Epitome of a Soldier - What it is to be Necessary

Hi everyone :)

*sings* You gave me your reviews, I gave you my replies!

Kuromei
I think everyone's gut instinct is to accuse Pansy at this point XD
Ron is a prat, indeed, but now he's got it out of his system so things will improve with him ^_^ *hugs Kuromei-chan*

polka dot
Haha! Oh man, your review did make me chuckle XD

MewMew2
Yes, something interesting is finally starting to happen ^_^;

thrnbrooke
Believe me, everyone is thinking Pansy right now, lol.

Sirael
Ooo, a new reviewer :) Welcome to you, and I'm glad you're liking everything so much :)

ulla
Thank you very much for all the praise ^_^ I'm really pleased to hear that you're enjoying everything.

Snivelly
Yes, evil, evil Slytherins! But which ones are the most evil? And which ones are maybe just a little misunderstood? Only time shall tell ^_^
And yes, Harry deserves a little babying after everything he's been through. He probably doesn't enjoy it (unless it's Draco doing it XD) but oh well, he'll get used to it.

whitewaterlily
Wah, everyone's getting impatient for the smex! XD It's on its way, honest it is!

kati-chan
That's a question that won't be answered for aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaageeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees yet XD But at least you haven't blamed Pansy like everyone else has.

dana_aeryn
Another suspecter of Pansy, hmm? Doesn't surprise me, she's the most obvious choice after all ^_^

Okay, quick note here. A handful of you are getting impatient for the smex to begin which I can understand, and have asked when the smex comes. Well, I won't tell you that because that'll ruin the anticipation. However, as you'll see from this chapter, it's not too far off :D
And with that, I'll let you all get on with things.

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Darkness that stretched as far as the eye could see. Nothing but darkness yet there were voices that rang out loud and clear.

"Avenge our Lord's defeat!"

"Death to the traitors!"

"Death to the Malfoys!"

Figures began to materialise out of the darkness. Most in the familiar black garb of Death Eaters, masks covering their faces. In the middle of them though, on the floor, three bodies, three bodies that were easily recognised. One, an adult male with black hair. The second an adult male with silver-blond hair. The third, an adult female with the same silver-blonde hair as the man. None of them were moving. It was clear they were dead.

The Death Eater's turned then to see a familiar young man, obviously the son of the two deceased blondes. He was bloodied, his shoulders hunched, his breathing heavy, the wand he held in his right hand snapped in half with the two pieces connected by nothing more than the wand's core. He was still standing though, still not willing to go down without a fight. How was one to fight with a broken wand though? It was clear to all that this youth's life would not continue for much longer.

Indeed, as one, the gathered Death Eaters brought up their wands and pointed them to the blond whose body shook from fatigue. Then, without sound, one terrifying flash of green burst from all their wands and shot straight towards the youth. Upon contact, the blond crumpled...

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30th November 1997: Early Morning

Harry's eyes flew open as he sucked in a harsh breath. When his surroundings caught up with him, he sat himself up and glanced to his right where he should've been greeted with the sight of Draco's bed. Instead, he came face to face with the hangings of his own bed.

What had woken him, what he had seen...A dream? He hadn't had a single dream since he had been woken that summer by Snape and Draco and he had thought that he simply couldn't dream. A thought chilled him suddenly then. Before, when he dreamt, it was always of things which were happening in the world outside. Was it still the same? Did what he dream...

The thought wasn't even finished before Harry was up and out of his bed, scurrying over to Draco's bed where the blond was apparently quite peacefully asleep. Harry needed to be sure though so he reached forward with one hand and gently pressed his index and middle finger to the correct position on the slumberer's neck. Beneath the pads of his fingers, he felt a familiar pulse and relief instantly washed through him; Draco was alive and well.

"Is there a reason you're lurking over me in the middle of the night with your fingers against my neck?" Draco's sleep-heavy voice came then, startling Harry into immediately moving his gaze onto the face that appeared to still be asleep.

"I..." Harry murmured quietly. "I saw you die, in my sleep."

"A bad dream." Draco mumbled, not sounding in the least disturbed or even particularly interested.

