Notes: Part two for your enjoyment; it took me longer than I expected to do this. There's a scene of a rather slashy nature, you have been warned!


"Would you swear
that you'd always be mine?
Or would you lie?
Would you run and hide?
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
I don't care...
You're here tonight."

Enrique Iglesias: "Hero"


One week, Draco concluded, felt much longer if you said 'seven days.' but even that didn't feel like long enough so perhaps it made it easier to say 'one hundred and sixty-eight hours'. Unfortunately that made it so much easier to count the time that was passing by.

Three days had past since the last Death Eater meeting, giving the armies of each side only four short days to make the final preparations. Exams at Hogwarts had finished two weeks earlier and now only the faculty and senior students remained.

There were six Slytherin students left, all seventh years, all bearing a Dark Mark. It was a 'brilliant' plan on behalf of the Dark Lord: these six students were to align themselves with Dumbledore but when they stepped on the battle field it was the plan for them to turn on their fellow students.

They wouldn't. Not a single one of them.

They had been the smart ones, well actually they hadn't. They had seen quite plainly that the Dark Lord had as much chance if winning as Hufflepuff had of winning the Quidditch cup. So they had switched. So often they had seen Harry getting one over on the Dark Lord, take him and Dumbledore and the light side seemed a sure thing.

After the switch what were they to discover? That the entire fate of the wizarding world relied on Harry. And only Harry. Now he was the boy-who-lived but they had all seen first hand the extent of the Dark Lord's power. Perhaps they were on the right side originally after all.

Too late now. At least with the light side they would be protected. Luckily for them, Draco was the only one to get summoned regularly, if they had all been summoned the Dark Lord would have known in an instant that they were stabbing him in his white, serpentine back. Lucius had taught his son occlumency for years, he felt it a useful skill when dealing with enemies. It wasn't often Draco was thankful for something his father did.

Draco looked to the clock above his fireplace. The face read seven-fifteen. Quarter past seven on the morning of July 13th he noted. He looked over to his bed where Harry was still beneath the covers. His black hair stuck up worse than usual from having tossed and turned all night. Emerald green eyes were closed in a peaceful slumber and his face was set in a soft, neutral expression.

Draco's face fell. Harry was always beautiful when he slept. On the nights he didn't have nightmares of course. On those nights he seemed so quiet and serene. The multitude of emotions that were always swirling in those green eyes was hidden behind closed lids as long, dark lashes rest on his cheeks. In seventy-two hours it could be the last time he ever saw the image that lay before him.

An un-characteristic heat prickled in the corners of his eyes but he pushed it away as he closed his eyes and leant back in his chair. The back of his head rested against the stuffed, black leather as his other senses sharpened. The morning fire in the hearth was crackling, embers popping up from the charred logs. The second hand of the antique clock on the wall ticked around the marble face slowly. The mattress creaked, the sound of limbs sliding around beneath covers reached his ears.

Draco opened his eyes, watching as Harry's arms stretched above his head, the green covers sliding down to expose a bare chest. Harry's eyes opened slowly, almost immediately coming to rest on Draco.

"How long have you been awake?" He asked, voice rough from sleep.

"Not long." Draco lied. Harry gave him a reproachful look.

"Liar," Draco snorted as he got up from his chair, "Were you thinking about the battle?" Harry asked him. Draco rolled his eyes as he lay back down beside Harry.

"What else?" He asked rhetorically. Harry slid over to Draco and wrapped his arms around the blonde's shoulders. He placed a kiss on the top of Draco's head as he ran his fingers idly through the soft blond hair. Draco sighed and snaked his arms around Harry's waist, fingertips trailing up and down his back.

"In a few days it'll all be over." Harry said, feeling Draco tense in his arms and look up from where his face was buried in Harry's neck. He looked Harry straight in the eyes.

"That's what I'm worried about." Draco told him. Harry ran a hand down Draco's neck and leant in to kiss him softly but found himself being pushed away. Draco stood violently up from the bed and looked down at Harry.

"You can't keep avoiding this conversation!" Draco said, voice raised slightly. "Every time I bring it up you just kiss me as if it can make me forget what could happen! Well it doesn't work." Harry sat up on the bed. "I spend nearly every waking moment wondering if you're going to come back to me at the end of this but I can't even tell you how god damned scared I am because you are not willing to listen."

Harry stood abruptly from the mattress and stared challengingly across the four-poster bed at the blond.

"So are you saying I'm selfish because I don't want to think about never seeing you again? Is that it Malfoy?" Harry near shouted.

"Yes that is exactly what I am saying Potter! You can't keep pretending that you're not terrified." Draco replied causing Harry to groan as he walked to the chair where he had left his robes the night before.

