A Hard Story

by MickeySLee

Fate takes a different turn, Harry and Draco are friends (not that anyone knows that) before first year, only Draco begins to act differently. The two share a secret, bringing them closer as outside forces attempt to tear them apart. Their years at Hogwarts are about to get very interesting. Secret Relationship Drarry, rated M! Expanded Summary inside.

3. Year 3

Chapter 3-Third Year

The Summer before his third year was exciting, for once. His not-blood-related Aunt came to visit and in a fit of rage blew her up like a balloon. Still furious, Harry left for the Leaky Cauldron, and managed to call the Night Bus after a dog spooked him. He made it, only to be caught by none other than the Prime Minister for Magic. He was rather nice, however, and let Harry off with two warnings. One, an official one for blowing up his Aunt, and two, not to leave Diagon Alley. Harry had no need to venture out into Muggle London, so he was just fine with that. What he was not fine with was Draco's silence over the summer.

He had sent at least one letter a week since school had been released and they had all been returned unopened with a small piece of parchment with a sticking charm to it that said something along the line of "Shove off, Potter" or "Leave me alone, Scar Head." On his birthday, however, he had received a book on pureblood traditions, along with the card that said "so you don't royally fuck up again. I still don't forgive you, but happy birthday, I guess." Harry had smiled, sure now that Draco would forgive him.

The morning after he had arrived at the Leaky Cauldron that changed, however. Tapping on the windowsill and awakening him, flapped Leonardo, Draco's Eagle Owl. So eagerly he tripped over the bedsheets, Harry ran to the window. Other than the two-liner note he had once sent, this was one of Draco's shortest letter ever. The 3-6-word letters didn't count.

Potter-

I just heard the strangest thing from my father. Don't take this as me forgiving you for your blunderous bungle, but as cross as I am with you, I don't want you dead. I know that you're staying at the Leaky Cauldron and the Minister told you not to leave Diagon. I also know how you love to flaunt authority, so I'm sure you'll disregard this missive. I implore you not to because your life is in danger. Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban. According to the latest rumors, he is after you. So, orders from a peer that happens to be much more intelligent than you are, DO NOT LEAVE DIAGON ALLEY! I might see you soon, if you're lucky.

Be Safe,

D.

There was a lot of information there. He already knew all the explicitly stated, but the news that Sirius Black was after him, specifically, was new. Underneath all the thinly veiled insults, Draco was being pretty obvious that he still cared about Harry. That was way more important than someone else being after him. He was used to having his life be in danger at this point.

He spent the rest of the day and days following getting acquainted with the magical street until he had it memorized. He would spend afternoons getting free ice cream and advice about his homework from Florean Fortescue. It was as he was walking out of the Leaky into the street one morning that he felt a pull on his arm and suddenly he was in a hidden crevice in the wall. He would have screamed if there wasn't a hand over his mouth.

He struggled for a couple moments before a voice in his ear whispered furiously, "It's me, Stupid. Shut up!" He stopped struggling and Draco released him moments later.

"What was that?" Harry whispered just as furiously.

"Well I didn't want anyone to see us together."

"You're the one who told me there was someone after me, think of that before you pounced on me?"

"Oh, right." Draco looked sheepish. "Well it was fun anyway."

Harry snorted quietly and rolled his eyes. If Draco was going to be forgiving, then Harry could be too.

"Well, if you don't want to be seen, want to come up to my room? I was just going to get breakfast but—"

Draco held up a small paper bag, smiling slightly. Harry grinned back and pulled out the invisibility cloak from his inner pocket. Thanks to Draco's warning, he had been carrying it around with him in case he needed to escape the clutches of any madmen.

They made their way back up to Harry's room with Draco under the cloak and settled on the bed. Draco had bought croissants and pastries and they were delicious. Harry moaned slightly as he bit into a Viennoiserie as Draco pronounced in flawless French. Harry tried and botched it so badly Draco laughed.

"Why are you so good at that, and where did you get these anyway?" Harry asked after swallowing a mouthful.

Draco daintily dabbed at his mouth with a napkin he had produced before answering in a beautiful and elegant language. "My family is mainly from France. Mother and Father thought it important to immerse me in our cultural heritage, hence the language and the pastries." Draco amended at Harry's confusion.

As glad as he was to hear the answer, he couldn't help but find the words coming out of Draco's mouth to be rather…alluring. He shifted uncomfortably and tried to focus on what Draco was saying.

"…in the South of France. Are you going to have that eclair? They're my favorite. Chocolate, you know."

Harry filed that information away for later and handed it over. "You never said why you were here."

Draco sighed. "I still haven't completely forgiven you, you know. But I missed you, and I figured that what you did was a faux pau, you couldn't have known how completely offensive…what you did was. So, apologize, and I'll try to move on."

Harry stared. He really wasn't sorry, but maybe this was something that you had to grow up in the wizarding world to really understand. This was just going to have to be something that he had to give for the greater good.

He too sighed and said, "Draco, I'm really sorry that I freed your elf. I didn't realize it would be an insult to you and your family and I wouldn't have done it if I knew."

Draco narrowed his eyes, "No you would, wouldn't you?"

Harry bit his lip, "Look Draco, I really am sorry that I insulted you, but you're right. It was wrong how he was being treated. He's a living thing with feelings and thoughts, and he doesn't deserve to be treated with, well, abuse." Draco startled at that word and looked away quickly. "Draco are you ok?" Harry asked after a minute.

Draco jumped but didn't look back at Harry. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Harry didn't believe him, but let it go. "You never told me why you're at Diagon."

Draco's lip twitched upwards and he finally replied, "I told you I missed you. So, I told Mother I wanted to do my shopping alone this year. She was hesitant with Black on the loose and all, but I managed to convince her."

Harry nodded and dug in the bag to find another pastry.

They spent the time until lunch talking and laughing together. Draco reviewed Harry's homework for him and made several corrections. When they started to feel the beginnings of hunger, Harry convinced Draco that there weren't any students in the Alley and they went to find lunch, then do Draco's shopping.

Harry led Draco to a small corner café that specialized in soup and sandwiches. Harry insisted on paying since Draco brought breakfast, but Draco held his protest firmly for the entirety meal. He seemed a little flushed when Harry put down the money but was said he was fine when asked.

After they finished shopping, they wandered up and down the street several times, postponing when Draco would have to leave. When the sun began to set, the street thinned out and several shops began to close, they could hold off no more.

"I'll see you at Hogwarts," Draco murmured at the fireplace.

