This is my favourite chapter and anyone wanting further information on the revelations made need only ask - I spent enough time dweling over them.
MissSnakeyBoots
You're my favourite daydream
I'm your famous nightmare
Everything I see looks like gold
Everything I touch goes cold
Castles in the snow
Twin Shadow - Castles In The Snow
ELEVEN
Never mind people thinking he was on drugs, Harry felt like he actually was as he entered a club with Malfoy, who showed no signs of picking up where they'd left off earlier, though he'd occasionally brush his hand against Harry's as they walked down the street in the evening air. Harry stole glances at him when he could, biting his lip and wondering if they were both absolutely crackers in their own right. When they'd pushed their way into a rather leery looking club, Malfoy grasped Harry's arm and pulled him into the middle of the dance floor.
"I can't dance." Harry spluttered over the electronic symphony of music, trying valiantly to escape. "Really I can't." Malfoy laughed at him and leaned close; using the few inches he had on Harry to his advantage. Harry dipped his head and took the opportunity to look around, taking in the sight of colourful people and explosive fashion. There were girls of all sizes in pastel colours with tattoos snaking up their limbs and piercings on their faces. The men were just as colourful, draped with jewellery in elaborate feather jackets, making them look like fantastical birds. It was hard to tell who was what gender in the dark with all the androgynous styles and made up faces. Harry didn't think he had seen so much leather and hair dye and attitude in all his life. How boring he must look to them in his jeans and a t shirt he couldn't even remember the colour of.
He was quickly reminded of his companion's presence when he felt Malfoy's mouth on his neck, kissing his skin playfully. Harry almost snorted at the realisation that Malfoy was part of this scene. "I know you can't dance." said a voice in his ear before it dipped to kiss his skin again. "I saw you at the Yule Ball."
"Something tells me they don't dance like that here anyway." Harry replied in Malfoy's ear, wondering if he should be kissing him back. Malfoy laughed and the hands that had been on his waist wandered downwards, coming to rest on Harry's arse. Harry almost giggled.
"Don't grin like that." Malfoy scolded him as he lined up their gazes. Harry nodded and tried to look as fierce as Malfoy, lowering his hands to get in on the groping fun that was taking place at his own rear end. "No one dances here anyway," Malfoy whispered, leaning close to his ear again. "It's more like sex with clothes on." This time Harry couldn't help but laugh and Malfoy scowled in the strobe lighting, pulling Harry close to him. "I'm starting to wonder why I ever wanted to shag you, Potter."
"You want to shag me?" Harry replied before he could help himself. He heard Malfoy's snort of disdain, even over the heavy music.
"Oh no, of course not Potter, this is just what friends do." He retorted, squeezing one of Harry's arse cheeks. "We're friends now aren't we?"
"The very best." Harry shot back as Malfoy pressed his hips into him. Then he regretted it and felt the slightest hint of ridiculous betrayal towards Hermione and Ron.
"Good." said Malfoy, and he grabbed Harry's hand and stalked towards the bar. Harry took some time to catch his breath, listening vaguely to Malfoy's drawling requests for something fun. It seemed like he knew whoever was behind the bar, which almost certainly made him a regular. Harry blinked at the bottle of fruity something-or-other that was placed in front of him, and he sipped it gingerly, finding it to taste rather nice. Malfoy sipped his own and set it down before turning to lean against the bar, watching the people on the dance floor with a vaguely interested expression. Harry put his own drink down and did the same, watching him avidly in the shimmering lights of the club.
"You come here often?" he said before he realised it was a terribly over-used pick up line. Malfoy smirked and played along, turning to face him.
"I used to." he sighed. "Why, do you want my number?"
"I've already got it." Harry laughed.
"Do you want a kiss then, stranger?" Harry nodded as Malfoy leaned towards him and kissed him in the glittering darkness. Harry closed his eyes, indulging in the heat of Malfoy's mouth for a while. A song was playing with a heavy bass that thrummed through Harry's body, and he broke away and leaned past Malfoy, reaching behind him for his drink
"It's a bit weird in here, isn't it?" Harry whispered in his ear.
