Transition

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Transition By Firesword
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~ Chapter Twenty-seven: Mischief in the Woods ~

After they were done shopping in Diagon Alley...

Harry paused by the window of Fred and George's shop, and saw that his best friend was storing some boxes on one of the highest shelves. Someone touched his elbow lightly and he gazed at Draco's reflection on the glass.

"Do you want to go in?" the Slytherin asked quietly.

"No, I don't think so." Harry sighed. He glanced back wistfully however, as they walked away from the shop.

He was somewhat preoccupied with his own thoughts until he felt the slight change of Draco's mood. He shook his head slightly and looked around alertly. He noticed a tight cluster of wizards, all appearing to be somewhere in their late twenties, and they were staring at both Harry and Draco. There was also hushed whispers coming from the other side of the street.

"I wonder what sort of rumors are running amok," Draco muttered darkly as he shifted his heavy bag to his other hand.

"Do you think the public knows about us – our relationship I mean?" Harry asked quietly.

"I don't care." Draco stopped and looked at him inquisitively. "Do you?"

"No – not really."

"Then I don't see why we should get anxious over that matter. So, where do you want to go now? You want to have dinner here or shall we go home?"

"Let's go back. Food at home's much cheaper in any case. I know this sounds absurd, but I feel as though I'm broke."

Draco snorted, clearly amused. "You only need to go back to the bank and replenish your money supply."

"Huh. It's not as if it's bottomless, Draco. Eventually, those gold coins are going to disappear. I'd rather have that happen when I'm not around to care any more."

"Which will take a few centuries probably."

Harry winced. He had forgotten that their kind was able to live much longer than a century. Then he started to think about being with Draco for that long and his green eyes brightened with joy. The wizard with him noticed it and gave him a questioning look.

"Nothing, love." Harry smiled a little. He was surprised with the progress he was making by calling Draco with the endearment. He felt much more comfortable with it and did not feel the sense of embarrassment and clumsiness when he first uttered it.

"That means it's something, Harry." They returned to the deserted alley from which they had Apparated into earlier.

"Well ... one, two, go!"

Harry closed his eyes and fixed the image of the lawn of his present residence. He felt the air around him contract and there was the feeling of being there, and not there. Then his feet touched grass rather than pavement. He blinked his eyes several times and checked himself. Nothing appeared to be missing. The first time he had taken the test, he found that he had left his wand inside the Ministry building. A second sharp crack pierced the air as Draco materialized, and his long grey robes flared about his legs as he descended.

It was not the first time Harry had thought that the Slytherin was utterly gorgeous. Of course, those few times he and Draco met while the latter was in the sun, he determinedly ignored the comments made by the small voice in his mind. Things were very different now, and he admired his partner overtly.

"Harry." Draco was looking at him with a slightly exasperated expression. "What are you doing?"

"Admiring you."

Draco rolled his eyes. Harry laughed richly. The Slytherin was adorable. The raven-haired wizard took a step forward, wrapped one arm around Draco's waist, and pulled the latter closer. He gazed into Draco's face, admiring the way the sunlight gave sparkling highlights to the white-gold hair. In a truly possessive manner, he kissed Draco. When he pulled away, the Slytherin was gasping for air.

Draco glared at him and he answered with an impudent grin.

"Get in, Potter. I want to take these clothes off and have some dinner now."

"Shame. I thought you wanted to get into the bathtub with me."

"Will you please stop thinking about that?"

"Can't help it."

"Discipline yourself, Gryffindor." Draco gave him a superior look and nudged him towards the door.

Harry turned the knob and he entered, and was about to shout that he and Draco were home when he heard a strangled groan. He froze, then motioned for Draco to remain quiet. He placed his bag on the floor and propped it against the wall. He drew out his wand and carefully advanced into the living room.

What he saw made him turn and he bumped his nose against Draco's mouth as he pivoted quickly. "Draco." He looked fiercely at the Slytherin, and pushed his boyfriend back into the hallway.

"Bloody hell," Draco breathed, his eyes still wide.

