Everything Remains

Chapter 27-Star-Crossed Lovers

Ron, Harry, Draco, and Tinks landed harshly upon the tough stone floor of the entrance hall. The sound of their abrupt arrival echoed through the room, seemingly reverberating against the familiar house points vials. 
Harry laid there upon the stone floor, looking up at the ceiling to catch his breath. His hand still firmly gripped around Draco's arm, as if he would float away if not anchored  to him. 
Ron was the first to sit up, addressing Tinks. "Thank you so much Tinks. You saved our lives. Where did you take Hermione?" 

Neville appeared, rushing quickly down the steps to where they all sat. "I've got her back at the common room Ron. She seems fine now, but we need to get out of here not to be caught!" 
Neville reached out to extend a hand to Ron, lifting him up from the dusty floor. Neville offered his hand to Harry before his hand was gently swatted away. "Thanks mate, I've got it. You really saved our arses tonight." Harry smiled grimly at Neville, sitting up but not getting up off the ground. 
"Tinks thinks she will go then, unless Mr. Potter needs anything else?" Tinks asked, eyes wide like saucers. 
"No, you've been brilliant Tinks! Thank you. You can go back." 
Tinks smiled and bowed before the distinctive *pop* sound announced her departure. 

"Neville, Ron, you go ahead to the common room. There is a lot we need to.. discuss." Harry flickered his eyes over to Draco, observing him swallow deeply in nervousness. 
"Are.. are you sure mate? What just happened was... crazy?" Ron replied, curious. 
"We will be fine. I think we're in a little bit of shock, but we need to talk about everything that has happened since Draco's been gone." 
Ron nodded, turning around with Neville and ascending the staircase up to the Gryffindor common room, looking back at his best friend every few steps. 

Harry turned to Draco to see his eyes welling deeply with tears, threatening to burst from his eyes at any moment. Draco was shaking, hands running through his hair haphazardly. 
"Draco, look at me. I know what we just went through was crazy. But we're safe now. You're okay!" Harry reached out to grab Draco's hands in his. 
"ME?? ME SAFE? You're worried about me when I almost just killed you?!" Draco sputtered, tripping on his words, his shaking increasing. 
"Dray, that wasn't YOU. You were under the imperious curse!" 
Draco finally looked Harry in the eyes. "It doesn't matter! I should have been able to fight it off. If Astoria hadn't helped, and our friends, you would have been dead, because of ME!?" 
Draco got up suddenly, pacing the front hall while tears finally slid down his face and onto the dusty floor below. 

Harry got up as well, crossing over to where Draco was treading. As he approached, Draco looked in Harry's face, panicked. 
"Merlin, there are marks on your neck! HOW could I do this?? How could I let this happen! You warned me about my family, but I went anyways!" Draco gently caressed Harry's throat and neck, sobbing harder than before. 
"I knew that something bad would happen eventually. I'm not good for you! I'm not good to be around!" Draco suddenly turned, preparing to sprint away up the staircase. 
"Oh NO YOU DON'T. Come here!" Harry grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him back down to him, gripping hard enough to hurt. 
"Draco, don't run from this! I'm fine, you're fine, Ron and Hermione are fine, we are all fine! I'm still here and in one piece. And it WASN'T you that did this to me. I know you would never hurt me like that Dray!" Harry said, exasperated. 
Draco quieted down to small sobs, hanging his head low but staying put on the stairs. 
"Listen. Why don't we go check on Hermione and then head to the RoR? We can stay there tonight and feel super safe, since no one but our group knows about it. Okay?" 
Draco shook his head yes, still avoiding Harry's eyes in shame. 


Harry led Draco up the staircase and through the corridors, holding onto his hand lest he escape again. Before they rounded the corner, Harry disillusioned Draco and marched up to the Fat Lady. 
"Licorice Wands!"
"Boy! I thought with Voldemort gone, you would be done with your shenanigans at night!" 
"Me too." Harry rolled his eyes, shuffling himself and Draco forward through the portrait hole. 
As soon as he walked into the common room, Hermione bounded towards him and threw her hands around his neck. 
Harry, hugging back, "well I'm glad to see you are doing just fine, Hermione!"
Ron and Neville were sitting in front of the fire, butterbeers in hand and a small first-aid kit for the scrapes and cuts they earned that night. 
"Couldn't you just use episky?" Harry questioned the three friends. 
"Yes, it's just extra protection, just in case!" Hermione replied, sitting down as well. 
Harry and Draco joined them, Draco still not saying much or lifting his eyes. 
"Let me episky your throat, Harry. Should take the sting away." Hermione flourished her wand, silently casting the spell. 
"Thanks, Hermione. Loads better." 
"Draco, do you need me to heal anything?" Hermione turned to Draco, kindness in her eyes. 

