Here is the last chapter of this story. I apologize again for drawing it out so long.

Thanks to godric1, Tony Moonstone, AlyssaOtaku69, and Lucileec for reading and reviewing the last chapter. And thanks to everyone who has been reading my stories for the past 10 years. Drarry forever!

Harry had been expecting to receive Draco's owl all day. He'd distracted himself with chores that had been neglected while he was on the run. It was the last day of suspension for Harry, thank Merlin. He was going stir crazy. Monday, he could go back to work, but there would be loads of paperwork. There was always paperwork.

The floo whooshed, and Harry ran to it, expecting it to be Draco.

"Plans?" Ron appeared just after his workday ended. "We could go to the Leaky cauldron for a beer. They've started carrying Muggle brands. Did you know?"

"Hi Ron," Harry said without enthusiasm. "No, I didn't. But I'm supposed to go to supper with Draco."

"What's wrong? Not sick of 'im already, are you?"

"No. He said he would owl me." Harry waved a hand in the air. "Maybe his mother has him running some sort of errand."

"Why don't you owl him, then?"

"I don't want to smother him. I need to show more patience with him."

Ron raised an eyebrow. "Are you moving a bit too quickly for him?"

"I didn't say that." Harry hesitated. "But, yes. He's never had a boyfriend. Or even–"

"Even what?" Ron sat up straighter. "Never mind. I get the picture."

"He's not a prude. He just says we have different ideas about relationships." "Uh oh."

"No, not uh oh. We're fine. He just . . . forgot to owl me."

It took everything Harry had not to go to Malfoy Manor to find out why Draco hadn't owled him. That wouldn't have been very fair to Draco. Especially if he was wishing to avoid Harry for any reason.

Harry put off Ron and ended up eating leftovers of the last meal he shared with Draco. Harry thought again about the night before. Draco was definitely a willing partner. He allowed Harry to do all the things he did. He even encouraged Harry to wank him faster. No, Harry didn't think Draco was having second thoughts, which made it more puzzling that he hadn't heard from the man.

Harry went to bed early after a quiet evening reading. He wanted to be up at stupid o'clock on Saturday in case Draco sent an early owl.

hdhdhd

By noon on Saturday, Harry was losing the patience he promised he would have for Draco. He sent an owl with a quick, lighthearted note. He didn't want to come across as angry until he knew why he had been deserted.

When he received no reply half an hour later, Harry decided to go to the Manor. Propriety be damned.

Harry sensed something was wrong the moment he stepped up to the gate. It wasn't quite latched shut. He pushed one side open, his awareness heightened. The air was still, carrying no sound from the house. Harry heard no sound from anywhere. Not even birds sang nearby.

Careful not to make noise of his own, Harry crept up to the large front door. He could only hope it didn't squeak and creak when he opened it. If he would be able to open it.

Luck was on his side. Though closed, the door was unlocked. Harry gave a tentative push. A small grind against the doorjamb was the only resistance as he pressed just enough to let his body through the opening.

He stood in the vast foyer, listening. He dared not call out for Draco and give away his only advantage of surprise. As he stepped across toward the dining area, heard what sounded like muffled sobs. His heart sped up as he tried to determine the direction from which the sounds came. Silently, with wand in hand, he followed the noises until he came upon a cabinet in the kitchen.

Harry couldn't tell for certain, but it sounded like a child whimpering. He pulled open the cabinet door holding his wand at the ready. Clara was rolled up in a ball sobbing quietly.

"Clara, what are you doing? What's happened?" Harry whispered.

"Masters. He's taken them."

"Someone took your Masters? Where? Are they still in the house?"

"Clara thinks yes. Clara supposes they are in the dungeons."

"Why didn't you get help?" Harry asked.

"Masters didn't tell Clara to get help. Clara didn't know what to do."

"Can you go get help now?" Clara bit her lip.

"I know I'm not your Master, but I'm telling you to go to the Ministry for help. It's what Master Draco would want you to do. I will take full responsibility for your actions."

Clara shook her head. "Oh, no, not the Ministry. No house elf chooses to go to the Ministry."

"Right," Harry said. "Why would you? They've allowed you to be mistreated by your Masters." Harry thought. "Then go to Ron Weasley. He's an– he's my friend. And Master Draco's friend. Go tell him what's happened and that I need help to save your Masters."

Clara looked beside herself. She needn't follow Harry's orders. The elf hesitated.

"Please Clara. If you do this for me, I will be indebted to you. I will see to it your Masters reward you well."

He wasn't sure if that would be a motivator for the elf. Some of them seemed to covet shiny objects, while others performed their duties out of honor. He would threaten her if he had to. But he hoped she would choose to help on her own.

