Title: Burdenless Love
Author: Queen Delphina
Email: possibly R for later chapters
Warnings: Slash (this means boy/boy love! Stop now if this squicks you!)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything besides the original characters. I do own the rights to the word 'Burdenless' (not really). This story is based on the characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books, Raincoast Books and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. I'm just holding the characters hostage for the duration of this and any other fics I intend on writing.
Summary: Harry gets himself kicked out of the Dursleys and finds himself at a Muggle café. The same café that Draco Malfoy frequently visits.
Author Notes: Thanks and dedication go out to Macai for the plot bunny this story was hatched from and for initially corrupting me with slash. Also big thanks to Poca, Princess Jewel and Queen Sunny for keeping me on task and being my dedicated betas!
I decided to upload this chapter today as well. From now on, I plan to upload on every Tuesday and Friday, meaning Ch 4 will be out on Friday. Thank you for reading and I hope this chapter answers any questions that weren't answered before. Please review with any questions or comments. Also, if you want a chapter update emailed to you, include your email address in your review! Thanks!
Chapter 3
The First Morning
Harry blinked wearily. He reached over to the nightstand and grabbed his glasses. After getting dressed, he entered the kitchen to make breakfast. He found the kitchen in complete disarray. After organizing food and dishes out of habit, Harry set to work making scrambled eggs and bacon, those being the only edible foods in the place.
Draco awoke to the delicious smell of bacon and eggs. When had he smelled such good food before? Surely not since he had left that morning to receive the dark mark, over six weeks ago. The house elves used to make bacon and eggs especially for him, when he stayed at home over the holidays. Now, he relied heavily on what Muggles coined 'instant foods.'
Draco dressed quickly and dashed out to the kitchen to investigate the warm aroma floating around him. He was extremely surprised to see Harry Potter slaving over the stove, cooking.
"Morning," Harry said calmly. "I made breakfast," he added stiffly.
"So I noticed," Draco replied, hiding his hunger. He sat down gracefully; Malloy's never did anything improperly, even in the comforts of home.
Harry chose to ignore Draco and laid the spread (albeit a small one) of food on the table.
Draco found it increasingly difficult to mask his delight. He had not eaten this well in weeks. He had rather gotten used to the instant foods, especially the frozen kind that 'almost magically' heated up in something called a 'microwave'. So he was stunned at how well his worst, not really his worst (he had far worse enemies to deal with), but one of his enemies could cook.
"Mmmm," Draco finally let escape.
"Make your own," Harry said, growing angry.
"Malfoy's never make their own food," Draco recited.
"Yeah? So where's your house elf?"
Draco scowled.
"I already saw the pop tarts and cereal boxes in the pantry. Go eat some Lucky Charms." Harry smirked.
"But there's perfectly good food right here!"
"And it's mine!"
"So?"
"So? I made it for me."
"It's my food to begin with!"
"And?"
"I bought it--for me."
Harry glared. "I cooked it."
Draco glared right back.
Finally, Harry cracked. "Fine, eat it. I've lost my appetite now."
"Where did you learn to cook like this, Potter?" Draco asked, taking bacon from the tray.
"At my Aunt and Uncle's. They had me cook their meals for them," Harry decided to reply, walking over to the fireplace.
"What else did they order you to do?" Draco asked curiously, reaching for another piece of bacon."Why would you care?"
Draco smirked at Harry. "Call it curiosity."
Harry stared at him. "Whatever. I had plenty of other chores to do for them, like weeding the garden and cutting the grass."
Draco smirked even more. "So that's how the Boy Who Lived, really lives. No wonder you nearly killed that uncle of yours. Your family really makes you do something?"
"Would you stop bringing that subject up?" Harry asked, blushing at the mention of his saving Draco.
"What subject?" Draco asked, trying to provoke Harry.
Harry closed his eyes, not feeling up to fighting. "Please don't bring up last night's events."
Draco smirked, yet again. "Poor precious Potter. Too emotional?"
"Malfoy--"
"Fine, Potter. Continue." Draco crossed his arms over his chest.
