Unusual ending - 31/32

[herumtreiber]

Title:  Unusual ending 31/32
Chapter: Epilogue: Unusual ending - 1
Author:herumtreiber  
Genre: Slash, time travel, romance, adventure
Disclaimer:  I do not own Harry Potter or related characters. Nor do I make any money from the writing of these stories.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Epilogue compliant? No way!
Chapter length: ~6,600 the two parts
Summary: Old meets new. Harry walks all over Draco's heart, and when he realizes his mistakes he does the unforgivable so Draco takes him back. Time travel. During HBP, disregards Deathly Hallows - that means everyone's alive, except Sirius, but...


Table of contents



In the hall of the ancient mages -  2/2

April 30th, 1998

"At the end of my reveries
you're my redemption and my sin;
you and me joining our bare skin,
whispering your name to the breeze."

Ron finished reading aloud Draco's poem, putting the parchment on the bench. He fingered Draco's fine calligraphy on the soft vellum, mumbling, "Blimey, that's disturbing!"

Draco angrily put the parchment on his school bag, looking at the door of the locker room. He lifted an eyebrow, muttering, "Still a homophobe, Weasley? I'd thought that after all we've gone through-"

Ron interrupted him, raising his hand and brushing his fringe. "No, it isn't what you think, Draco. What if Harry tells Hermione about the poem?"

The redhead shuddered, recalling his girlfriend's tenacious streak. "She'll want me to write one too, and I'm piss at it!"

Draco took the leather gloves from his Quidditch kit, carelessly pulling aside his green Quidditch cloak. "Do not worry, Weasley. I'll dictate poems to you. I'll be your Cyrano, your Beedle!"

Ron frowned as he took out the case that contained the golden Snitches. "I don't need you to be my bard, Malfoy. Just... tell Harry to keep your poetry to himself, please!"

Draco sat on the wooden bench to adjust his black dragon leather boots. "I'll do it, but you know Harry, Ron. Once he's made up his mind..."

"... he doesn't change it," finished Weasley, sighing wearily. He took out his wand and cast Tempus, frowning at the results. "Where is he anyway? He's the one who insisted on playing you one on one!"

"Probably with your brothers." Draco looked sharply at his shiny boots, carefully moving his right heel to test the balance. "Or he might be escaping that crazy elf, Dobby."

Ron shook his head, watching Draco. "Leave your footgear alone, Malfoy. You're quite the narcissist, you know?"

"I'm only trying to look my best when I catch the Snitch before Harry!"

Ron snorted, hefting the small golden ball that would flutter its wings once it was activated. "In your dreams, Draco!"

The blond Slytherin smirked. "You're talking to the captain of the team that won the Quidditch Cup!"

The redhead went to the door of the locker room, turning his face to glare at Draco. "That was a fluke! And Harry caught the Snitch if you remember."

"Not before I got so many goals that it didn't matter whether he caught the Snitch or not." Draco brushed his green cloak, shifting from his right foot to his left as he gazed at his reflection in the mirror.

"Who would've believed you'd be a better Chaser than Seeker?" growled Ron, recalling the indignation of watching his beloved team lose as he sat on the stands. "You only scored so many 'cause I wasn't Keeper; it was that prat, McLaggen!"

The door opened, almost hitting Ron. "Watch out, will you!"

"Sorry, Ronniekins." Fred sauntered into the room. "What's taking you so long?"

George's voice came from outside. "Probably Draco is discussing with him how to tell Harry about the BJ."

Draco snorted, picking up his school bag. "Already told him; didn't get mad at me."

George walked into the room, throwing a potion vial to his twin, who deftly caught it in midair. "What did you tell him, oh cunning one?"

Draco fidgeted as he fingered one of his wands, touching the smooth hawthorn surface. "I told Harry he had the sudden urge to give me a BJ because you were testing one of your products."

Fred turned to his twin, winking. "Very sneaky... also cowardly. We might decide..."

"... to blackmail you..."

"... if we ever need to..."

"... keep you in line," finished George, gleefully rubbing his hands.

"What's a BJ?" Ron walked out the door, holding the leather case in his left hand as he bounced the immobile Snitch on his palm.

Fred draped an arm around his kid brother. "Do not fret your pretty head, Ron. You have no need to know what a BJ is, unless Hermione takes Polyjuice."

