Once Upon A Time (A Drarry FanFiction Collection)

Chapter Twelve

   "Prince Draco!" Harry cried, rushing to his aid as the royal's legs threatened to give out entirely. "The dragon was you?"

The prince laughed, and Harry couldn't seem to stop the blood pounding in his ears. "Observant and kind," Prince Draco chuckled weakly. "No wonder it was you."

"Was me...what?" Harry asked.

Prince Draco coughed, but altogether looked very happy. "To break the curse."

The prince took a deep breath, then steadied his legs to take his own weight, so Harry let him. "My apologies," he said, suddenly flustered. "I should not have touched you, it is not appropriate-"

But Draco's laugh cut him short. "My dear fellow," he said warmly. "I have spent these last, lonely years as a beast fresh from hell. My mind has been muddled, my hunger never ending. And you have saved me from such misery, only to catch me when I threaten to fall once more." He grasped Harry by the shoulder, and he felt himself flush. "Your rewards shall be many."

Harry felt himself go cold. "I-" he stammered. "I do not seek any reward my prince," he said, sincerity pouring from his words.

Prince Draco let go to rub his face and drag his fingers through his fine, blond hair, shaking it out with a happy sigh. "Surely my parents offered a great reward for my safe return?" he said with the easy knowledge of someone who is both loved and very wealthy.

Harry nodded. "Of course," he affirmed. "But that is not why I am here, I will take no riches my lord."

Prince Draco, although tired, held liveliness in his now grey eyes. Harry had never been close enough to see his eyes before, and now, now they danced. "Oh?" he said. "Why then?"

"To right a wrong," Harry said automatically. "To end a terror that has blighted this good kingdom for too long." He swallowed. "To reunited a grieving family."

Prince Draco turned his head, much like the curious dragon had done. "You are singular," he said to Harry. "Did you know kindness was the only way to break the curse?" He laughed bitterly, and Harry was reminded suddenly that they were just two young men stood in the depths of a cavern. He, and the prince, the heir of all the realm. He tried not to feel nervous, unworthy, and remind himself instead that he had just achieved the kind of greatness he had only previously dreamed of.

"No," he replied honestly. "I merely thought all other, violent, options had been exhausted, and a new approach was needed."

Prince Draco placed both his hands firmly either side of his shoulders. "May I know the name of my valiant hero?" he asked.

Harry did his best to stand up straight. "Harry," he said simply. "My father is the potter of the town below the castle – your castle."

Harry knew the prince would surely falter at being rescued by such a lowly creature, but instead his smile broadened. "Then if you shall not take riches from my family," he said, squeezing his fingers into Harry's flesh. "You shall accept the sort of kindness you have bestowed upon me." Harry made to protest, but the prince would have none of it. "You shall live at the castle, we shall bestow an honoured position on you, whatever you please. Your family shall want for nothing – do you have a wife, shall she come too?"

Harry struggled to order his swirling mind. "No, no wife," he stuttered a little too quickly.

There was a pause, but it was over so quickly Harry was sure he had imagined it. "Well, we shall find you one of those too, if you should like?" Draco beamed, and began walking Harry towards the entrance of the cave, though in truth his legs remained unstable, and Harry did a lot of the steering once he had picked up his sword again.

"I will be happy with Your Highness' thanks," he said meekly, but the prince jostled him merrily.

"Thanks?" he cried. "Harry, son of the potter, you shall be my esteemed friend, the bravery, wisdom and ingenuity you have displayed in your selfless attempt to save my life needs to be recognised by not just me or my family, but by the entire kingdom. You are a hero."

Harry blushed as they emerged to the disbelieving faces of the trio of sell-swords.

"Ah," Draco said convivially. "Didn't I just try to eat you?"

Harry felt the need to clear up their confusion. "The dragon was the prince," he said, almost sagging under the other man's weight.

The trio's eyes widened. "I'll forgive the attempted regicide this once," said the prince, drunk on his own amusement. "But I would suggest a hasty retreat back to whatever little town you came from, before I take it personally."

Wordlessly, the three men scrambled back up onto their horses, abandoning whatever possessions were not attached, and disappearing into a cloud of their own dust. Harry couldn't help but laugh, but Draco had become sober.

"Did I hurt many good men?" he asked, and Harry paused enough to reason well before he answered.

"I do not believe you did my lord," he said in earnest. "Only those who tried to do you serious harm."

The prince shook his head. "In the belief they were vanquishing a foe to rescue me," he said. "I was not wholly in control-"

Harry took the moment as his turn to squeeze the other man back, forgetting he was a prince, that he was dear to him even though it was most inappropriate. "Your Highness," he urged. "Never once, when you took flight over the lands, did you harm a person of any sort." He looked firmly into those bright grey eyes. "You fed upon animal flesh, like a true man, and defended yourself when others meant you harm." He sighed with affection. "And now, now you can come home. Your parents will no doubt be beside themselves with happiness."

Draco smiled and closed his eyes. "Mother," he said softly. "Father."

Harry allowed him a moment of calm anticipation. "Shall I take you to them?" he asked quietly.

"Please," was all the prince asked in return.