Once Upon A Dream(OUAD)

He had a dream about a girl. This was shortly after The War, so Harry Potter was no stranger to odd nightmares taking strange turns. This was the first time he'd ever seen Her though. The dream started off normal enough; what with the full color HD montage of everyone he's ever cared about dying and being tortured because of him. With Voldemort laughing maniacally in the background surrounded by his army of Death Eaters. It was then that the scenery seemed to glitch and buffer. Victims and villains alike were bathed in vibrant red and green rectangles. Cutting in and out of focus, as if he was looking at a moving picture that was corrupted somehow. He looked down at his own hands that were covered in the blood of innocents, he seemed to be the only one unaffected. "Why do you torture yourself like this?", a melodic voice softly asked him. His head snapped up as he whirled around to spot the intruder. She seemed to materialize out of thin air from behind a badly distorted version of The Dark Lord. She looked so delicate and fragile, almost floaty even. He wondered if that was because she was a figment of his imagination. She laughed as if she'd read his mind, it reminded him of bells tinkling. Wasn't there a muggle story out there somewhere that said something about faeries' voices sounding like small bells to human ears? "I can assure you that I am not a faerie, Young Harry.", she reassured him as she tapped on Voldemort's shoulder.

He crumbled like a fractured marble statue, his followers immediately followed suit. She let out a sigh of relief before dusting her hands off. "There now, that's much better isn't it?", she rhetorically asked. Harry felt almost frozen where he stood, he was quite confused really. Why was this mystery woman- no, girl, here? She looked younger than him, shorter even. She felt familiar, if you could know someone you've never met, that's what she was to him. "Who are you, and why are you here in my dream?", he questioned. Even if it was apparent that she'd hear his queries regardless if he'd spoken them aloud or not. She silently stared into his eyes intently, and whomever said that the eyes were the windows to the soul were dead on. Because it felt as if his was splayed open bare for her to study and judge as she saw fit. She remained mute as she glided towards him. He wasn't sure if her feet were even touching the ground at that point. Her platinum blonde hair seemed to billow around her as she approached. He imagined one would get a similar effect if they were underwater. Her piercing green eyes appeared to have found what they were looking for, as she stopped short a couple of meters from him. "I'm Willamina, but feel free to call me Willa. Nearly everyone else does. As for why I'm here, the answer is simple. You needed me, so here I am. What I think the better, and much more interesting question would be, is why you think you deserve this?", she explained before gesturing to the ruins surrounding them.

He shook his head to deny the accusation, zeroing in on that above everything else. "I don't, this a dream, a mishmash of memories my brain plays for me at night. It's not like I WANT to see all this again.", he defended as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. He didn't know why he was so worried about what an imaginary girl thought of him, but he seemed to be rivaling Ron when it came to insecurities at that moment. The amused look she gave him scratched the recesses of his brain that had him mentally scrambling to try and place it. "You are your brain and subconsciousness, aren't you? So it seems to me like you do want to see 'all this' again. Although I'm fairly certain your best mates didn't die in the final battle, nor did your entire class. You feel guilt, it's okay to admit as much. Especially here where no one else'll hear you.", she said kindly. He read it as pity, even though he knew that's not how she meant it. He bristled with annoyance all the same. "It's a nightmare alright? It doesn't have to be historically accurate, it's meant to be scary and painful and traumatizing! You're making a big deal out of nothing honestly.", he snapped before he could think any better of it. He immediately felt bad for losing his temper with the younger teen. He was a leader, The Chosen One, The Boy Who Lived - Twice, the embodiment of light itself; he wasn't supposed to get angry at someone like her. He wasn't ALLOWED to get angry at someone like her.

She waved her hand in a huge sweeping motion. All the corpses and the bruised bloodied bodies of his friends, classmates, and teachers vanished. The blood on his hands evaporated, but he could still feel it under the surface, tainting his flesh. The girl- Willa, turned around, causing her silver and gold shimmery dress to twirl around her in a dramatic fashion. "Dreams and nightmares alike aren't meant to be anything, other than a way to cope.", she cryptically responded before walking away. Her dress and hair was still bouncing and fluttering through the air as if she was in one of those Muggle perfume commercials. He tripped over himself, and various pieces of rubble, to hurry after. "Cope with what?", he called out from behind her. She grasped the front of her dress before taking off into a jog, her heeled shoes slapping against the stone as she passed by broken down pillars. He didn't understand why she was in a hurry to get away from him all of a sudden. Had he offended her somehow? He didn't think he'd said anything out of line. Did him briefly losing his temper scare her off? She didn't look frightened, but he supposed looks could be deceiving. Harry jogged after her, pumping his arms to increase his speed, but still failed to catch up. "Living.", she said from over her shoulder. Just before she broke out into a full blown run towards the tree line. He picked up the pace so he wouldn't lose sight of her.

You'd think since this was HIS dream, he could move as fast or slow as he wanted; but since when do things ever work out in his favor without some sort of self sacrifice first? He still had questions, but was too out of breath to voice any. Oh what he wouldn't have given for a broom right about then. She bolted into the Forbidden Forest without hesitation. Which meant he didn't have the time to stop and question why he was being inadvertently lead there of all places. In a flash of panic he wondered if it was a trap, but then he reminded himself he was in a dream. The worst that could happen was he'd get spooked and wake up in the wee hours of the night. She stopped in the middle of a circular clearing. The trees surrounding the open patch of grass were just sparse enough in the branches, that the area was well lit in comparison to the surrounding woodlands. Harry bent over, resting his hands on his knees, as he attempted to regulate his breathing. Once he wasn't panting like an out of shape Professor, he noticed Willa was sitting on the ground. Quite gracefully might he add, her legs were tucked to the side as her dress cascaded around her. She reminded him of one of those fairytale princesses, the ones that would sing and frolic through the woods with a bunch of fuzzy creatures. He saw her shoulders shake before he registered the fact that she was laughing at him. Well, laughing at what he was thinking, but either way it was still at his expense all the same.

He felt the weirdest sense of deja vu then, even though he's pretty damn sure nothing like this has ever happened before. Maybe he's had this dream previously and forgotten it? Neville forgets his dreams as soon as he wakes up all the time. "Oh no Young Harry, this one's brand new. At least it is now that I'm here, this is your first time meeting me after all.", she explained before reaching out and patting the empty space beside her. He found it rather ironic that someone younger than him would call him 'Young Harry', but said nothing of it as he settled down beside her. "What did you mean by dreams are a way to cope with living?", he questioned after a moment of comfortable silence. She didn't look at him, instead her eyes were trained on their surroundings. Did she fear being discovered here with him by someone or something? "There's no one here but us, it's perfectly safe. I figured you'd appreciate a change in scenery after the carnage you were putting yourself through back there. As for what I meant, dreams are a way for us to process events. A way for our subconscious to communicate with us the only way it knows how, by showing us things we're meant to decipher. Turns out the mind is real big on symbolism and hidden meanings. Like Divination Class, but without the teacups.", she joked. He did in fact appreciate the change of location, and all that running certainly helped him push the dream's former subject matter out of his thoughts.

He snorted at the crack at Divination. "That class was utter rubbish. Between finding random shapes in tea leaves and getting told you're gonna die a horrible gruesome death every day, it's a wonder Ms. Trelawney ever has any students in her classes at all to begin with.", Harry jeered. Then it hit him that his statement sounded like a comment, a rather tame one mind you, that Draco Malfoy would've uttered. Which immediately made him feel like a right git. Who was he to make fun of someone's class, just because he didn't understand it himself? He heard her laugh again as she lightly shoved his shoulder. He honestly thought her hand would've went right through him, not cause him to sway slightly in his spot. He should've known better, she was a part of his dream after all, not a ghostly apparition. "Hush now, you can't possibly beat yourself up over every little thing. That's not a very healthy kink to have you know. As for taking the piss out of a class that already does a decent job of that on it's own, I'm pretty sure you get a free pass on that one. Also I do believe Young Draco is only occasionally a right git, and no: sarcasm, banter, and trying to seem cool in front of his mates, doesn't automatically make someone a git. It does make him a bit of an attention whore though.", Willa told him with a wink after looking in his direction for the first time since he sat down. From that angle her features were quite delicate and almost, pointy.

He chuckled despite himself. He'd wanted to argue about how he didn't beat himself up over every little thing. He'd also wanted to argue about how just because everyone else makes fun of Divination, doesn't mean he has the go ahead to do the same. He brought up neither of those things. "An attention whore huh? That makes sense now that I think about it. I still think he's a git regardless. Tossing me his wand to battle Riddle with at the end there doesn't just erase all the years of hate between us.", is what he chose to bring up. He could practically hear Hermione snickering and Ron groaning about how he was still obsessed with Draco. Which he never was by the way! A rustling in the brush ahead caught their attention. Harry automatically drew his wand and went to stand, but Willa held him back. He tried to protest but she gave him a look that said she wasn't having it. It was a bit similar to 'mione's actually, that's probably where his brain got it from. With great hesitance he stopped struggling just in time to see what he was more than ready to blast. It was a patronus, a stag patronus to be specific. He relaxed, pocketing his wand. That must've been his, he wondered what it was doing there all of a sudden. The stag stood in place as a peacock patronus strutted into the clearing as well. They made quite the pair standing next to each other. Both magnificent and regal in their own ways. Which was a sight to behold, but he still of course had no idea what a peacock of all animals was doing trailing after a stag.

