Background Secrets

Part III: Fifth Year

Chapter XI: The Silver Ring

Three days before Christmas, Harry had just sat down to breakfast when Thiassi swooped into the kitchen and dropped an elaborate envelope onto his empty plate. The kitchen fell silent as the owl flew out again. Harry stared at the envelope in horror, unwilling to pick it up for fear that his real name would be on it. Why would Draco be writing to him here?

Fred and George grinned, though; obviously they knew what was going on. "Open it, Harry! Go on!"

Harry glanced at them warily before he turned the envelope over with hesitant fingers. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was addressed to "Ahren" and not "Harry" like last year's card. Feeling a little less apprehensive about it now, he slit open the top and pulled the card out with a small gasp.

He hadn't thought it possible before, but this card was more beautiful than the last one. The image on the outside he easily recognized as being the garden from the Yule Ball, though it didn't seem to be in front of Hogwarts. This garden also had many more fairy lights, and a light dusting of the snow still falling, but the statue was still a stag and a bench still sat nearby it.

The inside was so brilliant Harry didn't even notice a small parchment fall to his lap when he opened the card. It was a brilliantly lit ballroom glittering with gold and finery; he suspected it actually sat in Malfoy Manor and was very keen on visiting Draco there sometime if he could just see this room. The picture panned about as he moved the card, so he could see every bit of the room, including several tables set up along one part of the wall and a door that led out to the garden. He was slightly disappointed when he looked over the whole card and didn't see any people, though.

"Read what it says, Harry," Fred urged with a grin. Harry sent him a dirty look; he'd been hoping the twins hadn't noticed the silver writing on the inside.

"I'll read it later–"

"No, no, we should all hear it," George said, snatching the card out of Harry's hands. Harry grabbed at it, panicking–he didn't want them all to hear that!–but George had already moved out of his reach and began reading in what started out as a dramatic voice:

Dew drops upon a summer rose,

A gift held dear in the mists of autumn.

Wintry strands form a silver ring,

Never melting even in spring rains.

Then again a summer meeting waits,

For the one loved throughout the year.

And again a winter dance swirls round,

Embracing the one always beloved.

A meeting in the wake of returning,

Has become an event for the ages.

Harry had to cover his face halfway through to hide how affected he really was by the words, but he looked up once George was finished and no one laughed. The twins were smirking knowingly, but every other face looked horrified, their eyes either staring at the card or at Harry.

"Give me that," Harry snapped, snatching the card out of George's hand. He saw immediately that the inside had changed; the ballroom was now draped in decorations in white and green and two figures were traversing the floor in a complicated dance, two figures he instantly recognized as Draco and himself. He hoped desperately that they would stay inside the card and not venture out into the garden.

"Harry," Ron said slowly, "that's from Rast, right?"

Harry was suddenly very aware of his godfather's eyes fixed sharply on him. "Yeah, I think so. That was his owl."

"Has he said anything...odd in any of his letters lately?"

Harry frowned, suddenly very curious as to what the Weasleys knew about all this. "No, why?"

"Harry, he's getting married," Ron said in a choked voice.

Harry's eyes widened and he stared down at the card again. "W-what?"

"I'm sure of it. It's one of those things you learn growing up, and that sounds like an invitation to a wedding ceremony to me." Ron eyed the card critically. "Looks like one, too."

"I wouldn't know," Harry said in what he hoped was a bewildered tone and not a panicky one.

"But hasn't–"

"I'll write to him and ask about it," Harry said quickly as he grabbed the envelope to put the card away. It was then that he noticed the parchment sitting on his lap. Hastily, he slid that back into the card and stuffed both back into the envelope. Then he looked politely over at the woman staring open mouthed at him. "What's for breakfast, Mrs Weasley?"

As soon as breakfast was over, Harry raced up the stairs two at a time and locked the door behind him once he reached the room he was sharing with Ron, not keen on having his best friend asking him more questions about the card. He knew that wouldn't keep the twins out, but he didn't care; he wanted answers from them.

He flopped down on his bed and took the card out again, admiring it for a moment before pulling out the slip of parchment. He scanned over it quickly, a blush slowly growing darker on his cheeks as he read.

Harry,

I know you're probably mad that I sent this to you while you're around the Weasleys, but I had to send it today or it would be useless.

I'd like to meet with you the first Monday after we get back from holidays. It'll be like having our own Christmas/New Years. We should exchange presents that day too, rather than in three days. I have something really special to give you, and I have to give it in person.

Whatever the Weasleys have told you, I'm not getting married. I'm still yours only. Even if I have to marry for political reasons, I'll never love anyone but you. So ignore those stupid Weasleys; they don't know what they're talking about.

I'll assume that Thiassi will not stay for a reply, so I'll assume also that you've said yes and wait anxiously for holidays to end.

I love you,

Draco

P.S. What do you think of the card? I made this one too.

"So, what's it say?" Fred's voice suddenly asked, making Harry jump an inch off the bed. He hadn't expected the twins to actually use the door.

"Is he getting married?" George added as they sat on the bed next to him.

"No," Harry answered, handing them the letter. Then he glanced back at the card. "Is this really an invitation for a wedding?"

"Could be, it has all the right elements," Fred said with a shrug.

"The four seasons, gifts, love, and reference to the event itself," George clarified as his eyes scanned the letter.

"But probably not. I can't see Malfoy as being sappy enough to write something like that."

"I don't know; I think last year's card was worse than this," Harry said with a faint smile. Both twins stared at him.

"There was a card last year?"

Harry nodded and pulled the card out from under his pillow to show them. It looked as magnificent as ever; Harry suspected Draco had charmed it to stay perfect no matter what.

Fred made a face as he read the inside. "You're right, that's way worse."

"Enlightening, though," George commented once he'd read it as well."

Harry stared at him incredulously. "It's enlightening?"

"Well, this is obviously inviting you to our Yule Ball last year, right."

"And you two got together there, by Draco's request, I believe."

"So maybe this is the same idea.

Harry gaped at them, and then back at the second card. "So now Draco wants to...marry me?"

"Not marry," Fred corrected. "Bond."

