Harry Potter and The Serpent King (BP5)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
20,699
Reviews:
85
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0
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Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
20,699
Reviews:
85
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
What's at Stake
Chapter Number/Total: 34/52
Chapter Title: What's at Stake
Words: 3328 Words
When he reached the bedroom, Harry lay on the bed with Valen on his chest and stared up above him. There was no “H” to make him think of other things.
Draco set the cot back up next to their bed and then sat down next to his husband.
Harry didn't really know quite what to say. He wasn't so worried when he was doing the risking. When Draco was doing the risking it was very much a different story.
Draco sighed. He took his shoes off and began undressing.
Harry still didn't say anything and didn't know if he should. What was there to say? He and Draco both knew how the other felt.
Draco stood, looking down at his unusually quiet husband. "Shall I put him in the cot?" he asked.
Harry sighed. "I suppose," he said quietly, kissing Valen's head.
Draco lifted the infant and carefully set him in his bed. He cast a Silencing Charm on the cradle. Leaning on the bed frame, he looked down again. "Are you going to yell at me or something?" he asked.
Harry looked up at him. "What's the point?" he said.
"I would rather you yelled than this," Draco said, sighing.
Harry didn't know what to say to that, so he remained quiet.
"I don't know another way. Do you think I want to do this?" Draco snapped.
Harry rolled his eyes. "You'd rather I yell so you're going to try to make me angry," he said.
"Do you know how fucking scared this whole thing makes me? Do you even remember what He did to me last time?" Draco sneered.
Harry scowled and clenched his hands again. "I don't want to fight with you, Draco!" he yelled. "I don't want to!"
"What do you want then?!" Draco sneered.
Harry rolled his eyes again and covered his face.
Draco was shaking. He didn't know what to do. He was so very scared. He dropped to his knees beside the bed and put his face into his hands.
Harry looked at Draco and quickly moved off the bed to pull him into his arms. "I don't want you to go," he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut.
Draco trembled, his hands sliding around Harry's neck and holding him tightly.
Harry rocked with Draco on the floor, stroking his hair and his back. "We'll be okay, Draco," he forced himself to say. "We'll be okay." He tried to sound confident, but he couldn't help his wavering voice.
"We have to win," Draco said. "And I don't know any other way." He was crying now. He hated crying.
Harry held Draco tighter. Anger burned inside him. Draco was terrified and didn't even want to do this. "I don't want you to do it," he said. "You would never do it if it were up to me. You wouldn't even leave this house if I could help it."
"I know," Draco whispered, "but we have to stop him. We have to."
"I know, love," Harry answered in a whisper. "I know. If we do this, I'll be right there. You won't be there for long. I won't allow it."
"I know you will defeat Him," Draco said, looking into his eyes. "I know it."
Harry looked at Draco and could tell that he truly believed what he had said. "I will," he said.
"Do we get make up sex now?" Draco asked, wiping at his wet face.
Harry smiled and wiped Draco's eyes with his thumbs. "Of course we do," he said, kissing his lips softly.
"Good," Draco said, lips opening for his husband.
Harry buried both hands in Draco's hair and kissed him deeply, his eyes falling shut. He kissed his lips, and his cheeks, and his nose and everywhere he could reach, pulling Draco to him even more so that the blond was straddling his lap.
Draco wrapped himself around Harry -- arms, legs, body, and soul. "Yes," he whispered as Harry kissed and petted him.
Harry moaned very softly, letting one hand trail down Draco's back to grasp his arse and push him down as he thrust up with his own hips.
Draco's naked body slid against his husband's robes. He shuddered as Harry's hand held his arse and he could feel the other man's erection through the cloth.
Harry's eyes fluttered open and shut and he continually bumped his open lips against Draco's as they ground against each other. The clothes on his own body were driving him mad, but he couldn't even seem to concentrate long enough to remove them. So many emotions were swirling around in his head that he felt dizzy with them.
Draco reached for his wand and used the spell to remove his husband’s clothes, moaning when their cocks were freed to rub against each other.