"Looks like we won't be having dinner here," Harry said a little weakly. The two stepped out of the house again, but without their heavy bags. "So, where shall we go?"

"Bloody hell!"

"Will you stop that already? What's so surprising about them doing in on the floor?"

Draco stared at him. "The kitchen floor? Bloody hell."

Harry sighed and looked at the other wizard helplessly. "I thought you were hungry."

"I am, but I have worked up another sort of appetite."

"Now, who was telling me to discipline myself just a while ago?" Harry smirked. "Come on, love. I want to go somewhere and eat. Where?"

"All right, all right. Let's go to the Spark. And Harry, since you're feeling so broke, it's my treat okay."

~*~

Harry set his fork down and leaned back in his chair. He burped discreetly and stared at the Slytherin who was taking his sweet time cutting his steak into neat little strips. He smiled and rolled his eyes sarcastically. Since his partner was focusing on his dinner, Harry chose to study the warm and cozy tavern.

The patrons of the tavern were a very sedate group, since most of them were very old. A thought struck him, and he then browsed through his memories of his meetings with their neighbors. It was not his imagination but more than half of the people living in Dancers' Vale were at least as old as Hagrid.

A waitress named Nidra approached their table. She smiled brightly at them. "What would you like for dessert, Mister Potter and Mister Malfoy?"

Harry looked inquiringly at Draco, but the Slytherin gave a minor shrug.

"Would you like to try the new ice cream that's currently the favorite among wizards?"

"What flavor?"

"It's called the Firewhiskey Glacial Ice Cream. It really has a lot of 'kick' and since both of you are young, you might be able to stomach it."

And what if I can't hold the liquor? Harry looked dubious but Draco had already placed two orders. "Draco, I'm not sure I want to get drunk."

"Drunk? But you didn't the time you tried Firewhiskey." Draco resumed eating his steak.

"Love, I only had two tiny glasses," Harry reminded his partner. "This one may be more than I can handle."

"You're worrying about nothing," Draco mumbled. Harry gazed at his boyfriend curiously, and wondered why Draco was blushing. "I can sober you up." Draco lifted his eyes and gave the emerald-eyed wizard a devious look.

"Whatever you are thinking, Draco, I am not going to take part in trying to see who could eat more ice cream. I haven't gotten drunk before, and I don't think I really want to be in that condition."

"Chicken."

"Call me whatever you want – I am not eating more than one serving of that ice cream."

Draco laughed, making Harry feel sour about the entire thing.

Ten minutes later, after Draco had finished his steak, the server reappeared with two huge glasses.

"Enjoy your dessert, gentlemen," the waitress said cheerfully and stalked off to take the orders of an elderly witch.

Harry stared at his ice cream dubiously. It appeared to have a generous amount of liquid beneath the floating ice. And just my luck if I get woozy later. Serves him right though, if I get drunk. Draco blithely handed him a spoon. Harry glowered as Draco scooped up some of his ice cream onto the spoon and started eating. And he really has to be so cool about it.

At the first spoonful Harry froze, quite literally. Then the Firewhiskey kicked in, and it left him gasping and breathless. He closed his watery eyes, breathed through his nostrils heavily, and endured the bursts of fire that raged through his system silently.

"She was right," Draco said calmly. "It does have a kick."

Draco, I'll get you for this! Harry swore in the silence of his mind. He opened his eyes and saw that Draco had leaned back in his chair. Damn it! How can he stay relaxed through that? He can't be that good! The black-haired wizard ate the rest of his ice cream in resignation.

At last, after he was frozen and fired up alternately, he pushed his glass as far away as was possible. The Firewhiskey that remained in the glass sloshed about in the transparent mug.

"Come on, Harry. Drink up," Draco coaxed.

Harry shook his head stubbornly. He was starting to feel very warm and he absently unbuttoned his collar. "I don't think I want to, Draco. I'm feeling slightly tipsy now."

"You really are no fun at all."

It was slightly disconcerting watching two images of a pouting Draco.

"Oh well. Wait here – I'll take care of the bills and then we're off, all right?"

