Chapter 10

I woke up with the world spinning round me. I smiled as I thought that metaphorically the world had always revolved around me in one way or another. My dizziness was only a confirmation of that.

"What's so funny?" asked a hoarse voice beside me.

I opened my eyes at once. My sight, however, was a bit blurry. I turned my head around slowly. I felt tremendously sick. I spotted Harry's silhouette against the light. He was sitting on a very uncomfortable hospital chair. Great. I was in St. Mungus.

"Do you know where you are?" Harry asked coming forward.

Interesting. Harry was worried, I could tell. I kept smiling, which only made him confused and irritated.

"Malfoy, are you okay? Were the drugs too strong?"

I wanted to laugh, but before I could do or say anything I heard Astoria's voice from behind him.

"Is he awake? How is he?"

I made a face. I didn't want Astoria and Harry in the same room. She knew too much. I was afraid that she would let something slip. Although Astoria was a discreet woman, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"I think he's a big groggy from the medicine and it's not making much sense. Oh, wait, he's always been like this," he said with a smirk.

"Ha-ha, Potter," I replied in such a throaty voice I wondered if I was the one speaking at all.

"I'm going to call the Healer," said Astoria.

"It's not necessary," I tried telling her, but she had already left.

I blinked for a few times. I was finally able to see things more clearly. I looked at Harry, who was staring at me with angry eyes. I trembled slightly.

"What is it?" I asked.

"As the Head of the Aurors Office it is my duty to inform you that you are under arrest for attacking me," he started all business-like. I raised a brow. "Unfortunately, your wife's already paid your bail. You must, however, be in Court on the set date to answer to the charge of n. 138. I'll recommend house arrest as your penalty."

"Is this a joke?" I asked. House arrest? I didn't even leave my house! "Oh, I get it. You're doing this so I won't follow you when you go after the Book of the Dead. Fat chance, Potter."

Harry sighed heavily and he clutched his fists. I didn't know why he was so mad. None of my spells had affected him in any way. All I'd managed to do was damage my own legacy, something that would make my father furious when he found out.

"This isn't a joke, Malfoy. Your wife told me your Healer has forbidden you to cast heavy spells! Don't you know you might drain yourself in such a way that you may never recover? You can lose your magical powers!"

Oh, I knew that. I avoided thinking about it, though. I've been losing my powers for a long time. I didn't know why. No one did. All I had were theories, and so did my psychiatrist. But at that particular moment I didn't feel like talking or even thinking about it.

"Is it my fault?" he asked quietly, almost making me suffer a heart attack. "Is it because I took your wand from you all those years ago? Did it traumatize you or something? I still have it. I can give it back to you. Or I can let you take it back if that helps somehow."

It was unusual for Harry to behave in such a thoughtful way towards me, to say the least. In fact, it was kind of creepy. For a moment I thought I was actually dreaming the whole think, and the medicine they'd given me was making me hallucinate.

I cleared my throat.

"Even though I miss my old wand," I said in a low voice, "what happened so long ago has nothing to do with my current state."

"Are you sure?"

As a matter of fact, I had wondered many times before if my problem wasn't linked to Harry Potter. I had discussed it endlessly with my psychiatrist. We believed it had everything to do with him. But if I said it aloud, would it change anything? I was happy that Harry was showing such concern for my well-being, which made me consider telling him what I really thought. My heart was full of hope. It was pathetic, but it couldn't be helped. And yet, I couldn't say anything.

"Don't be so conceited, Potter. Not everything is about you," I stated.

If he insisted on the matter, as flattering as it was, I would hex him. I didn't want to delve into the subject any longer.

Luckily, Harry kept quiet. He just stared at me for a long time as if trying to know what was going through my head. He looked at me as if he had never seen me before, as if I was a puzzle to be solved. The Great Harry Potter was perplexed and I was the cause of it. I felt as though I had accomplished something very important.

Then I realised something.

"Do you still have my wand?" I asked, baffled.

He shrugged like it didn't matter. Bastard!

"I thought you were going to get rid of it," I insisted.

"Why would I do that? It's a good wand."

"You don't need it."

