Inrevocabilis Cantanem

Chapter 10: Unearthed Skeletons

Draco opened his eyes on Christmas morning and was immediately comforted by the warmth of Ginny's body pressed against him, along with the many decorations and presents cluttering the floor of the Burrow's living room. That comfort was short-lived, however, when he glanced over to see Ron smirking at him and Ginny.

"Not who you want to be shagging, huh, Ferret?" Ron said quietly. "Too bad."

Draco rolled his eyes and then closed them. He had no intentions of fighting with Ron. He shifted his weight slightly, causing Ginny to stir against him, moaning softly.

"Don't flatter yourself with that one," Ron continued softly. "She fucks anything that moves. Disgusting like that, she is. Especially if she's sleeping with the likes of you. Wouldn't Harry like to know that his boyfriend is shagging a girl?" Ron chuckled.

Draco's eyes flew open, flashing dangerously at the redhead.

"What would you," he began just as quietly, "know about sex, Weasley?"

Ron smiled. "I have to admit that I don't know a lot about your kind of sex, Ferret. Though I am curious: who was on top - you or Harry? You seem like one who'd take it in the arse." He chuckled again.

Draco clenched and unclenched his jaw furiously. Again, he closed his eyes, blocking out the image of Ron's sneering face. But on his eyelids played the scene of he and Harry - their last moments together before Hermione's walking in on them. He opened his eyes again and then gently, nonchalantly, nudged Ginny, rousing her.

"Morning, Draco," she muttered sleepily, her eyes still heavy. She nuzzled closer to the blond, wrapping her arms and legs about him.

"Morning," he whispered, then: "We have company."

Ginny turned her head, glancing over her shoulder at her sneering brother.

"What are you doing?" she grumbled.

"Watching my sister whore herself out, apparently," Ron scoffed. "And to a filthy homo at that."

Ginny rolled her eyes and then sat up on the couch. She stretched, running her fingers through her long red hair, and then stood. As she started toward the stairs, she kicked Ron in his shin.

"Oh, sorry," she smiled down at Ron. "Bit clumsy this morning. I'll go wake the others."

Draco watched Ginny walk upstairs, smirking softly to himself. Ron cursed under his breath, rubbing his shin.

"What are you grinning about?" he spit at Draco. "Let's see how much you'll be grinning when the school finds out what happened with you and the oh-so-perfect Harry Potter."

Draco quickly leapt to his feet. He towered over the seated redhead for a moment, smiling derisively as Ron flinched. He turned and began putting on his clothes.

"Tell them what you will," Draco said impassively, pulling his jumper over his head.

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

"Why's he like that, do you think?" Ginny asked Draco.

"Who? Weasley? 'Cause he's an insufferable git, that's why."

Draco took another sip of his fire whiskey and crossed his legs. He and Ginny sat quietly in the Gryffindor Common Room. The day, despite Draco's early-morning confrontation with Ron and his concern over Harry, had turned out quite well. The Weasleys had treated him like one of their own, and he had thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Tonks. He and Ginny had decided to return back to the castle by Portkey that evening and were now having a small nightcap before the two of them retired.

"Yeah, well, that's a given," Ginny hiccupped. "But, I don't know. He just looks for trouble these days. Like you were going to fight him in his own house or something."

Draco shrugged his shoulders. He gingerly fingered the packages that he and Ginny had brought back from the Burrow. He ran the tips of his fingers over the name "Harry" again and again, tears building in his eyes.

"What do you think Harry's doing? Can you imagine his staying with the Grangers after that whole...fiasco? Gods. Do you think they're trying to reprogram him?"

Ginny chuckled softly. "Might just be. The Grangers had big plans for their son-in-law. Gotta be kinda heartbreaking, you know."

Draco sighed heavily. "I just want him to come back." He paused. "To me. I want him to come back to me."

Ginny smiled softly. She tangled and untangled her fingers in the sleek blond hair.

"He will," she whispered.

Draco gave a wan smile and then curled himself up on the couch. Ginny rubbed his back gently, absently sipping at her fire whiskey and staring into the flames issuing from the fireplace. It wasn't long before Draco's breath was coming and going softly. Ginny looked down and smiled at the sleeping blond, still softly rubbing his back.

"He really is quite beautiful, isn't he?" a voice came quietly from behind her.

"He is," she answered without thinking. Then she quickly turned her head, her eyes wide and surprised.

"Har-" she started, but Harry hurriedly held his finger to her lips to hush her.

"Don't wake him," he whispered.

He used his head to indicate that he wanted Ginny to follow him to his room. She delicately stood and walked to Harry, hugging him tightly to her.

Harry removed a throw from the back of the couch and placed it tenderly over the sleeping blond.

"Really goddamn beautiful," he muttered as he and Ginny ascended the stairs to the dormitory.

"How was it then?" Ginny asked, tucking her feet beneath Harry's blankets. She had shed most of her clothing, save her bra and panties.

He sighed heavily, pulling his shirt over his head and shimmying out of his jeans, and climbed into bed next to Ginny.

