A SoulMate's Story

A Soul Mate's Story

Chapter Four: Solitude

I finished crying the moment that you left

And I can't remember where or when or how

And I banished every moment you and I have ever made

Draco's eyelids fluttered open delicately once he was conscious enough to realize that the sunlight was resting upon them. Yawning quietly and turning over to sleep in, he suddenly remembered where he was, and when it was. Shivering, and pulling the bed covers up to his chin, he blinked several times at the sunshine and the sound of birds chirping outside his small window.

Time to start, Draco told himself, making a small noise in the back of his throat as he started to sit up, propping himself up by his elbows. Looking around sleepily, he cursed himself his eyes caught a hold of his baggage, remembering that he would have to sort it out later. He groggily got out of bed and ran a hand through his silky hair, before he put that hand down and ran it up the other arm in attempt to make it warmer.

Reluctantly, he made his way to his trunk and squatted in front of it. As he looked at his watch sleepily, his eyes widened once he realized what time it was.

Shite, I missed breakfast, Draco told himself, and at that point, he woke up completely. Digging through his old school trunk looking for his daily attire, he cringed as he consciously remembered that he wouldn't be able to take a shower. Shite, where do I get my schedule? Damit!

Quickly grabbing some pants, a shirt, a tie and robes for today, he hastily put them on, also trying to stuff all his books and quills in his school bag at the same time. Finally having done all that, he grabbed his Head Boy key, and put his head boy badge on, and rushed out the door, not before locking it.

Running down to the Great Hall, he bumped and nudged several younger years in his attempt to get there faster. Jerking open the doors, he breathed a sigh of relief as he continued walking inside to see Professor Snape passing out schedules with a sneer upon his face. Walking over to him with lengthy strides, Draco sighed deeply as he guessed what his first class would be.

I'll probably excel in Muggle Studies... probably everything, he said to himself as he lined up for his schedule, obviously not the only one to wake up late. Finally, he reached the beginning of the small line and smiled as Snape smirked at him.

"You look like you need some Bolivian coffee, Mr. Malfoy," he drawled out quietly, flipping through the schedules to give one to his favorite student. Draco couldn't help but chuckle quietly as he reached out and took his schedule when Snape gave it to him.

Moving away from the line so the next person could receive their schedule, he smiled ironically as he saw what was the first class. Potions. Shaking his head and putting his schedule in his pocket, he hastily made his way to the Potion's classroom, hoping not to be tardy.

He passed several paintings whispering quietly to themselves, and smiled as he realized again, that Draco would be reliving his seventh year at Hogwarts. As Draco walked, he smirked to himself as he remembered something Hermione had said to him.

'I still don't know why you beat my scores in seventh year, Malfoy!' she had said, and every time she did, Draco smirked but without knowing why himself.

Turning the familiar corridor to make his way to the Potion's classroom, he suddenly felt his heart drop. He remembered something... every single year of attending his school - there was always one class, which made school enjoyable. It was Potions... with Gryffindors, meaning, Harry would be there.

Slowing down in his steps, he arrived at the door that he had once considered Potions to be his favorite class, but now...

He opened the door, feeling the cold air surround him. Class hasn't started yet, but several seventh years looked towards the door when he walked through it. Feeling a bit self-conscious, he hastily made his way to the front of the room.

"Psst, Malfoy, over here!" someone called over his shoulder and he turned around only to see Blaise Zabini gesture him over, taking his bag off a chair he had saved for Malfoy. Draco sneered instantly, feeling the suppressed anger built up at each millisecond he stared at Zabini, and he could see Blaise blink several times in confusion, but before Draco could do something he would regret, the door banged open, and in came the Potion's master.

Taking this as a sign to calm down and not to kill anyone just yet, he scowled towards Blaise and made his way to the front, the first time in all the years he had attended Hogwarts not sitting beside Blaise or any of his own lackeys. Instead, he took the empty seat beside Pansy Parkinson in the second row of the Slytherin side of the room, and she blinked as he sat beside her huffily.

He noticed that she was tense beside him, and he looked over to see her looking at her lap. Nervously licking her lips, she flashed him a small smile before she moved over her parchments to make room for his. Giving her a small smile in return, he leaned in and muttered, "I'll talk to you later."

Giving him a small nod, Pansy, unanimously with the rest of the class, turned her attention to Snape. He was checking the roll, and he sneered at all of them menacingly when he was finished, and Draco smirked despite himself as he realized that the sneer was a welcome to the last year at Hogwarts.

"Copy the information on the board about Truth Serums and that's what you will be working on next Monday. A test will be given out after you work on it, and I shall assign partners."

Draco chuckled to himself silently, only to earn a curious look from Pansy beside him. Shaking his head, he smiled as he started to work, and for once in his life, he felt like he was seventeen again. Not thirty-one, but seventeen.

----------

Draco made his way to his quarters when evening came, not even bothering to go to the Great Hall to eat dinner because he knew that Harry would be there, holding hands with Ginny Weasley, maybe kissing her, and even if Draco knew the ending of that little escapade, he still couldn't help but feel jealous.

Dumping his bag and ignoring the grumbling sounds in his stomach, he kicked off his shoes and threw his socks on the floor untidily. Making his way to the bathroom, he thought back to what happened in the Potion's classroom once he had finished copying the assignment earlier that day.

Harry was staring at him throughout the assignment they were supposed to be doing. As Draco worked, Harry would peek over Hermione and gaze at him, daring Draco to look at him, but the thing was, Draco never looked up. He couldn't. He knew that if he stared into those green eyes, he could get lost. He would act the same way as he did on the train, he would shake, he would tremble, he would wish to be sent back to his own time so he didn't have to see Harry's face and feel hopeless; because he couldn't save him, because he can't now, there was no possible way to help him.

