Satyrn Rain: I know the feeling. When I first started reading, I pictured first year Harry and it freaked me out, too. I'm doing better (a lot better) on that now. It's nice not to think of eleven year old boys wanting each other, though I suppose an eleven year old boy could be gay. Er – let's not discuss that now. I'm glad you liked the fic.
KumikoVegeta: I hope your eyes feel better and I hope it ends satisfactory. It was perfect for me, but I wrote it so I obviously like it.
Yaoi no Hime: That's far too much praise than I deserve, but thank you. I love it.
Tsuyuno: Merry Christmas to you, too. I went around on Christmas mentally reminding myself to say the word 'Merry' and not 'Happy'. People kept looking at me strange when I said 'Happy Christmas'.
Arissa: Thank you for the compliments as the thing I was most worried about when writing this was the pace. I was afraid that I had been rushing it (and at parts I probably was).
Derae Johnstone: Isn't it just a pain where you find a plot you really like but there's one detail you can't stand and it makes you not want to continue reading? Like, they make Ron an asshole, or Hermione's running around like a slut, or all Draco and Harry ever do is shag? Er – Okay. I'm going to get away from my personal issues now.
Canceria: As many bad things as I put into a story, I can't help but leave a tad bit of hope in there. Even in my suicidal Draco piece, I still have to give him moments where things are looking up. Otherwise, a story is too depressing to read, and it gets boring. I'm glad you're enjoying it every bit as much as I am.
FireWulf: I'm glad we've settled this somewhat 'dispute' we seemed to have had. I'm sorry about whoever flamed your story because of what you said in mine (though, to be honest, I'm kind of flattered, but that's the Slytherin in me).
Angelic Thrall: Welcome to the world of Harry! You're going to love it here!
Aeris Tsukiyono: Who wasn't skeptical of Harry Potter slash at first? But you're right. The fun has just begun! Mwa ha ha ha!
Tine: Good luck with your exams!
Demon Huntress and Dark Rider: I have nothing constructive to say. All I do have to say is that you're both highly amusing and you make me laugh.
RiseAgainPhoenix: Ahh. You were also one of those people who freaked when they took off the music section. Did you have stories or were you just reading stories? I was writing them and they all got taken off. Luckily, I had them posted at my website. Harry Potter has now taken over but long live RPS!
ShadowsLight: My real name is Amanda and I hate it. I don't remember why I chose Kiara. I think I did because I was thinking of the second Lion King movie…anyway – Thanks for the compliments. They always go appreciated.
Everyone else, thank you for all of you support. It means so much to me. More than you'll ever know.
DISCLAIMER (so to speak): You know what's funny? The fact that after twenty-two chapters I still have to say I'm not JK Rowling otherwise my ass could be grass. Alas, still making no money and the plot, I'm sad to say, is still mine.
This is the last chapter. Will I ever do a sequel? It isn't likely. However, for those who read or are planning to read 'Life Left Behind', I've thought about writing a sequel, so perhaps. Perhaps.
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Harry stumbled down the staircase, Draco's footsteps pattering down behind him as they both wiped the sleep from their eyes and followed their noses to the kitchen. It had been a little over two weeks since Marge had gone and Harry's birthday would be in two days, the same day that Professor Dumbledore would be coming to retrieve Draco. On more than one occasion, Harry had told Draco that he thought their headmaster was just being cruel by allowing Harry the pleasure of having Draco around and then taking him away on his birthday.
Aunt Petunia was standing by the stove cooking eggs and Harry barely cast a glance at her before falling into his seat at the breakfast table. Dropping next to him with a thud, Draco looked at Harry through bloodshot eyes. Both boys had very little sleep the night before because every time one would get comfortable, the other would begin to shift, and it continued that way until they were kicking each other under the blankets and Harry threatened to get out his wand. Grumbling, Draco had crawled onto the floor and went to sleep there.
"Morning," said Draco, voice still groggy from sleep.
"Morning."
"Sorry I kicked you last night. Or this morning. Or whatever you want to call it."
"Sorry I kicked you back."
"That had to be the worst night's sleep I ever had."
"Me too."
"Well - okay, there was this one night where I had this dream about Death Eater initiation and I couldn't sleep really well after that."
"Yeah. . .okay. . .that wasn't the worst night's sleep I've ever had but it sure was the worst in a long time."
"Yeah."
"I miss Ron."
"What?"
"I miss Ron."
"Well that was sudden and unexpected."
"Yeah. I dunno. I was just like - I miss Ron. So I said it."
"I don't miss Ron."
