Harry looked around the room, noticing that the drapes were wide open, allowing the room to be filled with light. He also saw that he was completely alone. Where was Draco? He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in his lower back kept him down on the bed. He rested his head against a pillow, trying to sort out his thoughts. After a long while, the door opened and Old Pansy came in with Hermione behind her.
"Good morning!" Hermione exclaimed cheerfully.

"Uh . . .hello, Hermione." Harry replied tiredly.
"Come on, dear." Old Pansy said, helping Harry out of bed. "Don't worry, you'll feel much better after you've had a bath."

"Oh . . .OK then." Harry replied, allowing Old Pansy to help him through a door in the corner of the room. Draco's bathroom was the same as Harry's, merely a bit larger. "Pansy . . .where's Draco?" Harry asked as he lowered himself into the tub.
"I'm not sure. Wherever he goes during the day . . .maybe the sitting room or the library or a tower. He's around somewhere. He just thought you'd prefer the light instead of waking up in darkness." Old Pansy explained.

"Oh . . .but . . .it's his room. Why should he give in to my needs?" Harry questioned.
"It's your room now too, dear. You're his wife, don't forget." Old Pansy answered, holding Harry's hand and tapping lightly on his ring.

"Oh yeah . . .r-right." stared into the water as Old Pansy washed him.

"I'll be back in just a moment . . .I need to fetch more soap." Old Pansy said.
Harry merely nodded as Old Pansy left the room. He stared down into his reflection in the water, and suddenly burst into tears. He felt a pain worse than anything he had ever felt in his entire life; his heart felt as though it was being torn in half. He was now married to Draco, they had made love together, he wanted to spend his life with him, and yet he was still in love with Ron. His fiancé. Or was former fiancé more accurate? Was he betraying Ron by marrying Draco, or betraying Draco by still loving Ron?

Not knowing what else to do, Harry cried into his hands, lowering himself under the water. He held himself there, trying to decide whether he really wanted to drown himself or not. He felt sick thinking about his life; he had been so excited about his engagement to Ron, and yet now he was married to Draco. He loved Draco, and yet he continued to think about Ron. Harry couldn't think of anything to do other than stay under the water until death claimed him. As Harry's vision began to grow fuzzy and he was slowly getting dizzy, a pair of soft hands grasped his shoulders and pulled him out of the water.
"What in the world are you doing?" Old Pansy demanded.
"I . . .I just . . ." Harry trailed off, coughing and taking in deep breathes. "I can't d-do this, Pansy! I . . .I know I'm married to Draco, and I love him so m-much but I . . .I love Ron too! I can't s-stop thinking about h-him! I love them; Draco and Ron. . .I'm completely betraying them both!"
"Sh . . .it's alright." Old Pansy soothed, pulling Harry into a tight but comforting embrace. "You're not betraying anyone, dear, you're really not. You cannot just stop loving someone, and you cannot stop yourself from falling in love with someone else. Dear, it just isn't that simple."

"It hurts." Harry sobbed. "I feel like my chest is going to burst open."

"Of course it does, but it'll pass. You keep listening to only your mind while your heart is trying to guide you to the right place. Harry, you must listen to what your heart is telling you; it will lead you to the right path." Old Pansy replied, gently rubbing his back.
"How can you be sure?" Harry questioned.

"Because your heart knows what is right." Old Pansy said.
She continued to wash him gently, trying her very best to comfort him. After a long while, his sobs grew softer until they were merely silent tears slowly trailing down his face. Old Pansy finished cleaning him, then pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head.

"Everything's going to be alright." She said.
Harry shifted slightly in his seat, trying to make himself more comfortable. He'd spent the entire day reading in the library. He looked around, suddenly realizing that it had grown dark. Dinner would most likely be ready soon, so he placed a bookmark neatly between the pages and set his book down on the table. He stood and stretched, then walked out of the library.

