Gilded Soul

The Calm Before the Storm

Harry and Draco stayed in bed late the next morning. They felt they deserved it after their rough night. Draco had his head pressed firmly into the spot beneath Harry’s chin as he ran languid fingertips up and down the Gryffindor’s muscled torso. He always liked how deceiving it was when Harry wore his robes, or any clothing for that matter. To the outside observer Harry seemed thin and lanky, but only Draco knew that underneath that clothing were firm sculpted muscles, which constantly called out to Draco’s wandering hands.

He wondered briefly and grudgingly if he were, actually, still the only one who knew about the sexy body Harry hid under his school robes, or if a certain Anthony Goldstein knew as well. At the moment Draco was content that the Gryffindor had chosen to be with him again, but he didn’t know what to expect when they were forced to get up and start their day.

Harry had been adamant about going no further than touching and kissing, not while he was still technically dating the Ravenclaw. Draco had wanted to ask him then, if he was still the only one Harry had made love to, but he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to that. He saw how close the two were, and it seemed plausible, if not a surety that they had done more then kiss.

Still Harry hadn’t come outright to say he was breaking things off with Anthony and Draco waited anxiously for the moment when he could take Harry again, feel him, taste him.

Harry on the other hand seemed perfectly content to wait. He held Draco close and whispered softly to him plans for their future. Harry had never seemed more determined to keep them both alive and well so that they could start their lives together. Draco was determined as well, to make sure Harry got whatever it was he wanted.

--

They were still lounging in bed on that lovely Saturday morning when Hermione appeared in the doorway looking chagrined. “Sorry, I didn’t think I would be interrupting anything.” She looked curiously at the two of them, a slow smile forming on her face.

Draco made to move away, but Harry held him tightly, keeping him in place against him. “What’s up, Mione?”

“You two certainly look cozy,” she said, smirking.

Harry smiled languidly. “We are, but I doubt that’s what you came all the way over here to say.”

Harry seemed different, Draco mused, controlled and confident, like he had never seen him before. It vaguely reminded him of the Gryffindor when he was on a broom, but more intense. He wasn’t exuding any of that otherworldly warmth that had been plaguing him since the realization of his new magic hit him.

Hermione seemed to notice too and just huffed in annoyance, apparently she was hoping for some mild blushing at the very least. “Dumbledore sent me to fetch you both,” she stated at last.

He smiled again, and his voice was smooth as silk when he spoke. “I expected as much. We’ll be there later.” Draco flinched slightly at those words. His Harry was never one to put off a meeting with the headmaster. He wondered what in the world had gotten into Harry.

The look on Hermione’s face said that she was thinking something very similar. “Harry…” She didn’t seem to know how to proceed. Draco couldn’t blame her; he didn’t know what he would have said in response either.

Harry was still smiling, but it had left his eyes, it was a barely perceivable difference, but Draco saw it and paled. “You can tell him you delivered the message. I’ll come when I’m ready.”

Hermione nodded quickly and left, as if frightened. Maybe she was.

“Harry?” Draco asked tentatively. Harry looked down and grinned at him, and this time it reached his eyes, it made the tightness in his chest release slightly. “Do you think it’s wise to keep him waiting?”

Warm laughter filled his ears. “What would he do?” Harry lifted his index finger and thumb and snapped his fingers. Flame erupted at their center and then extinguished with another snap. “I realized something last night,” Harry mused, “I just fulfilled part of the prophecy.”

Draco couldn’t disguise his confusion. “How do you mean? We haven’t gotten the gilded soul yet.”

“No, I mean the part about the lion falling. It wasn’t talking about death at all. It was talking about love.” Harry’s features were serene as he spoke, so confident in his assessment.

“You mean…”

“I mean, I had to fall in love. Completely. With you.”

Draco smiled up at Harry’s calm face. “So what does that mean? For the prophecy, I mean.”

