AN: Yet another chapter up. I had some lovely reviews and I want MORE MORE MORE. I love hearing from people, even if it's just dropping by to say they have read the new chapter, keeps me motivated and lets me know people are enjoying the story!
"I'm fine." Draco drawled, resisting the urge to just curse the St. Mungo's healer. He slid past her as she faked gasps of concerns to follow him. Stupid Veela and their weird magnetic attraction. He dodged the woman again, spotting his mate in the lobby, smiling and heading over. "Ready to go." he told him, watching Harry startle out of his thoughts cutely before smiling back. "Okay. I was just trying to think of where to." Harry mumbled with a sigh. "We don't know where anyone is." he pointed out. Draco pursed his lips in thought. "I guess I missed a bit. Why don't we just head back to school? There are only two days left before everyone else is set to return, and I can have our things sent there. That way we'll know the minute Dumbledore is back." the blonde suggested. Harry agreed, still lost in thought as he worried about his godfather. "Okay, let's go, we should be able to floo to Hogsmeade and go from there." Harry suggested, heading to one of the fireplaces. He really did hate travelling by floo powder. As he grabbed a fistful of the powder and stepped in, calling out 'Leaky Cauldron' he cursed himself for suggesting the damn thing. Floo was not exactly the most comfortable mode of transportation. Draco followed close behind him, stepping out and brushing a bit of ash from his sleeve and wrapping an arm around Harry, leading him back. "They'll be fine, he assured as they walked.
It wasn't long before they were stepping back through the familiar gates, heading to their rooms and giving the portrait the password. "At least we didn't have to sleep in some random place just because the passwords for the common rooms change over vacation." Harry chuckled as he stepped into the familiar rooms, sinking into one of the couches and sighing tiredly. He didn't want to just sit around and wait, so he got up to go to his desk instead, pulling out parchment and his favourite quill. "Who are you writing to?" Draco asked as he sat down on the loveseat, not wanting to intrude. "Lupin, Hermione, Ron...I obviously can't tell them what happened over owl, but I can at least give them a hint." Harry shrugged. It was only a quick message, and after a trip to the owelry he was back and asking Dobby for some sort of dinner. The house elf popped up in the room immediately, bowing low and greeting Harry happily before disappearing. A few minutes later, he was back with more food than Harry cared to keep count of, setting that all in their kitchen. "Thanks Dobby." Harry grinned, causing the elf to squeal happily and bow again. "Anything for master Harry Potter." he squeaked, disappearing again with that familiar pop. Draco got up to get a sandwich, nibbling on that as he sat down across from Harry.
"I've been meaning to ask something." the blonde started, watching his mate pick at his food. "When you let me see your memories...I felt them too. After you lost Sirius, all your thoughts and feelings were as if you'd lost the only family you had. Why? Don't you have family that you go back to in the summers? And pardon my words, but in the Slytherin common room they're said to treat you like royalty." Draco explained carefully, trying not to upset his mate more. Harry rolled his eyes at the last comment, mumbling under his breath. "The royalty thing is not quite true." he replied icily. "You should come over sometime, meet them, it would be entertaining." he added, sighing after. "But really, back to the question. I don't consider those people family. I'm related to them I suppose, but that's about it. And of course I have other family, like the Weasleys, and now your mother, but Siri...Siri was, is my godfather. He knew my dad, was his best friend. And for the short time I got to spend with him he was wonderful, like a father and brother, the only sense of close family, real family. When he was gone it felt like everything was gone with him." Harry said, eyes fixed on the food in front of him, eating slowly more to have something to do than out of hunger. Draco listened quietly, finishing up his food quickly. "He'll be okay." he reassured Harry, kissing his cheek softly as he passed by him. The raven haired boy smiled up at him gratefully. "Thanks. And thank you for helping me find him, and for helping us find Wormtail." he added, getting up to kiss him properly, wrapping his arms around the blonde and hiding his face in the other's shoulder. Draco sighed and picked him up gently, sitting him down on the couch and leaning on the cushions with him comfortably, petting his hair. "Anytime."
"Master Harry Potter, Sir. Dumbledore is here to see you sir." Dobby squeaked, causing Harry to turn around and look at him dumbly, toothbrush still hanging out of his mouth. Neither him nor Draco had had any news, and it was now going on the second day, so Harry was quite relieved to hear Dumbledore was finally back. "Mkay." he nodded, rinsing out his mouth and heading out of the bathroom. Harry turned to the sitting area, looking anxiously from Draco to Dumbledore and back. "Where's Siri...is he okay?" he said worriedly. Dumbledore chuckled and nodded, pressing the tips of his fingers together like usual. "Ah yes, that is why I must speak with you both. Sirius has been cleared of all charges." he declared. Harry's shoulders sagged with relief and he bounded over to hug Draco, deliriously happy. "But." Dumbledore started, causing both of the boys to drop their smiles slightly.
