Harry and Draco laid together in the bed, fingers laced together, Harry's head on Draco's chest. He pointed with his big toe at the fireplace mantle.

"Is that your wand box?" he asked, as though he hadn't already snooped.

"Yes," Draco yawned.

"Is your wand in there?"

"I suppose."

"When is the last time you took it out?" Harry traced light circles over Draco's chest to soothe any potential anxiety.

"Ages," Draco captured Harry's hand and pressed a kiss onto his palm.

"You should get it out."

"No."

Harry propped himself up on his elbow and peered at his former classmate. "You've not given up Polyjuice or protective wards or wandless spells. Why the wand?"

"You can do a lot more harm a lot more easily with a wand," Draco said. Outside a car horn blared, indicating that the automobile portion of the auction was starting.

"Only if you want to."

"Who needs the temptation?" Draco pulled Harry's head back down to his shoulder.

"What are you scared of?"

Draco's hands halted their lovely stroking. "I don't want to become my father," he said flatly.

"You think he was tempted by magic?" Harry wanted to be so careful. He wasn't sure Draco realized how open he was being and didn't want to startle him into closing off again.

"I think he was tempted by power," Draco said. "I think some people are more corruptible than others. A wand is too powerful a tool for someone like that."

Harry pushed up to his elbow again. He chewed his lip, hoping his next words wouldn't chase Draco back into hiding.

"You are not your father."

Draco's face crumpled. With tremendous effort he righted himself and steadied his expression. He spoke low and evenly, "I can't be sure of that. I accepted the mark of the Death Eater. I have to believe I'm capable of following in his footsteps. I shouldn't be trusted with a wand."

"You disarmed me yesterday," Harry said. "If you were capable of being corrupted by temptation, wouldn't that have been an ideal time?"

"Maybe," Draco said. "But I also like you," he blushed furiously, the words too easily escaping his lips.

"Would you have hexed Ron Weasley?" Harry asked, offering up a name he definitely didn't like.

"Don't you dare talk about the Weasel when we're naked," Draco said pompously.

Harry felt warm through his middle again. He loved those small glimpses of Draco's fire. He held his eyes and waited for a real answer.

"No, I wouldn't have," Draco finally sighed.

"You're not like your father," Harry said firmly. "When would he have given up the opportunity to gain the upper hand? You've learned from your experiences. You're not like him and you never will be."

"Don't talk about my father when we're naked, either," Draco's attempt at humor was weak this time.

"Just get it out and carry it in your pocket," Harry said. "You don't have to use it, but try carrying it." An idea occurred to him. "You know that sullied unicorn blood we found? You can release it. Use your wand for good. And if you're worried about whether you're corrupted, the rite can purify you, too. Sullying unicorn blood is a grave sin, but sanctifying it and releasing it is one of the most transcending things you can do."

"Harry," Draco closed his eyes as though pained. "Give it a rest."

"All right. But at least think about it."

"What do you want to do now?" Draco changed the subject. "And don't say fucking because I need a break, lest you split me in two."

"Sorry," Harry's face flushed crimson.

"How about you hide and I seek?"

"I don't know any good hiding spots," Harry said.

"Nonsense, you used that charm to find all of the mansion's secrets," Draco reminded him.

"All right, fine," Harry rolled out of bed and searched for his discarded pants. "I don't know why I'm trying so hard to please you."

"Because I'm the one who got away, remember?" Draco grinned, unabashedly nude as Harry dressed. "I'll give you to the count of sixty to hide. Find a good spot."

"No pranks this time," Harry wagged his finger.

"No promises."

Harry exited to the corridor and wondered where to go. Certainly not here on the second floor. He ascended the servant stairs to the third floor and considered his options. He smiled to himself, thinking of Draco lounging naked in the bed as he hid. He thought of his confident smile, the possessive way he smiled at Harry when he said-

What had he said?

"I'm the one who got away, remember?"

Harry drew up short. Another memory shot through him.

"I don't do hookups anymore." "I know."

Shit.

Harry spun around and ran to the tower. He shoved his way through the stone facade and took the stairs two at a time to the Polyjuice room at the top. He looked around, wild-eyed, unsure what he was looking for. The flasks. He lunged for the row of labeled flasks and read the name on each.

"Damn it," he swore. "Malfoy!" he shouted, thundering down the stairs to the second floor. He emerged from the tower stairs as Draco was entering the master suite at the other end of the hall. "Malfoy!" he snapped again.

