Lazy Draco stretched himself out and slowly got up from the bed, Neville and he had occupied last night. The Gryffindor had left like an hour ago to do whatever he did as leader of Dumbledore's Army. Shuffling forward he reached the door leading back into the dark blond's office. The Room of Requirement had been so friendly to provide them with a private bedroom. Sneaking a peek, he found the room empty and he continued his shuffling to the next room. In the common room there were only some younger years practising their magic. As quietly as he could he opened the door and slipped out, but still everyone's eyes were on him. As he stepped forward, he realised he didn't know where the bathroom was.

"Where's the bathroom?" his voice sounded groggy. Nobody moved. "I can go and check every room, if you prefer?" he continued with a huff and walked to the closest door. As he grabbed the handle, a voice stopped him.

"It's on the other side of the room." Slowly - to not scare the others - Draco turned around and found a boy pointing to a door opposite of him.

"Thank you," he gave him a small smile and making sure not to make any sudden moves, he crossed the room. When he finally closed the door to the bathroom behind him, he let out a breath of relief. Quickly he showered and picked some clean clothes he found on a big shelved rack. There were plenty of them, so he didn't think they belonged to someone, instead the Room of Requirement had probably provided them. Moving back to the common room, he found the younger students still practising. This time they chose to ignore him, and he quietly walked back to Neville's office. A week passed like this. Draco stayed inside Neville's office or their bedroom, only to leave his safe haven to use the bathroom. The dark blond made certain he had enough to eat and he made certain to eat it all to stop the worried looks Neville kept giving him. He knew he had lost a lot of weight and as the Gryffindor saw him naked a lot, he realised he had to do something about it. Once again, he walked from the bathroom back to Neville's office, while the younger years were practising again.

'They're just barely making any progress,' he eyed them before stopping at the office door. He deeply sighed before turning around. 'They're going to die like this…' Walking to the training youths, they stiffened as they noted him. "You," Draco started while pointing to the closest boy, "keep your arm straight, that will make your spell more precise. You," next a girl, "stop stepping backwards. Your spells lose strength because of it and you give your enemies the impression they're intimidating you." Everyone had something he corrected and to his surprise they tried his suggestions. The progress was visual in his eyes and he smiled as he watched the youngsters continue their practice.

Deciding to return to Neville's office, he moved back to the door when the front door of the Room of Requirement flew open. Seamus and some other girl were supporting a bloody Neville and alarm bells went off in Draco's mind.

"What happened!" he screamed as he ran towards them.

"Don't get in the way, Malfoy!" the Irish lad screamed while pulling the dark blond to the door right from them. The Slytherin followed them and watched them put their leader on a hospital bed. Draco didn't wait for permission and started checking the Gryffindor's wounds. 'A punctured lung, broken ribs…' Healing spells were falling from his lips as he found the next wound. Next, he demanded potions and got them handed without caring who gave them to him. Having done what he could, he leaned backwards and carefully observed the dark blond lying before him.

'He's looking less pale…'

"Where did you learn that?" Seamus pulled his attention and he finally acknowledge the one, who had giving him the potions.

"What happened?" he demanded instead, ignoring the other's question and the Irish lad grimaced.

"The Carrows seemed to have noticed that he's the one running Dumbledore's Army. They drew him out with claiming his Gran was in danger because of him." Draco baled his hands.

"He can't go out there anymore," the blond decided and the other nodded while taking care of the girl's wounds.

"He needs to lay low for a while, but he isn't going to want to do that without hearing anything about his Gran," Seamus reasoned while checking the girl's healed arm. Draco frowned as he wondered how he could find out the woman's whereabouts without leaving. "Don't get any ideas, Malfoy," the Irish Gryffindor gave him a look, "you need to stay here. He," he pointed at the sleeping Neville, "will freak out if you're gone. Leave it to me," he smiled before guiding the girl away from the other two. "I'll show you around." Draco heard him say to his companion as he watched them go.

-DNDN-

Groaning at the numbness he felt, Neville slowly opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times until the light didn't hurt his eyes anymore. Able to focus again, he noted Draco leaning over him with worry in his eyes. Memories surfaced very fast and he tried to get up while asking about his Gran.

