The Road Home

THE ROAD HOME

Depression was the name of the beast that was bothering Harry Potter. All because of Pansy Parkinson, the cruel bitch. During the last months in Hogwarts, she enjoyed seeing his boyfriend's lover suffer. Draco tried to keep his promise to Harry, but Pansy just didn't let him. She latched herself in Draco's arms and every time she had spotted Harry, she kissed Draco in front of him.

Because of that, Draco and Harry had had major fights. Jealousy was not a good company to hang around with and Harry had found out about that the hardest way. There was nothing they could do though. They had to play the game or else they would lose everything. Still, Harry couldn't help the feeling of impotence and the depression that was taking over him.

His father hadn't come to Hogwarts. He didn't want to leave Vivienne's side while she was so ill. Besides that, Remus told him that James was also afraid of what he would find when he got out of the island. The island had been his home for so long that he didn't want to just leave. So he had stayed there to keep Vivienne's company, but not alone this time. Remus had returned to stay with him and also to keep an eye on him. He would be back with James as soon as he could.

Meanwhile, Snape had been in charge of the Memory Potion. Snape hadn't known exactly what to feel about the sudden shocking news that James Potter was alive and he had told Dumbledore that that was probably a part of an evil plot of Voldemort to get to Harry. It took a while to convince him to make the potion for James but in the end he agreed to do it.

Sirius and Narcissa had gone to stay in Remus' hidden place. Before she left, she'd told Draco that he didn't have to obey Lucius' orders just for her sake. He had all the right to be happy with Harry. But nothing she told him convinced Draco of otherwise. Indeed, he had made up his mind and he was determined to be a spy and to die for the Order if it was necessary. Narcissa almost had a nervous break down because of that and Sirius talked to Draco that there was nothing romantic about being a spy. He had explained all the pain and the sacrifices that he would be expected to make. At this, Draco flinched a little, but when Narcissa and Sirius left, he still hadn't got to a decision.

Hermione and Ron were living pretty much the same way as always. They were constantly fighting each other to just spectacularly make up a few minutes later. And in spite of the fact that they had been deep into each other's teenage problems of the matters of the heart, they had never left Harry's side. They knew Harry was having a hard time and they were trying everything to cheer him up.

The last Quidditch game had arrived and Slytherin and Gryffindor played against each other. Although it had been an exciting game, the seekers of both teams seemed not to care about it. Harry had caught the Snitch and Draco hadn't put up much effort in his search for it. Gryffindor won not only in Quidditch but the House Cup as well.

As for the OW.L.s, everyone passed, some with more difficulties than others. Ron, for instance, had some trouble since he had hardly studied that year. Hermione, on the other hand - surprise, surprise - got the highest score of the four Houses.

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

Two days before the end of the term, Erin and Snape got married. They threw a big party, and even though Snape looked as if he had eaten something rotten, nobody cared.

It was in this party that Harry decided to convince Draco into staying.

"Are you sure, Harry?" Hermione asked him.

"Yes. He doesn't have to go. Besides, Sirius said to me that Draco was having doubts about the whole spying business."

"You and Malfoy haven't talked in a while, have you?" Ron asked.

"No," Harry answered bitterly. "Pansy, the bitch, is keeping him more and more to herself."

Ever since Draco and Pansy got together, Draco was behaving like his old self. That had been one of the reasons why he and Harry had had fights. Harry hated that Draco Malfoy, the one who looked so much like Lucius. The one who called Harry Scar Head and bragged about his superiority over the other wizards, especially Mudbloods. That Draco wasn't his Draco. But he was determinate to stop that. He had something very important to tell him.

"He didn't come to the party," Hermione commented. "Erin is kind of disappointed..."

"Why can't we just forget about Malfoy for a moment?" Ron said, annoyed. "We all know that he's a Malfoy by blood. He has evil in him. Maybe this is all for the best. I think it will do you good, Harry, to stay away from him for a while. We don't know what he can do. Last week he made Crabbe and Goyle chase after Neville over some silly thing! The prick!"

Harry knew about that but Draco had sent a message to him telling that he had nothing to do with that episode.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Ron," Harry replied. "He's not evil."

