As is always stated, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, and all other related characters belong to JK Rowlings and Scholastic. All song lyrics are attributed to the singers after the lyrics. They of course belong to the artist. This story is rated very very mature for sexual content, innuendo, gay coupling, and cursing. And the show goes on!
Chapter 9
Numbly, I gather the remnants of my emotions,
And searching for redemption, I...
Fall into a light sleep,
On a lonely night
I'm beginning to learn the designs of sorrow
The hiding away of your warm presence
Makes me fear the overflowing darkness.
-Bana "Half Pain" (English Translation from ending, Witch Hunter Robin)
Draco bit his lip as he waited in the parlor of the James' vacation home. He thoroughly hoped that it had been wise coming here. It was a gamble sure enough, but he had to find where the Dark Lord had physically been to begin tracing him. Draco held a little known talent. In the muggle world, it was known as psychometry. In this case, he could divine the proximity of an object's owner to it, and usually use the item as a dowsing rod of sorts for finding the owner. The problem was locating something the Dark Lord had recently owned. Nothing in the Malfoy Manor would work because it had been too long since Voldemort had been in residence there. He walked around the parlor, finally pausing in front of a painting. He knew this picture; it was of the James' home in London. He looked closer and managed to keep from stumbling in surprise. This had been painted when he and Rose had been young. The artist had studied both children closely and then painted them into it from memory. The two tiny faces peered out from the nursery window. Rose' father had been thrilled at the addition and paid the painter a generous gratuity for the imagination of it. He remembered the nursery there well. He and Rose had had a fine time there when they were young.
"It invokes a great many memories seeing you here Mr. Malfoy."
Draco spun at the lilting voice. A young woman stood just inside the door. Auburn curls were twisted into a demure bun at the base of her neck, green eyes sparkled from behind a calm mask. "Rose?"
She smiled and walked forward, "You do remember me. I was so pleased to hear that you had stopped to visit." She offered her hand, "Although most disappointed that you had requested only my father, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco took her hand and brought it to his lips, gently brushing her knuckles; he lifted his gaze to hers, "Draco always to you, Miss James. And I am most pleased to see you. I had come to discuss business and did not wish to bore you."
She nodded, "Draco then, in that case, I am Rose as I always have been to you. I am afraid you will have to suffice with my company today, Draco. My father left three months ago." She watched a flicker of annoyance pass through his eyes, "Perhaps I could be of assistance however." She led the way to the seating area, "please, sit. Edward will bring the tea shortly. I hope you don't mind my presumption in having it ordered."
"Of course not, Rose. I am sorry if I have offended you. I had a few questions for your father and am more than a little vexed to have missed him. Is he back in your London home?"
She began to answer then shut her mouth as the door opened and the family butler entered with a cart. "Thank you, Edward. Place it here and leave us please. Give everyone instructions that we are not to be disturbed."
"Very good, Miss." Once the old butler had settled the cart within reach of his young mistress, he left, closing the door behind him. Draco heard the unmistakable click of the door locking and then the slide of a key leaving a lock.
He raised an eyebrow at his friend, "Afraid I'm going to run?"
She complacently poured tea for them, adding exactly the amounts of sugar and milk Draco had preferred since youth. Placing a few sandwiches and a small cake on his plate she finally spoke, staring studiously into her tea as she did, "perhaps once you have heard my own question, you will understand my precautions." He stared at her in confusion until she lifted her gaze, eyes that reminded him startlingly of Harry's piercing him, "What has Voldemort done with my father?"
Harry sat in agitation watching his friends sipping at tea. The garden was close enough to allow his separation from Malfoy, but only just. He felt the magical bond between himself and the Slytherin as though it were a tangible thing. It was a thread stretched taut between the two and he knew if he pulled even the smallest bit, it would rebound, flinging him to the blonde's side, no matter the obstacles. He jumped as a warm hand covered his, he looked up into familiar eyes. "Harry, why don't we go look at the flowers?" Hermione gestured towards a small bed on the edge of the garden. He nodded gratefully and stood. The bed offered relief in two ways, it was closer to Malfoy, and it was away from Ron. He knew that was horrible, but something was wrong and he didn't want to try and explain it to his best friend.
