WARNING: This story will contain SLASH. If you are not familiar with that term, it means that their will be same sex pairings. So if this isn't your cup of tea please feel free to hit that pretty back button. I won't be offended, but I will be if I get flames because it is a SLASH. Flames hurt my feelings, so please be nice *smiles* have a good day.
A/N: Hello this is my first attempt at a slash fiction, so I would appreciate only constructive criticism if any at all. Oh and yes this does have a plot, I promise!
DISCLAIMER: I own Harry Potter *slap* okay fine I DON'T own Harry Potter, but I do own Draco Mal.. *punch* okay ouch! No need to get mean, I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters..... except for ......*threatening looks* okay.... No one.
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Harry entered the Weasley household. He dropped his bags at his side and knocked soundly on the large door. It had been a long trip from the Dursleys. The Knights bus seemed to have taken especially long.
Harry sighed and waited. He didn't have to wait long before the door swished open. A tall girl stood in the doorway. Her red hair tamed into a simple bun. Her chocolate eyes looked ecstatic as she saw him.
"Harry!" she shrieked happily throwing her arms around him. "What are you doing here?"
"Hey Ginny" Harry smiled hugging the smaller girl back. He was surprised to see her. She had been on an exchange in America in the past year so he hadn't seen her at all. "The Dursleys finally realized that my seventeenth birthday was two weeks ago. They officially disowned me. Claimed I was old enough to fend for myself." he said with a grin. It was indeed a happy day.
"That's wonderful" Ginny said sharing his enthusiasm. "Come on in. It has been forever! So much has happened" she held the door open and Harry walked into the familiar house. Looking around he was pleased to see it was in disarray as usual. It was the first happy sight he had seen all summer. "RON, HERMIONE! HARRY IS HERE" Ginny called up the stairs in a loud voice.
"WHAT!" a surprised Ron called. There was a slight thundering sound and Harry watched as both Ron and Hermione appeared at the bottom of the stairs. They smiled happily at him. Harry was shocked to see how relieved he was to see his best friends again. Both looked equally happy to see him.
"Harry!" Hermione said. She rushed forward and hugged him tightly. "How are you!" she said pulling back.
"Good" Harry said only being half honest. "The Dursleys kicked me out though" he grinned.
"Great finally! Now we can go to Diagon Alley together" Ron smiled. He snatched Hermione's hand into his and smiled at Harry. "Come on you get Persy's room now. The git finally moved out. He and Penelope are getting married in the spring. " he explained. "Mom knew you would come eventually so she fixed the room up for you"
Harry was elated as Ron led him up to the second floor. He pushed open a door and announced proudly "Welcome to your new room"
Harry looked around the room. It was fairly plain, the ceiling was slanted and the walls were a nice blue color. All of Persy's trophies and books were now missing. Harry's interest sparked as he thought of the things he could fill the room with. The bed spread had little snitches on it and a pillow had a large H embroidered in it. "Wow" was all Harry managed to say.
He turned around and hugged Ron. Ron was quite surprised. They of course had never really hugged. "This is great" Harry said pulling away.
"Well come on, drop your bags and come see everyone. Fred and George are here, they just finished opening up their second store." Ron said recovering quickly. The three of them ran down stairs and skidded to a stop in the kitchen. Molly, Arthur and the twins all were sitting at the table.
"HARRY!" Mrs. Weasley said pleased to see the young man. She walked over and embraced him like a loving mother. "Dear you look wonderful" she said stepping back and examining him. "How are you?" she asked eyeing him concerned.
Harry flushed slightly. "I am fine" he said forcing a smile. Mrs. Weasley seemed to accept this.
"So the press been bothering you much?" Arthur asked setting down his coffee cup on the table. "I just read another article about you" he informed Harry.
Harry cringed slightly. The papers luckily hadn't been able to locate him over the summer, they didn't know how to contact him while he was at the Dursleys.
"Well in Modern Witch you were voted most eligible bachelor, you sexy thing you!" Fred said batting his eyes in his direction.
"Any chance of coming off the market" George chortled rubbing the seat beside him seductively. At this everyone in the room burst into laughter. Harry felt a little better. The papers really hadn't left him alone since June of last year.
For good reasons Harry had to admit. In the end of Harry's sixth year Harry had finally managed to defeat Voldemort. The title The-Boy-Who-Lived had been quickly replaced in the headlines with The-Boy-Who-Saved-Us. Harry had thought that the fame from living was big, he was still getting used to the fame from succeeding.
"So what are you going to do now?" Molly asked after the laughter died down.
Harry shrugged. "I guess I will just hang around. I should probably do a little of my school work. After all, my seventh year starts in less than a week"
"Well, I hate to bail, but it is Hermione and my anniversary. We are going to go out for a picnic" Ron explained.
"Ron has been planning it for weeks" Hermione explained apologetically. Harry only smiled. He was so happy when those two had finally decided to start dating in their fifth year. It had ended the all the fighting...... Well actually ALMOST all the fighting. They still squabbled whenever they found a free moment.
