Chapter 14. Trouble always travels in pairs.
As soon as Harry and Ron entered the ballroom, all eyes were on Harry. Ron dragged Harry to the left where Hermione and Draco were standing, waiting for them. Draco noticed a beautiful brunette walking straight towards their direction. Her eyes were set on Harry. It made Draco a bit uncomfortable, he wasn't sure why.
"Leila, What a surprise!" Harry spoke to the woman and Draco noticed a look of familiarity in the Weasleys' eyes. It seemed everyone knew who she was but Draco.
"Harry Potter, you were the last person I expected to see here." The brunette said still ignoring everyone else surrounding them. Draco noticed that she had walked up to them almost on cue, as the music changed and she gestured her hand towards Harry "So, for old time's sake?"
Harry smiled, took her hand and responded with "Sure."
Leila wore a black gown with silver beading. She didn't miss the fact that Draco was staring right at her, but she didn't let it be known. She had defined arms and a strong neck that was bare in the V-neck cut dress which became more prominent when she removed her scarf and tied it around Harry's neck. Draco couldn't hear but he watched Harry's mouth move "Some things never change huh?" They danced around in the entire ballroom, all eyes on them.
Draco turned to Hermione and asked "Granger, who is that?"
"That is Leila Montgomery," Hermione responded "Harry dated her briefly right before he announced he was, you know…" she didn't finish her sentence. "It was right after Ginny had broken up with Harry, and Harry told me that he courted Leila because she was the most sought after bachelorette in town, and if he was straight then she'd keep him that way. "
Draco had a look of surprise in his eyes; he glanced back at the dancing couple and caught eyes with Leila who looked away instantly. "So what happened?" Draco asked Ron and Hermione.
Hermione pointed at another man standing on the other side of the ballroom. "That's Liam Montgomery. They're twins, Harry slept with him within two weeks into courting her."
Draco couldn't believe it, he didn't know if he should laugh or just applaud. "So why isn't Potter with him?" Hermione hesitated and the conversation got interrupted. She was pulled away and it was just Ron and Draco staring at Harry's direction now.
"Hermione's too polite to have told you the truth anyway."
Draco looked at Ron questionably "…And you aren't?"
Ron continued "Harry broke poor Liam's heart. He said Liam was too spoiled, demanded too much, he reminded Harry of a certain..." Ron paused "Malfoy" Draco glared at Ron "Hey, his words, not mine! He told me that if he was going to be treated like that then he'd rather date the real thing."
"What does that mean?" asked Draco.
"I don't know, never asked him. I suppose I was too afraid to hear what it meant. My guess would have been that he had a thing for you, but you weren't around."
"And you'd be against that? If he did, I mean." Draco said.
Ron looked away from the dance floor and looked into Draco's eyes "Well, I would have been six years ago, yeah. But not now I suppose. You've changed; you're not the same prat we knew you as. I mean you're out here starting a charity for Merlin's sake. I would think, now you're sort of a catch. That's why I was worried…" Ron hesitated "never mind."
Draco smiled a very shy smile "You thought I was after Granger?" Ron didn't say anything. "Thanks Wesley, I didn't travel all the way back here to steal your wife or your best friend. Besides, Harry's not interested in me like that. Not anymore I am sure even if he was at one point, which I doubt."
"Does that upset you?" Ron asked.
"No, actually I am relieved. It'd probably be awkward. Flat mates dating. And I may have changed but, dating a war hero has never been my forte."
The song ended, Ron and Draco watched as Liam walked up to the dancing couple and dragged Leila away. "Bye Harry" she said apologetically as she got pulled away from Harry's arms.
Harry walked back to his friend and Ron spoke "I recon the man's still not forgiven you."
Draco laughed "Give it another 5 years."
Harry looked at Draco "you know?" Harry glared at Ron, as Ron looked scared for his life "Look there's Ginny" and ran away from Harry and Draco. Harry turned to Draco and asked "So how much did he tell you?"
"Enough for me to be insulted that you once compared that catastrophe of a man to a Malfoy. Harry opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't muster up a sentence. Draco continued "No hard feelings, I was probably like that up until a few years ago, can't say someone hasn't already done that to me."
"Done what?" Harry asked.
"Broke up with me because I was too spoiled. If I had a sister, I'd probably do the same. Except I slept with all of his ex lovers, even the women to lash out." Draco responded to Harry's question with a bit of regret in his tone.
"Merlin Draco, remind me never to cross you!"
