Transition

Harry brought the tray of drinks over to the living room where Draco, Bluestone and Starkmind sat and chatted with the Weasley brothers and Fleur Delacour.

"Even Mum's kind of exasperated with him, but she doesn't know how to get him get over your decision. I feel sorry for Hermione though," Charlie was saying. "Thanks, Harry," the dragon keeper said as the emerald-eyed wizard handed him a drink.

"I don't understand it," Draco muttered. "She used to be able to get him to do things her way. Why can't Harry just attend? It's not as though it's compulsory to invite me."

"Turning Draco into a fur-scarf is a bit too exotic, don't you think?" Bluestone wryly.

"And it's not like he won't recognize the wolf when he sees it," Draco continued. "Harry, let's just go there, say 'hi' to Hermione and leave. We'll pick a time to sneak in when that stubborn boar is not around her."

"That is ... ah ... suitable," Fleur said haltingly. "Her-mione will be happy ... to know that you are there."

Harry seated himself in between Bluestone and Draco. His lover's eyes did not leave him all the while. "If it makes you happy, we'll do it your way."

"Harry..." Draco took his hand and squeezed it gently. "The thing that will make me extremely happy is if you give me the opportunity to knock that redhead senseless."

"And I'll be most happy to provide you with a beater's bat," Charlie said with an impudent grin.

"I don't like it," Bill said explosively and turned piercing blue eyes to Harry. The younger man winced. "Harry, for how long are you and Ron going to remain like this? Don't you think it's time for you to mend the rift between the two of you?"

"I tried, Bill," Harry answered, not bothering to hide the frustration in his voice. "He ignores me. He is not ready to mend that rift -- he's not ready to talk to me. Draco and I frequent Diagon Alley. Ron knows that sometimes we do nothing but stand outside the shop watching him but he never makes a move."

"Harry is afraid that he might infuriate his friend further so that's why he chose to wait and see," Draco said before their three guests could say anything. "So we'll go tomorrow, but how? Apparate?"

"Probably," Harry muttered. Then he nodded his head resolutely. "No matter what, I'll witness their marriage."

Bill and Charlie nodded. Then they rose to their feet, and Fleur stood up gracefully, following her fiancé's example.

"Sorry, Harry," Bill said apologetically, "but we've got to go before Ron gets suspicious. If he asks the twins or mum too many questions, sooner or later, the truth will slip out."

Harry nodded and embraced the Weasleys, while Draco and the others shook hands. "See you guys around. Take care, Fleur."

"I will certainly do," the beautiful witch replied. Then her eyes twinkled mischievously. "I knew that you will be with him someday," she said enigmatically before turning in a swirl of robes.

Harry watched his friends leave before allowing Draco to pull him up the stairs. He did not know why his heart felt heavy and sad, and wished that there was something he could do to drive the gloominess away. He settled on the bed while Draco locked the door and his eyes followed the silver-haired man's movements as the latter dealt with the drapes. Wordlessly, Draco slid into space beside him, and snuggled against him.

"Don't worry anymore," Draco whispered. Harry pressed his cheek against Draco's fine hair. "Everything will be fine."

He did not say anything. He threaded his fingers into silver hair and seemed mesmerized by his own movement. Draco had let his hair grow -- looking more and more like his father. However, Harry knew it was Draco, his Draco. "I love your hair."

"Hmmmm." Draco kissed his collarbone.

Harry performed a Heat Spell to ensure that the room remained warm at all times. The candles that illuminated the room vanished after Draco and he agreed to sleep early. He suddenly became aware of Draco's fingers running along his chest, slipping into his trousers, and he breathed sharply, as his lover's fingers curled around him.

"Harry?"

There was something odd about Draco's tone that he quickly forced himself not to focus on the pleasurable sensation that assaulted his manhood. "What is it?" he asked softly.

A thoughtful silence ensued, followed by, "Nothing." Draco's strokes became faster and Harry groaned as his manhood thickened. Lust quickly clouded his thinking as he felt the erection digging in his thigh. He panted and shivered when Draco rolled on top of him, and grounded his hips firmly.

