Notes: Still all slash, all the time. If you don't want to read about Harry and Draco in a shower, or any place else together, you might want to mosey on back to the main page and read one of the other 12,000 Harry Potter stories available. Acknowledgements to the following for some inspired phrasing I've sampled here and there: De La Soul, Imperial Teen, Sandra B.(again), belated thanks to Ms Maney for some stylistic debts in part 2 and Mirielle92 for her keen detection abilities and as always to J.K. Rowling, who probably never imagined the places Harry might go.
Thanks also to those of you who've corrected my faulty Chinese. Sorry - just learning, and we all know where the heady thrills of new knowledge can take you. Maybe I need to get a new tutor who, in addition to teaching me useful phrases related to corporal punishment (always an ice-breaker at parties), can also beta-read Harry Potter slash! Enjoy.
"St Mungo's?" repeated Ron. He'd thought he knew Harry pretty well, but tonight his friend was acting very unpredictably.
"Yes." Harry dropped his voice to a whisper. "I think Lucius Malfoy has kidnapped his own son and had him institutionalized at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies."
"But why?" Even Remus looked puzzled.
"Draco Malfoy is gay. His father disowned him and he's had to make a living in the Muggle world ever since. I think Lucius is trying to use the controversial Heteronormus charm on Draco to make him straight."
"Malfoy's gay?" Ron couldn't believe it. "How do you know?"
Harry bit his lip and looked first at Ron, then at Sirius. He hadn't wanted to tell them at all, and certainly not like this. Reminding himself that Draco's life could be at stake, Harry cleared his throat and said, "Sirius, Remus, Ron, I've got something to tell you."
The three others listened attentively as Harry described his evenings with Draco. Remus poked Sirius in the ribs and mouthed I told you so but the other man shushed him. He looked at his godson with tears in his dark eyes. Who knew Harry was such a romantic that he'd risk his life to save Malfoy, even after the way that thoughtless little tramp had broken Harry's heart?
Ron, however, turned several shades of scarlet with rage over hearing of Draco's sluttish ways, and despaired that he hadn't been Harry's first. If only Harry had turned to him, he would never have had to endure such heartache.
After giving Harry a group hug, they agreed to go search the hospital.
"You're all very clever but there's no need for you to travel so far," came the chilling sound of Lucius Malfoy's voice. "Draco is here at home, where he belongs. He's had his treatment and I finally have the son I was meant to have - one who will marry and reproduce and continue to enlarge the Malfoy dynasty."
Peering into the eyes of Draco's father, Harry wished he hadn't been so quick to remove his Invisibility cloak, no matter how hot Ron was making him feel.
"You, Potter," hissed Lucius, "by your own admission you were the one to seduce my son into your deviant ways."
"I seduced him?" gasped Harry, shocked at the horrid way Lucius had twisted the tale of lust and betrayal.
But he had no time to correct Lucius' factual errors. Catching Harry off-guard, Lucius uttered a quick "Expelliarmus" and bound Harry in a manner than would have passed muster at Draco's place of employment.
"Narcissa!" Lucius screamed, and moments later his attractive blond wife was at his side. "Seize these men and see that they are properly tortured!" He commanded, then hefted Harry to his shoulder and stalked off. Harry's last glimpse of his friends was of them cornered in the bedroom, Narcissa Malfoy licking her lips and eyeing Sirius.
Shuddering at the thoughts of what might happen to his friends, Harry turned his attention to his own predicament. While it might not have been so bad to be bound and wandless with Draco, Draco's father was another matter.
"See for yourself how is he healed!" proclaimed Lucius, thumping Harry to the floor of Draco's bedroom.
With difficulty, Harry worked his way up to a standing position and looked at Draco. Harry had to stifle a cry of despair, for he had never seen Draco look so unkempt. Harry thought back to the odd phrase Draco had whispered to him at the Excalibur. From the looks of it, Mr Malfoy had more use for the beating part than the scolding part in dealing with his son.
Draco's gaze fell dully on Harry and dark circles showed under his eyes, just one of many tell-tale signs that he hadn't been moisturizing properly in the past few days.
