Goodnight Sweet Girl

Thirteen: With Potter By The Lake

A week had passed since the startling announcement made by Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. It was still a rather delectable piece of gossip and rumors were flying about a curse and Draco bewitching Harry. The Gryffindors were beginning to warm up to Harry again, but Draco was hardly spoken to by anyone other than Harry, Hermione, and Neville. Every now and then Ron would nod in his direction, but little was ever spoken by the redhead.

In fact Ron was unusually quiet. He kept to himself more and usually only spoke with Hermione. Harry had tried to get him to talk a few times, but Ron always shut down and began a half hearted conversation on Quidditch or the absurdity of still being in Divination.

Most of the students would stare at the sight of Malfoy in the halls, but Draco simply held his head up high and Harry was often walking with him between classes. The two could be seen sometimes holding hands or with Harry's arm about Draco's shoulder. The two seemed to be happy in whatever relationship they had.

Meanwhile the Slytherin house was in tatters. Their most prized member, despite his curious ways was gone, and had become a Gryffindor no less. Blaise was also snubbed, and Pansy was in a constant foul mood, worse than when Draco used to push her away. Crabbe and Goyle just took up following Pansy's command, and fell into their usual role of life. Still the senior Slytherins, all of which had taken the mark, with the exception of Blaise, were coming up with ways to settle with Malfoy and Potter. After all it had to have been some scheme to steal away Malfoy, to change him and make him defy his father and the Dark Lord.

Still Pansy knew the truth. Draco had never been one to follow the Dark Lord, he was too wrapped up in other things, and she'd finally figured out what. All the time she thought he'd had a thing for Blaise, and it had really been Potter. There were only a few things that she was unsure of. How long had he and Potter really been involved? Was the whole wishing stone thing a lie? What were Lucius Malfoy's thoughts on all of this?

And then there was a new rumor circulating about why the youngest Weasley had been pulled out of school. Rumors ran wild about the youngest Weasley caught in an affair with an older man, a married man, and how she was now with child. Of course at the sight of Ron all such talk was immediately silenced, but once he was out of sight that talk was brought up again. Between wondering who the father of the Weasley girl's baby was and the topic of Harry and Draco's love life, there was little room for any other gossip.

And it was the beginning of the second week after the Potter-Malfoy announcement that fate took a turn, a turn in the form of Pansy Parkinson and a shaky Gryffindor...

Monday, and their first class was Double Potions with the Slytherins. Draco sighed as he checked his robes for wrinkles and ran a hand through his long silvery blonde hair. He looked in the mirror over the bathroom sink, wondering when it would be over and the staring and gossip would stop.

He had left Great Hall for a trip to the loo, because of all the stares directed his way. Did they honestly think he couldn't feel their eyes on him? Harry, of course, was ignoring them, but Draco found that ignoring them was a hard task. He took one last look at his reflection when the bell rang. He picked up his school bag left the girl's loo and headed toward the dungeons, wondering if today was the day the Slytherins would make their move. They had been oddly quiet in their activity since the announcement. Sure they stared with the rest of the school, but they had yet to say or do anything to Draco, but that made Draco nervous, because he knew that when the Slytherins were quiet, they were plotting something.

Draco was lost in his thoughts when he reached the dungeons and ran into someone blocking the door of the Potions classroom. Draco apologized and then realized who he'd run into. Goyle. He looked up slowly curious as to what was going on. He raised his eyebrow and shot a glare at the bulky Slytherin.

"What is this Goyle? Out of my way," Draco snapped.

Goyle wasn't the one to respond though. Instead a voice so annoying that it could only belong to Pansy Parkinson said, "Oh, Drakie, darling, whatever really happened to you? You know we all missed you at that little meeting that was on your birthday, and then the news of your disappearance was almost overbearing. Then your death reported. But you're here now. Tell me Drakie, how has Potter been treating you over the years? I mean the two of you are so close it's nauseating. How long were you fucking him and betraying your house and your name? Come on Drakie, you can tell me! We're old friends!"

"Parkinson..." Draco spoke with a cold edge to his elemental voice, but before he could continue a deep male voice, the voice of chivalrous Gryffindor pride that belonged to none other than Harry Potter, cut in.

"What is going on here? Draco, are you all right?"

Draco's eyes narrowed as he shot a glance in Harry's direction. "Damn you, Potter! I'm not fragile! I'm not spun glass, and I won't break with a few insults from a little pug-faced Slytherin bitch!"

With that Draco violently pushed past Pansy and stalked away, fully intent on skipping class and being off on his own.

"Oh, a little lover's spat?" Pansy said and then she grabbed Harry by the collar, her nails digging into the fabric, her voice lethal and barely above a whisper, "If he ever calls me a bitch again I will rip his pretty little face to ribbons. This cat has claws, and she is not afraid to use them. Tell him that for me."

Harry looked down at her, his green eyes burning with anger. When she released his hold on her, he lowered his head until they were only inches apart and he spoke through clenched teeth. "Threaten him again and you will think a Cruciatus on behalf of your precious Dark Lord nothing compared to what I will do to you."

