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Title: Hey There Draco Chapter 22
Warnings: Adult Language, Sexual Content, Violence
Disclaimer: I own nothing and am owned by no one.
Author's Notes: Almost done! Only a couple more chapters to go! Thanks to everyone who reads my stories! Thanks to M!

Warning: This is a Harry/Draco fanfiction. Meaning boy/boy. If you don't like, don't read!

“We have to go after him!” Harry shouted. When he awoke he had found himself in Dumbledore’s office. All of the adults were around him and, for some reason, Ron and Hermione were also there. Bellatrix had left a note behind explaining exactly where she was taking Draco. Harry didn’t see what they were doing wasting time here when Draco was in trouble.

“Harry, you can’t go,” Hermione exclaimed. “It’s a trap!”

“I know that!” Harry snarled. “I don’t care.”

“I don’t get it,” said Ron. “Why didn’t she just take Harry, too? I mean, You-Know-Who still wants him, doesn’t he?”

“I’ll tell you why,” Harry said. He was shaking, he was so angry. “Because Voldemort is a sick twisted fuck! He knows I’ll come to him. He’s only playing with me. Making me suffer before he kills me.”

Everyone in the room stared at him blankly. Harry had had enough. He got up from his chair and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” Hermione asked.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Harry said. “I’m going to get Draco back.”

“There’s no stopping him, Hermione,” Ron said. He got up as well and stood next to Harry. “I’m coming with you, mate.”

“Ron…” Harry murmured.

Lupin sighed. He looked at the Headmaster, who lowered his head in response. Molly Weasley gasped.

“Remus, you can’t possibly be thinking of letting them do this!” she exclaimed. “It’s far too dangerous!”

“They already have their minds set,” Tonks replied.

“We will not be able to hinder them, even if we wished it,” Snape added gruffly.

“All right,” Lupin said in his most authoritative voice. “Prepare yourselves. We leave at dawn!”

                                                             ~~~

Dawn seemed to never come. Harry waited alone on the top of the Astrology Tower. The waiting was literally killing him. At least he knew that Draco was still alive. That was, if anything, his one and only comfort. And as bad as it sounded, he knew if Draco died he wouldn’t have to live without him because he would die with him. That would be a terrible thought for a sane person, so it was lucky that Harry Potter was not a sane person at the moment.

He sighed. How long was it before dawn? Harry could remember other times at night when he had thought the very same thing. The waiting was going to kill him.

“Harry?” Hermione’s gentle voice pulled Harry out of his brooding. He turned around and saw both Hermione and Ron standing there. “What are you doing up here all by yourself?” she asked. She sat down next to him. Ron lingered a little at the doorway before joining them. Harry understood how awkward it had to be for poor Ron.

“I’m just thinking of what I have to do,” Harry answered.

“You better not be planning anything crazy,” said Hermione suspiciously.

“Of course he is,” said Ron before Harry could reply. “But that’s why we’re going with him, so we can save his stupid arse.”

“That isn’t funny, Ron,” Hermione scolded. Harry had to disagree. He hid his smile in his hand.

They all became very quiet. Everyone was thinking the same thing. What if . . . ?

“Are you scared, Harry?” Ron said quietly.

Harry shook his head. He wasn’t scared. No, ‘scared’ wasn’t the word he would use to describe how he felt. He was terrified, of course, of losing Draco. But Harry knew that wasn’t what Ron was asking. Ron was asking if Harry was scared of Voldemort.

“You know,” Harry said. “Whenever I think about Voldemort he doesn’t have a face.”

“What are you talking about?” Hermione said. “Of course he has a face.” Beside her Ron was still. He hadn’t even flinched when Harry had said Voldemort’s name.
“I know he has a face,” Harry told them. “I just can never picture it. Whenever I try to, all I can picture is blackness and nothingness.” Neither Ron nor Hermione said anything. They simply listened, silent. “I always assumed that it would be easier to kill him if he didn’t have a face. But he does. He does have a face. And I still have to kill him.” Harry fell quiet. He looked up at the stars. “I somehow thought all of this would be easier. That I would have more of my affairs in order, that it wouldn’t be so sudden. I don’t mind giving up my life . . . but Draco . . .”

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Hermione said reassuringly, though her voice trembled a bit.

“Yeah, mate, Malfoy isn’t the type to give up,” Ron added.

Harry knew what Ron said was the truth. It didn’t stop him from worrying, though. Not in the least. Harry Potter was not afraid to die. He was not afraid of death. He was only afraid of what he might lose.

“I love Draco, you see,” Harry said quietly. As if hoping that would explain everything.

“We know,” Ron responded. “That’s why we’re going to do everything we can to get him back.”

Harry was a little surprised by Ron’s attitude. He had expected Ron to put up more of a fight than this. Ron was generally a very kind person, but he had been known to hold a grudge. Harry felt guilty that he had misjudged him.

Harry looked off in the distance. The sun was just beginning to creep into the world. Dawn. It was time.

                                                               ~~~

Harry, Ron and Hermione met the rest of the group in the front hall of Hogwarts. Professor Lupin and Molly Weasley were standing next to each other and Lupin appeared to be reassuring her that everything was going to be fine. Tonks was nodding along with whatever Lupin was saying. Next to them, the twins were all smiles and cheer and waved at Harry as he approached. The oldest Weasley child, Bill, was there as well. He most likely had come sometime in the night. Harry had to wonder why. Snape was standing farther away from everyone and had an expression on his face that suggested he would murder anyone who tried to talk to him. Harry was relieved to see that Ginny was not in the group. That was one less person he would have to worry about. Narcissa Malfoy wasn’t there, either. That was most likely for the best, as well.

Their strategy was simple enough. The entire group would walk to Hogsmead where they would Apparate to the coordinates Bellatrix Lestrange had left in the note.

“Is everyone ready?” Lupin asked as they entered Hogsmead. “Harry, you come with me. Ron, you go with your mother and Tonks, could you please take Hermione?”

Harry suppressed an inner grown. He still didn’t like to Apparate. Even side-along Apparation was horrible. Harry closed his eyes as the sensation took over his body. He felt light-headed and his body was as light as air.

