Transition

Harry, Draco and Starkmind returned to the house and they were surprised to find that Amira was nowhere in sight. Harry exchanged another nervous look with Draco, but then jumped when he heard Bluestone call him in a very stern voice. For some reason, Harry felt an uncomfortable sense of dread when he remembered that Bluestone wanted to talk to him.

"Am I supposed to go with you?" Draco asked uncertainly.

"I'm so envious," Starkmind muttered and looked piercingly at Harry. "You have chosen a partner who doesn't mind sharing uncomfortable moments. But I'm afraid that my husband is going to have a talk with you only."

"Sorry that I can't help you, love," Draco said apologetically. "But I will make you feel better afterwards. Okay?"

Harry glared at him and then went to the living room where Bluestone awaited him. The older wizard was putting a record back into its cover. Harry waited nervously for Bluestone to speak.

"Amira had a point," the Veela said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked carefully.

"That anyone can take you away from Draco and vice versa." Bluestone turned and regarded him solemnly. "Don't misunderstand me, Harry. I'm not forcing you to marry Draco at such an early age. I just want to remind you that a relationship is made up of two hearts. It can never exist with just one heart functioning."

His eyes widened when Bluestone embraced him suddenly.

"You have to take good care of Draco's heart, Harry. Unlike you, he has a lot more to worry about. He may look as though he doesn't care, but that doesn't mean he doesn't. Pay attention to him when he gets into mood swings. It's a sure sign that you have not been spending time with him." Then Bluestone released him and kissed his forehead. "Now go and talk to Draco."

Bluestone left him feeling a little confused in the living room. Harry, looking quite somber, went to Hedwig's perch to pet her. As his fingers stroked her feathers, he pondered on Bluestone's words. Does it mean I'm more prone to stray away from Draco? The worrisome thought continued to bother him as he went up to the bedroom.

Draco felt Harry's presence in the room and turned around slowly. His lover appeared disturbed and somehow, he felt that it was more important to comfort Harry than to hit the wizard with his insecurities. He held out his arms, and Harry went to him immediately.

"Is everything all right, love?" Draco whispered into Harry's ear. Harry nodded and kissed his neck. "Are you sure?"

Harry pulled away from the embrace and kissed him. "Draco, I'm sorry," Harry then said.

"It's all right, Harry. I don't blame you." Draco brushed his lips on Harry's forehead. "But I won't deny that I was jealous. Harry, will you ever cheat on me?" he asked in a serious tone.

"I won't, Draco," Harry answered quietly. "I'm not going to hurt you, all right?"

"Promise me."

"I promise you, Draco Malfoy, that I will never bring hurt to your heart," Harry murmured. Draco stared into Harry's emerald eyes that seemed expectant.

"And I promise you, Harry Potter, that I will never bring hurt to yours out of spite," Draco vowed. He pulled Harry closer and kissed his lover deeply. Slowly, they started to undress, and moved toward the bed. His heart pounded heavily in his chest and he gave a slight moan when Harry cupped his fingers around him.

Draco pushed Harry down on the bed gently and started to kiss his lover's chest. He let his lips move teasingly around Harry's nipples and stomach, and then his mouth hovered above Harry's arousal.

"This is mine to touch and pleasure, Harry," he whispered before wrapping his lips around the thick shaft.

Harry groaned loudly in Draco's ear as he climaxed, and continued to rock his hips into Draco. His hand remained stroking his lover and shivered when Draco moaned his name. Warm fluid began to flow over his hand and fingers. Several minutes passed, and Harry carefully pulled out of Draco.

Draco turned over to face him and Harry kissed the red, swollen lips. "That was great," Draco whispered shyly.

"Thank you," Harry grinned and watched as Draco cleaned them off with cleaning spells. Then Draco snuggled against him, and kissed his cheek.

"So, what did Bluestone tell you?" Draco looked up at him affectionately.

Harry smiled. Being in bed with Draco always made him feel relaxed and comfortable, and for the past year or so, he had come to enjoy their bedtime talks. He was glad that it had become a ritual, because Draco was quieter ever since Knight had joined the centre.

"Well, he told me that I should be careful with your heart," Harry said and squeezed Draco's shoulders gently. "So he just reminded me that you are frailer than you look."

Draco snorted and Harry continued to talk. Two hours later, talks of personal things changed into complains of their students and classes, and the lovers stayed up all night just to talk to each other. When the first rays of the sun penetrated into the bedroom, Harry mischievously let the drapes fall. He made love to Draco again, and by the time they were done, they were quite happy to get some well-needed rest.

