First Place - Action/Adventure

Harry opened his eyes only to blink uncomprehendingly into silver eyes staring back at him from close range. He really needed to wake up normally once in a while. Although this might not be so bad, he decided, depending on why exactly Draco was staring at him so intensely.

"Draco?" Harry whispered.

Draco blinked, charcoal lashes fluttering down then back up again. Slowly, ever so slowly, Draco closed the last few inches between them and gently pressed his lips to Harry's, charcoal lashes fluttering closed.

Harry's own dark lashes closed over emerald eyes as he moaned lightly at the sensual feeling of Draco's smooth lips finally touching his own the way he'd wanted for so long. Harry gasped, parting his lips as Draco's tongue flicked lightly against them.

Harry had loved the four-year-old, but he'd really wanted the sixteen-year-old back. The feelings coursing through his body were so much better than he'd imagined. He tentatively flicked his tongue to touch Draco's, hoping not to scare him away. Harry couldn't hold back the moan that escaped at that first hesitant touch, however.

Rather than scaring him away, Draco increased the pressure of the kiss, releasing his own quiet moan into Harry's mouth. Harry snaked his hands up to twine in Draco's silky hair, as Draco's hands moved to cup Harry's face. Gently, they explored each other's mouths before Draco pulled back, panting lightly and staring at Harry wide-eyed.

Harry swallowed, staring up into those silver eyes. He wasn't sure what to say, if anything. He didn't have a clue as to where Draco was going with this, but he sure as hell didn't want to say anything that would scare him away.

Draco had been kneeling on the bed, Harry realized, as Draco slowly sat upright again.

"Draco?" Harry whispered again, not able to keep himself from calling his name.

"You love me," Draco whispered, and Harry realized it wasn't a question.

Harry closed his eyes. It wasn't exactly like this was a secret. "Yes," he whispered back, trying to mentally prepare himself to be rejected.

"I don't know what to do," Draco said quietly.

Harry sighed and turned his head to the side. "I never expected you to love me back, Draco. I knew the day would come when you'd grow up and remember everything again. You don't seem to hate me anymore, at least."

"Harry, you don't understand," Draco said.

Harry snorted. "What's there to understand?" he asked bitterly. "I suppose you're grateful or something because I was taking care of you. You don't seem to be angry with me for killing your father, and I admit I'm not sure I understand that, but maybe you're grateful for that, too, in a way. Voldemort's gone and you're free now. Neither one of them can hurt you anymore."

He could feel the tears beginning to burn behind his eyelids. "You're free, Draco. You're free from them and you're free from me. You're sixteen again and you don't need me anymore. Just go away and leave me alone. I really don't want some misplaced gratitude, or worse, your pity."

Harry rolled over in the bed, turning his back on Draco. He really didn't want to face Draco. He'd known it would come. Somehow this moment had gotten put off temporarily, but still it had come.

"Idiot Gryffindors," Draco muttered.

And the tears came, regardless of how hard Harry was trying to hold them back. He buried his face in the pillows and gave up even trying to stop them.

Harry felt the hand on his shoulder but tried to shrug it off angrily. It didn't do any good, though, as he felt Draco lay down and spoon up behind him.

"Go away," Harry shouted into his pillow, his words muffled.

"Harry," Draco called. "Come on, Harry. Listen to me."

"No more, Draco," Harry moaned miserably. He wasn't sure how much more stress he could take at the moment. He didn't want Draco fucking with his feelings any more. From fabulous kisses to the same old insults. There was so much to sort out and he'd had no time to think. He simply wanted to be left alone. "Just ... no more."

"I didn't mean it like that, Harry. I swear. Let me explain, please," Draco begged.

Harry pushed himself away from Draco and twisted onto his back abruptly so he could glare at Draco. He would've leapt from the bed if he thought he was capable of it.

"Tell me, Draco. How could you mean it? I fucking know I'm a foolish Gryffindor. I don't really need you here rubbing that fact in at the moment," Harry said angrily, tears streaming down his face. "I've fucking made a fool out of myself. I know it. You know it. Hell, the whole fucking Wizarding world probably knows it."

He rolled suddenly to get up off the bed and away from Draco, not caring anymore whether his body was capable of it or not.

"Harry!" Draco exclaimed anxiously. "Stop!"

