Of Butterflies in a Hurricane

Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that I do not own Harry Potter and/or any other characters used in this fic. They are all property of J.K. Rowling.

Fic Warnings: Angst, Lemon, Slash, Yaoi, Minor character death (NOT Harry or Draco)

A/N: This fic picks up directly where HBP left off. It is 99.5% HBP compliant, subtracting a few details, such as R.A.B. If you haven't read Falling Away with You, I would highly recommend it. Otherwise, you will probably be very confused immediately after reading the first line ;)

If this fic hasn't been completely posted by the time the seventh book is released, I want you to know that it's already been completely written for me. So, let's not accuse me of stealing ideas, should that happen, alright?

One last thing, a big thanks to my beta for this fic, Artificer!


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"Draco?" A tentative voice crept through the dark trees. A light breeze whipped through the branches, continuing down to ripple the surface of the lake.

A dark figure crept through the bushes that curled around the base of the trees outlining a dark forest. A wand was held tightly in his fist, though it hung down by his side. The figure moved further forward cautiously, head turning in all directions, as though searching for someone.

"Draco," the voice called, more insistently.

The dark trees creaked ominously as they swayed with the wind. There was a rustling in the brush and the figure stiffened in the darkness, raising his wand higher.

Without a word, the wand tip alighted. Its light swept over the features of a tall, pale boy standing only a few feet from the wand holder. The boy smirked at the figure and there was a relieved sigh.

The wand was lowered as a crackling filled the air. A tiny, blue fire sprang up and was placed into a jar, and then set on the ground. The two boys stood looking at each other for a moment, not saying anything.

Then the one who had been holding the wand dropped it to his side and moved swiftly forward, pulling the other boy to him. He wasted no time in pressing his lips against the others; it was a harsh, needy kiss. It was returned in full force by the pale boy, his hands slipping around the other's waist.

It was soon broken, though, but they didn't move apart. The dark-haired boy pulled the other boy closer, burying his face in his neck.

"I thought you weren't coming," he whispered against the soft skin, placing a kiss just below the boy’s ear.

There was a soft sigh, lost in the wind that whipped up around them. "I always come, Harry."

Harry's grip tightened around the boy in his arms, as if he might disappear if he let go. Draco relaxed into the grip, loving the way it felt. They stood like that for a while, listening to the rustling of the leaves on the trees.

The dark lake rippled as the wind blew over it. Around them, there was no sound of life. The sky was star-strewn and nearly pitch black. The moon was barely a sliver that night.

Finally, Harry released the boy and they both sat down next to the bright blue fire that flickered inside the glass jar. Draco scooted closer to Harry, a feeling of elated satisfaction flooding his body when Harry's arm slipped around his waist to pull him even closer.

Together, they stared out at the black lake, across to where the castle stood. There were no lights flickering in its windows. Imprinted against the sky, it rose; a symbol of strength and protection.

Beside him, Harry shifted slightly and Draco looked at him. Harry was staring at the fire as it crackled and danced.

"What?" Draco asked him slowly, knowing something was up.

"Nothing," Harry replied quietly.

"No, what?" Draco pressed.

Harry sighed softly and bit his lower lip. "You're still working on that cabinet, aren't you?"

Draco paused. He had told Harry several weeks ago about his previous mission and Harry had finally accepted his promise. He had thought that maybe they were past the questioning stage.

"I have to," he said quietly. "They have to keep thinking that I'm working on it."

"Can't you just tell Dumbledore? He'll give you protection," Harry said, looking at Draco pleadingly.

"I can't. He'll find out and then he'll kill me and my mother."

"But you could be safe. Draco, don't you want to be safe?"

"Yes, Harry, I do. But there are just some things that won't work."

Harry looked at Draco, fighting back the tears that wanted so desperately to fall. He knew Draco was probably right, but he still felt that something could be done. He swallowed the lump that had arisen in his throat, looking away from Draco and back to the fire.

The flames reflected in his emerald green eyes. He just wanted to know that Draco was safe. He cared so much for him, enough even to accept that he wasn't lying about deciding not to complete his mission.

He couldn't help as a single tear fell down his face, trickling over his cheek. He felt a soft, warm finger on his cheek, wiping away the tear. He looked over to see Draco with his hand outstretched. Harry tried to smile but was unable to.

Draco gave him a sad smile and moved forward, pressing a soft kiss to Harry’s lips. His hand slipped from his cheek to around his neck. Draco moved forward, straddling Harry's lap, still giving him light kisses.

Harry leaned back slowly and his back soon hit the cold, hard ground. Draco's tongue flicked out and over his lower lip, requesting permission to deepen the kiss. Harry allowed this, opening his mouth slightly, letting the tongue dip into his mouth, tentatively tasting him.

The kiss was long and slow, Draco taking his time to map out the contours of Harry's sweet mouth. His hand caressed the back of Harry's neck softly, running up and into his messy, black hair.

Harry's hand traveled over Draco's back, holding onto him tightly. He never wanted to leave this, never stop it. He wished time would stop like this all the time. When he was with Draco, it felt like time did indeed stop.

