The next day when Harry was feeling better, Sirius and Draco recruited him to help in the finding of the dark objects. Harry walked through the rooms, using his magic to knock the dark magic off the shelves. 

"Do you know what any of these things do?" Draco asked.

"I can't tell. They just feel vile." Harry said. "I don't know if all of these are cursed or what..."

"Well, I'm not attached to anything." Sirius said. "I just want the dark stuff gone first. Safety and all that..."

"You. Safety?" Harry asked.

"I know, it's a hilarious concept." Sirius said.

"It is." Harry said. He winced.

"Is the headache back?" Draco asked.

"Yeah. I'm going to take a break from the dark object search." Harry said. 

"Thank you for the help." Sirius said. "That would have taken ages."

"Just be careful putting it all away, please." Harry said.

"We will." Draco assured him.

 Harry went to lie down and wait out the headache. When Sirius was sure he was out of earshot, he turned to Draco. 

"Come on, help me find something." Sirius led Draco to a room that was just stuffed full of... Stuff.

"What are we looking for?" Draco asked.

"A gramophone." Sirius grinned. "I thought it might be a good surprise. Help with the upcoming Christmas cheer."

Draco smiled. "I think I can agree with that. It would be a nice surprise."

Draco and Sirius shuffled box after box around, and climbed over some furniture, and other such precarious measures as they looked. They found a box of candles and set it aside. 

"Oh! Look, there. Can you see? Is that it?" Sirius pointed.

Draco stood with one foot on the back of a chair, and braced his weight against a wall. "Yes, that's it." Draco frowned. "Now how to get to it?"

~~~

"Boys, you've got mail." Remus said when he returned home. "Quite a bit, apparently."

"From who?" Draco asked, reaching for the bundle of papers in Remus' hands.

"Professors who seem to think you'll be doing work..." Remus said.

Harry snorted. Draco smirked.

"And I've got a couple letters." Remus said, but handed them a copy of the newest Prophet. "But I think you should look at this first."

HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED IS BACK

Harry saw the title and started laughing. 

"Well. Sirius, look at this." Draco said, and held it out to him. "I think I know why everyone was running around yesterday morning."

"Oh wow." Sirius said. "They finally believe you, Harry. All it took was an attack on the Ministry. At the Ministry."

"Funny how that works." Remus said.

"So, we're not doing that homework, are we?" Harry asked Draco. 

"I won't be unless I get really bored." Draco said. "I've passed my NEWTS."

"That is fair." Remus said. 

"I wouldn't have done the homework anyway." Sirius said.

"No, really? I'd have never guessed." Remus said.

Harry laughed, and took the rest of the mail from Remus. He sat down and sorted it out between homework and letters. Blaise had written to Draco, Ron to Harry, and Hermione had written one addressed to them both.

Blaise was worried sick, as he'd figured out that the reason Harry and Draco had left that night was to go to the Ministry. On top of that, their trunks had vanished shortly after. He demanded to know if they were alright, and found several ways to call them idiots. 

Ron excitedly wrote about how the students had gone on strike, simply refusing to go to Umbridge's classes anymore. Instead, the D.A. members were planning on hosting a more public version of the D.A. in one of the abandoned classrooms. They were still working on the details, but it seemed like a few House Heads and other Professors were either going to help or simply turn a blind eye. Ron also asked if Malfoy was threatening Harry in any way, and if he was... Well, he had Harry's back.

Hermione asked how the two of them were doing, and wrote about how the students were reacting to the news of Voldemort's return. Most of them were worried. Rumors were going around that Harry had been injured somehow, and that's why he wasn't at school. Draco however, had simply gone home early for Christmas- so that he could help Voldemort and be a Death Eater. 

Draco scowled at that, but he knew it couldn't be helped at this point in time. Harry was delighted to know that the students were standing up for themselves. He hoped Umbridge looked as constipated as he was imagining.

~~~

Draco found Harry sitting with his head in his hands. He went over and took Harry's hands into his. 

"Draco." Harry said softly.

"Headache again?" 

"No... Just... Lost in my thoughts." Harry said.

"Come. I want to show you something." Draco said.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"Just follow me." Draco said, and led him downstairs to the repurposed sitting room. Draco opened the door, and pulled Harry inside. Candles had been lit so that the room softly glowed. Draco stepped to the side, and started the gramophone. Slow, sweet music gently played.

"What is this?" Harry asked.

"Dance with me?" Draco asked, his hand held out.

Harry smiled, and accepted Draco's hand. Draco grinned softly, and drew Harry closer, setting his hands over his shoulders. He wrapped his own around Harry's waist. 

"Thank you." Draco said.

"For what?" Harry asked.

"Just... Everything." Draco said. "From then. For now. I know I have done wrongs..."

"I already told you, Draco. I've already forgiven it all." Harry said. "You can stop apologizing."

Draco didn't say anything. Harry had said that, back in the dorm. He just didn't understand how Harry could so easily forgive him. He hadn't forgiven himself.

"Are you okay? You've kind of run away." Harry said. "From everything."

"Not from you." Draco said. He closed his eyes and set his forehead to rest against Harry's. For several minutes, they stayed just like that, swaying to the music. Taking comfort in each other's presence. 

Slowly, Draco's inner turmoil seemed come together, to make a coherent thought. Until now, it hadn't occurred to him. But now he had to say it.

"Marry me." Draco said softly.

Harry pulled back a few inches from Draco, to see if he'd heard right. Searching Draco's face, and the sincerity in his eyes, he got his answer.

Harry swallowed. "Ask me again. When the war is over."

