Always (H/D, PG-13)

[sesheta66]

Title: Always
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~ 1150 words
Challenges: For lusiology's birthday, she requested: "discovered identity, either animagi or polyjuice" Also fits my 100quills prompt 044 - "Silhouette."
Summary: When it was time to kill Voldemort, Harry got some help from an unexpected source.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.



Strange, Harry thought, as the wolf pinned him with a stare. He hadn't seen a grey wolf around here before, and certainly didn't expect one whose gaze felt like it was boring into his soul.

Harry had been taken aback when he had first seen the silhouette of the animal in the distance, but by now it was rather a comforting sight. Harry had been here for a week now, waiting. The wolf had been there too, since that first night. A companion of sorts, even though it never came close. The Order had intelligence, or so they called it, that Voldemort had been spotted nearby, and they were going to try to draw him out of hiding, so that Harry could face and kill him. Finally. It had been three years since Dumbledore's death. It was about time.

Harry looked around for any traces of magic, but saw none, so he settled in for another long night of the same.

Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of Apparition assaulted Harry, bringing him out of his complacent state. Looking around, he surveyed the situation, noting that Death Eaters, Aurors, and Order members were battling in the clearing. He searched in vain for any sign of Voldemort. He found none.

In the distance, Harry heard a howl, and turned in the direction of the sound. There he was. Voldemort. Larger than life, yet hidden in the shadows. Just like Harry was. Only Harry had the advantage -- he had seen Voldemort. Harry approached cautiously, remaining hidden under the cover of trees. Wand raised, he stepped forward ... closer ... closer ...

SNAP! Oh shit! He had stepped on a twig.

Voldemort spun around, wand raised, "Avada --"

Out of nowhere, a grey blur flew across Harry's line of vision as he too had begun, "Avada --"

Voldemort went down, tumbling with ... the wolf?!

"Out of the way!" Harry yelled at the wolf who, much to Harry's shock and amazement, did just what Harry asked.

"This is for Draco," Harry whispered before yelling, "Avada Kadavra!" The familiar green light shot out of the end of his wand, hitting Voldemort square in the chest.

Harry watched with morbid fascination as Voldemort's face went from anger to amusement to shock, and then ... nothing. His body lay motionless, eyes empty. That was it. It was over. Harry chanced a look at the clearing, noting that they had gone entirely unnoticed. The battle raged on.

Strange, he thought. He wasn't sure what he had expected, but not this. Not nothing. Of course, no one knew that Voldemort was dead. No one had seen it happen. Had he thought that perhaps there would be an instant when he could no longer feel the dark presence? Perhaps Voldemort had died a little bit with each Horcrux they destroyed that the end was simply that -- the end. A miserable end to a miserable soul. And yet ... Harry felt nothing. No sense of jubilation, no feeling of disgust at having to kill. All he felt was ... relief.

Harry wondered if Draco could see him now. If he was looking down on him with pride. If only. Harry took a deep breath and blinked back tears he couldn't shed -- not now, not here. Three months. Why couldn't the Order have set this up three months ago? Then Draco would have still been alive.

Harry was brought out of his thoughts by the feel of a cool, wet snout nudging his hands. He couldn't help but smile. Harry wrapped his arms around his unexpected guardian and gave him a big hug.

"Thanks, boy," he said into the thick coat. He pulled back and ruffled the fur around the wolf's neck. "You really saved the day, you know that? Not to mention my life." The wolf seemed to acknowledge Harry's words by nuzzling in and licking his neck.

Harry pulled back, chuckling. He looked into the wolf's face. "Thank you." Something caught Harry's attention. Looking into the eyes of the wolf, he saw deep grey pools reflecting back at him curiously.

It couldn't be ...

Afraid to voice his thoughts, but more afraid not to, Harry whispered, "Draco?" The wolf tilted its head and continued looking at Harry. "No, I suppose not," he said, feeling utterly bereft. "Wishful thinking, I suppose," he added, pulling the wolf into another hug.

As he got up to leave, he said to the wolf, "Whoever or whatever you are -- because I suspect you are much more than you seem -- thank you." He brushed a tear away, feeling the loss of Draco all over again, as though it had just happened yesterday, rather than months ago.

He walked towards the battlefield where hexes and curses were still flying, no one yet aware of what had just transpired. Would he ever see Draco again? It had been so long, and everyone was convinced that Draco was dead. Harry had fought that, but as time went on, he reluctantly began to accept the inevitable. And he had never told him ...

"Harry?" came a familiar but raspy voice from behind him. Harry stopped dead in his tracks. "Harry, it's me."

This can't be happening. It must be a dream.

Harry wheeled around to see ... not a wolf, but ... Draco. He looked a fright, hair matted and filthy, skin paler and frame thinner than usual. Harry hadn't ever seen anything more wonderful.

"Draco!" Harry screamed as he launched himself at the other man, pulling him into his embrace, then mercilessly kissing every inch of exposed skin. "Gods, Draco, it's so good to see you! I thought I'd lost you forever. I thought you were dead. We all did." He began blinking furiously again. "What happened to you? Why didn't you contact me? You're an animagus? Where --"

"Harry!" Draco said, grabbing him by his shoulders, and motioning to the battlefield. "I think they might need some help out there."

"I suppose you're right."

"Good. Let's go."

Draco started to move towards the battlefield, but Harry grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "You can explain later, but I need to say something. I can't lose you again, so you have to promise me you'll be careful."

