Title: What Are the Odds
Author: GrapeSmshr
Rated: PG
Coupling: HP/DM *slash*
Disclaimer: I'm not even gonna bother...
Yay, another fic! I actually wrote this entire thing today. Go me! It's short and kinda fluffy towards the end, which is just how I like my fics. Hope you like it too. Read on and enjoy!
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Tapping his foot to the beat of the pulsating music around him, Draco Malfoy's eyes scanned the crowded dance club. He wasn't looking for anyone in particular, but he was always on alert, always making sure he knew who was in the crowd. It was paranoia, sure, but paranoia was a tough habit to break.
The club was packed, and the air was just as stuffy and steamy inside as it was outside on that late July night. Draco had to keep shifting in his seat so he wouldn't stick to the vinyl chair he had been occupying for the past hour.
It was the summer after graduation from Hogwarts, and Draco was now living in Muggle London. After his parents were both killed in the war, there really wasn't much reason for him to stick around. While a couple of his friends had suggested they all get a place together, Draco declined. A loner by nature, he just needed to get away from the wizarding world. So he changed some of his many galleons into Muggle currency and found a nice flat to rent in the heart of the city.
There were just too many memories, too many feelings that he needed to escape from, so he did what he did best: he ran. If he didn't have to deal with those emotions and... people, then all his problems would go away, right?
Wrong. And he would find that out, too, one of these days.
He took a sip of water that had gone lukewarm from sitting out. Making a face, he pushed it away and resumed his people watching. It was the same thing every time he came here, which was two or three nights a week. He'd sit at the same table in the back, watching people dance and interact with one another. On many an occasion, women would ask him to dance or to... do other things, but Draco always politely declined. They were attractive, sure, but he wasn't interested, in any sense of the word.
He was just about to get up and make his departure when someone came spinning towards his table from the dance floor, plopping down in the seat across from him. Head down, the man spoke between his panting, "Sorry... just need... to catch... my breath... for a minute..." After a few more deep breaths, the man looked up as he said, "Thank..." But the words died on his lips as he saw exactly who he was sitting across from. "Malfoy?"
Draco had the same look of shocked recognition on his face. Of all the places... He had come here to get away from the wizarding world and certain people, and who did he run into? "Potter," he acknowledged slowing, drawing the surname out as he furiously tried to comprehend this breach of his safe haven. "What are you doing here?"
Eyebrows raised in amusement, Harry Potter replied, "I believe I should be the one asking *you* that." Forgetting his previous activity, he settled back into his seat, arms crossed over his chest. This certainly was a surprise. He hadn't seen Draco since graduation. Or, more specifically, since King's Cross after the train ride back. He and Draco had had an intense staring contest with one another for several seconds, stopping only when Harry had been dragged away by his friends to head over to the Weasley house for a graduation party.
That had been almost two months ago. How in Merlin's name did he manage to run into his rival of seven years, in a Muggle club, no less?
Must've been his lucky night.
Draco knew this looked strange. Draco Malfoy, snobbish, arrogant pureblood, frequenting a club consisting of Muggles? If he were another person looking back at himself, he wouldn't believe it, either. Heaving a sigh, he said, "It's a long and boring story."
Not wavering, Harry replied, "I've got time."
Harry Potter, stubborn as always. "Did it ever occur to you that it's none of your business?" he snapped.
His little outburst didn't faze Harry in the least, who was used to these snappish comments being aimed in his direction. It was almost like being back at Hogwarts. Almost. The blonde was different somehow, and this only made curious Harry even more curious. But he wasn't going to push for answers. Not yet, anyway.
After a few moments of silence, Harry started up conversationally, "I live here now. In Muggle London, I mean." He leaned forward so he could be better heard over the music. "I have a little flat by myself in town."
Even though he wanted to appear uninterested, Draco couldn't help but ask, "Don't you have relatives of some kind that you could have moved in with?"
Harry snorted. "The Dursleys are only relatives in the biological sense of the word. Since Sirius died..." he paused a moment, then swallowed thickly and pressed on. "I have no family. It's just me."
"What about the Weasel and his family?" Draco heard himself ask before he could stop it.
Harry gave him a surprised glance. "They did invite me to stay with them for a while," he admitted. "I didn't want to impose, though. They're crowded enough as it is. I had other offers, but it just didn't feel right. Besides..." he trailed off, gaze falling to the table.
Sounded like Draco's predicament. Who would've guessed that he and Harry Potter would feel the same way about something? Judging by the clouded veil covering Harry's eyes, Draco surmised that they were in almost the same exact mindframe. Against his better judgment, he finished Harry's thought. "You had to get away from that world, that life."
