NOTES: Hi there! Long time no see! I have finally ended Draco Malfoy in Portuguese, so now I'm totally at ease to continue to translate it all to English. Thank you for your patience. Sorry that it took me so long to do this... Thank you all very much for the reviews! Hope you like the chapter! And please, if you feel like it, review. :) Also, sorry for any mistakes. I haven't proofread the story...

Chapter 12

I take back what I said before. Harry Potter was an asshole. All I had done so far was watch him teach Alfred how to control his powers through his wand instead of wrecking everything around us. Not that it hadn't been interesting, mind you. Harry was quite a good teacher. Patient and yet strict. I still remember a time when he became a Defense against the Dark Art teacher at Hogwarts. I remember how jealous I felt for not being part of the group, which was why I had actually wanted to rat him out to Umbridge in the first place.

I'd heard several times that McGonagall never got tired of inviting him for a position to teach at Hogwarts. I image, however, that no matter how tempting the offer was, Harry would never leave the profession he loved so much.

I tried to get rid of the uncomfortable memories brought back by my days at Hogwarts by focusing on more mudane things, like Harry's physical attributes. It was difficult not to stare at his strong profile. Harry was wearing typical muggle clothes, jeans and a black jumper.

Harry was not excessively brawny, which pleased me. His body was sculped with perfection thanks to his job. It was a detestable job, indeed. But that job had brought him to my house, and it had shaped his thighs and hips. As much distraught as I was by being ignored, just looking at him was not without its advantages. The way his jeans shaped his buttocks was driving me mad. His eyes were sparkling with glee, obviously for doing something that gave him tremendous pleasure, and this fact delighted me even more.

Harry was quite a charming man.

'I hope you're paying attention, Malfoy. You're next.'

I blinked. I was next to doing what? It was hard to focus on anything else that wasn't Harry's body. His smile seemed to tell me that he knew exactly the cause of my distraction. I felt like bitting his kissable lips.

Harry showed Alfred a few more tricks. The boy pretended not to care, but he was in fact fascinated by Harry Potter, a man he had hated until then. A man who was now lending him a hand and showing him that he be could be trusted. The man I loved.

'I'm waiting, Malfoy.'

I failed to notice that Alfred was now sitting next to Angel, both of them staring at me curiously. I felt my face heating up. I stood up slowly and stopped in front of Harry. Then I took my wand out of my pocket. I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. My whole body was perked up.

Harry just looked at me, which made me kind of edgy. I frowned.

'What?' I asked.

'Don't you have more comfortable clothes? Or do you always dress up as if you are going to be invited to a ball at any minute, Your Highness? You've always thought of yourself as a prince, haven't you?'

I glanced at my light grey robe. The fabric suited me just fine. I learnt from a very tender age that I should always be elegantly dressed. Harry was wrong. I didn't think I was a prince. I was one.

'Does it make any difference?' I shrugged. 'Witches and wizards have been duelling with much heavy clothes than these for centuries. This robe happens to be designed by one of the best designers in Paris.

'I couldn't care less. Go put on some jeans and a t-shirt.'

I puffed. It wasn't the first time he presumed he could give me orders.

'What if I don't want to change clothes, Potter?'

He smiled in the most delivish way.

'No problem. I can solve this by a flick of my wand. But I have to warn you. You might end up naked.'

I couldn't waste that opportunity to give him one of my Malfoy smiles as I teased him, 'Why don't you just come out and say you want to see me naked?'

'And why would I want to see a scrawny person such as you naked?'

'So any body-builder would do?'

Harry made a face, knowing fully well he had just made a fool of himself in his attempt to offend me. I noticed that his cheeks went red, and I was overjoyed.

'Hey, would you two stop that? This talk is giving me the creeps…' said Alfred staring at us with a strange look on his face.

It was like a reality check. I felt as bashful as Harry. I had completely forgotten about the boys' presence. In the end I decided to follow Harry's orders, mostly out of curiosity. I just wanted to know what he had in store for me.

I picked up some jeans I had bought in one of the most expensive muggle stores of London, and an Armani cashmere sweater. Though I continued to look sick, at least I was well-dressed. I had to keep my Malfoy dignity intact.

Harry wasn't so quick to hide his approval, and, who knew, attraction. Maybe I was just dreaming. But with all those looks exchanged and talks full of double entendre, how could I not hope that maybe, just maybe, Harry was bit interested in me?

