WOOP WOOP! I GOT MY DOCUMENTS BACKKKKK! My computer is toast, but the documents have been returned to me -huggles new external hard drive- I'm going to post this in exchange for the author's note thing so it's not in the middle of my story or anything and I really hope you enjoy this chapter... it's kinda cheesy in some parts, but I'm just getting the ball rolling!

Happy Reading

Chapter 6

(Harry's POV)

After that, it was decided that we would wait a while, a couple days at the least while Severus researched. However if the attacks got steadily worse, then we would have to act. I was okay with that. I didn't want to rush people into this decision, now they had time to think about it and if it came down to it, accept it.

Luna and Alice made me think though. They both said I would be immortal, but I would be myself, which went against everything Edward was trying to subtly tell me. I knew none of them would deceive me and they were all trying to look out for me, but this comment made me think, and the more I thought about it the more comfortable I was with trusting Alice and Luna with the fact that everything would turn out okay.

From there people began to disperse, Alice and Luna went one way to talk while Hermione and Jasper began to converse about history and educational things I couldn't follow. Severus drifted to Carlisle and Esme while Emmett, Rose, Draco, and Ron began to talk casually amongst themselves.

I turned to Edward and grinned at him before going over and sitting next to him. The touch of his leg against mine was enough to send shivers running up and down my spine. "Harry," his voice said softly, "Do you mind if you and I go talk outside?" he asked and I nodded numbly and the two of us exited into the backyard.

I took a deep breath; I rubbed my hands together, pushing my courage and strength to its limit to speak. "W-what did you want to talk about?" It wasn't that I was scared of him, far from it. I just had no idea what were going to be talking about and being so close to him was making my heart race and I was working so hard to steady it. Not to mention I just talked so bloody much, my throat was sore from overworking it and I still could hear his ghostly laugh in my head taunting me.

Edward sighed and abruptly hugged me, I stiffened for a moment before hugging him back, "Um," I said feeling confused.

Edward sighed again and pulled away. "Harry, I wanted to talk to you about you being my mate," Edward said slowly. My mouth fell open to say something but then it slowly closed, I was at a loss for words. "I understand if you don't want to run head first into this. I just broke up with Bella and it's suspicious if I immediately jump into a relationship with you, but I would also like to know you better as friends just to get to know you. I already know I like you enough to date you, but I don't know you, and I want to."

A grin settled itself onto my face, "T-Thanks Edward," I said softly and gave him a tight hug. "I would like to get to know you better too. There's a lot going on in my life right now and I sort of want things to settle down before going into this relationship. I want to do it right, with nothing to hold me back and drag me down."

Edward smiled down at me, "Friends then?"

I smiled softly up at him from where I was hugging him, "Friends... for now," I said with a slightly mischievous grin. Edward chuckled and held me tightly to him, basking in each other's presence.

That evening we sat around our dining room table, just Severus, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Draco and I. I felt oddly content to be with my family, I felt a tinge of longing to be with Edward, but right now I was just happy to sit with them. None of us spoke, we simply sat with each other's company, we didn't even need to ask people to pass things, it seemed that the people at the table knew when and what people needed.

I thought back to everything that I had been through, and was still going through and I felt my lips tremble for a moment. My eyes watered, but not in sadness. I pressed my hand against my face and rested my elbow on the table as I shook with tears, a small smile playing on my lips.

"Harry," the concerned voice of Hermione greeted my ears, "are you okay?"

I lifted my head and let my eyes coast over the people at the table and nodded, a smile on my lips, "I'm just thinking back to when I was little. I've come so far, we've all come so far..."

Draco smiled at me from halfway down the table, "Come on, Potter," he teased, "Don't get sappy on us," he said it softly, a smile caressing his lips and I smiled back.

"Especially you," I shot back and he grinned, but it was ruined when he let out a hacking cough.

All eyes seemed to be on Draco for a moment, concern in most eyes. Draco held up a hand for us to wait. "It's okay, just a tickle," he brushed off.

I glanced at Severus across the table and he looked back, I gave him a pointed look that I didn't think it was 'just a tickle' and sent me one back clearly telling me that he thought so too and would investigate into it.

The rest of the meal was in silence until Hermione commented on Ron's eating habits and suddenly we were all joking with each other. Is this what having a family was like? I asked myself before realized I didn't care how other families acted, I loved mine just the way it was.

