Chapter Text
Gently Harry reached out to the stone, his hand hovering just above it.
“Harry?” Draco asked gently.
“You need to leave Draco. Leave the forest.” Instead of grabbing the stone, Harry reached out and laid his hand gently on Draco’s cheek. Looking to him and mentally pleading for Draco to do as he asked.
“You mean leave you.” Draco hissed.
“Please.” Harry pleaded.
“No.” Draco said firmly. He brushed Harry’s hand away, snatched up the stone, and clamored to his feet. He stood over Harry, looking from him to the stone then reached out a hand to help Harry up. “We do this together, Potter.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.” Harry said gently when he got to his feet and used the momentum to pull Draco into him.
“Oh don’t be so melodramatic.” Draco rolled his eyes and pulled Harry’s hand palm up, placing the stone in the center of his palm. “It’s quite frankly getting old.”
Harry closed his hand around the stone and shut his eyes just as tight, leaning to capture Draco’s lips with his own. They stood, there in the glen he had already died in once, kissing softly as if they had all the time in the world.
When they pulled apart to catch their breath, they let their foreheads connect. Harry was vaguely aware of the shadowy figure of Death, creeping out from behind the trees but he looked Draco in the eyes and whispered something not even Death could hear before pushing Draco into an apparition. With a loud resounding crack Harry was alone with Death in the dark grassy glen.
–
When Draco stumbled out of the forced apparition he found himself atop the astronomy tower overlooking the grounds and forest. He leaned dangerously far over the railing and screamed until his throat was raw. Draco didn’t cry, he didn’t fall to his knees, he didn’t mourn. He turned away from the railing and ran. He ran down the tower steps and through the castle halls, shouting obscenities as went. He only slowed when he came down the main stairwell, facing the closed doors of the Great Hall. Draco drew his wand up above his head in a long sweeping motion and the door blew open, the loud clatter of the hinges instantly quitting the occupants of the Great Hall. McGonagall was on her feet with her wand drawn and ready, only to falter at the sight of Draco standing in the arch looking wild.
Ron, Hermione, Blaise, Pansy, and Luna were all on their feet within seconds.
“He’s found it.” Draco spoke solidly. He wasn’t sure they had heard him but Ron and Hermione were running towards him and Blaise, Pansy, and Luna all took the cue to do the same.
Before they could all leave Neville was up and out of his seat as well. “It’s Harry isn’t it?” Nevile shouted.
“The great Gryffindor idiot.” Seamus shook his head and stood up with Dean in tow. In a flurry of movement the lot of them were headed out of the Great Hall.
“Mr. Malfoy!” McGonagall shouted, causing the whole group to turn and look back to her from the archway. Draco lifted his chin in challenge, ready to walk away. He didn’t want to waste any more time. When all the headmistress did was nod, he returned the gesture then turned on his heel, shouted at the others to follow him, and took off in a run out the front castle doors and down into the forest.
–
Harry pulled his magic in and let it build. He closed his eyes and pulled to him the cloak and the wand. His magic sang in the air and made it hang thick in his lungs. Death hovered in front of him, it’s tattered cloak billowing softly though there wasn’t a breeze anywhere to be felt.
“ You’ve come with my gifts in hand. ” Death sneered when Harry opened his eyes, the stone and wand in one hand and the cloak in the other.
“I am your master.” Harry spoke with conviction and unyielding strength.
Death opened its arms wide exposing its skeletal form and released a deafening sound, Harry couldn’t help remember the inferi but he didn’t back down or even falter. He stood his ground and stared back at Death.
“I am your master.” Harry repeated, louder.
“ I have no master! ” Death shouted.
The moment hung heavy and Harry let his eyes fall closed. Death wrapped it’s cloak around him, enveloping him in one breathless rush.
–
They all ran together through the forest, desperate and frenzied, dodging roots and branches and bushes, and all manner of obstacles the forest seemed to throw at them. Draco was breathless but managed to throw spell after spell at any beast or branch that tried to slow him down. He was vaguely aware of the other around him doing the same as his focus was singular. He had to get to Harry before that fool did something stupid.
When they had all managed to reach the glen, breathless and covered in sweat in dirt, they all saw the same thing.
Death wrapped its cloak around Harry then Harry was just…. gone.
