Harry stopped in to see Charlie, who looked remarkably fit considering he had been through major Muggle surgery. He proudly showed off his scar and informed Harry that he planned to keep it rather than allow the Healers to remove it. After all, how many wizards could say they had been operated on by Muggles?

Despite the late hour and a strange, growing exhaustion—hadn't he been asleep for weeks?—Harry was glad when they finally returned to his room at Hogwarts.

To his surprise, the place looked different. Furnishings were in odd locations and there seemed to be more plants and assorted bric-a-brac. He hadn't noticed it before, since they had only popped in long enough to Floo to the Ministry.

"I've been staying here," Draco explained without looking at Harry. A blush stained his cheeks, which Harry found fascinating. The novelty of Draco with non-silvery skin that reacted to everything was not likely to wear off for some time. "I wanted to be close to you while you were in Pomfrey's care. Do you mind? I may have moved things around some. And brought a few items from the Manor."

"Of course I don't mind," Harry replied, warmed at the thought of Draco making himself at home. He bit his lip and then blurted, "Will you stay?"

Draco turned to smile at him, looking oddly shy. "If you'll have me."

Harry let out a relieved breath and caught his hand. "If I'll have you? What sort of ridiculous statement is that? Do you honestly think I plan to toss you over now that you're alive and whole and… so incredibly gorgeous and kissable and… and more?"

"Your ability to speak coherently is slipping again, Potter, but I do like the sound of that more."

Harry pulled him closer. "Let's get started on that, then, shall we?"

Draco seemed to melt into his embrace and Harry's tiredness seemed to melt away. He kissed Draco as thought he might disappear again, holding him with something close to desperation.

Draco stepped back with a chuckle and shook his head. "Easy, Harry. We have more than fourteen hours now. No need to do everything in one night, although there is one thing I would rather like to try." He moved away, headed for the bedchamber, and turned to give Harry a wicked grin over his shoulder. He took two more steps and his shirt slipped away from his shoulders to drop on the floor. "Coming?"

The rise of another Dark Lord could not have kept Harry away. He hurried after Draco, pausing only once to scoop the shirt from the floor. He draped it over a chair in the bedroom and watched, riveted, as Draco unfastened his trousers and let them fall.

"You have no idea how lovely it is to remove your clothing and have it stay off. And to change outfits. The first day I must have gone through fifteen outfits. My mother was delighted, probably because it kept me popping back to the Manor to change before rushing back to St Mungo's."

"You really stayed with me at the hospital?"

"Now who is being ridiculous? Do you plan to remain clothed? It would be an interesting change, mind you."

Harry dragged his t-shirt over his head in one with motion and tossed it over his shoulder. Draco's approving smirk made him quickly remove his jeans and kick those aside, as well, doffing his shoes in the same motion.

Draco fell backwards onto the bed, sprawling in a seductive pose.

Harry blinked. "Are those my boxers?" It seemed so, if only because of the colour. They were Gryffindor red with gold thread throughout.

"Maybe. If you want them back, you'll have to take them." Draco's voice was deep and challenging.

Harry suppressed a chuckle and he sauntered forward, cocking his head to the side and putting his hands on his hips as though considering it. "I do like those," he admitted. "Although they look very nice on you." He pursed his lips and paused dramatically. His heart warmed when Draco's eyes danced with merriment. "I believe I'll take them back."

With that, Harry pounced. He leaped onto the bed and threw himself on Draco, gripping his wrists and pinning him to the bed before sinking his teeth into the flesh of Draco's shoulder in a mock-bite. Harry made a growling noise and asked, "Do you plan to fight me for them?"

Draco's laugh finally escaped, breathy and beautiful. "Certainly not, Gryffindor brute. I had no idea turning fleshy would bring out your beastly nature." He paused and added, "I think I like it."

Harry groaned into his neck. His erection had been steadily growing since watching Draco's shirt flutter to the floor, and now it sprang to instant, near-painful hardness at his purring tone. And Draco did, indeed, like it. Harry had spent many enjoyable hours biting at Draco's ghostly skin and he was eager to see if Draco's return to life gave him any increased sensitivity.

