Chapter Four
I
won't talk
I won't breathe
I won't move 'til you finally
see
That you belong with me
I've
waited all my life
To cross this line
To the only thing that's
true
So I will not hide
It's time to try
Anything to be with
you
All my life I've waited
This is true
You don't know
what you do
Every time you walk into the room
I'm afraid to
move
I'm weak, it's true
I'm just scared to know the ending
Do
you see me too?
Do you even know you met me?
I've waited
all my life to cross this line
To the only thing that's true
So
I will not hide
It's time to try
Anything to be with you
All
my life I've waited
This is true
Lyrics by Ryan Cabrera "True"
--
Draco stared horrified at the sight for a moment. If he was there, then how was he here? And where was here?
Turning his back on the water he faced the Founders who were all staring intrigued at the water. This couldn't just be his imagination; his brain would never have created the Founders in such detail. So, what was this place?
"How are you...?" Helga trailed off, looking between the aerial view of him in the water and then back to him.
"This is bloody weird," Godric whispered under his breath.
Rowena reached out and touched the water, the image vanished. Draco stared at it for a moment, intrigued that it had vanished like that. Did they control the water? He shook his head; he had other pressing matters to deal with, his number one priority was figuring out what was happening.
"Tell me what the hell is going on," Draco demanded.
"I don't understand." Rowena frowned. "The Animadverto Vas has never shown us something like that."
"Animadverto Vas?" Draco asked.
"Reality Glass," Salazar said. "We've been through this before."
Draco looked at what he thought was a pool of water and realized it was very distorted glass. It was clear now, with ripples like water, but it remained unmoved.
The Founders were acting as if they knew him, but he couldn't remember them. It was like coming back to life on earth all over again. Salazar bit his lower lip as he stared at him, waiting for him to reply, and the other's watched him, their eyes wide and expressions earnest.
"No we haven't. I've never been here before."
Rowena and Godric exchanged looks, and Salazar's fell in confusion.
Draco watched them with little amusement; he was losing his curiosity and becoming impatient.
"Did you bonk your head?" Helga asked.
He shook his head, and then paused. "Where am I?"
"You're in the Honored Land of the Dead," Rowena explained. "Everyone who is here died in battle."
"Good or evil," Godric said, his eyes fluttering over to Salazar.
Salazar ignored his comment. Draco looked at him, but Salazar avoided his gaze.
"We're here as Guardians to the world we came from," Rowena continued.
"What do you mean 'Potter brought you back?'" Salazar asked, hidden tones in his voice that Draco could not identify.
"I mean a few days ago I woke up in a cemetery, Potter told me he brought me back from the dead, and I've been staying with him ever since; until I passed out in his dining room just a few minutes ago."
"Brought you back?" Godric asked bewildered.
"That's unbelievable," Helga muttered.
Salazar stayed quiet, his eyes narrowing.
"What?" Draco folded his arms across his chest, watching Salazar carefully.
"Well, you're calling him Potter. Are you two fighting?" Salazar asked. "You said that you only called him that before you started to have feelings for him."
If this was just his imagination, then it was sure screwing with him.
"I uh, I can't remember anything that happened before."
Salazar's look was pensive. Draco's was just lost in confusion.
"That's awful," Rowena said horrified.
"So why are you back here, if you're alive I mean?" Godric asked, gazing into the Reality Glass.
"I have no idea."
"Maybe you're stuck between both lands," Rowena said thoughtfully. "How did he do it?"
"Bring me back?"
"Yes." Rowena nodded.
"He did a spell he received from the Dragon Games," Draco explained.
Potter had done this, he thought determinedly. Whatever he had done was the reason he was here.
"Strange..." Salazar gazed into the Reality Glass, willing it to show him something, but nothing changed.
"What's strange? Do you know what's going on?"
"No, it's just, strange," Salazar said, then moved passed him. "Maybe you should consult the Animadverto Vas; it tends to know what's going on."
Slytherin reached his hand to the glass and the image of Harry next to him came back.
Draco approached the glass and placed his hand on it, it was cool on his skin. The glass didn't change, and he felt light headed, nauseated, his whole world started to spin around him, and then everything turned dark.
