Journey

Draco was both sweaty and exhausted when the sun finally set. He had made it his goal to make the fields look at least a little better before they left on the morrow. The huts had been repaired, Harry¡¦s men had made sure of that. And Draco had exerted himself more than he ever had before. He knew he needed to eat, but was too tired to do much more than fall into the bed and sleep.

The tent was empty when Draco stumbled in, finding his pallet and curling up to it. At first he had been so uncomfortable on the hard earth floor, but did not notice anymore. He closed his eyes and was asleep in minutes.

When Harry noticed Draco wasn¡¦t at dinner he went on a search. For a moment he panicked when he couldn¡¦t find the blond anywhere. Perhaps he had run away. Or perhaps someone had taken him in the middle of the night. He heard a small snore coming from his tent. A smile found his lips. He looked inside, still angry about the fight they had earlier, but nonetheless relieved that he was okay.

¡§Harry did you„moh. Asleep is he?¡¨ Ron asked from behind Harry. ¡§I have to say when he makes his mind up about something he won¡¦t back down.¡¨

¡§Yes, but what of when he grows bored of this? What happens when he decides it is no longer in his interest to help these people. He will be his father.¡¨

¡§You judge him too harsh, do you not?¡¨

¡§He is young.¡¨

¡§He is nineteen.¡¨ Ron put his hand on Harry¡¦s back, steering him away from thnt. nt. ¡§If I remember correctly, Harry, you were given your first land at nineteen. Dumbledore seemed to believe you were of the right age.¡¨

Looking over at his friend, Harry sighed. ¡§And what has put you on his side? I thought you hated him.¡¨

Ron merely shrugged. ¡§I can admit when I¡¦m wrong.¡¨ Ron paused. ¡§And what has put you so ill towards him?¡¨

¡§Nothing.¡¨ Was all Harry would say.

¡§You forget I remember you in your breeches. You lie Harry Potter.¡¨

¡§Perhaps I do.¡¨ He shrugged. ¡§It is neither here no there. Have you heard from his father yet?¡¨

¡§Not a word. I was expecting to be attacked since we are still on his land.¡¨

¡§I think he cares naught for his son. I don¡¦t believe he will send men to attack. It would be too costly. It would be easier to just have another heir.¡¨ Harry sighed, running a stray hand through his hair. ¡§This boy is costing me my sanity.¡¨

¡§And why is that?¡¨ Ron asked, giving him a sideways glance. ¡§It¡¦s his father we must be worried about. Draco is harmless.¡¨

¡§That¡¦s what you think.¡¨ Harry said, rubbins jas jaw. His entire mouth ached from the hit earlier that day. He should have strangled the brat. ¡§Leave me, I have to think. We will leave as the sun rises tomorrow.¡¨

Ron nodded, knowing that it was time for him to leave and not ask more questions. He looked over at Harry one last time before disappearing back to camp. Harry had been a knight for ten years. He had been training to be one since he was eight. There wasn¡¦t a memory of his that didn¡¦t have him with a sword in his hand. Or dodging a blow from a friend all in good play. He had learned to keep his head about him at the most awful of times. He had seen people die. Seen them cut in half, stabbed, dragged from horses. He had seen poverty and riches. Anger and hate. And he had stayed calm through it all.

But this blond devil was the complete undoing of him. One minute Draco was making Harry feel like the most important person in the world, the next like the scum on the bottom of his shoes. But Harry wanted him. Wanted him like he had never wanted anything before. And not just that body, which would have been nice enough, but all of him. He wanted to see those eyes in complete surrender.

Less than two weeks Harry would be letting go of Draco, giving him up to Dumbledore to do with as he pleased. He would be going back to his estate, seeing to his people, and living his life. But suddenly his life without Draco didn¡¦t seem nearly as pleasant as it had just a few hours before.


R/R?