So, Draco had ignored him, as much as it hurt. He felt Harry though, Draco admitted to himself, there was no denying the feeling. It was absurd, really, but Draco was so attuned to Harry's feelings and Harry's soul, that he knew the most abnormal things about him. Draco knew when Harry felt nervous, because he would stay quiet, and Draco would hear the soft biting of nails. Sometimes, when Harry got scared, he could hear, or rather, feel Harry's heartbeat across the room. Draco didn't know how he got so close to Harry... maybe the seven years of marriage did it for him, because when Harry was near him, Draco studied him secretly.

Presently, he sighed as he took off his clothes and turned on the hot water in the bathroom. Looking in the mirror as he waited for the water to heat up, he was glad he had the courage to ask Snape for those sleeping draughts, because now the bags under his eyes were not visible.

The first weeks of when Draco heard of Harry's... accident, the sleeping draught was a drug. It was an addiction. Better yet, at that time, it was a savior. There were no dreams, no judges of his fate, of his emotions, of his mental status. There was nothing, and he needed that.

Seeing the steam rise up in the bathroom, he stepped in the shower, sighing in gratefulness as he felt the security of the warm water.

And in the back of his mind, he wondered what Harry was doing at this point in time.

----------

"Are you sure, Harry?" Hermione asked after she took a sip of the pumpkin juice from her goblet. Harry nodded beside her and pushed his glasses on his nose, staring at his full plate before him.

"Oi, you eating that then?" Ron asked before he answered Dean's question about Wizard artists. Not waiting for Harry to answer, Ron picked up Harry's bread roll and turned back to the boy on his left.

"No," Harry said quietly, rolling his eyes when Ron didn't hear it. Turning back to Hermione with a thoughtful expression on his face, "I'm sure. I mean... have you noticed the way he has been acting?"

"Oh Harry, just because Malfoy is not bothering you, doesn't mean something is wrong. Though, it is rather peculiar... I just think he's matured, really," she said a matter-of-factly after a moment's thought.

"Matured? Hermione, this is Malfoy Harry is talking about. Honestly, matured? Remember what he did to Ginny last year? How could someone evolve from that, eh? Answer me that!" Ron said to his girl friend, giving her a challenging look. Harry couldn't help but smile as he heard his two friends getting riled up for a quarrel, a useless quarrel that would only be over after a muttered 'sorry', usually from Ron's side, but a quarrel all the same.

He waited for them to stop quarreling, and soon enough, within ten minutes, both of them were quiet and staring at their plates. Harry decided to move in and speak quietly to Hermione.

"It's obvious something has happened over the summer. Someone can't change from a total prick to some... decent person in a matter of months unless something big happened." Harry concluded, pushing his plate towards Ron as Ron started to get something from his plate again.

"True, Harry, that can be one conclusion," Hermione said quietly, taking another sip of her pumpkin juice. Harry sighed, but turned when he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. Turning to his right, he smiled absently when he saw Ginny lean in and kiss his cheek, blushing when he felt her wipe something off of his face.

"Hello Harry," she said quietly before asking her brother to scoot over some so she could sit beside her boyfriend. Harry scooted a bit himself, and Ginny sat between them both, her hand snaking down to find Harry's, and they secretly held hands under the table.

"Hello," he said shyly, squeezing her hand under the table, and at that moment, he forgot all about Draco Malfoy.

----------

The next two weeks were difficult for Draco Malfoy. He was so used to living out on his own, and not used to attending classes like a student, that the arrived late for almost every class. He aroused suspicion in Harry the more he skipped meals, and Harry noticed despite his hate for Draco Malfoy that the blond student was getting thinner.

The second Sunday of their arrival back at school, both Harry and Ginny were on the Gryffindor couch holding hands, staring into the fire and talking quietly. Harry stopped once in a while to think of how bothersome Malfoy was even if he wasn't doing anything! The last two weeks since their arrival at Hogwarts, Malfoy hadn't even made a rude remark to any of his friends, also raising suspicion from his fellow housemates. Malfoy didn't snap, didn't bark, and he didn't draw attention to himself which was unlike him. In fact, in the two weeks since their arrival at Hogwarts, Harry would always look up to see Malfoy staring at him, only to drop his gaze a second later.

"Is something the matter, Harry? You've been distracted lately... are you okay?" Ginny's worried voice rang through Harry's ears, and he turned to look at her. Smiling gently, he leaned over and kissed her, inhaling her scent of strawberries and kiwis. Murmuring against her lips, he whispered, "No, nothing. I've never been better."

Feeling Ginny smile against his lips, he felt her arms go around his neck, getting shivers up his spine. She played with the hair on the back of his neck with her fingertips, and she leaned in, kissing him against, capturing his bottom lip between both of hers.

When he kissed her, she smelled of happiness, and swirls of magic mixed with honeysuckle. She breathed forgiveness; a small, quiet girl with a heart of gold, and Harry couldn't help but feel in the back of his mind... how... different he thought she would be. Both had matured and grown up throughout the years, and finally, he was glad that Malfoy wouldn't mess this year up for them. For one thing, he didn't seem like he was interested.

----------

Draco inhaled deeply as he looked out his small window in his room. He still wasn't used to the Slytherin dormitories, hardly even visiting down there since he graduated, and was glad his father's house elf packed a sweater in his trunk. He had been hiding in his dorm room all this weekend, only going into the Great Hall in the early morning to grab some food and make his way back up. Glad that the prefects had to do the 'aiding' part to the others for the month of September, he cringed as he remembered that he would also have to help the school as part of his job as Head Boy next month.

