Title: Return to me Part-13

Rating: pg-13

Warnings: slash, spoilers for 1—5

Pairing: Draco/Harry

Genre: angst, romance

Disclaimer: I am not the owner of any of the characters or the Harry Potter series.

It was dark outside. At least Draco assumed it was. The curtains were pulled and past their depths lay the outside world

the young man refused to see. Yes he was still young. He was still a young man as he sat dazedly on the sofa with his weak

hands holding up a glass of whiskey. The glass was full to the brim and the bottle accounted for only half the amount. The rest

was poison.

Draco's gray eyes moved over the glass as every ounce of mental power engaged in a quarrel of sorts. His breathing was

slow and his body tired. The room was silent as was the world outside. Draco Malfoy no longer wanted to be part of it. His

soul was dying and he could feel all power draining out of his system.

"I wonder if this is what death feels like." He asked the silent room. One hand lay on his stomach as if a hand could prevent

the passing of his child. His eyes fell shut and his irregular breathing was apparent in the silence. The room was as neat as

ever, as if no one lived here anymore. Only a ghost, only a shadow occupied these halls now. And Draco smiled at the

thought.

He opened his eyes to look at the glass of alcohol. "Taking your own life is one thing but taking your child's…?" Draco tested

the room even though he expected no answer. Was this what he wanted to do?

Yes, it was. This was his only option, his only choice. There was no other way out of this …out of this misery.

He picked up the glass and moved it closer to his lips. His hands shook and a wave of anger, pure and raw coursed through

his body. He roared and threw the glass at the wall where it shattered into millions of pieces and disappeared into a large

stain.

The walls trembled for a few moments because of the power released until he collapsed on the sofa. His anger subsided and

Draco closed his eyes. His breathing came under control but his muscles shook as cold sweat drenched his body.

A cold air swept the room and the lights went out plunging the room into darkness. Draco paid no heed to the obvious change

and remained still, his chest moving up and down rhythmically. A cool hand touched his forehead and an image appeared

before his closed eyes. A pale figure illuminated by heavenly lights stood in place of the darkness.

The blond looked at him in wonder as he recognized the beautiful face. The figure smiled at him softly and moved even closer

towards him.

"Draco" the figure whispered. His green eyes stood out vividly on his countenance and his hair moved gently in a wind that

Draco couldn't feel.

All he felt was the cool and comforting hand that now lay on his cheek.

"Oh Draco." The figure said softly. "What have you done to your self?"

The pale slytherin could see tears in those eyes and he saw them emerge from the emerald orbs and fall across the pale skin.

"I don't know." Draco answered looking away. He couldn't stand the sight of the figure's despair. "I don't know what to do

anymore. I'm just so tired."

Harry smiled softly and rubbed his cheek. "Go to sleep Draco. Tomorrow is an important day. You will need your strength

tomorrow.

Draco looked up and saw the room disappear and merge into the bedroom he used to share with his husband. Within

seconds he saw himself sinking into the softness of their bed with a warm blanket shielding him from the cold air. He closed

his eyes and felt sleep take over his body and mind. He could no longer think and drifted off to sleep.

"I love you Draco."

Miles away making a journey back through misty mountains and dark fields reaching a fort and sinking levels below, Harry

Potter's spirit returned to the frail body that lay unmoving on the floor. The darkness was strong and thick, yet the figure

standing outside the cell noticed a sudden tremor in the body that lay before him as it returned to life.

Grey eyes flickered in the darkness and pale fingers clutched tightly at a cane that proudly bore a silver snake. With a sudden

swish the figure turned and walked away, expensive layers of cloaks following in the man's wake.

Levels above a group of cloaked figured trickled slowly into the grand living room. The darkness threatened to take over but

was kept by a single fireplace. The figures remained silent as they entered the room and found places to sit. Instead of

speaking and asking the obvious question that plagued their minds, they eyed each other suspiciously from underneath their

hooded faces. However, Avery could not take it. He spoke out loudly against the dangerous atmosphere.

"Who the hell called this meeting? No one has authority here to do so." He was on his feet, standing in the middle of the circle

that was formed.

"It was I who called this meeting, Avery." The silky voice was enough knock the breath out of every man in the room. Avery

turned around only to have his hood fall aside and reveal his face. He stared at the darkness that surrounded the entrance and

watched fearfully as smooth steps introduced Lucius Malfoy in the dim and flickering light. His eyes were cold, and his hand

was gripped tightly around his cane.

"And I have good reason to do so as well." Lucius continued as he walked toward Avery, who in turn backed up in order to

merge into the group of death eaters. The senior Malfoy paused as he reached the center, his figure tall and graceful among

the darkness that stood around him.

"I am assuming command here, since there is no one else capable." He said, his eyes scanning the crowd. "And there will be

no opposition to my leadership." He paused to let the statement sink in. "Now that we have that sorted, let us get down to

business. There is work to be done. "

Morning came and the sun rose as bright as ever dismissing the remnants of sleep from world's eyes. But morning came and

faded into the afternoon and still Draco Malfoy did not wake. The curtains were closed and left a soft comfortable glow in the

room. The pale man still slept, cuddled in the warmth and comfort of the sheets, his eyes tightly shut and fingers clutching the

pillows. Silence lay ever thick upon the house. After the death of Harry Potter this silence had come to become comfortable

in the house. Would there never be sounds of happiness reverberating across the walls again?

Draco Malfoy sat up suddenly at the sound of a screech. Oh no, Granger, he thought as he rubbed at his out of focus eyes.

"Do you know what time it is Draco Malfoy?"

Draco swayed slightly in his sitting position, his eyes closed and his mouth open.

"It is 3 o'clock, Draco. THREE o'clock in the afternoon."

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Draco said, disoriented.

"Don't 'shhhh' me."

Draco stared intently trying to bring the room into focus. He saw the blurry figure of Hermione standing in front of his bed, her

arms crossed tightly across her chest.

"What are you doing here?" he said softly as reality caught up with him at last.

Hermione's features softened and she unfolded her arms.

"I'm here with answers."

TBC….