Draco’s screams drowned out Hermione’s and he threw himself into the glen. He fired spell after spell, his wand glowing from the tip. Neville was right behind him, followed closely by Pansy, Blasie, Seamus, and Dean. Ron tried to pull Hermione into him, urging her back while he joined the fight but Hermione shoved him away and ran into the fray.
Death laughed at them, their spells deflecting away before even getting near it.
“ Your magic cannot touch me. ” Death spoke. And with the brush of a skeletal hand, they were all thrown backwards.
“ Expecto Patronum !” Luna shouted. A hare sprung from her wand and leapt about the glen. Death laughed but Luna turned and yelled back. “Our magic may not do much but what else can you fight Death with!” When Luna only got confused looks back in response, she just gently shook her head and gently whispered the answer. “Hope and the creation of life with hope.” Luna turned back and confidently raised her wand once more. A whole group of hares shot forth and surrounded Death, almost in some twisted dance.
Draco was on his feet and following suit in the span of breath, brilliant dragons found themselves weaving around the leaping hares. And slowly the entire clearing was lit up with a swirling dance of animals all circling Death.
“ YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME! ” Death bellowed.
–
Harry sat quietly on the white bench, in the white train station and patiently waited for the inevitably white train. He let his mind run black as he faced the tracks, waiting.
“And what do you think you are doing, Potter.” A long steady drawl spoke from behind him.
“Well Professor, seeing as I’m at a train station, I am waiting for the train.” Harry replied, a wicked smile forming.
“Insufferable.” Severus huffed.
“Not going to dock any points Professor?” Harry asked, turning to look at Snape.
“And what good had that ever done me?” Snape asked. A moment beat between them before they both chuckled.
Snape, in all his dramatic glory, swept his robe up and took a seat next to Harry.
“I hate your father, Potter. And I let that hate carry down to you.” Snape started, his slow drawl pulling out the length of his words.
“But you loved my mother.” Harry provided.
“I did.” Snape replied. “Do not interrupt. You reminded me of your father. All bravado and singular thought. However, you didn’t deserve my ire. And I apologize for that.”
Harry let Snape’s words hang between them, mulling them over.
“We all make mistakes, Severus. We all cause harm and hurt, but in the end our final choices are what matter most.” Dumbledore, spoke as he softly padded his way over to them. “Good Evening, Harry. This is our second time meeting here, I hope this won’t become a habit.” Dumblebore smiled, his eyes twinkling as he looked over the rim of his glasses.
“Honestly Professor, I’m hoping this is the last time.” Harry said softly.
“So quick to resign yourself to this fate.” Dumbledore replied quietly.
“And what do your little friends have to say about this worthless sacrifice of yours, Potter?” Snape asked.
“They don’t know, er well they might soon. Draco was with me just before I met Death. I apparated him back to the castle before…” Harry couldn’t finish his sentence.
“In my professional opinion,” Dumbledore started, the twinkle in his eye getting brighter. “Is that you may choose not to board the train once again.” Dumbledore gestured wide with his arms then clasped his hand in front of him.
Harry only looked between the two with a dumbstruck look on his face.
“The hallows are destroyed, are they not?” Dumbledore asked.
“I’m not sure, Professor.” Harry muddled his way through his response. “I was holding them when…”
“Death took it’s gifts back then. You can return.” Snape spoke up.
Harry looked between the two of them. “And if I don’t want to?” He asked.
“Why ever would you not?” Dumbledore asked. “Do you and Mr. Malfoy not have aspirations for your lives after graduation?”
“Won’t Death just keep following me?” Harry asked bitterly.
“It follows everyone. You’re no more special than any other, Potter.” Snape spoke. “Not anymore.”
Dumbledore just shook his head fondly and smiled. “Severus is right. In light of that, you must return and live every day knowing just how precious each day really is.” He said gently.
Harry stood and looked down the tracks, he notices a small hare hopping along the platform on the opposite side of the tracks and he smiled. Harry then looked, truly looked, to Dumbledore and Snape. They looked serene, though he supposed Dumbledore always kind of looked like that.
“I suppose….” Harry started rubbing at the back of neck nervously. “I suppose I’ll be going then.”
“Best of luck, Potter.” Snape replied.
“I hope I am not to see you around here again for a very long time.” Dumbledore said, touching his finger to the side of his nose and giving Harry a wink.
Harry smiled at them then turned his back on them and casually walked away from the tracks. He thought he heard the distant whistle of a train but he didn’t turn back around to check, he just continued forward.
