Inrevocabilis Cantanem

Chapter 8: Things Fall Apart

The driving rain hit the streets of London. The boy, smiling softly as he made his way through Diagon Alley, pulled his hood lower over his head. His new wand was in his back pocket, and he would occasionally reach back and stroke it, small prickles of excitement running up and down his body. Getting away from the Burrow was simple. He found that most of its occupants left him to himself. Looking quickly around, he walked into the darkened pathway that turned into Knockturn Alley.

He realized he wasn't sure where he was to meet Lucius Malfoy. He looked around the Alley anxiously. He hadn't visited here before, but he was sure that it must be different, what with the defeat of Voldemort and the Ministry's efforts to rid the wizarding world of anything dark.

"There you are," came the silky voice. "I was just getting ready to have a little lunch. May I treat you to something?"

The boy looked skeptically at Lucius for a moment before slowly nodding his head.

They walked into a small tavern. The boy looked around. The atmosphere was one of death and decay, but it seemed upscale enough for the likes of a Malfoy. The walls were gloomy and the lighting was dim. There weren't many people inside the tavern, and those who were there kept to themselves.

Lucius and the boy sat at a small table in a corner. Lucius ordered roast beef and potatoes for the two of them, fire whiskey for himself and a butterbeer for the boy.

After the waitress left the table, Lucius regarded the boy curiously. He was smiling in a paternal way, his gray eyes soft and crinkling slightly at the corners.

"Did you get your wand?" he asked softly.

The boy nodded, biting back a smile.

"It suits you?"

The boy nodded again. "It's eleven inches and has a Veela hair in the core. Yew wood."

Lucius smiled broadly. "Beautiful."

The boy looked at Lucius again skeptically and said, "I still don't know why you're doing this."

Lucius sighed. Patiently he explained, "You and I have much more in common than our hatred of one Harry Potter. But those things won't come to light until you trust me. I have much I could teach you. My son turned his back on me and, in so doing, broke his mother's heart."

"Your son is a prat," the boy said.

"Mmm...perhaps you're right. I know the two of you have always had problems. But he's weak. He could never be as strong as you. I don't think, young man, that anyone can be a strong as you." Lucius leaned in and whispered softly, "Not even Lord Voldemort were he still alive."

The boy visibly shivered at the mention of the name, but found that a small smile had alighted itself at the corners of his mouth.

"Really?"

Lucius simply smiled and nodded.

"But he...he was evil."

Lucius frowned slightly. "Says who?"

The boy furrowed his brow. "I've seen what he's done to people. I know what Dark Magic does to people. It...you can kill someone with a spell or make them crazy and you...it's bad business." His voice was hitching, and he had to stop himself from crying.

Lucius nodded his head. "I see where you're coming from. But do you know that that headmaster of yours knows quite a bit of the Dark Arts? So, young man, do many of the teachers at your school. They refuse to teach it because they know how beneficial knowing certain spells and practices would be. They want you weak."

The boy shook his head incredulously. "What spells and practices are beneficial?"

Lucius smiled slickly. "I could show you."

As the boy contemplated what Lucius had told him, the waitress brought their food and drinks. Lucius simply started eating, allowing the young man before him to gather his thoughts.

"You'd show me?" he finally asked softly.

Lucius placed his fork and knife on the table. He nodded his head.

"There are many signs, young man, pointing to you as being the most powerful wizard of your time. More powerful than Harry Potter. You just need the right training. And I can help you there. I'd be more than happy to help you see just how powerful you are. It would make me proud. I'd have...It would somewhat be like having a son again."

Lucius sighed sadly before picking up his utensils and resuming eating.

The boy ate as well, his mind swarming with thoughts. When they finished, Lucius paid and walked the boy into the alley. He looked down at him.

"Have you decided?"

The boy simply shook his head stoically. "I'm not sure," he said quietly.

Lucius nodded sadly. "It's understandable, your concern. Power is a frightening thing. You will think about it?"

The boy nodded. Thanking Lucius for lunch, he pulled his hood over his head and started off.

"Just a moment," Lucius called.

The boy turned as Lucius closed the gap between them. Smiling down at him, Lucius took the boy's hand and placed into his palm a ruby-red stone. The stone was encased by gold and attached to a thick gold chain which glittered brightly even in the overcast haze.

"What's this?" the boy asked, his eyes transfixed on the stone.

"An Amulet. The Amulet of Walpurgis. Serpensempra, to be exact. My gift to you...to your powers."

The boy watched as the Amulet gleamed in his hand. He was smiling as he felt a warm rush of electricity that seemed to surge from the Amulet into his palm and through the rest of his body. His eyes twinkling dangerously, he looked at Lucius.

Lucius purred, "Feels good, doesn't it?"

The boy nodded his head.

"That's your power. It feels as if it's feeding you, my boy. In actuality, you're feeding it." Lucius smiled wistfully and appealed, "You could know so much. You could be greater than any force in this world."

The boy watched the Amulet. The energy flowing through him made him heady. He looked at Lucius again.

"Teach me."

********************

Harry lay with his head on Draco's chest and his leg curled around the blonde's. They were both sweaty and sticky. Harry felt as if Draco had drained his testicles of any fluid. The boys had manipulated each other's bodies endlessly, and Harry was happy to simply lie in Draco's arms and let his body rest.

"You're amazing," Draco smiled, delving his tongue into Harry's mouth and running his hands up and down the smaller boy's body.

When the kiss ended, Harry asked, "I probably don't want to know, but what time is it?"

Pulling his arm from underneath Harry's body, Draco raised his watch.

"No, you don't want to know," he smiled softly.

Harry groaned. He took Draco's arm and looked at the Slytherin's watch. He groaned again.

"I'd better go," Harry muttered.

Draco whimpered in protest, snaking his legs around Harry's to impede his movement.

Harry laughed softly and wrestled himself free.

"I've gotta," he said softly, kissing Draco's cheek gently.

"I know, I know," Draco muttered.

The two stood, reaching to retrieve their clothes. Harry realized that while a Scouring Charm would clean him up, there was nothing he could do but shower to remove the smell of bodily fluids and sweat that clung to his skin. As he pulled his pants up over his hips, he was aware of a buzzing in his pocket. How on earth was he going to get past his girlfriend and into a shower?

As they prepared to leave the room, Draco took Harry's hand and kissed his fingers. They embraced briefly before walking out into the hallway.

"So," Draco said as he walked Harry to the Grand Staircase, "we've missed dinner. I'm bloody famished." He winked at Harry.

Harry nodded in agreement. "I can have Dobby bring you some food," Harry said.

"I'd appreciate that. What are you going to tell Hermione?"

"The truth," Harry smiled. "We were discussing the Amulet and Ron's possible involvement and the time got away from me."

Draco smiled sadly. "For a second," he said, "I actually thought you were going to tell her the truth."

********************

Harry was surprised to find no sign of Hermione when he tentatively entered the Gryffindor common room. Dean and Seamus were talking quietly with Ginny. The three of them looked up and returned his smile warily before returning to their conversation. He wondered briefly where Hermione was as he headed toward the boy's dormitory. His plan was to grab some clothes, take a shower, summon Dobby for food for him and Draco, and then ask Dean, Seamus, and Ginny where Hermione could be.

As he entered his dormitory, Harry was shocked to see Ron rifling through Harry's trunk.

"What the bloody hell are you doing?" Harry growled as he quickly advanced on Ron. He magicked the lid of his trunk closed, the heavy top just barely missing Ron's fingers.

The redhead stepped back, a look of fury on his face.

"What's it to you?" Ron spat.

Harry laughed sardonically, his eyes a menacing green. "What it is to me, Weasley, is my trunk. What the bloody hell are you doing?"

Ron crossed his arms, his face smug.

"I'm Head Boy," he simpered. "I do what I want."

Harry threw his head back, laughing loudly, causing Ron to smirk.

"Look around you, Potter. Notice anything different?"

Harry, a small smile still on his lips, looked around his dorm room. Ron's belongings were missing. The linens on his bed were folded neatly and placed at the foot. Harry stared incredulously at Ron, his jaw slightly slack.