Harry chuckled as he looked at Draco's embarrassed expression. "Go to sleep now, Harry," Draco grumbled.

"I didn't know that you--"

"Finish that sentence and I'll bite you," Draco said warningly.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Draco. It's the same like you getting aroused when I strip-tease."

"Harry, please. Let's get some sleep now." Draco's face had turned bright crimson.

"Okay, okay." Harry sighed and cuddled against Draco. He felt the slight brush of warm lips against his forehead, and he dozed off with a smile.

The Centre. Wednesday, 17th November 1999.

Draco took several deep breaths and stared at the couple that he had caught in a secret alcove in the basement of the school. The male student looked embarrassed and the female student did not look up.

"Clean yourselves up," he hissed. Then he immediately went outside to wait. It is not your business to get angry, Draco Malfoy, Draco told himself.

"Like hell you don't have to be angry! The girl's not even sixteen!" a voice shouted in his mind.

When the couple came out, Draco glared at he boy. "Up to the fourth floor!" he barked. Merlin. I'm getting as irritable as Severus is nowadays. His expression showed no sympathy or compassion, and the witch looked as though she was about to cry. Draco escorted them to the fourth floor and made them wait inside a small room while he checked to see if Martha West was in her office.

"Ah, Draco. Good afternoon, my dear," Martha greeted him and she placed her teacup back on her saucer. "Is something wrong?"

"Well, Martha," Draco began wearily, "I caught two students engaging -- I caught them misbehaving."

Martha blinked.

"I felt that it is better that I report this to you, rather than the Headmaster," Draco added.

"What did they do, Draco?"

He could not answer and the old witch's eyes turned hard. "Send them in," she ordered in a deadly, quiet voice. "Did anyone else see them? Aran?" Draco shook his head and Martha nodded, obviously relieved. "Very well, Draco. Please bring them in -- I'll have a small chat with them. However, I think we must have a meeting later to prevent something like this from happening."

Draco exited and motioned to the two students to proceed into Martha's office. He watched them go in and then sighed heavily. It was not a good day for him. He had to deal with an overflowing cauldron that resulted from someone accidentally dropping a textbook inside the vessel in the morning. Reed had told him off for rearranging some of the jars containing potions ingredients to his liking just before lunchtime, and during his break at about three o'clock, he felt jealous when he saw Harry talking so animatedly with Knight. Then he had heard an odd noise and had gone to investigate. He was quite horrified to see the pair of students getting into mischief.

His headache grew worse with each step he took. His hands shook heavily when he stopped by the office that he shared with Harry. There was a soft hoot and he slowly looked up -- Hedwig was flying towards him with an envelope. Draco held out his hand and Harry's snowy owl landed gently on his arm.

"What is this?" Draco asked the owl as he took the high-quality envelope. However, it was addressed to Harry and not to him. "This is for Harry. Not me, Hedwig." The snowy owl flew off, and feeling curious, Draco followed her.

In one of the study corners on the second floor, Draco saw that Knight was talking to Harry again. He listened quietly and frowned when he heard the librarian asked Harry several personal things about him. Fortunately, Harry seemed to know that it was not his place to answer the questions but Knight was oblivious until Harry said, "Knight, there are a lot of things I don't know about him, yet."

Bloody hell. Why does he want to know whether I really prefer other wizards? And who is he to judge whether I'll make a good teacher? Draco fumed. Talons closed carefully on his right shoulder and he stared into Hedwig's big eyes. He went back to the office and gathered his things. "Tell me something, Hedwig. Do you like Knight? Hoot once if you don't and twice if you do."

Hedwig hooted once in response, and gave a small hiss. Draco quirked his eyebrow. "Well, do you think he's dangerous to Harry? Hoot once if you don't think so and twice if you do." She hooted twice.

His head pounded painfully and he quickly massaged his temples. "Do you think I should go home?" Hedwig hooted softly in his ear and tugged at his hair gently. "Okay, then."

Draco did not go to the study corner although he could clearly hear Harry's deeper voice. On the ground floor, Bluestone saw him and he waved at the Veela. Bluestone sauntered towards him.

"Where's Harry?" Bluestone asked curiously. "Are you all right?"

