Protecting One's Future - Part 2/2 of The Slytherin Way (H/D, PG-13)
This is part two of a pinch-hit I did for last year's Beltane fest. The original request was for a gen!fic, which part one is (pre-slash H/D). Part two is Harry/Draco.
Title: Protecting One's Future - Part 2/2 of The Slytherin Way
Author: sesheta_66
Beta: softly_sweetly
Rating: PG-13
Pairing, Characters: Harry/Draco, Snape
Word count: ~ 4160 words (this part), 7660 words overall.
Summary: The story began as Draco and Snape fled Hogwarts at the end of HBP.
To start at the beginning, click Part 1 - Slytherin Through and Through.
Months passed, and Potter became tolerable. He and Draco never spoke again about what had happened. They coexisted, but at least they had got past outright hostility. The same could not be said for Ron. Whenever he was at the house, Draco retired to his room.
Potter was clearly annoyed that Draco hadn't suddenly had a change of heart, and joined the Band of Merry Wizards fighting the Dark Lord, but besides a weekly reminder that Draco could help them, he didn't press the issue. For his part, Draco was content to stay alive - and out of the way.
The winter was relatively uneventful. The Golden Trio went on a few more adventures, but Potter hadn't returned in such a fragile state again. Perhaps he had learned his lesson. That would be a first, Draco thought wryly.
Winter blended into spring and with it came the rain. Never-ending rain, it seemed. Draco was bored and getting depressed. The weather was dreary and reflected his mood perfectly.
Listening to the wireless, Draco felt a pang of loss. The wizards and witches were broadcasting news of the upcoming Beltane Festival in Edinburgh, and Draco's thoughts immediately fell upon his mother.
Narcissa had always taken Draco to the Festival in the spring. It was one event they'd never missed spending together. Until now. Draco choked back tears as he retreated to his room, not wanting Potter to see him like that. Merlin, was this what he was reduced to now? He was a Malfoy. He should be strong.
Perhaps the fact that he hadn't had the chance to say goodbye was what weighed so heavily on his mind. He had been caught up in a whirlwind of change, and hadn't really taken the opportunity to grieve at all. Now, with the annual festival celebrating rebirth, life and love facing him, all he could think about was death.
~*~*~
"He seems to be getting worse," Potter's voice carried up the stairs.
Who was he talking about?
"Why, precisely, is this of any concern to you, Mr Potter?" the familiar drawl of Severus Snape responded.
"It isn't, I suppose, but I thought you might actually care if your prodigy is wallowing in self-pity."
I am not! How dare he!
"Pity, Potter, or mourning?"
"Whatever. All I know is he's hardly eating and he doesn't seem to be sleeping much."
How does he know that? Draco wondered.
"For someone who claims not to care, you seem awfully … observant."
No kidding.
"Yeah, well … I have a hero complex, remember? Out to save everyone."
"Well, Potter," Draco said as he entered the room, "thanks for your concern, but I'm sure that I don't need saving. Certainly not by you."
Potter's eyes narrowed, and he looked a bit put out. "Fine. Starve yourself, wither away to nothing," he said to Draco. Turning to Snape, he added, "He's all yours. Maybe you can do something. Not that I give a rat's arse, but I don't want to discover his dead body in my house one day." He stormed out of the room.
"What was that about?" Snape asked.
"I have no idea," Draco replied honestly.
"Indeed." Snape scrutinized Draco for a moment. "Nevertheless, it would appear that Mr Potter's non-concern for your well being is warranted. You look a fright, Draco."
"I haven't been sleeping well."
"And are you starving yourself too?"
"Not intentionally," he said, catching a doubtful look from Snape. "I just seem to have lost my appetite," he said defensively.
"And what, pray tell, precipitated this?"
"Mother."
"Oh? Has she been haunting you?"
"That isn't funny."
"It wasn't meant to be. I meant her memory. Has it been haunting your dreams?"
"Not exactly."
"Then what exactly is causing you to react this way?"
Draco considered avoiding the question, but realized that nothing would be served by lying. "Beltane. It's something Mother and I attended together every year, and now she's gone and --" He couldn't continue. To do so would surely have meant breaking down in front of Snape.
"I see. And I presume that you have not told anyone else this."
"Whom would I tell? Potter's the only one besides the house-elf that even talks to me, and you heard him just now. He doesn't care what happens, just as long as I don't die in his house."
Snape gave him a look that he couldn't quite decipher.
"Unfortunately, I cannot drop in on you as often as I would like. But that does not mean that I am not concerned about you. I did not promise Narcissa that I would look out for you, just to have you waste away like this." Snape put a hand on Draco's shoulder and looked into his eyes before continuing. "However distasteful the idea, perhaps you should talk to Potter. Don't be fooled by his words, Draco. His concern is genuine, and I do believe you can trust him.
"Trust him? Are you crazy?"
"Hardly," Snape said. "Just observant." With that, he swished his robes and walked out, leaving Draco in a state of confusion.
~*~*~
It was several days later when Snape's words came back to Draco. He had wandered into the kitchen to find Potter sitting at the table, a pot of tea and two mugs in front of him.
"Tea?"