"What?" he stammered.

Ron smiled cockily.

"While you were off shagging the Ferret, executive decisions were being made. Dumbledore resisted for a while, but he eventually saw the light. Seems as if Professor Snape feels as if Draco's not performing certain duties up-to-par." He smirked and stepped closer to Harry, raising his nose in disgust. "Though from the smell of you, certain other duties are being performed quite well."

Harry moved to assail Ron, but Ron stepped back coolly, holding his up Head Boy badge to deter Harry.

"Tut tut, Mr. Potter. I'd rethink that whole plan of action. I'll have your arse out of Hogwarts faster than you can say 'Fuck me harder, Draco'." Ron chuckled.

Resigned, confused, and frustrated, Harry merely huffed, "Keep your mitts off my stuff, Weasley."

Ron simply winked.

"Go take a shower, Potter. You smell like arse," he chided before he walked out the dormitory.

Harry sat heavily on his bed. He buried his face in his palms and shook his head. Ron as Head Boy? What on earth was Dumbledore thinking? He could understand Snape's view. True, he and Draco had caused quite a bit of commotion in the past few months, and it was understandable that Snape would want Draco replaced. But just yesterday, according to Draco, Dumbledore had been adamant about Draco's maintaining his post. Harry could only imagine what the coming months would be with Ron as Head Boy. He groaned into his hands before sighing deeply, and then stood to get ready for his shower. He'd have to sneak into the Slytherin Dungeons to speak with Draco. He'd still have to find Hermione, but he wanted to warn Draco about this new news. He opened his trunk and reached into the far recesses where he kept his invisibility cloak. It was missing.

********************

"You weren't in Hogsmeade."

Draco's hand was on his doorknob. He dropped his hand and turned to face a sneering Severus Snape. Draco's hair was still wet from his shower. He wore a satiny black robe.

"Sir?"

Snape sighed heavily, advancing on Draco, his black eyes hooded and ominous. "I said you weren't in Hogsmeade."

"Oh," Draco muttered. "No, I...I wasn't."

"Where did you spend the entire day, Mr. Malfoy, if it wasn't in Hogsmeade?"

"I was...I was speaking with Harry, sir."

Snape clicked his tongue with disgust. "Did we not, Mr. Malfoy, discuss early in this term that you are to show house solidarity?"

Draco nodded softly. "Yes, sir. Yes, we did."

Snape shook his head. "Yet you insist on doing whatever it is you're doing with Potter."

"Sir, he's my friend. We're just..."

Snape held up his hand to stop Draco's speaking. "Enough. I'm very quickly tiring of this, Mr. Malfoy. I've watched you break rules. I was witness to yours and Potter's turning my classroom into a circus. Have you studied at all for your N.E.W.T.s? Are you at all concerned about your future, or are you just going to follow Harry Potter around like a faithful pup your entire life? I cannot stand idly by and watch you make a mockery of my House, Mr. Malfoy. You've been replaced as Head Boy."

Draco tightened his jaw. "Do I not have any say in the matter?"

"Your actions in preceding months, Mr. Malfoy, have said plenty."

Draco, his jaw still tight, simply nodded his head. "Fine. Are we done here, sir?"

Snape curled his lip in disgust and closed the space between them.

"You straighten up, Mr. Malfoy. You straighten up or you will be done here much more quickly than you had anticipated."

********************

"No, Harry, I will not! Gods! I haven't seen you all day and now you want to run off again!"

Dean, Seamus, and Ginny sat in the common room watching Harry and Hermione's spirited exchange. When Harry had returned from the Room of Requirement, Hermione had been on her rounds. After a harried shower, he quickly descended the stairs from the dormitory to find a very ticked-off Hermione pacing the floor.

"I'm not running off, Hermione. I need you to go to the Dungeons, get Draco, and I want us all to meet and discuss what the hell could be going on."

Hermione shook her head.

"Look, Harry, I'm sorry about your cloak. But it's late, I've got work to do, and I'm not risking my neck to go and retrieve your little friend so you can cry on his shoulder. Talk to him tomorrow."

"So I can what?" Harry spat.

Hermione raised her eyebrow, her arms crossed over her chest. Harry's eyes darted from her, to Dean and Seamus, who looked at Harry with mixed sympathy and confusion, to Ginny, who wouldn't meet Harry's gaze.

"Is that what I want, Hermione?" Harry asked. "To be comforted by Draco?"

Hermione's eyebrow was still raised.

"I don't know, Harry. You tell me. You're with him constantly. He sees you more than any of us. Your cloak is taken, seemingly by your former best friend, and the first person you want is Draco Malfoy. You haven't told me anything...anything that's been going on with you."

Harry groaned.

"Hermione, will you just...This is important, dammit!"

Hermione was resigned. She shook her head again. "So am I, Harry."

Harry muttered, throwing himself into a chair. He looked at his fiancée, her lips a tight, thin line, her brown eyes burning vehemence.

"Fine," Harry breathed. "Fine. Sit down. I'll tell you what's been going on."

Hermione pulled a chair over and sat directly opposite of Harry. Dean, Seamus, and Ginny continued sitting on the couch, their rapt attention on Harry.

"The night that Ron called you a...a Mudblood," Harry began, "I went up to the room with my cloak still on and overheard him speaking with Neville. Apparently, he was at the cemetery and -"

"What cemetery?" Hermione asked.

"The one where Draco's mother and aunt are buried."

"Draco had an aunt?" Ginny asked.

Harry nodded his head. "His father's sister. Joliet. She died when Draco was six."

"How?" came Seamus.

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment. "You know, I don't know. He never said. But anyway, if...if Ron were there that day, that means he has some tie to Lucius. How else would he know where the cemetery is? Either that, or he followed me."

"How did you know where the cemetery was?" Hermione asked.

"Because Draco had shown me before."

"When?"

"Gods, Hermione, this feels like an interrogation!"

Hermione sighed impatiently. "I am your girlfriend, Harry. You tell me you want to marry me. I want to know what's going on. I have a right to know what's going on."

Harry looked down at his hands.

"First Hogsmeade trip," he muttered, "when Snape wouldn't let Draco and me go. He 'introduced' me to his aunt then."

"Was that the time you think Ron was there?" Ginny asked.

"No," Harry shook his head. "No, it was after the dance - I went to look for Draco and found out that his mother had been killed. And then when Ron and Draco fought in the locker room, Draco tried legilimency on Ron and I guess it was like there were wards put up around his thoughts or something. And then the dream."

"What dream?" Hermione, Dean, Seamus, and Ginny asked at once.

Harry described the dream that he had. When he finished, Ginny's face was worried. Dean and Seamus, who weren't aware of Harry's connection to Voldemort during their fifth year, stared in awe and slight fear at Harry once Ginny explained it to them. For her part, Hermione simply stared at Harry. She didn't speak for quite some time. Harry dropped his head, fidgeting under her gaze. Finally, she asked, "Is that it? Is that everything? Everything, Harry?"

Harry nodded numbly and looked up at Hermione.

"So, do you think Ron took your cloak?" Ginny was asking. "Did you see him with it or anything when he left?"

But Harry didn't answer. He was looking into Hermione's eyes. Magic poured from his body - a current of enchantment so strong that it caused the hair on the back of Ginny's neck to stand on end as she stared at Harry awaiting his response. He stared intensely into his fiancée's eyes, tears forming in the corners of his own.

He couldn't tell if it was a memory - for if it were, how and when could she have formed it? He couldn't tell if it were just a constant thought that ran through her head. But Harry saw himself in Hermione's mind. He was lying naked and hands were caressing his body. He was being kissed. His fingers were tangling themselves in the blond hair of Draco Malfoy.

********************

Harry couldn't sleep. Dean and Seamus felt it necessary to be the night guard, and their dogged gazes over Harry and his possessions only aided in his not being able to sleep. Neville's loud, contented snoring also made sleep difficult. Part of his mind would travel to that space where he and Draco had spent the entire day in each other's arms. The joy and comfort that memory brought him, nevertheless, was quickly replaced by a burning guilt in the pit of his stomach when he'd think about Hermione, and what he'd seen running through her head.

