A/N: Sorry it's taken so long, but I have good news for you! The story's complete! I'm going to upload the last chapters (for the last 2-3 I have had to be my own beta 'cuz my betas had too much stuff to do, but I hope it'll do). Thanks to my betas anyway – me luvv u for who you are.

CHAPTER 10 – An Episode of Music and Preparations

"So you're telling me that this little… thing… is the essence of your soul, eh?"

"Yes! When will you understand it and stop chattering about it? I have told you all I know." In his mind Draco corrected this. Or at least all I can tell you at the moment. But the bending of truths was necessary at the moment and he didn't linger, it was necessary deception. "Now, more important matters. This is Ivan Anadyr, Vladimir Anadyr and Antonin Anadyr," Draco motioned toward each of the three as he mentioned their names. "Vladimir and Antonin are twins, obviously. Come, let's get you somewhere warm," Draco said lovingly, gathering the somewhat larger boy in his arms with seemingly no trouble at all, smiling possessively as he walked through the corridors.

In little more than five minutes Harry was safely tucked in the bed he had awoken in hours earlier, dazed and confused. His troubles seemed far away now and for some reason he could not even imagine a life when Draco was not near him, all that mattered was the closeness to the fair, soft skin and the relief from loneliness that it gave him. With the certainty that Draco would not leave his side, Harry fell asleep once more, silent and peaceful, his breath shallow but steady.

"It is as it should be, Draco," Vladimir noted quietly, in the strange accent of his. Antonin smiled and continued the train of thought.

"You two are like two pieces of a puzzle – neither complete without the other."

"Perhaps," Draco replied softly. "But should we not get to the point?" Half a second after his last word, there was a heavy thud against the window and the four young men jumped to their feet. Draco went over to the window, slowly and carefully opening it, ready to slam it shut in an instant. Flying upwards toward him came a grey owl, looking slightly stupefied. Draco sneered and let the bird in only long enough to untie the message it carried.

To Mister Draco Malfoy

Malfoy Estate Manor

Your friend, D. E., is gathering his stuff, you can expect a visit soon. Hope you are all right and that all of the guests from yesterday are well, too. I would love to come visit you too, if it would be all right, send me an owl on the matter.

Best wishes

Pansy Parkinzon

"Holy Raistlin," Draco muttered. "This is bad, I didn't expect them to be gathered so quickly… after all, their great puppet master was recently killed." Then he smirked. "And Death Eaters aren't known for their ability to reorganize themselves."

"And what should be done now?" Ivan questioned from his viewpoint just behind Draco's right shoulder and Draco nodded, reading the letter once more.

"I know Pansy wants to come, and considering her odd spelling of her name I can just guess that Blaise is with her," the white-blonde boy mumbled to himself, "but we have after all discussed those plans Akasya came up with and the second one is certainly one of my favourites… I don't want them in trouble and it's simple and kind of failsafe. If it's not… we'll just have to improvise, right?" The three Russians gave him three identical, tiny grins that made him feel quite safe – no matter what the Death Eaters were planning to hit him with.

"What security can we count on, Draco?" Ivan wondered and silenced his eager younger brothers. Draco smiled.

"Anything the Malfoy Estate Manor can give us." He walked over to one of the great windows and pushed aside a thick forest-green curtain, revealing a silver square in the castle wall. He pushed it gently and seconds later a voice like thunder itself rumbled from somewhere in the room.

"Who art thou?"

"I am Draco Malfoy, your rightful master. See me for who I am," the pale young man, who suddenly seemed very small though brave, recited from memory. A few quiet seconds later the voice rumbled through the room again, with a slightly curious hint to it.

"I acknowledge the master, I acknowledge that thou art the master, I have seen thee for who thou art. What are thy orders, master Malfoy?"

"That you keep the Winged Twilight vigilant, you know who are intruders and who are simply fools. No mistakes, please." There was a grumbling from the other one.

"It shall be as thou sayeth, master Malfoy." It was a reluctant reply, but Draco didn't seem to mind. This is too important to waste time being nice; I'll have to make it up to him later. If I let him feast on a few of the dead Death Eaters he should be satisfied for the moment. The three Anadyr brothers snickered in unison when he ended the conversation. He turned to them with one of his eyebrows arching higher than usual. Antonin took the chance to speak for them all in his sweet, honeyed, teenager voice.

"Winged Twilight, Draco? Isn't that slightly… melodramatic?"

"Blame it on my grandfather," Draco growled. "Blame everything theatrical on either him or my oh-so-beloved father," he said grumpily, making the three brothers' sniggers ring out, replaced by three almost identical, subdued grins.

With a reproaching look in their direction, he turned back. They heard him mutter something under his breath and another voice came floating through the room.

"Yessir?" It sounded more or less like a squeaking house-elf.