"Please," he implored again. "My friend Dobby chose to help me even though he served the Malfoys at the time. You can choose to do the same."

At that, Clara straightened herself up. "Clara will follow Dobby's example. Clara will help Mister Harry Potter."

He gave her the address to Ron's flat and told her what to say. With any luck, he'd have back-up soon. But he couldn't wait. He had to find Draco and his mother before it was too late.

Making his way through the mansion, Harry searched for the door that lead to the dungeon stairs.

Suddenly a scream pierced the silence. Harry turned. He heard a shout, a male voice, and that helped him hone in on their location. And then a laugh. An evil laugh.

Harry had finally found the right door. It did not open silently. He winced, attempting to descend the stairs stealthily. He thought to set a Muffliato too late. He'd been found out due to his haste.

"Is that you, Harry Potter?" a voice from below called. "Come down. But know I have my wand trained on your lover. So don't try anything. In fact, toss your wand down the stairs first."

Harry sighed. He had no choice.

"No Harry, stay back," Draco called out.

"Shut up!"

Harry heard the sound of flesh slapping flesh. He tossed his wand and flew down the stairs.

"You won't get away with this," Harry said. "Everyone will know it was you. Even if you kill us all and disappear."

"Well, then I'll just have to be thorough, won't I?" Dawlish grinned. "Perhaps they'll find a wand left behind. They'll do a Prior Incantato and find that," he gasped, "Auror Smith performed the killing curse. They had the wrong man at St. Mungo's after all. They'll find me, bound and gagged, just in time of course. Auror Smith will go to Azkaban and I will claim to be under his Imperius spell. If it worked for Death Eaters, surely that defense will work for me. Of course, I'll have to be a bit more subtle about ridding the world of Death Eaters after this. Merlin knows why anyone would want to stop me in the first place."

"It's not for you to decide," Harry said. "You were supposed to be upholding the law, not breaking it. It's for the Wizengamot to decide the Death Eaters' fates."

With his wand aimed at Harry, Dawlish moved to pick up Harry's discarded wand.

"Or, even better." Dawlish could hardly contain his glee. "It turns out that Harry Potter is the true mastermind behind the Death Eater killings. I wonder how it would feel to know that your wand is going to be the one to end the Malfoy line. I truly can't decide which one of you I want to make watch the other die." He laughed.

Harry looked to Draco. He was clapped in irons and chained to the wall. Narcissa was separated from him, in the same state. They were both wide-eyed with fear, shaking from the chill and filthy.

"I'm not going to let him kill you," Harry said.

"There's nothing you can do, Potter. I've got your wand. I've got your hostages. And I've got no qualms about killing any of you. I suspect you don't have the stomach for murder."

Harry scowled at Dawlish. He'd prove him wrong if had to. He took a deep breath, centered his thoughts and whispered, "Confundus."

Dawlish shook his head, and before he could act, Harry had taken back his wand.

Harry hadn't been quick enough to grab the wand from Dawlish's other hand. They came out of the confusion with wands pointed at one another in stalemate.

"Put down your wand, John," Harry said. "You're only making it worse for yourself."

Dawlish scoffed. 'The only thing that's worse is slags like these two walking free."

"There's no way out. I won't let you hurt them. I will kill you if I have to."

"You haven't got the bollocks."

"Harry don't!" Draco cried. "He's not worth it. I would rather die than see you go to prison defending us."

"I can arrange that." Dawlish laughed, pointing his wand at Draco.

Harry had less than a split second to react. "Avada Ked–"

"Expelliarmus!"

Dawlish's wand flew from his hand. "What the fuck?"

"John Dawlish, you are under arrest for the kidnapping of Draco and Narcissa Malfoy. And terroristic threats against the Ministry." Ron slowly walked down the rest of the staircase.

No one had noticed him or Neville enter the dungeons with Clara close behind.

While Neville handcuffed the rogue Auror and placed an anti-apparation spell on him, Ron asked Harry, "You all right, mate?"

Harry nodded, but dropped his wand and ran to Draco. "You're bleeding. Again." He ran his hands over Draco's face and body to check for injury.

"I'm fine," Draco said.

"That man hit him," Narcissa said. She remained composed for a moment, then broke down in tears.

"Mother."

As soon as Ron released Draco's cuffs, Harry moved to hug him. But Draco nudged him away and ran to his mother instead. Harry stood.

"She's his mum," Ron said softly. "Any man worth his salt is going to put his mum over anybody else."

Harry nodded. "I know."

"Doesn't mean he doesn't care about you."

"I know," Harry replied, irritated. "How the fuck did Dawlish escape?"

