Draco refused to leave Harry's side. After Harry was settled in one of the hospital beds and had undergone a rigorous evaluation by Madam Pomfrey herself, the conclusion was that he would stay over night.
She didn't seem to find anything wrong, other than a nasty contusion on the back of his head that she remedied with a healing salve.
Professor Snape informed Madam Pomfrey of Harry's situation and she vowed to let no one other than his friends and those who could be trusted within her sight.
She didn't even object to Draco staying the night, though she pretended not to acknowledge that it was happening.
It was just Harry and Draco for the rest of the evening. After Madam Pomfrey cut the lights off, Draco crawled into Harry's twin bed and wrapped his arms snugly around his waist.
His body was a perfect match against Harry's; every nook and crevice complimented the other in a puzzle-like fit.
Harry scooted backward in an effort to push himself closer to Draco. His buttocks unintentionally rubbed against Draco's pelvis, causing a reactionary shudder to travel down the length of his spine.
"Harry, love," He whispered. Harry smiled at the tickle of Draco's breath against his cheek.
"Yes?" He rolled over to face him, wrapping his arms around Draco's biceps.
"Do you... remember anything?"
Harry inhaled, preparing himself.
"Yes."
He informed Draco about his experience beyond the veil. About his parents and Sirius and the difficult choice he had to make. He assured him that it was him all along, and that there really was no other option.
"I know how hard that must've been for you, Harry." Draco paused, collecting his thoughts. "But thank you. I need you. The world needs you. Thank you for always being the selfless Gryffindor that you are."
Harry grinned, leaning closer. "So you think Gryffindors aren't half bad, then, yeah?"
Draco smiled lovingly before rolling his eyes. "I didn't say that, you prat. You still stink, the lot of you."
Harry beamed at his boyfriend. It seemed as if everything had somehow miraculously fallen into place.
Draco pressed his lips to Harry's softly, careful not to overwhelm him. After all, he'd been through enough that night, what with the dying and all.
But Harry had other plans. Immediately, his mouth parted in an invitation for Draco to lurch inside. Their tongues caressed inseparably, and Draco, despite everything, felt his prick stiffen immediately.
He wasn't the only one who'd felt it. Harry smiled around their kiss, sensing Draco's desire and butting his hips forward to oblige. A small groan escaped Draco's throat, and Harry responded by sliding a hand gracefully beneath his shirt.
The feeling of Harry's fingers on his bare chest was a sensation that Draco had feared he'd never experience again. His fingertips left tingling skin in their wake, like sparks that jumped and popped into fireworks.
Draco returned the favor by sliding his own hands beneath the blue striped pajama top that Madam Pomfrey had issued Harry to wear for the evening. He felt him shiver longingly at the feel of his touch, and this didn't help his raging libido.
You wouldn't have thought they'd slept together only hours before this moment. Harry began to tug desperately at the ends of Draco's shirt, pulling it over his head with haste. They continued to kiss feverishly, Harry's hands drawing circles on the surface of Draco's bare back.
It turns out that death and overcoming it was somewhat of an aphrodisiac. Harry took Draco's hands in each of his own and guided them to the buttons on his top, which he willingly unfastened. When his chest was unveiled, Draco shrugged the shirt from his shoulders and threw it to the side. And then they were kissing again, mashing lips and tongue and souls and,
god, it was beautiful.
Harry was the first to move down there. He slipped his hand inconspicuously down the front of Draco's pants, sliding past the elastic of his underwear and gripping every part of his member.
Draco tilted his head back, pleasure emanating from his groin and masking his expression. Harry moved his hand forward and back, up, and down, until Draco was absolutely squirming.
He rested his head in the crook of Harry's neck, kissing the space softly and clinging to the skin with his mouth while Harry continued to work at him.
He bit softly, as if he could bite back his impending orgasm. He couldn't help but thrust his hips forward in time with Harry's strokes, small whimpers escaping his throat as he was unable to control himself.
Harry grinned at Draco's eagerness and paused to undo his zipper, tugging his pants downward to mid-thigh. Draco's own hands quickly found their way to the elastic band of Harry's pajama bottoms, yanking them to match his own. He moaned when he realized that Harry wasn't wearing underwear.
Harry's cock was swollen and red with anticipation. Draco blushed and licked his lips as he eyed it hungrily, moving his hands to Harry's hips in response. Harry placed his own palms o Draco's buttocks, pulling him closer so that their cocks were touching.