Draco took a seat. "Yes, thank you." He reached for the pot, but Potter beat him to it, pouring him a cup.
"I'm worried about you," he said. "You aren't eating, you're hardly sleeping, and you're withering away."
"Why do you care?" Draco retorted.
"I ... I don't know why." Potter stared into his cup, running his hand through his mop of hair, serving to make it stand on end even more. "I just do. I guess it's just weird to see you this way. I mean you've always been a thorn in my side or a pain in the arse, for sure, but this? This is just ... wrong. It's like you've given up. I know you've lost a lot," he said, finally looking up at Draco. His eyes held nothing but concern, and his piercing gaze made Draco a bit uncomfortable. "I'm not trying to minimize that, really I'm not, but you need to continue living. I can't imagine your mother would want you to just give up."
"What the hell do you know?" he snapped. "You don't know anything about me or my family! How would you know what my mother would or wouldn't want?" Draco didn't mean to yell, but it felt surprisingly good. Almost like he was alive again.
"So tell me." Potter's voice was soft and ... genuine.
"Tell you what?"
"You say I don't know anything about you. So tell me." Maybe Snape knew what he was talking about after all.
Draco sat in stunned silence for a few moments. Potter didn't push. He just sat waiting for Draco's reply. It was unnerving. So much so that Draco found himself telling Potter all about Beltane and how his mother had always taken him.
"So that's what has you down?"
"Your powers of deduction are astounding, Potter."
Harry chuckled and replied, "I've been known to pick up on a subtle hint here and there, but generally a sledgehammer works best."
"A whathammer?"
"Muggle thing. Never mind. Like a whack over the head."
"Ah."
"So what shall we do about it? Do you want to go to the Festival?"
"What?" He couldn't be suggesting ...
"Well, you must be going crazy in here, and ... well ... I've never been before, so why don't we?"
"Let me see, Potter. Why am I here? Why don't I ever go anywhere? Help me out here ... I don't seem to remember." Draco feigned deep thought. "Ah, yes! Because the Death Eaters and their illustrious leader are after my head. I can't just go to a public festival. Merlin, Potter, but you're daft sometimes. It's a wonder you've lived this long."
Potter laughed heartily at that. "Ah, but we would go in disguise, we would tell no one, we would have my Invisibility Cloak, and if it would make you feel better, we could stay under it the entire time. No one need ever know we're there."
"You're serious!"
"Absolutely."
"You're mad."
"Most likely, yes."
Draco couldn't help it. His heart felt light like it hadn't for a long time. Then it came crashing down again. "I ... I can't," he said, suddenly deflated.
"Why not?"
"I can't be out there without a wand. What if something happened, and someone saw us? You'd be all hero-like and protect me, because I couldn't do anything for myself." He straightened himself in the chair. "I won't be some helpless --"
"Let me take care of that, yeah?"
"I'm not risking ... I'm not letting you risk everything just because I'm feeling sorry for myself. Forget I said anything."
"Aww, see? You do care," Potter teased.
"I told you before. You can't die. Not before him anyway."
Potter grinned cheekily. "Sure, Draco."
~*~*~
"Are you mad?" Snape's voice echoed through the house.
"Quite possibly," came Potter's reply. Draco had to keep from laughing.
"And how do you plan to protect yourself? Protect Draco?"
"Well, I was rather hoping you'd help with that."
"Again, are you mad?"
"I thought we established that yes, in fact, that is a possibility. Moving on --"
"No, we are NOT moving on, Potter! I will not be assisting you in this ... this ... suicide mission!"
"Oh, please. You're being a little melodramatic, aren't you?"
"You are just like him!"
"Like?"
"Black. Sirius. He never knew when to stay put."
"No thanks to you." Harry's voice took on a considerably less friendly tone all of a sudden.
"Do not start that --"
"I didn't start it. You did. Let's just drop it, shall we?"
"Very well. That's the first sensible thing you've said."
"Oh, I didn't mean the Festival. We're going. I just meant that I didn't want to discuss Sirius with you."
"How do you expect me to help, and why would you think that I would?"
"First, bring Draco's wand back."
"You're going to give him his wand for the day?"
"No."
"Oh, so you are going to carry two wands, and only give him his if he needs it? That's rather --"
"No. Just return his wand to him. Right now, if you have it. I ... trust him."
"You ... you do?" Snape sounded shocked, but not as shocked as Draco felt. Shocked and pleased. But not so much because he would get his wand back. Sure, that was a relief, but ... no, he seemed more pleased about the fact that Potter trusted him. Huh. Go figure.
"I do. But there is another way you could help."
"And what is that?" Snape asked.
"You could come too."
"What?!" His calm demeanour was shattered once again.
"Before you ask me if I'm mad again," Harry said, probably just in time to prevent Snape asking exactly that, "I plan for us to go in disguise and to be under the Invisibility Cloak. So you wouldn't be seen with us, or even with the disguised us. You could simply keep watch for any Death Eaters."
"And if I see any?"
"Just warn us."
"Do you suggest that I lean over, whisper to thin air, and then just walk away and let you deal with things?"
"Essentially, yes, although I'm rather hoping that there won't be any things to deal with. And if you don't help, we're going anyway."
