The Lion and the Serpent
A/N- Hey everybody, sorry it tookso longfor chapter four.I just have two quick things to say; First, I'm not sure if Iam goingcontinue with this story. I need some reviews, I need to know if my fanfic is actually being read, and what you guys think of it, and I don't mean to sound desperate or anything, I just like the feedback. (Huge thanks to the people who have reviewed, you make me smile!) Second, this story is set in sixth year, I don't think I made that clear, and some things that happened in 'Half-Blood Prince' will be a part of my story, so there may be some spoilers. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please, review!
Warning- Harry/Draco slash, self-harm, and swearing. Possible spoilers from HBP.
Disclaimer- I own nothing related to Harry Potter, just this plot. It all belongs to the lovely J.K.R.
Chapter Four: Perfection In Another's Eyes
Harry walked slowly along the edge of the lake, letting the late afternoon sun warm his skin. Winter was coming, Harry could feel it, and as the sun began to set, he vaguely wished he'dthought tobringhis cloak with him as the air started to bite at his exposed flesh in a black t-shirt and blue jeans. His mind wasn't really focused on the increasingly cooler weather though. No, he had bigger problems at hand.
'Like how to ask Draco Malfoy to move in with me,' he thought.
It was a Friday evening, and most students were happily lounging around their common rooms, glad that the weekend was here. Harry was alone on the deserted grounds, pondering what Dumbledore had generously offered him. Harry had in fact been released from the Hospital Wing three days ago, but Dumbledore had wanted to inquire directly to Harry about what had happened. Dumbledore, of course, had suspected a more detailed story then the one Harry had hastily given Madam Promfrey.So, he hadsummoned Harry to his office earlier that day, after assuring the matron that Harry was indeed free to go after breakfast.
Harry had felt a little awkward at first, spilling out his rather painful recolections of what had happened in the Prefects bathroom with the Headmaster, but Dumbledore had been very understanding, and Harry just couldn't help trusting Albus Dumbledore. He had then been quite shocked when Dumbledore had proposed a rather unexpected idea.
"Harry, how would you feel about moving into a private room?" Dumbledore had asked. Harry was a little shocked at first, but recovered quickly.
'How would I feel?' Harry thought, staring down at his hands. 'I could get away from everyone... I could be alone without people asking me about what happened at the Ministry every five minutes.'
"I think - I think I would like that Sir," Harry had answered, and Dumbledore could tell that Harry would be pleased to get away from the busy common room and constant stares of his classmates and peers, which had increased significantly what with the Daily Prophet calling him the "Chosen One" every other day.
Dumbledore spoke swiftly of arrangements for Harry to move in to an unused room in a smaller tower, and Harry had the feeling that this idea hadn't just been a spur of the moment. Harry had just finished stammering a thanks to the Headmaster, unsure of how to thank him for this completely unexpected pleasure when Dumbledore suddenly spoke a little more softly, his blue eyes twinkling a little sadly.
"Harry, nobody blames you for Sirius's death you know," said Dumbledore, surveying Harry over his half-moon spectacles. "I for one am most proud of you for what you did at the Ministry and, forgive me for bringing it up, I am sure Sirius wouldn't ever want you to feel guilty."
Harry sighed. "I know that. It's just hard sometimes."
"I know, Harry," Dumbledore said softly as Harry got up to leave, a look of deep gratitude on his face as he closed the door silently behind him. "I know."
Harry sighed, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Dumbledore had told Harry he could invite a friend to stay with him if he wanted, to keep him company, (and as Harry suspected), watch over him. Harry knew he wanted to ask Draco. The problem, was how. Draco had been amazing to him this past week, ever since they'd kissed, but Harry was afraid of getting his hopes up that Draco was serious with him, just to have them come crashing down. He just had trouble believing that Draco Malfoy, former enemy and best looking guy in the whole school (in his opinion anyway) could actually feel something towards him.
Thinking about Draco always made Harry smile though, and he was still smiling when a pale hand tapped his shoulder and he whipped around, standing face to face with Draco.
"Hey," he said, smiling back at Harry, slipping his warm hand into Harry's cold one. "I was looking for you all day. What're you so happy about?"
"Oh," Harry laughed, "Nothing. I went to see Professor Dumbledore. He uh, he asked me something pretty strange."
Draco laughed too, and Harry thought he looked really cute, his blonde hair falling in his eyes a bit, and his cheeks flushing from a mixture of cool air and slight nervousness that he always got when he was around Harry, though the other boy didn't know the latter. "What did he ask you?"
"He offered me a private room," said Harry.
"Really?" Draco asked, though he wasn't too surprised. Everyone knew that Harry was, and had always been, Dumbledore's favourite.