Harry cried out with pleasure and covered Draco's mouth with his own again. Within the next few seconds, Draco was flat on his back on the floor with Harry between his legs and still devouring his mouth.
Draco groaned, his legs wrapped around his lover's waist as Harry took him down. "Oh, yes," he gasped into his mouth.
Harry kissed and sucked his way down to Draco's neck and then reached down with a hand to rub gently at his entrance, his cock jumping at the tightness he knew was there.
"Please," Draco begged, knowing he needed this, needed Harry inside him to make him feel whole.
"Yes," Harry whispered, taking a moment to slick his fingers with magic before pressing them inside. "Mmm, Merlin," he gasped, needing Draco so terribly in that moment he felt he would burst with it.
"Yours," Draco whispered, fingers kneading Harry's back.
"Always," Harry answered intently. "I promise."
"P-please," Draco begged as Harry's fingers stretched him. He felt so empty and needy.
"I'm right here," Harry whispered, slicking himself and pressing forward gently. "I'll always be right here."
"Yes, inside me," Draco answered, arching up as Harry pressed forward.
Harry gasped and closed his eyes, resting his forehead against Draco's shoulder as he pushed fully into him.
"Oh, yes," Draco said as he felt Harry's flesh fill him and his magic shiver along his nerves. "Definitely worth it," he whispered, remembering.
Harry sighed at those words, turning his head to kiss Draco's neck again. He burned with love, and memories, and of the first time he had told Draco he loved him, and how utterly stupid he had felt, and how utterly stupid he felt now for ever feeling that way about loving Draco.
"Yes, move inside me, fuck me," Draco encouraged, fingers gripping Harry's back.
Harry breathed hotly against Draco's neck as he slid slightly out of him and then into him again. His hand found its way back into Draco's hair and he lifted his face to kiss him yet again
Draco's tongue slid against Harry's and he shuddered at the sensations, still intoxicated by Harry's breath mingling with his as much as by his body and magic.
Harry thrust slowly and deeply into Draco for so long, he wouldn't have been surprised if the sun greeted them when they finished. His hair clung to his forehead and his tongue entwined wetly with Draco's and their sweat-slicked bodies slid together as they made love on the floor next to a perfectly stable bed.
Draco floated in a state of bliss, his husband rocking into him. Each thrust brought a new wave of pleasure radiating out from their joining. He moaned and cried out encouragements, his entire awareness focused on Harry.
"I love you," Harry gasped, knowing he would come soon. He slowly sat up on his knees and pulled Draco down more so that his arse and thighs were in his lap as he thrust into him. Harry could see Draco's entire body now and he felt an intense burst of pleasure, the view sending him shouting over the edge. He came hard and managed to wrap a hand around Draco's cock as he spurted inside his body.
Draco looked up at Harry, the view the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. And then they were coming, Harry's orgasm filling Draco with seed and power and spilling out of himself again.
Harry tilted his head back, exposing his throat and panting heavily, the air in the room cooling his hot skin.
Draco lay trembling, legs still wrapped around Harry’s waist and his lover's cock still inside of him. He looked up at him with adoration in his gaze. He heard the echo of his words of a year ago, "worth dying for." "Worth living for, too," he told himself.
Harry slowly looked back down at Draco and just stared into his eyes silently for a long moment.
"I love you," Draco whispered, "always have, always will."
"Good," Harry whispered back, "because I'm not ever going anywhere."
"Except maybe to the bed?" Draco smirked.
Harry smiled. "Perhaps to there," he said.
"As long as I can come with you," Draco smiled, "I am content."
Harry smiled again and pulled out of Draco with a wince from the sensitivity, letting him slip from his lap.
Draco whimpered when Harry pulled away.
Harry loved that sound and sighed, lowering himself over Draco on hands and knees. He kissed him and then teased with a small chuckle, "Perhaps we should get in bed before Valen is ready to be awake for the day."
"Mmhmm," Draco answered sleepily, arms encircling Harry's neck.
Harry sighed again and touched his nose and forehead to Draco's, looking tiredly into his eyes.
Draco sighed. "Don't suppose you could pick me up?"