The next day at school it seemed people had made it their duty to announce that Bella and Edward were no longer dating. None of us seemed to mind, except Edward because people kept thinking about it and he couldn't stop because of it. I felt bad for him as he was ranting at lunch and I lay a hand on his arm. Would you like me to occlude your mind for the afternoon? I wrote down, we had yet to come up with an idea of what to say as to why I was getting my voice back, so it was back to paper, which I was fine with. I still didn't like using my voice, that way you don't have to hear them?

Edward seemed to ponder it for a moment before smiling softly and nodding, "Sure, give it a try," I smiled and nodded and touched his temple, just to make it a little easier.

I closed my eyes and after a couple seconds I pulled away. Well? I wrote down feeling nervous. What if it didn't work? Did it work? I asked him.

Edward cocked his head to the side and frowned, "Huh, silence..." he said before grinning at me and causing the others to laugh and me blush, "Thank you Harry. I haven't had quiet in my head in over a decade."

I smiled up at him slightly, blushing heavily before turning away, looking at Draco who was trying very hard not to laugh it seemed. Oh shut up Draco, I wrote and showed him before chucking one of my fries at him.

He let out a laugh and then promptly had a coughing fit. I frowned, halfway between calling karma on him and asking if he was alright. Luna beat me to it, laying a hand on his shoulder and asking if he was okay.

Draco nodded and patted her hand, "I'm fine, just a cough. I must be getting one of those muggle colds..." he said and nodded, as if he decided that was the reason and that was it.

Suddenly someone shouted my name and I turned in my seat and looked around for whoever had called me. Spotting Jessica of all people I felt annoyance curse though me but I ignored it for now, after all, perhaps she was apologizing?

"Can I speak to you?" she asked looking awkward and nervous as she approached the table. I noticed Bella sitting at their table and I debated silently to myself for a moment before nodding and getting up. I quickly wrote that I'd see the other's later and headed off with Jessica.

She kept walking until we were outside and away from all people. "Alright," Jessica said turning towards me when we reached the parking lot. "Firstly, I wanted to apologize for what I said," she said looking not entirely like she was sorry, but she was somewhat regretting it so I nodded in response. I couldn't help the way she was and I'd dealt with worse. I decided to wait and see what she had to say. She looked awkward for a second, "Okay, people want to know. This is just how it looks and I want to just clear things up," I almost smiled because it thought it amusing that she was trying to sugar coat that she wanted to hear from me if the rumours were true and if they weren't, start new ones. "Okay, so you and your family shows up, Edward and Bella are okay and then he meets you and suddenly breaks up with Bella and you're still hanging around him... People are starting to think that Edward left Bella for you, and are starting to say that you're dating Edward now."

I stared at Jessica for a moment before a grin broke out onto my face before I began to laugh, honest-to-God, hands-resting-on-knees-for-support laughing out loud. Jessica stared at me with eye filled with confusion and surprise. I guess she wasn't expecting this reaction at all. The euphoria it caused made me to laugh more and I slowly brought myself back together as I pulled out my paper pad and pen. Just then an idea struck me and I had a brilliant plan.

No Jessica, I am not dating Edward. Yes, we are close friends now, but I had nothing to do with Edward and Bella's break up. Yes, she was incredibly rude to me multiple times and it partly caused Edward to break up with her but because of his morals. I'm his friend and she was insulting me and being possessive about his time with everyone. He was getting sick of it and her insulting a good friend of his all the time was the icing on the cake. I wrote and showed her.

She took a moment to read what I said. "Oh," she finally said and seemed embarrassed, "sorry. Okay, that was the story Bella was telling me, that he left her for you... anyways it's all cleared up now." She smiled politely at me and I nodded, "Um, so how are you such close friends with Edward then? You just got here..." she said trailing off looking skeptical, "he's not exactly easy to know, if you catch my drift."

I smiled and nodded, for her Edward would send up all the warning singles to get away. I quickly wrote down, well Jessica, Severus, or I guess for you Mr. Snape, has been looking for a way to get my voice back. So he contacted Carlisle Cullen about it and I have been going to his house with my siblings and they've been hanging out with the Cullens while I get speech therapy and it's been going well so far. Sometimes we would stay after and hang out, that's how I got to know Edward and his family.

Jessica smiled at me again, "Wow, that's awesome Harry," her voice was lacking emotion, but I let it go. I just wanted her to spread that rumour. At that point the bell conveniently rang so I smiled at her and said a softly spoken goodbye which seemed to shock her and walked off towards class.

The next couple days past without much problems, the wall Severus put up on my mind helped keep any major attacks at bay, but I could sense him right behind it, working on forcing it down. Edward and I hung out a lot, and I felt many of Bella's glares on my back but ignored them because I knew Edward was bothered by them and so I didn't want to bring them up. Edward was unsurprisingly a really nice guy and somewhat surprisingly funny. I found the way he said things amusing even though he didn't understand why.