He didn't even KNOW anyone with a peacock patronus, unless it was Willa's? Could figments of one's imagination produce a patronus? Although he supposed since that whole ordeal was some intricate dream, anything was technically possible. More laughter came from his left as the animals bounded away. "Oh, that wasn't mine, but the stag was yours correct?", she asked him. Raising more questions than providing answers. "I believe so, unless it was my father's? Either way, what would a peacock patronus be doing with it?", he prodded. She shook her head, her hair bounced around. It looked a bit thick and shaggy now that he could view it more closely. "This is your dream isn't it? If you don't understand what it's trying to tell you, the answers won't make any difference.", she refused. He slapped a hand over his forehead. "Well maybe I'd understand it if I knew the answers.", he groaned. He felt like he was getting no where with this. He nearly picked himself up and walked back to the battlefield, at least things made sense over there. She gave him a doubtful look, there was something familiar about that too. It was actually starting to frustrate him. How many times he'd found her overall presence to be familiar, but couldn't for the life of him place it. She let out a long suffering sigh, as if she was taking valuable time out of her day just to do him a huge favor. It was then that it had smashed into him like a bludger during a Quidditch match.

He jumped up in shock, nearly tripping and falling backwards due to his haste. "You're a Malfoy aren't you?! That's why you're so bloody familiar! Your hair colour, your features, your facial expressions, your everything! Why did my mind create a Malfoy? Although it wasn't completely accurate was it? Your eyes and hair texture are a bit off. They're supposed to be a striking silver, and your hair should be finer with less waves.", he rambled in his confused state. All while Willa cackled in the background. Clapping brought him out of his reverie. She had the Malfoy signature smirk all right. To him it felt weird to see it on anyone other than Draco. Speaking of, why didn't he just imagine him instead a fictional part of the Malfoy family tree? He's certainly seen and studied the blonde man enough to paint a realistic mental image. There was that rustling sound again. What were the stag and peacock doing back there? Were they just taking laps around the forest? He whipped around and was even more confused than he was before. A lion had stepped into the clearing, causing Harry to take a couple of steps back in case it was hostile. It didn't seem to mind that it was in the company of others. It also appeared to be a regular lion, not a patronus. Was this supposed to be a representation of Gryffindor, his house? The lion looked back past the trees, as if it were waiting on something. Did this animal come with a partner as well?

A normal looking snake slithered into view, he was stunned. A lion and a snake? Could this dream get any more bizarre? On second thought, maybe even Divination made more sense than this. What the- wait a minute.. Of course, how could he be so stupid?! If a lion in his dream represented Gryffindor, because honestly what else could it mean, then it'd only make sense for the snake accompanying it to represent Slytherin! That didn't answer the question of WHY both houses were present in that moment in time. Which the animals seemingly took that as their cue to leave. The lion kept his pace slow to keep in time with the snake, it was actually kind of sweet. He assumed the lion would've taken off with the snake desperately attempting to keep up with it. Or maybe it would've gotten impatient and just snatched the snake up in it's mouth to carry it. "They're equals, with different strengths and weaknesses of course, but still equals all the same. So why would one lag behind or need assistance as if they were less than?", Willa helpfully pointed out. So she was willing to give answers, additional ones at least, as long as he was able to put some things together himself. He sat back down, hoping she'd say more if he lead the conversation. "So Gryffindor and Slytherin are equal houses with different strengths and weaknesses. I guess I could see why my brain felt the need to point that out. I do often think of Gryffindor as the superior house out of the two, and Slytherin as the, well, dark wizard house. Which I know is prejudice of me, and not every single snake is a Death Eater wannabe. Especially since the Dark Lord was defeated once and for all. It's something I'm working on, I promise. That's what this dream was trying to tell me, right?", he confirms.

She beamed at him, and he thought he'd gotten it all sorted out, and they could go their separate ways. Or she could, you know, cease to exist as imaginary things tended to do. "That's part of it sure, but don't think this is all quite wrapped up. This is about you getting to know yourself, with a few life lessons sprinkled in, after all. You're a Gryffindor, aren't you?", she prompted. His shoulders sagged once he realized they'd be sitting there pondering his life for a while. She was clearly trying to lead him in the right direction, bringing up his house. If only he knew what she was getting at. "Yes, AND? I really don't mean to come off as rude, but you could at least throw me a bone here. I figured out part of it didn't I? Can't you just give me the rest, please?", Harry pleaded. He's always hated cryptic warnings and meanings, the whole figure it out yourself at the last possible moment thing. He'd gotten enough of that from Dumbledore to last a lifetime. She rolled her eyes at him, but relented. "You have the traits of a Gryffindor, but that's not all there is to you is there? You were almost sorted differently last time I checked.", she reminded him. That's right, back in his first year that blasted hat nearly put him in- "Slytherin! I was meant to be in Slytherin, but I asked the hat to put me anywhere but there. So I have the traits of a snake and a lion, and that's why they were walking together! You said they were equal, does that also mean I'm just as much of a Slytherin as I am a Gryffindor?", he exclaimed.

She nodded encouragingly. "And people claim you've not got a shred of intelligence in you!", she huffed offendedly on his behalf. He smiled at her, and smiled wider once he realized she huffs about something the same way Draco does. "Well, we'd have shown them if they were here.", he said good naturedly. She smiled at him fondly, it reminded him of the brief look Draco gave him that one day all those years ago. The day he was complaining about Hagrid's class, and Harry had told him to shut up. Just after he'd handed his bookbag off to one of his goons, his infamous smirk shifted for a moment. Into something softer, kinder, warmer. It was there, and then it was gone. He'd always wondered if anyone else saw it. If they did, they never brought it up. Not that they'd have any reason to. "You can say that after you're not still missing something.", she quipped. That teasing smirk was back, as was his frustration. "You're kidding me. There's something else!? Like what, what ELSE could there possibly be about myself that I have yet to learn that has to do with my Hogwarts houses?", he asked incredulously. She patted him on the back sympathetically, he swatted her arm away. He didn't want her sympathy, he wanted her to get to the bloody point already and spell EVERYTHING out. With his luck he'd wake up before they were even halfway finished and he'd never see her again. She winced, and he guessed his assumption was right about this being a one time deal.

He didn't know how to feel about that. "Alright alright, so even though this IS about you, that doesn't mean there can't be other people involved. You may belong in both houses, but technically you are a Gryffindor. Which would leave the other house unaccounted for, would it not?", she said as if she was practically spelling it out for him. He was tempted to start calling her Malfoy if she didn't stop that. "Okay so someone else, who assumingly is my equal in this case too, is the snake.", he started off. She nodded and gestured with her hands for him to continue. As if hoping that if he rambled enough he'd come to the correct conclusion. "Well, there's only so many Slytherins I know of that I could consider my equal, but I'm going to go with the glaringly obvious answer. Considering that I'm sitting next to a Malfoy my mind fabricated to be my dream guide, I'm going to go with Draco.", he finished. It was also the answer that made the most sense. They'd always been rivals, opposite sides of the same coin. It wasn't like he regularly interacted with the rest of that lot either. How ironic would it be if his equal was someone he'd never even spoken to? "Extremely ironic, and slightly impossible. Seeing as your brain couldn't make such a connection to someone it wasn't even aware of. You seem to be more than well aware of Young Draco though.", she laughed. He wondered if that was a jab at his 'Malfoy obsession'.

Though could he really put quotes around it if, again for the thousandth time, his mind thought he needed a Malfoy especially created for him just to get through this. He won't even get into the fact that he figured out who she was without her giving away any damning evidence, other than that smirk. "What's that supposed to mean?", he asked anyway. She quirked a brow at him, and Merlin he swore in that moment she could've been Draco's kid. Or his little sister even. You know, if he had either one of those things. "You're covered in him. He floats around your mind constantly. Even here in your dreams, hints of him are seeping through. He's always been in your orbit, ever since that first meeting at Madam Malkin's.", she pointed out. Harry had felt like he'd be slapped, he even reared back at the statement. Thus far she'd been the one to phrase things as questions, to be vague and leading. Allowing him to come to his own conclusions. Even if those conclusions were the ones she wanted him to reach in the first place. So her boldly proclaiming, without question, that he'd been obsessed with Draco since the VERY beginning? Was more than a bit jarring. "I hate-", he started to deny before she steamrolled right over him. As if he hadn't even starting speaking to begin with. Apparently she inherited some of the Malfoy family manners as well. "There's a fine line between love and hate, but you've never REALLY hated Young Draco, have you?", she accused.

Well, it was more leading and prompting, but he might as well've been on trial. "You're barking mad if you think I'm in love with Draco Malfoy.", he harshly laughed out. As if laughing about it would turn the rest of that conversation into a joke. She shot him another one of her kind smiles, it made him want to hurl. "I never said 'in love' did I? I believe you came up with that one all on your own. In fact you came up with most of this all on your own. Showing yourself things you already knew, but refused to admit to yourself. That's why I'm here really, you needed me to help you open those stubborn eyes of yours.", she revealed. He felt like his head was being held under the Black Lake. He ears were ringing, everything felt muffled, he was dazed. He couldn't give her any sort of response even if he'd wanted to. His brain had turned to mush. There was a cracking noise that barely registered to him. Then someone was shaking him. He snapped out of the trace he was under to see a panicked looking Willa desperately trying to get his attention. He shook his head to clear his mind as much as he could, not that it needed much clearing. His dream guide looking as spooked as she was happened to be enough of a wake up call. "What's wrong?", he managed to croak out. She let go of him before pointing towards the edge of the clearing. The grass was starting to die and fall limp. He yelped as he was pulled to his feet, but didn't get the chance to admire the physical strength of the girl next to him.

