, and to Theo, who nodded encouragingly. His eyes fell back to Blaise, who hadn't fully recovered from what happened yesterday. He was intentionally avoiding his normal aggressive demeanor.

"This is dangerous, Blaise," Draco muttered, keeping his eyes on the table.

"We can give it a try."

Draco shook his head, fear grinding him down.

"Come on, Dray-co... you can do this," Blaise said, supportively.

"It's risky. Anything can happen and I can't defend anyone," Draco said, quietly and Neville was very confused, but knew not to interrupt.

"I'll back you," Blaise promised.

Draco dropped his head. "Can we go to class?"

"Why are you asking me?" Blaise said. Draco gave him a glare.

"Let's go to class," Draco sighed, giving in and Blaise smiled.

All five of them got up and proceeded toward the door. Neville went outside to the greenhouses to teach, Blaise said goodbye as they got closer to Binn's classroom. Daphne went to Muggle Studies and Theo walked with him to Ancient Runes, smiling slightly.

"You don't have to be all smug about it. He was practically forcing me to take over," Draco huffed as they entered the classroom.

"It makes me happy regardless," Theo said.

They settled in their seats and Hermione arrived at the last second, before the Professor Babbling shut the door.

"Mr. Malfoy? Are you feeling better today?" she asked, concerned.

"Yes, Professor. I'm doing well," Draco said, his fake bruises were "healing".

"Good," she said and then spelled the lesson on the board. Draco got to work and noticed Hermione eye him. He hoped it wasn't some convoluted plan to get him to play Quidditch. He wasn't going to risk it. Accidents and more injuries. Worse, what if he played Harry? And if Harry got mad at something he did? Draco shivered, earning a look from her.

Draco kept his eyes on his book and didn't think any more about it for the rest of the class. Blaise was outside when they got out. Daphne showed up shortly after and they went back to his dorm room. Draco pulled out one of the restricted section books he had gotten the previous day with Harry while Blaise was in detention. He smiled as he opened it and decided to bring them to show Professor Weasley on Monday.

Theo sat at his desk with Daphne and they worked on homework together, but Blaise wasn't paying attention. He was at his desk with a small piece of parchment, writing. It had to be a letter.

"Blaise, who are you writing?" Draco asked, hoping it was Neville.

"My mum," he said, not looking up.

All three of them turned to stare at Blaise in amazement. Draco had never heard him talk about his mother, except about how powerful she was and her dead husbands. He knew that Blaise never received mail nor sent it to her.

"Did you just say... your mom?" Draco repeated, not trusting his ears.

Blaise bristled and turned his head slightly to cast one eye at him. He was deciding what he wanted to say or how to say it. Daphne was in the room, too, and Blaise was not the kind of person to drag into the bathroom to talk alone.

"Yes. I sent her a letter yesterday," he said, finally, turning back to the letter.

"Did she... respond?" Draco asked. His friends had considered themselves orphans for the most part. Daphne's parents wouldn't talk to her, Blaise's mother had been absent his whole life and Theo's were gone.

"Yes," Blaise said.

"Did she send a howler to the headmistress or something?" Draco asked, guessing that was why he had gone to the head's office.

"Or something," Blaise muttered, cagily. He didn't want to talk in front of all of them at once.

Blaise's walls were going back up, quick. He didn't like being vulnerable, even to them. Draco didn't blame him for it. He knew his mother had forced that kind of mentality on him. Draco left it alone, turning back to his book. Blaise could tell them if he wanted. He continued to write his letter and then sealed it. He was about to get up, when he turned back toward Draco.

"She came... to Hogwarts," Blaise continued as there had been no pause.

They all looked at him, again. Draco verified, "You mom?!"

"Yeah... scared the crap out of me. When I wrote her... I was... upset. She came to make sure I was okay."

"Are you?"

"I'm better," he muttered. "She made me realize that it doesn't have to be as extreme as stopping everything... I mean I like him."

Theo looked very confused by that comment, but he would have to wait his turn.

"You know after everything you put me through with Harry... you think I'm just going to let that go?" Draco said with a smirk.

"I love him, happy?" Blaise muttered, sighing.

"Yes... now tell me... what were you guys doing before this?"

"Shut up, Draco," Blaise snapped, embarrassed, but playfully.

Theo smiled, but he and Daphne stayed out of their conversation. Draco came over and sat on Blaise's bed. "You're writing her... so it went well. You bonded... or something?"

"We understand each other better. She hugged me. It was weird," Blaise said and both Daphne and Theo froze. Their parents hadn't the best, but they gave their child some emotional support growing up.

"That's great, Blaise," Draco said.

"Thanks," he murmured, and summoned his bird down to the window. He tied it to his letter to the owl's leg and sent it off.