"I don't know where he is right now, but I want to go home," Draco told the older wizard. "I have a bloody headache." He hissed when his temples throbbed strongly. Bluestone immediately helped him to sit on a conjured bench and Draco buried his face in his hands.

"Draco?"

He lifted his head slowly and saw that Harry was looking at him worriedly. He smiled faintly. "It's just a headache. Don't look at me like that."

"And why didn't you tell me you want to go home now? It's dangerous to go home on your own. What if you faint on the way back?" Harry asked, but Draco merely shrugged. "Never mind. Hedwig, come here."

The weight on his shoulder vanished as Hedwig moved up Harry's arm and rested on her owner's shoulder.

"Harry, make sure Draco gets a hot bath, and give him something hot to drink," Bluestone advised.

"I know."

Draco took Harry's hand and they walked slowly into the foyer. The two wizards stopped and stared at the carriage waiting at the entrance. "Is that meant for us?" Draco asked his lover uncertainly.

"I'm not sure," Harry replied.

"What's going on?" a voice piped up and Draco yelped in surprise.

"Bloody hell," he muttered. Vine looked at them curiously.

"Why are you two still standing here?" Harry's mentor looked at them questioningly. "You are having a headache, aren't you, Draco?"

"I'll never get used to the idea of those horses talking to you," Draco murmured. "Well, thanks."

"Get in then. I'll drive," Vine said brightly.

Harry held Draco close and planted a light kiss on the top of his lover's head. He did not know why, but after his conversation with Knight, he felt apprehensive and frightened. However, Draco's presence helped to alleviate those feelings and he squeezed Draco's shoulder slightly in appreciation.

"Love you," Harry whispered into Draco's hair. The silver-haired wizard did not answer as he was asleep, and Harry thought that he should pamper his lover a little that day.

He felt the carriage slowing and smiled at Vine's excellent driving -- the carriage did not jolt even as it came to a stop. But how am I going to get Draco out? Harry peered down at Draco's peaceful expression. I don't want to wake him up. The door opened and he quirked his eyebrow at Vine's amused smile.

"I'm afraid you have to wake him up," his violet-eyed instructor said in a gentle voice. "But be extra nice afterwards, if you get my meaning."

"Thanks," Harry replied drily. "Elron? If Draco becomes sick, can he take leave?"

"Of course, but you can't."

"Like I don't know that." Harry rolled his eyes. Then he called Draco softly, several times. Gray eyes looked up at him sleepily. A rush of love filled his heart as they stared at each other for several seconds. "We're home," Harry said softly, and his lover nodded.

They waved at Vine and the horses before entering their house. Harry stopped Draco from walking any further, and dropped their bags to the floor. "Hold on," he said to Draco, who looked puzzled. He waited until his partner's hands were on his shoulders before he moved.

"Harry!" Draco squealed with his voice laced with surprise and delight when Harry successfully carried him. "Please warn me before you do that!"

Harry chuckled and kissed the tip of Draco's nose. "I did," he answered as they went up the stairs. "I told you to hold on."

"Be more detailed then," Draco muttered and Harry smiled affectionately at the Slytherin.

Harry set Draco on his feet when they reached the bedroom and he helped to undress Draco before taking his own clothes off. Draco was already in the bathtub when he was done, and he slipped in carefully so as not to make the water splash all over the floor.

He felt Draco's arms circle around his waist and he grinned mischievously. "I thought you have a headache."

"I am," Draco whispered and pulled him closer. "I think I'm falling sick."

Harry closed his eyes and trembled slightly as Draco's tongue invaded his mouth. After a minute or so, Draco withdrew.

"Why the thoughtful look?"

"I think I should refrain from kissing you. If it's a cold then I don't want you to fall ill as well," Draco replied and he rested his forehead against Harry's shoulders.

"Why? I can stay home with you if I do," Harry joked.

"I know, Harry, but who will take care of me if you're sick too?" Draco sniffed.

Harry laughed softly and hugged Draco tightly. "Draco, why didn't you rescue me?" Gray eyes looked at him blankly. "I knew you knew that I was at the study corner with Knight, and I was hoping you'd rescue me from his company," Harry explained.

"You knew?" Draco squirmed guiltily and Harry nodded. "Sorry, Harry."

"It's okay," Harry said and kissed Draco's cheek.

"Why is he asking so many questions about me?" Draco's gray eyes looked at him inquiringly. "He's not a busybody but more like an investigator."

"I don't know," Harry admitted. "Maybe he finds you attractive?" he said lightly. Draco snorted derisively.

