Wicked

MewMew3: Thanks! Here we go! =)

SilverLion: Hehe, I normally don´t do that, but since there´s no other way to reply... Thanks for the latest hint, I went and fixed it!

tensione: Sorry, can´t tell yet! Thanks for reviewing anyway!


Enjoy!

It had to be the longest day ever.

After classes, Seamus, Dean, Neville, Finn and Liam had returned to their dormitory and had packed up their trunks. Draco noticed that Harry´s and Ron´s trunks were gone already, and he felt strangely alone.

The other boys were speculating about their mates´ absence, not knowing what had happened, and talked about their plans for the upcoming break, but whereas Liam participated in their conversation, Finn remained silent.

He didn´t know when he´d see Harry again, and he missed him so much that he would have thrown himself onto his bed and buried his head in Harry´s scent if he only had been alone in the room.

After dinner, the twins were finally called to the Headmaster´s office once more. Dumbledore smiled benignly: “We have found a solution,” he announced. “You will spend the break at the Order´s Headquarters.”

Malcolm looked surprised: “Really, sir? What about the portraits? And Kreacher?” He well remembered the various reasons why everyone had opted against bringing Draco to Grimmauld Place in summer, all apart from Draco´s questionable liability.

“I have used a very handy little charm on the portraits, they will not blabber anything out,” the Headmaster said almost cheerfully. “And Kreacher has been ordered to work at Hogwarts during the whole time. He doesn´t know why, he assumes that his master intends to punish him.”

Malcolm looked relieved: “Well, then...”

Draco didn´t know who Kreacher was, but he seemed to be a house-elf.

Dumbledore now turned to him: “Some of the other Order-members were reluctant to agree at first,” he said, suddenly serious. “They deemed your presence a risk, so I spoke on your behalf. They have finally consented, but only under one condition.”

Draco´s heart sank; he should have expected this. He didn´t want to be anywhere where he wasn´t welcome, yet he knew he could trust Dumbledore, and that he didn´t really have a choice.

There was nowhere else to go, after all, was there?

The old wizard seemed to sense his distress: “Do not worry,” he said calmly. “It is a mere safety measure. You are to undergo a questioning under Veritaserum when you arrive there. It is painless and you have nothing to fear, my dear boy.”

Draco nodded, swallowing hard; he would have to get used to things like that, he told himself. He was a Malfoy, after all- inconvenience apparently came with the name.

“Mr McIver will accompany you,” Dumbledore continued, “as he is a member of the Order, it´s perfectly inconspicuous if he stays at the Headquarters for a bit before going home for Christmas.”

“Will you be there as well?” Draco asked, his voice embarassingly small as he looked at the old headmaster.

“I can´t- our High Inquisitor is already on my heels because of my prior absence,” Dumbledore said, sounding almost amused. His eyes belied his tone however, and it was evident that he wasn´t happy about this either.

Draco arrived in Grimmauld Place with his eyes bound. It had been part of the condition that he wasn´t allowed to see his whereabouts before the interrogation.

Malcolm caught his arm and steadied him when they stumbled out of the floo later that evening. From the scents around him, Draco assumed that they were in a kitchen; it smelled of Roastbeef, wood, apples and cinnamon among other things.

He was distracted from this stock-taking when someone else approached them, and a female voice adressed them: “Wotcher, Malcolm. Mr Malfoy; sit down, please. We´ll start in a minute, just waiting for Kingsley. You can take the Anti-Potion in the meantime.”

The effects of the Polyjuice Potion were going to be erased for the occasion, and Draco was secretly glad about that; if he had to face a whole group of Aurors, he´d rather do it as his normal self.

“He´s right outside,” another voice growled. Draco flinched- it had sounded like Mad-Eye Moody, the very wizard who had turned Draco into a ferret once.

“Remember me, I gather?” the Auror growled now, followed by a barking laughter.

Draco was glad when everyone was finally assembled and ready to start. He hated being in a room with strangers and not even being able to see them. He sensed that there were more, but he didn´t want to ask. He already was in a weak enough position anyway.

Draco was right; Molly, Remus and Sirius were there as well. They didn´t want to make themselves known however; Molly because she wanted to witness this instead of her husband, Sirius because he simply couldn´t make up his mind about Draco, and Remus because he didn´t want anyone to think he was biased.

