Harry restlessly paced his living room, desperately trying to think of a way out of his agreement with the twins. Unfortunately, they had him fenced him pretty good.
He glanced at his watch for the hundredth time and saw that it was finally time to go. He grabbed his coat off of the kitchen stool as he passed through on his way to the front door. He stopped in front of the hall mirror and gave his appearance one final check. He had decided to go back to the salon so that a professional could style his hair for tonight and it looked fantastic, every strand was perfectly in place and had a glossy shine to it. He had dressed himself in black dress shoes, black trousers, and a black sports coat over a dark green shirt.
He closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath. He couldn't believe what he was about to do tonight, he'd spent his entire life trying to stay out of the spotlight and here he was about to stand onstage in front of a huge crowd of people and make a complete spectacle of himself.
What if no one bid on him? The thought made him feel nauseous; the image of himself standing there utterly humiliated was not comforting or much of a confidence booster.
He opened his eyes and shook his head at his reflection. Too late to back out now.
He turned away and left the flat before he could change his mind. As soon as the lift doors opened to the lobby, Harry could hear loud voices in what appeared to be a heated argument. He walked out into the room and groaned inwardly when he saw Ron and Draco standing nose to nose just inside the glass doors shouting at each other.
"What the hell is going on?" Harry demanded.
The two turned to Harry in surprise.
"I came to take you to the club," Ron explained, sparing Draco a quick glare. "Then Malfoy showed up and said he was taking you."
"Harry deserves to travel in style, Weasley," Draco sneered. "Were you really planning on driving him in that piece of junk of yours?"
"It's not junk!" Ron cried angrily.
"Well, at least it matches the rest of your possessions - and your family." Draco smirked.
"Why you...!" Ron's face flushed red with anger and he grabbed a hold of Draco's shirt and shoved him.
Draco latched onto Ron's arms and the two wrestled eachother haphazardly around the empty room, bumping into chairs and tables, and knocking over flower vases as they went.
"Wait...stop!" Draco panted, managing to shove Ron off of him.
"What?" Ron gasped, still watching Draco apprehensively.
"Where did Harry go?"
Ron blinked and looked around. Harry was gone.
"He left?"
"Appears that way. Way to go, Weasley," Draco said sarcastically.
"It's not my fault! If you hadn't decided to show your ugly face here-"
"There he is!" Draco exclaimed, looking out through the glass doors and spotting Harry standing on the sidewalk.
The two looked at each other for a second then ran outside, shoving at each other to get through the door first.
"Have you two quite finished?" Harry asked in a very tight voice when they reached him.
"Harry-" Ron started to explain.
"I don't want to hear it!" Harry stormed in frustration. "I've already aplogized to the both of you for what a prat I was, but you can't keep acting like this. I'm tired of you two fighting every time you're in the same room. I can't stop you from coming tonight, but let me just say that if I see one more display of testosterone poisoning tonight I am going to personally kick both of your arses to the hospital myself."
Ron and Draco scowled at eachother and wisely stayed quiet.
"Now, I am catching a cab to the club and I'll see you there," Harry said in a very controlled voice.
"But-"
Harry held up a hand to prevent Draco from speaking further. "No, I don't want to hear another word from either one of you right now."
Harry glared at the two of them and then walked out into the street to hail a cab. Ron and Draco watched helplessly as Harry climbed into the taxi and drove off, leaving them standing there.
"I bet I'll get there before you," Draco muttered out of the corner of his mouth.
"We'll see about that, Malfoy," Ron answered.
Ron turned and took off for his car parked just down the street. Draco sprinted for his limo, and soon the two were racing through the London streets towards The Crush.
Harry couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the huge queue outside The Crush - it seemed to go on for miles. Harry climbed out of the cab and walked up to the bouncer. Everyone in line started talking loudly and craning their heads to get a good look at him, he even heard a few whistles, much to his mortification. The bouncer smiled and let him inside.
"Harry, right on time!" Fred called happily from the bar.
The place hadn't opened yet and only the employees were milling about the strangely quiet club.