"Oh no, you two have a good time" Harry smiled. Ron and Hermione both looked gratefully at him and exited the room. "I think that I am just going to go to my room and study" he informed the remaining people in the room.
"Okay, I am glad you are here" Molly said with a gracious smile.
"Me too" Harry smiled. He hurried up to his room and pushed the door open. As soon as the door was shut the smile faded from his face.
Harry took a shaky breath and sat down on the edge of his bed. This summer had be an all time low. He had spent so much time reliving what happened that day with Voldemort, so much time that it had seemed to envelop around him until he was sure he was breathing it in.
It all played back to him in vivid Technicolor over and over again. Never changing, though Harry wished more than anything that he could go back and change things. It wasn't supposed to have ended like it did. *He* shouldn't have been their. *He* shouldn't have died. Harry shut his eyes and once more it all flowed back into his mind..............
**FLASHBACK**
Harry trembled as he stood again. He looked down at the collapsed form of his arch nemesis. Voldemort's crumpled body lay on the muddied ground. Blood trickled down Harry's face from his lightening scar, which had reopened in the battle.
Harry watched as little spirits floated up from Voldemort's corpse. Every single person he had killed was finally avenged and free to rest. Harry recognized Cedric as he floated up. "Good job Harry" he winked as his transparent form headed towards sky.
Harry nodded and smiled at all the spirits, some offered him thanks and others just disappeared. Harry wasn't surprised at this. Hermione had explained that this would happen if Harry managed to defeat Voldemort. Harry waiting in anticipation, and finally a beautiful woman with waves of red hair clutching a man's hand, who had piles of dark hair emerged.
"Mom, Dad" Harry choked at the ghost like images of his parents. It was similar to what occurred in his fourth year, but this seemed so much more real now that he was out of danger.
"Harry" Lily Potter exclaimed. Her eyes lit up happily. "Oh my Harry you did it" she smiled tearfully.
"Harry, we are so proud of you. You couldn't have turned out a better man" James Potter said beaming down at his son. "We love you"
"I love you too" Harry said. He didn't try and fight the tears that were now trickling down his cheeks. He singled this out as one of the most happiest moments of his life.
"Harry, we have to go. Stay strong my son" Lily said her green eyes were filled with adoration for her son.
"Please don't go" Harry said desperately. "Please" his voice trembled with the building emotion.
"I am sorry, but we must." James said. "Take care and remember we love you" he said. Harry wanted to protest further, but knew he couldn't win. He watched as he parents disappeared.
Harry was surprised to find he didn't feel sad. Instead he felt like a piece of himself that had been missing was suddenly replaced. Wiping the tears from his cheeks he prepared to leave the scene to get help. He turned to leave when he suddenly heard a sound behind him.
Harry whirled back around, wand ready, to see the last person he would have expected.
The blond Slytherin looked briefly at the dead body of Voldemort before focusing his eyes on Harry. "You have to get out of here" he said urgently.
"Why" Harry frowned, he was still slightly shocked to see Draco Malfoy there. He was suddenly filled with an uneasy feeling. "Malfoy how did you know where I was" he asked suspiciously.
Draco approached Harry and put his hands on his shoulders. Harry felt a strange spark as Draco touched him. "Please Harry just go" he pleaded gently. Harry was taken back. There was a look in the Slytherin's silver eyes that he couldn't ignore. Draco seemed to be beaten and looked quite weak.
"You called me Harry" he gasped in disbelief. "What is going on!" he demanded.
"My father, he is coming for you. I had to escape and tell you" Malfoy explained in a strained whisper. His voice was trembling and his grip on Harry's shoulders had increased. For a person who had seemed all to confident in Voldemort's uprising, Draco looked fairly at ease with his death.
"Why would you tell me this?" Harry asked speaking coldly he jerked his shoulders from his grips, but didn't stop looking at him. He felt strangely compelled to his eyes. His metallic stare.
There was a small crack behind Harry. Harry watched as Draco raised his eyes in horror. "Please run Harry" Draco said. Harry moved behind Draco and followed his glare. Lucius was standing over the body of the Dark Lord. His eyes shifted and he looked to the two boys holding their ground.
"Draco, you will be hunted and killed for your betrayal" Lucius hissed at his son. "You have been told that it is futile to try and save Harry. Doesn't it occur to you that Harry doesn't even notice your existence."
Harry's eyes shifted to Draco and back to Lucius. It was confusing, but obviously there was something Harry was missing. He had too many questions to focus hard on their comments.
"NO" Draco said his voice filled with venom. "You will die. I spend three weeks locked in my room. And still I am here. You see father you can't stop me. I said I would save Harry, and I am going to"
Harry was surprised by these comments. "Oh we will see" Lucius said a menacing grin on his pointed face.
"speculum" Draco said quietly under his breath. Harry barely caught the words.
"Avada Kedavra" Lucius shouted. His wand out stretched and pointed at Harry. Harry cringed ready to take the fatal green blow, when suddenly he saw a Draco jump infront of it.