Too late. Harry's legs collapsed under him, weakened from lying in a hospital bed for three weeks. Harry fell to the floor and simply didn't care. He curled up into a ball, sobbing miserably, the whole situation finally overwhelming him. He didn't even resist as Draco pulled him onto his lap, rocking him and soothing him, their situations reversed for once.

"Harry, I'm so sorry," Draco said anxiously. "I really didn't mean you were an idiot. It's just automatic. I swear. I just knew you weren't understanding me, but it wasn't your fault. It was my fault. All my fault," Draco trailed off quietly, his words seeming to have no effect on the sobbing boy in his arms.

"Oh gods, Harry, I'm so sorry," he repeated. "I don't know what to do."

Harry heard him, but it wasn't really making any sense to him. Gradually Harry calmed down again. All he really understood was that Draco hadn't left and Draco was actually holding him in his arms.

"Are you all right?" Draco asked quietly.

Harry nodded jerkily. "Sorry," he mumbled.

Draco snorted. "Sorry for what? You haven't done anything wrong."

Harry shrugged uncomfortably.

"I'm the one who's sorry," Draco muttered miserably.

"No, I overreacted," Harry admitted quietly. "Everything's just caught up to me, I guess."

"You've been through a lot," Draco said. "I just screwed things up again. It's one of the privileges of being a Malfoy," he sneered.

"Draco," Harry started to reassure him.

"No, Harry," Draco stopped him. "Let me just say this. Please?"

Harry tensed for a moment, intending to protest, but then he relaxed slightly and nodded. He didn't think Malfoys ever said "please", and Harry didn't want to discourage Draco if he was going to start. He thought it would be quite nice to hear Draco say "please" more often.

Draco sighed wearily before he began. "You're always the one who fixes things, and I don't know what to do. I don't think anyone's ever loved me before, and certainly not like you do. You give your all to everything you do, but I don't know how, Harry." He paused briefly before continuing. "It was easy when I was only four. I just loved you and that's all there was to it. There wasn't the self-doubt or the wondering why you'd love me. I just knew it and accepted it and loved you back. It was that easy."

Harry watched him warily, unsure if he should be feeling hopeful with what Draco was saying.

"But how do I know if I really love you now? I mean, you were like the parent I never truly had. But now you're so not a parent to me. I'm trying to figure out how to separate those feelings. Although, I suppose it's really not that hard. You are so far removed from a parent in my mind, despite having you take care of me the last few months," Draco said wryly.

Harry remained silent, hardly daring to breathe in case it stopped Draco from speaking.

"I'm just confused," Draco said. "I mean, I had four months to get to know you, but I was only four years old at the time. I've only had a week to get to know you as a sixteen-year-old and try to mix in my old memories with everything new."

Unable to hold it back, Harry let out a slightly hysterical sounding bark of laughter. "I've been unconscious all week, so how could you get to know me anyway?"

"Your journal," Draco said quietly.

Harry's head whipped up and he began scrambling backwards, or at least trying to.

"Harry, please," Draco begged, not releasing his hold on Harry.

"I wasn't going to give you that," Harry said, obviously panicked.

"Severus gave it to me my second night sitting here with you once I was back to normal," Draco said quickly, trying to explain.

Harry's eyes flashed dangerously. "He had no right to give it to you. It wasn't his to give."

"He didn't read it himself, if that's what you're worried about," Draco said hurriedly. "He just knew I was upset and ... and, well, I was getting kind of hysterical, thinking you were going to die," Draco admitted sheepishly, his cheeks flushing a light pink. "Severus gave it to me so I could understand you and so I'd have something to focus on. I've been reading it all week."

Harry dropped his head in his hands. "Gods, no wonder you called me an idiot Gryffindor," he said miserably.

"Harry, I don't really think that at all," Draco said, beseeching Harry to understand. "I just said it without thinking. I was frustrated because I didn't know how to tell you how I was feeling or what I was thinking."

Harry looked up at him through lashes still sparkling with tears, not sure of what to say.

"I'm a Malfoy," Draco said, his tone very much indicating that he didn't consider that to be a good thing, at least not at the moment. "I'm not supposed to show emotion. I'm not supposed to let others know what I'm thinking."

Harry reached his hand up and lightly touched Draco's cheek, wet from Draco's own tears. "You seem to be doing all right at the moment," Harry said softly.

