Peace Found

Harry Potter sighed softly and sat up shakily. He swung his legs around and got out of his bed, and headed to the bathroom to fully wake up. He took a quick shower and as he was brushing his teeth, he noticed just how old he really looked. Although wizards usually live longer than Muggles, Harry was old, even for a wizard. His once dark, messy hair was now streaked with many soft grey strands, and his once young, carefree face was now wrinkled and somewhat weary-looking.

Harry finished brushing his teeth and wandered into the kitchen to fix some breakfast. He noticed a small dull ache in his chest, but shrugged it off. That was probably going to become habitual.

He sighed for the second time that morning and promptly sighed again, more frustratedly this time, as he opened the fridge. "Harry, old boy, it's time to go to the store," he mumbled. He quickly got dressed and walked out the door.

Shopping wasn't one of Harry's favorite things to do. Whether for clothes or groceries; it didn't matter-- he just didn't like it. Of course, Draco had always loved it. After they had "come out of the closet', as it were, Draco had proceeded to take Harry shopping for a new wardrobe. He had always made fun of it. Not in a mean way, but sarcastically nonetheless. Harry had let him, but only so he wouldn't have to listen to the blonde's incessant complaining.

Harry smiled. Soon, they'd be together again. He absolutely couldn't wait.

Suddenly, the dull ache in Harry's chest spiraled out of control, and Harry dropped to the ground, crying out in pain. Luckily, he was in the middle of the grocery store, so a middle-aged woman was instantly by his side, calling the ambulance on her cell.

Harry gasped as the pain escalated, and he grabbed at his chest, clutching the fabric of his t-shirt so hard his knuckles began to turn white. "Oh God," he wheezed, through the pain. He gritted his teeth as the woman closed her flip-phone.

"They're coming. Just calm down," she said frantically. Suddenly her eyes widened. "Oh...you're Harry Potter!" She looked around wildly. There was a crowd starting to form. "Oh, I shouldn't have...if only I'dve known...damn," she whispered. "You can't go to a muggle facility."

Harry shook his head. "Just...let me," he said in a strangled voice. If his time was coming, then it was coming. Harry cried out one last time before he blacked out.

Harry slowly opened his eyes. He looked around and took in his surroundings. He wondered briefly why he would be in a hospital, but then the events leading up to his unconsciousness came flooding back to him. "Doctor?" he rasped.

A young man came into the room and smiled at Harry. "Hello, Mr. Potter. Glad to see you're awake. I have some news for you," he said, his smile vanishing into a thin line of seriousness.

Harry nodded. "I'm dying, aren't I?" he asked.

The doctor looked surprised for a second. "Yes, Mr. Potter, you are. You've just had a massive heart attack, and unfortunately, we can't go in and repair it. The damage is just too great. Mr. Potter, I'm estimating you have a little over four hours to live. I'm sorry," the doctor said gravely.

Harry nodded with a small smile. "Thank you, Doctor," he said softly.

The doctor frowned. "Would you like to call a loved one? To say goodbye?" he asked bewilderedly.

Harry shook his head. "I don't have any family. They're all dead, and I never married. I have one friend I'd like to say goodbye to, but that can wait. I'm a bit tired. Could you wake me in three hours?"

The doctor nodded, his face a look of confusion and sympathy. "Yes, Mr. Potter, I can do that." He shook his head slightly and walked out.

Harry closed his eyes. Soon he and Draco would be together again. Very soon. For now, he would remember their time together, before the blonde's untimely death...

Harry made his way to the Whomping Willow underneath his invisibility cloak. Draco said to meet him there after hours in a message earlier that day. Harry had been jittery all day. He and Draco had become quite close since he figured out the blonde had switched sides, but it was all in secret. Harry had a feeling that Hermione knew what was going on, but Ron had no clue. Of course, nothing romantic, really, was going on between the two of them, but Harry wanted there to be. He got a strange feeling of happiness every time he thought of, or saw the blonde. Harry wondered if Draco felt the same way.

Harry finally reached the tree, and saw, to his delight, a familiar crop of platinum blonde hair, leaning against the tree in a lazy way. Harry slipped off the cloak and trudged up to the figure, his heart beating wildly with every step. "You're late, Potter," Draco drawled warmly, turning around so Harry could see the blonde's oh-so-flattering grin. Harry felt his knees shake as he sat down next to Draco. "Well, I had to get past Hermione. She was up late and I had to wait until she went to bed, prat." He shoved the blonde affectionately.

Draco shoved him back, and they sat in silence for a small time. "Harry?" Draco's voice cracked somewhat, and Harry wondered why.

"Yeah?"

"What's happening between us?"

Harry looked at Draco, who had pondering look on his face, staring out towards the castle. He sighed softly. "Well, I really don't know about us, but I know what's happening to me."

Draco turned sharply and fixed his silver eyes on Harry. Harry shivered inwardly. Draco's eyes seemed to pierce his soul. "What's happening to you then?" he asked softly.

