Remember You

Remember You
Chapter Eleven
~~~~~

As December rolled by, the clouds opened up and did not stop snowing until a few days before the end of term exams. Hagrid could be seen outside every day, shovelling paths for the students to his hut and to the greenhouses. There was hardly any time for the students to play in the snowball-worthy snow, so there were not any other tracks except for these trails. Students were, more often than not, holed up in the library or in the Common Rooms, studying for their exams. Hermione often did not socialize anymore, as she was wont to remind her friends that the N.E.W.T’s were only six months away.

At least Harry had started to think seriously about these exams. They would decide the rest of his life, and if Harry had anything to do with it, he would be an Auror. It was the one profession that interested him, and if he were truthful with himself, the only profession in which he could succeed. Draco sometimes pushed Quidditch magazines at him, pointing to articles about the professional teams looking for new, young talent. Harry obliged him by looking at them, but did not seriously think about playing Quidditch. It did not seem like the life he wanted to lead.

In matters concerning Draco, Harry became increasingly worried. Draco had started acting strange whenever he was around the Gryffindor. He would become jumpy, and his hand would immediately go to the breast pocket of his robes, as if trying to calm his erratic heart. At other times, when they would be sharing an intimate moment, Draco would smile at him, even sometimes blush, and place his hand over his breast pocket. These actions were in complete contrast to each other, and it left Harry bewildered.

Since the Acromantula had left the forest, the Prophet had continued to write reports on the mysterious deaths and disappearances that were happening; events that now were affecting the Muggle world. Harry started to feel the heavy weight of guilt bring him down, and it was hard to be in a good mood at all anymore. He just wanted it to be over already.

But, as fate would have it, three days before exams started, it proved to be that the ending would not come for quite a while. It was a Saturday morning, and Harry was calmly eating his breakfast when Draco bounded over to the Gryffindor table. The blond draped himself around Harry’s shoulders and gave him a small, sucking kiss on his neck.

“How’s my favourite Gryffindork this fine morning?” he asked, plucking a piece of bacon from Harry’s plate.

“All right, I suppose. I think I could have done with a visit from my favourite Slytherin last night, though,” Harry pouted, taking the half of bacon that Draco had yet to eat, and popped it in his own mouth. Draco pouted, and took another piece, and took a bite. Harry stole that half, too, and grinned innocently as he chewed.

“I’ll visit you tonight if you quit stealing my bacon.”

Harry raised his brow. “I’ll remind you that it’s my plate that you’re stealing from, Malfoy.”

“You know the saying, Potter: what’s yours is mine.” Draco punctuated this statement by taking another piece of bacon and stuffing it into his mouth whole.

“Actually, it’s: what’s mine is yours.”

“Exactly,” Draco smiled beatifically, and took Harry’s last remaining piece of bacon.

“It goes both ways, Draco,” Harry smiled. “Give me that piece of chocolate I know you have in your pocket.”

Draco huffed. “How did you know if I have chocolate in my pocket?”

“I see you stuff a sweet in your pocket every morning when we’re together. You alternate. One day, it’s a chocolate frog, the next, a cockroach cluster, the next a blood pop. I just happen to know that today is your chocolate frog day. Now, hand it over. You took all my bacon.”

Draco pouted, reached into his pocket and pulled out a chocolate frog. Harry smiled. “Now if you’re polite, I’ll let you have its legs.”

Draco crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s not the same, Harry.”

“And if you stop pouting, I’ll give you anything you want today… except for this frog.”

Draco brightened immediately. “Actually, there is a point for me coming over here. I thought it would be difficult to get you to agree, but now that you say that, I’ll just come right out and say it. I want you to join Severus and me for tea. He’s feeling much better now, and he says he would like to see me.”

“And I’m sure he means you and only you.”

Draco waved him off. “Not necessarily. You’re coming with me. You said you would give me anything I wanted today, and I want you to come to tea with me.”

Harry sighed. “Fine, I’ll come. You’re lucky I love you.”

Draco smiled. “Meet me at three in front of Severus’s chambers.” Then he was gone just as quickly as he came.

“You two are so adorable,” Hermione simpered from beside Harry.

“Funny. I’d use the word, ‘sickening’,” Ron quipped.

Harry grinned at him. “Still sore at seeing us naked, are you, Ron?”

“Don’t remind me, please.”

Harry grinned harder. “I’m going to the library to do some homework. Will I see you there, Hermione?”

“Homework?” Ron gasped indignantly. “Harry, have you gone mad?”

“No, Ron, I haven’t. I have a lot to do, and I need to study. You know how I want to be an Auror.”

