First Place - Action/Adventure

Harry surfaced to consciousness once again, remembering everything that had happened, yet afraid that maybe he wasn't really safe back at Hogwarts. He was fearful after remembering how his body hurt so badly after the last time he'd regained consciousness.

Harry lay still, trying to decide if he was really remembering things right or not. Had he really vanquished Voldemort? Had he actually killed Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange?

Harry turned his thoughts outwards. Yes, he was in the hospital wing. He could detect the medicinal smell of the place. It was unusually quiet, though. Maybe it was the middle of the night.

Someone was holding his hand. He tried to decide who it was but couldn't place it. It wasn't Draco's little hand, it was too large to be his. It wasn't Hermione's, her hands were smaller than the hand holding his. It wasn't Ron's hand either, too soft to be his.

There was one way to find out, but Harry was still afraid of moving at all or opening his eyes. Finally he screwed up his courage and cracked his eyes open, thankful for the low lighting in the room. It must have been the middle of the night after all.

Harry's eyes opened wide when he realized who was actually holding his hand. It was Draco. Only it wasn't four-year-old Draco, it was sixteen-year-old Draco. Harry blinked furiously while trying to figure out if he was really conscious or not, because he was about ready to decide that he was dreaming.

Draco Malfoy was holding his hand. The boy was sitting in a chair pulled close, his head pillowed on Harry's bed, sound asleep and holding Harry's hand.

"Draco?" Harry whispered in disbelief.

Obviously Draco hadn't been sleeping deeply, if he had been asleep at all, because his head shot up at Harry's whisper.

"Harry?" Draco whispered, echoing Harry's disbelief.

Harry was blinking furiously again, trying desperately to grasp what was going on.

"Am I awake?" Harry whispered, afraid to speak any louder, and not sure if he could speak any louder for that matter.

Suddenly, Draco smiled. Sixteen-year-old Draco Malfoy with a real smile directed at Harry. Harry brought his free hand up to his face to rub at his eyes before looking at Draco again. Yes, he was still there.

"Yes, you're awake," Draco said, still smiling. But then he closed his eyes briefly and muttered, "Thank Merlin."

"I'm confused," Harry said, trying to speak normally and his voice came out as a hoarse croak.

Draco looked at him in concern. "Are you thirsty? Are you feeling any pain at all?"

Harry looked at him, bemused by the concern and the whole situation. "Water," he said, nodding. Draco moved to pour him a glass from the jug on the nightstand.

Harry moved to try sitting up, testing his body to figure out the answer to Draco's other question. Setting the glass down, Draco quickly moved to help him and adjust the pillows behind Harry to support him.

"Are you hurting at all?" Draco asked again worriedly.

Harry was back to simply blinking at the blond Slytherin.

"Harry?" Draco asked.

Harry shook his head a little. "I'm stiff and a little sore, but I think I'm fine," he said quietly, his voice still hoarse.

Draco nodded and handed him the glass of water. Harry drank it down thirstily before handing the glass back. "That's better," Harry sighed, eyes closing and leaning back into the pillows. He did feel awfully weak and tired, he decided, for having just woke up.

"I should probably be getting Madam Pomfrey," Draco said quietly.

"Wait!" Harry exclaimed, startling Draco, who quickly turned back around.

"She needs to check you over and make sure you're okay," Draco said.

"But she'll just poke and prod me," Harry whinged. "I'm confused and want to know what's going on first."

Draco's lips quirked as if he was trying to repress a smile. "Yes, I'm sure she'll want to run a bunch of tests on you."

Harry begged him with his eyes and words. "Please, I just want to know what's going on. I don't even understand how you could be here like you are. The potion's not supposed to be ready for another two weeks."

Draco sat back down in the chair beside the bed and looked down at his hands twisting in his lap for several long moments. Finally, he looked up at Harry again. "Harry, you've been in here unconscious for the last three weeks. I took the potion and returned to my normal age a week ago," Draco said softly.

Harry was almost ready to decide that blinking was all he knew how to do anymore, because that was all he seemed able to do as he stared at Draco.

Draco's quiet voice continued after a few moments. "Everyone's been really worried about you. It took over a week just to heal the injuries to your body. You depleted your magic to an extremely low point. Dumbledore and Pomfrey have just kept saying that once your magical levels were restored, that you'd wake up again and you'd be fine."

