Authors Note: Thank you to the people who reviewed and for the many story alerts! No matter how small every little bit makes me happier and more excited to write!

Last Chapter Reminders

:Thoughts:

Disclaimer: Alas, poor ownership, I knew it naught.

Warning: this contains malexmale love. No slashy goodness but if you don't like boys kissing then don't read. AU of a Cinderella sort ;) HP/DM, RL/SB implied.


To Join the Dance

Harry felt his insides freeze. The last time he had gotten in trouble was for breaking a cup and that had gotten him ten lashes and had ached for days. This time would be worse so Harry did the first thing that crossed his panic-stricken mind.

He ran.

Harry knew it would be pointless to head back inside the Prince Estate so he made a beeline for the forest that bordered the edge of the property. As he ran away he dodged lone stumps and jumped familiar dips in the ground. He glanced behind him fearful that Tom had already run inside to tell Snape. He then realized that would have been better because not far behind a furious Tom Riddle was giving chase.

Harry sucked in a sharp breath and turned back sprinting as fast as he could to the trees. He had grown up in this area while Tom was used to the city. He could lose him in the trees. He just had to make it.

:I'm almost there… just a bit further… almost-YES!:

A small grin graced his face as Harry burst through the foliage and ran headlong into the trees. It was quickly wiped away when moments later he heard the telltale rustling and snapping of branches that meant Tom had followed him in.

Harry began to pump his legs as fast as he could dodging and weaving around trees he knew bore treacherous roots while taking a harder path in an effort to slow Tom down. Harry often traversed this forest when looking for herbs and searching for truffles so he knew many of its hiding places. There was one place in particular that was near a lake that Harry knew he could hide in and Tom would never be able to get into. Harry had found it by accident a long time ago and the opening was barely big enough for Harry to fit through. Tom wouldn't stand a chance. Now it was only a matter of getting there.

The burst of panic-ridden adrenaline was starting to wear off and even though he wasn't bad physically, he wasn't the healthiest or most well fed of boys so he was starting to tire. Harry could feel the slow burn creeping its way up his legs and the air starting to sting as it forced its way out of his lungs.

He needed a quick escape. Something to throw Tom off. There!

Harry ran towards a familiar tree and immediately passed it by jumping up and running across its thin roots before giving a strong leap and landing far from the tree. He kept running not daring to look back. It was only when he heard a sharp yelp behind him that he slowed to look back.

His spur of the moment trap had worked. There was a small sink hole next to that tree. Not big enough to be dangerous but just enough to slow Tom up as Harry made his escape. Harry felt a large grin form across his face as he turned from the fumbling boy and resumed his run towards the lake at a more leisurely pace.

It wasn't far from his current location. He just had to make a short trip through an apple orchard and he would be there with plenty of time to hide. Harry ran until he reached the edge of the dense foliage and the beginning of a beautiful apple orchard. He paused and darted behind a tree to peer around cautiously. The orchard was very rarely deserted so he was going to have to be careful when cutting across it.

Harry looked across the orchard keeping an eye out for another person's presence. He was in a rush but since this orchard belonged to some member of the nobility it was better to be safe. As far as he could tell the orchard was deserted today so he moved from behind the apple tree and made a dash towards the other side of the orchard.

He was about half way across when a sharp and loud shout came from somewhere above his head causing Harry to jerk to stumbling halt and look wildly around.

"Hey!"

Harrys head jerked up until he was gazing wide eyed at the man sitting on a thick branch near the top of the tree. He had one leg swinging below the branch while the other was pulled up against his chest with one arm resting on the knee. His left arm was held up clutching a half eaten apple as if he had been in the process of taking a bite. His back was resting against the trunk of the tree. He was wearing black pants and a vibrant green tunic over a black long sleeved shirt all of which looked highly expensive. His skin was pale and he possessed short blonde, almost white, hair.

To Harry, he was best described in one word: Beautiful.