"Same sex couples can't 'marry' in the wizarding world," George added, looking distinctly disappointed by this.

"Absolutely not!"

They all turned to find Sirius standing in the doorway, eyes narrowed in fury. Sirius shut the door behind him as he stepped inside, which, rather than comforting Harry, made him rather ill at ease.

"I will not have my godson bonded to Draco Malfoy, of all people!" Sirius announced, his tone trying to leave no room for argument.

Harry frowned, automatically feeling defensive even though he had no idea what he really wanted yet. "But you like Draco alright, and you're related."

"It doesn't matter whether I like him, or whether he's family," Sirius growled in exasperation. "His father is a Death Eater, Harry. You can't join a family like that!"

"Draco's not his father, Sirius. You know that."

"Draco's not protected from his father, either. You could easily be killed."

"Malfoy would protect Harry from that," Fred said cautiously.

Sirius shook his head. "You don't know Lucius Malfoy. He doesn't care about his son. He'd kill Draco to get to Harry without a second thought. Knowing him, he probably has several bastard children somewhere that could serve as heirs instead of Draco if needed, so he wouldn't think it was a great loss."

"I know that," Harry said calmly. "I also haven't said whether I want to bond with him or not. We don't even know if that really is what he wants."

Sirius frowned slightly. "I'd still rather you didn't do it. You're too young, and it's too dangerous."

"I thought the risk would have been fun for you," Harry said sarcastically. Sirius's eyes narrowed at him.

"I'm serious, Harry."

Harry sighed and held his hands up in defeat. "All right, if he asks, I'll tell him it'll have to wait."

Sirius nodded once and suddenly grinned. "If you two decided to bond anyway, I couldn't think of a better person for you to spend your life with."

"Thanks," Harry murmured, blushing at the thought. Sirius chuckled and waved as he left, whistling some carol.

"So, we get to blow up the cake at your ceremony, right?" Fred asked. Harry chucked his pillow at the twins as they Apparated from the room, grinning.

After the mass breakout from Azkaban, the change in Neville was profound as soon as the first D.A. meeting of the new year. Outside of the D.A., he'd become even more quiet and reserved than normal, while he grew exponentially better in just one meeting, hardly talking except to cast a spell. Harry watched this reaction to the breakout closely for a couple days and decided to act on something he'd been thinking about since Christmas.

"Hey, Neville," Harry called before the other boy could leave the meeting, "could I talk to you for a moment?"

Neville hung back nervously as the rest of the students left. Harry smiled at Ron and Hermione's confused expressions and shook his head, indicating that he didn't want them to wait for him. Once he and Neville were alone, he asked the room for a sofa and led his roommate over to it.

"You did really good today," Harry complimented as they sat down. "Better than Hermione, even, I'd say."

"Thanks," Neville murmured with a very faint smile. Harry relaxed slightly; that was the first pleasant expression he'd seen on Neville's face since Tuesday.

"Listen, Neville, can you keep a secret?" Harry asked seriously.

Neville blinked in surprise and nodded. "Sure, Harry."

"Even from Ron and Hermione and anyone else that doesn't know?"

Neville frowned and studied his feet, thinking it over, before he nodded again. "If it means that much to you, I can do that."

"I knew I could count on you," Harry said with a relieved smile. He paused for a moment, wondering where the best place to start would be, and finally decided on the heart of the whole matter. "It's sort of about who I like. Not Cho," he added quickly. "That's a big part of it, anyway."

"Who is it?" Neville asked curiously, clearly thankful to be talking about something so normal and seemingly innocent.

Harry braced himself as he murmured, "Draco Malfoy."

Neville paled and stared at Harry in horror. "You mean...the one in Slytherin? That Draco Malfoy?"

"Is there another one?"

"But...but he's a boy!"

"Yeah, he is," Harry said, blushing faintly. "And you'd better believe he never lets me forget that."

"And I thought you hated each other!"

Harry smiled and shook his head. "Draco and I have secretly been friends for over two years now."

"Two years?" Neville choked out. Harry just nodded silently. Neville gaped at him, then suddenly gained a dark look. "That's awful, Harry."

"What?" Harry asked, startled.

"You've been friends with Malfoy for two years and you've never stopped him from bullying us every chance he gets? That's really low."

Harry smiled ruefully. "Yes, that's what Fred and George said when they found out."

Now it was Neville's turn to look startled. "The twins know?"

"And Seamus and Lee." Harry sighed. "Look, Neville, I know it's horrible of me to let him act like that still, but that's all it is: an act on both our parts. We don't have any other choice. If it ever got out that we're close, his father will kill him or worse. Although," Harry added thoughtfully, "I really was, and still am, furious about what happened at the Quidditch match."

Neville frowned and looked away, taking it all in. Finally, he asked in a hesitant, embarrassed voice, "You said you...like him?"

Harry nodded with a smile. "We're actually boyfriends. He asked me out last year. We've...been together for a year," he murmured, instinctively reaching up to touch the hidden Emotion Necklace.

"You're boyfriends?" Neville whispered, sounding strangled again.

"We got together at New Years last year." Harry laughed softly. "I hadn't realized it was that long. Bet he remembered. I don't think my present's good enough now..."

"What's that?" Neville asked curiously, eyeing the spot where Harry was still absently fingering his invisible necklace. Harry's fingers closed reflexively around the pendant.

"Um, well, it was Draco's birthday present," Harry murmured, suddenly very embarrassed, though he still pulled out his wand. "You'll probably know what it is. Aparecium."

Neville gasped softly when the necklace appeared, its colours currently swirling blue and orange. "That's an Emotion Necklace..."

Harry nodded as he looked down at it with a fond smile. "He's so lazy. It's not even ten yet and he's fast asleep."

Neville gaped at it for another moment. "He must be really serious about you..."

"He is," Harry murmured, blushing slightly as he remembered the Christmas card he'd gotten. "Too serious, sometimes..."

"Why do you keep it hidden?"

Harry eyed Neville incredulously. "Are you kidding? You're not the only pureblood in our dorm; what do you think Ron would say if he saw it? He's already been wondering where I keep disappearing to. He'd probably think I've been hoodwinked into some courting ritual that's really a Death Eater trap."