He shook his head slightly. "Even they have looked really worried, though, and so no one has been sure whether to believe them or not."

Harry leaned back into the pillows trying to take all of this in.

"And I really did kill Voldemort?" Harry asked.

Draco nodded. "Dumbledore verified it. And yes, you really killed my father and my aunt, too."

Harry looked at Draco horrified. "Oh gods," Harry breathed as it registered that he'd killed this boy's family. He knew about Lucius and was personally glad, but wasn't sure how Draco would be taking the fact that his father was dead. And Harry had totally forgotten that Bellatrix was his aunt. "I killed your family."

Draco shook his head. "It's all right, Harry. They deserved what they got."

Harry closed his eyes and turned his head away. "I'm sorry, Draco. I'm sorry because I can't even say I'm sorry I killed them. I am sorry for hurting you, though," he said miserably.

"Harry," Draco said commandingly, trying to get Harry's attention. "Look at me."

Harry kept his lashes lowered, but slowly turned his head towards Draco.

"Open your eyes, Harry," Draco commanded softly.

Harry slowly opened tear-filled eyes and looked at Draco, the tears starting to spill over onto his cheeks. Draco reached over to tenderly brush them away. "Harry, don't you feel bad for killing them. I'm not angry or upset with you at all." Draco locked eyes with Harry, refusing to let Harry look away. "I'm glad they're dead, Harry. For the first time in my life, I'm really and truly safe from them and I'll never be harmed by them again. I'm glad you killed them."

Harry gazed at Draco, stunned by his words and the intensity with which they were spoken, not to mention Draco touching him so gently. "Really? You don't blame me?" Harry whispered.

Draco shook his head. "No, Harry. I don't blame you," he answered.

Harry closed his eyes again and sighed wearily.

"I'm still a murderer, though," Harry said with quiet bitterness. "Sad thing is, I wanted to be."

Draco snorted loudly, startling Harry. "Harry, you killed three of the most evil people in the Wizarding world. It's called serving justice, not murder."

Harry was back to blinking at Draco.

Draco shook his head, chuckling lightly. "The Wizarding world is celebrating. Everyone is still worried about you, but most are celebrating their newfound freedom regardless. You've done the world a great service. You're definitely not a murderer about ready to be hauled off to Azkaban. You're now the Boy-Who-Lived-Twice," Draco said with a wry smile.

Harry groaned. "Oh, no. It wasn't like I even had the killing curse cast on me again. Please tell me you're joking. I don't want any more stupid titles."

Draco's smirk finally returned and Harry was actually glad to see it, being the first time in months. "Oh, yes. You've got plenty new stupid titles now, along with the old ones. You're the Hero, the Savior, and you're the Conqueror now," Draco drawled, smirk firmly in place.

"Oh gods," Harry moaned. "Why can't they just leave me alone?"

Draco snorted. "The press has been parked at the Hogwarts gates for the last three weeks, simply waiting to hear word that you're all right."

"Lovely," Harry said sarcastically, before yawning.

"Hey, I should be getting Madam Pomfrey to check you over," Draco said, his concern back.

"She can check me in the morning," Harry said petulantly.

"You've been out of it for three weeks, though," Draco protested.

Harry looked at Draco curiously, actually studying the boy finally. Admittedly, Harry hadn't seen the sixteen-year-old Draco for months, but he clearly had dark circles under his eyes, his features looked more gaunt than they should have been and for once his hair was mussed from having laid on the bed earlier.

"Draco, why are you here?" Harry asked quietly.

Draco looked away and shifted uncomfortably, not saying anything.

"Draco?" Harry said, trying to figure out what was going through the boy's head. "You haven't been in here all this time with me, have you?"

Draco shifted again. "Um, they wouldn't let me stay during the night when I was still only four," he said uncomfortably. "Well, not at first anyway."

Harry remained silent, hoping Draco would be more forthcoming.

"I wasn't exactly sleeping well when I was away from you," Draco finally admitted. "So Severus let Blaise bring me back up here so I could be close to you."

Harry smiled, thinking about the four-year-old Draco. "I bet you snuck into bed with me as soon as Blaise wasn't looking. And I also bet that Blaise turned away just so that you could."

