Author's Note: I promise I haven't completely disappeared. I should probably update this fic, huh? Heh... Man, do you ever read something you wrote a long time ago, and you feel silly because it seems bad to you now? That's kind of like what this fic is to me (it was complete by the time I posted the first few chapters, just unedited). Actually, it's just very loosely edited (err, oops), but here's chapter twenty-one!

Chapter 21

"Harry, are you okay?" Harry stared vacantly in front of him. For the past three days people had come into his hospital room congratulating him on his fantastic success. Hermione had told him that Nathanial's funeral had taken place during the three days he had been passed out.

He had not only lost enormous amounts of blood, but Dorian had managed to dig deep enough with his teeth that he had injected some venom into Harry's heart. It had taken a while for him to recover, but by now he was almost good as new. They just wanted to keep him to make sure the venom wouldn't have some long-term effects.

"I'm fine," Harry lied. Nathanial's death had played in his head over and over again since the raid. Of course, they had been successful. Dorian and the rest of the vampires were dead. And while he was happy every time he thought about the fact that Dorian would no longer be able to hurt anyone, it didn't mean that he thought they had won.

Even looking past Nathanial's death, how many of those vampires had been brainwashed or were innocent. What if they had just needed a place to stay? What if the only reason they put up any kind of a fight was because they were afraid that they would get killed.

"Harry, are you listening to me?" Harry nodded, although he had no clue what Hermione had just said. "No you weren't. Harry, please." He looked up at Hermione, although he said nothing else. "We found a cure." Suddenly, he felt frozen. A cure – was it even possible? "I think it's going to be painful, but it shouldn't be any worse than turning."

"You're sure it's going to work?" He had even forgotten about turning back into a human. Being a vampire felt so natural. Did he really want to change back? What if something went wrong? Maybe it was safer to just stay like this...

"I'm almost entirely positive. Harry, please, I'm not saying you're going to magically get better, but something will change if you become human again. It's affecting you more than you know." Hermione still didn't understand.

"It isn't that. What if I killed an innocent one, one like me? And what about Nathanial?"

"I haven't seen you like this since the war. What happened with Nathanial exactly?" She sat down beside him on the bed and handed him the vial of blood. "Drink it." He shook his head. His stomach hurt, but he wanted to save it. It was the only thing that was truly Draco anymore. And every time it was gone he just felt like he hurt more. "Harry James Potter, you will drink this right now." Her bossy tone managed to even make him laugh.

"Geez, Hermione. I'll do it." He uncorked it, and downed it. Like always, it tasted off since it wasn't fresh, but it still was better than nothing. He relaxed a little as Hermione leaned over, fixing his pillows.

"Now, tell me what happened with Nathanial."

"I couldn't save him. It was like Draco with William. I mean, I didn't love him, but still. He needed my help, and I just had to watch him die. He wanted to be my friend, I think. And it was his first case." Harry felt sick, almost as if he was going to vomit. "He hadn't even turned eighteen yet. Did you know that?" She shook her head, her eyes widening. "Kingsley told me. I asked him. He had just gotten out of Hogwarts half a year ago. He should've had his whole life ahead of him. But I was too incompetent to save him."

"That's not your fault. Someone else could've tried to get him free."

"They weren't able to."

"Harry, you can't blame yourself. He went in there knowing the risks." She reached over, her hand hovering above his. Harry pulled away. "Look, remember the vampire you threw against a wall?" That thought seemed to familiar.

"Yeah, what of him?"

"We captured him alive. Kingsley wasn't sure whether this would upset you or not... I shouldn't be telling you this." She fidgeted and scooted closer.

"Tell me what exactly?" After a pause, she leaned forward, looking around suspiciously as if the walls had ears.

"They were all centuries old. They all knew what Dorian was doing and they all supported him. They let go of the 'innocents' or whatever you call them because they found out that you had given them freedom. They were afraid that if they knew where they were, one of them might escape and alert us. The ones you killed were like Death Eaters for vampires." Harry mulled this over. If it was true... But why would that have been a big secret?

"Why didn't Kingsley want me to know this?"

"We killed him – the last one. He was afraid you might get angry knowing they were all dead. But you did a good thing." A smile started to spread across Harry's face, but wavered as Hermione spoke again. "Look, if you're going to take the potion, I recommend you do it now. We're going to do it at the hospital in case anything happens to you."

"I don't know whether I want to..."

"Why not?"

"If it works, Draco will take it too." Hermione looked confused. "Hermione, what he loves about me is everything he saw in William."

