I sit with them all night

Everything they say is right

But in the morning they were wrong

I'll be right by your side

Come hell or water high

Down any road you choose to roam

-- "Heaven" by Live

Part Seven: The Leave-Taking…

Harry pulled his knees up to his chin as he waited with Draco in Dumbledore's office. "I hate this office," he said venomously as he glared at some of the former headmasters who lined the wall. "During the war, I'd spend part of every night here, reliving Voldemort's atrocities." He scoffed. "I nearly redid the floors to save the house-elves the trouble."

Draco nodded. "I'm a Slyth, Harry. Like this place is comfortable ever."

Harry glanced warmly at him as the door opened. Draco jumped, as Harry sat still, waiting for the Headmaster to pronounce sentence on them.

"Good morning Mr. Malfoy. Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said as the door was shut behind him by Professor Snape.

"Morning, sir," Draco muttered.

"Professor Snape has informed me that the both of you have something that you wish to tell me," he intoned solemnly, sitting at his desk as Snape hovered behind the two boys' chairs.

Harry nodded. "Yes Professor. Last night, I was in the Slytherin dorms."

Draco continued. "I know that Harry has been in trouble with his family and friends for keeping secrets from you. This morning, Professor Snape discovered what Harry had refused to tell. I didn't want anyone else to suffer on my behalf and I would like my book back, with your permission," he said, evenly.

Dumbledore neither sighed nor smiled. "I see."

"And I can be packed whenever you need me to be, Headmaster."

Panicked emerald eyes swept over Draco. "What?" Harry choked. "No. You're not going anywhere without me!"

"Relax, dear boys. I am not suggesting that either of you should go anywhere, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said softly. He sighed. "Indeed, the both of you have nowhere to go."

They both nodded at this realization.

"Neither of you will be forced to leave this school. We can not afford to publicize your condition, Draco, but others with similar Curses have attended this school during my tenure here." He pet the phoenix resting on the arm of his chair.

"It's only a few months, sir," Harry added, hopefully.

"You are correct, Harry. And I shall do everything in my power to assist the two of you, with a few conditions."

Draco smiled. "I would expect nothing less. Name them, Headmaster."

"The first condition would be that neither of you would ever reveal anything about Draco's condition. Those who do know will be sworn to secrecy with a Wizard's Oath. I shall take care of that."

"It's been rather hard keeping up the charade, Professor. We need freedom to meet when my needs arise. I… would like to be able to pursue this relationship openly, with your permission, sir."

Harry turned to Draco, mouth slightly agape. Of all the counter-conditions, he had not expected that, and his heart leapt at the suggestion.

"So granted, Mr. Malfoy. In addition, Mr. Potter must seek Madame Pomfrey's care after every feeding."

Harry's face fell and he muttered a few oaths that forced an amused expression from the normally placid Snape. "What, sir? She's an overprotective fussy woman."

Dumbledore merely smiled. "And Draco, I want your word that you will not attempt to use any other student in this school. Is that clear?"

Draco nodded, twining his hand with Harry's. "Perfectly, sir."

The elder mage nodded. "You do realize that I will have to inform your godfather if you do not, Harry?"

Harry swallowed the lump in his throat. "Yes, sir."

"Thank you both for being honest with me."

The teens looked up and nodded.

"Breakfast is nearly over. If you wish, you may go to the kitchens for your meal."

Draco and Harry stood and made as if to leave.

"Gentlemen?"
They turned, still not sure what to expect.

"Draco, your book."

The blonde smiled, advanced to the desk and accepted the volume, then walked back to his Gryffindor to leave the office.

Once the door had shut, Snape turned to the Headmaster. "Are you certain that telling Black will accomplish anything?"

"The burden of secrecy weights heavily upon the both of them. I have known that it was Mr. Malfoy since Harry's involvement was discovered. They have both suffered great discomfort in hiding these things from their Housemates in the past several weeks and it is a miracle that their grades have not suffered in their many classes. It may be a great relief to them to allow their relationship to become public."

