author's note: There is some violence in this fic. The main reason that I posted it as a category of "M" is because it talks about child abuse and in a brief instance, the death of a child.

Harry was no longer surprised when Draco Malfoy suddenly comes to the rescue. As weird as that thought might have been five years ago, it was now his only chance of getting out of this alive. He clung to that hope as he shivered with cold, the stone wall behind him leeching all heat. Right now, he'd give all the gold in his vault to hear Malfoy snipe at him, so long as he could get out and to safety.

He wasn't sure how long he'd been here, but he knew that several days had gone by. By now he'd be missed, but nobody would know where to start looking. There was a batty witch who fire called the Aurors regularly with wild and improbable problems. The woman had alerted them earlier in the day to a non-existent globber-hum infestation . When she called only a few hours later with tales of lights in her barn, Harry didn't take it seriously. He'd stopped by after his shift and he hadn't told anybody where he was heading; he'd just wanted to make the old witch feel safe.

This time it was real. A group of death eaters had taken shelter in the barn. Harry hadn't been paying attention and he'd been taken off guard. Stunned, apparated to who knew where, and in chains; he was in serious trouble. The only reason that he wasn't dead was because several of the death eaters wanted more protracted revenge. It was a torture that they'd been happily dishing out.

Harry greyed in and out but was tugged to full awareness when he heard the sound of a body hitting the ground. A flash of a spell whizzed past his cell. Another guard went down. Within moments, Malfoy was standing in front of Harry's cell. "Seriously, Potter. I have better things to do than to keep rescuing you like some sort of damsel in distress." Harry's throat was raw from screaming, and he only managed a hoarse croak in response.

Malfoy's eyes narrowed in what Harry thought was a flash of concern, but it was quickly replaced with a neutral expression. The blond aristocrat switched his attention to the door. With a murmured word and a flick of his wand, the cell clicked open. "I'd think that even the Boy-Who-Lived would get tired of having to be a hero and placing himself in danger." Despite the sharp words, Malfoy's hands were gentle as he inspected the manacles holding Harry's wrists to the wall. He murmured another spell and Harry felt his legs buckle under the sudden weight. Malfoy quickly caught him.

Harry felt himself lowered to the ground, his shoulders in agony. His hands were numb, but he knew that pain would come as circulation returned to his arms. A vial was thrust in front of his face. "The first one is an anti-nausea potion. Drink it because several more potions are coming after. I need you on your feet to get out of here. Fall down later." Malfoy carefully tipped the liquid into Harry's mouth; followed soon after with a pain potion, pepper-up, and a nutritional potion. He waited until they kicked in and then hauled Harry to his feet.

Despite the slew of potions, Harry leaned heavily on the taller man. He was led through the house where he'd been held and he saw several bodies. Malfoy must have felt the question, because he spoke quietly as he moved them forward. "Stunned. Hopefully long enough for us to get out."

Harry thought back to the first time that Draco had pulled his ass out of a pinch, Harry had been too caught up in the aftermath to even thank the man properly. The next couple of times, the slippery bugger had apparated mid-question. Harry had managed to ask him why once, and the only response was the Malfoy smirk and a shrug. Eventually he no longer asked, but he knew that he owed Draco a life debt many times over.

Ron hated it. He was convinced this was some ploy, but this had been happening for years and Malfoy had never asked for anything. Not even when the Malfoy family went to trial. Many of the trials were delayed by a year or more when the whole of the wizarding world decided to overhaul the Wizengamot, Azkaban, and the Ministry. Harry had testified anyway. Afterwards, Narcissa had gracefully extended her thanks while her son had stood back and merely nodded at him.

"Potter! Stop daydreaming." Harry realized that he'd zoned out. They were at the front door, but Malfoy was propping him against the wall. "You need to stand on your own for a minute. I need to get these wards down so that you can get out of here."

Shaking with the strain, Harry managed to lock his knees and maintain a mostly upright position. Draco glanced at him for a second, but then began searching the wall. He found whatever he was looking for and began to chant a spell. A gleaming red snake design began to glow and Draco's spell began to disintegrate it. Finally with a puff, it dissipated.

As soon as they crossed the threshold, Harry felt them apparate. Only Malfoy's grip kept him from falling on his face. He saw Ron rushing towards them. His best friend took him from Malfoy and gave the blond a hard look. "Wards down?"

