Roses and Thorns
The famous Harry Potter's homosexuality is of no news to the Wizarding World, but when his one and only arch-rival from Hogwarts comes into his 21st birthday party and announces that Harry is his lover, how will the fans of our hero react? Better yet, how will Harry react when he had NO idea that his own rival is his lover? And when Harry asks the reason why, the answer is even more shocking...
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Chapter 4 - Until I See Your Smile
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August 13, that same day...
Harry fidgeted uncomfortably under the glare Draco was giving him across the table as they sat, eating breakfast, two hours later.
After that... erm... awkward incident in Draco's room, the blond had taken privilege of the bathroom for two hours, doing gods know what, although Winelyn the house-elf told Harry she heard some really scary threats and crashes coming from within. No doubt that when Harry went into the bathroom later the whole place was in pieces. The marble bathtub in the shape of a lion's paw was now just stones and rubbles. The sink was smashed until Harry was no longer sure it was a sink in the first place, and water was everywhere, not to mention all the towels were burnt terribly, and his mirror, the mirror that caused thousands of dollars, made of gold and silver, was also shattered pieces and was cursing at Draco nonstop.
Harry had to use a complicate spell to magic the whole bathroom away to gods know where. Well, in fact, the bathroom landed in the yard of a poor old man in Florida, who had a heart attack when he found that pieces of gold was all over his yard. Unfortunately enough, he didn't have the life to spend it.
Now, they were sitting in the kitchen, having breakfast.
The spoon of porridge paused before his mouth as he glanced at Draco through his dark eyelashes, and felt a chill shooting down his spine when Draco's icy eyes glared daggers at him. This is not good, Harry thought seriously, what if he decides to throw my underwear to crazy fans? He did threaten me once before...
Winelyn burst into the kitchen, singing on top of her lungs as she swept the floor. "I HAS A BROOMSTICK ON A CHIMNEY! I HAS A BROOMSTICK ON A CHIMNEY! THERE IS A SINGING BROOMSTICK ON THE CHIMN..."
All the while Draco glared at Harry.
"MASTER POTTER HAS A BROOMSTICK IN THE CLOSET! HE LIKES TO USE IT WHEN HIS BOYFRIEND COMES OVER BEST!"
Harry's eyes twitched.
Winelyn continued, unaware of the tension in the room, "MASTER MALFOY HAS A BROOMSTICK! BUT LITTLE WINELYN NEVER SEES HIM USES IT..."
Harry choked on his porridge.
"BUT WINELYN SEES MASTER POTTER USES MASTER MALFOY'S BROOMSTICK!!!!" Winelyn carried on as she went out of the kitchen. Harry sneaked another glance at Draco, his face flaming shamefully, and found the blond in similar state.
"Um..." Harry said hesitantly, wanting to cheer Draco up, "don't mind her, she's really honest, you see..."
For the second time that morning, Harry experienced his nose being broken.
A few minutes and many healing spells later...
"I was trying to be nice, you know!?" Harry cried, stuffing a tissue up his nose.
"And I was really nice to not Avada Kedavra you in the first place, you miserable jerk!" Draco yelled back, slamming his fork and knife down the table, so the impact sent the silverware flying up the air and down again with a 'cling.'
Harry immediately knew that this was not the time to argue with Draco Malfoy if he still wanted his life intact. So, he changed to his stupider tactic, and comforted Draco honestly, "I never really used your broomstick, Malfoy. It's just the other day I found it in your room while trying to find my things, and saw it. It's a really good model, so I went and did a few rounds." Seeing the shocked expression on Draco's face, Harry quickly added, "Don't worry, it's still in top shape. I polished it and all."
Harry thought he was handling the situation pretty well, until Draco screamed at him, "HOW DARE YOU!" and lunged at Harry.
For a few short moments, Harry felt his skin flushed when Draco's body made contact with his, but as quick as it came, it was gone, and all Harry could think of was getting away from his violent creature, and he really did mean violent creature.
