The Dragon Games

The sight of the raven-haired boy was a great relief as the door opened to reveal him; though Draco had been blocking his thoughts of missing Harry while he had been gone, he realized now how much he really had missed him. It looked like Harry had had his share of problems while he was gone as well.

His green eyes lit up when he saw Draco, then immediately turned to confusion when he noticed Charlie, who was weighing down his arm. Draco needed rest, but knew he wasn't going to get any for quite some time.

"What happened?" Harry asked him, helping them inside.

"He was attacked," he explained.

"Harry," Charlie spoke. "They know about the Prophecy. They know."

Charlie had been in and out of consciousness the entire journey, so it startled Draco to hear his voice, but he quickly rolled his eyes at the Weasley's ignorance of the situation. "Of course they know about the Prophecy," he growled.

Harry glanced at him, puzzled. "Who knows?"

Draco knew he'd need to explain - but later, in the game, because they needed to get a move on if they were going to keep the appointments he had made.

"Get someone quickly. We need to finish the last level," he ushered.

"Alright," Harry said, and rushed off.

Draco laid the bruised Charlie Weasley on the couch and quickly went upstairs to the attic to set up.

The war was coming soon, and after it was done, he'd be able to relax with Harry by his side. That sounded like a nice idea. But until then, there was no time to stop.

Harry came into the attic and looked at him questioningly.

"Get in and I'll explain," he said.

"Didn't you forget something?" Harry asked silkily.

"Huh?"

"Welcome back," Harry said softly, and kissed him.

Draco pulled him closer, realizing just how much he had missed Harry's touch, his kisses. For the past few days he had been craving them, and now, he easily lost sight of what was supposed to be happening. He finally snapped out of it when Harry started to lift up his shirt.

"Harry," he said, pulling away reluctantly, "I'd really love to do this making-out thing, but we have some appointments we can't be late for."

"Right," Harry said. "Game first."

Draco nodded, taking his hands off Harry and sitting down. Harry joined him.

"Ready?" he whispered, more to himself than Harry.

"Ready."

Draco clenched his teeth and held his eyes shut as they traveled to the Dragon Games. A feeling of a thousand whips piercing his skin as if each impact was pulling up flesh and digging into bone met him until there was the flash of white. He was in the white room again.

The cry of the Dragon sounded, and he was dimly aware that it was the last time he'd ever have to face the searing pain on his chest. He gasped as it struck him like a blade. When the pain receded to a dull throb, he opened his eyes.

Harry's mouth was opened, clearly uncertain of which question he should be asking first.

Draco sighed. "Charlie was attacked by Bellatrix Lestrange."

Harry's face hardened in hatred, but Draco continued. "My father told her to." He paused. "My dad knows about The Seven Mages of Fire - that's the Prophecy about the Weasley's. They were afraid that the Weasley's were going to be the ones who would defeat Voldemort in this war. I had to convince my dad that they were part of my plan, and that they would be worth the risk."

Harry's eyes were wide in panic. "Did he believe you?"

Draco intruppted, "-I made a deal with my dad. I had to push this war closer than I had aimed to, so I'd please him."

"You can do that? Just move the war to whever you want?" Harry asked bewildered.

"Harry, the Dark Lord is confident that he is ready, and he's anxious to prove to the world that he is a greater wizard than you. If I tell him that I can hand him to you earlier than what was precieved he will listen."

Harry nodded.

"Anyway,then father told me if I wanted to save Charlie I'd have to go stop Aunt Bellatrix before she murdered him," he said, and paused to take a breath. "When I found him, he was nearly beaten to death; I've put a few healing charms on him, but that's all I could do."

"How do the Weasley's fit into the war?" Harry asked.

"They're the key to making our weapon work," he answered, watching Harry's tired green eyes. "Their powers will control Voldemort just long enough for our weapon of choice to destroy him."

"Oh," Harry said, looking down.

The story was more or less complete, enough to satisfy Harry at the moment. Now they could ask whatever they wished to - and there was only one thing he needed to know.

