Finding Freedom

Disclaimer: Seriously if I owned this do you think that I would still be struggling with college payments? Everything you know, I don't own; things you think you know, I probably still don't own. Stuff that you have no idea where it came from, I think I own that, but don't take my word for it!

Notes: Back at school…back to work..trying…trying

Underlines words – indicating signing

"Underlined and italicized"– indicates signing and speaking at the same time.

oOoOo

Last Time:

"Who, Harry say his name," Draco said, needed Harry to admit it, to himself to and to all of them.

"O-Oliver," Harry all but whispered.

Onto the story:

Draco sighed as he sat on the couch that night. The day had really taken its toll on him. He was exhausted but unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Harry's prone body collapsed on the floor of the aquarium store. Right now Harry was sleeping and Draco was trying to process everything.

FLASHBACK

"O-Oliver," Harry all but whispered.

Draco could see his body trembling in fear and wanted nothing more than to reassure Harry that everything was going to be alright, but he couldn't. He couldn't promise something like that, now that Oliver was back he didn't know what was going to happen.

"Harry, I promise I will do everything in my power to keep you safe, both you and Zachary," Draco said, wishing Harry would come to him.

"Zachary?" Harry said, looking around. His eyes widened when he didn't see him.

"Don't panic, Remus and Sirius have him, they are keeping him safe. Calm down, please Love, calm down," Draco said, seeing terror in Harry's eyes. Slowly Harry turned back to Draco.

"Can we go home now?" he asked softly.

"Of course," Draco responded. He stood and held out his hand for Harry to take if he wanted. He was slightly surprised when Harry jumped into his arms and held on tightly. "I got you, let's go home." Harry didn't say anything; he just nodded and held on tightly.

When they exited the store it was nightfall. It was later than Draco had thought. He could see Harry's eyes darting back and forth, looking for danger or better yet, looking for Oliver. Draco just tightened his hold on Harry's waist and continued to the car. Luckily the press had been directed to the front and their car brought around back so they didn't have to deal with any of that.

When they got home Harry was dead on his feet. He was leaning heavily on Draco for support but too frightened to close his eyes while outside of their home, as if when he opened them again Oliver would be there. Draco maneuvered him to their bedroom and dressed him in some comfortable clothes before putting him to bed. Harry held on tightly until he fell asleep. As soon as Draco was sure he was sleeping deeply he pried himself from Harry's grip and left the room, he needed some air.

PRESENT

Draco looked over to the clock, it was only 9pm. Right now Zachary would be falling asleep and Draco and Harry would be having some adult time, talking about their day and just enjoying each other's company. Just thinking about it made Draco want to end Oliver's pathetic life.

Draco looked back at the bedroom door worriedly and listened for any noise that would indicate Harry waking up or a nightmare. Even though Harry had been quiet the whole ride home he hadn't shut down completely, Draco had seen him cry and see him show emotion, he wasn't an empty shell. That was at least a good sign; he was processing everything. Hopefully Harry would be able to take this experience and heal further from it.

He heard sheets rustling and quickly got up and entered the room. Harry was just waking up and looking around, seeing that he was safely tucked away in his bed he was calm.

"How was your nap?" Draco asked while coming and sitting down with him on the bed.

"Alright," Harry replied.

"Do you want to talk about this afternoon?" Draco asked.

"I don't know what to say, I can't believe he's back. I really thought he was out of my life forever, this is like my worst nightmare," Harry said softly, leaning over and placing his head on Draco's shoulder.

"I will keep you safe, don't worry," Draco said, kissing his forehead.

"You can't promise that," Harry said. Draco didn't know what to say to that, did Harry not trust him or something? Harry must have understood what Draco's look of hurt and disbelief meant because he followed up with, "I know you will try, but if it's going to happen it's going to happen. It must happen for a reason, don't you think?"

"I don't know Harry, I hate to believe that that bastard was meant to hurt you," Draco said.

