Hi! It's time! Time to find out if Harry's wish came true! Well? Read the chapter already and let me know what you think!

Lori

********** Chapter 6 **********

Far away – in the middle of London's wizarding sector – a dragon looked out over the cityscape. He sighed and felt sorry for himself. He was once again Voldemort's guard-dog and his green-eyed boy was nowhere in sight. The crescent moon was high above him and he thought it might be midnight. Suddenly, the dragon was on alert. He felt magic somewhere close to him. He saw a golden fog begin to form around his tower and flew closer to investigate. He sniffed at it but it did not have a scent. He used a talon to push at it but it did not move. He landed on the tower's roof and contemplated what this fog could be, when he finally felt something springing up deep inside his heart.

Emotions…love – longing – determination – hope…

Where did they come from? Draco wondered because he'd felt these particular emotions diminish slowly over the years. He reveled in these feelings. The love gave him a deliciously warm feeling and he wrapped himself in it. The longing and determination penetrated deep into his spirit and the hope engulfed his whole being.

Words rang clearly in his mind: "With all the love in my heart, I wish this wish for Draco: that he will keep hope alive in his own heart…that he will feel my love and determination to find and save him…that he can find within himself the will to resist his captor. This is my wish…"

He knew without a doubt that the words had been voiced by his green-eyed savior. His True Love was finally coming for him and he'd soon be safe in his arms.

********** LTF **********

After the candles had been blown out, and Kreacher had served the cake, Sirius and Severus – with Dumbledore's help – divulged the whole story of the night Voldemort took control of Britain's magical realms. When they reached the part about Draco's curse, they found that they could only speak of the deep sleep the blond went into each night. The fact that his spirit transformed into a corporeal dragon remained locked away in the mens' minds. Severus figured that some things would just need to be figured out by the one who was meant to break the spell.

When the story was over, Harry stood and paced the room. He felt too disturbed by the information to sit still.

"I say we storm the castle." Ron said with confidence. "My family will join us for a battle. How can they take all of us on?"

"I've seen a dragon protecting the castle at night." Pansy broke in. "It'll be too dangerous to go in when the beast is there."

"There's a dragon?" Harry stopped to look at the girl and smiled thinking of his stuffed toy. "I've always loved dragons…"

Sirius bit his lip as he saw the thoughts flicker in the green eyes of his future king.

"My dragon toy!" Harry gasped as he focused on his godfather. "It was named for Draco the boy not Draco the constellation!"

"The Malfoys gave you the toy on your second birthday." Severus told him before smirking at Sirius. "Is that what you told him – the constellation?"

Blaise smirked. "Draco likes hippogriffs… He has a toy hippogriff..."

"Its named Harry, isn't it?" Pansy blinked at her betrothed.

"You know, I believe it is." The older boy chuckled as the prince blushed.

"Indeed it is." Sirius divulged. "Harry's parents gave it to Draco on his first birthday."

"Aww!" Hermione dabbed her eyes. "That's so sweet!"

"Going back to the main topic though – I wonder how we'll get into the castle." Blaise looked like he wanted desperately to roll his eyes but was holding back because of Pansy's agreement with the sentiment. "With a dragon on guard it won't be easy."

"It may have to be slain." Pansy commented in a saddened tone.

Harry winced as if the words themselves had cut him and nobody was looking at the adults to notice that Sirius had clutched his lover's hand.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Hermione looked at each of her companions. "First, we'll need to arm ourselves. We all know magic and lots of spells but Voldemort will use the dark arts against us. Lord Black, can you help us prepare?"

"Yes, of course." Harry's godfather agreed and Severus promised to help as well. "But first you all must rest; Kreacher has prepared rooms for all of you. We'll continue this in the morning."

Harry was given a large bedroom at the highest point of the house; just under his godfather's owlry. Ron and Hermione were led to rooms on the next floor down. Blaise and Pansy were set up on the third floor and Severus accompanied his lover to the bedroom they would share, which was on the second floor.

********** LTF **********

Harry lay awake in the darkness.

His new bedroom was much larger than the one he'd had at his aunt and uncle's house. It was also not as cluttered which made it look sort of empty. He'd gotten into pyjamas and slipped beneath the covers but something was bothering him. His trunk was at the foot of the bed and it was slightly open. Harry got up quietly and went to close the trunk but when he got there he heard a whisper. Frowning, he lifted the lid but all Harry saw was the shield he'd been given three years before. Thinking of the shield made him think of the sword and the strange chest he'd also received that year.

Sirius had told Harry that it was his betrothal chest and showed him how to open it but Harry had left the chest largely alone. Now it wordlessly beckoned him. He lifted the chest out of his trunk and set it on the seat of the chair beside his bed. Realizing that he needed a way to draw a bit of blood, he called his godfather's house elf for a needle. After pricking his finger, the elf watched as Harry placed the drop of blood and healed the young prince's injury before taking the needle away.

Harry lifted the lid of the chest and found a very plain circlet, a simple looking wedding band and a key. As he contemplated the items, he failed to notice the door to his room open.

