Harry and Draco knew their make out sessions would lead into more eventually; they both enjoyed the feeling and got into it easily. Draco usually started it and Harry lost most of his logical thought when Draco would take the lead, pushing him against the walls and their bodies pressed together firmly. The couple talked in private on the first after Severus left the office, and it was agreed that due to the length of time they'd been dating and how heavy things got between them lately; it may become a matter of how far they would venture beyond making out. The boys agreed that they could start touching one another and try some foreplay. The two said that they weren't ready to go all the way yet, so hand and blowjobs would be their next step. After all, they had only been dating four months as of April first, and there was time to go further still. Of course, neither boy had tried these things yet, and it was decided that they would do things to one another, no set top or bottom when it came to them finally having sex. After the talk, Harry and Draco left Severus's office to head to their next class, both feeling good about how they left things. Now, it was the 21st of April and Dumbledore had urged Harry to make a move on Slughorn soon; they needed that memory of him talking to Tom Riddle.

"How do you plan to get it, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, Hermione. If it were that simple, I'd have it already." Harry muttered.

Ron and Hermione both knew of the mission Dumbledore gave Harry, so he frequently sat down with his best friends to figure out plans for how exactly he would retrieve Slughorn's memory. Harry knew Draco already failed at redoing the entire conversation, so what else could he possibly do?

"Harry, have you tried just asking Slughorn?" Draco came down from the dorm now and sat down on the couch.

"I feel like that would end the same way it did with you. Or with Riddle way back then, Slughorn yelling at me." Harry replied.

"Wait a minute," Ron paused. "He knows of what you're up to?"

"Of course he knows." Harry replied.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Hermione wondered.

"It's been a busy year," Harry remarked.

"Harry and I have a similar interest in finding whatever we can use to destroy Voldemort." Draco said.

"And I promised Draco we'd defeat him together. A final send off to our parents who died at Voldemort's wand. Died protecting us." Harry said.

"We're friends too." Draco added.

"Yes, we are." Harry nodded.

"Either way. Harry, end of the year is right around the corner. Just a few months left…" Hermione reminded. "We need a plan to get Professor Slughorn to give you that memory."

"No plans." Draco said, looking at Harry now. "Harry…Do what Dumbledore said when we told him the progress of me redoing the conversation. Use your mother's memory, but not…Manipulatively." He informed. "Just…Talk to him. Like you do with us."

"That's foolish," Ron scoffed.

"But it's the only idea I have left, Ron. Draco is right…We could plan all these underhanded things to trick Slughorn, but it would fail. All I have left is just talking to him and asking right out. Trying to convince him that it is for the better if I know what Riddle asked about." Harry remarked.

"But for luck…Maybe it's time to use that liquid luck," Draco suggested.

"You know, I forgot I had that…" Harry said.

"Use it, Harry," Draco said.

"I will." Harry nodded lightly. "No time like the present," He went upstairs to get the little vial he won during start of term. Harry returned a few moments later with the clear vial in hand. He popped the lid off and drank the potion down.

"How do you feel?" Hermione asked.

"Great!" Harry beamed.

The three friends stared at Harry for a few moments. "Now, remember…Slughorn eats early, takes a walk, and returns to his office."

"Right, yes." Harry said and stood up. "I'm going to Hagrid's."

"Hagrid's? Harry, you're supposed to be talking to Slughorn," Ron reminded.

"I just feel like it's the place to be tonight. You know what I mean?" Harry told them.

"No…" Draco, Ron, and Hermione shook their heads.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. I know what I'm doing…Or Felix does," Harry headed to exit the common room.

"We should go with him." Draco told the pair next to him.

Hermione and Ron nodded as they soon followed Harry out and stayed close. Harry marched along out of the castle and past the herbology department where he spotted Horace snipping some leaves through a window. Harry went over.

"Hi, Professor," Harry greeted.

"Merlin's beard, Harry…You gave me a scare," Horace said, calming down.

"Sorry. I should have announced myself. What are you doing?" Harry wondered.

"Oh, just taking a couple samples. All in the name of education," Horace informed.

"Well, alright then, sir. Good night," Harry went off to leave.

"Harry. Where do you think you're going?" Horace asked, now closing the window and pocketing the samples he took. "How did you get out of the castle?"

"Oh, the front door, sir. And I'm going to my good friend, Hagrid's. He's an old and dear friend, just thought I'd pay a visit." Harry informed truthfully.

"Harry, it's almost dark. Surely you don't think I can allow you to just wander about." Horace said.