"Hideous, to say the least. Hermione's really pissed at me. She kept saying - for a day she was saying - that I did it on purpose. That I set it up so that she would walk in at that exact moment. She doesn't think that anymore, thank Gods. I haven't slept for two days," Harry said, adding a yawn for emphasis.

"How long have you been back?"

"For about an hour before you two got here. I was sitting by the fire, and then I heard you come in, so I came up here. I'm not ready to see him. Not yet."

Ginny nodded and snuggled up next to Harry. She smiled at him and said, "I was doing the same thing with Draco last night."

"Shagging him?" Harry smiled softly.

"Yes. That exactly. Well, according to my git of a brother I was."

"How is he?" Harry asked.

"Ron?" Ginny smiled.

Harry scoffed. "Yeah, right, Gin. How's Ron?" He scoffed again.

"Draco's worried about you," Ginny murmured.

Harry nodded his head. He yawned, "Hermione hates him. It was really weird, you know? I was with Hermione. I was talking with her, trying to get everything smoothed over and better...and all I could think about was Draco. That's it. Just him. I guess it's okay that it's all out in the open. I guess that makes things somewhat easier. Hermione hates him," Harry yawned again.

Ginny nodded. "Understandably so. But she'll get over it." She smiled into Harry's chest. "It's funny."

"What's that?" he mumbled.

"This. You. Draco. Hermione."

"I'm not laughing," Harry said with a small smile. He knew what she meant. It was surprising that he ended up with Hermione to begin with, and now he was falling in love with his sworn enemy.

"You know what I mean," she murmured, her face buried in Harry's bare chest. "Think about it: You and Draco are going to be a couple. That's just odd. But I'm so happy for you both. And then I feel really guilty about being happy for you because of Hermione. And I'm worried about Ron and what he's going to do." She chuckled sleepily. "We're kind of an incestuous group."

Harry smiled. "Are we, now?"

"Yeah," Ginny mumbled, her eyes closing with sleep. "Gay or not, Harry, you're still hot. I still have a bit of a thing for you. Like that day you got back soaked and wet from the cemetery, and I had to hide in Dean's bed from Ron. I shagged him, but I was thinking about you."

Harry smiled, blushing in the darkness of the room. He kissed Ginny gently on the forehead.

"Next lifetime, I'm all yours, darling," he said quietly.

Ginny smiled, sleepily, clumsily pressed her lips to Harry's, and nuzzled closer to the black-haired boy who was slowly drifting off to sleep.

"Glad you're home," she whispered before falling to sleep herself.

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

One of Draco's legs was carelessly thrown over the back of the couch. He held a small black, embroidered book in his sleeping hands. Harry watched with pleasure as Draco's breath came and went softly, causing his chest to rise and fall gently as one's does in sleep.

Harry reached out his hand and gently pushed the blond hair away from Draco's forehead. He ran the tips of his fingers over the blonde's lips before lowering his head slowly and pressing his own to Draco's.

Draco leisurely opened his eyes and stared into Harry's. He watched as Harry's lips curled slightly at the corners, and felt his doing the same. Draco pulled the throw away from his body, inviting Harry to recline in the space that his open legs afforded.

Smiling, Harry lay on top of Draco. Quietly the two held each other, tenderly rubbing each other, the lips of one occasionally finding the lips of the other and softly kissing.

After what seemed like hours, Draco asked, "What time is it?"

"Early still," Harry said, kissing the Slytherin's eyelids. "Very early."

Draco sighed contentedly. "Where's Ginny?"

"Still sleeping."

"How are you?" Draco whispered tentatively.

"Better now. Shh," Harry muttered. "Just hold me, okay?"

Draco nodded, holding the smaller boy tightly against him. A wave of emotion passed through the blond, and he let out a deep, shuddering breath before tears silently poured down his cheeks. It was all too much: losing his mother, his fear that he might have lost Harry, the missing Amulet, the knowledge that his father had killed Joliet - all of it rose to the surface and erupted. He was all at once elated and sorrowful - gleeful and miserable.

Harry just kept whispering "Shh" and gently stroking Draco's cheek, and in the early dawn of the misty morning, Draco and Harry rocked each other back to sleep.

Harry, Draco, and Ginny were inseparable after Christmas. They felt as if they owned the practically empty castle, and they made the whole of it their playground. During the brief time before the other students were due to arrive back, the three of them found it easy to forget everything that had happened around and to them. They played Quidditch during the day and drank fire whiskey, speaking animatedly to one another, into the wee hours of the night.

Despite sinister, disapproving glares from Neville when he was actually in the dormitory, the three of them piled into Harry's bed to sleep, giggling like school girls at a slumber party until the sun cut its way through the clouds with the dawn.

Draco and Harry spent a good deal of New Year's Eve in the Room of Requirement. They were shocked at one point to see Ginny peering at them from the door, her face alight with glee as she whooped, "Happy New Year indeed! Now that's what I wanted to see! You...two...are...sexy! Fancy a ménage a trois?" She then winked, raised her glass, and closed the door, leaving the two to their lovemaking.

"Ginny's quite the little sex kitten," Draco purred later on that night. He held Harry's naked body against his own. "Do you fancy a threesome?"

Harry chuckled. "I'm in enough trouble as it is, Malfoy. Let's not start more rumors."