"NO!" Harry screamed. He watched as though in slow motion as Draco fell dead to the ground. Time sped up and he rushed forward to tend to the now fallen form of Draco. Harry knelt beside his body. He looked up and saw that Lucius was also on the ground. He looked quite dead. Harry was shocked. What had happened? Draco was now ghastly pale. "Draco, Draco please wake up" Harry said desperately trying to wake the young man.
There was no response from Draco and Harry suddenly felt like he had experienced the worst lose of his life. He wasn't sure how, hadn't he and Draco been enemies? Harry clung to Draco's soft green robes and stroked his silky blond hair from his face. Tears were flowing down his cheeks. Harry wasn't sure how long he was there for, when suddenly he felt a strong hand on his shoulder.
Harry turned to see Dumbledore standing over him. A grave look etched in his face. "Harry, I think it is time we went back to Hogwarts" he said seriously. Harry nodded and stood beside Dumbledore.
**END FLASHBACK**
Harry snapped out of his thoughts as he heard a gentle tap at the door. Sitting up he noticed he swallowed down the sadness. "Come in" he said quickly.
The door opened and the seventeen year old form of Ginny Weasley stood at the doorway. "Hey Harry" she smiled. "I hope your not busy. I have to leave in an hour and I thought I would catch up quickly with you. "
"Come on in" Harry said shifting on the bed so she had a place to sit. Ginny smiled and sat down beside him.
Harry studied her for a moment. That year in America really had changed her. Her voice had a hint of an American accent, she seemed to have had a growth spurt and now was quite beautiful. "I am beginning to wish I hadn't left last year" Ginny said with a smile. "It seems I missed the final battle. It sounds like a blast" she muttered.
Harry winced slightly. "No, you were lucky Ginny. Besides didn't they skip you a grade the minute you got there?"
"Yah, now I am in the same year as you" Ginny nodded. "That is why I have to say goodbye. I am heading back to America, they offered me a scholarship to complete my last year there"
Harry looked at her, not hiding his disappointment. He and Ginny would never have gone out. Her crush had died long ago, even before Harry had announced he was gay. Ginny was the most supportive after he came out. It had been Harry's fifth year. It had taken most a long time to get used to, not Ginny though, she was wonderful.
Soon the two of them had been hanging out and scoping guys together. Ron and Hermione had been busy developing a relationship, so Harry was glad for her friendship. "What about Seamus!" Harry asked slightly surprised and displeasure.
Ginny flushed. She had admitted to Harry that she had fallen hard for the Irish Gryffindor Quidditch captain, who unfortunately never gave her the time of day. "He will never notice. Besides it is kind of nice in America. Fenwick is a nice school"
"Okay" Harry sighed. "Now who will I scope guys with?"
"I don't know, why don't you just find a boyfriend instead?" Ginny grumbled. "If you do, I will try and do the same. We both need to get a guy"
Harry smiled at her cynical comments. "I am really going to miss you." He said laughing.
"I will miss you too" Ginny smiled. She leaned over and hugged Harry tightly. Harry felt her rest her head on his shoulder briefly. "Harry, if you ever need to talk about ANYTHING, you know I am an owl away" she said pulling back. She kissed him platonically on the lips and left the room.
Harry watched her leave sadly. He knew immediately what ANYTHING was. She meant Draco's death. She had told Harry once that she figured that Draco and him would get together. Harry of course had laughed, Draco was straight, and besides he was a Slytherin, and his worst enemy.
Ginny only smiled as he told her all of those reasons. She told him to wait and see, it would happen. Harry had always shrugged, he didn't think he liked Draco. . . . . . . Draco had been nothing but mean to him. Draco had been well, Harry knew it was silly, but he knew he had taken Draco for granted. Draco had been a constant. Even if that meant a constant insult. Not a crush, not a love, a constant. Someone that Harry could replace with another constant. He sighed knowing it wasn't true. He began to try and come to some conclusions about that night. Why had Draco been there at all? Why did he say all those things? Why did he have to die?
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Draco let his silver eyes survey Heathrow airport with acute dislike. The place was crawling with muggles, the noise of them was building in his ears.
"DRACO! Are you listening!" a sharp voice cut through his analysis of the surroundings. Draco snapped back to attention and looked back into the worried face of his mother. "Draco, there will be Wizarding Relocation Agents waiting for you when you get off the plane" she said her emotional blue eyes staring at his.
"I still don't see why I have to go to America" Draco said a hint of his usual insolence. "Why can't I just go back to Hogwarts. Voldemort is gone now"
"Draco, you saved the Death Eaters worst enemy. Everyone thinks your dead. There was a funeral for god sakes." Narcissa said. The pity she felt for Draco was overwhelming. "The ministry hasn't caught up with all of the Death Eaters yet. They are looking for you, and will kill you if they knew you were alive. The betrayal they feel runs deep." Narcissa said fiercely.
Draco stayed silent as she continued. It was useless to try and get out of it. Draco had made a choice last year. A choice he knew he would have to pay for. Now he was.
"I guess I should go get my plane" Draco mumbled as his mother finished her long speech he had chosen to block out.