Snapping his head up sharply, Harry's emerald gaze pierced slate gray, intensely studying the blonde's expression. There was something there, a spark that was desperately trying to be squelched into nonexistence. Mind reeling furiously, he returned quietly, "As did you."
"Yeah, I did." Draco sank back into his chair, rubbing his temples tiredly. This was exactly what he had wanted to avoid. Figured his problems would follow him into the Muggle world. A tiny part of him wondered... No, that was out of the question. But maybe... If he got this off his chest, maybe those feelings binding him would go away.
"There was nothing left for me there," he started, sitting up in his chair. "My parents, my last living relatives, are dead. Sure, I have a huge manor, but it's pointless for me to stay there when I'm all alone. No, I needed to get away from that life, that identity. I'm no longer Draco Malfoy, Death Eater's son. Now I'm just plain Draco."
Even through the obvious relief in the blonde's statement, Harry could also see an underlying weight of pain. Hesitantly, he reached out a hand and covered one of Draco's. "You are not and never will be plain, Draco," he murmured.
Staring at their hands on the table, Draco tried to wrap his mind around Harry's last words. The fact that Harry complimented him in such a way was unfathomable, and this must have shown on his face because the next thing he knew, Harry was sitting right beside him, hands still touching.
"Draco?" Harry prompted, as it looked like Draco had something more he wanted to say.
And he did. He didn't know what kind of reaction his words would receive, but he was tired of keeping everything inside. "I left the wizarding world behind because there was nothing there for me any more. No family, no real future." Meeting Harry's gaze, eyes revealing nothing, he added, "No you."
"But you didn't know I wasn't going to go back there." Harry argued, pushing Draco further. He wanted and needed to hear this.
"It doesn't matter!" Draco exploded. "The one person I want most, I'll never be able to have, even if he *is* right in front of me!" Eyes widening, Draco clapped his hands over his mouth at the confession. Sure, he intended to have his say, but actually hearing the words out loud was a slap to the face.
Not to Harry, though. He didn't look surprised. In fact, he was smiling. His smile widened as a chuckle escaped. The chuckles multiplied until peals of laughter bubbled up from his lips. He was laughing so hard that he doubled over, tears streaming from his eyes.
Sitting stiffly in his chair, Draco fumed silently in profound humiliation. How dare Harry laugh at his confession! It had taken most of his courage to speak those words, and now they were being mocked by laughter? Snorting in disgust, Draco began to rise from his seat again, but Harry's hand grasped his wrist tightly and tugged him back down into the chair.
Laughter subsiding, a serious expression now adorned Harry's face. He let go of Draco's hand. "I left the wizarding world because I had nothing. No family, no future. I had served my purpose after killing Voldemort. There was nothing left for me there. Especially after... especially after I heard that you weren't going back."
"What? You left because of... me?" The idea was preposterous! Draco had left because Harry had left, and Harry had left because he--Draco--had left?
Harry nodded. "See the humor?" he asked wryly.
"No." Draco tentatively reached out and brushed Harry's hand with his own. "But give me some time."
"Oh, I'll give you all the time in the world." Harry caught Draco's hand once again, grasping it tightly. Leaning forward, his lips slowly descended on Draco's, brushing across them ever so slightly. He pulled back, eyes searching stormy gray in nervousness.
All nervousness was squashed as Draco grabbed Harry's chin and pulled him into another mind-melting kiss. Arms snaked around lean bodies, hands roaming freely over taut muscles, lips and tongues exploring mouths until air was desperately needed.
Breathing heavily, Draco chuckled. At Harry's curious glance, he answered, "What are the odds that we run into each other like this?"
"With us? Extremely high," Harry laughed. "We always did manage to meet up under the oddest of circumstances."
"Mmm, good point. But now, now I have the feeling that we'll be seeing even more of each other," Draco teased.
"That can be arranged," Harry grinned wickedly, stealing another kiss.
Draco sank deeper and deeper into Harry's embrace. Oh yes, that would definitely be arranged.
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See? Short and fluffy. I'm actually contemplating adding another chapter after this. While I think it's a suitable one-shot, I think it might be interesting to write how they return to the wizarding world. You know, meet up with their friends and whatnot. I dunno. I'm just tossing around the idea. I know this fic wasn't as descriptive as most of my others, but I think it gets the job done. Please review! I thrive on reviews. They make me want to write more, and I could definitely use the support because I have writer's block on three of the H/D fics I'm writing... Also, if you think I should add another chapter, let me know, and leave your e-mail addy if you want me to inform you if and when I post another chapter. Thanks for reading!
