"No matter how difficult life can be the most important thing is to
Live it with hope."—Anonymous
The two lay there for awhile, not saying a word. They simply enjoyed the new feelings of joy coursing through their veins. Eventually though, they realized that they couldn't remain in this position. Bu an unspoken agreement, they had decided that, for now, they weren't going to tell anyone about their relationship. Harry would even keep it from Sirius, and as he would be doing so, Draco had to move back to a chair before Sirius woke up, since it would be quite difficult to explain why Sirius woke to find the two sharing a bed.
After Draco had moved to a chair, the two kept sneaking glances at each other, neither quite believing what had recently just happened between the two. After about a half -hour of this, Sirius woke with a start, startling both the boys. As soon as the older man remembered where he was, he was at Harry's bedside, making sure the boy was all right, that the pain was better and that he was comfortable.
"Sirius, I swear to you, I'm fine. It hurts a little in my lower back, but I'll live." He gave his godfather a crooked smile, one that reminded Sirius so much of James.
"Alright Harry, I get it. It's just that… well, you know I worry about you."
Draco cleared his throat quietly, getting the other two's attention; "I'm going to talk to Dumbledore. I'll ask him when you can leave Ha- Potter." With that, Draco turned and left the room.
Sirius and Harry watched him go. When the door was completely shut behind him, Sirius turned back to face Harry. "What happened between you and the Malfoy boy?"
Harry tried to look like he had no idea what Sirius was talking about. "Sirius, what are talking about?"
"You know what I mean. When I went to sleep you two were glaring at each other, hating the fact that the other was even in the same room. Now, you're on a first name basis and the tension is gone. So tell me, what happened?"
"Well, we've come to an agreement. We're on the same side now; we have to stop this enemy bullshit if we hope to have a chance against Voldermort. In public we'll still act like we hate each other, as Malfoy's safety depends upon it, but in private, we've agreed to try to be friends." Harry felt guilty about lying to his godfather, but he was terrified that if he told the truth, the closest thing he had to a parent, and someone he cared for very deeply, would shun him.
Sirius nodded, "I'm impressed Harry. That's very mature of the two of you. It's only to bad that Snape and I have been at odds to long, or I would suggest the same for us. However, we've hated each other for over twenty years, and we've done too much to each other to just be able to forgive and forget. If there is one thing we have in common, it's that both of us will hold a grudge longer then anyone else I have ever known."
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
In Dumbledore's Office
"Hello Draco, is there something I can help you with?" Dumbledore asked, upon seeing the boy enter his office.
"Yes, sir. Har- er, Potter was wondering when he would be able to leave. Besides, I got the hint that Black wanted to talk to him in private."
"Ah yes. Well, Madam Pomfrey has informed me that Mr. Potter will be able to leave the Hospital wing some time tomorrow as long as he promises to take it easy. I'm sure Sirius will make sure he does. However, like you, Mr. Potter will be spending the rest of the summer here. Returning to his aunt and uncle's his out of the question."
"I figured he would stay with the Weasleys."
"Yes, that idea occurred to me, but it really is much safer for everyone involved if he stay here. Besides, it will make it easier on the two of you. What with a budding relationship, it's easier if the two people are near each other. It is also much more enjoyable that way, if I remember correctly."
Draco's cheeks flushed slightly. "Sir, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Draco, I saw you and Harry kissing. Now, it's certainly nothing to be embarrassed about. What I saw between the two of you was love, and love, even in it's earliest forms, is nothing to be ashamed of."
"I only wish everyone felt the way you do sir. It would make everything so much easier, especially for Harry."
"And for you as well."
"But it's different. Harry has a godfather and friends who care about him. He's afraid of their rejection, and I'm afraid of what their rejection might do to him. The only person who truly cares for me is Harry, and I could give a damn about anyone else's opinion. So yes, it would make it easier on both of us, but it would only matter if it makes it easier for him."
"The only advice I really have to offer you is not to give up hope, either of you. I understand that right now, you want to keep your relationship a secret, and that's fine. But you will get to a point where you want to tell other people, especially those close to you. You never know, they may be completely fine with it. In my experience, your friends often know almost everything about you, whether you tell them or not. In fact, I would be surprised if neither Hermoine nor Ron ever had a clue that Harry was a gay. The three of them are quite close and they probably figured it out long ago, and are both fine with it."
"I hope you're right sir."
"Draco, life is hard; that is a fact I'm sure both you and Harry learned long ago. But you must live it with hope. Hope for a better tomorrow, hope for understanding. That is one of the most important things I can tell you."
"Yes sir." Draco turned to leave the office.
"And Draco, as I'm sure you're going back to Harry's room, would you mind telling Sirius that I need to speak with him?"
"I'll tell him sir."
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
When Draco reached the Hospital Wing, he told Sirius that Dumbledore needed to see him, and Harry's godfather, giving a quick good-bye to Harry, turned and made his way out of the room. As soon as he was gone, Draco made his way over to Harry's bed and kissed him softly on the lips.
Harry smiled softly as the other boy pulled away. "I take it you have good news."
Draco nodded. "You can leave tomorrow, but you'll be spending the rest of the summer here, as will I."
"That's great." Harry smiled excitedly.
"There's more. Dumbledore knows about us, and he's completely fine with it. He also said that when we get around to telling Ron and Hermoine, he wouldn't be surprised if they knew you were gay and were fine with it."
"Why, is that obvious?"
"No, he just said that best friends often know almost everything about you, whether you ever actually tell them or not."
"I just hope they really are fine with it. Them and Sirius. He's the closest thing I have to a father and his opinion really does mean a lot to me."
"I know it does. I was worried about that also. Dumbledore said that no matter how difficult life may get, it's of the utmost importance that we live it with hope. I think he's right."
"He is. I was just scared there for a moment. If they do reject me, maybe they never really cared about me in the first place. But even so, I'll still have you. I think that will be enough."
"I hope I am enough. But we both know having people who care would help an awful lot."
Harry sighed, "Yeah, it would. But you know what?"
"What?"
"We aren't telling them about it yet, and it's no
use worrying about it until we do. What happens will happen, and
know that when it does, I'll be there to meet it." With that, Harry
captured Draco's lips with his own, and neither spoke for quite awhile
after that.
Author's Note: Jeez, I could just scream! Do you know
what a bitch writer's block is? Well, some of you at least probably do.
Anyways, there's Chapter Nine, and I hope you all enjoyed it. I hope
to have Ten out soon. Now, I would be much obliged if you all could
show me some love and review. This is the ninth chapter and I don't
even have 30 reviews. It feels like no one is reading. Come
on people, if you want me to keep going with this story, you got to tell
me. Despite popular belief, I'm not telepathic. Show me some
love!
