What If (Drarry)

10. You Really Like Me

Harry grabbed Draco's hand. "C'mon! Quickly!"

They started to run towards the gate to reach it before the Death Eaters, but with the Cloak on them, it seemed nearly impossible. However hard they tried to hoist and put down their feet in the exact same time, they never succeeded, and the Clock threatend violently to fall off them in any minute.

"Speed up!"

"I can't! I think my ankle shows. The Cloak will fall off! Harry! Stop! They'll see us!" Draco whisper-shouted.

"No, they won't! Get on my back!"

"What?"

"Get. On. My. Back. Now!"

Draco obeyed, slightly embarrassed, a totally visible pink flush on his cheeks. As Harry lowered himself, Draco hooked his legs around the shorter boy's waist, clutched his shoulders tightly and bent down as much as he could, so their feet wouldn't show from under the Cloak.

"Can you hold me? Won't... won't your back hurt?"

"Draco." Harry laughed as he started to run towards the gate. "We are about to die. Are you really concerned about my back?"

Draco blushed and silently cursed himself. He never blushes! And - as a matter a fact - he never rides other boys back! What a shame!

As they finally passed through the gates, Harry jogged a few metres to get away from the fortress, and stopped to let Draco climb off him.

"How did you like the ride?" he winked.

Draco only huffed in response. To avoid Harry's intense gaze, he looked at the clearing lying innocently under their feet. And then saw it.

The shield that surrounded the headquarters, shimmered slightly in the sunshine just a few feet away from them. He paled. He wasn't ready to go through that burning hell again. Especially not with Harry. Who knew what would happen? The scratches didn't break entirely the Mark's power, however they surely weakend them. It was hardly enough to let him go through the shield. But what if Harry will be too much? What if the Mark won't be able to bring them both to the other side?

"What's it?" Harry asked as he spotted Draco's pale-than-usual face, eyes gazing at nothing.

"There." he pointed his index finger ahead of them, at something Harry couldn't see.

"What's that? I can't see a thing."

"Can't you? There's the shield!"

"What shield?"

"The shield that surrounds this hell. Only those can pass through it who have the Mark-"

"Than how did they bring me in?"

"-or are in phisical contact with someone who has the Mark."

"Oh." Harry said as he understood. Then his eyes widened as he understood more. "Oh!"

"Yep."

"Can you... Will you be able to... The-"

"Yeah, I know. But I really don't have a clue."

Harry sighed and looked deeply in Draco's eyes.

"Then... I think it's time to... I give you my Cloak. Use it wisely! And tell Ron, Hermione and Ginny that I loved them." with that he hoisted the Cloak to wriggle out of it, but Draco caught his wrist.

"What are you doing? Are you insane? They can see you!"

"Yeah. I know. But since you can't get both of us out of here, I have to stay. So you can escape. I'm glad we could finally... find the common ground. But now, please, go!"

"No, Harry! No! I'm not sure, if I can get us out of here. But we can try, can't we?"

Harry came to a halt, just before he could finally wriggle out under the Cloak.

"Wait. You're saying... that you would risk your own life to get me out of here, instead of running away with my Cloak, leaving me here with the Death Eaters?"

"Yes, Harry, that's exactly what I'm saying." Draco shouted hysterically. "Now, please lower that damn Cloak before they see us!"

Harry obeyed, still stunned by astonishment. "You really - I mean really - like me, don't you?"

"Oh, not now, please Potter!" Draco sighed seemingly annoyed, however he could hardly hid his blush and happy expression.

They walked to the shield. Draco stopped Harry by throwing a hand in front of him, since the boy wasn't able to see the slight gleaming. Maybe it was only visible to us. Well, not us! To them. Death Eaters.

"What?"

"It's here." Draco whispered.

"Oh." Harry looked at the violently trembling blond boy beside him. "It's okay. We'll make it through. We'll escape!"

"Yeah."

Draco hoisted his arm and rolled up his sleeve. The now bloody Mark was clearly visible, coiling blackly on his pale skin. It's ugly! And disgusting! He hated that Harry saw it. Saw it on him.

He was about to step front when Harry grabbed his hand - his marked hand - hoisted it up to his mouth and gently kissed the scratched and marked skin. "Hold my hand tightly."

"I will." Draco promised. "I go first."

He gripped Harry's hand and stepped forward. His shoes were brushing the edge of the shield when he abruptly turned on his heels to face Harry. He didn't know what would happen next. What if he would never see him again?

"Harry, I lov-"

"Shh!" the raven haired boy put a finger on his half open lips to sush him, then smiled his warmest smile and leaned in to kiss Draco.

Draco stepped in the shield while kissing Harry. He felt the burning. The almost unbearable pain in his veins, in his whole body. But now he could feel something else. Something warm. Not the burning flames around his body. It was Harry. His lips on his lips, his mere presence. For a split second he was sure that they would indeed get through the ward. But then...

But then Harry's hand slipped out of his, their mouths parted, and he fell on the ground. His every part ached. He only wanted to lie down and stay still until all the pain was gone, but he shouldn't. He sat up abruptly just to see the last flames extinguishing around Harry's body. As the dancing fire disappeared, the boy fell on the ground. Draco hurried to greet him.

But he... He wasn't on his side. Neither on the other side of the shield. He seemed to be trapped in it, his body burnt and unmoving. No, definitely no.

"NOOOO!"

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A shorter but more dark and uncomfortable chapter. I know. I'm sorry!
But don't worry, it isn't the end yet.