Draco snorted softly. "Yes, I'm doing so well that I sent you trying to run," he said sarcastically.

"That's my fault, Draco. I told you that," Harry said quietly. "I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed by everything."

"I certainly understand that," Draco drawled in agreement.

"Do you ...?" Harry trailed off, not sure of what he really wanted to ask.

"Do I ... what?" Draco asked. "Do I want to figure out how to let go of my past? Do I want to try to have a relationship with you? Do I want to kiss you again?"

Harry looked at him wide-eyed.

Draco gave him a slight smile. "The answer is yes."

"Really?" Harry whispered.

Draco smirked at him. "Yes, really. So can I?" he asked.

Harry looked at him in confusion. "Can you what?"

"Kiss you again," Draco clarified, his tone soft.

"Oh." Harry smiled. "Yes."

The kisses were just as sweet as that first one had been as they gently explored this new aspect of their relationship. Several minutes later, Draco and Harry broke apart at the sudden shriek that cut through the air.

"What are you two doing down on the floor?" Madam Pomfrey asked, hands on hips.

Harry and Draco looked up at her sheepishly, cheeks flushing.

"Mr. Potter, you are to stay in bed. Get back there immediately," she demanded.

Harry made to scramble up and Draco hurried to help him, both boys keeping their gaze diverted from Madam Pomfrey and therefore missing the smile that flashed across her features.

When Harry was safely tucked back in bed with Draco sitting on top of the covers on the edge of the bed, they dared to look back at her again. The stern expression was back as she began running her spells over Harry.

"Mr. Potter? Have you bothered to eat anything yet?" she asked, demanding an answer.

"Um, no," Harry admitted.

"I didn't think so," she muttered, disappearing behind the screens and returning moments later bearing two trays.

"And you, Mr. Malfoy," she turned her glare on him. "I know you have not been eating this last week, either. I want both of you to eat. Now!" she commanded.

Both of them dug into their meals without argument. Afterwards, Draco took their trays and set them aside before crawling into bed with Harry. Draco snuggled up close to him. Harry had to wonder how much of Draco's behavior was affected from the time he was a four-year-old. He doubted that Draco had been much of a snuggler before. He wasn't about to ask, though, since he was enjoying it so much.

Harry had closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth and comfort of lying with Draco. Suddenly, his eyes popped back open. "You know," Harry began. "She didn't even comment on catching us kissing. She just yelled because I was out of bed and we were on the floor."

"You're right," Draco said thoughtfully. "And she hasn't tried to kick me out of the hospital wing yet, let alone your bed."

"No one's said anything, have they?" Harry asked in puzzlement.

"No," Draco said.

"Not that I want them to argue with it, but why haven't they?" Harry wondered.

"Harry, I think you can do pretty much whatever you want to at this point," Draco said dryly. "You saved the Wizarding world. Remember?"

"Oh," Harry said.

Draco chuckled lightly. "I think there may be some advantages I hadn't thought of to dating the Golden Boy."

Harry paused. "Are you my boyfriend now?" he asked.

"Yeah, I guess so," Draco answered softly.

"Good," Harry answered simply.

"I bet Severus is pretty angry with me. I'm surprised he hasn't said anything to me yet," Harry said.

They had been sitting there quietly for quite awhile, lost in their own thoughts, each trying to come to terms with all the things that had been happening.

Draco looked at Harry curiously, his brow furrowed. "Why would Severus be angry with you?"

Harry shrugged. "Because I got us both captured in the first place. I don't know how much you really remember, but he hadn't wanted to let us go to Hogsmeade in the first place. Getting captured just proved that he was right that we shouldn't have gone."

Draco was snickering and Harry stopped talking, with his brow now furrowed and looking at Draco curiously.

"Well, for one, I remember everything just fine and despite the fact that it feels like ages since I was begging Severus to let us go to Hogsmeade, I remember it clearly," Draco said, still having trouble controlling his sniggering.

Harry couldn't figure out what Draco was finding so funny. He was glad Draco could remember everything for his sake, although Harry could happily have Draco forget a few things from the last few months - like all the nights spent in nightmare discussions.