The Apparation took them to the middle of a clearing in a forest. There was no sign of anyone or anything around them. Could they have been mislead? Harry pulled away from Lupin and looked around. In the distance he could hear the sound of drums being beaten. Harry automatically began moving toward the sound, instinctively knowing Draco would be there. He was stopped by Snape, of all people, grabbing his arm. They were not alone. Twenty or so Death Eaters had suddenly appeared into the clearing with them.

“We will cause a distraction,” Snape said in a low voice. “You find Draco. You are the only one who can. Get him back here and we will all go home.”

“Thank you, Professor,” Harry said.

Snape stepped forward. All of the Death Eaters appeared to be waiting for what he was going to do. Raising his wand Snape shouted, “Confringo!” The ground in front of the Death Eaters burst into flame.

“Go, Potter!” Snape hollered.

Harry didn’t need to be told twice. He ran as fast as he could toward the sound of the beating drums. He didn’t look back as his heart beat frantically in his chest. Behind him he could hear the shouts from his friends. They would be all right and Harry would make it up to them.

The forest around him was dark and dank. The drums were getting louder and louder by the second. Harry pushed his way through the brush and trees, not caring that the plants were scraping his arms and legs.

Harry shoved his way through the last bit of brush and found himself in a second clearing. The sight around him made his jaw drop. Twenty or thirty large drums were outlining the forest. They were being played by some sort of invisible force. On the inside of the circle of drums were what looked like spirits dancing wildly. They were not ghosts. Harry would not call them ghosts, but he had the feeling that none of them were still alive. Each of the dancers was engulfed in what looked like a black flame. The ritual was a frightening one. All around, the dancers with their flames leaped and twirled in a nonsensical pattern and showed no signs of ceasing. In the very center was a white stone altar, surrounded by, of course, more flames. Draco was lying on the altar, his arms bound above his head to the altar with a thick rope.

“Draco!” Harry shouted. He ran over to him, barely avoiding being creamed by the onslaught of dancers who didn’t seem to be aware of his presence. As Harry got closer he realized that underneath the cloak that covered Draco, he was completely naked.

Draco was struggling against the rope tying him down. “Harry!” Draco cried as Harry reached him. Harry jumped through the flames surrounding the altar and placed his hands on Draco’s stomach. The fire had vanished as soon as Harry had jumped through it.

“Are you hurt?” Harry asked. Draco shook his head. His bruises looked darker than ever. Harry bent down and kissed Draco’s tearstained face. “It’s all right,” he said softly. “We’re going to get out of here.” He began pulling at Draco’s binds.

“I see you have finally come, Harry Potter,” said a voice behind him that sent shivers down his spine.

Harry turned slowly to face Voldemort. Bellatrix Lestrange was beside him, smirking at Harry in a rather triumphant way. Hatred as he had never felt hatred before was pouring through his veins, making his blood boil and his head cloud.

“You dirty, rotten bastard!” Harry spat.

“My, my, where are your manners?” Voldemort asked. “Bellatrix, teach our guest how to respect his elders.”

Bellatrix casually lifted her wand and said, “Crucio,” in a somewhat lazy way.
Harry was bent over instantaneously as the white-hot pain coursed through him. On the altar he could hear Draco crying out as well.

The pain stopped and Harry realized that at some point he had grabbed the altar and was holding on for support.

“Interesting,” said Voldemort. He exchanged glances with Bellatrix. “You boys appear to be connected. But how? And why?” Voldemort seemed to be talking to himself but Harry decided to answer, anyway.

“Because I love him!”

This declaration pulled Voldemort out of his contemplation,and he looked at Harry as if Harry had grown an extra head. Voldemort then looked at Bellatrix and next at Draco and finally back at Harry before he began laughing uncontrollably.

“Love?” Voldemort croaked. “Love?”

“Shut up!” Harry shouted.

“Tell me more,” Voldemort said. “Really, I adore the idea. Love!” He spoke the word as if it were something bitter upon his tongue.

Beside him Bellatrix had that infuriating smirk back on her face.

“I’ll show you the extent of love!” Voldemort exclaimed, striding forward.

“Don’t come any closer,” Harry warned him, his wand out and trailing Voldemort’s every move.

Before Harry could even blink he had been bound by rope from Voldemort’s wand. Bellatrix caught him before he hit the ground and held him up so he could watch Voldemort caress Draco’s face with a single long pale finger.

“Don’t you touch him!” Harry snarled.

Voldemort ignored Harry as he ripped the cloak off of Draco, revealing Draco’s naked body underneath. Voldemort looked up and caught Harry’s eye. Without breaking the eye contact with him, Voldemort lowered his head and ran his tongue on a long, slow path between Draco’s legs. With an exaggerated inhale, Voldemort licked his lips as if savoring the taste.

Draco whimpered as Voldemort drew back and proclaimed, “I do believe I will enjoy this.”

“Get your filthy hands off of him!”

Voldemort laughed and lowered his head again, only to draw it back a moment later, roaring in pain. Bellatrix screamed and let go of Harry as well. Harry’s binds broke and he rushed to Draco’s side. Voldemort stumbled back, retreating a ways back.

“Draco, are you all right?” Harry asked, tugging at the ropes binding him. Harry suddenly noticed that the dancers had stopped and were frozen in place and the drums were no longer sounding out.

Harry helped Draco off of the altar and threw the discarded cloak around his naked body. Draco coughed, blood running onto his hands.

“You!” Voldemort howled. “What have you done?” His eyes were glowing red in his anger. “You!” He pointed his finger at Harry. “You took my entitlement away from me! He was mine to take! Mine!”

Bellatrix looked horrified. She took a few steps backwards; she raised her hands to her face. Harry realized that they were burned. Had he done that? She took one last fleeting glance at Voldemort and turned on her heel and ran into the forest. Voldemort didn’t pay her any mind.

“I’ll go after Bellatrix,” Draco said.

“Are you sure?”

Draco nodded. “Yes, if I don’t take care of her now we’ll never be rid of her.”

“All right,” Harry said, pulling Draco’s wand out if his pocket and pressing it into his hand. “Be careful, my love.”

“And you,” Draco returned, tucking his wand away. “Try not to be a stupid Gryffindor.”

Harry smiled and gave Draco a quick kiss. “Go,” he whispered.