"I have not dreamt since I was woken," Harry continued, feeling the need to explain himself. "And every dream I had before that were visions of what was actually happening in the world. I did not mean to disturb you but I was...Concerned."

The dark haired youth didn't look at Draco, instead staring off to the side and looking at the wall. The sound of shifting occurred to him but he ignored it until a voice spoke: "Climb aboard."

Harry looked back to Draco then and saw the blond had now shifted over so he was closer to the other side of the bed and had lifted up the duvet. "Pardon?"

"Get in and sleep beside me tonight." Draco mumbled the clarification.

If Harry had been the type, he might've blushed at those words. Instead, he simply did as he was told and slipped underneath the duvet of Draco's bed. Arms immediately came around him and he was pulled against the cotton-covered chest of the Malfoy. A faint scent of thyme invaded Harry's senses and, upon realising it was coming from his companion, he wondered how he had managed to never before notice that Draco carried the pleasant smell.

A light jog brought Harry out of his scent-induced thoughts then and his gaze flickered onto the resting face of Draco. "Loosen up and go to sleep Harry, I'll keep your nightmare's away."

The stoic youth felt a light twinge in his heart at that but instead of expressing that, he gave his usual, rather standard, reply to a statement such as that: "You are far too romantic for your own good."

A tired chuckle was the only answer Harry got to that. A very light smile of his own found its way onto the dark haired youth's face and he allowed himself to relax, secure in the knowledge that Draco was safe and well.

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1st December 1997: Morning

When Harry woke, he didn't bother to open his eyes. He simply yawned lightly and stretched his arms in front of him, his back flexing and earning a disgruntled mumble from his bed partner. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the resting face of Draco Malfoy scrunch into a light frown as he shifted to get back the comfort Harry had accidently disturbed. Draco was spooned behind him, one arm snaked around Harry's waist and their legs were tangled together intimately meaning that the slighter youth wouldn't be able to rise without Draco allowing it.

It was actually rather surprising to Harry just how well he had slept with Draco for company. If asked beforehand, he would've assumed that he would find the presence of another in a bed too disturbing and he wouldn't have been able to fall asleep. The exact opposite had been the case. The comforting warmth and weight of Draco seemed to have helped Harry to sleep peacefully and he was feeling particularly light of mood now he was awake. Harry idly wondered what time it was as it was a Monday so they did have classes to attend. He couldn't quite bring himself to care about that however and so he settled back down, relaxing his body once again and slowing his thoughts. It didn't last long however as Draco once again started to stir, this time obviously intending to wake up more and Harry felt the blond prop himself up on an elbow.

"Hmm, morning, love." The Malfoy drawled lazily as he leaned down and placed a small kiss just underneath Harry's ear.

"Good morning." Harry returned the greeting quietly, still not opening his eyes.

"You slept all right after joining me." It was a statement more than a question but still something which needed confirmation.

"Yes. What time is it?"

"Time to get up. A shame really," Draco yawned as he untangled himself from the smaller form beside him. "I must say that waking up beside you is an extremely pleasant way to start the morning."

The blond swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood then, disappearing behind the drapes. Harry turned his head and watched him go before doing the same himself. There was no time to waste in lazing about.

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1st December 1997: Evening

Harry sat mutely beside Draco, the end of the bench on his other side, as the other five Seventh Year Slytherins snickered at something one of them had said. Even if Harry had been paying attention to whatever it was being said, it was doubtful he would've found it as amusing as the others seemed to. He was less inclined to laugh at that moment more than usual anyway because of the company he was in.

As far as he was concerned, those in the seventh year of being in Slytherin, who before had been harmless acquaintances, were now possible threats. Millicent Bulstrode, Pansy Parkinson, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle; each one of them was a suspect in Harry's mind. He had been pushed during the Quidditch match, he knew that for a fact, and he was inclined to believe it had been on purpose as well. Those four had been the only ones in the immediate area, the only ones who could have reached him to push. One of them wasn't a friend at all, perhaps more than one, perhaps they were together, in on it all. Harry was aware how paranoid that sounded but he knew he had to consider everything.

