Take me Home

Chap. 22 - Of Kisses and Goodbyes (part 01)

Harry slunk along the stone walls under his Invisibility cloak on his way to the dungeons. Though he wasn't afraid of getting caught, fooling the guards in front of Draco's chamber proved to be more complicated than Harry had warranted. He leaned against the opposite wall and tried to think of a way to enter the room without them noticing. He pondered about just appearing out of thin air to give them a good scare, but realised that it wouldn't be a very good idea. It was past Hogwarts' curfew. Harry would be in serious trouble for sure if he were to be seen.

Fifteen minutes passed and the guards gave no sign of relieving their post. Harry crossed his arms and sulked. Only a few steps away were the door. All he had to do was distract the Order members. The question was how. He knew them both and they weren't ordinary wizards. They were young and promising Aurors who had dropped out of their courses to assist the Order. In order to persuade them, Dumbledore had made them promise to be back in college in a year.

The one on the left was Peter Oldstream, a mere four years older than Harry. He was a short but well-built young man and had quite a temper. The one on the right was Sam Newman, an easy-going black man with a wide smile. While Sam gave off the false impression that he was too kind to harm anyone, he was actually top of his class and had the best aim.

Harry didn't want to give them a hard time, but the waiting was making him frustrated and moody. He was about to do something crazy to divert their attention when Dumbledore appeared at the end of the corridor and waved at the two men. The Headmaster walked towards them calmly, and then stopped a few inches away from Harry.

The young Gryffindor held his breath as Dumbledore's eyes fixed upon him. A long time ago, in Hagrid's hut with Ron, Harry had felt that Dumbledore had seen them through the Invisibility cloak. Although he had no idea how that had been possible, now that Dumbledore was gazing straight at him, Harry knew for sure Dumbledore had the amazing power to at least sense his presence. Harry was even more certain when Dumbledore winked at his direction.

"Is everything all right, my boys?" Dumbledore asked, turning to the two Aurors.

Peter and Sam nodded. "The kid is quite polite. It's hard to believe he's a Death Eater," said Peter.

"And he looks so... delicate," added Sam.

"Oh, don't be mistaken by Mr. Malfoy's good manners and fragile appearance," Dumbledore said. "He can do wandless magic. Voldemort wouldn't keep Draco near him if the boy was anything but ruthless and cold-blooded when needed."

Peter frowned. "Then why isn't he trying to escape?"

Dumbledore took off his half-moon glasses carefully, cleaned them with a light blue handkerchief and then put them on again. "Indeed," Dumbledore answered finally. "That's a very interesting question."

"And why do we even need to watch him?" asked Sam. "It doesn't look like he's going anywhere. And, not only is he close to your personal chambers, but his door now has a password."

"Just a precaution, my boys," Dumbledore said, and then added with a warm smile, "One can never be too cautious. However, I understand your frustration, thus I'm giving you a break for two hours. There's a certain lady in the Great Hall requiring your attention."

The Auror's faces lit up. For quite some time they had been flirting with Miss Amanda Larson, a beautiful brunette whose talents went beyond magic. She was also very good at charming men. They looked at each other with distrust. While they were friends in College, they were rivals in love.

"Now, now. I'm sure Miss Larson has enough love for both of you," Dumbledore said, trying to appease them. "And for a few others, too," he muttered to himself. Harry heard it, though, and he muffled a chuckle. "Off you go, boys. I'll expect you back here in two hours."

Peter and Sam waved at Dumbledore and walked towards the stairs. When they were gone, Dumbledore said aloud without looking at Harry, "A lot of things can happen in two hours."

Harry sighed, not sure if he understood Dumbledore correctly. Did that mean he only had two hours to be with Draco? He took off his cloak to make himself visible, and said, "I need more than two hours."

Dumbledore turned to stare at him. "Harry... You were supposed to remain hidden. I shouldn't know of your presence."

"But you do know about it. You knew it all along," Harry stated.

"Indeed. It's hard to miss you. Your energy flows everywhere."

"So you didn't see me?" Harry asked.

"No, that would be too much, even for me!" Dumbledore exclaimed, amused. "I could sense you, though."

"Oh." Harry couldn't understand how that was possible, but it was one more thing that made Dumbledore so amazing. No wonder Voldemort feared only him.

"Now, listen, Harry. If you feel like you need more than two hours with Draco, then make sure no one sees you. It would be hard to explain what you were doing in there. This is very important, so don't forget it. The password is 'Sunflower'. Good luck, and be careful. Draco is unstable. Always keep alert when you are near him. Your father would be very angry with me if he found out that I'm letting you do this."

"Why are you letting me do this?" Harry asked curiously. "I thought you wouldn't let me see him."