"Yeah," Harry murmured back, "I'll see you then." Do it, He said to himself, just do it. He did it to you, you can do it to him.

'What if he changed his mind?' Another more cynical part of his mind pointed out. 'What if he doesn't want you kissing him? What if it ruins your friendship?'

He touched my hand earlier, that might mean he wants me to…

While he was mentally debating with himself, Draco had waved, called out "Malfoy Manor" and was swept away in a wave of green. Harry was left kicking himself. I'll do it next time I see him, he assured himself, no matter what, I'll do it next time.

Harry was very happy with Draco's timing the next day when Ron and Hermione showed up. They too spent the day wandering around, talking and shopping. Hermione purchased a rather ugly cat that seemed to have a personal vendetta against Scabbers.

The journey to the Hogwarts express was much more low-key than the previous year. The ministry sent two cars with drivers and the trip was unhurried. However, once they got to the station, Mr. Weasley pulled Harry aside.

"Harry," he said quickly, as the train whistle blew, "I need to tell you…about Sirius Black."

It took half the train ride for Harry to get up the nerve to tell Ron and Hermione about Sirius Black. They reacted exactly how Harry had suspected. He began to regret telling them after Hermione started going through all the jinxes and hexes she knew that might come in handy against Black and Ron started making nervous jokes. As much as Harry loved them, he had a feeling that they would be even more unbearable from now on as far as leaving him alone.

Harry was in the middle of wondering how many times he would be able to see Draco this year when the train came to a sudden, lurching stop.

"I…I think people are coming aboard." Ron whispered from his position at the window. There were noises and lurches from the train, and Ginny and Neville came to join them, Ginny falling into Harry's lap.

Harry had completely forgotten about the shabby man sleeping in the corner, Professor R. J. Lupin by the name on his trunk, until he stood up and told them all to be quiet. He said he was going to have a word with the driver but before he could, a figure entered the compartment. In the gloom, Harry was just able to make out what looked like a floating skeleton with a ratty black sheet draped over it.

He barely had time to notice any detail before a chill engulfed the cabin, a woman started screaming, and he felt the breath leave his lungs. Before he could try to make any sense of what was happening, his vision started to fade to black and he was passing out.

Of course, Draco had to make fun of him. Harry could see the worry in his eyes as he was making fainting motions, so he nodded once as their code for yes. Draco nodded back to show he understood that Harry was ok and continued pretending to faint.

The feigned fainting lasted every time Harry saw Draco until Care of Magical Creatures. Then something even more worrisome happened.

Harry had just gotten through riding on Buckbeak, the flying hippogriff when the rest of the class became relaxed enough to face their own hippogriffs. Draco happened to get Buckbeak, and Harry was watching from a nearby tree. Draco was being his usual pompous self and bragging about how easy he found handling hippogriffs. Harry started to get a bad feeling and inched closer.

"…You're not dangerous at all, are you, you great ugly brute?" Draco said, and several things happened at once. At the same time the hippogriff reared back, Harry sprang forward. Buckbeak thrashed his sharp talons at Draco, slicing his arm once and knocking him backwards as Harry finally reached him.

Having nothing else to do, Harry bodily threw himself down on top of a screaming Malfoy.

Less than a minute later, Hagrid was pulling Buckbeak away, but not before Harry was slashed. Draco was screaming wordlessly, trying to get a handle on himself. Harry was trying to get off Draco, but he had never been in more pain. Shots of pain were going all up his back, radiating outwards to the rest of his body.

"Harry." Draco whispered in his ear. It was the last thing he heard before he passed out.

He swam back to consciousness slowly, and a dull throbbing in his back made him moan. "He's awake!" Came Ron's voice from somewhere to his left. He realized he was on his stomach when he opened his eyes and felt the crick in his neck.

Someone shoved his glasses on his face and the world came into view. He tried turning to see who was on the bedside, but his back protested angrily. "Argh," he gasped.

"Don't move, Mr. Potter," came the gruff voice of Madam Pomfrey to his right. "You had severe lacerations on your back. I healed most of them, but the muscle tears and damage to your spine will take several days to heal completely. It's important that you not move so I'll give you a couple minutes with your friends then place you in a magical sleep. Five minutes." She added to, presumably,
Ron and Hermione before bustling off muttering about dangerous creatures.

Hermione moved so Harry could see her out of the corner of his eye in addition to the bedside cabinet. "How are you feeling, Harry?" She uttered softly.

"Like I got trampled by a Hippogriff," Harry said sardonically.

Ron snorted somewhere close by and Harry smiled. The pain was starting to fade a little once he had stopped moving.

"Why did you do that, Harry?" Hermione demanded suddenly. "You could have been seriously hurt."

"Er, Hermione he kind of was." Ron put in, helpfully.

"Exactly! You were hurt badly, and for what?"

"Yeah, Malfoy hardly deserved for you to jump on top of him. Bet that was fun."

"Do you understand how lucky you are?"

"I'd hardly call him lucky, Hermione. He—"

"You could have never walked again, Harry! That's how badly you could've been hurt. You really must be more careful—"

"That's enough!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. "If you are going to berate him, you can leave."

Madam Pomfrey was nothing if not efficient, Harry thought dully as his vision started to swim a couple minutes later. He mumbled out if Draco was ok but was asleep again before he got a response.

"Potter." Whispered a voice in his ear. "Can you wake up for me?"

Harry didn't want to, but the voice belonged to Draco, and Harry liked Draco. Draco was nice.

He rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes, yawned, and reached for his glasses. After briefly bumping into Draco, he swam into view, gloomy in the darkness, but he could still see his silvery eyes shining.

Harry smiled, and Draco smiled tensely back. "How are you feeling?" Draco whispered. He was leaning over the bedside cabinet and it looked pretty awkward.

"I'm fine, here, lie down." He scooted over until there was barely enough room for Draco, but he was at the edge of his side, so it was all he could do. Draco looked like he was about to argue, but his smile softened, and he did indeed lie down next to Harry.

They repositioned slightly until they were lying face to face, inches apart on Harry's pillow. They laid in silence for a while and then Draco was whispering, "why did you do it?"

"Do what?" At Draco's blank stare Harry caught on. "Oh, that, right, well. I couldn't just let you get hurt like that. If I can do something and it's the right thing to do, I do it."

Draco sighed. "You're such a Griffindork."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Draco snorted.

"It is a bad thing. If only you had been sorted into Slytherin, we would have stamped that out of you." Harry lost his smile at that and looked away. "What?"

