Twisted Faerie Tales

Author's Note: So here is part 2 of 2 for Cinderella. Thanks go out to Laurel for both suggesting and beta reading this, and for calling me lazy so that I'd fix it! lol

“It was amazing!” Dudley exclaimed for the fortieth time since Harry had woken up the morning after the concert. He was referring not to the concert itself, but to the after party, which he hadn’t actually attended. The memories Sirius had given the boy were vague, but they were enough to keep Dudley excited and going over the same silly details repeatedly. “The food was so much better than this rubbish that Harry fixes,” he went on as Petunia and Vernon listened patiently. Harry ignored them all and quietly escaped into the backyard.

The ticket Harry had been given by Abraxas was still in his pocket. He carried it with him everywhere as a token of the singular moment that Harry spent in pure bliss at the blond’s attentions. He often found himself wishing he knew more about the singer. What was he like outside the screaming fans? What was his family life like? Where did he go to school? Who was this boy he had a crush on?

His jealous streak swept within him once more and he had to squash it. He couldn’t go getting possessive over a boy he’d only just met and knew nothing about. What kind of relationship could he have with a rock star anyhow? Obviously the boy spent his summers touring Europe with his band and had dozens of people throwing themselves at him. Could Harry even cope with that?

If Abraxas was honest and faithful he knew he could. He could even picture himself making friends with Six, who was quite blunt and quirky but rather nice in her own way. But it didn’t really matter if Harry decided that he could do it, Abraxas had to decide that he wanted that too, and really, what would a rock star want with someone like him?

As the next concert date approached, Harry became more and more anxious. He had no idea how he was going to get there when he couldn’t use magic to sneak out of the Dursley’s house no less. He’d begun experimenting with his outfit; using wandless glamours to slightly alter the jeans and shirt Sirius had made him to make them look different and not be picked up by the Ministry for performing under-age magic. So far he had settled on a pair of light gray washed denims and a sage green shirt, which Harry thought went nicely together.

He was wearing them the night of the concert while he sat on the sofa with the Dursleys, trying to figure out how he could sneak out unnoticed or what he could do to distract his relatives from his leaving. Turns out, he didn’t really have to do anything. It was only eight, far too early for anyone to be thinking about sleeping, but all at once all three of the lumps sharing the couch with him decided it was time for them to retire and they went upstairs, yawning the whole way.

A moment later the fireplace flared to life and Sirius stepped out with a grin. “Harry!” he shouted as if there wasn’t another soul in the place and Harry shushed him before giving him a tight hug. “Ah, no worries. They aren’t waking up anytime soon.”

“Well, all the same,” Harry whispered, “I’d rather not chance it.”

Sirius took a step back to study his godson and shook his head with a grin. “Harry, are you aware you’re wearing Slytherin colors?”

“No!” Harry protested. “It’s just a green shirt and gr- oh. Right. I suppose I am,” he sulked, wishing he’d chosen something different now.

“I’m not judging,” Sirius said, holding up his palms in defense.

Harry sighed and closed his eyes tightly as he thought of all the work he’d put into making the outfit look right only to have to redo it. “Should I change?”

“No, no, Harry. The colors suit you. I was just making an observation,” he placated with a wry grin. “So, are we ready to go to the ball?” he asked, holding his elbow out for Harry to take.

Harry rolled his eyes, took his godfather’s arm and they Apparated away. Their destination wasn’t some grand arena, however, it was just a small pub. People were lined up screaming for entrance, but apparently the show was long since sold out and they weren’t letting anyone through security without a ticket. Harry couldn’t believe it. The show would be amazing in this small pub that he guessed could fit a hundred other people at most. It would be almost like Abraxas were playing for him alone and that thought made him blush all over again.

“Now, this is the last of the Polyjuice, Harry, and I need you to remember what I said before. He can’t know who you are, not yet, okay?” he asked and Harry nodded absently. He was far too eager to get inside to listen to his godfather’s warnings or wonder about them. “Keep the flask, there is maybe three hours worth in there. That should be enough to get you through the evening.”

