Pure Rhapsody
Pre-Warning: Sexual content next chapter
Chapter 20: Danger and Attraction
He was restless and couldn't sit still. In fact, he hadn't even slept much the previous night. He had thought about what had happened between him and Draco and he couldn't believe he actually wrote something like that, admitting his feelings to him. When they had first seen each other, there had been the rivalry and contempt for one another that Harry was used it. It had felt normal, but then that time in the bathroom, when he was exposed, naked, to the blond, he realized that he hadn't been so embarrassed about Malfoy teasing him, but rather if the blond would find his body attractive or not.
It hadn't been the first conscious thought but now that he thought back it was almost sensual that they were in a large private bath together. That was part of the reason that he couldn't sleep the night before; he thought about all their intimate moments and how they had just tried to blame it on something else, as if they tried to misplace their conscious minds as it was happening so that they wouldn't have to face it. They were just so used to fighting. And in fact, if Harry thought back to Hogwarts he remembered that the blond was very attractive, but he hadn't been thinking that up front because of all the other factors that had been distracting him: a new school, rivalries, Quidditch, mainly Voldemort. Everything had interfered so he hadn't been aware of romance at all, let alone with his attraction to Malfoy.
But now it was so different. Harry felt different and he felt awkward; he realized his feelings and now that he was aware they had been intimate there was no turning back. It was hard because they had both been so distracted by so many other problems that when faced together with the opportunity to realize their attraction, or at least Harry's attraction to Draco (whether the blond was really attracted to him or not still remained a mystery), they tried to put on their usual façade that they had been used to at Hogwarts.
Everything that could've been so enjoyable had been awkward because they didn't know how to act around one another. And no way would he have ever guessed he was attracted to Draco. At the wizard hotel Harry had wanted desperately to just laugh and have fun with Draco; it had been the perfect time to bond and when they had gone out to dinner with one another he really that was the step that would move them beyond rivalry.
Also, Harry couldn't stop thinking about being under water with Malfoy, feeling the sexual attraction as well as the emotional as they examined the miniature dragons. It felt so surreal and yet Harry wanted it; he wanted it to happen every day. He wanted to forget everything that had happened at Hogwarts and in the past because he just didn't want that awkward feeling or past grudges to get in the way anymore.
His wish was to be able to act on his feelings with Draco without thinking about how inappropriate it was because they had been rivals; he wanted to hang out and talk with Draco like he did with Ron and Hermione, but he also wanted to be able to be intimate with him without trying to hide it, or without making excuses or feeling awkward. One part of a dream during his restless sleep had been back in the private Ministry bath, but instead of being rival-like or hot-headed with one another they had been almost coy and friendly. Harry had talked quietly about the war and Voldemort and his future plans and Draco had listened so intently. And then they had gotten closer and Harry could feel his anxiety but also his excitement.
A loud persistent knock startled him so much that he nearly crashed into the bureau. Harry's breathing became more erratic but he didn't want to wait too long for fear that if it was Malfoy he'd run away. So Harry ran at the door and opened it more hastily than he had planned.
"Yeah?" he asked hurriedly before he even saw that it was Tristan. "Tristan?"
"Hi, Harry," he said smiling.
"Oh, er, hi," Harry said, opening the door so he could come inside. "How are you?"
"Good," he answered. "I was hoping that perhaps you and I could spend so quality time together."
Harry smiled reluctantly and nodded. "Oh, er, when were you thinking of?"
"Well, now that you've graduated I was thinking we should celebrate. Actually, I wanted to invite you over to my place since it's pretty spacious. How about tonight?"
Feeling his stomach churn anxiously Harry wondered if Tristan was asking him out or just being friendly. It seemed like a suspicious step to invite him over to his place.
"I'd love to, but er probably not tonight. I'm expecting someone…er, a friend," he said.
Tristan looked disappointed but he just smiled. "Alright. I mean, it's my fault for springing this up on you last minute. So, how about tomorrow night?"
"Uh, yeah sure. I don't have any plans," Harry said feeling a bit awkward. He liked Tristan, but not in a romantic way. If Harry went over to his place privately and Tristan hit on him it'd be hard to not have to be blunt, but then again having privacy would prevent making a scene in public. So perhaps it was a good idea.
"Great," he said smiling. "I'm looking forward to it. Do you know where I live?"
"Sort of," Harry said shrugging.
"Here, I'll write it down for you and then we can plan on you coming over at around eight."
Harry nodded thinking that was a bit later for dinner and wondered if the boy had some romantic plans. Nervously he summoned a quill and parchment. Tristan began scribbling the directions and another knock came. Harry jolted and Tristan glanced up at him.
"That's your friend I suppose?"
"Er…maybe," Harry said awkwardly.
He went to the door and exhaled deeply as he approached it. Then he opened it and was stunned to see that Draco was standing there. The blond had been looking sideways and jerked his head toward him when he heard the door open.
"Potter, I…," Draco began and then spotted Tristan.
Tristan stared at Draco and then set the parchment down and walked over to the door.
"Ah, Draco is it?"
"Yeah," Malfoy said coolly eyeing the other boy.
"Thanks for stopping by Tristan," Harry said hurriedly, not wanting Draco to get the wrong impression.
Tristan glanced at him and then back at Draco. "Right. See you tomorrow then Harry."
Harry nodded quickly and Tristan gave Draco a nod as he walked out. Draco shut the door behind him and waited a moment before crossing his arms and staring heatedly at him.
"I see you got my note," Harry said.
"Apparently I interrupted something," Malfoy drawled.
Harry stared at him firmly and rolled his eyes. "For the last time, Tristan and I aren't dating, Malfoy. He stopped by unexpectedly."
"Oh right and you two were just," Malfoy paused dramatically, " 'hanging out'?"
"Yes, actually. He was only here for like two minutes," Harry said truthfully.
Draco walked over to where Tristan had put the note on the bureau. "Interesting…his address. Seems to me like you're lying Potter; you two fancy each other obviously," he drawled and Harry couldn't place the tone in his voice.
"We do not!" Harry exclaimed vehemently. "Or at least I don't. I'm not sure if Tristan's gay or not but we're not dating and I certainly wouldn't date him even if he asked me!"
Malfoy's eyes narrowed. "Like I care, Potter. I'm only here because I want to make it clear that we don't speak ever again. Apparently, this isn't sinking into your brain well enough and I want you to know that if you try to contact me again I'll make sure I move to a place where my living arrangements are concealed only to those I authorize, which of course I'd leave no names, and even your fame won't get you near me. Do you understand?"
Harry stared at him for a long moment in which both of them locked eyes heatedly and Harry felt something…the blond was obviously trying hard to keep his mind blocked from Harry's Legimen abilities.
"I wrote that confession and it was nothing but the truth, Draco," Harry emphasized, staring at him firmly. "And I wrote you that note because I was told that you tried to find me again, for whatever reason, whether it's to threaten me or not. What I don't understand is why you're so hostile to me when I've proven to you and told you a million times over, though it doesn't seem to be sinking into your head," he retorted as Malfoy's eyebrows furrowed, "that I only wanted to be your friend and that I…"
Harry swallowed not sure how to say it but he knew that this was his last chance and Draco was much too stubborn to need anything but the truth. "I told you I had feelings for you, that I was attracted to you, and that was all the truth. I made a very hard attempt at getting to know you without the grudges and rivalries from our past; I attempted to be friends with you like at the hotel and once again, and I can't repeat or emphasize this enough, I've saved your life now three times over!
"Don't say anything till I'm finished!" Harry exclaimed, noticing the blond open his mouth. "Because if this is the last time we speak you're going to hear this! I wanted to be your friend…And I was kind to you. I found a legendary treasure that I could've kept for myself, that is worth more than you could ever imagine and I gave it to you to save your life. And then I continued to save your life without asking for you to pay me back. And you did anyway, which was your choice because you didn't want to own up to the fact that I did something nice, that I was actually, sincerely being friendly to you," he said raising his voice.
"And now after everything, after all the attempts I made at being nice, saving your life and trying to get along, not to mention admitting to you that I had no ill intentions and never contacted reporters or anything, not even my friends, and you repay me with a threat?"