"Lie down," Draco ordered him as he gently pushed him down again. "Your Grandma's fine," the blond continued as the healing Gryffindor didn't oppose him. "She got away before the Death Eaters could reach her. Finnigan knows how you can contact her." A little resentment could be heard in the Slytherin's voice and Neville could guess that Seamus had refused to reveal Aberforth's identity.

'Which we have agreed on,' he told himself. If Voldemort got inside Draco's head one way or another, he couldn't find out about their connection to the outside world. Draco knew this all too well and he understood, but clearly didn't like that he was being kept out of things.

"Here," the blond pulled his attention and he accepted the potion he was being handed. "I'll get Finnigan," Draco said as he watched Neville drink the potion and got up on his feet. The Gryffindor didn't have to wait long before his Irish friend entered the room.

"Mate! You gave us a scare!" Seamus said as he dropped down before him. It didn't go unnoticed that Draco wasn't returning with him.

"I'll be fine, and thank you, I wouldn't be here if you hadn't gotten me out and healed me," Neville sighed, and his friend gave him a childish smile.

"Of course, but Malfoy's the one who healed you."

"Oh," the dark blond answered as Seamus narrowed his eyes at him.

"Which he surprisingly knows a lot about."

"Yeah," Neville sighed as he remembered that time Ginny had found a wounded Draco, "a Death Eater's training's more… intense than ours." Seamus frowned at his explanation but didn't push further. "You contacted my Gran?" the dark blond continued and the Irish Gryffindor nodded.

"Yes, Aberforth's connections found her. She's gone into hiding, before Death Eaters even got anywhere near her. Aberforth can get a letter to her," Seamus informed him, and he thanked him again.

"How long was I out?" he changed the direction of their conversation.

"A day." Neville's eyebrow rose at that.

"How has Draco been acting?" he hated himself for asking, but he needed to know.

"He's been your private nurse for most of it, only left your side to use the bathroom," the Irish lad shrugged before leaning forward in a conspiring way. "I did hear something from the first years, who were training during the day," he continued, and Neville's eyes widened in panic. "Apparently, he's been helping them. Guiding them even," Seamus smiled as the dark blond's mouth fell open in surprise. "He really seems to be trying," the Irish lad smirked. He was clearly liking the other's reaction and Neville tried and failed to keep a smile from his lips.

-DNDN-

Neville almost couldn't believe it when Ariana had come to get him, and Harry, Ron and Hermione were, who were waiting for him at Aberforth's. He was thrilled to see them again and had quickly taken them into the Room of Requirement, but he didn't like that the three of them still wanted to keep them out of danger.

'Don't they realise that we're already deep into this war?' he wondered as his eyes moved to Draco, who was keeping a distance from the rest of them. He didn't even know if the Golden Trio had even noticed him. As more people arrived through Ariana's portrait, Harry seemed to freak out even more, but eventually it only took a couple of minutes before the Chosen One gave in and let everyone help them. Luna left with Harry to look for the diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw and the rest decided to wait for them in the Room of Requirement. Neville made his way over to Draco feeling worried about him.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he took hold of his left hand.

"Of course." The blond gave him a small smile, but he didn't look convincing.

"Neville!" Molly Weasley called out from behind them and he turned around to see the woman making her way over to them.

'When did the Weasleys arrive?' the dark blond wondered for a moment before the Weasley's matriarch stood in front of him.

"What's that snake doing here?!" she called out while openly glaring at Draco. "Why is he running around free?"

"Yeah, he should be bound to a chair at least, that way we can interrogate him!" Fred and George joined their mother and Neville automatically moved his body more in front of the Slytherin.

"He's on our side. He has already told us everything he knows," he stated while giving the three a warning stare. The Weasley clan was clearly surprised by his behaviour, but he wasn't going to let anyone, who wanted to hurt Draco near him. Suddenly Draco groaned in pain behind him and the hand he was still holding, started contracting. Immediately the dark blond turned around and found the Slytherin pulling at his sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark. The Mark seemed to be glowing and pulsing and Draco seemed to want to claw at it but didn't dare to touch it at the same time. In fear Neville looked up at the blond, who was trying to hold in his tears while his eyes seemed to be getting a white haze over them. In the split of a second the white haze disappeared, and Draco took a deep breath while falling forward against the dark blond. Neville wrapped his arms around the blond, who was shivering like crazy and scared big greyish eyes looked up at him.

