Wish

Chapter 9

Mistake

Upon returning, Draco was pleased to find Harry in a sane state of mind, calmly sipping milk and chatting with Ron and Hermione.

"You're back," Harry smiled softly. "We were beginning to wonder." Draco couldn't dream to describe the relief he felt.

"Yeah, I'm back." Draco said and could do nothing to cease the grin from spreading across his face.

He took a seat across from Harry and vaguely noted Sapphire's absence. Draco told them the story Remus had relayed to him and added, "I'm sure we stand a chance."

Hermione and Ron looked about as excited as Draco felt. They eagerly talked about how they could throw the demons off or use some kind of supernatural power to aid them. Harry however, looked as though he was going to be sick.

"You all right?" Ron asked and leaned over toward the angel. "You don't look too well."

Harry had been staring down at his hands and with Ron's query he looked up at Draco. There was a steely gleam that Draco had never seen before and it made him squirm.

"You all don't seem to realize the vastness of this horrid situation," Harry stated coldly and Draco gulped. "If you, Kind Sir, would make your wish, I could return and perhaps in my absence you will find mercy from the horrors that have been plaguing my stay here."

There was an unkind silence and then Hermione spoke, "Can't you just leave without him making a wish?"

"I have already agreed to stay until the wish was granted and an angel cannot be in a mortal's debt!" Harry stood loudly and angrily, startling all present. "If I were to leave now, he would be at liberty to call upon me whenever he so desires. Which would in turn cause rifts in the fabrics of worlds allowing passage for demons and God only knows what else!" He spilt his cup and the milk splattered over the table, Harry didn't seem to even notice. "My prolonged stay here had already kept a passage open, letting dark figures through and getting you mortals involved!"

Draco was far too shocked to say anything and judging by their expressions, the same was true for Ron and Hermione.

Draco knew that Harry blamed himself for the trouble that had been happening, but he never knew to what extent, until now. Draco had never wanted to know.

Harry seemed to calm down a little and he noticed his spilt glass. "Oh dear…" He said and hastily wiped at it with a cloth. His harsh aura vanished and he was again, the kind, sweet angel he had been before.

"I'm sorry…" Draco said quietly without looking up at the angel.

Harry smiled sadly and shook his head, "Forgive my outburst. I am under much stress of late. I had no right to take it out on you who have been so hospital to me."

Hermione and Ron forgave him instantly and calmly reassured the angel that he had no reason to feel guilty. Draco stood and left the room.

Harry watched him leave and sighed. "Should I speak with him?" He asked no one in particular.

"He's upset." Hermione said. "It's his doing that is keeping you here and I don't think he realized that."

Harry looked apprehensive as he struggled to decide whether to follow him or not.

"There has got to be another way… " Hermione was saying to no one in particular but Harry's face lit up.

"I've got it!" He cried and rushed out of the room to find Draco.

"Got what?" Ron called after him but Harry was already gone. Hermione and Ron shared a look. Maybe things were looking up?

-

Harry found him standing out on a balcony just down the hall from the dining room.

"Draco?" He said timidly and approached him from behind.

"If you would have told me from the start what could happen, I would never have kept you here." Draco said honestly, not turning to face the angel. He kept his eyes trained on the grasses behind the house. His voice was low and remorseful.

"I know," Harry admitted. He didn't know what else to say. He had no way of knowing what the man was thinking unless he told him. "But with all respect, after that first demon attack, I did tell you that-"

"If all I am is just a burden, why didn't you just leave anyway? There was no reason for you to have to get mortals involved, right?" Draco sounded angry. Harry winced at his tone. "If you're so worried about everything, just go already! I already told you that there's nothing I want!"

"Yes… that's why I -"

"So, go on already! Leave me!"

"Draco -"

"I wish you would leave me alone! There! Is that more to your liking?" Draco spun around to face him. His tone and glare told the anger in which he had just banished Harry with, but the expression behind his eyes was a painful one.

At Draco's harsh words, Harry felt a stab in his heart. The wish that he had made rang in Harry's ears and he knew that he would have to obey. His proposition died in his throat and immense disappointed rocked his body. Tears sprung up into the angel's eyes and he drew in a shaky breath. "As you command." He said softly and retreated into the house.

