Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or the story of the beauty and the beast. /cusscusscuss/
A/N: Wootage. Another chapter. Hardehar. Yes, I'm so happy. I'm sure you are too. Aaaaand, it's over 1,000 words! Hah! Oh yeeeeah, leet word skillz. I'm sorry about that 'z', I couldn't help it.
Harry was gazing out of his window, staring into the dark forest, wondering what lay in those forbidden woods, when there was a knock at his door.
He sighed and got off the window seat, making his way through the opulent room before reaching the thick wooden door.
There was no question about who would be at the door.
After leaving the Dursley's cottage two weeks previous, Harry had only seen Lucius Malfoy.
Draco had been sent off on a mission of some sort, and Harry's meals always appeared mysteriously; he was lucky if he could catch a view of a gardener out the window.
Nonetheless, Harry opened the door cautiously.
It was, of course, Lucius.
The door swung open as Harry meekly gestured for Lucius to come in. Lucius swept in, bringing with him the cloying scent of daisies.
"Harry, dear, how lovely to see you again. May I come in and take a seat? Why thank you; how kind! Yes, tea please."
Harry sighed; they went through this every time Lucius visited: He would speak above any response Harry might make and expect him to respond to his every whim.
Trying not to drag his feet, Harry prepared the tea and set a cup in front of Lucius before taking his own seat. Then he waited. Lucius always started talking, regardless of whether or not Harry provided him with any pleasantries.
And indeed, within a few sips of his tea, Lucius was beginning a one-sided conversation; he loved nothing more than the sounds of his own dulcet voice.
"So Harry, it has been a fortnight since you have entered my care—how do you fare?"
"I am fine, my lord."
"Really? You are not wanting for anything? Exotic deserts? Lavish clothes? An enticing environment?"
"Really, my lord, I need nothing."
"Not even more companionship? I know your days must be long, lonely as they are."
"Perhaps, my lord…I would have no qualms if you were to allow me to leave my suite. It is a bit bigger than I am used to-"Indeed, his rooms were almost as big as the Dursley's cottage had been, "And I would enjoy being permitted to roam the grounds."
Lucius set down his cup of tea and leaned back in his chair, adopting an intellectual pose. "Hm…Yes, I see nothing wrong with that. However…" Lucius got up from his seat and came to stand beside Harry.
Harry got a sick feeling in the very pit of his stomach.
"Perhaps…In return you could do me a favor..?"
Harry had no illusions as to what such a favor would entail. He felt very small with Lucius looming over him. He wondered what to do. The Dursley's had been paid for him to do the kinds of things that Lucius wanted. But, he just couldn't stand the touch of the handsome man; his hands were eerily cold and at the same time clammy.
"What…what kind of favor?" he asked, hopeful that his intuition was wrong.
Lucius leered and put his hand on Harry's shoulder, stroking him possessively.
Ah yes, that kind of favor.
Harry stood up, and Lucius' slick hand slid off his shoulder. He went to stand near the window, staring out at the forest yet again. "I'm sorry, my lord. I have no misapprehensions about the kindness you have shown, nor-" he waved away Lucius' interruption, "Nor why I am here. But I'm afraid I cannot do those kinds of things for you."
Lucius adopted a shocked look. "Why, Harry, I'm not sure you understand the magnitude of the situation. Your family was paid in full for your loss…By doing so they agreed that my decisions were best for you. All of them. And right now, it is my decision that you do as I say."
Harry shook his head, albeit nervously; he had made his decision, and he was sticking to it. Besides, Harry couldn't imagine voluntarily touching the dank man; for some reason he knew that, after enough of the touches, the man's sliminess would rub off onto him.
Lucius immediately turned cold and hard. "Well then, Harry, I'm afraid we are at a crossroads. I don't want to have to force you, but if you do not behave in a fashion I find to my liking, I will be quite displeased. And I am not a man used to being unsatisfied."
"I am sorry, my lord." Harry thought fast, trying to find a way to get rid of Lucius—for, although he received no company other than the wealthy blonde, he found that he preferred solitude. "Perhaps..perhaps if you come back tomorrow, I will be more willing."
Lucius stared hard at Harry. "Perhaps. As I said before, I would be much more pleased if you were willing, but I will not hesitate to take what a want by force. I will leave you, for now."
He turned and stamped towards the door—for all his aristocratic training, Lucius had never been very graceful on his feet—but turned his icy blue gaze on Harry before leaving. "I will be back tomorrow evening." With that he whirled—rather clumsily—and left Harry's rooms.
Harry gave the door a last glance before turning back to the window. It was after dark, and the forest was just an ominous black shape, so Harry found no solace there. He turned to the bed and, after slipping out of his finery and into sleeping attire, drew down his sheets and tried to sleep.
Alas, he found no comfort in the sleek silks, and instead found himself tossing and turning, trying to decide what to do.
He couldn't give in to Lucius.
He couldn't keep Lucius away; already the man was growing foul-tempered.
He couldn't leave.
Wait. Why couldn't he leave? There was nothing keeping him here. Harry sat up in bed. Of course. He would escape. He couldn't, obviously, return to his relatives; they would be only too happy to return him to the Malfoys, and besides, he would avoid becoming the Dursley's slave-boy at all costs.
But then, where?
….The forest? It was the perfect answer. He could travel through the forest—although he didn't know how large it was, it had to end eventually, didn't it, and after the forest there would surely be another town.
And another thing, the people of the village avoided the forest like the plague. No one ever hunted in it, and no children ever ran away into it. So he would be in no danger of running into someone who knew him.
Now he just needed to get away.
He should leave immediately; the sooner the better.
So, with that thought, Harry threw off his bedclothes and poured through his wardrobe, looking for something suitable to wear. Finally, at the back, he found a pair of his old breeches, and a thick wool shirt.
He dressed as quickly as possible before pulling on a pair of boots and sneaking to the door.
Trying it, Harry was disappointed to find that it was locked. But a locked door was no match for him. The Dursley's had locked him into the attic countless times; he knew how to pick a lock.
Quickly and quietly, Harry snuck out of his rooms and towards the front of the manor. Luckily, he had gotten a vague idea of the layout of the mansion when he was being brought to his rooms, and he stole towards the wing he was sure housed the kitchen.
After a few backtracks and dead ends, Harry was relieved to find the kitchen. Thanking whatever gods there were for his continued luck—there was no one in the kitchens—he grabbed water and provisions, tied them up in an animal skin, and stole towards a door. He was surprised when the door he opened led outside. This was even better than he could have imagined. The kitchen was almost directly under his rooms, and the forest lay dead ahead.
Sighing in relief, Harry sprinted across the grass towards the edge of the forest.
Once he got there, he turned back to look at the manor a final time. It stood cold and foreboding.
With a small smile, Harry turned back to the welcoming evergreen boughs and walked into the forest.
A/N: Sweet. I just noticed that line tool. /cough/ Haha. Lucius amuses me. Lecherous Lucius. Oh ho, an alliteration/gasp/ I learned something in school! ...Amazing. Actually, I learned that like two years ago. How do I still remember it..?