True to your heart

Chapter seven: Explained absences

Harry had stayed at the Leaky Cauldron inn a few times, so he was used to things like the talking mirror, but this was his first time there with Draco.

Draco was sat on the edge of the king-size bed watching Harry. He looks so sexy, Draco thought to himself as Harry walked towards him and stopped in front of Draco.

Draco smiled at him. "What?"

Harry shrugged. "Nothing, everything, I don't know. I think the candle light here makes you look sexier than Muggle lighting does."

Then, without saying anything else, he leant in and kissed Draco softly, pushing him back on the bed at the same time.

Draco had never been with anyone except Harry, so he didn't have anything to compare Harry's kisses with, but Draco did know that Harry didn't just kiss; he put everything into every kiss they had ever shared, leaving him somewhat vulnerable. He never really opened up his thoughts and feelings until he had learnt that he could trust Draco completely. Even though they had become... better acquainted with each other over the past year, there was still a layer of distrust lying at the bottom of both their hearts, Draco's included, both had been hurt so bad over the course of their lives and they were reluctant to let the shields down completely, and let anyone into their lives completely.

Harry groaned and rolled over, he looked at the clock: 6.15. Harry hated being awake early; he wondered what had woken him. At first he thought Draco had but then he felt an arm tighten around his waist and the soft breath on his neck and he knew that Draco was still asleep. And that was when he heard a soft tapping on the window. Harry looked up, towards the window, and saw two large barn owls tapping on the window, one fighting against the other. Harry unwrapped Draco's arms from around him, careful not to wake him up, and got out of bed.

Harry opened the window and the owls flew in, depositing the letters on the desk before flying back out of the window. He picked the letters up and got back into bed, before opening the first one.

Dear Harry,
I don't know when you'll get this letter, but I hope you get it before school starts again. I won't be at school for the first couple of days; we're in America. Dad had some business out here so he decided to bring us as well. Guess whom we bumped into? Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. But there was no sign of his little brat, which was actually a shame cause I felt like beating someone up. And it's not like Snape's here to take house points off of Gryffindor, just because his favorite little Deatheater's son got a bruise. Anyway why am I talking about Malfoy? What's wrong with me? Its bad enough we have to put with him at school, I'd hate to have to put up with him during the summer too.

Like I said, sorry for abandoning you. But at least you'll have Hermione. See you when we get back - Ron.

Harry read the letter through once, chuckling to himself when he read what Ron had put about Draco. Harry didn't even want to think about what Ron would say if he saw Harry right now, in bed with Draco Malfoy. Draco stirred in his sleep and wrapped his arms tighter around Harry's waist, it was almost as if Draco's subconscious thought that Harry would run away from him and leave him alone.

Harry kissed him lightly on his forehead before turning his attention to the last letter,

Harry, I hope you're Ok. I'm in Spain getting a suntan right now. I'm sorry to leave you but I won't be back at school for the first couple of days. But at least you'll have Ron to keep you company. Anyway I hope you have a good summer, don't let your aunt and uncle get you down too much, and don't let Malfoy either. If he starts on you when school starts just hit him, save us all the effort and trouble of having to put with him later. Love Hermione.

'Great,' Harry thought to himself, both of his best friends were in foreign countries and they wouldn't be back until halfway through the first week. At least there was one good thing about his two friends being away, and he was lying next to Harry. Harry turned and looked down at Draco, his mouth was open slightly and his chest rose and fell everytime he took a breath.

Harry couldn't resist it; he bent down and placed a soft kiss on Draco's lips. He didn't expect Draco to respond; he thought he was asleep, so, needless to say, when Draco did respond Harry was shocked.

Harry pulled away from Draco and looked at him,

"You awake?"

"No, I'm not," Draco replied sleepily, and he rolled over, landing on top of Harry.

"You're heavy," said Harry, as he wrapped his arms around the other boy, kissing his forehead at the same time, "but I don't mind."