--
"Come on, Draco, please!" Harry's voice was pleading and urgent.
Draco opened his eyes and was looking Harry square in his cool green eyes. Harry looked relieved to see him alive, and Draco felt the same relief, although he was pretty sure what had just happened wasn't a dream.
"Oh thank God! Are you okay?"
He sat up, looking around. The world was slightly fuzzy, and he felt heavy after just being so weightless. Harry's face came in and out, and he decided to just tell him what had happened.
"I, I saw the Founders."
"You what?" Harry frowned.
"I saw the Founders, Potter. They were all there, and they told me I was in the Honored Land of the Dead. They told me I was a Guardian for this realm."
He looked up at Harry who was staring at him wide-eyed. The boy's face was full of puzzlement, and Draco looked away again.
He couldn't believe what had just happened. Was it a dream, or was what Rowena said true? Was he really stuck between both lands?
"You-You're a what?" Harry started to stand up.
"A Guardian," he repeated. He stood up and brushed off his clothes as Harry watched him. He tilted up his head to stare at the ceiling, as if to see if he could see the founders staring down on him, but it was just the white plaster. "I don't know what that means because I passed out again before I could ask."
"But are you okay?"
Draco nodded. "I'm fine, I think. Just bloody confused. Ravenclaw told me that I might be stuck in both worlds."
Stuck in both worlds...but what for? Draco thought quietly and he waited for Harry's solution. Maybe the great Harry Potter would know what to do; after all, he always seemed to figure things out before...Then again, Harry had surprised him when he had been so forceful against Aiyana when she had brought up Voldemort. Maybe Harry was more independent than he thought.
"Let's talk to Aiyana about this. Maybe she's figured something out."
Then again, maybe not.
"Alright."
He thought back onto the experience. That castle didn't seem familiar...How many other people lived there? Would he go back? Did he want to? That was so simply bizarre.
Draco shrugged it off, picking up his plate. He'd let Potter handle it, that seemed like a good idea.
"What was it like?" Harry asked.
"...It was really surreal, like I was there, but not really." Draco thought back.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Draco jerked his head. "I said I'm fine."
Harry stayed quiet.
"So, you were saying, Potter," he said, trying to change the subject. "You just bought a house? What's wrong with this one? Not big enough?"
Harry shook his head, looking grim. "It's too big, too empty."
"Oh," he said, feeling sheepish. For some reason when Harry got depressed he felt a stab of loneliness that he couldn't explain.
Harry seemed to realize Draco didn't want to talk about what just happened.
"Er...Draco, do you want to help me move?"
Harry stared at him awkwardly, silently pleading with his eyes. Draco looked away.
"Sure." He shrugged. After all, he had nothing better to do, especially if Harry was making him stay with him for safety. Plus, he felt safer here than he ever did at his home with his family, though he knew he'd have to go back eventually, even if it was just to pick up his things.
Harry smiled, and Draco nodded in response. He placed down his food again as Harry picked up two boxes.
"Here, take these." The dark haired boy handed him the boxes. One had the word 'trash' on it and the other 'keep'. "Start in my bedroom, keep what you think looks useful."
Draco took the boxes. Was Potter really trusting him in his room? He thought back to Harry's clothes that he had been borrowing and grimaced. Harry had despicable tastes.
"So, what would you do if I trashed your whole wardrobe?"
--
After Harry made Draco promise that he wouldn't get rid of all his clothes, he set to work packing a few items that he found appealing. He didn't exactly think that Draco would keep to his word, especially after how much of a fuss he had been making about his clothing selection, but he didn't really care either way.
Before he had only felt obliged to take the fewest amount of items as possible, but now, well, he felt like he could take more. He wasn't exactly running anymore, but he wasn't happy either. Once he had Draco back to his normal self, then he'd be happy, and until then he'd just have to do the best he could to get Draco to fall for him again. Well, Draco had fallen for him once before, right? He could do it again; all he had to be was himself.
Harry realized he didn't have to move out of Grimmauld Place, but a part of him wanted to be rid of it forever. It was a place of too many memories. It reminded him of Sirius, his Godfather, who was now dead. It reminded him of coming home to find Ron placing Ginny on his couch after an attack. That was the moment that had ruined everything, but if he hadn't let Ron go, Hermione wouldn't be alive...The house reminded him of Draco, and the few moments he had shared with him there. He wanted to start with a clean slate. A place where he could start new memories.
