Chapter 2 – Strong Arms, Gentle Lips and Soft Words

Narcissa and Lucius had been talking softly over breakfast, both wondering when Harry would finally make an appearance, when the boy in question stepped into the dining room, a soft smile on his face and quiet acceptance shining in his eyes.

'Morning.' Harry said quietly crossing the room to slide into his seat.

Both Narcissa and Lucius graced him with fond smiles. 'Did you sleep alright, Harry?' Narcissa asked gently.

'Eventually.' Harry conceded accepting the slice of toast Lucius placed on plate and buttering it lightly. They ate in silence for sometime before Lucius spoke.

'The Obsequium Funeris is scheduled for tomorrow.' He said quietly, trying to gage Harry's reaction as he spoke. Harry just nodded and kept his eyes down. 'Severus will be escorting several of the Slytherin students here with him.'

Harry froze for a moment before swallowing. 'They were his friends.' was all he said.

Narcissa reached over. 'No one will say anything, Harry. No one would dare.' She added in an encouraging voice.

'Harry, there is something else we must talk about.' Lucius' voice was so hesitant that Harry looked up but before the older wizard could speak there was a soft pop as a house elf suddenly appeared beside him.

'Master Lucius, Pinni is very sorry to interrupt Master's breakfast but Pinni found something in Master Draco's clothes.' The house elf stood nervously wringing something in her hands.

'What is it, Pinni?' Lucius sighed when it was clear the elf had something else to say.

Pinni's golf ball eyes snapped to Harry before looking quickly away. 'Pinni thinks it is for Master Harry.' She squeaked.

Harry's eyes widened and he held out a shaking hand to accept the small box the elf had been mangling in her nervous fingers. He refused to look up as he brought it closer to him and opened it.

'God, Draco.' Harry gasped as he caught sight of what was inside. This was what Draco has snuck into Hogsmeade to get the night he died.

'Harry?' Narcissa's voice was full of concern. Harry raised his eyes and Narcissa recoiled at the grief and guilt suddenly shining in them. 'Harry, what is it?' Her tone much more urgent this time.

Harry didn't answer, just turning the box until she could see the matching wedding bands nestled on the silk pillow inside. It took only moment before she realised what Harry was thinking and she was up off her chair and kneeling beside his as she grasped his face in his hands.

'Not your fault, Harry.' she said sternly. 'You had no way of knowing. You cannot blame yourself for this. He wanted the best for you and he would have done anything to get it. Even go into Hogsmeade in the middle of the night.'

Harry pulled away, dropping both his head and the box to the table as if it was burning him. It was then Lucius saw the two wedding bands, spun from the web of a Golden Fihysis spider and set with the matching eggs of an Ashwinder that had been compressed by enchanted volcanic rock until what remained were two of the most stunning diamonds Lucius had ever seen. His son truly had had remarkable taste.

Lucius looked up to see that Harry had wrapped his arms around his waist, probably in an effort to stop them shaking and his head had almost dropped to the table.

'Harry, please don't do this.' Narcissa begged trying to get Harry to raise his head. Harry's head lifted slightly and Narcissa opened her mouth to speak again but it was only so that he could start rocking slowly back and forward.

'I'm sorry, Dray. I'm sorry.' He began mumbling over and over.

'Lucius, summon Severus, he's going into shock.' Narcissa said quickly as she gently placed her hands on Harry's shoulders as she began talking softly to him in an effort to snap him out of the downhill spiral he had fallen into.

'Speak. Now Severus, and don't hold anything back.' Dumbledore all but hissed across his desk at the potions master who was sitting uncomfortably on the edge of the chair on the other side.

'Albus, I'm still not sure this is any of your business.' Snape said quietly.

'Severus!' Albus snapped.

'Albus, I can't tell you what you want to know. Draco fell in love with Potter last summer, Merlin only knows how, and it grew from there.'

'But how? That's what I want to know.'

Snape shrugged and sighed. Two actions not normally associated with the usually rigid man. 'I don't know. They met in Diagon Alley about halfway through the summer and about two weeks before the end of the year Draco brought him to Malfoy Manor.'

'And you didn't say anything?' Snape rolled his eyes. 'I didn't know. I didn't find out about everything until Christmas.' Snape's eyes narrowed. 'I guess Lucius was worried I would tell you.'

'Merlin knows why.' Dumbledore said throwing his arms skywards in a gesture of defeat. 'So why didn't you say anything at Christmas?'

'Unbreakable Vow.' Snape said quietly.

Dumbledore watched his potions master for several moments. 'I am going to ask you a question Severus, and I want you to answer me truthfully. Did you take Harry Potter from the castle to Malfoy Manor at any time during the year?'

Snape, who had looked almost nervous at the early command relaxed minutely. 'No, I believe Mr Potter used to floo from the Room of Requirement.'

Dumbeldore's eyebrows flew skywards. 'Do you mean to tell me that those weekends he said he was training and had locked himself in there...'

'He was at Malfoy Manor.' Snape confirmed. 'Draco had flooed from my office.' The younger wizard added guiltily.

Dumbledore looked down at his desk and shook his head in disbelief.

'I did tell you he would do well in Slytherin.' The Sorting Hat muttered from the top shelf behind Dumbledore's desk.

'Yes, thank you for your input.' Dumbledore snapped turning in his chair.