"Harry, it's a battle. I will do what I can, but I can't promise anything."

"It's just that I ... and now isn't the best ... oh, hell. I never got the chance to tell you ... and then you were gone ... and I need you to know ... Draco, I love you."

"I love you too, Harry." He leaned over to give Harry a slow, meaningful kiss. "But for now, we have a battle to fight."

"And some good news to spread."

"That too."

And they went to face the last battle together, as they would face whatever came their way. Today, tomorrow, and always.

~ FIN ~

Ooohhh! Go HERE to see some art that melmoe1 did to go along with this fic!

Comments

[thrnbrooke.livejournal.com]

But what happened? Oh I sooo need more!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

... and they all lived happily ever after?

[lttlelola.livejournal.com]

i need more too!! for some reason i have this image of harry walking with draco into the center of the battle, facing moldishorts minions and saying "news flash!! your side lost!!!" but i think i've been watching ernie reyes to much. lol. that would be funny though.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Heh. Interesting idea.

[suonguyen.livejournal.com]

Wow great! Its really good, but I wish there was more! I really wanted to know what was going to happen or what led to what happened!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Hmmm ... that seems like a consistent response.

Glad you enjoyed.

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

nicely done. i like wolf!draco. and the non-dramatic ending to voldie too.

♥

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks ♥

** Wolves happen to be my favourite animal :o)

[lire-casander.livejournal.com]

You know I'm going to wask for more. I want to know what happened, and I really want to know how they spread the news.

But I'm so glad Draco wasn't dead. I don't know what Harry would have done after all this pain and grief he has been carrying all his life. he doesn't deserve to lose Draco too. He's lost far too many important people in his life.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

More, hmm? That seems to be the general consensus. We'll see ...

I couldn't agree with you more. That's why JKR can't hurt Harry too much in the last book, right? RIGHT?

[knic26.livejournal.com]

Am I the only one that liked the ambiguous ending. Sometimes things don't need to be completely wrapped up in a big pink bow.... I thought it left off in a good place (the rest of it was good too, Yay Draco!)

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Oh, yay! I liked the ending the way it was too ... thanks ♥

[tweeney.livejournal.com]

I actually loved the ambiguous ending as well. It's not that it wasn't unresolved for me, it ended just right. And hmm... wolf!Draco... Is it wrong that I think it's hot? :D

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Wolves (grey ones in particular) are my favourite animal. I find them gorgeous, and I thought that it would suit Draco, especially with the grey eyes. Feel free to think it's hot. ♥

Glad you liked the ending.

[lackofmendacity.livejournal.com]

Wolf!Draco? *swoons* :D

Frankly, I like your ending, despite some calls for clarification as to what happens. The ambiguity worked (in my point of view) because Harry and Draco's relationship is foregrounded, especially Harry's happiness at seeing Draco again, so that the results of the battle, and even their future, is a secondary concern... but that's just my opinion. :)

Very nice writing of action, by the way. *hugs*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks ♥ - that's pretty much how I saw it. I was going to write the battle, but the main one (with Voldemort) was done, Harry and Draco were back together, and the "today, tomorrow, always" spoke to the fact that they both survived.

Thanks *squishes*

[melmoe1.livejournal.com]

I love that Draco's animagus form is a wolf, it suits him.

Well, what can I say, another "Awww" story from you, with action mixed in, what could be better. *sighs*

[luci0logy.livejournal.com]

Now that - Harry and his wolf - would make a super illustration. *nods*

[kcstories.livejournal.com]

Very nice. :) And I like the open ending as well.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Excellent - thanks.

[luci0logy.livejournal.com]

I feel so honoured that you would take the time to write this terrific fic for me. ♥

I'm sure wolf!Draco was a rather striking animal, rather like his human form, and I love the way he been keeping watch on Harry to protect him. I think this story ends in just the right place, the only thing I'd want to know is how long Draco had been an animagus and how he found out.

Today, tomorrow, and always

*sighs* Aint love grand!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad you liked it. And yes, the picture in my mind was a gorgeous animal.

Perhaps I could write a Draco-pov ficlet/drabble that fills in the three months since he went missing. It'll have to wait until I return from vacation, though ...

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

Hooray for wolf!Draco!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Yay! He's even a gorgeous animal. Heh.

[elleian.livejournal.com]

Whee! :) With Voldemort gone I'm sure they'll prevail over the remaining Death Eaters!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Oh, definitely. :)

[alaana-fair.livejournal.com]

Hey! I saw Mel's drawing, but somehow missed this little gem! I'm all teary eyed now. *sniffle* But Oh, Draco as a wolf... mmm... that is a delicious thought!

BTW: I thought I'd lost you forever. I though you were dead. I think you mean for both to be thought? *g* Of course I only noticed it the second time I read it. :-)

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Mmmm ... wolf!Draco is delicious, isn't he? *nods*

Bah! Thanks for pointing that out to me. It's fixed.

[charmed310.livejournal.com]

*BAWLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

*pets you*

There, there ... it's all okay now. They're together.

[if-in-solitude.livejournal.com]

It's nice to see a non-ferret animagus for Draco for a change. I quite liked this.

Yay for non-dead Draco! Hear that JK? Please don't have killed him off! *wibbles*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. ♥ I think the grey wolf suits him.

Yeah. I'm almost afraid to read the final book. *sighs*