Author Notes: For the ever lovely roedhunt and much love to my beta this chapter, burningchaos. You are the best and to give it back to me sooo quickly to post! I love you!

Chapter 3 Draco and Harry

"Harry, hey, Harry!"

"Malfoy."

"How are you doing?" The blond asked.

"Pretty good, Malfoy. What do you want?" Harry replied, not trusting the other man.

"Oh, Harry. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I wanted to see if you wanted to get a bite to eat or something." Malfoy said pleasantly, ignoring the scathing tones in Harry's voice.

"Are you feeling alright, Malfoy? We have never had a decent conversation, let alone eaten a meal together. What has gotten into you?" Harry looked at the blond trying to decide what was going on behind those steel grey eyes.

Not to be deterred by the reception, "I just figure it was time we buried the wand, so to speak. The war is over. Don't you think we could be friends now? Try something new for a new world?"

Harry could not believe the words coming from the other's mouth, "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Let's just say that I don't want to be enemies anymore. Why don't we go get a burger or something?"

"Draco Malfoy eat a hamburger? This I have to see. You would lower yourself to eat at a burger restaurant?" Harry said incredulously.

"Look, Potter, I'm trying to be nice here. Now do you want to go or not?" Draco said through clenched teeth.

"Why should I trust you? You are just like that father of yours. Both of you always have hidden agendas. What is yours, I wonder?" Harry spat out.

Draco took a deep breath and seemed to hold it for ten seconds. Different emotions crossed his face before he carefully said, "Harry, I have had a lot of time to think about life lately. I would like for us to start over and be friends. I have no hidden agenda other than wanting you as a friend. Is that so hard to believe?"

"Yes, it is hard to believe. Hell, your family wasn't true to the one side of the war even though everyone knew you were a part of it. Your father only chose to join the light when he saw the end in sight. I figure you are still his little puppet and he is trying to get me into his pocket through you. Why should I believe anything else?"

"I don't know why you should believe anything else. What can I do or say to let you know that I have the purest intentions in becoming friends with you? Everything I say, you will take the wrong way. Why don't you stop analyzing everything and agree to go out and get something to eat with me? A lunch in which you don't have to feel the pressure of the wizarding world wanting to know what the "Boy Wonder" is doing; a lunch in which you can be yourself. Somewhere you can let down all the walls you have built up over the last few years. But hey, it's your life. Keep living the way you have been, trusting no one. I bet even Granger and Weasley can't get in through those barriers." Fire blazed in the steel eyes as he finished the speech. His temper was close to the surface, but he was still trying to control it.

Harry looked at him thoughtfully and then suddenly made a decision. He might regret it later, but it actually sounded good. "Fine, let's go. Where did you want to have lunch? Where can we go that is away from the 'Wizarding World's eyes' as you said?"

Draco smirked and held out his arm, "As it so happens, I know of a wonderful little pub in an out of the way place. Shall we?"

Harry took hold of Draco's arm, almost afraid of what was going to happen. "Just hold on, Harry, we will be there in a second." Draco pulled the other boy in closer to him as they apparated.

They boys appeared on a hill not too far from the pub. Harry looked around nervously. He knew better than to trust a Malfoy! "Where in the bloody hell are we, Malfoy?"

"Relax, Harry. This is one of my bed and breakfasts, The Horse and Hound Country Inn." Draco replied calmly.

"The Horse and Hound? Ummm, Draco, I hate to tell you this, but we are not in LONDON!" Harry seemed ready to panic. After just trusting the boy to take them to an out of the way spot what does he do? Takes him, Merlin knows where.

"Obviously we aren't in London, you git. What part of 'away from the Wizarding World eyes' did you not pay attention to? I figured I would bring you to a more out of the way spot where we could chat and actually get to know each other. If we stayed in London, one of your admiring fans would be bound to catch up and then question why you were with me." Draco stated as he rolled his eyes.

"So where are we?"

"Oh, the Scottish Borders, near Jedburgh." Draco started walking down the hill towards the house.

"SCOTLAND! God-dammit, Malfoy. Why the hell did we need to come to Scotland?" Harry rambled off a few more obscenities as he watched the blond making his way down the hill.

