A Place to Call Home

Funeral

Disclaimer: On the new book that just came out, did anyone see my name anywhere on it…no didn't think so.

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, I'm really surprised at the positive response I've got for this story. I hope this one is up to everyone's standards. Also, I'd like to take this chance and plug my two newest fics, Corruption and Switched: Chance or Destiny. They're AUs, but I really like the way they're turning out. I'd love if I could get some more criticism and comments on them. Finally, if there are any questions, comments, or criticisms: please review!

Summary: (AU) A vampiric Draco who finds himself with a new blood donor in Harry Potter must now face the challenges of Hogwarts anew and this time he has more than just himself to worry about. DMHP.

His robes were itchy. He focused on that, his itchy robes, to distract himself from the dreary matters of the day. He was standing next to Ron and Hermione, lost among the mass black robes and soft sniffles. They were on the Hogwarts green, near the tree that Harry had learned was called the Whipping Willow. Today the tree was still, perhaps in respect to the solemnity of the day.

Harry looked around at the rest of his classmates. Unlike he'd thought when he had first entered Hogwarts, the Houses weren't as divided as they seemed to be. Despite seriously contrasting traits they had banded together in the face of the loss of a teacher and student.

Standing next to him, in silent moral support, were Ron and Hermione, and truth be told, they were offering him more than figurative support; he was leaning so heavily on Ron that if it wasn't for Hermione's steadying grip on his arm, both boys would have collapsed. Surrounding him and his friends were his other Slytherin roommates. All of them were bunched together as if that would protect them from whatever took Blaise.

None of them were safe now.

Standing slightly in front of them, Pansy sniffed and reached backwards to grab Harry's hand in a tight grip. Distractedly, Harry squeezed back and earned a watery smile from Pansy and an irritated nudge from Hermione. She had been trying to get him to pay attention all day. Ignoring her, Harry subtly touched Theodore's calf with his foot and nodded at him, Greg, and Vincent when all three turned. The three nodded back, Vincent hesitatingly smoothing the wool sleeve of Harry's robe until he reached the end where Pansy's and Harry's hands were joined. There, he gave a quick, comforting squeeze and then turned back to the funeral service.

Pansy burst into full, outright tears.

Turning away from his grieving roommates, Harry sighed in tiredness. He still wasn't sleeping well, but tomorrow was the first day of winter vacation and he could sleep all he wanted then, sleep and forget all about this horrible day. In fact the students were going home today, including Draco who had received a summons from Voldemort. He was worried about him, but it was hard to muster much sympathy for him when he got to leave and Harry was stuck here with a killer on the loose, stuck with Ron and Hermione, but stuck nevertheless.

"Harry," Hermione hissed, nudging him, "Pay attention."

Harry refrained from sticking his tongue out at her and telling her to mind her own business- he didn't have to listen if he didn't want to! –but instead he wearily straightened up and listened as Dumbledore said his final passage.

"…Blaise Zabini and Professor Quirrel will live on in Hogwarts, our minds and our hearts." Dumbledore intoned, waving his wand a final time to lower the funeral pyre down to the grave lake.

Harry bowed his head in silence along with the rest of the Hogwarts population, once again ignoring the soft sobbing, and tried not to think, not to hurt, and tried, ever so hard, not to cry.

Draco brushed hair out of Harry's face. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?" he asked, kneeling down beside him.

It was a half an hour after the funeral and Draco would be leaving in three hours. The two of them were the last ones on the grounds; everyone else had escaped inside to hide from the coming storm. Already the clouds were leaden with coming snow and the wind was starting to tap out its wintry rhythm. Whoosh…whoosh…snap. As Harry and Draco stood there, small snowflakes began to fall, highlighting the solemnity of the day- as if the heavens themselves were crying angel tears.

Harry felt the first snowflake land on his face at the same time that a tearing sensation ripped up his heart. Blaise had just died and now Draco had to leave too. They had never been apart for this long, but on the other hand, Harry couldn't wait until he left. Not that he wouldn't miss Draco until it felt like he couldn't breathe, he would, but there were some things that would be…easier to do without Draco's protective presence.

He needed the mistletoe and unicorn tail to begin the potion. Even if he had the chocolate, it would be easier to begin by infusing the mistletoe and unicorn tail…at least that was what Tom had told him. At the moment, Harry was still taking extensive notes on the Blood Protectorate Potion as per Tom, but he did know that he needed fresh unicorn tail and that meant that he needed to go into the Forbidden Forest.

