Remember You

Remember You

Chapter Fourteen

~~~~~

It was now a month after Aunt Petunia had confessed that she was a witch, and Harry was still mad. Actually, mad was a bit of an understatement. Angry, steamed, incensed.... The Gryffindor had not told anybody of this new revelation, but had brooded about it on his own. Ron, Hermione, and Draco tried to talk him into telling what was bothering him, but he would not budge on his decision to not speak of it.

Everybody in the school had noticed the Muggle woman who had come to Hogwarts to stay, and most thought it was just another woman from the Ministry that liked to dress in Muggle clothes. But Harry and his friends knew better. The three closest to Harry discussed it in hushed voices when he was not around, but did not broach the subject since it was obviously his aunt's presence that bothered him. It was now a common occurrence to see Harry storming about, slamming things with unnecessary force, or venting his anger on other people. It reminded Ron and Hermione disturbingly of their fifth year at Hogwarts.

To top off Harry's foul disposition, Voldemort was a constant headline in the newspaper. The Ministry apparently was not doing their job well enough and the Dark Wizard was slowly gaining more power over their world. Everybody was now on edge all the time, especially after one student from Ravenclaw had been called home because of her father's untimely death. The Ravenclaw's mother had returned home from a shopping trip to Diagon Alley to find the Dark Mark over their home and her husband's dead body inside. The reason for this attack was unknown, but Harry reasoned that Voldemort rarely needed a reason for anything; his power had grown so great that he did not seem to think that he needed to pick and choose his victims as he once had.

These two subjects were brought up one afternoon when Draco dragged Harry to tea with Severus Snape. Again, Harry thought bitterly.

Draco poured tea for the three of them as Harry sat stiffly in his chair. Snape observed him with no little amusement as he took the offered cup of tea. "Why so tense, Potter?"

"I'm not tense," Harry replied tensely, setting his cup down without drinking from it.

"You seem tense."

"I'm not tense," Harry insisted.

Draco tsked like a mother hen, making Snape smirk. Draco poured a bit of sugar into Harry's cup and stirred as he spoke. "He's been like that ever since his aunt showed up in March. It's getting bloody ridiculous. He won't tell anybody what his problem is."

Snape nodded and took a drink. "Of course. The Headmaster told me why Potter is upset about that. It turns out that Petunia Dursley is a witch."

Harry spluttered soundlessly for a few moments before regaining his composure. "I don't think that is any of your business to go spreading around! First of all, she certainly doesn't want anybody knowing, and second of all, I don't want to tell anybody!"

Snape raised an unconcerned eyebrow. "This tea needs something." With a wave of his wand, a bottle of Ogden's Firewhiskey flew toward him and he poured some in his cup. Draco reached for it, but Snape slapped his hand away. "Not you. You're still in school and I am your teacher." How many times do I have to remind you?

Draco pouted at his godfather, then turned to Harry. "Your aunt is a witch, Harry?" Draco asked, turning to Harry, his eyes brightening. "But that's great, isn't it?"

"No! It isn't great! She doesn't want to be a witch and... just never mind. I wouldn't expect anybody to understand. Can we just drop it? I don't want to talk about it."

"Fine... how about Voldemort?" Draco asked carelessly.

Both of his companions tensed up and Snape choked on his tea. "That's not a conversation people usually discuss over tea," Harry said lightly, taking a drink of his own, and humming contentedly when he found that Draco knew exactly how to make his.

"Well, I am curious what the old prude is doing. He marked me up, after all," continued Draco.

"In more ways than one," Harry replied quietly.

Snape's sharp black eyes snapped up to Harry. "What are you talking about?"

"Mentally," Draco said hurriedly, throwing a murderous look towards his fiancé.

Snape surveyed them both. "Potter... I know that your unusually dense self has managed to reveal something that Draco does not want me to know...." Snape threw Draco his nicest glare, a glare that normally sent first years crying from his classroom. "Now, I would suggest that you tell me what this cover-up is all about."

"Nothing. I'm sure it would be mentally traumatizing to work for Voldemort," Harry shrugged.

"If it helps, you can use words that are less than two syllables." Snape raised an eyebrow.

"That's it, I'm leaving," Harry said, getting up.

"Harry, sit down! Have you no manners?" Draco exclaimed.

"Some that I won't bother to use for Snape's sake."

"That's rude."

"So is what he said."

"Stop being childish. Sit down, you idiot."

Harry sat down, but very reluctantly. The three sat in a silence for a long while before Harry spoke up. "So... what exactly is Voldemort doing, besides what he normally does?"

"I wonder if it's possible to have a normal conversation with that Potter brat," Snape muttered to himself. "We needn't go into details, because we all know his methods. In fact, I'd rather not speak of it at all." Snape looked away with anger in his eyes.

"Yes, I understand, but I would like some information," Harry explained.

Snape sighed. "I can't tell you much, but I can tell you what I've told Draco. That man that he just killed, the Ravenclaw's father, was not mere coincidence. You know that Voldemort wants Draco's blood, as well as mine. That is why that man was killed."

"But... why? That doesn't make sense."

"I knew him back in school," Snape sighed. "He was a Slytherin and one of my friends. His name was Clinton Waver. I have been planning on going home this summer and I needed a secret keeper--"

"Why didn't you ask Dumbledore?"

"I have my reasons," Snape snapped irritably. "Now be quiet while I'm talking. I went to Clinton to ask for his help and he agreed to be our, that is, Draco's and my keeper. We had not had the chance to cast the spell, yet somehow, Voldemort found out what we were planning. Though, when Voldemort went to my friend's home, he found out that, indeed, nothing had been carried out yet. So... he killed Clinton before anything could come of our plans." Snape shook his head. "Well, you can imagine that it was ignorant for Voldemort to even think that I would be anywhere but at Hogwarts at this time of year, but well... smart people can make stupid mistakes sometimes."

