A/N: whistles innocently um...so here's the next chapter...shorter that usual, but you'll see why. forgive me for the long wait. love. read, review, enjoy.

Things had settled into a smooth routine for Harry and Draco after they both got well. They ate meals together, along with Blaise, Seamus, Ron, Hermione, and occasionally a few others. They managed to find time after classes and before quidditch to do homework together, with Blaise, Seamus, Ron and Hermione. They spent Friday nights together, along with Blaise, Seamus, Ron and Hermione. And, then on Saturday, before quidditch games, they went to Hogsmeade or did something outside with Blaise, Seamus, Ron and Hermione. By Sunday, they were so tired that they didn't even try to spend time together; it was all they could do to get away from Blaise, Seamus, Ron and Hermione. What they couldn't figure out was why the other couples didn't want to spend some time alone. They supposed that Blaise and Seamus had time alone while quidditch practices were going on, but what about Ron and Hermione? They must have been sneaking around on Sundays. Either way, Draco and Harry had a problem. It wasn't that they didn't love their friends. Obviously, they wouldn't have put up with this for so long if they didn't. Still, something had to be done. They had to save Saturday.

"Ok, Harry, how about this? On Saturday, you get up at 5 and sneak down to Slytherin. I'll be there to let you in and we can hide in my bed. I'll say I'm sick and keep the curtains drawn and everyone will leave us alone."

"5?"

"I know, its extreme, but I think it's our only chance."

"Not happening. I don't do anything at 5 in the morning."

"Well, what do you suggest then?"

"It's Hogsmeade this weekend, right?"

"Yes."

"We don't go with them."

Draco thought for a moment.

"That's too simple. It will never work."

"It will work. I promise. I'll say, "No, Hermione, Draco and I aren't going to Hogsmeade. We want to spend some time together, alone.""

"And then she'll think we're having sex."

"I don't care what she thinks. I want to see my boyfriend, not my friends. I don't want to listen to everyone else talk. I want to listen to you talk. I can't spend another Saturday with a big group of people, everyone chattering away and being all friendly and only getting to hold your hand. That is not my idea of dating."

"You're right. Fuck them. We're not going and they had better get over it."

As it turned out, the boys would be fed up before Saturday.

That Thursday, everyone was sitting around as usual when something snapped inside of Harry.

"We've got to get out of here."
"I know. They are driving me crazy."
Hermione and Ron were the "they" that Draco was referring to. They were sitting on the couch, arguing as usual. No one could understand it. Everyone had thought that the pair had argued because of the sexual attraction between them, but it seemed that they argued because they liked it. Of course, if anyone asked them, they weren't arguing, they were just talking. Either way, it was driving Harry and Draco crazy. It had even driven Blaise and Seamus to leave.
"I've got an idea."
"Oh no, we are not sneaking out to London again."
"I wasn't going to suggest that. Go get your broom and meet me on the steps outside the school."
"It's after curfew."
"So?"
"You're right."
"Dress warmly"
Draco looked at him, questions in his eyes, but Harry had already gotten up and left.

Fifteen minutes later, Draco was standing on the steps outside the school dressed in two layers of sweatpants, a heavy turtleneck, thick winter coat and scarf. His face was covered up to his eyes. He stood in the shadows, not wanting to be seen outside after curfew. He watched as Harry walked down the steps.
"Hi."
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"Follow me."
Harry took Draco's gloved hand in his own and began walking.
"I'm glad we're doing this. I like being with you."
Draco stopped walking and pulled on Harry's hand.
"You can't say things like that without expecting me to kiss you, you know that right?"
"I hoped that was the case."
Draco pulled the scarf from around his neck and reached a hand up to pull Harry's head towards his. Their lips met, warm and wet in a sea of cold. Harry's head dipped slightly as his tongue delved into Draco's mouth, sweetly searching. Draco responded with a soft hum in his throat, tongue languidly caressing Harry's mouth. They broke apart reluctantly, stealing short parting kisses as they withdrew.
"I like being with you too."
Harry smiled and took Draco's hand again as they walked to the edge of the wards. Reaching the end, they mounted their brooms and took off into the crisp night. They soared through the night, over huge empty fields where frost glimmered in the moonlight. They raced through trees and slowly came to a stop in the middle of a huge clearing. The moon hanging like a baby's mobile in the sky. Harry pulled a small square out of his pocket and waving his wand, it resized to become a thick blanket. He laid it on the ground and repeated the process with another.
"Come on."
Harry and Draco lay down on the blanket and cuddled up next to each other.
"This is beautiful."
"I know. I've always wanted to share it with someone."
"It makes me feel so small and alone like you and I are the only two people in the world."
"That's exactly how I feel."
"I'm here with you and no one else. Thank you."
Harry leaned over and cupped Draco's cheek with one hand.
"Thank you."
He pressed a kiss to the blonde's lips, not making any attempt to deepen it. The boys stayed there for some time, perfectly content to be in a place where nothing could come between them. They seemed to melt into one person, hearts beating in time, breathing perfectly attuned to one another.
"We should probably go."
"I know. I just don't want to let the world intrude on us again. Let's promise to do something like this more often."
Harry was speechless, almost overcome by the intensity of the moment.
He only managed one word.
"Always."
The boys got up and Harry spelled the blankets to fit in his pockets again. He and Draco mounted their brooms and left the clearing to fly back to reality.