Harry shook his head and just said, "Had a crick in my neck. How are you feeling?" He didn't want to talk about how the Dursleys had tried to stamp magic out of him. At least, not yet.

Draco struggled for a minute, like he wanted to argue again, but he resisted. "I think I'm fine. Pomfrey fixed me up in a snap, but I don't want to leave you, so I'm going to play up the pain."

Harry snorted. "You don't have to do that. I'll be fine."

"Sure, you will be, but in the meantime, you need to have someone to take care of you."

"I thought that was Pomphrey's job." Harry smiled again.

"Details, details." Draco awkwardly waved his arm. "I owe you anyway. And just think, I get to miss class and we get to hang out without our classmates buzzing their noses where they don't belong."

It was nice to have someone taking care of him, so Harry didn't complain. "I'm sure Hermione will have me caught up in no time."

"Ugh, let's not talk about Granger. How about classes? What are you taking?"

Their conversation in low tones took them well into the night, and it was only when they started hearing noises coming from Pomphrey's office that Draco went to his own bed and Harry went back to the middle of his bed. The next few days would have been absolutely unbearable if it wasn't for Draco. Ron and Hermione visited after dinner every day, but they couldn't get away other than that. Draco gradually became less intimidated by Madam Pomphrey's presence and came to hang out with Harry during the day.

Pomfrey was shocked at first, so shocked in fact, that she dropped several bottles of potions she was holding the first time she saw them talking amicably in Harry's bed. They begged her not to say anything, that it wasn't a big deal anyway, and Madam Pomfrey eventually muttered something about patient confidentiality and walked away. After that, she seemed to run interference. One time, Ron and Hermione tried to come in at lunch and she spoke much louder than necessary that Harry was eating. It was true, she had just served Draco and Harry lunch trays at Harry's bed and her warning gave Draco time to sneak back to his bed at the end of the ward.

Harry was able to sit up after the second day and he enjoyed being able to see the world from that angle again. Before he knew it, he and Draco were both healed, and they were heading back to class. Just before they exited the hospital wing, Harry reached out a hand to stop him. Draco turned to face him, and Harry gulped, taking a moment to steal himself. Draco was gorgeous. "Thank you, Draco. For staying with me."

Draco smiled, and took a step closer to him. "It was the least I could do after you saved me, Potter. Don't be stupid." Harry looked into his eyes, which were shining. They both made awkward movements towards each other with their arms, but they eventually managed a small hug. Harry felt something on his hair, just for a moment, and Harry thought it might be Draco's lips. He took in a shaky breath, gathering courage, and as they started to move back, Harry kissed Draco's cheek.

Draco pulled back further, looking at him in wonder, then smiled shyly, looking down as he pulled a non-existent strand of hair behind his ear. As if a single hair would be out of place on his slicked back head. They both snickered airily, slightly awkwardly as they shifted their feet. Harry wasn't sure what to do next. What came after a kiss on the cheek? Was he ready to kiss him on the lips? Would he want that?

While Harry was pondering his existence, Draco placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'll see you around, Harry." Then he was leaving. When he turned the corner, Harry touched the spot on his face where Draco had kissed him. He had known before now that he had a crush on Draco, but now he was thinking it might come to fruition. Draco had to like him back if he was kissing him! He wasn't sure how to go about starting something with him, however.

He was slightly uncomfortable with the idea of being with someone. He just didn't think he was ready for a relationship, after all, he was only thirteen. His roommates were starting to talk about girls, but he found what they talked about made him uncomfortable. Was it wrong that he just wanted to hold Draco's hand and spend time with him? Did that make him strange?

Everything went back to normal, or as normal as it ever was at Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione began fighting more than they ever had and Harry used the opportunity to sneak off and meet Draco. That was going very well. They really had a lot of fun when they were together, even if they talked about the most mundane things. Draco had a real talent for making him happy.

They made plans to meet up the morning after Halloween, thinking that most people would sleep in after the long feast the night before. It was also a Saturday and being absent for a couple hours wouldn't seem too strange. It was because of the early morning that Harry ate quicker than he would have normally and went to bed with an excuse of eating too much too quickly giving him an upset stomach.

It seemed like moments after he had fallen asleep that he was being shaken awake. He sat up quickly and reached for his glasses and the blur in front of him turned into Professor McGonagall.

"Oh, thank goodness you're alright, Mr. Potter. Have you been asleep this whole time?"

Harry couldn't help blushing and trying to move the bedsheets surreptitiously further up his body. "What whole time? What time is it?"

"The Feast has been over some twenty minutes, Mr. Potter. Did you see anything during the time you left and now?"

"Er, I don't know Professor, this is pretty strange. Why, what's happening?"

Professor McGonagall sighed, half in relief half in exasperation. In what Harry figured was rather out of character, she sat on the bed next to Harry. "Mr. Potter, earlier this evening, Sirius Black made an attempt to enter the Gryffindor Common Room. No one saw anything except Violet, the portrait guardian," she added at Harry's confused look. "And she couldn't say if he had actually entered or not. When it became apparent that you were in the Common Room at the time, there was concern as to your wellbeing. It appears, however, that Black was unable to enter, and you are no worse for wear."

Harry sat in silence. He could have easily been killed and he wouldn't have even had a chance to mentally say goodbye to anyone. He could have been killed in his sleep, never knowing that he had reached the end.

"Potter—" McGonagall broke into his thoughts, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Harry said slowly, not entirely sure he was being truthful. "I mean, I knew Black was after me, but I really didn't think he would be able to get me."

McGonagall startled. "You knew Sirius Black was after you?"

Harry nodded. "Mr. Weasley warned me."

"Well," McGonagall drew herself up, "Far be it from me to determine the wisdom of that, but considering the current situation, I suppose it is for the best. Potter, I think it would be wise if you were to not go wandering off by yourself. I know, I know," she added at Harry's enraged look. "Under normal circumstances I would never endorse needing to, but your life is worth more than a little embarrassment. If it were up to me, you would be moved from this school to a secure location, but that would be impossible."

Harry tried to school his enraged and horrified look to one more sedated, but based on McGonagall's small smile, he didn't succeed.

"Incidentally, is that all Mr. Weasley told you, Mr. Potter? That Sirius Black would try to find you?"

Harry nodded, and McGonagall looked relieved…and slightly flustered. "That's all well and good." She was now avoiding Harry's eyes, and stood to try to hide it. "Come along Potter, in order to search the castle for Black and increase security, we are convening the students to the Great Hall."

