When Draco opened his eyes, he found himself in a forest clearing. Surrounding them were tall pines, their scent sharp on the brisk early morning air.
"Where are we?" Ron asked hoarsely.
"The Forest of Dean," Hermione replied. "I used to come camping here with mum and dad when I was little." She circled the clearing, mumbling incantations under her breath as she flicked her wand in complicated rhythms.
"Are you alright?" Draco whispered, hugging Harry tightly to him. The former Gryffindor nodded.
"Thank Merlin I have you around," he mumbled playfully, kissing Draco's lips. "I'd be dead if it weren't for you." Draco smiled and kissed his hair. He cringed, feeling the familiar sting on his skin that signaled the coming dawn.
"Harry," he muttered, trying to bury his face in the brunette's chest.
"Shit. Hermione!" Harry shouted. Ron and Hermione turned to face him, startled. "The sun's rising!" Hermione's eyes widened and she performed a few more complicated wand movements, her brow furrowed in concentration. Moments later a tent appeared in the center of the clearing. Harry pulled Draco into it, closing the flaps behind them. Draco sat down on the edge of one of the camp beds, running a hand through his slightly-singed hair. Harry kneeled before him, looking worriedly into liquid silver eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked. Draco nodded, smiling.
"I think so."
"So what's the plan?" Ron asked that afternoon as they all sat inside the tent together.
"We have to find some way to get a hold of the Order," Hermione said. "Remus will know what to do."
"We can't just go barging into Remus's house," Harry said.
"I hardly think this is the time to be courteous, Harry—"
"No, he's right," Draco put in. "If they found out where Harry was, chance are they'll know where the rest of the Order is hiding, too. Their houses could be swarming with Death Eaters by now."
"We can't just sit here, either," Ron cut in. "If they found Harry once, they'll be able to do it again."
"So we keep moving," Harry replied. "That's the only option we have, isn't it? We keep moving until we can get a hold of Remus."
Hermione bit her lip, thinking. "We have to keep our wards up. Someone should keep watch at all times. We'll take shifts."
"I'll keep watch at night," Draco said. "It makes sense—I'm the only one that doesn't sleep."
Hermione took the first watch. Harry lay on one of the camp beds, snuggled into Draco's chest. Ron snored in the top bunk across the room.
"I love you," Harry whispered.
"I love you, too," Draco replied, running his fingers through soft, messy black hair.
"I don't know what I'd do without you." Draco smiled, kissing the top of his head.
Ron took watch that afternoon, giving Hermione time to sleep. Draco managed to slip away from Harry without waking him. He stretched and sat down at the little table in the center of the tent. He ran a hand through his hair, thinking over the events of that morning. He could still taste the Death Eaters' blood in his mouth. He hated it. He'd never been one for violence—though he knew he would do it again if the need arose. It was instinct, now. He would do anything to protect Harry—even kill.
Harry woke soon after. Draco heard the camp bed shift. A moment or so later, familiar arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders Draco leaned back into the embrace as Harry bent down to kiss him.
"Sleep well?" Draco asked quietly, not wanting to wake Hermione. Harry shrugged.
"As well as could be expected, I suppose," he replied. He sat down in a chair beside the blonde, staring down at his hands. "How long do you think it will be before they find us again?"
Draco shook his head. "If we're careful, they may not find us again for quite a while. It all depends on…well, a lot of things, I suppose."
"Do you think the others are alright? Remus, the Weasleys..?"
"Yeah, I think they are. Remus is a tough bloke. They may even have known about the attack before it happened. Who knows?"
"I'd be dead by now, if it weren't for you."
"No you wouldn't. Give yourself some credit, Harry."
Harry shook his head. "I slept through most of it, Draco. They could have come in and stunned me and I wouldn't have even woken up. It's pathetic, really."
"You're not pathetic." Draco reached up, brushing the hair back from Harry's eyes. "You're not pathetic," he repeated, leaning in to press a kiss the man's lips. A throat cleared behind them. They turned to find Ron standing in the doorway, rubbing the back of his neck nervously as he blushed a deep red.
"I, um…It's…it's your turn to keep watch, mate," he mumbled shyly in Harry's general direction. Harry grinned and nodded.
"Alright," he replied. "Thanks, Ron." He stood, stretching. "How long till sun down?"
"Few hours, I expect," Ron replied, still not making eye contact with them. Harry nodded and looked hopefully to Draco.
"I'll sit with you once the sun's gone down," the blonde replied, smiling. Harry grinned.
"Alright. See you soon." He pressed a light kiss Draco's lips and left the tent. A tense, awkward silence filled the tent. Ron moved over to the little kitchen unit, pulling a cup down from one of the shelves and filling it with water. He took a drink.
"How was watch?" Draco asked, attempting friendly conversation. Silence was all he received from the red-head. "How long do you think it will be before we can get a hold of the others?"
"Don't talk to me," Ron replied shortly.
"Look, Ron, I'm just trying to be friendly."
"Well, don't. We're not friends, Malfoy. I put up with you for Harry and 'Mione's sake, not because I like you. I still hate you as much as I did at school—if not more."
"You can hate me all you want, Ron. I'm not asking to be your best mate. But you should know that I love Harry more than I could ever begin to describe. So as long as we're stuck here together, we might as well learn to be civil. You don't have to like me, but you're going to have to learn to trust me." Ron snorted and left his cup on the counter, moving off to the other side of the tent where he proceeded to ignore the vampire. Draco shook his head.
He could see Harry though the gap in the tent flaps. The brunette was sitting with his back against a tree. Draco watched him yawn and stretch, then take a deep breath and look around the clearing. Draco smiled and stood, laying back on the bed he and Harry had claimed for themselves.
At dusk, he joined the black-haired Gryffindor outside. Harry looked up at him with a smile that Draco returned. He sat down beside Harry, wrapping his arm around the man's shoulders. The Gryffindor snuggled into his arms and they sat together in silence for several long moments.
"Do you miss it?" Harry asked. "Being able to go out in the sun."
Draco smiled faintly and nodded. "Yeah, I miss it," he replied. He pressed a kiss to Harry's temple, breathing in the scent of the man's hair. "You smell like the sun." Harry laughed.
"Is that a good thing?"
"Yes." To affirm it, Draco captured Harry's lips in a kiss.
Author's Note
Sorry for the long delay between updates. :/ Writer's block has not been friendly with me these past few months, but I am determined NOT to abandon this little jewel. I've grown quite fond of Vampire!Draco. :)