Harry kissed Draco's lips gently, amused that his husband wanted him to carry him some times and not others. He pulled back with Draco's arms still around his neck and lifted him to his feet before lowering him into bed and climbing in next to him. He snuggled close, pressing bare skin to bare skin. "Draco?" he said quietly with a small yawn.
"Yes?" the blond whispered, eyes closed.
Harry yawned again. "I was just thinking of when I first told you I loved you," he said, voice slurred with sleepiness. "I never asked why you waited so long to tell me."
"Sentimental fool," Draco snorted, a crooked smile on his lips.
Harry smiled and would have rolled his eyes if they hadn't been closed. "Is that an answer?"
"Pretty much," Draco said. "I didn't want you to get too sentimental about me."
"Mmm," Harry said, blindly kissing whatever part of Draco's skin was closest. "I already was."
"Mmhmm," the blond murmured, smiling under the kisses.
Harry yawned one last time, his smile lingering as he drifted off.
***
Harry couldn't believe he was planning to go after Lord Voldemort in a week. A week. After nearly eighteen years of being plotted against, chased, captured, hunted, and anything else under the sun, Harry was going after him now. It was the oddest feeling in the world. Was it possible that he was about to be free? Free from being ... Harry Potter? He couldn't even describe how much he wanted that. He wanted it so badly, so, so very badly. But, he wished it were only him going. He didn't want his husband to have anything to do with this, he didn't want Sirius, who had only just gotten back, to have anything to do with this, he didn't want Ron and Hermione or anyone to have anything to do with this. If Harry had his way, he'd march in alone, and yet, here he was, about to try and explain to Sirius about Horcruxes and Snape so that he would be ready for what was coming. Remus, Tonks, Draco, Ron and Hermione were there as well, being the only other people who knew everything.
Draco held Valen again, waggling his eyebrows at the boy who squeaked and tried to imitate him. He noticed that Remus had dark circles under his eyes, which he took to mean that Sirius and Remus had had a fight over the plan, especially given their body language at breakfast.
Tonks was standing and leaning against a wall with her arms crossed against her chest.
Harry was sitting across from Sirius and he stared at him.
"So what is it exactly that you need to tell me?" Sirius asked, in a very snippy mood.
Harry sighed. "You know who our inside man is, don't you?"
Sirius huffed and it sounded almost like a growl. "I have an idea," he said sarcastically.
Harry sighed again. "I suppose that means you know, then?"
"Snape, I would assume, naturally."
Harry nodded. "Yes, it's Snape," he said. "You're going to be working rather closely with him probably ... so ... well, do I really need to tell you arguing wouldn't be a good idea?"
"I am a grown man, Harry," Sirius said testily.
"Then act like it," Draco snapped, sighing.
Sirius shot a nasty glare at Draco.
Hermione looked at both of them a bit sternly, while Ron seemed interested in the conversation.
"Did your brother ever tell you what Horcruxes were when you were ... dead or whatever?" Harry trudged on.
Sirius looked away from Draco and back to his godson. "I've heard the word, and a bit about them when you lot needed to talk to Regulus, but I don't know what they are."
"Well, to put it simply," said Harry, "they're pieces of soul put into an object. You can even put them in living things. Voldemort has them. He had them hidden, but we've been able to find them all."
"It's how he was alive after the night he tried to kill Harry. He had parts of his soul still here on earth," said Hermione.
"And you've found them all?" said Sirius.
Harry nodded. "Yes, but there's still another one. Voldemort has a pet snake, Nagini. She's the final Horcrux. We have to get rid of her, or I can't get to Voldemort."
"Dumbledore told Harry that he thought there were seven," Draco said. "We have destroyed five."
Harry nodded again. "The sixth and seventh pieces of soul are Nagini and Voldemort himself."
"So, it's not just Voldemort we're mainly going after," said Sirius.
"Exactly," said Harry. "We have to find some way to kill the snake before I go after Voldemort. The problem is that Nagini is almost always with Voldemort. It won't be easy to try and focus on both of them."
"Which means those of us going in behind the lines need to take out the snake," Draco said.
"Us," said Sirius.
Harry winced and nodded his head yes.
