Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, it belongs to J.K. Rowling, I don't make money out of this, and all characters in this fanfic are of legal age.

Warnings: Slash, homosexuality, EWE, AU, ignores DH

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews, everyone! :') Also, is it just me or does my chapter titling skills suck hahaha

Chapter 25

The Truth Hurts

"Why did you lie to him?"

Draco's eyebrows were furrowed together in both suspicion and caution, but the dread that had crept up on Harry when he remembered that Draco could tell he was lying slowly dissipated as he realized the cause of that suspicion and caution.

With a fond smile, he leaned forward and pressed his lips lightly on top of Draco's.

When he pulled away, he was rewarded by the pink flush on Draco's cheeks and his wide-eyed, dumbfounded expression.

"For someone who makes a lot of sexual innuendos, you're awfully flustered with just a kiss," Harry teased.

Draco's mouth opened and he just gaped at him, blinking, before he quickly recovered himself with a shake of his head. He glared at Harry pointedly. "I have had a crush on you since first year, Harry. Sexual innuendos and kisses are two different things for a variety of reasons, one being that innuendos aren't true and kisses –"

Harry kissed him again, eyes closed and smiling against his lips.

Draco was caught wide-eyed again.

Harry grinned when he broke the kiss to speak against Draco's lips. "True enough?"

A mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes.

Draco growled at him. "We are going to talk about this, Harry. Just after this snogging session."

Harry's laughter carried throughout the room before it was efficiently shut up with a kiss.

The bed curtains were drawn closed.

Professor Holly Bridgewood stumbled out of her room with a splitting headache and a swimming vision. Where was the toilet again? Oh, it was back in her room. But wait. Where did her room go? Wasn't she in it just a while ago? She looked behind her and her vision swam again.

Oh, she's always had such poor eyesight! Where were her glasses? Where, oh, where did she put them?

As she searched for her glasses in the middle of the second floor corridor, a thud to the back of her head made her stop abruptly. It took her a few seconds to realize that she had hit her head on the wall. Oh. But the collision made the glasses on top of her head fall down to her nose and she smiled to herself as she fixed them in place.

The world was still spinning though. Oh, dear. What was happening to the world?

A black color was seeping, crawling on the walls and on the tapestries that hung on them. Bridgewood frowned to herself.

Mister Filch really ought to clean that up, was her last thought as the black crawled to her and enveloped her completely.

As the sun rose higher in the sky and the clock on the wall read five past ten, Harry arranged his head so that it fit more snugly under Draco's chin.

Draco's soft breaths ruffled the hairs on top of Harry's head while Draco's hand ruffled the ones at the back. Harry draped an arm across Draco's chest and felt at home.

"D'you remember back at Grimmauld when we were talking about what to do with Nagini?" he started and felt it when Draco tensed at the sudden change in subject. Harry couldn't blame him. They were having a very fine snogging and coddling session just a few minutes ago after all.

The arm that was draped across Draco's chest reached further across so that Harry's hand curled around Draco's upper arm. He ran his thumb soothingly across the cloth of Draco's sleeve.

Slowly, Draco began to relax.

"How to kill Nagini, you mean?" he said dryly. It amused him how innocent Harry seemed, even after everything that had happened, that he didn't even want to use the word 'kill'.

Harry rolled his eyes at him. "Yes, that's what I meant."

Draco nodded. "I do. Worst all-nighter of my life considering that what we were discussing could have possibly spelled the loss of it."

The edges of Harry's lips quirked up. "I wouldn't call it my worst. That memory's very fond to me, considering it's the first memory I have of you and Ron not calling each other names."

"He's the one who always starts them," Draco said, sniffing disdainfully. "Also, of course you wouldn't call it your worst all-nighter, seeing as you feel asleep at three in the morning."

"No, I did not," Harry said, without heat, because he knew that the light that Draco was seeing surrounding him had just turned black. He hugged Draco closer, suddenly needing the comfort as he thought about what he was about to tell him. "Did Ron ever tell you why we needed to kill Nagini?"

