“Mr. Potter, it is rather late.”

“I’m sorry, Professor, I realize this is an inconvenience. If it weren’t important, I would have waited until morning,” Harry said, fidgeting nervously on the other side of McGonagall’s desk. “I need to make this right.”

“Mr. Potter, I haven’t the slightest idea as to what could be so wrong that it warranted making right at two in the morning,” McGonagall sighed. “I was under the impression that these unfortunate late night meetings of ours would end with your learning to behave like an adult.”

“That’s what I am trying to do, Professor. In telling you.”

“Telling me what?”

“I love him, Professor. I love him and for his safety, I feel like it would be better that I left,” Harry said. “I’m sure you agree.”

McGonagall froze.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

“The wolf. He’s not so much white as he is blonde, isn’t he? Have you ever seen a blonde wolf?”

“I’m not particularly well versed in the coloration patterns of wolves, Mr. Potter,” McGonagall replied slowly.

“There wasn’t a body,” Harry continued.

“What do you mean a body? Do you suspect the wolf of having killed someone? Surely not a student, there are none left on the grounds.”

“Professor, you’re smarter than this. Don’t do me the disservice of pretending you aren’t. His mother’s testimony was the only reason we had to believe the pile of ashes was him. There was no identifiable body.”

“How?” McGonagall asked, her face darkening as the act she was putting on fell away.

“I just knew,” Harry lied. He didn’t want Draco to get in trouble for this, for his living arrangement to be any more difficult than it already was. He just wanted him to be happy, as happy as he could be living as a ghost. Because that’s what he was now. A man living in the walls, venturing out into the dark, never speaking to another living soul. A phantom of his former self. “If the person you had fallen in love with was close by, wouldn’t you feel them, Professor? Wouldn’t you just know?”

“Mr. Potter. Harry. You understand how important it is that no one knows he’s alive?”

“Yes. I don’t understand why you two have done what you’ve done. But it must have been what he wanted. I just want him to be happy.”

“If that truly is your main concern, then you must also understand why you leaving puts a bad taste in my mouth. I trust you, Potter. Implicitly. But one slip up, and his safety is in jeopardy. Measures must be taken,” McGonagall continued.

Right, Harry thought. She’ll want to obliviate me.

“You must understand that Mr. Malfoy’s happiness and safety is also my first and foremost concern. After all, I risked life and limb even bringing him here in the first place.”

“Of course,” Harry replied, pushing down the sick feeling in his stomach.

Obviously, etting would be the best course of action for all parties involved. He could go back to his fantasies without knowing there was even a minute chance of theming to fruition. Draco and McGonagall would remain out of harm’s way. Everyonees out a winner. Maybe winner was too strong a word.

“I need to consult Mr. Malfoy. I trust I can take the time to do that without having to worry about you doing anything rash?”

“Of course.”

“Then I will see you in a few hours, Mr. Potter.”

And with that he was dismissed.

“Wake up.”

Draco was startled out of his sleep by someone shaking his shoulder.

“We need to talk,” McGonagall said, promptly exiting his bedroom.

She had nevere into his apartments before while he was sleeping. She had never set foot in his bedroom. Shaking the sleep from his head, Draco concluded that this did not bode well.

“Mr. Malfoy,” the headmaster said the moment he walked into themon room, “Mr. Potter called me out of bed at an ungodly hour this morning with the request to take leave of the grounds. Would you like to know his reason?”

Draco swallowed. He told her. Of course, he told her.

“He says he realized the wolf on the school grounds was you. Do you know how he knew?”

Draco failed to answer once more, fixing his eyes on the ground.

“He says he just knew. He said when you’re in love with a person, you can feel his presence. While I am not entirely inclined to believe that was how he came to his conclusion, I’ve decided not to press him—or you—further.”

Draco’s breath caught in his throat. Of course he knew what Harry had been trying to say only mere hours earlier, but to hear it in so many words hit him like a ton of bricks.

“In love?” Draco whispered, glancing up at McGonagall.

“Of course, I knew. Suspected, at least. With his personal decline beginning when it did, with the announcement of your passing. What I did not suspect was your reciprocation. Not until we last spoke, that is.”

“I’m sorry, Headmaster,” Draco managed, not sure what he was apologizing for.

She fixed him with an icy stare.

“You know something must be done.”

“I know.”

His words hung in the air.

He considered telling her that if she planned to obliviate Harry, she might as well obliviate him, too. But if she did, she better do it all the way back to first year, because he couldn’t remember knowing Harry without remembering that he loved him, and the pain was too much to bear. He didn’t want to have to watch Harry move on, find someone new, while knowing that at one point, he had loved him back. That was a fate worse than death.

McGonagall broke into his thoughts.

“I was thinking an Unbreakable would do the trick,” McGonagall said.

“What?” Draco sputtered.

“An Unbreakable Vow. We’ll have him vow not to tell anyone that you’re still alive. To protect you. Don’t you think?”

