Title: A Most Unlikely Partnership – Chapter 4

Authors: Dark Nuriko and Mayhem's Angel

Disclaimers: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy and Co. do not belong to us. The character of Bernard Strongshack however, DOES belong to Mayhem.

Warnings: Future Yaoi. Slash. Stuff.

Mayhem: The reviewers make me feel loved. Feeling loved makes me happy. Happy me you next chapter! YAY! … I'm so addicted to this song. (Butterfly, Ayumi Hamasaki. (It's in English)) I need my samurai too. I'll be his little butterfly. :sighs: Well, how about you read about two people who have actually MET their love? Okay? Okay. Have fun, and love me with your reviews!

Nuriko: Thanks for all the lovely reviews. I look forward to more of them. Please keep them coming and we, in turn, will keep the chapters coming.

Chapter Four:

Draco woke up slowly, feeling uncomfortable from sleeping in the chair all night. Yet once he stretched, he was able to stand and went up to shower and change his clothes. Once he was done, he headed downstairs, his wet hair hanging damply into his face. Slowly he got to work on the breakfast Harry had asked for, Dorry probably still in bed.

Harry awoke with a start, pulled out of the sweetest dreams he had ever had. A brief second of wondering where he was, and groping for his glasses, he remembered he was at Malfoy Manor. Realizing that it was the smell of waffles that had woken him up, he sat up quickly. Oh, how good they smelled! He got up and showered, dressing in a bit of a hurry. He hoped Draco wouldn't be mad at him for the way he had left last night, but he would apologize... again, anyway.

Draco worked slowly, almost lovingly. He didn't want even one thing to come out wrong. If he couldn't have Harry love him in return, then at least he could make him happy. This was something he wanted. And he'd damn well make it perfect.

Harry came into the kitchen, and saw Draco diligently working away. He yearned to go wrap his arms around the other man and tell him that he loved him, but couldn't just yet. Instead he settled for standing there in the door way, and giving a rough "Good morning." instead of a kiss like he wanted.

Draco looked up, flipping a perfectly made waffle onto a plate of four of them. "Morning. How many do you want? Did you sleep well?"

"A little trouble at first, but pretty good the rest of the night." he looked at the stack on the plate. "Those will be fine, thanks."

He nodded, and then added on the strawberries and cream topping, before handing the plate over. He also placed a fresh glass of orange juice in front of him.

"Great. It looks good." Harry commented, picking up his fork.

Draco nodded, glad he thought it looked good. He then served himself up peaches and cream waffles before taking a seat beside him and beginning to eat his own breakfast.

Harry ate silently, not sure what to say after what had happened during their last meal. He took a drink, and tried. "You think we'll have anything good to do at work today?" He knew it was bad, but it was the only safe topic left.

Draco shrugged. "No clue. That is, if we had work today. Strongshack called earlier today. Said we are to take a much needed day off."

"What? Why? What for?"

"Couldn't be because we have no paperwork and absolutely nothing to do for today, could it?" he asked.

"Oh. Could be, I guess." He stared down at his waffles, before pushing the unfinished plate away from him.

Draco's eyebrow rose, pain flaring his eyes at the reaction before he quickly hid it. "I've got a few errands to run. Why don't you enjoy the house? Explore," he said, standing once he finished his own and waved it clean and back in the cupboard.

"You sure you don't need any help with your errands? I wouldn't mind coming with you instead of staying here alone." He asked, not knowing he had hurt Draco seconds before.

This time the pain did show, and he couldn't hide it. "You didn't seem very hungry this morning. I'm pretty sure it's from being stuck in this house with me. If you want to, I'll write a list and you can go get what we need."

"Stuck with you? As far as I remember, I agreed to move in, to keep us /both/ from being lonely. And ever consider that I just don't always have a huge appetite when I wake up? Merlin, if you're going to be this offended every time I do something, maybe I'll leave. I'm sure you at least will be happier that way." He glared angrily at the blond. How could he think that he hated it, just because he hadn't finished his waffles?

Draco felt as if he was slapped. "I was more referring to my confession of love, Potter. But look at it how you will," he said, before turning and walking out the door.

Harry stood up and ran out the door after him. Grabbing the other boy by the arm, he spun Draco around to face him. "Explain what youmean, about your confession of love. When did you ever say the words, I love you, Potter, to me? Not recently that I can recall!"