"Please be safe my dragon" Narcissa said hugging her only son close. Draco tried to hug her back stiffly but found it odd, he had never hugged his mother before. Draco pulled away and began to walk to the plane without looking back.
Draco found his seat on the plane and ignored everything the flight attendants said to him. He looked out the window at the black stripe the plane would soon be traveling across. He didn't bother to look up as he felt the seat next to him become occupied.
Draco let his eyes shut as the engines kicked off. It was really happening. He was going to America. Even though he hated that he was doing this. He wouldn't have changed anything, not if it meant Harry would have died............
**FLASHBACK** (A/N I am sorry, I love them)
"Speculum" Draco hissed the spell to himself. .Draco moved as quickly as possible infront of Harry. He couldn't let him die, not at the hand of a Malfoy. Draco knew he had succeed as the green light hit him. A shocking feeling ran through him as he hit the ground.
A slight tingling feeling over took him. Draco knew what was happening. The mirror spell (Speculum) was taking affect. He silently thanked his mother for making him learn it. He heard Harry cry out and move down beside him. Draco felt guilty for deceiving him.
The spell he had used simply reflected any curses thrown at him and directed them back at the person who cast them. So he knew that Lucius was dead. The best part about it though was that Draco really didn't die, or feel the pain of dying the spell made it seem as though he had been hit.
Draco now looking quite dead, but was still very much alive. He felt Harry clutch his robes and cry softly. "Please wake up" he heard him plea. He wanted to reach up and explain he was still okay.
"Not that Harry would care. Harry is your enemy. The only reason he cries for you know is because he feels guilty" a cynical voice chided in Draco's head. Draco winced and tried to block out the boy who now leaned over his body.
It was increasingly difficult to try and ignore him as he now was stroking Draco's hair. Draco took guilty pleasure in the feeling of Harry's hands running through his tresses, it felt so good. Though now, he would have to forget about Harry Potter. Soon Harry would forget about him.
He sensed another figure approach. Though he couldn't see him, he knew it was Dumbledore. Dumbledore knew what Draco had planned to do. Though he had advised Draco not to try and save Harry, Draco knew he had to. He knew he had to, ever since he found out he loved him.
Dumbledore would have Draco moved to a different place to 'wake up'. Draco sighed at this. "Goodbye Harry" he thought sadly as the soft hands left him. Draco allowed himself to black out..........
**END FLASHBACK**
Draco opened his eyes again. He quickly wiped the tears forming in the corners of his eyes. The plane was now in the air, but that wasn't what caused him to open his eyes. He could feel someone looking at him. Turning to look at the guilty party beside him he found himself face to face with a girl. She was looking at him with acute curiousity. Her dark brown hair pinned messily into too large buns and her bright hazel eyes studying him.
"Why are you going to America?" she asked not the least bit embarrassed that he had caught her staring.
Draco contemplated telling her to sod off, then remembered the LONG flight he had ahead sitting beside her. "For school" he said in a clipped I-Don't-Want-to-Talk-About-It voice.
"Oh" the girl said not seeming to notice. "I am going to see family" she explained. "My name is Tammy what's yours?"
Draco sighed and shrugged. What did he have better to pass the time with. "I really don't know my name" he said with a slight smirk. "But I guess I should find out". Draco reached into his Duffel bag under his feet and removed an unopened envelope marked confidential. It had been given to him by the Wizarding Relocation Services. WRS.
Tammy's eyes opened with wonder and amazement. "Are you like, in the Witness Protection Program?" she asked.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "I suppose you could say that" he didn't see the harm in telling a simple muggle about it. Though even if he did think it would cause problems, he was feeling reckless. Breaking the seal he opened the large envelope and pulled out the contents laying them on the pull down tray.
Draco scanned the first sheet and discovered his name. "My name is Artemis Craven" he said with slight disdain. That had to be the ugliest name he had ever heard. Well at least it wasn't Malfoy he mused to himself.
"Wow Artemis, what did you do? Why are you in hiding? I promise I won't tell" she pleaded. Draco snorted. Of course she would tell. She would tell every single muggle friend she had. He didn't care though. He had no one to talk to. He might as well engage her in conversation.
"Do you really want to know? I mean you have to sit beside me for the duration of the flight" Draco reminded her.
"I don't care. It isn't as though my life is that interesting. I think it might even take up some time" she shrugged. "So spill"
Draco almost wished he hadn't given her the opportunity to corner him like this. "Well, I killed my father trying to protect my enemy whom I have secretly loved for the past three years." He said in one swift sentence.
He looked to Tammy's which hadn't moved. "Elaboration?" she said calmly as though she was asking the lunch special.
Draco smirked at her. "Haven't you heard enough?"
"You just gave me a summary! I am a details kind of person" she sighed leaning back in her seat. "Come on Artemis. What better things do you have to do"
"Why are you so calm! Doesn't this mean anything to you. Why aren't you scared. I killed my father" Draco said a little to loudly. A few other passengers gave him odd looks.
"Well, to start I am not even sure if I should believe you, but hey if you want to lie and it is a good lie then by all means I don't care as long as I am entertained" Tammy explained.