She dragged him towards the off colored area. From that new angle he was able to make out some deep growing cracks along the dirt. "What does cracks in the dirt and dying grass mean, is it bad?", he asked her. Said cracks violently jolted towards them as the grass rapidly started changing colour. Willa let out a cry of dismay as she ushered him to the opposite side of the circle they were in. She dropped to her knees, he immediately followed. Worried that she was somehow tied to the forest and it dying was causing her pain. She wordlessly waved him off. He relaxed, but only slightly. "It means, Young Harry, that our time is running out. When the cracks reach us we'll fall through, and when that happens you'll wake up.", she gravely told him. He flinched at the thought of that experience all being over so soon. Although he could do without all that talk of Draco, there were still a few things that were left unanswered. "Can't we just go somewhere else, like back to the ruins?", he suggested. She sadly shook her head, and he had felt stupid for suggesting it. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It would just follow us. All dreams have to end at some point, it's not something we can run from. That was a good idea nonetheless.", she reassured him. Not that it made him feel any better, if anything it just made him feel all the more helpless. She dropped her hand as the ground shook. He could tell she was trying to put on a brave face for him, but she was scared.

"Will you die, when I wake up?", he asked before he could stop himself. He wanted to take those words back, but it was too late. Maybe HE was the git after all. Who even asks someone something like that anyway?! She shook her head once again. "I take no offense Young Harry, and no, I will not die. As long as you remember me, I'll always live on in your mind. Now then, we can't afford to waste any more time. The lion and snake, you've learned all you can from them at this time. The stag and peacock on the other hand, have yet to be fully touched upon.", she changed the subject with a swift clap of her hands. He was grateful for it, for several reasons. He wasn't really comfortable discussing the topic of death, but who was really, after The War? Plus they really were running out of time. "The stag patronus has to be mine, if this is about me. The peacock must be someone else's. Seeing as you can't have more than one patronus, and last time I checked mine hasn't changed.", he jumped right into it. There was no point in begging her to hold his hand through this explanation as well. She clearly, or his mind clearly, needed him to piece together things. She'd said his mind was showing him things he already knew, but couldn't see or admit to himself. So he must already have all the answers. "Yes but who owns the other patronus? You do know the answer to that, don't you? Everything you've seen is connected, intentional. You've seen all your friends', fellow students', and some of your teachers' patroni.", she pushed.

The breaking of the earth grew louder, and he could hear the grass drying out. He started to feel pressured and panicked. "Yeah and none of them have a peacock of all animals as their patronus. I think this is my first time even SEEING that oversized showy bird as one. Why is my mind intentionally showing me something I've never seen before that's supposedly connected to Gryffindor and Slytherin? That's connected to me and another student.. The lion and the snake are equals.. Which means, the stag and peacock are equals. I'm the lion and the stag. So if Draco's the snake, then he's also the peacock. Because he's my equal, and I've never seen his patronus, my mind would HAVE to make something up if it wanted to use our patroni as an example of that. Something I hadn't seen before, so it'd be impossible for me to confuse it with someone else's. Now that I think about it, I couldn't really imagine Draco's as an animal other than a peacock. Well, I could say ferret, but that'd just be a callback to when he was briefly turned into one. Yeah, a peacock's quite fitting. Showy, regal, beautiful, strutting around like they own the place. A perfect match for him.", he babbled out due to nerves. The ground was vibrating by the time he was done, which wasn't helping said nerves in the slightest. "Yes yes, everything does circle back to Young Draco doesn't it?", she quickly agreed. Half the clearing was all dead grass and fault lines. "So all this is about Draco and me then? My obsession or whatever you want to call it.", he checked as he was casting quick glances to the growing problem in front of them.

He had started breathing deeply in through his nose and out of his mouth to help calm himself, it didn't do much. "Connection, attraction. The glitch, it was green and red, why?", she had frantically barreled on. He knew they didn't have the time to sit there while he denied and got defensive over everything. "Right, I'm in love with him apparently. Those are our house colours.", he shot off. She jumped to her feet, he mimicked her. Willa's eyes were blown wide, she was stiff and tense. She looked like she was ready to run at a moment's notice. "Everything you've seen's been a reflection of that. The glitch, the patroni, the house mascots, things you've seen in previous dreams that you've missed or overlooked. You've been screaming at yourself, but it's fallen on deaf ears. This dream, in the beginning, Young Draco wasn't with the other Death Eaters. Why?", she implored him. The thing that marked the end of them and that conversation had eaten through three-quarters of the clearing. The trees around the area looked dried out and hollow. Any leaves that were on their branches were crunchy and devoid of most colour. The sky had started to turn grey. "I don't know, he's techni-", he started. A breeze passed through them, chilling Harry to the bone. "None of that now!", she'd snapped. She was right, though it wasn't like he'd forgotten all of a sudden that they were on a time crunch. "He must not be a Death Eater, not to me at least. Or maybe I don't see him as one deep down, as someone evil. He wasn't on their side in the end, he gave me his wand.", he shouted over all the loud noises surrounding them.

They were about to be out of time, and Willa looked as frightened as he felt. They- he, was still missing something massive. "Bloody Hell! Sod it, come on!", she exclaimed before snatching his left hand in her right one and taking off. She held up her dress with her left hand as they ran through the forest. They could hear trees falling down behind them. "I thought you said running wouldn't do any good!", he brought up as they jumped over a fallen log. "It won't, not in the long run, but it will buy us a minute or two!", she shouted as she was doing her best to weave through trees without slowing down. Harry's brain was on overdrive. Trying to focus on running for his dream life while wracking his brain for any overlooked information. "Do you really think Young Draco ever wanted to be a Death Eater at all to begin with? Do you think if Voldemort and his other followers weren't camping out in his family manor at the time, he'd have willingly taken the Dark Mark? Do you think if his parents weren't already Death Eaters, he'd have chosen that side all the same? Do you think if he hadn't been raised the way he was, he'd have such skewed views about what was supposed to be right or wrong? Do you think if he wasn't encouraged by a house full of other students that were indoctrinated in the same way, he'd have acted the way he had all through your years at Hogwarts? You Young Harry, may be The Boy Who Lived, but Young Draco, is The Boy Who Didn't Have A Choice.", she'd pointed out as she lead him back to the ruins.

They'd stopped, but she didn't let go of him. He assumed that was in case they had to start running again. He was panting, much more than she was. He didn't find that to be very fair. He rested for a moment before gearing up to respond. "Everyone always has a-", was as far as he'd gotten with his rebuttal to Willa's new title for Draco. "He's just a boy, same as you. Took the mark at sixteen. Even if he DID want it, there's no way he could've really understood what being a Death Eater meant. He was tasked with killing the most powerful wizard in the wizarding world, or be killed himself. What do you think Voldemort would've done, if he'd refused? What would've happened to his parents even, seeing as they were under the Dark Lord's thumb? I'm sure he'd already seen first hand what the dark side was capable of. Where could he have gone? How could he've convinced his parents to join the light? If he'd run to you begging for help, would you've listened? Would you've believed him? You were so quick to confront him in the bathroom, even when you saw that he was falling apart at the seams. You sliced him open and left him bleeding on the bathroom floor surrounded by toilet water. Would it be a surprise to assume he felt alone? That he felt like he had no one to turn to? That it seemed to him, the only people who cared were those among Voldemort's ranks?", she sadly defended with tears in her eyes. Each sentence felt like a stab through the heart.

His guilt levels were at an all-time high. Was she right about all of this? Had that been how Draco felt? Had that been how Draco was raised? Was his fate set in stone just as much as Harry's was? He'd love to claim that he didn't believe one lick of what she was saying, but if Willa did, that meant he did too. She WAS him after all, in a weird sort of way. A part of his mind. A messenger more like, but still, his brain made her up. She was sent there to tell him this. He wasn't completely sure of what to make of all of 'this', but that was something he could brood about when he woke up. He should just focus on getting all the information before it's lost to him forever. "Okay, so Draco's The Boy Who Didn't Have A Choice. Why is it important that I know this now? So I'll change my opinion of him? So I'll see him as this poor, misunderstood person who's worthy of a second chance and redemption? So I won't feel so ashamed and guilty for loving him like you say I do?", he huffed. The loud noise of stone cracking and tumbling down cut off whatever she was more than ready to retort. They looked back and saw those broken down pillars they'd passed by earlier on the ground in pieces. The earth was violently shaking again as the cracks surged towards them. "Oh not again.", Harry whined as Willa whisked him off. She brought him inside the Hogwarts castle, the part that wasn't destroyed that is. He thought that was a terrible idea.

"Won't the building just collapse in on itself when the cracks catch up to us?", he questioned as they were sprinting down hallways and up staircases. "Maybe, but we're not looking for longevity here! We're just trying to buy ourselves more time! The cracks won't take down the castle's structure until it's found us, which means it'll have to scale all these stairs first!", she explained as they continued ascending the floors of the castle. Harry wondered if that meant they were screwed if they got cornered. Because what WERE they supposed to do when that stuff caught up to them? Jump out a window and pray they didn't break their necks or die on impact? He'd surely wake up then, and if he didn't, what was left to run to? The grounds surrounding Hogwarts was already covered, the- "Get out of your head Young Harry! We really don't have the time for you to panic or get sarcastic!", Willa huffed as she practically flew up another staircase. How she hadn't tripped with those shoes and that dress yet was beyond him. "Fine, back to Draco then I guess. You never did answer my questions anyway.", he relented. He wanted more information anyway, and Merlin did she get talking when it came to the blonde git- bloke. The blonde bloke. "There's nothing TO change. All those questions you put forth? That WAS your opinion of him. Everything I'VE said is your opinion of him. YOU'RE the one who thinks you're in love with him. You've hated things he's done, and how he's acted, but you don't hate HIM. You convinced yourself you did though, after all you never thought he COULD feel the same as you do.", she responded as their feet echoed through the long empty hallway.