"Ngh," The noise belonged to Harry, who was smitten with this moment. Merlin, he was alive, and breathing, pushed firmly against Draco. There was nothing else he wanted in the world.
Feeling frisky, Harry rolled his body so that Draco was beneath him. They were concealed by sheets, but that didn't stop Draco from peering sideways for any sign of Madam Pomfrey.
Eventually, hormones won out and Harry kicked his own pants off the rest of the way for better leverage against Draco. Draco smirked and slid his own pants the rest of the way off, the feeling of complete nakedness against the one he loved a raw and genuine thing.
Their dicks were coated in pre-cum, an anticipatory reaction that helped them glide against each other. Harry continued to thrust his pelvis forward, arching so that his prick rubbed against Draco's at just the right spot.
He could feel Draco shake beneath him, overly stimulated and begging for release. "Oh god, Harry, please don't stop."
"I love you, Draco. I love you so damn much." Harry himself was close to climax, emotion overpowering and mixing with physical euphoria.
"Fuck, Harry. God, I love you too. You're so damn perfect like this."
The thrusts became harder, deeper, and Draco shrieked in pleasure. "Merlin, Harry, I'm going to come!"
"Ah!" Harry let out a moan himself as his body released in ripples of ecstasy that coated the space between them.
Draco's own seed spilled across their stomachs, mixing with Harry's in a mess that could only be construed by love.
Their chests heaved against each other's as Harry leaned against Draco. It was hot and sticky, but he didn't mind one bit. He took a free hand and cupped Draco's forehead, pressing his hair back against beads of sweat. Through heavy breaths, he smiled.
"Love you, Draco."
Those eyes, those vibrant, green-stained irises bore into Draco like never before. Perhaps Death, in a sense, had brought them closer.
"I love you, Harry. All of you. Forever."
Harry's grin turned to a lop-sided, flippant smirk.
"Forever." He rolled off of Draco and paused before using a cleaning charm.
"Git." Harry smiled facetiously.
"Prat."
"Tosser."
Draco grinned mischievously, and it was as if nothing had changed between them. It was, in fact, Heaven.
He pulled Harry in for another kiss, and, after re-dressing themselves, they settled for a close match of cuddling.
"Goodnight, Dray." Harry buried his head in Draco's chest, savoring the cool scent of peppermint.
Draco chuckled lightly at the silly but sentiment pet name. "Goodnight, Harry. Just one more thing."
"What is it, love?" Harry peered up at him curiously.
"Promise you won't go into the light while you sleep?"
"You git." He shoved Draco playfully. "No. I will never leave you."
And then, chest against chest, they fell asleep.
When Harry woke up, the sun was streaming in bright rays through the windows of the infirmary.
He glanced around side to side and reached to the bedside table for his glasses when he found that he was seemingly alone.
"Fuck," he muttered, coming to the realization that he'd left his glasses somewhere in the astronomy tower.
He sat up, vision slightly blurry but well enough to make out several colorful piles of something. What in the hell?
And then, there was the sound of a door cracking and two voices floated to Harry's ears.
"So, you'll let him leave today?"
"Yes, provided that he passes physical examination."
He smiled to himself. Draco, already trying to convince Madam Pomfrey to free him.
The boy rounded the corner and lit up at the sight of Harry awake.
"Hey you! I hope you don't mind; Madam Pomfrey was complaining of my stench so I ran back to the common room for a quick shower."
Draco was dressed fully in uniform, Slytherin robes trailing the ground behind him.
"I got the notice a bit late, actually; apparently Dumbledore has cancelled classes for the day."
Harry blinked, bringing his image into focus. Draco must have noticed him squinting. He chuckled.
"My fault, Harry. Here are your glasses. Professor Snape brought them to me." He slipped the spectacles from his robe pocket and handed them to Harry.
"Thank you, Draco." He glanced around with new clarity and noticed the large mounds of candy and gifts that surrounded him.
"Holy hell, what is all of this!?" He studied the presents graciously, shock evident upon his face.
"Please, Potter, do you really believe you can go coming back from the dead and NOT expect your friends to shower you with gifts?" He crossed his arms playfully.
"Yeah, apparently dying gets you the best presents." Harry started at the voice of Blaise Zabini, who was 4 beds down and hoarded his own stash of candy and goods. Blaise wore a wide grin, teeth an uncanny white that matched the gauze Madam Pomfrey had secured around his injured arm.