Dumbledore smiled weakly. "I know you're suffering because of this. I know you don't understand why I let Draco be taken to Voldemort by Alexis. Let's just say that I'm weak when it comes to matters of the heart, and that I'm indebted to you. I can't explain to you why things have to be the way they are. I don't understand them myself sometimes. So, for now, just take your time with Draco. I believe in the power of love." Dumbledore winked at Harry and then walked away. "I also believe that it's already in progress."

Harry watched Dumbledore leave until he disappeared around a corner. Sometimes Dumbledore was worse than a centaur. His words made no sense at all. Harry shook his head, puzzled, then took a deep breath and stared at Draco's door.

Only a few more steps and he would be inside the room. Harry's worst and best quality was his bravery. He tended to act first and think later, which wasn't always a good thing. Being with Draco at this point in time wasn't the brightest idea. Like Dumbledore had pointed out, Draco was unstable so his reaction to Harry's presence was unpredictable. As far as Harry knew, he could be walking to his death. Draco had already tried to strangle him the first time they had met in that same room. There was no way of knowing if he wouldn't do it again.

Harry wavered just for a moment before whispering the password. He tried not to dwell on the consequences of what he was about to do. And even with his stomach in knots, he entered the room. The door closed behind him softly. The room was barely lit by candlelight. The weak light actually hurt his eyes. He wrinkled his forehead and scanned the room in search for Draco. There was no one on the bed. With his heart in his mouth, he walked quickly towards it, wondering if Draco had finally managed to escape.

But before he could panic, he spotted Draco sitting on a big, fluffy, red armchair close to the bed. Harry sighed, deeply relieved. It was only when he got nearer that he realised Draco was asleep.

The vision took Harry's breath away. In sleeping, Draco's face became soft and relaxed, resembling nothing of the cold-hearted person he was now. A lock of silver-blond hair covered his eyes like a silky veil. Harry's hands trembled with the desire to stroke it. The pink lips were slightly parted, almost as if they were waiting to be kissed. Harry felt his body reacting instantly, but he just stood there, unable to look away.

He ordered himself to move and slowly his steps progressed. He convinced himself that he would just take Draco in his arms, put him in bed and let the blond sleep peacefully. But as his body came in contact with Draco, he almost lost his resolve. He breathed in Draco's soft scent and bit his lower lip hard to suppress a moan when Draco cuddled against him.

Just a few more steps towards the bed and then Harry would be free from temptation. At least that was what he thought as he laid Draco in bed. But just before he could pull away, Draco's hand grabbed his robe and pulled him back.

Harry clumsily fell on top of Draco who slowly opened his eyes and gazed at him sleepily. Draco's eyes seemed very far away. Harry had the impression that the blond was probably still dreaming. In a minute or two, Draco would close his eyes again and go back to sleep. But that didn't happen. Instead, Draco stroked Harry's face with his fingertips. His touch was so tender that Harry thought he was imagining things. Time froze until the moment Draco's fingers enlaced around Harry's neck and brought him closer. Their lips met slowly, almost carefully. Harry forgot to breathe. And then they kissed.

All rational thought fled Harry's mind. He undressed himself quickly, but when it came to Draco's turn, he took the blonde's clothes off leisurely. When each piece of clothing was discarded and Draco was fully naked, Harry continued to kiss the exposed skin until Draco was squirming and pleading for more. He stroked Draco's cock and then took it in his mouth. Draco threw his head back in ecstasy. The cold tongue slid down the shaft, and farther into his body.

The sudden, strange invasion made Draco's eyes fly open and finally realise he wasn't dreaming. But by then it was too late. No matter how surprised he was to find Harry Potter licking his private parts, Draco couldn't find the strength to stop him. His body wouldn't let him even if he tried. He felt Harry's tongue being replaced by slick fingers that scissored inside of him. He moaned, hating how needy he felt and how desperate he looked. It was wrong to want something so much but it seemed so right.

The way Harry knew his body so well made Draco feel unsettled. The way his own body reacted in such a familiar way to Harry's touch, upset him even more. But not a word of protest came from Draco's lips; just embarrassing moans.

Harry thrust inside him gently. Draco didn't want him to be gentle. He wanted Harry to be rough, to slam him against the bed; to fuck him properly. But if he uttered those words, it would be too humiliating. So he didn't say anything.

The heat increased, and so did the rhythm. Harry's unsteady breath on Draco's neck made the ecstasy stronger. Draco lost his self-control as Harry hit his sweet spot, and he uttered the words he knew he would be ashamed of later.

"Fuck me harder," moaned Draco.

Harry's happy expression made Draco look away. But his wish was granted. The pleasure built up inside him until he couldn't hold it anymore. Draco jerked himself off until he came in short gasps. After a few seconds, Harry was hit by an equally intense orgasm.

