I've often wondered if a chapter is especially late, what the reaction is?  Grateful it's finally out, or so pissed off that you can barely stand to read it?  Anyway, sorry for the wait - I have excuses galore, but nobody wants to hear them I'm sure.  The reviews were fantastic; I may very well have given up if not for the constant barrage of support.  And now you're thinking: just give us the story already, damn it!  Okay then.  Enjoy!

Harry and Hermione were arguing.  They were aware that the other two occupants of the flat were nearby, and so out of consideration they kept their voices lowered, and their gesticulations at a bare minimum.  It would have been better had they yelled; the abnormal quiet was far more disturbing. 

             Draco wasn't certain how the argument had started; the leading up conversation had been relatively innocent and innocuous.  Sunday had been ridiculously lazy, with everyone still recovering from being out late Saturday night, and today had started off in the same easy-going vein, which made the fight rather unexpected.  They had just finished eating dinner, and Hermione had asked Harry if he and Draco were going to take correspondence training and become fully operational wizards.  Somehow, this had evolved into a discussion of life goals, and finally into heated words about certain people minding their own business.  That was when Hermione and Harry had abandoned the kitchen for the front room, leaving Draco and Ron sitting silent and anxious at the kitchen table.

             Unwilling witnesses to the argument, Ron and Draco adopted a policy of complete stillness, willing themselves to become invisible and thus avoid the embarrassment of the situation.  Both made a conscious effort to ignore the sounds drifting from the other room, but sometimes the odd sentence would reach them regardless.

             "…  You haven't seen what I have.  You're at school all the time…"

             " …  You're here two days and suddenly you're an expert…"

             Draco shifted slightly in his chair, uncomfortably aware that they were discussing him.  Ron assiduously avoided making eye contact.

             "…  You're not doing him any favours letting him hideout here…"

             " … Not hiding.  When will you accept that I chose this because it's what I want?"

             " And did he choose?  Or did fear decide for him?  Open your eyes…"

             Draco got to his feet and opened the refrigerator door, causing a slight rattle.  He pulled out two chilled beers, and knocked the bottle-caps off against the counter top.  Wordlessly, he handed one beer to Ron, who gave a brief nod of thanks, and then they proceeded to drink.

             " … Deserve so much more…"

             " …  Have all I need…"

             The silence that followed this latest explosion of half-heard comments was deafening.  Ron and Draco knew better then to think it was over, and they waited for the eye of the storm to pass. 

             " … You don't know everything!"

             " … You're fault…"

             " …  Not fair!"

             " … Selfish and…"

             Ron stood up this time, and retrieved another couple of beers.  They hadn't spoken once to each other, and yet an understanding of sorts had been established.  It was a relief not to have to explain.

             " ENOUGH!"

             " FINE!"

             Draco and Ron both winced at the force of the exclamations.

             Ron's voice sounded eerie in the sudden quiet, " It's nearly over now.  They'll sit and stew for a bit, then they'll start apologizing like there's no tomorrow."

             Draco glanced over at the red head, appraising the other man with a calculating regard.

             " This is familiar territory then?"

             " Oh yes.  Me, I like to kick up a fuss at the first sign of trouble, but these two…  they ignore everything as long as possible, and then it all comes out, all at once.  All these things they didn't even know they were feeling.  I don't think they're even yelling at each other, more like they're just…  I don't know."

             " Saying it aloud, to see if it makes sense," Draco supplied.

             " Yeah, that's it.  Like they're carrying on two separate conversations, and they just happen to be in the same place," Ron said.  He quickly downed the rest of his bottle of beer, and placed it on the table.  Draco could detect soft murmurings from the front room again.  Ron gave him a brief nod, letting Draco know he had heard the sounds too.  " It's safe to go in now."

             Ron stood up, and walked into the living room, but Draco still felt a little unnerved.  There were few feelings more upsetting then hearing two people discuss your situation in your own home.  Draco collected the rest of the plates from the table, and began the therapeutic task of dish washing.  Swish, splash, clink, then onto the next utensil, mindless repetition that unfortunately left his brain unoccupied and free to worry.  Would Harry talk with him about the argument if he were to ask?  Did he even want to ask?  Was he once again making too big a deal out of something?

             The dishes were done, and the counter tops and table wiped clean.  Draco packed away the few leftovers, and then decided to make coffee since they had never gotten to the dessert portion of the meal.  The atmosphere in the main room was thankfully cozy and inviting once more.  Harry gratefully took his mug of coffee, and settled back onto the couch.  After Draco had done the necessary host duties, he sat down next to Harry and patted him on the leg.

             " You alright?"

             " Fine," Harry said.  Draco snorted disbelievingly.  Sure, Harry was trying to look comfortable and at ease, but Draco wasn't fooled.

             " You really need to improve on your deception skills.  It's making me look bad by association," Draco huffed.  Draco then wiggled and prodded his way onto Harry's lap, no doubt blocking Harry's view of the telly, but uncaring either way.  Harry slipped his arms around Draco's waist, and pulled him in tight.  It was only when this connection was established, that either of them truly relaxed.

             The four of them watched a movie that was on television, and then a documentary special on 'Museums of Europe' that Hermione wanted to see.  Ron fell asleep halfway in, sprawled out on the carpet.  Draco was relatively interested in the program, but cozied up as he was to Harry's warmth, he was tempted to fall asleep as well.  Draco lasted until the closing credits, before yawning widely and settling himself more securely against Harry.

             " Oh no you don't.  Up you get lazy-bones, there's no way I'm carrying you to the bedroom," Harry said, poking Draco just under the ribs.

             Draco whined, " Why not?  And I'm not a lazy-bones.  I went to work today, remember?  I'm a productive member of society now."

             " Well, excuse me.  I take it back; you're not lazy at all.  In which case you can certainly get yourself off the couch, and to bed."

             " Damn.  I foiled my own plan that time," Draco said.  " How embarrassing.  Anyway, 'night Hermione."  He stood up and stretched, and headed for the bedroom, stepping over the prone Ron in the process.  " 'Night Weasel," he muttered, low enough so that nobody else could hear.

             Ron rolled over and peered up at him through mostly-closed eyes.  A grin appeared on his sleep-swollen face, " Goodnight Ferret."

             Draco rolled his eyes to prevent a smile from forming on his face – it was nice that some things could be depended upon.  Harry said his goodnight's as well, promising Hermione for the millionth time that the alarm clock was indeed primed and ready to ring at the un-Godly hour of six, and followed Draco into the bedroom.

             " Harry?" Draco queried, after they had been lying quietly for nearly an hour, neither of them sleeping.

             " Yeah?"

             " What did you and Hermione argue about?"

             Harry sighed, and rolled over until he was facing Draco.  Draco was on his side, an elbow propping his head up.

             " I'm surprised you couldn't hear it for yourself."

             " Just bits and pieces.  Enough to gather that it was about me?"