"Quite." he replied, before tutting. "Potter that was my bottle you just drank from."
Harry shrugged, feeling brazen. "Well you almost sucked my dick so I don't think it matters." Malfoy looked at him with a horrified expression on his face and Harry tried to think what on earth had made him say such a thing. He couldn't really think at all however, and he might have been just as horrified as Malfoy, but the only feeling he seemed to be able to harbour was an odd wooziness. "How strong is this stuff?" Harry asked, sipping from the bottle again, his voice sounding far away from the pounding music that sounded so very good. He set the bottle down and pulled Malfoy onto the dance floor, wrapping his arms around his waist.
"It wasn't even alcoholic." Malfoy said in a faraway voice, his hands on Harry's shoulders.
The song was changing into another with more of a beat that resounded in Harry's ears. "This is magical." Harry said in Malfoy's ear, listening to the woman singing. "What's she telling me to do?"
"I think she's telling you to 'get down and dirty'." Malfoy replied crisply, his voice echoing off Harry's mind walls. He closed his eyes to listen to it. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he heard Malfoy snap.
Harry ignored him and let go of his waist. He wasn't being very friendly today thank you very much. He listened to the singing woman but he couldn't quite make out what she was warbling on about, she was too far away. Instead, he spun slowly in a circle, watching all the writhing strangers blur into a coloured wheel around him. The next thing he knew, someone had grabbed his wrist and led him to a dingy bathroom that seemed to sway around him like a ship.
"I like you" Harry whispered to the blond shape he presumed was Malfoy in the room that was somehow so much quieter than the dance floor. He gasped suddenly as his face was splashed with cold water and Malfoy's furious face stood before him.
"I like you too, funnily enough. And I don't fancy seeing you getting raped in an alleyway by some sordid creep."
"What?" Harry snapped.
"Someone put something in my drink." Malfoy explained as Harry rubbed his face with his t shirt. "Then you went and drank it like the moron you are, but something tells me anyone who has to resort to drugging people for sex isn't going to be too fussy."
Harry groaned, the room still moving slightly. "This is why I never go out." he muttered. Malfoy leaned his face close to Harry's and pressed their foreheads together, making Harry feel as though he was drowning in a sea of silver as he looked into his eyes. Malfoy pressed a soft kiss against his mouth, his hands firm on the back of Harry's neck and the base of his spine.
"Do you think we could break the stereotype and not do this in the bathroom?" he whispered. Harry nodded and let Malfoy pull him out of the grimy room and through the club towards the doors again like a steam train, winding through the crowds. Then Malfoy stopped and Harry bumped into him, the room starting to spin again as they stood on the edge of the dance floor.
"Why have we stopped?" Harry asked blankly.
"We have to go back." Malfoy said quickly, his features flashing with fear in the lights as he turned to Harry. "Potter, move!"
"What?" Harry said as Malfoy tried to push him back the way he came.
"Go back! Move! Oh for-" Malfoy hissed, breaking away from Harry and - once again - disappearing skilfully into the crowd.
"Harry Potter!" someone called in a lavishly thick voice and a handsome, baby-face appeared before him, grinning. "I am behaving today, I swear to you." Harry suddenly recognised him as Edvard Kovachev, the Durmstrung who'd been fighting outside the train station on Friday. He was quickly flanked by the two friends he'd been with: the girl with pink hair and piercings and the man with shoulder-length dreadlocks and a beard.
"Hello!" the girl grinned, wearing in a dress almost as neon pink as her hair and an aquamarine, mohair cardigan. "What brings you to a place like this?"
"I've lost someone." Harry replied simply, feeling as though he was being crushed in a swarm of people. "Someone drugged me and now I've lost him."
The girl exchanged a glance with the bearded man who Harry was quite sure had been called Steven. "Who've you lost sweetie?" she asked him, looking sympathetic.
"Malfoy. I lost Draco Malfoy."
The girl exchanged another, even more concerned glance with the boy who was possibly Steven. Edvard laughed darkly, showing white, shark-like teeth. "I'll find you your Malfoy." he said. "Take him outside Cherry."
