Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. This story is merely my way of saluting her. I do not own any of these characters; I just manipulate their thoughts.

Draco jerked awake from his dream to find himself in his canopied bed from school. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. His brain was trying to figure out why he was awake. When he finally realized why, he made a noise of disgust and fell back onto his pillows again. He was feeling utterly dissatisfied and his erection was begging for friction. He was in no mood even if his subconscious self was. He nodded off to sleep again and started off where he had left off.

Cold hands moved around his body. He groaned groggily as he curled up into himself. The fingers surged on, dwindling around his collarbone and against his hips. Soft breathing quickly turned to heavy pants. He arched up to meet the hands. It held him down and made his mind heavy with passion. He writhed and moaned as the deft fingers assaulted his arousal. He gasped as the cold chest pressed against his, unclothed and chiseled. All it took was one sharp tug and bruising kiss for him to climax.

Draco sighed awake again, swallowing his moan with distaste. He was usually all for wet dreams. But this one left him wanting more. He wandlessly cleaned up the mess and sat up in bed. He slipped out of bed, not needing to sleep any longer. He was too wired to try. He pulled his bathrobe over his pajamas and shuffled out of the room, taking care not to wake Theo up. It was just past midnight. Draco was lost in his musings as he recalled the day's incidents. It was embarrassing, to say the least. He had fainted like a girl. In front of Hermione and Ron. He rolled his eyes as he thought of the irony. He was glad that they were leaving for home that night. The three-day reunion had reached its final stretch. Then he wouldn't have to see anyone after that. He could go home and have his peace. He kicked the wall miserably at the thought. He looked around him and realized that he was on the second floor. He eyed the familiar door in front of him. He had wound up here many times during his Hogwarts years. Here he was again, in front of the dilapidated bathroom that held much too many secrets for his liking. He pushed open the door, wincing at the loud creak and consequent scrapes.

He nearly turned on his heel to walk right out when he found himself staring at Harry from across the room. Neither made a move as they stood of either ends of the bathroom. "What are you doing?" Draco asked, his voice echoing ominously through the tiles.

Harry shrugged. "Wandering," he said vaguely.

Draco felt the pain slip away from him under Harry's gaze. He quickly stepped back. "I – I'll go," he murmured as he turned around.

"Wait," Harry said, footsteps sounding against the damp tile. "About yesterday…"

That halted Draco in his tracks. He held his voice steady as he asked, "What about yesterday?" He was met with silence. Apparently Harry hadn't thought that part through as of yet. After waiting for a few seconds, Draco turned an inquisitive eye to Harry again. The latter didn't seem prepared to say anything. "Well," Draco said, "goodnight."

"You apologized."

"Huh?"

"Yesterday," Harry said. "You apologized yesterday."

Draco wasn't sure what to make of Harry's words so he nodded faintly and moved to leave.

"Thanks for that."

Draco felt a small smile grow on his lips as he opened the door and let himself out.

The day was spent with the group lazing about in the castle and at Hogsmeade. There was no real schedule. Draco spent his time with his fellow Slytherins, feeling unusually optimistic and energized despite the events of the previous day. True to Heidi's word, the Slytherin dormitories were transformed. Thankfully, Pansy exerted her strong will on the ex-Hufflepuff. The effect was admirable and Draco said as much.

It was no longer dank and dark in the common room. Rich mahogany tables lined two of the walls and plush green chairs were pushed up against them as study space. All the skulls were removed from the rooms and replaced with artfully created paintings and candles. The fireplace was toned down with a marble mantle and orange flames. The green lamps were transfigured to give out white light instead. By the end of three hours, the women were eyeing their masterpiece with proud eyes. The room was no longer menacing. The dungeon was alit with steady light and the damp air was softened with the scent of the forest. "You like?" Heidi asked. Theo nodded appreciatively.

They were to leave after dinner. The Great Hall was starting to fill up as the sun set. The atmosphere was much more relaxed when compared to two nights ago. Draco was thoroughly surprised when Luna sat beside him, dragging Neville down with her.

"Hey, Draco," she said, looking at Draco expectantly.

"Um… Hi," he responded, fiddling with his cutlery at Luna's forward behavior.

"How was your stay?"

"Good."

"Yes. It was rather good. I'm glad I came. Aren't you glad you came?"

Heidi and Blaise were trying not to laugh at Draco's blushing cheeks. "Sure, sure," he said quickly, his face showing a bewildered look that mirrored Neville's.

