Chapter Nineteen

Harry entered his home, resolved about what he needed to do. Everything made sense. Well, almost everything. He stopped in his tracks as he caught sight of Draco puttering around in the kitchen, making a pot of tea. Suddenly the thought of dying didn't seem so appealing. He couldn't leave Draco, not again, not like this.

He approached Draco, who hadn't seemed to notice him yet, from behind. Harry snaked his arms around Draco's shoulders, pulling him back into his chest. He breathed in deeply, taking in Draco's scent, his nose buried in the hair at the nape of Draco's neck. "I love you." He stated plainly, irrevocable truth full in his voice.

Draco turned around, a wide smile on his face. He wrapped his arms around Harry and the two stood locked in an embrace. He could see a difference in Harry's face, his demeanour. There was a peace there, a relaxation that had not existed before. "What happened?" He asked softly, placing soft kisses down Harry's jaw line.

Harry stiffened and hesitated, but only for a moment. He could not keep it from Draco, no secrets existed between them now. "I know what I have to do. I understand my purpose now, how this all ends."

Draco felt the ominous undertone to Harry's words. "Harry-" He pulled away slightly to look his lover in the eye.

"Not now." Harry smiled down at him. "Right now, all I want is you. I will tell you, I promise, but right now is about us."

Harry leaned down and covered Draco's lips in a feather light kiss full of love. "I love you." He repeated again.

"Couldn't live without you." Draco responded, causing Harry to stiffen again. Draco knew he'd stumbled upon the root of Harry's change. He pulled back. He could see pain mixed in Harry's eyes. "Please tell me what happened, Harry." He pleaded, their lips almost touching.

Harry nodded so slightly that if they weren't touching, Draco wouldn't have noticed. He pulled away from Draco, cold air rushing between them as they separated. Lacing his fingers with Draco's, he led them to the bedroom. He shut the door behind them. Draco opened his mouth to speak but Harry covered his lips with his finger. Draco sighed and stopped, kissing Harry's finger gently.

Harry pulled his hand away and moved both hands down to undo the buttons on Draco's shirt. Draco cupped Harry's face in his hands, kissed his forehead and let him.

Once Draco was exposed, Harry removed his own shirt and took Draco's hand again, leading him to the bed. Harry lay on his back and pulled Draco down on top of him, wrapping his arms tightly around the blond. Draco's head rested on Harry's chest, his feathery blond hair tickling Harry's skin.

Both lay in silence for an indeterminate amount of time, both revelling in each others presence. Both could feel the importance of the moment. Both sensed a shift was coming, this may be the last moment they shared together.

Finally, Harry took a deep breath and broke the silence. "I know how to kill Voldemort." He whispered, his voice so low that if they hadn't been so close, so attuned to each other, Draco wouldn't have heard him.

Draco could feel Harry's heartbeat fluttering faster in his chest. Draco didn't want to speak, didn't want to ask how. Somehow, he felt he already knew what Harry was going to say, and he didn't want to hear it. He lightly kissed Harry's chest, that was his gesture for Harry to continue.

Harry's breathing hitched and shuddered, he was trying to speak, but couldn't find his voice. Draco propped himself up slightly so he could look into Harry's eyes, reassure him. Harry's eyes were dull and lifeless, but not like before. "Go on, Harry. I'm here." Draco brushed a stray tear off Harry's cheek with the pad of his thumb.

"I..." He started, but he shook his head. "No, I can't do it. I won't leave you, not again. I promised!"

Draco sat back against the headboard and pulled Harry tight against him, stroking his back, running his fingers through Harry's raven hair. "Say it, Harry." Draco's voice was tight. He knew what Harry was going to say.

"I... I need to let him kill me." Harry broke down and buried his face in Draco's shoulder, his hot tears streaming down Draco's skin. "It's the only way to beat him. But I can't. I won't leave you alone. I was alone for so long, I can't do the same thing to you, I can't-"

Draco pulled Harry's face up to meet his, capturing him in a searing kiss. They clung desperately to each other, clawing at any bit of exposed flesh they could reach. Hands flew between them, removing their pants.

Unexpectedly, Harry put on the brakes, pushing Draco away slightly. "No. I want this to last. Please. Slowly."

Draco responded by reconnecting their lips in a slow, deep, passionate kiss that contained every fear, every emotion both boys possessed. Their tears mingled together as they spent their last moments together.