“You act as though it’s the end of the world,” Hermione admonished Ron. “But, Harry, I will be there in an hour or so. I have a few things that need to be done.”

Harry stood. “Okay. See you later then. Oh, and remember not to tell Draco about the Auror thing. He’s a bit weird about that.”

Both of his friends agreed, so Harry left, feeling only a little guilty that he was keeping secrets from his boyfriend.

***

Three o’clock came too early for Harry’s taste, but he gathered his books and parchment up at the appropriate time, and took his leave of Hermione. She wished him luck as he slipped away from their table. Draco was waiting patiently outside the portrait that hid the professor’s chambers, and he smiled when he saw Harry.

“You’ve been studying in the library all day? It looks like Granger is rubbing off on you.”

”I don’t need Hermione to push me to study,” Harry said indignantly.

Draco rolled his eyes, quietly said the password and let himself in. Harry followed reluctantly. It had been quite some time since he had been in the Potions Master’s private chambers, and it made him a bit nervous.

Snape was tending to the fire when they entered and he looked up. “Ah, I was wondering when you would arrive, Dra –” Snape noticed Harry then and sneered. “I see you’ve brought company then.”

“Yes, Severus, but I’ve told you before that you’ll have to get used to him. We’re moving in together after Hogwarts.”

“Among other things,” Snape muttered.

Harry furrowed his brow, setting his bag on the floor by the door. “I won’t be a bother, Professor. I came because Draco wanted me here.”

“Indeed,” Snape scowled. “Well, sit down then. The tea should be here any moment.”

Draco and Harry chose seats on the couch while the professor sat in a comfortable looking leather chair. Harry shifted uncomfortably under his black eyes, but Draco looked very proud of himself. “I better not find that you’ve brought your pathetic excuse for a father here, Potter.” Snape broke the silence.

Draco immediately became stony faced. Harry hardly flinched. “I’ll have you know that I didn’t. And you have no right to say what sort of father he is. You wouldn’t know, would you… sir?”

“I’d rather not talk about a subject that doesn’t exist… at least not in this world,” Draco said crisply. Luckily, at that moment, a house elf brought a tray of tea and biscuits, and they busied themselves with it.

Once they all had a cup of tea, and Draco had eaten half a biscuit, Draco set down his tea, and looked pointedly to his godfather. “So, Severus, how are you feeling lately? I hope you’re feeling up to teaching classes again. That dope they got from the Ministry hardly knows what he’s talking about.”

“Workers from the Ministry rarely do, do they?” Snape said scornfully. “I hope to be back after the holidays. The Headmaster believes that both Black and I, while still suffering from some sort of affliction, will be fit to do so then. I will be happy to get back into my classroom. I cringe to think of the state the storerooms are most certainly in.”

“They don’t look so bad to me,” Harry said, then hid behind his cup of tea when Snape glared at him.

The group fell into silence once again, but Harry could hardly keep quiet when he wanted to ask a question. After finishing his tea, he set the cup down gingerly. “Sir? I have a question for you. I’ll understand if you don’t want to answer, but… hearing Sirius talk about it, it’s made me wonder if the same is happening to you.”

“Well, spit it out, boy.”

“Er – well, Sirius said that ever since he’s fallen ill, it feels like he’s got two Siriuses in his mind. One is himself, as he’s always known himself, but there is another. That one he doesn’t know, and it tells him things that his normal self knows aren’t true. Sirius doesn’t like to talk about it anymore, though. I don’t know if the “other Sirius” has gone away, or what’s going on.”

“I can understand his position. Who really wants to talk about how he thinks he is going mad?” Snape sighed and looked at Draco. “Draco and I have spoken about this in small detail. The same has happened to me. There are times when I feel like myself, like such as right now, but there are others when I feel like I’m completely different, with different memories. I know your father isn’t alive, Potter. But, I know I saw him, and I’ve done as much as I can to figure out just what I saw, but I can’t figure it out. It’s mostly because that other part with different memories doesn’t think it’s so strange to see James Potter walking and talking again.”

Harry looked down and stared at his lap. “But, I don’t think it’s strange that I’ve seen my father and my mother.”

“I cannot explain why you would think that it’s normal. All that I can gather is that somehow, the Dark Lord is behind all of this. I don’t understand why or even how, but it’s the only explanation I can devise.”

Harry suddenly felt very depressed. He did not want to speak of this anymore. “Speaking of him,” he changed the subject. “What’s he got up his sleeve lately? Nobody has told me anything.”

“That is because there is nothing to tell that you don’t already know. What we have gathered, which is not much, since we no longer have any spies with him, is that he has rallied magical creatures from all over the world. There are some giants who have joined him willingly, some who have joined our side. We can only guess what he’ll be doing ne–.”

