Title: Run

Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling and associates own these characters. I am writing this story for fun and not profit.

Pairings: Harry/Draco

Rating: Teen

Words: appx. 10,500 (much longer than the others)

Warnings: Mild angst, AU, OOC, character bashing, Manipulative!Dumbledore, Jealous!Ron, Misguided!Hermione - that said, while I do feel that Dumbledore was manipulative, I don't truly think he was as bad as he is portrayed in this one-shot, nor do I think Harry would necessarily react this way. But this is the story that came out when I listened to the song, so that's what you get.

Summary: There comes a time when the only thing you can do, is to cut the ties binding you to a life you never wanted...

Author's Notes: The next in a series of song-based ficlets/vignettes/one-shots. Based on Run by Snow Patrol.


Run

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, you are hereby sentenced to exile from the British Wizarding Community; you are stripped of all British Wizarding titles, and in compensation for crimes against the British Wizarding Community, you are stripped of your Gringotts Family Vault, the primary residence of Malfoy Manor..." Dumbledore's voice rang out over the silent courtroom, droning on triumphantly, obviously thinking he'd found a plausible way to finally separate Draco and his boy hero. But Draco didn't hear the rest of the words, nor did he register the outraged cries from his family or the bright, fiery gaze of said hero as he stared Dumbledore down, promising him a world of pain for this ruling.

The word 'exile' rang through his ears, ringing through it viciously, tearing at his insides like an angry snake, pouring its poison into an already seeping wound. He didn't care about the titles, or the vault or the manor after that abomination of life had made it his centre He'd gladly give up all of his wealth as well; no, it was the fact that in three days time he'd be separated from the only person who had believed in him and the only one he'd ever loved outside of his family.

It wasn't fair. He'd done everything they'd wanted and he was cast aside as rubbish now that they'd won the war. He really shouldn't have been surprised, as he'd never trusted Dumbledore as Harry had, but it was still a knife to the heart. After lowering his wand on the Astronomy Tower, he had taken Dumbledore's offer of sanctuary for he and his mother; his father he hadn't cared about, as it had been due to his fanaticism that Draco had been marked in the first place.

Dumbledore had promised him safety, and while he had remained doubtful at first, he'd slowly come to trust in Harry's words that he'd never allow anything happen to him once everything was over.

He didn't blame Harry for this, however; he knew this smacked of Dumbledore's machinations, along with his little minions, the Weasel and Know-It-All. They hadn't been happy with how close Draco and Harry had gotten during the last year of the war, especially when Harry seemed to come to him for advice above the three of them; of course, they would neutralize what they saw as a threat. One couldn't ride the coattails of the Saviour if said Saviour ignored them in favour of a Death Eater's son.

He was surprised that they had managed to wait this long before removing him from the picture, if he were to be completely honest; but he supposed if they had moved sooner, they would have had an infuriated, recalcitrant hero on their hands and they didn't want the obvious questions that would have been asked about Harry's attitude change. It had been a far wiser to keep the one who was slated to save their collective arses happy until he'd gotten the job done and his happiness was no longer necessary to world survival. It was sickening really.

Lifting his head, he met Dumbledore's eyes and sneered at the mad twinkle in his calculating eyes, obviously pleased that he had gotten the last word. Laugh while you can, old man; I have a feeling that you'll get your just due sooner than you think. I'll have the last laugh in the end. You may think you have broken me, but I will come back to haunt you when you least expect it.

Turning away, he sneered at the Weasel's smug smile, but was surprised when he met worried brown eyes as they flicked between a fuming green-eyed brunet and Dumbledore; well, at least there was an ounce of intelligence in one of them. It seemed that Granger finally realized that this was going to seriously backfire. Arching a perfectly sculpted brow, he smirked when the brunette flushed and turned away in shame, making him feel just the tiniest flash of triumph.

Nodding to the Wizengamot, he ignored their invitation to speak on their decree and walked out of the chamber without a word, his head held high, not about to give them the satisfaction of seeing a broken and humiliated Malfoy. They may have stripped him of his birthright, but he still had his family name and their blood still ran through his veins; he would do them proud once more.

He would not be defeated.

"Draco!" a voice called, making he and his mother turn, finding a flushed, irate Harry Potter striding after them. "I'm so sorry, Draco, Madame Malfoy. I had no idea that they were going to do that. I swear, I will fight this injustice. I'll take them all down if I have to. I won't rest until..."

"Harry, Harry," Draco interrupted, garnering the rambling brunet's attention as he grabbed his hand and entwined their fingers. Waiting until Harry quieted, he drew a shaky breath and continued. "I know you had nothing to do with that miscarriage of justice. You are far too Gryffindor for that kind of disloyalty and lack of noblesse. But I don't want you to do anything. You still have to live here and I honestly want nothing to do with a community that can break their promises without so much as blinking. It's better for Mother and I if we just set up residence in France."

"You don't want to stay with me?" Harry whispered, a faint touch of hurt colouring his tone as he snapped back as if he'd been slapped.

"No, that's not it," Draco sighed, bringing the brunet close enough to embrace, but only retained a grasp on his hands, ever mindful of the prying eyes around them. "Of course, I want to stay with you, you stupid Gryffindor; but I also don't want to remain under Dumbledore's thumb. I don't trust him with either mine or my mother's life. He has already proven himself false once; I will not allow him any more power over my loved ones and myself."

As Harry stared at him, Draco sighed and hoped he was getting through to the fiery brunet. The last thing he wanted was Harry placing himself in danger by setting himself up as his defender. He wouldn't put it past Dumbledore to 'do away' with a tool that was no longer useful. Harry's eyes averted, then hardened as they lit on something behind Draco. Turning his head, he caught sight of the Weasel and the Know-It-All standing in the shadows, watching his and Harry's interactions intently, likely spying for the old fool.

"I have to go," Harry bit out tightly as he glared at the two little spies, his gaze and tone softening as he turned back to Draco. "I have something to take care of, but then I'll be at the manor later to help you."

"Harry, you don't have..." Draco began, but was silenced by Harry's determined smile.

