I honestly don't like this chapter… but I hope you guys find it okay.
Harry was frozen. Almost forcing himself not to move just in case Draco Malfoy was only a beautiful apparition and would disappear. And he couldn't bear it if Draco disappeared again.
Draco seemed to read Harry's mind and sensed his anxiety.
"It's all right, Harry," he smiled softly. "I'm alive. Come here… see for yourself."
Harry continued to stand frozen. Draco, his Draco was alive. Now he felt confused, ecstatic, and more in love than ever. But he couldn't move. The shock seemed to affect his entire body. One moment, Draco was dead, and in the next, he's alive. Too much…
Draco stepped forward and let his fingers graze Harry's flushed cheek, "Do you need me to touch you for proof?" he whispered. His fingers trailed along Harry's cheek, across his nose, then down to his lips. His fingers stopped there, slowly parting the boy's mouth as he leaned forward. But Draco stopped as he saw tears silently poured down Harry's face. "What's the matter?"
"What's the matter?" Harry said through gritted teeth. "How can you ask 'What's the matter?' You were pronounced dead! You were dead. I thought you were gone forever— 'What's the matter?'! Honestly, I— I wanted to kill myself—"
"Shut up, as if I could leave you," Draco interrupted. "Kill yourself, indeed. I would've never forgiven you if you did something as stupid as that. And I dislike you right now for even thinking about it, you great stupid idiot."
"YOU WERE DEAD! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I NEEDED YOU!" Harry was shouting at the top of his lungs. "AND THEN YOU JUST LEFT LIKE THAT! I WAS ANGRY AT YOU! I HATED YOU FOR LEAVING ME… I HATED YOU— I…"
Draco quickly wrapped his arms around the trembling boy's shoulders and pulled him close. "I'm sorry, Harry. I'm sorry…" he whispered. "I didn't want to upset you like this—"
Harry continued to shake tremendously; he didn't know how to stop. The loss he had felt was still lingering, and now this strange sad-angry-happiness was swelling up inside him.
But he somehow understood. Understood why Draco had to do what he did. Smart, clever boy… Harry wanted to say. You fooled everyone. You fooled your father, you fooled Voldemort, you fooled Dumbledore… you fooled me.
"Smart boy," Harry blubbered instead.
"What?" Draco pulled away and looked at him.
"Nothing," Harry sniffed a bit and wiped his face on his sleeve. "It's just— I'm so happy… You're here and all… not dead. I'm sorry for yelling, it's just that the second I found out you… er… died, I wanted to scream but I couldn't. I guess I took this moment to vent…"
"It's all right…" Draco leaned forward and placed a small kiss near the corner of Harry's mouth.
Harry wanted to fall and indulge in the feeling he was having, but he knew he couldn't. There were more pressing matters to attend to. He felt as if it were his job to vanquish Voldemort. And the hatred for the Dark Lord just rose to new heights due to the fact that he was the one that probably ordered for Draco to be killed. Speaking of which…
"How did you escape?"
Draco's lips were lingering on Harry's neck but upon hearing this question, he pulled away reluctantly. Then he walked away a few feet and began to pace.
"Voldemort grew angry that I wasn't able to catch you."
Harry blinked, surprised that Draco finally used the name.
"So he ordered for my death," Draco continued. "Father was a sight to behold. He begged and pleaded and he actually offered his own life instead of mine. But Voldemort would have none of it. As they were quarrelling, I apparated— I knew I'm not suppose to be doing that at this age but under the circumstances I was in— Anyway. That pissed off the old bastard even more, so he sent other Death Eaters to go after me. And here's where he made a mistake…"
Harry leaned in, hoping to hear the wonderful twist that his cunning Draco managed to pull.
Draco saw Harry lean in with curiosity. He smiled and said, "What happened next isn't so excited and complex. It's actually quite simple, really."
"Well, what is it?" asked Harry impatiently.
"Voldemort sent Pansy and Blaise," Draco said with a chuckle. "Of all the loyal Death Eaters to use, he sends off my two best friends on a mission to kill me. Imagine that. It's like Voldemort ordering Weasley and Granger to murder you. It's very laughable. That just goes to show how stupid these Dark Wizards can be sometimes."
"What happened next?"
"They caught up with me. We had a laugh about it. But they had to confiscate my wand in order to prove my death," Draco let out a sigh. "So there you go. And I guess the news of my demise reached here."
"Damn right it did," Harry muttered distastefully, recalling the news. "Your escape was really fortunate— but no offense— it sounded a bit boring. I was thinking someone downed some Polyjuice Potion to acquire your form or maybe you had fooled everyone using a hologram—"
"Well, I'm sorry, Potter, our lives can't be exciting as it is in the books or movies," Draco snapped. "This isn't Star Wars, you know."
"No, it's not Star Wars," Harry smiled. "It's Harry Potter."
"But I've got to go back," Draco looked up, his face was pale. "I've got to get Pansy, Blaise, and father out of there."
"I'm coming with you," Harry said quickly.
"No you're not—"
"Yes I am! I'm as good as a duelist as you are— possibly better. Well, right now I'm definitely better… Seeing as you don't have a wand."
"I resent that…"
But Draco didn't continue to oppose to Harry going with him. He knew he'd probably need all the help he can get, and Harry, obviously, was a formidable ally.
"So I'm going," Harry said firmly. "Come on. We've got to go to Dumbledore's office."
They proceeded with haste to the Headmaster's office. Without even knowing it, they held hands as they ran.
"Here—" Harry abruptly stopped. Dumbledore's office was wide open, giving access to anyone who desired to walk in. "What the hell…" he whispered. It was as if Dumbledore left in open on purpose. And knowing the Headmaster, maybe that was the case. He was so clever.
