Odette plummets from the sky like a fallen angel, the one Harry enjoys comparing Draco to, his body suspended by invisible wires. His arms reach out desperately as if grasping for salvation just beyond his reach, adding to the otherworldly aura surrounding him. But it is not white swan costume wings that adorn his bare back, but grotesque and twisted appendages dripping with thick crimson blood that stains both feathers and flesh. In the dim light of the stage, the blood appears almost black and oozes down to his fingertips in a sickening display spelling out the words kill the spare on the black floors. Every nerve in Draco's body screams with an unquenchable desire at the sight, while his stomach heaves with repulsion. It is a haunting and revolting spectacle that leaves him both transfixed and disgusted.

Draco's vampire senses take in the scene breathing in the familiar scent that lingered around Collin's body after his death and the house of those miscreates that almost did Harry in. His ears block out the buzzing sound of the thoughts of the police that surround him and focus on the sound of the drops hitting the stage floor each on narrowly avoiding hitting the scattered white feathers that escaped the wings. From Cedric's wings, he reminds himself, trying to force himself to look into the costumed dead boy's eyes and see something other than a meal long gone too cold.

A single black feather lays among the white, like a calling card. An invitation to participate in a game he never wanted to play.

"Try and save him, if you dare" it seems to say.

Draco shakes away the thought away and edges closer to the body. A hint of paper poking out through his outstretched hand.

"Cullen!" Chief Dursley's voice barks, cutting through Draco's thoughts with its intense hate.

Draco doesn't even bother to slow down or glance over, feeling Severus pull the Chief aside to remind him that with no official coroner and Severus serving as the best fit for the temporary position, he is the only one who can reprimand his assistant. Draco unclenches Cedric's hand, noting with disgust that it is the same temperature as his own skin, to get to the balled-up paper underneath. He smooths the sheet out and scans the document, his eyes widening as he reads an old article by Rita Skeeter from back in early November naming Harry as a possible suspect in Collin's murder.

The Boy Who Killed?

Is Harry Swan committing to his role as Odile too well? Has the fame become too much for our Boy Wonder? Has he finally cracked under the pressure? I Rita Skitter got an exclusive interview with Tom Marvolo Riddle, a key witness at the party that night to discover all the juicy details no one else wants you to know.

"Tom, will you please tell my readers what you saw that night?"

"Certainly Ms. Skeeter. I was dancing with Harry when Harry spotted Collin and stormed over to him. He dragged him outside and into the woods. I was worried that Harry with his violet tendencies I observed early that night would kill Collin so I followed Harry. I heard screaming as I approached that suddenly cut off. I ran forward to try and stop it, but it was too late. I knew the responsibility for this brutal act fell on me and my inability to get there in time. My only luck was to observe Harry and Draco Cullen in front of the body…"

The longer that Draco read through Tom's interview the more he noticed inconsistencies with certain words on the page almost like they were purposely written in another font. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and wrote down each word as he came across them, his dead heart beating faster as they formed a sentence.

I Tom Marvolo Riddle will kill Harry. Try and stop me Draco…

Draco drops the note from his shaking hands and dashes for the stage door beyond caring what the human policemen think of him as he loses his composure. He needed to get Harry far away from here…somewhere that the monster could never reach him. As soon as the heated April air hits his face he reels back as the backlash of one of Luna's visions slaps him across the face. Draco feels his world crumbling around him as Luna's vision unfolds in his mind.

Harry's crumbled broken body lay in the tight embrace of a pale-skinned dark-haired boy, who had his bloodied lips latched to Harry's neck. The next image shows Harry still and lifeless, as the strange boy stares down at Harry with victory in his eyes.

In a matter of minutes, Draco finds himself standing just outside of his house, not even conscious of his run here. He feels himself calm and tries not to focus on wondering when this place transitioned from being a prison to a place of refuge. He storms into the living room his eyes fixing on Harry, who lays across the couch with his tear-stained face tucked into Lily's lap as she strokes his hair. Draco considers scooping Harry up and running for a brief, wild moment, leaving everything behind. But the rational part of his mind, the part that has kept him alive for so long, knows that will only put Harry in more danger. Harry's eyes light up when they see him and Draco drinks in every detail of his face, knowing that soon they will be separated.

"Draco," Luna says, stopping Draco.

She holds up a hand-drawn picture of her visions.

"Tom?" Harry gasps, sitting up and walking over to the Luna.

Harry holds the picture in trembling hands and Draco rushes over to wrap steading arms around his waist.

"Do you know him, sweetheart?" Draco asks in a soothing voice.

"Yes, I danced with him at Cedric's Halloween party before…"

"Collin was killed," Draco finishes for him, hugging Harry tighter as he trembles harder.

"Tom wants to... kill me?" Harry's voice, so fragile, so human, pierces Draco's heart.

"Yes," he manages, barely containing the rage and fear threatening to overwhelm him.

Luna's eyes, usually dreamy and distant, are sharp with focus.

'The future is always in motion,' she murmurs, 'but this path is clearer than most,"

"And if you stay here..."