"Harry, what's that dark cloud over there?"

Harry followed Draco's pointed finger to a long plume of black that was hovering to the right of their course home.

"It looks like smoke."

Draco's eyes widened.

"You're right, I smell it now."

"Come on; let's go see what it is."

"Harry…"

But, it was too late, Harry was already flying away.

"Shit."

What Harry saw when he made it closer to the smoke, chilled him to the bone. There was a small house, a farm from what he could tell, and it was spewing forth the thick, dark smoke that Draco had seen. Harry could make out the occasional flame as it leaped out of the house and onto the roof. Draco appeared at his side as the windows began to burst. It was then that a child's scream pierced the air.

Harry didn't hesitate for a second. He began a steep descent to the ground, closely followed by Draco. Landing, the boys stood in front of the house of where the scream had come from and what to do next. It was then that the last upstairs window chose to burst, shards flying everywhere as Harry and Draco threw themselves to the ground.

Harry laid there for a moment, the wind knocked out of him, taking stock of his boy. Determining that aside from a slight graze on his cheek and hands, he was ok, he remembered Draco.

"Draco?"

There was no answer.

Harry lifted himself off the ground and looked over at the blonde.

"Draco?"

There was no movement either.

Harry's voice took on a hysterical pitch as he scrambled over to Draco's body.

"Draco!"

Harry rolled the boy over gently, onto his back. It was then that he saw the shard of glass sticking out of Draco's throat and the blood that was streaming from the wound. Harry's mouth fell open in horror. He began to panic and then, he heard the scream again. He turned, frantically and his eyes searched the forest edge, sure that nothing in the house could still be alive. He saw a faint movement in the bushes and sat watching them for a moment, until the gleam of fire was reflected off a small blonde head.

Harry was torn, but knowing he couldn't help Draco, he got up and ran for the child. Slowing as he reached the bush, not wanting to frighten the child more, he peered around the side. Huddled in a small ball was a little girl with short blonde hair.

"Hello."

The girl didn't speak.

"I'm Harry. What's your name?"

The girl was shaking, eyes wide.

"I want to help you, sweetie, are you ok?"

"My mommy calls me sweetie."

Harry smiled, relieved that the girl was responding.

"Is it ok if I call you sweetie too?"

"Yes."

"Are you ok?"

"Yes."

Harry glanced anxiously over his shoulder at Draco.

"My friend is hurt, over there. Will you come with me to check on him?"

"I don't like the fire."

"It's ok. I'll keep you safe."

The little girl held her arms out and Harry picked her up. The moment she was in his arms, she dissolved into tears, but Harry couldn't soothe her. He was too worried about Draco. So, he settled for holding her tighter as he walked back to the blonde.

It was the sight of Draco's body that reduced Harry to tears. He could see no way to save him.

Harry and the little girl cried for a while until Harry realized he had to do something. He had to at least calm down and help this child. He looked up to the sky, wiping his eyes with one had and rubbing the slow circles on the girl's back with the other. As he watched, a dark shape flew closer. Harry tensed. The shape flapped its wings and let out a whistle.

"Fawkes!"