Harry dimly heard Draco muttering a spell and hissed as flesh rubbed against naked flesh. Quite unconsciously, he pleaded with his lover. His eyes widened when Draco kissed him feverishly, hungrily. One might have thought they had stayed away from any forms of intimacy for days.

"Take me, Draco," Harry uttered as he exposed his throat for Draco to bite. "Draco..."

His lover pulled away slightly to retrieve something from the end table, and Harry watched with lust-filled eyes as Draco applied lubricant on himself. Then slowly and cautiously, his lover penetrated him.

"Harry..." Draco whispered his name.

His heart nearly exploded when he looked at Draco, whose face appeared strained and half-screened by long, silver locks. Then he gasped, loudly. A wave of magic seared through his soul and his eyes rolled back into his head as his body became overwhelmed with pleasure.

"So tight ... so hot..." The voice seemed to be coming from somewhere above him -- he was right when lips suddenly claimed his.

For several minutes, Draco stayed buried in him and they continued to kiss. When they parted, Harry looked wantonly at Draco. His lover pulled back and then thrust forward. A surge of magic coursed through Harry again, doubling the pleasure as the erection in him rubbed against his prostate gland.

"Should have never taught you this," Harry gasped.

"I love you so much, Harry," Draco muttered. He had increased his pace and Harry was drawn closer and closer to release.

Harry then lost himself, and could not see and hear anything but the thrumming of their bodies. Then he felt something warm against his neck and a comfortable pressing of weight over his body. He smiled and embraced his lover tightly.

"I love you too, Draco," Harry whispered, and Draco then claimed his lips.

Harry and Draco had woken early, and they were greatly surprised to find Severus Snape in the dining room. The Potions Master was calmly sipping on his cup of coffee when they entered.

"Severus!" Draco greeted, pleased to see his godfather.

"Good morning," Snape greeted and stared piercingly at Harry. "Potter." The emerald-eyed wizard inclined his head politely in greeting.

"Why are you here?" Draco asked as he poured coffee for himself and Harry.

"To get you to Granger's wedding," Snape replied promptly.

Draco blinked and exchanged a look of alarm with his lover. "Wait, Severus. We're planning on a secret entry."

"And you are."

"But how?" Harry asked with a slight frown. However, Draco's godfather chose not to elaborate.

"Good morning, Harry, Draco," Bluestone said brightly. "Here: eat up." The Veela gracefully set three plates filled with bacon, eggs and toast in front of the sitting wizards.

"Thank you." Draco was reaching out for his fork when he paused. "Where's Elaviel?" Then he groaned when Bluestone smiled mischievously. His gray eyes flickered to watch Snape nervously.

"Let me guess. You got carried away and ended on the floor, and Elaviel was too careless that he hit his head against the table?" Harry asked diffidently.

Bluestone chuckled and Harry snorted. Draco blushed furiously and refused to meet Snape's eyes.

"What?" Snape wheezed.

Draco ignored his godfather's curiosity and he ate quickly. When he was done, he leaned back and drank his coffee. "Who did Granger invite?" he asked Harry.

"I'm certain she had asked her parents to come, but that's all, I think. I don't think her cousins or relatives knew she's a witch," Harry said thoughtfully.

"So she has made the decision to be fully integrated in the wizarding world?" Snape queried.

Slowly, Harry nodded.

"What is this about?" Draco sounded piqued.

"I don't know how she wants to do it, but to erase the memory of her from her parents seem ... wrong, somehow. But with magic, she knows that she will never fit in her parents' world."

"Oh." Draco blinked and turned his thoughts inward. Then unexpectedly, he shuddered. It'd be as if she had never existed before. "That's cruel." He was unaware that he had spoken aloud and only realized it when Harry nodded his head unmistakably.

"If you are done, can we get going?" Snape's voice refocused his attention back to the present.

"How, Snape? Apparate? Floo? Walk?" Harry repeated his previous question. Draco smiled slightly and it turned sheepish when Harry gave him a sour look.

