Even in the carriage, the journey was long and rough. Harry hadn't said anything when Draco chose to sit by him instead of letting Blaise, and it drove him crazy to sit next to Draco all day long while Draco and Blaise talked over the entirety of the plan. Every bump in the road knocked Harry and Draco into each other. Harry hadn't even noticed before when it was Blaise next to him, but he felt his heart racing every time Draco's body pressed against his. Blaise noticed something was off.
Blaise paused in the middle of informing Draco of Harry's father's help. "Your Majesty? Are you all right? You look flushed. Are you coming down with something?"
Harry flushed deeper as a particularly rough bump sent him against Draco. "I'm fine. It's just a bit warm."
Blaise wasn't convinced. He knew it wasn't warm. Winter was fast approaching. However, he went back to talking to Draco about where King James fit in. Finally, they stopped in the last village. Harry quickly got out and breathed in fresh air. Draco and Blaise got out slower and watched him in bewilderment. They sent the rest of the men on their way and Blaise led them into the empty house that awaited them.
"We shouldn't be here for long. A few hours at most. I have some men that are watching this house just in case. I am going to go visit Tracey."
Harry smiled to himself. "Tell her I said 'hello'. Get that recipe for that soup I like so much. I would like to give it to the cook."
"Of course," Blaise said. "I'll be back before they come for us."
"Wait, Blaise," Harry said quickly. "What are the guards going to tell Theo about why I am not in the carriage?"
Blaise stepped over to Harry. "I've already worked that out. They're to tell him that a mother stopped the carriage to request help for her sick child. He knows that you adore children. You insisted on sending for Severus to help heal her child. The guards will also mention that you had a longing in your eyes when you looked at the child to stoke his belief that you want a child. He is to be told that you will be back at the castle in time for breakfast. I believe he won't make a fuss if he believes that seeing the child is increasing your desire for a child since he wants an heir. Everything is going to be fine, Your Majesty. Just try to take your mind off it. I'll be back soon."
Harry was nervous to be alone with Draco, but he was calmer than he would have been if not for their talk. He took a seat and wished the windows weren't covered. He knew better than to open them, though.
"Who's Tracey?" Draco asked.
Harry looked over at him. "She's the woman that Blaise has been seeing for several months now. He's convinced she's the one."
"Why didn't he tell me about her?" Draco asked almost sulkily.
"I imagine because there were other more important matters to discuss," Harry said lightly. "He doesn't get to spend much time with her since he spends so much time with me. I felt bad, so I started inviting her to come visit to the castle under the guise of keeping me company so she could spend more time with him."
"That was kind of you," Draco murmured, watching Harry carefully for any sign that Harry was jealous of Tracey.
Harry shrugged. "Blaise has done so much for me. It's only fair that I return the favor when I can. I admit that I haven't been able to do much under his control. I would have loved to give Blaise more days off to do as he wishes. I know it must be difficult for him to have to babysit me all the time. I know he can drive me nuts when we spend too much time together."
Draco hid his relief. "So, the relationship between you two isn't perfect," he murmured.
Harry chuckled. "Of course not. Don't get me wrong. I love Blaise like a member of my family, but I can't handle being around him every hour of every day. There are days when I will make him stand at the edges of the garden while I walk around for some peace and quiet. I don't like being away from him for too long, but neither do I like being around him too much. It's similar to how I felt about my parents growing up." Harry suddenly missed his parents. "I hope my mother is safe. She's never been around him without me. I don't know what he'll do."
"I'm sure she's fine. He may be a cruel tyrant, but I don't think he's stupid enough to try to harm a queen. He knows your father's reputation quite well. He knows your father would burn the castle to the ground to get to him if anything happened to her while she was here," Draco said.
"My dad would do anything for his family," Harry agreed. "Can I ask you something?" he asked suddenly.
"Anything," Draco said.
"How did he…"
"How did he capture me?" Draco asked.
Harry nodded.
Draco sighed and leaned back. "Well, first, I wasn't expecting my personal guard to turn traitor…but it happened the same night that my father was poisoned. He was poisoned at dinner, and Theo ushered me quickly toward my room. He said I needed to be in my room in case whoever poisoned my father attacked. It made sense. I knew it was the protocol, so I thought nothing of it. Once inside my room, however, he hit me over the head with something. I don't know what. I woke up in a carriage to see myself leaning over me. I obviously panicked. Theo told me his whole plan. How he had managed to turn a few guards to his side. How he slipped the poison in my father's drink. His plan was to take out my father so I would become king. He wanted to take my place and rule instead of guarding royalty. He told me about how he had managed to create a Polyjuice Potion that lasted for a whole day. He imprisoned me in that cell that Blaise and the others rescued me from. In my stupidity, I was glad that my father hadn't announced our betrothal yet. It meant that only he and I knew about you. I thought that since he wasn't aware of my betrothal, he couldn't do anything to you. I had no idea the depths he would sink. I thought that, at most, you were in a farce of a marriage. I have no idea how he found out about you. It could have been your letters that I saved, or it could have been that he found the marriage contract. Being in that cell…it was difficult. While the guards fed me well for Theo's sake, they gave me nothing to help pass time. I was bored…all the time. I would think about the week we spent together…plans for our future when I managed to get free. It was the only thing that kept me from giving up. There were a few times that I thought to end my existence. Then you would pop into my head. I wasn't ready to give up if there was a chance I could find my way back to you."