"Let's not talk about Knight," Draco said suddenly. "You have a letter, you know. Hedwig brought it to me."

Harry blinked. "Oh? Really?" Then he frowned. "Then why didn't she give it to me? Why did she give it to you?"

"How am I supposed to know that? Maybe it's the fact that she doesn't like to go near Knight," Draco suggested cleverly.

"Hmmmm." Harry then embraced Draco and started to massage Draco's neck. He could feel his lover relax against him and he smiled crookedly when he heard a contented sigh.

They emerged from the tub when they felt they had been in the water long enough and Harry helped Draco wear his sleeping robe.

"Lie down on the bed, love," Harry ordered. "I'll get you something to eat and drink."

"Stay here." Draco looked at him with pleading eyes.

"I will, but you have to eat something first." Harry briskly went down to the kitchen and prepared hot chocolate for Draco and a light meal for the two of them. He returned to the bedroom with two steaming bowls of chicken porridge, two glasses of pumpkin juice and a mug of hot chocolate.

Draco was sitting up in bed, reading a book. There was a black envelope beside the wizard, on the place where Harry usually sleep. He set his book aside when Harry appeared with a tray laden with food.

"There's your letter," Draco said to Harry.

"What is it about?" Harry asked curiously as he set the tray carefully on the bed.

"It's your letter, Harry, not mine," Draco pointed out as he lifted his bowl of porridge. He raised his eyebrow at it. "I'm not a convalescent, you know."

Harry mock-glared at him. "Just eat, Draco."

He chuckled and watched as Harry sat opposite him and started to open the envelope. It looked like a long missive and Draco stared at the parchment in Harry's hands with amusement. However, his expression turned slightly apprehensive when Harry's eyes became sad. "Who is it from, Harry? And what is it about?" Draco inquired in a quiet voice. Did someone die?

"It's from Hermione, and the twins," Harry replied softly.

"Did someone die?" Draco asked sharply and the sound of his own voice made his temples pound again.

"No. But it feels as though something died." Harry's voice sounded distant. "Draco, Hermione's getting married, but we're not invited."

"That Weasel!" Draco exploded. He put away his bowl and snatched the letter from Harry's fingers. He scanned through the contents quickly. "I thought she could at least insert some authority over who's invited and who's not," he muttered darkly. "Bloody hell, she says that Ron allowed her to invite Severus, but not you. What in the hell is your friend thinking of?" Then Draco winced when he saw that Harry was clearly not paying attention to him.

He crawled over to Harry's side and hugged the raven-haired man. "Love, don't fret. We're still going."

"We're not invited."

"That is what your redheaded best friend thinks. Granger thinks otherwise, and so are the rest of the Weasleys." Draco kissed Harry's ear. "I do not mind playing a fox-fur scarf on Fleur Delacour's neck."

Harry only gave him a baleful stare.

"Harry, don't tell me you're afraid of a leash around your neck," Draco said and then chuckled slightly when Harry scowled. "At least your handler will be Charlie Weasley and not the Weasley twins." He stared penetratingly into Harry's green eyes then. "But of course, if it were the twins, then I absolutely forbid you to go."

"Forbid?" Harry asked archly.

"There is no way I'm letting those two put a leash around your neck and make you obedient to them," Draco said, still gazing fiercely at Harry. "You're mine, Harry." As he predicted, Harry blushed furiously.

"Merlin, Draco. You have a dirty mind," Harry growled.

"Whatever. I may be clueless once, but not twice." Draco looked at the letter again and noted the date of the wedding. "You'd better write this on the planner. Fourth of December."

"Later." Harry pulled the parchment from his fingers and made it float to the end table. "Eat your porridge before it gets cold, Draco."

Draco did as Harry instructed and obediently drank the hot chocolate. Then he lay down while Harry went out to put the tray back in the kitchen. He felt a little drowsy and dozed off, but awakened when he felt the bed shift.

"You don't have anything to do?" Draco murmured as he buried his face into Harry's chest.

"No, so I'm staying with you."

"Good." Draco kissed the exposed flesh of Harry's torso gently and settled for a nap.

Harry's heart was beating fast in his chest. He opened his eyes and tried to remember what he had dreamt that caused him to feel slightly frightened. However, it escaped him. He sighed and turned slightly to his side. His eyes widened when he felt Draco's waist. He propped himself up on an elbow and touched his lover's forehead.