"I'll be there at seven, yeah?" he said, the fire in his eyes blazing as they latched onto his friends once more and Draco really didn't want to be in their shoes when Mt. Harry erupted. Not that they didn't deserve his wrath; he almost wished he could be a fly on the wall during that confrontation, but he only had three days and there was a lot to do.

"Okay," he nodded and watched Harry storm off, blowing off his friends as he made his way back into the courtroom, and he couldn't help but smirk when the Weasel frowned. Ah, poetic justice. Turning around, he offered his arm to his mother and led her to the apparation point, his head set regally, as if he hadn't a care in the world and his mind already filled with all he needed to see to before departure.


Harry took a deep breath and met those gorgeous eyes that had always evoked a response in him, even when they had been rivals, rage swirling in his gut at what had just taken place; Draco had always touched something inside him, and now faced with his forced departure, he could barely meet that angry, but resigned gaze. When he had heard the judgement passed down, he'd been livid, and barely held himself together when he met the meddlesome fool's twinkling eyes, trying yet again to pass himself harmless, sympathetic grandfather figure, but Harry wasn't buying. His life had been one big chess match in that interfering old coot's hands and he was a pawn no longer.

Brushing his hand over Draco's, he promised see him later in the evening to help him with the task of packing up an entire manor in three days, a daunting prospect even with magic; and then set his mind forward to the coming necessary confrontations. No way in hell were they going to get away with railroading Draco and his mother after everything they had done for the cause, and everything they had been through at the hands of that madman and the wizarding community.

Smiling tightly at Draco and his mother, he bade them goodbye and stalked off, brushing past a spluttering Ron and Hermione without a word, shaking off the grasping hands as if he were batting away a gnat. He'd deal with them later; for now, he had much bigger fish to fry...namely one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Whatever-the-Fuck-Else-Name-He-Went-By Dumbledore. He wasn't going to stand for this miscarriage of justice. And even if he couldn't change the ruling, they would damn well know what he thought of Dumbledore's machinations.

Smiling grimly as he stepped into the cool, dark chamber, his eyes only for the doddering fool that held the entire British Wizarding Community in his sway, joke that it was, and studied him and the Wizengamot critically. They were so corrupt it sickened him. Striding to the centre of the floor, he stood there seething quietly, waiting until the chattering died down and all eyes were on him, including Dumbledore.

"Harry, my boy," Dumbledore greeted, as if they were taking fucking tea, and he hadn't just screwed over a boy he had sworn to protect. Well, they'd see about that.

"I am not your boy, Dumbledore," Harry spat, ignoring the gasps of surprise and dismay that echoed through the gallery, all broken up by the occasional titter. "Not any longer."

"Harry!" Hermione gasped as she came up to his side, horrified that he would speak so virulently and disrespectfully to the Leader of the Light.

"Shut up," he warned dangerously, his eyes spitting fire as he rounded on the girl. "I'll deal with you later, so don't think that you're getting off easy."

"Harry, mate," Ron protested, snapping his mouth shut and swallowing harshly when eyes the exact shade of an Avada Kedavra glowered heatedly at him.

"I said, I'll deal with you later," Harry promised tightly, his tone making it evident that it wouldn't be a pleasant conversation. "As I said, I am not your boy, Dumbledore, and I never will be again. I've done your dirty work for the last time."

"Harry, I don't understand..." Dumbledore replied, trying to play to his sympathy, but he had none for this meddlesome man.

"I don't want your excuses, old man," he spat contemptuously. "You promised to protect him and this is the mercy you show? I have no use for people who can so easily go back on their word without even flinching. I want everyone here to stand witness to what I'm about to say, so that there will be no misinterpretation of my words and intentions."

Harry pulled off a medallion that hung around his neck, charmed with a golden phoenix, which dangled from the now broken chain and tossed it to the floor, waving his wand in an intricate design as he intoned implacably.

"I, Harry James Potter, of House Potter, do hereby resign from the organization known as the Order of the Phoenix. I refute all ties to the order, its members, and further more, I rescind all ties to its leader, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Henceforth, I do not acknowledge any person associated with this group, nor do I acknowledge any that follow its lead."

Harry snapped his wrist, flicking his wand into a sharp slashing movement, as if cutting through something, and the tie between his magic and the Order audibly snapped, breaking in a shower of golden sparks that left several people clutching at their own pendants as the magic back-lashed. Tucking his wand away, he ripped off the Order of Merlin he'd received just hours earlier, feeling tainted at being heralded as a hero when the true heroes were being shunned, and sneered at the medal, tossing it carelessly to the floor next to the melted pendant.

"Harry..." Dumbledore tried again, his voice soft and appropriately remorseful, but Harry knew him well enough to see through the act, down to the hard glint of cold intelligence and calculation that glimmered in those eyes as he cut him off with a feral smirk.

"I am not done, old man," he sneered, levelling hard green eyes, fairly crackling with rage and power onto Dumbledore and his associates, making their faces pale and bodies to quell under the heat of his contempt. "Not by a long shot. In fact, you could say, I've only just begun."

Meeting the cool blue eyes of his former mentor as he spoke the next words, he felt a flash of vindication when the rest of the colour drained from Dumbledore's face, fear and horror replacing the triumph and calculation in his gaze; and Harry could tell that Dumbledore had finally realized he'd just made an egregious error.

Never piss off the Hero of the piece. It only ends in your detriment.

... ... ...

Harry stepped out of the doors with a smug grin, feeling as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders and took a deep, cleansing breath; his first as a man free of all forced entanglements. Striding forward, his mind flew to the tasks he needed to see to, in order to set certain plans in motion – the first being a visit to Gringotts. He wanted his properties and inheritance squared away and safe-guarded from pilfering fingers.

"Harry, mate, wait up," Ron called, as he and Hermione spilled out the chamber doors behind him, forcing Harry to turn with a sigh. Levelling an icy glare onto the person he knew had been pivotal in Draco's conviction, he arched a brow and impatiently tapped his foot, waiting to see what drivel would fall from the red-head's lips this time. "Why did you do that?"

"If you have to ask, it just proves that you never knew me at all," Harry spat, rolling his eyes disparagingly at the nerve of this man. Honestly, it wasn't rocket science, to borrow an American muggle term.

