Chapter Twenty-four

Draco knew very well that Harry wasn't in the Gryffindor common room, not when he was still upset about Ron and Hermione. So he focused as hard as he could on Harry's churning, dark emotions and followed them to their source. Almost half-an-hour later, he found himself panting as he finally got to the roof of the Astronomy Tower after climbing at least two hundred stairs.

It being the end of November and the sky was filled with thin grey clouds. The sunlight was weak and hardly carried any warmth. It was very cold, but could have been worse had there been any kind of breeze. He was glad he had put on his dark-green sweater, but still needed to spell his clothes with a warming charm. He was sure Harry hadn't bothered and walked quickly over to his love to do just that.

The small brunette was standing at the waist-high wall and looking over at the school grounds. His arms were wrapped around his chest as if the white sweater he wore were a straight-jacket. His black slacks were thin and he wore white tennis shoes that wouldn't do much to keep his feet warm. Draco knelt and tapped the shoes with his wand, then moved up to tap Harry's pants and his sweater. Harry didn't turn around until he finished, and when he did, his eyes were strained behind his glasses.

"I didn't want to talk where anyone could hear us." Harry answer softly to Draco's unspoken question.

"I don't understand why you're so upset." Draco answered equally gently. "I never cared for Pansy or anyone the way I care for you, and I certainly would never kiss anyone else now that we're together."

"I know." Harry looked away and back over the school grounds. "But that's not the problem, Ray."

"Then what is?" Draco glared, having a feeling where this was going and not liking it a bit.

"What if you don't really love me like you think? I mean, why would you?" Harry laughed self-depreciatively. "What if it's just the spell?"

"Baby, my love for you has nothing to do with the spell."

"We're only fourteen. How do you know what love is?" Harry asked, turning to face him. "This could just be hormones or something exaggerated because of the spell."

"You're wrong." Draco said coldly. He loathed it when Harry doubted him. "First of all, we're not really fourteen. I will be seventeen in February, and I remember bits and pieces of being sixteen. In your case, you really are fourteen, so maybe you are only infatuated with me…" He held up a hand when Harry opened his mouth. Draco didn't know if he was going to agree or protest, but either way he wasn't done. "…but I doubt it. You may be physically fourteen, but we've been through much more than any normal fourteen year old has. In fact, before the spell you were already mature for your age, but adding the last nine weeks to your experiences has made you even more mature."

"I do love you, Draco. If I didn't, I think the memories of what you were like before all this happened would have been enough to kill my feelings for you." Harry said, looking up at him and pleading for him to understand. "But why would you love me? You have no reason to except for the spell. You've been helping me and it's my fault your in this de-aged mess. But I've done nothing for you and I remember how much you hated me. I haven't changed any since then."

"But I have changed." Draco pointed out. "And who I am now loves you." He sighed and toyed with his braid as he stared at lake. He knew he had to say things just right or Harry wouldn't believe him. "I didn't really understand who you were. I wasn't ready to until recently because understanding you meant realizing how wrong my beliefs and perceptions were and… that was really, really hard. We've talked about what I believe and how I feel about things now, but I never really explained what happened to me. I didn't really know what happened myself until this last age transformation. My memories were so vague and elusive, but I remember most of the important things now, I think."

He took a deep breath and Harry listened avidly. "I was furious that Lucius had been arrested. It seemed impossible to me because he was invincible, perfect, everything I was supposed to be. I found my mother and demanded to know what would be done and she hit me. She smacked me hard. I had never been struck by her before. She babied me and adored me as a child. She taught me songs and gardening. She taught me to be a Malfoy, but she also taught me about mercy. I had forgotten all that when Lucius took me away from her and under his wing. Occasionally he'd cast pain spells if I had done something very embarrassing or wrong, but never had physical violence touched me from either of them. So her slap really paralyzed me.

