Every time Harry decided to go meet Draco at the London house, he felt a stomach-churning mix of excitement and self-loathing. Sleeping beside Ginny seemed so uncomfortable, not only because of the guilt gnawing away at him, but because-and he hated to admit it-he just didn't want it anymore. They never made love these days. Ginny didn't demand it and Harry never suggested it. He loved her and all-he really did-but he didn't feel in love with her as he had done all those years ago. She felt more like a sister to him; a confident and friend. He would sometimes watch her sleeping beside him, her nightgown clinging to her curves. He recalled how the mere touch of her rounded breasts used to thrill him, but for the life of him he couldn't conjure the feelings any longer.

But today was a Draco Day. At least his Auror training came in handy. He always made a circuitous route to the London house, and never in the same way. There was no chance of anyone following him, not that any suspected anything. Sometimes he'd Apparate quite close to it and other times he would Apparate blocks away.

This time he Apparated in the alley of a nearby Chinese takeaway place. He turned the corner, and when his eyes beheld the Victorian monstrosity, Harry's excitement would mount. When had this begun to feel more like home than Godric's Hollow? They had been meeting for almost two months and Christmas was fast approaching. Harry had gotten wonderful gifts for his children, but he found himself trying to imagine what to buy for Draco.

He breezed past the wards and entered into the tiled foyer, whisking his cloak off and tossing it toward the antler coat rack-which leaned down to catch when he missed. Some wonderful aromas were wafting from the direction of the kitchen and Harry smiled. "Dra-co! I'm-" He caught himself. On more than one occasion, he almost said "home." "I'm here!" he amended.

Draco poked his head out of the kitchen doorway and smiled. He greeted Harry with a kiss that started as a peck but turned to something lingering. "Hi. How was your day?"

"What? All two hours of it? What's for lunch?" He slipped his arm around Draco and walked with him to the stove.

"Come look. You'll be proud of me. No house-elves this time." He crouched down and opened the oven door where a roast sat sizzling in its own juices.

"Draco! You didn't! The Muggle way?"

Draco drew back. "Don't be mental. Of course not." He whipped out his wand and spun it in his fingers. "I did it with this little stick of wood. You should try it sometimes. It's very handy."

"I've heard that." He took the man in his arms and kissed him again. "And I've been practicing with it. There's a very good lubricating charm I've gotten awfully good at."

Draco smiled that devilish smile of his. "You certainly have." He kissed Harry back and pinched his bum.

"Ow!" But it didn't really hurt. He sat down at the table and Draco poured him some wine. Harry noticed the crystal and flowers in a vase for the first time. "What's the occasion?"

"Well," said Draco, pouring himself a glass and sitting opposite. "It's been exactly ninety days since our first kiss."

"Oh. The ninety day anniversary. How could I have forgotten?"

Draco swatted his shoulder and drank his wine. "Well. It was something like that. I just wanted to celebrate is all."

What they didn't want to say, was that soon their children would be home for Christmas and they wouldn't have time to see each other. Harry was happy to be seeing his children again, but not so happy that he wouldn't be with Draco.

"Maybe we should decorate a tree here early," said Harry, breaking the taboo of speaking it aloud.

Draco stared at him over his wine glass. "That would be very nice." His smile belied the sorrow evident in his eyes. Harry rose and came around the table. He crouched and put his arms around him, kissing his head. "I love you," he whispered to that blond scalp.

Draco's hand covered Harry's. "I love you, too."

They said it often. It was their Big Defiance to the world. A world that didn't have the least idea what they got up to.

But of course, that was about to change.

* * *

Harry noticed Ginny looking at him oddly. Ever since their holiday away-only three days after Harry and Draco had made love for the first time-things seemed to have gone down hill. Ginny was short with him and he tried to endure it, thinking that it might alleviate some of his guilt. But it only made things more tense between them. They tried to be civil in front of Lily and it was easier because they doted on their daughter.

