Author notes: This chapter is short but (hopefully) sweet. It certainly was to write it...sort of. And it's about the last time Harry and Draco are really, really happy for the rest of the fic. And they're not even happy for the whole time in this chapter. Man, this thing just goes downhill. Why do I write such sad stuff? (Be warned, all the rest of the author notes are going to sound like that.) Oh dear. Well, enjoy.
They stayed like that for a long time, not talking. Harry's hand lay beneath Draco's, still stroking his cheek.
"But I can't go back," Draco said suddenly. "He'll know. He'll know about this, about us…together."
"Then don't go back."
"OK."
It didn't matter, Draco thought. He had Harry and Harry had him and this is all he had ever wanted and ever would want.
"Draco," said Harry quietly.
Draco looked up. Harry kissed him.
It was the nicest kiss imaginable, thought Draco wonderingly. He opened his mouth more, wanting this sweet relief from his sadness. But Harry pulled away.
"No…I'm sorry. I went too far. You don't want…I shouldn't have…you don't want it like that."
"Yes, I do," said Draco, and pulled Harry back to him.
Harry's mouth opened instantly beneath Draco's. Draco's tongue flicked into Harry's mouth, searching, exploring, wanting to know all of him. Harry sucked gently at Draco's lower lip and Draco moaned softly. Harry kissed his neck, and Draco rolled his head pleadingly to the side, pulling Harry closer.
Both wanted it so much. It was like painkiller, anesthesia, total relief from the weight of the world on their shoulders.
Harry bit gently, experimentally, at Draco's neck. Draco moaned his approval, stroking Harry's back. Draco's lips ran over Harry's ear and Harry sighed in a low rush of air that warmed Draco's skin. And then Draco's hands were beneath Harry's robes, beneath his T-shirt, touching every inch of skin, searching, feeling. Harry arched his back into Draco's touch. Both moaned, feeling themselves go hard. Draco pushed Harry's robes off his shoulders, letting them pool around Harry's waist where he knelt. Harry took Draco's robes off, too, then his T-shirt. He lay gently against Draco until he was on top of him, kissing every inch of bare skin. Draco pushed against Harry, grinding their erections together. Harry gasped, moaning. They clutched each other, needing this so much.
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Much later, they lay together, blanketed by Harry's robes. A fire crackled in a corner, lighting the cave with a gentle glow. Harry was holding Draco, who was crying again.
"It's just," stammered Draco as Harry stroked his hair, cradling him, "if they could see…how I escape their deaths…fucking a bloke…bloody crazy. Going bloody mad. And one of your lot, too…other side…bloody crazy…"
"Shhh…it's OK, I've got you," murmured Harry, kissing Draco gently on the forehead.
"But that's just it! You! I can't be here," he muttered wildly, though he made no move to disentangle himself from Harry's embrace.
"It's OK…we'll take care of each other, remember?" said Harry soothingly, though almost sadly.
Draco buried his face in Harry's chest.
"Don't let me go, Harry, " he whispered. "Don't let me go…"
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Still later, they remained lying together, not talking much. Harry had just rolled over, kissing Draco's ear, when Draco cried out and clutched his right forearm.
Harry sat up. "The mark?"
Draco's frantic whimpering was all the answer he needed. "No," Draco moaned. "No, Harry. I can't go back. I said I wouldn't but now, now I have to and he'll know, he'll find out about this!" He gestured wildly to Harry.
Harry shook his head, pulling Draco up alongside him. "Be strong," he said, looking Draco in the eye. "You're a good Occlumens. You can do it. Block him out. Think of something else. Think of what you're telling him while you tell it."
Draco looked terrified. "What do I tell him?"
"Anything. Nothing. Tell him I'm recruiting in…I dunno, Canada. Japan. Far away. Tell him I'm working on developing a counter-curse for the Cruciatus. Tell him—"
"OK, OK!" Draco's face was suddenly blank, resigned. "I have to go. I'll be…back. Later. Here."
"Yeah." Harry looked apprehensive. "Draco—"
"Goodbye." Draco kissed him, and Dissapparated before they had even broken apart.
Author
notes: Umm, this one was short. But I don't think any explanation
is necessary for why that is. It stands alone. Teehee. Sort of. In
addition, I suppose I'm just updating whenever I feel like it. Which
appears to be every...counting... five days. Well, there you go,
then.