As soon as Draco had swallowed the Veritaserum, his mind sank into some kind of stupor. He couldn´t focus on anything but the questions which were being asked right now, and he knew there was only one way to answer them.

Yes, I am Draco Malfoy, son of Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy.

Yes, I have been using Polyjuice Potion during the past few months because I am hiding from the Death Eaters.

No, I don´t want to become one himself.

They are cruel and do disgusting things to others.

Yes, they have tortured and nearly killed me.

Yes, my father participated in that.

They have tortured me because I didn´t want to betray Harry Potter.

I didn´t want to betray Harry Potter because he is a good person.

Yes, we have been enemies in school.

My father taught me to despise people like him.

I have eyes and ears.

I don´t want to become what my father wants me to.

I want to make up for what my family did.

I hate Voldemort and want to help destroying him.

During the silence that followed, someone gently removed the blindfold. Draco blinked; the kitchen was brightly lit, and he could make out several people around him. He didn´t know any of them except Remus Lupin, who kindly smiled at him, and Malcolm.

Someone handed Draco a glass now: “Drink this,” they said, “it will help.”

It was like raising a curtain, as though things seemed to take on sharper edges, and people suddenly had more distinct features. One man with a thin face and long dark hair looked at him intently, and Draco recognized him as Sirius Black, Harry´s godfather.

Remus Lupin was quietly talking to a young woman with shocking pink hair, and Ron Weasley´s mother had been standing in a far corner, a tea towel in her hands. She now busied herself with a kettle and was the first to break the awkward silence: “Would you care for a cup of tea, dear? You look frozen,” she said and gave Draco a warm smile. He blushed furiously; he remembered the many times he had badmouthed her in front of Ron, just to pick a fight, and felt deeply ashamed. He really felt cold, though, as he only now realized, and nodded gratefully.

“Thanks, Mrs Weasley,” he said softly, as Molly handed him and Malcolm a mug.

Kingsley Shacklebolt nodded towards Draco: “Thank you for your cooperation, Mr Malfoy,” he said; the woman with the pink hair and he left a short while later.

“Are you okay?” Malcolm asked Draco in an undertone. He was about to answer when Malcolm suddenly frowned over Draco´s shoulder; he turned to find that Sirius Black had sat down on the blond´s other side.

“I´d like a word with Mr Malfoy,” Sirius said politely, and Malcolm, after looking quizzically at Draco and receiving a nod, stood up and left.

Sirius Black´s face was thin and gaunt; he had unmistakably been very handsome once, and still was if one didn´t count how worn his features looked. His eyes were of a dark grey and seemed to pierce Draco´s very soul, yet he didn´t shrink away under the attentive look; he remembered how reverently Harry had spoken of his godfather, and he trusted his boyfriend´s opinion.

“I just want to make a few things clear,” Black now said. “First of all I´d like to welcome you to my house.” He noticed the surprise in Draco´s eyes: “Yes, this is the house of Black. You might have heard about it, since we´re distant cousins or so. I have to admit that I was reluctant to allow the Order to bring you here at first, but I have had second thoughts- not only because I have been profiting of second chances as well, but also because I know how very highly Harry has come to value you.”

At this, Draco´s eyes went very wide.

Sirius couldn´t stop himself from smiling: “He´s bloody besotted with you,” he said in an undertone. “And that´s why I´m going to get him now, I´m sure he´ll be delighted to see you.” He got up but stopped once more: “Oh, and I´ll of course have your head in case you ever hurt him. Just thought it´s fair to let you know.”

Dazedly, Draco stared after him. Harry was here! His gaze fell on Remus Lupin, who had been looking at Black´s retreating back as well, a warm smile on his face; he nodded at Draco just as Shacklebolt had done, then raised his own cup of tea in a silent salute. Draco gave him a shy smile.

A moment later, the door to the kitchen opened again, and Sirius came in, followed by his godson.

Harry looked at the various people in confusion before his eyes fell on Draco. His expression immediately changed. His gaze softened, and a smile spread on his face as he closed the distance between them.

Draco didn´t realize that he had gotten up.