"Then by all means, Professor. Come with me. Draco, Hermione, and Ron are coming as well." Harry said, motioning to the three friends following him. Horace nodded, sighing, following Harry and his three friends out of the castle and over to Hagrid's hut. When the giant wasn't there; Harry kept wandering until they came across Hagrid standing near the dead body of a giant spider.

"Oh my goodness…" Horace gasped at the sight.

"What the bloody hell is that?" Draco stared.

"That's Aragog," Ron informed. "A giant spider that Hagrid has been caring for over the years. And it tried to kill Harry and I in second year…"

"Hermione had been petrified by the Basilisk already, and we were on our own to find out what exactly we were dealing with in the chamber," Harry continued.

"Aye, he did apologize for that," Hagrid said. "I found him like this earlier…" He sniffled.

"Hagrid, I don't mean to be insensitive…But the venom from this creature is rare, would you mind if I…Take a few vials? For education?" Horace asked.

"It's not like he'll need it now…" Hagrid replied.

Horace went over and got some of the venom from the massive spider, then returned next to Hagrid and the teenagers. "Would you like me to say a few words?"

"Yes," Hagrid nodded.

And so Horace spoke of Aragog's life and how he was a friend to Hagrid's, hoping he'd find peace where he was now. Hagrid invited the teens and Horace to his hut for drinks and it didn't take long for the teens to witness the males drinking harder, but Hagrid was drunk. The two talked about Aragog for a while and Horace went on about a fish that he had, Francis, that vanished one day. Finally, Hagrid passed out drunk as the remainder of the group sat in silence for a bit.

"The container with the fish just appeared on my desk one day," Horace said calmly. "There was a lily in it and it sank to the bottom, but just before it hit; it transformed into a fish," He smiled at the memory he saw in his mind. "Your mother gave it to me, Harry. Lovely Lily I called her. So happy and smart. One might call her what Miss. Granger is referred to these days. The brightest witch of her age your mother was, Harry. Skilled in charms and potions…" He paused. "But…That fish vanished one day, and it was the one your mother had passed." Horace looked at Harry seriously now. "I know why you're here, but I'm sorry…I cannot help you."

"Professor…Do you know why I survived that night in Godric's Hollow? It was because of her. My mother, casting herself between Voldemort and me." Harry revealed.

"Don't say his name," Horace said quickly.

"I'm not afraid of the name, professor," Harry stood up now. "I'm alive because my mother sacrificed herself for me. It was her love that protected me from the killing curse. It's rumored, but let me set the record clear…I am the chosen one. It was spoken of that day Ron was poisoned…There is a prophecy of me being the one to defeat Voldemort because I have a power he doesn't know about. Do you know what that power is, Professor Slughorn…It's love. I have what Voldemort doesn't, and it's because of the people I love. And those who love me." Harry told Horace. "I'm not afraid of Voldemort, sir. What I do fear is losing the people I care about to him, and you have something that could help me defeat him. I know you're scared and ashamed, Professor…But the one thing you can do to make up for whatever happened back then, is to show me the truth so I can use it to fight and protect the people I care about…"

"Harry…" Hermione said gently.

Horace sighed. "Be brave, Professor. Be brave like my mother, or you disgrace her. She'll have died for nothing…" Harry said gently.

Horace grabbed a bottle from his pocket, then his wand. "Don't think badly of me, Harry. You have no idea what Riddle was like, even then…" He set the tip of his wand to his head and pulled a light blue strand from his head, then into the vial. Harry held his quivering hand steady, afterward, Horace gave the vial to Harry. "I hope it helps you find whatever answer you're looking for."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said gently.

Horace nodded as Harry left with the other teens to get back into the castle and go right to Dumbledore's office.

. . .

"Excellent work, Harry," Albus praised as Harry revealed the vial with Slughorn's true memory of that conversation. "I'm so proud."

"Couldn't have done it without my friends," Harry motioned to Ron, Hermione, and Draco.

"I thank you all for your assistance to the cause. Are you ready, Harry?" Albus asked.

"I am, sir," Harry replied.

"Then let's see it," Albus nodded to Harry.

The pensive floated over as Harry poured the memory in, then dipped his head in to be able to watch the scene play out. It started the same as the one they first say, only now, nothing was faded out. Tom Riddle asked Slughorn about Horcruxes, and Slughorn explained they were objects with a piece of a person's soul in them. Basically means, someone with Horcruxes could never die. Tom asked how to split the soul, and it became clear the answer was murdering others. It went on that Tom asked if the number of splits could be seven and then when Tom told Slughorn it was only educational for why he wanted to know, Tom told Slughorn it would be their secret. The memory ended as Harry couldn't believe it.