             " Sort-of.  I think it has more to do with the fact that Hermione has never much liked the idea of me escaping to the Muggle world.  She thinks I should go back and 'make a difference'," Harry said, snorting contemptuously.

             " And she thinks I should do the same, is that it?"

             " I'm not sure, really.  She went down to the bookstore while you were working, right?"

             " Personally, I think she came for the books, and I just happened to be there," Draco said.  " But yeah, she came down for a bit.  It was really busy though, so I couldn't talk much."

             Harry suddenly felt very guilty for not asking Draco about his first day at work.  It was an important event, and he had let it go by unnoticed.  He hurried to rectify the mistake, asking:  " How did it go?"

             " It was nerve racking, stressful, and it made me feel like a moron…"  Draco trailed off, and then grinned.  " But it got better.  The first hour was horrible, but then I found a routine, and I got more proficient at handling the money.  Mrs. Cooper says I sold more in one day than she does in three."

             Harry recognized the glitter of excitement in Draco's eyes, and smiled indulgently.

             " Let me guess, all middle-aged housewives just itching to meet you face to face?"

             " Hey, it's not like I can help how attractive I am.  I don't even exercise," Draco teased.  " I figure if you've got it, might as well use it."

             Harry smiled, but the humour didn't reach his eyes this time.  What Draco had just said echoed something Hermione had said earlier during their little spat, and it resonated uncomfortably in Harry's mind.

             " Is this enough for you Draco?"

             Draco's happy exterior merged into one of concern.  " What do you mean?"

             " You have a lot of skills – and I don't just mean attracting female spinsters at bookshops.  Don't you want something… more?"

             " What, I'm not good enough?" Draco said sharply.  " Think it's pathetic how happy I am with a little catering job, is that it?"

             " No!" Harry said loudly.  A little too loudly, and he glanced guiltily at the door, hoping he hadn't disturbed anyone.  In a lower voice, he repeated, " No.  I'm very proud of what you've done.  In fact, I think it's quite amazing what you've managed to accomplish.  A month ago, there was no way you would have even considered taking a job outside the house.  Now, not only have you accepted the job, but also you do it so well.  I… I think…  I know how lucky I am to have someone like you in my life."

             Draco snuggled in closer to Harry, and put his head in the crook of Harry's shoulder.  " Then why…  Why ask if I want more?"

             " Hermione said that while it's my choice to 'ruin all my chances, and squander my talents elsewhere', that it is not the same thing if I make you do the same.  She said that I'm holding you back, and that I ought to be pushing you more."

             " And what do you think?"

             " I think that I don't want to ever let you go," Harry said sadly. 

             " There.  You have your answer.  You want me to stay, I don't want to go, and nobody else should have any opinion whatsoever."

Harry wanted to believe that it was all that simple, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Hermione was right.  If he truly loved Draco, then shouldn't he do what was best for Draco, even if it meant hurting himself?  He was afraid of losing Draco, and that's why he wanted to make-believe everything was fine.  The guilt of such a selfish action was slowly spreading through his mind like a lengthening shadow.

Draco shifted still closer to Harry's body, placing an arm across his chest.  Harry staunchly pushed the guilt and the doubt out of his thoughts, aware as he did so that the suppression was getting more difficult every time he was forced to do it.  Harry ran fingers through Draco's soft hair, and revelled in just being close.

Draco spoke up, " Besides, what does Hermione know?  Your life, which she's so disparaging of…  I see nothing but good in it, and nothing but good can come of it.  I see you growing, I see you making goals, I see you happy…  I know we kind-of joked about it, but that night when you faced down Dudley?  I realized you had changed, even in the relatively small amount of time I'd been with you.  You stood up for yourself, for your beliefs, where before you had so many doubts…  I was so proud of you."

             " When Dudley said 'family', all I could remember was how you told me that love decides a family, not genetics.  Dudley seemed so unimportant suddenly; all that mattered was you and my friends, my true family."

             " You're exceptional, Harry.  The 'great Harry Potter' has nothing on you," Draco said sincerely.  Harry stared down at Draco, having waited his whole life to hear words of that sort.  It felt even better then imagined.

             " You're not so bad yourself," Harry choked out.

             " No so bad?  Ingrate," Draco said, mock-offended.

             " Fine, you're exceptional too," Harry said, happy to fall back into their usual roles of teasing.

             " Bah.  Now you're just repeating what I said, to far poorer effect I might add."

             " How about, I think you're stunningly gorgeous?" Harry suggested.

             " Blatantly obvious, but go on.  You're improving slightly," Draco said, inwardly glowing at the praise being heaped on his head.

             " You have a frightening need for perfection, you're funny in a cynical and sardonic kind-of way, and you're terribly clever," Harry said.

             " True, true.  What else?"

             " You're sweet, caring, and patient with me.  You're adorably protective."

             " You like that then?"

             " Oh yeah," Harry said, and he wrapped his arms around Draco and rolled them so that he rested on top.  Draco looked awfully tempting with his hair slightly curled and bedraggled, and his face flushed from the compliments; Harry had to remind himself quite forcefully that his friends were only a thin wall and a few steps away.  Despite this, he leaned in and kissed Draco soundly.  " You're also sexy as hell."

             It seemed Draco was also thinking about the couple sleeping in the living room, as he disentangled himself reluctantly from Harry.  " When are they leaving again?"

             " Tomorrow morning," Harry said.  They both grinned, looking at the digital clock.  Feeling just a little bit naughty, Harry reached over, and set the alarm time back from six to five.  What was an hour between friends anyway?

             The next morning, despite the very early hour, spirits were high.

             " Now that we're back at the Burrow, I'll expect a lot more communication from you, got that Harry?"

             " Yes Hermione.  I'll write, I swear."

             " See that you do.  It was wonderful seeing you again, Harry," Hermione said.  She gave Harry a hug, and a smile.  " We really do miss you, you know."

             " Thanks, 'Mione, and you can come for a visit anytime, remember.  Even though I suppose that means Ron will have to come as well…"

             " Hey!  I resent that.  I'm a great visitor.  Tons of fun, a riot of laughs," Ron refuted.  Harry reached up and ruffled his hair.

             " Whatever you say," Harry said.  Ron shoved him playfully, before picking up their bags. 

             " See you around Harry, and you too Malfoy.  Oh, and thanks for feeding us.  I don't suppose you could teach 'Mione?"

             Hermione slapped Ron upside the head.

             " What?  Those waffles were incredible.  Even better then my mum's," Ron said.  He then paled considerably, and his eyes widened.  " None of you can ever tell anyone that I said that."

             They laughed at Ron's horror-struck face, and then the final last good-byes were said, there was a last hug from Hermione for both Draco and Harry, and then Harry was closing the door behind them.

             " Well, all in all, I'd say that visit went fairly well," Draco said.  He headed into the kitchen and put the sticky dishes in the sink.  He stole a bright red strawberry from the bowl, and popped it into his mouth, nearly groaning as the impossibly sweet juice burst over his tongue.

