Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to HP. It all belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Inc., Warner Bros., and any other entities involved.

The next day Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Draco were discussing Muggleborns in the library while Ron and the Twins engaged in an impromptu game in the private Quidditch pitch.

Draco said, "I understand Muggles much better now, and I don't despise them as I used to, I realized that Lucius was feeding me lies, intent on getting me to serve his master. I can see now that they have another kind of magic, a hidden quality in them."

"They face the world without magic and force it to do their bidding. Nevertheless, I worry about their aggressiveness. Their weapons are superbly efficient, and I tremble when I think that one day they might use them against us. I wonder if magic can resist a Hellfire missile or an atomic bomb."

"At any rate, we should guard fiercely the secrecy of our world. Though many Muggles would be astonished, there would be a vocal minority who would want us completely wiped out off the face of the Earth, and these would have the power to force us out, to utterly destroy us."

Hermione replied, "But we have kept the secret for centuries now. Muggleborns should have all the rights that Wizards do, and that includes living with their family."

Ginny replied before Draco, "In the past, if we were discovered, the Obliviators would come and wipe off the memories, because the exchange of information was slow, we had time to react properly; but now, with electronic means to disperse a message worldwide, one fanatic Muggle that discovers us could alert the authorities around the world. There would be far too many Muggles and too widespread to deal with them and obliviate them."

"They would not listen to the first one, but if it happened again and again, we would surely be discovered."

Draco added, "I agree that Muggleborns should have full use of their magic, but maybe a Silence Vow to forbid them to disclose our secrets would be in order."

Harry commented, "But that would be very intrusive, Draco. I don't think the Wizarding World should force its members to keep the truth hidden."

Draco replied, "Au contraire, this would ensure our survival. A thousand years ago Hogwarts was created, and the Founders indulged in these kinds of discussions."

"Still, they decided to open Hogwarts to Muggleborns. Two hundred years later, the witch hunts in Europe became ferocious. Later in 1348 the first Black Death epidemic occurred. A third of the population died. If we hadn't been decimated, if we'd had a little leeway, we could've limited the enormous damage. As it was, we were so weak that we fell victim to the plague too."

Hermione countered, "Do you think these events are linked, Draco?"

"I think so. I suppose some of the Muggleborns were less than secretive about their use of magic and accidentally alerted their relatives and neighbors. At first no one believed them, and news traveled very slowly in those times, but given enough instances, the evidence accumulated and the Muggles reacted to this news with enormous alacrity and fierceness, and the hunts started."

"Although the majority was Muggle, there were an enormous number of wizards and witches who were killed. The Wizarding World has not recovered completely."

Everyone pondered this. Draco continued, "It is very intriguing to see us argue these issues. There are four of us, like the Founders."

"Hermione could stand for Rowena Ravenclaw, she is so smart. Ginny would be Helga Hufflepuff, because she is so loyal to friends and family. Of course, Harry would be Godric Gryffindor, for he is brave and chivalrous. And lastly, I would like to think I can stand for Salazar Slytherin."

"In Hogwarts, a history, it says that they discussed this many times and had almost reached a compromise, when something awful happened caused by Slytherin and he was forced into exile. In his absence, the viewpoints opposing him were adopted and Hogwarts was opened to Muggleborns."

BBBBBBBBBBBB

After they had had a sumptuous meal, they were leaving the dining room. Narcissa got close to Harry and whispered, "Can I talk to you Mr. Potter? Please follow me."

She walked into a richly furnished room, with beige rugs and decorated tapestries depicting the Malfoys fighting in the Hundred Years' War. There was a baby grand piano in the center, with music sheets on top of it.

Narcissa walked to a leather sofa and sat down. She motioned for Harry to seat in a wingback chair opposite her.

She started, "I can see how Draco treasures your company, Mr. Potter."

Harry countered, "Please call me Harry, Mrs. Malfoy."

Narcissa replied, "Of course, Harry, and call me Narcissa or Cissy." "As I was saying, Draco cherishes you. For his sake I think you should know a bit more about his upbringing."

"You might not know about his relationship with Lucius. Let me tell you a story: Once, when Draco was five years old, Lucius and I had been discussing something very heatedly."

