Disclaimer: Though we sincerely wish it to be true, we neither own nor have created these most fabulous of characters. They are property of one J. K. Rowling. We shall return them when we are finished. Hopefully they will be unharmed.

A/N: Ah! I forgot to do this last time so I'll put it here. Doxa Vomica et Curo means Glory's Curse and Cure. Both Draco and Harry came out of the war kinda tainted... shadows following them, hence, "Glory's Curse." The 'Cure' part? Well, you guys are smart, you tell me ;) So here's another chapter! I'm easy to please I tell you what, reviews just tickle me completely pink :D Up to chapter 13 are edited and ready to go, and I swear, I'm working on Mandy to get more edited.. but you know what really motivates her? yep! more reviews! so play nice!

Oh! and really a big thanks to the people that added this story to their c2 communities. I didn't even really know what they were but now that I do I'm really flattered!

Doxa Vomica et Curo

Chapter Seven
Help Please

Draco lounged in bed for awhile, Merlin coming up to purr next to him. The cat nuzzled against his neck and Draco chuckled, stroking that cat's soft fur.

Taking pride in dressing again Draco donned his favorite pair of everyday robes and headed out to Severus's shop, needed to get the books so he could undo the mess Severus had no doubt made of them while Draco had been distracted.

Harry cooked lunch for himself and Seamus, chatting idly with his old school mate. Seamus insisted upon going to see Hermione so Harry relented with a sigh, taking him over there. He said that he had to pick some things up in Dagon alley and thus would need to stop by afterwards.

They had their moment to coo and awe over Hermione's belly and Harry just chuckled, pulling Seamus from the house. He waved to Hermione as they disapparated away to Diagon alley. Seamus, having not been back for a while, darted all over but stayed pretty close to Harry. Harry kept his hands in his pockets, watching Seamus but simply smirking as he opened the door for him to Sev's shop.

Draco lifted his head as they came in, sitting behind the desk looking over the predicted mess of Severus's books. He smiled a little... flushing just slightly when he saw Harry. Harry sighed heavily as Seamus was distracted, too distracted to move into the shop. He smiled lightly over to Draco before Seamus skipped in, smiling wide. Draco's smile faltered just slightly when he saw the Irishman with Harry but he covered it quickly.

"So apparently when the great Harry Potter says, 'see you later' he means it literally…" he said with a small smirk, sitting back in his chair.

"I forgot I needed someth-oof..." He was interrupted when Seamus poked his belly. Harry pushed him away with a smirk and walked in. "Draco, Seamus... Seamus, Draco..." he said reintroducing them.

Draco smirked softly, nodding to him as Severus came in from the back behind him, still managing to pull of his intimidating air. "Finnegan..." Sev said with a nod of his head.

Seamus laughed. "Awww you know you miss me..." He said with a laugh, shaking Snape's hand vigorously.

Draco covered his mouth to hold back his laughs and Severus merely raised a brow.

"Indeed Mr. Finnegan, not a day has gone by when I have not missed your enlightening presence," he said, removing his hand and casting an amused glance at Draco.

Harry smirked lightly, throwing his arm over Seamus's shoulder. "Seamus was just DYING to see you both..." he said sarcastically and Seamus grinned moving to prop himself up on the counter. He brought his hand up and slid a finger under Draco's chin.

"I hear tell, lovely one, that your preference lies with males... " he said with a flirtatious grin, his lip between his teeth.

Draco flushed lightly before he smirked back. "Sorry Seamus, love, I'm married to my work," he paused a moment. "I do happen to know a very sexy Italian, though, who's available," he said, grinning as he leaned back and away from Seamus's touch.

"Could that possibly be the one infamous Zabini that I was so hoping to meet?" He asked before turning to see said Italian smirking and speaking from the door.

"Well I don't know about the infamous part..." Blaise said with a grin.

Draco looked up at his friend, immensely glad he was there as Blaise strolled in. He leaned over toward Draco, who stubbornly turned his cheek to receive his kiss there instead.

"I'm still mad at you," Draco declared with a pout and Blaise just smirked.

Harry watched the three interact a moment before turning and perusing the shelves. Draco sighed as he sat back, redoing Harry's introductions.

"Blaise- Seamus, Seamus- Blaise." he said. "Hot blooded Irishman meets sexy Italian, have fun," he said, dropping his head back to his work. The two smirked and stared talking, both flirtatious, both outgoing.

Harry turned and chewed his lip, walking over to the counter. "I need something... but..." he bit his lip more. "Your shop isn't supposed to have it..."

Draco's lips quirked into a small grin, "Which we both know is exactly why you're so frequently a customer..."

