Never Let Go

***Disclaimer--I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I own the movie Titanic of which this story is based on. Events may be similar.
May god rest all the souls that went down that tragic night of April 15.


***WARNING!!!--- In this story, the characters did not go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There was no such thing. There was also no such thing as Lord Voldemort. Harry's parents are dead, yes and he was raised by the Dursleys. But there is still magic contained in this story. Everyone just went to different schools to learn and train their magic.
Now, onto the story!!

***

The black pit above him was like a vast blanket behind the silver mist of the clouds that scattered and adorned themselves with golden rays from the sun. Orange and white rays stretched agonizingly across the sky, as if reaching to those who had all died short before their time.

This is what Draco saw as he stared out into the ocean and at the magnificent view of the sunset.

He watched as the colors in the sky seemed to dance and scheme and clash, reminding him of his dreadful, tense, and unforgettable past. Oh, how the view of the ocean reminded him of lost lives; of the heartbreaking screams that bellowed out into the crisp night, their voices only to be returned with silence.

The blonde man sighed, lowering his head to stare at his reflection that rested below him in the ocean water. His thoughts led further and a faint smile appeared on his face as a young boy with emerald eyes entered his memory.

His best friend.

His first love.

His dear...Harry.

That horrible night was much like this one. So quiet and so still. So peaceful and filled with tender
love. You never would have thought that in just one night, the waitress who had worked on the ship that you had just chatted with would suddenly find herself jumping off of the ship in an effort to save herself from being crushed by one of the rescue boats.

With each passing second, millions of lives would be at stake. With each minute, another life would be lost.

Draco sighed again, reaching up to pat his pale, damp, wrinkled cheek. Just thinking of that night would make his heart quench. He had gained so much during that fateful journey from Europe. Yet he had lost so much in return...

Almost 2,230 lives had boarded that boat. And so many had been lost. Not even half of those bodies had been recovered.

It was only fifty years ago according to dear old Draco, and still he could remember the salty, warm air of the European port. He remembered that on April 10, 1912, he had arrived before the ship named the R.M.S. Titanic in an expensive white, Muggle tux, riding inside a large, elaborate and luxurious carriage fit for a King. Sitting next to him had been his fiancée, Pansy Parkinson wearing a very revealing scarlet, silk dress. She was a gorgeous woman, stunning, rich, and future mother to his heirs.

She was also a woman whom Draco had never loved. But he had been of age to get married and his father, Lucius, had wanted to marry him off and bare a child to continue the Malfoy line. Draco had agreed and proposed to Pansy, the daughter of Mr. Parkinson, who had been a powerful friend of his father's. Both men worked together with the Ministry.

Draco chuckled at a bit of irony. When he had been younger, he had been foolish and had thought that he was grown up and well ready for the world along with all of its messy dilemmas.

Well... He hadn't been quite ready for what had awaited him aboard the Titanic.

****

Fifty Years Ago:

"CHECK MATE!!!" Ron Weasley whooped, standing up and cheering while throwing his fists into the air like a crazed maniac. His best friend Harry Potter cheered along with him, raising his glass filled with firewhiskey as a toast.

"My dear, best mate, Ron wins again!" he declared, his green eyes shining. "Let all who stand here in this pub"--he looked around--"recognize him as the Weasley King!"

Drunken cheers erupted in the room, although no one in the pub knew what was going on, and best mates Ron and Harry gave each other a tight hug.

"I'm finally getting away from here!" Ron exclaimed when they pulled away, both boys wearing identical grins on both of their faces. "Merlin, Harry, I can't believe we're finally free!"

Harry laughed with him, feeling a great lift from his shoulders as the thought of never having to go live with the Dursleys ever again crossed his mind. "I know, Ron, isn't it great!"

"Hey!" a loud voice erupted behind them, and the boys turned to see the man whom they had just defeated still sitting next to the chessboard. "You cheated!" he accused.

Harry's eyes narrowed. "We didn't cheat! We won fair and square Zacharias." The Smith boy glared at him.

"How do I know that?"

Ron growled, growing impatient with him. "You don't. But I do not cheat, Smith. Now, hand over those tickets."

Smith didn't seem to want to hand over the object that they had been gambling over, but he stretched his palm out to reveal two tickets to aboard the famous R.M.S Titanic. It was rumored to be the only unsinkable ship around; the best in its class. And Harry and Ron were planning to aboard the ship and sail to America, where they would get jobs and live a free life away from the Wizarding World.

Once they retrieved their tickets, the boys grabbed their belongings and rushed out of the pub toward the docks, laughing and singing all the way.