Harry shrugged slightly. “I think it means quite a bit, but I also think its just one part of the puzzle. The main benefit is that I have total control over my magic now, and it’s even stronger than before.” Draco shuddered and he felt Harry tense beneath him. “Are you afraid?” he asked warily.

Draco shook his head. “Not afraid, no. More like exhilarated.” He knew it was true as soon as he said it. He knew Harry would never hurt him, especially not with his magic. He was anxious to see what Harry could do with it now.

He felt Harry relax again. “I think the redeeming for you will come when we see Dumbledore,” he continued. “It’s odd though, it seems that were moving through the prophecy all wrong. Nothing is happening in order.”

Draco didn’t think much of that, but he was suddenly so relieved that he wouldn’t be the cause of Harry’s death. Everything that had happened over the last several weeks seemed a waste, but then, would Harry have still fallen in love with him so completely if things hadn’t happened that way?

--

They held hands on the way to the headmaster’s office. Draco made Harry get up sooner then he had wanted to attend the meeting. He had rebuked him at first saying, ‘I’m telling you, Draco, there isn’t a thing he can do about it.’ Draco conceded that fact but offered one of his own, ‘He’s still the headmaster and you should be respectful.’

Harry eventually caved and they set off. They barely paused outside the large gargoyle blocking the office entrance before it sprang to the side, offering up the moving staircase behind it to the boys.

The journey, though not slow, seemed so to Draco. He was dreading seeing Dumbledore after everything that had happened lately. He didn’t wish to be informed of additional prophecies or be lectured on the impoliteness of eavesdropping.

It appeared he had nothing to worry about though. The elderly wizard seemed as happy as ever, if not happier, to see him. He offered up his usual tea and biscuits and sat patiently behind his desk, eyeing the two boys curiously.

“Miss Granger tells me there has been a new development in your relationship.” He raised an inquisitive eyebrow while asking the question.

“Is she spying for you now?” Harry asked rudely. Draco elbowed him lightly in the side. Why was it he was suddenly the one being respectful of the old kook and having to remind Harry. Based on the look in Dumbledore’s face, he seemed to be wondering quite the same thing.

He only chuckled. “No, Harry. I assure you that is not the case. She was merely… frazzled… when she reported back to me.” Harry said nothing further, so Dumbledore kept talking. “I want to hear about your escapades last night. By my estimation you should have reached the third trial. Am I right?”

Harry only nodded. It was Draco who spoke up. He told the headmaster all about the task and how he chose Harry over his mother, and how they discovered later that it was only an illusion.

“Then you must have chosen Draco?” Dumbledore asked of Harry.

“Over Hermione,” he replied, nodding again. He didn’t seem upset that Draco had talked about the trial, but he didn’t look like he felt nearly so inclined to do so.

Dumbledore nodded sagely. “Yes, you must have, otherwise you wouldn’t be here, neither of you.”

Draco’s eyes widened at this, and Harry also looked a little shocked by the bit of information.

“Oh yes,” Dumbledore continued. “If either of you were to choose differently, you would both be lost to the maze.”

Draco wanted to ask about the prophecy, if they had indeed fulfilled part of it, but didn’t want to say more than Harry wanted said. As if reading his mind, Harry looked over at Draco smiling, and nodded briefly. “Professor,” he began, “do you think it’s possible that we have fulfilled part of the prophecy?”

The older wizard chucked again. “Yes Draco,” he answered, though his eyes were on Harry. “In fact, I believe you both have almost completed the prophecy.” Harry nodded in accent. “You see, there is only the Gilded Soul left now, and after that it will be up to Harry to fulfill is own prophecy. Alone.”

Draco shook his head adamantly. “Harry won’t be alone. I can help.” In his peripheral he saw Harry grin and shake his head.

“No, Draco. I won’t have Voldemort using you in order to get to me. You’ll stay here, safe inside the castle.”

Draco turned on him then, even angrier than he would have normally been because of Harry’s otherworldly calmness about the situation. “You can’t expect me to just sit here and wait. I’ll worry myself sick!”