Draco jolted into a run, heading in the direction Bellatrix had run off in.

“I won’t let you leave!” Voldemort screamed. He aimed his wand at the running Draco. “You will still be mine!”

Harry shot fire at Voldemort, letting it fall right at Voldemort’s feet.

“Don’t forget I’m still here,” Harry said. “Your opponent is me.”

Voldemort was still for a moment before his face split into a sadistic grin. “Very well,” he said. “I will dispose of you first. You’ve been a thorn in my side for quite some time now. This last discretion is just one of many. It is high time I got rid of you.”

Harry’s heart beat frantically in his chest and he could hear it echo in his ears, making it impossible for him to think. What should he do now? Everyone was in battle. No one was coming to save him. Voldemort regarded him, lightly, like a cat watching a cornered mouse. Voldemort had him. Well, if this was the way it was, Harry wasn’t going down without a fight. Voldemort took a step forward, causing Harry to take one back. Harry could feel the icy cold sweat dripping down the side of face.

“If you won’t attack, I will!” Voldemort shouted. “Crucio!”

Harry was vaguely aware that he was on the ground. The pain had overcome his mind and he was no longer capable of rational thought. All he could think was how Draco must be suffering the same pain and how he just wished it would end forever for both of them. The pain had stopped and Harry pulled himself up off the ground. Why was didn’t Voldemort just kill him, already?

As if reading his mind, Voldemort answered his question: “Killing you in one blow would be too lenient.” His eyes narrowed. “You have caused me great misfortune and cost me much time and energy. I want you to suffer.”

“Expelliarmus!” Harry bellowed.

Voldemort easily blocked his spell. “Pathetic child,” Voldemort sneered. “Do you really think you can defeat me as you are now?”

An idea abruptly popped into Harry’s head. It was so unexpected he swore it was magic. There was no way he could defeat Voldemort as he was at that moment. For that reason he needed someone else with him. And there was one person who said to call upon them if he ever needed help.

“Morgana!” Harry shouted. “I need you!”

“And so you shall have me,” Morgana said, appearing by his side. Around them formed what looked like a bubble. Harry was too panic -stricken to pay it any mind at the moment, though.

“Morgana, thank Merlin. I need your help,” Harry said. He sank to the ground in relief and clutched the front of Morgana’s white robes.

Morgana crouched down so that she was on equal levels with Harry. “You must listen to me Harry,” she said. “We can defeat the Dark Lord, but it will take all of our strength. Are you prepared?”

Harry nodded his head. “Yes,” he said, looking around. “What is this?” Harry asked, poking at the bubble.

“It is a defensive shield. The Dark Lord will not be able to touch you while inside.” Morgana explained. “However, you must leave its protection while you deliver your attacks.” Harry looked down. He didn’t like the idea of leaving the bubble. “Fear not,” Morgana said kindly. “All of my power will be yours. I have also brought this along for your aid.” Morgana pulled a sword out from her robes. She handed it to Harry. Harry recognized the sword immediately. It was Gryffindor’s sword.

“How did you get this?” Harry asked, running his hands over the blade.

“A gift from your Headmaster,” Morgana said.

Harry smiled. Even when he was away, Dumbledore was watching over him. As Harry watched, the blade began to glow, first red, then yellow, blue and finally green.

“What is going on?”

“This is the energy of all the spirits around you,” Morgana said. “These spirits are lost souls.” She indicated all of the dancers who were still motionless but had now turned their attention to the sword. “Voldemort has trapped them and they are not able to rest in death. Among them is someone you have been looking for.”

Harry’s eyes widened and he turned slowly around. One of the figures who was now pressed up against the bubble was Sirius.

“Sirius!” Harry shouted, rushing over to the side of the bubble where Sirius stood. “Sirius! Can you hear me? It’s me, Harry!”

Sirius remained motionless. His eyes were vacant.

“He will not wake until Voldemort is defeated,” Morgana said. She placed a comforting hand on Harry’s shoulder. “And even then his soul will only remain for mere minutes before passing into death. His soul was trapped beyond the veil and was simple for Voldemort to harvest.”

“Is there nothing I can do?” Harry said. He reached his hand up to the border of the bubble. “Is there no way I can save him?”

“You will be able to say farewell.”

Harry nodded in resignation and let his hand fall away. It wasn’t fair.

“Lend me your power,” Harry said.

The sword began to glow even brighter. Voldemort was watching all of this occur with a look of shock on his face. Harry sprang from the bubble, hitting Voldemort with all of the strength he could muster. Voldemort had transformed his wand into a long sword and was waiting for Harry’s attack. He blocked Harry’s attack, their weapons clashing. Voldemort pushed Harry to the ground, aiming his sword for Harry’s heart. Harry jumped to his feet and readied himself for another attack. Around them, the spirits formed a circle, preventing either of them from escape. Morgana, however, hovered close to Harry, prepared to pull him out of harm’s way if need be. The battle waged on for ages, longer than Harry was able to count. Harry finally fell back into the bubble, landing on one knee. He propped himself up with the sword, gasping for breath.

“You are doing very well,” Morgana told him. “One last attack should end it. My strength is fading. Once it is gone, put all you have into your attack. Do not fear and do not look back.” As she spoke Harry saw that her protective bubble was fading in and out of view.

“I understand,” Harry said.

“Go!” Morgana shouted.

Harry sprang out of the bubble for the last time, directing all of his energy into his attack.

                                                         ~~~

Meanwhile, Draco had finally caught up to Bellatrix. It hadn’t helped that in the middle of his pursuit Harry had decided to get hit by the Crucio curse. That had taken at least five minutes off of his chase. Draco swore loudly and cursed Harry for being such a stupid, gullible Gryffindor.

“You better not die, Harry!” Draco had shouted. “Or I’ll find out how to revive you just so I can kill you myself!”

Bellatrix was standing with her back towards Draco at the edge of a cliff. She knew she had been caught, but she still possessed that arrogant air about her that made it seem that she assumed she was better than everyone else.

“That’s as far as you go!” Draco shouted.

Bellatrix turned around. Her smile was cold and calculating.

“Draco, little Draco,” she said. “Apple of his mother’s eye.” Her face grew hard as stone. “This is it, you know.”

