Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters, places et al. are owned by J.K. Rowling

A/N: Another chappie :) I just wished I had more free time to write g Enjoy, or flame. Whatever you feel like :D

Chapter 16

"It's been over two weeks now," Harry nagged, "You haven't heard anything yet?"
They sat together in the inner courtyard. They had plenty of space as most students were making sure they were where neither Draco nor Harry were; and it fitted them to at.
Draco slightly sighed. "I have told you before," he whispered, "and will tell you again that it will take time. I have dropped a note in a secret location. As you so amply put 'how old Families do', and he" – they weren't using Lucius' name in public; it was still to dangerous- "hasn't contacted me yet through the proper channels. And I don't know when, or if, he will. You ask a lot, and you're still not that popular…"
"It's just so bloody frustrating to wait," Harry looked up in frustration.
"I know what would get you on other ideas," Draco acted coyly. With his right hand he gently grabbed Harry's chin and pulled his head down and passionately kissed him. When they broke their kiss, Harry smiled again.
"I get your idea. Let's delve into this in a bit more private spot," a wicked smile spreading on Harry's face.

Hogwarts was, by and large, quite huge and there were many reclusive spots one could hide when one wanted to be left alone. Or, in this case, not completely alone. Harry brushed away a strand of hair out of Draco's face and smiled. Sitting here, high in one of the towers, looking out over the lake and catching the last rays of a waning sun, he felt something like peace. He had to admit that Draco was possibly the best that could have happened to him. It certainly was in the very recent time. Simply cuddling him in his arms was bliss; and for just this moment, all his sorrow, all his dark, hidden feelings seemed to be gone. Just like it should be, for a normal boy of his age. It was days like this when he wondered why it had to be him. But he also knew that it did not do to question destiny, or what you want to call this driving force of life.
The last two weeks had been terrible on the one hand, and just as joyful on the other. The waiting for a word of Draco's father was nearly killing him with anxiety; and a cold, calculating dread he would have to change his plans. On the other hand, he spent almost every free minute with Draco, and a part of him didn't want this to end.
Draco had changed him again, more subtly than the death of Sirius, surely, but it made him different than that day he left Privet Drive. The scheming, cold, ruthless Harry was still there, but now there was something else, too. Someone he had to protect; someone he loved. For everyone else, he was still cold, uncaring. And he really didn't care about the rest, honestly. For Draco, it was something else. Maybe he was just alive again inside when he was around Draco, he wasn't sure about that. He didn't seem to mind Harry's new personality; in fact he seemed to be quite drawn to it.
And Draco was far from good, either. Not that he was the evil Dark Prince of Slytherin people always thought him to be. Sure, there was more darkness in him than normal. But then again, no one had really cared about the true Draco. He was a Malfoy, so why should anyone assume him to be any different than all the other Malfoys?
No one would ever accuse Draco of being a do-gooder, but he had this pragmatism, this determination to do what had to be done; and the arrogance to believe he had control over his own life. An arrogance he was guilty of himself. But wasn't it something good to have?
Harry had killed. And he knew he would do it again. He did not shy away from this. He simply realised that to get what he wanted, others had to suffer or die. And he would not rest until the Death Eaters had got what they deserved. In the not so far future, Voldemort would lie to his feet and beg for mercy, for his life. He would finally have his revenge. And he would kill if it was the only way to protect Draco and himself. Does this make me evil? Something worse than the things I fight? He left the thought unanswered, banishing it in the deep recesses of his mind.
For now, he was just happy. Just this moment. Just this second…

