DISCLAIMER: Is this really still necessary? Come on, we all know that if I owned Harry Potter, I wouldn't be sitting around writing crappy fics like this XD
Again, I'm sorry about taking forever to update . But since summer vacations is right around the corner for me, I'm hoping I'm going to have a lot more time to work on this. I'm also suffering from a bit of block for the plot. I'm not completely sure what Harry's going to do when he gets back to Hogwarts, so please bear with me. As of now, I have no intention of abandoning this fic.
Time flew by at a rapid pace once I'd sent off the letters. I'd immersed myself in my life, and my relationships with the people I was currently living with increased by leaps and bounds. Snape and I were now on practically friendly terms. Well, as friendly as we could get as student and professor who used to hate each other so much, nearly to the extent of whishing death upon the other. But once you got past that, it wasn't so bad. Really.
Draco and I were nearly inseparable now, especially since I would be returning to the Weasley's in two day's time. He even followed me to my lessons, going so far as to assist me with some complicated potions work that required a partner. This was all supervised by Snape, of course. He gave me pointers on how to correct things, just little things, like the proper consistency to crush wormwood into. You didn't want a fine powder, but you didn't want chunks either, you had to find a happy medium, or so Draco told me. And these little details helped make my potions perfect. Needless to say, my proficiency in this particular subject increased dramatically, as well as my Dark Arts, thanks to Snape's tutoring. I'd never thought I'd owe the man this much, but in a strange way I couldn't yet explain, I was sort of glad I did.
Vick and I, if it were possible, grew closer as well. He told me about his life in seventeenth century England before he was turned. Back then, he said, he was simply the son of a middle class merchant until he was out wandering the night, whoring (go figure) the hours away. It was then that he encountered his sire, a man named Richard, who turned him and passed along the family fortune, which included the manor house we were currently living in. It was a very interesting story, if a bit long.
As for my friends from school, and Sirius, and a few others, they'd finally accepted, although the majority still did not agree with, my choice to take off this summer. However, they'd stopped nagging me about it and our conversations turned back to normal, mundane topics. As for Mrs. Weasley, she had replied to my first letter with much vigor, welcoming me to stay at the Burrow whenever I liked, and that I should come as soon as I wanted, I didn't have to wait for the last week of vacation. Of course, I politely informed her I wasn't about to have a change of plans.
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It was the night before the day I was to leave. Actually, we would all be leaving tomorrow, to go our separate ways. I would be off to the Burrow, Vick to Hogwarts, Snape as well, and Draco was to hole up in the Leaky Cauldron, forced to be a recluse there so he wouldn't be found, although Snape planned to have his blonde godson to the school early as soon as he could discuss the matter with Dumbledore.
None of us were particularly happy to go and get back to our previous lives without the others, but we would have to suffer through it. Draco and I were the ones having the most difficulty adjusting to the idea of not living together anymore, not being able to spend every waking moment together.
So there we were, both huddled in my room, laying side by side on my bed, flat on our backs, the sides of our bodies touching. We lay in silence for a long time, just thinking our respective thoughts, brooding I guess you could call it.
"I'm going to miss you." I was the one who broke the silence.
Draco turned to look at me. "Me too." He simply said, and readjusted himself so that his head was resting on my shoulder. I took comfort from him. "But we can write each other, can't we?" he asked, his voice hopeful.
"Yeah." I said after a moment's thought. "But if we don't want to risk getting found out, we can't sign our names, and we probably shouldn't use our initials either. They're kind of recognizable."
He moved again, and propped himself up on his elbow. "I've got an idea. We should call you Dark, because of your hair . . ." He trailed off with a smirk, running his hands through my long black locks, which just barely reached my shoulders. I could put it in a pony tail now if I wanted, but I normally just left it down. I liked it better that way, and so did Draco.
I mirrored his movements. "Then it's only right to call you Light, then, don't you think?" I shot back, and watched him scowl, but it soon melted away.
"We'll be like opposites." He said, and I knew he was referring to our families and magical preferences, well, at least, previous ones.
I snorted lightly. "Opposites of our former selves. I'm not exactly a light wizard anymore, or haven't you noticed?" my voice held sarcasm, but it was hardly biting.
"So then our aliases are the opposites of who we used to be, but we aren't quite them anymore." He said, thoughtful.
"We're not black and white anymore, we're simply shades of gray." I agreed, sliding my elbow out from under me and plopping back down onto the bed, pulling Draco with me. "Since when did our conversations get so deep?" I wondered aloud, only half expecting an answer.
Draco was silent for a few moments. "Why wouldn't they be deep? Or some of them, at least. I've never had anyone else I could talk to about things like this. No one would understand. Everything's so straight forward with everyone else, there's no room for middle ground." He finally said, and I agreed with his every word.