"That was some pretty awesome badassery you pulled last night, Potter. It's good to see that you're back."
Harry matched his smile, and Draco placed a supportive hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks, man."
"Hey, guys, now that we're all friends, do you reckon we can share chocolates?"
The next voice came from the bed across Zabini. Harry chuckled.
"Of course, Neville. What in the hell happened to you, mate?"
"Oh, nothing too bad. Just a nasty blow to the face. Hermione healed most of it for me last night."
"The price you pay for being a hero." Blaise smirked, and Neville stuck out his tongue playfully.
"Don't think you get to escape the hero jokes, Blaise. You pulled some of your own badassery last night." Draco lifted his head facetiously.
"I guess I...am sort of a hero, aren't I?" Blaise gestured toward himself haughtily. Draco rolled his eyes with a quirked smile.
Neville snorted, and Harry laughed heartily. At that moment, the door to the infirmary opened.
Madam Pomfrey escorted a weightless Pansy Parkinson into the hospital wing. Harry had never seen the girl so chipper, as if she was finally liberated from something that had haunted her for most of her life.
"Well, if it's not the heroes themselves." Her voice dripped with that Pansy-esque satire that was instantly recognizable. Her eyes, however, were soft and grateful and completely foreign to the girl standing before them.
"Speak for yourself, Pans. You saved my arse last night." Draco's "Thank you" went understood without words.
Pansy giggled and flashed him a grin.
"So you two aren't Death Eaters after all, huh?" Harry's gaze switched between Pansy and Blaise thoughtfully. His lips twitched into a humorous smile.
"Blaise was always good. But I may have... just recently come to my senses." Pansy shared a knowing glance with her best friend before stamping one foot forward and placing her hands on either hip. "But don't go spreading it, Potter! I have an evil reputation to uphold. I can't have people thinking I've gone soft."
Her lips pulled into a flippant smirk, and the whole lot of them broke into a guffaw.
"So, Harry, have you looked through your presents yet?" She made her way to the empty chair at the foot of his bed, eyes fixed on a box of jelly beans.
"No, not really." He chuckled softly. "You're welcome to help yourself."
She happily ripped open the box of beans and took a handful before reaching for a different gift that was propped against the edge of the table.
"Here, this one's addressed to you from Dumbledore." She examined the rectangular present before handing it over.
Harry carefully tore the brown packaging, careful not to disturb its contents. When he finished unraveling it, he found that what he had received was a book.
"Huh. That's an odd gift." Pansy cocked her head, mouth full.
"What is it?" Harry asked. "Have you all read it?"
"Only about a hundred times," Draco answered. "It's a children's book."
Harry's brow scrunched in confusion as he read the title: "The Tale of the Three Brothers."
He opened the front cover to find a note scrawled by the old man himself:
"Harry,
Perhaps this will help to do some much needed explaining. We are all very proud of your choices.
Albus Dumbledore"
Harry shrugged confusedly and began to read.
It was, as Draco put it, "a story of three idiots who all tried to bargain with death."
"That is NOT what happened Draco. When my mother told it..." Pansy continued to school Draco on the ethics and morals behind the Three Brothers while Harry successfully drowned out their sibling-like bickering.
From what Harry concluded, there were three brothers that were greeted by death. They believed they had out smarted him and were awarded different gifts of their choosing for having done so. The first brother asked for the Elder Wand, the most powerful wand in the world. The second asked for a stone that could resurrect the dead. The third asked for the cloak of invisibility. While the first two were soon found and stolen by Death, the third brother in his humility hid from Death with the cloak until he turned a ripe old age and "greeted Death like an old friend."
Harry's most recent conclusion was... he had no freaking clue what Dumbledore wanted him to learn. Sure, he was... humble? But did the head master really care about teaching Harry manners at this point?
He closed the book with a somewhat muted frustration. So many riddles, so many clues. What he needed at the moment was Hermione.
He decided to try and enjoy his present company and set the book aside for later solving (and plus- wasn't that very polite?)
He cracked jokes with the Slytherins, who, it turns out, weren't half bad to have around. He knew they'd fit right in with the Gryffindors if both sides would willingly lay aside their prejudices. Maybe the battles of last night would help deteriorate the boundaries between the two rival houses. Harry contemplated this thought until he was startled by another knock on the door.
Madam Pomfrey escorted a small crowd to Harry's bedside, and Pansy stood to leave.