"It probably wasn't a mistake," Draco said bitterly. "He probably knew that the spell hadn't been carried out yet, so he went to our chosen keeper and killed him before we had a chance. He's trying to keep us in hiding, that's what he's doing. If he can't lure us out into the real world, then he might as well keep us at Hogwarts, which won't even be safe for that much longer. You know he'll find a way to get here soon enough."

Snape nodded. "The Headmaster has been setting up more wards to protect us, but he will find a way."

"But he's scared of Dumbledore," Harry said. "Why would he..."

"That is what everybody says about him, Potter. It's the truth, but the truth is what makes him look weak. He does not want to look weak, so he will try to prove that by storming Hogwarts. The Dark Lord knows damn well that if he takes this castle, he will have the wizarding world falling at his feet. It is only a matter of what is holding up his plans. Besides, this place is even more of a stronghold now that the Minister of Magic is stationed here."

"Exactly," Draco put in. "He's probably drooling like a common Muggle dog at the thought of it, and I bet that this is what he is focusing his energies on right now." Draco snuck some Firewhiskey into his empty tea cup without the professor noticing and took a drink while eyeing his godfather, who was staring at the roaring fire. The blond, thinking it safe, then poured some into Harry's cup as well, who took a drink and winced.

"I saw that, Draco. No more." Snape said, not looking at them. The silence droned on and Snape poured himself some more Firewhiskey, and even absentmindedly pouring his godson and Harry some, which Draco grinned gleefully at, whilst Harry did not notice; he was beginning to truly worry about Voldemort, even more than he had already.

The silence was broken after a few minutes by a loud crackling, making all three men jump. Harry felt his heart plummet into his stomach. The last time Harry had been here for tea, almost the exact thing had happened. Only now, he knew something of what was happening, and it could not be good.

"Please stay tuned for an important message."

"It's the Wizarding Wireless," Snape said unnecessarily, getting up and going towards the fireplace where the wireless stood on a mantle and turned up the volume.

"Please stay tuned for an important message," it intoned again and then went back to a song by the Weird Sisters.

"Good afternoon to those of you just joining the WWN. This is Wenda reporting with breaking news. We have just been informed that the five locations of Gringotts have been attacked by whom we believe to be Death Eaters. Currently a siege is taking place on Gringotts of London. We are not sure of the state of the bank, or the goblins at this point, but as of now, everything seems to be under as much control as they can be under the circumstances. Aurors and members of the Magical Law Enforcement squad have been dispatched and are now taking care of the problem.... Wait... hold on a moment...."

The reporter stopped in her speech and during the interim, a burst of pain shot forth in Harry's scar and behind his eyelids simultaneously. He let out a cry of pain and clutched his head. White light erupted behind his eyelids and he knew that all four of his family members were attacking his mind again, but he did not know the reason. The pain quickly enveloped his entire body, cutting his nerves. It was nearly as painful as the Cruciatus curse when combined with the pain in his scar, which he vaguely recalled had not hurt for a very long time, due to the potions Snape gave him. Harry gave up whatever his family was trying to get from him and the pain receded, except for throbbing pain in his scar, which was nothing compared to what he had just experienced.

When the Gryffindor opened his eyes, he found he was on the floor and Draco was bending over him, worry sketched onto his face. "Harry? What happened?"

"Scar hurt..."

"Have you been taking your potions?" Snape asked sharply.

"I thought I was. Maybe I forgot this week.... Austin and Sierra took something from me... I think they're doing magic again."

Snape swore under his breath and the reporter began talking again. "Yes, it has now been confirmed. Gringotts has been overtaken. You-Know-Who's forces now have control of the bank. Goblins have been refusing to leave and a pile of their bodies have been thrown outside by the Death Eaters. It is advised not to venture into Diagon or Knockturn Alley. Again... Gringotts of London has been overtaken and it is advised not to make a trip to Diagon Alley until it is stable."

Snape turned off the Wireless in disgust. "What's going to happen now?" Harry asked, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I mean... everybody's money..."

"Some people have made extra precautions and will be well off for a couple years at least..."

"You think this will be a couple years?" Harry asked incredulously.

"I didn't say it would, but it's quite possible. Anyway... Diagon Alley will be closed off, so Hogsmeade will be flooded with people, buying as much as they can without running out of money. It will be very tight with everything until the war is over, or we can take the bank back.. I doubt the goblins will last that long in there by themselves."

"No kidding," Draco said dryly, helping Harry back to his chair. "You heard Wendel... or whatever her name was, they were throwing the bodies out into a pile. There is a massacre going on in there."

They fell into silence again and Harry sighed, leaning into his chair. "So, Gringotts... what's next for Voldemort?"

"Well... I'd wager that the only really important place they have left is Hogwarts."

Harry bit his lip as he met eyes with Draco. "I think we may have to put off our wedding, Draco," he said quietly.

"What's coming will come, Harry. We'll get married and meet whatever comes when it does."

Harry smiled softly. "Hagrid said that to me at the end of fourth year."

"Well, it doesn't make it any less true even if the big oaf did say it. And I'm concerned that he wants to get married to you, Harry," Draco said seriously. "He might crush you when you try to have sex.

"Shut up, Draco." Harry shook his head. "That's very disturbing."

"You think that's disturbing? You should see the pictures running through my head right now!"

"I'd rather not."

Draco sulked. "I wish you did. It's really gross."