It was a Sunday, and he wasn't feeling particularly content. For one thing, he was tired, and he was loosing energy, after all, getting one meal a day does something to your system. Hearing his stomach grumble, he placed a hand on it and scolded himself.

Muttering to himself while detaching from the window, "Crouch would have killed you if he knew you weren't eating. He would say, 'No Auror would be that stupid. Constant Vigilance!'".

Draco rolled his eyes and looked at his watch. It was ten till ten, and he was hungry... maybe if he... no. No, I will not go to the Great Hall.

Something in the back of his mind suddenly clicked, and he smiled as he thought to himself, but there is always the kitchen.

With that in mind, he threw on his robe and ran a hand through his hair, making his way to the kitchen.

----------

Aware of the whispering paintings looking at him as he made his way to the kitchens, he sneered slightly at all of them. He was aware that students at the school were talking about him; how he wasn't acting the way he was acting last year. He would have to fix that a bit, but he didn't find pleasure in sneering and scowling at everyone who talked to him.

Making sure his Head Boy badge was on so none of the teachers could tell him to go back to bed, he turned the corridor that led straight to the kitchen.

He stopped, though, when he heard something. With Seeker and Auror like reflexes, he got out his wand at lightning speed, ears perking up when he heard the noise more clearly. Bracing himself against the hard, stone wall, his eyes darted around the quiet hallway.

He heard it again... it sounded like... no... no, yes it was... it sounded like it was someone crying. Exhaling a deep breath and his lips curling down into a small scowl, he put his wand back in his pocket, listening intently to hear where that sound was coming from. Hearing a sniffle behind a suit of armor, he made his way there, eyes fixing on the dark shadows that surrounded the corner of it. He could see someone there, and quietly, he said, "Who are you?"

A sniffle and a small sob later was what made him squat down. He focused his eyes in the dark, and he could see a small girl there, hidden in the shadows. Smiling slightly, he held out his hand while saying quietly, "Come here, I won't bite."

Slowly, the girl extended her hand and held on to his own. He briefly noted that it was stained with teardrops, her hand wet as she grasped on to his. Pulling her gently out of the darkness, his eyes widened as he saw who it was.

"Bogtrottle? What are you doing down here?" he asked her quietly, noting how much she had been crying. Teardrops stained her black robe, and her eyes were red from her crying. She shook her head and looked down, embarrassed to have been caught by a boy, the Head Boy no less.

Draco studied her, a small thing of eleven. She doesn't look anything like her sister, he noted. She was thin, wiry, almost. With a small sigh, and a rummage through his robe, he held up a handkerchief for her, smiling when she took it. With a small shrug, and noticing sub-consciously that she didn't let go of his hand, he asked her, "Would you like to accompany me to the kitchens? We can share some cookies or something."

Softly, after blowing her nose quietly, and wiping her eyes, she whispered, "But you're a Slytherin. T-They told me not to hang out with Slytherins, and I don't want them to hate me." She looked like she was going to burst out crying again, and Draco just frowned. Standing up and pulling her with him (she only came to about his shoulders, maybe even shorter), he asked her, "Who are 'they'?"

She looked down and shuffled her feet. Only then did she seem to notice that she was holding his hand, and she pulled it back hastily, stuffing it in her robe. Quietly, she whispered, "My dorm mates."

Raising an eyebrow, and smiling shortly after, he asked, "Would you like to accompany me to the kitchens?" he said softly, squatting down to look her in the eyes, and added "None of them have to know."

She took a moment to think about it, but finally, she nodded. Taking her hand even though he felt she could walk by herself, Draco led her as they both made their ways to the kitchens.

----------

"These are really good," Melinda said, stuffing her mouth full of chocolate chip cookies, only to drink milk a minute later. Draco smirked as he chugged that down as well, and he bit into his small ham and cheese sandwich.

"Yeah, well, they have good help here at Hogwarts," he said quietly, watching as the elves scurried around beside him, bringing them more cookies, and more drinks, accompanied with smiles and big eyes and questions of, 'More, Master? Would the misses like more?'

"So, tell me about 'they' you were talking about earlier," Draco said, watching as Melinda stuffed another huge cookie in her mouth. She chewed, and swallowed, before she took another large sip of milk, she wiped her mouth. Looking at Draco thoughtfully, almost as if she were weighing her chances if she trusted him, she said cautiously, "Why?"

He was not that used to students, especially younger ones asking him questions back, but he realized that he was indeed a student now, even if he was a Head Boy. Feeling he had to get used to it, he rolled his eyes and drawled out, "I'm head boy, and I'm supposed to help out younger years. Come on, do I look I would tell anyone?" he put on a charming smile after he said that, mockingly winking at her before giving her a look.

She gave him a look back before she reached out and grabbed another cookie. Nibbling on one side of it, she said quietly, "It's.... just... well. We were talking about what we would like to be when we grow up, and we were going in a circle..." she trailed off and took a bite of a chocolate chip delight, "and up came my turn. I said I wanted to be a writer... and... they all looked at me. I didn't know what I said wrong... and..." she trailed off and Draco leaned in, noticing that the corner of her eyes were becoming wet.

Quietly, he said, "You didn't say anything wrong. I assure you," he smiled, then continued, stealing one of her cookies, "It's just you're a witch in a wizarding world. You say you want to take up a Muggle profession, and of course they will give you a look but there is nothing wrong with it. I know tons of people who have taken up muggle professions, and they make more money than most wizards."

"But money is not what I'm looking for!" she exclaimed, giving him a look. She glared at the hand that stole one of her cookies, and watched as he took a bite out of it. Shrugging, he said, "I never said that. I'm just saying, well, you know. Be who you want to be, make the right choices and stuff."

