Chapter 19
In Which We Learn About the Appropriate Ports for Every Storm

Harry was woken up the next morning in a manner which brought to mind the second time he'd awakened in Draco's arms, their pyjama-clad bodies trying sleepily to consummate their union without bothering to consult either of them. Now, too, he felt the silken nudge of Draco's erection at his sensitive opening. The difference this time was that they were both nude, and the body parts in question had retained enough of last night's oil that the head was already sliding its way into Harry's body when he roused enough to realize what was going on.

He moaned softly and pushed back against his lover, eager to begin the day as they'd ended it, feeling the shaft inch deeper into him. His eyes flew open very wide when a sardonic voice at the foot of the bed said, "I should prefer if you would refrain from having sex until after I've left the room, Mr. Potter."

"Wha... ohgod... Snape?" He fumbled at the nightstand for his glasses, dimly aware that they'd be no help at all in the dark room. Draco's hand on his hip tightened, keeping their lower bodies joined even though their shoulders were now separated by several inches of cold air.

"The headmaster would like to see you as soon as possible, and sent me to wake you," said Snape's familiar acid tones. "He felt I would be the least shocked by what I might see."

"I... oh." Harry slumped back, giving up the futile search. He didn't know where Dumbledore would had gotten that idea, after the way Snape had reacted to them last night. "Well, I'm awake. Do we have time to shower and eat, or is this an emergency?"

"You may perform your morning... ablutions, but Professor Dumbledore will be providing breakfast in his office in forty minutes. It took rather longer than I expected to, er, rouse you."

"Harry, why'd you stop?" said Draco softly at his shoulder, giving a rather startling thrust that got him most of the rest of the way in.

Harry bit back a moan and said, "We've got company!"

Draco shifted closer to him, as if to somehow disguise what his sleeping body had been up to with a belated cuddle. "Oh. Tell'm t' go'way. Wanna shag."

Harry blushed, mortified, and Snape snorted. "I can see my fears about the consensual nature of this relationship are unfounded. I shall leave you to your... Well, yes."

With that, Snape left abruptly, the light from the hallway silhouetting him briefly before he closed the door with rather more force than is strictly necessary. "Right," said Harry, dumbfounded.

"Good," said Draco, and began thrusting forward in earnest, hand on Harry's hip holding him steady. Harry's own erection hadn't even had the decency to wilt in the slightest, despite Snape's presence, a fact he simply did not want to contemplate. Instead he entangled his fingers in Draco's and wrapped their entwined hands around the rigid shaft.

The magic seemed, if anything, stronger today, surrounding them in its comforting heat and pulling him relentlessly towards completion. Or perhaps that was their hands on his cock, or Draco's length buried deeply in his body, or the open-mouthed kisses being pressed to the back of his neck. All of it, really, the combined sensations enough to lose him in a golden whirl of pleasure as he climbed higher and higher, only to dive off the peak in a crashing release.

He must have brought Draco right along with him, judging by the sleepy mumbling from behind him and the softening of the cock in his ass. "S'good. M'gonna nap now."

Harry grinned. "You can't nap, Draco. Remember Snape?"

Harry could just see the face in his mind's eye as Draco's forehead scrunched up against his shoulder. "Don't mention Snape when I'm inside you ever again, please."

Harry snickered. "Only if you promise to never, ever try and fuck me when he's in the room. Er, again."

That got Draco's full attention. "You mean that wasn't a dream? I was really shagging... oh god."

"Yep. Now come on, we've got to shower or we'll be late for Dumbledore's meeting. I do not want to see who he'll send down the second time to wake us, if Snape was his first choice!" Already regretting the necessity, Harry gently disentangled himself from the embrace, sighing as Draco slid out of his body with a soft pop. "I hate it when we have to part," he said softly, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and eyeing the cold stone floor with distaste.