"Yes," Draco said, "including Severus. And that means the two of you need to leave your pasts out of this."
"I will if he will," Sirius said stonily.
Harry wondered how likely it was that either of them would keep their pasts out of this.
Draco scowled and rolled his eyes. "I am risking a lot more than my life here," he snapped, "so you better bloody well do better than try."
Harry clenched his hand. "He's right, Sirius," he said. "This is my husband, the father of my child, my life. I don't care if you and Snape have to refrain from speaking, as long as you get this done the right way."
Sirius looked slightly ashamed. "Of course, Harry," he said seriously.
Tonks nodded, smiling slightly. Then she looked thoughtful. "How do we know it's the snake?" she asked.
Harry sighed. He'd thought about this quite a few times. "There's no way we can be one hundred percent positive," he said, "but Dumbledore thought so. He said that he thought so because Voldemort keeps her very close and seems to have a strange amount of control over her, even for a Parselmouth."
Draco shivered. "I usually like snakes," he said, "but that one is odd. I don't know if it is a Horcrux, but it definitely has the feel of Dark Magic."
Harry nodded. "So if it has the feel of Dark Magic, along with everything else pointing to it being a Horcrux, then it most likely is one."
"And if it's not?" Ron asked.
Harry swallowed. "Then ...." He didn't even want to answer that.
"I didn't know what I was looking for then," Draco said. "I will know this time when I get near it."
"If it's not one," said Hermione, "then Harry can't go in there. The risk would be outrageous. How will we know from you if it is one?"
Harry scowled at her.
"That's a good point," Draco said, thinking. "We need a way to communicate with you from inside. A way that can't be intercepted."
Sirius reached into his pocket, pulling out the mirror.
"Yes, we can use the mirrors," Harry said. "Mine's upstairs."
Draco nodded. "That will work," he said.
Sirius nodded as well and put the mirror back into his pocket. "So, does Snape know about me?" he said.
Harry shook his head. "I think we'll have to go talk with him," he said.
Draco frowned, kissing the now sleeping infant he was holding. "I hate to have to say this," he said, "but it would probably be helpful if you came with us to talk with him."
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Helpful?" he said. "How so?"
Draco looked over at Harry. "Take him?" he said, indicating the baby.
Harry nodded and took the baby from Draco.
Draco stood, walked over, and looked Sirius in the eyes. "I am going in after that monstrous snake to find a way to kill the Dark Lord," he said in cold tone. "I need whomever is going in with me to be able to work with Severus and myself. If there is going to be a problem, I want to know beforehand."
Sirius stared back at Draco. "That'll be fine," he said, glancing over at Harry. "I'm not an idiot, no matter what you may be thinking."
Harry knew what Sirius meant and he knew that it was Snape who usually baited Sirius.
"Harry trusts you," Draco said. "I don't know you. I don't think you are stupid. But your history tells me you are impulsive."
Sirius didn't seem to have much to say to that, so he merely raised an eyebrow. "When are we going?" he said.
"We should go to Hogsmeade as soon as possible," he said.
Sirius seemed a bit confused about the location, but didn't ask.
Harry nodded. "Today? Tomorrow?"
Lupin was sitting with his arms crossed, looking as sullen as Tonks at the moment.
Draco sighed, feeling he had enough pressure from Harry about this without taking on Remus and Tonk's feelings. "We need to go today if we can," he said.
Harry sighed and nodded, while Sirius looked carefully neutral about it.
"Do you need us to watch the baby?" said Hermione, throwing a sideways glance at Sirius.
"Yes, I suppose," said Harry. "I'll have to get a bottle ready in case."
"So, Harry needs to feed Valen and set up a bottle," Draco nodded. "Be ready in an hour," he told Sirius, and then held the door open for Harry.
Harry got up from his chair and carried the baby out, heading for the bedroom. Once there, he placed Valen in his cot for the moment and took a seat on the bed, sighing.
Draco sat down on the bed with him and waited. He knew Harry would want to talk to him.
"He will be all right, you know," Harry said, hands on his knees. "He knows what's at stake."
"I love you," Draco said softly, laying his hands on top of his husband's.
