A/N: hello! Sorry this is late I finally got my own account for a computer! Ha-ha and it has a password, so for now I'm safe!!!! Yay for me!
PsychoticDeath, oh, you should post your fics up! Thanks for reviewing, and that was a good quote. I've heard it before, but differently wink oh well. Anyway, yes, 13 is my favorite and luckiest number. I'm not very superstitious anyway, so why not? Haha anyway thanks!
Oracale, thanks for reviewing! Oh, you love my story? Thank you so much!!!!! Yes, Harry and Draco talk, and don't worry, patience is a virtue, ya know.
NOTES: /---/ thoughts
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, you all know that. But if you do, could you share? Pretty please wit sprinkles on top? Fine, be that way. I'll just write my fic and twiddle my thumbs as I wait for reviews.
(3)......
Both teens were literally thrown from the fireplace, Harry landing above Draco. Draco opened his eyes and groaned, and Harry climbed off of him slowly.
"Sorry," he mumbled, blushing.
Harry helped Draco up, and Draco dusted the ashes from his clothing. He looked around, eyeing the mess with distaste; "How can you live like this?" he asked, walking over to a pile of clothing and picking it up.
Harry laughed vaguely as he sat on the bed; "Morning rush," he replied simply, lying down.
"Well, bit of an atrocious rush," Draco commented as he dumped the clothing into Harry's trunk; "Say, where's that owl of yours?" he asked, looking around the room; "Off on a hunt?"
Harry shook his head and rolled over as he curled into a ball slightly, drawing his legs up a little and wrapping his arms around himself.
Draco sighed, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed; "What happened, then?" he asked, crossing his arms.
"Why would you care?" Harry asked, looking at him through his bangs. He went ahead and pulled the string out, letting his hair fall freely.
Draco tried to look unfazed, and replied; "Dunno; don't really care about anything anymore. I'm actually just curious."
Harry rolled his eyes and muttered something, before looking out the window; "She died," he said flatly, closing his eyes.
Draco watched him as Harry began to look ill-fated and weary; "Dare I ask," he said, "Was it those bloody Muggles?"
Harry nodded; "I wouldn't let Dudley... near me, and he... killed Hedwig," he didn't dare say when and why.
Draco looked at him sympathetically; "I'm sorry to here that," he said.
"Yeah, sure you are," Harry muttered; "The first gift I get from my first friend who liked me for who I was, and she gets slaughtered with bare hands," he finished darkly.
"I could kill him, if you like," Draco suggested; "I could make it look like an—"
"Why do you even care about what I feel?" Harry suddenly asked, sitting up and looking at Draco. He eyed the blonde.
Draco cleared his throat as he rose; "One, obligation," he said, turning and facing Harry; "Two, you look too different to ignore, Harry. I'm intrigued at the new Potter. Well, I suppose you can't be Potter anymore, seeing as how he was just a lanky confused kid. You seem... mature and... oh hell, you just seem like you've aged too quick, Harry."
"Well, if you've been through the shit I've been through," Harry began.
"Yeah, well Harry, I haven't had the perfect life either!" Draco said loudly; "Don't play martyr when you're around me, okay? You might have had the Dark Lord in your head, but I had to live with him. He was at the manor for ages! Father beat me for insubordination, he-beat-me! I've been beaten since before I could remember, Harry! Look!" he lifted his shirt, revealing a thing scar that stretched from his nipple to the side of his stomach at level with his belly button and rounding around to end just as it rounded on his back. Harry stared at it, and Draco let his shirt fall.
"And that's not the beginning," Draco said.
"You think that's bad?" Harry asked, getting up and facing Draco. He completely took his shirt off, and Draco held his breath.
Though Harry was well built, that was overridden by the sheer amount of abuse. Bruises along his sides and chest, cuts, scrapes, and of course, cutting marks on his arms. Harry stared at the stunned blonde. There were cars from lashings with belts, and along the waist band of Harry's pants, more bruising...
"Holy shit," Draco said, covering his mouth.
"Hellish Shit, more like," Harry said darkly.
"You... you were raped!" Draco exclaimed; "Who was it, Harry? Was it your cousin? Your uncle? Oh to hell I'll kill them all!" he roared angrily, pulling at his hair and turning away.