"What?" Ron spluttered, obviously taken aback at Harry's vitriol and glanced around nervously, making Harry quickly scan the area, and noting they had drawn a crowd, he smirked, deciding to use this to his advantage. "Are you insane? Of course, I know you, mate."

"No, you don't," Harry stated implacably, laughing internally when he saw the reporters eating the confrontation up, obviously dying for a scrap of news since they'd been banned from the courtroom. A move that made sense now; he was sure Dumbledore hadn't wanted certain details leaked to the public. Too bad for him. "In fact, I'd say I was seeing clearly for the first time."

Ron backed up when Harry's eyes flashed dangerously and he continued angrily, ignoring the gaping mouths and snorts around him. "You are no mate of mine. And I do not associate with oathbreakers, or their ilk. Take that back to your master."

Turning on his heel, he ignored the whispers and questions swirling around him, feeling he had given them enough to chew on for the day. It had hurt to give up his foster family, but if they continued to religiously follow a man that was just as power-hungry and manipulative as Voldemort, then he wanted nothing to do with them. He didn't trust anyone that mindlessly pledged their allegiance to someone who felt none for those he swore to protect.

"But Harry..." Hermione protested as she followed him, appearing uncertain as to what just happened; she'd likely only wanted to protect him from Malfoy's influence, and had no idea it would spin this out of control.

"That includes you," Harry replied, his eyes hardening as they danced between his former friends. "Don't think for a minute that I am not aware of your part in this travesty. I thought better of you."

Ignoring their gaping mouths and flushed cheeks, he walked away, an evil, little smile crossing his lips as he glanced to the right and spied a familiar face in the crowd. Perfect. He knew that Dumbledore would try to hush up the day's events as much as possible or put his own spin on it, and he wasn't going to allow that. It was time that the people were aware of their precious headmaster's machinations.

"Rita, just the person I wanted to see; have I got a story for you."


Draco studied the room quietly, a sense of peace filling him as he viewed the cool blue and cream tones; his room had long been a sanctuary, a place he could escape to when things got rough, especially after that madman his father supported had infiltrated the manor and taken up residence. The wards only responded to him, and who he keyed into them, keeping the rest of the world at bay. A fact that his Aunt Bella had loathed, leaving the witch pouting for days when he foiled her traps and made it to the sanctity of his room intact.

Not that they had been all that difficult to elude; Bellatrix had long gone insane and couldn't ward an area to save her life. There was a reason she'd been the Dark Lord's pet torturer – she hadn't been much good for anything else.

It saddened him that he was going to have to leave this behind; even with all his furniture and his personal items coming with him, his new room wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't have years of memories built into the walls as this room did. Although, perhaps that was a positive thing now that he considered it; some of his memories were far from pleasant. But there was nothing to be done about it.

At least he was able to take his personal belongings, which were far more than the Ministry would ever guess. The Malfoys had never trusted any one establishment with a full, detailed report of their wealth, as individuals and firms could be easily bought and controlled. They had made sure to diversify their holdings, leaving much of it out of the country and uncatalogued within the confines of the Ministry for this very reason – if they had to leave suddenly, they could without concern.

So, he and his mother were actually a lot better off than the token nest egg the Ministry had provided 'in good faith' from their own Gringotts account. They may have seized the rest and the manor, but they truly had no idea that those were but a pittance of his total inheritance. Much of it was safely tucked away, in countries that held no ties to the British Wizarding Community or was held in-house, in a secret vault in the manor itself. And he had cleaned that out, sending its ample wealth to the vault in their château in Nice.

He honestly wished he'd be around to see the stunned faces of the Ministry lackeys when they finally cracked the wards and jinxes on the vault, only to find that there was nothing but crumbling tomes, rickety furniture and a very small mound of galleons (thanks to the oh-so-generous nest egg the Ministry had awarded them from their own bloody vault) that lie under an elaborate glamour And then, it would be too late, as Draco and his mother would be laughing their arses off, safely tucked away in Nice and out of those greedy bastards' hands.

Stupid, his ancestors were not.

Sighing, he turned to his personal elf, Missy, and was about to give her additional instructions on the packing they were doing, when another elf popped into his room.

"Mr. Harry Potter is being in the salon, Master Malfoy," it squeaked, and Draco tried to remember its name, but failed, as he'd never paid much attention to the house elves outside Missy, who had been assigned to him since birth.

"Bring him up here then" he ordered, waving the elf off on its task and turned to Missy, pointing to his winter wardrobe. "Pack everything in that wardrobe into those two trunks, please, Missy And then you can work on the fall wardrobe and pack its contents into the last two. Then shrink them and pop them over to the château."

"Really, Draco, I knew you were a clothes horse, but separate wardrobes for each season?" Harry quipped as he leaned against the door jamb, his eyes glittering with humour; a marked difference from his earlier demeanour "Isn't that a bit much?"

"Not all of us live in denims and t-shirts," he sneered playfully, even as he admired the way the raven filled out said denims and t-shirt. Walking over to him, Draco brushed a soft kiss against those laughing lips and sighed, pulling the shorter boy close and resting his head against his brow. "You seem to be in a better mood; everything okay?"

"I'm fine," Harry assured, placing a chaste kiss on the corner of Draco's mouth, sighing quietly. "I just needed to take care of a few things before I came over. But let's not talk about it just now, yeah? I came over to spend some time with you and I'd rather not rehash unpleasant scenes no matter how necessary."

"But..." Draco protested, closing his mouth when Harry shook his head with a firm smile; he knew that when Harry set his mind on something, he could be a stubborn prat about it, and no amount of cajoling could move him. "Well then, Mr. Potter, here I am. What do you intend to do with me?"

Draco smirked when Harry's eyes immediately darkened with lust at his husky tone, his typically bright, emerald eyes shading into a deep forest as he pressed Draco into the wall, making his breath hitch. Draco had always loved when Harry got like this, even when they were fighting as schoolboys. All that barely leashed power directed at him made something low and primal in his gut smoulder and burn. When he was a child, he'd always attributed that feeling to hatred, but as he grew older, he recognized it for the lust that it was. He may have still disliked the boy intensely, but fuck, he was gorgeous and those flashing eyes, crackling magic and temper-flushed cheeks had been a turn on.

