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Title: Hey There Draco Chapter 14
Chapter Title: Happy Birthday to me?
Author: Ruby13b
Warnings: Adult Language, Sexual Content, Possible violence.
Author's Note: I live, I live! Thanks for waiting!! Thanks to M!

This is a Harry/Draco fanfiction, meaning boy/boy!! If you don't like don't read and don't complain to me!

Harry glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was only 4:30 in the morning. He still had a couple of hours until sunrise. Draco was sleeping, though not very peacefully. His breathing was labored and every now and then he would let out a little moan. It seemed that even Draco’s dreams couldn’t be peaceful. Harry had tried to sleep. He really had. But the thought of leaving in a few short hours had made it impossible.

Lightly, Harry slipped out of bed and went to stand by the window. The only word Harry could use to describe the scene outside of his window was perfect. The sky was beginning to turn the color of autumn leaves. The thought of autumn made Harry smile. Ever since he had started going to Hogwarts, autumn had been his favorite season. It was all the excitement and anticipation of starting a new school year in the place which he considered his true home. That was what made autumn his favorite season.

Harry’s smile left his face as his thoughts of Hogwarts drifted away from him with the gentle breeze outside his window. That time was far away from him and it did him no good to think of it. The task at hand was what was important.

Harry started at the sudden hand on his shoulder. Draco quirked his eyebrow at him as he wrapped his arms around Harry’s middle.

“Jumpy, are we not?” Draco whispered.

“You startled me,” Harry replied.

Draco rested his head lightly on Harry’s shoulder. “There’s nothing to fear,” Draco said. “You’re safe.”

“I know.” Harry closed his eyes, breathing in Draco’s scent. He smelled like crisp morning air, like snow falling and rain, like fire burning, like Draco. Harry sighed. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

“All right.” There was something troubling in Draco’s voice.

“Honestly?”

Draco let out a long breath. “Honestly, no,” he admitted. “My dreams are unsettling, to say the least. I’m afraid we are running out of time.”

So this is what it comes down to, Harry thought. A race against the clock. “What have you been dreaming?”

“I was dreaming of my father,” Draco said quietly. “He was not pleased.”

“I’m sorry,” Harry said. He didn’t know what else he could say.

“All I’ve ever wanted was his approval. But I fear that is the one thing that I shall never have.”

Perhaps it was the sadness in his voice, or perhaps it was the way his hand tightened on Harry’s nightshirt. Or maybe it was even the way his head bowed ever so slightly, but Harry couldn’t help but find Draco’s loneliness and torment so endearing. Harry was certain that he was the only person in the world who knew this side of Draco. The ‘secret Draco’ that was locked within a shell of rituals, customs and upper-class etiquette. The Draco that was no more than a child, lost. He was sensitive, uncertain and confused. Harry wanted nothing more than to wrap him up and hide him away. Keep him safe.

The sun was just peeking out from behind the trees in the garden.

“I don’t think I’m going to sleep any more today,” Harry whispered.

“Me neither,” Draco responded.

“Do you think we’ll be able to keep up appearances until we leave later tonight?”

“I’m not concerned about myself. You’re the problem, not me,” Draco told him lightly.

“And why do you say that?”

“You’re terrible at keeping secrets.”

There was no arguing with that. Harry was more than terrible at keeping secrets. He was downright lousy. Withholding information, especially important information, just always felt so wrong.

Harry sighed. It was going to be a long day.

                                                               ~~~

Harry and Draco had decided that there was no sense waiting in their room the whole day. Like Draco had said, they had to keep up appearances. Being downstairs for an early breakfast was not out of the ordinary for Harry and Draco. Though maybe they had never had breakfast this early. No one would notice. At least that was what Harry had thought.

The moment they entered the kitchen, Harry could tell something was off. The kitchen was usually deserted this early in the morning. But now, it was packed full of people. Harry and Draco froze in the doorway and before Draco could ask what was going on Harry was nearly tackled to the ground by a blur of brown hair.

“Happy birthday, Harry!” Hermione squealed, hugging him so tightly he was finding it a little difficult to breath.

At this Draco was able to throw off his catatonic state. “Birthday?” he said. “You didn’t tell me it was your birthday.”

“I…forgot,” Harry stammered, awkwardly hugging Hermione back.

“How could you forget?” Draco said quietly. Harry didn’t hear him.