'Albus, I'm sorry.' Snape said quietly.

'You should be. Can you imagine the uproar when the wizarding world finds out Harry was bonded to Draco Malfoy.'

'Is it the wizarding world's business?' Snape asked, rather bravely for a Slytherin.

Dumbledore looked at him as if he'd grown a second head. 'Of course it is. Harry's the Boy-Who-Lived.'

'He never asked to be.' This time Snape thought he must have three heads going by the look on the headmaster's face.

'It doesn't matter what he asked for, Severus. It is what he is.'

'I think you should be more worried about Harry as a person, Albus.' Snape looked as if it was causing him pain to speak of Harry this way. 'He's just lost his bondmate. Someone he loved more than anything else. I think you should be more concerned for him then what our world will think.'

Dumbledore's ice like glare melted. 'I know.' He said with a sigh. 'He's such a strong boy, but everyone has their limits. It took him so long to get over Miss Granger's death, I just wonder how long it will take him to move past this.'

Snape eyed the other man carefully before speaking. 'I don't believe he will.' He murmured. Dumbledore sat back in his chair, Snape easily reading his expression. 'Albus, don't take that the wrong way.' He said quickly. 'He will do what is expected of him. He will destroy the Dark Lord, now more than ever. But I don't believe he will ever get over the loss of Draco.'

Dumbledore shook his head. 'I just can't believe it. They were just so different.' He said softly.

Snape gave the headmaster a wan smile, repeating what had been said to him only hours before. 'That's what made it so special.'

Harry woke late that night to find himself in bed with Narcissa, Lucius and Snape watching him in concern. The last one caused him to wonder. He glanced around in the bed, swallowing several times before speaking.

'Where's Dray?' he whispered hoarsely. 'He's down in the drawing room. The house elves are preparing him for the morning.' Narcissa said softly. Harry looked away and nodded.

'Harry, please don't think what happened is your fault.' Lucius added, kneeling on the bed beside the Boy-Who-Lived.

'I..I can't help but think it was.' Harry whispered. 'He went to Hogsmeade to get those rings.'

'Did you ask him to?' Snape spoke up from the corner.

Harry must have taken his tone wrongly before his glared at the older man. 'Of course not.'

'Did you ask him about rings for the wedding?' Snape pushed the question.

'No.' Harry snapped. 'I would never have asked him about such a thing. Narcissa was taking care of everything.'

Snape shrugged and pushed off the wall, coming to sit in the chair beside the bed. 'Then I don't see how this could be your fault. You didn't know why he was going. You didn't even know he was going in the first place.'

Harry's eyes dropped to the bedspread. 'No, but he was still there buying something for me.' he whispered.

Snape reached into his pocket and drew out the small box that had been left forgotten on the dining room table. 'Yes, he was.' Snape agreed. 'And I think he would have liked it if you would wear it.'

Harry's head shot up. 'I...I couldn't.' He stammered guiltily.

Snape glanced at Lucius who gestured for the potions master to go on. 'Harry, are you aware of what goes into the commission of rings such as these?' he asked quietly. Harry shook his head. 'When a wizard commissions handmade wedding bands he places a piece of himself in each of them.'

'A Horcrux?' Harry's expression was so horrified Narcissa couldn't help but place an arm around him and pull him close.

Snape shook his head, inwardly wondering when it was he had become so patient. 'No, a spell, a small amount of the feelings they have for the one they are marrying. It has been said that rings such as these have helped more than one witch or wizard cope with the death of their spouse by allowing them to feel the emotions of the other whenever they themselves feel the need, just by rubbing their fingers over the stone.'

Harry stared into the black eyes of the older wizard as of trying to gage the truth in Snape's words. Slowly, very slowly he held out a hand to accept the box and stared at it for several long minutes.

Eventually he plucked out the one clearly meant for him and slid it on his finger, rubbing the fingers of his right hand gently over the diamond. He didn't have to wait long before he felt a warmth bloom in his heart and an almost ghost like sensation of Draco's arms around him. His eyes closed as the feeling of soft lips on his neck and a gentle whisper in his ear overwhelmed him. The depth of the feeling stunned him to the core and it was several moments before he could breathe again. He waited a few more moments before opening his eyes. 'Thank you.' He whispered sincerely.

Snape actually smiled at him. 'You're welcome.'

Harry looked up at Narcissa and Lucius. 'Do...Do you think Draco would want to wear his too?' He asked in a small voice.

'I think that would make him very happy, Harry.' Narcissa said fondly as she helped him up from the bed. It was a solemn group that made their way through the halls and downstairs to the drawing room. The house elves looked up from their work and disappeared with a pop at a gesture from Lucius.

Harry didn't seem to see them however as he cross the room to the marble casket containing Draco's body. He stared down at the beautiful face of his lover and smiled softly. 'I'm sorry we didn't get there, Dray. But know that I love you and always will.' He whispered reaching down to lift Draco's left hand and gently slid the ring onto Draco's finger and then closed his eyes, pouring every ounce of love and affection he had for the other boy into the piece of magical gold and diamond digging into his palm. 'I hope that wherever you are, you can feel that.'

'I'm sure he can, Harry.' Narcissa added softly.

