Title: A Torturous Reminder
Chapter 13: There's A Reason
Rating: M
Warnings: H/D SLASH, HBP SPOILERS
DISCLAIMER: We do not own Harry Potter! Characters (except those created by us) belong to the amazingly talented J.K. Rowling, WB, and the publishing companies. Don't sue us! We are just bored teenagers having a go at poor Harry and Draco!
Draco apparated to the place he had been destined and looked around. Other wizards and witches were popping in and out. Grabbing his things, he walked out of the building and into the Californian sun.
He opened his pocket and took out his cell phone, then closed it after thinking for several minutes. Instead, he got the paper with the address out and, after hailing a cab, made his way over to the place.
He paid the cab driver and took out his bags from the back, then walked over to where he would be staying at. It was a small, yet elegant apartment near the beach. It was painted a sandy color and the door was wooden. Draco walked in cautiously, unsure what to expect. The house was quiet, though, and nothing was in sight, except for a big mess.
"Harry's been here," he mused as he made his way through the clutter and walked to one of the bedrooms. Apparently, this was the empty one since there seemed to be no clutter around.
He placed his bag down and began putting away his things when he suddenly heard the door open, then slam close. Draco closed his eyes and muttered something before continuing with his work.
Draco walked nonchalantly to his drawer, putting away the last of his clothes, when he heard the expected footsteps.
Harry stood at the doorway, staring at Draco. 'How… what…' Harry thought, trying to make his mind work. He had already run into trouble and was, at the moment, not in the best of moods.
"You're here," Harry said slowly at Draco.
"No shit," Draco replied, putting the last things in the drawer.
"You didn't call me," said Harry coldly.
"I'm aware of that," said Draco dispassionately. He had finished putting away his things but refused to look at Harry, opting to look at the wall in front of him instead.
"You were supposed to call me! Those were your orders, and by now you know why."
"I don't need you to baby sit me, Potter," snapped Draco, finally turning around.
"I can't believe it," said Harry exasperatedly, throwing up his hands in mock defeat. "Don't think that you can handle them all by yourself. It's dangerous!"
"So now you don't believe in my abilities?" said Draco, his tone calm.
"That's not the point, Malfoy," snarled Harry. "I need to be with you at all times, just in case, don't you understand?"
"No, I don't understand," said Draco bitterly, turning around to face the wall once again.
"Well, at least try to. This is your goddamn job. Or what, not interested anymore?"
Draco closed his eyes but refused to let Harry get to him. "You're full of shit, Potter."
"And you're pathetic," snapped Harry, turning around to head for the door, but at the last moment turned back to Draco, and muttered something under his breath while pointing his wand at Draco's back.
Draco felt the door close and turned around. His mask was deeply set, but his eyes betrayed his emotion. He finally looked around his surroundings. The room was white with soft blue that accentuated the calmness the room brought. It was simply decorated, but it contained a charm that just seemed to make you stay there. Draco felt his eyes close and lay down on a bed, feeling himself drowning with the peacefulness that was felt amid the soft crashes of the waves.
Harry closed the door and made his way to his room. He had gone out in the morning to check out the surroundings, but that had not gone as well as he had hoped. He had ended up in the wizarding district and, to his shock, was met with some 'fans' of his that had bombarded him with questions about him and Oliver. Since he had not bothered to keep in touch with what was going on around him, he was surprised when he saw several articles that the people were wildly flapping him with.
'I can never get any peace,' he thought bitterly, and he had fled as soon as he could and had returned back to the apartment. He knew Draco was inside the house before he got there, he could feel Draco's magical signature. He did not want to face Draco; he did not know what he would do. He did not want anymore of their stupid fights, and when Draco calmly kept on putting his things away without even yelling at Harry, he became confused.
He then realized the he actually wanted to hear Draco scream at him, it was better than having a Draco that did nothing. With his confused thoughts, he went to his window and looked at the beautiful day outside. He could smell the salt water as he saw the ocean was peacefully retreating and returning. He returned to his bed and laid down, thinking of the complexity that was Draco and trying to push away the fear he had if something were to happen to him. Slowly, he drifted into a troublesome sleep.