"Everything okay?" Draco's voice broke into Harry's thoughts then and the saviour turned to look at his companion. "You seem rather gloomy."

"Your concern is unnecessary, everything is well." Harry assured, not seeing the need in telling Draco his suspicions. There was nothing the Malfoy could do about it and Harry wanted to see if he could figure everything out himself without anyone getting stressed.

Draco didn't seem convinced with Harry's reassurance but before he could challenge it, the voice of Headmistress McGonagall called for silence. Gradually, every student complied and a hush fell over the Great Hall. Harry turned his gaze but not his head towards the woman at the front of the hall and listened as she began to address them all.

"Today, as you all know, is the first of December, a month for coming together and putting aside past differences. So, in the spirit of coming together and in the interest of promoting inter-house unity, we, your teachers, have decided that a celebration is in order. Inspired from the Triwizard Tournament some years back, on the eighteenth of this month, the day before you return home to your families for the holidays, we will be holding a Yule Ball for all years to enjoy a night of well-mannered frivolity."

It wasn't the most excitement-inducing announcement in the world but the majority of the student population seemed to think the news was. Excited chatter immediately exploded everywhere, even at the Slytherin table. "Oh, a dance!" Millicent gushed enthusiastically. "That sounds wonderful!"

"Will you go with me Draco?" Pansy asked almost instantly. "It'll be just like in Fourth Year."

"I'm already going with Harry." Draco replied easily.

"I asked you first!" The blonde girl protested.

"Harry didn't need to ask me, just as I don't need to ask him."

"But he's a boy!"

"I'm well aware of his gender."

"But you can't attend a dance with another boy!"

"If I can hold a boy's hand, kiss a boy's lips and sleep with a boy in my bed, I don't see why I can't attend a ball in the company of a boy." The Malfoy pointed out rather reasonably.

Harry did nothing nor even showed he was aware of what was being said as he simply poured more pumpkin juice into his goblet. Naturally, he was well aware of what was going on around him, he just felt no inclination to acknowledge it. He would've thought Parkinson would've realised by that point that her feelings for Draco were neither reciprocated nor welcomed, whether they had been in the past or not an irrelevant point. Obviously not though, or perhaps the girl was simply hoping that Draco would one day grow bored of the dark haired youth who barely seemed alive sometimes. Harry was rather confident Draco would never grow bored of him however, though he couldn't honestly explain how he could think that.

Parkinson had left, having stormed/flounced out of the Great Hall at some point after receiving Draco's answer. No one seemed bothered by her departure.

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1st December 1997: Night

"What time is it?" Harry enquired softly from where he was sitting in between Draco's legs, reading a book. The blond sat behind him, leaning back against the headboard of his bed with the dark haired youth resting his back his chest.

A short moment of nothing before Draco's answered. "Eleven twenty-eight."

"We have lessons tomorrow, we should both go to bed." Was Harry's comment to that and so he went to move off the bed. However, before he could move too far, the arms hugging him around the waist tightened and stopped him from going anywhere further. "Draco, what...?"

"Why don't you share my bed again tonight?"

"But I am not in need of comfort."

"So? That's not the only reason to want to sleep in the same bed as each other, at least I hope it's not."

Harry said nothing in reply to that but he did think about what his friend had said. Did he want to sleep in the same bed as Draco? It had been the Malfoy who had offered, so it was obviously something he wanted, but did Harry want it? Or was he not fussed either way? It had definitely been reassuring the previous night, to feel his best friend's body beside him after such a disturbing dream and it had been pleasant to wake up beside someone. True, the comfort of the arrangement wasn't needed at that particular moment but perhaps the simple reason that a part of him wanted to sleep next to Draco that night was enough to go along with the idea.

"Very well," Harry murmured. "I shall sleep beside you again tonight."

Draco leaned his head down and pressed kisses from Harry's shoulder all the way up to his jaw before giving him a squeeze around the waist. "Excellent choice, love."

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2nd December 1997: Afternoon

"Excited about the ball Harry?"

