Unlikely Companions:
Disclaimer: Not mine, as I stated before.
Warning:
Books 1-4
Slash HP/DM, some harsh language, probably violence, great character changes, character's death
I just started this fic and it will be rated R, although not all the chapters will require this rating. If the story decides to move on in a different direction (I know that I don't have a saying in this.) I will change this warning so keep checking it.
Summary:
The last battle has been fought. Harry survived, but he is not the person he used to be. He forgot everything about his past. The sad things as well as the good things. He has to learn everything again. Almost like a child. But the keyword is ALMOST. The only person he trusts is Draco Malfoy. For Draco it's a difficult time, he has to adjust to a completely different situation. Now he has to care for somebody else. And what happens, when he starts to have certain feelings towards a certain boy? Does Harry return the feelings? And how will he gain his will to speak and his memories back?
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This chapter is dedicated to CuriousDreamWeaver, who has been a great help. Thank you, you are a wonderful beta.
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Chapter Seven: Tension
As Draco went about putting their breakfast from the tray onto the table, he was surprised to find another note laying next to one of the bowls.
* * * * * *
I thought it would be nice to have Dobby prepare your favourite breakfasts for you. Please enjoy.
Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot)
* * * *
Draco snorted. That was just too typical for the headmaster.
'How nice, how the headmaster is trying to pamper his favourite saviour of the world.'
Nonetheless he tried to calm down a little by arranging their breakfast. He had to admit that he was really pleased to see a huge bowl of 'Lucky Charm's Cereal'. It really was his favourite breakfast. Although his mother had forbidden from eating it again, because it basically consisted of sugar and a lot of food colours. But for Draco the colourful wands, cauldrons and the slightly hopping brooms were the only way to get a good start into the day.
Curious to see what Harry, would like for breakfast he lifted the cover from Harry's plate. Disgusted he had to see that his new companion seemed to love greasy eggs, bacon and beans.
Draco felt suddenly a little nauseous from the smell, but quickly went about breathing through his mouth as he got used to over the years when he had to spend his time with Crabbe and Goyle. He had to admit that this was still far better than sitting next to those morons.
When he heard the door to the bathroom open, he couldn't refrain from making a comment.
"Ah, you are finished at last. It was about time."
Harry said as usual nothing and went swiftly over to the couch, where he sat down next to Draco.
"Here, that's your breakfast, enjoy."
Harry looked up surprised by the sarcastic tone in Draco's voice and took the plate in a somewhat puzzled manner. He looked down on it and wrinkled his nose. Tentatively he took his fork and picked a little in the eggs before he brought some up to his mouth. Before he took the bite he sniffed at it and still didn't look very pleased. Finally, carefully, he took the bite, but paled instantly and looked as if he would be sick at any moment.
Draco could see that Harry gulped down the bite that he had taken as in order to not taste the food. He was puzzled. Why would he react this way, if it was his favourite food?
"Don't you like it? I thought that it was your favourite? Dumbledore left a note telling me that it was."
Harry looked at him and then back at his plate. The look of disgust returned to his face and he pushed the plate from him.
"I guess this means that you really don't like it. That's o.k. It's really disgusting; you can have some of my 'Lucky Charm's Cereal'. I am sure we can get more if we need to."
Draco suddenly felt very content, when he saw a happy smile return to Harry's face. The young Malfoy took another spoon full of the multi coloured cereal. Suddenly he was very confused, when he thought about the fact that he was happy when Harry was happy. He couldn't believe how many things changed and only in a few days - it was incredible. And he couldn't stop wondering about his own feelings. He grimaced.
Draco really had enough of all the self-questioning. That couldn't be healthy, but he had to admit, that he had doubts about his life since he started to see his father and the other Deatheaters in an entirely different light, but he got used to the normal 'I don't see any sense in life and I hate everybody', but he really didn't like thoughts like 'Harry should be happy. Oh my, he looks adorable cute with wet hair.'
He sighed and looked up in time to see Harry's questioning gaze, he shook his head as a sign that he didn't want to talk about it and resumed eating his breakfast. He scolded himself, there was nothing, really nothing at all that should distract him from the 'Lucky Charms'. They were the guarantee for a good start in the day, and he wouldn't let anything change that.
Half an hour later Draco sat on the couch reading and was actually doing quite well in trying to ignore the fact that Harry was leaning into him while reading his own book. He looked up from his book when he heard a faint knocking. It was just shortly after two o'clock in the afternoon, so it couldn't be Granger and Weasley. Cautiously Draco got up to answer the knocking, but not without checking that Harry was still reading his book and not in any way alarmed. When he opened the door, he suddenly felt the urge to close it again. Sighing, because he knew that that wouldn't keep their visitor from trying to enter, he stepped outside, because he didn't want Harry to face a conversation with the visitor.
"Black, you here, what a pleasure.", his voice was literally dripping of sarcasm. "Speak quickly, what do you want? I don't have all day."
"What do you think, what I want? Do I look as if I want your favoured chocolate pie recipe? I came to ask you how Harry is and if I can see him."
Draco actually smiled, because he enjoyed it that Sirius Black, who was a very well respected person on the side of the light, was forced to ask him for permission to see his own godson. Really this 'job' did have some very good aspects.
"No, you may not see him."
Oh, how fun it was to see the disappointment sweep over Black's face. Draco could never stand that man. He seemed to believe that the whole world should rotate around him, only because he was wrongly imprisoned. Finally he didn't have to listen to his tirades any more, now that he had power over him. That was really a great facet of the 'job'. Still smiling the young man continued, because he couldn't help to feel some pity for the man standing in front of him, because he had actually never done anything to him.
"Concerning his well being, I can only say that the situation hasn't really changed. He still shows some surprising behaviour. But it may please you to hear that he spoke a word yesterday. So, we have proof that he can do it. However don't get your hopes up too soon. I don't know when, or if, he'll be back to his old self. He has changed and I don't believe that he will ever return to be the person that he used to be."