"Oh, and Draco has agreed to this?"
"Yes, I have," Draco said, entering the room. "I can't take much more of being stuck here in this house."
Harry nodded and grinned at Snape who left the house in a swish of robes.
"Well, that went rather well," Draco remarked.
"Better than I had expected, actually. I just hope he brings you your wand."
"Oh, he will. I don't think he likes that I've been here without it all along."
"You do understand --"
"I understand. I wouldn't have trusted me if I were you either. In fact, I doubt I'd even trust me now."
"Well, let's just say I have a little more confidence in you than most people."
"Or you really are mad, as Snape suggested."
"Well, there's always that."
~*~*~
Snape returned that night with Draco's wand and a promise that he would consider attending the Beltane Festival.
A week later, however, he arrived with bad news. "They are going to be there, at the Festival."
"Who?" Harry asked.
"The Death Eaters. One of them recalls your mother taking you there, and has alerted the Dark Lord of it."
"Have you been asked to go?" Draco asked.
"Naturally."
"Well, then. That makes it easier, doesn't it?" Draco reasoned. "Now you have a reason to be there, and with you standing near us, the others will stay away."
Harry shot him a grin. "That's right. Now there's definitely no reason not to go."
"Your madness is clearly infectious," he sneered at Harry. Turning to Draco, he pleaded, "You don't have to do this, you know. Just stay here where it's safe."
"For how long?" Draco asked. He no longer cared if he sounded petulant. He was so very tired of being locked up, because that's what he was. He was a prisoner in this house, even if he could walk out any time, because he would be walking out to his death. "Look, I appreciate everything you're doing for me, but ... well, it's been almost a year since we left Hogwarts, and I've done nothing ... normal. Let me do this one thing, and I'll return here." He felt the oddly comforting presence of Harry's hand on his shoulder, giving him strength and support.
"Very well, then. If you are determined to risk your life like ... like a Gryffindor, let it be on your conscience. I wash my hands of the matter."
"Thank you," Draco said. He watched his mentor and protector's eyes soften for just a moment before returning to their usual coldness. The man really did care for him.
After Snape left, Harry asked Draco what the Beltane Festival was all about. Draco explained that it was all about rebirth and fertility, and that often people would pair off for the night, or even for a traditional one-year trial marriage.
"You mean people have sex there?" he asked, sounding horrified.
Draco laughed. "Some people do, yes."
"And your mother took you there?"
"Well, it's not a wild orgy, Harry. There are certain areas where ... coupling occurs, and other areas where it doesn't."
"Oh." There was a sense of relief written all over his face.
Draco couldn't resist. "So I think we should go to the more uninhibited area."
"What?!" Harry's eyes nearly bugged out of his head.
"You know, where they'd least expect me to show up," Draco said casually.
"Are you nuts?"
"Relax, Potter, it's not like we're going to participate," Draco teased.
"No! That's not what I meant."
"No? Does that mean you want to participate?" Draco watched as Harry's eyes grew wide and terrified, and his face went a deep shade of red. Oh, yes, this was much more fun than just sitting around the house waiting for something to happen.
He got up and walked over to where Potter was sitting and placed his hands on the arms of his chair. Potter sat there stock still, as though he were afraid to move. Draco leaned in to whisper in his ear, "It's not like anyone would see us under the Invisibility Cloak anyway." He pulled back to look into Potter's stunned face, then left the room.
The problem with teasing Harry, as fun as it may have been, was that Draco had managed to work himself up in the process. At what point Potter had become Harry, and at what point he had become attractive to Draco he wasn't sure, but there it was. Of course, it had been almost a year since he'd left Hogwarts. Longer than that since ... Shit! Now he couldn't get the image of the two of them under the Invisibility Cloak out of his mind. He was thankful to have his wand back as he cast Locking and Silencing Charms on the door of his room - he hadn't trusted that beginner one - and wanked himself nearly raw to the image of Harry. And for once he didn't have to hold back. Well, fuck.
~*~*~
Harry kept avoiding eye contact with him after that. While at first he found it amusing, after a few days, Draco found the whole thing annoying.
"I was joking," he blurted out quite suddenly.
Harry nearly fell out of his chair. "What?"
"I was just trying to ... get a rise out of you," Draco explained. Harry went a deep shade of red. "Oh, I didn't mean --" Draco tried to explain, but Harry's laughter cut him off.
"It's okay. I got what you meant, Draco."
"Good," he said with relief. "Can we go back to ... well, whatever it is we were?"
"Friends?" Harry ventured, still chuckling.
"Yeah," Draco smiled. He liked the sound of that. "We are, aren't we?"
"Definitely," Harry said. "So, two nights from now."
"Two nights," Draco agreed. He thought about how much it meant to him, that Harry would do this. "We don't have to, you know," he said.
"What? Have sex?"
Had he been drinking something, Draco was sure he'd have choked on it. "Attend the Festival," he explained.
"Oh, right," Harry stammered, going red again. Draco rather liked that look, but remembering the last few days, he didn't tease this time. Really, Harry made it so easy, though. Then he seemed to regain his composure. "But we are going."