"I'm sorry to say this to you, Harry, but his actions have been proving the very opposite. He didn't even come here today! And Erin helped him a lot, right? He's an ungrateful bastard."

Harry was about to reply when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Well, Weasley, I won't dignify you with an answer simply because I won't waste my time on you," Draco said with his usual drawling voice.

"Draco." Harry smiled.

"Don't get to excited, Harry. There are people watching," Draco said.

Harry made a face. "Let's go somewhere else then."

"Not now. I want to talk to Erin and Snape."

Draco left Harry hurt and confused by his coldness.

"I told you!" Ron said. "He's a bastard, plain and simple."

"Oh, Ron, can't you see Harry is hurt?" Hermione replied.

Indeed, Harry was more than hurt. Little did he know that Draco was having a hard time about all of that. Being cold and distant was his way of fighting the pain. He had been used to use the same method in the past. Be enraged and cynical to cover up his true feelings. On the inside, he was devastated. He hated Pansy more and more by the minute.

Draco also had not been able to discover who had been the one who tried to kill him. Zabini seemed awfully quiet in those days. As much as he had tried to talk to him, Draco hadn't succeeded. Zabini was avoiding him and he didn't know why. Zabini had always tried to call his attention in one way or another and now he seemed to have lost interest entirely. That was suspicious.

Draco greeted Erin and Snape and then spotted Zabini sneaking away. He decided to follow him and see what the hell was going on with the guy. To his surprise, he found him with the Gryffindor Seamus Finnegan, laughing in a way Draco had never seen before. Draco hid in the shadows and listened to their conversation for a while. He was astonished of the way Zabini was talking to Finnegan. He was talking to the Gryffindor boy like he cared for him. That was the most unusual thing.

"Have you decided about staying at my house for the summer?" Seamus asked. "If you are worried about my parents, you don't have to. I told you already, they won't mind. My mum is dying to meet you. Are you coming?"

"I'd like that but..."

"But what?"

"Ever since my father left, it's just me and my mother, you know? Besides, I don't think I'm ready to meet your family. The way you picture them, you all seemed like a big happy family and I'm not used to that. I would feel totally out of place," Blaise explained, holding Seamus' hand.

"You can bring your mother if you want," Seamus said in a sweet tone of voice.

Blaise smiled. "I don't think I'll ever get used to this."

"Get used to what?"

"To the Gryffindor way, as we used to call in the dungeons. You're all so nice. What if I'm just toying with you? What if I kill your family in the middle of the night?" Blaise said with anger. "You trust people way too easily!"

"I don't think you would do any of those things. I learned to know you, Blaise."

"Do you? Are you sure?" Blaise sneered.

"Yes." Seamus kissed him and they snogged for a while.

Draco was about to leave when he heard something that worried him.

"What if I say to you that I received an invitation to join You-Know-Who?" Blaise said all of a sudden.

Seamus paled. "Did you?"

Blaise looked down. "Yes. And it's tempting, I tell you that. He promises you all sorts of things that most people would die for. An unimaginable power, lots of women..." Seamus made a face and Blaise added, "Ok, skip the women part. But he sure knows how to tempt you. It's a very powerful offer."

"Do you want to accept it?" Seamus asked expectantly.

"No. I think he's disgusting. And I don't like his beliefs. But I never had anything in my life. I'm just here because Dumbledore accepted me like a charity case. My mother works hard to keep me here and we pay only half of what the rich kids pay to study in Hogwarts. I hate my life. I always did. We never had any money... My father was a jerk. He used to drink a lot and beat the shit out of my mother and me. Thank God he's gone."

Seamus had tears in his eyes.

"And the thing is, You-Know-Who can make me powerful," Blaise's eyes sparkled. "I'd love to know what is like to be rich. So rich that no one would ever again make stupid jokes about your clothes or your bad manners..."

At this, Draco felt very sad. He had been one of the guys who had made fun of Blaise when they had been in first and second year of school. Maybe if he had been nicer to him... But Blaise wasn't the kind of guy who made it easy to like him.

"But you would lose your soul to him," Seamus said in a whisper.

