"What the fuck?" Draco asked the empty corridor.

Regulus was staring blankly at the spot where Harry had disappeared. "Maybe we were wrong about his lack of feelings," he said slowly.

"Don't," Draco said, holding up a hand. He couldn't handle the false hope. Until Harry was back in his right mind, Draco wasn't going to entertain any possibilities. "What now?"

"I guess we wait till tomorrow," Regulus said, still staring at the vacant spot.

Draco huffed but knew Regulus was probably right. There was no way to know what Harry was up to in his altered state. The only clue was Hagrid's hut and Draco sure as hell wasn't going there. Besides, had it not been for Regulus's shock, he might have just assumed that he misunderstood what Harry said at all. Annoyed, he could only return to his dormitory and try not to think about it anymore. Harry had proved himself not to be worth obsessing over.

The next day, Draco spent the morning cramming his schoolwork. Because Regulus still remembered most of the work from when he was a student, Draco often let it pile up until there was no choice but for Regulus to instruct him on his essays. Midday he anxiously pivoted to work on the vanishing cabinet. Bella had kept up a storm of demanding notes, requiring proof that they were making progress, and thankfully, they were. All of the apples, pears, plums, or whatever else fruit Kreacher brought them could be transported and returned freshly. The last few looked so good that Draco braved taking a bite.

They were now testing live animals, in hopes of getting even closer before trying a human person. Namely, they were attempting to transport transfigured birds. It had yet to be successful. While each bird showed no signs of physical damage, they still returned dead every time. Burke for the first time was stumped, offering unlikely suggestions, so Regulus and he were back to their research digging through charm books trying to find what could be missing.

Harry arrived in the evening, looking terrible. He had dark circles under his eyes and his shoulders sagged. Even the way he moved made him look defeated. Draco had planned on confronting him about what he had meant the night before, but the words stuck in his throat seeing how exhausted he looked.

"Are you okay?" Draco asked.

Harry blinked at him, sighed, and went to take a seat on a nearby chair. He spoke emotionlessly, "I got the memory from Slughorn."

"And?" Draco prompted. That didn't answer anything.

"Voldemort tried, or is trying, to make seven horcruxes," Harry continued blandly.

Seven?They stood no chance. Draco didn't know what to say.

Harry leaned back, ran a hand through his hair, and eventually continued, "Dumbledore got one earlier this year, and he hinted that he might know the location of another. I apparently destroyed one in my second year. Regulus has one right? That only leaves three left. Of course, provided he hasn't made more."

"He knows how to destroy them?" Regulus blurted out and Draco latched onto that.

"Do you know how to destroy them?" He repeated to Harry.

"Not really," Harry admitted. "But basilisk venom works."

"Basilisk venom? Good thing we have that lying around," He said sarcastically, but was thrilled with the lead. His family connections might be good for something.

Harry sighed. "I can't believe there might be seven." In contrast to Harry's sickened look, Draco was comforted by the knowledge. There was a number now. The Dark Lord was still immortal, but at least they knew how immortal he was.

"Does Dumbledore know what the others are?" Draco asked.

"He assumes that he chose objects special to the founders. He got a hold of Slytherin's locket, that's the one Regulus found, right? There's probably something from the others, although he failed to get Godric's sword. Oh, and Nagini is probably one too."

"The snake?" Draco had yet to meet the beast, but Bella liked to brag about how it liked her.

"Yeah," Harry said and shivered.

There was no way they could hunt all of those down. And even if they could, they would have to be secret about it. The Dark Lord could easily create another if he ever suspected one had been compromised. If Dumbledore was serious about destroying them all he would have to move quickly, get them all in the same time period. He looked to Regulus debating about the diadem, hoping he had the same thought.

"Use it as leverage. It'll keep Harry motivated, even if he doesn't need it. Maybe it'll make Dumbledore trust you more." Draco nodded to Regulus, as Harry watched his silent conversation.

"We know the location of another. Ravenclaw's," Draco said.

Harry's face lit up. "Really? What is it? Where is it?"

"I'm not saying. Not until you have a way to actually destroy it."