"Look, Harry," Draco started, but Harry would have none of it.
"Draco, listen. We've gone through it all already, right? We'll be disguised and under the cloak. And Snape will be there. No one will be any the wiser."
"It's just --"
"I want to do this. It's important to you, and you've been cooped up for so long, you must be going crazy. It'll be good for you to get out. Besides, I've been reading up on it, and it sounds like fun."
"Really?"
"Really. So, we're on?"
"We're on."
~*~*~
The evening of May first arrived with Snape still trying to talk them out of attending, but unable to convince them. They set glamours upon themselves, and under cover of the cloak, Apparated to the safe point near Calton Hill.
They managed to find a good spot, apart from most of the crowd, but still close enough to see the fire and the show. They cast a few spells to avoid having anyone accidentally bump into them or pull off the Invisibility Cloak, and settled in for the evening.
Draco animatedly explained the events as they took place, and Harry supplemented his comments with things he'd read. The show was as good as any Draco had seen, and he found himself relaxed and ... happy for the first time in a long time.
By the time the evening's events were over, they were leaning against each other under the cloak, trying not to be seen. There were no less than three Death Eaters, not counting Snape, within visible range, and they hadn't wanted to test their glamours by fidgeting and knocking the cloak loose; it really was a bit of a tight squeeze with them both under it.
Finally it was time to leave. Harry ended the charms around them and they stood up to go. Not a minute later, someone staggered past, bumping into Draco in his haste to leave, probably also thanks to the consumption of a large amount of alcohol, and stepped on the bottom of the cloak. In horror, Draco felt the cloak slide off him and Harry, and he caught the stunned look on one Death Eater's face as he watched them appear.
Thinking quickly, Draco grabbed the front of Harry's shirt, said, "Kiss me," and pulled Harry towards him. When their lips met, Draco couldn't say it was pleasant. Harry's entire body was rigid and his lips were clamped shut. But within moments, he relaxed and Draco felt Harry's fingers glide through his hair, cradling his head and bringing him in closer. His lips softened and opened ever so slightly. Apparently he did catch on when pummelled over the head.
Once his brain caught up with what was happening, Draco recognized the moment for what it was. It was likely to be the only time that he and Harry would ever kiss, and he was not going to let the opportunity pass. He pressed his tongue gently through the opening into Harry's mouth, and to his astonishment and pleasure, Harry seemed to welcome the intrusion, opening his mouth more and joining his tongue with Draco's.
At once, Draco was drowning in the sensation of kissing Harry. Everything else - all the people, all the noise, everything around them - melted away and it was just the two of them. Draco's body tingled with warmth all over, and he pressed the length of it against Harry's. As they deepened the kiss, Draco could feel Harry's one hand grasping his hair, and his other hand wandering over Draco's back.
In the distance, he heard Snape's voice, presumably addressing the Death Eater who had noticed them, "Apparently, these two wanted privacy." The other man huffed in disgust but said nothing else. "Let's move on. I don't see any sign of Draco here."
"Guess he's smart enough not to show his face here," came the other Death Eater's voice. "I suppose Lucius had to have taught his boy something."
Harry's body tensed as he broke the kiss. "Hold on," he whispered, and Draco felt the cloak cover them again right before Harry Apparated them back to Grimmauld Place.
"There were Muggles there, Harry!" Draco admonished him as soon as they were back in the familiar sitting room.
"I doubt it. But if there were, they'd just seen two men appear out from under an Invisibility Cloak anyway, so a quick disappearing act wouldn't be any worse." He had the nerve to smile, looking quite proud of himself.
"What if they --"
"We were in disguise. No one knows it was us except Snape. This place is unplottable. No worries."
"No worries?" Draco flailed his arms and began to pace. "That was a Death Eater standing right there!" Draco reasoned, though not entirely as calmly as he had planned.
Harry grinned at him in a very predatory manner. Draco's stomach flipped. "That was a brilliant distraction you came up with," he said to Draco as he walked towards him. "I don't think he suspected a thing." Harry was standing entirely too close to him now.
Was Harry angry with him? "Look, Harry, I'm sorry --"
"No, Draco, I don't think you are." He stepped closer still. Draco wondered if Harry was planning to strangle him. "In fact," he said, placing his hands on Draco's shoulders and leaning towards Draco's ear, "I think you might have rather enjoyed that."
Well, it was true. But Draco wasn't going to admit that to Harry. He opened his mouth to protest, but it was quickly covered by Harry's. Oh. Well, then.
This second kiss began much more gently, more sensually than their first, and by the time it was over, Draco was glad Harry was still holding his shoulders, because he wasn't sure his legs would have kept him upright.
Harry licked his lips and smiled. "Mmm," he said as he looked into Draco's eyes, "I think I might have too."
~*~*~
As the first anniversary of the fall of Voldemort approached, and Draco was about to receive his Order of Merlin for services rendered to the Order of the Phoenix, he reflected on the irony of it all.
Looking back to that time of war, after that fateful day when Harry had risked so much just to accompany Draco to the Beltane Festival, in honour of his mother's memory, Draco smiled. He knew that from that moment on, he would have done anything for Harry. Not for the cause, not for the greater good, not for anyone else. Just for Harry.