"Does he, feel the same?", was his knee jerk reaction. Which he felt like slapping himself for. He's been oblivious at times, but he'd think he would notice if Draco of all people had fancied him at any point in time. "You mean love you back? Of course, not that it mattered. You never would've thought it could work. In the eyes of everyone else, he was your opposite. He was everything you were supposed to be against. Your friends wouldn't have understood, nor would the Weasley family. His family certainly wouldn't have. Yet you were drawn to each other despite that.", she confirmed. Well, confirmed was a rather strong word for it. He might've subconsciously thought Draco was in love with him, but that didn't mean he was ACTUALLY in love with him. On the off chance he was though, Harry doubted he even realized it. Not unless he was gifted a dream guide as well. Reaching the astronomy tower, they came to a standstill. She lead him to a window. They both leaned against the railing, looking out into the faded cloudy sky. "Do you really think someone who hates you would be so desperate to get your attention, constantly, year after year? Then when he pulls back, you're the desperate one. Following him around everywhere, watching him on the Marauders map late into the night. Needing to keep him in your sights. Do you really think you would've gone to such lengths if he was still vying for your attention at that time? You thrive off of each other, he's observant enough to notice that. I'm sure he noticed you as soon as you noticed him.", she'd brought up.

His thoughts were swirling. Despite everything, Harry was still conflicted about his own feelings surrounding the other boy. He wasn't sure he wanted to be convinced that those feelings were requited. Willa would probably say he was in denial, he felt like he was. He'd went his entire time at Hogwarts thinking he felt one way about Draco Malfoy, only for his mind to tell him he'd actually felt the exact opposite instead. Try as he might, it was nearly impossible to completely wrap his head around. It, oddly enough, made sense as she'd explained it thus far. Objectively if he viewed it as an outsider, he'd even agree with her. He wasn't an outsider, and there was no way he could be objective about this. "He wanted to be your friend you know. In the beginning, but you rejected him in front of your entire year. For a boy whose family has an ongoing feud with his. So he placed his slowly growing feelings into provoking your friends and you every chance he got. While you placed yours into fighting back, but also in trying to feel things for other people. Cho Chang, Ginny Weasley. Could you honestly say you ever felt as passionately about them as you do about Young Draco? I bet- no actually, I KNOW, that you haven't thought about Ginny once during this entire dream. Yet your thoughts have strayed towards Young Draco numerous times, even before we'd begun discussing him.", she pointed out. He stiffened at the reminder of Ginny, of the girl he was supposed to be in love with.

How had he not thought to bring up his girlfriend? WHY didn't he think to bring up his girlfriend? How in Godric did he forget she existed, but remembered that for a brief moment years ago Draco smiled at him warmly? "You know how you feel, what you want, but you're scared. Scared he doesn't feel the same, or that you'll lose him the way you've lost other people you cared deeply about.", Willa stated as the castle rumbled beneath them. Her confidence was reassuring, at the very least. A stray question suddenly wormed it's way into his brain. His immediate thought was that she put it there, but that wasn't right. She hadn't done that thus far, he didn't think she could even if she wanted to. He was pretty sure she would've already been feeding him thoughts from the beginning to speed things along if that were the case. Which meant he'd gotten there all on his own. Maybe he was finally opening his eyes like she'd wanted. The stray question being, if Draco was like Ginny, who would he choose? Now he hadn't meant changing the boy's gender or turning him into Ginny 2.0. More like changing everyone else, and what they thought. What if Draco was in a likeable house, and had likeable parents? What if he was on the light side from the very beginning? What if Draco was someone his friends, and people he considered family, would approve and be supportive of? In a world where Harry was allowed to be in love with Draco Malfoy, would he be?

He had taken a moment to truly consider that, pushing any feelings of shame or wrongness aside. He imagined shaking Draco's hand in year one. Sitting at each other's tables. A dot of red in a sea of green, and a splash of green in a swarm of red. Childish smiles, racing each other on their brooms. Ron and Draco having daily wizarding chess matches. Walking together in the halls. Hermione and Draco holding studying sessions in the library every evening. Spending Christmas at the Malfoy family manor. Training for Quidditch together, sleepovers. Hushed stories and whispered secrets in the dead of night. Hugs just because, sitting together in classes, dueling practice. Shy glances, hesitantly holding hands, first snogs. The startings of chemistry and attraction. Saving him from Buckbeak, warm smiles. Writing constantly over the summer, sneaking a few visits. Longer snogging, soft caresses. Loving looks, lots of dates. Concern for Harry's wellbeing when his name is spit out from the Goblet Of Fire. His support and help in the challenges, him cheering on from the stands. Them at the Yule Ball together, dancing and laughing and being in love. Sneaking off to snog somewhere Professor Snape wouldn't find them. Him fishing Draco out of the Black Lake. Comforting each other, more frequent visits. I love yous exchanged, heated snogging. Hands wandering further, sending each other enchanted notes during classes.

Him helping with the secret DADA training. Handjobs, Draco kissing every single inch of his healing 'I must not tell lies' scars. Sharing a bed and chasing away each others' nightmares. Harry placing tiny kisses all over his Dark Mark. Blowjobs, sneaking away from everyone to have time to themselves. Nighttime dates in The Room of Requirement, star gazing in the Astronomy Tower. Cuddling, pep talks, reassurances. Promises made before the break of dawn, shagging for the first time. Missing each other terribly as Harry ran off to hunt down horcruxes, while Draco stayed behind to keep up appearances and look after his parents. Longing looks, desperate shagging in dark corners. Celebrating and spinning each other around on the battlefield after the war was won. Planning their futures together, getting engaged.. He stopped himself there. He could see it, oh Merlin, how he could see it. How well they could've fit. How well they could still fit. It seemed that he answered his own question, didn't he? He could hear the cracks in the distance. "What do I do?", he turned to ask Willa. She smiled at him like that was the one question she'd been dying to hear. "Push your fears aside, live, and let yourself love. You're allowed to want, to feel. The only person stopping you is yourself. See a mind healer, not for this specifically, but for everything else. Oh and, you might not have been able to save them, but you can still save him.", she advised him.

He expected being told to go for it, that wasn't surprising. He hadn't thought to see a mind healer yet, consciously at least, that was unexpected. What really caught him up though was what she said at the end. He knew who 'them' were, and it took everything in him to not flinch back. To not pitch himself off that astronomy tower due the overwhelming guilt. That was a BEYOND sensitive subject, she'd know better than to bring that up unless absolutely necessary. She wanted to grab his attention, and she succeeded. The room was shaking, things sounded like they were crumbling and falling. "Save him, what are you talking about?", he questioned. She looked alarmed that he didn't know what she meant. He assumed that was because they couldn't exactly run off to buy themselves more time while she explained. "Yesterday morning, the paper, it had the list of Death Eaters that are being detained in Azkaban and awaiting a trial. The Malfoy family was listed, Young Draco's rotting away in a cell as we speak. Merlin knows how long he'll have to stay there before his trial. He'll be found guilty, of lots of things, that mark on his arm is practically a death sentence. He'll waste away and lose his mind in that place. That is if he doesn't get the Dementor's Kiss first. You can change that though, testify in favor of him, and of his family if you so wish. Get him the best lawyers and representatives. Show people The Boy Who Didn't Have A Choice, instead of the 'dirty Death Eater'.

Help him, his life will be over before it even began if you don't. Be there for him, give him hope, visit him daily so he doesn't succumb to the insanity. He's a good man, worthy of love. As are you, never let either of you forget that.", she rapidly and frantically pleaded with wide eyes. Gripping both of his shoulders as she did so while the cracks closed in. He'd felt the stone under them fracture and weaken. "Promise me!", Willa cried out as tears rolled down her face. The floor gave out, she'd lost her grip on him as they fell. He never hit the ground, everything just went dark. Then he woke up. He was back in The Burrow, and from the way the sun was brightly shining through the curtains, he could tell he'd slept in. He never slept in, certainly not so soon after The War. His body wouldn't let him. Plus the Weasleys always made too much racket for anyone who wasn't a heavy sleeper like Ron anyway. That's how he knew his dream held some weight. Not that he would've questioned it even if he had woken up at his normal time. No, his eyes were open, and everything had already changed. Well, technically nothing had changed, he just KNEW how he felt now. Did that count as a change? He pushed himself up into a sitting position as he recalled the entirety of his dream in vivid detail. He flew out of bed once the implications of Draco being in Azkaban really set in. He threw on his glasses before snatching up his wand to do a cleaning spell on himself.

He didn't have time to waste on showering. He barely had the time to riffle around for some clean clothes to wear. As he was about to leave the room, he stopped in the doorway. Casting a quick glance at his haphazardly made bed. "I promise.", he swore. Then he closed the door, ran down the stairs, and darted into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was there, but if she said anything, he didn't notice. What he did notice was some breakfast that was left on the table for him. He hammered through a couple of pieces of dried toast that he washed down with some pumpkin juice. Afterwards he whipped his wand back out to transfigure a spare plate into a lunchbox. He placed the food he didn't eat in there with care, bottled up some more juice, then raced back upstairs to look for a bag to put it all in. He figured he couldn't just walk into Azkaban with a lunchbox and thermos bottle on full display. Even if he was sneaking in, which he was. If it was a public visit there was a good chance they'd be watched like a hawk or timed. Harry didn't want that, and he was sure Draco wouldn't either. He found a satchel just as he was about to give up and transfigure something. He probably should've done that to begin with to save some more time, but his mind was racing too much for him to get a solid plan out. He just knew he had to break into a wizarding prison that held the worst people imaginable, and sneak a bunch of contraband in there. So you know, just another normal Tuesday, no big deal.