"Good, because I'm staying here for now," Draco said, burying his face in Harry's shoulder as he slowly drifted off back into dream world.

But sleep refused to come back to Harry, his thoughts drifted back up to Hogwarts. What were they going to do about their relationship once school started back up and Ron and Hermione came back from their holidays?

He didn't want to, but to Harry the only way that it would work was to keep it a secret for another year. Harry hated keeping stuff from his friends but it was beginning to look like he didn't have a choice. Heck, he hadn't even told them he was gay, let alone in a steady relationship with Malfoy.

"Draco!" Harry said, prodding Draco's shoulder.

Draco had fallen asleep, using Harry as a mattress about two hours ago, and he was starting to get heavy. "Draco! Come on wake up."

"Whatdoyouwant?" Draco mumbled against Harry's chest.

"I want you to get up, come on you're starting to get heavy."

Then without waiting for an answer he shoved Draco off of him. Harry had only intended to push Draco onto the bed, but he pushed him too hard, off the wrong side of the bed and Draco rolled over and fell off the bed, taking Harry along for the ride.

"What did you do that for?" Draco asked, as he rubbed the readily forming bump on his head, where he had hit the bedside cabinet on his way down. "That hurt."

"I didn't mean to shove you all the way off. Here..." Harry said, standing up and offering his hand to help Draco up. Draco looked up at him and took Harry's hand, it was impossible to stay angry with him when he looked that innocent.

They showered, got dressed and made their way down to breakfast.

After breakfast they walked down Diagon alley to Gringotts. "Harry?" Draco asked. "What were you doing up so early this morning?"

"Some letters came from Ron and Hermione. And the tapping on the window woke me up."

Draco didn't reply, instead he looked away from Harry. Harry looked at him for a moment before saying,

"They won't be back from America and Spain until halfway through the first week." Draco looked back at Harry, and Harry instantly knew the look that washed across his face, relief. "So that means we can ride the train together; we just have to keep out of other people's way."

Draco nodded and opened the door of Gringotts, then ushered Harry inside.

When Harry had got enough money to buy all of Draco's and his school things, they went to Madame Malkins, Flourish and Botts, and all the others. Before going back to the leaky cauldron and collapsing on their bed.

"I'm knackered, who knew shopping could be so tiring. I don't know how girls can do it so often," Draco said, lying back on the pillows trying to stifle a yawn.

Harry looked at Draco and smiled. "Well, I suppose if you're that tired you won't want to do this, will you?" Leaning over Draco and placing a gentle kiss at the base of his neck, before moving slowly up his beautiful, delicate throat and kissing him passionately on the lips. Draco felt like he had died and gone to heaven, twice. Everything Harry did sent shivers coursing through Draco's entire body. Harry pulled away from Draco and looked into his eyes, which were stormy grey, the fires of desire clearly burning in them. Harry grabbed his wand and quickly whispered a spell to dim the lights, and create a perfect romantic atmosphere, before returning his lips to Draco's. (A/N: I've decided this isn't classed as real magic, nothing that Harry could get into trouble for doing.)

Chapter Eight: A familiar journey

Tom, the barman at the leaky cauldron, woke them at nine o'clock. Harry was the first to wake up and he grabbed his pajama bottoms, which were lying in a pile on the floor at the foot of the bed, before opening the bedroom door.

"Mr. Potter, it is time to get up. You must leave for platform nine and three quarters soon."

"Thanks Tom." Then he shut the door and turned around to wake Draco up, only to find that he was already awake and looking at him with disgust. "What are you looking at me like that for?"

Draco sat up, stretched and yawned. "It's too early, and you woke me up," he grumbled. Harry sat down on the bed and wrapped his arms around Draco. "I'm sorry. You can stay in bed if you want but you'll miss the train, and I wouldn't recommend flying by car. Especially when you crash it into the Whomping Willow and get caught by Snape."

