A/N: Chapter twenty-two: Draco finishes the program.

This is Harry/Draco, post-Hogwarts, though the slash content is extremely light. There are very vague suggestions of other relationships as well.

I've got this all written out, and am posting one a week. There will be 23 chapters total. All that's left is the editing.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Dedication: To Foodie, who still betas me despite my predilection for slash, and for FionaFawkes, who read and reviewed every single chapter, and gave me such excellent feedback. Also, for everyone who's read and loved my Harry/Draco. This one's for you.

-----22

The two of them had a quiet but pleasant night, even despite the tangled feelings lying between them. Harry had ordered in Chinese food, and once it arrived, they settled in the den with plates and silverware and watched some rather fun but ridiculous movies with a tall black actor that reminded Draco a bit of the Gryffindor in Harry's year.

When he mentioned it to Harry, he smiled. "Yeah, Will Smith is a bit like Dean, though Dean's a lot quieter."

Both movies were about aliens, though the second was a lot more serious than the first, with whole cities being destroyed by the aliens as the characters hurried to save themselves.

After they were over, Harry asked him what he'd thought of them.

He grimaced. "I think I prefer destroying the world—well, conquering it myself—to watching it happen," he said.

Harry laughed. "Yes, I suppose that would be a Slytherin thing, wouldn't it?"

"What? Watching the world be destroyed?"

Harry smirked. "No, conquering it. I wonder if Napoleon was a Slytherin."

"Napoleon? Who's that?"

"A French dictator a century or two back…"

"If he was French, he would have gone to Beauxbatons, not Hogwarts."

"Never mind, Draco. It was just a joke."

"Oh." Draco squirmed on the couch. This had been nice. He really didn't want it to end. But Remus and Lucius would be back soon, and they'd all go off to bed, and that would be that. Harry would pretend like nothing was going on between them again, Pansy would still be gone, and he'd still have no idea what to do once he finished with his rehabilitation. He was reminded of what Kingsley had said. "Harry?"

"Yes?" Harry asked, looking up from the carton of sweet and sour he was scraping the last bits from.

"If…I've been trying to decide what my next move should be. About the Manor," he added, when Harry looked at him, wary. "I don't think I could live there any more. It was supposed to be where Pansy and I were going to raise our children, but now… It's just sitting there, empty. And I feel like I should do something with it. Something that will help others, maybe. I just—I don't know what that could be."

"Oh." Harry looked a bit surprised. "But don't you have to live there?"

"No. I can get myself a flat in London easily enough. Or maybe even Bath. I always loved the trips we took there when I was a boy."

"You go there often?"

"Well, we did live close by, so it made sense. And father always liked it, despite the Muggles. It's got a huge wizarding influence. One of the most ancient cities in Britain."

"Oh." Harry looked at him for a long moment, obviously thinking over the question Draco had asked. "Well, I suppose if I had a house and grounds, I might donate it for a museum—about the war, you know? Or even wizarding history, perhaps."

Draco made a face. "I suppose. But that wouldn't really help people. I want to do something that'll make a difference, you know?"

"Well, how large is it?"

Draco sat back and tried to recall the exact numbers. "Well, there are three floors, plus the catacombs—no one's ever managed to figure out their extent. The first two floors are pretty extensive. Four wings each, plus the main part of the house… I don't know if I know exact numbers, really."

"Well, if it were big enough, I suppose you could make it into a hospital, or something like that. Maybe a school?"

Draco shook his head. "Hogwarts is good enough, and now that Severus is deputy head, Slytherins should be getting better treatment, I'd imagine. A hospital's an idea. But everyone's so used to St. Mungos."

"Maybe they could use it as a new wing?"

"No. I want something different. I want something that'll make a mark. A statement. That Malfoys aren't what we appeared to be during the war, and that we want to make reparations."

"I'm sure you'll think of something, Draco," Harry smiled.

"I suppose."

They cleaned up the empty boxes, and were putting away the leftovers when Remus and Lucius arrived.

"Everything all straightened out?" Lucius asked.

Draco looked at him. "What?"

Lucius rolled his eyes. "Has he kissed you yet, or is he still being 'noble?'"

"Father—"

"For your information, Lucius, whatever happens between Draco and I is just between us. I'll thank you to keep out of it."

"In other words, no you haven't. He'll be gone soon, Potter. Better take your chance while you can."

Remus, who'd been watching this interplay, bemused, frowned at that. "All right, Lucius. That's enough. I think it's time you were in bed."

Grey eyes narrowed, and Lucius glowered at him. "I am old enough to know when I am tired, Lupin…" But Remus grabbed his shoulder and steered him out of the room. Draco couldn't help but wonder how his father would be paying for that one.

◦♦☼♦◦

The next week flew by, and then it was testing time again. Draco didn't feel that much different that morning, but he knew, aside from the test, he was done. It was exciting and horrifying at the same time. It took him a long time to convince himself he could leave his bedroom that morning. He wasn't too sure how he would react to seeing Harry now. After all, he was practically out of the program. How would Harry react?

He was rather disappointed when he reached the living room and found only Lucius and Remus waiting for him on the couch.

"Where's Harry?" he asked.