After a short time of walking, he realized that he didn't know where he was. He had wandered into a part of the fortress that was very unfamiliar, very dark, and very scary. Nervously he walked through the hall, trying to find a familiar place but only getting more lost than before. Eventually Harry reached a large wooden door with a faint light shining through from the other side. He pushed it open and was struck with utter fear.

The room was long, lit by many torches on the wall above two rows of stone coffins on each side of the room. They were arranged so that two were close to each other, then a space, then two more, and so on. Harry walked across the room, glancing at each pair of the coffins, seeing names carved into them. The first pair was "Albert" and "Gabrielle". The second read "David" and "Catherine". The third pair of coffins were labeled "Seth" and "Elizabeth". Harry looked away, not wanting to learn who rested within the stone chambers. He kept his head down as he walked, until he came to the last pair of coffins, finding them uncovered. He stared at them, terrified as he read the names; "Draco" and "Harry".

Harry gasped, stumbling backwards and losing his balance. Even as he fell to the floor, he couldn't take his eyes off of his own name. He covered his mouth with his hand, feeling as though he would vomit at any moment. It seemed like an eternity had passed by before someone else entered the room. Harry jumped as he felt a hand gently grasp his shoulder. He looked up to see Hermione kneeling beside him.

"Mistress, what are you doing down here?" She asked quietly.
"I . . .I didn't mean to . . .I just . . .I was lost and . . .I . . ." Harry stuttered, unable to calm himself.
"Well, come on then, let's get back upstairs. Dinner's just about ready." . Hermione replied calmly.
As Hermione helped him up, Harry finally managed to put his thoughts in order. "Mione . . .what is this place?"
"The family mausoleum." Hermione answered. "It's where the master's family is set to rest. Those coffins are all of the master's ancestors."

"A-and what about those two?" Harry asked, pointing at the two open coffins.

Hermione sighed softly, "That's for the master, and his wife; you. It's just tradition to prepare them early. It doesn't mean anything, mistress, honestly."
"Oh." Harry whispered softly.
They walked up a staircase Harry hadn't noticed before, which led to a small cemetery on the side of the fortress. "And this is the servant's graveyard. It's we're Neville and Ol' Pansy and all the rest of us servants will be buried."
Harry nodded, "I see. But . . .h-how . . .I mean . . .just what are you? I mean, if you're not humans, and you're not Valkier then what . . ."
"That's a good question." Hermione said. "Well . . .we're sort of in between creatures. Valkiers can live for thousands of years. Humans generally live on thirty or forty years at the most. But we tend to live four or five hundred years. I'm not entirely sure what you'd call us . . .I never really thought about it."
"Oh . . .I see." Harry said.
He sighed in relief as they reached the gardens, glad to be in a familiar place. As they neared the fortress entrance, Neville came over to them.

"There you are mistress. Dinner is ready, and the master is waiting for you." He said.

"W-why is everyone calling me mistress?" Harry asked.

"Because that's what you are now; the fortress is as much yours as it is the master's. Now that you and he are married, that is." Neville replied.
"Oh . . ." Harry didn't know what to say.
He walked with Neville and Hermione to the dining room, where Draco was indeed waiting for him. Harry smiled as he walked over to his husband.

"You look beautiful, Harry." Draco said, reaching out and gently stroking the side of Harry's face.

Harry blushed, leaned up, and kissed him.
"You win again." Draco said, grinning at his lover.

He and Harry had gone out after dinner, so that Harry could practice riding. Draco had taken Remus, while Harry had continued with Maia. They had Gone out into the wood and had several races, almost all of which Harry had won.

The smaller of the two smiled and blushed, "You're letting me win."

"W-what? I am not!" Draco snapped, not looking Harry in the eye.
"Yes you are." Harry said.
"I most certainly am not." Draco replied.
Harry merely giggled in response. They reached a river, and got off to allow the mares to drink and rest. Draco sat beneath a tree, and Harry lowered himself into his husband's lap. He sighed happily, resting his head against Draco's chest.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."
Draco began planting soft kisses all over Harry's face, eventually pressing their lips together. Harry leaned into him, parting his lips and allowing Draco's tongue to slide into his mouth.
"I love you." Draco said as they broke apart.
Harry giggled, "You already said that."