Draco had been getting worse and worse, he now was sneezing and coughing almost 24/7. I actually went to his room to check on him in the middle of the night last night because he just kept coughing and keeping people up with it. He had a stash of tissues on him at all times, but what surprised me was that I never saw any of the waste from them. Unlike when Dudley was sick and they were everywhere in the house, ours was spotless of any trace of his sickness, but then again, this was Draco Malfoy, not Dudley Dursley.

Severus and Draco had sat down today and spoke about me becoming a vampire. As far as I know, Severus had helped Draco see that he wasn't a completely terrible idea and how I would still be myself. Furthermore, he didn't need to protect me like he used to, it was time we all started living without war on our doorsteps. Draco also told me that he took a mucus sample (even though Draco was very adamant that it was nothing) and was going to test it to just make sure nothing was seriously wrong.

The main problem occurred the next day. Ron was running around all morning for his things, as usual, Luna had her head in the clouds as she ate her breakfast and Hermione was apprehensively gazing at the clock every once in a while, and she was clearly getting impatient. I finished packing my bag and after I got my cereal sorted I asked her what was making her so impatient.

"Draco is going to make us late," she said glumly.

I rolled my eyes, "Fine, I'll go grab him," I said softly and took my bowl with me upstairs. I shuddered when I got out of view of them. His ghostly laughter still rang in my ears and I told it to shut the hell up, unfortunately it didn't change a thing. I continued on my way up to Draco's room and entered it slowly, "Drake?" I called softly and was answered with a pain filled moan. "Draco?" I called more seriously now. I set my bowl on Draco's desk as I took a few hesitant steps forward. "Drake, are you okay?" I asked approaching his bed which was against the far wall of his bedroom. As I pulled back the covers I saw that Draco was curled in the fetal position, shaking and sweating under them. His cheeks were flushed and he moaned again.

"Harry," he groaned, "It hurts," he actually honest-to-God whimpered and I sat gingerly on his bed, causing the mattress to rock slightly and he let out a small whine, "Oh Merlin, it hurts," he moaned and hugged himself closer.

I gently lay a hand on his shoulder, "What hurts Draco," I asked him softly, hoping I wasn't hurting him but I wanted him to know I was there for him and was going to help him.

Draco took a couple deep breaths before responding, "Everything, my bones, my muscles... it feels like my bones are on fire and my muscles are all torn." I saw a tear slide down Draco's cheek and I knew this was very serious.

"Okay," I said softly, "Draco, you just lie here; I'm going to go get Severus. It'll be okay, alright? Every thing's going to be alright," I assured him and he nodded hastily, his eyes pleading with me. I nodded and slowly got up off the bed, covered him again and walked slowly, calmly to the door. Once I closed the door I took off down the hallway. I tore past the kitchen, Luna dropped her spoon as I did, her face filled with terror as the spoon splashed into her bowl completely unnoticed. She had buried her face in her hands by the time I had reached the door to the basement where Severus' potions lab was, and bolted down the stairs, ignoring Ron and Hermione's frantic questions and confused expressions.

I nearly ploughed right into Severus, who had come over to the stairs when he heard the commotion I was making. "Harry, what on Earth are you doi-" Severus started, a slightly irritated look upon his face.

"Draco is sick," I blurted out, interrupting him and stopping just in time to not run into him.

Severus looked somewhat confused for a moment, "Yes," he said slowly, "We all are quite aware of his sniffling and coughing."

I felt a rush of annoyance, "No, Sev," Severus visibly cringed at the name. "He's in pain, he can't get up and he's crying, and moaning and saying his bones are on fire and his muscles are torn," I exclaimed frantically. "You got to do something," I gripped the front of Severus' shirt in desperation as a calculating, albeit slightly panicked look crossed his face.

"Harry," Severus said calmly, but I could tell there was an underlying urgency in his voice. He gently took my hands from his shirt and held them in his. "You need to calm down, it won't do the wall well if you over panic right now-"

I interrupted him again, "But Draco," I sputtered pathetically feeling helpless.

"I will check on Draco," Severus assured, staring into my eyes, "But you need to go upstairs, sit down and calm down. I will take care of Draco, okay?" he said this all very calmly and quietly. I let him steer me up the stairs and into the living room. "Now stay here," Severus said sternly once he had me seated and left me there.