As the next day would be Sunday, Harry decided that he'd eat breakfast with Draco, and then spend the rest of the day with Hermione doing what she liked to do best: studying. But even that thought didn't bring him any solace as he realized he'd much prefer speaking with Draco and seeing how he felt about his being replaced. Maybe doing other things.

Harry groaned softly, his stomach in knots. He'd have to tell her. He'd have to figure out a way to let her know what had been going on with him and Draco. Fred and George were right: Hermione was much more rational than Ron. But then again she already suspected the worst.

Harry groaned again, sitting up in bed and looking over at Ron's empty four-poster. What was happening around him? He threw his covers back and reached for his robe. Standing, he pulled the robe about him and walked to his trunk. Instinctively, he reached for his cloak and groaned again, this time much more loudly than before.

"What are you doing, mate?" came Seamus's voice softly.

Harry whispered back, "I'm going to see Hermione. I'll see you guys in the morning. Get some sleep."

Harry quietly descended the stairs from his dormitory. Quickly, he made his way through the common room and to the entrance. Glancing around, he walked rapidly to the door of Hermione's room. He jiggled the doorknob, but the door was locked. He knocked softly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

Hermione opened her door. From her still-smooth hair and the fact that she wasn't wearing pajamas or a robe, Harry assumed that she hadn't been sleeping either.

With her hand on the doorjamb, impeding Harry's entrance, she said, "What?"

"I need to speak with you."

"You should be in your dormitory, Harry. It's late. I'll talk with you tomorrow."

Harry muttered something under his breath and looked Hermione squarely in her eyes.

"This isn't going to wait, Hermione. We need to talk."

Hermione sighed, rolling her eyes and stepping aside for Harry to enter. He walked in, sat heavily on her bed, and picked up Fuzz, a stuffed toy that she'd had since childhood.

Running his fingers slowly around Fuzz's marble eyes, Harry said, "You're not very happy with me, are you?"

Hermione was still standing by the door. She looked at her boyfriend. He was handsome. Excepting Draco, Harry was the most handsome boy at the school. Together, she had to admit, the two of them would make an exquisite couple. She understood Harry's pull toward Draco. She understood Harry's need to be around the blond. She was hoping that the thoughts that ran through her head, those of Harry and Draco being intimately involved, were only her deepest fears. Had she and Harry only remained friends and she had thoughts of him and Draco being together, his sexuality would not have concerned her. It wasn't until this year, their last, and their impending marriage that she realized how much she had grown to depend on Harry...how Harry had managed to break down all of her resolve. She sighed again.

"I've just been trying to understand. You know," she walked and sat next to Harry, "had the things that are going on now been going on two years ago - even a year ago - you'd be losing sleep trying to wrap your head around how your world is falling apart. And, yes, you'd be asking me to help you. I feel excluded. I feel as if I'm not important to you anymore. I'm...I'm tired of crying, Harry." She exhaled heavily. "So, I'm giving you the chance to leave. If you need a break or forever, now's your chance."

Harry looked up quickly. Hermione's face was calm. Harry figured she had been practicing this speech in her head for some time. She wasn't at all surprised by the words that left her mouth. Harry, on the other hand, was quite taken aback.

"Hermione," he began. He swallowed hard. "I don't know what I want."

"I want you to be honest with me."

Harry nodded his head, looking back down at Fuzz.

"Rumor is," Hermione began, "that you're shagging Draco. While at first I thought it was a bunch of rubbish, I'm not so sure anymore."

Harry kept his head down. "You think I'm shagging Draco, then?"

"As I said, Harry: I'm not sure. Are you?"

Harry shook his head soberly. "I haven't."

"Have you wanted to?"

Harry was amazed by how steady and calm Hermione's voice was. It was as if they were discussing which answers Harry missed on his last Arithmancy exam as opposed to the possibility that he was cheating on her.

"I..." Harry started. "He's...er...propositioned me, yes. I've...we haven't done...We haven't...we haven't shagged."

"So, he's been coming on to you?" Hermione said. This time her voice had a hardened edge to it. "Constantly or just once or twice?"

Harry exhaled heavily. He was making a mess of things.

"Not...well...no...he's...it's like..." He grumbled, unable to finish his thought.

"Be nice," Hermione said, taking Fuzz from Harry. Unaware, Harry had begun squeezing the teddy bear tightly and wrenching it in his fists. "He's old," Hermione continued.

"Sorry," he sobbed. "Sorry, Hermione. Gods, I'm so sorry."

"Hey," Hermione said, pulling Harry into her arms. "Stop. It's okay."

She rocked him back and forth, planting soft kisses on his face. She pulled him into a reclining position and held him closely to her. Exhausted, Harry fell into a deep sleep. Hermione stared at his face. She ran her fingers over his skin gently. She stared at Harry's face long into the night, long after the sun made its debut on the horizon, and reasoned - since Draco was no longer Head Boy, there was no longer any need for her to be pleasant.

********************

Draco entered the Great Hall for breakfast. His eyes scanned the predominately Gryffindor table for Harry, but he only saw Seamus, Dean, Ginny, and Hermione. Upon his entrance, Crabbe, Goyle, and Neville began speaking loudly, congratulating Ron on his new appointment. Draco's eyes traveled lazily to the mostly Slytherin table where the quartet sat. Ron's chest was poked out. His Head Boy badge was shined to perfection. His face was smug. Draco rolled his eyes and took the empty space next to Ginny.

"Good morning, Draco," she said. She glanced over her shoulder at her brother, then back toward Draco, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, I know. It's bloody marvelous," Draco said. "Good morning, anyway."

Not wanting to seem too eager, Draco filled his plate with eggs and potatoes before asking, "So, where's Potter this morning, then?"

Hermione answered. She looked around Ginny, making sure that her eyes were locked on the gray eyes of her now adversary. "He's not feeling well. He's taking breakfast in my room this morning."

Draco raised his eyebrows nonchalantly, said, "Well, tell him to get better," and began buttering a slice of toast.

They ate in silence for a while before Dean leaned across the table and said softly, "Hey, mate, did you know that Harry had an invisibility cloak?"

Draco nodded his head. "Yeah," he said around a bite of toast. "He came with me on my rounds second day back. He showed it to me then. Well, wore it anyway. Pretty...nifty...as I'm sure my cousin would say." He smiled softly.

Hermione clicked her tongue reprovingly, while Dean and Seamus gave each other a conspiratorial look.

"And did you," Seamus started, "happen to think this cloak was...oh, I dunno...nifty enough to want to take for yourself?"

Draco furrowed his brow. "What are you two on about?"

Ginny shook her head.

"Honestly, boys. Leave the detective work to Harry. Draco did not take Harry's cloak."

Draco turned toward Ginny. "Harry's cloak's been taken?"

Ginny nodded her head.

"When?" Draco asked.

"Sometime before he returned to his room yesterday night. Seems," she muttered, "Ron was going through Harry's trunk. Harry caught him."

Draco shook his head. He looked down at the food remaining on his plate, his appetite suddenly gone.

"And you see, Dean and Seamus," Hermione was saying, her eyes focused on Draco the whole time, "Draco couldn't have taken it because he was with Harry all day yesterday. Weren't you, Malfoy?"

Draco looked up at Hermione. "Am I the bad guy again? Can you guys ever make up your ruddy minds?" he nearly yelled as he stood, throwing his fork onto the table.

He turned and quickly walked from the Hall. What the hell was going on? Why hadn't Harry tried to contact him? His face was burning. He walked with purpose. He knew that Hermione's room was right next to the entrance to Gryffindor Tower; his feet were taking him to the stairway that led to the Tower.

"Malfoy!"

Draco stopped, his eyes rolling upward. He turned on his heels, looking down at Hermione. Her face, too, was red. She, too, seemed highly agitated.

"Not to be rude," Draco began silkily, "but bugger off, Granger."

Hermione scoffed. "I know what's been going on, Malfoy," she spat.

Draco smirked. "Do you, now?"

"Yes. Harry told me."