Two hours later, Harry emerged from his room and, after a quick shower, went into Draco's room. They had to go and search the location.
Harry found Draco lying on his bed, his eyelids closed and his chest heaving slightly as he slept. Harry stood entranced at the sight. Draco seemed very innocent, even vulnerable as he slept. He felt his heard do a flip but reproached himself silently. He shifted his eyes away from Draco's face, knowing if he did not he might end up doing something he would later regret. An awake Draco was one thing, and apparently, a sleeping Draco was a very different thing.
He pointed his wand, without stepping through the door, at Draco and whispered, "Enervate". Immediately, a disgruntled Draco woke up.
Harry turned back to look at Draco and watched as an emotion he had barely glimpsed at and could not place, became hidden under annoyance.
"What do you want?" Draco asked, lying down once again on his bed and turning away from Harry, though he knew he would not be able to sleep again.
"We have to go to the location that we were supplied with," said Harry, staring at Draco and waiting for a reaction.
"Fine," he heard Draco mutter and saw as the covers were slipped off and a more awake Draco made his way to his drawers and then towards the bathroom.
Before Harry could register that this was going to delay them for a few more hours, the shower was already on and running.
"Fuck," Harry thought as he made his way to the living room, then the kitchen as his stomach gave a grumble. He had not eaten since the morning, and Draco might be hungry, he thought as he set about fixing themselves something to eat.
Harry had already eaten and was sitting at the TV when he heard Draco's doorknob click and saw Draco emerge from the room.
"Would you like something to eat?" Harry asked Draco, motioning to the kitchen. A silence seemed to settle after he said these words and, unsure of what was going on, he turned around to find a struggling Draco.
"No," Draco simply said.
Harry looked at him, his features changing to annoyance. "Please, Malfoy, I know you're mad at me, but you're going to have to eat."
"I know that, Potter," Draco said sneeringly. "I just won't eat out of your hands."
Harry stared at him then turned towards the door. "We might as well go then," he said grumbling and opening the door. He felt Draco draw beside him, but he did not run as they both walked down the streets.
They had been walking through the center of L.A. for a while when Harry suddenly did not feel Draco beside him. Turning around, he caught sight of a blonde head before it disappeared into a store.
Harry, his anger slowly rising, walked into the store, banging open the door and looking around for the blonde. When he caught sight of him, he stomped over to him, ready to, if needed, drag him out.
He stopped when two grey eyes looked into his. His anger subsided slightly, but nonetheless, still remained.
Draco had been walking alongside Harry for a while. His mind had been thinking.
'Why didn't Harry like him?'
'Why did he care?'
'Since when had he started loving Harry?'
'Wait, love Potter!'
He shook his head, trying to keep a clear and levelheaded mind in case trouble arose, but he found it more difficult to do than he thought.
Walking a bit behind Harry allowed him to stare at the boy – no, the man that walked before him. He glanced at him cautiously and saw that Harry had his eyebrows furrowed.
He noticed that Harry's overall appearance and indifference seemed too forced to be natural.
Draco smirked. 'At least it's as hard for him as it is for me,' Draco thought when he suddenly replayed the scene in his head.
An image of Harry, cooing words into his ear and running his hands all over Draco's body, appeared in his mind. The kiss they had shared snaked its way into his mind before it was taken over by Harry's 'don't' and his next few words.
Clenching his fists, Draco walked on. 'A Malfoy wouldn't let this happen. He would take revenge,' he thought, when another thought suddenly came into his mind. 'I'm not really a Malfoy anymore, though,' he thought, unsure whether to feel relief or regret.
Nonetheless, he still did not know what to do about Harry, least of all how to act towards him.
He had been hurt, of course, but he would be able to go through it, wouldn't he?
Confused, he decided to pay more attention to his surroundings. He didn't know where they were at all, but a store did happen to catch his eye.
He turned, not bothering to tell Harry. After all, he had the cell phone. If Harry was clever enough, he'd call him. Without seconds thoughts, Draco entered the store, immediately walking to one of the displays.
