Title: A Torturous Reminder
Chapter 14: Like Water and Wine
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!
"Dra-Malfoy, are you alright?" asked Harry, correcting himself and stretching out this hand to help Draco off the ground.
"Yes," said Draco, ignoring Harry's hand and getting up on his own.
Harry dropped his hand and seemed hurt, but recovered himself quickly.
"Since Malfoy has destabilized the block, we can go ahead and take the wards down. We need to check out the house, we need some evidence on them," said Harry, taking out his wand and starting to take down the heavy wards.
Ron looked blankly at Harry, his wand pointing at the house, "Umm…Harry, I can't take any down…"
"Of course you can't, Weasley, you are incompetent," drawled Draco taking down two wands at the same time and smirking at Ron.
"Damn, sorry Ron, I forgot. These wards are dark magic; you need to have knowledge of that type of thing in order to get them down."
"Oh, well OK," said Ron, a bit uncomfortable that he couldn't do anything, "I'll help inside then."
Harry nodded and continued his work, throwing a glance at Draco as the time went by. Draco had a look of deep concentration, and was biting his lip, Harry noted in amusement.
After an hour and all the wards were taken down, they stepped into the house. The house was not deserted, as they had first thought. The furniture was not luxurious but it was decent. The house was not that big and they decided to each take sections of the house to search.
Ron was left to search the living room and kitchen, while Harry and Draco took the bedrooms.
Harry walked into a small room, and looked around. This room seemed the messiest, 'I guess I am attracted to the mess,' he thought and began his search.
Draco had walked into a rather gloomy-looking room, immediately scowling at the familiarity of it. It reminded him too much of his past home. He took care to make sure what he touched wasn't jinxed, and after making sure everything was pretty much safe, he began his search.
Ron was looking through pantries and under sofas, looking for any little clue he could find. He had felt rather useless back there and felt like proving himself. He looked warily at a jar that suddenly bounced and he turned to it curiously.
Harry ran as soon as he heard a yelp and, fearing the worst, had bounded towards the noise.
"Ron?" he asked through the smoke that had suddenly been emitted. "Ron?"
"I'm OK," Ron said, coughing slightly and with a jar in hand. He tossed it over to Harry, looking at the jar untrustingly, "It was that thing that cause this."
Harry looked at the jar he had caught and slowly opened it. He found nothing inside. "Well, if it did have anything it's gone by now," Harry said, sighing and placing the jar down. "There wasn't much in the room I searched, only papers and receipts that might be useful, though there's too many to go one by one," he said.
"Same here. Didn't find a thing except for that jar," Ron said, "Where's Malfoy?"
Harry stirred and turned to look at the room Draco was supposed to be searching. "He should be in there," Harry said, walking over to the door and wondering what Draco was doing since obvious shuffling could be heard when suddenly he came out.
"Er…did you find anything?" Harry asked Draco, unsure whether he should be alert at the glint that had appeared in Draco's eyes.
"No, nothing," Draco said looking slightly guilty to Harry's eyes, and looking into the kitchen.
"What are you looking for?" asked Ron through narrow eyes.
Defeated, Draco turned to Ron, "Just making sure you were able to do your job," Draco said sneeringly.
"I have been doing my job, you probably took a nap while you were in there!"
Draco rolled his eyes, "Potter, I found some stuff, yea I was joking. Had to make the Weasel feel better for not finding anything, and of course I need to crush his ego afterwards. Most of it is crap, receipts and such, but take a look at this," he said getting out a piece of paper with a coding similar to the first one Harry had seen. There were parts of it scratched out.
"It seems like a rough draft of the actual thing," said Harry taking the paper from Draco's hand.
"God job, Potter, maybe you're not that stupid."
Harry just glared at him while Draco smirked.
"Malfoy, is this enough information for us?"
"Yes, so let's get the hell out of here, I need to decode that."
"Malfoy…Harry, he's going to tell you the wrong things!" exclaimed Ron.