"Ah," Draco smiled, "I see. Is this the part where you tell me to keep my filthy hands off of your boyfriend or you'll hex me?"

"Something like that."

Draco continued to smile. "Well," he started, "I'm glad you know. I was just fancying a shag with The Boy Who Lived. Having things out in the open makes it that much easier. Do you want to watch?" He laughed.

"I'm glad you find all of this amusing, Draco, because I don't," Hermione said, her tone menacing. "Aside, that's not going to happen anyway."

"Says who?" Draco taunted.

"Says Harry."

"Ah. So, what exactly did Harry tell you, Granger?"

"The truth, Malfoy: that you've propositioned him; that you've been coming on to him."

Draco nodded, the smile still playing on the corners of his mouth.

"Right. Well, Granger," Draco said, turning away from the stairs and heading toward the dungeons, "you won't have to worry about my keeping my filthy hands off of your boyfriend. He's all yours."

Draco walked into the Slytherin Dungeons with a new purpose: no one humiliated a Malfoy. He was going to make Harry's life a living hell.

********************

The weeks leading up to the Yule Ball and Christmas break were filled with excitement and dalliance. Familiar with the lackadaisical attitudes of their students, many of the teachers took the few weeks preceding holiday to focus on next term, and didn't push their students too hard. Snape was an exception. It seemed that his disappointment in Draco was projected on all of his students. The amount and difficulty of their Potions homework nearly tripled.

Harry spent a great deal of time trying to avoid Draco. He hadn't meant for what he had said to Hermione to come out the way it had, and his guilt and mixed emotions were almost overbearing. His plan for avoidance, however, seemed unnecessary, as Draco rarely spoke with Harry. Draco still sat with Harry at the table during meals but spent most of his time conversing with Ginny. Harry couldn't quite figure out why the sudden change in Draco but equated it with his own distance toward the blond. Hermione was a constant presence. She was happy. Harry figured that he could forego his own pleasure if it meant not having to see his fiancée cry.

The third week of December saw the end of the term, a trip to Hogsmeade, and, what was most important to Hermione, Harry and Hermione's first anniversary. It would be the first Hogsmeade trip of the year that Harry had attended. He and Hermione had planned to spend some time with Dean, Seamus, and Ginny, and then head back to Hogwarts early for dinner in Hermione's room. The night following would be the Yule Ball.

Hogsmeade was bustling with students getting last minute things for the Ball. Both Dean and Seamus went to get fitted for new dress robes. Ginny ran into Fred, Tonks, and George at the Hog's Head, and skipped cheerily about Hogsmeade for the rest of the day, as Fred and George had given her the gown they'd gotten her for the Ball. They also gave her a small package which they instructed her not to open until the next night.

Harry found himself in rather low spirits those weeks leading up to break. He had been with Hermione for a year. They were going to marry. Yet his mind was occupied with the fact that he'd spent a good portion of his life filled with disdain for a certain blond-haired young man. He wasn't sure when the disdain turned into whatever it was he was feeling now, but he knew he'd rather be spending this particular night, the night of his anniversary, with Draco Malfoy. He thought about he and Draco together. Thought about he and Draco celebrating a year as a couple. Could he and Draco get married, he wondered. He'd never thought about men marrying one another, but then again, he'd never had cause to.

He'd made love with Hermione a few times over the past few weeks. He was saddened when he thought of himself: he was whatever anyone wanted him to be. It wasn't that way with Draco, he realized. He missed passion. He missed walking into a room and seeing the Slytherin and wanting him with every fiber of his being. But Draco wasn't affording that to Harry these days. Harry spent the past three Thursday nights alone in the Room of Requirement. He'd wait patiently for Draco, hoping for a chance to talk to him. Hoping for a chance to touch him, but Draco was simply elsewhere, or so he would tell Harry when Harry would inquire as to Draco's whereabouts the next day in Potions class. Draco made sure that his time with Harry was sparse and that his words were even sparser. And as Harry made love to Hermione that Friday, the night of their anniversary, Harry realized just how much he missed Draco's presence.

The Great Hall on the morning of the Yule Ball was more festive than Harry ever remembered it being. The tree that Professor Flitwick and some of the students had decorated towered above the head of even Hagrid, the top nearly disappearing in the enchanted ceiling. The stage was already set up for The Weird Sisters, and enchanted snow fell perpetually from the ceiling. The students were buzzing with excitement, and the Hall sounded as if it held a million more occupants than it did.

Harry smiled softly, looking up at the snow. With his eyes, he followed one snowflake, twisting and twirling through the air, and watched as it seemingly settled itself atop the blond hair of Draco Malfoy.

Draco was looking at Harry, a devil-may-care smile on his lips.

Harry nibbled his bottom lip, staring at Draco. He was unaware that he had stopped walking until he felt Hermione giving his hand a persistent tug.

"Ah, don't you love it?" Seamus was saying as Harry and Hermione sat. "Tonight, I get drunk. Tomorrow I'm on the train home. Bloody hell, I deserve this break."

Hermione laughed. "Still turning water into rum, Seamus?"

Seamus smiled. "Nah. Gave that up years ago. But I do have a feeling the lot of us are going to have a little fire in our bellies." He winked at Ginny.

Harry and Draco were still staring at each other. Harry hated the blond for being able to turn his stomach into pulp.

Harry cleared his throat and ripped his eyes away from Draco's just as Hermione was saying, "What have you got up your sleeve, Ginevra?"

Ginny smiled wickedly and motioned everyone forward. She leaned in and whispered, "Fred and George gave me a package that I wasn't to open until tonight. Well, I thought this morning was close enough, so I opened it. Fire whiskey. So," she said even more softly, "I figure that before the Ball, us Gryffindors and our loyal Slytherin companion, Mr. Malfoy here, tip a couple back, say, in Hermione's room."

Dean was nudging Harry and smiling encouragingly.

"I'm in," Harry smiled.

"At a boy, mate!" Dean whooped, hitting Harry on the back.

Hermione looked skeptical. "Do you know how much trouble I'd be in if we got caught?"

"Hermione," Seamus reasoned, "none. Because Dumbledore's always soused himself at the Yule Ball."

"He's an adult."

"'Cept for Ginny - and Draco, till tomorrow anyway - so are we, love," Dean said.

"And I'll take my chances," Ginny smiled. "It's foolproof, Hermione."

"What's the big deal, Granger?" Draco spoke for the first time since Harry and Hermione had joined their friends.

"The big deal, Malfoy, is that I could lose my post."

Draco smirked. "Again I say - what's the big deal, Granger?"

"That's easy for you to say since you've already lost yours."

Draco's smile broadened. Sardonically, he intoned, "That really hurt, Granger...you bloody wet blanket."

Hermione's face began reddening.

"All right," Harry chimed in, "that's plenty enough of that. Hermione, it's holiday. Let your hair down. You don't even have duties tonight. Have Colin keep watch. You've got the night off. Take it completely off. Please. Let's just all have a good time."

"That's my plan," Draco said. He winked at Harry.

********************

Draco walked nonchalantly to Hermione's room. He figured that if anyone stopped him, he'd be able to handle himself. He had to get to Hermione's room. He had to make sure Harry was adequately tipsy. He wanted nothing to ruin his plan.

Draco had decided that he'd seduce Harry. He knew that it wouldn't be hard. For a while, he thought that the amount of Slytherin blood that had to be running through Harry's veins - for if it weren't how could the Sorting Hat be so conflicted as to where to place Harry? - had allowed Harry to use Draco in an experimental fashion. The blond was certain that Harry was going to carry through with his plans to marry Hermione, and that the two of them would be the Potters...living happily ever after. It didn't take Draco long to see, however, that Harry was miserable. Draco caught the raven-haired boy staring at him longingly in classes. It wouldn't be difficult, the Slytherin decided, to seduce Harry, and then humiliate the bastard in front of the whole school.