"Yeah," said Harry nervously, feeling that now was as good a time as ever to ask. Bracing himself for the worst, he rushed on, "So actually, I was wondering... d'youwannamovinwitme?"
"What?" Draco asked, laughing a little again. "I couldn't understand you."
"Do you - Do you think, maybe, you'd uh, want to... to move in with me?" Harry stammered, staring fixedly at the ground, his face turning a deep shade of scarlet.
Draco froze for a moment, unsure of what to say. Then, his face broke out into a huge grin and he asked excitedly, "Really? When can I move in?"
Harry quickly drew his gaze from the ground and looked determindly into Draco's eyes, searching for signs of sarcasm or disceit. He saw nothing of the kind. "You - you really want to move in with me?"
"Of course!" Draco said happily. "Where is this room anyway?"
"On the seventh floor, behind a portrait of some old witch and her black cat." said Harry, starting to walk slowly around the lake again, Draco beside him, still holding his hand. "You can move in tonight if you like," he added shyly.
"I'd like that," said Draco, letting go of Harry's hand to wrap his arm around Harry's waist. They walked in silence for a time, watching the sunlight slowly fade away, giving in to darkness.
Harry looked up at the moon that was slowly becoming clearer and shivered slightly. Draco unfastened the buttons on his cloak and draped it around Harry's shoulders, then put his arm back around Harry's waist, holding him a little closer.
"Draco, you don't have to-"
"I know," Draco interrupted. "I wanted to. Besides, I have a sweater on anyway. You're only in a t-shirt."
"Thanks," Harry said and leaned his head against Draco's shoulder. It felt so natural, he wanted to stay like that forever.
It was getting later though, and as Harry hadn't thought to bring his Invisibility cloak, he decided that they'd better start making their way back towards the castle before Filtch, or even worse, Snape, found them wandering around past curfew. Draco agreed and they managed to find their way up to Harry's new room without incident. When they reached the portrait, Harry said the new password Dumbledore had told him earlier, "Pheonix".
Both boys entered and looked around. The room was fairly big, with a large four poster bed in one corner, a desk complete with chair and desklamp in the other, and a small fireplace. There was another door slightly ajar, leading into a good sized bathroom. Harry realised that Draco didn't have his stuff yet, and said, "You can borrow a pair of my pajamas if you want, and I'll ask Kreacher to bring up your stuff tomorrow morning."
"Sounds good, thanks" Draco said smiling. "Though," he added, pulling Harry into a hug, this time wrapping both arms around Harry's waist, "I don't know if they'll fit me, seeing as you're getting thinner every day." His face showed concern and Harry sighed. Though his weight was always going up and down, he was at an all-time low. He'd never been overweight, and Draco most certainly never had been - he'd always been thin and blonde. Harry thought he looked perfect.
Draco pulled away said, "I still think you look gorgeous". Harryblushed againand went to his trunk to fetch some pajamas. He threw Draco a pair of black pajama bottoms and a pair of white boxers. He was still fishing around for the pajama top when Draco said, "Don't worry about it, I usually just sleep in the bottoms anyway. Do you mind?"
"Hmm," Harry said, rolling his eyesmockingly at the ceiling. "What do you think?"
Draco laughed and went into the bathroom to get changed.
When he returned, he found Harry already in a pair of silk emerald pajama pants, his black boxers showing slightly at his hips. He was bent over the nightside table, taking off his glasses and setting them near the lamp. Draco sneaked up quietly and hugged him from behind. Harry let out a small yelp of surprise and almost fell over. Draco rested his head on top of Harry left shoulder and kissed his ear ever so slightly. He liked the feeling of his bare flesh against Harry's. Harry seemd to like it too, for he moaned softly and Draco began to kiss his neck. Harry turned around and pressed his lips against Draco's, his tongue begging Draco's mouth for entrance. Draco complied and ran his hands through Harry's soft raven-coloured hair, steering him towards the bed and pushing him onto it, landing on top of him. Never parting their lips, Draco shiftedhis positioncausing an unbelievable amount of friction, and both boys moaned loudly. Draco's hands explored Harry's chest and stomach, while Harry played with Draco's silky blonde strands, making the Slytherin's hair messier then it had ever been.
In need of air, Draco and Harry broke apart, panting. Harry took a look at the damage he'd done to Draco's usually pristine hair and chuckled.
"What?" Draco asked.
"Your hair," Harry replied. "I've never seen it so messy, it's almost as bad as mine." He laughed again. "My fault, of course."
Draco pulled back the covers on the bed and climbed in, and Harry immediately snuggled against Draco's chest. Then Draco asked, a note of mock hurt in his voice, "I don't care if you mess up my hair, but do I really look that awful?" He pulled an amazingly childish puting face which Harry thought was adorable.
Harry pulled the covers over both of them and said, "I think you look perfect."