Neville obviously thought that was more likely than Draco actually being sincere as well, but he didn't say so. Instead he asked hesitantly, "And Malfoy doesn't care that you keep it hidden? I would have thought he'd want you to display it so you could annoy Ron with it or something."

Harry shook his head, that fond smile touching his lips again. "Draco's the one who looked up the spell to hide it in the first place."

Neville stared at him in awe, plainly finding it difficult to accept all this.

"Anyway," Harry said after concealing the necklace again, "that isn't really what I wanted to talk to you about. Two years ago, the twins, Draco, and I started a club called the Serpent Guard, or the SG. It's sort of a Gryffindor-Slytherin alliance, though we've had Hufflepuffs in it, too." Harry paused, forcing back the memory of Cedric sitting among them for the previous year and a half.

"And you want me to join?" Neville asked, not looking too keen about the idea.

Harry nodded. "We used to just meet and talk or study, but this year we decided to do similar stuff to the D.A. I thought you might be interested in that."

"What do you mean by 'similar'? You're not learning Dark Arts, are you?"

Harry winced and shook his head. He wouldn't doubt that all of the Slytherins in the group knew Dark Arts, Angelo and Kiran especially since they hadn't used much else in their duel before holidays, but he'd never allow them to teach that magic. "No, we're not, and we never will be. We've been doing defensive stuff, like the D.A., only more advanced since most of the SG are seventh years. We've been working on learning wandless magic recently, and we hit Patronuses a couple months ago."

"Then why do you want me?" Neville asked, hopelessly bewildered. "I'm not anything special. I can barely do what you've been teaching us in the D.A."

"You did pretty well today," Harry pointed out. Neville flushed in embarrassment.

"I don't know; it still wasn't as good as you."

"I've known these spells since last year, too," Harry answered. "You just have a confidence problem; you always do fine if you're sure of yourself."

"I still don't see why you want me," Neville said. "Especially if Malfoy's there. He hates me."

Harry shook his head. "He doesn't hate you, Neville."

"But–"

"He's supposed to hate you, yes, since he's a Slytherin and his father's a Death Eater, and you're a Gryffindor and, well..." Harry shrugged uncomfortably. "He's supposed to hate me too, but he doesn't. He's jealous of you, actually."

Neville blinked. "Malfoy's jealous...of me?"

"Yeah, you have a higher mark in Herbology than him. I don't think he'd mind if I brought you to a meeting, especially if I told him to leave you alone. He'd probably drag you off to tutor him or something, actually."

Neville still looked astonished that he was actually better than Draco in a class.

"So, do you want to come?" Harry asked after a long moment of silence. Neville shifted as though to nod, then frowned and rethought his answer.

"Who else besides you and Malfoy and the twins are in this club?"

Harry listed off their names and was surprised to see Neville pale considerably at Angelo's.

"Angelo Haemon's in your club?" Neville whispered, eyes wide.

"Yeah, since the beginning of last year. Why? Has he given you trouble before? I can stop that–"

"Harry, he's a Vampire," Neville murmured fearfully.

Harry stared at him in shock. "How do you know that?"

"You know?" Neville said, his voice suddenly a pitch higher. "Then why are you friends with him?"

"Because I don't care if he's a Vampire. I knew him for a year before he told me, and it didn't change a thing. Like with Professor Lupin, actually." Harry frowned slightly, feeling rather protective of his older friend. He owed Angelo a lot, after all; the least he could do was defend him. "How do you know what he is?"

"Ron complains about him a lot when he gets back from patrolling the halls," Neville muttered, looking away. "Stuff about him not following the rules, and Feeding on his donors whenever he feels like it, and corrupting his brothers. I don't think he ever meant to mention that Haemon's a Vampire; it just slipped out." Neville looked back at him in confusion. "How can you not care what he is? Vampires are evil."

"Angelo's not."

"Well, maybe he's different, but other Vampires are. They don't follow our laws, unless we completely refuse them something, like wands. They're not like werewolves. They're a completely different race."

"Which is why they're not allowed wands, because they're not 'human'," Harry said, suddenly understanding what this was all about. It sounded like the same kind of prejudice that surrounded giants. No wonder Angelo had waited a year to tell him about his true nature.

"Exactly," Neville said, relieved that Harry seemed to finally understand. "It's the same thing as with the giants. They're dangerous, and they don't care if they kill when they Feed. We'd all be dead by now if they didn't insist of keeping to themselves."

"Does everyone think that about them?" Harry asked, appalled by this attitude.

Neville stared at him for a moment, then flushed slightly. "I keep forgetting you grew up with Muggles. Yes, everyone who grew up in the wizarding world knows that, if they're not mental."

Harry frowned, feeling defensive again. "Angelo's half-human too, you know. And Dumbledore must think he'd alright to let him come here."

"Dumbledore accepts everyone though," Neville protested. "Vampires are just...they're really scary, even on good days."

Harry sighed and wished Angelo were here to prove Neville wrong. He wasn't 'scary'; maybe a little creepy sometimes, but he was quite congenial if one could look past that. "So, I guess you won't want to come to the SG, then?"

Neville bit his lip and looked away. "I don't know, Harry. I don't think I'd fit in, and you'd probably throw me out eventually. And I don't really want to be in the same room as a Vampire for that long..."

"I wouldn't throw you out," Harry said immediately. "And Angelo won't hurt you, I swear. I'd stop him if he tried, and Kiran would likely castrate him. You know who Kiran is, right?"

"Kiran Erebos? Yeah, Ron complains about him almost as much." Neville screwed up his face in an imitation of Ron when he was angry. "'Stupid Erebos, supposed to be a prefect, but he disregards the rules as much as that Haemon...letting him Feed in the halls, could anything be more disgusting...' Ron doesn't think much of him."

It was certainly news to Harry that Kiran was a prefect–he'd never seemed the type, and he wondered if maybe Dominique was one also–but his surprise was overridden by his annoyance at Ron. "Well, Kiran's pretty jealous, too, and he hates it when Angelo tries anything with anyone other then him. He keeps Angelo in check."