"Yeah, I know."

"You're not going to join him, are you?" There was apprehension in Seamus voice.

Blaise kept silent for a moment. "No, I don't think so. I discovered something very precious to me this year and I don't want to lose it. I've screwed up a lot of things in my life. I won't screw this up."

"What's so precious to you?"

Blaise smiled shyly. "You."

"Me!?" Seamus seemed surprise by that revelation.

"Yes! I... I... t-think that I l-love y-you," Blaise stuttered.

'WHAT?' Draco thought. He could bet that he was even more stunned than Seamus.

"I love you, too," Seamus hugged Blaise.

Zabini was in love. And if a person like Zabini was in love, there was hope in this world.

---------

Draco decided to write a letter to Harry. He didn't know exactly what he would write, but he had to try. He bit the tip of his sugar quill and wrote 'Dear Harry' on the paper. After a few more lines, he ripped the parchment apart and threw it away, irritated.

Someone opened the door and he asked the person to go away.

"Draco, darling, I need you," said Pansy, taking him by surprise.

"Not now, Pansy. I'm busy," he replied with anger. "You make it really hard to like you. You don't leave me alone for a single minute! I need my own space, you know? And you're in my room!"

"Oh, honey, don't be so stressed out!" Pansy smirked. "You're not pleasing me Draco and that is not a good thing. Do you think I'm stupid? I'm not. And let me remind you that I'm the key to your success. You depend on me to become Voldemort's Favored. The way you've been behaving these past few days are making that hard to accomplish. I don't appreciate to be left alone!"

"I know, Pansy, but..."

"And let's not forget about Harry Potter. If I tell Lord Voldemort about you and him, he'll use you against Potter. Is that what you want? Do you want Lord Voldemort to use you as bait?"

Draco felt chills running down his spine at the thought.

"Forget about him, Draco, and I promise I'll be good to you. I mean, as good as I can get, of course," she sneered.

"Just let me finish this, ok?" Draco asked tiredly.

"Alright. Just don't take too long."

She got out and Draco held the urge to throw something heavy and breakable at the door. He buried his head in his hands and felt something touching his shoulder slightly. Quickly, he turned around to see what that was and found Harry standing right in front of him.

"Jesus! Do you want do give me a heart attack!?" Draco complained.

"I'm sorry."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came here to see you. You left the party without talking to me!"

"I couldn't have talked to you there, Harry! There were too many people watching us."

"Who cares?"

"I DO!" he shouted. "You know goddamn well that we can't talk anymore!"

"You lied to me! You said we could be together but we've been barely spending time with each other and every time I call you, you just ignore me! You don't send messages through Dobby anymore! I never hear from you!" Harry accused.

"Well, it's not my fault! You saw the way Pansy treats me, right? You were spying, weren't you? She threatens me every single day and I have to put up with her! And then I have to live with the fact that I'm responsible for your life and my mother's as well. Lucius told all of his so called friends that my mother is in Paris visiting some relatives. If I disobeyed him he will tell Voldemort about her being a spy!"

"You're not responsible for MY life! I don't want you to be!"

"Too late for that." Draco opened his arms in defeat. "You heard Pansy. Voldemort can use me against you and I prefer to die before letting something like that happened." He sat on his bed with his head down. "I'm tired, Harry."

"Then throw it all away!" Harry pleaded.

"How can I do that?"

"Your mother released you from the obligation to protect her secret! I found out today that she sent a note to Voldemort telling him to go to hell and that she's now officially working for the Order of Phoenix," Harry let it drop like a bomb.

"She did WHAT?" Draco paled.

"You heard me. She did this because of you. She doesn't want you to be a Death Eater."

"I can't believe she did that! Fuck!"

"She said that it doesn't matter anymore because she's living with Sirius. She'll live hidden anyway. She chose her destiny, Draco, and there's nothing more you can do. I'm here to ask you to stay. You don't have to go back to your house. You can stay here with me!"

Draco took a while to absorb that information. He no longer had to act like a bastard. His mother had ruined everything. He didn't know if he should call her stupid or brave. She let Draco choose his own path. She had sacrificed herself for him.