Harry nodded and lifted Draco's right hand placing the left under it so that a finger was touching the ring before looking back up at Narcissa. 'I miss him so much already. Is that crazy?'

Narcissa shook her head. 'No Harry, it's not crazy. It's love.'

Harry smiled and looked back down at Draco, gently running his fingers over Draco's cheek. 'Yes, it is.' he said softly.

Harry waited nervously up in his and Draco's rooms. The funeral rites were due to start in minutes but Harry was finding it all but impossible to leave the sanctuary that had been theirs to go downstairs.

It had nothing to do with the other Slytherins, or with Snape, or even the few Death Eaters that had been invited, such as the Parkinsons, the Crabbes and the Goyles.

No, it had nothing to do with them.

Harry just wasn't really ready to say goodbye.

Knowing he would have to though, was tearing him apart inside. With an almost automatic response his right index finger rubbed across the ring on his left hand.

He felt the warmth, the arms, the lips, and he heard the softly murmured words. 'I love you too, Dray.'' Harry whispered in response before steeling himself and moving towards the door.

Everyone looked up as he walked out the front doors of the Manor but Harry ignored them all, swiftly making his way between the rows until he stood at Draco's head as was his right. Narcissa tried smiling at him but the enormity of the occasion weighed too heavily and it came out more as a grimace so she settled for squeezing his hand in hers.

Harry felt eyes on him and looked up to see Pansy staring at him, her eyes calculating. Harry's however, were so dead that it wasn't long before she looked away.

Snape was standing over to the side, watching the exchange. Any part he may have had in the ceremony had been usurped the moment Harry had had bonded to Draco. Harry became Draco's primary kin, with his parents next in line. Snape had been relegated to third. Not that he minded. He preferred to stand back and watch rather than take part.

The proctor wizard began speaking about Draco as if he had known him personally, which Harry knew to be untrue. Harry listened to him for several minutes before his attention wandered. They were standing in almost exactly the same place as they had been for the bonding ceremony almost six months before. This spot was the very center of the Malfoy wards, its strongest point. Harry well remembered that day.

Draco had looked stunning and Harry had found his mouth completely dry at the thought of spending the rest of his life with this young man. Snow was falling gently around them, leaving small flakes in Draco's hair. He'd looked like an angel, Harry thought idly. They'd said the old pureblood vows of bonding before this same proctor had asked whether they had wished to be bonded, body and soul, for all their lives. For a horrible moment Harry had thought Draco was going to say no.

But then he had given Harry a stunning smile. 'With all my heart.' He'd said proudly.

It had taken Harry's breath away then, and it took it away now as he turned sharply away from the casket and brought a hand up to his eyes.

'Harry?' Narcissa asked softly, the proctor halting his words as all eyes once more turned to Harry.

'I'm fine.' Harry whispered and the proctor began again.

Snape watched as Harry struggled with the memories that threatened to send him crashing to the ground. He could well understand the difficulty of standing on this spot, with that same voice ringing in his ears. The occasion however, could not have been more different from the joyous, albeit shocking, one he'd been surprised to find himself at several days after Christmas. He also watched his Slytherins, and their parents. He knew most were still followers of the Dark Lord and he knew that every detail of this day would get back to the evil wizard himself.

As if thinking the same thing, Snape watched as Harry pulled himself together with an inner strength borne of coping with too much too young. God knew where the boy found that strength. Not only was he struggling to lock away every memory that swirled within his head, but he tried to stand stoically in an effort to prove to those there, and those who would be later informed, that he was strong, even without Draco.

It was, in Snape's opinion, a masterful performance.

Eventually the proctor finished and Harry raised a hand, not caring who saw him performing wandless magic. There was a slight hesitation and Snape thought for a moment that he wouldn't be able to say the words. 'Cineris ad cineris, pulvis ad pulvis.' Harry intoned softly.

'Ash to ash, dust to dust.' Snape thought as the Latin words of the rite translated themselves in his head in the exact moment that Draco's body burst into flames, startling those around them.

Snape could hear the sharp, horrified breath that Harry drew in from several yards away even over the crackling and spitting of the fire. Most looked away but it seemed that the Boy-Who-Lived was unable. Just as the fire was about to die away Snape saw Harry's fingers go to his ring and his eyes close. 'I love you too.' He mouthed silently before they opened again.

Harry couldn't wait for them all to leave. He'd had enough. He just wanted to curl up in a corner and cry, in spite of promising himself he wouldn't. Sure, they had all offered their condolences but Harry could see the hundred of questions lying dormant in their minds they were dying to ask. And all of them came back to a single one. "Is it really true?"

Eventually they left and Harry sank down on the sofa in Lucius study and buried his head in his hands. He had no idea of how long he sat there but he must have dozed off as he woke to Narcissa gently rubbing his back and Lucius looking at him in concern. This was becoming a habit, he thought wryly. There was no sign of Snape so he must have escorted the Slytherins back to Hogwarts.

Speaking of which... 'I should return to school.' He sighed.

Narcissa and Lucius exchanged a glance. 'You don't have to Harry, if you don't feel ready yet.' The witch said hopefully. 'You don't have to at all if you don't want to. We'd be happy to hire a tutor so that you can take your exams.'

Harry shook his head, reaching up to run a hand through his messy black hair. 'No, that would be running away. Besides, I've imposed on you both long enough.'

