Part Six of Six

Part VI

Even the slush on the ground couldn't keep Harry from walking on clouds. He had a silly grin on his face and knew it, but every time he tried to keep it in check, a moment later it was stretching over his features again.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" Hermione asked, nudging him with her shoulder and giving him a rather salacious look.

"Just had a good talk with Draco," Harry said, flushing a little as he realised how few words there had really been.

"And by good talk, you mean...?" Hermione waggled her eyebrows and smirked.

"Hermione!" Ron wailed, grabbing her around the waist and spinning her so he was between her and Harry, ostensibly to keep her from Harry's corrupting influence, even though Harry suspected it was more the other way around.

"What? I'm just glad our best friend is actually happy! I was really worried."

Ron ruffled her hair with a fluffy mitten, causing it to explode from its bun with enough static electricity to power Hogwarts.

"Things are really good. He almost never gets jealous anymore. I haven't seen his beak in weeks..."

"And isn't that something you never thought you'd say," Ron mumbled.

"...And I'm really looking forward to what happens after Hogwarts."

"What does happen after, mate? Guess we won't be getting a flat together, eh?"

Hermione cleared her throat and then covered her head when she saw Ron's heavy hand coming back for further destruction.

"Guess not. You'll be with Hermione, anyway, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

His friends gave each other a look so saccharine Harry doubted he'd ever be able to pull it off with Draco. But the very thought brought a renewed lightness to his step.

He and Draco hadn't spoken about it much, but he knew Draco didn't want to live at Malfoy Manor, even after the year's probation was up, and Harry definitely didn't want to stay at Grimmauld Place, which meant they'd be looking for a place of their own. In a few months, Harry would be applying for the Auror programme, and though Draco hadn't decided quite what he wanted as a career, he was supportive of and unsurprised by Harry's choice. And whatever Draco wanted to do, Harry would be happy with as long as Draco was happy, too.

They made the usual rounds of Hogsmeade, first warming up in the Three Broomsticks with a few butterbeers that Harry wished he could have shared with Draco. Then Hermione went off to Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop for a refill of her red ink and Harry and Ron headed to Zonko's, Ron commenting on how much more impressive George's store was.

When they were finished in the joke shop, Ron's wallet significantly lighter due to 'research for George', they waited outside Honeydukes for Hermione. When she finally finished, walking up with a bag too large to contain only an ink pot, they all entered the sweets shop and made their way through the typical Hogwarts crowd.

Harry wanted to get something for Draco. He couldn't keep his mind off the amazing kiss in the library, made even more amazing by the fact that it had been only a kiss. Draco didn't ever push Harry, but he made no secret of the fact that he wanted more and more. And Harry had no problem with that; quite the contrary, he found he was very nearly addicted to Draco's touches. This time, though, Draco hadn't suggested they head up to the Room of Requirement. He hadn't even copped a feel beneath Harry's t-shirt or anything. He almost would have been afraid that Draco didn't want him if it hadn't been for Draco's persistent erection and the fact that the kiss had contained enough fire to consume them both, given time.

Draco seemed like the type for something expensive. Obviously. He wouldn't want Chocolate Frogs or liquorice wands.

Feeling nervous, Harry approached the counter. A young witch sat on a stool, looking bored as she tapped her nails on the countertop and read a magazine.

"Er, Miss?"

"Yeah?" she answered without looking up.

"I want to buy something special. Something... really classy. Could you recommend something?"

The clerk finally looked at Harry. She startled, seeing who he was, and hopped off her perch. "Harry Potter," she breathed with unconcealed reverence.

Harry was reminded that the world outside Hogwarts was still interested in him. He wondered when that would change. With a sigh, he gave a tight smile and nodded. "It's for someone I care about," he clarified, hoping that was enough.

"Oh, that's so sweet!" she gushed. From beneath the counter she pulled a fancy-looking catalogue, flipping to the back pages and pushing it toward him. "These are our deluxe, special edition chocolate compilations. Any young lady would be thrilled to receive them."