"We need to bring it to Dumbledore."

"No," Draco said firmly.

"We have to!" Harry was looking at him like he'd lost his mind.

"No, not yet."

"Why? You aren't going to help me?"

"I'm not trying to destroy the Dark Lord, I'm trying to live."

"Aren't those the same thing?" Harry asked, a little confused.

Draco chose not to answer and instead challenged back, "Why are you hunting them down? You're a child."

"I'm not," Harry bit out, but paused to take a breath. When he spoke again it was softer. "I have to."

"Why? Is your ego that big that you have to be the one to do it?"

Harry scoffed. "Do you really think that of me?"

"Then what is it?"

Harry contemplated for a moment. "Will you put this in your ring? The memory one. Voldemort can never learn this." Draco repressed a shiver.

"Pretty much everything we talk about goes in this ring," Draco said, holding it up.

Harry swallowed. "I mean it. It's about what Voldemort wanted from the Department of Mysteries last year." Draco tensed but kept his face serious. Harry could trust him.

"There was a prophecy. Made about me and Voldemort." He recited the whole of it and Draco grew cold. The whole thing was one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.

"You think you have to kill him?" Draco said, meeting Harry's gaze and feeling a bit dazed. True prophecies weren't something to mess around with.

"It's me or no one. I am the chosen one." Harry didn't say it like something he was proud of. He said it like he was at a funeral. Draco understood then. He said it so mournfully because he truly believed it. Harry's determination to be the chosen one wasn't just his ego. He genuinely believed that it was his fate to destroy the Dark Lord or die trying.

He looked over to see Regulus's take on what Harry was saying. Regulus had cared for him longer than Draco had. Surprisingly, Regulus looked ready to punch something. Draco had expected him to be mournful like he was, not filled with whatever rage possessed him now. Regulus noticed his glance, he turned trying to hide his face. He didn't want Draco to know how angry he was.

Draco turned back to Harry, still processing. "If that prophecy is real, it means that you could be the one to die. Not him."

"I know," Harry said sadly, "but I have to try."

"You could just leave it to the others."

Harry gave him a small knowing smile. He would never do that. If the best bet of saving his friends was sacrificing himself, he would take the chance. He was too damn eager to walk into danger. Draco wished he could give some of his self-preservation.

They sat in silence for a moment. Harry's mood seemed lighter after sharing with Draco, although Draco's had plummeted. They had to share this knowledge now. Eventually, the question Draco had initially planned to ask rose to the surface of his consciousness. He had to know.

"Do you remember what you said to me?"

"When?" Harry watched him.

"Yesterday, after you took the Felix Felisis."

Harry looked blankly at him. It took a moment, but it was clear the moment he realised. "Oh." He blushed.

"What did you mean by it?" Draco asked trying to keep his voice neutral.

"I don't really know. I don't know why I did anything last night, it was all instinct. I just thought it would be nice to kiss you, but I figured it wasn't the right time, so I didn't."

"You're dating Weasley," Draco stated.

"Hence probably why it felt like the wrong time. Or maybe it was just because I knew my focus should be on getting the memory. I wouldn't read into it. I didn't have a lot of control over myself."

Draco knew the disappointment reflected on his face.

"Why? You didn't want me to, did you?"

Lie, Draco told himself, but he couldn't get the words out. "Drop it."

Harry was at a loss for words. "You're so confusing."

"You're one to talk. You invite me to spend the night in your sick bed and then you snog another girl. At least I have an excuse, I am going against everything I was taught just by being here with you. So yeah, it's a bit confusing."

Harry's brow furrowed. After a beat he said, determined, "Let me see your arm."

Draco unwrapped his forearm, knowing Harry was asking. He probably wanted to feel like he was doing something productive. Or maybe it was a weird form of apology.

Once it was uncovered, Draco sat down as Harry leaned in close and hissed. It sounded normal at first but shifted quickly. It sounded almost angry. Draco closed his eyes, letting Harry do his work until he was jolted forward by the feeling of something snapping deep in his chest. It wasn't painful, but it was so sudden and bizarre, he gasped. It felt like something was slithering through his veins, slowly retreating to his arm.