Harry could only nod dumbly. He was not feeling particularly steady at that moment. About five minutes later, Draco returned. Harry had stopped seeing double and was able to get to his feet on his own. Fortunately, he did not swagger.

They exited out of the tavern and Harry breathed in the scent of summer. There were not too many people about the street and the two wizards walked past the restaurants and cafés without paying much attention to the buildings or the patrons.

"Where to, love?" Draco asked him.

"Do you think it's safe to go home?"

"I'm not sure." The fair-haired wizard fell silent. "How about a stroll in the park?" Draco suggested.

"That might not be a bad idea," Harry agreed. 'Let's go."

~*~

Loud cracks shattered the evening's calm as Draco and Harry materialized before the gnarled oak tree that marked the boundary of the woods. Draco reacted quickly when Harry swayed, putting his hands on the Gryffindor's waist in an effort to steady the wizard.

"You okay?" he asked Harry, slightly concerned.

"Thanks," Harry mumbled, smiling. "I just don't deal well with alcohol, Draco."

"You're not drunk, are you?" Draco asked suspiciously.

"Not really, but I'm feeling a little light-headed now."

Draco laced his fingers through Harry's and they started the trek into the woods. After passing through a rank of pines, they came upon a lawn of lush green grass. The Slytherin looked around skeptically; he felt that the particular area was not quite natural. There were more trees ahead, and Draco ducked beneath one of the low-lying branches. Then they stumbled upon a well-used trail. Draco glanced at his partner, his eyes questioning the wizard if they should take the path.

"Let's see where it leads," Harry whispered.

Still holding hands, the two young wizards walked on the path and about five minutes later, the trail forked out. They stopped.

"Which way, love? Right or left?" Draco asked, tilting his head to one side as he regarded his Gryffindor lover.

Harry pursed his lips and studied the two paths. "Left," Harry decided.

"Left then." Draco nodded and led the way down the narrow path. The trail broadened gradually, and Harry was walking beside him. They had ceased holding hands, but now they were holding each other's waist. Draco liked that a lot. It felt good with the ebony-haired wizard against his side.

He realized that he liked the warm body beside him just a bit too much when his manhood started to thicken underneath his clothing. I am such an embarrassment to myself, he thought sardonically. He glanced sideways, and noticed the contemplative look on Harry's face. He must be worrying about the spying incident. Draco turned his eyes back to the path and started thinking. When we get back, I'd better remind him to tell Starkmind. He can be forgetful sometimes.

"Draco?"

The Slytherin snapped back to attention at the soft, almost silky, call. He turned to look at Harry, but the pair of emerald eyes was not watching him but a gazebo that was located at the end of the trail.

"Curious," Draco remarked. "It looks as if it's here for us, don't you think?"

"Uncanny," Harry agreed. The Gryffindor untangled himself from Draco's hold and sauntered forward.

Draco followed him, and the roof of the shelter suddenly gave a weak, white glow. "I wonder how it works," he muttered to himself.

"What?" Harry looked up at him curiously. The Gryffindor sat on a bench and leaned back against the low wooden wall.

"The mansion's workroom has a ceiling that glows just like this, but I have never asked my parents about it," Draco said after a moment. He joined Harry on the bench, and raised his feet up.

Harry's arms came to hold him from behind and he rested against his lover. His eyes drifted close as he relaxed, feeling how their chests rose and fell in concert. He was also aware of the hardness that was pressing against the small of his back, but he decided not to tease the other wizard about it.

Draco draped his arms over Harry's, but after a few minutes, Harry's right arm broke free and started to caress his shoulder, the side of his body and his thigh. He smiled inwardly but decided to let the fact he liked Harry taking the initiative private. It was so peaceful and comfortable that Draco almost fell asleep. He became more alert immediately after Harry started nibbling his ear.

