They landed with a swirl in color in the alleyway. There was a faint dusting of snow on the ground and a cold breeze whistling through the alley. Harry loosened his grip around Draco's waist, but kept his arm casually around his waist. "Why don't we have a drink in the Hog's Head before going up? I'll send a Patronus to McGonagall to warn her we'll be coming."

"Hog's Head?" Draco shook his head, "No, not there."

"Why not?" Harry looked at him puzzled.

Draco looked at him like the answer was obvious, "Aberforth Dumbledore."

"Aberforth is a good man."

"I went to trial for trying to kill his brother, Harry!"

"But he heard the truth along with the rest of us, besides he knew that his brother was dying-"

"I still-"

"Trust me, it will be okay. Aberforth, more than anyone, understands skeletons in one's closet." Harry said. Drawing his wand he cast his patronus and the stag went galloping out of the alley and towards HogwartsCastle. "Come on."

Draco entered hesitantly behind Harry, Aberforth Dumbledore looked up at them as they entered.

"Harry. Didn't think we would be seeing the likes of you anytime soon."

"Hi Aberforth, you remember Draco?"

"Right. Draco Malfoy." Aberforth nodded. "What's your poison?"

Draco jerked and would have turned back through the door but Harry grabbed his hand and wouldn't let him leave, "Not funny, Aberforth. We'll both have a firewhisky, Ogden's."

Aberforth pointed his head towards the stool seats, "Sit down then, don't stand there gawking like first years." He placed three glasses on the bar and with a practiced hand poured three measures. He slid two towards Draco and Harry and picked up the third for himself. Holding up his glass he said, "To a normal life."

Harry laughed and shook his head, "To a normal life." and took a sip of his whiskey.

Draco looked at them both, "What am I missing?"

Harry smiled, "A couple of days after the battle I snuck in here in my cloak to talk to Aberforth. Whinged at him about how all I wanted was to be normal, to live a normal life. And he," Harry tipped his glass at Aberforth, "Gave me the chewing out that I needed. Told me to get off my arse and accept and move on." Harry looked at Aberforth, "I would have done well to remember that more this last year."

"That you would have, but from the looks of it you finally have figured it out." Aberforth eyed them both, "Going up to the castle, are you?"

Harry nodded, "Just sent word to McGonagall that we were coming."

"Going to see Dumbledore's portrait, too?" Aberforth asked as he pulled out a bar rag that may have been clean a decade or two ago and started polishing a glass.

Harry started tracing the grain pattern in the wood. "Maybe not this trip. I need to read his letter, yet."

"Harry." Aberforth shook his head, "Don't draw it out too long, son. I understand that this isn't that kind of trip." He glanced at Draco, "You need to settle things with Albus eventually."

Harry nodded, "I know. I'll do it, just not today. We should be going. Good to see you, Aberforth." He stood up and threw back the rest of the firewhiskey. Draco left his sitting on the bar and walked out with Harry.

"What was that about? Dumbledore?"

Harry nodded. "I still have a few issues with him. But," he shrugged. "I think that will probably come around, too."

Draco hesitated and then reached up and pulled Harry towards him. "You know that I had no idea that he was going to do what he did, don't you? I tried to convince him-"

Harry leaned forward and kissed him, "I know, it is okay. Are you ready for this?"

Draco threaded their fingers together and started walking towards the path to the castle, "Honestly? I'm scared as hell now that I'm here with you."

"What do you mean?"

"Because I've wanted to do this for so long, I'm just afraid of screwing it up. If I can't make you understand..."

Harry stopped walking, Draco felt the tug on his hand and looked back. Harry looked at him, "I know that you want things to be like they were... but I'm here with you because I really like you, now. That is going to be true whether or not I get the memories back or not. If you only want to be with me if it can be like it was then-"

Draco was already shaking his head, "No, I know, that isn't what I meant. I just want you to understand what it means to me. Where we are going is the first time I was able to be who I wanted to be. I didn't have to be my father's puppet. And that was because of you and Cedric."

"The other night you said you didn't want a first date, though. You wanted a thousandth date." Harry hadn't wanted to admit it, but that had been bothering him and he figured it would be better to get it out in the open before things went too far.

Draco nodded, "That's true. I did say it. I want you to understand but if we just move forward as we are, that is okay too. I know you can't love me yet, and maybe you won't-"

"I think we are getting ahead of ourselves," Harry said, and looking around he realized they were standing in the middle of Hogsmeade and the townspeople had stopped and were blatantly staring at them. "Let's head up to the castle, it is getting late..." He was afraid that someone might decide to take exception to Draco and that kind of trouble right now was the last thing they needed.

They made their way up towards the castle. Harry couldn't help thinking about how different this trip was than the last time he'd been there in May. After that trip was when Draco had sent him the cartoon, the first sign of friendship between them. He glanced over at Draco, "Why did I have George and Fred turn you into a canary?"

The somber look on Draco's face disappeared as he started laughing. He should laugh more, Harry thought irrelevantly. "I'd been giving you hell all that week. We'd been out flying and studying downstairs. And I was afraid that the Slytherins were suspecting something. So I'd been really rough on you in class and in the hallways that week. And you gave me the payback I deserved."

"With a canary cream spiked blueberry tart?" Harry said, remembering the sketch.

"Yeah." Draco said, "Damn Gryffindors were tweeting at me for months afterwards."

"But that all disappeared with all the memories. You would think I would remember that. I just remember the, erm, ferret jokes."

Draco looked at him, "Probably because it was then that I realized I was really in trouble."

"Trouble?"

"I couldn't, well, pretend that I didn't really like you anymore." Draco said, "It was before we started seeing each other, like that."

"Kind of hard to call it dating when we never really went on a date?"

"Pretty much," Draco shrugged. "In a lot of ways though it was nicer. I didn't have to explain or justify it. We could just be together..."

Draco stopped talking and Harry looked up to see that they had arrived at the castle and McGonagall stood at the top of the stairs leading to the entranceway.

"Gentlemen," McGonagall nodded her head. She looked as regal as ever in her dark green robes, and hair pulled back in her traditional bun. Her robes radiated warmth, cast against the coldness of the setting sun. "I can't say that this is a surprise. Given the rather bold display in the Prophet."

Harry flushed at the thought of the photograph that had been published on the front cover of the Prophet on New Year's Day. "Yes, Professor. I mean, Headmistress, I was hoping that Draco could show me down-I mean, I wanted to see-"

"Yes, Harry. I understand. You may have free reign of the castle. There are a few students and staff who stayed over the holidays but other than that you may feel comfortable to know your privacy is secure. There will be no Prophet photographs of your visit, I can assure you.

McGonagall turned to Draco, "You'll remember that the internal tunnels are still unstable. You'll need to use the outside entrance." Draco nodded but didn't say anything. Harry could feel the tension in him through their clasped hands.

"Thank you, I appreciate it." Harry said gratefully.

"And, if you need more time, the new guest quarters are available. They are the former eighth year dormitories, Draco. I've warded them to allow you to enter. It will be dark soon, you are more than welcome to use them and order in supper from the elves." McGonagall added, "It is good to see you again, Harry, Draco." She gave a nod and turned and went into the castle. Draco looked at Harry and started walking on the path around the castle.

"What did she mean by internal tunnels?"

"There are, there were tunnels from the locker room into all four houses, and one to the kitchens and another to the hospital wing." said Draco. "When they were repairing the castle after the battle they didn't bother fixing those tunnels."

"So you had to go outside to get in last year?" Harry asked.

Draco looked over at him and shook his head, "No. I haven't been back since the start of sixth year."

Harry stopped walking and just looked at him, "You haven't? Why not?"

"Because the locker room was us. Everything in there would remind me of you. It was bad enough having to play the part upstairs that year. Having to pretend to hate you, to fight you all the time, to see the look of loathing on your face. I had to go there at the beginning of sixth year to get some things and I never came back."

Draco stopped walking and Harry looked to see that they were standing under the WestTower. "There's no door."

"It is like the Leaky Cauldron." Draco pulled out his wand and tapped the bricks, revealing the doorway.

Harry looked at the iron handle on the door. "Are you sure you're ready?"

