It was really the last place Harry wanted to live. But seeing as it was his chance to be with Draco, he couldn't very well say no.

The term ended early, and Dumbledore had made a long speech about the houses working together even after school. And how much better life could be without the threat of the Dark Lord or Death Eaters hanging over everyone's head.

"Speak for yourself," Harry muttered, sitting with Hermione, Ron, and Draco.

Draco hadn't heard him, thank goodness. But Hermione gave him a cautionary look. Well, what of it? he thought, glaring back at her. She didn't have to live at Malfoy Manor.

Harry was determined to find a place for himself and Draco as soon as humanly possible.

There was a lot of hugging, many tearful good-byes. Harry gave one last look around the entryway as everyone dragged their trunks toward the carriages. Some, of course, would be returning to finish their schooling, but for Harry and the other seventh years, this was it. Perhaps the last time he would see Hogwarts, the place that had been more home to him than any place before.

He felt someone tug on his arm. It was Draco. "Missing the place already?" he asked.

Harry felt a sting in his eyes. "Yeah. A little."

"It's time for new beginnings, Harry. New adventures. I can't wait to get you home."

Home. Where was home? Certainly not Malfoy Manor. Privet Drive? That was never home. Grimauld Place was almost home if Sirius had not died. They could have been happy there. The Burrow was the closest thing to home. But even that really wasn't his. He had been a favoured guest and was grateful for his time there. But even Ron was looking for someplace. After all, he and Hermione were going to make a go of it.

Godric's Hollow? Harry had never been there. He knew the place was in ruins and never really wanted to see it.

A hand slipped into his, warm and gentle. He looked down at those white fingers entwined with his. Home was there, in Draco's hands. He supposed wherever the Slytherin was, that was going to be home from now on. After all, Draco wanted to marry him.

He smiled to himself as he allowed Draco to pull him out of Hogwarts' entry hall for the last time. That's where he was really happiest, with Draco. He squeezed the blonde's hand and Draco looked back at him. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing. It's just...I really love you."

Draco smiled. "Of course you do."

They climbed into an empty carriage, kissed, and were suddenly shoved over by Ron and Hermione. "Well! We're going home!" announced Ron.

Harry chuckled. Yeah. Home. Malfoy Manor.

* * *

The train ride seemed longer to Harry than it had ever been. But the noise level was also louder. Everyone wanted to talk about their new lives in a Voldemort-free world. Harry was quiet. He listened to his friends chat, and even Draco joined in the conversation. He must have been feeling particularly free and happy that his family wasn't so hated anymore. He never noticed how quiet Harry had become.

Harry watched the countryside whirr by the window. He had become very introspective over the last few days. The train churned over the bridge where he and Ron flew Arthur Weasley's car. He remembered the first Dementor attack, his first Chocolate Frog card, his first encounter with a certain blond Slytherin, saying good-bye to Hagrid on the platform that first year, seeing Hedwig for the first time, the moment he bought his wand, and all the crazy adventures that a child never should have been involved in.

He only noticed the rest of them falling silent when they drew into King's Cross Station. They must all be thinking about what they were going to do as adult witches and wizards.

And Harry still didn't have a clue.

"Come on, Harry," said Draco, dragging him to his feet. "Don't worry about the trunks. The house elves will get it."

Hermione frowned at him and he sneered back. "Some of us don't have a problem with tradition, Granger. I think if you asked Weasley whether he wouldn't mind a house elf or two his answer will surprise you."

She shot a piercing glance at Ron who startled back. "What did I do?"

Draco chuckled. Harry shook his head at it. The man just couldn't resist causing trouble.

And then they were on the platform looking for their parents. Harry looked at Hermione. She was a beautiful young woman now, very different from the mousy and bookish creature he first met, but she was always pretty confident and he supposed that's what attracted him. "Well, I guess this is it."

Hermione's eyes began to tear up. "Oh Harry. I'll miss you."

"It's not like we won't see each other again." But even he felt a lump in his throat. "We'll get together often. Besides, you have to help me decide what I should do with myself."

"Isn't that my job?" said Draco with a bit of a leer.

Hermione ignored him and drew Harry into a hug.

