Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Rights to the songs belongs to the respective artists (please see bottom). Plot and original characters are mine and may not be used without prior consent.
Author notes:
1. THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS! I know the last chapter wasn't that spectacular, but I hope the new one will make up for it. So, tell me what you think, yeah?
2. The lyrics I've mentioned in this chapter are not important for the content. I only used them to imply the atmosphere that builds by the music.
3. I gave livejournal another chance, even though I don't know for how long. If you're on lj as well and would like to add me to your friends list please check out my profile for my lj name.
4. HAPPY EASTER!
BARKING DOGS DO NOT BITE
BETA: Chris
Chapter 07
Harry opened the door at three o'clock and was greeted by an eerie silence he wasn't used anymore. He had decided to come home earlier than he'd said that Draco wouldn't be alone so long, but now he was alone.
No dogs were greeting him and he felt like living alone in the house. Creepy.
"Draco?... Ammit?... Scylla?... Lilith?" His voice got more suspicious with every new called name and no one responding to his calls.
"Ah, hello, Mr Potter." The housekeeper came out of the kitchen and greeted him good-humoured. "I was just about to leave for today." She opened the door of a closet and pulled her jacket from a hanger.
"Margaret, where's everybody?" Harry asked, hoping to quench this queasy feeling that build up in his stomach.
"Oh, Mr Malfoy took the dogs for a walk an hour ago. I think he'll be back soon." Mrs McTurner said, when she wrapped her scarf around her neck and fastened up her jacket. Potter sighed in relief and smiled to himself. He hadn't thought that the dogs would adapt so easily to Draco. That was good.
"Did he pick some clothes?" He could ask now that more important matters were cleared out.
"Oh yes, he did, but I think he felt rather uncomfortable. He picked too little, in my opinion and he needed to shrink them a lot, he's so slender, almost frail, but he did a good job with that shrinking."
Harry grinned. Everyone was slender and frail in Margaret's opinion, unless they weighed two-hundred-twenty pounds at 4'5''. The grin on his face faltered and he looked with a serious expression at his housekeeper.
"Did you see him change?" The brunette asked soberly, trying to keep his emotions out of the question. Mrs McTurner didn't seem to mind the odd question and shook her head lightly when she went over to the door.
"No, he picked a small pile of clothes and vanished again in his room, before he came down for lunch." She spun around one last time and looked at Harry with determination. "He needs to eat more. He can't just live from tea. He didn't want to eat until he felt woozy."
Harry's look darkened at this piece of information. Hadn't he just said last night that he didn't like his lovers too skinny? Draco would get a piece of his mind when he was back.
"I wish you and Mr Malfoy a nice weekend." Mrs McTurner said when she opened the door.
"The same to you, Margaret. See you on Monday." Harry said with a small smile and held the door wider open for the woman. He closed the door behind his housekeeper and leaned heavily against the door.
Maybe he'd imagined everything a bit too easy. He'd really thought that Draco would love to 'shop' in his wardrobe, but seemingly the grudge against him, Harry Golden Boy Potter, was still too deep settled in him.
Did he always eat so little, or did he just deny food, because it was 'Potter's food'? Harry slammed his fist against the entrance door and cursed unimaginative. All this wasn't going fast enough in Harry's opinion. He had almost gone crazy over the last days, since he had seen Draco and the git had fled his house quickly.
He wanted Draco and he wanted him now. It was the first time that he would want to abuse his saviour status for his own advantage to get what he wanted. But exactly this time, when he was ready to trespass his own oaths, it wouldn't help him the least. Draco abominated the Golden Boy image, even though he'd played a decisive role in the whole war-show-down- ordeal to let Harry come out as winner.
Harry pushed off the door and went into the sitting room. He took a large floor vase and used it as a doorstopper that the swing door stood wide open, before he went to a shelf to the left of the flat-screen. His hand reached automatically for the right cd and he went over to his hi-fi system that stood on the floor to the right of the swing door.
The brunette kneeled down and pushed the power button. He took one cd out of the cd-changer and put the new one in. He pushed the play-button and cranked up the volume. A strange electronic sound filled the entire house for a moment, before a bass-drum started and a male voice began singing that sent shivers down your back.