"Pansy, you don't have to-"
"It's fine, Potter. Really. I've got lunch to catch." She winked in his direction before exiting the infirmary.
The next round of visitors included an exuberant Hannah, Ginny, Luna, Susan, and Macmillan.
Hannah ran to Neville's side, scooping him into an embrace and kissing him softly on the tip of the nose. "I'm glad to see you're ok, love."
"I'm great, now." He flashed her an affectionate grin, and her cheeks began to glow a rosy red.
Their moment was interrupted startlingly by Luna's overzealous, airy proclamation: "Harry!"
She pulled him into a hug that the Hufflepuffs deemed necessary to join. Draco smirked at Harry's uncomfortable surprise and watched humorously as he struggled to breathe.
When they separated, Harry took in a sharp breath that only Draco seemed to notice.
"I don't know what the hell happened, Harry, but trust me when I say that we are ALL ecstatic to see you doing well." Ginny bore a look of complete sincerity that was reflected in the faces of the entire group. Even Hannah had floated to Harry's bed, a soft smile spread across her lips.
Harry nodded. "I'm not sure, either. But believe me, I'm glad to be here." He stole a loving glance at Draco before continuing. "Thank you. All of you." He peered at Neville and Blaise on the other side of the room. "If it weren't for you guys, we wouldn't have won this. I'm still wrapping my head around it, honestly. But damn it... we did it, guys!" His eyes sparkled with
renowned hope. There was a series of nods, high fives, and even cheers from across the room. After the excitement died down, Draco found himself studying the faces before him.
"Isn't someone missing? Wasn't Chang sticking with you all?"
Harry witnessed five pairs of eyes fall to the floor uncomfortably. The Hufflepuffs shuffled their feet, unsure of what to say. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Cho refused to come. Last night, when you were... you know... well, you see, we all sort of knew about you and Draco being together. Some of us for a fact, some just by suspicion. All of us, that is... except Cho. The whole thing was complete news to her, and she didn't take it very well."
Harry's brow crinkled in confusion. Draco could feel the devilish grin pulling at his cheeks, and he did his absolute best to stifle it.
"What does Draco and I being together have anything to do with... oh."
Draco placed his face to his palm before pressing a kiss to Harry's forehead.
"Well, that's ok. She played her part last night. You all did great. If she can't accept this," he intertwined his fingers with Draco's, "then it's her loss."
There was a round of nods and acceptance from the group. It fell silent for a moment before Luna skipped happily to the next subject.
"Oh! You have the Tale of the Three Brothers! My father says that the Deathly Hallows are always closer than we think."
"The Deathly what?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"The Deathly Hallows, you silly." When silence rang across the group, Luna continued.
"You know, the Elder Wand. The Resurrection Stone. The Cloak of Invisibility. Legend says that if you become the owner of all three, you would become the master of Death." She cocked her head innocently, and Harry's mouth dropped.
When it became apparent that both Harry and Draco were in a state of deep contemplation, Ginny began to urge Luna toward the door.
"We are so grateful you're here, Harry. And we love you. But we're going to give you two some privacy." She smiled at the couple softly as they headed toward the door. The rest of the group followed shortly after.
"The Deathly Hallows... but how..." Harry whispered to himself, and Draco straightened beside him.
"Your cloak, Harry. Your fucking cloak. Where did it come from?" There was a tone of urgency in his voice.
"Dumbledore gave it to me. He said that it belonged to my father."
Draco pinched his chin between his thumb and index finger, placing thoughts together and drawing fine conclusions.
"Harry!" They both jumped this time as Hermione and Ron ran past Madam Pomfrey.
Hermione pulled them both into a hug, starting with Draco and then moving to her best friend.
"It's good to see you're doing better, mate." Ron followed her, shaking Draco's hand before wrapping his arms around Harry in a brotherly embrace. They then turned to Madam Pomfrey's other patients.
"Blaise. Neville. Long time no see," Ron commented facetiously, and Hermione rolled her eyes in a playful manner.
"How are you all feeling?" She asked politely.
"Peachy." Both Blaise and Neville answered simultaneously, and then smirked at one another. It seemed the two had more in common than initially considered, and that this would quite possibly be the start of a beautiful friendship. Neville and Blaise began to talk amongst themselves, and both Ron and Hermione diverted their attention back to the couple before them.
"Harry," Hermione pressed, beginning the conversation that had been irking her for hours. "What happened!? How did you... do you have any idea how...?"
