A week later Draco was released from the hospital. Draco had taken every opportunity to push the nurse further into insanity, as he felt that he had to take over for both himself and Harry, now that Harry was gone. Given the fact that his father was now dead, Draco didn't feel able to live at Malfoy Manor any longer, and promptly packed his things to stay elsewhere. Elsewhere happened to be a small one bedroom flat in Hogsmeade.
There had been no sign of Harry since he had left Draco.
Months passed, slowly turning into years, and Draco had finally had his fill of the Daily Prophet running fake stories about him, and decided to leave the wizarding world for good. He didn't want to be that arrogant little prince that everyone thought he was. He was tired of keeping the trade sneer on his face when all he wanted to do was forget that part of his life - he wanted to move on. And so he did. Draco had packed his bags again for the second time in two years, having sold all of his father's possessions, the Manor, and had taken the profits for himself, moved.
He wasn't really ready to leave all that he had ever known, but the need to move on was so great that he decided to travel. Though he wasn't sure if it was just an excuse to find a certain black-haired green-eyed youth, someone whom Draco had only just recently discovered to have left the wizarding world.
It angered Draco to think that Harry hadn't even bothered to visit him and let him know where he was going all those months ago when Draco had been in the hospital. Hell, the guy had never even tried to get a hold of him to say where he was and why he abandoned Draco. The blond man, for he was now twenty-one, had thought they were friends. It hurt him deeply to think that the days that they shared together had meant nothing. But then if that was true, then why did Harry kiss his cheek before he left?
Draco thought this as he sat and waited for the boarding call of his flight. He had opted to take the muggle form of transportation, as he had nearly severed all of his ties to the magical world. For he still carried his wand, a few books and a copy of his potions text, book marked by a ratty picture of Snape and himself taken back in first year. It was the only picture Draco had in which Snape had been attempting to recreate something close to a smile, coming out as more of a smirk than anything else.
"Now boarding flight 167 to Napoli, Italy." Came a rather high-pitched voice over the intercom.
Draco picked up his small bag of personal effects, and walked in the direction of Gate F, Flight 167. He gave the attendant his boarding pass and smiled at her as she passed it back. He had bought a first class ticket, feeling that if he was going to travel the muggle way – he was going to do it in comfort.
Settling himself into the comfortable leather chair, he crossed his slim legs elegantly and pulled out a muggle novel. He had picked the book Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, after a kindly old lady had recommended it to him. He was fully immersed into Claire and Jamie's love affair when the call came that the plane was landing. Draco tucked the book back into his bag safely and fastened his seatbelt.
Draco put on his stylish sunglasses as he stepped out into the humid airport. He rolled up the sleeves on his long sleeve shirt revealing his pale arms. He made a mental note to pick up sunscreen. After he had gone through customs, he made his way out into the parking lot hoping to find a taxi, stopping at the curb to adjust his bag over his shoulder; promptly hitting the person beside him, who let out a short curse.
"Watch where you're swinging that thing." Came an oddly familiar voice.
Draco turned, "Neville?"
"...Malfoy?"
The two shared a look of astonishment and disbelief. Draco tipped his head towards the ground slightly, looking over his sunglasses at Neville. He looked Neville up and down before righting the position of his head again. "Why are you here?"
"My Gran wanted to move here... she's dead now, and I'm stuck driving cabs." Came the squeak of a response.
"...Really. That's... nice." Draco cleared throat as he replied.
Neville rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his coarse hair, "I see you haven't changed Malfoy. Still that pompous little prince you always claimed to be."
"Well look who grew a back bone." Draco sneered, ignoring the little voice inside that told him he should at least try and be nice to the man infront of him. "So... If you do drive a cab... why aren't you offering me a ride?"
"I don't take money from enemies." Neville replied hotly.
Draco smirked, "Who said I was going to pay?"
"Why aren't you ever nice to me?"
"Neville... the day I'm nice to you, is the day that you finally succeed in making a proper potion." Draco smiled at him and moved to open the door of the cab waiting infront of him.
"I...you-"
"Goodbye, Neville." Draco slammed the door and looked forward.
Draco directed the cab driver to the location of his hotel, amused to see that Neville still had the same reaction to his comment as he did when they were still in school. He rolled the window down and took his sunglasses off, letting the ocean breeze wash over him. Draco felt at home here, like this was always the place he was destined to be. Nevermind that this was the first time he had ever set foot here.
As the cab stopped infront of a shabby building, Draco leant forward and spoke to the driver. "I thought I told you to take me to my hotel..."
"I did Sir, this is it."