"Relax Potter!" Malfoy drawled. "I'm telling you—"
"SHUT-UP!" Harry bellowed. "I can't believe you! I mean, why the hell did you save my confession and not publish it? And why did you try to help me with the book? Are you so ashamed of doing something nice that you resort to anger, lies and threats? Because if so, that's pretty pathetic and I don't just mean for a Slytherin," Harry said as Draco's eyes narrowed. "I mean as a human being."
Surprisingly, Malfoy glared at him but didn't respond immediately. "And what do you expect me to do Potter?"
"Why can't you give me a chance? I tried giving you a chance! I saved your bloody life over and over again! Not to mention I tried to be friends with you! So why can't you do something simple like—"
"Like what, Potter, hanging out together?" Malfoy spat as he uncrossed his arms. "You're bloody famous and everyone's always trying to take your picture or get a story on you and you think that I could 'hang out' with you without the news reporting that?"
"Look, I avoid the papers! I haven't been in one in a long time! My house is shielded by magic so they can't just come here whenever they'd like. They don't even know where I live!" Harry exclaimed. "Are you saying that you can't even give me a chance to be a friend, not even a friend-friend, but an acquaintance even, without me being able to guarantee that you won't be in the papers?"
Malfoy was looking annoyed. "Why the hell do you want to be my friend so badly, Potter?"
"Because I don't want any grudges! I want to get past this with you!"
"Fine, we're past it," Malfoy shrugged. "Is that all you want?"
Harry shook his head staring at him angrily. Malfoy stepped forward and crossed his arms again.
"What do you think you'll get from being my friend Potter? Because if you're even thinking that you want to 'hang out' to explore more sexual activites—"
"Quit making me sound like a whore," Harry interrupted angrily. "I told you already that it wasn't just something sexual. If it was, well…then I could've found someone else to sleep with."
"So what then? Are you saying you just want to hang out like you and the Weasel do? Or what, Potter? I don't get why you'd want to! We don't get along, if you hadn't noticed!"
"That's only because of you!" Harry retorted. "You won't give me a chance and whenever I'm with you, even if I'm being really nice, you're just rude and dismissive. And what's wrong with being friends?"
"Because people usually don't demand friendship!" Malfoy exclaimed.
"Malfoy, did you actually read my confession?" Harry asked annoyed. "I admitted that I had feelings, or felt something…I'm not sure what, but it wasn't purely sexual."
Malfoy stared at him and then shook his head. "Potter, if you're even thinking of…Friendship is bad enough! That wouldn't work out at all! We'd be doing the same things that we're doing now only on a regular basis! But if you're attempting to use friendship as a means of trying to get me to date you, then you're just bloody mad!"
"So you did read my confession then," Harry retorted sarcastically. "You know, we've already been on a date and it wasn't reported in the news now was it? And you even agreed to do that!"
"You practically dragged me there!" Malfoy exclaimed. "You told me it would be the last favor!"
"This isn't a favor, Malfoy! This is what people do when they actually have a heart and they have emotions!" Harry shouted. "They tell people how they feel, they act nice to them, they try to get to know them better…that's friendship and practically every other communication that humans have! I'm not asking this as a favor. This isn't some charity or debt thing! It's just a…it's me telling you that what I said in the confession was the truth and I wanted to know if you were able to just forget the past, including the chaotic events that happened at Embervale," Harry added as the blond's eyebrows furrowed, "and just start over preferably as friends."
"I'm willing to forget Embervale, Potter, but you're not letting me!"
"I said forget Embervale and manipulating one another I never said forget each other!"
Malfoy's lips pursed. "Look, Potter. I'll say this once more. I get your confession, I get that you felt something for me, but let me enlighten you. Just because two people have sex doesn't mean that it means something emotionally, alright? And clearly I'm more experienced with sex, you even admitted it," he said as Harry clenched his jaw. "What happened between us wasn't expected, that means if we had been thinking more clearly it wouldn't have happened. And I get that you saved my life, alright Potter? Why the hell do you think I was trying to do those debts in the first place? But we cannot date! And clearly you want that."
"But you're not gay, is that your excuse?" Harry asked quietly, staring at him firmly.
"It's not just that, Potter," Malfoy said gesturing with his hands. "We've never gotten along. It's not something that's just going to come naturally. It's impossible to just forget everything that's happened unless you erase your memories. We just can't date, Potter! It's absurd!"
"Why exactly? If we avoid papers and such why is it impossible? Why is it so hard for you to comprehend? Just enlighten me!"
"Okay, Potter, here I'll enlighten you," Malfoy said stepping forward again. "Let's say Christmas comes and your friends invite you over. Do you think they'll want me there? And do you really think you can avoid everyone you or I know and not think that someone will find out, if we were to date?"
"Okay, so they might find out. So what? I admit, Ron and Hermione would not take it well. I get that. Your friends hate me, I get that too. But you can't just live your life based on what others want or expect of you," Harry said. "Didn't you already do that with you parents and you said that you didn't care that they died?"
The words rang out and Harry realized what he had given away. Malfoy's jaw clenched and his hand went into a fist by his side.
"You obviously read more into my mind then you let on. My parents are none of your business Potter!"
"Okay, I know, I get it. They're not," Harry said quickly. "But why does it have to matter if anyone finds out? Why do you care what they think?"
"Obviously, if I want to have friends, Potter and not be a desperate loser who's alone and friendless the rest of my life," Malfoy drawled.
"Then they're not friends," Harry emphasized, staring at him deeply. "Look, my friends might hate the idea, but they'd never abandon me over it. They trust my judgment and sure…maybe they'd make sure that I'm not under a spell or anything, but after that they'd grow to accept it. If your friends are just going to leave you if you do one small thing that they don't approve of, well…they're not friends and they're not worth the trouble."
"Easy for you to say. You Gryffindors are too lenient and accepting. And I doubt the Weasel would ever accept us going out," Malfoy retorted.
Harry sighed heavily. "So…are you just saying you don't want to go out because of your friends and the fact that you're a Slytherin, I'm a Gryffindor, your parents hated me and tried to kill me, and we're supposed to be arch-nemises because your family supported Voldemort, who also wanted to kill me…," Harry said taking a breath, "or is it because you're not gay and not attracted to me? Which is it because I'm confused. Are you at all attracted to blokes or at least open to being with them?"
Malfoy released a breath. "Potter, look…I admit that I had times where I thought about possibly doing something with a bloke, alright? Sex can be addicting! But that doesn't mean that I'd actually want to date or have a relationship with a bloke!"
"So then it's because you're not attracted to me," Harry said, trying to read him.
"Potter, no…I don't want to date you," Malfoy emphasized quietly.
"That doesn't answer my question though."
"What does it matter! Even if I was gay I wouldn't want to date you!" Malfoy exclaimed. "So my sexuality doesn't really matter, Potter! The fact is we cannot date! Do you understand?"
Harry breathed in heavily, realizing that Malfoy was just too stubborn. And he was also afraid. Of what, Harry couldn't be entirely certain.
"Are you going to publish my confession?"
Malfoy snorted softly. "Only if you provoke me, Potter. Personally, I don't want the news getting facts that we were ever in the same room together so I'd prefer not to publish it."
"I'm not going to harass you, if that's what you're worried about," Harry said feeling the disappointment churn in his stomach. "I'm not going to go to your house every day banging on your day and demanding you date me. If you're not interested that's fine. But I just didn't want it to be only because your friends, and family, would consider it a betrayal to Voldemort."
"The Dark Lord has nothing to do with it Potter!"
"Okay…so as long as it's not because of someone, or something, else then I get it. Alright? I would never try to force someone to be with me, that's not what I'm after."
Malfoy's shoulders still seemed tense, but he shrugged. "Fine, Potter. Now that we've got that cleared up."
Harry nodded knowing that Malfoy was just going to leave.
"Why don't you date Tristan then?" the blond asked.
"I don't like him like that," Harry answered truthfully.
