Keeping Faith

Keeping Faith

"Wouldn't you agree, Harry?" Remus Lupin asked Harry during his sixth years Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

Harry clearly hadn't been paying attention, but slowly brought his focus to his professor's face. Everyone in class had turned, looking curiously at Harry, seeing if Professor Lupin could somehow invoke a response out of Harry... any sort of response.

Harry opened his mouth as if he were going to reply but quickly closed it and averted his eyes.

Professor Lupin had assumed as much and regretfully agreed it was for the best. As long as he didn't have to see that hollow and deadened look in Harry's eyes, he could somehow find a way to manage. For it wasn't only him Harry wouldn't talk to... he wouldn't talk to anybody, period. It was as if he couldn't... everyone assumed it would take too much out of what was left of him.

He felt sorry for Harry... of course he did... but he held more sympathy for his friends who still hadn't given up on him. They hadn't given up, but they had relented somewhat.

They still encouraged him to eat, which he rarely did these days, and if he did, it would be alone and on his own time. On the rare occasions that Harry would grace them with his acknowledgment that they were even alive, they would smile encouragingly at him as if there was nothing wrong in the world, or that he hadn't already broken their hearts a thousand times over. Which was what happened every time they saw that haunted look in his eyes and minimal recognition when he looked in their direction.

Life did go on for the Gryffindors, dismal as it was.

However Lupin could remember back when those emerald pools shone so bright that it was sometimes painful for others to look in his direction. That 'when' had been months ago now, back near the end of term last year, but no one dared mention it, especially around Harry... even more so since the accident... ever since Draco had...

***

"Come on, Harry!" Draco said, tugging on his hand lovingly.

"But what about --?" Draco smothered his concerns with a kiss. "Oh all right," Harry agreed, taking Draco's hand in his and lacing their fingers together. "You know I HATE it when you do that... it makes me agree to anything."

Draco smiled cheekily at him. "I know."

They walked contentedly through the halls of Hogwarts, chatting idly and stopping occasionally to steal a kiss here and there.

Harry sighed. "I'm really going to miss this over the summer... do you think we'll get to see each other at all?"

"It's okay." Draco said, giving Harry's hand an encouraging squeeze. "We won't worry about that until we have to. All right love?" Draco asked, stopping on their journey, studying Harry's face. If he ever wanted to know how Harry was feeling, all he had to do was look in Harry's eyes.

"You are right," Harry agreed impishly.

Draco smiled, laughing a little, and started pulling on Harry again towards the Charms classroom. "As much as I enjoy this, we'll never make it on time if we keep up this pace."

"I don't have a problem with it," Harry grinned, half jogging to keep up with Draco.

Draco winked at him before stopping outside the closed door of the Charms classroom. "Ok. Now close your eyes," Draco told Harry. "I've got a surprise for you."

Harry faked a pout before reluctantly closing his eyes. Draco came up close behind Harry; their bodies aligning perfectly, and put his hands over Harry's eyes.

"Draco," Harry said leaning back into Draco's touch, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, causing friction between the two boys. "This is sort of kinky."

Draco smiled. "Oh hush, you." He kissed Harry behind his ear, sending a pleasant chill down Harry's spine, before he opened the door and slowly guided Harry into the dark room.

Someone flipped on the lights and Draco removed his hands from Harry's eyes.

"Surprise!" Everyone yelled, popping out behind various hiding places.

Harry's eyes went wide, his teeth gleaming. "What the?" he asked, totally caught off guard.

"Since you're always in a lock down in that hell hole every summer, better known as the Dursley's, none of us have ever gotten to properly celebrate your birthday!" Hermione said excitedly, giving him a bone crushing hug.

Harry noticed the massive pile of presents in one corner and felt his knees go weak, but of course Draco was there to steady him. Harry was comforted to feel Draco's strong arm around his waist and leaned into the comfort.

Even Fred and George were there, surprisingly enough. They immediately put a fake crown on his head and tried to badger him into trying several shady looking snacks. He finally managed to get away from them after making a few vague promises of trying them later.

"Ok, enough of that. Best friend coming through," Ron said proudly, in a very loud gloating voice.

Harry was grinning by the time Ron made it to his side and gave him a warm hug.

"So how is my best mate doing?"

"Great actually," Harry grinned, wrapping his arm around Draco's waist and pulled him close.

"Ahh yes... Malfoy." Ron said simply, then surprised everyone in the room and stuck out his hand towards Draco. Draco shook it firmly with his free hand and nodded his head slightly at Ron in appreciation. Harry swelled up with pride. If only Ron knew how much that one gesture meant to Harry... if Ron approved, no one else's opinion mattered.

Several more people, many Harry knew and even a few he didn't think he'd ever met in his life, came and shook his hand, chatting with him and Draco about various things from Quidditch to what they planned on doing over the summer.

Quite a few people even congratulated Harry and Draco on their relationship. Tomorrow would be their seven month anniversary, which was why Harry was totally taken aback when he walked into the darkened room. He thought Draco might have been celebrating a day early... but of course this was almost as good as spending alone time with Draco... almost.

Unsurprisingly, few Slytherins attended.

Everyone seemed caught up in the music and were either dancing or talking, which Harry and Draco were glad of because it gave them a bit of time to themselves.

"You know what?" Harry asked contentedly.

"What?" Draco asked, kissing him on the tip of the nose.

"I think I'm one of the luckiest people in the world right now."

Draco smiled. "Harold James Potter?"

"Yes, Drey?"

"May I have this dance?"

"Why I would be delighted," Harry said, smiling at Draco. For some reason he loved it when Draco acted like he was unsure of himself, whether he was just feigning it or not.

He allowed Draco to lead him over to where many other couples were dancing. He put his arms around Draco's neck as Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's waist, pulling him as close as he could.

Several people around where the couple was dancing smiled at seeing these two were being so affectionate and comfortable in public and followed suit.

"Look," Draco said into Harry's ear, nibbling on it in the process. Harry's body shivered in pleasure as he looked around as everyone else began dancing as well. "You are their King."

Harry took one arm from around Draco's neck. He removed the crown off his head that the Weasley twins had bestowed upon him earlier and placed it on Draco's. He snaked his arm around Draco's neck and pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss.

Harry broke the kiss, but only pulled back far enough so he could speak, and looked deep into Draco's stormy grey eyes.

"You're my King." With that, Harry captured Draco's lips again, and this time he never wanted to let go...

***

Lupin shook his head and cleared his mind of these types of thoughts. It wouldn't do anyone any good thinking about things like that.

The whole class was looking at him expectantly, waiting on his instructions on what to do. "Oh, that will be all for today. Read Chapter Six in your textbooks for homework and be prepared for a quiz on it tomorrow. You are dismissed." With that, he packed his things into his tattered suitcase and quietly left the room. The students curious gaze following him his whole way out.

Ron and Hermione began packing up their things, but noticed Harry was still sitting in his seat unaware anything out of the ordinary had happened.

Hermione put her hand on his shoulder, which made him tense and jerk away from her touch. Hermione sadly pulled her hand away, remembering Harry absolutely hated when anyone touched him, ever.

"Come on, Harry," she said in a defeated tone of voice. "Let's go on back to the common room before Care of Magic Creatures." Harry, who hadn't even unpacked his bag, picked it up and mechanically followed Ron and Hermione out of class, his expression never wavering.

It was especially times like this when it was hard for Hermione to keep faith in anything.

***