"You know, I think Dumbledore has a secret cruel streak," said Draco as his feet hit the cold floor. Harry shrugged and followed suit, running quickly into the bathroom to stand on the tiny scrap of rug while the shower warmed up. Draco followed more slowly, adding, "I mean, honestly. He must have known we'd be doing something, and the poor man's already had to see us both naked."

"Don't forget the bow," said Harry glumly. They both shuddered and stepped into the shower.

---

"...Have no idea why you feel the need to make me into some kind of paedophilic voyeur..." Harry heard a sickeningly familiar voice drifting down the stairs.

"I assure you, both of them are of age, Severus. We shall continue this discussion later, as I believe they have arrived, and just in time for breakfast." Harry and Draco emerged from the stairwell just as Dumbledore finished his sentence, just in time to see Snape flush a disturbing shade of scarlet. "Please, have a seat. The others should be along shortly."

There were rather more chairs there than usual, almost a dozen of them in a round circle, each with a spindly table at the left hand containing something that looked suspiciously like breakfast. Steaming little pots of tea, scones and toast and, horrifyingly, kippers on little plates, all of which seemed destined for a short and spectacular drop to the floor, given the size of the tables and the amount of china shoved onto each. Harry and Draco each gingerly took a seat, careful not to so much as nudge their respective disasters-in-waiting.

"Thanks, Professor," said Harry softly, echoed by Draco a moment later. He gingerly lifted a slice of toast from the table in front of him, eyes flicking from Snape to Dumbledore as he nibbled on a corner. "Er, who else is coming?"

"Harry, I think I've found it!" said a familiar voice from behind him. Hermione sounded tired, but happy, and Ron's usual morning grumbling followed her into the room. Professors McGonagall, Lupin and Flitwick arrived moments later in a chattering knot, and they all settled into their respective seats. For a miracle, not one plate or cup went crashing to the floor in all the hubbub.

There were two conspicuously empty chairs when everyone settled in, but Harry didn't even have time to ask just what Hermione had found before the familiar stomp-clump of Moody's steps could be heard on the stairs. He winked his magical eye at Harry before taking a seat, and Tonks slid out from behind him to wave and take the final empty chair. Her waving arm knocked squarely into the rather fragile-looking table to her right, and much to everyone's surprise, resulted in only a resounding *thunk* and a sore elbow.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "So glad you could join us, Nymphadora. You'll find that the tables and dishware have been charmed into place, although a slight tug will allow certain items to be lifted as necessary." Harry stifled a giggle, and Hermione elbowed Ron just in time to keep him from laughing aloud. Even McGonagall seemed to come over coughing awfully suddenly. Dumbledore continued serenely, "If you'll all tuck in, I shall begin the briefing."

Harry fiddled with his bit of toast, adding butter and marmalade and generally getting himself sticky. Draco elegantly poured himself a cup of tea and, when it appeared Harry might try and drink from his jam jar, one for Harry as well, adding cream and sugar to both according to their individual tastes. Harry smiled gratefully, and he could swear he heard Tonks say, "Aren't they just adorable?" to Flitwick, who was smiling indulgently in their direction.

Even Dumbledore seemed supremely pleased with the small display, and he was beaming broadly as he sat at his desk and added sugar and cream to his own cup. "Now," he began after a few sips of tea, "As many of you are aware, Lucius Malfoy has been captured. We have managed to get a great deal of useful information from him, and are now much more hopeful that we can prevent a full-scale war if we act quickly."

Everyone straightened up a bit at this news, and the sun streaming in through the windows suddenly seemed quite a bit brighter and more welcoming. He felt a surge of hope coming from Draco as well, buoying him upwards. Harry nibbled on his overly sweet toast with much more enthusiasm, and was surprised to find himself left with nothing but sticky fingers very quickly. He buttered himself another slice as Dumbledore continued.

"We now have a very clear idea of where Voldemort is currently hiding, and when he is most likely to be alone and vulnerable. I propose that a group of you Apparate in from a location just outside the school, take care of things as quickly and quietly as possible, and Apparate back to Hogsmeade." Harry began to be very glad he'd bothered to get his Apparition license last summer, as experience had shown him that a Portkey from Hogwarts to the Dark Lord's lair was a very dangerous object indeed.