Draco knocked on the door and smiled at Ginny when she opened it. He looked at her appreciatively. She was quite the living doll. She wore a garnet-red dress with intricately stitched gold flowers along the hems. The neckline plunged, a slight slit that ended just above her navel and augmented her modest breasts. Two slits on either side of the dress showed off her long legs. Her hair was pulled back, held in a loose bun with chopsticks. He did love her. She had such spunk and spontaneity. The girl, Draco thought, had balls.

"Good," she beamed as Draco walked into Hermione's room, "we were waiting for you. Dean and Seamus were getting impatient."

Draco smiled, hugging Ginny to him tightly.

"You look radiant, Ginevra," he said softly, twirling a red tendril around his fingers. "Absolutely radiant."

She blushed slightly and said quietly, "Thank you." She looked at Draco. She smiled as she realized that his attire was much like the outfit Harry had worn to the Masque. Instead of the shimmering green cloak with a sliver fastening that Harry had worn, Draco wore a silver cloak. The fastening was an emerald dragon. The cloak was fastened at his neck, and hung over one of his shoulders. The silvery silk of the cloak intensified the white-blond of his hair, and the metallic gray of his eyes. He wore boots of snakeskin, tight black pants, and a green silk shirt. He looked, she thought, like a prince from one of the fairy tale books Muggle parents told to their children, and her father had delighted in telling to her when she was a child.

"Okay," Hermione moaned. "If we're going to do this, let's do it now." She looked at her clock. "We should be heading down in about fifteen minutes."

Ginny smiled and grabbed the cups she had pilfered from the Great Hall at breakfast and lunch. She filled them evenly, then picked hers up, and raised it.

While this was happening, Draco was looking at Harry. The breath caught in his chest as it had times before. Harry was breathtaking. His black hair was parted in the middle and fell over his eyes, which looked much more green than usual, Draco thought. He wore a muted gold shirt and black pants that seemed to move with every muscle in the Gryffindor's lower body. On Hermione's bed was a deep red cloak, which Draco assumed Harry was going to wear to the Ball.

"To us," Ginny was saying as Draco reached to get his glass, his eyes transfixed on Harry. "May we be the ones the Prefects send back to the dormitories early. Bottoms up."

Hermione groaned as the rest of them cheered and brought their glasses together in celebration of Ginny's toast.

As they sipped from their glasses, Draco sidled over to Harry and leaned close to the black-haired boy, whispering in his ear, "You hear that, Harry? Bottoms up."

********************

The six fire-whiskeyed students entered the Great Hall for the Yule feast. Draco opted to sit with the Gryffindors, causing a snarl of contempt from Snape at the professor's table. After the feast, at which the six of them, Hermione included, were quite raucous and obnoxious throughout, the tables were cleared and disappeared to make way for a dance floor and a long refreshment table. The professor's table remained where it was and the professors, two at a time, would act as chaperones, keeping an eye on their students' behavior.

Fred, George, and Tonks arrived at the beginning of the Ball. As Fred spun his drunken sister around the dance floor, and Tonks made Draco dance wildly with her, their arms flailing about in madcap fashion, Harry watched George holding Ron by his robes, seemingly threatening him. After that, Ron seemed to loosen up some and actually enjoy himself.

Harry couldn't help but laugh at Hermione. When she let her hair down, boy, did she let her hair down. He watched Dean and Seamus sandwich her on the dance floor, their bodies moving in feral waves. For his part, Harry simply stood about most of the night, his eyes following the busy movements of Draco. Harry was highly amused and laughed more than he had in weeks. Tonks grabbed him several times for a dance, the last time resulting in Fred, who had obviously had some fire whiskey himself, grabbing Harry from Tonks and twirling the black-haired boy around the room. Harry laughed riotously as Fred took the lead, dipping the boy, who was quickly growing nauseous, and holding Harry closely to him. Fred cupped Harry's backside in his hands and picked him up, laughing as Harry's eyes grew wide and shocked.

Harry was standing against the wall, his head slightly whirling, when Draco sauntered up to him, his lips curled in a small smirk. Draco fixed his lips to say something to Harry when Dean and Seamus joined the two of them.

"I'm going to be bloody hanging tomorrow, mates," Seamus bellowed, his brogue thicker than usual. "Bloody hanging!"

Harry smiled and nodded in agreement. He was still looking at Draco. He had so many things he wanted to say. His head was spinning. He was aware of an impending erection as he stared into the Slytherin's cool gray eyes. Gods how he wanted him.

Draco pulled Dean aside and started whispering to him.

"Hey, Dean," Draco said, "what's that song you played for me? The one you dedicated to Ginny."

"Uh," Dean thought. "Oh, yeah. That Nine Inch Nails song?"

Draco smiled. "I think so. You think The Weird Sisters know it? They've been covering some Muggle music tonight."

Dean shrugged. "I dunno. But I tell you what: I'll ask them. If they play it, get Ginny to dance with me."

"It's a deal," Draco smiled, watching the lean Dean Thomas as he made his way to the stage.

Dean was smiling as he returned. "All set, my friend. Work your magic."

"Got it," Draco said in response. "But get Seamus to dance with Hermione, will you?"

Dean nodded his acquiescence and the two boys went to the other's respective partners.

As the first notes of the Nine Inch Nails' "Closer to God" began to play, Dean began to dance sensually with Ginny. Seamus took the opportunity to grope Hermione a bit as she danced with him. Harry watched them for a while, thinking to himself that Hermione looked as if she were rather enjoying Seamus's manipulation of her body, and then scanned the room for Draco. He was nowhere to be seen.

Harry put his hands in his pockets and pawed the ground with his toe. His eyes darted madly around the room, trying to catch a glint of silver. He watched Tonks dancing with George, and then turned again to look at Seamus and Hermione. She caught his eyes and waved him over with her head. He shook his head, smiling softly, causing her to poke out her bottom lip in a mock pout. He shrugged and started to walk forward before he felt an arm snake around his waist, hindering his movement.

"Don't do that," Draco whispered, pressing himself into Harry's back. "She looks like she's having fun. Besides, I played this song for you. Listen."

Harry listened to the words of the song. Myron Wagtail was doing an impressive rendition of the song. He nearly screamed, "I wanna fuck you like an animal," in his best Trent Reznor replication, causing the hair on the back of Harry's neck to stand on end. His penis throbbed in his pants.

Draco pressed himself more intensely into Harry's back, slowly gyrating his hips to the rhythm of the music. He pulled Harry backward with him, landing in a darkened portion of the wall. He ran his fingers up the smaller boy's thigh, his other arm holding Harry around the waist vice-like. Harry moaned, pressing himself back against Draco. He took the blonde's hand and placed it on the front of his trousers, then used his hand to reach back for Draco.

"Let's go," Draco breathed.

"Where?"

"To the Room. Let's go to the Room. Hurry, Harry."

Draco grabbed Harry's arm, spinning him around and quickly walking with him out of the Great Hall.

The walk to the Room of Requirement was torturous. Halfway there, Draco stopped walking and pushed Harry against a wall. Between two suits of armor, Draco kissed Harry deeply. The two boys wildly ran their hands over each other's bodies. Harry reached for Draco's waistband, pulling the shirt out and running his hands up and down Draco's sculpted stomach and chest. He moved to Draco's waistband, unbuckling the blonde's pants and reaching inside. Draco moaned against Harry's mouth.

"Wait. Not here. Come on."

The two of them nearly ran to the room. Once they found the door, they practically fell in. Harry pulled Draco on top of him, kissing the Slytherin passionately. In his pocket, the garnet started buzzing. Harry reached in his pocket and took the garnet out, muttering, "Not now."

Draco looked at Harry, who reached between their bodies and held Draco in his palm.

Smiling, Draco quickly unbuttoned Harry's pants and knelt to take the smaller boy in his mouth. Harry bucked his hips a few times before emptying himself into Draco's mouth with a loud, unrestrained moan.

"Harry," Draco began, "it's my birthday in five minutes."

Harry nodded his head. "Happy birthday, Draco."

"Do you know what I want you to give me for my birthday?"

His bottom lip between his teeth, Harry shook his head.

"I want to be inside you."

"That's not what I bought you yesterday," Harry smiled softly.

Draco smiled back. "You could have gotten me all the Galleons in London, love. I only want you."

