Chapter 10

Snape walked around the greenhouse, overseeing every student that was present for Potions club. While the regular members of the Potions Club were grouped on one side of the greenhouse, Harry's table was tucked away to the other side. Snape had Harry prepare a cure for a love potion without giving him any information. Thanks to the Slytherins' help, Harry already knew the basics of making the cure, as well as the ingredients for a love potion and what counteracted them. Snape approached Harry as he added in a few pinches of powdered unicorn horn, stirring slowly until the liquid became silvery. Snape took out a small vial filled with a love potion, and poured it into a bowl. After pouring a few drops of Harry's cure into the bowl, the love potion became as clear as water.

"Well Potter, I suppose you should be commended for making a proper antidote with nothing but your own knowledge and notes at your disposal" the Potions Master stated. "You may leave now."

"Sir, I was actually wondering what students do here" Harry said.

"Can't be bothered to read what's on the bulletin board?" Snape sighed. "This is where students with a clear and strong interest in potion making come to learn more than what class hours restrain them to."

"Then why have it here in the greenhouse and not the classroom?" Harry asked.

"Because we are confined in the classroom." Snape replied receiving a confused look from Harry. "Look around you Potter; every single leaf, stem, root or juice of every plant is an ingredient. Some not used at all, but because no one has put enough interest in them to begin with. Once someone found something that worked, they stopped looking for alternatives. Students here learn to broaden their minds, teaches them to become resourceful, adaptable.

"Watch Mr. Nott" Snape instructed and Harry did so. "He's creating a Cure for Common Ailments, more specifically, for children. The problem with the current version is its bitter taste that make children reject it, causing their parents to force feed it to them."

Harry watched Theo who stared at his cauldron with annoyance. He skimmed through several pages of his notes before slamming it back down on the table in frustration. "Don't you think you should help him, sir?"

"You won't always be able to rely on the expertise of others, Potter" Snape returned and Harry looked back to Theo. His expression suddenly changed and he ran to a different greenhouse, returning with a bunch of small white flowers.

"Interesting" Snape remarked and Harry gave a questioning look. "What Mr. Nott has brought back is a bunch of Gardenia flowers, which has a very sweet scent. Adding the nectar from it can overpower the bitter taste, but it won't cause the potion to change in any other aspect."

Stirring in the nectar and letting it simmer for a while, Theo bottled several vials with his concoction happily.

"Theo's not going to test it himself?" Harry asked and Snape raised an eyebrow at him

"Of course not. Does he look sick to you?" Snape returned. "When it comes to things we can't test ourselves, we send them to people who can. St. Mungo's has been awaiting Mr. Nott's batch for a week, but I'm sure they'll be happy with the result."

"If you know so much about potions sir, why don't you make these new versions of old potions?" Harry asked.

"I've already made a name for myself as a Potions Master, Potter. I'm sure that my old potions book sufficiently proved that" Snape remarked. "But my time in the spotlight is done. I'm here simply to look after my godson, and make sure the next generation of potioneers and healers are of the highest is inevitable that I will be counting on them in the future."

"You actually had a human conversation with Professor Snape?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, but it was mostly about potions." Harry replied.

"Well I think that's great Harry" Hermione stated. "Other than Madame Pomfrey, Professor Snape is the best person in Hogwarts who can help you become a healer."

"It's still weird, but it's better than him getting angry and deducting points for no reason" Ron remarked and they all agreed.

Seeing Draco enter the common room, Harry excused himself from his friends to talk to him, deliberately ignoring their knowing looks.

"Hey Harry" Draco greeted. "I heard you're the one who's coming with me tomorrow."

"Yeah, I hope that's alright" Harry said.

"It's fine. Honestly, I'm just glad I'll have someone with me" Draco sighed.

Harry placed a hand on Draco's shoulder and he leaned onto the Gryffindor.

"You don't have to go." Harry pointed out, slowly wrapping an arm around the blonde.

"I kno." Draco replied. "But it's something I have to do. If I don't, I doubt I'll be able to move on."

Harry nodded, and gave Draco a tight hug before steering the conversation to a happier topic. "So, you bought those necklaces for Joseph and Theo?"

"Yeah, a few years ago when they got together" Draco chuckled. "It was actually a surprise. I had given it to them as gifts and they opened it in front of everyone, who began teasing them about it. That's why Joseph said it was stupid at first."