It was a long time ago, in sixth year, Harry believed, that he first learned about veela. In actuality, veela were creatures of the dark, a kind of demon created by Salazar Slytherin a thousand years ago. They were beautiful, yes, more so than any other magical or non-magical living being to grace this earth. Aiding their beauty, Slytherin had gifted them with an irresistible charm that would lure men and women from as far as a mile away.
That wasn't the only lesson he learned, though. With all that grace and beauty, veela did have a bad side to them, and it would affect other people who were close enough to experience it. These people, more specifically said, would be the anger-risers, who, unfortunately, were crazy enough to anger a veela, changing their appearance from an ethereal angel to a vicious demon.
Even though these things applied to veela, they didn't necessarily apply to half-veela, in which case was Draco, so lucky for Harry, he didn't have to take the full-blow of it.
"Damnit, Malfoy! Let go of me!" Harry yelled, trying to pry off Draco's hands from his neck. He looked up, attempting to glare at the man, but his eyes widened at the sight before him. Draco's eyes were a red hue, bursting with such hatred that Harry had never seen before. His teeth were bare, a soft, growling voice was emanating from deep within his throat, and... are those fangs?!
If Harry wasn't scare before, he was now.
"It was enough that you went and..." Draco searched for the right word, "invaded my body, but now you think it's good to take my thing without permission too!"
"First of all, I didn't invaded you!" Harry said hotly. "Second of all, you just put your broomstick there, how was I to know I'm not supposed to touch it?! And third of all, get off me!"
To Harry's own surprise, Draco's eyes softened, returning back to their liquid silver color, and the growl changed into a strangled sob. Those eyes shut tight, and the full, red lips trembled. The hands on his neck loosened, fisting themselves on his cuffs. "God, I hate you, Potter," was said by the barely controlled voice, which was quivering slightly. Harry wanted to see his face, but the hair, the golden locks that caught in the kitchen's light, was obscuring his face.
Somehow, Harry knew that Draco wasn't crying.
"Malfoy..." Harry said weakly, wishing that there was something he could do. He was then struck with guilt, and all thoughts of admonishment ran through his head. I shouldn't have come in his room, I shouldn't have let him pull me into his bed, I shouldn't have slept there, I shouldn't have taken his broomstick without permission, I shouldn't have made him so mad....
"Why?" was the quiet question, startling Harry. "Do you know how important it is to me?" Subconsciously Harry wondered if Draco was talking about his broomstick or his virginity... which was still intact, by the way. "You live to torment me, don't you?"
"Malfoy..." Harry croaked weakly. "I told you a million times. You are not devirginized. I didn't do anything, I swear to god."
Draco looked up, glaring at Harry. "I didn't talk about that, idiot." Harry turned red. Draco suddenly felt embarrassed (wow, took him all this time.) "Anyway, it's not like I'm the only one here who'd never got fucked."Harry turned even redder. "Um... about that... you're quite wrong... actually," he stammered.
Draco stared at him for a long moment, then with an "OH MY GOD!" jumped away from Harry as if he was a newfound disease.
Harry clambered up, preparing for another upcoming tantrum. "Look here, Malfoy, I had a boyfriend, what did you think was going to happen?"
Draco just gaped at Harry in disbelief. Harry Potter... the one person Draco thought was actually pure... got... got...
It wasn't fair, Draco thought bitterly, Potter beats me at everything!
Before he could start throwing comments at Harry to defend his pride, however, Draco saw a hint of sadness and regret in the other's eyes, and felt strangely connected to him.
"It's not exactly a good thing, really," Harry said softly, his eyes averting to the floor. "Sometimes it's better to wait for your true love to come along..."
Suddenly, all of his anger disappeared, and Draco unconsciously stepped closer to touch Harry's arm.
Harry, surprised, looked up into Draco's shimmering eyes, twirls of silver like unicorn's blood spinning in their depths. The urge to kiss him drilled into Harry's head. "Harry..." Draco said quietly, his tone was like... as if he felt... understood what Harry was feeling. It was odd, and yet, pleasantly so.
There was a strange feeling in the air, and involuntarily they leaned closer to each other, their lips barely a breath apart...
When the cursed phone rang loudly.
They sprang away from each other, flushing deeply. Harry scratched his head, trying to look anywhere but at Draco, who was quickly getting over his embarrassment and was running to get the phone.