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

"Hey, Gin. Want to go with us to wish my mum and aunt a happy new year?" Draco smiled down at the sleepy redhead who was curled on the Gryffindor couch. He was wearing his traveling cloak and holding Harry's broom.

"Gods, what time is it?" Ginny groaned, sitting up and massaging her forehead.

"Nearly noon, you lush," Harry teased.

Ginny smiled wearily. "Well, when one's two best mates spend the whole night in the throes of passion, there isn't much more for one to do but drink. Or hang out with Neville." She mock shuddered. "Yeah. Let me get cleaned up and grab my broom. Are you taking a school broom, Draco?" she added gently.

"Gods, no. Harry and I will fly tandem." He smiled suggestively.

Ginny groaned and rolled her eyes.

Draco and Harry watched Ginny jog toward the girls' dormitory. The Gryffindor looked out the window. It was a blustery January Sunday, but the sun shined down happily over the grounds. Harry watched the wind push at the trees and smiled contentedly. He felt arms close around his waist, and he closed his eyes, relishing the warmth of Draco's body.

"Happy New Year," Harry murmured.

"Right back at you," Draco said, nibbling the dark-haired boy's ear. "Look at me."

Harry turned in Draco's embrace and stared up into the silvery grey eyes of the Slytherin. He locked his arms around Draco's neck.

"I want to tell you something," Draco whispered, his lips close to Harry's. "I -"

"Mr. Potter!"

Harry flew from Draco's arms and looked over the taller boy's shoulder. Standing in the entrance to the Gryffindor common room was a stern-looking Professor McGonagall. Next to her, with a look of arrogance the likes of which Harry had never seen, was Neville Longbottom. His arms were crossed in front of him as he sneered at the two lovers.

"Mr. Longbottom informs me that you and Mr. Malfoy have turned the common room - your House common room - into a barroom and a brothel. I am happy to see the houses getting on in ways that they haven't in my many years here, but there are rules, Mr. Potter, that are not to be broken. We have passwords to the common rooms for a reason, and we don't condone drinking." At that, she looked toward Ginny's empty glass. "I'm taking 40 points from your respective houses. This type of behavior will not be tolerated. After the feast tonight, I will give you the new password. If you even think about sharing it with another living soul, Gryffindor or not, there will be serious ramifications."

As Minerva McGonagall was finishing her tirade, Ginny was bounding into the common room.

"All right, boys," she was saying, "let's - Oh, er, hi, Professor."

McGonagall turned to leave, paused, looked at Ginny, and said, "Another 40 points from Gryffindor."

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

The three of them left the castle in silence. Harry was wondering how he was going to make it through these last few months of school. He had not wanted to run away for a long time, but the thought kept entering his mind as they made their way out onto the grounds. It would be apparent, the moment she returned today, Harry thought, that something had happened between him and Hermione. He wasn't ready to tell anyone, who didn't already know, exactly what had transpired. He knew, however, that it wasn't going to be him that broke the news to the school anyway. So, he thought, not only were he and Draco going to be outted to the whole of Hogwarts, but also he and Ginny had just lost Gryffindor 80 points. Though the House Cup wasn't nearly as big of a deal as it used to be, he realized that each house still coveted the prize, and he and Ginny had seriously put Gryffindor in peril.

He and Draco could easily disappear. They would tell Ginny where they were. Between the money that his mother and father had left him, and the money that Draco's mother had been squirreling away for him behind Lucius Malfoy's back, the two could live comfortably in some cottage somewhere. Harry smiled at the thought.

The silence persisted during the broom ride to the pretty fields. Harry flew unhurriedly, Draco's arms wrapped tightly around him, and Ginny followed at an even slower pace.

Not one word was spoken until the three of them touched down next to the stone bench. It was then that Ginny breathed, "How beautiful," as she stared at the snow dusted field.

Draco smiled at her, took her hand, and then out held his other. Tulips sprang from the snow, melting it as they grew, and covered the hill.

Ginny squealed delightedly, looking down at her feet where a myriad of color had suddenly appeared. She knelt, held the head of a tulip between her fingers, and breathed in deeply.

"Not your favorite, Mum," Draco said, advancing to Narcissa's grave, "I know; but they are Ginny's, and she's our guest."

He produced a bundle of narcissi and placed them on her tombstone.

"And this is your aunt?" Ginny said quietly. She had plucked a few of the tulips and placed them between the two mounds of earth.

"Joliet," Draco said with a somber nod.

Ginny held Draco's hand as they looked at the two tombstones. Harry walked up behind Ginny and Draco, wrapping his arms about them both.

The silence returned. They stood staring at the quiet graves. In the distance, the barren yew tree loomed, looking somewhat haunting, Harry thought. The wind started to beat at them, throwing their cloaks about in its fury. They huddled together a bit more, but the silence remained.

"I want you both to know," Harry began, breaking the silence by addressing the forever-still bodies of Joliet and Narcissa, "that I promise to do everything in my power to keep Draco safe. He's -" Harry's voice faltered a bit. He cleared his throat and said, "He's loved," with staunch resolution.

Draco and Ginny both turned their heads so that they were looking at Harry. The three of them made a tight circle, their arms ferociously holding one another, and blocked out the cold, foreboding January wind.