"Ron, please understand that Malfoy is in our side. I know it's hard to accept, but trust me, he wants the death eaters locked up too."
"Harry, what's with you and defending Malfoy? I never thought I'll see the day…" said Ron, confused of the sudden turn of events. Next time they'll tell him that they are friends.
Draco looked at Harry, and he felt the feeling of satisfaction and hope rise in his chest. 'Harry had defended him against Ron out of all people…he trusts me…'he thought. Harry did not seem to meet his eyes, and Draco berated himself for even thinking such thoughts.
"Well you have seen the day," muttered Harry sarcastically, "let's go back now…Oh wait," Harry pulled out his wand and started working. After he was done, he put away his wand tiredly.
"Alert spells," said Draco.
Harry nodded, and Draco shrugged, already heading for the door.
They ended up getting take-out food, and they sat in the table eating. Well, Harry and Ron, Draco had shut himself in his room the moment they had arrived.
"Harry, how are you feeling? You know about Oliver and all? I saw the asshole two days ago, Hermione had to restraint me not to hit him."
Harry took a deep breath, and gave a weak laugh, "I'm fine, Ron."
"Have you found anyone here?" asked Ron, a knowing smile on his face.
"No!"
"Harry, I know you. There is someone. You just don't want to tell me."
"I…uh…" said Harry, squirming under Ron's gaze.
"I thought so! Hermione will be pleased."
They continued eating in silence, and afterwards had gone out for a few hours so that Ron could buy some things to take back to London.
As they sat down watching TV, Harry's phone rang. He picked it up, and handed it to Ron.
Ron looked at the phone confused, and raising an eyebrow, took it.
He talked for a few minutes and finally turned the phone off, looking annoyed.
"Damn ministry, can't have a holiday…always calling me," muttered Ron, "I'm sorry Harry, but I need to go back, they need my help in a case immediately."
"Oh, its OK Ron, don't worry about it," said Harry sadly, "I'll see you some other time."
Ron nodded and went to pack his stuff. Ten minutes later he was standing in the living room waiting for a cab to take him to the apparition center.
"Want me to go with you?"
"Nah, its fine, stay here and rest," said Ron, "you need it."
With a quick hug, Ron left the house, and got into the cab.
Harry sat back down in the living room and sighed. Ron had stayed at least a day, and they had talked practically the whole time, so why was something irking him?
'Harry, have you found someone else?'
'No!' he had said, a little too quickly.
'Yes, there is. Hermione will be pleased."
Harry shook his head. He couldn't, but he knew he was harboring feelings for someone, someone that wasn't Oliver. He was…expecting something?
It couldn't be Draco. Well it could, but nothing would probably ever happen with them. It couldn't be Chris. He had felt no attraction at all, and there was no way it was Alex.
'Then who am I thinking about?' he thought when he suddenly heard a door open and footsteps coming his way.
"And where are you going?" asked Harry, turning around and meeting Malfoy.
"Out," Draco said simply, walking towards the door.
Harry got up, ready to follow him.
"Where are you going, Potter?" asked Draco, stopping in his tracks as he saw the boy following.
"After you, of course."
"Potter, I told you I don't need a fucking babysitter. And, it didn't seem to bother you much back there when 'you' stepped out on ME." Draco said, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Well, you're not allowed anywhere without company," Harry said, not backing down.
"Oh, don't worry. I'll be with company," Draco said rather suggestively.
Harry found himself slowly beginning to get angry. "We're on a mission…and you're just thinking…about getting laid!" Harry practically yelled, his emerald eyes flashing.
"I never said I was going for a fuck," Draco said, his voice cold.
"Well then," Harry said, his anger still there, "Don't use that tone when you're talking about others.
"I didn't know you cared," Draco said smirking.
"I don't, but unlike you, I follow orders," Harry said.
Draco stiffened and Harry saw this, but he wasn't going to let him get his way.
"Unlike you, Potter, I don't go around taking people into bed with empty words," Draco said coldly, his repressed emotions on the verge to get out.
Harry looked at him squarely in the face, "Then you shouldn't have gotten in," he said.