Draco had always been attracted to power, so was it any wonder that Harry affected him this way? Of course, as time went on, it had grown beyond that, but Harry's power still got him off something fierce.

"What would you have me do, Mr. Malfoy?" Harry purred dangerously against his ear, sending a shiver of desire down his spine as that low, sexy growl curled around things low in his body and stoked the fire already burning there.

"You'd give your captive a choice, Mr. Potter?" he replied breathlessly, whimpering when Harry growled again at his words, latching his mouth onto the juncture of Draco's neck and shoulder, chuckling darkly when Draco's breath grew rough under his ministrations. "That's not very marauder-like of you. I thought they merely took what they wanted? After all, what if I told you I wanted you to release me?"

"Well, in that case, I'd just have to convince you otherwise, wouldn't I?" Harry whispered against his skin, sinking his teeth into it, eliciting a startled cry from Draco's lips as his knees buckled. Oh, yes, he did love when Harry got this way; it went straight to his cock when his lover got forceful, taking whatever he pleased without concern to him or his wants. Not that Draco would complain – if he could.

"Mmmm...bedroom," he murmured, inhaling sharply at the feral grin that spread across Harry's face as he grabbed his hand and dragged him across the common area. "Missy, finish here and then go help mother with anything she needs. Tell her...tell her I'll be busy for a couple of hours."

"A couple of hours, Malfoy?" Harry smirked, wrapping his arms around his waist and tugging him through the bed chamber door before kicking it shut behind them. "Try the rest of the night."

"Merlin," Draco rasped, moaning in the back of his throat when Harry toppled him onto the bed and crawled on top of him, his last coherent thought being he didn't realize house elves could smirk. And then Harry's mouth and hands were on him and all he knew was heat and passion and a pleasure greater than any other he had previously experienced.


"We're going with you," Andromeda announced out of the blue, making Harry choke on his tea, spewing it across the table. Smirking, Andi flicked her wand and cleaned up the mess, then set it back down and picked up her teacup, sipping at the steaming brew daintily.

Harry had come straight from Gringotts, where he had spent nearly three hours changing his will, solidifying his assets and closing off any questionably draws on his accounts, and then he'd transferred the majority of the Potter and Black holdings to the continent. He had no intention of remaining in a country under the helm of Dumbledore and his cronies after everything he had done.

But he hadn't yet worked up the nerve to tell Andromeda, Tonks and Remus that he was planning to move to his property in Burgundy, a lovely little vineyard that had a respectable, local draw and limited distribution. He very much liked the idea of spending the rest of his working life as a small-time vintner, learning the ropes of the wine industry and how to run the vines themselves, having always loved working with his hands.

"Oh, please, Harry," Tonks snorted, 'innocently' resting her hand on his godfather's knee, grinning at her blushing husband unrepentantly as he tried to squirm out of her teasing grasp. Smirking at Tonks, he sipped his tea without comment. "We knew the moment Dumbledore opened his fool mouth and handed down Draco's sentence; it was pretty much a given."

"I didn't realize I was that transparent," he replied softly, doubly glad now that he'd seen to the legalities before Dumbledore could recoup and try to enforce his compliance. He shuddered to think what might have happened had he delayed even another day.

"We just know you, cub," Remus reassured, rubbing Teddy's back, soothing the baby's soft snuffling before the tot slipped back into a sound sleep. "We know how much Draco means to you and knew you wouldn't take this sitting down. It's not in your nature to roll over and fall into line no matter what Dumbledore hoped to accomplish."

"He accomplished exactly nothing," Harry growled, compressing his lips into a thin line. His fingers twitched, desperately wanting to seek out his former mentor and curse the old fool for his actions, but he had everything precisely planned out for once and wouldn't allow his temper to rush him; no matter how tempting it might be to see Dumbledore suffer.

"He lost a great deal, yes," Andi agreed with a regal nod, her lips set into a prim little smirk; Harry had no idea that smirks could even be considered prim, but Andi managed it somehow. "But as we said, we are coming with you. I'll not stay here when I can see that this is only the beginning. Right now, they are focused on Death Eaters and Voldemort supporters, but to which direction do you think they will cast their eyes and nets next when that's through?"

"Dark creatures," Harry muttered darkly, frowning at the thought as he looked over to Remus and Teddy. After the havoc Greyback and his ilk had wrecked, along with the vampires under Voldemort's thrall, he had no doubt stricter restrictions would be coming. "Or what they perceive as dark creatures."

"Exactly," Andi agreed, setting her teacup aside, looking between the members of her surviving family seriously. "Remus fought on the side of the Light, and that might buy him some time, but what do you think will happen when they have everything under their thumb? They'll eventually turn on him, because on the side of the Light or not, he is a werewolf. And his blood runs through Teddy's veins as well, and I'll not have either my son-in-law or my grandson persecuted for something that was no fault of their own."

"I agree," Tonks nodded, her arms crossed over her chest, anger flashing through her, currently, blue eyes. Then she turned and smoothed a hand over her son's hair, which flashed a bright turquoise under her caress, bringing a smile to all of their faces. "I will not have any of my family endangered. I've already written my resignation to the Auror Corp. Although, I won't send it until right before we leave. I will have my husband and son safe."

"Remus?" Harry asked quietly, wondering what was going through the quiet man's head as he hadn't said anything during the conversation.

"I go wherever you go, cub," Remus replied, nodding his compliance to Andi and Tonks wishes. "Wherever my family is; I promised your parents I'd watch over you and I'll not break that promise. Especially as I wasn't able to when you were younger."

"You're all welcome, of course," Harry smiled softly, a warm glow suffusing his heart as he studied his family. "I have a vineyard in the Burgundy region in France that I was planning to cultivate. It's a bit of a distance from Draco and his mother, but I thought I'd settle there..."

Harry paused as the floo activated, and Narcissa Malfoy, of all people, spilled out, surprising him when she immediately crossed the room and pressed a kiss to Andi's cheek. He had known that the two sisters had reconciled after the war, but he'd never seen the proof of it, nor did he realize just how close they'd become. That did explain the additional tea setting, however; he wondered where Draco was, if his mother was here.

