The Road Home

WE'RE SONS OF OUR FATHERS

How long had he been staring at his wand? One minute? An hour? He didn't know and he didn't care either. He was just waiting for the right moment; for a little bit of courage. Then he would point the wand at his head and place a Memory charm on himself. He just had to stop being such a bloody coward. It was the easy way out. He had to forget about Harry or he wouldn't be able to handle what was coming to him.

He took a deep breath and raised his wand again. That was it. In a few seconds - if he had the guts to do it, of course - he would have no memories of Harry. He wouldn't remember how nice it was to wake up in Harry's arms or how warm he always felt when Harry kissed him. He wouldn't recollect how wonderful it had been to just be in Harry's company and breathe the same air as he did. A lonely tear ran down his cheek. He didn't bother to wipe it away.

"Oblivi-" he started to say the magic words when suddenly a movement outside his window called his attention. "What the hell," he muttered just before two hooded figures flew inside his bedroom and landed on the floor.

His wand was no longer pointed to himself but at the two strangers that had dared to break into his room.

"Who are you?" he asked in an imperial tone of voice. "Answer me or I'll hex you so bad you won't be able to distinguish the parts of your body anymore. I'll turn your head into your ass, just wait and see!"

"Now that is something I would like to see!" said a cheerful Sirius, taking off his hood.

"What? Who the hell are you?" he asked, even though that voice sounded quite familiar.

"Sirius Black, also known as the most wanted fugitive hunted by the Ministry."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came here to rescue you and your mother. And I also brought some company. I couldn't stop him even if I tried so he had to come along. At least I'm keeping both eyes on him." Sirius shrugged, pointing to the shorter person behind him. "He has the same perseverance as his father. Not to mention the same stubborn friends. Ron and Hermione are a lot like Remus and me. It was hard to convince them to stay in Hogwarts. Am I right, Harry?"

The moment Harry took off his hood, Draco's eyes lit up.

"Harry!" he said before running towards Harry and holding him tightly.

"Draco, you're suffocating me," Harry said with difficulty.

Draco instantly pulled away. "Oh, sorry."

"It's ok," Harry grinned, pulling Draco back into his embrace. "I missed you, ferret!"

"Not as much as I missed you, scar face," Draco said, resting his head on Harry's shoulder.

Sirius shook his head. "You two are amazing. One would think you two hadn't seen each other for a year or so!"

Draco glanced at Sirius with a not so pleasant look, but his arms remained firmly wrapped around Harry's waist. He didn't know if he should be glad or worried sick for having Harry in his house. In fact, he felt both. Ignoring Sirius' presence, he kissed Harry full in the lips. When he pulled away, Harry's face was red. Draco smiled at his embarrassment.

"How did you get here?" he asked, curious.

"As incredible as this may sound, Zabini helped me. He knew where your house was and he showed me the way. He even told me how to pass the magic block surrounding your house. And after an hour of journey, we got here," Harry explained. "I still don't know how the brooms handled it."

"Me either," said Sirius, sitting on the bed to rest. "God, I'm too old for this shit."

"One thing bothered me though. Zabini seemed to know this place very well. Why was that, Draco?" Harry said with suspicion.

"Well, I... I...," Draco stuttered. Harry had never seen him stutter before.

"Did you lie to me about your relationship with him?"

"No!" Draco denied. "We used to be kind of friends before he got all messed up. He visited me almost every holiday but nothing ever happened between us. It was so long ago. I'm surprised he still remembers how to get here. I'm more astonished that he helped you."

"I have Seamus to thank for that."

"Finnegan? What did he ask you for in exchange?" Draco crossed his arms looking angry.

"Nothing!"

Draco raised his eyebrows in skepticism.

"Some people like to help each other out without asking for favors, Malfoy. It's called friendship! Didn't anyone help you just because you needed?"

"No," Draco stated. "They've always wanted something. That's just the way things are."

"No, they're not. Ron never-"

Sirius cut Harry off before the conversation turned into a heated discussion.

"Sorry to interrupt, boys, but we don't have much time."

