Dig A Hole For Another Grave

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. No money is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry watched Draco walk back into the cold night, feeling a hole in his heart as if Draco had taken part of it with him. It suddenly began to tingle. Harry gasped, then realized it was the silver snake vibrating with magic. He cupped it in his hand and looked at the underside. There, as if it had been engraved, were the words, “Thank you, Harry.” They faded as quickly as they had come.

Harry smiled. Exchanges of treasure, of promise and hope, and of something unspoken… for part of Draco’s had filled the space, and Harry’s heart was whole.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry held Draco’s snake necklace pressed between his fingers.

Chains. Harry was chained to his fate.

He ran the silver chain through his fingers, link by link, feeling the hole between each, seeking comfort as if he instead held prayer beads. How deep down the rabbit hole must he go? What must he do at the end?

Harry only knew he must be willing. The chains that had bound him would become an instrument of his own freedom. Climb them and emerge from that dark hole victorious. Follow them back home. His fingers reached the silver snake. Back to Draco.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Draco was sinking deeper, ensnared within an evil Black Hole. The light of hope seemed so far away. No one had seen Harry Potter for many months now. Had it all gone wrong?

Draco’s hand clamped over the golden locket under his shirt. He’d sent Harry information regularly, in case it might help, in case it would bring Harry back to Hogwarts. No messages had ever answered his own. Draco knew he really didn’t deserve anything back from Harry. Harry should use him then lose him. It would hurt, yet he must hope it was the reason for Harry’s silence.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry had never been so frustrated. It was probably pathetic to feel this powerless without his Phoenix-feather wand. Then there was Draco’s news: Luna’s imprisonment, students disappearing from Hogwarts, Death Eater conquests.

Dwelling on the deaths occurring while he just camped endlessly made the Resurrection Stone’s seductive allure ever-more difficult to resist.

Dig a hole for another grave.

Ron tuned into Potterwatch. Hearing voices of friends provided such sweet relief.

Followed by excitement. Voldemort was seeking the Elder Wand. Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

“Come on, Hermione. Why are you so determined not to admit it? Voldemort—”

“HARRY, NO!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Up next: Draco and Harry at Malfoy Manor.

Thanks go to shadowsamurai for the beta read!