A/N: Here is the last chapter for this story! I hope you all enjoy it and thank you for reading this story and following, favoriting it, and reviewing. I really appreciate it :)
Harry arrived back in Romania at ten o'clock that night. He was bone tired and he knew that Hedwig felt the same, but after he settled her in her area, she appeared to be much happier. Despite flying hundreds of miles, she flew around for a bit, dove into the pond, and ate the fish that she caught. Harry smiled as he watched her. Harry walked over to his hammock and cast a protective bubble around himself. He stared up into the trees, seeing some of the moon filtering through. He felt mostly at peace, but he knew it was going to be a long time before he felt completely at peace. He felt as if part of him was missing again. He didn't have to think long about what that part was. He knew.
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Draco had spent the first couple of days after Harry left confined to his bed. He was so depressed about him leaving that he felt no gumption to get up and do anything. Their conversation had been brief the night he returned to Romania. At least he knew that he was safe there.
Draco had received an owl from Hermione informing him that Goyle had been brought back to Britain and would no longer be a threat to Harry. The resisters were in jail with no hopes of getting out anytime soon. That was all wrapped up nicely and the Prophet had been reporting everything there was to be known about the resisters and what was happening in the Ministry. Harry's name was kept out of it. That must have been Kingsley and Hermione's doing.
By day five of Harry being gone, Draco had left his bedroom, but refused to leave his house. There had been a few possible cases buried in the Prophet, but he just couldn't bring himself to help.
He had been so wrong in believing that he didn't have stronger feelings for Harry. The man had made a brief appearance in his life and they had shared so much and it had turned his life completely upside down. Everything he had always wanted was right there in front of him and he screwed it up. He had always wanted a friendship with Harry and he had it. He had always wanted to be with someone that he felt he could spend the rest of his life with them. He had that with Harry. He had always wanted a best friend. He could have had that with Harry. He had screwed it all up.
By day ten, Draco was downright aching inside. This was so much worse than when he thought Harry had died. Every dream he ever had was sitting in Romania being a dragon keeper. Harry had offered his heart and his home to him and he didn't take it. Merlin! He hadn't spoken to Harry since the day he left. He couldn't go on like this. He had to be with Harry. There was nothing else in his life that mattered more to him, not even his job.
He walked back to his room and called out for one of his house elves. "Tilly!" The little elf popped into existence next to him and looked up at him. "Please begin work on shutting down the manor. I'm going on an extended trip. You and the rest of the elves can join Mother in France. Should I come back sooner than I anticipate, I will contact you there." The little elf nodded and disappeared with a pop.
Draco opened his wardrobe and pulled out three trunks. He opened them and started spelling items into each trunk. Clothes and shoes in one, books in another, and lastly, personal items in the last trunk. Once that was done, he took his sheets, blankets, and pillows and folded them up, placing them in his wardrobe. He still had some of his things there, but he had taken what was important to him.
He shrunk each trunk and placed them in his pocket. He grabbed his broom and cloak and headed downstairs. Tilly met him in the foyer and handed him some sandwiches. He smiled at her and then excused her to leave. He heard several pops as his elves left. He looked around, pleased that the house was shut down appropriately. The house would remain under heavy wards, and it would just be here, waiting for the return of any Malfoys. He didn't plan to return and if he did, he wouldn't be without Harry.
He looked around once more and then nodded. He opened his front door and walked out. He locked it behind him and walked to outside his wards. He mounted his broom and took off into the early evening. He knew he'd have to use different methods to get back to Harry, but he'd do it, no matter what it took.
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Harry walked out of his flat and started for the main building. They were having a big breakfast to welcome some dragon keepers from other reserves and a few researchers. He walked in and saw that they were still setting up so he was early. He walked into the office and saw Charlie making copies of the rules and regulations for the reserve.
"Need any help?" Harry asked as he stood next to his desk.
Charlie looked up at him and smiled. Harry had been different since he'd gotten back nearly two weeks ago. Charlie knew that he was heartbroken and he knew that the only thing that would fix it would be either time or for Draco to wise up and come to him. "Nah, I'm almost done. How are you this morning?" he asked.
Harry shrugged. He sat down heavily. "I'd like to say it's getting easier, but it's not. I really thought that we had something special. I guess I've been out of the game too long to know what it looks like," he replied.
Charlie put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "He wasn't ready for you, Harry. It's his loss," he assured him.
Harry gave him a small smile and nodded. "Yeah, maybe. Oh, uh, Ron and Hermione are coming to visit in a couple of weeks," he told him.
Charlie smiled. "Yeah, I talked to Ron the other day. I'm cooking up something special for him when he gets here," he replied in a mischievous voice.
Harry laughed and shook his head. "No matter how old you get, you're never too old to pick on your little brother," he replied.
Charlie laughed and nodded. A knock on the door jamb interrupted them and they both turned to see one of the other dragon keepers. "The keepers and researchers are coming up from the gates," he told them.
