Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, and the licensed copyright holders including Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Warner Bros., Inc. No money has been exchanged and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A/N: (insert deep bass announcer voice): There comes a time in each man's life when he must face the sins of his past and bear his soul... Standard warnings...yadda yadda yadda...and yup this chapter picks up right where the last left off...late night confession and bonding--it's good for the soul. (grin!)

Thanks again for this weekend's reviews...just a note...I'm not killing Draco off in this fic. Stomach ulcers can be very dangerous, and left untreated they can even be fatal (but Draco's in hospital so he's no longer untreated). They're painful and reguire a change in lifestyle though...more on that later!

14.

Harry sighed and met kind brown eyes, "I made a mistake. A horrible, terrible mistake at the end of the war. I-I said some things." He shook his head and swiped his hand over his face, "Merlin, the things I said. I-I wanted to hurt him, to make him angry. I was so sure I was going to die, and…" He brushed away his tears and clenched his hands, "There was a prophecy and the way I understood it, between me and Voldemort, only one of us was going to come out of that confrontation alive, but most likely we would both die."

He huffed out a breath, "I was ready for that. If I had to die for peace then that's what I would do. But I couldn't…I loved him so much. I couldn't bear the thought of him watching me die. I couldn't bear the thought of him being alone when I was gone. I-I thought if he was hurt enough he'd get good and angry, kick my arse and storm off to somewhere far away from the fighting, somewhere he'd be safe."

He closed his eyes, "I was arrogant and I lied to him. I said horrible thing, but they were lies and it nearly killed me to say such crap to him. I didn't trust in his strength," he laughed bitterly, "and that's the funny thing. Everyone thinks it was some great hidden power in me that destroyed Voldemort. It wasn't. It was Draco. All I could think was if I didn't kill that madman Draco would never be safe. Whatever magic that destroyed Voldemort came from Draco's love."

"A love I never deserved and one I threw away," he whispered at last.

Melody stood and hugged the shaken man, "Oh Harry. I'm sorry. You've been carrying that guilt around for such a long time. Why didn't you come find him? He would've forgiven you."

Harry waved her back to her seat and wiped his eyes, "I tried. I contacted everyone we knew. I begged his godfather, which was a huge concession on my part. To say that man hates me is an understatement of vast proportions," he coughed through a watery chuckle, "no one knew where he was. After the battle I was in a coma for a few months. Maybe if I'd been awake sooner the trail wouldn't have gone cold, but by the time I was well enough to truly start searching on my own there was nothing to find. It was like he'd just vanished. There hasn't been a single day when I haven't thought of him, longed for him…My friend Hermione, the medi-witch you met tonight, found an article in a magazine and she bullied her boyfriend into getting us tickets. One part of me hoped we find each other and everything would work out and another part of me was just so afraid that he hated me. I wouldn't be able to bear that, knowing he was alive and well and hating me. And then tonight he was onstage and just…beautiful."

He chuckled, "It was like the best Christmas and birthday and getting everything you ever wanted all at once. Everything that was wrong in me that had been wrong for so long it was just…fixed." He shook his head, "I know it won't be easy Melody. But I want to be in his life. I want to be in Evan's life. Even if we're never more than friends, just being near him feeds my soul."

Melody smiled sadly, "You're right that it won't be easy Harry. There's a lot of hurt you'll have to overcome. But if you're as determined as you say and you speak to Draco as honestly as you've spoken to me I think things will be alight. He loves you, that hasn't changed. And Evan loves you, as much as a child can love a parent they've never met."

Deep pain crossed Harry's face and Melody reached out her hand concerned. "Harry?"

He sniffed and wiped his face on his sleeve. "Sorry, it's just…I never really met my parents either. They were killed when I was an infant and all I've ever had of them are stories and few photographs. It-it hurts that Evan's had to live that way too."

Melody shook her head, "That's not what I meant Harry. I'm sorry I said it that way. Everyone knows the story about your parents I just—well I was very insensitive just now. But you have to remember that Evan isn't you. He's been raised with love, knowing who he is and being cherished for the boy he is. He's had the freedom to learn his own talents and test his own limits. And he loves you.

No he hasn't had you in his life, but that doesn't mean your presence has been missing from his life. Draco tells him stories about you all the time. You're in his day to day living. Evan goes for a haircut and Draco says things like 'let's see if they can tame this mop you got from your Dad,' or he'll be working on his potions homework and scrunch up that little nose and say, 'Papa you're crazy no wonder Dad hated this stuff!' You are a constant point of reference in his life, not just a vague reference. There are pictures of you all over their rooms and Evan can tell you about each and every one of them. Not just who's in them but what his Dad is doing in them, what the day was like...all that stuff.

He's proud of who you were, and he knows about the war and what you achieved, he's proud of that too. And if that's not enough to convince you, Evan's godfather, Remus, had a copy made of your parents' wedding picture. When he's missing that connection to an older generation, and it happens now and again when some of the other grandparents visit, he goes and talks to Lily and James for awhile. The Potters are very much a part of Evan's life. Draco may have kept your surname from your son, but he has given him everything else of you that he could."

"Remus Lupin is Evan's godfather?" Harry asked incredulously.

A weak cough from the head of the bed caught there attention and both healers were up with wands out and ready before Draco could take his next breath.

"Tell me again why you don't think you could write songs because you don't have a way with words?" he rasped to Melody.

In a flash Melody conjured a glass of water and helped him drink as Harry ran a slew of diagnostic spells. "How long have you been awake?"

The blond smirked weakly, "Long enough."

Harry frowned, "Don't give me that Draconis Lucien Crispinanus Ethelred Alexander Malfoy. How long have you been awake?"

"Oooh, all five names, I think I'm in trouble Mel," he smiled at his friend. "Merlin, Harry," he shook his head gently, "how the hell did you remember all that! Half the time even I don't remember all of them." He sobered at the healers' disapproving glares, "oh alright spoil my fun," he coughed again, "I've been awake since Mel came in."

Harry gaped, "All that time?"

Draco nodded slowly, "We have a lot to talk about. I understand now, but it still hurts and I think we all have a lot of healing to do. I need to get to know who you are now and you have to get to know me and Evan."

Harry bit his bottom lip, "I understand, and we do have a lot to talk about and there's a lot we need to learn about each other still." He took a deep breath, "but since you've been listening…and you heard what I…there's something I need to know."

Draco made a vague motion with his hand signalling his willingness to listen. Harry took that hand and kissed the back of it rejoicing in the feel of Draco's silken skin against his mouth. It had been so long. Too damn long.

"Do you know—do you believe now, that I love you? That I never stopped? That I've always loved you and I always will?"

Draco closed his eyes against his tears, even as he felt Harry's drop onto his hand and wrist, "That's quite a few somethings," he joked weakly. He opened his eyes to fall into the emerald pools that always spoke to him of home and belonging. "I might not've before, but I do now. It's hard to believe but I know Harry."

"Oh Merlin," Harry sobbed and lowered his head to Draco's neck. "So much," he whispered. "Love you. Missed you so bad. Love you so much. Never ever letting you go again. Never again. You are my Dragon. Never ever again."

Tbc...

A/N: No it's not that easy, but hey it's a start!