"I believe Miss Granger has found two solutions which may tip the balance in Harry's favour, as we are all aware that, in the end, Voldemort's fate rests in his hands alone." Dumbledore looked sad and tired and old as he said the last, but he covered it up by sipping his tea. A burst of confusion from Draco made Harry turn.

Draco's hand came to rest on Harry's knee, and he whispered, "What does he mean, Harry?"

All eyes in the room turned sharply to Harry. "You haven't told him?" said Ron, his voice rising with disbelief.

"I, er..." said Harry usefully. Annoyance was starting to poke through Draco's confusion, and Harry was carrying a fairly heavy load of guilt all on his own.

"We haven't done quite as much talking in the past week as one might think," said Draco, with a flash of near-anger and a ghost of his former sneer. The look in his eyes told Harry that, despite this defence, this was not the last Harry would hear of his omission. "Now, just what is it that you haven't told me?"

Harry took a deep breath, and then began explaining the prophecy. Draco was wide-eyed and slightly pale by the end of it, spikes of fear and worry driving Harry's own apprehension. "So that whole 'fate of the wizarding world' thing, that wasn't just talk? It's really just down to him or you... Er, us, I suppose."

Everyone in the room looked a bit stunned by Draco's amendment. "Right," said Harry softly, feeling that responsibility weighing heavier than the minor guilt over his lapse. "It's us or him."

"Which," said Dumbledore in the ensuing uncomfortable silence, "brings us to Miss Granger's discovery."

Hermione cleared her throat as all eyes swivelled to her. "Well, after the, um, bonding and all, Professor Dumbledore and I felt that the bond might be the key to V-Voldemort's defeat." Ron flinched, and Hermione kicked him absently in the shin. "Madame Pince found a volume of Charms that can only be worked by bonded couples. I've been working with Professor Flitwick to restore the book, which was rather badly nibbled upon by mice at some point in its past."

"I guess it doesn't come up all that often anymore, this bonding thing," said Draco dryly, hiding his fear beneath a layer of acid cynicism. "After all, didn't they stop doing this sort of thing regularly back in the Renaissance?"

Hermione glared, and Harry followed her example and gave Draco an ungentle tap on the shin with his foot. "Outdated or not, the book provided two very interesting Charms. The first one is called a Sanctuary Charm. Basically, one half of the bonded pair is kept in Sanctuary, and as long as he comes to no harm, the other half can't be harmed either. However, any hurt done to the secluded partner will instantly be transferred to the other."

Draco and Harry exchanged glances, and hope rekindled in both of them. "So, you're saying if we cast this, and then lock Draco up in a cupboard or something, no one can hurt me? But if he skins his knee, then I'll have a skinned knee, too?"

Hermione nodded. "How long would I have to be mewed up, anyway?" asked Draco. "I mean, it's not permanent or anything, is it?"

"No, no, nothing like that, my dear boy," said Professor Flitwick amiably. "The Charm will hold until a single command word, spoken in unison, dispels the Sanctuary and allows you to go back to your normal lives."

"That's all right, then," said Draco, sitting back and sipping his tea. The fear was receding, replaced by more hope, determination and a certain strange pride. There were dubious glances being exchanged by several people, and Harry was rather proud when Draco added, "There's no need to look all dodgy at me. I mean, I love him, don't I?"

Ron sprayed a fine mist of tea over the carpet and had to be patted for several minutes before he recovered. Flitwick, Lupin and Tonks all looked very satisfied, and McGonagall and Lupin just looked mystified at the change in Draco's demeanour. Harry grinned like a fool and downed the last of his tea, sending a wave of love and pride right back to Draco, who preened under the attention. "Right. So we cast this charm, and then what? I mean, he was awfully hard to kill the first time, how do we make sure it sticks this time?"