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

Harry, Draco, and Ginny had withstood the cold in an effort to avoid the trip back to the castle. Inevitably, however, they knew they must return. With reddened cheeks, they made their way through the large entrance doors and immediately were met with the sounds of the hundreds of voices coming from the Great Hall.

Draco sighed heavily, squeezed Harry's hand encouragingly, and placed Harry's broom just outside the doors to the Great Hall. Ginny followed suit, and then the three of them strode into the Hall with a great deal more confidence than they actually felt.

"Oy, mates," came Seamus's cry from the mostly Gryffindor table. "Saved you seats. Where've you been, anyway?"

Ginny sat opposite Hermione, who, sitting on the same side as Dean and Seamus, uttered a nonchalant hello, and Draco took the seat beside Ginny. Harry sat next to Draco, his eyes darting across to meet the cool, cinnamon gaze of his once-fiancée.

"Hello, Hermione," he nearly whispered.

"Hello, Harry." Her smile was strained. Harry could tell that she was holding back tears. He had inadvertently sat very closely to Draco. He, with an apology to Draco in his eyes, slid over, placing more space between him and the Slytherin.

He didn't want to admit that he was hungry. He had hardly eaten all day. He knew that Draco and Ginny had to be as ravenous as he was, but he could tell that both of them, too, were ready to skip the meal.

"Trouble," Ginny muttered, then nodded her head toward the Slytherin table.

Ron, his Head Boy badge gleaming so brightly it had to have been charmed, was regaling the Slytherins with tales that, though Ginny, Draco, and Harry couldn't hear, were obviously about Hermione's and Harry's break-up and what had inspired it.

Crabbe was openly pointing at the couple and doubling over with laughter. Neville, too, began to speak animatedly to his captive audience, evoking more riotous laughter from the group.

"Wonder what they're on about," Dean said, turning, like many others in the Great Hall, to see why all the excitement at the Slytherin table. "Probably discovered deodorant finally." He chuckled at his joke. "So, how was the break, you lot? And did you two take care of my girl?" He winked at Ginny.

Seamus tossed Dean a nasty look.

"Fine," the three said simultaneously and unenthusiastically.

After a long pause, Dean said, "Yes, thank you for asking. Mine was just fine as well. Gods, what's with that side of the table?"

"Been a long day," Draco droned.

"Ready for bed, are you?" Hermione asked snidely.

Draco didn't respond. He looked down at his hands. "Let's get this show on the road, Dumbledore," he thought to himself. "The sooner we eat, the sooner I can get out of here."

Draco looked up toward the teacher's table. Dumbledore wasn't present. He furrowed his brow. Dumbledore never missed the start-of-term feasts. He looked at the rest of the staff. They were sitting with their heads together, whispering to one another. The furrows in Draco's brow increased until he noticed Snape staring at him.

The mercurial grey locked onto the empty black eyes. Draco raised his eyebrow. Snape sneered.

"Fuck you," Draco thought, then smiled when he saw the dry countenance of his Head-of-House waiver.

Seconds later, Professor McGonagall stood and raised her goblet. The Hall grew silent. With none of the exuberance or whimsy of the Hogwarts Headmaster, the Deputy Headmistress intoned, "I trust your break went well. Back to business as usual. Let the feast begin."

The tables filled, and the students dug in. Draco was determined to eat as quickly as possible and then get the hell out of the Hall, but when he looked into Harry's eyes, he realized that wasn't possible.

Harry, too, was wondering where Dumbledore was. He was hoping that Professor McGonagall would give some explanation for the Headmaster's absence after they had all eaten. Draco, curious as well, knew that eating and running weren't an option.

"So, what'd you idiots do that lost us 80 points and a password it took me forever to remember in the first place?" Dean asked, forking roast beef onto his plate. "Something about drinking and wild orgies, I heard."

Hermione grumbled.

Harry and Draco sighed at the same time.

"And, honestly," Seamus was saying around a mouthful of mashed potatoes, "did you two have a fight or break up or something?" His eyes darted from Harry to Hermione.

Harry and Draco sighed again.

"It's complicated," Hermione said.

"Well, what happened?"

"Leave it alone, Seamus."

"Okay, but I'm just curious to know -"

"Hey, Finnigan," Ginny interrupted, "be a good boy, and do as you're told. You might get a reward later."

Seamus smiled, looking at Dean from the corner of his eye, and resumed eating.

The rest of the meal was without much incident. After the tables had been cleared, Harry and Draco waited anxiously for McGonagall to say something about Dumbledore when she stood to address the students. Nevertheless, she simply dismissed them and quickly left the Hall, several teachers in tow. Snape joined them after casting a warning glance in Draco's direction.

Dean and Seamus rushed to Ginny's side to escort her to the common room. She waved goodbye to Harry and Draco and then was whisked through the doors. Harry and Draco stood by the table, lingering a bit longer in hopes that Ron and his camp would leave before them.

"I need to speak with you," Hermione said briskly as she cut her eyes at Harry and glared at Draco before marching off.

"Meet you in the entrance hall," Draco said to Harry.