After all, it was the Slytherin way to protect one's future, and even then, Draco knew that Harry was his.
.
Title: Protecting One's Future - Part 2/2 of The Slytherin Way
Author: sesheta_66
Beta: softly_sweetly
Rating: PG-13
Pairing, Characters: Harry/Draco, Snape
Word count: ~ 4160 words (this part), 7660 words overall.
Summary: The story began as Draco and Snape fled Hogwarts at the end of HBP.
To start at the beginning, click Part 1 - Slytherin Through and Through.
Months passed, and Potter became tolerable. He and Draco never spoke again about what had happened. They coexisted, but at least they had got past outright hostility. The same could not be said for Ron. Whenever he was at the house, Draco retired to his room.
Potter was clearly annoyed that Draco hadn't suddenly had a change of heart, and joined the Band of Merry Wizards fighting the Dark Lord, but besides a weekly reminder that Draco could help them, he didn't press the issue. For his part, Draco was content to stay alive - and out of the way.
The winter was relatively uneventful. The Golden Trio went on a few more adventures, but Potter hadn't returned in such a fragile state again. Perhaps he had learned his lesson. That would be a first, Draco thought wryly.
Winter blended into spring and with it came the rain. Never-ending rain, it seemed. Draco was bored and getting depressed. The weather was dreary and reflected his mood perfectly.
Listening to the wireless, Draco felt a pang of loss. The wizards and witches were broadcasting news of the upcoming Beltane Festival in Edinburgh, and Draco's thoughts immediately fell upon his mother.
Narcissa had always taken Draco to the Festival in the spring. It was one event they'd never missed spending together. Until now. Draco choked back tears as he retreated to his room, not wanting Potter to see him like that. Merlin, was this what he was reduced to now? He was a Malfoy. He should be strong.
Perhaps the fact that he hadn't had the chance to say goodbye was what weighed so heavily on his mind. He had been caught up in a whirlwind of change, and hadn't really taken the opportunity to grieve at all. Now, with the annual festival celebrating rebirth, life and love facing him, all he could think about was death.
~*~*~
"He seems to be getting worse," Potter's voice carried up the stairs.
Who was he talking about?
"Why, precisely, is this of any concern to you, Mr Potter?" the familiar drawl of Severus Snape responded.
"It isn't, I suppose, but I thought you might actually care if your prodigy is wallowing in self-pity."
I am not! How dare he!
"Pity, Potter, or mourning?"
"Whatever. All I know is he's hardly eating and he doesn't seem to be sleeping much."
How does he know that? Draco wondered.
"For someone who claims not to care, you seem awfully … observant."
No kidding.
"Yeah, well … I have a hero complex, remember? Out to save everyone."
"Well, Potter," Draco said as he entered the room, "thanks for your concern, but I'm sure that I don't need saving. Certainly not by you."
Potter's eyes narrowed, and he looked a bit put out. "Fine. Starve yourself, wither away to nothing," he said to Draco. Turning to Snape, he added, "He's all yours. Maybe you can do something. Not that I give a rat's arse, but I don't want to discover his dead body in my house one day." He stormed out of the room.
"What was that about?" Snape asked.
"I have no idea," Draco replied honestly.
"Indeed." Snape scrutinized Draco for a moment. "Nevertheless, it would appear that Mr Potter's non-concern for your well being is warranted. You look a fright, Draco."
"I haven't been sleeping well."
"And are you starving yourself too?"
"Not intentionally," he said, catching a doubtful look from Snape. "I just seem to have lost my appetite," he said defensively.
"And what, pray tell, precipitated this?"
"Mother."
"Oh? Has she been haunting you?"
"That isn't funny."
"It wasn't meant to be. I meant her memory. Has it been haunting your dreams?"
"Not exactly."
"Then what exactly is causing you to react this way?"
Draco considered avoiding the question, but realized that nothing would be served by lying. "Beltane. It's something Mother and I attended together every year, and now she's gone and --" He couldn't continue. To do so would surely have meant breaking down in front of Snape.
"I see. And I presume that you have not told anyone else this."
"Whom would I tell? Potter's the only one besides the house-elf that even talks to me, and you heard him just now. He doesn't care what happens, just as long as I don't die in his house."
Snape gave him a look that he couldn't quite decipher.
"Unfortunately, I cannot drop in on you as often as I would like. But that does not mean that I am not concerned about you. I did not promise Narcissa that I would look out for you, just to have you waste away like this." Snape put a hand on Draco's shoulder and looked into his eyes before continuing. "However distasteful the idea, perhaps you should talk to Potter. Don't be fooled by his words, Draco. His concern is genuine, and I do believe you can trust him.
"Trust him? Are you crazy?"
"Hardly," Snape said. "Just observant." With that, he swished his robes and walked out, leaving Draco in a state of confusion.
~*~*~
It was several days later when Snape's words came back to Draco. He had wandered into the kitchen to find Potter sitting at the table, a pot of tea and two mugs in front of him.
"Tea?"
Draco took a seat. "Yes, thank you." He reached for the pot, but Potter beat him to it, pouring him a cup.