"Glad to have your permission, Malfoy," Harry scowled.
Draco nodded regally. "You're welcome."
"The Dursley's are not my family. They've never been more than a place to call home during the summer anyway. The Weasley's feel more like a family to me," Harry said wistfully.
"Then why aren't you there, instead of here, with me?" Draco asked, keeping his voice void of emotion.
Harry pondered that question for a while, before answering, "I guess Dumbledore didn't think it was safe enough yet. Hopefully, when he stops by today, he'll let me stay with the Weasley's for the rest of the summer."
"Me too," Draco agreed. "But what is safe? Here? Definitely not. I'm surprised I have lasted this long without getting caught." He paused for moment before going on. "I suppose that old fool has a few tricks up his bloody sleeve that nobody but he knows about."Harry nodded reluctantly.
An hour passed in an uncomfortable silence. Harry looked down at his watch--
9:31. Where was Dumbledore? He continued to pass in front of the fireplace.
"Would you stop?" Draco asked, annoyed.
"Look who's talking? You've been eating for an hour!"
"I have not!" Draco said, taking another bite out of a pop-tart; the breakfast Harry made being long gone.
"Have too!"
"You've been pacing for over an hour then!"
Harry opened his mouth to retort, but decided not to. Why bother? It was stupid really, and annoying.
"What?"
Harry shook his head and looked for what had to be the hundredth time to make sure his trunk and owl cage were packed and ready to go. He really hoped that Dumbledore had made it possible for him to spend the next month at the Burrow. A thought occurred to him. What if Dumbledore made him stay at the Order headquarters? That was where the Weasley's had stayed last summer. What if they were there still? He didn't think he could bear it. There were too many memories there from the last year.
Sirius.
He knew he couldn't go back.
Draco also had thoughts running through his mind; especially the girl. He also thought that maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have Potter stay. It livened up the place. Not only that, he was able to pick on Potter and expect something of a fight in return.
A harsh knock sounded on the door, startling both. "Expecting someone, Malfoy?"
Draco's eyes widened with horror as he reached into his pants' pocket…his wand had gone off. "Get to the fireplace! Shit! I told that Muggle loving fool that this would eventually happen."
"That what would happen?" Draco waved Harry off, because the knocking was joined by a voice, hard and deep.
"Draco, open this door immediately! We need to talk."
"It's my father," Draco whispered, trying desperately to mask his terror. "GO! We need to get out of here, now!"
Harry grabbed his wand from the kitchen counter and held it ready, just as Lucius barreled in.
"Draco," he drawled. "Nice of you to let me come in." He hadn't seen Harry yet.
Harry quickly threw the stupefy curse at Lucius. It missed and Lucius turned around, realizing Harry was in the room.
"Potter," he hissed. He looked at Draco. "So you've found him? Been hiding with him? Good boy, this may be enough to convince the Dark Lord to allow you back in."
"I will not go back!" Draco yelled, and pointed his wand.
Lucius cackled. "Expelliarmus!" Draco's wand shot helplessly from his hand. Draco gaped open-mouthed at his father, unable to move.
Harry took the opportunity to cast "Petrificus Totalus" on Lucius. It worked; Lucius fell to the floor, unable to move. He blinked up at Harry and Draco. Harry cast binding charms on him, while Draco fetched his wand from Lucius' pocket. They summoned as much stuff as they could before heading to the fireplace.
Draco Flooed out of the flat and Harry went to check on Lucius' bindings to make sure they would be secure just as more Death Eaters showed up inside the flat.
"Stupefy!" one of them shouted.
Harry easily blocked the curse. He sent his own "Stupefy" over his shoulder as he leapt over Lucius' body. He ducked another curse and grabbed a pinch of Floo Powder, intent on going to Dumbledore's office, when a hand pulled him back.
"Not getting away this time," hissed a voice. Harry didn't bother to see who it was. He kneed the unkown Death Eater in the groin and Flooed to the Headmaster's office, hoping none of the Death Eaters would be brave enough to follow.