"It was in the library. Lucius left the room and I was alone with Draco. I was so nervous that I inadvertently dropped a priceless Ming vase. Lucius heard the noise and came back, and he saw the pieces. He was so enraged and I knew that he would make me pay dearly for the vase."

"As he was about to slap me, Draco suddenly said: "It was me that dropped the vase, Father." My son glared at me with utter contempt and sneered. Lucius was irate and he dragged little Draco out of the room. I knew he would beat him severely for the vase, but Lucius was also very satisfied with the look Draco gave me. It showed him that he was shaping up to be a perfect little Malfoy who didn't care one bit about his mother."

"Of course he didn't know that Draco was protecting me. It pained me greatly that I couldn't help him, but if I had done that, Lucius would have had a superb weapon against me: the welfare of my son."

"Likewise if Draco had shown his love for me, it would have been used by Lucius to force absolute loyalty out of Draco. We were trapped into maintaining our Malfoy masks in place. If we openly showed we cared for each other, that would just ensure that the other suffered a hideous fate."

"Even when he was five years old, Draco knew that he had to show that he cared for no one. More importantly, he trusted no one, for everybody might try to betray him to his father, the elves, and his friends, even me."

"You see, Draco has built up sturdy walls around his feelings. They are slowly coming down, and I think you and Ginny are really helping with this, but they remain. He also finds it very hard to trust someone."

"Please, Harry, never betray his trust, for he would not forget that."

Harry replied, "I'd never do that willingly, Narcissa."

BBBBBBBBBB

In the afternoon, they gathered again in the Heir's Room, together with Ron and the twins. Draco was playing Wizarding Chess against Ron, and he was winning.

Ron kept chewing his lips, staring mesmerized at the board and muttering softly under his breath, "Damn ferret, I never thought he would beat me in chess."

He looked mutinously at Draco and ordered his queen to move to E4. The figure looked at him haughtily and refused to move, until Draco threatened her with instant dissolution. The queen smirked and reluctantly moved.

Ron stated, "Check, Draco."

Draco's tower moved to B3 and he triumphantly crowed, "Checkmate, Ron, old mate."

Ron was very upset. Just that morning, as they were taking a stroll in the gardens around the Manor, Draco had led them to a sheltered spot. He was aware that the topiary figures moved, but when Ginny urgently shouted, "Watch out, Ron!" and pointed to his back, he saw a giant spider figure about to pounce on him and he became very frightened. He yelled girlishly and ran away.

Of course, they ribbed him about this, especially the twins, who endlessly taunted him. He wished that his mother would effectively discipline them. They were always playing pranks on him and Ginny, and bloody ferocious ones on Draco when he visited. However, his mother only scolded them, and that did nothing to discourage their mischievousness.

At that moment, Hermione looked up from the book she was reading, "A dark history of Hogwarts" by Venancio Ombligo, and declared, "I found something really interesting about Dementors."

"It says here that the Dementors were a product of a ritual gone haywire. Around 994, Slytherin held a ceremony in the Chamber of Secrets to ensure the loyalty of his followers. About one hundred of them performed the Liege Bond simultaneously. All the energy and the magic, concentrated on Slytherin, blurred his mind and made him want the power for himself. The bond involves pledging one's fortune, life, magic and soul to the lord or lady."

"Slytherin was so drunk with power that he decided to absorb the souls of his followers, but left them with their magic. Before, some men had actually added the souls of the bonded to them, along with their magic and possessions, but never had the pledged ones been sucked of their souls and left with their magic intact."

"As a result, the bonded were bereft of souls. Their magic kept trying to get their souls back. That is the reason the Dementors try to extract souls from their victims, striving to get their own back, that is also why they abhor happy memories."

"Being without a soul, the Dementors cannot be killed. They endlessly search for their lost essence."

Harry stated, "That is really interesting, Hermione. Is there some way we could use this information to our advantage?"

Hermione replied, "I'm afraid it gets worse, much worse, Harry. You see, the Dementors were magically bound to obey Slytherin and his descendants."

Everybody sat there, stunned and horrified. Harry said, "Do you think Voldemort knows this, Mione?"

