A/N: I might still get one or two more chapters out tonight, so keep a look out. Big thanks again and always to PinkElephant and all the reviewers. hearts. aLtO

Chapter Ten

As Harry reentered the hospital wing, he saw the headmaster and Professor Snape beside Draco's bed.

"Headmaster," he greeted as he handed Draco his books. Harry could see Snape's eyes nearly fall out of his head from the corner of his. He smiled lightly.

"Potter," Snape said. "May I ask how you came to posses Mr. Malfoy's books?" he asked coldly.

"I asked him to get them for me Professor," Draco intervened.

"I have clearly missed something important." Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling with questions.

The boys shared a look. What were they to tell their two nosey mentors? They didn't know much themselves. As if sensing the uncertainly between the two, Dumbledore went on. "We are dreadfully sorry we could not come earlier. We had to search the premises for Malfoy Sr."

"It's fine. Madame Pomfrey and Harry did all the nagging necessary. You missed little," Draco said and smiled at the slight twitch his head of house emitted as he spoke Harry's name. It really was quite amusing.

"I see," Snape said quietly. Harry sat on the bed next to Draco after a moment of silence.

"I'm sorry to say that we will need some account of last night's events at some point. I will not ask it of you now, but I wish for you to be prepared when I do." Dumbledore's smile was ebbing away slightly. "We were informed shortly after you arrived here that your father has done his worst. I need to know your wishes concerning your name, your guardianship, and your house status. Again, I will not ask these things of you at the moment, but you need to think about them.

"Madame Pomfrey says that you will be with her for two days at least. I hope you use that time wisely. If you wish, Harry, or anyone you choose, will be excused from tomorrow's lessons. I feel you need someone with you for now. I know yesterday was a trying day in many respects. I am infinitely grateful that this did not go worse.

"In response to this attack, I'm canceling the Hogsmeade trip next weekend and strengthening the wards to the school. I do not know how Lucius Malfoy entered this castle undetected, but I will find out. Rest assured Mr. Malfoy, your father will not be harming you any longer." He rested a consoling hand on Draco's shoulder. Draco nodded his head slowly.

"I would like Harry to stay with me tomorrow. I don't need to think much about my name. I want to take my mother's maiden name, Black, and I thought for sure that guardianship would go to my godfather, if not my mother. Does my father's actions affect my mother's wishes as well?" he asked.

"I would fear for your safety. While you are correct, your father's decision does not automatically affect your mother's, she will, no doubt, support him. I know that Narcissa is a good mother, but if she stands by pureblood etiquette, she will follow your father's lead. She will be able to offer support from her Black side though. He cannot control the funds she may or may not offer you.

"As for your godfather, I rather hoped that would be your decision. It is, of course, his decision as well, but I feel that is the best course. While you are seventeen and legally an adult, while still at school it is best for you to have a parental figure in your life. I hope you agree." Again, Draco nodded his head slowly, obviously in deep thought.

"What do you say, Severus?" he asked quietly. Snape's head shot up. Draco never addressed him informally unless they were alone or with his family.

"It would be an honor, but I will not make this decision for you. You know I will do everything in my power to make this easier for you. I wish we weren't in this situation at all, but Lucius is hell bent on driving me crazy." Only after he had cooled down did he realize that Potter was smiling at him. "Dare I ask what you are smirking at?" he asked.

"Nothing, sir," he responded quickly; which earned him a 'humph' from the Potions Master.

All attention turned back to Draco when he cleared his throat.

"I will take a guardian. You are right, Headmaster, it would be in my best interest. Severus?" he said softly, almost meekly.

"As I said Draco, it would be an honor." he walked swiftly to the bed and hugged his godson.

Harry's mouth stood agape at the unheard of display of affection. The icy Potions Master had never shown any emotion to him other than anger and utter contempt. It was really rather breath taking, watching the two, usually cold, human beings share a sentimental moment. As quickly as it started, it ended. Snape backed away and stood behind Dumbledore once again. The old man had a crazy twinkle in his eye and a broad smile upon his face.

"I'm very glad we have resolved that. There are still many things to be done. I must go. Severus, if you wish to stay, I can wait to discuss this with you at a later time. Harry, I believe we need to talk, if you would come with me."

Suddenly, all eyes were on Harry. He had nearly been forgotten by everyone, even Draco. Harry smiled and was about to stand when he felt a hand on his back. He turned and found himself in a fierce hug with the blond. Draco kissed his cheek, whispered a 'thank you' in his ear, and beckoned Snape to take his place.