"Ed." the girl called Cherry called warningly as Edvard moved away into the crowds. "Be careful. Please" He laughed again before disappearing and Harry felt a firm grip on him as he was pulled away from the pressing crowds and thundering music, out into the open night air and around the corner where the music sounded as though it was trapped in a distant trunk.
"He knows what Malfoy looks like doesn't he?" Harry asked, feeling he should have given a description.
Lost: A blond, angry shape in a leather jacket with a scathing voice.
Ed nodded solemnly and Cherry spoke. "Here." she said, handing him a cigarette that didn't really smell like a cigarette. Harry accepted it anyway and took a drag, a voice in his head telling him several things weren't right with the past few minutes. As soon as he'd taken in the smoke, he felt himself grow even calmer and he became fascinated by the silver piercings all over Cherry's face. "That club's notorious, darling." she said to him as Steven nodded next to her, taking the joint from Harry and smoking it himself. "Someone must have really wanted to hurt you."
"It was Malfoy's drink." Harry said, backing up to press himself against the wall, just to be sure of his surrounding's consistency.
"I'm not surprised." Cherry replied. "It's happened to him before."
Harry wasn't entirely sure what was going on and how these people knew Malfoy, so he took a steadying breath and closed his eyes. Cherry and Steven didn't seem to mind, and they stood together in silence, watching the doors and taking it in turns to smoke the joint that filled Harry's senses with its fruity smoke. Harry was just noticing the soft, sleepy colour of the street lamps through the slits of his half-lidded eyes when Malfoy emerged from the door, Edvard's hand on his shoulder as he guided him over to where they were stood.
"Draco!" Cherry cried as Malfoy pulled himself out of Edvard's grasp. She threw her arms around him and Malfoy hugged her tightly back, his eyes looking sorrowful. When he broke away, Steven shook his hand with vigour, remaining quite silent but grinning broadly. Edvard approached Malfoy with his marauding grin, walking with his shoulders and his barrelled chest. Malfoy tripped backwards, pressing his back into Harry who wrapped an arm around his waist idly, thinking lazily about how much he wanted him and how gorgeous he was.
"Long time no see, Draco." Edvard grinned with his shark's smile, accepting the joint from Steven and putting it in his mouth. Malfoy nodded, avoiding his gaze. Cherry was wringing her hands anxiously and Steven cracked his knuckles, shifting restlessly on his feet.
"We have to go now, don't we Potter?" Malfoy said in a wobbly voice, his hand seeking out Harry's and gripping it tightly.
"No!" Edvard grinned somewhat firmly. "We were going to play cards at yours, weren't we Cherry?" Cherry nodded slowly, her brow furrowed, and Malfoy shook his head, turning to look at Harry pleadingly. Harry smiled back at him absently, running his hands through Malfoy's soft hair.
"Your boyfriend's high as a kite, Draco." Edvard laughed, taking out a lighter to relight the joint. "Out of it." He held the lit lighter near Draco's face, letting the flame dance close to Malfoy's features as he stood frozen, watching it. Something most definitely wasn't right in Harry's opinion, and if there was one thing he was sure of - other than how wonderfully soft Draco's hair was - it was that fire was dangerous. He caught hold of Edvard's wrist and pushed it away from Draco's face.
"Whoa!" Edvard cried suddenly, eyes pooling black like they'd been filled with ink. "Calm down Harry Potter!"
"Potter, we're going." Malfoy murmured urgently, his fingernails digging into Harry's palm.
"Stop talking, Draco." Edvard said, his expression suddenly stormy. "Stop talking or I'll make you stop."
"Ed..." Cherry said quietly.
Harry felt as though he was three steps behind everyone else, and the pavement was still swimming beneath him. "You think you're a tough man Harry Potter?" Edvard began, advancing towards him, his eyes flashing. "Winner of the tournament? An Auror? Big man laying his hands on me?" Harry blinked in confusion, feeling as though he was missing something important. He'd never really seen himself as a big man and he certainly didn't remember laying his hands on anyone. Edvard pushed his shoulder roughly and Malfoy leapt forward.