"He knows!" Draco said almost hypnotic. "He knows Harry's here!" his voice rose. "They're coming! All of them! They're coming!" Panic spread around them and Neville's grip tightened on the blond. The Order's members immediately took charge and the panic changed into the will to fight. In this commotion Harry returned and told them what had happened. Only minutes later they were already underway to the Great Hall. Draco stayed near Neville the entire time while the dark blond was helping the Order and the Professors with a battle plan. Quickly the plan came into existence and everyone started to split up into their respected groups. Neville turned to Draco to tell him to stay near him, but to his surprise he was gone.

"Did you see Draco?" he questioned Lavender, who shook her head. Frowning, the dark blond's eyes moved over every head in the Great Hall.

"His parents will be out there," Lavender pulled his attention again.

'She's right,' he realised.

"It's time he makes a choice," she sadly smiled at him before running after her appointed group. Neville watched her go and fear grabbed his heart. A small voice in his head wondered if he was more important than the blond's family to him. Was Draco's love for him stronger than his fear for Voldemort?

'I don't know,' Neville hated that he couldn't answer that.

"Neville?" Luna suddenly appeared beside him and gave him a worried look.

'What are you doing?!' he mentally berated himself. 'We're at war!' "Let's go," he told his friend, who nodded back at him.

-DNDN-

With tears in his eyes, Draco dropped down to the ground beside Harry and Goyle. "I'm sorry," Harry mumbled as he stood over him. Goyle's knees gave out and seemed in shock as he was just staring aimlessly at the ground. "You tried to save him," Harry continued in a gentle voice and Draco shook his head. Crabbe's screams as the Fiendfyre consumed him alive, were burned into his mind. Everything inside the Room of Requirement must be destroyed by the cursed fire. There was probably nothing left.

"We tried," he eventually answered and looked up at the Gryffindor. "Thank you," he meant what he said, and Harry gave him a nod.

"I need to go," the Chosen One said and glanced at Goyle.

"I'll take care of him. Go," Draco encouraged him and watched Harry leave while giving him a last look he couldn't decipher. "Here we are, Gregory," he stated and turned to look at his friend. Goyle met his eyes and it scared him how empty they looked. "This is the result of war," he stated while getting up. "Death's everywhere. Hide if you want to survive!" he ordered his friend, who gave a small nod. Draco eyed him a last time before walking away.

-DNDN-

Looking for Neville everywhere, Draco finally found him at the entrance of the castle, staring outside just like everyone else. He stepped between the other students to get a better look and his heart stopped. Hagrid stood there holding Harry seemingly lifeless body with Voldemort and the other Death Eaters cheering beside him.

'No! This can't be!' He felt like he was drowning as his hope spiralled down. Breathing was impossible and his eyes moved to look at Neville with tears in his eyes. 'I'm sorry… I couldn't save you.' It was his greatest regret. Voldemort's words weren't registering in his head, so he was more than surprised when Neville charged forwards and a spell flew out of his wand towards the Dark Lord. Voldemort easily deflected it and started laughing.

"Well, I must say I hoped for better," he joked to his Death Eaters, who laughed along with him. "And who might you be young man?" he turned his attention back on his attacker and questioned almost like he was interested.

"Neville Longbottom," Neville answered, and Draco started shivering.

'No, no, no!' He couldn't lose him. A smirk appeared on Voldemort's lips and he intentionally looked from Neville to Draco.

"Well, Neville," the red eyes stayed on Draco as he spoke, "I'm sure we can find a place for you in our ranks. A pureblood as brave as you will make a good Death Eater." Greyish eyes widened and it felt like he broke through the water surface; he could breathe again.

'This is our last chance!' The Dark Lord was giving them a last chance. He could still save Neville.

"I'd like to say something!" the dark blond continued, and red eyes focused on the Gryffindor again.

"Well, Neville, I'm sure we will all be fascinated with what you have to say. Some more than others," Voldemort glanced at Draco again.

