Title: In The Interests Of …
Author: I_nv_u50
Pairings: DracoXHarry
Disclaimer: The kiss belongs to Draco and Harry, because it really just kind of happened O.o; And it was their idea. Everything else belongs to someone else.
Chapter Rating: PG13 for a pretty steamed up Harry :D
Author's Notes: I know I said it was going to be posted on Friday, but hey, I was in a rotten mood and needed a good old fashioned snog to cheer me up.
This is for those of you who wanted a kiss. Of course, I wasn't planning for this kiss to come for at least another three chapters. But I told Draco and Harry that I needed more words for this chapter, and so Draco started teasing Harry, mainly to get back at him for the uncompleted kiss earlier, and I guess one thing lead to another O.o; Since Harry is not really supposed to be wanting to kiss Draco yet, there'll be a new, more psychological reason as to why he refuses to until later. I'll have to think of one later .
Draco: Well? They wanted me to tease him…
Harry: And they wanted me to kiss him…
Draco: They should be happy. Although, Harry, I think you have to work on your technique more…
Harry: Should we go over there and practise?
Draco: That would be nice.
You will be happy (or not) to not know that I am feeling altogether homicidal again, due to a very mean maths teacher (grr) so I can't really write more just yet because I really want to kill either Harry or Draco and have the other mourn for a few hours before he dies. In doing so, I will completely erase anything I have said in the earliest chapters about how the bond connects the two. So don't worry, I wont do it. Although if Draco keeps up his ranting about baby Harry, he might die before the end of it.
Draco: Look, is it my fault I don't get on with kids well?
Harry: (sniffs) I hope you'll treat ours better.
Draco: Our what? Kids? O.o;
Harry: (grins) Of course. You are a sorceress, aren't you?
Draco: (wails) That's the game!! The game!!
Sometimes, just rare flashes of moments, he missed his old life, a life that had been lived with excitement and fun, with heavy rushes of adrenalin that usually left him weak kneed and exhausted when the flow was over.
Then he had met Her. He had been wandering down the corridors to an unofficial, illegal party when She had found him. It was only then that he realized that he hadn't been living at all. At least, not a life that really mattered.
No one usually called on the Estar Seeds, not when Balamb Garden and Galbadia Garden nearly always had some available.
She had given him moments that he would never have gotten on his own, and the courage, strength and ambition to achieve more of these moments.
At other times, all he was able to think about was what consumed Her thoughts, what went on in Her mind, what She wished to achieve.
H couldn't find it in himself to be disgusted with some of these ideas, only able to find a deep sympathy within that She drank out of him willingly.
He loved Her.
And if She wanted him to go on ahead of her to Winhill to kill an unimportant sorceress and his knight, then he would go, because he wanted to help. Needed to help Her.
He was in one of his more rational moments when She called him, and entertained a split second thought of refusing Her, when She made that impossible by flooding his mind.
"Kieren! Are you ready to go? You have to leave now!"
Harry too the news fairly well, with all the mental resignation and acceptance of a well trained SeeD.
It made Draco want to hit him.
Draco himself thought it monstrously unfair, though whether on his part alone, or for Harry who wasn't showing any obvious reluctance, or for them both, Draco wasn't entirely sure.
He didn't want to move, even if it was supposedly temporary. Temporary had been used to describe his bond. Look what had happened.
He hadn't trusted Seifer again after that night, only vaguely believing him when the headmaster told and explained things to him.
Rinoa and Zell had said that as well and, although he liked them well enough, it was really only the quiet one who succeeded in convincing him, by saying one of the longest speeches Draco had heard him say.
"Would you rather Harry and you die here? Or would you prefer to take this opportunity to take a little more time to prepare for the fight?"
It was strange, Draco mused as he idly looked up at his fake sky, how common sense and a logical reason convinced like nothing else could.
It had been two days since the announcement. Two days of doing nothing after packing for an indeterminably long trip, because Harry refused point blank to be removed from Winhill until he had heard from his parents.
Draco had supported him gleefully, having run out of ideas of why they shouldn't go. Harry's parents wouldn't be coming, he was sure of that.
Draco had hardly seen Harry though, as he himself had been too busy talking and planning with Rinoa and her knights. Harry, although interested in what they were discussing; had wanted to spend a little more time with Ron and Hermione as the two wouldn't be going with Centra with them.
Eventually though, the prolonged contact had gotten to both teenagers, and when Seifer had gotten irritable with Draco for what seemed to be the hundredth time, he had sent Draco to his inside acreage, making the younger blonde promise to meet Harry there.
Harry had missed Draco as much as Draco had pretended not to miss him, and although, to Draco's annoyance, Ron and Hermione had come with him, Harry had given Draco a tight hug straight away.