"She spoke to me calmly and slowly. She knew what she was going to do would be incredibly hard and would hurt me, and she wasn't sure I'd be willing to walk away from the path my father was training me for even after I knew the truth. She had only one chance, so she had to make it count. So she took me to the dungeons where the brutal truth was laid bare and not sugarcoated at all.

"I knew we had dungeons. Lucius would go down there sometimes, but I had never been allowed. She activated the recording sphere that was hidden in the wall. I guess Lucius liked to watch the things he did later. What I saw… Harry, it was as bad as our vision Halloween. I got physically sick. He was still my everything at that time and to watch him torture for pleasure… And he was so good at it, Harry."

Draco closed his eyes tight. He was glad when Harry reached out and held his hand. The warmth of Harry's sympathy and respect broke apart the ice in his chest. "My mother explained my choices after revealing the truth of my father and my father's path. I had a choice: Continue on or change. I honestly considered continuing on because the other option was horrifying. But I knew I couldn't… I couldn't do as my father did. I wasn't strong enough to torture someone like that. I accepted her hand and my whole world changed.

"We went to the Ministry and we turned over the recording sphere and demanded Lucius be locked up forever. I had to take over the businesses we were involved in and had to sever ties to the darker ones. Every minute of everyday I had to fight habit and reflex, had to question myself about my motives and fight against the expectations of my father and everyone else in the Wizarding World.

"Dad – well, he was just Severus to me then, but he still came by when I was having a bad week and couldn't sleep at all and talk to me. He'd tell me about his experiences with the Death Eaters and reinforced my choice to stay clean. So I changed and I reshaped myself. I had to shed everything I thought I was and become a different person. It felt like dieing." He looked down into Harry's eyes. "I wanted to help you. I wanted to do something for the Wizarding World. I wanted to prove to myself once and for all I was capable of being something other than another Lucius. You were hurt so badly and I chose to help you because you are this world's hope, and I knew if I could want to help you, honestly care about your wellbeing, then there was hope for me."

"Oh, Ray…" Harry bit his lip, tears in his eyes.

"I know that sounds like I only cared for what you stood for, but I still didn't know you that well then. I've gotten to know you now and I can honestly say I love you. And it has nothing to do with what you mean to the world. If you were a muggle, Harry, I'd love you." He grinned wryly. "We'd have some serious issues to work out, but I'd love you."

"Why?" Harry shook his head. He was torn, equally wanting to believe Draco, but also not able to.

"You have no idea how beautiful you are." Draco answered solemnly. "You live inside yourself and can't see just how precious you are. You have been hurt horribly by your family, and all that time you still cared about people in general. You had faith in the goodness of your parents even when you were told they were bad and wanted to defend them even though they weren't there to see. You accepted who you were and what you meant to the Wizarding World almost instantly. You do your best in almost every situation. And you're alive, Harry.

"You're so full of passion and emotion, more so than other people. You let the world touch you in a way that most people back away from, and in return you touch the world. I know you're not a saint or even perfect. You make mistakes and I like that because I like being needed. But you also want to learn from your mistakes, you want to do better everyday. You cherish simple things." Draco sighed, running out of word if not the actual feelings that inspired them. "You are simply beautiful and I love you. I want to be with you. I want to keep you to myself. You're mine and it's not the spell. It's just me feeling this."

Harry stared at him for a long minute. Draco held his breath as he literally felt Harry's emotions see-saw as he struggled to make his decision. The balanced tipped and Draco had only a half second to lift his arms before his love flew into them. Like before, Harry wrapped his legs around his waist and hugged him tight around the neck. Draco buried his face into Harry's hair and let the trembling relief and Harry's love race along his every nerve. His hands and knees were shaking and he found himself laughing.

"Don't question me ever again, you prat." Draco grinned. "Really. I might get very angry with you."

"Never again." Harry promised, laughing and crying at the same time. "I'm so glad you're here! I was trying to prepare myself for you leaving and it was awful! I'm so happy you love me back, because I think I'd die without you, Ray."