***

Over the next few days, a hushed silence fell over the students of Hogwarts as they anticipated the events to come. The wizarding world was slowly unravelling at the seams, and everybody was fearing for the future of not only their world, but the Muggle world as well.

After a particularly wearing night with Draco in their classroom - in which both of them tossed and turned for hours, throwing limbs over each other and complaining of not being able to sleep - both boys dragged themselves down to breakfast. Draco did not even bother with going to the Slytherin table and followed Harry to the Gryffindor portion of the Hall. Ron beckoned them to sit in the empty seats across from himself and Hermione. Harry gratefully walked to them and gingerly began to sit down. But before he could even bend his knees, Draco stopped him.

"Hold on, Harry."

Harry turned around in confusion and watched as Draco surreptitiously pulled out his wand and cast a spell on the hard surface of his seat. When Harry raised an enquiring eyebrow, Draco shrugged. "Cushioning charm," he whispered. The blond's face slowly turned pink and he looked away as if ashamed. "I've had practice with the charm, you know. It's like sinking in goo because I've become so good at it."

Draco quickly began to sit down, but Harry stopped him and pulled the Slytherin to him. "Thank you," Harry whispered, "but really, I'm all right, Draco. It was nothing."

Draco bit his lip. "But you bruised. I... I well, didn't mean to kick you so hard."

"I'm feeling fine, Draco," Harry assured. "Stop being such a ninny. I've had far worse injuries, as you well know. The only thing you should feel sorry about is waking me up." He grinned stupidly. "I'm sore, but it's nothing I can't handle. Besides, I know you don't feel that sorry for kicking me. You laughed and then pinched my arm."

The Slytherin stifled a grin and tried to look remorseful. "Let's eat breakfast, hmm?" Draco nodded, so Harry sat down and found that it was indeed like sinking in goo. The Gryffindor sighed with content, and had to stifle a small laugh as he looked sideways at Draco.

"Harry? You all right?" Ron asked.

"Yes... my feet hurt is all," Harry lied. "It feels good to sit."

Draco snickered into his pumpkin juice as Harry began to pile food onto both their plates. As the two ate, Harry let his foot twine around Draco's ankle, and travel up and down his calf.

"...Booked the pitch for practice today," Ron was saying. "Nobody else has it, so what time do you want to go out today, Harry?"

Harry took a drink from his juice. "Do we have to practice today? I forgot that I said I wanted to have it. I'd like to make it a short one though. I have things I want to do."

"Like what?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"Erm -- homework."

"Homework?" Ron asked distastefully. "You've been doing a lot of that lately. What's wrong with you?"

Draco sneered. "I don't think anybody would expect you to understand, Weasley, seeing as how the very concept of homework is foreign to you. Why don't you try cracking a book once in a while and maybe you could get some decent grades?"

"Draco," Harry hissed.

"What? I'm telling the bloody truth. If he could open his eyes, he would see how smart you are being for opening up the books and studying this early for the N.E.W.T's. I thought Granger and I were the only ones with common sense, but I think some of it might have rubbed off on you. Actually, I know it did because I haven't heard you say anything about becoming an Auror for a long time."

Harry felt his insides burn with sudden anger. The tense fear, hopelessness, anxiety and utter despair that he had been feeling over Voldemort and his exams the past few months snapped. "Why is it that you don't want me to be an Auror? Do you think I'm not good enough to be one? Do you think I don't have what it takes? What is it, Draco? I want to know because I'll tell you something.... The only reason I've been studying as much as I have been is because I'm doing it so that I can become an Auror--"

"What?" Draco asked, his voice low in restrained anger.

"See? You're pissed off because I want to be one. I'm sorry if it makes you angry, but as of now, that's all I see myself doing. That's all that interests me. What else am I supposed to do? I'm not good at anything but Quidditch and maybe battling it out with Voldemort once in a while. I think the latter may come in handy when I become an Auror. I love you, Draco, more than you'll ever know, but I won't let you stop me from being what I want to be."

Draco's jaw clenched and unclenched as he glared murderously at Harry. "Fine!" he exploded, pushing his chair back, knocking it to the ground. "Train to be a bloody Auror. See if I care when you get yourself killed! In fact, I hope I'm there, so that I can say I told you so."

With those last words, Draco stormed from the Hall, curious eyes following after him all around. Harry looked down and stared at his half full plate unseeingly. His vision began to blur, but he blinked twice and cleared his throat. "Well... it's good to know that."

"Know what?" Ron asked cautiously.

"That he doesn't have any faith in me at all... and that he doesn't seem to care if I die or not."

Harry pushed himself up from his chair. "Harry," Hermione pleaded with him, standing up from her chair as well. "You know he didn't mean that. He's just having normal fears. I mean... I know you worry about him becoming an Auror and all because it's a dangerous profession."

"But the difference is, is that I know he has enough skill to keep from being killed, but he doesn't think I can at all."

"Sure he does. He just isn't very good at showing or saying what he's feeling."

Harry tightly closed his eyes. "Hermione... I don't want to hear it. He can just... go turn himself into Voldemort for all I care."

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, clearly scandalized.

Harry did not mean it, of course, and he had to try very hard to not turn around and take the words back so that they didn't get back to Draco .He had left to find some peace, but it was not to be found. Immediately outside of the doors, stood Aunt Petunia, fidgeting slightly by pulling on her shirt sleeve. The action seemed so out of place on her that Harry stopped and stared. Normally when he saw her, he turned around and walked in the opposite direction until he lost her, which never took very long since she did not know the castle as well as Harry did.

"Harry," she greeted, nodding her head at him. "I would like to speak with you."

