A/N: "Ethan and Noah" are in honor of probably my favorite Drarry fanfic, 'The I do' series by XxTheDarkLordxX. Fantastic writer and story. The series is incomplete, but the first is so long it's worth a read, in my opinion.

A sense of fear swept over the castle as rumors of a second year nearly dying circulated. Harry was concerned, Hogwarts was one of the safest places in the world, why were people still getting hurt? And in the Headmaster's office.

Harry noticed the boy's parents when they came to the school a day later to check on him. They looked more annoyed than worried, and didn't want to take the boy home with them, as he heard through the Hogwarts gossip vine. He felt for the poor kid, he was glad he was alright.

He couldn't help but wonder if this was another attempt on Dumbledore's life. He didn't bring it up with Draco, not wanting to make him feel badly.

As the end of the year approached, Harry began to feel pressure. For several things, including the future, Draco, exams, and obtaining the lost memory from Slughorn.

He decided to try one last time, then bring in his secret weapon. He talked to Slughorn after class, and when that failed, he decided to try the Felix Felices.

Ron and Hermione stared at him after he took a small gulp. He felt fantastic. His night went well, and he got the memory! He immediately went to Dumbledore's office and they viewed the memory together in an emergency meeting.

Harry wasn't convinced of the significance of the memory, but it was definitely important to Dumbledore. He paced around the room and thought aloud to Harry. They decided that Voldemort had six horcruxes, splitting his soul seven times. Two had already been destroyed. That left four, which was suddenly a huge number. Harry went back to his dormitory stunned and dismayed.

Two relationships ended that night, although Harry wasn't there to see it. Ron and Lavender as well as Ginny and Dean broke up. Ron told him about it the next day after Harry shared what he had learned the night before. Later that day, Katie returned to the castle.

Finally, the quidditch team was back together. Just in time too, as the final quidditch match of the season was fast approaching.

Harry had really been looking forward to this match. He had a very strange feeling that he was lucky to be playing in it.

The day dawned brightly, and Harry just knew it was an omen. The day couldn't have been any better and brighter. The game couldn't have gone any better either. The team operated like a well-oiled machine, behaving like they hadn't been broken up several times throughout the year, rather like they had been playing together for years.

When Harry caught the snitch, a thrill of excitement and happiness zapped through him. There was nothing like winning a match, and nothing like winning the quidditch cup. As the team lifted him on their shoulders, he waved his arms, and caught sight of Draco in the Slytherin section of the crowd, hanging back.

Harry felt a touch of something at the base of his spine. He almost regretted winning, seeing the look on Draco's face. It was mostly blank, in the typical Slytherin mask, but Harry could see the longing on it. As he felt his own face start to fall, Draco blinked, and gave him a wide, beaming smile. It lit up his whole face, making him look more ethereal, like an angel. He was Harry's angel.

Harry found himself smiling back, head tilted sideways, letting Draco see for a moment how he loved him. He knew people saw him when he got a few raised eyebrows, but most were too involved with celebrating the win to notice what he was doing.

*** Ginny POV

All around her, Gryffindors were screaming and celebrating. Ginny was even lifted momentarily. She had scored the most goals, she admitted. The team as a whole had done so very well, but the chasers played their hearts out, if she said so herself.

She turned to look at Harry, as she usually did during big events. Or small events. Or anything that happened, really. She just wanted to look at him and understand how he was feeling, she thought she had gotten pretty good at it. Her feelings didn't feel quite official until she saw how Harry was feeling.

He was beautiful, absolutely gorgeous. His sweat stuck to his skin and reflected the sun, creating a glow around him. There was a smile stretched across his face, and it made him look incredible. His hair was windblown, downright crazy, and she wanted nothing more than to kiss those lips, running her fingers through that hair.

He was above her, lifted onto the Beaters' shoulders as he waved his muscular arms at all his adoring fans. Quidditch players were usually more muscular than the average student; it was harder work than you'd think, flying around the quidditch pitch on a broom. Harry was a great captain, he had them doing laps and strength training, so they were in a better collective shape than they ever had been. Ginny suspected they were the best team in the school, which, really, had just been proven. Ginny figured that Harry did more than the rest of them, he was the strongest person on the team. It wasn't like Seekers needed the extra strength either.

