And here we are- at the finale. *sniffles* I'm actually rather sad to see it end. But here's to all you lovelies who commented and took the time to make this story truly special.

Thank you so very much.

Chapter 20 for you all :) You've totally earned your schmoopy, happy ending :D

"So, have we learnt what happens when you mix Monkshood extract with powdered lacewing?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The inherent properties of the elements will react, rendering the potion explosive," Jack intoned sullenly. He would know, of course. He was currently sporting several globs of said potion in his robes and hair.

"Ten points to Gryffindor," Draco chuckled. "Now, let's try it again."

"I'm bored!" Jack pouted. "Can't we go flying, Draco?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "No, you impertinent little brat, we cannot go flying. When I'm tutoring you I am your teacher, not your friend."

"But you are my friend," Jack grinned slyly. "And you know you want to go flying too…"

"What I want is for you to pass Potions so I can finish my research paper in peace," Draco drawled. "You will prepare the ingredients at the very least. If and only if you do it properly, you can go."

Jack pouted. "You let Billy Johnson go flying…"

"Billy Johnson didn't decimate half the classroom with his concoction," Draco drawled, grading some papers Slughorn had 'forgotten'. "Keep slicing."

Jack worked in silence for all of thirty seconds before perking up again. "Slughorn's retiring next year," he chirped. Draco sighed. He was never going to get his paper done, it was time to accept it and move on.

"I'm aware," he replied. "Cut diagonally, and keep the slices as thin as possible."

"Will you be our new Potions Master?" Jack demanded.

"I… don't know," Draco replied. McGonagall had practically offered him the post, but he didn't want to get his hopes too high. That hadn't worked out well for him in the past.

"My mother says you shouldn't be allowed here," Jack pointed out. Draco stiffened. "Oh?" he asked, trying to sound neutral.

"I told her she's wrong," Jack carried on. "And that she shouldn't judge people without knowing them." He sounded incredibly proud of having told his mother off. Typical reckless Gryffindor.

"Thank you, Jack," Draco smirked. "However if you fail your Remedial Potions class, I will most certainly be kicked out. So keep at it, okay?"

He left the little boy to his potions and stepped out of the classroom. Jack would be fine slicing ingredients. Even he couldn't mess that up. Satisfied, Draco walked out of the dungeons and into the hallway.

He wasn't entirely sure what had made him come back to Hogwarts, but it had been good for him. There was still gossip and idle chatter about his… situation, but they were children and they didn't mean any harm. Plus, he could always deduct house points. McGonagall had been extremely helpful and he had discovered a new respect for the Headmistress who had accepted him so readily. It was a happy life, a peaceful one - and he enjoyed it. If it wasn't for the nights when he woke up with an inexplicable ache inside him, longing for the times when he had been here with… but that was in the past. He had moved on. He had.

Or he would, at least.

He grabbed a piece of toast in the Great Hall and waved off Horace's admonishments to "sit down for once and eat an actual breakfast." Draco could survive on toast and the despair of Hufflepuffs just fine. He did like to read about the outside world every now and then, though. So he nicked The Prophet from the Heads' Table and slinked off. He didn't read it very often, just sometimes. And not to check up if there was anything about Harry in the papers, thank you very much. Of course, it had been gratifying to know that Rita Skeeter had been fired last week for biased journalism and irresponsible slander without supporting evidence.

Thank you, Father.

He skimmed the paper and nearly choked on his toast. The headlines blazed at him from the page.

Canons Seeker Quits Team, Fans Devastated

In a startling turn of events, the Chudley Canons have announced that their star player and team Seeker - Harry James Potter - has resigned and will not be participating in the Season Finale. The announcement, made yesterday - barely a week before the World Cup - has left the country reeling. The Canons have had a sterling season so far, their best in years according to varied sources. Mr Potter who has been playing professional Quidditch for over four years cited personal reasons for leaving the team. "It was a great ride and I enjoyed it," he said. "It's just not where I'm supposed to be anymore." Mr Potter declined to comment on the whereabouts of his fiancé, Draco Malfoy. Fans across the country have expressed shock and outrage at the decision, but faith in the Canons remains strong. "Heidi Green will prove to be a brilliant Seeker," said team captain Oliver Wood. "And our new chaser…"

Draco stopped reading and flung the paper away as if it had burned. His head was reeling and he leaned against a pillar to catch his breath. Harry had quit the team. He had resigned and given up his shot at the Cup. Everything he had ever wanted and he'd just given it away. It was… perplexing, he decided. And certainly none of his business anymore.