"Sod off," Harry spit out, anger still piqued after his fight with Draco. He began to walk around his aunt but she caught his arm and glared dangerously at him.

"I may not be your guardian anymore, Harry, but I am still your aunt. You will show respect towards me."

Harry glared defiantly at her, knowing that she held no real power over him anymore. She could not lock him in Dudley's second bedroom, or stuff him in the cupboard under the stairs. She was technically in his territory now and he could do whatever he wanted... But it seemed that he was even mistaken in that assumption. Sirius Black walked up from behind Aunt Petunia and levelled Harry with a glare that thoroughly shocked the younger man as Sirius had never sent a glare his way before... at least one that looked quite so menacing as this one.

"Harry, Petunia has been wanting to speak with you for quite some time now and I think you owe her that chance."

"Owe her?" Harry asked incredulously. "I owe her nothing! You don't know the half of what she did to me while I grew up and it was all because I'm a wizard... and it turns out she's a witch! That doesn't make a whole lot of bloody sense to me. No.." Harry shook his head, pulling from his aunt's grasp. "I won't speak with her."

"Harry," Sirius admonished. "I know how your mother felt about Petunia... they were very bitter towards each other, but I know that deep down, or maybe not even that deep down, Lily loved Petunia. If there was a chance that her son could make amends with her, I'm sure Lily would be very happy about it and accept the idea with open arms."

"Don't bring my mother into this," Harry hissed venomously.

"Your mother has been a part of this ever since Petunia rejected her letter to Hogwarts, so there is no possible way not to bring her into this," Sirius said calmly.

"Well, she's not alive anymore, is she?" Harry asked tightly. "It's now between Aunt Petunia and me because mum doesn't have a say in the matter anymore."

Harry could tell that he was pushing it now because he could see a vein in Sirius' neck begin to pop out. Sirius told Harry as much. "Harry," he said in a calm, collected voice. "You... are pushing the line very far here."

"Yeah well..." Harry began, completely lashing out, "you pushed the line really far last year when you almost killed me, didn't you? Great job at being my godfather. I bet my parents would be proud. Why do you even bother?" As soon as he said it, Harry immediately regretted it when pain clearly flashed across his godfather's face. Aunt Petunia was looking at Sirius curiously.

Sirius took a deep breath. "I never wanted to do any of the things I did last year. I've told you that many times. I've apologised many times and I have always accepted that our relationship may never be the same because of it, but if you can't accept my apology..." Sirius shook his head as he blinked rapidly. "I've tried my hardest to make it up to you, Harry, but if what I've given you and the time I've spent isn't enough... Well, there isn't anything I can do about it, is there? I'm sorry I've wasted my time and yours." Sirius put a hand on Harry's head. "And all this time I thought I was doing something right.... Well, it's good to know now. Now I can stop trying so damned hard."

Harry felt his chest restrict painfully as he watched his godfather walk away. "Sirius!" he cried out brokenly. Without turning around, Sirius shook his head and kept walking. Aunt Petunia looked torn between staying with Harry and leaving with Sirius, but she soon made her decision. She grabbed Harry's elbow.

"If you want to speak with me, I'm in the rooms next to Sirius'. I'll be there if you want to listen to me... and vice versa," she added uncertainly. She hurried away after Sirius, leaving Harry. But as soon as she was out of sight, a concerned voice spoke.

"Harry? What just happened between you and Sirius?"

The dark-haired Gryffindor slowly turned around to find Ron and Hermione standing behind him. Harry felt something constricting in his chest. It had been such a good enough day. He had woken in Draco's arms after the fitful night, and waking with Draco was always a good thing. They had fooled around a bit before deciding to go down to breakfast... and then it all went downhill from there.

Harry was now having a terrible, no good day. N.E.W.T's were approaching, Voldemort was after him and everybody else who had "unworthy" blood running through their veins, Harry had an imaginary family on the loose, wreaking havoc, Draco was now mad at him, Sirius was mad... sad... disappointed, and would probably not want Harry back in his Manor this coming summer. Despite his best efforts to keep his emotions at bay until he was alone, a dry sob escaped his throat and he felt his knees buckle, though he managed to keep himself standing.

"I can't!" he exclaimed in despair. "I can't do this anymore..." His voice was raised in a yell, but it quieted down considerably with his next words. "I'm so tired. I don't want to do any of it. I don't want to take the exams, I don't want to be responsible for killing Voldemort, I don't want to deal with my imaginary family, I want Draco to understand me, I want... I want to be able to have a functional day. I don't want to fight with Sirius."

Ron moved forward as Harry's knees began to buckle again. "Oh god," he choked out. "I messed up so bad with Sirius, Ron. He hates me and he thinks I hate him. I could never... could never hate him." Ron was holding his arms out on either side of Harry, just in case he fell and they looked so inviting at the moment that Harry did fall into them without thinking. Ron stiffened as his best friend leaned against him, trying to gain some comfort from somebody. Harry vaguely heard Hermione make a noise of encouragement and Ron awkwardly wrapped his arms around the shorter boy. "I'm such an idiot. Sirius will never forgive me."

Hermione soon joined in on their hug, hugging Harry from behind and leaning her head on his shoulder. "Of course he will," she whispered quietly. "He loves you more than anything."

Harry thought about those simple words for a few moments and despite his best efforts, he began to cry. Ron was apparently in a state of utter bewilderment as to what to do because as soon as this happened, he muttered, "oh no... oh, bloody hell."

"He does," Harry sobbed out quietly. "I'm such a bloody fool. I can't believe I said that to him."

Hermione continued to mutter nonsensical comfort words as Harry hid his face from other students in Ron's chest. As his crying settled, his embarrassment rose considerably. It was only made worse when Seamus and Dean walked by.