"Exactly," he said, sliding the piece of paper over. He watched Draco and nodded before stepping back.

Draco picked up it up, looking at the name and glancing up at Harry, wondering what he could need it for. "You don't shop cheap Potter..." he murmured, standing up and moving to the back.

He sighed inwardly at the continued use of his last name. "Not anymore," he said as he turned, to look through the shelves more.

Draco hadn't realized he'd used it, he was distracted and not paying attention... and it was a force of habit. It had taken a long time to call Hermione by her name... mostly he started because calling her Hermioned because Weasley was confusing.

Blaise looked up at Harry. "He doesn't mean anything by it... Draco gets into his zones." Harry looked at Blaise.

"I don't know what you mean," he said turning to move back through the shop. Both Blaise and Seamus frowned.

Draco came back out a moment later, whatever he had gotten was glamoured very well. "Here you go Harry, you're lucky we had it in stock," he said, looking up at him.

Harry turned back and nodded taking it and slipping it into his pocket before paying Draco. "Thanks Malfoy," He said nodding to him before turning and heading out of the shop. "Seamus, you know where I live..." he said, knowing his Irish friend wanted to stay and talk to Blaise.

Draco frowned a little in confusion and looked down then helplessly to Blaise before he sat down and opened his books again. Seamus sighed softly as he watched Harry leave before turning back to Draco and Blaise. Draco chewed his lip, his stomach feeling a little funny as he wondered what he'd done wrong to make Harry's attitude change so quickly. He closed the books and picked them up. Harry moved to the local pub, getting a drink before apparating home.

"I'm going to go home to work on these," he said to Sev and then nodded at Blaise and Seamus. "See you later..." he said, moving out and apparating back.

Later that night, Harry was working in his mini-lab, creating a potion spell mixture. He sighed heavily, sitting on the stool and rubbing his forehead. Seamus came in, having returned from his small lunch date with Blaise, and rubbed Harry's back looking over his work.

"What are you working on?" He asked softly.

Harry sighed and just looked at it. "A concealment remover. Some charms are actually attached to the object and they... need to be like washed off... or dissolved away..." He said with another sigh, poking at the ingredients a little.

Harry sighed again, tired both physically and emotionally. Seamus smiled and just nuzzled his cheek. "No worries, yes? It will all be alright... You're Harry Potter... you always win..."

Harry looked at him and frowned and Seamus smiled apologetically. "Sorry... that was supposed to make you smile."

Blaise went to Draco house after leaving Seamus, finding him still working on the books, obviously trying to block everything else out and Blaise just pulled them away. "You're upset that he called you Malfoy," he said matter-of-factly and Draco just looked up at him and blinked before he nodded.

"I don't understand... this morning we talked on the phone... and then I don't know. I came back from the room..." he shook his head with a sigh.

Blaise smiled lightly. "You called him Potter, when you were distracted…"

Draco sighed. "Where's my phone?" he asked, looking around. Blaise spotted it and handed it to him. "Good, now go away... just not too far..." he said, waving him away, nervous as he looked at his phone before he sighed and called Harry's number.

Seamus looked and retrieved the phone for Harry as his hands were a bit busy. "Allo?" He answered.

"Seamus?" Draco asked, frowning a little. "Is Harry there?"

"Oi yeah... his hands are just a bit full with this potion he's trying to make." He said moving to Harry.

"Hello?" Harry asked as Seamus held the phone for him.

Draco chewed his lip. "I'm sorry" he said right away, knowing he really was.

Harry took the phone, holding it with his shoulder. "For?" He asked a bit strained as it was a little hard to hold the phone and still work.

Draco sighed. "There was this kid I knew at school... you look a lot like him, except he wore these dorky glasses and I didn't like him very much. I guess I kind of mixed you up when I was distracted..."

Harry smiled lightly and shifted the phone a bit. "I get that a lot..." he said softly. "You remind me of an arrogant git... one I used to know... Look kind of like him too," He said with small evident smile.

Draco chuckled lightly. "Yea... I get that a lot too... Seamus said you're working on a potion?"

Harry swallowed. "Yeah. Sort of. It's a potion coupled with a spell." He said cutting up some wormwood.

"Those are tricky..." he said, having worked on some himself. "How's it coming?"

"Rubbish." He said dropping the knife and rubbing his eye. "I got all the ingredients, I have the spell down perfect but the potion is grating on me..." He said with a sigh. "Every time I try to even read the logistics and instructions I feel like a total nitwit." He said dropping his head to the desk. "I told the minister I'm rubbish at potions..." He murmured.

Draco chuckled. "You always were..." he chewed his lip. "I don't suppose..."