Draco turned and looked out the window. The tall building was nearly falling apart. There were large portions of the outside walls where the paint had chipped off – revealing the worn out stone underneath it. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Not at all Sir."
Draco groaned and put his sunglasses back on. He reached for his bag and handed the cab driver the money. "Thank-you for the ride." He opened the door and shook his head, standing at the foot of the entrance to the hotel.
"Have a good day Sir! Enjoy your stay in Napoli!" The cab driver chirped at him through the open passenger side window.
Draco waved the man away with an absent shake of his hand. Draco looked down and shook his head stepping onto the walkway, mumbling under his breath. "I'm a Malfoy... and this is were I'm staying? What a dump."
As soon as Draco had gotten to his room, after an unnecessarily long encounter with the host that he wished he could forget, he deposited his things and decided to take a look around the city.
Picking up a map on the way out, he decided that he would check out the markets first. When he arrived at the crowded bazaar, he was beside himself with confusion. He had never seen so many muggles in one place before, shouting various things across the street at one another, and rushing from one side of the dusty street to the next. A flash of purple caught Draco's attention, and he turned to see a vine of green with small purple and white flowers, their scent was sweet and Draco moved to reach out his hand and take one. Suddenly Draco found himself being pushed roughly to the side as a distraught mother chased after her toddler, who at the moment was swinging a sack of grapes around his head.
Fumbling slightly after the encounter, Draco tried to stand straight once more but was shouldered from yet another Italian muggle, causing Draco to let out one of his squeaks. The push sent him tumbling to the ground, where he sat and spat out dust and cursed.
"I thought Malfoy's didn't squeak or get dirty."
Draco didn't register the remark as he took the offered hand and dusted himself off. "Stupid git, pushing me... of all the nerve." Draco had bent over and was brushing off his pant legs as the remark finally set in. He snapped his head up and stared at the person standing infront of him. "Potter?!"
Harry had discovered the joy of hair products, it seemed. His hair was still unruly – but now it was unruly in a stylish way. His skin was a golden brown from long hours in the sun, and his emerald eyes were still as intense as they ever were. Harry had grown in the past two years – now standing a few inches taller than Draco. The way he moved, even stood, told Draco that Harry was still active. The long lean muscles of his body looked to be honed from those past years of Quidditch. Harry wore a pair of board shorts with a white wife beater, which clung slightly to his torso due to the heat. On his left wrist Harry wore a gold interlaced bracelet that Draco suspected Harry had received from his father.
Harry smiled and nodded his head. "Yes?"
Immediately Draco reared back and pushed Harry. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Okay... first of all – Ow!" Harry replied angrily. "And second of all, I've been here."
"Why didn't you bloody well tell me where you were going?" Draco fumed as he pushed his sunglasses onto the top of his head – revealing flashing silver eyes. Eyes that did not reflect anger, but a mixture of hurt and joy.
"I sent you owls, and why do you care anyway?"
"I thought we were friends!"
"We are...Calm down!" Harry took Draco's shoulders in his hands and lent forward. "You're acting like I abandoned you."
"...You did. For two years Harry." Draco stared hard into Harry's eyes as he spoke.
Harry stood silently, the only indication that he had heard Draco being that his fingers were absentmindedly caressing the material of Draco's shirt. Then he spoke, "If you wanted to see me so badly, why didn't you try and reach me?"
"I...well... I wanted to but I didn't know where you had gone." Came Draco's now soft voice.
Harry let his hands fall to his sides, jamming them in his own pockets. "So... where are you staying?"
"Some rundown shack that the owners refer to as a hotel and rats in the bathtub are considered a welcome. Like those little mints you find on the pillows in real hotels."
"Eugh... I thought you had taste."
"Well it looked like a nice place in the picture!" Draco retorted quickly. "Now that I think of it, the picture must have been at least 10 years old."
Harry smiled. "If you don't have any plans tonight, and you don't feel like eating rat al la mode, did you want to come to dinner with me? I know this great place near the sea."
"What's that? An offer for a date?" Draco teased.
"Phht... No. It's an offer to feed you. You look like you could use it – I can't have your death weighing on my conscience now can I?"
Glancing down at his slender body, Draco raised a hand to his chest in mock trauma, "Are you saying that you don't fancy the way I look?"
Harry smirked, "Oh course I fancy the way you look Draco. I just think that if you ate something once and a while, I wouldn't have to worry about you stabbing me with those pointy elbows in our fits of passion."
Draco scowled, "Like I would ever be caught alone in a room with you Potter."
Quirking an eyebrow, Harry crossed his arms and replied, "I didn't say anything about a room, or that fact that we would be alone. In fact, I was thinking that the more public the better."