"Hello, the Potter's Residence," Draco said in a business-like, soft voice. A mental image of Draco wearing a housemaid's uniform flashed briefly in Harry's head. "Oh... yes, he's here..."
Harry was now standing next to Draco in the living room, looking at the blond curiously. Draco handed him the phone and shrugged his shoulders, answering Harry's unspoken question.
Silently Harry took the phone, wondering who the hell would be calling him at this hour of the day. Most certainly it was not his manager, for he was putting together Harry's finished album, and not many others knew his phone number, except the Weasleys, who knew he hated being interrupted during breakfast no matter what.
"Hello, Harry Potter's speaking," Harry said, and then some kind of indiscernible voice replied, which made Harry glance over to Draco. "Oh, I see... yes, he's ready... oh, that's all right... okay... yeah... I'll see you in a while, then." Then he hung up.
"What was that all about?" Draco asked.
Harry looked at him, smiling slightly. "That was your music teacher. He called to say that we have to switch the appointment time because something came up."
"So, when are we going to meet him?"
"Now," Harry answered and pushed Draco into his room without waiting to hear his protest. Somehow, he knew that Draco preparing himself was going to take a long time.
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Despite Harry's carefully planned schedule, Draco still took over an hour readying himself. When they got into the private limousine Harry owned, the famous singer had irritably commented on him being such a girl. Draco had replied by telling Harry that being a girl was better than being a no-style, unfashionable dork. Harry had said that he was not a dork, and that Draco was fussy, feminine little b...
Well, no need to ask, a fight broke out between them then.
Now, as they were standing in front of a wizard recording studio disguised as a mere Muggle bank, Draco and Harry were not speaking to each other, stubbornly refusing to be the wrong one.
They both reached for the door's handle at the same time, and an electric spark shot through their fingers when hand touched hand. Harry jumped back, startled, while Draco stared at his hand as if trying to figure out if it had some kind of disease or such.
Shaking his head, Draco entered the place, with Harry following gloomily behind.
Stepping before the reception desk, Draco smiled charmingly at the young lady there. She blushed furiously at his smile. "Hi, may I help you, sirs?" she said, clearing her throat slightly when her voice came out hoarse.
"Yes, we have an appointment with Mr. Richard Harbor at nine thirty today," Harry said, bringing the girl's attention to himself.
She looked surprised, and then her eyes widened. "You're Harry Potter!" she exclaimed.
Harry grinned, used to being recognized by young girls like that. After becoming a singer he was more confident and sociable, which was a good thing, really. "Hello, nice to meet you..."
"My name is Angie Rosewood, oh, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Potter. I've always been a fan of yours!" she nearly squealed.
"Oh, that's very wonderful to know... er... so about Mr. Harbor..." Harry said.
"Oh, yes! Just a moment, please," she said automatically, dialing numbers on the desk. A voice flowed out from nowhere, startling Draco. "Yes, Angie?"
"Mr. Harbor, Mr. Harry Potter and his acquaintance are here," she said, smiling at Draco sweetly. Draco smiled back at her breathtakingly.
Harry felt an unfathomable urge to strangle her. Draco had never smiled at him like that. Now where did that come from? Harry thought, confused, then shaking his head, he returned back to the present world to hear "... right now please."
Angie looked back at them. "Down this hallway and turn left, it's the first door on the right."
"Thanks, Angie," Draco said, his voice dripping with honey.
The girl blushed. "No problem."
Harry, rolling his eyes and pretending not to care, marched down the hall without waiting for Draco. Honestly, what was wrong with him? It wasn't like he had a crush on Draco or anything, so was that jealousy he was feeling back there?
"You are so obvious, Potter," Draco said, falling in steps with him.
"I have no idea what you're on about, Malfoy," Harry mumbled, annoyed at his own behavior.
"Don't lie, Harry," he drawled out the name, flirtingly, and Harry felt himself reacting. "You're not very good at it."
"Shut up, Malfoy," he said, and knocked on the door they arrived at. Draco grinned at him wickedly, which Harry tried his best to ignore.
"Come in."
