Title: Darkest Before the Dawn

Disclaimers: Nothing belongs to me.

Chapter Four

It might have been minutes or hours, Harry Potter wasn't certain. His coffee had long since gotten cold and the biscotti that he'd been stirring the liquid with had turned into sodden mush that crumbled in the bottom of the mug. In a perfect world, the Death Eaters would have all been in Azkaban, he would be surrounded by nothing but friends and family, and he would probably be the head Auror, and he would be in love with Draco Malfoy. Instead, he was in back water town, banned from his own world, cut off from any contact with the wizardring world, and too fucking afraid of loving the only person that had ever loved him.

Draco had never seen Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. He'd never been awed by the scar. He'd never worshipped Harry on a pedestal or kissed his ass in order to further his own gain. He'd never cared about his sizeable wealth. About the only aspect of Harry that Draco was interested in was his heart. But Harry kept his heart closely guarded. He'd experienced too much pain in his short life to not keep his heart under tight lock.

"You seem distracted."

Harry jolted in his seat, green eyes widening as he saw Edward Cullen standing in front of his small table with his hands shoved into his pockets. His disheveled locks were sodden, a few damp strands falling across his face, and those beautiful amber eyes of his were aglow in the dim lighting of the café. "Ed…Edward? What are you doing here?"

"I was just in the area," Edward's crooked grin had Harry's heart skipping several beats. "Would you believe that?"

"No," Harry laughed, forgetting for the moment his inner lament, focusing on the gorgeous man in front of him.

"I saw your brother leave."

"Are you stalking me, Edward Cullen?" Harry motioned towards the empty seat, "Because that's against the law or at least it is in England."

Edward sank down into the chair, "That depends. Are you feeling violated?"

"I think that would depend on your definition of the word violated."

"Can I get you another latte?" one of the waitresses asked, leaning over as far as she could to take Harry's half empty mug, her cleavage practically thrust in front of the wizard. "Or maybe something else?"

"I'm fine. Thank you. Edward?"

"No, thanks."

"Oh, well, okay," she frowned, turning on her heel, hurriedly walking to the back.

"I don't mean to be rude but, exactly why are you here? You see me argue with Draco and feel it's your gentlemanly duty to escort me home so I don't get wet. While that's sweet of you, it's a bit strange."

"Maybe I choose to ally myself with you instead of becoming a target of the Mafia," Edward teased. He chuckled at the confused expression on Harry's face. "It's getting dark. Would you like me to take you home?"

"I…I don't think that's a good idea," Harry said, thinking of Draco. "It might start another fight."

"You were fighting because of me?"

"You could say that," Harry sighed, rising to his feet and laying down money for the bill and a tip. "But that rain doesn't look very inviting at all." He scowled at the dismal precipitation. "…Alright."

"Are you afraid that you'll melt? Would you like my coat to hold over your head?"

"Ha, ha," Harry's voice was dry, following that perfectly shaped ass molded exquisitely in-Harry's eyes snapped from watching that pert ass, feeling an amused gaze on him. "What?" he demanded, cursing himself as his face warmed, knowing that he'd been caught staring at Edward.

"Nothing," Edward's smile was impish as he opened the passenger door for Harry.

"Whatever. I live on 3094 Rose Court," he said as soon as Edward was in, turning the car's engine over, forcing himself not to ogle the Adonis beside of him. He shouldn't have been this easily distracted by his fight with Draco. It should have been bothering him immensely but instead all he could do was imagine Edward Cullen in various positions that ended with mutual gratification. Great, now I'm going to get a fucking nose bleed at the images. "So…why all the dislike at school?"

"A girl."

Harry nodded sagely. There were still members of the Weasley family and his old circle of friends that were rude because of his termination of his relationship with Ginny. He intimately knew the meaning of the word 'ostracized' because of it. Ron and Dean Thomas had been the only two that were violent with him. The others…well, Harry supposed he was much better without them in his life. It hurt. To know that anyone could dispose of friendship and love because of one person. Ginny's manipulation had run deep.

"Not that I was Mr. Popularity to begin with. Yes, there were those that desired me because of my appearance and wealth but…I suppose that I have a difficulty about me that prevents me from trusting anyone fully. It's annoying but it's saved me from having my heart broken," Edward's lips were turned into a wan smile and his eyes were distant, staring into the past. Harry had to wonder how many ghosts haunted Edward Cullen.

"But that girl managed to?" Harry queried, mentally berating himself for the flash of jealously that reared it's ugly, green head.

