Author: Shinigami, Meg
Disclaimer: Harry and the gang and anything concerning Harry Potter belong to .Rowling and etc. and Beauty and the Beast belong to all those stories created especially Disney. But the way this is written is all mine, I call it appropriation using the Harry gang
Pairings: Dm/Hp, Rw/Hg, suggestions of Sb/Rl maybe even a dash of SS with them. Oh and a very infatuated Pansy mooning after Harry.
Warning: SLASH!!!!! YAOI!!! HOMOSEXUALTIY!!! Whatever term is comfortable for you. Though it's relatively mild since I'm not really a romance writer and this is a fairy tale.
Added: DEATH!!!! Can you guess who? Shouldn't be too hard…
An: I should be burned alive, when was my last update anyway, it has to be months or something akin to it now hasn't it? I am really, really, really sorry but I haven't given up on the story it's just that I think I'm lacking inspiration. It all makes sense as I have an art major to do and I haven't even started… I think it would just be easier to burn alive. I will endure and persist and I will not fail!!!!
Enough ranting, I should get back to my story… I need to think up ways to make it more original. Oh yeah and sorry in advance for the fowl language, I usually try very hard to not use any bad language at all. I hope nothing is too crude, if so let me know and I'll change it, though I don't think its too bad I've read much worse.
Note: Oh yeah sorry if I misspelt Weasly… not intentional…. I keep doing it. Actually I don't even know how to spell it.
Thankyou to all reviews: Hope I didn't miss anyone, if I did I'm really sorry
Louis the Sarcastic Muse
Wolfawaken
Goldsilk
Lo26
Velven
Yams41
FadedGlitter
Ganymade
Chang Wumei
Didge
Silmarien
Brenna8
Lost
Sacred Moonlight Shadow
SuishouTenshi: I'm glad I didn't let you down!!!
Aki: Broken into song? That sounds cute, I think I read an Anastasia fan fic like that once it was a little odd but interesting, they even mirrored what they said almost exactly but I don't think I'll be doing that.
Sak: Wow thanks, I'm glad!!!
Chapter Four
Harry twisted the blade of grass in his fingers, shredding the green structure, breaking wounds for the chlorophyll to seep through broken vessels. He looked at the mess he had created, green smudges on sun-kissed fingers and felt a pang of regret, the grass blade was beyond repair. Harry fell back and let the grass cushion his fall, white danced on a large blue canvas above him.
Slowly the world blinked into darkness, colours floating over his face trying vainly to penetrate his closed lids. Curiosity was tickling him in places he couldn't reach to pacify, he wanted to know.
West wing
West wing
It couldn't hurt to have one peek could it? If the Beast never knew... if he could just have a tiny look at the west wing then the persistent itch would stop. He'd never go again, just one look.
West wing.
Harry grinned, determination setting into his very bones. One look. He pushed himself back up to a sitting position, and rubbed some life into his green smudged fingers. Just one look.
Stretching Harry quickly got up and headed back towards the castle, the gardens around him had grown wild and unkempt. It was a beautiful sight once you passed all the cloth ripping thorns and blood-sucking insects.
It was true what Ron had said about the castle, it was like one giant piece of artwork. Completely unique, beautiful yet slightly disquieting, but that could have been due to the screaming portraits, scattered around the house. Most of these pictures were of the nobles that had been living within the castle at the time of the curse, and all they did was continuously complain in Harry's mind.
He had been completely startled to have first seen and heard the portraits, and after having a near death heart attack, he had gotten used to the annoying portraits who seemed to have nothing better to do. But then again years of staring at the opposite wall might just have that same effect on himself.
Sneaking quietly through the empty hallways he was granted peace, as it seemed the portraits had fallen to sleep. Harry realized night was quickly approaching, outside the high barred windows the day had taken an orange haze. He must move quickly before Ron or one of the other servants came for him to eat dinner.
Harry ran up the stairs as quietly as he could, his best hope was that the beast wasn't actually residing within the West wing. What would he do if that was the case? Run like hell he thought to himself, he might actually be able to escape. Gargoyles adorned these walls more frequently than any other hall in the castle he mused.
The beasts held themselves in frightening postures, it seemed all stops were being pulled out to keep people away from this area. His heart thumped hazardously within his chest, adrenalin was pumping madly in his system as he got closer to the two giant doors.
Holding his breath he grabbed the doorknobs and turned, they squeaked but didn't twist any further. Locked!? Harry let go his breath irritated, and kicked the door in his annoyance.
