A/N: You have no idea what is coming for you, Muhahahahahaha.

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The next day did not feel any different than the past days in the Burrow. It still felt unreal to Draco that yet another year was coming towards the end. So much had changed. And yet, Draco was not ready for the New Year to start. Moreover, it did not even feel like it was New Year.

The mood only changed after dinner when Mrs Weasley put a variety of different snacks on the table. Severus and Lupin were over but there was still a cool distance between them. Only Fred and George managed to get them to interact under their easy going supervision.

It was around eleven PM when Draco was talking to Fleur about her French New Years at home, of course in French, still sitting on the dinner table. Suddenly Potter, who had been sitting in front of the fireplace with Ron and Ginny, stood up and turned to them. "Could you stop that?" He snapped.

"Quoi?"(what?), Fleur wondered .

"Just, stop." Harry said.

"Stop what?" Draco asked.

"Speaking French."

"Pourquoi?" Fleur asked.

"What?" Harry asked, who could not understand a single word of French.

"She asked why." Draco translated.

"Because..." Harry looked from Draco to Fleur. Then, his eyes lingered on Draco. He looked back, not backing down the stare. "Because it's annoying."

"So you're denying Fleur to live a bit of her culture?" Draco clarified. "That's a bit discriminating, don't you think?"

"You really wanna tell me about discrimination?" Harry deadpanned. "Besides, I don't care if Fleur speaks French."

"But you care if I do? Why?" Draco squinted at Potter, who was now shifting uncomfortably.

"You know what? Nevermind." Potter said, falling back into his armchair with his back turned to them. Fleur shot Draco a questioning look, which he just answered with a confused shrug. He had no idea what was going on with Potter, but this was the first time he had gotten Potter's direct attention again, so if he was speaking French a bit louder than before, no one had to know.

Midnight ticked closer and Mr Weasley conjured up Butterbeer, Firewiskey and some alcoholic muggle beverages. Mrs Weasley just rolled her eyes fondly as her husband explained to everyone how Hermione's parents were his close friends now. And since they were muggles, they often helped him find his way around the muggle world. A few weeks ago, Draco would have not thought before calling him a blood traitor. Now, he found it amusing and slightly intriguing. He even tried the muggle alcohol, a French champagne, himself. It was not much different from the wizarding alcohol.

Maybe Muggles were not so different from witches and wizards after all.

Before they knew it, it was five minutes before midnight. Draco saw Fred and George whisper something to Ginny and Ron, who looked at Draco. He gave them a confused look, but he got no answer. The twins hurried outside to prepare their special, self-invented fireworks. For this special occasion, Mrs Weasley had given them the permission to set them off in the garden.

Draco and the other Weasleys followed them with glasses filled with several different beverages. Draco himself had some firewhiskey because it was familiar and delicious.

Draco was talking to Ginny and somehow, Ron and Potter joined the conversation about how Filch was probably spending his New Years. Fred and George were kneeling with the explosive devices, waiting for midnight while Mrs Weasley was sending them worried glances. Fleur and Bill were standing arm in arm, whispering something to each other that Draco was not sure he wanted to know about. 

Suddenly, Mr Weasley was yelling, "Countdown! Ten..."

Everyone joined in. Draco caught Potter's eyes. His face was beaming with happiness and Draco felt a surge of affection for him. He did not pay attention to the gazes Ron and Ginny were exchanging, which he probably should have, because by "Eight!", he was pushed into the house by Ginny, Potter falling next to him.

"Hey!" Potter shouted indignantly.

"Better hurry." Ron said, 'five, four!' sounding in the background. "Don't wanna miss the fireworks."

Potter and Draco scrambled up, and by two, they reached the doorway. Trouble was, they could not get any further. "Happy New Year!" The Weasleys cheered, the Fireworks went off, painting fantastic, colourful pictures into the sky, Bill and Fleur were in a embrace for their New Years kiss, as were Mr and Mrs Weasley.

Draco looked up at the fireworks, and the reason he was stuck in the doorway caught his eyes. Someone had hung the mistletoe over the doorway, and judging by the way Fred, George, Ron and Ginny were shooting the mischievous glances, Draco guessed that it had been their collective plan.

He turned to Potter, who had also realized what was going on. But he did not look disgusted or angry. He looked excited and anxious, but daring in his Gryffindor way. The alcohol probably helped his courage. His eyes were twinkling at Draco like he was daring him to back out, but Draco did not want to. He wanted to start this year like this. By kissing Potter...Harry.