"That's because Hermione told Ron about your telephone call and he said that he doesn't understand muggles either. He didn't mean to offend you."
"Weasley prat," muttered Draco.
"Now where is the light bulb?" snapped Aunt Petunia. Turning around, Harry could see the refrigerator door open and the light was out, light bulb missing.
"And the light bulb thief strikes again," said Harry. "This is really starting to get annoying. One of us in this room stole that light bulb and I want to know who it is."
"Harry, return that light bulb at once, boy," said Uncle Vernon from behind his newspaper.
"It wasn't me! In case you haven't noticed, I'm the one that this is driving crazy. Last night I went into the bathroom and tried to turn on the light but the bulb was gone. I don't like going to the bathroom in the dark. It's kind of eerie."
"We all know you took them, Harry, so just give them back and you won't be punished," said Aunt Petunia.
"I didn't take the light bulbs! Why would I take the light bulbs? Why would anyone take light bulbs?"
"Harry, go up to your room."
Harry stared at Uncle Vernon, wide eyed. Standing up from his seat, Harry slammed the chair into place and left through the door, not caring that Draco was still sitting in the kitchen. He climbed the staircase and entered into his bedroom. Wanting to calm himself down, Harry headed for his trunk figuring he'd give his Firebolt a good polish. As he moved Draco's laundry bag off his trunk, he heard a clinking of glass and Harry's eyes narrowed as he opened the bag and began to search. Sitting at the bottom were thirteen light bulbs of various shapes and sizes.
Putting the bag back where it had been, Harry left his room and stood at the foot of the stairs. "Oh, Draco! Are you coming up or staying down there forever?"
"I figured that I could still eat even if you couldn't!" Draco bellowed back.
"You thought wrong. Get your pale, scrawny ass up here!"
Shuffling could be heard coming from the direction of the kitchen and Draco emerged through the door, walking toward the staircase. Upon seeing the smirk on Harry's face, Draco paused at the bottom of the stairs and seriously reconsidered his course of action.
"What's up, Harry?" he asked from the bottom of the stairs.
"I just wanted to tell you that I found the contents of your laundry bag to be very interesting."
Draco slightly blushed. "Oh. Well - er - Maybe I should come up there to discuss this."
"Maybe."
Climbing the stairs, Draco smiled at Harry before disappearing into Harry's bedroom. Sitting down on the bed, he watched as Harry shut the door and leaned back against it, arms crossed, and obviously waiting for him to explain.
"I like the light bobs. I wanted some for myself."
"Light bulbs. If you wanted some, we could have got you some. You know how this has been driving me crazy. When did you get the time to do this anyway?"
"When you aren't paying attention to me because you're sick of explaining how muggle things work or when you're on the phone with Hermione or when you're writing to Ron or even doing your schoolwork. Sometimes when you're sleeping but that's a tricky one as we usually fall asleep together."
"You could have at least told me it was you that was doing it this entire time. Then I wouldn't have had to be going so crazy about things."
"I thought you'd figure it out. You seemed rather bright. I suppose I was wrong."
"I suppose. Oh well. At least I know who it was now. But really, Draco. The light bulbs?"
"Light bobs are the most fascinating of the muggle magic I've seen yet," he explained. "Bloody useful, too."
"Do you plan on keeping them?"
"I have every intention of keeping them."
"You're going soft, Draco. Wasn't it you who said that you wouldn't want to steal light bulbs because you weren't Arthur Weasley?"
"Yes," he said, hanging his head. "I'm finding that perhaps Mr. Weasley may have been onto something when he started to find muggles so fascinating. I'm not jealous of muggles anymore. I'm perfectly content being a wizard, even if my father is in Azkaban. I am, however, intrigued by these muggles. So fascinating."
"Watch out, Draco. Intrigue leads to stalking."
"Only if you're Harry Potter, which, I am proud say, I am not."
"No. You're Draco Malfoy. The other Boy-Who-Lived."
"You stop that. I can't complain about it so stop tormenting me. That's only cruel. I'm serious about this muggle fascination, Harry. Maybe we should spend some time in Muggle London after we graduate. What do you think?"
"I think that's a good idea. Are you going to go join Ron's father for the Muggle Protection Act now?"
"I just might. And here I was saying that he should snap his wand in half. Look at me. Trying to break open batteries, stealing the light bobs, and burning the toast. I even made a fellytone call."
"You're hopeless."
"I am not."
Harry grinned at him. "I can't believe you've been swiping the light bulbs. You're so weird."
"I'm unique. It's part of why you love me."
"Is it?"
"Yes it is."
"Well if you say so."