Draco laughed "Well we all have scars from our past, don't we?"
The room fell silent for a minute for Harry as the memories of his childhood came rushing to him. He remembered what he had done all those years ago to Draco. He couldn't look at Draco, couldn't look at anyone and rushed out.
Hermione turned to Draco and asked "What happened?"
Draco also visibly red, slowly whispered "I joked, and accidentally opened old wounds. I didn't mean to, I swear. Should I go after him?" He looked at Hermione with hopeless eyes.
She responded with a kind look "Let's both go."
Draco and Hermione walked to the balcony where they saw Harry, and Liam approaching Harry to speak to him. Draco started to march towards them, but Hermione stopped him. They just stood back and listened.
Liam was apologizing. "Harry, I am sorry about the dramatic exit back there. I didn't realize I still felt in such a hostile way towards you." Harry smiled but didn't speak. Liam continue "I have changed you know. I am not as spoiled as I used to be. Are you really not going to say anything to me at all?"
Harry finally broke his silence "Sorry, I have just got a lot on my mind, Liam, it's no problem. I understand."
Ron approached Draco and Hermione "There's a sponsor here who wants to talk to you about an investment, you guys coming?" Draco and Hermione had to leave the balcony and Draco was disappointed because he wanted to stay and watch over Harry. Liam and Harry continued talking.
"So tell me, are you still in love with Ron?"
Liam's question caught Harry by surprise "I am sorry, what?"
"Don't act like I don't know. I have always known. Whenever he needed you, you left me and went after him. The last time you shagged me, do you remember that? It was the night of his wedding and you cried for hours. Did you really think I'd forget that?" Liam lashed out at Harry in a whispering tone. He was conscious of his surroundings. "You even told me that I wasn't your first choice. Even when you want to just use my body, I wasn't your first choice."
"I had hoped you did. It wasn't one of my highest points in life."
Liam laughed, his facial expressions changed to a kind look again "And look at me, after all these years, hoping you'd notice me again and now you've showed up here and are inseparable with Draco Malfoy. How am I supposed to compete with that?"
"It's not like that" Harry said "We are just friends…" Liam didn't wait for Harry to finish his sentence and kissed him. He pulled himself into Harry's arms, Harry shot his head back for a second "Liam, don't it's not a good id-" Liam pulled Harry's lips back onto his. Harry didn't stop this time. He thought Liam smelled amazing and tasted of Whiskey and cherries. Harry slid his tongue into Liam's mouth and Liam welcomed it. Their hot moment was interrupted by Leila.
"I see how it is" Leila said laughingly. Both Harry and Liam looked at Leila, "you interrupt my dance only so you can snog him later. Sorry to break the party but Liam, we've got to go. The investor is interested in seeing the land as we speak so if we really need him, we need to leave. Goodbye Harry love, don't be a stranger." Liam looked at Harry and opened his mouth to say something and Leila screamed "Now, Liam."
As they began to part, Liam locked eyes with Draco glaring at him. Draco stared back at Liam without a flinch, without any emotions. Draco continued to walk towards Harry when the twins left. "Trouble?" Draco asked Harry who just nodded.
"Whiskey and cherries" Harry said. Draco looked confused "I am sorry what?"
Harry laughed and responded "All the Montgomery's taste like Whiskey and Cherries. All of them, can you believe it? Sorry I think I am a bit drunk already." He pointed at his lips waving the finger indicating that they had kissed.
Draco laughed wholeheartedly beside his ever so cool demeanor "All of them? How many have you kissed? I thought he was out there to kill you and you've been snogging with the competition?"
"The competition?"
"Yeah we are all bidding for the same land for the shelter, they want to build a wizards' hotel," Draco said rolling his eyes, "while Hermione and I are fighting for the space for the shelter for the abandoned children. So Granger and I have got to go right now, on the actual land with the investor and the competition."
"Oh, do you need me to come with you?" Harry asked almost embarrassed that he confessed to Draco a bit more than he should have.
"No, I think we've got it. Hermione thinks it's better this way, she wants the cause to fight for itself, and doesn't want to use the Harry Potter name. We're going to say you're our silent partner if it starts to look bad for us."
Harry looked a bit disappointed "Okay then. Good luck. I'll leave with Ron then I suppose."
"Yeah, I'll see you at home then. It might get too late, so maybe in the morning then." Draco left.
Harry realized that although he was relieved when Liam left, he was wishing that Draco would have stayed.
-End of Chapter 14.
(A/N): Reviews are always helpful!