“You’re not? You’re not going to obliviate him?”

“I must admit that obiliviation was my first thought, as well. But I felt that wouldn’t work well for any of us. It would require Mr. Potter’s removal from his new position, which leaves me without a Defense teacher for yet another year, and him wasting away in that terrible old manor. And for you, well, I’m not a young woman, Mr. Malfoy. I think I should want to retire one day, and you will most definitely outlive me. Who will ensure your safety when I am gone? I think it would be unsurprising should Mr. Potter fill my shoes when I am gone, both in my position as Headmaster and as your protector. Wouldn’t you say?” McGonagall asked, raising her eyebrows.

“I suppose, but Potter has friends, Professor. Meddling ones, at that. Won’t they want to know why he rarely leaves the grounds?” Draco asked.

McGonagall turned, pacing along themon room, stopping at the windows looking out into the lake.

“You’re right. The youngest Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would certainly pose a problem. I suppose we could trust Ronald and Hermione to take a Vow, as well. Then you would have awork, should anything happen to Mr. Potter.”

“Professor, I don’t understand. Why were you so adamant that Potter not know about my existence if the solution was so easy?”

“Because, Malfoy, until just a few days ago, I was under the impression that you hated the boy. I had always planned on finding a sessor, but Potter did not seem like a viable option. But now that I know you wouldn’t particularly mind hispany, I don’t see a better fit. Unless there is someone else you would prefer?” McGonagall asked, walking back towards Malfoy. “Because once he takes the vow, that’s it. He’ll be your solepanion.”

“You make it sound like we’re getting married or something,” Draco joked weakly. He was sure he wouldn’t mind having Harry around for the rest of his days, but he had known that since he was eleven and had seen Harry getting fitted for his robes. He hadn’t known who Harry was, but he had known he liked him. As for Harry, his feelings were so new, and the longevity of them could reasonably be called into question. Sure, Harry might want this now, but what about in ten years? Fifty? Merlin, a hundred? Wizards did tend to live terribly long lives.

“It’s not that different, is it? And far more important, anyway,” McGonagall added. “I’ll need to discuss it with Mr. Potter, then I suppose if he agrees, we should be back down here sometime today.”

“Back down here? Why?”

“To perform the Vow, of course.”

“Oh, will I be binding you?” Draco asked, rather nervous. He’d never been a Binder before.

“Of course not.”

“Then who? Surely not Hagrid.”

“Me. The bond will between the two of you, Mr. Malfoy.”

A knot formed in Draco’s stomach. Of course.

“What do you mean I don’t have to leave?”

Harry was standing in the middle of his office—what would have been his office, if not for Draco, if not for his incredible need to be near him—throwing things into a trunk that had barely been unpacked anyway. McGonagall was hovering near the doorway.

“I mean, Mr. Potter, that I require you here,” the headmaster said, sounding rather annoyed. “I’m going to ask something of you, and I need you to answer truthfully.

“What?” Harry swallowed audibly.

“Would you be willing to take my place? As his protector?” McGonagall asked.

“I—I don’t see why not,” Harry answered.

“Harry, you need to be sure beyond a doubt,” she continued. “This won’t just be a promise.”

Mcgonagall raised her eyebrows, her words heavy with their meaning.

“Ah. You want me to take a Vow, then?” Harry asked, his throat tightening.

“Clever boy.”

“I will.”

“This means forever, Harry.”

“I know.”

“You’re sure?”

Harry wished he could run it by Hermione and Ron, but he knew the shock of Draco being alive and having to explain his seemingly sudden change of heart towards his old rival would prevent them from being any kind of help. He felt a sinking feeling in his gut. Ron and Hermione. He couldn’t keep this from thim. Well, obviously, he could but it would be incredibly difficult, because even if he kept to himself, Hermione had an incredible talent in snooping into situations that interest her, particularly when they pertain to Harry.

“You’re hesitant,” McGonagall said, studying him.

“Ron and Hermione—”

“Will pose a problem, yes. I know you have been rather reclusive since the end of the war, but I don’t imagine they will let you keep them away for much longer. Especially when they start having children. And I should think it would be harder for you to keep away once they start asking when ‘Uncle Harry’ wille to visit and harder still when their childrene to Hogwarts. Which is why I suggest we have them take a Vow, as well,” McGonagall interrupted.

“Really?” Harry asked, flabbergasted. It seemed like too many people to be involved in such a big secret.

“You’ve always found strength in numbers, Harry. And you three have always been good at keeping secrets. And that way, if something should happen to you—unlikely, but it is possible there are still people who support Voldemort that would like to see you done in- Draco would still have a support system.”

“Are you sure, Professor?”

“I have to be, don’t I? You’re the least likely person in the world to be hiding Draco Malfoy and you’re one of the most trusted figures in the wizardingmunity. You’re the best and only choice I

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