"I have to pretend. I'm the one leading these people into a bloody battle and if they see me shaking in fear then what affect do you think that would have on them?" Harry said as he threw his robes on and fastened them.

"Would you stop being such a fucking martyr?" Draco shouted. Harry looked up from the silver fastenings and glared across the room at Draco.

"Oh yes because you would know so much about being a martyr wouldn't you?" Harry spat, instantly regretting it. Tensions were high the last few weeks and he and Draco had already said many things that they later regretted. Draco's face lowered, hair falling softly over his face. Harry went to step around the bed towards him.

"Get out." Draco said softly. Harry stopped in his tracks.

"Draco," he replied equally as softly, "I'm sorry …I didn't think." Draco snorted and looked up.

"That's just it Harry, you rarely do." Harry wasn't sure if Draco was joking but from the look on his face he seemed deadly serious. Harry took another long stride towards him, bringing them face-to-face.

"I am always thinking Draco. About you; about the battle; about the lives that will be lost but do you really think arguing with me will make it any easier when I die?"

Draco's breathing hitched and he took a step backwards away from Harry. Harry mentally kicked himself for his poor word choice.

"I meant if I die." Harry tried to explain but Draco shook his head.

"No you didn't, you've already resigned yourself to death." The blond said, his voice quiet. Harry stepped to Draco again and cupped a hand around his cheek. Draco tried to look away but Harry held his face in place.

"Do you remember last year when I promised one day I'd take you to a muggle cinema just so you could see what all the fuss is about?" Draco frowned at Harry bringing up something so inane at a time like this but nodded. "Well I'm a Gryffindor: we don't break our promises."

He leant in and pressed his lips lightly onto Draco's cheek. The blond didn't pull away this time and instead turned to capture Harry's lips with his own. The kiss was soft and fleeting.

"You'd better get going to training." Draco said simply as he stepped away from Harry.

Harry hung his head and sighed in resolve. He made his way to the door but turned back around just before he opened it. He watched Draco sliding a drawer open and carefully taking out a black t-shirt.

Harry went across the room and pulled Draco into him, back to chest. Draco turned around in Harry's arms and threw his own arms around Harry's neck. Their lips crashed together, opening almost instantly, tongues moving desperately over one an other. The kiss broke and Harry rest his forehead on Draco's as their breathing slowed down. He gave Draco another bruising kiss before turning on his heel and leaving the room.

The following three mornings played themselves out in the exact same format. Draco would wake before Harry, they would argue about something or, what seemed more accurately described as, nothing. They would both regret every insult that was thrown, they would kiss and Harry would leave for last minute training while Draco began preparing the hospital wing with Madame Pomfrey and several Ravenclaw students.

Dumbledore had purposefully given the six Slytherins that remained in the school tasks that would require them to remain inside the walls of the castle during the battle. This meant that they wouldn't be seen by Order members as Death Eaters and killed. It also meant that when they didn't turn on their fellow students the Death Eaters would not kill them either.

Five out of the six Slytherins were thoroughly relieved by this plan that kept them, theoretically, out of harms way. Draco, on the other hand, hadn't planned on being stuck in the castle treating the wounded (as he had been instructed when it had been discovered he had somewhat of a healing ability) while Harry was out risking his life. Harry had mocked him for 'losing his Slytherin sensibilities' and so Draco had assured him that he simply didn't want Harry receiving too much glory in case 'his head couldn't stand it'. They both knew Draco was lying but in the end it didn't seem to matter much.

Eventually the evening of the sixteenth of July rolled around. The atmosphere in the castle was so thick that Draco wondered if they would all asphyxiate in their sleep. Everyone, members of the Order, professors, the six and seventh year D.A. members and six double-crossing Slytherins, sat on either side of one long table in the Great Hall.

The enchanted ceiling was darkening slowly, still tainted slightly with pinks and oranges as the sun set on the sombre evening. Very few people ate anything in spite of the Headmasters attempts at convincing them all to take in something substantial. Draco watched out the corner of his eye as Harry poked and prodded at potatoes on his plate until finally he let out an exasperated breath and tossed his fork onto the plate, the clatter causing most people to jump.

Harry dropped his head into his hands as those around the table gave him sad, pitying looks that Draco was glad Harry could not see. Draco put his fork down gently and placed his hand lightly on Harry's thigh. Harry looked through his fingers at Draco and the blond pried one hand away from his face and laced their fingers together.

Draco stood up from the bench first, swinging his legs around gracefully before pulling Harry with him. No one said a word as the pair walked hand in hand from the hall. Draco turned round for the briefest of moments, only to see Ron and Hermione casting sad looks at Harry's back. Draco resisted the urge to sneer: they had both lost the right to feel bad for Harry when they became too wrapped up in themselves and had let him drift away.