“Very well,” Draco said, drawing his wand. He held it in front of him like a sword. “To the death, then.”

                                                    ~~~

Harry stood over Voldemort’s lifeless body, breathing heavily. He was covered in Voldemort’s blood but he didn’t care. The defensive bubble had faded and Morgana was swaying on her feet. Harry let go of his sword and ran to catch Morgana before she fell. He held her close in his arms. She looked up at him through heavily lidded eyes and smiled.

“You were very good,” she said.

“And you,” Harry returned. He felt his heart plummet in his chest.

“Do not be sad, Harry Potter,” Morgana said. “It is time for me to go back to sleep. Back to my forest.”

Harry remembered the first time he had ever seen Morgana. He remembered how she had looked dead in her forest. He knew she had to go. As he watched, her eyes closed and all of her air escaped her.

Harry bowed his head, hiding his darkened eyes. “May your body find eternal rest and your soul eternal peace,” he said, which was the only way he could think of to say good-bye to Morgana.

Her body evaporated before his eyes. Harry stood up and turned around. The black flames that had surrounded all of the dancers were gone. And one by one the dancers, too, began disappearing. The smiles on their faces caused a feeling to stir inside of Harry that he could not remember ever feeling. Harry’s eyes searched for the one person who had been haunting his thoughts and dreams.

Sirius turned to meet Harry in the very center of the clearing. His smile was as bright as Harry could ever remember seeing it. He didn’t look entirely solid, nor was he translucent. He was beautiful.

“Harry,” Sirius breathed.

“No,” Harry said, shaking his head.

“I must leave. It’s time to say goodbye.”

“No,” Harry repeated.

“I have to go.”

Harry shook his head.

“Harry I’m so very proud of you. I know you’ll grow up to be a fine man.”

“Sirius, you can’t go!” Harry cried. “I love you!”

“I know you do and I love you as well, but you have to let me go.”

“But it’s not fair. You died too soon.”

“I have no regrets about the life I lived, Harry. The only regret I have is not being able to spend more of the time I had with you. I will always be with you, Harry, as long as you remember me.”

“But memories fade!” Harry exclaimed. “I don’t want to forget you, Sirius, but I’m already beginning to.”

“I know the pain you feel, Harry,” Sirius told him. “I remember feeling the same way when we lost your father. But now I’ll get to see him again. Farewells are hard, but they are not forever. We will meet again. And when we do, I can assure you, I will know you and you will know me.”

Harry reached out his hand. He needed to feel Sirius’ warmth. His hand went right through him. Sirius smiled sadly and placed his shimmering hand on Harry’s face. Harry laid his hand on his cheek where Sirius was touching him. And for a moment Harry could have sworn he could feel him, but the moment passed and Harry let his hand fall away.

“You saved me, Harry,” Sirius told him. “In more ways than you will ever know.”

“Good-bye, Sirius,” Harry whispered. “I’m glad I got to see you one last time.”

Sirius smiled and faded with the last light of the setting sun. When had it gotten so late? Had it not only been sunrise when they had arrived? Harry wanted to just stare for hours at the place Sirius had just been, but he couldn’t. He had to see if everyone else was all right. And Draco, he had to find Draco.

Harry found his way back to the clearing where he’d left the others. The battle was over. His friends had been victorious in fighting the Death Eaters off. Ron and Hermione were sitting on the ground and Ron had his arms around her. They seemed to be shaken up, but unharmed. Tonks was bandaging up Lupin’s left arm while Snape stood nearby. He looked to be in the same foul mood he was always in. Even so, Harry mentally reminded himself to thank Snape later.

Harry looked around for the twins and the remaining Weasleys. Fred was lying still on the ground. George was kneeling next to him and was absolutely hysterical. Beside him, Molly was trying to restrain him, but George was having none of it.

“Don’t you leave me!” he screamed at Fred’s seemingly lifeless form. “Don’t you dare leave me! We promised each other! We promised! We’re not going to die alone! We came into this world together and that’s how we’re leaving it! We promised, we promised!”

Bill was suddenly also kneeling over Fred. He had his wand out and was casting what Harry assumed was some sort of healing magic. Harry tore his eyes away. He didn’t want to think that Fred might not make it. He didn’t want to think that.
Where was Draco? Harry’s eyes scanned the surroundings. Draco was nowhere in sight. Moving purely on instinct Harry wandered in the direction of the forest.

“Harry?” It was Hermione. She and Ron were right behind him. Ron was leaning on Hermione for support. “Where are you going?”

Harry turned around and forced himself to smile. “I gotta find Draco,” he said. And he headed into the forest, leaving Ron and Hermione behind.

Harry could feel Draco’s heartbeat growing louder as he got nearer and nearer. He made his way out into a clearing with a cliff. Draco was lying on the ground near the edge. Bellatrix’s body lay a few feet away. She was dead. Draco had obviously killed her. Harry didn’t care. He ran to Draco and propped him up in his arms.

Draco’s eyes opened and he smiled. “I knew you’d be here soon,” he murmured. “I was waiting for you.”

“Draco, are you all right?” Harry asked. But he needn’t have asked. There was so much blood. Why hadn’t Harry felt this pain? Harry looked down and realized he was bleeding from the chest as well.

“Don’t know how much longer we’ll last.”

“We’re going to be fine,” Harry lied.

Draco chuckled. “You’re not a very good liar.” His face suddenly got very serious. “Harry, I love you,” Draco whispered. He reached up and softly stroked Harry’s cheek, before closing his eyes and letting his hand fall to the ground.
Harry felt something wet and hot upon his cheek. Harry was crying. He was crying for Draco. His Draco. His love. His life.

“Don’t worry, my love,” Harry told him. “I’m only one step behind you.”

Even as he spoke, Harry could feel his own strength giving out. Harry toppled over onto the ground, releasing Draco from his arms. Draco fell onto his back and lay still. Harry clawed his way over to him, wanting to kiss him for what was certain to be the last time. However, the closer Harry got the more the world grew out of focus. Harry could see Draco’s lips clearly, but as soon as their mouths were almost touching, the last of Harry’s strength left him. He collapsed and everything went dark.

When Hermione found them moments later she was shocked by two things. Draco’s bruises were gone . . . and so was Harry’s scar.