"It could've changed. I mean, you're the only person that's stood by his side throughout all of this."

"William would have done the same. Can we change topics?" Hermione paused for a moment, and then nodded.

"Sure."

"Just a question..." Although he had wanted to ask, he hadn't had the chance to quite yet. "I don't want to talk about it for long, but what exactly happened with Lucius Malfoy?"

"Well, he has a life sentence in Azkaban."

"No, not that. Why did he change me into a vampire?" Hermione sighed and strummed her fingers on the table.

"He wanted to hurt you. Well, he actually hoped to kill you. But he thought that if you were turned into a vampire, we'd kill you, thinking that you were a threat. And he also didn't want it to be traced back to him. I mean, Draco was the only person who he thought had any chance of telling, but he thought Draco was under his wing."

"Under his wing?"

"He just thought that he could control him. And he didn't really expect Draco to be your mate. Who knows what might've happened had some stranger been your mate." Harry nodded. Of course, the thought was impossible to grasp. He couldn't imagine falling for anyone except for the blond.

"I see..."

"But you see what I mean?" Harry nodded. Yet again there was more proof that Draco had helped. And still he was rotting away in Azkaban.

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Hermione had managed to convince him to take the potion. It tasted vile, and as he tried swallowing it, he could already feel the transformation starting to take place. He screamed as the room faded out from around him and liquid fire burned and froze within him at the same time. His heart groaned as it tried to start again, and the first thump echoed throughout him.

Harry thought it was never going to end. It reached all the way to the tips of his fingers. It felt as if nails were growing inside of him and piercing through him. Like someone was peeling his skin off. Like he was being bathed in some sort of acid.

When Harry finally awoke, it was with frantic faces above him. "Is he going to be alright? Oh, God, Mr. Potter? Can you hear me, Mr. Potter?" A Healer was hovering above him and slowly came into sight. Harry tried to speak, but he found his voice to be raspy. He barely managed to make out a few sounds before the Healer started speaking again. "I've never heard anyone scream like that for twelve hours straight. Bloody hell..." True enough, his throat hurt. Harry propped himself up, reaching over for his glasses on the bedside table.

"I'm fine," he mouthed. I'm fine... Shaking his head in disbelief, Harry's hands reached up toward his teeth and he felt along the edge. They weren't sharp. "Mirror," he mouthed, and trying mimicking looking into one. Ron nodded and jumped up. "Err, Accio mirror!" One flew into his hands and he handed it to Harry.

"Here you go, mate." Ron beamed down at him. Harry could tell by his rumpled clothes that he had stayed her all night. Hermione was awake too, and she paced back and forth.

He could see himself – messy hair, his father's eyes and all. And he had never felt happier. Hell, he wasn't narcissistic, but somehow he had imagined that he would look different. Still, he was the same old Harry that he remembered. He wanted to express his joy, but no words came out of his mouth. Still, he beamed at Ron and Hermione who beamed right back at him.

"This might do this trick," the Healer said, smiling as well. She handed him a potion, which Harry eagerly gulped down.

"Testing, testing..." His voice sounded broken, but at least he could talk.

"I'm really glad it worked, mate," Ron added, awkwardly patting him on the shoulder. "And I can actually touch you without Hermione going mental on me."

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione flung herself forward, squishing Harry in a giant hug, knocking the breath out of him.

"I think you might have gotten my super-strength, Hermione. Let go, please."

"Oh, right, sorry," she pulled back, and shrugged, still smiling like a madwoman. "You're alright. You really are."

"I seem to be." For once something had worked out like it was supposed to. He was human.

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Sometimes Harry felt as if he was just going through the same actions. Even at work there would be times where he'd stare vacantly in front of him. Wake up, get ready, eat breakfast, go to work, come home, eat dinner, sleep. Rinse and repeat. Some days went by easier than others. And some days barely went at all. There were times where he felt as if it was impossible that he was human again, it hurt so much. He'd wake up crying and screaming in the middle of the night, staring at the empty pillow beside him.

If nothing else, it had been proof that he had fallen for Draco. There was something about the blond that was so damn amazing, and he could feel his absence everywhere. It frightened him. What was he going to do once Draco came back from Azkaban? There was nothing linking them anymore. He didn't need Draco's blood or touch to survive. Why would Draco even want to help him? It was only thanks to him that he was in Azkaban.