They did, and once inside, Draco immediately latched his hand onto Harry, leaning closer to him. Harry gave him a horrified look, as if about to shake him off. "We're dating, remember?" Draco hissed, smiling adorably up at Harry.
Dazed, Harry watched, then realizing what he was doing, turned away, blushing slightly.
"Harry, there you are," a voice said in greeting, and Draco looked up.
A man in his thirties was sitting in front a pile of music. He has dark blond hair and blue eyes, obscured behind rectangular glasses. His features were broad, and he has a very friendly smile.
"Hi, Richard, how are you?" Harry said, shaking his hand firmly.
"Fine, bunches of work like always, but enjoyable," he said dismissively, and that was when he saw Draco.
His eyes widened, and he looked speechless. Draco's veela instinct made him take a step back, but Harry's grip on his hand didn't allow him to go anywhere far.
Finally, Richard seemed to be able to regain his voice. "I reckon this is Draco Malfoy?" he said, clearing this throat slightly. Harry almost rolled his eyes. Draco has such odd effects on people.
"Yes," Draco said, sticking out his hand and shook the other's. Richard lingered for a heartbeat longer, then released. Draco looked oblivious to the fact, but Harry wasn't. In fact, he noticed and his blood boiled at the very thought.
"I heard a lot about you from Harry," Richard said, smiling. "Harry seems very smitten with you."
Draco laughed. "Oh, I'm sure," Draco said, looking up at Harry with a glint in his eyes. Harry grinned back faintly.
Richard came to his desk, rummaging around the papers. "Pardon the untidiness. It just that I don't usually have guests here."
"It's quite alright," Harry said, looking around for the first time. A system of karaoke was laid along one of the wall, and the DJ system on another. Wires and equipments were everywhere, and impressively enough, they were all from the best brands.
"There it is," Richard said, pulling out a paper. Draco eyed it warily. Ever since that music sheet Harry gave him that day, he didn't trust any kinds of paper anymore.
"Um, Richard, you remember when I told you Draco is not very... er... knowledgeable..." Draco gave Harry a glare "about music."
Richard looked mildly surprised. "But surely he can read music..." Draco blushed "... or not." Richard cleared his throat again and said, "Well, then, I can see that we have a lot of work to do." Sitting down, Richard rubbed his temples tiredly, as if thinking, and then looked up at them. "Oh, sit down, please. I'm sorry, sit down, sit down..."
Draco and Harry smiled smally and sat. "So what are you going to do, Richard?" Harry asked, after a while.
"Well, I am pretty busy, but I'm willing to spend two hours on week days to work with Draco, if that's fine with you," Richard said, smiling at Draco sweetly.
Draco looked over to Harry, who was inwardly glaring at Richard. "What do you think?"
Harry jumped slightly and turned to Draco. "Oh, yes, it's fine."
"Great! We'll start next week, since I still have work to wrap up." Richard stood up, and Draco and Harry took that as their cue to leave. "It's a pleasure meeting you, Draco," he said, shaking Draco's hand.
"Oh, no," Draco said convincingly, eyes wide. "The pleasure's all mine."
Harry stood there and sulked.
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So Draco's lessons began, and Harry went on his tour around the country for a month.
When he came back, he had to immediately started working on his next CD upon his manager's demand.
Weeks flied by, and Harry found that he saw Draco less and less, with himself working his throat raw and Draco being taken away by Seamus to do things that he wouldn't tell Harry. It's a surprise, Harry, be patient, Seamus had said to him when Harry wouldn't stop badgering him one day, and that was the most Harry could get out of him.
Harry decided not to worry about it anymore, and instead concentrated on his work. But work seemed so difficult to focus on, as everything he saw seemed to be reminding him of Draco. It was confusing, and frustrating, and not just for him, either.
Wednesday, September 26... the recording studio...
"Damnit, Harry! Concentrate!" Marie, Harry's manager, exclaimed dismally. "You sound like a bloody hound giving his last barks! We've been recording and re-recording this song for a hundred times! I'm getting sick of listening to it! And I co-wrote it!"
"Sorry, Marie!" Harry said apologetically, scratching his head as he grabbed a glass of water. "I can't help it that I'm so... distracted."
