Love Lasts

Chapter 36

The last day of term approached far too quickly for Harry's liking. He had been spending almost every available moment with Draco, but it still didn't feel like enough.

The day they boarded the train and sped away from Hogwarts, Harry felt sad to be leaving his home again.

Draco wrapped an arm around him and murmured comforting words in his ear which made him smile.

Before he had left the castle, Harry had made sure to say thank you to the Room of Requirement. It had done so much for him that he felt he owed it as much.

Ron and Harry played several games of exploding snap and Harry was impressed when Draco managed to beat Ron in a game of Wizard's Chess.

"What? It's a common pastime in my house. Mother plays against me all the time and she is a very formidable opponent." Harry grinned and kissed Draco lightly on the lips.

About halfway through the journey the compartment door slid open and Dean, Seamus, Ginny, Luna, and Neville all came in. The compartment got so full, Harry was halfway in Draco's lap and the smallest bump nearly sent him sprawling.

Draco laughed along with everyone else when at one point Harry did actually fall on the floor. Ron laughed so hard he fell off his seat and landed square on Harry's stomach.

Harry gasped for breath and shoved Ron off of him as he took his seat again. He was mildly annoyed, but it vanished when he saw the humor in Draco's eyes.

A rattling from above him made Harry tear his gaze away from Draco. His trunk was rattling like there was no tomorrow and Pigwidgen in Ron's cage was getting very agitated.

Harry stood up and lowered his trunk to the ground. When he opened it, he ducked as a hissing Night clawed at him. "Geeze! Calm down!" He called behind him to the hissing and spitting Kneazle.

Deep down, he felt guilty for forgetting Night, but the scratches he had left on Harry's arm fueled his irritation. "Sorry!" He called as the Kneazle took off down the train. Harry figured it was to get rid of some of his built up energy.

Harry looked down at the trunk, perhaps looking for the silver snake, but he didn't see him. Harry had said goodbye at Hogwarts, so it hadn't been likely he had come along for the ride.

"I will miss you Harry Potter, but I am very glad I was able to help you with your visions." Since the one after the Ministry, Harry hadn't had any visions, for which he was grateful.

He just couldn't shake the feeling though that something was coming and he didn't know what it was.

"I will miss you too Archille. Thank you so much for your help. I certainly won't forget it." Archille nodded then slithered away.

Harry curled up in Draco's lap and rested his head on his boyfriend's shoulder. Harry had always liked how solid Draco was. Like he would always be there, no matter what.

"I love you Draco." Draco smiled and kissed the top of his head. "I love you too Harry."

The train ride passed quickly and all too soon they were arriving at Platform Nine and Three Quarters.

Night came running back up the corridor when the train came shuddering to a stop and climbed onto Harry's shoulder. He was still glaring around, but at least he wasn't clawing at people anymore.

Harry gave his friends hugs as they stepped off the train and he and Draco made their way to the barrier. Draco pulled Harry aside right before they walked through it.

"Mother is waiting for me over there. Promise you won't ditch me for another bloke?" He said it like a joke, but it was something that had been worrying him.

Harry pulled Draco close and met his lips with his own. It was several moments before he pulled away and when he did, he was smiling.

"I promise not to leave you Draco. Promise not to leave me either?" Draco nodded and leaned against Harry, having their lips meet once more.

Harry pulled away after a while and smiled sadly at Draco.

"Write. All the time." Draco nodded. "You do the same."

Harry wrapped his arms around Draco and buried his face in his shoulder. "Hey. This isn't goodbye. Just a, see you in a bit." Harry chuckled as he pulled away.

"Alright then. I'll see you in a bit." Draco smiled at him then vanished in the crowd.

Harry chuckled sadly to himself then made his way through the barrier on his own, Night sitting up, alert on his shoulder.

As soon as the Dursleys saw the Kneazle, his Uncle stomped his foot and demanded that he leave the creature on the platform.

"As if owls aren't enough! No! I will not have magical creatures running around my house! Absolutely not!" Night stood up and barred his teeth at Uncle Vernon.

"Is that the best he's got? Well, NO! He's not staying, I forbid it!" Night hopped down from Harry's shoulder and walked over to Uncle Vernon. Before Harry could make a move, Night had sunk his teeth deep into his Uncle's leg.

Aunt Petunia shrieked and started trying to kick the Kneazle out of the way, but Night stayed firmly planted on the ground. Dudley looked sick and Harry could see why.

Blood was started to drip from Uncle Vernon's pant leg and after several more moments Night detached himself and climbed back up on Harry's shoulder, an innocent expression on his face. Harry used his sleeve to wipe the blood from Night's mouth as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The Dursleys all stared at him, mouths open. Uncle Vernon's face was purple with pain and rage, but Harry knew he wouldn't do anything in front of all of the people.

He leaned close so his great purple face was inches from Harry's.

"If that creature makes one sound, just one sound, I will kick it out on the streets and let it starve. Am I clear?" Harry smiled at his Uncle, which made him even more angry.

"Sounds great. I'll let you know when he needs more food, shall I?" Harry smiled at the angry expression on his Uncle's face and walked out of the station with a proud looking Kneazle sitting on his shoulder.