"We only had one Auror guarding him at the time. The second was running late. Smith wasn't there when Bigby showed up," Ron explained. "He stood there for hours before he realized it wasn't Dawlish in the bed, but a pile of blankets."

"Fucking hell. Didn't he wonder where Smith was?"

"It was overnight hours. He figured one Auror was enough." Ron paused. "Smith hasn't been found yet."

"Shit."

"Everyone thought Dawlish was looney. I guess it was just an act to avoid Azkaban."

"I told Draco to fortify the wards."

"Don't be too hard on 'im. We all thought it was safe," Ron said.

Harry turned to Clara. "Thank you. You've done very well for your Masters."

The little elf bowed low, then backed away.

"Brilliant move, sending her to me. How did you manage to convince her?" Ron asked.

Harry smiled, "I told her to be like Dobby. And I may have promised a reward."

They watched Dawlish thrash about the floor, muttering death threats against Neville and everyone in the Ministry.

Ron turned to Harry, a serious expression on his face. "Harry, if we hadn't shown up when we did . . . you've already been reprimanded and suspended over this case. You could have gone to prison."

"I don't know what you mean."

Ron stared a moment. "Yeah, I don't either," he said eventually.

Harry let out a sigh of relief. Apparently, Ron had heard Harry about to deliver a lethal curse. Harry knew he wasn't in immediate danger. He had the situation relatively under control. Dawlish wasn't thinking clearly. Then again, perhaps Harry wasn't either. He was willing to do anything and everything to protect Draco.

Neville approached the pair after securing Dawlish. "Good thing we interrupted you casting the killing curse. You could have gotten into some trouble Harry."

Ron rolled his eyes and smacked his own forehead. "I think you misheard, Neville."

"No, I'm pretty sure–"

"You misheard," Ron repeated.

Neville glanced around at the others, who were all watching him back. "Right. Clearly, I misheard."

"I heard you!" Dawlish shouted. "I'll tell. You won't get away with it Potter."

Harry walked over to Dawlish, bound and lying on the cold cellar floor. "You can tell them whatever you want. You won't talk your way out of prison this time. You're a traitor to your profession."

"Neville and I will take this scum back to the Ministry. Why don't you take the Malfoys to St. Mungo's to get checked out. Shacklebolt will send an Auror around to take their statements, probably tomorrow," Ron said.

Nodding, Harry agreed.

"I'm not injured," Narcissa insisted after Ron and Neville left. "But Draco . . ."

"I think perhaps Draco would feel much better if you accompanied him to hospital. You've been through quite a bit the past few weeks. Let them make sure you're all right."

"Aren't you coming?" Draco asked.

Smiling, Harry replied, "Of course."

The cut on Draco's cheek was superficial and the mediwitch declared him fit, with a few small bruises. Narcissa had admitted to feeling to stress and anxiety of her husband's murder, her son going missing, and being held captive by an angry Auror out for revenge. She was kept overnight for observation, with an appointment for counseling in the morning.

"You should probably see a counselor too, Draco," Harry suggested.

"I'm fine." He paused as Harry gave him a stern look. "All right, I'm not fine. But I have you to lean on. Mother doesn't." He yawned widely.

"You need rest," Harry told him.

Yawning again, Draco said, "I am exhausted. I don't even know how long we were in the dungeons. I think I could sleep for three days. Would you . . . would you, stay with me?"

"You're going to stay with me. I'm not letting you go back to the Manor until I'm convinced the wards are impenetrable."

hdhdhd

Draco didn't sleep for three days, but he did sleep over twelve hours. And Harry had watched him practically the whole time. By the time the sun began to rise, Harry could no longer stay awake.

When he did finally awaken, he found an arm wrapped tightly around his chest. Draco's body spooned his. And Harry was reminded of the better times the pair of them were on the run. He should like to wake up that way every morning, he thought.

A few minutes later, Draco stirred. His snores turned to sighs as he tightened his grip on Harry.

"Morning."

"Morning." Harry could hear the smile in his own voice. "How are you feeling?"

"Content."

Harry turned in Draco's embrace. "Content? I was talking more about your physical well-being."

"Oh. I told you yesterday that I'm fine."

"I know. I just worry about you."

Draco gave him a sleepy grin. "And that's why I'm content."

Tenderly brushing the hair from Draco's eyes, Harry said, "You've been through an awful lot recently."

"I miss my father. I don't know if I could have said that a year ago." Draco glanced at Harry, then quickly away. "You think I'm horrid."

"No. But I am wondering why you would say that."