"Well," said Dumbledore, eyes once again twinkling merrily as Draco quietly poured Harry a second cup, "I believe we've got a threefold solution to that. Miss Granger, why don't you begin?"

Hermione nodded. "We've also found a spell that will allow a bonded pair to combine their personal magics. Basically, Draco would be loaning his power to Harry as well as his physical safety, which would allow Harry to borrow Draco's wand and use magic against Volde... Oh, do stop it, Ron."

Ron had choked on his tea again, although quite a bit less dramatically than last time. "Sorry," he muttered, once he'd gotten himself under control. "Go on."

"All right, but what spell?" said Harry, not at all sure how this was an improvement, trying unsuccessfully to keep his doubts from transmitting to Draco overmuch. "I mean, we've already proven I'm not much for the Unforgivables, and the Killing Curse didn't even work properly the first time anyway."

"That's the second portion of the plan," said Dumbledore, voice hardening. "We want you to subdue him with magic, and then behead him with Godric's sword. The body will then be collected and burned, and the smoke and ashes gathered up and tossed through the veil. No trace of Voldemort will remain on this earth."

"Er, wow. That's... Wait, I have lop his head off?" Harry was aghast. He'd known for two years that murder was his eventual destiny, but he wasn't quite prepared for the goriness of beheading. "Can't he become a ghost or something, if we just kill him?"

"There are spells on the sword to prevent that," said Moody darkly. "You subdue and kill him, and we'll take care of the rest. Snape, Tonks and Lupin will stay behind with Draco. McGonagall, Dumbledore and I will accompany you." Flitwick cleared his throat. "Oh, and Flitwick as well. He's volunteered to come along and guarantee our retreat; he can create a Portkey if anyone's too injured to Apparate."

Harry nodded. "We should think about bringing along brooms, too. Just in case."

"Very wise, boy!" said Moody, nodding approvingly. "Always have several retreats in mind, just in case."

Dumbledore's smile was more brittle now. "I believe that the time just before the dinner hour is the quietest for Voldemort. Spend your Sunday wisely, and we will meet back here at three o'clock for last-minute preparations and spellcasting. Hopefully by then we will have a clearer picture of the dangers we are walking into." Harry looked into Dumbledore's face, expecting to see his usual twinkle. Instead, he found the deep pain of one who has given his heart away piece by piece to those in his care, only to send them off to die.

"Er, Professor?" Harry was hesitant to bring any other students along, but knowing that there was more than just him at stake. "Did you want to ask along some of the DA members? I mean, Neville's getting really good now, and..." Harry trailed off.

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "Perhaps we should, instead, ask them to stay here, in case my absence is noted and taken advantage of?"

Harry nodded, and pulled the worn fake galleon out of his pocket. He changed it to read 2:30 -- even though they no longer needed to meet in secret, the difficulty of scheduling made it simpler to stick to the Hermione's original method for announcing their sessions. "I'll have them meet up in the usual place, and then we'll pick a few leaders?"

"Perhaps Professor Lupin or I should join you at this little meeting," said Snape unexpectedly. "After all, we will be the only members of the Order staying behind."

Harry and Dumbledore both nodded, and Harry felt an odd sense of dislocation. He suddenly realized that the final battle wasn't going to be in a few days or weeks or months. It was in a few hours. This was it for him, kill or be killed. Murder in cold blood, or drag Draco and the rest of his friends and loved ones into the grave after him. Suddenly, his toast seemed very dry indeed, and his last gulp of tea was cold and far too sweet.

He was overwhelmed by a strange vertigo, the world receding until there was nothing but himself, the worried bite of Draco's emotions in his side, and Dumbledore's sad, old eyes. He only vaguely heard as Draco asked after his father, as Moody gave a few last-minute suggestions and Lupin and Snape discussed where best to hide Draco away during the fight. The sun seemed too bright all of a sudden, like it should be pouring dramatic rain, thunder and lightning instead of white fluffy clouds racing across the blue sky.