Biting his lip he turned around to survey the area, the walls illuminated in an eerie grey from the moonlight streaming from the high windows. This place held a certain sort of romance, something akin to the romantic yet terrifying stories of vampires spoken when he was young. Mysterious was a word that should have been hanging on the front gates, Harry smiled unexpectedly.
This was a place from his dreams, a dream from his past, or maybe just a book he'd read before. A beautiful mysterious castle in the middle of the woods, a curse, a beast. Harry shook his head, the gargoyles were staring, he shuddered inwardly. Why would anyone want the marble eyes to stare at you as you walked these halls?
Turning back to the ornamental doors an idea popped into his head… what if the beast left a copy of the key under the mat? Harry shook his head, it could not be that simple… but it never hurt to try, right?
Crouching down Harry upturned the dirty old mat and grinned, guess the beast kept out unwanted guests by threats rather than intellect. He snatched up the bronze key and plunged it into the key hole. Euphoria was making him slightly giddy and nervous as he entered the forbidden room, not exactly sure what he was expecting, the room showed less interesting then the rest of the castle.
On the contrary the room was a mess, torn clothes, overturned furniture, broken fixtures, the place looked like a monster had been unleased, a very angry monster. Sidestepping the broken shards of glass which he presumed had been a mirror, he ventured further into the chaos.
Moonlight streamed from the closed balcony, it gave the room an ethereal feeling as if he'd accidentally stepped into the room of a fallen angel. A light caught the corner of Harry's eye, he turned sharply to land his gaze on the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his young life. It was as if a thousand shades of red were dancing across the soft surface, each shade carrying its own inner light which made the object glow, Harry gasped.
A Rose.
His arm moved of its own violation, he watched through a daze as he fingers skimmed the surface of the rose, he closed his eyes as he saw the colour float through his eyes and into his mind. It felt so staggering, it was as if each cell in his body was rejoicing the magnificence of its beauty was making his eyes water.
"STOP!" A voice behind him roared. Harry snapped of what ever had possessed him and swirled around to meet one very angry monster.
"I didn't… I mean…" Harry stuttered, his eyes widened as Draco's arm came down to slap him hard across the face. Harry stumbled back, tears of pain escaping his green eyes.
"What did you think you were doing!?!?" Draco shouted, he seemed completely mad, no rational thought making it through the haze of anger.
"I wasn't thinking!!! Stop, please I'm sorry!" Fear was making him babble he was sure of that, he darted a quick look to his left for an escape. The door!
Harry darted past Draco and flew through the halls, leaving behind the laughing gargoyles and one furious Beast. He heard the pounding of the beast's feet behind him, he swallowed as his breathing came in erratically. Fear was giving him a clear motive to get out of here, no matter whatever promise or duty he was bound too.
A crash echoed as he managed to fly out the front doors, he turned back to see the furniture was blocking the beast. Harry took in a few deep breaths, turned and ran to the stables. After pulling Prongs from his enclosure he mounted and galloped out of the gates and into the forest.
He had galloped for a full hour and now was slowly ambling through the thick bush completely lost it seemed. Why hadn't he bothered to look at the time? Someone was sure to look for him for dinner… but why did the beast have to find him? Harry growled, Draco was a selfish, uncontrollable, erratic, evil beast. He kicked a stone in his path and watched it bounce off into the darkness.
"I HATE YOU. You hear that? You selfish, evil, mad, annoying, mean, nasty, crazy THING!!! I. HATE. YOU!" Harry shouted at no one and nothing.
Draco didn't have to get that angry at him, he hadn't even done anything wrong except be at the wrong place! Draco hadn't even asked if he was lost! It was plausible, it was a big estate. He hadn't broken anything and all he had done was brush his fingers on a rose.
Who gave him the rose? Harry grew even angrier, was it from a lover or something? Who would give that moron such a beautiful gift, no way. He had to have stolen it, maybe that's why he's cursed. Harry nodded to himself as he kicked out at another pebble. He deserved it!
Prongs suddenly reared, "Whoa boy! Hey, hey calm down." Harry muttered as he pulled on the reigns and patted the nervous horse. "I know, this place gives me the creeps too." Harry confessed to Prongs.
Prongs reared again this time stamping and making a racket, "Stop it Prongs! What's the matter?" Harry heard the growl, he twisted around while keeping a tight hold on prongs. "Oh no… no, no, no, no, no." This wasn't fair his cheek was hurting from the earlier slap and he was dirty and tired, his clothes were ruined and he was hungry, not to mention the slight pain still coming from his ankle.
