Chapter 5

They walked into the hall, holding hands, and there was a shocked silence, in which all heads turned their way, forks clattered to the ground, forgotten, and people stared open mouthed.  This was followed by a frenzied whispering, and then-

"WHAT? IMPOSSIBLE!"  Ron bellowed, storming over to them, Hermione frantically trying to calm him down.

Harry and Draco stiffened, but stood proudly and did not unclasp their hands.

"HARRY!" Ron continued, "You only just told us you're gay! You can't spring this on us now, you can't-"

"Ron, you said yourself that you've known I'm gay for ages.  As for 'springing this' on you, I'm sorry if you can't accept it, but you should be happy for us, and you should feel glad that we decided not to hide it from you," Harry replied, rather coldly.

"Harry, love, be nice.  He is still you're best friend, and he hasn't really come to terms with the fact that I'm not the enemy…" Draco whispered into Harry's ear.  However, it did not have the desired effect.  Feeling Draco's breath on Harry's ear only served to make him realise anew just how much he loved the blond standing next to him.

"I am in love with Draco.  I know it's happened quickly, but I think that's because it's something that has always been there.  I just needed to grow up enough to realise it."  Harry said, firmly.  Draco positively glowed and stood slightly taller.

"… and if you can't deal with it, frankly, I couldn't give a damn-" Draco deflated, sighing. "because nothing you can do or say will change my love for him and I intend to spend the rest of my life with him."

Draco, who had been watching a smiling and twinkle-eyed Dumbledore, immediately shifted his gaze to Harry's eyes, who was watching him nervously.  Draco was speechless; his breath came faster and his throat tightened when he saw the look of love and hope in his eyes turn slowly to anxiety and doubtfulness.  Draco realized he should have spoken up by now, but too late.  Harry turned a hurt face away from him, wrenching his hand away.  Draco grabbed at it, but Harry was already sprinting out of the great hall.  Draco pelted after him.

"HARRY! Stop, please!" Draco called when he caught sight of Harry's back in a corridor.  Harry continued, faster, and Draco saw a hand come up to his face, undoubtedly wiping tears from his eyes.  Draco's heart clenched; he would not give Harry up for anything in the world.

"Harry," he called desperately, "you haven't given me a chance." Harry stopped, turned around and made his way back to Draco, who had slid down the wall and was now crying.

"A chance to what?" Harry snarled, "refuse me? Tell me you don't feel the same? That – that you d-don't l-l-love-"  Harry stopped, tears flowing down his cheeks.  Draco got up and pushed Harry against the opposite wall, kissing him with a passion unknown to either of them before.  Just as Harry started to respond, he pulled away.

"Please, don't…" Harry choked back tears.  "I can't, if you don't…it's just not going to work…"

"Harry! Will you listen to me for one goddamn minute?" Draco said, furiously.  "I am in love with you, why would I lie about it? Do you think this is some elaborate joke? A trap, to make you vulnerable and ready to be attacked by Voldemort?!" the idea was laughable – in any other situation.

"Maybe…" Harry said.

"I can't believe this.  I… I… if you can't trust me, this… you – you're my soulmate, Harry!  How can you do this to me?  You're tearing me up inside!"  Harry gasped.

"Soulmate? How do you know?  Are you sure? Do you really l-l-love-"

"Harry, I love you so much that I feel like I would rather die than see you unhappy.  So… if you d-d-don't love me-" Draco choked.  Harry rushed forward to embrace Draco, burying his face into the crook of his neck.

"I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love anyone." Harry whispered.

"I feel the same.  Oh, Harry, I'm so glad.  I can't believe you feel the same way.  I didn't know that it was possible to have the sort of love that we do."  Draco whispered back.

They shared a soft, intimate kiss.  Draco buried his hands in Harry's hair, while Harry stroked Draco's cheek.  The kiss became more passionate, and hungry, and Draco pulled Harry into an unused classroom.  Pausing for breath, Harry closed and locked the door with a flick of his wand, before giving Draco his full attention.

Still attached at the lips, Draco removed Harry's robe and began to unbutton his shirt.  He was trying to restrain himself, but when he caught sight of Harry's nipple he ripped off the rest of the shirt, ravishing Harry's chest.  Harry gave a strangled laugh, pulling Draco up to look into his eyes.

"I'm so happy, Draco." He said, before pulling him into a hungry kiss.  Draco began working on Harry's pants, noticing with satisfaction the growing tightness of them.

Harry was soon completely naked, while Draco still had everything on.  They stood, facing each other.

"That won't do," said Harry, and the next thing, Draco's clothes had whizzed off him and formed a rather messy pile by the door.

"How-how did?" Draco sputtered, incredulously.  Harry grinned.

"Wandless magic.  I'll explain later.  But right now," he said, pushing Draco to the ground and kissing him passionately.  After a few minutes of being kissed in every imaginable place by Harry, Draco reversed their positions, moving slowly down Harry's body to take him into his mouth.  Harry shuddered and pushed Draco off just before he was about to come.  "Dray, I want…I want…I mean, if you want to…"

Draco smiled, knowing what Harry wanted, but slightly unsure of his ability to give it.

"Leave it to me," he whispered, casting a lubricating charm on himself and Harry and positioning himself so that he could enter Harry.

Harry gasped in pain initially, and Draco cringed.  He didn't want to hurt Harry.  He moved slowly and gently, and gradually Harry's gasps of pain became moans of pleasure.  Draco moved faster as Harry's moans became louder, and Draco reveled in the feeling of being inside Harry.  He screamed Harry's name just as Harry screamed his, and both boys came, Draco collapsing on top of Harry.

"So…soulmates?"  Harry said, as Draco rolled off him.

"Yeah…Listen, Harry, I should have told you before…when soulmates… ahhhh… bond physically, they bond magically and emotionally as well.  We're bonded now."

"That's fantastic! I couldn't be happier, my love." Harry said, misunderstanding Draco's discomfort.

"But… er… bonded soulmates can't… ahh… live without each other.  I mean, if one of us dies, the other will too."

"Oh."  Harry said, feeling a huge weight on his shoulders.  He thought of the prophecy and decided not to tell Draco just yet.  He would protect Draco with his life.  He would win the battle against Voldemort, if only to ensure that Draco lived.

"Harry, I'm so sorry… please forgive me?  You should have known what you were getting into."  Draco said in an anguished voice.

"It's alright, my love, I'm happy that we are bonded.  I don't see the difference, because I would not want to live without you."

"Me neither."

"I will always love you," Harry whispered, stroking Draco's hair.

"Harry? What are you going to do about Ron?"

"Hmmm. He'll come around," Harry said, with a hint of doubt in his voice.

Draco sensed his insecurity.  "You're right.  He will.  And you will not lose me, no matter what.  I was so emotional back in the great hall, that I couldn't even say that I feel exactly the same way as you.  I want to be with you forever."  Draco smiled.

"Let's get married." Harry said.

"I could not want anything more." Draco replied, kissing Harry's cheek.