Author: GrapeSmshr
Rated: PG
Coupling: HP/DM *slash*
Disclaimer: I'm not even gonna bother...
Yay, another fic! I actually wrote this entire thing today. Go me! It's short and kinda fluffy towards the end, which is just how I like my fics. Hope you like it too. Read on and enjoy!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tapping his foot to the beat of the pulsating music around him, Draco Malfoy's eyes scanned the crowded dance club. He wasn't looking for anyone in particular, but he was always on alert, always making sure he knew who was in the crowd. It was paranoia, sure, but paranoia was a tough habit to break.
The club was packed, and the air was just as stuffy and steamy inside as it was outside on that late July night. Draco had to keep shifting in his seat so he wouldn't stick to the vinyl chair he had been occupying for the past hour.
It was the summer after graduation from Hogwarts, and Draco was now living in Muggle London. After his parents were both killed in the war, there really wasn't much reason for him to stick around. While a couple of his friends had suggested they all get a place together, Draco declined. A loner by nature, he just needed to get away from the wizarding world. So he changed some of his many galleons into Muggle currency and found a nice flat to rent in the heart of the city.
There were just too many memories, too many feelings that he needed to escape from, so he did what he did best: he ran. If he didn't have to deal with those emotions and... people, then all his problems would go away, right?
Wrong. And he would find that out, too, one of these days.
He took a sip of water that had gone lukewarm from sitting out. Making a face, he pushed it away and resumed his people watching. It was the same thing every time he came here, which was two or three nights a week. He'd sit at the same table in the back, watching people dance and interact with one another. On many an occasion, women would ask him to dance or to... do other things, but Draco always politely declined. They were attractive, sure, but he wasn't interested, in any sense of the word.
He was just about to get up and make his departure when someone came spinning towards his table from the dance floor, plopping down in the seat across from him. Head down, the man spoke between his panting, "Sorry... just need... to catch... my breath... for a minute..." After a few more deep breaths, the man looked up as he said, "Thank..." But the words died on his lips as he saw exactly who he was sitting across from. "Malfoy?"
Draco had the same look of shocked recognition on his face. Of all the places... He had come here to get away from the wizarding world and certain people, and who did he run into? "Potter," he acknowledged slowing, drawing the surname out as he furiously tried to comprehend this breach of his safe haven. "What are you doing here?"
Eyebrows raised in amusement, Harry Potter replied, "I believe I should be the one asking *you* that." Forgetting his previous activity, he settled back into his seat, arms crossed over his chest. This certainly was a surprise. He hadn't seen Draco since graduation. Or, more specifically, since King's Cross after the train ride back. He and Draco had had an intense staring contest with one another for several seconds, stopping only when Harry had been dragged away by his friends to head over to the Weasley house for a graduation party.
That had been almost two months ago. How in Merlin's name did he manage to run into his rival of seven years, in a Muggle club, no less?
Must've been his lucky night.
Draco knew this looked strange. Draco Malfoy, snobbish, arrogant pureblood, frequenting a club consisting of Muggles? If he were another person looking back at himself, he wouldn't believe it, either. Heaving a sigh, he said, "It's a long and boring story."
Not wavering, Harry replied, "I've got time."
Harry Potter, stubborn as always. "Did it ever occur to you that it's none of your business?" he snapped.
His little outburst didn't faze Harry in the least, who was used to these snappish comments being aimed in his direction. It was almost like being back at Hogwarts. Almost. The blonde was different somehow, and this only made curious Harry even more curious. But he wasn't going to push for answers. Not yet, anyway.
After a few moments of silence, Harry started up conversationally, "I live here now. In Muggle London, I mean." He leaned forward so he could be better heard over the music. "I have a little flat by myself in town."
Even though he wanted to appear uninterested, Draco couldn't help but ask, "Don't you have relatives of some kind that you could have moved in with?"
Harry snorted. "The Dursleys are only relatives in the biological sense of the word. Since Sirius died..." he paused a moment, then swallowed thickly and pressed on. "I have no family. It's just me."
"What about the Weasel and his family?" Draco heard himself ask before he could stop it.
Harry gave him a surprised glance. "They did invite me to stay with them for a while," he admitted. "I didn't want to impose, though. They're crowded enough as it is. I had other offers, but it just didn't feel right. Besides..." he trailed off, gaze falling to the table.
Sounded like Draco's predicament. Who would've guessed that he and Harry Potter would feel the same way about something? Judging by the clouded veil covering Harry's eyes, Draco surmised that they were in almost the same exact mindframe. Against his better judgment, he finished Harry's thought. "You had to get away from that world, that life."
