Nuriko: Well, sorry for the delay. Yet it seems that the plot has become a little harder for my co-author and I and we've been taking time to work out the fine details. I mean, this was losing the plot with all the sex, and so we wanted to go back to where it was. So, without further ado, here is the next chapter. We'll try to keep them coming at a somewhat regular pace.

Chapter 10:

Draco worked into the evening, working over the papers and marking down notes as he went. His face was a mask of seriousness. It was almost hard to realize he was the same as the boy Harry had gone to school with all those years ago. Once he was finished, he looked up. "Potter, it's finished. Want to look at it?" he asked, holding out the paperwork he had been working on.

Harry looked up, after hours of near silence, mouth gaping as he had slightly fallen asleep on his desk, his paperwork finally completed hours ago. "Uh? Er, yeah, sure thing."

He raised an eyebrow. "Should we save this for the morning, Potter? You seem... worn out."

"No, no. I'm fine." He said around a yawn. "Let me take a look now, and we can finalize things."

He sighed, handing the paperwork over to him.

Harry looked it over carefully. It was extremely detailed down to every minute and nearly every footstep they would take. He raised an eyebrow at a couple parts, and then glanced up at Draco. "It's excellent. Not a thing could go wrong as long as it was followed."

He nodded. "I know them. I know my mo..." he trailed off, clearing his throat and trying again. "I know Narcissa Malfoy. There is no way I can allow them to win. They are responsible for many innocent deaths. They must be brought to justice."

Harry was surprised at Draco's words, but then supposed that it was just his way of dealing with it. "Well, it's always best to know your enemies."

He nodded. "That is why they took me on as an auror."

"Right. Well then. I don't see anything wrong. We can put it into action tomorrow."

He nodded and stood, taking a copy and placing it on their boss' desk before heading over to look in at Harry. "Shall we go home?"

"Sure." He smiled softly, getting up to join him at the door

Once Harry had come up to meet him, he shifted, kissing his cheek. "I'll see you at home." That said, he apparated home.

His green eyes widen, a hand lifting to his cheek, before he apparated to the manor as well.

Draco was sitting in the sitting room, reclining in a chair and his eyes closed even as Dorry fussed over him and rushed off to get food ready.

"Aw, Master Harry. What would you like for dinner?" Dorry asked.

"Um, doesn't really matter Dorry. What ever you make is fine." He went over to Draco, sitting down on the couch next to him. "Are you going to be okay doing this? We can always have others assigned to it."

He nodded and rushed off to continue on into the kitchen.

Draco opened a single eye and looked at Harry. "Someday you'll have to tell him what you want."

"What? Tell who what?" He asked, confused and lost at the abrupt change in topics.

He raised a single eyebrow. "Dorry. Leaving a house elf to his own ideas is a bad thing."

"Oh. I guess I'm just not used to having house elves around." Harry said, leaning back. "Now stop avoiding me and answer the question: Are you able to do this?"

He opened his eyes once more and meet his gaze dead on. "I can do my job, if that's what you're asking."

"Good." He crossed his arms behind his head. "So what is Dorry making for dinner?"

"Lamb in orange sauce," he replied, closing his eyes once more.

"Oh. Alright." He said, stretching out and also closing his eyes.

"Are you ready for it?"

"Yes."

"You won't hold back because there's a woman there, will you?" he asked, his voice emotionless.

"No."

He opened his silver eyes, looking at him. "What's with the one word replies?"

"Nothing. Just giving you the truth." His green gaze met Draco's silver one, and held it. "Would you like further details?"

"It might be helpful."

"Okay. Yes, I'm ready to do battle tomorrow. I'll follow the plan, not get killed, make sure you don't get killed, and arrest everyone, man or woman."

He nodded, listening to the other's words before closing his eyes once more. "I see. That about sums it all up, doesn't it?"

"Yes, I'm pretty sure it does."

"Well, then things should go well tomorrow."

"Yes, they should."

He nodded, standing up and moving into the dining room as he heard Dorry call that dinner was ready.

Harry followed, wondering if Draco was okay with what he had said. It was only the truth, and he knew Draco was thinking the same thing, thinking of the woman as Narcissa Malfoy, not his own mother.

He took a seat at the table, thanking Dorry for the meal and beginning to eat. But it wasn't something he gave his all to. He was slow and hesitant.

Harry sat down at the opposite end from Draco, thanked Dorry, and just watched Draco pick at his food.

"Did you get all the paperwork done?"

"Yeah. Everything's all caught up."

Draco nodded his approval. "That's good. I was tired of them.

"I know you were."

He soon pushed his plate away, less than half eaten and stood. "I'm going to bed. Morning will be here too soon."

"...Alright." Harry didn't approve, but he wouldn't argue. He began eating his own food then, as Draco left. Finishing his meal, he left the plate in the kitchen, then went up to his own room.

Draco laid on his bed, struggling not to allow the pain and tears to escape. Yet as he thought on what he would have to do tomorrow, he began to softly cry. He couldn't help it. He had to do this to his OWN mother. It was painful. And for the first time in his life, he wanted someone with him, sharing his pain.

Harry paused outside the bathroom. Something felt wrong. Unbalanced. He left the room and walked door the hall. Hesitantly, he lifted his hand to knock, when he heard the soft cries from within. Opening the door, he looked in. "Draco?" Seeing him lying there on the bed, staring at the ceiling, he went in. "Do you mind if I come in?"

He shook his head, even as several more tears fell from his eyes, only to trail down and into his hair.

"No... I'd... like it if... you were here."

"Okay." Harry replied, entering the room and climbing up onto the bed next to Draco. "You really miss her don't you?"

More tears fell and his only answer was to nod. He was and still is in a way, a mother's boy. Knowing that he had to face his mother tomorrow... it was painful.

Harry reached tentatively to hug him. He knew he couldn't really understand much of what Draco was going through, but he could at least try to be there for him.

Sniffling slightly, he curled up into Harry's embrace, cuddling close to him even as he cried softly, silently.

He just held him close, occasionally stroking his fingers through the silky blonde hair and murmuring softly to reassure him as much as he could.

He sighed, cuddling close to him. "Harry..." he whispered.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Am I... a bad son... for planning to do this... to my mother?"

"No!" Harry said a little too forcefully. "No, you're not. You're just doing what's right. She would understand. If you were willing to kill for the Dark side, you can save for the light. This is something you have to do. Think of how many people you'll save."

He swallowed, burying his face into his lover's chest. He couldn't stand this. It was tearing him apart. "But... isn't family... important?"

"Yes, it is. But sometimes they are wrong, and you have to do what is right. And sometimes that can be hurtful towards them and yourself. You just have to choose what's best. You can ignore it, but it's not going to be any better."

He continued to cry softly. "I'll be ok for tomorrow, Harry... just for tonight... can I cry... and sleep in your arms?"

"Yeah, I'm here for you." Harry told him, hugging him even closer.

A small smile tugged at his lips at those words. "Good," he whispered, pressing a kiss to Harry's lips, before settling into his arms to attempt to sleep, even as tears still occasionally fell.

Harry kissed him back, and then lay there with Draco until the blonde at last fell asleep.