He can't bring himself to finish, the image of Harry's lifeless body speaking for him. He meets Luna's eyes across the room and hisses at the plan forming in her mind. She gives him a hard look as if to remind him of the situation and he pulls in his anger. For Harry, he will do anything, even if it means letting him go.

His attention moves back to Harry and he watches as confusion and fear flicker across his face. In an instant, Draco is cradling Harry's warm face in his cold hands. The contrast of their temperatures, of their very natures, never felt so pronounced.

"You're going to need to go away for a little while, sweetheart, until it is safe for you again," Draco whispers in a soft voice.

Panic flashes across Harry's face and he drops the paper, in favour of grabbing onto Draco's arm.

"But you are going to come with me, right?" Harry pleads in a broken voice.

Draco feels the breath leave him at Harry's voice.

"What matters is keeping you safe," Draco says, trying to convey all his determination through his gaze.

In the other room, he hears Luna whispering to Theo her plan, to take Harry to Phoenix and Draco feels a hollowness growing inside him. The thought of being apart from Harry is almost unbearable, yet he knows it is necessary. That it is better this way.

"I hate this. I hate being apart from you. But it's the only way," Draco says, his thumbs gently caressing Harry's cheeks.

He marvels at the softness of Harry's skin, the warmth that radiates from him. How had he ever lived without this?

"How long?" Harry asks, and Draco wishes he had a better answer.

"As long as it takes to deal with Tom," he replies, infusing his voice with a confidence he doesn't entirely feel.

"I swear to you, Harry, I will come for you as soon as it's safe. I won't let him hurt you."

As Harry nods, Draco sees the bravery in his eyes, the trust. It humbles him and strengthens his resolve. He scoops Harry into his arms without warning and dashes up the stairs, depositing a frazzled-looking Harry onto his settee.

"Sorry about that," Draco murmurs as he rummages through his closet and pulls out a shirt and a pair of pants, "But I need to undress you,"

He crouches down by Harry and smirks when Harry's cheeks redden.

"Not for that. If I wear your clothes, we can lead them on a merry wild goose chase and give you time to get away,"

With Harry's consent, Draco's fingers dance over his clothing, deftly unbuttoning and removing each garment until he is naked before him. As Draco takes in the sight of Harry's exposed body, his eyes trace over every knobby bone and faint scar, a silent prayer to Merlin that this won't be their last time together. He pulls Harry close, inhaling his scent, committing it to memory. His lips press against Harry's forehead in a desperate, fleeting kiss.

"Be safe," he murmurs, knowing the words are inadequate, "Take care of what's left of my heart. I've given it to you."

"Draco," Harry moans, holding onto him in a tight grip.

Draco forces himself to pull back, every fibre of his being protesting the movement. He helps Harry into his clothes, slightly satisfied as his scent mingles with Harry's, almost like Harry is carrying Draco's claim on his with him. Draco dresses in Harry's clothes in quick movements and sweeps Harry into his arms again and places him in Luna's waiting ones.

"Wait!" Harry exclaims in a panicked voice, grabbing hold of Draco's hand.

Draco freezes worried that he has hurt Harry somehow.

"What about Ginny, Ron and Hermione?" Harry asks in a worried voice, "Tom has already killed Collin and Cedric, what if decides to kill others close to me?"

Draco thinks for a moment, glancing at Luna for confirmation. She gives him a small shake of her head.

"He seems focused on Harry at the moment," Luna says, "But that could change at any time,"

Harry tenses in Luna's arms and Draco groans wishing caring about people wasn't so much work.

"Black needs no protection, trust me on that. Severus and Lily will guard their houses I promise nothing will happen to them," Draco says in a quiet voice, knowing he can't guarantee anything.

"And the Dursleys?" Harry asks in an almost unwilling voice, "They aren't the best, but they don't deserve to die because of me,"

Draco gives Harry a tight smile, thinking otherwise but still forces himself to say, "Blaise will monitor the house,"

Harry relaxes a bit and allows Draco to give him a chaste kiss on his lips.

"I'll see you soon," Draco whispers as he pulls away, feeling cracked in half.

Theo's voice cuts through his tension, all business as he leans towards Draco and whispers to him, "I've mapped out three alternate routes to Phoenix. We'll decide which to take at the last moment,"

Draco gives him a curt nod, letting his fingers slip out of Harry's.

He watches as Theo flanks Luna and pulls her to the garage. Luna's promise to keep Harry safe ringing in his ears, but it does little to ease the ache in his chest. Draco remains motionless, fighting every instinct that screams at him to follow, to protect. He sees Harry look back, sees the pain and longing mirrored in those green eyes, and it takes all of his considerable strength not to run after him.

Even after Harry disappears from view, Draco stands frozen in the living. The scent of Harry lingering in the air is a reminder of what he stands to lose. With a low growl, Draco clenches his fists, his resolve hardening.

Tom will pay for threatening Harry. And Draco will move heaven and earth to reunite with the one who has brought hope to his dark world.