His eyes were full of delight and he didn't hear the door open, then slam shut. All he knew was that he had found what he'd wanted for some time now.
He touched the display, coming out of his initial delight, when he heard stomping. Looking up, he caught sight of the wizard he knew it would be.
Harry faltered as he gazed at Draco. He looked… genuinely delighted? Confused, Harry looked at what Draco's gaze had gone back to and found himself staring at… a bracelet!
"Malfoy…" Harry said, his voice slightly edged.
"Yes," Draco said, not missing Harry's tone but refusing to acknowledge it.
"Malfoy, we're wasting time."
"I'm buying it," Draco said, frowning but casting Harry's comment aside.
"We don't have time for this!"
"I've been searching everywhere for it and I've finally found it!"
Malfoy," Harry said through gritted teeth.
"There's not many left anymore… muggles don't even realize their value…"
"We're leaving this minute!"
"How much is it?" Draco asked, looking up to the lady that was now beside them.
Harry stepped back at the sudden apparition, then stumbled forwards, putting a hand up as if to signal a 'stop'.
"He's not buying it."
"I am too."
"No, he's not. We're just about to leave."
"Yes, I am. Please, wrap it nicely. I don't want it getting injured."
"No, he's not getting it."
"Potter, we're wasting more time arguing. Just let me buy it and we can go back to playing the heroes."
Harry stared at him, at the words. He couldn't believe Draco had just muttered those words, Oliver's words.
Draco, taking Harry's silence as submission, turned back to the lady and nodded. "I want both of them," he said once again, marveling at the beauty of them before they were taken away to be wrapped.
Harry had stared at Draco in horror as he victoriously asked for the bracelets. He was too far in his mind to register anything anymore. He shook his gaze from Draco, his face darkening as he remembered the scene that had happened not too long ago.
Draco, meanwhile, turned to look at Harry and was surprised to see something more than anger in Harry. A heavy sadness seemed to have settled around him and Draco began to feel sorry when he shook his head. 'Bloody git deserved it,' he thought before turning back to the lady. He paid her and walked outside, the small back tucked away safely now in a pocket after a quick reducto spell. Turning, he found Harry still rooted to his spot.
"Well…" Draco said, snapping Harry out of his thoughts.
"Well what?" Harry snapped.
Draco couldn't help but smirk at the annoyed tone in Harry's voice. "Are we going to go?"
"Sod off, Malfoy. Go do whatever fucking pleases you," he said, heading in another direction.
Draco stared incredulously at Harry, then shrugged. He wasn't going to fight it, although he did wonder what he'd done to get Harry like this. In addition, 'Lucius's headquarters' could wait, he thought as he walked back towards the apartment.
He momentarily stopped and looked back at the disappearing mop of jet-black hair. Something tugged inside him, urging him to go on and comfort Harry. He needed it at the moment. However, another side was actually taking glee at the sight, glee that Harry was feeling and experiencing what he was, glee that Harry was hurt.
His usual side won and he made his way back home, though not before walking into random stores and getting lost halfway along the way.
Harry, meanwhile, had taken liberty to walking. Just walking. He had to in order to cool down. He looked around, looking for a place to sit and think when he found what seemed to be the perfect place.
Harry settled himself on a couch and declined to order yet, much to the waiter's disappointment. The waiter lingered a bit, warning Harry that all customers had to order, but Harry cast him aside, telling him he was trying to make up his mind. The waiter shrugged and made his way over to the next group that came in, an eye still on Harry though.
Harry leaned back in the couch and closed his eyes slightly, trying to regain some control in his emotions. Fury and anger swirled around, along with a deep sadness that he hadn't felt for a few days, but that now came back full force. They had been three simple words, a small phrase, yet he hadn't been able to handle it yet. He had completely blown of Draco, left him alone (much to the horror of his conscience) and had walked off, very mad and trying to cool down. He needed an outlet, he thought as he sighed, taking in slow deep breaths. That was it, he needed something that would make him forget everything for a while. Make him forget the mission, his vengeance, his heartbreak, and most of all, Draco.