"Okay" Draco nodded. If she didn't want to believe him that was fine. "I'll start at the beginning....."
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A/N: Hello this is my first attempt at a slash fiction, so I would appreciate only constructive criticism if any at all. Oh and yes this does have a plot, I promise!
DISCLAIMER: I own Harry Potter *slap* okay fine I DON'T own Harry Potter, but I do own Draco Mal.. *punch* okay ouch! No need to get mean, I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters..... except for ......*threatening looks* okay.... No one.
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Harry entered the Weasley household. He dropped his bags at his side and knocked soundly on the large door. It had been a long trip from the Dursleys. The Knights bus seemed to have taken especially long.
Harry sighed and waited. He didn't have to wait long before the door swished open. A tall girl stood in the doorway. Her red hair tamed into a simple bun. Her chocolate eyes looked ecstatic as she saw him.
"Harry!" she shrieked happily throwing her arms around him. "What are you doing here?"
"Hey Ginny" Harry smiled hugging the smaller girl back. He was surprised to see her. She had been on an exchange in America in the past year so he hadn't seen her at all. "The Dursleys finally realized that my seventeenth birthday was two weeks ago. They officially disowned me. Claimed I was old enough to fend for myself." he said with a grin. It was indeed a happy day.
"That's wonderful" Ginny said sharing his enthusiasm. "Come on in. It has been forever! So much has happened" she held the door open and Harry walked into the familiar house. Looking around he was pleased to see it was in disarray as usual. It was the first happy sight he had seen all summer. "RON, HERMIONE! HARRY IS HERE" Ginny called up the stairs in a loud voice.
"WHAT!" a surprised Ron called. There was a slight thundering sound and Harry watched as both Ron and Hermione appeared at the bottom of the stairs. They smiled happily at him. Harry was shocked to see how relieved he was to see his best friends again. Both looked equally happy to see him.
"Harry!" Hermione said. She rushed forward and hugged him tightly. "How are you!" she said pulling back.
"Good" Harry said only being half honest. "The Dursleys kicked me out though" he grinned.
"Great finally! Now we can go to Diagon Alley together" Ron smiled. He snatched Hermione's hand into his and smiled at Harry. "Come on you get Persy's room now. The git finally moved out. He and Penelope are getting married in the spring. " he explained. "Mom knew you would come eventually so she fixed the room up for you"
Harry was elated as Ron led him up to the second floor. He pushed open a door and announced proudly "Welcome to your new room"
Harry looked around the room. It was fairly plain, the ceiling was slanted and the walls were a nice blue color. All of Persy's trophies and books were now missing. Harry's interest sparked as he thought of the things he could fill the room with. The bed spread had little snitches on it and a pillow had a large H embroidered in it. "Wow" was all Harry managed to say.
He turned around and hugged Ron. Ron was quite surprised. They of course had never really hugged. "This is great" Harry said pulling away.
"Well come on, drop your bags and come see everyone. Fred and George are here, they just finished opening up their second store." Ron said recovering quickly. The three of them ran down stairs and skidded to a stop in the kitchen. Molly, Arthur and the twins all were sitting at the table.
"HARRY!" Mrs. Weasley said pleased to see the young man. She walked over and embraced him like a loving mother. "Dear you look wonderful" she said stepping back and examining him. "How are you?" she asked eyeing him concerned.
Harry flushed slightly. "I am fine" he said forcing a smile. Mrs. Weasley seemed to accept this.
"So the press been bothering you much?" Arthur asked setting down his coffee cup on the table. "I just read another article about you" he informed Harry.
Harry cringed slightly. The papers luckily hadn't been able to locate him over the summer, they didn't know how to contact him while he was at the Dursleys.
"Well in Modern Witch you were voted most eligible bachelor, you sexy thing you!" Fred said batting his eyes in his direction.
"Any chance of coming off the market" George chortled rubbing the seat beside him seductively. At this everyone in the room burst into laughter. Harry felt a little better. The papers really hadn't left him alone since June of last year.
For good reasons Harry had to admit. In the end of Harry's sixth year Harry had finally managed to defeat Voldemort. The title The-Boy-Who-Lived had been quickly replaced in the headlines with The-Boy-Who-Saved-Us. Harry had thought that the fame from living was big, he was still getting used to the fame from succeeding.
"So what are you going to do now?" Molly asked after the laughter died down.
Harry shrugged. "I guess I will just hang around. I should probably do a little of my school work. After all, my seventh year starts in less than a week"
"Well, I hate to bail, but it is Hermione and my anniversary. We are going to go out for a picnic" Ron explained.
"Ron has been planning it for weeks" Hermione explained apologetically. Harry only smiled. He was so happy when those two had finally decided to start dating in their fifth year. It had ended the all the fighting...... Well actually ALMOST all the fighting. They still squabbled whenever they found a free moment.
"Oh no, you two have a good time" Harry smiled. Ron and Hermione both looked gratefully at him and exited the room. "I think that I am just going to go to my room and study" he informed the remaining people in the room.