Draco took a small step closer, but it was Harry who finally closed the distance. And it felt like everything Draco had wanted and more than he could have ever imagined. The soft drag of lips, the scent, the touch. As he wrapped one arm around Harry's waist and cupped his cheek with the other to get a better angle, he was more aware than ever of his heart speeding up. The surges of affection he had felt before were nothing against the wave of uncontrolled feelings that was clashing over Draco right now. He wanted Harry closer, he wanted him to feel it, feel what Draco was feeling. And going by the way Harry started moving his lips more frantically and his hands tightening on Draco, the feeling seemed mutual.

Being so lost in each other, they did not hear the terrified gasps. Only when they heard the panicked shouts of "Harry! Draco!", and hands pried them apart physically did they let up from each other. Still feeling overwhelmed, Draco turned his head to the Weasleys, who were watching the wards get broken down one after another. Draco gasped when he realized who it was.

"How did they find us?" Draco breathed out, not being able to move. He felt Harry pull out his wand and go into fighting stance like the Weasleys and Lupin.

"An old pureblood spell." Severus said from behind them. Draco did not even turn around, only watching some Ministry workers, led by his father and followed by his mother, tear down all the protection the Ministry and the Order of the Phoenix had put around the Burrow. "When the heir is on the edge of falling in love, the parents can sense it and track them down. It's for protection of the bloodline."

Draco glanced at Harry, their cheeks heating up a bit, but Draco did not have much time to feel embarrassed. "Shit, why did no one tell me?"

"Well, it's better if you don't know so you can't do anything against it." Severus said. "And to be honest, I forgot about it. With the way purebloods are raised, they know their priorities and it doesn't happen often... Now, Draco. Chose a side and fight. I'll have to fight with your father. I can't raise suspicion now."

Harry had heard everything and watched him silently. Looking into these eyes, Draco did not need to think long before choosing a side. He looked forward at the Weasleys, who were ready to protect everyone in the house, even Draco. It was really not hard.

Pulling his wand out, he hurried to the front. His parents and the ministry workers, who were obviously traitors or puppets of the Dark Lord, were almost through all the wards. Soon, they were able to hurry into the garden where the inhabitants stood. But before they could reach, Draco was in front, standing face to face with his father, his wand held out in front of him.

Lucius held his hand up, signalling for everyone to stop moving. He did not take his eyes off his son. Draco looked back, trying to look stoic, but he felt his hands shaking. He was scared of his own father. Not because he was scared of what he could do to him, but more because he knew what his father was capable of. He did not want anything happen to the Weasleys... or Harry.

"Lower your wand, son." Lucius said. Draco did not feel safe, so close to his father after everything that happened. He would have loved to stupefy his father now, but the man had a bunch of Death Eater Ministry workers behind him. He also saw his mother watching from beside him. Draco lowered his wand slowly. His mother would never let Lucius do anything to him.

There was a longer silence, where his father did not say anything, just watched Draco with an emotionless face. Then, he threw a glance over Draco's shoulder and back at him. Draco really hoped he would not see Harry. 

"A Weasley, huh?" Lucius finally said. "Well, at least she's a pureblood. Although I did not think you would stoop this low to go for a blood traitor with no asset."

Internally, Draco sighed with relief. So his father did not know Harry Potter was here. And Draco thought it was not a smart idea to tell his father that it was him and not Ginny Weasley, as he assumed. Instead, he glared at his father, "Blood status and financials are not important."

Lucius Malfoy's face twitched, but his face stayed expressionless. "Spoken like a poor blood traitor. She has manipulated you smartly. Doesn't matter, we will get you back on track. Now if you come with me now, no one will get hurt."

Draco looked at his father. On the outside, he left his face blank. Internally, he was frantically thinking about the right thing to do. His first impulse was to pull his wand back out and fight. He wanted to stay with the Weasleys. It was nice and warm and they were like true friends. And Harry was here.

But Draco knew what a fight meant. They would not stop until they got Draco home. And that would mean the Weasleys, Harry and Lupin could get hurt or killed. Draco knew he would look like a traitor to the them if he just went with his father without a fight. And he also knew that at the Manor, he would not have a nice time. His father wanted to 'get him back on track', and he would not show any mercy. And then there was the Dark Lord, who would want him to know why he ran away so shortly after he had taken him into the closer Death Eater circle. He would know Draco was not loyal to him.