Then Harry went off in the direction that Draco had, feeling the need to do something about whatever had just happened. He rushed up the stairs past Hermione and Ron, who looked at him with raised eyebrows, both realizing that he was planning on skipping Potions. Hermione nearly went after him, but Ron stopped her.

She looked up at the redhead incredulously. "He is going to miss Snape's class!"

"He has his reasons. Let's just leave him and hope for the best. Wish I were as brave to skip one of Snape's classes," Ron said and a smile twisted his lips.

Hermione's eyes brightened at the sight of the smile on her friend's face. She hadn't seen one cross his face since that day, when Ron had confronted Malfoy. Her eyes widened as she began to realize just how handsome he looked when he smiled. Just then Ron looked down at her and heat rose in her cheeks.

"What is it, Mione?" he asked.

"Oh, uh..."

"Caught you at a loss for words? You all right? Maybe we should see Madame Pomfrey."

Hermione shook her head. "No, I'm fine, really. Just a bit worried is all."

The two then hurried down the stairs and walked into the classroom mere moments away from being late. They noticed many Gryffindors were sending glares in the direction of the Slytherins. Something had obviously been going on and it had to do with Harry, and Draco was nowhere to be seen in the class. Their work table was empty, and Snape's eyes were turned in that direction his eyes calculating, and then he turned to the board and began class as though nothing were amiss.

---------

Draco didn't stop until he was well away from the dungeons and was out on the castle grounds. Eventually he sat down in a huff, took in his surroundings, and his mouth fell open. He was in the place that had appeared in his dreams. Sitting on a grassy knole by the lake, not too far from the Forbidden Forest.

"Why does it always seem to come back to this place?" he whispered to himself.

He sighed and then threw himself back so that he was laid out on the ground, arms flung out, looking up at the sky, and then a face shot into his line of vision. A handsome face with a slightly golden complexion, rosy hued lips, green eyes, and a scar on its forehead, and this handsome masculine face was framed by a messy mop of black hair.

"Potter," Draco let out in one breath.

"Why are you mad at me?" Harry asked and then took a seat by Draco.

Draco sat up on his elbows and looked at the dark haired boy. "You try to fight my battles for me, dammit! I'm tired of it. In case you haven't noticed I can fight for myself, and it was Parkinson! I could handle her any day!"

"What about Goyle? He was looking rather menacingly at you," Harry pointed out.

"I am a wizard...witch at any rate and I do believe I am quite capable of stunning the great oaf, and don't even mention Crabbe, he couldn't function without Goyle, and don't ask how I know that!"

Harry made a terrible face. "I don't even want to think about what that implies."

"Why are you here, Harry?"

"I care, and I want to know what's wrong. Isn't that enough of a reason to be here?"

Draco gave him a condescending look and then noticed that Harry was fiddling with something in his pocket. Draco rasied his eyebrow and with a nod indicated Harry's pocket. "What have you got there?"

Harry's face flushed scarlet. "I... It's..."

"What? It's not something that bites is it? You haven't got one of Hagrid's 'little' beasties in there have you?" Draco asked with a grin and reached for Harry's fidgety hand.

Harry took a deep breath, shook his head, and then his green eyes locked with Draco's gray. "I have something that I've been meaning to ask you. But first I should tell you something. I have something for you, and it means a lot to me. I had to write Remus to get it, and he was surprised that I wanted it, but he sent it never the less, and he told me a bit about it."

"Does this have a point?"

Harry blushed again. "Yes..." He stopped and then pulled a small gray velvet box out of his pocket. Draco looked at the box suspiciously as Harry continued. "This was my mother's. My father got it for her, because he wanted her to know how much he loved her, and it reminded him of her eyes. I have her eyes..." Harry stopped again, all fidgeting and nervous.

"Are you all right? You look sick," Draco said.

Harry took a deep breath and then opened the box. Draco's eyes fell on the box, and his mouth fell open. Inside was a golden band set with a round one karat emerald, with two small diamonds on either side of the emerald. Harry took the ring out of the box and took Draco's left hand.

"Will you marry me?"

Draco's eyes widened as he watched Harry slip the ring on his his left ring finger, and his voice caught in his throat.

"I..."

Harry brought his finger to Draco's pale lips. "You don't have to answer now, just keep this ring and think about it. I will understand, whatever your answer."

Draco was speechless as he looked down at the ring and then up to Harry, finally finding his voice. "This was your mother's engagement ring?"

The dark haired boy nodded. "And I couldn't think of anyone else I would rather give it to."

"But I haven't given you an answer."

Harry smiled. "I told you you didn't have to answer now. Just wear it, and think of me every time you look at it."

Draco sat up the rest of the way and took Harry's face between his palms and kissed the boy with all of his might. Harry was taken by surprise, but soon found himself giving in to Draco's eager tongue. Then Harry's arms wrapped around Draco's waist and drew the girl that was Draco Malfoy close against his body.

The two parted panting wildly and Draco had a strange look on his feminine face. Harry looked up at the blonde and pushed back strands of pale hair out of Draco's face.

"You would ask me to marry you even after everything? After all that I've done to you for the past seven years, and for everything we've been through these past months?"