From her eager smile, Harry knew she was speaking from personal experience. He glanced down at the photos of different chocolate boxes. They all seemed really girly: red and pink, decorated with lace and ruffles. He flipped the page, knowing he couldn't get Draco anything like that if he wanted to keep his balls.

On the last page, however, was something very intriguing. A plain black rectangular box with a simple silver ribbon. The moving photo showed the box opening to reveal exquisite looking chocolates, all perfectly decorated and proportioned. It looked expensive, it looked pretentious...it looked perfect for Draco.

"That," he said, pointing to the box and sliding the catalogue back.

The young woman looked disappointed. "Are you sure?" She flipped back a page and indicated a bright orange box with two hippogriffs on it. "This is so much cuter!"

But Harry shook his head. "The black one, please."

With a pout, the clerk disappeared into the back room. While he waited, Hermione came up to the counter, looking breathless.

"I can't believe how busy it is! Everyone must be shopping for Christmas already."

Harry's satisfaction at having found the perfect surprise gift for Draco dwindled. "What am I supposed to get Draco for Christmas?" he said, groaning.

"Oh, don't worry about that! Draco seems like the type to tell you exactly what he wants."

Harry had to smile at the miles of layers to that statement. That was how he'd gotten Harry, after all. "You're absolutely right."

The clerk came back with the black box of chocolates. It looked ever better up close...the box seemed to be made of wood and lacquered. It was perfect.

"Oh, is that for Draco?" Hermione cried, practically swooning.

The woman behind the counter's eyes grew huge and she looked between Harry, Hermione, and the box for a long moment.

Uncaring what she thought, Harry said, "You think he'll like it?"

Looking numb, the woman wrapped the box in tissue and placed it in a fancy paper bag with handles.

"Thirteen Galleons," the woman said in a weak voice.

"Thirteen Galleons?" Hermione gasped.

Harry just paid the exorbitant price, thrilled with his purchase. "Have a nice day," he said, knowing that the knowledge of his and Draco's relationship just became public knowledge if it hadn't been already.

Waiting outside the store for Hermione and Ron, who were waiting in the line that had grown while he'd been looking for the perfect gift, Harry wondered how Draco would react. They'd never bought gifts for each other before. He wondered if there would be a lot of that in the future. He knew he planned on spoiling Draco. He had more than enough money to do so, and he knew he'd grow addicted to spending it on Draco if the rush he felt at that moment was any indication.

Harry waved at Seamus and Dean as they walked up. "What have you got there?" he teased, nodding at Dean's Gladrags bag.

Dean rolled his eyes. "A scarf for my cousin. She doesn't understand that wizarding fabric is no different from Muggle fabric. I think she thinks it'll turn her into a witch."

"Quite the line," Seamus remarked, nodding at Honeydukes. "I went there first. Everyone saves it for last. Not me, though. Oh, Harry..." Seamus dug through his back and fished out a lollipop, handing it to Harry. "I saw this and thought of you. Something for your oral fixation."

"Oh, fuck off," Harry said good-naturedly, taking the sweet. He unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth, his mind on kissing Draco with sweet-tasting lips.

"Hey, I thought Draco wasn't coming," Dean said.

"He's not." Harry didn't want to sound sulky, but he was still sore over the whole thing.

Dean raised an eyebrow and jerked his head in the direction behind Harry. Harry turned just in time to see Draco's hand come up and snatch the lollipop from his mouth and toss it on the frosty ground.

"Oi, I paid good money for that!" Seamus cried.

"You," Draco said. "Finnigan. Get the fuck out of here and don't ever bother Harry again."

"Er, he wasn't bothering me, he's my friend," Harry protested.

"We'll be going," Dean said, tugging Seamus behind him.

Over his shoulder, Seamus called to Harry, "Don't let him treat you like that, mate!"

"It's a good thing I decided to come and see if I could find that book here. Come with me," Draco said. Harry'd never heard his voice so low, so tight. It sounded like every iota of strength was going toward keeping himself in check.

Draco grabbed Harry's arm, but Harry jerked it away. "I'll come, but don't manhandle me, Draco. I'm not a child."

Sneering, Draco led them both behind Honeydukes. They were hidden from sight and far enough that no one could hear what promised to be an explosive fight.