Draco sighed. "It took a lot of convincing to get Father to turn himself over to the Ministry. He was perfectly willing to stay in hiding, letting Mother and I take all the pressure and scrutiny from the Ministry. If he had only done the right thing from the beginning . . ."

"Turn himself in right away?"

Draco scoffed. "I meant not become a Death Eater in the first damn place. But yes, if he had turned himself in right away, or even if he simply stopped dealing in Dark artefacts, he may still be alive."

"Dawlsh didn't seem to care whether or not the wizards he was killing had renounced the ways of Voldemort," Harry reminded him. "You tried to keep your father safe. I'm so sorry it turned out the way it did."

"At least Father and I came to a better understanding before it was too late. We fought terribly once the war was over. He didn't like the idea of me prostrating myself at the mercy of the Ministry. He thought I broke because I was weak."

"You're not weak. You are extremely resilient. Every time you came upon an obstacle while we were on the run, you rose to the occasion with grace. You didn't break, you bent, and came out of it stronger than the forces against you."

Draco laughed. "You make me sound much too heroic." He leaned forward placing a chaste kiss on Harry's lips. "I didn't crumple because you were holding me up. At times, physically. And for that, I can't begin to thank you."

"You don't need to. The reward was getting to know you. The real, unabridged version."

"Yes. And for some reason you're still with me."

"Well, yeah, I'm your boyfriend, innit?"

"Boyfriend?" Draco whispered.

They stared into one another's eyes. Harry's heart ached with longing. He had to hold himself back from making declarations and claiming Draco's body for his own. His cock twitched. Words sat on the tip of his tongue. It would have been so easy to let them fall out.

He watched Draco's pupils dilate and heard the man swallow before letting out a shaky breath.

"You want to be my boyfriend?" asked Draco.

Harry chuckled. "I thought I was already." He leaned back a bit. "Were you waiting for me to ask you? Is that what you meant about being proper?"

Draco looked away, but nodded.

"Why didn't you ask me, then?"

"I wasn't sure if that was what you wanted," Draco replied.

"Of course it is. I shouldn't have assumed." Harry grinned. "Draco, will you be my boyfriend?"

"You know that means you can't date anyone else. And you'll be expected to escort me around."

"Yes. I don't want to date anyone else."

"And you'll be required to have infinite patience with me."

"Don't I already?" Harry laughed. "Are you trying to talk me out of it?"

"Just making sure you understand what officially dating me entails. My mother will likely have a thing or two to say on the subject."

"We'll deal with that as it comes," Harry said. "I'm still waiting for an answer."

"I thought that was a given."

Harry shook his head. "I want to hear you say it."

"Yes." Draco leaned forward, kissing Harry purposefully. "I will be your boyfriend."

"I haven't felt this happy for a long time," Harry admitted. "I was terrified when I realized you'd been taken hostage. I wish we could stay here in bed forever."

Draco cringed. "I should go see Mother. I'm sorry. I would love nothing more than to stay here and let you strip me of my virtue."

"She needs you. I understand."

Draco ran a finger from Harry's jaw, down his chest and circling his left nipple. "It is early, though. And Mother's appointment isn't until noon."

Harry exhaled sharply. He felt his cock jerk to attention. Draco's finger circled again, then flicked.

"Fuck. Don't tease."

"Who says I'm teasing? I want you, Harry. I want you to take me."

"What about propriety?" Harry smirked.

"I'm your proper boyfriend now. Technically, we're not supposed to fuck unless we're engaged. And no one admits to it even then. But that's a bit of an old-fashioned notion now. Even among purebloods."

It finally dawned on Harry. The etiquette and propriety Draco was concerned about was pureblood tradition. Draco expected to be properly wooed and made some sort of commitment before engaging in physical intimacy.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked.

"Nothing. I wish you had explained to me how important it was to you that we had an understanding before we . . . before I did things to you."

"Things like wanking and blow jobs?" Draco laughed lightly. "I told you, I wanted to do those things. And now I want to make love. I want you to make love to me. Please, Harry."

Harry rolled Draco onto his back. He could see that Draco was well enough aroused under his pants. He pulled them all the way off, tossing them aside, then removed his own.

They rutted and kissed leisurely, for a time, trailing precum on each other's bellies. Draco's fingers trembled in Harry's hair. Harry pulled away. He wasn't convinced that Draco was actually ready for the realities of bottoming for the first time.

"Just a moment. I need my wand."

He reached over to the side table. Looking back at Draco, Harry could see nervous tension in his body. Stiff back, furrowed brow. Legs spread unnaturally wide.

"I'm ready," Draco said, swallowing.

Harry whispered a spell and felt a warming sensation within him. He put the wand back, crawling over to Draco. He pushed his lover's knees together.