With a discreet hug, Harry bid his godfather farewell and disappeared into the crowd. He fought his way to the front and showed his ticket to the security guard who let him pass, much to everyone else’s chagrin. The place was nearly empty when he walked through the door. The band’s equipment was set up on a makeshift stage in one far corner and fans were starting to accumulate and move toward the front.

He caught a flash of red hair in the corner and wandered toward it, smiling back when Six beamed at him. “Well, well. If it isn’t the illusive James,” she greeted. “We weren’t sure you’d show up after you bailed last time. You have an odd habit of freaking out and disappearing for just being a Muggle.”

Harry just blinked at her but didn’t confirm or deny her assumption of his magical status. “Is Abraxas here?” he asked instead.

“He’s in the bus out back,” she informed him and didn’t offer to bring him there so Harry didn’t know if he was just supposed to wait there, or if Abraxas wanted to see him at all. He decided that Abraxas being on the bus might mean he wasn’t allowed in. Maybe he had another fan back there with him or maybe the band was rehearsing.

Six rolled her eyes and just pointed to the door behind her. “Do you need directions or do you think you can find the bus that has ‘The Prince Charmings’ written all over the side of it?”

“Well aren’t you cranky today,” Harry muttered and much to his surprise, Six laughed, although there was a slight bitter edge to it.

“I’m just stressed. There are a whole lot of people out there who want a piece of the band and I need to make sure that doesn’t happen…unless Abraxas wants it to, so I suppose you’re allowed to have a piece of him,” she replied with a tired smirk.

Harry flushed and escaped the girl’s leering presence by following her directions to the back in search of the boy that had been on his mind all week. First he went through a small kitchen and then he found another door that led outside. The large, colorful vehicle was pulled up so that the back door to the pub nearly lined up with that of the tour bus. Harry stepped onboard as gracefully as was possible and was met with the rare treat of seeing Abraxas shirtless. His chest was pale and magnificent and Harry nearly salivated at the sight of his flexing muscles as the boy got up to greet him.

A moment later Harry wasn’t paying any attention to that chest because his gaze was filled with a set of stormy gray eyes; eyes that reminded him so much of someone else. “James,” the boy greeted and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “I’ve missed you.”

“Missed me?” Harry asked bashfully before dismissing the sentiment. “I’m sure you were far too busy for that.”

“You know, the only thing that would irk my father more than dating that boy from school I told you about, would be dating a Muggle,” he laughed, “but if you’d have me, I would insist you follow me to every concert so that I wouldn’t have to miss you.”

“So, I’d be runner up to that boy at your school?” Harry muttered, somewhat upset that Abraxas didn’t have more tact than to mention it that way.

The blond winced and gave him apologetic eyes. “I’m sorry, James. You just… you remind me so much of him I lose my head. Come sit with me before I have to go on, would you?”

Harry obeyed. Even though he was upset, he still liked being around the other boy and he knew that the opportunity would probably never arise for him again once he left tonight. Sirius was out of Polyjuice, Abraxas would be going back to pining over his schoolboy crush and Harry’s own classes would be starting in less than a week. The summer was nearly over and so was this wild fantasy life with the rock star.

They only had a few minutes until the show was scheduled to start, so Abraxas filled him in on how the tour was going, steering clear of topics that would force him to explain magic. Harry found this amusing to watch because he knew precisely what the boy was talking about and Abraxas had no idea. This, however, brought to mind another question he’d been thinking about.

“What’s your real name?” Harry asked. He knew Abraxas was the boy’s stage name; it just had to be.

The blond was about to answer when Six stormed onto the bus tapping her watch. “I’ll tell you later,” Abraxas promised and kissed Harry lightly on the lips before trailing after his manager. The rest of the band emerged from deeper in the bus and Harry blushed again. He hadn’t known anyone else was there, though he should have assumed so since he hadn’t seen the rest of the band inside earlier. At least they hadn’t done anything unseemly while they had an audience so close.