Draco took pity, seeing Harry's baffled expression, and began to tell him exactly what he found to be so funny. "Harry, Severus isn't angry with you at all. He was absolutely furious with Dumbledore, though. Once you were somewhat stabilized after we got back to Hogwarts that night, Severus completely and totally went off on Dumbledore."

Harry went wide-eyed. "Are you serious? He yelled at Dumbledore?"

Draco went from snickering to outright laughter. "Oh, Merlin! He ranted, he screamed, he cursed, he punched the wall a few times. I swear he took a page from your book," Draco said, having trouble talking through his laughter. "It was rather awe-inspiring," he declared.

"Why would he do that?" Harry asked, still sounding bemused by the mental pictures now playing in his head.

"Oh, Harry, you can be so clueless sometimes, can't you?" Draco drawled, now mostly recovered from his laughter.

Harry shot him a glare. "I can understand why Severus would be upset that you were captured, but I thought you weren't injured that badly. I just can't picture him losing total control like you're trying to tell me he did."

Draco shook his head in exasperation. "Harry, he wasn't just upset about me. He was worried as all fuck about you, too. When he went off on Dumbledore, we had absolutely no idea if you were going to be okay or not. You were lying here in this bed and despite all the healing spells and potions poured down your throat, you still looked a right mess."

"He was worried that much about me?" Harry asked.

"Yes!" Draco exclaimed. "He was furious with himself that he had allowed us to go and hadn't at least gone with us. I think he was angry with us, too, but not nearly as much. You, because you'd allowed me out of your sight and me, because I'd wandered off. It wasn't until later that we were able to piece together that it had only been a few seconds and my father had cast some kind of spell to lure me away. But anyway, mostly Severus was furious that Dumbledore had allowed the Hogsmeade visit in the first place."

Draco's gaze went unfocused as he continued, remembering the argument in question. "He went off on Dumbledore about a lot of things. It was almost funny, because no one else there even tried to stop him. I think everyone felt that Dumbledore deserved the tongue-lashing Severus gave him, including Dumbledore himself."

"What all would Severus be yelling at him for besides allowing the Hogsmeade visit?" Harry questioned, trying to piece this puzzle together in his mind and feeling like he was missing a lot of pieces.

"He shouted at Dumbledore for allowing us to go, for putting so much pressure on you, for leaving you with the Dursleys, for making you go back there every year," Draco said, listing some of the things Snape had ranted about. Then he started laughing again. "Oh, Merlin! I didn't understand a lot of it at the time, but especially after reading your journal, his ranting made so much more sense."

Harry looked uncomfortable again at the reminder of his journal, but Draco didn't notice as he was caught up in his laughter. "Oh, Harry, we'll have to get a hold of a pensieve so I can actually show you, because you're never going to believe me."

"Believe what?" Harry asked, looking at Draco now like he'd totally lost it.

Draco's eyes were sparkling with glee. "Severus was so lost in his ranting that he ended up defending Sirius Black for you."

"What?!" Harry exclaimed. "Severus absolutely loathed Sirius."

"I know," Draco said, still snickering. "He's already threatened each of us that heard him with bodily harm if we ever dare mention what he said."

"What the fuck would he have said about Sirius?" Harry asked in bewilderment.

"He went off, saying that Dumbledore should have kept Sirius closer to Hogwarts for you. He shouted that Dumbledore should have actually warned you that you would likely be lured to the Department of Mysteries. He ranted because Dumbledore had forbidden him and everyone else from telling you anything." Draco paused and turned more serious. "He was also angry because he said you should've had someone besides himself looking out for you," he added quietly. "He actually shouted that Sirius should've been here for you."

Harry was blinking furiously, trying to take all that in. "Wow," he breathed. "No wonder he threatened everyone with bodily harm."

Harry knew it was going to be awhile before he could truly comprehend everything that had happened, and he was fairly certain that he'd never get Severus figured out. The man was quite good at confusing Harry.

Draco smirked at Harry. "I don't know if you'll ever get him to admit it, but Severus has grown quite fond of you."

Harry shrugged. "The man still confuses the fuck out of me, but I don't know what I'd do without him," he admitted quietly. "I really don't think I'd be sitting here alive today, that's for sure."

"And he gave me your journal," Draco said softly.

Harry laid back into the pillows and threw his arm over his face in embarrassment. "Talk about the man confusing me," he muttered. "He knew I was going to redo that before giving it to you, yet he gives it to you anyway."