Draco shot at Sirius one of his most disdainful looks. "I can't believe you brought a mass murdered into my house, Harry. The Malfoy portraits will be so shocked." Indeed, one of Draco's portraits of when he was five years old stuck out his tongue at Sirius.

"Draco!" Harry called his attention and the little Draco sobbed. "Oh, please don't cry!"

Harry tried to calm down the Draco in the portrait. Sirius and Draco looked at each other with interest. The fact that they could be father and son crossed their minds and they examined each other in search for physical similarities. As much as Sirius wanted though, he didn't find anything. Draco had Lucius written all over his face. Not to mention the same insolent attitude.

"You know, I don't think your ancestor will mind me," Sirius said, "For one thing, they don't know me. For another, your ancestors are almost certainly used to having bad guys wandering around the hallways. Gee, they were bad guys themselves!" he smirked.

"I don't see why this is funny," Draco commented acidly.

Sirius looked embarrassed. "It's not."

"I can't believe my mother fell for a guy like you," Draco said disdainfully.

Sirius looked hurt for a moment but also shocked to realize that Draco knew about him and Narcissa.

"I can't believe your mother married a guy like Lucius," Sirius attacked.

"At least he has money and a remarkable sense of style," Draco retorted.

"Oh, yes. And let's not forget that he's Voldemort's pawn, he's evil and he probably locked up Narcissa in one of the Manor's dungeons!" Sirius said dryly, "Tell me, Draco, isn't it just wonderful to be Lucius' son?"

"Sirius!" Harry was shocked.

"He wasn't the one who killed Harry's parents!"

"Draco!"

"No, he was the guy who worked for the guy who killed James and Lily!"

"Stop it!" Harry shouted and the silence fell upon the room. "I can't believe you two! Look at the situation we're in! We don't have time for arguments right now. You said it yourself, Sirius!"

"Harry is right," Sirius said, ashamed, "We should get going. Do you know how to get to Narcissa?" he asked Draco.

"Yes, I do. You were right about the dungeons. That's where my mother is. How did you know?"

"Lucky guess. I figure that the Malfoys must have a dungeon somewhere in the house."

Draco frowned. Was his family that predictable? In so many ways, they were. But in others, they weren't. Everyone expected Draco to follow Lucius' steps and become a Death Eater. Well, that was probably going to happen, but not because Draco wanted. He had fallen in love with Harry Potter. No one could have ever predicted that either. He shook his head. He had more important things to think about at the moment. Like his mother. Black was there to free her and as much as he didn't like the guy, he loved his mother and he wanted to help her.

"Fuck!" Draco's thoughts were interrupted by Sirius cursing. "Yeah, Harry, I knew that was expected, but I still can't believe that bastard had the guts to lock her in a filthy cell. I always hated that son of a bitch and now I loathe him with all my heart. Why can't I just go to his room or wherever he is and kill him?"

"Because we came here to rescue, not to kill. Besides, I don't want you to get in trouble."

"I don't think the Ministry will mind." Sirius shrugged.

"But I would. It's my father you're talking about, you bloody bastard!" Draco fumed.

"How can you care about that monster?" Sirius asked quite curious.

"He's my father," Draco said as though that alone absolved Lucius from all of his sins.

"What if he wasn't?" Sirius let it out.

Draco held his breath for a moment, and so did Harry.

"He is, Black."

"Could you two please stop?" Harry asked tiredly. Draco looked at him ashamed and Sirius kept staring at Draco with a weird look.

'He knows', Sirius thought. 'And he's not happy about it. But of course he's not happy. I'm a convicted murderer. I'm scum. He prefers Lucius over me, for God's sake! I wonder if she told him. Or maybe it was Harry.' He looked at Harry suspiciously.

"What?" Harry asked.

"We'll have a long, long talk when we get back, Harry," Sirius warned. "Now you, mister, show us where Narcissa is."

"I can lead the way but..." Draco stopped. He had heard steps outside his room. "Oh, shit!"

They heard a hard knock on the door. "Draco, open it!"

"Quick! Here!" Draco muttered, shoving Harry and Sirius inside his closet.

Sirius whistled at the size of Draco's closet. It looked like another room. Harry took a pair of black leather pants in his hands and wondered how Draco would look wearing them. Sirius rolled his eyes.