"Don't shout, Draco," Harry said quietly, worried for the other boy's sanity; "It's nothing, really..."
"NOTHING?!" Draco asked, looking at Harry incredulously; "How can you stand there... and say that... all of this—" he walked over and gently touched a bruise, which caused Harry to wince and stiffen at the contact; "Is just nothing?! Harry, this can't be bypassed!" he took in a long, deep breath, stepping away again; "You flinch at someone's touch, Harry," Draco said quietly, looking at the other vampire; "Look, you've become depressed. And don't roll your eyes, you know you are," he said; "What else has happened, anyway? Besides the fact that Dumbledore forced you to go through a bloody fucking hell..." he shook his head; "Never mind, I might kill all of Surrey if you don't tell me."
Harry stared at him, "You're angry," he said.
"Oh, no shit, Sherlock, go tell Watson," Draco said sardonically; "Oh course I'm upset! Look at what they did! Why didn't you kill your cousin off while you fed?"
"I didn't want more blood on my hands," Harry said, barely a whisper; "But, Draco... why are you mad for me?"
Draco froze. /Oh fucking shit/ he thought. Harry continued to gaze at him, shocked. But, what else was there, in those emerald pools that Draco adored so much? Was it... relief?
"I..." Draco said, "Because, Harry... I..." he sighed; "I've always wanted to know you, ever since the first time we met. And now, I do, and... to see..." he couldn't finish.
"A Mask is a bitch," Harry said sullenly, looking away; "No one's seen me, the real me. This me," he spread his arms slightly before they fell; "No one would care, anyway..." he said, sitting down on the edge of the bed and hanging his head; "If they did, I wouldn't be like this..."
Draco stared at Harry, how he seemed so crestfallen and... alone. The blonde swiftly sat beside Harry. "What about your friends, the Weasel and Granger? Don't they care?"
"They're too busy snogging one another at Ron's new house to care," Harry said; "They were only my friends because I was the Boy-Who-Lived. We were drifting apart anyway... And all because I decided there was no point hiding my frustration;" he sighed; "fat lot o' good that got me..."
Draco nodded; "Well, I'm here if you need a new friend," he said, "So are Pansy and Blaise, and Crabbe and Goyle will be okay with it, too."
"But, you guys area bunch of Death Eater Kids," Harry said, "No offense, but, you know, your parents and all..."
"Look, our parents might have been for You-Know-Who, but I for one refuse to get that damn Mark. Blaise will, so he can be a spy, and Pansy," he paused; "I don't think they'll make her, to be honest. Crabbe and Goyle won't either."
"But, the rest of Slytherin..." Harry said, looking up at him.
"Yet another façade," Draco said casually, leaning back against the bed railing; "Honestly Harry, Don't believe everything you here, okay?"
Harry looked away at that, and rose. Draco watched as he moved to the window, and stared at his back. Bruises, black, purple, Draco couldn't believe it. And there were long raking marks down his back. Draco felt anger rise in him, it was just too much for him. Draco looked away, preferring to admire Harry's hair. It was much better than scars and bruises...
"That's what got me here," Harry said quietly, crossing his arms as he watched the moon rise. It was nearly full, and it made him think of Remus Lupin; "Why can't I just have a normal life...?" he sighed the question.
"What's normal," Draco mumbled, leaning back on his elbows as he stretched out on the bed.
Harry managed a weak, unconvincing laugh; "Good point," he said, turning around. He walked back over to the bed, and sat down before lying against the throw pillows.
Draco caught sight of a black, highly-detailed dragon run across Harry's under left arm, and disappeared around his back. Harry must have seen his gaze, because he said; "It's because of the magic. The tattoo guy put it on, and at night, it moved."
Draco nodded dumbly, thoughts elsewhere.
/Ah, he's on the bed/ Draco thought in a strangled voice as he fought not to look. /half naked, on the bed, me beside him...! No Draco, bad thoughts.... Um quick, Hagrid naked, a bunch of naked death eaters dancing around a fire... Ugh, that worked well.../ Draco grimaced inwardly at his attempts to rid himself of the thoughts of Harry that would create a surprise in his trousers he didn't want succeeded. But for good measure, Draco laid on his stomach, facing Harry.
Harry had been watching him; "What?" Draco asked.