Harry followed at Six’s beckoning and, once they got started, he was able to watch the concert from right up front. Abraxas stared at him the entire time as if he was trying to figure something out as he sang. Harry thought Abraxas sounded even better that night than he had the last time, his voice wasn’t so amplified because the space was much more intimate and he was able to really hear the blond sing; it was beautiful. The set was shorter than the last time, and within an hour Abraxas was pulling Harry from the pub and into the warm London air. His arm was comfortably slung over Harry’s shoulders and Harry’s around the blond’s waist as they walked together along the pathway.

“I don’t have long to stay,” Harry admitted and Abraxas frowned.

“We should make the most of it, then,” the blond purred against Harry’s ear. “Unless you’re still hell bent on not shagging a rock star?”

Before he realized what he was doing, Harry was kissing the boy and thinking to himself that if Abraxas wanted him, he could have him. He might not be the mystery boy Abraxas went to school with, but perhaps making love to the sexy star might be enough to make Abraxas’ crush disappear from his thoughts, and even if it didn’t, it would always be a lovely memory.

He felt a rough tug at his gut and a wave of nausea as he stumbled, losing his balance. When he opened his eyes he was in a hotel bedroom of some kind and Abraxas was staring at him, trying to gauge how freaked out Harry was that they’d just Apparated. All he could do was laugh in reply at the star’s expression and quickly resumed their kiss, which seemed to be fine with Abraxas. They toppled to the bed, Harry fumbling with the oddly large buckle on Abraxas’ trousers and the blond tearing at Harry’s shirt. Barely breaking their kiss, they both managed to disrobe the other and Harry gasped at the feel of Abraxas’ bare flesh pressed against his own.

The blond’s skin was like velvet, and his tongue was much too clever and talented as it explored the contours of Harry’s body. Harry groaned as the boy finally took his pulsing erection into his mouth, clawing at the sheets beneath him in his struggle to free himself from over stimulation. If Abraxas continued too much longer, Harry would be spent and the memory of their time together would probably become a funny anecdote the singer that he would tell others on his next tour.

Seeming to sense Harry’s escalated state, Abraxas slowed down and pulled away from Harry to simply sit back and admire him. “You don’t by chance have a brother?” he asked, somewhat out of the blue.

“No,” Harry panted in reply. “Why?”

“The resemblance is uncanny, and you didn’t seem even slightly spooked by magic,” the boy noted, scrutinizing further.

Harry was sick of being compared to a person he’d never met and at this point never wanted to; how could he possibly compete with this apparently unattainable classmate? He was the one here with Abraxas, not that stupid git. Why did the boy have to keep dwelling on it? “Are you going to fuck me, or are you just going to talk about that other boy all night?” Harry asked petulantly, hoping his vulgarity might whip Abraxas into action.

It did.

His eyes clouded over with lust and he rummaged through the crumpled bed linen beside Harry for a small jar. He wasted no time in smearing the contents around Harry’s entrance, teasing him a little before roughly slipping two inexperienced fingers inside of him. Harry nearly screamed at the intrusion, he turned his head to the side looking away from Abraxas as a cry got caught in his throat, but, not too long after, Abraxas hit a spot that made Harry cry out with pleasure instead of pain. A third finger joined the first two and before long Harry was practically begging Abraxas to enter him, his voice a whimpering plea as his body felt ready to explode.

Abraxas’ eyes were intense as he stared down at Harry, his gaze hooded and filled with longing. “Ready?” he rasped and Harry nodded vigorously.

Harry bit roughly into his lip as Draco slid into him. The pain was excruciating and not even his fingers had prepared him for the sudden feeling of fullness. Abraxas watched him carefully as he slowly thrust in and out, filling him a little more each time until Harry’s back arched with pleasure and he began moving to meet each stroke. Using the same hand that had slicked Harry’s entrance and his own cock, Abraxas took hold of Harry’s neglected prick and began pumping it in time with his own movements. He didn’t have to work it for very long.