All he could think of was how happy Harry looked, and a moment later, the dark-haired boy had pulled him into his arms and held him tightly.

Draco closed his eyes and wrapped his own arms around Harry, grateful to be back with him, and felt his own happiness welling up in him as he inhaled his boyfriend´s familiar scent.

Neither of them registered how quiet it suddenly had become, how everyone was entranced and, for Molly´s part, surprised by this display of affection between the two former enemies. She had expected them to act civil around each other, but not this.

When they finally let go, Harry smiled at Draco, who returned this gesture, before turning to his godfather: “Thanks,” he said quietly, and Sirius nodded, the smallest of smiles playing around the corners of his mouth.

Remus averted his gaze and hid his own smile; he thought it quite generous of Sirius, as he would have to share his time with Harry now. Putting Harry´s welfare in front of his own was very like him, though, and Remus once more was glad that Azkaban hadn´t destroyed everything his friend had once been, most of all his humanity.

Harry then turned back to Draco: “Are you okay?”

Sirius had told him about the interrogation to avoid a possible scene, and rightly so: Harry was furious about it.

His godfather had done his best to calm him down, however: “Draco is embarassed enough as it is, he doesn´t need you to make a scene,” he had said quietly, and Harry had had to admit that he was right.

They all sat down at the large table together. Sirius already had invited the Weasleys to spend Christmas at Grimmauld Place, given its proximity to St. Mungo´s, and looked happy that he didn´t have to be alone. The gloomy old house and the memories it contained were depressing him more than he let on, but now he had a few days of good company to look forward to.

After they had discussed what to have for dinner on the following day, since it would be Christmas Eve, and where to get a Christmas tree, the little party broke up.

Harry was well aware that none of the Weasley children had shown up once; he suspected they had been warned not to interrupt the meeting, but he didn´t know wether they´d been told about the reason. If they hadn´t, they very likely had heard everything nevertheless, he thought, as they´d very probably used the Extendable Ears to listen in. He sighed; at least they´d heard Draco´s statements with their own ears then, so to say, he mused.

He was pulled out of these thoughts by Sirius, who offered to show Draco his room. Harry would have loved to protest, as he wanted Draco to stay with him in his room, but he knew of course that it´d be best to at least maintain the pretence, and he read in Draco´s face that he thought so as well.

Sirius led them to a small room in a narrow corridor off the hall; it had formerly been used as a store-room for linen and such, but had hastily been converted into a small bedroom.

Harry couldn´t but grin: “The cupboard under the stairs, eh?” he said to Sirius, who playfully punched him in the shoulder: “Very funny, Mr Potter.”

Inwardly, he smiled though: he was relieved to see how Harry´s spirits had obviously lifted in no time.

Though the room actually was significantly bigger than Harry´s cupboard and easily fit a bed, a desk of drawers and Draco´s trunk which had already been brought in, he had to subdue a shudder, since it had no windows.

He tried not to think of it, but of a more pressing problem which had only come to his mind when he had seen the trunk: “Erm... there´s something I have to tell you,” he said, blushing furiously.

Sirius raised his eyebrows: “What is it?”

Draco blushed even more at his inquisitive look: “I... I don´t have any fitting clothes.”

Sirius didn´t know what he had expected, but certainly not this. “How come?”

Draco glanced at the trunk: “They´re all Finn´s, see, and he´s... smaller than me.”

Sirius did his best not to laugh; the poor boy seemed embarassed enough as it was. “We´ll see to that,” he said, chuckling. “We´ll adjust them tomorrow, don´t you worry.”

Draco looked tremendously relieved.

“I´ll leave you two now,” Sirius then said. “Sleep well.”

Less than a second after bidding him goodnight, Harry and Draco were in each other´s arms again.

“It felt like an eternity,” Harry whispered, holding his love tight. “Are you all right?”

“Am I all right? Of course I am, I was worried about you.”

“I´m fine,” Harry sought to reassure him.

“No, you´re not. You´ve got bags under your eyes, and you´re pale, and your shoulders were drooping when you came in earlier.”

“Fine, I´m not fine,” Harry admitted, touched by the blond´s concern. Draco stroked Harry´s back: “Want to talk about it?”

“Yeah... let´s go to my room, shall we?”