"I see you've finally opened it." Sirius' voice made Harry jump slightly. The older man chuckled as his godson glared at him. "Aw, Harry… don't be cross with me!"

"How did you know I'd need you?" Harry asked solemnly.

"There's a charm on this room that alerts me if blood is drawn." Sirius told him. "I cast that ward a long time ago when I decided to make this your room."

Harry was silent for a moment and then he showed his godfather the open chest. "Why is the crown so simple…and the ring?"

"Your fathers negotiated long and hard over which of you would be the sire of the children versus the bearer and thereby King versus Royal Consort." Sirius told Harry with a strange expression. "With a heterosexual couple this wouldn't be an issue of course, but being that you were both boys…" He shook his head and shrugged with a sigh. "Narcissa insisted that such a decision rested with the two of you directly and Lily agreed so, rather than allow your fathers to dictate that, she and Lily told them it didn't matter and refused to let them set anything in stone…they were adamant that you retain the choice of who would bear the children."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Harry frowned, very confused.

Severus cleared his throat from the doorway, startling them both. "Lucius did not want to let the issue go so he asked his wife which crown each of you would wear or which of you would be 'in charge' of the other – so to speak."

"It was decided that you would take the lead not only because you were older but your monarchy is older, richer and more powerful." Sirius informed him carefully. "So the crowns were designed with Draco's being the Royal Consort in mind while yours is more intricate as that is partially what denotes the King over the Consort."

"I see…" Harry stated. "Let me guess – my ring and crown are in Draco's betrothal chest."

"Yes. They are in Draco's possession." Severus nodded. "Now, Lily and Narcissa were also the ones to choose the enchantments for the crowns and wedding bands. They chose simple ones and spelled them to transfigure into a form that pleases its wearer."

Sirius smiled. "At your wedding, you must picture the rings as you wish to see them every day for the rest of your lives."

"And at your coronations, you will simply picture the crown you wish to wear." Severus told Harry quietly. "First there are things which must be attended to…and you must rest so that you can tend to them properly, Your Highness."

Harry nodded and closed the chest again.

"You didn't ask about the key, Harry." Sirius mentioned casually as he and Severus walked toward the door.

"Professor Dumbledore taught me about marriage traditions of the magical world, Siri." Harry blushed. "I know what the key is all about."

The older man grinned. "Thought about that part of it, have you?"

Severus sighed and made a face. "I do not wish to hear this. Good night."

"Good night, Harry." Sirius smiled at his godson as the sixteen year old climbed into bed. "Sleep well, and remember: a dream is a wish your heart makes…"

Harry stared after his godfather. "Cryptic much?"

All this talk of dreams and wishes brought to mind the very real wish he'd made a few short hours ago. Harry hoped the wish had worked but he would've given a lot to know for sure. He sighed wistfully, closing his eyes only to open them a moment later. The stars twinkled at him from far above but Harry hardly noticed for the vision that appeared in front of him.

A figure smiled at him from the foot of his bed. The figure had pale skin and very pale blond hair.

"It's you!" The figure said softly as he sat on the chair beside Harry. "You're my green eyed boy."

Harry sat up and faced the blond. "You know me?"

The figure nodded slowly. "I've dreamed of you…"

"And I, you…" Harry stared in wonder.

"You're just how I pictured you would be…" The figure smiled and faded to nothing but starlight.

"Draco…" Harry whispered into the night as he stared up at the constellation by the same name until he finally fell asleep.

********** LTF **********

During breakfast, Blaise and Pansy were able to tell Harry only a little about that fateful night when Draco had turned twelve.

"I could tell he wasn't having a very good time, you know." Pansy told Harry. "He had this distant smile on his face while he opened his gifts and most of the children there said he was acting like a snob but I had a feeling it was just because he didn't know anyone."

"It really creeped me out when his guardian led him away." Blaise shivered. "It was like a prisoner being escorted back to their cell after a family visit…only without restraints."

"It was then that Voldemort told Draco about being his betrothed and that they would marry when Draco reached the proper age." Harry reminded them. "He was shown the people Voldemort ruled and given the chance to make their acquaintance but when Draco said what he did – denying Voldemort of his approval – Draco forfeited all of that…in Voldemort's point of view."

"Poor Draco!" Hermione whispered with a frown.

Even Ron looked sad for Harry's betrothed while he and Hermione began to inform him about the state of things here in Scotland since the Potters' deaths. "There are many supporters of you and your family, Prince Harry, but they're mostly in hiding because Voldemort's agents are looking for them."

"They're looking for you as well, Harry." Sirius told his godson. "They've been looking for you since the night your parents died. Only two people know I had anything to do with taking you away."

Harry nodded absently to himself. "Then neither of them could be the spy, right? If they were they'd have told Voldemort what you said. His minions would've come for you."

Sirius sighed. "Though I hope the two of them are your friends and supporters, it's possible that they just can't tell anyone because of the spell Albus placed on my house just hours after I delivered you to your hiding place."

Harry sighed. "I think our first move should be getting into the castle – my castle…Hogwarts."