Description
Title: Hey There Draco Chapter 22
Warnings: Adult Language, Sexual Content, Violence
Disclaimer: I own nothing and am owned by no one.
Author's Notes: Almost done! Only a couple more chapters to go! Thanks to everyone who reads my stories! Thanks to M!

Warning: This is a Harry/Draco fanfiction. Meaning boy/boy. If you don't like, don't read!

“We have to go after him!” Harry shouted. When he awoke he had found himself in Dumbledore’s office. All of the adults were around him and, for some reason, Ron and Hermione were also there. Bellatrix had left a note behind explaining exactly where she was taking Draco. Harry didn’t see what they were doing wasting time here when Draco was in trouble.

“Harry, you can’t go,” Hermione exclaimed. “It’s a trap!”

“I know that!” Harry snarled. “I don’t care.”

“I don’t get it,” said Ron. “Why didn’t she just take Harry, too? I mean, You-Know-Who still wants him, doesn’t he?”

“I’ll tell you why,” Harry said. He was shaking, he was so angry. “Because Voldemort is a sick twisted fuck! He knows I’ll come to him. He’s only playing with me. Making me suffer before he kills me.”

Everyone in the room stared at him blankly. Harry had had enough. He got up from his chair and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” Hermione asked.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Harry said. “I’m going to get Draco back.”

“There’s no stopping him, Hermione,” Ron said. He got up as well and stood next to Harry. “I’m coming with you, mate.”

“Ron…” Harry murmured.

Lupin sighed. He looked at the Headmaster, who lowered his head in response. Molly Weasley gasped.

“Remus, you can’t possibly be thinking of letting them do this!” she exclaimed. “It’s far too dangerous!”

“They already have their minds set,” Tonks replied.

“We will not be able to hinder them, even if we wished it,” Snape added gruffly.

“All right,” Lupin said in his most authoritative voice. “Prepare yourselves. We leave at dawn!”

                                                             ~~~

Dawn seemed to never come. Harry waited alone on the top of the Astrology Tower. The waiting was literally killing him. At least he knew that Draco was still alive. That was, if anything, his one and only comfort. And as bad as it sounded, he knew if Draco died he wouldn’t have to live without him because he would die with him. That would be a terrible thought for a sane person, so it was lucky that Harry Potter was not a sane person at the moment.

He sighed. How long was it before dawn? Harry could remember other times at night when he had thought the very same thing. The waiting was going to kill him.

“Harry?” Hermione’s gentle voice pulled Harry out of his brooding. He turned around and saw both Hermione and Ron standing there. “What are you doing up here all by yourself?” she asked. She sat down next to him. Ron lingered a little at the doorway before joining them. Harry understood how awkward it had to be for poor Ron.

“I’m just thinking of what I have to do,” Harry answered.

“You better not be planning anything crazy,” said Hermione suspiciously.

“Of course he is,” said Ron before Harry could reply. “But that’s why we’re going with him, so we can save his stupid arse.”

“That isn’t funny, Ron,” Hermione scolded. Harry had to disagree. He hid his smile in his hand.

They all became very quiet. Everyone was thinking the same thing. What if . . . ?

“Are you scared, Harry?” Ron said quietly.

Harry shook his head. He wasn’t scared. No, ‘scared’ wasn’t the word he would use to describe how he felt. He was terrified, of course, of losing Draco. But Harry knew that wasn’t what Ron was asking. Ron was asking if Harry was scared of Voldemort.

“You know,” Harry said. “Whenever I think about Voldemort he doesn’t have a face.”

“What are you talking about?” Hermione said. “Of course he has a face.” Beside her Ron was still. He hadn’t even flinched when Harry had said Voldemort’s name.
“I know he has a face,” Harry told them. “I just can never picture it. Whenever I try to, all I can picture is blackness and nothingness.” Neither Ron nor Hermione said anything. They simply listened, silent. “I always assumed that it would be easier to kill him if he didn’t have a face. But he does. He does have a face. And I still have to kill him.” Harry fell quiet. He looked up at the stars. “I somehow thought all of this would be easier. That I would have more of my affairs in order, that it wouldn’t be so sudden. I don’t mind giving up my life . . . but Draco . . .”

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Hermione said reassuringly, though her voice trembled a bit.

“Yeah, mate, Malfoy isn’t the type to give up,” Ron added.

Harry knew what Ron said was the truth. It didn’t stop him from worrying, though. Not in the least. Harry Potter was not afraid to die. He was not afraid of death. He was only afraid of what he might lose.

“I love Draco, you see,” Harry said quietly. As if hoping that would explain everything.

“We know,” Ron responded. “That’s why we’re going to do everything we can to get him back.”

Harry was a little surprised by Ron’s attitude. He had expected Ron to put up more of a fight than this. Ron was generally a very kind person, but he had been known to hold a grudge. Harry felt guilty that he had misjudged him.

Harry looked off in the distance. The sun was just beginning to creep into the world. Dawn. It was time.

                                                               ~~~

Harry, Ron and Hermione met the rest of the group in the front hall of Hogwarts. Professor Lupin and Molly Weasley were standing next to each other and Lupin appeared to be reassuring her that everything was going to be fine. Tonks was nodding along with whatever Lupin was saying. Next to them, the twins were all smiles and cheer and waved at Harry as he approached. The oldest Weasley child, Bill, was there as well. He most likely had come sometime in the night. Harry had to wonder why. Snape was standing farther away from everyone and had an expression on his face that suggested he would murder anyone who tried to talk to him. Harry was relieved to see that Ginny was not in the group. That was one less person he would have to worry about. Narcissa Malfoy wasn’t there, either. That was most likely for the best, as well.

Their strategy was simple enough. The entire group would walk to Hogsmead where they would Apparate to the coordinates Bellatrix Lestrange had left in the note.

“Is everyone ready?” Lupin asked as they entered Hogsmead. “Harry, you come with me. Ron, you go with your mother and Tonks, could you please take Hermione?”

Harry suppressed an inner grown. He still didn’t like to Apparate. Even side-along Apparation was horrible. Harry closed his eyes as the sensation took over his body. He felt light-headed and his body was as light as air.