Neville frowned slightly. "No one else would want me to come..."

"Sure they would." Harry grinned reassuringly. "You're a great guy, Neville. They'll like you just fine."

Neville sighed and nodded, though he didn't seem too thrilled. "I'll come, maybe just one time to see, as long as you're sure about Haemon..."

"I'm positive," Harry answered. "Alright, so you know that mirror on the fourth floor? Meet me there at two this Saturday."

Neville looked shocked for a moment. "That soon?"

"Yeah, Draco was pretty insistent that we meet last Monday or next Monday, but I'm busy on Mondays now, so we decided on Saturday, instead." Harry made a slight face. "He's so confusing sometimes."

"So, this Saturday?" Neville said to check, looking not a little reluctant.

"Yeah. Don't worry about it, Neville; you'll be glad you came."

Harry cursed again under his breath when he nearly collided with a third year as he rounded a corner. He ran through the halls so fast he was sure people were staring, but he couldn't bring himself to care; he was late, horribly late, and Draco was going to be either furious or out of his mind with worry, and Neville may have already left, thinking it was all a joke.

Harry glared at the library when he passed it. It was Hermione's fault he was so late; she'd cornered him on the way out of the common room, asking far too many questions. He'd answered a few of them, but most he'd ignored or said flat out he wouldn't answer; after all, she didn't need to know where he was at all times, nor did she need to know who he was meeting when he disappeared. Eventually, he'd told her that he was late and left without another word. She was probably still standing stunned in the common room.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he turned a corner and saw Neville waiting next to the mirror up ahead.

"H-hey, sorry...I'm late," Harry gasped out as he stopped next to the mirror.

"I-it's alright," Neville murmured. He was wringing his hands and shifting back and forth on his feet, eyes darting about nervously.

Harry smiled as best he could as he gasped for air. "It'll be okay, Neville. Only...you might want to know that we're not really...discreet, sometimes..."

"Th-that's okay," Neville answered, though he looked even more nervous now.

Harry nodded and pulled out his wand to tap the mirror. "Admoveo infraterra. Follow me."

Harry looked around the moment he stepped though to mirror, or he did for the split second before Draco grabbed him and tugged him into a deep kiss. He heard a strangled yelp behind him and hazily felt sorry for Neville.

Draco eyed the second Gryffindor with distaste when he pulled away from Harry. "What is he doing here?" he hissed into Harry's ear.

Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. "Draco..."

Draco glared at him, looking immensely jealous, but when he spoke again it was with a much kinder tone. "All right, why is Longbottom here, Harry."

"Neville's here because I asked him to come," Harry answered, making sure to speak loud enough so everyone could hear the warning edge to his voice. "Be nice to him," he added in a hiss to Draco.

Draco gained an affronted look but surprisingly didn't protest. Even more surprisingly, he stepped around Harry and held a hand out to the wide-eyed boy behind him. "Welcome to the SG, Longbottom."

Harry smiled when Neville tentatively took the offered hand. "Thanks, Malfoy."

Draco nodded once and turned back to Harry. "You're late."

"I know; I'm sorry. Hermione cornered me," Harry said as Draco began steering them over to the rest of the group.

"You should have cursed her, then," Draco answered as though it was obvious.

"Oh yeah, that'll keep her from getting suspicious about me. Come on, Neville," he added to the boy still hovering by the mirror. Neville started and hesitantly followed them. Harry gave him a reassuring smile and looked around again. "Angelo's not here yet?"

"No, we were starting to think maybe Umbridge had done something, since you were both missing."

"Maybe Umbridge did do something," Harry said as he sat down next to Draco, and was greatly surprised when he was allowed to stay there. Neville glanced around, looking a little less nervous now, and finally sat next to Blaise, who immediately struck up a conversation with him.

"I hope not," Draco said. "If she comes after him again, he might kill her."

Harry made a slight face. "I wouldn't doubt it." Then he suddenly blinked and stared at Draco. 'What are you wearing?"

Draco just smiled. Instead of his usual Hogwarts robes, he'd donned fancy dark green dress robes with about a hundred silver buttons closing it from his collar to his feet. At his throat and each sleeve cuff sat three larger buttons, each with the Malfoy family crest on it. The fact that he'd started growing his hair out a bit more seemed obvious now as well, though Harry didn't remember noticing it before.

"You'll understand later," Draco answered, taking one of Harry's hands to kiss it. "I have to wait until sunset to tell you. We can wait until then to exchange presents, too."

Harry frowned in confusion, but before he could ask about it, Kiran jumped to his feet and rushed forward. Harry glanced over; Angelo was now standing just inside the mirror, smiling but obviously embarrassed for being so late, and next to him stood–

"Luna?" Harry and Neville exclaimed at the same time.

Luna smiled vaguely at them, her large silvery eyes looking even stranger in the dim light of the cavern. "Hello, Harry, Neville."

Harry wasn't sure what mystified him more: the fact that Luna was here, or the fact that she seemed perfectly comfortable standing next to Angelo and Kiran.

"Er, what are you doing here?" Harry asked dumbly, although it was perfect clear that Angelo had brought her.

"Angelo asked me to come," Luna answered airily, smiling up at the older boy. "He knows I don't have many friends, but he saw me talking to you the other day and thought I might like to come."

"How do you know...Haemon?" Neville asked. Harry glanced over at him; his face was drawn and pale, and he was staring at Angelo with wide eyes.

"Like is drawn to like," Luna said vaguely. Her eyes travelled across the room, pausing on no one in particular.

"Do you know of me, Longbottom?" Angelo enquired, his tone light and neutral. He smiled bitterly when Neville only nodded, obviously petrified to be talking to a Vampire. "I am not surprised."

"One of my friends talks about you a lot," Neville muttered, pointedly leaving out which friend.

Angelo nodded, looking resigned. "Yes, that is what I thought."

"I always wondered what the Headmaster was thinking, making Weasley a prefect," Kiran muttered, thoroughly annoyed with the whole conversation. "He can't keep his mouth shut."