Draco had barely recovered himself when he pushed Harry away and ran to the bathroom. There, he stared at his reflection in the mirror and almost choked. He didn't recognise the person in front of him. His eyes were more alive than ever, his cheeks flushed and his lips swollen. There were red marks on his neck and down his body, and his fluids were all over his belly and down his thigh. He gasped, shocked, but also turned-on by how sexy he looked after the coupling.

He cleaned himself quickly, then slid to the cold white tile floor and hid his face in his hands. So this was what his true self looked like. This was how Harry Potter could make him look. He embraced himself and breathed hard. He would not panic.

The door opened a few minutes later and Harry came in with a worried expression. A naked Harry Potter knelt down in front of him and asked, "Are you all right? Did I hurt you?"

Draco was speechless at first, but then he shouted heatedly, "Get out!"

"Not until you tell me if you're ok."

"I'm perfectly fine, Potter!"

"Then why are you sitting here shaking all over?" Harry asked, concern growing in his voice.

Draco wanted to deny it, but knew it was useless. He hadn't noticed until Harry mentioned it, but he was shaking. He leaned his head on the wall and sighed. Then he picked himself up from the floor, caught two towels hanging in a hook near the shower and threw one to Harry.

Harry watched Draco wrap the towel around his waist and did the same thing. Then he waited. Draco was so unpredictable now. Harry didn't have a clue about his next move. Would he throw a tantrum? Would he go back to behaving coldly? Draco sat on the top of the toilet and Harry leaned his back on the wall. They stared at each other. Surprisingly, Draco was the first to look away.

"Draco?" Harry tried quietly.

Draco clenched his fists and glared. Hadn't he made it clear that he didn't want Harry calling him by his first name?

"Are you hurt?" Harry insisted.

Draco groaned. "No! Do I look like a girl to you? Of course I'm all right! Although..." Draco paused, not sure if he should say certain things. "Well... You attacked me! It was... m... my first..." Draco hated himself for stuttering. He swore.

Harry's eyes widened at the sudden realisation. Besides the shock of having sex with the enemy, Draco thought it was his first time. Harry bit his lower lip hard not to chuckle. If he smiled in any way, Draco would ask for his head on a silver platter.

"I'm sorry..." Harry said.

"It isn't funny, Potter!" Draco exclaimed, outraged.

"I'm not laughing!"

"Yes, you are! Maybe not with your lips, but surely with your eyes! You're finding my anger and confusion amusing!" Draco strode back into the room and sat on the bed. Harry followed him and chose to sit at the other corner of the bed to give Draco the space he needed.

"Look, I'm really sorry... I didn't consider... well, I had no idea..." Harry made a face. "It wasn't our first time!" he ended up blurting out.

Draco looked at him murderously. He knew deep down that it wasn't their first time, but he had no recollection of having sex with Harry in-person before, only in a dream. Dreams didn't count. He was shocked by the way he felt when Harry was inside him. He didn't know what to do with the side of him that he knew nothing about, but that Harry seemed to know so well. And he hated himself for showing just how upset he was in front of Harry.

"I'm sorry," Harry repeated with a sigh. "I couldn't help myself. When you kissed me... I just lost it. I thought... it was ok to be here. I thought I was invited."

More composed, Draco rolled his eyes. "Stop it. I don't want your apologies. I did invite you. I said before, I don't want you to treat me nicely. We aren't here to be polite. We're here to have sex."

Harry frowned. "Don't pretend that everything is normal. You acted like you were about to throw up!"

"Well, what did you expect? I'm not used to waking up with my enemy on top of me! And besides... I'm the girl, for Merlin's sake! I'm deeply upset with myself."

Harry stood up and walked towards Draco. "It isn't about being the girl! If I'd wanted a girl, a real one would be just fine!"

"Then why won't you have one?"

"Because I love you!" Harry declared heatedly.

Draco flinched. Harry's words cut deep. "Why would a smart guy like you bother with me? We are water and oil. There's no future for us. We can't be together. I'm your enemy and you're mine. One day I'll have to kill you."

Harry knelt down in front of Draco and stared deep into the silver-blue eyes. "That's what love is all about. The circumstances don't matter. It doesn't matter that you're my enemy. I just love you."

"Enough to fulfil my selfish needs?" Draco asked, a glimpse of power shining brightly in his eyes.

Harry sighed sadly. He shouldn't surrender so completely to Draco. Not this Draco at least. Harry could get seriously hurt. Even so, he answered resolutely, "Enough to let you kill me."

Draco's breath got stuck in his throat for a moment. Harry was serious! He could see it in his eyes. Wouldn't the Dark Lord be thrilled to know that? Draco held Harry Potter on a leash. That kind of power was intoxicating. Draco should have been exhilarated, but he wasn't. There was a voice inside him swearing at Harry for being so stupid, for handing himself over to someone who wanted to destroy him.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked despite himself.