Marie huffed, defeated. "Alright, Harry, I give up," she finally said dejectedly. "You go home now, and get a long, good rest. I expect you to come back tomorrow in top condition. I swear, I'm gonna bloody murder you if I have to listen to this song more than I have to."
"Sorry," Harry said, smiling weakly at her. He couldn't help himself. He hadn't seen Draco in three days and his frustration was getting the better of him. What was more irritating, however, was the fact that he couldn't understand why he won't stop thinking about the blond. It was maddening. "I guess... I just need some alone time."
Marie stopped glaring at him, and instead, gave Harry a long, thoughtful look. "You miss your boyfriend, don't you?" she finally said, smirking when she saw Harry blush.
"I am not!" Harry automatically lied.
"Don't lie, Harry!" Marie said, laughing and patting him on the back. "You are probably bitching at me silently for keeping you away from him." Yes, I'm bitching at you alright, Harry thought, but not for the reason you're thinking, no. She had been screaming her head off at him for the past two hours because he couldn't sing the song right. "Well, go home now and get to know his body nice and lovely so you'll be fully energized when you get back here tomorrow." She laughed again when Harry blushed. "Oh! You are just too cute! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. I know fully well that men have needs, Harry. I'm have a boyfriend, too." She winked at him. "Now off you go!"
Harry sighed, and nodded. "Alright, thanks Marie. See you tomorrow." Harry apparated.
Harry arrived at the gate of his home. For the first time since he bought this house, Harry realized how big it was. Three stories high, with a spiraling path leading up to the house and the garden surrounding the it. There was even a swim pool behind that house that Harry never had time to properly enjoyed. Was being a singer meant that he couldn't have time to spend with friends and family? He was doing what he loved for once, and somehow, Harry still felt like something was missing.
The light illuminated the living room as Harry stepped inside.
Empty
.A hollow feeling spread itself evilly inside Harry's heart, and he felt very disappointed. Why, though? It wasn't like he was expecting anyone to be home or anything. He knew that no one will be.
Shaking his head, Harry turned on the TV. He hadn't watched the news lately, and it'd be good to keep in touch with the world.
The news channel turned on, and voices started floating out, but Harry didn't exactly feel like sitting down and watch it, so he went in the kitchen instead.
A vision of Draco standing in the kitchen flashed through Harry's head, and for a moment he really believed Draco was there.
Oh, you're home
.Harry remembered coming back home one day from work, tired and hungry, and Draco was wearing that ridiculous apron and making food.
Harry opened the refrigerator. There were no more food. It seemed like Draco hadn't been home for a while.
He sighed, and turned his head to the table, where they sat together, eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner sometimes.
Honestly, Potter! I didn't poison the food, if that's what you're thinking...
Harry shook his head. Get a grip, Potter.
But Harry couldn't help it. He really missed Draco.
"... Draco Malfoy as our guest today!"
Harry's heart skipped a beat at the name mentioned, and with a lightning quick speed he ran out into the living room, eyes wide as he stared at the TV.
Draco was in it.
What's going on
? Harry thought, his heart running miles a minute. What's he doing there?Draco was smiling and speaking to the host of the show and was being especially pleasant. They were saying something, but Harry couldn't make sense of it. All he saw was Draco, with his hair blowing about his head in wisps of silver and gold. Draco, who was smiling beautifully with those supine lips. Draco, with sparkling silver eyes that were full of laughter...
Then Draco did something strange. He stood up and took the microphone being given to him by the host, and suddenly, music blared behind him and the background in the TV faded away into black and blue, leaving the blond to stand on stage, his pale complexion contrasting against the darkness.
Then, to Harry's surprise, he started to sing.
The world keeps on passing by
Every moment, every day
It seems like a lifetime
And all I could do is smile
Someone told me the world is beautiful
Reach with your fingers and grasp it
You will feel whole
Harry couldn't tear his eyes away from Draco. His eyes were closed, light eyelashes brushing against his cheeks as he sang, and every word that left his mouth was like an angel's song, fusing together to form something too magical for words, and it was Draco that was singing, and he was amazing, unbelievable... incredible.