Harry was looking off into the distance, and while he had been exuberant, his face drained of happiness. Ginny looked around confused, trying to see what had made him upset. He was looking at the Slytherin section, why would he be upset looking at them? Dean was cheering in his line of sight, that was probably who he was looking at. She looked back, and Harry was smiling again, the most wonderful expression on his face, and Ginny felt the sensation of falling even further in love with him.

Everything she did, she did for Harry. She had waited her entire childhood to meet him. When she had been possessed by the diary, she and waited for Harry to save her. She studied hard, wanting to be smart enough to be deserved by Harry. She tried out for quidditch because it was something Harry loved more than anything, and they could bond over their shared love. She made friends because no one liked being someone's only friend, it would have been weird otherwise. She joined the DA because he was teaching it, as many people had done, hoping to get closer to him. She had also joined Hope's Army hoping to get even closer as friends and as possible lovers.

She had made up that story she told at the first meeting, well, half of it. The part about liking a boy had certainly been true, but she didn't have a special girl in mind. At least, she hadn't going in. She thought about Luna, the girl had just popped into her head, when she was telling that story. It wasn't in a romantic way, just in a friendship sense, she didn't feel that way about women.

Well, she had strange feelings about other girls sometimes, but that didn't mean she was gay, it meant that she was a normal healthy girl that had a few bumps in the road along her romantic history. Girls were special, they could have feelings for other girls that boys wouldn't understand. Friendship was deep with them, and confusing thoughts didn't mean that she was gay. She definitely preferred men, and preferably Harry, so that was that.

She did feel guilty about infiltrating an organization that obviously didn't apply to her. It was wrong what she did, and she knew that. Sometimes, the things Harry did made her a little crazy. She lost herself in him sometimes. She was the girl that waited, and she was tired of waiting.

Hermione had told her that she had a chance with Harry, and that was all the invitation she needed. Not that she had even needed that. She started dating other guys to make him jealous. Hermione had told her that she needed to move on, and Ginny disagreed. Hermione had sighed, and said, "well, what if you pretend to move on from your crush? Date some guys, and maybe Harry will get jealous." That wasn't exactly what she had said, it was long and somewhat boring, but Ginny heard the implication. So, she had started dating Michael. It really wasn't just to make Harry jealous either. Michael was a nice enough boy and she ended up liking them more than she thought she would. He just wasn't Harry. His reaction had been slow, and she had even needed another boy to get him to make a move, but she and him were friends now.

It had been a process, but the longer they spent time together, the closer they got, and those boys were making him crazy, she just knew it. Harry looking at Dean moments ago was proof that he was jealous of him. He had absolutely no reason to be, and she suspected he knew that, she wasn't exactly subtle with her flirting. That meant that he was ready to be in a relationship with her. He had had bad experiences with dating and women, Ginny had heard all she could about Cho, who was just crazy, but he was apparently over all that, and was ready to start a loving and healthy relationship.

Hermione had warned her that men liked to do the chasing, hence the obstacles in the form of other boys. Hermione told her to let Harry come to her, but she was so tired of waiting, of not being with Harry. She was the girl who waited. She had done everything right, the good, patient way, but she was done. Harry liked her, she knew he did, he had to, did it really matter if she made that final move that would cement them together forever?

Harry waved at her, he had the quidditch cup in hand, and was passing it among other members of the team. She had hung back a little, finalizing her plan, so she would be the last one to hold the cup. Ginny thought about doing it later, but now was the perfect time, the best time, here in front of all their friends, to really start her relationship. Their relationship, she meant.

Harry came forward through the crowd of scarlet Gryffindors, pushing people aside to get to her. "Here!" He yelled over the noise and thrusted the cup towards her. "Our best chaser deserves a minute!"

He was laughing, and smiling, the corners of his eyes crinkling, so very happy. She was about to make him even happier.

She stood on her toes, completely ignoring the cup, look of fierce determination on her face, and threw her arms around Harry's neck. There were lines of confusion on his face after she did that, but she would explain it in the best way she knew how.

She gave him a smile, a bright winning one, and the lines of his face evened out a little as he smiled back at her; even if it was a little hesitant, it was all the invitation she needed.

Ginny put on a burst of speed, throwing herself upwards, tightening the grip around his neck, and pushed her lips upon his.

It was wonderful, everything she had ever dreamed. His lips were warm, just a little chapped, and so soft. They weren't moving, but that was alright. This was a first kiss, as sweet as they come, and they didn't need to have passion in this very moment. After all, this kiss was lasting several sunlit days, it was perfect.