When she pulled back, Ron was staring at him. "Well, mate. We're finally free."

"Yeah. If it weren't for you guys, I would have been dead fifty times over."

"Same here. But it was fun, wasn't it?"

"Some of it. The deadlier stuff I could have done without."

"Me, too." They paused for a moment, simply looking at one another, until Draco finally said a bit impatiently, "Oh hug each other already!"

Ron moved first and enclosed Harry in a deep hug. Hermione joined them and Harry had never felt so loved and safe.

They pulled back from one another.

"The Golden Trio," said Draco. They turned toward him. "You three are famous, you know. They'll be writing stories and songs about you three for a long time. A real life hero saga."

"Stories?" asked Ron. His face reddened.

"Oh, I don't know about that," said Hermione, cheeks just as flushed.

"I don't mind sharing the limelight with you lot for a change," said Harry with a smile, and he meant it.

"Well, we'll see about that. I see my mum and dad, Harry," she said. "I'll owl you. We'll keep in touch. Take care of yourself. And you, too, Draco. You take good care of Harry."

"I always take good care of the Chosen One."

"Come to the Burrow if things get a little hairy at the manor, mate," said Ron, clapping him on the shoulder.

"What's that supposed to mean, Weasley?"

He looked at Draco and smiled. "You can come, too."

There was a screech and suddenly a sea of ginger-heads descended onto Harry, knocking Draco back. Mrs. Weasley hugged him hard and Mr. Weasley was slapping his back. Fred and George were there and Ginny joined them. They all chatted for a while until Harry could feel the impatience wafting off of Draco. He turned and his boyfriend was tapping his foot, his arms clamped tightly over his chest. A scowl marred his face and Harry extricated himself at last from Mrs. Weasley. "Er...I've got to go now. But I'll come as soon as I can, okay?"

"Yes, dear." She wiped the tears from her face. "You take care of yourself, Harry dear. And...uh... you, too, Draco. Be good to him."

Draco sighed.

The Weasleys moved down the platform in a bustle of noise and flouncing hair, and Hermione greeted her parents, who always looked a bit wary, being Muggles and all. Soon it was just Draco and him.

"So now what?" asked Harry.

"There should be a car."

"Don't your parents come to the platform?"

"Don't be ridiculous. That's much too common. Let's find the car."

Was it Harry's imagination, or was that haughty Malfoy attitude coming to the surface again?

* * *

Draco found the car and climbed in, urging Harry inside. Harry hadn't been in such luxury. It wasn't anything like the Ministry car he'd been in before. The seats were a soft leather and the walls and ceilings seemed to be covered in a velvet-like material.

Harry settled back into the soft cushions. "Want a drink?" asked Draco. A panel appeared when he waved his wand and a set up of butterbeers, firewhiskey, pumpkin juice and other cocktails appeared.

Harry felt like quite the prince and thought, since he was seventeen and all, he should live a little. "I'll take a butterbeer."

"So will I." They clinked the bottles.

Harry thought this butterbeer was the best he ever tasted. He looked at his companion who seemed to be more at ease than he had ever seen him. Back in his element, he supposed.

"You like being rich, don't you," Harry said suddenly.

Draco glanced at him with those drowsy lids that was an all-too familiar gesture for the Slytherin. "Of course. This is my natural state. Being at Hogwarts was sometimes such a burden."

"Because you weren't waited on hand and foot?"

"Yes."

"You know, when we find our own place, it's going to be s lot like Hogwarts again. No house elves, no waiting on hand and foot."

"But there will be you."

Harry blushed. But before he could melt entirely, Draco spoke up.

"And of course there will be house elves. I simply can't be without."

"Um, Draco. I don't want any house elves."

"What? You can't be serious. You want to make your own bed, wash your own clothes, and cook your own meals?"

"Well, why not? I did it the Muggle way all my life. It's surely a lot easier with magic."

"Harry, Harry, Harry. It just isn't done." He patted Harry's thigh condescendingly. "You'll see."

Harry wriggled on his seat and put the butterbeer in the slot in the door. Suddenly Draco was acting quite the prat. What was wrong with him all of a sudden?

