...this chapter is ok. the next chapter may kill me just as much as you guys will want to kill me once I post it. I've been writing it in my head for weeks now, I just have to type it out.
WARNING: gay relationship
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter
The next few days were extremely tense. But Draco couldn't remember when Harry had been a more attentive lover or husband or friend. Every day for the next few days Harry picked up Draco for lunch from Diagon Alley which usually involved them going back to Harry's flat, eating a lunch Harry had cooked up for them, and then having sweet and tender sex that made Draco just beg for more. The evenings were similar, Harry would pick Draco up after he closed up his shop and take him out to a fancy dinner at some expensive restaurant and their nights were full of passion and love making. If Draco forgot something, Harry would be there to bring his forgotten bag or bottle or ingredient for a potion. Remus had reminded Draco of Juliet's Death and Romeo's Kiss which Draco had been working on for six days and had finished by the time Umbridge called on Harry again.
They were having breakfast a week after Umbridge had first called, when they heard a car honking on the street below. Harry walked to the window and saw Krum waving at him from his place leaning against the car. Draco was at his side in a flash and looking down at Krum as well. Harry looked at Draco regretfully and said quietly,
"I have to step out for a minute and see what he wants."
"Be careful," Draco replied. Harry kissed Draco on the forehead and then walked down the stairs and out of the building.
"What do you want?" said Harry to Krum.
"The boss needs to see you," Krum said holding open the door. Harry looked up at the window again and saw Draco standing there with a look of almost helplessness. Harry put his hand over his heart just as he had done before and held his hand up to Draco. Draco pressed his hand to his own heart and then pressed his hand against the window. Harry took in a deep breath and got into the car. They took a winding path to the hotel again and he walked in. The same kitten was there waiting to lead him to Umbridge. He followed the white kitten into her office.
"Good morning Mr. Potter!" she said in her sweetest tone. "And how are we this morning? Would you like a spot of tea?"
"I'd rather not," he said as politely as possible. "I just finished a large breakfast."
"Suit yourself. I wanted to know what progress you are making in killing Draco Malfoy."
"I've been treating him like a king for the last week. In two days I will make him one of his favorite dishes. I am going to poison that dish. The poison will kill him quickly."
"I see," she said with a smile. "A very nice plan. What then?"
"People will know he is dead soon. I plan to call Remus Lupin at that point and have him pick up Draco's body. He will make what I have done public. At that point I need to hide so that I am not tracked down by the Ministry of Magic."
"We can easily hide you Mr. Potter. Just let us know when you have achieved your goal and I will send Krum around with the car to pick you up."
"Of course."
"It's good to know the lengths you will go to Mr. Potter. Not many would be willing to kill their spouse for a cause, even one that is just." Harry swallowed his revulsion and replied,
"There are alot of things that I will do that you would never imagine me capable of." For once, Umbridge seemed taken aback. Maybe it was the words, maybe it was his dark tone, or maybe it was just the look in his eyes. But she was startled.
"Very good Mr. Potter," she said trying to recover quickly with a fake smile. But Harry knew that he had thrown her off balance. He put the thought in the back of his mind to be used for later. "We will await your message." Harry bowed slightly to her and turned on his heel and marched out of the room. Krum and the car took him back to the shop again. He found as he got to the door he could still speak of what he had done. He unlocked it and shut it tightly behind him. As he turned around he found himself pinned against the door and Draco's lips locked on his. Suddenly his head was pounding. He remembered a whole hour from a week ago and he could speak of the first time that Umbridge called on him. But for right now all he could do was scream. Draco held him tightly and whispered,
"I'm sorry Harry, I'm so so sorry, but there's nothing I can do to stop the pain. You just have to wait it out. It will be over soon." He stroked Harry's hair calmly and ran his fingernails over Harry's back in an attempt to soothe him. When the pounding his head finally eased he looked up at Draco.
"You've known?" said Harry breathlessly. "This whole time... you've known."