"Merlin, no, but let's do this." Draco grasped the handle and pulled the door open. There was a rush of escaping stale air. Harry pushed the door open farther and entered. Draco stood in the doorway.

"Lumos." and the sconces on the walls came to light.

"Looks like no one has been here since you left," Harry said as he saw the cobwebs hung from the ceiling and the air was stale and damp smelling.

Draco hesitated, "Actually the Weasleys, Hermione and Luna came down here last year, with McGonagall and McCain."

Harry swung back to look at him, "Why?" the word was harsher than he'd meant it to be.

"During the counseling sessions, they didn't believe me. That we met here and... they thought I had made the whole thing up. Well, Luna didn't think that but the rest did. So they came here to see for themselves."

"But you didn't come with them?"

"No, and I wish as hell they hadn't but I didn't have any say in the matter. McGonagall and McCain insisted."

"They never said anything." Harry said turning back.

Draco shrugged, he lifted his wand and cast a series of charms. Harry watched in amazement as the cobwebs and dust costing the floors and walls disappeared. The air smelled better almost immediately. "Housekeeping charms." Draco said with a shrug, he took a few steps inside, "This is better." he said almost to himself.

Harry hesitated, "How did you know this was even down here?"

"My father, who learned it from his father. The pitch was moved just after grandfather graduated," Draco walked towards the row of lockers and restlessly rubbed a finger over the corner of the locker, "I used to come down here the first three years to study or practice potions. It was nice, having a place to myself since there really is no privacy upstairs."

Harry nodded and walked towards him, "But then you wanted to learn how to fight the Imperius Curse?" He reached ahold of Draco's hand and pulled him towards him, "Tell me."

Draco took a deep breath and nodded, "Let's go through to the office." He walked slowly between the row of lockers towards the room that Harry could see on the far side. On the walls hung tapestries and there were six archways. "Are those the tunnels?" Draco nodded but didn't say anything.

They got to the office doorway and Harry looked into see a desk with three chairs in the center of the room. To the side was a potions lab table, complete with flasks of ingredients and a cauldron. "This is really incredible."

Draco nodded. He had walked to the desk and there sitting square in the middle of it were the record albums that Harry had given to Hermione to return. Draco reached down and picked up the first one and flipped it over, "These were your Christmas present. The first Christmas we were together. You had told us about your uncle and so I decided to give you the music for Christmas.

"I'm sorry I gave them back to you."

Draco set down the album and looked at him, "No, I shouldn't have had Dobby put them in your trunk at the end of sixth year. It could only have confused you even about how they got there."

"Dobby knew?" Harry said, feeling a familiar pang at the thought of the brave house elf who had given his life to rescue Harry and the others.

Draco nodded, "You would get food from Dobby, even our Christmas breakfast the morning that I gave you these."

"He never said anything."

"He wouldn't, would he?" Draco looked around, "I asked him not to, and I think he probably still respected the fact that he had been our house elf before you freed him, or tricked Father into doing it."

Harry suddenly noticed the drawings on the wall, "You drew all these?" he asked walking towards them. "Why didn't you take them with you?"

"They belonged here. I drew them but you put them in the frames and put them on the wall to surprise me."

"I did that?" Harry suddenly felt lightheaded, he sank into a chair, "This is a bit much."

Draco was next to him in two steps, "Are you okay? Do you have a headache or what did she say? An aura? Sparks?"

"No, no, it is just," Harry looked around, "I can't believe how much I don't know. I thought we would just come up here and talk and that would be it. But I put drawings on the wall for you. I told you about my uncle. We ate down here? And-"

Draco sank to his knees in front of Harry, "We can just go. We should have started with just talking about it in London. This was a stupid idea."

Harry knew he was shaking but couldn't stop it, "I wanted to come here. I had to see this place. I've dreamed it so many times. I thought it would help, to see it. But now..."

He looked over at Draco, "It is too much for you also, isn't it?"

"No, it isn't. I'm happy."

"You don't look it," Harry said with a laugh, he reached over and kissed his pale cheek.

Draco looked at him soberly, "Do you realize that we were fifteen the last time we were here, well, I'd just turned 16. Celebrating my birthday -."

"And I gave you an album for your birthday." Harry said, remembering what Draco had told him during the dance.

"But that wasn't all, you had Dobby fix us supper up on top of the AstronomyTower. We snuck out of here and flew up there as soon as it was dark."

"That doesn't sound like me." Harry said, "Sounds very-"

"Schmaltzy is what you called it at the time," Draco said with a laugh, "And it was, completely over the top romantic and reckless and I loved it. And it was one of our last times together. Before that horrible summer." he looked down and took a deep breath. "You tried to convince me not to go back to Malfoy Manor. I was sure it was going to be okay because Father was in Azkaban. Salazar, how I wish I had listened to you. I was so bloody sure of myself that it would be okay."

Harry shook his head, "Don't go there. We can't change anything that happened." he took a steadying breath, "Tell me how it started. I know you wanted to learn how to throw the Imperius Curse, because of your father."

Draco nodded. Harry watched as Draco's eyes went to the old bench against the wall. He seemed to shake his head and instead pulled up the other chair. He sat down so close that their knees were touching. Harry reached out and grabbed hold of Draco's hands. "Tell me."

"Do you remember collapsing after Mad Eye Moody used the Imperius on you in class? You blacked out on the stairs?"

"I remember that, Diggory and Hermione got me to the Hospital Wing."

"And me." Draco said, "Cedric asked me to help move you."

"And you agreed?" Harry said with surprise, "Sorry, but fourth year-"

"I know, but I had heard that you had thrown the curse and wanted to hear more, so I helped and Granger talked about how you did it. Almost immediately it occurred to me that you might be the answer that I'd been looking for, a way to learn how to fight back against my father. It took me almost a week to get up my nerves to ask you. I was sure that you would say no, but I had to try. I couldn't pass up the chance to learn to throw it."

"So you just came up to me and asked?" Harry said, a little skeptically.

Draco nodded, "Waited for you after you were done making up the Potions class work you missed while recuperating. I asked you and I couldn't believe it when you said yes."

"Why? I mean you and I weren't - only a couple of years before you had tricked me into getting caught after hours with that duel, and I was going to trust you and use an Unforgivable Curse on you? That -"

"Is crazy, I know. I couldn't believe it. But you did make a condition about it-"

"Diggory." Harry said, realizing suddenly how the Hufflepuff had gotten involved.

"Yes, he was the only one we could agree on." Draco said slowly, "There was something else, I knew he was gay. It had never occurred to me before that you might be gay, that you might be like me. I'd already noticed you and Cedric talking together since coming back to school and that really made me wonder."

"I remember some of that, I mean talking with him." Harry said, "At the World Cup."

Draco stood up and took down a drawing and brought it to Harry, "It isn't right that you can't remember more about him." Harry looked down at the drawing of him and Cedric studying at the very same table. They were laughing at something and the books were open between them. Draco had captured the spirit of Cedric that Harry had gotten to know through the letters.

Harry nodded, "And it all took place down here? This is where we were together?"

"Most of the time we were down here. We did find empty classrooms and fifth year we actually left the castle with you under the cloak to meet on the other side of the lake. Or you would go out running and meet me by our tree."

"We had a tree?" Harry said with disbelief, Draco laughed.

"Yeah, we had a tree."

Harry shook his head, "So, how long did it take you to learn how to throw the curse?"

"Three sessions." Draco said, "The first one went really badly. I went on a rant because I hadn't known that you would be able to know what I was feeling."

"Feeling? Like fear?"

"Yeah, I realized if you could then my father would have known it as well. I went into a complete rage."

"I've seen that," Harry said looking over at him, "I mean from my dreams, you screaming at Cedric and me."

"Yeah, that was probably it. Cedric calmed me down. I was so angry that you knew what I was feeling whilst under the influence. I was scared that you knew so much about me. But then Cedric said something that really turned things around."

"What was that?"

"He said I should look at you through my own eyes, and judge you only on what you actually did. Not on what others were saying about you or how my father saw you."

"You were able to do that?"

Draco nodded, "At first I thought it was all shite, but it did start me wondering. And then we came down here to practice potions- that was the bargain. You helped me with the Imperious and I would help you in Potions."