While he talked, Draco watched the emotions that flitted over Black's face. Hope had lit up his features just like a torch. After he told him that he didn't see a chance for Harry to return to his old self, disappointment shown on his face, but still the torch was not fully extinguished. Draco could see that Black was about to talk to him and could only hope that he wouldn't voice anything that was too stupid.
"Thank you Draco. I know we never really got along very well, but if Harry believes that he needs you, then I guess I have to accept that. But I still don't like it. Nevertheless I will leave you with the responsibility as long as I think that you are helping him. Don't think that I am not grateful, I appreciate what you do for him, but I don't trust you. It's good to know that he is able to speak, but I am not willing to give up on him. He will be the old Harry again. There's no doubt about it. He just needs time."
Draco thought that he would just let Sirius Black think what he liked to think. He on the other hand just wanted to return to his rooms. He didn't like to leave Harry alone for an extended period of time.
"Whatever, Black. Good day to you."
He turned on his heel and opened the door and left a very unsatisfied godfather standing in the hallway. But he wasn't prepared for what happened when he opened the door. As soon as he set a foot into the room, a black haired whirlwind came flying towards him and hugged him fiercely. As a reflex he returned the hug lovingly. Harry must have been worried about his whereabouts and was obviously very relieved to have him back.
Realizing that he never closed the door he turned a little with Harry still clinging onto his middle section. In the hallway just in front of him was Black still standing on the exact same spot as before. But his expression was quite different. A look of shock and disbelief graced his utterly pale face. Harry's reaction didn't seem to fit into is nice, little world. Draco thought that he seldom had seen anything that funny and smirked in a decidedly Malfoy manner at Black before he threw the door shut.
Once they were alone in the room and could be sure that nobody was watching them he suddenly didn't feel as content. He actually couldn't say that it DIDN'T feel good, but it was something that he had seldom experienced before.
"O.k. Harry, you can let go of me now, I really would like to breathe.", Harry loosened his grip slightly and smiled at the somewhat taller boy.
"Really, I want you to let go of me. I am not joking. I don't like it to be hugged.", Draco wasn't sure, if he really wanted Harry to let go of him, but he knew that it was better.
Harry was grinning and didn't let go of Draco.
'I knew that he was crazy. Why would he want to hug me? I have to get him away somehow.'
"You are tickling me. Let go.", Harry looked up at him and his grin became even wider.
'Oh, no!', was the only thing that Draco could think, before the attack started. Harry's hands were everywhere and seemed to find every spot on Draco that didn't like to be tickled. Draco flung himself on the floor and tried to escape by rolling to his side, but Harry nearly jumped on him to stop him. When the escape plan didn't work he tried to cover all the sensitive spot like his armpits, his belly and along his ribs, his feet and his neck. As knotted bundle he tried to defend himself against Harry. He nearly had no air left from so much laughing. Harry was so skilful that Draco decided that he needed another tactic to stop him. It was time for an offensive move.
He gripped Harry tightly and rolled them both over. Now Draco was on top of Harry and could continue his revenge.
"Let's see if the Boy-who-Lived is ticklish as well. You have no chance to escape!", he was still laughing and enjoying the situation, because he had never done something like this before. He never had brothers or sisters, and nobody would want to do that with Crabbe and Goyle.
Just when he was about to start his own attack he saw the look on Harry's face. He wasn't laughing anymore, instead he stared at his own face and his gaze seemed to be fixed on the grey-blue eyes. Draco's hands stopped in midair, still leaning very close over Harry, and all he could do was staring back. He wasn't sure what the raven haired boy's eyes tried to tell him, because there were so many emotions in them. He had never noticed that the dark green eyes could hold so much emotion. He saw intelligence, fear and affection and many things that he couldn't identify. He could feel that the eyes were searching his as well, they couldn't stop gazing at each other. Time seemed to stop for a moment.
Draco felt panic rising in his chest, he couldn't stand to be looked upon like this, he couldn't stand to be this close to Harry. He had the feeling that Harry was searching his soul and he certainly didn't like that thought. He was afraid, of the things the other boy would find. He couldn't stand to have Harry despising him - it was too much.
Draco shook his head in an attempt to shake Harry's eyes off of him and jumped up. However, despite his best efforts, he continued to stare at he young man who was lying on the floor. All the while he was backing away in the direction of the bathroom. Harry got up from his laying position, but remained sitting on the floor. He looked up at Draco's eyes.
Draco stopped, shocked at the new expression in the other's eyes. After a short confused look, Harry was watching Draco with understanding. That scared Draco more than anything in his life. Never, had anybody look at him with understanding. He had always known how to prevent that. Nobody could know him. He had to get away.
Draco turned and practically ran into the bathroom. There he stood in front of the mirror and looked in it, but couldn't see anything, but the haunting memory of Harry's eyes that were watching him.
Harry was sitting on the floor and didn't know what to do, but he couldn't continue staring at that door. He sighed. He was confused. He wondered if Draco had ever felt before a little bit like he himself did now. Or were his protective walls strong enough to stop it? But they could clearly be shattered. He wondered what he had to do to see the real Draco Malfoy, and what had made him to the Draco Malfoy that he showed to everybody.
He got up from the floor and sat on the couch trying to read, but it was difficult to concentrate. Every few minutes he would look up to check the door to the bathroom. Draco was gone for almost half an hour. When he returned, Harry looked up at him and saw what he had expected to see. A very self-composed Draco Malfoy stood at the side of the couch, thinking what he should do now. Nothing in his face showed that anything had happened.
Draco sat down, when he saw that Harry was patting the spot beside him as a little help to decide what he should do. Draco looked on his folded hands and tried to think of something that he could say. He looked surprised when he felt Harry tugging at his sleeve and giving him the potions book that he had been reading before Black had disturbed them. He took it gratefully and pretended to read. He really was scared of the fact how good Harry seemed to understand him. He had known that he felt forced to explain his behaviour to him, but he knew as well that he actually rather would like to bath in one of Neville Longbottom's potions than talking about it now.