"So how about that dinner?" Draco smiled slightly as he began to walk past Harry.
"Dinner is this way." Harry pointed forwards in the opposite direction that Draco was currently heading in.
"...Oh. Well then lead on."
Harry grinned down at Draco. "Why, Mr. Malfoy... are you blushing?"
Draco slightly hid his face. "No. Now lead."
Harry laughed and began to walk forward, and Draco tried to keep up with him but was quickly being swallowed by the crowd. Reaching out a hand, he latched onto the back of Harry's shirt. Harry turned somewhat and held his hand out behind him. Draco looked at the offered hand before clasping it, moving around to Harry's side as he let himself be lead to the restaurant.
When the pair of boys came upon the small but well kept building, Draco found himself grinning. This was exactly the type of place that only Harry would want to bring him to. The walls, like so many of the other buildings, were white-washed stone, the masonry well crafted. Palm trees had been planted around the main gate entrance, the long leaves brushing together, creating a canopy. Vines grew up the side of the walls, their small purple and white flowers giving off a sweet scent as Harry pulled Draco to the door. Still looking around, Draco noticed that there was an area outside that had tables set up so you could enjoy the fresh air. He immediately decided that he wanted to eat outside.
"Welcome," said the bright-eyed hostess, "Will it just be the two of you today?" she asked.
"Yes." Harry replied, still holding onto Draco's hand.
"We want to sit outside." Draco added, "I mean to say... that is... if it wouldn't be too much trouble?"
"Oh not at all! Let me show you to your seats." She smiled and led the boys towards a small table in the corner located beside a half wall overlooking the sea. The table was secluded from everyone else, plants, and statues creating a makeshift wall between that table and all the rest.
The hostess gave them both menus. She motioned for a waitress to come over, smiling and stepping aside when the girl took her place. The waitress stood silently looking over at the sea as they decided what they would like to drink.
"May I please have a glass of Merlot?" Draco smiled as he placed the menu down infront of him.
"Just a rum and coke for me please." Harry set down his menu.
"Certainly, I will be right back with your drinks, Sirs." She smiled and took the menus, heading back towards the building.
"She reminds me of a house elf."
"Draco!"
"What? Well with that nose and those ears... she can't be far from."
"You know, minus the fact that she doesn't have pointy ears, isn't 2 feet tall, can't do magic and doesn't refer to herself in the third person, I think you're right on track." Harry said sarcastically.
Half an hour, and two glasses of alcohol later, they were sitting enjoying their meals. Draco had ordered the Garlic Orange Shrimp, which he was currently savoring. Harry had ordered the Grilled Salmon with Tomatoes. Draco looked up from his meal and at Harry and laughed.
"What?"
Draco had to fight down the urge to tell Harry that he looked absolutely adorable with tomato sauce on the corner of his mouth. "You have tomato sauce... just there." He pointed to a place on his face mirroring the side that the tomato sauce was on.
Being himself, Harry wiped the wrong side. "Did I get it?"
"...No." Draco smirked and reached over the table with his finger and wiped the tomato sauce off of Harry's lip, quirking his eyebrow before putting his finger into his mouth.
Harry raised his eyebrows and smiled slightly as he watched Draco.
"What?" Draco asked as he pulled his finger from his mouth.
Shrugging, Harry answered, "Nothing. I was just wondering if you were aware that you just basically licked my face."
"What! I did not!" Draco protested loudly.
"Well fine then," Harry said, now grinning, "But you did just suck on a finger that had my food on it."
"Jealous of my finger?"
"Possibly." Harry smirked and looked down at his food, cutting the salmon.
Draco smiled and looked towards the sea. He held his fork loosely in his hand. "It's beautiful isn't it?"
"What is?" Harry looked up chewing.
"The sea you dolt."
"Err... Yeah. It is pretty, but I suppose since I live here the novelty of it has worn off."
"You live here?" Draco said enviously.
"Yeah. You see that house there?" Harry pointed to a house in the distance that was large enough to be seen from the restaurant. "The one on the cliff? Near the shore?"
Draco turned around to look in the direction that Harry was pointing. "Yeah..."
"That's my house."
Harry saw Draco's jaw drop. "You're kidding me!"
"No."
Draco twisted and stared at Harry, his eyes wide. "You're kidding me!"
"...No... I'm not. And you can close your mouth now."
"I... its... heba..." Draco cleared his throat. "You're paying for this meal, I'll have you know that."
Harry laughed. "I already came to that conclusion when I asked you to dinner."
"Well... good." Draco speared a piece of shrimp and delicately popped it into his mouth. He glanced over his shoulder again at the huge house overlooking the ocean and shook his head. "And I half expected you to live in a shack."