"I don't know. I just want you to love me. I want you back."

Draco's heart quickened at Harry's sincere stupidity. "Are you insane? I can't love you."

"Then just be with me tonight. Do anything you want with me." Harry's towel slid to the floor, exposing himself.

Draco held his breath, suddenly afraid of Harry's openness. He was conflicted. He wanted to shake Harry out of his madness and throw him out of his room. But at the same time he wanted to take Harry, to make Harry his, break him into tiny little pieces, to love him.

"What are you saying?" Draco asked as if he didn't know already. He just wanted to make sure.

"Fuck me," Harry stated.

Draco could see clearly that Harry wasn't as determined as he sounded. In fact, it seemed as if Harry had just declared his death sentence. Draco shook his head in disbelief. "You're stupid."

Harry agreed with him. He was stupid. And if anyone found out just how high his stakes were, he would be in trouble. He heard Draco sighing and they exchanged a glance.

"I'll grant your wish, Potter. I just hope you know what you're doing. Or not. I don't really care. You're here on your own. Just remember that," said Draco, pushing Harry back to bed and ravishing him in a passionate kiss.

--------------------

There were worse things than a woman's broken heart. Narcissa's concern for Draco had helped her ease the pain of losing Sirius. She couldn't kid herself. The pain was there, carved in fire deep inside her heart; one more deception in her life. But by focusing on Draco, her love problems seemed small, almost ridiculous.

While Draco appeared to be restrained and cold, there was still something shining inside his eyes. It was the same flame she used to see in him a little before he had thrown away everything to be with Harry Potter. It seemed quite clear by his words - more than in his facial expressions - that his true wild spirit was struggling to break free from Voldemort. The true nature of Draco was of someone passionate and untamed. A beautiful little bird that only appeared to be breakable and fragile, but that was dying to spread his wings and fly away.

The knowledge that Draco still retained a lot of his true self made her more relieved but no less worried. Each time she left his room with a bitter taste in her mouth. She had failed as a mother. She was unable to protect her child. Try as she might to put the blame on Lucius, she was partly to blame, too. This time she wanted to make things right, though. She had to, for her son's sake.

Her life was in shambles. To make matter worse, she didn't have Sirius by her side anymore. She was strong enough to live on her own, but she did miss the warmth of his body at night.

She wondered if she would ever find love again. It didn't seem likely. She was far too old to experiment in new love games. Dating wasn't a familiar word to her. And it wasn't as if she was desperate to find another man so soon. In fact, she was realising that she was better off without them. Those kinds of worries appeared to be so trivial under the present.

A sudden pain crossed her heart and she leaned against the corridor wall to take a deep breath. Try as she might to convince herself that she was capable of not falling apart, her heart knew better. She was a wreck. Sirius didn't want her. Draco didn't really need her. Lucius was doing a better job at taking care of their son than she was. And if it wasn't Lucius, there was Harry Potter to take his place.

Draco would accept anyone but her.

Her eyelids shut tightly. Being rejected hurt. Would there ever be a place for her? Would she ever belong somewhere?

"Narcissa? Are you ok?" asked Remus, kindly.

Narcissa schooled her face into a more presentable image. Remus was the last person she wanted to see. His gentleness was worse than any curse. She wanted to hate him so much, and yet she couldn't. Narcissa knew Remus was oblivious to what was going on with Sirius. Remus was clueless about a lot of things, and that side of him was actually endearing.

As she stared into his hazelnut eyes so full of compassion and real concern, she sighed and did her best to smile.

"I'm fine," she said. "I'm just worried."

"Oh." Remus nodded. "I understand."

She sighed deeply. Of course he did. He, too, looked like he didn't belong. He was a lonely man. Narcissa had never suffered the kind of prejudice Remus had. She had lived in wealth for most of her life while Remus had survived mostly by charity and the pity of others. But even having lived such different realities, they shared a similar distaste towards the world. Their souls looked for the same thing: love and true acceptance. And they both had fallen in love with the same man, probably at the same time.

They just stood there, glancing at each other, trying to think of the right thing to say. Remus leaned his back on the opposite wall, and then fidgeted his feet. Being with Narcissa made him uncomfortable. She almost laughed hard. She was the one who was supposed to be feeling nervous, not him. He had won. But then again, it was Remus she was talking about.

"Congratulations," she said unable to stop herself.

His eyes flickered. "Excuse me?"

"I'm talking about you and Sirius. He seems to have made up his mind at last. He chose you. So... congratulations are in order." She cursed herself silently. She didn't mean to sound so bitter and jealous.