Harry looked down. "Well, it's...it's kind of difficult to say, Draco," he mumbled.

Draco's sharp intake of breath startled Harry, and he looked up, straight into those shining silver eyes. "Harry, just spit it out, so I can kiss you," the blonde said, his eyes never leaving Harry's wide ones.

"Draco, I think, maybe, I want--" Draco seemed to get fed up with Harry's rambling and cut him off with a surprisingly gentle kiss.

Harry sighed softly as the blonde's incredibly soft lips caressed his own, and he found himself wanting more. He leaned into the blonde and wrapped his arms around him as Draco sensed his want and deepened the kiss.

Harry moaned softly as Draco's hand snaked down into his trousers and grabbed ahold of him, caressing gently. Harry wanted to be closer to the blonde, so he slid atop of Draco's lithe body, straddling him with his strong, seeker's legs. They began to kiss more passionately, and soon hands began to wander further, until they were both skin to skin. Draco made love to Harry with his mouth and hands until Harry couldn't stand it anymore, and then they were joined, creating magic underneath the immobilized Whomping Willow with the moonlight spilling upon them, bathing them in its surreal silver light.

As both boys reached release simultaneously, emerald eyes locked with silver ones.

Harry gasped as his breath was stole away by the sight of Draco, nude and covered in the silvery moonlight, making him look..."Beautiful," Harry whispered.

Draco smiled as they lay together, entwined in a lover's embrace as old as time itself....

"Harry? Oh, Harry, please wake up," a familiar voice whispered tearfully.

Harry opened his eyes to see Ginny Weasley standing over him, her eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Harry!" she cried, and flung her arms around his body. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

Harry embraced her and then pushed her away gently so she could sit in the chair beside the bed. "Ginny, it's ok. This was going to happen sooner, or later. You know how I feel about this," he said softly, but firmly.

Ginny nodded as she wiped her eyes. She sighed haltingly. "Harry, I know you want to be with Draco, but did it have to be this way?" she asked.

Harry smiled. "I don't feel any pain. They have me on some drug, so I just feel...happy, calm, and," he sighed, "a bit excited."

Ginny's lower lip trembled slightly. "I know, but...I just don't want you to leave me," she said.

Harry grasped her hand tightly. "You have Blaise, right? You fell in love and married, and now you're growing old together, Gin. You've got each other. Be strong," he said. He frowned slightly. "How long did I sleep?"

Ginny sniffled. "You only have about thirty minutes or so," she said, her voice cracking again.

Harry nodded. "Ginny, I don't want you to be here to see me die," he whispered.

Ginny began to cry softly. "I understand. I honestly don't think I could handle it, anyway," she choked out.

Harry squeezed her hand again, and they stayed that way for a while, just embracing the silence of Harry's last minutes.

Finally, Ginny rose and kissed Harry's forehead. "I love you, Harry. Say hi to Draco for me?" she said softly.

Harry nodded. "I love you, too, Gin. Say goodbye to Blaise for me," he said.

Ginny wiped away her tears and nodded. "Bye," she said.

Harry smiled softly as she walked out, weeping silently. He hoped she would be okay, but then, she was a strong woman. She'd be fine. He sighed and started to close his eyes when a bright light cause him to open them again. He slowly sat up as a bright silver light flooded the room, and a blurry figure stepped out of it. Harry smiled as his former lover's figure cleared and the blonde stopped at his side. "Hullo, love," Draco said, his eternally young face smiling down at him.

Harry sighed happily. "Draco," he said softly as Draco bent down and brushed his lips against Harry's forehead.

"Are you ready?" Draco whispered, his silver eyes shining brightly.

Harry nodded. "I can't move much, I'm an old, dying man, now, remember?" he joked, his face cracking into a grin.

Draco smiled widely. "Look behind you, love," he said impishly.

Harry looked behind him, and saw his old body, still lying down and no longer breathing, an eternally peaceful smile on his old and weary face. Harry's gaze snapped back to Draco's, then he looked down at his hands. They were no longer old and wrinkled, but were now young and smooth again.

Trembling slightly, Harry got out of the bed, and once again found himself looking at his body. It was strange, but Harry was filled with peace. The peaceful and happy smile on his face was eternal; everyone would know that Harry Potter, formerly The-Boy-Who-Lived, died peacefully, and happy.

Harry turned back to Draco, his face bright and happy. "Yes, I'm ready, Draco," he said, embracing him desperately. "I've missed you."

Draco clung to him just as desperately. "Me too," he said softly. "It's so beautiful up there. You'll love it."

Harry grasped Draco's hand as the light above them shined brilliantly. "Let's go," Harry whispered.

Draco smiled, and they slowly faded away, the light lingering to illuminate Harry's body for a while longer before finally, it faded, too.

Ginny Weasley stood beside the doctor, both with expressions of awe, but hers mingled with happiness and grief. Ginny had a feeling she would never see anything like that again, but she would treasure that scene for the rest of her life. Looking at his body, Ginny knew-- Harry Potter had finally found peace.