The Apparation took them to the middle of a clearing in a forest. There was no sign of anyone or anything around them. Could they have been mislead? Harry pulled away from Lupin and looked around. In the distance he could hear the sound of drums being beaten. Harry automatically began moving toward the sound, instinctively knowing Draco would be there. He was stopped by Snape, of all people, grabbing his arm. They were not alone. Twenty or so Death Eaters had suddenly appeared into the clearing with them.

“We will cause a distraction,” Snape said in a low voice. “You find Draco. You are the only one who can. Get him back here and we will all go home.”

“Thank you, Professor,” Harry said.

Snape stepped forward. All of the Death Eaters appeared to be waiting for what he was going to do. Raising his wand Snape shouted, “Confringo!” The ground in front of the Death Eaters burst into flame.

“Go, Potter!” Snape hollered.

Harry didn’t need to be told twice. He ran as fast as he could toward the sound of the beating drums. He didn’t look back as his heart beat frantically in his chest. Behind him he could hear the shouts from his friends. They would be all right and Harry would make it up to them.

The forest around him was dark and dank. The drums were getting louder and louder by the second. Harry pushed his way through the brush and trees, not caring that the plants were scraping his arms and legs.

Harry shoved his way through the last bit of brush and found himself in a second clearing. The sight around him made his jaw drop. Twenty or thirty large drums were outlining the forest. They were being played by some sort of invisible force. On the inside of the circle of drums were what looked like spirits dancing wildly. They were not ghosts. Harry would not call them ghosts, but he had the feeling that none of them were still alive. Each of the dancers was engulfed in what looked like a black flame. The ritual was a frightening one. All around, the dancers with their flames leaped and twirled in a nonsensical pattern and showed no signs of ceasing. In the very center was a white stone altar, surrounded by, of course, more flames. Draco was lying on the altar, his arms bound above his head to the altar with a thick rope.

“Draco!” Harry shouted. He ran over to him, barely avoiding being creamed by the onslaught of dancers who didn’t seem to be aware of his presence. As Harry got closer he realized that underneath the cloak that covered Draco, he was completely naked.

Draco was struggling against the rope tying him down. “Harry!” Draco cried as Harry reached him. Harry jumped through the flames surrounding the altar and placed his hands on Draco’s stomach. The fire had vanished as soon as Harry had jumped through it.

“Are you hurt?” Harry asked. Draco shook his head. His bruises looked darker than ever. Harry bent down and kissed Draco’s tearstained face. “It’s all right,” he said softly. “We’re going to get out of here.” He began pulling at Draco’s binds.

“I see you have finally come, Harry Potter,” said a voice behind him that sent shivers down his spine.

Harry turned slowly to face Voldemort. Bellatrix Lestrange was beside him, smirking at Harry in a rather triumphant way. Hatred as he had never felt hatred before was pouring through his veins, making his blood boil and his head cloud.

“You dirty, rotten bastard!” Harry spat.

“My, my, where are your manners?” Voldemort asked. “Bellatrix, teach our guest how to respect his elders.”

Bellatrix casually lifted her wand and said, “Crucio,” in a somewhat lazy way.
Harry was bent over instantaneously as the white-hot pain coursed through him. On the altar he could hear Draco crying out as well.

The pain stopped and Harry realized that at some point he had grabbed the altar and was holding on for support.

“Interesting,” said Voldemort. He exchanged glances with Bellatrix. “You boys appear to be connected. But how? And why?” Voldemort seemed to be talking to himself but Harry decided to answer, anyway.

“Because I love him!”

This declaration pulled Voldemort out of his contemplation,and he looked at Harry as if Harry had grown an extra head. Voldemort then looked at Bellatrix and next at Draco and finally back at Harry before he began laughing uncontrollably.

“Love?” Voldemort croaked. “Love?”

“Shut up!” Harry shouted.

“Tell me more,” Voldemort said. “Really, I adore the idea. Love!” He spoke the word as if it were something bitter upon his tongue.

Beside him Bellatrix had that infuriating smirk back on her face.

“I’ll show you the extent of love!” Voldemort exclaimed, striding forward.

“Don’t come any closer,” Harry warned him, his wand out and trailing Voldemort’s every move.

Before Harry could even blink he had been bound by rope from Voldemort’s wand. Bellatrix caught him before he hit the ground and held him up so he could watch Voldemort caress Draco’s face with a single long pale finger.

“Don’t you touch him!” Harry snarled.

Voldemort ignored Harry as he ripped the cloak off of Draco, revealing Draco’s naked body underneath. Voldemort looked up and caught Harry’s eye. Without breaking the eye contact with him, Voldemort lowered his head and ran his tongue on a long, slow path between Draco’s legs. With an exaggerated inhale, Voldemort licked his lips as if savoring the taste.

Draco whimpered as Voldemort drew back and proclaimed, “I do believe I will enjoy this.”

“Get your filthy hands off of him!”

Voldemort laughed and lowered his head again, only to draw it back a moment later, roaring in pain. Bellatrix screamed and let go of Harry as well. Harry’s binds broke and he rushed to Draco’s side. Voldemort stumbled back, retreating a ways back.

“Draco, are you all right?” Harry asked, tugging at the ropes binding him. Harry suddenly noticed that the dancers had stopped and were frozen in place and the drums were no longer sounding out.

Harry helped Draco off of the altar and threw the discarded cloak around his naked body. Draco coughed, blood running onto his hands.

“You!” Voldemort howled. “What have you done?” His eyes were glowing red in his anger. “You!” He pointed his finger at Harry. “You took my entitlement away from me! He was mine to take! Mine!”

Bellatrix looked horrified. She took a few steps backwards; she raised her hands to her face. Harry realized that they were burned. Had he done that? She took one last fleeting glance at Voldemort and turned on her heel and ran into the forest. Voldemort didn’t pay her any mind.

“I’ll go after Bellatrix,” Draco said.

“Are you sure?”

Draco nodded. “Yes, if I don’t take care of her now we’ll never be rid of her.”

“All right,” Harry said, pulling Draco’s wand out if his pocket and pressing it into his hand. “Be careful, my love.”

“And you,” Draco returned, tucking his wand away. “Try not to be a stupid Gryffindor.”

Harry smiled and gave Draco a quick kiss. “Go,” he whispered.