The car drove-and Harry noticed that it drove by itself-all through London and then headed out onto the highway. But soon it was picking up speed and zooming along like the Knight Bus at an unnatural velocity down country roads and flinging over the countryside. Draco calmly toyed with Harry's hair but Harry was gripping the seat. He hated not knowing where he was going and if the thing was safe, but just as suddenly as the car had accelerated, it began to brake and skidded to a stop on a gravel drive, sending a cockerel's tail of rock into the air. Harry peered out the window to a large entrance, as big as Hogwarts, attached to a spiny Gothic structure in dark brick. Immense doors cut in a gothic arch rose up into the shadows of a vaulted portal and Harry felt himself sinking into the seat. "Th-this can't be it, can it?" His voice sounded quite small to himself.

"Welcome to Malfoy Manor, Harry. We're home!"

Draco scooted quickly out of the car and the boot sprung open. Their luggage levitated out of it along with their owl cages, and floated up the steps and through the door which had obliged by opening for them into a deep, black maw.

Harry startled back when Draco tapped on his window. His voice was strangely muffled when he said, "Come on out, Harry."

As if going to the gallows, Harry slowly opened the door and stepped out. No sooner had he done so than the car zoomed away, leaving Harry a bit wobbly. Draco steadied him with his hand on his arm and then slipped his arm in Harry's, urging him up the steps. "Come on," he complained, tugging Harry forward.

"Okay, okay," Harry muttered.

He jabbed at each step but Draco pulled him higher until they were standing in the entry. It was still rather dark, with only torches lit. There was a huge chandelier and as soon as they stepped into the large foyer, the candles burst with light. Draco seemed to expect it, but Harry gave a little cry of surprise. Draco looked back quizzically, and Harry coloured, feeling foolish. Draco put a hand on his hip and cocked his head. "You can't go screaming at every little thing you see here. There's a lot of that. Never been in a real Wizarding house, have you."

"Yes I have. I used to own one, remember?"

Draco snorted at that and grasped Harry's hand to pull him forward again.

"Draco! Where are we going?"

"To our wing."

"Our wing?" Good grief! What had he gotten himself into?

Draco moved purposefully up a wide marble staircase and Harry stumbled after him. They walked down long carpeted corridors and galleries, opened to large halls below. One looked like a ballroom while another a library and still another into something that looked like a game room with four billiard tables. They passed an atrium where a large oak grew right in the middle of the floor and reached toward a vast Victorian-looking skylight. Harry saw birds and squirrels nestling in the great oak's branches-but then he was quickly ushered away.

"Draco, I'm getting tired. Where the hell are we?"

"We are in the east wing. It's my wing. See. Here's our room coming up."

But it wasn't just a room. At least it didn't look like that to Harry. One wall was made of rock down which cascaded a waterfall, spraying a fine mist to the stone corridor's floor. Past the waterfall, Harry looked up into a huge arching vault enchanted to look like a starry sky-just like the Great Hall at Hogwarts. And then there were miles of deep green drapery hanging from the walls. Some were tapestries depicting dragons of all colours and shapes. Another doorway and Harry recognized an enormous bed and beyond that was a sitting room that was like another hall. And beyond that was a terrace. Harry stopped dead and looked around. "This isn't your room."

Draco smiled a self-satisfied smirk. "Of course it is. But it's our room now."

"Draco. This can't be for one person."

"Well it is. This is where I grew up. Close your mouth, Potter and get used to it. On second thought, don't close your mouth and come here."

He turned Harry, still flabbergasted by his surroundings, and kissed him soundly, plunging his tongue into Harry's slack-jawed mouth.

"Mmphf! Draco!" Harry pulled away and glared at his boyfriend. "Come on. It's just a little tough for me to adjust to right away, okay?"

Draco pouted but his mood didn't last long. He seemed to be happy to be home and he ran toward his bed, made a flying leap, and landed on his back, bouncing a few times. "Come on, Harry. Join me. This is your room now. I love having you here."

Harry moved forward sheepishly and stood next to the bed. "It's enormous. We'll lose each other."