"Ron would be horrified with the idea of not being completely light." I said.
Draco turned to me. "And is his opinion going to tell you how to live your life?" he asked, seriously.
"It might influence me a little, but it won't rule me. Nobody rules me." I said.
"I don't want anybody to rule me either. That's why I'm here." We trailed back into silence after that, and since it was really late, Draco drifted off to sleep before long. We'd been trying to get back on a day schedule for the past few days so we wouldn't be completely turned around when we went back to the outside world, so it was around two a.m. I was having more trouble adjusting than Draco, so I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep for a while. I just watched him. I took in how peaceful and beautiful his face looked when there was no tension of wakefulness covering it. He was gorgeous, especially with that one little lock of hair that always fell down in his eyes, even when he had it all slicked back.
His breathing was rhythmic and peaceful, and he seemed perfectly content. I wondered for a moment if he was dreaming something nice, or if he was just in a deep sleep. And somewhere in the middle of pondering this, I fell asleep too, with Draco in my arms, both of us on top of the covers.
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It was a half an hour until noon now, just a short thirty minutes until we parted ways. It was also a time to say final goodbyes because the packing had been done yesterday, so there was no work to be worried about. I was walking around the grounds with my blonde boyfriend one last time, chatting lightly inside the beautiful maze of hedges and shrubs.
"So I guess this is it." Draco said after a while, his gloom finally breaking through our light chatter.
My mood fell a little too. "It won't be for long." I assured him, pulling him closer, and pecking his lips with my own. "And we'll write to each other every day, won't we?" I asked the question even though I already knew the answer. He nodded.
"But it won't be the same!" he complained, pulling away from me, and turning his back toward me, and he continued. "I won't be able to see you every day, I won't get to touch your or kiss you," he whirled around and looked me straight in the eye, "and when we get to school, we'll have to sneak around to be together! It would be dangerous for both of us if we were found out, and we won't be able to sleep in the same bed, or-or—or. . ." he trailed off, distraught, running his hand through, and ruining, his perfectly gelled hair.
I pulled him back to me. "These things won't last forever." I mumbled into his hair. "Lets not dwell on this right now, I just want to enjoy the last bit of time I have with you." I mumbled into his sweet smelling locks, and pulled his lips up to mine for a crushing kiss.
Our tongue's danced, and our chests pressed together as we struggled to get closer. I really didn't need the air, but Draco was gasping for breath, and I'll admit, the intensity and my breathing picking up too. If this kept going on much longer, I knew I'd start to get excited in ways that would be inconvenient at the moment. Before we could get too far, though, I heard Vick calling me, signaling the time for our departure.
Sighing, I pulled back reluctantly, savoring the taste of Draco on my tongue. "Time to go." I said softly to him, but I made no attempt to move, and neither did he.
We stared into each other's eyes for a long while, ignoring the minutes ticking slowly by. We were searching each other, gauging the other, looking for something particular in the other's eyes, and I found what I was looking forward. Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath, and said it. "Draco, I love you." The words were out there and I couldn't take them back.
He looked stunned for a moment, like that had been the last thing he'd expected, but then, as I'd predicted, his lips morphed into a soft smile. "I love you, too, Harry, and I mean it. I've never loved anyone before . . ." He trailed off, and pressed his lips chastely to mine.
Out kiss lasted for a while before I pulled away with a sigh both content and sad. "We really should be going." I mumbled around my love's lips, and then pulled away completely. "We're going to be very late." I said and took his hand, and somehow that gesture portrayed finality, and we both knew we couldn't put off our impending separation any longer.
"Then let's get this over with before I decided to change my mind and kidnap you and take you with me." Draco said as we walked toward the front of the house. The thing was, I knew he wasn't kidding. It made me smile, just a little, and I gripped his hand tightly as we walked side by side.
"It's about time!" Vick exclaimed when we got there. My car was parked close to them too because I'd decided to drive to the Burrow because that would be untraceable, unlike the other three who would be flooing. I didn't want any chance of being traced back to this safe haven.
"Yeah, yeah, take a chill pill." I said as we neared the two elder vampires, the oldest of who had already packed my stuff in the boot.
"You best be going," he said, "You're already running late." His eyes darted between me and Draco.
I released Draco just for a moment so I could hug my sire. "I'll see you in a week." I mumbled into his shoulder, and it struck me with a pang that I was really going to miss this man who was now family to me, but at the same time, I was happy to be leaving to go see my other family. He hugged me back, and released me without saying anything, but with a kind smile on his face.
I looked to Snape next, and our goodbye simply consisted of nods and a "See you at school, Professor."