"Well it has plenty of bedrooms if you would like to stay with me instead of staying your charming hotel."
Draco sputtered. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah... I'm not about to let you stay in a place that will likely fall down around you while you sleep. I don't hate you quite that much."
Considering it for all of about 2 seconds, Draco jumped on the offer. "I would like that."
"Good, it's a deal then."
The remainder of the meal passed with pleasant conversation, until the waitress showed up and asked them if they would like dessert. Pondering over the menu, Draco ordered for them. "We'd like the Stuffed Baked Pears please."
"We would?"
"Yes."
"Alright then. We'll take the Pears."
The waitress laughed shook her head, muttering something about how cute a couple they were as she left them alone once more. Harry and Draco had heard the couple comment and simply stared at eachother. Breaking into a smile, Harry looked down and Draco caught the slight blush on his cheeks.
Draco nudged Harry's foot under the table, "Couple? Well if she wants to believe that, shouldn't we give her something to confirm it?"
Harry's head shot up and he looked as though he was about to faint from shock, "What! You, me... I mean... what?"
Draco grinned, he liked to make Harry squirm, "Just joking Potter." He said, narrowly missing the flash of disappointment on the other boy's tanned features.
"Oh... okay."
There was an awkward silence where both boys tried hard to not let the other see how furiously they were blushing. Neither noticing that they stole quick glances at each other when the other wasn't looking.
The waitress had arrived back with their food. She sat down the dessert down infront of them, the intricate plate design catching Draco's eye as he had always respected the amount of time and effort that went into making fine china.
"Here you are gentlemen, would you are for anything else? Coffee perhaps?"
"Oh... May I please have a cup of hot chocolate?" Harry smiled up at her his features alight.
"Certainly Sir. Would you like anything Sir?" She turned to Draco.
"Espresso?"
"Certainly. I will be right back." She smiled pleasantly and turned to leave.
Draco and Harry looked at the dessert. There was a problem; there was only one spoon.
"Looks like we'll be sharing utensils. You don't have any diseases do you?" Harry inquired as they both reached for the spoon, their fingers touching.
"I most certainly do not. And who says you get the spoon first?"
"This says I get it first." Harry grabbed for the spoon and licked it.
"Aw...aw... oh ewww..."
Laughing Harry removed said spoon from his mouth and dug into the pear. He smiled as Draco looked at him with a look of longing in his eyes. "Want some?" he said while holding the spoon out with a bit of pear on the end of it.
Draco shrugged his shoulders and lent forward, taking the spoon in his mouth. Just as his lips left the spoon, the waitress appeared again, holding their drinks.
She smiled widely and set down the drinks. "Will that be all then?"
Draco looked up at her and nodded once then looked away and cursed the blush that was spreading across his face. "Can we have the bill please?"
"Certainly." Came the response then the sound of receding footsteps.
"That was fun... Mmm... Chocolate!" Harry exclaimed as he sipped at the hot liquid, whipped cream frosting his upper lip.
Draco had to suppress the urge to repeat what he had done with the tomato sauce, and was disappointed when Harry licked the offending whipped cream off his lip. Turning his attention to his espresso, Draco studied it momentarily before downing it one shot.
"Are you sure you should do that?" Draco heard Harry say as he closed his eyes, enjoying the strong caffeine. Coffee was something that he thought the muggles were geniuses for creating.
"Oh I'm quite sure."
"If you say so..."
Twenty minutes later the bill had been paid and Draco's bags had been collected from his shotty hotel. The pair made their way along the cliff pathway to Harry's house, the sun falling farther out of sight with each step.
Kylia: bet you didn't expect Draco to run into Neville of all people did ya!! DID YA!!!!!!
Raei: (puts her hands on Kylia's shoulders) Calm down... did you take your pill today hunnyyy?
Kylia: (mutters something about bunnies and hums under her breath) Ahh.... BunNIES! What? Oh yes. As I was saying, don't you find this a fascinating story with a marvelous plot line and such? Quite good if I do say so my self..... Rice, SpORK... bUnniES!!!
Raei: Oh dear... ABOUT THE STORY... (shoves Kylia into a small chair and ties her up) (clears her throat) I do hope that you've enjoyed this chapter – as it was fun to write with Miss. 7 personalities over there in the chair.
Kylia: 10!! 10 personalities!!
Raei: I should invest in a gag...
Draco: Indeed. (crosses his arms)
Kylia: Cross this! (moves to get up)
Draco: EEP! (runs into Harry's arms) Save me!
Harry: Fade to black already...!