"Are you okay, Harry?"

Harry shook his head a little, and Draco's heart ached for him as he closed his eyes. "This is all a little too much; I haven't been able to stop thinking about their death- or you- for what seems like ages. I just feel so far away from here- from my life."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Promise me everything is going to turn out alright," Harry said shakily.

Draco took a deep breath. "I can't do that. But I can promise you I'll try like hell to make sure it does."

Harry smiled, as if forcing himself to be assured. "Alright."

"We have three more questions," he said. "Have a go for a while."

Harry agreed and asked, "Where exactly do we stand with each other? I mean, you and I, together-"

He cut him off, before he could waste two questions in one, knowing exactly how he wanted to answer. "You've become everything to me, Harry. You've been what's keeping me going for the past few days. Without the prospect of coming back to you, I think I would have given up already. You've come to mean more to me than I ever thought was possible."

Harry's eyes were nearly shining with tears when he finished, and Sometime during his speech, he found he was standing in Harry's arms. Harry's eyes were shining with tears at Draco's words, and Draco himself felt like he was about to break down in Harry's arms.

"Merlin," Harry whispered. "You're everything to me, too. I haven't stopped thinking about you, or talking about you. Ron's about to curse me so I can't ever speak your name again," he joked, lightening the mood.

Draco chuckled at that, and brought Harry in for a kiss. He couldn't get enough of him. It was a bit scary. To be so attached to someone that it felt like he was a part of his soul, his very being, that he would die without him.

"When we're done with this Game," Harry started, taking his hand, filling Draco with strength and warmth that he hadn't felt in a long time, "and the War, would you like to spend the summer with me? Just take off, the two of us? We'll go to Paris or New York or New Zealand. Anywhere, just as long as it's only us."

Draco took a deep breath and nodded. "I'd love to, Harry. I would absolutely love to."

He kissed him softly for a moment, realizing that he may just in fact, love, Harry. And this startled him, because never before had he really loved anyone.

"Now, last question," he said. He knew it was his turn, but he wanted Harry to take it. He was afraid he'd ask Harry if he loved him, and he didn't want to know that answer yet. "It's yours if you'd like."

"All right," Harry said slowly. He pondered silently for a question. Finally, he spoke. "Do you believe in true love?"

Draco's heart skipped a beat. But the honest answer was, "No. I don't"

A flash of disappointment and fear fell across Harry's face.

"But I believe in you," he assured.

Harry tilted his head just slightly and Draco knew he was going to ask what he meant. Before Harry blew it and asked another question, he spoke, "I believe that in you, I can find something that I'm missing. Whatever that is, if it's true love or whatever, then I'll deal with that when it comes. All I know, Harry, is you mean more to me than anyone I've ever met. And I you make me believe that maybe love can really exist."

He didn't believe in the whole "true love" or "soul mate" nonsense, mostly because he had seen his father with his mother. She called him her "one true love," and he just couldn't understand that... But maybe, just maybe, he was beginning to.

Harry's eyes filled with longing, and Draco kissed his cheek tenderly as a door opened at the other end. He took Harry's hand and led him towards it.

"Welcome to the World Under, Gamers," the Dragon's voice echoed across the walls.

They passed through the door and glanced around wearily, their hands still clutched together. They were definitely in some sort of hell layer in the earth; everything glowed a fiery red, it was intensely hot, and there were long canyon walls surrounded by pits of flames.

"I'm sure you've heard many dragon tales in your time," the Dragon continued, "but if you haven't, I will now explain. You must seek me here in my lair. I guard your treasure, and do not intend to give it up. Death is the only option; you must be slain, or I shall be. If you prevail, you will be given your long deserved reward. If you fail, then you will just become fuel for my fire. Your hunt begins now."

---

Hermione's chess skills were not up to par, and Ron was winning his sixth game in a row.

"And check, and mate," Ron said, grinning. "Another for me, Hermione."

Hermione scrunched up her nose at him, but shrugged. "This game is just brutal. I don't like it."

