Angel74: Glad you liked the last chapter. Unfortunately, as you'll see, there's no Harry action yet, but be patient. There will be. And I'm really sorry that this chapter took forever, but I just started school and I'm taking all IB and AP courses, so the work load doesn't leave me much time for anything else. In fact, this chapter was meant to be about twice as long, but I decided to post now, rather than make you guys wait for who knows how much longer.
Flammy: Glad you like it so far. Sorry about how depressing the first chapter was, but it makes the rest seem all that much sweeter, don't you think? Once again, sorry for taking so long.
Staryday: Well thanks! Glad you like it, and sorry I took so long.
Artistic-Extasy: Thanks, sorry it took so long.
Anika: I'm really glad you like it, and seeing as how I want to become a writer some day, the whole liking my writing style, is really appreciated. Thanks!
Squicky-fangirl: Please don't eat me! Cowering in fear Oh wait, you just want more story. Well that's a relief! Bon appetite!
Princesspepper: I'm glad you like it and sorry I took so long to update. The whole way they meet is actually the reason I started writing this. When I started writing, that was the whole plot, although now it's been more developed in my head. And yah, I just wanted to make it more realistic by having Draco change opinions slowly rather than just jumping right into it.
Miss Lesley: Glad you like it so far and I sent you my email address, but I haven't gotten anything from you yet. If you want I'll send it to you again.
Victoria May: I'm glad you like it, sorry for taking so long, and thanks for the whole style comment. Since I want to be a writer some day, it really means a lot.
Sinilu Silverspell: Actually I don't know if they ever mentioned Harry's room number in the books, but it's an interesting thought. Um...yah...I want you to...uh...think is all. Trying to work it out in my head Moving on. Lucius does NOT know about Draco's friendship with Tom, that's for sure. I'm really glad you and most people have found the way I made Draco a good thing. I wasn't really sure. I mean, I didn't really want to keep him as his over cocky self, but at the same time, I really wanted to be true to his character. Hopefully I won't loose that along the way. I probably will. Yah, and about the talking to himself, well I was reading over what I had read so far and it was a little to depressing for the mood I wanted, and that's why the joke came in. As for Harry's reaction and the whole waking up bit...don't want to give anything away. With the clothes thing, I just wanted to show a certain side of Draco that will be important later on. You'll understand, when I get there. Sorry this chapter took so long for me to finish, but I'll do my absolute best to post the next chapter faster. Just with school and all I don't have a whole lot of time. This chapter was supposed to be twice as long, but I decided to post what I had now rather than make you wait for who knows how long. Oh and if anyone offers you a white jacket and a padded apartment while you're waiting for the next chapter, please refuse. I'm a twisted writer so never assume anything is going to happen like it should, read this chapter and you'll understand. People like you are the reason I am definitely going to finish this and who knows I may write a sequel although I'm not sure yet. Oh and please don't die that would make me very sad and don't forget to eat lots of cake while you pace. Wow, I almost forgot. This chapter contains a very special surprise just for you, because I absolutely adore your reviews. Hope you like it.
Korritoma: Glad you like it and sorry for both taking so long and making the beginning so depressing, but once again, it makes the rest that much sweeter, don't you think?
Poetic-thought: Glad you like it and sorry it took so long, I'll try to write the next one a bit faster.
Chapter Four-Starling
Draco yawned as he slowly opened his eyes and attempted to adjust them to the dim light that was filtering into the room. He couldn't even begin to describe the wonderfully warm feeling that surrounded him.
His eyes finally focused and fell upon the body tucked tightly beneath his arm. The sight hit him like a ten-pound brick.
Draco was out of the bed in half a second flat. His heart was pounding and his palms were sweating as though he had just finished running a marathon.
The events of yesterday came pouring into his mind like a tsunami. What had he done? It was unthinkable for a Malfoy to have done such things. Then again, Draco was sure his father had already disowned him. So technically, he wasn't really a Malfoy anymore. But that still didn't make it right. He had violated Potter's privacy, but he had to, didn't he?
Draco couldn't even think straight anymore. He had to get out of there. He just needed some time to think; to sort things out, and to plan what in world he was going to do.
Draco dug through his trunk until he found his Gringotts's vault key. He plopped the key safely in his pocket beside his room key and then put on his shoes and an old robe. Draco took one last look at Potter's peacefully sleeping form, before sighing dejectedly and leaving the room. He made sure to lock the door; trying to mask his worry about leaving Potter alone, but he couldn't very well take Harry with him.
Draco walked slowly and carefully down the stairs; peeking around every corner to ensure that he didn't accidentally run into his father.
As soon as Draco descended the last step, he found Tom ushering him into a table at the back of the room.
"Your father was here a few hours ago." Tom's voice was barely a whisper, but his expression reveled more than was said.
"Who was with him?" Draco could already guess, but he was really concerned with how many. That of course, he wasn't going to admit.