Was it my impression or did Harry Potter just blushed? I opened my eyes wide. My heart was overjoyed.

"Does it matter? I said I can give it back," he said trying to look aloof.

The offer was tempting. I did miss my old wand. The first one was obviously unforgettable. It mirrored the wizard's soul. It was not a coincidence that mine had been taken away by Harry and subdued to him so easily. Perhaps my wand was destined to be his all along. Perhaps my wand was my love declaration. I wonder if he had ever thought of that. I felt like laughing.

"Maybe I do want it back," I said, looking the other way. I didn't want him to see the excitement in my eyes.

"Good."

"Good."

Silence. All I could hear were steps coming from the corridor. I thought somebody was going to enter the room, but no one did. Harry and I were completely alone.

"I..." we both said at once.

I smiled. I saw Harry's lips open up a little bit, but he immediately got stiff and serious, as if he was afraid I would misinterpret him.

"How do you expect to come with me after the Book of the Dead when you are clearly sick? I'm not your babysitter, Malfoy. Besides, this isn't your business but mine. You're not part of my Squad. You're not an Auror."

"I know. But I want to help. I know you don't believe in me..."

"I don't know what to believe anymore," he interrupted me. "But I know that you'd be much more helpful if you just stayed out of it."

"I can't do that," I replied.

Harry breathed hard. He was probably counting to ten too.

"I'm going to Egypt in a week."

"I'm coming with you."

"And how exactly are you going to achieve that?" he snorted. "Lying on a hospital bed with an IV attached to your arm?"

I shrugged.

"I'll be fine until then."

"If you come after me I'll kill you myself."

I smiled.

"Promises, promises. You could've killed me in the past... You actually almost succeeded. Besides, Potter, if you really wanted me to behave like a good boy, you wouldn't have told me about your plans."

He seemed slightly surprised as if he had just realised that. I grinned. I guess my smile caught him unguarded, for he did not reply as I was expecting.

"You are such a..." he started but didn't finish.

We were interrupted by the arrival of my Healer, followed by Astoria, Angel and Alfred. I was annoyed. Why was it that Harry and I were always interrupted at the most crucial moments?

I forgot about Harry for a while when Angel appeared next to me with a worried look. I stroked his face tenderly.

"I'm alright," I said.

"I wouldn't say that," the Healer stated as he examined me. I glared at him, but the man didn't seem to care and just laughed it off. "Don't worry. There's nothing a good day's rest can't cure. Mr. Potter will have to wait awhile if he wants to arrest you, though."

It was a humourless joke. Angel and Alfred opened their eyes wide and their concern for my health increased. I was touched that even Alfred seemed worried about my wellbeing.

"I'm not going to arrest Malfoy," Harry said quickly as he saw Angel looking scared. "We just have a... date in court to solve the problem."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"A date, Potter?"

Harry went totally red, which made him incredibly adorable. He mumbled something I couldn't get and left the room as if he was being chased away by demons. I was intrigued.

The Healer was gone after informing me about the marvellous powers of a good rest, and he left me a prescription. My personal Healer was not around but he would get in touch as soon as he could.

Astoria squeezed my hand.

"You gave us quite a fright. What were you thinking?"

Her pretty face was slightly contorted with fear. I felt guilty.

"I wasn't thinking."

"Are you going to be okay?" asked Angel, looking at me with his big green eyes.

"You're an idiot for worrying my brother like this!" exclaimed Alfred aggressively.

"Don't be rude, brat! I am going to be fine," I retorted, then turned to Astoria, "I hope you haven't said anything to Scorpius."

"I haven't. But he's sent a letter. He's doing quite well in Hogwarts," she smiled.

I felt my heart getting lighter. I missed my boy so much. Perhaps I should visit him before going to Egypt. Then again, perhaps I should not. Scorpius was a very clever boy. He would suspect of something wrong if I just appeared at Hogwarts out of nowhere. Parents didn't go to Hogwarts unless they had a very good reason for it.

I was convinced to stay in bed. I spent two days in hospital, and when I finally went back home I was spoiled rottenly by everyone. I confess I liked being the centre of attention. Even my dogs seemed to have missed me.

