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• A Rose By Any Other Name	By : DeirdraDomain Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 1703 -:- Recommendations : 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.

• Chapter List
  • 1-A Rose By Any Other Name
• • 1
• Summary; Hermione has a dream that is almost one of Shakespeare’s works word for word. When she wakes up she has a clear view of what might be and what shouldn’t. There is a complete ‘cast list’ of the crossover of original characters to Harry Potter characters at the end.
  

  
  Disclaimer; Same as always. I don’t own them, I just borrow them. She can have them back when we’re all done with them. I also do not own Romeo and Juliet. They, and all the others, are owned by William Shakespeare and…other people who aren’t me.
  

  
  

  ~*~
  

  
  One of the biggest changes in Hogwarts during Hermione’s sixth year was the friendship of Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. The Slytherin had defied his father for the side of the light and the Golden Boy. Together, and with help, they had defeated Lord Voldemort and made the wizarding world safe again. At any given moment you could see the two of them together. The Golden Trio had become the Surviving Quartet. Everything was peaceful; as much as it could get, anyhow.
  

  
  They were nearing the end of their Seventh year, seeing as Voldemort had attacked, like clockwork, at the end of their sixth, and had been finally vanquished. The four, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and Harry, were content in their places in life and had all chosen careers to move onto once they left Hogwarts. Ron was to be an Auror, though not many were needed anymore now that Tom Riddle had finally met his demise. Hermione was going to work with Bill breaking curses; a good puzzle always got her going. Draco and Harry were going to apprentice to Snape and Remus, who had returned to teach DADA once more.
  

  
  So, they were all set and had their futures semi-planned. Though Hermione was wondering when Ron was going to finally pop the question and neither Harry nor Draco had any relationships since they had become friends, not that either one had many before then. She found it odd and slightly unsettling, but hoped her suspicions were way off.
  

  
  One night she had been agonizing over it while lying in bed, and as she drifted off to sleep she remembered a story she once read that reminded her so much of the two friends who were so perfect, yet so wrong for each other. Families on opposite of a long, drawn out war that had been going on too long. Two people from either side, falling in love, coming together, to finally end the battle.
  

  
  She bit her lip in frustration as she began to fall asleep, knowing it wasn’t a good thing to go to sleep with so much on her mind; you never slept well if you did. But there was no stopping it now, she was going to dream, and what a doozie it was going to be….
  

  
  A lone man, tall and frail looking, with bright robes, a pointy hat, and a long white beard as well as hair that went down past his waist, stood in a circle of light. After a few moments he began to speak.
  

  
  “Two houses, both alike in dignity, in fair Hogwarts where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life. Whose misadventured piteous overthrows, doth with their death, bury their houses strife. The fearful passage of their death-marked love, and the continuance of their houses’ rage which, but their students’ end, naught could remove, is now the two hours traffic of our stage. The which of you with patient ears attend, what here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.”
  

  
  Albus walked away from the circle of light and it became brighter, showing a stone corridor outside the Great Hall of Hogwarts. There were students walking around, but a few of them stood out in particular.
  

  
  They were both bulky and not very bright looking and always seen around Draco Malfoy, the ‘heroine’ of our story.
  

  
  “Goyle, on my word we’ll not carry coals.”
  

  
  “No, for then we shall be colliers.”
  

  
  “I mean, an we be in choler we’ll draw.”
  

  
  “Ay, while you live draw your neck out of collar.”
  

  
  “I strike quickly, being moved,” Crabbe said turning to Goyle
  

  
  “But thou art not quickly moved to strike,” Goyle replied.
  

  
  Crabbe thought for a moment then answered, “A dog of the house of Gryffindor moves me.”
  

  
  Goyle nodded, “To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand: therefore if thou art moved thou runn’st away.”
  

  
  “A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid from Gryffindor,” he said with conviction.
  

  
  Goyle sighed, “That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest goes to the wall.”
  

  
  The other nodded, “’Tis true, and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push Gryffindor’s men from the wall, and thrust its maids to the wall.”
  

  
  Getting slightly frustrated, Goyle responded, “The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men.”
  

  
  Crabbe wasn’t listening, “’Tis all one: I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with men, I will be cruel with the maids; I will cut off their heads.”
  

  
  Goyle blinked, “The heads of the maids?”
  

  
  Crabbe waved him off, “Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take in it what sense thou wilt.”
  

  
  “They must take it in sense that feel it.”
  

  
  “Me they shall feel while I am able to stand, and ‘tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh,” he smirked.
  

  
  He shrugged, “’Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor Vince. Draw thy tool; here comes two of the house of Gryffindor.”
  

  
  Remus and Sirius were walking toward the Great Hall where Crabbe and Goyle were speaking. They were oblivious to the fight they were about to enter, but Remus could sense the danger and therefore tried to stay out of it if he couldn’t stop it.
  

  
  Crabbe nodded in their direction and whispered to Goyle, “My naked weapon is out: quarrel; I will back thee.”
  

  
  Goyle blinked, “How? Turn thy back and run?”
  

  
  Crabbe whispered urgently, “Fear me not.”
  

  
  Goyle laughed softly, “No, marry; I fear thee!”
  

  
  Crabbe rolled his eyes, “Let us take the law of our side; let them begin.”
  

  
  Goyle sighed, “I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they list.”
  

  
  “Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them if they bear it,” he said excitedly as he bit his thumb in the Gyrffindors’ direction.
  

  
  Sirius, who had been keeping an eye on the two Slytherins as they had drawn near, was furious when he saw Crabbe bite his thumb.
  

  
  “Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?” He said a bit nastily.
  

  
  Crabbe smirked, “I do bite my thumb, sir.”
  

  
  Sirius was getting irritated, “Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?”
  

  
  Crabbe leaned over to speak to Goyle, whispering, “Is the law of our side if I say ay?”
  

  
  Goyle shook his head, “No.”
  

  
  He turned back to the Gryffindors and addressed them, “No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.”
  

  
  Goyle decided to step in, now that the Gryffindors had ‘seemed’ to start the fight, “Do you quarrel, sir?”
  

  
  Sirius smirked and crossed his arms over his chest, “Quarrel, sir? No, sir.”
  

  
  “But if you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you,” Crabbe said cockily.
  

  
  Sirius moved closer, getting angrier, “No better.”
  

  
  Crabbe scoffed, “Well, sir.”
  

  
  Both Blaise and Remus began walking closer, Remus had hung back a little to try and avoid a confrontation. Blaise was looking cocky as ever, not to mention nasty and dangerous. He was one of the most feared Slytherins…
  

  
  Goyle leaned over and whispered, “Say ‘better’: here comes one of our housemates.”
  

  
  Crabbe stepped forward a little toward Sirius, “Yes, better, sir.”
  

  
  Sirius glared at him as his face got red with anger, “You lie.”
  

  
  Crabbe pulled out his wand, “Draw if you be men. Goyle, remember thy washing blow.”
  

  
  Remus ran up to them and got in between them, “Part, fools! Put up your wands; you know not what you do.”
  

  
  Blaise heard the commotion and walked over, “What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Remus; look upon thy death.”
  

  
  Remus sighed and tried to appeal to Blaise, “I do but keep the peace: put up thy wand, or manage it to part these men with me.”
  

  
  Blaise blinked then smirked, “What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Gryffindors, and thee: have at thee, coward!”
  

  
  The five fought and more Slytherins and Gryffindors joined in, never noticing when both the Malfoys and the Potters showed up to see their children. The two families came across the fight and decided to join in.
  

  
  “What noise is this? Give me my cane, ho!” Lucius spat as he neared the fray.
  

  
  Narcissa was livid, never liking when her husband fought, “A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a wand?”
  

  
  Lucius ignored her plea, “My wand, I say! Old Potter is come, and flourishes his wand in spite of me.”
  

  
  James and Lily walked closer to the fight, James drawing his wand as Lily attempted to hold him back.
  

  
  “Thou villain Malfoy – Hold me not, let me go!” He shouted as he tried to pull away from his wife.
  

  
  Lily, struggling to hold him back, whispered, “Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.”
  

  
  Arthur Weasley, the new Minister of Magic, was also there to see his children when the fight was occurring. He walked through the Entrance Hall toward where they were quarreling and had some of the professors help him pull them apart.
  

  
  “On pain of torture, from those bloody hands throw your mistempered weapons to the ground. Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word by thee, old Malfoy and Potter, have thrice disturbed the quiet of these halls. If ever you disturb our halls again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.”
  

  
  Arthur, satisfied that there would be no more arguing, walked away to spend time with his two children that were still attending school. James, Lily and Remus were the only ones left, speaking of many things.
  

  
  “Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach? Speak, nephew, were you by when it began?” James asked Remus, wanting to know what had happened.
  

  
  Remus sighed and began his tale, “Here were the servants of your adversary and yours, close fighting ere I did approach: I drew to part them; in the instant came the fiery Blaise, with his wand prepared, which, as he breathed defiance to my ears, he swung about his head, and cut the winds, who, nothing hurt withal, hissed him in scorn: while we were interchanging blows, came more and more, and fought on part and part, till the minister came, who parted either part.”
  

  
  Lily was desperate to hear news of her son, whom she hadn’t seen in quite some time. “O where is Harry? Saw you him today? Right glad I am he was not at this fray,” she said softly.
  