"Potter?" he croaked feebly, and Harry felt himself melt a little hearing Draco say his name, even if it was his surname.
"You will observe how Draco shows not the slightest sign of interest in you," announced Lucius, apparently pleased to see his son looking gaunt and enfeebled. "In fact, I'm so certain of his full recovery I'm going to leave you here with him. Not that you could do anything," he added with a sneer at Harry's tight bonds.
As soon as Draco's father left, Harry hopped over to Draco's bedside. "Is it true?" he asked. "Was the Heteronormus charm effective?"
With great effort, Draco shook his head. "Did you really come here for me?"
Harry nodded. "But there's no time to talk about it now. We've got to get out of here. There's no telling what your mother might've done to Sirius by now."
Draco's eyes widened with alarm and he flipped back the blankets, seemingly filled with new strength. "Normally I'd like to keep you tied up like that but under the circumstances we can save it for later," he said with a return of his old wit. He seized his wand and freed Harry.
"Thanks." Harry rubbed at his wrists to try to bring back some feeling in his extremities. When he looked up he saw Draco still standing before him, apparently deep in thought. Even after a harrowing mental ordeal, Draco still could appear dashing, Harry realized, letting his eyes roam over Draco's muscular form. Then he remembered the urgency of their task. "Let's get out of here!"
Draco snapped back to attention. "What? Okay, just let me shower first and put on some clothes."
"But what if your father comes back?" Harry glanced about anxiously.
"I'll make it quick. Come on." Draco may have been tortured by his own father but he was making a speedy recovery, Harry noted as he found himself propelled into the bathroom. Draco quickly stripped off his own clothes and with a stroke of his wand had done the same to Harry.
Harry hesitated for a minute and watched Draco step into the steaming shower. He'd promised himself he wouldn't fall for Draco's seductive ways again, but surely one last time wouldn't hurt.
Just as both boys were working up a good lather, their bathing was interrupted when the door suddenly burst open. Harry peeked through the shower curtain expecting to see Lucius Malfoy, but the sight that greeted him was much worse. It was Ron.
And Sirius and Remus, who had the presence of mind to toss Harry a towel. "Much as I value personal hygiene, we've got only a few minutes to escape!" Remus told them. Spying Malfoy, he added, "Son, I'm sorry about your mother but we'll explain it all later. Let's go!"
Keeping his eyes averted from Ron's shocked face, Harry quickly dressed and they followed Remus, all of them now covered once again by the Invisibility cloak. Harry had never used it for such a large group before, and their progress was impeded by having to take such tiny, mincing steps. After clearing the security trolls, they agreed to remove the cloak and simply run for it.
Once reaching a safe distance from the Malfoy manor, they all Apparated back to Hampstead, where Ron busied himself glaring first at Draco, then Harry. "You don't appreciate Harry at all!" he yelled at Malfoy. "He's just the little whore de jour for you!"
"Ron!" Everyone cried in unison.
But Ron wasn't finished. "And you, Harry - how could you step into that shower with him after the way he's treated you?"
Harry hung his head. He didn't know how to explain the strange urges that seemed to overtake him whenever he came near Draco.
Remus and Sirius exchanged looks. "Do you think?" began Sirius and Remus nodded. He strode to the fireplace, scattered some crystals and called out "Hermione? Cho? It's urgent!"
Seconds later the two girls appeared, looking concerned. "What is it, Remus?" asked Hermione.
Remus quickly explained the events of the last few weeks. Hermione nodded. Clearly the three boys needed a marathon consciousness-raising session to help them get in touch with their true feelings. Taking Cho's hand, she approached the three angry young men.
Meanwhile, Dean and Neville couldn't believe their eyes. Whatever was Narcissa Malfoy doing roaming the streets of Brighton, especially dressed like that? Neville could do nothing but pull at his Great Uncle Archie's sleeve and whimper.
"What is it, boy?" asked Archie, then saw for himself. Doing a double-take, he quickly herded the two boys away from her and drew a handkerchief across his brow.
Meanwhile, Muggles began to gather and point excitedly. "Look! It's Barbara Cartland!" someone exclaimed and a mob soon enveloped Narcissa.