"It doesn't matter that Harry's gone-."

"Stand down, Neville!" Seamus berated his friend, but Neville shook his head at him.

"People die every day. Friends, family. Yeah, we lost Harry tonight." He sighed sadly. "He's still with us, in here," he continued while pointing to his heart. "So's Fred, Remus, Tonks... they didn't die in vain," he turned back to face Voldemort, "but you will!" he stated matter of fact. "Because you're wrong! Harry's heart did beat for us! For all of us! It's not over!" Voldemort was still smirking widely and before anyone could even realise it, Neville stood bounded and the Dark Lord was standing over him with the Sorting Head in his hands.

"From this day forward, there won't be any Sorting. All Hogwarts students will be Slytherins from now on!" he angry hissed before jamming the hat on Neville's head. Without thinking Draco moved forward and the call of his name, pulled everyone's attention on him.

"Draco!" he could hear his parents calling for him and he knew he could go to them, forget everything. Survive. His feet moved towards Neville and Voldemort. The calls became hopeful and he glanced past the Dark Lord to find his parents standing behind him with his father even holding out his hand towards him. Continuing his walk, he stood in front of Voldemort and beside Neville all too fast to his liking.

"Ah, well done, Draco," the Dark Lord proudly stated and gave him the most awkward hug. Draco's eyes moved down to Neville and he could see the veins in the Gryffindor's neck as he was trying to go against his bounds. Meeting the dark blond's eyes, made him release the breath he didn't know he had been holding. Those blue eyes seemed to hold all the answers he had been looking for.

"Draco!" Neville suddenly screamed at the top of his lungs as he succeeded in breaking his bounds and the blond's heart seemed to stop at the sound of his name. Silence fell over the battleground as the two of them just stared at each other. Even Voldemort was too surprised to react.

'I never had a choice, did I?' Draco thought defeated. 'Neville would never turn his back on his believes… and I can't turn my back on him.' "Ah," he said as finally peacefulness seemed to fill his body and hell broke loose again. Voldemort pushed him backwards on the ground and set the Sorting Head on fire. At the same time, Grawp attacked them while yelling for his brother Hagrid. Draco didn't care for the Giant and only had eyes for Neville, who had pulled the burning hat of his head. Blue eyes met his before widening in horror at something behind him. Turning his head, greyish eyes widened at the sight of Nagini's teeth descending upon him. Next a sword appeared out of nowhere and cut off the snake's head. Draco just stared dumbly at it laying lifeless on the ground before looking up at his saviour.

Neville stood over him, holding the bloody Sword of Gryffindor and he could only stare at him in awe. Voldemort let out a mortified cry and pointed his wand at Neville in revenge, but Draco beat him with the Shielding Spell.

"Harry!" Hagrid called out in terror and all three looked over to him.

'Where's Potter?' Draco frowned as Neville stepped closer to him. Helping him up with his free hand, the dark blond started pushing the blond to the castle as McGonagall appeared from nowhere and started attacking the Dark Lord to give them time to escape. Two more wizards joined her, but Voldemort clearly had the upper hand. Once inside the castle Neville was quick to pull Draco with him out of danger's way and for the first time the blond realised that the Death Eaters were clearly in the minority.

"Not my daughter, you Bitch!" Molly Weasley's pulled their attention and his eyes widened at the sight of his aunt taunting her. Neville had clearly also seen them as his demeanour stiffened while he watched the two women. Draco felt conflicted. His aunt was a bad person, but she still was his aunt. Sadly, he could do nothing for her and as Molly's spell hits her square in the heart, he closed his eyes and prayed she could finally find peace out of Voldemort's reach. Neville let out a deep breath of relief and had to step backwards to gather his balance again, as his body relaxed once more. Their eyes met and Draco could see the liberation in the other's eyes, and he couldn't blame him. He would also want the torturer of his parents to be killed. But before he could even blink, worry joined the relief in those blue eyes and Draco loved him for it.

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort suddenly yelled with his wand pointed at Molly, but Harry appeared out of thin air to protect her.

"Protego!"

"I knew you wouldn't die," the Dark Lord chuckled almost happily, and Draco frowned at the odd eagerness the Dark Lord was showing.