"You're right, I shouldn't have," Draco said and walked back to his room, "And for your information, Potter, I was just going to the library to pick up a book," he said before slamming the door.
Harry looked at the closed door, guilt and regret slowly rising along with sadness at Draco's words. "So it hadn't meant anything to him,' he thought as he silently made his way to his room for a long nap.
He woke up feeling groggy some hours later. Night had fallen and he could see the lights of other houses in his room. He stood up and went into the kitchen to get a glass of water.
The house was very quiet, and Harry felt an odd feeling in his chest. Setting down the glass of water, he then walked to Draco's room. Not knowing why, he knocked but got no response. He knocked again, and thinking that Draco was ignoring him, he opened the door and looked inside. The light was on and Harry felt panic start rising-Draco was gone.
"Malfoy!" he yelled, hoping that Draco was somewhere in the house.
"Malfoy! Draco!"
'Shit he must have left…I told him not to go anywhere…and I argued with him! I shouldn't have! What if something happens to him?' he thought frantically pacing the living room.
"What if I don't ever see him again?" he whispered, stopping dead on his tracks. "Maybe I really…"
He took a deep breath, "How do I…damn it, of course. I placed a tracing charm on him. Potter, why didn't you think about this sooner?"
He got his wand out, and in his mind saw flashes of lights, and yells. He did another spell and in front of him, a red light appeared.
"Oh God, he's in danger," Harry said frantically, and getting the location in his head was about to apparate when Draco walked into the room, breathing heavily.
Harry crossed the room in three strides, and his relief quickly turned into anger. He wanted to grasp Draco and slap him for putting him through worry, but he also had the feeling that he wanted to hug him for being safe.
"Where the fuck where you! Malfoy, you were in danger! Where were you? Didn't I tell you not to leave?" Harry yelled, his yells getting louder.
"How the hell do you know I was in danger?" asked Draco, still breathing heavily.
"The tracer!"
"The tracer…Potter, you put a damn tracer on me? Who the hell do you think you are? I gave you no permission to place that on me! Do you have to be a meddling fool? You have no right to trace me!" yelled Draco, getting his breath back.
"I placed it on you, since you did not want to cooperate with me! And I was right!" yelled Harry back.
"Take off the tracer, Potter!"
"No!"
"I told you to take it off, Potter," hissed Draco, coming closer to Harry.
Harry inhaled deeply, Draco was much too close. They held each other's gaze, both eyes flashing with intensity.
"No," Harry whispered.
Draco eyes became cold, and he stepped back.
"I captured a death eater."
"Wait, WHAT?"
"I captured a death eater," said Draco, leaning against the wall, still staring coldly at Harry.
"You decoded the information, didn't you! And you left without me! What the fuck Draco, are you insane? Why did you do that?" yelled Harry, the reality of the situation hitting him.
"Yes, I did, and it was better that I did this alone. My father could have been there."
"Exactly, Malfoy, you father could have been there! Was he…?"
"No," muttered Draco, his mouth turning into a thin line.
"Well good then! I don't want you to face your father alone," said Harry, his voice softening a bit.
"I can face up to him, Potter," spat Malfoy, "I am not weak. When the time comes, it's me and him only. Not you in between, got it?"
"I'm stupid, remember? I don't get such things," returned Harry, mad that Draco did not want him to be with him.
"Well, so what happened?"
"I went, and there were two death eaters. One left, the other I dueled. I ended up winning and the ministry came to take him. He's being questioned, tomorrow morning we find out what he had to say," said Draco tiredly, heading to his room.
"We are not finished here, Malfoy!"
"Yes, we are," Draco said, not looking at Harry and going into his room.
Harry ran a hand through his hair and sat exasperatedly on the couch. 'Fucking bastard,' he thought. He leaned back and looked at the ceiling, "at least he's fine," he whispered.
The next morning, Harry awoke and sat up in his bed. It was still early, but he had to be ready whenever the other auror's would show up with the information. He dressed quickly and went into the bathroom, glad that Malfoy was not inside.
