𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭

Inside the tent, Draco and Harry sat quietly with Draco softly holding the small baby to his chest. 

The awkward air floated about them. Harry hesitated, choking on his words, but he still somehow forced them out, "Draco, I will not give her up."

"I do not wish to discuss this now. For the time being, she needs both of us. Where she is going to stay after all of this is over….can be decided later."

Draco didn't look at Harry. His entire attention focused on the child in his arms.

A moment of silence prevailed.

"There won't be any discussion now or later. I won't give her up, nor will I let you leave." Harry's tone was firm and resolute.

Draco's head snapped to look at him with a displeased frown, "What do you mean, Potter?"

Harry looked at him dead in the eyes, not hiding an inch of his intentions. "Draco, do not tell me you are blind enough to not see my heart."

His blatant words shocked Draco to his core. He didn't expect Harry to put it so rudely and direct.

Harry's eyes glowed a frightening emerald, filled with bone-deep affection and craze as he spoke. "Do not tell me that you didn't notice my love and my lust for you."

Draco took an instinctive step back when he saw the emotions swimming in those emerald eyes.

A pause and Harry's voice dwelled deeper in a hushed whisper in Draco's flushed ear, "Don't tell me you didn't know that it was me who painted those marks on your neck, Draco."

 Draco's eyes widened in panic. He truly didn't know that the red marks on his neck weren't insect bites, but hickeys apparently made by the man before him.

 "The same marks that you refused to erase, that you still bear on your neck even now."

Harry inches closer, crowding Draco's space. His warm breath brushed past panting lips as he spoke, "Don't leave me, Draco."

 He pleaded like a hopeless drunkard begging for a taste of the rarest wine.

 "I need you. I need you to relieve this longing ache in my bones, and this madness happening in my mind. I don't know how or when, but you have become more necessary than the air I breathe."

Draco's breath stopped and everything stilled as Harry's voice rang in his head, "Don't take away my reason to live, Draco."

The sound of their hurried breaths echoed around as the world fell still. A jolt of electricity traveled through Draco's shocked nerves, bringing goosebumps to his pale skin. 

Draco couldn't move his gaze away from deep emerald eyes. His own grey ones wide and frowning. The shock and thrill of fear swirled in them.

"Draco, I brought the milk-", Pansy's voice suddenly broke the scene but stopped as she noticed the tension in the air. Taking note of how close the two people were.

Draco hurriedly moved back, clearly attempting to flee. Walking to sit on the cot, he gently cradled the baby carefully on his lap, so as to make the baby comfortable in his arms. "Keep it on the table since she's still asleep. Did you remember to buy a bottle?"

"Yes, I even filled it with milk." 

Pansy suspiciously looked between the two of them but still went over to keep the baby bottle filled to the brim with milk. 

"Thank you", Draco smiled tiredly.

Pansy replied with a smile on her lips, "It's no trouble. It's the least I can do for my niece."

Harry watched wordlessly as the scene transpired. He took notice of how Draco refused to even look at him. 

He sighed and said, "I understand that you do not wish to talk about this now. I am more than happy to wait, Draco. All I ask is that you don't run away.” The last bit spoken somewhat forcefully.

Draco still didn't reply, or even look at him. His eyes remained trained on the baby as he rocked her. He behaved as if Harry didn't exist.

Harry suppressed the sorrow and helpless anger he felt at Draco's ignorance, as he walked out in few steps.

Pansy looked at Harry's stiff back as he left with angry footsteps. She turned to Draco, asking in a low voice, "What happened between both of you?"

Draco looked up at her with blank and distant eyes, "Nothing. You should go and rest. You have just gotten up from the sick bed. Don't fall in it again."

Even if the words were polite, Pansy clearly understood that Draco was dismissing her. Without another word she made her way out as well. Telling Draco to call her if he needed help, as she stepped out.

In the solitude, Draco took a deep breath before closing his eyes, giving them a moment of rest.

He truly didn't know that the marks on his neck were left by Harry. When did he leave them on his neck anyway? How did he not wake up while he was doing such a thing? 