Narcissa looked as if she'd been smacked and Lucius wasn't much better. 'Harry, there is no imposition.' she managed to gasp out. 'You are a part of our family.'

'But Draco.'

Lucius interrupted him. 'You said it yourself, Harry. You are a Malfoy.' Harry looked down at his hands and Lucius raised a curious eyebrow. 'Or were they just empty words to annoy the headmaster?'

Harry flinched. 'No.' he said softly. 'I just wasn't sure that after...' Harry trailed off, his head so far down it was almost glued to his chest.

Lucius sat down in the chair opposite. 'Harry, look at me.' he commanded and Harry couldn't help but obey. His eyes widened as he watched Lucius gently remove the signet ring from his right hand and hold it out to Harry. 'I, Lucius Malfoy, as Head of the Malfoy line, do formally request that you, Harry Potter, a Malfoy in all but birth, accept this ring as Heir to the Malfoy line. That you will treat it with the respect it deserves and the prestige it commands. Draco wouldn't have wanted it any other way.' He added when Harry automatically opened his mouth in what Lucius knew would be a refusal.

Harry snapped his mouth closed and stared down at the intricately carved piece of platinum in his hand. It really was stunning, but, as he stared at it, all of the pros and cons of accepting began shouting out in his head. He quickly got up off the sofa and crossed the room before turning and walking back.

Both Narcissa and Lucius waited patiently, albeit with an anxiousness that could have sliced stone. They knew Harry paced when he was cornered, and they knew they had more chance of him accepting if they just let him be, so they waited as Harry's thoughts continued to swirl loudly in his head. Harry kept shaking his head, even as his eyes barely left the precious metal in his hand. He should have seen it coming. Really, he should. Draco would be teasing him about it right now. That thought caused a slight falter in his step. He should have realised that when the blood bond was formed he was a Malfoy in all but birth, just as Lucius had said, and that with Draco's death he was now heir to the line. He knew this; he just didn't really want it. The notoriety of being bonded to Draco was going to be bad enough without adding something of this magnitude. He stopped then and stared once more at the ring. When the wizarding world hears that he and Draco had bonded, they were all going to expect that he would become the heir on Draco's death anyway, so what's the difference?

'The difference is that this should have been on Draco's finger, not mine.' Harry whispered sadly. He shook his head again and looked up, catching Lucius eyes. 'Are you sure that's what he would have wanted?' he asked tentatively.

Lucius restrained a smile. 'If the roles had been reversed, Harry. If it had been your father asking Draco, what would you have said?' He asked instead.

Harry glanced down at the ring once more. 'I would have said yes. That I wanted him to have that part of me too.' His whisper was barely audible over his harsh breathing.

Lucius waited until Harry looked up again and stood as the young man and walked forward several steps to stand in front of him. 'I Harry Malfoy accept the ring as Heir to the Malfoy line. I will cherish and respect it and hold the honour attached to it in the highest regard. I thank you for your faith in me.' He finished solemnly.

Lucius smiled and gently wiped away the tear that had fallen unnoticed from Harry's eye. 'It has nothing to do with faith, Harry.' he murmured before kissing the young man softly on both cheeks and the middle of the forehead. Harry was quite stunned at the display of affection and that only continued further as Lucius wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close. 'You handled yourself very well today.' Lucius murmured into his hair. 'Draco would have been proud.'

'Draco would have been laughing at me.' Harry corrected with a snort, allowing Lucius to pull away.

He too was smiling. 'You're probably right.' He agreed and Harry couldn't help but laugh.

'Harry?' Narcissa asked hesitantly. 'Can I ask what you feel when you touch your ring?'

Harry looked down at his hands, the glint of the Malfoy signet ring in no way taking anything away from the stunning ring Draco had commissioned. 'I feel Draco.' He whispered fondly. 'I feel his arms around me, I feel him kiss me and I feel his love deep in my soul.' He looked up then to see Lucius and Narcissa looking at him in wonder. 'I hear him whispering that he loves me.' He added softly before turning and walking silently from the room.

Narcissa looked at Lucius. 'Is that even possible?'

Lucius stared at Harry's retreating back in silence for several moments. 'With those two? Anything's possible.'

Harry tossed and turned several times, touching his ring each time he woke however quickly lulled him back to sleep. Riddle didn't try anything and Harry wondered if Draco's ring had some sort of protection spell on it. It wouldn't have surprised him. He was still rather tired when he woke again the next morning but he dressed quickly and went to find the Malfoy's.

They were out on the terrace, Lucius painting Narcissa's portrait as she reclined on a chaise and read a book. 'That's quite stunning.' Harry breathed as he watched the magical colours dance together.

Lucius looked up and smiled. 'Thank you.' He studied Harry's face for several moments. 'What is it?'

Harry rolled his eyes but sat dutifully next to Narcissa when she patted the place beside her. 'I meant what I said last night about returning to Howgarts.'

'Harry, is there a reason you want to leave so quickly?' Narcissa asked.

'Not really.' Harry shook his head. 'I know I'm not really going to be able to move on from this but I have to try. Draco is everywhere here. Every memory I have here has Draco in it. And every one of them still hurts right now. I need some time away from here before I can come back. I walk down a hallway and I see Draco walking beside me. I sit on a chair and I see Draco sitting on the one opposite trying to trick me into sitting on his lap. Each and every memory almost brings me to my knees and every day it gets a bit harder. I just need some time.'

