Draco stared with wide silver eyes, his back as stiff as a board. Harry walked over to where he stood, making sure to keep a three foot distance.
"What?" Draco stammered, his voice high in pitch.
"I helped your mother into the castle for protection. She decided to come on her own, telling me after she set off," Harry confessed, staring down at the floor. "I knew you hadn't had contact with her since the trial, but I still wrote to her for the two weeks she was in Azkaban. In reality, I was the one that helped her escape. I didn't know your father shared the same cell, so he escaped as well. She ran to Germany, while I stayed in England, averting the Ministry from her location."
"You were the one that broke her out?" Draco asked, panic in his voice. He sat on the bed, clutching the ring in his hand. "How did you do it?"
"I disguised myself and sneaked into Azkaban. I used a basic charm to unlock the door, and lead your parents out. Your mother refused to travel with your father, so it was just me and your mother," Harry explained, carefully placing himself next to the blonde. "I lead her as far as the border between Belgium and Germany. By then it was known your parents had escaped. I had to return to England to cover my tracks, as well as Naricissa's. She arrived here less than an hour ago."
"She's here?" Draco yelled, suddenly grabbing onto Harry's arm. His eyes were full of life and new hope. Harry nodded. Draco stood to his feet, heading for the door.
"Wait!" Harry called, his speech not yet done. Draco turned around, his face smiling.
"Why?" he asked, fidgeting happily. "Is she bathing? She loves being in water, I've seen her naked before." Harry chucked slightly, shuffling to where the blonde stood.
"I just need to say something," Harry said, reaching for Draco's right hand. He looked into the silver orbs, complete in emotion and glistening in happiness. It was as if they were about to spill over, too full from such new feelings. Harry sighed, his heart dropping in his chest.
"Harry?"
"Just make sure the ring is actually on your finger. I don't want you to lose it." Harry opened his palm, placing the ring securely on Draco's right ring finger. Draco smiled at him, pulling Harry forward into a full hug. He squeezed tightly, Harry leaning forward slightly to deepen the embrace.
"Thanks," Draco murmured. "For everything."
He then left, leaving the brunette baffled. Harry watched as the door closed shut, silence sealing him in the suddenly lonely room. He smiled happily, proud of his accomplishment making Draco smile. Harry ran to the edge of his bed, grabbing his Invisibility cloak. He threw it over his shoulders before stepping out of the room, making his way to the dorm exit, into the dimly lit corridor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco dashed down the stairs, a shriek coming from the annoying Hufflepuff girl alone in front of the fire.
"Where is she?" he asked hurriedly, the girl jumping.
"U-upstairs, with Cho," she stammered, obviously scared of the blonde. Draco smiled.
"Thanks!" he called, invading the girls dormitory. Not five steps up, he ran into a firm, yet delicate body.
"What do you think your doing, Malfoy? This is the girl's dorm!" Cho said, her attitude stern and commanding.
"I'm well aware of that, Chang. I want to see my mother!" Draco demanded. Her face immediately softened, a wicked smile forming on her face.
"I take it he told you then? About his feelings?" She winked, Draco raising a thin eyebrow.
"I don't have the foggiest idea what you mean, but that's besides the point. Where is my mother?" the blonde asked again, this time taking two more steps up the stairs. Cho sighed, murmuring under her breath. Draco couldn't catch it, but he did hear 'Potter' somewhere in the mix.
"Fourth door on the left. Excuse me while I go crush a Gryffindor," Cho growled, storming away with the anger of a troll. Draco rolled his eyes, walking up the stairs to the fourth door. He breathed in deeply, knocking on the door roughly with his knuckles.
"Come in!" Draco's heart fluttered, the familiar voice bringing tears to his eyes. He slowly opened the door, a figure bent over a nightstand, shuffling through the contents.
"Cho, darling, I can't seem to find that vanilla perfume you talked abo-" Naricissa eyes widened, her breath hitching in her throat.
"Mum," Draco said, his hand falling from the door limply back by his side. The woman smiled sweetly, her arms opening wide. Draco lost his composure, running in tears into his mother's tight embrace. She kissed the top of his head, running her manicured fingers through his hair.
"Potter said you were here," Draco breathed into chest. Naricissa laughed.
"Consider me your Christmas gift from him. Now, let me get a good look at you," she sniffed, cupping Draco's face in her hands. She rubbed away stray tears, looking deep into his silver eyes. "Your hairs gotten so long. It's about to hit your shoulders!" she commented, smiling.
"Does it look horrid? The fairies said I should grow it out," Draco explained, blushing lightly. Naricissa raised an eyebrow.
"The fairies in the mysterious clearing?" she asked.
"Yeah. I found it earlier this year. How do you know about it?" he asked, his eyes widening.
"I used to visit that very same clearing in my days at Hogwarts. It bothered your father to high heaven," Naricissa replied, bringing her hands down to Draco's shoulders. "Would you mind if I visited?"