He nibbled at Draco's neck gently and dragged his teeth down to Draco's collarbone. "Where to start?" he murmured, almost bewildered by his need to touch all of him all at once.

"You can start by fucking me," Draco said as he plucked off Harry's glasses and tossed them near the corner of the bed. Harry's head snapped up and he stared at Draco in surprise. Despite everything they had done, they had never done that. Harry had been unsure of Draco's control over his solidity and had balked at penetration, while Draco had been unwilling to spill his ghostly fluid into Harry. After one awkward discussion about it, they had both expressed willingness to continue with hands and mouths.

But now…

Harry scrambled up and nearly wrenched the drawer out of the bedside table in his rush to grab the lubricant. When he turned back, the red pants smacked him in the face. Harry pulled them away and gave Draco a stern look.

Draco smirked. "I won't be needing those anymore."

A smile tugged at Harry's lips and he made a show of lobbing the pants aside and then shimmied out of his. Draco's eyes fixed on his cock and then fixed back on Harry's face. He said nothing, which was all the encouragement Harry needed. He slipped between Draco's spread legs and then stopped, almost mesmerized by the sight. Even as a ghost Draco had been gorgeous, but now the dim lamplight played over his skin, rosy and gleaming with health.

Harry's breath caught and he stared… a bit too long.

"Before I die again, Potter, if you don't mind."

Harry's teeth fixed into his lower lip to hold back a laugh. Draco was gorgeous and impossible and Harry loved him to distraction. With that in mind, he set out to prove it.

The lubricant was familiar and warm and Harry applied it to Draco's cock at first, needing to touch it. He watched with a predatory grin as Draco arched into his touch, fingering digging into the bed, grey eyes fluttering shut. All of him was deliciously solid and real. Harry wondered how long it would take to get past the sheer amazement of that awareness.

He continued to stroke while his other hand moved down to cup Draco's balls, holding them gently before touching the soft skin beneath them. Draco's legs fell open wider and he shifted his hips to give Harry better access. Harry swallowed hard and circled Draco's hole with his index finger.

Draco made a noise that seemed a cross between approving and needy. Harry dipped his fingers into the lubricant and repeated the motion, swirling several times before pushing his index finger inside. They had done this before; it was familiar, and yet completely new.

"Does it feel different?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Draco admitted. "It's… more. I can't explain it. But I don't have to concentrate on staying solid, which is a bloody nice change, let me tell you."

Harry chuckled. "You just lie back and relax, then, while I take care of you." He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Draco's abdomen as he added a second finger. He pushed them in and out with languid strokes of Draco's cock, smiling when Draco's breath caught and his hand snagged in Harry's hair, only to touch gently.

"You're not doing a bad job of it, so far."

Harry gave him an approving hum and continued his work. When Draco was gasping and began to pull his hair in earnest, Harry figured it was time. He removed his fingers and let go of Draco's cock in order to ready his own. He slathered it with lubricant, lined it up, and locked eyes with Draco.

No words were necessary. Harry bit his lip and pushed inside.

Draco's hand tightened painfully in his hair and Harry stopped his movement even though it was so incredible and hot and tight that he wanted nothing more than to bury himself completely. "Okay, Draco?"

"Your cock is huge. Did you know?"

Harry laughed. He couldn't help it. "I would say thank you, but it doesn't sound like much of a compliment at the moment."

"I am sure I will appreciate it again in the future. Just give me a…" Draco shifted his hips and Harry groaned when the movement created a delicious slide over his cock. Bloody hell, he wouldn't last long. "All right, you can move again. Gently!"

"You're really bossy. Did you know?"

"Shut up and… oh!"

Harry froze. "Was that a good oh, or an 'I'm going to kill you if you do that again' oh?"

Draco's hand left his hair and then both wrapped around Harry's hips. "Good. Keep moving just like… mmmmm, like that." He pulled and pushed at Harry, directing his movements. Harry relaxed and let Draco guide him, closing his eyes at the blissful sensations, and biting his lip to hold back the litany of so hot, tight, good that threatened to spill forth. He wanted to concentrate on the sounds Draco made instead.

