Salvation

I was reading the reviews and realized that I had meant to respond to them in the last chapter and had completely blanked on it, so I'm really sorry about that, guys.

So first and most importantly thank you to EVERYONE who has said kind things about the story. It means a lot to me as an author that I'm not writing complete crap here.

harrystrulove - I know this is late but I'm glad you liked the first chapter. I hope they are all still true to character.

vibora - Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy.

Aresy - I just loved the thought of Draco in the kitchen trying to cook for himself and being independent.

Amessis - Thank you! I'm glad you also enjoyed it.

anon(the first) - I'm glad you like it!

Anon(the second) - I could just picture Harry think it was perfectly normal to constantly take pain medication.

rafiq - I'm glad you like it so much and enjoy it!

thrnbrooke - I'm glad you liked those chapters so much to need the fifth! hehe

Lu - I'm glad you like it so much.

alyxanderson - There will be more until I totally run out of idea haha.

Vampsarecool - The only other place I post on is fanfiction.net so I don't have another website.

You didn't leave a name so I guess I'll just call you So What - When I had Draco mention how Harry thought it was failing, it was more that he was disgusted that Harry would think of Draco as failing and not stopping from killing a great man. Draco realizes that as a task he did fail. But to hear Harry think of it as failing hit him as disrespectful to Dumbledore. He figured Harry of all people would be happy that he didn't do it and the word "fail" has such a bad connotation to it. I don't know if I'm really making clear what I mean, so hopefully you understand. Draco was aware that being punished for not killing him would happen, but he's upset with Harry for not taking in to consideration what Draco had to go to so he could help him.

This isn't a fic about Snape being bad. In my mind for the books I'm not sure how he'll turn out, but in this fic he was good. He just hasn't been brought up yet because he hasn't needed to be. But no, he's not considered a bad guy.

As for Hermione, I'm keeping her to what I think is in character. In the books she is very pushy and wants to be able to fix everything at once. Or that is how I feel she comes across. So why would she change now? She's still going to have that controlling personality in my mind, which is how I write her.

I kept them being so whinny because that's how I see them dealing with it. I like looking at the psychological break down of the two because they have just gone through something very major and now have to learn how to deal with it without help from their friends. Hence, they'd be whinny before they can learn to work through it. That is, again, just how I see it.

The only reason I spent so long repsond to this specific review is because I think it was a good one and you had really good points, so I wanted to defend my story and explain why I did things the way I did. Um, but don't take anything as angry if it came across as me being upset, because I wasn't. I thought it was all very valid.

Tac - I'm glad you enjoy it so much! As an author it's the greatest thing to hear(read). And I agree with everything you were saying about there being to black and white boxes - I go through that thought every day. You also hit the nail right on the head about Dumbledore's death; that was exactly what I was trying to say.

A Wedding

Harry couldn't stop thinking about Draco. There was something about him that was comforting. When he was around the blond, he didn't feel the need to perform and act any differently than he would by himself. He could be who he was and show emotions without worrying what anyone would think. If he was in a bad mood for no reason other than life was miserable, Draco would be fine with that. There was never a time when Draco told Harry he wasn't allowed to feel the things he felt. And that was something new.

Not only was he comforting, but Draco was also surprisingly warm. He wouldn't come with flowers or lavish Harry with compliments or anything. It was more that Draco knew when the proper time to smile at Harry and the proper time when to pat Harry on the shoulder and tell him everything was okay.

The two didn't always talk about their pasts. It wasn't as much avoided as understood. There was a mutual idea that they didn't need to say it. Just the fact that the other knew the entire story was what made it okay. Both had mastered the fact that words weren't always necessary. There were times they just sat in silence and knew that the other was perfectly fine with it.

There was a bond between the two friends that no one else could share. Yes, Hermione and Ron were always there for Harry and he loved them dearly. But they would never know what he went through. They never had to see the light leave someone's eyes and the breath no longer come from the lungs. Draco, though, Draco knew what that looked like. More importantly, Draco knew exactly what it felt like to know you are the reason all those things left.

***

It was several weeks after the two wizards had made the potion that changed everything in Harry's daily life. He now had a three year stock of it and was no longer addicted. Now he wasn't spending all his time at the store, or making Hermione spend all her time there. His headaches were starting to lessen too.

