Transition

Harry was dreaming, and he had never felt so guilty and depressed before the fight he had with Draco last night. He turned and mumbled something unintelligible. His subconscious commented sarcastically that he could have conjured a comfortable mattress instead of a couch. Then another part of him scolded him that he should not have left Draco and sleep in the workroom. They were silenced when a dream began to materialize and his subconscious paid careful attention to it.

[ Harry stood and watched quietly as Draco moved about the room, packing his belongings into three of his gleaming trunks. Ron had been right about Draco after all. All the silver-haired wizard wanted was to humiliate and to use him. That realization gave a numbing blow to Harry, who was already feeling lost and sorrowful. He could not believe that Draco had done all those things to hurt him and since Harry had discovered about the plan, Draco thought that it was best if he retreated completely out of Harry's life. He left and Harry did not stop him. ]

He woke abruptly and sat up. He bit his lower lip, as he became aware that he was not in his bedroom. He remembered exchanging a few harsh words with his lover, and already, he regretted his rashness. It did not help that he had been having weird dreams for some time. Most of them did not make sense, but the recent ones always left him with dread.

He ran his fingers through his hair and let out an explosive sigh. He stood and exited from the study, and returned to the bedroom. He closed the door quietly behind him and then stared at the sleeping figure. His lover looked just as sad, and Harry reached out as though to take hold of the flailing hand. However, something stopped him. He did not do what he wanted to do, but merely took his robes and toiletries before leaving Draco alone.

The hours that followed breakfast were hellish. He wanted so much to talk to Draco but he did not know what to say. So he kept quiet and kept his distance from everyone. Knight still tried to talk to him, but Harry sent the librarian away with, "I'm sorry, Knight, but I'm too busy to talk."

When it was time for him and Draco to go home, his lover did not hold him by the waist. Is he still angry? Harry was uncomfortable, and again, he lost his courage to talk. He went into the house and immediately went to the workroom to put his things. He did not have dinner with Draco or with Bluestone and Starkmind; he had locked himself in one of the spare bedrooms of the Lovenest.

He slept fitfully and he dreamt again. This time, he tried to influence the way his dream worked.

[ Even in that dream, Harry was angry but not because of Draco's betrayal. No matter what, he did not want Draco to leave. The previous dreams he had had been silent. He spoke this time.

"Put that shirt back in the cupboard, Draco! You are not leaving!"

There was a rush of wind and the curtains vanished suddenly to reveal a sunny landscape.

"Aren't you glad that you know the truth now? Aren't you happy that your best friend had been right about me after all?" Draco said, not looking up from his task.

Harry stormed across the bedroom and grabbed the slender shoulders that he was so familiar and at home with. He spun the startled wizard around.

"You want to leave?" Harry hissed. "Look into my eyes and say it!" His eyes stared piercingly into the pair of silver ones.

'It's for your own good, Potter."

"Now don't start calling me that!" he shouted angrily. "Say it, Draco!"

"I'm leaving now," Draco said flatly, but his eyes bore signs of regret and he watched Harry with a strange expression.

"Are you sure you won't come back?" Harry asked quietly.

"I'm not coming back."

"Then go. But I want you to remember that I still love you." Then he slowly let go of Draco's shoulders and sat on the bed, exhausted. He fell back and stared up at the ceiling while he listened to the sounds of Draco's trunks closing.

After several minutes, Draco spoke. "I guess I won't be leaving after all."

Harry snorted but his eyes remained focused on the pale green ceiling. "Why not?"

"The door won't open."

"Apparate then."

In his mind, Harry was scolding himself. Why was he trying to drive his lover away when he wanted Draco to stay?

"Have your wits melted into a puddle already, Gryffindor? What good is owning a private home when anyone can appear in it without restrictions?"

"Jump out the window then."

"Then you are mad. I'll be dead even before I get on my feet. Bluestone will kill me if I ruin his garden."

"Why don't you take out your broom, attach all your trunks on it and fly out?"

"I can't because you broke it, remember?"

Harry raised his eyebrow because he knew he did not do such a thing. "Why are you making excuses?"

"Why are you driving me away?"