             " Yeah, it was.  Though, I'm still not that sorry to see them go," Harry said, taking a strawberry for himself, and biting into it carefully.  A dark berry stained tongue swirled over his lips to catch any missed drops of juice.

             " Still, just because they're gone, that's no reason for us to…  It's only been a few days.  We're not that desperate," Draco said softly.  He grabbed a small but perfectly shaped strawberry, dipped it in the last of the cream, held it up to his mouth, and slowly licked the thick clotted cream off the ripe berry.

             Harry's hands shook as he reached for the last strawberry in the bowl.  It was dripping with sugary juice, and by the time it reached his mouth, his fingers were coated in the light syrup.

             " Then again, we were interrupted when they came.  So it's not so much desperation as it is completing unfinished business."

             Harry sucked the sticky red liquid from each of his fingers, laying his tongue flat against his palm to remove every last trace of sweetness.

             A tad breathlessly, Draco said, " You have me convinced."

             In an instant, they were pressed tightly together, their mouths melded and their tongues tasting the lingering flavour of strawberries.

             " You are such a tease," Harry muttered, sliding his lips along Draco's jaw, and then dipping down to the soft curve of his neck. 

             " Me?  Please, who was the one sucking his fingers in imitation of some faded porn star?"

             " You were the one who had to start on the whole strawberry thing in the first place.  Moaning and groaning as though in orgasm at just the taste – like I ever stood a chance."

             Draco laughed, and recaptured Harry's lips in a passionate kiss.  They were hungry for each other.  They pulled at clothes and touched skin with a fervour that made their actions rough, yet neither protested the treatment.  They relished in it.  The sheer want, the all-consuming need; the unbelievable feeling that came with being so very much desired.

             Harry pushed Draco up against the wall, or at least he tried to, but the angle was slightly off, and they slid to the floor.  Harry shrugged; the floor was better anyway.  Draco's able fingers divested Harry of his t-shirt and were reaching for the loose pyjama bottoms.

             " Bed?" Draco breathed out.

             Harry lifted his head slightly and eyed the door to the bedroom, approximately seven steps from where they lay.  Harry shook his head.

             " Too far."

             Harry grabbed Draco's hips with a grip that could possibly leave bruises, and pressed their lower bodies flush.  Twin moans rang out, and Draco scrabbled frantically at the rest of the clothes that separated them.  Sleeping attire was finally removed and tossed somewhere; hands glided over the newly revealed heated flesh. 

             " Be with me?" Harry asked suddenly, lifting his head from where it had been suckling on Draco's nipple, and searching Draco's passion-bright eyes.

             " Thought I was," Draco replied, and tried to bring Harry's head back into kissing range.

             " No, I mean really, be with me?  In… In me?" Harry stammered, his flushed face becoming still more heated.

             " Are you sure?" Draco tenderly brushed back a strand of ebony hair from Harry's face, looking for his answer in dark emerald pools.

             " I want you to," Harry said decisively.

             " Then we really should be in the bedroom," Draco said, smiling gently.  Harry got to his feet, and helped Draco up.  They hurried hand-in-hand to the bedroom, where Draco drew back the blankets on the bed before sitting down on it, pulling Harry alongside him. 

             They kissed long and slow, taking the edge of the nervousness they both felt.  Harry let himself be pushed back onto the mattress, and Draco leaned over him, not once breaking the kiss.

             " You remember the position the book said?" Draco asked.  His voice was shaking slightly; now that the moment had arrived, he was more then a little afraid of causing Harry pain.

             Harry did remember, and Draco's memory was equally solid.  The bottle of lubricating oil was retrieved from the bedside table and placed within reach.  Small touches of assurance and caring were exchanged at every opportunity.

             " Tell me if I hurt you," Draco said finally, his words just barely loud enough to be heard.

             " I trust you," Harry said.

             " Right, no pressure then," Draco muttered.  Harry laughed thinly, and then reached for Draco's hand, squeezing it tightly. 

             They needn't have worried so much.  There was some discomfort, but not much, and the pleasure swamped most other thoughts from their minds.  The enjoyment increased exponentially when they accepted that the other was not going to break.  And it became somehow more then just a physical reaction.  It was trust, and want, and love, and faith; it was the final connection they needed to feel completely bonded in body, mind, and soul.

             Harry let out a small hum of contentment.

             " Tell me again why we waited so long?"  Harry asked, turning gingerly onto his back.  The first thing he saw was Draco's shining eyes.  No, they were glowing eyes.  And he did not mean that figuratively.

             " Uh, Draco?  Why are your eyes glowing like that?" Harry asked fearfully.

             " This is really brilliant!  How long do you think it will last?" Draco asked.  Draco was almost giddy, and not at all bothered by the unusual phenomenon.

             " I'm being serious.  You're eyes look like a couple of silver Christmas fairy lights!"

             " Really?  Well, yours look like that swamp-monster's from the movie last night, all green and glowy in the dark," Draco retorted glibly.

             " My eyes are glowing too?"  Harry asked.  Draco smiled and nodded happily.  " Am I missing something?  I mean eyes don't usually glow in real life.  Only in comic books, and even then, radiation is usually involved."

             Draco started to snigger.

             " What's so funny?"

             " Oh, just that I know something that apparently you don't know," Draco said smugly.

             Harry was beginning to get exasperated, and gave Draco a glare, made all the more effective since his eyes were glowing freakily.

             " Oh, relax, Potter.  It's actually a good sign," Draco said.  " I forget sometimes that you grew up amongst muggles.  I would have thought Ron or someone would have told you but…  Well, at least you get to hear it from me.  I had to have 'the talk' with Lucius, if you can imagine."

             " Oh, you mean it's a sex thing?"

             " Precisely.  Strong orgasms, between witches and wizards… well, actually I guess we've just proved it can be wizards and wizards as well, anyway, can sometimes give-off a magical um, side-effect.  Slight levitation, sparks, glowing eyes… You get the idea.  My father informed me that he and my mother once turned all the bed coverings yellow.  As if I really wanted to think about my parents that way," Draco said, shuddering and giving a grimace of disgust at the memory.  " Still, it only occurred the once for them; Lucius said that you have to be highly emotionally involved, which leaves my mother quite out of the picture.  It's also more likely to happen if the couple are reasonably powerful, magically speaking."

             Harry took a moment to digest this bit of information.  " Why didn't they tell us this in school?  You can't tell me some poor bloke hasn't woken up floating above his bed and had a near heart-attack because of it."

             " Yeah, I can really see learning this at Hogwarts.  Old, straight-laced Professor McGonagall telling a bunch of third years that sometime later when they're getting off with someone, they might let loose a little wild magic.  No, I can't see parents complaining about that," Draco said sarcastically.

             " Oh shut-up.  I would have liked to have known," Harry said huffily.

             " I'm sorry I teased you," Draco said, mollifying Harry somewhat.  " Isn't it great though?  I wonder if we'll get different happenings, or if glowing eyes is our signature magic?"