Suddenly, Harry was moving, wiggling against her. Ginny giggled as they separated, then very quickly got cut off at the look on Harry's face.

Harry was white, he looked aghast, traumatized, he looked over her head, staring at something for several long moments. Then he looked down at her, and there was apology on his face, pity. Ginny took a step back, reeling.

The kiss had been perfect, everything she had ever wanted. Was it not what he was expecting? She took another look at him, and really, really saw him, perhaps for the first time.

He wasn't happy, not anymore. She had taken that away from him. She had taken something from the man she loved, when he had given her so much happiness. He was frowning, his mouth was moving without sound coming out, as if he was trying to figure out what to say. "Ginny…" he finally settled on, but she didn't want to hear anything else.

She shook her head, tears springing to her eyes, as she took more steps backwards. "No," she said in denial, as she realized that she had been wrong. Harry didn't love her. He didn't want her. He might not even like her.

Ginny turned and ran and ran and ran. It was the only way she could hope to escape. She pushed people out of the way, some were laughing at her, and that only served to make her sob. She hadn't cried since Harry had asked someone else to the Yule Ball. It was a point of pride with her that she never cried, but this was a very special occasion, considering her heart had just been broken into millions of pieces.

Harry stared after Ginny, so confused, and not quite sure what to do. He had already done the most important thing, which was checking on Draco. Draco had looked stunned, and upset, and a little heartbroken too. When he had seen Harry looking, he had sighed and shrugged, offering Harry a small smile of understanding.

Harry hadn't kissed Ginny back, and had fought her off as soon as he realized what she was doing. Draco knew it wasn't his fault, but he still felt badly about it. This was just a situation that was bad all around. Poor Draco, poor Ginny, poor Harry.

He wasn't sure who to go after. He wanted to talk to Draco and make absolutely sure he was ok. He knew he would be devastated if it had been Draco that was kissed in front of everyone.

"Aren't you going to go after her?" Ron was suddenly by his side, a tough expression on his face. Harry looked at him. Ron had an expression on his face that made it seem like he was about to deck Harry but was temporarily resisting.

Harry gulped but nodded. He looked at Draco one last time, who nodded, mouthed "later," and turned back to his friends. He had the best, most understanding boyfriend in the entire world.

He searched everywhere he could think to look but couldn't find Ginny anywhere. She wasn't in any of the hidden nooks he knew about, the Room of Requirement, the library, the lake; he couldn't check any of the girl's bathrooms or dorms, but he had a feeling she wasn't there either. Finally, he made it to the common room, defeated.

"You couldn't find her?" Hermione asked as Harry took a seat in front of the fireplace. Ron glared at him, and Harry shifted uncomfortably.

"No. I swear, I looked everywhere. Couldn't find her anywhere. Any ideas?" They both shook their heads, looking more sympathetic.

Hermione sighed. "I was afraid something like this would happen."

"You couldn't have given me a warning, then?" Harry asked. He hadn't seen this coming. A couple years ago, he would have believed that Ginny would do something like try to kiss him, but he had thought she had gotten over her crush on him.

"I figured you knew. She hasn't been subtle with her flirting." Harry blushed at Hermione's tone. He was oblivious to girls, she had to know that.

"So, you don't like her?" Ron asked carefully. Harry didn't look at him as he answered.

"As a friend, sure. But I don't fancy her like that." He didn't miss the looks Ron and Hermione exchanged and wished they wouldn't talk about him right in front of him like that. Even if they weren't actually speaking, Ron and Hermione had a way of communicating that was unlike anything Harry was capable of with them. He supposed he and Draco had a silent communication system, but he and Draco were pretty special. (If he did say so himself.) "What am I supposed to do?" He asked.

They both jumped, but Hermione answered. "I think you should let her have some space. What she just went through was rather humiliating, and she could use some time to herself. When you see her, ask her if she wants to talk. If she doesn't, let her come to you, and if she does, talk to her. Tell her how you really feel, whatever that is. Be honest, but gentle."

Harry nodded, he could do that. Thank god for Hermione.

He told them he needed a walk, and he was going to look for Ginny while he was out. They both nodded, apparently satisfied with that, as Harry set out to his and Draco's room. He did look for Ginny on the way, checking behind every tapestry and hidden corridor, but never went too far out of the way.

Draco was sitting in his chair reading a book when Harry walked in the room. Draco couldn't have been waiting long, he wondered why he brought the book, had he been there a while?

