A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to update... This chapter was a bit hard to write... Although Remus doesn't say much here, he will make up for it later... This chapter was actually inspired by the song "When I See You Smile" by Warrant. It was originally intended to be all about H/D, but somehow, this chappie took a different turn. I guess it kind of wrote itself. I was just a tool to the Goddess's creativity... Hope you like it!

Also, thanks to all who have reviewed! I hope to have a personal response out to all of you soon...

When I See You Smile

After having collected Hermione and Remus, Harry arrived back at Malfoy Manor. He knew he would have a lot of explaining to do to Lucius and Severus. Neither cared for Hermione or Remus. Harry just hoped that Hermione hadn't hexed anyone while he was with Remus at Grimauld Place. That would be more of a mess than he cared to deal with right now. As it was, Hermione and Draco were sitting in matching chairs and talking quietly. Neither had noticed that Harry had returned and he wasn't alone.

"'Mione sorry for leaving so suddenly like that. I didn't know what was going on. I could only sense that Moony needed me. Kind of like how I found you," Harry explained to his friend.

"It's alright, Harry. Draco and I were just discussing your changes," Hermione answered. "I can't believe you've gone through so much!"

"Well, since when do I ever have a normal life?" Harry joked as he reached a hand out to Draco.

Draco didn't hesitate a second. He took his hand and allowed Harry to pull him to his feet. Harry turned Draco around and sat in the chair he had just been occupying. Hermione gasped as Harry pulled Draco into his lap.

"Harry, um, I don't believe that I can say that I ever expected to see that," Hermione said with wide eyes.

"Hm?" Harry mumbled back as he sunk his nose into the waterfall of silver silk that trailed down Draco's back. He simply loved Draco's hair. It smelled like strawberries and cream which were Harry's favorite. He couldn't help himself when his snuffling exposed a small sliver of Draco's neck from lightly licking the soft skin. He smiled when Draco shivered.

"Draco, are you getting a chill?" Lucius asked with a smirk as he entered the room with Severus not far behind.

"Mmm?" Draco knew if he tried to speak that it would come out as a moan. He didn't think it would be prudent to do so at that particular point in time. He couldn't believe the things Harry could make him want to do.

"Draco's not quite able to talk right now," Harry said with a smile.

"Indeed," Severus replied with a smirk.

Hermione was still a bit stunned. She had been deposited in the Malfoy's parlor by Harry and been faced with three very startled Slytherins. After Draco realized what must have happened, he quickly explained to Hermione at wand point. The girl had refused to let the elder Malfoy or even Severus get within twenty feet of her. Draco had had to stun her and explain what had been happening with Harry.

"So, Mr. Potter, tomorrow is September the first," Snape began, but was interrupted by Harry.

"Really? I thought it was doomsday," Harry replied smirking much like Draco did.

"Harry, please don't do that," Hermione said with a horrified expression.

Harry just raised an eyebrow at his friend. He didn't realize that he had somehow along the way adapted the patented Malfoy smirk as his own.

"Is he using my smirk again?" Draco teased.

"Yes, and it's a bit disconcerting on him," replied Hermione.

Harry laughed out right. He loved making Hermione "a bit disconcerted". The look she had absolute horror mixed with terrified surprise was one of the funniest things he had ever seen.

"Don't laugh at me!" she squealed throwing a small pillow at Harry's head.

Draco ducked. The pillow stopped centimeters from Harry's head and flew back in the direction it had come, pelting Hermione square in the nose.

"Harry James Potter! How in Merlin's name did you do that!?" Hermione yelled.

"Well, if I could have a chance to explain, I might just let you ask Merlin that question yourself," Harry answered with a mischevious glint to his eye.

"What? How would she do that, Harry?" Draco asked, bewildered.

"Have you already forgotten what I told before, Dragon?" Harry admonished Draco.

"Dragon? Since when do you call my son Dragon? He hates being called Dragon!" Lucius exclaimed.

"Since he purrs everytime I do."

"Draco? Are you purring?!" Severus Snape was scandalized. Veela only purred in the privacy of their own bedroom, usually when their mate was causing them great pleasure. "Stop it this instant! Have you no shame?!"

"Malfoys purr?" a quiet voice asked from over in a secluded corner of the room.

"LUPIN!?" Severus hadn't even realized the werewolf was there. Now that he did, he was quite ready to get rid of the beast.

"Yes, Severus. Harry brought me here," Remus explained with both hands held out in a sign of peace.