Draco sat up and grasped Harry's hand. He kissed it once and looked up, smiling. "I'll always find you." His eye twinkled. "Come on. Want to cuddle a bit? And by cuddle I mean shag."

Harry looked around again. It was like shagging in the middle of the Great Hall. How was he ever to get used to it? "I don't know-"

"Harry!" Draco whined. He pulled sharply and Harry fell over-onto the softest mattress he had ever felt.

"Blimey! This is bloody marvelous!" It was like a thousand feather pillows all nestled around him.

"Of course. Only the best for Malfoys. And Potters now. So." He licked his lips and Harry was finding it arousing. "Want to fuck?"

That was even more arousing. Well, what the hell? He began to take off his shirt. Draco was smiling from ear to ear now and hurriedly pulled off his robe and shirt. He kicked off his shoes, sending them sailing and quickly divested himself of trousers and underpants. "Hey Harry," he crooned. "Want to try something a little different?"

Harry was just slipping off his own trousers and pants when he looked up anxiously at Draco. "What do you mean?"

Draco had his wand in hand. He waved it and Harry's wrists were immediately seized by invisible restraints.

"Hey!" His arms were drawn up over his head and clamped to the headboard. His feet were being drawn apart, his knees pushed toward his body. "Draco? What the hell-!"

"Relax, Harry." Draco twirled his wand. He was quite a sight doing it starkers. He drawled a smile, his eyes raking over Harry's helpless and exposed form. "I just thought we'd mix it up a little. Sort of a welcome home celebration."

"Well-" Harry glanced toward the door. "Could you at least lock and ward the door!"

Draco waved his wand toward the door, and the posts and lintel sparkled with magic. "Better?"

"I guess." He looked down at himself. He couldn't believe how exposed he was. His hips were rocked back and his arse and hole were open for all to see. Thank goodness it was only Draco. "Er...Draco? I don't know about this...."

The blond crawled up the bed and ran a hand down the underside of Harry's thigh, running fingers downward over his arse. The fingers toyed with his opened crack. "Oh Harry. You don't know what this does to me." He clutched at his stiff and upright erection. Harry could see very well what it did to the man. And it aroused him, to.

"What shall I do to you first, I wonder," said Draco, still lazily painting circles on Harry's goosefleshed skin with his fingers. "Should I lick you? Should I tease that exposed hole of yours?" His finger traced delicately on Harry's furled entrance and the sensation tingled up Harry's body. He jutted his hips upward.

"Oh Draco."

"Mmmm. Harry." Draco leaned over and kissed the underside of his thigh, following the path his finger had taken only moments before. His lips, his tongue traced a trail. Harry felt the delicate licking on the hairs of his leg, felt the hot breath on his arse, felt it growing closer to his entrance, and moaned.

"Oh God!" A lapping tongue brushed down his crack, then changed directions and swathed the underside of his bollocks, teasing the perineum with hard licks. He wanted to pump himself into Draco's face but the binding wouldn't allow it. All he could do was wriggle his hips and whine. He tossed his head back and forth across the pillow and yanked at his magical restraints. "Draco, Draco, Draco...." he murmured, reduced to only that by the building passion and sensations concentrated in his groin. That treacherous tongue dabbed and lapped at his balls, sometimes followed by lips closing over the soft flesh of his sac and gently sucking. His penis was a stiff broomstick, stabbing into the air, seeking a touch, a lick, a breath.

"Suck me!" he rasped. He never wanted anything so badly in his life...and to think he was nervous about getting naked only a few short moments ago. But Draco could always reduce him to a pulsating blob of sensation, devoid of brain power, only seeking pleasure, only seeking Draco.

Draco smiled at Harry. Harry barely acknowledged it through the haze of lust that had seized hold of him. Harry felt his lover's arms encircling his hips and then...that hot, moist mouth closed over the tip of his penis, sucking gently, drawing on it like some thick straw. Draco licked down the shaft and then up again, enveloping the head of Harry's dick once more.

"Not going to last," Harry panted.

"Not yet, Potter," said Draco, grasping the root of his cock and squeezing.

"No! Want to come!"

"And you will, love. Just not yet."

"You're cruel!"