Draco's lips quirked as he looked up at Harry through his fringe. "Yeah, that about covers it," he admitted.

Harry studied the dark smudges under Draco's eyes again. "You haven't slept really at all this last week, have you?"

Draco looked down again. "No," he said, barely audible.

Harry was confused. Tired and confused. He had no idea why Draco had been holding his hand when he woke up. He had no idea who this Draco was; he seemed to be an odd mix of both the older and younger Draco. Harry did know that he liked this Draco, and he really didn't want to question things too closely at the moment.

Harry wasn't sure if he was about to make a fool out of himself or not. "Um, would you be willing to lay down with me? I'm not used to sleeping by myself anymore," he said quietly.

Draco's head shot up and he stared at Harry wide-eyed.

"You don't have to," Harry said quickly. "I just thought maybe, well, I don't know, I thought maybe you'd sleep, too, if you're not used to sleeping alone and you obviously haven't been sleeping and I know you have nightmares and - "

Draco cut him off. "Harry, you're rambling," he said, his smirk returning.

Harry snapped his mouth shut and turned his head. He wouldn't cry. He'd already cried in front of Draco once tonight and he wasn't about to do it again. He'd known he'd likely be rejected. Draco probably just felt guilty or something and that's why he'd been there and had been friendly with Harry. Harry wanted to cry anyway and suddenly wished Draco would just go away so he could.

"Harry?" Draco called his name softly.

Harry refused to say anything, not sure if his voice would even work for him at the moment.

"Harry?" Draco called again.

"I'm sorry," Harry said stiffly. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"You didn't offend me," came Draco's softly spoken response.

Harry slowly turned his head to look at Draco.

"I didn't mean to make it sound like I was rejecting you," Draco said quietly. "Is the offer still open?"

Feeling like he'd been dropped into some alternate universe, Harry slowly nodded his head and scooted over a little on the bed. Without another word, Draco toed off his shoes and shrugged out of his robes before slipping into the bed beside Harry. They rearranged themselves and the blankets to make them both comfortable, Harry tucked snugly in Draco's arms.

Harry tried for a couple of minutes to process what was happening. He didn't understand how he could suddenly be lying in bed with sixteen-year-old Draco Malfoy. He was more than happy with the situation, but couldn't comprehend why Draco was allowing it. Feeling far too tired to figure it out at the moment, he decided that he should just be satisfied with the closeness while it lasted and deal with everything later.

Harry sighed in content, particularly as he felt Draco stroking his hair. As much as Harry wanted to stay awake to enjoy it, he was soon back asleep, secure in Draco's arms.

When Harry next woke, he felt safe and warm. And he was hearing voices.

"I'm telling you, Draco wouldn't have just climbed into bed with Harry unless Harry invited him," Blaise said insistently.

"But Draco would have gone to get Madam Pomfrey if Harry had finally woken up and she says that he didn't," Hermione argued.

"Besides," came Ron's wry tones, "Draco's been crawling into bed with him for months."

"But not since he was sixteen again," Pansy said, just as insistent as Blaise. "I agree with Blaise, I think Harry's finally woke up."

"How could I not wake up with you lot arguing away," Harry said petulantly.

"I'm with Harry," came Draco's drawling voice above Harry's head. "No one can sleep with you lot around."

"Harry!"

"You're awake!"

"How are you feeling?"

"Are you okay?"

"Are you in any pain?"

"Should I go get Madam Pomfrey?"

"Oh, we've been so worried!"

Harry wasn't sure who had said what exactly, so he just grinned up at them all. The joy at seeing his friends overwhelmed any questions he had about being in bed with Draco.

Draco snorted. "Do you lot think you could overwhelm him a little more? I don't think you've done it completely yet," he said sarcastically.

They all turned a bit sheepish and backed off a little, allowing Draco to sit up and help Harry to sit up as well.

They didn't have to summon Madam Pomfrey because she came bustling up with all the commotion. Seeing Harry awake, she promptly shooed Draco off the bed, sent all of Harry's friends to the other side of the screens around Harry's bed, and started running her tests over Harry.

After fifteen minutes, Harry finally had to ask. "So, will I survive?" he questioned sarcastically.