"Harry?"

Harry waved Draco's hands away. "I'll be fine." he said unconvincingly. "It's just what I need, a couple of days with no one draining my blood. I'll get some rest and-"

"Er…Harry, actually Snape isn't leaving like I thought." Draco said guiltily, "He'll still be here for most of vacation, except for the last two days."

"…Oh…" Harry paused. One vampire was better than one but Snape had a horrible way of turning up exactly when he didn't want him to. It'd be alright though; he'd let Snape feed right before he went so that he'd be too satisfied to bother himself with looking for Harry.

Harry shifted uncomfortable at the thought. Doing something like that made Harry feel dirty, like a whore…a blood whore. Harry-

"Harry, I'm so sorry about this. I don't want to go, but…"

Draco trailed off and Harry looked at him horrified. Here Draco was thinking that Harry was devastatingly upset about Blaise and him leaving, while he was thinking about the best way to trick Snape into not stopping him from doing something dangerous. Suddenly, he jumped forward and hugged Draco fiercely.

"Don't worry Draco, I'll be fine…I promise." Harry whispered into Draco's ear.

Draco looked around quickly, taking in the deserted surroundings and then hugged Harry back. "I know you'll be okay…I just worry. Stay in the castle while I'm gone, kay?"

Harry bit his lip. "Sure." he said softly, adverting his eyes.

"Harry-" Draco started warningly.

"I've…I've got to go, Draco!" Harry suddenly said, wiggling out of his grasp, "I'll see you at the train station." he called over his shoulder, sprinting across the Hogwarts grounds.

"Harry, wait!" Draco yelled, pleased when Harry actually did stop and wait for him. "Look," he began, when he caught up with the younger boy, "about Snape…" Draco took a deep breath, "He's-"

"He's what?" Harry asked.

"He's…" Draco sighed, "Just remember what I said. If he wants you for your blood, then do whatever he says- we don't need any problems there, but don't stay there afterwards and chat or do whatever you two do after he drinks your blood. Leave. I don't want you spending any extra time with him."

Harry nodded. "You told me this already. But what's the big deal. Snape's- an ass sure –but he's never really hurt me."

"Harry don't forget that Snape isn't just your grouchy potions' teacher; he's a vampire too and a bloodthirsty one at that. He'll play nice with you, but at heart, he's nothing more than a killer."

Harry froze at the words. They were almost the same as what Snape had told him two weeks ago: "Of course, he puts on a good act for you so you play nice with him, but do you really think that he's ever stopped killing or changed his ideals at all? He still thinks vampires are superior creatures. He only pretends for you- why do you think everyone distrusts him?"

"Funny," Harry choked out through the lump in his throat. "He's says the same thing about you."

Draco looked at him sharply. "I thought you weren't going to spend time with him."

Harry looked at Draco's rapidly darkening face and quickly backtracked. "Uh…well, it wasn't like that. I was just thinking out loud and he told me that after- I mean…Oh Draco, I don't even like him; who cares why you don't want me to see him." Harry ended, looking distinctly flustered.

Draco looked at him, as not quite smirk barely wiped off his face. "Okay, as long as we're clear. No leaving the castle and no hanging around Snape. Just do those two things for me."

"Sure." This time the lie rolled smoothly off his lips.

"Thanks Harry." Draco tousled Harry's hair and pushed the boy towards the castle. "Now get into the castle before you freeze. I'll see you later."

Harry gave him a smile- small, fake and tired. "Kay Draco."

And for the first time since school began, Draco realized that he missed Harry's real smile.

"Harry?"

Harry left Tom's journal on his bed and spun around carefully, hiding the book at the same time. "Hey Theo." Harry said, smiling slightly at the quiet boy, "What's going on?"

"Pansy asked me to tell you to come down. The House is having a small memorial service for Blaise." Theo answered. Then he frowned. "You don't have to though. I think that Blaise would be happier if you caught up on your sleep instead. You don't look so good Harry."

"I've-"

"Been having nightmares?" Theo finished. At Harry's stunned looked, he continued, "We hear you muttering at night. It's okay though Harry; we understand. You're homesick, right?"

