A/N: Now, for those of you who don't read my other story, or haven't gotten to it yet, I just wanted to inform you that I was on fourth of july family related business when I missed the sunday deadline. On top of that, my dad practically hauled my bum over to my sister's college so we could register her classes, and I am very lucky to be typing this right now as it is, but still, even though none of it is my fault, I feel horrible that I missed deadline. I am now going to try and make it up to you guys by putting out more than one chapter in the event of missing the Sunday Deadline. So, really it all works in your favors! YAY! For now though, enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I own the plot, that's it.

Warning: Contains Slash.

REVIEWS:

DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH DH

Chapter 4

"Outrage and Tea"

Moody and depressed, Harry used a spell to make his broom appear from home, and mounted it to ride home. He needed that feeling of absolute freedom and careless thinking, that only flying could bring him, and after so many years at least that had not changed. He kicked off violently from the ground, and the instant he did he felt a cool rush of air blow in his face. The ride home was uneventful...unlike his life recently.

He touched down on the ground, and sulking he went up to his door and unlocked it. Usually he would be proud that he had achieved such a beautiful house, taking into consideration that he drifted between jobs and never got a huge paycheck from anyone, but still the wizard that sold him the house gave him a generous price. Now though, looking up at it seemed to be a reminder that though it was big it only housed one person and not the two that it should have. If he hadn't been to preocuppied with such thoughts, Harry would have noticed the light on in his kitchen. As soon as he opened the door, he was bomarded with questions, by Hermione.

"Harry! So glad you're back, how'd it go?" She asked enthused about it, but then she looked down at her watch and frowned. "It's still early...I would have thought-"

"Well, you thought wrong didn't you?" Harry snapped, and grabbed himself a mocha frappuchino from the fridge.

"Yeah...but why? What--" Hermione began again.

"What happened?" He finished for her. "He brought up the subject of what would have happened had I not ended our relationship like I had. Originally I planned on fighting Sam to the very fiber of my being to get Draco back...but I just couldn't ruin his life, and make it like mine...I'd be a home-wrecker. So I told him, that if I hadn't ended it, he wouldn't have such a great relationship, and then I left. He's going to have to call the shots Hermione. Him who will have to make the move."

"YOU DID WHAT?" Hermione asked, very outraged.

"I said that--"

"I HEARD YOU! BUT HARRY! HOW COULD YOU GIVE UP AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THAT? ARE YOU CRAZY?" Hermione screamed.

Harry looked down at his mocha and began to try and talk.

SMACK

He grabbed his cheek, nurturing it where pain seared, as the sound of Hermione's hand making contact with his skin resounded through the room.

" OW! What the bloody hell was that for?" He asked indignified.

"That" Hermione emphasized, "Was for not taking the opportunity to tell him you still had feelings for him, and this" SMACK! "Is for backing off of Sam and not claiming what's yours rightfully."

Harry was saved from saying something that he probably would most likely regret later, by Draco's family owl once again swooping in and perching in front of Harry, his leg extended. He began to reach out, but Hermione was too quick and snatched it from the owl's leg, and fed the owl a grape from a nearby bowl of fruit. It hooted contentedly and left as Hermione opened the letter addressed to Harry.

Hermione looked it over and cracked a smile. Then put it in her Purse.

"Well" Harry said, impatiently. "What did MY mail, you know the one addressed to ME say?"

"That was an invitation to play tennis and/or enjoy tea afterwards. He said you can bring a guest Harry. So, Here's what we are going to do. Tomorrow I, who is an excellent tennis player will most defiantly challenge Sam to a tennis match, while you kindly invite Draco in to have some tea. The match is at his place tomorrow at noon, and the dress is casual. This will be your chance Harry. Bounce Back, and fight. In the mean time, I have to get home, Ron is waiting for me." She moved to get up and as an afterthought she added "And Harry, Draco isn't going to want you if you don't have a job...not to mention if you want to keep your house, so Ron and I compiled a list of jobs that we are each able to offer you. Please consider them carefully, and give us a response by tomorrow evening. Bye Harry, see you tomorrow."

With an annoying 'POOF' sound she left through the floo network, and left him at the kitchen table, still cradling his cheek. He then went to his bedroom and plopped down to go to bed. This was around the time his inner child kept him awake thinking about different things, but tonight all he could think about was this evenings events, and that moment in Draco's house seemed ages ago. With that Harry turned over, and thought to himself, "Damn you Draco Malfoy...Damn you and your hospitality."

The Next Afternoon

"Hermione, are you sure this polo looks right?" Harry asked for about the hundredth time that day since they left Harry's house. He just finished tucking in the white polo in the car, and felt that he should just wear his jeans and a t-shirt...after all the invitation did say casual.

"For the hundredth time Harry, yes!" Hermione laughed, reassuring him that he had made the right decision. "I know about these tennis things, and you look great, even I would date you if it weren't for the fact that I were married." She couldn't help but laugh again, as she intentionally had left out that Harry was gay.