The kiss continued, feeling as if it would go on forever. It was a loving kiss, not harsh or needy as their first had been that night. It was soft and careful, caressing and sweet. Draco's tongue moved slowly within Harry's mouth. Harry never wanted it to stop.

Suddenly, Draco was yanked from atop him. Harry sat up quickly, panic gripping his insides. He looked up to see Draco being dragged away by Snape and into the trees.

Harry jumped to his feet and watched as Draco struggled to release himself from Snape's grip.

"Let go of me!" Draco yelled, twisting violently in the professor's grip.

Snape refused to let go, tightening his hold on the struggling boy. "Draco! We must go. What have you been doing with him? Have you forgotten your mission?!"

Draco didn't appear to be listening as Snape dragged him further away from where Harry stood, rooted to the ground. Harry soon came to his senses and jumped after them.

"Draco!" he shouted as Snape pulled Draco off his struggling feet and heaved him towards the forest. "Draco!"

"Harry!" A voice reached his ears as Draco was whipped out of sight. "Harry! Don't let him take me!"

"Draco!" Harry yelled, panic rising in his chest as he tried to plunge after them, only to be prevented by the angry brambles curling around his legs and snagging his cloak.

"Harry!"

Harry ripped his cloak from the thorns and tried to follow in the shadowed darkness of the forest, listening as Draco's cries became fainter with each passing second.

"Harry!"

"I'm coming!" Harry shouted, looking around, having no idea where they had gone. Everything was black around him.

"Harry... Harry..." He heard the voice becoming fainter and then clearer again. "... Harry... Harry, wake up."

Harry jerked awake, panting hard; sweat drenched his entire body. He looked around him, realizing where he was. A brilliant orange met his eyes as he blinked, the bright sunlight streaming in through the windows.

Ron was sitting next to his bed, looking concerned. Harry reached up and quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead, trying to calm his thundering heart.

"A-are you okay, mate?" Ron asked cautiously.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Harry muttered, not looking at him.

Ron didn't say anything for a moment but finally stood up and moved back. "Well, mum says you need to be ready by eleven this morning for the wedding. Fleur is in a right state about everything. I reckon she might just explode by the time the day is over."

Harry nodded vaguely, not really listening. His mind was dwelling on the dream once more. He'd had the same dream for the past few weeks, always waking covered in sweat and heart pounding.

"Alright, mate, I'm gonna go downstairs. There's breakfast ready if you want... Uh... see you later." Ron backed away from the bed and left through the door. He emerged and came face-to-face with Hermione, who had been waiting anxiously. Ron shook his head, and she looked even more worried, casting a glance at the door before turning with Ron and going down to breakfast.

When the door clicked shut, Harry let out a small sigh of relief. He felt horrible not being able to explain this to his best friends. He sat up and swung his legs over the bed, sliding to his feet and padding over to where his trunk sat near the foot of his bed.

He glanced around carefully to make sure that no one was there then flipped the lid open. He reached into it and pulled out a large stone basin. He brought it over to his bed and placed it on it. He crawled back and sat, cross-legged, facing the basin.

He watched the top of the basin, white and glassy looking, swirls of fog shimmering in the light from the sun. Harry reached over for his wand and prodded the substance, watching as it began to swirl faster, finally settling down.

Harry peered inside it, hoping to see something useful. It was merely an empty classroom with a student serving a detention, hunched over a desk and writing something. Harry couldn't recognize the student from above but that didn't matter anyway.

He sighed again, disappointed, and got off the bed. He picked up the Pensieve, the image immediately vanishing into swirling memories, and put it back into his trunk.

Ever since he had received Dumbledore's Pensieve, only a few weeks previously, he had been taking it out and hopefully poking the memories, hoping to find something to help him. So far, he had been unsuccessful.

He wondered if maybe there was nothing in there to help him. Perhaps Dumbledore had shown all the memories he needed, and the rest were just random recollections. Then again, Dumbledore would not have left it in his will for it to be given to Harry without a reason.

Harry wished he knew better how to use it as he locked his trunk. He was becoming quite desperate to find out more in order to complete his part in the prophecy. As he turned away from his trunk, he caught sight of something that had fallen out of it.

He bent down and picked it up, his heart giving a wrenching tug as he realized what it was. A silver bracelet adorned with a small green serpent that slithered around it lay in his hand. He had to force himself to remain calm.

Draco had given it to him mere days before everything had fallen apart. He had told him it would protect him and help him. He had told Harry that he was always with him.

Harry bit his lip hard to stop the tears that were welling up in his eyes once more. He took the bracelet and slipped it on his arm where it glowed a dark green and conformed to the perfect size of his wrist.

The tiny snake hissed as Harry ran a finger over its cold scales. He sighed and walked over to the window. Below him, he could see that most of the family was outside, setting up tables and chairs for the wedding.

Pink roses were dotted here and there on small tables covered in white linen. A large archway covered in roses was being erected at the end of a long aisle. Mr. Weasley and Charlie were trying to hold it up while Mrs. Weasley fussed about its location.

Harry turned away as Mrs. Weasley turned and glanced up at Ron's window. He moved swiftly back and changed his clothes, preparing for a long day.

When he was finally ready, he took a deep breath and walked to the door, pushing it open and disappearing down the steps.


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A/N: Please review!