"Or that they will be shunned by both their Houses." Snape crossed his arms. "And if this ever leaks, Malfoy will be cast out from our world and I have no doubt that Potter will follow. The bond that they share is greater than blood."

"We may choose many things, Severus, but not who our hearts choose to love. There may yet be consequences, both good and bad, that I have yet to foresee."

The stern Potions Master nodded. "I should go to breakfast. Why did you tell them that it was nearly over?"

"They needed time, Severus."

He sighed. "Stirring the pot once again, Albus?" Before the older man could give an answer, Snape walked out of the office, closing the door softly behind him.

Harry shouldered his back as he left the kitchens, conversing with Draco in the vampiric tongue. ~So was there anything in the book that speaks of lifting the curse?~

Draco raised an eyebrow. ~I would have mentioned it before, don't you think? Or have I actually convinced you that I like the taste of blood?~

"You're the only one I know who can stomach those damned Blood Pops," Harry said, blithely.

"Remind me to let you try one some time."

Harry laughed. "You are insane, Drake. I don't think that you'll ever get me to like those."

Draco draped his arm over Harry's shoulder lovingly. "Someday, Harry. Someday, I'll win this argument, my love."

"May take you several years, Draco."

"I am nothing if not persistent, Harry," the blond said, smiling.

Harry sighed. "Or stubborn as a mule as the case may be." His green eyes closed momentarily as they paused, outside the Common Room. "Damn, I forgot the password again. Um… Manchester United."

The portrait eyed the duo warily and opened slowly as Draco rolled his eyes, muttering something about uppity portraits along their mental link.

Harry laughed as they entered the room. "Hey, just because your Common Room entrance is a bare stone wall doesn't mean that you can insult mine and get away with it."

"Harry, I…" Neville began, standing up. "Malfoy?"

Draco nodded. "Longbottom."

Harry stepped closer to Neville. "What is it, Nev?"

"Um… right. Ron's been looking for you. You weren't back last night and Hermione's worried that you might have done something to lose points again, I guess," Neville replied, shrugging.

Harry sighed wearily. "Fun… You know where they are?"

He furrowed his brow in thought. "I think they went to go see Professor McGonagall first, and then to speak with Dumbledore."

Harry cursed softly under his breath. "Thanks, Nev. Draco, I'll drop these things in my dorm and then we can go back to the kitchens or someplace else they won't think to look."

"Keep the bag," Draco said, honestly. "Grab a new outfit or two and we'll stay in the dungeons until they apologize for being overly nosy prats."

"We might be there for quite a while," Harry muttered.

"You were in the dungeons?" Neville asked.

"Yes, Harry was. So what, Longbottom? You were in the Hufflepuff dorms with Hannah Abbott."

Neville blushed as Harry smiled.

"How did you know, Malfoy?"

"I am a Slytherin, Longbottom. I have my ways." The long buried Malfoy smirk made an appearance, and it warmed Harry's heart.

Harry shook his head. "Stay right there and I'll be right back, Drake. Try not to cause any trouble."

Draco nodded as Harry disappeared up the stairs. "So… Nice place you've got here, Longbottom."

Neville nodded. "We like to think so."

"You probably wouldn't like the dungeons, then. They're colder, darker and much greener, though if it's mostly from the tapestries or the mold, I don't know." He raked his eyes over the Gryffindor, reveling in the reaction to his dry humor. "This place is a bit too warm and bright for my tastes," Draco admitted.

Harry walked back downstairs but said nothing. He simply watched the two.

"I don't know. I'd imagine that they're much cooler in the summer," Neville suggested gently, sitting back on the couch. He picked up a Herbology book and reopened it.

Harry smiled. Draco was playing nice. He had never personally disliked any of the Gryffindors (except for Ron Weasley), and as the years passed, he gained new respect for many within these walls. But old habits die hard and Draco had no inclination to try and apologize to anyone, much less three-quarters of the school. But the fact that he could be pleasant with Neville gave Harry hope. "All done, Drake. Nev, could you…"

The other Gryffindor smiled. "Don't worry. I haven't seen you; I don't know anything…"

Harry beamed. "You're a life-saver, Nev. Thank you."