No, if Draco left with his father, anything but pleasant times would come in the last days before the return to Hogwarts. If he was even able to return to Hogwarts. Who knew what Lucius and The Dark Lord would do to him. And if he left, the Weasleys would think he turned his back to them after everything they had done for him. And Harry... He would lose Harry before he even really had him.

But at least, no one would get hurt. Draco had not choice if he wanted his loved ones to be safe.

Draco almost laughed at how un-Slytherin-like it was to think of himself as the last priority, but Draco loved this red-headed family and their adoptive son enough to do it.

He gave his father a small nod. Lucius grinned victoriously, grabbed Draco's arm and gestured for his helpers to disapparate.

"What? No! Draco!" Draco heard Ginny and the other Weasleys also started shouting in various tones of hurt, indignation, disbelief and anger. Draco sent them an apologetic smile, but just when his father was about to apparate with him, another wave of excited yells came from the Ministry side of the crowd.

"Wait! Isn't that Harry Potter?"

"It's Harry Potter!"

"Someone has to get The Dark Lord."

"We have Harry Potter!"

Draco turned around quickly, wondering why Harry had been so stupid to show himself. He saw Harry looking out of the living room window and the Weasley's and Lupin went into a fighter's stance. Draco could not pay attention to Mrs Weasley trying to get Ginny to go back into the safety of the house because Harry's eyes met Draco's.

His eyes screamed apologies and desperation, and Draco was sure his showed the same. Both boys were scared and startled. Draco's attention was pulled to his father when he laughed nastily. "Well, who do we have here... Well done, Draco. You lead us exactly to who we wanted to find."

Draco froze. This was the last thing he had wanted. Lead the Dark Lord to Harry. Even when he still had not realized how bad this whole course was, he had never wanted The Dark Lord to get Harry. Having to stand in front of The Dark Lord was a thing he did not even wish for his greatest enemies. And now, Harry was the person who meant the most to Draco... He could not stand it. He caught Harry's eyes again, still desperate for him to disappear, but Harry looked determined, disappeared from the window, and appeared on the doorway again. Under the mistletoe where Draco and him had just had one of the most magical moments of their lives. At least for Draco.

Draco wanted to scream at Harry for coming out of the house, wanted to scream at him to disapparate, run away, do not do anything stupid. But this was Harry. He was stupid and ran into danger wherever he could. Especially if someone else could get hurt.

Lucius laughed at the sight of all the Weasleys, Lupin and Harry standing in a line with their wands pointing at the Death Eaters and Ministry workers. Said group joined the laughter. "Do you wanna do the honours, Draco?"

Draco almost threw up when his father gestured at his arm. He wanted Draco to summon The Dark Lord. In his own Lucius way, it was probably a smart move to protect Draco from the worst punishment, presenting Draco as the one finding Harry Potter. But Draco did not want to. He did not want The Dark Lord to come. Draco shook his head frantically.

"Draco." His mother stepped in, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder and trying to look into his eyes. "Do it. Please." Draco shook his head again, pleading his mother with his eyes. He did not know what he wanted her to do. What should she do? She was on her husband's side. "Do it."She whispered again, taking Draco's hand which was still holding the wand and lifting it up. Draco shook his head again.

"Ugh, this is taking too long." Crabbe, Vincent's father, groaned. "I'm gonna call him." Before anyone could stop him, he had his wand pressed to the Dark Mark on his forearm and Draco hissed, grabbing his own burning forearm.

He pulled himself together and glared at the group standing in front of him. "What are you still standing there?" He yelled. "Go away. Disapparate!" They all looked at him, but did not move. Draco wondered how they could be so stupid. A wind came up and the person Draco liked the least in the world appeared in the middle of everyone. He had his back turned to the Weasleys and Draco still tried to signal them to go away, save themselves.

"Draco." Lucius hissed. "What are you doing? Be quiet."

Draco bit his lips, more than anxious as the Dark Lord stepped closer to Crabbe. "You called me." He said in his high, threatening voice. "I sure hope it's important, Crabbe."

Crabbe started to shake, half in fear, half in excitement. He pointed a shaky finger behind the Dark Lord. Before he could say something, Lucius started to talk though. "Draco led us to Potter, my Lord."

