Of Butterflies in a Hurricane

*

Three Months Later...

"Open your present!" Harry commanded excitedly. He watched in enraptured joy as Draco picked up the small box wrapped in red and gold, shimmery wrapping paper.

Draco shook it slightly, listening to it and Harry laughed. "Just open it."

"Okay, okay," Draco conceded, laughing. He tore open the paper and opened the box inside. Lying on top of a few layers of tissue paper was a lion pendant coiled on a fine, gold chain. Draco picked it up carefully, staring at it in amazement.

The small lion hanging on the chain glimmered in the flickering light from the fireplace. He and Harry sat curled up in front of the warm flames, clothed in only their pajamas. Off to the side, blocking the window, stood a large Christmas tree, adorned with decorations galore and twinkling lights. It was dark outside and the only lights in the room came from the fire and the tree.

"Wow, Harry," Draco breathed, staring at the lion.

Harry crawled over to him and took it out of his hands, clasping it around his neck. He ran his finger down the chain, coming to the lion and finally letting it fall onto Draco's neck. He looked up at Draco and smiled softly.

"I just thought it was about time I returned the favor," Harry said quietly.

"You don't have to return the favor, Harry," Draco said, smiling softly. "You saved my life."

"And you saved mine," Harry said, raising up his wrist where the tiny green snake was resting peacefully on its silver band. The tiny dent was still there from where Voldemort's curse had hit it, but Harry hardly ever noticed it.

Draco reached out for Harry's wrist, pulling it to him and pressing a kiss to it. Harry sighed contentedly and scooted over into Draco's lap, sinking down and watching the fire as it flickered lazily.

Draco played absently with the golden chain now situated around his neck. "Where's Hermione this Christmas?" he asked suddenly.

"At the Weasley's," Harry replied. "They're like her family anyway."

Draco nodded and leaned back against the foot of the couch, running his hand through Harry's messy hair absent-mindedly. He knew Hermione had had a hard time after Ron had died. She had taken some time away from everyone but was slowly integrating back into wizard society. She spent a lot of time at the Weasley's nowadays.

Hermione had found a new friend in Rose when she spent time with the Weasley’s and Fleur’s family. Harry had seen Rose once since the end of the war. She had greeted him cheerfully and told him that he would be living without fear from then on. This had made Harry very happy.

She and Hermione spent a lot of time together, and Harry was grateful that she was adjusting again. She also tended to spend a lot of her time talking with Ginny, who had become a better friend since then

When Hermione had told Ginny about all that had happened with Harry and Draco, she had been devastated. At first, she couldn't understand why Harry would be with someone as cruel as Draco. In the end, though, she'd had no choice but to accept it and move on. Last Harry had heard, she had a new boyfriend and they were happy.

After the war, Harry had told Draco about everything that had happened, about the Horcruxes, the battles, the daily pain of waiting without knowing anything. Draco now understood just why Voldemort had been so enraged about his killing of the snake.

As he sat comfortably on the floor with Harry, he thought how lucky he was to be there. The Death Eater trials had begun and he had narrowly escaped. Harry had vouched for him, but it had taken the Ministry a while to accept that he was truly on their side. With the help of Harry, Blaise had manipulated his way out of any punishment and had been allowed to go free. Blaise had been the one to send the fatal curse to Lucius Malfoy, thereby ridding him from their lives once and for all.

Snape had had a hard time of it and was still awaiting further trial. Even though Harry told the Ministry that he had helped in the killing of Voldemort, there was doubt about his innocence. He had, after all, killed Dumbledore as well. Harry felt marginally better about Snape's involvement in the war and would be okay with whatever the Ministry decided to do with him. He knew they wouldn't kill him, not after the evidence Harry had provided. He had been the one to hit him in the back with the mild Stinging Hex, bringing him to his senses.

Harry wasn't worried about Snape. He could handle himself. Harry had spent most of the past three months getting everything in order. He and Draco had bought a house out in the English countryside and moved in mere weeks after Voldemort's death. Harry felt like he was free for the first time in his life.

He had decided not to get a job right away even though he had been bombarded with offers. He wanted to take time to enjoy being a free man, for at least a little while. He knew he would never be truly free. He was, after all, still the Boy Who Lived. But here, with Draco, he felt like he truly belonged.

Harry shifted in Draco’s lap and sat up, turning around to face him. Draco merely raised a questioning eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Are you happy?" he asked.

"You have no idea," Draco said softly, reaching out and drawing Harry forward, kissing him softly.