"OH! Remus, I'm so sorry! I forgot you were there. My Dragon does that to me though." Harry mumbled the last part into Draco's neck as he nuzzled the soft spot at the base of his skull.

"It's okay, Harry. Although, I think we should discuss what is going to happen tomorrow. You must go back to school. All three of you," Remus said with a pointed look at Hermione and Draco.

"But, Professor, if we go back, Dumbledore will just try to manipulate Harry even more," Draco said.

"Regardless, you Draco Lucien Malfoy, are returning to school tomorrow on the Hogwarts Express even if I have to stun and bind you," Lucius replied firmly. "No Malfoy has ever quit school, and it will be over my dead body that you shall be the first."

"Father, it just may come to that," Draco whispered. He was worried. What would happen if he did return to school? Would he still be expected to join the Dork Lard? Draco had to hide the smile that came automatically when he thought the name he had given Voldemort. It was the only way that he could cope with inevitable reality that he would be forced to join the Death Eaters. Now, though, Draco wasn't sure was expected of him. Now that Harry had come.

"Mr. Malfoy, Draco is right," Hermione said quietly. "It may come to that if you fight Harry. I have no doubts about what Draco has been telling me. I also know that you are a very intelligent, albeit arrogant, man. It would be suicide to stay with V-Voldemort."

Harry grinned when 'Mione said the name. He had been trying for years to get her over the fear. That was one thing that Dumbledore had told him that had actually made sense. "The fear of a name only increased the fear of the thing itself." Personally, Harry felt that it was quite laughable that the "greatest dark wizard of all time" had felt the need to kill a one year old child due to the fact that he was what? Afraid! Now, that same wizard was chasing that same child, who had escaped him not once, but five times, now. The same child that had, up until recently, been determined to kill him for murdering his parents and friends.

It had taken Harry some time to realize that hadn't really been Voldemort that had killed his parents, Cedric Diggory, or even many muggles. It was Dumbledore who had caused all of it. If Dumbledore hadn't convinced Lily and James Potter to change their secret keeper from Sirius to Peter because he'd convinced the two of them that Peter was to be trusted, Harry's mum and dad would still be alive. If Dumbledore hadn't allowed a Death Eater into the school disguised as Alastor Moody, Harry never would have been in the Triwizard Tournament, and the winning cup would never have been a portkey causing Cedric to be killed by Voldemort. If Dumbledore had never sent Tom Riddle back to the orphanage he'd found him at, maybe Voldemort would never have been created.

Harry could almost understand Voldemort's hatred of muggles. His own "family" had treated him as less than shite. How had Tom Riddle felt when he had finally escaped the abuse and neglect of the orphanage to attend Hogwarts? Harry imagined that he'd felt much as Harry had when Hagrid had taken him from the Dursley's the first time.

Harry also understood how Tom had felt when he had been told that he had to return to the hell that he'd thought he'd finally escaped. Harry's own hopes and dreams had been crushed. He hated his muggle relatives. How had Tom felt having to go back to muggles who'd mistreated him who weren't even related? Harry could only imagine. So, it was these thoughts that Harry felt the need to contradict 'Mione's comment.

"'Mione, I hope you can understand what I'm about to say," Harry said apologetically.

"What is it, Harry?" she questioned.

"Well, I don't think that Voldemort is so wrong anymore," Harry began, but was interrupted by gasps of surprise from the three Slytherins and outrage from Hermione.

"Please, let me finish," Harry said quietly. "I know that it is wrong to murder and abuse people, but I can't help but feel sympathetic to Voldemort. I have been put in much the same place he had been. He had been raised by people who really didn't care if he lived or died. Actually, his death probably would have been a blessing to them, much like my own experiences. He was thoroughly abused, ridiculed, and hated for being different. Just as I have been. The only difference is that it wasn't his family who turned him into what he is now, unlike mine. It was Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore knew what Tom Riddle went back to each summer. Just as he knew what I went back to as well. Can you blame Tom Riddle for hating muggles when they had treated him like he was worth less than the dog dung on their shoes. No wonder he acted out and attempted to torture other orphans. The ones he tortured were favorites of the Mistress of the orphanage. They had ridiculed Tom for being a 'freak' and a 'weirdo'. Of course, he lashed out any way he could. Just as I did. Except, I lashed out at my 'family'. I guess that made it acceptable because, growing up, no one ever came to reprimand me. That is, no one except my uncle who felt it was his responsibility to beat the 'freakishness' out of me. The only difference between myself and Voldemort is that I recognized Albus Dumbledore for what he was before I lost my mind," Harry finished sternly.