A loud beeping cut off Snape is mid-sentence. They all jumped slightly, and Snape’s and Draco’s faces immediately whitened at the sound of it. “What’s going on?” Harry asked as Snape jumped up and went to the mantle. Harry noticed a wizarding radio sitting on the corner. It was from where the beeping was coming. Snape turned the radio on, but at the moment, there was only a commercial.

“Wizarding radios beep whenever there’s an emergency or an important message,” Draco whispered, grabbing Harry’s hand. “It rarely ever happens, and when it does, it’s not good.

Suddenly, a woman’s strong, commanding voice sounded throughout the room. “This is your Wizarding Wireless Network with an important announcement. Please stand by.”

“They usually wait a few minutes so that they have everybody’s attention that is by a radio,” Draco explained.

Draco’s face suddenly looked drawn and tired. Harry did not know what the big deal was, but he supposed he should have grown up in the wizarding world to understand what exactly was going on.

The commanding voice suddenly filled the room. “Again, this is your Wizarding Wireless Network with breaking news. This just in: the Ministry of Magic is under siege. He Who Must Not Be Named, himself, is reported to be there. Magical creatures are swarming the building. Dementors are wreaking havoc. Please, do not panic. The Minister of Magic left on urgent business this morning, and is in Paris. Please, do not panic.”

Snape turned off the radio as the announcer continued speaking, and sat heavily in his chair. The group sat in horrified silence for a few minutes. Draco slid into Harry’s embrace when Harry put his arm around his shoulders. “So, what happens now?” Draco asked meekly.

“Well, I suspect that the survivors of the attack will be moved to other Headquarters. I would be very surprised if the Minister was not placed right here in Hogwarts. While our Minister might be an idiot, he’s developed good relationships with other countries. There will probably be help coming our way.”

Snape sighed, getting up and opening a small cupboard near his bedroom door. From it, he pulled a bottle of Firewhiskey. Draco watched hungrily as Snape mixed the whiskey with some tea. The blond poured himself some more tea, and innocently held out his cup. Snape sent him a withering glare. “If we were not at Hogwarts, you know I would give you some.” Draco sulked against Harry.

Harry squeezed Draco gently. “This means it’s coming soon, doesn’t it?” he asked with a note of resignation. Draco looked up at him questioningly, but Harry stared determinedly at Snape.

“We could never tell, Potter.” Snape took a long drink. “In my opinion, I’d say it’s just the beginning of the last battle. Best be prepared.”

Harry nodded slightly, and leaned his head on Draco’s. His heart felt heavy with trepidation.

***

The Christmas holidays descended upon the school like a heavy blanket. Students left in fear of what they would find upon returning home. The students who stayed feared that not all was well at home. Harry and Draco were two of these few students, though neither of them had any big worries. Draco knew that his mother would be taken care of, and Harry knew that his relatives living in the Muggle world would be all right for the time being.

Ron and Hermione both chose to go home to spend time with their families. The Weasleys had invited Harry to stay with them, but Draco was not allowed to leave the castle, so Harry decided to stay with him.

Harry sometimes wondered if this was a good decision. As Christmas neared, Draco became increasingly edgy, and avoided Harry at all costs. Harry had snuck up on Draco at breakfast on Christmas Eve, only to have him scurry from the Great Hall as fast as his legs could carry him. Snape, who had emerged from his rooms for breakfast, had a good time snickering over Harry’s crestfallen face.

Because of Draco’s hasty departure, Harry spent the day with a few first-years, playing in the snow. They made snow angels and snow wizards and even fashioned a sled and went sliding down a hill. By the time Harry came in for dinner, he was soaked right through to his skin.

If he had expected Draco to be at dinner, he was sorely disappointed. He was conspicuously absent from the Great Hall. After dinner, Harry made his way back to the Gryffindor Common room with a heavy heart. After he changed into warm clothes, he grabbed a book and went to sit in front of the fire.

Half an hour into his reading, he was interrupted when the portrait hole opened. “Hey, Potter, where in Merlin’s name have you been?” Harry whipped his head around to look at Draco.

“Where have I been? You’re the one who ran away from me this morning. Do you think I’d just sit around and sulk about it all day?”

Draco stole Harry’s book as he sat down, and threw it onto the coffee table. “Well, no, but I thought you’d at least come and find me in our room.”

“You were acting funny. What was I supposed to think? What’s going on with you anyway?”

Draco looked into Harry’s eyes nervously. “Nothing,” he licked his lips. “I’ve just been thinking a lot.”