The days counted down. Winter came and went, and the flowers blossomed. It seemed to rain every day leading up to the release, and Harry would just stare outside the window. He'd watch the trees sway in the wind and the grey clouds descend. Sometimes he'd even go outside and stand there, much to the amusement of many of the onlookers. The rain cleared his head.

Soon there were only three more days left. Harry could hardly believe it. It had seemed like ages while it was happening, but now that it was over, it seemed impossible to admit that was six months. Harry couldn't sleep those last three days. Every time he closed his eyes, Draco sparkled behind his eyelids, taunting him. He was just out of reach, and every time Harry would try to imagine facing him again, Draco would suddenly turn angry and snarl at him.

Of course, Draco was still a vampire. Kingsley had refused to let them do anything about that. It was, he believed, only fair for him to get equal treatment as everyone else. He could get blood because that was almost a matter of life or death – or, at least, a matter of torture. In turning him human, he would be given a favour. That was only to happen after he had been released. Would Draco even be able to look at him after this whole mess?

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Harry shuffled his feet and stared at the empty stretch ahead of him. The sky was a brilliant stretch of purple. It was slightly chilly, and Harry hugged his leather jacket before sitting down. He curled up, arms wound around his knees. It was a strange spot to be reunited with someone, Harry couldn't help but think. It was almost pretty, even if it was cold. It was fairly close to Azkaban, though, and it was an easy spot to Apparate to.

Still, it was strange. Harry almost felt as if he was in a Muggle landscape painting. It was unusually picturesque and altogether quite unrepresentative of how Harry felt. He stared ahead of him waiting. He had only been here for fifteen minutes. He was sure Draco wouldn't get here for at least another fifteen. He had come half an hour earlier than he was supposed to. The last thing he wanted was for Draco to appear and have to wait for him.

Grabbing a piece of grass, he plucked it out of the root and began tearing it to pieces. His stomach tumbled and rumbled. He hadn't been capable of holding food down either. Every time he tried to eat, and Hermione had forced him to multiple times now, he ended up vomiting. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the food; it was just that he couldn't handle it. The thought of Draco made him obscenely nervous. What would Draco say to him? It had been six months, and he hadn't exactly been off at a vacation resort.

"Oh, hi, Draco, long time no see," he muttered to himself. Yeah, that would go over well.

"I guess it has been..." The wearied voice made Harry's head jump up. Draco stood several metres away from him, a wizard by his side. The wizard bowed his head and Apparated away, leaving the two of them alone. Oh, God, Draco was here with him. What was he going to do? Before he could stop himself, Harry flung up to his feet and rushed at Draco, wrapping his arms around him.

"I'm missed you so much. Oh, God. Draco..." He could feel Draco tense up underneath his grasp, but he couldn't let go. He just hugged tighter, feeling as if letting go would suddenly make Draco nothing more than a phantom memory. Suddenly Draco's hands pushed him in the chest, and Harry stumbled backwards.

"Your blood... Harry, I can't." He reached over with his arm, covering his nose. It was only then that Harry noticed how incredibly gaunt Draco looked. He could see the bones in his arms, and his face looked like someone had squeezed all of the life out of it. If he was able to smile it would have surprised Harry. The realisation of what had happened seemed to hit Harry all over again, and suddenly he found himself coughing, barely able to breathe. Tears squeezed out of his eyes, and he moved closer to Draco.

"No, I trust you." But Draco merely shook his head weakly, taking a few more steps back. He looked completely unlike himself, so out of it and frightened, his back bent over slightly as his eyes flashed. It was obvious he barely could keep himself from lunging at Harry.

"I didn't believe them. I could taste the difference, but seeing you as a mortal..." Draco shuddered. "I can hear your heart beat." Harry moved forward, stretching out his neck.

"Take it Draco. Please." The blond snarled, losing self-restraint and moving forward. His teeth pierced Harry's skin. The pain was amazing, and it flashed through him. Quickly it was replaced but that warm feeling Harry had obsessively tried to imagine for the past few months. Moaning, Harry wrapped his hands around Draco, using him as support. The blond took a giant gulp, and Harry could already feel himself getting dizzy. He pushed slightly at his chest, but Draco continued drinking. Harry could feel the warmth, and pushed up against Draco again. Draco's bulge pressed against his thigh, and Harry gasped. He could barely focus.

"Draco..." Harry whispered, trying yet again to weakly get away. The words seemed to spark something, and Draco leapt back, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

"That was dangerous! How could you – I could have killed you..." Draco's eyes flashed with fear at the thought. Still, Harry couldn't help that he at least had more colour in his cheeks. Taking out hid wand, he pressed the tip to the wound, and with a shaking hand sealed the wound.

