~ There is no future, there is no past
                                                                                                    Thank God this moment's not the last ~



Harry blinked his eyes open early the next morning and felt a heavy weight on his chest. He glanced down and saw a mass of tangled blond hair sprawled across his pyjama clad stomach. He smiled softly at the sight of Draco sleeping peacefully, before his brain suddenly became fully awake.

"I'm still alive," he thought hazily.

Draco stirred in his sleep and Harry was about to raise a hand to stroke the blond tendrils when he stopped short.

"Why did Draco have to come back?" he suddenly thought angrily. "He should have just let me die."

He suddenly felt a strong desire to disappear, to leave Hogwarts and forget any of this ever happened.

He tried to move his weak limbs, and managed to draw his knees up slightly. He gasped with pain from the effort this small action required. He concentrated all his energy on drawing his elbows beneath him to support his upper body, as he carefully tipped his chest to one side and let Draco's head slip off to rest gently on the mattress. Draco stirred again, mumbling incoherently, but remained fast asleep.

Harry took a deep breath and shuffled over to the edge of the bed. He pushed himself into a sitting position and lowered his bare feet to the ground. He tried to stand but, unaware that Draco's hand was still clutching the back of his pyjamas, he lost his balance and fell to the floor with a thud. He emitted a low groan as sparks of pain flashed throughout his sore body.

There was a squeaking of bedsprings as Draco sat bolt upright and glanced down at the empty space beside him, thinking that someone had taken Harry's body away already, he threw back the sheets and leapt out of bed.

His feet hit the floor, and with his first step, he tripped over something and fell forwards onto the ground. A muffled groan came from beneath his leg and he turned to see Harry lying under him; very much alive and wincing in pain.

"Harry?" Draco cried, hardly daring to believe what he was seeing. His pulse raced as he scrambled off of him and leaned over, looking into Harry's face intently.

Harry opened his eyes, and Draco felt faint as those blessedly familiar emerald eyes gazed up at him.

"You're alive," he breathed.

"Apparently," Harry groaned again in discomfort.

"Are you okay?"

"I was until you fell on me."

Draco grinned and swept Harry into his arms as he stood up.

"What are you doing?" Harry cried in alarm, the room tilting dizzily before his eyes.

Draco sat on the edge of the bed, cradling Harry to his chest.

"Please let me go," Harry begged, trying to wriggle out of Draco's strong arms.

Draco looked into Harry's frightened eyes and released him. "What's wrong?" he asked in concern, as Harry stumbled to the bed across from him and sat down.

"I want you to leave me alone. I...I don't want to see you anymore."

"What? Why?"

Harry looked away from the hurt in Draco's eyes and didn't answer.

"I'm not going anywhere unless you give me a good reason, Harry."

Harry continued to stare out the window, the quidditch hoops standing tall in the distance.

"Well?" Draco asked impatiently.

Harry snapped his head around, eyes full of anger and hurt. "Admit it, the only reason you came back was because you felt guilty. You came back because you wanted a clear conscious and no one to blame you for causing the capture and death of the famous Harry Potter."

"That's not true!" Draco exclaimed in shock.

"Yes it is!" Harry shouted. "The sad and pitiful Harry Potter that everyone felt sorry for, because Draco Malfoy left him. Poor, stupid me, fooled into believing that maybe, just maybe, one thing in my life could go right. That maybe I could find happiness and love with someone willing to share their life with me and who could understand me in return. I see now that I'll have to be content with a life full of the hollow admiration of others who don't really want to know me beyond the scar and tragic life story."

Harry's voice broke as tears filled his eyes. "Why is it that everyone can admire me, but no one can love me?"

"Harry, listen to me," Draco pleaded, kneeling on the floor at Harry's feet and taking his hand. "I came back before I knew that you had been captured. I didn't find out until after I had arrived at your flat and Remus told me everything. I wanted to come back..."

"Why?" Harry asked coldly, angrily wiping tears from his cheeks with his free hand.

"Because I love you."

Harry's lips parted in surprise. "You do?"

"I've always loved you, Harry, I just didn't know how to say it."

"Then why did you leave me?" Harry asked, the hurt still visible in his glassy eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Harry, but I was scared. Your life was constantly in danger and I didn't want to lose you."

"How could you hurt me like that if you loved me?"

"It was a stupid thing to do, I know, I admit it. What you have to understand is that you're the first person I've ever loved, and I was so scared of losing that. I know I hurt you and I'm sorry...God, you don't know how sorry, but I do love you and I want us to be together again. Can...can you forgive me?"

Harry looked away from Draco, feeling torn. He had never seen Draco like this before; so emotional and open about his feelings. Draco looked sorry and had gone through a lot...but then so had he. He wasn't sure if he was ready to forgive him so easily for all the suffering he had caused, he didn't think his pride would let him...

"I don't know," Harry whispered. "I don't think I can..."