"It's safe for you to go in now."

Harry managed to get his voice to cooperate enough to rasp out a harsh whisper, "Five wizards, Ron."

The red head nodded. "Right." He waved down a fellow Auror and relayed the information. A sea of red robes descended on the house. "Come on, mate. Let's get you to the healers."

Harry caught Malfoy's eyes. His old nemesis nodded brusquely and apparated away.

Rom muttered under his breath, "He's still a bloody wanker." Ron shook his head, and Harry felt them apparate away.

The golden trio were enjoying a rare day out together. As adults with jobs, it was hard to coordinate days like this. Hermione had dragged both men off and refused to tell them where they were going. They tended to avoid wizarding places, because while they individually attracted attention; together they were a magnet for reporters and well-wishers. Today, she had chosen an amusement park in America.

Harry had never gone as a child and he was fascinated by the rides. Ron and Harry especially enjoyed the roller coasters. It felt a little bit like flying on a broom, and Harry tossed his head back and laughed as they dropped down a sleep slope.

They all ate themselves silly on attraction park food: cotton candy, fried dough, over priced chicken tenders, and way too much soda. Ron, having never encountered the fizzing beverage before, had initially been distrustful of the drink. Soon enough he was chugging it by the cup full. Hermione remarked, "I'm glad we paid for the collectors mugs with unlimited drinks!"

By the end of the day, Harry was relaxed but tired. When he'd left, Ron was practically buzzing from the sugar. Hermione rolled her eyes and apparated them both home. Laying in bed before sleep caught him, he could still almost feel the sun on his skin and the wind flying past him. He smiled. It had been a great day.

That feeling shattered when a sensation like ice cold water bathed him head to toe. There was an urgent feeling of danger. It drove him from his bed to check his house. Everything looked fine. He tried to pinpoint the sensation and couldn't. The feeling grew, and he began to worry about Ron and Hermione. He sent off his patronus with a message, "Is everything ok there?"

Moments later, Hermione fire called him. "Harry?"

He hurried into the living room. "Sorry Hermione. I didn't mean to wake you both. It's just…I got this weird feeling like somebody I cared about was in danger. I wanted to make sure that you're ok."

"We're fine. It's ok, Harry." Even through the fire, she looked pensive. "Have you considered Malfoy?"

"Bloody hell, Hermione. I know that you have this theory, but Harry'd know if he was linked to the bugger!" Ron shoved his head in next to his wife's. "Sorry, mate. You know how she gets."

Hermione elbowed him. "Harry, I haven't brought this up because there was no proof…but it might explain how Malfoy always knows when you are hurt or in danger. If there is some sort of link between you, he could be feeling it. It may be what you're feeling right now."

Harry shook his head. "I've never felt him in my head. It's not like we were ever friendly as kids, and we've never been close."

Hermione took a big breath but held it as Ron shook his head no. Harry watched the interplay, confusion and fear growing in his mind. "What?"

Ron deflated and admitted, "She's been researching this for a while; trying to explain how he always knows. If you two were soul mates…", his friend shuddered, "I hate to say this, but she may have a point."

Harry was stunned. "No. No way."

"Harry." Hermione's voice was soft, soothing. "Think about it. You were positively obsessed with Malfoy in school, and really, he returned it. He just couldn't leave you alone. You have always revolved around each other. You must have heard the muggle saying, "there's a fine line between love and hate." Harry, in the research; if soul mates can't connect in a positive way, they will in negative way. Anything for that connection, even if the people don't realize it themselves." She watched Harry keep shaking his head. "Look, it might not be a soul mate bond. Maybe it's something else. Just think about it, okay?"

Harry's voice shook, "I'm not bonded in any way to Draco Malfoy. Just forget it. Maybe I ate too much junk and rode too many rides. By morning, this will be forgotten. I'm going to bed."

Harry abruptly ended the fire call. He was shaken right down to his core. There was no way. None. He'd have known, right?

He lay awake that night and when morning came, he got up to get ready for work. The owl dropped off the Daily Prophet and when he unrolled it the head line read, "Draco Malfoy attacked in his home!" The moving picture showed Draco's body sprawled across the Manor foyer surrounded by blood. Aurors moved around him, but not once did Draco move.