Harry still refused to harbor any feelings for Draco. He just couldn't. Draco seemed not to care anymore, he didn't seem remotely interested in Harry except for those few instances when Harry had caught Draco looking at him with a hint of sadness and confusion. And Harry's feelings hadn't managed to go away, they were still in him, just like his feelings towards Oliver were. Or were they? Well, if they weren't he wouldn't have just blown up like that at those three words, would he have? Well… it hadn't really been Oliver's memory that had shocked him, it was hearing Draco say those same words, seeing them come out of his lips, which had made him lose it.
Harry shook his head, running a hand through his hair. He was going to have to leave behind his feelings for Draco, completely forget them if he wanted to move forward. They would only hinder him. He shifted uncomfortably as he felt someone's weight suddenly beside him.
"Are you alright?" Harry heard a rather familiar voice say beside him.
Harry immediately opened his eyes and turned only to confirm that it was indeed, his friend that sat beside him. 'What the hell…how… Not exactly what'll help me, but at least he'll take my mind of things,' Harry thought as he glanced at his friend, still lightly shocked.
"Well…." Ron said to Harry, who seemed to be just staring at him.
"Huh… sorry," Harry said. "I'm just… I mean…where the hell did you come from?… when'd you come back? Why didn't you write? I wasn't expecting you…" Harry began, continuing to bombard his friend with questions and barely letting the answers finish before he was asking questions once again.
Once Harry settled down again, and after accepting a drink from Ron, the question was brought up again.
"So what's wrong?" Ron asked, looking at his friend concerned.
"Huh, oh, not much," Harry said, averting his eyes.
"Bloody hell there isn't. Harry, it's no use not telling me, I'm going to get it out of you sooner or later," Ron said, a small smile on his face.
"True," Harry said, "but I think I'll wait till later. They were just… bad times I was reminiscing about."
"Oh," Ron said, believing he meant the past fights, the past struggles. "So…"
"Well… I guess we should get you settled then," Harry said, getting up and walking out of the place with Ron following behind him. Harry showed him a bit and Ron looked around in wonder at the American culture.
"Blimey… everything's much more… open… and shocking… crude…" Ron was saying as they drew up to the apartment.
Harry shrugged, not wanting to comment at the moment. He hadn't thought about what Draco would say, much less Ron. Hoping for the best, he opened the door and led Ron into the apartment.
"Well, it's definitely ni-," Ron began to say when he caught sight of a moving blonde head.
Draco, upon hearing the voice and wishing, hoping, begging, that it was not who he thought it was, had walked out to see who it was that Harry had brought home.
Ron's eyes went wide as he came face to face with none other than Malfoy.
"Hello," Draco said, his usual sneer on his face, though no insult was thrown this time.
Ron was still too shocked to reply and turned to Harry for an explanation.
"Right then," Harry said. "Well… Draco's my partner on this mission," Harry said.
Ron looked from Harry, to Draco, then back to Harry again, trying to get his voice back. "You mean… he's who you've been trusting your life with?"
"You say that like it's a bad thing," said Draco, walking over to the couch and sitting down, staring at the two in front of him.
"Knowing you, it is a bad thing," Ron said, before turning back to Harry. "But really… doesn't the ministry have anything to say? I mean… his father… and then…"
"Ron…" Harry said, a slight edge to Ron's voice that warned Ron not to continue, but not before Draco interrupted.
"No, Weasley, the ministry doesn't have anything to say. In fact, they practically invited me to join the hunt, though I have my own personal reasons. And as for my father, don't assume you know me, Ron. I'm not following in his footsteps. Never assume, Weasley, never. After all, there's that old saying. Assuming makes an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'."
Ron turned to Draco and opened his mouth, about to retort, when Harry stopped him. "Come on, Ron, you can sleep in my room. It's getting kind of late. Tomorrow, we're going for clues," Harry said.
"You mean the weasel's going to join us?" Draco asked and Harry turned to Draco, his eyes narrowed.