Of course that beauty was marred slightly by the sudden scowl that twisted across his face.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing here? You better not be trying to steal anything. This orchard belongs to my father."

The blonde man fell silent, obviously expecting a response but for a few precious moments Harry could only gape silently after having been caught off guard. After a few moments during which the blondes scowl deepened Harry was finally able to speak.

"I-"

WHAM!

He didn't get any farther as a large weight suddenly slammed into him from behind. Harry fell to the ground hard the breath being driven from his lungs at the impact with the ground. He had a brief moment to wonder what had happened when two hands suddenly grabbed at his shoulder yanking him around and onto his back where Harrys eyes met the infuriated eyes of Tom Riddle.

His eyes widened and he had a second to curse himself for forgetting Tom was after him when he felt those same hands suddenly wrap around his neck and squeeze!

His eyes widened and Harry began to claw at the hands wrapped around his neck constricting his breathing. Harry fought desperately to get the hands off his neck. He vaguely heard shouting coming from behind Tom but that was secondary to the buzzing in his ears and the spots that suddenly danced across his vision. Harry could feel the blood on his fingertips as his nails tore at the hands wrapped tightly around his throat but even that sensation was fading. He was gazing at Tom as his blurry vision started going black and right before the blackness claimed him there was a flash of white that joined Tom.

Moments after, Harry fell into oblivion chased by the swirling silver eyes of an angel.

~A Few Hours Earlier~

He was Rich.

He was of Noble Birth.

He was considered extremely handsome according to the many Ladies of the High Court.

He was also extremely intelligent and well-versed in the ways of politics.

So why in Hell was Draco Malfoy of the Prestigious and Cunning House of Malfoy having such a bloody hard time getting his way?

Well, that's exactly what he was trying to figure out as he paced back in forth across the sitting room of his private chambers. Draco would normally consider it unbecoming of someone of his station to be seen in anything other than immaculate condition. But since the only one currently watching was Blaise Zabini, the only noble he could truly call friend, he could be forgiven for not caring this time. Draco shoved his hand through his hair for what felt like the hundredth time making it look even more disorganized than it already did.

"I can't understand my father. I may be the heir to the Malfoy line but it's not like there aren't other Malfoy family members I could name as heir when the time came. I have no desire to marry any of these simpering toffs or parade around with some floozy hanging off my arm."

Blaise reclined against the deep green fainting sofa off to the side of the room and observed his longtime friend wear a hole in the floor.

The room consisted of cherry wood floor and cream colored walls with barely there intricate silver vines trailing up the walls. The furniture within the room was either cherry wood as well or of a deep green color. Considering the wealth and prestige of the family that Draco belonged to the room was actually small compared to most sitting rooms. Draco claimed he didn't enjoy having a lot of open empty space and liked the somewhat cramped sitting room. Blaise had never been in the bedroom so he couldn't say otherwise. The room furnishings consisted of the fainting sofa and two three-man sofas of the same design. In the center was an intricately carved table bearing the image of knights leading a charge against an enemy where they clashed in the middle and proceeded to slaughter and be slaughtered. It was about two and a half feet tall and eight by four feet wide.

Draco scooped out an apple that had been resting in a bowl atop the table and took a bite out of it. He took a few more bites out of the apple as he thought, the whole time with Blaise and his appraising eyes watching.

"Draco…"

Draco immediately turned his attention to Blaise.

"…You know as well as I that he doesn't care if you father an heir. He seeks political gain and a union that won't bring embarrassment. And taking your fathers desires into consideration it's obvious who he is trying to get you to marry."

Draco scowled as he turned away taking another vicious bite from his apple. He thoroughly chewed it and swallowed before answering. "He is aiming at that Pansy Parkinson trollop."

Blaise smiled humorlessly. It was no secret that she slept around though it was never mentioned in polite conversation. After all, most nobles slept around. The game was to keep it secret though, a game which she lost. Even Blaise and Draco had a bit of experience though never with another noble. That was asking for trouble.