Lastly was Draco. I pulled him into a bone crushing hug while the others watched, and caught his lips in a passionate and somewhat desperate kiss, which tapered off into a quick succession of ravenous chaste pecks. Surprisingly, Snape didn't make any side remarks about our contact, and all too soon we released each other. "Bye." I whispered in his ear.
"Goodbye," he replied, and his words rang with a daunting finality that almost made me shiver, and although our eyes were mirrors of liquid sadness, they reflected love too, and with that, we parted.
I stalked over to my car, opened the door and slid gracefully in, turned the key in the ignition, and sped off, down the winding forest road toward the highway, and never looked back once and momentary depression and an insane longing for where I'd just left consumed me.
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I drove for hours until I was anywhere near my destination. I was getting close to the Burrow; I knew because I was driving the long, straight stretches of land in the middle of nowhere before the swamp lands surrounding the Burrow. Needless to say, I was also exceeding the speed limit by a very large amount, not that I really cared.
I had Buckcherry playing, their album 15 set to repeat every time it was finished. The song currently playing was Next 2 You, and I felt compelled to sing along, and I had the lyrics memorized. My voice was melodious, and, if I do say so myself, I did an even better job than the lead singer did. Of course, I couldn't have pulled that off before I was turned; being a vampire also improved my vocal cords, as it had the rest of my body, although in every day speech, it was hardly noticeable.
The roads I was on were very dusty, and I trailed a cloud of the fine particles behind me. That was but one of the few times I was glad Vick had put charms on my car to keep it from getting dirty, or else the paint would be a disgusting brown color by now.
Just a few minutes later, the towering, lopsided structure of the Burrow came into view, and I slowed just enough to make the turn off, even though I had to slam the brakes and pull the car into a skid to make it. It was a maneuver I'd learned from Vick when we were board and decided to go out racing on back roads. Needless to say, we went through a lot of tires when we did that.
Apparently, they'd seen me coming from the windows because everybody filed out of the house to see what was going on when I'd pulled up and crawled to a stop. They were all looking at the car somewhat confused, 'they' being the Weasley elders, Fred and George, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione. I didn't see Sirius, which surprised me, but I guess that just meant he wasn't there, at least not yet.
I removed the key, opened my door, and stepped out, head to toe in black, including sunglasses, with only my silver dragon pendant giving me any color. And they all just stared at me for a moment, open mouthed, eyes darting back and forth between me and my obviously expensive car and clothes. Finally, getting tire of it, I gave a little wave and said, "Hello."
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Hermione had been the first to hug me, or maybe the appropriate word would be attack? after I'd broken the silence. Pretty much everyone else followed suite, but Ron just stood there, staring between me and the car. Thankfully, it didn't take long for Mrs. Weasley to take our little reunion inside.
"It's so good to see you again, Harry!" she gushed, and began fussing over the length of my hair, and how my clothes were lacking in cheerful color. She then proceeded to try and feed me everything in the house, as was the norm.
"I'm fine, honestly!" I laughed, a bit overwhelmed. "I'm not hungry!" I said to stress my point, and I slipped out of the woman's claws and she let me go, watching me calculatingly, although I have no idea what she was looking for. I didn't stick around to see she found it.
I was on the stairs in a moment, taking them two at a time up to Ron's room, where I knew he, his sister, Hermione, and the twins had congregated soon after the Weasley matriarch started fussing over me, knowing I'd join them as soon as possible. Being the little sneak I was, I slowed my steps and walked noiselessly towards the door, using my advanced hearing to eavesdrop.
"Did you see what he's wearing?" I hear Ron hiss to the others. "And that car? Wherever he went, he's probably turned into a pompous git!" He exclaimed, while I inched closer to the door, instinctually avoiding a creaky floor board. The jealousy in my red haired friend's voice was dripping off of every word, and I frowned a bit.
"You don't know that, Ron!" Hermione shot back. "There could be a reason for all of this . . . these things . . ." she trailed off, and I knew she was trying to analyze the situation to explain it. Her continued silence meant she didn't have any substantial arguments, at least not right now.
Ron snorted. "Do you actually believe that Hermione? When I first saw him today, I didn't recognize him. More than just his looks must have changed, I know it! For all we know, he could be just like Malfoy now!" he spat furiously.
I chuckled. It's not like he was entirely wrong. I had picked up a few habits from Draco. I began listening again as Ginny came to my defense.
"Don't say things like that! Yes, he may have changed, but I don't think he'd change like that!"
The twins joined in. "Yeah, we agree with you, little sis." chimed Fred.
"We've got some money now too," his brother continued.
"But it hasn't really changed us." Fred finished up.