             " I guess it is pretty neat," Harry said.  Draco's eyes were already dimming back to their original grey, and Harry, now that he knew how it was caused, was sad to see it go.  He quirked an eyebrow at Draco, " Did you really get a 'birds and the bees' chat from Lucius?  I'm sorry, I just can't picture it."

             " Well, it was no jolly, quality bonding time, let me assure you.  I was eleven and on my way to Hogwarts when he called me into his study.  ' Boy, get in here.  Your mother says I have to talk to you about sex.  I personally couldn't care less what, or who, you do, so long as you don't get some stupid girl up the duff.'"

             " He did not say that," Harry said.

             " Well, it was something to that effect; I admit I became more interested in the pattern on the rug then what my father was saying, and stopped listening.  After more than a few brandies, it was one tasteless story after another, as he described his many exploits.  You can't blame me for blocking that out."

             " No, and I don't really need the visual either thanks," Harry said, squirming.

             " Good point," Draco said firmly, and fell silent.  Harry reached down to the foot of the bed and retrieved the blankets.  He tucked the covers around their rapidly cooling bodies, and curled up against Draco.

             " Don't get too comfortable.  You have class in an hour," Draco said.

             Harry snorted with laughter, " Screw school.  There's no way I'm going now."

             " You didn't go yesterday…"
             " I'm aware of that mother," Harry said tauntingly.  " If I can skip class to hang out with my friends, then I can certainly skip to stay home in bed with you."

             " You're such a rebel," Draco said, dead-panning.  " But, I am glad you're staying."

             Harry let his head rest against Draco's shoulder, and drifted off to sleep.

             Daylight flooded the bedroom despite the closed drapes on the bedroom's windows.  Harry checked the time and saw that only a few hours had gone by.  Right now he would be in his anthropology class.  Harry watched the slight rise and fall of Draco's smooth, uncovered chest, and decided he was getting a much more worthwhile education by staying home.

             As though aware that he was being watched, Draco's blond eyelashes fluttered open.  " I fell asleep?"

             " You're surprised after what we did?"

             " Hmm, I guess not.  I did do all the work," Draco said, the corners of his mouth twitching.

             " We'll have to switch positions the next time then."

             Draco pretended to be pondering quite seriously.  " I'm not so sure Harry.  You are a little bigger then me, and you know I can't tolerate pain of any kind."

             " Huh?  I'm not that much bigger then you am I?  Ten, maybe twenty centimetres?" Harry said with a shrug.

             " Twenty centimetres?!" Draco blurted out.  " Someone sure has a high opinion of himself."

             " Well, how tall are you then?" Harry asked.  Draco stared at him incredulously, and then started shaking his head.

             " Sometimes Harry…  I'm not talking about height, you geek."

             " Then what…" Harry tried to remember the conversation, and as he thought, it finally came to him.  If Draco was worried about getting hurt while shagging then he must have been talking about the size of their…

             Faster then Draco could react, Harry was lifting the blankets up and staring at Draco's, ahem, appendage.  Draco felt his face heating up at the appraisal, not to mention that he felt a small twitch of arousal.  Harry was of course fascinated by this, and peered closer with even greater intensity.

             " I think we're about the same, honestly.  But if you think I'm too big, well, that's fine," Harry said, finally coming to the end of his observations, and letting the blankets cover them again.

             " Harry, I was only teasing," Draco said.  " I have every intention of being thoroughly shagged in the near future.  I'm quite curious to feel the other side of things."

             " Oh," Harry said.  Harry decided the reason he was so befuddled this morning was because he had not yet had his third cup of coffee, and was therefore not to blame for the many misunderstandings that had happened.

             " Harry?" Draco asked tentatively.

             " Yes?"

             " If I hadn't been kidding, if I seriously hadn't wanted you to fuck me, would you really have been okay with that?  It wouldn't have made you mad at me?  Even if I said I never, ever wanted that from you, you'd still stay with me?"

             " Of course.  I only want what you want," Harry said.  That was the first question all morning where Harry was completely sure of the answer.  However, Draco was looking at him rather intensely, and Harry wondered if he had screwed up yet again.  " What?"

             " That's just so…  So you!  So Harry," Draco said eventually.  " You know, if it's possible, I think I want you even more now."

             " Really?"

             " Yes, really.  Come here," Draco said.  Harry willingly scooted over, but was unprepared for Draco's flurry of activity.  Innumerable kisses were placed gently on Harry's upturned face: first his chin, then his cheeks, his forehead, his eyelids.  Finally, those soft lips of Draco's grazed Harry's own, and promptly devoured them.

             " Harry, I want my turn.  I want to know what it feels like," Draco said, sliding his bare thigh between Harry's, and rubbing slightly.  " Please?"

             Harry swallowed nervously, and his throat felt too tight to talk.  So he merely nodded, and let himself get caught up in pure sensation.  They didn't need words to describe how they felt anyway; their actions spoke for them.

             " Draco?" Harry asked thickly, as soon as the afterglow had faded enough for coherent thought.  Harry was staring at the ceiling, some part of the bed-sheet tangled about him. 

             " Hmm?" Draco mumbled drowsily.  Draco was also laying flat on his back staring at the ceiling.  It seemed the position of choice for those with no inclination whatsoever to relocate, or maybe it was the position for people who had just been thoroughly and quite happily shagged.  Both choices were applicable. 

             " Can you move?" Harry asked. 

             Draco was going to turn and look at Harry, but soon decided he didn't have the necessary energy or muscle mobility to do so.

             " No.  You?"

             " Not really," Harry said.  He didn't sound very perturbed about his motionless state, only mildly curious.

             " Maybe we should consider alternating in the future.  That way at least one of us can get up and make coffee."

             " Yum, coffee.  I'd kill for coffee right now," Harry said, hinting not so subtly.  When his plea went unanswered, he went for outright begging.  " Draco?  Please?  I'll do anything you want if you get up and make me some."

             Draco growled and threw a pillow at Harry.  Or at least he tried to.  Somehow he missed, though the distance was minimal.  Draco felt around for something else to throw but came up short.  With a long-suffering sigh, Draco tried to remember where his legs were and how to make them work.

             " I'm so whipped, it's not even funny."

             " I love you," Harry grinned obsequiously, snuggling into the bed. 

             " Yeah, yeah, yeah," Draco said dismissively.  Draco's pyjama bottoms were still out in the hall, so Harry not only had the benefit of staying in bed, but he also got to watch Draco's cute little bare-end as it moved across the room and out the door.  Sometimes, he really did lead a charmed life.

             By the time Draco returned with two mugs of cream laden coffee, Harry had managed to haul himself to his feet, and he had remade the bed with fresh sheets.  They clambered under the covers, and sat shoulder-to-shoulder, resting their backs against the headboard.

             " I feel so incredibly good at the moment.  Like everything is absolutely perfect," Harry said, the coffee only adding to his sense of the euphoric.