But I don't feel it
It's never been there
The world ain't beautiful
And I don't feel whole
Harry sat down on the sofa, seeming unaware of his surrounding. Draco's voice was spellbinding, and from the angle that the camera was at, the audience seemed to think so too.
Something beautiful
Something magical
A miracle
I've been
Lonely for so long
You chase it away
Look at me, you light my world
Smile at me, you understand
You turn me inside out
You are the moment I've been waiting for (yeahhh ohh)
Draco's hair blew back from his face, and Harry sat there, completely mesmerized as he watched Draco's every move. He watched as Draco's free hand lightly grasped his shirt's sleeve in nervousness. He watched as Draco took a step forward and leaned a bit to the right. He watched as Draco opened his eyes and gave a breathtaking smile...
Waking up in the morning
When I feel cold and worthless
I realize that there's you
Turning around
I see your smile
Your eyes, your face, your hands
And I believe again
Something beautiful
Something magical
A miracle
Lonely for so long
You chase it away (so far away)
Look at me, you light my world (brighter and brighter)
Smile at me, you understand
You turn me inside out
You are the moment I've been waiting for (yeahhh ohh)
Everything faded away, so that the light was only focusing on Draco, whose eyes were sparkling brighter than before. Harry briefly remembered, back in Hogwarts day, when Draco's eyes would lit up like that as he held his test in his hands, and whenever Harry saw that expression on Draco's face he knew the blond had gotten an almost perfect score on his test.
Draco's voice was softer now, almost luring its audience into the warm depth of an invisible heaven that could only be found in that absolutely magnificent voice.
Someone told me the world is beautiful
But I never truly believed
Until I see your smile
"Home early today?"
Almost in a dreamlike state Harry turned around, and this time, his heart stopped in his chest.
Draco was standing there, in the middle of the door, holding two bags of grocery. His expression was one of surprise and there was no sparkle in his eyes, but seeing Draco there, it seemed surreal somehow. Harry did not move, he did not reply, and he continued to stare at Draco, his face filled with awe. Subconsciously he wondered why he had never truly appreciated how gorgeous Draco was.
"Good thing, too. I just bought some stuff to make dinner, haven't realized that we ran out of food," Draco said casually, kicking off his shoes and coming further into the room. "What?" he said, finally realizing that Harry was staring at him unblinkingly for almost two minutes now.
The music in the background seemed to slowly fade away, until Harry felt like he was in a movie, where his lover had just come home and he himself had just realized how much he missed him... loved him.
"Potter, you're staring at me as if you're in love with me or something, stop that!" Draco said, but Harry didn't snap out of his reverie for a few moments.
He shook his head. You have no idea, he thought, and felt a large smile made its way across his face.
Draco was bewildered at his change of expression, but after a while, he returned Harry's smile with one of his own - one that, if possible, was even more stunning than any he'd ever given out before.
The world ain't beautiful
And I won't feel whole
Until I see your smile...
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To be continued...
Next chapter
...(possibly): Seamus realizes where he'd seen Draco before, and confronts Draco about it. Hermione and Ron come after seeing Draco on TV. They are suspicious, oh yes, m'dears, very suspicious evil smile. Harry goes to see Draco at his lesson with Richard, and finds that the instructor is very... physical when it comes to Draco. Hmm, and they say a woman's jealousy is to fear of. How about a man's?Note
: Right, I am SO sorry this took so long to come out runs away I hope you guys aren't too mad at me. I've been scratches out lazy busy --; But it's summer! More updates! (I hope)I wrote that crap that Draco sang, though if there are some lines that you recognize as from songs then they probably are. That will be the "theme song" of their relationship. I was thinking of finding a song, but was too lazy too. If you guys have any suggestions for songs (because you hate mine or whatever), please do tell.
By the way, Winelyn is still a very young house-elf (daughter of Dobby and Winky), so her magic isn't fully developed yet, meaning she can help with the little things in the house, but aren't allowed to do much magic in case it gets out of control.
This is very scary for me, but
Umm, if anyone would like to be a beta for this story, I will really appreciate it. Thanks.
REVIEW!