"Harry…"

Like that one, he decided with a rush of emotion. He stopped moving long enough to press his mouth to Draco's and kiss him near-breathless before smiling down at him with what he was certain was a completely lovesick expression. Draco smiled back and shook his head.

"That thing you said, before you AK'ed yourself…" Draco said.

"Yeah," Harry replied, remembering. "I meant it."

Draco's hands tightened on Harry's hips and pulled him deeper before holding him there, as if emphasizing their connection.

"I feel the same way about you. But don't expect me to go all Gryffindor with hearts and flowers and declarations."

Laughter bubbled up in Harry's chest. "I'll just have to be Gryffindor enough for the both of us, then." Harry pulled out a bit and then pushed in again, striking up a rhythm that Draco's grip did nothing to correct. "Do love you," he murmured through panted breaths. "Love you so much."

"Sap," Draco whispered, but he reached up and pulled Harry into a bruising kiss that left little doubt that he did, indeed, reciprocate.

When the mind-melting kiss ended, Harry took Draco's cock in hand and set about making him come undone, matching his strokes with thrusts and trying to stave off his own orgasm. He credited his Gryffindor determination for lasting as long as he had.

Only when Draco shuddered beneath him and spilled hot fluid over his fingers—leaving Harry wondering anew at the sensation, so different from Draco's former cold release—that he allowed himself to come. He quivered to his toes with the force of it and kept his eyes locked with Draco's, drowning in the grey depths.

He collapsed atop Draco, yet another thing he had never been able to do, and panted into his neck. Strands of Draco's hair tickled his face, damp with sweat. Harry licked at it experimentally. It was salty and not at all tasty. Harry loved it.

"You're crushing me," Draco commented. Harry made to move away, but Draco's arms tightened around his back. "I didn't say it was a bad thing."

Harry chuckled and relaxed, very much liking the feel of his erection softening and slipped free of Draco on its own while their bodies cooled. He felt the tension of the past few months finally draining away and the last thing he remembered before sleep took him was the feel of Draco's fingers gliding over his skin.

O….O

The next morning Harry was treated to another gift, this time the wonder of waking up in Draco Malfoy's arms. Or rather, waking up with Draco's elbow gouging him painfully in the side while one thigh—flung over Harry's possessively—pinned him to the bed. Draco also had most of the blankets. And his hair was tickling Harry's face.

Harry lay still and breathed him in, until the chill on his uncovered skin and the growing bruise in his ribcage forced him to move. He raised his head and tried to find an edge of blanket to drag up around him.

The motion woke Draco, or seemed to awaken Draco, who moved his elbow and flung an arm over Harry's waist to pull him closer. Harry snagged the cloth and pulled.

"Mine," Draco muttered absently.

"Don't be a bed hog. I'm cold."

"I'll warm you up," Draco said, but he didn't move again, even when Harry gave a wrench on the blankets and settled more closely around Draco's body.

Harry smiled and decided to go back to sleep. It seemed early.

O….O

Sunlight streamed into the room when he awoke the second time. He opened his eyes to find Draco watching him.

"You're awake," Harry murmured.

"Astute observation skills," Draco said with a half-smile. "It's nearly noon. I'm hungry."

As soon as he said the word, Harry's stomach seemed to clench in response. He felt suddenly hollow. "Me, too. I feel like I haven't eaten in weeks."

Draco poked him. "That's because you haven't. You're been living on potions. Shall I have the house-elves bring something up? We can eat in bed."

Harry grinned and he trailed a hand over Draco's back lazily. "Brilliant idea."

"I think so, too," said a cheerful voice and Harry turned his head so quickly he felt a muscle twinge in his neck.

Myrtle floated near the bathroom door, grinning at them. "Nice to see you back, Harry. I wish someone loved me enough to die for me." Her grin disappeared and her bottom lip shook before she gasped out a sob. "Of course, that will never happen." To Harry's surprise she seemed to shake off her momentary depression and brightened. "Will you two shower soon?"

Draco fumbled under the pillow and pulled out a wand Harry had not seen in a long time. Draco's hawthorn wand.