She seemed to watch him as he said this, and quietly, with hesitation, she asked, " What do you want to be... when you get out of H-Hogwarts?"

He couldn't help but smile when she asked this question. Bowing his head and sipping some of the water before him, he said simply, "I want to be a teacher. I doubt I'll be one right away... but I want to be one apparently. Probably take some Auror classes and be an Auror for a few years, then eventually be a teacher."

Her eyes widened with each statement, and she tilted her head. Perplexed, she said, "You seem to know what you want to be. What kind of teacher? A muggle teacher?"

Shaking his head and dusting his hands of the crumbs, shifting in his seat, he said in a quiet voice, "No, in fact, a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher here at Hogwarts. When Lupin retires, I want to take up his job."

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. Quickly, tilting his head and looking at her, he asked her, "Do you by chance have a sister?"

Her brows furrowed as she looked at him. Quizzically, obviously amazed and confused at the same time, she said, "How did you know that?"

Grinning lopsidedly and quickly grabbing a cookie before she could swat his hand away, he bit into it and ran a hand through his hair, "Just wondering. You're father must have been a wizard, for your mum looked like she was a muggle, yeah?"

She nodded and glared at him once again for stealing one of her precious chocolate chip cookies. "Yes, he died, though. I don't remember him that much anyway, but he told my mum that my sister and I would probably be witches, because the magic line was strong or something like that."

Draco nodded and stuffed the cookie into his mouth. He felt a tapping on his shoulder a minute later, and he swallowed the cookie before he turned around. He was rewarded with a surprise.

"Dobby? Oi, I didn't know you worked here at this time!" he said to the smaller elf, and he watched as Dobby's eyes widened before the elf took a step back, and the elf screamed.

"Master Malfoy! He is going to kill Dobby, Master Malfoy is going to kill Dobby!" the elf screamed as he started to rouse the other house elves from their work, but they just gave him a look and went back to it.

Standing up quickly with wide eyes, Draco ran after the screaming house elf, only to tackle him minutes later. There was struggling, Melinda screaming something, pots and pans being clinked together, until, finally, Draco breathed heavily and looked down to his prey.

Dobby was struggling and he couldn't talk, not with Draco's hand over his mouth. The elf was looking up at him with big eyes, and his feet were flopping like a fish. Draco sneered slightly, and with his voice controlled, he said, "Dobby. I am not going to kill you. I am not going to kill you."

Dobby eventually stopped kicking and squirming, but he was looking up at Draco with disbelieving eyes. Draco could tell that Melinda was right behind him, obviously terrified, but he continued to look at the elf below him. With a small sigh, and not removing his hands from the elf's mouth, he said simply, "I'm going to let you up now. I will not kill you, okay?"

Slowly, then, he rose to a standing position, watching as the elf scrambled away from below him. Giving the elf a look, he returned to the small table Melinda and him were sharing, and she followed close behind, making sure to stick close to the Head Boy.

Rolling his eyes, and muttering something about 'nuisances', he gave Melinda a small smile before his gaze returned to Dobby. Dobby was at the corner and watching him with narrowed eyes, something Draco wasn't used too. He remembered his family lost an elf by the name of Dobby when he was in second year, but that was such a long time ago, he almost forgot.

"Why did he say you would kill him?" Melinda's eyes were wide and Draco smirked as he took another cookie, not even bothering to make it quick because he knew Melinda wouldn't swap his hand away in her state of amazement. He answered before taking a bite, "He used to work for my family. My father always threatened to kill him I guess."

Melinda stared at him before she looked at the glaring house elf across the room, and she leaned in, speaking quietly, "I don't think he likes you."

Draco chuckled at this statement, and smirked. But in the future...

Looking at his watch and noticing the time, he looked up to see Melinda watching him. Smiling, he said gently, "You should get back to bed. McGonagall will kill me if she finds out you've been hanging around with a Slytherin after hour."

She pouted, but she listened as she stood up. Casting a glance his way, an appreciative glance, she said quietly, "What's your name again?"

He smirked slightly and replied, "Draco Malfoy. Just call me Malfoy, or, if you want, I give you permission to call me Draco."

She smiled and nodded his way, and she was on her way to the door before she turned back with a quizzical expression on her face. She shuffled her feet a bit before she said shyly, "Your not that bad as they say." And with a small smile on her face, she left the kitchens, making her ways back to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Draco looked towards the pile of cookies in the middle of the small table they were eating from, and he smiled to himself.

----------

He still wasn't tired, and he doubted he could sleep with a full stomach. Making his way to the Astronomy tower, he noted how the candles flickered when he went past them. He must have gotten his haste to get somewhere from his Auror days, for his legs were starting to hurt from his quickened walking - his seventeen year old body wasn't used to such quick, constant movements *all* the time.

At least I can think up there... get some fresh air, he thought to himself as he made his way up, taking two steps at a time despite the pain that was building in his calves. He knew, that if he thought about everything in his dorm room, he would be tempted to drink the sleeping draught and not think of anything.

But what he needed was solitude. Arriving at the door, he opened it gently, and crept inside, smiling as the stars smiled back at him. Walking to one of the bigger windows that were open, he sat on the ledge of it, propping one leg to his chest while the other remained stationary by his side, and he began to think.

// Let's talk about love was playing in the distance, and Draco cringed at Hermione's taste of music. Even if the song spoke truth, and brilliance, it wasn't his type of music. He didn't believe in love. Love was for idiots.

Standing in the corner with a goblet of punch in his hand, he sneered when the passing couple - idiots, he thought - made their way to the dance floor.

"Hey Draco," someone said from behind him, and he turned around to see Harry Potter smile at him. Draco noted how his boyfriend's hand entwined hesitantly with his own, and his heart fluttered when Harry gave his hand a squeeze.