"Keep the house-elves alert," the young man commanded sternly. "Defensive magic allowed until further notice. I expect immediate reports on any disturbances and irregularities, be it in the Manor itself or somewhere else on the estate. You have ten minutes to complete a list of all people and magical creatures on the grounds – additions or sudden changes are to be brought to me personally. Understood?" The last question was harsh. In many ways, Draco was still the Malfoy heir and his father's son.

"Yessir," the house-elf squeaked once more. Draco sighed and turned back to his friends, realising that something had woken Harry once more. It had probably been his first little chat – damn that creature for never keeping its voice on acceptable levels.

"Harry," he said lovingly, "sorry for waking you up."

"Not a problem, Drake," Harry yawned. "Anyway, there's this little thing I believe you promised me yesterday…" his voice trailed off and grey eyes stared at him. There was a twitch in the corner of Draco's right eye and then… he laughed.

"You're incurable!" This made Harry blush.

"Am not," he muttered.

"Are too, but I'll keep my promises." Draco turned to the three brothers. "Would you please enjoy yourself? I have things to attend to, it seems." Ivan grinned and bowed.

"Of course we will leave you to your… business." The twins kept unnaturally straight faces as they bowed calmly and exited along with their older brother – Draco had the distinct feeling that below that blank façade, they had actually been laughing at him. He growled, before turning back to Harry with a smile.

"Of course, if it's that important to you."

"It is," Harry said with a serious nod. Draco sighed and settled by the piano, putting a silencing-spell and, almost like an afterthought, also one locking-charm on the door. At last, Draco Malfoy forgot all about being the sole heir to one of the greatest wizard fortunes and names there was or being chased by Death Eaters for a certainly inappropriate relationship and simply became Draco. Or, as his mind teased him: Drake

For minutes he sat there, letting his fingers warm up as they played over the piano in bits and pieces of everything, before he decided that time had come to go serious. He could feel Harry's awe. The emotion flowing through the bond had grown even stronger since the moment he had accepted the Azure, from the moment he had formally accepted the fact that his fate was tied to Draco's in more ways than that of a passionate enemy. Not to mention that the damnable pain would not disturb them anymore. Draco had learned so much from his mother's diary that afternoon, most of it would have to be kept secret – he had already told Harry about so many things he really shouldn't have. Though he wasn't sure Harry understood, really.

"I promised you… my favourite," Draco said as he drilled his fingers with his usual exercises, shivering slightly as he felt the tension letting go with the now-familiar warm touch of Harry's skin, as the comfortable feeling spread through his body, seemingly emitting from Harry's hand on the flexing muscles of his right shoulder.

"What about it?" Harry asked in a low voice that the playing one found extremely seductive. He stopped in mid-movement and lifted his fingers from the keys, turning to face Harry, who had to let go of the shoulder.

"If you stay as close as you are now," the pale boy breathed out, "I won't be able to concentrate as much as I have to. Go sit on the bed." It was a concealed plea, but Harry simply did as he asked. "Now, this is one of the most complicated arrangements ever composed. That means: please don't disturb me, ok?" Harry simply nodded at this and sat completely motionless, as Draco turned his swift, willowy fingers back to the keys and took a deep breath.

What Harry heard next had his emerald eyes widening, his jaw dropping almost to the floor and his gaze fixed on the fingers' unbelievably agile flight from key to key. After the first minute, staring at the fingers was impossible. A glance only had his vision blurring from the mighty composition's rapidly changing tunes. So he leaned back and let the monumental classical chords and ephemeral melody flow over him, until slender fingers spread out into the massive final chord, that echoed out into the room. With a sigh and a smile, the blonde lifted his hands slowly and turned to watch his unsteadily blinking soul-twin.

"That was…" Harry could find no words. His vision was still somewhat distorted, he figured, as the almost otherworldly, pale young man took the space between them in two mighty strides and settled on the bed, smiling.

"That was the Rach Three," Draco replied. "For you." He leaned slightly toward Harry and looked him questioningly in the eyes. His lips parted slightly as the raven-haired youngling's breath sped up and then slowly – ever so slowly – he leaned in.

Then they were interrupted by a squeaky voice out of nowhere, claiming to have the requested report for "Draco Malfoy-sir!" Silver pools of light looked accusingly at the door, but he rose from the bed with naught more than a sigh and a scowl nonetheless.

"Send it, then, you worthless piece of filth," he growled into thin air, making Harry frown.

"You really shouldn't treat them like that, Drake." His words made Draco turn to face him, one of his perfect eyebrows raised.

"Don't tell me you never take your anger out on anyone who's not directly responsible, Har. You'd be lying." And, as an afterthought, he added: "Besides, I'm tons nicer than my father ever was. Believe me." It didn't satisfy the offended young man, but he shut his mouth and resolved to look into thin air with a glum expression on his face. Being able to feel his indignation and general grumpiness, Draco smiled – somehow, a Malfoy face succeeded to produce a genuine, loving smile.