"I'm not sure who they were, but there were three of them with your father." Draco was sure now that it was Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson Seniors. Those three always seemed to be following his father around like lost puppies. It was sickening really: another example of the demeaning stature of a death eater.
Draco sighed. He had hoped that the search would have concluded after the first day, but it seemed that perhaps the information he knew was more important than he thought. That was the only explanation for the continued search. And that's most certainly why his father was here; there could be no other explanation. His father always flooed straight to Knockturn Alley; the only reason he ever ventured into Diagon Alley was to purchase Draco's school supplies, and it was clear that wasn't the reason. Unfortunately, Draco couldn't think of anything he knew which was that important.
Tom's voice broke his thoughts.
"How about some breakfast to take your mind off your father for a bit?"
"Come to think of it, I am pretty starved. Could I have some eggs and bacon, and perhaps a pumpkin juice?" Tom smiled.
"Sure thing. I'll be right back." Draco watched as Tom disappeared behind the counter, before slumping down in his seat. Once again Draco found himself in a fix he hadn't planned for. He had been so sure his father would have given up looking for him after the first day, that he hadn't thought about what he'd do if his father didn't.
Draco looked around. The place was packed, but none of them, as far as Draco knew, were death eaters. That at least was good news, perhaps only his father and the three goons were looking for him. It would make it a lot easier to avoid being spotted if that was the case.
Tom appeared a moment later and set the food carefully in front of Draco.
"You know Draco, I'd really advise you not to go out today. Your father looked like he was in a ready to kill mode, and I'd hate to see anything bad happen to you. I mean, something serious happened, didn't it." Tom's voice was so sincere, but Draco just wasn't ready to tell anyone yet.
"Yah...I know...but I really don't have a choice about going out. There's something really important that I have to get, and tomorrow might be too late." Tom sighed.
"I guess...but promise me Draco, that you will be as careful as possible." Draco was slightly shocked at Tom's extreme concern for his safety. Draco had to admit, it was touching, and it was more than his father had ever shown for him.
"I promise."
"I have to get back to work, but I better see you later." Draco nodded as Tom turned and made his way back to the counter. The wonderful smell of the food in front of Draco caught his senses and he soon found himself choking down his food a mile a minute, which was understandable, seeing as how the last thing he had eaten, was a little breakfast two days ago.
As soon as Draco was finished eating, he carefully left the Leaky Cauldron and entered Diagon Alley after tapping through the brick wall entrance. The place was crowded beyond belief, but Draco found it easier to blend in this way and remain unnoticed; and that was his main concern.
Draco made his way slowly down the main street, noting the many different shops he had to stop by and what items he needed to buy. As Draco came closer to Gringotts, he suddenly heard a voice that he had prayed to never hear again: the voice of his father, Lucius Malfoy.
Draco's eyes darted frantically around the crowded street in a desperate search of the source. He stretched up on his tiptoes in a vain attempt to see over the vast sea of pointed hats, and bare heads, but to no avail. He just couldn't seem to pinpoint where his father's voice was coming from. He was so sure it was his father's voice that he continued to search; ducking in and out of tightly packed groups of people.
Draco stopped dead in his tracks: his persistence having paid off.
Lucius was standing beside the entrance to Gringotts; talking animatedly to none other than Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson Seniors. Draco slipped quietly into an alleyway near the group of death eaters and listened anxiously to their conversation.
"...that is why it is imperative that we find the boys. We are running out of time. The Dark Lord needs both Potter and my son...my former son before the final full moon of this year. How dare that little wretch run off", Lucius sneered.
"There's nothing that could have been done about that Malfoy. You had no way of knowing that your son would turn into a coward." Lucius backhanded Parkinson across the face.
"That disgrace of a wizard is not my son, and you will receive far worse than that the next time you refer to him as such. Do I make myself clear?" Parkinson tried not to cower, but he was well aware, that with Lucius's position, he had every right to punish him for even such a trivial offence as this.
"The Dark Lord is expecting a report of the progress of our search. Let's go." Lucius took off: disappearing into the ever-changing sea of cloaks. The other three hesitated a moment, before rushing off to catch up to him.
Draco slumped against the wall of the alley: slowly sliding to the ground and burying his head in his knees. The only thing he had gotten semi-right was that his father had in-fact disowned him and that he was still searching for him. But his reasons were so different and what was the deal with finding Potter and himself before the final full moon of the year. Did this mean that all of the death eaters were searching for him? This was something entirely new to him. From all the death eater meetings he had attended he had never heard any plans that involved either himself or Potter, and especially nothing about any full moons. Then again his father had excused him from countless meeting with no explanation, but Draco had never thought anything of it. Had they been discussing his fate in the Dark Lords ultimate plot to destroy Potter and regain the full measure of his powers? No. It couldn't be. At the last meeting he had attended, they were no closer to that, than they were to raising the dead. There had to be another explanation, right?