They were sitting on the couch in Harry's apartment drinking tea. Now that he had someone to keep him company at his home, he didn't spend as much time at Hermione and Ron's house.

"So did you hear the news yet?" Harry asked Draco before taking a sip.

"What news?" Draco asked back while staring at Harry.

"Hermione and Ron are getting married. I thought Hermione would have told you by now." Harry looked confused by the fact that Draco didn't know.

"How long ago did he propose?" Draco asked, sounding slightly hurt. Draco and Hermione weren't as close as he was with Harry, but he would at least expect an owl telling him about it.

"Yesterday," Harry said simply. Draco sighed in relief. He wasn't out of the loop after all. Harry just had no idea of dates and what not.

"I'm not exactly her first priority, Harry. She probably figured you'd tell me or something. I can't say I'm really all that shocked though. It took Weasley long enough to propose though," Draco mused.

"Yeah, it's just great," Harry said in a way that hinted maybe it wasn't great in the least bit. All Draco could do was start at him in a questioning manner. He wasn't going to stir any pain that was unnecessary. If Harry wanted to tell him then he would. There was no need to force anything out just yet.

***

The wedding was beautiful and extravagant and lush all without being too much for one sitting. Instead of having an entire group of bride's maids and groom's men, there was only one pair. Harry was the best man and Ginny was the maid of honor. Bill and Fleur's son was the ring bearer and the daughter of one of Hermione's cousins was the flower girl.

Everyone looked splendid in their best clothes. Harry had managed his hair as much as he could, as did Hermione. Ron bought new dress robes for the occasion. Draco had his hair done nicely without slicking it back too much to look slimy. Ginny looked immaculate, radiating happiness with her large belly and even larger smile. She would always be beautiful, Harry told himself when he saw her in her dress – even when she was pregnant with Dean's baby.

After the wedding ceremony was over, there were many people to talk to, though Harry was ready to go home and go to bed. Some how Mrs. Weasley saw him hiding in the corner and had to drag him out. Damn her niceness!

"Harry, dear, you look so thin! I thought Hermione was feeding you this whole time." To himself, Harry sighed. When would Mrs. Weasley understand that he would always be thin, no matter what. "Why don't you have something to eat? I made plenty of food," she suggested while waving her hand to the table of goodies.

"No thanks, I'm not hungry," Harry answered, trying not to sound rude but also making it clear he was serious. It didn't work very well.

"Nonsense! You look worse than the first time we saw you."

Harry wanted to pull his hair out. He did not look that bad, he told himself. "Honestly, I'm not hungry. I've been munching on food all day." Okay, so he resorted to lying, but he knew the truth wouldn't please her.

"And there isn't a single stain on your robes? I don't believe you at all! Now why don't you get a plate and we'll sit down and eat?" She had a smile on her face that clearly said if you don't do as you're told, I will make a rather large scene.

"I swear, I am perfectly fine," Harry answered through tight lips.

"Harry, you know that I am just looking out for you. I want you to be as healthy as you can be, and here you are, skin and bones. I take full responsibility of your health and so I strongly suggest that you eat something." Oh no, her hands were on her hips now and she had her death glare set on him.

"Mrs. Weasley, I believe I am old enough to figure out when I'm hungry and when I'm not." Harry was starting to get a bit more annoyed and Mrs. Weasley was starting to pick up on it. It was probably a good thing that someone came to get in the middle of their conversation.

"Hey, Harry," came a girlish giggle.

"Hello, Ginny," Harry answered with a wave.

"Mom, you aren't forcing food in Harry's mouth again, are you?" Ginny asked with her eyebrow raised and a smile on her face.

"No, no, I was just leaving," and with that Mrs. Weasley walked away.

Being alone with Ginny made Harry feel quite uncomfortable. He desperately wanted to walk away before it got worse, but he knew that would be a bad idea. He would just have to grin and bare it until the moment was over and he could walk back to his friends and Ginny would walk back to her husband.

