Hello everyone, I cannot believe number of reviews I've had on this scribbling. A general thank you to all who have taken the time to read this story, even if they haven't reviewed, (I know I've done it before!)
JadedRoses – Thanks again. I'm pro-Draco, so it's generally Harry who acts the fool for me.
Justxme - Thanks! Here's the next part, hope you like it.
Fiery Phoenix – Thank you!
Esrinthly – Muah ha ha! My pleasure, thank you for reading it!
Lyonessheart – Thank you, I know Harry's a good guy at heart, he's just clueless!
Dark-Fairy-Magick – Thank you, I love this pairing – always has a spark!
Chi7890 – Don't cry – They belong together, really, so I can't possibly keep them apart, can I?
A/N Not my characters, (unfortunately!)
I have revised this chapter in the same manner that I edited the previous one. Again, re-read if you are interested, but it will not really affect the plot.
No More Tears
Draco had no more tears left.
He had been crying for the last half hour and now, it seemed, his eyes had gone on strike, while cursed sobriety was returning with full force.
He felt low and stupid. Actually, beyond stupid.
Whatever chance he might have had at reconciliation was gone, courtesy of a moment of pure insanity and a few bottles of expensive red. And cheap vodka. And the bottle of Jack Daniels that he'd got for his birthday.
But it was, of course, completely irrelevant now.
I should have never gone for the Chardonnay. He though miserably.
The point was he had done it and had made an error in judgment.
As soon as the thought entered his head, he heard his father's voice appear.
A Malfoy does not make mistakes. A Malfoy is never wrong.
Draco couldn't help the snort that escaped him.
"Didn't get you very far, did it though?" He said bitterly, "Doesn't hold up very well in court either, does it?"
He quickly changed the direction of his thoughts – those were issues to set aside for another day. One a long way away. Of course, the turn about lead directly back to him.
Issuing a painful sigh, he tried very hard to think of absolutely nothing….
Ah, Harry. I love you more than anything in the world.
….Which, of course, was impossible.
His head ached from the alcohol and his limbs were leaden.
He sniggered miserably at how pitiful he must look – red eyed and puffy, with yesterday's clothes hanging off him in a rumpled mess and various empty alcohol bottles strewn carelessly across his surrounding area.
'Well, bollocks to this,' he decided, 'I'm going to get ready and go out somewhere.
I am a Malfoy, after all- No,' he caught himself, 'I'm Draco. This will not beat me. To the bathroom, for a cold shower.'
He pried himself from the smooth couch and rose, assuming a proud Draco stance…and quickly sat back down when the nausea and dizziness hit him.
Maybe a coffee and a couple of aspirin first…
Half an hour later, Draco was ready to go.
Admittedly, he still had dark circles around his eyes and his already pale complexion was a shade or two lighter than normal. And, perhaps, his clothes did hang off him slightly, after his two-day liquid diet, but that was beside the point.
He was going out for himself. And later, if the chance arose, he might be going elsewhere.
Smirking at that thought, Draco checked for his wallet, held his chin high and swaggered out of his silent apartment….
After purchasing some more coffee and a sandwich from a nearby Starbucks, – a habit he had picked up from Harry - Draco headed towards the local park, deciding to be nothing but cheerful.
'A long walk should clear my head. I need to let go of this. It's only rejection – I should be surprised it doesn't happened more often'
He stopped, laughing at himself.
'Oh Harry, look what you've turned me into. Anymore of this and I'll be too ashamed to even look at myself in a mirror. No, this newfound tendency towards self-flagellation has got to go.
After six hours of concentrated reflection and communion with nature, he felt better about himself, but could take no more.
A quick glance at the time confirmed that the local nightlife was just beginning. It was with a sigh of relief that he ended up being drawn into a familiar nightspot. Unsurprisingly, it was the lure of overpriced alcohol that was the key to the successful seduction of Draco.
'Ah,' he said to himself, breathing in the heady aroma of stale beer and cheap tobacco and heading for the bar, 'feels like home.'
"The usual Draco? Sex on the Beach and a neat JD?"
'And now the obvious reason why I should never have come to The Hollow, our usual haunt.'
"Oh, maybe later, Jake." He laughed, as usual, "Just the neat bourbon, for now."
The barman started, before giving a laugh and a sympathetic look and moving away to pour his drink.
Draco placed his head in his hands. Did everyone know?
'And did they have to think that he'd been the one dumped? It might be true, but really'…
He thought briefly about relocating to another bar. One without pity as a side order.
A hand came down on his shoulder, making him jump.
