UchiSays: I'm so sorry, this chapter took FOREVER to get posted (though I honestly just wrote it yesterday), I've been tremendously busy, like tres tres (very!) busy. But I've finally got it up and going so yeah, hope you enjoy it.

UchiPredicts: This story is going to be shorter than Catching Snow, because I only have a few ideas for it and the beginning of this chapter took a direction I didn't plan for it to take.

UchiClarfies: You'll know what I'm talking about when you get to the end of this chapter but: officially I am undecided as to where exactly in the states this story takes place (somewhere gay marraige is legal so that really limits my options), but I'm personally as of the current living in MO so I based locations off of places around me, so if you don't know what Build-a-Bear Workshop, or America's Incredibly Pizza Company is, just know they're establisments in the state of MO.

UchiBegs: Reviews if you'd be so kind.

Second Rain Storm

There was something to be said about the month of March. The weather during that month was so bipolar there was no predicting what would happen next. One day it would be warm and sunny, perfect picnic weather. The next day it could snow so badly schools would close and traffic would be a mess. But then the day after that it could rain cats and dogs. March just couldn't decide whether it was still winter of springtime.

Harry wrinkled his nose in distaste at the heavy rain falling outside the window. He hoped the weather wouldn't get in the way of whatever Draco had planned for the two of them that day. It was about a half an hour before the blond was supposed to come pick Harry up for their "date that wasn't really a date". Officially they were just two friends going to hang out, but Harry was sure friends usually didn't treat each other to dinner at the most expensive restaurant in town, or drive each other through three cities just to go to the fairgrounds, or take each other on picnics by the lake, or any of the things that Draco had done of their previous not dates.

Harry wasn't sure what Draco had planned for today, but he was sure it would rank high on the romantic date scale and prove that the two of them were not just friends.

"How much is that doggy in the window?"

Harry was pulled from his thoughts by someone speaking behind him. He turned and smile fondly at Remus. "Hey Moony."

"Hey, cub. Waiting for Draco?"

Harry nodded and turned back to the window. "I hope the rain doesn't interfere with whatever he's got planned."

"He still hasn't told you what you're doing today?"

Harry shook his head no and pouted. "He says it's a surprise. I hate surprises!"

"No you don't; you love them," Moony teased. "Come have a cup of hot chocolate, cub. You still have a bit of time before your prince charming arrives."

"He's not my Prince Charming," Harry grumbled following Remus to the kitchen where the man set about making two cups of hot chocolate. "Prince Charming is supposed to be sweet, caring, and charming. He's supposed to sweep you off your feet. Draco is egotistical, arrogant, and just an out right jerk. He'd sooner push me down the stairs than sweep me off my feet."

"And yet you still love him. He must be doing something right."

Harry blushed and wrapped both his hands around the cup Remus handed to him. "No comment."

"Fine, what about Mathias then? He's sweet and caring. How about having him be your Prince Charming."

"Mathi is sweet, but..."

"He's not Draco."

Harry looked up at Remus in surprise at that comment. "I- I don't want him to be Draco. I like Mathi just the way he is. He's really nice, and playful, and funny, and lot's of fun to hang out with."

"But not good enough to date?"

"I don't know. Mathi is a great guy. He's amazing really. He's a lot like my friend Ron I had back in the UK. And I think that's the problem."

"You mean you'll never be able to see him as more than a friend because he's so much like Ron?"

"It's not that. Ron and I were really close. He was like a brother to me. And that's all I ever saw him as, my brother. My friend Hermione was really in love with him, still is, and I thought Ron was interested in her too, but then-" Harry paused not sure if he was ready to share this particular piece of his history. Remus had been a good, understanding confidant so far, but was he really ready to open this old wound. He trusted Remus, and he knew it wasn't right to keep things bottled up inside. "It turned out Ron wasn't interested in Hermione, and he didn't see me as a brother. Ron, he hurt me really badly. He- he..."

There was tears in Harry eyes and the memories of what happened that day played through his mind. It was still so raw and real. Ron had done horrible things to him. He had hurt him so badly.

"What did he do, cub?" Remus asked in a soft voice, as if trying not to frighten the already terrified Harry.

"He- he... I screamed for him to stop. I begged him. It hurt so badly. And there was blood. And it was just so wrong. I felt so cold, so empty, so dirty."

"Harry," Remus voice was the lowest whisper, he was kneeling on the floor by the chair Harry was sitting in, looking up at him his eyes were filled with tears and fear as if Harry's broken rambling caused him a great deal of pain.

"Moony," Harry whimpered, before throwing himself into Remus' arm. "He raped me, Moony. I couldn't fight him off. I felt so dirty. The next thing I remember was sitting by the fire at Draco's house. He took care of me. He cleaned me. He loved me." Harry was sobbing and all he could see was the images of that day playing out behind his eyes. He didn't hear Remus whispering softly to him words of comfort. He didn't feel the warm arms holding him, or the hand rubbing his back trying to soothe his fears.

He was unaware of everything, but the memories replaying themselves in his head, until he heard a familiar voice. "What's wrong with him?"

Harry peeled himself out of Remus hold and turned towards the doorway of the kitchen where a familiar angel was standing looking both angry and concerned. "Draco."

Somewhere in the back of his mind it registered that Remus was speaking, but he heard not a word. All his senses were set on what he remembered to be his only source of comfort. The next thing he knew, Draco was rushing towards him and wrapping him in he strong arms. He was being held against a warm chest, long slender finger were being run through his hair, and a voice was whispering in his ear. "Shh, Kid, don't cry. I'm here. I've got you. He'll never hurt you again, I swear. Don't cry, Harry, don't cry."

"Draco- dirty. I'm so dirty."

