The End

12

Everyone has a darkside, an evil that if unrealized can become it's own being. A complete and oppisite copy of all the person, who remains unaware, is. This is the truth of any sentient being. Those of us who know and control our dark nature, are better equipped to oppose those unable to control their impulses to commit acts of evil.

The question posed to Draco now as his lover's evil side grinned at him, was how would love stop his ability to recognize evil and mistake it for an indulgence or a mistake, rather than the truth. Harry was losing grip on himself and Draco knew it. The green eyes read a blank expression of pure loathing of his enviroment.

Not that Draco didn't understand it, it was the trigger that scared him. He had asked to go see Dumbledore and Harry had violently refused. It took all day for Draco to get back in his good graces, and even then, he wasn't sure if he had truly been forgiven. Harry's darkness reached out to him, it was like a storm that had no calm. Draco continued to feel it for two weeks, and now, they were here.

Draco's new quarters that Snape had assigned, in order to protect Draco from possible retaliation from the death eater children in the slytherin house. Harry had been ok until Draco had mentioned Snape and something about him personally making the arrangements.

"Why the hell is Snape even invovled? I thought we took care of our own arrangements!" Harry growled, the intensity of his words reflected the waves of anger Draco was absorbing from him. "Harry, we put out Hermione and Ron long enough, they need space too." Draco said calmly. As he walked toward Harry, hos head felt like it would split and he fainted. The next thing he knew, he was in the arms of his love, who softly called his name.

Draco noticed instantly that the dark brooding anger was gone. He was supprised buy how quickly it had seemed to vanish. Not wanting to press the issue, he got to his feet and began to silently unpack his trunk. Eathun was wondering the new quarters, quite content to locate the nearest dark corner and sleep. Harry's mood quickly turned romantic as he wrapped his arms around Draco's waste, placing a soft kiss on his neck and laying his head on Draco's shoulder.

Draco's response was not imediate, as his shock from the change continued to confound him. He attributed it to Harry's stress level which seemed to always be high when he wasn't around. It was like a mighty rain cloud followed him, sprinkling sorrow whenever happiness would appear. "Harry, I love you so much." Draco said leaning into the warm embrace, that now soflty lifted his worries away.

"I love you, Draco. So much my sweet darling." Harry whispered into his ear, pulling him tighter, as if afraid that he might retreat. However, retreat didn't happen to be on either of their minds at the moment. The only thing that concerned them was eachother. Something both needed to enjoy, knowing the immense burdens that the other's life carried, was a common known, yet unspoken bond that both understood.

"I'm sorry Draco. It's just this pain is so intense. I'm so tired sometimes." Harry placed another soft kiss on Draco's neck. "I feel like the whole future is seeking me out." He continued, trying to control his tone, unaware that Draco could sense his feelings. Draco turned to face Harry, whos' eyes shown the saddness and regret Draco could sense from him.

"Harry, you know I know better than anyone what that means." Draco said, placing his left hand to Harry's cheek as tears errupted from his eyes, which Draco kissed as they fell, soflty pleading to be understood. "I am here in your light and will shine in your darkness, Harry." Draco said, softly placing a kiss on his lips and wrapping his arms arond him.

~~~~

"I meant them to be protected severus." The old man spoke in a mild tone, but one that didn't carry his usual soft demeanor. "I understand headmaster, but I think you are overlooking a big part of your eqaution." Serverus was aware of the Headmaster's choice to leave Harry in the dark, which had seemingly cost Sirius his life. It's not so much that he had cared for Sirus, just that his death had seemed unecessary and completely avoidable.

"I see, and what might that be?" Dumbledore expressed clear annoyance in his question. "Harry Potter has wound up being the clean up for a mess that you could have ended at anytime, prophecy or not." Snape was equally annoyed now. He had no clear feelings for Harry, one way or another. However, his indifference didn't allow him to stay silent.

He had watched while the headmaster had simply allowed Voldemort to slip through his fingers. He had ideas as to why, but he happened to dislike all of his options. "So severus, you disagree with my methods?" Snape's disgust almost rose to the surface. "If it is not obvious why I disagree, than perhaps it is I who should be the eyes to care for the children, since you seem so oddly indifferent to their saftey." Snape bit out, neither afraid of the consequences, nor sure if it would have an affect.

"Severus Snape, where has this distrust arisen from, surely, I don't deserve such harsh words." Dumbledore's eyes read confusion and betrayal. "My trust has always been that your best intrest was in the students. I have no idea what matters to you anymore." The words uttered seemed to flood out, as if no longer held in check by anyone.

"I know that you knew of Malfoy's father's escape well before he reached the school, yet you did not act."Lupin is still healing from your inaction." Snape suddenly decided he was done with this particuliar conversation and turned to walk out.

"I cannot always solve everyone's problems, nor be a hero." They were the last words Snape heard before the door closed behind him and left him with the rage that had built up indside his heart.

