InsaneJournal

Draco pulled away, looking into Harry’s eyes, which were dark with desire.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice deep.

Eyes wide, Harry nodded. Draco kissed him again, more thoroughly this time. He lifted on hand to slide it up Harry’s flank. Beneath him, Harry drew in a sharp breath.

“Okay?” Draco asked, as he latched his mouth onto the hollow of Harry’s collarbone.

“Yeah,” Harry sighed breathily.

Draco sat back on his heels, sliding his knees under Harry’s thighs for a more comfortable position. This time, he slid both hands up under Harry’s shirt, loving the feel of his swollen belly.

“Hardly any of my clothes fit anymore,” Harry complained.

“That’s why you wear robes, love.”

Harry made a face of disgust, which quickly turned to one of surprise as Draco licked one dusky pink nipple. He then blew on it, causing the little nub to harden instantly. Draco pushed the shirt up and over Harry’s head. He tossed the cotton tee to the floor.

Turning his eyes back to Harry, he groaned inwardly at the sight. Harry’s skin was a healthy bronze. Draco ran his hands down the length of Harry’s chest and over his belly, resting his hands atop the precious bump. Harry cupped the back of Draco’s neck, pulling him down for a kiss.

As Harry slipped his tongue into Draco’s mouth, he also gripped the bottom of Draco’s shirt and pulled it up and over the blond’s head, casting it aside as well. Now shirtless, Draco laid himself down against Harry’s body gently.

“Ahh,” Harry gasped, grabbing Draco’s hips.

“What?” Draco asked, freezing immediately. “Did I hurt you?”

“No,” Harry’s features relaxed into a smile. “Jamie just kicked.”

Draco had the decency to blush. “Maybe she likes it when we’re together.”

This time it was Harry’s turn to blush. He turned his head into the pillow and looked at Draco out of the corner of his eye. “I really don’t want to do this right now,” he whispered. Wordlessly, Draco stood up, looking down at the Gryffindor uncertainly.

“I didn’t mean I wanted you to leave.”

Draco pulled his shirt on over his head. “I think I’ll just sleep on the couch tonight.” As Draco pulled the door to his bedroom shut, Harry curled himself around Draco’s pillow and cried himself to sleep.

Harry dragged himself out of bed at the first sign of daylight. He showered and dressed, noting with disparagement Draco’s absence from the sitting room. He was, however, waiting for Harry in the casual dining room.

“Good morning, Harry,” he said, stiffly, buttering a biscuit.

“Hi,” Harry answered, leaning down for a kiss.

“Sit down, Harry, we need to talk,” Draco said, as he turned his cheek to other way. His tone remained impersonal and business-like.

“Have I upset you?” Harry asked, taking a seat across from the blond aristocrat.

“I spoke with my parents early this morning,” he answered instead.

“Oh?” Harry paused, a forkful of eggs halfway to his mouth.

“They informed me that certain decisions must be made, or I will be enrolled in Durmstrang next week.”

Harry’s fork clattered to the plate.

Draco continued, nonplussed. “The baby is due in June. The naming ceremony will commence two days after her birth and it will coincide with the engagement ceremony. The wedding will be August 15th, two weeks after your 17th birthday.”

Harry jumped up from the table, knocking his water goblet over. Neither boy noticed. “I didn’t agree to any of this.”

“Neither did I,” Draco growled slamming his hands down on the table. Grey eyes flashed dangerously. “Maybe it’s not important to you if I’m around or not, Potter, but I would at least like to be here for Jamie!”

“How can you say that? You’re giving your parents more loyalty than you ever thought about giving your daughter!”

“Well maybe you don’t understand the loyalty because you don’t have any parents!” Draco regretted the words the instant they left his mouth. “Harry, I didn’t mean it like that,” Draco apologized as his lover stood up from the table.

“You meant it or you wouldn’t have said it.” When Draco failed to reply, Harry walked out of the room, leaving his plate of eggs untouched.

Draco learned from the house elves later that Harry had some food sent to his room, so he probably wasn’t starving himself.

“Harry?” Draco called, knocking on the brunette’s door, after having to explain why his fiancé refused to come down for dinner.

“Go away,” was the muffled reply.

Draco tried the handle. Predictably, it was locked. “Harry let me in. We need to talk.”

“I said, ‘Go away!’” His tone became pitched and desperate. It made Draco nervous. As quickly as he could manage, he rushed around the Manor to the hidden entrance. With a gentle push, the wall gave way to the guest quarter’s sitting room.

Sweeping the room with his eyes, Draco saw no sign of his lover. “Harry?”

A choked sob issued from the bedroom. Draco raced through the open door. He found Harry sitting in a pile of broken glass, blood staining the white carpet beneath him.

“It was an accident,” the brunette sobbed, looking up at Draco helplessly.

Draco cast a spell to remove the glass and crossed the room in two quick strides. “What happened?” he asked, picking Harry up like a child and depositing him gently on the bed. He looked Harry over for cuts as the brunette choked out his story.

“The house elves brought my dinner - just like I asked. I ate it in bed because my stomach felt upset and I didn’t want to do anything to further the feeling. I stood up to use the loo and I dropped the plate. Then when I tried to pick up the pieces, I only managed to step in them. I fell and,” his breath hitched, “that’s when you showed up.” The source of the blood was, in fact, the cuts on the bottom of Harry’s bare feet.

