Lowly Beginnings
DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter et al. belongs to JK Rowling
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AN: This chapter is shorter than usual, but that's because the previous chapters I had partly pre-written. Everything now needs to be written from scratch although I do have a basic plot- but please feel free to make suggestions of anything specific you'd like in here. Also, anyone willing to suggest a new and more interesting/intriguing summary for me to use would be very appreciated. Ok, gotta go-'Grumpy Old Men' is on- nothing quite like Bob Geldof and grumpy friends grumping on about what is wrong with absolutely everything in the world today.
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Chapter 6: Angels with Dirty Faces
The first thing Harry processed as he gained consciousness was that he was on a bed. A sofa bed. And there was a worried looking face hovering above him, the blonde hair like a halo around the face.
'Where am I?' Harry moaned. He was feeling increasingly groggy, and very queasy. 'Who are yo-' was all Harry got out before he leaned out from the bed and started vomiting, straight onto the clean, plush white carpets. As he leaned back, fortunately without sick dripping down his face, he felt his face blush with mortification.
'Sorry.' He apologised shamefully. 'Where am I?' Suddenly, in a rush of blood to the head, all the memories came flooding back. If he had felt ill before, presently he felt sick to his very core. They had been close, oh so close. He had promised himself he would never be hurt by anyone again, ever. He had promised! And he'd failed. The full impact of what could have been hit him like a wave, and he found himself crying into his blonde saviour's shoulder, clinging on. Wracking sobs shook his body.
'Hey, shush baby,' comforted Draco. Where the 'baby' had come from he had no idea, but 'protective and comforting Draco' was in full operational mode now. 'It's all right. You're safe now.'
Harry's sobs subsided and he looked up into the face of none other than… Draco Malfoy? What the ? He immediately detangled himself from the older male, but Draco held tight, making sure Harry didn't hurt himself more in his struggles. When Draco refused to relent his hold, Harry's calmed down and rationalised that he in fact needed to thank Draco.
'Sorry. I wanted to say- that is, I mean, well- I need to say, um, Thank you. Thank you. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been there.' Harry cast his eyes down.
'Hey,' soothed Draco, running his fingers through Harry's layered silky locks. 'It's okay. It's fine. You're safe.' To try and lighten the mood, Draco added, 'You smell a bit though.'
'Oi!' cried Harry indignantly, sitting up from Draco's grasp, looking affronted.
Draco laughed, 'I was just kidding… but if you want, you can use the shower. After all, I insist you stay here tonight… it's gone eleven, you're tired, and- do you have work tomorrow?' Harry answered in the negative. 'Excellent,' Draco continued.
'Um, but I can't stay.' Stammered Harry. 'I can get home just fine now- I can take care of myself.'
'Uh huh.' Draco drawled slowly with a raised eyebrow. 'You owe me a favour. I insist you stay the night. You didn't handle yourself so well back there, did you.'
Harry glared at Draco's smug face and let out a little growl. Draco smiled slightly at getting Harry to return to his more confident, less shaken state. Now Harry looked like a devilishly sexy, ruffled dog, growling. There was the attitude.
'And you know what else Harry? I want you to stay the whole summer.' Draco declared.
The growling stopped immediately and green eyes opened wide.
'What? What on earth are you on? I can't stay. You're Draco Malfoy and I'm well, I can't afford to pay you rent for this.' Harry emphasised this with a wave of his hand round the luxurious apartment.
'Don't be silly. You wouldn't be paying me rent. Don't you see Harry…? I want you here… I need some company.'
Harry's eyes opened endearingly wide in Draco's opinion. It was strange how punked up Harry looked, but how innocent and naïve he really was.
'I know this must be weird, having only just met me, but you can stay working at the café if you want, you know, keep a routine going. After all, I'll be working some days, and you might be bored. Come on- think about it. Actually, don't. I'm not going to take 'No' for an answer.' Draco informed Harry resolutely.
'Uh. Okay.' Harry agreed dazed.
'No, I mean it Harry. I refused to take No for an ans-… what? Well, that was easy. I thought a bit more persuasion would be needed there.'
Harry blushed softly,
'Hey… shush you! Well, if I can still keep my job, and if you'd drive me by my house tomorrow to pick up some stuff, then I guess, well, then I guess I'll stay.' He paused. 'Um, can I have a towel…? I'd like to take a shower now… if you don't mind.' he added hastily.
Draco nodded and directed Harry to the linen closet upstairs next to the bathroom. What Harry didn't see was the gleeful look Draco got when Harry turned to get the towel and bathe. Harry may not have addressed the topic of how Draco felt about him, but Draco was going to let him find out. Very soon.
He put the TV on, and rested his feet on the table, watching the news. After 20 minutes, the shower sound from upstairs went off, and Draco assumed Harry was getting out of the shower. He went into the kitchen to make something to eat, and possibly a pot of coffee.
What he didn't expect when he arrived back in the living room 10 minutes later holding a cheese toasty on a plate and a mug of coffee, was to find a half naked Harry, with just a towel wrapped around his lithe waist, and a large cushion covering most of his top half sitting on the sofa bed laughing hysterically to an old episode of Tom and Jerry. Draco shook his head in amazement. Harry was just like a big kid. He had an air of mystery, of punk-ness, but his child like behaviour shone through, especially in his large innocent eyes.
Draco coughed lightly. The effect was not instantaneous. Harry carried on laughing even as he saw Draco, and pointed at the screen, trying to get Draco to see what was so funny about a cartoon about a cat and a mouse.
'Your dinner is served.' Draco said with a mock bow. And lowered the plate into Harry's lap. Harry's lap covered with just a thin towel. Draco mentally groaned… he felt aroused being this close, especially with Harry appearing so at home already. He eyed one slightly pink nipple against the golden tanned flawless expanse of skin that wasn't covered with the cushion. Harry really was exquisite.