"I know," Harry answered with a small, sad smile. "I love you, too."
Chapter Title: What's at Stake
Words: 3328 Words
When he reached the bedroom, Harry lay on the bed with Valen on his chest and stared up above him. There was no “H” to make him think of other things.
Draco set the cot back up next to their bed and then sat down next to his husband.
Harry didn't really know quite what to say. He wasn't so worried when he was doing the risking. When Draco was doing the risking it was very much a different story.
Draco sighed. He took his shoes off and began undressing.
Harry still didn't say anything and didn't know if he should. What was there to say? He and Draco both knew how the other felt.
Draco stood, looking down at his unusually quiet husband. "Shall I put him in the cot?" he asked.
Harry sighed. "I suppose," he said quietly, kissing Valen's head.
Draco lifted the infant and carefully set him in his bed. He cast a Silencing Charm on the cradle. Leaning on the bed frame, he looked down again. "Are you going to yell at me or something?" he asked.
Harry looked up at him. "What's the point?" he said.
"I would rather you yelled than this," Draco said, sighing.
Harry didn't know what to say to that, so he remained quiet.
"I don't know another way. Do you think I want to do this?" Draco snapped.
Harry rolled his eyes. "You'd rather I yell so you're going to try to make me angry," he said.
"Do you know how fucking scared this whole thing makes me? Do you even remember what He did to me last time?" Draco sneered.
Harry scowled and clenched his hands again. "I don't want to fight with you, Draco!" he yelled. "I don't want to!"
"What do you want then?!" Draco sneered.
Harry rolled his eyes again and covered his face.
Draco was shaking. He didn't know what to do. He was so very scared. He dropped to his knees beside the bed and put his face into his hands.
Harry looked at Draco and quickly moved off the bed to pull him into his arms. "I don't want you to go," he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut.
Draco trembled, his hands sliding around Harry's neck and holding him tightly.
Harry rocked with Draco on the floor, stroking his hair and his back. "We'll be okay, Draco," he forced himself to say. "We'll be okay." He tried to sound confident, but he couldn't help his wavering voice.
"We have to win," Draco said. "And I don't know any other way." He was crying now. He hated crying.
Harry held Draco tighter. Anger burned inside him. Draco was terrified and didn't even want to do this. "I don't want you to do it," he said. "You would never do it if it were up to me. You wouldn't even leave this house if I could help it."
"I know," Draco whispered, "but we have to stop him. We have to."
"I know, love," Harry answered in a whisper. "I know. If we do this, I'll be right there. You won't be there for long. I won't allow it."
"I know you will defeat Him," Draco said, looking into his eyes. "I know it."
Harry looked at Draco and could tell that he truly believed what he had said. "I will," he said.
"Do we get make up sex now?" Draco asked, wiping at his wet face.
Harry smiled and wiped Draco's eyes with his thumbs. "Of course we do," he said, kissing his lips softly.
"Good," Draco said, lips opening for his husband.
Harry buried both hands in Draco's hair and kissed him deeply, his eyes falling shut. He kissed his lips, and his cheeks, and his nose and everywhere he could reach, pulling Draco to him even more so that the blond was straddling his lap.
Draco wrapped himself around Harry -- arms, legs, body, and soul. "Yes," he whispered as Harry kissed and petted him.
Harry moaned very softly, letting one hand trail down Draco's back to grasp his arse and push him down as he thrust up with his own hips.
Draco's naked body slid against his husband's robes. He shuddered as Harry's hand held his arse and he could feel the other man's erection through the cloth.
Harry's eyes fluttered open and shut and he continually bumped his open lips against Draco's as they ground against each other. The clothes on his own body were driving him mad, but he couldn't even seem to concentrate long enough to remove them. So many emotions were swirling around in his head that he felt dizzy with them.
Draco reached for his wand and used the spell to remove his husband’s clothes, moaning when their cocks were freed to rub against each other.
Harry cried out with pleasure and covered Draco's mouth with his own again. Within the next few seconds, Draco was flat on his back on the floor with Harry between his legs and still devouring his mouth.