Draco's eyes widened and he looked at his father, then at the Dark Lord, who was watching him now with his scary snake-like eyes. He came closer and Draco started to shake, not daring to look directly at him, instead looking at the wet grass downwards. "Young Draco Malfoy." The Dark Lord said slowly. Draco hated his voice, and he hated being close enough to smell the scent of snakes and death. "Is that true? Did you not disappear from your parent's care to escape me?" Draco felt a slight pressure on his temples but he tried to block it out. Severus had taught him how to do Occlumency plenty of times, but it was hard to do it without the Dark Lord knowing. "You did, didn't you?" The Dark Lord stepped closer and took Draco's chin into his hand, making him look directly into these horrifying red eyes.

"Don't touch him!" Draco heard. For a second, Draco closed his eyes, wishing with a all his willpower that he had heard wrong and Harry had not just stepped up to The Dark Lord. He knew it was fruitless though.

The Dark Lord let go of Draco and turned around. "Harry Potter." He said, clearly enjoying the moment. "It's nice of you to come to me on your free will."

Panic was running through every cell in Draco's body. He could not let The Dark Lord kill his Harry. He could not lose him now. He had just realized the depth of his feelings. And it was the first time Draco had ever felt such feelings. Besides all of that, Harry did not deserve to die, even if he was so stupid to stand directly in front of the man who was obsessed with seeing him dead.

The Weasleys must have thought something similar because suddenly, the whole family was in front of the Dark Lord, who laughed nastily.

Just like that, a fight broke out. Everywhere, hexes, jinxes and curses were flying around. Somehow, members of the Order of the Phoenix, along with all the Ministry Aurors who had not turned traitors, were in the crowd.

Lucius turned to his son. "Fight now, Draco, come on. The Dark Lord may forgive you. And we can finally have our honorary position back."

Draco looked at the man who he called his father. He knew he was scared, for himself and Draco and Narcissa, but how could he not understand that Draco had lost his heart in this house, on the opposite side of what Lucius stood for? How could he have rode them into this mess in the first place? How could he expect Draco to kill anyone, let alone his friends? Draco saw Harry desperately trying to stay alive in a fight against one of the Darkest Wizards of all times.

"No." He said. "Stupify!" And before Lucius knew it, he lay on the ground, immobile. Draco caught his mother's eyes. She looked scared, betrayed. But there was something else. Resignation. She understood that they had lost Draco in the way he used to be. She understood that he had found himself, but not the way they would have liked to.

Narcissa Malfoy ran up to her son, gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the forehead. "Stay safe." She whispered, then took her Stupefied husband and disapparated. Draco knew she would return when she knew he was safe. It was her duty.

Draco looked into the fighting crowd. Everywhere traitors and Death Eaters were struggling with Order members and Aurors. Draco saw the Weasleys and he prayed that they would all get out of this alive. He could not stand the thought of anyone not coming out of this alive.

First, he stupefied Ginny's opponent from behind, then Ron's. Then, he focused on Harry. He knew they had to defeat The Dark Lord, then the fight would be over. But The Dark Lord was The Dark Lord for a reason.

Still, he saw The Dark Lord shooting spell after spell at Harry, who struggled keeping up. Draco ran up to them just when Harry fell to the floor and The Dark Lord was about to say his final spell. "No!" Draco yelled, standing in front of Harry.

The Dark Lord looked startled for a moment, then his face distorted into a nasty smile. "So young Draco has changed sides. Too bad, you've always been one of my favourites..." Draco grimaced, his heart speeding up as The Dark Lord pointed his wand at him, but Draco did not move. "I guess I'll have to kill you first then."

Harry seemed to get part of his strength back, because he stood back up with barely suppressed groans of pain. He pushed Draco away weakly, "Are you crazy?"

"You're weak, Harry." Draco said. "Run away."

Harry and Draco, side by side, stood in front of the Dark Lord, their wands pointed at him, but he watched them in mild amusement. "You wish." Harry said. "You go away. He doesn't want you. Save yourself right now."

"Like I would leave you now, Potter." Draco gripped his wand tighter.

"You think," The Dark Lord said, looking highly amused, "Two teenage boys like you can conquer the greatest wizard of all times."

"You're not the greatest wizard." Harry said. "That's Albus Dumbledore."

"It is?" The Dark Lord said. "And where is the great wizard now when you need him?"

That made Draco freeze for a second. He was right. Where was Professor Dumbledore? "He's here." Harry said, not looking away from his opponent. "He's helping everyone else, but he obviously trusts me with you."

