Lowly Beginnings
DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter et al. belongs to JK Rowling
-
AN: Anybody got any ideas just for cute little fluffy scenes? Anything? Just wondering, do people like me responding to reviews- I enjoy doing it but I was just wondering. Hope you enjoy.
-
Chapter 7: Good Morning Angel
Harry woke up feeling more refreshed than last night and sat up in his bed. Bed? thought Harry. He sprang up immediately on the sofa bed, the covers he had snuggled under last night fell to the floor.
A laugh came from across the room,
'Good morning angel. You're finally up.' came the amused tone of Draco Malfoy.
'Urg. What time is it?' Harry asked, slightly worried that he had overslept or overstayed his welcome. Then the conversation the night before came back… oh POO! Harry thought violently. He had agreed to spend the rest of the summer in the presence of Draco Malfoy who he knew little to nothing about. Except that he was very hot… and had rescued him.
'Don't worry, it's only gone 8 O'clock.' said Draco placated Harry. He made his way over to the sofa bed and sat down next to Harry. 'I figured that we'd go over to your… ahem, apartment' Draco said with disdain, and Harry blushed when he compared his own dingy and threadbare apartment with Draco's house. 'And then we'd collect your stuff, drop it back here and then I need to go to work. Do you think you could amuse yourself here for the day?' he enquired.
Harry thought to himself. There was really nothing he could do… after all, he owed Draco a favour, and in all honesty, he was pretty lonely by himself in his own apartment. Maybe staying with Draco wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.
In a typically Harry-ish way, going from worried thoughts to a large smile and nod, Harry gave his consent to the day's plans. Draco beamed, pleased that Harry wasn't going to fight him on this.
'Ok then, well, if you just want to get changed, I'll make breakfast.'
Harry suddenly blushed when he realised that Draco was already dressed and clearly showered by his slightly damp, but still immaculate, hair.
'Um, ok. Uh, does it matter if I-' Harry started, before he was cut off.
'Yes, it does matter if you wear the same clothes as you did yesterday, especially since they're dirty and torn.' Draco interrupted. 'I've left some clothes out for you; they belonged to my cousin when he was really into punk music.' Draco added when Harry looked ready to open his mouth again.
'Uh, your cousin?' questioned Harry, thinking if Draco's cousin had anything like the same physique as Draco, the clothes would never fit. 'Are you sure they'll be my size?'
Draco snorted loudly, then had the grace to look reprimanded when Harry shot him a glare, 'What's so funny?' Harry asked.
'He was 13.' Draco said without preamble, and then let out another snort of laughter as Harry turned pink with embarrassment and indignation.
'Hey! I look older than 13! And I'm bigger than a 13 year old, I'll have you know!'
'Hey, hey…' Draco said, holding both hands, palm outwards, towards Harry. 'It could be worse… at least my cousins not a girl, or it'd be a skirt.' He laughed again, mentally picturing Harry in a skirt, and then quickly removing the image because, worryingly enough, it was very appealing. Damn his cousin for being male.
'Humpf.' Harry breathed through his nose, before standing up, grabbing the clothes that were left on the chair and stalked his way to the bathroom he had been in the night before, Draco still laughing on the couch.
-
Within 20 minutes, they were both sitting in the front of Draco's sleek car, Harry taking the time to admire it as he hadn't been able to the night before.
'All right, turn right…. here. Now. Now!' Harry practically shouted as Draco nearly missed the turning to the very narrow street.
They pulled up in front of a shabby flat, and they both got out of the car. Harry bent his head in slight shame as Draco took in his apartment with his eyes, before realising he wasn't going to be looked down upon.
'Got something to say about it?' Harry asked defensively with a minor sneer to his voice that was out of character.
'Absolutely nothing.' replied Draco calmly. 'How about we go grab your stuff?'
Harry pulled out a key and opened the door, and the two of them made their way up the rickety old wooden stairs. He got to his floor and a cockroach scuttled across the floor towards them. Draco stepped back in disgust, whereas Harry –who was used to such conditions from his childhood- merely inserted his house key in the door and turned the handle which promptly fell off in his hand.
'Um- that wasn't meant to happen.'
Draco raised an eyebrow and they stepped inside the room. It was a shambles with broken blinds, decrepit furniture and a dim buzzing light. As Harry left the room and opened a door Draco assumed lead to the bedroom, Draco looked round and noted how bare of possessions it was. When Harry returned about 30 seconds later with a rucksack, he then went around the living room, picking up the odd photo frame and item of clothing and then stood expectantly in front of Draco.
Draco wasn't sure what those beseeching eyes were saying to him and so spoke,
'Um, well, aren't you going to get the rest of your stuff?'
Harry held up the bag and mimicked Draco's lifting of the eyebrow. Draco looked uncomprehendingly at the bag, and Harry clarified,
'This is all my stuff.'
'All your stuff? In that bag? What the…?' Draco asked flabbergasted. He knew Harry was an orphan and an orphanage could barely afford to spend money but still. Harry must have collected more than that within 17 years at an orphanage. Surely. But Draco left it at that, and he followed Harry out of the flat promising himself that he would take Harry shopping some day.