-FADE TO BLACK-
Reviews waaantedddddddddd!!! 5 at least before the next chaptah! OR! We could lie and just post this without any reveiws... cuz you know, that works too...
There had been no sign of Harry since he had left Draco.
Months passed, slowly turning into years, and Draco had finally had his fill of the Daily Prophet running fake stories about him, and decided to leave the wizarding world for good. He didn't want to be that arrogant little prince that everyone thought he was. He was tired of keeping the trade sneer on his face when all he wanted to do was forget that part of his life - he wanted to move on. And so he did. Draco had packed his bags again for the second time in two years, having sold all of his father's possessions, the Manor, and had taken the profits for himself, moved.
He wasn't really ready to leave all that he had ever known, but the need to move on was so great that he decided to travel. Though he wasn't sure if it was just an excuse to find a certain black-haired green-eyed youth, someone whom Draco had only just recently discovered to have left the wizarding world.
It angered Draco to think that Harry hadn't even bothered to visit him and let him know where he was going all those months ago when Draco had been in the hospital. Hell, the guy had never even tried to get a hold of him to say where he was and why he abandoned Draco. The blond man, for he was now twenty-one, had thought they were friends. It hurt him deeply to think that the days that they shared together had meant nothing. But then if that was true, then why did Harry kiss his cheek before he left?
Draco thought this as he sat and waited for the boarding call of his flight. He had opted to take the muggle form of transportation, as he had nearly severed all of his ties to the magical world. For he still carried his wand, a few books and a copy of his potions text, book marked by a ratty picture of Snape and himself taken back in first year. It was the only picture Draco had in which Snape had been attempting to recreate something close to a smile, coming out as more of a smirk than anything else.
"Now boarding flight 167 to Napoli, Italy." Came a rather high-pitched voice over the intercom.
Draco picked up his small bag of personal effects, and walked in the direction of Gate F, Flight 167. He gave the attendant his boarding pass and smiled at her as she passed it back. He had bought a first class ticket, feeling that if he was going to travel the muggle way – he was going to do it in comfort.
Settling himself into the comfortable leather chair, he crossed his slim legs elegantly and pulled out a muggle novel. He had picked the book Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, after a kindly old lady had recommended it to him. He was fully immersed into Claire and Jamie's love affair when the call came that the plane was landing. Draco tucked the book back into his bag safely and fastened his seatbelt.
Draco put on his stylish sunglasses as he stepped out into the humid airport. He rolled up the sleeves on his long sleeve shirt revealing his pale arms. He made a mental note to pick up sunscreen. After he had gone through customs, he made his way out into the parking lot hoping to find a taxi, stopping at the curb to adjust his bag over his shoulder; promptly hitting the person beside him, who let out a short curse.
"Watch where you're swinging that thing." Came an oddly familiar voice.
Draco turned, "Neville?"
"...Malfoy?"
The two shared a look of astonishment and disbelief. Draco tipped his head towards the ground slightly, looking over his sunglasses at Neville. He looked Neville up and down before righting the position of his head again. "Why are you here?"
"My Gran wanted to move here... she's dead now, and I'm stuck driving cabs." Came the squeak of a response.
"...Really. That's... nice." Draco cleared throat as he replied.
Neville rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his coarse hair, "I see you haven't changed Malfoy. Still that pompous little prince you always claimed to be."
"Well look who grew a back bone." Draco sneered, ignoring the little voice inside that told him he should at least try and be nice to the man infront of him. "So... If you do drive a cab... why aren't you offering me a ride?"
"I don't take money from enemies." Neville replied hotly.
Draco smirked, "Who said I was going to pay?"
"Why aren't you ever nice to me?"
"Neville... the day I'm nice to you, is the day that you finally succeed in making a proper potion." Draco smiled at him and moved to open the door of the cab waiting infront of him.
"I...you-"
"Goodbye, Neville." Draco slammed the door and looked forward.
Draco directed the cab driver to the location of his hotel, amused to see that Neville still had the same reaction to his comment as he did when they were still in school. He rolled the window down and took his sunglasses off, letting the ocean breeze wash over him. Draco felt at home here, like this was always the place he was destined to be. Nevermind that this was the first time he had ever set foot here.
As the cab stopped infront of a shabby building, Draco leant forward and spoke to the driver. "I thought I told you to take me to my hotel..."
"I did Sir, this is it."
Draco turned and looked out the window. The tall building was nearly falling apart. There were large portions of the outside walls where the paint had chipped off – revealing the worn out stone underneath it. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Not at all Sir."