"Gryffindor sandwich lovin'!" Seamus yelled out joyfully. "Lemme in! Come on Dean, you get the other side, I'll get this side!"

Harry then felt two bodies collide onto either side of him as Seamus and Dean joined in on their hug. "Mmm... meatball Harry sandwich," Dean whispered playfully in Harry's ear. He blushed and despite his sour mood, laughed.

"Not to mention the tomato in front of him... uh... Hermione's the bread--"

"Oh, thanks," Hermione said sarcastically.

"Don't underestimate the bread, Hermione. It's what holds the sandwich together. Now... Dean is the pepper, and I'm the spice."

When Seamus finished his narration as to whom would be what, Harry smiled a little into Ron's chest. "I wish I had a Gryffindor sandwich right now. We sound quite delicious," he muttered, smiling.

"Ah, but you do," Seamus said and when Harry opened his left eye to look at him, Seamus had raised a finger and was tapping his nose. "You're in one.... Though I don't know how good that can be. We're probably in danger of getting eaten right now because we're such a good looking lot." Seamus looked around surreptitiously and when he looked back to Harry, his expression changed to concern. "I think the crowd has thinned out. Feeling better, Harry?"

Harry was a bit taken aback but he felt a sudden rush of warmth and gratitude toward his two dorm mates for completely shielding his moment of weakness from everybody. "A bit, yes. Thank you both for doing that."

"Ah, it was nothing, Harry," Dean said, still holding onto the Gryffindor sandwich. "You should know we'd do anything for you."

Hermione sniffed against Harry's shoulder. "That was really nice of you two."

Seamus began to blush slightly. "It was nothing. I'd do it again if I had the chance. Let's get up to the Common Room now."

As if in an unspoken agreement, Harry's four friends surrounded him so that he was still in the middle as they made their way to the marble staircase. Seamus was skipping merrily to Harry's right, Dean was dreaming to himself, Ron was behind Harry now, stepping on his heels, and Hermione was leading the way. As Harry stepped onto the staircase, he looked through his guard of friends and saw Draco standing outside of the Great Hall doors, watching them make their way to the Gryffindor tower.

"Did Draco see what happened just now with Sirius?" Harry asked nervously to nobody in particular as Draco made eye contact. The blond glared slightly before turning on his heel and walking to the dungeons.

"I think so," Ron said from behind. "I think he may have been coming back up to see you to have a few last words when he caught your fight with Sirius. He said something to Hermione and me... but I'd rather not repeat it."

"Wonderful," Harry said quietly. Seamus, Dean, and Ron put a hand on his shoulder as they continued to the seventh floor. Harry was never more thankful to have his friends on his side as he was right then.

***

April flew past in a blur of unusually warm weather and premature flowers. But in the last week of April, Harry barely noticed this at all. His mental and health state were rapidly deteriorating as he stopped eating and stopped sleeping. Dark circles and bags formed under his eyes, and Harry could actually feel his stomach folding in on itself as it attempted to eat itself. No matter how hard Harry tried, Draco still would not speak to him, Sirius was no where to be found when he was not in classes... and this did not bode well with any hope that Harry had left of making amends with his godfather.

The following Friday was his first Defence Against The Dark Arts class since their falling out and Harry was extremely nervous. The dark-haired Gryffindor followed Ron and Hermione into the classroom timidly, hoping to get that usual friendly acknowledgement. When the silly grin was not forthcoming, Harry deflated visibly as he felt a sorrow wrench through his chest like a knife. Sirius was unusually gruff that day in his teachings and no matter how many times Harry attempted to make eye contact, it never worked. Sirius was adamant about not looking his way. This made Harry very upset. His godfather was acting like a child in ways, but yet in others, he was acting just as Harry expected him to do in this situation. What the younger Gryffindor had said had insinuated that he did not like the job Sirius was doing as godfather, so Sirius was just doing what he thought his godson wanted.

But it wasn't what Harry wanted.

Sirius made them do practical work for the last half hour of class and though Harry usually excelled in this part, he found his head drooping onto the desk in front of him. His body was almost screaming for sleep and when sleep claimed him, he was not going to deny the simple pleasure.

"Mr. Potter!" Sirius roared suddenly.

Harry's head snapped up and he blinked owlishly. "Erm -- yes, Professor?"

"Please refrain from sleeping in my classroom. I know that the class work might not be up to your standards, but it'll have to do. Ten points from Gryffindor."

"Harry!" Hermione admonished as he visibly deflated once more. "What are you doing? Even I admit that the best class to fall asleep in is History of Magic!"

"Hermione, give him a break," Ron said gently. "The poor bloke doesn't sleep anymore."

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry apologised. "I really am just so tired. I can hardly keep my eyes open anymore."

Hermione glanced up at Sirius, who was unusually still as he stood in front of the blackboard, not writing anything, and then leaned towards Harry. "Is this all about Sirius? You need to speak with him."

"He's never around anymore, Hermione!" Harry exclaimed desperately. "Don't you think I want to?"

"I don't think you're looking hard enough, Harry. Have you gone to his chambers?"

"No," Harry admitted sheepishly. "I just don't think it would be right if I went there now that we've fallen out."

Hermione sighed as she leaned away from Harry, returning to her work. "Suit yourself, but don't say I never told you to go to his chambers."

Class ended a few minutes later and Harry purposely lingered behind a little in the hopes that Sirius would call him, but as Harry trailed miserably out the door after the other students, he glanced back at Sirius to find him working diligently at his desk, not sparing one look towards his godson. A last Hufflepuff hurried from the room and steps before the door, Harry stopped. He heard Sirius' quill stop scratching on the parchment he was writing on as he anticipated Harry's next move.

