Chapter thirteen: Lunch with the horses
Sun poured in through the large room hardly prevented by the thin white drapes. Harry groaned as the painfully bright light seeped in behind his eye lids. Relenting he opened his eyes slowly and took in his surroundings.
He was immediately aware of being curled up against a warm body. Harry was on his side, one arm thrown across Draco's lower back, the blonde was still lying in the same position Harry had found him. Harry quickly slid his arm off of the other boy.
Hmm, his skin's so smooth and soft. He mused. Once Harry had detached himself from Draco's side something else came to his attention. He was sticky. His cheeks inflamed with embarrassment.
Oh Merlin, I had a wet dream while cuddling with Draco! He cried mentally, horrified with himself. He surveyed the other boy quickly and was relieved to see that he was still sound asleep and seemed to be unaware of the dark-haired boy's plight.
Harry let his eyes wander over the pale boy's prone form, taking in the marble like skin, sleep tousled hair and relaxed position. It was while he was letting his eyes move lower over Draco's backside to the area covered by black silk that he noticed the other boy stirring.
Harry quickly scrambled out of the bed and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
"Harry?' Draco called out groggily when he felt the other boy leap of the bed and run to the bathroom slamming the door behind him. The blonde lifted his head and blinked owlishly at the overly bright room. He sat up and stretched before bringing his arms close to his chest hissing in pain.
Along his forearms were newly acquired cuts. Telling Harry about his mother had brought up old feelings and emotions that he had buried six months ago. He got up and opened his wardrobe.
Hmm what to wear today? He thought. Then an idea hit him. With a smile he quickly pulled out an outfit and began to get dress all the while plotting. Today will be a good day.
Harry pressed his back to the door and took deep breaths. He was not having a good morning. Not only did he wake up sticky next to his crush but he was almost caught checking him out. Harry groaned and put his head in his hands.
Hmm teenage angssst. What a delicioussss sssmell. A silky voice said. Harry looked up and saw the green-tiled snake looking at him, its tongue flicking in and out rapidly as it tasted the air.
Leave me alone. I am not in the mood for ssssnakessss with attitude. He hissed at the snake.
Ooh a moody Parssseltongue. How lucky for me to get your bad mood. The snake said sulkily. Harry bent his head.
Your right, itsss not your fault, I'm sssorry. The snake smiled…or at least did the snake equivalent of a smile.
Apology accepted young massster. I am Gideon and you descendent of Sssalazar? The snake inclined its head in greeting.
Nice to meet you Gideon. I am Harry Potter and I am no descendent of Sssalazar. Harry answered. The snake looked at him and slithered closer flicking its tongue in and out.
You are a powerful one. More sssso than Massster Draco But I detect two dissstinct power sssourcesss where asss he hasss one. The snake circled him. Yess you have the bravery of a Gryffindor but the ambition of an Sssslytherin.
Harry jumped a bit when the snake slid between his feet.
I have heard your name before. Massster Draco isss a wissse one to chossse you. If anyone can sssave him it isss you. Many believe that you will sssave the world. He returned to its place on the floor in front of Harry.
Chossse me? For what? And what doesss he need sssaving from. Harry questioned. The snake looked at him sadly.
You do not know, do you? He hasssnt told you anything. Gideon said rather than asked. Maybe I wasss wrong. He said thoughtfully before slithering toward the wall of the bathroom and under it leaving Harry behind rather confused.
What did Draco chose me for? And what does he need saving from? Dudley isn't here, his father is in jail. Then and idea hit the raven-haired boy. Gideon couldn't possibly think I can stop Draco from becoming a Death Eater, could he?
Harry thought about this as he pulled his t-shirt off over his head. He had forgotten all about Draco's fate to be on the opposite side. He hadn't even bothered to bring it up to the boy and then he got sidetracked. But now…could he really get the blonde to join the Order? He could he save him from the horrible life of a Death Eater? Maybe make up for the years he spent in the hell of being a Death Eater in Training.
Harry slid his pants of and cringed at the hardening substance that made his boxers uncomfortable and felt even worse when he pulled them off. Harry stepped into the glass shower and turned on the tap.