The two neared the entrance as the portrait opened again.

'Oh fuck!' Draco thought as he recognized the flaming red hair of one Ron Weasley, followed by the light brown hair of Granger.

"There you are…" Hermione began, trailing off as she saw Draco standing there.

"Yes, but I'm actually on my way out," Harry said with false cheer. "Later, Hermione."

He stiffened as the redhead grabbed his arm.

"Harry, what the hell is Malfoy doing here?" Ron demanded, glaring at the Slytherin, while bruising Harry's upper arm.

"Ron, let go of my arm," Harry intoned with a voice of icy calm that had to have been learned from Draco.

Draco arched an eyebrow as the redhead made no move to obey Harry's command, locked in a battle of wills. "You would do well to unhand my boyfriend, Weasley. Because if he's too kind to take you down, I will…"

Weasley's eyes widened. "It's you," he hissed. "I should have known."

Harry twisted out of Ron's grip with a speed gleaned from his combat training. Ron was quickly relegated to the wall. "Known what, Ron?" he asked, unaware that Neville had stood up and crossed the Common Room. "And choose your words carefully, my friend…"

Draco smirked as he raised a hand to motion both Neville and Hermione to stop their advances. "Wait, you two. It's all right. Harry's got this one," he murmured.

Ron paled, but choked the words out. "I should have known that it was someone like Malfoy. Harry, he'll use you until the novelty wears off and then he'll leave you with nothing."

Harry growled. "Do not tell me of your own failings, Ronald Weasley." He closed his eyes, bowing his head to regain his composure. "You knew I was famous since the moment we met. You have wanted nothing more than to not be overshadowed by me, by fame that I would have willingly given you if it meant that I would have the family and love that you had every day of your life." He opened his eyes, locking them on Ron's crystal blue. "You were happy for me when I told you that I was in love. You take that all back just because he's not who you would have chosen for me? Real friends accept other's choices."

Draco came closer and wrapped his arms around Harry's waist. "Very true, Harry. You see, Weasley… you've got your entire family. We've got each other. Both orphaned, and our family friends are too busy moving on with their own lives to realize what we have. Now, I'm sorry that our life doesn't fit in your miraculous little world view, whether it be due to the dynamics of our relationship or the problems that you and I have had in the past. But I am sure as hell not giving up one of the few lights in my life."

"Neither am I, Ron," Harry added. "And the way that you two care about me so sporadically, I don't see how it's any of your goddamn business who I care about. But if you do anything to jeopardize our relationship, you will regret it, and you will rue the day you ever met me." His fierce green eyes bored into Ron's soul. "Are we understood?"

Ron's face pinched. "I don't even know who you are anymore. First you leave for more than 6 months and you don't even owl. Then you come back, and suddenly, Malfoy's your best friend. And now, you're shagging the guy, and letting him-"

Ron didn't even get to finish his thought as a vicious roundhouse caught him full in the face. "Don't you even dare, Ronald Weasley. Draco and I have never 'shagged' as you put it so bluntly. How dare you assume that I'm the one who changed and that I shouldn't have? If anyone in this conversation deserves to have changed, it's me. I killed that bastard Voldemort; I killed his Death Eaters too. And after that, I took a bit of time for myself. Now, you have a problem with that, you leave Draco out of it. I thought you were my friend Ron. Were you ever, or did you just use me for your own ends?"

Draco had let go before Harry punched Ron. He reacted very quickly, catching Hermione's hand as she tried to slap Harry. "I wouldn't even think about it if I were you, Granger. I have absolutely no compunctions about hitting a woman." His next act was to check Harry's knuckles, kissing them gently. "Weasley, I warn you now. Make our lives hell and you will regret it. Come on, luv. The dungeons await."

With that, the bound pair left the room and returned to the dungeons. Hermione and Ron followed them out the door a few moments later, intent on speaking to the Headmaster.

"Staring contest with a basilisk, Harry. Good one," Neville said, sitting down and picking up the Herbology book again.