Ron grumbled. "Yeah, whatever, but I still don't believe you. Hey, what was that for?" Hermione had smacked him upside the head. I chuckled softly and decided it was now time to make my entrance.
They were still deep in conversation when I knocked, and I could hear perfectly through the wall that they all jumped. This day just kept getting better and better. Although, I really had to stop and wonder for a moment how much I had changed now that causing slight uncomforting feelings in my friends was enjoyable . . . I shrugged my thoughts off and entered, not really caring to dwell on them.
I didn't wait for them to tell me to come in, the knock was simply just to warn them. I slid gracefully inside and plopped down on the floor with Ginny since the beds were currently occupied by the other four. "How is everybody?" I asked, glancing around, breaking the metaphorical ice.
"We're all doing pretty fine. Well, we are now that Mum's not stressing about where you are anymore." Ginny said with a slight grin.
I bowed my head in mock shame. "Oh, how ever will you forgive me for making you all worry even after I'd sent you all letters saying I was fine." I shook my head in mock defeat. "What a horrible person I am!"
The tension more or less melted away after that, and we got deep into conversation, however, the twins had to leave to go check on their joke shop, which they'd left in the capable (or so they'd hoped) hands of their employees. I bid them farewell with promises of meeting up again soon.
After a while, Ron just had to ask, "So, where'd you get that car? I don't have to be a muggle to see that it probably cost a fortune." He commented, and I glanced over at him from my new lounging position across from him and Hermione on the other bed.
"If you must know, it was a birthday present."I stated simply, nonchalantly, as though it was none of his business. And really, it wasn't.
He sputtered at my words. "A present?" I nodded. "Who in their right mind would get something that expensive for someone as a present?" He apparently couldn't wrap his mind around the idea that the filthy rich had no price limits. They just bought whatever struck their fancy. Which was why Vic's house, and many of the pureblood wizards, had so many decorations and tapestries in their homes, even though they themselves were worth more than a small fortune.
I decided to humor him. "Someone slightly insane . . . or mentally unstable. Is there really a difference?" ha, Vick, take that.
"So let me get this straight," Ron swallowed. "You spent your summer with an insane rich guy?" his voice was disbelieving.
"Pretty much." I confirmed. And thankfully they let that conversation drop because I didn't know how much 'rubbing in the face' of my shiny new things Ron could take before his jealousy meter went off the charts, but Ginny found a way to bring up something I really didn't feel like focusing on at the moment, and wanted more than anything to keep it a secret except for with those who already knew.
"So, where'd you get that necklace?" she asked from her place beside me on the bed, fingering my pendant.
I slid it out of her hand and into my own, "Another birthday present."
"Is that stone real?" She continued.
I nodded, lost in the memory of the person who gave me it. "It's an emerald." I added for good measure, but I didn't feel the need to add that I was given it particularly because it matched my eyes perfectly. I was spacing out now, and I knew the others noticed too, but I didn't want to leave my thoughts yet. It had only been less than a day, but I already missed Draco enough to cause a dull ache in my chest. I shuddered to think what I would be feeling a few days from now.
I fell onto my back, looking at the ceiling, and brooding silently. My friends glanced at me, but then decided to carry on light conversation without me while I held onto my necklace. I let my eyes drift closed, and tried to recreate my love's face on the back of my eyelids.
I was pulled out of my musings a little bit later when I heard someone come out of the floo, and that person's voice carried up to me, but I knew for certain the rest of the room's occupants didn't hear him. It was Sirius. My lips pulled up into a gentle smile at the thought of finally seeing my godfather again, but I made no move to get up to greet him. After all, I wasn't supposed to know he was here yet. However, after a quick conversation with Mr. Weasley, he thundered his way up the stairs at a breakneck pace, continuing down the hall to this room, and bursting through the door. Upon his arrival, I pulled myself up into a sitting position, ignoring the startled looks on my friends' faces, and smiled. "Hi, Sirius."
"Why you little . . ." the black haired man said, his face contorted in momentary anger, before it melted away and he pulled me into a crushing hug. Well, it was for him, but he'd have to try a lot harder to squish me anymore. He pulled back just as quick as he'd grabbed me. "What did you think you were doing, taking off like that? You could have been captured, could have been killed! But more importantly, why didn't you take me with you?" he demanded, panting heavily and out of breath.
I slid my hand through my hair. "Sorry, Sirius." I said with a sheepish grin.
Would you consider this a cliffhanger? Oh well, there'll be more on Harry and Sirius's reunion in the next chapter.
Also, I'd love to reach a hundred reviews for this chapter! I'm so close, only ten away, so I think we can do this ^^ It would also give me a bit more motivation to get the next chapter out sooner, if that means anything to you . . .