"I almost failed Potions that year, well, every year with Snape." Harry said with a laugh, "You can't have been a very good teacher."

Draco smiled and glanced at the potions table on the other side of the room, "I had failed to take into account how much Severus Snape hated you. Of course, I didn't believe it at first, thought you were making it up. But it became pretty obvious, especially after he found out about us."

"Snape knew? You mean he knew that we were..."

Draco nodded, "He figured it out, don't ask me how. At first he tolerated us, thought that I would get you out of my system. But after the first year he did everything he could to convince me to break with you. We actually faked a fight to convince him."

"Did that work?" Harry looked at Draco, "Did we trick him?"

"We did, until one of your Occlumency lessons with him went wrong and he knew that we'd been lying to him. He was livid."

"I remember that night, that he got angry with me during an Occlumency lesson. But that was because I peeked into the Pensieve and saw his memories."

Draco shook his head, "That too, but you did that whilst he was storming off to Slytherin to get me. You sent me a message on the coin to warn me and then looked in the Pensieve."

Harry hesitated, "Strange how I remember Snape being angry but not you being a part of it. The coin? We found one in the trunk."

Draco nodded, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin, "It was your Christmas present to me, the second Christmas."

"You still have it?" Harry said in astonishment, reaching for it. He rubbed his finger against the dragon that was engraved on the surface. There was a flash of guilt as he remembered leaving the other coin for Hermione to get rid of after he left the country.

"I've carried it everywhere since I got it back after being released," Draco said. "Knew I would never get a message but it was something tangible to hold onto, to know that even though no one knew all that had happened between us the coin told me that it had been real. That I hadn't dreamed it all. I could look at the last message you sent and remember."

"The last message?"

Draco sighed and tapped the coin with his wand, "D, I love you." appeared on the surface of the coin. "I couldn't resist sending you a message on your birthday. You were frantic, since I hadn't contacted you all summer. It was a mistake contacting you. It was so much harder to go through with everything after getting this. I had the mark and knew we could never be together again. Then seeing you again at Madam Malkin's, you followed me to Knockturn Alley. It was all I could do not to run to you. But my mother's life was at stake and I couldn't do it."

Harry shook his head, trying to keep everything straight, he was conscious of a faint pain starting behind his temple. "Let's go back to the beginning...Everything is getting muddled."

"You're right, I shouldn't jump around," Draco took a deep breath, "We practiced potions down here and afterwards I thought you would just go back to Gryffindor. Instead you pull out a bloody snitch and want to go flying with me."

Harry laughed, "That sounds like me. I hated that we couldn't fly fourth year."

Draco leaned back and closed his eyes, "We flew out over the lake and I couldn't help get caught with how excited you were to be out flying. Even though it was pitch black and cold as bloody hell."

"Sounds perfect." Harry said with a shrug.

"Exactly what you said that night," Draco laughed. "I caught the snitch by almost tipping you into the lake."

"Typical."

"I know, and you didn't even seem to mind that much. You just vowed to get it back the next time," Draco looked at him, "And I couldn't help but think about how much I was looking forward to flying with you again. Without the crowds screaming, without our teammates. Just you and me. I think that is when I really wanted to get to know you, I realized that I'd been wrong about you. The only time you were angry with me was in reaction to what I did. You never came onto me unprovoked."

"So what happened next?"

"We had another Imperius practice. I did lousy but you were so encouraging. You wanted me to learn how to do it." Draco looked at him, "It humbled me. The fact that I treated you like shite for three years and yet you were rooting for me. Then I tricked you into telling some things about yourself."

"How did you do that?"

"Doesn't matter, but you told Cedric and I about sleeping in a cupboard. And not getting fed," Draco shook his head, "I knew how bad parents could be, but what you described was far worse."

"Not as bad as being tortured by your father," Harry objected.

"I had the love of my mother. You were abused and neglected for ten years. Treated like a house elf."

"Let's not make this a competition. Then what?"

"That's when you told us about the snake at the zoo, too." Draco flushed, "And you used parseltongue."

"You already knew about that, since second year."

"It just reminded me that I had treated you like hell that year and there you were, helping me. It made me doubt that anything I believed to be true about you was real. I really started to pay attention to you. How you handled the pressure of the Triwizard tournament, everything we were putting you through and I couldn't fault you for it."

Harry nodded. He stood and went to look at the drawings on the wall. Reaching up he took down the one of himself in the Great Hall, walking in with Ron and Hermione. Draco came up behind him and hesitantly put his arms around Harry's waist he rested his head on Harry's shoulder and looked at the drawing.

"I was jealous of them," he said softly, "Even early on, I was jealous that they could go everywhere with you. All I could do was play the part I was supposed to play. Fight you. Taunt you."

Harry rubbed his finger over his own face in the drawing. It had must have been done fourth year, only five years earlier but he looked like such a young boy in oversized clothes and sloppy hair. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I wish I could know what I was thinking when this was going on. I mean, it sounds like me. Wanting to help you fight the Imperius. but it couldn't have been that simple. I must have been worried or scared or attracted to you. Something. You know exactly what you were feeling. How your feelings for me changed. I'd like to know when mine did."

Draco turned Harry around and took the drawing from him and set it on the desk. "I know. I'm sorry-" Leaning back against the desk he pulled Harry towards him.

"You don't have to apologize. I don't want you carrying any more guilt" Harry said, shaking his head. "There is nothing to be done for it. It just is what it is but for me to tell you about the cupboard, the zoo. Those are things that took me years to tell Ron and Hermione. And I told you and Cedric after only a few times meeting down here? I never even mentioned the record player to them until after the trial, but you knew about it."

Draco gave a small smile, "I remember at the time wishing that I knew what you were thinking, too. When we started coming meeting here, for the Imperius and potions sessions I still had no idea if you were gay. My only clue was your friendship with Cedric and he wouldn't say anything about whether you were straight or bent. And trust me, I tried every Slytherin trick I could think of to get him to slip up and tell me. The first clue I had that maybe you were was when we had detention with Snape."

"You mentioned that before," Harry said. "The scarf."

Draco's eyes lit up, "Yes, the scarf. We had to debowel some nasty kind of worm and the stench was horrible. I cut my scarf in half and tied it around my face and gave you the other one. You couldn't lift your arms to tie it though, because it was right after the dragon competition. So I did it for you. And you gave a little gasp or something while I was doing it. I thought that was pretty interesting so I did this when I was done." He lightly rubbed his hand across the back of Harry's shoulder. Harry stiffened and shuddered at the feel of Draco's fingers trailing across his shoulder blades. Draco smiled, "That was exactly the reaction you gave me that night."

"And so you knew?" Harry said, "Just because of that?"

"I didn't know for sure, but I sure spent a lot of time contemplating it. And you," Draco added, "Still had your half of the scarf in your trunk."

"True." Harry said nodding, "No reason to risk getting caught with a Slytherin scarf in my dorm room unless it had some significance. Why did we get detention anyway?"

"Snape. I'd hexed Ron in class and you were late coming to class so we got detention together."

"Why had you hexed Ron?"

"I was annoyed with him," Draco shrugged, "He'd treated you like shite up until the day before and then you walk into breakfast with him the day after battling the dragon and all buddy buddy and friendly."

"So you hexed him?" Harry laughed, "That doesn't make any sense."

"Well, it seemed to make sense at the time." Draco said with a reluctant smile. "It was wrong that he could be a complete prat for a whole month and then you acted like he hadn't done anything."

"I was just happy that Ron was talking with me again." Harry said, "And it was such a huge relief to be through the first task." Harry set the drawing on the desk. The tension in his head was building and he couldn't ignore it anymore, "I think I need to take a break."

"Do you feel okay?" Draco said looking at him with concern.

"Yeah, tired though. A lot to take in. Should we take up McGonagall on her offer for the guest quarters?"

Draco hesitated, "You sure you want to stay? We could talk at Grimmauld Place."

"Too many distractions from Teddy and Andromeda." Harry rubbed the back of his neck wearily, "Better to just focus on this and it does feel good to be back at Hogwarts. I know you didn't leave that long ago, but other than the Remembrance Ceremony I haven't been back."