Illusions… I was so desperate for something I was starting to imagine things.

'I'm all yours,' I said, and I swear I had no hidden intentions as I said it.

'Really?' Harry asked with a smile that took my breath away.

He was definitely flirting. It made me wonder if I should continue to play the game and see how far things could go, but Angel and Alfred were there. The little one seemed not to notice what was happening. Alfred, however, was in a dangerous age. It was better to be careful.

Harry seemed to realise that as well, because next thing I knew he went back to his stern Auror Potter mode.

We started with a few basic spells, and I felt as if I was back in my first year at Hogwarts. It was difficult to be with Harry like that and not remember those days. It was also quite impossible not to be swept away by a zillion of different emotions. It all came back to me: Harry and I in the Forbidden Forest, Harry and I duelling, Harry speaking Parseltongue. All our juvenile fights. The pain in his eyes when he went after Snape to get revenge on Dumbledore's behalf. My despair when I saw him a prisoner at Malfoy Manor. The humiliation for losing my wand. His hand holding mine and saving me from certain death.

I felt sick and I had to stop. Harry came to me immediately.

'Are you alright, Malfoy?'

'I'm fine, Potter. Let's keep going.' I opened my eyes and pretend a confidence I didn't possess.

I would not fall apart in front of him. I had to show Harry I had gotten better, even if it wasn't true.

'I think it's best if we stop for today,' he said with suspicion, putting away his wand.

'We haven't finished here yet,' I retorted, pointing my wand at him. 'Besides, this was your idea, wasn't it?'

'I've promised your wife we would take it easy.'

'We've barely begun, Potter!'

'You can barely stand, Malfoy!'

'Nonsense! I feel great!'

As if to prove otherwise, my vision went blurred and I felt myself falling. To my utterly humiliation, Harry was the one to hold me in his arms. He caught me as if I was made of paper. I mumbled something not so polite, when in fact what I really wanted was to lean my head on his shoulder and rest.

'What happened? Is he going to be alright?' I heard Alfred asking.

Angel was beside him, clutching on his clothes.

'I'm…' I tried to speak, but Harry cut me off abruptly.

'He's being a stubborn prick, but he'll be alright.'

'Potter…' What should have sounded like a threat sounded more like a whine.

'What? Are you going to tell me we should have continued even though you can barely stand? Stop being so headstrong! Dammit, Malfoy! I'm really going mad if I'm still hoping to take you with me to Egypt when you are so weak!'

I smiled feebly.

'Ah, but this is perfect, Potter. I'm the sacrifice. Or haven't you realised it yet? All you have to do is let me bleed to get the book. You don't need me healthy, just alive.'

'If I wanted you dead I would have left you in the Room of Requirement. And stop being a smartass. Just shut up.'

He really was pissed off. Was he really concerned about my welfare, or he was simply angry because he had to carry me to my room? Come to think of it, the almighty Potter could have just cast a spell instead of carrying me in his arms like a medieval knight.

My heart summersaulted.

The gentle way he laid me down in bed moved me. His eyes, on the other hand, were still harsh and almost made me flinch.

I felt Angel's little hands squeezing mine and I forgot about Harry for a second. His green eyes were looking at me with adoration but also apprehension. He was really worried. I felt guilty. How could a child who not so long ago was a complete stranger to me, gets worried about me?

Harry stroked his brown hair.

'You don't have to worry about the idiot. He only needs some rest,' Harry stated.

'Hey!' I complained.

'Don't you think it's stupid to worry your kids like this?' he questioned me.

My kids. That fact suddenly dawned on me. They were my kids now. The adoption papers had yet to be released, but the process had already started.

Looking at Alfred, I noticed that he was as shaken as I, as if only now he was also realising that he was my son.

'If you're really going to be our father, you should get well soon,' he mumbled. 'I don't like the idea of having a useless father…'

And after saying that, he took Angel's hand and left.

Harry grinned as I frowned at the brat's cheekiness.

'D'you think this is funny?' I asked, irritated.

'You don't? Alfred already likes you, Merlin knows why.'

Perhaps. Not that it really mattered. I made a face. Who was I kidding? The kids already had a special place in my heart.

After some time, Harry said, 'I'm serious, Malfoy. I don't see how you can come to Egypt with me. The idea seems really absurd now, more than before.'

'I'm going to get better, Potter.'

'We only cast basic spells, Malfoy, and look at you!'