"Neville," began Uncle Archie in a shaky voice, "You'd better alert Remus Lupin. Doesn't he work for the fashion police now?" Then he turned to Dean and looked grim. "Dean, I'm afraid it's up to you and me now. Much as I despise the Malfoys, no witch can be allowed to appear in public looking like that. It's just not decent."
Neville hurtled up the cobblestone path to Remus and Sirius' bungalow, his ermine stole streaking out behind him like a banner. After using the family Portkey to travel to Hampstead Heath, he'd run all the way to the house.
Without bothering to knock, he burst through the door, then came skidding to a halt. Ignoring the strange scene before him - which involved Harry, Ron, Draco, Cho and Hermione sitting in a circle - Neville addressed Remus Lupin.
"Remus? Drama!" he began, holding a hand to his heaving chest.
At the sound of his friend's voice, Harry stood up and broke away from the circle. "I thought you were in Brighton!" he cried.
"I was," Neville fluttered. "But something terrible has happened." With a worried glance at Draco, Neville leaned over and whispered into Remus' ear. The older man nodded and spoke quickly to Sirius, then swept out the door. Neville collapsed onto the velveteen loveseat, still trying to catch his breath. "What's going on?" he finally asked.
Cho stretched, stood up and came over to where he was sitting. "We're trying to help Harry, Ron and Draco work through their feelings of envy, lust and resentment," she explained, "but I'm afraid it's not working out. The monogamous model followed by Hermione and myself holds little appeal for Draco, and, I suspect, Harry."
Neville blinked and considered, all the while noting Cho's fashion-forward sense of style. Tonight she wore a mini-skirt that sat low on her hips and a midriff-baring halter top. Hermione glanced over at her girlfriend's nearly bare back and shivered - she did enjoy a hot summer's night, especially when Cho dressed like this.
"Well, although Dean and I are committed to each other, we're certainly not exclusive," Neville offered, looking hopefully at the troubled group.
"There you go," agreed Malfoy, pleased.
But Harry remained unconvinced. "It's not necessarily that," he said slowly. "Frankly, I'm more worried about being an enabler if I become involved with you. You've got some serious abandonment issues to work through."
"I don't," Ron was quick to point out. "I come from a very stable home."
"I know, Ron," said Harry. "I think it's part of what I've always loved about you."
"What you - you love about me?" stammered Ron.
"I think I've loved you ever since I pulled you out of the lake during the Triwizard tournament," Harry continued. "But I sublimated my feelings because I never thought you'd return them. Until now," he added, beaming at Ron.
"You can't be in love with him - you just can't! I'm the one who looks good in a wide variety of outfits!" cried Draco in dismay. "I know I haven't been completely honest with you, Harry, but I was afraid that if I told you how I really felt, you'd be turned off by my neediness."
"Easy, son." Sirius stepped forward and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "I think we've done all we can for now. Girls, I appreciate your help, but Draco has been through a terrifying ordeal at the hands of his own parents. He needs his rest."
Hermione and Cho nodded. "Good luck, Harry, Ron," Hermione said, giving each of her friends a hug before leaving.
Sirius turned to the other three. "We don't have to settle this all tonight. Neville has a point - monogamy isn't for everyone."
But Ron didn't seem to hear him. Buoyed by the knowledge that Harry cared for him, he happily Apparated back home, while Harry made his own way home, still lost in thought.
"Come on," offered Sirius, pulling Draco to his feet. "You can stay with us for a few weeks, get yourself sorted out." He fingered the spiked dog collar Remus had shoved into his pocket before leaving. From what Harry had told them, Draco could prove to be a real asset around the house.
A few weeks later Neville had returned for good from his holiday, and Draco had convalesced nicely at the home of Remus and Sirius. Harry suggested they all go to the Excalibur to see Neville's new show and everyone agreed this was a fabulous idea.
When Draco entered the club, all present turned and smiled appreciatively. They were glad to see their favorite S/M top was back in form. Sirius and Remus received a number of curious stares as well, and Remus had to keep a close eye on Sirius as the latter was pressed with countless offers of free drinks from strapping young lads. Narcissa Malfoy wasn't the only one who liked rugged, unavailable men.