"Sorry I'm late," Narcissa murmured, sitting next to her sister and accepting the cup Andi had filled for her. "Draco was asking me about some items in the manor, and time got away from me, I'm afraid."

"Not to worry, dear," Andi assured her youngest sibling, patting her on the hand. "We we're just getting started anyway by informing young Harry, here, what we intended to do."

"Ah, yes," Narcissa smirked at his surprise, letting Harry know just which parent Draco had gotten that expression from, and it certainly wasn't the one he'd always assumed. "Honestly, Mr. Potter, did you think you could keep it a secret? My son might be too wrapped up in his wallowing to see your intentions, but I am not nearly so blind. I knew the moment you walked away, what would happen."

"I..." Harry stammered; bloody hell, was he really that damned predictable? Looking at three identical smirks (yes, definitely a Black trait), he was worried that he'd spoken aloud, but shook it off and blushed at being so obvious in his affections. "I don't know what to say."

"Nothing needed," Narcissa waved off his embarrassment. "I've known how you felt about my son for a while, as well as how he feels about you. I'm happy that he has found that. I won't say anything to Draco as I know you intend to surprise him. Besides, if the foolish boy can't figure it out for himself, let him wallow for a bit."

"That's evil, Aunt," Tonks snickered, her mirth belaying her words completely. Draco was an idiot if he honestly believed Harry would just look the other way and let him leave without a fuss.

"Oh, please," Narcissa laughed. "Nothing less than the boy deserves. Honestly, sometimes that boy is as tunnel-visioned as his father."

"In his defence, I haven't exactly said anything to the contrary," Harry pointed out sheepishly, trying to be fair to Draco. "It's not that I want him to worry or be upset, but I know he'll try to claim that I'm doing this to be noble and, trust me, there is nothing noble about my decision. It is completely selfish."

"We know, cub," Remus smiled, shifting Teddy to his other arm and picking up his cup to take a sip of tea. "The point they're trying to make is this - Draco should know by now that you don't do things by half measures, and had he been thinking clearly, he'd realize that there is no way in hell you'd stay behind. That is all."

"Well, he is a bit scattered at the moment," Harry defended quietly before lapsing into a silence under indulgent smiles and allowed the others to continue making plans around him, just enjoying spending time with his family. He'd always wanted this as he grew up, a large family, sitting around discussing their days and future plans and he was thankful that so many of his adopted family survived.

"Mr. Potter," Narcissa said, breaking through his reverie. "A most peculiar thing happened to me the other day..." Harry's eyes widened as astute eyes settled on him and Narcissa arched a brow. He'd forgotten that as a Black, Narcissa would be affected by his actions. "After Draco and I arrived home, I was suddenly awash in Black family magic and found I couldn't speak of a certain headmaster. Draco, felt it too, but didn't understand what was happening. Care to explain?"

"Harry?" Remus queried softly, his eyes widening as they fell on his godson's pale face. Remus and the others had left after the sentencing, needing to get back to Teddy, so they weren't aware that there was more to it. He also knew that few things would explain the event Narcissa mentioned, but he would have never expected Harry to go to such measures. "What did you do, Harry?"

"I invoked an ancient ritual that declared Dumbledore persona non grata to the Houses Potter and Black," Harry replied implacably, no remorse evident in his face until he looked at Andi and Narcissa. "Forgive me Andi, Madame Malfoy; I forgot as surviving Blacks, you'd feel the magic and I should have discussed it with you both first."

"Harry," Andi gasped in astonishment, shock reverberating through her core. There were few rituals of that flavour and all came with a stigma that followed the family line for generations to come. "You shouldn't have done that; this isn't worth it."

"Pardon my language, but the hell it isn't," Harry stated firmly, not budging in the least from his stance. "If not this, then what? Dumbledore made a vow to Draco that night to protect him and his mother. I witnessed that vow. If he can so easily break this one, what else would he do to others that stand in his way? I am not stupid, Andi; I know exactly why he did this and I will not allow him to win."

Remus, Tonks, Andromeda and Narcissa exchanged surprised glances with each other before turning back to the passionate man in front of them in awe.

"Besides, it wasn't just Draco and Madame Malfoy's trials that brought this on. It was only a fraction of the reason; the proverbial straw if you will," Harry continued heatedly. "He also cost me my godfather when he sent Sirius to Azkaban without a trial, then sent me to my joke of a family and never once checked on my well being, and then proceeded to manipulate my life from the moment I set foot in Hogwarts. Trust me, there were plenty of reasons to rescind my favour with Dumbledore."

"Then let me thank you on behalf of the both of us...Harry," Narcissa responded quietly, torn from her surprise by Harry's passionate tirade. "You have my blessing after the fact; not that you need it being the head of my House. And please call me Narcissa."

"Thank you, Narcissa," Harry nodded, his cheeks still flushed with temper, and now a touch of embarrassment. "I still should have consulted you and Andi. But I'll admit to allowing my temper to get the better of me this time."

"I'm not a Black any longer, Harry," Andi reminded him softly, her tone slightly bitter. She didn't regret standing up for herself and marrying for love, but being forcefully cut from her family still stung. "My mother saw to that."

"That's being rectified as we speak," Harry replied quietly, flushing uncomfortably when Andi gave a soft cry, her hand flying to Narcissa's "I began the paperwork today to have you reinstated to the family tree; so...in a few weeks or so...yeah."

"Thank you, Harry," Andi replied after a long moment.

"That's what family is for," Harry shrugged self-consciously, laughing when he was suddenly scooped up into an exuberant hug from Tonks, who danced him across the room in her excitement, while Andi and Narcissa just beamed at each other quietly, a rift finally mending.


Draco stepped back and took one final look at his ancestral home and tried to feel some sense of remorse or loss that he was leaving it behind, but truly felt nothing. If anything, he felt as if some sort of oppressive weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He'd come to hate living there in the months that led up to his sixth year and subsequent abandonment of the Dark and had planned to completely gut the place once he'd obtained his freedom.

A bitter chuckle spilled over his lips at that thought. Freedom. Well, he supposed he did have that now, but not in the way he had thought or intended.