Harry shook his head, "Nothing," he said, "Shouldn't you be getting home? It's late..."
"No, Sev won't mind me being out late," Draco said, looking at his nails; "Besides," he said, looking up; "I'm worried about you, Harry. After what I saw on your arms, who knows what you might do to yourself," he added.
Harry eyed him; "I'm not suicidal," he muttered darkly.
"Not yet," Draco commented, and was rewarded with a face full of throw pillow; "Hey!"
"You asked for it," Harry said, laughing quietly. The laugh was like music to Draco; "So, who's Sev?"
Draco looked at him, surprised; "Severus Snape?" he drawled slowly.
"Oh," Harry said, nodding; "why would you be staying with him, anyway?"
"Well, seeing as how my farther is incarcerated and my mother is on hiatus mentally, and also since he is godfather," Draco paused at Harry's stricken look of sadness and anger; "What's wrong?"
Harry shook his head, and closed his eyes as he imagined sinking into the mattress as far as possible. Draco edged a little closer as Harry mumbled something.
"Care to repeat that?" Draco asked.
"My godfather died," Harry whispered, playing with a loose string on the embroidering of the comforter; "By Voldermort's minions, no less..."
Draco stared at him; "The Department of Mysteries thing, right?" he asked quietly.
Harry nodded, then looked at him; "How do you know?" he asked.
"Vampire Council," Draco said simply, "We know everything. Well, Elder Sabet does, he informs us."
"Who is this guy?" Harry asked.
"You'll meet him eventually," Draco said, smirking; "And, though he's quite the dashing man, don't let his outer shell fool you. He's lethal and deadly cunning. I admire him, to be honest," Draco said, looking at his nails again; "Perfect Slytherin. Went to school with Riddle himself, they say. Anyway," Draco turned to Harry; "I believe you're right about the whole late thing;" He got up; "I'm going to be around the Alley again tomorrow. Do you plan on leaving this pin?"
Harry smirked and nodded; "Yeah, eventually," he said, rising.
Draco nodded; "Then I'll see you then," he said, walking over and opening the door. He turned as he stepped out into the hallway, and their gazes met, and they silently stared at each other.
Harry walked over, resting a hand on the door as he stared at Draco. Draco, being a good four inches shorter, looked up at him, and Harry planted a kiss on his lips. It left Draco breathless.
"I'm glad we're friends, Draco," Harry said quietly, smiling.
The smile was genuine, the first Draco had ever seen directed at him; "As am I," he said just as quiet, then he coughed nervously; "Tomorrow, you could meet me down in the Cauldron?"
"Sure," Harry said, "Why?"
"Well, Muggle London's always fascinated me," Draco said, "It's not a date or anything, you just need something to do."
/I just gave the guy a kiss and he doesn't seem to care/ Harry thought, smirking; "Okay then, tomorrow," he said finally.
Draco smiled, then turned and walked down the steps. He stopped and looked back to see Harry watching him go. Turning back and smirking, Draco walked over through the pub, intent on using the fireplace. But what he was greeted with did not bode well with him.
Sitting around a table were Fred, George, Ron, and Bill Weasley. The four brothers were sharing pints of butterbeer, celebrating their father's dramatic upgrade in jobs. They weren't full-out drunk, but weren't exactly sober either. Draco remained calm, and began to walk confidently over to the fireplace, unfortunately, Ron saw him
"Well," Ron said, "if it isn't ferret boy."
Draco stopped, and put on his best sarcastic smirk before turning around and calmly replying; "And a fine hello to you as well, Weasel."
Ron eyed him evilly; "What brings you to here, eh? Thought places like these were below you."
"Oh, haven't you read the papers?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow; "My father's locked away, I'm free to do as I wish. Besides, I have a friend rooming here for the summer. I was just bidding him goodnight and was about to return to my residence when I was insulted by you."
The blatant response had Ron silent. But Fred and George responded for their youngest brother.
"So," Fred began; "Who is your friend, Malfoy—?"
"—Or was he just another one-nighter?" George continued.
"Actually," Draco drawled, crossing his arms and examining his hand lazily before looking up at the redheads; "I was visiting someone you might know, Weasleys. I was referring to my friend, Harry."