"Yes, Ron's going to join us," Harry said, adding extra emphasis on Ron's name before turning around and bidding Ron to follow him.
After apparating to the hotel Ron had checked in at and moving his things into Harry's apartment, they both sat in the kitchen, talking, very similarly like old times.
"So, how long are you staying?" Harry asked.
"I can only stay for about two days. Sorry, Harry."
"It's ok. I know you have work to do."
"So… why Malfoy?" Ron asked, finally getting the question that had been on his mind out again.
Harry turned to Draco's room where he had taken the liberty of shutting himself in, slamming the door as an emphasis and apparently locking it too.
Harry shrugged in response to Ron's question. "Personal reasons, like he said. I'm not sure whether he'd feel comfortable with me telling, although he's not as bad as he used to be, at least."
Ron let out a short snort. "Seemed the same Malfoy to me."
Harry let out a small smile. "True, but that's only because he had the opportunity of meeting you again, Ron. You always bring out the best in people," Harry said jokingly.
"Too true, too true," Ron said, puffing out his chest and making Harry laugh.
Ron and Harry talked and laughed until they heard a banging and a 'Will you keep it down!' come from Draco's room, which really only made them laugh louder until a fuming Draco came out of his room, threatening to curse them if they didn't shut up. Harry and Ron surrendered and both made their way to Harry's room, where Ron would be sleeping on a small conjured bed.
Draco muttered angrily as he made his way over to his room. "Stupid Weasley and Potter," he thought as he slammed his door shut once again. "Why'd he have to come," he whined as he lay down on his bed again. "It's only going to make things worse," he sighed, knowing fully well he was probably going to be ignored for the next few days. "Well, it may actually be a good thing," he said to no one as he came to the conclusion that, since Harry would be more preoccupied with Ron, that meant less awkward moments between them. Draco sighed, not sure whether he should be happy that for the next two days he would pretty much be left alone, or sad that he was going to be ignored. He slowly drifted off to a peaceful slumber, pushing his thoughts out of his mind until the morning.
Morning eventually came and both, Harry and Ron took a shower and finished before Draco was finished, too.
"Does he always take this bloody long?" asked Ron impatiently as he finished his breakfast and was answered by a nod from his friend.
"Is he gay too?" Ron suddenly asked.
Harry turned to look at his friend, then nodded. "What made you think that?" he thought, a small smile once again playing on his face.
"Oh, I don't know," Ron said. "I mean, the long showers, the whining, the care… subtle hints you know, that my incredible mind was able to piece together."
Harry snorted when Draco suddenly came out, apparently ready to depart.
"Well, are we going?" Draco asked impatiently.
Harry and Ron both walked out after him and the three made their way over to the houses.
"So Harry, where exactly are we going? I talked to that…I forgot his name, that guy in New York, and he told me you would be here, but still…" said Ron, turning to Harry, hoping to hear some explanation.
"We were not given an exact location, but once we get there, we must check out all the houses in that area and from there assume which one is the one."
"Oh, well that's easy!" said Ron, giving a wide smile.
Draco snorted, "Always the bright one, aren't you Weasel? Yes, we will knock in every door, and if we happen to see to my father, we will just tell him we are there to have some milk and cookies with him. I bet he would be delighted," he drawled.
"And I bet you would be delighted to see him, wont you Malfoy?"
Draco was about to open his mouth when Harry just turned to them, "Will the two of you just please shut the fuck up, just cut it out!"
"Potter, you cannot deny me the time to insult Weasel, every time I do not insult him, his ego goes up, I have to keep it down, it's only fair for everyone."
"Malfoy, if you don't shut up then I will make sure your mouth is bound tightly, now that would be fair for everyone."
Ron snickered, but without Malfoy sending him a glare.
Finally, the three of them got to a respectable looking neighborhood. 'Hmmm not what I had in mind,' thought Harry, looking at the streets around him.
"Now, what do we do, Potter? Have some plan, may I ask, are you capable of some wit?"