But why?

And where was he now?

He didn't even realize that he was walking towards the Quidditch Pitch. He was so caught up in his rambling thoughts, that he didn't pay any attention to the random shouts and laughter on the Pitch. Until a familiar voice had him screeching to a halt.

"So when you make a turn, bend your knees just a bit. Not too much. You'll swerve. But if you don't, you'll drag and…"

Draco froze in shock, standing stock still and taking in the sight of his fiancé – ex fiancé –coaching a horde of eager Slytherins. One of them made a comment and Harry threw his head back and laughed. He pretended to whack the child with his broom and turned around. His eyes met Draco's and for a split second, the world seemed to collapse as Harry looked at him. It was intense and brutal to his frayed senses and Draco was simply appalled by the realization that he had missed him so damn much.

Harry swallowed and took a step towards him. Draco couldn't handle it. He turned and bolted.

He was aware of frantic footsteps thudding after him. It didn't surprise him at all that Harry was giving chase. He had pursued Draco relentlessly for four months, why would the bastard stop now? Except Draco had no intention of being caught. Not this time.

He practically flew down to the dungeons, weaving his way through random students and teachers, knocking over anything in his way. Harry refused to give up. He just followed Draco's trail of chaos, re-trampling people and crashing onwards.

Draco snarled in frustration. That's it. He was done. This was the last fucking straw!

He took a sharp right into a classroom and hid behind a door, waiting for Harry to follow. Sure enough, the idiot barged in looking around for him wildly. Draco stepped out from behind the door and picked up the biggest, heaviest tome he could find. Potter registered movement and turned. His eyes widened and he ducked, just in time to avoid a face full of Chapter 34.

"Stop chasing me!" Draco snarled, picking up another book. He threw that as well and Potter took cover behind a desk.

"Come out and fight like a man, Potter!" Draco shouted.

"Like a man?" Potter retorted, still cowering. "You're the one throwing books around like some bitchy teenager!"

Draco would have happily strangled him. "You have some nerve, Potter! You hunted me downagain! You dare to show your face here and now you're insulting me!"

"You're trying to behead me! I think we're even."

Draco nearly exploded. "How dare you say that? We will never be even! Not after what you did!"

"I know! I know! I'll spend my whole life making it up to you if you just stop trying to end it!"

"No!" Draco bellowed, throwing book after book after book, and not particularly caring if it hit or not. "I hate you! I left you! And I don't! Want! You! Here!" Each word was punctuated by a new book being hurled at Potter's stupid head. A sharp edge scraped his arm and he hissed but made no move to retaliate.

Draco didn't care. He threw everything he could find at Potter - books, manuscripts, the blackboard and most impressively, a suit of armour - but the man just took it. At some point, Draco sank to the floor in exhaustion and Potter cautiously poked his head out from the desk.

"Is it safe to come out now?" he asked tentatively, crawling over the rubble.

"Get lost, Potter," Draco mumbled without any real heat. The pain was setting in again, and Potter only brought back hurt and resentment. There was no room for anger.

"Draco," Harry whispered, crouching next to him. He looked like he was about one step from tears. "Oh Draco, I missed you…"

"Shut up," Draco snapped, hedging away. "And stay away from me."

Potter met him halfway. He sat down next to him, keeping a respectful distance. "I tried to find you," he murmured.

"I tried to make sure you couldn't," Draco replied.

"Why?" Harry asked, sounding genuinely hurt. "I get you're angry and upset, I do. But damn it Draco, I was… I didn't even know if you were dead or alive for a while. It killed me not knowing you were okay."

Draco didn't acknowledge that admission. "You quit the team," he said instead.

"It wasn't important anymore," Harry shrugged. "It never was, I think."

"What about the Cup?"

"I bet on Puddlemere United this year," Harry smiled. "They've got a pretty good Seeker."

Draco smirked before remembering who this was. He scowled at Potter. "Stop making me laugh. I'm angry with you,"

"Sorry," Harry said. "For everything, I mean. Not…"

"I know what you mean," Draco shrugged. "Do you expect me to come running back in your arms?"