"But if he hadn't then I would have never met you," Harry said, moving away from Draco and looking into his eyes. Draco didn't know what to say, he didn't like Harry linking their meeting to something like that but on the other hand it was true. "It doesn't make sense right, hold on," Harry said jumping out of bed and running down the hall to his studio. He returned with his guitar.

"Harry?" Draco asked, questioningly. Harry just smiled and situated himself on the bed.

"I wrote this a while ago, I had been thinking about how meeting you all stemmed from the fact that I was raped and moved; if that wouldn't have happened I would have never met you. At first it really made me upset, but it's just one of the many bumps along the road that led me to you. So I wrote this, I haven't played it for anyone yet, not even my manager, it is only for you," Harry said, he started strumming before singing:

"I set out on a narrow way many years ago,
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road,
But I got lost a time or two,
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through,
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you."

Harry smiled at Draco, playing a few cords before starting again:

"Every long lost dream led me to where you are,
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars,
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms,
This much I know is true,
That God blessed the broken road,
That led me straight to you,"

As he played the cords a few years leaked out of his eyes. Draco moved to stop him but he shook him off, he had to finish it. Harry mouthed, 'I love you' before continuing.

"I think about the years I spent just passing through,
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you,
But you just smile and take my hand,
You've been there you understand,
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true,

"Every long lost dream led me to where you are,
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars,
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms,
This much I know is true,
That God blessed the broken road,
That led me straight to you,

"Now I'm just rolling home,
Into my lover's arms,
This much I know is true,
That God blessed the broken road,
That led me straight to you,

"That God blessed the broken road,
That led me straight to you."

Harry finished playing and set the guitar down on the bed before turning towards Draco. "Well, what did you think?" he asked.

"Amazing as usual," Draco said, leaning over and kissing him softly. Harry snuggled up to Draco and laid his head in the crook of Draco's neck.

"What are we going to do?" Harry whispered.

"We are going to live our lives, we just have to be careful," Harry nodded his agreement into Draco's shoulder.

"I think I need to see Dr. Kane, she told there was always this possibility of him coming back into our lives, I just didn't think it would be so soon," Harry said.

"I already called her, before at the aquarium. We have an appointment tomorrow at 12:30. We're going to take everything slowly, one thing at a time," Draco said, kissing Harry's messy mop.

Realizing that Draco took care of everything, leaving Harry nothing to worry about he smiled. He felt so safe in Draco's arms, like nothing could hurt him, like Oliver couldn't exist when he was within the safety of Draco's arms.

"I love you; we are going to get through this alright?" Draco asked, running his hands slowly through the brunette's hair. Harry just nodded, everything would have to be taken one day at a time but he trusted Draco to do everything in his power to protect both him and Zachary.

The next morning the Malfoy-Potter household was quiet. No one was talking, no radio was played, and the TV was kept silent. They ate breakfast with little conversation and cleaned with the same amount of quiet. They both did little mundane things around the house, both ignoring the giant pink elephant in the room

As the clock ticked closer to noon Harry became restless and anxious. The thought of leaving the house scared him, he couldn't control the world outside his front door, and Oliver could be anywhere. Draco could sense his nervousness but wasn't sure how to alleviate his fear.

When the clock struck noon Harry's fear was almost palpable. Draco got their coats out of the closet, first he put his own on and then he tried to help Harry into his. He could feel Harry trembling slightly as he helped him with his coat. Draco immediately took Harry into his arms and held him tightly.

"Nothing is going to happen, nothing. I can promise you that, for right now, I am going to protect you and nothing is going to happen. You trust me right?" he whispered into Harry's ear.

"Implicitly," Harry replied, then he took Draco's hand and they made their way outside of the comfort and safety of their home. Harry's hand stayed locked in Draco's on their way to the car and the whole ride to Dr. Kane's office.

They were the only ones in the waiting room while they waited for the clock to strike half past twelve. Almost to the minute the door opened and Dr. Kane walked out, a smile on her face.

"Hi Harry, Draco, how are you boys today?" She asked in the same tone she used during every one of Harry's visits, she didn't want to distinguish this one different than any other one, didn't want to set this one up to be different.