  
  Remus smiled slightly, “Madam, underneath the grove of the Whomping Willow so early walking did I see your son.”
  

  
  James, who was not thrilled at his son’s anti-social behavior, was a bit irritated at this. “Many a morning hath he there been seen, with tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew. Away from light steals home my heavy son, and private in his chamber pens himself. Shuts up his windows, shuts fair daylight out, and makes himself an artificial night,” he shook his head. “Black and portentous must this humour prove, unless good counsel may the cause remove.”
  

  
  The three of them saw Harry walking down a staircase toward the Entrance Hall and Remus began to steer them away, “So please you, step aside, I’ll know his grievance or be much denied.”
  

  
  James nodded to Lily, “Come, madam, let’s away.”
  

  
  Remus walked over to the foot of the staircase and smiled, “Good morrow, cousin.”
  

  
  Harry looked up and blinked as if he hadn’t realized there was anyone else in the castle, “Is the day so young?”
  

  
  Lupin laughed and put an arm around his shoulders, “But new struck, coz.”
  

  
  The raven haired Gryffindor nodded and sighed, “Ay me, sad hours seem long.” He looked around and saw other students with their parents, “Was that my father that went hence so fast?”
  

  
  Remus followed his gaze and nodded as well, “It was. What sadness lengthens Harry’s hours?”
  

  
  Potter smirked, “Not having that which, having, makes them short.”
  

  
  The werewolf’s eyes went wide, “In love?”
  

  
  He shook his head, “Out.”
  

  
  Remus blinked, “Of love?”
  

  
  Harry shook his head more. “Of his favour where I am in love.”
  

  
  Remus patted him on the shoulder, “Alas that Love, so gentle in his view, should be so tyrannous and rough in proof.”
  

  
  Sighing, he replied, “Alas that Love, whose view is muffled still, should without eyes see pathways to his will?” He looked around once more, “Where shall we dine? – O me! What fray was here?” Immediately changing his mind and put his hands up as if in surrender, “Yet tell me not for I have heard it all: Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love: Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate, O anything of nothing first create! Heavy lightness, serious vanity, misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms…feather of lead…” He paused when Remus chuckled, “Dost thou not laugh?”
  

  
  Remus shook his head, “No, coz, I rather weep.”
  

  
  Harry blinked slightly, “Good heart, at what?”
  

  
  Lupin clapped him on the shoulder gently, “At thy good heart’s oppression.”
  

  
  Harry shook his head and began to walk away, calling over his shoulder, “Farewell, my coz.”
  

  
  Remus ran to catch up with him, “Soft, I will go along: and if you leave me so, you do me wrong.”
  

  
  Harry stopped and shook his head, smiling bitterly, “Tut, I have lost myself, I am not here, this is not Harry, he’s some other where.”
  

  
  “Tell me in sadness, who is that you love?” Remus asked softly.
  

  
  He sighed and groaned slightly, “What, shall I groan and tell thee?”
  

  
  “Groan? Why no: but sadly tell me, who?”
  

  
  Harry tried to avoid but finally gave in, “Bid a sick man in sadness make his will – A word ill urged to one that is so ill. In sadness, cousin, I do love a man.”
  

  
  He laughed and shook his head; “I aimed so near when I supposed you loved.”
  

  
  Harry laughed a little, “A right good markman! And he’s fair I love.”
  

  
  The werewolf moved closer, “Be ruled by me; forget t think of him.”
  

  
  Harry blinked and backed away, “O, teach me how I should forget to think.”
  

  
  Remus took him by the arm and they began to walk into the Great Hall for breakfast, “By giving liberty unto thine eyes; examine other beauties…”
  

  
  As they walked away the scene faded to a corridor in the dungeons. Lucius and Ginny were speaking quietly near the Slytherin common room about the dinner party that was to take place that night in the Great Hall.
  

  
  “But Potter is bound as well as I, in penalty alike; and ‘tis not hard, I think, for men so old as we to keep the peace.”
  

  
  Ginny nodded and continued to press the issue, “Of honourable reckoning are you both, and pity ‘tis you lived at odds so long. But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?”
  

  
  Lucius shook his head, “But saying o’er what I have said before: my child is yet a stranger to the world. Let two more summers wither in their pride ere we may think him ripe to make you a bride.”
  

  
  “Younger than he are happy husbands made,” she said exasperated.
  

  
  He snorted and sighed, “And too soon marred are those so early made. This night I hold an old accustomed feast, in the Great Hall look to behold this night, fresh male buds shall you see this night inherit at my house: hear all, all see, and like him most whose merit most shall be. Come, go with me,” he said as they walked toward the Slytherin common room to go over more things about the evening’s event.
  

  
  As Lucius and Ginny walked into the Common Room you see Narcissa over by the couches with Severus standing nearby. As of yet, there had been no sign of Draco.
  

  
  “Severus, where is my son? Call him forth to me,” she said haughtily.
  

  
  “Draco!” He called a bit boredly as the boy appeared at their side.
  

  
  “Madam, I am here. What is your will?” He said quietly and inclined his head.
  

  
  “Severus give us leave awhile: we must talk in secret,” she said and waved him off.
  

  
  He began to walk for the door when she grabbed his arm, “Severus, come back again: I have remembered me: thou’s hear our counsel,” she turned him to face her. “Thou knowest my son’s of a pretty age.”
  

  
  Severus nodded and turned to Draco, a slight smirk playing his lips, “Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’re I nursed.”
  

  
  The blonde boy smiled at his professor as his mother scowled and continued, “Tell me, son, Draco, how stands your dispositions to be married?”
  

  
  She waited somewhat impatiently as he blinked then answered, “It is an honour that I dream not of,” he said plainly.
  

  
  Narcissa tutted, “Well, think of marriage now. I was your mother much upon these years that she is now a maid.”
  

  
  These words confused Draco some; she who?
  

  
  She ignored him and went on, “Thus then in brief, the beautiful Ginny seeks you for her love.”
  

  
  “A woman, young child. Child, such a woman as all the world – why, she’s a woman of wax,” Severus said somewhat dryly, though a bit excited for Draco.
  

  
  Narcissa nodded, “Hogwarts’ summer hath not such a flower.”
  

  
  “Nay, she’s a flower: in faith, a very flower,” he added.
  

  
  The elegant blonde woman touched her son’s arm to get his attention before continuing, “This night you shall behold her at our feast: read o’er the volume of young Ginny’s face, and find delight writ there with beauty’s pen.”
  

  
  By this time she was practically squealing and both Severus and Draco were wincing, “The precious book of love, this unbound lover, to beautify her, only lacks a cover. So shall you share all the she doth possess, by having her making yourself no less.”
  

  
  Severus leaned in and sarcastically whispered in Draco’s ear, “Nay, bigger women grow by men.”
  

  
  Narcissa rolled her eyes as Draco snickered, “Speak briefly, can you like of Ginny’s love?”
  

  
  Draco cocked his head to the side and considered it for a moment then nodded slowly, “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move; But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to fly.”
  

  
  Just then the Bloody Baron floated through the wall and addressed Narcissa, “Madam, the guests are come.”
  

  
  She stood and motioned to her son, “We follow thee. Draco.”
  

  
  He sighed and slumped on the couch, disappointed that his mother was playing matchmaker again. Severus leaned over the back of the couch to whisper in his ear, “Go, child, seek happy nights to happy days.”
  

  
  The tall dark Slytherin walked out smiling, leaving a confused yet slightly excited Draco behind.
  

  
  The scene faded from the Slytherin Common Room to a corridor nearer the Great Hall where a group of Gryffindors were planning on sneaking into a party to which they were not invited. Among them were Remus, Harry and their friend Ron.
  

  
  Ron had Harry by the arm and was practically dragging him toward the doors, “Gentle Harry, we must have you dance.”
  

  
  Harry was still upset over the fact that his love was not returned, “Not I, believe me: you have dancing shoes with nimble souls; I have a soul of lead.”
  

  
  Ron rolled his eyes and huffed, “You are a lover: borrow Cupid’s wings, and soar with then above a common bound.”
  

  
  Harry slumped against the wall; “Under love’s heavy burden do I sink.”
  

  
  Ron shook his head sadly, “Too great oppression for a tender thing.”
  

  
  “Is love a tender thing?” He said incredulously, “It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.”
  

  
  Ron laughed in his face, “If love be rough with you, be rough with love; prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.”
  

  
  Remus, getting impatient, finally spoke, “Every man betake him to his legs.”
  

  
  Exasperated, Harry refused, “But 'tis no wit to go.”
  

  
  Ron rolled his eyes, finally getting sick of Harry’s protests, “Why, may one ask?”
  

  
  Harry sighed, “I dreamt a dream to-night.”
  

  
  The red head waved him off, “That dreamers often lie.”
  

  
  He nodded, “In bed asleep, while they do dream things true.”
  

  
  Ron laughed a bit with a crazy look in his eye, pushing Harry against the wall, “O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes in shape no bigger than an agate-stone on the fore-finger of an alderman, drawn with a team of little atomies athwart men's noses as they lie asleep; her chariot is an empty hazel-nut, her wagon spokes made of long spinners’ legs. And in this state she gallops night by night sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck, and then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,” he drew his finger over his own throat before continuing, “of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades, of healths five-fathom deep; and then anon drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes, and being thus frighted swears a prayer or two and sleeps again.
  