Harry nodded, lifting his hips off of the floor to remove his pants.

"Yeah?" Draco asked breathily.

"Yeah," Harry said.

Draco removed his pants. He lay on top of Harry, kissing him gently. He let Harry stroke him for a while.

"Can I kiss it first?" Harry said softly, his eyes wet.

Draco nodded, getting to his knees and presenting his erection to Harry.

Harry held Draco in his hand, admiring the length and girth of the blond. He ran his fingers around the crown of Draco's penis. He trailed a finger down the base. He smiled as a small tremor ran through Draco's body.

"I've missed you so. Gods, I've missed you," Harry said softly.

Draco looked down at the smaller boy. He watched as Harry stared in awe at Draco's penis. He watched as Harry's penis stiffened again. Harry looked up at him and smiled softly, his eyes wet with tears.

"I'm yours, Draco," Harry said before leaning forward to take the blond in his mouth.

"Okay, stop," Draco said, standing abruptly and reaching for his pants.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

Draco was mad at himself. He had wanted to humiliate Harry. He had wanted to make Harry's life hell. But kissing him again after weeks of not...touching him again...feeling him in his mouth...the words Harry spoke. And those eyes. But he wasn't just mad at himself; Draco was mad at Harry, too.

"I just...I can't right now."

Harry stood. Confused, he put his pants back on. The garnet was buzzing insistently next to Harry's shoes, but he ignored it. He walked over and put his hand on Draco's shoulder, rubbing gently.

"Draco?"

"Gods, Harry! You're so fucking nauseating, you know that?"

"What?"

"Hermione told me what you said. I propositioned you? I can admit to that, Harry, but when did you refuse?"

Draco's eyes were blazing. Beneath all of the anger, Harry could see that Draco was truly hurt.

"It didn't come out the way I meant for it to, Draco. You've gotta understand - "

"Right," Draco interrupted. "I've always 'gotta understand.' Anything to spare Hermione's feelings, right, Harry? Can't ever let her know you're getting your rocks off with that filthy Slytherin, right?"

"That isn't fair," Harry began.

Draco had begun crying. Harry moved to wipe the tears from Draco's face, saying softly, "Draco, don't," but Draco swatted Harry's hand away.

"No," Draco shook his head. "No. Go back to your little world, Harry. Go back to your fiancée - " he spit the word " - and friends."

"I don't want that."

"You want everything!" Draco yelled. "You've got everything and you want none of it and all of it at once!"

"What do I want?" Harry screamed back. "What the fuck do I have, Draco?"

"You have a choice that you never thought was important enough to make. Then you did. You lied to me, Harry. You watched me lose everything, and then you took the one thing away from me...the only thing I've wanted. You have everything, Harry. All I've wanted was you."

"Draco."

Draco sighed. "Just go, Harry."

Harry hesitated before stepping closer to the blond. He reached his hand out to touch Draco's face, but Draco pulled back, sneering.

"Go!"

Harry's heart hammered in his chest. His head down, he walked to the entrance of the room. As he was opening the door, Draco spoke.

"Hey, Potter. Don't forget this."

Harry turned back toward Draco. Above Draco's palm, Harry's garnet floated. The light from the candles in the room hit the gem and sent shards of red across Draco's pale face. They looked like gashes to Harry. Like open wounds. The imagery, the story Harry created about the light that dug into Draco's fine features and marred them made Harry's heart heavy.

Harry lifted his arm, holding his palm toward the ceiling. The garnet floated from Draco's palm and across the room to Harry. Before the gem reached Harry's hand, it fell to the floor and shattered.

********************

Dean and Seamus were standing in front of Hermione's door laughing riotously. As he saw Harry approaching, Dean hit Seamus.

"What the bloody hell?" Seamus protested before seeing Harry. "Oh! Oy, Harry. We're...um...just waiting for Ginny."

"She's tucking Hermione in," Dean said, restraining laughter.

"Yeah. Tuck her in, Ginny," Seamus bellowed. "I wish I had a camera."

Dean hit Seamus again.

"Will you knock it off, ya wanker?" Seamus barked.

"Sorry, Harry," Dean apologized, "he's really drunk."

"Damn right I am! Doesn't mean you can hit me."

Harry shook his head. He reached for Hermione's doorknob. He'd check that she was all right, and then he'd head to his room. He wanted to be alone. What Draco had said kept replaying itself in his mind. Was he really that selfish? Had he missed out on happiness and possible love because...because of what? He didn't want to hurt Hermione. He knew that. But he'd ended up hurting Draco and himself. Were he to be with Hermione for the rest of his life, he'd be miserable.

Harry opened the door to find a very drunk Hermione biting Ginny's neck. Ginny's gown was unbuttoned and pulled down off of her shoulder, exposing her nipple. Hermione's gown lay on a heap on the floor next to her bed. She wore only her panties.

Harry raised his eyebrow. Ginny flushed a bright red, straightened her gown, and rushed to the door, kissing Harry gently on the cheek before running out.

"Really?" Harry smirked.

"Really what, Harry?" Hermione slurred.

Harry simply shook his head. He picked up Hermione's gown and laid it neatly on a chair.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly.

Hermione nodded.

"Okay. I'm going to sleep in my room tonight."

"Why? Draco waiting for you? That is where you went tonight, right? After I asked you to come and dance with me, you went off with Draco, right? Oh, Harry. Does he give better head than I do?"

Harry growled. "Honestly, Hermione. Do we have to start this shit right now? You're drunk."

"And you," Hermione began, waving her finger at Harry, "are gay. Admit it. 'S'okay, Harry. These are very liberal times we live in."

"Go to sleep, Hermione," Harry sighed.

"Not sleepy. Not yet. Tell me that you're gay. If you're not gay, make me come. You haven't in a while, Harry. Oh, Gods! Did I just hurt your feelings? I'm so sorry."

"Hermione," Harry said disinterestedly, "go to sleep. Let me tuck you in."

"Did you just say you were going to fuck me, Harry? That's not very romantic, now is it? Do you say 'fuck' to Draco, or do you say 'make love?' He looks like a fucker. Is he a fucker, Harry?"

Harry ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

"I'm not going to stand here all night, Hermione. Do you want me to tuck you in or not?"

"Yes, please, darling," Hermione said, pulling her panties down her thighs and kicking them off of her feet. "Tuck me in, Harry. Tuck me in real good. Just like you used to. Well, before you were gay." She laughed.

Harry pulled the blankets up roughly over Hermione's body. He kissed her chastely on the forehead and turned to leave.

"Wait, Harry," she said.

"What?" came his irritated reply.

"Sit with me a while. Don't go yet. Please. The room's spinning, Harry."

Harry heavily sighed and walked over to the bed. Hermione took his hand, stroking it lovingly.

"Harry?" she said after a moment's silence.

"Hmm?"

"Just tell me," she said sleepily. "I just want to know."

Harry sighed again. He stared at a picture of the two of them that Hermione had hanging on her wall. They were smiling and kissing each other again and again. The photo was taken that past summer at her house. He had been so happy then. He wondered, nonetheless, if Draco hadn't been the one who had so turned him on, would it have been another man somewhere down the line?

Still staring at the picture, he said, "He propositioned me, Hermione. I told you that. He propositioned me, but I didn't refuse. I left that out. I left that part out. And, yes, I was with him tonight. I...I want to be with him every night. I've screwed that up, though. I'm sorry, love. I never meant to hurt you. But I've got to make it right. Hermione?"

Harry looked down. Hermione had fallen into a deep, drunken sleep.

********************

Harry woke up before anyone else in the castle the next morning. His head was pounding. He quickly dressed, grabbed his broom, and made his way through the sleeping castle to the entrance. Once outside, he quickly mounted his broom and flew off.

A couple of hours later, Harry returned to the castle. He said a hasty goodbye to Dean and Seamus, who were heading to the station to get on the train home and looked as hung over as he himself felt, and then ran quickly to the owlery. The students remaining over holiday should be eating breakfast by now. He hoped that Draco was one of them.