Draco groaned, his legs wrapped around his lover's waist as Harry took him down. "Oh, yes," he gasped into his mouth.
Harry kissed and sucked his way down to Draco's neck and then reached down with a hand to rub gently at his entrance, his cock jumping at the tightness he knew was there.
"Please," Draco begged, knowing he needed this, needed Harry inside him to make him feel whole.
"Yes," Harry whispered, taking a moment to slick his fingers with magic before pressing them inside. "Mmm, Merlin," he gasped, needing Draco so terribly in that moment he felt he would burst with it.
"Yours," Draco whispered, fingers kneading Harry's back.
"Always," Harry answered intently. "I promise."
"P-please," Draco begged as Harry's fingers stretched him. He felt so empty and needy.
"I'm right here," Harry whispered, slicking himself and pressing forward gently. "I'll always be right here."
"Yes, inside me," Draco answered, arching up as Harry pressed forward.
Harry gasped and closed his eyes, resting his forehead against Draco's shoulder as he pushed fully into him.
"Oh, yes," Draco said as he felt Harry's flesh fill him and his magic shiver along his nerves. "Definitely worth it," he whispered, remembering.
Harry sighed at those words, turning his head to kiss Draco's neck again. He burned with love, and memories, and of the first time he had told Draco he loved him, and how utterly stupid he had felt, and how utterly stupid he felt now for ever feeling that way about loving Draco.
"Yes, move inside me, fuck me," Draco encouraged, fingers gripping Harry's back.
Harry breathed hotly against Draco's neck as he slid slightly out of him and then into him again. His hand found its way back into Draco's hair and he lifted his face to kiss him yet again
Draco's tongue slid against Harry's and he shuddered at the sensations, still intoxicated by Harry's breath mingling with his as much as by his body and magic.
Harry thrust slowly and deeply into Draco for so long, he wouldn't have been surprised if the sun greeted them when they finished. His hair clung to his forehead and his tongue entwined wetly with Draco's and their sweat-slicked bodies slid together as they made love on the floor next to a perfectly stable bed.
Draco floated in a state of bliss, his husband rocking into him. Each thrust brought a new wave of pleasure radiating out from their joining. He moaned and cried out encouragements, his entire awareness focused on Harry.
"I love you," Harry gasped, knowing he would come soon. He slowly sat up on his knees and pulled Draco down more so that his arse and thighs were in his lap as he thrust into him. Harry could see Draco's entire body now and he felt an intense burst of pleasure, the view sending him shouting over the edge. He came hard and managed to wrap a hand around Draco's cock as he spurted inside his body.
Draco looked up at Harry, the view the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. And then they were coming, Harry's orgasm filling Draco with seed and power and spilling out of himself again.
Harry tilted his head back, exposing his throat and panting heavily, the air in the room cooling his hot skin.
Draco lay trembling, legs still wrapped around Harry’s waist and his lover's cock still inside of him. He looked up at him with adoration in his gaze. He heard the echo of his words of a year ago, "worth dying for." "Worth living for, too," he told himself.
Harry slowly looked back down at Draco and just stared into his eyes silently for a long moment.
"I love you," Draco whispered, "always have, always will."
"Good," Harry whispered back, "because I'm not ever going anywhere."
"Except maybe to the bed?" Draco smirked.
Harry smiled. "Perhaps to there," he said.
"As long as I can come with you," Draco smiled, "I am content."
Harry smiled again and pulled out of Draco with a wince from the sensitivity, letting him slip from his lap.
Draco whimpered when Harry pulled away.
Harry loved that sound and sighed, lowering himself over Draco on hands and knees. He kissed him and then teased with a small chuckle, "Perhaps we should get in bed before Valen is ready to be awake for the day."
"Mmhmm," Draco answered sleepily, arms encircling Harry's neck.
Harry sighed again and touched his nose and forehead to Draco's, looking tiredly into his eyes.
Draco sighed. "Don't suppose you could pick me up?"
Harry kissed Draco's lips gently, amused that his husband wanted him to carry him some times and not others. He pulled back with Draco's arms still around his neck and lifted him to his feet before lowering him into bed and climbing in next to him. He snuggled close, pressing bare skin to bare skin. "Draco?" he said quietly with a small yawn.