"So?"

"I love you too." Harry said, kissing Draco's chin.

Draco threaded his fingers into Harry's hair and gently tilted his head back, then began placing wet sloppy kisses all over his neck. Harry moaned softly, leaning in to the touch. He moved closer to Draco, sliding his hands up his shirt and rubbing them against his well-muscled chest. In the next moment they were tearing at each other's clothing, kissing and rubbing whatever flesh they could get to. Once their clothes had been shed, Draco pinned Harry down beneath him, kissing him lustfully. Suddenly he paused, realizing something.
"We haven't got anything; it'll be dry and painful . . .I can't stand to hurt you, Harry." Draco said.
Harry didn't reply verbally. Acting on pure instinct, he pulled off his trousers, grasped Draco's hand and slid two of his fingers into his anus. Draco gasped as he felt the wetness there; Harry was a bearer and therefore was obviously able to produce his own natural lubrication. When he finally recovered from his shock, he pulled his hand away from Harry's anus and positioned his cock at his entrance instead

. "Oh . . .ahh . . .Draacooo . . .oh God . . ." Harry pressed himself down on Draco's penis, trying desperately to get more contact.
He grinned lustfully as he listened to Harry moaning loudly. The sounds Harry was making were almost enough to make him come right then. His lover whimpered softly at the loss of contact, but quickly perked up, remembering the pleasure that was to come next. He spread his legs wider to give Draco easier access to his hole. Draco then gently pushed into Harry.

Harry moaned loudly and clawed at Draco's shoulders, trying to pull him closer as his cock pressed against his prostate. Draco couldn't help but moan as well, the tightness of Harry's muscles around being a better feeling than anything. He pulled Harry up so that he was straddling his waist, riding his cock.

Harry clung onto Draco's shoulders, trying to form the words in his mind as his husband fucked him. "Oooh . . .M-Draco . . .aah . . .God, harder . . .please . . ."

Draco grasped Harry's chin, staring into his eyes, "Beg me."
Harry's breath caught in his throat as he felt his body go limp and every thrust seemed to be intensified completely. "Draco . . .please . . .f-fuck me . . .fuck me hard! Please!"

Draco held Harry firmly by the hips, thrusting up into him hard and fast. Harry moaned helplessly, unable to move and losing the ability to form a coherent sentence. He longed desperately to reach down and touch himself, but his arms just wouldn't move. He tossed his head back, crying out his husband's name as he finally released. In his ecstasy, he barely heard Draco calling out his name, but he clearly felt his husband's seed spilling into him.

As he caught his breath, Draco held Harry close to him, gently stroking his hair. Harry smiled tiredly as he kissed Draco's chest. They laid there together for a long while, merely enjoying each other's company. Finally Draco began to move, reaching for their clothing that had been scattered around the area. He gently pulled Harry off of him and got up to dress himself.

"We should get back." He said.

"I'm tired." Harry replied. He tried to get up but ended up only falling back down.

Draco lifted Harry up and slipped him back into his clothes. He then climbed up onto Remus' back, keeping his wife in his arms the entire time. Making sure Maia was following he started back towards the fortress.

"Just relax, darling. I'll take care of you." He said, kissing the top of Harry's head.

"I love you." Harry whispered, slowly drifting into slumber.

"I love you too." Draco replied. "I love you too."

"Did you really make this, Harry?" Draco asked as he and Harry sat down for dinner.
Harry smiled and nodded, "I sure did."
"By yourself?" Draco asked.
Harry giggled, "Of course by myself. I never had anyone to cook for me back in the Hamlet."

"Right . . .sorry I . . .forgot." Draco stuttered.

He looked down at the meal that Harry had prepared; roasted wild turkey, mashed potatoes, and various steamed vegetables. Just looking at it Draco could tell that Harry was an incredible cook.