Malfoy's eyebrow raised and he smirked slightly. "So why do you like me?"
"I…," Harry's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't know. It can't be for your personality, that absolutely sucks."
Malfoy's smirk faded.
"And…well…unless it's because of Voldemort's influence, you know being since part of his soul was inside me and…well, no because it's not inside me anymore. I don't know," Harry shrugged.
"Potter, if you were trying to say that the Dark Lord was attracted to me, that's not funny," Malfoy warned, giving him a dark, uneasy look.
"No, no…at least I don't think Voldemort was gay," Harry said shrugging. "I just meant that it could've been Parseltongue or Voldemort's dark influence that made me attracted to a Slytherin. And your family is pretty dark, you have a dark history and your parents did try to kill me, so…Look, I don't know, okay?"
"I'm sure I know," Malfoy drawled smugly. "I'll bet it was for my looks."
Harry's eyebrows rose. "Your looks?"
"Of course, Potter. If it wasn't because we got along, and our families were dead-set against one another, then obviously the only reason is physical attraction. Not that I blame you of course," he drawled.
Harry rolled his eyes and stared up at the ceiling briefly. "Gee, now I wish Voldemort had killed me," he said sarcastically. "Look, I hate to break this to you, but you weren't the only attractive bloke there."
"And yet you chose me," Malfoy said smirking with a raised eyebrow. "I wonder why."
"Well…you weren't that hard to get into bed," Harry said.
Malfoy's expression darkened and he approached within inches of Harry's face. "Watch it, Potter."
"I just meant that…like you said about me, you were conveniently there, perhaps," Harry added, staring at him evenly.
"Right, well you certainly wouldn't have wanted to have sex with me if you weren't attracted to me at all," Malfoy said, narrowing his eyes. "And you did mention it in your confession, that there was an attraction."
"Yes, but I just meant…you know, obviously something had to be there…what do you want me to say? That I couldn't resist you?" Harry asked, looking annoyed.
Malfoy smirked. "That's a start, Potter."
"Oh Merlin, you're so full of yourself," Harry said shaking his head. "I can't believe you feel no shame in thinking that."
The blond shrugged carelessly. "Confidence is a key ingredient to victory, Potter."
"We're not in a war, Malfoy," Harry said, crossing his arms. "Okay, even if I were just physically attracted to you, by your appearance, that's still an attraction. And you wouldn't have slept with me either if there wasn't something."
"There was something, I was temporarily insane," Malfoy drawled.
Harry cocked his head and gave him a look. "Listen, you can think that you're the finest thing on this planet, that's fine. But are you saying that I'm not at all attractive? Because many girls have told me that I am, as well as you."
"Well, you're not as hideous as Weasley," Malfoy drawled. "And certainly not as bad as you were when we first met. I can stand to look at you Potter. But like I said, I'm not attracted to blokes. And since you are, it would make you more susceptible to blokes, not me."
"Alright, whatever," Harry said. "You can go now. Can I keep the book?"
Malfoy's eyes narrowed. "Not forever. I was going to take it back eventually but you can borrow it since it was part of my debt to you."
"How will I know when to give it back if you forget I exist?" Harry asked, half-jokingly.
"If you're suggesting we keep in touch that won't be necessary. I'll just track you down when I think it's been enough time," Malfoy said, eyeing him.
Harry shrugged. "Okay. But make sure to owl me and let me know you're stopping by. I don't like surprises."
"No, I wouldn't want to give you a heart attack," Malfoy drawled.
Harry just rolled his eyes.
The blond then turned around and Harry walked forward hesitantly. A part of him really didn't want to say goodbye, but he didn't want to seem desperate. Malfoy would only tease him more and make the separation more humiliating for him. Besides, if Malfoy wasn't attracted to him at all then Harry should just move on. Perhaps he just needed to know for sure that Malfoy truly wasn't attracted to him in any way.
Harry wasn't sure what to say as Malfoy opened the door.
"Don't fool around too much with Tristan, Potter," Malfoy drawled teasingly.
"I'm only going over there tomorrow as a friend, Malfoy. Nothing more," Harry said crossing his arms firmly.
Malfoy eyed him and raised an eyebrow. "Whatever. Just use protection."
"Shut-up, Malfoy!" Harry exclaimed, giving him a disgusted look. "Why don't you go shag some Veela and get over yourself."
"I don't need Veelas, Potter," Malfoy drawled.
"Are you through yet?" Harry asked, glaring.
Malfoy smirked and then turned around and walked out the door. Harry approached the door and watched him step outside. The blond wheeled back around and gave him a look.
"Remember, Potter. Even though we're ignoring one another's existence doesn't mean you can go babble to your friends about what occurred between us."
It was Harry's turn to smirk and Malfoy's smile vanished. "I can do whatever I like, Malfoy. You have my confession so I need something over you. And that's it. If I want to tell them, I'll tell them."
"They won't believe you," Malfoy said, snorting. "And at least I won't be anywhere near the Weasel."
"Fine. Goodbye then," Harry said, feeling his muscles tense.
Malfoy stared at him for a long minute and Harry kept the gaze firmly. Finally, the blond snorted in his Slytherin-like manner and disapparated from the spot. Harry closed the door and inwardly smiled. Even though Malfoy was gone it seemed that the blond had hesitated before leaving. Perhaps Malfoy had considered briefly about being friends, or maybe something more. Harry wasn't sure. In fact, he didn't even know if Malfoy really was gay, or if he was just extremely sexual. But now it didn't matter. The only other time he'd probably see Malfoy was sometime in later years when the blond returned for the book.
Sighing, Harry slumped down on his bed trying not to remember those intimate moments he had with Malfoy or how good it felt. Even fighting with the blond kept him alive and now he wasn't sure what to do. He had been so used to having Malfoy in his life. Although he didn't want to admit it, he was going to miss the arrogant blond. He wondered if Malfoy would miss him at all.
XXXXXX
The next evening came by rather quickly and Harry still hadn't stopped thinking about Malfoy, even though he knew he had to move on. He followed Tristan's directions, wondering if perhaps he should consider going out with Tristan, but then shook it off. He just wasn't attracted to the other boy.
Harry arrived at Tristan's place a little early, realizing that Tristan lived in a cabin nearby a large lake. There were houses in the distance, but quite a bit of land surrounded the cabin and he knocked uncertainly. The door opened almost instantly and Tristan smiled down at him.
"Welcome, Harry."
He moved aside and Harry smiled reluctantly as he stepped into the cabin. The place was furnished nicely, although a few things appeared really dusty. Otherwise, everything seemed organized. There were only two floors and the downstairs was a small living room with a couch, a couple chairs and a table. There was a small kitchen connecting it and upstairs were most likely the bedrooms. It was small, but not cramped.
"So you live in a cabin?" Harry asked as he took off his cloak.
"Yes. I like the silence," Tristan answered as he approached him.
"Oh," Harry said, turning to face him. "So, how are you?"
Tristan's smile widened. "Much better now. I was afraid you'd never come."
Harry stared at him and thought it sounded suspiciously like Tristan might like him more than a friend.
"I…er…," Harry trailed off not knowing how to word his apology.
"To think that I have you here Potter finally alone."
There was something in the tone of his voice. Harry knew it too well by now. As Harry's eyes widened, he tried to apparate but Tristan just laughed.
"I made sure you couldn't escape this time."
Harry backed away, reaching toward his dark jeans for his wand. "You…You killed those wizards!"
Tristan stared at him with an eerie look. "I'm only here for one person, Potter and that's you."
"But you killed those wizards and framed…," Harry trailed off. "If you didn't kill those wizards, were you working with Amos Diggory?"
"I only work for myself," Tristan responded coldly. "And yes, I killed them…Diggory just took advantage of that. He found them afterward and I thought about killing him, but seeing as though he didn't care that there were dead bodies in front of him, only caring about his own agenda, well…I didn't feel it was necessary to waste any extra energy. It was clever of you to block your scar, Potter. Even I couldn't figure out how you did that."
Harry felt his whole chest tighten and he shook his head. "No…you're not…that's not possible!"