Harry nodded. Draco smiled and then said, "Then you have your answer. If you will have me, then I suppose I can have you. Have you always gotten what you wanted, Potter?"

"Not always, but it seems that my fate is changing..."

---------

Albus Dumbledore found himself drawn to the window of his office. He looked down and caught sight of something that seemed both new and familiar. He couldn't help the smile that crossed his face at the sight of the young lovers by the lake. He'd witness almost the exact same scene when James Potter had proposed to Lily Evans. It had been in that very place.

"Ah, how history so often repeats itself. I only hope that fate is better this second time, for those two deserve such happiness," he said.

"What are you looking at Albus? I did not leave my class to discuss old times. What is this about?"

"Come Severus, look down there by the lake."

Severus stood up and walked to the window and looked out of it. His eyes widened and his nostrils flared at the scene of the dark haired boy holding the pale fair haired girl. He was clenching his fists so hard that his knuckles popped. Albus simply smiled at the scene and sighed.

"So that is why they chose to skip my class? They are off snogging together!" the Potions Master snapped.

Albus chuckled. "I think the occasion is more important and special than that. Use a charm to look more closely and you will notice a very familiar ring on young Draco's left hand."

Snape did as the headmaster proposed and gasped. "Bloody hell! Albus, that was Lily's engagement ring. You don't think..."

"I'm sure they will approach either myself or you soon enough to make arrangements... There is also other news that the two will find most interesting. It seems that even these times of darkness might have their moments of light."

"Quit being cryptic and tell me what you mean!"

"All shall present itself in time, Severus. Now, you should really consider working on your patience," the headmaster paused and then seemed to think of something. "Oh, yes, and Remus is requesting another batch of the Wolfsbane Potion, and he mentioned that Harry had requested the most peculiar thing, his mother's engagement ring. Now Remus is quite curious to whom Harry might give it to."

"A Malfoy engaged to a Potter," Snape said and grabbed the window seal to steady himself. "I do believe that hell has frozen over and ice skating has become a very popular sport in that location."

Dumbledore smiled. "Now, Severus, don't be so dramatic. It was bound to happen sometime. Those two have been drawn together for years. What with Draco's transformation it was only a matter of time."

"Have you any idea what his father will do upon finding this out?" Snape asked.

The headmaster nodded and then said, "Yes, I have an idea, but as I understand it, I believe that Lucius will find himself more concerned about the welfare of Molly and Arthur Weasley's daughter."

"What?" Snape asked in bewilderment.

Dumbledore's expression appeared grave now. "It would seem that the reason Miss Weasley is not in attendence at school this year is do to her condition, as you know. A condition caused by none other than Lucius Malfoy. It appears that Draco will have a sibling soon."

Snape's mouth fell open and an expression of horror passed over his face, but he soon recovered and then fell back into one of the plush chairs in Dumbledore's office. "Albus? He... defiled the Weasley girl? Do her parents know?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, but her brother, Ron, and Draco Malfoy know."

"How many lives are left to be ruined by the taint of the mark?" Severus Snape asked and then absently rubbed his left forearm with a look of disgust on his face.

"I don't know," answered Dumbledore. "I truly do not know."

---------

Draco sighed and leaned into Harry, his back pressed against Harry's chest. Time seemed to stand still and lose all its power as they sat there in an embrace of love and peace. Harry dropped his chin on Draco's shoulder and breathed in the scent of the blonde girl's hair and skin, so close to his nose. With every breath he inhaled he thought of fresh rain and lilies, and he found himself wondering what his father had thought when he smelled his mother. He hadn't even realized that tears were trailing his cheeks until Draco turned a bit to look at him.

"What's wrong?"

Harry lifted a hand and wiped his cheeks and swallowed past the heavy lump in his throat. "I just wondered how my father proposed to my mother. I wondered what she smelled like. If it was of fresh rain and lilies, like you. There is so much I don't know about them..."

"I'm sorry that you never knew them," Draco whispered.

"Me too," sighed Harry. "Tell me, Draco, what were your parents like?"

Draco snorted. "You know about Lucius. The man is only self involved. As for my mother, she had her moments, but she left me at Lucius' mercy, and before I left I told her I wanted none of her anymore. I assume she was rather distraught over my departure, and then this happened.

"If you are asking if they were ever in love then I must say that I do not believe so. Their marriage was arranged, between the Blacks and the Malfoys. My father once told me about their wedding night. She refused him so he took her... He forced her and I was the result. He got his heir to continue the name. I think she hated him, still hates him, but she fears him..."

Harry's eyes widened in horror, and his arms tightened protectively around Draco's waist. "That will never be us. I don't ever want you to hate me or be afraid of me. Nothing will ever hurt you again if I can help it."

Draco gave a little lilting laugh. "You can't always be there, and you know it. There will be times when I will be hurt regardless. That is life. Just as there are times when you will be hurt. But I am strong enough to protect myself. I mean, I've survived the Malfoy household for eighteen years, so I'm fairly certain that I'm able to take what life tosses my way. And you, you've survived countless encounters with the Dark Lord and his minions. Don't try to protect me Harry. Just be there when I need you."

"Always," Harry murmured against the blonde's ear.