"How dare you," Harry growled, rubbing at his mouth. Draco's quick grabbing of the sweet had scraped his lip.

"No," Draco said, backing Harry against the brick wall of the shop. "How dare you take a gift from another contender."

"A contender? What the hell is that?"

"Are you not happy with me? You've never asked for anything from me; you've never indicated that you needed something."

"I don't! I am happy, yes. Draco, what are you on about?" Harry hated having his back against the wall, but he wasn't scared or angry enough to pull his wand.

"Finnigan is gay," Draco said, seeming to think that explained everything.

"I know that. He's been really supportive, actually, ever since I came out."

Draco's lips curled away from his teeth, which seemed sharper all of a sudden. There was the briefest flicker of a beak over Draco's furious features.

"I'll just bet he has. So now you're taking gifts from other gay men. What, are you playing the field a little? Not satisfied with me, you want more?"

"It was a fucking joke!" Harry shouted. He pushed at Draco's chest, but Draco came even closer, pressing against Harry in a parody of their library kiss.

"Not to me." Draco's hands closed on Harry's shoulders. "Taking a gift from a potential mate is like cheating."

"First of all, Seamus isn't a fucking veela, so he can't very well be a mate, can he? Is this another one of your random veela rules that you don't tell me until it's too fucking late?"

Draco seemed to be curled around Harry, caging him against the wall, even breathing his air. Tension was a tangible thing, evident in every tight line of his body. His hands were trembling, probably with the effort not to clamp down on Harry's shoulders as he usually did when he went all veela.

"Did you know this rule before?" Harry asked quietly. It seemed like Draco was as surprised by his reaction as Harry. He'd said before that his veela side went almost entirely by instinct, so it made sense that he couldn't exactly predict this sort of behaviour.

Ignoring the question, Draco said, "Tell me you're not thinking about leaving me."

Disbelief warred with anger, and Harry just shook his head. "I'm not thinking about leaving you. I haven't thought that, not for a second. It was a stupid joke gift that meant nothing. You know that."

Draco's kiss was sudden and violent. The back of Harry's head hit the brick wall, and he made a protesting noise, but it drowned in Draco's mouth. The kiss went on and on, and it was nothing like the one from the day before. It was hard and claiming and all about teaching a lesson.

Harry turned his face away, his lips feeling bruised and swollen. "Fuck you, Draco," he said in a low voice.

There were flickers of beak again and then Draco's finger touched Harry's lower lip. A razor-sharp talon cut down the centre of Harry's lip with grim determination. "Now I'll know if someone else kisses you," Draco said in a voice not his own.

"Stop!" Harry shouted, the sharp pain shocking him. He felt blood trickle down his chin. He pulled his wand and trained it on his boyfriend, whose hand...without claws now...were held to his own mouth, his eyes wide. He looked smaller than he had a moment before.

"Harry..." Draco backed up, hands raised in supplication. "I didn't mean..."

Shaking his head in disbelief, Harry said, "I've had enough of being marked by monsters who wanted to own everything around them." He spat out the blood that had spilled into his mouth and walked away.

He was halfway to the castle before he realised he must have dropped Draco's present.

*

"Here it is," Hermione said, indicating the line of text with a bitten fingernail.

"Just give me the gist of it, please," Harry said. He'd tossed his glasses aside to rub at his temples. Being mated was a huge pain in his arse...not to mention his lip. The cut was shallow but sore as hell, the way a cat scratch seemed to hurt more than it really should. They hadn't been able to heal it, being a magical wound rather like Bill Weasley's scars.

"'Accepting an offering from a rival contender for the mate's affections, whether veela, Muggle, or magical, signifies the mate is interested in other prospects. The veela will go to great lengths to win back the mate, through avenues that might seem primitive to the outsider.'"

"Yeah, like marking his property," Ron grumbled. He was sitting back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. "I knew something like this would happen."

"That's not helpful, so stop it or leave," Hermione said with a frown. "This isn't about you."

"What am I supposed to do?" Harry asked. "This can't keep happening. I need to know everything before it happens. And he needs to curb his instincts."