“Happy birthday, mate,” Ron said, clapping Harry on the back with one hand while trying to pull Hermione off of him with the other.

“We didn’t think you’d be up so early,” Ginny pouted. Harry looked around and saw the half-put-up decorations and the partly frosted birthday cake. Harry couldn’t help but feel a tinge of guilt in his stomach. He felt like he had ruined something special.

“Aw, it’s all right,” Fred said, emerging from the shadows, licking frosting off of his fingers. “He would have found out sooner or later today. Though we did have a bet going to see how long it would take him to remember it was his birthday.”

“We thought he wouldn’t figure it out at all, actually” George added. “But that’s the fun of a bet, is it not, dear brother?”

“Right you are, George, right you are.”

“Cut it out! Both of you!” Ginny snapped.

Harry grinned and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

Watching Harry and his friends interact, Draco suddenly felt like he was an outsider. Like he didn’t belong. Slowly Draco began backing out of the room until he easily slipped away, unnoticed. Draco felt he would just be a burden if he stayed, so it was better that he was gone. Nobody would miss him, anyway. Harry was far too preoccupied with everyone else. Besides, Draco didn’t want to ruin Harry’s birthday.

Draco started when he felt a sudden hand on his shoulder. He was surprised to see that it was professor Snape. Without a word, Snape pulled Draco into the drawing room, closing the doors behind them.

“You are well?” Snape asked, though he continued without giving Draco a chance to answer. “I bring news of your father.”

At the mention of his father, Draco’s insides turned to ice.

“He has been scheduled to be released out of prison in about a week.”

Draco was so shocked that he lost the ability to speak. His mouth moved and he tried to form words or even make a sound, but he was unable to do so.

“At that time, he will be taking you away and together you will join your mother in hiding.”

At long last Draco found his voice and let out a whispered, “How?”

“Dumbledore,” was the only explanation Snape offered in reply.

Did that mean his father had made some sort of deal with Dumbledore? Were they now on Dumbledore’s side? Harry’s side? Were they really willing to go against the Dark Lord? Then, again, Draco had never been too keen on the whole ‘Dark Lord’ idea. Voldemort had always scared him to no end. Especially what he could and would do.

What was he to do? Draco desperately wanted to see his parents again…especially his mother. And he was willing to bet his entire inheritance that his father would not approve of what he was doing with Harry. And not just their relationship, which would be hard enough to explain, but trying to inform his father about the whole necromancy exertion, well, he’d rather be fed to the giant squid, which would probably be far more lenient than Lucius Malfoy, and what he would do to Draco if he found out…when he found out.

“You are not looking well, Draco,” Snape said gruffly. “Have you felt ill of late?”

Draco nodded gravely. He hadn’t been feeling well and was very aware that it reflected in his appearance. “At this rate I doubt that I will last to mid-August,” Draco whispered, still not entirely finding his voice.

Professor Snape walked over to him and grasped his shoulder. “I will give my life before I allow them to take yours.”

Draco nodded again, which made his head spin so he stopped. He knew Professor Snape was serious. But he didn’t want that. He didn’t want Snape to give up his life for him. He didn’t want a life.

“Keep out of sight, Draco,” Snape said in a warning voice. “You are still at large. I know the Dark Lord has his Death Eaters looking everywhere for you. Be certain you are not found.” That would have been enough to convince Draco that he needed to be careful without Snape adding, “If you are caught there will be nothing I can do, and not all the magic in the world will be able to save you.”

Giving Draco’s shoulder a final squeeze, Professor Snape departed, his long black robes billowing after him. Draco was left all alone, terrified and uncertain. Laughter echoed from the kitchen and Draco looked longingly in that direction. A part of him wanted nothing more than to join the others, though, really, it was only so he could be by Harry’s side. But instead, he shook his head and returned solemnly to his room.

Draco went over to Harry’s bed and sat down. For some reason, his head was brimming to the edge with thoughts of love. Love is a game. He had heard the expression before. But what did it mean? There were players and strategies. Sometimes people broke the rules. Some people took it more seriously than others. Sometimes, in order to get what you wanted, you had to be deceitful. Well, if that’s what it was, it didn’t sound like something Draco really wanted to be a part of. Harry and Draco had reached what Draco liked to refer to as ‘relationship checkmate’. A standstill. Harry wasn’t going to take it any farther and neither was Draco. What had Draco expected? Had he really believed that Harry Potter would choose him to be his lifelong partner? It was ridiculous. Not only that but it was just pathetic as well. There was no such thing as forever. There was no such thing as happy endings. Not for them. Not for him.