***

"Honestly, Pansy," Draco sighed and rubbed his temples as he walked next to his fiancée past the steward, who had kindly offered to take their bags into their rooms in the First Class Wing. Him and Pansy, along with Draco's parents, had just presented their tickets in the entryway to the ship and were now strolling down a brightly lit hallway to tour the famous Titanic. But, like always, Pansy just had to complain about everything she saw during the trip. His parents didn't seem to mind since they were walking five feet behind them, thinking the soon-to-be-married couple needed a bit of privacy.

Anything but! Draco wanted to protest. He hated the infuriating girl next to him and could not stand the way she spoke about people, especially about those who were non-magic folk. Draco didn't particularly love Muggles either, but still. He knew when to cease the insults, being taught by his own father that it was childish to go and insult everyone when he merely felt like it.

Similar to what Pansy was doing right now. She had just insulted a passing Muggle when Draco began to feel a headache brewing near his right temple. He politely tried to tell her to keep her voice low and be quiet, but the girl was too stuck up and proud to shut that annoying mouth of hers.

"...and their clothes! Ugh! That man looked like he had just snatched some rags out of a rubbish bin and thrown them on. Honestly, don't those people know that their lack of proper care is infectious? What if their skin touches me and I began to erupt in boils and rashes?"

Draco tried hard not to roll his eyes, and merely forced a grin as he tried to calm down his soon-to-be-bride. He inwardly cringed at the thought. "Pansy, dear," he cooed, while balling his fists behind his back into a tight fist. "Don't waste anymore breath about those Muggles. Be glad that you're better than them and leave it as that." As an afterthought, he flashed her a bright smile that he knew would melt her heart and make her be quiet.

To his horror, a twinkle appeared in Pansy's eyes and she opened her mouth again.

No! He knew what that look meant. If he didn't stop her soon, she'd be rambling on forever about how she believed herself better and richer than those below her. Without thinking, he quickly leant forward and pushed his lips against hers. Pansy was surprised, that much he could tell in their kiss, but her surprise didn't last. She returned the kiss savagely, thrusting her fat tongue between his lips and down his throat, as if she was trying to choke him. Then she began pushing her whole body flush against his, and Draco nearly gagged.

"Now, now," he suddenly heard his mother's voice behind him. Pansy quickly pulled away from him, still hugging his waist and grinned innocently at Mrs. Malfoy as she approached. "I know you two are impatient to wed, but please remember your surroundings. It's not civil to begin such acts in the hallways, now is it, my son?" Draco nodded to her, blushing at what his mother was implying, though all the while thanking his mother for interrupting them.

"Of course, mother," was all he said while nodding. His mother smiled softly at him in return, and walked away to join her husband in touring the ship. As soon as his mother was out of sight, he felt a body suddenly push against his and he turned around to see Pansy practically humping his backside while she hugged him. Honestly! Did this girl have no common decency?

"What are you doing, Pansy?" he asked, trying not pull away from her too fast. Pansy held onto him.

"Nothing, my lovely sweetikins," she cooed, and Draco nearly wanted to die from shame at hearing her call him that. "I was just wondering...do you want to find our room?" Her eyebrow lifted in a suggestive manner. "We can leave your parents to relax themselves while we have our little fun." She said this while pushing him against the nearest wall and palming his crotch. Thank Merlin the hallway they were in was a small one and that no one was passing by. Draco wanted to push her body off immediately, but she tiptoed suddenly and put her lips next to his ear to whisper in it. "I bought a new dress at the boutique," she breathed and licked his earlobe, at the same time accidentally biting on it. Draco hid a wince. "I know you'll love it once you see me wearing it."

Draco bit back a groan of revulsion. He felt his body shaking from utter fear as he grabbed hold of her shoulders and pushed her away from him. Her face scrunched up in confusion, as well as in frustration. She opened her mouth to speak, but Draco clamped his hand on it.

"Shhh, love," he said, the word 'love' having to be practically spat out from his lips. "I would love to go and have fun with you and see you in your little dress. But," he added quickly when he saw her move to throw herself on him. "I really don't feel so well, Pansy. The exhausting ride over here all the way from France really effected me." He tried to give her a sad smile. "I'm sorry if I can't be with you tonight."

He watched as Pansy pouted and her eyes began to glisten. Draco almost groaned.

Oh no, not the waterworks. He knew that the tears were merely fake and just a way for him to change his mind. Not that it would work, but he knew that Pansy was stubborn like that.

"Pansy, I'm really sorry...but I can't."

To his relief, the girl nodded in acceptance. She sniffed before replacing her pout with a resigned expression. "I understand, Draco. I'll meet you in the rooms tonight then." She walked away in the direction of the dining and smoke rooms that they had just passed. Draco sighed, almost sagging with relief. But that kind of behavior wasn't proper for a Malfoy. So he decided to celebrate his short time with freedom with some fresh air.