Tell me exactly what am I supposed to do - Now that I have allowed you to beat me - Do you think that we could play another game - Maybe I could win this time
Harry left the sitting room and went the stairs up to his bedroom. The song grew heavier when the rest of the drum set, guitar and bass-guitar set in and the man's voice turned angrier. The bedroom door stayed open as well and Harry began to undress. He opened his wardrobe and picked out some clean clothes. If Mrs McTurner hadn't told him that Draco had taken some clothes, he couldn't have told that something was missing.
Is she not right? - Is she insane? - Will she now - Run for her life in the battle that ends this day
The dirty laundry landed on the ground, the clean on the bed and he went starkers to the bathroom. He grabbed a clean towel from a rack and opened the glass door of the shower. He loved to take a shower while listening to his favourite music – loud – that the whole house was buzzing with the sound.
What if Draco didn't like his music? He'd need to buy a second stereo for his bedroom to avoid any problems, Harry thought when the hot water ran down his body and he began lathering his hair.
The song ended and a new one started. A heavy eighties beat was heard and a grin appeared on Harry's lips. His bum began shaking of its own accord and he sang quietly along when a twanging male voice began singing.
Your pretty ladies around the world - Got a weird thing to show you - So tell all the boys and girls - Tell your brother, your sister and your mamma too - we're about to go down - And you know just what to do
Music made him happy. Music relaxed him. His soaped hair forgotten for a moment, he began dancing in all earnest and sang along loudly, with a stupid grin never leaving his face.
Word up everybody says - When you hear the call you've got to get it underway - Word up it's the code word - No matter where you say it you know that you'll be heard
The song ended and Harry stepped back under the water jet, laughing heartily. Working with children meant to be rather mature when they were around, but when they weren't you became a child yourself once in a while. Fine, maybe it wasn't the fault of the children, but just because he was male.
He chuckled again and began lathering his body. A sustained note, played on an electric guitar, accompanied by hi-hat and snare drum and electronic noises announced another song and Harry moaned. The electronic guitar picked up its wicked melody and after about fifty seconds a deep seductive male voice began to fill the whole house with his vocals.
Fall into oblivion - With me, my love - In the palm - Drunken night - And stars above
Harry's hand wandered down to his quickly swelling manhood and he began stroking himself, just concentrating on the song. What if Draco would come home right now and would find him like this - knob in his hand and moaning unrestrainedly. He didn't know if he would be ashamed or pull Draco into the shower to play havoc with his body.
Enter oblivion - Like rain from the sky - And don't you never ask - The reason why
If he was honest with himself he wanted Draco to see him like this. Face flushed, panting, aroused, on the brink of completion, just to see the blond likewise. The song ended, but Harry didn't care. He didn't hear the cellos nor the mesmerising vocals, because images of Draco were mesmerising him.
Dirty little secret - Dirty little lies - Say your prayers and call me rare - Save your soul tonight
His movements got frantic and he leaned against the cold tiled wall for support, only seconds before his whole body tensed for a second and he found completion while calling out Draco's name.
When your own world comes undone, - Let me be the one to say: - Your god is looking down on me! - I'm not Jesus, - You can't run away!
He rested against the tiled wall a moment longer until his knees didn't feel like jelly anymore, before he stood under the water-jet again and let it wash the soap away. He staggered out of the shower, grabbed the towel and rubbed his hair dry before wrapping the terry cloth around his waist.
The saviour felt with his tongue along the inside of his left cheek and grinned smugly. He'd have loved to see Draco's face if he had caught him red-handed. He'd probably have tried to set the dogs on him.
Harry went into the bedroom and dropped the towel. The music was still blaring from downstairs and he swayed his hips to the rhythm while dressing. An easy wandless tempus spell told him that it was quarter to four and Harry pulled a face. Draco was out with the dogs for almost two hours now, it was time to get home.
Fall into sleep, fall into me - I have a dream - But nobody cares, nobody wants to listen - Fall into sleep, fall into me - Hang onto a dream, that nobody wants - Nobody cares anymore
The brunette went down the stairs and into the kitchen. He found the prepared dinner for them in the oven, it only needed to be heated up. He grabbed the kettle, filled it with water and put it on the hob.
In a shelf he found his favourite cup and filled it with two spoons of coffee powder. Harry slumped down in a chair, waiting for the water to boil and listened to the music. Draco needed to come home soon, he was getting nervous. The blond was a stranger to this neighbourhood. What if he got lost? No, that couldn't happen, the dogs were with him, they knew the area.
What if something has happened to him? If someone had attacked him or the strangers had found him? No, no, Harry calmed himself, that couldn't happen either. The dogs would protect him, no matter what.