-
Before they knew it, they were back at Draco's house. The maid Draco had spoke of the night before had already been and set Harry up a room, just 2 down from Draco's with only the bathroom separating them.
'Feel free to put out your possessions; after all, you're going to be staying here for quite some time. I need to go to work now; my dad's having a meeting about the company.' Boldly, he bent down to Harry's level and kissed him again on the cheek, much like he had the night before. 'Make yourself feel right at home.' he added before leaving the room.
Harry sat on the bed slightly stunned as he heard the front door shut behind Draco. He wasn't sure if this kissing was some sort of upper-class thing. It was certainly nothing like he had experienced amongst the rich teenagers at his school. Oddly enough though, was that as he began to unpack his things he realised he quite liked it. For the first time with the exception of with the Weasley family, he was feeling right at home.
-
Draco sat on the left of his father along the long oak table that was polished to perfection. Along the table sat some of the wealthiest and most important people in California, all discussing the company, putting forward ideas and rejecting others. He himself put forward many of his own ideas, the majority of which were met with enthusiasm.
Lucius looked at his son proudly from the head of the table. At 19, he felt sure his son was fully capable of running the company and Lucius, having cracked the real estate market, felt that he was coming to the age where he didn't want to do real estate deals anymore. He fully intended to let Draco have the run of the company as soon as he found himself a serious boyfriend- it wouldn't for the head of the company to be turning up to important functions, even meeting the president on occasion without a spouse of some kind. When Draco did finally settle down and finally date someone worthwhile, Lucius was going to retire into another business; restaurants in fact. A much more relaxing business he felt.
He felt eyes on him and realised the meeting must have come to an end and he was needed to give a final word.
'Well, I feel that this has been a productive meeting, and that the future of Malfoy Inc. is in safe hands. Meeting adjourned.'
Piles of paper were shuffled together, and chairs made scraping noises as they were pushed under the table as the executives left the room leaving Draco and his doting father in the room just as Narcissa walked gracefully in.
'Mom!' Draco leapt up and hugged her. Draco hadn't seen her in days. He had moved out when he was 18 to his own house to give himself more freedom and responsibility; a choice both his mother and father agreed on whilst at the same time being upset that their 'baby boy' was all grown up and leaving them. Generally, he saw his father most days when he came into work, and he saw his mother at least every few days and always at the weekend if they had no plans.
'Sweetie!' Narcissa pulled her son into a hug. She was still a very attractive woman even at 43, with long blonde hair and an hourglass figure. 'I missed you darling.'
'Me too mom.' Draco agreed. 'But guess what? I think I may have met somebody. He's kinda staying with me at the moment.'
'Oh darling! That's wonderful.' cried his mother.
Lucius raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't known this, although Draco hadn't spoken much with his father since going to Hogwarts.
'Well, son. This is new. I'm so happy for you. Is it serious?' he queried.
'Well, not exactly dad. We're not really even dating yet.' he admitted sheepishly.
'What!' his dad cried. 'He's living with you but you're not even dating.'
Draco rolled his eyes slightly and shook his head. He had forgotten how both his parents had very old fashioned views of dating. He had also forgotten a few other views his parents had…
'Hush Luci.' calmed Narcissa. 'I'm sure Draco has an explanation. Come on Draco…what's he like then?'
'Well, he's gorgeous for a start.' Narcissa nodded approvingly. Her son deserved nothing less, and the Malfoy family had a reputation to uphold. 'And he's so nice and talented, and we were out at Britxtonby-'
'What!' his father suddenly roared again. 'Brixtonby? What on earth were you doing there. You could have been mugged or killed or anything!'
'Well..' Draco began hesitantly. 'Harry lives there and-'
'Harry. Lives there? What are you on Draco? You're trying to date someone from the slums. He's probably a criminal or a druggie! And what sort of a common name is Harry?'
Draco sat stunned. This was the other view that his parents had that he had forgotten about. They had both been born into rich, upper class families and generally disapproved of people from poverty stricken areas where people such as, well, take Vernon Dursley as an example, lived.
'No, no Dad. Harry's not a druggie, or a criminal. Dad, he's only just started living there. He went to Hogwarts and he's an orphan so he doesn't have much money.' protested Draco.
'You mean he's poor?' bellowed Lucius. Draco couldn't believe his father was being so obtuse! 'Son- he's not even nearly your social class. What would the press think? He's probably just using you anyway.'
Narcissa, seeing her son turn red and clench his fists tried to soothe the situation,
'Draco, sweetie, darling. I know you're probably quite fond of this boy, but for how long have you really known him? And your father is right… he's isn't really, well, of the same calibre as you is he. It's probably better in the long run if you just cut off this little passing fancy of yours. For the best, eh? For the good of the company and for your own sake.'
'You can stop right there Narcissa.' cut in Lucius in an icy tone. 'Draco, really, I have your best interests at heart. I could have understood if maybe you'd dated someone lower in status, or someone poorer, but not both. I will not allow the name of Malfoy to be sullied by some little toy boy you seem to have acquired. Now, I have been a good father, but I'm putting my foot down. I absolutely forbid you to see him Draco!' ended Lucius is nearly a shout.
