With Darkness as our Blanket

- by BiSciFiGuy -

Pairing: Harry P. & Draco M.

Genre: Drama/Romance

Rating: M (Violence, Gay themes and Explicit Language)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or character histories or places or anything except my own plot. No copyright infringement is intended. I am not responsible for any underage readers who may come across this story.

A/N: Hugs and Smiles at "Funnyducky" for inspiring me to continue with this story and a special thanks for the lovely review ;-)

Chapter 8 : The night Before

It had taken them two days to get all the things sorted for the bonding ceremony and had been up the entire Thursday night and well after the sunrise on Friday morning, which resulted in them all going to bed as ten in the morning.

Harry woke up just before dusk. He groaned as he realised that his sleep routine was most probably screwed up for the next few weeks and this just as he got used to actually sleeping at night. He reached over to the other side of the bed and felt nothing but cold sheets. He pulled himself upright and cast a tempus spell. It was almost six. He pulled himself up on one arm slowly and reached for the vial of potion in his bedside cabinet and quickly swallowed two drops. His symptoms were right on track and he couldn't dare to skip one dosage. He got up and noticed a folded piece of paper on Draco's pillow. He smiled as he read the words that were written in neat handwriting on the lined page.

'Harry

So, since it's bad luck for the Groom to see the Bride –don't tell Draco I called him that, He'll murder me in my sleep –before the wedding I have taken him shopping and we are going to spend the night at a hotel. We will be back in the morning but don't expect us too early. Try not to get too worked up before then, everything will go fine. Seamus is going to stay with you to keep you sane.

Love

Ginny'

Harry almost laughed as he imagined Draco walking down a big church isle dressed in a huge flowing wedding gown complete with veil, high heals and bouquet as he walked down the hallway to find Seamus. He stopped in the kitchen to make some coffee and found Seamus conveniently passed out on the couch. As Harry placed the cups of coffee on the table he noticed vial that looked frighteningly familiar on the floor next to the couch. He gently shook Seamus and his friend awoke with a loud groan.

"Come on, jus' a few more minutes".

"What will Ginny think when she find out you were sleeping on the job when you were supposed to keep me calm on the night before I get married?" Harry said and Seamus' eyes fluttered open.

"I don't care what she says, that woman wears me out". He moaned as he carefully reached for his coffee, he kicked the vial and it went rolling under the table. He stared after it for a moment.

"Seamus, what is the potion for?" Harry asked tentatively, fearing that Seamus was going to tell him that he had the Creep too. Seamus looked at the window and a blush brightened his cheeks before he looked back at Harry.

"Its for my penis". He mumbled and they both sat in silence for several seconds before their laughter erupted into the room.

"Merlin, that is probably the strangest thing I've ever said".

After finally getting themselves under control a thought suddenly struck Harry.

"Do you think it was a good idea letting Draco and Ginny go out into the muggle world, after all they don't have much experience living with muggles".

"Well, I've been trying really hard with Ginny and she's pretty well adapted… and she told me that she needed to be independent and I shouldn't always protect her".

"Oh, do you think she's adapted enough to keep Draco safe?" Seamus laughed lightly and leaned forward to pat Harry's shoulder.

"Relax, I'm sure they'll be fine. I told her to watch him when they go out". Seamus and Ginny had been terrified when Harry had recounted the story of Draco and the woman in the black car. Harry was thankful that his friend remembered and that he took an interest in helping Draco. Harry knew that Draco would need people like Seamus and Ginny when Harry died. Secretly Harry was still apprehensive about the thought of marrying Draco, even though he could hardly imagine not living his final twelve days bonded with someone as wonderful as Draco.

"You know what Harry, you haven't even had a bachelor party". Seamus had suddenly jumped to his feet and was pacing in front of the couch.

"Seamus, how am I going to have a bachelor party when I only know two men, and one of them is the bride". Seamus burst out laughing at the statement.

"Merlin, Draco is not going to like that".

"Well no one is going to tell him".

"I might". Seamus cocked and eyebrow at Harry and smiled.