'It's like when you came to us last summer.' Lucius said knowledgeably.

Harry nodded and swallowed heavily. 'Yes.' he whispered.

'You will come back?' Narcissa asked, her face more than worried.

Harry grasped her hands in his. 'Yes, of course. This is my home. You are my family. A part of me wants to stay and just let myself sink into the memories Draco and I made together. But I have a job to do. Tom Riddle will pay for what he did to Draco; but for me to be able to do that I need to be able to focus, and I cannot do that here...not now...not yet.' Narcissa nodded in understanding and looked up at Lucius.

'I will escort you to the castle this evening.' Lucius offered and Harry smiled at him gratefully. Narcissa looked as if she was going to cry.

'It's only for a month. You'll see me at graduation and then I'll be home.' Harry told her, hugging her tightly.

'I don't want to lose you too, Harry.' she whispered and Harry pulled away, grasping her shoulders forcefully.

'You aren't going to lose me, Narcissa. I'm not going anywhere. I made a promise with Draco.'

'You made a promise with Draco?' Lucius asked curiously.

Harry smiled sheepishly. 'Well, actually he made a promise with me that he would look after you both if anything happened to me, but I have no qualms that it works in reverse.'

'You had to make him promise to look after us?' Narcissa asked incredulously.

Harry laughed softly and shook his head. 'No, not really, he would have done it anyway. I just wanted him to focus on it because I knew how hard it would have been on him.'

'You never really expected to live past this final battle, did you?' Lucius' question was rather closer to the truth than what Harry wanted.

'No, not before.' Harry said truthfully.

'And what has changed?' Harry's eyes suddenly burned so brightly Lucius had to look away for a moment.

'Everything.' he breathed.

Harry kept his head up as he walked beside Lucius and into the great hall that evening. Dumbledore had been owled of their arrival and hurried around the head table and down the aisle to meet them.

'It is good to have you back, Harry.' Dumbeldore said softly.

Harry gave him a tight smile. 'Thank you, Professor.' Dumbeldore took in the rigid posture and the slight trembling in his hands and looked at him in concern. 'Are you sure your ready to join us?'

Harry nodded and turned to Lucius. 'Just a floo call, Harry.' The aristocrat said softly, squeezing Harry's shoulder gently.

'Thanks, Lucius. Tell Narcissa I'll fire call her on Sunday.'

Lucius nodded and after a stern look in Dumbledore's direction, and a nod in Snape's, the blonde aristocrat turned on his heel and swept regally from the hall. Harry looked after him for several moments, snorting inwardly at the change in the man when in public. Between the look on his face and predatory walk with which he had just left Harry would never have put him down as the same man who had treated him with such affection the evening before.

'Harry.' Dumbledore's gentle voice snapped him out of his thoughts. 'Do you wish me to say anything to students?'

Harry glanced round at the rest of the school, nearly all blatantly staring it him and shook his head. 'I do not believe it is any of their business.' He said curtly, although loudly enough to be heard by most of those around him. The statement caused whispers to break out immediately around the hall but Harry ignored it, nodding once to Dumbledore before moving back up the aisle and around to the Gyffindor table where he sat beside Neville and across from Ron who looked as if he might explode at any moment.

'Hi Harry.' Neville murmured hesitantly. Harry glanced up, looking at each of the other seventh years in turn.

'Hi.' he said softly before dropping his eyes again. His hands, shaking as they were, remained out of sight under the table as the rest of the hall slowly began to start eating. There was silence around Harry for probably two minutes before Ron finally lost it.

'HI?' He shouted incredulously. 'THAT'S IT? THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?'

Harry looked up, a glare on his face to rival one of Snape's, who himself had stood and was watching the confrontation intently. 'I am not discussing this with you now.' Harry said coldly, trying to keep his voice down, in spite of the fact the most of the hall was looking at him once again.

Ron stood up. 'Fine then.' He snapped. 'Let's go up to the tower and we can discuss it there.'

Harry's expression turned stony. 'You misunderstand me, Ron. I am not discussing this with you, here, now, tomorrow, or anywhere else for that matter. I am not discussing this with you period.'

Ron obviously wasn't listening as he just went on, even as Harry's eyes began burning brightly. 'Harry, have you completely lost your mind? I mean, the Ferret? You bonded to that bloody Ferret of all people? What on earth were you thinking? He is a Death Eater.'

Harry was out of his chair and was almost halfway across the table before he found himself grasped firmly by the shoulders, turned and hauled back to the ground, a firm hand holding the back of his head so that his face was buried in the shoulder of thick black robes as Hogwarts potions master glared at Ron. The look on his face saying quite clearly that evisceration followed by the use of his entrails in a very messy potion would be too good for him.

Snape stood silently, one arm around Harry's shoulders, the other cupping his head as the Boy-Who-Lived struggled to reign in the anger that had the air visibly crackling around them. Ron didn't know whether to be more stunned at the visible magic flying around Harry or the fact that Snape, of all people, had an arm around him.

Either one was cause for concern. And most the hall was now staring at them open mouthed.

'One hundred points from Gryffindor, Mr Weasley and detention for a week with me.' Snape said curtly.