"Okay, I am glad you are here" Molly said with a gracious smile.
"Me too" Harry smiled. He hurried up to his room and pushed the door open. As soon as the door was shut the smile faded from his face.
Harry took a shaky breath and sat down on the edge of his bed. This summer had be an all time low. He had spent so much time reliving what happened that day with Voldemort, so much time that it had seemed to envelop around him until he was sure he was breathing it in.
It all played back to him in vivid Technicolor over and over again. Never changing, though Harry wished more than anything that he could go back and change things. It wasn't supposed to have ended like it did. *He* shouldn't have been their. *He* shouldn't have died. Harry shut his eyes and once more it all flowed back into his mind..............
**FLASHBACK**
Harry trembled as he stood again. He looked down at the collapsed form of his arch nemesis. Voldemort's crumpled body lay on the muddied ground. Blood trickled down Harry's face from his lightening scar, which had reopened in the battle.
Harry watched as little spirits floated up from Voldemort's corpse. Every single person he had killed was finally avenged and free to rest. Harry recognized Cedric as he floated up. "Good job Harry" he winked as his transparent form headed towards sky.
Harry nodded and smiled at all the spirits, some offered him thanks and others just disappeared. Harry wasn't surprised at this. Hermione had explained that this would happen if Harry managed to defeat Voldemort. Harry waiting in anticipation, and finally a beautiful woman with waves of red hair clutching a man's hand, who had piles of dark hair emerged.
"Mom, Dad" Harry choked at the ghost like images of his parents. It was similar to what occurred in his fourth year, but this seemed so much more real now that he was out of danger.
"Harry" Lily Potter exclaimed. Her eyes lit up happily. "Oh my Harry you did it" she smiled tearfully.
"Harry, we are so proud of you. You couldn't have turned out a better man" James Potter said beaming down at his son. "We love you"
"I love you too" Harry said. He didn't try and fight the tears that were now trickling down his cheeks. He singled this out as one of the most happiest moments of his life.
"Harry, we have to go. Stay strong my son" Lily said her green eyes were filled with adoration for her son.
"Please don't go" Harry said desperately. "Please" his voice trembled with the building emotion.
"I am sorry, but we must." James said. "Take care and remember we love you" he said. Harry wanted to protest further, but knew he couldn't win. He watched as he parents disappeared.
Harry was surprised to find he didn't feel sad. Instead he felt like a piece of himself that had been missing was suddenly replaced. Wiping the tears from his cheeks he prepared to leave the scene to get help. He turned to leave when he suddenly heard a sound behind him.
Harry whirled back around, wand ready, to see the last person he would have expected.
The blond Slytherin looked briefly at the dead body of Voldemort before focusing his eyes on Harry. "You have to get out of here" he said urgently.
"Why" Harry frowned, he was still slightly shocked to see Draco Malfoy there. He was suddenly filled with an uneasy feeling. "Malfoy how did you know where I was" he asked suspiciously.
Draco approached Harry and put his hands on his shoulders. Harry felt a strange spark as Draco touched him. "Please Harry just go" he pleaded gently. Harry was taken back. There was a look in the Slytherin's silver eyes that he couldn't ignore. Draco seemed to be beaten and looked quite weak.
"You called me Harry" he gasped in disbelief. "What is going on!" he demanded.
"My father, he is coming for you. I had to escape and tell you" Malfoy explained in a strained whisper. His voice was trembling and his grip on Harry's shoulders had increased. For a person who had seemed all to confident in Voldemort's uprising, Draco looked fairly at ease with his death.
"Why would you tell me this?" Harry asked speaking coldly he jerked his shoulders from his grips, but didn't stop looking at him. He felt strangely compelled to his eyes. His metallic stare.
There was a small crack behind Harry. Harry watched as Draco raised his eyes in horror. "Please run Harry" Draco said. Harry moved behind Draco and followed his glare. Lucius was standing over the body of the Dark Lord. His eyes shifted and he looked to the two boys holding their ground.
"Draco, you will be hunted and killed for your betrayal" Lucius hissed at his son. "You have been told that it is futile to try and save Harry. Doesn't it occur to you that Harry doesn't even notice your existence."
Harry's eyes shifted to Draco and back to Lucius. It was confusing, but obviously there was something Harry was missing. He had too many questions to focus hard on their comments.
"NO" Draco said his voice filled with venom. "You will die. I spend three weeks locked in my room. And still I am here. You see father you can't stop me. I said I would save Harry, and I am going to"
Harry was surprised by these comments. "Oh we will see" Lucius said a menacing grin on his pointed face.
"speculum" Draco said quietly under his breath. Harry barely caught the words.
"Avada Kedavra" Lucius shouted. His wand out stretched and pointed at Harry. Harry cringed ready to take the fatal green blow, when suddenly he saw a Draco jump infront of it.
"NO!" Harry screamed. He watched as though in slow motion as Draco fell dead to the ground. Time sped up and he rushed forward to tend to the now fallen form of Draco. Harry knelt beside his body. He looked up and saw that Lucius was also on the ground. He looked quite dead. Harry was shocked. What had happened? Draco was now ghastly pale. "Draco, Draco please wake up" Harry said desperately trying to wake the young man.