"Of course not, mother! We can go now, my cloak is in the dorm, I can go grab it!" Draco said excitedly, practically bouncing where he stood. Naricissa smiled widely, her face light.
"I'd like that."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry watched from the Astronomy tower as Draco made his way back outside, leading his mother toward the Forbidden forest. She had a large smile on her face, watching as Draco told her stories, or homework assignments, or whatever Malfoy's discussed. Harry's heart suddenly ached when Draco laughed, his mask completely removed in the presence of Naricissa; the familiarity and love between them could be noticed from miles around. A familiarity obviously too exclusive for himself to achieve.
"Harry James Potter, you no good, ungrateful, frustrating, empty-headed, bloody wanker!" Cho yelled, stomping his direction in a heated storm. She grabbed the front of his shirt successfully, even though he was under his cloak. She tugged it off his body, her anger boiling. "Care to explain why Malfoy had no idea what I was talking about when I referred to your feelings for him? After all you've done?"
"I just didn't tell him-"
"Why?" she demanded, shaking him slightly.
"Okay, alright, take it easy!" Harry pleaded. "Let me go!" Cho let his front untangle from her grasp, his feet touching the floor again. Harry breathed in, coughing.
"Well? What's your excuse? I tried to help you, you had it done perfectly, yet you bailed!" Cho asked, tapping her foot against the floor. She crossed her arms across her chest, annoyance her only expression.
"You didn't see his face," Harry said, sadly. He played with the sides of his cloak, collecting and releasing the fabric multiple times.
"What about his face?"
"I don't know, it was just his face. He was so happy, so full of life. I've never seen him that way before," Harry explained dreamily, his eyes sad and cold. "I guess I realized, after seeing him like that, there was nothing more I could give him. He finally had what he wanted." Cho groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You men and your dull understanding. You just don't get love, do you?" she yelled, her voice echoing in the tower. "That was the perfect time! He must have been practically begging for a confession! Did he look even a little bit discouraged when he left?"
"No, and it really hurt! It was as if he didn't care about me the same way I care about him," Harry exclaimed as a fist hit the top of his head. He rubbed the sore area, about to snap at the Ravenclaw. "That hurt!" he cried.
"Good! I hope it di-" Cho turned suddenly, something in the distance calling her attention. Harry followed suit, his eyes widening as the single light coming in their direction.
"Tinker Bell?" The green fairy flew toward his face, out of breath, pointing toward the forest. Harry extended his hand, the small being sitting down immediately. Harry petted the top of her head, pixie dust covering his hand.
"What's wrong with her?" Cho asked, peering over Harry's shoulder. Tinker Bell continued pointing, her bell voice echoing in the tower. Cho listened intently, nodding every few seconds. She gasped.
"Aurors have Draco and Naricissa surrounded! They want to arrest them both!" she said, her voice high and squeaking.
"Can everyone understand the fairies except for me?" Harry asked with a sigh, shaking his head.
"Harry, we need to go help them!" Cho yelled, pulling his cloak toward the stairs. Harry stumbled, Tinker Bell taking the lead. Harry ran after her, catching up with Cho. They continued running, so more words needed to be said. Harry drew his wand pointing at the snow as they exited the entranceway. The snow melted, creating a clear, walkable path to their destination.
"I hope you have a plan. These are trained Aurors we're talking about!" she said between strides, her wand extended in front of her as they stepping inside the forest boundaries. Harry snorted.
"Oh please. Of course I do," Harry replied nervously, steadying himself as he tripped over a large root.
"What is it, exactly?" she asked, her breaths shallow and sharp. Harry smirked, an idea finally reaching his mind. He looked in her direction, giving her a wicked smile.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco lead his mother happily toward the clearing, a new warmth within his stomach.
"Draco, slow down! I cannot keep up, not in this snow!" Naricissa called from ten feet behind, her skirt collected in her hands as she stepped over the damp forestry. Draco laughed, climbing over a low-lying branch blocking him for, his destination. He tripped, landing face first in the white, soft ground. He rolled onto his back, a wand pointed directly between his eyes.
"I'd remain silent if I was you, boy," a deep, looming voice echoed as Draco scrambled to his feet, his shoulders picked up by Naricissa's manicured hands. Draco watched as five more men appeared from the bushes, the one in the center pulling out a clipboard from behind his back.
"Naricissa Beverly Malfoy, you are hereby under arrest for use of Unforgivable curses, murder, manslaughter, theft, and false testimony under oath. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." he said in monotone.
"But-" Draco yelled.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy, you are hereby under arrest for violation of your parol and the smuggling of a convicted felon to personnel other that the Ministry or branches of said
Ministry."
"My son is doing nothing wrong! I will come quietly, as long as all charges on my son are dropped," Naricissa demanded, clutching Draco tighter by the shoulders.
"That won't be necessary, Cissy." Draco turned his head to the left, his face brightening.
"Harry!" he called as the brunette stood in front of the two, his wand extended, Cho Chang following suit. They looked out of breath, a green light resting on Harry's shoulder. The Aurors froze, all lowering their heads as they took two steps away.