I was starting to believe in my therapist, that is to say, that my condition had everything to do with my past. I had only collapsed after those unpleasant memories had washed over me. Harry was a big part of the problem, but not the only one. I was a haunted man.

I sighed.

To my utter disbelief, I felt a stroke on my left hand. My heart went mad in my chest. My breath quickened. I wondered as I looked into Harry's eyes what that touch in my hand meant.

The teenager Harry Potter had been so easy to read, perhaps because of the purity in his heart. His feelings had always been right there for anyone to see them. The adult Harry Potter, however, was more complicated. He had lived too much, seen and felt too much to remain the same. His green eyes were still warm, but they were not inviting. It wasn't easy to know what was on his mind. It was such a pity. I missed the old Harry Potter.

'You'd better get well,' he muttered.

My heart melted.

'Harry…'

The fact that I used his first name didn't go unnoticed. I could see how confused and even surprised he was. The hand that touched mine disappeared. It was as if only then he had realised what he was doing. We tensed. But before I could say something, Astoria appeared.

'Draco, honey, are you ok? I've heard Alfred saying that…'

She got quiet when she saw Harry by the bed. I didn't know whether I felt relieved or annoyed by her interruption.

'I'm ok, Astoria,' I said, tired of repeating myself.

'It was my fault. I promised to go slowly, but I guess I overdid it…' Harry apologised.

I rolled my eyes.

'Nonsense. You didn't overdo it, Potter. In fact, if we had continued …'

'… You'd have passed out in the garden?' he suggested with false sweetness.

It was probably true, but I didn't pass out that easily. Well, maybe just once or twice a week. I made a face.

'Well, since everyone agrees that I need some rest, could you please leave me alone?'

I didn't really want to get rid of Harry. My heart, however, needed a break. I thought that having Harry around would be good for me. It was, in a way. But it also had its downside.

He just nodded and left without saying a word. I thought it was strange, but I was in no condition to go after him. I had no strength left.

'You overdid it, didn't you?' Astoria asked me with a reproachful look.

'No. Potter is the one overreacting.'

Astoria sighed heavily.

'I thought it would be a good idea to have him around, but now I'm not so sure…'

I caught her hand. It was as cold as mine. We were not used to exchanging caresses, but I missed some human touch sometimes. Not having Scorpius around was killing me. I used to hug him all the time. I wondered if he missed us as well. The answer was probably yes, but with his busy life at Hogwarts, he most certainly had no time to spend missing his parents. I thought about writing him. I wouldn't mention Albus Severus. When Scorpius was ready, I was sure he would tell me about him.

I closed my eyes. I hated to admit it, but I was really exhausted. As soon as Astoria left, I fell asleep.I woke up hours later and took a shower. When I came down for dinner, I was actually hungry. Angel smiled when he saw me. Alfred just glanced at me and pretended not to care. I knew he did, though.

Harry didn't dine with us. He had left the Manor hours before without saying where he was going.

I missed him. As I looked at Astoria and the kids, I truly wish I was in love with her. It would be great if we could live a real marriage. If only Harry Potter hadn't claimed ownership of my heart.

Later on, as I played the piano with Angel, I let Harry invade my mind again. It was thanks to him that the melody sounded so heartbreaking. Ten years ago I had started composing songs as a way to deal with my feelings. It had worked for a while, until thoughts of Harry began to crawl on my mind and ruin everything.

There was a song for him, of course. A sad and unfinished melody. My fingers ran along the piano keys as if searching for it. The beginning was happy and pulsing and it lifted my spirits. But the drama soon started. It wasn't a good idea, but it could not be helped. I got feverish. I felt the sweat on my body. My soul got shattered into tiny little pieces. Then the last note came, the sudden ending, and the silence. I stopped. There was no ending. There would never be one. I shivered.

Angel looked at me as if he understood. It was impossible, though, wasn't it, that a child his age knew what I was feeling. Indeed, Angel was not an ordinary child.

There was an understanding between us. I smiled at him so as not to worry him. I'm not sure it worked. He was still quite serious. I caressed his hair and he finally relaxed. I felt like squeezing him in my arms like I used to do with Scorpius.

The clock struck at ten. Angel was supposed to be in bed already. I found it strange that Astoria hadn't showed up to take him to his room.

'Well, I guess it's past your bedtime, mister.'

I stood up and Angel did the same. When I turned around, I saw Harry. He looked absolutely exhausted. His green eyes, however, were shining brightly. There was admiration in those eyes, and something more. Something that seemed to mirror what I was feeling. Sadness mixed with resignation. The desire for things to be different. Or maybe it was only my mind playing tricks on me.

