Chapter Ten

The Wake-Up

Harry stirred very early the next morning, feeling a slight chill and snuggled closer to the warm lump next to him. Warm lump next to me? Wha-? The lump wriggled closer to Harry, and Harry realized that there were a pair of strong arms pulling him tighter. Draco. Harry kept his eyes closed and reveled in the warmth from his sleeping partner. He slid his arms around the still-sleeping blonde's bare waist, sighing with content. Harry was drowning in the aroma of Draco's musky cologne, still lingering on the creamy skin. He smiled and finally opened his eyes, thanking all the gods in the heavens that they had remembered to pull closed the drapes round Harry's four-poster. I'm not ready for sunlight. He looked up at his boyfriend's face as the lips curled into a dream-provoked smile. He's so peaceful when he sleeps. Almost like a little boy. I wonder what he's dreaming about. Harry smiled again, closing his eyes. It's too early to be awake. I'm just going to go back to sleep for a bit. I'll wake him up later. Harry snuggled even closer to Draco. He had no more time to think as sleep claimed him once more.

~*~*~*~

Draco came to a little while later. His eyes stayed shut. He prayed that last night was not the dream that he'd been having for the last few months. He'd slept in Harry's bed last night, hadn't he? Something wriggled in his arms. Something warm and fleshy and Harry-shaped. Thank the gods! The Slytherin's lips spread into a smile. Draco let his eyes open, knowing that this was in fact reality. His eyes traveled to the messy black hair that was tickling his chin, and the face of his Gryffindor laying on his chest. He unclasped his fingers behind Harry's back, and pushed sleep-mussed hair out of the tan face of his love. The lightning bolt was uncovered as it had been last night. The blonde moved so that his face was level with the brunette's. His boyfriend grumbled in his sleep, tightening his grip round the wiggling waist. Draco chuckled softly. He had achieved his goal, and now turned the sleeping face toward him. He placed a gentle kiss on the soft lips in front of him and felt the other boy jar awake. He made to pull away, but Harry pulled his face back into another kiss.

"Mmm. Dragon breath," said Harry sleepily.

"Oh you're one to talk," teased Draco, poking Harry's bare ribcage.

"Oh shut up and come here." was the reply.

The two boys lay together kissing again. They lay there intertwined in each others' arms for at least a quarter of an hour. Then Harry pulled away, sitting up in bed. Draco moaned in protest, trying to pull Harry back to him. Harry would have nothing of it. It seemed to Draco that he was going win that battle for a minute, though, as Harry reached across the blonde. Draco kissed the bare chest hovering over his face as the brunette grabbed something off the nightstand. When Harry sat back up, Draco grumbled again and watched him. Harry motioned for Draco to sit up with him. Draco grudgingly propped himself up on his elbows throwing a questioning look at his boyfriend.

Harry had two small, velvet cubes in his hand. He had a small grin on his face.

"What're those?" asked Draco.

"They are the rest of your present," said Harry. Draco sent the other boy another confused look. Harry picked up one of Draco's hands, and plopped the two boxes in it. "Open them. But be careful. And don't touch."

Draco looked closer at the little cubes in his hand. One was a deep red, the other a dark green. Upon closer inspection, he saw that each had hinges on one side. He sat the crimson box on his lap and opened the emerald one. Sitting upright was a small silver thimble, basically unremarkable save a tiny lion engraved at the bottom. Confused, Draco opened the crimson box to find an almost identical thimble, only this one bearing a tiny serpent. Draco looked up into the eyes of his Gryffindor, utterly baffled by this odd gift. I don't sew... Harry smiled and began to explain.

"Technically, only one of those is for you. There's this story that muggle kids get told... It's the story of Peter Pan. It's a really long story, and I can tell you one day if you want, but the really significant part is what I'll tell you for now.

"This kid, Peter Pan, lives in a far-away place, and basically, without telling the whole story, the kid doesn't know what a kiss is. This girl that he meets, Wendy, is apparently looking for a good snog and asks Peter for a kiss. Well Peter picks up a thimble from her desk or table or something, and gives it to her. He thinks that's what a kiss is. So that's why it's a thimble." Harry stopped for a breath. Draco was still quite confused and his confusion obviously showed because Harry continued.

"See, I've made them both into portkeys. That's why I said not to touch. It really wouldn't have mattered if you had touched the one in the green box, because you are where it would take you. But the one in the red box, the one I'll be keeping, would send you somewhere I don't want you to go yet.

"The one in the green box is for my Slytherin... You. Hence the green box. Whenever you feel the need to be with me, just tip that thimble into your hand, and it will bring you right here, to my bed. That's why the lion is on the thimble in your box. The same thing goes for the other thimble. It takes me straight to your bed. So whenever we get lonely... Or whatever... We can just transport ourselves to each other's beds and everything is wonderful!" finished Harry, a smile playing upon his lips again. Draco stared at him, amazed.

"But- How can you make the one send you to my bed?" stammered Draco, finally finding his voice. "You've never been to the Slytherin common room, let alone my bed. You have to pinpoint the exact location, not just have a general idea..."

Harry's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Oh, I had help."

"From whom, may I ask?" Draco was astonished. He raised an eyebrow.

"Erm, actually I got a bit of help from Crabbe and Goyle... Though they don't know that. And the rest was from three wonderful men and a slimy ratfink." said Harry, spitting out the last word with a sneer on his face to rival the infamous Malfoy sneer.

