Chapter 1.

Draco laughed at the expression on Harry's face as the blonde leaped out from behind the doorway, slamming the dark-haired wizard on to the carpet. Harry let out a squeal of surprise and turned as he fell to face his attacker, landing flat on his back, breath leaving him in a huff.

The emerald eyes were filled with an intense fear that quickly turned to anger as he realized the identity of his attacker, "Draco!"

"Yes, Harry?" his sneering voice tainted with a smile.

Both of the teenagers glared at each other for a heart beat, before bursting into spontaneous laughter and the same moment, grinning. Draco offered his hand to Harry, who gladly took it, puling himself up off of the floor. The boys starred at each other for a moment, hands still connected long after it was necessary. Draco finally broke the contact, but was clearly reluctant about it.

He turned from his friend and walked over to his bed on the far wall from the door, flopping down on it with a soft sigh. Harry walked over to his own bed, against the wall by the door, and sat down slowly, peering carefully at the boy across the room from him, "Draco?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you all right?"

Draco looked up sharply, he was surprised his misery was catching so quickly. The last time he had one of his 'episodes' it had taken everyone over a week to catch on. He thought about fibbing his way through the rest of the day, but decided against it. This was Harry, after all, "Not really, no."

Harry's eyes lit up in understanding, "You're thinking about them again, aren't you?"

Draco merely nodded. Harry stood and made his way across their room, sitting down gently next to his roommate. He placed an arm around Draco's shoulder, and that was all the invitation the young wizard needed. Draco turned towards Harry, burring his face in the raven-haired boy's shoulder, as memories washed over him.

Aunt Bella had appeared in his living room, where Draco was starring at the fireplace, waiting for his parents to return home from their meeting with the Dark Lord. She seemed angrier than usual, and Draco eyed her warily, "What is it, auntie? Is everyone back?"

She shook her head, "Just me."

"Will mother and father be coming home soon?"

"No."

"Are they still at the meeting?"

"Not really."

"Then where-" it hit him.

Aunt Bella grinned, "I did it, love. He told me too, and I did it." No. this wasn't possible. His parents were one of His supporters, why would He want them dead? "I killed them Draco, and now it's your turn...I'm sorry about this, I really am. You were always my favorite little brat." but the look on her face said anything but 'sorry'. Instead, it said, 'this looks like fun.'

Then she lunged with a knife.

The fact that she had chosen a knife rather than magic was the only thing that gave him time. He leaped off the couch and grabbed the jar of floo powder, throwing it into the fireplace. He stepped in as Bellatrix ran towards him, intent on killing her nephew...he was only nine, shouldn't be that much trouble. But a he walked into the flames, she broke into a run, trying to stop his escape, hair whipping about like a storm of black.

"Black..."

Draco hadn't realized he had spoken aloud until he was hurled out of the fire place into the middle of a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix. Draco was sure the witches and wizards in front of him were going to kill him. His panic level rose again, and only had time to say, "Make it quick..." before he fainted, to be caught before he reached the ground, by Sirius Black...

Draco had latter learned that Sirius had taken pity on his nine-year-old cousin, and had convinced the Order to let the boy stay at number twelve. While he was there, he had befriended the Potter's son Harry. A year later, Sirius adopted him, and they both moved into the Potter's house at Godric's Hollow. Draco and Harry had been practically brothers since they were ten.

The boy's were now about to enter their sixth year at Hogwarts, and the war against you-know-who raged on. Many people had already died, including Ron Weasley, who was close friends of Harry and Draco until his whole family died over the summer before their third term. Draco was horrified when it happened, but he was already used to death. Harry, on the other hand, was in a state of shock for months, and sometimes seemed just as sad as he was when it happened.

Draco was perfectly happy with his new family, and loved Harry dearly. Harry clearly loved Draco back. He couldn't help but wonder what could have happened if his parents hadn't died. He shuddered involuntarily at the thought of him remaining on the Dark Lord's side. He would have gotten his mark by now, and would face the people he now loved on the battlefield, aiming to kill, not knowing any difference between any random wizard and Harry. His Harry.

He could only too clearly imagine Uncle James and Aunt Lily falling to the ground to a flash of green, Sirius closing his eyes forever, and Harry lying pale on the ground, never to smile again...

NO. Draco quickly stopped that train of thought to realize he was still pressed up against Harry's side, and felt his face grow hot with pink. He fought the blush down and looked directly into the scorching emerald gaze. He couldn't help but smile at the warmth in that usually fiery beam. Harry was just so darn cute when he was worried.

As if he could read his mind, Harry smiled back, then leaned down to give Draco a slow sweet kiss, "Feeling better now?"

"Mmm..." was all Draco managed to say, as he shot up and sat back down, this time across Harry's lap, and began attacking him with kisses.