Draco stood up and went over to the window. Why hadn’t Harry told him it was his birthday? Draco felt rather badly that he didn’t have a gift for Harry. He knew it hadn’t been very long since they’d become friends and it had been even shorter since they’d been a couple, but still, shouldn’t he give Harry something to show his appreciation? Draco loved to give and receive gifts. He loved spending the time picking out the perfect item that he was sure the person he was gifting would like. But it wasn’t like he could go out shopping at the moment. No, he was under house arrest.

Draco looked over at his trunk at the foot of his bed. Perhaps he already possessed something that he could give to Harry. Draco went over to his trunk, opened it and began rummaging through. Books, quills, parchment, clothing, none of this would do. Then, Draco’s hand connected with something cold and small. Draco pulled it out and saw that it was the tiny lock and key he used to lock up his trunk during the journey to Hogwarts. His mother had put the lock and key on a chain that Draco could wear around his neck so he wouldn’t lose them. Draco undid the clasp and pulled the lock off of the chain. He would give Harry the key and keep the lock for himself. It was tacky and a little tasteless in Draco’s opinion, but Harry would most likely love it. The sentimental fool.

Draco pulled the necklace that he always wore, a pendant of a dragon that his mother had given him, out from under his shirt and slipped the lock onto the chain. He kept the necklace out instead of tucking it back into his clothes. He held the chain with the key on it tightly in his hand as he walked over to the window to look out once more.

“Draco?” called a soft voice. Draco turned around to see Harry’s head poking into the room from the doorway. “What are you doing in here, love? Why did you leave?”

Draco winced a little at the endearment. For some reason, hearing Harry call him ‘love’ made him feel a stupid need to cry. “Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?” he asked quietly. He didn’t look at Harry as he said this. He couldn’t.

“I told you before,” Harry said. “I forgot.” Draco nodded and didn’t say anything. Harry sighed and sat down on the bed and motioned for Draco to join him, which he did after a slight moment of hesitation. “To tell you the truth, my birthdays have always been such shit that I try not to think of them. My relatives never cared enough to do anything.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to be,” Harry said, shaking his head. “I’m not. I have people now who care.”

“They really are good people,” Draco said.

“Yeah,” Harry said, smiling. “The best. They’re my real family. I feel very lucky to have them.”

Draco didn’t say anything.

“I also feel very lucky to have you,” Harry said. Draco stiffened and looked at Harry with disbelief. “I know we don’t know each other very well and it hasn’t been very long since we started…this…” Harry made a back and forth gesture between them. “But I do know that I like you in my life and I like you in my life like this.”

Draco continued to stare at Harry in disbelief. “The sappy, sentimental lines never cease with you, do they?”

Harry laughed nervously. “Well, it is my birthday. I can say whatever I want today.”
“You have me there, I suppose,” Draco said, sighing a little. “I have something for you.”

At this Harry’s cheeks tinged a bit. “You don’t have to give me anything,” he mumbled, embarrassed.

“It’s not much,” Draco said. “Close your eyes.” Harry did and Draco placed the chain with the key around Harry’s neck. “All right, you can open them.”

Harry opened his eyes and looked down at the key around his neck. He then looked at Draco who held up the lock attached to his necklace. Harry smiled. Whether Draco realized it or not, it was more than he had ever expected and more than he had ever hoped for, besides. Harry leaned over to pull Draco into himself. Draco easily fell into him wrapping his arms around him and holding onto him so tight.

“Thank you, Draco,” Harry murmured. “It’s the best present I’ve ever gotten.”

“Don’t ruin this moment by speaking,” Draco whispered back.

Harry laughed. “You’re right. There are far better things for our mouths to be doing.”

And with that he kissed Draco tenderly on the lips. Draco’s eyes fluttered shut as he melted into it. They fit. They were just like the lock and key. Anyway you looked at it, they fit.

Harry broke the kiss, and said, “Come back downstairs with me. It just won’t be my birthday without you.” He cupped the side of Draco’s face with his hand.

Draco nodded, leaning into Harry’s touch. It was as if that touch could stop all of his pain. “All right, Harry. I’ll stay by your side.”

Always…