0o0

As Harry entered the Headmaster's office, he took a chair and grabbed a lemon drop before the old man offered. This brought a genuine smile to Dumbledore's face. As he settled down in his chair, Dumbledore looked up.

"So, I am greatly intrigued by quite a few things I saw a few moments ago. First, I am incredibly proud and grateful that you have finally ended your feud with young Mr. Black. It will put this school at ease. Now, if you don't mind me asking, what caused this colossal change of heart?" Harry blushed slightly.

"Well, I guess we just figured out that we are more alike then we had thought." he said sadly. "It's kind of scary, really." Dumbledore gave him an appraising look.

"And what, may I ask, is the nature of your relationship? I do not mean to pry, but I am painfully curious as to how this happened. I even saw you fight yesterday. How is it that things changed so quickly?" Harry blushed again. The headmaster had obviously not seen the end result of that fight. What was he to tell his mentor? Would he think less of him?

"I'm honestly not sure, sir. We haven't exactly gotten that far. It's quite complicated."

"I see," said the old man, blue eyes twinkling. "Well, these things usually are. I was quite intrigued by the rumors flying around school, but I did not think for a second they could be close to the truth. Although, most rumors start with a grain of truth and then become something completely different. Would you mind putting an old man's mind at ease? There are some ferocious things being said. I just wish to know the truth."

"I do not know the rumors, sir, but I guess we have become friends and more," he said cautiously. "I don't really know how to describe it. We have talked a lot and I want to help him. He needs someone who cares about him, who won't let this get the best of him. I want to be that person. I don't know what that makes us, but that is all I want," he finally looked up to meet his mentor's eyes. He couldn't help but smile at the pride reflecting in the blue depths.

"You are quite right. Know this Harry, I will never judge you based on who you choose to love. You are giving Mr. Black an amazing gift. Those who know your love are blessed." Harry felt his eyes grow slightly watery, but bowed his head again to cover it.

"Thank you, sir," he mumbled.

0o0

Harry entered the hospital for what seemed the hundredth time that day, but he had a smile on his face. Madam Pomfrey was assisting a student who had a large boil growing on her nose. He shuddered slightly and walked to Draco's bed. Taking his seat, he saw that Draco was writing in that red notebook.

"Hey." he said, trying to make the oblivious blond aware of his presence.

"Oh hi," Draco said, quickly returning the book to his nightstand drawer. "What did the headmaster want?"

"Mostly, he wanted to address the rumors that have been rotating the school. I tried to answer his questions the best I could, but I didn't have many of the answers myself."

"What are the rumors? I can hardly imagine what the dunderheads in this school came up with," he said dryly. Harry just shrugged.

"He didn't name any, just asked for the truth. He did say that some ferocious things were being said, but that doesn't give us much to go by." Draco looked thoughtful for a moment.

"What did you tell him?" he asked, nearly sheepish. Harry smiled.

"I told him that we were friends and maybe more." Harry stopped for a second, trying to gather his wits about him. "I said that you needed someone to help you get through this and I wanted to be that person. He read between all the lines too, with that damn twinkling in his eyes the whole time." Draco looked questioningly at the brunet. "Oh, no. That is all your getting. Not unless you want to tell me what you and Snape talked about. I bet he gave you some sort of horrible lecture about befriending Potters." Again, Draco looked thoughtful.

"We mostly talked about living arrangements and contacting my mother. He did say that he was gravely disappointed in my choice of company, but he was surprised that you were here. The fact that I let you get my books for me was not lost on him. He knows how little I like people snooping through my things. He knows I must trust you." Draco looked down at the Potions manual he now held in his hand.

"So, he did not ask you about any of the rumors or that kiss on the cheek, or anything that had caused suspicion?" Harry said.

"No. Although, he did ask me if there was anything I wish to tell him. I guess after that, he wasn't going to push any farther."

"Dumbledore asked me, right out, what the nature of our relationship was." Draco's head shot up from his book. "He didn't even bring up the rumors until after I told him it was complicated." Harry saw him visibly relax at his last statement. "Draco, what is this? I've tried to put a name on it for weeks and I can't find anything. Even before the room of requirement, I couldn't write it off as just an attraction."

"I have no idea. I guess it is whatever we make it out to be." Harry mulled those words over in his head. They sat in amicable silence for a few moments; Draco pretending to read his book, Harry counting the tiles on the floor. Finally, Harry spoke.

"Draco, w- will you be my boyfriend?" he asked timidly.

Draco looked at him as though he thought he had imagined the statement. Again, they sat in silence for a moment. Harry wished he could die, while Draco thought.

Gay or not, Draco had never been in an actual relationship with a guy. The revelation had seemed too fresh. He had no trouble sharing the physical attributes with just about anyone, but he had very little experience or success with relationships.