The only person who knew about their relationship was Sirius, and he didn't mind at all. Draco couldn't lie to him. Fortunately, Sirius didn't tell James, or the two teens might have a problem. Harry's parents wouldn't be upset if they found out their son was dating Draco, but they wouldn't let them share a room anymore, and that would have put an end to all their summer fun.

Just as Draco started to begin a line of hot kisses down Harry's neck, they heard Lily's voice downstairs, "Harry! Draco! Hurry up boys, or we'll miss the train!"

Both wizards moaned in disappointment, "Coming, Mum!"

Harry and Draco slid into the nearly empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express. The only occupant leaped up out of her seat, abandoning her book, and gathering both boys in a bone-crushing hug. "Hey, Hermione!" Harry greeted his best friend, as Draco just smiled.

The three of them sat down, Harry and Draco sitting together across from their friend. Draco starred out the window at the scenery rushing by as Harry caught up with his best friend outside of the Order.

"So, 'Mione, how's your summer been?"

"Alright I guess..." She then continues to ramble on about homework and her summer job at a Muggle library, "And yours?"

"Good. Brilliant, actually," at this Draco tore his eyes from the window to study Granger's face. Thy had planned to come out as a couple this year to their friends in Hogwarts, and it seemed Harry was going to start with his best friend. Draco wanted to see her reaction.

"Really? How so?"

Harry hesitated, looking for the right way to word this, "Well, Drake and I..." Draco loved it when Harry called him by that stupid nickname. "Well, were sort of...together."

Hermione's face lit up with what looked like joy, "Really?" Draco nodded. "Since when?"

Harry answered, "Fourth year."

Then she actually laughed, "Well, that certainly explains a lot."

Draco was confused, "What do you mean?"

"Honestly, how much could two boys have to talk about in private? The past couple of years you two kept disappearing together, and left me to cover for you." The boys looked slightly guilty and embarrassed before she spoke again, "Who knows?"

"Just you and Sirius." Draco replied promptly.

Hermione looked at Harry, "Dray told Sirius behind your back, didn't he?"

Harry tried to look mad, but failed horribly, "Such a daddy's boy."

"Am not!"

"Are too," Hermione unwisely cut in.

"Butt out Granger. No one asked you're opinion."

The trio of Gryffindors sat in silence for a few moment. Hermione returned to her book, Draco watched objects wiz by out the window, and Harry watched Draco. After a couple of minutes of comfortable silence, Hermione looked very seriously at Harry and asked, "You're serious right? This isn't some elaborate joke?"

To answer that Draco spun away from the window and grabbed Harry by his chin, pulling him to face him. For a moment Draco was scarred, they had never kissed in front of anyone before, but then he looked into his Harry's eyes and got lost in a storm of green...

As their lips locked, Harry tried to resist for one moment, clearly uncomfortable in Hermione's presence. But that moment ended as he felt Draco wrap his arms around his neck, and he let out a small moan. Hermione let out a small squeal and they broke apart, blushing, "Oh! This is great! I have to go tell Luna!" she paused for a moment, considering, "Is that okay- I mean- can I-"

"Hermione, it's fine. Go tell whoever you want." Harry replied, smiling. Hermione grinned and sped out of the compartment. This year was going to be fun.

About three months into the year, Draco was sitting next to Harry in History of Magic class. Professor Binns was going on and on about Goblin rebellions yet again. Hermione sat in the row in front of them, taking thorough notes. Most of the other students were at least pretending to pay attention, but Harry and Draco were playing tic-tack-toe in their notebooks. They had played over thirty games so far, and Draco was winning by thirteen games. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, which Binns completely ignored. The door opened regardless, and Professor Lupin walked into the classroom. He had been their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher since their third year, and was particularly close to Harry and Draco, being in the order and Best friends with James and Sirius.

Today, though he did not seem happy to see them, and Draco wondered if he did anything wrong. But Lupin didn't look angry, in fact he looked miserable. He simply looked sadly at Draco, and motioned for him to step outside with him. The whole class turned to stare as Draco walked shakily toward the door. There was no way this could be good. Harry got up to follow him, but Draco just shook his head.

"Drake-"

"It's okay. I'll be right back, Harry." he tried to keep his voice from shaking. Harry stood uncertain, and Draco just turned and walked after Lupin.

Outside the room, Lupin shut the door and walked a short way down the hall with Draco before stopping, and looking at the boy sadly, "Draco..."

"Professor, are you alright?" Lupin looked like he was going to burst into tears a any moment.

"I'm v-very sorry to tell you this, but-" His voice broke, and he had to stop and take a deep breath before continuing. "There was a battle today and w-we were out numbered..."

"Who?" Someone was dead. But how did that concern him? Unless...no, that's not possible.