"Severus, are you coming back with Harry and Draco?" Starkmind's voice asked. Draco turned. Starkmind stood beneath the archway with a rather pained expression.

"Yes. I don't intend to stay at the Weasleys' long nor do I intend to go back to Hogwarts."

Draco mulled over the Potions Master's words and he wondered whether Snape was using the excuse to avoid Remus Lupin. His lopsided smile betrayed his thoughts and he found his godfather scowling at him, black eyes daring him to say out his thoughts.

"Oh, good," Starkmind responded and then sat on the chair that Harry had vacated.

"I'll see the three of you later then," Bluestone said and attended to his husband. In the meantime, Draco, Harry and Snape crossed the living room to the hallway. When Draco stood on the porch, he saw Stachrin waiting with another of his kind.

"And just how are we supposed to sneak in by riding Vine's horses?" Draco inquired, almost to himself.

"Just get on," Snape muttered and mounted the other stallion.

Draco rolled his eyes and waited until Harry was settled before climbing up behind the emerald-eyed wizard. Then he held on to his lover's waist and relaxed. His stomach lurched as Stachrin galloped away from the Lovenest. The wind roared in his ears and soon, the tip of his nose started to burn and he wished he had tied his long hair back.

Stachrin was using a speed Draco had never encountered before and he found his lips trembling with fright. Impulsively, he pressed his face against Harry's warm back. Severus is mad, Draco thought somberly. Riding against the winter winds, at a speed faster than an eagle swooping down ... I'll be lucky if I still have my nose and fingers by the end of the ride.

Harry forced his eyes to remain open although it hurt him. The world around him blurred as Stachrin raced forward, to The Burrow. Finally, the pain became too much for him to bear and he closed his eyes. I hope that whichever path Stachrin chose to take do not have overhanging branches or other obstruction, Harry thought grimly.

Then he gasped, as something seemed to pierce and pull into his stomach. Behind him, he heard Draco gasp as well. He opened his eyes immediately and they widened further. He noted that Snape and his mount stood beside him. Like Stachrin, they were perfectly still.

Just how many secrets is Vine keeping from us about his horses? Harry marveled. He looked above and below him. It was as though they were before a doorway and the doorway itself was pulsing.

"Harry, what's going on?" Draco asked him in a hushed voice.

Harry glanced over his shoulder and his bewildered eyes should manage to convey what he felt. Then he turned back to the couple standing below the archway, and before Dumbledore. He was looking at Hermione and Ron exchanging vows.

"It seems like we're here on time," Draco whispered, "but aren't we going to be seen?"

"I don't know..."

So there they waited, still mounted on Stachrin. The wedding ceremony moved on to the reception now, and Harry could see Hermione's eyes scanning through the crowd of friends and guests. Then he held his breath when the twins came in his direction.

"Aren't they coming?" Fred asked George in an undertone.

"Bill said they were," George replied, stopping to stand just inches away from Stachrin's nose. "But I didn't see Malfoy with Fleur."

Fred muttered something uncomplimentary and Harry nearly shouted in alarm as the twins walked through the horse, himself and Draco. Fred and George continued to walk away, muttering to themselves.

"Relax, Potter," Snape murmured. "They won't be able to see us."

Harry could only trust what the Potions Master said. It was about two hours later -- although he did not feel it -- when Stachrin started to move forward, towards the hill behind the Weasleys' home.

"Harry." Draco's fingers tightened around his waist.

Hermione and Ron were standing by a table covered with gold-rimmed tablecloth, and they were chatting quietly. Until the twins Apparated right next to Ron and dragged him away. Harry could hear his best friend protesting but the twins determinedly carried the groom to the presence of their siblings.

"Hey ... where are you taking me?" Ron was almost shrieking, but his brothers' laughter drowned his voice. "Mum!!!" Then he vanished, with Bill, Charlie and the twins.

Harry could see that Ginny was not pleased at being left out and stomped towards the bride. Hermione smiled gently and patted the younger witch's shoulder comfortingly. From the corner of his eye, Harry saw a movement and turned his head just in time to see Snape swinging down from the saddle.