Harry felt the thread between himself and Draco slacken as he walked with Hermione. It was a physical relief; a tightness in his body he hadn't even realized was there, mirroring the bond to Malfoy. He knew they were 50, maybe 60 feet apart, but it was still very trying. They hadn't tried to push the bonds of the vow. This was farther than it had allowed them before, possibly because of the purpose to the space. "Thanks Hermione, it was starting to get to me."
She nodded, "I could tell. Is it just the vow? Or is it something else?"
His forehead crinkled, "Something else?"
"You seem different since you and Draco have been stuck together. More thoughtful, more distracted, if I had to put a word to it."
He contemplated that for a moment, "I suppose I have been. I'm having trouble adjusting I suppose. It was difficult to move in with Malfoy after living with Ron. Ron and I are friends, but we had our own space. It's so different with Draco. We're constantly tripping over one another. It's enough to drive a person insane. We never have space, never have privacy. Coming here, with the way Malfoy has the rooms set up, I finally have time away from him, but now it seems like something's missing. I'm so used to his snide comments, his picking at everything, that I miss it now that it isn't there."
Hermione nodded, "I can understand that. Sort of like going home after a year of the other girls always being there. I'd turn to tell someone something because I'd forgotten that I don't have roommates at home."
He shrugged, "Yeah similar. Only imagine rooming with Millicent Bulstrode."
She laughed, "He can't be that bad. Tell me about what it's been like."
Harry quirked his head thoughtfully, "He's worse than a girl when it comes to being ready, he insists on multiple baths every day. He's picky about food, even more picky about alcohol, and a complete jack ass about fashion. We went to dinner one night and he actually walked in and picked out clothing for me. He's condescending, rude, arrogant, bossy, demanding, and the really weird part is that if we'd met at any other time, we could have been friends."
She nodded as though she had been expecting this revelation. "You know Harry, for the most part. Draco is what he was made to be. I'm sure that in another lifetime, he could have been a really decent person." She opened her mouth to continue as a loud squawk came from Harry's pocket. She raised her eyebrows, "He's been in there for five minutes. That was static wasn't it?"
Harry pulled the phone out and nodded mutely. He felt the invisible bond tighten, there must be trouble. It began pulling insistently at him, trying to drag him back to the house where they had left Draco. "Get the others." He turned and took off for the front door of the house at a sprint.
Draco gaped at his childhood friend, "Beg pardon?"
"I asked you what Voldemort did with my father, Draco. He disappeared from our London home a month ago. I know that our fathers were in league with the Dark Lord. I also know that your father was grooming you to join them. You probably already have your mark." She grabbed his arm without warning and pushed his sleeve back. His arm was unmarked. "But, I heard talk about your initiation." She stood, looking confused, "Your father owled. I snuck a look at the message. It said that they would be holding your initiation a month and a half ago. Since he's in Azkaban, he asked my father to stand in as your sponsor." She whirled, "What happened?"
He sighed, "Calm down Rosie. I left home two months ago. I don't do the whole muggle terrorizing thing." He seemed to think about this for a moment, "I supposed I should add anymore."
She gave him a suspicious look, "What do you mean you left?"
He bit the end of his cheek as he heard a loud pounding on the front door. "Um, that would be my friends. You might want to let them in to see me. I promise to stay, but I sent out a distress call and at least one of them will do all manners of things to get to me." The pounding ceased for a moment, then took up again on the outside of the door of the parlor. "Like I was saying."
"You sent out a distress call? How? I didn't see you mess with your wand." She ignored the pounding as she gazed at Draco intently.