"You're rather sweet when you sulk, I'm sorry I don't have the time to enjoy your company."

"You're going away?" Harry looked up with a startled glance. "Where?"

"No, you prat," Draco teased, "I just told you I wouldn't be able to enjoy your company. It's not the same thing, you know." Then the was a rustling sound and a parchment fell down from a hole in the bedroom wall into a cup beneath. "Good Merlin, did that take an awful lot of time," he growled and went over to pick the parchment up and read it.

"What's that?" Harry's voice was like music to his ears, but the blonde knew he couldn't afford to be distracted.

"It's a list of any and all people and magical creatures on Malfoy Island," he replied absent-mindedly, while skimming through the list in search of anything suspicious. "It seems most of the dragons are out hunting, the pegasi are hiding in their caves and the most irregular thing I can find here is two ravens circling right above a ragged cat."

"You find that suspicious?" Harry grinned. A smirk passed swiftly over Draco's face.

"I understand your doubt, but what if they were three unregistered animagi? I'd rather go shut down the entire Manor, I think." The last was mumbled to himself, before looking up into the now disturbed, green eyes again. "Come with me." With that, he walked out of the room, with the raven-haired boy trailing in his wake, as he motioned for the three Russian men standing a little further down the corridor to follow him, guiding them away through the shadowy hallway.

Harry found the empty stone corridors of the castle strange, like his presence was more noted, and less liked, by the castle itself when he was walking here rather than when he was in Draco's comfortable boy's chambers. Not that they were very boyish, but they felt like… felt like Drake, was probably the best way to explain it, and that was an odd thing, indeed. Somehow, he had begun relying on and trusting the lean, lithe blonde with his deep, glittering eyes and expressive way of using his entire body to communicate – or hide and fake – the emotion stirring in his sharp mind. These last weeks, Draco had not made him feel as awkward as he had for the past six and a half years and Harry had begun watching his every step in a futile search of the key to what was happening to his own emotions. He felt greatly relieved when they walked into the Entrance Hall of the Manor, since the formal air made him straighten automatically and collected his confused thoughts, pushing them into the background.

Draco motioned for his four companions to wait behind him as he went up to the fireplace, to a silver snake that looked like someone had petrified it while it slithered across the fireplace. Then he gripped it firmly behind the head, whispering something while he did this. To Harry's surprise, the snake started moving, slithering, trying to get out of Draco's grasp the silver snake hissed and bared its most certainly poisonous fangs.

"I am your master, do you acknowledge me, cousin?" There came a final hiss before the snake's head moved up and down in something that was unquestionably supposed to be a nod. A wicked smile passed ever so swiftly across Draco's velvet lips, making a chill run down Harry's spine… for some reason. He blushed slightly at the thought.

"Good. Tell the house-elf chief to keep an eye on the two ravens and the cat. Seal all the entrances. Close the floo, all but the one to my own place. You know the deal, there, so I trust you do it completely. There will be none of the foolishness my father was so proud of."

"Asss you sssay," there was a soft hiss from the snake. Harry was really surprised to hear it talk, not because he understood it – he was a parseltounge after all – but because it obviously spoke English, considering that Draco and the three guests apparently understood its words.

"Good. After the floo and the entrances, put up the shields, close those silly apparation holes in them – we're up against people who know they are there – and sound the alarm if someone tries to break through or gets in by some modified portkey." The snake nodded again and Draco put it back in its place, where it slid back to its former position and stiffened again. Draco turned to a rather confused Harry, smiling.

"What was all that about?" Harry wondered. "The part about Lucius and apparation holes and everything?"

"Father? He was always silly about keeping the Manor open to the Death Eaters. So now, we'd be in trouble if I hadn't been so much smarter than him. The apparation holes were designed to let Death Eaters and certain others through. So were the special floo passwords he used," Draco's beautiful, pale face was distorted by a disgusted grimace and a snort. "He never used the original way of closing the Manor down, he was always so simple-minded about his shortcuts. I bet he never even spoke to the snake." Harry realised that most of the conversation went straight over his head, but he understood some of it and nodded slightly. At least, it was enough for Draco, who turned to him with a calm smile on his lips. Those lips…

"Come," he whispered softly, taking Harry's hand and leading him toward the far wall. With a fleeting movement, his wand in his hand, Draco whispered: "Revelate." And part of the cold wall before him shimmered and disappeared. In silence, the pale one led his life's greatest desire and three wicked Russian tricksters down the stairs, the hole in the wall disappearing behind the last of them as they went into the darkness of the Manor's security chambers.

One magus, many magi. One animagus, many animagi. Just explaining why, considering many use words like "animaguses" or something equally horrid.