"Crabbe and Goyle? And who are these other blokes? I think I might want to thank them someday..." Draco was still gaping at Harry. Crabbe and Goyle? But how-?

"Their names are Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. You know, standing in your room is not the only way for me to watch you while you sleep." Harry's eyes glittered again. "And I'm not telling you anymore. Not now, anyway."

"Alright." said Draco. He looked down at the two thimbles sitting in his lap. They shined back him.

"So... Do you like them?" asked Harry quietly. Draco realized that in his bewilderment, he hadn't said his thanks.

"Oh gosh! Yes! They're great. And it's a bloody brilliant idea, too! Thank you." Draco carefully closed the two boxes and leaned over to kiss Harry. As they broke apart again, Draco smiled.

"You know," he said. "I really should get back to my room. Crabbe and Goyle are sure to wonder where I got to." He hopped off the bed and walked over to his clothes. He looked at the picture of himself once again, smiling. He really did capture me... It's like looking into a mirror almost! Draco glanced back at his boyfriend. Harry was checking his watch. Draco followed suit. 6:44. Great Merlin's beard! Why in the hell are we up so early? Draco picked up his pants from the floor. Damn, and my pants are all wrinkled, too. He pulled them on, fastening them and did up his belt. He pulled the black tee shirt back over his head. As his head popped through the opening at the top of his shirt, he snuck a quick look over at Harry. Harry looked at though someone had just told him they cancelled Christmas. Draco sauntered over to the bed and placed a kiss on Harry's forehead.

"Don't look so glum," said Draco, running his fingers through the chocolate-colored hair. This didn't seem to change the other boy's demeanor in the slightest. The Slytherin leaned in to whisper in the Gryffindor's ear. "Would you like to go take a bath?"

"Oh hell yeah. Let's go!" cried Harry, who proceeded to leap off his bed, grab a towel and clothes for the day, and head for the door, all within what Draco thought was probably thirty seconds.

Draco crossed to Harry and put a hand on Harry's wand hand, which was about to undo all the spells sealing them in the room. "Har, first of all, I'm not letting you run around the school in boxer shorts." Harry glanced down at his scantily clad body.

"Oops," said Harry, turning pink.

"Second, I need to go to my room and get myself clothes and things, too, remember?" Draco watched Harry nod slowly, looking slightly put out. "I just hope I don't get caught sneaking in."

Harry smiled his sly smile. "I have just the thing that will help with that. We can check that everyone's still asleep." Draco felt his face contort with confusion for the second time that morning as he watched Harry walk back to his desk.

Harry laid down his clothes on his desk. Then he opened one of the drawers and pulled out what looked like a very old and battered piece of parchment. And what the hell is that going to do to check that everyone's asleep? Still holding the parchment, Harry went into his wardrobe and pulled out a pair of pajama pants, and then walked over to his bed. He turned to Draco, motioning for him to come closer. Draco stepped up next to Harry, still in a confused stupor.

"Harry, what-"

Harry held up a hand to silence Draco. Then Draco watched as Harry put his wand tip to the parchment and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." As Draco watched, eyes wide, miniscule ink lines began to spread over the parchment, twisting and crossing, covering the entire page. Then at the top of the page, words began to appear in curling script:

Messer. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers

are proud to present

The Marauder's Map

Draco's mouth was hanging open for the second time in twenty-four hours. His eyes flitted over the map, seeing every passageway in Hogwarts, including ones he had never found. And when he looked very closely, he could see twenty small, labeled dots. And there on the map, right where he stood in actuality, there was a tiny figure, labeled Draco Malfoy. Next to him on the map, right where Harry stood, there was Harry Potter. "Wow," he murmured.

"I know," said Harry, grinning. "Brilliant, right?"

"Bloody brilliant."

"See, everyone is asleep someplace or another. You can sneak down to your room, and no one would know the difference," said Harry, happily.

"I guess you're right." Draco sighed. He walked to Harry's desk, pulled on his sweater, and picked up his robes. "I'd better be going." He walked to Harry and kissed him softly. "I have someone to meet in the prefects' bathroom in a little bit." Draco winked and walked to the door. With Harry's help, all the spells were lifted from the door. Draco reached for the knob and turned it slowly while Harry went over to his bed. Draco heard Harry mutter "Mischief managed!" and heard him bustling around behind him getting ready to go for their bath. Draco pulled the door open and was about to step out into the hallway when he gasped.

"What?" asked Harry hurried over to him, clothes draped over his bare shoulder.

Draco stifled a laugh and pointed to the floor outside Harry's room.

There was Ron and Hermione, both out cold, tangled in each others' arms. They apparently were trying to get into the room, but were overcome by the Repelling Charm and passed out from the overexertion of too much snogging. Draco guessed that since they had been together, they didn't have to go anywhere to find a snogging partner, and kept getting pelted by the Repelling Charm.

Harry and Draco looked at one another and almost laughed out loud. They both caught themselves, though, so they wouldn't wake the couple on the floor. Draco stepped over their legs and started down the dormitory stairs, followed closely by Harry. The two climbed out of the portrait hole and walked together downstairs. In the Entrance Hall, they separated after a long, lingering kiss. Draco watched Harry start toward the prefects' bathroom before he turned and headed toward his own dormitory.

~*~TBC~*~