I slowly worked to calm myself but it wasn't working. I didn't know what was wrong with him, but I didn't want Draco to be hurt or die. I couldn't let another of us die. We were supposed to be away from all that hell. I felt tears run down my face. I didn't want Draco to suffer, not when we just reached freedom, or well, when we were so close to it.

Just then Hermione walked into the living room holding a vial, "This is for you," she said softly, "It's a calming potion. Severus said to give it to you and Luna." I took the potion from her and drained it.

"Why Luna?" I asked quietly, letting the potion calm my racing emotions. No matter how much I thought about Draco I couldn't feel myself worrying.

Hermione smiled somewhat grimly, "She sort of had an emotional breakdown in the kitchen. We're not too sure what happened but Severus told us to get a calming potion for each of you as he passed. What is going on?" she asked clearly concerned.

"Draco is really sick," I said feeling somewhat light headed, "He can't move, he says his muscles hurt, his bones are on fire, he's all hot and sweaty..." I trailed off staring off into the distance. I could feel a strange presence in the back of my mind, I knew I should be worried but I couldn't feel worried about it even though I knew I should. "Run Hermione," I said softly, blinking, "Something's wrong."

Hermione stared at me in surprise for a moment before I felt pain erupt all over my body and I remembered why it might not be such a good idea to be calm when there's a madman in my head trying to force down the wall separating us because it was partially kept up by me being alert. I held my head and screamed as it felt like my brain was splitting in two. I saw a red light zooming towards me and I didn't move to avoid it. I slumped forward as the world went dark, which was good though, this way Voldemort couldn't take control of my body.

I awoke in my bed, with Luna Lovegood sitting on the edge of my bed, her hand slowly carting through my hair. "Luna?" I called softly and she looked over to me with a smile.

"Hi Harry, gave us a right scare didn't you? Good thing Hermione thought to stun you before Voldemort could take over," she said cheerfully.

I frowned at her for a moment. She was acting strangely, usually she would be upset by this sort of thing, "Luna, are you alright?" I asked softly.

Luna's expression fell immediately and she lay down on my chest, "No, you've got a psychopath in your head and Draco is so sick he can't move and Severus isn't sure what's wrong with him yet so he can't give him anything but mild pain relievers," she suddenly burst into tears, surprising me and I simply stared at her for a moment, completely confounded, before wrapping my arms around her. I just lay with her, rubbing her back soothingly and trying to calm her down. Eventually she gathered herself together and I pulled her up off my bed and we slowly went to Draco's room. Luna sat on the floor and rested her head against his bed so they could see each other from where Draco was lying. I sat in his desk chair which was squishy and rolled, so I rolled it over to his bedside.

Draco smiled looking somewhat dazed at us, "Hi," he croaked and Luna smiled softly, something I was thankful to see.

"How are you feeling?" I asked him softly. I felt a bit guilty that right now I wished to be curled in Edward's arms for comfort as I waited to hear what he had to say.

Draco shrugged and winced in response to his movement, "Still hurts," he rasped, but when he cleared his throat it sounded normal, "but significantly less. Severus gave me some potions, I will be fine, even if right now I don't think I could walk. He's going to run some more tests to figure out what's wrong. How are you? I heard there was another attack." He looked concerned and I gave him an annoyed look.

"Draco calm down, we dealt with it. I'm fine," I said sternly but Draco just rolled his eyes at me. I rolled mine back and stuck out my tongue before Luna interrupted us.

"Oh Harry, the prophet told us this morning that Voldemort is getting the kiss tomorrow morning," Luna said as if it had just occurred to her.

Draco and I both stared at her in shock and hardly noticeable annoyance, "And you didn't think to tell us this before because?" Draco said sneering slightly and Luna blushed from embarrassment, "Luna Lovegood, this is huge. Will Harry's attacks get better then if he's gone?" Draco asked looking hopefully. I felt hope too but I was a little hesitant to feel it.

Luna shook her head, "No, Severus says that if anything they'll increase because he'll be spending all his time trying to take over Harry, and this morning was a little chaotic, we didn't exactly have time to tell you." Draco just rolled his eyes and nodded and I nodded, it made sense but it still worried me. "Alright you two, I'm going downstairs to make some tea, would you like some?" she asked and Draco and I both nodded in response. "Oh, and Harry," she said turning before she left, "I was thinking that perhaps you would like to start up the guitar lessons again? It's been a while since you've played, or sung really," she said sounding dreamy again.

I paused for a moment to think, I supposed it would be a good idea. I gnawed on my lower lip for a moment, "Yeah, sure, I suppose," I muttered, seeing as she was already halfway out the door. Draco looked up at me seeming oddly surprised, "What?" I asked frowning at him.