             Draco sighed, " It's times like these I start to worry.  If things are at their highest peak, then it only stands to reason that they'll soon start to fall back down."

             " No that's not pessimistic at all," Harry retorted.  " Maybe we're still on the way up, maybe things will keep getting better."

             " I got you coffee, and so you owe me a totally-inclusive favour, correct?"

             " I did say anything you want.  So, what's it going to cost me?" Harry asked warily.

             " If things do start to come apart, I want you to promise that you'll never forget this moment, or the knowledge that at this precise point in time we were genuinely happy, and that I loved you utterly and completely."

             " I promise," Harry said with absolute conviction.  Draco stuck out his hand and they shook on it.  Harry then stole Draco's coffee cup, since his own was empty, and took a long swallow.  He smiled impishly at Draco's slight scowl, " What?  A promise like that values at least two cups of coffee."

             In the coming weeks, there was a peculiar feeling in the air much like that of an approaching storm.  At some points during the period, Draco and Harry were so deliriously happy that it seemed nothing could possible get in their way, nothing could ever bring them down.  Still, there were other moments where the very walls seemed to press in on them, robbing them of any sense of peace or security.  The harder the real world tried to intrude on their lives, the more effort they put into their illusions and simple pleasures. 

             Draco went to work four days out of the week, working on Fridays and Saturdays with Harry, and Mondays and Tuesdays solely with Mrs. Cooper.  He fell into a routine that made it easy to watch the days flit by with barely a thought at their passing.  Harry similarly applied himself to his schoolwork, preparing for finals with a diligence that belied any real attempt at understanding.  Despite his inherent optimism, Harry began to understand what Draco had been trying to convey that day in bed.  There was a definite sense of foreboding that Harry just didn't know how to dispel, or how to fight.

             Hermione sent them letters regularly, feeling it was her duty to keep them informed on all things magical, since they were loathe to do it themselves.  In addition to the personal letters, she sent news-clippings, often with highlighted passages.  Nine times out of ten the articles involved Lucius and his politics.  At first, Harry would pore over every mailing, deepening his awareness of the situation and bringing it to Draco's attention.  However, this habit soon fell out of favour since every time Harry tried to talk to Draco about his father, the two of them would end up in an argument.  Draco didn't want to be reminded of anything that had to do with his father, or the life he had been forced to leave behind.  Harry couldn't see the point in discussing something if the only result was to leave them both hurting.

             So they ignored what was sent to them.  They ignored the fact that Lucius was publicly asking for any information about the whereabouts of his son, one Draco Malfoy, who had apparently disappeared from his school over-seas.  They ignored the implications of Lucius's political platform: the one that said he was going to promote stricter registration practices at Hogwarts and other magical schools (current muggle-born were to be identifiable at all times by way of a sash around their arms), and that no muggle-born would be allowed a teaching post (a part that Hermione had underscored twice in thick, angry black strokes of ink).  They ignored everything they could, and sought to remain forever forgotten in their little isolated cocoon of contentedness.

             " Have you ever noticed how ice cream is ice cream no matter what?  Like, have you ever had bad ice cream?  Of course not.  There's hundreds, maybe thousands of flavours, but there's something intrinsically 'ice creamy' about all of them," Draco rambled.  He was dedicating himself to the consumption of a rather large scoop of cookie dough ice cream, and philosophizing between bites.  Harry was making considerably better progress on his cone of mocha-almond-fudge, since he only contributed to the conversation with a nod every now and then.

             Draco had worked the morning shift at the bookshop, and then he had stopped by the rugby pitch, where Harry had been playing.  After the game had broken up, Draco and Harry had decided to take advantage of the sun-soaked day, and were now slowly meandering back to the flat through various public parks, munching happily on their ice cream cones.

             Harry swallowed his last bite with obvious enthusiasm, and wiped the corners of his mouth with his hand. 

             " Tim was hoping we'd help him and Mike move next weekend.  You up for it?"

             " They're moving?"

             " Well, Mike's technical home is the dorms, so he's out as soon as term ends, but since he's been all but living at Tim's for the past six months, it didn't make much sense for Mike to go back to living with his parents over the summer.  So they're moving into a bigger place, and making the arrangement more permanent."

             " Well, I'll help.  But you and Tim can do all the heavy lifting.  I'm far too delicate," Draco said arrogantly.

             " You know, I think Mike said the same thing?  Bunch of whiners," Harry said.  Draco just shrugged off the comment, focusing again on the last few licks of his ice cream.  Harry began to wish he had eaten his own slower.  " Can I have a taste?"
             " You had your own.  Leave mine alone."

             " Aw, come on.  Just a taste?"

             " And you were calling me a whiner?" Draco asked rhetorically.  Draco waved the last of his cone in front of Harry's eyes tauntingly before eating the last of it himself.  Harry shook his head in amusement, as he closed the distance between them, knowing the only way to remove Draco's smug smirk was to kiss it off. 

             " You taste sweet," Draco muttered.  " I told you ice cream always tastes good."

             " Less talking, more kissing," Harry ordered. 

Draco happily complied.

They were startled out of the kiss by a sudden popping noise and a bright flash of light.

" Darn, I think I took that against the sun.  Would you mind turning slightly to the left?"

Harry and Draco stared at the man with the camera as though they had never seen another human being before.  Suddenly they were surrounded by a whole flurry of clicks and flashes, as people with cameras seemed to materialize out of thin air.

" Is it true that Harry Potter has been keeping you his prisoner, Mr. Malfoy?"

" Why have you run-away to the home of Harry Potter, Mr. Malfoy?"

" How long have you been here, and how long do you plan on staying?"
             " Are you still angry at your father?"
             " Why didn't you attend your mother's funeral?  Is there a family rift that the reading public ought to know about?"

" Are you and Harry Potter friends?  Enemies?  What's the connection?"

" What have you been doing with yourself, Mr. Potter, since you've been in the muggle world?"

" What are your goals for the future?"

" When can we expect you back?"

Harry and Draco couldn't keep up with the barrage of questions, and were spinning from one voice to the next, the camera flashes disorienting them still further.  Draco tried to take a step back from the press of people, only to end up bumping into still more reporters grouped behind them.  Harry's eyes narrowed dangerously as he saw the panic building in Draco's eyes at the thought of being surrounded by strangers.

" We have no comment.  Get out of my way," Harry said.  He grabbed hold of Draco's hand and began pulling him in the direction of the flat, which was thankfully nearby, shoving bodies out of their path gently but determinedly.

" Is it true that you support Lucius Malfoy's campaign promises?"

Harry was so surprised by the question that he let slip an outraged, " What?"

" Lucius Malfoy claims that through Draco Malfoy, you've become a close, personal, friend of his?  Just how close are you?"

Harry clamped his mouth shut before he said something he would regret.  He continued to grit out a litany of 'no comments' as he and Draco made slow and steady progress towards the flat.  They eventually broke free from the swarm of media personnel, and gained access to the lobby of the flat. 