He tilted his head to one side, and Harry transferred his lips to his neck, kissing the flesh warmly. Draco shuddered at the pleasure he felt and arched, and Harry's hands tightened on his stomach. His lover continued to attack his neck with more hot kisses, licks and nips, while dexterous fingers unbuttoned the front of his robe and shirt. Draco twisted his head and caught Harry's lips in a fierce kiss, then moaned into the hot, passionate mouth as his lover's fingers brushed on his exposed nipples. The fingers traveled downwards and undid his belt, then started to unlace his trousers.

Before he let the raven-haired wizard continue, Draco pulled away and turned his body. Harry's eyes blazed with undisguised need, and it made the Slytherin groan, feeling much the same. He tangled his fingers into Harry's hair, pressed himself fully on his boyfriend and kissed the wizard. Harry touched him and he capitulated to the feelings the wizard invoked in him.

"Harry," he called huskily. Draco removed his fingers from the thick mane and directed them to the Gryffindor's black pants. One finger brushed tentatively against the bulge, and Draco smiled wickedly as Harry shuddered. The sound of a zipper being pulled filled the air, and it was quickly followed by a slight whimper.

"God ... Draco!"

However, it was Draco who screamed the loudest as he exploded, just as Harry reached his climax. The silver-eyed Slytherin gazed up lovingly at Harry, whose forehead was damp with perspiration, and the Gryffindor was panting sharply.

"I wish we were on a bed or at home," Harry said with a gentle smile. Then he kissed Draco's forehead lightly. They relaxed for a while before starting to clean themselves up and dressed. They remained in the shelter for another hour as they talked of trivial things. When the sky started to darken, Draco reckoned that it was probably safe for them to go home.

"I hope," Harry said with a bright little smile.

"I love you, Gryffindor," Draco declared and gave the startled wizard a suave kiss.

~*~

Back at the house...

They heard murmurs and exclamations when they stepped in, but it did not sound as though the other couple were engaged in erotic activities. Therefore, it really came as a surprise for Harry and Draco to find Bluestone and Starkmind sitting on the floor. Their heads were bent close together, as they studied a pile of something on the coffee table.

There was a third person inside the living room, and his face bore a bewildered expression as he studied the engrossed couple. He looked to be about in his early thirties, and he had light blonde highlights on his darker brown hair. There was nothing at all striking about him; he looked like an almost ordinary person if not for the wand sticking out from his back pocket.

Starkmind turned around and saw the two younger wizards standing uncertainly on the threshold. "Oh, hello, you two. Dave, they are the two new additions to this family. Harry, Draco, this is Dave. He just dropped by to give us these." The half-Veela waved several photographs in his hand.

"Are those our graduation photos?" Draco piped up, moving towards the sitting pair.

"Yes," Starkmind replied, nodding his head.

Harry followed Draco, and peered over Bluestone's shoulder to examine one particular photograph. He reached out for it just as Dave stood up.

"Well, got to run now. I have to send these," Dave shook several brown bags in his hand, "to the Zabinis and the others who had placed their orders with me."

"Are you Floo-ing?" Bluestone asked the wizard and eyed the fireplace dubiously.

"No. You don't worry about me making a mess of your living room all right?" Dave said with a pained expression but it was quickly replaced by a bright smile. "Anyway, if you want me to develop more copies so that you could give your friends, just send an owl to find Dave Shadowmarsh," he said to Harry and Draco. "Bluestone has the appropriate documents, so get one from him, then write your full name, the serial numbers that's on the back of your photographs, how many copies you want, you want them in the normal size or do you want them enlarged, or enhanced – and by enhanced I mean 'live' pictures."

Harry nodded his comprehension and decided he ought to escort Dave to the door, because the other three were quite engrossed studying the pile of photographs.

"If you don't mind me saying this, but some of the pictures were quite," Dave hesitated, "startling, I suppose."

Harry could only respond with a smile.

"Well, have fun looking at your graduation photographs, and I'm looking forward to do more business! I charge seven Knuts for each normal copy by the way."