Harry didn't need to see Draco to know that his eyebrow had just quirked up.

"Well, I assumed that to make killing the big, bad Dark Wizard easier, we ought to kill the enormous snake that he keeps with him at all times first," Draco retorted dryly.

Harry pinched his arm. "Be serious!" he reprimanded, even if a grin was on his face.

This time, Draco followed obediently and sobered up. "No. He didn't tell me why exactly. I just assumed that if we were to win the war, getting Nagini out of the way was a requirement and so I didn't ask." He pulled Harry back just a bit so they could see each other's faces. His eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. "Should I have?"

Harry smiled at him gently. "No," he said, moving to sit up. He tugged at Draco's hand to tell him to do the same.

Draco did so, albeit a bit warily. Anything that required the cessation of cuddling had to be a bad thing. They sat in the middle of the bed, both with their legs crossed for the two of them to fit the horizontal width of the mattress.

Harry looked into Draco's eyes seriously. "Draco, can you trust me when I say that I don't want to tell you because I love you?" he murmured.

And Draco's breath hitched then for a variety of reasons, the foremost being how brightly gold Harry shone then. How true it was when Harry said he loved him. But another reason was… hurt. A hurt that Draco knew had no place in their situation right now, but he'd be lying if he said that it wasn't there.

Hurt that Harry didn't trust him.

It wasn't that Harry didn't trust him to keep a secret. Draco now knew that Harry did. But it was how Harry didn't trust that Draco would take care of him, that Draco would gladly welcome and accept the dark things that Harry held deep inside, that Harry didn't need to battle everything on his own.

"Draco?"

Harry was looking at him worriedly, and Draco realized then that they were treading on sensitive ground. Harry was anxious of how Draco might react because he knew that his question had openings for negative reactions.

He was right. That negative reaction was brewing inside Draco now, but he resolutely squashed everything down. He swallowed the lump in his throat and forced on a smile.

"I can, Harry."

Because he did trust Harry when he said that he didn't want to tell him because he loved him. But that didn't mean that it didn't hurt.

Harry's face broke out into a relieved smile. "Thank you," he breathed out, pressing his lips to Draco's.

As Draco kissed back, he tried very much to get rid of the heavy feeling in his chest that told him that something bad was going to happen.

He was unsuccessful.

Especially when, fifteen minutes later, Pansy and Blaise burst through the doors of the Hospital Wing and cried:

"Draco! Peeves wrecked the Potions' classroom again!"

Down in the dungeons, Theodore Nott's heart was hammering painfully in his chest. In his hand was a glass vial that shone a bright pink and in his head was a voice that whispered:

Do it.

"Oh, my," were the first words that slipped out of Professor Bridgewood's lips when she opened her eyes and realized that she had somehow managed to reach the Dungeons. How terrible. She had only been to the dungeons once when Professor Lupin had been kind enough to show her around the castle, but that was months ago, and she always did have poor memory!

Where was she to go now? How very, very terrible.

How in the world did she get to the Dungeons in the first place?

As expected, when Harry, Draco, Pansy and Blaise reached the classroom, Snape was in a hissing rage and his presence in the middle of the room was a dark, ominous one.

The state of the classroom was similar to its state a few weeks ago when Peeves first wrecked it during Harry's detention. The cabinets and cupboards were open, and some jars and bottles were overturned, their contents spilling to the floor, some twitching and some excreting fumes. Shards of glass and puddles of various colors littered the floor of the classroom as well as the floor immediately outside its front door.

There were no cauldrons on the rows of tables, so they were saved from inadvertent mixing of potions this time.

Harry guessed that they weren't about to see much of Peeves in the following days to come.

Draco was the only one who dared to go near Snape. He crossed the room, taking care not to touch any puddle or stray ingredient. He pulled at his godfather's sleeve gently and asked quietly, "What happened?"

If Draco were any other person, Snape would have lashed out at them. But Harry watched with amazement as Snape took one look at Draco, took a big, deep breath, and composed himself.