"Wait—" Harry jumped up, tripping on his bedsheets, "What did Mr. Weasley leave out? Is there some reason besides him being Voldemort's right-hand-man that he's after me?"

"Mr. Potter I am expected at the search committee, and I am sure you are missed by your friends. Shall we?"

Disappointed, but sure now that there was something there, Harry joined McGonagall at the door. Their walk down to the Great Hall was silent, Harry trying to figure out a way to trick her into talking to him about Black, but he couldn't think of anything. Perhaps that was another reason he wasn't sorted into Slytherin.

At the doors, he was attacked by a bushy-haired girl and red head, not to mention a hoard of Gryffindors.

"All right settle down!" McGonagall called out. "We will give you more information in the morning. For now, it is past the point you should be sleeping. Please grab a sleeping bag and go to sleep!"

Grumbling, the students followed directions. In the ensuing chaos, Harry caught Draco's enlarged grey eye. "Are you ok," he mouthed, and Harry was stunned. Normally, he wouldn't risk anything more than a nod in front of others.

He nodded once, trying to prove the statement with his eyes. Draco must have gotten the message because he let out a deep breath.

"Let's find a corner over there," Ron broke in and brought Harry back to their group. They followed an empty section and compared notes in whispers, pretending to be asleep any time an official happened to wander by.

They finally fell asleep, and Harry woke several times from strange dreams.

He was sleeping so lightly it wasn't surprised in the least that he was one of the first ones awake. He noticed that Draco was stirring from his side of the Hall and knew that he would be out soon. He had a brief argument with Percy who wanted him to stay in the Hall, but as curfew had been lifted and soon other students were wanting to leave as well, he let them go.

Harry walked calmly, trying to look both like he had somewhere to go and that he didn't need to get there quickly. He had to wait only minutes in his and Draco's secret room before the door was opening.

Draco was there, the door was slamming, and Harry caught a glimpse of Draco's face. It was determined, fierce, and ever so slightly scared. Harry opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, but before he could say anything, Draco was in his space, and their eyes met for one second before Draco's eyes closed-.

They were kissing. They were kissing. It was so sweet, and warm, and veiled passion just below the surface. Harry threw his arms around Draco and Draco's hands were cupping Harry's face. Draco pulled back slightly, and their eyes met again. They breathed in each other's faces, rather heavily, as they looked for something. Harry found it. Seconds lengthened, then they were kissing again, and this one was more passionate. Harry pulled Draco to him, and before he knew it, before he was ready, they exchanged two small kisses as they pulled apart.

"I—" Draco whispered, and he looked awed now. "I just, last night, I was so scared… We heard that you were missing, and Sirius Black, and some of them were saying you probably got killed, and I realized how much you mean to me, and how I might never get the chance to tell you how I feel. And when I saw you, I've never been so happy to see anyone. And I just knew. Harry, I like you a lot. Like, a lot a lot. Will you…go out with me?"

Draco never admitted to his feelings. Draco never used run-on sentences or started them with 'and'. He never had such a nervous look on his face, one so awed. He was perfect.

"Of course, I will." Harry whispered, not wanting to break the reverence of the moment. Draco smiled, letting out the breath he was apparently holding.

"Good." He whispered, and they were kissing again.

Once the novelty of being able to kiss and the urgency had waned slightly, they took a seat in the larger of the two arm chairs. In first year, they would have been able to sit side by side easily. They were too big for that presently, so Draco ended up in Harry's lap.

They spoke small words in between small kisses and soaked up the joy of the new relationship and simply being alive.

"How long have you liked me," Harry asked after a while.

"Hmm." Draco hummed. "To be honest, I had a crush on The-Boy-Who-Lived as a child, I think every kid our age had one at some point," he added at Harry's horrified look, "but we both know that that person and you are totally different. So, at some point they blended, and I developed a crush on you. You, Harry. My friend. No one has ever treated me like you do. You're so special."

Harry blushed and ducked his head and Draco took the opportunity to kiss him on his temple. He did it slowly and hesitatingly, then followed the line down his jaw bone and to his lips. Harry moved his head to accommodate and meet him.

"How long have you liked me?" Draco asked a little while later.

"Honestly? From the second I saw you I knew you were special. There was just something about you I couldn't put my finger on. But I definitely liked it." Harry emphasized with a kiss. Their lips were starting to become slightly swollen and red, but Harry knew they weren't going to stop anytime soon. Kissing was wonderful and so much fun. Harry wondered what he had ever been worried about. Having a date was fantastic.

"Draco? How is this going to work? Us dating?" Harry brought up.

"You haven't had that talk yet? Well with two boys, there's more than one way to make love. There's—" He was grinning, probably joking, but Harry felt his stomach start to squirm.

"No!" Harry practically shouted. He knew the generalities of what Draco was talking about, but he knew he wouldn't be ready for any of that any time soon, much less talk about it. His heart rate picked up slightly, but he shook his head, trying to beat out how flustered he was. "I meant, just… How are we going to go on dates when we can't be seen together? How can we do that?"

"Oh." For the first time that day, Draco's face fell. Harry regretted asking immediately.

"Never mind, we don't have to—"

"No, no, we need to talk about it. I think we're just going to have to keep doing what we're doing. Sneaking around and meeting up in secret. Maybe we can have picnics out on the grounds and use that cloak of yours. Its not like there are many places to go other than Hogsmeade. Speaking of which, I bet there are tons of places in the Village."

"Yeah, that would be nice, but I don't have permission to go."

"What? That's ridiculous. Even Longbottom is going. You'll be the only one in our year not going!"

"Make me feel worse, why don't you?"

"Sorry." Draco murmured, cupping the side of Harry's face and bringing it closer to his. They kissed lightly, and it was the best apology Harry had ever had.

Despite having the possibility of dying last night, Harry was practically skipping down the Halls, whistling delightedly.

It must have made a strange sight, which is why he didn't blame Ron and Hermione for gaping at him.

"What's gotten into you, mate?" Ron asked half-seriously half-jokingly.

"Where have you been?" Hermione seemed to think was a more important question.

Harry looked at his friends. If he was even partially honest, it would invite more questions that he couldn't answer. Draco found this really important, but he felt terrible about not being honest with his best friends. It was a feeling he wasn't getting used to.

"I was just out. I ran into my friend and we got to talking for a bit." It was the best he could do.

"This is your pen pal?" Hermione dove onto the information. "Does he realize how important it is for you to be safe right now? For that matter, do you?"