  
  “This is that very Mab that plats the manes of horses in the night, and bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs, which once untangled, much misfortune bodes: this is the hag, when maids lie on their backs, that presses them and learns them first to bear, making them women of good carriage: this is she—“
  

  
  Harry cut him off, putting his hand on his shoulder and shaking him, “Peace, peace, Ron, peace! Thou talk'st of nothing.”
  

  
  Ron pulled away and blinked, “True, I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain, begot of nothing but vain fantasy, which is as thin of substance as the air and more inconstant than the wind, who wooes even now the frozen bosom of the north, and, being anger'd, puffs away from thence, turning his face to the dew-dropping south.”
  

  
  Remus, even more impatient than before, called to them from the end of the hall, “This wind, you talk of, blows us from ourselves; supper is done, and we shall come too late.”
  

  
  Harry sighed and nodded, letting them walk a little ahead of him as he spoke to himself, “I fear, too early: for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date with this night's revels and expire the term of a despised life closed in my breast by some vile forfeit of untimely death. But He, that hath the steerage of my course,” he caught up to them and clapped Ron on the shoulder, “Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen.”
  

  
  They entered the hall and mingled as well as danced, steering clear of as many Malfoys as possible. Most Slytherins would not recognize them, even without their masks, but better safe than sorry.
  

  
  Lucius was speaking to a random Slytherin and they caught some of the conversation as they passed, “I have seen the day that I have worn a visor and could tell a whispering tale in a fair lady's ear.”
  

  
  Harry had somehow managed to get away from his friends and was sulking in a corner when he spotted Draco. Suddenly all thoughts of Oliver, his previous love, were wiped from his mind.
  

  
  “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.”
  

  
  Blaise, who was standing nearby and had heard Harry speak, was infuriated that a Gryffindor was at the ball and immediately went to tell Lucius who most obviously couldn’t care less, “This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, I hold it not a sin.”
  

  
  Lucius sighed, “Why, how now, Blaise! wherefore storm you so?”
  

  
  Blaise was getting impatient, “Lucius, this is Potter, our foe, a villain that is hither come in spite, to scorn at our solemnity this night.”
  

  
  The blonde eyed the young man in question, “Young Harry is it?”
  

  
  “'Tis he, that villain Harry,” Blaise sneered.
  

  
  Lucius was slightly inebriated and in no mood to fight as his ball, “Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone; he bears him like a portly gentleman; and, to say truth, Hogwarts brags of him to be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth: I would not for the wealth of all the town here in my house do him disparagement: therefore be patient, ake no note of him: it is my will, the which if thou respect, show a fair presence and put off these frowns, and ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.”
  

  
  “I'll not endure him,” he said heatedly.
  

  
  “He shall be endured: what, goodman boy! Go to! You'll make a mutiny among my guests!” The blonde spat then walked away.
  

  
  “I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall,” he called at Lucius’ retreating back.
  

  
  In a corner, Draco stood, surveying everyone at the party and attempting to avoid his mother, who was trying to push Ginny on him. Harry sneaked over and took his hand from behind, whispering in his ear, “If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.”
  

  
  When Draco turned he pulled the blonde’s hand to his lips and kissed it, causing him to blush, “Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this; for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss,” Draco said somewhat shyly.
  

  
  Harry, amused, moved closer and whispered, “Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?”
  

  
  He nodded, “Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.”
  

  
  The Gryffindor smiled, “O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; they pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.”
  

  
  “Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake,” he pointed out, blushing once more.
  

  
  Harry moved closer still, “Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged,” the raven haired boy captured the blonde’s lips in a sweet kiss before pulling back.
  

  
  “Then have my lips the sin that they have took?” Draco said playfully.
  

  
  Harry grinned, “Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again.” Harry wrapped his arms around Draco and embraced him in a steamy kiss, finally breaking away when they both needed air.
  

  
  “You kiss by the book,” Draco said as he flushed.
  

  
  Severus had seen what was going on between the two young men and walked over, “Child, your mother craves a word with you,” he said distastefully.
  

  
  He led the young blonde away, who kept his eyes on Harry, to Narcissa and Ginny. Harry’s heart sank when he saw who the blonde’s mother was, “Is he a Malfoy?” He whispered in despair.
  

  
  Narcissa demanded he speak to her and Ginny so he did, stealing glances at Harry the whole time. Draco pulled away from his mother at last and motioned to Severus, “Come hither, Severus. What is yond gentleman?”
  

  
  Severus leaned in and whispered, “His name is Harry, and a Gryffindor; the only son of your great enemy.”
  

  
  Crushed, Draco whispered to himself, “My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy.”
  

  
  Draco followed Severus out of the hall and the scene faded to Albus standing in a circle of light once more, speaking to the would-be audience.
  

  
  “Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie, and young affection gapes to be his heir; that fair for which love groan'd for and would die, with tender Draco match'd, is now not fair. Now Harry is beloved and loves again, alike betwitched by the charm of looks, but to his foe supposed he must complain, and he steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks: being held a foe, he may not have access to breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; snd he as much in love, his means much less to meet his new-beloved any where: but passion lends them power, time means, to meet tempering extremities with extreme sweet.”
  

  
  The scene faded in to Harry sneaking through the corridors in the Slytherin dungeon. Ron and Remus followed him part of the way down and were slightly tipsy; this caused them to mock him.
  

  
  “Harry! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover!” Ron shouted, “I conjure thee by Oliver's bright eyes, by his high forehead and his scarlet lip, by his fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh.”
  

  
  Ron’s words caused the normally kind and quiet Remus to burst out laughing. After looking for him some more they gave up.
  

  
  “Harry, good night: I'll to my truckle-bed; this field-bed is too cold for me to sleep,” Ron said as they walked away.
  

  
  Harry shook his head in disbelief, “He jests at scars that never felt a wound.”
  

  
  The Gryffindor sneaked into the Slytherin common room and walked into the shadows, hoping Draco would come down from his dorm.
  

  
  Suddenly, a door opened at the top of the stairs, letting a sliver of light through, “But, soft! What light through yonder door breaks? It is the east, and Draco is the sun,” he said in an awed whisper as the blonde walks down the stairs and sits in front of the fire on a leather couch.
  

  
  “Ay me!” He said softly, startling Harry a bit.
  

  
  “O, speak again, bright angel!,” Harry gasped softly.
  

  
  Draco slumped on the couch as he began to speak, “O Harry, Harry! wherefore art thou Harry? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Slytherin.”
  

  
  Harry was slowly inching out of the shadows as he whispered to himself, “Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?”
  

  
  Draco went on, oblivious to Harry’s presence, “'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; thou art thyself, though not a Gryffindor. What's Potter? it is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; so Harry would, were he not Harry call'd, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Harry, doff thy name, and for that name which is no part of thee take all myself!”
  

  
  Harry stepped out of the shadows, “I take thee at thy word.”
  

  
  Draco blinked and stared at him for a moment before speaking, “Art thou not Harry and a Gryffindor?” He then flushed, remembering what he had said to the supposed empty room.
  

  
  The Gryffindor knelt in front of him and said softly, “Neither, fair Draco, if either thee dislike.”
  

  
  Although the Slytherin was delighted to see his love, he still worried about the consequences, “How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? The common room is hidden and hard to find, and the place death, considering who thou art, if any of my housemates find thee here,” he said earnestly.
  

  
  Harry smiled and leaned close, “With love's light wings did I find the hidden door in these walls; for stony limits cannot hold love out, and what love can do that dares love attempt; therefore thy housemates are no let to me.”
  

  
  “If they do see thee, they will murder thee,” he sighed and pointed out.
  

  
  “I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight; and but thou love me, let them find me here: my life were better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting of thy love,” he whispered as he leaned closer still.
  

  
  Draco smiled, “By whose direction found'st thou out this place?”
  

  
  “By love, who first did prompt me to inquire,” Harry whispered, nearly against the other’s lips.
  

  
  Draco flushed at Harry’s words and spoke softly to him, “Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face, else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek for that which thou hast heard me speak to-night”
  

  
  Harry looked as if he was about to interrupt so the blonde held up his hand and continued, “Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny what I have spoke: but farewell compliment!” He looked deeply into the gorgeous green eyes, “Dost thou love me?” He sighed and continued before the Gryffindor could reply, “I know thou wilt say 'Ay,' and I will take thy word: yet if thou swear'st, thou mayst prove false. O gentle Harry, if thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully.”
  

  
  Harry pulled Draco into his arms, “Draco, by yonder blessed moon I swear that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—“
  

  
  The blonde pulled away from him and said somewhat impatiently, “O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb. Lest that thy love prove likewise variable,” he finished somewhat nervously.
  

  
  The raven haired boy took his hands, “What shall I swear by?”
  

  
  Draco shook his head and smiled, “Do not swear at all; or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, which is the merlin of my idolatry, and I'll believe thee.”
  

  
  He pulled him close and kissed him gently, “If my heart's dear love—“
  

  
  Draco put a finger to his lips and cut him off again, “Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract to-night: it is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; too like the lightning, which doth cease to be ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night! This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath, may prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. Good night, good night!”
  

  
  He began to walk for the stairs when Harry called out, “O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?”
  

  
  Draco turned and raised a brow, “What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?” He said icily.
  

  
  Harry stuttered for a moment, finally finding his voice, “The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.”
  

