The End

8

Draco was confused. He didn't understand Harry's reaction in Xaivier's classroom at all. Harry's request that the professor read his thoughts, then his sudden distance from Draco's gaze was a shock to Draco, leaving him in a heap of questions. None of which had been answered these many days later.

Draco would have pressed the issue, these were his thoughts afterall. The fear that he may have seen his secret, left his lover afraid. Harry's eyes had registered a distant , confused, or distracted look for the last several days. Had he known what Harry knew, he might have been in the same state.

~~~~

Harry didn't register anything at all for the days following his discoveries. His dark-half's claim and three riddles haunting his thoughts, more so than that of the Phoenix. He knew, or rather, could tell Draco was confused, but was not at all sure how to reach him. He felt trapped, afraid to say anything, for fear it might be too much.

He went over the riddles his Dark-Half had told him. However, none of it made any sense at all. None of it. The creature had said when they came to pass, he would return. Harry didn't believe it, because that meant that these things were in the future. That was just not possible at all.

"You've been up here all day again." The statement shocked Harry just enough to make him aware of Draco's presence. He felt arms wrap around him from behind and leaned back into the boy's chest. "I know, you can't tell me." Draco said, the words soft, but bitter and somewhat cold. They both sat for a while and comtemplated how to continue from this point of awkwardness.

"You know I would, but I don't even understand it." Harry said fighting back the urge to cry in his own defense. He felt the boy shift to his ear. "Hey, shhhhh, I know ok." Draco whispered gently tighting his grip on Harry. Harry sighed softly and said, "I wish I had known you sooner. This might be easier then." "What would?" Draco asked in his same soft whisper as Harry moved his hands to cover Draco's "Trust." When he said it, he knew it was the wrong thing to say, because the arms had untangled themsleves, Harry had fallen back and hit his head, managing only to hear the sound of running.

~~~~

Draco only knew of one person he could talk to. He still couldn't believe it was true though, how easy it seemed that he thought of Ron. He seemd to fly, as if running he could avoid the hurt that seemed to chase down his heart like a rouge spear. 'How could Harry not trust me?' He thought bitterly, tears now making the wind chilly to his cheeks. He cursed as more tears flowed, not noticing he had smacked into Ron.

Ron, being a keeper for Griffynfor house treated the incoming Draco as a bludger and simply absorbed the impact. He heard Draco breathing quite heavily and sobbing lightly. He gently wrapped his arms around the form in his chest and rested his chin on Draco's head. Once Draco regained his composure, they walked up to the prefect quarters and sat themselves down on the bed.

Ron allowed Draco to calm down a bit before he asked, "What happened?" placing his arm around Draco's shoulders and pulling him into a partial embrace. Draco sniffed a bit, wiping his tear soaked cheeks with the sleeve of his robes. "Harry said he didn't trust me. I just...wanted to...help." He stopped as sobs taunted his reddened eyes. "Ron, was I so awful?" He knew the answer and started to just cry openly now. Ron let Draco's head settle in his lap. Stroking the blonde's soft hair.

"You were what you were, but now, you are what you have chosen to be. Draco, no one, not even you can change what happened. We just move on, together." Ron smiled to himself, Hermione would have been proud at the great wisdom he had just bestowed on their rival.

"I think he knows." Malfoy said sniffling. "I should have told him...I could..." He stopped talking and tried to get control of his shaking voice. "Told him what?" Draco responded automatically "You know, that my father asked the Dark Lord to kill Harry's parents." Realizing Ron hadn't responded, Draco opened his eyes to see Harry standing in the doorway stone faced.

"No, Harry....sorry...I didn't mean," Draco bit down on his lower lip to stop quivering, but the blood that trickled out from it, looked like the tears that continued to flow down his stained cheeks.

Without really considering anything, Draco shot up from the bed and made a direct path to the door. However, seeing his escape Harry stepped into his path and for the second time today, Draco Malfoy had made a full run right into someone. This time, he realized and his arms shot out in a hug. Harry was a bit shaken, but when he recovered he embraced his lover softly.

"Draco, I don't blame you. You must trust that ok?" Harry's tone was that of a father rassuring a worried child. "I just expirenced alot of things in my mind that have left me very confused and until I can sort it out, I need you to wait. OK?" Draco nodded into Harry's chest and calmed down a bit. "I just wanna help." He said innocently into Harry's chest.