Harry made his way over to Fred, who was sitting on the bar top, and sat down nervously on one of the stools near him.
"Nervous, Harry?" Fred winked.
"Yes," Harry answered honestly, his mouth suddenly dry.
"Don't worry, Harry, you'll do fine. We actually have to turn people away tonight, there's just not enough room for all your admirers."
"Harry, baby!"
Harry turned and burst out laughing as George jogged over to him dressed in a cupid costume; big white diaper, feathery wings, and a bow and arrow with a heart attached to it.
"What is that for?" Harry asked with a grin.
"I am the official match-maker for this evening. I will be the announcer for the bachelor auction." George smiled.
"How many other guys are in the auction?" Harry asked curiously.
"About twelve," Fred answered. "But we're saving you for the end."
"The best for last." George smiled.
"The icing on the cake." Fred grinned.
"I think I'm going to be sick." Harry swallowed, feeling nervous again.
"Don't worry, drinks are free for you and your date tonight," Fred said, clapping him on the shoulder.
"I wonder if Ron's going to show up," George pondered aloud.
"He is," Harry answered. "And so is Draco."
Fred and George grinned at each other. "This is going to be an evening to remember."
"Don't let Ron bid, you guys," Harry asked suddenly. "He can't afford to out bid Draco."
"Hey, he can do whatever he wants with his money." Fred shrugged. "You'd be surprised at how much our little brother has squirreled away in the bank."
"More than a Malfoy heir?"
"Well, no...probably not," George answered truthfully.
"Exactly."
"Sorry, Harry, we can't stop him."
Harry frowned and glanced at his watch. Ten minutes until the doors opened.
"Would you like one of those complimentary drinks now, Harry?" Fred asked knowingly.
"God, yes," Harry replied instantly.
Fred hopped off of the bar and grabbed a bottle of beer from under the counter. "Here you go."
Fred popped open the bottle and handed it over to Harry. Harry took a large swig of it before placing the cool bottle against his forehead. He could already feel the sweat gathering under his shirt and on his face.
"Calm down, Harry," George advised. "No one's going to want you all pale and nervous."
"Oh thanks, that helps a lot," Harry snapped.
"At least you know one of the guys up for auction with you," Fred supplied, leaning on the bar.
"Who?" Harry asked curiously.
"Oliver Wood," the twins chorused.
"Oliver?" Harry asked in surprise. "I thought he had a steady boyfriend?"
"Oliver?" Fred raised a brow in question. "I don't think so. He has a new conquest every week."
"Every day," George added with a smile.
"You gotta admire the man's stamina." Fred grinned.
Harry rolled his eyes and didn't want to think about the secretive wink the twins shared over that piece of information.
"Time for you to get backstage," Fred suddenly announced, looking to the clock under the bar.
"I'll take you." George smiled and took Harry's arm to lead him away.
Harry followed George up to the front of the club and climbed the stairs onto the shiny black stage. George held aside the silvery curtain and let Harry pass through to the backstage area.
Harry easily spotted Oliver Wood among the milling men in the small area.
"Harry." Oliver smiled in greeting. "Wouldn't have thought this would be your kind of thing."
"It's not, but Fred and George kind of...persuaded me."
"Me too." Oliver winked, grinning at George over his shoulder.
Harry raised a brow and glanced over at George.
George smiled back at Oliver as he walked among the other men, checking their names off of a list attached to the clipboard in his hand.
"That reminds me, Wood," George shouted. "You left your boxers in our apartment."
"Just keep them for next time!" Oliver called back.
Harry's eyes widened in shock.
Oliver laughed at his expression. "Haven't you ever had the twins, Harry?"
"N-no," Harry spluttered.
"You should try it, they're great fun." Oliver winked.
Harry's eyes widened and he excused himself hurriedly. As he walked over to stand by the curtain he could hear the sound of voices filling the club out front. He started to wring his clammy hands together and pace nervously, wishing that he'd thought to bring his beer backstage with him.
"Ready, Harry?" George asked quietly by his side.
Harry didn't trust himself to speak so he simply nodded.