He infused his coffee and looked up when he heard splattering noises over the sound of his music. Thick, heavy raindrops splashed against the windows and the dark, almost black clouds in the sky told him that the rain wouldn't lessen for a while. Why hadn't he noticed the dark sky? And where the bloody hell was Draco and the girls?
He switched on the lamp outside on the patio and sat back down. With the light on, he could see his garden and hopefully Draco soon. He would wait here, until the blond was back, safe and warm in his house. The music, also it was hard and heavy rock, calmed his ruffled nerves that were again ruffled by the caffeine.
The cd ended and Harry imagined how the plate with the five cds rotated and another one began playing moments later.
Gimme fuel - Gimme fire - Gimme that which I desire - Oh
He sipped his coffee and looked at the clock that hung at the wall across the kitchen range. Ten past four. Time wasn't moving fast enough. Should he go and look for Draco? But what if they missed each other and he would look hour after hour and start panic and would call the police and then he'd get home and Draco would sit in the living room, nursing a cup of tea and petting Ammit's head.
Oh bugger! He wasn't helping himself here. The fingers of his left hand tapped nervously on the table top to the rhythm of the music. What to do? What should he do? He'd been out with the dogs for hours as well, but rain always forced him back home.
Harry stood up, rummaged in one drawer and pulled out a pack of fags. Normally he didn't smoke at home. They were only for emergencies, and this was definitely an emergency, right? He broke a match out of a matchbook that was in the cigarette packet as well and scratched it along the striking surface that consisted of glass powder and red phosphor.
The sulphur of the match head ignited and for a moment Harry watched with interest the small flame eating the wooden rod. He brought the match closer to his face and lit the smoke with a deep drag.
The brunette inhaled deeply and could almost feel the fume spreading out in his lungs. He closed the drawer and felt almost at ease again. Nicotine did that to him. Twenty past four. It was time for something calmer. Harry hurried quickly into the living room, fag clamped between his lips, and straight over to the hi-fi system.
The boy-who-lived-twice opened the cd-changer, grabbed a cd-cover from the floor left side to the stereo and replaced one of the cds. Through the momentary silence he heard woofing and jumped up. He slammed the cd-changer shut and the cd began playing when he ran back into the kitchen.
I can feel the raindrops...the raindrops, - running down my back - the words you used to ruin me...you ruin me. - And I remember, the rain in my eyes the day you turned and ran away...you ruin me.
All three dogs plus the young man, they momentarily seemed to prefer to their Master, stood in front of him and looked like they didn't have a care in the world. A stupid serene expression on Draco's face was driving him up the walls. How could he be so calm when some years ago he would have had been in a paddy because of a lint on his robe?
Coats, hoody, trousers and shoes were dripping with water and formed quickly a small sea on the tiled kitchen floor. Harry was gobsmacked. He opened his mouth a little and the fag fell to the floor.
"Where have you been?" He asked angrily; not quite yelling yet, but louder than usual. Draco pushed the soaked hood from his head and his wet blond strands fell into his face. He looked at Harry with something akin to pouting. The relaxed expression was gone, but Harry didn't care at the moment.
"Out with the dogs, of course." He yelled over the music. Harry flicked his wrist angrily and the volume of the music softened. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Lilith set to shake her coat dry, and only a quick drying spell prevented a minor high water incident in his kitchen, before all three dogs would get the same idea.
"You!" Harry growled, when he was certain the dogs were dry, and pointed at Draco whose eyebrows rose perceptibly. "Are you stark raving bonkers? What were you thinking to stay out that long? You could get pneumonia. I was beside myself with worry. You could have gotten lost or I-don't-know what else."
Malfoy only snorted and crossed his arms in front of his chest. Granted, wet and cold clothes weren't his favourite choice of attire, but how dare Potter yell at him for no particular reason?
"Oh all right. So, smoking and listening to some music means for you being beside yourself. I understand. Potter, I don't… Hey, hey, what are you doing? Pwttr!" Draco cried when Harry stomped over to his wet form and pulled the hooded jumper over his head.
The wet fabric landed on the floor with a disgusting squelching noise and Draco stood in front of Potter only in his wet t-shirt. He definitely was soaked to the bones. "What the bollocking…Hey!" Draco screeched when Harry's hands grabbed the hem of his, eh Potter's, shirt, and shoved it upwards as well. Rough hands ran along his sides and he didn't know if Potter did it on purpose or unintentionally.