"That's because you're no good," he said, giving her a smile.

She opened her mouth to retort, but his smile threw her off. The two jumped when they heard a knock on their door.

"Oh, come in," Hermione said.

To their surprise, Percy, Bill, Charlie and Ginny all entered their room. Charlie looked a little exhausted, and Percy looked flaming mad.

"What's going on?" Ron asked. "Charlie, what are you doing here?"

"Draco Malfoy brought me here," he said, his voice tired. "He saved my life."

"He what?" Ron asked in shock.

"What happened?" Hermione asked, very concerned. "Who attacked you?"

"Someone who knows about the Prophecy," Percy growled. "Hermione, I need to borrow Ron for a while. We have to go to Diagon Alley for a bit."

"What for?" Ron asked.

"I have a guy who's going to talk to us about getting protection, and I want to talk about getting the Prophecy back, because I know one of you has it!"

"Alright," Ron said, glancing at Hermione. "But Hermione can't be left here alone, and Lupin and Tonks are out on Order business."

"Why the bloody hell can't she be left alone? She's old enough to take care of herself," Percy said, rolling his eyes.

"There are people after her, too," Ron said. "People who want her dead."

"Right, well, she can't come with us; the guy will only talk to the seven of us."

"I'll stay with her," Ginny said quickly. "You can tell me everything later."

Percy stared at his sister for a moment, then shrugged. "Do what you want, Gin. We need to go get Fred and George."

Ron leaned in and kissed Hermione goodbye, and the four Apparated.

"You could have left with them," Hermione said. "Harry's still here."

"Actually, Charlie said he and Draco left in a hurry." Ginny frowned. "I'm not sure where those two have disappeared off to."

---

Harry and Draco were climbing up a set of rocks to reach a higher ground.

"Are you sure dragons like high places?" Harry called out to Draco.

"Fairly sure," was Draco's muffled answer. "Either that, or they like to live really close to ground level."

Harry shook his head, but kept climbing until they reached a small ledge. They looked down, and Harry's head spun - they were awfully far up.

"Where to next?" he asked, pulling away from the edge.

"That way," Draco said, pointing to a small narrow path that led to another cave. They had been climbing for a while, going through caves and under rock bridges and finding themselves at many dead ends.

As the two walked and concentrated on not falling, Harry brought up a question that was nagging at him.

"What happens..." he started, taking a moment to get his balance, "when we get to the Dragon? How are we going to kill it?"

"I'm still working on that," Draco said. "You have any ideas?"

"Not entirely. I've saved a dragon and I've stolen a treasure piece from one, but I've never slain one."

"You saved one?" Draco asked from ahead.

"Yeah, first year, when we all lost those points for our houses. You told on me, Ron and Hermione," he said distractedly as they began to climb again.

"Oh, yeah," Draco said, amused.

The two made it onto another, larger platform.

"Up again?" he asked.

"Yes."

The two started to climb, and Harry's hands were starting to sting from the scrapes from sharp rocks.

"Well, you know more about dragons than I do," he said. "How do the books you read say to slay a dragon?"

"Oh, you know," Draco said, pulling himself up into a cave. He reached down and helped Harry up. "Usually brave knights with swords and thousands of men in chain armor defeat the dragons after a reckless fight."

"Which we have none of," he said.

"But we have our wands."

"Maybe we can summon some swords?" Harry said. "Or transfigure some."

"That might be a good idea," Draco nodded.

The two boys traveled along the World Under, gliding up and down the canyon walls, but finding nothing but empty caves and occasionally skeleton bones.

As they started back down the canyon to search below, the two went over the spells they needed to create these objects, making sure they had them down. They wanted to be prepared.

When they reached as far down as they could go, the two were starting to feel lethargic from the ungodly high temperature.

"Where is it?" Draco finally yelled out a half hour later.

"I dunno," Harry panted as they climbed up another wall. "But we'd better find it soon; I'm not going to last much longer."