George smiled and slipped through the curtain. A burst of bright lights hit the stage and Harry peeked through a gap in the curtain to watch.
The lights around the club dimmed, leaving the stage completely illuminated with coloured spotlights. A few whistles sounded amongst the crowd as George walked to the sparkly podium wearing his scant cupid's costume. George smiled and took a bow before placing the list on the stand and picking up the microphone.
"Welcome gentlemen," he greeted, "to the first ever bachelor auction at The Crush."
The crowd cheered and whistled excitedly.
"We have for you tonight twelve bachelors. All very sexy, all very rich, and all very available. Your money will go straight to support The Crush's number one charity: the British Aids Foundation."
A round of respectful clapping followed.
"The more you spend, the more your date will be willing to please you for your caring contribution."
The men in the crowd glanced at each other eagerly and pushed forward to get as close as possible to the stage.
"We also have two celebrities in our auction tonight", George continued dramatically. "One is the sexy captain of the Puddlemere United Quidditch team, and the other is the wizarding saviour of our world."
Harry groaned and closed his eyes.
"Let's get to it then." George smiled. "Bachelor number one!"
Harry moved aside as a tall brunette swept past him and through the curtains. He decided to pace again for something to do as he waited. Oliver flashed him a smile as he watched him walk back and forth. Harry gave him a wobbly smile in return.
One by one the bachelors were auctioned off, the highest bid so far was 114 galleons, which was quite a lot of money when you consider that that was 570 pounds.
Harry watched as Oliver stepped through the curtain when he was finally called. A burst of whistles and shouts immediately followed his entrance.
Harry was next.
He tried to breathe normally and stay calm.
He listened with half an ear as Oliver's bids crept higher and higher, finally topping off at 200 galleons. He wondered who the last bidder was momentarily before George's voice echoed out from the microphone again.
"And now the moment you've all been waiting for," George paused dramatically. "Our final bachelor of the night, the sexy hero of wizards everywhere - Harry Potter!"
Harry winced at the introduction and stepped up to the back of the curtain. He took a deep breath and walked out.
He was momentarily blinded by the spotlights and raised a hand to shield his eyes. He saw George gesture for him to stand on the little yellow star painted on the floor in the centre of the stage. Harry obeyed and stood on the star, gazing at the audience in surprise. The club was absolutely filled to capacity, people were squished in everywhere, around tables, filling the dance floor, and even around the railing of the second floor above him. And he'd never heard such noise before in his life, except maybe at the Quidditch World Cup.
He glanced at George uncertainly and the red-head merely grinned at him with excitement.
"Okay, settle down gentlemen," he called out. "Or I won't be able to hear your bids and I'll have take young Harry here home myself."
That shut everyone up.
Harry tried to spot Ron or Draco in the crowd, but he couldn't see past the first few rows of people in front of him, it was too dark.
"I'm going to start the bidding at..150 galleons."
Harry turned to George in shock. He can't start the bidding that high!
But Harry was soon proved wrong as arms raised up all over the place.
"What do I hear for 200?" George called out.
"200!"
Hands shot up and shouts accompanied George's offer.
"300?" he pushed further.
"300!" from a man in a black robe standing just to the right of the stage.
"320?" George asked.
"320!"
Harry's head whipped around as he heard Ron's voice echo up to him from the centre of the dance floor somewhere.
George paused to smile. "340?"
"340!"
This time it was Draco, from the same vicinity as Ron.
"360?"
"360!" replied the black robed man.
Harry glanced at him curiously. Who was he?
"380?"
"380!" a handsome looking man replied from right in front of Harry.
Harry smiled shyly at him and looked back to George.
"400?"
"400!" Ron called out.
Harry bit his lip and prayed that someone would go higher and that Ron would quit, he really didn't want Ron to spend so much money when he could see him for free.
"Do I hear 420?" George asked.
"450!" Draco challenged and Harry could practically hear the smirk in his voice.
"I have 450, do I hear 460?"
Harry crossed his fingers and prayed that Ron would stop.
"460!"