The stoic youth didn't bother to even glance at Hermione, who sat beside him at a table in the library, when she asked him that question as it was probably the most pointless thing he had ever heard her say. He had never been excited about anything before so something as simple as a school dance wasn't going to induce such feelings and Hermione should've really known that. Unless she did and that was simply one of those ice-breaker things in which case she apparently wanted to talk about it.

"I believe Draco is." Was Harry's answer as he couldn't truthfully say he was.

"Has he asked you to go with him yet?"

"No."

That seemed to shock Hermione more than a little. "He hasn't asked you? I would've thought for sure he'd want to go with you."

"He will be accompanying me."

Now Hermione simply looked confused. "But you just said he hasn't asked you."

"He did not ask me, he told me."

"And you don't have a problem with that?" The girl asked him with a light frown. "Just being told what to do, and expected to go along with it?"

"It was unnecessary for Draco to ask me; he knew my answer would be yes." Harry revealed just before he flickered his gaze onto the girl beside him. She still looked rather put out with the information and so the Slytherin thought it would be wise to divert their conversation slightly. "Have you been asked to accompany anyone?"

The tactic worked and the previous expression on the girl's face vanished in an instant to be replaced with a blush and a rather embarrassed and flustered look. "Oh, I, erm, no, not yet."

"Is there anyone you wish to go with?" Not that he was particularly interested but he felt this was the way his friend wanted the conversation to go in.

More stuttering then. "Um, no, uh, not especially."

"Perhaps Ron Weasley?" Harry suggested, merely because he knew of the other teenager's "fancy" for Hermione. What he did not expect was the reaction he got from the girl. Her face turned even redder and it was obvious that he had hit the proverbial nail right on the head. "You desire the company of Ron Weasley." As always, it was a statement rather than a question.

"It's nothing but a silly idea." Hermione immediately dismissed, sounding hurried and flustered. "I'm sure he's not even thinking about asking me."

"Perhaps you should ask him."

"Oh no, I would never have the nerve!" She cried, sounding aghast at the idea.

Harry flickered his gaze onto her again and said no more on the subject. It all seemed very silly to him. Ron not telling Hermione he had a fancy for her, Hermione refusing to even admit she had a fancy for her fellow Gryffindor; it was all quite unnecessary in the saviour's mind. It was none of his business however and so he would not interfere.

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4th December 1997: Midday

It was none of his business so he would not interfere.

Harry was well aware those had once been words he had thought in his head, but after two full days of listening to Hermione sigh, watching Weasley mope and seeing the two of them act like skittish rabbits around each other, the Slytherin had had enough. Knowing what he did seemed to have highlighted any contact Hermione and Ron had and his gaze seemed to be immediately drawn to them if they happened across each other when he was around. The way they were acting was so bothersome that Harry had made up his mind. To stop the distraction, he would talk to Weasley himself.

That was why, on that day, the entire Great Hall was more than a little surprised to see Harry Potter walk right up to the Gryffindor table, stop beside Ron Weasley and say in his usual quiet monotone: "May I speak with you?"

Ron didn't seem to quite understand the words that had come out of the Slytherin's mouth at first as he simply gaped at Harry like a fish. But then, quite abruptly, he almost yelled a rather startled "sure" before standing. Harry took that as his cue to turn and walk away, leading the ginger haired teenager out of the Great Hall so they could talk away from the stares of the students. They stopped just beside an alcove several metres away from the Great Hall's doors and Harry turned towards Ron and did something that was so rare for him; he actually looked the taller youth in the eyes as he spoke.

"I wish to enquire as to whether you have yet asked a student to accompany you to the Yule Ball."

Whatever Ron had been expecting, that obviously hadn't been it as the Gryffindor appeared to be rather startled by the question. "Um, no, I, uh, I haven't got around to asking anyone yet, I'm still, you know, weighing up my options." He replied, trying to make himself sound confident and in control of the situation.

"Indeed." Harry replied, seeing straight through the tone and the words. "Since you are available, may I recommend you ask Hermione Granger to accompany you."

Ron's face turned bright red at that suggestion and he looked away, immediately becoming awkward. "I, uh, I dunno, she's probably already got someone to go with..."

"She has not."

"Well, then, she probably wouldn't want to go with me."

"She does."