The warm water felt good as it pounded out his tensions and slid down his back. He felt like all his cares were washed away. Grabbing a bar of soap Harry began the process of washing himself. He fought to keep his mind on other things.
He would not think about what he was doing or the dream that still lurked in the back of his mind. He would not think about the fact that just hours ago Draco was naked in this very shower. He would not fantasy about the blonde.
But the more and more Harry fought to keep his mind of the other boy, the further and further his soap covered hand traveled. Just as he was about to travel past his navel he stopped himself.
No, I will not wank in Draco's shower thinking about him. I will have some dignity. He let the hot water wash away the soap and remains of the dream. Turning his back to the shower head the let the water pound on his back as he studied the floor of the shower, black and white marble.
He let his eyes roam over the entirety of the shower floor. It was a pretty decent sized shower. The water didn't even reach all the way across unless you moved the showerhead up, which Harry didn't know if that, was possible in magical showers or not.
He stared at the far right corner as he let his mind ponder this question. Once his eyes regained focus he noticed something out of place about the corner. Though it was blurry, there was a distinct color difference. He bent low at the waist to inspect the ground.
At first it was only noticeable on the white tiles but as he got closer Harry could see it on the black as well. Dropping to his hands and knees he brought his face about a centimeter from the floor. There were drops of a thick red substance. Harry reached out and touched the stuff.
Bringing it to his nose he sniffed it. Then with a flick of his tongue he tasted a small bit of it.
It's blood! He thought horrified. He could tell that it was only a few hours old. He didn't know what this implicated but he didn't think it was anything good. There was no doubt in his mind that it was Draco's blood but the question was 'How did it get there?'
He scrambled away from the blood and quickly washed it off of his hands. He didn't even want to think about the reasons why Draco's blood was in his shower. Blood that was spilt only hours ago.
Harry shut off the tape and wrapped a towel around himself. He blushed crimson when he realized that he hadn't brought any clothes with him into the bathroom.
The Gryffindor shuffled toward the door and opened it up a crack. Peeking into the room he was relieved when he realized that it was empty. He walked into the room fully and pulled his trunk out from his traveling cloak.
Saying the enlarging charm the trunk grew to it's original size. He rummaged through it for a clean pair of boxers. Pulling out a pair of plaid ones he quickly pulled them on. Then turning his attention back to his trunk he looked for an acceptable outfit.
He was at Draco's house now and he felt horribly out of place wearing Dudley's old castoffs. Then it seemed someone hit him over the head with a stick.
Wait I'm a wizard and of age. I can just transform my old clothes into something better. And he did just that. He took his old white cut-off and made it a close fitting t-shirt. His old frayed blue jeans were made a size smaller but he left the faded areas and the holes. It gave them character.
Harry pulled on his newly transfigured clothes and smiled. It felt good having clothes that fitted him. He hated having to wear those old rags that didn't fit. But despite how much he had at Gringotts it didn't help him much when it came to buying clothes in the muggle world.
He sat on the edge of Draco's bed and pulled on his socks and trainers. Standing up again he looked around the room once more.
Now what do I do? He wondered. Luckily, for him his eyes landed on a scroll that was placed on a pillow on the bed. He got the scroll and opened it.
Harry,
When you finish your shower meet me at the stables.
I'll be waiting
D.
Harry read the letter and couldn't help but smile at the 'I'll be waiting'.
So the stables…how the hell do I get there? He wondered. Deciding that he would get hopelessly lost if he didn't have directions Harry called Helena.
"Yes?" The elf asked as she Apparated in front of Harry.
"Helena, where are the stables?" He asked as politely as he could despite the fact that the elf's perpetual attitude was really grinding on his nerves.
"The stables are in the back. Near the forest." She said looking bored. Harry thought about what he had seen of the back part of the house from the window in Draco's study. It was acres and acres of green grass. The forest had to be miles away.
"And how do I get there?" Harry asked wondering if maybe they had a transportations system of sorts.
"Surely Master Draco's friend has a broom." She said in a way that told Harry she would roll her eyes if she knew what that was and knew how. So Harry rolled his eyes instead.