Harry stayed quiet letting him continue.

"I don't suppose you'd want some help... I've got some free time..."

Harry sat up. "That would be brilliant." He said with a smile. "Do you know where I live?" he asked.

"No idea... and I imagine your floo doesn't let just anyone in?"

"No." he said with a small chuckle. "My place is probably equal in protection to Gringots..." He murmured. "I can come and get you?" He asked.

Draco smiled and bit his lip. "Sure... I'm at Sev's... Blaise is here if Seamus wants to... keep him company."

Harry snerked when he heard Seamus giggle excitedly. "I'm sure he would. I'll be over in a bit." He said. "Bye." He said hanging up before washing up.

Draco smiled to himself settling back. "You can come out now Blaise." he said, knowing his friend was listening.

Blaise grinned. "You know I knew this guy at school too... looked like you... but way more fun... and kind of frisky if you catch my drift..." Draco just stuck his tongue out at him. Blaise chuckled. "Yea... and he was kind of obsessed with this Potter kid, plotting petty revenge all the time."

Draco threw a throw pillow at him and the let out a "Gah!" as Blaise pounced and they started mock-attacking each other.

Harry got cleaned up and he and Seamus flooed to Sev's place. He looked around, hearing the commotion and moved, knocking gently on the door. "Hello?" He asked looking down at the wrestling boys.

Draco looked up to grin before Blaise took the opportunity to pin him down and he oofed, panting softly. Blaise grinned down at him. "I was wrong, you're still frisky," Draco glared half heartedly up at him.

"Seamus..." Draco pouted, "Will you please pin him so I can get up?"

Seamus grinned and moved, pinning him quickly. "Gladly." He said smirking down at him.

Harry offered his hand and helped Draco up. Blaise was a little surprised by Seamus's strength, looking up at him before his lips curled into a sexy grin. Draco took Harry's hand and got up, brushing himself off. "Aw, they look so cute..." he said with a shake of his head.

Harry smirked and shook his head with a roll of his eyes. Seamus smirked back, a small glint in his eye.

"Uh... should we just leave them here?" Draco asked. "Or do you think they can keep out of trouble while we're working...?" he finished, looking up at Harry, catching his startling green eyes.

Harry looked at him and smirked a little. "Well we know they won't stay out of trouble." He said, turning his eye the two again. "But they will be even worse at my place..." He grinned. "I'm sure he'll be fine."

Draco grinned, tugging just gently at Harry's arm as he led him to the floo. The only way one was to floo to Harry's place was if Harry was actually in their presence so they got through without a hitch. Harry rubbed his brow a bit as they stepped out.

"Did you want something to drink?" He asked, the lights in his house turning on automatically as he walked through. It was all sophisticated, well furnished and wealthy looking, supplied to Harry by the ministry. Draco looked around and released a low whistle, but he should have known, really.

"Um... no I'm fine."

Harry bit his lip, never being a big fan of the opulence supplied. "Alright. Its back here." he said leading him to the lab.

Draco nodded, following him as he brushed a little ash from his clothes. "Aw man... even Sev would be jealous of this..." he said, looking around at the lab in awe, kind of like a little kid in a candy store as he looked through the ingredients Harry had gathered, most from the shop.

Harry rubbed the back of his neck a bit awkwardly. "It's all the ministries doing. They think a better lab will make me a better potion maker."

Draco laughed softly. "Yea, they always were kind of backwards thinking over there." He moved over to Harry's failed attempt and looked through it. "I think I know what you did wrong..."

"Good." He said pushing the instructions to him. "Because I have not a clue." He said sighing out as if he'd failed.

Draco chuckled, "Well you can't do everything right, wouldn't be fair to the rest of us," he said, waving his wand to clean the cauldron before he started it at the right temperature and added the base.

Harry sat in another stool first working on the spell a bit, chewing on his pencil before setting that to the side and just watched Draco work, impressed. Draco brushed his hair back from his face, working with natural ease with the ingredients, knowing when to tweak the instructions just a little for better results. He glanced over at Harry and flushed a little when he saw him watching, dropping his gaze again. Harry bit his lip and looked away standing and moving to pull a few books from the shelves and work on some other things. He swallowed and glanced up at Draco a few times before looking back at his notes. Draco looked up from his work when he needed a hand.

"Harry... can you come cut these... they have to be cut just before they're added... and I have to keep stirring."

"Sure," he said standing and moving over to start, chewing his lip to make sure they were cut perfect.

Draco smiled and nodded. "Good," he said before reaching down, stirring with one hand while he placed the other over Harry's, bringing the ingredient up so they could be added at just the right rate.