Draco sighed. He'd never felt so alone in all his life. But what could he do? He'd made his choice and it was to late to go back, not that he'd ever want to, especially after what he'd just heard.
Draco slowly stood and was peeking around the corner to ensure that there were no other death eaters, when a hand wrapped itself tightly around his mouth and waist: pinning his arms to his sides. It happened so fast. The next thing Draco knew, he was being dragged down the alleyway. He struggled with all his might, fighting desperately to free himself, but the grip was far too tight and he was quickly tiring. He tried to grab for his wand, but with his arms pinned, it was no use. Draco was pulled down alley after alley: each as deserted as the last.
Finally reaching a dead-end alleyway, Draco found himself being thrown against the wall. He could just barely hear a mumble spell as he felt a rope bind his arms behind his back. A heavy body pressed itself against Draco, successfully pinning him to the wall. A man's face appeared beside Draco's, but he couldn't turn his head enough to see who it was.
"Ahhh...you're a quite a catch my little snowflake. Such pale, smooth skin, and a blonde no doubt, you'll fetch quite an offer." The man's whispering breath was hot against Draco's ear.
Draco's eyes widened in shock of the man's comment. This was no doubt an S.T. Seller. S.T. Sellers profited in the sale of young, kidnapped witches and wizards, whom they'd sell as sex toys to rich buyers.
Draco increased his struggle against his captor: newfound fear seeming to burst with adrenaline.
"Now, now, now my little snowflake, you're quite a feisty one, aren't you? We can't have any of that, now. Looks like I'll have to break you first." The man's hand slipped down to Draco's pants and slowly pulled the zipper down. Draco screamed in terror as the hand slipped in side and firmly gripped his manhood. The man's tongue began to trace Draco's jaw line before making it's way to the base of his neck.
Draco couldn't believe what was happening, he couldn't believe this was real; he couldn't believe he was going to loose his virginity to rape. Tears slid rapidly down his cheeks as he sealed his eyes shut and tried to divert his mind from the horrible situation he was in.
Just as Draco had submitted himself to this terrible fate, there was a bright flash of light and the man yelled in terror as he jerked away from Draco. Draco turned to see the man slumped against the other wall with his hand pressed tightly against his cheek: tiny rivulets of blood seeping through his fingers.
Draco certainly didn't need an invitation. He bolted away from the man as fast as his legs could carry him. Unfortunately, Draco's first turn ran him into a dead end, then another, and another, and another, until he felt as though he was running around in circles.
Draco stopped at the fifth dead end. He turned to face the entrance, fearing that the man would be there at any moment to rape and sell him, and with his hands still bound behind his back, there would be nothing he could.
A bright flash of light caught Draco's eyes. It looked exactly like the flash that had occurred while the man had been molesting him. Somehow the light seemed comforting and Draco found himself running towards it. He followed the bright flashes around corner after corner, until things began to look familiar and eventually Draco found himself in the alley he had been in when he was nabbed. The light, though, was nowhere to be seen. What had it been, though, and had it really helped him or was it merely a coincidence that it had led him here?
Draco starred out at the crowded Diagon Alley and sighed deeply to himself, before falling to his knees and hanging his head. He couldn't go out there: not like this. With his arms bound and his zipper open, he was sure to attract a lot of attention, and that was the last thing he needed. Still, he had to do something. There was no telling if the man was going to come after him or not and it really wasn't a risk he was willing to take.
Draco was trying to think of a solution when it hit unexpectedly. There was another bright flash of light behind him as the ropes binding his wrists fell tattered to the ground. He brought his hands around to the front and rubbed his soar wrists, before zipping his pants and searching fearfully around the alley.
There was another flash of light directly beside Draco's head. He turned his head slowly to the side and found himself starring face to face with a small starling bird. The bird gave Draco an affectionate nip on the ear and Draco couldn't help be smile back in return.
"Sinilu, what are you doing here? You're my mother's bird. She's not here, is she?" Sinilu gave Draco another affectionate nip and waited for him to understand.
"Are you trying to say you're here on your own?" Another nip confirmed Draco's question.
"But why, I don't understand?" Sinilu nuzzled up against Draco's neck and with that one gesture Draco understood. It should have been obvious. Draco had always been the one to take care of Sinilu, even though his mother had received it as a gift from his father. She had never liked the bird and Sinilu had made it clear it didn't like her either.
"Are you sure you want to stay with me, I don't exactly have the safest home and I may not be able to take care of you as lavishly as I used to?" Sinilu stayed nuzzled against Draco's neck and once again the answer was clear.
"Thank you. You really saved me back there, and it'll be nice to have someone conscious to talk to." Sinilu tilted its head in confusion.
"I'll explain later. Besides I have some things I need to take care of right now. You want to come with me?" Sinilu nodded its head and the two of them made there way to Gringotts.