Warning: This is a slash story. If you don't like the hp/dm pairing, don't read it. I don't own these characters, regrettably, JKR does.
Background: Takes place during 7th year, Dumbledore didn't die, Harry and Ginny are still dating, and nothing happened with Malfoy and the whole cabinet/deatheater thing.
Chapter One: Forever?
Harry woke up hissing in pain, clutching his scar while willing himself to be quiet. All he needed was for the Dursley's to wake up and shout at him for waking them up the third time this week. No, that would not do at all. He recalled his dream/vision briefly, something about Malfoy refusing his father to become a deatheater, as the burning sensation ebbed away. Voldemort was furious, and Harry knew why. Draco Malfoy was supposed to follow in his father's footsteps to be Voldemort's next greatest follower. Harry was puzzled and more than a little surprised at the turn of events.
Sitting up, he went to reach for his glasses when he heard an abrupt popping sound in front of him. Harry, already having his wand out and ready to strike in front of him, waited for something to happen.
"Lumos" Somebody quietly uttered. Harry starred and finally the face of Albus Dumbledore came into focus.
"Dumbledore!" Harry gaped at him. "What are you doing here?"
"Ahhh, no time to talk my boy, " he said gently, while muttering a quick spell, and Harry watched as everysingle one of the items that belonged to him soared into his trunk at the end of his bed. Harry, sensing that something serious was going on, jammed his glasses onto his face and jumped out of bed, dressing quickly with the clothes that Dumbledore had purposely left out.
"All set then? Good, let's head off then." he said when Harry mutely nodded his head. He held out his arm for Harry to take and the twinkle that had been absent from up untill this point at seeing the boy gulp and look worriedly. "No need to worry, Harry", Dumbledore said reassuringly.
"But where are we-" He was cut off as he felt the familiar sensation in his lungs as if they were being squeezed closed. A few moments later he arrived, none too gracefully, into what he immediately recognized as the headquaters for the Order of the Pheonix. The Black Mansion. Sirius's house. No- his house. He blinked in the sudden light and starred into the worried faces of Mr, and Mrs. Weasley, Remus, Tonks, Ron , Hermione, and Ginny. He starred at Ginny for a moment before noticing something off to the side of Ginny in the shadows that was shifting. The figure stepped forward slightly and Harry gasped.
"What am i doing here? And what the hell is Malfoy doing here?" Harry growled with confusion and disgust written all over his face, glaring at Remus for answers.
"Harry," Ginny said, as she walked forward slowly, almost cautiously, " Don't you know what today is?" She asked with confused eyes. She stepped in front of him and took his clenched fists into her own small, soft hands, making them uncurl themselves to intertwine their fingers together. Harry starred down at her and smiled, forgetting that there was a room full of people before him, and that Malfoy's eyes were boring themselves onto Harry's slight form. He hadn't realized how much he had missed the red head in front of him. He leaned down and brushed their lips together sweetly, unaware that the room had quickly started to empty. All that mattered was Ginny's lips moving urgently with his own, relearning the way it felt to kiss Harry Potter. After a few moments of their reunion and feeling a dire need for air, Harry pulled back and leaned his forhead on hers. After they caught their breath, Harry leaned down and nuzzled his lips into her neck, knowing that it would make her purr in delight. He chuckled when she did and starred into her eyes. He had noticed that her eyes always got a little darker when he kissed her, and this time was no different. He kissed her once more softly before asking her, "so what's today," still confused.
She laughed loudly then, amazed that the boy didn't even know that it was his birthday. "It's your birthday" She answered in an amused voice. He looked st her sharply to see if she was joking, ands realized that she wasn't.
"You seriously had no idea, did you?" She asked incredulously.
Harry gave her a sheepish smile and shrugged, embarrassed. "I knew it was close, " He said, feeling his cheeks burn. He would never admit to her that because of all the nightmares and visions that he had been having lately, the days seemed to blur together, and he had given up trying to remember which day was which.
Ginnny shook her head at him and laughed again, wrapping her hands around his waist. "You're unbelievable, you know that? Well, Happy 17th Birthday anyways, Harry." she finished with a smile, reaching up to kiss his cheek.
They walked out of the kitchen and went to one of the many living rooms, where they knew everybody else was. Mrs. Weasley immediately pulled Harry into a hug and wished him a happy birthday. After everyone had wished him a happy birthday, and after Hermione had almost squeezed the air right out of him, he was face to face with a slightly red faced Ron. Harry stared at him worriedly, before slugging him on the shoulder lighlty, trying to lighten the suddenly tense atmosphere. "Aren't you going to wish me a happy birthday?" He asked with a smirk, knowing that Ron was still struggling internally with the idea of letting him and Ginny date. Harry saw Rons hand coming towards him and braced himself for the hit that was sure to come. Tensing his shoulders and back, he was surprised when Ron's hand clapped his gently on the back. Ron laughed at him, knowing that Harry wasn't that.
"Ya know, Harry, you're really really tense. Maybe Gin could help you out with that, eh?" He asked as he saw his best friends cheeks flame along with his sister's.
"Happy Birthday, by the way, " Ron said smuggly, laughing when Harry punched him halfheartedly.
"Alright, alright that's enough boys. Off to bed with the lot of you. We'll have cake tomorrow, Harry hear." Said Mrs. Weasley with a smile.
Every one started heading up to their rooms, except for Malfoy and Harry. The two boys glared at one another and Harry said, "Mrs. Weasley?"
Mrs. Weasley sighed and turned around. "Harry can't this wait till the morning, dear?"
"Morning? You mean, he's - he's staying here?" Harry asked in outrage.
"You know, I am standing right here, Potter!" Malfoy said in his usual sneer.
Mrs. Weasley watched the exchange with a frown on her face. "You mean Dumbledore didn't tell you anything?"
Harry shook his head.
"Oh dear!" Mrs. Weasley muttered with tired looking eyes. "Draco, dear why don't you go on up to the 5th door on you right, right at the top of the staircase," she said calmy, not noticing the way that the pale boy's face blanched when she used his first name, along with calling him 'dear'.
"But that's-" Harry started but was cut off by Mrs. Weasley's stern look.
"Come, Harry. I'll explain everything." She said, while Harry glared at the boy who was climbing the stairs, even at the lateness of the hour, with impeccable grace.
Harry harrumphed in reply and followed Mrs. Weasley out of the room.