As Harry packed up, throwing some scribbled parchment into the trash pile his mind wandered to Draco. Had he really been in the Honored Land of the Dead? Why had he passed out like that? And what exactly was a job of a Guardian? Was he supposed to protect them from evil? Draco had seemed so calm yet so flustered by the experience, what had happened there?
He grabbed a piece of parchment and decided to write a quick note to Aiyana. He found a quill and ink bottle, and quickly dipped the end of the quill into the ink.
Dear Minister Aiyana,
I decided to send this to you by letter rather than tell you in person because I am in the process of moving. I will send you my new address when I am ready.
A strange phenomenon has just occurred. Just a few moments ago, Draco passed out in my dining room mid-sentence. When he awoke a few minutes later, he told me that he had been in the Honored Land of the Dead, and that he was a Guardian for this world. He also said that he saw the Founders. I was wondering if this has anything to do with the crystal that I brought Draco back with. Is he going to be alright? Let me know if you find any answers, and I hope you can find a potion for Draco's memory soon.
Sincerely,
Harry
Harry then rolled up the parchment and pocketed it; he would send it with Hedwig when she returned. He peered into his trash can and saw the crumpled letter of Hagrid's. He sighed, and stared at it for a while. Maybe talking to Hagrid would do him some good.
Hagrid,
Hey, I just got around to replying to you, I've been busy trying to get my life together. I'd really like to have lunch some time and catch up. I have a lot to talk to you about as well. How about this Friday?
Harry
Harry rolled that letter up as well.
"Who are you writing to?" Draco's voice called to him.
Harry turned to see Draco who appeared to have been watching him for a while. He had boxes under both arms, and he was leaning in the doorframe, his blonde hair perfectly in place as always.
"Aiyana and Hagrid," Harry explained shortly. He sat up, wiping a smudge of ink he had gotten on his hand.
"That oaf?" Draco sneered. Harry snapped his head up to see Draco scrunching up his nose and heading toward him.
"He's not an oaf, you don't even know him."
"Yeah, well, here you are."
Draco placed the 'keep' box down beside him, and Harry noticed that it was mainly filled with his darker colored clothing items. He grinned to himself; trust Draco to keep only what he'd wear himself.
"What did you do with the rest?" Harry asked.
"Put it in the trash pile. Followed by the rest of my breakfast and that really old milk you had in your fridge, so you're not getting it back unless you want to go digging through all of that. Which I really hope you don't, Potter."
Shaking his head in amusement he moved his box towards some of the others. He paused, wondering if he should call Hermione and Ron to help him pack. Did he want them to know where he had gone off to?
And the immediate answer to that was yes, he did. He knew they cared, he knew they'd want to know, and he was okay with that.
"I'm going to call Hermione and Ron."
"Do what you like, Potter," Draco growled. "But keep them the hell away from me. And do not let them corner me again."
"Again?"
What had they said to him?
"Weasley practically attacked me the last time he was here. If I would have had my wand I would have cursed him."
"Oh." He paused. "I'm sorry; I'll tell him not to do that. He shouldn't have anyway."
"Speaking of my wand," Draco said, dismissing Harry's apology. "Do you know what happened to my wand?"
Harry shook his head. "It was probably lost during the battle."
"Right." Draco nodded. "Well, I have an extra wand at home, my old one. I should get that."
Harry stayed quiet. Draco really couldn't risk going back home, not yet anyway.
"Let's talk about this later." He avoided the blonde's gaze as he threw a few candlesticks into a 'keep' box.
Draco didn't answer, and Harry kept his eyes off of him.
"I'll be right back," Harry muttered, and then he Apparated to the realtors office.
--
After a short painless visit to the realtors, he decided to go get Ron and Hermione.
Harry returned home with them ten minutes later. They had agreed to help him move, and he was more then grateful to have them help. They were excited to see Harry's new place, and eager to get out of the house. Supposedly, Ron had accidentally exploded a potion a few hours before and the house stunk of rotten eggs.