"That's on me", the stranger said, as Jake placed the filled glass before the blonde.
Draco turned on the stool, to observe the newcomer.
'Not bad,' he thought, idly, 'not bad at all…. Still got it!'
He eyed the man amusedly, until he introduced himself.
"Richard Holmes, at your service." He paid the hovering barman and, turning, offered his hand.
"Draco Malfoy" The hand was firmly shaken and then held slightly longer than necessary.
"My pleasure, Mr. Malfoy. I was wondering if you would care for a dance or two."
Draco hesitated, used to replying that he had a boyfriend who he was waiting for. He realised that he was now free to do what he liked.
'Unfortunately. But there's no use in dwelling. What's done is done.'
"Why yes, Mr Holmes, I'd like to dance." Decisively, he drained his drink and took the man's hand in his own, allowing himself to be led to the floor.
"Wonderful. Oh and call me Richard."
Draco managed to sway almost convincingly before the other man.
'Though lacking most of my usual finesse.' He smirked, 'Which still leaves me a cut above the rest.'
Richard seemed to think this glance was directed towards him and gave a 'seductive' smirk in reply.
Draco had to hold back laughter.
He noticed a prickling sensation down his back, as if someone were watching him.
'If only.' He glanced briefly around, though, just to be sure. He couldn't see anyone he knew.
'Stupid Draco. Stupid Wishing.'
After a few fast paced numbers, the DJ decided to slow the pace a little.
Draco had to take a minute to adjust, when his partner placed his hands on his hips and pulled him closer.
His partner. 'Oh god.'
It hit him like a lightning bolt. 'What was he doing here?'
The strange touch on his pelvis. The foreign breathing he could hear by his left ear. The strained, lust-driven aura emanating from the man holding him.
It took all of his composure not to run. His flight or fight reflex was already kicking in.
"I'm just off to get another drink." Draco managed, mentally thanking his childhood conditioning, "Can I get you anything?"
"Sex on the Beach, thanks"
Draco gasped, audibly.
"Something wrong?" The other man enquired.
"Um, no. No. Just, um, felt an old injury. You know? Later."
Draco almost sprinted to the bar, one thought ringing clearly in his mind.
'I may have been rather swift in putting myself back out there.'
No. He was determined to make this work. He knew that if he didn't get back up now, he would be down and out forever.
Reaching the bar, he ordered the 'Usual', making Jake smile.
"Ah," he cried, "Where's that boy of yours? Does he still like extra Cranberry? Know about that other guy?"
Draco was rendered momentarily silent by the immediate tears that appeared in his eyes. He was still, he realised, loathed to admit, and accept, Harry's departure from his life.
And there was no escaping that fact, he knew. But he was going to try anyway.
"Somewhere else, Yes and Maybe." he responded, forcing a smile, "He might be in on it, did you think of that?"
Jake sighed, "Oh don't tease me, Draco. If only it were I with you two."
"Why?" Draco's attention was caught.
"Come on, babe, you two are like fire and gasoline! We mere mortals get barely hot compared to you two, having witnessed your obvious heat-making ability. God, you two are practically legends around town – Everyone wants a piece of you, but all you both want is each other. Especially Harry. If it weren't for his dangerously pointed glares when anyone so much as glanced at you, we'd have been inviting you into our lair months ago. "
"Huh?"
"I know sweetie. He's usually able to protect you from all of that stuff. Doesn't like people sniffing around his territory, if you know what I mean? Lucky he's not here now. I love to see what he'd do to lover boy over there."
Floored, Draco tried to assimilate this new information with the sweet Harry he'd cultivated over their months together.
Harry protected him?? From unwanted advances?? With predatory and possessive glares??
"Well, he's not here. And, if what you say is true, then I'll never know what he would do to lover boy, because he, obviously, would never tell me."
"Hey," Richard approached, "Why don't we get out of here, instead?"
Draco gulped. Jake chuckled. Draco heard and reformed his charade.
I will not be patronised by you of all people.
"Yes. What a good idea." He said, pointedly, looking at the barman. Richard beamed.
As he left, arm in arm with the wrong person, he briefly thought he might've made another mistake.
Not that it matters anymore.
A/N. "You have made one, Draco, you have. Get back inside, this instance!" ….
I had a piece written where it was all happy and fluffy straight away but, to be honest, I couldn't see our Draco going for that. Hope you all like and, if not, give some good pointers. Thanks again, till next time.
By the way, I try to update every Monday and Thursday, but I don't have net access really on weekends. I apologise if I'm late for these days, but I do get bouts of 'writersblockus', an often incurable disease of the desperate.