"Then I guess you'll live forever." Draco murmured against his mouth before kissing him.

Harry pressed himself against his boyfriend as hard as he could, his hands coming up and sliding into Draco's hair to prevent him from breaking the kiss. Breathing through their nose, their tongues slid together. Draco flicked the tip of his tongue at the roof of Harry's mouth and the brunette groaned, legs clamping tighter. Draco was beginning to pant. Blood was roaring in his ears and little electric shocks were sparking down his arms and spine. He sucked Harry's tongue into his mouth and drew his teeth across it. Harry thrust against his stomach with a whimper. Clawing for sanity as Harry's lust made his own spiral higher and higher, Draco turned his head sideways, pressing his damp forehead against Harry's shoulder.

"We should stop." He gasped, lifting his head to look into his love's eyes. They were glowing and Draco felt his soul respond with aching hunger.

"Why?" Harry asked huskily. He was grinning, his whole body was tingling and on fire, and the look Draco was giving him was only making his heart beat faster. He didn't want it to ever stop. "This feels so good. So right."

Draco groaned and buried his face against his love's slender neck. Harry was still so small and too thin. He was afraid if they continued that he'd hurt him. Not only that, he was aware that he knew more about what they were doing than Harry, since he was able to exploit his knowledge and experiences of when he was sixteen while Harry could not. Draco was afraid he was taking advantage of his love and he refused to hurt him in anyway.

"Ohhh… That's nice." Harry breathed, enjoying very much Draco's the hot breath against his neck. He gasped when Draco began kissing and sucking gently, his teeth scraping ever so lightly. "Nicccccce, yesssss," he moaned in Parseltongue.

Draco's hips bucked and he staggered as his love hissed at him wantonly. "Merlin, Harry." He looked into the brunette's face and found Harry's eyes almost clouded beyond reason, the brunette's obvious need pressing hard against his stomach. It was then he realized Harry was rocking against him. Unfortunately, his self-control was only so strong and he lost it. His hands dropped down to cup Harry's butt, helping him achieve firmer contact. His mouth sucked and nipped up the silky neck and along his jaw.

"Raaayyy," Harry hissed, eyes slitted in pleasure.

Every muscle in Draco's body went tight as he heard that hiss. When his eyes cleared, he drank in Harry, his head tossed back, his eyes closed and mouth open as little hitching grunts and moans escaped his swollen lips. He watched, burning alive with lust, as Harry's head tilted forward and green eyes consumed him, claimed him. Harry's magic, washed through them both, filling them with a buzzing high. Draco's hair spilled free and whipped around them as their orgasm hit. Harry cried out in joy and Draco screamed. They tumbled to the ground, his hair spilling in a puddle of white over them both, tickling the oversensitive and heated skin of their necks and cheeks. Harry laughed, shuddering in reaction against the blonde's chest.

"That was… intense…" Draco panted. He couldn't take his eyes off Harry and felt languid and dazed as his emotions blended with and matched Harry's so completely he didn't know where he ended and Harry began.

"Yessssss." Harry hissed, still stuck in Parseltongue. Draco shivered and turned his head to kiss Harry deeply and slowly. Harry wiggled against him, kissing back. They broke apart gasping and grinning.

"Don't hiss at me unless you're prepared for the consequences." Draco growled huskily, his eyes molten silver.

"Parseltongue turns you on?" Harry laughed. "I hadn't even meant to do it! Usually I have to see a snake."

"I have a snake I could show you." Draco leered playfully.

Harry slapped his shoulder and giggled. "I think we're messy enough, thanks." He wiggled again and blushed. "I'm sticky."

"Feel free to take you clothes off if they bother you." Draco shrugged.

"Be serious." Harry smacked him again.

"Why should I?" Draco smiled a slow and sultry smile and Harry went red.

"Maybe because it's almost lunch, and we need to change, eat, and train with the DA." He pointed out.