“Fuck!” Harry screamed as he came all over Abraxas’ hand and his own chest and then he squirmed when he felt Abraxas reach his release as well. He tried not to notice the boy biting off screaming a name that probably wasn’t his.

He felt sullen and empty afterward, as if taking his virginity had meant nothing to the famous rock star. Of course, it probably didn’t. “So,” Harry asked, sounding bitterer than he’d like, “how often does this happen?”

“What?” Abraxas asked, curling in to snuggle next to Harry.

“Wooing a fan into your bed?” Harry clarified.

“Not often,” Abraxas chuckled.

“Not often as in…?” Harry pressed and Abraxas looked at him with honest, steely eyes.

“Not often as in never has this happened before. You were my first, James,” he boy admitted and Harry blushed.

“You’re serious?” he whispered and Abraxas nodded and nuzzled into Harry further. Maybe the boy was lying but Harry chose to ignore that possibility and sleep soundly in the knowledge that he had taken the virginity of the famous rock star that now had his. And sleep he did. In fact, Harry didn’t wake up until the sun began peeking in through the thin curtains that hung over the large windows of the hotel room he’d been taken to.

He remembered immediately what had happened and cringed at the awkward situation he now found himself in. Abraxas was wrapped and twined in the crisp sheets and Harry’s own limbs, and Harry realized with a start that the Polyjuice would have worn off long ago. He was lucky Abraxas hadn’t woken up in the middle of the night and seen that he wasn’t in bed with the same boy he’d fallen asleep next to.

Slowly Harry extracted himself from the blond’s embrace and scrambled to find his clothes. He had no idea where he was, so Apparating was risky. Instead he wrote a quick note telling Abraxas how much fun he had and that he hoped they’d see one another again and then he fled the room –which he discovered was a hotel in downtown London- as fast as he could.

Once he’d gotten his bearing and knew where he was, Harry went to reach for his wand so that he could Apparate home, only to find it was missing…Fuck. It must still be up in the hotel room. He chastised himself thoroughly for being so thoughtless as to leave something so important behind. Harry knew he couldn’t go back up there and risk Abraxas seeing him, there was no guarantee the blond would still be asleep; he would have to leave it and hope that maybe Sirius could get it back for him later. Either way, Abraxas would know he was a wizard now and he would know that Harry had lied to him about who he was.

Harry tried not to dwell on that too much since there was a good chance he’d never see the boy again. Either way, he had a long trip home ahead of him and some explaining to do when he got there.

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Draco stirred awake and reached across the bed to try to pull James against him, only James wasn’t there. With a start, Draco sat up and looked around the room to see the boy’s clothes were missing; his heart sank into his stomach with bitter disappointment He felt like he’d been used and abandoned until he found the note James had left him.

‘Abraxas’ it said and the name made him wince. He’d forgotten to tell James his real name and Draco had never even learned James’ last name, he was so distracted with their frotting against one another he’d let the detail slip.

‘I had a brilliant time with you these past few nights and if you’re not too busy, maybe we’ll meet up again sometime. If not, good luck with the bloke you’ve been chasing after, and I wish you the best.’

Draco sighed. He’d really been a prick to James over this whole thing, but he could hardly be blamed when James looked so much like the boy he’d been pining after for years. Harry wasn’t gay though, nor would his father approve –not that he cared about that anymore- and he realized with a heavy heart that he’d bollixed things up with James for no good reason.

Draco’s life had been a whirlwind since his mother convinced him to look into this odd musical venture. The husband of one of her society ladies owned a recording studio and had managed the best of both worlds by merging Muggle and wizarding pop culture together for ridiculous profit. Being part of the band gave Draco his own income and would ensure that upon graduating Hogwarts, he would no longer be forced to live under his father’s thumb – not to mention he truly enjoyed being on stage and hearing the roar of the crowd chant his name, even though it wasn’t really his.