Harry watched as he quickly walked to the doors, squeezed by Hermione, who glowered at him when he passed, and disappeared into the crowd.

Harry shoved his hands into his pockets and made his way over to where Hermione stood, still and stoic as a statue. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Ron: "So, Hermione, let me ask you..." His loyal companions stood waiting anxiously for Ron's punch line. "...That day you blew Harry in the common room...was that before or after he'd had his dick in Draco's arse?"

The group exploded with laughter. Ron smiled demurely at his companions, as if the comment just slipped past his lips. Harry, however, was sure he had been working on it for weeks. He watched as Ron and his gang sidled off through the doors, but he didn't retort. Instead, he looked at Hermione. Her lips were so tight, he thought they might have vanished altogether.

"Listen, I'm sorry about that," he began. "We -"

"The new password," Hermione cut in sharply, "is 'fidelis.'" She smirked at the irony. "Professor McGonagall told me to tell you. I'm also to remind you that you're walking on mighty thin ice. Eighty points in a day, huh? Brilliant."

She turned and stalked off.

"Fuck," Harry muttered.

He walked into the entrance hall. The crowd was thinning rapidly, but his eyes still darted about in search of Draco.

"Potter," came a voice from behind him.

He turned and smiled softly at Draco.

"It's darker over here," Draco said, smiling softly back as Harry joined him nearly behind the open door to the Great Hall. "Is...is Hermione okay?"

"Wonder where Dumbledore is?" Harry replied, changing the subject.

Draco handed Harry his and Ginny's brooms.

"Gin must have been in a hurry to see if she could get Seamus and Dean to touch each other's willies. She forgot her broom."

"I'll take it to her," Harry said quietly. He sighed.

"I want to kiss you so badly," Draco breathed.

Harry looked around. They were drawing a few curious stares as students passed on their way to their respective common rooms.

"Baby, we can't." Harry whispered.

"I know. I don't think I'll be able to sleep without you tonight."

"We're gonna have to figure something out," Harry agreed.

They stared at each other at length. Then Harry sighed and said, "We'd better get going. The Head Boy and Girl would love to see us serving detention or mopping up vomit or castrated."

"McGonagall and Snape, as well," Draco smiled.

Harry chuckled.

"Still want to kiss you," Draco nearly whined.

Harry smiled sympathetically. "Look," he whispered. He stared into Draco's eyes.

Draco moaned softly. He was kissing Harry in Harry's mind. They were holding each other. They were making love. Draco moaned again.

"Hey, Harry. Draco," came Colin Creevey's voice. "I can't let you guys get into any more trouble." Colin tried to look stern, though Harry could see that the younger boy, prefect or not, was intimidated. He had no right, Harry was sure Colin was thinking, to tell the Great Harry Potter and his bosom buddy, Draco Malfoy, what to do.

"I'm sorry, Colin," Harry said. "You're absolutely right. Thanks for being lenient with us." He winked at Draco. "Tomorrow?"

"As soon as possible," Draco replied.

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

Harry felt extremely groggy the next day as he made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast. He had been running late, and Dean and Seamus had left with Ginny for breakfast just moments before he himself set out.

On his way down the stairs, he saw Hermione rushing up. As he made to greet her, she shoved him against the banister.

"I hope you're happy, Harry," she spit venomously, tears of anger building in her eyes. "That's all I'm saying. I hope you and Draco are happy. It better be fucking worth it! You better spend the rest of your life with that bastard, or I'll fucking kill you both!" She slugged him in his chest and continued running up the stairs.

"Wait...what? Hermione!" he called to her retreating back.

Rubbing his chest and shaking his head slightly with confusion, Harry continued making his way down the stairs. He was surprised to see Ginny pacing in front of the doors, her face anxious and full of worry. She ran over to him, closing the distance between the entrance to the Great Hall and where Harry was standing.

"Oh, Gods, Harry," she groaned, halting his entrance by placing her hand on his chest. She was shaking her head. Like Hermione, she had angry tears building behind her eyes. She stammered, "I wouldn't...please...you shouldn't...Gods. Don't go in there. Just...fuck...I know it was Ron. Goddamn him!"

"What the hell is going on, Ginny? Hermione just punched me and told me off. What did he do?"

"They're all over."

Harry misunderstood her. "Who's all over?"

Ginny shook her head.

"Look, I'm hungry. My chest hurts. Let me by."

Ginny again shook her head.

"No matter what it is, Ginny, it's not going to go away by my starving myself. I've gotta put up with this shit for the next six months, right? So, let me eat."

But when Ginny stepped aside, fretfully holding Harry's hand, and they entered the Great Hall, the black-haired boy lost his appetite entirely. Upon his entrance, the Hall fell completely silent.

Hanging where the house banners usually hung were graphic depictions of Harry and Draco in flagrante delicto.

Despite his want to appear cavalier about this situation, as he knew it would soon rise to the surface, Harry's jaw dropped. He stared at the banners. He watched his and Draco's moving bodies. On one of the banners, Harry was on his back on the couch that he had colored silver in the Room of Requirement. This wasn't just powerful, tricky magic; someone had been in the room with Harry and Draco without their knowledge and taken pictures.