"Sirius." No. NO. That can't be. Sirius wasn't dead. But then again, why wouldn't he be? The Order was losing the war. No one wanted to admit it, but it was true. People died every day. It was a small miracle the school was still open.

"Who did it?" Lupin looked conflicted. He clearly didn't want to tell Draco this anymore than he had wanted to tell him that his adoptive father was killed. "Professor, please. Tell me."

Lupin hesitated for a heartbeat longer before speaking Draco's last favorite word, "Bellatrix. It was B-Bellatrix." At that last statement, Lupin broke, and fell to the ground, sobbing hysterically. Draco just stood in the middle of the wall, an expression of utter horror on his face. It was always Auntie Bella. She seemed to have an obsession with killing family members. And how fitting that it was her who killed Sirius. She had murdered his parents, and just wanted to finish the job.

He felt a single tear slid down his cheek. I'm crying?Malfoys don't cry. But then he remembered, he wasn't really a Malfoy anymore. Malfoy died that day when he was a little nine-year-old boy. He was just Draco now. Some might even argue he was Draco Black, considering Sirius had adopted him. But now that was taken from him too. Everyone was going to leave him eventually, he was sure of it. Even his Harry wasn't permanent. I have to get out of here. Yes. That's it. He would leave before anyone else could leave him.

But where to go? If he tried to leave the school, the guards would catch him. Then he remembered the Room of Requirement. He could get lost in there, and no one would find him. Yes, that was it. He reached into his pocket for his wand, only to find it empty. He had left his wand in the classroom. Now he couldn't sneak away, so he'd have to be quick.

He left Lupin to his mourning, and went back to the classroom door, wrenching it open. He stalked inside, Professor Binns still babbling at the chalkboard about Goblins. But no one was listening. No, they were all watching Draco hurry back to his desk. His eyes were trained on his wand. Before he reached it, Harry saw where his eyes were aiming and snatched the wand up. "Harry, give me my wand."

"Tell me what's going on."

The whole class was facing the back of the room, even Hermione. Binns kept talking, oblivious to the commotion. "Harry, please." his voice was breaking, he couldn't breathe...

"Not until you tell me what you're going to do with it."

Damn him. Damn them all. Every last witch and wizard involved in this bloody war. They could all die for all Draco cared. No, not Harry. Harry can't die. He told himself sternly. His Harry had to live, or else the world wouldn't be worth fighting for anymore. That's why I have to leave. Everyone was going to die in this damn war, and Draco knew he wouldn't be able to handle the news that his Harry was dead. Because sooner or later, that was going to happen, and Draco had to get away before it did. "Please."

Harry wasn't going to budge, Draco could tell. He felt wet roll down his cheeks. He could hear the class muttering, Draco Malfoy was crying. This couldn't be happening. But it was. "Drake..." Harry moved to him in a flash, placing his hand on Draco's cheek. He couldn't help but lean into it slightly, "What's wrong, love?"

Draco wanted to stay like that, but he couldn't. He had to get away. Now. He took one big shuddering breath, and did something he would regret for the rest of his life. His left fist swung upward, fast, and connected with Harry's face. His Harry.

The whole class let out a unified gasp. Draco had hit Harry. Sure, the boy had a temper, but they thought he would never hit his precious Harry. Apparently, they were wrong.

Harry stumbled backwards, more out of shock than the force of the actual punch. Hermione leaped to her feet, starring back and forth between the two boys, unsure which one to run to. Harry was clearly in shock, and was quickly developing a nasty bruise right below his eye. But Draco...he looked like he was literally dying: His breath was shallow and fast, his eyes seemed to be haunted. His whole frame was shaking. He looked ready to faint. Unsure what to do, she just stood at her desk, watching the horrific scene before her.

Oh my God. I hit Harry. My Harry... Draco knew he definitely had to leave now. Those emerald's were so full of hurt and shock that he thought he was going to die from it. So instead he snatched his wand out of Harry's hand, and made a break for the door. He side stepped Hermione, and shoved aside Seamus, who had tried to block his exit. Before he left the room he heard the beautiful familiar voice call out with a terrible tinge of despair, "Draco..."

He sped toward his hiding place, hearing footsteps behind him. He didn't need to turn to know who they belonged to. Harry would follow him anywhere. He ran faster, and reached the right corridor, I need a place to hide, I need a place to hide, I need a place to hide...Then as an after thought, Where no one can follow. The Doors appeared and threw them open, hearing Harry getting closer. He ran inside and saw a small little cabinet. Without thinking he opened the small door, and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. He was plunged into a deathly blackness, and felt a pulling sensation in his stomach, similar to a portkey. He heard Harry barge into the room as he flew away, spinning into the darkness.