Chapter 13: Runaway

Draco faced Snape. "Isn't there a spell to locate him or something?!" He screamed in a panic. Severus waved his wand in response, a doe patronus shot from the end of it and galloped off.

"Follow it," he snapped as he started running, Draco at his heels.

Harry woke, confused, at the edge of woods and beside a stream. Where the hell am I? What happened? As soon as he asked himself the question, all the memories came flooding back. "Draco," he mumbled. He sighed and left something hard under him. My wand! Yes! Pleased that he had at least something to use to defend himself, he continued walking upstream. I can't go back there, he thought with a plaintive look behind him. Harry came to a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall. He stared in awe as the water cascaded off the mountain side and down into the stream below. The sight was absolutely mesmerizing. Harry went closer and could just make out the shape of a cave behind the sheet of water. He carefully made his way around the pond and found a wet path leading to the cave. Cautiously, he climbed the steep wall, all the while staring into the mouth of the cave. Harry finally hoisted himself into the dark abyss with a grunt and lay on his back, trying to catch his breath. When he could breathe once more, he took in his surroundings. It appeared as though the cave was empty, save a few mice. It was petty dry, considering it was behind a waterfall. He leaned back against the cave wall, staring out though the water. The colours of the area around him blurred through the waterfall. The greens of trees and blue of the sly blended to one. Harry sighed, wishing Draco was there with him.

Draco ran after the doe, Severus close behind. The doe waited for them, but not for long. Severus panted with exhaustion, he knew his godson was exhausted as well but would neither would admit it; not with Harry's life on the line, at least. They trekked over mile after mile. Finally, they reached a waterfall. The doe disappeared through the brilliant sheet of water. Draco stopped dead in his tracks forcing Severus to smack into him. "What? It went into the waterfall! What the hell?!" Draco shouted, ignoring Snape, who had collapsed from fatigue, behind him.

Harry had dozed off. He woke to a shimmery doe staring at him. "Ahh!" He shrieked as he backed up. The doe stepped back as to not frighten him farther. "Sorry," he whispered to her. She bowed to him. He thought this behaviour of a patronus was odd, and he hadn't the slightest clue whose patronus this was. She seems too kind to belong to an evil wizard, he pondered as he stared at her.

Draco walked over to the side of the mountain. He scanned the area behind the waterfall until his gaze fell on the cave. "There!" He yelled over the waters roar and started across the slick rocks.

Harry stared at the doe until she disappeared. He could have sworn he heard Draco's voice but quickly shook the thought from his mind. Why the hell would he be out here anyway? Come to think of it: Where is here? "Where am I?" He asked the waterfall. "Where am I?!" Harry screamed.

"I don't know, but I'm here with you," a quiet voice said off to his right. He jumped and faced the intruder, wand raised.

"Draco?" He whispered, unmoving.

"Yeah. Harry, it's me," he replied softly, creeping closer.

"Why did you come here?"

"To find you… Would you get that out of my face?" He asked, gesturing to Harry's wand.

"Sorry," he replied, as he pocketed it.

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted like I did," Draco said with tears in his eyes.

"Why are you crying?"

"Because I was so worried I'd lost you. You ran… You were gone… I—" he choked off. Harry moved closer and tentatively embraced the blonde. Draco clung to him tightly. "Please don't run away again. Please," he begged.

"I'll make you a deal," Harry said seriously.

"Okay, what is it?"

"You don't hit me and I don't run away," he said sadly.

"Deal." Draco took Harry's face in his hands and looked him in the eyes. "I never wanted to hurt you. I never want to hurt you. Ever. Harry, you mean so much to me…" Harry leaned forward and kissed him passionately. He could taste the salt of his and Draco's tears on his lips.

When they broke apart, Draco put his arm around Harry and led him back to where Severus was waiting. "So you deiced to stand, Sev?" He asked snarkily.

"It would appear so," he growled. Harry cautiously approached Severus. "Yes, Potter?"

"I-I-I'm sorry for running away. I shouldn't have left your manor. I just… Draco… and…-"

"I know. You're forgiven, Harry," he replied softly, putting an arm around the terrified child. Harry trembled in his grasp, but appreciated the affection. "Let's go," Severus said after a few minutes. Harry blushed, let go, and retreated to the comfort of Draco's arm. The blond rubbed his back as he followed him back to Snape's home.

When they arrived, Draco and Harry fell into their usual seats on the couch and Harry's gaze fell on the note. "What are we going to do?" He whispered to himself.

"What do you mean?" Draco asked.

"…What are we going to do about this? This stupid letter and your father and us! Do you still want to be with me?" He asked pathetically. Severus watched from the corner of the room. It seemed as though Draco and Harry had forgotten about him.

"Of course I still want you," Draco replied, taking both of Harry's hands in his. "We'll figure this out, Harry. We will. I don't care what he thinks. I love you."

"But—"

"No, listen to me Harry, I love you. I love you so much that my body burns when you're gone, my head spins and you're the only thing on my mind. When I thought you were gone, I thought I was going to die simply to be with you. I know we haven't exactly been friends or… lovers for very long. But I do love you and I can't imagine my life without you. I loved you from afar all those wasted years before now. Don't you understand?! I can't survive without you by my side!" He exclaimed as tears slid down Harry's cheeks. Draco straightened and blushed when he realized how much he had just revealed about himself. "Harry, please, say something."

"I love you too. I'm sorry… I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough… I'm sorry I ran away. I—"

"You could have stopped at 'I love you,'" he said softly.

"I love you," Harry said as he snuggled into Draco's chest.

"And I you." Draco paused as he remembered Severus was in the room. "Sev?" Harry turned to face his potion's professor as well, his blush revealed that he'd forgotten he was there as well.

"Yes, Draco?"

"Will you… protect us?"

A/N: Guys, I'm so sorry this is so late. University has been brutal lately and I'm having a few health problems. I love you all and I hope you keep reading even though I've been sucking at updating lately. I love reviews!