"I actually thought you and Joseph were together" Harry admitted with a nervous chuckle, and Draco raised an eyebrow. "Through the way you acted, you two seemed closer with each other than everyone else, and the girls made a big deal out of the two of you snogging."

"They're girls, Harry. They put together who they think is the cutest togethe." Draco explained with a smirk. "And Joseph and I have known each other since we were kids. In a way, our relationship with each other is different from our relationship with everyone else, with the exception of Theo. It's like your relationships with Ron and Hermione compared to your other friends."

Reminiscing about old times with their friends, the two lost themselves in their conversation, forgetting about everything and everyone else. They were brought back to earth when Joseph took the seat on Draco's other side.

"Everything has been brought to the dining room, so you don't have to go through the entire manor to find everything you want to keep" he informed Draco.

"What if I want to walk around for a bit?" Draco asked.

"You can do that after" Joseph said. "Go to the dining room first, pick out the stuff you want to keep so it can already be sent to storage, and then you can walk around."

"So why can't you go with Draco?" Harry asked.

"Some last minute thing my parents are dragging me to." The Head Boy said in annoyance. "Probably a party where they want to show me off."

"I'd thought you'd gotten used to that" Draco said with a smile.

"Did you get used to them?" Joseph returned with a smirk.

The three of them talked for a while before heading to bed.

The following day, Harry and Draco walked down to Hogsmeade to an apparition point. The walk was silent, their footsteps being the only sound they heard. Once they reached the apparition point, Harry held out his hand and Draco took it tightly.

"Ready?" Harry asked.

Taking a deep breath, and with a sound like lightning cracking and the feeling like they were being forcefully pulled somewhere, they apparated in front of a tall iron gate. Across the vast courtyard was Malfoy Manor. They stood there a while, just staring at it.

"Looks like the elves did as they were told" Draco said and Harry looked at him. "Before bringing me to his family's manor, Joseph instructed the elves to keep the estate from decaying."

Suddenly, a house elf appeared on the other side of the gate. "Master Draco, welcome back."

"Thank you, Dixxy" Draco said.

"Please follow me, we've prepared everything" Dixxy said.

Harry squeezed Draco's hand and smiled at him. Draco gave a small smile in return before the two followed the house elf across the courtyard and in through the large double-doors.

Walking down the hallways, Harry saw several of the portraits covered with cloth. Harry wondered if it was due to him being there, or if they were damaged during the Death Eaters' stay.

"Through here, sir" Dixxy said, referring to the double-doors in front of them.

"Thank you Dixxy, that will be all" Draco said and the elf gave a small bow before disappearing.

Harry was about to open the doors when Draco stopped him.

"What's wrong?" The Gryffindor asked.

"I thought I was ready, but walking through this place…" Draco rubbed his arm and looked out the window, a sad expression on his face. "It brought back a lot of memories. I'm afraid that if I go in that room and take some stuff with me, I'll only remember the bad ones or that the happy ones won't be happy anymore."

"I understand" Harry said and pulled Draco into a hug. Draco hugged back tightly, burying his face into Harry's chest. He felt Draco shake and rubbed his back, trying to calm him. The next few minutes passed quietly.

Once Harry felt that Draco had calmed down, he pulled away slowly. "Listen, I know how you feel. Everyone does. At some points in life, some of our happy memories become sad ones to think about. But if you can't confront them, how can you move on?" Draco didn't reply and kept his gaze down. "Draco, it's a hard thing to do, but once you do it, you'll feel better." Harry took the blonde's chin in between his fingers and made the blonde face him. "And you don't have to worry about facing these bad memories alone. Your friends, old and new, we're here for you. I'm here for you."

Harry stared directly into the blonde's grey eyes, his hand move from holding the blonde's chin to cupping his cheek. He could feel his heartbeat accelerate and just when he thought he should pull away, Draco wrapped his arms aroundHarry's neck and pressed their lips together. It took awhile for Harry to process what was happening, but eventually kissed back.

The two parted for air minutes later, staring at each other breathlessly and smiling.

"So, ready to move forward?" Harry asked.

"As long as you're with me every step of the way" Draco returned, and Harry nodded..

They opened the doors and walked in, confused that it was empty, save for the regular furniture. Harry wondered what was going on when he noticed someone sitting at the head of the table, their back turned to the two males.