Ron paused then and turned his gaze back onto the stoic person in front of him. "How do you know?"

"She told me."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"So she likes me?"

"I assume so."

That seemed to be the right thing to say as Ron's face immediately lit up and he looked more than a little happy and excited. Harry watched with little interest as the Gryffindor seemed to go from happy to panicked in a matter of mere seconds. "Oh Merlin, how the bloody hell am I supposed to go about asking her?"

The stoic youth said nothing as he assumed it had been a rhetorical question and still said nothing as Ron started to get himself wound up into a tighter and tighter knot, muttering to himself about different possibilities and the fears and worries he had. It would have been a comical sight if not so pointless and pathetic. Still, Harry allowed the other youth to talk himself out, which he did eventually though it was only so he could immediately turn his attentions back onto the Slytherin.

"Good on ya, mate, for letting me know." Ron said enthusiastically as he gave Harry a hardy slap on the back, something the saviour was used to from his godfather so it was accepted with ease. "Honestly, I really appreciate it." He continued to gush as he grabbed onto the Slytherin's right hand with both of his own and shook it excitedly. "If there's anything you ever need help with, just let me know, I'll be there for you in an instant."

The denial that such a thing was unnecessary was on the tip of Harry's tongue but it was never spoken as, at that moment, they were interrupted by the familiar voice of Draco. "What are you doing talking to Harry, Weasley?"

Ron paused in shaking Harry's hand (and didn't let it go) to glance to the blond who was coming up behind the dark haired Slytheirn. "Don't get your knickers in a twist Malfoy, Harry was just giving me the best news I've heard all year." He turned back to Harry then and began to shake his hand in earnest again. "Thanks again, mate, and remember what I said; I owe you one." Finally, with that said, the Gryffindor dropped Harry's hand before turning and hurrying back into the Great Hall.

Both Slytherins were silent as they watched the ginger haired youth leave them and it wasn't until Ron was out of sight that Draco spoke: "What was all that about?" He enquired with a light frown.

"I fear I could not explain it even if I fully understood it myself." Was Harry's answer to that.

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4th December 1997: Afternoon

"Do you know how to dance?"

"I doubt it." Harry replied to the question put to him by Draco as they walked down a corridor, hand in hand, heading back to the dungeons now that their last lesson of the day was over.

"Perhaps we should practice a bit before the ball then." The blond mused thoughtfully.

"For what purpose?"

"So that you have a bit more idea of what you're doing on the actual night. I think you'll enjoy it more that way."

"If that is what you think is best." Harry conceded, willing to take the other young man's judgement on the situation. When it came to such things, it was often better to simply just go with what Draco thought was best, Harry trusted in him enough to know the Malfoy wouldn't intentionally lead him astray.

"Harry Potter!"

Harry felt a small bolt of surprise run through him at that abrupt call of his name. He and Draco stopped both their conversation and their journey before they glanced over their shoulders to see Hermione heading straight towards them, her body language conveying that she had a purpose. By the time she had reached them, Harry had turned towards her fully, obviously prepared to handle whatever it was she was about to throw at him.

"Did you tell Ron to ask me to Yule Ball?" The Gryffindor girl demanded when she reached the two Slytherins.

"Yes." Was Harry's simple, truthful answer to that.

"He's finally asked you out then?" Draco asked in a sort of lazy tone.

"What do you mean finally?" Hermione challenged him sternly.

"Oh please Granger, the entire school knows Weasley adores you, you were the only one who didn't seem to notice." The blond sneered and earned a blush from the girl. "Sounds to me that Harry did you a favour by telling him to be a man and ask you, now you can get on with being bashful about each other together rather than separately."

"What makes you think I said yes?" Hermione said with a defensive scowl.

"Because you're just as obvious about your attraction to Weasley as his to you is."

The Gryffindor girl appeared quite put out with the fact everyone seemed to have such a interest in her romantic life (because if Draco Malfoy knew the details of a Gryffindor affair then it was more than likely that everyone knew), but she appeared to quickly let it go in favour of going back to Harry. "You should've minded your own business." She told him firmly.

"I apologise." Harry replied though it was painfully clear he didn't mean it.