The landlord came out of his room to ask about the people on the sidewalk.  Harry floundered for an excuse, but it was Draco who smoothly interjected with the explanation that Harry had won a small amount of money in the lottery.  The landlord had no intention of letting anyone who wasn't a tenant gain access to the building, but Draco's promise to share some of the wealth if stronger precautions were taken, definitely improved the security.

" Oddly dressed bunch they are; I don't fancy letting them in regardless."

" Thanks," Harry muttered.  Draco and Harry quickly fled up to their flat, and were appalled to find a dozen or more owls sitting on the balcony railing, waiting for a response to the pile of mail that was littered on the balcony floor.  Harry pulled all the blinds closed, and then sat down heavily on the couch.

" This is so not good.  Not good at all.  What are we supposed to do?  They're not going to leave until they get their questions answered, and even then they'll probably demand an interview.  How are we supposed to explain away a group of masquerading wizards setting up camp on our doorstop?" Harry demanded anxiously.

" I don't know," Draco said, beginning to pace the length of the living room.  " How are we going to get out of here even?  We can stay in tomorrow, but we have places to be on Monday."

" Fuck!" Harry exclaimed, feeling the situation definitely warranted a curse or two.  " If we could apparate out of here or something…  Oh man, can those people apparate into the flat?"

" Well, it's illegal.  But I doubt that will stop the rabble for long," Draco said, dropping onto the couch next to Harry.  Harry put an arm across Draco's shoulders, and tried to think of a way out of their situation.

" Do you think it's true?  Do you think people believe I'm supporting your father's views?  I hate to think of people giving him their votes out of admiration for me.  It makes me feel sick."

" I don't know what's going on.  But I think it's obvious my father knows where I am now, and that I'm here with you.  Let's hope that photo of us kissing really was ruined by the sun.  That's the last thing we need."

" I didn't even think of that," Harry said, going pale.  Draco wrapped his arms around Harry and gave him a sympathetic hug.  Harry felt the anger burning brighter as he realized his personal life was once again about to be made into front-page news.  Didn't he ever get to keep anything private?  The last thing he wanted to see was his relationship with Draco turned into some tawdry affair.  A long list of expletives spilled from his mouth just picturing some of the lurid headlines.

" Harry!  Language!"  Hermione admonished, as she suddenly appeared in the living room with an audible pop.

" What are you doing here?" Harry asked, surprised but very pleased to see a friendly face. 

" It's all over the radio how Draco Malfoy has been found, and the secret location of Harry Potter's residence revealed."

" Secret?  They just have to look in the muggle phone book and make a few calls," Harry grumbled.  Fortunately for his privacy, people from the magical world rarely considered the more mundane ways of gathering information, always figuring that Harry Potter would have some extravagant method of declaring himself and dismissing the idea that he would do something as simple as list himself in the directory.

" Anyway, Ron and I figured that the media was probably already dispatched, and that the two of you might be somewhat hindered."

" Trapped is more accurate," Draco said sullenly.  Draco was frightened, beginning to feel like a prisoner again.  He didn't know what was happening, which only made things worse, and he had this awful feeling that things were only going to get more difficult.

" I can apparate you both, one at a time, to the Burrow.  You should be alright there for a few days," Hermione suggested. 

" In the meantime I have to miss school, Draco has to miss work, and all because people have to pry into our business."

" It's more then that, Harry.  This thing with Lucius Malfoy.  It's bad, really bad."

" What am I supposed to do about it?" Harry snarled at her.  At Hermione's wince, Harry instantly regretted snapping at her.  " Sorry, this is all just a little too much right now."

" Of course, I understand.  So why don't you both pack up a few things, and make some phone calls, and we'll get you to the Burrow where you can have some breathing room, and time to think?"

Harry nodded, and went to call Mrs. Cooper at the bookshop.  Mrs. Cooper was thrilled at the idea of her boys going away together for a few days, and Harry didn't have the heart to tell her it wasn't a pleasure trip.  He next called Tim, and gave him a brief sketch of the day's events, and told him he wasn't sure when he would be returning.  Harry promised to call Tim as soon as there was any concrete information.

When Harry rang off, he saw that Draco was watching him with solemn eyes.  Two packed bags lay at his feet.

" I packed some clothes for you, anything else you want?"

Harry considered the question for a moment, before heading into the living room.  He hauled out the old school trunk, and lifted the lid.  He picked up his wand case before closing the trunk again.  Handing it wordlessly to Draco, he then dragged a kitchen chair up to the hall closet, stood on it, and then reached into the far recesses of the top shelf.  He felt around for a moment, before pulling back triumphantly with a whole lot of nothing in his hands.  Nothing turned out to be his old Firebolt broom wrapped in an invisibility cloak.

" One never knows," Harry said quietly, adding these objects to the pile.  " Guess that's it."

" Who wants to go first?" Hermione asked.

" Take Draco," Harry said.  Draco and Hermione disappeared, and Harry took a last look around his flat, wondering if he had forgotten anything.  His instincts were telling him to take a good look at his home, because things were about to change drastically.  Harry closed his eyes, and hoped his instincts were wrong, because he wasn't prepared to give up on all this just yet.

Hermione appeared, looking a little tired from the multiple trips, and Harry said a silent goodbye to the four walls of his flat as they faded from view, replaced in an instant with the familiar surroundings of the Burrow's kitchen.

" Oh Harry, it's so good to see you.  I wish they were better circumstances of course, but still, it's so nice to have you visit.  And you're looking so well!  Someone other then me must have been making sure you ate right," said a bustling Mrs. Weasley.  Mrs. Weasley enveloped Harry in a fierce hug, and Harry remembered why he had always felt so at home at the Burrow.  It had been too long, he decided, since his last visit.

" Thanks Mrs. Weasley.  It's good to be here," Harry said, returning the hug with vigour.

" The minute we heard the news, mum started cooking.  I hope you're hungry, she made enough to feed at least twenty of us," Ron said, grinning from his place at the large family table.  Ron did not seem at all daunted by the piles of food Molly was setting out.

" Right Harry, you sit here, and Draco why don't sit next to him?  You're not allergic to anything, are you?"

" No, thank you.  Everything looks wonderful," Draco said politely, if distantly.  It was true, the food smelled and looked appetizing but Draco felt his stomach turn over at the thought of eating.  He toyed with the food on his plate, as he brooded on the situation.  The dishes were cleared away, and Ron went to help his mother do the washing up.

Hermione got down to business.  " I took the liberty of writing down something of a stratagem for how we're going to deal with this.  The onus will fall mostly on you Draco, for obvious reasons.  I've worked out…"

" What?  Am I missing something?" Draco asked, confused.