He felt the slight brush of Draco's dark blue robes and he dropped his eyes. The Slytherin was lowering himself carefully on top of him. Harry felt vastly relieved and he pulled the blonde-haired wizard for a long, passionate kiss. "So you aren't leaving?" he whispered hopefully into his lover's ear.

"No, I'm not."

"Good. Because I love you too much to allow you to do so." Harry kissed Draco again. "Draco, do you love me?"

Gentle fingers tipped his chin and Harry stared up at Draco's smiling face. "That is one of the things that is difficult not to do. Yes, Harry. I love you. That is why," Draco caressed the indicolite ring that Harry wore, "I gave you this. I think you're the only one who deserves to wear it."

Harry then smiled happily. ]

He woke and started to grumble to himself. Damn it. He looked out of the window and was surprised to find that it was bright and sunny. I overslept. He scowled as he went out of the spare bedroom.

Saturday, 4th March 2000. The Three Broomsticks.

"Here you go, Draco," Madam Rosmerta said cheerfully as she handed him a glass of pumpkin juice and a plate of cakes. Draco nodded his thanks and watched her leave the room to check on her customers downstairs. He sighed softly. The witch could have asked him why Harry was not with him, but she did not, and Draco was vastly relieved.

He was in Hogsmeade, so that he could meet up with his godfather. After last night, Draco really needed to talk to someone who was not likely to take sides. He had owled Snape immediately after Harry had chosen to lock himself in one of the spare bedrooms without having dinner first. Fortunately, he received a positive reply in the morning.

Draco checked his pocket watch, and pursed his lips. And it's just like him to take his time, Draco thought sourly. About twenty minutes later, Snape entered the room and the young wizard greeted his godfather with a soft hello.

Snape dragged a chair from under the table and sat down. Black eyes stared penetratingly at Draco and it made the latter somewhat uncomfortable. Draco's shoulders twitched slightly in nervousness. "Did you have a fight?" Snape asked bluntly.

The young man winced. "Well ... I suppose you can call it that," Draco said slowly.

"What exactly is the problem?"

Madam Rosmerta returned to the room with their lunch, and a tray that had a bottle of wine and two crystal glasses, floated sedately behind the witch. Snape took the tray of wine and placed it on the table. Draco waited until the door closed before answering.

"I'm jealous," Draco mumbled and Snape lifted an eyebrow at his response. His cheeks reddened with embarrassment. "I mean ... well, Harry's bisexual. Maybe I'm just paranoid but ... I keep having the feeling that he might want someone else."

"And who could this 'someone' be?" Snape asked in a calm tone.

"Other females and males?" Draco replied evasively.

"That would mean Starkmind, his husband, your mentor, his mentor, colleagues, and other men in the vale, yes?"

Draco looked at his godfather suspiciously. Does he know something that I don't? And I did say females as well, didn't I? Draco started to eat. "Maybe ... not Reed. Or Elaviel and Bluestone. They are like ... our parents." He frowned. "But Vine..."

Snape snorted. "You are a little paranoid. Vine is not after your mate," Snape said.

"Really? Then tell me why he always touches Harry's elbow lightly every single time they meet."

"Vine is not after Potter," Snape insisted. "But the fellow - Adrian Knight -"

"I didn't say anyth -" Draco started but his godfather cut him short with a derisive snort. "Wait - how did you know about Knight?"

"Draco, I've spent half of my life working as a spy and I'm ashamed to say that it has become a rather, troublesome habit." Snape smiled wryly. "I have contacts in Dancers' Vale. Do you know that Tonks is suspicious of him?"

Really? Draco blinked and shook his head slightly.

"There are several others that I know, who don't feel comfortable around the seemingly, hapless, librarian," Snape continued. "So if your cousin is cautious of the wizard, I don't think it is paranoia when it comes to him. So be careful."

Draco nodded and fell into deep thought. However, his godfather was not finished and he looked at the Potions Master curiously.

"Where was I? Oh yes. Vine is not after your mate. I do hope that you have been discreet about your insecurities. I don't think you are ready to deal with acute embarrassment in case Reed decides to pester Vine regarding the matter." Then Snape smirked.