"I do not mind so much," Angelo said with a slight shrug. "He already knew anyway."

The two Slytherins and Luna moved stepped forward, though only Luna sat down, choosing the spot next to Neville. Neville himself looked terrified that Angelo was still standing, as though he thought it would be easier for the Vampire to attack him that way.

"So, what are we doing today?" Draco asked, sounding annoyed and impatient, yet when Harry looked over, he appeared completely calm.

"What we were doing the last time we met, before the tournament," Angelo answered, "basic spells wandlessly. None of you are good enough to move on yet."

Harry sighed inwardly; he'd been hoping they would work on something new, like that Absorption Spell Angelo seemed so fond of. He still hadn't gotten the hang of clearing his mind for longer than a few seconds. Angelo had told him it was nothing to worry about, as many wizards were unable to do it, but he felt frustrated with himself. And he needed to be able to clear his mind now more than ever, now that he had to learn Occlumency.

He glanced over at Neville, who seemed extremely lost, and suddenly felt that maybe he had a way out of this. "Angelo, Neville hasn't been doing this stuff. Can I teach him something else?"

Neville sent him a thankful smile, but it disappeared when Angelo answered immediately, "No, you need this practice, Harry."

"I'll do it!" Gabrielle offered enthusiastically.

Harry watched her jealously as Angelo agreed and she bounced over to Neville. Out of all of them, she was the closest to moving on to the harder spells and could afford to take a day off. Draco sent him a sympathetic glance as Neville was tugged to his feet and dragged off to a more private part of the cavern by the hyperactive Slytherin blonde.

Everyone else seemed to take this as the signal to start working and headed off in separate directions. Luna looked around for a moment, then drifted over to join Gabrielle and Neville. Draco grabbed one of Harry's hands again and promised with another kiss that he'd come back when it was time. Soon, Kiran moved to observe and correct the others, but Angelo didn't follow him; he walked over to Harry and took Draco's abandoned seat instead.

Harry looked over at Angelo in confusion. The Slytherin seemed tired and troubled, though he was attempting to hide it. No one else might have noticed it, but somehow, Harry could always tell how Angelo was feeling; he blamed it on the blood bond.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked after a moment of silence.

Angelo smiled faintly. "You are very perceptive. I will be fine."

"Is it Neville?" Harry murmured, glancing nervously at his dorm mate. "I'm sorry; I didn't realize he'd be so..."

"Prejudiced?" Angelo suggested. He shook his head with a sigh. "You are very rare in your acceptance of me, Harry. Most other wizards act like that initially, and many never come to accept what I am. I am used to it."

"It isn't right. You're not that much different from everyone else."

"My kind is. The ones that wizards encounter anyway." Angelo shrugged. "As I said, I am used to it. Sometimes it is hard, especially when I have never met a person and he already hates me, but that is life. I did not come over here to talk about Vampire rights; I came to help you clear your mind."

Harry sighed, looking at him hopelessly. "I can't do it. I can't even keep it clear for ten seconds, much less a minute."

"I do not believe that. I am sure you are able, but something is stopping you."

Harry glanced over at Draco, absently thinking that he looked beautiful lit up by the lumos spell in his hands. "Something, yeah."

Angelo smiled faintly as his eyes followed Harry's line of sight. "Ah, I see. So, what happens when you try to clear your mind?"

"I...well...I'm able to clear it for a few seconds. Then some memory of Draco or a...a thought of him shows up and I can't concentrate on much else."

"Hmm." Angelo thought for a moment and nodded once. "It may be left over from the Insularis Rite. Aaron mentioned it to me once," he explained when Harry glanced at him in surprise.

"So, what do you mean that it might be from that?" Harry asked.

"Well, he said that you were under it for quite a long time, almost exactly four months. The bonding process may have already started by the time you two made up." Angelo gestured vaguely. "What with that and what Draco's doing now, I am not surprised you have been unable to clear your mind sufficiently."

"What do you mean 'what Draco's doing now'?" Harry demanded. Angelo's eyes widened and he gained a distinctly 'caught-with-a-hand-in-the-cookie-jar' look.

"I promised him I would not say anything. He wants it to be a surprise," Angelo answered quickly. "Anyway, if this is because of the Insularis, there is not much that can be done except go back in time two years and convince your past selves to make up faster."

Harry eyed him suspiciously, annoyed that Angelo wouldn't tell him what Draco was planning. "Is there anything I can do?"

"I do not know," Angelo answered, shaking his head. "But I was thinking about it over the holiday and I think that I may be able to help, but you will have to trust me."

"I trust you," Harry answered immediately. How could he not? If Angelo tried anything funny, he could just order the older teen to stop.

Angelo nodded and looked him straight in the eyes. "Your mind is blank. You have no thoughts, no feelings. You are calm and void of all thought."

The effect was immediate; Harry's eyes glazed over and he stared at Angelo expressionlessly. A few thoughts of Draco tried to pass through his mind, but he paid them no attention and they soon stopped.

"Wake up," Angelo suddenly commanded. Harry blinked and shook his head, almost throwing off his glasses.

"That was really weird," he muttered once he stopped. "I've got to learn how you do that."

"It is a gift of my people," Angelo answered with a shrug. "I am just particularly good at it."

"How long was that?" Harry asked.

"I kept you like that for a minute, so you could get used to it. I think that now that you have felt what it is really like, you will be able to accomplish a clear mind with more ease."

Harry nodded and looked away at the opposite wall, determined to get it right. "I think I'll practice on my own now. Thanks."

"It was my pleasure," Angelo answered as he stood. He bowed once to Harry and left to join Kiran.

Harry stretched once, then relaxed and closed his eyes. He was sure he could clear his mind this time.

After a couple hours, he'd finally managed to keep his mind clear for twenty seconds when a hand tapped him on the shoulder. His annoyance at being interrupted dissolved instantly when he looked up to find Draco standing in front of him, hand outstretched.

"Come on, it's time to go," Draco said, sounding more excited that Harry could remember.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked as he took Draco's hand and pulled himself to his feet. He smiled when Draco refused to let go of his hand, instead using it to pull Harry toward the Hogsmeade tunnel.