Harry and Draco walked silently through the Entrance Hall but as Draco went to go down the stairs to the dungeon Harry stopped him and gestured to the doors. Draco nodded and let Harry lead him outside. Hand in hand they continued to walk on the path to the courtyard, shoulders occasional brushing when Harry would every so often pull Draco closer to him.

Their feet met the stone of the ground of the courtyard and they sat down on one of many ornately carved benches. Draco's thumb idly caressed Harry's hand as they stared at the water bouncing off the bottom of the fountain. After an immeasurable number of minutes Harry sighed and tightened his grip on Draco's hand.

"This isn't likely to go well tomorrow is it?" He asked. Draco turned to Harry.

"The odds are against you I won't lie but who knows?" Draco said with a shrug, "Perhaps that dumb luck of yours will come through for you once again." Harry snorted and turned to Draco, sadness evident in his eyes despite his amusement at Draco's words.

"And if it doesn't?" He asked quietly, causing Draco to close his eyes and drop his head. The blond took a deep breath before answering.

"If it doesn't …it doesn't and then all we have is tonight." Draco's eyes were still closed so he didn't see Harry bringing his face nearer. It was only when he felt Harry's breath across his face that he moved forward just a fraction, pressing his lips to Harry's.

Harry pressed back, taking his hand out of Draco's in order to wrap his arms around Draco's neck. He felt the blond shiver in his arms as a chilling evening breeze blew through them. Harry pulled his mouth away, resting his forehead on Draco's.

"Come on." He said, standing up and holding out his hand. Draco took the offered hand silently and the couple walked slowly back into the castle as the clock in the courtyard chimed for seven o'clock.

Five minutes later they were standing before the entrance to Draco's room with Draco giving the password as the painting swung open. They stepped inside, portrait closing softly behind them. A fire was still burning brightly in the hearth, several candles scattered about the room casting a gentle glow.

Draco and Harry sat down on the bed together in silence. Harry kicked his shoes off before swinging his legs onto the mattress and sliding up to rest his head on a pillow. Draco leant down and untied his own shoes, placing them neatly at the end of the bed. He brought his knees up onto the mattress and shuffled up to Harry. Kneeling shakily beside the dark haired boy, Draco cupped a hand around Harry's cheek.

Harry turned his face slightly, placing a light kiss on Draco's palm. The blonde's lips curved into a small smile that Harry found himself able to return. Draco lowered his face to Harry's, letting his eyes flutter closed as their lips pressed together. Harry's mouth began moving slowly over Draco's, his tongue flicking playfully once over Draco's bottom lip.

The Slytherin parted his lips, meeting Harry's tongue with his own as he lay himself gently on top of Harry. Harry's hands slipped slowly down Draco's robe covered back as the blond stroked his fingers lovingly through Harry's black hair. Harry shifted his legs, allowing Draco to slide easily between them and bring their hips in contact.

Harry brought a hand down Draco's chest, fumbling to unclasp them. Draco smiled into the kiss and used his own hand to help Harry along. Harry pushed them slowly down Draco's shoulders and the blond pulled his arms out of the sleeves. Harry tossed them to the floor as his fingers gripped the hem of Draco's t-shirt and began pulling it upwards. Draco pulled from the kiss and lifted himself up a little to allow Harry to pull it over his head. It too was tossed to the floor and Harry ran calloused fingertips down the bare skin of Draco's back causing the blond to roll his hips a little.

Carefully, Harry pushed Draco from him and onto his back, nestling himself between the Slytherin's thighs. Before Harry could move his face to kiss Draco's neck, Draco was tugging Harry's green t-shirt over his head and throwing it across the room. Harry dropped his lips onto Draco's neck, both of the them moaning quietly as the bare skin of their chests met.

Harry kissed softly up towards Draco's ears, lips fastening around his ear lobe and sucking lightly. Harry began kissing a path of butterfly kisses down Draco's chest and abdomen, pulling open the buckle of Draco's belt and sliding it out the loopholes of the trousers. He unbuttoned them and slipped the zip down. Slowly he dragged them, along with Draco's boxers, down the Slytherin's legs and dropped them to the floor.

He came back up to Draco's face and kissed his again, tongues sliding over one another as Draco flipped Harry onto his back once more. He ran a hand down Harry's tanned chest and stomach, popping open the top button of his jeans, the rest of them following easily. Draco ran his tongue down Harry's neck, kissing his chest as he pushed the jeans and boxers down. They were tossed to the floor with the rest of the clothes as Harry attempted to push the covers down the bed. He lifted his hips up, causing them to thrust into Draco's as the green duvet was slid down.