Remus looked genuinely shocked. He stared at her, open-mouthed, unsure of what to say. He licked his lips, then put his hands in his pockets and looked down. It was her turn to fidget. She regretted ever mentioning Sirius. It would have been a lot better for both of them if she had just taken her leave and stayed quiet. The tightness around her heart had made it impossible to do so.

"Look," she said, deciding to speak her mind once and for all and be done with it. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... well... I just thought... I don't want you to think I'm jealous. I'm not. I mean I am a little upset. I have the right to be. But there isn't anything I can do. Besides, I don't dislike you," the words just gushed out of her mouth. "You're a nice man. Well, you weren't very nice when you slept with him, but..."

"Oh, god!" Remus stared at her slack-jawed. His terrified expression wasn't for show. It made her wonder if she went a little too far. She was the one who had been cheated on, though. It was only natural that she wanted to confront him and pour her heart out.

"I'm not saying this to make you feel guilty. Well, maybe I am. I don't know," she snapped. "I feel like killing you both, chopping you to pieces and then feeding you to several dragons. But... I hurt Sirius once. I betrayed him. It's only fair that he doesn't want anything to do with me anymore. But it hurts! And you... you are a nice person. You could have waited until we broke up before jumping into his bed, but that's fine! He does have sex appeal. I guess I can forgive you for not resisting. It's just..." Narcissa gestured frantically, her arms following her anxious speech. And then she stopped. Her arms fell to her sides. She bit her lower lip hard and frowned, forcing herself not to cry. Her whole body was shaking.

Remus had never seen her as beautiful as then. Her light-blue eyes were shimmering; her cheeks flushed from either anger or sadness - probably both. She looked like a cat ready to attack, but at the same time she seemed fragile, like she was in need of a pat on the head and a tight hug. Then and there Remus understood why Sirius had fallen in love with her.

Remus admired her strength. She had the guts to confront him, but still remain like the lady she was. Her tension was clear in her defensive position and stiff body. And yet she managed to hold back her tears.

He carefully put his hands on her shoulders and brought their bodies together. Then, when he noticed no resistance, he closed his arms around her slim body and hugged her. She let herself be consoled by her rival because it just felt right. She rested her head on the curve of his shoulder and closed her eyes, still refusing to cry.

"I'm sorry," he whispered so softly she almost didn't hear. Just that. Not some elaborated apology. Just a plain, simple 'I'm sorry'. And surprisingly, it was enough for her.

She shrugged. "It's all right."

"No, it isn't," he said sadly. "I shouldn't have..."

"You're right. You shouldn't have," she interrupted him. She didn't want to hear about it. "But... I understand. It's hard to resist such strong feelings, especially when they've been bottled inside you for so long, begging to be freed."

Remus sighed. "Even so..."

"Even so..." she drew back and then looked at him more composedly. "What's done is done. Let's not talk about it anymore. Just be happy." She took a few steps away and began to turn around. His next words stopped her.

"Congratulations are not in order," Remus said.

She raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"

"Sirius and I are just friends."

She stared at him with annoyance. "Are you saying he still hasn't said anything to you?"

"Sirius is just being friendly." He didn't seem happy about that. It was obvious that he was waiting for more than just friendship.

"Sirius is so thick!" she exclaimed. "What a coward! I can't believe he hasn't declared his feelings for you yet!" Remus smiled at her bizarre reaction. She made a face. "Well... He's that kind of man... Since he ruined things for both of us, he's probably afraid to take the next step and ruin his relationship with you. Don't worry. He'll come around. If he doesn't, then take matters into your hands. Voice your feelings. You could have spared both of us a lot of trouble if you had voiced your feelings a long time ago."

He reddened slightly. "It isn't that easy."

"It wasn't easy for me, either."

"You're a woman," he stated as if that was enough to close the subject.

She put her hands in her robe thoughtfully. She couldn't believe she was having such a conversation with the man who stole her lover. She believed even less when she heard herself saying, "Being a woman didn't really help me. I'm a Malfoy, too. That's enough to discredit anyone. He stayed with me because I wanted him to. What about you? What do you want? Why don't you fight to be with him?"

Remus' eyes flickered and he swallowed hard. "Because I'm a coward," he confessed.

"Damn right you are," she snorted. "If you say you love him, he'll be all yours."

Something changed in her eyes. All traces of sadness were gone. She now resembled more of the Narcissa Malfoy he knew. Her light-blue eyes turned dark. She threw her intense gaze at him as a direct challenge. Remus' breath got stuck in his throat.

"If, however, you fail to declare yourself again, I'll take him away from you," she stated resolutely. "I'll give you a month. Be glad that I'm such a considerate person."