Tristan's lips curled into a wide smile. "No, Potter, I'm not Lord Voldemort; if only I were. He's brilliant, isn't he? And so powerful…yes, he's the perfect master. He had captured me to try to get information out of me on the whereabouts of the legendary Scale some time ago, just because I knew some famous, powerful wizards. He kept me alive and trapped and should anything happen to him I was given instructions to kill Harry Potter and anyone else I could bring down. My first priority is to get my master back, but you…you are troublesome. And Voldemort warned me about you, that you get in the way of everything! I may just have to get rid of you first.
"My master is gone and when I woke up all I had was his message engraved in my head—to bring him back and to destroy you! So I went out searching for you and found you…it was so easy! You were finally out of Hogwarts! I thought I'd have to wait for you to graduate! And then I made up that story about being with the paper…well, I won't bore you with details," he sneered.
"How did you track me?" Harry asked nervously, backing away as he hurried to think of a plan.
"I was tracking you through your scar, which I was taught by my master. He engraved the directions into my mind on how to tap into your scar with a simple potion that I drink. Well…I suppose the potion wasn't simple. It's a synthesis of the bonding potion and he used his blood and several very rare ingredients. It took him a long time to make it, but he wanted to ensure that if by some rare chance you or Dumbledore destroyed his body he'd still have me to rescue him and finish you off! I tried to find him, but couldn't! So now my priority is killing you. But you can last longer if you tell me where my master is!"
"He's too far for you to reach," Harry said angrily. "He's in a parallel dimension without enough power…or at least he doesn't have the ability to come back. It was a one-way portal, or door, that I sent him through."
"Tell me where it is!"
"Like hell!" Harry exclaimed. "As long as he remains trapped there he'll never be a threat to anyone, even if he doesn't die! And I'd never be stupid enough to tell you even if you did kill me! I'll never let him come back!"
"Well…once I defeat you I'll pick out your brain until I find the answer on how to get him back and then I'll kill you slowly!" Tristan seethed as his eyes narrowed. "And even if I can't get his body back…I still know where all his Horcruxes are! As long as I have at least one I can always bring back his spirit the old fashioned way. And with that advanced potion he told me about, yes…I could even bring back his body eventually. Of course it's not good without his spirit so I'd have to get that first, but don't worry that shouldn't be much of a problem."
"You mean the Potion Pettigrew used—the one where he cut off his own hand?" Harry countered as he kept the distance between them.
Tristan was closer to the door and Harry was closer to the stairs. Even if he went upstairs there was no telling how he'd escape the cabin.
"I'm much more reliable than that worthless man! Voldemort practically made me…he's my master and my creator. He erased most of my memories, except for the ones he deemed useful, and put information that he needed me to know in my mind and how to accomplish what he wanted. I've become his perfect, most loyal servant, synthetically created, so-to-speak. I used to be a mere human with no purpose and now he's made me into a wise, powerful wizard. And once I bring him back I will be his right-hand man, his most loyal servant and I'll never be replaced; I'll always be by his side and he'll never torture or kill me, not for what I've done."
"You haven't done anything yet," Harry said. "Even if you do use his Horcruxes, it would take forever to find one and make the potion necessary to get his spirit out of it, to give him consciousness again! He'll only be back in his vapory form—that much I know! After his curse rebounded on him when he tried to kill me as a baby he became nothing more than a weak spirit and that's all he'd be even if you did find a Horcrux! Not to mention, it'd take a very long time for you to make that regeneration potion again to get his body back, especially without my blood."
"Trust me, Potter. I'll have plenty of that soon," Tristan retorted in a blood-thirsty tone. "There's no way out of here so sooner or later I'll get you."
Harry kept moving backward and he saw Tristan reach for his wand. Harry jolted up the stairs as a hex flew past him. He had to find a way out! Tristan wouldn't trap himself in the cabin without having a way out, so there was a way…it was just hidden.
Harry went into a room, hoping to find a window. Unfortunately when he turned around he found Tristan standing in the doorway grinning at him. Harry ducked and rolled from the first spell and shot hexes toward Tristan. The other boy did seem to move a lot like Voldemort and he seemed to know what he was doing. Voldemort definitely was trying to make sure he didn't lose.
Harry cried out in pain as a curse shot right into his side cutting him with a deep wound. He clutched at his side and put up a shield, trying to protect himself.
"That shield won't hold for long, especially not with you injured," Tristan sneered as he approached within a foot. "Soon I'll have you, Potter…I'll have to make sure to keep plenty of your blood in case I don't get my master's potion right on the first try. But he trained me well…and I will get him back. He will not be defeated by a worthless, pathetic child!"
Harry's arm was shaking as he tried to keep the shield up. Tristan shot spells and hexes at it to try and weaken it some more. He knew it wouldn't hold. And blood was trickling down his side, slowly soaking his shirt and jeans.
"And I've put silencing charms around the cabin so you can scream as loud as you wish. In fact, I prefer you scream. No one's going to save you, Potter. This time, my Lord's plan was too brilliant…and you've run out of allies. Without Dumbledore or anyone to help you, I can make sure you don't escape. You realize you're only alive out of luck and because of others who've protected you, but now you're all alone."
Harry breathed in deeply, wincing from the pain as he clutched at the wound. Blood was trickling through his fingers and his shield was flickering. Tristan shot a curse and the shield shattered, throwing Harry backward. A vase shattered when he hit the table and a piece of glass scraped across his cheek. He had a couple scrapes on his arms as well but Tristan just came close with his wand pointed at him.
"You're helpless, aren't you Potter?"
Without warning, Harry shot a spell at him just by thinking it. Tristan was too stunned to move out of the way and he was thrown backward into the wall. Harry got up and limped out of the room, trying to get back downstairs. He practically threw himself down the stairs and stumbled to his feet. He reached the door but it wouldn't budge. The hairs on his neck prickled and he ducked to miss the curse that came pelting toward him. Tristan wiped the blood from his mouth, sneering at him and came toward him once again.
"I told you, you can't escape! And with that injury you're not likely to run very fast," he said smirking. "So you're not completely helpless. My master told me not to underestimate you. But still…you're nothing compared to him."
"Says you," Harry breathed, wincing at the pain.
"There's solid proof, Potter. He's a much greater wizard than you'll ever be, even if you did live longer. But unfortunately for you, your time is up," Tristan sneered, pointing his wand at his face.
Harry blocked the next attack, but the force threw him off his feet. He was in too much pain to move fast enough and Tristan approached quickly.
"Don't move or I'll cause you much more severe pain, Potter. I just need to fill up a couple jars of blood and then you can die," he said, staring at him hungrily.
He summoned three jars and Harry stared at him wordlessly. Obviously Harry wouldn't be able to shoot a curse fast enough without Tristan being able to block it. It was truly over now. He was going to die and Voldemort would probably come back. He felt his chest tighten until he could scarcely breathe. Tristan approached with the jars, knowing Harry was weakened by his injury and now too slow to be able to take the upper hand. As Tristan approached within a foot, Harry felt a pain shoot inside his chest. It felt like all his muscles were being tugged. He gazed up thinking that Tristan was doing it, but the boy was still approaching. And suddenly Harry couldn't breathe and he thought that the pain inside his chest would burst.
Tristan's smile faded and anger reflected in his gaze. And Harry's vision became blurry and he saw Tristan's hex coming straight at him. And then it was gone. Harry was so confused that at first he didn't register the hard surface on which he fell until he felt sharp pain in his side and in his muscles.
"There you are Potter!"
Harry groaned and opened his eyes, recognizing the voice. Still confused, Harry lifted his head enough to see where he was. He was lying mainly on his stomach, with his legs spread slightly and his hand still covering his wound, which was now also covered by the soft carpet. It was a familiar plush carpet and Harry didn't remember why it was familiar until he gazed up into Draco's expectant silver-blue eyes.
"Potter, are you listening! I was at your place and obviously you weren't at home! I've been trying to find you for hours! I want you to sign a charmed agreement that you won't tell anybody about us," Malfoy said. "This way I can make certain you won't reveal anything until you die, and by then it won't matter."