"Hogsmeade," Draco answered vaguely. "I want to take you to dinner."

Harry blinked and glanced around; most of the other SG members were already gone. "What time is it?"

"Almost four," Draco said with a shrug.

Harry tried to stop, but Draco was far too insistent that they leave. "We can't go out to dinner! We have to eat in the Great Hall! People are going to get suspicious."

"The twins and Blaise are going to cover for us." Draco paused at the entrance to the tunnel and turned back to him. "Please, Harry? I promise, you don't have to worry about anything. I just want to take you out to dinner and exchange presents."

"How many people know about this?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"Enough to keep us out of trouble," Draco answered, his eyes still pleading.

Harry sighed; those eyes were really going to be the death of him. "All right, but you'd better be paying. I don't have any money with me."

Draco's lit up in a grin and he pressed a kiss to Harry's temple before starting off again. Harry had no choice but to follow, as Draco still held his hand in a death grip.

"Why are we having dinner in Hogsmeade?" Harry asked after a few minutes. To his surprise, Draco blushed faintly and suddenly looked very embarrassed.

"Well, we've really only been on one date, even though we've been together for year," Draco murmured, not meeting Harry's eyes. "I thought it was about time for another one."

"Oh." Harry flushed as well, yet he couldn't help but think that Draco was hiding something.

After another few minutes, Draco asked about how he'd been doing with clearing his mind, and the topic of wandless magic carried them down the whole tunnel, up the stairs, and through Zonko's into Hogsmeade itself.

Harry glanced toward the west once they were on the street and frowned slightly; the sun didn't look close to setting. Hadn't Draco said something about having to wait until sunset? Draco didn't seem to notice that the sun was still up, however; he turned right and guided Harry down the street toward the Three Broomsticks.

Harry blushed when they entered the tavern; he'd just remembered that their hands were still linked and he was sure everyone would stare at two teenage boys walking in holding hands. Draco obviously didn't care about anyone else, as he didn't let go of Harry's hand even when Harry shook it to get him to let go. He led Harry over to one of the booths and waited for Harry to sit before he did, only then letting the brunet's hand go.

Madam Rosmerta walked up a moment later, eyeing them guardedly. "You boys know that it's not a weekend for students, don't you?"

"We got permission from Dumbledore," Draco answered, and to Harry's amazement, he produced a slip of parchment from one of his pockets and handed it to Madam Rosmerta. She looked it over and flushed slightly.

"I'm sorry, boys," she said as she slipped the parchment into a pocket of her robes. "Albus doesn't often let students come to Hogsmeade when it's not a weekend for it. I suppose I should learn that any that are here have his permission."

"It's alright, Madam Rosmerta," Draco answered politely.

She smiled prettily and handed them a couple of menus, as she asked, "What'll you have to drink?"

"Two butterbeers, please," Draco said, using his most charming smile. She nodded and sauntered off to take the order of another table.

"How did you get Dumbledore's permission to come to Hogsmeade?" Harry asked as Draco handed him a menu.

"I didn't," Draco said simply, looking over his own menu. "Angelo did. From what he told me, Dumbledore didn't even ask why we wanted it."

Harry shook his head in amazement before looking down at his menu. A second later, he glanced back up again, looking embarrassed. "I don't know what to get."

"Get whatever you like. I don't mind paying for it," Draco answered absently. Harry smiled and turned back to his menu again.

"When are we going to exchange presents?" Harry asked after another moment.

"After dinner."

Dinner passed quietly. They talked about a number of topics, including a few awkward moments about Quidditch, and when Draco finally paid Madam Rosmerta for their food, Harry was very sorry that they would have to leave soon. He'd enjoyed himself more in the past hour than he had in months.

But Draco didn't stand up once he'd paid. Instead, he turned his attention back to Harry.

"Presents now," he announced with a smile. "Yours first."

Harry started but pulled a small dark blue box out of his pocket and handed it over to Draco. "It may not work right," he murmured as Draco opened the box and his eyes widened. "I didn't have much time to make it."

Draco pulled out a silver bracelet almost identical to the one Harry was secretly wearing, only the eyes of the two snakes were different colours, one emerald green and one diamond white. He stared at the bracelet with awe, then glanced suspiciously at Harry's right wrist. "This isn't...?"

"No," Harry, shaking his head. "I made that myself. It's supposed to be like the necklace you gave me; if you touch it and ask how I am, it'll let you feel how I'm feeling at the time."

Draco's eyes widened and he stared down at the bracelet in his hands again. "You...really?"

Harry nodded with a faint smile. "I wanted you to know that I trust you enough to have something like this. I may not always be happy with you, or like you that much, but I trust you."

Draco gazed at the bracelet for another moment, then slid it onto his wrist, where it dangled loosely and didn't adjust in size. "So Muggle," Draco murmured in amusement before given Harry a breathtaking smile. "Thank you. I'll never take it off."

Harry blushed faintly; he hadn't thought Draco would like the bracelet that much.

Draco suddenly stood and offered a hand to Harry. "We have to go outside for mine."

Harry took Draco's hand and let the Slytherin lead him out of the Three Broomsticks without questioning it; finally, it seemed, he would find out why sunset was important.

Draco led him up High Street, past all of the buildings, until Harry felt sure that they were going to the stile at the end of the road where he'd met Sirius the previous year. Draco did, and then led him past that, up part of the path to the hidden cave until all of Hogsmeade was visible below them and they could see the sun setting slowly behind the Forbidden Forest.

Draco turned so that the sun was behind him, and Harry gasped faintly at the difference this made. With the reddening sun illuminating him from behind, Draco seemed an ethereal angel descended from heaven. Even his dark dress robes seemed lighter now.

"You have no idea how glad I was when you said you'd come today," Draco murmured, looking excited and terrified at once. "I thought at first that maybe you'd believed those Weasleys and thought I was going to get married and wouldn't want to talk to me again."

"No, I believed what you said in the letter," Harry answered, his voice soft. Somehow, he felt that speaking louder than a whisper would ruin everything.

"Good, because it was true. I'll always love you more than anything."

