You Jump, I jump

Written by StrawberryGirl87

Hogwarts no longer feels like home, it is time to move on but Harry has nowhere else to go. Standing on the precipice of uncertainty he finds a helping hand from the most unlikely of people. Someone who is willing to stand by his side when things seem bleak.

Chapter Twenty Five

There was an awkwardness between Ron and Draco as they walked together towards the Leaky Cauldron. Neither knew what to say to one another. Draco felt useless, hated and utterly unwanted. He just wanted to see a friendly face, someone who did want him. Ron on the other hand couldn't stand being in the company of such an arrogant git but he knew how much Harry cared for him. He was hoping that this went part way to apologising for throwing the first punch the previous day, which he did feel guilty about.

Ron walked confidently up to the bar keeper and didn't even need to explain why he was here. "Second room to the right, first floor," Tom told them and Ron nodded heading up. Draco just kept his head down, not daring to look at anyone for fear of seeing the hateful glares he was receiving which he could feel on him as they moved through the bar towards the stairs.

"How did he know?" Draco asked as they began to climb the stairs, Ron going first as they headed for the right room.

Ron didn't respond, he didn't feel up to talking. He didn't particularly want to divulge that Hermione had been having nightmares about how Bellatrix Lestrange had tortured her in Malfoy Manor. He didn't want to tell Draco that on occasion Hermione would have to drink to relieve the stress and anxiety they gave her. Of course she had got better recently, at least he thought that she had. He was practically kicking himself that his cold shoulder towards her had sent her off into the deep end again.

The red head didn't even bother knocking, he was all too aware that he wasn't going to like what he found inside. Walking into the room he sighed at the sight of his girlfriend, who was thankfully still fully clothed, cuddled up on a double bed with a shirtless Harry. If Ron hadn't known that Harry was gay then this scene might have ended very differently.

Placing the potions on the bedside table he drew the curtains open and let the sunlight flood the room causing the two hung over people grown in protest. Withdrawing his wand Ron sent jets of cold water over the two on the bed, much to Draco's amusement. Both Harry and Hermione leapt out of the path of the freezing jets of water screeching in horror, glaring at the red head as he started laughing at them.

"You're lucky you're gay otherwise I'd kick your arse again for being in bed with my girlfriend," Ron said as he calmed himself down, "Hangover potions are on the table," He added as harry adjusted and realised that Ron had not woken them up alone. He stood looking at Draco, his mouth agape in shock at seeing his lover. He looked between Ron and Draco as if waiting for the red head to realise who was with them and attack. "I'm not going to murder him alright, just drink your damn potion." Ron said when he saw Harry looking between the two of them as if the universe itself was about to cave in around them.

"What the hell is going on?" Harry asked in complete astonishment at seeing the two of them together. It had only been the day before where Ron had been seven shades of shit out of him because he had defended Draco and now they were here together. It was too much for Harry to comprehend when he had such a throbbing headache.

"Ron saved me from a mob of angry witches and wizards that were attacking me," Draco admitted to the room at large, unable to look at Harry, fearful that he would see rejection, that Harry wouldn't want him anymore after all the trouble he had caused for him.

Ron just glared at Malfoy for mentioning him saving his life, he could have gone his whole life without his girlfriend and his best friend knowing that he had saved Malfoy's arse. When Draco finally found a small ounce of courage after a few moments passed where nothing but silence passed between them. "Harry … what is that on your chest?"

Discombobulated Harry looked down at his chest to see what Draco had seen and then the night before came flooding back in a relentless onslaught of memories. He groaned and sank down on the bed, grabbing the potion and downing it in one go. Hermione had already finished hers and had gone a brilliant shade of beetroot red.

"Tell me you didn't Hermione," Ron said as he looked at his girlfriend in absolute horror. He looked between Harry and Hermione who were both sat on the bed side by side, simultaneously shaking their heads in disbelief. They had been so drunk.

"She did," Harry said when she refused to answer.

"What and where?" Ron asked, thinking the worst and dreading what he was about to be told. Hermione seemed unable to respond at all she was so embarrassed so once again it was Harry who answered his questions.

"A jack Russell terrier puppy, on her inner thigh" Harry said and then with a slight grimace he added, "Because she always wanted you between her legs." Ron looked at his girlfriend in astonishment, Hermione buried her head in her hands in shame and Draco tentatively stepped towards the other three so that he could get a better look at the dragon that was currently breathing fire across Harry's chest.

"And you got a dragon?" Draco said, looking at the stunning artwork. "Why?" Now it was Harry's turn to look a little bashful and it was Hermione's turn to humiliate him a little.

"He got a dragon over his heart because he will always love you," She said pointedly. However it didn't exactly have the desired effect, Ron was looking at her as if she were mental but Draco simply collapsed to his knees in front of Harry and lay his head upon his lap, holding him.

"I love you too," He said and Harry put his hands around Draco, sliding on to the floor beside him so that they could hold one another. Ron and Hermione simply looked at the mass of limbs tangled together on the floor in shock, not knowing what to do with themselves.

"Come on Mione, let's go back to the Burrow and leave these two alone, besides I really want to see that tattoo," Ron said as he took Hermione into his arms, cradling her there and disapperated.