"Draco!" Regulus shouted as he fell out of his chair. His body was jerking involuntarily. Harry was still gripping his arm, focused completely on the snake.

He spasmed again at the strange sensation. "I'm fine. It doesn't hurt," he told Regulus.

Harry spared a quick glance at him but kept at it. The uncomfortable feeling slowly lessened. He glanced at his arm and was shocked to find the snake almost completely retreated into the skull. The slithering in his veins was faint.

"What did you do?" He wheezed, feeling out of breath

"I just told it the truth." He knelt beside Draco. "Are you okay? I probably should've stopped."

"No, I'm fine." He sucked in another breath and looked at his arm. It didn't even look like the mark anymore. Harry had just done something significant.

"Did you do it?" He asked, trying to temper his hopefulness.

"I don't know, but I think so." Harry looked at him and his tired face broke into a smile. Draco suddenly realised how close they were sitting to each other. Their legs were touching.

"Why did you kiss me after Slughorn's party?" Harry asked, staring at his face. It had been a moment just like this when Draco had lost it and kissed Harry for the first time.

"I already told you."

"You told me you didn't mean to."

"Then drop it, Potter." Draco moved to stand up. He needed space to breathe before he did something else he would regret.

"I told you to call me Harry."

"Potter," Draco said stubbornly.

"Do you like me?" Harry said, and it almost sounded hopeful.

"Doesn't matter. You like Weasley."

Harry's face twisted, and Draco paused his movements. "What?"

"I guess I still like her," Harry swallowed, "but I enjoy being around you more."

"What are you trying to say?"Harry couldn't be doing this.

"That I think I like you more than her. That I think I'd rather kiss you."

Not pausing to wonder if he had heard it correctly this time, Draco surged forward and kissed him. Harry kissed back instantly, moving his lips against his. He grabbed the back of Draco's neck and leaned back, encouraging Draco to get closer. He did, sliding his knees forward so he could press into Harry.

Draco broke for a second, taking a breath and fumbling with the ring on his finger. Regulus wasn't privy to this. Harry gave a small smile recognising what he was doing, and then leaned forward again capturing Draco's lips. They let each other move against each other for a few more seconds, frantic and teeth clashing. Draco had a passing thought that maybe he should be embarrassed by his inexperience, but he didn't care. Harry was kissing him like he meant it.

"I thought you didn't like me," Draco whispered, pulling back slightly and whispering against Potter's lips.

"I don't know how I feel half of the time," Harry said and he grabbed Draco's lips with his own for a quick moment."We hated each other. I couldn't see another option for a long time."

Draco related to that so strongly that he surged forward again trying to express that to Harry. He didn't think this would ever work either and it was that much sweeter because of it. Draco didn't know how long they kissed. It wasn't until he was fully seated in Harry's lap, that Harry pulled back.

"I think I might need to break up with Ginny," he said in a daze.

Draco loved the idea of Harry definitively choosing him. As the reality played out in his head, that excitement turned to nervousness. This was dangerous. He would be a target just for associating with Harry. His family would disown him if word ever got out. With Harry's popularity, the speculations about the break up would be rampant. If someone even saw a friendly glance between them who knew what rumours would start.

"No," Draco said, pulling himself off Potter. They needed to focus if they were going to talk about this.

"What? I just told you that I'd pick you."

"I know, but no one can know. Dating Ginny is a great cover," Draco said but was unable to keep the grimace off of his face.

"I'm not going to use her like that."

"Just till summer, when all these prying eyes are off of us," Draco said dismissively.

"That's still cruel."

"I'm cruel."

Harry frowned, and Draco regretted the words. He didn't need to be reminded of how different they were right now.

But Harry rested his head against the side of Draco's and took a deep breath. Draco gripped Harry's leg needing something to ground himself, needing some reassurance that Harry wasn't going to run because Draco was the worse person.

"I know." Harry reached out and grabbed him just as firmly. Draco's heart swelled. Harry knew him, better than most and still understood. He didn't hate him for it. They were fundamentally different people, but they were both determined to survive. Draco would see them both through it if he could.

