Disclaimer: This story is based on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. No copyright infringement is intended.
Warning: Eventual slash as in male/male pairings, possibly bondage situations, and lots of angst. If you don't like any of the above well than don't read it. The little "x" at the top right corner of this box is calling your name.
Chapter One – A helping hand
It was a cool clear evening where the only thing that moved was the wind and a dark haired man. He sat on the front porch of his home—secluded from the world. Since the defeat of Voldemort in his seventh year Harry had lived along. Sometimes he would meet up with his friends, but they would always get drunk. He had also taken up smoking and was losing weight without trying to.
He knew he wasn't heading down a good path but he honestly saw no reason to change. He didn't need a job because he had his parent's and godfather's inheritances to live off of. He didn't want a job because the stares had only gotten worse after Voldemort had been defeated. None of his relationships ever worked out the way he wanted them to. Not only was he famous-meaning every relationship ended badly because his partner only want sex or fame, but he was also gay.
Yes, the hero of the wizarding world was gay. It had been the scandal of the decade and not a few hearts were broken. Some people went as for as to say that his gayness must have been caused by Voldemort as a final curse. The last Harry had heard was that there was actually an organization trying to find the counter curse. He had gotten rip-roaring drunk that night. It was easier to escape with a bottle of firewhisky after all.
But Harry was going downhill at an ever increasing rate and he really didn't know what to do anymore. He spent hours just thinking about what had happened in his past to lead him down this path. There was no doubt in his mind that it all came back to Voldemort, but then again, everything always seemed to go back to Voldemort so it wasn't much of a theory.
Harry exhaled a puff of smoke and put out his cigarette by twisting it into the damp earth. He went inside and grabbed his car keys and his coat. He was in the mood for beer tonight and he wasn't going to stop drinking until someone made him. And he was really hoping that, just tonight, no one would.
-
Arriving at his favorite bar twenty minutes later, Harry was greeted by his friends Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville.
"Harry!" Exclaimed his red-haired friend, "what are you doing here tonight?"
"Well Ron, I figured I'd come out and pretend to be a social creature for the night."
"Yeah right Harry," said Ginny with a giggle, "you were out of your own alcohol weren't you?"
"Ay, you've caught me. Even my own liquor doesn't want to hang around any longer than it has to."
The group laughed at his comment while Harry ordered a beer.
"Hey Hermione," said Harry, returning to the table, "What are you doing here? I thought hanging out at bars was too 'mundane' for you."
Hermione laughed, remembering a previous conversation in which she insisted that revolving ones life around alcohol was too mundane of an existence after all they had been through with Voldemort. "Well," she said, "I'm going to be the designated driver since you must remember what happened the last time this one," jerking her thumb in Ron's direction, "tried to apparate home after a night of drinking."
"Hey!" exclaimed Ron by way of protest, "that muggle forgot with a quick obliviate charm. And it isn't like we left his leg broken."
The group broke into hearty laughter again and Harry ordered yet another beer.
Two hours later Harry was working on his eight beer and the others were packing up to go home.
"Harry," said Hermione interrupting his drunken reality, "Harry," she repeated again waiting for him to meet her eyes. "We are going to leave now Harry. Do you want a ride?"
It took Harry a minute to comprehend what his friend was trying to say to him but when he did he responded with a negative shake of his head.
"I'll get Joe to call me a cab later," he said indicating to the bartender that was filling up yet another beer for him.
"Alright Harry," said Hermione slowly, "try not to drink too much ok?" But Harry didn't respond as he had already started on his new drink.
Staring into his drink Harry found himself alone to his thoughts. Once again he was lonely. He just wanted something to hold onto-something to keep him afloat. He began to raise his drink to his mouth when a hand settled on his shoulder and another on his raised arm stopping him from continuing.
-
Draco Malfoy had watched the dark haired man come in and had watched him slowly slip away through the air of alcohol. It was sad to see what had become of the man. He had saved the wizarding world, and now no one was around to save him.
The blond man had glared at Harry's friends as they laughed at his self deprecating manner of speaking. 'How dare they allow him to do this to himself?' He thought angrily.
When he saw the sadness in the mans eyes he decided enough was enough. He couldn't continue to watch him slip away. So he stood up and stopped the drink from reaching its destination.
"Harry, you must stop this."
Green eyes glazed over with drunkenness followed the hand on his wrist up and arm and eventually up to the owners face.
When green eyes met grey, the blond man's breath caught in his throat; blown away by the vulnerability he saw there he was at a loss of things to say. He was searching for something else to say when the green eyed man spoke up.
"Malfoy?" He asked slowly, genuinely confused, "what are you doing here?"
"I just want you to stop. Come one, I'll take you home."
"Mkay," said Harry sleepily.
Draco realized his charge must be more drunk than he had realized-simply agreeing to leave with someone he could barely recognize.
"Can you stand?"
In response to Draco's question, Harry turned around on his stool and put both feet on the floor.
Draco's quick reflexes however, were the only thing that prevented Harry from hitting the floor.
"You alright Harry?"
"Mmm," was his reply.
Draco helped the other man outside and into his car. "Where do you live Harry?" No response was given-prompting Draco to ask again, "Harry, Harry, where to you live?" Again he received no answer and looked over to see that Harry had fallen asleep.
'Just wonderful,' thought Draco starting up the engine, 'I guess he'll come home with me tonight. That will be a fun surprise in the morning.'