Draco dared to look away for a second to find Harry was right. Dumbledore was in the crowd, sending Death Eater after Death Eater to the ground, leaving everyone on his side unscathed, as far as Draco could see. It lifted a huge weight from Draco's heart.

Just in time, Draco looked back to see The Dark Lord open his mouth with outstretched wand. Quickly, Draco said, "Stupefy!"

Sadly, The Dark Lord was a good enough wizard to block Draco's spell and fire his "Avada Kedavra" at Harry.

At the same time, Draco heard Harry yell "Expelliarmus!" A golden, gleaming band built up between the wands of The Dark Lord and Harry, who whispered, "Damn, same thing as the grave yard."

"What do you want me to do?" Draco asked. He did not know if it was safe to fire more spells at the Dark Lord now that he had a literal bond with Harry.

"I don't know. I feel weaker..." Harry said and Draco knew. He had seen Harry collapse, about to submit to his fate before Draco stepped in. "Just stay close." Harry said as he held his trembling wand in both of his hands and a kind of net of golden light formed around them. Draco could not see or hear anything from the fight around them.

"You can do it." Draco laid a comforting hand on Harry's waist. "Don't give up." He did not even wonder what was going on or how this was possible. He just wanted Harry to get through this alive. They suddenly heard terrible, slightly muffled screams come out of the Dark Lord's wand which Draco flinched at.

"Looks like the last thing he used was Cruciatus." Harry said.

"What?" Draco asked, not taking his eyes of the Dark Lord, who seemed to sense signs of weakness in Harry and his eyes twinkled with confidence in his victory.

"You're going to be next, young Malfoy." The Dark Lord grinned.

"No!" Harry shouted, sending the energy a good distance back to the Dark Lord. He, in return, squinted at Harry, trying to get it back.

"Hold the wand with him, Draco!" Both Harry and Draco looked to the side, where they could see vague figures through the blinding golden light cage, watching the exchange. It obviously had been Dumbledore, who shouted, "Don't lose concentration!"

Harry and Draco looked back at the Dark Lord, who grinned victoriously as the energy came rapidly towards the two of them. Without thinking, Draco did as Dumbledore had told them and gripped Harry's wand. Automatically, his energy went into the bond. It felt foreign and strange, but Harry's panicked voice, "Push back!", made Draco use his energy, trying to push both spells, Expelliarmus and Avada Kedavra, back to the Dark Lord.

Together, with much energy that Draco wondered where Harry even got that from considering he was still weak, they managed to get the middle of their spells completely back to the Dark Lord, who looked not as composed as Draco was used to.

Out of his wand, the screams from before came out clearer. Then, several witches and wizards which the Dark Lord had killed, came out of the wand, along with Inferi and a house elf. They looked transparent and unreal, but they were clearly there. "What's this?" Draco asked aghast.

"His last spells." Harry said. Draco could tell that his strength was slowly leaving him, so Draco pushed harder. He wondered again if he could risk firing his own spell with his other hand, but he was too scared that it would somehow affect Harry.

"Can we send another spell?" Draco asked, but Harry shrugged his shoulders shakily, sweat dripping down his temples. Draco decided to risk it, sending a "Stupefy!" through the bond and finally, the Dark Lord flew back, breaking the bond and the golden cage.

Everyone gasped, looking at the Dark Lord's lifeless body, but no one dared to approach him. Draco only looked at him for a few seconds before he felt Harry collapsing next to him and quickly catching him.

"Harry!" He shouted, sitting on the grass with Harry in his lap, trying to wake the passed out boy up again. "Harry, are you okay? Please tell me you're okay!"

Ginny approached him, feeling Harry's throat and telling Draco, "He's still alive. We should get him to St Mungo's."

Draco agreed, not even caring what had happened to the Dark Lord. "How are the others?"

Ginny smiled. She looked battered and tired but relieved. "They're okay. A few injuries but nothing that can't be fixed."

Draco smiled back, then looked down at Harry. His hand was laying on his heart and he felt something. "Wait, Ginny. His heart is slowing down! He's stopping to breath! Harry! Don't do this!"

"We need to get him to St Mungo's fast." Ginny said, sounding slightly panicked herself. "Dad!"

Draco did not pay attention to anything around him. Just Harry, who seemed to give his life up in his arms. "Harry! Harry, wake up! Don't do this. HARRY!"