"We're going. Potter, we're-"
"I told you to stop!" Edvard snapped and his hand lashed out, slapping Malfoy hard across the face, the sound harsh in the darkness. Cherry screamed, Steven tried to grab hold of Edvard and Malfoy stood breathing deeply on the pavement, his hand obscuring his expression. Harry moved forward with intent just as Edvard broke free of Steven's clutches. Try as he might, Harry couldn't react fast enough, and Edvard: fuelled by some cold-blooded emotion, his pearly grin transformed into a terrifying leer, hit his face over and over until he blacked out.
~X~
When Harry came too, he was propped against the brick wall with Cherry squatted next to him. He peered around, bringing his hand up to touch his tender face. Malfoy was sat on the kerb, his face buried in his hands and Edvard was sat next to him, sweeping blond hair behind his ear and whispering desperately to him. Harry's vision focussed on the hand Edvard had placed on Draco's thigh and the way Draco cringed away from him. He tried to sit up quickly but Steven, who was bent down on his other side, pushed him back.
"You need to leave with Draco as soon as you can without making Ed angry." Cherry hissed her eyes tearful. "I'm so, so sorry, darling. We never thought we'd have to do this again." Harry shook his head and stood up, trying to keep his surroundings from spinning.
"Draco." he said, closing his eyes. When he opened them, Malfoy was there, his cold hands on Harry's face as he touched the bruises. Edvard floated in the background, his eyes glassy and his attitude ridiculously placid.
"I apologise-"
"Fucking save it." Harry snapped, taking Draco by the hand and striding down the street, his feet barely able to walk in a straight line.
"I offer you an apology!" Edvard roared in his heavy Bulgarian accent.
"Ed! Calm down!" Cherry shrieked and Harry heard a scuffle in the background as they tried to hold him back.
"My flat Draco." Harry said quietly, holding his head. "We need to go home." Malfoy nodded hurriedly and spun on the spot, his hand holding Harry's as they Apparated outside Harry's front door in peaceful suburban silence. Malfoy dug in Harry's pocket for his key and let them in, guiding Harry into his living room and shushing a yapping Charlie, nervous at the smell of blood. He pushed him onto the sofa and disappeared, leaving Harry to breathe deeply in his living room, Charlie's head rested on his knee with concern as the room finally stopped spinning.
Malfoy reappeared with warm water and a cloth and he dabbed at the cut on Harry's head. "I could have fixed this with my wand." Malfoy began, his lip trembling. "But I don't have it with me." He pressed his face into Harry's shoulder, squeezing the cloth so tightly the water dripped all over Harry's jeans. Malfoy made a furious noise into Harry's t shirt and Harry rested a hand on his back.
"Who's Edvard, Draco?" Malfoy pulled away, his expression hardy as he left the room. Harry heard him rattling around in his bathroom cabinet until he returned with the Dittany. He sat on the sofa again, and Harry closed his eyes and tilted his head back slightly while Draco dropped it on his wounds. Harry took the sting without fuss, his hand seeking out any part of Draco he could and finding his leg which he gripped tightly. "Tell me."
"He was a Durmstrung. Sat at the Slytherin table after arriving in fourth year." he replied flatly. "He followed me around Hogwarts making stupid jokes." Draco stopped talking and dabbed the cut on Harry's face, only continuing when Harry squeezed his leg. "Went back with him, to the Durmstrung ship, in the middle of The Yule Ball because I wanted to look inside." Harry listened quietly, keeping his eyes shut as Draco healed his face. "He showed me around the whole thing. It was deserted because everyone was at the ball." He stopped talking again, rubbing Harry's cheekbone absent-mindedly and breathing raggedly. Harry squeezed his leg to urge him onwards once more. "He took me to his cabin. Kissed me so hard that my lips bled, and took my virginity against the wall."
"Shit Draco, he must have been seventeen and you were what – fourteen? You were too young!" Harry cried, his eyes snapping open.