Draco groaned and put his sunglasses back on. He reached for his bag and handed the cab driver the money. "Thank-you for the ride." He opened the door and shook his head, standing at the foot of the entrance to the hotel.
"Have a good day Sir! Enjoy your stay in Napoli!" The cab driver chirped at him through the open passenger side window.
Draco waved the man away with an absent shake of his hand. Draco looked down and shook his head stepping onto the walkway, mumbling under his breath. "I'm a Malfoy... and this is were I'm staying? What a dump."
As soon as Draco had gotten to his room, after an unnecessarily long encounter with the host that he wished he could forget, he deposited his things and decided to take a look around the city.
Picking up a map on the way out, he decided that he would check out the markets first. When he arrived at the crowded bazaar, he was beside himself with confusion. He had never seen so many muggles in one place before, shouting various things across the street at one another, and rushing from one side of the dusty street to the next. A flash of purple caught Draco's attention, and he turned to see a vine of green with small purple and white flowers, their scent was sweet and Draco moved to reach out his hand and take one. Suddenly Draco found himself being pushed roughly to the side as a distraught mother chased after her toddler, who at the moment was swinging a sack of grapes around his head.
Fumbling slightly after the encounter, Draco tried to stand straight once more but was shouldered from yet another Italian muggle, causing Draco to let out one of his squeaks. The push sent him tumbling to the ground, where he sat and spat out dust and cursed.
"I thought Malfoy's didn't squeak or get dirty."
Draco didn't register the remark as he took the offered hand and dusted himself off. "Stupid git, pushing me... of all the nerve." Draco had bent over and was brushing off his pant legs as the remark finally set in. He snapped his head up and stared at the person standing infront of him. "Potter?!"
Harry had discovered the joy of hair products, it seemed. His hair was still unruly – but now it was unruly in a stylish way. His skin was a golden brown from long hours in the sun, and his emerald eyes were still as intense as they ever were. Harry had grown in the past two years – now standing a few inches taller than Draco. The way he moved, even stood, told Draco that Harry was still active. The long lean muscles of his body looked to be honed from those past years of Quidditch. Harry wore a pair of board shorts with a white wife beater, which clung slightly to his torso due to the heat. On his left wrist Harry wore a gold interlaced bracelet that Draco suspected Harry had received from his father.
Harry smiled and nodded his head. "Yes?"
Immediately Draco reared back and pushed Harry. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Okay... first of all – Ow!" Harry replied angrily. "And second of all, I've been here."
"Why didn't you bloody well tell me where you were going?" Draco fumed as he pushed his sunglasses onto the top of his head – revealing flashing silver eyes. Eyes that did not reflect anger, but a mixture of hurt and joy.
"I sent you owls, and why do you care anyway?"
"I thought we were friends!"
"We are...Calm down!" Harry took Draco's shoulders in his hands and lent forward. "You're acting like I abandoned you."
"...You did. For two years Harry." Draco stared hard into Harry's eyes as he spoke.
Harry stood silently, the only indication that he had heard Draco being that his fingers were absentmindedly caressing the material of Draco's shirt. Then he spoke, "If you wanted to see me so badly, why didn't you try and reach me?"
"I...well... I wanted to but I didn't know where you had gone." Came Draco's now soft voice.
Harry let his hands fall to his sides, jamming them in his own pockets. "So... where are you staying?"
"Some rundown shack that the owners refer to as a hotel and rats in the bathtub are considered a welcome. Like those little mints you find on the pillows in real hotels."
"Eugh... I thought you had taste."
"Well it looked like a nice place in the picture!" Draco retorted quickly. "Now that I think of it, the picture must have been at least 10 years old."
Harry smiled. "If you don't have any plans tonight, and you don't feel like eating rat al la mode, did you want to come to dinner with me? I know this great place near the sea."
"What's that? An offer for a date?" Draco teased.
"Phht... No. It's an offer to feed you. You look like you could use it – I can't have your death weighing on my conscience now can I?"
Glancing down at his slender body, Draco raised a hand to his chest in mock trauma, "Are you saying that you don't fancy the way I look?"
Harry smirked, "Oh course I fancy the way you look Draco. I just think that if you ate something once and a while, I wouldn't have to worry about you stabbing me with those pointy elbows in our fits of passion."
Draco scowled, "Like I would ever be caught alone in a room with you Potter."
Quirking an eyebrow, Harry crossed his arms and replied, "I didn't say anything about a room, or that fact that we would be alone. In fact, I was thinking that the more public the better."
"So how about that dinner?" Draco smiled slightly as he began to walk past Harry.
"Dinner is this way." Harry pointed forwards in the opposite direction that Draco was currently heading in.