The kiss was long, slow, and sweet. Harry crawled over Draco, pushing him lightly to the ground, onto his back. He continued the kiss, pushing his tongue slowly into Draco's mouth, lapping at the hot caverns within.

Draco moaned softly and his hands came up to Harry's sides, running down them lightly. He loved the way it felt when they were alone like this and out of everyone's control.

Harry broke the kiss reluctantly and pulled away, stripping off his shirt. Draco could only stare in wondrous appreciation of Harry as his tanned muscles glistened in the flickering light from the fire. Harry reached over and slid Draco's white, cotton shirt over his head and threw it away.

Harry leaned down then and kissed Draco again, still a slow, loving kiss. Draco's hands ran over Harry's pectoral muscles, relishing the smooth, unblemished skin. He loved Harry for who he was but was also glad that he hadn't come away from the war with any hideous scars, no long-lasting reminders of the hell he had gone through. Draco was at least glad for that.

Harry's fingers fluttered down Draco's sides, skimming over the pale skin, stopping at the few tiny lines of scars adorning the spot just above his hip bone, a lasting reminder of Lucius' curse. Harry ran his fingers gently over the spot before moving down to his flannel pajama pants. Harry tugged them off slowly, not wanting to go too fast. He wanted this night to last. Draco moaned softly and arched his body off the floor, allowing Harry to slip the pants of easier.

When the offending article was gone, Harry leaned down, sliding his tongue over the taut muscles of Draco's torso. He nipped at the pale flesh, drawing a sharp gasp from the boy above.

"Ohhh... Harry..." Draco breathed, his hand winding down to twist in Harry's hair.

Harry slid his tongue down to Draco's inner thigh, running it over the smooth flesh. He then moved over to Draco's erection that was waiting impatiently for fulfillment.

He paused for about one second before running his tongue around the edge of the leaking cock. His tongue lapped at the foreskin before he took Draco in his mouth, swallowing the cock as much as he could.

"Fu--uck, Harry," Draco gasped, as Harry swirled his tongue over Draco's member. His eyes were shut and his hand pulled tightly on Harry's hair.

Harry could fell Draco nearing completion already, but wasn't ready for him to climax quite yet. Just as Draco was about to lose it, Harry pulled away. Draco immediately bemoaned the loss of the warmth but shut up when he felt something slick press into his entrance.

Harry had used his wand for a Lubrication Spell while Draco had been distracted with pleasure. He slid his fingers into the puckered hole, stretching and expanding it as much as he could. When he finally thought Draco was ready, he removed the fingers, replacing them with the head of his engorged member.

Draco whimpered with anticipation as Harry pressed himself slowly into his body. He slid his cock past the tightening muscles and deep into Draco's body. Draco thrust his hips up to meet Harry's, further impaling himself.

"Merlin, Draco--" Harry gasped as the tight, hot muscles clenched further around his cock. He began to move slowly, thrusting in and out of the receptive body beneath his.

Draco moaned and writhed underneath him, making it nearly impossible for Harry to hold on. He slid back into Draco's body, his cock being swallowed by the hot muscles. Draco groaned and thrust his hips upward, connecting them with Harry's, crashing a wave of heat over his body

"Ah! Fuck, Harry, please--" Draco gasped when Harry changed the angle of the thrust and slammed back into his body. Draco opened his eyes for a moment and looked behind him on the floor. He saw the dark, flickering light from the fire place shimmering over the many wrapped presents that sat beneath the multi-colored tree.

Harry looked down at Draco, admiring how beautiful he was as the light played across his pale body. He leaned forward, kissing Draco softly as he continued to thrust in a steady rhythm into his body.

Finally, he felt his climax coming over him and he couldn't hold on as wave after wave of pleasure came over him. He came deep inside the blond, moaning his name as he did so. He was lost in his own release and hardly noticed as Draco came as well.

Panting, he fell to the side of the blond. They lay on the rug for a while, letting the warmth from the fire wash over them. At length, Harry turned to Draco, pushing himself up on his elbow.

"I love you," he murmured, running a hand through Draco's soft hair.

Draco smiled contentedly. "I know."

Harry scoffed and hit Draco lightly. "Hey!"

"Yeah, I love you," Draco said sleepily.

"And don't you forget it," Harry told him.

"Never," Draco whispered, reaching over for Harry and pulling him closer, snuggling into his side and falling into a contented sleep, knowing that he was finally safe.

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A/N: It's officially over! review? :)