"I'm worried about you," he said. "You aren't eating, you're hardly sleeping, and you're withering away."
"Why do you care?" Draco retorted.
"I ... I don't know why." Potter stared into his cup, running his hand through his mop of hair, serving to make it stand on end even more. "I just do. I guess it's just weird to see you this way. I mean you've always been a thorn in my side or a pain in the arse, for sure, but this? This is just ... wrong. It's like you've given up. I know you've lost a lot," he said, finally looking up at Draco. His eyes held nothing but concern, and his piercing gaze made Draco a bit uncomfortable. "I'm not trying to minimize that, really I'm not, but you need to continue living. I can't imagine your mother would want you to just give up."
"What the hell do you know?" he snapped. "You don't know anything about me or my family! How would you know what my mother would or wouldn't want?" Draco didn't mean to yell, but it felt surprisingly good. Almost like he was alive again.
"So tell me." Potter's voice was soft and ... genuine.
"Tell you what?"
"You say I don't know anything about you. So tell me." Maybe Snape knew what he was talking about after all.
Draco sat in stunned silence for a few moments. Potter didn't push. He just sat waiting for Draco's reply. It was unnerving. So much so that Draco found himself telling Potter all about Beltane and how his mother had always taken him.
"So that's what has you down?"
"Your powers of deduction are astounding, Potter."
Harry chuckled and replied, "I've been known to pick up on a subtle hint here and there, but generally a sledgehammer works best."
"A whathammer?"
"Muggle thing. Never mind. Like a whack over the head."
"Ah."
"So what shall we do about it? Do you want to go to the Festival?"
"What?" He couldn't be suggesting ...
"Well, you must be going crazy in here, and ... well ... I've never been before, so why don't we?"
"Let me see, Potter. Why am I here? Why don't I ever go anywhere? Help me out here ... I don't seem to remember." Draco feigned deep thought. "Ah, yes! Because the Death Eaters and their illustrious leader are after my head. I can't just go to a public festival. Merlin, Potter, but you're daft sometimes. It's a wonder you've lived this long."
Potter laughed heartily at that. "Ah, but we would go in disguise, we would tell no one, we would have my Invisibility Cloak, and if it would make you feel better, we could stay under it the entire time. No one need ever know we're there."
"You're serious!"
"Absolutely."
"You're mad."
"Most likely, yes."
Draco couldn't help it. His heart felt light like it hadn't for a long time. Then it came crashing down again. "I ... I can't," he said, suddenly deflated.
"Why not?"
"I can't be out there without a wand. What if something happened, and someone saw us? You'd be all hero-like and protect me, because I couldn't do anything for myself." He straightened himself in the chair. "I won't be some helpless --"
"Let me take care of that, yeah?"
"I'm not risking ... I'm not letting you risk everything just because I'm feeling sorry for myself. Forget I said anything."
"Aww, see? You do care," Potter teased.
"I told you before. You can't die. Not before him anyway."
Potter grinned cheekily. "Sure, Draco."
~*~*~
"Are you mad?" Snape's voice echoed through the house.
"Quite possibly," came Potter's reply. Draco had to keep from laughing.
"And how do you plan to protect yourself? Protect Draco?"
"Well, I was rather hoping you'd help with that."
"Again, are you mad?"
"I thought we established that yes, in fact, that is a possibility. Moving on --"
"No, we are NOT moving on, Potter! I will not be assisting you in this ... this ... suicide mission!"
"Oh, please. You're being a little melodramatic, aren't you?"
"You are just like him!"
"Like?"
"Black. Sirius. He never knew when to stay put."
"No thanks to you." Harry's voice took on a considerably less friendly tone all of a sudden.
"Do not start that --"
"I didn't start it. You did. Let's just drop it, shall we?"
"Very well. That's the first sensible thing you've said."
"Oh, I didn't mean the Festival. We're going. I just meant that I didn't want to discuss Sirius with you."
"How do you expect me to help, and why would you think that I would?"
"First, bring Draco's wand back."
"You're going to give him his wand for the day?"
"No."
"Oh, so you are going to carry two wands, and only give him his if he needs it? That's rather --"
"No. Just return his wand to him. Right now, if you have it. I ... trust him."
"You ... you do?" Snape sounded shocked, but not as shocked as Draco felt. Shocked and pleased. But not so much because he would get his wand back. Sure, that was a relief, but ... no, he seemed more pleased about the fact that Potter trusted him. Huh. Go figure.
"I do. But there is another way you could help."
"And what is that?" Snape asked.
"You could come too."
"What?!" His calm demeanour was shattered once again.
"Before you ask me if I'm mad again," Harry said, probably just in time to prevent Snape asking exactly that, "I plan for us to go in disguise and to be under the Invisibility Cloak. So you wouldn't be seen with us, or even with the disguised us. You could simply keep watch for any Death Eaters."
"And if I see any?"
"Just warn us."
"Do you suggest that I lean over, whisper to thin air, and then just walk away and let you deal with things?"
"Essentially, yes, although I'm rather hoping that there won't be any things to deal with. And if you don't help, we're going anyway."
"Oh, and Draco has agreed to this?"
"Yes, I have," Draco said, entering the room. "I can't take much more of being stuck here in this house."