Draco jolted into a run, heading in the direction Bellatrix had run off in.

“I won’t let you leave!” Voldemort screamed. He aimed his wand at the running Draco. “You will still be mine!”

Harry shot fire at Voldemort, letting it fall right at Voldemort’s feet.

“Don’t forget I’m still here,” Harry said. “Your opponent is me.”

Voldemort was still for a moment before his face split into a sadistic grin. “Very well,” he said. “I will dispose of you first. You’ve been a thorn in my side for quite some time now. This last discretion is just one of many. It is high time I got rid of you.”

Harry’s heart beat frantically in his chest and he could hear it echo in his ears, making it impossible for him to think. What should he do now? Everyone was in battle. No one was coming to save him. Voldemort regarded him, lightly, like a cat watching a cornered mouse. Voldemort had him. Well, if this was the way it was, Harry wasn’t going down without a fight. Voldemort took a step forward, causing Harry to take one back. Harry could feel the icy cold sweat dripping down the side of face.

“If you won’t attack, I will!” Voldemort shouted. “Crucio!”

Harry was vaguely aware that he was on the ground. The pain had overcome his mind and he was no longer capable of rational thought. All he could think was how Draco must be suffering the same pain and how he just wished it would end forever for both of them. The pain had stopped and Harry pulled himself up off the ground. Why was didn’t Voldemort just kill him, already?

As if reading his mind, Voldemort answered his question: “Killing you in one blow would be too lenient.” His eyes narrowed. “You have caused me great misfortune and cost me much time and energy. I want you to suffer.”

“Expelliarmus!” Harry bellowed.

Voldemort easily blocked his spell. “Pathetic child,” Voldemort sneered. “Do you really think you can defeat me as you are now?”

An idea abruptly popped into Harry’s head. It was so unexpected he swore it was magic. There was no way he could defeat Voldemort as he was at that moment. For that reason he needed someone else with him. And there was one person who said to call upon them if he ever needed help.

“Morgana!” Harry shouted. “I need you!”

“And so you shall have me,” Morgana said, appearing by his side. Around them formed what looked like a bubble. Harry was too panic -stricken to pay it any mind at the moment, though.

“Morgana, thank Merlin. I need your help,” Harry said. He sank to the ground in relief and clutched the front of Morgana’s white robes.

Morgana crouched down so that she was on equal levels with Harry. “You must listen to me Harry,” she said. “We can defeat the Dark Lord, but it will take all of our strength. Are you prepared?”

Harry nodded his head. “Yes,” he said, looking around. “What is this?” Harry asked, poking at the bubble.

“It is a defensive shield. The Dark Lord will not be able to touch you while inside.” Morgana explained. “However, you must leave its protection while you deliver your attacks.” Harry looked down. He didn’t like the idea of leaving the bubble. “Fear not,” Morgana said kindly. “All of my power will be yours. I have also brought this along for your aid.” Morgana pulled a sword out from her robes. She handed it to Harry. Harry recognized the sword immediately. It was Gryffindor’s sword.

“How did you get this?” Harry asked, running his hands over the blade.

“A gift from your Headmaster,” Morgana said.

Harry smiled. Even when he was away, Dumbledore was watching over him. As Harry watched, the blade began to glow, first red, then yellow, blue and finally green.

“What is going on?”

“This is the energy of all the spirits around you,” Morgana said. “These spirits are lost souls.” She indicated all of the dancers who were still motionless but had now turned their attention to the sword. “Voldemort has trapped them and they are not able to rest in death. Among them is someone you have been looking for.”

Harry’s eyes widened and he turned slowly around. One of the figures who was now pressed up against the bubble was Sirius.

“Sirius!” Harry shouted, rushing over to the side of the bubble where Sirius stood. “Sirius! Can you hear me? It’s me, Harry!”

Sirius remained motionless. His eyes were vacant.

“He will not wake until Voldemort is defeated,” Morgana said. She placed a comforting hand on Harry’s shoulder. “And even then his soul will only remain for mere minutes before passing into death. His soul was trapped beyond the veil and was simple for Voldemort to harvest.”

“Is there nothing I can do?” Harry said. He reached his hand up to the border of the bubble. “Is there no way I can save him?”

“You will be able to say farewell.”

Harry nodded in resignation and let his hand fall away. It wasn’t fair.

“Lend me your power,” Harry said.

The sword began to glow even brighter. Voldemort was watching all of this occur with a look of shock on his face. Harry sprang from the bubble, hitting Voldemort with all of the strength he could muster. Voldemort had transformed his wand into a long sword and was waiting for Harry’s attack. He blocked Harry’s attack, their weapons clashing. Voldemort pushed Harry to the ground, aiming his sword for Harry’s heart. Harry jumped to his feet and readied himself for another attack. Around them, the spirits formed a circle, preventing either of them from escape. Morgana, however, hovered close to Harry, prepared to pull him out of harm’s way if need be. The battle waged on for ages, longer than Harry was able to count. Harry finally fell back into the bubble, landing on one knee. He propped himself up with the sword, gasping for breath.

“You are doing very well,” Morgana told him. “One last attack should end it. My strength is fading. Once it is gone, put all you have into your attack. Do not fear and do not look back.” As she spoke Harry saw that her protective bubble was fading in and out of view.

“I understand,” Harry said.

“Go!” Morgana shouted.

Harry sprang out of the bubble for the last time, directing all of his energy into his attack.

                                                         ~~~

Meanwhile, Draco had finally caught up to Bellatrix. It hadn’t helped that in the middle of his pursuit Harry had decided to get hit by the Crucio curse. That had taken at least five minutes off of his chase. Draco swore loudly and cursed Harry for being such a stupid, gullible Gryffindor.

“You better not die, Harry!” Draco had shouted. “Or I’ll find out how to revive you just so I can kill you myself!”

Bellatrix was standing with her back towards Draco at the edge of a cliff. She knew she had been caught, but she still possessed that arrogant air about her that made it seem that she assumed she was better than everyone else.

“That’s as far as you go!” Draco shouted.

Bellatrix turned around. Her smile was cold and calculating.

“Draco, little Draco,” she said. “Apple of his mother’s eye.” Her face grew hard as stone. “This is it, you know.”