We spent the afternoon in the gazebo watching Porthos, Athos, Aramis and D'artagnan playing around with the boys. The weather couldn't be more pleasant, and the sky was incredibly blue.

I had a lot of fun with Angel. The boy was really special. His sweetness had won us all, even the crankiest of the Aurors guarding us. The elves were absolutely delighted to have him around, and they spent a great part of their time helping Astoria watch over him. He was adorable, but his angelic face hid a very naughty boy, so he needed someone keeping an eye on him 24/7.

I smiled as I watch him play with Porthos and Aramis. It was good to be a kid. An invisible force squeezed my heart as I thought of Angel and Alfred living on the streets of London having for company rebel young men without any real life perspectives. I felt a bit ashamed of my own spoiled childhood.

"Are you really going to adopt us?" asked Alfred after coming to sit next to us.

I glanced at him and then answered, "I've given you my word, haven't I?"

"Only because you pity us," he retorted distastefully. I could tell, however, that it was just a defensive mechanism.

"Malfoys pity no one, dear boy. You'll end up learning that since you are joining the family."

He stared at me as if I was delusional. Maybe I was.

"I'm going to be a Malfoy?"

My smile was not so pretty. Being a Malfoy had meant the world to me, but that was ages ago.

"Isn't that the purpose of adoption, to welcome you into the family?"

His countenance darkened. He crossed his arms and looked at his brother.

"I was just asking…"

In the beginning I thought Alfred was very much like Harry. Now, however, I was changing my mind. That irritating posture, those defences he'd carefully built around him, the arrogance… He was just like me. Even his hair, which was supposed to be brownish like his brother's were now a pale shade of blond, just like mine. He probably bleached them as a sign of rebellion. I wonder if he wasn't really my son. I smirked.

"What's so funny?" he groaned.

"We are very much alike," I stated.

He arched his eyebrows.

"Are we? What d'you mean?" there was doubt but also curiosity in his voice.

"I was also an arrogant brat."

"I'm not arrogant! And I'm certainly not a brat!" Alfred immediately answered back.

"Of course you're not. It's just the image you show to the world. Deep down you're just afraid."

He grunted. "Afraid? I don't know what you're talking about. I'm afraid of nothing!"

I sneered. Angel's happy screams distracted us for a moment. Then I heard Alfred ask as if it wasn't important, "Were you afraid?"

I sighed. What was the point of lying anyway?

"I was."

"Of what?" I could feel his immense curiosity behind his question.

"Of life..." And of Harry Potter. "I was raised to boss people around, not trust them. Potter was the first to challenge me, the first to question the world I lived in."

My mind wandered to the first day my friendship was turned down by the one who would become my world from then on.

"You trust him," was the statement.

I closed my eyes. I hadn't trusted Harry, but I had wanted to. Now he had me wrapped around his finger.

"It's not easy to trust people, but Potter is someone who would take pity on his enemy and even help him in the end. You can trust him."

"He's an idiot then. I don't trust idiots."

According to his way of thinking, I was an idiot as well. As if that fact was any news to me. Hearing it from the mouth of a brat, though, annoyed me.

Our afternoon tea went by smoothly. The elves brought us a huge basket of scones and different types of muffins to Angel's delight. I could tell that Alfred was also content, even though he tried really hard not to show. I pretended not to notice them feeding the dogs under the table. Kids would always be kids after all.

We returned to the main house together. Angel, who by now had almost completely lost his shyness, was speaking nonstop about his adventures around the Manor – which were always closely watched by two Aurors, but also by Astoria. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Alfred smiling at his brother. He looked so peaceful that I couldn't help but smile too.

As we reached the backdoor, though, he went stiff. I followed his eyes and found Harry's.

"Shouldn't you be resting, Malfoy?" he asked crossly.

I frowned.

"I didn't know you'd become my private nurse, Potter," I teased him.

The outrage on his face was priceless. I wanted to tease him some more, make him as angry as I could manage so I could kiss him later. Just like a schoolgirl in love. Ridiculous, Draco! Get a grip of yourself! I was lucky nobody could hear my stupid thoughts.