Hermione blinked, and began haltingly to explain.  " Well, if anyone is going to oppose your father, it's you.  Harry's too high profile to be of much use.  We don't want this to become a media circus, but if Harry gets involved, that's all anyone will pay attention to.  Lucius has to be legitimately deposed."
             " And why is it I have to do anything at all?" Draco exclaimed, feeling the beginning of a panic attack.  His vision began to swim, as his rate of breathing increased.  He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead.  " Maybe this thing will blow over after a few days, and we can just go back to normal.  Or we can disappear, go somewhere else, couldn't we Harry?"

" I… I don't know Draco," Harry said slowly.  Harry hadn't been prepared for Hermione's blunt demeanour, or her aggressive attack on the situation, but he was similarly bewildered by Draco's cowardly retreat into denial.  This was not the reaction he wanted to see.  Draco looked like he was one step away from crawling into a small dark corner, and staying there indefinitely.

" What's wrong with you?  The man locked you up for two years, and God knows what else, and you're just prepared to let that go?  Don't you see?  If you don't stand up to him, he will win this election, and then he'll have power over not just you, but over everyone.  How can you let him do that?"

" It's not my problem!  Just leave me out of it," Draco yelled at Hermione.  He stood up so abruptly that the chair he was sitting on clattered to the floor.  Draco slammed out of the kitchen, and eventually found the door leading to the backyard.  Hermione and Harry both jumped when the back door shut with a bang.

" Harry, I'm sorry for how I handled that, but you should know I'd do it again in a second.  He can't keep running from this, that's no way to live."

" But maybe he's right… I have enough money, we could go somewhere and…"

" And what, hide for the rest of your life?  Harry, you keep telling me how wonderful your life is, how happy you are.  You can't now turn around and claim that it would be in your best interest to give that all up.  Fight this; fight this, and keep what you have."

Harry sighed, " Maybe I agree with you.  But even if I choose to fight for what I want, I can't force Draco do the same.  He's gone through so much already."

" You can't protect him from this forever.  If you do, you'll only be destroying him as surely as Lucius tried to," Hermione insisted gently.

Harry didn't want to listen, didn't want to hear the truth in her words.  But had he not been thinking the very same thing ever since Draco had first appeared on his doorstep?  He had known then, just as he knew now, that Draco still had unfinished business to take care of. 

" Why is it always me who has to be the strong one?  Why don't I ever get to be greedy, and selfish, and weak?" Harry asked mournfully.

" Because you're Harry, and you wouldn't be the person we all love, if you didn't always try to do what was right.  It's why I'm trusting you now to do what's best for Draco," Hermione said softly, tears of compassion filling her eyes.

" It's going to hurt so much," Harry said.  Hermione nodded, and gave him a slow hug.  Harry took a shaky breath, and went to find Draco.  They had to talk.

Harry found Draco in the backyard, sitting on a lopsided wooden bench, which overlooked the surrounding countryside.  It was twilight, when all the colours of nature were painted a surreal shade that was somewhere between the brightness of day, and the monochrome of night. 

" I hope you talked some sense into her.  Running off at the mouth like that, who does she think she is?" Draco asked bitterly, arms crossed over his chest.

" She's my friend.  And she only said what we didn't want to hear."

" No!" Draco cried out belligerently.  " Why are you listening to her?  We can do anything we want."

Harry closed his eyes, wishing for strength.  It didn't help that his own thoughts were in conflict.  Part of him knew he had to push Draco into dealing with his problems, while another part was screaming at him to take Draco in his arms and to never let go.  Harry then had the thought that maybe the two weren't mutually exclusive.  Harry sat down next to Draco on the bench and held him close.

" Draco, you always knew that at some point you would have to face your father, and now you've run out of time.  This could be your last opportunity, and because I care about you, I have to see that you take it."

" This has nothing to do with honour.  Things got a little too tough, a little too public for you, and this is just a convenient excuse to make me go away," Draco said cruelly, pushing out of Harry's arms.

" That is grotesquely unfair!  Draco, I can't let you throw your life away due to fear.  I won't do that to you."

" What's wrong with the way things are?  Are you so unhappy with me?  Or maybe you're just tired of taking care of someone as spineless and worthless as me, is that it?"

" There's nothing wrong with our life, but I have to know that you chose it.  I don't want to wake up one day and wonder if I was just a convenient fall back."

" You're not, I swear.  Don't make me do this," Draco said desperately.

" I love you, I will always love you, and believe it or not, this is for your own good," Harry said, his heart breaking. 

             Draco gave it final try, pleading, " Don't make me go, don't leave me alone.  I'll do anything else, I'll try harder, please?"

             " Draco…  This is so difficult.  But I don't want you with me, just because you fear the alternative.  Do you understand?"

             Draco stilled, and his expression grew cold.  " Go away then.  Make things easier on yourself."

             " Draco…"

             " Go!" Draco screamed at him.  Harry took a step toward Draco, but the blond turned away, his expression closed.  There was nothing to do but leave, and Harry felt that the walk back to the house was the longest of his life.

             Draco was listening to Harry's progress, hoping that at some point Harry would change his mind, and spin around and come back to him.  He needed Harry now, more then ever, why couldn't he see that?  What Harry was asking, it was too much.  Draco crumbled into a little ball on the grass, and tried desperately not to cry.  Was there anything he could do to make things better?  Draco decided he would stay where he was until a solution came to him.  Sometime past midnight, Draco finally stirred.

             Walking slowly, he entered the Burrow.  Hermione still sat at the kitchen table, a tepid cup of tea in front of her.  He asked what room Harry was in and she led him to it.  They didn't say anything else to each other, but Hermione knew resolve when she saw it.  Hermione left Draco in front of the bedroom door, and he waited until she was back downstairs, before knocking softly.

             " Look, Ron, I told you I don't want to…" Harry trailed off when he realized it was Draco, and not his best friend that was standing in front of him.

             " I'm leaving in the morning," Draco said calmly. 

             " Oh, so soon?" Harry said, voice trembling.  Harry had pushed him to leave, but that didn't change the fact that he didn't want Draco to go.

             Harry let Draco into the room, and shut the bedroom door.  He went and sat on one of the narrow beds and waited for Draco to let out what was pressing on his mind and on his soul.

             " When I heard myself begging and pleading to stay, I felt such loathing for what I had become, for what I had let myself become.  I don't want to be weak that way; I don't want that part of me to become permanent.  I'm better then that," Draco said, not meeting Harry's eyes as he tried to explain.  " Lucius wins if I can't be who I am because of what he did."

             " So what does that mean?"

             " It means I listened to what you and Hermione said.  I'm going to face Lucius, and I'm going to get my life back," said Draco, his tone forceful and assured.  His voice broke as he said, " I…  I have to leave in the morning, because the longer I'm with you, the harder it is to go."

             Harry stood up and put his arms around Draco tightly.  They stood, swaying slightly, just appreciating being close.  Harry was glad to put his head on Draco's shoulder, because it meant Draco couldn't look into his eyes.  It wouldn't do to let Draco see how scared he was of letting Draco 'get his life back'.  Suppose that life was one where Harry wasn't included?  Harry wanted to ask if Draco was planning on coming back to him, but knew he couldn't weigh Draco down with yet another burden.  This ordeal had to be about Draco's needs, and not his own.  He would just have to hope and pray that Draco would still want him when this was over. 