A message attached to the owl, Harry made yet another hasty retreat, this time to the showers. After quickly bathing, Harry put on his traveling cloak, and once again grabbed his broom and made his way to the entrance of the castle. He walked slowly to the lake. Sitting in the cool snow, all he could do was wait.

After nearly an hour of sitting, his backside nearly frozen, Harry heard footsteps approaching in the snow. With each crunch, his heart jumped a little higher in his throat. He turned his head and watched as Draco drew near. He was dressed in his traveling cloak and was carrying his broom, as Harry had requested.

"Good morning, Draco," Harry smiled, standing and brushing the snow off of his cloak. "And happy birthday."

Draco nodded. "I got your note. What's going on?"

"It's a surprise," Harry said, pulling on gloves and placing his broom between his legs. "Just follow me."

"Why should I?" Draco asked skeptically.

"Please. There's no trick. I've done something that I want you to see. I know you don't, Draco, but trust me. Okay?"

Harry leaned forward and kicked off, his broom rising. He looked down to see Draco pulling on his gloves, mounting his broom, and preparing to follow Harry's lead.

Harry led Draco to the cemetery where Narcissa and Joliet were buried. He landed beside the stone bench and smiled at Draco as he descended. In spite of himself, Draco's face spread into a smile as he surveyed his surroundings.

Harry had obviously used a warming charm, for all of the snow surrounding the graves of Draco's mother and aunt was melted away. There were heaps of fresh flowers placed in front of each headstone. On the stone bench, which had also been charmed with a warming spell, sat a cake, a bottle of wine, two wine glasses, cheese and fruit, and a small gift-wrapped package.

Draco looked at Harry, his eyes dancing.

"When did you do this?"

"Just this morning," Harry said, beaming brightly. "I thought you might want to spend your birthday with the two women you most love."

Draco nodded softly, his eyes filling with tears. He walked over to the graves and gently ran his fingers over each of the headstones.

"Thank you, Harry," Draco said, turning to face Harry. "This means so much. Gods, to think I almost didn't go to breakfast. I would have missed your owl. But I was sort of hoping to see you. I wanted to apologize for last night."

Harry shook his head, holding up his hand to stop Draco.

"It isn't necessary. Let's just enjoy this."

Draco raised his eyebrow cynically. "You mean while we've got the time, right?"

Harry shook his head, saying, "I'm not going anywhere, Draco," before sitting on the warm bench, and pouring each of them a glass of wine.

"I'm not sure if I can handle anymore alcohol, Harry," Draco smiled, sitting opposite of Harry and taking the glass Harry was offering to him.

"Just a bit," Harry smiled. "I had to go through hell to get this. Loads of apparating, you know." He raised his glass. "Happy birthday, Draco."

"Thank you, Harry. For everything. This is wonderful."

They sat for a while, sipping their wine, and eating cake, cheese, and grapes while making idle conversation. Then Harry picked up the package and held it.

"I had originally gotten you something else," he began, "but I changed my mind. I don't know if you'll like it. Fred suggested it, but he might have been trying to sabotage me. I got him up pretty early this morning." Harry smiled nervously. "It's just that...it's just that I've been thinking about what you said last night - "

"Harry, I was drunk and angry," Draco interrupted.

"Let me finish. Drunk and angry or not, you were right. I've been unfair." He sighed. "I'm confused, Draco. Well, maybe I was confused. But I thought on it a lot. I can't understand it, you know. I can't understand why I'm so...so...I can't be without you. I don't think I ever really could be."

Draco shook his head. "Nor I. But it's destiny."

Harry smiled softly. "Is it now?"

"It is, Harry. I know. I know for a fact. But I'll tell you later. When the time's right. The time's never quite seemed right."

Harry nodded.

"So," Draco began, "do I ever get my present?"

"Oh," Harry laughed, "yeah."

Harry handed Draco the present, his eyes alight with childlike glee and apprehension. He watched as Draco carefully unwrapped the package, then opened the flap on the box and reached inside.

When he pulled his hand out, he held a small sculpture. A lion, cast in gold, was reared on its hind legs. Two small crystal dragons curled themselves around the lion, each looking over either shoulder of the lion, their green eyes seeming to glow. The crystal seemed to be infused with onyx, as the dragons had a dark coloration. The dragons' wings extended out and fluttered slowly, looking as if they were trying to lift the lion.

As Draco turned the statue, it caught the cool December sun which played with the crystal, sending a prism of color about Draco's face.

"Look at the bottom," Harry said nervously.

Draco carefully turned the statue over. Engraved on the bottom were the words "To Draco Malfoy on his Seventeenth Birthday. May he help me to fly. Love, Harry Potter."

Draco turned the statue back over and looked up at Harry. Smiling softly, he stared into the Gryffindor's eyes.

"If it's stupid or cheesy or whatever, I can take it back or you can come with me and pick out something you like or I can just give you what I had originally bought," Harry rambled.

Draco shook his head. "No, love. It's beautiful. I love it. I really do. Thank you, Harry."

"Are you sure? Because if you don't like it..." Harry's voice trailed off as he realized that Draco was leaning toward him.

"Honestly. I love it." He kissed Harry. "Thank you, sweet."

"You're welcome," Harry said, running his fingers up and down Draco's cheek.

Draco reached up and took Harry's hand. He kissed Harry's palm gently and said, "Your hands are frozen, Harry. Are you getting cold?"

"Maybe a little chilly. I think the warming charms are wearing off."

Draco nodded.

"Should we head back?" Harry inquired.

Again, Draco nodded. "I think maybe so. The castle's practically empty. I'm sure we can sneak you down to the Dungeons and into my room. It's nice and warm there."

********************

Giggling, Harry and Draco made their way through the Slytherin Dungeons. As Draco's room was nearby Snape's office and private rooms, Draco made sure that Snape was nowhere in sight before ushering Harry into his room.

Harry smiled as Draco placed the statuette beside a picture of Draco and his mother on the desk next to his bed. Harry put up a silencing ward as well as a privacy ward to assure that Snape wouldn't catch the two of them in Draco's room together. Satisfied with his work, he sat down on the bed. Draco joined him.

"So," Harry began, suddenly very nervous.

"So," Draco replied. He seemed as nervous as Harry felt.

Both boys chuckled softly. Draco reached out and took Harry's hand.

"Thank you again, Harry. This has been the most fantastic day."

Harry used his free hand to stroke Draco's hair, saying softly, "You're welcome, love. I," he cleared his throat, "I wanted to give you something else as well."

Draco smiled charmingly. "Another present? You're spoiling me."

"Well, this one I know you'll like. At least I hope you'll like. It's what you asked me for last night."

Draco nodded, swallowing hard. "Do you still...I mean, you'd still like to do that?"

Harry nodded, moving his body closer to Draco's on the bed. He leaned forward, kissing Draco softly at first, then increasing the intensity as Draco began to move his hands along Harry's body.

Harry reached for the fastening of Draco's cloak, pulling the heavy fabric off of the blonde's shoulders. He slowly unbuttoned Draco's shirt, running his fingers up and down Draco's chest after the shirt was removed. In turn, Draco did the same to Harry, removing Harry's cloak and shirt, and sensually rubbing his fingers over the black-haired boy's smooth chest.

Draco gently pushed Harry back on the bed and laid his full weight upon the smaller boy. Their feral kissing became slower and more sensual. Draco reached between their bodies to unbutton Harry's pants. Breaking the kiss, he sat up and pulled the Gryffindor's slacks from around his hips and slowly down his legs. Smiling, he leaned forward and kissed Harry's thighs, causing small yelps of pleasure to issue from the boy.

Harry reached for Draco's waistband, unbuttoning Draco's pants and wrapping his fingers gently around Draco's stiff shaft briefly before removing the blonde's pants.

Draco again lay on top of Harry, reveling in the feeling of the Gryffindor's smooth, naked skin against his own. He slowly rotated his hips and Harry reciprocated, his breathing quickening. Sweat sheened the boys' bodies.

They lay that way for some time, their bodies slowly moving, their hands gently running over each other's bodies, their kissing sweet and passionate.