"Of course he is. She is just as rich as you. Her family is small but influential and she is a bit closer in line to the throne. Add to that that any children will bear your family name and it's his wet dream." Dracos lips twisted at that mental image but he nodded in agreement.

"No matter her influence or political power, the woman is a nutter. She wouldn't know common sense if I slapped her with it. She goes out in the middle of a thunderstorm and then gets upset when her carriage gets caught in mud. Anyone with as little sense as her should be locked up."

Blaise shrugged smoothly. "Yet even you have to admit that, as a female, she is more attractive than most noblewomen."

Draco snorted. "Not that that's saying much." He sighed. "You know father plans to invite her to the party- excuse me, Masquerade Ball, which is being hosted for my birthday? I have been instructed to formally introduce myself to her at an appropriate moment and then spend the remainder of the night enchanting her with my wit, charm, and elegant dancing skills." Blaise smirked at the sneer that crossed Dracos face at the mention of his party. It was a source of large amusement for the boy that it was being called a Ball.

"Will you?"

Draco sighed and suddenly slumped gracelessly onto a sofa across from Blaise. "I don't have much choice, do I? My bride has been chosen and I must ensure she agrees to the proposal when it is formally introduced by spending the entirety of my seventeenth birthday making the woman feel charmed."

Blaise stood and walked over to Draco and rested his hand on the shoulder of his longtime friend. "You could just tell him the truth. I'm sure a heart attack would solve your problem."

Draco jerked his head around to glare at Blaise before hissing, "That's not even a valid option and you know it! Ignoring how I feel about the matter, my father would disown me and Mother would never approve. I couldn't risk it."

Blaise shrugged and smiled sadly at his friend his hand lingering a moment as he spoke his parting words. "Then I fear you will never get your way and be happy my friend." With that he stood straight with his hand slowly retracting as he bid Draco goodbye with a parting nod and exited the room.

Draco sighed deeply as Blaise closed the door behind him. He knew the other boy was right. Things would never improve if he didn't do anything to improve them. But what could he do? None of the females among the nobles that were close to his age were even remotely appealing. And the people that were appealing were so far out of his range they might as well not exist.

Draco kept from gritting his teeth and snarling at the empty room with an almost physical effort, reminding himself that it was unbecoming to show such anger. At any moment a servant could pass by the door or enter the room…

All of sudden the normally comfortable room felt cramped and irritating. Draco snapped to his feet and strode from his room. It had only been a few minutes since Blaise had left but he knew the other noble never stayed long so there would be no point trying to catch up to him. Instead he veered down a hallway and opened a door that led into a small spiraling staircase meant for the servants and swept down the steps. Once he reached the bottom he pulled a heavy wooden door open and peeked into the hallway on the other side.

Luckily, it was empty so Draco quickly strode across it and down another hallway and pulled a door open that led out the back of the manor near a pathway that twisted through a beautiful and lush garden belonging to Dracos mother. Normally Draco loved walking through the sea of color but this time he went to the one spot that had always felt his own. Slipping across to the other side of the garden he pulled open a cleverly disguised and vine covered gate and moved through the dense trees until he reached the end of the pathway.

Sprawled before him was a massive Apple Orchard that the Malfoy family owned but which only Draco truly cared for. He had grown up among these trees and there was one in particular that held a massive and thick branch high enough that he could be hidden in the branches but low enough that he could jump off easily.

He headed for this tree now and upon reaching it he swung onto his favorite branch heedless of the bark and dirt that was grabbing at his silk clothing.

Draco leaned his back against the thick trunk of the old tree with a contented sigh and plucked a nearby apple from the tree and taking a quick bite. He left one leg to hang loose while the other bent and rested against the branch keeping him balanced.

Draco left his mind to drift, occasionally taking a bite from his apple. There were many reasons he didn't want to marry. Some more prominent than others but he knew Blaise was right. Unless he did something drastic that wasn't going to change any time soon. He sighed and settled himself more firmly with his half eaten apple nearly forgotten and let his eyes drift closed.