"I think you should," was all he said.

"What?" I asked feeling more confused than before.

"I think you should," he repeated with earnest, "Maybe it'll help you not be so bloody moody all the time and sort out some of those conflicting thoughts, oh and work out your feelings for a certain vampi-"

"I do not have feelings for any vampire," I blurted out automatically, my cheeks reddening.

Draco levelled me with an 'I'm not stupid Harry' look and raised an eyebrow to accentuate it. "Oh please, Captain Obvious, could you be any more transparent? You're worse than glass," he jibed and I opened my mouth to protest but he just made a noise to stop me from interrupting him, "Honestly Harry, I lived through the whole Ginny fiasco, I know when you like someone. Hello, all of Hogwarts knew who you liked three months before you even asked her out. What's holding you back, you pansy? You're clearly his mate and you're clearly into him-"

"Stop," I exclaimed and pulled my legs up to press my knees to my chest, no matter how vulnerable it made me look, it comforted me.

Draco was knocked out of his little rant when he saw just how insecure I felt. "Harry," his voice softened considerably, "What's wrong? Seriously. Is it the whole Ginny thing?" I peaked at him over my knees and mumbled something unintelligible. "Pardon me?" he asked politely with a hint of amused annoyance.

I fidgeted for a moment, "Well, I know he's not like Ginny. He won't betray me to Voldemort or anything like that, but... I do still sort of miss her sometimes and it hurts to think about her..." I rubbed a fist against one of my teary eyes, "And what if he's wrong about the whole mate thing. I mean he thought Bella was his mate... and she clearly wasn't. What if I'm just mistake number 2?" I asked my eyes feeling tearier at the thought of Edward leaving me. "Plus he's just getting over Bella, I don't want to intrude on that... and h-he says he wanted to get to know me better," I shot Draco a hopeful look, but I wasn't sure if he caught it because he had a calculating expression on his face. "D-Drake, I don't think I'd live through it if I screwed this up somehow and things end. I don't even know him but he's already really special to me," I muttered shyly and I blushed again because I felt like some silly teenage girl and hid my face in my knees.

"Well Harry, I hate to break it to you, but you're being irrational," Draco piped up and I looked at him over my knees feeling slightly amused and wondering why I was being called irrational, again. "First of all, it's normal to miss her and feel sad about what happened; it sucked. I'm sure Ron's still chewed up about it too." I nodded in agreement, "Second on all, I've seen how he looks at you, he is not just screwing around and Bella's a human, it was probably her blood screwing with his head, we don't have any scent to them like that so it could only be the bond that's drawing you two together." I smiled softly at this, it gave me some hope. "Third of all, the getting over Bella thing makes sense for him and so the town won't get suspicious and Harry, obviously he wants to get to know you, anyone who doesn't is a fool," he declared and I blushed fiercely again. "Fourth of all, who says that you're going to screw things up? Jeez, Harry, have some more confidence in yourself and fifth of all, if he breaks your heart you'll live, we'll help you though it and we'll kill him for being such a brainless twit." Draco practically growled at me and I felt like my cheeks were radiating enough warmth to heat the room.

I coughed awkwardly, "Well, you seem to be feeling a bit better..." I commented trailing off.

Draco scowled at me, "Actually, no, I feel like shit, but you're being ridiculous." I just rolled my eyes in response.

Luna then pushed open Draco's door while holding a tray with different teas on it so I didn't have to reply. I got up and helped her place it between us and bundled Draco up and as gently as possible, I moved him into a sitting position with his hands and head free from the bundle. He had groaned minutely through that but he seemed more comfortable when I managed to get him settled.

We talked about frivolous things for a long time. I had settled for sitting on the floor, leaning against Draco's bed, as Luna was on the opposite side, we just talked and joked around until the tea was finished and Luna said she was going to go see what she could do about lunch but Draco should try to go to sleep until then.

I decided to leave Draco alone so he could sleep, so I helped him lie down and bid him goodnight before leaving. I frowned as I entered the hall, the cream colours on the walls seemed comforting and I just leaned against Draco's door and stared at them for a while. I frowned some more before I cast a look at Luna's room. I knew it was in there, it had to be; she wouldn't put it anywhere else. Hers was practically her baby, and she thought of mine as its brother. I sighed, I was sure she wouldn't mind me going into her room, not when she pretty much prompted me to.