The prospect of such a thing happening without his knowledge scared him. What ways did Harry use to do such a thing to his body?! No, something like this couldn’t be repeated. He should stay away from him.

That noon when everyone sat down for lunch, the atmosphere was slightly awkward and uneasy.

Ron was quiet as well. Not because of the heavy tension in the air, but because of the jumble in his head.

The symbol Hermione showed them that day has not left his mind since. He has a nagging feeling that he has seen it somewhere before. It's just on the tip of his tongue. 

In his turmoil, he didn't notice when Pansy said something to him.

"Huh? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention just now"

"Did you know that Luna Lovegood has gone missing? I heard it on the radio this morning. Many others from school have disappeared as well. Who knows how they’re doing right now? I hope that they are at least alive."

And suddenly something clicked. Luna Lovegood….Xenophilius Lovegood…

Like lightning, Ron stood up and ran towards Harry, who was still eating grimly due to the earlier events that transpired.

Taking hold of him by shoulders, Ron loudly exclaimed with a silly smile, "Harry! Xenophilius Lovegood! Xenophilius Lovegood! Luna Lovegood's father, Xenophilius Lovegood!"

Harry frowned looking at Ron, the bowl in his hands having fallen due to the unexpected touch.

Pulling Ron's hand from his shoulders, Harry forced him to sit down before asking, "What happened? What Xenophilius Lovegood? Why are you acting like this?!"

Ron's eyes were wide and his entire body shaking with excitement, "The symbol in Hermione's book! Xenophilius Lovegood was wearing the same exact symbol as a pendant at Bill and Flueré's wedding! Whatever Dumbledore wanted to tell us, Xenophilius Lovegood must surely know it too !"

Harry's surprised gaze instinctively looked back to meet Draco's. As if reading each other's minds, they said one after another.

 "Pack up, we are leaving right now." 

"Remember to properly check all your belongings and the surroundings before I take down the barriers.", Draco followed after Harry.

As everyone was quick to get up and on with their tasks, Hermione suddenly shouted, "Everyone wait!"

Harry looked back at her with a questioning gaze, "What happened, 'mione?"

She looked at Harry and Draco before firmly saying, "Harry, I think it's unnecessary for all of us to go there"

Harry stopped, "Well, all of us aren't going there anyway. I am going there while the rest of you take off to the snow forests of Bulgaria."

Draco was the first to object, his eyes squinted with threats, "What do you mean by 'the rest of us', Potter? I assume you don't mean to go there alone, do you?"

Unfazed by the threats and challenge clear in his eyes as Harry met Draco's, "That's exactly what I meant, Draco. Either way, you don't seem to be very flattered staying in the same vicinity as me."

Draco's replied with tone filled with obvious displeasure and sharp words, "You asked me not to run away, Potter. Now you are the one running away first."

Fury shown in Harry's eyes, his voice tight, "You’re the one who has been ignoring me since this morning! And even then I am not running away! I'll be coming back in a couple of days!"

"How is this any different from running away, Potter?! You were the one who begged me to stay! And now you are the one going away! How else should I take this, Potter?!"

"I just wanted to give you some space!"

"I don't need space! I am not so weak that your presence will make me feel anything! Don't flatter yourself so much, Potter! You bloody narcissist!"

"Fine! I won't go! Are you happy now?!"

"Very much so!" Draco shouted even if he was anything but happy. 

A couple minutes passed in tense silence, only the heavy breathing of two angry young men remained.

Harry took a deep breath and pressed all of his anger tightly inside.

 "So what should we do?" Harry asked, not looking at Draco but subconsciously directing the question at him.

Draco remained silent and didn't even look at Harry.

  At the obvious coldness towards him, Harry exclaimed, "See! You’re ignoring me again!"

Draco snapped his head towards Harry with a poisonous glare as he shouted, "Do you have a problem with letting me think in peace as well now?! I already told you, Potter! Don't be narcissistic! Not everything is about you!"

"Okay! It's all my fault! Take your sweet time to think!"

"Thank Merlin. At least you have some manners."

"Ohhhh~"

"That must have stung."

"Malfoy's fucking awesome!"