But one evening an owl arrived from Hogwarts. Ginny retrieved it and she grinned. "It's from Al." She unrolled it and read, laughing.

"What?"

"I'll read it to you:

Hullo Mum and Dad. Hogwarts is great, just like you said. Today we had Magical Creatures, and Professor Hagrid was showing us Red Caps. They were in little cages, but when Professor Hagrid brought them out to show us, he tripped and the cages exploded and they all attacked his leg. He was bleeding A LOT but he said not to worry and then Lisa Finnegan fainted. But I was the hero because I sent my Patronus to get Headmistress McGonagall and she gave me FIFTY POINTS to Gryffindor for creating a fully corporeal Patronus in my first year. I told her you taught me and she said she'd send an owl about it. You might be in trouble, Dad, but I guess she can't put you in detention anymore-"

Harry laughed. "I wouldn't be so sure."

Ginny smiled at that and continued reading.

"It looks like I made a good friend, as well. Scorpius Malfoy. He said his dad used to know Dad pretty well…" Ginny lowered the page.

"That's dreadful! I didn't know Al was friends with Malfoy."

Harry felt his gut tighten. "I wish you wouldn't say it like that. Things are different now. Isn't that what we all wanted?"

"But a Malfoy, Harry? Maybe he's up to something. Maybe he'll just get Al in trouble. I'd hate to see his heart broken."

"Or maybe," he said, trying to control his anger, "they really are friends. So maybe you should just keep your opinions to yourself."

Ginny stared at Harry aghast. "What has gotten into you? Since when are you best mates with the Malfoys?"

"I never said I was mates with them, but I did testify for Lucius and Narcissa and we really need to stop all these old hatreds. That's what let Voldemort get so powerful."

"Don't lecture me about all that, Harry Potter. I was there. I know. I was the one possessed by Tom bloody Riddle!"

Why does she have to keep bringing that up, he sighed. "I know that, but isn't that the point of all we went through, so that the houses wouldn't be divided so much anymore?"

"What's the matter with you lately? I would have thought you'd hate the idea of our son friends with a Malfoy."

"Well...times have changed." He leapt from his chair and stomped out of the room. Outside in his garden, he was able to calm down. He cast a warming charm on himself and a Lumos so he could look at the wilting leaves. The garden was pretty much done for the year. All the fruit and vegetables had been picked. There was nothing left but dead leaves and empty stems.

Harry stared at it and felt a deep sense of loss creeping in on him. His marriage was falling apart and he couldn't stand it. It wasn't as if he could be counted among the perfect husbands of the world anymore, but he had made a go of it. But ever since admitting to himself that he was gay, the rest of it all seemed so exhausting. Ginny was no comfort anymore and he certainly was no comfort to her. Things were going from bad to worse. At least there was Draco to look forward to.

But wasn't that the problem to begin with?

* * *

Draco opened his lips over the crown of Harry's penis and covered it down to the ridge. As he gently sucked, he recalled the very first time they had given each other head.

It had only been days after making love for the first time at the Leaky Cauldron. But for their next liaison, Draco had given Harry directions to his London house, with instructions on how to get past the wards.

Draco seemed to be vibrating, waiting for Harry's arrival. There was always some question of whether he would come at all, but when Draco heard the alarms that signaled someone was passing through the wards, he rushed to the foyer, bobbing on his heels. The door opened and Harry stood in the threshold. He stopped when he spied Draco and gave him a wide grin. "Hi."

"Hullo." Draco wanted to rush to him, but he was trying for something more dignified. It didn't always work, but he wanted to make a good impression on Harry.

Harry closed the door and stepped forward. He seemed awkward, too, and leaned in to give Draco a shy kiss on the cheek. It was then that Draco saw what Harry had behind his back: a small nosegay of flowers.

With a sheepish smile, Harry offered them. "I...didn't want to come empty-handed and I didn't know what else to bring."

Draco stared. "Wine is always appropriate," he heard himself say, but just as quickly wished he had never said it. The sight of those flowers made his heart melt with frustrating girlishness.