“Very well,” Draco said, drawing his wand. He held it in front of him like a sword. “To the death, then.”

                                                    ~~~

Harry stood over Voldemort’s lifeless body, breathing heavily. He was covered in Voldemort’s blood but he didn’t care. The defensive bubble had faded and Morgana was swaying on her feet. Harry let go of his sword and ran to catch Morgana before she fell. He held her close in his arms. She looked up at him through heavily lidded eyes and smiled.

“You were very good,” she said.

“And you,” Harry returned. He felt his heart plummet in his chest.

“Do not be sad, Harry Potter,” Morgana said. “It is time for me to go back to sleep. Back to my forest.”

Harry remembered the first time he had ever seen Morgana. He remembered how she had looked dead in her forest. He knew she had to go. As he watched, her eyes closed and all of her air escaped her.

Harry bowed his head, hiding his darkened eyes. “May your body find eternal rest and your soul eternal peace,” he said, which was the only way he could think of to say good-bye to Morgana.

Her body evaporated before his eyes. Harry stood up and turned around. The black flames that had surrounded all of the dancers were gone. And one by one the dancers, too, began disappearing. The smiles on their faces caused a feeling to stir inside of Harry that he could not remember ever feeling. Harry’s eyes searched for the one person who had been haunting his thoughts and dreams.

Sirius turned to meet Harry in the very center of the clearing. His smile was as bright as Harry could ever remember seeing it. He didn’t look entirely solid, nor was he translucent. He was beautiful.

“Harry,” Sirius breathed.

“No,” Harry said, shaking his head.

“I must leave. It’s time to say goodbye.”

“No,” Harry repeated.

“I have to go.”

Harry shook his head.

“Harry I’m so very proud of you. I know you’ll grow up to be a fine man.”

“Sirius, you can’t go!” Harry cried. “I love you!”

“I know you do and I love you as well, but you have to let me go.”

“But it’s not fair. You died too soon.”

“I have no regrets about the life I lived, Harry. The only regret I have is not being able to spend more of the time I had with you. I will always be with you, Harry, as long as you remember me.”

“But memories fade!” Harry exclaimed. “I don’t want to forget you, Sirius, but I’m already beginning to.”

“I know the pain you feel, Harry,” Sirius told him. “I remember feeling the same way when we lost your father. But now I’ll get to see him again. Farewells are hard, but they are not forever. We will meet again. And when we do, I can assure you, I will know you and you will know me.”

Harry reached out his hand. He needed to feel Sirius’ warmth. His hand went right through him. Sirius smiled sadly and placed his shimmering hand on Harry’s face. Harry laid his hand on his cheek where Sirius was touching him. And for a moment Harry could have sworn he could feel him, but the moment passed and Harry let his hand fall away.

“You saved me, Harry,” Sirius told him. “In more ways than you will ever know.”

“Good-bye, Sirius,” Harry whispered. “I’m glad I got to see you one last time.”

Sirius smiled and faded with the last light of the setting sun. When had it gotten so late? Had it not only been sunrise when they had arrived? Harry wanted to just stare for hours at the place Sirius had just been, but he couldn’t. He had to see if everyone else was all right. And Draco, he had to find Draco.

Harry found his way back to the clearing where he’d left the others. The battle was over. His friends had been victorious in fighting the Death Eaters off. Ron and Hermione were sitting on the ground and Ron had his arms around her. They seemed to be shaken up, but unharmed. Tonks was bandaging up Lupin’s left arm while Snape stood nearby. He looked to be in the same foul mood he was always in. Even so, Harry mentally reminded himself to thank Snape later.

Harry looked around for the twins and the remaining Weasleys. Fred was lying still on the ground. George was kneeling next to him and was absolutely hysterical. Beside him, Molly was trying to restrain him, but George was having none of it.

“Don’t you leave me!” he screamed at Fred’s seemingly lifeless form. “Don’t you dare leave me! We promised each other! We promised! We’re not going to die alone! We came into this world together and that’s how we’re leaving it! We promised, we promised!”

Bill was suddenly also kneeling over Fred. He had his wand out and was casting what Harry assumed was some sort of healing magic. Harry tore his eyes away. He didn’t want to think that Fred might not make it. He didn’t want to think that.
Where was Draco? Harry’s eyes scanned the surroundings. Draco was nowhere in sight. Moving purely on instinct Harry wandered in the direction of the forest.

“Harry?” It was Hermione. She and Ron were right behind him. Ron was leaning on Hermione for support. “Where are you going?”

Harry turned around and forced himself to smile. “I gotta find Draco,” he said. And he headed into the forest, leaving Ron and Hermione behind.

Harry could feel Draco’s heartbeat growing louder as he got nearer and nearer. He made his way out into a clearing with a cliff. Draco was lying on the ground near the edge. Bellatrix’s body lay a few feet away. She was dead. Draco had obviously killed her. Harry didn’t care. He ran to Draco and propped him up in his arms.

Draco’s eyes opened and he smiled. “I knew you’d be here soon,” he murmured. “I was waiting for you.”

“Draco, are you all right?” Harry asked. But he needn’t have asked. There was so much blood. Why hadn’t Harry felt this pain? Harry looked down and realized he was bleeding from the chest as well.

“Don’t know how much longer we’ll last.”

“We’re going to be fine,” Harry lied.

Draco chuckled. “You’re not a very good liar.” His face suddenly got very serious. “Harry, I love you,” Draco whispered. He reached up and softly stroked Harry’s cheek, before closing his eyes and letting his hand fall to the ground.
Harry felt something wet and hot upon his cheek. Harry was crying. He was crying for Draco. His Draco. His love. His life.

“Don’t worry, my love,” Harry told him. “I’m only one step behind you.”

Even as he spoke, Harry could feel his own strength giving out. Harry toppled over onto the ground, releasing Draco from his arms. Draco fell onto his back and lay still. Harry clawed his way over to him, wanting to kiss him for what was certain to be the last time. However, the closer Harry got the more the world grew out of focus. Harry could see Draco’s lips clearly, but as soon as their mouths were almost touching, the last of Harry’s strength left him. He collapsed and everything went dark.

When Hermione found them moments later she was shocked by two things. Draco’s bruises were gone . . . and so was Harry’s scar.