"Shut up." Malfoy hissed with familiar contempt. "I wanted it so you can shut up." Harry fell silent, his stomach twisting in disgust and he stared at the carpet in front of him, his grip on Draco's leg tightening. "We did it once more before he left," Draco said, his eyes closing as he remembered. "And I visited him in the summer of fourth year and fifth year in Bulgaria. In sixth year, he'd moved here to work so he visited the manor."
"What did he do?"
"He made deliveries for the apothecary in Knockturn Alley. He earned next to nothing so I paid for all of his things and he'd hit me when I was being 'difficult' or he'd fuck me too hard and tell me I liked it like that."
"Why did you stay with him?" Harry demanded, tightening his grip on Draco's leg so much that Draco had to peel his hand off and take it in his own.
"I'm used to being told what to do." he shrugged. "And I'd lost a lot of confidence. Then the war happened and I came out of Azkaban a real nobody because my father was in St Mungo's and I didn't know who I should be or what I should do because no one was there to dictate it to me." Harry squeezed Draco's hand, hardly daring to believe what he was hearing, and the fact he was hearing it at all. "So it was me and Ed and his friends: Cherry and Steven, who in turn, became my friends. Cherry taught me how to bake and she'd buy me Muggle clothes. Steven liked The Beatles. He would always stick up for me."
"They were good friends." Harry said.
"Yes. Probably the first true friends I ever had in my life." Draco scoffed. Harry felt him harden, not wanting to open up any more. He traced his thumb along the back of his hand, willing him onwards. "One day we all went to Paris when I still wasn't supposed to. I got into a lot of trouble. But going there made me realise there was a world beyond my manor and sharing my fucking bed with Edvard." Draco took a deep breath and a defiant smile appeared on his lips. "I talked my way out of trouble, paid a fine and swore I'd stay in the country. I came home, just that little bit too arrogant for Ed's liking and he hit me, then told me he was sorry and he'd make love to me to put it right. By this time, Cherry had taught me how to use an old camera we'd found in an antique shop and Steven gave me that rucksack."
"What did you do?" Harry asked his lip curling in disgust at the thought of the creep.
"I told him to go fuck himself and I said I was leaving and I wasn't coming back."
"Did he freak out?" Harry asked.
"Obviously. That was the thing with Ed - He was like a Dementor: for as long as I was miserable and reliant on him, he loved me. The minute I was some kind of threat, he'd lose it."
"So you just left."
"I Apparated and I never came back. I sent word to my house elves and told them to kick Ed out, then I got that stupid apartment because it was better than living in my Manor with Ed. I found work at The Prophet." he sighed. "The rest, as they say, is history." Harry breathed out slowly, taking it all in.
"That's all my questions answered then." he sighed. "Except..."
"Except?"
"Why are you making stupid notes all the time?" Draco stood up and took his leather jacket off, tossing it on the sofa. He smiled and wandered over to the mantel piece, peering again at the ceramic cottages Harry collected.
"The article The Prophet Editor gave me," he said, walking up to the record player and pushing the needle onto the record. "Make this work." Harry stood up and put it on, wrapping his arms around Draco from behind as The Beatles began to play and John Lennon sang the opening bars to All You Need Is Love.
"There's nothing you can do that can't be done/
There's nothing you can sing that can't be sung."
"It was on Muggle Britain." Malfoy continued, leaning back into Harry and swaying with him. "They thought it was hysterical."
"Well, you're hardly an expert on all things Muggle." Harry agreed. "When is it due?"
"Monday night."
Harry spun Draco around, slinking his arms around his waist and dancing him slowly around the room. "I'll help you." he offered as Draco wound his arms around Harry's neck.
"You already have - without knowing." he replied, smirking. "But thank you all the same, Potter." John Lennon reached the end of the chorus and Harry pressed a kiss against the tender skin on Draco's neck.
"All you need is love, love/
Love is all you need."
"When did this happen?" Draco asked, running his hands through Harry's hair. "You and I?"
"Oh shut up, Malfoy." Harry sighed. "Probably the minute we met. It's just taking a while to actually get somewhere. Know what I mean?" He lowered his hands to cradle Draco's arse, pushing their hips together. Draco made a noise of approval and pressed his lips against Harry's, kissing him hot and slow, his hands moving down over Harry's shoulders.