I stared hard at that door for a moment before I pushed myself off Draco's and went to her room and wrenched the door open. I entered her room, one that was completely cluttered with knickknacks that all had their meanings engraved in Luna's memory and were important to her. Her bed was unmade and her closet was overflowing, but leaning against the far corner wall were two guitars in their cases. From the look of them and the things around them, I could tell she kept that corner clear and just for them, well them and the endless amounts of guitar books she had stacked by them.

I strode over and picked up me guitar case and stared at it for a moment before I held it more securely and took it from the room, closing the door. I went to my room and I sat on my bed. I gently unclasped the case and pulled the guitar out. I set it down on the bed and stared at it for a moment. I remembered when Luna had helped me transfigure this guitar. I had been using hers for several weeks but she had given me the task of finding something that was deeply important to me but I wouldn't miss if it was changed into something else. She had made hers out of a big round glossy black button from her mother's favourite coat, her 'lucky coat' her mother had always claimed. She had transfigured hers into a glossy pure black acoustic guitar that had never needed an amp, Luna's magic made it as loud as she pleased it. I had thought long and hard about it before picking one of the many pictures of my mother and father, in hope that I could feel more physically connected to them. Then she taught me how to do the spell and I turned it into my beautiful guitar which I thought of as not only a mix of my parents but a mix of an electric and acoustic guitar. It had the design of an electric guitar but was made out of wood and was made of a dark brown wood that had tints of red in it. I always thought that it had the sturdiness of my father and the voice of my mother, but in any case, I loved it deeply.

I pulled it up against me and strummed a chord, listening to it ring about the room without any need for an amp. I smiled at it, feeling the sound warm me and the strings and wood cool my fingers. I gave another strum before sitting up a bit and closing my eyes.

"Harry," Draco's whiny interrupted my thoughts. "Harry," he called again when I didn't answer right away, "Can you come here?" he called sounding somewhat pitiful before letting loose a sneeze and a coughing fit.

I sighed and picked up my guitar and took it to Draco's room, "What is it Draco?" I asked him softly from the door.

He smiled at me, clearly trying to look innocent, "I heard you playing with your guitar and I was wondering if maybe you could you maybe, possibly, pretty please, sing me to sleep?"

I snorted before coming in and sitting in the chair by his bed. "Fine," I said as if I was grudgingly allowing it, except my small smile gave me away. He grinned at me and snuggled into his bed and closed his eyes.

I thought back to the position of the first song Luna taught me. She taught it to me note by note and I had quickly memorized it. "Do you mind if it's not exactly a slow song?" I asked him knowing that Draco was picky about that sort of thing. It took me nearly a week when he was insomniac to find a song that would lull him to sleep.

Draco grinned, "Sure, but if I'm not asleep you have to play another."

I just rolled my eyes, "Fine," I allowed, shaking my head at his antics. As I began to play it I felt a smile arise on my lips.

you've got your lights turn on so they can see you
the very best of what you've got to offer
tell them what your hands were made for
tell them who your mouth was made for

I grinned, singing was something else entirely; I closed my eyes and continued to sing. I had slowed down the song some to make it easier to sleep to but it did help that it was only the guitar part. I felt so free, I heard my voice and for the first time in a long time I didn't hear his laugh. I felt joy curse through my veins, igniting my heart to fire and my skin to hum as electricity flowed through them. Why had I ever stopped playing? Why had I ever stopped singing?

you've got your prophets and your mathematicians
the vocal fuel of a generation
tell me what my hands were made for
tell me who my mouth was made for
and please don't be mad at me
you'll get what you ask for
come on come on come on
come on come on come on

I felt like that verse was made for me. The prophecy had made my life become something of theirs. It fuelled their arguments against me and for me, my life itself became something everyone knew and everyone thought they deserved. My happiness was forfeit; as long as I saved them they were happy. Everyone told me what I was meant to do, what I was made for and if I ever insinuated that I didn't want to save the world or if they thought I wasn't doing it right, they'd be angry at me, but they didn't realize was that I was working towards defeating him. They didn't need to push me, but they did. They would get what they wanted in the end.

so very close to what you had expected
it makes it very hard to keep my head up level
tell me I'm what your hands were made for
tell me I'm who your mouth was made for
if you come down on me
well you'll get what you ask for

I smiled softly as I sang that verse, it was true, everyone had their expectations of me, whether it was to be a fool or to be a saviour, and I never seemed to meet them. It made it difficult to figure out who I was in the end; even now I wasn't sure who I was. Even at Hogwarts I found that people were concerned with themselves. I was their saviour, not the saviour of the Wizarding world. They could damn the rest if I saved that one person. Eventually people kept getting on my case about being the saviour and all that, it was infuriating but it did somewhat push me towards my goal.