"Honestly, I was hoping that was for Neville," Draco said, looking over the edge of his book.

Blaise straightened up and turned to give Draco a smile before bouncing back to his desk to write another letter.

"How romantic..." Draco chided.

"Shut up, Dray," Blaise grunted.

They continued working on their own until they felt the wards give an alarm and heard a pounding on the door. Draco didn't move, but let Blaise answer it.

Blaise wiped off the rest of the wards and opened the door. "Harry... come in!"

"Blaise," Harry grunted in response to his sarcasm and stepped into the room. Blaise set the wards back up. "You all could at least make it so I can knock on your door, if you aren't going to tell me how to take down the wards."

"Oooh-wee... asking for keys already, you sly dog," Blaise responded, earning a glare from Harry. "Chaperones, eh? Don't mess with Slytherins... we get even."

"I see that," Harry said, acidly, but relaxed when he locked eyes with Draco.

Draco set his book down and got up off the bed. "I can give you the countercharms for the wards, but we mix them up and do more for when we're asleep. It's necessary after living in Slytherin House."

"They'll attack you when you sleep?" Harry asked, wondering how insane they all were.

"It's the best time to attack someone, Potter!" Blaise scoffed.

Harry gave a Blaise a confused look and Draco had to hold in his smirk.

Right on target, Theo adds, "They can't counter when they're sleeping. It's perfect to really get the jump on them."

Harry raised his eyes slightly, in surprise, Daphne kept it going. "Yeah, even us girls have to sleep with one eye open."

"Ummm... I see your point... but isn't it a little unseemly to attack someone when they're unconscious?" Harry started. He had never talked to all four of them at once. Draco loved at his expressions.

"What? You wouldn't do it?" Daphne said, with some sass.

"No... well, I did do it once, but it was an accident," Harry said, embarrassed.

"An accident?" Blaise said, amused. "How did you accidentally attack someone when they are sleeping?"

"Yeah, I was trying at a new spell and Ron ended up being hoisted downside up in the air."

All four of them laughed and Blaise said, "That's the way to go Potter."

Harry frowned.

Draco leaned in, "They're just messing with you, Harry. It's not that bad in Slytherin."

Harry rolled his eyes and snorted playfully. "Are you guys just compulsive liars, then?"

"Liars, yes... compulsive... not so much," Draco chuckled.

Blaise, Theo and Daphne stopped adding their other commentary, now, returning to their desks. This moment was for him and Harry.

"Then why the privacy charms? Even when you're awake?"

"Last year, it was essential cause of Crabbe and Goyle... when we were talking about our own feelings... preferences.... We needed them in our fifth and sixth year, too. I don't sleep well, so the night ones are important to prevent the whole house from hearing me. And we don't want any visits from Blaise's spurned lovers."

"Hey," Blaise muttered, but didn't turn to them.

Harry nodded, uncertainly. He was tight, not exactly expecting an attack, but he was in a foreign territory, with unknown dangers. He was being very safe with his wording, to neither offend Draco or his friends.

Draco tilted his head and asked, with some amusement, "So... was it recently?"

"What?"

"Flipping Weasley into the air?"

"Sadly no, I was testing a spell out of the Prin-Snape's book not long before I hit you wi-" Harry stopped and trembled.

The others looked over at that, more out of confusion. Draco leaned in and whispered, "You think that you would have learned your lesson then for testing new and unknown spells on people without knowing what they can do, Harry."

"I'm so sorry, Draco," Harry said, quietly, his eyes looking at the spot where the Sectumsempra spell hit.

"It's okay... I'm just teasing you. I'm completely fine about that. I have worse things to deal with and as I said before, I did try to Crucio you."

"Still, it was a stupid mistake," Harry said, lowering his head, shame on his face.

"Trying to imitate a dementor in front of the whole school... just to mess with your match... was stupid," Draco said in his classic drawl.

Harry looked up at him astonished and smiled. Draco wanted to lean in and kiss him, but he wasn't ready to do that with his friends in audience. Draco's eyes met Daphne's for the briefest second and she whispered into Theo's ear. He nodded, setting down his quill.

They stood up and she said, "Hey, we're going to see Luna's wall painting in my room. She just finished it."

Draco nodded only and Harry watched them go, suspiciously, Daphne nearly pulling Theo out by his hand. He didn't have time to comment, when Blaise left, too, muttering about going to the Owlery to send his letter. He sent the wards up for them.

"Not subtle are they?" Harry said, light-heartedly.

"Why do you say that?" Draco purred and backed Harry into the wall, his voice dropping into a sultry voice. "Just because they're conveniently leaving you in here... all alone... with me."