Draco unlocked his door and found Lucius standing in front of him.

"Why was your door locked?" Lucius asked.

"I'm entitled to a little privacy, aren't I? This is my room," Draco said defensively.

"I don't have time to argue with you now. Just go downstairs right away. Pettigrew is here and he wants to talk to you on Lord Voldemort's behalf."

Draco could almost hear Harry and Sirius gasping.

"He's here now? It's almost midnight! What if I don't go?"

"Do we need to go over this again, Draco? We already talked about it and I thought we had an agreement in the matter. Should I remind you of what could happen with Narcissa if you disobey me?" Lucius threatened.

"No, Sir," Draco's tone of voice showed nothing but discontent.

"Good. I expect you to be there in a minute."

Lucius retreated and Draco cursed him under his breath. Seconds later, Sirius and Harry came out of the closet and questioned Draco about what had happened between him and Lucius. Draco avoided the subject as long as he could, but as he stared at Harry's concerned eyes, he gave up and told them what the 'agreement' was.

"The bastard!" Sirius gritted his teeth.

Harry looked the same way he did when Dudley had crushed his favorite toy. "No! You're not going to do this. You're not going to become a Death Eater! Fuck Pettigrew and fuck Lucius! We came here to rescue you and your mother. We'll take you both away and that's it."

"No, Harry, that's not it! If I don't become a Death Eater, he'll tell Voldemort about Butterfly being my mother and she will never be safe! Voldemort will hunt her until he kills her. She'll have to live like your godfather, always hiding and..."

"I hate to admit it," interrupted Sirius. "But he's right, Harry."

"So what? I won't let you do this, Draco!" Harry shouted. He wasn't being reasonable and he knew it. But who would be reasonable when he knew he was about to lose the person he loved the most?

"Harry...," Draco said, his voice expressing all the sadness inside his soul. "I'll try to find a way to delay this. I'll try...," Draco's voice failed. "I'll try my best, Harry. Can we please talk about this some other time? I'll have to go downstairs and you have to take my mother away from here."

"What about you, Draco? I'm not leaving you here," Harry said resolutely.

"I'll think of something. Right now I have to go and meet Pettigrew or my father will come up here to see what is taking me so long." Harry got closer to Draco, shaking his head, but Draco pushed him away. "Please, Harry. We can't resolve this now. Just go."

Harry flinched. Sirius frowned.

"You're forgetting something, kid," Sirius pointed out. "We don't know the way."

"Oh, right."

Draco was about to explain how to get to the cell when someone burst into his room. To his surprise, it was Narcissa, looking deadly tired and stumbling on the floor.

"Mum!" Draco kneeled beside her and helped to steady her.

"God, what did he do to you? You're so thin!" Sirius asked, holding her in his arms.

"Sirius? What are you doing here?" she was shocked to see him there.

"We came here to rescue you."

"We?" she looked around and saw Harry Potter closer to his son. "You shouldn't have come."

"Mum? How did you get out?" Draco asked.

"Your mother still knows a few tricks. Courtesy of wandering around with Sirius Black for so long," she joked. Sirius would have laughed if he wasn't so worried. "I'm tired." She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"I'll get you out," he said, kissing her gently and ignoring Draco's face of disgust. "Are you up to one hour of an excruciating journey on the top of a broom?"

"You know I hate brooms," she complained.

"Yeah, I know. But it's our only way out."

She opened her eyes all of a sudden and stared at her son. "Draco? You're here! Dammit!"

They stared at her in expectation.

"I prayed that you weren't. But when I heard your voice on the way to my room I... I knew your father had succeeded. He blackmailed you, didn't he?"

Draco looked down and nodded.

"Did you accept it?"

"Yes."

"Oh, son... You shouldn't!"

"Sissy? This is not the time. We're taking Draco with us and then you can talk to him."

"NO! You're taking her out of here and I'm staying."

"No, kid, you're coming with us."

"Pettigrew is here. I should be down there already!"

"Pettigrew?" Narcissa asked, closing her eyes again.

"Fuck him, Draco. Let's go." Sirius mounted on his broom with Narcissa and waited.

"I can't."