"Now, I hear Draco tells me you vanish somewhere every once in a while". Harry tensed, the smile fading from his lips as he wondered how much Draco actually knew.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Go there for about an hour, I'm just going to try and figure out something to do tonight but I don't want you near me. You'll spoil my creative brain waves". Harry nodded and Seamus pulled off his shirt and tossed it on the couch before marching towards the bathroom, undoing his belt as he went.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked curiously, leaning his head into the hallway to stare at his friend.

"I'm going to take a shower". Seamus said as he stopped beside the bathroom door and dropped his pants, leaving him in his underwear in the hallway. Harry couldn't help but notice his friend's rippling muscles beneath his skin.

"Why?"

"Because I think better when I'm wet". Harry frowned at the statement but continued to stare as his friends almost naked body.

"You are getting married tomorrow Harry, so stop staring at me". Seamus proclaimed from the end of the hall and Harry started.

"Yeah, I'm getting married but I'm not killing my sex drive in the process. And besides I'm just human, I can look at someone hot if I want". Seamus sputtered for a moment but Harry had reached the fireplace before he could form words and with an explosion of green flames Harry was gone.

***

He stepped out onto the walkway again, it was the first time in a long time that he came to visit Hermione at such a late hour and he was stuck by how lonely "The Meadow" felt. He'd been there so many times since the attack that he knew everyone and everyone knew him. He walked quietly down the stone pathway until he found Hermione. He silently lowered himself beside her.

"It's a bit colder than usual tonight isn't it?".

"A bit but at least you came to visit". They were silent for several minutes, Harry felt content just being in her company and simply took in the night air. In the distance thunder rumbled and he could see lightning flashes above the mountains in the distance.

"Draco and I are officially getting married tomorrow".

"If its between two magical people its called bonding Harry".

"Yeah whatever".

"Don't you use that tone with me Harry Potter. It's important to get things right when you talk about them or else you sound like an idiot". Harry couldn't help but smile, after all the years Hermione was still lecturing him, but he supposed that if she hadn't done that for so many years then he probably would never have passed school or survived all the battles with Voldemort. He looked up and noticed the big bunch of flowers.

"Those are nice, who brought them?" He asked as he stared at the dozen yellow flowers.

"Oh, Ginny brought them a few hours ago". Harry had had no idea that Ginny had been to visit Hermione but he supposed that it was her business, she had no obligation to tell him that she'd visited even if he felt intruded upon. He had so long been the only one to visit Hermione that it felt almost like a betrayal but she shook his head and cleared away the thoughts.

"When is the ceremony?"

"Tomorrow at noon, apparently it has to be either midday or midnight, something about the bonder's power being greatest at these hours".

"Yes, presiding over a bonding is a special honour bestowed on a Wizard or Witch, and they need strong magic to bond two people together. Its because of some spell the Merlin created to equal the power that the church had over muggles".

"Do you think I'm doing the wrong thing, by marrying Draco even though I only have twelve days left?" Harry asked, changing the subject.

"I think you should still tell him, like I've been saying all along. But if this makes you happy Harry then I can't tell you what to do. I love you and I will never make you do something against your will". Harry smiled down at her and explained that they were going to have the Headmistress start their pregnancy trials right after the ceremony. They had originally wanted to do it before the ceremony but the law was strict that their semen could only be taken after they were bonded or it would be an illegal surrogacy. He also explained his apprehension about leaving Draco with a child but as always Hermione placated his fears.

"Well, I have to be off now, Seamus is planning something".

"A bachelor party probably".

"Yeah, but its just me and him". And with a slight wave Harry was off down the path again.

***

When Harry arrived home again Seamus was waiting for him on the couch, his friend was wearing a large coat that hung down past his knees but Harry didn't get a chance to comment on this..

"You're fifteen minutes late".

"I know, I got caught up".

"Doing what?"

"Just being out there". Harry pursed his lips slightly and hoped that Seamus would just let it go and being the friend that he was he thankfully did.

"What are you planning for me?" Harry asked and Seamus' face lit up immediately.

"I couldn't do much but thanks to a friend of mine from the "Prophet" I got us into one of the most exclusive Wizarding clubs if the world". Harry cocked an eyebrow.

"Seamus, I'm getting married, I can't go to a club".

"What happened to being human and being allowed to look at something attractive?" Harry couldn't argue with his own words and nodded. He also noticed how Seamus had stuck out his chest when he remembered Harry's words from that morning, clearly Seamus was the type of straight guy who was flattered when a gay man complemented him.