“Oh? About what?”

“You. Will you let me touch you tonight?” Harry blinked. “Is that what you’re nervous about?”

“No. I just want to tie you up and give you the best blow job I’ve ever given.” Draco made a face as though he had just eaten a lemon.

Harry was sceptical. “Do you?”

“Um… I want to do something for you. But, maybe not that,” he added quickly. Draco ran his fingers through Harry’s hair. “It’s um… well, I’ve been reading on techniques in that book your dear godfather gave you,” he said shyly. “And anyway, we haven’t done anything in a week. I’m sure you’re dying here, Potter.”

“And you would know?” Harry smirked.

Draco climbed into Harry’s lap and kissed him. “Please, Harry? It will be so nice to wake up naked with you in the morning, don’t you think?”

Harry pretended to heave a resigned sigh and nodded his head. “All right, I give.”

Draco smiled beatifically. He kissed Harry and then led him upstairs. Neither noticed Austin and Sierra glaring after them.

***

Harry awoke on Christmas morning to sounds of ripping paper and the sun streaming in on his face. He blearily pushed on his glasses and leaned over the side of the bed, looking at Draco, who was happily opening his presents. The Gryffindor watched in amusement as the blond opened the gift from him. Draco stood up and Harry took note that he was wearing Harry’s dirty boxers from the day before.

”Oh, Harry!” Draco exclaimed, noticing that he was now awake. “I love them! Where are my socks?” Draco scrounged for his socks in the pile of clothes on the floor, and after putting them on, sat back on the floor to pull on the dragon hide boots Harry had given him. There were two-inch heels, now the “in vogue” of popular wizard fashion. The boots were such a dark green that they appeared almost black. Draco stood once more and walked around the room. The heels clicked on the floor, and Draco looked positively gleeful.

“Not only will I be the same height as you, or taller, I’ll be able to stomp on people’s toes with the heels! Thank you, Harry! I love them!”

Harry grunted as he was presented with a bone-crushing hug. “Come on, Harry, you have tonnes of presents, too. Can you believe that Weasley got me a present? It was some cockroach clusters and some rubbish on the Chudley Cannons. I can’t believe he likes them. Anyway, I want to see you open your presents.”

Harry rolled out of bed, put on Draco’s boxers and began opening his presents. Draco munched on his candy, watching Harry with an odd glow in his eyes. When Harry had made it through all his gifts, he realised that there had not been one from Draco. He shifted through all the wrapping paper, slightly confused. “Draco? Didn’t you get me a present?”

Draco nodded vigorously. “Yes, I did. I… I just…” Draco looked up at him with wet, tortured eyes. “I’m not a bloody Gryffindor, Harry.”

Harry blinked. “I know you’re not, Draco. What does that have to do with my present?”

“It’s more than a present, Harry. I need to get the courage to give it to you. It’ll humiliate me if you don’t like it.”

“Draco, if it’s that big of a problem, then don’t worry about it. I’ll wait for it, all right?” Draco nodded, letting out a relieved laugh. “Besides,” Harry began crawling through the wrinkled wrapping paper predatorily, “I’d rather have you than any present you could give me.”

Draco swallowed. “Oh,” he whispered. Harry gave a feral grin, and pounced. When Draco was laid on his back, he broke away from the passionate kiss and gasped, “But I have my boots on.”

“Leave them on,” Harry hissed, suckling on Draco’s neck.

Draco lowered his head to the stone floor, and he let out a strangled breath. “Oh.”

***

Before the holidays ended, Dumbledore announced to the staff and the few students who stayed that there would be a few departments of the Ministry of Magic moving into the castle. The attack on the Ministry had been successful for the Dark side, though they failed in killing the Minister, as Fudge was out of the country at the time. For the most part, the Ministry kept out of the students’ way, and Harry rarely saw any Ministry officials coming and going to work.

When Hermione returned, she questioned Professor McGonagall on the situation, but the professor stayed tight lipped. Hermione hypothesized that Hogwarts was only one of the many places where the Ministry was now stationed. They could not very well hold all of the Ministry of Magic, so Hermione said they were probably stationed throughout the U.K.

January passed in a blur of books, the library, cold rain, and passionate snoggings and sex for Harry. For him, he could not remember a time when he had been so happy, despite all the terrible circumstances. Draco made him happy when things were looking grim.

Draco, however, still had not given him his Christmas present. Harry had long since stopped asking about it, as Draco tended to run away if he was confronted.

“So, has Draco given you your present yet?” Ron asked as a way to procrastinate. Hermione glared at him from over her books, but did not say anything.