Harry breathed heavily and realized that Malfoy had saved him. The tugging sensation had been whatever magic Malfoy had used to summon him.
"How did you…find me? What spell did you use?"
"What does it matter," Malfoy drawled.
"Malfoy," Harry shook his head. "You don't understand…"
"What don't I understand Potter? That you're deaf?" Malfoy exclaimed, crossing his arms.
Harry winced and slowly got to his knees. His eyes caught sight of the puddle of red that had gotten onto the clean carpet. Harry rose to a sitting position and his hand was covered in blood from remaining over his wound.
"What the…Potter…you!" Malfoy exclaimed. "You're bleeding all over my rug!" the blond was trying to be firm, but his tone gave away his surprise and fear.
Harry tried to stand but was in too much pain. "Malfoy, you shouldn't have…"
The pain made it too difficult for him to get up and Malfoy instantly summoned two cloths.
"Of course you had to bleed all over my rug, didn't you?" Malfoy tried to drawl, but he seemed paler than when Harry had first gazed at him.
"Malfoy…," Harry struggled to tell him that he was in danger.
"Here, Potter, take this before you bleed to death!" Malfoy snapped, handing him the cloths.
Harry grasped it and removed his bloodied hand to put the cloths there instead. Very slowly Harry noticed that the pain was ebbing away. It was easier to sit up all the way and in fact the bleeding seemed to stop after a couple of minutes.
"What is this?"
"Healing cloths, obviously! It should stop the bleeding, but you'll probably still have to get it properly healed by a nurse," Malfoy said, muttering a spell to clean the floor. "Once again, Potter, you nearly die on me and once again I just barely risk going to Azkaban! You see why I don't want to keep in touch?" he drawled more confidently once Harry was able to sit on one of the couches.
"Shut-up, Malfoy! You're in danger now!" Harry exclaimed, wincing as he pressed the cloths tighter onto his wound. "I was at Tristan's and…he's not...he's dangerous."
Malfoy's eyebrows furrowed and he crossed his arms. "So he, what, tried to kill you because you didn't want to go out with him?"
"No, no. I mean, yes, he tried to kill me but not because of that," Harry said, gazing up at him. Harry sensed that Malfoy was wary and the blond frowned at him with uncertainty. "He's Voldemort servant."
Malfoy's eyes widened with shock and his confidence faded.
"He told me that Voldemort gave him the ability to kill me. Basically, he's Voldemort's Plan C," Harry said dryly. "Voldemort prepared for his demise so that if me or Dumbledore should destroy him, or at least his body, he'd have a servant capable to bring him back using his Horcruxes."
"You told me the Horcrux was destroyed when I shot the killing curse at you," Malfoy retorted, staring at him with an unreadable expression.
"No, that was just one Horcrux. Voldemort has more. So Tristan can track down all the others, even if he only finds one, which I'm sure he knows where all of them are, he can use the one to bring Voldemort's spirit back. He needs a powerful potion to do it though so it would take time—at least a couple months—but still…he has the resources and the knowledge. It wouldn't take forever to find the ingredients. And of course I'm sure he's willing to cut off his hand," Harry said bitterly as Malfoy wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"Thanks, Potter, like I wanted to know that. So why am I in danger?"
"Because he was about to kill me when you summoned me! He really took me by surprise and frankly…I don't think I would've been able to get out of there by myself," Harry admitted hesitantly, looking away from the blond. "It won't take him that long to find out where I've disappeared to. Eventually he'll come here. At the very least it'd take an hour to figure out what spell was used and how to track me. Thanks goodness that Horcrux inside me was destroyed otherwise he'd be here right now! It made it more difficult for him to track me without being able to sense my scar, but…he'll still come. It's his priority now to first kill me because he realizes that I'm the only person who knows how to bring Voldemort back for certain."
"I thought you said he had a potion," Malfoy said and Harry could tell he was concerned.
"Well, he does, but it would take a very long time. And frankly, I doubt even Voldemort was positive that the Horcruxes could be used to get him back completely. It's just a theory. After all, Voldemort's the only person to succeed in making Horcruxes so it's not like there's much information on them. I think that Tristan wants to make sure he can get Voldemort back. Without the information on that room that I trapped Voldemort with, he may not be able to bring Voldemort back, or at least not entirely. And he knows that Voldemort wants his body as well as just coming back alive, because he's more powerful with a body.
"Plus, Tristan needs my blood for that potion to work," Harry added as Malfoy stared at him grimly. "So either way he needs me…I mean, I'm the only full-proof way of bringing Voldemort back, unless I somehow forget about that room. I suppose…you could erase my memories."
"Potter, there'd be no telling what I was erasing. That spell is incredibly unreliable," Malfoy retorted. "My condo has the best shield and charm protections, especially ever since you broke into my house for the second time. I've made sure there's no more holes."
"Even so, he'll find a way around it! We're only protected for so long! And once he finds out it's your condo he'll come after you to get to me!" Harry exclaimed standing up. "That's why I have to leave, if it's not too late."
"It's probably way past late Potter! Even if he hasn't tracked this neighborhood yet he'll certain know someone saved you! And sooner or later he'll find out it was me! Ever since the first time I met you, you've been trouble for me."
"Look, please, Malfoy, don't start with a trivial argument," Harry said seriously. "We need to work together to get rid of him otherwise we're both dead."
The blond stared at him for a minute and then uncrossed his arms. "Fine. How about your vampire friends?"
Harry looked surprised but he sat back down. "You know…that might be a good idea. Kald may be able to help me, but…I don't want to trouble him again."
"Please Potter, he kissed you for Merlin's sake. He obviously fancies you and would do anything for you," Malfoy drawled.
Harry glanced up at him feeling heat rush to his face. A part of him was hoping that Malfoy was jealous, but he couldn't think about that completely with his life being endangered yet again. Hopefully, if he survived, he'd be able to get a second chance at trying to convince Malfoy to go out with him. Then again, after being in danger because of him, once again, Malfoy would probably be less responsive than the first time.
"Okay, then we should go to Kald right away. Once Tristan comes here and finds we're gone he'll come looking for us and eventually track us down. However…I still have this feeling that Kald might want something in return. Last time he said he was disappointed that he couldn't have me and I don't exactly want to trade dying to become a vampire," Harry said with slight sarcasm. "So, we need to think of something to give him."
"Maybe you should just sleep with him," Malfoy suggested in his usual mocking tone, only it wasn't as harsh as it normally would be. The blond had raised his eyebrow in response.
Harry shrugged. "Well, if I have to in order to survive then…I guess I'll have to."
Malfoy seemed rather shocked at his answer and Harry missed the uncomfortable expression that passed over the blond's face.
"But just in case he doesn't agree to that, what's something that vampires can't resist?"
"Blood," Malfoy drawled. "And remember when Mr. Diggory tried to give us to him, Kald said that we were only good because of you. So not just any blood would work."
Harry swallowed and nodded. "You're right, but there has to be something! Maybe…maybe since they hate wizards so much, giving them something that wizards might miss could work."
"Like what?" Malfoy asked, leaning up against the living room wall, standing diagonally from where Harry was seated on the couch.
Sighing heavily, Harry wiped at his eyes and shook his head. "I don't know. I wish Tristan would be enough."
"Or perhaps you don't need the vampires themselves," Malfoy said, shrugging. "Maybe you could just trick him into walking into the water."
"That's true," Harry said, sitting up straight. "I doubt even Voldemort knew that the Scale was protected by acidic water and why would he feel it necessary to give that minor detail to Tristan? So Tristan might not even know about the Scale let alone the water. Voldemort only needs him to know enough to bring him back! So that just might work. I could lure him to that place. During the day time, Kald would be sleeping anyway I assume. And besides, he might not be right in that area now that the Scale's not there. That way I could go there without having to worry about Kald and somehow force Tristan into the water."
"I doubt it's going to be that easy. Besides, he could throw you in the water if you're not careful," Malfoy drawled coolly.
"Yeah, but I'm betting on the fact that he won't care about the water because he'll just think it's water. So he won't want to throw me into the water, it'd make it harder to kill me. So I think I'd have the upper hand."