Harry sighed. "No. Although that would be fucking brilliant. I miss holding you."

Draco mulled on that in silence for a while. Harry didn't interrupt him. "You should have told me," he said finally. "That it was just a contract. It wouldn't have hurt so much then."

"It wasn't," Harry cried. "Well, it was at first. But… I wasn't lying to you, Draco. I loved you more than anything. I still do."

Draco stared at him, eyes bright and throat clenched. "I…" he shuddered and looked away. "I can't say it back."

"You don't have to," Harry soothed, reaching out and touching his shoulder. He flinched but didn't move away. "I just wanted you to know that."

"Is that why you chased me down like a maniac?" Draco muttered. "Because you love me?"

"I chased you down because you ran," Harry smirked. "You always run."

"You always follow."

"I always will," Harry shrugged.

"Why?"

"Because if I keep chasing you, I'll catch you one day," he replied. "And I won't be stupid enough to let you go again."

Draco clenched his fists and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "I can't do it, Harry," he whispered. "Not right now."

"Then don't," Harry insisted. "Don't do anything. Let me do it. Let me get to know you again. As friends, if you want. No more courting or dates or anything until you're ready. If you're ever ready. Just… don't run from me again. I'll never hurt you again, I promise. But I can't live through something like this again, Draco. I won't lose you, no matter how long it takes to earn your forgiveness."

"What if it's never?" Draco asked tonelessly.

"Then it's never," Harry shrugged. "That's my problem. Not yours."

"Oh." He didn't quite know what to say after that. It felt good, having that burden lifted from his shoulders. But that was what Harry always did. He took care of him. He looked after him. He… loved him.

"When will I see you again?" he asked Harry.

The Gryffindor grinned sheepishly. "Every day, I imagine."

"What?"

"I… okay, don't be mad. And please don't throw anything at me, I wasn't stalking you or anything, I swear. I mean, I hadn't really thought about it until I knew you were here but I always wanted to and then it just made sense and…"

"Potter, what did you do?" Draco growled.

Harry mumbled something that Draco couldn't catch. "I'm sorry, what?"

He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I said I'm the new Quidditch Coach for Hogwarts. Or I will be soon. Hooch is retiring in a month so I'm assisting her right now. But soon I'll be taking over the…"

"You what?" Draco blurted. "You're… teaching? Here?"

Harry nodded.

Draco gaped at him. "But… professional Quidditch and… teams would be falling over themselves to have you! You love Quidditch. You wanted to win the Cup! You're not… are you seriously giving all that up?"

"It's time," Harry replied. "I had my fun and it was brilliant. But, I just have more important stuff to focus on than some shiny trophy. Like my… boyfriend?" He sounded timid and awkward and Draco felt a surge of tenderness in his chest.

"You don't have to do that for me," he said, putting a hand on Harry's. "It's what you do and you love it."

"No, I love you. And this isn't about you, not entirely. It's just that… it was great, playing with the Cannons. But honestly, the most fun I ever had was with these kids, watching them fly and loving it. Showing them how to catch the Snitch, watching Gryffindor and Slytherin fight it out. And if Billy Johnson makes it into the Cannons one day and I'm the one who got him there, I think I can live with that."

Draco chuckled. "So you're sure about this?" he asked. "Giving it all up and staying here?"

"I've never wanted anything more," Harry replied. "Except you, probably," he added with a nudge to Draco's shoulder.

Draco flushed and stared at the book in his hands, fiddling with it. "I really should throw this that you," he muttered grudgingly. He sighed and chucked it away. "Like that's ever helped before." Harry laughed and Draco smirked, stopping to give him a quizzical look. "You're never really going to bugger off, are you Harry?"

Harry grinned and squeezed his hand. "Never," he promised.

HOLD IT! Everyone put DOWN the pitchforks. Now, I know we were all looking for a good old fashioned tears of joy reunion.

Here's the thing. In my mind at least, Draco wouldn't be quite so eager to forgive and Harry would have to woo him back. That will take time- trust is a big thing to lose. And I think I speak for most of us when I say that if Draco just waltzed back in Harry's arms, we'd lose all respect for him. Yes? Awesome.

So here's what's going to happen. I'll be posting an epilogue tomorrow to tie up all the lose ends- including the supporting cast. It's the least I can do after all your love and support.

Cheers and stay tuned for the epilogue!