"What..." Harry stammered. "Why are these still up?"

Ginny replied softly, "They just 'appeared' a few minutes ago. They've been transfigured. Lupin, Flitwick, and Snape tried to change them back, but it's gonna take either McGonagall or Dumbledore. Both of whom are missing in action."

"Yeah, I'm sure Snape tried real hard. Can't they just take them down?" Harry hissed, suddenly aware of hundreds of eyes boring into him.

"They don't seem to be able to. Don't know why. That's more Hermione's turf. She's read Hogwarts: A History more than anyone alive."

"And I'm sure she'd love to help, too," Harry groaned.

He looked over toward the Gryffindor table. Dean and Seamus quickly averted their gazes. Harry wasn't sure what to do. He didn't want to storm out and let Ron, who was crying, he was laughing so hysterically, win; yet, he couldn't stay and put up with the what seemed like millions of eyes glaring at him; some with hate, most with amusement, some with...was that admiration?

"Where's Draco?" he whispered to Ginny.

She was just shrugging her shoulders when the blond sauntered into the Great Hall. If possible, the Hall grew even more still and quiet as its occupants awaited Draco's response.

He glanced up at the banners and, with his characteristic smirk, looked at Harry saying loudly enough for all to hear, "Well, at least they got your good side, Potter."

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

Harry was ready to hang himself. If he heard the word "homo" or "ginger" or was asked if he left Hermione for Draco or if he was really, truly gay, or what it was like to shag Malfoy one more time, he was sure he was going to march himself straight to the gallows.

Draco, on the other hand, was taking it all in stride. Harry knew, because he knew Draco better than anyone, that the Slytherin was truly bothered by the whole debacle, but he'd be damned before he let anyone know it.

Ginny seemed to pop up between all of their classes that day. She told Harry that Dean and Seamus were feeling a bit conflicted about the situation, so she had to remind them that she wasn't the only one touching Dean's penis the night before. She was sure that others would be interested to know that as well. Suddenly, their devotion to and support of Harry and Draco's relationship was steadfast.

Draco and Harry didn't see much of each other that first day of classes. Until Potions, which came near the end of the day, they hadn't been much in contact. Surprisingly, and for reasons unknown, the only other class that they would have had together, Transfiguration, was cancelled.

As Harry made his way down into the dank dungeons, he was pulled into an empty, nearly pitch black corridor.

"How the fuck did that happen?" Draco sounded somewhat panicked.

"I don't know," Harry said, hoping his eyes would soon adjust to the dark.

"It was the room," Draco said. "Those pictures of us were taken in the room. How did that happen?"

"Draco, I don't know," Harry said. "The only person who knew we were in there was Ginny. You know she didn't do it. It was over the break, so hardly anyone was here. I don't know." Harry sighed. He said hesitantly, "What...what are you thinking, Draco?"

He couldn't see Draco's eyes. He could barely see anything. He felt Draco take his hand, massaging it gently with his own.

"I'm thinking," Draco said, "we tough it out. They'll get bored with it soon enough. We'll get back at the Weasel. Life will resume as normal. Besides, we're almost out of here anyway."

The bell rang, signaling that the students were to be in their classes.

"Great," Harry groaned. "Can this day get any worse?"

"Maybe," Draco said. "I know a way to make it a bit better, though."

He leaned forward, his lips tentatively touching Harry's. Harry gave in to the kiss immediately. He dropped his book bag and ran his hands up and down Draco's back. Draco pushed against Harry until the smaller boy was pressed against the wall.

Draco broke the kiss and said, "I never want to stop doing that. No matter what happens, no matter how bad things get, you kiss me, and the world seems all right again."

Harry smiled.

"Let's go," Draco groaned. He knelt, picked up Harry's bag, kissed him gently once more, and the two of them made their way to the Potions classroom.

When they entered, everyone, save Hermione, turned their heads. There were a few snickers around the room as the two proceeded to an empty desk in the front.

"Well, well," Snape began silkily, "I do believe Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy are late. Do I even want to know why or should I just simply remove more House points?"

Draco was placing his books on the desk while Harry, already seated next to him, was rummaging through his book bag searching for his books. His head was buried in his bag, his face a furious shade of red. Sitting down, Draco looked up coyly at Snape.

"We were late because we were shagging, Professor," he said almost innocently. "Sorry. Harry's hard to get off sometimes."

Harry stared in shock at Draco. There was a collective gasp in the room.

In one fluid motion, Snape was looming over Draco. Harry was sure that the desk between the two was the only thing keeping Snape from throttling Draco. His eyes were dangerous, viper black, and his lips were pulled back in such a severe sneer that he was literally baring his teeth.

Draco continued to stare up at Snape in his sedate, unthreatened way. Snape seemed at a loss for words. He just continued to stare at Draco, his usually cool demeanor terribly ruffled.

"I want you," he said, his mouth twisting cruelly, "out of my House."

"I'll take that up with Professor Dumbledore," Draco replied nonchalantly. "I'll settle for leaving your classroom for now, if that makes you happy."

Snape seemed to regain some of his composure. His mouth screwed into a cruel smile. "That wouldn't be wise of you, Mr. Malfoy. I know that you, because of your boyfriend here, have plans of being a great Auror. You need me. You need this class."

