The Years After

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Part 17 – Chapter 15 - Dec. 24, 1992

Harry was in heaven. Draco had been home for about four days now and they'd spent almost all of their time in bed together, talking and cuddling. The fire in the hearth was roaring, keeping them toasty warm. Draco hadn't complained even once about all the snuggling Harry wanted to do, which made Harry think that he had been missed just as much.

"Draco...I love you."

Draco smiled and placed a chaste kiss on the top of Harry's messy head. "Love you too, Harry," he replied lazily.

"Did you miss me while you were away?"

"Of course I did. There's no one at Hogwarts that's as fun to tease as you are."

"Really?" For some reason, that thought made Harry very happy. He was special to Draco, one of a kind.

"Really," Draco assured, pulling the smaller boy closer to him.

"Good. 'cause I really missed you...like, really really. Every day was torture."

"It surely wasn't that bad," Draco said, wanting to hear exactly how much Harry had missed him. Over the last several months his affection for the raven-haired boy had grown. Every day was hard on him, having to pretend like the ache wasn't killing him, like he didn't wish Harry was with him.

"Oh, but it was,” Harry assured. “Aunt Cissy had her parties every day, and Uncle Lucius had his meetings at the Ministry, and Uncle 'Volo had his strange meetings too... And you and Uncle Sev'rus were away at Hogwarts. I only had Dobby to talk to... It was lonely and torture and I hated it."

Draco smiled into the mop of hair. "I'm sorry, Harry. But, you know I can't just quit school."

"I know, Draco. I just...hate that it's so lonely without you." And he really did hate it. He didn't really wish that Draco would quit school. If anything, he wished that he could go to school with Draco. They could be in the same house, in the same dorm. He'd see him in every class, at every meal, and then at night they could sleep next to each other.

"At least you haven't found someone to replace me," Draco teased lightly.

"And how would I do that? It's not like I go anywhere..." Harry complained.

"I know, but it's still nice."

"I could say the same to you. And you're actually able to meet people...someone might be able to replace me..." Harry had the cutest pout.

"No one could replace you, stupid."

"Are you so sure, dummy?"

"Yes, imbecile. You, my dearest Harry, are one of a kind."

Harry grinned from ear to ear. "Good."

"I told you I wouldn't forget you," Draco whispered.

"That you did," Harry agreed.

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

They had spent the last few months researching Wiltshire and the people who lived there. Lily felt sure that she had gotten the place right after she narrowed it down to two options.

"So, are we sure on this? We've got to be there tomorrow..." James asked, still nervous that they might somehow be wrong.

"James, I'm certain. I've checked with Minerva and everything. He goes there for Christmas every year."

"But why do we have to meet him there?"

"I'm sure it's a trap! He wants to finish us off where his Lord failed," Sirius cried dramatically.

"Sirius, be serious. Why would he have brewed the potion to wake us up if he wanted us dead? And no more eggnog for you, it makes you stupid," James retorted. Remus said something that sounded suspiciously like, “It's not the eggnog.”

"He's stupid, and complicated plans are more his style?" Sirius offered.

"Siri, stop while you're behind..." Remus chastised his lover.

"Thank you, Remus."

"Sure, Lils."