–
Death laughed in their faces but not one of them backed down, they hadn’t when facing Voldemort, they hadn’t when they thought Harry was dead the first time, they hadn’t when all the odds seemed to be stacked against them before. Together they stood their ground and faced Death together as equals.
“ I will never truly leave any of you. ” Death sneered.
“We’re not scared of you.” Neville replied. “Never will be.”
“You can’t control our lives any longer!” Luna shouted.
“We won’t let you.” Seamus added
“Fuck you!” Pansy yelled.
Death faltered, not one of them held one of the hallows but they mastered their fear and Death no longer held the high ground.
In that moment a flash of bright and brilliant, blinding light a massive stag burst from the treeline and ran straight at Death, unyielding.
Draco and the others shielded their eyes from the light and when they all looked up again the clearing was empty and dark once more. Only the swaying trees could be seen under the moonlight.
“Was that….” Ron stumbled over his words.
“Harry’s stag!” Hermione shouted as she pointed just past the trees across the clearing. Everyone whipped in the direction Hermione was pointing. Sure enough there was Harry Potter walking through the light of the stag and into the clearing, the patronus fading away as he had passed through it.
“Harry fucking Potter!” Draco shouted, crossing the glen quickly until he found himself in arms reach of Harry. Draco reared back and with a thick thud, his fist connected with Harry’s chin, sending Harry down onto his knees.
“Fuck you Potter!” Draco yelled.
“I promised I’d come back if I could.” Harry said gently, spitting blood out of his mouth from his split lip and hoisting himself up off the ground.
“I asked you not to go!” Draco retaliated.
“I know.” Harry spoke, reaching out to Draco tentatively.
“Are you…” Draco hesitated.
“Dead? No, I’m afraid you don’t punch nearly as hard as Hermione does.” Harry chuckled.
“Fuck you.” Draco mumbled before pulling Harry into him.
“I don’t want to spoil the moment, but I’d really not like to stay here and wait for that thing to come back.” Blaise spoke up.
Harry pulled away from Draco and looked past him at his friends all standing together watching him and Draco. They looked sweaty, tired, and all covered in dirt. Harry looked to Hermione for some kind of explanation. She nodded towards Draco and gave him a tight smile.
“Come on, Zabini is right. Let’s get out of here.” Harry spoke, dragging Draco along behind as he walked up to the others. He clapped Neville on the shoulder and hugged Hermione and Ron and Luna in turn, even Pansy pulled him in for a hug.
“I know you Gryffindors live for this shit but don’t you think it's about time to settle the hell down?” She asked a little bitterly.
Harry and his fellow Gryffindors all broke out in laughter. Pansy looked to Luna, but she merely smiled and giggled.
“It's simply their nature.” Luna said in her signature sing-song voice.
When the laughter had passed they all began their trek out of the forest together.
“Thank you Luna.” Harry spoke softly, his hand still firmly clasped in Draco’s.
“Did you know what hares are prominent symbols of resurrection?” Luna asked.
“I did not.” Harry replied.
“I thought you needed a bit of a reminder.” Luna added.
“You saw Lovegood’s patronus? You were…” Draco faltered. “Gone. Just gone. Where did you even go?”
“I guess it was kind of like limbo.” Harry answered with a shrug.
“How did Luna’s patronus end up in limbo?” Neville asked. Harry just shrugged.
“Because that’s exactly where it needed to be.” Luna said with finality.
Not much more was said as the group trudged their way back up to the castle, where they were greeted by McGonagall in the courtyard.
“Now if you all are quite finished,” She began. “There are beds, hot baths, and food and drinks all ready and waiting in a joint common room for you all in the west tower. You will return to your individual common rooms tomorrow.” She smiled tenderly at them, ushering them inside the castle. “Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, I’d like to see you both tomorrow morning after breakfast.” She added before turning on her heels and taking off towards her office while everyone else shuffled up to their new common room muttering about hot baths and plates of warm food.
“Don’t think we’ll be able to get out of this one.” Harry muttered under his breath.
“Probably could have if Draco hadn’t busted into the Great Hall as if readying for battle.” Ron spoke up.
“Ronald, we pretty much were readying for battle.” Hermione added.
“It was a bit over dramatic though.” Dean laughed. Seamus launched into a dramatization of the whole scene and everyone was laughing and carrying on, ignoring the various paintings that were shushing them as they climbed the myriad of steps up to their common room tower.