Draco simply looked puzzled. "But why would he do that?"

"Let's just say that you might cause unnecessary friction between them," Snape hinted.

It took several minutes for Draco to realize the implications. "You can't be serious!" he exclaimed.

Snape leered. "Just because they are living separately doesn't mean they aren't."

Draco did not whether he should cry or laugh. He felt so ashamed of himself and cursed silently. Then he covered his face with one hand. "But I am still jealous."

"So, just how strained is your relationship with Potter?"

"We're not talking to each other. And Harry sleeps in another room."

"And when did you have the fight?"

"Three nights ago," Draco replied immediately.

"Ah." Snape's face took on a contemplative expression. "Do you realize that Potter may have the same insecurities as you do?"

The question took Draco by surprise. "But why? I'm not interested in any other wizards!"

"Did you tell him that you were coming here to have lunch with me?" Snape looked at him seriously.

"Yes, I did. I left him a note. What are you trying to get at, Severus?" Draco asked gravely.

"You have not done anything to spite him, have you?"

Draco slumped back in his chair - his chocolate ice cream looked no longer mouth-watering. He stared out of the window and thought his reply carefully. "I thought about it, but for some reason I can't. It just isn't right and it is incredibly childish. I'm quite fixated on him and damn it! It hurts that there's distance between the two of us now."

"It's just as well that you are smart enough to know what your heart is telling you, Draco," Snape sighed. "This is one of the phases that you have to go through when you're in a relationship. Have you talked to Potter about this?" Draco shook his head in response and his godfather sighed again. "You have to learn to trust your mate, if Potter is worthy enough for your trust. Talk to him. Let him know about your insecurities. You'll feel better once you have confided in him."

After lunch, the two stepped out into the busy street of Hogsmeade, and wandered aimlessly. He found himself talking to his godfather about Knight, but the more he talked about the wizard, the more depressed he became. Draco finally abandoned the subject and focused on a new one.

"Let's not talk about the librarian. Can we go to your house?" Draco asked. He did not wait for Snape to agree before Apparating away. Draco materialized several feet away from Snape's home. At the sound that indicated that someone had Apparated in the vicinity, the door to Snape's home opened.

"I thought you said you were-" Remus froze. Snape appeared after Draco, looking quite aggravated. "There you are. You didn't say that you were bringing someone home for lunch."

"It was not my idea," Snape grated while Draco simply stood open-mouthed. "And lunchtime is over, in case you haven't noticed."

Draco looked at the werewolf and then at his godfather. Then he doubled up into hysterical laughter. Snape immediately grabbed his shoulder and pulled the younger wizard into the building. Remus, Draco saw, looked bemused and shut the door docilely.

"Will you stop laughing?" Snape growled.

"I did not interrupt your plans for the day, I hope," Draco managed to say once he regained his composure.

"We have plenty of time, Draco," Remus said before disappearing into the kitchen.

"So, everything between you and Lupin okay then?" Draco tried hard not to snigger. "It must be, since you are out here and not the castle." Snape merely glared and Draco started to chuckle again.

"I'm quite glad you decided to pop by, Draco," Remus said as he returned to the hall. "Here."

Draco took the bag from Remus and peered into it curiously. It was a loaf of bread. He looked inquiring at the Defense professor.

"For some reason, the bread expanded more than I expected. I must have misread the instructions or something," Remus replied with a slight shrug.

"Oh." Draco sneered. "So you came here just so that you can bake a loaf of bread?" he asked jokingly.

"Partly," Remus admitted. "It's troublesome working in the kitchen at Hogwarts with so many house-elves underfoot." Suddenly, his hazel eyes brightened and Draco choked on laughter again when Snape's face reddened. Remus gave Snape a somewhat affectionate gaze and after a minute or so, Snape's obsidian eyes softened slightly. Watching the two wizards made Draco somewhat wistful.

I think I had better follow Severus' advice and talk to Harry. Only Merlin knows how I can get him to come with me for a bit of private chat.