She glared at him. "Yes, you will survive once again, Mr. Potter." But then she softened a little. "Although I must admit you had us all worried there for a little while."

Harry shrugged uncomfortably. "I didn't do it on purpose."

Madam Pomfrey smiled and shook her head ruefully. "You're going to be just fine. I'm going to have some breakfast sent up for you and I want you to eat the best you can. We've been feeding you nutrient potions but it's not the same and you've lost a fair amount of weight the last few weeks. Eat, but start out with small portions," she ordered.

Harry nodded dutifully. "Yes, ma'am."

She narrowed her eyes at him, but went on. "Your magical levels seem to be restored and overall you're healthy, but you're going to be a little stiff after being in bed for so long. I want you up and moving a little today, but I don't want you going too far," she said sternly. "You are to stay in the hospital wing for at least another day until you regain some of your strength back."

"Yes, ma'am," Harry said again, grinning at her.

"Hmpfh," she huffed at him. "I suppose I just have to take your compliance while it lasts."

Harry's grin didn't falter. They both knew it wouldn't be long before Harry was begging to be let out of there.

"I'll let the Headmaster know that you're awake," she said. "You may talk with your friends for a bit, but when your food arrives, I want you to remember to eat."

Madam Pomfrey bustled off and Harry's friends came poking their heads around the screens again. "Is it safe to come back yet?" Ron asked with a grin.

Harry returned the grin. "Yeah, she's gone for the moment to inform Dumbledore I'm awake. She said you could come back but I have to eat when my food gets here."

"Did she say you were all right?" Hermione asked worriedly.

Harry rolled his eyes. "I asked her if I'd survive and she agreed."

"Harry," Hermione admonished. "That's not funny. We've been worried about you."

Harry relented. "I'm sorry, Mione. Forgive me?" he asked, and held his arms out for a hug.

She huffed the same as Pomfrey had, but came and gave Harry a tight hug. Harry was mugged by Pansy next, both girls needing the physical reassurance. Ron and Blaise were just grinning at him from the foot of the bed. Draco had come around and sat down on the bed next to Harry.

Draco seemed to need to be close to Harry, and Harry wondered briefly if it was left over behavior from the four-year-old or if Draco could really want to be close to him now. No one else seemed to be questioning Draco's closeness. Harry really did want some more time to figure out what was going on there, but he wasn't given a chance to ponder over it as the other four started filling Harry in on everything that had been happening while he remained unconscious.

"So, Dumbledore announced that Hogwarts would have a celebration party as soon as you were well enough to attend," Pansy said excitedly.

"Yes, the whole school's been worried about you," Hermione added. "Everyone wants to celebrate, but I haven't heard a single person complain about waiting."

"Really?" Harry asked, feeling bemused by that idea.

"Really," Blaise said with a wry smile. "Even all the Slytherins are worried about you. We're just less vocal about it than some."

"Oh, Merlin!" Ron exclaimed. "You should see the Hufflepuffs break out in tears over you, mate. It's terrible, it is."

Harry started laughing with the others.

"Yes, it's a good thing you're awake, because we wouldn't want the Hufflepuffs flooding the place," Draco drawled. "They've been making such a fine effort and they've only been back for a few days."

The others were laughing even harder, but Draco's words sobered Harry. "I missed the holidays and Christmas, didn't I?"

The group quieted again as Draco nodded.

Harry's brow was furrowed in thought. "We were trying to finish Christmas shopping," he said quietly. "Then all that happened and then I just missed everything else. I was looking forward to Christmas this year."

"Actually, we have Christmas still waiting for you in our room - well, what was our room - down in Snappe's quarters," Draco said softly.

Harry looked around at the others who were all nodding in agreement. He blinked. "You guys gave up your Christmas for me?" he whispered.

"No, we just postponed it for you," Hermione said quietly. "It didn't seem right to celebrate when you were lying up here unconscious. Professor Snape let us put all our presents there until you woke up."

"We've mainly been taking turns staying in here with you," Ron added.

"Or taking care of a very distraught four-year-old," Blaise said wryly.

Draco ducked his head sheepishly, his cheeks flushing, as Pansy, Ron and Hermione all nodded fervently in agreement with Blaise's comment.

"I'm sorry," Harry said quietly. "I said I'd take care of him and then ended up leaving you lot to do it."