"Well, the best thing to do would be to read as much as you can. I know Draco said there is limited information, but it's obviously not that limited if we can find it in the library."

"I can't believe how calm you're being about this, Hermione," Ron said. "Draco made Harry bleed. How much does he have to do before you realise this is madness?"

Hermione sighed. "It's like getting mad at a lion for eating meat. It's in Draco's nature. You both just need to be more accepting of that nature. Draco's not going to change, and you're his mate. Push him away and he'll suffer."

"I'm suffering!" Harry said, and he didn't mean the cut on his lip. He wondered where Draco was. He was so confused.

And then Draco was there, standing beside Hermione's chair and looking at Harry. His eyes fell on Harry's lip, and he winced. Harry squeezed his lips together. Let him suffer.

"Can I talk to you?" Draco said.

Just the day before, he'd asked the same thing. They'd walked to the library. They'd kissed. It would have been Harry's favourite memory of them, only it had to be ruined the next day.

"I don't think so!" Ron snapped, eyes narrowed.

After looking at Draco for a long moment, Harry nodded. "It's okay," he said to Ron, who huffed and stalked away.

Hermione rose as well. She treated Draco to a glare that would have made even Snape wither, and Draco seemed to shrink under it. Hermione gave Harry's shoulder a squeeze as she passed.

To his relief, Draco took Hermione's seat across from him. He didn't want Draco too close to him at the moment.

"I can heal it," Draco said, looking at the table. "But it takes... saliva."

Harry's laugh was hard to his own ears. "You're kidding, right? A magical kiss to solve all my woes?"

Draco's lips twitched when Harry laughed, but then he was solemn again. "It's supposed to be symbolic. I heal it with a kiss to show that I trust you, that you chose me."

"Well, that would be a lie, then." Draco's face lost all blood, and Harry quickly added, "That you trust me, I mean." Swallowing, he reached across the table and took one of Draco's cold hands. "I will not reject you. I choose you. I did, I do, I always will." He bit his lip, forgetting, and he hissed. "But I don't forgive you."

Draco took Harry's hand and pressed it to his own face, leaning into the touch and squeezing his eyes closed. Beneath his fingers, Harry felt wetness.

"I seem to say this a lot," Draco whispered. "But I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Just... tell me it's not going to be like this forever. These ups and down are too much. I just want something..." Easy? Normal? No, he didn't expect that, not with Draco and not with a veela. "I need you to trust me."

"I want to. I do. And then I see something like that... I get so scared."

"Haven't I proven to you that it's you I want?" Harry asked, shaking his head. "Haven't I shown you that there's no one who could ever come close?"

"Yes," Draco whispered. He moved Harry's hand to his mouth, where he kissed the palm and every fingertip. "I can't excuse it. But it's hard to know that we're together just because you didn't want to be alone."

"It's more than that now." Harry smoothed his hand over Draco's warming cheek, then into his hair at the back of his neck. "It's so much more."

"For me, too," Draco said, his grey eyes unguarded for once.

"So, we're mates, and that's official, but... do you want to be my boyfriend? Would you, without all this?"

"Yes."

"And that's Draco speaking, not the veela? You're not trying to make me happy?"

"I don't seem to be very good at that when I do try," Draco said with a rueful smile. "Yes, Harry, it's just me speaking. I want you. The veela is in me, a part of me, like the mate is a part of you. But we're more than that, or we should be. Forget all the other stuff. Harry, yes, I want to be your boyfriend."

Harry stood and took the seat beside Draco, facing him. "This drama has to stop," Harry warned.

Draco smiled. "I didn't believe you before."

"What?"

"I wanted to, but I couldn't. I mean, you're Harry Potter. You save people, even people like me. And how could I believe it was real when I knew you only wanted me so you wouldn't be alone? I felt like my hold on you was so tenuous I had to continually reinforce it."

"And now?"

Draco reached out slowly, watching Harry's face as if to make sure he wouldn't be turned away. Harry nodded, and Draco touched Harry's neck, lightly enough to be reminiscent of a kiss.

"Now I believe you. It's really true."

