A/N: Thank you all who reviewed!

Freedom is Calling Me Home: Uhm...thanks? I usually update very quickly, like, multiple times a day. Once I get an idea, all I do is write. I'm just special like that.

Cynnie636: Uhm...I forget? " I have a very short term memory. I'm glad you like my stories. Cliffhangers are good...they keep people who don't really want to read my writing coming back just so that they can find out what happens. Maha! I'm evil... ;

pixyfairy120: I certainly will. Thank you.

-Sold-

By Lyla Hayden

"Ron? Hermione? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Draco invited us...well...not me. I'm just here because Hermione wanted me to come." Ron shrugged.

Hermione smacked Ron's arm gently. "Yes, well...how are you, Harry?" Shitty.

"I'm good. How about you two? I haven't seen you in...well...since school got out."

"We're getting married." ...Woah...Out of the loop much, Har?

"Wow...Congratulations!"

"So, Hermione, how's Phil?" I blinked. Phil..?

She laughed. "He's fine. So's Mother." Draco pouted softly. "Don't give me that look! I know you were about to ask!" I blinked. When had they gotten so chummy?

"Harry, it was good to see you again. Draco, thank you for inviting uh...well, thanks for the invitation. I'll see you around?" Hermione hugged me and Ron smiled before they left.

"A lot has changed, Harry. You've been out of the loop for quite a while." No kidding. Millicent's pregnant with Crabbe's kid, Ron and Hermione are getting married, and Hermione's friends with Draco Malfoy? When's the apocalypse gonna start? I didn't think being in America for one year could do this...but I was wrong.

#&

I sighed and sat down in a chair. Malfoy was seeing the last of the people off. Ron and Hermione left a while ago, shortly followed by Snape and then everyone else I know. Then I spent the whole time being dragged around from person to person. Although I did find out that Dra-Malfoy wasn't that bad of a guy.

"Harry, sorry that took so long. You can go lock yourself in your room now." Malfoy shooed me away with one hand, rubbing his forehead with the other. "Grohma!!" A pop and another small house elf appeared.

"Oh, dear! Draco! Do you have another one of those headaches again?"

"Yes. Can you go fetch the medicine?" The house elf Grohma disappeared.

"What headaches?" I asked, looking up at him from my seat.

"Nothing. I said you can go."

"I don't want to." I growled, standing up. "What headaches?" I persisted.

"I just get headaches when I'm under a lot of stress. It's no big deal." A pop. "Ah! Grohma! Thank you." Malfoy took a vial from the house elf who promptly apparated away. He swiftly downed the drink and sat down where I'd just been.

"I was sitting there!"

Malfoy look up at me. "Keyword, 'was'." I hissed and Malfoy burst out laughing. When I asked him what was so funny, he merely kept on laughing. "You're like a cat. Maybe I should baptize you." I blinked.

"What...?"

"Oh. Phil told the joke to me. 'Never try to baptize a cat.'" Draco snickered and I found myself smiling softly.

"Who is Phil?"

"It's a nickname. Hermione's father." I arched one eyebrow as Draco rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes. "Not everyone is as they were when they were a child. Some people grow up." Feh...Draco would never 'grow up.' Then ensued the very uncomfortable silence until Draco said, "You can go back to your room."

"I'm not tired," I relied softly.

"Oh. I have to go write some letters. I promised Severus that I would help him find a new Potions teacher."

"What?! You mean he's not going to be the Potions teacher anymore?!"

"No, Harry. He's taking up the Dark Arts part. What with the Dark Lord gone, Dumbledore felt that it was time he got the position he really wanted, even if it was a tease." I blinked. I really should make a vow never to leave ever again. Catching up makes my brain hurt.

Draco opened his eyes and looked at me. "Where did you go after school?" I took a step back, startled to see compassion in his eyes and in his voice.

"I went to America."

"Oh..." Again, that hard quiet. "Right!" Draco stood up and stretched. "Letters." I watched as he headed off down the hall. "If you need anything, just call." I watched as he turned a corner and I felt a twinge in my chest.

No. Not a twinge...a pull. I walked down the hall, intent on following him. To what end, I'm not sure. I peeked into the study and gasped. Books lined the walls of the large library-like study. Red carpet covered the floor thickly(surprise there). Only one desk lay up against the far wall.

Draco pulled off his cloak and laid it over the back of the chair. I felt my cheeks burn when I caught myself checking him out. Although he was rather hot. He always had been. With his muscular body, his feminine quality, yet there was something missing...

His mark! There was no mark! Severus still had his, and he was adamant about keeping it there, too. "Draco...you don't have a mark." He spun around in shock that I'd followed him and that I'd called him his first name.

He sniffed and shrugged. "I'm not the type to blindly follow someone who kills anyone and everyone for no reason. I value life, even if it isn't my own." I walked up to the desk and sat on the corner.

"Draco...Why did you buy my hand in marriage?"

A/N: Yes...I'm very evil. In the next chapter, lots of talking. Harry realizes something about Draco, and about himself. Then......ah...I can't say for it'll give things away. And yes, there will be slash soon. And romance. Sooo...review?