Afterwards, they still clung to each other, neither wanting the perfect moment to end. Draco lay on his back with Harry nestled into his chest. "I meant what I said before, Harry, I can't live without you. I won't. You're not alone, Harry, and neither am I. Wherever you go, I'll go with you. If you die, then I die too. You and I have no place in this world without each other."

"Draco, you can't come with me." Harry pleaded. "If you die too then-"

"Then we can still be together. I would do anything to stay with you. There's nothing else for me in this world."

"What about your sister?" Harry whispered.

Draco was silent for a moment. "I wouldn't stay just to burden her with my sorrows. Besides, I think Granger needs her. They can offer each other some comfort. You can't convince me otherwise, Harry, you're stuck with me, whether you like it or not." He chuckled.

Harry clung to Draco. "Thank you." He paused. "I... it has to be soon. I have to do this before I don't-"

"I know. It's okay. We had our moment together. I couldn't ask for anything more." He kissed Harry's forehead. "How are you going to find him?" He asked.

"I'm not." Harry spoke, his eyes far away as he thought. "He's going to find me. Now that I know why we're connected, I think I can reverse the flow. I always assumed that only he could get into my mind, that only his thoughts could be transmitted to me. I was wrong. I can reach his mind just as easily. I've just never tried before."

Late afternoon sunlight beamed through the window, bathing Harry in what would be his last taste of sunlight. He breathed deeply and gazed out the window as the sun descended behind the horizon, leaving him in darkness. "Pull me back, if... if I can't do it myself." Draco nodded.

Harry closed his eyes and let his mind relax. He remembered their connection, the feeling of Voldemort's magic that coursed through him every time he had a vision. He sought out that feeling, searching deep inside himself until he felt it. He found the piece of Voldemort that resided inside himself. Now that he was aware of it, he didn't know how he never noticed it before. He pushed his way into this piece of soul and instantly felt himself being pulled along at lightning speed, his mind leaving his body and travelling along the path that led straight to Voldemort.

Harry's body relaxed into unconsciousness and Draco panicked for a moment until he realized that Harry was still breathing, still alive. His eyes were rolled up into the back of his head and he was mumbling under his breath, words that Draco didn't understand, hissing sounds. Harry's scar looked inflamed, it was bright red.

Harry felt as soon as he reached his destination. The aura that he felt faintly in his own mind now completely surrounded him. He was in Voldemort's mind. The emptiness of feeling, the blatant cruelty and violence, the constant fear for his own existence overwhelmed Harry, he felt like he was drowning in a sea of despair and unhappiness.

He pulled himself together. He was here for a purpose.

"Hello Tom." He spoke into Voldemort's mind. Harry felt the Dark Lord's mind twitch as he tried for figure out what was going on. "Don't tell me you don't know who this is." Harry taunted. "The tables have turned, Tom. It's my turn now." Harry could feel that Voldemort wanted to respond, but he didn't understand the connection, he didn't know how. Harry laughed and he was sure Voldemort could hear it. "Meet me where this should have ended Tom. Go back there, to Hogwarts. Go back to where this all began, where it will now end once and for all. I'll be waiting for you there, Tom." Harry felt Voldemort's anger course through his mind. His own mind became clouded with pain, as it always had, and Harry tried to pull himself back, but it was harder than he thought.

His mind was too unfocused, he couldn't think properly, not through the pain. It was so much worse now than it had ever been before. Harry's mind had always been the predominant part whenever Voldemort's thoughts had invaded it. He had always been able to push them away. Not here, not where Harry's mind was the minority. He panicked. He wasn't going to be able to get out.

Suddenly, a calm washed over him. In the complete blackness that surrounded him, a figure stepped forwards. It was Draco. He stood there, smiling, his hand outstretched. Harry stepped forward towards his guiding light, his own hand held out in front of him, reaching for Draco's grasp. The moment their hands connected, Harry felt himself flying backwards, towards his own mind.

He breathed in a deep, sucking breath as his eyes flew open. Draco's own, concerned eyes hovered above him. "Welcome back." He smiled.

"I couldn't escape him..."

"That's why I'll never leave you. I'll always be here to pull you back from the brink."

Harry lay in silence only a moment longer, before slowly sitting up and swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. He ran his hands through his hair and rested his elbows on his knees.

"It's time, isn't it?" Draco whispered from behind him. Harry nodded. He felt a soft kiss on his shoulder blade, and Draco's lips were right next to his ear. "Then let's go." He stood from the bed and held out his hand. Harry took it and together they prepared to leave.