Harry groaned inwardly at Ron's shout. This is going to go on forever with those two, he thought to himself.
"How about 480?" George asked delightedly.
"480," the man in front of Harry responded calmly.
"I have 480 galleons men, do I hear 500?"
"500!" Draco called out.
This is getting out of hand, Harry thought in shock.
"500! What do I hear for 520?"
"520!" from the man in front.
"540 anyone?"
"540!" from Draco.
"I've got 540 for Harry Potter, what do I hear for 560?" George pushed on with a smile.
"600!"
Harry gasped and whipped his head around to look at the black robed man again. There were murmurings and other collective gasps from the crowd at the man's extravagant bid.
"I have 600 for Mr Potter!" George cried, his voice starting to get hoarse. "Is anyone going to challenge our mysterious stranger?"
There was silence in the room.
"No one? Alright, stopping at 600 galleons for Mr Potter, going once..."
Harry glanced again at the black robed man and felt a tremor of fear go through him, usually men that hid themselves in black robes were not the sort that you wanted to be alone with.
Harry cast a pleading look towards the centre of the dance floor where he thought Draco's voice had come from.
"Going twice..."
"620!"
Harry sighed in relief when he heard Draco's voice and smiled as he saw him push his way forward to the front of the stage. Draco's eyes flicked over to the black robed man as he looked at him with what could only be described as loathing. Harry saw Ron push up next to Draco and also look over at the mystery man.
"620, does anyone wish to go higher?" George asked.
"640," from the mystery man.
Draco's eyes narrowed and Harry watched in surprise as Draco turned to whisper something to Ron. Ron nodded, his eyes glued to the other man. Draco turned towards George.
"800!" he called out with a smirk.
The crowd gasped and Harry's jaw dropped.
"800!" George crowed in excitement. "I think this'll be it boys, does anyone wish to go higher?"
All eyes turned towards the robed stranger. He shook his hooded head and remained quiet.
Harry sighed in relief and flashed Draco a grateful smile. Draco winked back.
"800, going once..."
Harry couldn't stop smiling as he stared at Draco.
"Going twice..."
He felt his heart twinge happily as they continued to lock eyes.
"Gone, for 800 galleons!" George announced. "That's four thousand Muggle dollars for the Aids Foundation from this bid alone! Thanks to everyone who contributed and have a good time tonight!"
George turned off the microphone and the flashing lights started up around the club, lighting the dance floor as the music blared over the sound system.
"Come on, Harry." George smiled as he led him off the stage.
"Harry!" Ron called pushing through the crowd to reach him.
"Ron." Harry smiled, hoping his friend wasn't too upset about Draco winning. He glanced over Ron's shoulder, looking for Draco.
"Where's Malfoy?" George asked his brother. "He owes me money."
"He's coming, I think he went to find out who that robed man was," Ron answered. "I guess I owe you money, too."
"Huh?"
Ron grinned. "Me and Malfoy pooled our money together to outbid that guy."
"What?" Harry exclaimed. "You and Draco? Working together?"
"Yep, for the greater good." Ron smiled. "I still hate the git but we both didn't want to see that weird man win so we compromised and decided to combine our resources. Draco also thought that it would make you happy."
"Harry!"
The three turned and saw Draco walking through the crowd.
"So, did you find out who it was?" Ron asked instantly.
"No, but it looked like Snape."
Harry choked. "Professor Snape?"
"It looked an awfully lot like him..." Draco said slowly.
Harry shivered and was now doubly glad that the man hadn't won.
"Pay up you guys, then you can go take Harry and have your wicked way with him." George smirked.
Ron and Draco both took out their wallets and counted out 400 galleons each into George's bag of money. George tied up the bag and then smiled as he left them to themselves.
"Something wrong, Harry?" Draco asked in concern, turning around to find Harry frowning and looking strange.
"You know, George was just kidding," Ron assured him quickly. "We don't really want anything from you. You can do whatever you want tonight. We agreed that neither of us would get a date out of this, it just wouldn't be fair."
Harry nodded distractedly and looked away.
Draco glanced at Ron and the red-head shrugged.