"I called and told Ginny where we are going, she's not really impressed with me but considering that they're in a club too she couldn't really tell me we couldn't go. Although I think she's more pissed that I got us into "The Red Serpent" while she had to settle for "Foxy". But that's the perks of being me". He smiled and grabbed Harry's arm, pulling him down the hall to the bedroom and told him to get dressed.

"What should I wear, I don't even know where we're going".

"Oh yeah, put on something like this". Seamus unbuttoned the coat and revealed he was wearing leather pants and an unbuttoned black shirt. A tiny golden chair hung from his neck and glittered in the bedroom light.

"What the hell are you wearing?" Harry asked, staring at the pants again.

"Leather what else, do you have something or should I give you a pair of my trousers?" Harry looked into his closet and found only sweatpants, jeans and shirts. He did however own a black leather sleeveless jacket. He asked Seamus for pants and proceeded to put on a black t-shirt and the jacket over it. Seamus appeared a second later and after Harry had pulled on the pants –that were about two sizes to big –he stood checking out Harry's outfit.

"Yeah, lose the shirt". He demanded and Harry had no other choice but to obey. As he pulled the jacket on again he heard Seamus mumble something and he felt something constrict around his package and his legs. He looked down and then into the mirror and saw the leather pulling tight around his body until it was almost like a second skin. The tightness of the pants seemed to push in all the right places and made the bulge in between his legs look twice the size it usually was.

"What the hell are you dong?"

"You can't go to one of the hottest gay wizard clubs in the world looking like an old married man, this is your last night of freedom and the men should be lusting after you". Harry just stared at his friend for a moment before looking back at the pants and he had to admit he liked the way his cock felt nestled beneath the leather and outlined very clearly behind the blackness. They walked to the living room and each grabbed a handful of Floo powder.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked as they stepped into the fireplace.

"Madagascar" Seamus yelled and Harry echoed it a second later before they both travelled thousands of kilometres in second.

***

The Red Serpent was not what Harry had expected it to be, but then of course he hadn't really expected the club to be on Madagascar either. They stepped out of an old fire place in a dusty little room filled with shovels, picks and rakes, a room Harry correctly assumed to be a small tool shed. He looked around at the various pieces of equipment before casting a curious eye at Seamus.

"Yeah I know, the place isn't as shady as it seems. Come on". He took Harry by the hand and they stepped out onto a never ending muddy field. Harry gasped as he stared out at the rolling farmland. Tall trees stretched for what seemed like kilometres in every direction. Harry took a moment to recognise the plant and when he did he clutched at Seamus' arm.

"Seamus, are those what I think they are?" He asked.

"Yes they are Harry, that's another reason why I brought you here". Harry almost drooled as he took in the endless fields of coffee trees with their bright red coffee beans shining in the moonlight. He'd always dreamed of seeing something like that and he felt content. Seamus left him to take in the source of his greatest addiction for a moment before he pulled at Harry and motioned to a big boulder in the middle of the field.

They stood facing it for a moment while Harry watched Seamus tap it three times with his wand and a door opened in the rock. From the inside loud music erupted over the field and a bright light shot out into the darkness. Harry started at the sight and tumbled back, his wand drawn an instant later to ward of any enemy but none ever came. Instead there stood an old wizard in the opening, he was staring at Harry through thick glasses that seemed to crush his nose beneath their weight.

"Are you Seamus Finnigan?" He asked and the Irishman nodded.

"Come on in then, but keep a leash on that friend of yours I don't want him causing any trouble". And with that the old man was gone. It took Seamus a few minutes to calm Harry down but eventually they made their way down a winding staircase that slithered deep underground beneath the boulder.

At the end of the stairway they found a big sealed door that opened up into the noisy club. Harry had expected the club to be somewhat vintage, like most of the things in Wizarding society was, but instead the club was modern, with flickering disco and strobe lights and a DJ managing a booth that pumped out loud, modern dance music from both the muggle and wizard worlds. As they walked to the bar Harry heard the familiar song that he used as a ring tone on his cellular phone. The woman's strong voice filled the room as she begged for a ride, the song sent the patrons in the club into a frenzied grinding session that got Harry aroused despite himself. Seamus laughed and greeted several men as they made their way to the silver bar. Seamus seemed to know everyone and Harry commented on this curious development.