"...Oh. Well then lead on."
Harry grinned down at Draco. "Why, Mr. Malfoy... are you blushing?"
Draco slightly hid his face. "No. Now lead."
Harry laughed and began to walk forward, and Draco tried to keep up with him but was quickly being swallowed by the crowd. Reaching out a hand, he latched onto the back of Harry's shirt. Harry turned somewhat and held his hand out behind him. Draco looked at the offered hand before clasping it, moving around to Harry's side as he let himself be lead to the restaurant.
When the pair of boys came upon the small but well kept building, Draco found himself grinning. This was exactly the type of place that only Harry would want to bring him to. The walls, like so many of the other buildings, were white-washed stone, the masonry well crafted. Palm trees had been planted around the main gate entrance, the long leaves brushing together, creating a canopy. Vines grew up the side of the walls, their small purple and white flowers giving off a sweet scent as Harry pulled Draco to the door. Still looking around, Draco noticed that there was an area outside that had tables set up so you could enjoy the fresh air. He immediately decided that he wanted to eat outside.
"Welcome," said the bright-eyed hostess, "Will it just be the two of you today?" she asked.
"Yes." Harry replied, still holding onto Draco's hand.
"We want to sit outside." Draco added, "I mean to say... that is... if it wouldn't be too much trouble?"
"Oh not at all! Let me show you to your seats." She smiled and led the boys towards a small table in the corner located beside a half wall overlooking the sea. The table was secluded from everyone else, plants, and statues creating a makeshift wall between that table and all the rest.
The hostess gave them both menus. She motioned for a waitress to come over, smiling and stepping aside when the girl took her place. The waitress stood silently looking over at the sea as they decided what they would like to drink.
"May I please have a glass of Merlot?" Draco smiled as he placed the menu down infront of him.
"Just a rum and coke for me please." Harry set down his menu.
"Certainly, I will be right back with your drinks, Sirs." She smiled and took the menus, heading back towards the building.
"She reminds me of a house elf."
"Draco!"
"What? Well with that nose and those ears... she can't be far from."
"You know, minus the fact that she doesn't have pointy ears, isn't 2 feet tall, can't do magic and doesn't refer to herself in the third person, I think you're right on track." Harry said sarcastically.
Half an hour, and two glasses of alcohol later, they were sitting enjoying their meals. Draco had ordered the Garlic Orange Shrimp, which he was currently savoring. Harry had ordered the Grilled Salmon with Tomatoes. Draco looked up from his meal and at Harry and laughed.
"What?"
Draco had to fight down the urge to tell Harry that he looked absolutely adorable with tomato sauce on the corner of his mouth. "You have tomato sauce... just there." He pointed to a place on his face mirroring the side that the tomato sauce was on.
Being himself, Harry wiped the wrong side. "Did I get it?"
"...No." Draco smirked and reached over the table with his finger and wiped the tomato sauce off of Harry's lip, quirking his eyebrow before putting his finger into his mouth.
Harry raised his eyebrows and smiled slightly as he watched Draco.
"What?" Draco asked as he pulled his finger from his mouth.
Shrugging, Harry answered, "Nothing. I was just wondering if you were aware that you just basically licked my face."
"What! I did not!" Draco protested loudly.
"Well fine then," Harry said, now grinning, "But you did just suck on a finger that had my food on it."
"Jealous of my finger?"
"Possibly." Harry smirked and looked down at his food, cutting the salmon.
Draco smiled and looked towards the sea. He held his fork loosely in his hand. "It's beautiful isn't it?"
"What is?" Harry looked up chewing.
"The sea you dolt."
"Err... Yeah. It is pretty, but I suppose since I live here the novelty of it has worn off."
"You live here?" Draco said enviously.
"Yeah. You see that house there?" Harry pointed to a house in the distance that was large enough to be seen from the restaurant. "The one on the cliff? Near the shore?"
Draco turned around to look in the direction that Harry was pointing. "Yeah..."
"That's my house."
Harry saw Draco's jaw drop. "You're kidding me!"
"No."
Draco twisted and stared at Harry, his eyes wide. "You're kidding me!"
"...No... I'm not. And you can close your mouth now."
"I... its... heba..." Draco cleared his throat. "You're paying for this meal, I'll have you know that."
Harry laughed. "I already came to that conclusion when I asked you to dinner."
"Well... good." Draco speared a piece of shrimp and delicately popped it into his mouth. He glanced over his shoulder again at the huge house overlooking the ocean and shook his head. "And I half expected you to live in a shack."
"Well it has plenty of bedrooms if you would like to stay with me instead of staying your charming hotel."