"You think?" Malfoy asked. "You do realize you get one shot," he drawled.
"Yeah, what else is new," Harry retorted dryly. "Anyway, it's the only idea I've got. It sounds like my best chance. We'll have to wait a few hours though before dawn and hopefully he won't break in by then. It's not too far off so I'm hoping your protections really are good because our lives depend on them right now. And once dawn hits I'll apparate to the spot, of course I'll have to use a spell on myself first to make it possible to travel that distance, and sooner or later Tristan will follow. You should be safe here once I'm gone."
"I don't need your protection, Potter!" Malfoy exclaimed. "I can handle myself."
"This isn't a joke or a test, Malfoy! Any false move and you could die! Not to mention, it would be harder for me to concentrate on getting rid of him if I have to worry about you."
"That's touching, Potter, but like I said I can handle myself. It's you who can't handle things alone. You even admitted you'd be dead if I hadn't summoned you."
Harry opened his mouth. "Yeah…are you saying you want to come with me? I mean, you do realize that's risking your own life?"
"I don't want to come with you, Potter! It's your own battle, but seeing as how I'm in the middle of it now, considering you dropped in bleeding to death and now that wanker is going to know where I live, I want to make sure he's out of the way as well so I don't have to worry about him! If you die, he'll most likely come after me next because I'm sure he'll assume that you'll have told me, or that I'm your friend so he might just kill me based on that assumption alone! Besides, he'll probably figure out it was me who saved your bloody life!"
Harry was feeling rather grateful that Malfoy was going to help him, even though the blond made it sound like he was only doing it to save himself.
"Okay, but I don't want Tristan to know you're there. Maybe you should go there first and hide and I'll follow. That way he won't know you're there so if anything happens…"
"You mean if you start to lose, which I don't doubt," Malfoy drawled, "then I'll throw him into the water."
Harry nodded in agreement. He was anxious about everything…about being able to do this correctly, about Malfoy being there potentially in danger, but if they didn't do this then there'd never be an opportunity to be with Malfoy again. And he certainly didn't want Voldemort to have a way of getting back. And Malfoy was right…if Tristan was given instructions and resources by Voldemort, then Tristan wouldn't leave Malfoy alive if Harry lost and he couldn't take that chance.
XXXXXX
The lights had been off for a long time and the condo was silent. It was approaching dawn and he and Malfoy hadn't said another word to one another, except when Malfoy prepared to leave. Harry reminded him to keep hidden even if Harry got there before Tristan and then he had to tell the blond where it was. After the blond had apparated, Harry became even more nervous. He was quite certain Tristan had no clue about the Scale's location, nor would he need that information to bring Voldemort back and kill Harry, but still…Harry worried about Malfoy's safety.
He waited twenty minutes just to be sure and then he used the traveling spell on himself and apparated to the vampires' cave. It was still dimly lit, even though it was dawn, and there appeared to be no Malfoy and no vampires. Harry hoped that Malfoy was just hiding very well. Looking around, Harry wondered if he should find a place to hide.
He heard a crack and Harry wheeled around, pointing his wand ahead of him. Tristan glared at him and shot a hex right away. Harry just barely jumped out of the way. He winced as his wound throbbed with pain. It was still tender and very vulnerable. Harry had stuck the cloths to the wound to make sure that it kept the bleeding in check but it was still painful to move.
"I knew you'd come into the open eventually," Tristan said coldly. "Voldemort was right about that too. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows you can't resist danger…and you're careless when attacked. I knew you'd be too restless to stay hidden for long. Besides, I would've been able to break into your hiding place. I figured out the location where you were hiding and it wouldn't have taken me long to find out which house it was. And trust me, if I would've had to kill innocent neighbors to find you I would have. Thankfully for them, you've spared me that energy. Now tell me, who saved you?"
"Why would I tell you anything?" Harry countered angrily, keeping his wand steady. "And why didn't you kill me when you had the chance, back when we hung out together?"
Tristan smiled widely. "I needed to gain your trust. Voldemort warned me to not just go barging in, especially with eye witnesses and the fact that there's always someone watching you. I needed time and a plan to lure you away from help and yet you were still rescued! Even after all I was told by my Lord, I clearly underestimated you, Potter."
He laughed coldly and stepped forward. "Did you really think you'd be safe here? The protections around this place have been weakened. Sure, they seemed to be very good, but time has paid its price. Whosever cave this is doesn't really care that it gets protected anymore."
So Harry's assumption had been correct. Kald wasn't there anymore since the Scale was no longer there. Still…Harry could win but he had to get Tristan near the water. Harry remained silent and watched Tristan closely, anticipating the next attack.
And suddenly Tristan vanished and Harry summoned two charms that protected him when the hexes came flying at him.
"Quite impressive, Potter," Tristan said. "But I'll still get you!"
Harry's eyes narrowed and Tristan tried to capture him in thorny rope that he summoned, which chased after him, but Harry managed to destroy it with a powerful spell that disintegrated it.
"You're proving to be a nuisance Potter," Tristan drawled coldly.
"So that means I'm winning," Harry retorted.
"Not for long," Tristan said, sneering.
He shot another curse toward him and Harry defended himself again, except that when Tristan murmured a spell he didn't see anything coming at him. At least not until something hit him in the back and exploded in a cloud of dust all around him. Harry picked himself up quickly and got out of the cloud before it disappeared. Tristan was still smirking.
"And now it's finally over. Do you know what that was, Potter? It was a potion, meant to touch your skin. Now that it's been absorbed into your body, your scar will begin to act the same as it did being around my master."
Harry's eyes widened and he shot several curses at him but Tristan apparated away and then appeared five feet in front of him and the intense, stabbing pain in his forehead caused his vision to go blurry. Harry clutched at his scar with his free hand and Tristan approached. Harry managed to summon a decent shield around his body, but it wouldn't be hard to break.
"You…coward!" Harry exclaimed, shutting his eyes from intense pain as the boy came closer.
"This isn't cowardly, Potter. It's your own flaw. Master was pleased when he found out he could cause you pain just through his presence. And it's a fitting end."
"So you…admit…that the only reason Voldemort managed to get the upper…hand with me is because…I was weakened by my scar," Harry said in between clenching his jaw.
"Don't insult my master! You should've been dead long before now, Potter! And your scar is your flaw and master just used that to his advantage! He gave you fighting chances even when he could've killed you like that night upon the tombstone. See it now, Potter? But no, he wanted you to understand his power, his glory…he wanted to prove his superiority. And he has. Now it's just time to get rid of you."
Harry managed to open his eyes, but his shield was failing again. And where was Malfoy? Why wasn't he helping him? Had he gone to the wrong place or had he run away?
Tristan shattered his shield and Harry's head felt as though it would explode as Tristan stood above him. The older boy threw Harry backward, skidding against the ground and then stood over him once more. As Harry tried to move, Tristan held him down with a spell.
"Now, Potter…I'll need some of your blood," he sneered. "Be good and hold still or I'll cut off some limbs."
Harry swallowed thickly, staring up at the boy while trying to fight the searing pain in his head. Tristan pointed his wand at him again and Harry cried out as another deep gash was sliced into the side of his thigh. Tristan laughed as Harry bit his lip from the combination of pain and felt something on his leg. Harry turned to see his blood trickling into a vial.
"After I make sure I have enough I'll kill you and make my Lord proud. Of course, I know how disappointed he'll be not being the one to kill you, but his main concern is just being able to come back."
"You can't kill me," Harry said breathlessly, trying to buy time. "I'm his…Horcrux."
Tristan's eyes widened and his eyebrows rose. Then he laughed again. "Well, isn't that interesting, Potter. Master will be intrigued by that. He was curious as to how you could speak Parseltongue and be able to get inside his head and now everything about your scar makes sense…yes, a Horcrux. How ironic. If you had died obviously you wouldn't have become a Horcrux, but just because of that unexpected, and minor, set-back master lost his body and became a spirit and never realized that by trying to kill you he made you a Horcrux. After all, his soul had been recently split from killing both your parents, so…I suppose it makes perfect sense. Still, that doesn't mean you can't die. It may take a few tries until I destroy that Horcrux, but it won't protect you for long."