Hopefully he’d run into James at his next concert, though that wouldn’t be until the following summer, and the boy would probably have a proper Muggle boyfriend by then. Instinctively, Draco reached for his wand, as he did first thing every morning, and it took him a few seconds to realize that the discarded wand he’d found certainly wasn’t his; James wasn’t a Muggle after all. It certainly explained a lot when Draco thought about it.

With an excited few skips of his heart he realized that this discovery might mean that James probably went to Hogwarts as well, which meant Draco might just be able to see him again soon. He smirked as he imagined parading around Hogwarts with James on his arm and rubbing their relationship in Harry’s face when he saw him, hopefully making the Gryffindor jealous. How hadn’t Draco seen James before? He hoped he wasn’t a Hufflepuff, which was a scary possibility since he’d paid little to no attention to any of them, unless he was wrong altogether and James went to an international magic school like Durmstrang or that new American school.

Draco felt light as he held the boy’s wand in one hand and his letter in the other; he would have to see him again, James would need his wand for school. When he got up to take a shower, Draco noticed his Glamour was still firmly in place so he banished it and watched as his features slowly melted back into his own. It wasn’t a huge difference; in fact, Draco had come up with the mold after looking at old photos of his father when he was Draco’s age. After topping it all off with heavy stage makeup even Pansy wouldn’t have recognized him, which brought up another issue. What if James did go to Hogwarts and already hated him? He was a bit of a prat to people there, but only because he was in a constant bad mood from dealing with Potter’s rejections and his father’s ambitions for him. It hardly seemed fair to judge him on that alone, but maybe James had seen a different light to him, after all, they were each other’s firsts now and that had to mean something.

A pang in his heart reminded him that he’d been saving himself for Harry, but he ignored it. Harry Potter would never like him, not for all the Galleons in the world, so he needed to be mature about it and move on. With this in mind, Draco cast a Charm on James’ wand so that would alert him when the boy was nearby and he stuffed the wand in his pocket along side his own. Part of him wanted to sit outside Ollivander’s until James arrived to buy a new wand, but that would be a waste of time if the boy never showed up and he would look a might ridiculous sitting outside the store for a whole week, Ollivander would probably chase him off. James probably bought his wands at a different store anyway. Draco’s mind still lingered on why he’d never seen James before; they were the same age after all, they should have been in the same year. What if the boy was using a disguise like he had and had looked similar to Harry on purpose? Who wouldn’t want to look like Harry, he was the sexiest boy in Hogwarts – apart from himself, naturally, but Draco couldn’t very well go around snogging himself in dark corridors. What if James was in reality a hideous creature… or Longbottom?

Draco groaned as the thought of losing his virginity to Neville Longbottom filled his mind. After shuddering, Draco regained his calm; he banished his preposterous thought and renewed his pledge to find James again. Hopefully James would attend Hogwarts and Draco would be able to find him once he returned, if not, Draco could find a reason to visit the other magical schools until he did. He wouldn’t stop until he found his new love, even if James was an ugly Hufflepuff.

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The final week of summer went by excruciatingly slowly for Harry, and, as he boarded the train to school, he felt different than he had any other year he’d ridden the Hogwarts Express. He sat with his friends as he toyed with a borrowed wand that he’d found wrapped in his cupboard with a note from Sirius. Ron was beside him telling him about the Death Eater threat his family had received over the break and, though this troubled Harry greatly, he couldn’t seem to focus on his friend because the knowledge that he’d had sex with a beautiful rock star was weighing heavily upon him. He hadn’t been able to stop smiling - not through the bus ride home from London, not through the hour long walk to Privet drive, not even while his Aunt and Uncle berated him for his absence.

He desperately hoped he’d see Abraxas again, but his hopes were limited. Even if he did, Abraxas would then know that he wasn’t really James at all, but Harry Potter, the boy who was scheduled to kill Voldemort any moment now. He hadn’t seen his godfather since that night so he had no idea if he’d botched up the destiny the man referred to by sleeping with Abraxas. Even if he had though, Harry couldn’t bring himself to worry about it.

It wasn’t until he disembarked the Thestral drawn carriage and headed toward the Great Hall for the start of the year feast that Harry began to get a sense of foreboding.

