A/N: YAY!! Finally… I'm sorry this took me a while to write…

Chapter Fifteen

He's Free and A Happy Birthday

It was all decided. I was to move into Gryffindor as soon as possible. McGonagall was a bit flustered at the idea of having an ex Slytherin on Gryffindor territory, but in the end she decided it was for the best. The fifth year dorm room had an extra bed put into it, right beside Harry's.

Harry was getting crap from the rest of his friends. They said things along the lines of 'It's great you love him but does he have to move in here?' as he later told me. The remarkable thing is, he took it all for me. I mean if he wanted me to, I would have moved to my own little home somewhere in the castle.

* * *

"They look like they really hate you," Hermione said one day outside of potions.

"Hmmm… what?" I asked for I wasn't paying attention to her. I was off in space, in my own little world thinking of nothing in particular.

"Them," she nodded in the direction of the Slytherins. "They seem to hate you."

"So?" I said as if waiting for her to say something that mattered to me.

"So, doesn't it bother you?" She asked.

"No," I stated firmly.

"Slytherins suck," Ron said

"Hey! My dad was a Slytherin!" I said indignantly.

"So?"

"So! My dad doesn't suck!"

"He could just suck and you don't know it."

"You little piece of crap!" I shouted as I dove at him. No one insults my father and gets away with it. I was about to swing at his face when Harry grabbed my wrist. I shouted at where Ron was lying stunned on the ground, "Just because I'm dating your best friend doesn't mean that you are allowed to insult me or my family!"

"He didn't mean it, Draco, I'm sure. You didn't mean it right Ron?" Harry said trying to keep the peace.

"Your bloody right I meant it," Ron answered snottily.

"That's IT!" I roared. I dove at him but Harry caught me once more. He walked me away from them.

"Calm down. Take a deep breath," he said soothingly putting his hands on my shoulders and pressing his forehead against mine to look into my eyes. We were standing about a hundred feet away from them.

"I know I was mean to them in previous years and I'm trying Harry, really I am, to be… civil. But if he is going to be a git I'm going to be the same," I spat coldly while pointing at Ron to emphasize my point.

"Just give him time. He is still trying to get used to the fact that we are dating and that I love you," Harry said quietly.

"Like I said before, if he feels the need to be git I'll act the same way to him," I said firmly. He nodded his defeat and we walked back to the charms classroom.

* * *

It was about a week before my birthday when the aforementioned happened.

January 31, born in pretty much the dark of winter. It was during a snowstorm and mother went into labour at the manor. She said father was beside himself trying to get a hold of someone. He couldn't carry her to the fireplace to get her out by floo, mind he's not that strong. You would think that they could have used magic but mom said the both of them were so frantic it didn't occur to them. So, my dad delivered me in the study on the floor and I was named after a book in the study as well. Draconus Ignigenae*, I believe was the title though I'm not sure on the spelling it was some sort of Latin book.

* * *

I woke the morning of my birthday quite early. I wanted to be alone because I felt another bought of depression coming on. It was my first birthday without my mother. So, I slipped out of bed and climbed up to the owlery.

Nenya hooted happily and flew down to my out stretched arm. It hurt a little because he claws were digging through the fabric of my shirt but I dealt with it. Now, I suppose one is inquiring as to where I found such an unusual name as 'Nenya', well it is from a book I read back in the year before I started Hogwarts. The Lord of the Rings, I believe was the title. It was a name that grabbed my attention. I really like it so when my parents presented me with a beautiful tawny owl, the name seemed to fit the serene air she carried.

"Hello, girl," I said as I stroked her beautiful soft feathers. She hooted happily in reply. At least someone was happy. I don't know why but my birthday made me more depressed than Christmas.

I walked to the open window and set Nenya on the windowsill. She looked at me with curious eyes as I produced a quill, some ink and a piece of parchment. I unfolded the piece of parchment and began to write to my father.

Hello Dad,

How are you today? I'm good perhaps a little depressed but all in all I'm fine to say the least. Well, another year gone and I feel no older. I do not understand why we celebrate birthdays… it's all very strange. Anyway, I just thought I'd say hello so I'll talk to you later. Bye dad.

