Have I Told You Lately
Have I Told You Lately
Disclaimer : These characters belong to J.K. Rowling, only the plot is mine. I hope you enjoy this chapter . . .

The next few days go by slowly for both Harry and Draco. Draco refuses to go back to their rooms, and Harry has no idea where he's staying. Harry wakes every night and searches for Draco's warm body, always to find it missing.

Harry wakes for the countless time that night and scoots over to where Draco's warmth should be. As his body feels the edge of the bed, his mind remembers and his heart starts to ache. Unwillingly, the tears come. Harry cries himself into a deep sleep.

******************************************************************

The birds chirp and Harry opens his eyes, groaning at the bright sun that floods the room. He gets out of bed and shuffles to the bathroom.

"Look what the cat dragged in."

Harry glares at the mirror, not trusting himself to speak.

"You've been looking decliningly worse since that blond-haired boy left."

Harry tries to ignore the mirror this time. He starts the water for the shower.

"Really, maybe you should have him come back. He was quite handsome, a nice sight for my sore eyes."

"Shut up," Harry tells the mirror angrily. Smartly, the mirror quiets down.

Harry takes a long, scalding hot shower, hoping that the heat will wash his problems away. No such luck.

He throws a robe over his raw red skin and makes his way to the small kitchen area. He decides that he can't face the Great Hall, so he resorts to what's left in the kitchen.

Finally, Harry finds the makings for a cup of hot chocolate and makes himself one. He leans against the side of the one, small window in their set of rooms. He looks out at the frost-covered trees. The scene looks picture perfect. It's Saturday, so the students are out sledding and engaging in snowball fights. Harry sighs.

He gives up trying to clear his mind in their rooms. Too many things remind him of Draco. Simple things, like a specific cup of blanket or chair. Harry puts his cup on the table and walks out of the rooms, making sure their unlocked, just incase Draco comes back.

Harry walks and walks. He knows every secret passage, every hallway, every room. He passes cheerful students talking about their winter holidays, and others furiously working to finish the rest of their work before they can think about the holidays. Harry wonders why Hogwarts keeps the students at school on Monday, instead of just sending them home a day early. That solution would please everyone.

Harry's feet take him to the library, where Madame Pince says a cheerful hello.

"Hello, Mr. Potter."

"Hi Madam Pince," Harry replies with a smile.

"Causing any more mischief?" She asks jokingly.

"Of course," Harry replies with his mischievous grin. He's engrossed in a book on the great wizards of the twenty-first century when he hears a young girl.

"Now really, Sam. How do you expect to get any work done if you're playing like that?" The girl asks impatiently.

The boy, Sam, looks back at her innocently. "Ali and I weren't doing anything."

"Really," another young girl, Ali, adds.

The first girl gives them a suspicious look and goes back to reading a thick book. Harry squints his eyes to read the title. Hogwarts : A History. Harry laughs. That girl reminds him so much of Hermione!

As he remembers Hermione, his mind starts to wander. Eventually, as it always does, his mind focuses on Draco. Harry's heart gives a little tug, and he decides that enough is enough.

On his way out, Harry waves a quick good-bye to a startled Madam Pince, then lets his feet guide him to where he know he must go. He stops in front of the great wood door and calms his breath. These are desperate measures, but Harry is becoming desperate.

"Professor?" Harry asks as he pushes the door open.

Snape looks up from his desk. "Well, well, well. Is it not Potter, my ever-hated enemy?"

Harry lets out a little laugh. "Let's hold off on the hostilities for now."

Snape nods. "Agreed."

A long silence greats Snape's answer. Finally, Snape breaks it. "Potter, you came to see me. What is it that you want?"

Harry looks at him, the pain and sorrow that were in his eyes after his and Draco's argument returned. "I want to find Draco. Do you know where he is?"

Snape shrugs. "All I know is that he left."

"Left?" Harry asks, confused.

Snape nods. "He left Hogwarts a couple days ago."

"Where'd he go?" Harry asks incredulously.

Snape shrugs again. "I don't know. He just said he was going and left."

Harry sits down on one of the desks, his head in his hands. "I've lost him. Lost him forever."

Snape gives him and almost sympathetic look. Almost. "Maybe you and he should put aside your differences and talk."

"That's how this whole thing started, by talking. Words can be sharper than wands sometimes," Harry replies.

"Well, you two should do something. Moping about doesn't help anybody," Snape replies.

"I have to find him," Harry concludes.

"Where will you look?" Snape asks.

Harry opens his mouth, but Snape never hears the answer. At this moment, two brown, school owls come fluttering in through the open window. One flies to Snape, the other to Harry. Both men take the letters. The birds stay a moment to warm, then fly off again.