Snapping his head up sharply, Harry's emerald gaze pierced slate gray, intensely studying the blonde's expression. There was something there, a spark that was desperately trying to be squelched into nonexistence. Mind reeling furiously, he returned quietly, "As did you."
"Yeah, I did." Draco sank back into his chair, rubbing his temples tiredly. This was exactly what he had wanted to avoid. Figured his problems would follow him into the Muggle world. A tiny part of him wondered... No, that was out of the question. But maybe... If he got this off his chest, maybe those feelings binding him would go away.
"There was nothing left for me there," he started, sitting up in his chair. "My parents, my last living relatives, are dead. Sure, I have a huge manor, but it's pointless for me to stay there when I'm all alone. No, I needed to get away from that life, that identity. I'm no longer Draco Malfoy, Death Eater's son. Now I'm just plain Draco."
Even through the obvious relief in the blonde's statement, Harry could also see an underlying weight of pain. Hesitantly, he reached out a hand and covered one of Draco's. "You are not and never will be plain, Draco," he murmured.
Staring at their hands on the table, Draco tried to wrap his mind around Harry's last words. The fact that Harry complimented him in such a way was unfathomable, and this must have shown on his face because the next thing he knew, Harry was sitting right beside him, hands still touching.
"Draco?" Harry prompted, as it looked like Draco had something more he wanted to say.
And he did. He didn't know what kind of reaction his words would receive, but he was tired of keeping everything inside. "I left the wizarding world behind because there was nothing there for me any more. No family, no real future." Meeting Harry's gaze, eyes revealing nothing, he added, "No you."
"But you didn't know I wasn't going to go back there." Harry argued, pushing Draco further. He wanted and needed to hear this.
"It doesn't matter!" Draco exploded. "The one person I want most, I'll never be able to have, even if he *is* right in front of me!" Eyes widening, Draco clapped his hands over his mouth at the confession. Sure, he intended to have his say, but actually hearing the words out loud was a slap to the face.
Not to Harry, though. He didn't look surprised. In fact, he was smiling. His smile widened as a chuckle escaped. The chuckles multiplied until peals of laughter bubbled up from his lips. He was laughing so hard that he doubled over, tears streaming from his eyes.
Sitting stiffly in his chair, Draco fumed silently in profound humiliation. How dare Harry laugh at his confession! It had taken most of his courage to speak those words, and now they were being mocked by laughter? Snorting in disgust, Draco began to rise from his seat again, but Harry's hand grasped his wrist tightly and tugged him back down into the chair.
Laughter subsiding, a serious expression now adorned Harry's face. He let go of Draco's hand. "I left the wizarding world because I had nothing. No family, no future. I had served my purpose after killing Voldemort. There was nothing left for me there. Especially after... especially after I heard that you weren't going back."
"What? You left because of... me?" The idea was preposterous! Draco had left because Harry had left, and Harry had left because he--Draco--had left?
Harry nodded. "See the humor?" he asked wryly.
"No." Draco tentatively reached out and brushed Harry's hand with his own. "But give me some time."
"Oh, I'll give you all the time in the world." Harry caught Draco's hand once again, grasping it tightly. Leaning forward, his lips slowly descended on Draco's, brushing across them ever so slightly. He pulled back, eyes searching stormy gray in nervousness.
All nervousness was squashed as Draco grabbed Harry's chin and pulled him into another mind-melting kiss. Arms snaked around lean bodies, hands roaming freely over taut muscles, lips and tongues exploring mouths until air was desperately needed.
Breathing heavily, Draco chuckled. At Harry's curious glance, he answered, "What are the odds that we run into each other like this?"
"With us? Extremely high," Harry laughed. "We always did manage to meet up under the oddest of circumstances."
"Mmm, good point. But now, now I have the feeling that we'll be seeing even more of each other," Draco teased.
"That can be arranged," Harry grinned wickedly, stealing another kiss.
Draco sank deeper and deeper into Harry's embrace. Oh yes, that would definitely be arranged.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
See? Short and fluffy. I'm actually contemplating adding another chapter after this. While I think it's a suitable one-shot, I think it might be interesting to write how they return to the wizarding world. You know, meet up with their friends and whatnot. I dunno. I'm just tossing around the idea. I know this fic wasn't as descriptive as most of my others, but I think it gets the job done. Please review! I thrive on reviews. They make me want to write more, and I could definitely use the support because I have writer's block on three of the H/D fics I'm writing... Also, if you think I should add another chapter, let me know, and leave your e-mail addy if you want me to inform you if and when I post another chapter. Thanks for reading!