  
  The Slytherin smiled and walked back to him, wrapping his arms around him and whispering in his ear, “I gave thee mine before thou didst request it.”
  

  
  They kissed sweetly for a few moments until Draco heard Severus in the dorm and pulled back from Harry.
  

  
  “Three words, dear Harry, and good night indeed. If that thy bent of love be honourable, thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow, by one that I'll procure to come to thee, where and what time thou wilt perform the rite; and all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay and follow thee my lord throughout the world.”
  

  
  “Draco,” Severus called softly from within.
  

  
  “I come, anon!” He called back then whispered to Harry, “But if thou mean'st not well, I do beseech thee—“
  

  
  “Draco!” He called again with a little more force.
  

  
  “By and by, I come!” The blonde said irritably then turned back to the Gryffindor, “To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief: to-morrow will I send.”
  

  
  Harry, who had gotten to his knees, began to speak, “So thrive my soul—“
  

  
  Draco cut him off with a quick peck on the lips and ran up the stairs. The Gryffindor just stayed there, his fingers pressing to his lips where Draco’s had brushed against them.
  

  
  The blonde came out of the room to the top of the stairs and whispered, “Harry! “ But he was off in another world. “Harry!” He said more urgently, finally causing the other to look up. “At what o'clock to-morrow shall I send to thee?”
  

  
  “By the hour of nine,” he said, still dazed.
  

  
  Draco smiled, “’Tis twenty year till then.”
  

  
  Harry stood walked toward the common room door, turning back to blow Draco a kiss before leaving. The blonde stood at the top of the stairs, watching and sighing as he left.
  

  
  “Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow,” he whispered to himself then walked back into his dorm and climbed into bed, falling asleep with thoughts of a green eyed, raven haired Gryffindor.
  

  
  The scene faded from Draco’s smiling, sleeping face to that of Harry running up the spiral staircase to the Headmaster’s office. He burst in to find Dumbledore sitting behind his desk, tending to a plant.
  

  
  “Within the infant rind of this small flower poison hath residence and medicine power: for this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; being tasted, slays all senses with the heart. Two such opposed kings encamp them still in man as well as herbs, grace and rude will; and where the worser is predominant, full soon the canker death eats up that plant.”
  

  
  Harry cleared his throat, “Good morrow, Headmaster.”
  

  
  Albus looked up and smiled, “What early tongue so sweet saluteth me? Young son, it argues a distemper'd head so soon to bid good morrow to thy bed,” he paused and eyed Harry, who was grinning, “Or if not so, then here I hit it right, ourHarry hath not been in bed to-night.”
  

  
  He nodded, “That last was true- the sweeter rest was mine.”
  

  
  Shocked, Albus walked from behind the desk, “Merlin pardon sin! Wast thou with Oliver?”
  

  
  Harry looked confused, “With Oliver?” He laughed then continued, “My ghostly Headmaster, no; I have forgot that name, and that name's woe.”
  

  
  The Headmaster smiled and patted him on the back. “That's my good son: but where hast thou been, then?”
  

  
  The Gryffindor sat and with a dreamy look began his tale,”I'll tell thee, ere thou ask it me again. I have been feasting with mine enemy, where on a the sudden one hath wounded me-“
  

  
  Albus, getting slightly irritated, cut him off with a warning look, “Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift; riddling confession finds but riddling shrift.”
  

  
  Harry rolled his eyes and leaned forward, “Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set on the fair son of rich Malfoy,” he leaned back, the dreamy look once more taking over his features, “We met, we woo'd and made exchange of vow, I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray, that thou consent to marry us to-day.”
  

  
  Dumbledore’s eyes were wide and he just stared at the young man for a moment before speaking, “Dear Merlin, what a change is here! Is Oliver, whom thou didst love so dear, so soon forsaken?” He scoffed, “Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.”
  

  
  Harry shook his head, “Thou chid'st me oft for loving Oliver.”
  

  
  The Headmaster sighed, “For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.”
  

  
  Harry gave the man a defiant look and crossed his arms over his chest, “I pray thee, chide not; he whom I love now doth grace for grace and love for love allow; the other did not so.”
  

  
  Snorting, Albus responded, “O, he knew well thy love did read by rote and could not spell,” the old man paused for a moment as he got an idea, the sparkle returning to his eyes, “Come, young waverer, come, go with me, in one respect I'll thy assistant be; for this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households' rancour to pure love.”
  

  
  Harry’s face lit up, “O, let us hence! I stand on sudden haste.”
  

  
  Albus chuckled, “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”
  

  
  The scene faded to the corridor outside the Great Hall where Remus and Ron were walking toward the doors talking.
  

  
  Ron was getting increasingly more pissed by the absence of their friend, “Where the devil should this Harry be? Came he not home to-night?”
  

  
  Remus shook his head, “Not to his dorm; I spoke with his mates.”
  

  
  The red head’s features softened for a moment as he thought of what could be keeping Harry, “Ah, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Oliver. Torments him so, that he will sure run mad.”
  

  
  Remus snorted then remembered something, “Blaise hath sent a letter to his father's house.”
  

  
  Ron smirked, “A challenge, on my life.”
  

  
  The other shook his head, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder, “Harry will answer it.”
  

  
  The red head brushed him off and replied angrily, “Any man that can write may answer a letter.”
  

  
  “Nay, he will answer the letter's master, how he dares, being dared,” Remus said sighing.
  

  
  Ron laughed, “Alas poor Harry! He is already dead; stabbed with a white wench's black eye; shot through the ear with a love-song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy's butt-shaft: and is he a man to encounter Blaise?” He said with mock drama.
  

  
  Remus laughed then asked somewhat seriously, “Why, what is Blaise?”
  

  
  His companion snorted, “More than Prince of Slytherin, I can tell you. O, he is the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance, and proportion; rests me his minim rest, one, two, and the third in your bosom: the very butcher of a silk button, a duellist, a duellist; a gentleman of the very first house, of the first and second cause: ah, the immortal Passado! The punto reverso! The hai!”
  

  
  Remus blinked, “The what?” But before Ron could answer, Remus saw Harry approaching, “Here comes Harry! Harry!”
  

  
  The raven haired boy practically bounced up to them and greeted them cheerfully.
  

  
  Ron once again found some of his anger, “Signior Harry, bon jour! there's a French salutation to your French slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night.”
  

  
  Harry blinked, “Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit did I give you?”
  

  
  Ron smirked, “The slip, sir, the slip; can you not conceive?”
  

  
  His friend laughed, patting him on the shoulder, “Pardon, good Ron, my business was great; and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.”
  

  
  Snickering, Ron replied, “That's as much as to say, such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams.”
  

  
  Laughing again, Harry clapped him in the shoulder, “Meaning, to court'sy.”
  

  
  Ron nodded, laughing, “Thou hast most kindly hit it.”
  

  
  Harry snickers, “A most courteous exposition.”
  

  
  In a higher voice than normal, Ron replied, “Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.”
  

  
  Not being able to help it, Harry teased his friend back, “Pink for flower?”
  

  
  He nodded and smirked, feeling quite proud of himself, “Right.”
  

  
  Getting a mischievous look on his face, Harry leaned in and said, “Why, then is my pump well flowered.”
  

  
  At that Ron snapped out of it and all three of them laughed, sliding down the wall as the red head breathlessly spoke to his friend, “Now art thou sociable, now art thou Harry; now art thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature.”
  

  
  As they laughed a bit more, Harry noticed Severus walking down the corridor, “Here's goodly gear!”
  

  
  Severus walked up to the trio and eyed them distastefully. Harry got the clue and sighed, rolling his eyes as he told his friends he would meet them in the Great Hall in a few minutes for breakfast.
  

  
  Ron said some very unsavory things just loud enough for them to hear, sounding almost exactly like ‘greasy git’ and ‘slimy Slytherin’, as the two walked away and disappeared through the giant doors to the hall.
  

  
  Severus turned back to Harry with a raised brow and practically sneered, “I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery?”
  

  
  The green eyed boy chuckled, “A gentleman, Severus, that loves to hear himself talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month.”
  

  
  The man shoved him against the wall and leaned in close, hissing, “If ye should lead him into a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentleman is young; and, therefore, if you should deal double with him, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentleman, and very weak dealing.”
  

  
  Harry blinked, trying to regain some composure before finally replying, “Bid him devise some means to come to shrift this afternoon; and there he shall in the Headmaster’s office be shrived and married.”
  

  
  Severus let him go and nodded curtly before turning on his heel and walking toward the dungeons with his robes billowing out behind him, leaving a very dazed and confused Harry to slide down the wall with wide eyes.
  

  
  The scene once again faded, showing the silver blonde pacing as he spoke to himself, “The clock struck nine when I did send the Severus; in half an hour he promised to return.”
  

  
  The man walked in feeling quite proud of himself, he loved frightening the students. Immediately he had his arms full of over excited Draco, “O honey Severus, what news?”
  

  
  The man smirked and gently pushed him away, “I am a-weary, give me leave awhile: fie, how my bones ache! what a jaunt have I had!”
  

  
  Draco pouted and flung himself onto his bed whining, “I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news: come, I pray thee, speak.”
  

  
  Of course he was fine, but he felt the need to play with his young charge, “Merlin, what haste? Can you not stay awhile? Do you not see that I am out of breath?”
  