Harry chuckled and leaned over, placing a delicate kiss on Draco’s lips and a vivid blush colored his pale features. His eyes flicked to Dumbledore who was watching the exchange with a fatherly smile. Draco remembered what Harry had said about the headmaster being different since the outburst that he had eavesdropped on. ‘He’s lost his twinkle’ he had said. Well the headmaster seemed plenty twinkley to Draco.

He looked over at Harry who was also scrutinizing the headmaster. He looked equally curios at Dumbledore’s obvious change in demeanor. As if reading their minds, the older man inclined his head to the side and spoke in his fatherly tone. “I’m very pleased by the outcome of these events. I’m happy that we can trust Mr. Malfoy, “ he said, gesturing to the blonde, but again his eyes were only for Harry. “I’m sorry, Harry, I should have trusted your judgment.”

“Yes. You should have,” Harry replied rather smugly. Draco was slightly impressed by Harry’s newfound confidence.

“Nevertheless, good news. Also, I am quite impressed at the effects this new turn of events has had on you in particular, Harry. I don’t feel your power trickling around you any longer.”

“I have it under control now,” he seemed to debate if he would say more then added, “I’m more powerful than before too.”

Dumbledore raised a bushy gray eyebrow at that remark, clearly not expecting Harry could get any more powerful. “Would you care to… demonstrate?”

Harry shrugged and a moment later the entire office was in flames, with the three of them in a protective bubble in the center. Draco watched in horror thinking the headmaster would be furious, but Dumbledore merely looked around his decimated office with a curious expression.

Draco reached out a hand, the Headmaster following the movement closely, and placed it on Harry’s serene face. The Gryffindor blinked once and the room was back to normal, looking completely untouched.

Dumbledore chuckled lowly. “Well, my boy, that was very impressive indeed.” His eyes were on Draco this time, which made him squirm.

“I think Mr. Malfoy may be right Harry. I think you will need to bring him to the final fight.” Both boys looked up at this, taken completely by surprise. Even Harry’s seemingly unshakable calm wavered. “You see, Harry, I think your pale dragon here, “ inclining his head toward Draco, “is the only one who can keep you from overdoing it. He seems to be your… calm.”

Harry glanced over at the Slytherin and his eyes drifted down to their hands, holding tightly together. It was the first time Draco realized that they had been touching through the entire meeting, in fact, they had been touching ever since their kiss the night before.

Harry tentatively let go of Draco’s hand. The immediate sense of loss made Draco reach out for his hand again, but Harry pulled back. The next feeling to rush up and meet him was the flickering tendrils of Harry’s power leaking out all around him. Harry grabbed his hand again, and with a cool wind, the power flare was gone.

Dumbledore smiled widely, but Harry frowned. “I can’t bring him. I won’t,” his voice was calm but determined.

Dumbledore leaned back into his chair. “Well that is certainly up to the two of you. I cannot make you do anything, Harry. We both know that.” Harry nodded once, curtly, acknowledging that new fact. “Now, back to business. You should be coming to the end of the maze soon. Now that you have completed all three trials you only have the gilded soul left to you. Are we still in agreement that it should be brought back to me?”

Harry cringed slightly. “Well, about that, sir. I was thinking perhaps I should protect it now. My powers are…”

“It has nothing to do with power, Harry,” the headmaster interrupted. “The fact is, I can keep it hidden, safe. Better than anyone else.”

Harry nodded. “I understand. We’ll think about it.” It wasn’t lost on Draco that Harry had said ‘ we’. He felt a warm rush of energy course through his veins.

Dumbledore looked slightly concerned, but nodded his accent and ushered the boys from his office, handing Harry another large tome for his research.

Once outside the office, they made their way back to the Room of Requirement, where they had planned to spend the remainder of their lazy afternoon. Still hand in hand they walked down the seventh floor corridor but Harry stopped short. Draco looked around curiously and spotted Harry’s source of ire.

Pacing back and forth in front of a large expanse of wall, looking agitated was Anthony.