- Desolate -

Chapter 2

After he landed on the floor, Harry quickly stood up and got his wand. His eyes were trained to the staircase and when he felt someone moving behind him. He turned around and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" The figure sidestepped the spell and smiled softly at him.

"It is good to finally meet you, Harry." Said the man, Harry studied his features. His hair was as white as snow like Dumbledore's though it was neither long nor did he have a beard. His brown eyes were warm and friendly like that of a loving grandfather.

"Are you-?" Harry left the question hanging.

"Yes, I am the one that sent you that letter. Albus is in the tearoom perhaps you would like to see him." Replied the man,

"Yes, I want to see him." The man smiled but then his smile faltered when he saw that Severus was not around. He asked, "Where is Severus?" Harry shrugged. The man looked thoughtful for a moment before he signaled Harry to follow him. They walked through a series of stairs and corridors before they stopped at a large mahogany door with a painting of two intertwined serpents. One of the serpents had emerald eyes while the other had silver eyes. It was neither moving nor was it talking.

"It is not moving or talking because the person who painted that died before it was finished." The man replied as if he had read Harry's mind. He opened the door and went inside. Harry followed him. "Who painted it?"

"It was painted by Salazar Slytherin himself. He was a great artist if I do say so myself, lemon drops Harry?" Harry's eyes widened before it was filled with what looked like tears. He ran to Dumbledore and hugged him as if his life depended on it. He cried while Albus patted him on the head.

"I guess I'll leave you for a while." Said the man before closing the door softly, Harry just cried and cried. Albus now hugged him back whispering comforting words to the boy. That was the scene for an hour before three men went inside the room. One was smiling the other was scowling while the next one was unreadable.

"I can't believe I am seeing Harry Potter cry." Said the man with the blond almost white hair,

"Draco," the other man said warningly,

- 5 -

- Desolate -

"I know Severus. I'm not supposed to get in a fight with Potter." Replied Draco rolling his eyes, "But I mean it's likely to happen right so why avoid the inevitable?" The other men sighed and went to sit on the couch near Dumbledore. Draco followed them and sat between.

Dumbledore felt Harry's arm sagged to the sides. He removed his hugged and looked at Harry. "He's asleep. He must have been tired from all the crying. Draco, why don't you carry Harry to your room? Let him sleep for a while, it is past midnight already." It wasn't a question. It was an order and Draco knew he shouldn't defy that. He nodded and carried Harry bridal style to his room.

When the door closed, the two of the three men chuckled. Severus stayed silent but you could see from his eyes that he was amused. "I thought I'd never see the day when Draco Malfoy carries Harry Potter, bridal style to his room."

"Same here Albus, same here."

Meanwhile…

While Draco was carrying Harry to his room Harry stirred a little and wrapped his arms around Draco's neck. Draco felt himself blush and he walked faster. Harry groaned and buried his face on the crook of Draco's neck. When they arrived at Draco's room, he opened the door and quickly went to the bed.

He laid Harry on the bed but Harry arms were still wrapped around his neck. He went to removed them but Harry buried his head deeper on Draco's neck. With a sigh, Draco laid down on the bed with Harry. He covered them with the silk comforter and extinguished the light. Draco lay on the bed unmoving while Harry was breathing hot breaths on Draco's neck. He turned to face Harry and looked at the smaller boy near him. He brushed the bangs that were covering his famous scar. He felt himself being drowsy and soon he fell asleep his arms wrapped around Harry waist.

In the morning…

Draco woke up and found that Harry had woken up before him. He went to the bathroom and shut the door. When he opened the shower stall, he was met with Harry's sexy body. "I'm so-sorry," he stuttered and quickly shut the shower stall's door and went outside the bathroom. He felt himself blush. It seems he was doing that a lot since Harry came. When Harry went out of the bathroom, he was dripping wet and his body was covered with a towel from waist down. Draco tried his very best not to blush.

"Good morning," Draco said his voice faltering a little bit,

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- Desolate -

"Good morning," Harry felt himself blush remembering how he woke up. His head was buried in the crook of someone's neck and he felt arms wrapped around his waist.

"I-I'm…"

"I suppose I'll take a bath then. Um, since you don't have your clothes yet. I prepared some of my clothes. They should fit you."

"Thank you, Malfoy." Replied Harry,

"You're welcome, Potter."

Draco quickly went to the bathroom and took a long hot shower to calm his nerves. Harry took the clothes and put it on. He was itching to see Dumbledore. He had so many questions. When he finished he sat on the bed waiting for Draco to finish his bath. After an hour, Harry was impatiently tapping his foot on the floor. Another hour later, Harry was pacing around the room. With an impatient sigh, he banged on the door loudly and shouted to Draco, "What in the heavens is going on inside!" The door of the bathroom opened and a blond head poked out of it.

"Well…hmm…let me think," Draco said bringing his pointing finger to tap on his chin. "I am soaking wet, my hair still has conditioner, and I am only covered in a towel. Oh my, I think I'm having a bath." Draco mocked a surprise face and rolled his eyes.

"I know that, you stupid prat." Harry snapped,

"If you knew, why do you have to ask? Or are you secretly hoping you would be able to see my beautiful and sexy body?" Draco replied and smirked,

"Look who's talking, I'm not the one who stupidly entered the bathroom earlier and managed to see a naked body showering." Draco felt his face flush and glared at Harry before closing the door with a loud bang. You could hear Harry's laughter outside the room.

- 7 -