Harry glanced over his shoulder once more and saw Sirius looking back. They stared each other in the eye for a few moments. Harry took a deep, wavering breath. "I didn't mean it," he whispered and then hurried from the room.

He managed to sleep three hours that night and was feeling refreshed for the trip to Hogsmeade after breakfast. Though he and Draco had not made up yet, Harry was still planning on buying a birthday present for the blond since it was the following Wednesday. Hermione offered to help him look for one while Ron generously offered to meet up with them at the Three Broomsticks later in the day. Harry had laughed at this, which made his friends smile in relief, as it had been the only laugh they had heard from him in over a week.

"Can you believe it?" Ron asked as they trekked their way down a hill to Hogsmeade. Harry could see the small wizarding village from where they were and it looked beyond crowded since it was one of the only places wizards and witches could shop without fear. "This is our last trip to Hogsmeade of our entire career at Hogwarts. The next time we come here... we'll likely be on our own."

"I know," Hermione agreed. "It's a little surreal and sad, but I'm happy all the same. I can't wait to get out of school so that I can make a difference."

"What are you doing, Hermione?" Harry inquired.

"I'm planning on taking S.P.E.W. a little further. Since you two won't help me, I'm going to find others who support the cause. I've actually found a couple Ravenclaws in our year that are more than willing to help. We hope to get a few laws passed in the Ministry. I mean, if you think about it, bigotry against magical creatures will be a big step towards unification when Voldemort is defeated." Harry smiled at her bravery and she smiled a little as well. "It's the bigotry that got us into this mess in the first place , with pureblood and mudbloods and whatnot. If we can find a way to work together with other creatures like house elves and maybe find some common ground with goblins, the wizarding world would be much better off."

By this time, Ron was opening and closing his hand like a mouth and pretending to mouth her words while she spoke earnestly to Harry. Harry, though he had always found this subject extremely boring, no less so than he did now, thought Hermione did have a point and was glad that somebody was willing to try for unification.

"That's great Hermione," Harry said honestly. "I may not be interested in doing it myself but I'm glad that you are."

Ron stared at Harry as if he had grown another head, but did not say anything about it. "I'm off," he said instead. "I see Seamus and Dean over there. I'll meet up with you later."

Hermione and Harry waved their friend off before Hermione turned to the boy beside her. "Okay, so what were you thinking to get Draco?"

"Well... I got him dragon hide boots for Christmas, and he really loved those. I was thinking of getting him some dragon hide trousers or something. But I'm not sure he would like those. At any rate, I think he needs to be spoiled a little."

Hermione crinkled her nose. "Even more than he already is?"

"Was, you mean. I'm a little worried about him actually. He hasn't spoken to Narcissa in nearly a year, or maybe even more than that and it's starting to affect him. I know he is always arrogant about the whole money thing, but I honestly don't know if he's getting his money now. I think his parents might have left him high and dry."

Hermione bit her lip. "Are you sure?"

"Nearly positive. I noticed a few weeks ago that his robes are becoming a bit frayed, but I didn't say anything. It would probably ruin his ego," Harry said affectionately.

"Well... then we're going clothes shopping for the poor bugger." She shook her head. "Poor and Draco Malfoy should not go in the same sentence, you know?"

Harry shrugged. "It's kind of becoming. It puts him on a more human level." Hermione agreed on this and they entered Gladrags in silence. Harry, admittedly did not know a thing about fashion, and he did not really care at all, either. This was why he was glad for Hermione's company today. While she was not the most fashion conscience witch that Harry had ever known, she could spot what was good and what was not. Even more important than that, could spot clothing that Draco would like.

"So, how much are you planning on spending?" Hermione inquired as she thumbed through some robes.

"I don't have a set price I suppose. I was thinking of getting him three or four pairs of robes."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "When you said spoiled, I didn't know you were going to shower him with clothing."

Harry rolled his eyes. "That's an exaggeration, Hermione. Besides, he'll be my husband soon... aren't married couples supposed to buy their spouse clothing when they need it? I'll start now since he needs them."

The witch's eyes glowed with amusement. "How utterly domestic of you."

Harry's face fell. "Shut up," he said sourly. "Why can't I buy a birthday present without you teasing me?"

"I don't tease you much. Why can't I have fun?"

"At my expense?"

"Oh, fine. I'm sorry, Harry. I won't do it again."

A witch hurried over to them from a backroom. "May I help you?" she asked.

"Yes," Hermione said before Harry could get a word in. "We're here to buy a few robes as a birthday gift."

"Do you have the measurements?"

"Well... no," Hermione admitted. "But I think that he and Harry are pretty much the same size. Harry's shoulders are a little broader and Harry's hips have less flare to them as well...."

"I'm also two inches taller than he is."

The witch bit her lip, eyeing Harry up and down. "What's the lad's name? Maybe I can get a visual in my head of his size."

"Draco Malfoy," Harry replied.

The witch's eyebrow raised and she gestured to a back corner of the shop. "Well... he's pouting in the back of the store. Why don't you give him an early birthday present so that I can measure him properly?"

The witch bustled away as two fifth year girls walked in, giggling and ready to buy clothes. Hermione pushed Harry towards where the woman had gestured. "Go on!" she encouraged. "You know he'll always be ready to accept an apology when there are presents involved!"

"I'm not apologising for wanting to be an Auror!" Harry protested vehemently.

"Oh, Harry... I didn't say that. Apologise for keeping it from him. I think that's a large reason why he's so angry with you."