Draco sputtered. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah... I'm not about to let you stay in a place that will likely fall down around you while you sleep. I don't hate you quite that much."
Considering it for all of about 2 seconds, Draco jumped on the offer. "I would like that."
"Good, it's a deal then."
The remainder of the meal passed with pleasant conversation, until the waitress showed up and asked them if they would like dessert. Pondering over the menu, Draco ordered for them. "We'd like the Stuffed Baked Pears please."
"We would?"
"Yes."
"Alright then. We'll take the Pears."
The waitress laughed shook her head, muttering something about how cute a couple they were as she left them alone once more. Harry and Draco had heard the couple comment and simply stared at eachother. Breaking into a smile, Harry looked down and Draco caught the slight blush on his cheeks.
Draco nudged Harry's foot under the table, "Couple? Well if she wants to believe that, shouldn't we give her something to confirm it?"
Harry's head shot up and he looked as though he was about to faint from shock, "What! You, me... I mean... what?"
Draco grinned, he liked to make Harry squirm, "Just joking Potter." He said, narrowly missing the flash of disappointment on the other boy's tanned features.
"Oh... okay."
There was an awkward silence where both boys tried hard to not let the other see how furiously they were blushing. Neither noticing that they stole quick glances at each other when the other wasn't looking.
The waitress had arrived back with their food. She sat down the dessert down infront of them, the intricate plate design catching Draco's eye as he had always respected the amount of time and effort that went into making fine china.
"Here you are gentlemen, would you are for anything else? Coffee perhaps?"
"Oh... May I please have a cup of hot chocolate?" Harry smiled up at her his features alight.
"Certainly Sir. Would you like anything Sir?" She turned to Draco.
"Espresso?"
"Certainly. I will be right back." She smiled pleasantly and turned to leave.
Draco and Harry looked at the dessert. There was a problem; there was only one spoon.
"Looks like we'll be sharing utensils. You don't have any diseases do you?" Harry inquired as they both reached for the spoon, their fingers touching.
"I most certainly do not. And who says you get the spoon first?"
"This says I get it first." Harry grabbed for the spoon and licked it.
"Aw...aw... oh ewww..."
Laughing Harry removed said spoon from his mouth and dug into the pear. He smiled as Draco looked at him with a look of longing in his eyes. "Want some?" he said while holding the spoon out with a bit of pear on the end of it.
Draco shrugged his shoulders and lent forward, taking the spoon in his mouth. Just as his lips left the spoon, the waitress appeared again, holding their drinks.
She smiled widely and set down the drinks. "Will that be all then?"
Draco looked up at her and nodded once then looked away and cursed the blush that was spreading across his face. "Can we have the bill please?"
"Certainly." Came the response then the sound of receding footsteps.
"That was fun... Mmm... Chocolate!" Harry exclaimed as he sipped at the hot liquid, whipped cream frosting his upper lip.
Draco had to suppress the urge to repeat what he had done with the tomato sauce, and was disappointed when Harry licked the offending whipped cream off his lip. Turning his attention to his espresso, Draco studied it momentarily before downing it one shot.
"Are you sure you should do that?" Draco heard Harry say as he closed his eyes, enjoying the strong caffeine. Coffee was something that he thought the muggles were geniuses for creating.
"Oh I'm quite sure."
"If you say so..."
Twenty minutes later the bill had been paid and Draco's bags had been collected from his shotty hotel. The pair made their way along the cliff pathway to Harry's house, the sun falling farther out of sight with each step.
Kylia: bet you didn't expect Draco to run into Neville of all people did ya!! DID YA!!!!!!
Raei: (puts her hands on Kylia's shoulders) Calm down... did you take your pill today hunnyyy?
Kylia: (mutters something about bunnies and hums under her breath) Ahh.... BunNIES! What? Oh yes. As I was saying, don't you find this a fascinating story with a marvelous plot line and such? Quite good if I do say so my self..... Rice, SpORK... bUnniES!!!
Raei: Oh dear... ABOUT THE STORY... (shoves Kylia into a small chair and ties her up) (clears her throat) I do hope that you've enjoyed this chapter – as it was fun to write with Miss. 7 personalities over there in the chair.
Kylia: 10!! 10 personalities!!
Raei: I should invest in a gag...
Draco: Indeed. (crosses his arms)
Kylia: Cross this! (moves to get up)
Draco: EEP! (runs into Harry's arms) Save me!
Harry: Fade to black already...!
-FADE TO BLACK-
Reviews waaantedddddddddd!!! 5 at least before the next chaptah! OR! We could lie and just post this without any reveiws... cuz you know, that works too...