Epilogue

The Great Hall; December 21, 1997; about 11 PM

"It's only been...a little more than a month."

"Hmm?" said Harry, distracted. A mix of light and shadow played across his face, catching a feeling of peace now and then. Not necessarily contentment- more the peace of someone who has stopped fighting the inevitable and instead has given in to it. The peace of acceptance.

"It's over for you, Potter. You ended your war before it even started." Draco's gaze turned from his laced fingers to Harry's face. He smiled wryly. "How lucky."

The answering laugh was knife-bright and bitter. "Yes, it's been ended- but you ended it."

"No. I didn't." Draco looked away again, back to his hands. Harry scowled, trying to meet his eyes but failing.

"What do you mean, no? Aren't you...proud? Or pleased, at the least? You've saved the world, Malfoy!"

"What's there to be proud of in doing that?" Draco said quietly. "I was a traitor."

"It doesn't count when you're doing the right thing." Harry waved it aside.

Draco turned his head at this, gazing with such intensity that Harry was forced to look away. Those eyes were penetrating. Draco scarcely moved; Harry, in turn, felt scrutinized and...frozen.

Then Draco sighed and his gaze quieted. He laughed, somewhat weakly. "It's so hard sometimes."

"What is?"

"Understanding you. Never mind- forget what happened down there, will you, Potter?"

"Forget...?"

"Don't look so baffled."

Not as if he could help it. "Forget what happened down there, Malfoy? You make it sound so easy."

Draco shook his head and leaned towards Harry- silently, he reached for Harry's hand and laid it on top of his own, palms open skyward. Carefully, he shifted and stretched until their fingers were aligned. His other hand barely brushed Harry's leg as it reached for the phoenix feather wand- that went into the open palm as well, positioned so the tip passed between thumb and forefinger.

As Draco curled his fingers inward, Harry's curled as well, until they clasped the wand together.

Guiding Harry's hand, Draco moved the wand until it was pointed at his own chest. "There- it's so simple." Harry's hand was shaking slightly, catching Draco's notice. He tightened his grip. "What's wrong? Can't find your mark, Potter, even after I've given it to you?" But his voice also held a tremor.

"You don't want to remember."

"More than anything."

Harry looked closely at him. This time, when their gazes crossed, he was determined not to look away. He threw his wand to the side; it fell off and came to rest under a far table, caught between the stones.

"I don't care."

And then he kissed Draco Malfoy more fiercely than he had thought possible, even more so than when he had thought Draco was dead. His hands tangled through Draco's hair and made caresses that bordered on the edge of pain. He found a scar there, buried and hidden by gold, and thought of Voldemort and heroes and all the other pointless truths in the world. Of how fire burned yet, in doing so, brought only a chill that was more painful afterwards. A remembered need for flame.

Draco inhaled sharply.

Harry released him and moved, just barely moved away. He was still so near that every time he spoke, their lips brushed- Draco's eyes had closed and now they flew open in numb wonder.

"I won't let you forget," said Harry fiercely, his rough voice breathing clouds of warm air against Draco's face. "I won't let you forget, damn it!"

"If... if you don't want me to..."

"Promise me!" Harry snarled, refusing to back down or give up or fail ever again. Maybe he was human- he had human desires, human desperation if the moment begged it. Human weakness. But he would not relent, refused to believe that time would go on if Draco could not promise...would not give him that one small want. Harry would stop time before he let that happen.

"Potter..." There was a hint of pleading in Draco's voice. Harry could see his lips trembling faintly.

"Promise!"

"Look- its snowing, Potter. Look for a second, the snow's falling inside!" Harry didn't have to look up to see the snow- he could feel it trailing down his neck and under the collar of his robes, saw it clinging to Draco's pale, pale hair.

"I won't look," he said, never even turning an eye. "Not until you promise."

Draco pulled away at this, leaving Harry stunned. "Malfoy-"

The wind was knocked out of him; he was pushed forcibly backwards before he could even finish his words. He saw Draco above him, framed by falling snow, and felt his heart freeze and thaw, freeze and thaw- the two would alternate until the end of time.

"I'll never promise you anything, Potter," said Draco softly, and kissed him.

The Great Hall was dark and beautiful at this hour, but Harry found nothing darker or more beautiful than what would have been a dragon in winter, lying in dormancy amid the snow.

And was now simply himself and Draco Malfoy.

FIN

A/N: The Dragon in Winter is finally finished- it almost hurts to think about it. Wow. I get to tell myself, now, that this is the end. You've finally finished something you felt was worthwhile. It's almost too good to be true, ne?

This was the first chaptered slash fic that I've ever completed, and after this experience, I think I definitely need to do finish more often. ^^ A lot of ink, sweat, and blood went into this story, and not just my own. I want to thank all my beta readers! FourEyedBookWorm, Sabrina Clarke, Galenbrethil, and Cass- this fic would have sucked at least 20x more if not for all of you. If there's any outstanding screw-ups in there, it's completely my fault for not listening to your sage advice. Both FourEyes and Sabrina have ff.net accounts; go read their stuff, I can assure you that it's much, much better than mine. Take my word for it, or at the very least GO SEE FOR YOURSELF!

Also, much thanks to my reviewers- thanks for taking the time to read my little tale!

Chlorine- My first reviewer! Thanks for your encouragement, I know it takes guts and more to be the very first.

Luna Aelf Writer- Thanks much to you too!

BurningTyger- Aww, you've made me blush. Draco/Harry *is* wonderful, ne? ^_~

Rayne-Jelly- Yay! You came over here from Palindromes, didn't you? Glad to hear you liked this one. Here's your dose of closure!

Foureyed- ::huggles:: You're too good to me, I swear. Four reviews. *Four*! I could cry with joy...I must now plug you to death and go review everything you've ever written!

It's been a fantastic experience- thanks so much again! If you want more, go see Palindromes, my WiP- hopefully you won't be disappointed.