~~~~

"Harry, I need to tell you something." Draco said softly. He lay on the large bed that could have held eight couples. Harry's head lay on his chest and his arms had reached around Draco and lay next to his shoulders. "What is it?" The answer startled Draco who had half hoped his statement had gone unheard. "Harry, do you remember when Ron was late getting to you in second year?" Draco's voice was a bit shaken.

"Yeah, what does that have to do with it though?" Draco was feeling the pressure, but Ron was right, he had to get it out in the open. "When I had discovered my Father's plot, I knew I had to get the message to you." "So you sent Dobby." Harry cut him off. "Yes, but I also contacted Ron. I used an owl that couldn't be traced by my Father but I forgot about his charms and wound up alerting him to what I was up to."

"Then what happened?" Harry questioned, much like a child. "I got both messages out, but I was punished severely." Draco tried to just think of the words, but pictures of what happened came flooding back. "My Father decided to let the death eaters rape me. It was very bad, so bad, I nearly died." Harry stayed quiet. "I went to the Hogwarts hospital wing, my mother protected me so that I did not die." Draco's eyes began to burn and his voice cracked.

"Ron got word from Dumbledore at my request." More tears flowed and Harry sought out Draco's hand and gave it an affirmitive squeeze. I told him what happened but I made him promise not to tell anyone. I also asked him to look after you more." Draco gulped and got control of his tears a bit. "You see, my father had found my love letters to you." He breathed a nervous sigh and Harry squeezed his hand again.

"I always loved you. I used to pretend that you loved me back, but I couldn't tell you because of my Father. I wanted to tell you...I.." And Harry's lips silenced the fear in the boy under him with a gentle kiss. Harry pulled away and looked deep into his eyes and smiled. "None of that matters, we're together now. There's no need for your tears love. No one and nothing can seperate us." Harry smiled. "Though, I still can't believe you went to Ron." They both laughed and soon returned to the silent contentment of being together.

~~~~

The nightmare was always the same. Harry was covered in blood and never knew how it happened. The dursleys were dead at his feet. The new addition this time, was Lucius Malfoy, Draco's Father. Harry felt the intense guilt, he knew he'd done it. The truth was in the accusing eyes of the dead, killed with a green flash that seemed to follow Harry through every nightmare. The blood was not of those who were killed by the curse, that was the work of sadistic torture, only one man deserved that, Albus DumbleDore.

As tough as this was to admit, he liked this part of the nightmare. The man who it seemed was cut in every major place, hung limply to the wall, held by a binding spell. After seeing this, the next part came. Draco entered, shocked and bewildered asking why. Harry's guilt and fear of losing Draco always snapped him to reality.

Now however, a speartoothed Harry stood behind the pleading Draco and took aim with a bent wand. A bright green flash and Harry awoke screaming. Draco snapped awake, ready to react. "He got you Draco, he got you." Harry wimpered. "Who did?" Harry waited a few minutes and then replied, "Me."

~~~~

End of chapter 12

I'm thinking of discontinuing this fic, in pursuit of a new fic of the same genre until I get a clearer direction of how to get to the ending much of which is written already. If I get a few reviews, if you might provide thoughts as to what you like or hate, I'd sure love you. This will be the last chapter for a few weeks then gauging the response to this chapter and then the next. I'll decide whether to finish this.