"But you didn't." Draco still shook his head angrily, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Why are you still being so nice to me?" He finally asked when he had calmed down a bit. His voice was small, and he looked like a small child in need of comfort. Harry stepped forward, pulling Draco into a hug. His hand stroke Draco's back soothingly, and the blond trembled under his touch.

"Let's sit down," Harry muttered, and the two of them moved toward the grass. When they were seated comfortably, Harry spoke again. "I don't know whether you remember what I said before, but I –" He couldn't believe he was going to say this. Harry had compulsively repeatedly the words to himself for six months, and yet he had never dared to say them aloud. There was something different in speaking them, especially to him. "I love you, Draco. You were all I could think about. When you were gone, it hurt. I felt so alone..." Draco shook his head, looking as if he was going to cry.

"I was hoping you would change while I was gone."

"Change?" The words hit Harry, and he choked. "How can I change? Do you want me to stop loving you? Well, I'm sorry; I have no control over that." His voice cracked as he began crying again. Angrily he tried to push the tears back, but they came, and he used his sleeve to wipe them away. "It's not like I expected you to feel the same way. Fucking Harry Potter – it's not like I'm William or anything." Draco's hand reached out, and he wiped at a tear droplet that had stopped at Harry's nose.

"I don't know how I'm going to feel when I change. If I could make myself love you, I would." Harry laughed coldly, glaring at the grass. He knew that if he looked up at Draco he would just break down again. "This isn't coming out right. You've done more for me than anyone else. There wasn't a day that went by that I wasn't thankful that you were there. I – I can't do this now." He shakily attempted to get up, but only managed to pull himself half-up before he collapsed again, cradling his head in his hands.

"Look, let's not talk about it, then," Harry said. It was odd seeing Draco so fragile. The blond he knew was too proud to break down in front of him. Yet Draco unashamedly melted before him. He looked up at Harry with wide, terrified eyes, and Harry practically melted. Leaning forward, Harry pressed their lips together, shuddering as Draco immediately wrapped his arms around him. Draco pushed, and Harry toppled backwards onto the grass.

"God, I've missed you." Draco's tongue probed through Harry's lips and he tentatively reached out, tasting Harry. Harry groaned as Draco's hands pinned his own back against the soft ground. Their lips clashed, and Harry arched upward into the blond.

In Draco's mouth he could taste his own blood. The metallic taste was odd, but as Draco's pulled back, his hand sliding down Harry's chest, those thoughts were drowned away. With a small pop, the button on his trousers came undone. Draco's hand pushed underneath the boxers. Draco placed a trail of kisses up to his ear and lapped at his jawbone. "You taste so good."

Harry couldn't even reply. Draco gave a solid tug at his cock, and any words were lost somewhere in his moan. Draco's mouth moved over, and he nibbled his ear lightly, and his other hand moved to Harry's hair, yanking it back. The blond's tongue traced out his Adam's apple before moving lower. Draco's fingers hooked around the cloth and tugged downward.

"Fuck me, here? Draco, you're shameless," Harry panted, chuckling quietly. The words barely left his throat, and he went to move his hands upward.

"No," Draco growled. "Incarcerous." Ropes appeared, tying Harry's wrists together. Draco's eyes flashed in a sort of sick delight. Strangely enough, or rather, not strangely at all, Harry didn't mind. A part of him had longed to feel helpless, as he knew Draco could make him feel. Draco's teeth elongated and he used the tip to tear open the buttons on Harry's shirt. Gently he sucked at the skin, his tongue darting out. "Mine." The possessive tone to Draco's voice made Harry's cock twitch. Draco's fingers unravelled, and they instead tickled the inside of Harry's thighs.

"Tease," Harry managed to gasp out. His cock ached for Draco's touch, but the blond instead changed course, kissing him again. He suckled on Harry's lower lip, kneading it between his teeth. Somehow Harry had forgotten how amazing it felt. Draco's fingers moved toward the sensitive nubs on his chest, and he tweaked them, giving a satisfied purr as Harry mewled.

"You're such a slut, love," Draco said as Harry arched upward. But Draco's eyes caught on Harry's cock in its full glory, and he paused. It leaked against Harry's stomach, begging to be taken. Draco's mouth watered, and he moved downward, kissing the skin of Harry's thighs. Harry desperately thrust his hips forward. "But you're my little slut. Do you know how you look, Harry? You're desperate, and I can smell how badly you want to come. I can feel you humming, dying for me to suck your cock. That's what you want, isn't it?" Harry nodded, unable to form anything other than a gargled sound. "Are you sure? I can't hear you, love."