She found herself unable to ask the questions that perched themselves upon her lips.
"No, I'm still not sure what happened. But, Hermione, look at this." He tossed the book to her, and she hurriedly flipped open the front cover to reveal Dumbledore's message.
"Hey, I know this story!" Ron exclaimed. "It's about these brothers, and they get into a race..."
"A race!? No, it's about the idiots that bargain with Death!" And so the bickering ensued.
Hermione read the story, soaking in each detail in an attempt to decipher Dumbledore's clue. When she closed the back cover, Harry spoke.
"Luna said that the gifts from Death are called the Deathly Hallows, and that they're real. And that whoever possesses them is considered the 'Master of Death.'"
Hermione's eyes widened.
"I thought that was just a legend," Ron interjected. "Plus, I hate to be this way, mate, but this is Luna were talking about."
"Ron, I think Luna has a point." Hermione had flipped the book back open and was tracing her finger along the pages, matching pieces and drawing understood conclusions.
"Merlin, Harry!" Hermione shrieked. "The Stone! The former horcrux! Where is it?"
Harry reached for his robes, which were slung across one of the chairs beside him. From the inside pocket he retrieved the box that held the intricate ruby red rock.
She took the box from him and studied its contents studiously.
"Harry, I... I think this is the resurrection stone."
Harry gasped. Malfoy's jaw dropped.
"It all makes sense!" She continued. "Why Dumbledore wouldn't want you knowing it's purpose. He knew that you would try to resurrect your family if you knew it's power!"
She snapped the box shut and handed it back to Harry, whose hand was involuntarily shaking at her discovery.
"But he wanted you to have it. He wanted you to be in possession of the stone so that you could master death!"
"But why me? Why wouldn't he use it for himself?"
"Because you're the only one who can defeat Voldemort, Harry."
Her words hung thick in the air around them. Nobody dared speak. Harry allowed the revelation to sink in.
"But what about the Elder Wand? I don't have it. So it can't be true."
"I'm not sure about that one, Harry. Maybe you should ask Dumbledore." She appeared solemn, disappointed that she hadn't completely cracked the case.
"Well, maybe you don't have to have it... maybe you just have to... come in contact with it or something?" Ron suggested, trying his best to help.
Harry shrugged. "Do you know anyone who might have the Elder Wand?"
Ron contemplated. "Voldemort?"
"No... if he had he Elder Wand, don't you think he'd be trying a bit harder to get the other two?" Hermione's brow narrowed in concentration.
"Maybe he is, though," Draco suggested. "Maybe that's why Dumbledore wanted us to take such good care of the stone."
No one said anything, the idea settling among the quartet.
A loud voice snapped them out of the stupor.
"What's up, bitches!?" Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas strolled into the infirmary.
"Language, Finnigan!" Madam Pomfrey shooed them along and headed back to her office, obviously uninterested in the conversation of teenagers.
They all started at the introduction but relaxed as the pair approached. Harry broke into a smile.
"Hey guys. Nice work last night!"
"Nice work yourself, friend. Are you sure you're not a ghost?" Dean Thomas wiggled his eyebrows playfully.
Harry raised his arms forward, supinating and pronating his hands. "Nope, I'm all flesh and blood."
"Good." Seamus grinned, slipping his hand in Dean's.
Harry tilted his head at the observation.
"So, uh... are you guys...?"
"Let's just say you inspired us." The two glanced at each other affectionately before turning to Malfoy and Potter.
"I've always been somewhat of a trendsetter." Draco scoffed facetiously, teeth forming a friendly grin.
And they laughed. After all that had happened, they were laughing. And it felt damn nice.
They spent the next half hour or so visiting until the Gryffindors decided it was time to give Harry and Draco some alone time. During their stay, Madam Pomfrey had decided that both Neville and Blaise were good to go. She discharged them with instructions to rest, and the two walked out while still engaged in conversation.
They expected Madam Pomfrey to release Harry before the end of the day, and it would be back to normal afterward. As normal as life could be after defeating a group of Death Eaters.
Draco sat by Harry's side, tossing about ideas regarding their most recent mystery. Before they knew it, Madam Pomfrey was flitting about Potter's side, waving her wand in figure eight's and making a diagnosis.
"How's your head, Mr. Potter?"
"Good as new," he flashed her a grin. To be truthful, it was still throbbing a bit. But he was ready as ever to leave.
She gave him a suspicious glare before waving her wand over what was left of his head wound.