"And what if Voldemort doesn't have any other Horcruxes?"
"He does. Dumbledore only destroyed a couple and they weren't the most important ones either. I know for a fact that several still exist and I know where they are. So don't try to fool me, Potter. It would be nice to be able to keep you alive until I bring master back so he can kill you slowly himself, as he would've preferred, but—"
Suddenly, he was hit in the side by a curse and stumbled over nearing the edge of the water. Harry was still in a lot of pain but it lessened when Tristan was pushed farther away. Tristan stared at Malfoy who was standing by a tree in a shaded area. Harry felt a rush of relief and Tristan's eyes narrowed.
"So you're Potter's savior!"
"Not exactly," Malfoy drawled. "I just don't like you."
Tristan's eyebrows furrowed. "Aren't you that Malfoy kid I met? Yes, I remember you. Your parents were my Lord's servants who weren't very loyal, weren't they?"
"What do I care? They're dead now," Malfoy said and Harry could make out his bitter tone.
"You think that you both can defeat me? Potter can't even get up when I'm this close," Tristan said.
As the boy moved to get closer to cause Harry more pain, Harry quickly sat up. "Malfoy, now!"
Tristan stopped and focused his attention on Malfoy who, looked startled and confused but shot a hex toward him. Tristan blocked it with ease with a large grin on his face, but that few seconds was all Harry needed to sit up and kick his leg up right into Tristan's stomach. With a grunt, Tristan fell backward, shouting the killing curse that flew in Harry's direction, but being since he was falling Harry easily dodged it. And Tristan lost balance too quickly to shout anything, probably thinking that once he resurfaced he'd finish his master's work. And then Harry heard a gurgled scream from underwater—a scream of fury and pain much like when he had escaped Voldemort that night in the graveyard. It was eerily similar and Harry watched the blood gurgle up to the surface and exhaled deeply.
He dumped the jar full of his blood out and tossed the jar into the water. Then he cleaned up his blood from the ground with a simple spell and unsteadily got to his feet. He was wounded again, but thankfully alive. And now Voldemort's last hope of survival was now gone, forever. Malfoy walked away from the tree he had been standing near and Harry headed toward him, trying not to show his pain.
"Er, thanks Malfoy."
Harry didn't want to admit to him that he was worried the blond had left him to die.
"You better not get me into any more danger, Potter," Malfoy warned him.
"I won't…as long as you get me to a nurse," Harry said. "I don't think I'm strong enough to apparate."
Malfoy gave him an irritable look, but he didn't complain. Instead he grasped Harry's arm and apparated him to the nurse.
Harry just went to a simple wizard nurse and got cleaned up and magically healed. After his visit there, he decided to pay Malfoy another visit so he went to his condo. When the door opened, Malfoy stared at him in annoyance.
"Potter, didn't I tell you to leave me alone?"
"Can I come in just for a minute?"
Malfoy's eyes narrowed but he wheeled around and walked away so Harry entered and closed the door behind him. Malfoy crossed his arms and leaned against the stair railing.
"Make it fast, Potter."
"Stop with the attitude, please," Harry said desperately. "Look, Tristan's gone, Voldemort's not coming back, we can both just relax. I only wanted to thank you properly."
"You're welcome, now—"
Before Malfoy could continue with his obnoxious attitude Harry leaned forward and kissed him unexpectedly. Malfoy backed away surprised and Harry smiled.
"Thank you," he said. "You weren't that bad."
"Please, Potter, you were the one lying helpless on the ground," Malfoy drawled, wiping his mouth. "And don't ever kiss me again!"
"Why not? It's harmless."
Malfoy narrowed his eyes. "Because I said so! I told you I don't like you, Potter. And you don't seem to understand English."
"You know, you were a lot nicer to me when I was dying," Harry said, sighing heavily. "What's it going to take for you to act decent to me?"
"Potter, I said—"
"Why did you summon me? I mean, I know it wasn't because of the book, Malfoy. You told me that you didn't need it back right away. In fact, you said you didn't need it at all, so—"
Malfoy glared at him. "If you're implying that I did it just so I could be around you then you're stupider than I first thought!"
"Fine!" Harry exclaimed, apparating.
He really only apparated to another part of the house and he hid behind a lamp in the darkened room next door. He saw Malfoy from the back and the blond turned around looking taken aback by Harry's disappearance. Grumbling, the blond headed up the stairs and Harry waited till he disappeared before he followed. After waiting until he was certain Malfoy wasn't by the door, Harry slipped into his bedroom.
He was relieved to find that Draco had slipped into the shower. And to his surprise, the blond's wand was in the pocket of his cloak which he left outside the bathroom. Harry smiled and took Malfoy's wand, sticking it in his pocket, before he took off his shoes and lay on Malfoy's bed. He lay on his side facing the bathroom. Almost a half-hour later, the water was turned off and Malfoy opened the door.
"…can't believe that…POTTER!" Malfoy shouted when he spotted him.
Draco was wet with a towel around his waist and he stood staring at Harry who was smiling and lying on his bed watching him.
"Did you really think you'd get rid of me that fast?" Harry countered.
"I told you to get out and leave me alone!" Malfoy spluttered, looking for his wand.
"I have your wand. And I'm not leaving until you're nice to me."
Malfoy's mouth opened and he glared furiously. "Give. Me. My. Wand. Or you'll regret it!"
"Not from where I'm lying," Harry grinned.
The blond's face flushed red with anger and he stomped toward him. "Give it to me!"
"I think I need a shower," Harry said apparating from the bed to right in front of the bathroom door.
Malfoy wheeled around in shock and Harry smiled as he went into the bathroom and shut and locked the door behind him.
"POTTER! GET YOUR BLOODY ASS OUT OF MY BATHROOM!"
Malfoy banged on the door but without his wand he couldn't get in, especially not after Harry put a spell on the bathroom door. So he took his time washing his body from being at the nurse's and made sure his hair and body smelled fresh before he got out, dried off and put a towel around his waist. Knowing Malfoy was right outside waiting, he apparated inside the bedroom by the bed. Malfoy, who had been standing right next to the door against the wall, jerked his head toward him.
"I knew you'd be waiting," Harry said, jumping on the bed.
"POTTER! No, get off my bed!" Malfoy exclaimed, stomping toward him.
Harry put up a protection around the bed and Malfoy seethed, not being able to get close.
"I want you to be nice to me, Malfoy. And if you can't do that, I'm going to be your permanent house guest."
The blond clenched his fists. "What the hell do you want me to do, Potter? Tell you you're great and shake your hand and call you my friend?"
"That's a start."
"You owe me your life! So how the hell do you have a right to take over my bloody bed?"
"It wasn't a real official save, Malfoy. That's not how magic works. If he had shot the killing curse at me and you stopped it, then I'd really owe you my life. Thank goodness you stepped in before he tried that, huh?"
Malfoy scowled and trembled with anger.
"All I want is for you to let me stay the night in which you treat me nicely. That means, no attitude, no yelling, no making up excuses about how I'm to blame for everything," Harry said.
"Spend the night?" Malfoy seethed.
"Would you rather I spend the week?"
The blond glared at him tensely but didn't respond right away. "Fine, Potter," he said through clenched teeth.
"You have to do better than that. And I'm not giving you your wand back until I make sure you're not going to attack me."
"Fine," Malfoy said bluntly.
Harry sat up and took the protections down. Malfoy glared at him.
"Are you going to get off my bed, please?"
"It's only seven. Besides, I need to borrow pajamas."
Malfoy scowled again and then relaxed his expression. "I'll give you some, but you need to get off my bed. The guest room is down the hall."
Harry could tell Malfoy didn't like being manipulated, but he wanted to get the blond out of his bad attitude habit and this was the only way.
"I'll go to the guest room after dinner. Let's eat downstairs."
"I'm not hungry," Malfoy retorted.
"Then you can sit there while I eat and we can talk like normal people," Harry said.