Suddenly, there were five pairs of eyes, all glaring at Harry.

"What?!" Harry exclaimed.

Draco pinned him with smoky gray eyes. "Oh, you just take a brutal punishment from my father - we've been assuming it was from him - then you kill off the Dark Lord. No one knows how you did it, but I heard you say you did it just because you loved me. You do all that, at least in part for me, and then you're going to worry because you were too injured to take care of me the last couple of weeks that I was a child?"

Harry shrugged uncomfortably. "Yeah, I took my responsibility seriously."

"Argh!" Draco yelled in frustration. "Harry, you did far more for me than anyone ever has. No one is angry with you for not taking care of me as a child."

"But I also missed out on those last couple weeks," Harry said quietly, tears beginning to pool in his eyes. "I thought that might be all the time I had left with you and now I missed out on it," he said, not thinking about what he was admitting to the sixteen-year-old Draco. "And you weren't supposed to be sad and miserable as a child. You had enough of that the first time around."

Draco softened. "Harry, of course I was distraught. I was worried out of my mind for you, not miserable and scared like I was when I was a child. And worried like I was, I didn't know how to deal with it as a four-year-old."

Blaise and Ron both snorted while Pansy and Hermione were suddenly coughing. Harry looked at them curiously.

"What?" Draco snapped.

"You didn't know how to deal with your worry as a sixteen-year-old, either," Blaise retorted.

Once again, Draco's cheeks were flushed as he looked down. "Yes, well, the point I was trying to make was that it wasn't Harry's fault," Draco muttered.

"Well, he is right about that, Harry," Hermione said, the voice of practicality.

"Merlin, Harry!" Ron exclaimed. "You're only one person and you can only do so much. And at your worst you can do more than the rest of us, I think," Ron added ruefully.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked, sounding puzzled.

"He means, wonder boy, that you always give everything you have to whatever you set your mind to do," Draco drawled, recovered from his embarrassment.

Harry shrugged uncomfortably again.

"I have to agree with that," Dumbledore said kindly, startling them all.

Harry looked up to see not only Dumbledore, but Snape and McGonagall as well.

"How are you feeling, my boy?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry shrugged. "I'm fine. Just a little stiff mostly."

"I'm glad to hear that. We've all been quite worried about you," Dumbledore said.

"So I've heard," Harry said with a wry smile. "I've heard by waking up I've now saved Hogwarts from flooding due to Hufflepuff's tears."

Snape snorted loudly, McGonagall's stern mask slipped as her lips started twitching, all Harry's friends were sniggering, and Dumbledore was smiling widely.

"Indeed you have, Harry," Dumbledore managed to say sagely.

Harry shook his head in wry amusement.

Dumbledore sobered. "Harry, perhaps you can tell us now exactly what happened? At this point, we still know little more than what Draco was able to tell us. Other than that, I was able to confirm Voldemort's true death this time. Everything else is unknown."

"Yes, and what I knew was pretty limited considering I was told to keep my eyes shut the whole time," Draco said wryly.

"Well, I didn't want you to see me killing your father," Harry protested. "And I didn't want you seeing him afterwards, either."

Draco looked at him. "And I'm grateful. A four-year-old should never see something like that. But it still means I don't know that much about what happened."

Harry sighed and looked at his hands in his lap. He realized he was twisting his hands much like Draco had the night before but couldn't seem to stop himself. Harry swallowed heavily.

"Um, I thought I was protecting Draco," Harry began uncomfortably. "I saw Lucius holding out the Portkey and ordering Draco to take it, and I grabbed it instead."

Harry waited for the "foolish Gryffindor" comments, but none were forthcoming so he forged ahead. "The Portkey dropped us in Malfoy Manor, but he knocked me out first thing. I actually don't remember receiving any of the ... beating."

"You mean torture," Draco snapped angrily. "My father tortured you without mercy."

Harry glanced up at Draco through his lashes. "Yeah, torture," Harry agreed, before looking back down at his hands. He was startled when Draco's hand took one of his own and squeezed it tightly in a show of support. Once again, Harry glanced up at Draco through his lashes, but quickly dropped his gaze to their joined hands.

The others remained silent, waiting patiently, allowing the two boys to work through this at their own pace and in their own way.