"Professor," Harry started.

Albus put a hand up and sat down, pondering many things. "This is beyond anything I imagined."

"You mean to say, Voldemort succeeded, sir? In making these Horcruxes?" Harry pushed.

"Yes, he succeeded alright. But not just once…" Albus said, now getting up.

"But what are they, sir?" Hermione inquired.

"They can be anything." Albus went over to his desk, opening a draw to pull out a ring, "A ring?" And he pushed it towards Harry. "Or a book."

Harry's eyes widened. "Tom Riddle's Diary…" He whispered.

"Was a horcrux, yes. Four years ago when you saved Ginny Weasley's life in the chamber, you brought me this. I knew then this was a different kind of magic. Very dark, very powerful…" He paused. "But until tonight, I had no idea just how powerful."

"And the ring?" Harry wondered.

"Belonged to Voldemort's mother. Difficult to find. Even harder to destroy," Albus held up his hand to reveal it somewhat disfigured.

"But if you could find all the Horcruxes…" Harry started.

"One destroys Voldemort." Draco realized.

"How do we find them?" Harry asked. "They could be anywhere."

"Yes, but magic…Especially dark magic," Albus started as Harry touched the ring and it reacted, spinning on the table while Harry's eyes widened and he saw flashes. "Leaves traces…" He finished when the ring settled and Harry's figure seemed to relax and he twisted his neck with a small crack.

"It's where you've been going, haven't you? When you leave the school. To search for them?" Harry asked.

"Yes, and I think I found another. But this time, I cannot hope to destroy it alone. Once again, Harry…I must ask too much of you." Albus said.

"You never ask too much," Harry informed. "I'm happy to accompany you to any place that will let us destroy the murderer once and for all."

"I give you my word you can accompany me. But it won't be tonight, I am still researching the locations to narrow it down. When the time comes, I will call on you to come." Albus revealed.

"Understood, sir," Harry nodded.

"Good. Then off with you four. To bed," Albus said.

"Goodnight, sir," The four teenagers said and left the office to return to Gryffindor Tower.

. . .

Safely inside the common room, everyone else had gone to bed.

"Tell us what you saw, Harry?" Ron asked.

"Can we talk about it tomorrow…I'm exhausted," Harry yawned.

"Of course," Draco said first. "It has been a long night."

"I think that potion is wearing off," Hermione smiled. "Good night, boys," She went up to her dorm room.

Ron, Harry, and Draco were next to their dorms. All three got into their beds and relaxed. It was quiet for a while, and Harry found himself unable to sleep. He tossed and turned to find a comfortable position to fall asleep in, and eventually gave up, sighing heavily.

"Potter, still awake?" Came Draco's voice beside him.

"Having one of those nights I can't sleep," Harry admitted quietly, so they wouldn't wake the others.

"And I don't have any more of that peaceful sleep potion brewed." Draco informed. "Do you want me to come over there and hold you?" He asked, not sure if Harry would take the offer. "I've heard sleep can come easier when couples hold one another."

"We can try," Harry replied to him.

Draco got up and left his bed, using his wand to draw the curtains around it closed. Draco snuck over to Harry's bed silently, and climbed in with him after Harry had moved over. The curtains around them closed, encasing them in darkness. With a little adjusting, Harry was now laying on Draco's arm as they faced one another.

"You need to relax," Draco told him softly.

"I'm trying to, but in case you forgot…I've got a war breathing down my neck." Harry chuckled.

"It's breathing down all our necks, babe." Draco stated. "So you know we're all on your side to fight. Don't let it get to you,"

"Hard to take my mind off it," Harry sighed.

"Well, maybe I can take your mind off it for a bit," Draco suggested. Before Harry could even ask how, Draco moved a bit to be laying on his side while Harry stayed flat on his back, but Draco's upper half was slightly on top of Harry's. Draco captured Harry's lips in a passionately kiss that Harry just melted into and returned fully.

/Lemon Start/

The first that left Harry's lips made Draco mutter a silencing charm over Harry's bed. The last thing they needed was for anyone to wake up and find them the way they were. Draco was personally getting ready to tell Blaise, and he felt Harry might tell Hermione and Ron soon too. Either way, it didn't matter right now. Harry and Draco quickly got into making out, uncaring about how far it went; they had agreed to let things go beyond making out with one another, after all. Arousal spiked fast for both teenagers and Harry felt Draco's erection against his leg. Harry's showed in the form of a bulge in his sleep pants.

