A/N: So I thought I'd post another chapter for you :) Some of you were concerned about the lasagna ;) This chapter throws a bit of a problem into Harry and Draco's budding relationship. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

I don't know what would happen if you were never in my life, just by the thought of being away from you makes me want to know why aren't I with you.

I awoke some time later in a panic because as I was dreaming, I remembered that I was baking lasagna. My eyes flew open fearfully expecting my house to be on fire. I was immediately shushed by someone next to me and I turned to see Draco lying there with his eyes closed, still holding me close.

"Kreacher took care of it. He put a warming charm on it. He seems to be less crotchety and creepy now," he said in a quiet voice.

I chuckled. I actually didn't mind Kreacher so much anymore. He did a good job and he wasn't constantly grumbling under his breath whenever he was in my presence. "He's not so bad actually," I comment. I close my eyes and relax into the warmth that Draco provides. I could have sworn that he would be cold like I always thought in school, but he's quite warm and I love it. I said love it as in that he's warm, not love him. Far too soon for that thought. Well, I guess since I'm thinking it, it's not too soon. Never mind…. Draco brings me out of my musings with a startling question.

"Will you tell me about your parents? About your life before Hogwarts?" he asks. He's rubbing my arm which relaxes the tension out of me at his question.

"I, uh, I don't know. Why are you asking?" I question quietly.

He stops and I know he's looking at me, but I can't look at him. I'm sure the feeling that I always get when I talk about my parents is there in my eyes. "I want to know more about you. I feel like all I know is what the Prophet says about your early life or even your biography that Rita Skeeter wrote about you. I know that's definitely not true. I want to hear it from you," he replies.

I sigh and bury my face in his chest. I don't know how to talk about my parents with him. I've barely spoken about them to Hermione and Ron. "They started seeing each other at Hogwarts, seventh year I think. They were madly in love and shortly after Hogwarts they married. The next year my mum became pregnant with me and then I was born that following year. Voldemort had apparently heard some prophecy involving me so my parents and I went into hiding. Our secret keeper was Peter Pettigrew. Snape was actually the one who told him of the prophecy. Anyway, Voldemort went to my house and killed my parents. My mum died protecting me which is why Voldemort couldn't touch me for so long without getting hurt. He didn't know love. My mum gave me the ultimate protection. That's why the killing curse didn't work on me and left me with the scar instead. After their deaths, my godfather, Sirius, went after Peter, confronting him. Pettigrew blew the area up and he supposedly died with others. Sirius was sent to Azkaban as a murderer. I had no one. So Dumbledore whisked me off to live with my relatives," I replied. I could feel tears in the corner of my eyes which I didn't want to happen, but they always did.

"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry. I didn't realize it would make you cry," Draco said in a pleading tone. I shook my head, waving off his concern.

"No, it's fine. It doesn't matter how many times I've told, heard, or remembered the story, it's always the same reaction," I reply.

He nods and squeezes me against him in a comforting hug. "What about your relatives?"

I snort at this. I can easily talk about them without crying. I get angry when I talk about them. Well, not as much as I used to since we kind of made up and got on better terms anyway. "I was a freak, plain and simple. My uncle hated me and my aunt wouldn't do a single thing that went against her son or husband. You see, my Aunt Petunia was my mum's sister and since my father's family was long gone, and Sirius was in Azkaban, they were the only ones I could go to. Plus, there was some protection with staying with them, so I really didn't have a choice. They treated me horribly. Up until I got my Hogwarts letter, I lived in a cupboard under the stairs," I stopped as Draco growled angrily.

"They treated you like some house elf?" he demanded. He seemed to be ready to walk out the door and tell my aunt and uncle just what he thought about their choices. I reached up and patted his arm.

"It's fine. They did treat me that way, but after I got my letter and they knew I could do magic, they weren't as awful to me. I mean, they didn't feed me very well and I did all the chores and I couldn't have much fun, but I did get my own room. They had one son that they spoiled rotten and gave me hand me downs and never bought me anything new. But when I was at Hogwarts, none of that mattered. I was able to get away from them and finally fit in somewhere," I explained. I'm pretty sure I didn't make Draco feel any better about my relatives, but not much else could be said. They had treated me awfully. I like to think of it as character development or something.

"Well, if I had known the true story, I would have told your aunt and uncle a thing or two," he promised.

I chuckled. "Yes, because I'm sure you were so concerned about how I grew up that you would have said something to them."

I look up at him and he's blushing. "If you had decided to be my friend then, I would have," he pointed out. I grinned and pushed myself up to his level. I looked down at him, still amazed at how wonderful this day had turned out. I'm pretty sure I was turning into mush just looking at him.

"I'm sure you would have," I muse. He smiles and I lean down to kiss him. I haven't been this content in a long time. I would much rather continue kissing him, but our stomachs growling say otherwise. We laugh and move away from each other. We get up and put our pants back on and head out the door. Draco is ahead of me, but quickly slows down and wraps his arm around my shoulder, kissing me on the head. It felt so unbelievably right and sweet.

Kreacher has set out cutlery and the lasagna is on the table as the center piece with the treacle tart there as well. Candles are lit as well and I'm finding this to be a very romantic setting. I glance sideways at Draco who is blushing, but looking pleased. I think Kreacher is up to something.

"Wow, isn't this quite the spread?" Draco comments as he sits down at the table. I move around to the other side and sit across from him.

"It appears that Kreacher is up to no good," I joke. I know I'm blushing deeply and I know that I am thanking my lucky stars for Kreacher setting this all up. I couldn't imagine a more perfect ending to this day.