"My name is Harry. Harry Potter." He grounded out through clenched teeth. He had never met a house elf who hadn't thrown itself at the very feet of any wizard they came into contact with.
The elf's eyes went wide.
"You is the Harry Potter?" she asked in an awed voice. Harry smirked a bit.
Maybe now I'll get some respect.
"Yeah, yeah I am." He told the elf. The elf's eyes quickly narrowed and she leaped toward him deliver a swift and painful kick to the shin.
"You is the reason Dobby left. You trick Master Malfoy into giving Dobby clothes." The elf shrieked as she swung he legs and arms doing her best to inflict as much pain on Harry as possible. "Dobby is a disgrace because of you. He is leaving Helena to go to Hogwarts to work for pay. He is there with Winky because of you."
Harry stared at the little elf in horror as he fended off her blows. It was a disturbing thought to think that he might've just stumbled upon a house-elf soap opera.
"Helena, calm down. It wasn't my fault. I didn't mean to." Harry cried. The elf seemed to have worn herself out shortly thereafter. Her little body could only hold so much energy.
"Helena is hating you Harry Potter." She seethed and turned to leave but apparently her house-elf nature would not allow her to leave without asking one question first. "Is there anything else you is needing sir?" She spat out.
Harry stared at her; terrified she would tell him more about her and Dobby or attack him again.
"Uh," he said his eye catching something in his trunk. "Tempus" he said aiming his wand at his snitch clock.
"Four thirty-five" It announced cheerfully. Wow we really slept for a long time Harry thought turning back to the still glaring elf.
"Could you make a picnic lunch?" He asked and the elf shot daggers. "I think Draco might be hungry."
And just as he expected the elf's demeanor changed.
"Oh, well anything for Master Draco." She said and gave Harry a look that told him she was only doing this because it was for Draco and she would like nothing more than to poison him. Harry made a mental note to be sure to check his sandwich before he ate it. With one last cold look the elf turned to leave the room.
"Thank-you Helena." Harry called after her and he could've sworn the elf said 'Fuck you'.
Harry shook his head and rummaged through his traveling cloak for his Firebolt. Taking it out and enlarging it he made his way out of Draco's room down the corridor and staircase to the entrance hall.
Waiting there was Helena with a large picnic basket. Harry took it from her and thanked her again. She punched him in the leg. (The highest part of him she could reach)
Once outside Harry mounted his broom and lifted off. He turned it eastward toward the forest and took off. It took him a half hour to travel across the Malfoy land till he arrived at the stables.
The stables were two long, wide rectangular buildings. They were white with red roofs and wooden doors that had two halves. Harry pointed his broom toward the ground and went into a steep dive pulling out of it just in time. Lowering himself the last few meters to the ground he took in more of the area. In front of the two buildings were three circular pens. Draco was in the pen nearest to the stables.
Harry hopped off his broom and put it over his shoulder as he walked over the pen the picnic basket in his other hand. He had expected Draco to have a pure white or black horse but instead Draco's horse was a smoky grey. It almost looked dirty. The horse's mane and tale were both a shiny black.
Draco was sitting on the horse facing Harry. His attire was what really surprised the Gryffindor boy. He wore dark blue jeans that were fading and looked tired and worn. He wore a tight white tank top and a white button down over it that was left opened. He looked very comfortable and not at all like the pristine prince he usually portrayed.
"Showoff," Draco called to him when Harry had gotten within hearing range.
"All you need is a hat and you'd be a regular ol' cowboy." Harry shouted back. Once he was at the fence he leaned his broom against it and set the basket on the ground.
"You know what they say; 'Save a horse, ride a cowboy'" Draco announced cockily.
"How do you even know that saying let alone what a cowboy is?" Harry said raising an eyebrow. "Its muggle…and American!"
"Know thine enemy, Mr. Potter, know thine enemy." Draco called. "Knowledge is power and all that rot. Besides I look damn sexy on a horse in a pair of faded tight jeans and you know it."
"Bit full of yourself aren't you?" Harry snorted.