"Tom, please repent. It isn't too late, it's never too late," Harry almost begged.

"Oh, poor Harry, never one to give up. I'll reward you for that. I won't kill you."

'What?!' the blond looked from Harry to Voldemort. 'What am I missing?'

"No, it would be a waste to kill you. I'll keep you as a pet. I'll adore your body just like I did before. I'll drown you in pleasure, wouldn't you like that?" Voldemort lecherous suggested while stepping forward with his arms open in an inviting gesture.

'What the bloody hell!' Draco's mind screamed. "When did they start fucking!" he called out stunned and Neville glanced at him with an apologising look. "You knew?" he asked even more surprised and the other shrugged.

"No, Tom, it has to end here. If you won't repent, one of us will die here," Harry continued. He didn't seem to care that everyone had stopped fighting and was watching them with wide eyes.

"I used to want to protect you. I would have killed anyone who dared to touch you. I won't let my efforts go to waste."

"Wow, I didn't think he could say something like that," Draco mumbled, and again Neville glanced at him.

"Why don't I give you a present for your effort? I'm certain you have been curious about the spell I used to get you to me." The dark blond's head suddenly perked up and greyish eyes narrowed at him.

'He clearly knows,' he turned his head to find Ron and Hermione and the look on their faces also told him they knew what was going on.

"I used the Identify Soul Bonds solution combined with the Bonded Calling incantation." Harry shook his head.

"No, that can't be. We tried that." Blood red eyes widened.

"You've tried to call me?" Voldemort almost sounded honoured. "But that you failed isn't a surprise – I changed an ingredient."

"Which one?" Harry sounded way to hopeful.

"I replaced the Occamy eggshells with the powder of the horn of a Romanian Longhorn."

'Identify Soul Bonds solution and the Bonded Calling incantation? Did Voldemort try to call Harry towards him to kill him?' Draco wondered as he watched Neville repeat Voldemort's last words in silence. 'But instead of killing him, he started fucking him?!'

"I see that has motivated you." Voldemort chuckled. "So, now what will it be? A life spent as a pet or another chance to travel through time?" Harry raised the wand he was holding as answer and Draco recognised his old wand. 'He still has it…'

"Let's end this!"

"I wouldn't want it otherwise," the Dark Lord chuckled while raising his wand.

"So, tell me Tom, that wand, it still isn't working to your liking, is it?" Blood red eyes narrowed. "You killed the wrong one, Severus Snape was never the master of the Elder Wand. He never defeated Dumbledore." Neville glanced at Draco in confusion, but the blond wasn't any wiser.

"He killed him..."

"You aren't listening. Snape didn't defeat Dumbledore. Both of them had agreed that Snape would kill Dumbledore. Dumbledore wanted to die undefeated..."

'What?! Snape did… what?!' Draco was shocked.

"Then I won, I took it from Dumbledore's grave against his will!"

"Didn't you listen to Ollivander? The wand chooses the wizard. The Elder Wand already had a new master before Dumbledore's death. One who never even knew he was the master of the most powerful wand in the world." Voldemort's hand started to shake. "The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy." Draco's mouth fell open in shock. He was actually the master of the most powerful wand ever made?!

"What does it matter? I'll kill him after I've chained you to my bed and had my way with you." Neville immediately moved his body closer to Draco's in a protective manner.

"You're too late. You've had your chance and I've beaten you. I've disarmed Draco weeks ago and took this wand from him," he moved the wand in his hand. "So, the question is: does the Elder Wand know I disarmed Draco, because if it does... then I'm the true master of the Elder Wand." A part of Draco hoped Harry was right, while another part couldn't deny he would love to be the true master of the Elder Wand.

"Then if I kill you, I'll be the true master. Let's see if you can survive a third time! Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!" The spells flew against each other and a bright light, blinded Draco's eyes. When he could finally see again, Voldemort was lying dead on the ground while Harry was standing over him with both wands in his hands.

"T-Tom?" the blond never expected to hear Harry's voice so heartbroken.

A sudden light coming from Neville's pocket, unexpectedly pulled his attention and to his surprise a silver fog made its way over to him.