"No you're not. I cleaned you, remember. You're not dirty. You're not."

"That's right- you cleaned me- you so much. I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Kid. I love you, too."

All of Harry's fears melted away and a blanket of sleep fell over him.

::-::-::

Harry woke to the sound of yelling voices drifting to him from downstairs.

"-deserves to die!"

"I agree one hundred percent, but there's only so much I could do!"

There was a pause as if some one else was speaking in a lower voice.

"Well his best should have been more! He's a Malfoy for heaven's sake, surely he has some authority in the legal system!"

"Some, but not much when my father wasn't backing my efforts! There's only so much my name can do when Lucius doesn't approve of my actions and back me up!"

Another short pause. Harry got out of his bed and made his way downstairs. Remus, Sirius and Draco were all in the living room. Sirius was bright red and furious. Draco looked angry, but mostly annoyed. Remus looked upset, but also as if the other two were really testing his patience.

"I'm sure you could have done more!" Sirius yelled.

"Nothing short of murder! At it was, Harry was in some way avenged with me having to jeopardize myself to do so!" Draco snapped back.

"Would you two stop yelling before you wake Harry," Remus growled.

"Too late, Moony," Harry called from the doorway.

Silence fell over the room as everyone turned to look at Harry, and then Harry was suddenly being pulled into a tight hug by Sirius and the man was asking him how he was and cursing the name Ronald Weasley intro the ground simultaneously. "Is there anything I do for you?" Sirius asked after he calmed a bit.

"Actual yes," Harry said, "you can stop taking out you anger on Draco."

Harry had the courtesy to look slightly embarrassed as he released Harry, gave a sheepish smile towards the Malfoy, and mumbled an apology.

"So I'm taking it you've been filled in on my complete breakdown earlier." It wasn't a question since it was so obvious what they had been talking about.

"Pup, why didn't you tell me about this?"

Harry shrugged. "I thought I was over it. I thought I could leave the past in the past. Hermione told me Ron had been arrested, and I figured that was all the closure I needed." Harry turned to Draco with a small smile. "I still haven't thanked you for that. I know it must have taken a lot of work to get him arrested without evidence or me there to testify, and I'm really grateful."

"Don't speak of it, Kid. I just wish I could have done more."

"Are you sure you're alright, Pup? I can go kill him if you want. Or if you just need someone to talk to-"

"I'll go to Remus, since he's much more leveled headed than you, Paddy."

Remus chuckled. "I think our cub is doing just fine, Sirius, now why don't you stop suffocating him and let him and Draco go on their date."

::-::

Draco rolled the car into the parking lot of the local mall and Harry looked at him in wonder. "You're taking me shopping?" He asked slightly confused, shopping did not rank up there with their other "not" dates on the romantic scale.

"No, it's a surprise."

"I hate surprises."

"No kid hates surprises."

"I'm not a kid."

"You act like one."

"You act like a stupid jerk."

"Back to that title are we?"

"We never left that title."

"Stop speaking and just follow me."

Harry stuck his tongue out at Draco and pouted, but did as he was told. The mall wasn't as crowded as it would have been if they had come earlier. It was a Saturday after three pm and the mall curfew demanded anyone other the age of eighteen to be accompanied by an adult after one and very few adults were willing to play chaperone to their teenagers, and most teenagers didn't want parents with them and older teens did not like their younger siblings tag along with them.

Draco led the way through the mall with a purposeful stride. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"I hate surprises!"

"We're not having this conversation again. Besides we're here."

Harry looked up form where he had been staring at his feet to see where "here" was. A large, rather childish, smile spread across his face. "BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP!"

"I knew you'll like this surprise."

"Draco, you're the best!" Harry pounced on Draco and gave him the biggest hug imaginable. He'd wanted to go to Build-a-Bear for months, every since he's first stumbled upon it when he'd gone Christmas shopping with Mathias.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Now are you just going to stand here hugging me, or are we going in?"

Harry didn't need to be asked twice; he released Draco and bounded into the shop with the enthusiasm of a kid given unlimited access to a candy store.

"Draco, I want this one." Harry held up a pure white bead with silver eyes.

"OK."

"Which one are you getting?"

"I'm not making one."

"What? Why not? You have to make one!" Harry looked at Draco with big eyes and a pout. Draco seemed at war with himself, before he finally caved.

"Fine, I'll make this one." Draco picked up a pure black bunny with green eyes and angel wings.

"Aww, it's so cute. Come on." Harry grabbed Draco's hand and dragged him to the next station which was giving their bears a voice. Harry listened to all the pre-recorded messages before searching for one of the store employees. "Excuse me, ma'am, is there a way we can record our own messages?"

::-::

Forty-five minutes later Harry and Draco were leaving Build-a-Bear both with a new stuffed friend in tow. They were making their way through the mall on the way to the car so they could head to the next surprise Draco had in store for Harry.

Harry was happily chattering on and on about his bear who he had dressed in a gray business suit with an ice blue tie, when you squeezed it's left paw it played a recording of Harry singing 'Tangled Up in You' by Staind, and he had affectionately named him Dragon. Draco was listening silently, used to Harry going off like a bunny on caffeine.

"So where are we going next?"

"Dinner."

"Where?"

"You'll see."

"Another surprise?"

"For lack of a better word."

"I hate surprises."

"Which is why I didn't use that word."

Harry rolled his eyes and climbed into the passenger seat of Draco's bumblebee yellow Monte Carlo. Draco drove fast, just barely within the speed limit, but the speed didn't scare Harry and their final destination only served to excite him. He could have complained about Draco taking him to such a childish place, but America's Incredible Pizza Company was a million times better than Chuck E. Cheeses, so he would hold his tongue and enjoy the night, and hopefully win some prizes while he was at it.