"No, it's you who wants to be full of me." Draco smirked and Harry just shook his head.
No point in arguing he'll never give in. Harry decided wisely. Draco, seeing that Harry was not going to rise to his challenge, changed the subject.
"Why did you fly?" Draco asked sliding out of the saddle. "You could've just flooed here. That's how we get around the grounds. All the fires are connected, only the one in the receiving room and father's study go anywhere else." Draco walked up the fence.
"I didn't know I could." Harry said a bit irrated seeing as his arse was rather sore from the long flight.
"Helena should've told you." Draco replied.
"Yeah well, your elf hates me," Harry grumbled. Draco looked at him for a minute then began to laugh. "It isn't funny!" Harry cried. "The little psycho tried to beat the shit out of me."
Draco began to laugh harder.
"Oh…my" Was all he managed to get out through his laughter. Draco was holding onto the fence for support as he doubled over laughing. Harry had enough. With a growl he leapt over the fence and slapped Draco soundly across the face.
Draco didn't even flinch but he did stop laughing. He brought his head up and gave Harry a black look.
"Look, I'm sorry but you would not shut up," Harry tried to explain. Draco said nothing. Instead he turned away from him and walked back to his horse. He began to fidget with the saddle. "Draco? Draco, I'm sorry ok? I didn't mean to…" Harry called stepping closer to the boy.
As he neared he saw the tears in Draco's eyes despite the blonde's efforts to choke them down.
How could he? How could he hit me? Didn't he once tell me that I don't deserve anymore pain? Draco thought as he tugged on his horse's saddle. Draco felt Harry come up beside him and he willed the tears in his eyes to dry.
He let out a bare audible gasp as he felt Harry's rough and callused fingers lift up his chin so that Draco was looking into Harry's face.
"Why do you cry?" He asked his voice deep and low.
"Because you hurt me" Draco answered struggling against the want to get lost in Harry's eyes.
"I didn't mean to hit you that hard," Harry whispered leaning closer toward the slightly taller boy.
"That's not where it hurt," Draco whispered back. Harry was quite for a moment, his emerald eyes flickering back and forth between Draco's silver ones.
"I'm sorry," Harry said after a while. Draco pulled his face out of Harry's hand and turned his attention back to his horse.
"I know," he sighed heavily. Harry stepped closer to him.
"Will you forgive me?" He asked his voice still barely above a whisper.
"You're not getting off that easily." Draco gave a small smile. Harry smiled as well.
"What do I have to do? Should I kiss it better?" Harry laughed a little to show that he was joking.
"That's a start." Draco also chuckled a little to show he was as well. However, Harry leaned forward and in one swift motion he planted a kiss on Draco's slightly red check. Draco blushed.
"Well I am on my way to gaining the forgiveness of Draco Malfoy." Harry said with a broad grin.
"Yes well…" Draco started, turning to face Harry again, but for once he had nothing to say.
The two just stood their in the waning early evening light staring at each other, Harry praying for the courage to close the gap and Draco praying for the strength not to. The moment quickly ended when Draco's horse gave an annoyed whinny.
Harry backed away and Draco turned to attend to his horse.
"This is Shadow, by the way." He called over his shoulder. Harry stepped closer to the horse and brought a hand up for it to sniff before he began to stroke its velvety soft nose.
"I thought horses were a muggle thing." Harry said not taking his eyes off of the horse's chocolate brown ones.
"Oh they are. But father once stumbled upon a ranch back during the first war. Came into contact with horses and deemed them worthy enough for wizard-kind. He said that they were too beautiful, graceful and intelligent for muggles" Draco said as he removed Shadow's saddle and set it off to the side. "His mentality was that all things he deemed worthy belonged to him. My father always took what he wanted."
Draco pulled out a brush and began to brush his horse.
"If you hadn't taken two hours to get down here I was going to take you riding but I guess it'll have to wait until tomorrow."
Harry looked up shocked.
"I don't know how to ride." Draco laughed a little.
"You know how to ride a broom don't you? It's not that much different." Draco told him. Harry just nodded thoughtfully. Silence spread between the two.