Harry swallowed audibly. "What I meant was that he kept me unconscious for all of it. I was never awake to be able to remember any of the ... torture," Harry explained. "Um, when I finally regained consciousness I was ... well, I was chained up in the dungeons."

Draco's hand was squeezing his so tightly that it was beginning to hurt. Harry rested his other hand on top of Draco's, causing Draco to relax his grip slightly.

"Sorry," Draco mumbled.

"Don't be," Harry said softly. "Do you really want to hear this?"

Harry didn't dare look at Draco but he could hear him sigh and he felt Draco's grip tightening again for a moment before loosening, although not letting go.

"Yes," Draco whispered.

Harry nodded. "Er, I was in quite a bit of pain," he admitted reluctantly. "I can't say I was really scared, though. Um, I was angry because of where I was."

Draco's grip tightened once again and Harry squeezed back. "It finally dawned on me why Lucius hadn't kept me conscious for any of it," Harry said.

"Because he was afraid of you," Snape said knowingly.

Harry looked up at him and nodded. "That's what I finally decided. He wanted to torture me and he wanted me weakened, but he didn't want to take any chance that I'd be able to get away. It was right after that when I started thinking about you, sir," Harry said, looking at Snape still.

Snape arched an eyebrow in surprise.

"I thought of you more than once during that whole ordeal and I was thankful that you'd always pushed me so hard," Harry admitted. "It's a lot harder to perform under pressure than it is in the classroom or even in my training."

Snape nodded his head in acknowledgement.

Harry looked back down at his and Draco's joined hands. "Anyway, I focused my magic like you taught me until I could get myself free from the chains," Harry said quietly. He snorted. "Although, then I wondered why the hell I wanted down in the first place because dropping to the floor hurt like fucking hell. I think it was my screaming that brought Lucius back actually."

Harry took a deep breath, trying to calm down again. "He didn't do anything else to me, though. He told me I hadn't been able to save Draco and then Portkeyed us out of there almost immediately. So, I was dropped into a screaming heap again in the middle of that fucking graveyard," Harry said bitterly. "Merlin, I hate that place."

"Yet fitting that Voldemort should die there by your hand, where he had once used you to regain his body," Dumbledore said wisely.

Harry looked up at Dumbledore, startled. He hadn't thought of it that way. Harry shook his head, trying to clear it. "Draco's probably already told you the rest of it," he said quietly.

Snape snorted quietly. "The four-year-old you ordered to keep his eyes closed as he was sobbing didn't quite get the whole picture," he said dryly.

Harry glanced at Draco. "Do you think he was putting me down or putting you down?" Harry asked with a slight grin.

Draco gave him a wry smirk. "I think he was being obnoxious to the both of us actually."

Harry chuckled lightly. He needed that bit of levity. Snape seemed to recognize it, too, because he made no further comment.

Harry grew silent, completely unsure of how to explain exactly what had happened. He'd been in so much pain by then and some of his memories seemed pretty hazy. He really didn't even understand exactly how things had played out with Voldemort at the end.

"Perhaps, Harry," Dumbledore said quietly. "It would be easier for you to put the memory into a Pensieve."

Harry looked up at him sharply. "How could it be easier to allow everyone to see that?"

"Not everyone," Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "Only those who are here now."

"Buy why?" Harry asked plaintively. "I mean, I can understand you needing to see exactly what happened. And Snape has the right to see more than almost anyone," he admitted, earning a look of satisfaction from Snape.

"Maybe McGonagall should see because ... well, I don't know why. But Draco shouldn't have to see that," Harry exclaimed in protest. "And what about Hermione and Ron and Pansy and Blaise? They shouldn't have to be tortured with images of what happened."

"I want to see," Draco whispered.

"Draco, no!" Harry protested. "I tried to keep you from seeing it in the first place for a reason."

Draco took a deep breath. "I know that and I'm still grateful because I had enough trouble trying to handle it as a four-year-old. But I need to know now. I need to be able to see and hear everything that actually happened."

"But why?" Harry asked, still desperately wanting to protest.

"Closure," Draco said quietly, effectively halting any more of Harry's protests with that one simple word. "I need to actually see that it's all finally over."

Harry closed his eyes tightly.