'What! What for?' Ron protested.

Snape stopped several steps away from where he had begun propelling Harry towards the head table and arched an eyebrow. 'If you feel the need for further clarification perhaps I should make it two hundred.' He suggested coldly.

Ron, wisely didn't reply and Snape gave him a final glare before escorting Harry back towards the head table, pulling out a lone chair at the end of the Slytherin table, directly in front of him and pushing Harry down into it before bending slightly so that only Harry could hear. 'I ask that you stay only as long as you feel you can, Harry.' He whispered. 'And please try and eat something, if only so that I can appease the anxious firecall I am bound to receive shortly after the meal has finished.'

Harry gave the man a wan smile. 'Thank you, Professor.'

Snape glanced down at Harry's hands which were folded neatly in his lap, the Malfoy signet ring clearly visible, and raised an eyebrow. 'You're welcome.' He murmured before straightening and returning to his seat.

Harry, having been taught very well by Draco how to see through the man's expressions could clearly tell that he was pleased, and that thought alone help return his appetite in part at least and he managed several spoonfuls of shepherd's pie before placing his knife and fork together and standing up. He could see that most of the students had finished and Harry guessed that they had all remained on the off chance that further information about him might be forthcoming. They were clearly out of luck, Harry thought as he nodded to both Snape and Dumbledore and swept from the room in a remarkable rendition of the man who was unofficially his father in law. He did however hear the explosion of noise that occurred afterwards even through the thick oak doors and couldn't help but roll his eyes.

His thoughts returned to Draco as he wandered slowly through the corridors towards Gryffindor tower. They had been so close. Less than a month before graduation and then their life would have been their own. Tom Riddle would still have been a factor but they'd had no idea of when he would strike or when Harry might finally defeat him, as Draco had always said firmly that he would, even if Harry himself hadn't been quite so sure.

Harry stepped onto the moving staircase and let it take him without thought. His subconscious must have been working though as it stopped at a little used landing just down from a hallway that was covered in heavy obscuring charms.

Harry had found the corridor at the end of last year while looking for a place to hide, to get away from the others, to remember Hermione in peace. It seemed to be a bit like the room of requirement in that it appeared, or at least the obscuring charms dropped, when it was needed. There were no portraits at all, the hallway simply opening out into a round sitting room containing a single chair and a massive window that had been charmed to show the lake.

When he had started meeting Draco here there had appeared a second chair, not that they had used it. Harry smiled as he remembered their second rendezvous here shortly before Christmas.

Flashback

'Hey, there's another chair.' Harry's surprised voice echoed slightly off the high ceiling.

'Don't need it.' Draco responded grasping Harry's wrist and tugging him down onto his lap as his hands immediately went to the buttons on Harry's shirt.

'Do you think someone else has been here?' Harry asked looking around, even as he batted Draco's hands away from the waist band of his pants.

'Harry, please.' Draco breathed into his neck as he nibbled gently on Harry's collarbone.

Harry laughed. 'Dray, you're obsessed.'

Draco made a huffing sound. 'Yes, well, perhaps if I looked like you then you would be obsessed too.' The blond retorted, his teeth latching onto Harry's earlobe.

Harry pulled away and stared in surprise at the other. 'You are kidding right? You're absolutely stunning.'

Draco smirked. 'Yes, I know.' he said lightly. 'But obviously you have exceptionally high standards as I can't keep my hands off you and you've barely touched me since we got here.'

Harry raised an eyebrow, surely Draco wasn't feeling insecure, was he? Oh well, he have to fix that. 'Do you want me to tell you just how gorgeous I think you are?' Harry drawled softly, leaning in and running his tongue over the pulse in Draco's neck, something he knew the other boy found incredibly erotic.

He wasn't to be disappointed.

'Harry.' Draco breathed hoarsely.

'Hmm, lovely.' Harry murmured, moving his head until he could run his tongue around the shell of Draco's ear as his fingers made light work of Draco's shirt. 'Very, very lovely.' Harry hissed as he traced down Draco's neck to his collarbone.

'Oh Harry.' Draco's breathless whisper could barely be heard.

'Exquisite.' Harry added as he sucked and played with the pale nipples before him, his legs sliding off Draco's until he was kneeling on the floor. His tongue continued tracing patterns down the other boy's chest, his head lifting every so often as he said just what he thought of the figure now splayed bonelessly before him.

'Beautiful.' Harry whispered as his mouth moved back up to capture Draco's lips with his own even as his hands undid the waistband of the other's trousers.

'Ravishing.' Harry murmured at the look of abandon on Draco's face. He placed a final kiss on Draco's lips before moving downwards, watching the expressions play across Draco's half lidded eyes. The Slytherin's hands began running almost desperately through his hair. Draco's hips began shifting around as the pressure to come increased until with a cry he released into Harry's mouth.

Harry swallowed and waited as Draco's breathing slowed until he could finally open his eyes and look at Harry once again. 'Absolutely stunning.' Harry whispered.

End Flashback

Harry shook his head as the memory finished. Fifteen minutes later Draco had proposed and Harry had accepted. Together, they decided that they would officially bond at Christmas, but would wait to marry until after graduation when any friends or family they wanted to invite could come and there would be no one to stop them.