Hermione huffed lightly and put her hands on her hips as she looked away, over to the side. "I suppose I should be thanking you though, since you finally made him pluck up the courage." Her expression softened then as she turned back to shyly look at her Slytherin friend. "Thank you."

Harry inclined his head and although there was no smile on his face, inside he was pleased that he had been able to help. "You are welcome."

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5th December 1997: Afternoon

Almost every student in the Seventh Year Potions class paused when the door to their classroom opened but most returned to their work almost immediately as they saw it was only Professor Black entering. Harry hadn't even bothered to look and continued to carefully watch the potion he and Draco had bubbling on their table.

"Your godfather just came in." Draco murmured to him quietly only to get no reply from his friend. "Aren't you curious as to what he's doing here?"

"He is no doubt here to speak with Remus, he is his lover after all." Harry replied as he reached forward to adjust the intensity of the flame underneath their cauldron.

"It's awfully unprofessional though and it doesn't show a good example. I mean, they'd never let me just randomly walk into your Divination class so we could have a chat."

"We are not lovers."

Draco waved his hand. "We will be soon but I bet you we'd still get in trouble for it. I hate people who have those don't-do-as-I-do-do-as-I-say attitudes."

"What makes you think we will soon be lovers?" Harry enquired in a monotone which really didn't suit the question.

"I think six months of being together is long enough, don't you?" The blond purred seductively as he leaned in closer to the stoic young man. "And aren't you curious about what it feels like? We don't have to go all the way all at once, how about we start off with me introducing you to the pleasure a mouth can bring to you? You can't even begin to imagine how good it feels to have a hot, wet mouth wrapped around your..."

"Mr Malfoy," Remus' voice interrupted the Slytherin's verbal seduction.

Draco gave a low grunt of irritation before straightening slightly and turning to look at their teacher. "Yes Professor?" He got out in a somewhat civil tone.

"You're in this class to learn how to make potions, not talk to friends."

"Sorry Professor." Draco apologised though obviously didn't mean it before he turned back to Harry who looked completely unphased by the entire thing. "He should be the one apologising to me, he totally ruined the mood." He muttered.

"Perhaps that is for the best considering now is not the time to be indulging in carnal pleasures." Harry pointed out as he jotted down a note on the piece of parchment that was in front of him on their desk.

"I suppose." The Malfoy huffed lightly. "Parkinson would've only been too glad to have carried that on."

"Then perhaps she is the one you should be pursuing a physical relationship with." Harry suggested without emotion, as though he was doing nothing more than listing potions ingredients.

"Merlin, I can't even make you jealous." Draco muttered.

"I trust you too much to feel jealousy because of your attentions towards others."

That stopped the blond dead and he looked over to his best friend with wide eyes. Eventually though, his gaze softened and a happy smile graced his lips. "I do believe that is the most romantic thing you've ever said to me."

Harry didn't reply to that but a very soft smile curved the corners of his lips upwards. Draco saw it and beamed happily. He checked what Remus was doing and upon seeing the man was in deep conversation with Sirius, the blond quickly leaned towards Harry and pecked a kiss on the saviour's cheek.

The two young men fell into silence then, the blond content with his friend's words and the kiss he had managed to steal. They worked on the potion easily and were finished long before everyone else and the end of the lesson. So, while they waited for the class to end, they each did their own thing. Draco worked on an essay he had for Arithmancy while Harry occupied himself with a task which was a little more advanced.

A week or two after his defeat of Voldemort, Harry had noticed his magic levels evening out to a slightly more normal level (he was still more powerful than the average wizard) and his ability to perform wandless magic had faded along with it. However, just because he couldn't do wandless magic without even thinking about it anymore didn't mean that he couldn't do it at all. He had discovered, quite by accident, that he did have the ability still, just as all powerful wizards and witches did, it was simply a case of concentrating and practicing more than he ever did before. It was much more of an effort, it took a lot more out of him than it had before to such an extent that it really was easier to just use his wand, but it was something to do, something to improve, and so he practiced. At that moment, he was doing little more than trying to transfigure a scrunched up ball of paper into a rock as anything more complicated would no doubt attract attention and disturb the rest of the class.