She ignored his open-mouthed expression and walked away without looking back. All she could hear was the loud sound of her heels echoing in the corridor, and the beat of her heart thumping in her ears. She hadn't meant to sound so harsh. She also didn't intend to win Sirius back. That was a losing battle. Besides, she had her Malfoy pride to consider. She just felt like Remus needed to be shaken. She was just trying to encourage him to fight for what he wanted.

She shook her head and then smiled to herself. If only Lucius could see her right now. She could imagine his sneer. He always knew how to call her bluff.

She turned a corner and then came face to face with Erin holding Theo in her arms. Narcissa's heart melted at the sight of the little boy snuggled up in warm baby clothes. A lovely little silver-green scarf was around his neck and a wool cap that covered half of his ears protected his head. A beautiful snake was embroidered on his dark green coat; the symbol of the House of Slytherin. Theo was sound asleep in his mother's arms.

The women looked at each other with a smile.

"You're a very brave woman," Erin commented. "I'm not so sure that threatening Remus will make any difference. But it was worth a try!"

Narcissa raised an eyebrow. She admired Erin's openness and her ability to always be cheerful. Erin was a very strong woman. She had lost her brother, but hadn't let herself be overtaken by sadness. Many times Narcissa found herself very envious of her. But sometimes Erin's pushiness crossed the line. This was the first time with Narcissa, and she was so taken aback that for a while she didn't know how to react. Narcissa was used to deceiving others and keeping her feelings to herself.

Even so, instead of reproaching Erin for listening to other people's conversations, Narcissa just sighed and shrugged. "I did what I had to. I hope it works," she said.

"That's really nice of you."

"Oh, I don't know about that. I am really angry about this whole thing. And highly upset."

Erin nodded. "I know. Would you like to walk with us? I'm going to see Sprout's amazing garden in Greenhouse number four. I want Theo to see it. Severus tried to convince me that he can't see clearly yet and therefore it would be a waste of my time, but... well... it's never a waste of time to introduce your son to beautiful things. I'm sure he'll sense the magic around."

"I think so, too. Draco was only five months old when he first pulled a magical prank on us. We were so surprised to find his teddy-bear floating above his head!" Narcissa said fondly. With a tender smile she stroked Theo's chubby fingers. "I can see that Severus couldn't convince you to stay in your chambers, but he did convince you to dress Theo in Slytherin baby clothes!" she teased.

Erin made a face. "It's one of his conditions to leave me alone. Theo does look cute on them, though. I have no idea where Severus got these little Slytherin outfit! He didn't want to tell me!"

"Madam Malkin does them. They cost more than regular clothes, though. Lucius used to order them for Draco when he was little, already preparing the boy to be a proper Slytherin," Narcissa sneered. "I bet he told Severus about it."

"That's interesting. I wonder if she would make some Gryffindor little outfits, too. I would love to see Severus shocked expression when he sees Theo wrapped in a golden-red blanket," said Erin with a dreamy face.

Narcissa chuckled. "Oh, I would love to see that, too!"

"So, would you like to walk with us?" Erin asked again. "You can tell me more about baby clothes and I'll let you bash men in general. Hell, I'll even help you!"

Narcissa smiled. Although Erin was nosy, she knew how to cheer up a person like no one else. Besides, Narcissa could use some company. She didn't want to be alone. It would be nice to chat with another woman for a change. She had been surrounded only by men for too long. That was why she answered, "I would love to." And that was the beginning of a long-term friendship.

-----------------------

Remus wandered through Hogwarts a little bewildered from his meeting with Narcissa. He hadn't known what to expect when he had first seen her in the corridor, but he certainly hadn't expected that odd conversation. She was quite a strange woman. Beautiful, but strange. Remus couldn't tell if she was serious about snatching Sirius away from him or not. But it wasn't as if there was anything to be snatched away. Remus didn't have Sirius. Unfortunately, they were just friends.

In his current stage of life, Remus didn't know if he wanted their relationship to change. He was in need of a good friend. What if they took the next step and it ruined things? Remus couldn't bear to lose Sirius' friendship another time. Not now, when he had already lost Alex.

His heart wouldn't rest, though. No matter how many times he tried to tell himself that he didn't want things to change between Sirius and him, his heart insisted otherwise. Especially now that Narcissa had confirmed their break-up. There wasn't anything in their way, except his own cowardice.

He had promised Erin he would talk to Sirius, but he still hadn't gathered the courage to do so. The only thing that would calm his distressed heart would be if Sirius himself confessed his true feelings for him.

Putting those thoughts in the back of his mind, Remus entered his office and picked up a pile of books from the bookshelf, placing them on his desk. He had a lot of work to do for the Order. Dumbledore had asked him to do some research about the Green Flame; the weapon Voldemort was trying to find. He had a little knowledge of it, but not enough to state if it was real or where to find it.