Blaise and Ron looked at him, stunned.

Sirius frowned but took the time to think as Harry began to explain.

"It's one hell of a first move. I know." Harry said reasonably. "But we need a home base…so to speak. Someplace safe to plan, train, come back to…"

Sighing, Sirius considered this. "I don't like it. What if Voldemort has it warded? What if the spy sees us and tells Voldemort you've come out of hiding? We're better off taking Malfoy Castle first."

Harry thought for a moment and was about to speak but Blaise beat him to the punch. "I'm in agreement with you, Lord Black. Malfoy castle is the more strategic target." He turned to share a glance with Ron before addressing the prince. "Taking Malfoy castle will allow us to gain not only Draco and his parents but also our spying elf will be able to join our ranks, thereby keeping all of them safer than if we left them to Voldemort's dubious mercy."

Harry's thought were overtaken with thought of having Draco in his arms and safe. He nodded. "Alright, I concede, but to do anything, we'll have to get the spy first. Do we have any clues as to who it might be?"

"I've a couple of ideas but I haven't been able to prove anything." Sirius said with a frown. "I could also be totally wrong."

"We need to draw him out…" Harry fell silent and took to pacing again. "But how?"

Ron shrugged sitting back on the couch. "I dunno… but if we look at it like chess…"

"I know how…" Blaise interrupted with a snap of his fingers. "We bait a hook!"

Sirius' eyes focused on him as his hands gripped the arms of his chair. "Explain."

Severus laid a hand on top of Sirius'. "Calm yourself, Siri; he will."

"I think that Lord Black should make known to his suspected spies that the prince is almost ready to attempt to retake his throne." With a glance at Sirius, Blaise smirked at the young prince. "If different details are given to each suspected spy…or if we can get them alone and question them…"

"He will reveal himself." Harry took a deep breath and looked at his godfather.

"It's risky, Harry. I don't like it." Sirius frowned.

"Siri, I don't think we have much of a choice. If we want to save Draco, I need to do certain things. One of them is to get rid of the spy." Harry was speaking in a soft tone but there was such confidence behind it. "The spy comes first because without secrecy, I can't move forth with our other plans."

"Alright. Blaise and I will discuss the spy bait later." Sirius had surmised the same so he calmly nodded. "Afternoon meal is being set out in the kitchen."

During lunch, Harry would learn from Severus about Draco's personality and, at tea-time, Sirius would tell him about a helpful little house-elf named Dobby.

********** LTF **********

Back in London, the young blond boy was just waking up as his personal house-elf, Dobby, was bringing in his breakfast tray. He wiped away a stray tear with one hand and greeted the small creature. "Good morning, Dobby. How was your night?"

"Dobby was quite busy, young Master." The elf told him as he placed the tray on a small table next to Draco's fireplace. "Dobby was needed in the kitchens to help the others."

"Say, Dobby…do you remember that boy I asked you to look for?" Draco put on an innocent air.

"Dobby remembers, Master Draco…" Dobby nodded cautiously. "Dobby hasn't found much."

"But you've found something?" Draco leaned forward in excitement. "What is it Dobby? He's real, isn't he?"

"Dobby has found information about Master Draco's 'green-eyed boy'." The elf whispered looking around to be sure they were alone. "He is real indeed, young Master. He is real and Dobby has been informed that he just turned sixteen, sir."

"That must be what I heard last night…" Draco murmured to himself hugging his stuffed hippogriff. "He made his birthday wish …and he made it for me."

"Come, young Master…Dobby has your breakfast, sir." The elf gestured toward the food.

Draco picked up his silverware and scooped up a bit of scrambled egg. "Do you really think he'll come for me, Dobby?"

Dobby looked around again before patting the boy's knee. "Dobby does think he'll come. Master Draco must hold on a bit longer. Young Master cannot give up hope."

Draco frowned and sighed as he continued eating. "It's so bothersome to wait for a rescue…I'm not one of those damsels from the muggle fairytales, you know."

Dobby turned, chuckling under his breath while he began to clean up the room. "Yes, young Master…Dobby knows. Dobby knows…"

A little while later, when breakfast had been finished and Dobby had left, Draco looked out the window and watched daily life go on without him.

"Well, well… Hello, Draco, darling." A voice came from behind him.

"Hello, Cissa." Draco's heart broke every time he called her that. Now that he knew she and Lucius were really his parents, he longed to address them as they deserved. His Uncle Severus had impressed upon him the need to keep up appearances for Voldemort. He picked up the book next to him. "I was just studying again…nothing else to do."

"Your godfather will be proud of you." She smiled.

"I hope so…" He said. "Did you need me for something?"

"No, dear; I'm just checking in on you. Are you alright?" She asked sitting on the window-seat next to him.

"Oh, I'm fine. I'm just a bit bored, is all." He smirked in her direction.

"Why don't I ask Lucius to join you for tea and a game of chess?" She suggested.

Draco smiled. "Yes, please; that would be lovely, Cissa. Thank you."

And so life at the castle went on…