I was still shaken by our almost-kiss. For that brief moment our lips had met, I saw heaven. My mouth still burnt at the memory, wondering what it would be like to kiss Harry properly, to feel his tongue touching mine, to hold him. Would it be heaven or hell?

"We thought a little fresh air would do him good," said Astoria. "And it did, right? Draco's face has a lovely colour now, don't you think?"

Harry looked at Astoria as if he couldn't believe she had just asked him that. I think Astoria always managed to surprise Harry in one way or another.

"He looks less like a ghost now," said Alfred with his usual charms.

In a way, he was trying to be nice. I hid a smile.

"We need to talk," said Harry, ignoring the chit-chat.

"Wasn't I supposed to be resting?"

"Our conversation won't take too long."

My only concern was staying in the same room with Harry without having a heart attack. A part of me was afraid of being alone with him. The other part, however, was more than willing to face his green eyes.

Astoria, the boys and the dogs went one way. Harry and I went the other. When we were finally alone, I took a deep breath to keep calm. It didn't work. My heart was beating violently in my chest. It would be difficult to control myself around Harry. It was almost impossible to remain impassive, especially when I was starting to believe that Harry might not be as indifferent to me as I once thought.

Maybe he was just curious. My desire for him had become quite clear that day. Who could tell what was going through Harry's head at this point. The worst part wasn't the forbidden desire between enemies. It was the fact that we were both married, with kids. An affair was a terrible idea.

I often wondered what Harry's marriage life was like. He and Ginny gave the impression of being the perfect family, the kind that makes one want to vomit. What if it wasn't true?

"Things have become more complicated than I first presumed," Harry started.

Oh, yes, things between us were certainly very complicated. But that was old news.

"The hard truth is that right now I need you."

Huh? My heart literally stopped and I think my soul left my body for a moment, perhaps to try and understand what he had just said. That was the reason why I missed the rest of his speech, and when I finally came back to earth Harry was staring at me angrily.

"So?"

"So what?" I asked slightly dumbfounded. Bummer.

Harry's sigh spoke louder than words.

"Do you think you can get ready by the end of the week?"

My confused state was such that Harry only got angrier.

"Did you hear a word I said? Dammit, Malfoy! This isn't going to work!" Harry started pacing impatiently. "I wasn't happy to find out that to put my hands on the Book of the Dead I'd need your help, but what am I supposed to do? Hermione made it quite clear when she said that only a Malfoy can open the chamber where the book is, and only a Malfoy can break its curse. Others will be pulverised, and I'm guessing they meant literally. I told her I wasn't afraid and that you are in no condition to..."

"Wait a second!" My mind was working miles per hour.

I sat and stared at the floor. My eyes were lost somewhere else. I swallowed hard. Harry Potter needed me because only a Malfoy could break the curse of the book. My eyes went wide open and I looked at him. Before I could help myself, I smirked.

"Malfoy..." Harry's voice was threatening.

"So that's why you need me."

There was a hint of victory in my trembling voice. My eyes were probably sparkling madly with deep satisfaction. That was my moment of triumph. So Harry Potter didn't need me like I needed him. But at least he needed my help. It was a huge step. Would I be able to hide my excitement?

"You really didn't hear a word I said, did you?"

No, not really. But what did he expect? Listening to Harry Potter telling you he needed you was enough to leave anybody dazed and out of words.

"Could you start again? I got... distracted."

Harry made a face.

"The stuff we got from your secret room, or the little that was left after you had your fit, was really helpful."

So they had confiscated everything. Astoria hid that fact from me. Needless to say, I wasn't happy. My father would be even less.

"There were other letters exchanged between your grandfather and Diggus Clark. In one of them, Clark found out how to get the book from the hideout in Egypt, and he demanded your grandfather's presence there because he was the only one who could break the curse of the book. It seems that the book was left there by another Malfoy, and the dark magic used to protect it could only be broken by a Malfoy. However, your grandfather discovered that Diggus wasn't really the respected wizard he thought he was, so they ended up breaking their association."

"He killed Diggus, didn't he?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"Yes. You seem to know your family well."

