The moment Harry stepped into his office, he let a deep sigh escape and leaned back against the closed door. The office was fancy, ornate bookshelves and folder cabinets lined all four walls. A desk, big enough that Harry's chair needed wheels underneath them so he could roll from one end to the other, and behind it, a big fireplace with a jar of floo powder. In front of the desk, two uncomfortable arm chairs and the desk itself was full of writing ware - quills, fountain pens and dozens of different parchments. The in and out baskets of work parchments and letters are always overflowing. It even had a chandelier and on the left of the door, a small seating area. On the low table between the two comfy chairs lay a chess board. It would've gone dusty if not for the house elves of the Ministry cleaning it; because Ron Weasley, his previous partner and best friend had quit the Aurors some time ago and became a house father.

"I guess the kneazle escaped." Draco said with a wry smile. Now he was where he needed to be, he felt completely drained. Gone was the anger, gone was the fire in his eyes. Tired and scared. All that he needed was his Harry, and now that he had him, he was close to breaking down.

"If you mean that everyone knows we're together," Harry said after a moment. He racked a hand through his unruly hair with a sigh. "Then yes. It's out in the open."

"Well, there goes our quiet life." Draco responded. He resigned to the fact, defeated. "The tabloids, the-"

"Our quiet life was gone the moment you stepped into the Auror Department." Harry cut in. He pushed himself away from the door and closed in on Draco. He hesitantly reached out, and whispered. "Why?" Not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

Harry was already worried. Then, he found himself with an arm full of blond. Harry's worry grew tenfold. Draco never behaved as he had done and Draco certainly didn't sob.

"Hush," Harry mumbled and held Draco close. He uttered some soothing words, rubbed his back as Draco buried his head deeper into his shoulder but he knew they had to cut to the chase. Something was horribly wrong. "What's going on? What did you mean by `you're a dead man walking?"

Draco mumbled something, but by the way he clung onto Harry, it wasn't understandable. "Draco, love," He said softly, and kissed the shock of blond. "I need you to calm down, and tell me exactly what happened."

Slowly, Draco unwound himself. Harry guided him towards the comfy chair behind his desk. He pushed Draco into it, never letting go of his hands, he bend through his knees and looked up to him. "What is it?"

"The potion.. It's, it's a poison," Draco pulled one of his hands loose. He took his pocket watch and did a quick count. "It's called Exanimus cordis ictum. And in, safely said, twenty-two hours, it has run its course and I'll be dead."

Harry tried to repeat the words but mangled them. Draco corrected it. "It's latin, it roughly means a lifeless heart beat."

"How?" Was all that Harry could breathe out. He felt himself tear up. He swallowed thickly trying to suppress it, and touched Draco's cheek where new tears rolled down. Draco couldn't answer. He shook his head several times, tried to speak but sobs came out instead. Harry pulled him close for a hug. They stood there for several minutes, Harry trying to wrap his mind around the news and thinking of a plan for action while Draco fought his emotions. "Sit." Harry helped Draco back down.

"I've got.." Harry started and rummaged around in the many drawers of the desk u til he found a small vial. He took a swig, and held it out for Draco. "Calming drought, do you know, can you take this?"

Draco denied. "I can't introduce another potion to my body, it'll kill me instantly."

"Firewhiskey it is, then." Harry said ruefully and put the vial back, only to produce a bottle from another drawer.

Draco took it wordlessly and took a big gulp, forgoing a glass. "I can't believe this is happening to me." He eventually said when he caught a handle on himself.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked. "That this.. That you got this particular potion in your system?"

"Yes," Draco said with full conviction. He unbuttoned the robe he was wearing. There, on his chest was a starburst of red lines. "It's the tell-tale sign."

"Alright, alright," Harry panicked just the little. Once again he went through his desk and produced a parchment. "Can you fill this for me?"

Confused, Draco took it. He looked it over and saw it was a standard form to be filled in by an Auror when one came in about an accident. "This doesn't-"

"Just fill it in," Harry said. "What happened, when, and on the empty back write everything you know about the potion, please?"

"I can do that."

"I'll be right back." Harry kissed Draco and went over the floo.

"Wait, where-"

"I'm not going to let you die," Harry blurted. "You can't die!"

Harry threw a pinch of floo powder into the hearth. "I'm going to get a bleeding army together and we're going to save you."

Harry was gone for half an hour, Draco finished the form in half that time. He'd written down what happened in record time, and filled the back completely. Forever studying potions, and being a potions master had its perks, Draco knew this potion, even if it had fallen out of mind decades ago because the ingredients were rare, almost unobtainable and very, very expensive. It was hard to brew, and while it's odour and tasteless and thus easy to slip to someone, it had one drawback. That drawback was the sole reason most wizards and witches wouldn't dare to use it. To activate the potion, it needed a drop of blood from the magical who's intent was to kill another. The moment the one who ingested it uttered their name, the effects would reverse. The killer would be the one to die, and there was no way to stop it.

Draco fidgeted while waiting, and to keep from being overwhelmed by his emotions he went over the notes a second time, making sure all the details were there. The floo burned, and Harry stepped through.

"Alright, so I've got a good start," He said. "My replacement will be here in mere minutes to take over the office, and the Minister knows I'm working on your case."

"Did he give you trouble?" Draco asked. He reached out for Harry, who grasped his hand and squeezed it.

"Not at all, he even gave me a clear for all the resources the Ministry has to offer."

"..And the rest of your army?"

Harry smiled, the floor behind him burned. He threw a thumb over his shoulder. "They're on their way."

Sorry to everyone who speaks latin, lmao. I used goodle translate. Littlestbunny; Glad got suprised, and thanks for the lovely words.Anyway, thank you for reading. Reviews, favs and follows much appreciated. - Lyle.