Draco put Regulus's ring on the next morning doing his best to act casual. Regulus looked at him appraisingly.

"So, you and Harry?"

Draco groaned. "You saw."

"I saw some. Is it something more?" For being something Regulus had been hoping for the better part of the month, his tone was serious.

"I think so." Harry had been willing to break up with Weasley after all.

Regulus, unexpectedly, frowned. Every reaction Regulus had had in the last day had felt off to Draco.

"You're not telling me something."

"Draco -" Regulus started.

"Not this again. You should be happy for me right now and you're acting like something is wrong. You were angry at Potter yesterday. You are hiding something." He met his gaze determined. "We've been through this before. I can handle it."

"It's about Harry," Regulus warned.

"What about Harry?" Draco wasn't going to back down.

"I want you to enjoy your time with him."

"Clearly not, if your attitude is any indication. Is what you're hiding such a big deal?"

Regulus's face betrayed nothing and Draco's anxiety could be that bad?

"He feels the same as a horcrux."

Draco didn't process. "What?"

"The first time he put on the ring, I noticed it. It was the same evil that the diadem had. And I felt it again a few days ago."

"What does that mean?" Draco asked, but he already had a sinking suspicion.

"Dumbledore has been teaching him about horcruxes, preparing him for something." He took a breath and quoted Harry from the night before, "Neither can live while the other survives."

Regulus thought Harry was a horcrux and Draco couldn't fathom how that was possible. He didn't think a person could be a horcrux, but Potter had mentioned the snake. The Dark Lord wouldn't have done it intentionally though. Draco's mind whirled as Regulus kept speaking.

"Dumbledore is preparing him to die. I wasn't mad at Harry yesterday, I was pissed on his behalf."

And for the first time since getting his task, Draco wished Dumbledore dead.

"Are you sure?" Draco asked quietly.

"I am."

"Do you think Harry knows?"

"I doubt it. You can't tell him, not yet. He's already been through enough. We don't need to add suicidal to the list."

And Draco knew that he would be. Harry would prance to his death if it meant saving others. He took a moment for the information to sink in. Just when everything was going better between them.

"I think we have another topic to start researching," Draco announced. Regulus smiled at him.

"I think you are right."

Potter listened to his advice not to break up with Weasley, or at least he was entertaining the idea. He said he wouldn't make any rash decisions, so Draco thought that maybe he was finally wearing off on him.

They still met when they could, and nothing much had changed between them. Draco tried not to think about the horcrux that could be living inside Harry. Considering how light Harry was, that was an easy feat. Their comfort and banter stayed the same, despite Draco's worries about the more romantic undertones of their interactions. The only difference was how physically close they were. They leaned into each other, grabbed each other, and at times, kissed.

Naturally, Draco was still frustrated about the cabinet. They had tried reapplying the expanding charm on their side of the cabinet, but while the bird they sent to Burke was alive when it got to the shop, it had died en route back to Draco. They were running out of time and ideas.

Despite the grim circumstances, Harry was determined to improve his mood.

"We should go somewhere else."

Draco snorted. "That's a great idea. Let's let the whole school watch us snog."

"No I'm serious, let's take a break. Ditch Regulus and we can have some fun."

Draco laughed humorously at the idea of ditching Regulus like some overbearing nanny. "I don't have time for fun."

"Go, Draco," Regulus said. "The cabinet will be here tomorrow."

Harry pouted at him. And Draco was weak.

"Fine. Follow me."

Harry put on his cloak and followed Draco to the Astronomy tower. He made a point of taking off Regulus's ring. It would just be the two of them. Harry immediately walked to the edge peering out. Feeling self-conscious about being spotted from below, Draco stayed a few paces back.

"I never thought to just hang out up here. It's pretty," Harry said.

Draco smiled, he had guessed correctly about how Potter would enjoy this. He said, "I used to come here and mope."

Harry snorted. "Oh, what were you moping about?"

"School. You."

"Me?"

"I wanted to be your friend. Or rather my parents did. It was quite stressful for the first time in my life someone rejected me."