Harry swallowed and worked with his hand in Draco's, dropping in the cut up ingredients at the correct rate. Draco smiled and then grinned, his hand lingering a moment before he noticed and dropped it with a flush.

Harry chewed his lip. "Do you still need my help?" he asked softly, not able to meet his eyes.

"Um..." Draco faltered to look over at the instructions. "Probably in a moment, but you can help anyway if you like."

He nodded, scooting over a bit to grab his book and papers, continuing to take notes. He swallowed lightly, chewing his lip and keeping his eyes to himself. Draco needed Harry's help a few more times before he finished up, setting the potion to simmer for awhile and moved back, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

"Here... " he said gently, handing him a hand towel he had lying around. "And thank you."

Draco smiled lightly and nodded. "No problem, this is what I do." he said, waving toward the potion a little.

Harry nodded and smiled a little before moving to put the book back in its place. Draco chewed his lip for a moment, wiping his face and the back of his neck before setting the towel down and looking over at Harry.

"Hey Harry...?" he started after a moment.

Harry looked up. "Yes?" He asked gently, pushing the book in before turning to Draco.

Draco was going to ask if he wanted to have lunch with him the next day, but changed his mind at the last second. "Um, never mind, its nothing... "

Harry opened his mouth a moment but shut it, nodding. "Alright..." he said turning back to his bookshelf.

Draco bit his lip, cleaning up around the cauldron until it was done simmering. "Alright, your spell needs to be cast... then it can be bottled..."

He nodded and picked up the paper, his voice strong as he read over it once before reading it out loud.

"Ostendo sum quis es non exsisto seen. Exuro absentis atrum vestis guise. Ostendo mihi quis exuviae subter supter."

Draco shivered, never thinking that spell work could be considered sexy but hearing Harry's voice list off that long one like that... "Interesting spell." he said softly, translating it in his head.

The potion fizzled and hissed before changing to a completely different color. "Gratias ago vos." he said, still in Latin, moving to look at the potion.

Draco looked as well. "Perfect... you've um... got a way with spells." he said, moving to grab some vials.

Harry looked at him and smiled. "Thank you..." He said in English this time, cleaning up the work area. "You're fantastic with potions."

Draco flushed lightly. "I was the potion teacher's favorite... and his godson."

"You surpassed him," he said with a small grin. "That's fantastic."

"I don't know... if the war hadn't... I think he would still be doing great things…"

Flashbacks to the war, fighting with Snape at his side, washed over Harry and he swallowed lightly. "Yeah..."

Draco shook his head a little. He didn't like thinking about the war, or the years after it... When Harry had stumbled into the picture his life was actually a lot better than it had been for a while there. Harry took a moment also, lost a bit in his thoughts before turning back to cleaning up.

"Sure you don't want something to drink?" He asked, brushing off his hands.

"Um... sure... since we're done... I'll just finish bottling this up I guess, how much do you need?"

"All of it." he said, opening a cabinet for him. "There are more vials in here." He said moving to the kitchen. Grabbing a glass of whiskey for himself he downed it with a soft hiss, leaning his head against the fridge door, his eyes closed. He waited another minute before pulling back and rubbing his eye. "What would you like?" he called from the kitchen.

"I'm not really particular anymore," he called back, continuing to bottle. "Anything is fine."

He nodded, bringing him in some whiskey, setting it down for him. He had brought the whole bottle in, pouring himself a second cup. Draco looked at the bottle and nodded at the brand, finishing up before he would take a drink, work before fun. He did finally finish and took the glass, taking a sip of the warm liquid, letting it warm down his throat. Harry had drifted a bit as he swirled the whiskey slowly before sipping it and sighing softly.

Draco watched him for a moment, "Um... could we... sit down or something?"

"Oh yeah... sure..." he said standing and leading him to the living room. He bit his lip. "Just make yourself comfortable." he said with a small smile.

Draco bit his lip, images flashing that he ignored as he sat down on the couch, leaning back and sipping lightly on his whiskey. "I feel I should warn you... Blaise has made his personal mission to find out your secrets."

Harry looked at him a moment before smiling just barely and looking down at his drink. "He'll have a hard time..." he said softly though he was really thinking he doesn't want to know them.

Draco shrugged. "Mostly I think he's determined to find out if you're straight. I'm hoping he'll get distracted by Seamus."

He smirked. "If he's determined, he'll get distracted but will still try..." he said with a chuckle. "Seamus can be pretty damn persuasive."

"Does Seamus know? Because he'll probably be the first one he asks."