"Ah," the dark blond said in understanding and Draco felt like he shouldn't be worried about the fog. Letting it surround him, penetrate him, sudden flashes of memories he had lost returned and he gasped in surprise. Recalling a young Tom being possessive over Harry, explained everything he had just heard. Remembering Neville's reaction when he didn't want anything in return when he offered up his memories for the second time, made him realise the dark blond had been closer to him than he had thought. And he didn't regret a moment of it, as now the Gryffindor was standing beside him, willingly.

"Draco!" Looking up he found his parents running towards them. Voldemort's body wasn't worth a single look to them and his mother accelerated as she got closer. She threw herself into his arms and shivered uncontrollable as he pulled him as close to her as she could. He wrapped his arms around her and watched his father's relieved face as he stopped before them. To his surprise Lucius then turned to Neville and looked the dark blond Gryffindor straight in the eye.

"Thank you!" he said from the bottom of his heart. Narcissa pulled back from Draco and smiled at him with tearing eyes.

"So, it was him all along," she hiccoughed and he nodded sheepishly before she did the most amazing thing ever in his mind. She released him and simply hugged Neville just as she had done to him.

"Thank you," she whispered into the stunned dark blond's ear, "for everything." Neville was too shocked to react, and she had already released him again before he could gather himself.

"You better be!" an old woman suddenly joined them, and the Malfoys looked surprised at the female, who couldn't look prouder.

"Gran!" Neville immediately flew her around the neck. "Why are you here?!"

"Like I was going to miss the chance to assist you!" She pulled him close. "I'm so proud of you," she mumbled.

"Uncle Algie, Aunt Enid!"

"They're fine," Gran hushed him before getting out of her grandson's arms and her eyes hardened as they landed on the Malfoys. "Some explanation's needed here!" she stated as her orbs took in Lucius, Narcissa and stopped on Draco. "At least the youth finally chose the right side," she stated with a sneer and Draco guessed that was the best he was going to get as Neville was actually smiling at her words. Next the dark blond's eyes moved to look passed her and the blond followed his vision to see Harry disappear deeper into the castle.

"It's not over yet," he stated and looked at Draco, who nodded.

'We can still save… everyone,' the blond realised and accepted the hand Neville held out to him.

"We'll be back," the dark blond apologised and as they followed after Harry, Draco could see Aurors moving in on his parents. Dread filled his heart as they disappeared from his view and he looked back at the Gryffindor's back.

'Now that the war's over. Will he stay?' he wondered as they walked through a destroyed corridor. 'He doesn't need me. His life will be so much easier without me.' Panic was starting to rise inside of him. 'But I need him! What if I go to Azkaban?' Breathing was starting to get harder again. 'Why would he wait for me?' Neville suddenly stopped and turned to him, making Draco bump into him.

"Stop overanalysing things! I can hear you thinking," the dark blond stated and pecked him on the lips. Greyish eyes just blinked in surprise as his panic subdued again. "Come on," Neville smiled before starting to lead him again.

-DNDN-

"Here you are," Neville said as they found Harry inside the library, which surprisingly hadn't suffered a lot under the fight. Green eyes looked up at them, before continuing flipping through a book. "Need help?" the dark blond continued as they stopped before the table the Chosen One was occupying.

"The Identify Soul Bonds solution, could you find the book that contains the recipe?"

"Sure," Neville nodded and looked at Draco, who pulled him towards the section of potions. The blond started scanning through the book spines and took out a couple of books before handing them to the dark blond. Neville checked the table of contents of all of them until he finally found something interesting. Opening it up at the appointed page, a smile appeared on his face. "Found it!" he said, and Draco stopped his scanning. Together they moved back to Harry and they could hear Hermione's voice. "Here's the Identify Soul Bonds solution," Neville walked to the Golden Duo and Harry looked away from the girl in front of him before nodding. As they stopped, he felt Draco wrap his arms around his waist.

"Thanks," the Chosen One mumbled while writing down the ingredients and copying his writing to a second paper.

"Stop it! Harry you need to stop!" Hermione called out and the dark blond frowned at her.

'Why's she going against this?'

"What's going on in here?" Ron asked entering the librarian with his sister and Luna. "Why aren't you with the others?"