The snarl on his face did not disappear though as he rounded the classroom with his eyes once more. "I was in my office when I heard the noise," he growled out. "That blasted poltergeist got away."

"Have you checked the Inventory?" Draco asked.

"There are too many missing," Snape said, clicking his tongue. He took a piece of parchment from his pocket and gave it to Draco.

After the first time that Peeves wreaked havoc in his classroom, he had made an inventory list that updated itself automatically whenever an ingredient would leave their jar or a bottle would leave its place on the shelf.

Draco was looking at that list now and frowning at the low numbers. "Do you need help in identifying the ones on the floor?"

Snape paused, glancing at his godson. Then, he nodded decisively. If there was anyone he trusted with his ingredients and potions, then it was Draco. "I do. I was in the middle of examining Bridgewood's memories earlier and I would like to get back." He glanced at Harry, Blaise and Pansy near the doorway. "Pansy."

Pansy started in surprise at being called. She blinked. "Yes, Professor?"

"Do me a favor and call the Bloody Baron for me. I've got something I would like to speak with him," Snape all but snarled.

A mischievous grin wormed its way up Pansy's lips. Bargaining with the Bloody Baron was always fun. She nodded excitedly and was out of the door with a skip in her step.

Blaise shuddered. He didn't want to know what Pansy and the Bloody Baron talked about.

Snape turned back to Draco. "I've sent my Patronus for the Aurors to check the dungeons for any suspicious persons or activities. Don't let them touch this classroom until after you've finished."

Draco nodded. "Of course."

With a grumble and more snarls, he turned to disappear into his office through the door at the back of the room.

As the door closed and the three boys were left alone in the classroom, Blaise inched closer to Harry and whispered what Harry's been thinking all along: "I'm surprised he didn't kick you out, Potter."

And despite the situation, Harry found himself grinning, big and wide. Snape not kicking him out of the Potions classroom and actually letting him help Draco with the inventory of ingredients and potions was probably the closest thing to a 'blessing' that he could ever get from Snape.

…But he could admit that his Potions skills (or lack thereof) would probably be more of a hindrance than help to Draco and Blaise right now. He motioned with his head towards the door. "I'm going to check the corridors."

One of Draco's eyebrows rose at him challengingly.

Harry rolled his eyes fondly. "I'll be fine. Carrow's not around anymore. I won't be falling into any more traps."

"This is the dungeons, Harry."

"Second year, Draco," Harry quipped, grinning. "You know. Me, stalking you, dungeons?"

This time, it was Draco's turn to roll his eyes. He sighed in defeat and waved his hand exaggeratedly. "Well, if you put it that way."

Harry flashed him a grateful smile and went on his way.

Blaise turned to Draco with both eyebrows raised. "What happened in second year?"

"Well, that's it then."

Draco dusted his hands and robes off with a slight grimace of disgust. He had found a few slugs at the corner of the room and had to pry them off the floor with his hands. Gloved, of course, but as soon as he had pulled them up, they pretty much threw slime at his robes.

Blaise had the time of his life, shoulders shaking with restrained mirth. "Pansy'll have the time of her life when I tell her that slugs just threw their dung on you."

Draco had shut him up by aiming the tail end of the slug at him and squeezing.

A lot of Scouring Spells later, the room was spic and span, their robes were spic and span, and the Inventory was updated with new information.

Draco and Blaise sat on one of the tables at the front of the room, studying it with frowns on their faces.

"We've managed to identify those on the floor but there're still too many missing," Blaise said with a sigh, placing his elbow on the table and his cheek on his palm.

Draco held the parchment in his hands. "A lot of ingredients are missing. Some may have mixed with the potions on the floor and dissolved. Healing Draughts, De-aging Potions, Restoration Potions, Blood-Replenishing Potions, one Polyjuice Potion… Amortentia? Why does Amortentia keep on disappearing?"

"I think it's because Professor Snape keeps it in at the very top of his special Potions cabinet. Easy for Peeves to get and throw across the room."