"Um with a phell cone? He gave it to me." He looked at the door worriedly as the pounding stopped. A moment later there was a loud booming noise, and the doors flew open, expelling a now unconscious Harry onto the carpet. Draco jumped to his feet and ran to the Gryffindor's side. "Rosie what happened?! He's not amazing, but I'm willing to bet that was a simple bombardment charm, and he's quite proficient at those." The blonde allowed his mind to recall the pain of a few broken bones that the unconscious boy had caused with his charms before he returned to his careful inspection.
"I protected the door. You're a wizard Draco. Did you really think that I would think that a simple lock would stop you if you wanted out?" She cleared the pillows from a couch, "Here, move him over here. Who is he Draco?" She walked over to help move him and as Draco carefully rolled the brunette to his back, she gasped. "Is that who I think it is?"
Draco rolled his eyes, "It all depends. Do you think it's the single most famous wizard in the world? If so then yes." He stood, then stooped to carefully pick Harry up. As he settled him over his shoulder, the rest of the group came running in.
The sight of Draco, Harry hanging unconscious over his shoulder in a fireman's carry brought the entire group to a standstill. Hermione finally ventured a question, "I thought static was for needing a convenient exit, not for break in and knock ourselves out."
"It was. Apparently Potter forgot that. I'm not a medical expert, but he didn't seem to have any broken bones. Though knowing him, he's going to have one hell of a headache."
Rose stood in shock for a moment. Finally recovering herself, she asked the question that had been beginning to burn in her mind since she identified Draco's rescuer, "Draco, what on earth are you doing with the Golden Trio?" Because that was the only people these could be. She wasn't so sure about the red haired girl, though she would guess she was Ron's younger sister just by family resemblance. Nor did she have any clue who the solid, tall boy with dirty blonde hair was. But a striking young lady with a quick wit and uncontrollable hair, side by side with a freckled red head, running in after Harry Potter could be only two people, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley.
"That's what I was about to tell you Rosie. Let me double check Harry and I'll continue explaining." He carefully laid Potter on the sofa. "Ask Edward to bring some ice and towels."
A calm voice responded from next to him, "Already done, sir. Here you are." The butler sat a bowl of ice down next to the couch and handed a small pile of hand towels to him. "You might check him again, sir. I believe he may be bleeding," he indicated a smear of blood on Draco's shirt. "I'll go and fetch a few potions for you," he turned and left as quietly as he had come.
"On second thought Rosie, get one of them to explain." He carefully lifted Harry's head, tuning the rest of them out as he felt carefully for a cut and blood. Setting the head gently down on the pillow, he picked up a towel and filled it with ice. Securing the ends of the towel, he placed it on Harry's forehead before moving his search to the boy's chest since it was obvious that no where visible was the cause of the blood. Unbuttoning the Gryffindor's maroon shirt revealed a fist sized wound in the middle of his chest. Draco carefully dipped a towel corner in some water from the tea and began to clean it. "What in the name of Merlin did you have on that door, Rosie?"
Hermione stopped in the middle of her explanation to allow the other girl to answer. "One that would keep you from leaving. It won't do any lasting damage." Her eyes widened at the angry look he gave her, "A standard healing balm will cover it over and help it heal. I promise it's nothing serious. He should wake up in a minute or so Drake. Don't be mad, please don't be mad." She shuddered as he turned tortured silver eyes back to his patient. She looked once more at Hermione, "I can't believe they killed his mother. We were told that she had a severe heart attack and passed on before help could be gotten."
Hermione shrugged, "That's entirely possible. I don't know how the snake's venom works. But that was his reason for coming to us. He wants revenge, and he refuses to let Voldemort get away with murdering his mother." She looked at the blonde who was now gently dabbing an ointment over Harry's wound. "Though I think he may remain with us for an entirely different one."
Rosie ignored this last bit, "But the rivalry between the two of them is legendary. Why on earth would he choose to come to you? There are so many others he could have gone to for help."
"True, but how many would take the risk? Son of a known Death Eater in a time when turning your back on the Dark Lord is a dangerous thing to do. Who knows how many people he controls? He had to take his chance, he took it somewhere he might have a chance."