"Calm down, Potter." Draco stopped and looked up at Harry, "It isn't as if you can't apparate back if you feel threatened by me. I just thought that if we really wanted to make a go of being friends, it would be best to do around people that won't know us or our bitter rivalry. I personally am famished and so I am going to have a bite to eat. You know it really isn't that easy to apparate over such a distance with another person. I'm in a weakened state right now, so you are relatively safe." With that, Draco turned and stormed down the rest of the way and crossed the street to the bed and breakfast.

Harry was a bit shocked, but decided Draco was right. He was weak from traveling. Besides, he still needed to find out what the other boy's motives truly were.

Once inside the bar, Harry found Draco near the back sitting next to a great fireplace. There were only a few other patrons in the room, none of which looked at him when he walked in. Harry sat down in the other chair at the table. He looked around at the room. It seemed to be furnished as it would have 300 years ago. "You surprised me, Malfoy. Not many people do that anymore," he said quietly.

"Well, if you ever gave me half a chance, you might actually like me. I'm not an evil person, and quite likable from what others have told me." Draco said monotonously.

"You're right. I'm sorry, Draco. I don't trust anyone anymore. You did say you wanted to start over and I haven't even given you a chance to start fresh." Harry said with a sigh. "So what do you suggest to eat?"

Draco looked up at him with hope in his eyes. "Do you really want to try, Harry? I want to end our feud, I really do."

"Yes, let's start over. I'm starving now. I think I could eat a horse." Harry laughed.

"Well, why don't you try the shepherd's pie? It is lovely here, almost melts in your mouth." Draco suggested.

"That sounds good." Harry said.

The waitress came over and took their order, two shepherd's pie and two pints of ale. The boys were quiet for a few minutes, neither of them knowing where to start. Their feud was years old and to start over was going to be a challenge to both of them. The waitress brought the ale over and placed it in front of the boys.

"Well, here's to new beginnings. Cheers!" Harry said. Both boys took a large gulp out of their tankards. Maybe it was to give them false courage, or maybe it was just something to do, they didn't know. Tentatively the boys started questioning each other.

"So, you really grew up in a closet? I thought someone made that up."

"Did you really learn to fly at 3?"

"You had to wear hand-me-down clothes?"

"You actually like Muggle movies?"

"Don't be so shocked, Potter. There are many things that I like to do." Draco said as he took a bite of his food.

The boys continued questioning and talking for a few hours and quite a few pints. Draco realized that neither of them was in any shape to go back to England. "Hey, Potter. I think we need to stay here tonight."

"What do you mean, Malfoy?" Harry slurred.

Draco giggled, "I said, I think we need to stay here. You are too drunk to take us back to England."

"Am not drunk," Harry defended. "Besides, why can't you do it?"

"Because I'm drunk, too," Draco laughed.

"Ok, fine, but where do you propose us staying? Here?" Harry questioned.

"Never fear, we won't have to stay here. My ancestors would roll in their graves if I ever actually stayed i here /i ." Draco drawled. "We can just go up to the family house not too far from here."

"Aha!" Harry exclaimed drunkenly, "I knew you were just trying to set me up for something. Is your dad going to be there to torture me, or something?"

Draco looked at Harry like he had three heads, "But my father doesn't want to torture you. He told me so himself. He wants to be friends with you." Draco blinked innocently, the alcohol erasing any sarcastic retorts he may normally have had.

Harry looked at Draco and started to laugh. "You are so drunk! Are you sure you know how to get to this house?"

"Sure do," Draco replied. He signaled for the waitress. "Meghan, could you put this on the tab and have the car take us to the keep?"

"Sure thing, Mr. Malfoy. Would you like for us to send up some dinner with you as well," the girl asked.

"No, thank you. I'm sure there will be something to eat up there. It is tourist season." Draco said.

"Yes, you are right at that. Patrick should be around front in about five minutes. Is that ok?"

"That is fine," the blond replied with his Malfoy charm.

Harry looked at the exchange a bit confused. "Tourist season?"

"Yes, my house is used as a tourist attraction," he said with mild disgust. "It keeps the locals happy and it keeps us away most of the time. I am probably the only one that ever comes out here. The rest of the family hates this area, too quaint for them. I, personally, love the history and the location of the keep. I plan on living here one day, much to the disappointment of my father. I want to raise my family here."

Harry looked at him then, having just learned more about Draco in those few seconds than he did their entire afternoon together. Draco was actually a recluse who really wasn't under his father's thumb.