"There will be plenty of time for that." Instead, Harry straddled him.

"What are you doing?"

"There's more than one way to make love." Harry took hold of Draco's cock, keeping it in place while he lowered himself.

"Oh my," Draco breathed.

Slowly raising and lowering himself inch by inch until he was seated on Draco's hips, Harry watched his lover's face. Draco still appeared nervous, yet lustful at the same time.

"All right?" Harry asked.

"Brilliant."

Harry grinned. "It gets better."

Using his well-muscled thighs, Harry lifted his body up and down Draco's cock. Though he'd bottomed a decent number of times before, it was always a different experience with a new partner. Knowing it was Draco's first time made it all the more important it was a good experience.

"What should I do?" asked Draco.

"You could move your hips to counter mine, or touch me. Or yourself. Or you don't have to do anything but watch."

"I like watching."

Harry smiled down at him. He leaned forward. Watching was nice, but Harry liked to kiss. While he ground his himself on Draco's cock, he pressed his own into Draco's belly. He felt Draco's fingers trace circles on his back. Bliss was the only thought to occupy Harry's mind.

"I'm getting close." Harry sat up leaning his hands on Draco's chest, helping to move his body more forcefully.

He wrapped one hand around his cock and stroked in time with his bouncing. Draco's hands wandered up his torso, rubbing his chest.

"God Harry, you look so . . ."

Harry's hand began moving faster. He closed his eyes and leaned back, suddenly feeling an intense need to cum. The way Draco's cock rubbed against his insides was unlike anything he'd experienced before. When he came, he felt it through his whole body–wave after wave, erupting between their bodies until Harry couldn't take the overload of sensations.

He stilled, gasping for breath, and opened his eyes to find Draco open-mouthed and flushed. Harry licked his lips.

"Sorry. Just needed a moment."

He lifted himself off, lying next to his lover. Taking Draco's cock in hand, he finished him off while kissing and licking his nipples.

Afterward, they lay in silence, occasionally running a gentle hand over the other's skin.

Finally, Draco asked, "Did that count? I didn't cum while you were on top of me."

"Of course it counts. Consider yourself stripped of your virtue." Harry smirked. "I'm sorry about that, by the way."

"Sorry for what?"

"I . . . I wasn't able to stay on after I . . ." Harry sighed heavily. "That was quite intense."

"It's not always like that?"

"I've never done that."

Draco gasped. "I thought you said you've bottomed before."

"I have. I have," Harry assured him. "Just not in that position." Harry grinned broadly. "I highly recommend it."

"Maybe next time?" Draco asked shyly.

"Whatever you want, my love."

Draco stared. "Is that . . . a figure of speech?"

Harry could have said yes. He could have made light of the comment. But Draco had already heard Harry admit to Ron that he was falling for him.

Draco hadn't made any declarations himself, but he happily agreed to be Harry's boyfriend.

After everything they'd been through together, Harry saw no reason to play coy.

"It wasn't meant to be. It just slipped out," Harry said. "Now that it has, I would like to make my feelings clear."

The expression on Draco's face wasn't hard to read. He appeared . . . Harry tried to come up with the right word for it. Expectant? Eager, even.

"I'm in love with you, Draco. I suspect it's been coming on for quite some time." Harry took one of Draco's hands, pressing his lips to it. "I know I've been moving quickly. And I don't expect you to–"

"I love you too," Draco interrupted. "And I know it's been coming on for quite some time."

"You do? I mean, it has?"

"Ever since the Room of Requirement." Draco cleared his throat. "I've come to realize there have been few people in my life who have truly had my best interests at heart. Mother, of course, whom I love dearly. Dumbledore tried, but I wouldn't listen. And you."

Harry had to laugh a bit at that. "I always fought against you in school."

"Yes, but I think it was your way of trying to turn me 'round. You called me out. Made me look at myself. When it came down to it, you saved me from certain death in that fire. And then you testified. You forgave me. You forgave me when no one else would even listen to what I had to say. That day at the cafe gave me hope, and the strength to carry on."

"I remember that day." Harry smiled.

"I don't know if all that is a proper basis for love."

"Does everything always have to be proper?"

"I've done an awful lot lately that hasn't been proper," Draco said. "I've never been so happy. And yet, so sad at the same time."

"I'll help you through it," Harry offered.

"Yes, I believe you will. I believe you were meant to, as though we were always meant to be together."

"We were," Harry agreed.

He sighed as Draco nestled into him. It took them even longer than Ron and Hermione to figure out their feelings. They may not have had years of deep friendship from which to build, but they could let go of the past and begin making new memories.

Harry felt they were off to a brilliant start.