After half an hour he stopped pretending to be reading. Instead he knew that he had other things to do than brooding about his idiotic feelings. He got up and took the picture book out of Harry's dresser where he had put it the night before.
"Hey, Harry, let's look at that again. You know that Ron and Hermione are coming over in a little while, maybe we find a few pictures of you guys in here."
Harry didn't look like he really liked that thought, but still he scooted closer to Draco, when he sat next to him. Draco purposely ignored the first pages with pictures of the Potter family and looked for some pictures of the golden trio.
"See that? That was in our first winter in Hogwarts during a snowball fight, hey you can even see me in that picture!"
Harry looked intently at the picture and laughed out loud when he saw the image of Draco throwing a snowball at Picture-Harry and hitting his head.
"Yeah, that was actually really a great day, I enjoyed exposing you as a rotten snowball fighter!", Draco's voice was filled with laughter.
"That's a picture from the duelling club in second year. You're standing next to Ron and Hermione and you can even see that crazy git Lockhart and his stupid smile. Busted your ass that day, too. Erm, at least until you started to talk to that snake."
Harry looked up surprised.
"You didn't remember? Yes, you can talk Parseltongue or snake language, it is really uncommon. But what in the world should be normal about you? Here is a picture from, I don't really know, but it must be third year. Looks like a party in your Gryffindor common room. Maybe after the Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw match. But, by Merlin! I have to repeat my statement that you have no manners. You and Weasley are stuffing your faces with chocolate ice cream! It's more over you than in you. And Granger is laying on the floor and laughing, who would have thought that she has a sense of humour?"
Harry took the book from Draco's hands and stared at the picture. The Slytherin could see, that the other was once again trying very hard to remember something that just wouldn't come back. Slowly Harry skimmed through the other pages and looked at the many pictures from evenings in the common room, Quidditch practice and many others.
"They are your best friends. You were friends with Ron since the first day. You wanted to be friends with him and not with me. But that's another story, you befriended Hermione later, but since then nothing could separate the 'Golden Trio'. You really can be happy to have such good friends. But that still doesn't mean that I like them. I think that they are incredible stupid. But don't let that bother you, Dumbledore made sure that I will behave."
Harry who had gazed with fascination at the pictures seemed to be a bit unsure how to react to Draco's monolog. His companion took his hands, when he saw the raven haired boy's uncertainty.
"Harry, I might not like them, but they are your friends and they want to help you. So, please forget what I told you, I don't know what I was thinking when I said that. That is probably the problem, I didn't think. I seem to do that often lately." He became silent but held on to Harry's hands and stared at him, all the while lost in thought.
Suddenly there was a faint plop and a tea tray appeared right in front of them on the table. Harry jerked his hand from his companion's. When he realised that it was only a tray full with cakes and nothing that caught them holding hands, he blushed.
Draco looked really flustered as well and jumped to his feet and started to place the food and cups on the table. Then he looked up at the clock.
"It's ten to five, they will be here soon. Don't you want to fix your hair?"
There was a pause, when Harry stared up in surprised at Draco. The blond on the other side wanted to dig a hole for himself to disappear into. He really wasn't thinking. He couldn't even swear that the silence was an awkward one, and that said something, when there was silence all the time.
"Erm, well, whatever. I just, erm, have to look out of the window."
Harry remained at the couch reading while Draco was walking back and forth between the window and the other side of the room. But he wasn't paying attention to the view. If someone had asked him, he would have said, that it was quite rainy, although the sun was shining brighter than any other time in the last few weeks. But rain matched his mood, so he could not see the sun.
At exactly five o'clock they could hear a loud knocking on the door. Draco jumped surprised, because he had been fully lost in thoughts. Harry looked up and had instantly a scarred impression on his face. Draco, who saw the fear locked his view with the Gryffindor's and smiled reassuringly, although he was a little bit hesitant himself. Before he went to the door and opened it, he put the Malfoy mask back up and looked as self confident as he always tried to make himself seem.
"Ah, Granger and Weasley, how nice to see you.", he used the same sarcastic tone that Sirius Black had to face earlier that day. He continued nearly inaudibly.
"Don't. Do. Anything. To. Stress. Him. Or I will kick you out and will personally make sure, that you are never coming back. Be aware of that fact."
Weasley looked angry and Granger annoyed, but Draco felt enormously pleased. He let them into the room and saw that Harry was standing, too, but behind the couch as if to have some protection.
"Harry!!!! How good to see you!!!", Hermione ran around Draco, past the couch and embraced Harry. Harry tensed and looked very shocked.
"I don't believe it! Let him go, don't you see that he doesn't like it to be so close to you?", Hermione backed away, when she heard Draco's growling.
Harry was shivering and seemed once more to be very afraid of everything, afraid of Hermione, afraid of Draco's tone and so much more. His companion took the few steps to reach him and hugged him. Harry leaned into him and slowly his shivering dissolved.
Ron had moved too, he had put one arm around Hermione's shoulder and glared at the young Malfoy.
"Malfoy, stop behaving like a prat, she's simply happy to see him. She didn't mean to scare him.", Ron was shaking himself, but tried to be composed in front of Harry, although he looked ready to kill Draco Malfoy.
"Hey Harry, good to see you mate. How have you been?"
Everyone was staring at Harry as expecting him to answer properly, but the small boy shrugged and walked around the sofa to sit down.
"O.k. good idea Harry. Let's have some cake. You two take the chairs from our desks and with those words the Malfoy heir sat next to his new friends and made clear, who belonged to whom.