Draco tuned them back out, accepting a small green jar from the silently efficient butler. Twisting the lid off, he inhaled the fumes as Harry moaned. He drizzled a bit of water into the boy's mouth, "Harry? You awake?" He carefully spread the balm over the injury and watched as the skin knit back together. Returning his attention to Harry's face, he drizzled a bit more water into the brunette's mouth. Draco gulped as the injured Gryffindor licked his lips. Harry groaned slightly, his eyes opening. Trying to sit up, he fell back, his body shuddering as he looked at Draco in a mute query.
"There was a spell on that door you dolt. You blasting through it released some rather painful consequences."
"How long've I been out?" Harry moved more carefully this time, pushing himself slightly upright.
"Maybe 10 minutes, most likely less. To be honest I haven't been paying attention to the time."
Harry looked down at his bare chest and the rather conspicuous white patch, "What's that?"
"Part of the spell involved a bit of a shock I think. My best guess is that's what knocked you out, that and bumping your head off the wall. Don't worry, I think the wall is damaged worse than your head."
Harry rolled his eyes, "Gee thanks for that vote of confidence, Draco. So what was wrong?"
"I wanted someone to drop by looking for me. Did I hit the wrong button or something? I thought there was a rabid elephant in the hallway from the noises you made out there." He knew better, but he wanted an explanation.
Looking down sheepishly, Harry winced and looked back up, "I can't explain it. The bond was pulling me, it wanted me with you right then, and it panicked me I guess. I figured if the situation wasn't bad, the vow wouldn't be trying to mash me against the wall nearest you. Bad logic I guess."
Draco frowned, "That's weird, I didn't feel anything. I wonder why?"
Harry opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by a screech from their hostess, "HE DID WHAT?!"
Harry winced at the noise and Draco spun angrily, "Keep your tone down, Rosie! Harry's hurt over here, and it's your fault." He began to turn back, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"You have some explaining to do, Draco Malfoy." He looked at her in confusion as she continued, "You made an unbreakable vow to stay with Harry James Potter until the Dark Lord is dead?!" She began to walk frantically, "That's insane! You're completely nuts! Both of you, no," she corrected herself, "all six of you are completely off your rockers!"
"You knew my mom, Rosie. She was the reason I didn't turn out like my dad. I was her world, and I got her killed. I have to avenge that." He looked down and carefully brought a glass of water to Harry's lips for him to sip, "Besides, it's the right thing to do. I've caused so much trouble for so many people, confident that my father and his Dark Lord would keep me safe. I have to try and fix that. I can't go back in time, so I'm doing it my way. I'm making sure no one ever has that particular reason to act the prat again."
Harry gingerly placed a hand on Draco's on the cup, "And we need him. He's a valuable member of our group." He sat further upright, "You never answered my question. Why did you call for help?"
Draco looked over his shoulder at Rose standing next to the couch. "She thought that I knew where her father was. He disappeared a month ago from London. She was getting a bit, intimidating. I thought it might be best to start working my way back out of the house. It didn't quite work that way though, obviously." He gave Harry an amused look, "Peter Pan had to try and fly to my rescue instead."
Harry chuckled, "We're going to have to talk movies one day, Malfoy."
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Potter. You're probably hallucinating something," Malfoy's tone was airy as he settled himself on the floor, back to the couch, trapping Harry there. "Now Rosie, tell us about your father disappearing. I promise you, if Voldemort had something to do with it, this is the group to find out and find him."
She made a face before going to sit down on a chaise, "Please, sit, this is a bit of a story." The others Hermione in a chair, Ron on the floor at her feet, Lee sat in the chair opposite the table from Hermione, Ginny perched on its arm. Rosie took a deep breath before lifting her head to address them.