Narcissa looked at his son with her eyes full of tears. "You don't have to do this."

"Just go."

"I'll stay," Harry said for the first time since Narcissa had entered the room.

"Don't be stupid, Harry," Draco said to him.

"Why? Are you the only one who can be stupid?"

"Fuck you."

Sirius stared at them for a while. He didn't know what to do, but when Narcissa passed out on his lap, he decided to go. She needed medical care and he couldn't wait any longer.

"Harry? Are you sure?" he asked with his heart in his throat.

"Yes."

"Dammit, Harry! You know I have to go!"

"I'll be fine."

He sighed, frustrated. "Please, take care! Send me an owl or something! Just don't leave me in the dark, ok? And you, kid, as soon as you end your conversation with the rat, come back to your room and just fly off with Harry, all right?"

"Ok."

"Stupid kids in love," he muttered before he took off.

Harry and Draco were left alone. Draco looked at Harry with love and irritation.

"Draco." He drew near the blond and took his hand in his own.

"What?" Draco whispered.

"Good luck." Harry stroked Draco's face tenderly and the blond almost purred like a cat.

"Damn you, Harry Potter. Why did you have to stay?"

"You know why. I can't just leave you," Harry muttered before kissing him.

Draco surrendered, circling Harry's neck with his arms and pulling the warm body closer.

"I love you, your dumb Gryffindor." He looked deeply into Harry's green orbs.

"I love you, too."

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

Draco sighed deeply as he was about to enter the living room. He noticed his hands were shaking and he cursed himself. Harry would be all right, he prayed silently. He had to be. He still couldn't believe that Harry had stayed with him. He should have known. He would have done the same for Harry.

With quick steps, he walked towards Pettigrew and glanced at his famous silver hand. That thing had given Pettigrew more power than the pathetic little man had ever dreamt of. Because of that, Pettigrew had gained an unimaginable courage and strength.

Draco sat beside his father, and listened carefully to what Wormtail had to say. The pathetic guy bragged about himself and how powerful he was, then he told Lucius about some of the latest missions of the Order of Phoenix and how they had failed. He laughed really hard as he remembered that he was responsible for two Aurors' deaths. Draco shuddered as he heard the details. Finally, he mentioned Voldemort's plans for Draco.

"He's pleased with you, young man. I honestly don't know why." Wormtail made a face. "I really don't know why." It was obvious that the rat wasn't happy with the idea.

"Perhaps it is because Pansy is in love with Draco," Lucius said sharply.

Draco looked at his father right away as he heard that name. "Pansy Parkinson?"

"Yes, Voldemort's granddaughter," Wormtail said, looking at Draco with suspicion. "Most known as the Favored. Didn't you know?"

"Of course he knows. He's her boyfriend."

"He seems surprised."

"Are you, Draco?"

"Of course not!" Draco lied, pulling himself together.

"Do you have anything else to say, Pettigrew?" Lucius asked acidly.

Lucius despised the rat as much as Draco and for that Draco was thankful.

Wormtail smiled not so nicely. "Lord Voldemort wants your son to receive the Dark Mark as soon as possible. I'm here only to set a date for the event. Miss Parkinson is very excited to marry him. But she can't unless he has the mark."

At this, Draco's mind started to work furiously. "Forget it."

"What?" Lucius almost jumped out of the couch. "Draco..."

Draco stood up and faced Wormtail. "Tell you Master that if I'm that important then I want to talk to him in person and not with one of his stupid minions," he said with disdain and Wormtail moved uncomfortably on the chair. "Tell him I can't set a date, because I have every intention of going back to Hogwarts for my sixth year. I'll train to be a Death Eater in the summer but that's all. For now, at least. You tell him that. And you can also tell him that I'll do anything to destroy Harry Potter because I hate him as much as he does. You're free to go."

"You little piece of shit!" Wormtail raised himself from the chair and pointed his wand at Draco. "Who do you think you are to talk to me in such an insolent manner?"

"I'm more important than you will ever be because Pansy likes me," Draco smirked.

"Who cares? If I kill you now, she'll have to get over it. The Dark Lord doesn't really give a shit! You're just a bloody toy for her and soon she will find another to play with!"