"He went ahead. There was some paperwork the Minister wanted him to sign," Remus told him. "He said he'd meet us outside the testing room, okay?"

"Right," Draco said, though he was sure his disappointment showed in his response. "How are we getting there?" he asked. Kingsley hadn't come to pick them up, but he supposed it was possible he just hadn't shown yet.

"Floo. Kingsley took Harry in, so it's just the three of us."

"Ah." Draco wasn't thrilled about that, really. He'd gotten so used to Kingsley driving them in. At least he'd give them a ride home, he thought to himself, then paled at the realization that when he'd finished his test, this wouldn't be home any longer. He felt ill.

The floo didn't help, either. He managed to bump his elbow, and fall from the fireplace, landing face first. He scrambled out of the way so that Lucius could come through, then looked down, horrified, at the state of his clothing. It was enough to make him want to turn around and go right back home. He sighed. He could do this. He had to prove to Harry's friends that Harry'd been right about him, if nothing else.

Maybe Blaise'd need a place to stay for a bit. Of course, as soon as he'd thought that, he remembered that he had been aging faster than the others, and Blaise still had several months to go. Why hadn't he thought of that when he'd gotten this reward? It seemed less like a reward than another punishment now.

Blaise and the others were already in the testing room when they arrived, and Draco wished he could talk to his friend before he left for the day. He hurried through the test, hoping they'd be allowed to talk after.

It was rather anticlimactic, being told that he'd passed. He stepped out into the hall where Hermione was standing with Harry, Remus and Kingsley. He smiled, but he couldn't quite feel as happy as he wanted to be. It was over.

Kingsley handed him his wand, and the rush of magic when he accepted it helped a little. "Thank you."

"Thank you, Draco. You helped us a lot. We wouldn't have even known what they were up to if you hadn't told us. The Minister himself wants to give you an Order of Merlin for it."

Draco felt his cheeks flush. That was definitely going too far. "I don't want one. I did what was right, that's all." He couldn't stand the thought that they might give him a medal for sending Pansy back to Azkaban. He wouldn't be able to handle it.

"I'll tell him you said so, Draco."

He moved back, and Hermione hurried forward to hug him. "Congratulations, Draco. You did it."

"Yes, well, the only time I've ever lost out was to you or Harry, and you weren't competing with me this time, now, were you?" he smirked.

"True enough. Thank you again for what you did for Greg. He's been so happy this month, it's been wonderful. Even Ron seems to be getting on better with him."

"I told you, Hermione. I did it for him. But thank you for caring enough about him that it matters. As to Weasley… Well, he'd better treat Greg right, or I'll come after him."

When Hermione finally pulled away, Draco found himself staring at Harry, who was leaning against the wall, smiling softly. "I knew you could do it, Draco. You're too stubborn not to make it."

Draco swallowed. "Thanks, Harry." He wanted to say more, but Greg came out at that moment.

"Another A!" he was crowing. He saw Draco, and looked at him, grinning. "I did it, Draco."

"Of course you did. I always knew you could."

"What's up?" Greg asked, noticing the wand in Draco's hand.

"I'm done."

"Done? You mean with the program?" Greg's grin grew so that all his teeth showed. "Congratulations!" he said, throwing an arm around Draco's shoulders. "Now you can go out there and figure out what the rest of us're supposed to do once we get out there."

"No pressure, then," Draco said dryly.

"Oh, none at all," came Blaise's voice from behind him. Draco turned to look at him. "Congratulations."

Draco wasn't sure if Blaise was sincere in his well-wishing until the boy held out his hand. "Thanks," Draco said. "It wasn't the easiest thing in the world…"

"Well, sometimes a Slytherin has to do what's best for himself. Think you'll have space for a visitor in about two months?"

Draco smiled. "I might."

"Good," Blaise said, a smile finally appearing on his face. "I'll see you then."

"I'll be waiting."

Once the others were gone, Draco turned back to Harry. "I don't know…"

Harry sighed and pushed away from the wall. "Draco, I didn't do this for your thanks, or even to get you to like me. You just deserved it. All of you. Never forget that, okay?"

Draco nodded. "Would you mind sending my stuff on when I'm ready?"

Harry looked at him, surprised. "You're not coming home?"

Draco shook his head. "Better a clean break, and all."

Harry stared at him for a long time, unblinking. "Draco…"

"No, you're right. I still have a lot of growing up to do. And you gave me that option, Harry. So, thank you." He turned to leave, but Harry caught his hand.

"Draco, wait, I…"

They just stood there for a moment, Draco waiting for Harry to say whatever it was he needed to say, and Harry searching for the words he needed. Finally, Harry sighed and pulled Draco to him. "Just once," he said.

Draco felt his heartbeat speed up as Harry's face came closer, not even realizing when his eyes fell closed. Harry's lips were everything he'd imagined. Not soft, like Pansy's, and not coated in gunk, but not rough, either. Just smooth and demanding. When Harry pulled away, Draco had to stop himself from pulling Harry back towards him. He didn't want to let go.

He opened his eyes to see Harry looking at him as though trying to memorize him. "Take care of yourself, okay?" Draco nodded, then watched as Harry walked down the hall towards the lifts.

It was over.