They did not just walk into a pack of wolves, this was not happening. Large canine teeth flashed in the moonlight, as pairs upon pairs of eyes flashed into existence. Harry pressed himself closer to prongs, this day was just not going his way.
One of the wolves suddenly stood erect and howled, they suddenly charged at their prey: one Harry Potter and horse. "Oh shoot." Harry jumped back and let go of the reins, Prongs reared his eyes wide and bloodshot in fear as he batted the wolves away. Harry stepped back and grabbed a branch overhanging above him. He managed to rip off a piece, he swung madly as he moved away.
Prongs gave a cry Harry stopped to turn and watch as one wolf had managed to jump on the horse's back. "Getoff, you…! GET OFF!" Harry ran at Prongs, suddenly the wolf stopped biting Prongs and jumped unexpectedly at Harry. Harry cried out, his eyes wide as the slim creature flew towards him.
A larger paw slapped the wolf away, Harry swivelled to stare at Draco, his teeth were bared and his hair on end. "Get down, they're mine!"
Harry dropped down on all fours, the wolves re-arranged their attack now focusing entirely on Draco. He crawled away from all the beasts and tried to get to prongs, something soft and wet landed on his nose, he looked up abruptly. The flakes danced merrily above him completely ignoring the maddened scene just behind Harry. Snow.
This was just too surreal, he craned his neck back to see one wolf mutilating Draco's arm while another tried to jab his fangs into Draco's jugular veins. Harry winced, he had to do something, he couldn't let Draco die. Why did he even care? If Draco was dead he was free, the curse would probably be lifted from the others… so why should he care?
Because when it came down to it, Draco really was just like any other person, how could Harry hate him for just being himself? Harry shouldn't have gone into his private quarters, they had asked, commanded, pleaded and tried to keep him away but he'd been an idiot and gone and done it anyway. The cold was burning… burning? Harry reached into his pants pocket and grinned wildly, he grabbed the stick on the floor and hoped it was dry enough to catch.
"Oi you stupid creatures I bet I taste a lot better." Draco looked at him like he was an idiot, Harry just grinned, he lit a few matches in one go and threw a couple onto some fallen leaves he used the last one to light his own stick. It caught, weakly but it still caught.
The wolves broke formation as some went for the easier prey and the others kept on the original, Draco. Harry blew on his stick gently, come on, come on! The fire was still dull and the leaves looked like the fire wasn't going to hold. Harry grimaced as the wolves stalked around him. Ok so maybe this wasn't such a great idea, the wolves leaped and Harry swung his stick as if he were a man possessed all the while hoping vainly the fire wouldn't die out.
He felt his arms vibrate with the impact of the wolf and his stick, it hurt a lot, he cried out but only held the stick tighter. He bit his lip hard, he drew blood but it kept his conscience from flying into darkness. Harry smelt smoke, the wolf got up seemly unfazed and the fire on his stick was only glowing embers. He twisted around to see the leaves had caught and the fire was busy eating the tree next to it.
One of the wolves howled and most scattered, Harry dropped his stick as he watched the retreating figures. A snarl broke out behind him, before he even had the chance to around he was pushed onto the ground he tensed but didn't feel anything bite into him. Looking up he quickly got up just in time to watch Draco fall, a dead wolf next to him.
Harry paled, Draco had lost a copious amount of blood and unless that was the wolves' blood pooling underneath him, he was sure he was still loosing more. Harry swallowed, "Draco…?" he asked uncertainty he pushed some blood off the beast's face, he showed no signs of stirring.
Harry swallowed thickly again, there was an odd lump sticking to the forefront to his throat it was making his eyes burn as well. "You'll be just fine." He turned his head to see if Prongs was still around. "Prongs, we've got to get him back."
The horse slowly walked forward and dropped to his knees, "Thanks boy." Harry manage to choke out between ragged breaths. "We'll all be right as day…" he babbled not even sure he knew what he was talking about anymore.
Harry managed to slide Draco on Prongs, he sighed Draco needed to go on a diet he was irrationally heavy. It was an extremely long walk back to the castle and Harry was feeling very uncomfortable, Draco came out to protect me? No. Definitely not, he probably came to drag my skinny butt back, we did make a deal after all.