Harry huffed, but he obliged without another word and ventured to the back of the store. There was a darkened corner in the back right side of the store where Draco did indeed seem to be moping as he looked at clothes. Harry approached him carefully and laid a hand on the blond's shoulder. Draco jumped slightly and looked around. When he saw that it was Harry, he scowled and brushed the hand off.

"What do you want?" the Slytherin asked gruffly.

"Well, I'm shopping, so obviously I want clothes.'

Draco levelled him a glare. "What are you doing in this area... where I am?"

"I came to see you... because you're my fiancé, and I miss you."

"Why are you always such a sap?"

"I'm only speaking the truth." Harry sighed dramatically. "Look... I'm sorry for not telling you what I've been planning, but I'm not sorry for wanting to do something after Hogwarts, other than play the good housewife. Right now, I don't want to hear you say anything at all. We'll talk later about it all. I'm buying you a birthday present today and we need your measurements."

Draco's eyes brightened considerably. "Birthday present? Measurements? Are you buying me clothes, Harry?"

Harry smiled fondly at the blond boy and took his hand. "Yes, I am buying you clothes. Merlin knows you need them."

Draco looked affronted and was on the verge of retorting in his own defence but Harry beat him to it. "Look... I'm going to be your husband in just a few months. You might as well not keep anything secret from me, no matter how terribly you do it.... But I do have eyes and I can see that your robes are fraying. Draco? Is your mother giving you money?"

Draco pouted and pulled his hand away. When Harry impatiently tapped his foot on the ground, the blond huffed and glared at Harry. "Well, if you must know. You're absolutely correct. She stopped sending me money and she closed my vault so that I can't get any money out. I'm poorer than Weasley, okay? Happy?"

"You had your own vault?"

"Yes," Draco confirmed. "You do as well, don't you?" He rolled his eyes.

"Right. Well... what about Snape? Why doesn't he buy you any clothes?"

Draco flushed pink and looked away. "He offered, but I lied and said my mum was sending me money--"

"Draco! Why would you do that? He'll find out somehow."

"Look... can we not talk about this in public? Besides, I'm still mad at you."

In an act that to Harry, proved his declaration false, Draco leaned forward and took Harry in a soft kiss. The blond moved away for a moment but changed his mind and kissed the Gryffindor again, deepening it and entwining his fingers into Harry's unruly hair. "Mmm..." he murmured against the other boy's lips, "but I've missed you, so much."

Harry could not help the grin that spread over his face. "Now look who's the sap?"

"All you."

"Okay, break it up, you two," Hermione interrupted. "We have shopping to do."

Both boys turned and glared, though Harry's glare was only in jest. Draco's was in earnest. "We were just getting to the good part, Granger," Draco drawled.

"I won't even ask. Now, come along you two."

Draco obviously remembered that he was getting an early birthday present because his eyes lit up in glee before he started throwing robes that he was interested in into Hermione's arms. Harry followed around with disinterest, and was only too happy when Draco came up for air two hours later. The Gryffindor was not happy however, when he realised that Draco had picked out ten different robes - not to mention, very expensive robes.

"Draco... narrow it down to five."

The blond pouted. "Ten."

"Five."

"Nine."

"Five."

"Eight."

"Five."

"Seven."

"Draco! Five robes and that is that. I may be well off already but I'm still not paying for that many pairs of robes at one time when you don't even need them all! Pick out five so that we can leave and meet the others at the Three Broomsticks."

Harry dimly noticed that as they fought for nearly the next ten minutes, that Hermione was sitting in a corner, silently laughing at them.

The Gryffindor boy poked her in the ribs as they left the shop with a joyful Slytherin boy alongside them (who just happened to be holding a shopping bag filled with no less than seven pairs of robes and a pair of dragon hide trousers). Hermione merely grinned and walked a few paces ahead of the two boys as they made their way to the Three Broomsticks. Harry opened his mouth to speak with Draco but was interrupted when loud screams permeated the air.

The dark-haired boy had his wand whipped out instantly and was warily looking around for the commotion. Hermione and Draco followed his lead, though they were both a bit slower to react. Draco dropped his bags and moved closer to Harry as if to protect the Gryffindor. "Oh..." Hermione moaned, bouncing on the balls of her feet anxiously. "I just knew something would happen."

"You don't know anything is wrong yet, Granger," Draco snapped irritably. "It could just be a few students playing pranks on each other."

No sooner had the blond said this, that several Death Eaters appeared from the side of Honeydukes. All three students swore hotly under their breath as more people began screaming. Some wizards and witches who could Disapparated did so, while others began herding their small children to a shop so they could Floo back home as quickly as possible. Harry looked around frantically at the overcrowded town.

"There's too many people here!" he cried out. "They were anticipating this and they were waiting for it. The Death Eaters wanted a large massacre."

"Always so bloody happy, aren't you, Harry?" Draco asked angrily, though his voice was laced with anxiety. The blond's head was whipping around, looking at his surroundings with surprising speed and Harry actually began to worry that his boyfriend would give himself whiplash.

The green light of the Killing Curse was flying about everywhere and Harry could hear the dull thud of bodies as they fell to the ground. He also tried, but failed miserably to not notice how one Death Eater in particular was making a path straight for Draco. Draco saw this too and looked to Harry. "Let's get out of here, yeah?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed fervently before grabbing the arms of Hermione and Draco and leading them away from the commotion as fast as possible. His plan did not work out as well as Harry would have liked. The more he tried leading them away from the fray, the more he led them into it. From their standpoint, there did not seem to be a safe way out, and the Death Eater was slowly advancing on them. This particular follower of Voldemort was alternating between defending himself and sending curses towards the two trio. When Harry led them into yet another brick wall, so to speak, he turned just in time to see a curse sent by the Death Eater. There were blue flames hurling towards them at an alarming rate and he only just managed to get both of his companions to duck in time. Instead of hitting them, the flames hit Zonko's, which was the building directly behind them and the entire building became an inferno within moments. The force of air that came at them when it burst into flames sent Harry and Draco flying away from the building. They landed painfully on top of somebody else and it took a few moments to recollect their senses. Draco was quicker, however, and Harry only fully took notice when he heard the blond cry out in dismay.