The boys got up and walked to the front of the bar when they heard car pull up. Both boys got in the backseat for the short ride to the keep. "It is only about five miles from here. We should be there in no time," Draco said. "This is some of the finest countryside you will ever see."

"Do you realize you sound like a tour guide?" Harry laughed.

"Oh hush, you!" The two fell into a silence as the car wound its way towards the keep.

"Carl, can you stop here for a minute?" Draco asked a bit later. "Hop out, Harry I want to show you something." The boys got out of the car and walked to the front of it.

"This is my home, where I want to live with my family. I haven't brought anyone else here before. It never seemed right, until now," he whispered close to Harry's ear. The sun was setting behind the castle. The light reflected softly off of the water behind the castle. The countryside was settling into the evening making everything romantic.

Shivers ran through Harry's body as he leaned back against Draco. "It is beautiful, Draco. You didn't tell me you owned a castle."

"What's better, it is enchanted; only wizards can see the true beauty of the castle. Muggles see the ruins, but you and I, we see how beautiful the water is, how majestic the towers are, untouched after so many years."

Draco dared to wrap his arms around Harry's waist and pull him closer. Harry leaned back on him. He turned his head and looked up into the blond's face. Draco was staring ahead, enraptured with the scene. He looked down when he felt Harry's questioning gaze.

Their eyes met and held. Draco leaned his head down and pressed his lips to Harry's. Harry closed his eyes and deepened the kiss. The two separated breathless. "Come on, Harry. The nights get cool out here. We need to get a fire started at the keep." Draco said, each word being torn out of him.

Harry looked up at him, into the grey eyes and nodded his head. He couldn't speak for once. He didn't know what had come over him. Draco took his hand and pulled him to the car. Once inside, he didn't release Harry's hand; instead he drew circles all over the palm.

The short drive to the castle was met with silence. Carl pulled the car up to the front and wished the gentlemen a lovely evening. Harry stood outside of the castle looking up. It was no where near as impressive as Hogwarts, but it was still a lot to take in all at once. Draco wrapped his arms around Harry, "Welcome to my home, Harry."

Harry was still a bit speechless, not quite knowing what to do. Every instinct was telling him he should go back to the bed and breakfast and stay. There were plenty of people there. Harry's logic was a bit under the influence of alcohol so his hormones were winning the battle raging inside.

He turned in Draco's arms, about to step out of them, but looked up into those questioning eyes. Draco leaned his head down and captured Harry's lips before he could utter a single misgiving. His arms tightened around Harry, drawing him into a deeper kiss. Harry moaned into his mouth and wrapped his arms around Draco's neck.

Draco slid his tongue into Harry's mouth, tentatively exploring the inner depths. Harry willingly let the other explore, as his hands pulled Draco's head down more. Suddenly, Draco picked Harry up and carried him into the castle.

Harry broke away from the kiss, "You're carrying me Draco," he said drunk from the kiss.

Draco set him down and looked into the green, questioning eyes, "Well, I had to do something; otherwise you were going to stare at the keep all night long. I don't know about you, but I don't think I know you well enough just yet."

Harry leaned up and captured his lips in a kiss, "hmmm, I do believe you are right. I need to get to know you a lot better."

Draco pulled away so slightly. "Here let me take you to the drawing room. I have to run upstairs and get something for you. I want to show you the entire castle, but first I want to give you something."

Draco led him to a room, elegantly decorated. There was a pot of tea sitting there waiting for them. "House elves," Draco explained when Harry looked at it. He kissed Harry lightly on the head and murmured, "I'll be right back." He rushed out of the room and up the staircase two at a time.

Harry had a few minutes to sit and ponder the new developments. He wasn't sure if he liked the way things were going with the other man, but he wasn't going to complain just yet. He had always found Draco attractive, but never thought of him in terms of a lover. This was surprising.

Draco reached his sitting room and started a fire. He threw some floo powder into the fire and yelled Malfoy Manor. His father was waiting by the fireplace when he entered the drawing room. "Father, I only have a minute. Potter is waiting downstairs for me. Everything is going according to your plan."

"Good, young dragon, very good. Keep the boy occupied for a few days." Lucius drawled.

"Yes, Father." Draco answered meekly and stepped back into the fire. Back in his sitting room, he dusted the soot off of his clothes. He thanked the gods; he had enough presence of mind to sit by the fire at the bed and breakfast. He grabbed a silver bracelet on the table and rushed downstairs for the man waiting on him.