There was no response from Draco and Harry suddenly felt like he had experienced the worst lose of his life. He wasn't sure how, hadn't he and Draco been enemies? Harry clung to Draco's soft green robes and stroked his silky blond hair from his face. Tears were flowing down his cheeks. Harry wasn't sure how long he was there for, when suddenly he felt a strong hand on his shoulder.
Harry turned to see Dumbledore standing over him. A grave look etched in his face. "Harry, I think it is time we went back to Hogwarts" he said seriously. Harry nodded and stood beside Dumbledore.
**END FLASHBACK**
Harry snapped out of his thoughts as he heard a gentle tap at the door. Sitting up he noticed he swallowed down the sadness. "Come in" he said quickly.
The door opened and the seventeen year old form of Ginny Weasley stood at the doorway. "Hey Harry" she smiled. "I hope your not busy. I have to leave in an hour and I thought I would catch up quickly with you. "
"Come on in" Harry said shifting on the bed so she had a place to sit. Ginny smiled and sat down beside him.
Harry studied her for a moment. That year in America really had changed her. Her voice had a hint of an American accent, she seemed to have had a growth spurt and now was quite beautiful. "I am beginning to wish I hadn't left last year" Ginny said with a smile. "It seems I missed the final battle. It sounds like a blast" she muttered.
Harry winced slightly. "No, you were lucky Ginny. Besides didn't they skip you a grade the minute you got there?"
"Yah, now I am in the same year as you" Ginny nodded. "That is why I have to say goodbye. I am heading back to America, they offered me a scholarship to complete my last year there"
Harry looked at her, not hiding his disappointment. He and Ginny would never have gone out. Her crush had died long ago, even before Harry had announced he was gay. Ginny was the most supportive after he came out. It had been Harry's fifth year. It had taken most a long time to get used to, not Ginny though, she was wonderful.
Soon the two of them had been hanging out and scoping guys together. Ron and Hermione had been busy developing a relationship, so Harry was glad for her friendship. "What about Seamus!" Harry asked slightly surprised and displeasure.
Ginny flushed. She had admitted to Harry that she had fallen hard for the Irish Gryffindor Quidditch captain, who unfortunately never gave her the time of day. "He will never notice. Besides it is kind of nice in America. Fenwick is a nice school"
"Okay" Harry sighed. "Now who will I scope guys with?"
"I don't know, why don't you just find a boyfriend instead?" Ginny grumbled. "If you do, I will try and do the same. We both need to get a guy"
Harry smiled at her cynical comments. "I am really going to miss you." He said laughing.
"I will miss you too" Ginny smiled. She leaned over and hugged Harry tightly. Harry felt her rest her head on his shoulder briefly. "Harry, if you ever need to talk about ANYTHING, you know I am an owl away" she said pulling back. She kissed him platonically on the lips and left the room.
Harry watched her leave sadly. He knew immediately what ANYTHING was. She meant Draco's death. She had told Harry once that she figured that Draco and him would get together. Harry of course had laughed, Draco was straight, and besides he was a Slytherin, and his worst enemy.
Ginny only smiled as he told her all of those reasons. She told him to wait and see, it would happen. Harry had always shrugged, he didn't think he liked Draco. . . . . . . Draco had been nothing but mean to him. Draco had been well, Harry knew it was silly, but he knew he had taken Draco for granted. Draco had been a constant. Even if that meant a constant insult. Not a crush, not a love, a constant. Someone that Harry could replace with another constant. He sighed knowing it wasn't true. He began to try and come to some conclusions about that night. Why had Draco been there at all? Why did he say all those things? Why did he have to die?
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Draco let his silver eyes survey Heathrow airport with acute dislike. The place was crawling with muggles, the noise of them was building in his ears.
"DRACO! Are you listening!" a sharp voice cut through his analysis of the surroundings. Draco snapped back to attention and looked back into the worried face of his mother. "Draco, there will be Wizarding Relocation Agents waiting for you when you get off the plane" she said her emotional blue eyes staring at his.
"I still don't see why I have to go to America" Draco said a hint of his usual insolence. "Why can't I just go back to Hogwarts. Voldemort is gone now"
"Draco, you saved the Death Eaters worst enemy. Everyone thinks your dead. There was a funeral for god sakes." Narcissa said. The pity she felt for Draco was overwhelming. "The ministry hasn't caught up with all of the Death Eaters yet. They are looking for you, and will kill you if they knew you were alive. The betrayal they feel runs deep." Narcissa said fiercely.
Draco stayed silent as she continued. It was useless to try and get out of it. Draco had made a choice last year. A choice he knew he would have to pay for. Now he was.
"I guess I should go get my plane" Draco mumbled as his mother finished her long speech he had chosen to block out.
"Please be safe my dragon" Narcissa said hugging her only son close. Draco tried to hug her back stiffly but found it odd, he had never hugged his mother before. Draco pulled away and began to walk to the plane without looking back.