He was honestly tempted to break Draco out, but he figured that'd cause more harm than good. It's not like he was wrongly accused and they just had to clear his name. It was a tad more complicated than that. He charmed the satchel to be bottomless, and stuffed the food and drink in there. He wondered if he could get away with giving him some books or something else to help pass the time. That would surely help stave off a mental breakdown, providing he hadn't already had one just from being put in one of those cells. On that note Harry ransacked The Burrow for things to give him. A normal deck of cards, exploding snap would draw too much attention. A pair of dice, a blank journal with a pot of ink and several quills. A book on dragons, a potions book, and a nail file. He had to stop himself there when he remembered the items should be discreet and hideable. There were Aurors now that checked in on the prisoners after all, to bring in food and stop escapees. He was pretty sure they'd notice a wizarding chess set and a sleeping bag. After he tucked the goods away he donned his invisibility cloak, took a deep breath. Thanked Merlin that no one noticed him running about the house like a madman, and apparated to Azkaban. He had the urge to flee as soon as he was faced with the dim depressing lighting. With the rows upon rows of small exposed cells, holding prisoners that displayed various stages of insanity and haggardness.

There was no mental stimulation anywhere, just bland concrete and the screams and cries of inmates. It was freezing, he could see his breath inside of his cloak. He had willed his magic to drop him off as close to Draco's cell as it could manage. He didn't fancy spending the next two hours patrolling the aisles and dodging Aurors looking for him. Which he would do if necessary of course, but he really didn't want to mismanage his time like that. He had a long day ahead of him after all. As silently as he was capable of, he casted a warming charm on himself before tiptoeing towards the cell in front of him. That's where his former classmate now resided. He was still wearing the same suit from the battle, it looked like he wasn't allowed a change of clothes. A glance around his cell told Harry he wasn't allowed a lot of things. The man- no, boy, Willa was right when she'd said they were both just boys. Was folded in on himself, his knees tucked up under his chin as he shivered violently on his shite excuse for a bed. Harry felt so much rage rapidly bubbling up inside of him, threatening to spill over at any given moment. THIS was how non convicted witches and wizards awaiting trials were treated? He sank to his knees so he was closer to the blonde's eye level. Pulling out his wand, careful to still keep it out of sight, he casted a warming charm on Draco. The boy stopped shivering, before bolting upright like a frightened house elf. He looked gaunt, even gaunter than being forced to serve under the Dark Lord made him.

He had stubble and prominent dark circles under his eyes. His hair was a tangled unkempt mess. Yet he still was the most beautiful thing Harry had ever seen. Draco looked around wildly as the other boy quickly tried to think of a way to get his attention before he got them caught. "Psst! Psst! Draco!", he hissed hoping no one else would hear him. The blonde's eyes widened as he hesitantly took a shaky step forward. He was weak, probably from starvation. The boy in the cloak was reminded of his time with the Dursleys, before he'd gotten his acceptance letter. He wished he'd brought more food now. The anger he felt towards the people who put him in there increased. "That's it, I've cracked, I've finally lost it. Haven't even been sentenced yet and I'm already hearing voices. On top of deluding myself into thinking I'm NOT bloody well freezing to death.", Draco hoarsely complained. Harry wondered if his voice was hoarse due to a lack of use, or overuse. He honestly thinks he'd prefer that the other boy whine about his conditions, rather than quietly accepting this as his fate. "No, Draco, down here! You're not hearing voices, it's me, Harry! I casted a warming charm on you as well!", he whisper shouted from his spot in front of the metal bars. The boy on the other side checked around to make sure no one was paying them any mind. They weren't, the prisoners were all off in their own little worlds. The more sane ones were probably used to seeing other inmates talk to themselves anyway.

Draco dropped down to the floor, crawling up to the edge of his cell. The desperation and hope clear in his eyes. Merlin, Willa wasn't exaggerating when she used the term 'save'. "Potter, is that really you?", he quietly asked as he attempted to figure out where exactly Harry was. His hands peaked out of his cloak as he slid the hood back just enough for Draco to see his face. The other boy startled slightly once he realized how close they were to each other. He tried to lean away to put some distance between them, but Harry's arms shot through the bars and latched onto his thin delicate wrists. Pulling him in even closer than he was before. He stiffened, as if he was about to start struggling. "No, please don't. I won't hurt you, that's not why I'm here.", he pleaded. The blonde looked at him with narrow eyes before slowly nodding. Harry rubbed his wrists with the pads of his thumbs for a moment before letting go. That only caused him to stiffen more as his face flushed ever so slightly. Harry beamed at the boy before starting to dig through his satchel, not that Draco could see what he was doing with the cloak keeping the rest of his body hidden. "So why are you here then? Come to gloat perhaps? Or maybe-", he started inquiring defensively until Harry slid the lunchbox through the bars. He went to do the same with the bottle but it was too large. He settled for shrinking it down, passing it through, then returning it back to it's normal size.

Draco eyed the items as if they were going to explode in the next few seconds. "These aren't poisoned are they?", he asked as he slowly uncorked the pumpkin juice and sniffed it. Harry couldn't help but snort. "Right, yeah, I risked breaking into Azkaban just to poison you in your cell.", he drawled. The corners of Draco's lips quirked up before he started gulping down the juice. "You might want to save some of that for your breakfast.", he thought to suggest before the blonde ended up emptying the whole thing. That seemed to get his attention, he capped the bottle and opened the lunchbox. He looked at his visitor suspiciously. "You delivering meals to all the other criminals, or am I a special case?", he quipped. Harry couldn't help but smile once again. He'd really missed being on the receiving end of the other boy's witty banter hadn't he? He just never realized it until now. "Nope, just you.", he confirmed without losing the silly grin. He handed Draco some silverware wrapped in napkins. Which surprised the blonde enough to where he started eating on autopilot. "Can you kindly stop grinning at me, Potter? It's creepy and unsettling. In fact I'm starting to think you DID lace my food with something after all, and you're gleefully waiting until I keel over and die.", Draco huffed after he finished his meal. Harry's smile turned slightly sheepish, but he couldn't bring himself to frown. Not when he was sitting so close to the boy he loved.

He was still getting used to that thought. He loved him. He loved Draco. Harry Potter was in love with Draco Malfoy. How new and novel and exciting, how inevitable and right and familiar it sounded to him. "Sorry, I just missed you.", he admitted without giving it much thought. Maybe he should've, seeing as how quickly it was brushed off. "Good one Potter, tell another.", Draco barked out. A bit too loudly, causing them both to flinch as they reminded themselves of their surroundings. Miraculously, they were still in the clear. "You never did answer my question. You're risking a lot by breaking in here, and risking even more by talking to me. So I doubt your sole purpose was to make sure I didn't skip breakfast.", the blonde reminded him as he pushed the empty tin through the bars once more. Harry resized the bottle again so it would fit, then pocketed both items. "I wasn't joking around, just so you know. I really have missed your witty sarcastic self. As for why I'm here, honestly, because I felt like I needed to be. As soon as I found out you were in Azkaban, and the reality of what that meant sunk in, I knew I had to see you. I couldn't let this place break you like it broke Sir- so many other wizards. Plus I figured we could use this time to plan and talk strategy.", he explained as he started pulling out the rest of the items he took from The Burrow. He fed the cards, dice, books, nail file, the blank journal, and the writing supplies through the bars. Draco looked more bewildered and awestruck after every sentence was spoken, and after every object was handed to him.

"What in Salazar's name IS all of this?! What plan, what strategy?! Potter, you HATE me, remember? So why would you care if-", he sputtered out before Harry placed a finger over the other boy's lips to quiet him. That did the job alright, but he'd gotten a nasty glare from the blonde in return. "THESE are things to keep your mind active and sharp while you're stuck here. They're small things I was able to nick from The Burrow at a moment's notice this morning. I had to leave the wizarding chess set and sleeping bag behind unfortunately. I figured they'd be too big and bulky to hide. The plan and strategy being how we're going to handle your trial. I don't know if you've already gotten lawyers yet, but I'd be happy to look into some good ones for you. The best ones in fact, that money can buy. Whomever we end up going with, I'll need to get with them soon. I'm already planning on testifying in favor of you, and I'm sure I can convince Hermione at the very least to do the same. Ron's a different story, but let's not worry about him. We'll also have to decide on how and if we help your parents with their trials. That's for later though, right now I'm more focused on you. I won't have you setting a foot inside these walls ever again after your trial. Ideally we'd get you a not guilty verdict with all charges dropped and you could be released into my care for safety reasons, but things never turn out the way we want them to do they? So we'll have to have backup plans for-", he rambled on until Draco shoved Harry's finger away from his mouth.

"Potter, I'd again like to remind you that, YOU HATE ME. So either you've gone completely barmy, or I have. Because there's no way this conversation's taking place between us while we're both sane.", the blonde interrupts. The look on his face said that he really couldn't fathom what was happening, that he couldn't dare to get his hopes up. The thought made Harry a bit sad. Did Draco really think he hated him so intensely, that he'd just let him rot away here without lifting a finger to help? His mind flashed back to the bathroom for a split second. He did run away without doing anything, didn't he? Sure Professor Snape was there to save Draco, but was he aware of that in his pained state? Did he think Harry ran off BEFORE Snape had found them, that he left him there for dead? He saved him from the fiendfyre, he didn't abandon the other boy then. Maybe those two events cancelled each other out, and they were left with glares and banter and arguments. "There's a fine line between love and hate, but I've never hated you Draco. I've hated the things you've done, the person you pretended to be in front of your friends, but never YOU. We're both of sound mind and body and this conversation is real, this conversation is happening. I'm going to get you out of here, the legal way, and then we can go from there.", Harry reassured him with some wording he borrowed from Willa. Seeing as he found her to be quite persuasive. Which he guessed meant he found himself to be quite persuasive?