They were sitting in the Common Room, studying for Transfigurations. Harry and Hermione were the only ones taking it seriously at the moment. Harry glanced up briefly. “No, he hasn’t. I haven’t even asked him about it lately. He gets scared and runs from me every time.”

“What a coward,” Ron harrumphed.

“He’s not a Gryffindor,” Harry reminded him, smiling lightly.

“No kidding.”

“You sod off! You don’t even exist, so you don’t have any right to tell me who I –”

The trio looked to each other as Draco’s voice reverberated into the Common Room. “Er – I’ll just go see what’s going on,” Harry muttered, embarrassed.

Harry opened the portrait hole and saw Draco breathing heavily, staring down the hallway. “Draco? What are you doing?”

The blond turned around. “Bloody Austin. Just don’t worry about it, Harry. I’ve decided that I’m going to give you your present now.”

Harry’s eyes brightened. “Really?”

“Yes, so, get your cloak. We’re going outside.”

Harry ran inside the Common Room and up to the boys’ dorm. When he ran past Ron and Hermione, he sent them a large grin. “He’s giving me my present!” he called. They waved as Harry climbed out the portrait hole.

“So, where are we going?”

“I just thought we’d go for a walk. It doesn’t matter where.” Draco took his hand and they made their way outside in silence. The sun was beginning to set in the horizon as they began a short hike around the lake, hand in hand. When they had been walking for ten minutes around the lake, Draco stopped and turned his face to the sun, drinking in the weak winter light.

“So, what’s this gift that you have to take me all the way out here?” Harry inquired, joining his hands around Draco’s waist.

“Shh, Harry. Just let me relax, and then we’ll see what happens, okay?”

Though Harry was confused, he nodded slightly even though Draco had his eyes closed, and laid his head on Draco’s shoulder. He liked that Draco was slightly taller than him with his new boots, so that it was not uncomfortable to be in this position. It was rather comfortable.

Finally, after an interminable amount of time, Draco pulled away slightly and kissed Harry tenderly. “Do you still want to live with me after Hogwarts?” he asked uncertainly.

“Yes, of course I do. You know I do, Draco.”

The blond nodded tightly and looked down to the ground. He scratched his head, breathing deeply. “That was part of your present, but… it wasn’t all of it, exactly.”

“What do you mean?”

Draco looked back up into Harry’s eyes and studied them for a moment. He nodded then, as if seeing something he wanted to see. Reaching into his breast pocket, he kneeled on one knee. “Draco, what are you doing?” Harry looked around and began to kneel as well. Draco reached out and pushed him back into a standing position, shaking his head tightly.

”Stay standing,” he commanded.

Harry noticed that Draco’s hand was clutched around something, but he did not want to pay attention to that. Despite the cold, Draco’s forehead had broken out into a small sweat. Suddenly, Harry’s left hand was in Draco’s and Draco had placed a velvet pouch back into his breast pocket. Draco looked up at Harry, swallowing thickly.

“You must think I’m absolutely mad right now,” Draco chuckled nervously. “I think I might be, but…” He trailed off. “The truth is, is that I don’t want to live with you as your boyfriend.”

Harry felt his face whiten and his heart plummet into his stomach. “What? I… what?”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m not breaking up with you, Harry, far from it.” Draco sighed. “I’m bloody terrible at this stuff.”

“Just don’t think about it. Just say what’s on your mind.” Harry felt a bit bewildered by what was going on. Was this his gift?

The Slytherin took a few seconds to compose himself and then looked up at Harry once more. “The fact of the matter is, Harry, is that I love you. I love you so much sometimes that I feel as if my very heart will burst. And when I think of what I’ll be doing in the future, I see you there.

“Harry, I need to know that you’ll always be there. And… I know we’re young and I’m probably out of my mind, but… I would be so very, very happy if you would marry me.”

Harry felt all his breath leave his chest in one puff as Draco slipped a white gold band on his finger. Their eyes met, and Harry felt all words leave him. The realisation of what Draco had given him for Christmas hit him like a lorry driving at full speed.

Draco had given himself to Harry… forever.

“You… you’re proposing to me,” Harry whispered, dumbstruck.

Draco blushed furiously. “Yes, I am. I… will you marry me, Harry?”

“Yes,” Harry answered immediately. He looked down to the ring on his finger and saw to his surprise that it was glowing gold, even though it was white gold. “It’s glowing,” he whispered.

“That happens when the ring is accepted,” Draco whispered, still kneeling on the ground. Harry fell to his knees as well, not caring that the ground was muddy. “It shall shine, even in the darkest and lightest of places.” Draco blushed. “That’s what it said next to the wizards’ gold. It glows when it’s accepted, and it tells the wearer that their partner still loves them and is alive. If it starts to dim, it’ll either mean I don’t love you anymore, or I’m dying.”