I felt like showing him the finger, but I realised it would be rather childish so I held myself back.

"You found everything out through the letters?" I asked with mistrust.

"Of course not. I am investigating the case after all. We suspect your grandfather ordered someone to kill Diggus, but there isn't any proof. There's also the fact that your grandfather didn't set foot in Egypt before or after that. He most likely thought that what Diggus told him was not true. Diggus was only after his money, so the whole thing could be just a big scheme to rip him off."

"But if it was just a scheme, then why...?"

"A little before Abraxas Malfoy got sick, he received some news again about the Chamber, this time from a very reliable source. The curator of the Cairo museum, Illius Mubarak, sent him some interesting news about it all. Through hieroglyphs they found out that the Malfoys' blood was needed to open the place where the book was hidden. The clues end there. Abraxas died a little afterwards and so did Illius. He was hit by a powerful curse as he tried to open a tomb. The location of the chamber was lost."

"Then how are we supposed to find it?"

Harry's smile was so large and bright that it almost blinded me.

"I have my sources."

"So you know where the chamber is?" I didn't want to sound impress, but dammit, I was.

"I know of people who can help me locate it."

I frowned. Not that I really cared. What I really wanted in all of that was a chance to be near Harry, as pathetic as that was. Spending some time with him in Egypt would be glorious, with or without the Book of the Dead.

Part of me wanted the adventure. It was a way to prove to the world – and to Harry in particular – that I was worth something. I was the key to save the wizarding world this time. My ego blew up like a balloon. But then I realised something that made me terrified.

"Does The Almighty know of this?" I asked.

"They know that the book is in Egypt. They also know somebody who can give them some information about its location."

"Do they know about the Malfoys?"

Our eyes met and I was certain that Harry knew where I was getting at.

"I don't think they do."

"You think?"

It was my time to pace nervously about the room.

"I'm going to Hogwarts and I'm bringing Scorpius home. I can't leave him there. He's a Malfoy. If The Almighty knows about Egypt, they will certainly go after him. He's an easy target since he's only a child. I will never let that happen."

I would never let my son experience an ounce of the hell I had to go through with the Dark Lord.

"Would it help you calm down if I told you that your son is being carefully watched?" Harry said.

I stood still. Harry was now just a few steps away from me. I was definitely disturbed if I hadn't realised until that moment how close he really was.

"Don't worry. Your kid is safe," he said with a certainty that impressed me.

"I'd be much more at ease if you were personally watching him."

He looked at me in a strange way.

"I'm flattered by your trust, but I also trust my men. Besides, I have an agent spying for me from the inside of The Almighty group. I'll be the first to know if they decide to attack."

I took a deep breath before I could send Harry to hell.

"I don't like it. In fact, it actually makes me more upset to know that! We both know what can happen with spies, Potter."

Harry gave one more step in my direction. Honestly, he was playing with fire. I crossed my arms. Was he trying to make me dizzy with his smell? I wouldn't be that easily deceived. I wasn't that vulnerable to his charms, at least not when my son's life was at stake.

Breathing, however, did become a little bit complicated, and when Harry's perfume made its way inside my nostrils, I felt slightly intoxicated. Sexy bastard.

"What if I told you that Albus is also in danger?"

"Albus? Your son?"

He nodded affirmatively. I was baffled.

"Why? What does your son have to do with it?"

Harry's countenance darkened as if just remembering the subject made him upset.

"Scorpius is Albus' best friend, and from what I've heard, they're always together. Therefore, if anything happens to Scorpius, it might also happen to Albus."

That was some news. Scorpius had never even mentioned Albus Potter. Then again, why would he have said something about it in the first place? The boy had grown up listening to his grandfather complaining about how insufferable Harry Potter was, and how much "daddy" hated him. I avoided talking about Harry in front of him. It wasn't strange at all that Scorpius had decided not to tell us that his best friend was none other than Albus Potter.

Wasn't life damn funny? My son succeeded where I had failed. He managed to gain the loyalty and friendship of a Potter. I wanted to grin, but in the current circumstances, I was in a state of shock.

"I need a drink," I said.

Harry had the audacity to laugh.