Harry nodded guiltily. "I know Hermione, but you can't put a leash on me."

"I'm not trying—"

"You kind of are, Hermione, lay off the man, he's fine." Ron broke in. Harry smiled gratefully.

The Gryffindor and Slytherin match was approaching with trepidation for Harry and Draco, eagerness for the rest of the school. It was at the last quidditch practice before the game that they found out they wouldn't even be playing Slytherin.

"We're playing Hufflepuff instead!" Wood exploded, "Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured. But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances…"

"That's rubbish!" Fred growled. "Harry got injured way worse than Malfoy and he's just fine!"

"I know that, but we can't prove it. But we have to win. We have to win."

Harry couldn't help blaming Draco for not wanting to play during the storm, but he was still a little cross with him. It turned out to not be Draco's idea, however, but Marcus Flint's, the Slytherin team captain.

"I'm sorry," he said after breaking the news to Harry. "I didn't know what else to do. But all you have to do is say that your back hurts and they'll have to just postpone the match. It's a win-win!"

Harry considered it and regretted it later when he decided not to go with it. Who would it have hurt to have the game postponed? After the match, he had other reasons to be regretful. One, they lost the match to Hufflepuff, and two, Harry's beloved broomstick, the Nimbus 2000, was destroyed.

He couldn't remember being more disappointed. It was difficult to sleep, so he sat bolt upright when he heard the hospital wing's doors open. He was starting to panic when a headless pair of lips brushed his forehead.

"We must stop meeting like this," Harry whispered, recognizing the lips as Draco's.

The lips smirked and the rest of him materialized. "How are you feeling," Draco purred.

"I'm…d-doing well." Harry stammered as Draco leaned closer and closer to him.

"That's good. Well enough to… have some fun?" Harry felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest.

They were kissing, and Harry figured that was good enough of an answer. Draco had climbed up on the bed and was kneeling at Harry's side, his fist in Harry's hair. He seemed to like weaving his fingers in Harry's fringe.

After what seemed like an eternity, Draco leaned back. "My legs are getting tired," he whispered, mindful of it being the middle of the night.

"How romantic," Harry whispered back. Draco snorted as he repositioned to the headboard where Harry had made room for him. They kissed once more, and Draco looked down at their clasped hands. He was rubbing his thumb lightly over Harry's.

"I'm really sorry about today," he said in a low tone. "When I saw you fall…I thought my heart was going to stop. It was so scary. Please don't do that to me, again."

Harry smiled lightly and nodded his head. "I don't really plan these things, you know. They just kind of happen to me."

"Yeah, I'm sure they do. Can't you just pay more attention to your surroundings? Maybe if you had noticed the dementors, they wouldn't have had such a negative effect on you."

"I think they would've had the same effect on me regardless. Lupin says its because my past is so horrible."

"Oh." Draco said quietly.

"I finally figured out what I hear when I'm near them. It's my mother. Screaming. I think it was right before she died."

"Oh," Draco repeated. He appeared to not know what to say. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"Sweetheart?"

"Don't like it?"

"No, actually, the opposite. What should I call you?" Harry kissed the side of his cheek. He wasn't that good at creative names.

"That's something you have to come up with. Just whatever feels right."

"I'm sure I'll think of something." Draco brought up their clasped hands and kissed Harry's.

"I'm sure you will."

Harry hesitated, not sure if he should ask, but, "what do you hear when the dementors get close to you?"

Draco blinked. He looked anywhere but at Harry, and Harry realized it had been a mistake after all.

"Forget it. I don't need to know."

"Well…" Draco sighed. "It's not like I don't want you to know, it's just uncomfortable for me, is all. I'll tell you someday, alright?"

"Okay," Harry agreed easily. Someday was not something he pondered very often. It was just some time in the future, some thing that everybody did eventually. It made him wonder what he and Draco would be when he did tell him. Would they go back to being friends, or would they be boyfriends? Partners—that was the term when the couple was gay and serious right? Suddenly, a whole new world opened up, a world in which he had a future. Possibly, a future with Draco.

He was brought back to the present rather violently. "What are you doing out of bed?" It was Madam Pomfrey, dressed in a nightgown and robe, holding her lit wand aloft. "Mr. Malfoy, explain yourself!"

Draco's eyes widened, he jumped up and started his explanation. "Madam, I just wanted to check on Harry, I was so worried about him and I couldn't come and see him earlier!"

Harry wasn't sure, even after reviewing the memory dozens of times, how Draco had gotten away with only getting ten points deducted from his House. He was sure it had something to do with how Draco had wailed about Harry and their feuding friends, or possibly he just carried on long enough that Madam Pomfrey got tired of hearing him talk.

They said a quick goodbye, sans a kiss, and Draco left under Harry's invisibility cloak.

As the date for the next Hogsmeade visit drew nearer, Harry grew more and more forlorn. Everyone seemed to be excited for it, talking constantly. Harry had spent the previous one with Professor Lupin, but Draco brought up that nearly everyone would be gone, and it would be a perfect time for a date.

"You don't mind cutting your visit short?" Harry asked Draco.

"Not if I get to spend my time with you, sweetheart." That earned Draco a kiss or two…or ten.

When the day came, Harry tried hard to look appropriately gloomy as he waved Ron and Hermione goodbye. As soon as they left, Harry took off to the dorms. He was in charge of finding blankets for a picnic and trying to get some candles. He had half the day, and he was planning on finding jars for the bluebell flame Hermione had specialized in First year.

However, he was pulled into an empty classroom before he made it very far. "What are you doing?" He asked once he realized it was Fred and George that had pulled him in. "How come you're not going to Hogsmeade?"

"We've come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go." Fred winked. What turned out to be festive cheer was a map that showed where anyone was at the school. It was an incredible bit of magic.

After Fred and George went off, Harry checked his watch. There was plenty of time to get to Hogsmeade and find Draco before Draco was meant to come back for their date, and then they could have it in the village instead!

He set off under his invisibility cloak, and it only took about an hour to find Draco. It was tempting to scare Ron and Hermione when he saw them, but they were debating what sweets to buy Harry, so he let them go.

Draco was in a store that sold what seemed to be magical office supplies like parchment and quills. Draco was arguing with one of the Slytherin boys he didn't know when he first sidled up to him. When the argument was over, he breathed a kiss through the fabric onto his neck. Draco jumped and gave a small shriek. When he turned there was no one there and his group of Slytherin friends were staring at him. Draco chuckled dryly. "Thought I felt a ghost," he explained, still looking around.