"Okay," Draco nodded, "Let's go upstairs and see what we can get for dinner. I need to get something, first." He walked back to the desk and picked up a sheaf of papers. Harry looked at him curiously but didn't question what it was, he knew that Draco would tell him when he was ready.

They headed for the door and Harry looked around the room one last time. It was strange to be in a place where he'd spent so much time and have no memory of it. Draco looked as exhausted as he felt and Harry knew that he was having a hard time too. He reached out for Draco's hand. "Come on, I'm starving and need a little fresh air."

To Harry's relief they didn't encounter anyone as they made their way around the outside of the castle to the front entrance and down the corridors. Even the ghosts seemed to be hiding from them. Draco hesitated in front of the door that led to his old dormitory.

"Is this going to be okay?" Harry asked hesitantly, "I know last year wasn't the easiest for you."

"I've had worse." Draco said shortly. He pulled the door open and they went through. Heading up the stairs, they entered the common room. Draco looked startled to see that his mural was still there. He stood staring at it as Harry walked towards the wall to study it closer.

"Luna told me that there was more than meets the eye in the mural." Harry said, "When I was here last May."

"She would have done, wouldn't she?" Draco said shaking his head. He walked up to stand next to Harry. He pointed with a finger to where the mural showed the outside of the castle. Harry squinted at where Draco was pointing, the outside wall of the WestTower was painted with gray stone but Harry realized there was a pattern to it. Looking closer, "You put our initials in the bricks?" What looked like weathered stone was actually the letters HPDM

Draco nodded, "I think I liked the idea of creating something that had a part of us in it. Even if we were gone."

"Is there anything else?" Harry asked, looking at the details more closely.

"Maybe, why don't we eat first," Draco said, which only made Harry want to study the painting more. There was a loud crack in an upstairs room and almost immediately the smell of food filled the air. Harry had to laugh at the efficiency of the Hogwarts house elves. They walked up the winding staircase and found themselves in a room with a dining room table set for two.

"This was Weasley and Longbottom's room last year." Draco commented. There was no sign that the room had once been a bedroom, it was filled with a comfortable sized table and tapestries on the wall.

"Did you have a roommate?" Harry asked as they sat down.

Draco shook his head, "I had the top room, no roommate." Harry remembered back at what little information Ron and Hermione had shared about that year and knew not to ask any more questions.

"The house elves must keep records of what students like, I think all my favorite dishes are on here." Harry said with a laugh, "We won't be able to eat all this in a week."

"Pays to be Harry Potter." Draco said. "Friend to house elves everywhere."

"Dobby saved my life more than once." Harry said looking over at Draco seriously, "He even died for me."

"I know, I'm sorry." Draco said, "I shouldn't have said that so flippantly. I know Dobby died after saving you from the Manor."

Harry nodded, "We buried him at Bill Weasley's house."

"I knew that someone had been hit by Bellatrix's knife. There was blood on the floor when you had all left. I didn't know who had been struck," Draco said, staring down at his plate, "I didn't know until May that you had survived."

"What did happen after we left?"

Draco shook his head, "Not suitable table conversation."

Harry looked at him and then nodded, "I'll want to know though."

Draco nodded, "I had thought sixth was the worst and then...we survived though. More or less intact."

"What was it like last year. Here." Harry said, "Ron said something about Zabini attacking you."

Draco picked up a fork and started eating. "First night back."

"What about the other Slytherins, how did they handle things?"

"All the Slytherins shunned me, but Greengrass and Nott were the only two others from our class to return. They didn't try anything after Zabini got sent down."

"How did that feel? Being shunned."

Draco shrugged and pushed away his plate, "About as bad as you would expect if Gryffindor turned against you, but I had shamed the house."

"But...they were your friends." Harry said, "What about Parkinson? Goyle?"

"After my trial I've had no contact with them." Draco looked at him, "I knew what I was doing, when we got involved with each other. I don't regret it. I still consider myself a Slytherin. If you think about it, what we pulled off for two years was very Slytherin. Should have made you an honorary Slytherin."

"Well, it does make sense since I was almost sorted into Slytherin." Harry said with a laugh as he continued eating.

"What?" Draco said, with a look of shock on his face.

"I never told you?"

"No, what are you talking about? What do you mean you almost went into Slytherin?"

"The Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin. I told it to put me anywhere but Slytherin." Harry looked at him confused, "How can you not know that?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure I would remember if you had told me before. Why didn't you want to go in Slytherin?"

"You." Harry said with a smile, "That first day you reminded me of my cousin, a bully and a snob."

"The devil you are going to compare me to a Dursley." Draco spat out, "I-"

"I meant the Draco Malfoy I met for the first time on Diagon Alley and on the train. You'd insulted the first two people who had been nice to me. Hagrid and Ron. So, I asked the Sorting Hat not to put me in Slytherin and it put me in Gryffindor instead."

"Why didn't you ever mention this before?"

Harry laughed, "How am I supposed to know the answer to that? It is gone, along with everything else. Why would I tell you about the record player and not about almost being sorted into Slytherin?"

Draco looked at him soberly, "Because that would have changed everything. Being in the same house."

Harry nodded, "True. Did we talk about it? What would happen if people found out?"

Draco nodded, "We skirted the issue for a long time, but it kept cropping up in big and little ways."

"How?"

"You'll see it in the memories, but we actually stopped seeing each other for about a month because of what I did. The Skeeter article about Hagrid being a giant."

"That's right. You said some really nasty things. That was when we were seeing each other?"

Draco nodded, "And you broke up with me because of it. Couldn't be with someone who thought like that. And you were right."

"Glad to see I wasn't completely swooning on your looks and not thinking straight." Harry said absentmindedly. "But how then did we-?"

"Second task. How you handled yourself. The way you stayed under to make sure everyone was safe. And all around me, my friends, my Slytherin friends, were hoping that you'd drowned. That you wouldn't come back up. And I was dying inside, afraid that something had happened to you under the water. You were the most honorable person I knew and I was petrified that I wouldn't get a chance to hold you again, to be your friend again. That was when I made the choice. Between you and Slytherin, I chose you. So that night I went up to Hagrid during supper and apologized."

Harry choked on the mouthful of food he'd just swallowed, "You did what?"

"I apologized for what I had said in the article."

"In front of everyone in the Great Hall?" Harry set down his fork, "That couldn't have gone over well with the Slytherin table."

"No. But it worked, you came and found me afterwards and we talked for the first time in a month."

"There is so much, isn't there? To learn about." Harry said wearily.

Draco nodded, "We can't cover two years in a few hours or even days." he pushed back from the table and held his hand out to Harry. "Come here." With his other hand he picked up the papers he'd taken from the locker room. He led Harry up the winding staircase to the top floor and pushed open the door.

"Your room?" Harry asked as he entered. Draco nodded. The room contained just a bed and desk. Draco took out his wand and pointed it at the bed. "Engorgio" the bed stretched and doubled in size.

"I thought you wanted to wait." Harry didn't pretend not to know what Draco had in mind. He looked curiously from the bed to Draco. He noticed with humor the flush that rose in Draco's pale cheeks.

"Two things changed my mind," Draco looked at him, "First, was talking to Watson this afternoon. If something goes wrong. If your memory fabric tears. I will hate myself for having missed the opportunity to be with you." he stepped towards Harry, wrapping his arms around his waist.

"And the second thing?"

"The second thing?" Draco pulled Harry close to him, his groin rubbing against Harry's, "I've been like this for the last hour and I think I'm about to go mad with wanting you. Principles are all well and good, but-"

"Thank Merlin for that," Harry murmured, kissing him as he moved forwards, forcing Draco backwards until he was pressed against the desk. Hands quickly untucked shirts and fumbling fingers tried to undo buttons. Harry impatiently pulled away and pulled his own shirt over his head, Draco did the same with his. "More," he said breathlessly as Draco kissed his neck, his fingers tangled in Harry's hair, forcing his head back to give him better access.

Harry struggled to unfasten Draco's belt, hearing Draco's breathless gasp as he finally slid down the zipper. "Bed." Draco choked out, "Now."