"Malfoy: 1000! Potter: 0! What a tragic defeat!", a hushed voice that sounded a lot like Ron sounded from behind Harry. 

"At least, we know who wears the pants in the relationship now." Another male voice whispered.

"Didn't we always know that? Harry's a total wife slave." This time it was a female voice.

"Not a wife slave, a husband slave." A third male voice joined.

"Same thing, same thing."

Harry turned around to viciously glare at Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George. Their mouths instantly shut as if glued.

If looks could kill, they would be ten feet under the ground right now.

The tense silence was suffocating and Hermione decided that it was her stage to take. Taking the chance, Hermione stepped forward, "Harry, why don't you let me go ?"

Draco turned his attention to Hermione, "You’re willing to go? Alone?"

"Yes." she replied firmly with resolution.

Draco took a second to look at her, and the way she held herself tight. 

It was true that Hermione was capable and smart enough for this. With this in mind, Draco agreed, "Fine, but you can't go alone. Pansy, will you accompany Granger? I am sure that you will be of help to her."

"You don't have to ask. I wanted to go with her anyway." Pansy nonchalantly replied.

Draco nodded with satisfaction, "Why don't the both of you get ready? You should set off before nightfall."

Hermione looked at Pansy and silently followed her back to the tent for a necessary discussion.

As the two walked away to get ready, Harry slightly tilted towards Draco, "Do you think that this is wise? Sending two girls alone into danger doesn't quite sit right with me."

Draco looked towards Harry with obvious scorn, "Says the man whose mother defeated Voldemort. I didn't expect you to be a hypocrite, Potter."

Harry frowned, "That isn't what I meant!"

A deep emotion flashed through grey eyes, "Only after going through hellfire can a rough diamond shine to its full brilliance. And what's more, they themselves agreed to it."

The worry in Harry's eyes still didn't fade, "But-"

"Let them go, Potter. Till then we can keep looking out for them. You won't be able to watch her back all the time."

 With a defeated sigh, Harry turned to instruct the others to pack up.

In about an hour everything was packed and everyone was ready. Harry looked at Hermione with worry hidden deep in stone-cold eyes. 

Harry’s face grew somber and serious. He looked at Hermione and saw the determination in her eyes, not fear or hesitance. Draco was right. Hermione was ready for whatever that lay ahead.

His booming voice resounded, “Do you know what you have to do?”

And she answered with an unwavering voice, “Yes. We have to get whatever details we can get about that symbol.”

“That’s correct. But what else? What is the most important?”

Confusion appeared on her face and her voice somewhat hesitated, “That… we get back as soon as possible..?”

“Wrong. The most important thing is you.”

His eyes shifted to glare at Pansy standing at Hermione’s side, “You hold more value than any information or any opportunity. Your life is more important than anything. And I expect to see you back in one piece. Do you understand?”

“Yes!” Hermione and Pansy’s loud voices echoed.

With that Harry stepped back. Hermione turned to walk away with one last look towards her friends. Pansy silently followed her like a shadow. 

Suddenly, Harry spoke out, “Pansy” beckoning her back.

Pansy stopped, turning to face him in slight hesitance, “Yes?”

Harry looked into her eyes, saying, “You are as important as Hermione. So don’t assume yourself any less. You are one of my own. And I expect you to return back to us.”

Pansy suddenly drew a sharp breath with her eyes shocked open wide. 

Harry stepped forward, putting one hand on her shoulder, “Come back to us, okay?”

And Pansy nodded with glassy eyes, what else could she do after hearing that?

From behind her Hermione called, “Come on, let’s leave. We'll be able to come back early if we leave now.”

This time when Pansy turned to walk, her steps were beside Hermione’s, while matching her pace. 

Draco looked at Pansy, her spine straight and steps firm. It's not an easy task to let your dear ones leave your shelter and protection, but it’s a necessary one. 

Draco stepped beside Harry, watching the figure of both girls gradually becoming smaller before finally disappearing. His gaze still stared in the distance, in daze even after Pansy and Hermione apparated away. 

“Thank You”, a hushed voice whispered beside Harry. He turned to look at the pale and dazzling side of Draco’s face. His reply was incredibly simple, “Anything for you.”