Harry sighed and looked around, this was bad he had no idea where he was. He could have sworn he had walked in a straight line out of the castle but nothing looked familiar. Harry gazed back at Draco. "Prongs hold on, I need to tend to his wounds… we might be out here for a while."
Harry staggered under the weight of Draco but eventually managed to lower him to the ground, snow was starting to thicken around him. There would be a massive storm soon, they needed to find the castle or at least some shelter.
Absently he ran his fingers through the fine golden hairs that streamed down from his head and even encased his face. The face of a beast Harry thought, he dropped his own head so that both they're foreheads touched, he shut his eyes for a moment. Was he really a beast? Or just a spoilt brat…
He opened his eyes slowly right into silver orbs, Harry froze and then blushed he jerked away. "Sorry… your temperature…I-I was just… just… you were hot… hot. So I was… you see, checking that you were hot… wait, no, I mean were you hot? Wait… " Harry suddenly shut up.
"Where are we?" Draco whispered hoarsely, even in this condition clearly amused by Harry's ranting.
"Well…I'm not sure." Harry replied still horrified at himself and gravely embarrassed for being caught in such a compromising situation, not to mention the blush that was still very prominent on his cheeks. "I'm lost, well we're lost…" Harry rubbed his face, it was tingling irritatingly.
Draco groaned he was clutching his side painfully, Harry crawled up to him hesitantly, he could still remember Draco's attack on his poor cheek. "Let me have a look?" Draco glared and didn't move an inch, he looked at Harry with distrust, "If I had wanted you… not alive I would have left you out there to freeze!" Harry didn't want to even say the word death, he was afraid of it.
"Not alive?" Draco mumbled questioningly but he let go of his side his hand covered in blood, though it was easier to tell which part of him was covered in blood than not, it seemed like it was everywhere.
Harry just shrugged and slowly lifted the cape, then unbuttoned Draco's vest and pushed it to the side sliding it off his shoulders, he was very nervous even though Draco was another guy he was extremely embarrassed to undress him. He then tried to lift the shirt but Draco cried out, he stopped suddenly looking at Draco's pain filled gaze.
"That bloody well hurt you imbecile!" Draco roared glaring at him, Harry glared back.
"It has to be done, so hold it in you big baby." Harry mock insulted back, Draco huffed indignantly.
"Who do you think saved your ungrateful arse!" Draco shouted back, his normally cultured language and voice thrown out the window he was irritated, straining his voice and looked all the more pained for it.
"What?! Excuse me but I wouldn't even have been out there if you hadn't decided to go wild and attack me!" Harry shouted back eyes wide, insulted, Draco stopped shouting and Harry watched him silently contemplating.
"Did I hurt you?" he finally asked softly after a long moment of silence, he looked stressed and tired.
Harry smiled softly in return, "Nah, you hit like a girl." He chuckled quietly not wanting to break the semi-peace they seemed to have found.
"Well I did inform you that my quarters were off limits." Draco said haughtily reining his normal ice-cold posture.
"No you didn't!" Harry said outraged, "Never once did anybody 'inform' so you say, me that it was your private quarters. It was always, do not go into the west wing it's forbidden! Or something just as weird, you can't blame me for being curious! I wanted to know…I just wanted to know more about you!" Tears had gathered at the edge of his eyes, he rubbed them hastily away.
"You…you could have just asked." Draco said impatiently and very quietly, he had bowed his head forward hiding his face, his surprise.
"And you have a terrible temper!" Harry continued his onslaught of words but shut up when Draco whispered quietly, Harry replied. "I was too afraid to ask."
Silence reigned again as both of them just sat stunned at the other, Harry fiddled with his fingers, which he realized were blood stained. He looked back up at Draco who was breathing rather heavily and erratically. Harry started to lift his shirt again Draco didn't protest.
"I… Thank you for saving my life…" Harry finally said as he got the canteen and washed out Draco's wounds and bandaged them up.
"Your welcome… you alleged you sought to know more concerning myself?" Draco asked as he leaned back while Harry stitched him up.
"Yeah…like why it is you talk like that, this curse, your family, that rose in your room, you are a complete mystery." Harry said quickly, Draco covered Harry's mouth with his hand and laughed, not maliciously but contentedly.
"Stay with me and I shall enlighten you in relation to the world if you so desire it." Draco finally said, Harry cocked his head to the side confused. "At the present I believe we ought to proceed homeward prior to being caught in a coming snow storm, agreed?" Harry nodded entranced with the beast like never before.