Ron coughed on his drink, as did the other three Weasleys; "You were what?" he asked dangerously.
"I-was-visiting-Harry," Draco said slowly and deliberately; "He's quite a good fellow, considering what hell he's been through. But you wouldn't know that, seeing as how you never owled him or offered to save him from that shit hole of a home."
Ron looked down, and Bill spoke up this time; "Dumbledore said he was safe there, and that sending owls would be dangerous!"
"Oh, what a trustworthy person you all have given your lives to," Draco said, glaring at them; "I'd be ashamed, to be honest, and I'm a Slytherin, a snake;" he turned; "I have to get home now, thank you."
The four Weasleys watched as Draco left, still sitting in stunned silence.
---
Harry's mind was racing. Had he just kissed Draco? And he had enjoyed it; it sent a shiver throughout his whole body. And Draco had been kind and understanding to Harry, something he never expected. Oh, it was too confusing. /It's good I know I'm gay, at least/ Harry thought. It was true, in the fourth year that Harry had come to terms with his sexuality. Now, almost two years later, he found himself attracted to Draco Malfoy. /I need a drink/ He thought, throwing on a shirt before opening his door. Shutting it behind him, Harry went down the steps silent as a falling feather to the wind, and reached the pub section in a matter of seconds. He slipped in, automatically seeing, hearing, and sensing the Weasleys. Harry ducked over to the bar, and as he reached over for the bottles, he listened to their conversation.
"He was joking," Fred said, half-laughing; "Harry wouldn't even talk to him!"
"He said you guys never owled him!" Bill protested; "what the hell is up with that, Ron? I thought you were his best friend!"
/Go Bill/ Harry thought as he saw Ron's look of numb guilt. Harry retrieved a butterbeer, but when he looked up, Ron looking indifferent to the problem. Harry slipped back into the shadows, watching.
---
"Look, we've been drifting apart anyway," the redheaded Gryffindor said, "I mean, he wouldn't even talk to me an' 'Mione much last year. He wasn't around us as much, and we went along with the whole Department of Mysteries thing was because Hermione was wanting revenge against Umbridge and the lot and I went along to please her!"
"Ron, come on," George moaned.
"I'm serious!" Ron said, "And you two were there, you knew what he was like! He was going dark, I swear on it! And now, Malfoy comes around claiming he's friends with Harry?"
"Ron, not so loud!" Fred hissed, "Sure, Harry was a little moody, but-"
"No, Fred," George said, "Ron's got a point. Harry was going dark..." he shook his head, eyes sending mixed signals of disbelief and shock as he brushed his bangs from his face.
"It was a matter of time before he found things out," Bill mused; "I mean, Dumbledore's been, oh, I don't want to say manipulating him, but..."
"Border lining that," Fred said, "'Winning him over' sounds nicer."
"Yeah, well I heard he attacked his cousin when he left," Bill said; "and don't tell a soul I said this, but they say he used wandless magic."
The other three coughed in their drinks; "Wandless magic?" Fred squeaked, wiping his mouth.
Bill nodded.
"Blimey," George said, shocked.
"Go figure," Ron said, "Like none of us saw it coming... I'm telling you, if Harry keeps at it, he'll side with You-Know-Who. Then, we're all doomed."
"Yeah, but he's missing," George said.
"Malfoy said he was rooming here," Fred said, "Pay attention!" he rapped his twin on his head; "Besides, I saw Ha—" he was going to continue but he was cut off.
"Yeah, but who can trust a fricken Malfoy?" Bill asked.
"You'd be surprised if I said he wasn't lying..."
Harry walked out of the shadows, into the shadows of the chandelier above the table. It cast dramatic shadows on his features, giving him a handsome, but ghostly, look.
Ron and Fred turned around, while George and Bill were gawking; "W-who are you?" Ron asked, standing up.
Harry was still an inch shy of his former friend, but he still retained n arrogant, yet apathetic tone; "Oh, that's sad, Ron, really sad. Can't even recognize me? I thought I was a good friend of yours."
Ron's eyes widened with realization, and he took a step back as the three other brothers rose; "Ha-Harry?" he managed.
Harry glared at him; "Yeah, who'd you expect?" he asked darkly; "Voldermort?"
All four Weasleys winced and cringed at that, and Harry smirked; "It's just a name..."