"Potter," he nodded his way, but didn't detach his hand. In fact, he squeezed back.

"Would you like to dance?" Harry asked quietly, watching Draco's expression. Draco's facial expression didn't exchange except for his eyes, the gray silver suddenly a burst of light, but what Harry didn't notice was that it was sparkling the moment Harry held his hand.

Draco drawled out, "No, dancing is for idiots."

Harry nodded quickly and looked away, looking hurt even though he tried to cover it. Draco could see from the corner of his eye that Harry started blushing, embarrassed, no doubt for suggesting such a thing, and Draco felt a bit of pity, after all, Harry was just being friendly... in an idiotic way.

"Fine, fine, let's go," Draco drawled out and placed his goblet on the white tablecloth. Dragging the protesting Harry to the dance floor, he was aware that Ron and Hermione had their glances on him.

*Let's talk about love...*

Draco and Harry's entwined hand detached themselves, and because Draco was the smaller and sleeker one, he wrapped his hands around Harry's neck.

*From the very first sweet melody to the very last refrain, let's talk about love...let's talk about us... let's talk about love...*

Feeling hot, so incredibly warm beside his boyfriend's presence, he felt Harry's hands find his hipbones, slowly encircling his waist. He was brought closer to Harry, and pretty soon under the dark sky and the flickering candles, they danced.

*Let's talk about love... Let's talk about love...*

Closing his eyes and nuzzling his face into Harry's neck, he felt Harry do the same, nuzzling his own face into Draco's hair, bringing him closer. Harry had told him millions of times, perhaps billions, that he had loved Draco.

*Let's talk about love....*

Breath against necks, entwining souls, one body. And they danced. \

And Draco's tears flowed as he remembered, and in the warm security of the night air, he embraced himself, and wept.

----------

Tossing in his bed, Harry blew a strand of hair away from his eyes. Kicking off the covers of his comfortable bedspread, he lay there, staring up into the ceiling. He couldn't sleep, and he didn't know why. Leaning over to one side, he felt outside his curtain for his glasses, rummaging around the tabletop.

Finally, his fingers found his glasses and he sat up straight, his legs dangling on the side of his bed. Blinking several times as he put on his glasses, he peeked around the dorm room and was thankful all of his friends were sleeping.

He walked quietly to his trunk and squatted in front of it, hands grazing the ancient looking handle and wood furnishings. Slowly, he opened it, breathing in the familiar fragrance of the wood, and he kneeled in front of it, searching for something. Something precious.

Finding what he needed, he pulled the silvery cloak out, the silver gleaming from the moonlight streaming through the windows of the dormitories. It shone, it sparkled, and it glowed with warmth. Harry, taking a moment in time to feel the cloak, wondered what he would do without it.

Smiling slightly to himself and making sure no one else was awake, he put the cloak on, fastening the clasp so it would stay on. It spread over his shoulders and his body magnificently, making him invisible, invulnerable to the public's eye. Reaching into the trunk again, he pulled out another precious item, the Marauders map.

Obtaining this in his hand, he stood upright, and closed his trunk.

"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good," Harry whispered in the confides of his cloak, whispering to the piece of spread out parchment in his hand. The map did it's magic, and pretty soon; the whole of Hogwarts was laid out before Harry's eyes, on the parchment in Harry's palm.

In his cloak, Harry walked to the door and opened it quietly, before shutting it behind him. Still not looking at the map, he crept down the dormitory stairs to the circular common room, and there, he made his way to the portrait. Making sure that no one else was there or hidden in the shadows, he smiled to himself and went through the portrait, waking a sleeping fat lady. She looked around sleepily and mumbled something Harry didn't quite care for, and he was on his way.

Upon taking five steps from the portrait he finally looked at the map, and his eyes scanned the map for any signs of Mrs. Norris or Filch. Seeing that they were by the Hufflepuff dormitories, he sighed in relief, and then -

His eyes caught something. A name, a single, solitary figure still in the Astronomy tower. Harry's brows furrowed as the single dot didn't move, and before he knew it, he was on his way to the Astronomy tower.

----------

Harry's pace grew faster each time he glanced at the map. Malfoy was not moving. In fact, he didn't move for a whole ten minutes. What the hell is Malfoy doing in the Astronomy tower?! Harry asked himself as he made his way there, finally reaching the steps that led up. Taking two steps at a time up the stairs, he could feel his heart beating through his ears; he could hear the silence that surrounded the vicinity of where he was, and his eyes - he could only see darkness before him.

Breathing heavily as he reached the last step, he made his way to the door marking the entrance to the Astronomy Tower. Pressing his ear against the door, the only thing he was rewarded with was silence. His heart dropped, and he wondered why, and for a second, he knew he was worried.

Hearing nothing, he gently opened the door, and as quietly as he could, he slipped in. Looking around in the darkness, his eyes caught the moonbeams on the floor, the window obviously have been opened. Putting the marauder's map in his pocket, he walked closer, and saw a shadow move on the floor, stopping his steps.

Cautiously, he rounded the corner, and his brow furrowed as he saw what awaited him. Huddled in a small corner in the room with his legs up to his chest, a boy of seventeen sat on a window ledge, looking up into the stars. Harry came closer inaudibly, eyes widening with each second that passed on the eternal clock, completely and entirely amazed to see what he was seeing.

Before him was a creature with figure molded like a puppet, wanting to be set free. Harry watched, silent, as teardrop after teardrop ran down the face of the blond, staining his pale cheeks with humiliating, but powerful marks of sadness, and Harry watched, silent, as the blond boy didn't even wipe them away. Instead, he continued to look out in the night, both legs against his chest, and Harry could see that Draco Malfoy shivered when Harry took another step, incidentally clutching his robe closer to his small, lithe frame.