Draco was waiting for them, sprawled out on the sofa half asleep. He had a hand laying across his stomach and the other behind his head. He startled when they appeared.
"Bring the boxes to the fireplace, we'll travel by Floo Powder." Harry began picking up a box of knick-knacks.
"I'm excited, mate. Is it a nice house?" Ron started towards the boxes.
"It's very secluded."
Draco got up from the couch and headed towards the boxes.
"What part of England is it in?" Hermione asked.
Draco leaned down next to Harry to pick up a box, and Harry lost his focus as Draco's warm body was so near his. His hair smelt of cinnamon and apples.
"Harry?" Hermione said, looking over at him cautiously. She gave him a knowing look as Harry moved away from him, and Draco didn't seem to notice. "What part of England?"
"Oh, Weymouth," Harry answered, his face turning slightly red.
"So, has Aiyana gotten back to you on the potion?" she asked, glancing at Draco.
"Not yet. Actually I have to send her a letter. And Hagrid."
"Hagrid?" Ron spoke, heaving a box full of appliances. "How's he been?"
"I dunno. I haven't talked to him in a long while."
"This is fascinating and all, Potter," Draco said dully. "But could you tell me where the Floo Powder is so I can put this down?"
"Oh right." He grabbed a jar of Floo Powder. "Just say, 'The Runic House'," he told them as they all took some powder. Harry stepped into his fireplace first, saying the words as the fire crackled around him.
Stepping out of the fireplace in the Runic House, it felt just like home, and looked exactly as the last time he had seen it. He placed down his boxes as Ron, Hermione and Draco appeared in the house after him.
"Would you like a tour?" Harry asked as they set their boxes down.
"Sure." Ron glanced around the room in awe.
Draco already took off without them and Harry sighed.
"Is he going to be staying with you?" Hermione asked as Harry started to lead him through to the kitchen.
"Yea." Harry nodded. He just doesn't realize it yet. "His mum thinks he's dead...and what a surprise that would be if he turned up on her doorstep, especially after what he's done to the Death Eater community."
"Actually, Harry,' Hermione stared. "Ron and I saw Narcissa the other day."
"Yeah, and guess who with. You'll never guess it!"
Harry raised an eye at him. "Who?"
"Madam Pince!" Ron marveled. "What do you think she was doing with her?"
"I dunno." He paused to think. Why was she with Narcissa?
"That wasn't my point, Ron," Hermione said quickly. "I was going to say, Narcissa didn't seem very upset. I don't think that she knows Malfoy is dead."
"How could she not know?" Harry asked, frowning.
"She wasn't at the final battle was she?"
"Well..." Harry paused. "I don't think she was."
"And most of her friends were destroyed in battle," Ron added.
"And her husband is presumed dead. It's likely she doesn't even know," she finished knowingly.
"Well, she's bound to find out soon. Especially with the Death Eaters regrouping," Harry thought aloud.
They entered a bedroom which was richly furnished with colors of deep maroon, blue and black. Hermione and Ron went deadly quiet for a moment. The only sound heard was Draco's footsteps down the hallway.
"We have something to tell you about," Hermione finally spoke, as if she had been waiting for a moment to bring it up.
"What?" Harry turned to face them, Ron was looking at his feet.
"Well. We're going to be going away for a while." Ron finally looked at him.
"Going away?" They stared at him awkwardly as if there was something they couldn't tell him. Ron's eyes darted to the door as Draco walked passed.
"Well, you see, Harry," Hermione said, keeping eye contact. "Aiyana has us going on to a sort of...secret conference."
"She what? What sort of secret conference?"
"We're not allowed to...-"
"-Talk about it?" Harry raised an eye. What right of it was of Aiyana's to demand that they kept secrets from him? What was Aiyana doing?
Ron and Hermione exchanged nervous glances with him, but he didn't press the issue.
"Well, how long are you going to be gone? When?" he asked.
His main concern was how much danger they were going to be in, and if it was worth it? He didn't want to see his friends being put into a situation where they could get them hurt.
"We leave in two days; we don't know how long we'll be gone, but we're not allowed to see you, or visit you. We might be able to send you a few letters though, Hermione assured him.
