Chapter 1: Unrequited

Draco's POV

Yet again rain drizzled onto the tin roof that he found himself under. It was amazing how at home he felt in a trailer now despite his wealthy upbringing. One could assume that the young man of eighteen was simply taking shelter from a brewing storm, but really this was his home. Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, was living in an American trailer park on the outskirts of a small town in Alabama. He had been there for two months, having conjured the building himself, though the original spell was meant to produce a cottage. Somehow he had botched the incantation and brought forth the tin shack that he resided in. Regardless, it would serve its purpose in the scheme of things.

Many a day had passed since the man had last seen the sun, but it was all for the better. His pale skin had retained its almost eerily ghast hue except for the remaining scars, littering a raised pink here and there. Draco would be lying if he said he was comfortable with the way his life was going, but what could he do now? He had been deserted by his family just after the war. Lucius had beaten him to a point where he questioned whether or not he was living or not. The Cruciatus curse had been murmured hundreds of time in his presence, and it was only at his mother's pleading was the Killing curse not cast by his father to end it. The blonde shivered at the memory of his torture, the evanescent silver of his eyes blurring with tears for the millionth time. Shaking his head, the locks of silvery blonde hanging off his shoulders fell into his face.

A knock at the door made Draco visually flinch, and at once he shrank away from the source of the sound. His wand was in his hand within seconds, and he was prepared to do his worst to whatever sort might come through the door. The blonde was thankfully clothed at this time, though minimally. He wore a tattered baby blue robe, having long since sold his more stunning ones out of necessity. This was all save for his knickers.

''Ello? Anybody there,' came a distinctly foreign, male voice from on the other side of the door; at least, Draco thought he heard it come from outside.

Scrambling to the door, the young man in blue's features transpired to a suspicious frown. Who was this person, and why were they coming to his secluded trailer in the middle of nowhere? It didn't make any sense. Draco had only had the slightest communications with people during his stay in Alabama, and this person was definitely from a European, though the accent was somewhat lower class than English to be sure. Another wizard perhaps? It would make sense, but just why would they be at his door like this? It was definitely something out of the orthodox that the blonde had gotten accustomed to. Sighing, he gave into his curiousity and opened the door of the screen to look at one young man he had not expected to see ever again when he fled the country.

One Seamus Finnigan's face met an apparently dumbfounded blonde, the former smiling brightly despite the rain soaking his sandy hair and the forest green robes he wore.

'Seamus arse-fucking Finnigan is standing in front of my door in shithole, Alabama. Merlin really must hate me.'

Why was he there? Draco couldn't stop the sneer coming on, though his jaw was dropped at the same time. It came out looking somewhat like an angry fish, and the smile on the Irishman's face widened in an almost Cheshire manner. The blonde really was confused now. From what he could remember of the man before him, he absolutely despised the blonde and Slytherins in general; however, one wouldn't know it by the look of adoration accompanying Seamus's grin. There was a long moment when nothing was said, only the sound of rain on metal and an awkward silence reigned. Then something incredible happened, and suddenly the Irish lad was upon him, pulling Draco's thin frame towards him unexpectedly and with unforseen vigor. The other man was wet with precipitation and smelled of something spicy and everything Draco found intoxicating.

Even more erratic than the movement was the blonde's rapid heartbeat, pounding in his aching chest. The taller man was still smiling, though the lids of his eyes were slowly closing; and he was leaning down towards Draco's face. Confusion crossed the man's face as his lips were pleasantly invaded, but his eyes definitely closed of their own accord. he melted into the strong arms starting to envelop him, and sighed through the other man's lips lightly. A million different emotions threatened to pour into the kiss, but his mind finally snapped him out of whatever spell had overcome him. What was he doing? He was allowing another bloke to kiss him, that's what! This was not going to happen again. Pulling away violently, Draco threw himself from Seamus with a feigned groan of disgust.

"Are you bleeding mad, Finnigan? You sodding poofter, get away from me," the blonde exclaimed in false outrage, though his lying was point on.

Seamus had the decency to look embarrassed, though the blush spreading onto his cheeks may have been a trick in the misty haze. More silence followed, but no apology or response was heard from the other boy. What was this? Some sort of game? Draco's wand had been in his hand the entire time, but now he brought it up to level with the other man's face.

"Answer me. What were you thinking, Finnigan?"

'I was thinking that I very much am in love with you.'