Harry turned to Draco. Draco had spoken to him more since Ron had arrived. Well, he insulted him, not spoke civilly to him, but at least it was a start. Although he knew better, Malfoy was just doing this for show, since Ron was there.
"As a matter of fact, ferret, I do have some plans," said Harry, and he motioned to them to go near a small alley on their left.
Harry lifted his hands, and seemed to be feeling the air with his eyes closed. He muttered a few words, and snapped his head up. "This way," he said, making the other two blink in confusement.
"Harry, what did you just do?"
"I felt for any magic that might be here, any residues. The spell when used on a wide area such as this will not take me specifically to a place, but it will narrow down our house hunting."
"Wow, Harry, that's incredible," said Ron, clearly impressed.
Draco just rolled his eyes, "Potter just cannot help but to show off at times."
"And you had a better way, Malfoy?" asked Harry, raising an eyebrow.
Malfoy kept quiet, surprisingly, and just walked behind Harry and Ron. He glared at Ron as he talked animatedly with Harry, while he just stood behind them. He hated being ignored, and ignored by Potter was worse. He thought it would be better if Ron was here, and it will keep his own thoughts from running loose, but he found that Harry ignoring him was something he was not fond off.
They turned to a street with almost identical houses lined up neatly next to each other. Harry looked around, and looked to see if any muggles were present. Being satisfied that none were visible, he turned to Draco and Ron, "disillusion yourselves; we need to avoid being seen by any muggles."
Draco and Ron nodded, and immediately all three felt the cold sensation that only came with that spell. Harry muttered a few words, and they could now see a more visible outline of them. "Muggles cannot see us, but we do need to see where we are, so this will work."
"Nice one, Harry," said Ron "I didn't even know the spell existed."
"Yes, Potter, you are such a genius," drawled Draco looking bored, "excuse me if I don't bow to you."
"You are excused," said Harry simply, continuing to walk.
Harry stopped at the very end of the street, and eyed the last three houses.
"I guess we can start by checking each one. Try and see if you can detect any magic, anything suspicious on it."
The first house seemed very ordinary, and with children's toys littered on the floor, they doubted this would be the house, but experience had taught Harry to be thorough in his searches. After almost thirty minutes, and not finding anything, they decided to go the next house.
The next house seemed empty, and after searching it for almost an hour, Harry had given up. He had mostly given up finding anything due to Draco's constant bitching about him getting sunburn.
"Malfoy, it's just sunburn, get over it! Your fucking pale, some sun might at least make you not seem dead," muttered Ron, getting annoyed by Draco's incessant complaints.
"Yes, Malfoy, a tan might help you," added Harry, trying to focus using a warding spell on the house.
"You have a problem with my skin too, Potter?" said Draco, smirking.
Harry, remembering the soft, smooth, pale skin he had lovingly touched with his fingers, thought that he had no damn problem with Draco's skin. It was perfect. He snapped out of his thoughts, and turned to Draco,"Uh...yea…um…I do," he said not very convincingly. Draco only smirked and continued whining at Harry.
"Fine!" yelled Harry, and with a triumphant smirk at Ron, Draco followed Harry to the last house.
The house seemed exactly the same as the one before, it seemed empty and the grass was a bit overgrowing, but not too much that it was obvious. Harry did a magic tracer on it, but found there was none. 'They would try to block off any tracers near the house,' he thought, 'but there are other ways…'
They searched for a couple of more minutes, when a loud noise was heard, and Draco flew back a couple of feet and landed with a thud on the ground.
Harry panicked and ran to Draco, who was face down.
"Draco!" he said in a loud voice, and was about to turn Draco around when the blonde groaned and sat up.
Ron came running up to them, and looked down at Draco in confusement.
"I guess I found them," said Draco a bit weakly, "this is where they are."
A/N: Yea, this was a fast update. We are writing like crazy! AHHH expect more goodness soon! BTW, we are somewhere near the halfway point in this story. Expect an avalanche of chapters….hmmm please please review! It really makes us want to write faster, and you all have been so nice with us! Thank you! As always, expect a reply for your review, we love to talk to you all!