Harry opened his mouth to ask a question, but he stopped, as the question didn't form on his tongue. What would he say? What would he do?

Instead, Harry shook his head and took a step backwards, and another, until, finally, he could watch the blond boy at a distance, but even then, even at that distance, it still felt wrong to watch Draco Malfoy in this private moment.

Doing what he thought best, he took another step back, and then another, until; finally, he was pressed against the wooden door of the Astronomy tower. Biting his lip, he did the only smart thing that came to his mind, and that was the attempt of sleep back in his bed.

----------

// When the night was done, and the dancing was finished, Harry took Draco by the hand and brought him to their flat, where once they stepped in, the hasty attempt to discard clothes was needed.

Touch me Now More I need--I need you Now Please My love, I need you.

"Draco," was a pleasurable moan, and minutes, maybe hours later, it was a content whisper. Draco smiled against Harry's neck, and pulled him closer, making Harry spoon against him, kissing the beautiful curls on the nape of Harry's neck.

"Mmm, Harry?" Draco would smirk slightly and entwine their legs without hesitation, and he waited for Harry's small whimper. He was rewarded; he was always rewarded when he tangled their legs together - with a whimper deep from Harry's throat.

"I don't know what I would do without you," Harry whispered, and Draco would only kiss the back of Harry's neck amidst their quiet breathing and steady hearts.

"Draco?" Harry whispered again, but this time, Draco heard - there was pleading, hope, almost. Blinking once or twice, he nuzzled the back of Harry's neck, kissing up the smooth, unscarred shoulder blade of the boy-who-lived. Resting his chin between Harry's shoulder, and part of his face resting on the side of Harry's face, he inhaled the beautiful scent of rain.

"Draco?" Harry whispered when Draco didn't reply. Feeling his lover tense under him, he pulled Harry closer to his naked body, feeling the heat and eternal warmness. He could feel Harry shift slightly, and he pulled his arm back so Harry could turn to face him, and when Harry was facing him, he kissed the brunette's forehead, entwining their legs again.

"Mm?" Draco asked quietly, closing his eyes as he kissed Harry's eyelids closed. He could feel Harry's heartbeat speed up quickly, and he heard Harry gasp beside him, but he pulled Harry closer, loving and needing the warmness so close to him, so close to his heart.

"I love you," Harry whispered into Draco's neck, and Draco placed his hand on the small of Harry's back, tracing the small grace of hair on Harry's backside, circling it with his fingers. Glancing down, he realized that Harry had fallen asleep in his arms, and once he realized that, he also realized another small miracle.

He was falling in love. He was falling in love with Harry Potter. \

Draco smiled in the present time and pulled his legs closer to his chest. He shivered, for a moment, and he pulled his robe closer over his frame, taking comfort in it. Continuing to gaze out into the grounds outside the window, he wiped his eyes, finally, and shifted in his place.

Smiling to himself slightly, he never remembered feeling quite this... content thinking about the past with him and Harry together. Usually, he couldn't even think of any, for it brought tears to his eyes, and an eternal dreading to his soul.

Maybe...he thought, maybe this adventure isn't so bad.

And with that thought in mind, he sat up and walked back to his quarters, smiling secretly to himself.

----------

Hermione stared at her Defense Against the Dark Art's paper and she frowned once she realized what the marks were. Mumbling to herself, she stood up and walked over to the Professor, the only student in the class to do so.

Harry and Ron stared at their own paper and grins appeared on their faces. Leaning in, Ron pointed to his paper and whispered with a grin, "Oi, I passed! No help from Hermione at all!"

Harry smiled at him and looked at his own parchment. A 89 wasn't bad, considering what Ron got. He had noticed that Hermione had gotten a 98 on her parchment, but he only rolled his eyes.

"What do you think that git got? Look at him, he's stuffing that parchment in his bag!" Ron smirked quietly and looked at his parchment with the red mark on it.

Harry looked up to see what Ron was pointing at earlier, and he put his paper down once he realized Ron was talking about Draco Malfoy. He watched intently as Draco stuffed his paper into his bag before closing it with an audible snap across the room.

Harry began to notice Malfoy, slowly, and when no one else was looking. Once in a while, if he stared long enough, Draco would look up, glance at him for a fraction of a second, and then look back to what he was working on. And Harry noticed, whether he wanted to admit it to himself or not, every time he looked at Draco, in his eyes, Draco would always seem so... beautifully sad.

He watched, with narrowed eyes, eyes that were ready to look at someone or something else if they were accused to be looking at Draco, he watched as Draco's eyes moved to the front, watching Professor Lupin.

Hermione eventually came back when Harry was watching Malfoy, because she nudged his side. Almost jumping a foot in the air, he glared at her slightly as she continued to stare at her paper.

"I got a 98. A 98," she said simply with a frown upon her features. Giving the paper a disapproving look, she stuffed it in the bag angrily before she closed it with a snap, and Harry just shook his head and smiled. Turning towards the Professor once again, he briefly noticed that Malfoy was looking at him with a hooded gaze, and when Harry turned to look back at the blond, the gaze was gone.

"I am really impressed by your parchments," Lupin said quietly, shuffling some papers on his desk, and Hermione made a small sound of disbelief beside Harry. Harry couldn't help but smirk slightly at Hermione's stubbornness, but the class quieted down to hear what the Professor was about to say.

"There is going to be a Defense Against the Dark Arts Extra Curriculum Lesson within a few weeks on Auror Training," Harry noted Draco sat up upon that and frowned absently, hearing the Professor even if he wasn't looking at him, "For those who would like to sigh up for it, I will post something for you guys to sign up on in two weeks. Only fifteen positions are open, and first come first serve."