Though it didn't really feel right to look at her as anything other than her own person. He thought she was too likable to be a part of him. Draco scoffed as he awkwardly shifted in his spot. It sounded halfhearted and like it was done as a way to mask his discomfort. "Careful Potter, if I didn't know any better I'd think you were trying to imply that you loved me. Now what would the Weaslette think if she heard you talking like that hmm? Don't pretend you know me either, you know NOTHING about me. Not that you ever even bothered to try. Speak for me on the stand, don't speak for me on the stand, I couldn't care less regardless. It doesn't matter anyway, they'll take one look at my arm and throw me back in here where I belong.", he spat. Harry held back a wince, the other boy was trying to push him away while wallowing in self hatred. He could tell because that's what he'd done with his friends as soon as the war ended. They were all giving him space right then, but Draco didn't need space from him in that moment. Besides, he'd get space whether he wanted it or not when Harry left. "I'm not trying to imply that I'm in love with you. I'm TELLING you, that I'm in love with you. I just figured it out this morning actually. Well, more like last night, but close enough. I haven't talked to Ginny yet, since you're curious. I came straight here after I gathered those things for you. I'm planning on breaking things off with her as soon as I see her next. Merlin, Ron'll probably hate me for it, but leading her on would be wrong.

You're right in that I never did get to know the real you. Frankly I thought the opportunity was lost to me all those years ago when I didn't shake your hand. I'd like to change that now though. I'd like to get to know you, if you'd let me. Without all the dumb house rivalries, or what our friends and family expect of us. Just us, Draco and Harry. Circling back around to the trial, I'm speaking for you. Once the jury hears the full story and your motivations as for why you did what you did, AND they see that you've got my support, they'll have to release you.", he said optimistically. The other boy sputtered and choked on air during Harry's short speech. His face reddened to a shade that could rival Ron's. Harry thought it was adorable. After he'd stopped choking his mouth soundlessly opened and closed, like a fish out of water. "What- that is- Potter- I- you- since when did you start calling me Draco?!", was the only coherent thing he could manage to say. Harry had to bite down on his lower lip to stop himself from loudly chuckling. Due to him not wanting to alert all of Azkaban to his presence, and because he didn't want to embarrass the blonde any further. His shoulders still shook with repressed laughter all the same. After he'd mostly calmed himself, he realized that Draco was staring as his bottom lip. The part of it that was trapped between his teeth. He let his lip flop back into place, the blonde forced himself to look away.

"Since after the battle. Is that really all you got from what I said?", he teased. He knew he didn't want to fluster Draco any more than he already was. After all, a flustered Draco could turn into a defensive Draco in the blink of an eye. He could help himself though, he liked pushing the other boy's buttons. That's what they did, it was their thing, that much hadn't changed. The death glare he was immediately shot in response was well worth it. He grinned at the blonde before shoving an outstretched hand through the bars. Draco looked down at the offered hand in extreme confusion, as if the poor boy wasn't confused enough already. "So what do you say, would you do me the great honour of giving me a second chance?", Harry wondered with a sincere yet nervous expression. The other boy's gaze shot up, it was guarded and searching. Looking intensely for even the slightest hint of trickery. When he found none, something in his eyes softened. His entire body in fact softened, Harry wasn't sure when his posture became so ridged. He must've been too lost in those bright silver orbs to register anything else. Draco slowly slid his hand into Harry's. "I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.", he softly introduced himself. Harry gently pulled the other boy's hand through the bars, there was no resistance from his end. He turned their hands so the blonde's was the one on top. Then he bent his head to place a light kiss on Draco's knuckles.

"I'm Potter, Harry Potter, but you can just call me Harry.", he replied after he lifted his head up to make eye contact with the red faced boy. "Only if you call me Draco.", he whispered. Harry reluctantly let go of his new friend's hand. "Deal.", he easily agreed. He was back to grinning like an idiot, and the small but genuine smile he got in return only made it worse. He wished he could've stayed there the entire day, but he knew if he didn't drag himself away now, he'd never leave. "I'm afraid I must be off now. I still have to pay your parents a visit, along with looking into some things for the trial. I'll be back tomorrow of course, hopefully I'll be able to stay a bit longer then.", he regretfully explained before shifting into a squatting position. Draco leaned forward as he furrowed his brow. "My parents?", he repeated. Harry nodded. "Well yeah, I haven't spoken to them about speaking at their trials yet. You were my priority remember?", he reminded the other boy. Surprise overtook his features, as if he thought Harry had only mentioned the blonde's parents to help ease his worries in some way. "Po- Harry, you don't have to do-", he started to reject the idea as he shook his head. Not that Harry let him get very far. Maybe he was just as bad at interrupting people as Willa was. "I want to, and not just for you. Your mother lied to Voldemort in the end you know, to protect the both of us. She told him I was dead, when I clearly wasn't. Though I'm pretty sure she mainly did that for your sake.

She asked about you right before lying. As for your father, I honestly can't say I like the bloke very much. We haven't had the best history, but I don't think I could live with myself, if I let him rot here while I testified in favor for the rest of his family. I think I'd like to have a fresh start with him as well. See if we could become acquaintances or something, at the very least. Besides, what better way to get on my future father-in-law's good side than to legally break him out of Azkaban?", Harry explained to a once again sputtering Draco. "You really are full of surprises, aren't you Po- Harry? Merlin, it's going to take me a while to get used to that.", he chuckled once he was able to form sentences. Harry gave him a cheeky grin before shoving his hands through the metal bars once more. This time with the intention of latching onto Draco's suit jacket lapels and pulling him flush against his prison cell. Harry surged forward, pressing his lips against the other boy's. He originally intended for their first snog to be chaste, but he just couldn't stop himself from drawing the interaction out a little. Though who could blame him? Especially when Draco melted into him with a moan of satisfaction as he returned the kiss with enthusiasm. Pretty soon things were starting to get heated. They were grasping at each other hungrily as their tongues met harshly. Their teeth clacked together as they desperately tried to make up for lost time.

For all the time they could've spent doing this instead of trading cutting insults. Instead of dancing around each other for everyone else's sake. Harry wished he would've stopped caring about what everyone else thought a long time ago. He really could've used Willa back in third year, but it didn't do anyone any good mourning what ifs. They separated, eventually. Though they didn't go far, resting their foreheads against each other's as they caught their breath. "Okay, now I've REALLY got to get going.", Harry panted. Draco let out a shaky laugh while nodding in agreement. They leaned away from each other. They were both flushed, and happy. Oh so very very happy. Extremely, stupidly, just downright giddy, and it felt good. They both felt relieved and spectacular and complete. "Well go on then, go do what you do best. Be everyone's favorite bloody hero.", Draco lightheartedly teased. Which was something Harry would have to get used to. Not being called a hero of course, he's been called that to some degree ever since he stepped foot into the wizarding world. Not by Draco though, not in a way that wasn't covered in disgust or mockery. Or maybe it was jealousy, not that his younger self would've been able to tell the difference. "I don't want to be everyone's favorite hero. I just want to be yours.", he told the other boy as they both got to their feet. Draco didn't look so shaky and gaunt, he looked bright and alive.

Harry did that, he gave the other boy hope and love. That was worth more to him than all the fame and money or anything else the world could possibly have to offer. "My what, favorite hero, or just mine in general?", the blonde teased with that comforting familiar smirk of his. It really did look better on him than anyone else, sorry Willa. It filled Harry with a warmth that made him feel like he could do or be anything that he wanted. "Both.", he said with a shite eating grin. Draco dramatically rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, in such an over the top way, that Harry knew he was just doing it to take the piss out of him. "I see you're already letting the fame of being The Boy Who Lived Twice get to your head. I'd be careful if I were you; I'm surprised that huge ego of yours isn't poking out of the side of that cloak right now as we speak.", he huffed out as he tried to stop his lips from quirking up. It was Harry's turn to smirk. "Oh SOMETHING'S definitely poking out right now, but it's not my ego. Unless that's what we're calling it these days.", he flirted as he openly glanced down at Draco's pants. The blonde squeaked in embarrassment as his hands flew down to shield himself from Harry's wandering eyes. Even though Draco's own eyes were trying to burn holes into his invisibility cloak to see if his statement was true or not. Harry took that as his cue to leave. Well, more like he forced himself to become fully concealed in his cloak. Then he apparated to Narcissa's cell.

Because if he didn't, there was a good chance he'd find his way into Draco's cell. If that happened, he could guarantee that all of Azkaban would know he was there. Given the sounds that would soon be floating out of those metal bars from both parties. His talk with Narcissa went surprisingly well. Although he couldn't say he was too surprised, he knew she'd be friendly as soon as he started updating her on her son. Turns out the Malfoy family was split up, placed in different wings of the compound. Narcissa was worried sick, naturally. She was thrilled to know that Harry gave her son food and mental stimuli, and even more so once he revealed his plans to speak in favor of Draco during his trial. He was thanked profusely, and even dismissed when he mentioned speaking on her behalf. She'd told him to just focus on Draco, and do whatever it took to make sure her boy got out of that horrible place as quickly as possible. He knew then that she was never truly an evil Death Eater either. He probably knew that earlier, as soon as she saved him, but just couldn't piece it together at the time. It was as clear as day in that moment. Her more than willing to throw the rest of her life away, if it meant her son would have a chance at a better one. He'd even be willing to bet the Potter family fortune that she'd take the Dementor's Kiss if it meant Draco would be okay. A mother's love.. He promised her that he was more than capable of saving all of them.

He also promised that he'd be back tomorrow to relay how his talk with their future lawyers went, and to bring by some extra food. He asked if there was anything she wanted him to tell Draco for her. She just asked that he tell her son she loved him, and that she was sorry, for landing him there in the first place. Harry told her it wasn't her fault, not entirely. She sadly responded that it was. After all, a mother's main duty was to protect her children. She'd thought she was, but it turned out she'd only been hurting him instead. Something she could never forgive herself for, even if Draco ever did. He decided that he liked Narcissa in that moment. While stilling feeling quite sympathetic, he may have gotten ahead of himself. In that he told her he looked forward to having her as a mother-in-law. She startled at his statement, and Harry had felt his soul leave his body out of mortification. He couldn't believe he'd said that out loud, but then she laughed. She laughed and smiled at him with a mixture of fondness and amusement. Right before agreeing that she too was looking forward to having him as a son-in-law. He had sagged in relief before bidding her farewell. Her giggles at his reaction followed him in his mind as he made his last stop in that prison. Lucius seemed to be the worst one off out of the three. Seeing as that was his second time in Azkaban, that was to be expected. Harry knew he'd have to get this man to a mind healer as soon as possible.

