A Deviation of Circumstance

by Sparkling Whimsies

Summary- AU: In a reality where Neville Longbottom is the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter is famous. He's the beloved son of Lily Potter and the famous Quidditch chaser James Potter, as well as the godson of both the famous beater Sirius Black and the world-renown novelist Remus Lupin. He's beginning to think he's seriously falling for his boyfriend, the one-and-only Draco Malfoy. After a late-night flight after a fight with Draco, Harry finds himself lost in a place where everyone's convinced his parents and godfather are dead and he's the Boy-Who-Lived. Realizing he's stuck there permanently, Harry searches for something familiar to hold on to... and decides he wants his boyfriend back.

Setting- Sixth Year

Rating - R

Chapter Eleven

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Alternate Universe Harry:

Harry smiled warmly at Draco. He turned his face up into the sunlight and flopped back into the thick grass at the lakeside.

It had taken two months and all the support Draco could give, but Harry was finally feeling human again. After his desperate act in the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomfrey had patched Harry up again and placed him under twenty-four hour guard. His parents, his godfathers, Draco, Ron, and Hermione had all taken turns on watch, along with various teachers. He had told Draco all of his indiscretions, waiting for the blonde to condemn him for his infidelity and betrayal, guilt weighing heavy on him. He had been completely thunderstruck when the Slytherin had quietly told him he forgave him. Through the course of many long, often painful conversations with his friends and family, he had realized that he didn't care for the person he had been before his experience: an arrogant, reckless, self-righteous person. If he was charismatic, that only made it all the worse when he used that charisma to manipulate the people around him.

He had decided that wasn't the person he wanted to be, and had strived for change, with the support and encouragement of his friends and family. His mother couldn't have been prouder... and Draco wasn't complaining either.

It was one of those days when the sun's still shining when you close your eyes; Harry lay spread-eagle in the grass before a copse of trees by the lake with Draco, Ron, and Hermione, soaking in the sun and reveling in the company of his closest friends. A deep breath brought the scent of clean air and freshly-cut grass, and the sky was a clear cerulean blue. The world was perfect, and Harry felt great.

-

Canon Harry:

Big wet drops of rain splashed onto Harry's face, rousing him from unconsciousness. He found himself sprawled in the grass in front of Hogwarts, his Firebolt inches from the fingers of his outstretched right hand. He had a massive headache pounding in his temples as he levered himself up off of the wet grass. A bleary glance at his watch told him that it was just past noon. Harry shook his head to clear it, wincing as his head complained at the movement. He retrieved his broom from the ground and plodded across the grounds and up the steps he had been sitting with Draco on just an hour ago.

In the Entrance Hall, Harry met Hermione and Ron on their way to lunch and immediately knew he was home.

"Ron? Hermione?" he said. Something in his voice must have alerted them that something was different; they immediately made their way towards him, concerned looks on their faces. Harry dropped his broom and pulled the both of them into a hug.

"Harry, what on earth is the matter?" Hermione asked, patting him on the back awkwardly. "Why are you all wet?" Her voice took on a warning note. "You weren't flying in this storm, were you?" Harry released them and stepped back laughing.

"No, Hermione, I wasn't flying," he reassured her. "I think I need to speak to Dumbledore." He beamed at them and picked up his Firebolt. He missed the surprised looks on the others' faces as he headed off for the Headmaster's office.

-

"It's good to have you back, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. His blue eyes twinkled madly at Harry over his half-moon glasses. The pair were seated comfortably in Dumbledore's office. The headmaster had applied a quick drying charm to Harry's robes, and Harry was feeling rather cheerful, all things considered. He was home, and things didn't seem as dire as they had before. The warning about Draco that the other Harry had given him lurked in the back of his mind, but Harry resolutely ignored it. He was home.

"It's good to be back, Professor," Harry replied whole-heartedly. Dumbledore smiled at him happily.

"I would assume that you've talked to my... ah, counterpart, shall I say, in wherever it is you went? You seem to have survived the experience," Dumbledore said.

"Yes, sir. I got to meet my parents." Harry smiled at the thought. "Did I miss anything important?" Harry's smile faded as Dumbledore's face became serious.

"I'm afraid nothing's changed as far as the situation concerning Voldemort, but there have been some rather radical social changes your counterpart has affected," Dumbledore said. "On the one hand, 'you' have made a great many more friends, and come 'out of the closet', as they say, in a rather spectacular manner. On the other, 'you' initiated a romantic entanglement with one of your peers that did not end well."

"Draco," Harry said. Dumbledore nodded. 'I started something with Draco and fucked it up,' the other Harry had said. Well, if Draco Malfoy would start something, Harry was sure as hell not going to let it go. Sensing the air of determination surrounding the teen, Dumbledore stood.

"Well, I'm sure you've got lots of catching up to do with Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger. I'll see you at dinner, Mr. Potter."

Harry nodded to the elderly wizard and left the office, a resolved look on his face.

Much searching and countless stairs later, Harry found his quarry, amongst the crowd of students leaving the Great Hall after lunch. The blonde's face darkened angrily at the sight of him.

"Draco, can we talk?" Harry asked, stepping directly into his path. Draco glared angrily.

"No, Potter, we bloody well cannot. Sod off," he growled. He pushed past Harry roughly.

"Well, then we'll talk here. I may be crazy, but I think I love you."

Draco froze in his tracks, as did much of the crowd surrounding them. He slowly pivoted to stare at the Gryffindor in wide-eyed confusion.

"I think," Harry said slowly, "that I would really like it if you would be my boyfriend. Do you accept?"

A hush fell over the crowd as everyone waited for Draco's answer.

"Are you asking me out, you great ponce? Have you lost your bloody MIND?" the Slytherin asked incredulously. "I hate you," he said flatly. "You're mad."

Harry, to the astonishment of the crowd, smiled. He moved closer, placing a gentle hand under Draco's chin and looking him straight in the eye. "Maybe I am, but you're the best thing that's happened to me in a long time." Harry slowly drew closer to Draco and gently kissed him on the mouth. Draco's eyes fluttered closed.

It was a kiss like neither of them had ever experienced before. In that kiss, each of them knew that the other was different from the person he had been with before. And with every fiber of their beings, they knew they could be great together. As they slowly pulled apart, the crowd completely nonexistent to them, they locked gazes and something changed.

"My father will kill me," Draco said softly.

"Let him try," Harry replied. "I'll be ready." Their lips drew together once again, thus beginning the rest of their lives. Together.

Together at long last.

-

The End