He decided to lay down on the couch, the stresses of the day overcoming him. He was face down in the cushions, groaning, when he felt the pressure of Draco climbing on top of him. The groan turned into a moan as Draco covered his body with his own, leg on leg, arm on arm. He felt a couple kisses on the back of his neck and hummed.

"I'm sorry, about today," he mumbled into the cushion, half hoping Draco wouldn't hear him.

He did. He stopped his kissing to nuzzle his head next to Harry. "I know you are. But you didn't do anything wrong. Don't misunderstand me, I'm upset, and I want you to coddle me, but I don't want you to feel badly on my account. This is just a fucked-up situation."

"I think I need to tell her."

"Hmm?"

"I need to tell Ginny I have someone. Not you, but someone. Someone I love more than anyone else in the world."

"Is that cruel? Or would it be worse to say that you just don't like her in return, for absolutely no reason?"

Harry sighed. He wasn't sure which was crueler. Draco started rubbing his arms comfortingly. He was so glad he was already in a relationship, they were too complicated for him.

"You're mine," Draco whispered against his skin, sending shivers up and down Harry's spine.

"I'm yours," Harry agreed. Draco's hands moved down his body, pulling his shirt up. Draco moved his head further down his spine, spreading kisses.

"I want to mark you," Draco said, Harry knew he wasn't seeking permission. "Because you're mine, and mine alone." He started sucking little spots all over Harry's back. Harry jumped when one of them happened upon his spine, he was apparently extremely sensitive there.

"Do that again," he requested. Draco did so.

"I think we've discovered a new 'spot' on you." He grinned.

Harry just moaned in response.

He came down, panting, several minutes later, as he looked at Draco's face. Draco grinned at him, licking his lips. Harry felt himself twitch at the sight. "You are so gorgeous." Harry told him, summoning a handkerchief to wipe Draco's face off.

"You're mine." Draco told him and leaned forward to kiss him heatedly. Harry pushed him back, so he could give Draco the same treatment.

Afterwards they cuddled on the couch. "Oh, I finally got your present for you. They were on back order because the new one is so popular."

"New one of what?" Harry asked as Draco summoned his bag over to him. Lazy bastard .

Draco handed him an elegantly wrapped gift, and Harry opened it at his typical slow pace. Draco chuckled as he watched him. The man was adorable.

Harry pulled the paper aside to reveal a thick paperback book. 'Disenchanted' was written across the top in curly, gold lettering, the curls off to the side were swaying back in forth in invisible wind. Below that was a picture of a couple, kissing, their hair and clothes moving in the same wind, but never separating their lips. It was pretty reserved for a wizarding book.

"It's a series, about a soul mate couple. I know it's a myth, but I thought you'd enjoy it.

"It's a romance novel." Harry said, reading the back cover, trying not to sound too unappreciative. He wasn't entirely sure why Draco would give him this.

"And you are the biggest romantic I know. Just give it a shot, Sweetheart. I have a feeling you'll like it." Draco rubbed his back as Harry fell back against him. He opened to the first page.

"Ethan grew up in an unkind fashion. His parents had died when he was very young, at the hands of someone else. He was shipped off to his the home of his father's brother and his wife. They were ashamed that Ethan's Father had married a muggleborn, and produced a Half-Blood to their line of purity, and treated Ethan as one might a House-elf. Ethan was alone for most of his childhood, but then, he met Noah, and he was never alone again." Harry read aloud. He looked up at Draco.

"Is it just me, or does this sound an awful lot like my life?"

"I haven't the faintest what you're referring to." Draco kissed his cheek. Harry rolled his eyes. "It's getting a lot of attention because it features a gay couple, it's sort of the first of its kind. I want to support that, even if you don't end up liking it."

Harry hummed. "You're right about that. Is there a lot of controversy around it?"

"I guess, but I think most people are accepting of it. For some reason, middle-aged women are the ones who are buying the most, and in my experience, it's them who are most vocal about their displeasure on the subject."

Harry hummed non-committedly. He wasn't about to agree with Draco's stereotypes.

He continued reading aloud to Draco as the author described more of Ethan's childhood and day leading up to meeting Noah. He had to admit, the writer was very talented, and it made the story enchanting, despite its name.

Draco kissed his head intermittently, and Harry hadn't had so much fun reading in a long time. He thought he would enjoy his present.

Harry ended up running into Ginny several times over the next couple days, but she ran from him every time he so much as waved at her. He took Hermione's advice and let her avoid him, figuring she would come to him when she was ready.