He opened up Dark Magic - A Guide Throughout The Centuries to page fifty-four and began to read a small note about the Green Flame aloud.

"The Green Flame was said to be born in Merlin's time, but no one could prove it. Merlin himself never spoke of it, which still makes people wonder if the Green Flame had born before or after Merlin's time, or if it was real at all." Remus paused to consider this.

He had read somewhere that some people had attributed the Green Flame to the Founders of Hogwarts, but the information was so vague no one could tell for sure. With that thought in mind, he continued to read aloud.

"Rosalind Murphy, a famous historian witch, claims to have found parchments hidden in a cave in old Scotland stating that the Green Flame was born from the conjunction of powers between Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor when they were still on good terms with each other. They didn't know at the time that they had created the most powerful magical weapon to ever exist in magic, a joining of magic so strong that it had to be divided in three in order to avoid disaster. Godric Gryffindor also did this to prevent Salazar Slytherin from going further with his plans of mass destruction. Salazar never knew the whereabouts of the Green Flame, and Godric Gryffindor seems to have taken the secret to his grave - a place that no one knows of its location. Rowena Ravenclaw, one of Godric's best friends, declared in her memoirs that the Green Flame would appear again when needed, that is to say, only in the face of a great evil.

"An amulet? A stone? A ring? Nobody knows the form of the Green Flame. Probably a mixture of all these things. To this day, the Green Flame remains a mystery that will only be unleashed when our community finds itself faced with the rebirth of an evil wizard or witch."

Remus took a deep breath and pondered about the writer's last words. Voldemort was evil enough. Did that mean the Green Flame was out there, ready to be used? Voldemort was probably counting on that. True or false, the legend of the Green Flame was worthy being checked.

He was so lost in his reading that he didn't notice the handle of his door being turned and someone sliding into the room. When he felt a hand on his shoulder, Remus jumped from his seat and almost knocked down the book. With his hand on his heart, he stared incredulously at Sirius' mischievous smile.

"Sirius!" he exclaimed, his heart thumping in his ears. "You scared me half to death!"

"Oh, come on!" Sirius sat on the corner of the table and spied on Remus' notes. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Remus made a face. "Yes, you did." He grabbed the papers Sirius was reading and put them back on the table. "I don't remember telling you that you could read those."

Sirius crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Still keeping secrets from me? You should know better. Secrets almost ruined our friendship once."

"I'm doing some research about the Green Flame so I'm taking some notes on it."

Sirius didn't seem to believe him. "Why can't I read them?"

"Because I know you. You'll disorganise them," Remus stated.

"I will not!" Sirius denied vehemently, almost believably. Remus shook his head and chuckled. His smile eased Sirius' heart. Sirius hadn't seen Remus smiling like that in a while.

Sirius could see something different in Remus' eyes, but he couldn't tell what. He was intrigued. Instead of asking about it, he decided to begin with a neutral conversation. "So, what have you discovered about the Green Flame so far?"

"Nothing new. Just that maybe it is buried with Godric Gryffindor. Literally," said Remus.

"Hmm... Well, that makes it easier, doesn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"The Founders were all buried here in Hogwarts," Sirius informed. "It's common knowledge. You didn't know?"

Remus sighed. "I do know. That's not the point, Sirius. Not even Dumbledore knows in what part of the castle their graves are hidden. He doesn't even know if the rumour is true."

"Oh, the old man knows it," Sirius stated. "Dumbledore knows a lot more than we think. He just doesn't like to show it."

"If he knows where they are, then why not tell us?"

"I said he knows the fact that their graves are in Hogwarts. I didn't say he knows of their location."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Very nice, Sirius..."

"What?" Sirius smiled sweetly.

Remus just shook his head and sat back on his chair. "You're impossible. I need real clues, not suppositions."

Sirius shrugged. "All we have about the Green Flame are suppositions. We should start from them. We know this castle better than anyone. We could borrow the Marauders Map from Harry and start a treasure hunt! It will be fun!" Sirius winked at Remus. The werewolf's heart leaped. "It will be just like old times."

Remus smiled. "It isn't a treasure hunt."

"A tomb hunt, then. We'll be tomb raiders! It will be exciting!" Sirius exclaimed, and Remus could see in his eyes that he was already excited enough just with the idea of searching the Founders' tombs together. Remus chuckled softly and Sirius grinned. "I'm so glad to see you smiling again," Sirius said. "I missed your smile."

Remus reddened. "You don't need to flatter me. I think your idea is really interesting."

Sirius rose from the table and stopped next to Remus. "But I want to flatter you. All the time. Forever."

Remus felt his face flush even more. The moment he had waited for all of his life had finally come. The day Sirius would declare his love for him. It was like a dream. He held his breath in expectation and waited for Sirius' next words. But none came.