"Draco, just being my lover is a help, being the one who wraps their arms around me when I am cold, Crying for me. This is help I could never ask for, but you always know when I need it." Harry lifted Draco's soft chin from his chest and smiled warmly. "Don't cry for fear, Draco. I promise as I can to never let you be afraid."

Hermione had walked in on this scene and burst into tears at Harry's last words. Ron quickly collected her in his arms and gently hushed her. Whispering softly, words neither Harry or Draco could hear.

~~~~

After the scene in the room, when Hermione had offered a double date, it seemed only right. Both couples showered, dressed in their best clothes and spent a lot of time on their hair. Finally, Harry broke up the obsessive hair doing with a gentle laugh. "Geez Draco, you look fine, if you mess with it too much it'll fall out." Draco glared at him and then a grin crept across his angry features. "Well, atleast I don't look like a cat coughed up a hairball on my head." Harry looked hurt, but then smiled. "You love my hair you git." Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's waist an pulled him close, "You know I do, love." Then he gave a soft kiss.

A loud clap shocked them apart and they looked stunned. Ron stood in the doorway, looking impatient. "Come on guys, I spent all that time making 'Mione get ready fast and here you two are snogging like two girls." Ron chuckled as glances of pure loathing were sent his way.

~~~~

` Hermione lead everyone outside to an area just near the lake. Harry finally saw what looked like candles, as he got closer, he saw a table four chairs and a brilliant set of dishes. "Who?" Harry asked amazed. Hermione smiled, "I wanted to try my transfiguration knowlege. How's it look?" "Stunning work, Granger."Draco said quite softly, obviously impressed, making Hermione smile more.

Harry admired her work as well, he had to admit, she was the best in school. He sat down next to Draco, who was still talking about Hermione's craftsmanship. This pleased her to no end and her ego was all over her face. Her smile looked like she could open her whole face up.

Ron again, interupted the moment. "Sorry to interupt, but can we eat now?" Eveyone eyed Ron again and he just shrugged. "What? A man's gotta eat mate." Harry smiled teasingly. Hermione told them to wait. Draco was pinching Harry's leg playfully, causing Harry to become flustered. Ron simply looked the other way.

"Harry potter, sir!" Dobby squealed running up to the table. Draco looked shocked, then his eyes filled with tears. Dobby looked over at Draco and his eyes also welled up. Draco Malfoy, Sir! Dobby lept across the table and hugged Draco hard. Harry looked on mouth wide enough to drive an express through. The others had quite simalar expressions.

Dobby and Draco exchanged long smiles, before Draco spoke. "Why are you here, Dobby?" He asked shock still in his voice, but obvious affection too. "Well master, after you..." Dobby paused as something seemed to occur to him. Draco simply nodded his head gently. "It's ok, they can know now, Dobby." Harry was now completely focused on Dobby.

"Well Sir, after you is sent Dobby to warn Harry Potter," He waited. The other three had deep shock all over their faces. "I is went to Dumbldore's with master and told Harry Potter who it was that gaves Ginny that book and he freed Dobby." He paused again, the shock had subsided, but the audience was still rivited.

"So after two years, I come to Hogwarts and Dumbledore hires me." He paused and then smiled again, "I is so happy to see my old master again." He gave Draco another hug and then went to get food.

During the silence before Dobby's return, Draco felt Harry's gaze. He couldn't look because he just knew he would smile at Harry's confusion and he didn't want to be rude. After a few moments Dobby returned and set all the food out for them to eat, before winking at Draco and disapearing in a cloud of smoke.

Ron, as usual, had over stuffed his mouth and spent mouth of the evening mumbling inaudible affirmitives when people asked for his response. Harry and Draco had started a game of playfully feeding eachother, which wound up with a great deal of food on their faces.

Hermione was reading like usual intent on discovering some secret knowlege. When she broke the silence, "Hey, I just about forgot. I found this book in the restricted section last night. Draco and Harry followed her with their eyes, wiping food from their mouths with their napkins. She set it on the table. "I thought the title looked intresting enough. 'Paths tread that lead nowhere'" She read aloud. "But look, it's very stange." She opened in and Harry froze. All the pages were torn out.

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Chapter 8 end

So drama and a nice cliffhanger I should have chapter nine up pretty quickly.
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