Chapter 10
Disclaimer: The main characters belong to JK Rowling (at least, their names do), but the setting, plot and some other characters are mine.
A/N: OK, I'm not sure whether to be all 'yay' and happy yet, as review-counting thing is being total arse and I have managed to come up with about six different versions of how many reviews I actually have. So carry on reviewing, people, and hope it sorts itself out, so I can properly celebrate when I hit the big 1-0-0. It's displayed all my reviews, fortunately, except 1 (sorry M'Lady, I know you reviewed) that hasn't showed up for some reason, except on an email. Stupid system (no offence, fanfiction, love you really). So on with the show!
The Earth Mystic: Oops. Thanks for the help! Glad you liked.
Cherry0214: Hmm, will consider that (all of it). Think I looked at your bio with a view to reading your stuff, but then didn't 'cos I never read R-rated (with the exception of The Chariot, which my friend recommended). STOP PRESS! Just checked site again, and read My Last Breath. OH MY GOD! It was so sweet and so sad… You should so do that sequel thing. If you're still interested. Sorry about not reading any of your other stuff, I mean you're one of my bestest reviewers, but I have a tendency to get freaked out by Rs.
TruthxInxShadow: I saw POA with my boyfriend (now EX boyfriend) so I didn't really get to think like that. But doesn't Draco look hot in that movie? And I'd been toying with the doodling idea for a while. It evolved over time, and I'm so glad you liked it. Kippers rock (especially puréed ones)!
Immortal Tears of: England is cool. Though America has its pluses too. Like brilliant shopping etc. Chapter made me happy happy too!
Yana5: Thanks! Fluff rocks.
Katatonia: It's OK, the chapter turned out long anyway. And yay Austin Powers! I watched 15 minutes of one of those movies and ended up having a dream where I was in a strawberry-jam-sandwich-making contest with Austin Powers himself. No joke.
Invisible Voice: Kippers are cool! I have a bizarre obsession with them. They make me laugh. So does Starbucks (no idea why).
Lucky Dragon Smile: Thanks dude!
Chibi-NarutoKawaii: So glad I managed to convert someone to the Rasmus. They are so cool. I have all 3 of their albums. And thank you so much for saying this is 'the best AU high school fic you have ever seen'. Makes me happy!
AJ586: American Idiot is brilliant. Thanks for the answers, now the bad news. I'm only 14 (15 in January) and not all that great at writing slash, so no-go with upping the rating. Sorry.
Bluebellfairy: Glad you liked the doodling idea! Also thanks for all the really nice things you said (blushes). And when you do Draco as an AU character, he's pretty much yours to mould (though I do try and think of how the real Draco would be without any of the nasty influences in the real books).
Xandria Nirvana: I said their parts at the end of Chapter 7. Here is update (weekly, remember). And if this reaches you before my next email, I'm making progress with your beta material. It's 20 to 6 on Sunday and I've finished up to Chapter 3 on the Hillary story. Will probably finish by Tuesday, hope that's OK.
M'Lady: I don't think the review thing has posted yours, but I got the email so I do know you reviewed. And yay Rasmus! They rock. As to how they're going to, ah, for want of a better word 'come out', I have something dramatic planned. And thanks for mentioning Melfin, I can really work with that (can't believe I forgot about her, oh well I guess she's just too annoying to remember).
While I think of it, a small survey. Who likes Melfin? Say in review if you do.
Cookies: (::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)
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Harry woke on Friday morning feeling blissfully happy. It took him a few moments to work out why, then he remembered where he was. He smiled, closing his eyes again to take in the full amazingness of the situation.
The fact was, he was in Draco's house, in Draco's room, and to be more specific, in Draco's bed. His memory of the previous night was like a beautiful dream. They had watched that documentary, he had cried, and somehow the whole weird thing had turned into a confessional. They had talked for hours (though talking had not been the only demand on their time), then they had gone to bed. No sooner had Harry fallen asleep in his sleeping bag on the floor, though, than his mind had kicked off on a nightmare.