Draco rolled his eyes and lay down on the bed, prepared to spend the day up in Harry's room until Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia seemed keen on letting Harry out.
The release from their brief imprisonment came late in the afternoon just before dinner and for the thirty minutes that passed before they'd eat, Draco and Harry took up the entire sofa laying on each other. Uncle Vernon and Dudley were trying to avoid the room because neither particularly enjoyed the sight of Harry and Draco physically expressing their love for one another in any means. Even the sight of Draco absentmindedly twirling the hair at the nape of Harry's neck one day had turned Uncle Vernon's face so purple that Harry, in a fleeting moment of joy, thought that he was dying. After such a thought, Harry felt very bad about it and Draco told him that the part of him that derived joy was the part of him that should have been a Slytherin.
Sitting down at the table, Draco was eating at a steady pace but Harry was pushing his food around the plate. After Dudley had gone three rounds on his own food, Draco watched in horror as he reached across the table and began to pick food off of Harry's plate. Harry didn't seem to really mind but the mere principle of the matter was irking Draco.
"Oh," he said in a sarcastic tone that Harry thought sounded very much like Snape, "I'm sorry. I'm being rude. Would you like to like to pilfer some of mine away as well?"
Dudley shrugged his porky shoulders. "Sure."
"Have you ever heard of cosmic retribution?" Draco asked as Dudley reached across the table for the corn cob sitting on Draco's plate. Harry couldn't tear his eyes away, wondering where Draco was getting at with this. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon seemed to be wondering the same thing.
"No," Dudley replied as he just about had his hands on Draco's food and then - WHACK! A sharp, stinging pain seared through Dudley's wrist and he began to whimper as he pulled it back into his body. Clutched proudly in Draco's tight fist was the missing Smelting stick.
"That was karma coming back at you. I advise that you do not attempt that again."
Harry was doing his best not to laugh at the scowl on all three Dursleys' faces.
"Happy Christmas and Happy Birthday," said Draco, waving the stick at him before he stuck it down his pants.
"That's mine!" shouted Dudley, looking in horror as to where Draco had stuck the Smelting stick.
"So sorry. Guess you won't be going after it as long as it's in there. Only Harry has access."
"Draco."
"What?"
"You are a kleptomaniac," Harry said, snickering.
"A little." Draco shrugged.
"YOU WILL GIVE HIM BACK HIS SMELTING STICK THIS INSTANT!" roared Uncle Vernon.
"Or you'll do what?" drawled Draco, picking at his nails. "Beat me? Yell at me? Reach right into my knickers and extract it? Please, do tell."
Uncle Vernon was shaking with anger. Apparently this had been a long month for the Dursleys as well. Harry began to dive back in on the food still left on his plate that Dudley hadn't confiscated. He was suddenly feeling much better.
"GIVE DUDLEY HIS SMELTING STICK OR YOU WILL BE THROWN OUT OF THIS HOUSE!"
"Honestly, do you think that would be punishment? You'd only be throwing your precious Smelting Stick out with me and then you'd get a visit from the minister of magic. You don't want a whole ministry of wizards to come traipsing down Privet Drive practically waving a banner that they're coming to number four, do you? I didn't think so. So you will just leave Harry and me alone for the last few days of this holiday. Believe me, I'm anticipating my departure as much as you are."
"He is," said Harry.
"See." Draco picked up his corn cob and took a bite.
By the time they went to bed that night, the Dursleys had gone back to ignoring Harry's existence all together though they weren't having the same effect on Draco that they had apparently hoped for. Without them babbling on or hanging over his shoulder at all times, Draco was in the highest of spirits he had been in since arriving at the Dursleys. Harry was happy to see that his melancholy mood since hearing about his father was going away.
Now Harry awoke three days later, a sinking feeling kicking him in the stomach before he even bothered to open his eyes. Maybe if he went back to sleep, he wouldn't have to think about what would happen tonight. Maybe then Draco would never have to leave. Those thought were diminished by a rustling in the corner and Harry sat up, put on his glasses, and saw Draco sitting there smiling at him, presents in his lap.
"We were visited by a very giddy Weasley owl last night after you fell asleep," said Draco, holding out the presents. "The thing was tiny. At first I thought it was a Snitch."
"Did you catch it?"
"No."
"Good. That's Ron's owl, Pig."
"Pig?"
"Short for Pigwidgeon."
"What kind of name is Pigwidgeon?"
"I don't know. Ginny named him. Ron calls him Pig."
"Perhaps if I would have made friends with the Weasleys sooner, I would have had more to laugh at."
"Perhaps."
Harry opened up his birthday presents and cards from Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid before sitting back on his bed.