Harry blushed faintly and looked away. "Don't say that. You might find someone better than me one day."

"No, I won't. There's no one better than you," Draco said with such conviction that Harry found it hard not to believe him. "You're perfect, Harry. I know you may not believe that, but you are. Even when you make mistakes, you're perfect."

Harry held his breath as Draco pulled a very small box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal an elegant silver ring. It seemed to be made of many strands of silver looped together in elaborate designs centred around a sparkling ice-blue diamond with a rune glowing white within it. He glanced up at Draco questioningly, unsure if he should even touch the ring much less take it.

"Harry James Potter," Draco intoned, and Harry was startled to feel the weight of very powerful magic suddenly fall around them, "I ask you to enter into a courtship ritual with me to be finished by a bonding ceremony in three years. I would be honoured if you would consider this proposal, and humbled if you would accept."

This was so unexpected and yet not at the same time that Harry just stared at him for a moment. When he regained his mental processes, he glanced down at the ring and lost them again.

He'd seen this coming, he had; this was what he and the twins had figured out back on the solstice. But knowing about something and encountering it were very different, and he wasn't sure what to do. He heard himself promising Sirius that he'd tell Draco no if this happened, but he was sure now that promise would likely be broken.

He looked back up into Draco's hopeful face. Did he really love Draco that much? Was he willing to accept this and give up any chances of finding someone else to be with for the rest of his life? He knew deep down the answer was 'yes,' and it terrified him. It would be so much easier to tell Draco no and go on the way they had been, but he didn't want that at all. He wanted someone who could love him unconditionally and no matter what, something he'd never thought he'd ever have before coming to Hogwarts, and he knew very well Draco could be that someone.

"What's your middle name?" he asked finally, his heart leaping at the smile that immediately touched Draco's lips.

"My father's," Draco answered faintly.

Harry nodded and looked Draco straight in the eyes. "Draco Lucius Malfoy, I accept your proposal and will gladly enter into this courting ritual with you."

Draco's hands shook as he took the ring from its box and slid it onto Harry's finger. Then he leapt onto Harry and kissed him soundly. Harry moaned softly and held Draco close, far closer than he was usually comfortable with. He pressed his tongue against Draco's when it entered his mouth and duelled playfully with it, feeling more and more aroused as the seconds passed. He wasn't sure when he'd suddenly become at ease with entertained thoughts of himself and Draco and a bed, but they were certainly flitting through his mind now.

"I love you," Draco murmured once he pulled away, arms still tight about Harry neck.

"I love you too," Harry answered, pressing a kiss of his own to Draco's temple. "Thank you," he added softly.

"For what?"

"For giving me the best night I've ever had," Harry said with another kiss. "I'm glad you're the one I'm going to spend my life with."

"Want me to make this night even better back at Hogwarts?" Draco asked huskily, briefly rubbing his knee against Harry's crotch. Harry's breath hitched, and he himself wasn't sure how enthused he was about that idea, he knew certain parts of him rather liked it.

"Lead on, Draco," he said in answer before drawing Draco back into another deep kiss.

"Good lesson today," Ron said with a grin, clapping Harry on the back as they walked out of the Room of Requirement. Harry grinned back, knowing exactly why Ron was so happy; they'd been learning the Shield Charm today, and Hermione had been rather shocked when she'd barely managed to master the charm faster than Neville. She was still standing by the bookshelf, researching ways to perform the charm more efficiently.

"It's not my fault if Neville's working harder than her," Harry said with a shrug, though he was smirking inwardly. Technically, it was partially his fault; if Neville had been pushing himself before his first SG meeting, he was practically killing himself now. Neville seemed to think that Angelo would find him a more unappealing target if he knew enough spells and so had been working harder than ever to learn everything Harry and Gabrielle taught him. Not exactly the way that either Harry or Angelo wanted him to think, but at least he'd stopped flinching away from the Vampire whenever they met.

"Oy, Haemon!"

Harry blinked and looked over to where Ron was yelling, unable to believe that Angelo would be up here in Gryffindor territory. After their brief meeting the previous year, Harry had never seen him come near the seventh floor except for when he had Divination. Apparently, they'd just missed each other, because there he was, clear as moonlight, with Kiran pinned against the wall a short distance from the Room of Requirement. Harry could tell that he'd Feeding on his boyfriend moments before, since both Angelo's lips and Kiran's neck glistened with blood. If he hadn't known beforehand that Angelo was a Vampire, the sight would have been a huge shock.

Angelo deliberately licked lips and shifted a tad closer to Kiran. "Hello, Weasley. If I didn't know better, I would think you have been stalking me. Is this not the second time we have met in as many days?"

Ron flushed angrily, looking disgusted. "I'd only be stalking you to make sure you don't do...that in the halls!"

Angelo's eyes narrowed very slightly. "Kiran is one of my donors, Weasley, as is your brother. I am allowed to Feed from them."

"Not in the halls," Ron answered firmly, looking even more disgusted now. "You're supposed to go to the hospital wing, on the assigned days."

"Ah, but where is the fun in that?" Angelo murmured with a faint smirk. "I will not be on such a schedule after Hogwarts. Why should I not start behaving properly now?"

"I could get you thrown out," Ron said, sounding even more threatening with such a simple tone than a growl. Harry frowned and touched his arm.

"Ron," he said lowly, "I'm sure that isn't necessary..."

"You could no more get him thrown out than you could grow a more tolerable colour of hair," Kiran growled as he moved in front of his Vampire. Ron flushed to the tips of his ears, his form tensing in anger when Angelo snickered at that.

"You're no better than him," Ron snarled, his hand twitching as though to go for his wand. "You're supposed to be a prefect, but you just let him do whatever he wants. What did he do to make that deal, huh? Turn you into a monster like him?"

"Ron!" Harry hissed, glancing nervously at Kiran. No doubt Kiran would find that a worse insult than any other.

Kiran gained a dark look and his golden eyes flicked briefly at Ron's hand. "I wouldn't try it," he said softly. "You'd be halfway through the wall before you could even touch your wand."

"Can't use magic in the halls, Erebos," Ron answered with a vicious smirk.