"Snape!" Ginny then shrieked, and then she blushed immediately after the Potions Master glared at the rather rude address.

"Should we dismount?" Draco whispered in his ear. Harry thought about it for a few seconds before nodding.

"Draco..." Hermione breathed once the silver-haired wizard dismounted. Then Harry jumped down cautiously, and stabled himself by placing one hand on Stachrin's strong neck. "Harry..."

He grinned slightly at his friend's wide-eyed expression. He glanced quickly at Draco, and the silver-eyed wizard nodded slightly. They approached the bride, and Draco presented the small, red box to Hermione.

"Congratulations," Draco said uncertainly and dropped it onto Hermione's outstretched hand.

"Thank you," Hermione whispered. Her eyes started to water. "Oh..." Then she embraced Draco, before hugging Harry. "Thank you for coming."

"You're beautiful," Harry said in a hushed tone. Hermione's eyes flickered guiltily at Draco, but the Slytherin looked unperturbed. "We saw you ... exchange vows."

"Thank you so much..."

Harry stepped back, to stand beside his lover. Then he watched with amusement as Snape stood mutely before Hermione. The greasy-haired wizard also gave her something but did not say anything.

"You could just say 'good luck', you know," Draco muttered but only Harry heard it.

"Severus?"

Draco snorted and Harry raised his eyebrow upon seeing Snape's back stiffening at the voice. The Potions Master turned around and immediately went to his horse. Behind him, Ginny swore as Snape vanished from sight without a sound.

"Harry?" Remus came forward and embraced him lightly.

"Hello, Remus," Harry said softly. "Is everything going well?"

"I'm not so sure," the werewolf replied with a slight smile. "He seems to be running away at the mere hint that I wish to talk to him. I wonder why." Then the wizard focused his eyes at a particular spot and raised his eyebrow. Remus sighed and looked back at Harry. "What about you?"

"We're all right," Draco answered.

"That's good."

There were several simultaneous cracks and a wave of disappointment coursed through Harry. "We have to go," he said and quickly hugged Hermione and Ginny. "Don't cry, 'Mione. Remus." Harry embraced the werewolf tightly and Draco shook Remus' hand. "I'll write to you someday."

Then before the group of red-haired people could see them, Harry took Draco's hand and led his lover to Stachrin. As Draco settled behind him, he became aware that they stood before the doorframe once more. Harry stared at his friends wistfully and sighed. Stachrin turned around and started to gallop.

Back at the Lovenest.

Draco was washing the plates in the kitchen after dinner. He was somewhat mesmerized by the motions and sensations as he rubbed the dirt from the plate with the sponge. He could hear the murmurs of conversations from outside the living room, but they lacked of a certain cheerful baritone. Draco gathered that Harry must have gone upstairs to bathe.

He continued to wash the dishes. He was so absorbed with his own thoughts he did not realize that the conversation in the living room had stopped as Bluestone and Starkmind came to see who was knocking on their door. He was also not aware of the pair of dark eyes watching his every move.

"You are too quiet, Draco."

Draco's heart jumped and nearly lost his hold on the slippery plate. "What do you mean, Severus?" he asked lightly.

"Something is bothering you, I know. Is it Potter? Has he offended you?" Snape moved closer and leaned against the countertop beside him.

"No ... it's..." Draco sighed. "It's nothing, Severus." He gave his godfather a weak smile. "The cause of Ludo Bagman's death is still unknown?" he asked in an effort to change the subject.

"I'm not going to fall for that," Snape said abruptly. "The cause of his death is known, but the motive behind it remains unclear," the older wizard corrected.

"Hmmmm." Draco stopped his tasks and frowned slightly. "Anyway, what is going on between you and Lupin?"

"That is none of your business."

"Right," he replied sardonically. "Anyway, are you going to stay here for the night? You can use the opportunity to explore the library." His godfather shook his head however.

"I am going to meet Reed later."

"Why? To exchange information?" Draco did not know where that idea came from and was genuinely surprised when Snape paled. "Okay, that's not my business."