I couldn't say anything, but at least I wasn't the only one who seemed to have lost my tongue. Harry appeared to be as lost as I was.

Angel squeezed my hand and pulled me slightly.

'Is everything ok?' he asked.

I nodded and smiled. Things were not fine, but Angel didn't need to know that. He was extremely sensitive.

Alfred appeared behind Harry and he frowned when he saw his brother. 'There you are! Mrs Malfoy is looking for you. It's past your bedtime.'

So this time Astoria had sent Alfred to interrupt us. I wanted to give a big laugh. What was Astoria thinking? I should probably have a talk with her, but I lacked the courage to do so.

'But I'm not sleepy,' Angel protested.

Alfred rolled his eyes as he caught his brother's hand. As he led him out of the room, I heard him say, 'I'll tell you a story.'

'About duels?' the green eyes shone brightly.

I lifted an eyebrow. Since when did the little one like to hear about duels?

'Yes, it's about duels. The best of them all! Merlin against the Order of the Phoenix!'

It was Harry's time to lift an eyebrow. I laughed. Harry glared at me and I tried to get serious.

'Goodnight,' Angel exclaimed before leaving.

'Goodnight,' Harry and I answered at the same time.

Silence filled the room as the boys left. Harry came towards me like a panther. I was frozen on the spot. Unfortunately, I was not what he was aiming for but the piano behind me.

He stopped in front of the instrument and delicately pressed some of its keys. I came a little closer.

'It always surprises me when I hear you playing,' he said almost in a whisper.

My heart beat faster.

'Why? Because then you have to see me as a human being?' I retorted.

Our eyes met. Harry seemed terribly serious.

'Maybe.'

'And that's certainly worse than death,' I smirked.

'I wouldn't go that far,' Harry smirked back. 'How are you?'

'Much better. That was really nothing.'

'You know, no one tells me anything certain about your disease, which drives me crazy.' Harry's fingers on the keys hardened. The sound made me cringe. 'What exactly do you have?'

His green eyes looked dangerous as he stared at me. I took a step forward without even realising. It was now or never. Harry didn't even blink. He just kept staring, challenging me to come closer.

'I thought you didn't care.'

'Are we having this conversation again?' he asked crossing his arms.

'No, dammit. You are the one who drives me crazy! Because when you start talking like this, I start thinking that you care!' I answered, irritated as hell.

'Does it really matter whether I care or not?'

Of course it did! The question, however, was a tricky one. What did he want to hear?

'Why do you care with what I care?' he insisted.

'And why do you care?'

That conversation was giving me a headache.

Harry sighed.

'Alright. We both care. The reasons why are not important at the moment.'

I frowned. 'They aren't?'

'No. What I want to know is what you have. Hermione told me some wizards can lose magic with the passing of the time, but those are rare cases. And none of them felt as sick as you.'

I already knew about that. After all, I've been living with my condition for more than ten years.

'Do you think I'm going to die?'

'I don't know what to think. Are you?'

He might not realise it, but he was concerned. I wasn't dreaming this time. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in the tone of his voice. Harry wasn't that good of an actor, and he could not have changed completely over time. The old Harry was still there, maybe more composed, but still human and sweet. I dared hope. Maybe…

I got closer. Our breaths mingled.

'Don't you dare ask me why I care again,' he hissed.

Harry's defenses were all up. Interesting. If I got any closer, our bodies would touch, and so would our lips. This was the moment Astoria was supposed to come and interrupt us before things got out of hand. I waited a few seconds. She didn't appear.

'Everyone dies one day. But my time is not up yet,' I muttered. 'I don't know what I have. Nobody really does. Some think it's purely psychological. It's not contagious, that's for sure. And even though it makes me sick, it also doesn't seem fatal. But maybe... maybe in the future I might come to lose all of my power.'

'Why?'

There was despair in his voice. I smiled feebly and shrugged as if that did not affect me.

'Who knows? Divine justice, maybe? What matters is that I am well enough to go to Egypt with you,' I stated.

'You're not, and that's the problem!'

He caught me by my arms and pulled me. Our bodies touched. Our lips were so close that breathing was difficult.

'I'm considering just taking a vial with a sample of your blood with me and see how that goes.'

It was an idea, and not a bad one. But I would never let Harry embark on that trip without me.