"I'm sorry. It was the only way to keep Umbridge from killing you and I'm-"
"Stop apologizing! I'm not mad, I'm relieved as weird as that sounds. We have to see Remus now. I told Umbridge how I'm going to kill you and when." Draco nodded and held Harry's hand tightly. "Remus's office." They apparated and found Remus sitting at his desk. Remus looked up immediately with nervousness in his eyes.
"Umbridge called you again?" he asked before they even sat down. Harry nodded. "What did you tell her?"
"I'm going to poison Draco," said Harry. "On Sunday I'm going to make him dinner and I'm going to poison his dish."
"All right, that will work out perfectly," said Remus. "We've been working on a plan."
"What is it?"
"I'm making a pair of potions that Snape taught me how to make a long time ago," Draco said turning to Harry. "Juliet's Death and Romeo's Kiss. I'll just have to switch the poison you're going to use with Juliet's Death. I'll appear by all medical and magical standards to be dead. Once I'm given Romeo's Kiss, I'll wake up and return to good health within a couple of days. I brought it with me." He put the bottle marked with a flowery label, "Romeo's Kiss", on Remus's desk.
"All right, Harry poisons you. Harry, once Draco is... well, appears to be dead-"
"I already plan to call you and give you Draco's body," said Harry before either could say anymore. "You have to make his death and how he died public. Then keep him safe at St. Mungo's."
"I promise I will Harry," said Remus picking up the bottle on his desk and putting it in his jacket pocket. "He won't come to harm."
"If he does..." Harry started to say but Remus held up his hand and said,
"I know, I'm your next target. I don't blame you Harry." Harry turned back to Draco.
"You have to take all of this from me again don't you?" Draco nodded with a sad look in his eyes. "The poison I'm going to use is in the little box I keep your love letters in. You know the one, on the top shelf of my closet." Draco nodded again. "You know that I love you, right?"
"I know, Harry. I love you."
"Remus, I'll send you a message on Sunday." Remus nodded. "Now if you'll excuse us, I want to return home and spend as much time with my husband as I can." Harry quickly took Draco's hand and they apparated back to the shop. Draco moved to kiss Harry, but Harry put a hand on his chest.
"Wait just a second," said Harry. "Promise me something."
"Anything," Draco replied without hesitation.
"When this is all over and you're alive and I'm alive and we are still in love with each other, we need to take a long vacation together." Draco smiled and nodded.
"Of course Harry. Anywhere you want."
"Anywhere?"
"I said anywhere didn't I?"
"Even if I said I want to go to Antarctica and watch Emperor Penguins waddle around?"
"I'll waddle with them if you want me to." Harry giggled slightly at the image of Draco waddling around with a bunch of penguins. Draco smiled in return and stroked Harry's cheek. "It will be fine Harry. I've got everything in place. And you're the only person in the world that I trust to kill me." Draco slowly pushed Harry against the door and kissed him gently this time. He took everything that needed to be taken and put guards around the memories of Umbridge once again. Harry looked a little confused and dizzy again.
"You miss me that much?" said Harry in a slightly teasing voice. "I was only gone about fifteen minutes."
"I miss you every time you are gone," said Draco stroking Harry's cheek again. "You've been so attentive lately, it almost felt weird not having you right at my side. Why all the close attention lately anyway?"
"We were apart for three years and that was all my fault," said Harry. "I'm trying to make up for it." It was the truth. Harry had been intending on making up for all he had done with many days of careful attention to Draco's needs and wants. He just didn't tell the other part, the part where he wanted as much time with Draco as possible before he killed the only love of his life. But Draco already knew that part and let it slide. "Are you working on Sunday?"
"You know I don't work on Sunday."
"I was just making sure. I want to take you out that day and then have a nice dinner at home." Draco pulled off a smile and said quietly,
"I'd like that." Harry barely smiled and the two kissed gently. It was Friday. By Sunday, Draco would be gone and Harry wasn't sure how long he would live without Draco.