Before Ginny, he had two girlfriends and neither lasted more than a few months. Slytherins weren't known for their faithfulness. Nott and that Ravenclaw were the only guys, other than Harry, who he had been physically intimate with at all. He looked up to meet Harry's gaze, but found that the boy was diligently staring at the ceiling. This shouldn't be that difficult a decision. Harry loved him, which was something few could honestly say, and had already shown he would be there for him no matter what. Harry knew how to kick his arse when he needed it and comfort him when he needed it. So, what was holding him back from saying yes? He got out his journal and read what he had been writing before Harry came back.

In the Silence

This familiar sensation washes over me again.

The pull of lonely tears and silent fears culminate in a cry.

Why does the silence scare me so?

It is the unanswered questions I fear.

My life flashes by before me, unaware of my pain.

Why am I consumed by weakness,

and can find nothing to gain from a dream I once loved?

Why does the pleasure in life dissolve so much faster than the tears?

My heart beats for closure and acceptance, while my mind cries for retribution.

What peace can come from hurting one you love, no matter the debt?

I wish for release; a time and place where I know I belong.

One day this one scorned will smile and breathe.

I will live and I will love, if not just to spite.

A lonely tear ran down his cheek and he looked up to find Harry staring at him. He needed to understand. If they were going to be together, Harry needed to know. Did he trust Harry enough to keep his secrets? Entry into a dormitory and a life worth of secrets are very different things. He looked into Harry's eyes. He looked so sad and scared, and he wondered how long it had been since Harry had asked his question.

"Harry," he finally said. "I want to say yes, but I need to say some things first. You need to know what happened last night. Not just with my father, but what happened before he arrived. I did something stupid and selfish. I was just so frustrated and I didn't know how to react."

"What are you talking about Draco? What did you do that could upset me?" Harry asked, looking skeptical.

"I had-, I fooled around with Nott. I know how upset you got when you only heard that I had sex with him and-" Draco was cut off by Harry.

"You slept with Nott?" he asked quietly. That familiar sense of jealousy returned to the pit of his stomach.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I know we had no commitment really, but I still knew it would hurt you, and I shouldn't have done it. I just wanted to forget."

"Wanted to forget what?" Harry asked incredulously.

"That I could still feel." Harry was taken aback. A vision of what he had read in that red book came back to him and he knew he had a confession of his own to make.

"Draco, we're not done with this, but you need to know something too. When I was gathering your books, Nott and Zabini scared the hell out of me and that red one dropped to the ground open. I swear, I'm not usually one to pry. I know how it is to have no privacy and how much it hurts when people infringe upon it, but the word at the top of the page drew me in. It tore me up to think of you in that context, but the second I thought about it, it made perfect sense." Draco was already pale and looking furious from the implied act, but kept his silence until Harry finished. "That word was 'numb.' I couldn't help but read the page. I'm sorry." He looked down ashamed. It seemed like they were at a stalemate, both too angry and guilty to speak.

"I wrote that poem last year. Lucius was furious when you beat me in Quidditch for the thousandth time. Contrary to popular belief, I loved Quidditch for the game. Winning is important, yes, but not vital. I was absolutely thrilled because I had actually almost beaten you and my father literally smacked the smile off my face. He told me I was worthless and that if I couldn't even beat some half blood at a ruddy game then I shouldn't come home for Christmas, there would be nothing waiting for me there anyway. He told me that it all could have been avoided if I weren't so pathetic. I would never be good enough for him and I realized, at that moment, that all that was left in me was bitterness, guilt, and pain. I was convinced that I was to blame.

"He was right, I wasn't good enough to beat you. I hadn't practiced hard enough or paid enough attention. I had been so happy because I had actually caught up with you. That is the last time I remember enjoying a game." Draco looked up. "I didn't tell you that because I'm not mad at you, because I am, but if we are going to have any chance at what we want, then we have to be honest. I slept with Nott because, for the first time since that day, I felt truly happy and it scared me shitless. I didn't just feel pleasure. I felt good. I can't describe it. Whatever it is that happens when we kiss, it just makes me happy; not just full of lust that I can't quench. That being said, I forgive you. I hope you can forgive me too." Without a word Harry launched himself at Draco and hugged him.

"Of course I forgive you. How could I not? I don't even know what to say to tell you how sorry I am." An awkward silence filled the room as the two boys sat next to each other on the bed. "If you aren't ready, you don't have to answer. I didn't know."

"I know. I think, as long as you realize what you are getting yourself into, we can try. Yes, Harry. The answer is yes."