After none of the boys started to take some tea, Hermione got quite annoyed and gave everybody tea and some of the chocolate cake. Ron, who had been delighted when he had seen the cake with the chocolate fudge, glared at Draco, because he wasn't fulfilling his duties as a host, and instead let Hermione do the work. The memory of the Slytherin calling her a mudblood was still fresh, although five years had gone by since that day.
Silently they were munching their cake, but nobody knew what to say. Silence hung over them. Finally Hermione found the courage to say something.
"I…I am sorry Harry. I didn't want to scare you. I missed you so much, please don't think that we won't give you the space that you need. We know that you are the one who has to adapt to such a different life and not us. I can't even start to imagine, how it must be for you. Please, let us help you. We still want to be part of your life and we don't care if you change or if you can't remember, we can make new happy memories together."
Ron had set down his plate with the cake and looked at Harry.
"Yeah mate, we are here for you, don't think that you really have to rely on that….", he stopped desperately trying to find a polite term to call Draco. "…ehrm, Malfoy."
Harry looked at his two former friends and then at his new one. The Gryffindor took the Slytherin's hand and looked at him questioning, but also hopefully. Draco returned the look for a long time and searched Harry's large, expressive eyes for his thoughts. Then Harry turned towards Hermione and Ron and smiled softly again, while he pressed Draco's hand.
"I believe that he wants me to tell you that he understands and that he is not angry at you." He looked as if, he really despised the fact that he was forced to talk civilly to the two people, who he had despised for such a long time, therefore he couldn't refrain from saying: "Although I am."
He jerked away when he got slapped from Harry, but had to laugh when he saw his annoyed face and held his hands up as if saying: Hey, that's me. You can't change a Malfoy.
Ron looked at Hermione and saw the disbelief that he felt mirrored in her expression. That was not their Harry, how could he react so coldly towards them, but be so close to Malfoy. He simply couldn't understand the world anymore. It seemed impossible. He even held his hand! He couldn't stand it anymore and got up from the chair. He looked in Harry's eyes who looked astounded and turned as he saw Malfoy smirk and ran out of the room. Hermione got up to and stood in front of them and tried to think of something to say.
"Thank you for tea and cake. Good to see you. Sorry for, you know… I hope we can see you soon. Maybe tomorrow…."
Draco's eyebrow shot up at the last comment and Hermione became increasingly unsure with every second. And turned quickly and left the room. She wasn't running, but it came close to it.
The Slytherin got up and closed the door and stayed there for a moment. His forehead resting on the door.
Harry who was watching him could see a lot of tension leaving his slender body and came up and put his hand on his shoulder. Draco turned, so that he leaned against the wall and was startled by the little space that was between him and Harry. His eyes grew wide and he couldn't breathe properly. Harry was so close. Then Harry moved. And came closer. Draco couldn't breathe at all. He knew that he should to something, he should stop him, he was responsible. His mind screamed that they shouldn't make a mistake, but he couldn't. Harry came closer. He could feel Harry's sweet breath onto his skin. Closer. And then finally, when the tension seemed unbearable, Harry gave Draco a peck on the cheek, smiled at him and returned to the couch. Draco remained leaning at the door and was glad for the support for he couldn't see anything. He didn't know who he was, where he was, all he knew was the soft touch of Harry's lips and the heat that seemed to radiate from his body.
Author's Note:
I hope you liked the chapter. I wanted to show a few things and I hope it got across. It was very important for me to make clear that Harry is not stupid, or maybe mentally handicapped. He simply doesn't talk and can't remember his past (for the moment). The fact that he doesn't remember so many things (for example: how to use a shower) seems to make him helpless, but it is just something he has to deal with. I am also aware of the fact that he knows some of the normal, every-day necessities like how to eat with fork and knife, but not how to use a shower. I am not an expert when it comes to medicine, but as far as I know people with amnesia suffer from different kinds of breaches in their memory… So, I adapted to that.
Another thing that I wanted to make clear was the fact that there is an enormous tension between the two young men and not only from Draco's part.
I hope you enjoyed the short passage in Harry's view, as long as he doesn't talk, it is difficult to write, and the fic focuses for the moment on Draco and his point of view. That may be mixed in the future.
I know that you needed to wait a long time, but if you read my authors profile you know why I didn't have much time. I don't know whether I will be able to update in the next few weeks. But maybe I will be able to squeeze it into my schedule. I really can't tell. But, please, hang on.
If you don't have an account here, where you can activate an author's alert and you are REALLY interested to know when I update, then write an e-mail to the address that can be found in my profile. I will give you notice as soon as I get the chapter out, of course I don't know if I can handle to many request - but otherwise I hope to get really lot's of request! :-) - Because that would mean that you like my story.
Anyways, please review!
A huge THANK YOU to my reviewers:
Angel74: Thank you for the compliments about the last chapter. Writing the scene between Ron and Hermione was not easy for me. It is after all my first Fanfic. I hope you are not disappointed of the meeting. I wanted to make clear that their situation has changed completely. Harry doesn't take their friendship for granted, because he can't remember it. He still trusts only Draco and Ron and Hermione had to see that he changed and if they want to be his friend, they first have to earn his trust.
Pip3: I take that as a compliment! Thank you.
CuriousDreamWeaver: Thank you for being my beta! I have to agree, a story needs more than two characters to be interesting, although it's much easier to write Harry/Draco scenes! *smirks* Thank you for saying that my English isn't that bad. It means a lot to me, especially from you. You have seen ALL the mistakes from the last chapter.
driven to insanity: Thank you. Yeah, Draco seems a little bit possessive. But it's the first time he is responsible for somebody else and he takes it seriously.
curlytop: Thank you very much for all your compliments. We all love Harry/Draco! Let's see what will happen with Ron and Hermione, I guess only the muses will know. I tried very hard to make the demise of Voldemort and all the action that comes with it, as believable as possible. Great, that you enjoyed the Snape/McGonagall scene. It's difficult to write funny scenes, but I think those to have much potential in that area.