  
  The silver eyed boy sat up and leveled a glare at him, “How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath to say to me that thou art out of breath?” Then he got worried, thinking his friend bore bad news, “Is thy news good, or bad? Answer to that.”
  

  
  The man rolled his eyes, “Well, you have made a simple choice; you know not how to choose a man: Harry!” He snorted, “No, not he; though his face be better than any man's, yet his leg excels all men's; and for a hand, and a foot, and a body…”
  

  
  Draco, getting furious, cut him off and bit out each word between clenched teeth, “But all this did I know before. What says he of our marriage? What of that?”
  

  
  Severus cried out in mock pain, snickering, “How my head aches! What a head have I! It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces.”
  

  
  The blonde gave him a headache potion and glared at him then smirked and decided to play along for a bit, “I' faith, I am sorry that thou art not well. Sweet, sweet, sweet Severus, tell me, what says my love?”
  

  
  The man sighed and began to tell him what Harry had said, “Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I warrant, a virtuous,--Where is your mother?” He snickered once more at the look of pure rage on Draco’s face.
  

  
  “Where is my mother! How oddly thou repliest! 'Your love says, like an honest gentleman, Where is your mother?'” He screamed.
  

  
  Severus was laughing and gasping for breath, “O Merlin's lady dear! Are you so hot? Henceforward do your messages yourself.”
  

  
  Draco got on his knees in front of Severus and began to plead, “Here's such a coil! Come, what says Harry?”
  

  
  Severus sighed, “Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day?”
  

  
  The boy nodded, “I have.”
  

  
  The man smiled and helped him up, “Then hie you hence to the Headmaster’s office; there stays a husband to enter into your life.”
  

  
  Draco squealed and threw himself into Severus’ arms. The man scowled and patted him on the back sighing.
  

  
  Again the scene faded, but it showed Draco entering the Headmaster’s office where he and Harry have been waiting. The two young men ran to each other and embraced, sharing a kiss before moving to stand in front of Albus. He performed the ceremony quickly, knowing they haven’t much time, and smiled as they kiss, sealing their union.
  

  
  “These violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph die, like fire and powder, which as they kiss consume: the sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness, therefore love moderately,” he said gravely.
  

  
  They both nod and from the comfort of Harry’s arms Draco softly thanked the Headmaster for all his help.
  

  
  The old man holds up his hand, eyes twinkling, and replies, “Harry shall thank thee, son, for us both.”
  

  
  As they kiss once more, the scene changes to show Ron and Remus talking in the Great Hall, waiting, yet again, for Harry.
  

  
  Remus sighed, “I pray thee, good Ron, let's retire: the day is boring, the Slytherins abroad, and, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl; for now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.”
  

  
  Ron rolled his eyes and snorted, “Thou art like one of those fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword upon the table and says 'Merlin send me no need of thee!' and by the operation of the second cup draws it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need.”
  

  
  The werewolf laughed, “Am I like such a fellow?”
  

  
  Shaking his head, Ron got up to leave while answering, “Thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Hogwarts, and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved.”
  

  
  As they got nearer the door, Remus groaned, “By my head, here come the Slytherins.”
  

  
  Holding his head high, Ron shrugged, “By my heel, I care not,” he spat.
  

  
  Blaise, smirking, walked up to them and taunted them, “Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you.”
  

  
  The red head smirked and, knowing it will infuriate the Slytherin, he proceeded to hit on him, “And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow.”
  

  
  Sneering, and taking the bait, he replied, disgusted, “You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will give me occasion.”
  

  
  Ron, being a true Gryffindor, kept it up, “Could you not take some occasion without giving?”
  

  
  Growling, he attempted to change the subject, “Ron, thou consort'st with Harry,--“
  

  
  The red head cut him off, smirking. Remus snickered, knowing Blaise is in for it now, “Consort! What, dost thou make us minstrels? An thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you dance. 'Zounds, consort!”
  

  
  Finally, Remus looked around, noticing a crowd gathering. Slightly nervous he leaned in toward the two and hissed, “Either withdraw unto some private place, and reason coldly of your grievances, or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us.”
  

  
  Ron shrugged nonchalantly, “Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze; I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.”
  

  
  Harry, still happy from his short but sweet wedding, chose that very moment to enter the Great Hall.
  

  
  “Peace be with you, sir: here comes my man,” Blaise says as he began to walk toward Harry.
  

  
  The Slytherin got in his face and spit his words out, “Harry, the hate I bear thee can afford no better term than this,--thou art a villain.”
  

  
  Harry shook his head and sighed, no longer willing to fight with him but unable to tell him why, “Blaise, the reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting: villain am I none; therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.”
  

  
  “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me; turn and draw,” Blaise growled.
  

  
  With a pleading look, Harry placed a hand on his arm, “I do protest, I never injured thee, but love thee better than thou canst devise, till thou shalt know the reason of my love: and so, good Malfoy,--which name I tender as dearly as my own,--be satisfied.”
  

  
  Ron’s face had grown progressively more disgusted throughout Harry’s entire speech and as Blaise threw his hand off he lost it, “O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! Blaise, you rat-catcher, will you walk?”
  

  
  Blaise turned to him and raised a brow, “What wouldst thou have with me?”
  

  
  The red head smirked and pulled out his wand, “Good King of Slytherin, nothing but one of your nine lives.”
  

  
  With a gleam in his eye, Blaise did the same, “I am for you.”
  

  
  The two young men began to duel, hexes and curses flying between them. Harry was getting very worried; he wanted neither to die, though one was surely to have their life end, Ron because he was his closest friend and Blaise because he was his new husband’s kin. Thinking quickly, he pushed Ron out of the way but failed to notice the nasty dark curse that hit him, under Harry’s arm, before he could successfully get him out of the way.
  

  
  Ron was lying on the floor of the Great Hall, his face pale as he clutched his side. There was no blood, but there generally wasn’t when such curses were used.
  

  
  Remus ran forward and tried to help Ron up, “What, art thou hurt?”
  

  
  Trying to brush off the worry, the red head laughed, “Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch.”
  

  
  Harry looked worriedly at his friend, placing a hand on his arm and saying softly, “Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.”
  

  
  Ron’s eyes clouded a little as he joked, “'Twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man. “ He paused once he realized how serious this really was then turned to Harry, pulling him close and hissing, “Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.”
  

  
  As the green eyed youth blinked and stuttered, Ron pushed them both away, and before either of them could say anything, he began to scream, “A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me!”
  

  
  The wounded young man then fell to the floor limply, his unseeing eyes staring up at the enchanted ceiling.
  

  
  Harry screamed then fell to his side trying everything he could think of to revive his friend while Blaise attempted to escape unharmed. Green eyes snapped up and pinned the Slytherin, causing him to gulp then shake slightly as Harry walked toward him.
  

  
  The raven haired Gryffindor took out his wand, losing himself in his grief and hissed at Blaise, “For Ron's soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company: either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.”
  

  
  Coming back to himself, Blaise sneered, “Thou, wretched boy shalt with him hence.”
  

  
  They dueled for a few moments before Harry finally got fed up and cast Avada Kedavra, dropping the other to the floor before he’d realized what he’d done.
  

  
  With a look of horror on his face, Remus ran to Harry and attempted to push him out into the corridor, “Harry, away, be gone!” When Harry hesitated and just stood there blinking Remus began to scream, “Stand not amazed!”
  

  
  As the young man ran in the direction of the Headmasters office, he whispered in anguish, “I am fortune's fool!”
  

  
  Back in the Great Hall, the Minister, Arthur, had arrived to appraise the situation. He looked around with narrowed eyes after seeing the dead body of his son, “Where are the vile beginners of this fray?” When no one answered him he turned to Remus, “Remus, who began this bloody fray?”
  

  
  Remus sadly shook his head and began to tell the tale, his breath hitching in some spots, “Blaise, here slain, whom Harry's hand did slay; Harry that spoke him fair, bade him bethink how nice the quarrel was, and urged withal your high displeasure: all this uttered with gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd, could not take truce with the unruly spleen of Blaise deaf to peace, but that he tilts with piercing steel at bold Ron's breast, Harry he cries aloud, 'Hold, friends! Blaise hit the life of stout Ron, and then Blaise fled; but by and by comes back to Harry, ere I could draw to part them, was stout Blaise slain. And, as he fell, did Harry turn and fly. This is the truth, or let me die.”
  

  
  Narcissa, enraged, turned to Arthur, “I beg for justice, which thou, Arthur, must give; Harry slew Blaise, Harry must not live!”
  

  
  With a drawn face he turned to Draco’s mother and rubbed the bridge of his nose as his eyes closed, trying to calmly reason with her, “Harry slew him, he slew Ron; who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?”
  

  
  James then spoke up in favor of his son, “Not Harry, Arthur, he was Ron's friend; his fault concludes but what the law should end, the life of Blaise.”
  

  
  Finally getting fed up, Arthur lost his patience, “And for that offence immediately we do exile him hence. “ He glared at them each in turn, “I will be deaf to pleading and excuses; nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses: therefore use none: let Harry hence in haste, else, when he's found, that hour is his last. Harry is banished!”
  

  
  As the scene fades we once again see Draco in his room, a large smile on his face and a dreamy look in his eyes as he awaits his love on his wedding night.
  