'You're not going alone, Potter! If you want my blood, you'll have to duel for it!'

'Like that was a great challenge, Malfoy,' he mocked. 'Don't forget that you were the one who almost dropped dead the few times we dueled. If we could call that dueling.'

I clutched my fists.

'Why do you want to go so much?' he insisted.

I froze. I couldn't tell him the truth. I couldn't tell him that I just wanted to be next to him, that knowing that he needed me gave me strength to wake up every morning with a new purpose. He wouldn't believe me anyway, and chances were he would send me straight to St. Mungus. I had to lie.

'I'm interested because of Angel's well-being.' This was true. 'But I'm also interested because technically, the book belongs to the Malfoys. And I want what's mine by right.'

The contempt in Harry's eyes was immediate. I hated myself for making him feel that way about me, but there was nothing I could do. It was tragically funny that Harry believed my lie but not the fact that I loved him. Life really sucked.

He let go of me as if I was a disgusting thing, and he took several steps back.

'That's it then?' he groaned. 'You just want the book like all those bastards in the Almighty Group? After telling me over and over that you are different from them?'

'No! I don't want to use the book to bring Slytherin back!'

'And why do you want the book exactly? To put it in a shelf and show it off to your stuckup friends and brag about the fact that if you want you can bring anyone back from the dead?'

'Don't be so melodramatic!'

'How can I not be, Malfoy? I don't even know why I bother anymore and why I worry so much about you.'

My heart stopped. Had I spoiled everything? Should I risk it, even though…? Even though what? Our relationship was already complicated, and I had just made it all worse.

'You don't get it,' I replied.

'I think I do, and more than I wish to. Somehow I still hoped you had really changed. But it's all a game to you, isn't? Your sudden interest in Angel, your wish to please me…'

'You don't know anything at all!' I exclaimed.

'I know that you are the same bastard as you've always been.'

It hurt more than I thought it would. I felt my heart shrink. I didn't want Harry looking at me with such hatred. Not anymore. I was so tired of that stupid game.

'If I told you the truth, you wouldn't believe me, Potter.'

'What truth?'

'This!'

Without thinking about what I was doing or even the consequences of such an irresponsible act, I pulled him closer and kissed him. It was not a romantic scene, and our kiss was far from delicate.

It was rude, clumsy, mad. I wanted to taste more than just his lips. I wanted to prove to him that I wasn't there because of the glory, or the damn book. I was there for him.

Though the moment seemed to last a lifetime, it actually didn't last more than a few seconds.

By this point I couldn't think about anything at all. My eyes could not move away from his. I tried desperately to read his feelings. He was angry, surprised and confused. He was quite disturbed.

I felt the room shrink around me ready to smash me.

'What does that mean?' he finally asked.

'What do you think?' I dared to reply.

'Don't do this, Malfoy,' he warned me.

'Don't do what?'

'Don't tempt me.'

And what exactly did he mean by that? Don't tempt me or I'll kiss you back? Don't tempt me or I'll stupefy you? I licked my lips.

'What if I said…' I took a deep breath. I needed more than just courage to what I was about to say. 'What if all I've ever wanted was…'

'Sleep with me?'

My eyes opened widely. That was the last thing I was expecting to hear from him.

'Is that it? Are you attracted to me? Are you gay?' he pressed on.

I bit my lip and clutched my fists.

'No! I'm not gay. I'm attracted to men,' I denied.

'Right,' he smirked.

'It's true! You just don't get it! It's not… I'm not…'

'Find someone else to play with, Malfoy. I'm not in the mood for this game.'

'Bloody hell, Potter! You really don't understand, do you?'

'Make me understand!'

He crossed his arms as if to wait for my answer. I guess that was a good sign. He was angry, but he hadn't punched nor threatened to take me to St Mungus.

'I want you! Just you,' I said finally.

His green eyes darkened. Harry had never looked so threatening or sexy. And neither so lost. He opened his mouth, but seemed to think better of it and closed it again. He tried one more time. Nothing came out of it. Finally, he turned around and left. As soon as he was out of sight, I sat down on the cold floor and put my hands on my face as if that would be enough to hide me from the world. I was more than worn out now.

What have I done? Could I take it back? Could I cast a memory charm on him, make him forget about the whole thing? As if I could ever cast a spell on Harry. I laughed bitterly, and then I let out a cry.

All was lost. What would happen from now on was a complete mystery.

To be continued...