"Good," Harry said, subdued.

"Alright, I'm going to talk to Harry first and then you will join us alright Draco?" she said in her authority voice. She knew that they would not want to be separated but Harry could not use Draco as a crutch and she knew Harry would try to pretend everything was alright for Draco, just like he was doing for Harry.

Harry's grip on Draco's hand intensified but he nodded. Draco leaned over and whispered, "I'll be right here if you need me, I'm not going anywhere," in his ear before kissing him softly and letting go. Harry kissed him back and stood. With one last glance back the door closed behind him.

As soon as the door shut behind them Harry took his place by the window and Dr. Kane sat on her desk. They found, through their sessions, that these were the places that each of them felt most comfortable. Dr. Kane started munching on her sandwich that she brought for lunch and looked over at Harry expectantly. When he made no indication that he would start this session Dr. Kane sighed, this was not a good sign.

"So, how are you Harry?" she asked.

"Alright, right now," he replied, he wasn't lying to her but he wasn't disclosing the full truth.

"Cut this shit," she said, they had become very familiar with each other and, at times, very blunt. She knew he was frightened and worried and anxious but it had to come from him. Once they covered what he was feeling they would be able to cover where each feeling was coming from and then work on managing them.

"You already know, why ask me?" he said, not moving from his gaze out the window.

"We've been over this; I want to hear it from you. I've heard it from Draco, but I want to hear it from you," she said equally calm.

"I'm scared shitless, of everything! Of Oliver getting me again, of him doing something to Zachary, of Draco realizing how screwed up I still am under everything and leaving me! I just want this all to be over, I want to go back to life before Oliver showed up. Why did he have to show up again?" Harry exclaimed, his calm exterior gone, in its place a scared little child.

"You have every right to be afraid of each and every one of those things, every one. Now calm down and think, let's look at the last one you mentioned. Do you really think Draco is going to leave you?" she asked, going back to her sandwich.

"He should," Harry whispered. Dr. Kane frowned; if Harry wouldn't fight for himself he wouldn't be able to see how or why others would.

"Harry do you read what magazines write about you?" she asked, changing the topic slightly.

"Not really, I hate seeing what others write about Draco, Zachary, and I," he admitted.

"Not everything in the media is bad. Here," she said taking out a magazine, on the cover were Draco and Harry walking on the street hold hands. "Read the title for me."

"Young and in love," Harry said. He remembered the day when the photo was taken, he was wearing Draco's sunglasses because he was trying out contacts. As soon as he had stepped out of the office his eyes stung because of the bright sunshine, Draco had quickly offered his sunglasses to protect Harry's eyes. Both were smiling and having a good time, ignoring the paparazzi that had been following them.

"Look at Draco, look at how he is looking at you," she prompted.

Harry didn't see the point but did as she asked anyway. Draco was looking at him, probably because they were talking to each other. He was about to comment on how he didn't see anything special when Dr. Kane instructed him to focus on his eyes. Harry was a little shocked by what he saw; Draco's eyes were full of love. He was looking at Harry like there was nothing else in the world that mattered. He looked completely in love.

"Do you see now, do you see what everyone else sees when they look at you two. You love each other so much. Draco would do anything for you that were within his powers. When he called me up yesterday I could tell he was frightened and angry. He was frightened for you and angry at your attacker. He's not running away from this relationship and neither are you." As she finished she noticed Harry was looking at the door anxiously. He wanted to be with Draco, probably to apologize for not realizing how much love Draco had for him. A quick glance at the clock showed that a half an hour went by, they only have a little under an hour left before he next session was set to come. She figured it would be alright to invite Draco in now. "Go get him; we'll finish the session with both of you."

Harry rushed to the door and opened it, he noticed Draco was sitting calmly in the waiting room with a look of fury on his face, the paper he had been reading was crumbled in his hands and his shoulders were trembling with rage.

oOoOo

Nothing to say except I hope you like it and sorry it's taking so long to update.