Suddenly, Draco stood up, causing a butterbeer on the ground next to him to spill all over the ancient rug. 
"I shouldn't be the one getting treated! YOU all were in much more danger than me!! I can't believe you were there, getting attacked. I can't... I..." Draco was sputtering again, tears flowing freely once more. 
Harry began to stand up to comfort him, but Hermione held out a patient hand. 
Hermione crossed over to Draco, silently casting reparo at the broken beer. Hermione took Draco's face in her hands, forcing him to look at her through the tears. 
"Draco. We are all perfectly fine! We have all done much more dangerous things and lived to tell the tale!" 
Draco paused, taking in her words. 
"Yeah mate. We wanted to get you out. It was our choice to come, and we were successful, right!?" Ron chipped in, hitting Neville on the knee to punctuate his words. 
"Yes! Everyone came back in good health. It's quite alright, Draco." Neville assured with a small smile. 

Draco stopped pacing, looking around at the group in awe. "Why would all of you risk your lives for me? After everything I've done?" 
"Get it through that thick head of yours, mate! We're friends now. Friends look out for each other. Family looks out for each other." Ron scoffed, not understanding how much clearer they could be. 
Draco began to cry again, silent tears flowing from his face. Suddenly, he turned back to Hermione and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug, surprising everyone in the room. 
"Thank you.. all of you. I don't know how I can repay you..." Draco sobbed out. 
"Just be there for us as we are for you, Dray. That's all we can really ask for; support." Harry said finally, smiling at the crushing hug.
Finally, Draco let Hermione go with another reassurance that she was fine and well. 
"If you're sure all of you are okay, me and Draco are going to spend the night in the RoR, helps to feel safer." Harry upturned his eyebrows at each friend, making sure they nodded. 
"Send us a note if you need anything. We can go to McGonagal tomorrow and let her know what's been going on." Ron offered, smiling meekly.

Harry grabbed Draco's arm by the elbow and placed disillusionment spells on both of them before leaving through the portrait hole.
They walked in silence to the seventh floor, the quiet night only punctured by occasional sniffles from Draco.
Harry stopped in front of Barnabus' tapestry and closed his eyes, focusing on what he needed, what Draco needed.
'We need somewhere to go to feel safe and to de-stress.' 
Harry pondered it thrice and opened his eyes to see the door magically there, pushing it open. 

Harry hurried inside the room, pulling Draco in with him. Staring up in awe, Harry really thought that the room outdid itself this time.
Not only was there a bed with the cushiest looking bedding, but there was an herbal tea station, snacks, an enchanted window to show the aurora borealis, letting it seep into the room to cast across the ceiling and walls. There was a bathroom adjoining the room and a fireplace, already lit and casting toasty warmth. 
Harry realized that they were both covered in dust, dirt, and wood chippings from the table being blasted. 
"Dray, why don't you shower first? I'll keep guard to help you feel safe." Harry smiled warmly at the blonde, encouraging him. 
"Yeah, alright. I think that would help." 
Draco began to undress in the bathroom, warming up the water before entering the shower stall.
Harry cast extra protection spells around the room and near where the door would be, just in case.

"Dray? Are you okay? Can I come in?" Harry called out, not wanting to spook Draco.
"Yes, come in." 
Harry crossed into the bathroom, getting better access. "I cast some extra protection, just in case. Can I join you?" 
"Y..yes." 
Harry undid his own clothing and entered the shower with Draco, feeling immediately better once the warm water hit his aching body.
Wordlessly, Harry began to lather shampoo into Draco's silver locks, massaging the bubbles into his strands. 
Draco leaned into his touch, closing his eyes and enjoying the sensations. 
Both men could feel the love between them, cherishing these uninterrupted moments after hours of peril and not knowing if they would make it out alive. 
Both continued to wash each other, getting every last physical reminder of the night off their bodies.

Once done, Harry grabbed two huge, fluffy towels for the both of them and walked out into the bedroom area once more. 
Towel slung low on his waist, Harry began to brew some chamomile and vervain tea for them both. Watching the pot come to a boil, inhaling the fragrant steam wafting through the air.
Draco held both cups while Harry put on his pajamas, Draco already having done so. 
The two sipping in silence, cuddling in bed, minds overwhelmed with the thoughts of the night and how they were going to fair tomorrow.

Eventually, sleep overcame them both as the lights swam across the room's ceiling and they relaxed into each other's embrace.