Harry heard some soft laughter across the room, and he frowned as he saw Blaise Zabini nudge Crabbe and Goyle in the sides. Angrily watching them, he was dully aware that his hands were clenching into fists, and his eyes narrowed the longer he watched them laugh.

"Is something funny, Mr. Zabini?" Lupin's eyes narrowed slightly, and Harry was amazed that he had managed to keep a smile on his face. A forced one, but a smile all the same.

"No, nothing is funny in your class, Professor," Blaise smirked and leaned back in his chair, and Harry clearly noticed the insolence in his voice. He could feel the heat and anger of the redheaded boy beside him, but Harry just put a hand on Ron's arm, trying to tell him through physical gestures to keep calm.

Professor Lupin's eyes narrowed, he continued, "Remember, first come, first serve. This isn't an extra credit opportunity, but if you are looking into the position of an Auror, this is good training," Lupin glanced at the time before he glanced at the rest of the class, "Class dismissed."

Harry and the rest of his years gave a grateful sign before they stood up and piled out of the doors with their bags. Harry made his way to the front first, smiling, and Professor Lupin smiled back, beckoning him over.

"Have you heard from Snuffles?" Harry muttered quietly, leaning in. Professor Lupin looked up to see the last remaining student leave the room before he nodded in Harry's direction, handing him a small parchment.

Harry read,

"Dear Harry,

You know the drill, I can't send this by the same owl and I can't sign my name or anything, but you already knew that. Things are okay, still living off of rats, be thankful that you have the castle there with proper food. Anyway, have entrusted this note to Moony, been a good kid and stay out of trouble.

-Snuffles."

Harry smiled to himself and handed Professor Lupin back the parchment. Giving him a small smile, a wave of goodbye, he walked quietly out of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom only to be met with an excited Ron and Hermione.

"Wha-? What happened?" Harry barely noticed the amount of excitement that buzzed around the corridor, and he was pulled to the side as Crabbe and Goyle were up ahead, pushing people out of their way with Blaise Zabini on their tail, looking like he was cradling his arm.

"You should have seen it, Harry, it was spectacular!" Ron exclaimed and Hermione glared at him for a second before she bossily said, "He will obviously be put on probation. He's Head Boy and he knew he wasn't supposed to do that."

"Hermione! Are you bloody joking?!" Ron gawked at her as she shrugged, and she took a look at Harry's confused face.

"Well, what happened was--," but she was cut off by Ron's excited voice.

"Oh Harry, it was amazing! I didn't know the ferret boy knew such magic, and to use it to his own housemate! Amazing!" Ron was quickly nudged by Hermione to be quiet and Harry glared as the noise around him got louder, obviously everyone had seen what happened and he hadn't.

"What happened?" he asked quietly, and Hermione's expression suddenly turned solemn. Ron must have noticed also, because he stopped bouncing in his place and looked at her weirdly. Quietly, she started to speak when she was sure Ron wouldn't interrupt, "Well, when we came out here, I heard Zabini talking about those Auror Lessons, and--,"

"--And Malfoy went BLAM!" Ron interrupted but recoiled when Hermione gave him a venomous look.

"No, it didn't happen like that. Blaise was talking about how Auror Lessons were a big joke, and all of a sudden Malfoy turned around on him. He said really loudly, enough for everyone to stop and stare that being an Auror was a privilege. Blaise retorted with a sneer and ... I don't know, it was quite inaudible what he said, but then, all of a sudden Malfoy took out his wand, pointed it at Blaise, and spoke of a hex I have never heard of. Then, he said," she paused and let Ron take over, since he was bouncing in his place to tell Harry of the rest of the events.

"And Malfoy said," he put his best imitation of Draco's voice which ended up being a low drawl, "'That is what you learn in Auror training.'" Ron paused for emphasis then his grinned widely, "You should have been there, Harry! Zabini flew about ten feet or so!"

Harry's eyes widened with each word that was said from both of his best friend's lips. Quickly looking around to see if Malfoy was around so he could see the big idol of the day according to everyone's standards, he was disappointed to see that Malfoy wasn't around. In fact, he was nowhere to be seen.

Almost as if sensing his disappointment, Ron said quietly, "Maybe we'll see him tomorrow," then, he added gleefully, "Maybe he'll be put on probation! Or better yet, expelled!"

Harry smiled a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Watching as the hallway quieted down, he made his way to the Great Hall for dinner with Hermione and Ron by his side.

----------

I hexed a student, Shite, Shite, Shite, Draco said to himself and made his way quickly to Professor Dumbledore's office. Bumping several students by the shoulder, he didn't take notice of anything else but the gargoyle he could see straight ahead of him. He slowed down to make sure no one was in the same corridor as him so no one could see him enter the Headmaster's office.

Approaching the gargoyle, he muttered the password and walked up the stairs to the Headmaster's office. Walking up the stairs, he didn't know how he would explain himself; should I tell him the truth? Why I did it? Shite.

When he finally reached the top, he called out quietly, "Albus?"

"Over here, dear boy. Just watching Fawkes," a voice said further into the room, and Draco walked over to Dumbledore, his heart beating nervously in his chest. Thankful that he didn't curse Blaise, his heart rate shimmered down some, but it was still beating furiously.

"Headmaster?" Draco asked him properly, seeing as he was at fault. He came close to the backside of the old man and stood beside him for a second, looking at the floor. He could already tell that the Headmaster knew what happened, because his stand was abnormally tense.