Love,

Draco

I attached my small note to Nenya's leg and she took off out of the window. I watched my owl disappear off onto the horizon. I really wasn't sure what I felt like doing, perhaps go take a shower and go back to bed. That really did seem like an idea. So, I walked with near silent steps back to the Gryffindor common room.

It was still quite early, perhaps just after dawn and everyone was still in bed. I crept upstairs to get my change of clothes before heading off to the showers.

The stone floor was cold on my feet as I slipped out of my slippers. Goosebumps spread quickly across my skin as I made a run for the nearest stall. I hung my robe on the hook beside the stall and stepped in. The tiles were nice and warm for they were heated with the underground hot spring that ran under Hogwarts, far below the chamber of secrets.

I turned the tap on and stepped back, so as I didn't freeze or get burnt. I let the water run for a while before I stepped into the cascade. I don't know why, but I find water really comforting. I let the water fall down my chest and then I turned and let it fall down my back.

It took me a good hour and a half just to get clean. I would be thinking about something while washing and I would spend fifteen minutes on wherever I happened to be washing. It took me half an hour just to wash my hair. I was just really out of it that day.

After I was finished washing, I didn't feel like getting out of the shower so I sank to the floor and sat there, the water still falling comfortingly down my back.

Then, I heard the doorknob turn and I stood up ready to grab my stuff and leave. I turned to the door to find Harry standing there, grinning from ear to ear. I thought it was because I was in the shower naked, so I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my waist. He laughed before he rushed over to me and looked so happy I thought he was going to burst.

"Well?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. He pulled me into his arms for a lingering kiss. That was a great birthday present even though he didn't know it was my birthday, well at least I hadn't told him.

"He's free!" He said breathlessly.

"Who?"

"Sirius! He's free! They caught Wormtail and he confessed and they're one step closer to catching Voldemort! Oh, Draco! He's free!" Harry was positively thrilled.

"Oh that's wonderful! How did you find out?" I asked.

"This morning around 5 or so. Hedwig was banging on the window like crazy! So I let her in and she gave me this," he handed me the letter to read.

Harry,

Hey! You'll never guess, but Harry… I'M FREE!!!! They caught him Harry! They caught Wormtail! Dumbledore told me because Fudge asked for his help on what to do! Oh man! I'm a free man! Harry I'll be there around noon!!! Wait in the Entrance Hall!

Your Forever Free Godfather,

Sirius

I looked up from the letter smiling. "That's amazing! Harry, I'm so happy for him!"

"He'll be here in about three hours and then you can meet him!" He said happily. My face dropped.

"Meet him?" I asked anxiously.

"Yeah," he replied. "What?"

"Well, I mean don't you want to spend time with him first? I mean how long has it been since you've talked to him? Two years?" I asked quietly.

"Actually, the night after we got back to Hogwarts, when you were in your own bed," he said matter-of-factly. I just stared at him. How could he have seen him? I mean he's been on the run it's not like he could have had any access to magic but then again I shouldn't have underestimated one of the Marauders.

"Well, I'll take your word on it," I said as I pulled my shirt over my head.

* * *

We were standing in the Entrance Hall at twelve noon. Harry was pacing and it was getting annoying. He was so worried something was going to happen.

"Harry, you're making me dizzy," I stated as I turned from him to look out the window that was close to the ceiling.

"Sorry, I'm just nervous! I haven't seen him in person in two years!" Harry said as he sat down cross-legged beside me.

Just then, a handsome man burst through the front doors of the school. It had to have been Sirius. He looked nothing like the picture that had been in the Daily Prophet two years ago. He was clean-shaven and had hair that was slightly shorter than Harry's and a lot less messy. His eyes were a really dark brown but they shone with mischief.

"HARRY!" He exclaimed as he hugged Harry.

"Sirius!" Harry said happily as he returned the hug. I sort of stood off to the side unnoticed with my hands folded in front of me.

"Can you believe it? I'm free!" Sirius laughed.

"I know! It's awesome!" Harry laughed in turn.

"Who's the blonde?" Sirius whispered to Harry after he spotted me.