"You should try." At least if they wrote to him then he'd know that they were still alive.
"We shouldn't be in much danger," she mumbled, and Harry knew she was lying. "We're not the ones doing the field work."
"Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"We just found out yesterday," Hermione explained. "Don't worry, Harry, we'll be fine."
Harry nodded and his throat tightened. If only he knew what they were getting into, then he'd have a better idea on how much he was supposed to be concerned.
Draco knocked on the door and pushed it further open.
"Which room am I staying in?"
--
Harry was in the living room with Hermione and Ron, preparing to say goodbye. He had no idea when he would see them again and that scared him more than he liked.
"Don't worry about us, Harry." Hermione smiled reassuringly.
"We'll be fine," Ron added.
"Be careful," he told them.
Hermione pulled him into a hug.
"Things will turn out fine, you'll see," she whispered into his ear.
He gave her a small smile as she pulled away.
"We'll be seeing you," Ron said, his eyes falling on the impatient looking Draco. "Good luck."
"See you."
Hermione and Ron gave him one last look before they Apparated. Harry stared at the empty space for a moment. His head spun and his stomach was queasy, but there was nothing he could do for them.
"Are you alright?" Draco's voice startled him out of thought.
Harry turned to face him. That was actual concern in his voice. Why? His mind raced and he forgot to be upset.
"What?" Harry asked.
Draco looked towards his feet. "Never mind." He picked up a plastic piece of fruit and stared at it, then turned to look at him again. "How long am I staying?"
"Well..." He paused. Did he have any right to hold Draco here if he didn't want to stay? Deep down, he felt he did have that right. "Until you feel ready to leave."
Draco raised an eye, intrigued. "Until I feel ready? What happened to all your demands of keeping me safe?"
"I can't stop you from going," he murmured. "But you can stay for as long as you want or need to."
Draco nodded. "Alright."
"I'm going to go send a few letters. You can make yourself at home, or whatever you feel like," Harry said softly. "Just...Don't leave without telling me."
Draco held his eyes.
"I won't."
--
Harry and Draco were watching the Muggle news when Hagrid's response arrived much later that afternoon. Harry tore open the letter and read. Hagrid wanted to meet him the next day at noon in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Aiyana?" Draco asked.
"No, Hagrid. I'm meeting him for lunch tomorrow." He folded up the letter. "Will you be fine alone?"
"What's that supposed to mean? What you don't think I can't manage a few hours-"
"No, no, it's just that what if you pass out again..." Harry asked.
"Then I pass out, it's not like you made much a difference when it happened the first time."
Both boys faced off, afraid to be the first one to look away. To Harry's surprise, Draco was the one to look away.
"I'm going to get my things tomorrow," Draco said firmly.
"You're what?"
"I'm going home to get my things. I'm not going to talk to anyone. I just need to get my wand and-"
"-You can get a new wand."
"No. I'm just getting my things, I'll be back before you will be, I'm sure." He seemed resolute, and Harry knew nothing he was going to say would change that, but he had to try.
"But what if something happens? Or if someone sees you?" he fretted.
Draco groaned. "I. Will. Be. Fine."
Harry sighed, and Draco got up.
"I'm going to bed." He started for his room.
"Wait, Draco, please just...think about this," he pleaded. "What will happen if your mother sees you?"
"She can't do much more to me than what my father has already done," his voice was cold, almost monotone.
"She can take you away from me..."
Draco didn't answer to that; instead he left the room leaving Harry alone on the couch.
Harry hadn't really meant to say that aloud...but maybe it would make Draco realize it was more then just his life on the line. Other people cared about him too.
--
Draco did think about what Harry had to say, but he felt like a part of him needed to see his house one last time. And maybe, he wanted to tell his mother goodbye, even if it wasn't verbally.
The next day he left for his home as soon as Harry was gone at noon.
The Malfoy Manor was not an easy one to get into, unless you were a Malfoy descendent. Draco took the Muggle bus to the nearest route into the Manor. It took him a half hour of walking to finally manage his way into the backyard of his house, which would have normally set off a series of alarms had it not been for his heritage.
He found the window to his room and began to climb his way up a tall tree to get in as he had done so many times before, when he had been locked out of the house. His bedroom window was unlocked as usual, and to his surprise, he found nothing in his room had been touched.