Harry smirked. "Seamus knows. But if he finds out Blaise doesn't know... he'll probably toy with him. He knows that I would have otherwise told Blaise," he said sipping his drink.

"Oh?" Draco asked, looking up. "Then why haven't you?"

Harry looked up and held his eyes a moment. "Before it was because I don't need the press attacking me for something as silly as my love life, but now I just enjoy tormenting Blaise." He slowly grinned. "Call it a guilty pleasure," he said with a smirk and another sip.

Draco chuckled a little, taking a sip himself. "Oh, well... I think he maybe likes you so... be careful... he tends to like people more when they torment him... he's a bit of a masochist like that…"

Harry smirked at him over the cup. "I'll keep that in mind." He said with a smile. "Well what about you? Why no lover?"

"I um... didn't spend much time around people, too busy working... and you saw where I lived, not exactly somewhere Draco Malfoy could take someone home to..." he said with a light shrug, taking a longer drink. "And I'm not really into casual lovers."

Harry nodded, feeling much the same way. Looking at the clock he sighed, knowing he'd have to start his late shift soon.

Draco looked up. "And you...?"

"Me...?" He thought about that. "I guess it was everyone wanting to date me... it got repetitive and grating. I wasn't able to actually just meet someone who didn't know who I was..." he said softly. "Before I saw you again, I didn't really talk with anyone except my colleagues and only when I had to..." he said with a shrug. "I just got tired of everyone else."

Draco nodded but was still a little surprised. "No one since Hogwarts...?"

He shook his head. "No not really. Well, once or twice during the war... but mainly just for... relief I guess you'd say. I just needed a release... but it didn't happen often..." he said with a small sigh.

Draco chewed his lip lightly. "Who...?" he asked softly, taking another drink, finishing his glass.

He looked up and looked back down. "I'd rather not say,"he said softly, downing the rest of his whiskey. "They weren't too proud," he said shaking his head to clear the slight buzz from the alcohol.

"Okay..." he said softly, not pressing the issue.

Harry sighed softly, looking down still. "How long have you been so close with Blaise?"

Draco smiled softly. "Before Hogwarts... we dated for awhile, most of 4th year and part of 5th... but I don't know, it didn't work and now we're just good friends."

Harry smirked softly and nodded. "Its good you two didn't just stop talking..." he said softly.

Draco chuckled softly and shook his head. "It was never really that serious, fooling around and experimenting I guess. We acted like best friends the whole time anyway and just fooled around... eventually we figured that out and Blaise wanted to fool around with other people."

Harry smirked softly. He was about to say something when he got a call. "Do you mind?" He asked pulling out his cell.

Draco shook his head, grabbing the bottle to pour himself another glass.

"'Ello?" He asked, looking down then looking up at the clock. "Yeah... Yeah sure... Of course... uh huh... goodbye sir." he said hanging up and rolling his eyes. "Have to go to work early..." he said with a sigh.

"Oh... sure." Draco said, setting the bottle down and finishing the small amount he'd poured. "I guess I should make sure Blaise and Seamus aren't going at it on my bed..." he pulled a face, standing up.

Harry laughed. "Here I have to take you back." He said with a smirk. "The place doesn't let you floo out either..." He said with a small laugh.

"How did Seamus get in?" he asked, confused as he let Harry lead him to the floo.

Harry laughed. "He has a key to the house..." he said with a chuckle. He stepped into the floo and put his hand on Draco's shoulder, appearing next at Sev's house.

Draco shivered lightly and stepped out. "Well... thanks for the drink..." he said, stepping away and turning to look at him.

Harry nodded, quirking a brow as he didn't hear anything. "They seem to be pretty quiet... " he said with a grin. "Just tell Seamus to go home if he's annoying. He'll listen." He said with a grin.

Draco chuckled but looked apprehensively toward the rest of the house. "Maybe they're lying in wait to drag me into some twisted sex game... or worse... some scheme or another..."

"Dun dun dun..." He said before his phone vibrated. He sighed heavily in annoyance. "I'll see you later, Draco..." he said with a smile, flooing back home.

Draco looked to the flames as Harry left before he moved through the house, chuckling when he found the two curled up together and napping. Harry got home and cleaned up a bit, spelling the alcohol away before grabbing his coat and the box of vials, heading to work. Draco just shook his head as he draped a blanket over the two before sitting down, working to finish up Severus's books.

A/N: hehe, more cuteness.. more flirting, Blaise and Seamus! (i love them together) Alright, want more? You know what to do! yep, that little review button. Let me know what you like! let me know what you don't like so much! if there's something you hate.. (i really hope there isn't) tell me in a nice manner? and then add something you like so i don't cry...