  
  “Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night, give me my Harry; and, when he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun. O, I have bought the mansion of a love, but not possess'd it, and, though I am sold, not yet enjoy'd: so tedious is this day as is the night before some festival to an impatient child that hath new robes and may not wear them,” he sighed.
  

  
  Severus, looking quite unwell, walked in and sat on the edge of the bed next to Draco and quietly began to speak, “Blaise is gone, and Harry banished; Harry that kill'd him, he is banished.”
  

  
  The blonde sat up and cried, “O Merlin! Did Harry's hand shed Blaise's blood?” He buried his face in the man’s neck as he sobbed, unaware of the hand that rubbed soothing circles in his back, “O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical! Dove-feather'd raven! Wolvish-ravening lamb! Despised substance of divinest show! Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st, A damned saint, an honourable villain! O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell, When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend in moral paradise of such sweet flesh? Was ever book containing such vile matter so fairly bound? O that deceit should dwell in such a gorgeous palace!”
  

  
  Severus finally spoke, “Will you speak well of him that kill'd your cousin?”
  

  
  Draco pulled back and looked at him oddly, “Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name, when I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it? But, wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin?”
  

  
  The man sighed and pulled him close again, letting him cry his heart out as they both wondered where Harry was and what he was doing.
  

  
  Meanwhile, at the top of the spiral staircase, Harry lifted his hand to knock as the door swung open and Albus ushered him inside, “Harry, come forth; come forth, thou fearful man: affliction is enamour'd of thy parts, and thou art wedded to calamity.”
  

  
  The raven haired Gryffindor threw himself onto a chair, looking shocked, “Banishment! be merciful, say 'death;' for exile hath more terror in his look, much more than death: do not say 'banishment.'”
  

  
  The Headmaster sighed, “Hence from Hogwarts art thou banished: be patient, for the world is broad and wide.”
  

  
  Harry shook his head, “There is no world without Hogwarts walls, but purgatory, torture, hell itself. Hence-banished is banish'd from the world, and world's exile is death: then banished, is death mis-term'd: calling death banishment, thou cutt'st my head off with a golden axe, and smilest upon the stroke that murders me.”
  

  
  Albus, usually a very calm and gentle man, finally lost his temper and yelled at Harry, causing him to flinch, “O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness! This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not.”
  

  
  A knock at the door interrupted any further yelling, for which Harry was grateful, and Albus asked who it was.
  

  
  They heard Severus speaking on the other side of the door, “I come from Lord Draco.”
  

  
  The Headmaster opened the door then shut it quickly, making sure no one saw, and Harry ran forward to embrace Severus, “Where is my lord’s husband? Where's Harry?” He spotted him as he got an armful of Harry and rolled his eyes, “Severus!”
  

  
  The man smirked, “Ah sir! Ah sir! Well, death's the end of all.”
  

  
  Harry paled slightly, “Spakest thou of Draco? Where is he? And how doth he? And what says my conceal'd lord to our cancell'd love?”
  

  
  Rolling his eyes once more the man began to show his true Slytherin side as he teased Harry, “O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps; and then on Harry cries, and then down falls again.”
  

  
  The Gryffindor looked grief stricken at this news and fell into the chair again, muttering, “As if that name, shot from the deadly level of a gun, did murder him; as that name's cursed hand murder'd his kinsman.”
  

  
  Albus glared at Harry and spoke in a hard voice, “I thought thy disposition better temper'd. Why rail'st thou on thy birth, the heaven, and earth? Since birth, and heaven, and earth, all three do meet in thee at once, thy Draco is alive! There art thou happy: Blaise would kill thee, but thou slew'st Blaise; there are thou happy too: the law that threaten'd death becomes thy friend and turns it to exile; there art thou happy: a pack of blessings lights up upon thy back; go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed, ascend his chamber, hence and comfort his: but look thou stay not till the watch be set, for then thou canst not pass to Hogsmeade; where thou shalt live, till we can find a time to blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends, beg pardon of the Arthur, and call thee back with twenty hundred thousand times more joy than thou went'st forth in lamentation.”
  

  
  Finally Severus took pity on the poor boy, seeing as he really did feel bad about what he’d done, “Harry, a ring he bid me give you, sir.”
  

  
  The young man brightened slightly as he took the symbol of their love from the man’s fingers and thanked him. After Severus left, Harry turned back to the Headmaster, “How well my comfort is revived by this!”
  

  
  Albus smiled, his eyes twinkling as he shooed the young man out, “Be gone before the watch be set, or by the break of day disguised from hence: sojourn in Hogsmeade.”
  

  
  In the Slytherin common room Lucius, Narcissa and Ginny sat on the couch before the fire talking.
  

  
  “Look you, he loved his kinsman Blaise dearly, and so did I,” Lucius said with conviction.
  

  
  Ginny just nodded, “These times of woe afford no time to woo. Commend me to your son.”
  

  
  Narcissa handed them each a glass of brandy as she spoke, “I will, and know his mind early to-morrow; to-night he is mew'd up to his heaviness.”
  

  
  Lucius nodded and smiled at his wife, “I will make a desperate tender of my child's love: I think he will be ruled in all respects by me; nay, more, I doubt it not.” He paused, thinking, “But what say you to Thursday?”
  

  
  The girl’s face lit up, “My lord, I would that Thursday were to-morrow.”
  

  
  The blonde man got up and walked Ginny to the door, bidding her farewell, “O' Thursday be it, then. Go you to Draco ere you go to bed. Good night.”
  

  
  Up in the corridor outside Draco’s room, Harry was desperately trying to sneak in without being caught. He finally made it through the door unseen, closing it quickly and throwing up locking and silencing charms then turning to Draco and pulling him close, kissing him passionately.
  

  
  They made their way to the bed and the blonde lay down, pulling Harry on top of him as they continued to kiss. Their clothing came off quickly and Harry settled between Draco’s legs, leaning down to kiss him once more as his fingers found the blonde’s opening and began to prepare him gently and lovingly.
  

  
  Draco arched up and begged for more as the fingers moved in and out, scissoring and stretching him. Once Harry was satisfied that his love was aptly prepared, he covered Draco’s body with his own and slid into him, kissing him and swallowing his moans.
  

  
  They moved gently, their love making slow, bringing them to climax sweetly in each other’s arms as they each cried the other’s name. They fell asleep in a jumble of tangled limbs, praying for morning to never come. But come it did, and far too soon for either of their likings.
  

  
  Harry awoke before Draco and gently began to kiss him awake, telling him how much he loved him.
  

  
  When the raven haired young man got up to get dressed, the blonde pulled him back into bed pouting, “Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day.”
  

  
  He smiled sadly and dropped a gentle kiss on his love’s lips, “I must be gone and live, or stay and die.”
  

  
  Draco held onto him tightly and began to plead, “Yon light is not day-light, I know it, I: it is some meteor that the sun exhales, to be to thee this night a torch-bearer, and light thee on thy way to Hogsmeade: therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone.”
  

  
  Harry grinned and pressed Draco into the bed, ravaging his mouth, “Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death. The vaulty heaven so high above our heads: I have more care to stay than will to go: come, death, and welcome! Draco wills it so. How is't, my soul? Let's talk; it is not day.”
  

  
  He continued to kiss the other passionately until Draco pushed him off and cried, “It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away! It is the lark that sings so out of tune, o, now be gone; more light and light it grows.”
  

  
  Harry sighed unhappily and frowned, “More light and light; more dark and dark our woes!”
  

  
  As they shared a gentle kiss Severus banged on the door, “Draco!”
  

  
  The blonde narrowed his eyes and lowered the silencing spell, “Severus.”
  

  
  An impatient growl reached them from the other side of the door, “Your lady mother is coming to your chamber: the day is broke; be wary, look about.”
  

  
  Draco then panicked and grabbed his wand, magicking a window onto his wall and opened it, “Then, window, let day in, and let life out.”
  

  
  Hesitating, Harry straddled the window ledge, “Farewell, farewell! One kiss, and I'll descend.” They kissed briefly but pulled away when they heard Severus’ warnings that Narcissa was drawing nearer.
  

  
  With tears in his eyes, Draco whispered, “O think'st thou we shall ever meet again?”
  

  
  Harry smiled and cupped his cheek, “I doubt it not; for sweet discourses in our time to come.”
  

  
  Draco shook his head in exasperation, “O Merlin, I have an ill-divining soul! Methinks I see thee, now thou art below, as one dead in the bottom of a tomb.”
  

  
  They kissed once more and Harry disappeared out the window. The blonde sighed and flicked his wand, banishing any evidence of a window ever having been on his wall before. He then lowered the locking spells which allowed Severus to enter.
  

  
  As the man walked in he cleaned the sheets, leaving no evidence of the acts that happened in that very room the night before. While the man worked, Draco whispered to himself, “O fortune, fortune! All men call thee fickle: if thou art fickle, what dost thou with him. For then, I hope, thou wilt not keep him long, but send him back.”
  

  
  Narcissa entered, looking smug, and addressed her son somewhat coldly, “Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child; one who, to put thee from thy heaviness, hath sorted out a sudden day of joy, that thou expect'st not nor I look'd not for.”
  

  
  Draco blinked, “Madam, in happy time, what day is that?”
  

  
  She smirked as she delivered the news, “Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn, the gallant, young and noble gentlewoman, the Lady Ginny, at Saint Peter's Church, shall happily you make her there a joyful bride.”
  