Harry shook and stared back at him, playing around. "Yeah... it's really convenient. I hope nothing... inappropriate... happens."

Draco didn't waste any more words and pressed forward into Harry, kissing him without reserve this time. They were safe here. No late night wanderers, no unexpected surprises. It was him and Harry, and he wanted to enjoy every second they had together. He brought his hands up to Harry's jaw, taking it again. He loved the feel of Harry's stumble on his fingers. He loved the taste of Golden Boy's tongue as he ran his tongue across it. He loved how Harry kissed back with as much desperation as him.

Draco kissed Harry's lips and tongue until they were puffy and moved his mouth across Harry's jaw and neck. Harry turned his head to give Draco full access. He found the place he was looking for and Harry moaned under him as he sucked on that sweet spot. Harry was practically jelly as Draco nearly had to hold him up.

"Fuck... Draco..." he hissed, breathlessly.

Draco tortured him a bit longer and pulled away to stare into Potter's dilated green, lustful eyes. Harry smiled and caught his breath. He was shaking and was holding his arms at his sides, as though he was holding them back. Harry didn't want to scare him. Draco smiled at that thought. Harry always would take care of him, but it went both ways. He had to take care of Harry, too. Equal partners. They both had to do the work... share. Draco brought Harry's hands up to his face and let Harry touch him. He guided his hands across Draco's face, through his hair, down his neck and across his shoulders.

"You can touch me, Harry. It's okay," Draco whispered.

Harry's muscles tightened up and Draco thought he was crying at first, but it was more of a cry of happiness. Harry leaned in and rested his forehead against Draco's chest. His arms wrapped around Draco's back and held him tight. Draco did the same, but Harry turned his head and met Draco's lips, again, for another long kiss. Draco let him take control this time, like he realized Harry had let him. They would have time for some battles, but not yet. They needed this slow, one-at-a-time, process. Draco needed it. Harry knew he needed it.

Harry was still gentler and slower than he had been, taking his time, prying his tongue deep into Draco's mouth before pulling back to stare at him, still shaking, still wanting more and unsure how to ask.

Harry's breaths were short, choppy. He was struggling to restrain himself, unable to ask whatever permission he thought he needed. Draco could barely answer, but turned his head completely, opening up his neck to the same spot that Harry had sucked on back at his house. Harry cast one wondered look at him to make sure, before he leaned in to firmly attach his lips to the pressure point at the base of his neck. His vision flickers from the strain, but Draco hummed contently.

"Please... oh please keep doing that..." he moaned and Harry obliged, pressing his tongue into the point as he sucked on it. "Oh... Harry...."

Harry let go after a few minutes of tantalizing Draco's nerves. He licked the spot he attacked and leaned back to stare into Draco's eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Okay? I'm fucking brilliant, Harry," Draco said and leaned forward to kiss him, again.

"Fuck, I love you like this," Harry whispered. He separated their lips and hugged him, their cheeks flush together.

Draco's heart nearly bounded out of his chest at that word, but he managed to say, "Like what?"

Harry smirked, "Like normal... you're not... afraid anymore... better. It makes me so happy that I want to cry."

"Don't," Draco said and kissed him.

He understood Potter well enough. The darkness had pulled back into that dark pit. He felt different, free... especially with Harry. He felt strong, like he wasn't alone, like he wasn't hunted. He reveled in the feeling and went deeper into Harry's mouth. Harry didn't fight, giving Draco whatever he wanted. Draco took it. He pressed up against Harry looking for friction almost subconsciously. Harry let out another moan when he just gently grazed up against his crotch.

"Salazar, you're loud. We'll have to make sure to put up Silencing Charms so no one thinks I'm killing you," Draco taunted, kissing him, again.

Harry responded by rocking against him, giving Draco some direct contact which he failed to suppress a groan for.

"Oh really? Who's going to be loud?" Harry muttered, breaking the kiss for only a second.

"We'll just have to see," Draco hummed and he could feel Harry laughing through the kiss.

When Harry pulled away, he whispered his name again, Draco shuddered. "It's almost time for dinner," Harry said, sadly.

"And Home Ec... thank you, for coming. It meant a lot. I could see them ready to berate me for taking the class, but they've been remarkably quiet about it."

"I figured it would have been rough, but I need it, too. It's a good class for everyone to take. But at least I know you understand money, I was still trying to figure out where three galleons disappeared to in my math."

"It was only twenty-five galleons, Potter. You lost three galleons of theoretical money? You really do need this class and some remedial lessons."

"Shut it," Harry said, playfully. "I guess you'll just have to tutor me."

"In more than one area, I'm guessing," Draco drawled.

Harry gave him a wide-eyed look and giggled. "Ha ha... I actually got something for you...."