"I worked here for almost eight weeks about two years ago while I was writing a story on the changing wizarding world". Harry nodded slowly and accepted the drink Seamus handed him along with a shot of tequila that burned his throat as he sat down at the bar.

"What are you doing Harry, we're not here to sit around. I brought you here for a wild night".

"Seamus, I'm getting married tomorrow. I can't have wild nights anymore".

Seamus was persistent however and an hour and an unknown quantity of alcohol later he and Harry were on their way to the dance floor. Seamus was leading the way, pulling Harry after him. In the centre of the floor they stopped and Seamus grabbed him by the waist. Harry gasped as he felt the strange sensation of Seamus' body against his own but was soon lost in the grinding movements around him and the almost uncontrollable movements his body made as the music assaulted his senses.

He knew that his friend was straight, he was marrying Ginny after all but it still felt strange for him to be dancing against the strong Irishman. His leg trust between Seamus' as they danced. And Harry moved his body against this friend, making as much contact with him as possible. As he looked around he noticed that Seamus had been right, the other men in the club were following his every move and he was thankful that Seamus was the one with him.

"Harry Potter, is that you?" Harry heard the voice proclaim from behind him and he immediately went rigid. It was such a familiar sound but he wished he had imagined it. Seamus had clearly recognised the voice too and he clutched Harry tightly. Someone tapped Harry on the shoulder and he couldn't keep from turning around any longer. He took Seamus' hand as he turned and stared into the once familiar face. She'd cut her long black hair to shoulder length since the last time he had seen her and she had gained a few pounds. He saw her eyes flicker down to the hand he was holding and a wicked smile spread across her face.

"And who is your date tonight Harry?" She asked as she cleanly sidestepped around him to face Seamus. Harry felt his heart sink as he realised what this meeting meant.

"Oh, Finnigan". She sounded shocked as she again lowered her gaze between the two men to stare at their entwined hands. Harry tried to pull his hand away but Seamus held it firm as he stared at the dark haired woman.

"Hello Cho, it's been a long time". Seamus' voice was sharp enough to cut through the thick atmosphere that had developed between the three of them from the moment she had spoken. She smiled falsely and turned back to Harry.

"Welcome back to the wizard world Harry, you've been gone for a long time. Wont you come to my table to meet some of my friends". Harry felt the urge to run away but instead nodded and followed as she led the way to her table. Seamus suddenly came to a stop just before they stepped of the dance floor and Harry turned to him.

"Harry lets go".

"Why I don't want to be rude, no matter what she did".

"You should be rude tonight, look who her friend is". Harry turned and followed Cho's bobbing head as she made her way to a table where a thin blonde woman sat, the ever present parchment and the green quill laying on the table in front of her.

"Is that?". He asked.

"Yes, it's Rita Skeeter. Let's go". Seamus pulled him again and Harry followed, feeling the familiar flame of hatred bubbling up in his chest as he remembered what Cho and Rita had done.

It had been in the middle of fifth year that Cho had returned from holiday a changed woman. When her friends had met her in on the train they had noticed that she wore the same lost, empty expression she'd worn right after Cedric's death. On the first day back she had marched into the great hall, storming straight at Harry and tossing a small brown diary on the table in front of him.

"Is this true?". She'd asked, placing her hands on her hips and staring him down.

"Is what true?". Harry had asked, he had in fact recognised the book the moment it came into view and he'd shivered at what he knew Cho had discovered.

"Don't play dumb you little bastard. What Cedric wrote in his diary, is it fucking true". Her voice had raised in pitch and most of the students in the hall were staring at them.

"Cho, please, lets not do this here?" He'd hated the pleading, whining sound that his voice made as he secretly prayed she wouldn't say anything.

"Yes, right here. I want to know if it's true". Ron and Hermione had stared at him, Ron's eyes were questioning but Hermione's were wide with fear. She had been the only one beside Harry, Cedric and Cedric's best friend who'd known what had happened and now that Cho knew there was no chance of keeping it secret anymore. Harry had simply nodded and watched as Cho's face almost fell apart right before his eyes. She'd burst into tears and had run off with the book in her hand with a loud proclamation:

"You are going to pay for this you bastard". Harry had sighed and left the room, not willing to face the rest of the school and had retreated to his bedroom.