The tables filled rapidly with friends and acquaintances. Food was aplenty and scrumptious. Even the ghosts came out, mingling with the graduates and staff leisurely. Once again, Draco was hit with the same surreal emotion he had felt when he was standing on the platform three days ago. He was more than glad that he had come for the reunion. He was thankful that he had even been invited to it to begin with. He needed the closure. He needed to learn to let go of his past. He needed to focus on new memories instead of dwelling on the old ones. As he pondered his tumultuous stay at Hogwarts, sharp tinkling of glass grabbed his attention. Headmistress McGonagall was rapping her knife against her goblet. The din died down at the tables. She stood up, shaking her red robes free and clasping her hands together in front of her.

"I hope you have all had a wonderful stay. It's been marvelous having you here," she said with a smile. "As tradition entails, toasts are in order from each house." She held her goblet up. "To Hogwarts."

Cups were held up as the wizards and witches repeated after the Headmistress. They took a swig and then looked at Harry expectantly. The man blushed and struggled to his feet, apparently having been appointed Gryffindor toaster without his consent. "Er, I'm glad everyone to come. And I'm also glad we managed to not kill each other over the past couple days." This brought out small giggles and chuckles from the crowd. Harry grinned crookedly. "To us," he toasted, raising his glass proudly. "To us," the crowd said.

Anthony from the Ravenclaw house stood up. "To friends," he said, sweeping his eyes at the tables. "Friends," everyone murmured, taking a sip.

Hannah from the Hufflepuff house got on her feet. "To laughs," she smiled, holding her goblet up. On cue, small laughter rippled through the tables as they nodded at Hannah. "To laughs."

Draco was lost in his thoughts by now. He turned to Theo when he was nudged in the ribs. "Hmm?" he asked. That's when he realized that everyone was staring at him expectantly. "Oh," he said, his mind scrambling as he got up. Most of the eyes that were upon him were no longer hostile. They were immensely curious. He cleared his throat nervously. "To… a life with love…" he said quietly. He was met with surprised smiles and confused nods. "Life with love," the groups chanted, taking one last sip from their glasses.

Draco couldn't sleep with the constant jostling of the train jarring his arm with each bump. He hated overnight train rides. He hated it even more because his friends were blissfully asleep around him while he lay awake irritably. He had half the mind to wake them up out of spite. He staved off his frustration and got up from his transformed bench that was now a bed. He staggered as the train jolted but quickly regained his balance before he could fall over onto Pansy. He scowled at her sleeping face before straightening up and slipping out of his compartment. The corridors were much colder than the sleeping quarters. Draco took a heaving breath, letting it out with a loud sigh. It seemed as though he was doomed to become an insomniac for the rest of his short existence. He sat down on the bench beside the window. The full moon filtered in pale light. The soft sounds of the train chugging down the tracks were a lullaby to the sleeping occupants. Draco pulled his legs up under him as he watched the dark shapes whizz by the window. He let his body calm down in the cool corridor.

"Don't you sleep?"

Draco arched his brows at Harry's amused smile. Harry took that as an invitation to sit down. "I could ask the same for you," Draco said, turning back to the window.

"I'm a very bad dreamer."

"I'm just a bad sleeper."

Harry smiled at Draco's frank admission. "What plans after this?" he asked.

Draco shrugged. "I don't make plans," he said simply.

"No job, I take it."

Draco bit back a smile. "Who, in their right minds, would give me a job, Potter?" he asked. He expected Harry to apologize, so was taken aback when Harry laughed instead. "That's funny?"

"Yes," Harry chuckled.

"Hmm…" Draco murmured. "What about you? Plans after this, that is."

"Get back to work, I guess. Nothing else to do."

Draco shook his head and said, "I meant plans in a broader sense."

"Ah," Harry said in mock recognition. "You want to know my ten year plan, huh?"

Draco smiled slightly and nodded. "I suppose I do."

"If everything goes according to plan, I won't be horrifically maimed or penniless by the time I'm forty."

"You really need to get your priorities straight, Potter."

"That's what Ginny keeps saying," he said with a grin.

Draco chuckled helplessly at Harry's words, shifting as he did so. He accidentally brushed against Harry's leg. The laugh died in his throat as he moved away, listening to his heart thump erratically. Irrational response. He shrunk towards the edge of the bench, suddenly aware of Harry's proximity. He was the only one who noticed because Harry stayed put, his eyes on the stationary moon.

"You know," he said, turning to Draco, "I haven't really given it much thought. I don't know where I'll be ten years from now. Married with children. Recluse on a mountain. Who knows, right?"