But Draco felt the wards give and he looked at the door. Harry, looked, too, but didn't pull away. A knock came.

"Hey, it's dinner-time and then we have class, are you coming?" Blaise said, through the door.

"Yeah," Harry responded for them.

"Five minutes then," he said and walked away.

"Remind me to lock the doors next time. I got a few he can't get through. At least he knocked though," Draco laughed.

"Thank Merlin for small miracles," Harry said, resting his head on Draco's chest. "We could skip dinner... and class."

"And let Blaise mock us for days? No way," Draco huffed.

"That's true," Harry said and nuzzled his neck, again. Draco gripped Harry's robes tightly and hummed with delight.

"Grr... we should go, before we get too carried away," Draco muttered, but pulled in Harry tighter.

"Yeah, and wind up with more than a hickey," Harry chuckled lightly in his ear.

"A hickey?" Draco said, pulling apart slightly.

"Yeah, we both probably have them," Harry said, and Draco looked at the spot he attacked on Harry's neck.

"Shit," Draco said. He didn't have time to whip up a bruise healer.

"Relax, I'll use a glamour," Harry said, quickly and pulled out his wand. He tapped Draco's neck, but Draco didn't feel any different.

"Is it gone?"

"Yep," Harry said, but his eyes flickered up to his hair. "Maybe fix your hair, again."

"I would tell you to fix yours... but it looks like normal," Draco said, smirking and Harry grinned.

Draco let go and went into the bathroom to brush out his hair. Harry leaned against the door and watched him, smiling.

"Are you going to mask yours?" Draco asked.

"Nah... I don't care."

"I do," Draco huffed and just drew upon his core to cover the bright bruise on Harry's neck.

"It tickled a little," Harry mumbled.

"I bet."

"After class... I have a present for you," Harry announced and Draco looked at him.

"Another? Not that I don't mind your gifts of admiration, Harry, but you don't have to keep buying me presents to prove your love for me. I'm not that much of an attention-seeking snob."

"I'm pretty sure that's not the reason... but I didn't spend anything on it," Harry said, laughing.

"But you don't have to give me anything. I have nothing to give to you," Draco said, lowering his head.

"Oh, Draco... you gave me you. I don't need gifts, either. Besides, you can just make things, you know?"

Draco looked at him confused. "Make things?"

"We are wizards, Draco. We can conjure things, create things. I'm not expecting extravagance, I never have. I wouldn't even know what it is to appreciate it."

Draco seemed to consider this and stepped in closer. "You deserve the best, Harry, and I will strive to give it to you."

Harry kissed him. "You are the best, Draco."

"I know," he sighed and Harry poked him in the side. "Let's go, before I have to listen to Blaise all through dinner."

"I would have thought that was guaranteed," Harry said as Draco walked him to the door.

"Most likely," Draco said and took down the wards and checked the staircase. They exited and headed down to the common room.

"Bout time," Blaise said, a hint of amusement in his voice. Theo and Daphne gave them a smile. Hermione and Ron were sitting by the fire. Ron didn't look at them. Luna came in through the portrait hole.

"You were waiting for me? Thanks!" she said, happily.

"Luna, where have you been?" Hermione asked, curiously.

"Out chasing some Odyls, again," she said, and her silver eyes locked with Draco's and she smiled. She knew. "Draco... will you walk me down to dinner?"

Draco smiled and gave Harry a nod. "Of course." He held out his hand for her to take, again, bowing as a gentleman would.

Luna giggled, again, happy he was playing along and everyone stared at them in confusion.

"Shall we?" Draco said, politely, gesturing to the door.

"We shall," she said and nearly pulled him to the exit. Harry followed behind them.

As Draco climbed out, he heard Ron say, "Blimey... what was that all about?"

Blaise, Theo and Daphne followed behind them and Ron and Hermione were even further back. Luna smiled the whole way down and greeted everyone with over-the-top enthusiasm. If she wanted to create the illusion that she was his girlfriend, she was doing a great job.

"Oh, Harry?" Luna asked.

"Yes?"

"Would you mind if Draco helps me on Friday? It'll be a few hours."

Harry looked at Draco. "I don't mind, but why are you asking me?"

"My my... the Odyls have done a number on you. Just all common sense is gone," she said, and pulled Draco into the Great Hall, as he laughed at Harry's expression.

Harry sat with his Gryffindors, but Luna stayed down with Draco. She held his hand through most of dinner. Draco encouraged her to leave, but she refused. Blaise kept his tongue civil around her. Draco wondered if he was afraid of her, because he didn't dare say anything to offend her.

"Friday?" Draco whispered.