There was a slight knock on the door and Harry looked at it curiously. Starkmind poked his head through the small opening. "Harry, Aran is here to check on Draco," the older wizard said softly.

Draco made a soft sound when Harry gently disengaged himself from Draco's hold. "Harry..." the Slytherin mumbled but then drifted back to sleep.

Harry got out of bed carefully and straightened his sleeping robe hastily. "What time is it?" he asked Starkmind quietly.

"A little after eleven," Starkmind answered and they went out. Draco's mentor was just coming up the stairs when they did.

"Potter," Reed greeted him and Harry inclined his head slightly. "Draco is sick?"

"His temperature is quite high," Harry told Reed immediately.

Reed looked at him thoughtfully before striding into their bedroom. Harry stood at the landing and watched as the interior of the room brightened. He started to worry about Draco's needs and wondered if he had time to check in his lover in between breaks, in case Draco had to stay home.

"How did Reed know when to come?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"I'm not sure," Starkmind admitted. "I was talking to Bluestone in the kitchen when Starry yowled. When I opened the door, there he was."

"Oh. Did we miss anything out at school?" Harry asked Starkmind inconsequentially.

Starkmind stared blankly at him for a moment before his face cleared. "Yes. We had a meeting just now."

"About?"

"About certain students getting too frisky for their own good," Starkmind said seriously. "It came to our knowledge that your Draco caught two students, making out heavily, in an alcove down in the basement. I didn't know that there was one."

"You're not serious!" Harry's eyes widened. "Are they above the age limit?"

"Unfortunately, no, one wasn't," Starkmind replied. "And that's bad."

"Bloody hell. Then are we supposed to do regular patrols, like the ones in Hogwarts?" he asked and Starkmind nodded.

"Yes. Jason's going to do an eagle-eye map for us, so that we know all hideaways in the school..." Starkmind's voice trailed off.

Harry heard voices coming from the bedroom. A few minutes later, Reed came out, still with the thoughtful expression.

"I don't think it's a cold -- he probably only has fever," Reed announced. "Potter, you are still to report for duty. If Draco starts coughing or sneezing, inform me immediately. I have left prescriptions with their detailed instructions on your table, and he is to take them after every meal. In the meantime, you can help try to bring down his temperature." Then Reed's expression turned cunning suddenly. "For your own good, Potter, sleep on the couch for several days and let Draco have the space to himself."

"All right, sir." Harry strongly kept his comments to himself and watched the senior Potions Master leave.

"Take heed." Starkmind winked at him and he made a face.

The moment Harry entered the bedroom, Draco said, "Harry, can you please wet a towel for me? I feel hot."

Harry smiled at the request. "I'll be right back."

For the days that followed, Harry, Bluestone and Starkmind took turns to check in on Draco, because the silver-haired man had developed influenza. That Sunday, however, Harry stayed out of his lover's way most of the time, since Draco was extremely grouchy and snappish.

Luckily, Draco seemed to have calmed down when it came to dinnertime, and Harry cuddled against Draco after that without any fear of receiving a hex.

"I'm sorry, love," Draco whispered into his ear guiltily.

"It's all right." Harry looked into apologetic, gray eyes. He winced when Draco started to cough violently and he let Draco turn away to spit into a paper bag.

"I hate coughing," Draco said vehemently when the pain passed. Harry dropped a loving kiss on Draco's brow.

Two days later.

Draco dreamt that someone had cornered him into a place. He gulped -- he did not know why he was feeling excited and alarmed at the same time. Something is wrong, Draco thought to himself. Then someone touched him, and he shuddered. He tried to shy away but the person would not let him. No ... this is not Harry. Only Harry can touch me like this. Only Harry...

His body jerked suddenly and he gasped. Draco spent several moments calming himself down. Then he heard a slight cough, as though someone tried to muffle it. He blinked and turned his head slightly. He frowned as he watched Harry's slender figure shuddering. He heard the cough again and groaned.

"Harry?" Draco leaned up and tried to get his lover to face him. Harry's skin was hot to the touch. "Oh no."

"Do you think your mentor can spare several bottles of cough medicine?" Harry said jokingly before coughing again.

"Damn it. I'm sorry. I made you sick." He then smiled slightly. "I don't think we need Reed's help." He gathered Harry into his arms. "Unlike you, Harry, I can take care of you, and make medicines for you too." Harry looked slightly stunned and Draco chuckled. "I love you, Harry."