Oh my Gods! Did I really just say all of that?! They'll think I've finally lost it! Harry thought to himself. He was about to transport himself back to Avalon before he heard Hermione sobbing. He'd only seen her cry once. It was the time in first year when Ron had called her a know-it-all and a troll had gotten into a Hogwarts bathroom where Hermione had been crying in a deserted stall.

"H-Harry? Is it all true? Did Professor Dumbledore really cause all of that?" Hermione sobbed into her hands.

"Yes, he did, 'Mione. I wouldn't lie about that."

"I-I kn-now. I just looked up to him for so long. It's hard to believe that someone I trusted so deeply would betray the one I loved as much," Hermione said between sobs. She'd held a special spot for Harry in her heart for many years. Although, she knew that he would never see her the same way.

Hermione was determined to turn that unfathomable love into the truest friendship she could imagine. She would always love Harry, but it was a different kind of love now. He would never be replaced in her heart, but Hermione was smart. She knew that Harry needed more than she could ever give him. So, she was content with the deepest, truest love of friendship she'd ever known. Not even Ron would ever be able to comprehend her profound love of Harry. It was this fact that would cause many problems for the Golden Trio throughout the years.

"Harry, no matter what, I will be by your side. You have always been the most important person in my life. I know that you will never feel the same for me that I have for you, and I've accepted that, but I just wanted you to know-" Hermione broke off. She wasn't sure if she could actually tell Harry how she'd felt all of these years, but she knew that she had to try.

"'Mione, it's okay. You don't have tosay anything," Harry began, but was interrupted again.

"Yes, Harry, I do," Hermione said, "I have to tell you this, or it will forever haunt me. Harry James Potter, I love you with all of my heart, my mind, and my soul. I would do anything for you. I have worshipped the ground you've walked on for many years," Hermione took a deep breath, and held up a hand as Harry began to interrupt her confession, "but I know that we're not meant to be. As much as I hate to admit it, Draco here is the one for you. I just needed to let you know what you mean to me before I lose the chance to do it. Harry? Please don't hate me," Hermione finished in a whisper.

It was all Harry could do not to cry. When Hermione had said she loved him so truthfully, he'd wished that it could be. How many in this world would have such a wonderful person love them unconditionally and completely? Not many. Had things turned out differently, Harry would have rejoiced in Hermione's confession. He had also loved her for a very long time, but now things were different. He had his dragon. But who said he couldn't have his phoenix as well? Harry had always thought of Hermione as a phoenix in his mind. No matter what brought her down, she'd always risen from the ashes. It was well known that Dragons and Phoenixes were very compatible.

"Dragon, let me up," Harry whispered in Draco's ear causing a shiver to run down the Slyltherin's spine. Draco stood up immediately.

"'Mione? Did I ever tell you that you are my Phoenix as much as Draco is my Dragon?" Harry said quietly.

"No, you haven't," Hermione sniffled, her voice full of hope that Harry might hold even a fragment of the love for her that she had for him.

"'Mione, you have my mind," Harry said, "Draco has my soul, but you both have my heart."

"What about Ron, Harry?" Hermione couldn't help but ask, hoping that Harry had seen the truth about his so-called 'best mate'.

"What about him, 'Mione?" Harry answered sadly. He had hoped that Ron would call out for him, but so far nothing had happened.

"He's been your best mate since first year..." Hermione trailed off at the look in Harry's eyes. It was then that she knew that not only had Dumbledore messed with Harry's home life, but the old coot had tried to choose his friends as well.

"Ron will never get past the jealousy. He will forever be in someone's shadow. Unfortuneately, this time he has found himself in the shadow of Albus Dumbledore. No one has ever survived to tell what that was like," Harry replied with a deep frown on his face.

"Well, all, it's time to go. I have some things to explain to you all, but this isn't the place to do it," Harry announced with a smile as the now familiar silver and purple mist began to gather around the group of people he chose to take to his home. Only those who could truly love him for who he was, Just Harry, would ever be welcome at Camelot.

It was with a look of surprise that when they appeared in the room of the round table that not only were Draco, Lucius, Severus, Remus, and Hermione with him, but so was the entire Weasley clan (minus Ron), Tonks, Alastor Moody, Hestia Jones, and many other members of the Order of the Phoenix. Harry couldn't stop the tears that had gathered in his eyes from falling in crystalline drops down his cheeks. Never in his life had Harry Potter been expected to be truly loved by so many people.