"My father has long worked in association with the Dark Lord. He and Drake's father were generals of a sort. They particularly enjoyed the pureblooded aspect of the doctrine. With the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, my father expected to return to the ranks. He disapparated at all hours of the day, the longer he was gone, the more haggard he looked on his return. He refused to discuss his business trips with me, finally he locked himself in his room. Edward was delivering meals to his room, until three months ago. Edward came to me and said that the food had been untouched, he did not wish to disturb the master, but he was worried. I went into his rooms and he was gone. There was a note saying that he had business in London and that I should stay here until he came for me. I received missives every other day until a month ago. I contacted our servants in London via floo and they said he just disappeared. I have not heard from him since. The only guess I have is that something happened in regard to the Death Eaters." She looked at them with teary eyes, "He was sick, and I don't believe it was physical illness. I'm worried, I know that he is alive, but I can't see a way to find him and bring him home."
Hermione had closed her eyes halfway through the narration; Ron had taken her hand and was stroking his thumb over her palm absentmindedly as he listened intently. Ginny looked stricken and Lee had an arm around her waist steadying her. Harry was the first to speak, "Was your father a Death Eater?"
Rose seemed mildly taken aback by the bluntness of the question. "I… I'm not sure. I never saw the mark, but I'm sure there are ways that he could have covered it, concealed it from me."
Draco shook his head, "Not the way things are right now. If he was and they found out that he was hiding it, he would have gotten into quite a lot of trouble. Besides, there isn't really a way to hide it other than clothing. My father searched, and he had more than a bit of motivation to do so while Voldemort was missing."
Harry nodded, "I see." He tried to sit up and found it impossible to get his legs down because Draco was in the way, "Draco, move so I can stand." Seeing the obstinate look on his face Harry leaned up and flicked him on the tip of the nose, "I'll be fine, I need to think, and I do that best on my feet."
Draco took a deep breath and stood, allowing Harry to get unsteadily to his feet. Harry leaned on him for a moment before standing on his own. He began to pace the room as Draco sat on the end of the couch and turned back to look at Rose while keeping a surreptitious eye on Harry. "Rosie, when was the last time that Voldemort was in one of your father's houses?"
She looked startled at the question, "He hasn't come to our houses since his return, Draco. Why do you ask?"
He cursed under his breath before answering her question. "There is an aura of sorts, it's a lingering spell that allows his followers to find him using the things that he has touched. Unfortunately it must be something he has been in contact with recently."
She shook her head, "I'm sorry Drake, we have nothing here that would help you. I must admit confusion however. I thought that was the purpose of the Dark Marks tattooed on his Death Eaters."
The blonde nodded, "It is. But the tattoos are only given to Death Eaters. There has to be a way for all of his minions to find them to report in. It's an old spell, I had planned to use that to locate him."
She shook her head, "I'm sorry Drake, I wish I could help you." She stood and walked to him, sitting next to him on the couch she offered him his hand. "You know if there is anything I can do all you have to do is ask."
Draco took her hand, his gaze distracted as Harry turned and saw them, the Gryffindor stopped where he was and leaned his weight against a baby grand piano in the corner of the room, his eyes tightened slightly. Draco hoped that he wasn't feeling the effects of whatever spell Rosie had used on the door. "I know you would Rose, and I appreciate it, but I refuse to risk you. As a matter of fact, you should probably leave this house. Does your father still have the business penthouse in New York?"
She nodded, but spoke before he could, "He does, but Draco, I refuse to run while you're in such danger! I might be able to help somehow, I still have access to all of Daddy's accounts, his vaults at Gringotts. Perhaps he'll have something of use to you in your quest."
Hermione's eyes widened as she heard the pleading sound to the girl's voice. She glanced quickly at Harry and watched as he sat on the piano bench and turned to face the keys, his fingers stroking over them as he studiously ignored the two on the couch. She sighed before standing, "We appreciate the offer of help Miss James, but we can't accept it." The girl's gaze shot to Hermione, her expression shocked, "The decision isn't just Draco's. I can't speak for everyone else here, but I refuse to put another person in danger. We know what the score is, we've all done this before in some manner or another." She placed a hand on Lee's shoulder, "Even Harry's cousin has had a run in with Voldemort's followers."