"Yes, from about three to nine," she said, and Draco stared back. Hagrid. She was covering him for Hagrid.

"Six hours? What are you doing for six hours?"

"Blaise, Odyl hunting takes time. You have to wait a long time until they think you are gone. Then you slowly creep up on them, not making any sudden movements. Then you jump on them, hug them until they can't fight you off. Then you kiss them," she explained.

"Kiss?" Theo asked, staring at her, incredulously.

"Yes! When they kiss you back, then you know they are yours!" she explained. "But it takes so long!"

"It does," Draco confirmed and Luna smiled back.

Blaise tilted his head and looked to Daphne, who shrugged like just-because-she-is-my-roommate-doesn't-mean-I-understand-her.

"Sure... we all got detention until eleven anyway," Blaise growled, glaring up at the head table at Dawlish. He appeared to be testing his food. Draco couldn't help but smile at that.

"I have alchemy tonight," Luna explained.

"Home Ec," Draco said.

Blaise and Theo snickered, but Daphne kicked both of them. "Stop acting like guys."

"Sorry. We all took International Relations," Blaise said. "We figured we should be bored together."

"Sounds fascinating. Have they talked about the rise of the Nekwraiths in France? It's threatening to bring about another plague of lacewing flies."

"No," Theo said, staring at her, strangely.

"Pity... it's becoming an international phenomenon."

"Hmmm," Blaise said and glanced at the time. "Come on. We can walk you to class."

"Thanks," Draco said, and Luna came with them. They made it there without issue.

"I'm sure you will find your own way back, Dray," Blaise said, whispering in his ear as they left.

Draco punched him lightly and looked at Luna, "Thank you."

"No, thank you, Draco. I appreciate the company."

"As do I. It's always a pleasure, Ms. Lovegood," Draco said, giving her hand a kiss as he bowed.

Luna giggled and left him, skipping toward her class. Blaise gave him a nod and they left for their class. Draco took the same seat as last week and waited for the others to fill. He heard some gossip about Loony Lovegood and the Death Eater, but Draco ignored them. He had what he wanted, and what he wanted took the seat next to him. Harry gave him a discreet wink. When Professor Vestia arrived, she started into a topic about prepping food, but looked at Harry.

"Well... I was going to wait until next week to begin cleaning spells, but perhaps we shall start early."

Draco guffawed, but Harry's face went red. The professor spelled six words into the board and explained the difference. She pointed her wand at Harry's robes and they rippled, freshened and cleaned. Harry was still embarrassed, but she cleaned every person's robes. Draco had to admit that Harry looked better, cleaned.

"I didn't know how. The house elves aren't cleaning the room like they used to. I've been washing things by hand," Harry told him.

"By hand? That would take forever," Draco marveled.

"Didn't have a choice," Harry muttered.

"The house elves lost many in the battle, so the Headmistress deemed it proper if the eighth years do their own laundry and cleaning responsibilities. She stated it in the Welcome Feast," Sue Li said from behind them.

"I didn't remember," Harry admitted.

"I wasn't listening," Draco said.

Sue Li gave him a glare and said, "I wasn't talking to you. Harry, you can come back here. You don't have to sit with him."

"I want to sit with Draco, Sue. He's my friend and you aren't," Harry snapped and Draco gave him a smirk.

Sue Li went a little red and turned to her neighbor and started complaining. Draco's eyes caught sight on Pansy, staring at him. She looked back down at her notebook. Draco frowned, she could be a problem, but they went on to practice the spells and spent the second half working with budgets, again.

*** (tremble)

Seamus had just left his Muggle Music class, when Dean pulled him into a classroom and shut the door.

"Dean... what are you...."

"I saw you today!" he seethed.

"Okay..." Seamus began, but had a feeling where this was going.

"You spiked Mike's drink! That's the reason he went after Filch!"

"Oh... yeah, I did," Seamus admitted, readily.

"Why?" Dean growled, angrily.

"Cause Harry asked me to." Seamus wasn't afraid. If the others knew, he'd already be in the hospital wing.

"You're doing whatever Harry tells you to do, now?" he roared.

"Yeah, he's the Chosen One. He knows best after all," Seamus said, nonchalantly.

Dean's anger didn't sway him. He was angry all the time. It was a war thing. He saw a few things that no one should have to see and hadn't adjusted well since. They had spent the summer together and Dean flipped out over the littlest things, going from laughing to irrational rage the next. Seamus tried to talk him into seeing a muggle mind doctor, if not a healer. He refused.

"That doesn't mean you should blithely do whatever he tells you to do! He doesn't know everything!"

"You are the one who told me I was stupid for not believing Harry in our fifth year! How could you abandon him now? He rescued you!" Seamus pointed out. He wondered if his memory was affected by the war, too. He shouldn't have to remind him who saved his life.