Draco scoffed, though he had to admit that Snape was right; he did need this class.

At Draco's silence, Snape smiled. "Ah. The boy has run out of witty rejoinders. I'll think of an appropriate punishment for both of you for being late to my class...and one especially for you, Mr. Malfoy, for your disgusting, disruptive comments." He billowed his robes. "What are you all gawking at?" he spat at his students. "Get your ingredients. Enough time has been wasted."

There was a commotion as all of the students, snapped out of their stupors, moved at once.

"Draco," Harry murmured, "do you ever think anything you don't say?"

Draco didn't respond. He was staring heatedly at Snape.

"I'm not afraid of you, Professor," he said with quiet menace.

The students halted, their attention once again drawn to the Professor and his former prized pupil.

Snape again advanced on Draco.

"You should be," he responded just as menacingly.

"Oh, but I'm not. What are you afraid of? Scared someone's going to find out about you?"

For the second time in two days, Draco managed to waiver that steady countenance.

"You're looking for trouble, Mr. Malfoy," Snape warned. He was leaning over the desk now, his face mere inches from Draco's.

They were speaking so softly that many of the students had crept in closer to catch their words.

"I know so much about you," Draco nearly sang. "Everybody already knew I was a bit 'bent,' if you will. But what about you, Severus?" Draco winked.

Before anyone knew what was happening, Snape's hand sailed through the air. It connected with Draco's cheek with a resounding sting. Again, the class let out a collective gasp.

Draco brought his hand to his mouth. His eyes flashed murderously at Snape, who had obviously surprised himself and was actually stammering.

Draco stood, turned, and quickly strode out of the classroom.

Harry sat numbly watching Draco retreat before snapping out of his shock and leaping to his feet.

Grabbing his and Draco's books, he, too, turned and began to quickly leave the class.

"Potter, this doesn't concern you," Snape called after him, though his voice was faltering. "You will return to your seat."

"Professor," Harry replied over his shoulder, "I don't think you're in any position to be making threats."

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

Harry raced up the stairs from the dungeon. Upon emerging into the Entrance Hall, his eyes darted rapidly to and fro. He saw the blond walking toward the doors leading onto the grounds and away from the castle. As Draco approached them, they flew open at his whim, slamming against the exterior of the castle.

"Draco!" Harry called, running after him.

It occurred to Harry that, unless Draco decided to halt at Harry's calling his name, he would be off of the grounds and able to Apparate anywhere he wished before Harry could catch up with him. On a broom, Harry could catch Draco without any problems, but the long legs of the blond moved him about on foot much more quickly than did Harry's.

Harry nearly threw himself out of the now-closed castle doors, calling Draco's name. He was surprised to see Draco standing still in the courtyard, snow whistling about his body, the wind tousling his blond hair.

Harry trotted up to him. Draco kept his back to Harry. Harry approached Draco's side as cautiously as he would were he getting set to mount a hippogriff, then reached up and turned the taller boy's face toward his own.

"Shit," Harry muttered.

Draco's face, where Snape had slapped him, was a violent shade of purple and was only getting worse.

Harry moved his hand to heal Draco's cheek, but Draco stopped him.

"No. Leave it," he growled.

Harry dropped his hand, nodding his head slightly.

"I'm going to fucking kill him. He's dead." Draco said.

"What was all that about, anyway?" Harry asked.

"He's dead," Draco simply said again. His eyes, the hatred and vehemence dancing in them, solidified the threat.

"Draco, calm down," Harry pleaded.

"Don't tell me to calm down, Harry!"

"Yes," Harry said more calmly than he felt, "I will. Calm down."

Draco groaned in frustration and kicked at the snow that was gathering about his feet.

"This is one thing," Harry said soothingly, "that we're going to handle the right way. He's not getting away with that shit, Draco, I promise you that. But please calm down."

Draco exhaled loudly. He turned and walked toward one of the benches in the courtyard. Harry followed.

Draco waved his hand, and the snow melted away. He sat on the bench while Harry incanted, "Incendio," causing a small, blue fire to ignite near Draco's feet. Harry sat next to Draco, stretching his feet toward the blue flames.

"What all that was about," Draco began after a moment's silence, "is something I'm not real happy to admit."

Harry waited silently for Draco to continue.

"You know why I was Snape's favorite student? Do you know why he's so pissed off about you and me?"

"Because you sucked him off?" Harry joked. His smile quickly faded. "Draco, please tell me you didn't give Snape a blow job."

"Not exactly, no." Draco was reddening.

"Then what?"

"Well," Draco began haltingly, "he favored me at first because he was afraid of my father. Whether Snape was loyal to Dumbledore or Voldemort is still up for debate, but my father had something on him. He genuinely probably liked me because I was in his House, but whatever it was my father knew pushed him from like to almost adoration. After the war, though, he didn't need to be so loyal to Lucius. Lucius turned tail and ran, and, it would appear, Snape wasn't so afraid anymore. But, he'd grown accustomed to treating me as if I could do no wrong, and I was actually becoming pretty proficient at Potions, so we unspokenly kept it the way it was.