School was hell for Harry and Draco when the term resumed in January. One morning, Harry received a suspicious red envelope in the morning post. He braced himself and opened it, with a glance at Draco. He failed to notice how smug Ron's expression was.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING? DATING A SLYTHERIN? ARE YOU MAD? YOUR PARENTS WOULD BE ROLLING OVER IN THEIR GRAVES RIGHT NOW. AND A MALFOY NO LESS!!!"

Sirius' voice rang out clearly throughout the Great Hall until Dumbledore erected a silencing charm.

Harry grew pale and trembled as it continued, only for him, Draco and Dumbledore to hear.

"AND TO HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT FROM RON! I CAN'T ABIDE A GODSON WHO CAN'T TRUST ME. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW IT MADE ME FEEL THAT YOU CAN'T CONFIDE IN ME?"

Draco flushed.

"YOU BEST HOPE TO MERLIN THAT I'VE CALMED DOWN BY THE TIME I GET BACK FROM MY TRIP TO FRANCE WITH MOONY. WE ARE APPALLED AT YOUR BEHAVIOUR AND YOU HAD BEST RETHINK YOUR CURRENT ALLIANCES BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING STUPID! IF YOU CONTINUE IN THIS VEIN, I SWEAR TO MERLIN, I WILL DISOWN YOU, HARRY!!!"

With that, the red envelope tore itself to pieces and Harry sat, staring at the debris that littered the table. Then he did the only thing he could think of. He stood up without a word, stalked to the other end of the table and punched Ronald Weasley in the jaw again.

Draco stood protectively outside the gargoyle, waiting for his consort to emerge. When he did, the blonde turned to Harry, who was pale faced and had red-rimmed eyes. "What happened?"

"Well, I got detention for the rest of the term, to be administered by my Head of House. And I think that Ron and I are officially quits," the raven-haired wizard admitted. "Same with Siri, I think too… I Flooed him in France, and he wasn't happy…"

Draco brushed the hair from Harry's cheek as he pulled the shorter wizard closer. It was only then that he noticed the tie around his boyfriend's neck wasn't red and gold, but silver and green. "Harry, why are you in Slytherin robes?"

"Dumbledore's giving you a roommate," Harry said, slowly. "Hope you don't mind, but Ron's made some threats…"

"Fuck Weasley. I care about you. And if it means that I can protect you on my own, then I want you by my side. And I by yours. The way it was meant to be. And God help any prat stupid enough to get in our way, luv." Draco's voice was tender, but laced with venom. "I will go wherever you do."

Harry smiled quietly as Draco's lips descended on his own. Finally something that was simple and made sense once again. He could live with that.

If anything, Harry's life got worse. He was seen as a traitor by most of the other students, except for Neville and most of the Hufflepuffs, who were happy that Harry was happy.

Pranks were played, insults were whispered, and Harry's only solace was that Draco awaited him after his detention every night. And given the fact that Snape agreed whole-heartedly with Harry's actions that had led to detention, Harry passed the time in unsupervised study.

Harry pulled his tie over his head, dressed quickly in his pyjamas and walked to the bed that awaited him.

Before he realized it, Draco had wrapped his slender arms around Harry and drew him closer. "Long day, luv?"

"Yeah, Drake. Can we wait until tomorrow, or do you need to feed tonight?"

Never once before had Harry asked to be released from the duty in anything but jest. Draco stiffened, but nodded. "Of course, Harry. What happened?"

"You mean aside from the Gryffindors torture as usual, and the fact that today is Sirius' birthday?" Harry said. "Oh, yes and I had that test in Divinations again… with all the Gryffindors snickering when she predicted my death again."

The blonde stroked Harry's hair softly as the brunette held him close. "Harry?"

"Hmm?"

Draco looked down, waiting for a reaction. "What kind of plans do you have for after graduation?"

"I don't want to stay here if that's what you mean," Harry sneered.

The vampire smiled. "I was hoping you say that. We can do a hand-fasting ourselves, and travel a bit before we find a place we're comfortable in."

