Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and do not make any money from writing this.

AN: Written for one of my greatest friends Melissa's birthday a while back. You truly are a light in my life and laughter in my heart. I love you honey and I'm so happy to be your friend! ^-^

Edited: 6/28/15

My name is Draco Malfoy and I am a bastard. Not by birth thank you very much, but I am most certainly one by nature. I have always been a bit rigid in my behavior, I am a proper Pureblood after all, but my temper only gained sharp edges when I met Him.

I didn't recognize him when I first saw him. Like anyone else of my generation I had grown up hearing stories of the Great Harry Potter. The scrawny cretin did not fit any of those expectations. Then Potter had the gall to reject my friendship. That was the day my life changed though I didn't realize it yet. For years my existence pivoted around our sparing and duels: that clash of personalities and heritage. It made me feel alive. It was the times when my temper was fierce and hot rather than the controlled disposition I was accustomed to. For those moments when flashing green eyes met mine I felt energy coursing through my veins, as if someone plucked them like a harp. That reverberating feeling down to my core resonates still.

Still I didn't really see him until the TriWizard Tournament. In my mind he was just the stubborn twit who was good for a fight any day. I saw him in a fight he didn't want to be in that year. When I saw Potter face down a dragon I realized something critical; I didn't like seeing fear cross his expressive face. I had the completely mental urge to jump into the arena and help him. (Thankfully I was frozen in place by shock at this point because I would have had no idea how to beat a real dragon.) I think it was that day that he became Harry in my mind. Of course that's around the time my hormones decided to kick in so I woke up more than a few times with that name on my lips.

It wasn't until the war that things changed though. I was forced to take the Mark and all the Death Eaters knew I felt no loyalty to them. I couldn't kill someone in cold blood any more than I would identify Harry when he was captured and brought to the Manor. My jailors were displeased. The spark of gratitude I saw in Harry's eyes was well worth the crucios I endured at my aunt's hand. Psychotic bint.

Panting I used the wall as support as I walked down to the dungeon. It was a walk I had made many times before, only sometimes of my free will. I heard a blend of voices rise and fall as I neared the dungeon. I closed my eyes in annoyance and shoved the heavy door open.

"If you're going to plot an escape, do it more quietly or they'll hear you." I grumbled as I sent an assessing look at the group. The three new additions were huddled around Luna, Olivander and the goblin. I still disliked the goblin. Luna's weary figure however had me rushing over. We had gotten close during our mutual incarceration. I put a bracing hand on her shoulder and asked "You alright, Luna?"

Her fey eyes looked up at me and through me, but she still smiled. How could she still smile? "I'm fine, Draco." She chirped happily before tilting her head and asking with innocent curiosity "Did they lock you in again?"

I felt a smile on my own face though it was as bitter as hers was sweet, "Not this time. I'm here to make good on my promise. Come on, up you get darling." I said as softly as I could manage as I pulled her to her feet and wrapped an arm around her when she swayed.

"You're shaking." She said sadly having seen the aftereffects of the curse many times before. "Did they curse you again?"

"Bellatrix." I shrugged

"Malfoy?" Harry asked quietly

I turned around and raised an eyebrow at him "Yes, Potter?"

"Why-?"

"Ah now that is the question." I drawled "But not the most crucial one at the moment. They disarmed you and that swelling charm isn't going to last much longer."

"Bu-" Weasley stuttered

I turned to the intelligent one in the group "Granger. Did you see what they did with your wands and supplies?"

She shook her head and I sighed and rubbed my forehead where a headache had begun to bite. Plan B "I have a pack for you then, though it won't last long. My wand is locked up in the second drawing room in the large display case. They warded the room against me." I smirked "But not against you."

Granger's soft brown eyes hardened in swift calculation. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth she ignored the fact it was me who was helping in favor of speed, "We would still need a way out."

"I've done some testing, call for a house elf once free of the dungeon, their magic works differently." I said, "There'll be a distraction. I trust you to keep the idiots alive long enough to escape."

"Draco!" Luna exclaimed "Don't you dare!" She wasn't sorted into Ravenclaw for nothing; She had figured out the rest of his plan.