"All right. We will owl you, that's for sure." Harry watched as Dave trotted down the steps, whistling joyfully. Then the wizard Apparated off the compounds to finish the rest of his errands. Harry looked at the photograph in his hand – it was the one with Remus standing beside Snape. While Draco's image had gone behind Harry's image and held him, Snape's image was carefully straightening Lupin's long, tawny hair. Should we give Snape a copy? Harry went back to his friends, chuckling all the while.

~*~

Three hours later, Harry was on the bench writing letters for his friends and Professor Dumbledore. Draco was lying on Harry's lap, dozing quite peacefully. He had already told Bluestone and Starkmind about the spy incident, and Starkmind had quickly taken steps to strengthen the wards protecting the house. Bluestone had gone off to the library in search for a book, and it reminded Harry how like Hermione the Veela actually was.

Bluestone had found out that the wizard who did the spying was an amateur, since it had appeared that images of Harry were used. "It's easily done, but it's as easily blocked. I'm glad Elron reacted quickly by snapping the link between you and the wizard," the Veela had said quietly. "I know you must be thinking about why these methods weren't used to spy on the Dark Lord – it does not make any sense why you have to send a person to do it when you can do it yourself at a relatively safe distance. However, the Dark Lord was superb in Legilimency. If he was totally aware that he was being spied on, which he was, probably, and as he was a powerful wizard, he could have used Legilimency to trap the spy's awareness. Spying using magical means can be dangerous, because some individuals are naturally protected and their magic would counteract as a defensive mechanism. The consequences of that can be very unpredictable."

Harry signed off his last letter – the one he was going to send to Dumbledore – and Hedwig flew in after seconds of his soft whistle. "Be careful," he told her and watched her fly away. His eyes rested on the book he had been reading earlier. It had instructions on how to ward off spying. One easy solution was to wear a necklace with a pendant that has magical properties. Another was to toughen up the defenses of his mind, which meant more Occlumency practice.

He was also determined to master Legilimency, not to trap or cause harm to the spy, but to break off the link between him and the perpetrator completely. His heart was not completely at ease although Starkmind and Bluestone dismissed the spy as an amateur. He knew enough that some things could be deceiving, and he ought to take steps before it becomes a huge problem.

Maybe their assessment of the infiltrator is right. Today was probably the first time he tried spying using the method. The wizard also seemed to be careless. What's the use of spying if someone can see that you are spying? Harry shrugged to himself, and gazed down at Draco's peaceful face. It felt indescribable as he stared at the Slytherin. He caressed Draco's silver hair tenderly and the wizard awoke at his touch.

"Merlin. Did I really fell asleep?" Draco asked with a sweet, child-like smile.

"Yes, you did." Harry smiled faintly and watched as the wizard rose from his resting position. He yawned suddenly.

"What time is it? I think we'd better get some sleep," Draco said, stretching his limbs.

"It should be about midnight already," Harry agreed and clambered out of his seat. He gathered his things while Draco grabbed the book of anti-spying. "Let's go to the library and keep the book first."

They had no trouble finding the shelf where the book should be kept. As they descended the wooden staircase, Draco snaked his arm around Harry's waist and held on. The Gryffindor glanced curiously at the wizard and noticed the playful and dreamy smile on Draco's face.

Definitely nicer than 'I'm much more superior than you' smirk. When they came upon the landing, they saw Bluestone working on his costume-making project with an almost fierce determination.

"Good night, Bluestone," Harry wished the Veela but Bluestone seemed not to hear it.

"He won't hear you, love. His attention is fully on what he's doing. Come on – let's get to our room."

Once they were inside their warmly painted bedroom, Harry spoke. "Just what are those costumes for anyway? A festival?"

Draco shrugged, and unlaced the front of his sleeping robe absently. As it always did, Harry's eyes were immediately drawn to the fair skin. "Are you sure you have no Veela blood in you, Draco?"

"No, love. This is just me." Draco, now only in his sleeping pants, came towards Harry and placed his hands on the Gryffindor's shoulders. Harry responded by holding Draco by the waist and without really thinking about it, grounded their hips together.

"Shall we?" Harry asked and looked suggestively at the bed. He smiled impishly as Draco tugged him towards the huge furniture.

~*~