"What's so bloody funny?" I asked angrily. I knew exactly how he was feeling but I wouldn't let it show.

"Sorry. That was exactly what I said when I found out."

We looked at each other knowingly. It wasn't really difficult to accept our sons' friendship. It was just extremely odd to picture it, to say the least.

"Do you understand now why Scorpius is safe?"

I made a face.

"This is quite surreal, Potter."

"More than us?"

And what exactly did he mean by that? My heart raced.

"The fact is, Malfoy, that you'll have to come with me to Egypt, even though the idea doesn't please me in the least," he went on. "Do you think you'll be feeling better by then?"

I took a deep breath and nodded. Of course I wouldn't be a hundred percent well, but I would do anything to be Harry's partner in that journey. Perhaps I could even try something that I didn't believe much, but that muggles seem quite fond of: acupuncture. I felt chills down my spine at the thought of needles on my body.

Another point had to be clarified.

"What about my father?" I asked.

I was afraid that Lucius already knew about everything, or worse, that he was involved with The Almighty. Although he had promised us not to deal with dark magic anymore, one could never be sure, especially when the said group wanted to bring back Slytherin, an idea that I was sure my father would find interesting.

"Your father is being carefully watched too. He won't go anywhere."

I frowned.

"Even though he's in France?"

"We have an agreement with the French government. You see, Malfoy, we've always been watching Lucius Malfoy. Do you think we'd just let him move out of the UK without doing anything? Your father knows that if he steps out of line he will go back to Azkaban, and this time he won't have the right to an appeal."

The glint in Harry's eyes was merciless, and the way he clarified things to me was enough to assure me that Lucius could not be involved with The Almighty without the Auror's Squad knowing it – and putting a stop to it.

"Alright."

Just in case, I should speak to Lucius. I could not delay that conversation any longer. The mere thought of it made me cringe.

"Did you think of using my father on this mission instead of me?" I asked him.

Harry sighed.

"The idea crossed my mind for a second. Unfortunately, Lucius Malfoy is the type of person you cannot depend on."

"But I am?" I couldn't hold my tongue. Being the only one to be able to help Harry in that situation went to my head.

He only smirked.

"Let's just say it's less... complicated. Besides, aren't you the one who said that you are way too involved in all of this to be left out of it?"

Indeed. Life was certainly strange. A Malfoy had the power to recover the Book of the Dead and save an innocent kid from becoming Slytherin. A Malfoy who was weak and insecure and that loved Harry Potter.

"I think you'll need this," said Harry taking me out of my reverie.

He had my old wand in his hands. My eyes sparkled like jewellery. Seeing it now I realised how much I had missed that part of me. My hands trembled with the need to touch it. Harry held it out for me. I took a step forward. We were now only centimetres away from each other. I felt as if there was an electrical current surrounding us.

I took it in my hands. Harry was still holding it. I felt a pleasant tingle though my body as we touched. My eyes searched for his, which were staring at me intensely. My wand seemed to have created a powerful connection between us, and I wonder if he could feel it. This wand didn't belong to me anymore. It had bowed to Harry's greatness and became as much in love with him as I was. I couldn't blame it for leaving me so easily.

Blue sparkles came out from its tip. Harry and I both opened our eyes widely. There really was some powerful energy flowing between us. I think Harry could feel it too because he instantly let it go, thus breaking our connection. Having my wand all to myself wasn't the same. It was now just an ordinary wand. It wasn't mine anymore, and I guess it would never be. It was pointless trying to make it mine again. It was like trying to ask for my heart back. I made a face. I was getting rather sentimental around Harry.

I sighed loudly.

"It doesn't belong to me anymore, Potter," I said ready to hand it back to him.

"Maybe we should duel."

That was a ridiculous idea. I wasn't in any condition to duel with Harry Potter and he knew it.

"It won't be for real, Malfoy," he went on as he saw the look on my face. "Just so you could it win it back properly. Perhaps..."

"Perhaps. But my wand has been in your possession for ages. I think it doesn't recognize me anymore as its owner."

"Are you kidding me? Didn't you feel something when I gave it back to you? I did."