Harry laughed weakly. "Uh…sort of." Harry hesitated, "Is Professor Snape downstairs?"

Theo frowned. "Well yes. It was his student that died."

"I guess-"

"Potter!"

Both Harry and Theo jumped as Snape burst into the room glaring. "Why are you not downstairs?" Snape hissed at Harry.

"It's my fault, sir." Theo butted in, "I was-"

"Leave, Theodore." Snape snapped. "You too should be downstairs."

"Yes sir." Looking contrite, Theo sent Harry a regretful look and left the room.

Once they were alone, Snape turned and glared at Harry. "Get downstairs." he griped, stalking to the door himself and throwing it open.

Harry flinched at the venom in his voice and backed away from the door as it slammed shut. Sighing, he turned towards the bed and tiredly threw himself on it. He was in no mood to face his housemates. He'd rather take Theo's advice and catch up on his sleep, but he did have to meet Draco in a couple hours.

Oh well, he'd only close his eyes for a second.

"Draco?"

Draco looked up from the book he was reading into Harry's tired face. "Hey," he said softly, "I thought you weren't coming."

Harry, his eyes only half open, stumbled into the train compartment to stand next to Draco. "Sorry, I fell asleep, and then when I got here, I couldn't find you on the platform, and of course, you're in the last compartment that I check." Harry laughed tiredly.

Draco laughed and drew Harry into his lap. "C'mere. You look like you're going to collapse."

Harry hmmmed in response and snuggled into his lap. Draco smiled gently, looking down at his messy hair. He would have to leave soon unless he wanted to join Draco on his trip to visit Voldemort…which, well he could already see the problems with that plan, but for now, Draco was happy to spend a couple more minutes with Harry. If he was honest with himself, then Draco would say that it was he and not Harry who would suffer from separation anxiety in the next few days.

"Draco," Harry mumbled, his body lax and warm in Draco's arms, "Are you hungry?"

Startled, Draco shook his head. "Not now Harry. I can last until I get back. You're tired now."

"So?"

Draco's hands tightened around Harry. "Don't say things like that Harry. How you feel matters most of all."

Harry sleepily opened his eyes, turning to face Draco. "Then I feel like having you take a drink."

"Harry-"

"Draco, you know how you felt better when I promised to stay in the castle? Well I'd feel better if you went back to Voldemort with all of your strength." Harry insisted.

Draco faltered, resolve failing at the sight Harry's face. "I- Snape will want-"

"Screw Snape." Harry said rather vehemently, "He'll be here all vacation. He wait a day for once."

Draco leaned forward and touched Harry's neck softly with his mouth. It was strangely intimate this way, with Harry in his lap. They had never done it like this before, but Draco could feel everything- the heat from Harry's body, his tiny shivers of anticipation, his soft breaths ghosting over Draco's hair, his sleepy, child scent, and the pounding of his heart so alive and near.

Draco decided that he liked it this way.

Biting down, Draco sucked hard at Harry's blood, before controlling himself and slowing down. Harry gasped and tightened his grip around Draco's cloak before relaxing and closing his eyes. He was fine. Here he was safe.

Having drunk his full, Draco eased out of Harry's neck and held the boy close as he yawned like a kitten, curling up to Draco easily. Then Harry did something he had never done before. Already pressed against Draco's body until the dizziness wore off, Harry turned his face to nuzzle Draco's cold cheek. Then he opened his mouth slightly and gave Draco a warm, wet kiss. "I wish you didn't have to go." he mumbled as he moved slowly over Draco's face, layering chaste kisses until he reached the corner of Draco's mouth.

"Stay safe." he murmured.

Then he blushed high in his cheeks as if just realizing what he was doing and quickly untangled himself. Then, giving one final look at Draco, he ran back into the open station, giving a breathless smile to Ron and Hermione whom were obviously waiting for him. Together they turned to troop back through the snow to reach the warm safety of the castle.

Dumbstruck, Draco could only watch them go.

Suddenly Draco shook himself and quickly stepped out of the train compartment. He strode towards the washroom and hurriedly splashed his face with water several times, but it was no use, Harry's tingling kisses were still wrecking havoc on his cool skin. They were spreading warmth throughout his body, making his face flush with blood he didn't have, and…he could swear he had just felt his heart beat.

Despite himself, Draco let a smile most unlike him cross his face.

To Be Continued…