Disclaimer: Not mine, as I stated before.
Warning:
Books 1-4
Slash HP/DM, some harsh language, probably violence, great character changes, character's death
I just started this fic and it will be rated R, although not all the chapters will require this rating. If the story decides to move on in a different direction (I know that I don't have a saying in this.) I will change this warning so keep checking it.
Summary:
The last battle has been fought. Harry survived, but he is not the person he used to be. He forgot everything about his past. The sad things as well as the good things. He has to learn everything again. Almost like a child. But the keyword is ALMOST. The only person he trusts is Draco Malfoy. For Draco it's a difficult time, he has to adjust to a completely different situation. Now he has to care for somebody else. And what happens, when he starts to have certain feelings towards a certain boy? Does Harry return the feelings? And how will he gain his will to speak and his memories back?
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This chapter is dedicated to CuriousDreamWeaver, who has been a great help. Thank you, you are a wonderful beta.
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Chapter Seven: Tension
As Draco went about putting their breakfast from the tray onto the table, he was surprised to find another note laying next to one of the bowls.
* * * * * *
I thought it would be nice to have Dobby prepare your favourite breakfasts for you. Please enjoy.
Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot)
* * * *
Draco snorted. That was just too typical for the headmaster.
'How nice, how the headmaster is trying to pamper his favourite saviour of the world.'
Nonetheless he tried to calm down a little by arranging their breakfast. He had to admit that he was really pleased to see a huge bowl of 'Lucky Charm's Cereal'. It really was his favourite breakfast. Although his mother had forbidden from eating it again, because it basically consisted of sugar and a lot of food colours. But for Draco the colourful wands, cauldrons and the slightly hopping brooms were the only way to get a good start into the day.
Curious to see what Harry, would like for breakfast he lifted the cover from Harry's plate. Disgusted he had to see that his new companion seemed to love greasy eggs, bacon and beans.
Draco felt suddenly a little nauseous from the smell, but quickly went about breathing through his mouth as he got used to over the years when he had to spend his time with Crabbe and Goyle. He had to admit that this was still far better than sitting next to those morons.
When he heard the door to the bathroom open, he couldn't refrain from making a comment.
"Ah, you are finished at last. It was about time."
Harry said as usual nothing and went swiftly over to the couch, where he sat down next to Draco.
"Here, that's your breakfast, enjoy."
Harry looked up surprised by the sarcastic tone in Draco's voice and took the plate in a somewhat puzzled manner. He looked down on it and wrinkled his nose. Tentatively he took his fork and picked a little in the eggs before he brought some up to his mouth. Before he took the bite he sniffed at it and still didn't look very pleased. Finally, carefully, he took the bite, but paled instantly and looked as if he would be sick at any moment.
Draco could see that Harry gulped down the bite that he had taken as in order to not taste the food. He was puzzled. Why would he react this way, if it was his favourite food?
"Don't you like it? I thought that it was your favourite? Dumbledore left a note telling me that it was."
Harry looked at him and then back at his plate. The look of disgust returned to his face and he pushed the plate from him.
"I guess this means that you really don't like it. That's o.k. It's really disgusting; you can have some of my 'Lucky Charm's Cereal'. I am sure we can get more if we need to."
Draco suddenly felt very content, when he saw a happy smile return to Harry's face. The young Malfoy took another spoon full of the multi coloured cereal. Suddenly he was very confused, when he thought about the fact that he was happy when Harry was happy. He couldn't believe how many things changed and only in a few days - it was incredible. And he couldn't stop wondering about his own feelings. He grimaced.
Draco really had enough of all the self-questioning. That couldn't be healthy, but he had to admit, that he had doubts about his life since he started to see his father and the other Deatheaters in an entirely different light, but he got used to the normal 'I don't see any sense in life and I hate everybody', but he really didn't like thoughts like 'Harry should be happy. Oh my, he looks adorable cute with wet hair.'
He sighed and looked up in time to see Harry's questioning gaze, he shook his head as a sign that he didn't want to talk about it and resumed eating his breakfast. He scolded himself, there was nothing, really nothing at all that should distract him from the 'Lucky Charms'. They were the guarantee for a good start in the day, and he wouldn't let anything change that.
Half an hour later Draco sat on the couch reading and was actually doing quite well in trying to ignore the fact that Harry was leaning into him while reading his own book. He looked up from his book when he heard a faint knocking. It was just shortly after two o'clock in the afternoon, so it couldn't be Granger and Weasley. Cautiously Draco got up to answer the knocking, but not without checking that Harry was still reading his book and not in any way alarmed. When he opened the door, he suddenly felt the urge to close it again. Sighing, because he knew that that wouldn't keep their visitor from trying to enter, he stepped outside, because he didn't want Harry to face a conversation with the visitor.
"Black, you here, what a pleasure.", his voice was literally dripping of sarcasm. "Speak quickly, what do you want? I don't have all day."
"What do you think, what I want? Do I look as if I want your favoured chocolate pie recipe? I came to ask you how Harry is and if I can see him."
Draco actually smiled, because he enjoyed it that Sirius Black, who was a very well respected person on the side of the light, was forced to ask him for permission to see his own godson. Really this 'job' did have some very good aspects.
"No, you may not see him."
Oh, how fun it was to see the disappointment sweep over Black's face. Draco could never stand that man. He seemed to believe that the whole world should rotate around him, only because he was wrongly imprisoned. Finally he didn't have to listen to his tirades any more, now that he had power over him. That was really a great facet of the 'job'. Still smiling the young man continued, because he couldn't help to feel some pity for the man standing in front of him, because he had actually never done anything to him.
"Concerning his well being, I can only say that the situation hasn't really changed. He still shows some surprising behaviour. But it may please you to hear that he spoke a word yesterday. So, we have proof that he can do it. However don't get your hopes up too soon. I don't know when, or if, he'll be back to his old self. He has changed and I don't believe that he will ever return to be the person that he used to be."