"I'm sorry, Draco." Harry sat by his side and gave him a letter. "She wrote you this."

Draco read it with his hands shaking. Narcissa was telling him to be happy and not to join his father. The Order, according to her, needed him on the good side. He didn't have to worry about her anymore and Lucius could no longer blackmail Draco over her. She had told Lucius about that already. Draco could only imagine what his father should be feeling.

"Your mother is a very brave woman."

"She's very stupid, that's what she is," Draco said coldly.

"Don't say that. Sirius told me that for the first time your mother is taking control of her life and she's happy about it. She doesn't want you to join Voldemort because it'll be a very difficult task and you're her only son. She wants you to be safe. She's your mother. Did you really think she would just let you sacrifice yourself for her?"

"I know, Harry. But..."

Draco felt Harry's hand gripping his. It'd been a while since the last time they had touched each other. The touch made him feel alive again. The ice wall he had built around him to deal with the pain was melting away. He felt tears in his eyes.

"Please," Harry whispered, "I've been having a bad feeling about this. My scar has been throbbing a lot lately."

"Does it hurt much?" Draco asked, touching Harry's scar with the tip of his fingers.

"A little."

"Come here." Draco pulled Harry closer to him and then kissed his scar.

Harry hugged him tightly and Draco melted in his arms.

"You know, I've been having bad feelings, too. Voldemort is anything but stupid. I think he knows more about you than we think. You're linked to him, right? What if he knows about us because of that link? What if he's using Pansy to get me? She admitted that he despises her. Besides, I'm not special enough. I don't see why he would be so interested in me! I'm not like you. You're special, Harry. You're the hero."

"Don't be stupid. You're the most special person in the world."

Draco smiled. "That's what I love about you. You're not afraid of your feelings."

"Why should I? It's these feelings that keep me strong."

"They can make you weak, too."

"No, they won't. I'll make sure of that."

"What about your father?"

"He's still in the island. Remus said they should be here in a week. He doesn't think that Vivienne will last much more than that. She has cancer and the disease is spreading fast into her blood stream. The Memory Potion is ready. It's only a matter of time now... But I'm scared. I don't know him and he doesn't know me. What's it going to be like?"

"I don't know. Lucius and I don't have much of a healthy relationship," Draco smirked.

They heard steps outside the door and Draco quickly hid Harry under the Invisibility cloak. Goyle entered the room a few minutes later.

"Hey, Draco. Pansy is calling you," Goyle said, looking upset about something.

"Tell her I'll be there in a few minutes."

Goyle closed the door and went away. Harry took off the cloak.

"Send her to hell!"

"I can't do that, Harry. The show must go on. For now at least."

"But..."

Draco shut Harry up with a kiss.

"Don't talk. Not now." He kissed Harry again. "I've almost forgot how good it is to kiss you and how good your lips taste."

They kissed, desperate to feel each other's warmth.

"Please, stay," Harry begged.

"I don't know, Harry. I have to go home."

"That's not your home. Your home is here, with me."

Draco smiled feebly. "I love you. You know that, right?"

Harry nodded and Draco sighed, his face looking suddenly very determinate.

"You know what?" he said. "Come on. Let's get out of here. Put your cloak on."

Harry did what he was told. "Where are we going?"

"Just follow me."

Draco was about to leave the room when he felt Harry's invisible hand holding his hand.

"What about Pansy?" Harry asked.

"Well, you said it yourself. I'm sending her to hell!"

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

"I should have never let you talk me into this! We've been walking for what? Half and hour? An hour? I'm tired," Draco whined. "It's cold in here... and dark. And all this mud... Ugh."

"Drama Queen...," Harry muttered.

"Fuck you, Potter."

They were walking through the passage that would lead them to the Shrieking Shack, even though Draco didn't know that.

"Harry... Where are we going?"

Harry lost count of how many times Draco asked that.

"God, you're so impatient! Alright, I'll tell you! We're going to the Shrieking Shack. It's close now."

"WHAT? Are you insane? That place is haunted! I'm not going there!"

Draco turned around to go back to the castle but Harry held him by the sleeve.

"The place is not haunted! It was only a story they created to keep people out."