"I swear we've been here before," Draco said glumly. "This is just one big, circling canyon. We've been up and down here."

"Have we missed anything?" he asked.

"Let's try one more sweep around before we panic," Draco said, his voice on edge. Harry could tell he was forcing himself to stay calm.

"Alright." He was pretty near losing it himself, truth be told.

They started climbing again, trying to remain optimistic, but he wasn't so sure they'd find it on this time around either - and they didn't. Nor did they on their next sweep around.

"Okay," Draco said. "I'd say panic is safe to feel right about now."

"Yah think?"

"That goddamn Dragon, where can it possibly be hiding?"

"Dragon," Harry muttered, his mind racing for ideas. A thought had just struck him, but from the heat, it wasn't easily staying. "Dragon... Draco, we've only called the Dragon once - we could call it again."

Draco looked at him as if he were a genius. "Brilliant, Harry! You're brilliant!"

Harry flushed a little but shrugged it off, and the two quickly found solid ground and called for the Dragon. Its roaring cry was heard, but it was not seen.

They looked around for it, perplexed. Then Harry noticed the flames below dying down as the Dragon rose from them.

---

Hermione looked at the clock again. Ron and his brothers had been gone for a very long time - about six hours, actually. And she was getting extremely worried.

"Don't worry, Hermione," Ginny said. "I'm sure they're fine."

Hermione nodded, but she still couldn't shake off the suspicion that she was supposed to be out there looking for him. Her mind just kept telling her that she should be with Ron because he was in danger. She told Ginny this, and Ginny sighed.

"I'm getting that same feeling, Hermione," she said. "But I could just be reading it off you."

"Do you think so?" Hermione asked, worried.

"No, I think it's genuine. They should have been back by now."

"We'll give them a half hour," Hermione said. "Then we'll go look for them."

"Right," Ginny nodded. "A half hour."

Hermione just pleaded silently that a half-hour wouldn't be too late.

---

"Gamers, you've found me," the Dragon said - and if it could smile, that's what it was doing. "Do you have a question first, before we begin our death match?"

"Yeah," Draco said. "How can we defeat you?"

The Dragon actually made a chuckling sound. "To defeat me, you will have to use more than just strength and courage, but also your trust and loyalty in each other."

Suddenly, the Dragon let out a horrid screech, and since they were right next to the Dragon, it was even louder than before. Harry's ears rang as the Dragon snarled and lunged at him, but he dodged out of the way just in time. However, it didn't take long to recover, and was already flapping its wings to pick itself up into the air.

Draco and Harry quickly transfigured the nearest rock into a sword and lunged for them, this time Draco dodging out of the Dragon's way.

What the Dragon had said still rang in Harry's ears. "Trust and Loyalty" - well, he trusted Draco completely now, so how was this supposed to work?

The Dragon hit him with the end of its tail, which luckily wasn't sharp. Alas, it was very strong, and it threw him smack into a wall.

His key to this game so far was always to concentrate hard on the challenge. So, that's what Harry decided to do now. The Dragon breathed fire at him and his arm was hit as he moved away. He ignored the pain and just concentrated on his trust for Draco and on his loyalty to the boy. He knew he'd die for Draco if he had to.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Draco asked in horror.

Harry realized that he had closed his eyes, because he had to open them to see Draco looking at him.

"Concentrating," he replied.

"On what?" Draco asked as he knocked Harry down to save him from the Dragon's teeth.

"You," he said. "Concentrate on me."

He wasn't quite sure if Draco would understand, but he had to force himself to concentrate before he lost all nerve from the heat and the pain from his now badly burned arm.

It took Draco a moment, but very quickly, Harry saw him looking very blank-faced, as if he too, was blocking everything else out.

To Harry's surprise and relief, the Dragon faltered, nearly knocking itself into the wall as Draco evaded it.

It turned around, screeching at them, but Harry knew it was working. The Dragon lunged again, and he took his sword and plunged it into the beast with an almighty yell.