Shoes were toed off, jeans and slacks abandoned as they moved in desperate steps towards the bed. They ended up on the bed in a twist of limbs, neither willing to separate. Harry groaned as their erections rubbed together. He was startled by Draco suddenly pulling back.

"Oh, fuck. Salazar." Draco cursed.

"What's wrong?" Harry said, as he leaned forward to kiss his chest.

"Lube, we don't have any bloody lube."

"Who says we don't?" Harry said, "Some of us came prepared."

"You brought lube to St. Mungo's?" Draco looked at him disbelievingly.

"This trip to Hogwarts may not have been quite as spontaneous as I made it sound." Harry said with a smile, as he dragged a finger down Draco's chest. "And I may have hoped that you could be persuaded to rethink the whole waiting thing," he let his hand slide farther down.

"Thank Merlin for that." Draco moaned against the touch of Harry's hand, "Don't bother waiting for a handwritten invitation, feel free to get it anytime."

"Already did," Harry said with a smile, holding up his other hand to reveal a small tin. "Wandless comes in handy." He hesitated for a moment, "What do you prefer-"

Draco cut him off, "I need to feel you." Harry nodded wordlessly, knowing they were both already on the edge. His hand was shaking as he opened the tin. Draco drew his knees up and Harry froze at the sight. "Harry." Draco ground out and Harry forced himself to focus on what needed to be done. Stretching his body against Draco, he kissed him at the same time as he carefully started to prepare him. Draco arched his back at Harry's touch, "Salazar."

"It's okay," Harry whispered reassuringly against his mouth, waiting for the tightness to ease, "I want you so badly, I've wanted this for so long." Draco moved against him and Harry became lost in the need to give more, feel more. Time stopped as they moved together in a dance that neither of their bodies had forgotten. There were murmured promises, caresses, and muted cries. Harry called out his own release as he felt Draco's. He struggled against the urge to collapse on top of Draco, as the last reflexive thrusts of his hips subsided and he supported his weight on his elbows.

Harry looked at Draco, his eyes were closed, sweat dampened fringe clinging to his forehead, lips bruised and reddened. He'd never looked more beautiful. The coldness of the room cooled their heated bodies. Harry shivered, reaching down to pull the duvet over them. He summoned his wand and lit a fire in the fireplace, dropping the wand heedlessly back to the floor. Draco pulled at him and he lay down, again, resting his head against Draco's chest.

"That was extraordinary." Harry murmured at last, feeling the need to break the silence.

"That was beyond extraordinary. I think we need to invent a new word to describe it." Draco smiled as he shifted, stretching his legs out against Harry. "You feel okay? No flashbacks or anything?"

Harry shook his head, "Is that how it used to be?" he asked hesitantly. He didn't know why he felt compelled to ask. But he had to know.

"No," Draco said slowly, "For a number of reasons."

"Like what?"

"Well, for one thing. We are in a bed. Not on the floor, or against a desk, or on a rather narrow sofa." Draco said, "And, it feels good. Knowing that we aren't hiding what we are doing. We can walk out of the room holding hands and not be afraid that someone will see us," he hesitated, "And you. You're different, a lot more confident. Sure of yourself." he looked at Harry, "And that is okay."

"Draco..." Harry knew exactly what he was inferring, "Do you mind? The fact of him?"

"If I were being completely honest, a little. But I also know that he helped you. Get over what happened. I get that."

"He did. I don't know where I would be right now if it weren't for Charlie." Harry sighed, "There was always something missing though. This feels whole, complete. You are like coming home," he yawned the last word, unable to fight the exhaustion that was coming over him.

Draco smiled, "Sleep. We've done enough talking for tonight." Harry nodded, wearily. He couldn't remember being more tired, he fell asleep with his arm resting on Draco's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart against his hand.

OooooOoOoO

Draco woke, startled awake by the sound of an owl calling out in the night. Shifting slightly, he studied Harry sleeping. The moonlight coming in the window fell across the bed and Draco watched the gentle rise and fall of Harry's chest. His face was relaxed in sleep, lips slightly parted. He could scarcely believe how quickly everything had changed. Three days before he was sure there would never be a chance for them to be together and now he was lying here next to him. Unable to resist the urge he reached out carefully and traced the curse scar on Harry's chest. It was a glaring reminder of how close he had come to losing him.

Harry's eyes flew open, his body jerking awake, then relaxing as he saw Draco, "Hey."

"Straw is cheaper." Draco said with a smile.

"You know that one?" Harry's face showing his disbelief.

Draco laughed, "It makes absolutely no sense to me, but you used to say it."

"Never made much sense to me either, but I liked that Muggle teacher." Harry said. "You feel okay?" he asked hesitantly, threading his fingers through Draco's.

Draco said, "Never better," he added truthfully, "A little sore, more than worth it," leaning over to kiss him.

"What time is it?" Harry asked, as Draco kissed him along his collarbone, along the scars left by the Fiendfyre.

"Don't know, late. The owl woke me. We're right below the Owlery. You would think I would be used it after spending the year sleeping with them flying by."

"Nice view," Harry said looking towards the window, seeing the moon. Draco nodded without looking away from Harry.

"I used to lie awake every night, looking out the window. Wondering where you were…"

"Where did you think?"

"I didn't know at first, just hoped you were safe. Hoped you weren't hurting too bad. I figured it out after seeing you last Christmas at Andromeda's, when the number of dragon toys that Teddy had multiplied tenfold."

Harry laughed, "I suppose that would have been a giveaway. It was a shock seeing you there. I didn't know what to do or say. Wasn't ready to deal with things, yet. I apparated away like a coward."

"You think you were surprised? I felt like I'd been run-over by a Hippogriff."

"What did you think, when I left, not saying anything?"

"I was glad you hadn't hexed me on the spot. No, that was my second thought. My first thought was that I'd never seen you looking more gorgeous. Your hair, tied back like that, I immediately imagined it like this," Draco glanced at Harry who was lying back on the pillow, his black hair falling loose on his shoulders. "My imagination didn't do it justice though. The sight is enough to make a straight man go bent."

Harry laughed embarrassedly, "Right, good one."

"True. And then I remember standing there and realizing that I would never be able to run my hands through your hair again, never be able to talk with you without hearing the loathing in your voice, and it was all I could do to stay standing upright."

"You were wrong about that, thank Merlin." Harry said, "I know I only saw you for a minute but I took in all of you. It was burned into my head, you standing in that doorway. You'd changed in appearance too, taller and your hair. Couldn't believe it was so short. Why did you cut it?"

"I'd spent the first half of my life having to look like a Malfoy. I'm not ashamed of my family name, but I want to be known as Draco Malfoy, not just a Malfoy. I'm not my father."

"You stopped being just Malfoy to me, months ago. I think it was after seeing you with Teddy at the Remembrance Ceremony that I recognized that I couldn't match the memory of you and who you had become. That is when I started thinking of you as Draco." Harry said, he was running his fingertips along the Sectumsempra scar on Draco's chest. "We are very lucky, to see past everything, twice. Lucky to have lived to see this happen."

"Lucky doesn't begin to describe how incredibly fortunate I feel." Draco said, he stilled Harry's fingers. He didn't want to think of the day that Harry put those scars there, and he didn't want Harry worrying about it either.

"When did we first sleep together?" Harry asked abruptly, shifting to see Draco better.

Draco looked at him closely, thinking about his question, "First time we slept together, we literally just slept. Was the night Cedric died. I snuck into the hospital ward using your cloak. I had to be with you no matter what the risk."

Harry shut his eyes in the effort to remember back. "Sirius was there that night, guarding the bed as Padfoot."

"Yes, he almost ripped my throat out." Draco agreed,. "You had to convince him not to-"

"Sirius knew about us, too?"

"That is when he found out, he wasn't pleased. For that night, though, he let us be. I don't know what he said to you later. We were hurting so bad I don't think the fact that he had found out even made an impression. I was so sure I had lost you, when you disappeared in the maze. And then to see you return, holding Cedric."

"Maybe it is best I don't remember it all," Harry said, "My memory of that night is bad enough as it is. Simon told me about the next day. About you and me talking to him afterwards."