Draco turned and looked at Harry. "Are you speaking from experience?"

Harry nodded. "Where were you back in second year? Ron and I flew his dad's car to school and actually... come to think of it, you knew we did. Cause it was in the 'Daily Prophet' and you showed it to Crabbe and Goyle that time that we changed into them," he blurted out without even thinking.

Draco's eyes widened and his mouth fell open so wide it looked like a double decker tour bus could fit through it. "That was you? I wondered why they were acting so strange."

"It was us," Harry admitted, getting up of the bed and starting to get dressed. "Now are you going to get up and get dressed? Cause if you're not I'll leave you here."

It was an empty threat, cause both of them knew that he wouldn't do it, but it spurred Draco into action. "Fine," he said with a sigh, grabbing his jeans and a clean T-Shirt.

Tom already had breakfast waiting for them when they finally came down stairs, fried eggs, bacon, sausages, fried tomatoes, beans and mushrooms.

"If I eat all this I'll get fatter than I already am," Draco grumbled as they sat down at breakfast.

Harry looked up at him and give him a hard kick under the table. "Shut up."

They were to go to Kings Cross Station using Floo powder from the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron. "I hate using this stuff," Harry complained as he took his glasses off and put them in his pocket.

"Why?"

"Let's just say that if you don't make it clear you want to go to Diagon Alley, you end up in Knockturn Alley," Harry briefly explained.

Draco chuckled and shook his head. "Harry Potter has been down Knockturn alley? I don't believe it."

"Believe it cause I also know that a certain Slytherin has been down there too." Harry paused, not noticing the hurt look that had settled upon Draco's tired features, then turned to Tom, and said, "Thanks for everything, Tom."

Draco nodded in agreement. "Shall we go?" Then he took a pinch of Floo powder, tossed it in the fire, and said, "Kings Cross Station," and was gone in a flash of bright light, with Harry soon behind him.

The magical platform, platform nine and three quarters, was magically placed in between the Muggle platforms nine and ten. And the only way to get through to it was to find the barrier, and walk straight at the wall and you would fall through to the platform. That was the easy bit; the hard part was trying to do this without attracting attention from the Muggles who were trying to get their trains.

The train was fairly empty when Harry and Draco arrived on the platform. "Where do you want to go?" Draco asked, as they boarded the train.

"Somewhere far away from everyone else," Harry replied, walking down to the very end of the train.

"Wait. Why, far away from everyone?" Draco asked, jogging slightly to keep up with Harry, who was walking as fast as he could.

"Cause, we can talk in peace and no one will interrupt us, if you know what I mean," Harry replied, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

Draco raised his eyebrows in mock amazement, "Are you trying to tell me that the great Harry Potter is just a horny boy at heart?"

"You better believe it," Harry replied; a bit preoccupied in looking for an empty compartment. "Here, this one's empty."

After a while the train started to roll out of the station and they were finally on their way to the safest place anyone knew.

There was only about an hour of the all day journey left and Harry and Draco were making the most of that time. (A/N: All they were doing is kissing, honest!) Suddenly from outside the compartment door Harry heard the distinct voice of Neville Longbottom. Quickly Harry shoved Draco off of his knee and opened his trunk, pulling out his invisibility cloak. Draco had just put it on when the door slid open revealing a worried looking Neville and Dean.

"Harry! There you are. Have you been sitting in here all day?" Neville asked as he sat down opposite Harry and Dean sat down next to him.

"Yeah. I just wanted to get away from everything else that is happening and enjoy the journey to the castle, considering it's the last one we'll make."

"I was thinking about that too," Neville said with a sigh. "What are you going to do after graduation?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know, we haven't decided yet..." Harry felt a sharp elbow jab him in the ribs, coming from the side where Draco was sat, still wearing the invisibility cloak, then changed it to, "I haven't decided yet."

"We?" Dean asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "Who's the girl Harry?"