"Stop ogling, Potter, and let's go!" Draco gave Harry's hand an impatient yank as they both stumbled into the Headmaster's office. They both looked frantically for Floo powder only to find it sitting conveniently on the edge of the desk.
"He so planned this," Harry muttered, his voice contained a hint of admiration.
Draco grabbed some Floo powder and threw it into the fire place, "Malfoy Manor!" he shouted loud and clear. Then he vanished with Harry trailing closely behind him. Soon, he felt that familiar spinning sensation as he was being hurtled past many fireplaces. He came to an abrupt stop in the Malfoy's fireplace but as Harry took a staggering step forward, he collided with Draco… who was just standing there. Unmoving.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked. But as he looked up, he got his answer. Present in the room, were members of the Order and Death Eaters. Strange thing was that they weren't attacking each other. But each witch and wizard had their wands unsheathed, pointed at exactly the same place; pointed at a heap of robes and dust. They were all pale in the face and breathing heavily.
"Harry!" Lupin broke away from the crowd and strode over to them. "What in the world are you doing here?" he suddenly stopped as he slowly turned his head towards Draco. "Young Mr. Malfoy. I see you have escaped death?"
"Again and again, Lupin," Draco answered with a slight smirk.
Lucius fought his way through the pack of members of the Order and Death Eaters to reunite with his son. He looked at Draco with an expression of mixed sadness, relief, and joy. He leapt forward and engulfed his son into a massive hug and began to uncharacteristically sob openly. Draco allowed his father to do so as, he too, wrapped his arms around the older man's shoulders.
Harry tore his eyes away from the happy reunion and focused on the mingling of the Order and Death Eaters. They were bandaging each other's wounds and muttering words of thanks. Even though the hostility was still evident, Harry felt as if he were in an alternate universe. What exactly happened?
Lupin seemed to read his mind and he smiled, "Several Death Eaters came to their senses while others fled. Those who remained helped our lot fight Voldemort— No, Harry, he isn't dead." Lupin said quickly. "Merely weakened. It seems as if a father's love is enough to change his views, no matter how twisted they are." he said, casting a quick glance towards Lucius and Draco. "Good thing too…" Lupin placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and gave it a squeeze before he walked back to the group.
Harry glanced around the room and caught sight of Blaise and Pansy. They were both a bit pale and sweaty, but no serious harm had come to them. Harry felt a great surge of affection towards them as he walked their way.
"Hey, Zabini… Parkinson," Harry called out.
"What's shakin', Potter?" Blaise nodded in acknowledgement.
Harry remained quiet for a while, not exactly knowing what to do. He shifted his weight back and forth nervously and finally looked up to meet the eyes of the people who had helped save his Draco. He began to stutter, "Er… Blaise, Pansy… I just wanted to say…"
Pansy interrupted him by placing a hand on his arm and giving it a quick squeeze, "No problem, Harry."
Harry felt his face flush as the three of them shared a smile. Moments later, Draco came up from behind and wrapped his arms around Harry's waist.
"I don't want to hide it anymore," Draco whispered in Harry's ear. "Reckon we'll make some people faint?"
Blaise and Pansy turned away and coughed.
"What?" Harry blinked. "Here? Now?"
"Here." Draco leaned forward. "Now." Harry still had his eyes open as he felt Draco gently press his lips against his own. (Gasps and shrieks erupted) But he slowly shut his eyes as he allowed the feeling of this other boy's lips to softly caress and skillfully send sensations all throughout his body. Draco's hands stroked Harry's back and occasionally went up to his unruly black hair to run his fingers through the silky raven tresses…
Draco slowly pulled away and smiled, "Feels better, doesn't it?"
Lucius, although very happy to have his son back, was shocked and a bit disgusted, "Draco… must you?"
Draco turned to his father, "Yeah… I must." He took Harry's hand into his own and gave his father a defiant stare. He would have Harry no matter what.
Lucius turned to Harry and looked at him with a sort of grudging acceptance. "If… that is what you truly want…" he turned away with an expression of pure disapproval, but he didn't dare argue with his son anymore. Draco's happiness was the only thing of relevance.
"Well, now… that ordeal is settled," Lupin rubbed his hands together and motioned to the fireplace. "Harry along with Draco, Blaise, and Pansy ought to be sent back to the school."
Harry gazed at Lupin imploringly, obviously hungry for more information on Voldemort.
"I'll send you an owl," Lupin whispered as he swept them to the fireplace. "But you, Harry… just take care of yourself."
"And I'll be there to make sure that he does," Draco kept a firm hand clasped around Harry's shoulder.
"That'll do, Mr. Malfoy," Lupin smiled. "That'll do."
The welcome back to Hogwarts was definitely something. Ron and Hermione were the first to greet them and they both nearly fainted when they caught sight of Draco.
"Don't look too upset, Weasley," Draco joked.
Ron just stuttered. But everyone was shocked when Hermione threw herself on Draco and began blubbering. Draco awkwardly patted her back and threw Harry a confused look. Harry just shrugged. Draco gently pried Hermione off and smiled apologetically.
"No more of that 'mudblood' business," he said softly. "I'm sorry." Then he turned to Ron, "I'm sorry to you too… I've been rotten."
"Yeah, yeah," Ron muttered, his ears turning a deep shade of red. "Look, buddy. I'm just tolerating you for Harry's sake."
"Whatever you say, Weasley," Draco grinned and slipped his arm around Harry's waist as the both of them walked down the hall with Ron and Hermione trailing along behind them.
Fred and George Weasley had been watching from the side while they were perfecting their new creation: Pooper Pastries.
"Did you see that, Fred?" George asked.
They looked at each other and smiled in unison, then turned back to watch Harry and Draco share a quick kiss before turning a corner.
"Yep," Fred answered grinning. "And that's all thanks to us."