"Well, I've never actually cooked so much at one time so . . .don't blame me if it's not that good, OK?" Harry said.

"Sure smells good." Draco stated, poking lightly at the turkey leg on his place. "And it doesn't feel like it'll taste bad." He lifted it up and brought it to his lips, but instead of biting into it, he began to lick it. "The skin tastes good."
"Draco!" Harry exclaimed. "Just shut up and eat the damn thing!"
"Or what?" Draco challenged.
"Or I won't let you kiss me anymore." Harry said firmly.

Draco raised an eyebrow, "Oh really?"

"Yes, really." Harry replied. He pulled away as Draco leaned in to kiss him, keeping his lips pressed tightly shut when Draco grabbed his face.

"OK, you win." Draco said, faking annoyance. He bit into the turkey and forcefully yanked a mouthful of meat off the bone. "Damn that's good!" He shouted, his mouth still full.

Harry smiled and began to eat his own meal. Watching Draco eat never failed to amuse him; he always seemed to try and get as much into his mouth as possible all at once. He continued to eat politely, trying not to laugh at Draco as wine spilled down his chin.

"Harry, why do you insist on eating so politely?" Draco asked suddenly.
"Why do you insist on eating like an animal?" Harry asked in return.
"Well . . .I just . . .I'm hungry." Draco said.
"So am I . . .I just don't feel the need to shove everything into my mouth and then have some of it fall back onto the plate." Harry replied.

Draco was silent for a few minutes, then picked up his fork and continued eating slowly. It was obvious that he hadn't eaten that way in years; his food kept dropping off the fork and he slowly grew very frustrated. Harry laughed at him, leaning over and kissing his cheek.

At one point Harry left the table and when he returned Draco could smell vomit on his breath.

"Are you okay?" asked Draco

"Fine, just a little tummy trouble" Harry smiled

They continued their meal in a content silence, until eventually Draco broke it.
"Harry. . .what happened with your family?" He asked.
"Pardon?" Said Harry
"Well, why did you come to the Hamlet?" Draco questioned.
"I . . .well, m-my Uncle hated me. H-he said that I was a . . .a demon because I can give birth. Told me I would go to hell, and made me dress like a girl. He told my entire V-Village that I could carry a child. Some p-people didn't care, but m-most of them hated me for it. They would insult me, throw rocks at me, and a-attack me in the street. I . . .I couldn't leave my cottage, but my Uncle would beat me too.
He would l-lock me up . . .lock me up in a d-dark Cupboard . . .leave me there for days w-without food. My Aunt once tried to stop him, but sh-she couldn't. He beat her . . .she ignored it every time after that. Th-then one night he c-came at me with a knife and he . . .he tried to . . .to . . ." Harry trailed off, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
Draco gently grasped his hand, "He tried to what, Harry?"
Harry sniffled, "He tried to cut out my womb."

Draco took Harry into his arms as he finally broke down into hysterics, "Sh . . .it's alright."

He buried his face against Draco's chest as he continued, "I was s-so scared, Draco. I was in b-bed and he c-came into my room and stabbed at me . . .if I h-hadn't moved he'd have k-killed me for sure. I . . .I r-ran out of the cottage and screamed until someone c-came to help me. He was taken to spend the n-night in prison, so my A-Aunt had me run away. S-some of the others who d-didn't mind me, they t-told us about the Hamlet so I . . .I left."

"But . . .w-what about your real parents?" Draco asked.

"M-My Father died . . .six years ago. He was very sick. My Mother was found dead when I was small my Uncle said she committed suicide, but I know my parents accepted me, they loved me." Harry whispered.
Draco held his wife tightly, gently stroking his hair, "Oh Harry. . .I'm so sorry. I shouldn't even have asked."
"No . . ." Harry replied. "I'm your wife, you have a right to know about my past."

"I suppose." Draco said.

He held Harry lovingly in his arms, as though trying to protect him from all his pain. They stayed that way for a long time, until eventually Harry cried himself to sleep in Draco's arms.