Alone the two young men parted a little so that they could look at each other. "I'm so sorry for leaving," Harry said, "I never should have left you like that." Their foreheads came together as they leant against one another, their arms around one another never wanting to let go, noses bumping gently. Their hearts were racing with the anticipation between them, knowing what was coming as tentatively their lips came together.

It was slow at first, unsure but it quickly became more heated, tongues meeting while Draco's hands roamed across Harry's exposed chest, his fingers lingering upon the dragon that seemed to move beneath his touch. The Gryffindor tore at the robes the other man wore, desperate to get to the skin beneath. As the alabaster skin of Draco's nape and shoulders were revealed Harry began to kiss his way down his jaw before biting and sucking at the nape of his neck, determined to mark him, claim him as his own.

"Harry …" Draco gasped as a mix of pleasure and pain washed over him. He knew what he was doing and the blonde found that he didn't mind, he was more than happy to be marked by his lover. Harry had branded himself forever with a dragon that symbolised him. The love bite would fade however but he found himself wishing that it wouldn't. He realised quite suddenly that he wanted something permanent as well.

"Bed," Harry gasped, dragging Draco up off the floor with some difficulty, shedding the blondes robes, discarding them to the floor and leaving them both in trousers only. Landing on the bed with Harry nestled comfortably between Draco's legs as their lips connected. Their kisses were frantic, the days that they had been parted too much for them to talk about, this was the only way to show each other just how much they had missed one another.

Feverish kisses made way to fumbling hands as they struggled to free themselves from the constricting material of their trousers. Draco rolled them over so to get a better access to the button on his jeans. Harry lay on the bed beneath his lover, panting as he watched the button pop open though Draco seemed a little hesitant.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked, somewhat fearful of what the answer would be.

Draco sighed and rolled off Harry so that he could lie beside him. "I don't want you to freak out and leave again," He admitted looking into the brilliant green of Harry's eyes. The Gryffindor came forward and kissed Draco sweetly to the lips.

"I'm not going anywhere," He said, "The last few days were hell without you, I don't want to go through with that again. I don't care what people think."

"You don't understand," Draco said quietly as he ran his fingers across the Gryffindor's cheek in a gentle caress, "I felt so used, almost hollow when you left. I don't want to feel that again."

"And you won't, not if I can help it," Harry said to him, looking into the other man's eyes and not braking that contact, "I'm sorry I made you feel that way and I want you to be able to trust me." Harry thought for a brief moment before coming to a decision in his head and he knew that it was the right thing to do. "I want you to make love to me Draco, I want to prove to you that I trust you fully so that maybe you can trust me again too."

Draco looked to Harry in surprise as it dawned on him what he had just suggested. It wasn't something that he had been expecting and it took him a few moments to process it. "Harry ... you know I don't expect … you don't have to." Harry silenced him with a chaste kiss to the lips before pulling away and looking at him with as much truth and love as he had.

"I want to do this," He said, his voice firm and unwavering. Draco could hear the certainty and resolution in his words. There was no fear or hesitation to be found in his tone and Draco knew that he had made up his mind on this matter, there would be no arguing about this.

"I've never …" Draco said and Harry actually smiled at him. He was glad that despite not being Draco's first overall he would at least be his first for something. It swelled the Gryffindor's heart to know that it would mean a lot for both of them.

"Neither have I," Harry returned as he ran a hand down Draco's side, enjoying the feel of warm skin beneath his fingertips. "Kiss me," He pleaded with the Slytherin, his heart racing in the confines of his chest, threatening to break free. Of course Draco obliged, leaning forward and capturing his lips, catching Harry's lower lip between his teeth and giving a gentle nip causing Harry to groan with longing.

The Slytherin hesitantly took control, pushing Harry against the mattress and straddling him there. Their lips never breaking apart as they hastily rid themselves of the final fabric barrier between their bodies.

Both were beyond nervous as their roles were reversed, a show of the amount of trust between the two of them, the amount of love. They were finally together again. It had been too long, too many doubts had passed through both of their minds but it no longer mattered. In this horrible bedroom in the leaky cauldron they currently shared they would rebuild what had been shattered when harry had walked out after the first time they had made love.

Harry knew that whatever kind of relationship they would have it would never be perfect. His adoptive family would never understand or approve but they would at least let him live his life the way that made him happy. There was no denying that Draco made him happy. He couldn't lie to himself and say that he didn't love the blonde Slytherin, despite his flaws and his mistakes.

None of the survivors of the Great battle of Hogwarts to claim that they had never made mistakes, granted Draco's were more severe than most but he was only human. They both were human. They both had regrets in their lives, things they wished they could take back, wished that they could change. They couldn't though, all they could do was keep on moving forward. They could accept each other and the mistakes they had made, they could love one another like none of it mattered. Somehow they would find a way and they would make it work.

A couple of quick notes:

Okay so I hope you enjoyed the story, I know a lot of you are sad to see it end but I felt that this was the end.

For those that asked about Obsession ... I have hit as little bit of a road block with it so I'm taking a step back form it and will pick it up after I have worked on some other things for a little while.

I have a new story out now called Elven Desire, a creature fic that is proving to be rather interesting. I hope you will all go and check it out. The chapters will be longer and of course it will be Drarry.

Don't forget to leave a review and let me know what you thought about this chapter and the story in general!