"Harry's got a girlfriend?" Neville asked, suddenly becoming very interested in the conversation.

"No, he hasn't," Harry cut in, before Dean had the chance to answer. "He doesn't have a girlfriend."

"Do you always talk about yourself in the third person?" Dean answered, which earned him a Bertie Botts every flavour bean, courtesy of Harry. "Hey watch, where you're throwing them." he exclaimed as he rubbed his eye, trying to clear his vision after being hit in the eye by a chili flavour one.

"Well then watch what you say," Harry replied simply, before turning to Neville and asking, "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I might go into magical research for healing herbs and remedies. Something to do with Herbology." There was something in his voice that was very rarely heard, especially coming from Neville, Pride.

The conversation stayed on the topic of what they were going to do after they graduated for a while, until Dean changed it to football, kind of a Muggle sport he liked. He was just explaining the off-side rule to Neville, when he broke off as he realized what the journey had been missing.

"Where's Malfoy?" he abruptly asked. Next to him Harry could feel Draco tense almost instantly.

"Why?" Harry asked; trying to pretend he didn't care about Draco and that he wasn't sat right next to him.

"Well he hasn't been around all day. He wasn't with Crabbe and Goyle either. I wonder where he is?" Dean said.

Neville shrugged. "I don't know where he is. It does seem weird without him around to torment us doesn't it? But then again, no Malfoy is definitely an improvement. Isn't it?"

"I suppose," Harry said, with a small shake of his head, which was intended for Draco, Harry just hoped the other two didn't notice, thankfully they didn't.

"We should go back down to our compartment and get changed," Dean said getting up and walking towards the door. "We'll see you later Harry."

Then they left and Draco pulled of the invisibility cloak. "Am I really that bad?"

"You want the truth?" Draco nodded. "Yes you are. But only to other people, they don't know you the way I do."

"I should hope not," Draco said, with a small smile, placing a soft kiss on Harry's lips.

"They only see Malfoy," he paused trying to think of how to say it. "They only see the snobbish git that has teased and tormented them for no reason at all for the past six years."

Draco fastened his robes and sat back down on the seat. "And what do you see? In me I mean."

"You mean besides the fact that you're gorgeous, romantic and a great kisser?" he asked, causing Draco to blush bright red. "Well I don't know what I see in you. Not to go all-sentimental on you or anything but, I suppose I like everything about you. I fell in love with the real Draco Malfoy, not the Draco Malfoy everyone else sees."

Draco leaned over to where Harry was sat and kissed his cheekbone. "I love you too. Not to go all sentimental on you either but even if you didn't have this..." brushing Harry's fringe back and running his fingers over the lightning shaped scar on Harry's forehead, "you'd still be the same old Harry Potter to me."

Harry didn't say anything he just leaned over and pulled Draco onto Harry's seat. "I'm glad that Ron and Hermione aren't back yet. They won't ask me all sorts of questions when I disappear from the dormitory in the middle of the night and..."

"Don't get back until just before breakfast the next morning," Draco finished for him, snuggling back against Harry as they watched the darkening sky outside.

"Not planning to let me go until really early, eh?" Harry said, with a chuckle and lightly kissing Draco's neck.

"Don't start doing that," he said, shifting his weight slightly so that his neck was out of Harry's reach. "The train will stop in a minute and we need to get the carriages."

Harry stopped trying to coax a response from Draco and sighed in defeat, "Fine. I won't be able to get out of the dorm tonight, besides I'll probably be too full to move."

"Probably, considering the fact that you eat like a pig."

"I do not eat like a pig," Harry protested, indignantly.

Draco turned around in Harry's grip, so that his legs were straddling Harry's. "Yes you do."

Harry tried to pout, but found out that it was very had to when someone starts kissing you.

Just then a magically amplified voice, said, "We are now approaching Hogsmeade Station. Please leave all your belongings here."