Sighing, he turned his back to the manor; no, he really wasn't going to miss it at all sadly. In fact, the only thing that cast a pall over walking away from this whole mess without any regrets was Harry. He'd desperately wanted to ask the brunet to leave with him, to make a new life in France, but every time he opened his mouth to do so, he paused and reconsidered, realizing it was a selfish desire, and thus held back. When he'd developed a conscience, he had no idea, but it was damned inconvenient sometimes. Not to mention, a small, insecure part of him feared that, had he asked, Harry would look at him with sad green eyes and tell him he couldn't leave his friends and family behind.

He supposed there was nothing preventing Harry from coming to visit – nothing legal anyway – but he also wouldn't put it past certain factions to do everything in their power to keep them apart, in the guise of protecting him from the big, bad Death Eater. Never mind the fact that he had devoted much blood, sweat and tears to helping Harry, battling at his side faithfully, researching even the most insignificant details, one of which directly lead to the last horcrux, and then developing a way to destroy said horcrux without the use of basilisk venom or fiendfyre, which was difficult to control.

In the end, nothing he had done seemed to matter; in many of their eyes, once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater, and it certainly didn't fit the hero mould to have Harry in love with him.

Pivoting on his foot, he shunted the vicious thoughts aside, and began to tap said foot impatiently. His mother decided to do one last walk through, making sure that they had taken anything of value, whether it be sentimental or monetary – they would be damned if those greedy bastards got anything more from the Malfoys – and likely just to see it one final time. She did have far more fond memories of the manor than he did. But he really wanted to get out of there before anyone could catch them leaving ahead of schedule.

He admitted it; he was taking the cowards way out.

He just couldn't bear to say goodbye to Harry.

Startling when he heard the familiar pop of apparation, he groaned when he saw a stony-faced raven walking towards him determinedly, a firm smile sliding over his face when he caught sight of Draco, and somehow, he just knew that Harry had found out that he was planning to leave today. Watching his lover carefully, he waited until Harry drew abreast of him before smiling slightly nervously.

"What are you doing here?" he asked apprehensively, as if he wasn't well aware of the reason when Harry frowned.

"Your mother told me of your plans," Harry accused softly, placing an emphasis on mother as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Did you really intend to leave without saying a word? Did I mean that little to you that you could leave and not think twice?"

"No," Draco cried, flushing and fidgeting uncomfortably under those slightly hurt eyes, horrified that Harry could possibly think that walking away from him was an easy task. He had been so wrapped up in doing the right thing, and not controlling Harry's life like so many others, as well as how hard it had been on him to leave while Harry remained, he hadn't really considered how his actions might appear to his lover. And it left him feeling profoundly shamed for his selfishness. "No, I just...couldn't say goodbye...to you."

Draco cringed at his words, sounding lame even to his own ears, and only hoped that Harry could forgive his weakness.

"And you actually thought I'd just let you walk away?" Harry asked, a bemused smile on his face as he cocked a brow at his shamefaced boyfriend. "That I would have let you say goodbye?"

"What?" Draco queried, confusion lighting his eyes when the brunet snorted and shook his head, his eyes bright with emotion, and he noticed for the first time that Harry had a bag slung over his shoulder. Studying the other man carefully, he whispered, "What's going on?"

"I'm going with you, of course, you stupid Slytherin," Harry snorted, smirking at Draco's stunned expression. "You didn't honestly believe I'd allow you to go off on this adventure on your own, did you?"

"But, Harry," he stammered, a warm glow quickly replacing the confusion and surprise as he studied Harry's face for any doubts or concerns; and finding none, felt compelled to point out. "If you go with me, you can't come back. Not easily anyway. They'll never fully trust you again."

"Ask me if I care?" Harry snorted again. "The people that matter, are committed to joining me. And as for the rest, they've shown their true colours over the past few weeks. There's nothing left for me here and everything to gain by going. This is not the world I fought so long and hard for...I'd prefer to make my own place in a home of our own choosing."

"You mean..." Draco trailed off in horror at the thought of a certain redhead and know-it-all going with them, spluttering as he tried to wrap his mind around it all. "Please tell me the Weasel isn't..."

"No," Harry shook his head emphatically, moving closer to Draco to take his hands. "No, until they part from manipulative headmasters, I want nothing to do with them. Remus, Tonks, Teddy and Andromeda are waiting for me, well us if you agree to my request, at my vineyard near Macon."

"What request?" Draco inquired hesitantly, a frisson of excitement beginning to fizz and bubble inside his gut.

"Come with me," Harry requested softly, a gentle smile on his face. "Live with me. Share your life with me. Share my life."

Draco stared at the brunet, dumbfounded, all thought and speech suspended as Harry pulled out a ring from his pocket. It was a platinum band with three princess cut emeralds, that matched the sparkling eyes in front of him. Swallowing thickly, he raised wide-eyes to his boyfriend, wonder, and just a touch of apprehension, swirling in his heart. He did love Harry, but they were young yet, and still had a lot to learn about each other; he didn't think he was ready for such a step.

"This is not a proposal," Harry cautioned, squeezing his hand when his face fell just a bit in spite of his previous thoughts. "At least not yet. When that happens...you'll know it without a doubt and it won't be weighted down by all this unhappiness. What this is, is a promise from me to you that I will always stand by your side. It's a symbol of my affections, and that I always want to be a part of your life, even if it doesn't work down the line. It will also key you into my wards. Please, come with me. Live with me."

"But everything was already sent..." Draco whispered to himself in disbelief, before shaking his head to clear it. True, everything had been sent to his château, but that really wasn't much of an argument; his personal things could easily be moved while the furniture was left there and used as a vacation home. But what would his mother say? He couldn't just leave her in the château alone. "My mother..."

"Has agreed to whatever you wish," Harry assured. "If you choose to live at your place near Nice, I completely understand and it won't stop me from seeing you. It's just an apparation jump or two away. But I would love it if you stayed with me. Plus, while my home is on the vineyard, the actual manor and its grounds are under fidelis, so no one even knows its there. An added level of protection for us all."