"Are we back to surnames?" Draco asked, his eyes wide and his hands fidgeting at his shirt hem.

"What is this?" Harry shoved the flask into his hands. Draco looked down and swallowed hard. "Why on earth would you do this? You just lied to me and pretended you were someone else."

"I wanted to be out there with you," Draco stammered. "I didn't think-"

"You didn't think I'd care that Gavin was actually you lying to me?" Harry turned away and ran his hand through his hair in disbelief. He tried to remember his Auror training but struggled to divorce his emotion from his rational mind. "Okay," he seethed. "I get the first time, we hadn't really talked yet. But then," his head was reeling. "That was you when I was talking to Oliver."

"I was defending you to Oliver," Draco interjected.

"That was you who asked me to take a walk," Harry shook his head. "And then you asked me what I thought of you. Were you being sneaky? Trying to find out if I was being sincere? Trying to find out what I would say behind your back?"

"No," Draco's face was petrified. "None of that, I swear. I just wanted to-" his breath was coming too fast and Harry was afraid he would hyperventilate. "I'm a prisoner in here, Harry. And I wanted to be out there with you, and every time I thought I would tell you but then it seemed like it was too late," he was gasping for air, his cheeks flushed and his eyes glazed. His knees buckled and Harry caught him by his elbows before he hit the floor.

"Come on, you need to calm down," Harry braced him and led him to his bed. He went to the bathroom and wrung a washcloth in cold water and then laid it across Draco's forehead. He paced before the fireplace, mind still reeling. "That was you two months ago at the club," he said softly. "You let me believe last night was the first time. But you'd been with me before. And I didn't know."

"I'm sorry," Draco pressed the washcloth to his eyes and struggled to breathe.

"And then this morning?" Harry squinted at him. "After last night, you still came to me as Gavin and didn't tell me," he buried his face in his hands. "You asked me how you were. I told you how I felt. I deserved to know that was you, Draco. I deserved to say those things to you when I wanted to say them to you. To your face, to your real face."

"Harry," Draco croaked, pulling the cloth from his eyes and sitting up. "You don't understand."

"You're right," Harry said. "I don't. If you wanted to be out there with me, you should have just come out with me."

"I can't," Draco's face crumpled.

"Yes you can!" Harry shouted.

"No! I really can't!"

"Why not?" Harry hollered.

"Because I'm a monster!" Draco shouted back. He leapt to his feet and hurled the washcloth into the fireplace. "I'm a fucking monster! And everyone out there can see me, the fucking monster that I am. I can't show this face out there," he swept his arm at the French doors, encompassing the whole world outside. "This fucking, monstrous face. I can't go out there and be seen for what I am." Great tears spilled down his face but he refused to release his anguish in the sob that was choking off his breath. "They'll hunt me. They'll kill me. When they see me as I really am, not this face but the other one, they'll destroy me."

Harry was speechless. A great pain spread throughout his body. "What are you talking about?" he said. "You're not a monster. Why would I be here if you were a monster?"

Draco barked in a harsh laugh. "You've always seen me for what I am. You saw me from the first day. Everyone else saw an illusion, what they wanted to see. But you've seen me from the start." He pulled himself up and with great effort recomposed his expression. "It's not figurative anymore, Harry. But for whatever reason you've decided to tolerate this thing in me. I don't deserve it, but there it is." He took a deep breath and wiped his face. "They," he said firmly, pointing to the French doors, "won't tolerate it. The facade is gone, The war destroyed it like everything else. I can't hide it anymore. Everyone can see me now." His chin bunched up as he frowned deeply and struggled to keep himself contained. "It only happens out there, it only happens around people. I can't be seen for what I really am."

"Draco," Harry dropped his hand to his side. "How can you say that?"

"Because it's true," Draco whispered.

Harry was confused. He felt awful for Draco and knew he was hurting, but he felt betrayed. He remembered Hermione's comment, that Draco Malfoy lies as easily as he breathes. He didn't know what to think.

"I think I need to go out for a bit," he said finally.

Draco nodded as though it made perfect sense. He crossed the room to the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

"Draco," Harry leaned against the doorjamb and stared at the handle. "Are you going to be okay if I go outside?"

"I'm fine," Draco called. "I just need to clean up."

"I'll be back later, okay?" Harry touched the cold wood inset of the door. "Can I come back later?"

"Of course," Draco said softly.

"Okay then," Harry shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away.