It had been enough to appease Draco into tolerating the unwanted company.
Ron had made an impulsive noise, which might have been prompted by dislike and disbelief, but Harry pulled back a little at the sound, and thunder rumbled ominously when Draco narrowed his eyes.
Hermione stood on Ron's foot.
"Sorry Harry…" Ron apologized, honestly contrite in the face of Harry's hurt expression.
Harry sighed softly and nodded slow acknowledgement, turning his face to Draco again as he leaned into him unconsciously.
Draco met Ron's eyes over Harry's shoulder with a warning expression in his own, and Ron silently obliged.
He ignored the half hug, and he didn't want to upset Harry again, not only because Harry was his best friend, but also because it would also anger Draco.
And Ron had seen first hand what Draco could do when angered. And what he could make Harry do.
Ron and Hermione just stood awkwardly, staring as Draco enveloped Harry in another tight embrace, standing still and burying his face in Harry's tousled hair.
Ron and Hermione left quickly, not really expecting Harry to come out again any time soon. Harry had gotten more and more petulant and fretful these past two days.
Maybe some time along with Draco was what he needed.
"Draco… What if they're not coming?" Harry mumbled, his face pressed somewhere into Draco's neck.
Draco raised his head reluctantly and looked for somewhere to sit. Seeing nowhere particularly comfortable enough, he gestured to a spot about two paces away, and a small, two seater, leather couch appeared.
Harry blinked at it when Draco pulled him to sit down. "Where did this come from? It looks really weird, in the middle of the bush." He blinked again, poking the seat before sitting and grinning at Draco, who looked innocently back.
"What?"
"You have to teach me how to do that."
Draco smiled somewhat ruefully. "Sorry. Only sorceresses."
"Damn."
"Useful, isn't it?"
Harry eyed him curiously. "What else can you do?"
Draco stared up at a cloud as he leant back and lazily traced the outline with his finger. "In this room, I can control the weather, make any object, and use offensive magic."
"And in other rooms?" Harry was intrigued.
"Other rooms I can use defensive and offensive magic, make anything. Like how I made your outfit the night of-"
"The ball." Harry finished quietly. "I would comment on you not making it to my official SeeD ball, but…"
Draco looked away, still silent, and Harry was flooded with a world of hurt and regret.
"Oh Draco, I'm sorry!" Harry mentally kicked himself.
"It's okay… She was my mother. She died to protect me from powers she wasn't even sure I would receive. She tried to take them for me, and she died because of it. "I… I loved her like I have never loved anyone else before, or ever will again… And those… those bastards were… they were…" Draco's voice was getting dangerously close to a wail, and Harry ignored his own watering eyes to comfort and cuddle his sorceress.
"I'm so sorry, Draco…"
Draco tried to laugh it off, to prove it a whim, to bring up some witty remark that wouldn't show how affected he was, by either the memory or Harry's cautious cuddling, but he couldn't do it.
His laughter sounded startlingly like a sob, and Harry's response to that wasn't to push him away like Draco half expected, but to hold on tighter, encouraging the wash of pain, sorrow and hatred to sweep him under along with his trembling sorceress.
Draco choked, suddenly feeling suffocated, and he pulled away abruptly, not wanting to see the understanding sympathy that was etched onto Harry's face.
"She… she didn't even realize that I had received some of the magic before she even tried…"
"Oh Draco…"
Draco smiled. It wasn't a bit as confident or as cocky as his usual smiles and grins, but it wasn't half as sad as it could have been.
"Hey Draco? What about your father?" Harry's tone was curious, but gentle, not pushy or insistent, and Draco looked up, his eyes glowing completely from the inner emotional turmoil.
"Maybe another time, Harry." Draco smirked suddenly. "Now it's your turn."
"Oh. Okay. What do you want to know?"
"Tell me about your family."
Harry laughed. "Oh Hyne, what a bunch. My mother's got red hair, and I have her eyes exactly. She's a darling, and I used to want to marry her when I was younger."
"What stopped you?" amusement underlined Draco's tone.
"Well, it was illegal for one thing. Although it took years before that actually meant something to me. The second thing was my father. He told me that he'd been waiting for years to marry her, and a pipsqueak like me wasn't going to steal his chance."
"Aren't they married?"
"Oh yes, they were. It's just that my father's got this great sense of humor. I love him too. Anyway, then he told me I'd have to join the line to marry her anyway."
"Behind who?"
"Well, him of course. And my godfather Sirius. He's also been trying to marry my mother for years, although that's a game, mostly to annoy my father. Dad," Harry continued with perfect seriousness. "Dad and his friends are complete and utter goofballs. They're thirty five years old, but you'd think that they were our age, or a few years older." Harry paused. "They look it too."