Draco nodded coldly and stood up. Harry watched as he walked to the door without a word and turned the handle.

"You're making a mistake!" Harry's heart screamed at him. He tried to ignore it, and listen to his brain instead as it congratulated him on standing his ground.

Draco opened the door. "Goodbye, Harry."

He paused as if waiting for a response, then left silently when none came.

Harry suddenly felt very alone and empty, his heart clenching in regret.

"I should tell you, I should tell..." Lyrics to a song tauntingly played in his ear. He suddenly thought of Draco singing to him as he was lying in this very room. It was Draco's voice that had pulled him back to life, Draco saying that he loved him, Draco...

"What have I done?" Harry gasped. Fuck his stupid pride, he needed Draco in his life.

Harry shakily got to his feet and stumbled towards the door, he wrenched it open and fell out into the hall. He could just make out the blurry shape of Draco's retreating back down the corridor.

"Draco!" he called desperately.

Draco turned and saw Harry lying on the ground, calling to him. He sprinted up the hallway and fell to his knees, and into Harry's open arms. They clung to each other tightly, tears coursing down their cheeks.

"I need you," Harry choked, his face pressed into Draco's neck.

"I need you too, love."

They sat holding each other desperately, all the past doubt and pain washing away with their tears.

Draco finally pulled back and wiped the salty drops from Harry's cheek with a smile. "Let's get you back inside," he said shakily.

He helped Harry to his feet and led him back to the hospital bed. They sat leaning against the pillows side by side, their hands clasped between them.

"What happened to Voldemort?" Harry finally asked.

"He's dead, thanks to you."

Harry sighed and closed his eyes. "I can't believe it's over," he whispered. "It doesn't seem real. I had that one goal for so long...now I don't know what to do with my life."

"All you have to worry about now is what to make me for breakfast," Draco smiled. He realized it was the wrong thing to say when he suddenly remembered the last time Harry had tried to make him breakfast.

The same thought must have occurred to Harry as well. "Let's not talk about that," he said. "What's done is done and we can't change it."

"Agreed," Draco said, giving Harry's hand a squeeze.

"Thank you for the song."

Draco turned his head on the pillow towards Harry.

"It was beautiful."

"Thank you," Draco blushed. "I wrote it for you."

They smiled goofily at each other until Draco suddenly noticed that Harry was still without his glasses. He sat up and reached over to the bedside table to pick up the broken frames, then extracted his wand and tapped them gently.

"Occulus Reparo."

He handed Harry the newly repaired glasses and watched in satisfaction as he put them on.

"Better?" Draco asked, stowing his wand back in his pocket.

"Much," Harry smiled gratefully.

Draco snuggled back down beside him and looked into his eyes. "Your scar is gone," he finally mentioned quietly, moving Harry's dark fringe aside to look at the now unmarred skin.

"Really?" Harry's eyes widened. "I want to see."

Draco stood up and unhooked the round, gold mirror from the wall and placed it into Harry's hands. Harry touched his forehead in wonder, the skin now smooth beneath his fingers.

"I guess it was just a part of the connection between you and Voldemort," Draco said, sitting back down.

"I know it sounds weird, but I kind of miss it," Harry admitted, lowering the mirror.

"That's not surprising, you've had it all your life."

"This is so surreal," Harry said, shaking his head.

"I know, my love," Draco said, taking up Harry's hand again.

"I like it when you call me that," Harry blushed.

"I like calling you that," Draco smiled, tucking a lock of Harry's raven hair behind his ear. "Jeez, we sound like a couple of sappy, love-sick teenagers."

Harry laughed and leaned against Draco's shoulder. Draco kissed the top of his head and wrapped his arms around him. They sat together in comfortable silence for a long time.

"I should probably go tell everyone you're alive," Draco eventually said with reluctance.

"Maybe I should I do it," Harry chuckled.

Draco glanced at the clock and realized in shock that it was almost time for the feast to start. One corner of his lip curled up as a mischievous glint suddenly lit his eyes.

Harry looked up at him and raised one brow in a very Malfoy-ish expression.

"Shall we?" Draco asked, standing and extending an arm to Harry.

Harry grinned and accepted his hand.

Draco helped support him as they slowly made their way towards the Great Hall.

                        *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

        Dumbledore sat in his seat at the head table, surveying the students before him with a sombre expression. He patiently waited as the new first years were sorted into their respective houses. He glanced to his left and saw Snape watching him with a worried expression in his dark eyes, but he looked away the moment they locked gazes, smoothing his expression into its usual mask of cool indifference. He glanced to his right and saw the pale faces of Ron, Hermione, and Sirius, who he had asked to join the feast with him.

As the final first year sat upon the stool to be sorted, the doors to the Great Hall banged open and Draco Malfoy came strolling in and up to the head table. He stopped and leaned against it casually as he silently observed the familiar sorting ritual with a barely concealed smile on his face.