While he talked, Draco watched the emotions that flitted over Black's face. Hope had lit up his features just like a torch. After he told him that he didn't see a chance for Harry to return to his old self, disappointment shown on his face, but still the torch was not fully extinguished. Draco could see that Black was about to talk to him and could only hope that he wouldn't voice anything that was too stupid.
"Thank you Draco. I know we never really got along very well, but if Harry believes that he needs you, then I guess I have to accept that. But I still don't like it. Nevertheless I will leave you with the responsibility as long as I think that you are helping him. Don't think that I am not grateful, I appreciate what you do for him, but I don't trust you. It's good to know that he is able to speak, but I am not willing to give up on him. He will be the old Harry again. There's no doubt about it. He just needs time."
Draco thought that he would just let Sirius Black think what he liked to think. He on the other hand just wanted to return to his rooms. He didn't like to leave Harry alone for an extended period of time.
"Whatever, Black. Good day to you."
He turned on his heel and opened the door and left a very unsatisfied godfather standing in the hallway. But he wasn't prepared for what happened when he opened the door. As soon as he set a foot into the room, a black haired whirlwind came flying towards him and hugged him fiercely. As a reflex he returned the hug lovingly. Harry must have been worried about his whereabouts and was obviously very relieved to have him back.
Realizing that he never closed the door he turned a little with Harry still clinging onto his middle section. In the hallway just in front of him was Black still standing on the exact same spot as before. But his expression was quite different. A look of shock and disbelief graced his utterly pale face. Harry's reaction didn't seem to fit into is nice, little world. Draco thought that he seldom had seen anything that funny and smirked in a decidedly Malfoy manner at Black before he threw the door shut.
Once they were alone in the room and could be sure that nobody was watching them he suddenly didn't feel as content. He actually couldn't say that it DIDN'T feel good, but it was something that he had seldom experienced before.
"O.k. Harry, you can let go of me now, I really would like to breathe.", Harry loosened his grip slightly and smiled at the somewhat taller boy.
"Really, I want you to let go of me. I am not joking. I don't like it to be hugged.", Draco wasn't sure, if he really wanted Harry to let go of him, but he knew that it was better.
Harry was grinning and didn't let go of Draco.
'I knew that he was crazy. Why would he want to hug me? I have to get him away somehow.'
"You are tickling me. Let go.", Harry looked up at him and his grin became even wider.
'Oh, no!', was the only thing that Draco could think, before the attack started. Harry's hands were everywhere and seemed to find every spot on Draco that didn't like to be tickled. Draco flung himself on the floor and tried to escape by rolling to his side, but Harry nearly jumped on him to stop him. When the escape plan didn't work he tried to cover all the sensitive spot like his armpits, his belly and along his ribs, his feet and his neck. As knotted bundle he tried to defend himself against Harry. He nearly had no air left from so much laughing. Harry was so skilful that Draco decided that he needed another tactic to stop him. It was time for an offensive move.
He gripped Harry tightly and rolled them both over. Now Draco was on top of Harry and could continue his revenge.
"Let's see if the Boy-who-Lived is ticklish as well. You have no chance to escape!", he was still laughing and enjoying the situation, because he had never done something like this before. He never had brothers or sisters, and nobody would want to do that with Crabbe and Goyle.
Just when he was about to start his own attack he saw the look on Harry's face. He wasn't laughing anymore, instead he stared at his own face and his gaze seemed to be fixed on the grey-blue eyes. Draco's hands stopped in midair, still leaning very close over Harry, and all he could do was staring back. He wasn't sure what the raven haired boy's eyes tried to tell him, because there were so many emotions in them. He had never noticed that the dark green eyes could hold so much emotion. He saw intelligence, fear and affection and many things that he couldn't identify. He could feel that the eyes were searching his as well, they couldn't stop gazing at each other. Time seemed to stop for a moment.
Draco felt panic rising in his chest, he couldn't stand to be looked upon like this, he couldn't stand to be this close to Harry. He had the feeling that Harry was searching his soul and he certainly didn't like that thought. He was afraid, of the things the other boy would find. He couldn't stand to have Harry despising him - it was too much.
Draco shook his head in an attempt to shake Harry's eyes off of him and jumped up. However, despite his best efforts, he continued to stare at he young man who was lying on the floor. All the while he was backing away in the direction of the bathroom. Harry got up from his laying position, but remained sitting on the floor. He looked up at Draco's eyes.
Draco stopped, shocked at the new expression in the other's eyes. After a short confused look, Harry was watching Draco with understanding. That scared Draco more than anything in his life. Never, had anybody look at him with understanding. He had always known how to prevent that. Nobody could know him. He had to get away.
Draco turned and practically ran into the bathroom. There he stood in front of the mirror and looked in it, but couldn't see anything, but the haunting memory of Harry's eyes that were watching him.
Harry was sitting on the floor and didn't know what to do, but he couldn't continue staring at that door. He sighed. He was confused. He wondered if Draco had ever felt before a little bit like he himself did now. Or were his protective walls strong enough to stop it? But they could clearly be shattered. He wondered what he had to do to see the real Draco Malfoy, and what had made him to the Draco Malfoy that he showed to everybody.
He got up from the floor and sat on the couch trying to read, but it was difficult to concentrate. Every few minutes he would look up to check the door to the bathroom. Draco was gone for almost half an hour. When he returned, Harry looked up at him and saw what he had expected to see. A very self-composed Draco Malfoy stood at the side of the couch, thinking what he should do now. Nothing in his face showed that anything had happened.
Draco sat down, when he saw that Harry was patting the spot beside him as a little help to decide what he should do. Draco looked on his folded hands and tried to think of something that he could say. He looked surprised when he felt Harry tugging at his sleeve and giving him the potions book that he had been reading before Black had disturbed them. He took it gratefully and pretended to read. He really was scared of the fact how good Harry seemed to understand him. He had known that he felt forced to explain his behaviour to him, but he knew as well that he actually rather would like to bath in one of Neville Longbottom's potions than talking about it now.
