A/N: The story is finally updated! For those of you who are previous readers of this story, I would suggest re-reading the previous ten chapters before continuing on here, because I changed a few things. For those of you who are new readers of this story, welcome! This is the wonderful, glorious end!
THANK YOU to everyone who has stuck with me over the years. My next story will be finished much quicker! If I write another story… ;)
Updated: March 2015
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Aug. 2
Harry rolled off the couch and threw himself down in a chair at the kitchen table. He rubbed his sleepy eyes as Hermione set a cup of coffee down in front of him.
"Thanks, Mione," he muttered, taking a large sip.
"Bloody fucking hell," Ron spluttered from the other side of the table, spitting crumbs of toast everywhere. Harry looked up in surprise to see his best friend gaping at the newest edition of the Daily Prophet.
"What is it?" Harry asked. He missed Hermione's pointed glare at Ron.
"Er, nothing…" Ron lied unconvincingly. Harry leaned over and snatched the paper out of his hands. He turned it over and saw his own face staring back at him from the front page.
"Of fucking course," Harry muttered darkly. The headline read, "THE BOY WHO LIVED TO BE BETRAYED." His green eyes scanned the full-page article, wondering how the press found out all the sordid details of his personal life so quickly.
He threw the paper down on the table, and Hermione began fussing over him. "Oh Harry, I'm so sorry you had to see that. I had hoped we would be able to shield you from it a bit…"
"It's fine, Hermione," he said. "At least now I won't have to try to explain to everyone why the wedding is cancelled so abruptly…"
Harry pushed back his chair from the table. "I'm going to go take a shower, if you don't mind. Clear my head."
Hermione nodded understandingly, and Ron gave his friend a small smile. Harry climbed up the stairs to the bathroom, his mind spinning. As he closed the door to the bathroom, he turned on the shower and began peeling of his pyjamas. As he pulled off his shirt, he noticed the small dragon pacing again. Surprised, he picked it up and examined it closer. It appeared agitated, as it was pacing across his hand and blowing small sparks of fire.
Harry raised an eyebrow. What had happened to piss off Draco so much? He let the charm fall against his chest once more and stepped into the shower, his thoughts circling around the angry blonde.
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Harry walked back down the stairs, rubbing his wet hair with a towel. He came back into the kitchen to see Ron and Hermione in nearly the same places they had been when he left. Puzzled, he gave them a questioning look.
In reply, Hermione pointed towards the magnificent eagle perched in the windowsill. "It arrived while you were showering," she explained. "It has to be…"
"Draco," Harry whispered.
He hurried over to the window and accepted the letter from the eagle. It remained regally perched on the sill, clearly ordered not to leave without a return letter. Harry opened the scroll and read:
"Harry,
For once, you seem to have caught me at a loss for words. As soon as I saw the Prophet this morning, I knew I had to contact you, but I didn't know what to say. 'I'm sorry' isn't nearly enough, 'I can't believe it' would be a bit of a lie, and 'I'm going to kill her' might be a bit too much. You've no idea how furious I am that that little wench dared to hurt you like this."
Harry paused and smiled a bit. He did actually have an idea of Draco's fury, eyeing the small dragon still angrily pacing on its chain. Harry continued reading:
"You might have been expecting a bill for the wedding upon seeing my letter, but I'll be sending no such thing. The bill is being deducted directly from Ginevra's account, and I will be exacting legal force to make sure that she covers every penny from her own pocket. You will be responsible for no expenses.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is anything, absolutely anything, I can do to help you, Harry. I care about you deeply, and I hate to see something like this happen to someone as caring as you. I know you may not wish to have anything to do with me any longer, but I would love to see you sometime soon."
Harry's smile grew. Draco didn't hate him. 'I care about you deeply…" He read those words over and over before continuing:
"I hope to hear from you soon, but I completely understand if you wish to have nothing to do with me. But please, keep the dragon charm. Ignore me and close me out forever if you must, but don't forget me…
All My Love,
Draco"
Harry blinked back tears. How could Draco think he wouldn't want anything to do with him? 'I have to see him. Now,' Harry thought. He shooed the eagle out the window and began pulling on his shoes.
"Harry?" Hermione questioned gently. "Is everything alright?"
"I've got to go make things right," Harry answered, dropping the letter in her hands and turning on the spot.
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Harry arrived at Draco's work building a second later and rushed past the front desk, making a beeline for the blonde's personal office. He turned the handle, only to find the door locked. He sighed in frustration.
"He's not here," a small voice informed him.
Eloise walked up beside Harry and put a small hand on his shoulder. "He's barely been in the office the past few days. He stopped in earlier to direct all bills to Ginny's account, but… He was a wreck. I – I've never seen him like that."
Harry pinched the bridge of his nose and then looked at her pleadingly. "Where can I find him?"
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Harry stumbled through the fireplace into Draco's apartment, silently thanking Eloise for her quick understanding and help. He got to his feet and looked around. This couldn't be right… There were newspapers strewn across the floor, half-empty take out containers and glasses all across the room, and crumpled tissues everywhere.
Worried, Harry called out, "Draco?" He took off down the hall and called again, "Where are you?"
A door opened at the end of the hallway, and a scruffy blonde stepped out. His clothes were rumpled, his eyes were bloodshot, and his hair was a mess. But Harry had never seen anyone more beautiful.
"Harry…" Draco whispered.
Upon hearing his name escape those lips, Harry took off down the hall, closing the distance between them and pressing Draco up against the door. Without hesitating, the brunette pulled the blonde into a passionate kiss, pouring all of his pent-up emotions into it. Draco opened his mouth and responded immediately, running his hands through Harry's tousled hair.
"Harry…" he whispered again, his lips moving against the other man's.
Harry pulled back from the kiss and pushed the long blonde hair out of silver eyes. He took the other man in his arms and pulled him towards the bed. After rolling onto the bed, he propped himself up on an elbow and looked down at the blonde.
Draco looked stunned, as if he was hardly allowing himself to believe that this could be truly happening. Harry reached down and traced the strong jawline on Draco's face, staring into his beautiful eyes.
"My dragon," he whispered back. "I'm not going anywhere."
Draco's eyes lit up, and he pulled Harry down for another loving kiss. As they pulled apart minutes later, Draco's smile was reflected on Harry's face as well.
Harry reached around his neck and lifted the small dragon charm. "I've never seen him so happy," he commented.
"I've never been this happy," Draco whispered in reply. "I have you."
"And I'm not going anywhere," Harry repeated. "I love you."
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