"I..." Draco stammered, looking between Harry and the ring and the manor and back again, his mind racing. When he'd first seen Harry, he hadn't expected this, but now, he couldn't deny that he wanted it heart and soul; and he wasn't about to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.

"Yes," he whispered, his heart fluttering when Harry slid the ring on his finger, feeling a warm rush of magic wash over him as it accepted him. Cupping Harry's face, he pulled the brunet in for a soft kiss, smiling against his lips as Harry's arms wrapped around him. Drawing back he leaned his brow against Harry's and whispered again. "Of course, yes."

"Brilliant," Harry rasped, grinning at him madly, practically jumping in excitement.

"You're mental..." Draco smirked, shaking his head at his boyfriend's antics.

"So you've always said," Harry hummed agreeably, snickering when Draco continued to watch him with bemused eyes. "Now lets get your mother and get out of here before the Calvary show. I'm not about to listen to them whine about my choices. I gave them seven years of my life and I'll not give them a single minute more; I won't become their figurehead."

"Bloody Gryffindor," Draco shook his head, pressing a tender kiss to the shorter man's temple.

"You know you love me," Harry quipped lightly, tugging Draco towards the door with the intention of finding his mother, who he was now certain wasn't really looking through the manor, but giving Harry the chance to ambush him. They'd have to discuss that later.

"I do," he agreed, smiling when beryl eyes lit up and Harry beamed at him, sneaking a quick kiss before walking into the formal salon. "Even if I still think you're mental for doing this."

"I love you too, my Dragon," Harry replied, his tone slightly sardonic in acknowledgement of his latter comment. Turning to his mother, Harry smiled and gave a courtly bow, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand as she walked forward. "My lady."

"Harry," his mother greeted softly, a genuine smile lighting her face, startling Draco as she had always been so formal with Harry despite his having asked her to call him by his given name repeatedly. They really did need to have that discussion in light of these recent developments. "It is good to see you again."

"Come," Harry replied, pulling out a small length of rope, obviously a portkey to his estate. Offering it to him and his mother, he waited until they each grasped it to pull out his wand. "Andromeda and her family await. Onto the next adventure."

"Why does it terrify me when you say that?" Draco muttered under his breath, holding the rope gingerly.

"Because you're wise to his antics," his mother laughed and smirked knowingly.

Harry just laughed and touched the rope with his wand and whispered 'sanctuary,' activating the portkey and whisking them away from the manor just in time, as Dumbledore and several Ministry lackeys came through the door, fuming that their plans had been thwarted.


One week later...

Harry sat at the table, sipping his tea, and finally getting around to reading the post. He'd been up at the crack of dawn, in an effort to ready the vines for harvest, helping cast the protective spells necessary to make sure they didn't damage the fruit or the vines themselves when they started stripping them of their bounty.

He'd fallen right into the role of wine-making, trying to learn everything he possibly could about running his vineyard, and while he knew that he still had years of training ahead of him before he'd be able to take charge of it himself, he wasn't worried. He enjoyed the whole process and the sense of peace and joy that stole over him out amongst the vines. Plus Jean-Luc was a master when it came to culling the best from his vines and he was more than happy to let the older man take the lead.

Pushing aside the personal and business correspondence for later, he picked up the Prophet and shook it open. Usually, he didn't bother with the paper, as it had spent so many years maligning him and he'd never found it to be of much worth; but this had been sent to him by a certain reporter, who promised that the news was quite entertaining. Glancing at it, he smirked when Arctic blue eyes blazed at him from the centre of the page, the screaming headline the obvious source of Dumbledore's displeasure.

Saviour Denounces British Wizarding Community; Names Former Mentor 'Oathbreaker'

Chortling in amusement, Harry shook his head, mentally tipping his hat to the wily news reporter, who had thankfully kept her word to bury what she later called the 'story of the century' until he was safely out of the country. He had debated on letting her have at it when he'd first spoke with her, but quelled that instinct, as he realized that if it had been reported while he was still in England, he'd never have been allowed the necessary peace or time to take care of his personal affairs.

Setting the paper aside for a moment, Harry sipped his tea and let his mind fall back to that last 'closed' session of Wizengamot, a smug smile etched into his face.

"I am not done, old man," he sneered, levelling hard green eyes, fairly crackling with rage and power onto Dumbledore and his associates, making their faces pale and bodies to quell under the heat of his contempt. "Not by a long shot. In fact, you could say, I've only just begun."

Compressing his lips, he stared at the room, disgusted by the self-serving, cowardly faces watching him intently; out of the hundred or so people here, he only recognized a handful that had actually put their lives on the line to keep their community safe. And sadly, most of those people were in the witness gallery. The rest of them likely sat on their cowering arses at home while children fought their war, all of their hopes pinned onto a single, seventeen-year-old boy, who had done nothing to exacerbate the conflict other than being born at a specific time. It was pathetic.

Turning his gaze back to Dumbledore, he sneered. He blamed that last bit on him. Touting Harry as the next coming of Merlin and allowing the people to fall into a complacency that sickened him, all because they'd supposedly had a saviour that was going to deliver them from evil, rather than encourage them to defend their own world. Pulling out his wand, he swept it through the air, beginning the ancient ritual that would sever the strings his so-called mentor had wrapped around him with finality.

"I, Harry James Potter, Head of House Potter, Head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, do hereby condemn one, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, of House Dumbledore, as Oathbreaker."

Smirking when gasps rang throughout the chamber, he continued, ignoring the way Hermione tried to get his attention in an effort to break the spell. He'd deal with that particular oathbreaker later.

"As Head of House Potter, Head of House Black, I sever all ties and alliances with Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, of House Dumbledore, and any of his known, and unknown, allies. I do hereby cast out this Oathbreaker from further association with any Potter, Black, Evans, or any other line directly descending from House Black and House Potter. As I will it, so mote it be."

The flare of magic that swirled around him and Dumbledore was twice as strong as the magic that shredded the ties between him and the Order, enveloping them a bright golden flash of light as it bound each of them to Harry's oath before it spilled out, trickling to various people in the courtroom. The colour that lit around each individual denoted the person's affiliation - white for his allies and line; a purplish-black for Dumbledore's pawns.