"Maybe he was betraying your confidence and maybe he was taking a bit of a risk, but I think he did the right thing," Draco said quietly. "I'm his godson, but I'm honestly not sure if he did it more for my sake or for yours."

Harry brought his arm up to rest behind his head so he could look at Draco. "What do you mean?" Harry asked curiously.

Draco shrugged. "I don't know if he was giving you to me or if he was giving me to you," he said, not exactly clearing things up, but he went on to explain. "That journal is everything about you. Not just from the last four months, either. You write about practically your whole life in there," he said quietly.

Harry groaned and put his arm back over his eyes, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"Don't be embarrassed," Draco said softly. "It allowed me to get to know you. I probably know you better than anybody else now actually."

Harry just groaned again, not sure if he really wanted to hear what else Draco had to say or not.

"I don't know if Severus realized the true extent of everything you've written, but I'm sure he knew that he was giving me something that would help me to understand you," Draco continued. "So, in a way, he gave you to me. Or rather, he passed on the gift that you've given me."

Harry remained silent, not at all sure what to say. He knew very well that he'd put his heart and soul into the pages of that journal. He just didn't know how Draco felt about all of it.

Draco gently pried Harry's arm away from his face and smiled at him gently. "Harry, it's the most amazing gift that anyone's ever given me."

Harry stared at him, rendered speechless at the intensity of Draco's gaze now, rather than remaining quiet due to his own embarrassment.

"Severus knew how you felt about me. I admit I was horribly confused right after I took the potion that returned me to normal." Draco rolled his eyes at himself. "Okay, so I've been somewhat confused the entire time since I took it," he admitted. "But confused or not, I wasn't exactly hiding my worry for you," Draco said quietly. "Like I said, I, well, I got a little bit hysterical that one night. I was so afraid that you were going to die."

Harry tilted his head to the side, studying Draco with his cheeks flushed pink again at his admission. "I can't picture you hysterical in any way, least of all over me," he said.

"Yes, well, neither could Severus," Draco said dryly. "But I think that's when he decided that there might be a chance of ... encouraging me, by giving me your journal to read, so that he could help give you what you wanted most."

"I wanted you," Harry whispered.

Draco smirked lightly. "Believe me, after reading your journal, I have absolutely no doubt of that."

Harry flushed yet again. "Why do I have the feeling I'm never going to live down everything that I wrote?"

Draco smiled. "There's nothing to live down. It's all just ... you. It's who you are, and it's absolutely amazing."

"Really?" Harry asked, his eyes sparkling with hope.

"Really," Draco said, his own eyes sparkling with hope and laughter.

Harry finally smiled again at Draco. "I think you're amazing, too."

Draco shifted on the bed to curl up next to Harry. "I think we would've ended up together eventually, but we'll have to thank Severus for helping us to sort things out faster. Merlin knows how long it would've taken me to sort things out on my own, and without your journal," Draco added.

"Oh, no!" Harry declared. "I'm not going to screw things up by trying to thank him. I'd botch it all up somehow. If you want to thank him, then you can do it yourself."

Draco snickered. "I think you do have a better way with words when you write them, rather than when you try to speak them."

"Hmpfh," Harry huffed. "If you want me to be perfect, then we're in a lot of trouble."

Draco lifted his head from Harry's shoulder and gave Harry a tender kiss that took his breath away. "You're perfect just the way you are," Draco declared. Then he smirked at Harry. "Imperfections and all."

Harry had been caught up in the moment and was startled into laughter at Draco's last words. "It's good to know that you're still you," Harry said with a roll of his eyes, but his voice full of amusement.

Draco dropped his head back to Harry's shoulder and his tone was serious when he spoke again. "After reading your journal, I almost have to wonder if you know me better than I know myself," he said quietly. "But I think I need to tell you about all the things that have made me who I am now and fill in all the blanks of my life that you don't know about - like what you've done for me with your journal."

Harry hugged him tightly. "I'd love to hear anything you're willing to tell me about yourself," he said quietly.

Wrapped up safely in each other's arms, Draco began to talk and Harry listened. Neither boy noticed when Severus slipped quietly out of the hospital wing, a smug, yet warm, smile gracing his features.

Malfoy's Child - Chapter 21

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