Harry nodded and grinned at Snape who left the house in a swish of robes.
"Well, that went rather well," Draco remarked.
"Better than I had expected, actually. I just hope he brings you your wand."
"Oh, he will. I don't think he likes that I've been here without it all along."
"You do understand --"
"I understand. I wouldn't have trusted me if I were you either. In fact, I doubt I'd even trust me now."
"Well, let's just say I have a little more confidence in you than most people."
"Or you really are mad, as Snape suggested."
"Well, there's always that."
~*~*~
Snape returned that night with Draco's wand and a promise that he would consider attending the Beltane Festival.
A week later, however, he arrived with bad news. "They are going to be there, at the Festival."
"Who?" Harry asked.
"The Death Eaters. One of them recalls your mother taking you there, and has alerted the Dark Lord of it."
"Have you been asked to go?" Draco asked.
"Naturally."
"Well, then. That makes it easier, doesn't it?" Draco reasoned. "Now you have a reason to be there, and with you standing near us, the others will stay away."
Harry shot him a grin. "That's right. Now there's definitely no reason not to go."
"Your madness is clearly infectious," he sneered at Harry. Turning to Draco, he pleaded, "You don't have to do this, you know. Just stay here where it's safe."
"For how long?" Draco asked. He no longer cared if he sounded petulant. He was so very tired of being locked up, because that's what he was. He was a prisoner in this house, even if he could walk out any time, because he would be walking out to his death. "Look, I appreciate everything you're doing for me, but ... well, it's been almost a year since we left Hogwarts, and I've done nothing ... normal. Let me do this one thing, and I'll return here." He felt the oddly comforting presence of Harry's hand on his shoulder, giving him strength and support.
"Very well, then. If you are determined to risk your life like ... like a Gryffindor, let it be on your conscience. I wash my hands of the matter."
"Thank you," Draco said. He watched his mentor and protector's eyes soften for just a moment before returning to their usual coldness. The man really did care for him.
After Snape left, Harry asked Draco what the Beltane Festival was all about. Draco explained that it was all about rebirth and fertility, and that often people would pair off for the night, or even for a traditional one-year trial marriage.
"You mean people have sex there?" he asked, sounding horrified.
Draco laughed. "Some people do, yes."
"And your mother took you there?"
"Well, it's not a wild orgy, Harry. There are certain areas where ... coupling occurs, and other areas where it doesn't."
"Oh." There was a sense of relief written all over his face.
Draco couldn't resist. "So I think we should go to the more uninhibited area."
"What?!" Harry's eyes nearly bugged out of his head.
"You know, where they'd least expect me to show up," Draco said casually.
"Are you nuts?"
"Relax, Potter, it's not like we're going to participate," Draco teased.
"No! That's not what I meant."
"No? Does that mean you want to participate?" Draco watched as Harry's eyes grew wide and terrified, and his face went a deep shade of red. Oh, yes, this was much more fun than just sitting around the house waiting for something to happen.
He got up and walked over to where Potter was sitting and placed his hands on the arms of his chair. Potter sat there stock still, as though he were afraid to move. Draco leaned in to whisper in his ear, "It's not like anyone would see us under the Invisibility Cloak anyway." He pulled back to look into Potter's stunned face, then left the room.
The problem with teasing Harry, as fun as it may have been, was that Draco had managed to work himself up in the process. At what point Potter had become Harry, and at what point he had become attractive to Draco he wasn't sure, but there it was. Of course, it had been almost a year since he'd left Hogwarts. Longer than that since ... Shit! Now he couldn't get the image of the two of them under the Invisibility Cloak out of his mind. He was thankful to have his wand back as he cast Locking and Silencing Charms on the door of his room - he hadn't trusted that beginner one - and wanked himself nearly raw to the image of Harry. And for once he didn't have to hold back. Well, fuck.
~*~*~
Harry kept avoiding eye contact with him after that. While at first he found it amusing, after a few days, Draco found the whole thing annoying.
"I was joking," he blurted out quite suddenly.
Harry nearly fell out of his chair. "What?"
"I was just trying to ... get a rise out of you," Draco explained. Harry went a deep shade of red. "Oh, I didn't mean --" Draco tried to explain, but Harry's laughter cut him off.
"It's okay. I got what you meant, Draco."
"Good," he said with relief. "Can we go back to ... well, whatever it is we were?"
"Friends?" Harry ventured, still chuckling.
"Yeah," Draco smiled. He liked the sound of that. "We are, aren't we?"
"Definitely," Harry said. "So, two nights from now."
"Two nights," Draco agreed. He thought about how much it meant to him, that Harry would do this. "We don't have to, you know," he said.
"What? Have sex?"
Had he been drinking something, Draco was sure he'd have choked on it. "Attend the Festival," he explained.
"Oh, right," Harry stammered, going red again. Draco rather liked that look, but remembering the last few days, he didn't tease this time. Really, Harry made it so easy, though. Then he seemed to regain his composure. "But we are going."
"Look, Harry," Draco started, but Harry would have none of it.
"Draco, listen. We've gone through it all already, right? We'll be disguised and under the cloak. And Snape will be there. No one will be any the wiser."