Ron squinted at his brother. "You too? McGonagall is always hinting that Hermione likes to change her body to do unseemly things. Mione's worried that McGonagall won't give her an Outstanding on her NEWTs and she'll lose to you." He pointed accusingly at Draco with the leather case.

"Granger is just afraid she'll end up second to me, as well she should be." Draco puffed up his chest.

"Conceited much?" said Fred.

Draco glared, a sarcastic reply on the tip of his tongue; but then Cho Chang greeted him. The Ravenclaw Seeker was walking next to Padma Patil, Blaise a few steps behind.

The blond scowled at his best friend who was whistling a melody he and Pansy had concocted called, 'Potter is our King for he catches the Snitch.'

The Slytherin duo was mad at Draco because they felt he'd neglected them since the fight where they finally got rid of Voldemort.

"Oi, Ron!" Blaise greeted Weasley warmly, clapping his shoulder as he ignored the fuming blond.

Draco thought they were only pretending to be mad; he suspected they just wanted to vent because Snape was driving all of his students bonkers in their final weeks at Hogwarts, preparing strange brews. The Headmaster was still teaching Potions, being unable to find an adequate substitute for his classes.

Cho smiled brightly at her fellow Seeker. She grabbed Draco's elbow, kissing him on the cheek. "Beat Harry for me, will you, Draco? I want that wet-kisser to lose."

"Cho, please! That was long ago!" Harry sauntered towards them, coming from the Pitch. He put a hand on his glasses to shield his eyes from the sun's glare. Because exams were coming up, the only moment they could play to find out who was the best Seeker was just before sunset.

Cho frowned at Harry whilst Padma put a calming hand on Chang's shoulder. "You just had to tell Hermione my kisses are wet and she told everyone! Boys didn't want to go out with me, let alone kiss me. All because of you, Harry Potter!"

"Mione is not a snitch!" retorted Ron angrily. "It was Lavender and your sister." He pointed at Padma, continuing in a softer tone. "They overheard and spread that tale!"

Cho shrugged, she wasn't that angry. She just liked to rile Harry up, taking a leaf out of Draco's teachings. She was happy enough that her fellow classmates no longer blamed her for tattling to Umbridge. Poor Marietta had to bear the brunt of their displeasure now.

After they arrived at the Pitch, Harry soundly kissed Draco as the girls cheered them on.

"Want to bet something?" Harry cocked an eyebrow, a mannerism he picked up from Draco.

"No, Harry. I'm sure I'll beat you; don't need any bet to insure that."

The group saw several adults walking toward them. Sirius Black was striding purposefully just behind Remus and Severus.

The Marauder caught up with the Headmaster and whispered something in his ear. Snape shook his head, nodding grudgingly to the students.

"What were you telling Sev?" Remus looked around, a bit fearful that Dobby would suddenly appear. The fanatical house-elf had become a big fan of Sirius and had the habit of following the Marauder, together with the ever-grumbling Kreacher.

Sirius went to his godson, ruffling his hair. "Oi, Harry! Remy, I asked Severus if he'd prepared the potion."

"What potion?" Remus frowned worriedly; now that Voldemort was gone for good Sirius had reacquired his old habit of pranking people, aided by the Weasley twins. Molly hadn't helped when she insisted the twins had to finish school or face her formidable wrath.

"The one that will get rid of your lycanthropy." Sirius fingered his goatee, winking at Harry.

"You're just taking the piss, Siri, aren't you?" Remus thwacked Sirius on the head. "Now you turn out to be a Potions Master too?"

Sirius rubbed his hair. "Don't be so violent, Remus, or I'll tell Tonks! And for your information I got the potion from another reality where they cured lycanthropy!"

---

The two Seekers jumped on their brooms and rose to the air after Ron let go of the Snitch.

George eyed the Headmaster, expecting him to be the referee but Snape just handed a pair of binoculars to Cho.

"Really? Is there a cure? I gave up hope long ago." Remus stared wistfully towards the castle and the forlorn branches of the Whomping Willow in the distance, remembering all the troubles he had to hide his lycanthropy while at Hogwarts.

"It's something I picked up in another realm." Sirius crossed his arms as he gazed skyward, following his godson, hurtling through the air chased by Draco. The two boys feinted each other, swerving right and left of the brightly coloured stands as they followed the Snitch, glinting in the twilight.

"Are you serious?"

Sirius rolled his eyes as if to say, 'Aren't I always?'

Severus coughed, his grave mien betraying no emotions as he quipped sarcastically, "Indeed. I have it ready, Remus. It's a pity that there will be only one... mutt left to mock."