Lucius quickly placed himself beside Draco and pointed his wand at Wormtail.

"Are you threatening my son, Pettigrew?" he asked quietly but Draco knew better. On the inside, Lucius was furious with Pettigrew's guts to raise a wand against his son.

Wormtail gulped. He was braver but not that much. He still feared Lucius Malfoy and so he backed away.

"He's a little copy of you, Malfoy. He thinks he can order people around. One day he'll get what he deserves," Wormtail grunted to Lucius. "Just like you."

"You dropped your message and you have a new one to deliver. You can go now." Lucius pointed at the fireplace. "You Master is waiting for you." Wormtail didn't move and Lucius poked his throat with the wand. "I said go. Are you that slow?"

Wormtail mumbled something before entering the fireplace and disappearing.

"You have guts, Draco, I give you that," Lucius commented, staring at his son. "You are my son, even though your mother thinks the opposite."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that your mother thinks you're Black's son. She couldn't be more wrong."

Draco looked at him dumbfounded. "You know about that."

"Yes, I know Draco. I knew she had been unfaithful. Which was why I took you to a medi-wizard at a very young age and I told him to confirm if you had my blood or not. It turned out that you had. You are my son, for better or for worse. The way you talked to Pettigrew just proved it."

Draco looked lost. "How did you know that I knew?"

"I heard the interesting conversation you were having in your room. I noticed the exchange of angry words. I felt proud of the way you seemed so certain of yourself that you're my son. I just wish I could have seen Black's face," Lucius smirked.

Draco's face went white. "You knew they were here."

"Oh, yes. I'm not stupid, Draco. Honestly." Lucius walked towards Draco and stroked his face with his wand. "I know your lover is waiting for you. I thought about making him my prisoner but...," he didn't finish and Draco wondered why. "I promised you that you could go back to Hogwarts after we talked and now you're free to go. Take Potter, the broom and just go. I won't hold you here any longer."

"Why?" Draco asked, stunned.

"I want you to enjoy the time you have left," Lucius sneered. "Be happy while you can."

"I don't understand you. I don't think I ever will."

"Good." Lucius turned his back to him. "Go now. And say hello to Potter for me."

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

Draco slowly went back to his room. He was suddenly very, very tired with his life. Just when he thought he had figured his father out, Lucius did something that totally surprised him, to say the least. It had been like that ever since he was a kid.

Lucius knew Harry was there and he didn't care. He could deliver Harry to Voldemort if he wanted. Then he wouldn't need Draco to please Voldemort. And yet he would do nothing. What was going on with the world?

Draco opened the heavy oak door and found his bedroom empty. His heart skipped a beat. Where was Harry? Maybe his sick-twisted-sadistic father had lied to him. If he did, Draco would kill him.

"Harry!" he called.

Harry opened the door of Draco's closet carefully and Draco sighed in relief. He held Harry in his arms with all his might.

"For a moment I thought my father had taken you away."

"And why would you think that?" Harry asked, curious. "I know how to defend myself."

"My father knows you're here."

"WHAT?" Harry opened his eyes wide.

"Calm down! He won't do anything to you."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because he said so."

"Oh, and I suppose we can take his words seriously just like that," Harry sneered.

"I didn't say that. But as weird as it is, I trust him on this one."

"Why?"

Draco avoided Harry's eyes. "Because he's my father."

Harry sighed and pulled Draco closer to him again. "I trust you, Draco. If you say he won't do anything, then I believe you."

"Thanks, Harry."

"Will he let you go with me?" Harry asked with his face buried in Draco's hair.

"Yes."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Draco watched Harry taking his Firebolt and mounting on top of it.

"Get your cloak and let's go," Harry ordered.

"You're not my boss," Draco smirked.

Harry only stared at him. "You're kidding, aren't you?"

"No."

"Let's go, Draco. We don't have much time. As far as I know, your father can be talking to Voldemort right now and telling him to come pick me up!"

"He won't do that, Harry!"

"All right. But I'll be much calmer when we get out of here."

Draco sat on his bed and called Harry to sit by his side.

"What are you doing, Draco?"