As the sun finally set it started to get a bit too chilly for Draco's liking, so they walked down the tower and back into the main castle. Normally, they would spend the day and night learning, in the library, in some hidden spot, or duelling. His back was still slightly sore from their training session yesterday. But today was their day off, for the most part at least.
"Come," Harry said and started walking in the general direction of the Gryffindor tower.
"Ehm," Draco cleared his throat, "do you actually think this is a good idea?"
"What?" Harry replied absent-mindedly.
"Going to your common room?"
"I'm allowed to bring a friend with me," Harry coolly smiled. "If they can, so can I. They won't do anything stupid."
"I don't share your confidence." Draco brooded.
"Would you prefer your common room?"
"Ok," Draco chuckled at the thought of it. He could name a few people at the top of his head who would die from apoplexy on the spot if he and Harry were snogging in the Slytherin common room. "I get the picture. But why now? We could always go to one of our normal places."
"It's my right, no less. I don't care about them. And when I want my boyfriend to be with me, he will."
He made true of his promise. Just a few minutes later, Draco was reclining on the comfortable couch in front of the fireplace, his head propped up against Harry's chest. Some of the Gryffindors were simply shocked when he had stepped through the portrait hole behind Harry, but a glance from Harry had seemed to discourage them from doing anything stupid.
Harry kept gently playing with Draco's hair and made some whispered jokes about the shocked faces. Draco thought he actually loved it.
Then he heard the portrait hole open and a group of Gryffindors coming in, loudly chatting among themselves. He was just about to turn his face to look who they were, when a loud roar erupted from the new group and made eminently clear who that group was.
"What is ferret face doing here!" Ron Weasley shouted, still clad in his Quidditch gear. He suddenly remembered. Today was Quidditch training for the Gryffindors. Harry didn't play anymore, though. He said he needed the time for something more useful; and the team, most prominently a certain Weasley, had told Harry he was no longer welcome.
Draco felt Harry tense. He pushed Draco gently upward and stood up.
"I am relaxing with my boyfriend here, Weasley," Harry replied with an icy tone. "None of your business."
"I don't care what you think!" Ron's voice filled the room. "That disgusting ferret face has nothing to do here. He better be going before I throw him out."
"You and what army?" Harry sneered. "Just go upstairs and hide away like a good little boy."
Ron's face was now a very intriguing shade of deep purple. His blood pressure must take years off his lifetime… He took several large steps and was face to face with Harry, who hadn't flinched one bit. "Get that filth out of our common room," he spat in Harry's face.
"He stays." Harry's voice was getting this dark, dangerous undertone. Draco felt the hairs on the back of his head stand up.
"That bastard-" The loud slap of Harry's hand across Ron's face was like a thunderbolt. An ominous silence suddenly lay over the whole room and all eyes were set on Ron.
Harry's voice now was outright malicious. "Apologize," he said into the silence. "I won't have you insult Draco any longer." Draco saw something then. He was sure no one else saw it as they were transfixed on Ron's reaction; it was just too subtle, but there was a slight…shiver of darkness around Harry's dark hair.
"Fuck off, you-" Ron was about to complete the sentence, when Harry grabbed his throat and with all the power of his trained body slammed him into the wall behind Ron. His hand pressed hard. Ron only whimpered and tried to gasp for breath, but to no avail.
"Apologize." When Harry spoke again it was like a wave of cold air ran through the common room. The sheer absence of feeling, of humanity could almost be grasped with one hand.
Ron struggled but Harry seemed to be stronger.
"Stupefy!" Hermione's voice cut through the tension and a blast hit Harry's back. Instead of simply slumping to ground unconsciously as he should have, he turned his head backwards. Draco was quicker as he turned around, and saw Hermione stand on the stairs to the girl's dorm, pointing her wand at Harry. She was slightly taken aback at Harry's reaction. She shook it off quickly though and a second "Stupefy!" roared through the common room, more powerful than before. It hit Harry right in the head; and this time, he went unconscious.
Draco rushed to Harry's body lying on the ground. Ron, now released from Harry's grip, breathed heavily and murder was written on his face.
Before anything worse could happen, the portrait hole swung open and enraged Professors McGonagall and Snape came rushing through.
"Step back!" She commanded. "Severus, take him to Madame Pomfrey. I will handle this here!"
Snape stepped next to Harry's body lying on the floor and looked at Draco. He simply looked up at Snape with fierce determination. Snape seemed to slightly sigh, and gestured to Draco that he should get Harry and follow him.

The first thing Harry saw as he opened his eyes was a very worried Draco."Where am I?" he whispered.
Before he could be answered, a face came down on him and kissed him softly. When the lips withdrew, they opened up to speak. "Thanks for protecting my honour, oh noble knight," Draco said with a sweet smile on his face. "Oh, and you're in the Hospital Wing."
Harry tried to get up, but his muscles ached terribly. "Ouch," he cried. "That has hurt."
"Well, she hit you really hard," Draco whispered. "And even had to hit you twice…"
Before he could answer, though, a stern voice came from the door to the room. "Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall said, "your behaviour is inexcusable."
"But-" Harry tried to protest.
"No 'but's Mr. Potter," she scolded him. "If it was me, you'd be on your way home as soon as possible. As it is, I am here to inform you that you will not longer be living in the Gryffindor tower. Most of the students afraid of your…behaviour. The Headmaster wishes you to stay, though. So you will be placed in one of the older rooms in the southern tower to avoid further accidents. Your belongings have already been taken there."
"But-"
Silence, Potter," she snapped. "I'm not finished yet." She looked at him with glaring eyes. "You are still considered to be a member of Gryffindor House, and so earn, or lose, house points, remember that." She turned around and as she strode out said, "By the way, 50 points from Gryffindor for your attack. I hope you are satisfied." With that, she slammed the door.
"Look at the bright side of it," Draco said sheepishly. "You'll have a single room now."