"Sir Harry Potter! Forgive us, but we must insist you step aside. These criminals must be apprehended!" the man said, motioning toward the shaking pair. Harry pointed his wand directly at the Auror, smiling as he stumbled.
"Officer Packard, I don't know why Shacklebolt even consitered sending Auors to Hogwarts when he knows full well I'm here, but whatever their bail is, consider it done. Take whatever is needed from my vault at Gringotts, I know there is enough there to cover the charges." Harry said firmly, his figure unmoving and sure.
"But, sir-"
"Now!" Harry yelled, flicking his wand toward one of the left Aurors. He soared into the air, an unmanly scream echoing through the trees, becoming entangled within the branches. The remaining five men gasped, watching in horror as their comrade was beaten in the pine trees' waving branches.
"Alright! Their bail is paid! Please, Sir Potter!" Officer Packard begged, throwing the clipboard to Harry's feet. "Take whatever you want! Please let him go!"
"Alright then," Harry smiled, dropping the spell. The Auror fell to the ground with a thud, a cloud of snow muffling his fall. Draco gasped, gripping his mothers dress tighter. Cho shot a glance at him, her laugher filled with amusement. Harry rolled his eyes, refocusing his attention on the group of men.
"Leave. And tell Shacklebolt that his headache has only just begun," he threatened, taking the clipboard from it's place soaking in the snow. The men nodded silently, Packard about to burst into tears. With a crack they appearated away, leaving them in silence. Harry brushed the snow form the clipboard, turning toward the two Malfoy's. He laughed slightly.
"You know, although I hate my title, it does come In handy from time to time." Harry flipped through the multiple pages of charges the Malfoy's were placed with. Naricissa sniffed, pulling a wide eyed Draco off of her sleeve. She rushed toward Harry, arms open wide. The woman clutched onto him tight, kissing his cheek.
"Thank you again," she muttered, adjusting his slightly crooked collar. She stood up straight, placing her hands in front of her body, looking at Harry intently. "Now, since you are so easy to read it is my understanding you need to speak with my son in private." Draco looked intently at Harry, a confused look gracing his features.
"You got that right!" Cho murmured, turning to leave. Naricissa followed closely behind a green light rushing toward Draco's face.
"Tink?" he gasped as the fairy buzzed around his head happily.
"She told me you were in danger. I came as fast as I could," Harry said, reaching to pat the small being on the top of the head. She moved about excitedly, Draco's face turning a deep shade of pink.
"What she say?" Harry asked, scrunching his eyebrows.
"That when she was approaching you and Chang in the tower, she overheard you saying you have... affections toward me," the blonde whispered, Tinker Bell's head nodding rapidly. She smiled toward Harry, winking before fluttering off. Harry shuffled in his place, his right hand reaching for the back of his head. He rubbed his neck, trying to mask his obvious embarrassment.
"Well, I- I thought- I mean-" Harry stammered, turning his back toward the blonde. "I guess you can say I have affections, but who doesn't, you know? We all are affectionate toward something, whether it be a person or an animal or career. I mean, affections are mere feelings, just deeper ones-"
"Potter." Draco said, breaking the brunette's babbling phase. Harry turned his head, his green eyes widening. The blonde was staring directly into his eyes, his own countenance pink. He raised his right hand, the sapphire ring sparkling on his finger. "This was you attempt to win me over, wasn't it?" Harry's mouth gaped open, snapping shut.
"It is," he answered simply. Draco sighed, walking toward the brunette.
"How long?" he asked.
"What?"
"I don't know, Potter! How long have you watched me so intently?" Draco asked again, his face inches away from Harry's. He stopped there, his breath fogging Harry's glasses.
"In literal sense, sixth year," he answered. "But I didn't realize how far my feelings could go up until a week ago. I'm still trying to figure you out, and I'm baffled at your complexity. Your such a puzzle, finding out who you really are is one of my greatest motivations." Draco smiled, taking Harry's hand into his own, lacing their fingers together delicately.
"That has to be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me," he said with a smile, inching closer. Harry laughed, raising a hand to grasp the side of Draco's face.
"You need to get out more." He leaned down, lightly pressing his lips against Draco's. They stayed there a moment, taking their time learning each other's warmth. Harry could feel Draco shivering, the coldness in the air chilling his skin. Harry grasped his waist, pulling him closer to his chest. Draco gasped at the sudden movement, Harry invading his mouth with his tongue.
An explosion of rainbow lights burst from the trees, making the two men separate. The lights danced in spirals, racing around the clearing in a beautiful dance. Undoubtedly the fairies staging a marvelous show. Harry returned his gaze to Draco, who watched the movements with excitement. He was smiling, his hands resting on Harry's chest. Harry pecked his cheek.
"Happy Christmas, Draco." Harry whispered, in his ear. Draco pressed himself against Harry, turning to kiss his lips again. The blonde rested his head lightly on Harry's chest.
"Happy Christmas, Harry."