"I'm just as intelligent as you are Hermione Granger." Rose's voice held injured pride, and more than a bit of desperation, "If all of you can risk your lives to save the wizarding world, you have no right to stop me."
Hermione nodded, "That is true, and I don't doubt your intelligence. What I doubt is your experience. Have you ever dueled a dark wizard Miss James? I don't mean practice sessions, or the Wizards Dueling Club. I mean have you ever fought for your life, hexes and dark curses flying around you while you prayed furiously to anyone who would listen to do whatever they wanted if you and your friends just came out of this alive?" Hermione's eyes were cold, she hated having to do it this way, but the girl wouldn't give up easily. She was in love with Draco, and she would push to stay by his side. Hermione had to make it bluntly clear to her why that was a bad idea.
Rose shook her head slowly, "No I haven't, but I could learn. None of you knew much of anything when you first battled the Dark Lord. You learned, and I could too."
"We battled a shade, a shadow inhabiting the body of a limited wizard. We had powerful magic backing us that we didn't understand." Harry didn't look up from the keys of the piano as he continued, "And more than that, we got lucky. Every time we've battled him, we've gotten lucky. Even with preparing all year, running a secret club in hiding, we won because we got lucky when they attacked the ministry." He swung his gaze to hers, their eyes locking, "Since then, we've studied, prepared, and lived in constant danger. You wouldn't be learning around a shade, you wouldn't be facing a memory, you would be fighting back to back with us against the risen Dark Lord, with his full powers. The only person who never feared him like that was Albus Dumbledore. Do you think you could do it? Do you really think you could stand back to back with us and know without a doubt that you're smart enough, clever enough, quick enough to keep those standing with you from dying?" He kept her gaze until she dropped her eyes to her hand in Draco's, "That's what I thought. So the best thing you can do for all of us is go to this penthouse in New York. Malfoy will worry about you, and that will distract him, which could easily equal his death. You want to help? Don't distract him right now." Harry stood without looking at anyone, "I'm going outside, we know I can go that far, and I'll slingshot back if there's trouble."
Draco watched speechless as the brunette left. He turned to his childhood friend, "Rose I'm sorry, that was har…"
"No." Her quiet voice stopped him mid-word. "He was right. I don't know what I was thinking." She looked up to meet his gaze. "I'll go to New York, and if I think of anything that would help you, I'll owl." She stood, "Well you all had best be going. You have more ground to cover now. I am truly sorry that I was unable to help." She nodded her head to Hermione, "It was a pleasure to meet the cleverest witch London has seen since Rowena Ravenclaw," she turned her gaze to Ron, "if you all survive I should like to challenge you to a match of wizard's chess. I am sure I could learn much from the greatest strategist Hogwarts has ever seen." She looked at Ginny and Lee, "I wish you all luck, I know little of you, but you must be very powerful indeed to have undertaken this mission." Turning to Draco again she kept her eyes on the floor, "Be safe my Draco, and tell your protector that his point was well made." She turned and left the room, her pace dignified, but her voice trembled, "I'll have Edward show you out."
The door shut silently behind her and Draco exploded, "WHAT DID HE THINK HE WAS DOING!?" He spun on Hermione, "And you, you were being entirely too harsh on her."
He opened his mouth to continue his tirade, but Hermione raised a hand, "I think this is a conversation best had elsewhere." He clamped his mouth shut, but his eyes promised that it would continue as soon as they reached the hotel.
Harry sat at the desk in his room at the hotel; he was facing the window looking out over the city of Edinburgh. Draco had just left, the blonde had ranted at him for close to an hour, waxing elegant on his opinion of how Harry had treated Draco's childhood friend. When he had finally stopped, Harry had looked out the window and said a single thing, "And I was right." Draco had spluttered something about that not being the point and stormed out the door. Harry looked down at the paper he had tried three times now to write a letter on. He knew that people at home would want to hear from him, and he didn't want to worry anyone, but he just couldn't bring himself to write.