"Oh," Harry said as he turned to me and held out his hand. I walked to him and took his hand. "This is Draco. He's well… He's my boyfriend…"

Sirius looked me up and down like a father would survey his daughter's boyfriend. I felt myself blush under his gaze. He held out his hand to me. I took it hesitantly and he smiled. Then he pulled me closer and whispered into my ear.

"You hurt him and I'll kill you," he said calmly.

"You'll have to get in line behind Ron," I said a little bitter. Why did everyone seem to think I was going to rip his heart out and stomp on it?

* * *

"So Harry…" Sirius said slyly. "I think I remember you calling this one a git on more than a few occasions." I turned red and Harry laughed nervously.

"Umm… Yeah, well things change," he said quietly.

It was around dinner when Harry finally got to really talk to Sirius again. Sirius was pent up with Dumbledore for the past six hours just talking and sorting things out. It was in the Daily prophet that he was free and Pettigrew was captured. I was really happy for Sirius and Harry, though I was still a little depressed. My dad had sent me some presents that I opened in my bed with the curtains drawn.

"It appears that way," Sirius smiled. He was a really easygoing guy that was always laughing. I liked him but he scared me with how calm he could be while threatening me. "Well, I should be going. I'll talk to you later Harry, maybe see you next week. Take care. Bye Draco."

"Bye," Harry and I said together.

* * *

I was lying in my bed with curtains partially drawn. They were open just enough to let the moon light in. It was around ten at night and I was just about to doze off when Nenya floated into my bed with a small hoot.

"Nenya!" I said surprised. She hopped over to me from the foot of my bed and handed me a small letter, well it was more of a note.

Get out of bed and go to the door…

That was all it said and I looked at Nenya. She hooted again and took off again. I pulled on a tank top and climbed out of bed. I walked to the door and there was another note on it.

Pick up the Invisibility Cloak and go downstairs…

So, I looked around and spotted the cloak on the chair near the door. I opened the door and walked down the stairs. On the floor in front of the last stair there was another note.

Put on the Invisibility Cloak and go to the end of the hall in front of The Gryffindor Tower entrance…

I wrapped the cloak around me and slipped out of the portrait hole. I think I may have startled the woman in the portrait but I just kept walking. There was another note on the corner where you would turn to go to the Great Hall.

Go half way to the Entrance Hall and stop…

Again, I walked down the hall narrowly missing Filch's cat. Just as I stopped at the Entrance hall a small note popped onto the wall. I took it off the wall and it read:

Turn Around and walk ten paces…

I complied with the note and found myself at the door to our sanctuary. There was another note on the door.

Go up the stairs…

So, up the stairs I went curiosity growing inside of me. I was at the top of the stairs and there was a note on the door.

Knock…

I smiled and knocked lightly on the door. I heard the door click and it opened. I gasped at the sight that met my eyes. It could rival the little surprise he had for me in my room. There were rose petals everywhere and they were falling around the bed too. Candles were in the corners and lined the floor by the walls. A small path of them led to the bed.

I took this as my cue to follow the path. The room was beautiful, really it was. I could smell rose just faintly on the air as I stopped on the right side of the bed. There was a small note on the bed.

Turn around…

I slowly turned on the spot and Harry was right there. He smiled before he kissed me. He slipped my shirt over my head and gently set it down on the little path, so as not to set it on fire mind. He walked me backwards and the back of my knees hit the bed and, of course, I fell onto it.

Then, I moved back and let Harry get on. He climbed right on top of me and kissed me again.

"Happy Birthday…"

Disclaimer: Do I really have to say it? There are 13 more chapters where ya can find this!

A/N: Everyone seems to have wanted Draco to get his own place BUT if I did that there's a part in the story to come that wouldn't make much sense without it… Anyway, Thanks so much for reviewing! I love it and you guys for it! I'm glad you guys are enjoying it so far! Thanks so much for reading this and reviewing! Thanks again, Luv Gia

P.S. *Dragon: Born of Fire… is the name of the book. Like I said before, I do not know if it is grammatically correct Latin wise because I'm Mohawk and therefore speak only Mohawk and English.