"Oh yeah" Harry laughed jokingly. "I would just be all over you then Hermione...Please let me take you into my arms while we enjoy whispering sweet little nothings into eachother's ears."

"No, Harry, seriously, You look good, and Draco would--"

"I would what?" Draco said smiling as he opened the door. "Hermione, always a pleasure." He said kissing her on the cheek. "Harry, I am so glad you decided to come!" -He greeted warmly, and took Harry into his arms. His voice dropped to a whisper in Harry's ear. "I'm sorry Harry, I shouldn't have--"

"Me too Draco," Harry said as he pulled away as if Draco had said nothing at all. Draco had no idea what pleasurable shivers he just sent down Harry's spine, and Harry knew that if Draco did that again he would have to maul him in a rage of passionate kisses.

"Come in, please!" Draco stated pleasantly acting just like Harry did, and not showing it if he was startled by Harry's abrupt interruption.

They entered the lavish house and found Sam sitting in his tennis gear, flipping idly through a home living magazine.

"Oh, hello there!" Sam said with fake pleasant-ness and a fake smile plastered all over his face. He extended his hand to Hermione, and then nodded at Harry. He then proceeded to stand next to Draco and put his arm around his waist, with a smug smirk replacing the smile, when Harry was looking.

Just at that moment though, Draco sort of writhed uncomfortably, out of Sam's arms. Harry smiled as he thought to himself : "Ding! Red Flag for a bad relationship."

"So, Sam" Hermione pressed on, initiating the first part of the plan. "I hear you're a hell of a tennis player!"

"Well I--"

"I bet I could beat you though."

"Hey, I hardly think--"

"Come on I challenge you."

"But--" and before Sam could try to object, Hermione whisked him out onto the court in the backyard.

"So." Harry began as well, initiating his part of their plan.

"Yeah...do you want something to start on tea then?" Draco asked.

"Sure." Harry replied calmly, but inside his stomach was doing flips.

They had gathered together their tea, and some crumpets to eat, and then watched the two play tennis. Hermione was really good, and Harry knew she could keep him busy.

"Harry...I wanted to apologize.." Draco began.

"No, that's ok...You know, truth be told, I wonder that same thing all the time myself." Harry stated.

"You...you do?" he asked suprised.

"I wonder..why I ended it...and then how I could ever go on without you living this way...but then, I see Sam and how smug he is that he has you, and you seem content to play the role of Mrs. Dumbbitch fiancee for him. I know I still love you...but I also know that it's too late." Harry said. He shuddered as he saw Draco flinch, and pain pass through his eyes.

"Harry...If I could redo some things--"

"But you can't" Harry interrupted, more rudely than he intended.

"Well, I can at least try to reconcile them damn it!" Draco stated firmly, and threw his fist on the table, shaking it's contents.

"I know. But you're getting married, I don't think that counts as trying to reconcile me." Harry said, just as bluntly.

"Ok...but I can't just drop everything and leave Sam..." Draco suddenly stopped before he said something.

"Go on." Harry urged. "You meant to say, leave sam and hurt him like I did to you."

"Well.."

"Yes, I thought so...and now I'm getting what I deserve...a slap in the face because you're getting married." Harry said.

"I don't know what you want me to do Harry."

"I understand that you moved on...but..with this guy? Draco, he's nothing like your type, he--" It was Draco's turn to interrupt.

"How do you know what my type is?" He replied coldly. As if to say 'You may have dated me, but we weren't good for each other...at all.'

"Draco...I'm only trying to make light of that which is dark right now...I'm in the dark about why these things happened to you. You don't talk to me that often and then POOF a year or so later you decide to pop back into my life and tell me that you're engaged?"

"I WAS HAPPY! I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE HAPPY HARRY!" Draco screamed as he got up and walked to the window, facing away from Harry.

"Oh yeah...real happy." Harry said quietly.

"Harry, how was it that I was supposed to sense that you still had feelings for me." Draco asked, utterly confused.

"You couldn't I guess..but after you brought that up last night..."

"OK! I admit it, I have feelings for you still...But now YOU have to admit that you made a mistake...By the way, you ended it rather in a silly way." said Draco.

"Alright, then I will admit I made a mistake...only after realizing it now. And What do you mean I ended it in a silly way?" He asked indignantly.

"Well, you expected me to want to marry and have children...but Harry, I was younger then, I didn't know what I wanted, and we are not all alike in that aspect, I was so stunned when you left that I just sat there and cried a lot...thinking about how I just let the best thing I ever had walk out of the door because of what I didn't think about before, like marriage and children."

"Then why didn't you come after me?" Harry asked quietly again.

"Because you were running away from me." Draco replied.

A/N: my original intent was not to end it there...but seeming as it sounded like a good line to end with, I did. Anyway more coming soon! Love you all.

-Dark.