Harry moaned softly as Draco massaged the tension out of his neck. "Neville mentioned something about getting Muggle equivalencies, just in case."

"Good old Neville," Draco murmured. "Harry, you do understand what a hand-fasting is, right? It's a magical marriage ceremony."

Harry nodded. "It's what I always wanted."

With that, Draco disentangled himself, went to his trunk and removed a pair of silver rings. "I got these our last time in Hogsmeade. You had mentioned something about getting married, but hadn't set a date…"

Harry's emerald eyes lit up. "Draco! You remembered!"

The rings were silver, with a green malachite cross set into the top of each.

"The ritual itself is fairly simple. All you have to do is say 'I shall' after what I am about to say, and then I say the same while you ask the questions. Do you really want this?"

Harry nodded. "Yes."

Draco knelt on the bed, facing Harry. "Harry, wilt thou take this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after Merlin's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"*

"I shall."

Harry then repeated the question, as Draco placed the ring on Harry's left ring finger.

"I shall."

The two descended into a tender kiss, each one cupping the other's face, and morning found them, left hands twined around one another, the rings touching, as they would for years to come.

"To whom it may concern:

If you're reading this letter, it's because someone finally noticed that we didn't leave on the train with the rest of the students. We didn't even expect you to. In fact, aside from the Headmaster and Professor Snape, we didn't know you cared. We'd be touched, if we gave a fuck.

"Don't come looking for us. You didn't want us when we were there, and we sure as hell don't need you. We'll be fine on our own, and we know that you'll get by. You wanted heroes, you wanted sacrifice, and you got it. But sometimes we fall from the pedestal, and we don't want to go back. I know that Harry sure as hell doesn't.

"Sirius, I hope you're happy. Honestly, you deserve it. But you need to learn that sometimes, things don't always go your way.

"Ron, grow the fuck up. It's not about you. It's about us. And I hope that you grow out of your selfishness before you have any kids.

"Hermione, books can't tell you about the human heart. So don't even try to analyze this, like I know you will.

"Enough advice. Now for the thanks.

"Severus, thanks for your support. We couldn't have survived without you. Now if you could just make a restorative without the rat spleen…

"Neville, you're a true friend, and we hope that you do well in your graduate studies. You have a good heart and a wise mind. We hope it serves you well.

"Headmaster, thanks for understanding. You didn't have to do what you did, but we're glad that you did. We are happy that you didn't let anything keep us from being together.

"We gave you everything and got nothing in return. We're going now, and we don't expect to ever come back. This world is too full of self-centered hypocrites, and we can't wait forever for you to understand. Live happy lives. It's more than you deserve, maybe, but it's still the most anyone can hope for.

"Signed,

"Draco and Harry Potter-Malfoy."

--00--

No, this is not the end… this is only the beginning.

For those of you who wondered why it was called the Prologue, here's why. All this was to set up the reason that Harry and Draco left the Wizarding World. Coming soon is the next part… just have to do a little research on London and the British law enforcement and NHS systems… if I can get any help, I would appreciate it greatly. I've never even been to the UK… if I get no help, it will be AU, according to my world. Shit… it's already AU to begin with, because Siri didn't die.

*And the above quote is adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, Solemnization of Matrimony, "Betrothal," (1662).

I do own a copy, being Episcopalian, but I do not own the rights to it. And it's not a direct quote… it's something I came up for this chapter… a bit of a twisting of words. But I hope the day is not that far off when we can allow people to love others in perfect love, regardless of gender. (Sorry, getting down off the soapbox now. Yea for Integrity.)

As for why this hasn't updated. Somewhere between the job, three trips to the hospital (a week each) for my mum, the start of a new semester and moving from one apartment to the other, I misplaced the handwritten and had to find it, then haven't had the drive, even with 28 reviews. Sorry. I suck, I know. Not my fault entirely. Oh, yeah, and I'm fixing to be ill again. I hate September. And mum's in the hospital now… Damn classes. Couldn't leave if I wanted to.