"Where do you want me?" Malfoy hissed in his ear, writhing against him.
Harry groaned. "Out of those jeans."
"Well they're bloody tight, but if you can get them off then I'm yours." Malfoy retorted. Harry lifted Draco off the ground and tipped him onto the sofa, struggling to undo the buttons as the blond kicked his legs.
"I thought you wanted this." Harry breathed, trying to hold Draco's legs still.
"I've set you a challenge Potter" he smirked. "I'm not going to make it easy." With that, he stood up and fled from the room, Harry hot on his heels as he ran into his bedroom. Harry shut the door on Charlie who tried to follow, thinking an exciting game of chase was taking place. Wrestling Draco onto his bed, Harry crashed their lips together, silencing Malfoy's curious laugh. Harry pinned Draco to the mattress to try to keep him from squirming, he trailed his hand through the other boy's hair and dragged it down his side, sliding it beneath his t shirt to explore the possibilities beneath. Draco arched into his touch and clasped Harry's face, sliding his thumb along the stubbly jaw and biting Harry's lower lip.
"Move up." Harry ordered and Draco wriggled onto the bed, Harry straddling him to keep him from running off again.
"Mr. Muscle." Draco drawled as Harry tore his t shirt off.
"Stop being a prat." Harry breathed, trying to take the t shirt off Draco's writhing form. When he finally succeeded, he traced his fingers over the ribs that were almost on show, making Draco shiver beneath his touch.
"I know I don't eat enough." Draco snapped as Harry opened his mouth. "But I swear I'll eat a pie for every time you make me come."
Let there be many pies, Harry thought hopefully as he bent down to kiss Draco again, moving his tongue against Draco's own cutting one and groaning into his mouth as Draco lifted his hips. Harry was just considering the fastest way to get Malfoy out of his jeans when his phone began to vibrate in his pocket.
"No way." Malfoy snapped. "Ignore it."
"I am, I am." Harry replied, unzipping Draco's jeans and pulling them. Draco kicked them off, all the while Harry's phone vibrated. Harry kept ignoring it and he stuck his knee between Draco's thighs, his hands on the waistband of Draco's pants.
"What are you doing?" Malfoy demanded. "I'm topping."
"What's that? You fuck me?" Harry laughed scornfully. "I don't think so."
Malfoy tipped Harry over onto his back with surprising strength. "When's the last time you fucked a boy Potter?"
Harry pushed Malfoy off him, trying to get him to lie down. Malfoy was having none of it, and he pressed his erection into Harry's side. Harry gasped. "You're not putting that up-"
"I know what I'm doing! I'm in charge!" Malfoy declared petulantly.
"This is my flat!"
"Good luck fucking me in your flat when I walk out the door!"
"Stop!" Harry said suddenly, his hands trying to prevent Draco from tipping him over again and his knees trying to separate Draco's obstinately closed legs. "Are we actually doing this? Fighting over who gets to fuck who?"
"You sound surprised" Malfoy replied. Harry's phone started to vibrate again and with a sigh, Harry disentangled himself and sat up, digging in his pocket and pulling it out. "Okay you can top!" Draco snapped. "I'm not very good at it anyway."
"Thank you." Harry sighed, before kissing Draco languidly. "But I have to answer this." Draco groaned dramatically and flopped backwards, his blond hair fanning out on the bed in little tufts. Harry shifted on top of him to admire the view and answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Hi Harry!" Hermione called down the line.
"Hi!" Harry said brightly, trying to get off Draco who was rolling his hips beneath him. Draco snatched his wrists and held him still. "Ow! I mean...How...How's Australia?"
"It's fantastic Harry, We had a barbecue last night and Ron and I bought your gifts!"
"That sounds great Hermione." Harry replied, watching in horror as Draco reached a pale hand into Harry's jeans.
"No!" he mouthed to Draco, who didn't listen and dipped his hands into Harry's boxer shorts.