  
  Snorting, Draco shook his head in disbelief. His own father and mother had sold him. “Now, by Saint Peter's Church and Peter too, I shall not make her there a joyful bride!” He snapped.
  

  
  Raising a brow, his mother’s tone turned even colder, “Here comes your father; tell him so yourself.”
  

  
  Lucius entered smiling, “How now, wife! Have you deliver'd to him our decree?”
  

  
  She blinked elegantly and walked over to her husband, hanging on his arm and pouting, “Ay, sir; but he will none, he gives you thanks. I would the fool were married to his grave!”
  

  
  “How! Will he none? Doth he not give us thanks? Is he not proud?” He snarled, his face turning red from the news.
  

  
  Draco flinched slightly then glared at his father, finally finding the strength to stand up to him, “Not proud, you have; but thankful, that you have: proud can I never be of what I hate!”
  

  
  Lucius walked over to his son and backhanded him so hard he fell back onto the bed, “Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch!”
  

  
  Draco, shocked, held his face where his father’s hand had made contact as Severus moved to stand in front of him to protect him from Lucius’ further attacks, and knowing Lucius, there would be more.
  

  
  “Merlin bless him! You are to blame, my lord, to rate him so,” he said softly, pleadingly.
  

  
  The blonde man sneered, “And why, my wise Severus? Hold your tongue, good prudence; smatter with your gossips, go.”
  

  
  Severus snorted, “I speak no treason.”
  

  
  Lucius rolled his eyes, “Peace, you mumbling fool! Utter your gravity o'er a gossip's bowl; for here we need it not.” He then turned to his son and spoke dangerously low, “Graze where you will you shall not house with me: look to't, think on't, I do not use to jest. Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise: an you be mine, I'll give you to my friend; and you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, for, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee, nor what is mine shall never do thee good: trust to't, bethink you; I'll not be forsworn.”
  

  
  After having said his piece, the blonde stalked out, throwing hexes and curses at anything in his path to try and calm himself.
  

  
  Draco, biting his lip, turned to his mother and began to beg, “O, sweet my mother, cast me not away! Delay this marriage for a month, a week; or, if you do not, make the bridal bed in that dim monument where Blaise lies.”
  

  
  She snorted and looked at him in disgust, “Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word: do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.”
  

  
  As Narcissa left the room, Draco turned back to Severus, “O Merlin!--O Severus, how shall this be prevented?”
  

  
  Closing his eyes, Severus replied, “Faith, here it is. Harry is banish'd; and all the world to nothing, that he dares ne'er come back to challenge you; or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth. Then, since the case so stands as now it doth, I think it best you married with the county. O, she's a lovely gentlewoman! I think you are happy in this second match, for it excels your first: or if it did not, your first is dead; or 'twere as good he were, as living here and you no use of him.”
  

  
  Draco was very disappointed in his friend. “Speakest thou from thy heart?” He asked, fearing the answer.
  

  
  The man nodded sadly and said softly, “And from my soul too; or else beshrew them both.”
  

  
  The blonde snorted and said under his breath, “Amen!”
  

  
  Severus’ head snapped up and he eyed the boy suspiciously, “What?”
  

  
  Draco put his old, cold mask of indifference back on as he ignored the question and began to speak, “Well, thou hast comforted me marvellous much. Go in: and tell my lady I am gone, having displeased my father, to the Headmaster’s office, to make confession and to be absolved.”
  

  
  On the other side of the castle, Ginny was speaking to Albus about the details of her upcoming wedding in a few days. He knew it was impossible but he smiled and twinkled anyhow as she speaks, “That he doth give his sorrow so much sway, and in his wisdom hastes our marriage, to stop the inundation of her tears.”
  

  
  She notices Draco walking toward them and beams, not noticing the dark scowl on the blonde’s face, “Happily met, my lord and my life!”
  

  
  He snorted and muttered, “That may be, miss, when you may be a wife.”
  

  
  Ginny, confused, pressed on, “That may be must be, love, on Thursday next.”
  

  
  Draco rolled his eyes, “What must be shall be.”
  

  
  Albus raised a brow, “That's a certain text.”
  

  
  Ginny blinks, apparently a bit slow, “Come you to make confession?”
  

  
  Draco ignored her and turned to Albus, “Are you at leisure, Headmaster, now; or shall I come to you at another time?”
  

  
  The Headmaster nodded and gestured him into his office, “My leisure serves me, pensive son, now. My lady, we must entreat the time alone.”
  

  
  Before he can enter, Ginny grabs his hand and pulls him close, kissing him on the cheek. She once again failed to notice the look of pure disgust on Draco’s face, turning flushed to run down the hall and go gossip or do whatever it is that young girls do a few days before they marry.
  

  
  The young man ran into the office and threw himself into a chair, much like Harry had done the night before. He held up his hand not allowing the Headmaster to speak, “Tell me not, friar, that thou hear'st of this, unless thou tell me how I may prevent it: if, in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help, do thou but call my resolution wise, and with this knife I'll help it presently. Be not so long to speak; I long to die.”
  

  
  Albus, worried, walked over to him and crouched down to see his face, “Hold, son: I do spy a kind of hope, which craves as desperate an execution. As that is desperate which we would prevent. If, rather than to marry County Ginny, thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, then is it likely thou wilt undertake a thing like death to chide away this shame, that copest with death himself to scape from it: and, if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy.”
  

  
  Draco eyed him suspiciously then nodded, nothing that anything was better than having to marry that over excited, red headed bint.
  

  
  The Headmaster then took a small vial out of his robes and handed it to Draco, “Take thou this vial, being then in bed, and this distilled liquor drink thou off; no warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest; each part, deprived of supple government, shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death: thou shalt continue two and forty hours, and then awake as from a pleasant sleep. Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes to rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead: thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault where all the kindred of the Malfoys lie. In the mean time, against thou shalt awake, shall Harry by my letters know our drift, and hither shall he come: and he and I will watch thy waking, and that very night shall Harry bear thee hence to Hogsmeade. And this shall free thee from this present shame; if no inconstant toy, nor womanish fear, abate thy valour in the acting it.”
  

  
  The blonde nodded and slipped it into his pocket then bade farewell to the old wizard and walked back to the dungeons to live out the doom filled next few days of his mother fawning over him and making him want to gag.
  

  
  The following few days passed in a flurry; Harry worried about how Draco was faring and vice versa as the blonde attempted to avoid everyone, most of all his mother and including Severus, who was trying to make him see that this situation was much better than the last. He hated him for it. Draco loved Harry with all his heart and would die rather than marry Ginny.
  

  
  Wednesday evening came much too quickly and it found Draco rolling his eyes, once again, at his mother who wouldn’t leave him the hell alone so he could go to bed, “What, are you busy, ho? Need you my help?”
  

  
  “No, madam; we have cull'd such necessaries as are behoveful for our state to-morrow: so please you, let me now be left alone, and let the Severus this night sit up with you; for, I am sure, you have your hands full all, in this so sudden business.” He said through clenched teeth, trying with all of his strength not to kill her.
  

  
  Narcissa raised a brow, “Good night: get thee to bed, and rest; for thou hast need.”
  

  
  After she had gone, Draco released a sigh and muttered viscously, “Farewell! Merlin knows when we shall meet again.”
  

  
  He got himself into bed and pulled the vial out of his pocket, fingering it and studying the contents for a moment before taking out the stopper and holding it up in a mock salute, “Harry, I drink to thee.” The blonde lifted the vial to his lips and tipped it back, emptying it and smirking briefly before the potion took effect and made him appear to have died.
  

  
  The vial, once empty, vanished, removing any evidence that it had even been there.
  

  
  When morning dawned, Severus walked into Draco’s room and attempted to rouse him, “Draco! Fie, you slug-a-bed! Why, love, I say! What, not a word? You take your pennyworths now; sleep for a week; for the next night, I warrant, the Lady Ginny hath set up her rest, that you shall rest but little. Merlin forgive me, marry, and amen, how sound is he asleep! I must needs wake him.”
  

  
  He blinked when he sees the blonde in his regular clothes instead of his night clothes, “What, dress'd! and in your clothes! And down again! I must needs wake you.”
  

  
  As the man leaned down to graasp the boy’s shoulder and shake him awake, he felt how cold his skin was and that he wasn’t breathing, “Alas, alas! Help, help! Draco's dead! O, well-a-day, that ever I was born! Some aqua vitae, ho! My lord! My lady!”
  

  
  Narcissa walked in, irritated because she was interrupted whilst getting ready, “What noise is here?” She snapped.
  

  
  Severus, frantic, just stood there clutching Draco to his chest, “O lamentable day!”
  

  
  The blonde woman began to yell, “What is the matter?”
  

  
  Severus held Draco’s limp body up for her to see, “Look, look! O heavy day!”
  

  
  Narcissa fell to her knees, her eyes wide, and cried; she had truly loved her son, “O me, O me! My child, my only life, revive, look up, or I will die with thee! Help, help! Call help.”
  

  
  Lucius, hearing all the noise, thought his son was once again trying to rebel and went to see what was happening, “For shame, bring Draco forth; his lady is come.”
  

  
  “He's dead, deceased, he's dead; alack the day!” The man screamed at the blonde accusingly as he glared at him and clung to Draco.
  