He had wondered if mind healers made house calls to prisons. He was worried how Draco's father would hold up during his trial. There was a lot of anger and poorly masked fear when Harry revealed himself. That is, until he mentioned getting Lucius out of there, for good. Testifying for him during his trial and building a strong team of the best lawyers available. The man had changed his tune immediately, falling onto his knees begging. Agreeing to do whatever it took and whatever Harry wanted. Harry mentioned that one of the things he wanted was for them to be on good terms, for them to start over. Lucius agreed of course, shooting Harry the most grateful and pitiful looks he'd probably ever seen. He couldn't help but see the man as selfish and self serving, something he'd always seen him as, but their little talk was really sealing it in. Then the man had hesitantly asked if Harry had happened to see his wife or son on his way there. Which had completely stunned Harry if he was being honest. He'd thought that the man had completely forgotten about his family, or just didn't care. Not when his own freedom was at stake. Yet there he was, asking about them. So he told him how he'd visited both of them, and that they were doing well. The crazed desperate look the man had be wearing the entire time Harry was there had cleared up a bit. Something about him seemed to calm. Lucius quietly asked him if he could pass on a message, next time he saw the man's family.

He wanted Harry to tell them he was sorry, for everything. That was it, those three words. They held more weight than all of the blubbering and harsh words Draco's father had spoken so far. Harry knew then, that there was hope for Lucius Malfoy. With a smile he told him he would. The smile was return, barely, but returned all the same. The next stop was the wizarding law firm. He took his cloak off for that one before entering. He knew he'd get the best of the best if he used his status to his advantage. Which was very Slytherin of him, he wondered if Draco would be proud when he retold the events of the rest of the day to him. He was let in without a fuss, unless you counted people fawning all over him as a fuss. He talked with the head of the firm, explaining how he needed the best team of lawyers possible. For his dear classmate/friend of course. Who, along with his family, were being put on trial as Death Eaters. Even though they fought for the light side in the end, and personally helped save his life. Which in turn meant they indirectly helped defeat Voldemort. The crazed lunatic they only served during this war out of fear, threats, and insanity. Not to mention how their own lives and the lives of their loved ones were at stake if they didn't comply. Harry went on and on like that for a few minutes until the head of the firm was breezing through offices, pulling people out and lining them up. Harry was introduced to all of them along with what their specialties were.

Needless to say he got his pick of the litter, especially when he reminded everyone that money was no object. As he was the Heir and soon to be Lord of several estates, and he was sure the Malfoy family would be more than happy to help cover the costs as well. The final nail in the coffin of course was when he promised a big fat bonus to everyone involved, provided that they won ALL three cases. The Malfoy family were all being tried individually after all. He was pretty sure everyone in the firm was frothing at the mouth with galleons in their eyes by the time he left. He felt as light as a feather when he returned to The Burrow, and then he saw Ginny. Then he was weighed down by guilt. Guilt and a fear that he was about to lose several of his closest friends, and maybe even the closest thing he had to a family, after he talked to her. Something must've shown on his face, she'd crossed the room to stand before him. She was worried, they went upstairs to talk privately. Her hand was in his, it felt wrong. He didn't want her comfort, he didn't deserve it. He didn't know where to begin, so he sat her down in the bed he'd slept in last night. Then he told her, told her everything. The dream, his plan, the visit to Azkaban, the visit to the firm. He didn't leave out any details, he couldn't lie to her. She let him finish, even though she looked as if her heart was breaking after every sentence he'd uttered. She was sobbing into her hands by the time he was done.

He'd wanted to say something, ANYTHING, that could possibly soften the deadly blow that it was to their relationship. There was nothing he could say to fix it. What ifs and wishes and if things were different wouldn't save him. Save them, their friendship at least. She needed time, he understood. She left the room, Ron didn't talk to him after that. Molly and Hermione were the only ones that stopped him from trying to Crucio Harry right then and there when he'd found out. Harry left The Burrow, as much as it pained him. He knew everyone was still healing, and his breakup with Ginny only made matters worse. It'd be easier if they all didn't have to look at him everyday. He checked onto The Leaky Cauldron for the time being. There was no way he was going anywhere near Grimmauld Place, not for a while. Up until the trial, his days consisted of dodging fans and reporters. Visits to Azkaban and the firm. Sitting around his room at The Leaky Cauldron, wondering when exactly did everything go so tits up, that THIS was his new life. Oh and, lunch with Hermione. At least she didn't wish he was dead. She didn't understand the thing he had with Draco, but she didn't negatively comment, and that was enough for him. The trials happened, they won. Him, the Malfoy family, and their infallible team of prestigious lawyers, won all three cases. Oh how they celebrated and took out big fat sums of gold for their team. Harry was pretty sure in all of the excitement Lucius even gave the entire firm a generous donation.

Needless to say, the head of firm promised that if someone even THOUGHT about looking at them funny, to let them know. They wouldn't hesitate in taking them to court for all they were worth. Harry moved out of The Leaky Cauldron and into the Malfoy family manor immediately, due to everyone's insistence. Yes that's right, everyone's. Apparently Lucius thought he walked on water now. Between saving his family, clearing their names, getting all charges dropped, and being the most famous wizard alive, Harry was equated to being the second coming of Merlin. Narcissa spent most of her time in seeing to the renovations of the manor. She wanted the interior of every room in the mansion to be redesigned. Everyone agreed, there were bad memories in that place for everyone. Lucius went off and did whatever Lords with estates and money did, investing and whatnot. Harry spent all his time with Draco. They talked, flew around the grounds on their new brooms, cuddled, snogged. Played chess even though Harry was still horrible at it. Really they just did anything and everything together. Though no matter what everyone was doing, they always sat down together and ate during dinner time every day. Draco told him he and his parents were closer than ever now. War did that to people, made them realize what was truly important in the end. Your family and loved ones, the people you couldn't bear to live without. It was during one of those dinners that the boys announced that they were dating.

A part of Harry feared that no matter how far Lucius had come in terms of personal growth, he'd never accept him as someone his son was seeing romantically. He was wrong, the man was thrilled. As was Narcissa, but she already knew since Harry's slip of the tongue back when he first visited her in Azkaban. The boys were both relieved, then embarrassed when Draco's father wanted to throw a party to celebrate. It wasn't like they were engaged, yet. There's wasn't any need for that, they both told him as much. They all eventually agreed to going out the next night for a fancy dinner as a way of celebrating. Harry was pretty sure as soon as Draco and him left the dining room, his future in-laws were already planning the wedding. Hogwarts was almost completely rebuilt by then, and there was talk of letting the seventh years come back for an eighth year. Seeing as they never did get to complete the school term and graduate. As soon as Hermione caught wind of that rumor, she made it her life's mission to corner Headmistress Mcgonagall to see if the rumor was true or not. If it was, she'd personally confirm her attendance. If not, she'd vouch for how having an eighth year would be such a wonderful and beneficial idea. Luckily for Headmistress Mcgonagall's sanity, the rumor was true, and she didn't have to sit through thirty minutes of Hermione explaining the pros of her getting to attend Hogwarts again. Harry wanted to go back, even if school had never really been his thing.

Hogwarts was his home, and it'd be nice to spend a year there without having his life threatened. Along with some mystery that'd take the entire school year to solve. It really would be nice, to be able to go to school and just be a kid for once. He'd never gotten that, had he? To just relax and have fun and be carefree. Like most of his other classmates got to do in their earlier years. He was pretty sure even Draco had a better first few years than him in comparison. Speaking of, the blonde was nervous about going back. He was sure people would hate him, even more than they already did before everything completely went to Hell in a handbasket. If not for being a Slytherin, or a Malfoy, then for being a Death Eater. Harry was quick to correct and reassure him. The press covered his and his family's trials extensively. Harry made sure of that, offering interviews about the whole thing and inside looks. He didn't rest until Draco was coined as The Boy Who Didn't Have A Choice, Willa would've been proud. It took a lot of convincing, some of which definitely wasn't verbal, but in the end Draco did owl Headmistress Mcgonagall to accept the invitation. Ron was talked into it by Hermione, is what 'mione herself told him. Ron and him still weren't talking, which was ironic seeing as Ginny and him were now on speaking terms. You'd think Harry had dated him instead of her by the way he acted. Pansy had said not to worry about it, that Ron was just being a stupid pig headed Gryffindor.

He kinda had to agree with her on that one. Pansy and Blaise started coming by the manor sometime after the trials. Rekindling their friendship with Draco. They didn't know what to make of Harry in the beginning. Sure they'd been following the trial like everyone else, heard the news of him staying with the Malfoys. Neither of which prepared them for knowledge that The Golden Boy had been dating their dearest Draco during all of that. Something Draco's parents were more than okay with. Pansy and Blaise learned that the hard way when they stayed over for dinner once. Lucius was a few minutes late, something he was very sorry about. He went around the long table hugging and greeting everyone. When he got to Harry the man gave him a hug and ruffled his hair. Asking how his favorite son-in-law was. Blaise spit out his drink as Pansy coughed up a lung. Narcissa reminded her husband that Harry was their future son-in-law, Lucius just waved her off and said it was practically the same thing. They gave each other amused looks, they were having way too much fun with that. Draco and Harry were of course dying of embarrassment from their seats, especially Draco. Draco's friends accepted Harry and their relationship then. Because Harry clearly had to be pretty great if even Lucius Malfoy of all people had grown fond of him. Draco's friends were then his friends as well. Which meant he was happy to learn that they were coming back to school as well.

