I know it's been awhile, but I am trying to take all your comments to heart and make this a better story, and not just smut. So I have tried to make every word count here, to advance the plot into the ultimate direction my vision has it treading. I hope that my direction works for you all, and that you enjoy this.

Cheers

Chapter Thirty-Three

Resting on our sides, Draco still behind me we lay quietly for a few moments, breathing together, hardly moving. I couldn't have formed a coherent thought right then if my life had depended on it; and fortunately it didn't. I couldn't think about the ramifications about what we'd just done, though I could think about the rising ache in my abdomen, and my own desperate desire to complete my own climax.

Though I'd said nothing Draco seemed to sense my needs at that point because I felt his hand reach around me and take me so carefully in his palm, beginning to stroke me again, the pressure was delicious, his fingers so soft, the build up slow but intense. Again I let myself sink into the self-centered enjoyment of his touch.

He kissed the back of my neck and I heard myself moan just softly; and unexpectedly. The pressure he brought to me increased as he himself began to purr in my ear, and nip at me. It didn't take long for him to bring me to my own climax, the waves of release washing over me, making even my fingertips tremble. It was glorious.

"I wish we could just stay here forever."

"I don't know." I was feeling playful, "we'd likely starve." He looked at me with one eyebrow raised as I smirked at him. Then he shook his head.

"You are quite mad some times aren't you Harry?"

"Some times, I suppose, I think maybe I have the right to be, once in awhile. So do you." I wanted it to be lighthearted right then, the seriousness of what had happened teetered on the edge of my consciousness, and I didn't want to fall over the cliff, into something I had to analyze and cheapen. Not that I was unhappy, quite the opposite, I loved the feeling of calm that was wrapping my skin. I didn't want anything to destroy it just then.

"Promise me one thing Harry?" Draco seemed intent on keeping things serious.

"If I can." I meant it.

"Promise me this won't be the only time?"

That one was easy, or at least it seemed easy just then. "It won't be the only time Dragon. I promise you." At hearing that he seemed to calm visibly, and I felt a little bewildered that he had thought that I could do something like what we had just done as a 'one night stand' sort of thing. I didn't really think to be offended that he might have thought I could be like that; not at that point.

"We'll have Christmas holiday here, I wouldn't want to stick around Hogwarts when I have a perfectly good, and perfectly private house to retreat to. Besides, Melody is expecting us."

"But won't you have the Weasleys, and Hermione here for the holidays?"

"Well they'll be here for at least one night, maybe two. But then they'll likely want to be off on their own, or back at their own houses."

"You don't think they'll discover what's going on between us?"

"I can't see why. You'll have your own room, and I still have the invisibility cloak to get around with. Besides, you could probably apparate between rooms, and then just pop back to the guest one in the morning so everyone sees you coming out that door."

"You don't think your goofy smile will give it away?" He smirked at me, as I tried to understand his reference, eyebrows cocked in confusion. "From all the sex you idiot. If it's anything like the one you had on a few minutes ago we might as well confess now."

He was getting playful, and it was wonderful to see, so I kissed him, maybe a bit roughly, he didn't seem to mind and offered him the first crack at the shower. He got out of bed, and then offered me his hand.

"If I'm going to have to wait until Christmas to be with you again, then I'm going to take every moment I can."

I joined him in the shower, and we left for Hogsmeade a little later than we had originally planned.

"Oh good, you gentlemen are back." Professor Sinistra was in the front foyer as Draco and I returned to Hogwarts. I wondered if she had been waiting for us, but it was possible that she had innocently been on her way to the hall for dinner. "The Headmistress was hoping to speak with you this evening."

"Did you want us to go over to her office right now?" I asked, Draco was slipping back into his more reserved school persona again and I could see him withdrawing back into his robes.

"No, you should have dinner first, besides, she's probably already inside. I'll just let her know you'll see her after." She nodded at both of us; staring at us just a little longer than I thought was quite normal. I filed that one to think about later, instead reserving my brainpower to wonder about what Minerva wanted to talk to us about.

Ron and Hermione asked me about my outing, I had decided earlier that I was going to tell them the truth about what had happened at The Three Broomsticks. That evil part of my soul, that I wasn't convinced I had, wanted to tell my friends what kind of person Rosemerta really was. I figured that they might actually side with me, and fortunately I was right, they did. Hermione was righteously indignant on our behalf, Ron added in a few choice words about 'how dare she, with everything you've done,' it was what I needed to hear right then, I'll admit that. I think Hermione was prepared to start telling everyone about what had happened, but I did stop her, and in retrospect I was glad that my common sense kicked in about then. Mostly because of what happened later with Minerva, but also because I really didn't want anything to come back to haunt either Draco or myself, in case sides were drawn.