Draco frowned as another item caught his eye. "Veritaserum's gone again. Do you think it has any significance?"

Blaise shook his head morosely. "Too many to tell. We're not even sure if Carrow really is the one controlling Peeves."

"The Bloody Baron should make the job thorough this time," Draco muttered, scowling. He leaned back in his seat and rubbed his temples. "Can you give this to Severus? I'm going to look for Harry."

Blaise took the parchment and rolled his eyes at his friend. "Joined at the hip, you two are."

Draco sighed dramatically and flipped his bangs away from his eyes. He fluttered his eyelashes as he pulled on an expression of innocence. "I wish, Blaise. I wish."

As he stood up, he sobered and for the first time, Blaise saw just how much the worry on his shoulders was. Draco frowned at him. "I just have this feeling that something bad's about to happen…"

Blaise frowned as well. Words like that were never good. He sighed, waving Draco off with his hand. "Go on then. I'll take care of this."

He just hoped that Draco's feelings were wrong.

Despite the confidence that he had showed Draco earlier, Harry grudgingly admitted to himself that he didn't know where he was. The Marauder's Map was upstairs, sitting pretty in his trunk inside the Hospital Wing, and there was no one in sight.

Just him, the cold cobblestones of the floor and the walls, and the empty suits of armor that stood guard along the path of the hallways.

There weren't even any noise. No footsteps echoing and no voices of chattering students being carried by the wind. A shudder ran through Harry's body then as a creeping fear inconspicuously started to seep in. He frowned to himself. Just how far in the dungeons was he?

Maybe he should trace his steps…

"Harry," a voice called out from behind him. "Are you lost?"

Harry turned –

"Imperio!"

– and was instantly pulled inside a haze of contentment, a floating feeling like he was on air, in the clouds, the clouds that were gently washing away the worries in his head –

No.

By the time that Harry found his wits to think about resisting the Imperius Curse, he realized that he had already taken the vial that Theo Nott had presented to him and downed it in one go.

His mind shut off.

When Nott pushed him against the wall and pressed their lips together, his arms wound around Nott's neck and his lips kissed back – at the same time that Draco Malfoy turned the corner and saw them.

Draco Malfoy knew about heartbreak. He'd known it every single day for the past seven years, ever since eleven-year-old Harry Potter refused his hand and pretty much slapped in his face that he couldn't get everything he wanted. And he wanted Harry Potter. So much. He never stopped wanting him even after that stupid, stupid handshake incident.

And when Harry Potter told him then that he loved him back, with that earnest smile on his face and his whole body glowing gold, Draco was presented with the soul-consuming hope that he didn't have to live every day with his heart breaking again and again and again, but this…

"What the fuck is this?!"

Nott broke the kiss abruptly, taking a step back as his hands raised up in front of him in defense. The fear that was on his face intensified when he saw Draco's murderous expression.

When Nott pulled away from him, Harry slumped against the wall. He was still feeling a bit woozy from that mind-numbing kiss and it was a hard task trying to get his eyes to focus. He squinted at the blurry figure at the end of the hall, at the white blond hair on top of the blurry figure, and felt confused.

"Harry." There was a dangerous tone to the voice.

Harry blinked as he realized that the figure was talking to him. "He… well…" He glanced at Theo beside him. He was so, so confused. A part of him wanted to grab Theo again and snog him, but another part of him wanted to go to that blurry figure and smooth that angry expression away. A sudden spike of pain in his head made him cringe. When his eyes focused, it was Nott that he looked at. "He kissed me."

Draco knew something wasn't right. His insecurity told him that he shouldn't be surprised if Harry replaced him just like that. After all, he was nothing but a coward. An ex-Death Eater. Easily replaceable.

But his faith in Harry made him believe that no, Harry wasn't this kind of person. Harry was more than this – more than everything.

But Harry's arms had been curled tightly around Nott's neck and his fingers had been intertwined with Nott's dark hair... Something twisted in Draco's gut. He knew that that was an image that he wasn't about to forget any time soon. He glared at Harry, hurt and betrayal flashing in his face. "You certainly seemed to be enjoying it," he growled out bitterly.