"From Malfoy's house!" Dean sputtered.

"Draco didn't capture you! He did not hurt you!"

"It was his father's house, though! He's a Death Eater! He has the mark... you know it! It's proof!"

"I don't think he took it on purpose. Harry said they made him do it," Seamus said. He didn't know the why or how, he was just taking it on Harry's word and Draco's non-Death Eater actions.

"Yeah, right. Malfoy's been hating on mudbloods since he got here... called me one, too. But I found out that I'm a half-blood and that my father was killed by Death Eaters."

"In the first war! Malfoy was a baby... like you are acting now."

"You're under Malfoy's spell, too? What's he using a love potion?"

"You literally just saw what a love potion does... there's no subtlety."

"What Imperio, then?"

"I don't know if you remember or not, but Harry was throwing off the Imperius Curse in our fourth year... so probably not that either," Seamus muttered with a frustrated voice.

"It's just unfathomable... forgiving a Death Eater? What's wrong with you guys!?"

"What wrong with me? What's wrong with you? Stringing up another human being like a piece of meat? Hanging a sign on him? Beating someone down when there's a whole group of you and one of him?"

"He... he had it coming," Dean tried, but knew it sounded bad.

"Really? And calling Blaise a... faggot? Did you think I would just forget about that?" he snarled. He'd honestly been waiting for Dean to apologize to him.

"Oh... it's Blaise, now? Did you and him...?"

"No and fuck you!" he shot back, with some righteous anger of his own. "You have no right to be jealous after you made those homophobic comments when you are just as...."

Dean winced and stammered over him, "S-Seamus, I'm sorry! I didn't want anyone to know. Muggles don't treat... gays... very well. I thought everyone would... I just didn't want anyone to know!"

"And your default response was to use the 'f' word?" Seamus spat, furious with him.

"I'm sorry."

"You said that already!" he snarled, turning away from him and wondering if they were done.

Dean swallowed, realizing that he had messed up bad, and pleaded, "You want me to tell everyone? I'll do it... please. Let me make it up to you!"

"You want to make it up to me?" Seamus growled, lifting his head up.

"Of course, I do. We've been best friends since day one... boyfriends for awhile. I thought about you every day last year when I was on the run. When I thought I was going to die... I just wished you would be okay. I swear, Seamus... I really am sorry! I want to be with you."

"And you only now want to tell everyone about us? Only to make up for something stupid you did?" Seamus crossed his arms, taking a hard stance. Dean had tears in his eyes.

"What do you want me to say?" he whispered, begging him.

"Tell me that you're not a gay-bashing homophobe," Seamus started.

"I'm not. We were fighting... he was accusing me of...."

"Doing things that we do? Are you going to remain in the closet forever?"

"It's not easy, Seamus," Dean muttered, lowering his eyes.

"No, but that doesn't excuse your behavior. Blaise is out, you should respect him for that. You are the first person I've seen hurl words like that at him... in public. You're just a hypocrite."

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I swear... it's just... people call me that. When I go home, I mean. My neighbors and my cousins. My mom... doesn't approve but doesn't say it to me outright. I don't want to lose everything here, too."

"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Seamus said, horrified. "You could have stayed with me mum and I."

"I was a mudblood. It was war. They came looking for me, you know... at my mom's... beat her up and my brother. I couldn't bring that onto you and your mum. When they did catch me... the Death Eaters said it was ironic that my father died the same way... sick fucks."

"I'm sorry, Dean... but you can't take it out on Blaise and Draco. Blaise was pretty decent not to beat the shit out of you for calling him that. And Draco? You could have gotten expelled."

"I passed my OWLs... she can't take away my magic."

"What about your career? What are you going to do? You have nothing if your mum isn't supporting you."

"I'll find something."

"Mate... you are fucked if you think this is something that you can wing, but go ahead and try... keep being an asshole... get expelled, lose your friends, lose me."

"No, Seamus... please! I'm just trapped!" Dean grabbed his hand

"No, you aren't. You are at school. You are here to learn, not attack innocent people and call them the 'f' word, especially when they are so inclined."

"He was asking for it! He said that...."

"I DON'T CARE! If anything, you deserve to be called the 'F' word for acting the way you have. Blaise was defending Draco, who doesn't deserve to be attacked either."

"Seamus... he's one of...."

"No-he-is-not!" Seamus spat in angry punctuating words. "He saved me life. He saved your life, you idiot. Neville told me that he lifted the Apparation Wards at his house so you and the others could escape."

"That's impossible!" Dean whined.

"Nope, it isn't. Ollivander even vouched for Malfoy. Why can't you accept that?"