"If you need it so bluntly fine," he spat. His voice softened as he looked at him with his heart in his eyes. "I do love you Potter. And I didn't mean to hurt you by confessing it."

"Hurt me? The only way you hurt me was by not telling me before, because I love you too, Malfoy." Harry leaned in, drawing him closer and kissing him softly on the lips.

Malfoy's breath caught in his throat and he returned the soft kiss before pulling back and asking the question that came to mind. "Why didn't you tell me then?"

"Same reason you didn't tell me. I was afraid you would hate me for falling for you."

He sighed, rolling his eyes. "You would make it my responsibility to confess first, wouldn't you Potter. I thought I had told you yesterday, but you just turned and went to bed."

"That? I thought you were joking. I didn't have a witty comeback, and didn't feel like having you make me out as a moron, so I went to bed where you tortured me in dreams."

"I wasn't joking. I wanted you so badly... but I couldn't admit it. I had dreams of you in that bed, the whole time I got that room ready for you I was going around with a raging hard-on"

"Maybe that's why when I touch the blanket, all I could see was you lying there naked. Course, couldn't let it show with you standing there, so I had to think several nasty thoughts and stop my own hard-on from becoming noticeable."

Draco sighed. "We make a right odd couple of gays. Trying to hide our attraction and keeping feelings to ourselves."

Harry laughed. "You've got that right. But at least we know now."

He nodded. "Question is, what do we do about it?

Harry thought for a minute. "Well, I don't know what we're going to do about it. But I'd like to see where this could go."

Draco smirked. "Oh, I know exactly where this could go... and it leads back to that room of yours encouraging some of those daydreams you had of me."

Harry smirked back at him. "Sounds like a good idea to me." He leaned in to give Draco another heated kiss, this one a little more demanding than the last.

Draco groaned, leaning into Harry before wrapping his arms around him and pulling him close. He was just as passionate as Harry and as an after thought; he slid his tongue along his lips, teasing them lightly.

Harry gasped when he felt Draco's wet tongue slide against his lips, opening them to the intrusion.

Draco took what was offered and slipped his tongue inside. With a growl, he pulled Harry up tightly against him and deepened the kiss as his tongue explored inside his warm mouth.

Harry moaned, and slid his own tongue against Draco's, tasting the sweetness of the syrup and peaches. He wrapped his arms tighter around Draco's waist, and felt his arousal rub against his own.

It was at this specific moment that an owl choose to fly through the open window and land on his head, tapping him impaitently with the letter it held in it's beak.

Breaking away, irritated, he snatched at the bird on his head

Draco glared at the owl. "You sure know how to ruin a good moment, don't you. Just wait. I plan to make a great dinner with you as the main course," he muttered to it.

The owl squawked angrily, nipping Draco's hand which was still loosely around Harry's neck before winging out the window.

Harry took the bitten hand and kissed it better as he read of the contents of the letter. "Something's wrong. I have to go to the Weasley's immediately."

Draco's venom from being interrupted melted as he looked at Harry and caressed his cheek lovingly. "Want me to go with you? Or do you think I shouldn't?"

"Maybe you shouldn't. They don't know yet, and the letter doesn't say what the problem is. I'm sorry, but I think it might be better if you stay here. Plus, I know you'll be safe."

Draco sighed, not admitting to how much it hurt not to be able to be there to help him.

"Got it, Harry. Just... summon me if you need me... okay?"

"Of course." Harry kissed him again, and was gone.

Draco sighed and headed into the study, not really having anything to do until Harry returned.

Harry appeared in the middle of Mrs. Weasley's kitchen, and found himself gripped in a painful hug. Mrs. Weasley was sobbing all over his front and wailing something about Mr. Weasley, and the office. Bewildered, he patted her on the back, and tried to ease away.

Ginny wonderfully choose that moment to walk in, and Harry sent her a pleading look.

Ginny came in, red hair pulled back in a ponytail at the nape of her neck. She sighed and patted her mother's shoulder. "Mum, let him go. You don't want to kill him."

Mrs. Weasley slowly released Harry and blew her nose loudly into a handkerchief. Now that he could breathe, Harry tried again to ask what was wrong.

"What were you saying about Mr. Weasley? What's wrong at the office?" He didn't recieve an answer, and turned again to Ginny for an answer.