After half an hour he stopped pretending to be reading. Instead he knew that he had other things to do than brooding about his idiotic feelings. He got up and took the picture book out of Harry's dresser where he had put it the night before.
"Hey, Harry, let's look at that again. You know that Ron and Hermione are coming over in a little while, maybe we find a few pictures of you guys in here."
Harry didn't look like he really liked that thought, but still he scooted closer to Draco, when he sat next to him. Draco purposely ignored the first pages with pictures of the Potter family and looked for some pictures of the golden trio.
"See that? That was in our first winter in Hogwarts during a snowball fight, hey you can even see me in that picture!"
Harry looked intently at the picture and laughed out loud when he saw the image of Draco throwing a snowball at Picture-Harry and hitting his head.
"Yeah, that was actually really a great day, I enjoyed exposing you as a rotten snowball fighter!", Draco's voice was filled with laughter.
"That's a picture from the duelling club in second year. You're standing next to Ron and Hermione and you can even see that crazy git Lockhart and his stupid smile. Busted your ass that day, too. Erm, at least until you started to talk to that snake."
Harry looked up surprised.
"You didn't remember? Yes, you can talk Parseltongue or snake language, it is really uncommon. But what in the world should be normal about you? Here is a picture from, I don't really know, but it must be third year. Looks like a party in your Gryffindor common room. Maybe after the Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw match. But, by Merlin! I have to repeat my statement that you have no manners. You and Weasley are stuffing your faces with chocolate ice cream! It's more over you than in you. And Granger is laying on the floor and laughing, who would have thought that she has a sense of humour?"
Harry took the book from Draco's hands and stared at the picture. The Slytherin could see, that the other was once again trying very hard to remember something that just wouldn't come back. Slowly Harry skimmed through the other pages and looked at the many pictures from evenings in the common room, Quidditch practice and many others.
"They are your best friends. You were friends with Ron since the first day. You wanted to be friends with him and not with me. But that's another story, you befriended Hermione later, but since then nothing could separate the 'Golden Trio'. You really can be happy to have such good friends. But that still doesn't mean that I like them. I think that they are incredible stupid. But don't let that bother you, Dumbledore made sure that I will behave."
Harry who had gazed with fascination at the pictures seemed to be a bit unsure how to react to Draco's monolog. His companion took his hands, when he saw the raven haired boy's uncertainty.
"Harry, I might not like them, but they are your friends and they want to help you. So, please forget what I told you, I don't know what I was thinking when I said that. That is probably the problem, I didn't think. I seem to do that often lately." He became silent but held on to Harry's hands and stared at him, all the while lost in thought.
Suddenly there was a faint plop and a tea tray appeared right in front of them on the table. Harry jerked his hand from his companion's. When he realised that it was only a tray full with cakes and nothing that caught them holding hands, he blushed.
Draco looked really flustered as well and jumped to his feet and started to place the food and cups on the table. Then he looked up at the clock.
"It's ten to five, they will be here soon. Don't you want to fix your hair?"
There was a pause, when Harry stared up in surprised at Draco. The blond on the other side wanted to dig a hole for himself to disappear into. He really wasn't thinking. He couldn't even swear that the silence was an awkward one, and that said something, when there was silence all the time.
"Erm, well, whatever. I just, erm, have to look out of the window."
Harry remained at the couch reading while Draco was walking back and forth between the window and the other side of the room. But he wasn't paying attention to the view. If someone had asked him, he would have said, that it was quite rainy, although the sun was shining brighter than any other time in the last few weeks. But rain matched his mood, so he could not see the sun.
At exactly five o'clock they could hear a loud knocking on the door. Draco jumped surprised, because he had been fully lost in thoughts. Harry looked up and had instantly a scarred impression on his face. Draco, who saw the fear locked his view with the Gryffindor's and smiled reassuringly, although he was a little bit hesitant himself. Before he went to the door and opened it, he put the Malfoy mask back up and looked as self confident as he always tried to make himself seem.
"Ah, Granger and Weasley, how nice to see you.", he used the same sarcastic tone that Sirius Black had to face earlier that day. He continued nearly inaudibly.
"Don't. Do. Anything. To. Stress. Him. Or I will kick you out and will personally make sure, that you are never coming back. Be aware of that fact."
Weasley looked angry and Granger annoyed, but Draco felt enormously pleased. He let them into the room and saw that Harry was standing, too, but behind the couch as if to have some protection.
"Harry!!!! How good to see you!!!", Hermione ran around Draco, past the couch and embraced Harry. Harry tensed and looked very shocked.
"I don't believe it! Let him go, don't you see that he doesn't like it to be so close to you?", Hermione backed away, when she heard Draco's growling.
Harry was shivering and seemed once more to be very afraid of everything, afraid of Hermione, afraid of Draco's tone and so much more. His companion took the few steps to reach him and hugged him. Harry leaned into him and slowly his shivering dissolved.
Ron had moved too, he had put one arm around Hermione's shoulder and glared at the young Malfoy.
"Malfoy, stop behaving like a prat, she's simply happy to see him. She didn't mean to scare him.", Ron was shaking himself, but tried to be composed in front of Harry, although he looked ready to kill Draco Malfoy.
"Hey Harry, good to see you mate. How have you been?"
Everyone was staring at Harry as expecting him to answer properly, but the small boy shrugged and walked around the sofa to sit down.
"O.k. good idea Harry. Let's have some cake. You two take the chairs from our desks and with those words the Malfoy heir sat next to his new friends and made clear, who belonged to whom.
