The Seer

Chapter 15

   Harry stumbled upon landing in the foyer of Malfoy Manor, if it weren't for the aid of Mrs. Malfoy, he likely would have fallen face first on the stone floor. He couldn't help but blush at his clumsiness. Harry thought he saw Draco's mother frown for a moment, but it was quickly replaced with a slight smile, making him wonder if she had frowned at all.

   "Harry? I was wondering if I could speak with you?" Draco asked, "In private." He added. Harry nodded, still slightly embarrassed from his stumble.

   "Supper will be ready soon." Narcissa said before they could leave. "Harry? Perhaps if you feel up to it, you could join us?" She asked. Once again, Harry just nodded in response.

   Both young wizards walked through the manor, Harry following Draco (he still didn't know his way around the massive building.) As they walked in silence, Harry grew increasingly tense. Despite the fact that Harry was confident that Draco would never hurt him, he still felt the automatic sense of fear that had been instilled into him from a very young age. Finally, they reached Draco's bedroom, walking in to see several shopping bags at the foot of his bed. Harry assumed that was where the house elves had left them, so didn't question it.

   "I'm sorry about Hermione." Harry burst out after several moments of silence. "She can be rather stubborn in her research." He mumbled. Draco just gave him a strange look.

   "Harry, you are not to blame for Granger's words and actions. Though, I cannot say that I'm surprised by them. Weasley, however..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "That aside, you shouldn't apologize." He finished resolutely.

  "Guess I'll have to get used to it, huh?" Harry said with a slight chuckle, running his hand through his messy hair.

   "Pardon?" Draco asked, much to Harry's confusion.

   "When we go to Hogwarts. With the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin, I expect there will be more than a few naysayers." Harry responded, tilting his head in confusion, similarly to a dog.

   "You- You don't want to keep our mateship hidden?" Draco stuttered, completely shocked. He knew that there would be plenty of rumors after their outing earlier, but that could be explained away. After all, it was the Boy-Who-Lived's and a Malfoy's word against a few wizards. Draco never expected that Harry would actually want to say anything, the Golden Trio aside.

   "Of course not!" Harry exclaimed. "Though, if you wanted to, I would understand." He said, a bit quieter. Of course Draco would want to keep it hidden. Why in the name of Merlin would he want to advertise it? The young Malfoy had a reputation to protect, after all. Not to mention the fact that Harry wasn't exactly the ideal mate. And, while he didn't mind the fact that he was the mate of another man, but Harry never considered that Draco could be against the idea. Oh, Merlin! How selfish was he! As if sensing his thoughts, Draco spoke.

   "No! I would want nothing more than to be able to flaunt my mate publically, but I assumed you would want to keep it secret." He said. "Considering our rather famous rivalry, not to mention my own gender." He finished, running his hand through his platinum locks.

   "I don't think that matters." Harry muttered, looking down. Draco raised an eyebrow in question. And, despite the fact that Harry couldn't see the other boy, he somehow knew what the other boy was asking. "Why would gender matter? After..." He paused, trying to push away the onslaught of painful memories that threatened to overwhelm him. "After living with t-them for so many years, why would gender matter? The only thing that should matter is how much you care about the other person." He finished, a noticeable blush dusting his cheeks.

   Draco, without another word, approached Harry, who had sat on his bed. He lifted the other boy's head, giving Harry a look of undeniable caring and... something else Harry couldn't place. And, slowly, Draco brought his lips to the other boy's. Once again, they were both filled with an overwhelming sense of rightness. Of safety. They both felt as if they could stay there, in that moment, for the rest of eternity. Carefully, they moved their lips in synch. Neither one had much experience, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that they were both there; they were both safe and content.