Draco licked Harry's inner thigh and bit down. As the blood rushed into Draco's mouth, Harry shouted. He could feel everything inside of him tense up. Draco must have sensed it as well because he pulled away, smirking. "Don't you want it? I still can't hear you." The tip of his tongue snatched the little beads of blood that formed where Draco had bitten, and he let them rest for a moment before he tasted it. Draco's face relaxed, and he let out an exaggerated moan.

"Of course I fucking want it." Harry struggled against the bounds, but the material merely scratched at his wrists.

"Would you be willing to beg for it?" His hand moved back to Harry's chest and he splayed his fingers out, rubbing the sensitive skin lightly.

"Please Draco..." Draco pulled away, feigning disinterest. "Pleasepleasepleasefuckmesuck me." His words blended together. "Please, I lo-" He cut off as Draco took him whole, his teeth scraping only lightly against the head. Harry arched upward, feeling everything inside of him expand and explode. He felt himself topple over the edge, and every nerve ending tingled as that feeling slowly ebbed away. Gasping for breath, he looked up at Draco and blushed. Some of his come dribbled down Draco's chin.

"My turn, love." Draco's expression disappeared as the blond flipped him over so that he could smell the musty ground. Faintly Harry could hear Draco muttering some spell, and there was a slight squishing sound. Then there was only the gentle probe behind him.

Draco's finger slipped between his cheeks, pushing against his hole. Already he felt his cock twitch again. He eased two fingers in, though, and Harry's gasp turned to one of pain. Draco was making small humming sounds attempting to calm him, but Harry squirmed uncomfortably, still limited by the ropes. But them Draco's finger hit that spot inside of him and he lit up.

"So, wanton..." Draco whispered, his eyes focusing as Harry's toes curled. He traced the shape of Harry's body as if trying to memorise it, and he continued to stroke that spot in Harry. Harry could barely comprehend how his body reacted, how he overflowed and every bit of him filled with warmth. Harry desperately pushed backward, trying to get more friction, and Draco obliged by adding another finger.

While the intrusion was uncomfortable, it was nothing compared to the pleasure that accompanied it. Harry pushed backward even more desperately, nearly coming undone as Draco fucked him with his fingers.

As Draco pulled out, Harry felt the cold hit him. There was the sound of a zipper being undone and then a pause. It seemed to last forever as Harry waited for what was to come, yet eventually he did feel the head of Draco's cock pressed against him. "I want to fuck you so badly. Six months..." Draco groaned and cut off as he slid into Harry. The burn put off Harry a bit, but then Draco thrust, shifting angles, and that spot light on fire again.

He could tell that Draco was already close. There had been so much leading up to this that it didn't take long for either of them to finish, a mere few thrusts was enough to do it for the blond. He came with a shout and Harry felt the warmth fill him up. He groaned as Draco reached underneath him, grabbing his cock and tugging rhythmically.

"Come for me," Draco groaned, pulling out with a strange pop. The silkiness of his voice was enough to do it, and Harry came undone for the second time, throwing his head back as stars shot before his eyes.

They collapsed on the grass, and it was only then that Harry noticed that the sun had set in the meantime. The stars glittered above them, and Harry flipped over as the bounds around his wrist came undone. For a moment all Harry could hear was the whistle of the grass in the breeze and their loud breathing, but then Draco's hand shot up.

"See that?" He pointed at a group of stars. "It's supposed to look like a dragon."

"What of it?" Harry could vaguely see what Draco was talking about. It looked more like a snake with a box for a head to him.

"That constellation is called Draco." That sounded familiar.

"Did we learn this in astronomy?"

"Probably." He paused. "And do you see that one over there? That star, I mean." Harry looked over to where Draco was pointing and noticed an unusually bright spot of light.

"Yeah..."

"That one is Sirius." Harry could hear Draco hold his breath. "I'm sorry, for everything that happened. For Fred and Lupin and Sirius...for Dumbledore." Harry nodded even though Draco wasn't looking at him.

"I know." Harry knew Draco wanted to hear more, to hear the words I forgive you come out of his mouth, but he couldn't do that. It wasn't his fault, and he didn't blame in. As much as Draco had been pushed onto the other side, what had happened had happened. It was merely in the past.