Draco ran after him, realizing the pain he had caused and tried to grab the angel's arm, he was somehow repelled though. "Harry… I'm sorry… but isn't this -"

"No, you are right." Harry said in a small voice. "I did know the danger possibilities when I decided to stay. I didn't tell you, however, because I believe subconsciously I really wanted to stay." Harry stepped away from Draco and Draco didn't do anything to stop him. " I'd seen you before. You always seemed so alone and I wanted to help you. I was overjoyed when it was you who saved me. I wanted to stay and to grant your wish and then perhaps you would become happy… but the longer I stayed, the more I realized that I wanted to be here, not just to grant your wish, but to share it with you too… but the demons…"

"Harry -" Draco said and reached toward the angel again.

Harry took another step back. "The demons came and ruined everything…" Tears began to form courses down the angel's face. "They hurt you… and I knew that it was my fault…. Then when we went to that country cabin, I realized that I had to protect you… I had to leave and close the passage, but when I got there, my old memories came back. I knew that if I went, there was a chance that the demons wouldn't know of it, they would go after you to try to find me… and then it would be exactly like how it was with Sapphire… I couldn't do it again… and I - I-" Harry couldn't fight back the sob that escaped him.

Draco tried to reach the angel once more, he wanted to hold him and make him stop crying, but the angel stepped back again. "I considered closing the passage from this side… but I would be trapped here. Also your wish would be invalid… and then I remembered that it was really the only reason you'd been keeping me here, to grant your wish."

"No!" Draco cried. "You don't believe that, do you?"

Harry looked up at him, the horrible irony apparent. "I came out here to find you… to ask you if maybe you would give up your wish and I could close the passage from this side and stay…"

The reality of the situation hit Draco like a steamroller. "No…" He said weakly. He could feel his own tears beginning to form. This couldn't be happening. "No…" He felt his hands begin to shake and he dropped to his knees on the floor.

Harry tried with all his might to remain in control, but eventually his heart gave in and clasping his hands over his face, he sunk to the floor as well. He gave way to cries of anguish and anger. Anger at Lucifer and at policy. Anger at Draco and most of all, himself.

Draco watched the angel break down through his tear-stained face, but he did nothing. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't touch the angel. He brought his knees up to his chest and hid his face in his arms.

The man and the angel stayed like that. Each dissolved into their own world of misery and anguish. Hermione found them like that, and even she could do nothing but watch them.

Through the few words that she had got them to say, Hermione was able to piece the story together. Everything from Harry's plan to Draco's mistake.

They had relocated back to the living room.

Ron had berated Draco until Hermione had stepped in. Although she was upset with Draco's wish as well, they would get no where by screaming at each other.

"So you can't even touch him?" Hermione asked.

Draco, to verify his claim, attempted to touch Harry's arm but was pushed back by some force.

"So the wish was interpreted in the form of a barrier of some sort?"

"It would appear so." Harry mumbled. He was still recovering from the recent exposure in their state of affairs.

Draco was still sitting with his knees drawn to his chest and looking for all reasons like a kid afraid of a punishment. Harry was sure it had nothing to do with Ron's scolding.

"Oh Malfoy, don't feel bad." Hermione tried. She still hadn't been able to get him to say more than a couple sentences.

"Yeah, we knew you'd screw everything up somehow." Ron spat and Hermione glared at him.

"You're not helping." She said coolly. Ron crossed his arms and glared at the window. "So what can we do?" She asked Harry.

"I'm afraid there is nothing," Harry said. He was staring at Draco. "There is little choice."

"Do you have to go back?" Hermione asked softly. Harry looked thoughtful. Hermione changed her words, "Maybe a better question is, do you want to go back?"

Harry glanced at Draco again. "I-"

"No! I don't want you to go!" Draco said, sitting up from his position. He still looked like a frightened child. Hermione felt bad for him.

Harry smiled weakly and looked away.

Hermione noted the exchange and turned back to Harry.

"Well?"

Harry made a point of not looking in her eyes. "It's not that I want to. However without obligation, there is even graver danger in my staying."

Hermione nodded solemnly and for a moment all was quiet.

There was a distant roar of thunder and the sky flashed a violent ivory.

"It would be best I were on my way." Harry said and stood. The other three mirrored him. Hermione sadly, Ron regretfully, and Draco painfully.

Harry hugged each Hermione and Ron. "Thank you for everything." He said and smiled at them. The light however, never reached his eyes.