"It's really true," Harry confirmed, smiling. This, this was what he'd wanted. Not just someone to occupy the space at his side, but someone to share his life with, share everything with.

"I think I might love you," Draco whispered. His eyes betrayed awe.

"I'm pretty sure I might love you, too," Harry said.

Draco kissed him. It hurt, and then it didn't anymore.

*

"So that's it? You just forgave him?"

"Yep," Harry said, finishing the final touches on his Potions essay. He frowned at a misspelling but then shrugged. It was Slughorn, not Snape.

"I think Draco earned it," Hermione said, snatching up Harry's essay and correcting the error and likely a few more.

"You just like the way Draco and Harry snog in front of you," Ron grumbled.

"We don't snog in front of anyone!"

Everyone in the common room fell silent, and Harry could practically feel the raised eyebrows. "All right," he conceded. "But not for the thrill of it or anything. It just happens!"

"I don't mind, Harry," Hermione said, patting Harry on the arm. Her eyes were bright.

Ron groaned. "Whatever. If he hurts you again, I'll kill him."

Harry shifted. "Ron, he's probably going to. Not on purpose or anything. But... people just do that to each other sometimes. I don't mean the physical stuff, but... when you love someone, sometimes it hurts you and them." Harry felt wiser than he had even that morning. He wouldn't put up with Draco pushing him around anymore, but he also didn't expect to never fight, never say hurtful things, never push each other away at times. He was okay with that. As long as they had each other, they'd get through it all. Together. Harry smiled at his own sappiness.

"I'm for bed," he announced. He wanted to get up to the room for a wank before everyone else filed up. He and Draco had made another addition to their growing library kiss collection, but Draco had stopped Harry before things could get too far, even turning down the offer of a romp in the Room of Requirement. He couldn't remember ever being more sexually frustrated.

"Night, Harry," Hermione said, handing back his essay. He nodded his thanks to her.

"Just make sure Draco knows I'll be watching him," Ron said, but he smiled at Harry to show he was...mostly...kidding.

"He'll be thrilled to hear it."

Instead of watching Ron try to figure out whether that was a sexual innuendo, Harry went up to his dorm room, revelling in the rare privacy.

Unfortunately, he'd barely gotten out of his pants before Neville came in, yawning widely and giving Harry a sleepy smile as he crashed face-first on his bed. He was snoring in minutes.

Sighing, Harry debated between just going through with his plan or getting some sleep. He felt tired enough that he ended up going to sleep, curling up beneath his covers, sequestered by the bed curtains, and thinking of Draco.

He woke up to a sudden silence.

In a room full of boys, who naturally made all sorts of noises, even when asleep, absolute silence was unfamiliar enough to jolt Harry from even a deep sleep. He didn't jerk awake, his body reverting back to nights spent in a tent. Letting awareness come to him slowly, Harry knew he wasn't alone.

A cool hand pressed against his bare chest. "It's me," the voice said unhelpfully, but Harry knew it was Draco.

A small bead of light spilled from Draco's all-too familiar wand. Draco saw Harry looking at it and smiled.

"Never did thank you for sending it back, did I?"

"Of course you didn't," Harry said, grinning. He pulled back the covers, and Draco burrowed under, leaning over Harry.

"Thanks for not burning it," Draco said seriously. He kissed Harry softly.

"Thanks for... letting me borrow it."

Draco rolled his eyes. "I missed you, you know." His fingers teased Harry's stomach, circling his navel and dipping in.

Harry was very aware of the fact that he'd stripped down for that wank and hadn't dressed again. "I wasn't the one who turned down the Room of Requirement."

"This is better, isn't it? Your own bed?" Draco smiled. "Smells like you."

A little embarrassed having Draco in his own space like this, he asked, "How'd you get in?"

"I know someone who wants to see you happy."

Hermione. Harry chuckled, then covered his mouth with his hand.

"Don't worry," Draco said. "Silencing spells. I'm brilliant at them."

"Of course you are." Harry ran his hand down Draco's chest and tugged at the hem of his shirt, hinting strongly.

But Draco pulled back and reached over the side of the bed. He came back with a black box that he rested on Harry's stomach.