When everyone had turned around, Harry went up to Draco's ear. "It's me," he whispered. Draco drew in a breath but otherwise didn't react. Draco nodded slightly and wandered down one of the deserted aisles. Harry followed, and moved the cloak to uncover his face just in front of him to settle him down.

"What are you playing at," Draco whispered furiously. "Going around kissing people like that?"

"Just you," Harry whispered lightly, trying to look as cute as possible. He must have succeeded because Draco smiled and leaned forward to give him a quick kiss.

"What are you doing here? I thought you weren't allowed in the village."

"Look, Fred and George Weasley gave it to me," Harry pulled the map out to show Draco the shortcut he had taken.

"This is incredible," Draco commented. "Fantastic bit of magic."

Draco stared for several minutes. "So, now that I'm here," Harry cut in, "want to have our date in Hogsmeade?"

Draco looked up and smiled. "Sure, just let me get rid of my entourage and follow me."

All he said was he had something to take care of and left the store. Harry was impressed, he certainly wouldn't get away with that with his friends.

They spent a couple minutes looking at the storefronts before Draco suggested butterbeer at the three broomsticks. When they got there, Madam Rosmerta was sitting in a booth with-

"Hagrid, McGonagall, Flitwick, and the Minister?" Draco whispered. "Let's go."

"Get the food you ordered first, I'm invisible, remember? I'll go wait outside."

Draco grumbled. He had in fact ordered a picnic basket full of food and butterbeers, and it was getting closer to lunch time.

He was making his way carefully towards the door when he caught sight of Ron and Hermione ducking low in their booth behind a Christmas tree. They were barely visible, and Harry's shackles went up. What was wrong?

He moved closer and stood still right next to the Christmas tree and listened in horror to the conversation unfolding in front of him.

"…Sirius Black and James Potter!"

Apparently, his father and Sirius Black had been best friends at Hogwarts. So close, in fact, that when James and Lily had gone into hiding, Black, his godfather, had been chosen to protect the secret of where they were. He betrayed them, and they might not have died if it hadn't had been for him. He also killed Peter Pettigrew, but Harry was still reeling from the earlier revelation. This is what McGonagall had been hinting about at Halloween.

He stumbled out of the bar when it seemed there was nothing left for the group to discuss. He made it outside before any of them and leaned against the wall of the bar. He was having a hard time processing and felt entirely too numb.

He heard his name, and that partially jogged him out of his stupor. Draco was pacing in the storefront, when no one was nearby he would whisper Harry's name. "I'm here," he said in a clear voice.

Draco rounded on him, red in the face and furious. "Where have you been?" he whisper-snapped. "Do you know how long I've been waiting? How stupid I look? Where do you get off-?" He went on for what seemed like forever. Harry didn't think he could feel much worse, but he definitely did. After a while, Draco's drowning voice blended together, and he could take no more.

He slid down and sat on the cold ground, not caring how freezing it was. "…Do you even—wait, are you sitting on the ground? Get up, come on." He grabbed Harry's arm and was dragging him through the town.

They made it to the deserted Shrieking Shack and Draco led him further into the woods. Once he thought he found a good place, he ripped off Harry's cloak. "You—you, Harry, what's wrong? What's wrong sweetheart? I'm sorry, don't cry, it's not that big a deal—" Harry reached up and realized there were indeed tears on his face and wiped them away furiously.

"No, you don't…in the bar, I overheard…Sirius Black…" It took a long time, but Harry finally got out the full story, choking on half of it. When he was done, Draco hugged him, squeezing him tightly. Harry had never experienced anything like it. Like the person who was hugging him wanted nothing more than to hold him until everything was ok. That's exactly what Draco did.

Harry wasn't sure how long they were there, kneeling—when had they sunk to the cold ground? —with Draco holding him while he sobbed and when had he started crying? Eventually, he got a hold of himself and mused that he did feel a bit better. He was so used to crying getting him nowhere that he often suppressed the desire to let go of his feelings when he felt like it. Now, however, he didn't feel as empty.

With a return to himself came the realization that he was frozen half to death. Draco bundled him up as much as he could and the two of them downed the butterbeer that had been charmed to stay the perfect hot temperature. It helped. Harry used the empty bottles to ignite the bluebell flames and soon they had a circle keeping them perfectly warm. Harry didn't want to move out of the little bubble they had created together, and Draco seemed to sense it.

They cuddled close together and spoke quietly about absolutely nothing. How lovely the forest was, how good the food was, how warm the flames were.

Eventually, Draco whispered that it was time to go. Harry nodded but didn't move. Draco cupped his face and kissed him, and it was absolutely wonderful.

"Harry?" Ron's voice came from somewhere above him, "are you awake?" Harry was laying down in his bed in the dorm. It was Christmas morning, and he hadn't slept well, if at all, as he had been since he had heard about Sirius Black. He didn't answer.

Ron left shortly, and Harry rolled around in his bed. He had spent every moment he could alone, not even Draco could pull him out of the depressed slump he found himself in.

After what felt like hours, he went down to the Common Room and found Ron and Hermione sitting in front of the fireplace, presents all around them. Seeing them there, having obviously waited for him to wake up, lightened his heart enough that he made a considerable effort to play nice and slapped a smile on his face.

"Hey guys," he said, "happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas, Harry," they chorused. They opened presents much more sedately than they had in years past, but Harry opened a box that changed how he felt. In it, was a Firebolt.

Ron and Harry spent the rest of time until lunch talking about it excitedly.

That all came to a grinding halt when McGonagall confiscated it.

"What did you go running to McGonagall for?" Ron yelled at Hermione after she had left.

Hermione drew herself up and said, "Because I thought – and Professor McGonagall agrees with me—that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!"

"What?" Ron and Harry shouted. "Why the hell would he send Harry a broom? And how, Hermione, would he have gotten the money? Who would sell it to him? Well, Hermione? Ever think about that?"

Hermione seemed to fade when faced with both of them and Ron's logic. "Well, those are all good questions, but you must admit it's suspicious—."

"I'm famous!" Harry shouted. "Literally anyone in the wizarding world could have sent it to me. Of course, I was going to get it checked out, but you got it taken away from me against my will and given it to a teacher! Who is now going to strip it down. Did your bright brain think about that, Hermione, huh?"

"But—but" Hermione stammered, but Harry wasn't done. He had just realized something. It was like the anger was bringing out more anger in him.