Harry had been under no illusions as to what Dumbledore would have done had he found out, but now, as of this moment, Harry didn't care. He'd had Draco, even for such a short time, and he wouldn't have given that up for anything.

He sighed heavily as he stood, glancing around at the worn old chair. He wasn't sure if he would visit here again. It contained far too many memories and he had a job to do. He couldn't concentrate on that while in this place.

He glanced upwards at the domed ceiling. 'I love you, Dray.' he whispered and swore he could hear the other answering in kind.

He wasn't sure just how long it had been since he had left the great hall but he guessed that a fairly substantial amount of time had passed. He wouldn't have thought it though, when he returned to the common room to find nearly the entire house still awake. Harry stared at them all as they stared back at him, no one wanting to be the first to speak.

He felt like a stranger in someone else's house, an intruder.

'Good night.' he said softly before crossing the crowded room and heading for the stairs.

'Harry!' Harry stopped at Ron's voice but didn't turn around. 'Harry, what is going on? Please, we just want to help.'

Harry did turn, fixing dull green eyes on the red head who had been his best friend. 'Ron, you want to help? I mean really want to help?' He asked as Ron nodded earnestly. 'Then leave me the hell alone.' he snarled before turning and disappearing up the stairs to the dormitory, knowing that in spite of his words the seventh years would follow him shortly.

Sure enough, he had just changed into the black silk pyjamas he'd brought from Malfoy Manor when the door swung open. Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville looked shocked to see him in them but Harry didn't care. They had been Draco's and they still smelt like Draco.

He ignored the others and climbed into bed, pulling his curtains around him before lying down. He could hear the others having a heated debate on whether or not to disturb him but eventually Neville and Dean won out and he was left alone.

He smiled softly and gently rubbed his fingers over his ring. Feeling Draco's arms, his kisses, the smell of his cologne and hearing the soft voice in his ear, Harry could almost believe that the Slytherin was there beside him. He closed his eyes and prayed that wherever Draco was, that he knew how much Harry loved him and that he wished him peace. As if in answer he felt a wave of peace wash over him too and he closed his eyes and let it take him.

'Choose a potion off the list on the board and make it from memory. Get to work.' Snape snarled as the seventh years filed in for their last class before their NEWTS. He'd decided to see just how much they had learnt. The next two weeks would be filled with study and exams, both theoretical and practical and he wondered idly just how they would fare. He knew most would pass but there were certainly a few borderline cases that might go the other way.

Speaking of borderline cases, his eyes were drawn to the Boy-Who-Lived, black glittered as he watched the trembling hands dice the slippery dragon liver that would have difficult under normal circumstances. Uncharacteristically he got up off his chair and moved towards the young man and under the guise of inspecting his cauldron, gently pried the knife from the shaking fingers and finished the task before Harry lost one or all of said fingers.

'Thank you, Professor.' Harry said softly as he accepted the return of the knife.

'You're welcome, Mr Malfoy.' Snape murmured before walking away leaving Harry with his head bowed and a smile on his face.

The rest of the class went without mishap surprisingly, and Snape managed to collect eleven different types of healing potion and a strengthening potion, courtesy of Harry, that were well and truly fit for the hospital wing. 'Mr Malfoy, you will remain.' He said curtly as he dismissed the rest of the class, most of who were now looking at him as if he had lost it.

Snape looked up from his desk to see almost half of them staring at him, mostly Slytherins. 'I don't believe any of your surnames is Malfoy, therefore I have no wish to see you in this classroom.'

'Umm, Professor, are you alright?' Millicent asked cautiously.

Snape glanced at Harry who had his head bowed before nodding. 'Quite, now, if that is all?'

It was a clear dismissal and Harry decided he would make it easier for them to understand by turning and folding his arms over his chest so that his right hand, the one that had been facing the wall throughout the entire class, was clearly visible.

The Slytherin's eyes almost fell out of their heads.

An Heir ring was usually only passed down on the heirs coming of age. His eighteenth birthday. For Lucius Malfoy to have given this to Harry only days after the death of his son, it was a clear and purposeful display of not only where their loyalties lay, but of what Harry meant to them.

Harry raised an eyebrow. 'Don't you have a letter you should be writing, Parkinson?' He drawled and Snape thought for a moment that his godson had come back.

Pansy copied the gesture and tilted her head slightly. 'No.' she said quietly. 'Not yet.' she amended before grasping Millicent's robe and tugging her from the room, knowing the others would follow.

Harry waited till the door closed before dropping his hands to the table. 'Well, that was interesting.' He mumbled tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose, all of his previous strength seeming to deflate the moment there was no one there to witness it.

'Harry?' Snape questioned.

Harry opened his eyes. 'I'm fine, it's just a headache.' he assured the potions master, who continued to look at him doubtfully.

'Alright, now, much as it pains me to say this, Narcissa asked me to remind you that you need to formally invite those you want at graduation.' Snape rolled his eyes and Harry snorted, knowing the older man must have hated passing messages for Draco and would probably hate doing so even more for Harry.

'I know. I've written who I want to come and sent it to the headmaster. If he has an issue with it then he can take it up with me.'

'When did you do that?'

'This morning, at breakfast. They are coming if I have to break every ward in Hogwarts to let them through.' He added, the light tone belying the strength of the words.