"Mmmm…" Draco nuzzled Harry's neck and was pleased when Harry didn't push him away. "I like this better."

He licked slowly up to Harry's jaw, and the brunette sighed and groaned, going limp in his arms. Draco rolled so his love was on his back, carefully keeping most of his weight on his elbows so that he didn't hurt his fragile lover. They kissed languidly, and Harry reached out to tangle his fingers in Draco's hair possessively. Draco lifted his head and smiled at the ball of mush he had turned Harry into.

"Come on. I don't know about you, but I can think of many things a lot softer than the stone floor on top of the Astronomy Tower to be laying on." He stood and tucked his hair behind one ear and reaching for Harry with the other hand.

The brunette accepted it and stood, floating gracefully in the air to hug his boyfriend. "I'm sorry I doubted you, Ray."

"Good." Draco sniffed haughtily. The effect was ruined by his still bright eyes, flushed cheeks, and swollen lips.

Harry laughed and Draco grinned back. He practically skipped down to the dungeons. He could dance in place, take on the world, or laugh until a rib broke he was so happy. His cheeks hurt he was smiling so wide, and Harry's giggles and aerial acrobatics matched his own giddy mood. Fortunately, he could still think semi-coherently and Draco pulled them into an alcove before their door, trying to get rid of the most damning evidence. He cast a few cleaning spells and got Harry to braid up his hair. The brunette pouted the whole time and Draco couldn't resist kissing him.

"Merlin." Draco groaned as he held Harry. "We need to focus. We can't make Dad suspicious or he'll make us sleep in different rooms."

Harry nodded, his high tapering off as that very unwelcome realization hit him. It was hard enough sleeping in separate beds; he wouldn't be able to stand separate rooms. "How do I look?"

"Delicious." Draco answered seriously.

They spent another hurried five minutes trying to set themselves right before deciding that this was a good as they could get and walked through the portrait hole. Remus was sitting on a couch reading, but Severus wasn't in sight. The werewolf looked up as they entered and smiled in welcome. He was pleased to see Harry holding Draco's hand.

"Lunch is ready." He stood to lead the way when he froze and took a sniff at the air.

Harry touched down next to Draco and they stood there blushing madly. They hadn't thought of protecting against Remus' werewolf senses. Distracted as they were, they had only thought about Dad.

Remus' eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Have you had sex?"

Draco's blush deepened, but he met Remus' eyes. "It's none of your business."

"Draco Malfoy." Remus growled, his eyes beginning to bleed into gold. "We've talked about this."

Harry pushed forward and stood between them, lifting into the air until he was eye to eye with his godfather. "Remus, don't. You did talk to us, and things have changed. Draco and I did nothing wrong, and we didn't even have sex. Clothes stayed on, I swear. It's wrong of you to make us feel embarrassed about something you said was normal and right. You said you'd trust us if we respected you, and we do respect both you and Dad. So trust us a bit to know our own limits."

"I would never hurt Harry." Draco added, his face cool and serious. Harry still had a tinge of pink in his cheeks, but he had moved past the initial embarrassment as well.

"That is very mature of both of you." Remus admitted. "And I know you've both been through a lot together. It is natural for you to want to experience the physical side to a relationship." He sighed and ran his hands through his graying hair. "Let me talk to your father."

"Thank you, Remus." Harry drifted over and gave him a hug. "I'm going to take a quick shower."

"Can I take one…?"

"No!" Remus snapped at the blonde.

Draco huffed and narrowed his eyes. "I was going to say in yours and Dad's shower."

"Oh." Remus blushed. "Sure. Go ahead, Draco."

Laughing, Harry flew through the kitchen and into the bathroom, while Draco walked regally into their parents' room, his head held high. Remus shook his head and muttered, "Severus is going to kill me."

"Harry, can we talk to you?" Hermione asked after Draco dismissed them that night after training.

"Ummm…" Harry bit his lip and looked over at Remus.

