Ch. 19: Maybe You Made the Wrong Choice

Time flew by for Harry and Draco. It seemed now that they had gotten together, time had decided to form a grudge, taking it out on them the most vindictive way possible.

Hermione had left for Ron's about two weeks ago and had written to inform everyone that she would be extending her stay until mid-August.

Harry thought that everyone remaining in the house was rather glad that she would be gone. That would give them all more time to be alone. Harry, Draco, Severus, and Remus were all in the same dilemma. Harry and Severus would be returning to Hogwarts much sooner than any of them were willing to admit.

Because the couples were pretty much keeping to their respective rooms, they had not seen too much of each other. Harry and Draco only immerged to gather food and go back into their self-created safe haven.

Draco could be perfectly content just laying in bed, his head resting comfortably on Harry's chest and listening to his steady heart beat. It also didn't hurt that Harry kept occasionally initiating intense snog sessions.

The Slytherin, or rather ex-Slytherin if you thought on it, was slightly surprised that it hadn't went any farther than that, but Draco wasn't about to push Harry into doing something he wasn't ready to do yet.

Harry gently massaged Draco's scalp and sighed. "I'll miss you," he whispered, not sure if he meant for Draco to hear it or not.

Draco trailed lazy fingers over Harry's bare, smooth abdomen and whispered, "Let's not talk about this. Let's talk about something else."

Harry weaved his fingers through Draco's hair and fell silent, simply watching the Slytherin's quiet exploration of his bare and slightly furry chest.

"You're going to be really hairy," Draco said offhandedly. "You'll be a freakishly short, extremely hairy man."

"You're just as tall as I am," Harry said fairly.

"I'm not through growing yet," Draco muttered. "My family has a history of growth spurts in the late teens. My fa… Lucius was shorter than I until he was eighteen."

Harry looked down at the top of Draco's head. "Don't get too tall. It will be hard enough to kiss you when you can't see, but when I have to stand on my toes…"

Draco laughed in his throat and shook his head. "I'll try not to, but I'm not making any promises."

"Good. At least that's settled."

It fell silent again, Harry's fingers coursing again and again through Draco's corn silk hair.

"I'm getting peckish," Draco said in a tone that openly suggested reluctance.

"All right then," Harry said and allowed Draco to rise, following him out of the bedroom and down to the kitchen.

"The twenty-fifth, you say?" came a near-whispered question from the kitchen. "So, do you want me to…"

"No, no," came the second voice, "I don't want you to stay. I wouldn't want to put you in any danger."

"What danger? If the potion works, and it always does, you'll be completely docile. I… I want to stay. I want to be there for you."

"I would never ask you to stay with me, not after…"

"That was Black's fault."

"No," the second voice interrupted, "if it wasn't for…"

"Why must you always defend him?" The first voice, Severus, said forcefully. "I know you were friends, Remus; I understand that, but…"

"We were more than friends Severus," Remus said softly, almost so soft that it was hard for Harry and Draco to hear.

"What?" Severus hissed in a voice that was usually reserved for Harry and Harry alone.

"Sirius and I, we…"

"How long?"

There was a very pregnant pause. "Since… since sixth year. He… when he went to Azkaban we… but when he came back…"

"And why did you not see it fit to inform me of this?"

"Because it's unimportant!" Remus pressed. "It doesn't matter, Severus! You're who I love! You are my mate."

"By default, perchance?" Severus bit back. "Black is dead, so you go for the first person who wanted you? How dare you hold my feelings against me!"

"How dare you question mine?" Remus retorted. "If I had went for the first person who wanted me Oliver Wood would be in my bed. But I didn't have him, because I knew he wasn't the one."

"Maybe you made the wrong choice," the Potions Master said icily.

Harry and Draco had no time to move before Severus immerged from the kitchen, his eyes glassy and cold. He looked from Draco to Harry and then said stiffly, "I'll send along a new batch of potions as soon as I can. You will do the same, take the potions and record the effects."

Draco nodded once and Harry didn't reply. Severus' eye twitched and he stormed up the stairs in the direction of the potions lab that Draco had found for him. Harry knew that he wouldn't be coming back down. There was a Flooing fireplace in there and he knew Snape well enough to know that reappearing laden with potions ingredients wouldn't make for a very dramatic exit.

"I'm not feeling very peckish anymore," Draco said softly. "I… I'm going back to the bedroom. Why don't you talk to Remus, if he wants."

"Alright," Harry said and laid a light kiss on Draco's forehead before the blonde wandered away.

Upon first entering the kitchen, it was evident that Remus didn't see him. The werewolf was sitting on the floor, forehead pressed against his knees. There was no sniffling, and more than likely no tears. Harry walked over and sat down next to him, allowing Remus the dignity of the first word.

"Oh, hey Harry," Remus said as he lifted his head, a smile so plastered on it might have cracked if he held it too long. "Long time no see, eh?"

Harry didn't say anything, he just watched Remus' smile fade. The older man laid his head back on his knees. "You, you heard everything?"

Harry bit his lip and nodded. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry," Remus said. "I… I should have told you about… but I didn't want to hurt you, or you to hate me."

"Why would I hate you?" Harry said softly. "You were as much my godfather as Sirius was. Hell, you were there more than Sirius was. As for Oliver…"

"I never…" Remus began, but Harry held up a hand.

"I don't care. I have Draco, and he's…" Harry trailed away. "He's more than I could ask for. I've been with him for only a few weeks, but I'm closer to him than I ever was with Oliver."

"I'm happy for you," Remus said half-heartedly and chewed on his thumb nail. "I should have never told Severus."

Harry shook his head and sighed. "That would have only made it worse. He was angry that you didn't tell him. What if you hadn't been the one to tell him? What if he found out?"

Remus lowered his eyes and said, "I suppose you're right. It's just…"

"Snape likes to make a scene, Remus," Harry said confidently. "He'll stop and think about it and realize that he's punishing you for having a life. I'm sure if you found out about some of his past relationships that you would be less than pleased."

The werewolf nodded. "Yeah, yeah. I'll just… wait, then. He'll, he'll cool off, won't he?"

Harry nodded and stood. "Now, let's get off this floor."

"Sure. My back is killing me," Remus said and he stretched. "I'm getting old. Too old for this rubbish."

"It's because you hang out with a bunch of teenagers," Harry said truthfully. "You're not a normal old man. Sorry."

Remus opened up the refrigerator and extracted a large bowl of grapes. "You want some of these?"

"No, but I'll take some to Draco, he was hungry earlier." He broke off a branch of the fruit and said, "Are you alright?"

"Fine," Remus said softly and snapped his fingers. "By the way, did you get a letter from Albus? It's odd that we haven't heard from him."

Harry shrugged. "I didn't get one. I would like to know what's going on and he's my only regular correspondent. Do you think that he is on a mission?"

"Could be," Remus said airily. "It's too soon to worry much, though."

"Yeah," Harry agreed and picked a single grape off, popping it in his mouth. "Night, Remus."

"Night," Remus said and tucked the bowl under his arm.

Harry made his way back to the bedroom and spied Draco reading on the bed, fingertips moving quickly over the Braille. Draco tilted his head slightly and said, "Harry?"

"Yes, and I come bearing food," Harry said and crawled onto the bed next to Draco, popping a grape into Draco's mouth and smiling. "So?"

Draco chewed thoughtfully. "Good. Possibly better if it came from your mouth instead of your hand."

Harry chuckled and popped one in his mouth, then leaned down to kiss the blonde.

Draco pulled back with the grape clenched in his teeth. He chewed quickly and swallowed.

"Much better."

Thanks to brionyjae for the beta!