After none of the boys started to take some tea, Hermione got quite annoyed and gave everybody tea and some of the chocolate cake. Ron, who had been delighted when he had seen the cake with the chocolate fudge, glared at Draco, because he wasn't fulfilling his duties as a host, and instead let Hermione do the work. The memory of the Slytherin calling her a mudblood was still fresh, although five years had gone by since that day.
Silently they were munching their cake, but nobody knew what to say. Silence hung over them. Finally Hermione found the courage to say something.
"I…I am sorry Harry. I didn't want to scare you. I missed you so much, please don't think that we won't give you the space that you need. We know that you are the one who has to adapt to such a different life and not us. I can't even start to imagine, how it must be for you. Please, let us help you. We still want to be part of your life and we don't care if you change or if you can't remember, we can make new happy memories together."
Ron had set down his plate with the cake and looked at Harry.
"Yeah mate, we are here for you, don't think that you really have to rely on that….", he stopped desperately trying to find a polite term to call Draco. "…ehrm, Malfoy."
Harry looked at his two former friends and then at his new one. The Gryffindor took the Slytherin's hand and looked at him questioning, but also hopefully. Draco returned the look for a long time and searched Harry's large, expressive eyes for his thoughts. Then Harry turned towards Hermione and Ron and smiled softly again, while he pressed Draco's hand.
"I believe that he wants me to tell you that he understands and that he is not angry at you." He looked as if, he really despised the fact that he was forced to talk civilly to the two people, who he had despised for such a long time, therefore he couldn't refrain from saying: "Although I am."
He jerked away when he got slapped from Harry, but had to laugh when he saw his annoyed face and held his hands up as if saying: Hey, that's me. You can't change a Malfoy.
Ron looked at Hermione and saw the disbelief that he felt mirrored in her expression. That was not their Harry, how could he react so coldly towards them, but be so close to Malfoy. He simply couldn't understand the world anymore. It seemed impossible. He even held his hand! He couldn't stand it anymore and got up from the chair. He looked in Harry's eyes who looked astounded and turned as he saw Malfoy smirk and ran out of the room. Hermione got up to and stood in front of them and tried to think of something to say.
"Thank you for tea and cake. Good to see you. Sorry for, you know… I hope we can see you soon. Maybe tomorrow…."
Draco's eyebrow shot up at the last comment and Hermione became increasingly unsure with every second. And turned quickly and left the room. She wasn't running, but it came close to it.
The Slytherin got up and closed the door and stayed there for a moment. His forehead resting on the door.
Harry who was watching him could see a lot of tension leaving his slender body and came up and put his hand on his shoulder. Draco turned, so that he leaned against the wall and was startled by the little space that was between him and Harry. His eyes grew wide and he couldn't breathe properly. Harry was so close. Then Harry moved. And came closer. Draco couldn't breathe at all. He knew that he should to something, he should stop him, he was responsible. His mind screamed that they shouldn't make a mistake, but he couldn't. Harry came closer. He could feel Harry's sweet breath onto his skin. Closer. And then finally, when the tension seemed unbearable, Harry gave Draco a peck on the cheek, smiled at him and returned to the couch. Draco remained leaning at the door and was glad for the support for he couldn't see anything. He didn't know who he was, where he was, all he knew was the soft touch of Harry's lips and the heat that seemed to radiate from his body.
Author's Note:
I hope you liked the chapter. I wanted to show a few things and I hope it got across. It was very important for me to make clear that Harry is not stupid, or maybe mentally handicapped. He simply doesn't talk and can't remember his past (for the moment). The fact that he doesn't remember so many things (for example: how to use a shower) seems to make him helpless, but it is just something he has to deal with. I am also aware of the fact that he knows some of the normal, every-day necessities like how to eat with fork and knife, but not how to use a shower. I am not an expert when it comes to medicine, but as far as I know people with amnesia suffer from different kinds of breaches in their memory… So, I adapted to that.
Another thing that I wanted to make clear was the fact that there is an enormous tension between the two young men and not only from Draco's part.
I hope you enjoyed the short passage in Harry's view, as long as he doesn't talk, it is difficult to write, and the fic focuses for the moment on Draco and his point of view. That may be mixed in the future.
I know that you needed to wait a long time, but if you read my authors profile you know why I didn't have much time. I don't know whether I will be able to update in the next few weeks. But maybe I will be able to squeeze it into my schedule. I really can't tell. But, please, hang on.
If you don't have an account here, where you can activate an author's alert and you are REALLY interested to know when I update, then write an e-mail to the address that can be found in my profile. I will give you notice as soon as I get the chapter out, of course I don't know if I can handle to many request - but otherwise I hope to get really lot's of request! :-) - Because that would mean that you like my story.
Anyways, please review!
A huge THANK YOU to my reviewers:
Angel74: Thank you for the compliments about the last chapter. Writing the scene between Ron and Hermione was not easy for me. It is after all my first Fanfic. I hope you are not disappointed of the meeting. I wanted to make clear that their situation has changed completely. Harry doesn't take their friendship for granted, because he can't remember it. He still trusts only Draco and Ron and Hermione had to see that he changed and if they want to be his friend, they first have to earn his trust.
Pip3: I take that as a compliment! Thank you.
CuriousDreamWeaver: Thank you for being my beta! I have to agree, a story needs more than two characters to be interesting, although it's much easier to write Harry/Draco scenes! *smirks* Thank you for saying that my English isn't that bad. It means a lot to me, especially from you. You have seen ALL the mistakes from the last chapter.
driven to insanity: Thank you. Yeah, Draco seems a little bit possessive. But it's the first time he is responsible for somebody else and he takes it seriously.
curlytop: Thank you very much for all your compliments. We all love Harry/Draco! Let's see what will happen with Ron and Hermione, I guess only the muses will know. I tried very hard to make the demise of Voldemort and all the action that comes with it, as believable as possible. Great, that you enjoyed the Snape/McGonagall scene. It's difficult to write funny scenes, but I think those to have much potential in that area.