Blaise's quiet voice broke into the ensuing silence. "Harry, it's not closure in nearly the same way for us as it is for you and Draco." He paused, trying to search for words to express what he was trying to say. "I'd like to see what finally brought things to an end, yes. It's important to us, too. But more than anything, I think we want to be able to see what actually happened so that we can understand better and so that we can be there for you and Draco."

"You won't like what you see," Harry said miserably. "Or hear," he muttered.

McGonagall slipped back in, handing a Pensieve to Dumbledore. Harry hadn't even realized that she'd left.

Dumbledore set the Pensieve carefully in the center of the bed and instructed Harry on how to retrieve the memory and place it in the Pensieve. Dumbledore swirled his wand in the silvery tendrils to begin the memory.

"You're all going to hate me," Harry murmured quietly as the memory began with him landing in the middle of the graveyard. He didn't see how any of them would accept him if they watched him coldly murdering people.

More than one person glanced sharply at Harry, but didn't comment as they became riveted to the image being portrayed, floating above the Pensieve. For there was an extremely broken and bloodied Harry in tattered clothing screaming in pain with a four-year-old Draco crying hysterically next to him.

Harry tried to pull his hand from Draco's, but Draco wasn't allowing him to pull away. Draco simply gripped his hand tighter as his eyes focused on the scene playing out before him.

Harry watched, but without the single-minded focus of the others. He'd been there. He'd lived it and wasn't particularly enjoying reliving it. He watched more with a feeling of detached impassiveness, attempting to block out the horror of it all.

"Oh my, how can he even move?" Hermione was muttering to herself, her face an expression of horror.

Moments later, Harry could hear McGonagall muttering to herself as well. "He's showing absolutely no fear," she said in amazement.

Harry wondered if this would be a trend through the whole thing. He wasn't sure if they even realized they were voicing their thoughts aloud.

"Harry's strategizing," came Ron's whispered words. "You can see it on his face as You-Know-Who's going off ranting."

Draco flinched as he watched his four-year-old self being snatched from Harry's arms and without thinking, Harry automatically brought his free hand up to rub Draco's back, just as he'd been doing for months when Draco was upset. It didn't seem to matter that Draco was sixteen instead of four now.

All of them but Harry flinched when Voldemort cast Crucio on Harry and watched in horror the agony that Harry was going through, his tortured screams echoing in the hospital wing.

When Lucius was ordered to punish Draco and calmly set about doing just that, Draco's grip tightened painfully on Harry's hand, but Harry didn't protest. Rather, Harry ducked his head, knowing what was to come and wishing he didn't have to hear it.

Harry brought his eyes up again, unable not to watch. He listened as he told Lucius of the promises he'd made.

"Thank you," Snape whispered, as he heard Harry mention to Lucius that he'd promised Draco's godfather that he'd kill him. Harry flicked his gaze to the man, but Snape was still watching intently the image floating above the Pensieve.

Harry could feel Draco start shaking uncontrollably and wasn't sure if he should offer comfort or move as far away as possible. Draco solved Harry's dilemma by practically crawling into Harry's lap, even as his eyes remained glued to the horror of Harry killing first his father and then his aunt.

Draco may have been a lot bigger now, but that didn't stop Harry from wrapping his arms tightly around Draco, hugging him close and rocking him slightly.

"You finally learned the power of love that you hold, my boy," Dumbledore murmured quietly.

Harry heard the gasps as they watched his magic slam into Voldemort and destroy him. He hadn't ended the memory there and wished that he had, but unfortunately, he hadn't ended it until the Portkey had taken them out of there, so Harry was forced to watch still along with the others.

"Harry should've collapsed right then," Blaise said in awe.

"But he still had to get Draco to safety," came the quiet response from Pansy.

Finally, the scene faded and Draco buried his face in Harry's neck. Harry held him and rubbed his back in silence, allowing Draco to cry, even as his own tears coursed down his cheeks.

Glancing around at the group, Harry realized that they were all crying. Even Snape had a tear tracking down his cheek.

Harry shut them all out again by closing his eyes and laying his head atop Draco's. He heard quiet shuffling and realized they were all leaving.

"Rest, my boys," Dumbledore spoke quietly. "You've more than earned it."

Malfoy's Child - Chapter 20

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