"To – Voldemort told me the spell he used and which ingredient he changed," Harry told them, now all of them were present.

"What!" Hermione yelled in surprise. "Why didn't you tell me?"

'They didn't hear it?! That explains everything,' Neville sighed in relief.

"You two seemed busy." Ron and Hermione turned scarlet.

"Neville... and Draco helped me." The dark blond could feel the blond nodding on his shoulder.

"I can make the potion," Draco continued, and Neville glanced at him.

'Isn't he concerned about his parents?' "Isn't it time you go and see your parents?" he said carefully.

"They've already been taking into custody," Draco mumbled, and Neville could see the conflict. He had also seen the Aurors moving towards Lucius and Narcissa as they had left.

"You won't be put in Azkaban," the dark blond was certain of this. Too many people had seen Draco helping them.

"But they will take me into custody and..." Draco's grip tightened. "...I want to help first."

"You two can start on the potion. The rest needs to help me with the incantation," Harry suggested, and Neville and Draco nodded. Picking up the paper - Harry had just copied – the dark blond pulled the blond out of the library.

-DNDN-

"Do you have any idea where we could get the horn of a Romanian Longhorn?" Neville questioned as he looked sideways to Draco.

"Snape or Slughorn will probably have a secret stash." The blond shrugged.

"What do you think this new future will be like?" the Slytherin continued in a serious tone and his eyes locked with blue ones. Neville took a moment to think before smiling.

"A world where my parents are the ones, who raised me." The other gave a short nod and was clearly waiting for him to continue. "A place without hiding, without war-."

"Will we be together?" Draco interrupted him and Neville gave him a surprised look before smiling widely.

"Of course," he chuckled. "We'll still go to Hogwarts together. You'll still be the proud Slytherin and I'll be the shy Gryffindor." The blond smiled at the other's words.

"I'll keep teasing you to get your attention."

"And I won't like you at all, until you start showing the real you." They smiled at each other.

"I'll go get the plants' ingredients and meet you in the Potions' classroom," Neville decided, and Draco gave a small nod.

"I'll get the horn."

-DNDN-

Cutting the mandrake root, Neville glanced upwards to see Harry together with Ginny entering the dungeon.

"How is the potion coming along?" Harry asked while glancing around. "Where's Draco?" he looked surprised and the dark blond wanted to scoff.

'It's not like we're glued together.'

"He has gone to get the horn," he answered instead while laying down his knife. "I've just returned with all the plants' ingredients and started preparing them."

"How long do you think the potion will take?" the Chosen One asked as he stepped closer.

"When Draco returns, about half an hour," the dark blond answered and on cue the door got thrown open. The Slytherin stood in the doorway, panting like he had just run a marathon. Blue eyes met greyish ones and a smile tugged at Neville's lips.

"Did you find it?" Neville asked sweetly.

"Yes, like I expected, Slughorn has a secret stash," the Slytherin smirked while holding up a pouch.

-DNDN-

Draco quickly glanced over the dark blond's handiwork and nodded approvingly before turning to the closest cauldron. Following the recipe, the blond started adding the ingredients. "And now we have to wait twenty minutes," he said before briskly turning to Neville. The need to hold the other grew and he decided to indulge himself. Taking hold of the dark blond's wrist, he pulled him to the closest desk. Sitting down on the surface, he manoeuvred the Gryffindor between his legs and wrapped his arms around the other's waist. Neville leaned into his touch and a smile pulled at his lips. He liked this.

"You won't be coming back, will you?" Neville suddenly asked Harry and the Chosen One turned surprised at him.

"I... haven't thought about that," he confessed. "But I guess I won't," Harry sighed.

"If you change the future, we won't remember you." Draco said while resting his head on Neville's shoulder.

"I wonder how our lives will be," Ginny muttered, and Slytherin's hold tightened.

'Will we be together?' Greyish eyes glanced at the dark blond locks he could see out of the corner of his eyes. Neville gently patted his hands in comfort and turned his head towards him.

"I'm certain we'll find each other again, especially under Harry's supervision," he smiled, and the other's certainty relaxed the blond a little. Still, he couldn't stop himself and gave the Boy-Who-Lived a warning glare.