”Draco,” Harry whispered, “you just gave yourself to me for Christmas. Do you realise that?”

“Oh,” Draco blushed again, “I didn’t really think of it like that. Yeah… I suppose I did do that, didn’t I?”

Harry let out a shaky laugh and kissed Draco tenderly. “I love you,” he murmured.

“And I love you.”

Harry smiled softly at him, running his fingers through the blond hair. “Took you long enough to give me my present,” he teased, and then cut off any protest Draco was about to give with a fierce kiss. Draco pulled Harry flush against him and deepened the kiss. They stayed locked together for interminable amount of time before Harry pulled away breathlessly.

He smiled at Draco before looking down at his ring again. It was glowing brightly in the twilight, and for the first time, Harry noticed the five emeralds that were embedded along the top. ”What about the Muggles though? I can’t wear this around them.”

“Don’t be silly. They don’t know enough to look, Harry. They’ll look over it, even if they’re holding your hand, staring at the ring.”

“Okay, you’re probably right. Don’t you have one though?”

“Yes, I do. Do you want me to wear it?”

“I think you should, yes,” Harry grinned.

Draco reached into his breast pocket, pulling out a velvet pouch. He tipped it over and a ring fell onto his hand. Harry took it and gently placed it on Draco’s finger. It immediately began to glow just as brightly as Harry’s. “So you haven’t been lying all this time about how much you love me,” Draco teased.

“Don’t be so ridiculous,” Harry chastised, and kissed him. “I think it’s about time that we paid a special visit to our room, don’t you think?”

“Oh, yes, it’s long overdue.”

***

Harry woke the next morning with another body planted firmly on top of his own. He opened blurry eyes and looked down to his chest where a curtain of blond hair was tickling his chest. He could feel a bit of drool on his nipple, but decided not to say anything about it, lest Draco try to spank him.

Harry lifted his left hand to stare at the ring on his finger. It was glowing softly in the morning light, and Harry felt his heart expand to twice its normal size. He was so happy that it had not been a dream. It was reality, and it was his reality.

They had to set a date, he realised. They had to find a place to be married. They had to pick their groomsmen. Harry groaned. He knew he was not going to like planning a wedding, at all. But, then a horrible thought struck Harry, and it sent all thoughts of a wedding from his mind.

The Muggle world did not recognise gay marriages. Would the wizarding world recognise it? Harry knew it should not matter if the government recognised their marriage. Draco would be his husband in his eyes, and nobody would stop that. He loved Draco and he was determined to spend the rest of his life with him. But, Harry thought, it would still be nice if their future binding was considered legal.

Draco gave a soft snore, making Harry smile. He began running his fingers through the blond hair. Harry would fight for the right to be married, if he had to.

Harry hated to wake Draco, but his body was falling asleep under his weight, and besides that, Harry wanted to go tell Sirius and Remus the good news. “Draco,” he shook his shoulder. “Wake up, mon amour,” he smiled, remembering the now many times when Draco had said the same thing to him.

Draco woke with a large intake of breath and stretched. “Your French accent is atrocious, Potter,” he said sleepily.

“Well, we have our whole life for you to teach me,” Harry grinned foolishly.

“Indeed,” Draco agreed. “Even though I know you have terrible morning breath, I would like a kiss.”

“You’re such a charmer.”

Harry kissed him anyway.

“Anyway,” Harry began, “we’re going to see Sirius and Remus this morning to tell them the news.”

Draco groaned and rolled off his fiancé. “I suppose I’ll have to do it someday. Black won’t kill me, will he?”

Harry rolled out of bed, shameless of the fact that he was stark naked. “I don’t see why he would.”

Draco hummed with content. “I could get used to that view every morning.”

“Well, you’d have to even if you didn’t want to.” Harry shook his bum to punctuate his point.

Draco laughed. “Have you no shame?”

“No. Now, get your lazy arse from bed. We have joyous news to spread.”

A quarter of an hour later, Harry and Draco were knocking on Sirius’s door. Remus, disguised as Maurice opened the door with a large, fake smile, but turned into a genuine smile once he saw his visitors. “Harry, Draco, what a pleasant surprise!”

“Hey, Remus,” Harry smiled. “May we come in?”

“Of course, of course,” Remus gestured them inside. As soon as the door was closed, Remus waved his wand over himself and morphed back into his normal self. “You two are positively glowing.” Remus sniffed the air. “You smell like sex, too. Didn’t you two shower? And aren’t you aware that it’s against school rules for students to have sex?” Remus eyed them warily. “What’s the news?”