"Albus wants a meeting now?" Snape says incredulously.

Harry shrugs.

"What could be so urgent?" Snape asks.

Harry shrugs again. "Lets go find out."

All of the teachers gathered in the teachers lounge turn to look as the great Harry Potter and his old nemesis, Severus Snape, walk in together. Harry ignores the stares and sits down on one of the couches. Snape takes a seat to the back of the room.

Dumbledore clears his throat. "Now that everyone is here, this meeting will start immediately."

"What's so urgent, Albus?" Sprout asks worriedly.

Dumbledore's tone becomes dark and serious. "We have received more news of the Death Eaters."

This statement catches the attention of every person in the room. Snape decides to break the awful silence that has descended upon them. "And?"

Dumbledore clears his throat. "It seems that they have become more animate about taking up where Voldemort left off."

"What does that mean, Albus?"

"It means that things have become more serious than we originally thought. Some decisions that have been left in limbo, must now be made," Dumbledore's eyes scan the room and come to rest on Harry. "Harry, have you made a decision as to what you are going to do?"

Harry looks down at his lap, then back up at Dumbledore. "Can we . . . I . . . just have a couple more days?"

Dumbledore nods sympathetically. "If you need them. But, just remember that the Death Eaters are getting stronger."

Harry nods. "Yes, I know. I'll make my decision by the time the Hogwarts' Express pulls out for the winter holidays."

Dumbledore nods. "Very well. Now, onto some other matters . . ."

Harry tunes out Dumbledore's voice as he talks about one problem after another after another. Harry tries to think of a way to get away from the Death Eaters, without running. God, Harry thinks, now I know why Draco was so angry with me. There is no solution.

"Now, onto the placement of baby Tom Lupin," Dumbledore continues.

Harry's head snaps up at the mention of Tom. His mind starts to drown other noises out again when another voice comes from the back of the room.

"No need to worry, Headmaster," Draco says from where's he's leaning in the doorway, a pair of keys in his hands. Harry turns around in disbelief. He watches as Draco walks towards him, speaking to Dumbledore all the time. "Tom will come live with us. We're going into 'hiding.' I just talked to a nice muggle couple, and they're willing to let us buy their house."

At this point, Draco has reached the couch. He sits down next to Harry and looks him in the eye. Harry opens his mouth first.

"You don't have to do this," Harry says quietly.

"Shh. I'm sorry, Harry," Draco replies in a soft, gentle voice.

Harry looks into Draco's eyes, and sees the love and devotion there. "Thank you."

Draco takes his hand and pulls it to his lips, where he kisses it gently. He looks back up at Dumbledore and nods.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkle as he watches the scene unfold before him. He nods back at Draco. "That takes care of everything for today. I would like to see you, Draco and Harry, at the infirmary later today."

The two men nod as they walk out, hand in hand.

Draco pulls Harry into an empty corridor and kisses him passionately. Finally, Harry breaks free.

"I've missed you so much," Harry tells him truthfully.

Draco sighs as Harry rests his head on Draco's shoulder. "Me too, me too."

"So, what is this house we're going to live in?" Harry asks.

"I think you'll like it. It's not too small, but it's not too large. It's a perfect little place right outside of London. The town it's in has a good school system, so Tom will be fine until he comes here to Hogwarts," Draco tells him.

"I want to see this place you're so fond of," Harry tells him, laughing against his chest.

Draco pulls back and kisses Harry again. "You will."

"When?" Harry asks impatiently.

"Whenever you want to. The previous couple moved out this morning. The wife's pregnant with twins, and they already have a one-year old. They needed a bigger place," Draco tells him.

"Can we be in by Christmas?" Harry asks.

Draco thinks. "I can't see why not. We don't have that much stuff, do we?"

"You'd be surprised," Harry tells him seriously.

Draco laughs and pulls Harry into another kiss. "Remind me never to fight with you again."

"But making-up is so much fun," Harry protests.

Draco raises an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

Harry gives him a mischievous smile.

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you," Draco replies.

Harry pouts at Draco. Draco just can't resist grabbing that bottom lip between his lips. When he pulls away, he grabs Harry's hand and rushes off to their rooms.

Hey there's the end of my little story, though I will post an epilogue either later tonight, or it might just have to wait while I'm away. I haven't decided yet. I thought Have I Told You Lately was a good title for this chapter. If you know the song by Van Morrison, or Rod Stewart, or whoever else sings it, than you'll understand. It's a nice little love song that goes well with this story. Anyway, Please review and tell me what you thought about it. Thank you, Mara