Draco suddenly jerked awake after what felt like moments but was really about an hour. He glanced around with wide eyes wondering what had woken him but didn't see anything. Draco shook his head and raised his arm to take a bite out of the apple that had miraculously stayed in his hand when a shape careened across the edge of his vision.

He was startled that he forgot his noble dignity for a moment and shouted out at the intruder, "Hey!"

The intruder jerked to a halt and turned eyes that were hidden by a long fringe of black hair toward him and gaped.

Draco looked him over and realized it was nothing more than some dirt and mud covered child. "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing here?" He let a sneer cross his face as a thought occurred to him, "You better not be trying to steal anything. This orchard belongs to my father."

Not true. It actually belonged to his mother but his father was a more prominent figure so the lie was acceptable.

The boy gaped at him as Draco scrutinized him. He realized his previous conception of this being a child was probably wrong. The boy was short but when Draco squinted past the long hair he could make out an almost mature face. His eyes were completely hidden behind his long and wild black hair. From the poor condition of his clothing he must be poor.

The boy had finally opened his mouth to reply when yet another figure darted into sight and rammed into the boy taking him to the ground. Dracos eyes widened as he recognized the newcomer as Tom Riddle. He was the nephew of Severus Snape, a family friend to the Malfoys. At this particular moment, however, he was attempting to strangle someone on Malfoy property.

Draco let out an angry wordless shout and jumped from his tree. "What the bloody Hell are you doing Riddle? Get off him!" Draco reached them just in time to glace into startlingly green eyes before they fell shut as the boy passed out. Draco wrapped an arm around Riddles throat from behind and heaved backwards. Riddle was suddenly distracted and let go of the boy long enough to fight free of the arm and spin around to face his attacker, angry words rising from his throat.

"How Dare You? I am-" Riddle suddenly choked off his own words as he came face to face with Draco Malfoy. His eyes widened as the blonde boy glared dangerously at him.

"You are Tom Riddle, nephew to Severus Snape. I am aware of your identity. However, are You aware that you are currently on Malfoy property and attempting to murder someone on said property. By all rights I could have you thrown off."

Riddles eyes turned angry once more as he practically spat his words at Draco, "This Insect is not deserving of the courtesy, I assure you. He is a servant in my Uncles household and he dared to defy my Uncle and I and then threaten us. When I attempted to capture him before he could go through with his threats against our lives he turned and ran like the traitorous coward he is. Anything I do to him is nothing more than the filthy creature deserves!"

Draco stared impassively at the ranting boy in front of him with a raised eyebrow, seemingly uncaring about his plight. Inside Draco was snarling. The 'filthy creature' looked half starved and hadn't even been able to properly put up a fight to defend himself. That was not the usual state of a potential criminal and Riddle had struck Draco as the type to lie and cheat since they first met.

So Draco decided to ruin his plans.

He held up a commanding hand and the other boy jerked silent in mid-accusation as Draco spoke, "If what you are saying is true then the boys fate is not yours to decide," Riddle tried to interrupt but Draco spoke over him. "His fate belongs to that of Severus. You are a guest at his estate, not a Lord. You have no power over his servants." Riddle looked furious by this point and Draco tried not to smirk. "But seeing as I cannot trust you not to attempt murder I will have to keep him here and send word to Severus when he awakens. You are dismissed."

Riddles eyes went wide as he kept from lashing out. Instead he turned and walked away no doubt swearing vengeance against the blonde.

But that didn't concern Draco. What concerned him was the unconscious boy in his Orchard. As Draco kneeled beside him to swipe long tangled hair from his face one thought crossed his mind.

:What have I gotten myself into?:


Authors final Rant: SO! Questions? Comments? Concerns? I would love to know and answer! I don't have some apple fetish. I just think Draco looks damn sexy with an apple. Lol Also, I have a slight crush on sexy Blaise so I think the idea of him with Draco, Harry or Both extremely hot. Hope you like it. The next chapter shouldn't take as long to post!

Ciao!