  
  The blonde man snorted, thinking it a ruse, “Ha! Let me see him: out, alas!” He blinked after placing his hand on his son’s arm. His eyes went wide, “He's cold: his blood is settled, and his joints are stiff; life and these lips have long been separated: death lies on him like an untimely frost upon the sweetest flower of all the field.”
  

  
  The black haired man began to cry, never before having shown emotion in front of anyone, “O lamentable day!”
  

  
  The blonde woman, still on the floor shaking, began to mutter, “O woeful time!”
  

  
  Lucius bit his lip, feeling guilty, perhaps if he hadn’t forced this on his son he would still be alive, “Death, that hath ta'en him hence to make me wail, ties up my tongue, and will not let me speak.”
  

  
  Albus walked in looking cheerful and clapping his hands together, “Come, is the groom ready to go to church?”
  

  
  The blonde man shook his head sadly, “Ready to go, but never to return. O son! The night before thy wedding-day.”
  

  
  Although he knew what was afoot, he schooled a look of shocked surprise on his face.
  

  
  “Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day! Most miserable hour that e'er time saw,” Narcissa cried as the scene faded once more.
  

  
  Harry was sitting on the steps of the Three Broomsticks talking softly to himself, “I dreamt my lord came and found me dead-- Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think!-- And breathed such life with kisses in my lips, that I revived, and was an emperor. Ah me! How sweet is love itself possess'd, when but love's shadows are so rich in joy!”
  

  
  He looked up and saw Seamus walking toward him and ran to greet him, “How now, Seamus! Dost thou not bring me letters from the Headmaster? How doth my lord? Is my father well? How fares my Draco? That I ask again; for nothing can be ill, if he be well.”
  

  
  With tears in his eyes, Seamus answered in a shaky voice, “Then he is well, and nothing can be ill: his body sleeps in Malfoy's monument, and his immortal part with angels lives. I saw him laid low. O, pardon me for bringing these ill news.”
  

  
  The green eyed young man was floored, “Is it even so?” He whispered, “Then I defy you, stars!” Harry ignored Seamus’ presence as he continued, “I will hence to-night.”
  

  
  Seeing where this was going, the other boy grabbed his arm, “I do beseech you, sir, have patience: your looks are pale and wild, and do import some misadventure.”
  

  
  He flung Seamus’ hand off and glared, “Tush, thou art deceived: leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do. Hast thou no letters to me from the Headmaster?”
  

  
  The other blinked, “No matter,” he said as he began to walk away from his friend toward Hogwarts. “Well, Draco, I will lie with thee to-night.”
  

  
  On his way there he stopped at the potions shop in town and walks in to speak with the apothecary.
  

  
  He spots a woman with bushy brown hair, “Let me have a dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear as will disperse itself through all the veins that the life-weary taker may fall dead and that the trunk may be discharged of breath as violently as hasty powder fired doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb,” he said icily.
  

  
  Hermione raised a brow, “Such mortal drugs I have; but Hogsmeade's law is death to any who utters them.” She paused then continued, “My poverty, but not my will, consents.”
  

  
  Harry laughed bitterly, “I pay thy poverty, and not thy will.”
  

  
  She nodded and disappeared into the nack of the shop for a moment, returning with a vial between her fingers containing blood red poison, “Drink it off; and, if you had the strength of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.”
  

  
  Harry gulped and nodded, staring at the deleterious liquid in fascination, “There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls, than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell,” he said absentmindedly as he walked out of the shop. He began to head once more for Hogwarts and his beloved.
  

  
  He slowly walked over to where the silver blonde lay as tears welled up in his eyes. Harry threw himself on Draco’s body and clung to him as he began to cry.
  

  
  After a few minutes he looked at the angelic face, taking it in his hands as he spoke softly and lovingly, “O my love! My life! Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty: thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death's pale flag is not advanced there.” He shook his head, “Dear Draco, why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe that unsubstantial death is amorous, and that the lean abhorred monster keeps thee here in dark to be his paramour?” Harry lay down on the altar, cuddling close to his seemingly dead husband as he whispered brokenly, “O, here will I set up my everlasting rest, and shake the yoke of inauspicious star from this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! And, lips, O you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss dateless bargain to engrossing death!”
  

  
  He closed his eyes as tears rolled down his face then drank the poison. Harry leaned in to kiss the soft lips once more, “Thus, with a kiss, I die.”
  

  
  As Harry took his last breath Draco woke and stared in horror as his love died, “What's here?”
  

  
  In a fit of rage he screamed, “Poison! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after? I will kiss thy lips; haply some poison yet doth hang on them.” The blonde leaned in and desperately kissed his love.
  

  
  A sob escaped his lips as he pulled back, “Thy lips are warm.”
  

  
  He began to hear noises, no doubt attracted by his shouts, “Yea, noise?” Draco looked around in a panic, trying to think of what to do, his eyes spotted Harry’s wand and he grabbed it, “Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!” He held it to his temple, “This is thy sheath,” he muttered the same curse that took Ron’s life. As his eyes glazed over he curled around Harry’s body and whispered, “There rust, and let me die.”
  

  
  Arthur, James, Albus, Lucius, Seamus and a group of people walked in to investigate. When they approached the altar they saw Draco and Harry wrapped around each other in a peaceful death, small smiles on their slack faces.
  

  
  “Where's Harry's man? What can he say in this?” Arthur said quietly, his eyes wide as they all surveyed the scene before them.
  

  
  Seamus stepped forward and told them all he knew, “I brought my master news of Draco's death; and then in post he came from Hogsmeade to this same place, to this same monument. This letter he early bid me give his father, and threatened me with death, going in the vault, I departed not and left him there.”
  

  
  The Minister nodded and holds out his hand, ”Give me the letter; I will look on it.”
  

  
  After he read the letter, his eyebrows rising more and more with every word, he turned to those present and glared, his voice icy as he reprimanded each and every one of them, “See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. And I for winking at your discords too have lost a brace of kinsmen: all are punish'd.”
  

  
  Lucius choked out a sob and reached for James’ hand, “O brother Gryffindor, give me thy hand.”
  

  
  James smiled sadly and held his hand tightly, “But I can give thee more.”
  

  
  Albus, once again in a circle of light, those around him frozen as he speaks to no one in particular. Perhaps the dreamer herself, “A glooming peace this morning with it brings; the sun, for sorrow, will not show his head: go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; some shall be pardon'd, and some punished: for never was a story of more woe than this of Harry and his Draco.”
  

  
  Hermione blinked a few times as she woke up from her dream, wondering what the hell that was all about. She knew Draco and Harry were friends, everyone knew it, but for them to… The brunette shuddered; she didn’t care if they did as long as she didn’t have to see it. She may be scarred for life and never want to have sex with her boyfriend again were she to witness something so hot.
  

  
  It had most definitely been the weirdest dream she had ever had. Not to mention the fact that Sirius and Remus had been their age and James and Lily had been alive in it. Both odd seeing as neither were true in real life.
  

  
  She shook her head a little and sighed as she got dressed then walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Ron followed her in a daze, not quite awake yet, but there enough to know there was food and caffeine if he trailed behind her. He rubbed sleep from his eyes and yawned as he sat across from her and began to pile food onto his plate, both of them ignoring each other.
  

  
  Hermione sat there, deep in thought and nibbling on a slice of toast, taking a sip of coffee every now and then, while trying to figure out the dream. She was so caught up she hadn’t even noticed that the objects of her thoughts had yet to arrive.
  

  
  But as the two entered the Hall, Draco with his arm about Harry’s shoulders as they both laughed at a private joke, she looked up and caught the Headmaster watching her and twinkling. When he caught her eye he winked and turned back to his food, leaving her to blink and wonder.
  

  
  She watched her two friends with a thoughtful look, “Perhaps it could be more than what the mind first perceives,” she said to herself as she glanced at them once more, noticing their body language more than usual. Her eyes went wide as she realized.
  

  
  Hermione gasped, causing Ron to look up, “Huh?”
  

  
  She shook her head and waved him off irritably as she continued to try and figure out her new puzzle. It would be a hard one to solve, but she knew she was up to it. The brunette smiled as she watched them more, a light bulb going off in her head. Even if they weren’t an item now, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be eventually. For she knew there had always been the potential for the two young men to be so much more than friends.
  

  
  

  ~*~
  

  
  Harry Potter; Romeo Montague.
  
  
  Draco Malfoy; Juliet Capulet.
  
  
  Severus Snape; The Nurse.
  
  
  Ron Weasley; Mercutio.
  
  
  Remus Lupin; Benvolio
  
  
  Blaise Zabini; Tybalt
  
  
  Ginny Weasley; Paris.
  
  
  Arthur Weasley; The Prince.
  
  
  Hermione Granger; The Apothocary.
  
  
  Albus Dumbledore; The friar, the chorus.
  
  
  Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy; The Capulets.
  
  
  James and Lily Potter; The Montagues.
  
  
  Gregory Goyle; Gregory.
  
  
  Vincent Crabbe; Sampson.
  
  
  Sirius Black; Abraham.
  
  
  Seamus Finnigan; Balthasar.
  

  
  Author’s Note: As you can tell, not all of the original verse was used. I took the lines used in the Claire Danes/Leonardo DeCaprio version of the movie and used those. For some reason, to me, that version fit better with where I was going with this. The full copy of the play can be found online at http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/works.html

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