"I should talk to your father before you come home anyway." The werewolf sighed. "Don't be too long."

"We won't." Draco nodded.

After Remus left, Draco and Harry faced the four Gryffindors alone. Harry was distinctly nervous and Draco felt nauseous with the strength of it. He reached out and held his hand, offering silent support. Harry flashed him an uncertain smile before facing his friends once more.

"I personally want to say I think you two make a hot couple." Ginny huffed.

"Malfoy has changed and he's helping you. I'm willing to give him a chance." Neville agreed.

"Thank you." Harry smiled at them and flew over to hug them both.

Draco stayed where he was, eyeing Ron and Hermione. Hermione looked like she wanted to throw her support in as well, but was hesitant. Ron was staring mulishly at the wall, not looking at any of them. He was still going to be a problem. Draco glared threateningly. He better not make Harry cry or he'd hex him permanently mute.

Harry stood between Ginny and Neville and looked hopefully over at Hermione. "You wanted to talk?"

"Yes, well…" She bit her lip. "I love you, Harry. You and Ron are my best-friends. I'm worried about you. I just don't understand how this happened."

"Are you sure it isn't the spell making you feel like this?" Ron muttered, still not looking at them.

"I'm absolutely certain." Harry affirmed. "And I know this is strange for you, but it's not really. Dad and Draco have changed my life. I remember what growing up without them was like, and I know what growing up with their love and support is like. To have that, to actually feel cared for and have someone stay up with me when I have a nightmare or feel sick, I can't tell you what that was like for me when I remembered a time when I didn't. You may have noticed, but I'm much stronger magically than I was. That's because the Dursley's made me hate and fear magic on such a deep level that even coming here I couldn't trust mine completely and locked it away. Dad and Draco took away the fear and made me respect magic, and they really made me believe for the first time that I'm not a worthless freak."

"Harry!" Hermione cried tearfully.

"I know you both loved me all along, but I couldn't believe deep down that I deserved it or was worthy of it. I really do know that now. I don't feel dirty or that I have to prove something or defeat Voldemort just to deserve a home and people who care about me. I realize now that I have that already, and Draco's a huge part of why I can believe all this now. He honestly helped me heal wounds I didn't even know was there."

"Oh, Harry…" She knelt and hugged him tight. "I'll give him a chance too. If he did all that, then I'll even kiss him!"

"You better not!" Harry glared with a blush.

They all laughed except for Ron. The redhead met his best-friend's gaze, "I'm sorry. I think I just have to get use to it."

"Alright." Harry nodded, ducking his head. "I understand."

Ron nodded and left them. Hermione hugged Harry one last time and promised to see him tomorrow morning before running after him. Ginny ruffled Harry's messy black hair and smiled down at him. "I'm glad your happy, Harry. And don't worry about Ron. He'll come around."

"He always does." Neville smiled.

"Thanks, you two." Harry grinned.

"No problem, Harry." Ginny kissed his cheek and jumped back before the glaring blonde could hex her. She ran laughing out of the room.

"Don't mind her. She's crazy." Neville shook his head and waved, going after his friends.

"That went better then I thought it would." Harry smiled at Draco and floated up to his height and took his hand. "Ready to face Dad?"

"You're really happy." Draco was surprised at how light his love felt. "Aren't you worried about Weasley?"

"Nope." Harry grinned. "He as good as approved. Honestly, he'll come around. It just takes him some time to work his mind around new ideas."

"That doesn't surprise me." Draco muttered darkly.

Harry smacked his shoulder, "Be nice." His playfulness dimmed as concern crept in around the edges. "Are you upset? About Pansy, I mean."

"I'm upset I kissed her last year and made her think I cared for her more than I do." Draco admitted. "But she'll come around. We've been friends too long for it to end like this. I just have to give her enough time to think of suitable revenge and remind myself not to retaliate because I deserve it."

"Slytherins are so strange." Harry laughed.

