I wrap my arms around Draco's lithe body. 'It's okay,' I whisper. 'They can do nothing while you're here. You're safe with me.'

'But Harry,' he sobs into my shoulder. 'Bloodtraitor. They said they're disgusted with me. They'll kill me.'

I hug him a little tighter, wishing that I could make his pain go away. 'No they won't,' I tell him firmly. 'They'll have to get through me first, and for you, I'm invincible.'

He sniffs. 'Thank you, Harry,' he breathes.

I smile sadly, holding him at arms length. 'Hey. I'm here for you. There's no need to thank me.' I wipe his eyes, holding his face in my hands.

'I love you. I love you.'

'I love you more. I'll love you until the very end.' I take his hand, smiling gently. 'Now, we need to get you to bed. It's almost morning and I think I'm right in assuming you've not had much sleep.'

'No,' he mutters, looking down at our hands entwined. 'I left my broom. I had to walk.'

'In the rain, no less,' I say, frowning. 'Right. I'll heat up the covers. If you want, ask Kreacher to make you another hot chocolate.'

'I'm okay, thank you. I want to stay with you,' he says, and there's a shy undertone to his voice.

I press a kiss to his forehead. 'You can be wherever you want to be.'

Just then, Sirius comes into the living room. 'Harry.' I look round at him. 'I've just received an owl from Lucius Malfoy. He's noticed Draco isn't at Malfoy Manor.'

Draco's grip tightens on my hand. 'What do we do?' I ask.

'You and Draco will sleep. Remus and I will place protection charms around the house, additional to the ones we already have. We'll turn the entire street invisible to anyone who doesn't reside here.'

'But… but I reside here now. Won't that affect my father?'

Sirius turns to Draco. 'You are not your father, son,' he says. Draco's grip loosens. 'This charm won't affect families.'

'Okay. Thank—'

'Sirius, we have to hurry!' comes Remus' distressed voice from the hallway. 'He's coming! Get the boys to bed. Go with them and place protection charms on their room. I'll get started on the house. Join me once you're done.'

'Okay, Harry, Draco, upstairs. Now,' urges Sirius. He ushers us out of the room. 'I don't care that you want to fight. I don't care that I'm treating you like children. Malfoy is coming and he is dangerous.'

'I know my father, Sirius.' Draco turns back in the doorway. 'He'll not stop until he finds me.'

'Then he'll have to keep looking. He won't find you. Now go!' We don't wait for another word, running up the stairs and into my room, slamming the door behind us.

My heart beats rapidly as I lean on the door next to Draco. 'Harry,' he hisses. 'We can't just leave them out there.'

I close my eyes. As much as I want to protect our house, protecting Draco is my first priority right now. 'No,' I tell him. 'But we have to. My godfather knows what he's doing. He and Remus will protect the house. It's my job to protect you.'

Draco turns to me. 'You're doing so much for me. Lucius will kill you.'

'I don't care. To keep you safe, I'd do anything.'

'You don't need to die for me, Harry. If I survive, I'd very much like for you to survive with me.'

I grin, touching my forehead to his. 'Big with the words, m'love, aren't you?'

He grins back, entwining our hands. 'For you, dear, anything.'

'C'mon.' I chuckle. 'You'd best try to sleep.' I pull us away from the door.

'But…'

'Just try, okay?' I plead. 'I'll be right next to you the entire night. I promise.'

We silently get under the covers. Draco tucks his head under my chin and I envelope him in a hug.

'You need to sleep too, okay?' I hear him mumble some short time into the night.

'I will. Don't worry,' I mumble back.

'Do you promise?'

'For you, I promise.'

And I do. Malfoy doesn't show up. The household is safe. Sirius and Remus are safe. I kept Draco safe. I stayed safe for him. For us.

And we're okay.