"I'm sorry," Harry said, and Draco felt a bit taken aback. He hadn't said that to get pity.

"It's fine."

"No, I'm not sorry about that. You were a spoiled brat and probably needed a dose of reality." Harry paused, and said, "I'm sorry about Ginny. I didn't mean to reject you again."

"Why did you?" Draco asked but realised maybe he didn't want to know the answer. That rejection was still fresh.

"I didn't think you'd want to. I didn't think I could like you like that."

"Then what changed?"

"Honestly kissing Ginny. It wasn't anything like it was with you." Harry walked away from the edge and towards Draco. "When did it change for you?"

"Seeing you kiss Ginny," Draco said. He had probably liked Potter for much longer, but that was the first time he had been willing to admit it to himself.

"You got that jealous of her?" Harry asked surprised.

"Maybe we should thank her," Draco joked, but Potter frowned, probably insulted on her behalf.

Draco grabbed his hand and pulled him down to the spot he liked to sit and talk with Regulus. Harry leaned in close and they talked. Just talked. About Draco's family. About Harry's friends. It was pleasant and Draco only found himself liking Harry even more. He was passionate, honest, and determined to do the right thing no matter how hard it was to know what the right thing was. It was everything Draco was raised not to be, and Draco loved it.

After a few more days, it marked a full week of whatever Harry had done to the dark mark and Draco became convinced that it was permanent. With the mark retreated from his arm, they scrambled to get the vanishing cabinet functional. As soon as it was safe for people, he could get his mother here. He could do the Order. He would be free.

After a frantic note from Burke telling them to check for any splinters underneath the base where the spell to expand the space might not have held correctly, the cabinet was working. Draco could've cried at the sight of the chirping bird.

"When should we do it?" Harry asked. "This was it right? I did it? You'll hold up the vow?"

"Yeah you did it," Draco said amazed. He looked to Regulus.

"Better sooner than later in case something goes wrong. We can't keep Bella at bay forever."

"Soon, this weekend?"

Harry shivered. "Let's do it."

They made a plan. Draco would leave Hogwarts and fetch his mother. Draco wasn't sure how his mother would react, but provided he dodged Bella he was sure he could get his mother to listen. Upon returning, he would meet with Dumbledore and bring Ravenclaw's horcrux as payment. Harry tried to convince them that it wasn't necessary, but he and Regulus still wanted the leverage.

Friday night before Draco was studying in the room, trying to keep his nerves calm, when Potter appeared frantic.

"Dumbledore is taking me to get the horcrux."

"Tonight?"

Harry nodded.

Regulus looked worried and said, "We need to do it tonight, if Dumbledore has found another, maybe he'll be equipped to deal with the diadem too. Tell Harry as soon as he returns, to be ready."

Draco relayed the words and Harry agreed readily. "Good, I was sick of waiting." He fished something out of his robes and offered it to Draco. "Here."

"What's this?" Draco asked as Harry uncurled his hand. It was the remaining amount of Felix Felisis. "You can't."

"You need it more than me. You need to dodge Bellatrix and get your mother here. I'll have Dumbledore."

Draco nodded, a little ashamed at how quickly he agreed. He kissed Potter as payment.

"Be safe."

"You too."

And with that, Harry pulled on the cloak and ran off to meet Dumbledore. Draco sat tense, unsure of what to do. He should wait a little longer. Harry would likely be gone for hours, and if all went well getting his mother it would take only a matter of minutes. He passed the time trying to talk to Regulus about research theories and plans for the summer, now that it was looking like he was going to have free time.

A knock jolted Draco out of the conversation. Panic surged through him. A figure was coming out of the cabinet. He was a middle-aged man dressed in black and Draco thought he recognised him.

"What are you doing here?" Draco challenged keeping his voice steady and reaching for his wand.

The man looked around appraisingly. "Huh, that mad bitch was right." He turned to go back into the cabinet.

"Where are you going?" Draco demanded, heart racing.

"To get the others off course." He grinned right at Draco and then ducked back into the cabinet.

He should've drank the Felix Felisis sooner.