"I know how badly Black wants me, Hermione, and I noticed you two haven't once even attempted to warn me, about how he was my parents' best friend, our secret keeper, my godfather?!"

Hermione and Ron both gasped and started stammering out something, but Harry was too far gone to care.

"That's right! I snuck into Hogsmeade and heard all about it! Both of you were there, I saw you, and you've had plenty of time to come tell me, but you didn't and what kind of friends does that make you?"

They fell silent, and Hermione had tears in her eyes. Harry was repulsed by the both of them and left.

"How are you doing, Sweetheart," Draco asked as he pulled Harry close to him in a hug and kissed the top of his head. Harry had gone to the Secret Room to be alone, but Draco was a welcome addition.

Harry shrugged, not really sure.

"I heard a rumor that you had a fight with the other two points of your triangle." Harry pulled a face. "Not my greatest nickname, I'll admit."

Harry snorted and looked down. "I'm hardly any better. Still haven't thought of a pet name for you."

"You'll think of one. I know you will. And I'll love it whatever it is."

They worked on improving their room for the rest of the day. They set up some blankets Draco had nicked from the laundry in a corner of the room next to the chairs. Harry collected the butterbeer bottles and ignited the bluebell flame inside them and set them in a circle, some on the table they had nearby. Once they were done, they lay in the bundle of blankets and cuddled. The warmth from the flames along with the softness of the blanket created a comfort that had never been matched for either of them.

Harry did not forgive either Ron or Hermione and the next couple weeks were eye-opening. He made friends with lots of other people from other houses, renewed relationships with people in his house, and of course, spent an unholy amount of time with Draco. He had fun, but no one was Ron and Hermione.

He started to have his lessons with Lupin, and he couldn't help but wonder if all his negative feelings were affecting him.

Through the Hogwarts rumor mill, Harry heard the Hermione's cat had finally eaten Scabbers, and he finally decided to console Ron. He was still miffed with the both of them, but Hermione especially.

Almost immediately after he and Ron had cautiously made up on a contingency basis, McGonagall returned his firebolt. It was with his firebolt that he won them the game with Ravenclaw, which meant they were competing for the Quidditch Cup with Slytherin. Harry was nervous about competing against Draco, the earlier loss had really shaken his confidence. He did feel unbeatable with his firebolt, however. He just didn't want anything to come between him and Draco.

Draco seemed to think Slytherin was doomed to lose, and he became a little despondent and moody as a result. Harry did his best to cheer him up and even offered to throw the match. Draco was horrified and said there was no honor in that. At once, he cheered up, and said that at least he could be happy his boyfriend was a quidditch legend. Harry wasn't sure about that, but whatever made Draco happy.

Later that night, Sirius Black made another attempt on Harry's life, only he got Ron's bed instead of Harry's. Consequently, Harry forgave Ron completely for not telling him about Black, and Draco practically attacked Harry the next time he saw him. Harry finally showed Ron the map and they prepared to go to the next Hogsmeade visit together.

When he told Draco, he didn't react well. They had tentatively, at least to Harry, scheduled another date for that day. Draco called Harry several names and stormed off, leaving Harry wondering about them.

The day of Hogsmeade arrived rather gloomy. Regardless, Ron and Harry had a rather nice day until they got to the shrieking shack.

They had been staring at it for just a couple minutes when a group of Slytherins approached, with Draco in the middle being the loudest, it sounded like he had just told a joke. His eyes widened then narrowed when he saw Ron standing there, seemingly alone, but he had to know Harry was standing nearby under an invisibility cloak.

"And here's Weasley!" He announced loudly, "with his girlfriend." All the Slytherins laughed, but Harry alone heard the cut for what it was against Harry.

Draco may have started it, but the other Slytherins joined in, and soon there was a yelling match. To make things more even, Harry started slinging mud at the Slytherins. He avoided Draco as he didn't want to make things worse than they were already, even if he was slightly miffed that Draco had reacted so badly. Chaos ensued for several minutes, with one of the boys saying the shack really was haunted. Draco's lips twitched as he tried not to laugh, trying valiantly not to laugh. That only spurred Harry on.

However, one of the Slytherins, a tall boy with dark skin, got a little too close to Harry and his cloak slipped past his face. "It's Potter!"

"Back to the castle," one of the other boys yelled, "you're dead, Potter!"

Draco sent Harry an alarmed look, one mirrored by Harry, before they all took off for the castle.

Harry was faster and got to Honeydukes with the secret passage before the collective group got there. He didn't slow down in the secret passage but decided to leave his invisibility cloak and map in there and strolled casually out. He made his way to the Gryffindor common room and managed to change into clean clothes before sitting in front of the fire. There were plenty of people in the common room and he figured it wouldn't be a bad thing to establish an alibi.

Barely minutes later, Snape entered the common room, for once looking cheery and excited, or more so than Harry had ever seen him. A cruel smile curled on his face as he reached and looked down at Harry. "Mistah Pottah." He pronounced slowly, "Come. With. Me."

Harry gulped but plastered a look of polite confusion on his face. What followed next was one of the most uncomfortable times of his life. He maintained that he had wandered the grounds and castle alone, then went to the Gryffindor Common Room. Snape tried his best to break him, then escorted him to see Dumbledore. He couldn't see how he would get out of it with Dumbledore. However, he did.

The Slytherins told Dumbledore how they had seen Harry in Hogsmeade, but in a surprising twist, a number of Gryffindors swore up and down that they had seen Harry that day walking around various areas of the castle and grounds. Before he knew it, Dumbledore's office was filled with students all claiming to have seen him. Harry did notice that they were mostly his new friends and friends of friends he had made while not speaking to Ron and Hermione and found another reason to keep up with those relationships.

Harry was sure he was imagining it, but the more students came in, the more Dumbledore's eyes seemed to twinkle, and the angrier Snape seemed to get. Finally, Dumbledore declared that it was all hearsay at this point and no punishment would be given. Harry let himself feel elation as Snape stomped off, but it evaporated at Dumbledore request that Harry stay.

"Harry," Dumbledore started. "It has come to my attention that you are aware of how important it is that you are kept safe within these walls. I don't wish for any of your privileges to be taken away should another event such as this were to happen again. I advise extreme caution on your part."

Professor Dumbledore always seemed to have a way of making Harry feel guilty. He had a feeling that he knew that Harry had been in Hogsmeade, but for some reason he was willing to let Harry get away with it. Harry nodded, trying to fight the nausea he was now feeling.