"Expecto Patronum!" Draco yelled. A silvery shape exploded from the end of the wand and burst through Myrtle, dissipating her before she could get out more than a squeak of alarm.

"Draco!" Harry admonished. "That wasn't very nice."

"Serves her right, the little spy. Besides, it's not that difficult to re-incorporate. I should know." He gave Harry a disapproving look and slid his wand back beneath the pillow. Only then did it occur to Harry that Draco was truly back, magic and everything intact.

"You cast a Patronus!" Harry said and then grinned. "It's interesting."

Draco flushed. "It's embarrassing," he muttered. "I should not have shown you it."

Harry tsked in false sympathy. "A Slytherin with a lion Patronus. The horror! What will your friends say?" Harry started at his own words. "What did they say, actually? I assume your old friends have been to see you?"

Draco nodded. "Pansy cried all over my chest. It was disgusting. Blaise took it in stride and invited me to his mother's next wedding. And Theo… Well, Theo works for the Department of Mysteries, so he asked about a thousand questions. Expect a visit from him. I believe they plan to grill you mercilessly in regards to every detail."

Harry grimaced. "Damn, I had hoped to keep all of this out of the press."

"Not bloody likely when the Saviour ends up in St Mungo's."

Harry's stomach growled, reminding him of food, but before he could suggest anything, a tapping sounded on the window. An unfamiliar pale-coloured owl rested on the sill.

Draco cast a spell to open the window and the bird flapped inside and landed upon the bed.

"It's from Mother," Draco said and took the message.

Harry stroked the bird's head. "Treats are over there," Harry said and gestured towards the perch near the window. The owl fluttered that way and pecked at the tray with a low hoot.

Draco unrolled the message. "Odd. She requests my presence at tea. And she adds 'Please come'. That sounds ominous."

Harry frowned. "Ominous, why? It sounds polite to me."

"Too polite. This is very formal. Something is up." Draco sat up, exposing his bare torso to Harry's admiring gaze. "She doesn't know you're awake. I suppose I should go, if only to give her that news." He turned his grey stare on Harry. "Come with me?"

Such was the power of Harry's reluctance to be parted from Draco that he did not even hesitate. "Of course."

O….O

They stepped out of the Floo at the Manor to find a familiar house-elf waiting for them.

"Good afternoon, Master Draco and Mister Harry Potter, sirs. Mistress Narcissa is waiting in the West Parlour."

"Thank you, Jolli," Draco said and threw Harry a pained look. "It's worse than I thought. We never meet in the West Parlour."

"Why not?" Harry asked, but Draco was already striding out of the room. Harry hurried to catch up.

They headed towards a section of the house Harry had not been in. It seemed even colder and more formal than the parts he had been in. Everything shone with gilt and heavy, dark wood, elaborately carved, was the furniture of choice. Portraits of haughty-looking Malfoys glared at them as they passed.

Patterned wooden doors stood open in the centre of one long hallway and Draco faltered. Harry reached out a hand to touch him and Draco shot him a smile. "Too many memories in this room. Not all of them good," he said.

With that, he straightened, donned the impassive Malfoy mask, and strode through the doors. Harry, with a far less certain step, followed. He nearly walked into Draco, who had stopped short. Harry immediately knew why when his eyes went to the man on the sofa.

"Harry!" Narcissa cried. She was seated next to Lucius, but she leaped to her feet and rushed across the room to throw her arms around Harry's neck. He froze, too shocked to move, and unwilling to return the embrace with Lucius Malfoy watching him like a Hungarian Horntail. "Draco, you did not tell me Harry was awake!"

"He just came out of his sleep last night, Mother. I wanted to surprise you. Hello, Father." Draco's tone was cautious.

Lucius set his teacup on the table and stood up slowly. His eyes were fixed on Draco. Narcissa released Harry and stepped away just as Lucius reached Draco. To Harry's surprise, there were tears in the elder Malfoy's eyes.

"My son," he whispered and then folded Draco in a hard embrace.

Narcissa watched them with a tremulous smile and a tear slipped down her cheek. She beamed at Harry and mouthed, "Thank you."