Hand in hand and unnoticed by anyone they snuck into Harry´s room.

“This is nice,” Draco said quietly after he had looked around.

Harry told him about his early Christmas present: “It´s so much better than Privet Drive,” he said happily.

Draco smiled, stroking his face: “You deserve it,” he said softly.

Harry leaned forward: “I am so very lucky,” he mumbled before pressing his mouth onto Draco´s.

Both their bellies began to flutter as they caressed each other lips with their own, drinking in the other´s scent. Harry stroked Draco´s hair with both hands before sliding them down and underneath the blond´s robes.

They slowly undressed each other and crawled into the large bed completely naked. Despite the fire that had been lit in the fireplace, the sheets were cool against their skin, and they shuddered, seeking each other´s proximity.

Huddled against each other and reveling in the feel of the other´s warm body, they snuggled up comfortably.

“I missed you,” Harry murmured.

Draco pressed a kiss on his skin: “I missed you, too,” he said softly.

“I didn´t know when I´d see you again...”

Harry nodded: “Me neither. And I... I thought I´d go mad. The...vision´s been so realistic, I was afraid of being possessed by Voldemort.”

He told Draco about his talk with Ginny, and the blond inwardly thanked the girl.

“I´m glad you´re feeling better now,” he finally whispered into Harry´s ear; a sleepy, comfortable silence had spread between them, only interrupted by an occasional sound from the fireplace, while Draco was rubbing gentle circles on Harry´s belly. Instead of an answer, the dark-haired boy buried his face against Draco´s neck and pressed a tender kiss on the soft skin before slowly exhaling and closing his eyes.

That night, neither of them had a nightmare; Harry briefly woke up once but found himself wrapped in Draco´s arms and went back to sleep immediately.

In the morning, Draco woke up because someone was caressing his cheek and pressing gentle kisses on his face. What a luxury to be able to properly wake up together instead of Harry having to sneak out at dawn, he thought while opening his eyes. What a blessing to wake up with Harry at all.

His boyfriend was smiling at him: “Merry Christmas,” he chirped. Draco chuckled: “Harry Christmas,” he murmured. He had been dreading the holidays, but right now it seemed all right, since he would face them together with Harry.

Harry snuggled back up with the blond: “It´s Christmas Eve, let´s not get up yet,” he murmured. “I´m sure we´ll have to do chores as soon as we arrive in the kitchen.”

“Okay...” Draco didn´t have any objections.

The dark-haired boy had been right; now that Arthur Weasley was on the mend, Molly had set out to prepare Grimmauld Place for Christmas.

She and Sirius had joined forces; when Harry and Draco finally emerged from Harry´s room, one after the other so as not to arouse suspicion, everyone had been made to do something already: the twins were putting up an enormous tree, courtesy of Mundungus Fletcher, Ginny was accompanying Tonks to do grocery shopping, Sirius and Ron were in the attic looking for tinsel and other Christmas decorations, and Molly was in the kitchen, baking and cooking.

When Harry came in, Draco was already seated at the table and was being served breakfast by Mrs Weasley.

“I can´t possibly eat all this,” he said feebly, eyeing the large plate full of eggs, bacon and toast, but she only smiled: “Just eat as much as you like,” she encouraged him.

When she had first looked him over on the evening before, it had appalled her how thin he was, looking just like Harry had when she had first met him.

She had of course heard stories about Draco from her children, and it had after all been his father who had given her daughter the diary that nearly cost Ginny her life; yet Molly Weasley was able to differentiate between Draco and Lucius, and she was ready to believe the boy, especially after she had witnessed the interrogation and had seen his eyes, which were still looking haunted.

It wasn´t his fault that his father was so cruel, but from the looks of it he had paid for it nevertheless. What had happened to him greatly upset Molly´s maternal instinct, and she was determined to take good care of him while they were living under the same roof.

Harry sat down next to Draco and was treated to the same delicious meal; while they were eating, they watched Mrs Weasley busy herself with at least three things at the same time, humming carols under her breath.

Harry had just given up the attempt to completely empty his plate when Ron came in. He stopped short when he saw Draco, and his face turned red as he looked at Harry afterwards. Harry got to his feet, feeling that this silly argument had been going on too long, but Ron turned on his heels and rushed out again.