Draco found his seat on the plane and ignored everything the flight attendants said to him. He looked out the window at the black stripe the plane would soon be traveling across. He didn't bother to look up as he felt the seat next to him become occupied.
Draco let his eyes shut as the engines kicked off. It was really happening. He was going to America. Even though he hated that he was doing this. He wouldn't have changed anything, not if it meant Harry would have died............
**FLASHBACK** (A/N I am sorry, I love them)
"Speculum" Draco hissed the spell to himself. .Draco moved as quickly as possible infront of Harry. He couldn't let him die, not at the hand of a Malfoy. Draco knew he had succeed as the green light hit him. A shocking feeling ran through him as he hit the ground.
A slight tingling feeling over took him. Draco knew what was happening. The mirror spell (Speculum) was taking affect. He silently thanked his mother for making him learn it. He heard Harry cry out and move down beside him. Draco felt guilty for deceiving him.
The spell he had used simply reflected any curses thrown at him and directed them back at the person who cast them. So he knew that Lucius was dead. The best part about it though was that Draco really didn't die, or feel the pain of dying the spell made it seem as though he had been hit.
Draco now looking quite dead, but was still very much alive. He felt Harry clutch his robes and cry softly. "Please wake up" he heard him plea. He wanted to reach up and explain he was still okay.
"Not that Harry would care. Harry is your enemy. The only reason he cries for you know is because he feels guilty" a cynical voice chided in Draco's head. Draco winced and tried to block out the boy who now leaned over his body.
It was increasingly difficult to try and ignore him as he now was stroking Draco's hair. Draco took guilty pleasure in the feeling of Harry's hands running through his tresses, it felt so good. Though now, he would have to forget about Harry Potter. Soon Harry would forget about him.
He sensed another figure approach. Though he couldn't see him, he knew it was Dumbledore. Dumbledore knew what Draco had planned to do. Though he had advised Draco not to try and save Harry, Draco knew he had to. He knew he had to, ever since he found out he loved him.
Dumbledore would have Draco moved to a different place to 'wake up'. Draco sighed at this. "Goodbye Harry" he thought sadly as the soft hands left him. Draco allowed himself to black out..........
**END FLASHBACK**
Draco opened his eyes again. He quickly wiped the tears forming in the corners of his eyes. The plane was now in the air, but that wasn't what caused him to open his eyes. He could feel someone looking at him. Turning to look at the guilty party beside him he found himself face to face with a girl. She was looking at him with acute curiousity. Her dark brown hair pinned messily into too large buns and her bright hazel eyes studying him.
"Why are you going to America?" she asked not the least bit embarrassed that he had caught her staring.
Draco contemplated telling her to sod off, then remembered the LONG flight he had ahead sitting beside her. "For school" he said in a clipped I-Don't-Want-to-Talk-About-It voice.
"Oh" the girl said not seeming to notice. "I am going to see family" she explained. "My name is Tammy what's yours?"
Draco sighed and shrugged. What did he have better to pass the time with. "I really don't know my name" he said with a slight smirk. "But I guess I should find out". Draco reached into his Duffel bag under his feet and removed an unopened envelope marked confidential. It had been given to him by the Wizarding Relocation Services. WRS.
Tammy's eyes opened with wonder and amazement. "Are you like, in the Witness Protection Program?" she asked.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "I suppose you could say that" he didn't see the harm in telling a simple muggle about it. Though even if he did think it would cause problems, he was feeling reckless. Breaking the seal he opened the large envelope and pulled out the contents laying them on the pull down tray.
Draco scanned the first sheet and discovered his name. "My name is Artemis Craven" he said with slight disdain. That had to be the ugliest name he had ever heard. Well at least it wasn't Malfoy he mused to himself.
"Wow Artemis, what did you do? Why are you in hiding? I promise I won't tell" she pleaded. Draco snorted. Of course she would tell. She would tell every single muggle friend she had. He didn't care though. He had no one to talk to. He might as well engage her in conversation.
"Do you really want to know? I mean you have to sit beside me for the duration of the flight" Draco reminded her.
"I don't care. It isn't as though my life is that interesting. I think it might even take up some time" she shrugged. "So spill"
Draco almost wished he hadn't given her the opportunity to corner him like this. "Well, I killed my father trying to protect my enemy whom I have secretly loved for the past three years." He said in one swift sentence.
He looked to Tammy's which hadn't moved. "Elaboration?" she said calmly as though she was asking the lunch special.
Draco smirked at her. "Haven't you heard enough?"
"You just gave me a summary! I am a details kind of person" she sighed leaning back in her seat. "Come on Artemis. What better things do you have to do"
"Why are you so calm! Doesn't this mean anything to you. Why aren't you scared. I killed my father" Draco said a little to loudly. A few other passengers gave him odd looks.
"Well, to start I am not even sure if I should believe you, but hey if you want to lie and it is a good lie then by all means I don't care as long as I am entertained" Tammy explained.
"Okay" Draco nodded. If she didn't want to believe him that was fine. "I'll start at the beginning....."
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