"The Death Eaters killed my father, Seamus. They are the reason I grew up with only an overworked single mom, barely able to feed her kids. To make it worse, I'm the only magical one."

"Malfoy ain't a Death Eater, mate. He might have the mark, but he doesn't have the cred. Not one of those Death Eaters you hate so much liked him. They beat the shit out of him all the time last year."

"So, he's a shitty Death Eater."

"Dean...."

"Why's he got the mark then? If he isn't a Death Eater?"

"I don't know... did you ask him?"

"Why would I?"

"I'll ask him... if you're afraid."

"I'm not afraid. You forget that they hex me every time I go near him."

"Well, if you didn't beat him up... twice... and weren't such a prat about it, maybe they wouldn't."

Dean snorted derisively.

"You want to know what you can do to make it up to me?" Seamus said and Dean looked at him. "Don't touch Draco, again."

"That's asking a lot."

"Calling someone a... 'f' word is messed up," Seamus countered.

"You slipped Corner that love potion."

"Your point?"

"I won't tell them if...."

"What blackmailing me, now?" Seamus said, incredulously, but he stared right back into Dean's black eyes. "Tell 'em. I don't care. Let 'em beat me up. I can take it. They all can lay into me... kick me out of the room. I'd rather go and move in with Harry or Ernie. Hell, I'd move in with the Slytherins rather than be with those assholes. I'm only sticking around under the vague notion that I can convince you to go back to normal... not be this selfish, vengeance-obsessed moron."

"I won't tell them," Dean said, lowering his head.

"That's my price, Dean. I'm not budging. You touch Draco, again... I'm leaving."

"But...."

"No buts. If you touch him... I'll know... and I'll move out. I won't do anything as petty as tell everyone that you like dick. But I'll find someone else. We'll be over."

"Seamus... please... I love you... please..." Dean said and moved in closer, but Seamus put his hands up.

"Don't... this is all your shit. I'm protecting Draco, now. We can't be on opposite sides forever, Dean."

"Why? Can't you just..."

"No! I can't! He saved me life... he didn't Crucio me or anyone else last year. He hasn't said an unkind word to anyone in practically three years. I won't stand by anymore. You have to decide what's more important... indirect vengeance or me. Your choice," Seamus said and made to leave.

Dean grabbed his arm and pulled him into a kiss. Seamus didn't push him away this time. Taking in this kiss, to last him a while. Dean came up for a breath and said, "You, Seamus. I pick you."

Seamus pulled back a bit and said, softly, "We'll see. You're on probation for a month."

"A month?"

"Yeah, that's punishment for beating him up twice."

Dean frowned.

"And remember... you hurt him, again... it's over. I can't be with someone who beats up a defenseless boy and mocks him for it. Everyone knows he can't fight back and you still ran him down. That's fucked up, Dean. Death Eaters did that kind of shit."

Dean looked at him, horrified at that idea.

"Got your attention then, eh? Good. Let's go... I want to hear Corner fuming back in our room. It's the only other peek of living with assholes."

Dean grabbed his hand and meekly followed. Seamus thought maybe he had finally gotten through to him, which is something. It was time he took a more proactive role in the "Protect Draco" mission Harry had given him. He wasn't lying a bit. If the Prince of Slytherin had saved him, he owed the long-haired, pale kid. He had to do right by him.

He did love Dean. He knew Dean was always scared shitless about being outed. Apparently, muggles were jerks when it came to it, but this thing about his father was eating at his boyfriend's soul. Maybe he needed to fix that problem. Give Dean a new place for his anger... an actual real target. He nodded and thought he'd ask Harry for some ideas tomorrow.

***

Draco and Harry were walking back from class when Harry steered him to the Owlery, again. Draco pulled him into a kiss the second after the charms were up. Draco ran his fingers across Harry's chest as they kissed, and he could tell Harry wasn't touching him, again. He wanted him to. He broke away, and looked at Harry and then down at his hands.

Harry frowned. "We'll go as slow as you want. I won't do an-"

Draco placed his finger across Harry's lips. "Shh... I know you won't, Harry... thank you. Thank you so much."

He removed his finger in time to hear the barely audible, "You're welcome, Draco. Anything for you."

Draco brought Harry's hands up to his chest. "I want this... you."

"So, do I," Harry said, with a laugh and his hands ran across his chest like he was feeling Draco through his robes. "We can take it slow, Draco. Slow and smooth. I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't hurt me, Harry. I trust you," Draco said and kissed him, again, running his hands across Harry's back. He trailed kisses down his neck and found the spot, again. Harry moaned, but brought Draco's head back up to kiss him more.

"I got a present for you," Harry said, in between kisses.

"You don't have to get me things, Harry," Draco said, again.