"Don't you know a spell to do that for you?" Harry asked after a while of watching the boy manually brushing his horse.
"Horses panic easily. There are spells but they're not advisable. Besides I like doing it by hand. Shadow takes care of me when I ride him. We're a team. If something should happen to Shadow, say while we were in the forest then I would be stranded. It's my duty to make sure that doesn't happen." He said as he lovingly took care of his horse.
"A Malfoy is a slave to his duty." Draco whispered not taking his eyes off of the shining coat of his horse.
Harry watched. He felt somehow privileged to see the tender exchange between horse and master. He also thought about Draco's comment about being a slave to his duty. He wished he could do something to help but he was too afraid to even bring the subject up let alone do what was necessary to help the boy.
"Oh," Harry said remembering the picnic. "I had your evil house-elf pack us a picnic. Figured you might be hungry."
"Hmm, you figured right." Draco smiled. "Your so good to me." He joked and Harry blushed.
The two walked over to the fence and hopped over it. Harry grabbed the basket and his Firebolt.
"Where do you want to go?" He asked. Draco thought for a minute and smiled slyly but to Harry it was the sexiest smile he had ever seen.
"Follow me." He said and took the broom from Harry's hand. He mounted it and turned toward Harry. "Climb on."
Harry complied readily climbing on the broom behind Draco.
"You better hang on." The blonde called over his shoulder. Harry slid up behind him and wrapped his arms loosely around his waist. Draco forced his breath not to hitch as he felt Harry's arms around him. He closed his eyes and reveled in the warmth behind him for a moment before opening them again.
Harry willed himself not to get turned on by the intimate touching of his and Draco's body. He felt so warm against his chest. He liked holding Draco. Luckily for him these thoughts were quickly pushed from his mind as Draco took off across the ground.
Draco went full speed toward the house. He zigged and zagged and did loop de loops. He ignored the voice in his head that told him he was only doing it to make Harry cling to him tighter, but in any case Harry's grip around the Slytherin's waist did tighten to the point of being almost painful.
With Draco navigating he made it too the house in record time. He brought the broom to the ground. Harry opened his eyes, which he had closed during Draco's stunts, it was one thing to do those things when your in control but it was another when someone else did it when you were holding on to them.
Draco had taken them to the massive garden behind Malfoy Manor.
"I wanted to take you to my favorite place." Draco said grabbing Harry's arm. He led him by a fountain. The fountain was made of stone and was of a faery sitting on the side of a waterfall. The faery was singing softly to herself in another language.
The faery's voice was like the tinkling of a crystal clear mountain spring over smooth river rocks. It had a magical effect over the boys. It was if a fog rolled in over their eyes. They were enchanted.
"Her name is Willow. She is singing a song to her lover. It's in Italian." Draco whispered dreamily to Harry.
"What's she saying?" Harry whispered back breathlessly.
"She is saying 'where are you my love? Will you be back soon? I have been waiting here for so long. I miss you my love and I love you so. I will wait here for all eternity.'" Draco said in a sing-songy voice. Harry shuddered at the tender words and Draco's sweet tenor voice.
"Beautiful," Harry said. Draco nodded in agreement and lead Harry pass the singing faery. Harry followed Draco to a white stone bench under a large tree. The bench and tree were on top of a small hill and gave them both an amazing view of the garden.
The garden was full of bright colorful flowers. There were roses, tulips, carnations, snap dragons, and sweet peas.
"Beautiful," Harry said again. Both boys sat on the cool bench and put the basket between them. "Check the sandwiches. Helena might've tried to put arsenic on one of mine." Harry grumbled.
Draco rolled his eyes.
"A house-elf would never harm a wizard. Why do you think that she hates you?' Draco asked. Harry than proceeded to tell Draco about what had happened before he had arrived at the stables while checking his sandwich for any sighs of poison…or house-elf spit.
"Wow…that's… disturbing." Draco said turning a little green. "I now have a horrible image of house-elf sex and it isn't pretty." Harry groaned as the image assaulted him.
"Thanks for that." He said. Draco flashed him a huge grin and Harry laughed. The two ate their dinner talking about nothing and everything.