She replied, "I don't know Harry, for our sake I fervently hope not."

BBBBBBB

At night, after everybody had retired to their rooms, Harry walked to Draco's room and softly knocked on the door.

Draco opened it, and yawning said, "Harry, please come in."

Harry entered, padded to the bed and plopped down. He said, "I've wanted to talk to you about the kiss, Draco. I think it was wrong, I did not know what I was…. mmphm!"

Draco had leaned towards Harry and pressed their lips together. Unlike the kiss at Voldemort's, this one was sensuously slow, undisturbed by their environment and fully confident that they would not be interrupted by anyone. Draco ran his tongue along Harry's bottom lip, and Harry opened his mouth to the kiss, to be invaded by Draco's appendage.

The kiss was wet, hot and energetic. Draco's and Harry's tongues lazily entwined. They mapped each other's mouths. Draco could feel Harry's chipped tooth from one of their endless fights. Harry tasted like spring, a mint flavor promising freshness and sweetness.

To Harry, Draco smelled like a beauty parlor, expensive cologne underlined with his musky masculine smell. Draco tasted like cinnamon rolls, sweet and richly spiced.

Their kiss continued as they pressed their chests together. Harry felt that this kiss was so much better than the one with Bellatrix!Draco. He could feel Draco's chest pressing against his chiseled pecs.

They interrupted the kiss and hurriedly got rid of their pajamas. Harry's cotton ones were left lying on the floor next to Draco's silk ones.

Clad only in their underwear, Harry could see Draco's burgeoning erection straining against his briefs, there were signs of moisture near his cock, as he was leaking pre-cum. Harry hurriedly took off his boxers and Draco could finally see his length, proudly rising with drops of pre-cum sliding down from his slit.

Draco kissed and bit Harry's neck, he continued to rain kisses down Harry's chest. Going lower, he inserted his tongue in Harry's bellybutton and Harry moaned heatedly, spurring Draco to continue his ministrations. Harry whispered with a raspy voice, "Please Draco, touch me!"

Draco heeded this call and soon enough took Harry's length in his mouth. Though it was the first time for him, he imagined what would feel good and practiced on Harry. He was writhing on the bed, the world outside forgotten, focusing only on the heavenly mouth wrapped around his cock, sucking like there was no tomorrow.

As he sucked Harry, Draco moved his hips on the bed, trying to get more friction for his cock. Harry was shouting Draco's name over and over. He tried to warn Draco of his impending release, and managed to blabber some words, "Coming…"

With that, Harry came on Draco's mouth. Draco swallowed all the cum and raised his lips to Harry's, sharing his essence with him.

Harry managed to come down from his orgasmic high and moved down between Draco's legs. He eagerly devoured Draco's manhood and proceeded to energetically suck, with more enthusiasm than finesse. His teeth scraped Draco's cock and Malfoy was forced to say, "Harry, careful with the teeth."

Harry blushed and continued to devour Draco's cock to the root, he unconsciously gagged and tried to control this reflex thinking about how hot Draco looked, flushed and on the verge of orgasm. After completely devouring Draco's length, he bobbed up and down, laving the cockhead with kisses, licking and swallowing enthusiastically. Draco's cock was shining with spit and pre-cum, and it was relatively easy for Harry's throat to open enough to accommodate his length.

Draco moaned and whispered Harry's name continuously, with a voice left hoarse because of the blowjob. He was not nearly as vocal as Harry was, however, and it was plain to see that his Malfoy conditioning continued even in the bedroom.

Harry kneaded Draco's cheeks, and the fingers of his left hand circled Draco's entrance, softly touching the rim and driving Draco insane. Then he moved the fingers to his cock, rubbing against a newly renewed erection.

Draco felt his orgasm approaching and warned Harry, "Harry, I'm going to come now." Seconds later, he released and Harry duly consumed his sperm. Harry kissed his partner and Draco could taste himself in Harry's mouth. It felt like something he had earnestly desired for so long.

Harry cuddled next to Draco and pulled the blankets over them.

They slept, satiated and blissfully unaware of a world intent on destroying them and what they stood for.

tbc