'You forbid me?' Draco eyes narrowed in anger. What a hypocrite, thought Draco. He knew for a fact that his Father's brother had married a waitress far below his own social class and that his father had been ecstatic that his brother was finally so happy. He supposed it must be that Harry lived in the slums, or that his Father's brothers 's betrothal to a lower class person didn't affect Lucius's own life or heir so much. Did he think that by dating Harry, Draco was just going to neglect his duties to his family and to the company?
Draco took one last angry look at both his mother and father. They were both against him, his father more so than his mother, but regardless, they were both against him.
'You know what? I don't even care. Harry's one of the nicest people I've ever met; he doesn't judge people, and right now, that makes him a hell of a lot of a better person than either of you are. And if I want to date him I will. You may want what's best for me, but maybe, just maybe, he might be the thing that's best for me. He could be the one I spend the rest of my life with. He could be the one I end up loving.'
And with that last thought, he stormed out of the room leaving his stunned and still disapproving parents behind, gaping at the door which slammed behind him.
-
Draco pulled his car into the garage at breakneck speed after having sped dangerously fast on the way home. He was still furious with his parents- they were acting like such snobs. If they ever properly met Harry and got to know him, they'd realise that what Harry lacked in social status or money, he made up for in personality and intelligence and skills. Bah, they'd even called him a druggie. And a criminal! Hah!
He paused on his front doorstep. It was about dinner time, 6pm, and a delicious smell was coming from inside the apartment. He frowned slightly; Marianna the maid sometimes cooked for Draco but she wasn't here today to cook. He inserted the keys and turned the lock before stepping inside, before pausing in shock.
'Harry?'
-
AN: Hopefully the next chapter will be out within the next few days, I'm a little short for time, but at least I've updated pretty often so far. And THANK YOU so much for reviews- I have over 50 and they make me so happy… I didn't think I was going to get any!
Angel 74- I love punk Harry. But I also love sweet innocent Harry. I wasn't sure how well the two would go together but I'm glad you like it because I do.
TeeDee- Lol, glad you think Draco's awesome. Glad you like fluffy and huggleable things since the next chapter should be pretty much plot-less- just fluff really. But necessary fluff.
TheSlytherinGoddess- Glad you like how I've characterised the characters; I know they're OOC, and unrealistic to Canon, but that's what Fanfic is. Hopefully, Blaise might be coming into play a little later as well. And of course Draco had to rescue Harry from the gang- what sort of person would I be otherwise? Glad you liked the first chapter as well; I was worried about it because it didn't really have any D/H or anything that might encourage people to continue (mainly why I updated chapters 1 and 2 together). Glad you like it… it's people like you that keep me writing.
Nattish- Lol…. gotta love the too-big pyjamas. Yes, Draco is being more subtle now- Harry really needs subtly. Josh and Blaise didn't have big roles but people liked them so I'm gonna put a bit more of them in, and make them part of the plot. And yes, it is possible you do sense a little jealously in the future.
Natasha AKA: Tash- I emailed you a review. Sorry you didn't like it.
Mot- Glad you like it and think it's well written.
Darkanglefrmhell- Lol- well, irony is good. Oh yeah, I forgot about Harry's Bday during the Summer- it will be on the 31st July. I'll try and add that in.
Sunny smiles- Wahey, I love protective Draco too. I just like the contrast. Thanks for reviewing.
Missfictionlover- Glad you like.
Bibilein- I'm so glad you liked my story- I can't believe you added it to your favourites list… that's so cool. Thanks!
Orlin- Glad you liked! Tom and Jerry rock (but not Jerry… he stinks!)
Jekyll- Lol- glad you think everything is adorably cute! Thanks for reading.
Dreamer110- I'm kinda planning on Harry maturing a little, but he has missed out on a lot of his childhood. I can update quickly as it's my half term holidays… after the half term I'll update about once a month. Hmm… Lex doesn't seem like the nicest guy / .
Wintersweet- Harry rejected him at first because Draco was too forward. He accepted to live with him the second time because he was lonely living by himself, he was dazed, and because the author needed a reason to put them in the same room. Just nod along and pretend it makes sense. Please.
Charisma Black- I think the chapter title may be from a song somewhere, something I randomly heard one day… I certainly didn't make it up myself. Glad you like the story.
Driven to Insanity- Lol…whoops. Oh well, I'm too lazy to change it, so lets pretend I put it in as a, ahem, subtle undertone. Glad you like the story… I love yours; especially He's All That… update that pleeeeaaaase!
Rock Baby- Yay, I prefer dominant Draco too. Well, here's your update.
BeautifulLady- I'm happy you like my story :D.
Dragon-Malfoy- Glad you enjoyed it- thanks for reviewing, it means a lot.
Wiccan-One- Phew, nope. No flames yet, only constructive criticism (very much appreciated). Lol, I'm seriously trying to get as much as this story done this week since back at school I'll only be able to post once a month. It's even 3:40am now!
Mistress Vamp- Yay, glad you like. The chapters will keep coming.
-
