A/N: I have been the worst in updating this fic and I apologise guys! I had the worst writers block imaginable on it, so I kinda went off writing for a while. Yesterday I got inspiration to write a Twilight fic and that has definitely helped me with this! Hope you enjoy it and I promise to update more often.

xxx

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Harry and Draco found very little time to use the box which Harry had received as a Christmas present. They were now too busy planning a way to talk Remus out of using Draco as 'bait' and Harry was immensely pleased to find Hermione sitting with them late into the nights, trying to help come up with a plan. They weren't getting far, but Harry was happy to know he was doing everything he could to protect Draco.

The New Year came without any real celebration in gloomy Grimmauld Place, its temporary tenants too consumed in their own dramas to care much for the passing of another year. Were circumstances different, everyone would be welcoming the new year with a butterbeer and a large party at The Burrow- excluding Draco. But this wasn't different circumstances and as midnight approached, bringing January first with it, no one bothered wishing a happy new year. It would have been a wasted hope anyway.

"Remus is due any day now!" Hermione frantic with panic was cooking pumpkin soup for dinner while listening in on Harry and Draco's conversation. "Yet we still have no idea what to do. There's always the option of keeping Draco upstairs…" she trailed off, shaking her head at the idea. "Kreacher," she muttered more to herself than the other two.

"I've told you already! I don't mind leaving for a few days-" cutting off at the look on Harry's face, Draco frowned at him in puzzlement.

"Draco, we have no idea how long Remus plans on staying. Besides, if you leave there's no way you're going alone. I can't part with you," Harry lowered his voice. "Not now, Draco. Not after Christmas. I am yours. Yours to keep," he promised, looking back at Hermione.

"Look, I still say you and Draco wait upstairs when Remus arrives. I'll talk to him, tell him everything about me and Draco… well, everything necessary," staring at Hermione as he spoke, Harry waited for her to deny his plan once again. He was surprised at the look of defeat on her face.

"I think that's going to be the only way to go about it," she sighed, carrying over the caldron of pumpkin soup and three large bowls.

They ate in silence, panic thick in the air and desperation on Harry's part. He would perform the cruciatus curse on Remus Lupin before Draco was offered up as bait in order to get Ron back. Harry couldn't recall the last time someone looked at him the way Draco did, with such love and passion in his eyes. Harry often avoided Draco's eyes around Hermione, because the look in them always made him tear up. Tonight was different… there was nothing but fear in Draco's silver-grey eyes. His perfectly arranged face showed he was calm, but Harry knew those eyes too well.

As soon as she was finished, Hermione placed her empty bowl on the kitchen bench and went to bed without a word. Draco had only been eating for Hermione's sake; he dropped his spoon and pushed away the soup as soon as she was gone.

"Didn't want her to think I don't appreciate her cooking," he explained without a smile.
"Come to bed soon," placing a tender kiss on Harry's cheek, Draco fled from the room.

Harry ate slowly, not tasting the soup and not smelling its essence. Finishing, he picked up Draco's half-empty bowl and took the dirty dishes over to where Hermione had put hers. He called to Kreacher to clean up and left the kitchen.

Four days later, on January the sixteenth, Remus Lupin arrived. Harry had sent Hermione up to Draco that morning as he knew Lupin's arrival was scheduled for that day. Panic blurred Harry's capability to think properly as he greeted Lupin at the door, hastily explaining that Hermione was yet to awaken. Too soon, the truth would be out and Harry would hold his breath and hope for the best.
Offering a mug of tea, Harry sat down opposite Lupin and waited. It was evident neither wanted to be the first to speak; taking a breath, Harry began his explanation, not mentioning it was Draco he was talking about until it was absolutely crucial. At the mention of his name, Remus furrowed his brow but said nothing. He listened to Harry speak for over an hour, taking it all in, trying to and somehow managing how to understand. After all, he knew what love was and how it changed people. Was it so hard to believe love for Harry had changed Draco?