It let out a fierce cry and fell, but it certainly wasn't dead; it clambered to its feet, but soon fell down again as its weight became too much for its knees to support.

In one swift movement, Harry saw Draco take his sword and jam it into the Dragon's hard scales. The Dragon shuddered, giving one last breath of steam before it went lifeless.

The two boys stared at the dead Dragon's golden-red body. Its blood, which was green, was starting to pool around it.

"Harry," Draco said excitedly, "you did it! We did it!"

"We did," Harry agreed, nodding, but he still couldn't feel much of anything because it hadn't sunk in yet.

"I can't believe you figured that out so quickly!" Draco marveled.

Harry couldn't help but realize that the only reason he had figured it out was because of the stress Draco had put on it in the beginning; they were supposed to be working together, that this was a game of trust. That's what the Game was supposed to have taught them.

The two boys were lifted off their feet, and he shot Draco a quick, confused glance before they were shot off in a flash of gold light. When Harry could see again, he saw he was in an icey dark cave - or maybe it was normal temperature, and just seemed chilly in comparison to the World Under.

Floating in midair was a tiny golden scroll, illuminated by the glowing torches that lit the dark cave. Harry reached out and snatched it. Rolled up inside the ancient parchment was a dark redwood wand.

"This is it?" he asked, stomach queasy from being this near to the object that would destroy Voldemort.

"This is it," Draco breathed.

A glowing door appeared in front of them, and the blonde looked at it. "We won," he stated, hardly daring to believe it.

"We won," Harry nodded. "Now let's go home."

The two quickly went through the door, not at all upset that they'd never set foot in the Games again.

---

Now back in the attic, Harry had never been happier to be back home.

His body was still sore from climbing and the Dragon battle, and the burn was still glistening red on his arm. Draco quickly did a few healing spells on Harry and himself.

"We have to go," he said hurriedly once he finished. "We don't have a lot of time."

"A lot of time for what?" Harry asked.

"It's a surprise," Draco replied. "But that level put us back a few hours, we're only going to have an hour before the battle begins."

"Where are we going?"

"Surprise, Harry," Draco said, playfully rolling his eyes. "Need anything before we go?"

He shook his head, double-checking his pocket for the scroll and wand, and also found the Mortuus Sermo in his pocket - he had been playing with it ever since Draco had left, attempting to get it to work. He was supposed to ask him about it now that the Game was finished, but he knew this wasn't the time to use it or ask about it, especially because he was anxious to find out what Draco's surprise was.

"Take my arm," Draco said. "I'll take us near there. We'll have to walk a little, but it'll be worth it."

Harry nodded and obediently took a hold of Draco's arm.

Draco muttered a quick spell under his breath, and the two disappeared out of the attic.

---

Downstairs, Ron had just entered with all his brothers trailing behind him. The house was eerily silent and still, and Ron frowned.

"Hermione?" Ron called. "Ginny?"

There was no answer.

He started into the house and spotted a note on a nearby table, addressed to Harry.

Harry,

We've gone out looking for Ron and his brothers. Percy stopped by to talk with them, and they've been gone for several hours. We'll be back soon.

Hermione & Ginny.

---

Harry was told by Draco to close his eyes, so that's what he was doing while Draco was positioning him so that he could "see everything properly." He had no idea where he was or what Draco was up to, but he was certainly intrigued.

"Alright," Draco said. "Open your eyes."

He obeyed, and his mouth dropped open in amazement.

It could easily have been one of the most magical-looking places he had ever seen. Everything was in vibrant colors; the grass crisp green, the roses blood red - nothing was even a shade off of what it was supposed to be. Harry felt like he had fallen into some sort of painting or wonderland.

There was a large, glistening waterfall pouring into a large crystal blue stream. There were a few trees, all perfectly shaped and bearing different sorts of fruit. The sky was light blue, with a few wisps of puffy white clouds. The air smelt strong of sweet fruits and grass, and the magic in the air was almost enough to put you in a trance.

Draco was watching him, taking in his reaction.