             Eventually they broke apart, and Harry went over to his baggage. 

             " Here, I want you to take the invisibility cloak, and my broom," Harry said.  Draco took the items with a nod, and placed them over his own small bag of clothes.  " I wish I could go with you, instead of just my possessions."

             " So do I, but Hermione was right.  You would only get me into more trouble.  I'm going to have to sneak around, and dig up some proof of my abuse, and it'll be easier if I'm alone.  Besides, subterfuge is a Slytherin quality.  Wouldn't want to taint the Gryffindor Golden boy with any of that, would we?" Draco said, trying to ease some of the tension.

             " I suppose not," Harry said.  Draco noticed Harry was nervously twiddling with his wand case.  Harry lifted the lid, and showed Draco the broken wand held within.  Harry closed his eyes and concentrated, running his fingers over the two pieces of gleaming wood.  There was brief flash of white light, and the wand was once again whole.  " You should take this as well, just in case."

             " I can't take your wand, Harry.  It won't work for me anyway," said Draco, awed by the gesture nonetheless.

             Harry grinned, " Well, well, well.  For the first time, I do believe I know something about magic that Draco Malfoy does not."

             " Doubtful," Draco said.

             " Wands are an extension of the owner, they are powered through our wants and desires.  It's why I could fix my wand, because I willed it to be so.  And now I'm willing it to protect you," Harry said, passing Draco his wand, who took hold of it instinctively.  Draco felt the slight surge of power as the wand was passed over.  " It will work for you, as long as I continue to want you protected.  In this case, forever."

             " Oh," Draco said, for once at a loss for words.  He slid his fingers over the shiny surface of the wand reverently.  It was like a permanent reminder of Harry's feelings for him.  " When I left you in the garden, I was so scared you were going to leave before I could give this to you.  I'm glad you came back, even if it's just to say goodbye."

             " I wasn't going to leave until daylight, and I didn't want to waste the few hours I had being angry with you.  I'm sorry for the things I said, I was just so angry and upset…"

             " Nothing to apologize for, I understand," Harry said.  Draco put the wand down next to the rest of his belongings, and came over to Harry's side.  He pulled Harry down onto one of the beds, and held him close.  Harry's tremulous voice asked, " So what happens now?"

             " Well, I'm packed and ready to go, and there's still a few hours until daybreak.  That means it's time for you to take my clothes off, and prove how much you're going to miss me."

             " A few hours isn't enough for that," Harry said.

             " We'll just have to make do," Draco said, brushing Harry's hair away from his forehead, and pressing a kiss to the lightning shaped scar he found there. 

             It was not the most passionate of their encounters, not the most desperate, or the most loving.  It was bittersweet, both wondering if this was the last time they would experience this, if this was the last time they would get to feel truly whole.  They made love slowly, drawing out the hours, not wanting to fall asleep since that would make the morning come even faster.  Despite their efforts, however, the morning did come.  They tried to pretend it wasn't so, closing their eyes as they kissed, but the sun still rose.

             " You should sleep, just a little.  There's no sense in you leaving completely knackered," Harry suggested.  There was no denying that he was pleading for just a little more time with his love.  " Just an hour or so, then we'll get up, I promise."

             " All right Harry," Draco said gently.  He kissed Harry's eyes closed.  " Go to sleep then, and so will I."

             Harry smiled, and pressed closer to Draco's body.  Draco stroked Harry's hair, until he felt Harry relax into true sleep.  He waited a few more minutes, letting his eyes drink in the sight of Harry's body, before he made himself get of bed.  The hardest thing he had ever done, Draco decided, was leaving Harry's side at that moment.

             Draco gathered his few items, needing to travel light.  He headed silently down the stairs, and through the kitchen to the back door.  He was startled to find Ron sitting in the kitchen.

             " I thought maybe you'd be going," Ron said.  He handed over a heavy parcel, wrapped in brown paper and string.  " It's food, not very tasty, but it should all travel well."

             " Thank you," Draco said, tucking the parcel into his bag.  " I don't know if I'll be able to keep in touch much, but if I can, I'll be sending stuff to this address.  Can you make sure Harry gets it?"

             " Of course," Ron said.

             " Thanks," Draco said.  There was nothing else to say, so Draco shouldered his pack and headed out the door.

             Ron called out just before he reached the door, " Good luck, Draco."  Draco smiled thinly at the usage of his first name, and headed out quickly. 

             Draco knew his route; he had planned it last night while out in the garden.  The broom would speed things up quite a bit, but he decided to walk regardless at least the first part of his journey so that he would have time to think and plan.  He had only been walking for about ten minutes when he heard his name being called.  He turned and wasn't overly surprised to see a flustered looking Harry, pelting down the path.

             " You left," Harry accused.

             " I thought it would be easier for us both," Draco said.

             " Oh," Harry said, digging the toe of his trainer into the dirt.  Harry's shoes were untied, the heels bent down.  Harry had obviously shoved them on without any care at all.  He hadn't even grabbed a shirt; a pair of grey fleece pants was all he had taken the time to put on.  Draco wanted to scold him, and walk him back to the house.  He wanted to take care of Harry properly, make him put some more clothes on appropriate to the weather, and to make him coffee, which he looked like he sorely needed.  Draco wanted to do all the things he had grown accustomed to doing, but he couldn't.  He couldn't, and it was making his heart ache.  He wanted to tell Harry how much he loved him, and wanted to hear how much he was loved in return, but he doubted he was strong enough to hear that and still be able to leave.

             " I've got to go," Draco said finally.

             " I know," Harry said forlornly.  Draco turned, started to walk, and was ruthlessly spun around by an arm on his shoulder.

             Harry kissed him.  Harry kissed him with everything he had, holding Draco's face between shaking hands, and pressing his tongue into the welcoming mouth.  Harry kissed him until they were both dizzy from lack of air, and still they held on for a few precious seconds more.

             " That doesn't change.  That won't ever change, not for me," Harry said, giving Draco his guarantee that he would wait for as long as necessary.

             Draco nodded tearfully, kissed Harry quickly one final time, and all but ran down the road, away from Harry.  He didn't look back, though he knew the scene behind him so well it was as if he had.

             Harry, standing perfectly still, outlined by the horizon.  His clothes in disarray, his shoelaces flapping, and his eyes misty behind his glasses.  Draco didn't look back, because he knew the image would break him entirely. 

             So it was Harry who was sole witness to the growing distance that separated them, as he watched Draco until he was out of sight.  Only then did he feel the cool wind sweeping across his skin; it made the wet tear-tracks on his face sting with cold.

End of Chapter 13 (NOT the story).  Well, what do we think?  I know you're all thinking something (hopefully it's not just how much you hate me for leaving it there) and I want to know!