Finishing, Harry peered at Lupin across the table, his heart pounding hard in his chest as though he'd just ran ten thousand miles. It certainly felt that way to Harry. After five minutes, Remus was yet to speak and this made Harry unsure of how he felt about the situation. Surely, if he was against Draco still, he would be yelling and demanding Harry to bring him to the room. But Remus never yelled, though the lack of speech was making Harry anxious.

"Well…?" urging, Harry hoped he didn't sound too impatient.

"I believe you Harry," he remained unsmiling as he spoke, but his voice wasn't coloured with anger or hate. "But I want to talk to Draco about this too,"

Nodding, Harry summoned Kreacher and ordered him to bring Draco and Hermione downstairs. A few minutes later, they arrived at the door, panting. It wasn't an easy descent down the six levels of stairs. Hermione froze in the doorway, itching to ask about Ron but she managed to resist, allowing the situation with Draco to be resolved.

For at least half an hour, Remus grilled Draco for answers to a lot of things to do with Death Eaters and Voldemort and loyalties and Ron. Every time Harry went to object to a question, Draco silenced him by quietly uttering Harry's name.
At last, Remus allowed a small smile and nodded confidently at Draco, obviously believing the story. He then turned to Hermione as Harry and Draco rushed from the room in silence.

"Tell me everything you know," Hermione pleaded, her eyes swimming with unshed tears.

"Severus is adamant that he's alive, Hermione," offering a warm smile, Remus allowed Hermione a few moments to wipe away her tears.

"He hasn't been moved from the Malfoy manor but he's alive. As far as Severus can tell, Ron is being kept in the basement," pausing briefly, Remus continued in a rush. "They think the Order has kidnapped Draco and they're waiting, using Ron as bait. As soon as Draco returns, they plan to murder Ron…"

Hermione sharply took a breath and tried to process everything. Draco had run away, obviously without telling his parents. She still didn't understand how Harry and Draco had gone from rivals to lovers within the space of one summer, though she had never asked therefore ignored that nagging question in her mind.
"How can we get him back?" she asked weakly. "I don't want to use Draco… if anything happened, Harry would never talk to me again,"

"Why's that?" Lupin asked gently. Harry had failed to explain he and Draco were involved romantically and sexually.

"I- Harry didn't explain?" confused, Hermione tried to think of the part where they had agreed on telling Remus about the relationship. She couldn't recall it ever coming up.

"Explain what exactly? He told me how Draco had woken up to himself and immediately gone to Harry," explaining, Remus suddenly became angered. "Harry has no place to put Draco above Ron! Ron has been Harry's friend for years! Draco is his friend for a few months and yet he'd rather see Ron die in Draco's place," Lupin spat the last sentence viciously, talking more to himself than Hermione.

Biting her lip, Hermione tried to explain. "Remus, Harry he- he… he loves Draco,"

"Well yes, but I'd think he loved Ron a tad more," Lupin's voice oozed sarcasm now.

"You misunderstand," Hermione pleaded, tugging at Lupin's wrist to regain his attention. "Harry loves Draco like James loved Lily," she said quietly.

Remus' eyes lit up as he realized what Hermione was trying to convey. "Oh. Harry's- Harry's gay?" puzzlement set on Lupin's face. "And Draco feels the same?" he hastily asked, not wanting to offend.

"Yes, he certainly does," Hermione smiled, getting up from her chair. "Are you planning to stay for tea?" she asked as she approached the food pantry which was poorly stocked.

"No, no… I'm not staying Hermione," he replied, getting from his chair. "I need to take this information back to the Order about Draco so we can decide what the best action to take is," he told her, removing his coat from the back of his chair.

"You'll be telling them the truth. Everything Harry and Draco told you, and everything I said," Hermione was firm. She wasn't asking questions, she was giving orders.

"Yes, of course," Lupin replied walking from the room. "Good bye Harry… Draco," he called up the stairs. Turning to Hermione he bade her farewell and departed.