"Don't worry, I'll be looking over you." Harry looked straight back at him, and Draco gave him a thankful nod. That moment, Hermione and Luna chose to enter the room with Ron behind them.

"We've finished it."

"It'll work?" Harry asked.

"We believe so," the girls answered while closing in on the others.

"Then in about ten minutes we can try it." Greyish eyes looked at the cauldron to check its progress. It looked good.

"Harry, aren't you going to wash yourself first?" Hermione asked and Draco glanced at Harry's clothes. They were dirty from mud, blood and had burn marks left behind by different spells.

"It could make Tom think you just escaped from Grindelwald," Luna suggested, and green eyes widened.

"That could work," he answered while turning to Hermione for her approval.

"It could be to your advantage," she shrugged.

"You won't be taking anything, mate?" Ron asked and the Chosen One pulled out two wands in the open. Everyone's eyes stared at the Elder Wand on awe.

'To think it was mine…' Draco thought ignoring his own wand beside it.

"I don't want it," Harry said.

"What?" Ron reacted and Draco completely agreed. "Are you not feeling well?"

"I know it's a powerful wand, but I was happier with my old one," Harry tiredly said as he felt at the bundle around his neck. "Maybe..." he thought aloud and glanced at Hermione before pulling his broken wand from it.

"Reparo," he said, and the two parts melted together. Red sparks flew out of the tip to show the reparation had succeeded. He picked it up again and smiled. "I'll put the Elder Wand back and this one," he waved Draco's old wand around in his hand before throwing it to its previous owner, "you can have that one back." The Slytherin caught the wand with ease and smiled as he twirled it around in his hand. He knew he would have to win its trust again, but he could do it.

"Thanks."

"The potion's ready," Neville mumbled and all of them turned to watch the liquid.

"Then it's time," Harry said emotionally.

"Here mate." Ron accepted something from his girlfriend's hand and handed it over to him. Draco wondered what was so important about that silver bracelet as Harry accepted it carefully and smiled thankfully at his best friends.

"I've charmed it so it will definitely take in the spell, but Tom is still the only one who can close it," Hermione apologised.

"Then won't I immediately return?"

"Not as long as you don't move." Harry nodded with a frown.

'Does that bracelet keep him in the past?' Draco wondered as he added up what they were saying.

"You know the counter?"

"Yes, Abdere Obliviate Tempus," the girl nodded.

"How... Will you be able to perform the counter on him?" Ginny asked with a quiet voice.

"Ah, I haven't thought about that yet," Harry frowned.

"He'll be on his guard," Ron said.

"Maybe you could tell him he's been Obliviated. There's a spell he could use to scan his brain," Luna suggested.

"Does that spell already exist in 1945?" The Ravenclaw thought for a moment.

"If I remember correctly that spell was made during the Grindelwald war. It could be a new spell in Tom's time," Hermione helped her, and she nodded.

"Somewhere in the middle of the war."

"Knowing Tom's interest, there's a lot of chance he already has knowledge of that spell," Harry nodded to himself.

"Let's first put back the Elder Wand and then we'll perform the spell." Everyone agreed and quietly made their way outside.

-DNDN-

Half an hour later they were back in the classroom and Harry was drawing a circle on the floor. "That's probably not really necessary, Harry," Ginny said, and green eyes turned to her.

"I know, but..." Neville understood him perfectly as he glanced at Draco, who was standing beside him. With everything in place, the Chosen One could only stare at his friends. He started with Ginny and Luna, both girls got a hug before he moved to Neville and Draco. The dark blond pulled him in a hug himself before Harry turning to the blond. "Take care of him, Draco," Harry told the Slytherin, who nodded eagerly. As last Hermione flew him around the neck and Harry also pulled Ron in the same hug. "I'm going to miss you two," the Chosen One whispered, and the first tears left the girl's eyes.

"We'll miss you too." Reluctantly they released each other, and Harry took place in the middle of the circle. He grabbed the bracelet from his pocket and squeezed it in his hand. He nodded a last time at his friends and Hermione said the spell.

"Ego requiro sumo is tenus vinculum unus[1]!" Neville grabbed Draco's hand as he watched Harry disappear.

R&R


[1] I demand to take him to his bonded one