I did apologize for not picking them up any presents, but they were both very gracious about it. I felt bad for not bringing back something for them. But after all, we were much older by then, and perhaps candy treats weren't as important any longer. The school's first Hogsmeade trip was in only another two weeks, and I figured I'd make it up for them by then, picking up some really nice holiday presents for under the tree.

And, much as I hated to do it, I had to tell my friends that I'd have to catch up with them back in the dorms after dinner because I had to see Minerva. I confess to being a little concerned, but I assumed that whatever it was that she wanted to discuss had something to do with the trip. I was sure that Draco was going to remain pretty quiet about everything that had gone on, so I figured that whatever truth I told it would do. Minerva still trusted me; or at least I hoped she did.

The Headmistress' office was much the same as when it had belonged to Dumbledore; just minus a bit of the clutter. But the portraits were still there, the former Heads of the school, including my friend Albus, still watching the goings on. Minerva was tidier than he was, but the astute eye still picked out magical objects on the shelves masquerading as knick-knacks. Minerva had us sit at her tea table generally looking as maternal as ever.

"Gentlemen, I understand that something unusual went on during your trip today."

"Ma'am?" I wasn't prepared to play my hand just yet; and yes, wizards do know about poker in case you wondered about the reference.

"Rosemerta, from the Three Broomsticks came to see me this morning; well, came to see if you two had returned."

"Yes Ma'am?"

"She told me that there had been an incident at the pub?"

I wondered how Rosemerta had played it, were Draco and I to be penned as the bad guys, was she claiming I had done something to damage her establishment? Or completely the opposite, I left it to Minerva to enlighten me, and stayed silent, pleased that Draco was doing the same thing.

"She was very upset." A pause, "and she came here to apologize to both of you." I know I let out a long breath at hearing that.

"We left before things got out of hand Professor." Draco found his voice, but the weakness of it only leant credence to our plea of innocence.

"She told me. And I wanted to tell you both, in person; how I appreciate the way you handled it. Rosemerta told me everything; about how she and her patrons treated you both, and how terrible she felt about it, and how she did not speak up properly when she should have."

I wondered whether Rosemerta had come so quickly to Hogwarts because of true remorse, or the business realization that if she put out the Headmistress, that Hogsmeade stood to lose a great deal of revenue that the school brought into the little town. Hogwarts was, and still is, a huge consumer of products from Hogsmeade, and not just when the students have their excursions. The school bought produce, linens, school supplies, and day labour from that little town, and Rosemerta could not have been so foolish as to think that those same supplies could be shipped in from just about anywhere else for the same price. But, I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, and I wanted to believe that she had truly been ashamed of the way she had acted.

"Why didn't you boys come back here afterwards; I would have taken care of things for you?"

"I wasn't really thinking straight just then Professor. I just needed to get the both of us out of there."

"Where did you go?"

I looked at Draco, and smiled, close lipped and reassuring, I hoped.

"I took Draco to my house."

"In London?"

"Yes Professor, I hope you aren't upset. We just couldn't stay in town, where we weren't wanted."

She was silent for a moment, but I could see the thoughts running around behind her eyes. I hadn't intended to tell her we'd left the area, but I didn't want to lie to her either; I didn't really want to lie to anyone. I waited for her reaction.

"Normally I would have been upset at that Harry. But I suppose that under the circumstances, I can understand. I feel badly that your day away was ruined in that way. Around here Hogsmeade has always been a pleasant treat for staff and students alike. And now I am left with the decision of what to do, in light of what has happened."

"Please don't do anything Professor." I'll always remember the way Draco's voice sounded just then, defeated and tiny, and I wanted to take his hand in mine, to just try to offer him some kind of strength, and I should have, but I didn't.

"Draco?" Her voice was as concerned as mine should have been then, if I'd been able to say anything.

"Just let it be, please. It could only get worse if Hogwarts puts out some kind of sanctions. I don't want anyone to have any more reasons to hate me."

She sighed, and it sounded so resigned it made my heart ache. I wished there was something I could do, or say right then to make it better, but there was no spell I knew of, nothing but time.

"As you wish Draco."

"I'll just stay away from now on Professor, it isn't as if I need to shop or anything, and the food here at the castle is so much better than the Hogsmeade pubs." He tried to smile, but nothing about it looked genuine or happy.

"That isn't right either Draco." I tried to speak up for him.

"It's what's best Harry, you know it as well as I do."

"I'm sure there are lots of other shops in Hogsmeade who don't give a damn what your surname is."

"Harry." His voice was as soft as when he had spoken it to me, alone in the bedroom, with the candle flames, and I stopped arguing with him then.

"You don't have to make any decisions right now Draco, the next trip isn't for a fortnight, and who knows how we all might feel after a good night's sleep, and the clearer heads of the morning?"