"Who are they?"

"Never mind."

"Oh, come on! You can tell me!"

Harry stopped for a moment and tried to see into Draco's eyes. It was hard though, with only the light of their wands to illuminate the secret passage.

"Do you know why Professor Lupin left?"

"Of course I do. A lot of people know. And besides, Snape told me."

"That figures... The old bat...," Harry muttered between his teeth. "Honestly, what did Erin see in him? He's ugly, old and unpleasant."

"He's got a nice piece of as..." The moment Draco saw Harry's expression of rage, he added, "Of course you're right! I mean, Snape! Ugh!" He made a face.

Harry shook his head and hid a smile. "So you know that Remus is a..."

"Werewolf. Yeah, I know."

"When he was a student in Hogwarts, the Shrieking Shack was his home on the nights of full moon. He stayed there to avoid harming someone. This is why people used to hear all those terrible noises coming out of it. It wasn't ghosts, it was just..."

"Professor Lupin," Draco finished for him.

"Yes."

Then Harry told him all he knew about the Marauders. At the end of the narrative, Draco was amazed by it. And Harry didn't stop only there. He went on, talking about his third and fourth year, and what he had faced during that time.

"I'm stunned. Your father was an Animagus. And Sirius is one as well! And they did it to help a friend. And that rat Pettigrew! What a turncoat! I loathe him even more now that you told me his real story," Draco said. "And you! You almost died by a Dementors' kiss! God! Could you forgive me about all the nasty things I've done to you in the past?"

"You already asked for my forgiveness, remember? And I already gave it to you."

"Yes, but..."

"We're here!"

Harry opened the door and they entered the old house.

"This is it!" Harry opened his arms. "The famous Shrieking Shack!"

"It's very dirty." Draco complained, making a face. "Eww. Is that a gigantic spider web?"

"I don't know. I think so."

"Is there any spiders in there?" Draco asked with his voice suddenly uneasy.

"I'm not seeing any. Why?"

Draco gripped Harry's arms and looked around with suspicion.

"I don't like spiders," Draco said in a whisper.

"You're joking!"

"Of course I'm not joking!"

Harry burst out laughing.

"What's so bloody funny?"

"Finally something you have in common with Ron! He hates spiders! He's terrified of them and after our last adventure I can't really blame him..." Harry said to himself.

"I'm not afraid of spiders! Honestly, Harry..."

"There's one right on your shoulder."

"WHAT! TAKE IT OFF! NOW!" Draco yelled, scared to death.

Harry laughed even more. "I'm only joking."

Draco stared at him with a murderous look. "Don't you ever do that again! Ever!"

"Sorry, I couldn't resist."

"Couldn't resist? I'll tmmph..."

Harry's lips captured Draco's in an enrapt kiss and Draco melted in his arms.

"Still afraid of the spiders?" Harry asked against his lips.

"Spiders? What spiders?" Draco looked at him dazzled.

Harry smiled. "Come on."

Harry led Draco upstairs and they entered one of the big rooms on the second floor.

"It's... neat!" Draco exclaimed.

"Yeah. I've been thinking about bringing you here for a while. Dobby helped me cleaning it up."

"It's cool. Too bad you showed me just now," Draco said, sitting on the bed.

"I'm not allowed to come in here."

"Then why are we here?"

"Because I wanted to be alone with you. You know, away from everything. I missed you."

"I missed you, too." Draco brought Harry closer and they kissed. "Sorry if I'd been distant lately."

"I understand."

Draco was about to take Harry's clothes off when he said, "What if someone finds us here?"

"Don't worry. I brought the map. If someone comes, it'll show us."

And they loved each other all through the night.

----------

The morning came, and Draco was the first to awake. He enjoyed the fact that Harry was still asleep because then he could admire his features silently and Harry wouldn't catch him having a sappy loving moment.

Harry had told him so many secrets the other night that now he felt like he was in debt with him. He debated with himself if he should tell Harry about his father and that maybe Lucius had been in love with James Potter. Maybe he still was. Draco prayed all the time for that to be true because then there was still hope for Lucius. Zabini had proved him that love could change a person, could make them softer, more understanding. Maybe his father's soul could still be saved.