His bed was neatly made, books lined the walls, and strange artworks and artifacts decorated his room. He found his old wand in his desk drawer along with old pieces of homework. He pocketed the wand, and then scurried into his enormous closet. He wanted to have a decent pair of pants for a change. He grabbed a few shirts and pants, and folded them neatly under his arm.
Really, this was all he told himself he'd come for. He would come, get a few things, and leave. But voices down the hall made him change his mind quickly. For it was not his mother's voice, but a family friends, Killian's voice that caught his ear. He heard their voices trailing from Narcissa's study, and he followed them and stood behind a half-opened door unseen.
Killian Bowser, though ten years younger than his mother, had always fancied her, and now was a close friend of his fathers. Many of Lucius' business partners and family had had a thing for his mum during some point of Draco's life. This included Severus Snape and Draco's favorite Uncle, Ian.
Narcissa, however easy as it would have been for her to cheat on Lucius, had remained completely faithful. This was somewhat confusing to Draco because he could not see what his mother saw in him.
"Just do what he asks, Killian," his mother's voice was pleading.
"He had no right to do that to you, Narcissa! You can't just let him walk all over you!" Killian said angrily.
"Lucius knows what he is doing," she insisted.
"He's never had any idea what he's doing. He's never treated you right; I don't know how you put up with that bastard!"
"Do not insult my husband in front of me, Killian," her voice dripped in venom.
Killian and his Uncle had always been concerned for her, worried that Lucius wasn't the great husband that she made him out to be. Draco secretly agreed, but Narcissa would never hear a word against him.
What had he done now?
"You expect me to just sit back and let him harm you? Destroy your life?"
"I expect you to keep out of my business."
"Then why am I here?"
Narcissa stayed quiet for a moment. Draco tried to peer inside, but all he saw were shadows.
"If you want to deal with him on your own then you may do so. So be it for me to stop you!" Narcissa huffed.
Draco began to feel dizzy, sick, like he had when he had passed out at Harry's.
No, I can't pass out here...
Draco lost control of his legs, his sight, his coherent thoughts. He collapsed to the ground unconscious.
--
"Anything?"
Draco's vision came back, and he was standing next to Salazar, his hand on the Animadverto Vas. The voice had been Salazar's.
"What?" Draco asked. He blinked a few more times.
The image in the glass began to shift and his passed out body in the Malfoy Manor appeared.
"Wait a minute..." Godric's voice called out.
"What just happened?" Helga asked.
Draco felt a lot more calm than he had the first time he had been here, but it was still strange and they all seemed to expect him to know more than he did.
"I woke up...I just passed out at my house…"
"But, you didn't go anywhere," Godric noted.
"Time doesn't pass here the way it does there," Rowena said with an all-knowing look on her face.
Godric took her hand and nodded.
"She's right. But the real question is why are you being thrown into both worlds?"
"Allie Aiyana is working on that question," Draco said, turning away from the glass, and walking down the hall. He ran a hand along the wall, but it didn't feel real. He couldn't quite explain how it felt, the best he could think of, was cold.
"Who?" Salazar asked. "I don't trust some Earthen woman to figure out your fate, Draco. You need people you can trust."
"I..." He turned to them and they all looked at him as if they cared only for his safety and to solve the puzzle before them. Like Harry had been looking at him.
"He doesn't remember us, Salazar," Helga said softly. "He can't really trust us."
Salazar grimaced, but didn't say a word.
"What do you want to know, sweetie?" Rowena asked.
Draco grimaced at being called sweetie, but ignored it. "Is this castle all there is?"
"No." Rowena shook her head. "This is just where we are. We can travel anywhere we want by just a thought."
"How long have I been here?"
"There is no time here," Godric answered.
Draco heard footsteps approaching.
"Draco Malfoy," said a haunting female's voice.
Before Draco could turn to face her, Salazar was already facing her off.
"Leave him the hell alone! We've already told you off once before you disgusting wench!"
Draco pushed passed Salazar and came face to face with Bellatrix Lestrange.
"You…" He hadn't known she was dead.