Draco reached down behind him and pulled them back up over them, the material feeling soft on his back. Harry ran a hand through Draco's soft blond hair and stared up at him. Draco ran the back of his hand over Harry's cheek, feeling the wet of a tear smearing across the skin. Draco, however, said nothing and dropped his lips to Harry's. Somewhere across the room the old, antique clock struck eight.

Draco was awoken by the chime of his clock, one, two, three, four am. He slid his arm to the other side of the bed only to find it empty. His mind got into gear and it occurred to him what day it was and he sat up quickly, silver eyes scanning the room. They connected with Harry who was sitting in his trousers staring into the flames of the fire. His face was set in a mask of resolve, eyes glowing in the orange of the hearth.

Draco swung his legs off the bed and picked his boxers up from the floor, pulling them up his legs as he stood up. He walked over to where Harry was seated. Draco stood in front of him and he finally looked up. He reached his hand up to Draco and pulled the blond down onto his lap. Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's neck and pulled the Gryffindor's head into his chest.

"I'm scared…" Draco heard the whisper against his chest. He threaded his fingers through Harry's hair.

"Me too." He admitted. Harry gripped at Draco's back, nails scraping the skin slightly as he did so. They both jumped as a frantic banging on the portrait startled the silence of the room.

"Draco?" Came the voice of Professor Snape, "I know Potter will be in there so would you open up." Draco jumped up from Harry's lap and walked quickly to the portrait. He pulled it open and his head of house came sweeping into the room.

"Potter," he said, uncharacteristic apprehension flitting briefly over his normally stoic face, "The first group of Death Eaters just apparated not far from the gates."

Harry stood up swiftly from the leather chair and went across the room to pick up his robes, feeling Draco do the same. They both turned round when they heard a hiss from the Potions Master and saw his hand clamped around his left forearm. Harry eyed Draco worriedly.

"Has yours…?" He drifted off, nodding to the Dark Mark on Draco's arm. Draco shook his head as he pulled his robes over his shoulders.

"I don't need to be summoned, the plan was to have me here." Harry frowned and looked back to Snape.

"I never realised you would be on the other side of this." He said plainly as he fastened up the front of his robes. Snape gave him a brief nod.

"You will need to get to the Great Hall now Mr Potter." Was all he said as he turned on his heel. He stopped as the portrait opened and looked back. "Good luck, both of you, Merlin knows you will need it." He said as he exited the room, portrait swinging shut behind him.

Harry took his wand from the bedside table and stared reverently down at it as he held it between his fingers. Funny the difference a piece of wood could make to ones life yet he wouldn't have a use for it at the very end. He stuffed it inside his robes and went to the portrait hole, opening it as Draco stepped up beside him.

They walked quickly through the dungeons until they reached the stairs to the Entrance Hall. Draco took Harry's hand as they began ascending the stone steps. Half way up, a high-pitched alarm echoed off the stonewalls. They both looked at each other and sped up.

They reached the Entrance Hall to find every one rushing around; making sure people were in the right places and knew their orders. Draco saw Dumbledore coming out of the hall towards them before Harry did. The old man simply gave them both a sad, sympathetic look, age finally showing itself fully on his face. He stepped past them and Harry turned to Draco.

He took Draco's other hand, standing them face-to-face. He opened his mouth to say something but Draco launched himself at Harry's mouth, smashing their lips together so hard that his teeth grazed the inside of his bottom lip. They pulled away panting as they heard Madam Pomfrey calling for Draco.

"I have to get to Pomfrey." He said, gesturing to the classroom at the top of the stairs where the Hospital Wing had been relocated to for convenience. Harry nodded and swallowed heavily. He took a step backwards, one hand slipping from Draco's as the other continued to grip tightly. Draco bit down on his tongue as he felt the warmth growing in his eyes.

He took a step backwards as well. They heard someone frantically calling for Harry from inside the hall. Harry closed his eyes in a gesture that almost looked like a wince. He stepped away, fingers unclasping from Draco's. Draco's hand fell to his side as he carefully walked backwards to the staircase.

He took a deep breath and walked as quickly as he could to the top. He turned, bracing his hands on the banister to try and see Harry for maybe one last time. He saw Harry standing in the doorway to the Entrance Hall, staring up at Draco.

"Love you…" Draco couldn't hear Harry's voice over the noise but could easily make out what it was he was saying. Before Draco had the chance to mouth back Harry had turned and darted into the hall.


To be continued…


Notes:
it isn't often that I get upset when re-reading one of my own stories but I've been a bit of a wreck reading and writing this chapter. The next one should be out at some point over the next week.