"Yes?" the blond whispered, eyes closed.
Harry yawned again. "I was just thinking of when I first told you I loved you," he said, voice slurred with sleepiness. "I never asked why you waited so long to tell me."
"Sentimental fool," Draco snorted, a crooked smile on his lips.
Harry smiled and would have rolled his eyes if they hadn't been closed. "Is that an answer?"
"Pretty much," Draco said. "I didn't want you to get too sentimental about me."
"Mmm," Harry said, blindly kissing whatever part of Draco's skin was closest. "I already was."
"Mmhmm," the blond murmured, smiling under the kisses.
Harry yawned one last time, his smile lingering as he drifted off.
***
Harry couldn't believe he was planning to go after Lord Voldemort in a week. A week. After nearly eighteen years of being plotted against, chased, captured, hunted, and anything else under the sun, Harry was going after him now. It was the oddest feeling in the world. Was it possible that he was about to be free? Free from being ... Harry Potter? He couldn't even describe how much he wanted that. He wanted it so badly, so, so very badly. But, he wished it were only him going. He didn't want his husband to have anything to do with this, he didn't want Sirius, who had only just gotten back, to have anything to do with this, he didn't want Ron and Hermione or anyone to have anything to do with this. If Harry had his way, he'd march in alone, and yet, here he was, about to try and explain to Sirius about Horcruxes and Snape so that he would be ready for what was coming. Remus, Tonks, Draco, Ron and Hermione were there as well, being the only other people who knew everything.
Draco held Valen again, waggling his eyebrows at the boy who squeaked and tried to imitate him. He noticed that Remus had dark circles under his eyes, which he took to mean that Sirius and Remus had had a fight over the plan, especially given their body language at breakfast.
Tonks was standing and leaning against a wall with her arms crossed against her chest.
Harry was sitting across from Sirius and he stared at him.
"So what is it exactly that you need to tell me?" Sirius asked, in a very snippy mood.
Harry sighed. "You know who our inside man is, don't you?"
Sirius huffed and it sounded almost like a growl. "I have an idea," he said sarcastically.
Harry sighed again. "I suppose that means you know, then?"
"Snape, I would assume, naturally."
Harry nodded. "Yes, it's Snape," he said. "You're going to be working rather closely with him probably ... so ... well, do I really need to tell you arguing wouldn't be a good idea?"
"I am a grown man, Harry," Sirius said testily.
"Then act like it," Draco snapped, sighing.
Sirius shot a nasty glare at Draco.
Hermione looked at both of them a bit sternly, while Ron seemed interested in the conversation.
"Did your brother ever tell you what Horcruxes were when you were ... dead or whatever?" Harry trudged on.
Sirius looked away from Draco and back to his godson. "I've heard the word, and a bit about them when you lot needed to talk to Regulus, but I don't know what they are."
"Well, to put it simply," said Harry, "they're pieces of soul put into an object. You can even put them in living things. Voldemort has them. He had them hidden, but we've been able to find them all."
"It's how he was alive after the night he tried to kill Harry. He had parts of his soul still here on earth," said Hermione.
"And you've found them all?" said Sirius.
Harry nodded. "Yes, but there's still another one. Voldemort has a pet snake, Nagini. She's the final Horcrux. We have to get rid of her, or I can't get to Voldemort."
"Dumbledore told Harry that he thought there were seven," Draco said. "We have destroyed five."
Harry nodded again. "The sixth and seventh pieces of soul are Nagini and Voldemort himself."
"So, it's not just Voldemort we're mainly going after," said Sirius.
"Exactly," said Harry. "We have to find some way to kill the snake before I go after Voldemort. The problem is that Nagini is almost always with Voldemort. It won't be easy to try and focus on both of them."
"Which means those of us going in behind the lines need to take out the snake," Draco said.
"Us," said Sirius.
Harry winced and nodded his head yes.
"Yes," Draco said, "including Severus. And that means the two of you need to leave your pasts out of this."