"I don't know anything about wine. But flowers are...nice."

Draco accepted them as if they were precious gems. He held the small bouquet and simply stared at it. "Thank you," he whispered.

Harry sidled close to him and kissed his cheek again. "You're welcome...love."

That was it. Draco let the flowers drop and threw his arms around Harry, kissing him madly. Harry almost toppled over, but wound his arms around Draco and returned the kiss wholeheartedly.

"That was-"Draco breathed. "Unbelievably-" he kissed Harry's cheek. "Romantic."

"And girly," said Harry with a giggle.

"No it wasn't. Well. Maybe." He picked up the flowers and clutched them to his chest. "Are you hungry? Do you want food?"

"I'm hungry. But I don't want food."

Draco soon recognized the smoldering in Harry's eyes. He took his hand. "Then come upstairs, Mr. Potter." He led Harry to his opulent bedroom. The drapes on the windows were already closed, but the curtains on the four-poster were opened. Draco dropped the flowers on the bedside table. "I think we need to get out of these clothes," he said, disrobing Harry.

When they were both naked, they slid together onto the bed. Sitting sideways and looking at one another, Draco suddenly laughed. "We never do much talking, do we?"

Harry laughed, too, only not as much. Draco could tell he was quivering with lust. "We can talk after."

"Mr. Potter is very practical," he muttered under his breath, succumbing to Harry's arms again.

Harry pressed him down to the mattress and Draco willingly let the other man roll atop him. Harry's erection bored into the juncture of his thigh and hip and his own hard cock jutted into Harry's thigh. "Harry?" he murmured as Harry nibbled on his throat.

"Mmmm?" he inquired.

"This is very nice. I couldn't stop thinking of the last time we were together."

"Mmmm."

"With you...you know. Putting your cock inside me. Fucking me."

"Mm....mm!"

"But lately I've been thinking about...about...sucking your cock."

Harry froze. He lifted his head. "Oh, yeah?"

"Yes. Do you think...Will you let me?"

Harry laughed weakly. "Well, gosh, Malfoy. Turn down a blow job? I'm not mental."

Draco put on his best devilsh grin as he slid down the bed. "Get many of these, do you, Potter?"

"Well, actually, truth be told...no."

"The Weaselette not accommodating?"

"Please don't call her that." Harry's erection began to flag. Damn. Must remember not to bring up the wife. "She...did it a few times but never seemed to like it. But, of course, I liked it just fine."

"Mmmm." Draco ran his hand down Harry's muscled thigh. It was covered in coarse, dark hair and Draco found he liked it. As his hand drew closer to Harry's groin, that erection rose again and the scent of arousal rose as well, dark and heady. He stared at Harry's rather remarkable organ and licked his lips. "I can't imagine not liking it."

"She said it was too big."

"Bint. How can a cock be too big?" He nestled down between Harry's legs, fitting his own erection into the folds of the rumpled duvet. But now that Draco was looking at it from only inches away, he was wondering if Ginny Potter didn't have a point. How was he to get that thing into his mouth? It amazed him that he had gotten it into his arse, but that had considerably more give than his jaw. He licked his lips again and curled his fingers around the base. He could cheat a bit that way, considering he didn't think he wanted to asphyxiate from Potter's cock.

Looking at it quite close, it really was a nice-looking dick. It was thick and sort of bulged in the middle. And the head was domed and flared to an appealing ridge circumnavigating the shaft. His cock was red and the crown even darker. It seemed to bob with Harry's quickened pulse. With shaft firmly in hand, Draco gazed down further to Harry's sac. It, too, was blushed a deep red and was covered in fuzz and gooseflesh.

"Everything all right down there?" Harry squeaked.

"I'm just taking my time to appreciate the view. You really are well turned out, Potter."

"Oh. Um...thanks."

"Don't mention it." Draco drew closer, knowing his hot breath touched Harry's bits and the bollocks drew up even more. Draco reached out with his tongue and gave that furry package a hard lick.