Snape stared at the young man, clearly seeing the truth in the words and nodding. 'It will be a fight, Albus will say that, heir or not, they are not your birth family and that as Draco is no longer with us then they have no right being here.'

'Well, he either lets them come or I don't go.' Harry said simply. 'I'm sure Fudge will love that.' he added smugly.

Snape eyed him for a moment, seeing some of what Draco had loved about the young man. The positively Gryffindor attitude combined with a thoroughly Slytherin mind. It was, not that he'd ever admit it out loud, rather enlightening. He allowed a small smile to curl the corner of his mouth. 'I trust you will let me know when that little conversation takes place?'

Harry smiled in reply. 'Have no fear, Professor. That is one conversation that won't go without witnesses.'

Snape nodded. 'Good luck with your exams, Mr Malfoy. I trust you will do yourself and your name proud.'

Harry smiled again and Snape noticed his fingers searching out his ring once more before he let out a sigh. 'I have many people to honour, Professor.' He said quietly before picking up his bag and nodding once as he closed the door behind him.

The last two days of Harry's education passed much more quickly than he had previously expected. Of course, back then he had something to look forward to, now he would be leaving school to an empty bed and a broken soul. Over the weekend he spent nearly all of his time in the library. He knew he'd have no problems with any of the practical exams and he decided to work hard on the theoretical portions to obtain maximum marks.

He wanted to make Lucius and Narcissa proud of him. Proud that they'd had made him their heir. He could almost feel Draco urging him to work harder, but he knew Draco's ambitions had nothing to do with making his parents proud and everything to do with making sure Harry learned enough to live through his final battle with Voldemort.

Finally Monday arrived and Harry began what would be a week of mental gymnastics followed by another of physical relaxation as he allowed his magic to do what it did best.

Perform.

At least that was what was supposed to happen.

Ten minutes into his second practical exam he knew there was a problem. The written exams had gone very well in Harry's opinion, as had his potions practical. The trouble started when asked to transfigure a chair into a particular breed of cat for Transfiguration. He raised his wand and swished and flicked as he said the incantation.

What happened next would probably go down in history as without any sort of spell seeming to even leave Harry's wand the chair exploded with an enormous bang, showering Harry, McGonagall and the three examiners from the Ministry of Magic with tiny splinters of wood.

Harry stared in stunned silence at what remained of the chair before looking up at McGonagall in disbelief.

'Perhaps you should try it without your wand, Harry.' She said quietly, banishing the remains of the chair that was so badly destroyed even a Reparo wouldn't fix it, and conjuring another. Harry nodded dumbly and put his wand away and raised his hand, his brow furrowed.

This time he hadn't even finished the incantation before the chair exploded. The examiners had gone and taken cover across the hall as the other students waiting for their turn began craning their necks through the doorway in an effort to discern what was happening.

'Professor?' Harry's voice was no more than a horrified whisper.

McGonagall clasped his shoulder firmly in an effort to ground him before he started to panic. 'Harry, has this ever happened before?' She asked. Harry shook his head. 'Maybe you're trying too hard. Well, try it one more time, just relax. Use your wand again and just try to coax the magic out. Keep a tight rein on it.'

Harry nodded and pulled out his wand as she conjuring a third chair. His hand was shaking noticeably as he raised it and the swish and flick was barely a movement, the incantation not leaving his lips when he felt his magic rise up and flood out of him. He couldn't hold it back and once again the chair exploded taking most of the windows with it in spite of the unbreakable charms.

'Oh god.' Harry gasped, dropping his wand and backing away from the mess on the floor. McGonagall sent one of the others students to Snape for a calming potion and began whispering rapidly with the examiners as Harry leant back against the wall and tried desperately to calm both his racing heart and his ragged breathing.

Dean ran in a few moments later and after a gesture from McGonagall crossed quickly to Harry, holding out the calming potion. 'Are you okay, Harry?' he asked hesitantly.

Harry took it gratefully, swallowing it without even a grimace before shaking his head. 'No, I'm most definitely not okay.' He stammered.

'What happened?'

'Thank you Mr Thomas, that will be all.' McGonagall said coming and placing a hand on Harry's shoulder, eyeing Dean until he dropped his eyes and left the room. Harry waited for the bad news he knew was coming. 'Harry, I'm sorry. They know who you are, and what you can do, but they can't pass you unless they can see you complete the required tasks.'

Harry nodded and closed his eyes, thankful the calming potion had gone to work otherwise he'd probably be a mess.

'Harry.' McGonagall murmured when it became clear Harry didn't want to open his eyes and face the truth. 'I have got them to agree to let you retake the test tomorrow so I suggest you go up to the Room of Requirement and get a handle on whatever it is that has changed.'

Harry sighed. 'Yes, Professor, Thank you.' Harry said sincerely before hurrying from the room. He didn't stop at any of the calls as he left the room, sprinting like a man possessed. The look on his face starting a rumour that he had failed, fly round the school with the speed of a Firebolt. He didn't stop until he reached the Room of Requirement and had locked the door behind him.

Once it was locked however he let out a scream of rage and despair. He'd failed. Draco, Lucius and Narcissa, everyone. He had no idea what had happened. His magic just wouldn't listen to him. It wouldn't stay within its bounds, as it were a dam that had broken its banks. He had twenty four hours to try and get it under control and by god he was going to do it.