come one come on come on
come one come on come on

I-I want to get myself back
I-I want to get myself back
all of the things that you promised me that you'd be
now your hands are tired
and all of the things that you promised me
that you'd need
now your hands are tired

I felt a tear at the edge of my eyes as I played that verse. I had wanted to be myself for so long but I had been unable to do it. It was as if I had to play the part of hero for seven years of my life before I was allowed to go back to meek, shy, 'just Harry.' The thing was that people had promised me things too; they'd promised me that they would be there for me during the war, promised to always love me, but in the end they all had useless excuses for leaving and standing by my side. It was sort of what tied the song all together though, every 'come on' was like a plea for them to not back out of their side of their promise. Every 'come on' was like a plea for them to see I was just a kid and I couldn't seriously be expected to fulfill the prophecy and 'come on' there was more than one person who needed saving, there had to be more purpose in me than just saving the Wizarding world, and lastly, 'come on' there must be more to my life than just killing another person.

come on come on come on
come on come on come on
come on come on come on
come on come on come on

I wiped a hand across my face after playing the last chord. I sniffled and sat back and watched Draco; he was breathing slowly and calmly, which would make me think that he was asleep, but I knew better. I waited for a moment before a soft snore, or what Draco called 'heavy breathing,' escaped from him. I smiled softly and very slowly got up and left the room. I put my guitar down on my bed and went downstairs to find Luna. I met up with her in the kitchen where she was making soup and I smiled at her. "Hey," I greeted cheerfully as I sat at one of the stools in the kitchen.

"Hi, so, you sang Draco to sleep?" she said casually but sent me a knowing look while saying it.

I stuck my tongue out at her, "Yeah, I went into your room and kidnapped my guitar, sue me."

She grinned as she stirred the pot, "will do, want some soup?" she asked and I nodded. She spooned a bowl for each of us and we sat and ate while we let Draco rest. Oddly, I hadn't felt this light-hearted in a while.

Later that day, after giving Draco soup and the others coming home, Carlisle came over to check on Draco. He took a blood sample and did a few other tests, but as far as he could tell, it wasn't anything normal. Severus said that he had his suspicions and would be doing tests too, but he also expressed to Carlisle the urgency of my situation. If Voldemort pushed through my wall that was meant to last a week in a day then Severus would have to resort to more drastic measures and I could end up feeling multiple attacks a day.

For safety the next day I stayed home again, but this time Hermione and Severus stayed to do research so I merely stayed in Draco's room with him as he lay there and moaned about feeling sick. I read him the article about Voldemort's death. He had been given the kiss publicly and I thought that was quite horrible, not only to publicly die but so horrifically too, but Draco was adamant that he deserved it no matter how much I tried to argue my point.

I had several attacks that day, it was terrible, I felt like I was falling apart and the only thing holding me together was Hermione and Severus holding my mind together. It made all sympathy for his public death vanish quite quickly. I played plenty of music for Draco that day; he seemed rather content for that.

After school Ron and Luna brought Edward and Alice back with them. I was happy to see them, very happy, and not just because Draco was making me sing to him like some dancing monkey but I had really missed Edward. When I saw him I practically launched myself into his arms.

"Edward," I cried cheerfully, "I am so happy to see you. I missed you," I grinned up at him from our embrace and he smiled, looking a little embarrassed, down at me.

"Come on lovebirds, let's do something fun. Unlike you Harry, we've all been working all day," Ron teased me knowing full well that being by Draco's bed side at beck and call isn't exactly fun and it is a fair amount of work.

"No fair," Draco called from upstairs, "What am I supposed to do?" he whined.

I winced, "Oh yeah, I forgot I left his door open." I muttered, "Entertain yourself," I called up to him and I could hear the huff of annoyance from down here. I smirked at Ron who grinned.

"I'll stay," Luna said rolling her eyes at us and headed upstairs.

"Suit yourself," Ron called after her and Hermione cuffed the back his head.

"I'm staying too, I need to do more research," she said and bid us goodbye.

I frowned, "Hmm, perhaps then we should just stay home? Watch a movie or something? That way Draco won't whine at us?" I asked Ron and glanced at the other two who smiled and nodded, showing their agreement.

Ron sighed over dramatically, "Fine, I'll go tell the big baby... You want to help drag him down here Alice?" Ron asked casually and she giggled and nodded, following after him.