Harry's body quivered and he gasped.

"Mmm," said Draco. "Did you like that?"

"God yes!"

"No need to call me that," he said with a nervous chuckle. He'd already been fucked up the arse several times by Harry the last time they met, but Draco had never sucked a cock before. He didn't want to look stupid doing it. He cursed himself for not thinking ahead. He should have practiced on something first before suggesting it.

Since he and Harry were now officially lovers, he decided to try honesty. "Look...um...I may not be very good at this...."

"Draco," said Harry, looking at him tenderly. "Any little thing you try, that you offer to me, is so special. I cherish it all."

Draco swallowed a lump in his throat. Holy shit. No wonder people followed him. Power, looks, nobility. What didn't this bloke have? Oh, that's right. A really spectacular blow job. Perhaps Draco could be the superb giver of same. He was certainly inspired to try.

Once more he licked his lips. He was going to conquer that cock if it was the last thing he did!

He took the base of Harry's cock in a firm grip and aimed the cock toward his mouth. But instead of licking or sucking it right away, he teased it on his mouth, just running it slowly over his moistened, parted lips. He looked up at Harry who was watching Draco with a lustful expression.

Even with his cock crushed beneath him, Draco's dick gave a twitch.

He kissed the head of Harry's prick and then licked it. He gave it a few more licks. And then he was licking it all over like a melting ice cream cone. He experimented. The flat of his tongue did the long licks from root to tip, while his flicking tongue teased around the ridge of the crown.

Harry arched his back, hips propelling off the bed. He tossed his head back and forth, eyes pressed closed. "Draco, Draco...."

How he loved hearing his name on Harry Potter's lips. How he loved the taste of the man; his cock! He slurped all over that cock and finally took it into his mouth, laving the underside with his tongue as he closed his lips over it, sucking.

"Teeth!" Harry squeaked, and Draco understood to cover his teeth with his lips. There was definitely an art to this.

He remembered his other hand, and sought Harry's bollocks, teasing them with his fingertips. Harry was soon writhing uncontrollably.

"Gonna come!" he warned, hips jutting.

Draco had already decided he wanted to swallow. He wanted everything he could get from Harry. He wanted to give him so much pleasure.

Draco sealed his lips to the quivering organ. The bitter, salty taste of his pre-cum was already in his mouth, especially when he sucked on the head, but then Harry released and Draco was overwhelmed with a sudden flow of that bitter liquid. He did his best to swallow. He choked a bit, trying not to cough with Harry's dick still in his mouth, but he drank down the last, finally releasing Harry with a pop.

He wiped at his chin and cleared his burning throat.

"You all right, Malfoy?" Harry's voice was none too steady. Draco smiled at that.

"Perfect. You?"

Harry grinned from ear to ear and lay back. "Brilliant!"

Draco crawled back up to lie beside Harry, stroking his chest. His nipples were still taut from his orgasm. "That was my first time, you know."

"I know," said Harry, still smiling.

"It wasn't great, but I'll get better-"

"No, no! It was spectacular. Really."

"You think so?" Draco kissed his shoulder. But then a twinge in his own hard cock made him drop his hand down and push the heel of his palm into it.

Harry looked down. "You still have a problem."

"Somewhat."

"Shall I...take care of it?"

Draco rubbed against Harry's thigh. "And just how did you plan on doing that?"

"Well, if you can such cock, I certainly can."

"It's not a competition, Potter."

"The hell it isn't."

The bed bounced as Harry got up and scooted down to Draco's hip. He planted a kiss there and then smiled up at Draco. "It's like Quidditch all over again." He stared deliberately at Draco's pronounced erection. "And it even has broomsticks."

Draco laughed. But his laughter soon died with the remarkable sight of Harry Potter kissing the hollow of his groin. Harry's fingers slowly stroked his thigh. "I haven't done this before either," he said, kissing Draco's leg. Draco trembled at the touch. "But I'll give it a whirl. Have you...have you gotten many blow jobs, Draco?"

