A/N: Another chapter! Yay! Enjoy, though its kind of angsty and yet fluffy at the same time. But who doesn't enjoy a nice angsty/fluff story?

Tergum Vicis

Chapter 21

Of Love and Disaster

If there was one thing Harry Potter loved more than magic, it was Chritmas. The Potters went all out when it came to decorating the house, and he, Kyle and Draco were only too happy to help out. Harry loved decorating and baking most of all, though he had to say he was a pretty good cook. That came from experience at the Dursleys, though his parents didn't need to know that, who were surprised when he successfully baked a batch of fresh and delicious sugar cookies. Everyone was enjoying one when the owl came with the Daily Prophet.

"Oh no," Lily said softly as she read the title. Harry leaned over to get a better look of it, and paled.

Death Eaters Break Out Of Azkaban

There has been a recent break out in Azkaban. Many imprisoned Death Eaters, along with Dementors who've sided with the dark side, escaped with them. There are only a few Dementors left inside the prison now. Aurors are working as fast as they can before another battle should begin among us wizards. Please read page 12 for more info.

Harry sat back in his seat, putting his face in his hands. He hadn't expected this. Why did they break out of Azkaban? Voldemort was dead. Unless, perhaps, it was the same thing that happened years ago in his time, that Lord Voldemort was merely dormant.

Harry shook his head. No. He had thrown the Killing Curse at Voldemort himself. He watched the Dark Lord scream, take his last breath. He was sure he was dead. So then why...?

"Perhaps it's revenge," James said thoughtfully. "I see no other reason why the Death Eaters would break out and bring Dementors with them."

"Revenge? That would mean they're coming after Harry," Lily said worriedly, glancing in her son's direction. "After all, he defeated Voldemort when he was only a baby."

"Yeah. I even saw a flash of green light," Harry said. "At least...that's what I remember of that night. There's no way Voldemort's still alive."

James and Lily glanced Harry's way, clearly quite worried. Why wouldn't they be?

Draco frowned and squeezed Harry's hand under the table. "Is this like how it happened in your time?" he whispered while Harry's parents were conversing amongst themselves.

"There was a break out, yes, but then Lord Voldemort was still alive," Harry said, and he noted the Draco didn't flinch this time. He smiled.

"Oh yes, I remember that ritual you told me about," Draco said, and Harry nodded.

"That's right," Harry said softly, and blushed lightly in embarrassment when he realized they were being watched.

"What are you two whispering about?" Sirius asked curiously.

"Nothing," Harry and Draco both responded at the same time, and normally this would send them laughing, but not when such bad news had just been laid out before them.

A sound from the fireplace could be heard, and everyone got up. They were surprised to see Albus Dumbledore in their home, coming out of their fireplace.

"Albus?" Lily asked.

"I assume you've read the Prophet?" Dumbledore asked gravely, waiting until he received a nod from all of them before continuing. "We need to put strong wards all over this house. This is the first place they will come. They want Harry."

Draco tensed, though Harry didn't seem scared at all.

What a wonderful start to Christmas, thought Draco sourly. But Harry doesn't seem nervous at all, and he's the Death Eaters main target!

Harry gently squeezed Draco's hand, noting he looked quite scared. "Strong wards wont protect us, Albus. If you've forgotten Voldemort attacked us once before," Lily pointed out, and Dumbledore nodded.

"You're quite right, which is why that if you brought that up, I was going to suggest you all coming to Hogwarts for the remainder of the holidays," Dumbledore offered.

"Us too?" Sirius asked, looking over at Remus before back to Dumbledore, who nodded.

"Of course," Dumbledore said. "They want Harry. But they will use anyone close to him to get what they want. You all need to be under some sort of protection." While Dumbledore seemed to be talking about everyone, his blue eyes (which were surprisingly, no longer twinkling) were staring right at Draco, who shrank under his gaze. Of course the Death Eaters would want him. He was the closest one to Harry. Closer than his parents were. And there was no Lucius Malfoy to protect him now. "Draco and Harry will have the most protection, of course. Though Hogwarts is the safest school to be."