Malfoy clenched his jaw and Harry got up from the bed. He waited and Malfoy stomped off in front of him and Harry followed. They went into the kitchen and Harry approached the fridge. He looked to Malfoy for approval but the blond continued to glare at him. So Harry just took some food out and prepared a simple chicken dinner with vegetables. He didn't eat much for dinner anyway. Then he sat down at the table and gestured for Malfoy to join him.
"I need a Butterbeer," Malfoy retorted with a roll of his eyes.
He disappeared and when he came back he had a Butterbeer and was taking a rather large gulp. Harry just shook his head.
"You're so dramatic."
"And you're dead meat."
"Malfoy, I swear I won't leave until you're nicer to me. Trust me. It won't bother me," Harry said as Malfoy clenched his mug. "Come on. It's not that hard to just act civil, okay? Just talk casually. Stop treating me like I just tried to cut off your head or something. If you can do that, I'll leave."
"You've said that before so how do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Well, it's either that or I'll just stay anyway. I have nothing to lose."
"Potter," Malfoy warned.
"Let's talk about Quidditch," Harry replied, ignoring the tone of his voice. "Who's your favorite team?"
Harry took a bite of his dinner and Malfoy watched him closely, not wanting to answer.
"Okay, I guess I'll be staying two nights."
"Fine, we'll play your game!" Malfoy said hotly.
The blond sat back in his seat, taking another gulp, and Harry started talking a little about the Quidditch teams that year. Malfoy listened, looking rather annoyed, but finally he started answering things normally. After about an hour there was a slightly casual conversation going on even though Malfoy appeared to disagree with most of what Harry claimed about the Quidditch teams and which ones would make it to the Championships.
"Did you really date Pansy while in school?" Harry asked after a moment of silence.
Malfoy gave him a look as he swallowed another sip. "Why do you care?"
"I heard rumors about you two. You know, well maybe you don't, but…I don't know. I just wanted to know if what I heard was true."
Inhaling deeply, Malfoy gave him a stern look. "Considering that Pansy was the one who started the rumors, no Potter."
"Interesting…," Harry said. "That's what Luna said but no one believed her."
Malfoy snorted. "That's because she's got a few too many marbles loose."
"I don't think she's as crazy as people make her out to be," Harry said, levitating his dirty dishes to the sink. "I mean, she helped me and…rumors usually turn out to be wrong."
"Oh, did you sleep with her?" Malfoy asked raising an eyebrow.
Harry gave him a disgusted look. "No! Why the hell would you think that? I mean, why are you so obsessed with sex? And your penis!" Harry exclaimed as Malfoy glanced at him. "I mean, you call me gay but then you go talking about your penis all the time, and sex, and how yours is better than mine. Wouldn't you consider that gay?"
Malfoy folded his arms on the table and gave him a sarcastic look. "No, Potter. The difference is that I'm experienced. When you're experienced, you're not afraid to talk about sex and private parts."
"I'm not afraid, I'm just more modest," Harry said shrugging. "I wonder…"
Malfoy gave him a careless look and finished off his Butterbeer.
"Perhaps Voldemort was gay," Harry said.
The blond raised an eyebrow. "Well I don't really care to know that."
"Yeah…I don't even think he had any private parts," Harry added.
"I really didn't care to know that," Malfoy remarked.
Harry shrugged. "You didn't have to see him naked."
"And you're still uncertain that he didn't have parts?" Malfoy asked sarcastically.
"Well, it was dark…and there was a lot of fog…and I was tied to a tombstone so it wasn't the best place. Plus my glasses were sliding down, when I used to have them, so…I'm not positive. But considering that he wasn't really human, you know, being part snake, I'm betting he probably didn't have any just because he didn't need them."
"Okay, can we talk about something that's not so disturbing?" Malfoy drawled.
Harry just smiled. "Okay. My birthday's in July, so in a couple months, and I want an Ash Demon."
Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Great."
"So why is it so hard for you to do this," Harry said gesturing between them. "I mean…so many times I tried to be nice to you like this and you're like a…like a Hungarian Horntail with a hemorrhoid. I don't see why you seemed to hate me so much, especially after I saved your life so many times. I mean, I expected the opposite reaction."
"Well not everyone likes to be at your mercy," Malfoy drawled. "I especially don't like owing someone my life or having them aide me when I didn't ask for help."
"Even if you're going to die?"
"It's called independence, Potter. But you're much too spoiled to understand."
"I'm not spoiled. I told you about my relatives," Harry said. "And I've had guys like Tristan and worse after me my entire life! You know what it's like now that you've been involved in it. Fame is horrible. And you used to tell me I couldn't complain, well now do you see my side of it?"
Malfoy stared at him quietly. "Are we done talking yet Potter?"
"This isn't an interrogation. We're supposed to be acting civil, which means there's no time limit on talking. Now stop complaining. Be a Slytherin and own up to the challenge. It should be easy to pretend you like someone. You apparently did that for Pansy and other Slytherins all those years at Hogwarts."
He noticed Malfoy's gaze darken but the blond wasn't getting hostile.
"You know, Potter, I distinctly remember you offering to suck me off when you weren't drunk or under any spell," Malfoy said smirking. "And you admitted to being attracted to me."
"So?" Harry asked.
Malfoy leaned backward still smirking. "You've already indirectly surrendered to me by admitting this, Potter."
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize we were at war with one another," Harry commented sarcastically.
"You're just upset that I now know your secret. And all this time I've bet you've been checking me out."
Harry burst into laughter and Malfoy's smile faded. "What? I only recently figured out I was attracted to you, Malfoy. And anyway, what does it matter? You said you don't like me back."
Malfoy stared at him. "Well I don't. Especially not now."
"Oh, don't use that," Harry said, giving him a look. "That's low even for you."
Malfoy rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"You know, I wonder what it'd be like to have sex with a vampire," Harry said, thinking aloud.
"Oh, please spare me," Malfoy commented dryly. "Then go shag Kald, or whatever his name is."
"I don't know where he is. And besides, I only said I wondered what it'd be like. For all I know, he'd bite me in the process."
"Good riddance," Malfoy murmured.
"What was that?" Harry asked. "You want me to stay another night? You got it."
"W-what? Potter!" Malfoy sputtered.
Harry grinned. "Aren't you glad it's the weekend? Well, you don't have a job yet anyway and mine is very flexible."
"Fine. Do whatever you want, but tomorrow morning I'm running errands so I won't have to see your face all day," Malfoy said.
"You know, this isn't being nice," Harry said.
Malfoy stood up and glared at him. "I'm going to bed. Don't disturb me. And put some clothes on!"
Harry looked down knowing he was still in a towel. He didn't have any extra clothes and Malfoy hadn't given him pajamas yet. Once Malfoy left the table Harry followed him upstairs into his room.
"I said I'm going to sleep!"
"I need clothes," Harry argued.
Malfoy sighed heavily and went over to his bureau and threw a pair of silk pajamas at him.
"Thanks Malfoy. And if you get lonely I'm just down the hall," Harry joked.
Malfoy glared at him. "You're the one who fancies me, Potter."
"I'm not in the mood for sex right now. Maybe later," Harry said jokingly as Malfoy just gave him an annoyed look and shut his door after him.
Harry smiled. He was in the mood, but he really only had one last shot. So far he had forced himself into the blond's life, which he hadn't planned on doing, but he had to get to the bottom of it! He really liked Draco…a lot and he knew that there were signs that the blond liked him back, but Malfoy wouldn't get past the fact that they used to be rivals. And Harry really wanted him to get past that. Being at his house and in his life didn't mean it was going to be easy. And Malfoy would force him out sooner or later. Still, Harry had to give it one more try.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's Note: Only a few chapters left! I'm not sure of the exact number, but not too many. And I know there have been requests for being in Malfoy's POV but I really like showing his emotions through Harry's eyes; basically so you guys figure out how Draco feels from what Harry discovers, bit-by-bit. I know it's annoying and maybe I'll considering doing Draco's POV. I should hopefully update sometime over break between Feb and March. Thanks!