"Professor," Dumbledore started out, and Draco blinked at his title. He watched as Dumbledore paused and took a deep breath, not before petting the red bird in front of him, "Would you care to tell me from your own mouth what happened today?"

Draco blinked several times at this question... maybe Dumbledore didn't know. But he knows everything... ah, he does know... Sighing, he looked at his feet in guilt after Albus gave him a look. Quietly, he said, "I hexed a student, Headmaster. It is my fault entirely, I should have controlled my emotions."

Dumbledore continued petting Fawkes, and in a grave voice, he said, "I understand Draco. I don't know what happens in the future," he turned to look at him, both hands behind him, " but surely, you cannot blame something for not happening just yet."

Draco nodded and continued to look at the floor guiltily, but he looked up when a hand was placed on his shoulder. Dumbledore smiled gently at him, and gestured him to a chair a few feet from their location, and Draco turned around and sat down on the opposite end that Dumbledore was sitting.

Sighing, he put his head in his hands and spoke through them, "Yes, I know. I just... I just couldn't help it," he looked up sadly, "Just... knowing what Blaise does in the future upsets me, really. Do you... think I can change it, Albus?"

Dumbledore studied him for a moment before he leaned forward in his chair, his blue eyes sparkling with integrity, "Change time, Draco?" Draco nodded, and Dumbledore continued with a grave voice, "Unfortunately, we cannot change time."

Draco nodded, he expected this anyway. Looking at the headmaster, he asked quietly, "I had a feeling. I just... don't understand some time rules, that's all. Or the principles."

Dumbledore nodded and spoke quietly, "Listen closely Draco. Time is a repeating pattern, it repeats itself, really. It's continuous, it never ends. But because of our desire to change time for our own use, they have a rule about time turners," the old man saw Draco nod his head, and he paused for emphasis, "But in your case, it's a bit different."

The blond student tilted his head curiously and he waited for Dumbledore to continue, which the old man did, "By some rule of magic and from some sympathy of time, you were allowed to travel backwards. Your fate, whatever happens in the future-,"

"- Starts here," Draco whispered. Furrowing his brow, he asked, "I... I kind of understand. So, everything there I remember what happens... when... I'm twenty; it is all because of that I do here? In this time?"

Dumbledore nodded and Draco saw blue sparkles in Dumbledore's eyes. The old man said quietly, a small smile, "To everyone else time flows as we usually imagine it - forward; a continuous step, an everyday thing, a pattern. They go second by second, minute by minute, day by day. But, you my boy, you are given a special privilege. Everything that you do here, affects your life afterwards... and you are able to do that with already knowing what happens in the future. So, you are safe, whatever you do, because it continuously happens again and again..." Dumbledore trailed off and leaned back, the sparkle in his eye sparkling magnificently bluer.

Draco's smile slowly started to grow throughout Dumbledore's speech, and he nodded when Dumbledore was finished. But he was struck with a horrible thought, "Wait, wait, if you say that everything I do here affects what happens later..." he trailed off and his heart started beating furiously, "So, what I did today is what starts Zabini on his death eater streak when we get out of school?"

Dumbledore shook his head quickly and softly, "No. Whatever happens with Mr. Zabini is his decision, like everything around you is your decision. Besides," he spoke even quieter, and he smiled, "You aren't here for Mr. Zabini, are you, Draco? This is not why you are here."

Draco's heartbeat decreased with the comfort of knowing that, and he nodded. Blowing a small, stray strand of hair away from his forehead and then exhaling a relieved breath, he gave Dumbledore a small, pleased smile.

"But, Draco, because of what happened today..." he trailed off and Draco could feel his heart getting ready to jump to his stomach, "You do realize you can't go unpunished. Students will wonder if you have me possessed, and Minerva will 'talk' with me about you if you don't have any penalty," he stopped and Draco chuckled to himself. How Draco knew what McGonagall would do, and he grinned when Dumbledore continued with a smile of his own, "You do understand I will probably have to take your wand, yes?"

Draco watched as Dumbledore's eyes twinkled it's brightest, and he spoke in a low voice for only him and Dumbledore to hear, "You do know as a full pledged Auror, I can do wand-less magic... right Albus?"

Dumbledore chuckled slightly, and he leaned closer. Giving Draco a small wink, he whispered with amusement in his voice, "Let's keep that a secret between you and me."

Draco shook his head while smiling and handed his wand over to the Headmaster. Glad that that was his only punishment, he quietly asked, "What do I do if I need a wand to perform a spell in front of the class? They... will wonder if I do wand-less magic, Albus," he had a small warning, almost, in his voice and Dumbledore just shook his head.

"The Professors will be informed about your absence of a wand," Dumbledore smiled slightly. Nodding, Draco stood up while smiling and extended his hand, which Dumbledore took.

"You shall get your wand in two weeks time, Draco. Also, I have something for you," Dumbledore stood up and searched through his drawer, and when he handed Draco a piece of parchment, he said quietly, "Open it when you are outside. It will be useful for you if you ever feel in need of something to do."

Draco's brows furrowed but he took the parchment Dumbledore was offering. Holding it in his hand and obeying his mentor's wishes, he gave Dumbledore a small smile of goodbye before he actually left, and upon arriving outside the Headmaster's quarters he finally opened the parchment.

It said:

I give Mr. Draco Malfoy permission to access the Restricted Section of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's library for as long as he sees fit.

Thank you,

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster.

And Draco gawked as the tidy scrawl of the headmaster glistened in the firelight, and then he smiled, and made his way to his quarters, later to stop by in the kitchens.

Lets talk about love - it's all were needin'
Lets talk about us - it's the air we're breathin'
Lets talk about life - I wanna know you
Lets talk about trust - and I wanna show you
Lets talk about love