The truth was revealed. He had felt something when we touched the wand together. Glory, Alleluia!

"What did you feel, Potter?" I pretended not to care.

It was Harry's time to frown.

"As if you didn't know, Malfoy. As if you haven't felt it too."

The air around us became suddenly very dense. The way he said my name made my knees turn to jelly. Damn Potter. What was he trying to do to me? I felt my face heating up.

He got closer again. I lost the capacity to breathe normally. His hands touched mine. Everything around us disappeared. I forgot who I was. All I really wanted was to close the distance between us for good.

He took the wand from my hands and then stepped away. He looked at me from the opposite side of the room and pointed the wand at me. I suddenly became very aware of myself and my surroundings.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Take out your current wand. You're going to disarm me with it."

He was using his best Chief-Auror voice to order me to do it. I sneered.

"Are you serious?"

"Just take out your wand, Malfoy."

"It isn't going to work, Potter."

"We won't know unless we try it out," he said shrugging.

"I'm not recovered yet."

Was I scared? Of course I was. Stronger spells drained me quickly.

"You're just going to cast a simple disarming spell, Malfoy."

What was simple to him was not so simple to me anymore. However, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to just try it out. Would it be that easy to have my old wand back? I doubted it. I remembered when we used to duel at Hogwarts. We had disarmed one another many times, but our wands had kept their identity.

"This isn't a real duel," I stated.

Harry breathed hard.

"Do you want us to duel for real? Very well, then. Take out your wand. Now."

He was challenging me. A duel with the Great Harry Potter. I almost pouted, but as soon as I put my hand on my current wand and aimed it at him, something grew inside of me. Our first duel in Hogwarts came to my mind. I'd had him there for a second by suddenly conjuring up a snake. Nobody knew at the time that Harry could talk to them.

"What are you waiting for?"

Good question. Perhaps I was waiting for a divine sign of some kind. I took position and a wave of excitement filled me up.

"On three?" he suggested. "One, two..."

"Expelliarmus!" I shouted before he could finish. Blame it on the Slytherin that still lived inside of me.

I guess I got way too carried away. The idea of duelling with Harry left me way too excited. The spell came out stronger than it should, and the wand did fly back to me, but Harry was thrown to the floor.

I didn't have time to celebrate the fact that my wand was pulsating in my hands. I ran to Harry thinking that he was probably fuming and that I'd definitely suffer the consequences. When I got to him, I knelt down by his side and got the surprise of a lifetime. He had a huge smile on his face.

"How about now? Are you feeling stronger?" he asked me still lying on the floor, his green eyes shining.

I smiled back at him. I tried not to, but his smile was contagious. How could I resist him? My old wand did make me feel different. Perhaps I wasn't feeling stronger, but I was definitely feeling more confident. I had my old friend back. I knew that if Harry claimed it, it would come back to him. But right now it had accepted me back, and that should be enough. I gripped it hard.

"Thank you," was all I managed to say, and for a Malfoy that was saying a lot.

Harry sat down. We got lost in each other's eyes for a long time. Somehow we ended up with our faces closer.

"Do you have a guest room available?" he asked in a whisper.

My heart almost came out of my chest.

"Of course I do."

"Would you mind if I stayed here until we're ready to go to Egypt?"

It was the most wondrous, surreal and scariest request I'd ever heard coming out of Harry's mouth.

My voice simply disappeared. What I actually wanted to do was tell him that he could have my bedroom if he liked. What would he say if I asked him to sleep with me?

Better not take any chances. I didn't know what his intentions were, but I was sure it wasn't going to bed with Draco Malfoy.

"Malfoy?"

I cleared my throat hoping that it would help me regain my voice.

"Of course I don't mind. I thought you would. Why do you want to stay here?" I managed to ask.

Harry didn't smile this time. In fact, he became quite serious when he said, "I need to make sure that you will be better until then. And maybe... maybe I should stay and help you out a little bit. You seem kind of rusty."

His words were magical and they almost made me melt. If Harry wanted to stay in the Manor, so be it. I was his.

TBC

Author's note: Yay! Another chapter. Sorry about the delay... I was lazy...