She did, even if it did take quite a while.

"Can we talk?" She asked from beside him one evening in the common room. Harry looked up from his homework, amazed at the sight of her.

As he watched her, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, looking right back at him, face set in determination.

Harry nodded and stood. Ginny led him to an abandoned classroom and took a seat atop the teacher's desk. Harry stood awkwardly, looking around and not quite sure how to start this conversation. Ginny stared at him, chewing on her bottom lip.

It was quiet for several stretches of moments, then Ginny said in a clam, cool voice, "I'm sorry, Harry."

Harry joined her on the table, taking a seat next to her. "You don't have to be sorry. It's not like it was a huge deal."

Ginny shook her head. "I humiliated the both of us in front of the entire school."

"I wouldn't say that."

"It's the truth."

"Maybe, I just wouldn't say it," Harry tried to joke. Ginny bumped his shoulder, harder than necessary. "It really isn't that big of a deal, Ginny. Most people have already forgotten about it."

"There's no chance for us, is there?" Ginny asked, sounding more resigned than anything. "I really thought there was something between us, but I guess I must have imagined it."

Harry frowned. "I wouldn't say there's nothing between us. I really like hanging out with you, as a friend. You're kind, and hilarious, fierce, and you make a wonderful friend. I think our friendship is something special, and I want to see where it takes us. But, yes, it'll have to be as friends. Is that enough for you?"

"Did you say 'friend' enough?" Ginny asked dryly. Harry opened his mouth, but Ginny continued. "Yes, it's plenty for me. I think I did see something that just wasn't there. You don't feel that way about me, do you?" Harry suspected she knew the answer, but he shook his head anyways. "I thought so. At first, I was just hoping that you were embarrassed we kissed in front of everyone, but then I realized that if you felt the way I feel about you, you wouldn't be embarrassed." Harry shifted guiltily. "You have someone, don't you? Someone you're in love with."

Harry's neck almost cracked he moved to look at her so quickly. Her head was tilted to the side, her eyes squinted at him as if she could see the answer written across his face. He blinked, then looked down at his shoes, hanging in the air in front of him. He had already given the answer away, but…

"Yeah. A boyfriend." He peeked at Ginny, but she didn't look hurt, just interested.

"Who?"

Harry shook his head. "We're keeping it under wraps for now, I'm not allowed to tell anyone, but I promise, as soon as we start telling people, you'll be one of the first to know."

"Why are you keeping it a secret?" Ginny asked. She didn't sound mad.

"Because Voldemort is after me, and he used Sirius to get to me. If he found another person he could use, and he ended up killing…my boyfriend, it would kill me. We're hiding it from everyone, so he doesn't find out, and we've both agreed it's better than the alternative."

"Which is?"

"Breaking up."

"Ah." They were quiet for a couple more minutes, both lost in thought. "I don't really understand why you wouldn't at least tell your friends, but—" Harry opened his mouth, but Ginny continued. "I know I can't tell you what to do. This must mean a lot to you, if you've kept it secret for—how long have you been together?"

Harry blushed. "Three years. Yeah." He added at Ginny's dumbfounded look. He shrugged.

"Wow. Three years, and no one knew anything about it. Do Ron and Hermione know?" Harry shook his head.

"They don't know I'm dating someone, they don't know who it is, they don't know anything. Can you keep this to yourself?" Ginny nodded sadly.

"I wish I didn't have to. You know…" She trailed off.

"Yes?"

"Nothing. Just…you can come talk to me, about anything, alright? I really would like to try and be friends, just friends. If you were serious about that."

"I was. I really would like to be your friend, Ginny. Will you have me?"

Ginny snorted indelicately, and Harry found himself liking her even more for it.

She stuck out her hand for Harry to shake and he did so, smiling lightly at her. Ginny chuckled and bumped his shoulder with hers. Harry returned and they got into a bit of a fight. Harry was impressed with her toughness. He was the first one to say, "Ow!"

"Are you coming," Harry asked when he realized Ginny wasn't following him to the door.

"I'm going to stay here for a bit. I'll see you back in the Common Room." Ginny smiled, but to Harry it seemed a bit forced. He hesitated. He had become much more comfortable with tears and generally crying women, but he wasn't sure he was wanted or needed here. Ginny waved him away, and Harry figured it would probably be best if he left. He had to admit, it was pretty likely Ginny wouldn't be able to tell him what was bothering her.