It took a little while before Draco finally found himself up on deck, and the passing thought that he had forgotten to change his clothes was pushed away. There was no way he was going to his room, where Pansy would most likely be. He had ordered a separate room for them, thank Merlin. He couldn't imagine having to room with her.

Draco made a mental note that once they were married, he was going to buy a separate bed.

He decided, as he walked around with his hand on the railing and headed towards the nose of the ship, that he wasn't going to stay outside too long. He just wanted to see the sunset for a bit before he went to bed. The Titanic had already been sailing for hours now, and the bright sunlit sky from before was now darkening to a nice shade of blue and lavender. It was nearing twilight.

***

"Isn't it beautiful?" Harry whispered, standing onto the railing and leaning forwards like an eager little child reaching his hand out for a sweet. Ron looked back over his shoulder and grinned at Harry. His back was against the railing and he was surveying the deck and those around them. Everyone here were Muggles, Ron and Harry had noticed. They had yet to encounter a wizard, which was kind of nerve racking. The boys had to stay low when it came to doing any spells else they be caught.

Ron watched as the muggles began retreating to their beds. It was getting late. He looked at Harry, and grinned while shaking his head. Poor Harry. He hadn't seen very much in his young life, neither had Ron. But at least his family had traveled to a few places, while Harry's...

"Hey Ron, what do you think of me being a bird?" Harry suddenly asked.

Ron raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I dunno, mate. Never really thought of you in that way," he teased, laughing when Harry threw him a look. "Well, if you were to turn into a bird, I'd have to ask why."

The boy in front of him shrugged and he suddenly got this faraway look in his eyes as he gazed at the sky. "I don't know," he replied softly, staring at the sunset. "I just feel like if I was a bird, I could go anywhere I wanted. I mean, a bird can take off whenever and wherever. Nothing but the weather can hold him back. They're free." He paused, then looked down at the water with a sad sigh. "They're not meant to be locked up and starved. Caging a bird can destroy him. It's unnatural. Because they were born to roam the world. They're independent and can choose to do whatever they please and shouldn't be held back." He looked at Ron, his eyes distant and sad. "Right?"

Ron looked at him and inwardly sighed. "Yeah mate. You're right." Harry nodded and began looking out into the sunset again. Ron stared at him. Ever since they were little they had dreamed of this moment. Harry had wanted to run away because of his abusive family, and Ron wanted to enjoy life independently without his parents and brothers always being around. He loved them, of course, but he had sometimes thought they were too clingy. They were always around him, not giving him the space he wanted.

The sky darkened more and Ron began to grow cold. He shivered, pulling his arms around himself. "Hey mate," he said to Harry. "We better get inside and go to bed." They were in the third class, rooming with two other guys, one boy named Dean and a Scottish boy named Seamus. Both were pretty nice when they had first met Ron and Harry. And they were also wizards. Ron was ecstatic and had challenged them to a game of Exploding Snap tonight; he didn't want to miss it.

Harry shook his head at his friend's comment. "You go inside, Ron. I'm going to stay out here for a bit longer." Ron looked at him for a moment before nodding. He walked away, leaving Harry leaning against the rail once more.

The black haired boy sighed, closing his eyes briefly as he felt the wind sweep though him. The cool breeze was calming and it brought the scent of ocean water into his nostrils. He let himself smile as he enjoyed nature's way of soothing him. Harry had always loved the outdoors since he was young. He remembered swimming in lakes and climbing up trees in an effort to escape from the world. Now that he was older, Harry used Quidditch to distract him. Sadly, he couldn't bring his broom with him during the voyage. It would have been a bit discomfiting if he had to explain to the muggles just why he was carrying a broom and also explaining how the broom seemed to fly in the air.

Harry laughed to himself.

"Hey," a sudden voice said behind him. Harry didn't turn, thinking it was Ron coming back to take him inside. "Hey," the voice repeated a few seconds later. "Don't you know what time it is?" Harry froze. That wasn't Ron's voice. This voice sounded softer and more sophisticated. Almost like velvet.

He turned around, and found himself face to face with an Angel with platinum blonde hair.

***

He was beautiful.

Those were the words that ran through Draco's mind when he glimpsed those shimmering emerald eyes hiding behind a pair of black rimmed glasses. Windswept black locks, smooth flushed cheeks, lean and muscular body, cherry red lips... Draco gulped as his blue eyes swept over the man before him.