Harry 's heart clamored in his chest, quite alarmed by Draco's absence. He looked around the bedroom carefully, and trepidation filled him when he saw the note on the bedside table. He picked the piece of paper and read quickly. Then he sighed with relief. Draco had written on the paper to inform him that he was out having lunch with his godfather. Harry washed up and went to the third floor balcony to brood.

"A Sickle for your thoughts, Harry," Bluestone's voice pierced the somber silence that surrounded Harry. When he turned, the emerald-eyed wizard found the Veela leaning calmly on the doorframe.

"It's nothing. Really." Harry smiled sadly and turned his attention to the pine trees in the distance. Bluestone came over and joined him at the railing.

"You know very well that I know that you and Draco are unhappy," Bluestone said relentlessly. "You can't fault him for feeling jealous after the stunt my sister tried to pull on you."

"But that happened months ago, Bluestone. I thought he knew that I didn't want her attentions," Harry said glumly.

"It has to do with the fact that you like both sexes, yes. But right now, the problem lies with how Knight seems to be wanting your attention."

"But I'm not interested in anyone but him!" Harry said in frustration. "Bloody hell - but I can't think straight anymore. Elron has been very patient when Draco digs at him, fortunately. And Knight - I don't know why he's prying for information on Draco."

"He is still doing that?" Bluestone sounded surprised.

"And it makes me feel uncomfortable now that I think Knight likes him," Harry mumbled. "I mean, the questions he asks. Only someone trying to court someone would ask those kind of questions."

"Elaviel is having a ball in the kitchen," Bluestone said, abruptly changing the subject. "Why don't you take the picnic basket, put whatever he has baked and kidnap Draco to the woods?" he suggested. "I noticed that the two of you haven't been talking as much as you did before. You ought to rectify that, before it becomes serious that it will leave you wounded."

Then Bluestone kissed Harry soundly on the forehead. "You love each other. Every one here, including the students who notice, and Jason, who still thinks it's weird that a man can love another man that way, can see that. You just need to see it for yourselves."

Bluestone left Harry to think in the balcony. The raven-haired wizard sat on the surface of the table, while his feet rested on the bench. It was when his stomach started to announce that he was hungry when he heard voices. Draco was home. He jumped to his feet and walked out briskly. He conjured a picnic basket instead of finding one in the pantry and found Draco in the kitchen. The latter was sampling one of Starkmind's biscuits when Harry suddenly pulled him for a rough kiss.

Silently, Harry quickly filled his basket with treats and stared seriously into Draco's gray eyes. He tugged at the Slytherin urgently.

"Harry, where are we going?" Draco asked quizzically.

"We're going for a picnic," Harry replied shortly. "Apparate before the Tree." He let go of his lover, and trusting that Draco would come, he Apparate first.

Draco did, and Harry took a pale hand in his own. They walked the straight path until they came to the fork.

"Right," Draco answered after Harry looked inquiringly at him.

They walked again and came to three trails. Draco chose right again, and they followed it, and came to a cave, very much like their first hideout. In the sunlight, they could see a bench in the cave, positioned so that they could lean back against the wall. There was also a neat pile of leaves in one corner, and Harry raised an eyebrow when he saw it. It looked like a mattress.

"Looks like this one is a splendid spot," Harry announced to himself and dropped the basket of treats on the ground. He pulled Draco into his arms and looked directly into the pair of silver eyes. "I really miss you, you know that," he said in a broken voice. His eyes blurred with sudden tears. "I'm sorry that I shouted at you that night - but you weren't talking to me. I don't like it when you closed yourself from me. It's-"

Draco kissed him fiercely, and the bag that contained Remus' baked bread dropped to the floor, to be forgotten. Harry whimpered as Draco tightened his grip around his waist, and it was not surprising that Harry's body reacted to the contact.

Draco hissed as he felt the hardened shaft digging into his thigh. He broke away from the passionate kiss and breathed in Harry's scent. Merlin ... I miss him so much. "Let's talk, love. Let's talk," he said quickly, suddenly wanting to hear more of his lover's voice.

Harry nodded and then kissed him all over his face. The contact almost made Draco lose his head and throw Harry to the floor, and take him right there and then, but he managed to restrain himself. Confiding to each other had become more important and Draco was willing to do anything to mend the rift.