"I found out, though, what Lucius had on him. Everyone knows that Snape hated your father, right? And in so hating your father, hated his child. No one ever really knew why."

"I do," Harry spit.

"No, you don't," Draco assured him.

"I do," Harry insisted. "I saw it in the Pensieve. Hate to admit it, and whether he deserved it or not, my father treated Snape like crap."

"Right," Draco agreed. "Right, he did...when he wasn't snogging him in the Astronomy Tower."

"Shut up," Harry said.

"It's true, Harry. Sorry, love, but your dad was as queer as you are."

Harry violently shook his head. "That's not true. And even if it were, my father wouldn't touch Snape."

Draco took Harry's hand. "Sweetheart, it's the truth. Why would I lie to you? I'm sure there was a time when you said you wouldn't touch Malfoy, right? I know I thought that of you. Besides, how much do you know about your father, love?" he added gently.

Harry looked into Draco's eyes. He shuddered.

"Fine. Fine. Then how did you find out?"

"Same way you did: the Pensieve. I just got to see more than you did, I guess."

Harry was numb. He kept shaking his head, feeling as if there were cobwebs constantly being built in his brain. His dad and Snape? He shuddered again. Where, then, he thought, did his mother fit in? Was she like Hermione? Did the whole situation progress the way his and Draco's had, only his father had chosen to be with Lily as opposed to Snape?

"Good choice," he muttered aloud. More loudly he said, "So, where do you fit in all of this? Why the fireworks?"

Draco sighed. "Same thing, different Potter."

Harry's jaw dropped. "You snogged Snape? Draco...that's...you're just...you're like...hundreds of years younger than him!"

Draco smiled a bit. "Wasn't that long ago. This past summer. You were at the Grangers. I was here with Dumbledore and the rest of the staff. I thought about you a lot. He walked into the common room one day while I was reading a letter from you...well, beating off to a letter from you...and he just stared at Draco, Jr." Draco chuckled. "So, I asked if he wanted to give me a hand. Never really went farther than that. Puts me in an awful predicament," Draco said, rubbing his swollen jaw. He looked over at Harry. "Are you laughing?"

Harry shook his head, tears threatening to escape from his eyes.

"Potter, I can't believe you! This isn't funny!"

Laughter burst from Harry's lips. "I'm sorry, love. I really am. But you've got to admit that paints a pretty comical picture."

Draco shook his head disgustedly at Harry, but the corners of his mouth were twitching.

"Don't smile, Malfoy," Harry said with mock stoicism. "It is not funny."

For a moment, Draco allowed a smile to cross his lips, muttering, "You're an idiot, Potter," but it quickly evaporated. "Seriously, Harry, what am I going to do? I've pretty much fucked myself. I need Potions."

Harry nodded compassionately. "I know. But you've got to at least tell Dumbledore. I'm sure there's something he can do."

Draco nodded. "Yeah, but where the hell is he? And I can't tell him about me and Snape."

"Draco, this is Dumbledore we're talking about; he already knows."

As Draco was nodding in agreement, the bell dismissing the students rang.

Draco quickly leapt to his feet, his arm extended.

"Don't want to deal with this shit right now," he grumbled.

Harry's broom came hurtling toward them. Draco handed it to Harry, saying, "Fancy a ride?"

"Great idea. I could kiss you." Harry smiled.

Draco climbed behind Harry, said, "That better be a promise," then wrapped himself tightly about the black-haired boy.

The wind stung his cheek, so he asked Harry to fly slowly. He smiled, smelling Harry's hair and reveling in the feeling of the Gryffindor's body pressed against his. He reached down and squeezed Harry gently through his trousers. He nuzzled Harry's neck.

"D'you think it's weird," Harry called over his shoulder, "to make love next to where your mother and aunt are buried?"

Draco smiled. "No. I think they have the modesty to turn away. Well, my mother at least. Aunt Jolie might peek every now and then."

As they approached the field, Draco squeezed Harry's ribs so tightly that Harry thought they were going to break.

"Hey, sweetheart, easy," Harry said, turning to look at Draco.

Draco's face, save the huge purple welt, was ghostly white.

"What, Draco?" Harry asked.

"Faster, Harry. Hurry. Land!" Draco screamed.

Harry accelerated the broom, his eyes fully coming to rest on what had Draco so ashen.

As they landed, Harry tried to find words, but his mouth was dry. Draco seemed to be having the same difficulty. Low croaking noises were issuing from between the blonde's gaping lips.

Before them lie the pretty fields. The tulips from the day before were hidden under fresh snow. And there, where Joliet and Narcissa had so peacefully lain, had the earth been turned. The headstones had been smashed until they were no more than pebbles. The coffins had been opened. Joliet's remains, no more than a skeleton, as well as her coffin lay burning by source of magical fire. Narcissa's coffin, though on fire, was empty.

Draco's eyes darted about in search of his mother's remains.

"Draco," Harry managed to choke. He was looking toward the yew tree.

Draco followed his boyfriend's gaze. The tree was ablaze. Were it anywhere else, Draco would have commented that it looked like the sunset. He choked back bile as he realized that his mother was hanging from the tree; her body part of that fiery sunset.