He was embarrassed to admit it, but that honesty thing kept creeping up on him. "Um...I've...never had a blow job."

Harry stared. "What? Seriously?"

"Yes, Potter! Evil Draco Malfoy never coerced anyone to do it. I didn't get to date much. The Malfoys weren't exactly top ten on everyone's list to date one's daughter. I never actually had a date. I just married my cousin. We've had sex about three times and that has been it."

Harry's jaw dropped. "In nineteen years?"

Draco's excitement was fleeing rapidly. "Yes. Didn't you hear me? Malfoys are persona non grata. And I have no taste for hiring sex."

"What about Pansy?"

"What about her?"

"I thought she was your girlfriend."

"Yeah. She thought so, too. She wasn't, though. I tolerated her. Let her hang about, stroke the ego."

"But nothing else?"

"Have you seen her face?"

"So...what? You became your own best friend all this time?" Harry made a wanking gesture with his hand.

Draco felt his face burn. He rolled away from Harry and sat on the edge of the bed. "We all can't have perfect marriages."

The bed bounced and Harry climbed over the side, sitting next to Draco. He put his arm around him. "I wasn't making fun of you. I had no idea. Isn't it awfully lonely?"

"I had Scorpius," he said quietly. "But now he's off at school."

"And you're alone. Well. Not anymore, of course. There's me, now."

He sat, just feeling the warmth of Harry beside him. He rested his head on the other man's shoulder. "You really weren't making fun of me?"

"Of course not! Draco, this is all so new to me, too. And marvelous. I won't let you be lonely anymore. Not when you give me so much happiness."

"I do?"

"Yes! Oh, God yes! Draco, just knowing who I am now, with you, has been the most amazing thing of my life. I never knew I could feel this way, this complete. I didn't know what I'd been missing. I only wished we could have known while we were in school. Things would have been so very different, wouldn't they?"

"An understatement." He looked shyly at Harry from under his overhanging fringe. "I wish we had."

"I would have taken you to the Yule Ball."

Draco smiled. "You would not have."

"Would to. Course I couldn't dance."

"I know. I remember."

"And we would have gone to Hogsmeade together and had picnics...and snogged on the Astronomy Tow-" Harry bit his lip. That was a subject they hadn't wanted to broach. But Draco tried to reassure him.

"I would have snuck anywhere to snog with you."

Harry recovered from his faux pas and smiled softly. "And I would have protected you."

The unspoken now spoken, Draco's heart warmed. Yes. He believed that was certainly true. He kissed Harry's cheek. "My Hero."

"You know, I ordinarily don't like hearing that particular title when referring to me, but in your case, I'll make an exception."

Harry began caressing Draco's back with one hand and his leg with the other. His lips sought Draco's neck and the sensations were easily making Draco's dick rise again.

"That's better," said Harry in a husky voice. The hand on Draco's leg slid down inside his thigh and brushed across the burgeoning erection. Harry rested his chin on Draco's shoulder and whispered to his ear. "I love the look of your cock, Draco. And I'm going to do my very best to suck it to your satisfaction. And after you've come, I am going to fuck you into the mattress because you are so turning me on."

Draco snatched a peek at Harry's lap and indeed, his flaccid member was moving to rise again. The sight of it made Draco fully hard once more.

Harry slid to the floor and kneeled in front of Draco, placing his hands on his thighs. With gentle pressure, he parted Draco's legs so he could fit comfortably between. Looking down at that face looking back up, Draco was filled with overwhelming love for the man. Harry was grinning. "Quidditch," he said, wiggling his brows at the joke, and then he dipped his head down.

A wet, warm tongue licked the head of Draco's cock and he gasped from the trill roiling in his belly. Harry's lips sunk over it, taking it in. It was warm and wet and intensely pleasurable. Harry bobbed his head, swallowing Draco's dick. Draco clutched the sheets, groaning. This was so wonderful, so exquisite. Never had he felt anything like this. And it was Harry doing it to him. Oh, he loved him! Loved him so much!