"Why? Why wait?" Draco asked.

"I- I can't be sure I'll survive this-"

"There's always a possibility." 

"But it's different for me." Harry said.

"Anyone could die. We both could. I don't want to lose what we could have based on what may or may not happen." Draco said.

"I can't-" Harry said, choking on his words, part of his heart breaking.

"Can't what?" Draco asked, a pit in his stomach.

"I can't- I can't make you a widow."

"Then don't." Draco said, softly. Please.

Harry took a shaky breath. He nodded. "Okay." He whispered.

"Promise me." Draco said.

"Promise what?"

"Promise that you won't make me a widow."

"I promise." Harry said.

"Then I promise the same."

Their foreheads met again. Harry tilted his head up, and Draco met his lips. The kiss was long, and slow, and sweet. 

~~~

"Ready?" Harry asked Draco. 

"I am." Draco said. "This is madness, but yes."

Harry took Draco's hand, and they apparated. After releasing his hand, they wove through Diagon Alley, making their way to Gringotts Bank.  Harry knew they were attracting a few curious looks, and a few more confused ones as well. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, walking together when they were supposed to be at school. 

They walked up the steps and through the doors. It looked to be a slow morning as there were very few wizards and witches around. Harry spotted Griphook, and walked directly to him. 

Griphook looked at Harry with mild curiosity, especially at Draco standing just behind Harry's shoulder. 

"Harry Potter."

"Hello. I'd like to enter my vault." Harry said. 

"Key?" Griphook asked.

Harry handed it to Griphook. The goblin examined it. "Very well. Follow me."

Travelling through the darkness, there wasn't much to be concerned about. When they stopped in front of the Potter vault, Harry turned to his Aevumiter senses. 

He watched as the magic turned under Griphook's touch, memorizing it as much as possible. The door opened, and Draco gave Harry a look, slightly raising an eyebrow.

Harry nodded, nearly imperceptively. Harry walked into the vault, and looked around. He took a reasonable number of galleons- enough for anything Harry and Draco could want for at least the Christmas season- and then turned to leave.

"Will that be all?" Griphook asked, closing the door behind Harry.

"Yes. I've got what I needed." Harry said. "Sorry."

"Sorry?" Griphook scowled, and the magic hit him. Griphook climbed back into the cart as per Harry's wishes, Draco and Harry behind him. 

They went deeper into the dark. Eventually the cart came to a stop. Harry climbed out first, trying to remember if anything looked familiar. 

"What is that?" Draco asked.

"What's what?" Harry asked.

"I hear something... Wait- the dragon?" Draco asked.

"You can hear the dragon?"

"I think so. It's... Snoring?" Draco frowned.

"Lead the way, then." Harry said. 

Draco took off through the tunnel like corridors, and Harry followed behind. They left Griphook behind, who sat passively. Draco followed the sound, and after a short while Harry could hear it too. Then he could feel the magic of the dragon, sad, weak... 

"Where are those clankers you mentioned?" Draco whispered.

"I can't see them." Harry said. "I guess you don't get to destroy them."

"Unfortunate." Draco said, disappointed. "Well. Do your thing."

Harry sent his magic out, and broke the chains. The dragon woke, sniffing the air. Harry then reached for the dragon. It's head shot up at the magical contact, and twisted, trying to see Harry.

Fly.

Harry tried to convey the one thought to it, as best as he could. To tell it that freedom was waiting above. It seemed as though he was successful, because it looked up, and began to scale the cliff side. Harry didn't need to tell it twice.

"It worked." Draco said, slightly surprised. 

"Come on." Harry grinned, and ran ahead. 

They found Bellatrix's vault without trouble. Harry set his hands against the door, and called to the magic in the intricate maze of gears and locks. It took a long moment, a nerve-wracking minute. Draco kept watch while Harry worked. Eventually they heard a click, and the door began to open.

Harry slipped into the vault, stretching his magic out in search of the cup. There. In the corner. Harry first removed the charm that made it duplicate, and then called it to him. He shoved it into his pocket, and grinned at Draco.

"Let's go, then." Draco said. "I think our window is closing."

"Should I try to apparate?" Harry asked. "I don't know if they have the right kind of wards here, if I can go through them anyway-"

They heard someone approaching in a cart, and indiscernible shouts.

"Well. Looks like we're apparating." Draco said, and grabbed Harry's arm.

In a moment, they were standing in Grimmauld Place.

Draco laughed. "We actually did it!" 

"You're back!" Sirius suddenly careened into the hallway. "Where the bloody hell did you go?"

"Gringotts." Harry said.

"Gringotts?" Sirius frowned. "What did you need?"

Harry pulled out the cup. 

"Isn't that... Hufflepuff?" Sirius trailed off, confused.

"It is." Harry said. "Would you like to destroy this one too?" He asked Draco.

Draco's grin was wicked for a moment. "Yes, I would."

"I didn't know James had a Hufflepuff cup- wait. Destroy?" Sirius asked.

"That's because he didn't. We broke into Bellatrix Lestrange's vault." Harry said. 

Sirius stared. "You... Broke into Gringotts?"

"Yes. I've done it before." Harry said. "It's not actually that hard..."

"I don't know if I should be horrified or proud." Sirius said. "I think I'm feeling both, though."

Harry laughed. "I'm going to make a hot cocoa before you stab that cup." 

"Would you make one for me as well?" Draco asked.

"Just make a whole pot." Sirius said, still wrapping his head around the news that his godson was a successful criminal. "May as well." 

A/N

remember when I said the cover art would happen in the story? Yeah. That was the scene :)