"I'm Slytherin." He slipped down again and suddenly warm lips closed over Harry's hole and gently sucked.

"Oh! OH!"

Draco chuckled and commenced licking Harry's tight entrance, jabbing at it with his tongue until he loosened it and breached the opening. Harry writhed uncontrollably now, seeking Draco's tongue, his lips. It felt fantastic, but it wasn't enough. "I want your cock!" he blurted, amazed he was able to make a complete sentence.

Draco pulled back. "Of course you do, love." He scooted up onto his knees. "You'll come for me only when I tell you. All right?"

"Okay! Just...do it!"

Harry felt Draco's cockhead kiss his hole. It was already loosened from Draco's tonguing and the cock slipped in easily. He gave a sigh dripping with lust when that cock eased all the way in, filling him with that exquisite sensation of his lover balls-deep. Draco didn't pause, but drew it almost all the way out and eased back in, repeating, quickening his movements. Harry rocked his hips with it, taking it as Draco thrust faster and faster.

His lover kept hitting the sweet spot deep inside him and he thrust back. "Draco. Draco!" he pleaded.

"Not...yet...Potter!" Draco panted through clenched teeth.

"I can't...I can't...." Harry was losing it. As much as he wanted to play along, there was no way he was going to be able to hold back.

He came, arching his back high, clamping down on the dick pistoning inside of him. It must have been too much for Draco and he let loose, too. They both came with throaty grunts, Harry spurting high into the air, and Draco deep inside him. They rocked with the rhythm of their pounding heartbeats for a few moments more before they slowed and eased down into the mattress. Draco lay atop Harry, his dick still inside but his juices flowing out down Harry's crack and pooling at the small of his back. As usual, the feelings churning in him were of swirling pleasure, but also of immense love for the man whose weight was bearing down on him. He longed to wrap his arms around his lover but his wrists were still restrained above him. "Draco, love. Can you release me? I want to hold you."

Draco searched blindly for his wand, found it, and waved it lazily over Harry, all without lifting his head or opening his eyes. Harry's arms fell free as did his cramping legs. He wrapped arms and legs around his pale lover and squeezed. "I love you," he whispered into his ears. "That was bloody marvelous."

He felt Draco's lips kiss his neck. "I love you, too, Harry. I love that you're mine."

"And you're mine," said Harry, squeezing again.

"Why don't you take a shower," said Draco. "It's nearly dinner time and we will be required to dine with Mother and Father."

All Harry's good feelings of love and pleasure were suddenly yanked away. "Do we have to? Couldn't we just eat here by ourselves?"

"Don't be silly, Harry. It's a Malfoy tradition. We always eat dinner together when I'm home."

Harry sighed and dragged himself out from under Draco. "Okay," he mumbled.

"I'll be in right after you," Draco said drowsily into the pillow.

Harry showered in the Prefect-sized bathroom, drying himself with the fluffiest towels he had ever encountered. When he came out of the steamy room Draco was just going in. He trailed his fingers along Harry's flanks. "We're running behind, Potter," he said, stretching in the doorway and studying Harry's moist, just-cleaned bare skin. "Why don't you get the house elves to show you to the dining hall."

"Oh. Er...I don't want to go without you."

"I'll be along. What's the matter, Potter? Scared of my parents?"

"No!" But in fact, he was a bit intimidated by all the opulence.

Draco shut the door but he called out to Harry through it, "Don't forget to dress."

Harry chuckled. He wasn't likely to go to dinner starkers, now was he?

Harry chose a clean shirt and his cleanest jeans and trainers and waited. But Draco didn't look as if he was going to be coming out any time soon.

He had faced down a Dark Lord. He supposed he could go down to dinner with his potential in-laws.

Harry left the room and entered the corridor. "Um...house elves! Hullo!"

Immediately, a house elf winked into existence in front of him, giving him a jolt. The little creature bowed. It was wearing a dingy scarf wrapped and tucked around its privates like a diaper.

"Oh. Er...what's your name?"

"I is Dilton, sir."

"Dilton? Okay. I'm supposed to go to the dining hall. Will you take me there?"

"Oh Dilton is happy to take Mr. Harry Potter to the dining hall, sir! Very happy!"