"I just want you to sit down and hold me for a while. Is that too much to ask for? Besides, aren't you tired? You traveled for an hour on a broom to get here! You never stayed that long on your broom, Potter."

"As you wish, Malfoy," Harry smirked, putting down his broom and sitting at Draco's side.

"You shouldn't smirk. It doesn't become you."

"Whatever."

"Why are you angry with me? You were the one who wanted to stay! I didn't ask you to!"

"Do you realize how surreal this is?" Harry couldn't help but ask.

"What?"

"You and I sitting on your bed, with your Death Eater father listening behind the door!"

"How do you know he's listening behind the door?" Draco asked, annoyed.

"Draco..." Harry was running out of patience very quickly. "Why are you doing this?"

Draco stood up. "I don't know. I'm a mess, all right? Give me a break!"

Harry took Draco's hand and tugged him onto his lap. "I know. I'm sorry. But we have to go."

"Harry..." Draco laid his head on Harry's shoulder. "Everything is such a mess."

Harry smiled bitterly. "I know."

"He knew about my mother and Black. He knew and he had a paternity test done on me at a young age. I'm his son, Harry. I'm Lucius' son," Draco declared.

Harry held his breath for a moment. "Are you sure? He could be lying."

"I don't think so. I mean, look at me, Harry! I look just like him! Just like you are the carbon copy of your father." Draco rested his forehead against Harry's. "We're sons of our fathers. There's no way of denying the obvious. We're like them in every way."

"You're not like him, Draco. If you were, you wouldn't be with me."

"Or maybe I would. Maybe I'm with you just to make you fall in love with me. Then, after a short period of time spent together, I'll hand you over to Voldemort." Draco was the one who smirked this time. "My father would love to hear that. Are you hearing this, you son of a bitch!?" Draco shouted towards the door, "I HATE YOU! I wish Black was my father!"

Harry didn't say anything. He just held Draco tighter to show that he cared. And then Draco did something totally unexpected. He burst out laughing. Harry couldn't help but laugh, too. The situation wasn't funny, but they were too nervous and that would help to release the tension.

"We're...We..." Draco couldn't stop laughing but he tried it again. "We're losing it, Harry. We're becoming lunatics!" and he laughed some more.

Harry lay down on the bed and brought Draco with him. They didn't know how long they kept laughing at the situation but suddenly, as their faces got closer, they stopped and Draco kissed Harry once, twice, until they felt themselves burning with desire. Harry felt Draco's hand slipping down his body, unzipping his jeans and stroking his manhood.

"I want you," Draco whispered.

"Here?"

"Yes." Draco bit Harry's earlobe and the raven-haired boy moaned.

"This is..."

"...surreal, I know." Draco kissed him again, his tongue caressing Harry's soft lips.

"It's the sense of danger, isn't it? It turns you on," Harry said with a mischievous smile.

Draco looked inside of Harry's eyes intently. "Maybe you're right. Or maybe you alone turn me on. Did you think about that?" Harry raised an eyebrow and Draco smiled, "I love you."

"You're just saying that to get into my pants," Harry provoked him.

"What can I say? I prefer you without your pants," Draco slid Harry's pants down to the knees and did the same with his own trousers. He made Harry lie down on his stomach and his hard on touched Harry's buttocks.

"We shouldn't be doing this, Draco," Harry said. He had a little sanity left, but soon it went out of the window when he felt Draco's tongue running down his back and rimming him. Harry growled loudly.

"Want me to stop?" Draco muttered against Harry's ear.

"No."

Draco got his wand and muttered the lubrication spell. Harry shivered as his sensitive skin got in touch with the cold liquid. Draco raised Harry's buttocks a little and cupped Harry's cock in his hand slowly running his hand up and down the shaft. Were they really going to do this? As Harry felt himself move closer and closer to the abyss, he realized that the answer to that silly question was yes.

"Go slow," Harry whispered as he felt Draco invading him. "You know I've never done this."

Draco placed a soft kiss on Harry's back. "I know. Don't worry."