"Are you feeling alright?" he asked Harry quietly.
"I'm fine," Harry said, attempting to smile. "I just need some fresh air, I think."
"Okay, we'll take you," Ron offered.
"No, um...I'll go by myself. I'll be back in a bit."
Harry quickly left them and hurried towards the exit. He burst through the doors, ignoring the interested looks of the people he passed, and leaned against the side of the building. He closed his eyes and breathed in the cold night air.
"So its Harry Potter is it?"
Harry opened his eyes and looked up. A good-looking brunette with clear blue eyes was standing in front of him, smiling at him in amusement.
"Matt?" Harry finally realized.
"Yep." He smiled. "How are you, James?"
Harry smiled in embarrassment. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay, I understand." Matt shrugged good-naturedly.
Matt leaned against the wall beside him and looked up at the sky. "So, what are you doing out here when a sexy blond just won the pleasure of your company?"
Harry sighed. "It's kind of complicated."
"Try me."
"Well, you remember him from the night we met, right?" Harry asked.
Matt nodded.
"And I told you that I'd known him for a long time and that he was a real jerk?"
Matt nodded again.
"Well, it turns out he's not a jerk anymore. It also turns out that I don't hate him anymore. In fact, I feel quite the opposite."
"You really like him, don't you?" Matt asked.
Harry nodded miserably.
"Then what's the problem?"
"I sort of started dating someone else right before Draco came back to me and I didn't know which one I wanted to be with more. When I was with Ron I thought that he was 'the one', and I couldn't even imagine wanting to be with anyone else."
"And when you're with Draco you feel the same way," Matt finished.
Harry nodded again. "But I think I realized something tonight."
"What's that?"
"I love Ron with all my heart - but as a friend."
"And Draco?"
Harry smiled. "A million different thoughts run through my mind."
Matt turned towards him. "Tell me."
Harry turned towards the street and smiled to himself. "I love it when he looks at me. I love it when he smiles and tries to hide the fact that he really does care about people. I love it when he holds my hand and says my name, I love watching him experience new things, I love how hard he tries to please me and be a better person for me. I love watching him sleep, with his hair falling around his face like an angel. I want to know everything about him, the good and the bad, and I never want him out of my sight. I love it when he touches me. When he kisses me I feel like my heart is going to burst with happiness and the only place I've ever truly felt at home is in his arms. I... I guess I love everything about him," he finished breathlessly.
Matt put an arm around Harry and pulled him over so that his head was resting on his shoulder. Harry felt as though the fog in his head that had been plaguing him for weeks had now evaporated and he could think clearly for the first time in a long while.
"Harry?" Matt spoke quietly.
"Yes?"
"Why don't you go tell him everything that you just told me?"
"I want to, but I have to tell Ron first. And I don't want to hurt him."
"If he is your best friend, then he will understand in time," Matt said comfortingly. "The sooner you tell him the sooner you can be with Draco."
Harry straightened up and smiled weakly. "Thanks, Matt. Will you come with me?"
"Sure, if you want." Matt smiled.
Harry smiled at Matt's dimples and studied his face for a minute: clear blue eyes, high cheek bones, dimples, soft brown hair...
"You know, you're very good looking."
"I think your life is complicated enough," Matt laughed, his cheeks flushing slightly.
"I was just thinking about something..." Harry said thoughtfully.
"Repent your sins!"
Harry and Matt looked up, startled to see a man in a brown robe holding a bible and yelling at them from across the street.
"Stay away from the house of ill repent and sin, turn yourselves away from the hands of Satan and cleanse your souls of the horrors of hell within!"
Harry and Matt burst out laughing as they watched the energetic little man maniacally wave around his bible and shout.
"Who is that?" Harry laughed.
"I think it's a monk or a priest or something." Matt grinned. "Sometimes they come here and try to get us to stop being gay."
Harry laughed even harder. "I bet he just likes to come and watch us, he's probably repressing his own sexual urges. So sad."
Matt laughed.
"Let's go back inside," Harry suggested.
Matt nodded and they linked arms as they wandered back into the club.