He didn't realize when he grasped Harry's head and then rocked his hips into his face. Harry's eyes were closed, his glasses going askew. Draco tried not to force his dick down Harry's throat and backed off, but it was difficult when such extreme sensations were bringing him so close to orgasm. In fact, he felt the coiling begin in his balls.

"Harry. I'm close. So close."

Harry doubled his efforts, sucking hard now as he bobbed his head faster. Draco didn't have time to say anything. His balls clenched, he spread his legs wider, and shot his load into Harry's mouth. He stared, watching Harry's lips tighten over his cock, his cheeks hollow from sucking. He looked as if he was enjoying every minute of it.

Draco kept spurting, having no idea where it was all coming from. At last he was done, and Harry released him just as it was growing too sensitive. He fell backwards and stared up at the canopy, the afterglow spreading over him, robbing his limbs of the ability to move.

Harry appeared above him, smiling like a fool. "How was that?"

Draco was beyond words. He grabbed Harry's neck and dragged him down, planting a languid kiss to his lips. He could taste himself on Harry's tongue, and if he weren't so spent, that would have turned him on, too.

Harry lay atop him and Draco felt Harry's hard cock slide up over his spent and sensitive dick. "You're hard again," he panted.

"Oh, yes. You didn't honestly think I could suck that marvelous dick into my mouth and not get excited about it, did you? As I said, Malfoy, I'm going to fuck you into the mattress. Ready?"

He couldn't believe-at his age-that his cock actually twitched at that. "So ready," he purred.

And Harry had pounded him into the mattress. And later, once they had both recovered, he sucked Harry's cock again. The man had come three times that night and Draco twice. But who was counting? It was more sex than Draco had had in nineteen fucking years and he certainly wasn't complaining.

And even right now, with Potter's cock in his mouth-a far more experienced mouth, he mused with delight-Harry was writhing quite nicely. Draco had come to recognize all of Harry's cues; when his back arched and his hips rose, how his face grimaced. They all indicated that he was close to coming. Draco would reach up and tweak his nipples with his fingernails, or begin pushing hard on his perineum, or even shove a slickened finger into Harry's arsehole. Yes, Draco had learned quite a few things in the intervening weeks since that first blow job.

Harry reared up and came hard, moaning loudly and shuddering. Draco followed all his movements, making sure Harry didn't choke him, and swallowed the spurting load of cum, rolling his throat to take it all.

Harry calmed down and Draco released him, resting his chin on Harry's hipbone and smiling at him.

Harry's fingers soon found Draco's hair and petted him. "Oh love, that was spectacular. Come up here." Harry waved a feeble hand at him and Draco slid upward, allowing his lover to enclose him in his arms. He rested his cheek against Harry's chest, listening to his erratic heartbeat slow down.

"You'll kill me," Harry panted, "but it will be a good death."

"There is no talk of death in this room. Only of good things."

"Well," said Harry sleepily. "Death isn't so bad. I've been dead before, after all."

"What?"

Harry lazily opened an eye. "Oops. Never intended to mention that. You've pulled down all my defenses. You're worse than Veritaserum. Just forget I said anything."

"Never mind that! What the hell do you mean you've been dead?"

"Didn't your mother ever tell you?"

"Told me what? Why would my mother have known anything?" Draco sat upright.

Harry sighed and propped up the pillows, sitting back against them. "Okay. Since the cat's out of the bag, I might as well tell you. But mind, no one else knows this. So don't mention it, all right?"

"Oh, yes. The scads of friends I have will just be dying to know."

Harry rolled his eyes at Draco but settled himself comfortably to tell him. "You know about the Horcruxes, then?"

"The whole bloody Wizarding World knows about them, Harry."

"Okay. But what they didn't know-because nobody is alive to tell them-is that there were really seven, not six Horcruxes."