Draco nodded. "It makes me glad, as strange as it sounds, to know that there is someone else who knew about us. Who saw us together. Other than Sirius and Snape. Anyway, to get back to your question. The first time we had sex was fifth year, in November."

"We waited a year?" Harry raised his eyebrow.

Draco laughed and nodded, "Wasn't like we weren't messing around but it was a big step and I think we were both a little afraid to take it," He took a deep breath, "It was after the Slytherin-Gryffindor Quidditch game."

Harry narrowed his eyes, "We won that game...wait, fifth year's match...that was the day I got banned by Umbridge. You and I fought after the game. Was that a faked fight or a real-"

"That was a real fight. Very real. I don't know what came over me at the end of the game. I think it was the tension of everything. Having to be two people at once. Malfoy. Draco. I exploded and you paid the price."

"Bloody Umbridge." Harry said, "How did that turn into..."

"We met downstairs afterwards. I was so afraid. I knew I had pushed things too far. You wouldn't even let me apologize. Then you told me you loved me. And the next thing I knew we were making love and everything was right in the world again."

"I've wondered." Harry said, "Not knowing if the images I see were from the first time or later."

"You remember us, like this?"

Harry nodded, "Just flashes, along with other things."

"What do you see?"

"Us on a green sofa." Harry looked questioningly at Draco, "Where is that sofa? I've seen it in my dreams. It isn't in the locker room."

"It was the bench, the wood bench that is pulled in the office. We transfigured it when we needed somewhere comfortable." Draco laughed, "That was my fifteenth birthday present. You had Cedric teach you the charm."

"I am lousy at transfigurations."

"Well, you did have a very strong motivation." Draco said with a laugh, "Merlin only knows what Cedric thought of you asking how to do it."

"He never said?" Harry said, embarrassed for his fourteen year old self.

Draco shook his head, "He worried about us, he knew what we were facing. The challenges. We used to talk about it. Just him and I."

"But we obviously thought it was worth the risk." Harry said.

Draco nodded, "Although none of us could have predicted everything that happened." He glanced over at the desk. He slid out from under the duvet and walked over to pick up the papers he had taken out of the locker room. Harry watched him as he crossed the room, wondering how the man he was seeing now differed from the 15-year old boy that he'd forgotten. "Can I get your wand?"

Harry looked at him curiously and nodded. Draco picked up his wand from where he had dropped it earlier. Harry sat up and leaned against the headboard. Draco sat next to him, pulling the duvet up over them for warmth. He handed the wand and papers to Harry, "They will only reveal to your wand, your magic."

Harry hesitated, "Not yours?"

Draco shook his head, "New wand, new variation on my magical signature. I could have transferred the reveal to my new wand but I knew that the only way I would look at them again was with you," he felt the paper thoughtfully, "Maybe I didn't transfer it to remove the temptation."

Harry looked down at the blank paper, holding his wand but not touching the paper yet. "Hermione figured out the secret with the one that was left in my trunk. Of us dancing."

"That drawing was your birthday present, the first summer." Draco said, "I'm glad you didn't have these in your trunk."

"Oh?" Harry glanced down and touched the top drawing with his wand. "Oh!" Draco laughed at the bright red color that rose in Harry's cheeks as he took in the drawing. "Yeah, this would have been embarrassing if Hermione had seen this one."

Draco nodded, "I loved drawing you. You tolerated it reasonably well." Draco laughed to himself remembering the first time Harry had woken up from a nap and discovered Draco drawing him. He had protested but Draco had convinced him to not tear it up.

"I was a scrawny git." Harry said, shifting uncomfortably.

"You were and are gorgeous. I love every inch of you." Draco said softly, kissing his shoulder.

"Scars and all?" Harry asked with a laugh.

"They define who you are. Tells your story."

Harry glanced down at the dark mark that was clearly evident on Draco's forearms. "So does yours."

Draco held up his arm studying the mark. He'd gotten used to seeing it there, the deep shame he used to feel had slowly faded. "My story is not as honorable."

Harry ran his fingers along the dark lines, "It might even be more honorable. You took this to save others. Even though you didn't want it. Even though you knew that it could mean your death."

"I wanted to die, when I knew I had to take it. As I felt it burning into my skin, I knew I'd lost you forever."

"You were wrong." Harry said.

Draco nodded, he looked back down at the drawing. "I was too naive, before that summer. I really thought that we would come through it unscathed." He looked at Harry, "You knew. You tried to convince me and I wouldn't listen to you."

"We can't change anything. There are no time turners." Harry lifted his wand and the image of him lying on the bed faded.

Draco shook his head, "Touch it again and cast a stasis. I want to see them all together." Harry hesitated and then did as Draco had asked.

Draco handed him the next one, "This one."

The next one was of them together, wrapped in each other's arms. Naked on the sofa, the Slytherin blanket covering them loosely. Harry cast the stasis and then revealed the next one. Draco smiled as he remembered drawing this one from memory, atop the AstronomyTower. "Please tell me we didn't..." Harry said in a shocked voice.

"Hell, yeah we did." Draco said with a laugh, "I was very glad no one wandered up to the tower that night, they would have gotten an eyeful."

"Suddenly your concern about whether or not Watson will be able to see your memories makes a lot more sense." Harry said, "And here I thought I was a fumbling virgin when I tried to be with Ginny."

"Did you and she ever..." Draco asked quietly. He remembered watching them from a distance. Wondering where the kisses were leading. He'd been jealous, but also overwhelmingly angry at the lie that Dumbledore had forced on Harry.

"Thankfully, no." Harry said, looking over at Draco, "That would have made it far worse, when everything came out. We were definitely, erm, active but never had sex before the end of that year. She was Ron's sister and no matter how much I wanted to, I wasn't going to push things too far. Then Dumbledore died. By the time we saw each other again the potions that he'd given me had started to wear off. Made for some awkward moments." Harry said quietly, "I didn't know what was going on in my head. I still remembered being head over heels in love with her, wanting her, but at the same time I was checking out blokes I saw walking down the street."

"Not too many ever have to go through discovering they are gay, twice." Draco said. "So, by the time of the trial you knew? That you were gay?"

Harry shook his head, "I was just confused. I didn't think I could be, because of Ginny. I thought maybe I was just suffering some kind of battle fatigue, from all of the stress."

"What kind of battle fatigue would make you check out a bloke's arse instead of your girlfriend's boobs?"

"Logic has never been a strong point of mine." Harry said with a laugh, "I didn't know what was going on. And the dreams were getting worse, with you. I knew you had to factor into it all somehow."

"If I could have saved you from having to find out like that, in front of everyone."

"It was bad." Harry nodded, "When you were trying to stop them from showing the wand memories, you called me Harry. That was the first clue that something big was going to happen. And your reaction. You were terrified."

"I was beyond terrified. I knew I couldn't stop it but I had to try. I would have pled guilty to save you from finding-"

"Never. Don't think like that." Harry grabbed his arm, knocking the drawings to the floor as he did. "You spending a life sentence in Azkaban just to save me from what I went through? Don't even suggest it."

"If you could have seen your face-you looked destroyed." Draco said, shutting his eyes at the memory.

"Thanks to the Prophet photographs I do know." Harry said dryly. "That whole week is kind of hazy to me now, fortunately."

"I admired you, how you got it together to question me in Shacklebolt's office. It showed me how much you'd matured. I doubt if you could have held in your temper like that a couple of years earlier."

"It wasn't that I was mature, it had all become too much. I was frozen inside. And, I'd already planned my escape. I'd booked the portkey to Romania. You had a lot of attitude, that day." Harry said looking at him, "I wanted to pound your smug face in."

"It was an act. For me as much as for you. The last performance of Draco Lucius Malfoy, the early years." Draco said softly, "If you could hold it together then so could I."

"Could have worked against you."

"Didn't care." Draco said, he pulled Harry towards him, "Thank you for coming back here. I know it can't be easy for you."

"I don't think it is easy on either of us," Harry looked around, "Strange being back here. But I wanted this. I wanted to come here with you and start again."

Draco nodded, he reached down and picked up the last of the fallen sheets, "Reveal this one."