He stood and walked out to the balcony. He knew that the object of his upset was in the next room, but he didn't know what to do. He hadn't meant to upset Draco, but the girl never would have stayed if someone hadn't made it painfully obvious how much danger she would put them all in. He leaned on the railing and stared out at the lights without truly seeing them. "You know you did the right thing." He whirled to see Hermione standing behind him, "I know he's mad, but when he really stops and thinks about it, he'll see why you did it."
"Maybe," Harry walked back into the room and sighed, "I don't even like taking you, Ron, Ginny and Lee, but it wasn't like any of you gave me a choice."
She smiled, "I notice you didn't include Draco in that list."
He shrugged, "He knows what he's getting himself into, besides, I would have a harder time finding Voldemort without him."
Hermione looked amused, "Because it's so easy now?"
"If his plan had worked, yeah, it would have been. Besides, he verified that Nagini was the last horcrux. That alone is useful. Then of course there's the fact that I couldn't get rid of him if I wanted to."
Hermione nodded to herself at his choice of wording as though he had confirmed something. She walked to him and hugged him briefly. "Wait fifteen minutes, then go, see him." She kissed his cheek, "It'll be okay." Standing, she walked through the connecting door and into Draco's room.
"Go away you arrogant…"
"It's me Draco."
Draco looked up from where he was moping on the bed, "I'm not sure if that's worse or better."
She sighed as she walked over and sat down on the bed next to him. "You know that we weren't trying to upset you don't you?"
"Well you managed well enough." He bunched the pillows under his chin and stared at the headboard, "She just wanted to help."
Hermione pushed his hair back from where it feathered across his forehead, "She wanted to be with you. She didn't care what she was doing, helping, hindering or anything else." He looked up in anger, but the words on his lips died at a single glance from the girl who was quickly becoming someone he trusted. He put his face back in the pillow and sighed. Hermione brushed the hair back again, "How long have you known she was in love with you?"
"Since we were about 13, our parents had talked about a betrothal when we were young. I ignored it, like most boys would. She on the other hand took it to heart. A boy asked her out one summer while I was down and she said that she didn't pilfer with boys like him, she had already made her decision." He let out a long slow sigh, "I panicked and ignored it. I hoped she would grow out of it."
Hermione shook her head, "And that was probably the worst thing you could have done Draco, luv. She's a girl, we don't tend to forget things like that. And she would have risked everything we're working for to prove it to you."
"Yeah I'm figuring that part out. But Harry didn't have to be a prat to her about it." He glared at the headboard as if he could see through it to the brunette on the other side. His gaze didn't waver until she stood and kissed him on the top of the head.
"If you think very hard about it, I think you'll find that Harry wasn't being a prat at all. Just a bit overprotective," with that she smiled and left Draco to his thoughts.
Overprotective? What on earth had she meant by that? Harry didn't need to protect him from Rose, she was a bit overzealous but nothing… His thought processes stopped dead. Rose had said something about telling his protector. Had Harry been jealous? His head flew up at a light knock on the door. "Come in."
A shirtless Harry walked into the room carefully, "Hi?" The word was more of a question than a statement and he cursed himself for it. "Feeling any better?"
Draco shrugged from where he laid, "Dunno."
Harry gave a ghost of a smile, "I thought sitting on a bed giving sullen one word answers was my role. You're gunna put me out of a job."
Draco shook his head and rolled to sit on the edge of the bed. "I want to be angry at you. And for some reason I just can't be."
"Does that mean it's safe to get closer?" Draco nodded and Harry walked to stand in front of him. "I wasn't trying to hurt her. She just had to know what she was risking if she came with us."
Draco nodded again as everything clicked into place. Potter had been jealous. Harry Potter had been jealous of the way Rose felt about Draco. He looked up at Harry from beneath his eyelashes, "Are you sure that's all it was Potter?" He hooked a finger through one of the brunette's belt loops and pulled him close enough that their legs bumped, Harry's outside Draco's.
Harry flushed, "Yeah I'm sure."
"Liar." With that he pulled Harry off balance and firmly onto his lap.