"We'll pick a movie then," I called up to them and grabbed Edward's hand, pulling him towards our collection. Once we were by our new and vast collection I asked him what he wanted to watch. "We have all sorts of movies, comedies, horrors, action, romance, drama, a few classic musicals..." I trailed off pointing where they were.

Edward hummed as if this was a very serious decision and couldn't be made without much thought, "Well, what sort of movies do you like?" He asked sounding curious.

I smiled softly, "I really like comedies, dramas and romantic movies, I've seen enough horror and action to last me a lifetime, and of course the musicals. Those belong to Luna and I. Ron likes the action and comedies and Draco likes really dry comedies, cheesy horror movies, which I find I don't mind sometimes," I shrugged at this, "and dramas, oh and really old classic musical movies like My Fair Lady sort of deal, you know? Hermione likes dramas and romances, and Luna likes anything. Oh, and Severus likes horrors, dramas and actions, he hates romance movies though, but that's probably because they remind him of my mother."

Edward chuckled softly and kissed the side of my head, which made me blush and grin stupidly for a moment, "I mean you, not your whole family," he chuckled again and wrapped his arms around me from behind and rested his chin on my head as he looked them over, "Hmm, alright, why not something for everyone?"

"Which is?" I asked softly, swaying slightly in his arms with a smile on my lips.

He paused for a second, "This one," he finally said pulling it out and he was answered by Alice shouting yes from upstairs. I grinned at the stairs and nodded.

Once we were all settled in Edward popped in the movie and I snuggled up to his side to watch an impromptu showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Draco and Ron crowed happily and started talking about making toast and getting the water guns out. Alice just giggled and Luna bounced on her knees from a very cushioned seat exclaiming and joining Ron and Draco's discussion. Edward and I merely settled in to watch and joked and laughed with the others during the movie.

After the movie we went off in our own directions. Alice and Ron decided to play chess, both wearing smirks and I couldn't wait to see who would win. Draco lay down on the couch and Luna sat by him while the two talked. I just smiled at them; I could tell Luna loved having him all to herself and I didn't want to disrupt them. Hermione had been researching the whole time and I knew if I went to see her she would react like a lioness whose cub was in danger. It wouldn't be a pretty sight, so Edward and I retreated into the backyard, which suited us just fine.

I stuck my hands in my pockets, feeling the texture of the denim as I subtly tried to wipe the nervous sweat off my hands. Being around Edward made me feel nervous and yet calm at the same time; it excited my emotions in so many different ways I felt frayed at the ends just being around him.

I silently observed the garden for a moment, the grass was a lush green and the forest around the house shielding any curious eyes. There was a small bench on the left side of the yard that faced the rest of the yard and the trees by a small flower garden that was budding with life and I breathed a deep sigh quietly and wrapped my arms around my torso, the cold fall breeze bringing shivers to my skin.

I felt a warm arm wrap around me for a moment before it suddenly pulled away, "Oh, sorry, I suppose that won't help," Edward muttered, pulling his arm away and I looked up at him in confusion. "My skin, it's cold," he explained and gently plucked up my hand and held it.

I blinked up at him and smiled softly and wrapped my other hand around his, "Not to me," I said softly and held his arm hand. Edward looked surprised as I slowly lifted it and placed it against my cheek, leaning against it with my eyes closed, enjoying the warmth and forgetting our boundaries.

I let his hand drop slowly when I remembered that we were only mean to be friends. I smiled softly in apology and wandered over to the bench and sat down. Edward came and sat with me, his arm wrapping around my shoulders, "So, I don't feel cold?" He asked frowning.

I looked up at him and shook my head, "Not you, the others, yes, but not you... must be my magic or the fact that we're mates," I said trialing off and smiled softly after. "Does that bother you?"

Edward shook his head, his eyes wide, "Not at all, I'm just surprised," he muttered gazing down at me, his soft amber eyes swimming with life. "Harry," he said softly, "I really missed you this last day. I didn't realize I would, but I do. Harry, I know we said we'd wait and get to know each other more, but I can't stand the thought of you not being with me." Edward's eyes showing passion I'd never seen in someone for me. "Harry, please, will you do me the honour of going out with me?" he asked his eyes sincere and I smiled softly, my heart feeling as if it couldn't contain its joy.

I nodded quickly and Edward hugged me close then; he buried his nose in the junction between my shoulder and neck. He sniffed the spot there and I smiled, feeling his lips pressed again the skin there for only a moment. I pulled my arms tighter around him and I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of right from the action. I turned my head and kissed his cheek softly and closed my eyes, feeling calming warmth cursing through my bones.