"Excuse me?" Draco called out and the other person stood, and Draco's and Harry's eyes widened.

"Hello, my dragon" Narcissa Malfoy said with a smile. Draco let Harry's hand go and slowly began walking towards Narcissa.

"Mother, is it really you?" He asked.

"Yes Draco, it is me" Narcissa replied.

The two met halfway, holding each other's hand for a few seconds before embracing.

"I've missed you so much" Draco said.

"And I you" Narcissa returned. "Can you ever forgive me for leaving?"

"Of course" Draco assured his mother. "Both of us were still shaken by the war, and you needed to leave for a while. We needed different things to help us recover."

Draco then looked to Harry, and the two shared a smile. Narcissa followed her son's gaze and the tender look the two males gave each other, but said nothing, and pulled Draco in for another hug.

"So are you really going close down the manor?" Draco asked his mother.

The three of them were currently having tea in the gardens, and Narcissa had told Draco about her plans to close down the estate.

"I don't know, dragon." Narcissa sighed. "I understand your reluctance to do so, but I just don't see the point in living in such a huge house without your father or you."

"Where did you stay while you were gone?" Draco asked.

"With your Aunt Andromeda" Narcissa answered, and turned to Harry. "And you don't need to worry, Mr. Potter. She and your godson are doing fine. They live in a small house, and I found it was quite a nice change. But if you're not comfortable with living somewhere else or you don't want to, we won't go through with it."

Draco looked at the manor, the only place he called home majority of his life. Of course when Voldemort and other Death Eaters were there, he'd gladly consider any inn in Knockturn Alley his home if it meant getting away from Voldemort.

"We can leave some house elves to make sure the manor doesn't fall into ruin, but I think leaving will be good for both of us" Draco said, and Narcissa nodded.

"I'm so proud of you my son. You've been through so much, but you still handle all things with grace." Narcissa said lovingly and turned to Harry, mouthing a 'thank you' to the raven.

That night, Harry and Draco stayed in the blonde's bedroom, and it was everything Harry expected it to be; huge and extravagant. It was bigger than the Dursleys' living room, several shelves filled with books lined the walls, a soft couch sat at the corner, a beautiful desk was next to the door leading to the balcony, and the bed was so big it could've fit an entire Quidditch team. Draco was leaning over the rail of the balcony when Harry joined him.

"Today was a great day" Draco said with a smile.

"Yeah, it was" Harry agreed and wrapped his arms around the blonde from behind. "So, what's the plan?"

"Mother will stay with Aunt Andromeda while we look for a new house" Draco replied and Harry thought it was a great idea. "But Harry, when I said 'we,' I didn't mean a house for mother and I. I meant a house for us." Draco turned and looked up at the raven. "I meant it earlier, when I said that I didn't care where I was going as long as you were with me."

"What about your mother?" Harry asked.

"She can live with us, if she wants to, but I really want her to live in our family's house in France" Draco explained. "She's always wanted to live there , and she can take Aunt Andromeda with her."

"I think that's a lovely idea, but what about Teddy?" Harry asked.

"If you're open to the idea" Draco began a little nervously. "I would gladly take Teddy in once we've both found jobs to take a lot of stress of Aunt Andromeda." The two stared at each other for a while, rubbing each other's hands, Harry processing what the blonde had just said. "I know it's a lot to think about and it's a huge commitment, so you don't have to give me an answer right away."

"I want to do it" Harry replied, taking the blonde by surprise.

"You're not just saying that, right?" Draco questioned. "You've thought it through?"

"Yes. Remember the time I stayed with you while Joseph was at Durmstrang?" Harry asked and Draco nodded. "We slept together in the same bed and ever since then, I decided that yours is the first face I want to see every morning and the last I want to see every night. Draco Malfoy, I love you and I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I know I want to build a family with you."

"I love you too, Harry" Draco replied with a huge smile on his face and a red blush on his cheeks.

The two shared a short, sweet kiss before heading inside.

"You know mother is going to be all over the wedding" Draco said as they lay in bed together.

"Not to mention Daphne, Lisa, and Pansy" Harry added and the blonde groaned, making Harry chuckle, pulling Draco into an embrace. "It doesn't matter because we can overcome any obstacle together right?"

"As long as you're there with me." Draco smiled at the raven.

"I'll never leave you, I promise."

End

AN: Thank you everyone for your support of this story.