Nobody paid much attention to Harry, Dean and Ron, who mingled easily with the high-spirited crowd. Draco pulled Dean to the dance floor, where they made a striking couple. Harry leaned his elbows against the table where he sat with Ron. They hadn't talked much since the night they freed Draco.
Harry studied Ron in the half-light of the club. Maybe he didn't have Draco's flashy looks or cut biceps, but there was something completely charming about his freckled nose and the way his surprisingly long eyelashes blinked rapidly whenever he was nervous, like now. Ron glanced up, feeling Harry's eyes upon him, and smiled.
"Want to dance?" he asked. Neville had taken the stage and was singing along to Sylvester.
"Sure." Harry took Ron's offered hand and followed him to the floor.
As usual, there was no extra space on the dance floor, and Ron and Harry found themselves dancing very close together. Harry didn't mind in the least, and edged a bit closer to Ron. "You know, this is the very first song I ever heard Neville perform," remarked Harry. "That night you didn't show."
Both of them turned involuntarily and watched as Neville crooned "Baby now you're free and it's going to be alright, 'cos somewhere in this world you'll find true love tonight…" He flicked back his trademark boa and pranced across the stage.
Ron smiled and placed his hands lightly on Harry's waist, pulling him closer. Lifting off Harry's glasses, Ron leaned forward and kissed him. Harry kissed back and would have continued much longer had Malfoy not "accidentally" jostled them.
"Oops, sorry," he grinned, not looking at all sorry.
Harry smiled back at him, then returned his gaze to Ron. Behind him, Dean had been pulled up on stage and danced enthusiastically with Neville. To their right, Sirius and Remus were getting down and Draco was surrounded by an admiring throng. And before him was Ron…Harry took his hand and pulled him out of the crowd. They twisted their way towards the backstage area. The music blared just as loudly, but there were fewer people and Harry took advantage of this. Grinding his hip against Ron, Harry set to work correcting six years of unrequited passion. However, overcoming repression of that long required more than kissing and Harry suggested moving to a certain locked cubicle in the toilet.
Ron shook his head with a small smile. "I'm not Malfoy, remember?" he said. "Come on." They headed towards the front door, stopping to wave goodbye to Sirius and Remus.
After apparating to Ron's bedroom, Harry felt suddenly abashed. Ron quickly conjured up rows of floating candles to illuminate the room, and unlike Malfoy's bed, Ron's was perfectly made and looked very inviting. In fact, Ron created an atmosphere as romantic as anything Harry could have imagined. Such thoughtfulness proved a powerful stimulant to Harry, who quickly overcame his initial shyness.
"Ron," said Harry, sitting up suddenly. His shirt was on the floor and his pants halfway off, but something had occurred to him that just couldn't wait. "Where were you that night we were supposed to meet? Why didn't you come see Neville?"
Ron covered his face with a pillow, but Harry reached over to remove it. Seeing he had no alternative, Ron told all. "Well, the same night you were getting dumped by your girlfriend, Justin Finch-Fletchley was doing the same with me," he confessed. "He'd always suspected how I felt about you and when he asked me if I was still in love with you, I just couldn't lie."
"Really?" Harry was touched. Then, remembering how he had ended that particular night, he felt a surge of remorse. "Ron, I'm sorry I slept with Draco like that. I - I wish it had been with you."
Ron grinned, feeling much more charitable now that Malfoy wasn't here. "Don't be sorry," he said. "The first time isn't all it's cracked up to be."
"That's true," realized Harry. He thought of the many things he had learned in his short time with Draco, and all the things he'd imagined doing with Ron. And this time was special, he reminded himself, because it was his first time with Ron.
When Ron drifted off to sleep hours later, it was with the disturbing realization that he actually felt grateful to Draco Malfoy. There was definitely something to be said for experience. He was starting to understand what Harry might see in Malfoy - in fact, maybe he ought to reconsider his position on monogamy. The more the merrier, Ron thought sleepily. After all, who was he to argue with a cliché?