"Take care." Hermione said softly and Ron patted his shoulder.

Harry stopped before Draco and they began a silent staring match. Each unknowing what to say and both unwilling to say anything. Draco broke first, "Harry I'm sorry…"

Harry held up a hand to stop him. "No. No apologies. We cannot change the past. What is said and said. What is done is done."

Draco looked as though he wanted to argue everything for the life of him, but he held silent.

Harry exhaled a shaky breath and reached out to touch Draco's face. The electric force keeping them apart, however, bit at his fingers and he pulled back.

Draco frowned, upset and determined. He batted Harry's hand away from where it seemed frozen in time next to his face and brought the angel to his lips.

Hermione gasped and Ron made a face.

Draco refused to let go, even though it felt as though his blood would boil. He was encouraged when arms slipped around his waist and pulled him even closer. Neither one cared that they were slowly being electrocuted by a higher power. As their kiss deepened and Draco could feel the curves of Harry's mouth with his tongue and of his body with his hands, the electric energy cackled and intensified. It ripped stitches from their clothing and made cuts across their skin. It was agonizing, the white lightning felt like thousands of needles setting them on fire as one. They couldn't breathe and the fire was rising.

Just before it became too much, they let go of each other and fell away. The energy immediately stopped and Draco was temporarily blinded.

Before anyone could say anything, Harry took off running. He escaped the house and never once looked over his shoulder.

Hermione and Ron said nothing as Draco recovered and again Draco was left on his knees on the floor. He wiped at his face and the smears of blood did little to shock him.

Looking worse-for-wear, Hermione and Ron helped him to his feet and to the sofa.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked, concern etched everywhere on her visage.

"I'll be fine." He said simply and concentrated on catching the rest of his breath.

They were quiet for a moment except for Draco's shaky and trying breaths.

"Hey?" Ron finally asked. "How did it feel?" His ears tinged red. "The energy, I mean."

Draco took a couple more steadying breaths before looking up at him.

"It felt like Hell." He said and quickly looked away to mask the torment in his eyes.

"I make you the general of my army and this is how you repay me?" Lucifer's voice boomed through the caverns of Hell.

"Forgive me, my Lord!" Blaise cried. "How was I to know the demons could not see through a simple task?"

These were the wrong words. "You fail me and insult my minions, Mortal?"

Blaise winced, oops. "But My Lord! He made the wish before I got there! That can't possibly be my fault!"

"You remember our deal?" The Devil asked, smirking evilly down at the cowering man and choosing to ignore his excuses.

"Please my Lord! Have mercy on me!"

"Had you wanted mercy, you should have taken your matters to Almighty." Lucifer grinned terrifyingly.

"Oh no…" Blaise whimpered as he was descended upon.

There was another flash of ivory and a streak of red.

Remus and Sirius watched it from their bedroom window.

"What's going on?" Remus asked. He clutched Sirius's hand tightly in his own.

"The passage has been closed." Sirius said quietly.

Remus frowned. "But that was -"

A loud noise and something falling from the sky interrupted him.

Draco, Ron, and Hermione were at Draco's house. They were unsure of whether to go about their lives and act like nothing had ever happened… or to accept it for what it was which would make going about a regular life impossible.

"We should send this story into a tabloid or something." Ron muttered. "At least we'd get some money."

"Keep this story to yourself or you'll be sorry." Draco growled without any real threat.

"I was just saying we might as well make the best out of -"

"Shut up, I have a headache." Draco said a little louder.

Hermione sighed and crossed her arms. "I don't know about you two, but the only possible thing I can see to do is to go on. I'm not saying forget about it," She added hurriedly at Draco's glance. "Just that we can't sit around feeling sorry for ourselves, right?"

Before either Ron or Draco could reply, there was a knock at the door.

They glanced at each other. Wondering whom it could be.

Draco grudgingly got up and with Ron and Hermione looking on, answered the door.

"You." He exclaimed when he recognized Remus.

"May we come in?" Remus asked.

Draco nodded and looked past him to Sirius. Sirius was carrying someone.

"Harry!"

"Please keep your voice down, he's quite weak." Remus said, taking Draco by the arm and leading him inside.

"But… I don't understand…" Draco was sputtering. "I thought… he… but I wished…" He shook his head. "Isn't it over?"

Sirius lay Harry on the couch and stood up. "No," He said definitely. "This is far from over."