But Draco didn't know about their history together. He had to find out the truth about them. He had to know if James Potter had once loved his father as well. He was determined to save his father from that hell that he called life. He had to try!

"Morning, Drake," Harry mumbled, opening his eyes slowly.

"Morning, Harry."

"You look absolutely yummy."

Draco smiled. "Even with my hair all messy and a bad morning breath?"

"Even so."

"You're too sweet, Harry."

"Let's sleep a little longer."

"Nope. I'm afraid someone is coming here. Better make it two."

"Who?"

"The two musketeers: Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. They're still in the passage."

Harry mumbled something.

"Did you tell them we would be here?" Draco asked.

"Yes. I had to."

"I'm glad you did. We should put some clothes on. I don't want Weasley to freak out."

Harry dared to giggle and Draco threw the pillow at him. After they were fully clothed, Draco sat on the bed and wondered if he should tell Harry about Lucius and James. He was almost sure that Harry's reaction wouldn't be bad. Almost.

"Harry? I have something to tell you," he began carefully.

"What is it? You look so serious all of a sudden. Please don't tell me you're going back to Pansy."

"No, that's not it. Pansy is history. Well, not really. I have the feeling that she will be very pissed but that's not the point. I won't be with Pansy anymore. I've made up my mind. Those dreams we had were like a warning to us. I can't marry Pansy and I won't. Not anymore since my mother blew everything. Anyway, what I want to tell you has to do with my father... and yours."

"What about them?"

"I... I... I think that... Well, you see...," Draco stuttered.

"Just spit it out!"

"I'm afraid of your reaction."

"Is it so bad?"

"I don't know. I don't think so."

"Then just say it."

"Ithinkmyfatherwasinlovewithyours," Draco said quickly.

"What?" Harry sat by his side. "Did you say that your father was in love with mine?"

"Yes. You're not disgusted about it, are you?"

"Disgusted? No, I'm shocked. I never thought your father had feelings."

Draco frowned but didn't say anything. He couldn't really blame Harry for thinking that.

"I'm not sure of what to say," Harry began, "I mean, what do you want me to say?"

Draco took a deep breath. He had a difficult task ahead and he was almost certain that Harry would disagree with him, but he had to try. He wanted to go back to the Manor because he had to talk to his father and convince him to fight against Voldemort. Maybe, if Lucius knew that James Potter was alive he would join the Order. Of course, Draco was thinking with his heart and not his head. And the moment Draco explained things to Harry, that was exactly what Harry told him.

"Are you insane? You can't tell your father about mine! You just can't! No one is supposed to know that he's alive! And your father is a Death Eater! How can you think that your plan will work?" Harry shook his head. "You're thinking with your heart, not your head! Lucius is a villain and this speaks for itself. Besides, you don't know what happened between them in the past. As far as I know, my father didn't love yours. He loved my mother. What if you tell Lucius that James is alive and he tells Voldemort about it?"

"Maybe your father loved mine. It's not that impossible."

"Sirius is always telling me that he never met anyone more in love than my mum and dad."

"Appearances can be deceiving" Harry made a face and Draco added, "I'm not saying that James didn't love your mother. I'm just saying that maybe he loved my father as well. It's possible, you know?"

"Possible, yes, but not likely."

"I understand you, Harry. I mean, you grow up believing that your father and your mother were perfect and loved each other very much."

"They did love each other!" Harry exclaimed.

"Ok, I get it!" Draco said, annoyed.

"Have you ever thought that if you tell your father about mine, it might make things worse?"

"Ok, I won't tell him. But I'm going back home."

"Draco..."

"No, Harry, I need to go home. I won't join Voldemort, don't worry. But I need to convince my father to come to our side." Draco sighed. "I talked to Snape these past few months and I asked him about my father. They're friends so I figure Snape should know stuff about him that no one else does. He didn't know that Lucius had been in love once. But he told me things... Awful things..."

Draco shuddered and Harry hugged him.