Harry and the Weasel had stayed remarkably quiet up until this interjection. "What are you planning Malfoy?"

I looked hungrily at Harry at the sound of worry in his voice. Whether it was worry for the plan succeeding or for myself, I didn't know. I chose to believe the latter. The silence had clearly stretched too long as Harry started to squirm under my gaze. I prayed that none of my thoughts showed in my face.

Harry licked his lips nervously "Malfoy?" He asked a little softer than before. Hesitant. Sweet. Tempting. I chucked that thought to the back of my mind for later… if there was a later.

I smirked darkly "I'm going to go tick off the second most powerful wizard in the UK of course."

His vivid eyes widened behind those ridiculous glasses that I refused to call cute. Even though they were crooked and I itched to fix them. "Why?" He asked again this time more urgently.

I cocked an eyebrow at him "Maybe I just want the first most powerful wizard in the UK to survive this war long enough for me to rile up again." Oops too honest. Well in for a penny in for a pound, as the muggles would say. I thought. Aloud I said "I didn't exactly take the Mark by choice. You may hate me, but I want you to win, I want you to survive."

I watched with delight as his eyes go increasingly wide and his cheeks flushed "I don't hate you." He murmured

"Then survive, you hear me?" I said sternly as I gripped his forearm, but I couldn't keep the smile off my face at the fact he didn't hate me. If that's not worth a choir of angels, I don't know what is. His skin felt as soft as I had imagined.

He stared at me like he'd never seen me before and gripped my forearm back. "You too."

The energy jumped electric in the silence. I nodded sharply and gave his arm a squeeze because I needed to. Then he shocked the hell out of me. He pulled my arm towards him and I stumbled forward dragging Luna, who I had yet to release, with me. Luna bounced harmlessly into my side and I didn't feel it at all. All I was aware of was the arm on mine, the hand knotted into my shirt as Harry hauled me forward and, most vivid, the clumsy lips that pressed against mine. As kisses went it was artless, innocent, and over all too quick. It was also the best one I had ever received.

He pulled back looking as shocked as I felt and blushing to the tips of his ears. He started to release my shirt and step back. Numbly I let go of Luna who smiled one of those fey smiles. I didn't see it. I dragged Harry back and wrapped my arms around him.

"Now that…" I said huskily "Is a hell of a goodbye. May I return the favor?"

Startled eyes looked up into mine and without seeming to realize it he nodded. That was all the permission I needed. I lowered my head to seal my lips against his softly. So softly and when my tongue swept against them his lips parted. Feeling him, tasting him… I was drunk. I was dying. I was the happiest I'd ever been. He trembled, actually trembled, in my arms. I pressed all the closer against him as I ate at his succulent mouth with the hunger that had been gnawing at me for years. He absorbed my passion and redoubled it back. I fancied that I could feel his magic aligning to mine. Finally the demands of air induced our separation. I leaned my forehead against his and closed my eyes for a moment. I could feel his breath panting out against my skin. I didn't want this moment to end, but it had to. I opened my eyes reluctantly to meet his for a moment. Then I released him and kissed his forehead gently. "Go."

The crucios I endured as the distraction were worth it. Well worth it. The lingering pain that stayed with me for months was worth that one moment.

It was not until a few weeks later that I saw him again. Dead. Harry was dead. My body went numb, my heart thudded in my chest to indicate I still lived but I didn't feel alive. It was only when Harry stood triumphantly beaming up at me amidst the chaos of the great hall that I blinked back into focus. Living, breathing, my love. Was he really there? I reached out hesitantly to brush my fingers down his cheek. Warm flesh. I pulled him into my arms as I had that day in the dungeon, unaware of the ravages of the Great Hall or the people staring. I kissed him slowly, savoring every moment with the love I thought I had lost.

My love.

My Harry.

My Everything.

"I love you." I whispered the truth hoarsely once I finally breathed again

"I love you too." He said just as unevenly his eyes flashing over-bright as he smiled. In all the darkness and death the war had brought, his smile shone like starlight.

My name is Draco Malfoy and I am a bastard. A damned lucky bastard.