"Oh, I think it's quite good," Draco replies with a grin. He takes a bite of his lasagna and I wait before tasting mine to see if he likes it. He makes this noise of satisfaction and I know that I did a good job.

"Good?" I ask. He nods enthusiastically. We eat in companionable silence. I can't stop staring at him though and when I do look away for a moment, I feel him staring at me.

Once we have finished the lasagna and I've served the treacle tart, do we speak again. "Harry, I can't begin to thank you enough for today. I have had the most perfect day. I wish it could be like this every day," he says wistfully.

I smile because to me that means that we'll be seeing each other again. "Does that mean you'd like to spend more time with me?" I ask hopefully.

He looks up with wide, gray eyes. He stares at me for several moments and I'm finding myself squirming again under his piercing gaze. "Yes, I want to spend more time with you," he whispers finally.

I smile broadly at him. This couldn't get any better, could it? No, it couldn't, but it could get worse. There was a tapping noise at my door and I turned to see an intimidating Eagle owl tapping on my door. I frowned at the unrecognizable bird. I started to stand when I noticed that Draco was already heading for the door. He opened it and the large bird came in, stuck out his leg, and then nipped Draco's arm. Draco glared at the bird, but took the scroll. He read it quickly, his expression going from complete ease to tension and anger.

"Problem?" I ask.

He sighs, scribbles a response on the bottom of the scroll and attaches it to the owl's leg again. The owl nips him once more and flies away. "Sorry, just my father," he replies angrily.

I frown as he sits back down across from me and pushes his treacle tart around on his plate. "Do you need to leave?" I ask him, afraid of his answer.

Draco frowns and looks as if he's thinking deeply about something. His brow furrows and then his expression changes to determination. He stands up from his chair and walks over to the floo. "My father is demanding to know where I am and why I didn't go to work this morning. He demands that I come home this instance and explain myself. I'm going to tell him that it's not going to happen," he responds heatedly.

I watch him closely. I catch a glimpse of that young boy who did everything his father told him to do. I didn't think he'd win this argument over with his father, but he had to try, right? "Shall I give you some privacy?" I ask, getting ready to head to the door.

"No, it's fine. Stay here," he tells me. I think he wants me here for support, but he wouldn't say that aloud to me of course. I stay though.

I watch by bated breath as he waits for someone to respond at his house. Finally, a house elf appears. "Oh, Master Draco, how can Is be helping you?"

"Tinky, will you let my father know that I would like to speak with him?" Draco requests. I watch the elf nod and disappear. Draco leans back and looks over at me.

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm truly an adult or not," he comments off-handedly. I frown at him, unsure of what to think of his comment or to say in response. Finally, Lucius's face appears in the fire and Draco is focused on him.

"Draco, where are you?" he demands. Draco is blocking me so he can't see me, but I'm sure he'll figure out that something is up.

"It doesn't matter where I am, father. I'll be home later," he responds.

"Your owl clearly states that you were coming home. That is where I expect you to be."

"I don't want to go home. I am perfectly happy where I am and I'll come home later," Draco replies quickly.

I quirk an eyebrow at Draco in confusion. He told his father he was coming home? Well, that kind of changes things.

"You are coming home now and that's final. I don't know who you think you are. You have responsibilities, young man! Skipping out on work and hanging out with, now wait a minute, just who are you hanging out with?" he demands. I see Lucius trying to look past Draco. I know he catches a glimpse of our romantic setting and his brow furrows further and a scowl starts to form.

"It's none of your damn business where I am," Draco responds icily.

I cringe at his tone. I've heard it a few more times than I'd like and it cuts just as deeply, even though I'm not on the receiving end. "Don't you dare take that tone with me! Get your arse home, right now. That is final," Lucius responds angrily. He cuts off the floo connection and Draco kneels back and glares into the empty fireplace.

"Draco, you can go. We've had a brilliant day. Let's just end it here," I suggest lightly.

Draco turns around and looks hurt by my suggestion. "Do you want me to leave?" he demands. He stands up and crosses his arms and scowls at me. I stand up and step towards him. I reach out to touch him, but he jerks away from me. I frown, but let him have his moment.

"No, I don't want you to leave, but I don't want to cause problems between you and your father. We'll see each other again, if you'd like. Maybe in a few days you can have another free day. The weekend is coming up after all," I soothe.

His shoulders sag and he steps towards me, allowing me to touch him. I hug him because he seems to want that. It's awkward at first, despite all that we've done today, but a hug is so personal. It's nice. He kisses my cheek and steps away from me.

"You know I don't want to leave, right?" he asks quietly. He looks up at me with hopeful eyes.

I nod. "I know, but it's your dad and sometimes it's easier to just do what he says and live another day," I chuckle at this and he smiles a little too. "Besides, I'm sure you'll stand up to him one day. Doesn't have to be today though. I'll see you at the café probably. Thanks for today. It was the best day."

Draco walks towards the floo, but then turns back around and comes over to me. He loops his arms around my waist and pulls me against him, kissing me in such a way that I'm left breathless. One more quick peck, and then he's gone.

I stand there motionless for a moment. My brain was trying to catch up with my day. I couldn't believe the day we had. It was brilliant. As I turned to look around my kitchen, Draco's empty plate sitting there, I suddenly felt something that before today, I would have never felt in regards to Draco. I missed him. I truly missed him and he had just left. Then I realized that I now know what had been missing in my life. Draco. I just hoped that we would have another day like today and then another, and another.