Remus took aside his friend, whispering, "You prank everyone, Sirius. How come you don't prank Draco?" He waved to one of his favourite students, Luna Lovegood, who was skipping towards them moving in a random fashion. Maybe she did not want to disturb strange magical animals.

The Marauder winked at Remus. "Moony, I need Draco so he can save me in the future with the Elder wand... the Golden Bough... whatever."

Sirius smiled in a sinister fashion, rubbing his hands. "Once the dragon does that, I have a great prank to play on him, involving Moody."

Meanwhile, Luna had looked up at the sky, following the tiny figures of the Seekers. "Draco had better watch out for the gobblemassels. They come out in force around this time." She squinted at Ron and Hermione. "Well, who is going to comment the game?"

---

Harry was too busy ogling Draco's lean form to care much for the Snitch. In the waning twilight, Draco's hair sparkled as if it was spun of finest silver. The Slytherin's strong legs gripped the broom. Harry sighed, gripping his new broom. Wish he had his legs wrapped around me!

Draco's green robe flapped in front of Harry as the blond swerved to avoid the Gryffindor stands. Harry was startled, almost stamping himself on the canvas. With a swift movement of his hand, Harry leaned his body to the right and evaded that fate.

"Scared, Potter?" taunted Draco as he flew above Harry. The Gryffindor squinted at his boyfriend, sure in the knowledge that Draco was his, that they had a future together.

His painful journey had been worth it because Harry recovered his love and his best friends, together with Sirius, Remus and Snape.

"You wish!" shouted Harry joyfully as he sped towards the Snitch. He turned to smirk at Draco but at that moment the fluttering golden ball flew to Harry's right, evading his grasp as if it was a summer dream - or one of those memories that still haunted him sometimes. Draco dancing away in the arms of Boot and leaving Harry alone during their graduation ball as the Weird Sisters sang the song he hated with a passion, 'A cauldron full of hot, strong love.'

Harry smiled when he saw his faithful friend flying towards him, her white wings spread wide as she flew over the southernmost hoop.

However, his happiness stopped when Hedwig hurtled past him, hooting angrily.

"I'm sorry I haven't been to see you, Hedwig."

"HOOT!"

"Been busy saving the world, again." But Hedwig glared at Harry, her wings flapping majestically in the air current that lifted her above the Gryffindor.

"You're crazy, Harry. Talking to your owl!" Draco drawled, flying next to Harry and Hedwig.

"Like I haven't heard you talking to yours!" retorted Harry.

"A word of advice. Treat her like a Slytherin."

Harry looked sharply at his boyfriend who sped away. He remembered Draco talking about his owl and Hedwig. Shaking his head, Harry decided to use that knowledge to win his owl's good graces, like a Slytherin.

"I reckon I wouldn't be adverse if you hooked up with that handsome owl, Chibigon."

"Hoot?"

"Really, Hedwig. You and he contrast nicely, light and dark if you get my meaning."

"Hoot!"

Hedwig gazed at her understanding master and flew towards the Owlery, hooting affectionately.

The Gryffindor flew towards Draco, hovering above the centre of the Pitch. Harry drank in the sight of his blond lover; the sunlight made him look as if he was enveloped in a golden glow. His hair in disarray - cheeks blushing and stormy eyes sparkling - Draco smiled lovingly at Harry and flew towards the Snitch.

This was worth all the trouble in the world; the love and companionship of Draco, his equal and friend at last.

Harry dimly heard Luna commenting from a makeshift magical amplifier. "After that owl interlude - Harry, you should pay attention to your pets - the Slytherin follows the Snitch, deftly evading the angry gobblemassel that feeds off smirking boys. Though now Harry seems lost in his world. 'Hogwarts calling Harry!' You're losing the-"

Ron grabbed the microphone and shouted to his best friend, "Mate, don't let Draco beat you! I have plenty of confid-"

Fred yelled into the microphone, "Ron means he bet me 20 Galleons against Draco, Harry! Don't let him fool you!"

Harry smiled and waved at his friends below; tiny speckles of black, gold and red against the green of the Quidditch pitch.

Draco swooped down from above, holding in his palm the Snitch. Harry wasn't angry at all, but his Slytherin side reared up its scheming head and he feigned a glare, intent on getting Draco where he wanted him - on his bed.
 
Epilogue: Unusual ending - 2/2