He wasn't surprised when the most of the Weasleys lit up purplish-black. He'd learned long ago that they were staunchly in Dumbledore's corner, but what did surprise him was the neutral light around Fred, George and Charlie; and he made a mental note to contact them at a later date.

"Let it be noted, in record and history, that the House of Potter, House of Black, will no longer associate with Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore or his descendants or allies or associates. Any member of the Houses Potter and Black doing so will be declared Oathbreaker and cast out of the family. As I will it, so mote it be."

The magic solidified and cemented his words, causing a frisson of electricity to jolt down those affected, binding them to his vow.

Silence filled the chamber, deafening in its weight, as not even a cough or shuffle or squeak could be heard in the wake of Harry's actions. Stunned, pale faces stared out at him, wondering what had made Harry not only called his mentor an Oathbreaker, but also sever all connections to the man, not only for himself, but his entire line and future descendants.

"Checkmate, old man," Harry said into the ensuing silence before pivoting on his heel and walking out the door, the sound of whispers and general outcries following in his wake.

Coming back to himself, Harry picked up the paper and began to read, curious as to what Rita had to say about his actions and that meddlesome old man.

... ... ...

Saviour Denounces British Wizarding Community; Names Former Mentor 'Oathbreaker'

By Rita Skeeter

In an exclusive interview, Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, Conqueror of Voldemort, has shared several penseived memories, as well as pivotal information, regarding the true happenings of the war. After a closed Wizengamot session, Mr. Potter shared his reasoning for breaking away from the British Wizarding Community, beginning with the stunning revelation that Sirius Black, notorious Azkaban escapee and supposed murder, was in fact, innocent of all charges raised against him, including the betrayal of James and Lily Potter. According to young Mr. Potter, my dear readers, it was Peter Pettigrew, another family friend, that had been the family's secret keeper, who then betrayed that sacred trust, resulting in the deaths of Mr. Potter's parents, and that of the twelve muggles that sent Black to Azkaban without a trial.

Among other things listed, Mr. Potter cited a childhood spent with abusive, negligent muggles, who routinely starved and punished him for being, in Mr. Potter's words, 'a freak.' His maternal aunt, Petunia Dursley, had long since been envious of her sister Lily's magical abilities and grew to hate anything in the magical realm, including that of her sister's orphaned son.

Mr. Potter spent ten years in negligence, pain and complete ignorance of his wizarding heritage, where he was told that his parents, well-regarded heroes, were nothing more than ne'er-do-well drunkards that died in a car accident. The poor child never even knew he was a wizard, let alone that he was regarded as the Saviour, until he received his Hogwarts letter, as no one had bothered to check on his health or well-being the entire time he lived in the muggle world.

Mr. Potter then listed instance after instance of where the headmaster, and other notable staff and faculty, often turned a blind eye to events occurring within the school, which put the Saviour and his friends in grave and unnecessary danger. (See pgs. 2-5 for a full accounting Mr. Potter's school years.)

At the end of the closed session, which Mr. Potter revealed was a trial for Draco Lucius Malfoy, a noted dark figure that repented and allied himself to the Light, solidifying Potter's victory with his research (see pg. 6 for full story), Potter declared former Leader of the Light, Albus Dumbledore, an Oathbreaker, severing all ties between his house and that of the Houses Potter and Black (which Potter heads through a distaff line).

And after much tireless investigation, my dear readers, this reporter has discovered that several Light families and individuals have since distanced themselves from Dumbledore, some going as far as to invoke the same ancient rituals to sever ties in an effort to retain the British Wizarding Hero's favour This includes the Board of Governors, who have stripped Dumbledore of his headmaster title and are currently debating on a replacement; Minerva McGonagall is currently filling the role of headmistress in the interim.

As for what's next for our Saviour, he said he plans to retire to one of his estates on the continent with his family, and the love of his life, Draco Malfoy. I'm sure I speak for all of us, when I say that we hope for the best and wish these two courageous men all the happiness in the world.

... ... ...

Snickering softly, Harry dropped the Prophet onto the table and picked up his tea with a triumphant smirk. The whole bloody issue. He couldn't believe that Rita managed to talk the editors into a whole bloody issue for his story. Shaking his head, he snickered once more when Dumbledore snarled at him from the Prophet's front page.

"Checkmate indeed, old man," he murmured, waving his wand and banishing the issue, and his mail, to his office for later consumption and then stood, draining the last of his tea as he snapped his fingers for Mipsy to clear the table. "Checkmate indeed."

Striding to the double doors leading to porch, Harry slipped through them and smiled softly as he caught sight of pale blonde hair gleaming in the dim sunlight. Draco leaned against the railing, an equally soft smile on his face as he watched the workers scurry back and forth, preparing for tomorrow's harvest and the first crush. Three women – one blonde, one brunette and one with bubble gum pink hair – sat on a blanket, cooing at a chubby baby with turquoise hair as he sat up on his own and played with a bunch of bright-coloured blocks, while his godfather talked to Jean-Luc.

Coming up behind Draco, he wrapped his arms around his waist and rested his chin on the blonde's shoulder, humming in contentment when Draco leaned back against him. Revelling in their closeness, Harry stared out over the vineyard, his eyes full of dreams, imaging a few blonde and dark-haired children racing through the vines, followed by a bright turquoise head, and one or two more Lupin children. He could see Draco arguing with Jean-Luc about expansion plans and Narcissa and Andi taking tea as they watched the children indulgently. And he could see Remus and Tonks walking hand-in-hand to their little cottage at the back of the property, Tonks stomach gently rounded.

Smiling dreamily, he looked up to find shining grey eyes watching him, a smirk tugging at Draco's lips when he blushed, having been caught with his head in the clouds yet again. Chuckling quietly, Draco bent down and brushed a kiss against his mouth, humming happily when Harry met him with an understate passion, deepening the caress until they were both short of breath and shaking from the intensity of their emotions. Drawing back, Draco turned in his arms and pulled him close, resting his brow against his.

"Happy?" Draco asked quietly, kissing the tip of his nose.

"Completely," Harry smiled, tightening his grasp on the blonde before they both turned and watched the sun break through the cloud coverage, their minds filled with infinite dreams and possibilities.