"This is amazing," he said in bewilderment. "Where are we?"

"I don't really know," Draco said, turning towards the waterfall. "Severus brought me here when we were in hiding."

He turned to Draco, and as he stared at the blonde boy, a warmth spread from his head to the tips of his toes that one could only call love.

"You're amazing," he said. "This is all so wonderful."

"I knew you'd like it," Draco said, smiling.

"I love it," Harry replied, turning towards a flock of birds who came to a landing a few feet ahead of them.

"I just wanted to give us something happy," Draco said, "before we have to face the war."

"It was a brilliant idea," he said, then paused. "How much time do we have?"

"About five minutes before I have to explain what's going to be happening."

"I wish we had more time," Harry pouted.

"We would have, if that stupid Dragon wasn't so impossible," Draco said scathingly.

Harry grinned at Draco's hostility towards the Dragon. "Well, we'll have to come back here - have some you and me time."

Draco's eyes passed over him, and then to the ground. "In the grass?"

Harry gave him a sly grin. "You won't have clothes on to ruin."

Draco's face flushed, and he didn't look up from his feet. "I see."

Harry loved making Draco squirm; it was usually the other way around, and rare the boy ever lost his cool composure. He wasn't the only one, though; the mere thought of alone time with Draco here made his own heart beat fast.

"That's a bit kinky, Harry," Draco said smoothly, clearly catching himself in his moment of embarrassment and winking at him.

"Well, it's less public that way," Harry said. "No one to barge in on us."

"'cept maybe Severus," Draco said, grinning.

Harry frowned, disgusted at the thought of Snape finding them in any sort of compromising position.

"That would be awful," he said, revolted.

Draco laughed. "Good point. He'd never talk to me ever again."

"Is that such a bad thing?"

"Well, he did save my life."

"Fortunately for me," Harry said with a radiant smile.

"And me," Draco said with a bright smile to match his. "I guess I have him to thank for bringing me to you. I should send him a card."

"That says what?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Something sappy, I'd gather," Draco said with a shrug.

"Indeed." Harry nodded. "Well, we'll just have to set wards on the place then - make sure no one could get here."

"Or we could go to your place, where there's a bed," Draco toyed. "Now there's a decent idea."

"Afraid of a few grass stains?" Harry asked jokingly.

"I'm afraid of no such thing."

"I'm sure."

"Don't believe me?" Draco asked, challenging him playfully.

"Oh, I believe you," he said, amused, and kissed him gently on the lips.

They paused in silence, staring at each other as they pulled apart. Then they turned out towards the water, embracing the beauty of the land again.

Harry forgot about the war that he would soon have to face, forgot about the fear, pain and loss he had for everything that had happened and would be coming. He was just lost in the moment, with Draco by his side. It hit him then, a sudden epiphany. He wanted Draco with him for every moment that would be coming, because he made him feel so at peace, yet as if he was teetering on the edge of a cliff. Excitement mixed with passion. It was a wonderful mix.

"It's time, Harry," Draco said, breaking the blissful silence.

He nodded, prepared to listen to Draco's instructions.

"I'm going to meet you at Godric's Hollow," Draco said. "Do you know where that is?"

He nodded again. He knew because he had talked with Lupin about it when he had initially wanted to visit the place [in which] his parents had lived.

"Good. You're going to meet me there with your army and the Weasley's by your side, okay?"

"Alright," Harry said. "What happens then?"

"Then we fight," Draco answered simply. "And we will have the Weasley's use their powers against Voldemort, and we will kill him."

---

Harry entered back into Grimmauld Place, his stomach churning in anxiety and fear. He had to get everyone together. This is what they had been planning for.

He noticed movement in the living room and went in to find Ron setting someone on the couch. Harry looked closer and noticed it was Ginny, with a large bump on her forehead. It was bleeding, and she was knocked out.

"Ron?" Harry asked.

Ron looked up, tears sparkling in his eyes. "They've taken her, Harry. They've kidnapped Hermione."