"You're getting my present later," said Draco. "I can't give it to you yet."
"I thought my present was Dudley's Smelting stick?"
"Well that's one of them but I have something else for you, too."
"Oh. Okay. You didn't need to get me anything, you know."
"I know but I love you and I should get you something. You're really sweet to me and I'm - well - I'm the bad half of this relationship."
"You are not," said Harry, laughing. "This has been one crazy month, hasn't it?"
"Yeah. I used a fellytone for the first time."
"Telephone."
"I keep forgetting that."
"You keep forgetting that light bulbs aren't light bobs, too."
"I like light bobs better."
"Why am I not surprised?"
Draco shrugged. "So can you believe it? I actually made it through an entire month of living with muggles, acting like a muggle, and I didn't get us into too much trouble. I mean, there was Marge."
"I'm just glad she isn't a blood relative."
"I would be, too, if I were you. The ministry didn't have to visit. I didn't use my wand. I rendered your uncle powerless under my influence. I feel like an evil and sinister laugh is necessary right now but I'm too lazy to conjure one up."
"We made it. I do have to admit, I'm a bit surprised you lived through it. I thought for sure that either you or the Dursleys would die before we left Privet Drive. I didn't think number four was going to be big enough for the five of us."
"I still can't believe we bullied them into keeping me. I thought for sure I was going to be sitting at King's Cross for the next four weeks. It's a good thing your uncle has such a great fear of the entire ministry coming here otherwise I'd have really been out of luck. I don't think he realizes that he could have kicked me out and I would have had no where to go."
"What would you have done if he wouldn't have taken you?"
"You and I could have lived in King's Cross. Or gone back to Diagon Alley. Then there's always the option of sneaking away to the Weasleys. So how did I fare on behaving myself?"
"Better than I expected, actually."
"Really?"
"Yes. I already told you, I thought you'd have used your wand the first day we got back. In fact, using it on Piers would have been a rather wise choice. I was hoping that you'd do it."
"I now see why the Sorting Hat considered putting you in Slytherin. Harry! I never knew you could be so foul."
"Well I never knew that you could be so strange."
Draco laughed. "Let's stop this bickering and go have breakfast. It certainly isn't everyday you turn sixteen."
"Okay. Just to warn you, though, don't expect the Dursleys to remember and don't remind them. I'd much prefer for them to ignore it all together."
"Whatever you want." Draco followed Harry out of his bedroom and downstairs to the kitchen.
"Today is a very special day," said Uncle Vernon as Harry and Draco sat down at the table.
"I thought you said they'd forget," said Draco.
"Forget? How could we forget? Today's the last day you're here! I say we drink to it!"
Draco scowled. "Is that what you're talking about?"
"Of course. What were you talking about?"
"Nothing."
Uncle Vernon seemed unconvinced but as he was never keen on keeping any conversation with Draco going longer than was absolutely necessary, he simply began to eat breakfast. The whole Dursley family seemed to be glowing straight through breakfast and the effects carried on through the morning and into lunch. By the afternoon, both Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were rather tipsy from all the alcohol they had consumed celebrating Draco's departure from number four, Privet Drive. Harry found it bitingly appropriate (for the Dursleys anyway) that when they were finally celebrating something on Harry's birthday, it was the departure of the one person who was helping him keep his last shred of sanity.
Harry had sat on his bed staring at Draco packing his trunk up. The light bulbs he had swapped were each carefully wrapped in his dirty laundry for safe traveling because he would be dreadfully disappointed if they were to break before he got a chance to get back to Hogwarts. Harry sighed as he watched Draco prepare to leave and looked at his things knowing that life at Privet Drive was going to be hell when Draco was gone.
"I suppose that's it. It's just about five and Dumbledore said to be waiting in the living room then."
"Okay," said Harry. He helped Draco carry down the empty eagle owl cage, his trunk, and other belongings into the living room. The Dursleys were sitting on the couch watching, waiting with front row seats for Draco's departure.
It wasn't long until there was a faint pop and Dumbledore was standing before them, smiling at both Draco and Harry.
"Hello Mister Malfoy. Mister Potter."
"Hello Professor," they chorused.
"I expect you've been behaving yourselves, eh?"
Draco shrugged. "I did my very best."
"Then there is nothing more that I can ask of you. I see you're ready to go. You can come along now if you'd like unless you want to go back with Harry."
"MOST CERTAINLY NOT!" bellowed Uncle Vernon. "I WILL NOT TAKE HIM IN FOR LONGER THAN NEED BE!"
Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling.
"Oh I wouldn't be staying here," drawled Draco, waving his hand.
Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"
A small secretive smile came over Draco's face. "It's my birthday present to you. You don't have to stay here at Privet Drive anymore."
"I can go back to Hogwarts?" said Harry, stumbling over his words.
"Better," said Professor Dumbledore. "Before you went away for Easter, Mister Malfoy gave me a visit at my office and told me that he wanted to set up the perfect birthday present for you. He told me of his wishes and as I thought it was a very good idea, we began to try and think up ways to go about achieving this. Mister Malfoy confessed some very disturbing things about the Death Eaters and his father. While you were staying at the Leaky Cauldron, Mister Malfoy wrote ahead to tell me what happened. It was his evidence that landed Lucius in Azkaban and Fudge who alerted the Daily Prophet. I knew you were going to be arriving because of all the commotion caused at the manor had been noticed by the ministry. They knew you had taken the Knight Bus.
"After the two of you returned from Malfoy Manor, I called you both in to tell you of my plans for your summer. I went to see the Minister for the month of July to take care of the loose ends to achieve Mister Malfoy's goal. Lucius was already in Azkaban, but he was removed from his cell temporarily and under the influence of Veritaserum in front of the Council of Magical Law, he confessed that Peter Pettigrew is, indeed, still alive and a Death Eater."
Harry's jaw dropped. "But that means -"
"Sirius is free, Harry," said Draco, grinning. "He told everything. Talked about how Pettigrew was the one who passed the information to Voldemort about your parents. Confessed that he was the one who was working right by Voldemort when the Triwizard Tournament took place."
"Mister Malfoy, here, also gave some evidence as well before you ever even left school. You'd be very proud of him, Harry. You've picked a good one."
"How did you have evidence?" said Harry, still too shocked to make sense of what they were telling him.
Draco blushed. "Well - I hear things in the manor, but that's not - I've been to a few meetings. I didn't know if I was going to be able to go through with initiation but, you know, my father took me to a few meetings and I saw him there. Wormtail. And I've been corresponding with the headmaster all summer since the reason I was here at the Dursleys with you is because I was just trying to get you your birthday present."
"The stories given by the Malfoys, Sirius, Remus Lupin, and even Miss Granger's evidence on your event under the Whomping Willow all coincided and gave the Ministry enough proof to clear Sirius's name," said Dumbledore. "He's more than willing to take you. Living in Godric's Hollow right this moment. Wanted to be near where your parents were when they departed."
"Sirius had to swear not to tell you. I wanted it to be a surprise. My birthday present to you."
Harry seized Draco around the stomach. He felt like he was floating as he kissed his boyfriend not caring that their headmaster was standing right before them.
"Hermione gave information about this, too?"
Draco nodded. "I wanted to make sure that we'd have enough proof so I called her on the fellytone. She was more than happy to go under the Veritaserum if it meant you could go live with Sirius."
"Thank you so much, Draco. I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Well Mister Malfoy? Is it back to Hogwarts or Godric's Hollow?"
"I don't think I'm quite ready to go back to Hogwarts just yet," said Draco, grinning. "You better go get your stuff, Harry. You'll want to spend at least your birthday dinner with your godfather."
"I'll be right back down."
Harry ran to the stairs to get his things. Draco's gaze drifted to Vernon and Petunia, fast asleep on the couch, probably from the alcohol. Off to the side was Dumbledore writing an explanation of Harry's whereabouts and that he was not going to be returning. A clanking sound could be heard as Harry was trying to carry all of his things down and Draco went to the staircase to take poor Hedwig sitting in her cage away from Harry.
Once all of their belongings had been brought into the living room, Dumbledore handed them some Floo Powder, explaining that the fireplace was, once again, hooked up to the Floo Network. Harry threw it in the fireplace, fire turning green, and he stepped in it with his things. Calling, "Godric's Hollow!" Harry vanished from sight and Draco followed, both preparing to spend the rest of the summer with Harry's godfather.
Finish
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Well that's it. Overheard is over. Loved it? Hated it? Tell me in a REVIEW or email me at [email protected].
If you want a reply, you can email me at the above address. I promise to reply.
I love you all. This has been the story most dear to me as it was the first HP slash fic (though not the first slash fic all together) that I've written. Despite all the stories I'm writing and are planning to write, it is truly my favorite and I hope you feel even half of what I feel about this. It may be crap, but it's my crap, and entertaining crap at that. Thank you for all the wonderful comments and messages you've left for me. They have brightened up my day and left me feeling high all day long. I love sharing my work with you all and please look for my future and other current stories. I'd love to hear from each and every one of you again.
Kiara