Draco blinked at him, almost afraid of the answer. "What was the seventh?" he asked feebly.

Harry gave him a sad smile and shrugged. "Me." He reached up and ran a finger down his lightening bolt scar.

Draco felt his mouth drop open. "Bloody hell!"

"Yeah. That's how I survived when I was a baby. A piece of his evil old soul imbedded in me. That's how I was able to be a Parselmouth."

"C-can you still-?"

"No. Gone with Voldemort.[2] I sort of miss it. It was kind of fun to speak to snakes. Course, there was only one I ever really liked. I'll tell you about it sometime. Anyway, it turns out I had to let him kill me in order to kill him. So...I did."

"Was that some mad idea of Dumbledore's?"

"Yeah. I mean, it wasn't his idea. It was just fact."

"And you did. You just walked to your death. Why?"

Harry looked uneasy. "It had to stop. Nothing else would have stopped him. There was so much death. So many I called my friends. I couldn't stand for it to go on."

Draco stared at his lover, now more amazed than ever. "And you actually did this willingly?"

"Well I didn't want to die. Thought it was pretty unfair, all in all. I had a pretty crap life up till then. I thought I was owed a decent job of it. But...fate and all. So yeah. I just...well." And then Harry Potter shrugged. Shrugged about giving up his life for the lives of everyone else, because it was the right and noble thing to do, as if one did it everyday.

"But...but...didn't you...weren't you scared?"

"Hell yes! But...how could I live with myself knowing the truth and doing nothing?"

Only Harry Potter. Draco felt his heart burn for the man. "And so...."

"And so I went to the bastard in the Dark Forest and let him kill me."

"Forgive if I state the obvious, but you're not dead... Are you?"

He quirked a smile at Draco. "Uh...no. But I did die. It's just that, circumstances being what they were, with my mother's protection and all, and the whole Horcrux issue, I sort of went to a limbo kind of place. And it looked remarkably like...King's Cross station."

Draco grabbed his legs and hugged them close to his chest. This was the strangest tale he had ever heard. But having known Voldemort up close and personal, he would have believed anything.

"And I met Dumbledore there," Harry went on dreamily. "He told me I wasn't dead but if I wanted to be, I could be. I had only to stay. But the job wasn't done, you see. So...I had to go back. And I did. And when I did come back, it was your Mum who checked to see if I was dead or not, and in that moment, she asked if you were all right."

The love in his heart speared outward and encompassed thoughts of his mother. "She did?"

"Her only thoughts were of you. I whispered very quietly that you were alive in the castle. And she kept my secret, pretending I was dead."

"Is that why you testified for my family before the Wizengamot?"

"One of many, I guess."

Draco remembered that time with a shudder. "No one else could have saved us. We would all have been thrown in Azkaban forever. Only Harry Potter's testimony saved us."

He shrugged again. "There was no way I would have let them do that."

Draco believed him. "My father...often spoke of you after that. He was always bringing up how brave you were. Whenever you showed up in the Prophet, no matter what crap they were saying, he spoke highly of you."

It was Harry's turn to be shocked. "You're joking."

"No. It was very strange."

"As strange as my being your lover?"

Draco finally relaxed. Harry was looking at him questioningly. "There's nothing stranger or more outlandish than that."

"Outlandish?"

"You have to admit-"

Harry crossed his arms over his chest. "I suppose you're right."

Draco scooted up to nestle next to Harry. "So you've even defied death. Twice!"

"Yeah. But don't tell anyone, okay. Not even Ron and Hermione know."

"Or Ginny?"

Harry shook his head.

"But you've told me."

Harry took Draco's hand and intertwined his fingers with Draco's. "Yes. No secrets from you."

Draco couldn't speak after that. Harry had entrusted him with one of the greatest truths of his life. And Draco would never, ever betray that.

"I love you," he managed to croak.

Harry kissed his temple. "I love you, too."

* * *

The day before Christmas, before the children would arrive home from Hogwarts, Harry slipped into the London house.