"We still have to face the Head of Slytherin. Think we'll survive?"

Harry bit his lip worriedly, "I hope so."

"I was just joking, Baby." Draco kissed his cheek. "We'll be fine."

They pushed open the portrait and walked into the room. Remus was sitting in a chair and looked thoroughly cowed. Severus stood with his black robes buttoned all the way up and his arms folded across his chest. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were intense. Both boys instinctively tightened their Occlumency shields.

"You were saying?" Harry muttered fearfully to his boyfriend.

Draco went pale, his hands becoming clammy. "Father."

"Don't 'father' me." Severus said icily. "Remus tells me that you've broken the rules we've set for you pertaining your sexual promiscuity."

"To be fair, you set those rules when we were thirteen, and he said we'd loosen them with every age we regained."

"Yet you have not come to either of us to discuss such a change." Severus countered.

"I didn't know you wanted to be made aware of our every advance."

"Considering the circumstances, Draco, I do want to be made aware."

"No offense," Harry cut in nervously. "But that's a little weird. I love you, Dad, but I don't want to tell you what Draco and I do together. Some things are meant to be private. The boys in my dorm didn't even talk to each other in that much detail about what they did with girls. And I hardly want to know what goes on between you and Remus."

"Harry, you aren't aware of the all the consequences your actions might bring." Severus snapped furiously.

"For heaven's sake, sometimes it's not about consequences or responsibility. It's about feeling!" He yelled, his fear giving way to anger. "I'm perfectly capable of telling Draco no or to slow down. I have not one single doubt that he wouldn't listen to me or would make me feel bad for saying something like that. We're not exactly little kids no matter what we look like.

"We've been tortured, fought for our lives, and been in a war. We are currently training to fight in another one soon! We've been kidnapped and returned to children. I've watched and participated in the rebirth of a Dark Lord. I've seen a classmate murdered before my eyes and carried his corpse back to school because his ghost asked it of me! I've faced dragons and untangled conspiracies and plots. I've grown from an abused orphaned child to a teenager who is confident in himself and has a loving family supporting him every step of the way. I've faced physical handicaps and control enormous magical power! I think I can handle having a boyfriend!"

Three pairs of eyes stared at Harry in shock. Remus and Draco literally had their mouths hanging open and Severus had red tingeing his pale cheeks. None of them ever doubted Harry was a strong person, but never had they had to face the determined young man. Usually they were standing beside him or behind him when Harry got like this. Now Severus looked at his son whose eyes were glowing, and with him floating there in mid-air, he looked like some kind of fey warrior. Power rolled off of him and maturity shone in his eyes.

"I stand corrected." Severus murmured.

Harry blinked a few times and then broke out into a grin. "Really?"

Severus nodded. With a whoop of joy, Harry rushed at his father and hugged him so hard his back popped. Smiling, Severus put his cheek against his son's hair and whispered, "I'm so proud of you, Harry, but please take it slow."

"I promise." Harry kissed his cheek and flew toward the kitchen. "Come on, you guys! I'm starving!"

Draco grinned and darted passed his father. Remus followed, but stopped at his mate's shoulder. Severus looked at him from the corner of his eyes. "They're growing up."

"They are." Remus smiled sadly and wrapped an arm around the man's shoulders. "It happened too fast, didn't it?"

"I could bear to have them as my children once again." He drawled casually.

"Oh, Severus. They will always be your children." Remus murmured and released him as they stepped into the kitchen where Draco and Harry were fighting over the mash potatoes. "Come on, guys, no fighting!"

Severus smiled, his eyes dancing as he took his seat at the table.

The next day was hard. The boys got up and trained in the morning, but Severus had come and collected them at lunch while Remus stayed behind to continue the lessons with the DA. Harry knew what was coming and took Draco's hand bravely. He wouldn't flinch away from what they had to tell him. He knew it would be bad just by their solemn air, but he was strong and he had their support.