He emerged from the bathroom to a smell of coffee. Confused, he went into the kitchen and saw the blonde leaning against he counter top shirtless, drinking coffee. Harry felt his mouth go dry as he took in the sight before him. Draco was casually leaning, one hand on his coffee, the other in his hair. Harry marveled at the body that was in front of him, and when Draco raised his eyes to him, he didn't even notice.
Draco smirked upon seeing Harry standing in the doorway of the kitchen, looking completely entranced. "Coffee, Potter?" he drawled, raising his cup.
"Uhh…what…oh yea, coffee, sure," said Harry, blushing and looking at the floor as he walked towards Draco.
Draco stayed against the counter top, as Harry grabbed a cup from next to him and poured coffee into it.
Harry leaned against the counter top next to Draco, and drank his coffee in silence, occasionally throwing a glance at Draco.
Draco placed his mug on the table, and left the kitchen without a word, smirking inwardly.
Two wizards stood in front of Harry and Draco in the living room, going over the events that had occurred.
"The death eater in question refuses to speak and he is great at resisting veritaserum, but we did learn some things from him."
"He won't say anything regarding the location of Lucius and Bellatrix, but he did say that there was a secret location in where they were staying at. He says he knows nothing of where it is, and the only way to get there is through portkey. Unfortunately, we cannot get to one," added the second wizard.
"But then how does he get there? I assume he has visited the place?" asked Draco, his brows furrowing.
"Yes, we suspect that a continuous activation portkey is hidden somewhere near here. It would be the only way for him to get to them."
"Did he say anything at all regarding the location of the portkey?"
"Well, through veritaserum he did say that he could get to them by going near the water. His answer was extremely vague but that can only mean the portkey is near the ocean. We can try and look for it, and see what happens."
Harry nodded, "Yea, we should. Hopefully he didn't feed us lies, but anything is worth a shot."
"Alright, well thank you both. Both of you are doing a fabulous job. I will leave you all to search this area for the portkey. I will send someone from the office to help you out."
They gave their goodbyes and left, while Harry and Draco simply looked at each other.
"Well, what are you waiting for, Potty?"
"Shut it, Malfoy, don't start," said Harry tiredly.
Draco shrugged and went outside, Harry following behind.
Draco stopped feet away from the waves of the sea, his hair blowing in the air, and turned around to look at Harry who had stopped some feet back.
Immediately, Draco's eyes narrowed, and Harry looked at him in confusement, 'What had he done now!' It wasn't until he felt two arms go around his waist that he realized why.
"Hello, Harry," whispered Alex into Harry's ear, "I was sent to help."
Harry disentangled himself from Alex, "Alex, please," he muttered leaving Alex behind and walking towards Draco.
Draco looked like if he was about to murder someone, but didn't say anything when Harry stood next to him.
"Bloom, what the hell are you doing here?" drawled Draco, looking furious.
"I was sent here, Malfoy."
"Well, you are not welcome here, Bloom," replied Draco, coldly.
"Sure I am, Harry does."
Draco laughed, "Don't be an ass, of course not; he doesn't want to see your face."
Harry turned to Draco, and looked at him strangely…was Draco…jealous?
"Ah, that's where your wrong, Malfoy. I believe you two are not getting along. He doesn't want to see you."
"And how do you know what he wants!" asked Draco, stepping up to Alex.
"And you do?" asked Alex, smirking.
Harry coughed, and looked at both of them, "We should be looking for that portkey…I'm going to start from the other side," muttered Harry, starting to walk away from them.
"Hold on, Harry, I'll go with you," said Alex, smirking at Draco while Harry tiredly closed his eyes and kept on walking.
Draco looked at them with narrowed eyes, and took a deep breath, "bastard," he snarled and started searching.
Harry looked at his surroundings. Some huge rocks stood in the shore, making the waves crash against them. He could taste the salt in his mouth, and the ocean breeze hit him, messing up his hair. The sand was an odd color of white, and Harry thought it was beautiful.