Harry's throat tightened and he felt tears prickling at his eyes as Narcissa wrapped her arms around her husband and son. The Malfoys clung together, holding tightly. Harry felt like an intruder on a very private moment, so he turned and walked out of the room. He leaned against the wall in the hallway, staring at a Grecian style urn that sat on a mahogany table. Fresh flowers spilled from its opening, but for some reason they failed to cheer the gloomy space. The Manor, Harry decided, could use some lighter colours.

After a few minutes, movement drew Harry's attention and he turned his head to see Draco standing in the doorway, watching him with a soft smile.

"Hey," Harry said. "Want me to leave?"

Draco shook his head. "You belong in here, if anyone does." He took Harry's hand and tugged gently. Harry shifted away from the wall and allowed himself to be led. He was not looking forward to interacting with Lucius Malfoy, but seeing the man act like a decent father had been enlightening.

"Mr Potter," Lucius said. He was seated once more and held a teacup and saucer. Narcissa had returned to her place next to him. "Apparently I have you to thank for my son's return."

Harry nodded. Draco squeezed his hand painfully and Harry coughed before replying, "Yes."

Draco refused to let go and instead pulled him down to sit on the sofa across from the other Malfoys. Lucius kept his stare on his son, seeming unable to take his gaze away. Harry knew how he felt.

"Obviously, our gratitude has no limit. Walk with me, Mr Potter." With that, Lucius replaced his cup on the table, got fluidly to his feet, and strode to the French doors that opened onto a largely-barren garden.

Harry threw Draco a look, but Draco only patted his hand and urged him to his feet.

"Don't worry. Mother has his wand."

Harry groaned and stood. Lucius was already in the garden, striding down the white steps and walking upon the cobbled path and Harry followed reluctantly.

They walked to the centre of the garden where a fountain splashed listlessly. The edges of the pool were edged with ice. It was quite cold for March, even though Harry had a tough time accepting that it wasn't still mid-February. He shivered and wished he had grabbed a cloak, but they hadn't expected "tea at Malfoy Manor" to involve walks outside. He would have cast a Warming Charm, but thought it better not to draw his wand in Lucius' presence.

"If there is anything you require," Lucius said, although he appeared to be talking to the alabaster goddess in the middle of the pool rather than to Harry, "You have only to ask. Gold, Galleons, artwork, rare wine…" Lucius paused and glanced at him before continuing in a monotonous tone, "A decent wardrobe."

Harry's jaw clenched as he was forcibly reminded how much he disliked Lucius Malfoy. "I didn't bring Draco back for a reward," he snapped.

To his surprise, Lucius said nothing. After a moment he sighed heavily. In the afternoon light, he seemed older than his years. Harry could almost see the frail old man he would eventually become. The thought gave him no satisfaction.

"I know," Lucius said at last. "You brought him back because you love him. And he loves you. I am sure it is all very romantic and sentimental." He grimaced.

Harry bit back another retort, sensing that Lucius wasn't finished. He held his tongue and waited, raising his hands to grip his arms and hold them tightly in a vain effort to trap a bit of body heat.

Lucius turned a sharp-eyed stare on him and his mouth twisted in something that was almost a smile. "I do not pretend to understand it, but I will accept it. You do not lose your only child without facing a few unpleasant truths about yourself, and without going over your past a thousand times to lament the things you should have done."

He looked away and plucked at his sleeve absently, as if removing a bit of lint or dust. "Or should not have done. So, in reply to your unspoken question, no, I will not make things difficult for Draco, nor will I question his choices. And even though I find it galling, albeit ironic, that I owe you, of all people, for his return, the fact remains that I am, indeed, indebted to you. I am very happy to have my son back, Harry Potter, and I always pay my debts." Lucius paused and added, "Treat him well."

Harry nearly smiled, even through his surprise, because the final statement had been a clear threat. "I plan to. "

Lucius turned and walked back towards the Manor. "I still don't like you," he said without turning around.

"Likewise!" Harry called after him in a singsong voice. He bit his lip on a grin, thinking it was turning out to be an amazing day.