They were both surprised, however, when they found Dumbledore and Narcissa waiting for them in their living room. Draco's mother had left days ago to see if she could find anything out about Voldemort's plans. They hadn't seen her since and Draco's shoulders loosened just a bit when he saw her.

"Harry, my boy. And Draco. You've done a wonderful job with the DA." He smiled kindly at them.

"Thank you, sir." Harry smiled. Draco merely inclined his head regally. He was in full Malfoy mode. Harry smiled at him fondly before returning his attention to the adults. "How did it go, Ms. Malfoy?"

"As to be expected." She sighed. "I got into contact with a few friends, but what they knew doesn't really help us. Voldemort is building something in the Ministry, and until he's finished he won't come out. They have no idea what the artifact is supposed to do."

"Helpful." Draco drawled.

"Yes." She smiled. "It's good to be back."

"You are looking well." He smiled in return.

"Do you mind, Harry, if she stays while I explain about your fifth year?" Dumbledore asked.

"I don't mind." Harry smiled tightly and sat with Draco on their favorite sofa. Narcissa sat in a chair by the fire and Dumbledore sat across from the boys. Severus chose to sit next to the headmaster so he could better see his children's faces.

Harry sat rigid and pale as Dumbledore described the school year and ended with the battle in the Department of Mysteries. He felt disappointment in himself for not giving Occlumency the attention it deserved and was sad that Severus was still too adverse to him to make the lessons less painful. He felt great grief when he heard Sirius had been killed. He bowed his head and clung to Draco and his father's hands, but he didn't cry. That would be for later when Dumbledore was no longer there.

"Thank you for telling me the prophecy." He said, lifting his head and revealing his weary and sorrowful eyes.

"No problem, my boy." Dumbledore rumbled. "I am partly at fault for the way things turned out. I was trying to protect you and only handicapped you. I'm deeply sorry. I also should never have thrown you to Severus without some preparation for both of you. I made a mistake."

"It's alright, sir." Harry said tightly. "I wish things could have been different, but I'm sure Sirius would rather we keep looking ahead. We do have Voldemort to defeat and he would be furious if we let his death distract us from that or our lives."

"Very wise, Harry." Dumbledore smiled. He stood and put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Good luck, and if you ever need anything, I will be here for you."

"Thank you." Harry smiled.

Severus rose and walked the headmaster out while Draco wrapped his arms around Harry and let the smaller teen lean into him. They sat quietly for a while; Narcissa respectfully still. They didn't even notice when Severus came in and shared the silence with them. They didn't become aware until Remus came back and passed out hot chocolate. When everyone had a cup, he settled on the floor, leaning against Severus' legs. Harry smiled at that and rested more of his weight against Draco. Before he knew it, he was asleep.

"Do you think he'll be alright?" Remus whispered.

Draco reached up and lovingly brushed Harry's bangs from his face. The lightning bold scar lay flush against his skin, dormant for now. He ran his fingers over it gently. "He'll be fine," he said with a soft smile. "I'm going to take him to bed."

"Separate beds." Severus intoned.

"He's already asleep; we won't do anything." Draco returned calmly. "It's better for us to be in the same bed during the transformation."

"Have I missed something?" Narcissa raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sure they'll fill you in once we're out of the way." Draco drawled.

Severus sighed, "Fine. Same bed, but just for tonight."

"Thank you, Father."

"Let me carry him."

"I can do it." Draco protested.

"Please." Severus met his second son's eyes.

Draco smiled faintly in understanding and nodded. Severus stood and lifted Harry into his arms, gently cradling him to his chest. Harry shifted with a content sigh and curled more into him. Smiling, Severus carried him to bed and spelled his pajama's on. Draco changed and crawled into bed beside his love, draping one arm casually across Harry's chest. The gesture spoke volumes about the boys' feelings for each other.

"Sleep well." Severus whispered. Draco yawned and closed his eyes.

Chapter end.