Instead of words, Sirius decided to use his body to prove his point. He grabbed Remus' shoulders and brought him closer, lessening the distance between them and sealing it with a breathtaking kiss. Remus let himself be ravished quite willingly.

"Sirius," he moaned against Sirius' lips.

"Remus..." Sirius' lips slid down Remus' neck, making the werewolf shiver from desire.

"What are you doing?" Remus felt like he had to ask.

Sirius stopped what he was doing and frowned. "What do you think? I'm trying to make out with you... maybe go all the way while we're at it."

Remus felt the exact moment his heart stopped. "What about Narcissa?" That was another thing he had to ask. He needed to get Narcissa out of the picture once and for all, and he needed Sirius to tell him clearly that there was nothing between him and Narcissa anymore.

"We broke up," Sirius said with a sigh. "Narcissa was the one who made me realise my true feelings and she ordered me be honest with myself for the first time in my life and confront them. I did."

"And?" Remus asked with his heart in his mouth.

"I won't lie to you, Remus. I love her."

Remus felt a tight ache in his chest and he thought he would never recover from the shock. His hopes began to die away.

"No, wait!" Sirius amended quickly as he saw the glow in Remus' eyes fade. "I do love her. But I realised that my love for her is different now. There's someone else that I love with all my heart." The glow was back in Remus' eyes again, and so was the hope. Sirius cupped Remus' face in his hands and said heartily, "I love you, Moony."

Remus blinked repeatedly. He didn't want to cry and make a fool of himself, so he tried as hard as he could to hold back his tears. But he didn't hold back the big grin that overtook his lips. It finally happened, the moment he had waited for his entire life. He didn't know what to do with the happiness ballooning inside his heart.

"Say it again," he asked.

Sirius smiled shyly. "I love you. I tried to tell you before, you know, that day in the Hospital Wing. I guess I wasn't very convincing because you didn't react the way I was expecting."

"I thought you meant it as a friend."

Sirius made a face. "I'm losing my touch... What can I say? I'm getting old, and instead of getting wiser, I'm getting stupider. I almost lost you because of my stubbornness in not admitting my feelings for you."

Remus nodded and then rested his head on Sirius' large chest. "You're a dummy."

Sirius embraced him tightly. "I am a dummy that is still waiting for your reply. Impatiently!"

"I love you, too," Remus confessed in a weak voice. "I thought it was obvious."

"Remus, I'm stupid. You need to be very clear about these things otherwise I won't get you at all," Sirius said.

Remus chuckled. "Yes, I know. But I was afraid you would hate me."

Sirius' hug tightened even more around him. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you after we made love. I was scared."

"You really hurt me."

Sirius loosened up his grip on Remus and rested his hands on Remus' waist. He looked deep into Remus' eyes and said, "I know. I didn't mean to. I wasn't thinking. I'm such a jerk. But I can see very clearly now. I want to stay by your side, if you'll let me."

Remus stroked Sirius' face tenderly. "I want to be with you, too."

"Since when?" Sirius asked. Remus looked at him confusedly and he added, "Since when have you loved me? James thinks you've been in love with me since our school days."

James was right, but it was embarrassing to admit it. "I..." Remus started timidly. "Do you remember when you told me I was acting weird after Graduation?"

"Yes."

"And you thought it was because I had joined the Death Eaters."

"Yes, I remember," Sirius said impatiently. "So...?"

"I drove myself away from you back then because I was in love with you. So much so that I thought I wouldn't be able to hide it anymore," Remus confessed. "I thought my feelings for you were written all over my face. I decided to distance myself a little, and see if I could get over you."

"Did you?"

"No. When you were arrested, I tried so hard to hate you, but somehow I always kept my faith in you, in your innocence. When I saw you again after all those years... I was so happy. I told myself it was good enough to be by your side again. I thought I didn't need you to love me. But as time went by, my love for you grew to a point that it began to suffocate me again. I wanted you so much. But you already had Narcissa."

"I was so blind... How could I not notice?" Sirius asked himself. "It's a miracle that you still want me, even after the way I pushed you away."

"Do you really want me, Sirius? Even though I'm a werewolf? Even though I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown?" Remus asked anxiously.

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "I thought you already had a breakdown. I don't know..." Sirius looked at him solemnly, and then smiled. "Of course I want you! Don't think I'll let you go so easily. Not now that I finally have you!"

Remus took the initiative to kiss Sirius this time, which was a pleasant surprise. Sirius' hands fumbled all over Remus in a frantic way. He crushed Remus against the wall and rocked against his body, making Remus hard. They kissed a few times before Sirius asked playfully, "So, am I allowed to go further today?"

Remus smiled dazzlingly; as he answered provocatively, "You might..."