Thank you to ALL my reviewers and to ALL my readers!

Disclaimer: see previous chapter.

Thank you to Merlin, GoldenSunnyGrl, and Malombra for being such great BETA'S.

AU.

ENJOY!

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Harry woke up with a groan as pain lanced through the side of his face. Slowly the events that led up to him hurting returned and he couldn't stop himself from smiling, even through the pain.

"It is about time you woke up, Mr. Potter."

Harry slowly turned his head and saw the Headmaster sitting at his bedside. He looked on in confusion as the man stood and shook out his robes.

"Mr. Malfoy refuses to leave you alone unless bodily functions need to be met." The distaste was clear on his face about that subject. "I suggested strapping you to the bed but he was adamant that that not be done."

Harry narrowed his eyes at the other man but all Snape did was snort in amusement.

"It is no fun when they can't snipe back." The other man muttered as he turned to leave. "I, on the other hand, have no problem doing that."

Harry tried to move but Snape's words became clearer when he was unable too. He had bound him to the bed! For a second his magic flared around him as his anger spiked and then it faded just as quickly.

Snape left the room followed by Harry's laughter, a smile on his face as well.

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The next time that Harry woke, Draco was occupying the chair that the Headmaster had been in earlier. Harry took the time before the other man knew he was awake, to drink in the sight of the beautiful man sitting there. Draco had grown more handsome over the years. The pain and fear of the last six months was clear to see on his face but Harry still thought he was beautiful.

Swallowing to moisten his dry throat, Harry whispered, "I love you too, you know."

Draco looked up from the Potion's Manual he was flipping through to smile sweetly at Harry. "I know. Sleep."

Harry smiled back and nodded once before he let sleep claim him again. They had the rest of their lives together now, taking the time for both of them to heal was worth the wait. Besides, Harry doubted he had the strength to do any of the things to the other man that were running through his head.

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"You're kidding right!" Harry was woken by the sound of Draco's angry voice, "the nerve of the bastard!"

"Draco?" Harry whimpered. The anger and fear from the bond was overwhelming.

"Harry…" Draco rushed to Harry's side and took a shaking hand in his own. "it's okay, Harry, calm down."

"Wuz wrong?"

"It's nothing, Harry. You need to rest, I'll take care of everything." Draco's voice was soothing but Harry could still feel the anger coming down the bond and it was confusing him.

Harry wanted to plead with Draco to tell him what was wrong but just then, Pom arrived at his other side and gently, but forcibly, poured a potion down his throat. Harry could feel the effects of the pain potion take affect quickly and with one more pleading look at Draco's pale face he slowly faded back into sleep.

"What are we going to do, Pom?"

Pom looked at the distraught young man on the other side of Harry's bed and smirked. "Acknowledge the bond Draco, let his sails out before there is any wind behind them."

Draco smirked back at the Medi-witch. "Are you sure you weren't in Slytherin, my good woman?"

"Between Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, you learn to be a little sneaky." Pom managed to say with a straight face.

Draco laughed, "so you do."

"Do you want my advice?" Pom said as she walked to put up the empty vial.

"Always."

"Call Orion and let him know you are on the way."

"Orion? Harry's mentor? Why?"

"Who better to have on your side than the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Harry Potter, and the Headmaster of St. Maladies of World Medicine? All three extremely powerful and well-liked individuals against one small and bitter man." Pom kept her voice even but she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"My respect for you grows by leaps and bounds, My Lady," Draco bowed to her and laughed at her blush, "leaps and bounds.'

"Get going you! You have a bond mate to save from Azkaban." Pom shooed him out of the room and Draco left, a smile on his face, ready to do battle. This time he would be fighting for Harry.

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Draco came back to Hogwarts, a day later, with a spring in his step and a smile on his face. The problem had been taken care of with the usual Malfoy Flare. In other words; the Daily Prophet would be printing a special edition detailing his and Harry's tumultuous bonding, the Ministry would be sending over a probably pompous official to take their statements, the headmasters of both Hogwarts and St. Maladies of World Medicine had offered to have their 'official' ceremony in their respective schools, and the rather bitter and foolish Gault was on his way to spend a few months in Azkaban for trying to subvert a bond.

All in all, a good days work in Draco's opinion. Now all he had to do was tell Harry and somehow keep the other man from blowing up Hogwarts infirmary.

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"What!" Harry screamed into the silence Draco's last statement left.

Draco decided not to say anything yet, letting Harry work it out for himself.

Harry was still tired, angry that Draco had not come and seen him at all yesterday, and now pissed that Gault had attempted to do something so stupid. "Are you telling me that Gault found out about our bond and went to the Ministry to lodge a formal complaint on your part?"

Draco nodded, still unsure of he should actualy speak.

"And you spent all day yesterday taking care of this?"

Draco nodded.

"You told the Ministry, and the paper, about our bond?"

Draco nodded. He was beginning to feel the first stirrings of fear, Harry voice was low and soft as usual but he couldn't hear anything in it.

"And now an official from the Ministry is coming here to take our statements about the details of the bonding?"

Draco nodded.

Harry was silent for a few seconds as he let everything that Draco had told him settle firmly in his mind. The one thing that stood out was that Draco had acknowledged the bond in a spectacular way.

"I love you, you fool." Harry said with as much emotion as he could muster. At Draco's startled look Harry yanked him down to him and kissed him with everything he had.

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One more chapter to go. Did you like my revenge on Gault?

ENJOY!

LMG