"I just love weddings," Ginny sighed dreamily. "When Hermione asked me to be her maid of honor, I couldn't have been happier! Ever since my weeding I wanted to be in another one. They're just so beautiful and everyone is so happy. Maybe Dean and I will have a wedding ceremony again for an anniversary in a few years to renew our vows. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Harry had to strongly resist the urge to slap his forehead and growl at her. Either she was trying to hurt him or she was really that thick. But Ginny would never be that mean so he knew it was the latter. Instead of acting on impulse, he just nodded and quietly answered, "Yeah."

And then he walked over. Of all the people in the world that could make this any more awkward than it was, it was him.

"Hey, Harry," he said happily while putting his arm around Ginny.

"Dean," Harry answered in a way he hoped sounded happy but judging by the look on the couple's face, he knew it didn't. "You know, all that talk about food has really made me hungry. Maybe I'll go load up a plate and try and get some meat on these bones. It'll make your mom happy." With that Harry walked away, leaving a very disappointed couple.

"He didn't even mention that I'm pregnant," Ginny whispered to Dean, snuggling into his chest. She thought of all people, Harry would be happy for her. Harry knew the importance of family.

"We can only expect so much of him, Ginny," Dean replied while rubbing his wife's arm and kissing the top of her head affectionately.

"Yeah, I guess," Ginny answered while her smile dropped.

***

When Harry walked away he ran in to two people that obviously didn't understand he simply wanted to be left alone.

"Harry!" came two shouts and then two sets of arms wrapped around him.

"Fred, George," Harry said in a form of a greeting. At least he sounded a little happier than when he greeted Dean.

"Don't they look so happy?" Fred asked with a large grin on his face. He had that smile on when you look at family and are immensely proud you don't even know what to do with yourself. George had it too.

"Who?" Harry asked dumbly.

"Ron and Hermione of course!" George laughed.

"And Ginny and Dean," Fred added.

"Yeah, they're really happy," Harry answered lamely.

"Can you believe that in a few short months, we're going to have another baby running about this place?" Fred asked his twin and Harry referring to his pregnant younger sister.

"And I doubt we'll have to wait too long for another from Hermione and Ron," George replied while nudging his brother and raising his eyebrows at Harry.

"Yeah," Harry said while running his hand through his hair.

"I wonder what their kid will be like," George mused aloud.

"It's going to be pretty confused. Ron is rather thick and then Hermione is as sharp as a knife. Half the time it'll be a genius and the other half of the time it'll be...well like Ron," Fred pondered while laughing.

"I think I'm going to sit with Draco," Harry finally said. "He looks pretty lonely over there." Then he walked away. Luckily for him, the people that were just with Draco had left so his story was almost passable.

"It is pretty weird he's here at all," George told his twin.

"Yeah, and it's even weirder that Harry wants to sit with him," Fred added while rubbing his chin and looking at Harry's form walking to the blond.

"I wonder what's going on with that."

"I don’t know, but Hermione seems to be all buddy-buddy with him now. And I haven't even seen Ron look at him that dirty yet, let alone throw a punch," Fred said with a confused look.

"Me either," George replied while scratching his head.

***

"I am in desperate need of a drink," Harry told Draco before he had even sat down at the table.

"One step ahead of you," Draco answered while handing Harry a cup full of whisky. He wanted to kiss Draco's feet.

"How'd you know to get it for me?" Harry asked while taking a large sip.

"You were talking to your ex who is now married and pregnant and then her brothers. I kind of put two and two together," Draco replied while looking at Harry as if he were crazy for not realizing Draco was smart enough to know all that.

"Well thank Merlin you know your math so well," Harry joked.

The two sat silently and watched everyone interact. Ron came up to Harry a few times and told him how happy he was. Harry smiled at him and said how glad he was to hear that. Hermione tried to pull Harry on the dance floor a few times, but only succeeded once. As soon as the song was over he went straight back to his table with Draco and took the cup up once again. They weren't drinking too much. Neither wanted to be rude and ruin the celebration by being disgustingly drunk and annoying. That would just be terrible.

Yet, they really could have gone for being disgustingly drunk at that particular moment.

"I could still use more to drink," Draco sighed while looking around. Everyone had slowly started to leave. It was well in to the night and all the festivities had tired everyone out. The only people left were the Weasleys and Lupin and Tonks. They looked very much like they wanted to leave as well, but Molly and Arthur didn't seem like they were going to let that happen any time soon.

"There's more at my house," Harry suggested.