Hermione and Ron were on either side of him and there was another group of Gryffindors trailing in behind them when a trio of Slytherins slinked passed them. Harry caught sight of a shock of blond hair and momentarily thought it was Abraxas. The boy turned, however, and Harry was met with a sad smile from his longest enemy Draco Malfoy, which quickly changed to a sneer as he took off for the Slytherin table.

Harry couldn’t believe that the boy he’d slept with, and practically fallen in love with, bore so many resemblances to his childhood nemesis. He was so focused on the similarities in their hair and eyes that he almost didn’t notice Draco stop short and stare down at his own pocket like there was something peculiar happening inside it. Harry soon tore his gaze away from the odd scene and went to his own House table and planted himself between Hermione and Ron.

During the welcoming feast, Harry couldn’t keep his eyes off of Malfoy and the necessity to stare seemed to have transferred to the other boy as well since their eyes kept meeting across the Great Hall. It wasn’t until the feast was nearly through that Harry looked up to see Malfoy holding a glowing, vibrating object; it didn’t take him long to recognize what it was.

His missing wand.

How did Malfoy have it? He’d left it in Abraxas’ room, could Malfoy and Abraxas somehow be related? Were he and Abraxas having a big laugh about Harry and their intimate moment together? The idea incensed Harry and he stared daggers at the blond who looked somewhat surprised by Harry’s sudden rage.

The moment the feast was over, Harry struggled through the crowd filing out to their dormitories and he grabbed Draco roughly and dragged him down a lesser-used corridor. “Care to explain to me how you have my wand, Malfoy?” Harry asked and the blond balked.

“Your wand?” he asked, looking both confused and slightly delighted.

“Yes, my wand,” Harry repeated with narrowed eyes. “Why is it in your hand?”

“Because it was left in my care,” he replied cautiously. “If this is yours, prove it.”

Harry snatched it from Malfoy’s grasp and held it aloft. The wand glowed a brilliant green in his grasp and Draco shot him a smile, something Harry hadn’t been expecting as a response. “What are you smiling abo-” Harry began, but his words were cut off by Draco’s lips.

If Harry hadn’t been expecting Malfoy to react to him with a smile, he certainly didn’t expect the boy to kiss him in the middle of a Hogwarts corridor. He assumed this was all part of some nasty trick, just like stealing his wand. He roughly shoved the boy away, even though the blond’s lips had felt oddly familiar and warm against his own.

“What are you playing at, Malfoy?” he snarled, not in the mood for games. If Malfoy had his wand it meant Abraxas had given it to him, which meant the boy he’d lost his virginity to was a complete fraud.

“You’re an idiot, Potter,” Malfoy replied, but he was still beaming. “You haven’t figured it out yet?”

“Figured what out?” Harry demanded. “That you’re a prat, and so is Abraxas?”

Draco winced and shrugged. “If he is then I would have to be… James,” the boy replied.

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. You know that it was me, you know that I’m the one who stupidly fell for a rock star, that I’m the git who actually fucked a boy who had been lying to me the whole time. So, what are you going to do about it? Tell the whole school? I don’t care!” he shouted.

“Why would I do that?” Malfoy laughed, finding great amusement in Harry’s confusion. “Harry, Abraxas has been in love with you for years.”

“No, he told me he was in love with a boy at school who looked…just…like me,” he stammered, suddenly realizing how dim he’d been. “All that time he was talking about me?”

“Yes, all that time I was talking about you, then come to find out it was you all along,” Draco told him, his eyes boring through Harry’s widened gaze.

“You,” he whispered and took a step back. “I slept with you?”

“Among other things,” Draco replied, but he didn’t look quite as triumphant as he had a moment before.

“Ron’s going to kill me,” Harry whispered, rubbing the heels of his hands roughly into his eyes.

“Because you fucked the enemy?” Draco grumbled bitterly and Harry sighed and shook his head.