And in spite of Draco's high excitement, he was as gentle as Harry was during their first time. He entered Harry very slowly, giving him plenty of time to get used to it. Harry almost cried as he felt himself breaking, but soon enough Draco mended him again. As their movements increased, they forgot about everything, including where they were. Draco didn't care if his father would listen or not. His loud moans made a duet with Harry's and they came. Draco rested a little inside Harry but after a while he retrieved himself and sat at the bed with his face buried in his hands.

"What's wrong Draco?" Harry asked with a husky voice.

"I'm so ashamed. What did I just do? I practically raped you."

"What are you talking about?" Harry gently brought Draco closer and made him look into his eyes. "I liked every minute of it. It was consensual, Draco. I wanted it. If I hadn't, you'd be hexed by now. You wouldn't be able to tell your bloody face from your bloody ass," he joked.

Draco hugged Harry and smiled weakly. "What are we doing?"

"We're losing it. You said it yourself."

"Yeah. I guess we are."

"I'm feeling sleepy," said Harry yawning.

"No, Harry, don't sleep. We can't spend the night here."

"I know, but now I'm feeling really tired." Harry closed his eyes. "Maybe you can carry me like Sirius carried your mother."

"No way, Potter. You better stay awake!"

"Then you'll have to drive."

"I can do that."

They arranged their clothes and then Harry lay down on the bed again.

"Can't we just sleep for a minute?" Harry whined.

"No. I thought you were eager to get out."

"And I thought you wanted to stay."

"I changed my mind. My father is insane. He can change his mind. Get up, Harry."

"Hmm..." Harry had closed his eyes again.

"Get up!" Draco tried to push him off the bed.

"All right, all right! You know, you were the one who wanted to have sex. You can't blame me for being exhausted after an hour of flight and then the sex activity..."

"Sex activity? That was cold." Draco pretended to be hurt.

"You know what I mean."

"Come on, Potter. Where is your spirit of adventure?" Draco asked with a smirk, mounting the Firebolt.

"It took off for a while, Malfoy, along with my good sense."

"Come on, Sleeping Beauty. Just mount here and your prince will do the rest." Draco winked.

"Hahaha. You're hilarious."

"Mount it!" Draco ordered.

"Yes, Your Highness," Harry sneered.

"I don't like it when you sneer, Harry."

"Shut up." Harry mounted on the broom in front of Draco. "It can handle us both, right?"

"It's a damn Firebolt, Harry," Draco said as though that was enough.

"Right. Draco?"

"What?"

"Does your father know that your mother has escaped?"

"I don't have a clue. And I don't want to be here when he finds out."

"What will happen to us when we get back?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. I guess we won't be able to meet each other anymore," he said sadly.

"Why not?"

"Because I'll have to be with Parkinson."

"You mean Pansy Parkinson?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"She's the Favored."

Silence. Draco could almost feel Harry's tension.

"Harry, you know what I'll have to do, don't you? You know me better than I know myself. You know that I'll become a Death Eater, and that I'll spy for Dumbledore. And you know that I won't be able to do that right if we keep meeting each other. It won't work."

"I know. You know me as well. You know that I'll try to prevent that."

"You can't. Not this time."

"I can try."

"No."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes!"

Draco sighed. "We'll talk when we get to Hogwarts."

"Just promise me something."

"What?"

"That you won't erase your memory of us."

Draco felt guilty. He had tried to do that that same day. Could he cope with that? Could he promise something he didn't know he would be able to follow? He didn't know. But for the sake of them both, he answered what Harry wanted to hear it.

"I'll try. But it'll be hard to be near you and not be able to touch you, to smell you, to kiss you." Draco embraced Harry from behind.

Harry gripped Draco's hands. "What makes you think it will be easy for me?"

Draco kissed his cheek. "I'll think of something. Let's go now."

The broom hovered in the bedroom and Draco led it to the window.

"When we get back, I want you to spend the night with me. I don't care what anyone says."

"As you wish, my bossy Gryffindor, as you wish."

Draco was smiling when they took off.

An hour later they arrived in Hogwarts. Sirius was more than relieved to see them. Ron and Hermione welcome them both with open arms. After visiting his mother in the Hospital Wing, Draco led Harry to his bedroom. Snape and Sirius showed their disapproval, but the boys didn't care. They slept in each other's arms all night long.