"The wizarding world still regards him as an escaped convict, at it will take some time for everyone to adjust to the news. I am afraid Sirius would have much trouble amongst other wizards for some time. I wanted to ask you two if you would like to keep a dog for the rest of the school year." he smiled. Harry turned to Draco, eyes begging. "Can we please? He's annoying but wonderful and I miss him so much, and he has to have somewhere to stay..." Harry whispered. His fingers were clutching hopefully at Draco's shirt. The blonde laughed and nodded. "As long as he doesn't disturb us he can have the guest room." he agreed, kissing Harry gently. "Anything for you love." he hummed. Harry grinned happily, hugging him again before staring expectantly up at Dumbledore. "When can he get here?" Harry asked hopefully. The headmaster paused for a moment. "He should be here shortly. And your friends are also here to see you, so I believe it is time for me to go." he told them, nodding curtly before making his way to the portrait.
Harry looked at Draco curiously, watching the blonde shrug slowly. "Well, they are all standing at the door. Shall I let them in?" he asked, not waiting for an answer before swooping to the portrait with a small smirk, letting it swing open. He expertly dodged the huge black dog that bounded straight into Harry's arms, greeting the others politely as they filed in. It seemed like Dumbledore had let the whole world know what was going on, seeing as how half the Weasleys and Hermione were now all gathered in the sitting area. All were talking excitedly and taking turns to hug Sirius, who had now changed back to his human form for the moment. "Dumbledore filled you all in?" Draco asked them, watching a few of them nod in turn, all too busy talking over each other. Still, looking at Harry so blissfully happy, it made him smile as well, and he let himself be pulled into the joyous group. It was settled that Sirius would take the guest room, and would assume his dog form whenever someone else was around, so as not to cause an uproar. Draco turned for a moment, looking from the subsiding bustle to the door.
"Sirius?" Lupin whispered, having just walked in. Sure, Dumbledore had let him know about the situation, but to see him in the flesh, alive, happy...
"Moony." Sirius mumbled, stumbling over and pulling him into a fond hold, hiding his face in the werewolf's shoulder. Lupin held on to him, fighting off the wave of emotion that threatened to turn into a public display. The rest of the crowd felt the need for a private moment, and most excused themselves and headed to the great hall for a quick lunch. "Are they mates?" Draco asked Harry curiously, sensing some sort of bond between the two. "Uh...I...have no clue." Harry admitted, a little awkward at the thought.
The rest of the school year passed in a blur. Lupin was around more and more, spending quite a bit of time around Sirius, which Harry didn't complain about since he and Draco did like their privacy. The attacks on Harry had died down, and for a while it seemed almost like Voldemort had given up, though Harry knew deep down that it couldn't be that easy. Still, he knew he'd have to face him one way or another, so he didn't complain about the fact that it might not be so soon. It was almost time to head home for the summer, and Harry was terrified. Draco could of course tell something was wrong.
"You don't seem too happy about going...you're more than welcome to come to the manor." Draco prodded again. "I told you about the protection...I have to go, at least for a couple of weeks." Harry explained with a sigh. They were both lying on their bed, on the night before their last day of classes. Draco was on his back, his arms holding Harry as they spoke, fingers trailing soft circles over his skin. "And I can't join you?" Draco frowned. "I really, really, doubt you'd make it through two weeks there." Harry reminded gently, eyes already closed. Draco huffed and turned to hold himself above Harry for a moment before kissing him deeply. "You know I'll be there if you need me to." he promised, kissing him again. Harry kissed back, and before either of them knew it, it turned into much more than kisses.
"Really Moony, I can make toast." Sirius huffed. "And survive on that all by yourself all summer? Nonsense, I'm coming to live with you." Lupin decided, both of them having gathered in the morning in the sitting area for tea. "I don't want you to be there just because I can't cook." Sirius mumbled, eyes downcast. He and Lupin had been getting quite a bit closer over the past months, but there had been a few arguments too.
Remus paused at the comment, smiling gently. "Stupid. I'll be there because I want to be...and I kind of like you." he pointed out with a chuckle, kissing him gently. Sirius grinned and wrapped his arms around him. "Kay, but then we gotta tell everyone we're officially hooked up." he hummed. Lupin huffed and rolled his eyes. "Do we have to? All the commotion...all the things I want to do don't really require any approval." the werewolf smirked.
"Well, we've already packed, guess we could go out to lunch then? And we can iron out the details over food...Y'know, since I'm not scary on the streets anymore." Sirius grinned quietly. Lupin chuckled and nodded, grabbing his coat and followed him out.
Draco had not gotten out of bed that day, at least not to go far. He was currently tangled in Harry. kissing the skin above his collarbone as dark wings surrounded him protectively. "It feels so...perfect. To have the bond finally completed, like it was always meant to be this way." Harry mumbled, purring at the soft kisses. Draco smiled gently, nodding. "It is. You're beautiful, my love." the blonde whispered, pulling him into another kiss. "Have they gone out again?" Harry mumbled, hearing the portrait swing shut after Remus and Sirius had taken off. "Hmm, yep." Draco grinned, turning to straddle his hips again. "We can be loud." Draco mumbled against his mate's lips, grinning mischievously. "Hell yeah." the Gryffindor answered, pulling him into another heated kiss.