Harry dreamed of soft, golden fields and blue, blue skies. Two figures approached him and he knew instantly who they were. He wanted to run to them but he knew he must wait for them to come to him.

"I'm so proud of you," said the bespectacled man.

"We knew you could," said the woman with red hair.

"I didn't think I really could," Harry told them, a catch in his voice. They looked so happy, as if they had been waiting for this moment.

"We're sorry you had to do it alone," said the man.

"But I wasn't alone. Draco was with me. I couldn't have done it without him. That's...that's all right isn't it?"

The woman smiled. "Of course, Harry. Love is always all right."

They faded and so did the field and Harry found himself awakening in the hospital wing, with Ron and Hermione standing over him.

"He's coming round!" said Ron. He was pretty sure it was Ron, though someone had taken off his glasses.

"Is this a dream?" he asked, voice hoarse.

"No, mate. It's for real. You-Know-Who is dead and gone for good. You did it! You really did it."

Harry thought so. Hermione handed him his glasses. He felt a little lighter, a little less put upon. He reached up to his forehead.

"Yes," said Hermione. "It's gone."

He tried to feel the raised scar, so familiar to him all his life, but all he felt at his fingertips was smooth skin. "Blimey," he muttered.

But then he thought of Draco. "Where's Draco?"

Hermione gestured to the bed beside him. Draco was still asleep. That familiar white-blond hair lay across his pillow. "Everything's all right then?" he asked, hoping.

"No one was hurt, Harry," she said. "And Dumbledore and Mr. Malfoy are back."

"Oh good." He really couldn't stay awake and decided that it would be all right to sleep now.

He awoke for good a few hours later. The first thing he noticed were the piles and piles of Honeydukes sweets, flowers, packages, scrolls and envelopes from well-wishers. It took up most of the wing in fact. Then he noticed Draco lying in bed beside him over the covers, stroking his hair. He smiled up at the Slytherin. "I understand that this is a Voldemort-free world now."

Draco bent over and kissed him. "Too bloody right," he said. "You bloody well did it, Potter."

"We did, as I recall."

"But it was your magic that grabbed mine. Weird feeling."

"Yeah. Funny. I had just given up."

"Really?" Draco looked concerned. "But how did you--?"

Harry shrugged. "More of that inexplicable magic, I guess. Just protecting my lover."

"Yeah. I guess I'll have to stay with you now. There's no one likely to top that."

Harry turned toward the doorway where many voices gathered, among them Dumbledore's. Harry sat up and Draco discreetly stepped aside.

"Harry my boy!" said Dumbledore, and surprised Harry by taking him into his arms and hugging him tight.

"Professor!" He smiled at him breathlessly. "How did you manage it?"

"I could ask you the same thing, but I know how you managed it."

Harry found himself blushing. Just a little power the Dark Lord knows not. As you knew all along. "But tell me, sir. How did you manage to kill Nagini and get away? Is Mrs. Malfoy okay? What happened to the other Death Eaters?"

"Many questions, Harry. It is indeed a thrilling and exciting tale." He pulled up a chair and brushed the piles of sweets off of it as he sat. "You have many admirers, Harry. The whole of the Wizarding world is celebrating. Word travels fast. Especially good news."

"You're a hero, Harry," said Draco. "But I knew it all along."

"Indeed."

"But Nagini. How did you--?"

"Of course, of course. Well, when Lucius and I Disapparated, we went first to Professor Snape's dungeon to collect Polyjuice potion." Harry raised his brows in question, but Dumbledore went on. "We needed it in order to get into the lair of the devil...er...that is, Malfoy Manor. Pardon, Mr. Malfoy," he said to a stiff Draco. "At any rate, we were able to subdue two Death Eaters, and by obtaining their hairs, disguised ourselves as them and moved into the inner circle. When an opportunity presented itself, we dispatched the snake and still had time to rescue the damsel in distress. I must say, it was the most challenging bit of business I have done in a long time." He smiled. "I understand you had some challenging moments yourself."

"Found the Horcrux," said Harry proudly.

"Yes, and good thinking, too. I must say, it never occurred to me. Foolish. One always tends to overcomplicate things. Including Voldemort. He was too single-minded on his goal and neglected the greatest power of all: Love. His undoing, of course. So it is true for all tyrants. Love has saved the day again. It saved you, Harry, the first time, and I had no doubt it would save you at the last."

"I certainly had my doubts, Headmaster. I had all but given up. And then I just realized how much I love Draco. Really love him." He blushed furiously at this admission, but he looked up to the blond man standing beside him. Draco dropped his hand to Harry's shoulder and squeezed. "And when our wands joined all that love just...overwhelmed him, I guess."

"Yes. So many underestimate the power of love. Well, I see that you are well, and I shall talk to Madam Pomfrey to see if you may be discharged. I am afraid the school is in chaos. I do not believe we will be able to settle down and finish our courses this year. But I suppose I cannot blame them. This is after all a fine end to your years at Hogwarts, Harry."

"You mean term is over?"

"We have one month left, but I do not think anyone is of a mind to go back to classes. Everyone except your Miss Granger, of course."

Harry laughed. "Of course!"

Dumbledore patted his hand, rose, and left to talk to the mediwitch.

Harry looked at Draco who sat on the bed again. He hugged Harry and kissed his cheek. "So that's it," he said. "I guess we are fully fledged wizards now. You especially."

"But you helped me!"

Draco shook his head. "I wasn't the one training my wand on the Dark Lord. There's only room for one hero in this saga and it's you, Potter. But I get to live happily ever after with you."

"Yeah." Harry put his arm around Draco and held him close. "I think it's about bloody time I had a happily ever after to this nasty fairy tale." He turned Draco's face and took his lips in a searing kiss. When they pulled away, Draco sighed and laid his head against Harry's neck.

"Well, it's a fairy tale for sure."

Harry laughed. It was good to laugh. It was good to feel free. Free of the Durselys and free of Voldemort. He didn't know what he was going to do with his life in the next few days let alone the next few years, but he knew one thing: Draco was going to be a part of it.

The End


A/N: One more sequel to this coming up called "After Hogwarts."


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