Kiran returned the expression in kind. "Can't threaten fellow prefects or their charges either, Weasley."

Ron's hand curled into a fist. "Get out of here before I decide to actually report you."

Angelo smiled faintly over Kiran's shoulder as his arms wrapped around the blond's waist. "We are allowed to go where ever we like, and we have business up here, Weasley."

"What business could you possibly have up here?" Ron asked sceptically.

"We were waiting for the Room of Requirement to get free," Angelo said simply. Harry started a stared at him with suddenly revelation.

"So that's what you were doing up here last year, wasn't it? You were trying to get into the Room of Requirement!"

Angelo smiled and nodded. "Of course, you interrupted me."

Ron started at Harry in shock. "Don't tell me you know them?" he asked weakly.

Harry hurriedly shook his head, realizing too late that he shouldn't have opened his mouth. "I ran into them one night last year while I was wandering the halls. He didn't do anything to me Ron," he added hastily at Ron's look of horror. "We just ran into each other."

Ron glared over at the two Slytherins. "He better not have."

Kiran rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't be so stupid as to let Angelo attack Harry Potter, Weasley. I let him touch his donors, no one else."

"Yeah, right," Ron said viciously. "Just last week I caught him Feeding from some red-haired girl, and I know she's not one of his donors."

"Dominique would be one of my donors if her fiancé had not expressly forbidden it, and neither of us respect him very much," Angelo answered. He suddenly straightened and smiled pleasantly. "Hello, Miss Granger. How are you this fine evening?"

Harry and Ron turned to find Hermione standing right behind them, smiling back at Angelo. "Fine, thanks, Angelo, and I've told you to call me Hermione. The Room of Requirement is free now, by the way."

"Thank you. Your kindness is only overshadowed by your remarkable beauty, Miss Hermione." Angelo bowed his head to her before moving out from behind Kiran to begin pacing up and down the stretch of hallway. Hermione blushed faintly, but her glare at Ron was still as scary as ever.

"Let's go, Ron," she said coldly. "D.A. meetings don't excuse you from homework. Kiran," she added with a slight nod to the blond before turning on her heel to stalk back towards Gryffindor Tower. Ron sent Kiran a scathing glare as he followed. Harry stayed behind for a moment to give them both an apologetic look.

"I didn't realize it was so bad between you guys."

"It keeps life interesting," Angelo replied as the door to the Room of Requirement formed again. "He is correct, anyway. I should not be Feeding in the halls, but it is far too much fun to rile him up like that for me to care."

"Sorry you had to wait. We ran late today," Harry said as Kiran walked into the Room.

Angelo shook his head. "It is alright. Your D.A. meetings are very important."

"But if Ron reports you–"

"He will not. He is much too afraid of Kiran to do so. It is quite advantageous sometimes to have your Hunter as your boyfriend." Angelo's eyes flicked down the hall. "You should go. Your friends will become suspicious if we talk for much longer."

Harry paled and turned to leave. "Right. See you on Saturday."

"Oh, and Harry?"

Harry paused and glanced back at him. Angelo merely smiled and gestured toward Harry's left hand, where his engagement ring was hidden.

"Congratulations. I am sorry I did not have a chance to say so before."

Harry blushed and smiled faintly. "Thanks." Then he dashed off to join his Gryffindor friends.

Ron was staring at him with another look of horror. "What was that all about?"

"He told me to tell you something insulting," Harry answered coldly, "which personally I thought was pretty appropriate, but I don't want you to die while you try to curse him for it."

Ron flushed angrily, though it was hard to tell at whom the anger was directed. "Why did you think it was appropriate?" he finally demanded.

"Because you shouldn't be so horrible to him just because he's a Vampire!" Harry answered adamantly. "It shouldn't matter, since obviously he hasn't hurt anyone or he wouldn't be here anymore."

"Of course it matters! He's a Vampire; they're dangerous and evil. It's..." Ron suddenly paused and sighed, shaking his head. "You wouldn't understand. Hermione doesn't understand either."

Hermione shrugged as Ron stalked away. "It's a wizarding thing," she said as they followed him. "It's like the prejudice directed at werewolves and giants."

"And it's just as stupid," Harry muttered.

Hermione glanced at him in surprise. "Did you already know about him?"

"Yeah," Harry said. "He told me last year when I found him Feeding on Kiran in the hall, but I haven't talked to him at all since then. And I swore I wouldn't tell anyone. It would have been a real shock seeing him earlier if I hadn't."

"Well, he leaves this year, thank Merlin," Ron said as they stepped into the common room. "Him and that bastard Erebos. Then the Ministry can deal with them rather than us."

Hermione huffed and crossed her arms. "Well, maybe you could be a bit nicer toward them in the mean time. It'll probably be really hard for them to leave the one place where they've been somewhat accepted."

Ron scoffed as he plopped down in front of the fire. "No way. They'll have to get used to being hated eventually, so why not start now?'

Hermione sent him a scathing look before stalking up the stairs without so much as a "good night." Ron stared at her receding back with bewilderment.

"What did I do?"

"Enough," Harry answered before he left as well, feeling as though he'd curse Ron himself if he stayed in the same room with the red-head any longer. What was wrong with these people? Why couldn't they see that Angelo was all right?

'Kay, so, Q&A time! ('cause it needs to be done):

"How can Draco know of the D.A., anyways, without having turned them in before?" Because no one else knows he knows. If Umbridge or another Slytherin knew that Draco knew about it and didn't say anything, then yeah, he'd be in big trouble. But only the SG knows that they know about it, and none of them are snitches, so he's safe keeping that secret. He doesn't have to turn them in just because he knows about them.

"please don't kill Sirius" I'm really sorry, but that's the way it was written in the book. If it makes you feel any better, JKR killed him, not me.

"I wonder how you're going to integrate the whole Draco's-a-deatheater-thing that's in the newer book. Maybe you'll hafta change that a bit" Nope, nothing in the book changes. Draco still has to be a death eater, and trust me, it's going to be a pain. But that will still happen, and I've figured out how it'll work. You'll see in the chapter after next.