Harry grinned happily, picking up the sandwich as if the night's problematic events had never happened and this was completely normal.
'Look, look!' Harry squealed and took a large bite out of his cheese meal. 'Jerry is such a meanie. I mean, look at Tom… he always loses out. It's Tom's job as a cat to get rid of Jerry and if he doesn't, the nasty lady hits him with her broom, and if he leaves Jerry alone, then Jerry will come up and taunt Tom.' Explained Harry as if to someone with extensive knowledge on children's cartoons. Draco refrained barely from sniggering.
'Oh,' Harry announced, just realising the state he was in. 'I was wondering if you have any pyjamas I can wear… I must have forgotten to bring mine.' He added with a smile.
Draco pulled an old pair of black silk pyjamas that used to be his from under the sofa bed and handed them to Harry. He turned away as Harry slipped them on. They were too big for him, and seemed to drown him, making him look adorable; his hair was all ruffled and stuck up from pulling the shirt over his head and Draco recalled the feel of Harry's hair through his fingers.
He decided it was time to leave Harry alone now to relax- and to stop himself jumping him.
'Good night Harry. Sweet dreams.' He said, leaning down and swiftly kissing Harry on the cheek before turning and walking upstairs to his own master bedroom. 'I'll get the maid to make up the spare room for you properly tomorrow, and we'll go get your possessions.' He called down before he disappeared from Harry's view.
Suddenly, Tom and Jerry wasn't so funny anymore. Harry raised a hand to his cheek, where a warm glow still lingered from Draco's gentle lips. He hadn't felt like this before. And hadn't Draco come onto him before at school. Ah, Harry's mind butted in, but tonight, he acted like the perfect gentleman. He indicated no interest in you whatsoever.
It was very confusing. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his packet of cigarettes. He went to the front door, and opened it, keeping it ajar with a flower pot as he went outside and sat on the doorstep. He lit one cigarette and gave it a puff. It helped clear his mind and help him think. He couldn't sleep whilst so confused.
He was in for a long night.
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AN: I hope you liked this chapter despite the shortness of it. Wow, I've actually got quite a few reviews. Lol, it makes me so happy to get them, so please keep reviewing and I'll keep writing (although I'd keep writing regardless, but reviews are an incentive)…
Blackreflectednightmare- lol, the word 'woo' rocks I'll have you know! And here's your update.
Orlin- Lol, yep- it is bad what's happened to Harry, but somebody's got to suffer otherwise, well, it'd be no fun to write. Hope you enjoyed.
Burnt Reflections- Writing genius? Lol, nope… it's my first story… I haven't even written a story in school for at least 4 years (so if you can spot any really bad grammar, or spellings, etc, please tell me). Glad you like Harry, and Draco… and Blaise :D. And I just worked it out; you WERE my first reviewer. You rock!
Beautiful Lady- Interesting review… glad you liked.
Aveeno-Baby- Lol, glad you still like it… I was really afraid everyone was gonna hate it and think it was going downhill.
Lunapl- Here's the more you asked for.
Angel 74- Wow. You like it? I think I've read all your stories and they rock! (although not sure if I've reviewed cause at boarding school I can only get internet at school and they monitor stuff like that)
Orlin- Yay- glad you like Harry's clothes. And you're right, Vernon did deserve to get caught. It's weird, this story wasn't originally meant to be so dark but quite a few reviewers have pointed out the 'dark'-ness in it.
D EDMUN- Glad you're enjoying it and think the writing's good (although all I can say is thank god for spell checkers and grammar checkers since I can't get a beta)
Dreamer110- Glad you like the writing- I do try hard(ish) to get it realistic. I don't actually watch Smallville but my sister does and she laughed when I asked her about Lex… she never did tell me who he was though. Lol, my friend takes Martial Arts and loves it- I just think it's cool, but have absolutely no idea about it
TeeDee- Yay, you reviewed before. It's always nice when someone reviews more than once… it means they came back. and didn't get completely bored with the story. Hm- everyone's saying how dark this is- it wasn't meant to be so dark so hopefully there will be a few lighter scenes soon. Lol- you liked the cliff hanger then? I hate it when people do them but how else can chapters end? I like Blaise too- he's gonna play a small part in this story but nothing major or bad.
Chiaki Dark- Lol, yep, I stopped at the interesting part. Let it be noted that I take absolutely no responsibility for the loss of your hair if you continue to tug it. I'm hoping this story will be slightly different, but although I have a basic plot, I'd appreciate suggestions to make it different a little less clichéd. Glad you enjoy reading the style since it's my first fic and glad I made you squeal… and you never know… they my end up in bed- or not.
Master-of-Wind- Like I'd ever let Harry get (seriously) hurt. Hope you enjoy and keep reviewing.
Emma- Hope you keep enjoying
Wiccan-One- Again hope you enjoy. Thanks for reviewing… I wonder when I will get my first flame… enjoy the next chapter.
Amarog- Lol. Nice to know you're enthusiastic about the story. Hugs you back Thanks for reading.
ChocolateDemon- Thanks. I should be updating regularly for maybe the next few days… after that I need to go back to school.
Spideria- Hey! I love you story with Draco as the teacher- I think it may be on my favourites list (hope you don't mind). Um, this fic wasn't meant to be intentionally like yours so I hope you don't think I'm plagiarising. I have quite a few ideas for fics, just this is the first time I've ever written one down and thought about how it's gonna progress (if I hadn't I probably would just do the first chapter when motivation hits then never update again, which irritates me when people do that!)
Hope that's everyone. If I missed you, you'll probably be in the next Review Response.
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