"You're still coming on Sunday aren't you Harry?" Hermione asked him, oblivious. "Ron can't wait to show you his gift. Personally I think it's ridiculous."
"Yeah I'm still co – uhhh." Harry clapped a hand over his mouth as Draco's finger's found their target and he sniggered.
"Harry." Hermione said briskly and Harry felt his face burn red. "Are you with someone?"
"He'd better not be with my sister!" Ron shouted in the background.
"I'm not with Ginny." Harry said, wrenching himself away from Draco and tripping backwards off the bed. "But could you ring back tomorrow? I'm really sorry."
"As long as it isn't my sister, I'm happy he's getting laid." he heard Ron say brightly.
"Charming Ronald. I hope you're being safe Harry-"
"Oh my God!" Harry cried in disgust. "I can manage my own sex life thanks. Can I please go?"
"Fine. I'll call back tomorrow." Hermione sighed.
"Have fun!" Ron added.
Harry hung up and rubbed his face in revulsion, ignoring Draco laying wantonly on his bed in nothing but his boxers, laughing at him in delight. He pulled open his bedside drawer and took out a packet of cigarettes and a box of matches before crossing the room to pull open his French doors and stand on the balcony, lighting a smoke and taking a drag.
"Potter!" Draco called from the bed. "Get back here." Harry ran his hand through his hair, looking up at the stars, sparkling in the fluid night. "Oi!" Ignoring him, Harry put the cigarette back in his mouth. He heard the mattress give way and Malfoy joined him outside, leaning his back against the balcony railings and looking at Harry expectantly. He took the cigarette from Harry's mouth and Harry growled, but instead of throwing it, he placed it in his own and inhaled, tipping his head back and letting the smoke sit in his mouth like a dragon, propelling up into the night air when he blew out. It was painfully erotic, but Harry could only take his cigarette back and avert his gaze. "You've got cold feet now haven't you?" Malfoy sighed.
"It's just happened so fast." Harry retorted. "We met Friday and less than a week later we're fucking."
"Three things." Malfoy began waspishly. "Firstly, we didn't meet on Friday Potter, we've known each other for years. Secondly, you're so old fashioned, people in this day and age think an hour is enough time to get to know someone before shagging and thirdly, we're not actually fucking because your friends keep interrupting." Harry nodded, stubbing his cigarette out on the balcony and tossing it in the empty plant pot. "So, you're just not interested now or what?" Malfoy asked tersely. "Is this about me being a boy? Are you frightened of the sex? We don't have to do it like that you know - a dick's pretty easy to please-"
"Malfoy-"
"Or is it because of us? Or me rather: your childhood nemesis and a former Death Eater?"
"Malfoy." Harry sighed wearily.
"I really want you, you stupid bastard."
"I really want you too!" Harry shouted, prodding Draco back into his bedroom because his balcony was no place to be shouting such things. "I just don't think we're ready, okay?"
Draco folded his arms."I thought we were more than ready. Overdone in fact." he grumbled. "Can you not get it up? Is that it?"
"Draco, you had your hands in my pants and I think you'll agree I most certainly had it up."
Draco sat on Harry's bed, his expression resembling one of a sulking child's. He looked so small with his tiny frame in nothing but his boxer shorts that Harry sat next to him, pulling him close. "Please don't make me go home alone Harry." he whispered in a voice so quiet, Harry almost missed it.
Harry sought out his mouth and kissed him softly, running his thumb along his jaw. He pulled back the duvet and Draco climbed in, stretching beneath it with a petulant expression. Harry left the room, turning off the record player that was still crooning away in the living room and scratching Charlie's head as he lay miserable on the sofa. Upon seeing Harry, he perked up, leaping up and following his master through the flat as he turned off the lights and went into the bedroom. Harry shut the door and Draco watched him take off his jeans and get into the other side of the bed. Charlie hopped up, sniffing the blond stranger under the duvet and settling himself between them, drooling happily.
"Really?" Draco asked with one eyebrow raised, turning to look at Harry over Charlie's soft, brown back.
"Really." Harry replied, switching off his bedside lamp.