They had put up a tree in the sitting room and it glowed with fairy lights as Harry entered. The room was the only part of the house decorated, with garlands of greenery and mistletoe in every archway. Not that they needed that.

He found Draco in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the holiday punch. He looked up and smiled. "Happy Christmas, Harry."

"Happy Christmas, Draco."

"Let's go into the lounge." He grabbed the jug and levitated two mugs to follow him. They settled by the fire with their punch in mugs and Harry presented Draco with his gift. "You have to open it now because I won't get to see you on Christmas." It was a stupid thing to say as it made the sparkle in Draco's eyes dim. No need to remind either of them that they couldn't see each other on Christmas.

Draco silently took the small package and began to tear the paper. Harry watched anxiously. It had taken him forever to find the right gift.

Draco opened the box and took out the silver quill. Goblin made, the feather part was rendered in perfect detail. And the stem fit nicely in the hand. Harry even had it engraved. It said, "To Draco, with love, Harry."

Draco looked it over, holding it delicately.

"You can't hurt it. And no one can see the inscription but you, by the way. I spelled it myself."

"Harry, this is amazing. Thank you. I'll use it everyday."

"You're welcome. Where's mine?" Presents still enticed Harry. He was making up for all that lost time.

Draco smirked. Harry liked his smirks now. "Anxious bugger, aren't you." He waved his wand and a small present drifted up from under the tree and landed in his palm. He handed it over to Harry.

Harry took off the small bow and then unwrapped it. Inside the box was a very small, key fob-sized Sneakoscope. Harry took it out. It was beautiful. He'd never seen one like it.

"And this one works. I ought to know. I made it."

"You made this?"

"Of course. Can't have evil wizards sneaking up on you. I want to protect you, too."

Harry's heart melted. "Thank you." He leaned over and kissed him. "What's for dinner?"

Draco pouted. "I wish we could go out. We're always hiding here. It's not as if anyone would know what we do."

"But still. Wouldn't it become suspicious our hanging out together all the time?"

"You could make up some story."

Harry frowned. "I have to lie enough as it is. Come on, Draco. Don't spoil this evening. You know how hard it is for me to get away. And we won't be able to see each other for a fortnight."

Draco hadn't stopped pouting. Honestly. The man was such a child sometimes. Even after they had retired to their room and made love, Draco was still sullen. "I wish you could spend the night."

Harry pulled up the zip in his trousers and was slipping his foot into his shoe when he glanced at the man still naked in the bed. "You know I can't. And besides, we've got to pick up our kids from the station in a few hours."

"I know."

He said nothing more as Harry finished dressing. Harry went to the bed and sat down next to him. He pushed a wisp of blond hair out of the man's eyes. "I know it's not perfect, love. But it's the best we can do. I don't know what I'd do without our time together. It makes the rest of it bearable."

Draco's grey eyes lifted, looking at Harry. There was sadness there. Probably as much as there was in Harry's eyes. "See you in a fortnight," said Harry.

"Yeah."

He solemnly kissed Draco's forehead and then his lips.

When he trotted down the front steps the sky was streaked with red. He hadn't realized how late he was and ducked into a hedge to Apparate home.

When he arrived, Ginny was hanging more garlands in the sitting room. She turned to look at him with a strange expression.

"Er...sorry I'm late. Lots of catching up at work these days."

She tucked the last garland over the archway and then climbed down the ladder. She carefully patted her hair, smoothed down her jumper, and faced Harry.

"Where were you?" she said calmly.

"I...I was at work-"

"No, you weren't. All those times you said you were working late, you weren't. I checked. You haven't been at work quite a lot. Nobody thought to lie to me. I guess you didn't tell them to. I think you'd better tell me who you've been seeing. I think I have a right to know."


[2] Another interview with Rowling. She admitted that Harry lost the ability to speak with snakes once he was no longer Voldemort's Horcrux.



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"Empty Garden"

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"Breakdown"

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