"Potter! What the fuck?" Draco yelled and pushed Potter away, before the brunette could lift the t-shirt over his head. "Are you out of your bloody mind?" The dogs looked at the pair in interest and stayed close instead of heading for their blankets.
"You'll catch a cold if you don't change into dry clothes." Harry tried to explain his behaviour. His fingertips were still tingling. He'd felt the goosebumps all over Draco's body and wanted to rub his hands over the blond's chest to warm him a bit and maybe feel this soft skin a bit longer.
"Why, thank you for telling me, Potter." Draco snarled and sneered at The Golden Boy. "But it's not my fault if you hold me up down here and I think I'm quite capable of changing my clothes alone." He went around Harry, left the dogs with him and went out of the kitchen – only to be followed by Potter.
"Draco, wait. Please." Harry called out, but he didn't listen. The blond went up the stairs and pushed the door of his room open. Potter's foot was between door and frame, before he'd had a chance to bar Potter. "I just want to help, Draco." The idiot apologised before he'd a chance to yell at him again. The nerve he had.
All the tension was back again. Terrific – not! He'd been outside for almost three hours to think about many things, too find some ease and Potter had thrown everything in front of a lorry in two minutes flat.
He had enjoyed watching the dogs play, playing with the dogs, watching mother nature. He had been in solitude, no other resident had taken their dog for walkies, and now he wanted nothing more than being back on the track, no matter how much water would pour down on him.
"Potter, I'm really pulling myself together here not to scream at you, so just leave me now, will you?" Draco said exasperated through gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, but I was so relieved that you were back home and safe." The brunette closed the door and went closer over to Draco. "You need to get out of your clothes." He whispered and reached for the hem of the shirt again. Draco's eyes were fixed to the hand and he watched every movement closely.
Harry's fingers glided under the hem and brushed soft skin for the second time. He could feel the wetness remaining on his fingertips. Maybe there was a chance to get the Malfoy heir after all.
"Potter, what…?" Draco whispered, not trusting his voice at the moment. His hands twitched with irresolution should he stop boy-wonder or let him do as he liked?
"Let me help you." Harry purred and his hands pushed upwards, taking the t-shirt with them so that it bunched up under Draco's arms. The thumb of his right hand brushed over Draco's left nipple and the Slytherin hissed at the unexpected touch.
For the first time Harry could look at the fine, pale chest that he'd expected to be perfect and he'd been right, also you could see the effects of slight undernourishment, but that could be helped. He must be freezing, Harry thought when he saw the pale skin contracting to many small goose pimples.
Harry let go of the blond's body and Draco shivered when the wet fabric fell over his torso again. His arms were lifted and he let them above his head like an obedient, lifeless doll. Harry's hands went back to the hem of the t-shirt and caressed along Draco's arms on their way down. He lifted the dripping wet fabric again and this time over Draco's head without protest.
"Potter, why…?" Draco whispered, but bit his lip when he didn't dare end the question. What did he want to ask? What did he want to hear in response? – Potter, why do you do this? Potter, why me? Potter, why now? Harry, why don't you hurry? Harry, why don't you kiss me?
Harry didn't answer, but licked his awfully dry lips when he saw kissable lips worried between Draco's teeth. He let the t-shirt fall to the floor and grabbed Draco's belt to pull him a bit closer.
"Draco." Harry purred in the same captivating tone he'd used before and the blond finally settled for lowering his arms. His hands weren't twitching anymore and he felt the serenity crawling back into his body, also he was breathing heavily.
Deft fingers opened his old, worn belt quickly and set to be as quick with the buttons of the jeans. Loud, short barks outside on the hallway yanked him out of his… his…, he didn't know what he should call it, and he took one step back from Potter.
"Draco."
"Go. Please, go. Look after the girls." Malfoy said in a voice that held no anger, but no passion either.
"Draco." Harry tired again, but the blond escaped his grasp.
"No. No, Potter, no." A deep sigh left Harry's lips but no further word. He went to the door, opened it and heard immediately why Lilith, Ammit and Scylla were barking. Someone was fire-calling him and screamed his head off for him and that someone sounded like his mate Ron. He'd give his mate a piece of his mind for worst timing ever.
Lyrics by:
Disturbed – The Game
Cameo – Word Up
The 69 Eyes – Wages of Sin
Apocalyptica feat Corey Taylor – I'm not Jesus
Mudvayne – Fall into sleep
Metallica – Fuel
Drowning Pool – Paralysed
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