"My grandfather used to do things to him... Terrible things, Harry. Snape thinks that my father was sexuality abused, even though Lucius never said a thing. All Snape knows for sure is that my father always came back to Hogwarts with awful bruises in his body and his back. Snape said Lucius had whip marks all over his back. No wonder he's the way he is. I mean, all he knew his entire life was pain."

"God, Draco," Harry whispered. "I'm sorry."

"You see why I have to go?"

"Yes. But..."

Draco shook his head. "If it was your father, you'd have done the same thing."

Harry nodded sadly. "Just promise me you will be back."

"I will."

"And promise me that at any sign of trouble, you will contact us!"

"Don't worry. Besides, ours mind are connected now, remember? We can see each other in our dreams." Draco smiled. "Literally."

Harry smiled back and kissed him.

"Hey, Harry? Draco?" they heard Hermione shouting from the first floor. "Are you there?"

"More important of all, are you clothed?" Ron asked.

Harry and Draco stared at each other for a moment before answering, "Yes."

"We'll get through all of this mess," Draco assured him.

"I hope so."

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

Harry and Draco said goodbye to each other in a hidden compartment of the train. They had promised themselves not to cry but in the end they couldn't hold back the tears. They held each other tightly and their kiss was almost desperate and very sad. Draco promised once more that he would never become a Death Eater. He hadn't said anything to Pansy yet because he didn't want to upset her and awake her revengeful side. She was already very upset with his escaped the other day.

When Harry stepped off the train after saying goodbye to Hermione and Ron, Draco sat by the window to watch him one last time. They didn't wave but their eyes never left each other. Draco smiled to Harry before the train left. A solitary tear escaped from the corner their eyes.

Harry wiped it off and felt someone touching his shoulder. He looked up and saw Hagrid.

"Are you ok there, Harry?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"Course you will!"

They returned to the castle together. While Hagrid kept telling him how much fun they would have together that summer, Harry spotted Hedwig flying towards him with a letter in her beak. His owl landed on his shoulder and let the letter drop in his hands.

"Who's it from, Harry?" Hagrid asked quite curious.

Harry looked at it and saw the initials D.M. written in the remitter. He smiled.

"It's from someone I love dearly."

"Oh, it's Draco's."

Harry's eyes opened widely. "How do you know?"

"That's a secret," Hagrid winked at him. "Young Malfoy was actually quite polite with me this year. That's a good thing. Good thing indeed."

Later on, when Harry was lying on his bed, he opened up the letter and read:

"Harry,

Poets and writers have always found perfect ways to describe the meaning of love. Usually, its meaning is full of despair and tragedy after a short period of blissfulness and, why not, lies.

In a way, love is a lie, because it makes you believe that everything will be fine when you meet your soul mate, and yet, it isn't true. Well, not entirely. We're far from being all right but I do hope... someday... as you sang to me once, that 'we'll rise above and we'll get through anything'.

The path we chose to follow is full of obstacles - and some quite insuperable - but who knows? Maybe love IS stronger than all of the difficulties in life. God, I hope that this is the truth. You have no idea. I'll try my best for this to be true. I mean, look at us and all the stuff we've been through this year. No matter how hard things were, we were always together. Even in the end, when I was broken, you came to me and convinced me that I wasn't. So love has to be stronger than everything.

But if it isn't, Harry, I want you to move on with your life. If something happens to me, if somewhere along the way we'll have to find ourselves against each other, you have to promise me you'll deal with it and you won't look back. I'll pray for this not to happen. I will. But you know how life is unpredictable.

God, I love you so much. Never doubt about it, ok? I do love you.

I wonder what's it going to be like from now on and if I'll ever see you again. I bet you're saying under your breath, as in a prayer, that I will because you'll make sure of it. That's what I love about you. Harry Potter, everybody's hero. MY hero.

Am I sounding too gloomy? I am. Well, farewells are always gloomy. Don't mind me. It's just that I hate to be apart from you. But we'll see each other in our dreams, right? I know we will.

Don't give up on hope. Never. And I won't give up on us. I'll find the road home. I'll find my way back to you. I love you.

Always yours,

Draco."

Harry smiled, tears falling from his eyes.

"I know you will," Harry muttered to himself. "And I'll make sure of that."

The End... of part 1.