"Hmm."

"I'm just glad that I have the opportunity. Do you know what I mean?"

Draco thought he understood, but he shook his head anyway.

Harry sighed thoughtfully and absently rubbed his scar. "I guess I – I'm glad things turned out the way they did."

"Right," Draco said faintly.

"You've changed…"

He was taken aback by Harry's abrupt statement. "Um…"

"It's a good change."

"I try."

A few peaceful minutes later, Harry got up. "Sleep well," he said in a light tone.

"You too," Draco replied.

The weeks flew into each other as Draco did all he could do with his time. He made a will with Theo's pushing and prodding. His friend had suggested that he give the money to hospital and school. Draco supposed that was the noble thing to do. He didn't much care for what happened with his money anyway. He made sure to keep enough for his mother to live extravagantly. He even allotted some for his friends, lest they wedded and decided to start families of Slytherin minions. He considered it 'living vicariously' through the people who cared for him. He wasn't able to do much more strenuous activities anymore. His energy was perpetually low as it focused on keeping the discomfort and ache at bay. He was spending more and more time with Narcissa, who was pleased with this. It was on one such day that the library was interrupted with a soft trill. Someone was at the door. Draco waved his mother down and got up.

By the time he had reached the door, the alarm had rung three more times. Whoever it was seemed in no mood to dilly-dally. Draco pulled the door open and answered with a scowling, "What?"

"I can't get you out…"

Draco staggered back as Harry pushed into him. Desperate arms wrapped around his neck. Scattered heart beats thudded against his chest. Sharp breath floated to his neck. Harry held onto Draco.

"What?" Draco breathed, his head swimming.

"I can't get you out of my head."

Draco's arms found their way to Harry's hips. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know. I don't know anymore," he murmured rapidly. "I – I broke up with her. And she's – but you – I just – I don't know."

The unusual sense of nothingness enveloped Draco again. The pain was pulled away and Harry replaced it. Impulsively, he tightened his hold.

"I think I love you."

Harry… Draco's barriers dissolved rapidly, leaving him dazed. "You… No. You don't."

Harry nodded into Draco's shoulder. "I – I don't know how… It just happened. I thought maybe you…"

Draco felt terrifying emotions floating to the surface – anger, grief, confusion, insecurity, happiness, comfort, desire. Love. "It – it can't happen," he stammered, trying to pull away. "You don't even know me!" Why now?

Harry's strong arms held steady. "This wasn't supposed to happen…"

No, it wasn't. "It's too late now," Draco said almost pleadingly as he tried to extract himself from the embrace.

"Too late," he repeated after Draco. "But then – then you feel the same?"

Draco couldn't answer. That was all the prompt Harry needed. Their lips crushed into each other in the next instant. It was frantic and hard. Fingers entangled into hair and clothes as the men tried to get closer. They were lightheaded and filled with gut-wrenching panic. The kiss was nothing spectacular. But to Draco, it was everything. He knew Harry was feeling the same desperate need as he was. He knew Harry was as confused as he was. He knew Harry was as blindly in love as he was.

"It's not too late."

Draco let out a pained moan and wrenched his lips from Harry's. He hugged Harry close, never wanting to let go. The sharp agony in his arm and head was gone, but the dull ache was pounding into him, causing him to choke up. "I'm sorry, Harry," he whispered thickly, tears running down his pale cheeks.

"What?"

"We can't – it's not – we can't let this happen," Draco stammered. "I – I'm dying."

"We can do…" Harry started saying before Draco's words registered. "Wh – what?" he gasped, finally pushing away from the pale man in horror. "What?" he asked again, searching Draco's face for signs of lies.

"The Death Mark," Draco tried to explain desperately, Harry's pained eyes boring into him. "There's a curse and I – I'm dying."

"N – no…"

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice cracking under pressure.

"But I love you…"

"It doesn't matter," Draco sobbed. "Don't love me."

"I can't!" Harry said loudly. Draco's tears were spurring his on. "You can't die. You – you're lying."

"I wish… I wish I was."

Harry stumbled into Draco's arms again, tears soaking into his shirt. "I'll fix you," he said hysterically. "You don't have to die because I can fix you."

"No one can fix me, Harry. I just wish I had more time," Draco said, pressing kisses into the locks of black hair.

"How much time?"

"A month or two."

"Oh god," Harry whimpered. "Too soon."

"I know."

"I love you. I don't know how, I don't know why. I just do."

Draco let the words sink in. "I love you too, Harry…"

"One month or not, I'll still love you."

"Okay."