Harry did it, and Draco smiled when he saw it, "This is the one I was thinking of just now when I woke up and saw you sleeping. This was the first life drawing I did of you or anyone. You'd fallen asleep and I couldn't resist drawing you."

"If anything makes this all seem real, it is this." Harry said, "Never in a million years would I have ever imagined Draco Malfoy drawing me...like this."

Draco laughed, "Well, if I'm going to draw you again. I'm going to need to study your body a little more closely. Make sure I get all the scars in the right place. It might take some time to study it all," he shifted so he was on top of Harry. "It may take a lot of time."

Harry eyed him, "You better use a concealing charm on anything you draw like those." he said pointing towards where the drawings lay on the floor.

"For your eyes only." Draco nodded, "And mine."

OoOoOOoo

When Harry woke the bed was cold next to him, he looked around worriedly and gave a sigh of relief as he saw Draco standing by the window, dressed in his slacks, his shirt hanging open as if he had paused while getting dressed.

"Everything okay?" Harry asked.

Draco nodded, "Just thinking about how things have changed...and wondering if the prefect's bathroom password was the same."

"Did we ever?" He raised his eyebrow at Draco.

Draco smiled, "With me being a prefect, I could use it when I wanted. You would slip in with me under your cloak."

"Bet Moaning Myrtle liked that." Harry said with a laugh.

"Oh, don't get me started on her. She was terrible. Probably why we didn't go there that often."

Draco looked at him, "I was afraid she would give me away, the next year."

"She told me about a boy crying in the bathroom, I didn't put it together that it was you until later."

"It's when you are confessing to ghosts like Moaning Myrtle that you know you have hit bottom. Little did I know that the worst was yet to happen."

Harry swung his legs out of bed he pulled the duvet off the bed and wrapped it around himself against the cold. "Should we risk the prefect bathroom or take a shower or whatever they have here in the tower."

"There's a shower room a floor down." Draco said, "Do you want to go get cleaned up and I'll be down in a bit?"

Harry looked at him, concerned, "Are you okay? You seem...quiet."

Draco looked at him, his face sober. "This is harder than I thought it would be. For the last year I've been sure that if I could just get you here. Show you downstairs that the memories would all come back to you. But of course, they can't and you were uncomfortable down there. I could tell."

"I know that room is special to you, but for me." He paused, choosing his words carefully, "All I have is fragments of images that come back when I dream. Being there was surreal, like being a part of the dreams. Maybe after you are able to share your memories things will start falling together better. Make sense more."

"When are you going to tell me about these dreams of yours?"

"It is hard describing them. It is like being in a tornado or a portkey, images just fly in and out. We can talk about them later. Right now all I am feeling in desperate need of is a shower. Cleaning charms are all well and good but I need a hot shower. Preferably with company. And then breakfast, I am ravenous."

"Can't imagine why," Draco said with a laugh. "You really are insatiable."

"A lot of time to make up for..." Harry said, "After breakfast, let's walk around the lake. I want to see this tree of ours."

"It's just a tree, Harry." Draco said with a laugh.

"Nothing is just anything." Harry said shaking his head, "It is all pieces to a jigsaw puzzle to me."

OoOOoOoO

They walked out into the biting cold wind after breakfast. Gray clouds hung low in the sky. Draco gave a shiver and turned up the collar on his coat. "Not the best day for a walk around the lake."

Harry nodded reluctantly, "Suppose we didn't go to it in the middle of winter."

"Not hardly." Draco said with a laugh, "Let's go back to the locker room."

Harry hesitated but nodded. He'd hoped to put off going back there.

"It will be okay, I had an idea."

They quickly made their way around the castle to the WestTower, this time Harry tapped the bricks, satisfied that he had remembered correctly the sequence. They walked into the room together, the air was fresher today, Harry realized with relief.

Draco moved confidently through the room. Pointing his wand at the fireplace, a fire sprang to life. He went to the cupboard in the closet and pulled out the record player.

"Music?" Harry said doubtfully.

"Music." Draco confirmed. He set down the player on the desk and sorted through them and selected an album from the stack. "I used to refuse to call the groups by their names. I just called this one the sofa album."

"A little too Muggle for you?"

"A bit, but I loved this group...I've thought a lot about this first song." Draco put the album on the turntable and touched the needle with his wand. Harry listened as it started to play softly.

It's getting to the point where I'm no fun anymore

I am sorry

Sometimes it hurts so badly I must cry out loud

I am lonely

I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are

Remember what we've said and done and felt about each other

Oh, babe have mercy

Don't let the past remind us of what we are not now

I am not dreaming *

Draco stood watching the record spin and then turned towards Harry. Without saying a word he led him out of the office. The music softly played, filling the room and making it seem less empty. Stopping in front of a locker Draco put his hands on Harry's hips and gently pushed him back so that he was against the locker. "First kiss, was right here. Right like this." He looked at Harry with a smile, "Of course, we were a lot shorter then."

"Who kissed who?" Harry asked, he'd always wondered who had made the first move.

"It was during the third Imperius session and I finally was able to throw off the curse. You had a list of commands that you were giving me and I didn't do them. So Cedric told you to think a command that wasn't on the list, to see if I could throw that. And you gave me the Imperius command to kiss you."

"I what?" Harry laughed incredulously, "I wouldn't just do that out of the blue like that!"

Draco smiled at Harry's expression, "I couldn't believe it either."

"So then you kissed me?"

Draco shook his head, "No. I was still under the Imperius. I waited until you said Finite...then I kissed you. I grabbed your hands like this and asked you if you wanted me to tell Cedric what the last command was or show him." He held Harry's arms firmly over his head.

"This was in front of Cedric?"

Draco laughed, "Yeah, he left pretty quick after that, I think. We both forgot he was even in the room."

Harry licked his lips and looked at Draco who was still holding him pressed against the locker. "Why did you do it? Why did you kiss me? Because I'd asked?"

"Because I'd been wondering for weeks what it would be like." Draco said, "Half of me wanted to it to go badly, because I knew that you and I could be a disaster. That our lives would become very, very complicated if I gave in to the temptation."

"And the other half?"

"Wanted it more than anything. I'd been watching you for years, been fascinated by you for months and liking you for weeks."

"So how was it?" Harry couldn't help but stare at Draco's lips.

Draco leaned into him and kissed him, Harry tried to free his arms from Draco's grip so he could put his arms around him but Draco just tightened his grip. Considering what they had been up to half the night the kiss shouldn't have been anything special but it was. Draco trembled when Harry deepened the kiss. Draco pushed forward, forcing his thigh between Harry's. With relief Harry felt Draco's grip on his wrist loosen and Harry wasted no time getting his arms free. He wrapped his arms around Draco, forcing their bodies closer together. Draco had his hands on the back of Harry's head. His fingers caught and pulled on the leather strap, releasing his hair. Harry hissed as he felt Draco grip him by his hair, gently forcing Harry's head back, giving him access to Harry's neck as he starts kissing him along his neck. Harry ran his hands along Draco's waist, pulling him closer. The sound of the record player stopping and the album starting over stilled Draco.

Harry looked at him, "So that was our first kiss?" he asked with a laugh, trying to catch his breath.

Draco laughed with him, "Yeah. It was pretty hot."

"And just like that we decide to be together?"

"Pretty much. I wasn't about to give this up." Draco rubbed his thumb over Harry's lips, "And, I remember thinking how there wasn't a decision to be made. As wrong as it may have been, it felt good, it felt right."

"If it felt anything like this, I'm sure it did." Harry said, he looked around the room. "What did Cedric have to say about us?"

"He was concerned. Actually talked to us both about being careful. And, I think we both knew it, too. I know I did at least. It was intense being down here by ourselves. We knew that it would be too easy to set each other off. Cedric came down and studied with us a lot."

"And I showed you both how to cast a Patronus."

Draco nodded, "That and dance lessons, too." Draco gave a half-smile, "You talked about not knowing how to dance. So, Cedric and I gave you lessons."

"Right. You mentioned that at the Center opening." Harry said. He still had his arms around Draco's waist but leaned back, resting his head against the locker. "There really are hundreds of hours that we were together. Aren't there?"

Draco nodded. "It is going to take a long time, to share the memories."

