A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back, after reading the Harry Potter books (I have not started the last one just yet, but I will be starting it Saturday once I borrow it. ;D) This is a sequel of sorts to my other story 'With Every Breath', but it can be read on it's own, I suppose if you wanted to. I highly suggest you read that one first, though, because it's good and I may make references to some of the events in there at some point during this story. This is just a little starter/intro chapter to this story. It will be HEAVILY cannon based, but of course, with my twist on the events. There will be a large skip at some point, as Harry and Draco don't see each other for a while while Harry is hunting Horcruxes with Hermione and Ron. I will not be updating as fast as I did last time because I have to catch up reading before I can write about the Battle of Hogwarts. Buuuut, I shall be posting the Battle of the Astronomy Tower tomorrow, because I just finished it a few minutes ago :3 I'll let you read now. Please review!

Harry noticed that Draco has been acting rather oddly the past week or so. He hadn't questioned his boyfriend about it, knowing that if it was something important, that Draco would tell him on his own accord when he was ready. There were some things that they couldn't talk about, or at least choose not to, such as the war. It didn't affect their relationship, but it did leave a small blank spot in terms of normal conversation these days. Much of the time, they were left in a comfortable silence around each other; not that Harry minded much. Just being with Draco was enough, feeling his loving emotions and the gentle caress of his hands and lips on his skin.

Ron had gotten mildly used to having Draco spend the night a good amount of the time; Draco avoided the Slytherin common room if he could, knowing that he would be subjected to taunting and possibly physical violence. Harry showed his protectiveness of the blonde boy, holding his hand between classes as they walked together, giving the Slytherin house a glare whenever he saw one of them and allowing Draco to spend time with him in the Gryffindor common room whenever he wanted. The other Gryffindors were polite at best, but Harry was glad for the simply silent treatment that his boyfriend received. Draco didn't seem bothered by it, expecting worse, as it seems.

The Slytherin's skin was losing it's small amount of color. His hair was thinning out, turning a lighter color as well. And his eyes, his normally silver eyes were now a dark, cloudy grey. They lightened somewhat on occasion, but it was becoming more and more rare these days.

During his detentions with Snape, Harry wondered what Draco was up to, but the blonde never shared what he did during these hours without his boyfriend, and Harry wasn't going to pry. They held respect for each other. Dumbledore had not given him permission to share his "lessons" with the headmaster to Draco, but he never asked details about them. He simply knew that Harry was learning things that would help him defeat the Dark Lord when the time came. The respect between them made it easy to not feel bad about sharing every detail, as Harry would normally feel. It seemed that Draco was the exception for a lot of things.

It was a Friday night, and Harry currently had his head in Draco's lap. They had been lazing around the common room for the past hour or so, having finished a majority of their homework. It was nice to simply be together, as they didn't share very many classes nor could they sit by each other during meal times very often. Hermione had complained about not seeing Harry without his boyfriend, so the couple decided that meals were set aside for Harry to spend some time with his friends alone. Not to say that they were glued at the hip, but they did spend a good amount of time together outside classes.

Draco's pale hands were smoothing through Harry's dark locks absentmindedly. The action was starting to make the Gryffindor a bit sleepy, as was the heat of the dying fire. A though occurred to him, though, and he smirked up at Draco, catching his hand and bringing it to his lips. "I believe I made you a promise earlier in the week," he whispered seductively, sitting up so he could crawl into Draco's lap, ready to plant his lips firmly on the blonde's. After all, he had promised Draco that they could spend the night together since he had detention with Snape tomorrow afternoon, and he was awaiting Dumbledore's message of their next lesson. Time between them was precious, and Harry was ready to take full advantage of it.

But the Slytherin sighed, shaking his head as Harry attempted to kiss him. The Gryffindor frowned, placing a firm hand on Draco's cheek. "What's-"

"I can't talk about it, Harry. It's... just something I have to deal with on my own." Draco's tone was choked, and a clear look into his grey eyes told Harry why. They were brimming with tears.

A frown still set on his face, Harry kissed Draco's forehead gently. "Can you still stay the night?" he asked in a comforting whisper as the blonde burrowed his face into Harry's shoulder, fighting the tears.

"Yes."

Stroking Draco's hair, the raven cradled his boyfriend's head against him. "I love you." It wasn't something that they told each other often, as the verbal reassurance wasn't needed much of the time. But it never hurt, either, to say it.

The blonde was quiet for a minute or so, able to quell his tears and draw in several deep, calming breaths. "I love you too. Let's go to bed." The common room had a few fifth years studying for their OWL exams, but they were deep into their books. Hermione had already gone to bed, tired from a long week of last minute work from her classes. Ron, too, was sleep, claiming he wanted an early rise to finish an essay for Potions, but Harry assumed he just didn't want to be a third wheel for the couple.

Climbing out of Draco's lap, Harry followed him up to his dorm. The gentle snores of his roommate were that of real sleep, thankfully. The Gryffindor changed silently before climbing into bed and spelling the curtain's shut once Draco had joined him. The blonde's arms were tight, protective around his waist, and the feeling of Draco's bare chest against his equally bare back sent shivers down his spine. Skin to skin contact between them always made his insides buzz pleasantly, usually in arousal, but this wasn't sexual. It was loving, gentle, and Harry considered himself lucky to see this side of Draco. Or rather, that he could make Draco want to show this side of himself.

The Slytherin boy kissed his shoulder, whispering loving things in his ears. The deep, sultry voice lured him into a sense of peace, nearly instantly putting him into a peaceful slumber.