"Hermione!" Draco called, which, had the circumstances been different, would have shocked Harry thoroughly for the use of Hermione's first name.

Harry jumped off the body beneath him when he saw Hermione being taken by the Death Eater. The girl made eye contact with Harry and smiled before the man threw her into the flames of the building. "No!" Harry cried out as Hermione's screams pierced the air. "Hermione!" Draco held the Gryffindor back as he leapt forward, intent on going in after his friend, but it was already too late because her screams had faded and the only other sounds were the crackling of the fire and other people screaming from all around.

"Hermione," a voice croaked from the ground.

Harry whipped his head down and saw that it was on Ron that he and Draco had landed . The dark haired boy leaned down and checked for any major injuries before pulling his friend up. "Come on, Ron... we need to go," Harry choked out.

"But... Hermione..."

"There isn't anything we can--"

Draco never got to finish his sentence because the Death Eater had advanced any of them realising and had taken the blond into a choke hold. Draco gasped desperately for air as Harry and Ron turned their wands on the Death Eater. "Let him go!" Harry demanded fiercely.

The Death Eater whispered a spell so quietly that even if they had heard it, they wouldn't have time to react. The next thing Harry knew was that his wand hand felt as if it had been dunked into frozen water, and he could not move, or cast any spells. Ron seemed to have had the same spell on him because he looked at Harry frantically. Draco was still struggling against the tight hold on his neck.

"I don't think so, Potter," came a low, even voice from beneath the mask.

"Lucius," Draco rasped out upon recognition of the voice.

"Very good, son."

"You killed Hermione, you bastard!" Ron shouted, as he tried in vain to get his hand working again.

"Good riddance, too."

"Let. Him. Go," Harry whispered tensely.

"I already said no, Potter. He is my son and as such, will obey me. I would be a hypocrite to admonish him for taking a boy for a lover, but I think I'm within bounds to punish him for which boy he has taken for a lover.... And if I am not mistaken... fiancé. Forgive me... I will be sending out my congratulations in the owl post."

"Don't waste your breath," Harry snarled out, attempting to take his wand with his left hand, but his fingers seemed to tighten with each attempt to take the wand out.

"Hmm..." Lucius pondered as he tightened his choke hold on Draco. "Actually, I have quite a nice idea in mind. I've been planning on taking back what rightfully belongs to the Dark Lord, and I think you might enjoy seeing that, wouldn't you?"

To Harry's utter horror and disgust, Lucius transferred his wand to the hand holding Draco and brought his free hand around to fondle Draco's front. Draco whimpered and tried moving away but he was so caught up in the choke hold that he gagged when he tried to move.

"You sick bastard!" Ron spoke for Harry. "I can't believe you would touch your own son like that!"

Lucius turned his attention to Ron and Harry could sense the sneer that was on his face. "Weasley... I wouldn't expect for you to understand my relationship with my son. I won't dignify you with an answer. I'll leave your demented mind to do the work for you."

Harry was, by now, beyond fed up. It seemed as though the other Death Eaters had been told to stay away from them when Lucius was with them because nobody was attacking them, and the Aurors that had Apparated into the area, unnoticed by Harry a few minutes ago, had not reached them yet. Harry opened his mouth to yell for help, but it seemed Lucius had seen his intention. The older man sent another curse at him and Harry's mouth was frozen open in a yell, and moments later, so was Ron's.

"If you boys will excuse me... I'm sure that Draco needs to be cleansed after he has had the likes of Potter touching him. But don't you worry, Potter... I'll have him nice and ready in no time." To show what he was speaking of, Lucius waved his wand in the air, and an apparition of a bony hand appeared - a hand that resembled Voldemort's - and it waggled two fingers in the air. Lucius turned Draco around so that his face was stuffed in his father's robes, and the apparition pushed against Draco's rear. Harry could feel the anger pulsating off of him as Draco tried to wiggle away and whimpered in fear once more.

Just then, Aurors began to swarm them and Lucius knew that he would have to leave or be caught again. Before he Disapparated with Draco, Draco turned his head and looked at Harry. "I love you, Harry" he whispered, but Harry heard him, though never got to say it back before the blond disappeared with his father.

Harry fell to his knees as an Auror took the curse off his hand and mouth. Ron fell down beside him and they leaned their shoulders together. The two sat in silence for a few minutes until Nymphadora Tonks kneeled in front of them and offered a forced smile. Harry vaguely noticed that her hair was in a long, green ponytail while her nose had been changed to that of a Muggle perception of a witch's nose, minus the wart.

"Let's get you two back to Hogwarts, huh?"

They could only vaguely nod and stand up. They passed Draco's forgotten shopping bags on the way back and Ron helped carry them. Mad Eye Moody joined the three on the trek back to Hogwarts. Harry could feel the large eye staring at him, but it hardly fazed him this time.

"Don't look so glum, you two," he said gruffly. "In the magical world, things aren't always what they seem and your friend Granger was a smart girl."

Ron sniffed but Moody paid him no mind as he clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"We're on it, Potter. Don't you worry about a thing. We're on it. We'll get your boyfriend back."

Harry did not feel comforted.