Hogwarts was rebuilt, they went back as eighth years. Ron could finally stand to be in the same room as him without attempting murder. Hermione was civil towards Pansy and Blaise, and was starting a tentative friendship with Draco. The three of them have had a few lunches together. Where those two cleared the air and both apologized for petty stupid things they'd done in the past. They were starting over now, 'mione had even been to the manor once. As mental as that sounded. It was for dinner, the Malfoys were kind and welcoming. She had to admit they'd changed, that Harry helped changed them all for the better. Harry didn't want to take any credit for their progress, but on the inside he had hoped he'd made a difference. The school year was uneventful, it was wonderful. Harry reclaimed a bit of his childhood that he'd lost, and he couldn't help but feel like that was how things were supposed to be. Ron and him finally made amends. He needed someone to talk to after Hermione and him had broken up. Turned out they didn't work well as a couple. Hermione was too bossy and wound tight for his taste, and Ron never took her and her goals seriously. They still remained friends thankfully. Draco and Harry's friend groups merged, something the lower years didn't understand, but were too afraid to comment about. Halfway through the year, 'mione and Ron managed to get new significant others. At around roughly the same time.

Draco had jokingly asked if they had planned that or something. You see Ron had started dating Blaise, and Hermione started dating Pansy. So essentially their friend group turned into a never ending triple date. Three Gryfinndors with three Slytherins, that really shot the house rivalries all to Hell. Ginny had even found someone new, Luna. Harry couldn't have been more happy for them. Really everyone was thriving, the worst of The War was finally behind them. When school was nearly over, everyone started thinking about their futures. They were kinda forced to, that extra year was as much of a staller as it was catching up on their missing education. Harry used to want to be an Auror, then he learned first hand what a career like that was like. He felt like he'd been an Auror ever since his first year at Hogwarts, and frankly he was tired of it. He'd dealt with enough evil and curses to last several lifetimes over. He was done being the hero, the savior. Now he didn't have to be, not anymore. Now he was allowed to be whoever or whatever he wanted. He had a choice, for once, and he wasn't going to blow it. He thought long and hard about what he liked doing, what he was passionate about. Which is what lead him to becoming a teacher there at Hogwarts. The DADA teacher to be specific. Hermione nearly blew a gasket as soon as he uttered the words Hogwarts and teacher. Seeing as she lived, slept, and ate education.

She praised him so heavily then that their significant others started to get jealous. She smoothed everything over of course, and things calmed immediately once they remember who exactly Hermione was. She'd wanted a career at the Ministry, Harry was surprised. He questioned her about it. She'd said it was the best job she could possibly get, along with the best work. He brought up that one Muggle saying he sort of remembered. If you love what you do it's not a job, and if you're truly passionate about something it's not work. After The War they'd all gotten a second chance at life, they shouldn't waste it. They should live their lives doing what and who they love. That last sentence got him a smack in the arm from her, but she did think about what he'd said. She ended up as a professor at Hogwarts too, she taught the History Of Magic. Much to the relief of every future student of that class. She did admit that she probably wouldn't have been as happy at the Ministry as she was teaching. Draco had been torn between becoming a Healer and being the new Potions Master for Hogwarts. In the end he chose being a professor as well. Harry wondered if it had anything to do with him and 'mione having already decided on teaching. After all, Draco and Harry were inseparable. Everyone knew that as soon as those boys graduated, it was a race to see which of the two could propose to the other first.

They'd both be intolerable, insufferable, utter dicks if they were kept apart for most of the year. Which they would be, if only one of them lived on campus. So luckily for the rest of the wizarding world their occupations lined up in such a way. Pansy had gotten a paid internship at a wizarding fashion company, and soon became a valuable asset to her company. That didn't surprise him. All she ever did most of the time was talk about how horribly some of the younger years styled their uniforms. Ron was still all for becoming an Auror, then he'd gotten the opportunity to speak to some seasoned Aurors. Harry was right when he equated their previous years at Hogwarts to Auror work. Ron had also had enough war related trauma, and frankly didn't want any bloody more. So instead he opted to help George comanage Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Harry thought that was more fitting for his friend, he'd always liked goofing off and having fun. What's more fun than a joke shop? Blaise started a winery, apparently he had a sophisticated palate that translated well in the choosing and creation of alcohol. When Harry finally got his hands on a magically aged bottle, he had to admit, it was one of the best wines he'd ever tried. He was surprised Ron wasn't a staggering drunk, what with all the samples he was sure Blaise was taking home. Ginny, with her amazing Quidditch skills, became a professional Quidditch player for the Holyhead Harpies.

She was brilliant on a broom, Harry personally couldn't see her in any other profession. As for Luna, she became a Magizoologist. Harry didn't know what that all entailed besides finding and classifying magical creatures, but she always talked about it passionately. Which was enough for him to be very happy for her. Time stretched on, everyone stuck to their professions and significant partners. Draco and Harry got married, they were the first ones out of the group. No shock to anyone who's ever met the couple. Pansy and Hermione followed a few years later, and few years after that it was Ginny and Luna's turn. Ron and Blaise were the last of the group, as they both had fears of marriage and settling down. When they finally did though, they called themselves idiots for not sucking it up and doing it sooner. Harry thought it was a good thing, that they waited until they were ready. Things could've ended disastrously for the pair of them otherwise. Draco and Harry, being the undesignated leaders of the group, were also the first to have children. By the time they'd hit their thirties, potion making, and magic in general, had advanced. That being the case, there were a new special potions on the market. Targeted towards same sex couples who wanted to conceive. The one specifically for two biological males, would give one male a female reproductive system. With the female lower anatomy to boot.

These were potions you had to drink weekly, for the full term of the pregnancy. Which meant in the long run these potions were very pricey. Draco and Harry talked about it, a lot. Took them a full month before deciding to go ahead with it. Harry ended up being the one to take the potions. Draco, ever since being branded with the Dark Mark, has had issues with being comfortable in his own skin. They both agreed, though Draco more reluctantly, that there was a chance he wouldn't be able to handle the change in anatomy the potions would bring. If he broke down and refused to keep drinking the potions during the pregnancy.. Well, it was better not to fall down that depressing rabbit hole. So Harry was the pregnant one in the end. It worked, quicker than they thought it would. The fertility part of the potions was certainly no joke. Their friends were already compiling lists of baby names as soon as the couple told them the happy news. Draco's parents weren't any better. Narcissa was already contracting workers to put a nursery in the Malfoy manor, along with the newly fixed up Black one. Lucius started practically living at any place that sold baby items. The store owners had to kick him out when it was closing time. Harry was doted upon by everyone- correction, Harry and his daughter were doted upon by everyone. They'd found out the baby's gender as soon as they were able to. They were too excited to wait, of course they did have some waiting to do.

What with having to carry the baby to full term, but at least they didn't have to wait in regards to that. They had some baby names they were considering. Lily, Narcissa, Hermione, Pansy, Ginevra, Luna, Minerva. They were both leaning towards Lily, so the women of the group tried not to get their hopes up. Then the baby came, it was eighteen straight hours of Hell for everyone involved. For Harry, because of the obvious reasons. For Draco, due to stress and having to see Harry under that much pain and stress. The staff, because boy did Draco start to get bitchy after hour six. The doctors, because if they didn't deliver The Boy Who Lived Twice's baby flawlessly, the wizarding world would tear that entire hospital apart in outrage. The couple's friends and family came and went. Not staying for long due to Draco's bitching, that soon turned into Draco and Harry's bitching. They chose to stake out the waiting room and cafeteria instead. Which was a wise decision on their parts. Harry had never felt more exhausted as he did after the delivery, but as soon as he held their baby he knew it was worth it. He knew he'd do it all again if he had to, and he probably would, if they decided to have more children later on. Their daughter looked just like Draco. Pointy features, even for a baby, and a wisp of platinum blonde hair on top of her head. Speaking of Draco, the man was a mess. In tears with disheveled hair as he cooed at their baby.

When she opened her eyes for the first time, Harry was surprised. They were a piercing green, instead of silver. His knee jerk reaction was, that's not right. They're supposed to be a striking silver.. His eyes practically popped out of his skull at the realization, before he schooled his expression. He was lucky he was laying down, or else he'd have been at risk of dropping the baby. "Hello again, Young Willa.", he softly greeted her. Draco looked over at him in surprise. "Willa? That's new, you never mentioned that name before. I thought you were dead set on Lily, after your mother?", his husband questioned. Harry just shook his head fondly as he looked at their daughter. "It's short for Willamina. I was unmoving on the name Lily, and maybe we'll use that one for the next baby, but this one's name is Willa. Nothing either of us can really do about that.", he explained. Though he's sure it only made sense to him and the baby, seeing as she gurgled happily as Draco looked at him with confusion. "You are aware that we're the parents right? And as the parents, we get to decide what to name our baby?", he slowly reminded him. As if he'd lost several crucial brain cells between when he went to deliver the baby, and now. "True, but she already told me her name, and it certainly wasn't Lily.", Harry informed him. Draco looked like he was half a second away from running to fetch the doctor. "Right, and when in the bloody hell did the NEWBORN BABY tell you her name?", he drawled. Harry smiled as if he knew a secret the other boy didn't. "Once upon a dream. Would you like for me to tell you about it?", he offered. Draco groaned as he dragged a hand over his face, as if he was more than tired of this conversation by now. Though he still pulled up a chair by the side of Harry's bed. He threw himself onto it. "Alright then, let's hear about this dream.", he dramatically sighed out. He tried to hide it, but Harry saw the twinkle in his eyes and the way the corners of his lips quirked up. He was amused more than anything else. "Okay, so, I had a dream about a girl. This was shortly after The War, so I was no stranger to odd nightmares taking strange turns. This was the first time I'd ever seen Her though...", Harry started to recall.