"Well, someone seems to have not improved since this morning," Fred said, "Holiday got worse when Malfoy bothered you?"
"No," Harry said, setting his empty mug down and crossing his arms; "It actually got a little better. You see, Draco and I are friends now, and—"
"You're lying," Ron said, "How could you be friends with him? After all he's done?"
Harry shrugged; "We called a truce," he said; "But then, under these circumstances, we should be friends, anyway. It was inevitable, Weasley."
"Wait, what did you call him?" Bill asked.
"Weasley," Harry said, "That is your name, right?" he asked, looking at Ron; "I guess you expect me to call you by your first name, but see, only friends do that."
"I am you're friend, Harry!" Ron protested; "We all are!"
"Oh, like shit you are!" Harry said, almost a snarl; "'He's going dark, I swear on it'!" he said, mocking Ron's voice; "I thought friends didn't gossip about each other," Harry said; "Do you know how many people I kept quiet for your sake? I probably sent four people to the Hospital Wing last year alone so they wouldn't bother you all! And all that time you were merely being around me to please Hermione? She wouldn't approve of that, and you know it!"
"Lie," Ron said, seething; "Liar!" he shouted.
"Go ahead, call me what you want, Ron, I don't care!" Harry said, "God, and to think I trusted all of you! I bet you've been scurrying off to kiss Dumbledore's feet and tell him everything;" he paused, and brushed his hair from his eyes; "Over the holiday, I did a lot of thinking. I'm being re-sorted come next term, and then, I'm washing my hands of all of you. I am no one's 'Wonder Boy' or 'leader of the Golden Trio'. Those days are dead, like our friendship," and with that, he turned around, and swiftly left the pub and up to his room.
Ron was shaking with anger, and George shoved him to sit down.
Meanwhile, Fred and Bill were in shock; "Did you see how fast he went?" Fred whispered, both still staring where Harry had once stood.
Bill nodded; "Yeah," he replied; "And his eyes, his height... you just don't change that much in under a month..."
"Something happened," Fred said; "Because that, dear brother, is not our Harry Potter."
"We need to go after him," George said; "This isn't right."
But Ron had already risen and rushed off after Harry.
---
Harry was halfway to his room, taking his time, when Ron shoved him into the wall roughly. Harry eyed him apathetically, and Ron became seething with rage.
"How dare you just come in like that," Ron hissed; "After all we've done for you!" he shoved Harry into the wall roughly before backing away.
"What have you done for me, Ron?" Harry asked quietly, still apathetic; "You've been there, but why? For your own safety?"
Ron was quiet at that, and Harry nodded; "Oh, and I've never lied to you," Harry said, "I'm the one who should be calling that one." He turned; "I can't say it was nice seeing you again..."
Ron looked at him, hatred in his eyes; "You know what, Potter," he said angrily; "Go ahead. I hope you like being in your new house."
"Thanks, Weasley," Harry sneered, walking up to his room, he unlocked the door without his wand, and it opened for him. Ron was staring at him, mouth open slightly; "What," Harry said, "See something you like?" he smirked before walking into his room, and slamming the door.
Ron stared at the door, before shouting angrily and turning to walk back into the pub. His three brothers were whispering anxiously, but quieted when Ron entered.
"Get things sorted out?" Fred asked, though his voice didn't hide his worry.
"No," Ron muttered, "Let's get home."
"But what about Harry?" Fred asked.
"Harry who?" Ron asked, looking at his brother with darkened, hooded eyes; "I only know a Potter, Harry's dead as far as I'm concerned."
"Should we tell dad?" Bill asked.
"Of course," Fred said; "They've got to find him, anyway!"
---
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the Weasleys below, Harry had already packed up his things, and had shrunk his trunk and belongings. He went over to the door, opened it slightly, and pulled out his pay for the room. He left the money on the dresser, then went over to the fire place, belongings in tow, and took the jar of floo powder.
Harry drew out a handful of the fine powder, looking at it. He then looked at the flames, and through it in. the flames ignited into green fire, and Harry stepped into it.
"Severus Snape Residence..."
---To be continued---
A/N: Damn straight Harry changed. Ooh, and Draco and Harry shared a kiss! Oh, he left, you wonder why? Haha review and find out!