"Me. Listen, Draco, I know you didn't wish for me to speak to you again, but I was sent by someone, who really wants to speak with you," Bellatrix explained, looking desperate. "You have to come."
Draco paused, and the Founders watched him carefully.
"You don't have to go," Salazar said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine," he said, nudging Salazar's hand away.
"Really, Draco, you have a lot to deal with. Maybe now's not a good time..." Rowena added.
"Now's fine." He moved towards Bellatrix. "Really."
He just wanted answers, and he was now very curious to see who wanted to speak with him.
Bellatrix nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder, and as she did so, Salazar gave him one last look.
"Come back, okay?" Salazar's eyes flashed the way Harry's did, that look of longing and lust...
What the bloody hell had he gotten himself into?
The castle faded and he was all alone in a deserted pale green field. Bellatrix was gone, and he couldn't see anyone else for miles.
"Draco," said a chilling voice that sent icy shivers of fear down his spine.
Draco turned around, and found his Uncle, Ian Malfoy staring at him. He had a look of disappointment and hatred across his face, the look that was so similar to his fathers.
"Why did you come?" Ian asked, his eyes brown but just as icy as his fathers. "Have you finally decided to face your fears?"
Draco frowned. "Uncle I-" Bam there was a slap across his face, and unlike the pinches, he could feel this one full force.
Draco's face fell stunned, and his hand flew to his stinging face.
"You coward!" Ian hissed. "You disgusting, loathsome boy! Did you think that you could get away with what you've done, even in your death? You've dishonored our name!"
Slap. Draco still couldn't speak.
"You've destroyed your family's honor! Kissing that...you filthy little faggot! How can you call yourself a Malfoy when you go around kissing God knows what, and destroying what we've worked so hard to achieve? You nearly destroyed him! All for that boy!" Ian spat.
Another slap and searing pain across Draco's face. And Draco didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do. Ian was always…understanding...Ian wasn't like his father. He didn't beat him...But here he was, and these words had never been so painful in his life. He had let down the one he respected...and there was nothing he could say to take it back, yet he knew nothing...not really anyway...of what he had done.
"Well, are you going to defend your precious self, Draco?"
Bam. His Uncle's fist flew into his stomach, and he doubled over, falling to the ground, tears forming from pain and humiliation. The world spun, faster and faster and Draco's world went dark once more.
--
Draco opened his eyes; the pain from his Uncle's punishment still rang out in his body even though he could no longer feel it. He didn't bother to see how long he had been unconscious, instead he took up his wand, and before he Apparated, he glanced into the study.
Narcissa and Killian were still speaking, they hadn't even noticed him.
He Apparated and appeared in Harry's house. He collapsed on the ground as he appeared, tears silently rolling down his cheeks.
Don't fucking cry!
But the tears continued. Why had everything gone so desperately wrong?
He heard Harry's footsteps, but he didn't look up. Harry knelt down beside him, his breath close to his skin, and Draco tried to understand what Potter had done to screw everything up, what he had done.
Was there a possibility...
--
"Are you alright?" Harry asked Draco.
Draco was...crying...Deja vu all over again. Harry stared, wanting to wrap his arms around to comfort him. What had happened?
Draco didn't move away. Draco didn't do much of anything. So Harry did the only thing that seemed possible at that moment; he lifted Draco's chin up with one hand, and kissed away his sorrows.
--
Draco was stunned and horrified, but he didn't push Harry away. He mumbled something incoherent against Harry's mouth.
This is...what? Oh God!
Draco's thoughts jammed through his brain, but nothing was coherent.
He suddenly pulled Harry in closer as if he craved him. He didn't understand where this craving had come from, but it was all that overwhelmed his mind. His lips pressed passionately against Harry's, wanting him completely. This desire was what shocked him, and he quickly pushed Harry away with one hand.
His lips tingled from where Harry's had just been, and he ignored the impulse to grab Harry closer again.
"I..." Draco said trying to explain himself. Where had that come from?
Harry just stared at him, his breathing unsteady, but he didn't move.
Draco couldn't believe what just happened.
Do I really have feelings for Harry? Is that possible?
After everything that had happened...What his Uncle had told him...At this moment it seemed like it was completely possible, but he had never wanted to be more wrong.