Recognising the chocolates he'd bought for Draco, Harry got into a sitting position, moving the box onto his lap. "These were for you," he said, disappointed that his gift hadn't turned out the way he'd wanted.

"I was hoping you'd say that," Draco said, his eyes apologising.

Harry handed it to him.

Taking back the box, Draco touched it reverently, as if he hadn't already seen it. "Why?" he asked softly.

"Because I wanted to. Because, at the time, you deserved it." Harry softened his words with a kiss.

Draco gave the silver ribbon a tug, then looked at Harry, who nodded for him to continue. Unravelling the gift, Draco lifted the lid.

"Harry, these are..." Draco seemed to recognise the chocolates, though there was no label or anything. He looked at Harry with wide, shocked eyes.

Feeling shy, Harry shrugged. He grabbed a chocolate at random and offered it to Draco, who took it carefully, licking Harry's finger. Draco's eyes practically rolled back as he chewed, and he made obscene noises that were not at all out of place in a bed.

With a steadying breath, Harry took the box and replaced the lid, leaving it on the nightstand. He pushed Draco onto his back and straddled him, feeling lascivious for being naked when Draco was fully clothed. Pressing his growing erection down against Draco's groin, he draped his body over Draco and kissed him.

"Mmm," he murmured. "You taste good."

"I was worried the chocolate would cover it up," Draco quipped, his eyes going dark as Harry circled his hips.

"Been a while since we..." Harry bit his lip. Did Draco even want to?

"You want to?"

"If you do."

Draco pulled Harry down, arms thrown around him. "I want to. Very, very much. I thought you didn't because I hurt you."

"It did hurt, but that just means you'll just have to be gentle with me," Harry said.

"I promise, little mate."

Harry let Draco sit up to take off his shirt and then squirmed down his body to divest him of his trousers and pants. He was on Draco again in seconds, moaning as their bodies came into full contact. He kissed Draco hard, enjoying being on top for once. He could still taste chocolate, and it would be forever changed for him.

Reaching under his pillow for the lubricant he'd gotten out earlier, he pressed it into Draco's hand. He tried not to blush, but it was hard.

He noticed Draco's hand was shaking as he slicked his fingers. Harry moved up a little so Draco could reach between Harry's legs to where he wanted him most.

Harry gasped a little when the cool wetness touched him, but Draco's fingers warmed him. He resumed the kissing, keeping his hands in Draco's hair as he moved his lips, tasting and teasing.

"Ready," Harry said, panting as he broke the kiss.

Draco lubed his cock and let Harry take over. With Draco's eyes on his, Harry felt not just naked but bare. He lowered himself down, groaning at the stretch. Draco was shaking with the effort not to move, his hands gripping Harry's waist.

"So good," Harry whispered, sinking down. With his arse pressed against Draco's hips, everything fell into place. Finally, things were as they were supposed to be.

"Gods, yes," Draco said, thrusting up a little. "No pain?"

"No pain," Harry confirmed. He leaned over, bracing his hands on Draco's chest as Draco touched him everywhere. There was love in the touch; Harry could feel it.

When Harry began to move, everything else fell away. There was no room full of boys. There was no school, even. No world that would be hard and uncomprehending of what they had.

Draco's hand moved over Harry's claim mark, long healed and responsive only to him. The burst of pleasure was muted; his mind was his own. No white fog made things easier. Draco was beneath him, barely restrained and beautiful, eyes that refused to blink as he took in Harry's face. Draco, who was demanding and scary at times; Draco, who was beautiful and could be cold. Draco, who was his.

Harry's orgasm surprised him; he hadn't wanted things to end. But as he cried out, as Draco groaned and jerked his hips one last time, he knew things hadn't ended. There was so much more. He'd be an Auror and Draco would be whatever he wanted, and they'd buy a house together, whatever Draco wanted, and they'd hold hands and do this all the time.

And Harry would never be alone. And Draco would never suffer. And they'd just... be in love.

"Thanks for the gift," Draco said, pulling Harry against his chest after they'd caught their breath.

Harry kissed him. If Draco meant more than just the chocolates, he didn't let on. But Harry knew.

The End.