Draco grinned. "Can't wait to meet them."
Harry sighed. "Me neither. You'd like them, I think. After the appropriate amount of time, of course." He shot a sly grin at Draco. "They'd like you too, as long as they can see that we… that I'm-" Harry cut himself off, flushing and looking away.
"You?" Repeated Draco softly. "You what?"
"I… forgot what I was going to say." Harry said quickly, plainly wanting to leave the subject alone.
Draco smirked at him and winked, sending a quick jolt of lust down the bond as an experiment.
Harry gave an almost yelp and leapt off the couch, flushing darker and refusing to look Draco in the eye.
Draco hid his grin. "Harry…" he purred, sending a stronger wave through.
Harry shifted his weight, looking into the distance determinedly.
"Come here, Harry…" he whispered again, and Harry shuddered quickly, raising his eyes to Draco's. The green eyes were dark and clouded over with desire and lust, and Draco almost ruined the entire thing by grinning openly.
Draco stood up slowly, being careful not to move suddenly, or do anything that might frighten Harry away.
Harry simply watched him come closer, emotions and wills battling inside of him as he raised his head to look Draco in the eye.
Draco slowly, seductively trailed a finger down Harry's cheek, and Harry trembled, his eyes fluttering shut and his lips parted.
"Draco…"
It was a whimpered plea, although whether to continue or stop, Draco wasn't entirely sure. He was getting mixed signals from Harry, as first one side won over, then the other. He moved his hand around to tangle into the hair at Harry's nape.
Harry looked down and away, his body shivered, and his will wavered.
"Harry… Look at me…" Draco whispered, sure, so sure that this might just be the time, that if he played his cards right, his vow to himself would be fulfilled, and he could fret about new things.
Harry looked up, straight into Draco's eyes: his own eyes were glowing, a bright silver glittering in the normally green eyes.
Draco resisted the urge to crow in triumph. It was almost ready. He sent one more spark of desire shooting down the link and Harry leaned into him, rising up on his toes to kiss Draco.
It was all Draco could remember wanting, and more; he closed his eyes to feel it better, but it wasn't dark, it was silvery white, and it was complete. Draco was complete. Harry's tongue nudged at his lips and Draco opened them willingly, deepening the kiss, letting it sear his soul as Harry's arms wound around his neck and into his hair, fisting there in an overwhelming urge to bring Draco closer.
Harry himself was on fire, and he wasn't sure if he could get out unburned, wasn't sure he wanted to. The bond was singing through his mind, and he couldn't believe he had waited so long to do this, so long a time that seemed so pointless now.
Then he had to pull back a little, because air was a necessity rather than a luxury, and he stood, still pressed close to Draco, still trembling violently, with his hands twisted in Draco's hair and his lips centimeters away from Draco's.
Draco took the opportunity to heave in a few quick shallow breaths before pressing his lips to Harry's again.
Harry welcomed the action, and Draco quickly escalated upwards to their previous level.
Then a vague feeling of bewilderment filtered through all the mixed signals coming from Harry, and Draco prepared himself with a quickly sinking heart, determined to laugh this one off like he couldn't the last one.
Harry wrenched away, his hands dropping off of Draco's shoulders as he stared at Draco in stupefaction before he turned his face away, with burning cheeks that gave him a proper and thoroughly snogged look.
Draco found it all rather amusing. Adorable even. "Is that so?"
Harry shyly raised his eyes again, uncertainty in his face and mind. "Pardon?"
Draco hid his delighted laugh and winked at Harry again, causing his embarrassed knight to look away again quickly, trying to avoid the image Draco purposely sent through.
A quick knock at the door interrupted Draco's jubilant glee, and Draco frowned in thought, liking the timing much better this time round. There was excitement oozing through the thick wooden door.
"It's Hermione. She's awfully excited and happy about something."
Harry blinked in confusion and, welcoming the distraction, though he wasn't so sure if he was pleased with the timing, he jogged to the door, dodging the low tree branches and small bushes.
Hermione beamed at him when he opened the door, wisely ignoring Harry's flushed and rumpled look. "Harry! They're finally here! Your parents and Sirius and Remus!"
Harry turned around to sneer happily at Draco. "Looks like you get to meet them after all." And he darted out the door, only to be caught and held back by Hermione, who cleared her throat delicately, gaiety in her eyes.
"Harry, you might want to neaten yourself up a little bit. Headmaster Seifer might not like you walking around the mansion like that, not with such strict disciplinarians."
Harry blinked at her in mystification.
Draco just smirked triumphantly.