With the car started Draco flicked on his headlights and drove off into the night back to his manor. Once there he brought Harry up to his own room, pulled off the man's shoes and belt and tucked him into bed. With one last glance behind him Draco left the room and closed the door softly behind him.
-
Harry woke up without opening his eyes and found that he very much enjoyed the comfort of his bed. It was soft and warm and those silk sheets were just won—
Harry shot up in bed. 'I don't have silk sheets!' He thought wildly. Taking in the gigantic room around him he decided that the oversized green bed covered in sheets with an assortment of colors and textures, the off-white shag rug covering the floor, and the dark mahogany wooden wardrobe definitely weren't his. This led him to become frantic trying to figure out how he got here and for that matter where "here" was.
He checked his arm and found that his wand was still there hidden in its holster. With that knowledge Harry slipped it into his hand and looked around the room and even under the bed for anything dangerous that may be lurking. Satisfied that there was nothing particularly harmful he slid out of bed and crept soundlessly towards the door.
He had almost reached the knob when it turned for him and opened to reveal the one and only Draco Malfoy.
"Harry!" he exclaimed by way of greeting, "I'm glad to see you are awake. Would you like some breakfast?"
Harry was quite suddenly reminded of his headache at the blond man's cheerful greeting and winced at the volume.
"Oh dear," began Draco, "I had nearly forgotten about that. You drank quite a bit last night. Wait here and I'll return with a head ache potion for you."
With that he left the room and Harry was left staring at his back. Through the pain in his head he wondered why Malfoy was being so kind to him and why he had brought him to his own house. 'Wasn't this my school-day rival?' thought Harry, 'things did get pretty intense by seventh year with the war going on. True he never joined the death eaters but he had enough of a grudge against me without the politics being involved. What is he playing at, is this some kind of plot to humiliate me?'
Harry was interrupted from his musings by the return of his host with a bottle of headache potion. He took it into his hand and after cautiously sniffing it he gratefully downed it in one gulp. Putting the bottle on the nearby table he turned back to his host and said, "Thanks. But what am I doing here? How did I get here?"
Draco smiled sadly and said, "You were drunk last night. Couldn't even stand, and your friends had left so I tried to take you home. But well, you fell asleep before I could figure out your address so I just took you here and put you to sleep. You look like crap by the way," he added as an afterthought.
Harry looked down and mumbled something under his breath and then looked back up at the man in front of him. "Yeah I'm sure I do. Look, I should probably go. You know my car is probably still at the bar, and it's a bit of a walk from here, so I'll just be on my way then."
"There is no need, your car is here already, I had one of my butlers get it this morning. And I would really like it if you at least stayed for breakfast."
Even though Harry didn't want to stay in this house, none could blame him for being paranoid, he didn't think it would be right to deny the man his company after all he had done.
"I'll just go freshen up a bit then."
"Alright, the bathroom is through that door there," he said, indicating the door with his finger, "And you simply have to turn right out of this room and follow the large hallway to a set of stairs and you'll arrive where you need too. I'll have breakfast ready from when you arrive."
With that he left the dark haired man to do his business and went downstairs to wait.
-
Draco didn't have to wait long for his guest. He had only been sitting for three minutes when the dark haired man came hesitantly through the doorway. He looked tense, as if he was preparing to run at any moment but entered at Draco's ushering hand.
Just as Harry sat down the food appeared on the table.
"Help yourself Harry, there is plenty of food here for the both of us." And with that he put some scrambled eggs and bacon onto his plate, filled his bowl with porridge and poured himself a glass of orange juice.
Harry had taken the same selection substituting the porridge for toast and jam.
The two ate in silence for a time until Harry once again spoke up.
"I really appreciate all of this Malfoy, but why are you doing all of this?"
"First off, call me Draco-I believe we are past school boy rivalries," at Harry's nod he continued. "And to answer your question, I just want to lend a helping hand. I have seen what you do to yourself Harry and I do wish you would stop. My reasons are not completely selfless, but I want you to be healthy and happy none-the-less."
"What are your reasons then, if they aren't completely selfless?" asked Harry sounding as if he was afraid of the possible answer.
Draco grinned a secret smile and said, "Maybe we will save that for another day. For now though, you should probably head on back home and get cleaned up. I hope that maybe I'll see you again sometime soon though Harry."
"Yes," said Harry hesitantly, "this has been a pleasant morning. Thank you again for everything. I'll just see myself out then." With that he rose to leave and had only just stood up when Draco's voice stopped him from going any further.
"And Harry, I would be really disappointed if I found out you had gotten so drunk again. I may not have been your best friend in school, but I am here now if you ever want to escape in another way. I'm sure I can offer you an alternative."
His words were laced with an innuendo so subtle it almost wasn't there, but Harry caught it and was almost shocked by it. What was this man playing at? He asked himself. He was startled but not all that afraid, it was almost as if this man was sincere about his proposal to help.
With nothing intelligent to say he simply mumbled a, "Thanks." and left the manor.
-
That evening Harry went back to the bar and drank himself back into his own reality. But no one came to stop him this time. And after a cab dropped him off at home Harry stayed awake for hours thinking of the one Draco Malfoy and he felt terribly guilty as he drifted off into a fitful sleep.
a/n: So the bug for this fic has bit me, and has bit me hard. I just can't get the idea out of my head. I don't really know what is going to come up next, but I do think I'll continue it. I'm in desperate need of a beta if anyone is interested. Just email me and hey-if you liked this help me push it along with reviews of any kind. Or I might just give up. And that is just no fun at all.