The next day the school had been a blazing inferno of rumours, rumours that were brought to light thanks to a certain reporter for a certain newspaper. Harry had sighed as he sat down at the breakfast table amidst stares from all the other students in the room along with a stare so filled with hatred from Cho that Harry feared the skin might melt of his face at any moment. Hermione turned to him and he took The Prophet from her.

"The boy loved another boy". The headline proclaimed o the world along with a smaller caption beneath it that read:

"Reports that Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, is gay leaves Wizarding world in shock". Harry groaned as he began to read the article and it became clear that it had been Cho who had informed Rita Skeeter of what Cedric had written in his diary. In his mind Harry started composing responses to the many questions he knew people were going to ask and had finally decided he'd just tell the truth. He imagined himself standing on a tiny podium in front of the school holding his first press conference since the death of Voldemort was announced. He imagined the reporters and student's staring up at him, waiting for him to make his peach. He imagined himself taking a deem breath and simply saying it:

"Yes, During my fourth year as a student at Hogwarts School, just a week before the commencement of the second task in the Tri Wizard tournament I started a relationship with Cedric Diggory, a fellow student at the school and my opponent in the tournament…".

He'd never imagined any more since the last line in the article had caught his eye.

"This reporter was promised undeniable proof to confirm these rumours but sadly, my unnamed source seems to have either lost the evidence or has had second thoughts". And with that the article had ended, there was no follow up the next day or the next week and eventually the story died.

In her attempt to destroy Harry for sleeping with her boyfriend, Cho had inadvertently opened up a whole new world for Harry to discover. This new world came in the form of a letter from Draco Malfoy that asked Harry to meet him in moaning Murtle's bathroom at midnight. Alone.

Harry had gone, expecting a fight or at least an argument but instead found Draco standing in the middle of the room, holding out the tiny brown diary that had been in Cho's possession only a few weeks before.

"Here, take it". Draco had said and Harry had cautiously done as instructedt.

"What do you want Malfoy?"

"Nothing, whatever is in there is private between you and Cedric, the world doesn't need to know". Draco quickly explained how her had snuck into Cho's dorm room and had stolen the diary from beneath her bed.

"Have you read it?" Harry asked.

"No, like I said. It's private between the two of you". Draco had lowered his head and started heading to the door.

"Why are you doing this Draco". Harry had been shocked that he'd actually used Malfoy's first name but it had suddenly felt right. Draco had turned to him and somehow they ended up really close together.

"Because I know how it feels to hide a secret that the world can never know". A million thought had run through Harry's mind in that moment and he'd made the split second decision to close the distance between them and placed his lips gently against Draco's. Immediately he knew it felt right, it was right. That was what he wanted.

And thus had started a month of perfect bliss and happiness, all in secret of course, well mostly secret since Hermione and Pansy knew. All thanks to Cho and her silly little story.

Harry groaned again as Seamus dragged him back to the bar.

"You know what this means right?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, Rita and Cho are finally going to out you in front of the whole world". Both men slumped against the bar.

"That's fine, I don't care about keeping it secret anymore, it's just that they think you are my boyfriend". Seamus shrugged his shoulders.

"It doesn't matter, at least it will keep the heat off you and Draco until after everything with the bonding and the baby is over". Harry couldn't help but hug his friend.

"I think we should go home now, don't you?" Seamus said as they saw Rita and Cho start to patrol the dance floor like a couple of hungry sharks out for their next meal. Before Harry could reply however the old man appeared at their side.

"Finnigan, there is a fire call for you form a lady called Ginny, you can take it in my office".

"Thank you Geltienne". Seamus said and he and Harry followed the old man through a door behind the bar that led to a tiny office furnished with a big metallic desk and an old grey couch. The fireplace was settles in the rear corner and they saw Ginny's face in the flames as they approached.

"Hey Ginny, what's up?" Seamus asked.

"Seamus, is Harry there?" Ginny's voice was high and panicked.

"Yeah Ginny, I'm here. What's wrong?" Harry asked, his own voice rising.

"Draco and I are at St Mungo's. I think you had better come quickly".

A/N: Almost done! Just a few more Chapters to go.