"Almost. I was very…very close to giving her everything of myself. In the end, I'm relieved that her true colors were shown. Can we not talk about this, Harrison?"

"Only if you stop calling me Harrison. Please, it's Harry," he chuckled.

"Deal. Why were you and Draco fighting about me?"

Harry's finger traced patterns on the fog forming on the glass. "I guess…he doesn't like me being close to anyone but him. And he thinks that you're some pretty rich playboy who's interest in me is less than innocent."

"What if he isn't wrong?"

Heart stopping for several second in his chest, Harry's finger paused in drawing, jade eyes widening in alarm. This…wasn't what Harry came to Forks for. He swallowed hard, calming his racing heart, getting control of his emotions. "Then I think that you need a new hobby," his responded icily.

"A hobby? I don't fling myself at just anyone, Harry. Do you believe in fate?"

"No. I refuse to believe that I was simply put on this planet in order to fulfill some manifest destiny that a god that may or may not exist planned for me. I'm no one's puppet," he said, harsher then he wanted to. His reflection in the window warned him that he was on the verge of loosing his clamp on his magic; green eyes were slowly swirling with crimson rivulets. A gift from Voldemort. "Thanks for the ride," he snapped, flinging the car door open as they pulled up to the front entrance of the massive house.

"Harry!" Edward called, crossing the path quickly, arms intercepting the smaller man around the waist. "I didn't mean to anger you," he said softly, "Though you wouldn't be the first to reject me like that."

"It has nothing to do with you!" Harry protested, knowing he was being irrational, knowing that he should have-in normal circumstances-been elated that he was on the receiving end of such desire and yearning. But he was a danger to everyone that involved themselves with him. "Things…things have happened to me that…" he licked his lips, trying to find the right words, finding it was nearly impossible with Edward pressed against him. "That…keep me from having normal relationships."

"Yes and I'm the poster child for normal," Edward murmured, more to himself then Harry, stepping away from Harry. "But I respect your decision."

"I'm not saying that we can't, you know, do-"

"Friends with benefits?" Edward snarled, awing Harry at the amount of anger in those pale golden eyes of his. "I'm not a promiscuous person, Harry. I thought, perhaps, with the connection I felt the second I laid eyes on you that I could find the ability to trust again. It would seem that I am wrong."

"Edward…" Harry began, losing all ire, feeling the disappointment and rejection radiating from Edward in waves. "If you knew me…you wouldn't want to offer yourself so freely."

"How can you make that deduction when you won't give me the chance?"

"Past mistakes," he said bitterly. "Give me some time, Edward. Please. This is…new for me." And it was. Harry had never been desired for anything more then his name. Yet Edward Cullen had no idea who Harry Potter was. Had no idea what lay buried underneath the alias Harrison Black.

"I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight."

Harry frowned, staying rooted to his spot until the car had disappeared down the street. The rain had long since soaked his clothes to his body. "Harry?" Draco's soft voice was next to his ear and Harry hadn't even noticed his friend's presence. "I'm sorry that I left like that and I'm sorry for-"

"Don't." Harry's voice left room for no arguments. He gently took Draco's hand and led him back towards the house, "You did nothing wrong. I'm the heartless bastard, Draco. I'm the one that's led you on for so long."

"You haven't led me on!" Draco hissed, extracting his hand from Harry's vice like grip, the door slamming behind them, "I'm not some weak woman, Harry. I knew a long time ago that I wouldn't be anything to you. I guess I've been deluding myself for years."

"If I could, there'd be no doubt that we would make the perfect pair," Harry sighed, touching Draco's face ever so slightly, seeing for a moment the hope flair in those beautiful eyes of his. It killed him. "I can't give myself to you because I'm scared of losing you. You've been my saving grace. The only one that's kept me from losing my sanity."

"But that doesn't mean anything, does it?" Draco desperately sought to stop the tears from forming. "I want one night, Harry. Just one night to…to say goodbye to the illusion forever."

It was wrong, Harry knew, as he nodded, taking Draco's hand and leading him towards the stairs. So wrong but he didn't give a fuck anymore. If this would keep Draco with him, keep him from returning to England, keep Harry from being alone…then he'd do it and damn the consequences.

Thanks for reading!! I might do the lemon of Draco/Harry in the next chapter. So, you are forewarned! :D

Please leave me a review and let me know how you like it. ^_^

Peace, Love, and Doughnuts,

Shiny Ryuichi Sakuma