Harry sat there silently for a few minutes before slowly reaching over to hold Draco's hand. "I'm glad you're still here. I miss the boy that I met all those years ago."
"I'm still him," Draco whispered hoarsely. "Just a bit older."
Harry gave a half-smile. "Then, I'll see that in time. I'm glad I get the chance to."
Draco resisted the urge to lean over and kiss Harry. "Me, too."
"On to better topics," Harry said. "Any ideas for your coronation?"
Draco laughed. "We'll have to have it immediately. That's all I know. After that, though, I plan to spend time with you every day." Draco's eyes flicked down to Harry's wedding ring. "We need to get rid of that. I would never give you something so gaudy."
Harry laughed and released Draco's hand to pull it off and set it on the table. "I never liked it. When I first saw it, I wondered how you could know so little about me to think I would like it."
Draco picked up the ring to examine it closely. "You would prefer something simple…classic. Maybe…one diamond?" he said questioningly.
Harry smiled widely. "You do know me."
Draco sighed in relief. "It was just a guess based on everything we've talked about. Shall we melt this down or give it away?"
"Give it away," Harry murmured. "Give it to Blaise. He can either give it to Tracey or sell it to buy her something else. We should do something nice for Severus, too. He's patched me up more times than I can count."
"We'll think of something," Draco said, eyeing Harry's hand.
Harry noticed. "You don't have to wait for me to initiate all contact, you know. If I've already done something, you can do it, too. Just move slowly. Fast movements tend to frighten me."
Draco smiled sadly and slowly reached over to hold Harry's hand. "I hope we can eliminate that fear one day."
Harry squeezed his hand. "Me, too. I hate feeling so powerless."
They talked for the next hour before Blaise walked in smiling. He sighed happily and dropped into a chair.
"Okay, now that that is out of the way, I met the messenger on the way here. It's time. Your Majesty, I need you to stay here. Your Highness, you need to come with me," Blaise said.
"Where's Severus? And you can't really think to leave me here alone?" Harry said anxiously. "I'll go crazy wondering what's happened. It was hard to be left last time. Not knowing if something went wrong. If everyone was okay. If you managed to rescue him. Now, I'm expected to stay behind again and wonder if you managed to capture him or if he escaped?"
"Severus is in an another home not far from here. Harry," Blaise said imploringly. "I love you like a brother, but I will tie you to that chair if you don't agree to stay here. I won't have you at risk. You have already suffered greatly. I did what I could, but I couldn't protect you enough. Please."
Harry put his head in his hands as he leaned over and breathed deeply to stop himself from panicking. Draco slowly reached over and took Harry's hand away from his head to hold it. Harry looked up and visibly calmed as he looked at Draco.
"I promise that this will be over tonight," Draco murmured. "He will be put to death for treason. You will never have to worry about him again."
"What about my mother?" Harry whispered hoarsely. "She's up there. I don't want her getting caught in the crossfire."
"Queen Lily knows to stay in her room with the door locked," Blaise said reassuringly. "No one will be able to get to her. Those doors are too thick to take down without a heavy battering ram. She will be completely safe. She knows not to open her door unless you or I come to get her."
Harry sighed, "Just go. Hurry. I want to be back home."
Blaise stepped out when Draco gave him a look. Draco tugged on Harry's hand until he looked at him.
"I know you're scared. Nothing is guaranteed. The only reason they got away with it in the first place is that no one was expecting an attack from the inside. Blaise and the resistance has thought this through thoroughly. They have planned around almost every single possibility. They stand an amazing chance of succeeding. I'll be surprised if they don't. Besides, we have something to fight for. We all want you to be safe. We're coming back. Please don't worry so much," Draco said pleadingly.
"I'll try," Harry said softly.
"That's all I ask. Now, I know I am supposed to wait for you to initiate contact, but may I kiss your hand?" Draco asked.
Harry smiled softly and huffed a slight laugh. "Yes, you may."
Draco pulled Harry's hand closer and slowly leaned down to press a gentle kiss to the back of Harry's hand, never taking his eyes off Harry's. "I can't wait until I gain your trust enough to be able to actually kiss you. I can't stop thinking about the kiss we shared."
Harry flushed. "Come back to me in one piece and you'll get your wish," he said, flushing even more.
Draco smiled widely. "Well, that certainly changes things. I will definitely make sure we fight even harder."
"Now go. I want to go home. I want to sleep in my bed tonight."
Draco nodded and squeezed Harry's hand before standing. "Hopefully, it won't take too long. Blaise told me that your father and his knights would be waiting in the woods near the castle to join us so that much manpower should help us take them down quickly."
Harry watched Draco walk out the door, looking back at Harry with happiness and hope shining in his eyes, and sighed sadly when the door closed. He climbed into the bed in the bedroom to lay down. Without meaning to, he fell asleep.