Harry blinked again. Why was Draco asking that? Of course he enjoyed it. "Well, yes."

Draco's jaw locked then. The expression on his face was carefully arranged into something that he had perfected to keep his emotions hidden from the Death Eaters while he had been working as a spy for the Order. He didn't want to show them just how much he broke when Harry had said 'yes' and glowed, as brightly as he always did, gold.

He turned away.

"Wait, Draco –"

Draco was surprised. Nott was surprised. Harry was surprised.

When Draco turned at him expectantly, that glare still on his eyes, Harry thought to himself, Why did I call him again? What was I supposed to say? His mouth worked on its own. "It's not what you think," he found himself saying.

If possible, Draco's face hardened even more. "Don't bother fucking lying to me, Potter."

He saw the gold. He was blinded by its brightness.

He walked away.

And Harry, he didn't know what, but he felt something shrivel up inside him as he watched Draco disappear. He didn't know what but it hurt. And he was so confused. He didn't want that hurt. He shied away from it. It was better to focus on Theo, someone who gave him warm, happy feelings and butterflies in his stomach. No hurt.

"Come on, Harry," Theo said beside him.

When Theo took his hand and led him away deeper into the dungeons, Harry numbly followed.

Blaise started in his seat in surprise when Draco opened the door with a bang. His thundering presence rattled the silence that had accompanied Blaise just a few minutes ago in the then empty classroom.

But Blaise knew something serious was up when Draco entered the room and, despite his hands trembling, his face was an emotionless mask.

"Draco…?" he asked cautiously. Draco turned to look at him stiffly. He frowned. "What happened?"

"Absolutely nothing," Draco spat. He crossed the room and waved impatiently at the parchment that Blaise was holding. "What did Severus say?"

Blaise didn't think it was nothing. He took a good look at Draco, at his locked jaw, his tense shoulders, and at the rigid way he was holding himself, as if he was going to fall apart the moment he lost concentration.

Blaise opened his mouth to comment, but thought better about it. He frowned.

"Professor Snape said he'll discuss this with us when he's done with Professor Bridgewood's memories," he said and fervently hoped that Pansy had found the Bloody Baron and was about to come back soon.

Harry didn't know where Theo was taking him. He was just happy that Theo was holding his hand. It was fine that they were turning too many corners, that they were walking too long, or that the dungeons were getting too dark. When Theo tightened his grip on his and looked back at him to flash him a smile, Harry turned to putty in his hands.

At last, they reached a dead-end.

"Let's go, Harry," Theo said and walked forward.

Harry followed and looked at the stone wall at the end of the hall that they were quickly nearing. "Go where?"

"Through the wall," Theo supplied.

Harry shrugged. If Theo wanted him to crash through walls, then he was going to crash through walls. "Okay," he said happily and followed when the other tugged him forward.

He gazed in wonder as Nott was swallowed by the wall, like something submerging in quicksand. Slowly, Theo disappeared, inch by inch, until only his arm remained, his wrist, the wall closing in on their locked hands…

Harry took a deep breath as the wall sucked his hand in.

It was cold against his skin. Colder and sharper than the cool of the dungeons. The wall ate up his arm, his shoulder, and Harry held his breath as it finally ate up his face – and he exhaled when it let go.

He opened his eyes and was greeted by the giant sculpture of Salazar Slytherin. He grinned blearily at Theo. "What are we doing in the Chamber of Secrets?"

Theo smiled at him back. "Do you love me, Harry?"

Harry's heart skipped a beat. He nodded enthusiastically. "Of course!"

"Good," Theo said, stepping closer to him. Harry tipped his face upwards, expecting to be kissed, but Theo merely cupped his cheek in his hand, gazed into his eyes, and murmured:

"Legilimens."

A/N: Next chapter will be up soon. ;) Comments and concrit will be very much appreciated! :')