Draco had been walking meaninglessly in circles for what had felt like hours enjoying the cool breeze upon his face when he had suddenly recalled that he hadn't been to the front of the ship yet, and he was curious. Turning around, he hurried so that he could get a glimpse of the sunset before it disappeared. That's when he had stumbled upon this green-eyed God. Draco had seen him leaning against the railing, with his eyes closed as if in a state of utter bliss. When the wind had swept through the boy's hair, Draco had a sudden yearn to run his own fingers and mess up that head of already disordered hair.

And as the green-eyed boy stared at him, his eyes raking Draco's body, Draco found himself staring back. "Hey," he breathed again, his voice gone husky. He tried to clear his throat, but to no avail. The breeze was getting colder now, chilling the air he breathed in. He wrapped his arms around himself in an effort to stay warm, yearning to cast a warming spell on himself. But he resisted, unsure if this man was a Muggle or not. He certainly dressed like one, Draco noticed. Even though his body was utterly gorgeous, his clothes seemed a bit used and wrinkled. How could he not be freezing in that type of clothing? "Aren't you cold?" he asked the green-eyed boy.

The boy's gaze snapped up to his face, and Draco thought a cute, pink flush had spread across the boy's cheekbones. That could be from the cold, he thought.

"Oh, erm, I hadn't noticed the cold really," the boy said, his voice light and innocent.

Draco gave the boy a small smile. "Well, it is cold. You should—"

But the boy had suddenly pulled out what appeared to be a wand and began to wave it around himself and Draco. Instantly the cold was gone from his body and Draco felt warm. He gasped, his blue eyes going round. "You're a wizard!"

The green-eyed boy grinned and nodded.

"What are you thinking doing magic when there's Muggles around?" Draco asked, slightly annoyed but also relieved at the nice thought of the boy doing magic for him.

***

Harry frowned. Not even a small thank you? Geez.

"Well, I wouldn't have cast the spell if I knew that they were around. I would have sensed them. And I knew you were a wizard and not a Muggle yourself because of your magic pulse."

The blonde Angel gaped at him for a moment before quickly recovering. His stance seemed to fix itself from its slouched position and the Angel smirked at him. "Well, that's very smart thinking. You must be pretty powerful if you can sense magic pulses."

Harry shrugged, knowing that he was slightly different and more powerful than average wizards. He did not like to be reminded though. "I guess," he said offhandedly. He looked at the boy. "So why are you out here if it's so cold?"

The Angel seemed to think a moment about his question, before finally sighing and walking over to the rail. He was a foot away from Harry as he leaned on the metal and looked out into the ocean. Harry almost felt himself catch his breath at the Angel's proximity to him. He could glimpse the boy's manicured nails and could even tell from this distance that the blonde hair was so soft and silken as they fell around his face, framing his cheeks and making his cheekbones stand out.

"I just wanted fresh air so that I could think a bit," the Angel said as an answer to his question. Harry nodded, having the same reason for staying outside.

"Has it helped any?" Harry asked, trying to make casual conversation. The Angel nodded once.

"A bit." He paused. "You?"

"The same."

The boys stood there for awhile, enjoying the soft breeze hitting their warm bodies and the simple notion that they weren't alone in their thinking.

***

But Draco knew he needed to go to bed soon, or else his parents, or worse Pansy, would come looking for him. He didn't want to leave, especially because of the boy beside him. He didn't know why but just him standing there had helped relax him a bit. He had even managed to forget his whole agreement with his father about Pansy.

He sighed, reluctantly pushing himself off the rail and turning to the green-eyed boy, who looked at him also. "I have to go," he said softly. The green-eyed boy made a small smile and nodded.

"Hope you were able to think," the boy said. Draco smiled back in thanks and turned, walking away from him and down to his room.

He passed Pansy's room, glad to see it closed, and walked into his. He undressed from the tux and changed into his night bottoms. Then he went to bed, and was surprised to find himself the most relaxed he had felt in what felt like...forever. He grinned, sighing deeply into his comforter as his usually tense muscles seemed to vanish and melt into the mattress.

He soon felt himself falling asleep, slowly drifting off into dreams full of green-eyed boys with black hair. The last thing Draco thought before succumbing to darkness was, 'Damn, I didn't even ask him his name.'


****

Hoped you liked this first chapter. Don't worry. It'll get lots more interesting. Oh, and a slight hint---I put DEATH as a warning because obviously there will be lots of deaths on the ship. And as of now, this story will not be like the movie Titanic. The first chapter will be the only one with events identical to the movie.

Sorry for any grammar mistakes.
Please review! Leave any comments. Flame only if needed. : )

I'll try and update soon, but I also have to work on 'Summer Ecstasy' as well. Still, I'll try to get a chapter up soon for both of these stories.
Thanx for reading!