"All right everyone," Remus spoke up and Harry was forced to give up on his practise in order to pay attention. "That's all for today, if you could just bottle your completed potions and bring them to the front and you'll all be free to go." Everyone started to move then, eager to leave the room and for the end of the school day to officially arrive. "Except for you Harry," their professor spoke over the din, attracting the dark haired youth's attention. "If you could stay behind for a moment."

"What do you think that's all about?" Draco murmured as he put a stopper in their vial of potion.

"They most probably simply wish to enquire after my well-being." Harry replied as he packed his bag. "It will no doubt take only a moment, I will meet you in our dorm room. Here," he said, holding out his hand. "I shall take up our potion."

"All right." The Malfoy sighed slightly reluctantly. "If you're not down in fifteen minutes I'm going to come back and get you."

"Very well." Harry replied with an inclination of his head before he turned and headed over to Remus' desk.

The minutes it took for all the other students to hand in their potions and then leave were spent in silence for Harry as he stood off to the side as not to get in anyone's way. It was only when the classroom doors had closed behind the final student that he moved forward in order to stand in front of the desk that Remus sat behind and Sirius sat on the edge on. Harry said nothing and simply awaited one of the adults to begin.

"Thank you for staying behind Harry," Remus said with a smile as a way to get things going. "There's nothing to worry about, you haven't done anything wrong at all, Sirius and I just wanted to talk to you about the Yule Ball." He revealed slightly tentatively.

"Very well." Harry consented in his usual monotone.

"We were wondering whether you had agreed to go with anyone yet?" Sirius spoke up from his casual perch.

"Draco is accompanying me."

Neither man seemed surprised by that piece of information, just as neither seemed too happy with it either. "Harry," Remus began carefully. "Sirius and I have been talking and we think it might be a good idea if you go to the ball with someone else, another friend perhaps."

"Why don't you ask Granger?" Sirius suggested enthusiastically.

"Hermione is already being accompanied to the ball by Ron Weasley." Harry revealed in a monotone.

"Another friend then?" Remus suggested.

Harry looked from Remus to Sirius, his expression giving away nothing as he considered what this situation was actually about. "I do not understand," he admitted eventually. "Do you both dislike Draco?"

"No, of course not Harry." Remus quickly reassured though Sirius looked less than thrilled with his partner's denials. "Draco has been a wonderful friend to you and we're grateful to him for that. It's just...We think you spend rather a lot of time together."

"Is that not what friends do?" Harry replied to that and whether he was actually asking it as a question or was actually pointing out a fact was unclear.

"You and Draco are more than just friends though, aren't you?"

"We just think you're too young for such an exclusive relationship." Sirius came back into the conversation then. "You're only seventeen after all."

"I am aware of my age."

"Then you should also be aware that you're too young to be settling down Harry. You need to use your youth to experience new things, sow your wild oats, play the field a little."

"All we're asking is that you consider what we've said," Remus told Harry gently before the youth could question his godfather's strange words. "And perhaps have a word with Draco about finding someone else to go to the ball with, okay?"

"Very well." Harry replied without emotion.

"Thank you. You can go now Harry." Remus dismissed him quietly.

Harry turned away then without further word. He left the room quickly, his mind swimming as confusing questions swirled. He had never considered what he and Draco had together was wrong or even strange and still he didn't, not really. But perhaps not everything was as Harry perceived it if Sirius and Remus felt the need to talk to him about it. He would have to talk to Draco about it, definitely, because in the end, the blond's words meant more to him than those of his guardians.

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5th December 1997: Evening

Somehow, Harry had got through dinner without mentioning to Draco what Remus and Sirius had discussed with him. He thought it best not to have other people around when he finally broached the subject and since there was no one around at that moment, he decided it was time to speak up. They were alone in their dorm room, on one of the rare occasions when they were both on their respective beds rather than sitting on the same one. Harry sat with crossed legs on his bed, trying and failing to read a book on reading tarot cards, while Draco sat with his back against the headboard of his bed, an essay of some sort backed by his thighs. Perhaps it was not an ideal time considering the blond was working on something but it had to come out eventually and Harry was reluctant to allow more time to pass in case Crabbe and Goyle returned sooner rather than later.