"It really is the strangest feeling. Knowing that we had all this and yet to have it all reduced to just a smattering of images that make no sense."

"Do you think you can tell me what you do remember, or dream about?"

Harry hesitated but then nodded, "Let's sit down" They walked together back into the office and Harry went over to the bench. He picked up Quidditch leather chest protector that was laying on it. He looked over at Draco. "Do you remember the transfiguration charm?"

Draco nodded and pulled out his wand. Harry set down the protector and stepped back. Draco took a deep breath and cast the spell. The bench shimmered and disappeared, leaving the green leather settee in its place.

"And I did this? When I was fourteen?"

"Considering you'd already been casting a Patronus for a year, it really isn't that hard to imagine. And," Draco smiled, "It was really, really nice to have somewhere to sit other than the wood chairs or a bench."

Harry lay down on the settee, Draco hesitated a moment and stretched out next to him. He grimaced as they both tried to make room for the other. "We really were smaller then, I don't remember ever having to struggle to make room." He sat up and Harry laughed at his disgruntled face.

"It's okay." He leaned against the end, motioned for Draco to lean against him, Harry's legs stretched out on either side of him. The weight of Draco's body against his chest felt good, and natural, Harry realized with a start. He reached for Draco's hand, weaving their fingers together. He studied the contrast between their two hands. Draco's fingers were long and elegant, pale in contrast to Harry's own tanned fingers that were calloused and rough to the touch.

"Your dreams. What do you remember." Draco prompted him quietly.

"They started while we were on the run, hiding out. If it had been anyone else in the dreams I wouldn't have thought anything about them. But it was you, in my dreams. You laughing, or looking at me without your usual - your old usual - look."

"You mean the spoiled, condescending prat look?"

"Right, and it wasn't you laughing at me, I could tell we were laughing together. Even though I wasn't even in the dream. I couldn't figure out why of all the people I could dream about it, that it would be you looking like that."

"And this was, when?"

"I don't know. September, October of that year." Harry shook his head, "And then I started dreaming of reaching out for you, stretching my hand out for you and you just disappearing and everything going black. And I would wake up in a cold sweat. Always with a headache. And then they got stranger, I would dream of you and I in here. No clothes. That really freaked me out."

"I can only imagine. What did you think it was?"

"I tried not to think about it, and Ron, Hermione and I were all sharing a tent. So I was afraid that I was talking in my sleep."

"You always talk in your sleep."

Harry hesitated, startled by the casualness of Draco's comment, "I know, but I didn't used to call out your name. It was always Voldemort before, then I started dream about you and he got all mixed up together. With Snape, too. Him screaming at the both of us."

"He did."

"And always flashes of this room, the lockers, flashes of me staring into a mirror blood dripping from my nose."

"That was the fight, the first big one after the Hagrid article. I punched you."

Harry nodded, it didn't matter to him anymore. "I just couldn't figure out why I would be dreaming of you. And always the one of me reaching out for you and then you just disappearing. That one would repeat again and again, me calling out your name and you disappearing."

Draco eyes were closed, "That was on the train. When it happened. You had snuck into our train car and I knew you were there, I knew what I had to do. And I just couldn't make myself do it. And Snape stunned you from behind. You were coming towards me when his stunner hit you." He sat up and swung his legs off the settee. Shielding his face with his hands, his elbow on his knees. "I never wanted to do it. I wanted to die, rather than hurt you. Rather than erase us." Harry was off the sofa and kneeling in front of him, he put his arms around Draco. Pulling his head down to his shoulders, and Draco was weeping.

"It's okay...we're past that now." And the next thing Harry knew they were crying together, for all that they had lost. Long minutes passed and then Draco broke away first, his eyes glittering as he looked at Harry.

"You have to know, I argued with Snape every day that summer. Convinced that there had to be another way. You have to believe me. If I could have found a way-"

"I know. It is all behind us now. We are here, we're together." Harry kissed Draco, kissed the tears from his face. "I'm not going anywhere. We are getting through all the bad."

"I'm so sorry, I'm going to make up what I did to you. I need you to forgive me."

"If you need me to say it, then, yes, I forgive you. I know you didn't have a choice. You were left with no options." Harry pushed Draco back on the sofa, fingers fumbling as he tried to get past the barrier of his clothes. This time their lovemaking was different, the frantic urge of their earlier pairings gave way to the need to heal, to feel each caress and know that it was much more than two people making love.

Afterwards, they lay together on the sofa, a blanket pulled over them. Harry stared at the flames flickering in the fireplace. Draco hadn't said anything for a while. "You okay?" Harry asked quietly.

Draco shifted and nodded, "It is good being here again, showing you where we were together, Even if you can't remember it. But what I love more is that we can walk out those doors and I can reach down and hold your hand and not be afraid that someone will see us. That is something we could never do before." He took a deep breath, "And, I think that I can let go of the memories of here."

"Are you sure? Will you want to come back here later?"

Draco shook his head, "All that I ever really needed and wanted is you." He squeezed Harry's hand. "I think we should take the drawings, albums and close the door."

Harry looked around the stone walls. He didn't have the feeling of claustrophobia that he had yesterday but it still felt strange being in the space. "We can do that, but if ever you need to come back. While we are sharing the memories-"

"You were right, with what you said in Hogsmeade. I want to be with you because who you are now. Regardless if the memory bond works. You are who I want. I love the memory of this place, but I love you more."

Harry hesitated, "Should we go back to London?"

Draco nodded. They quietly got dressed. Harry still wondering at the changes that had taken place between them. Draco came up to him as he was dragging his own fingers through his hair trying to pull it back. "Let me." Harry closed his eyes against the feeling of Draco kissing his neck as he finished tying it back.

He walked over to the wall where the framed drawings were hung. "You can put these up at the Center."

Draco shook his head, "Put them up at Grimmauld Place."

"But they're yours."

"They're ours and I want them with you." Draco pulled down the one of Harry studying at the desk, "I can still remember every stroke of my pencil. I know every glance that I stole of you while drawing them. I don't need the drawings to remind me. You do."

Harry nodded and looked around, "What else? The albums of course." Draco nodded and went to the cupboard and pulled out an old school bag. They methodically shrunk and fit the drawings and albums into the bag. "Anything else?"

Draco hesitated and then pulled open a drawer in the desk and took out a narrow, thin box. "What's that?"

"I'll show you later." Draco said, "It isn't time yet, for this." Harry glanced from the box to Draco's face.

He nodded, "Okay, I can accept that. Are we set?"

Draco thought for a minute and then gave a little laugh, "I can't believe I forgot I haven't showed you this yet." He walked through to the locker room and opened one without hesitation. Harry peered into the locker.

"Clothes? Your spare clothes?"

"Not mine, yours." Draco said with a laugh. "I couldn't stand the fact that you were wearing your cousin's clothes. So, I bought you a set of clothes that were just for you." He reached down and unfolded a shirt, he held it up to Harry, "They won't fit you anymore."

"From fifth year? I don't think so." Harry reached out and picked up a pair of jeans. "This really is very strange. Having a second life, that I know so little."

"You will soon, one way or another. We will share this memory again." Draco said. "And we will have our new memories, too." He looked around the room, "I'm glad we came back. And I'm ready, to move on."

"You sure?"

"This room was our whole world back then, other than a few stolen moments upstairs. Here is where we could be Harry and Draco, and it was enough, back then. We never dared to dream beyond these walls. We knew everything and everybody was against us. Now we have so much more."

Harry smiled at him, "Let's go home."

Comments and Reviews are appreciated greatly! I love the new, spiffy blue review button. It is hard to miss.

Someone asked for a playlist of the Harry & Draco's songs. I'll put it together and post it later. The album that Draco put on in this chapter was the self titled Crosby, Stills & Nash, Side A.

* Song lyrics "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" written by Stephen Stills and performed by Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Editing: All errors are mine! I apologize. My beta, Kristin Thorne, who joined me a few chapters ago, and she and I are working towards getting the entire (all 300K words!) story fact-checked and corrected. I'll be reposting the chapters this summer. At the same time I'll tighten up the writing a little bit. If you are planning on re-reading it, you may want to wait til the end of summer.