They sat on the bench, and Draco leaned on Harry's shoulder for comfort. "Can I start first? After all, I was the one who started the fight," he murmured.

"All right," Harry answered and dropped a kiss on his hair.

"Harry, I'm jealous, because Knight is paying so much attention to you, even though the topic of interest is me. I don't like it that he wants to know things about me, and I am proud of you - for not answering any of his questions. To put it bluntly, I don't like Knight. I don't hate him, because I haven't found any reasons to, but his inquisitive nature is making my blood boil, because he seems to be sidling close to you every time there's a break," Draco said calmly. "But the main reason is-"

"Is it because I'm bisexual?" Harry asked softly.

"No, Harry. It's who you are and I can't change that. It's not your fault that you may find witches like Amira beautiful or the serving man in the Spark charming. You're mine. I shouldn't be jealous of your preferences." He took a deep breath. "Harry, please listen to me carefully. I have wanted to mention this for months but I wasn't able to. And damn, I forgot to tell Severus I've been having dreams."

There, he felt it. It felt like a strange pull and Draco realized that it was trying to distract him.

"It's because of those, bloody dreams!" Draco exploded. "The person who made love to me in them - it didn't feel like you, and I hate it, because I enjoyed it. But it's not you." His voice lowered to a mere whisper. "And I don't like it, because I only want you to have that right."

Draco pulled away and gazed up at Harry's face. Green eyes watched him contemplatively.

"I had dreams too, but they were of you leaving me. And like you, I wanted to tell you for months. But whenever I do try, I forget, or get distracted," Harry said slowly.

He blinked. "I felt something trying to divert my attention." He chuckled. "But I managed to blurt every thing out."

Harry smiled gently at him and squeezed his waist affectionately. "So, friends?"

Draco snorted. "Everything is all right, if that's what you wanted to ask." However, he was feeling quite dizzy with relief. Then Harry started to tilt him to his right, and his heart started to beat rapidly. "Why do you suppose I managed to say it to you?" he asked, trying to distract himself from the anticipation.

"Well, I dreamt the same thing this morning. But, this time, you didn't leave me." Harry was leaning down to close the distance between their mouths. Draco's eyes fluttered close and his insides quivered as Harry's tongue stroked him. One of Harry's hands trailed down from his throat, and Draco lifted his legs to lie on the bench.

A moan escaped from him when Harry touched and squeezed him gently.

"So, you have been dreaming of someone that is not me," Harry murmured and Draco started to breathe heavily as Harry undid his trousers to release him. He cried out as Harry's fingers wrapped around his length. "Well, you have to promise that you will refrain from letting that person do it to you in the future. You have to call me."

Draco tried to breathe, but Harry's strokes were too good to concentrate on that. "How?"

"Draco, close your eyes and feel."

He tried not to whimper and did as he was asked. Then he gasped as he felt something shot from the tip of his arousal into his pleasure center. "Harry!"

"Like that?" Harry murmured and Draco could only clutch on Harry's arm tightly. "Can you recognize my magic?"

"Oh god, yes!" Draco breathed as Harry started to stroke him faster.

"It's not the first time I did this to you, you know."

"I realize that now." Draco arched into Harry's touch, even when he started to recall how he felt as Harry made love to him with magic as well. Perhaps that is why I know that it wasn't Harry. I couldn't feel his power ... I couldn't feel his strength. "Harry..." He was close.

"I love you, Draco. I love only you." Then Harry crushed his lips on Draco's. A bolt of magic pierced Draco's body. He trembled violently as Harry's hand and power brought him to climax.

When his awareness returned, he watched Harry's green eyes that seemed full of mischief. It evoked a devilish smile from Draco. "Now, how do I do that?" Then Draco pressed his face against the bulge hidden in Harry's trousers.

"Bloody hell." Harry nearly squeaked as Draco skillfully brought his erection out.

"Oh, come now. You don't expect a Slytherin to just stay quiet after that," he murmured before licking the thick shaft.

"Take pity on me."

Draco smiled wickedly as he took Harry's length in his mouth, and returned the favor. His body trembled with laughter as Harry howled with pleasure.