Harry and Charlie both nodded and stood. They walked out of the office and quickly checked to see if breakfast was ready. Everything looked to be in order so they walked out and stood at the top of the hill.
"Do you think they brought any trainees?" Harry asked.
Charlie nodded. "I know a couple are coming. One will be from the New Zealand reserve and the other is from the American reserve. According to their trainers, they are more competent than typical dragon keepers in training," he replied.
Harry laughed. "Where did I fall on that spectrum?"
Charlie looked over at him and smiled. "You were brave and determined. You were going to become a dragon keeper and no one was going to stop you, not even yourself," he replied.
Harry blushed slightly and grinned. He turned back to look at the guests. He could see them better now that they were halfway up the hill. He scanned them and picked out the trainees easily enough. They looked quite eager and not nearly as rough around the edges as the seasoned dragon keepers.
Something caught his eye amongst the guests though. He stared at the person that was walking up the hill. He was behind the group and blocked by a particularly burly dragon keeper. Harry swallowed as he watched them approach. Charlie gasped quietly next to him, confirming that Harry was seeing what he was seeing. Charlie went down the hill and greeted the incoming guests thus pulling them away from the last person behind them. Harry's eyes widened as he took in what he was seeing. Standing there with broom in hand and three trunks next to him was Draco.
Harry started down the hill towards him slowly. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Draco was here and he had trunks with him and his broom. That must mean…. He picked up his pace and was now jogging down the hill towards him. Draco was grinning at him as he watched him approach. He braced himself as he knew what was coming. Harry launched himself at him and wrapped him up in a hug, leaning back to kiss him passionately.
Draco's heart was doing somersaults of happiness as he relished in having Harry in his arms again. This confirmed it more than anything else could. They finally broke apart and looked at each other.
"I can't believe you're here," Harry whispered in an awed tone.
"I love you, too," Draco responded instead.
Harry stepped back slightly and looked at him with wide eyes. "What?" he asked quietly.
"I love you, too," he repeated.
Harry frowned slightly. "But you said you didn't feel that way yet," he replied in confusion.
"I did say that and I was completely and utterly wrong. I've spent nearly two weeks in agony over the choice I made. I had everything that I ever wanted in you and I let you go. I let you come back here and I didn't follow you like you asked. I decided that I couldn't be without you again so I came here, hoping that you still wanted me. I'm so sorry, Harry," he replied.
Harry stared at him. His heart felt complete again. The peace he had been striving for on the reserve settled into him. He still wanted Draco. He filled the void. "Of course I still want you," he whispered.
Draco looked at him in relief and he hugged him again, burying his face into his neck. "I missed you so much," he said as he kissed the side of his neck.
He leaned back and looked down at him. Charlie had led the other guests away to give them some privacy as the group was quite curious as to what was unraveling with them. "I missed you more," Harry responded.
Draco laughed. "I missed you so much that I used muggle transportation to get me here," he countered.
Harry lifted an eyebrow and smirked. "What did you use?" he asked curiously.
Draco looked somewhat horrified about his experience. It just made Harry laugh. "The tube, an airplane, and a bus. I apparated for part of the journey and flew on my broom. It was quite the ordeal to get here. I'd hate to have to do it again so I'm glad that you still want me," he replied with a laugh.
Harry grinned and kissed him again. When he stepped back he was grinning at him again. "I think that is more of a statement of how you feel about me than simply coming here," he teased. Draco rolled his eyes and cast a levitation charm on his trunks. Harry looked at them for a moment. "Are you just visiting?" he asked nervously.
Draco shook his head. "I shut down the manor. I packed up my stuff and now I'm here," he replied.
Harry's eyes widened. He thought that maybe Draco was going to have an extended visit, but this, this was so much better. He threw his arms around him again and kissed him deeply. Draco groaned as he got lost in the kiss once again. Harry broke away too soon for Draco's liking. "Come on," he said as he grabbed Draco's hand and turned, pulling him towards his flat.
Draco stumbled after him, laughing as his trunks floated behind him. "Where are we going?" he asked.
Harry looked over his shoulder at him and gave him a saucy grin. "We've got some making up to do," he said in a much deeper tone than Draco expected.
Draco's heart stopped for just a moment as his stomach flip flopped in anticipation. His life had been turned upside down again, but it was good because it brought him to Harry again. They were going to be together and the future looked much better for them. He felt at peace and knew that he had made the right decision, especially when Harry opened the door to his flat and pulled Draco inside. He started kissing him again and Draco vaguely heard his trunks drop and the door slam shut. Harry made fast work of his shirt and broke away. He locked his gaze on Draco's; all his feelings were clear in his green eyes. Draco sighed and reaffirmed that he made the right choice, and then he kissed Harry again.
They missed breakfast and lunch and dinner…..
THE END