"Umm, well we can use searching spells to try and hit a magical object."
"Good idea, Harry," said Alex, smiling widely at him.
Alex kept trying to make Harry talk, but Harry only uttered a few words, choosing to ignore Alex. The searched and searched with no results, and ended up close to Draco as they searched the last spot in their vicinity.
Draco walked towards them, "Potter, did you find anything?"
"Ignoring me, Malfoy?"
"Yes, so maybe you can go away," snapped Draco.
"Draco, why don't you want me here…I mean…Harry is not your boyfriend anymore, is he?" asked Alex, a glint in his eyes.
Draco and Harry both looked at each other, unable to say anything.
"Then you wouldn't mind…" said Alex, and he gently grabbed Harry and pressed his lips on him.
Harry stood rooted to his spot, he opened his mouth in surprise and Alex took in the opportunity to insert his tongue inside Harry's mouth.
Draco looked in surprise….Harry was not pulling away from Alex. His face became paler, and he shook in anger, and worst of it all, Harry was not his boyfriend. He couldn't do anything about it.
Harry pulled away from Alex and looked at him, "What the fuck, Alex!"
"Aw come on, Harry, baby you know you liked it. Come on, let's get out of here and go somewhere else…more…private," he said, looking at Draco while he said the words.
"Go right along, I don't care," said Draco coldly, his eyes flashing in anger, and his fists clenched beside him.
"Come on Harry," said Alex, tugging Harry's hand.
Harry pushed Alex away, "Alex, no…we have to look for the portkey."
Draco turned to Harry in amazement, he couldn't believe the nerve of him.
Alex sighed, but still looked smug, "OK, I understand, well I must go, I'll talk to you later, we can pick up where we left off…ok?"
Harry looked at him blankly before Alex winked at him and started walking away from them.
Harry turned to Draco, but Draco looked at him in anger. In so much anger than Harry was taken back with it.
"Why didn't you leave with your little boyfriend, Potter?" drawled Draco, shaking with fury.
"I…"
"It's obvious you enjoyed it, run along now, go fuck him. Maybe you will actually do it this time," snapped Draco.
"But…"
"Alex and you will get on grandly, both being the jerks that you are!" yelled Draco, getting in front of Harry and taking his shirt in his hand, "Well? What are you waiting for? I don't want you here, Potter. Go with him, have him search for the death eaters with you," he said, releasing his hold of Harry's shirt.
"Malfoy!"
"I'm fucking leaving, I'm just in the way, anyways."
"No! Malfoy wait," said Harry, catching up with Draco. "Please stay. Let's just look for the portkey, OK?"
Malfoy still looked at him in fury, and didn't utter a word.
He kept on walking to a different area, the waves hit the rocks with much greater force, and Harry was forced to jog to keep up with him.
"Fuck...Malfoy! We need to do this! You're the one that's backing up now! What the fuck is wrong with you!"
"What's wrong with me!" yelled Draco, "What's wrong with me, you still ask!"
"Yes, because I have no idea what the hell is going through your head!"
Draco was about to respond when he saw a small box that was almost covered entirely by sand, protrude from near a rock. He grabbed his wand, and muttered a quick incantation. They box glowed gold, and returned back to its dull color.
"Portkey," they both whispered.
Malfoy walked towards it, and kneeled on the sand.
"Malfoy, don't take it! I'm going with you!"
"Potter, I don't need you! I'm going by myself. Fuck off," said Draco impatiently.
"You can't go by yourself! You think you're bloody invincible!" yelled Harry, walking towards Draco.
"And you have to come with me, oh savior!" Draco asked sarcastically.
Without warning, Draco made to grab for the portkey, but Harry with his quick reflexes made a grab for it also, and both disappeared, leaving the bright, sunny day, and the waves crashing over the rocks.
A/N: Another fast update! Aren't you all happy! We have been writing like mad…well we hope you like this chapter! PLEASE REVIEW….where do you think they will end up next? hmmm Look for another update soon ;-)