Luckily, Mrs Weasley had just vanished in the pantry and hadn´t even noticed someone entering; Harry was glad not having to explain the situation. He looked at Draco, who hesitantly shrugged, mirroring Harry´s own helplessness.

“Excuse me,” Harry murmured and followed his best friend.

He found Ron in the room they had shared before Sirius had shown him his new accomodation. The red-haired boy was lying on his bed, his face turned away.

“I am sick and tired of this,” Harry said without further ado. “I don´t know what I´ve done, and I don´t want to be treated like an outcast anymore! Why won´t you talk to me?”

At this, Ron spun around: “Are you really asking me this?” he said, obviously agitated. “You´re the one who´s shutting me out! All you´re interested in is Finn, you don´t need my friendship anymore!”

“Rubbish!” Harry spat.

Ron got to his feet: “Oh yeah? Then why did you move to another room?”

Harry stared at him open-mouthed, since this was so unfair, so unreasonable. “You know perfectly well why,” he said very quietly. “Because I finally have something like a home, and Sirius gave me my own room.”

“Fine,” Ron turned pink, “but you could have told me how bad your dreams really were, or about Finn! I wouldn´t have made fun of you or worse, if that´s why you didn´t, and I thought you´d know that! I bet you two had a good laugh about me- Weasley is so thick, he just doesn´t get it! And now there´s Malfoy! What do you want with that git anyway?”

Harry suddenly wished Hermione were there. She would be able to calm them down, to make them listen to their own words and see how silly their stupid argument really was- but as it were, she was skiing with her parents and Ron and Harry were alone with their fight.

He looked at Ron´s red, hurt and angry face, and suddenly felt his anger dissolve. “He is no git,” he said feebly. “He´s in fact not much different from you or me.”

Ron snorted: “Yeah, right.”

Harry raised his hands in mock despair: “Okay, so I´m in the wrong here, is that what you want to hear? Maybe I should have told you about Finn, but I just couldn´t- it´s such a completely new situation for me, I couldn´t tell anyone! I hadn´t even understood it myself yet when you found out, and if you don´t believe me and decide to keep hating me for it, fine! Then don´t be my friend!”

He turned around and made for the door. Just as he reached for the handle, though, Ron caught up with him: “Harry, wait!”

His face was still red, but the anger in his eyes had abated.

They stared at each other, lost for words, until Ron finally found his voice: “Hermione said I´m jealous,” he murmured, “And maybe she´s right. I mean, I´m not gay or something, but... I still want to be your friend.”

The last of Harry´s anger evaporated at these words. “You are my best friend,” he said quietly. “Nothing will ever change that, stupid!”

Ron´s ears went pink. Harry snorted: “Are we done with fighting now?”

“Yeah. Sorry. And Harry... thanks for... my dad.”

“You don´t blame me?” Harry asked almost timidly.

Ron shook his head: “Nah, I talked to Ginny, and besides- you couldn´t have done it, could you?”

Harry still wasn´t so sure about this, but he was grateful to have Ron´s support back.

There was another thing that was bothering him, though: “Ron... about Draco.”

Ron eyed him warily: “What about him?”

“I told you about how he has changed, didn´t I?”

“Yeah...”

“I´m not saying you have to like him all of a sudden. I´d just wish you gave him a second chance.”

Ron´s face was sullen, but he shrugged: “Okay.”

Harry subdued a sigh; he could understand Ron´s resentments, as Draco admittedly had constantly given him a hard time and had abused him and his family wherever he could.

If only Harry could tell Ron that it had been Draco who had played Chess with him during the past few weeks, that it had been Draco who had won Harry´s heart... he couldn´t do that, of course, but he could at least emphasize his point once more: “He saved my life,” he therefore reminded his friend. “He could have sold me to Voldemort and refused.”

Ron didn´t look at him; he knew about this, of course. But as far as it concerned him, Draco had only been too much of a coward to take Harry on; he just couldn´t imagine that Malfoy could have changed so much.

They were interrupted by Sirius, who was singing carols on top of his voice while decorating the banisters in the hall with holly, causing both of them to grin.

“He´s happy,” Harry said.



To Be Continued