“No,” he replied at last, letting his hands fall to his sides. “Because I’m in love with the enemy.”

Draco gasped slightly at Harry’s admission before pulling the boy against him. This time Harry came willingly and nearly melted into the blond’s embrace. “I’m so happy that I lost my virginity to you after all,” Draco breathed against Harry’s lips.

“What, were you saving it for me or something?” he teased, but Draco grew quiet and still in his arms. “You were?” he asked incredulously. Draco was like a perfectly carved marble statue, tall, proud, beautiful; why would someone like him ever fantasize about a poor little orphan? How could Draco want Cinderfella?

“How could I not?” Draco replied, and his words seemed to provide the answer to both the spoken and unspoken questions Harry had for him. “You’re clever… usually,” he added with a smirk and Harry swatted him playfully, “you’re stunning, you’re brave and powerful. I’ve loved you for ages, Harry.”

“Then why have you always been cruel?” Harry asked, suddenly feeling the full weight of whose arms were wrapped around him.

“You chose Weasley over me; you’ve rejected me at every turn. You sought out Chang and the Weaselette for romantic companionship, how was I to know I ever stood a chance?” he asked, his eyes betraying the frustration he’d felt.

Harry wouldn’t waste any more time with words and explanations. This was his destiny after all, so it had to work itself out in the end, right? Instead, he kissed the blond with an abandon he’d never felt before and Draco moaned against him. “You’ll always belong to me, Harry,” Draco whispered when they broke apart and Harry smiled. He had always wanted to be important to someone for more than just his name or his scar, and now he was.

With an unabashed grin, Harry pulled Draco out into the bustling corridor nearby. They drew the stares of several students, and he knew the rumors would be flying by morning, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He’d shucked the sooty garb of Cinderfella and how he had his Prince Charming. Nothing could be better.

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Albus Dumbledore shifted to get a better look at the two smitten boys in the corridor. Students were spilling in around them but Albus could tell that Draco and Harry only had eyes for each other now, which was as it should be. A shimmer to his left caught his eyes and Dumbledore smiled playfully and beckoned the hovering form to his side. “I take it everything went according to plan,” Dumbledore asked, seemingly to no one at all.

The students around him took little notice, they were quite used to thinking their Headmaster was mad. “In a manner of speaking,” the mostly invisible form answered. “Are you going to tell me now why I had to set Harry and Draco up to fall in love?”

“It was going to happen with or without your assistance, Sirius, your help merely pushed it in the right direction when we needed young Malfoy’s help the most. Their union now will save Harry’s life during the final battle,” Dumbledore mused.

“How do you know that?” Sirius asked from under his invisibility cloak.

Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled with mischievous light and he raised a thick gray eyebrow. “How is it that I know anything?” he asked and Sirius rolled his eyes even though the Headmaster would never see him.

“But you said they would have fallen in love regardless,” Sirius pointed out.

“They would have, but it would have been too late. They would have fallen in love when Harry saved his life during battle, but that would have left his back exposed to Voldemort and Harry would have died right there in Draco’s arms. Now, Draco will stand beside him and together they will bring Tom Riddle down,” he explained.

“And then I’ll get to see him again?” Sirius asked hopefully.

“Yes, Sirius. Once the battle is done then we can reveal the fact that I helped you escape from the veil and you and Harry will be united once and for all,” Dumbledore assured the man.

“With no more interfering from you,” Sirius added and Albus raised his hands defensively, showing that there was nothing up his robe sleeves.

“I’m sure Draco will take to you as well, he is half Black after all,” Albus mused. “Their wedding will be an event to remember.”

“Whatever crystal ball you’re reading, I want a peek,” Sirius muttered and Dumbledore chuckled lightly.

“I’m not sure you could handle the weight it would put upon your shoulders, Sirius, but I can tell you this,” he began and Sirius looked over at him expectantly. “They live happily ever after.”

FIN

Author's Note: Haha. In my perfect world, Harry would still have Sirius and of course Draco. lol. Next up is The Little Mermaid, which I'm nearly done with.