Professor McGonagall removed the Sorting Hat and the stool as a small girl with bouncing red pig-tails ran off to join the Hufflepuff table.

Dumbledore glanced at Draco curiously before getting to his feet.

"Welcome back to another year of learning and magic making," he smiled, at the sea of attentive faces. "I have something important to say before the usual announcements and opening remarks. Lord Voldemort -"

The students jumped simultaneously.

"- has been defeated once and for all."

The student's eyes widened in shock, not knowing whether to cheer or cry in relief; they opted for a stunned silence as Dumbledore continued.

"The war is over and the Ministry has managed to capture all of the Death Eaters responsible and imprison them with the Azkaban Guards, who have now been reinstated. I know you will not soon forget the pain and suffering that can occur when one wizard promotes segregation and the importance of blood type. We must always stand united and never forget the sacrifices of your friends and family. Many have died needlessly in this war and we must honour them as they so deserve.

Here Dumbledore paused and looked around him.

"We have one person to thank for the downfall of Lord Voldemort, and that person is Harry Potter. We expected so much from that extraordinary young man and he never let us down."

Hermione buried her face in her hands and sobbed quietly. Ron put an arm around her as Sirius just stared blankly at the table. Draco uncrossed his long legs elegantly and continued to watch Dumbledore in silent amusement.

"Harry Potter has been in the hospital wing fighting for his life, and I'm sorry to say that last night he lost that battle."

The students gasped and a few burst into tears.

Draco decided that that was enough and walked over to Dumbledore. "May I say something?" he interrupted.

Dumbledore nodded in surprise as Draco turned to address the hall.

"You are all here because you possess the ability to do magic and the ability to do great things with that magic. There is nothing stronger than the bond between wizards, and that bond allows us to accomplish many feats of bravery and strength that you might not otherwise have known you possessed. Harry taught us that you must never give up hope, no matter what the situation. Inside your hearts lies the most powerful magic of all and with that magic anything is possible."

Draco withdrew his wand and pointed it at the closed entrance doors to the Great Hall. The students turned to watch as a jet of red sparks shot towards the doors, causing them to fly open and reveal Harry standing tall on the threshold.

Everyone at the head table leapt to their feet with a gasp of astonishment and disbelief.

    Draco smiled, leapt off of the platform, and ran down the aisle towards Harry. They embraced joyfully as the entire school erupted into cheers and applause.

Hermione, Ron, and Sirius clambered down from the head table and raced towards Harry. Draco released him as Sirius grabbed him from behind and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. Harry laughed as Ron and Hermione threw themselves on top of him and Sirius. Draco stood back and smiled fondly at the four of them.

"C'mere, Draco."

Hermione grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him into the group hug. Ron slung an arm around his shoulders and smiled at him. Harry just grinned happily as the school continued to cheer.

Dumbledore reached the joyful group and addressed Draco with an accusing stare.  "Mr Malfoy, why did you not interrupt me earlier?"

"You know I have a flair for the dramatic," Draco smirked. "Plus, I wanted Harry to hear what you had to say about him. It's not everyday you get to hear your own eulogy."

"Thank, God," Hermione rolled her eyes.

Dumbledore shook his head, but his eyes twinkled with hidden pleasure that everything had turned out alright.

Draco turned to Harry, and the two smiled at each other fondly as everyone else continued to cheer and talk around them.

'I love you,' Draco mouthed silently.

'I love you, too,' Harry repeated right back.

The celebrations lasted all night and well into the morning, classes were immediately cancelled for the next day as the students fell into their beds around five am.

Harry was pronounced in perfect health by Madam Pomfrey, to the relief of all, and was told that he could go home. All traces of the Avada Kedavra virus were gone from his body.

                        *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

        Harry and Draco stood on the steps of Hogwarts in the early morning sunshine, making their goodbyes.

"Thanks for everything" Harry said, hugging Dumbledore affectionately.

Beside him Draco was shaking Snape's hand in farewell.

Harry stepped back and turned to Snape. "Thank you Professor Snape, without your help no one would've been able to find me."

"Yes, well..." Snape looked distinctly uncomfortable. "You're just lucky that you mean so much to one of my best pupils."

Harry smiled as Draco wrapped his arms around him from behind. A horse-less carriage suddenly pulled up to the bottom of the stairs.

"Come on, Harry."

Draco helped Harry, who was still a little weak, down the steps as he waved frantically at the gathered group of friends. Ron and Hermione waved back, grinning like idiots, as Sirius and the two Professors looked on proudly.

Draco helped Harry into the carriage before hopping in beside him. They sat back in the plush cushions, Harry's head resting on Draco's shoulder and finger intertwined, as the carriage carried them away from the school and out the front gates. Harry smiled and snuggled closer to Draco as he sleepily wondered what the future would hold for them.