“I’ll go get Marjorie. She’ll patch you up.”

Harry wiped his nose on a handkerchief. “Are you coming back?” The question caught Draco by surprise.

“I expected you would want me to leave you alone.”

“Why did you make those decisions without asking me?”

Draco sighed inwardly. “My parents would have sent me to Durmstrang and I never would have seen you or Jamie again. Trust me, the decision was not made without thinking of you two. I’ll go get Marjorie. Good night, Harry,” Draco said, closing the doors to the bedroom.

Harry appeared in the formal dining room for breakfast the next morning. He was dressed in clean robes that weren’t wrinkled for once and he had even attempted to brush his hair.

“Mister Potter.” Lucius raised an eyebrow. “To what do we owe the honour of your presence at our breakfast table?”

“I wanted to apologize,” he said, stopping behind Draco’s chair. He gripped the antique wood so tightly his knuckles turned white. “To you, Lucius, Naricissa, and of course, Draco.” He ran his fingertips down the blond heir’s cheek. Draco tilted his face upward, giving Harry a pleased smile. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused - everything I’ve put your family through.”

“Really,” Lucius drawled dryly.

“Really.” Harry released the back of Draco’s chair. He walked to the doorway and turned to face the three Malfoys. “That’s why I’m leaving. I appreciate your hospitality and your patience, but I know when I’ve worn out my welcome. I’ve already received permission from Madame Pomfry to fly back to Hogwarts. Madame Hooch will be here soon to escort me back to the castle. Draco, I’ll see you when you return. Thank you again, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy.” He nodded at Narcissa and Lucius respectively before walking out of the room.

Draco waited about two seconds before he shoved his chair back from the table ad ran after Harry. He caught up to the dark haired boy in the entrance hall where he was waiting for Madame Hooch with his bags.

“She can’t get in past the wards.” Draco shoved his hands deep in his pockets, unsure of what else to say.

“Marjorie is going to walk me down to the end of the drive.” Harry refused to meet Draco’s eyes, instead staring out the large front window.

“You don’t have to leave.”

Harry turned around, a blank look on his face. “I get it now. You’re marrying me out of obligation. You needed an heir, anyway. I can live with that. I can’t, however, live with a lie. Don’t lead me on. All my life I’ve been second best. I’m just a tool for someone else.”

“Harry-”

“Draco, I’m okay with that. You can stop pretending now.” He reached up and unclasped the necklace from around his neck. He pressed the chair and Draco’s ring into the blond’s palm. “Save this, Draco, and give it to someone you really love.”

Marjorie walked into the room, a bright smile on her face. “Are you ready?’ she asked, picking up the largest of Harry’s bags.

“Yes.” He gave Draco a kiss on the cheek. “Goodbye, Draco.” Then Harry followed Marjorie out the front door. Draco could only watch helplessly as love walked out the door of his life - quite literally.

Draco spent the remaining time of his holiday in sullen isolation. He blamed his parents completely for Harry’s sudden departure. Narcissa assured him that Harry would “recover fro his mood swings and beg you to take him back”. Lucius was just relieved that “the mud blood finally learned his place”.

By the time Draco got back to Hogwarts he nearly had himself sick worrying about Harry. He sent the Gryffindor an owl his very first night back, which was not returned for an entire week that Draco saw neither hide no hair of his emerald-eyed lover.

Ron was just as tight-lipped about Harry’s whereabouts. Finally, Draco got an owl after seven anxiety-filled Harry-less days. The owl was sent by the Minister of Magic himself, requesting Draco’s presence at the trial of the Ministry of Magic on behalf of Harry Potter vs. Christopher Rhyahni and Pansy Parkinson. Draco drew in a sharp breath. The trial had already begun. He hastened to Professor Snape’s office - the quickest liaison to Dumbledore, and further - to Harry.

Snape answered the door on the second knock. “Mr. Malfoy. This had better be important.” The Potions Master’s tone was as surly and deep as usual.

Draco pushed past him without being invited in. “Professor did you know Harry’s trial had started?” Draco asked, anxiously.

“I was aware of the proceedings between the Minister and Potter, yes.”

“Don’t play games with me, Severus!” Draco shouted, “I need to talk to Dumbledore.”

“You will not take that tone with me.” Snape pursed his lips into a thin white line. “This way.”

The Headmaster gave them a bright smile as the pair entered his office. “I knew I would see you soon, Draco.”

“Where’s Harry?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest like a petulant child.

“I can assure you, young Draco that Harry is in good hands.”

“That’s not what I asked!” He stomped his foot for emphasis in a very un-Malfoy-like way.”

“I assure you Harry is safe. You will see for yourself tomorrow.”

Draco’s demeanour perked up. “Tomorrow?”

“Did you not read the entire letter you received?”

Draco’s cheeks coloured.

“I didn’t think so. The trial will continue tomorrow morning at seven. You will be called as a witness.”

“I will accompany you tomorrow morning,” Snape spoke up from behind them. “I expect you to be dressed and in my office at precisely 5 o’clock am.”

Draco nodded eagerly. He was so excited, he could hardly control himself until he got out of the Headmaster’s office. Once he was alone in his room, he sent a silent thank-you to Merlin and anyone else that aided in this current change of fortune.