Everyone glanced at each other, as if making a decision silently. However, it was Lily who looked back at the Headmaster first, nodding.

"We'll go, Headmaster," she said, somewhat sad, as they wouldn't be spending Christmas at home, as she wanted. Dumbledore smiled, though it seemed sad, as if he really didn't want to put the Potters through all of this once more.

"Excellent. You can floo to my office, and make yourselves at home in the Gryffindor Dormitories," Dumbledore said softly, taking one last glance at Draco and Harry before back to Lily. "You should pack your most treasured belongings. You wouldn't want the Death Eaters getting their hands on them."

While Harry had a few valuables, the only thing he treasured most was Draco, and he was bringing the blond along with him whether he liked it or not. He refused to let the Dark Lord use Draco against him in any way. He refused to let the Dark Lord hurt him, do anything to him. Harry would protect Draco.

They bid good bye to Professor Dumbledore, and Harry instantly fled up the stairs to start packing. Draco had nothing on him except what he took with him from school, so he'd have go make a side trip to Malfoy Manor before they left.

The boys were silent, both having a lot on their mind. Draco mostly had his father, and of course Harry. His father wasn't here anymore, and Draco barely remembered him other than a face possibly paler than his own and long blond hair. Narcissa barely had any pictures of her husband around anymore, he assumed it was too painful. He couldn't really blame her.

Harry. He was the one the Death Eaters were after. The only possible reason was revenge. Their Dark Lord was gone, and they wanted the one reasonable for killing him to suffer, if not be killed himself.

Draco's eyes narrowed, becoming cold as they stared at his suitcase, before letting them travel and watching Harry pack. He wouldn't let anyone touch him. No one would hurt Harry while he was alive.

"You ready?" Harry asked quietly, seeing Draco's slightly cold expression, and the distant look in his eyes. "Dray?"

Draco looked up into concerned emerald eyes, and his heart fluttered. Remembering the item in his pocket making it bulge, he suddenly didn't want to wait until New Years Eve to propose to Harry. What if one of them weren't even alive come New Years? He shook his head.

Stop thinking such nonsense, Draco, he told himself. You're not your father. You're stronger than him. You'll survive. So will Harry.

Draco swiftly got up, and gently pushed Harry down so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed in Draco's place. A confused look crossed Harry's face, even more so when Draco took both of his hands in his own.

"Dray, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Harry," Draco said quietly as he looked up into his emerald eyes. "There's just...something I want to ask you."

Harry blinked. "What is it?"

"I wanted to wait...and ask you New Years Eve, but with all that's been going on we might not be-"

"Don't even say it," Harry said softly, giving a squeeze to Draco's hands. "Of course we'll be alive."

Draco nodded. "But even so, I couldn't wait. Harry, you've changed my life. I love you so much such simple words can't even begin to describe how I feel."

Harry's eyes widened with each word, his heart pounding faster, especially so as Draco kneeled down, taking something out of his pocket. A small black box.

Harry couldn't find it in himself to speak, his breath had been literally taken away from him. Draco was going to....Draco was going to...

"Will you marry me, Harry Potter?"

Harry stared down at the gorgeous diamond ring in the palm of Draco's hand, already knowing what his answer would be.

"Harry?" He was growing more nervous, as Harry wasn't saying anything. Did he say something wrong? Had he scared him? He hoped it was neither.

"Oh, Draco, yes," Harry whispered softly, his mind trying to believe that this was even happening. That Draco Malfoy was proposing to him. That he was accepting to marry Draco Malfoy. The only one he ever truly loved.

"Yes, Draco. Of course, I'll marry you."

TBC

A/N: Awww, how sweet! ^.^; I couldn't leave it til New Years Eve either, cause I had plans for that. *evil snicker* At least I didn't leave a cliffhanger when Draco asked him, ne? Be thankful for that. And thank you for all of the wonderful reviews! I seriously don't think there's been a flame yet, and that's a record. Maybe some helpful criticism, but no flames.