Just Breathe

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Before we go, should we maybe have a plan in place in case we meet him there? What if we show up and he's there?"

"We talk, he and I talk. You stay hidden."

"And if he doesn't want to speak to you?"

"I don't know. Maybe we can find a way to track him."

"I can't imagine how we would do that."

"I don't either." Draco sat back on the edge of the bed and tied his shoes. Harry leaned against his back and kissed his neck softly. "I wish life was easy and we could stay in bed like this all day."

"One day, love. I'll make sure of it." Harry kissed him once more and Draco looked over his shoulder pointedly.

"I'm going to hold you to that." Harry nodded and Draco stood up and stretched.

"Draco, what are we going to do if things go wrong?"

"Go wrong how?"

"Like if he figures out I'm there? Should I be disillusioned?"

"Maybe, but maybe not. If you stay calm, you could act as though your under a curse, that I'm controlling you. To show my loyalty to him, if that makes sense."

"Didn't you ask Kingsley about the Imperius Curse?" Draco nodded and sat back on the bed, pulling Harry's hand against his cheek. It was warm and calmed him. He didn't like the thought of using a curse on him.

"I did. And he gave his permission, but Harry, I don't think I could do it to you."

"Oh, come on. I've already told you I can resist it. It's frighteningly easy for me. Why don't we try it now, before we go, that way if you need to do it there, we'll both know what to expect."

"I- I don't even have my wand."

"It's in the kitchen, last time I saw it. Go grab it and we'll try it. Or use mine." Harry blushed. "I like it when you use my wand." Draco felt the crawling up his own face.

"Which one?" he winked and Harry laughed and handed him his wand. The holly was light in his hand and it vibrated eagerly. Harry went to stand by the door and he put his hands on his hips, waiting. He raised an eyebrow and Draco rolled his eyes. "You don't have to be so smug."

"It'll be fine. And we've got to leave soon anyway so it's now or never." Draco would have preferred never but he knew Harry was right, not that he would admit that to him. He took a deep breath and stood up, stepping back to give them adequate space. He lifted Harry's wand and pointed it at him. Harry's face softened and he nodded.

"Imperio." Like a door being opened, there was a sort of connection between them, and he could feel all of the power on his side of that door. 'Move to the window,' he thought, and he could see Harry restraining himself to stay where he was. His feet were fighting him, he could tell. One took a step but the other stayed rooted to the spot. He gripped the wand tighter, 'move to the window,' he thought again, with more seriousness behind it. Harry's eyes widened at him and he could see that once again he was fighting for control over his feet. 'Jump on the bed,' he thought and while his body turned towards the bed, he still stayed in his spot. 'Jump on the bed, now,' he thought with more force, gripping the wand even tighter, and that time, Harry jerked forward and flopped onto the bed, his face knocking against the headboard.

"Dammit!" He dropped the wand and ran to him, pulling him up and Harry was laughing while holding his nose. Blood was spurting from between his fingers but he shook his head.

"Draco, if you had been using your wand, I'm not sure I wouldn't have down what you were commanding me."

"That's the point."