He wandered around for a bit, thinking about his priorities and found himself at the entrance to his and Draco's secret room. He took a deep breath and went in.

Draco stood from his chair immediately. "Well?" He asked with a determined look on his face.

"I got off. Scott free."

"Good." Draco released a breath. He sat back down and gestured to the other chair. Harry sighed and took it.

They sat in silence for a long while, the minutes stretching out. Finally, Harry burst out, "Look, I'm sorry I made other plans on our date day. This secret relationship thing is hard, Draco."

"I know it is, Harry. It's hard on me too. All I want to do is shout from the top of the astronomy tower that you're my boyfriend. Do you know how many people are starting to take notice of you? You are mine and no one knows it. I think that's why I was so frustrated when you broke our date, but I forgot it's one of our rules and it's a rule for a reason. I'm sorry, too. I didn't need to react like I did."

"I think I'm probably pants at relationships. And if you haven't noticed, I'm pretty thick, so if I ever do something stupid, just say so, alright?"

"Yeah, sure." Draco agreed easily enough and scooted his chair slightly closer to Harry's. Harry scooted his chair closer as well, and soon they were close enough to hold hands.

"…and I figured I needed to find a way to stall, so I told them we needed to go to Dumbledore's office. Father told me where it is." Draco told the story of his day, "When we got there we had no idea what the password was. So, I tried to get them to guess but after a couple minutes, Blaise came up with the idea that one of us should try to find Snape anyway. So, he went off to do that. Then after we left, I started pronouncing how you were doomed since we had seen you in Hogsmeade in front of several key people and the rumor mill took over the rest. That's how everyone knew to go see Dumbledore."

"Brilliant. Just brilliant. I don't know if I would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for you, Draco."

"Luckily for us, you never have to find out what it would be like to not have me." Draco smirked. Harry kissed it away.

He met up with Ron and Hermione later that day and made up with the latter after she apologized. Buckbeak lost his trial and was set to be executed. There was an appeal and the group bonded by researching for it. Harry knew it was fruitless more than the other two, however. He had talked about it with Draco, and that hadn't gone well. They didn't fight this time, but Draco said it was out of his hands, and his father's hands, at this point. Despite what Ron and Hermione thought, Mr. Malfoy hadn't had to bribe anyone. The ministry classified hippogriffs as dangerous creatures and it was enough that one had hurt a student for it to be executed.

Harry was rather upset at hearing that there was nothing they could do and that combined with exams coming up made him a little tense. The elation at winning the quidditch cup had faded quickly, especially with Draco being so surly about it.

Hermione was not handling the stress well either. She had quit Divination, in a rather spectacular and dramatic way.

In an effort to see each other despite all the studying and appeal planning, Harry and Draco snuck out after curfew. They decided to forgo their usual room and have some fun in a hidden alcove like the other normal couples but had forgone using an invisibility cloak. It was indeed fun, snogging out in the open…until they were caught. Thankfully, they weren't actually snogging at that point. They heard the approaching footsteps and struggled to get the cloak on but didn't manage it by the time Professor Lupin turned the corner.

They had pretended to be having a fight, as they had agreed upon beforehand if they ever got caught together. Professor Lupin let him keep the cloak, possibly because he couldn't see it, but took away a modest amount of points and confiscated the blank map. How he knew what it was was beyond Harry.

Exams started with a surprise bang that no one but Hermione seemed prepared for. Harry thought they went alright, except perhaps Divination, where Professor Trelawney had some sort of episode.

That day happened to coincide with Buckbeak's execution and his team of appealers went to visit Hagrid. They had lost the appeal as well, to no one's surprise except Hagrid's. To round off the day of surprises, Hermione found Scabbers in Hagrid's milk jug.

After they left Hagrid's when it was almost time for the actual execution, they ran into Draco and his merry band of Slytherins joking and laughing, spying on Hagrid's hut.

"Oi," Ron called, "clear out of here!"

"Just watching the show, Weasley. Why don't you leave?"

"You foul loathsome evil little cockroach!" Hermione screamed as she approached Draco heatedly. Before anyone could make any sense of what was happening, a SMACK resounded around the area and Draco was screaming in pain.

Harry gaped. He couldn't believe Hermione had hurt his boyfriend. Things had never gotten physical between the two groups. He wanted nothing more to run in front of him, turn back time and jump in between them to prevent Draco from getting hurt. Not for the first time, but definitely for the most, Harry wished he could tell his friends what Draco really meant to him, if for no other reason than to tell Hermione how much he wished she hadn't done that.

Draco was running off before Harry could do anything, not that he could do much of anything. At the same time, Scabbers bit Ron and a small line formed where Harry was chasing Hermione who was chasing Ron, who was chasing Scabbers. He headed towards the Whomping willow and that was when a giant black dog appeared, growling and snarling.

All three of them screamed and the dog attacked, dragging Ron towards the giant tree. "Ron!" His friends yelled. They attempted to get into the tree, but it wouldn't let them near. That was when Crookshanks appeared out of nowhere and found a knot that made the tree freeze.

"I cannot believe I missed another one of your adventures!" Draco exclaimed as Harry's story came to an end. They were in their secret room, the day after he got out of the hospital wing. "I was right there, too! All I had to do is follow you lot and I could have been a part of it, but nooo. I had to go off and get my broken nose fixed!"

In all the excitement, Harry had forgotten about that. He didn't dare say that, though. "My poor baby," he said sweetly. "Hey there it is!"

"Just who are you calling a baby? Where's what?"

"Your cute little pet name: Baby. Not a baby: baby, Baby." Harry put on his most winning smile as Draco's eyes became large.

"Oh, no you don't, Potter, don't you dare—."

"How is your nose anyway? That smack was deafening."

"My nose is all better, thank you very much for asking after we've been here for hours. So nice of you, Sweetheart. Really."

"Oh, come on now, Baby," Harry murmured as he cradled Draco's face close. He nuzzled their noses together and Draco's eyes narrowed further.

"Do you remember when I told you that whatever name you came up with I would love? Well get ready, I was wrong." At Harry's mocking loud gasp, he continued. "Yes, that's right. First and last time it'll ever happen so take note of it."

Harry laughed. It was wonderful to let go of all his worries for a while and just enjoy some time with Draco. He was really going to miss him over the summer holidays.

End Third Year

A/N: Well, they're together! I didn't want to stretch it out too much, but I don't think it happened too quickly either. I almost had Draco come in the shrieking shack with them and make snarky comments, but that would have been too out there. Thanks for reading and reviewing, if you have/will.