"Damned right."

Snape Apparated just a few feet away from the fountain and winced to find his ex-mentor waiting calmly by it. He inclined his head politely and Reed responded in kind. The latter jerked his chin in the direction of the gloomy house and Snape nodded. Once inside, Reed poured some coffee for him, and they sat down in the living room. To his surprise, Vine casually joined them, sitting not too far from Reed.

"Did your godson inform you of a rather peculiar incident involving Memory Charms?" Reed said suddenly and Snape eyes flared wide.

"When?"

"September. A year ago."

"No, he did not," he replied, frowning. "Is there anything he may have forgotten to tell me?"

"I do not know."

"Severus, if you don't mind, can you tell me if Draco is usually quiet?" Vine asked him.

Snape could not help the snort that escaped. "No. And it is troubling me."

"That's what I thought too." Vine nodded. "I am not sure why, but I'm almost certain that it's not just the 'attacks' that had made him so ... reflective."

"Is it Potter?" Snape inquired carefully, but both wizards shook their heads.

"No ... not Harry." Then Vine sighed explosively and Snape arched his eyebrow. "Draco, as you noticed has been very quiet, and it's because of a certain wizard that has recently joined the centre."

"I should have known that the brat is distracted with jealousy," Snape muttered.

"No, no. It's not that," Vine said quickly.

"He is troubled, uneasy with this ... person. Of course, he did not say it aloud, but I can tell by his body language." Reed said slowly. "I do not like ... the new one as well."

Snape was determined to keep his expression blank. You don't like anyone ... except for Elron, he thought to himself.

"Our familiars do not like him either."

"If there is something suspicious with this man, why did Greatoak accept him in the centre?"

Reed smiled cynically. "He could not remember why. He knows for certain that it's not like your case with Dumbledore."

Snape frowned. "Do you have..." his voice trailed off as a file appeared on his lap. He lifted it and scanned through the contents. This might be useful to Tonks. "Thank you."

"By the way, Severus, how is your relationship with Remus going?" Vine asked mildly.

Frosty, black eyes gazed piercingly into earnest amethyst eyes. Then he sighed when even his ex-mentor looked interested. "It's fine ... but I have ... trouble adjusting."

"It'll be easier with time. Don't worry," Reed said, almost helpfully.

"But it's not easy when one has the habit to keep things to himself, for good purpose," he muttered. He checked his watch and nodded. It was time for him to leave. "Thank you."

"We'll see you again, Severus," Vine said. "And we'll keep you abreast of things."

Snape saw himself out of Reed's house and looked around carefully. Then he Apparated away.

Thursday, 2nd March 2000.

Draco had the weird dream again. The dream where he felt the person holding him was not his lover, but someone pretending to be him. He woke abruptly and sat up slowly. He really hated the dreams. It left him feeling frightened and guilty. He turned his head slightly, and his heart plummeted. The empty space beside him had been no dream.

The scenes of last night flashed in his memory and he buried his face in his hands. His long hair cascaded down his face and touched his hands gently. I should have told him what was bothering me. Not fight. Not accuse him of flirting. I should have told him, and not lie. It is not stress with the students. It's the fact that he swings both ways. It's the fact that Knight is talking too much with him. It's the fact that Knight looked at me strangely each time I intrude on them.

His lips trembled and he felt tears forming in his eyes. Then he suddenly heard Reed's voice in his mind. Tonight. I'll talk to him tonight.

Draco took his bath alone and an expression of regret and sadness did not quite leave his face as he sat down for breakfast. His lover was not talking to him either. Bluestone and Starkmind looked alternately at them, but they remained quiet.

The day felt long to him, and Draco decided at the last minute not to go to the communal hall for breaks and skipped his meals. As usual, he waited for Harry in the office after his lessons. His lover was quiet, and suddenly it became so difficult for Draco to talk. He opened his mouth to call Harry, but Harry did not even realize that he was merely standing on the front steps.

I'm sorry....

Draco watched as the door of the house closed, preventing him from watching his lover.