Ginny smiled softly. "Apparently, a muggle object was enchanted to blow up when touched and father was the unfortunate one to actually touch it. He's at St. Mungos and they won't tell mum anything about how he's doing."

"And what can I do?" He asked, feeling a little silly

Ginny sighed. "You're an Auror. You can get in to see him where we can't."

"Oh. Right." His cheeks turned a little pink at that. "I'll go now and come back as soon as I can."

Ginny nodded. "I'll go with you. This way, you can tell me and I can come straight back home and let mom know."

"Alright. Let's go then." He took her hand, and apparated them to the hospital.

Ginny showed him to the place where her father was and stayed back when she knew she'd only get in Harry's way.

Harry went in, and saw Mr. Weasley lying on the bed. Mr. Weasley was pale under the burn marks, but there didn't seem to be too much damage done.

Authur Weasley's eyes slowly opened, or rather, one did. The other had a gel over it to keep it closed for the moment. As he glanced to the side, he saw Harry and smiled.

"H'llo, Harry. It's good to see you," he said in a small, smoke choaked voice.

"Mr. Weasley! What happened! Wait, I don't think you should be speaking..." Harry sat down next to the bed

He coughed and shook his head. "It's alrig't Harry. They've done a lot for me. Seemed someone enchanted a Toastee to blow up when touched... and I was the lucky one to do it."

Of course, he had meant Toaster when he spoke, but then again, he never really got them right most of the time.

Harry managed to figure out what he was talking about. "So you're okay then? Mrs. Weasley sent me an owl, and she was absolutely distraught when I arrived. Is there anything you want me to tell her?"

"Dear, Molly gets so worried when one of us is hurt," he said softly, before coughing once again. "Let her know I'll be rig't as rain. Nothing too terrible. They'll let her visit me tomorrow. Provided my eye heals properly... but don't add that part."

"Alright, sir. I won't. I had better go tell her. Get better soon."

He nodded. "I will." He then looked thoughtful. "Didn't Malfoy become your partner?" he asked.

Harry started. "Er, well, yes. He did."

"I thought so. Why isn't he with you? Boy's been alone so much, I figured, the two of you working together, you would have become friends by now."

"We have the day off. And actually, we're living together. I thought it would be best if he stayed behind though."

"Goodness no. That boy had it rough. When the Auror's found him, he was shaking and couldn't even form a sentance. Some thought him wicked and should die. Other's believed he should go to Azkaban without a thought." He tisked at that. "Molly and I, we heard about the arguement and told everyone that there had to be a reason why they had been so cruel to him. They brought him here. Molly came to visit, but he was always so out of it, I don't know if he knew. You should bring him by sometime. Maybe for dinner on the day I come home."

"I didn't know... he never told me anything. But I'll definitely bring him home."

Aurthur nodded. "Perhaps, someday, if you ask, he'll tell you what happened. So far, only one person knows the whole truth, and he had it sealed up before anyone else could read it."

"Who? Who would he possibly tell about all this?"

"Why, Strongshack, of course. It was him who kept him from Azkaban, and even offered him the job as an Auror. Malfoy's got a photogenic memory. He never forgets anything he's read, heard, or seen." Of course, he meant Photographic... but that was just how he was.

Harry thanked him, and went out to see Ginny, mulling over all the things he had just been told. He wanted to ask Draco about it, but he wasn't sure how much he would tell him, if anything at this point. Harry just needed to wait until Draco thought it was the right time to share his memories with him. If ever.

Ginny was saying something, but stopped when she noticed Harry was paying attention. "Harry!" she called, waving her hand in front of his face. "You aren't listening to me at all, are you?"

"Hmm? Oh sorry, were you saying something?" Harry asked, pulling himself from his thoughts.

"Where did you go to? I was asking what father and you were talking about? Did he seem okay?"

"Yes, he's fine. A little banged up, but he'll be alright. They'll probably let your mum visit tomorrow."

She sighed in relief. "Oh, thank the high wizards it was nothing too serious. I'll go tell mum right away. Thanks for everything Harry. Don't be a stranger around the Burrow, okay?"

"Okay, and I won't. Your dad invited me for dinner on the day he gets home, so I'm sure I'll be around."

She smiled and hugged him. "Good. See you then." That said, she apparated, rushing home to tell her mother the good news.

Harry stood there for a few moments, before apparating back to the Manor.