Harry felt the deep weight lift from his heart, this was truly where he belonged. He could himself be happy again. He watched as his friends carried about. Once they all reached the common room, they sat around the fire, propped up in the seats or scattered on the floor with their plates of food and jugs of juice. All of them giving Harry a play-by-play of what happened, each account getting seemingly more dramatic than the last.
When tiredness began to seep into the edges, they all broke off, cleaned up and headed for bed. Only Harry was still unwilling to let Draco go. So they found themselves in a bedroom alone together, still caked in sweat and mud.
“Don’t ever do that again Potter. Or I’ll kill you myself.” Draco muttered. Harry just chuckled and pulled Draco down to sit on the bed next to him.
“I’ve heard nightly walks about the woods can be romantic.” Harry teased.
“Don’t. I’m still mad at you for what you did.” Draco pushed back. “How do you force me into apparition. How dare you decide whether I stay or go.”
“I wanted to protect you.” Harry sighed.
“I can fucking protect myself, Potter!” Draco began raising his voice.
“I had to finish it once and for all.” Harry pleaded. “And I didn’t want to risk losing you.”
“But you expect me to accept losing you?” Draco all but shouted. “I’m a Malfoy. I don’t lose. ”
Harry wanted to laugh but instead he looked Draco head on, they were both scared of losing the other and that made Harry’s heart flip in his chest, he would’ve panicked if the thought hadn’t occurred to him. They have the rest of their lives to figure it all out.
–
Harry woke the next morning to Draco wrapped around him. Neither of them had cleaned up before bed and they were still wearing the same dirt caked clothes from the night prior, but Harry couldn’t have been happier or more comfortable.
“We have to get up.” Harry whispered, trying to nudge Draco awake.
“We face Death down in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, and won no less. There is nothing we have to do right now.” Draco mumbled into the back of Harry’s neck. Harry shivered and settled back in, Draco was right. There would be plenty of time later, for now he was just going to bask in this moment of happiness. Harry could all but hear his magic sing, and just before he drifted back into sleep he remembered what Luna said to him the other day.
“You can borrow my song Harry. Whenever you need and for however long you need. Your own song will return to you one day.”
AFTERWARD
“Happy Christmas Professor!” A young Ravenclaw said as he left the classroom. Harry replied in kind and rushed to pack his things up, it was finally Christmas break and all he could think about was seeing Teddy open his first broom on Christmas morning. He and Draco practically had a row about it weeks back because Draco insisted five years old was still too young, even if little Teddy would be six the following Spring.
This was his fourth year teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts and Harry enjoyed it more than anything but right now he only wanted to get out and get home as fast as absolutely possible. He still had presents to wrap, most importantly Draco’s, and he was sure Hermione had told him at tea the day prior that the Ministry would be closing early today and he wanted to get Draco’s present wrapped before he got home.
–
It was Christmas morning and the Weasleys, Andromeda and Teddy, Harry and Draco, and Narcissa as well, were all crowded around the dining table at Grimmauld. Everyone was laughing at Teddy’s antics, Fred and George instigating the tomfoolery of course, and Harry just watched on. Ron and Ginny were arguing once more about quidditch and Luna would smile and pat Ginny whenever Ginny would turn to her for back up. Hermione would just smack Ron and hush him when he got too loud, though she didn’t always pay him much mind as her hands were almost always full these days with little baby Rose. Andromeda, Narcissa, and Molly were always happy to sit and reminisce over baby pictures and stories. And Fleur and Draco would often converse in French, though no one really knew about what. Grimmauld had become a lively epicenter and Harry was always so overwhelmingly grateful for it.
In moments like these Harry couldn’t help but be reminded of his conversation with Dumbledore and Snape on that impossibly clean King’s Cross bench. Silently, Harry conjured a small white hare that hopped around the room. When Draco noticed it, he turned to Harry, taking Harry’s hand in his own and squeezed it. Giving Harry a reassuring smile.
“I love you.” Harry spoke quietly so just Draco could hear him. Slowly he pulled Draco’s present from his pocket. It was just a small wrapped box but Draco, being the dramatic he was, made a whole scene of it in front of everyone. A round of drinks was passed about in celebration and Harry promised himself, just as he did almost every day, that he would live each day happily, knowing just how precious life was.