"I didn't get you anything. I took this from you and you've been without it for some time, now."

Draco gave him a confused look. He had no idea what he was talking about. "Harry, I don't..." he stopped when Harry pulled out a brown hawthorn wand. His wand.

"I was talking to Bill last night... he said that you'd be so much more stronger if you would use your wand. I asked what he meant... and he didn't think you ever used your wand. I never seen you use it either. Then he said that you had your mother's wand," Harry whispered.

Draco hung his head. "Again," he whispered mournfully.

"Why didn't you say anything, Draco?" Harry asked, leaning into him. He didn't answer. "Hermione had it here the whole time. Ollivander told me he gave to her and she remembered it was in her Wizengamot robes. But why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to ask for it. You won it. There's no guarantee that it'll even work for me anymore. You said yourself that it switched loyalties."

"Last I checked, so did you," Harry said, softly and Draco flushed.

"I didn't want to hold it, again, and it not work. I connected with it. It was a part of me... then it was gone and I was defenseless, not that I had much to begin with," Draco said, sadly.

"I'm sorry," Harry said, grimacing. "I took it away from you."

"You needed it. I gave it to you willingly and don't regret that decision. I wanted to be free."

"Still... take it, Draco," Harry whispered.

"It's the wand you beat Voldemort with, Harry... it probably belongs in a museum," Draco said, trying to avoid taking it.

"It belongs with you. Come on, Draco... stop being stubborn and accept it back," Harry said, stepping closer, the wand was nearly in Draco's hand, but Harry didn't drop it.

Draco hesitated. If his old wand didn't work, that would be beyond painful. But he looked into Harry's sure eyes and smiled. He believed it would work. He felt it. Draco steadied himself and took his old wand, his only wand. The wand felt warm, like it was greeting him like a long-lost friend. He felt the connection bring warmth and contentment as though part of his soul had come back. He was whole. Some sparks came out the end, as though to celebrate finding him, again.

He had a few tears of happiness drift down his face and he looked at Harry. "Thank you."

"Oh, Draco... thank you for the loaner. I wouldn't have beat him without you," Harry said, leaning in.

"I can't believe you gave it back to me... I thought it was gone forever," Draco said, bringing it to his chest.

"It wasn't. I'm sorry... I should have asked Hermione where it had gone." Harry lowered his head.

"Hey, I didn't want you to. Don't beat yourself up," Draco said, lifting Harry's head.

"I should have gotten it back, when I saw that you had a used one. I should have pushed you harder."

"You tried. I didn't want to try and fail."

"It didn't. It worked."

"Harry... if I use this, they might figure it out," Draco pointed out, still worried that he might not be able to keep his wand, his third hand.

"I don't give a flying fuck if anyone finds out. There's nothing wrong with us being together. Anyone who has a problem can go stuff themselves...."

"Even Ron?"

"Yeah... even him. Honestly... I don't even care anymore. We don't even talk. He probably hates me."

"No, he hates me. You're just confusing him."

"It's not confusing. It's his inability to forgive and his dumb need for revenge."

"Revenge is stupid, but it's a way to fight grief," Draco argued.

"Why are you defending him? He's been an asshole to you," Harry said.

"As I have been to him. Harry... he's still your friend."

"I guess... but it's never going to be the same, again. I feel like we barely know each other anymore."

"It feels like that because you're at ends. You only think you don't know him."

"But I know you, Draco..." Harry whispered, and he leaned into Draco's neck. "I've been watching you for years."

"Stalker..." Draco said, teasingly, as Harry kissed his neck slowly. "But you don't know everything."

"I can see you... sure you have secrets... but I see your soul. You're good, Draco. I saw it in the bathroom, the Tower... at your mansion...."

Draco shivered at those memories, but focused on Harry.

"Then the time right before school started... it was amazing watching you. I love you, Draco," Harry declared, pulling back to stare into Draco's eyes.

Draco peered into Harry's green glistening eyes and whispered, "Oh, Harry... I love you, too."

They leaned in toward each other for a kiss, content that they were together, and no one disturbed them for the rest of the night.

Whoa! That was the most painless chapter I've written... you are welcome!

I wanted to get some happy moments in before the pain ramps up, again. Evil face. We aren't out of it, yet. Bad guys need to do bad things, good guys need to rise up and mysteries need to be solved. Hang in there!

Also... I really am having difficulty with the chapter names. I picked this one cause I sometimes listen to the movie soundtrack to go to sleep, even the Christmas songs. I regret nothing. I also played pretty heavy into the 'L' word this chapter, even before I picked the name.

Just a teaser... this almost had some explicit content... I put it in and took it out (pun not intended)... winky smirk face