"It's just --"
"I want to do this. It's important to you, and you've been cooped up for so long, you must be going crazy. It'll be good for you to get out. Besides, I've been reading up on it, and it sounds like fun."
"Really?"
"Really. So, we're on?"
"We're on."
~*~*~
The evening of May first arrived with Snape still trying to talk them out of attending, but unable to convince them. They set glamours upon themselves, and under cover of the cloak, Apparated to the safe point near Calton Hill.
They managed to find a good spot, apart from most of the crowd, but still close enough to see the fire and the show. They cast a few spells to avoid having anyone accidentally bump into them or pull off the Invisibility Cloak, and settled in for the evening.
Draco animatedly explained the events as they took place, and Harry supplemented his comments with things he'd read. The show was as good as any Draco had seen, and he found himself relaxed and ... happy for the first time in a long time.
By the time the evening's events were over, they were leaning against each other under the cloak, trying not to be seen. There were no less than three Death Eaters, not counting Snape, within visible range, and they hadn't wanted to test their glamours by fidgeting and knocking the cloak loose; it really was a bit of a tight squeeze with them both under it.
Finally it was time to leave. Harry ended the charms around them and they stood up to go. Not a minute later, someone staggered past, bumping into Draco in his haste to leave, probably also thanks to the consumption of a large amount of alcohol, and stepped on the bottom of the cloak. In horror, Draco felt the cloak slide off him and Harry, and he caught the stunned look on one Death Eater's face as he watched them appear.
Thinking quickly, Draco grabbed the front of Harry's shirt, said, "Kiss me," and pulled Harry towards him. When their lips met, Draco couldn't say it was pleasant. Harry's entire body was rigid and his lips were clamped shut. But within moments, he relaxed and Draco felt Harry's fingers glide through his hair, cradling his head and bringing him in closer. His lips softened and opened ever so slightly. Apparently he did catch on when pummelled over the head.
Once his brain caught up with what was happening, Draco recognized the moment for what it was. It was likely to be the only time that he and Harry would ever kiss, and he was not going to let the opportunity pass. He pressed his tongue gently through the opening into Harry's mouth, and to his astonishment and pleasure, Harry seemed to welcome the intrusion, opening his mouth more and joining his tongue with Draco's.
At once, Draco was drowning in the sensation of kissing Harry. Everything else - all the people, all the noise, everything around them - melted away and it was just the two of them. Draco's body tingled with warmth all over, and he pressed the length of it against Harry's. As they deepened the kiss, Draco could feel Harry's one hand grasping his hair, and his other hand wandering over Draco's back.
In the distance, he heard Snape's voice, presumably addressing the Death Eater who had noticed them, "Apparently, these two wanted privacy." The other man huffed in disgust but said nothing else. "Let's move on. I don't see any sign of Draco here."
"Guess he's smart enough not to show his face here," came the other Death Eater's voice. "I suppose Lucius had to have taught his boy something."
Harry's body tensed as he broke the kiss. "Hold on," he whispered, and Draco felt the cloak cover them again right before Harry Apparated them back to Grimmauld Place.
"There were Muggles there, Harry!" Draco admonished him as soon as they were back in the familiar sitting room.
"I doubt it. But if there were, they'd just seen two men appear out from under an Invisibility Cloak anyway, so a quick disappearing act wouldn't be any worse." He had the nerve to smile, looking quite proud of himself.
"What if they --"
"We were in disguise. No one knows it was us except Snape. This place is unplottable. No worries."
"No worries?" Draco flailed his arms and began to pace. "That was a Death Eater standing right there!" Draco reasoned, though not entirely as calmly as he had planned.
Harry grinned at him in a very predatory manner. Draco's stomach flipped. "That was a brilliant distraction you came up with," he said to Draco as he walked towards him. "I don't think he suspected a thing." Harry was standing entirely too close to him now.
Was Harry angry with him? "Look, Harry, I'm sorry --"
"No, Draco, I don't think you are." He stepped closer still. Draco wondered if Harry was planning to strangle him. "In fact," he said, placing his hands on Draco's shoulders and leaning towards Draco's ear, "I think you might have rather enjoyed that."
Well, it was true. But Draco wasn't going to admit that to Harry. He opened his mouth to protest, but it was quickly covered by Harry's. Oh. Well, then.
This second kiss began much more gently, more sensually than their first, and by the time it was over, Draco was glad Harry was still holding his shoulders, because he wasn't sure his legs would have kept him upright.
Harry licked his lips and smiled. "Mmm," he said as he looked into Draco's eyes, "I think I might have too."
~*~*~
As the first anniversary of the fall of Voldemort approached, and Draco was about to receive his Order of Merlin for services rendered to the Order of the Phoenix, he reflected on the irony of it all.
Looking back to that time of war, after that fateful day when Harry had risked so much just to accompany Draco to the Beltane Festival, in honour of his mother's memory, Draco smiled. He knew that from that moment on, he would have done anything for Harry. Not for the cause, not for the greater good, not for anyone else. Just for Harry.
After all, it was the Slytherin way to protect one's future, and even then, Draco knew that Harry was his.
.