"Well, Mr. Potter, your head is healing beautifully. You may be released if you are feeling up to it."
He nodded and thanked her before she left.
He was just about to change back into his robes when another visitor strolled into the hospital wing.
Albus Dumbledore, in all of his glory, approached Harry and Draco with a twinkling eye.
"Harry, how delightful to see you, my dear boy. As is you, Draco." He nodded to the Slytherin whose fingers remained laced with Harry's. "I presume you have received my gift."
Harry nodded. "Thank you, sir. I, er... had some questions."
"Ask away, and I'll see what I can do to answer." Dumbledore perched himself on the end of the bed, making himself comfortable for the interrogation.
"Sir... what do you know about the Elder Wand?"
Dumbledore grabbed Pansy's open box of jelly beans and popped one in his mouth. Sweets were his guilty pleasure, to say the least.
"One wizard must overpower another to become the winner of the Elder Wand. Or, at least..." he winked at the two boys. "... that's how the legend goes."
Harry allowed this piece of information to sink in. Had he overpowered the owner of such a wonder? If so, when? And wouldn't he have somehow just... known, when it had happened?
"How many Death Eaters did you take out yesterday, Harry? One of them must've held the Elder Wand!"
"Don't you think your father would have told you if someone in his or Voldemort's command wielded the Elder Wand?" Harry asked honestly.
Draco nodded, perplexed. "Unless they just recently came to own it."
Dumbledore smiled at the deductions unfolding before him.
"I can tell you this, gentlemen." He stood, indulging on another of the rainbow beans. "I was disarmed last night by a very powerful wizard. Not as powerful as Tom Riddle, or even your father for that matter. But powerful enough." He scratched his beard before bouncing upward cheerfully. "I must be going now, boys, I've got to assure the school and staff that everything is under control." He turned and began to waltz away.
Pivoting on one heel, Dumbledore made a last declaration: "I do believe you boys have all of the answers right before you. Yes, you are armed with very... valuable information."
"Sir," Harry called after him, and Dumbledore paused. "Professor Snape said it was safer if no one knew I was alive. What should I do?"
"Do you know what's wonderful about the impossible becoming the truth, Harry?" He smiled omnisciently. "People are more likely to believe that the impossible never occurred." He raised his eyebrows with a shared understanding that Harry could continue his life. Dumbledore in all of his wisdom seemed to believe that the public would question Lucius Malfoy's sanity before believing that Harry was immortal.
Dumbledore's expression was one of tranquil omnipotence as he exited the infirmary. It seemed that some things would never change.
Draco and Harry sprinted to the Gryffindor common room as soon as he was fully dressed and released. Armed with new information, they eagerly sought Ron and Hermione for an intense session of brain storming. As soon as they passed the Fat Lady, however, they were ambushed by a crowd of cheering Gryffindors.
"Is it true, Harry!? Did you all defeat the Death Eaters!?" Collin Creevy bore a huge grin as he approached, camera dangling from his neck.
Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, who were at the back of the crowd. Hermione smiled sheepishly, and Ron shrugged. It seemed the rumors, or perhaps the truth, had spread faster than wildfire.
"It's true." Draco answered smugly. Harry glared at him, much more purposed to humility.
"What? I'm not used to playing hero." Draco grinned lovingly and Harry shook his head, a smile breaching his lips.
There was murmuring among the crowd, especially from the direction of Lavender and Parvati, who'd decided staying in the Great Hall during the attack was more their style.
"Draco's right. There were Death Eaters in the castle last night."
Murmurs turned to silence.
"Are you okay, Harry? Were you hurt?" RomIlda Vayne questioned carefully. Harry stole a glance at his friends, who all seemed to simultaneously shake their heads from amongst the crowd.
Apparently, no one had been informed of Harry's death. Perhaps that was for the best.
"Um, no. Thankfully." He paused, as eager ears listened for more information.
"Last night, Gryffindors fought alongside Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and even Slytherins to protect this castle and all of our lives. I hope that we can all take this experience to shatter the walls between houses. We all have one thing in common. We all want Voldemort defeated."
He paused, allowing the information to settle.
"Your friends and colleagues were the real heroes last night. I saw Slytherins use their cunningness to trick Voldemort's men. Ravenclaws in thinking outside of the box were able to incapacitate the ones who held your friends at wandpoint. Hufflepuffs fought bravely alongside Gryffindors. I'm telling you all, if this isn't proof of House Unity, there is none."