A shadow fell over him and he blinked, then blinked again when he realized nearly everyone had left. It was Snape who was towering over him, blocking his view of the sunlight. Draco's cold hands on his helped ground him, and his ears cleared with a soft pop as the world flooded back in. "...time you are planning on starting the meeting. Are you listening to me, Mr. Potter?"

"Er, no, actually," said Harry. "I... what?"

Snape sighed. "Really, Mr. Potter. If it weren't for... well, never mind. I asked what time you were planning on starting the DA meeting?"

"Oh. 2:30. Do you know where the Room of Requirement is?" Harry had shown Dumbledore, who had been delighted, and given full approval of its continued use as a classroom for Harry's DA lessons.

Snape nodded tersely, and turned to leave. He took two steps, and then froze, shoulders stiff. "I must... apologize. I will endeavour not to intrude upon your... relationship. Despite my own knowledge of the potion's effects, I did not truly believe you cared for him, until I saw you two..."

"Thank you, Professor," said Draco softly, and Harry echoed it wonderingly. The warm light of Draco's affections for the taciturn professor was helping to steady Harry's opinions. "Your approval means a lot to us," Draco added, giving Harry's hand a squeeze.

Harry blushed, but said, "I'm sorry about, y'know..."

Snape nodded. "Indeed." He left in a slightly less sweeping manner than usual, shoulders still uncomfortably stiff.

Professor Dumbledore had already gone, but Lupin was lurking over in one corner, evidently waiting for Snape to leave. "I don't suppose you're going to explain that conversation," he asked, sounding amused and exasperated.

Harry coughed, blushing deeper. Draco's embarrassment flared in his chest, and he wondered if the two of them had ever spoken outside of class. Harry put his left hand over Draco's and said, "Let's just say he's had the misfortune to walk in on a few moments he'd rather not have seen."

"Oh dear," said Lupin, trying very hard not to smile. "That must have been..."

Draco snorted and said, "Bloody mortifying."

They all laughed, and then laughed harder when Lupin added, "I always said he needed to get laid more."

"Who's he going to shag, McGonagall?" said Harry, eyes boggling at the image. "It's not like there's a lot of prospects around here, are there?"

Lupin snickered. "Especially since he'd be more likely to go for Flitwick. Or did Sirius never tell you?"

Harry and Draco both became very attentive. "Tell us what?"

"Severus was caught snogging another boy during his sixth year. Got both of them a weeks' detention. That sort of thing wasn't even as accepted then as it is today, and you've seen how it is now."

"Wait," said Draco, shocked, "you're telling me Snape fancies men?"

"You mean he might've been excited by... Oh, eew," said Harry with a heartfelt shudder.

Lupin raised his eyebrow, grinning mischievously. "He is only human, and you two have grown up quite a bit recently."

"Right, now you're going to tell me you'd like to watch us have a shag, as well?" snapped Draco. Harry could feel his confusion and irritation, and understand it. It was like suddenly finding out that Hagrid had been eying your ass during Care of Magical Creatures or something.

Lupin's grin grew positively wicked. "Now, that wouldn't be an appropriate thing for a teacher to tell his students, would it? But feel free to offer again once you've graduated."

On that rather astonishing note, he sauntered out, leaving the two of them sitting, stunned and open-mouthed, in Dumbledore's sunny office.

"Right," said Harry, trying to wrap his mind around the idea that not one but two of his teachers were, not only gay, but possibly attracted to him and his... "Er, what are we, anyway?"

"Huh?" said Draco, confused and distracted himself.

"Boyfriends, lovers, husbands, partners? What do I introduce you as at parties? Hi, this is Draco, the boy who shags me into the mattress every night?" This question had the desired effect of distracting them both from their current line of thought.

"I like partners," said Draco shyly, leaning in for a chaste little kiss. "But if you want to use the other thing, feel free. In fact, why don't we go get in a little pre-battle shagging?"

Harry grinned and stood, pulling Draco up and returning the kiss, with interest. "You have the best ideas."