"Er...yeah. Thanks." Harry reddened again. He supposed in the house elf gossip circuit his fame would have gotten around. Or was it Dobby's doing? It certainly wasn't Kreacher's.

He followed the little elf down staircases and through dim corridors. He tried to remember where they were going but he knew he'd never find his way back to Draco's room-their room, he supposed.

Finally, they passed under an arch into an immense room with a long, polished oak table, where Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy were already seated. Huge candelabrums hovered just over the table lit with at least a hundred candles.

They both wore identical sneers as they looked at him.

Harry refused to be intimidated, though he shoved his hands into his pockets to hide their trembling.

"Good evening," he managed, voice steady.

They just looked at him, neither offering him a greeting or a seat.

Finally, Narcissa turned to face him. "What on earth are you wearing?" she said. He face wore that expression of sniffing something unpleasant, and this time it appeared to be Harry.

Harry looked down. It was simple Muggle jeans and a button down shirt. "Um...I guess it's Muggle clothes."

"Muggle!"

Lucius leaned toward his wife and patted her hand. "You see, my dear. I told you. Despite his status as the Dark Lord's Vanquisher, he is nothing more than a Muggle-raised barbarian."

"Oh nice," said Harry with his best Draco-like sneer. "That's how Malfoys treat their guests? I was given to understand that courtesy was the rule of the day. But when it comes to you lot, I guess I'm wrong." Without waiting to be asked, he took the nearest chair and sat. Instantly his goblet was filled with a liquid. He didn't care what it was. He grabbed it and took a swig. It turned out to be wine, and he did his best not to choke.

Narcissa was still staring at him open-mouthed when Lucius intervened. "By all means, Mr. Potter. Do sit down. Where is Draco?"

"In the shower. He told me to apologize for his lateness."

Narcissa and Lucius exchanged glances but said nothing. The silence dragged on. Harry tried to fill the space by sipping at his wine, which tasted pretty good, considering he didn't know anything about wine.

Finally Draco appeared and everyone seemed relieved. "Sorry, Mother, Father," he said, breezing in. "Had to get the dust from the train off. I feel much-Good God, Potter! What are you wearing?"

Harry glared back at his boyfriend just sitting down beside him. "It's just clothes. What's the problem?"

He leaned toward Harry. "I told you to dress, didn't I?"

"I am dressed-" But then Harry took in what Draco was wearing. Dress robes. He slid his glance toward Narcissa and Lucius and they, too, seemed to be wearing opulent, shimmery robes. Oops. Harry had misunderstood. He didn't know he was supposed to dress up for dinner. Shit. He felt like the biggest loser, and dipped his head toward his goblet to try to hide in it.

The rest of the dinner he left to Draco to converse. Draco seemed very happy to be home with his parents and chatted animatedly with them. Narcissa thawed when she talked to her son and even Lucius seemed more father-like to his offspring than he had at school.

So this was another example of a Wizarding family. The Weasleys had been his only glance into the everyday life of Wizards. They were poor but full of familial love. And here was their opposite, rich but also a loving trio...now invaded by uncouth Harry Potter.

This was Draco's element, all right. Draco positively glowed. His slender fingers gracefully used his silver cutlery. They wrapped gently around the stem of his silver goblet. Shiny silver, glimmering crystal, glowing jewels on his mother's neck and even glistening from the family ring Draco always wore. So much wealth Harry had never seen before. And to Draco, it was quite ordinary. Draco had said it had been a chore living at Hogwarts when he wasn't waited on hand and foot and Harry saw for himself now that Draco's statement wasn't purely bragging. It was merely a statement of fact. That must really have been a trial for Draco. No wonder he had been so cranky over the years.

And what about Harry? Hogwarts had been a distinct step upward. Suddenly, not only was he a wizard, but he had his own vault filled with gold! He actually had money, a future. But he supposed he was more like Ron's family than this one. How was he ever to find someplace to live that was satisfactory to him and that also suited Draco's tastes?

Lucius had welcomed Harry--albeit sarcastically-to the family. But never before had he felt more like of an outsider.


On to Part Three
"Disintegration"

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"When Term Ends"

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