"Draco?" He ventured quietly as he turned himself to face his friend, uncrossing his legs and moving them to hang over the edge of the bed.

"Hmm?" The blond hummed, obviously distracted by the parchment he was writing on.

"What does it mean to sow one's wild oats?"

Draco lifted his head to look at the other teenager then, a light frown on his face. "Where did you hear an expression like that?"

"Sirius said it to me earlier. He said I should be using my youth to sow my wild oats and to play the field. And he and Remus think it would be best if we did not attend the Yule Ball together."

"Is that so?" The Malfoy said carefully as he put his parchment aside and sat up straight.

"They said we are too young for an exclusive relationship."

"I bet they did." Draco muttered, glaring off at the side.

"Draco, do you think we are too young for an exclusive relationship?" Harry murmured, sounding almost timid.

Draco moved his gaze back onto the other Slytherin then before giving a light sigh. He stood then and moved over to the one he loved, getting down on his knees at the youth's feet when he reached him. "Harry, the question that needs answering here isn't whether we're too young for a steady relationship." He told the stoic young man as he took both of the pale hands in his own. "What you need to think about and answer is the question of what it is you want. So far you have had very little control over your own life, but things can be different now. Your life is your own, as it's supposed to be and you should make your own decisions based on what you want, not what anyone else wants." A pause then before Draco spoke again. "So tell me, do you want to go to the ball with someone other than me?"

"No." Harry answered quickly and steadily demonstrating that there was no doubt in his mind on the matter.

"Do you want to spend more time apart?"

"No."

"Are you at all intrigued by the idea of being as intimate with someone else as you are with me?"

"No."

Draco gave a reassuring smile at that. "There you are then; question answered and problem solved."

"But Remus and Sirius..." Harry began to protest.

"Will get over it." The blond assured, making sure to interrupt as soon as possible. "They only want what's best for you Harry and one day, they'll realise how happy we make each other and see that I am what's best for you. So no more worrying all right?" He smiled, bringing a hand up to cup the other young man's cheek. "If you want us to stay together, then we will."

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6th December 1997: Morning

As he made his way to his Divination lesson, Harry's stride was quick and steady. He had slightly over-slept, as had Draco, and so had missed breakfast and was now going to cut making it to class on time very fine. It was possible though, just as long as he kept up his swift pace.

Unfortunately, Fate seemed to have a different plan and threw a bit of Remus into the mix. The Potions professor had just turned a corner ahead of Harry and was now making his way towards the slight youth. Considering what he and Sirius had said the day before, it was doubtful that the Slytherin was going to be able to get away without some sort of discussion with the man.

"Oh Harry, good morning." Remus greeted him cheerfully as their paths met. "Running a little late today?"

"Yes." Was Harry's simple answer to that.

"I won't keep you long then, I was just wondering if you've yet had the chance to speak to Draco about what we discussed yesterday?"

"Yes."

"So what happened?" The man prompted gently.

"We came to an agreement."

"Which was?"

"That Draco will ask his mother to make sure our dress robes are coordinated." Harry revealed, thinking back to what the blond had said the previous night when they had been discussing their plans for the ball, having been prompted to do so by the talk they had beforehand.

The smile on Remus' face faltered then and he gave the teenager a somewhat confused look. "What? But...Why...?"

"Draco and I shall still attend the Yule Ball together, no matter what you or Sirius may think." Harry didn't even bother to wait for a reply to that before he started to walk on again, continuing on in the direction he had been heading before.

"Harry, we were just trying to..." Remus began to try and explain.

The stoic youth paused then and as usual didn't even look at the man when he began to speak. “Yours and Sirius' intentions are none of my concern, something no doubt motivated you both to make such a suggestion but I have no wish to hear of it. May I suggest that you forget whatever it is that put the idea into your head though. If you do not like Draco then so be it, but do not try and twist me around to your way of thinking. Do not make me choose between you and Draco, you would not like the out-come.” And with those softly spoken cryptic words, Harry started off down the corridor, continuing on his way to his Divination lesson.