“Damn werewolf senses,” Draco muttered and he and Harry grinned at each other. “Where’s Professor Black?” Draco inquired, unable to fight the smile from his face. “Harry will want him here when we tell our news.”

“He’s in the shower, doing much better, might I add. He’ll be back to classes soon. Have you two eaten breakfast? We’re waiting on a house elf to bring it right now.”

“No, we haven’t. We came straight here.”

“Lovely. Sit down, then,” Remus gestured to the small table and conjured two more chairs for himself and Sirius. “I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something different. I’ve always had a particularly strong sense for people’s emotions, especially when they’re feeling strongly about something. It’s love you’re both feeling, but, you always look like this when you’re together. I can’t…” Remus tapped his chin looking at them thoughtfully.

“Perhaps it’s those rings on their fingers, Remus,” Sirius walked into the room. He grinned down at Harry and sat the same time a house elf popped into the room. “You two are engaged then?”

“That’s it!” Remus exclaimed triumphantly. “Their auras have mingled together since last time I saw them. They’ve given themselves to each other. It happens when wizarding couples feel a strong pull together.”

Harry looked down, blushing. “Yes, we’ve more or less given ourselves to each other. We’re getting married.”

“Excellent! Congratulations!” Sirius exclaimed, clapping Draco on the back, who was nearest.

“Sirius and I have been speculating a lot about your relationship lately. We thought this might happen,” Remus smeared marmalade onto his toast. “Congratulations. Have you set a date?”

“No, not yet,” Draco said, pouring himself some orange juice. “I only just proposed last night.”

“So, we have plenty of time,” Harry smiled. “Besides, there are other things that need thinking about.”

The group sobered immediately. “How are you getting along, Professor Black?” Draco inquired after a few moments. “Severus is getting better, though he knows there is something wrong with him still.”

Sirius nodded. “I can feel something inside of me. It’s trying to take over, but I’m stubborn if anything. Whatever it is, this… entity is almost exactly like myself, but it’s trying to push new memories into my mind. It makes it seem normal that James is walking around, if he really was the person I saw.”

“Yes, I…” Draco looked at Harry guiltily, but continued. “I’ve actually had similar problems lately. I’ve had memories come to me of Harry’s family, and of never growing up with my Father around because I have memories of him in prison. It feels like the memories are trying to take over, but I’m a bit stubborn too. I know they’re not real so I push them out.” Harry looked reproachfully at Draco, but the blond would not look at him.

”I’ve had fake memories as well,” Remus admitted, poking his spoon through his porridge. “I’m not a werewolf in them, so it’s a bit harder to push it away when that’s what I wish.”

Harry sat silent through the conversation. He did not want to believe that his parents and siblings were not real. He did not want to believe that he was just an orphan. It hurt too much to believe. They were not fake memories. Harry was positive of it.

A tapping at the window broke the oppressive silence. “Ah, the post is finally here,” Remus commented and went to open the window.

Two owls flew in. One sat on Remus’s shoulder while the other barn owl flew to Draco. Draco shrugged when Harry inquired about it and took the letter from the owl’s foot. The owl took flight and disappeared out the window as Draco tore through the plain wax seal.

As soon as the envelope was open a purple light shot from within and hit Draco squarely in the chest. Harry shot up with a cry of alarm. Draco took in a shuddering breath, his eyes wide with shock, and froze. The light faded and he looked up at Harry. “Harry,” he croaked out and fell stiffly from his chair onto the floor.

Harry was by his side in an instant, feeling for a pulse. It was there, but it was weak. Remus was busy casting spells over him, of which Harry did not recognise. “What happened?” Harry cried out.

”I don’t know,” Remus said. “We need to get him to the infirmary… quickly.”

Harry wasted no time and scooped Draco into his arms and ran from the room, Sirius and Remus right behind him. As he ran, it seemed as though the hallways became longer, teasing him. He literally growled with frustration and ran faster though Draco was a dead weight in his arms. His arms were shaking in exertion and he was panting when he ran Draco into the infirmary, shouting for Madam Pomfrey.

The nurse came running from her office within a moment, took one look at Draco and commanded Harry to put him on the nearest bed. “Move out of the way, Mr. Potter, or I will not be able to help him,” she said sternly as Harry hovered over the bed. Sirius approached him and pulled him back from the bed.

Harry stood close to Sirius and concentrated on the large hand holding onto his shoulder. He feared that if he moved away from Sirius’s grip, he would go back to the bed and anger Madam Pomfrey further. Draco was still and his chest was not rising and falling as much as it should. Harry shifted from foot to foot in his agitation.