Draco broke the kiss and looked down at Harry. He smiled at the fullness of the Gryffindor's lips. Harry's skin was completely flushed. His chest rose and fell rapidly with his quick breath.

Draco reached over and pulled a small bottle of oil from one of the desk drawers. Holding Harry's hips, Draco slid him closer. He smiled reassuringly at Harry before putting the Gryffindor's legs on either of his thighs. Draco took Harry's hand and placed some of the oil into it, then directed Harry's hand, making the oiled fingers wrap around the Slytherin's erection.

Harry used his oily fingers to gently stroke Draco. Draco put his head back and moaned gutturally. Grinning down, he tenderly removed Harry's hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the tip of each finger. He leaned forward, using his palms to support his weight, and positioned himself, asking Harry throatily, "Are you ready?"

As Harry nodded his head, he felt Draco pushing against him. Instinctively, he tensed. Draco stopped moving.

"I'll go slowly, love," he whispered. "I don't want to hurt you. We can stop if you want to."

Harry shook his head. He willed his body to relax.

Draco returned to his knees. Draco oiled his other palm and used it to stroke Harry's rigid erection. Harry moaned softly. Draco patiently waited for him to relax. When he did, Draco slid himself into Harry, groaning aloud as Harry contracted around him.

"Bloody hell," Draco breathed. He looked down at Harry. Harry smiled up at Draco and raised his hips slightly.

"Gods, Draco, that's amazing," Harry gasped.

Draco picked up speed and got into a steady rhythm. Harry reciprocated Draco's thrusts, and soon the blond was nearly pounding into the smaller boy's eager body. Harry's buttocks continuously connected with Draco's hips with small claps, and soon it sounded as if Draco's room were filled with appreciative applause at the two boys' grunts, moans, and groans.

Harry felt as if he were losing his mind. Draco couldn't be any closer physically to Harry than he was at that moment, but Harry was overwhelmed with a need to almost consume the other boy; to have Draco dig as deeply into his body as he possibly could and leave some lasting part of him for Harry to carry with him always.

Harry affectionately ran his fingers through the blond hair of his lover. His body moved frantically on Draco's bed. He was nearly delirious. Screaming Draco's name, he erupted as he felt Draco erupt as well.

Draco removed his lips from Harry and ground his pelvis against Harry. He felt as if he were a hose he couldn't turn off. When he finally felt the orgasm subside, he nearly fell on top of Harry, held him tightly, and the two of them drifted off to sleep.

********************

"So, we're not leaving for another hour, right? I want to do something. I'm bored," Ginny said, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting.

She, Harry, and Draco were sitting in the empty Gryffindor common room. Hermione had been, for the most part, avoiding Harry's company as much as she could. She was wholly displeased with Harry, as he had spent the entire day on Draco's birthday - and most of the day following - in Draco's room. Harry hadn't told her what the two of them had done in Draco's room, and Hermione hadn't asked. She made it clear, nonetheless, that she neither appreciated Draco, nor did she want him anywhere around her.

"Well, what do you want to do?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. Entertain me," Ginny smiled.

"We could play Truth or Dare," Draco suggested, smiling wickedly.

"I've made that mistake once, Malfoy," Harry smiled.

"Mistake? Oh, that's all I am to you, huh? A mistake?" Draco teased.

"Gods," Ginny goaded, "will you two please just bugger and get it over with already?"

"How do you know they already haven't?" came Hermione's cool voice.

Ginny and Harry started slightly at the sound of Hermione's voice, but Draco simply smirked.

"How'd you get in here?" Hermione asked Draco.

"Um, I think through the portrait like everyone else."

"What I mean," she spat, "is how did you get the password?"

"He didn't, Hermione," Harry explained. "He came up with us."

"Right. In so doing, he got the password. He had to have heard it, right? Or did you charm him deaf momentarily?" Hermione sighed heavily. "Great. And McGonagall's gone until the second of January, so I can't get it changed until then. I'm going to pack. I don't want to see you in here again, Malfoy."

Draco quickly jumped to his feet and saluted. "Aye, aye, Cap'n Tightass," he said, his face mockly stoic.

Hermione squinted her eyes dangerously and turned quickly on her heels, walking out of the common room.

Harry shook his head at Draco, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"I guess I should go listen to her vent a bit," Ginny said, pulling herself up from the chair.

"At least you won't be bored anymore," Draco offered as she made her way out of the room.

"Yeah, yeah," Ginny returned.

"Why do you have to give her so much shit, Draco?" Harry asked.

"Oh, right," Draco smiled, "and she's always so pleasant to me."

"Touché."

Draco smiled and looked around. "Hey, Harry. You hear that?"

Harry perked his ears. "Huh uh."

"Listen. It's silence. Not a soul in sight." Draco smiled seductively. "You should show me your room."

Harry smiled back. "It's not nearly as impressive as your room, I'm sure."

"I just want to see," Draco said, standing. He reached for Harry's hand. "Pretty please?"

Harry put his hand in the blonde's. Standing, he said, "No funny business, Malfoy."

Draco simply smiled.

Harry led Draco into his dormitory. They sat on Harry's bed.

"Is that where the Weasel used to sleep, then?"

Harry nodded his head.

"Too bad he still doesn't. I'd piss on his sheets," Draco said smiling wickedly.

"Classy, Malfoy," Harry grinned.

"Like he hasn't done it himself before. It's really too bad that git took your invisibility cloak. I'd fancy a shag or two underneath it."

"You'd fancy a shag or two in Hippogriff shit, Draco," Harry teased.

Draco laughed. "Honestly, though. A quick shag in the room of the Great Harry Potter. What do ya say?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't want to wear you out before we get to the Burrow," he smiled. "You get all sappy, schmoopy, and lovesick after you've had some of the Potter."

Draco tossed his head back and laughed.

"'Some of the Potter?'" he smiled. "It's not just me, anyway. I heard you, Potter. You thought I was sleeping, but I heard you. 'Draco, you're so beautiful. I always want you inside of me, Draco. Don't leave me, Draco, you wonderfully magnificent lover. I love you, Draco.'"

It was Harry's turn to laugh. "I did not call you a wonderfully magnificent lover, Malfoy, and I did not say that I loved you."

"But you do and I am," Draco smiled.

Harry chewed his lip. "Okay, so on the one hand, maybe I do, but on the other, I think you could use some improvement."

Draco frowned and pounced on top of Harry. Laughing, the two boys wrestled around on the bed. Draco got the advantage and pinned Harry's arms down.

"Come on, love," he smiled down at Harry.

"Come on what?"

Draco smiled. He licked his lips, lowered them to Harry's ear, and whispered softly, "On me. Rather, I want you to come in me."

Harry moaned. "We've got to leave soon. The girls will be ready soon."

"Then quickly. We'll be at the Burrow for at least three days. We'll never get to be alone."

Draco moved his hands and tugged Harry's jumper over his head. He then lowered his fingers and quickly removed Harry's trousers. He kissed Harry briefly before removing his own sweater, and then lying on his back and pulling his trousers off as well. He smiled as Harry moved to mount him.

"Quickly," he smiled at the blond.

He moved between Draco's legs, taking one of them and placing it on his shoulder.

Draco moaned loudly, then slithered his hands down Harry's chest, around his waist, and grasped his backside firmly.

Harry knew that they didn't have much time, and he wanted them both to be completely satisfied before it was time for them to go. He moaned Draco's name again and again, relishing in the profanities the blond was uttering, and the way his hips matched Harry's tempo.

"Harry, are you up here? It's getting late and I think that we..." Hermione's voice trailed off. She stared at the two of them on the bed: Draco's leg thrown over her fiancé's shoulder, and him driving almost frenetically into Draco's body. She slapped her hand over her mouth. She had imagined them together before, but seeing it, hearing them moan...Tears began forming in her eyes. She was aware of Harry's saying something to her as he struggled to disengage himself from between Draco's legs and cover himself. She was aware that Draco wasn't smirking; that he seemed to be genuinely upset. She was aware of all of these things, but the only thing she could hear was the dreary, heavy thud of her own heart.