"Well we should probably try to get some sleep. Get our sleep schedules regular." Draco said once they had finished. Harry nodded. "C'mon I'll show you to the guest room." Draco stood up and looked down at Harry.
"What?" Harry asked. "G-guest room?"
"Yeah, thought you'd want to sleep in you own room." Draco nodded. Every nerve of Harry's body wanted to shout 'you thought wrong' but the message got distorted on the way to his brain.
"Yeah, ok." He said. Draco nodded and motioned for Harry to follow him leaving the remains of their dinner for the house-elves. Draco led Harry in through the back door. They passed through dark corridors lit only by a few torches. The walls were lined with wizard photos and portraits of Malfoys.
Draco led him through corridor after corridor until they came to a door. He opened it. The guest room was decked out in Slytherin colors. The dark wood bed had a dark green coverlet with silver lining. The drapes were also green. There was a desk to one side and a personal bathroom.
"Here you are. This is in the East wing, my parents' wing, so be careful about exploring. I don't venture futhur than my mother's sitting room and father's study in this wing." Draco said. "I'll have a house-elf bring you trunk."
Harry opened his mouth to speak but Draco held up a hand and cut him off.
"It wont be Helena. Don't worry."
"You're so good to me," Harry chuckled sitting down on the bed and began to remove his trainers.
"Yeah well… night then," Draco said shifting uncomfortably. He didn't want to Harry to sleep in this room so far from his own. He wanted Harry to sleep in his room in his bed with him. He wanted Harry's warm body against his own. He wanted Harry to…Draco shook himself out of his thoughts and turned to leave the room.
"Night Draco," Harry called after him. Draco left and closed the door behind him. Harry shimmed out of his jeans and crawled under the covers. He laid there feeling cold and alone.
Harry stared at the ceiling for hours, his eyes burning holes into the deep green fabric that was draped across the top of the four-poster bed. He'd close his eyes only to open them moments later. He just couldn't sleep. Not only was his mind working overtime with all his thoughts centered around a certain blonde boy who was on the other side of the house, but there was always the loaming threat of nightmares.
Harry had thoroughly enjoyed the reprieve from the sleepless nights. Though he was able to keep his mind off it for the most part, it still was hard to do all that work on little sleep. Harry knew if he continued the way he did he would crash as he always did. Then he would be haunted with nightmares and swear off sleep for a few more weeks before the next crash.
At the point he had been when Draco arrived his crashes had become closer and the nightmares much worse. Constant reminders of all the lives that had been lost on his account and all the ones to come. It tore Harry apart to think that one day he'd risk losing his friends. He had tried to distance himself from them to save them but they wouldn't have it. Ron and Hermione were just too stubborn.
Harry's mind was swimming with painful memories and prophecies. It was like a waking nightmare. One he couldn't escape from. He had been spoilt over the last few weeks, at first by the dreamless sleep potion and then by Draco. Before they had left the Dursleys', Harry was getting a full night's sleep just by sleeping next to Draco. The blonde boy put Harry's haggard mind at ease not to mention taking up the rest of his waking thoughts.
Suddenly there was a loud CRACKand there was a bit of extra weight added to Harry's side of the bed. Harry turned his gaze from the ceiling to the elf at the end of the bed. He let out a terrified yelp when he saw that it was Helena.
"No, leave me alone." He cried scrambling to get away from the crazed elf.
"Helena isn't here to hurt Harry Potter. Helena has something for him." The elf said. Harry lowered the covers which he had been in the process of throwing over his head.
"You do?" He asked and the elf shoved a tightly rolled scroll under his nose. Harry quickly snaked a hand out and snatched it from her all the while watching her warily. The elf gave an annoyed sigh and Disapparated.
Harry looked down at the scroll. It was from Hermione.
(A/n: another wonderful cliffy. Don't you love it?
I know that Helena is very americanized and a big ol' smart ass but she just loves her master and all…
didn't no if England did have cowboys or not. From my standpoint it seems like a very American thing…soo…ya, but I jut had to put it in there cos come on, who doesn't want to see Draco in wranglers and a cowboy hat? Sexy!)