Madam Pomfrey was performing spells over Draco’s body with alarming speed, numbers and graphs showing up in the air that meant nothing to Harry, but must have meant something to her. The nurse’s face was set grimly and she hurried from the room and returned a moment later with a towel and a vial of potion.

Suddenly, the infirmary doors flew open, but Madam Pomfrey was the only one who did not let herself get distracted. She continued working over Draco with a feverish speed. Dumbledore and Remus, whom Harry had never noticed had gone somewhere else, entered the room. The Headmaster stopped beside Harry and looked on as Madam Pomfrey fought to save Draco.

“Remus has showed me the letter, Harry,” Dumbledore began soberly, handing the envelope to Harry. “Do not worry; there is no longer any harm to it. There is a small note inside that I am sure you would be interested in seeing.”

Harry silently removed the piece of parchment inside and read. With love, Lucius Malfoy

“How could he do that?!” Harry demanded loudly. “To his own son?”

“I believe that we are well aware that Draco’s relationship with his father is less than friendly these days, Harry,” Dumbledore explained quietly. “Lucius is upset with Draco for betraying him.”

“So, he sent him a curse by the post?” Harry shook his head, feeling his chest tighten up with worry. “I don’t want him to die because his father is bitter.”

“Madam Pomfrey is a competent nurse, Mr. Potter. Do not worry so.”

Harry nodded weakly and leaned against Sirius’s side. “I just don’t want him to die,” he murmured, looking at Draco morosely. He looked down to his ring, and his heart twisted in his chest. The ring was slowly losing its glow. “He’s dying!” he cried out and tried to move forward but Sirius held him back. “No! Let go of me! My ring is fading and he told me that wizard’s gold glows as long as your partner still loves you and is alive. He can’t have fallen out of love with me. He’s dying!”

“Harry, please calm down,” Sirius soothed.

“No!” Harry whimpered, still trying to get to Draco. “He needs me, Sirius! I won’t say goodbye to him today. I won’t let him go!”

Dumbledore laid a hand on his shoulder. “Harry, please. If you get in the way, Madam Pomfrey will not be able to save him.”

“Headmaster!” Pomfrey called urgently. “I’ll need your help. The spell I need to cast is too advanced and I know you can do it.”

Dumbledore quickly approached the bed and conversed with Pomfrey in terse mutters. After a few tense moments, Dumbledore seemed to back away from Pomfrey, his normally twinkling eyes going dull. Harry strained his ears to hear. “Are you sure there isn’t another way, Poppy?”

“I’m positive. You need to cast it within the next minute or we’ll lose him. Casting it is worth the risk, Headmaster.”

Dumbledore nodded his head soberly. “I’ll do it then.”

Harry watched anxiously as Dumbledore began chanting a phrase in Latin. A wind formed that nipped at everybody’s robes and combed through their hair. It swirled around Dumbledore and Draco who both seemed to be unaffected by the wind. A rainbow of sparks began floating furiously on the current of air and when the Headmaster flicked his wand at Draco, the sparks were directed at his chest. Draco convulsed for nearly ten seconds and Sirius had to bind Harry with a spell to keep him from going anywhere.

Abruptly, the spell was stopped and Draco fell limply to the bed. His head rolled to the side and his mouth was hanging open slightly. Harry could not see his chest moving at all. Dumbledore looked grim as Madam Pomfrey began casting spells again. “Poppy,” Dumbledore began but trailed off. Pomfrey looked to him and he shook his head. She stepped away from Draco’s bed.

“What… is he alive?” Harry asked bleakly.

Dumbledore walked back to Harry and released him from Sirius’s spell. “We’ve done all we can, Harry. His heart has stopped but his brain is still functioning, so… he is still alive. The spell I just cast is likely to either revive his heart or kill his brain waves altogether. The magic will move through his veins and decide what it can do. If it decides that he’s beyond repair… it will let him die peacefully. All we can do is wait.”

Harry felt his lip tremble violently. “No,” he whispered. “I…”

“You may go sit with him.”

Harry looked to his ring as he slowly approached Draco’s bed. The light was barely visible now and he bit his lip. It was painful to look at Draco like this. His body was still and Harry thought that he may as well be dead with how still and peaceful he seemed. Harry shook his head violently and laid his head against Draco’s shoulder, his face turned into his neck. It was disconcerting, not hearing a pulse, and Harry violently fought off the tears that were threatening.

“Don’t leave me, Draco,” he whispered. “Not now. I need you. Stay with me, please. Don’t let your father beat you.”