"Draco…" Harry moaned when he felt Draco's lips trail down to his neck. "More…" Harry had said the words. For the first time in four months, Harry asked for more.

Draco stared at Harry for a moment, then smiled and he resumed making out with his boyfriend. After a little time passed, Harry felt Draco's hand slip down the front of his body and brush over Harry's erection lightly. Harry's body moved of its own accord to arch his hips into Draco's touch. The Slytherin deepened the kiss and slipped his hand past the waistband of Harry's sleep pants and boxers, his hand gliding with a feather-light touch over Harry's hardened cock. This would be the first time they'd ever done anything with touching each other's bodies. Finally, Draco got his hand around Harry's length and started to move slightly opened fist back and forth; Harry let out a moan against Draco's lips.

"It's okay. You can moan…I put a silencing charm up around the bed," Draco told his boyfriend, now adjusting to get his legs on either side of Harry's legs and using both hands to pull the man's pajamas and underwear down. Harry blushed as Draco leaned forward to give the man another kiss, then he reset his hand around Harry's cock, beginning to stroke him again. Not holding back this time, Harry let the moan escape him easily. It felt amazing.

"I want to touch you too," Harry told him. "This is hardly hair if you're not enjoying it too."

"At this angle, going to be rather hard for us to both enjoy. But I've got an idea," Draco told him as he stopped stroking Harry to be upright on his knees and pull down his own pants and boxers slightly. Harry only watched with curiousness as Draco lay down on Harry, their cocks now against one another. Draco wrapped his hand around both his own and Harry's lengths to keep them together, then Draco started to move in a manner that let their cocks rub against one another.

Harry leaned up to capture Draco's lips with his own, even starting to move to meet Draco's movements. It didn't take long for both males to be moaning and enjoying the feeling. The only thing said between them was how to change it up to bring them over that edge of pleasure. Going on ten minutes of their frotting, Harry and Draco were sure of ends being reached.

"Oh, God…Draco…" Harry moaned out.

"You there, babe?" Draco asked lightly with a smile. Harry managed a nod. "I am too. Cum with me, Harry…"

It wasn't more than a moment later with Draco having gripped just tight enough with the faster movements that they spilled across each other's midsections and night shirts. Draco released their cocks and he rolled off ungracefully to lay beside Harry, who took care of muttering a cleansing spell to take care of the mess on them. Draco pulled up his pants, and Harry did the same.

/Lemon End/

"Was so good." Harry said as his breathing started to return to normal.

"Did you like it?" Draco asked.

"I really did. I've never…Released before. Heard about it, but never done it." Harry admitted.

"You've never had an orgasm before?" Draco lifted himself up a bit and stared at his boyfriend with surprise. Harry shook his head.

"Have you?" Harry questioned.

"Well, yes…But not with anyone." Draco informed. "I've pleasured myself in masturbation when I was younger. I'm sure you know what that is, don't you?"

"Yes, but I've never done it…" Harry stated. "Never had time at the Dursley's. And I was more than afraid of one of them coming in."

"Poor boy," Draco frowned. "Well, you don't have to worry about them anymore since you live at Grimmauld. You should try it sometime, but after what we just did…I'll admit it that it's not the same. It works for those times you get worked up and don't have a partner, though. Or after a heavy make out session. I've done it a few times after we've had ours."

"Really?" Harry blushed.

"Mmhm. I've even gotten away with doing it here after our dates. I just cast silencing charms over my bed, draw the curtains closed. Everyone thinks I'm reading or sleeping." Draco shrugged. "Might have gotten away with doing it in the shower a time or two as well."

"I've heard of it, but honestly never had any urges too. I guess I'm always stressed out by what's going on around me that I never get aroused enough to have to do anything to make it go away. Worrying about war, or remembering the people I've lost keeps it in check," Harry shrugged a bit.

"That's why I helped you tonight, Harry. You need to learn to relax a little…Stop carrying so much on those shoulders when there's nothing to worry about. Yes, we all know what will eventually happen with the war. We all know it's going to happen. But for now…Just try to settle down and be a normal teenager." Draco told him gently, hooking Harry's chin with his fingers and turning his head to kiss him deeply. "And if you have any more times likes tonight where you can't…I'm happy to help." Harry blushed. "Now, let's go to sleep."

Harry nodded as he was fully relaxed and still enjoying some remnants of before with his boyfriend. Eventually, Harry slipped off into slumber as Draco finally released the silencing charms and left the bed quietly to get to his own and lay down. It wasn't long until he too had fallen asleep.