Draco beamed at his boyfriend proudly. Harry was always one for speeches, especially the motivational kind. A moment of quiet passed as the strength of Harry's words permeated the air. And then, the entire room broke into a massive sea of cheers. The noise was epic; it rattled the paintings and caused several of the portraits to cover their ears. But nobody cared. For once, it seemed that they'd had a real win.
Draco and Harry made their way to the remainder of the Golden Quartet (Draco had coined the term himself at some point), and they found a somewhat secluded corner that they could speak in.
"Did you get a chance to talk to Dumbledore?" Ron hissed eagerly.
Harry nodded. "But all he said was that one wizard must overpower another to become master of the Elder Wand."
"So, one of the Death Eaters then? Was it your father, Draco?" Hermione was rushing her words, a habit she'd picked up when she became excited about something.
Draco shook his head. "I don't think so."
"And before he left, he said that he himself was disarmed last night." Harry added, and Ron scrunched his nose.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Hermione rolled her eyes before slapping both him and Draco on the back of the head playfully. "Don't you idiots see? Dumbledore was telling you that he was the master of the Elder Wand! Until last night, when someone overpowered him! But who?"
The group fell silent, shaking their heads as they tried to recall what had happened last night.
"He was already disarmed when I got there." Draco stated, "I remember. For sure."
"Fuck." Ron muttered under his breath. "Who else would've seen?"
"Harry, it must've been someone in the astronomy tower." Hermione deduced. "Who did you disarm?"
"My father." The voice was approaching from behind. Draco and Harry pivoted to see Pansy, accompanied by Blaise and Neville (who had apparently become rather close in the past few hours).
Draco smiled. House Unity really was at its greatest if the Slytherins were allowed to parade about pride territory unscathed. Remembering that day at lunch, he wondered if he really was a trendsetter. He'd file that thought for later.
"Harry Potter, you saved my life from the man who was supposed to protect me. You disarmed my father. And for that, I thank you." She pecked him on the cheek and ran a flirtatious hand over his shoulder before winking at Draco. Blaise lifted his chin in acknowledgment of their presence before continuing his conversation about herbology with Neville. They followed Pansy, who flitted about the crowd making friends.
"Oh my God. It was Pansy's father." Harry's eyes were wide beams of emerald, as if by dilating they could absorb more information.
"Cassius Parkinson overpowered Dumbledore. And then I disarmed him. And then I... became the owner of the Elder Wand."
Three mouths dropped. "Bloody hell, Harry! Are you... immortal? Like a vampire or something?"
He expected Hermione to elbow or shove him as she normally did at stupid questions, but she herself was absorbed in thought.
"I mean, in theory... he would be." She met eyes with Harry, who allowed the idea to settle with a smile.
"Harry, do NOT look that happy about this! You cannot go using the Deathly Hallows as an excuse to be reckless!" Hermione scolded him while Draco busted out laughing.
"Hey, Harry, wanna go jump off the astronomy tower later?" Draco jabbed, and it was his turn to face Hermione's wrath.
"Don't encourage him! Dumbledore wanted you two to protect the stone at all costs. And he's a much more powerful wizard than Cassius Parkinson. If you ask me, he planned for this to happen."
Their faces fell from excitement to contemplation. "I think you're right, Hermione. I... he wants me to defeat Voldemort. He wants me to win."
"Harry, this is excellent news," Draco interjected, "But Hermione's right. No one should find out about this. Especially Voldemort himself."
Harry nodded.
"Come on, guys. We'll fight Voldemort tomorrow. Today, we celebrate." Ronald Weasley disappeared for a moment, only to return with a handful of butterbeers.
"Where do you guys keep getting this stuff!?" Harry exclaimed while he popped the top off of one and handed it to Draco. Ron placed a loving arm around Hermione before gesturing with his own butter beer to a couple not far from them, conversing against the wall.
"It's Seamus and Dean, man. If they love anything, it's getting drunk."
Seamus was buckled over in laughter; Dean stood straight but chuckled at whatever the hell was so funny. And the way he looked at the Irish boy... it reminded Harry of something.
Without comment, he turned to Draco, whose own eyes were upon him. That was it. That look. Harry grinned, and knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that he was loved.
Draco raised his bottle. "A toast. To friendship. To love. And to kicking the shit out of Voldemort."
Hermione chuckled lightly and, along with the others, raised her glass.
"I'll cheers to that."