"I will if he will," Sirius said stonily.
Harry wondered how likely it was that either of them would keep their pasts out of this.
Draco scowled and rolled his eyes. "I am risking a lot more than my life here," he snapped, "so you better bloody well do better than try."
Harry clenched his hand. "He's right, Sirius," he said. "This is my husband, the father of my child, my life. I don't care if you and Snape have to refrain from speaking, as long as you get this done the right way."
Sirius looked slightly ashamed. "Of course, Harry," he said seriously.
Tonks nodded, smiling slightly. Then she looked thoughtful. "How do we know it's the snake?" she asked.
Harry sighed. He'd thought about this quite a few times. "There's no way we can be one hundred percent positive," he said, "but Dumbledore thought so. He said that he thought so because Voldemort keeps her very close and seems to have a strange amount of control over her, even for a Parselmouth."
Draco shivered. "I usually like snakes," he said, "but that one is odd. I don't know if it is a Horcrux, but it definitely has the feel of Dark Magic."
Harry nodded. "So if it has the feel of Dark Magic, along with everything else pointing to it being a Horcrux, then it most likely is one."
"And if it's not?" Ron asked.
Harry swallowed. "Then ...." He didn't even want to answer that.
"I didn't know what I was looking for then," Draco said. "I will know this time when I get near it."
"If it's not one," said Hermione, "then Harry can't go in there. The risk would be outrageous. How will we know from you if it is one?"
Harry scowled at her.
"That's a good point," Draco said, thinking. "We need a way to communicate with you from inside. A way that can't be intercepted."
Sirius reached into his pocket, pulling out the mirror.
"Yes, we can use the mirrors," Harry said. "Mine's upstairs."
Draco nodded. "That will work," he said.
Sirius nodded as well and put the mirror back into his pocket. "So, does Snape know about me?" he said.
Harry shook his head. "I think we'll have to go talk with him," he said.
Draco frowned, kissing the now sleeping infant he was holding. "I hate to have to say this," he said, "but it would probably be helpful if you came with us to talk with him."
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Helpful?" he said. "How so?"
Draco looked over at Harry. "Take him?" he said, indicating the baby.
Harry nodded and took the baby from Draco.
Draco stood, walked over, and looked Sirius in the eyes. "I am going in after that monstrous snake to find a way to kill the Dark Lord," he said in cold tone. "I need whomever is going in with me to be able to work with Severus and myself. If there is going to be a problem, I want to know beforehand."
Sirius stared back at Draco. "That'll be fine," he said, glancing over at Harry. "I'm not an idiot, no matter what you may be thinking."
Harry knew what Sirius meant and he knew that it was Snape who usually baited Sirius.
"Harry trusts you," Draco said. "I don't know you. I don't think you are stupid. But your history tells me you are impulsive."
Sirius didn't seem to have much to say to that, so he merely raised an eyebrow. "When are we going?" he said.
"We should go to Hogsmeade as soon as possible," he said.
Sirius seemed a bit confused about the location, but didn't ask.
Harry nodded. "Today? Tomorrow?"
Lupin was sitting with his arms crossed, looking as sullen as Tonks at the moment.
Draco sighed, feeling he had enough pressure from Harry about this without taking on Remus and Tonk's feelings. "We need to go today if we can," he said.
Harry sighed and nodded, while Sirius looked carefully neutral about it.
"Do you need us to watch the baby?" said Hermione, throwing a sideways glance at Sirius.
"Yes, I suppose," said Harry. "I'll have to get a bottle ready in case."
"So, Harry needs to feed Valen and set up a bottle," Draco nodded. "Be ready in an hour," he told Sirius, and then held the door open for Harry.
Harry got up from his chair and carried the baby out, heading for the bedroom. Once there, he placed Valen in his cot for the moment and took a seat on the bed, sighing.
Draco sat down on the bed with him and waited. He knew Harry would want to talk to him.
"He will be all right, you know," Harry said, hands on his knees. "He knows what's at stake."
"I love you," Draco said softly, laying his hands on top of his husband's.
"I know," Harry answered with a small, sad smile. "I love you, too."