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In his mind's eye, Harry was seeing the whole tragic story from the night before, but with himself and his family and friends in the starring roles. Suddenly he was lifted out and back into life as he knew it, by Draco shaking him awake. He cried more then, whispering what had happened as he trembled in Draco's arms. The blond stroked his hair, telling him everything was OK, moved almost to tears himself.
Neither of them knew how long they spent like that, sat on the floor in each others' arms. Then at last, Harry's breathing calmed and he pulled free, trying to regain his composure.
"Do you… do you want to come in with me for the rest of the night?" Draco asked cautiously. "I… I promise I won't try anything, it's just it might stop the nightmare coming back." Harry had nodded wordlessly. True to his word, Draco didn't try anything, and sure enough, the nightmare didn't come back.
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Opening his eyes again, Harry slipped out of bed, being careful not to wake Draco, who was still sleeping, with a look of angelic innocence on his face. Harry smiled at the sight, and sat on the end of the bed, reluctant to wake him.
'God, he looks so adorable,' he thought, revelling in not having to deny thoughts like that any more. 'Should I wake him? Will he get mad? Or will he get mad if I let him sleep late?' He smiled more. It was like being married, worrying about whether to let the other person sleep late.
Undecided, he stayed there for a few minutes. Then, suddenly, Draco sat up. "Harry, how long have you been watching me sleep?"
Harry blushed. "Not long. Are you mad?"
Draco grinned. "Now why would I be mad?" He reached out and took Harry's hand, drawing them together again. "Means I must be quite cute when I'm sleeping."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Says who?"
Draco swatted him gently, still grinning. "I'd watch it if I were you, Mr Comedian."
Harry laughed and kissed him on the nose. "OK, so maybe you do. But we should get this married-couple-type stuff out of our systems. What time did your mom say she'd be home?"
Draco shrugged. "Doesn't matter. She'll be happy for us. And we're both fully clothed, aren't we? Anyway, I'm glad you brought that up. Who are we going to tell?"
"Well," Harry thought for a moment. "I guess you know better than I do. I mean, from your school in Connecticut. What's the bitchiness climate here like, compared to there?"
"Not bad," Draco said thoughtfully. "But there's always one or two in every school that'll rip to shreds anyone who's different."
"Maybe not anyone at school then."
"I guess not. How about Ron and Mione?"
Harry smiled wickedly. "Let them work it out for themselves."
"Family?"
"Well, my mom'll guess." Harry rolled his eyes. "She's good at that."
"And I tell my mom eve- well, pretty much everything."
Harry decided on this as the opportune moment to release a piece of information he hadn't mentioned yet. "My sister knows you're gay."
"WHAT?" Draco stared at him as if he'd just announced that the White House was being bulldozed to build a new Starbucks. "How the flying fuck does she know?"
Harry looked down. "That website thing. I looked but I never found the bit about you. But it turns out Deb did. My mom told me."
Draco's jaw dropped. "Oh that's just bloody marvellous. Your sister and your mom knew I was gay before anyone else in this town. Just bloody marvellous."
"So," Harry quickly got the conversation back on track, "we're telling your mom, my mom and, I guess, my sister. What about your dad?"
"Ha. Like he'd care. I'll tell my mom she can tell him next time she speaks to him if she wants. How about yours?"
Now it was Harry's turn to laugh. "Don't think he'd be all that happy about it. I spoke to Sirius the other day and he said, and I quote, 'I have no intention whatsoever of telling James about me and Remus, he'd have a bloody fit'. So possibly not the best idea to tell him for a while."
Draco shrugged. "Three people's enough to be going on with."
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At ten thirty, Izzy got home. They met her in the hallway. "Mom, got something to tell you." Draco said a little nervously.
"Yeah?" She hung up her coat and turned to face the two of them.
"Um, we kind of got together last night. We're, ah, going out. But we're not telling people. Only you, and Harry's mom and sister. And… Dad, if you want to tell him."
Izzy smiled. "Congratulations. About time too. You two are perfect for each other. I might tell your dad, honey, depends on how forthcoming he's being with money when I speak to him." She smirked.
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At eleven fifteen, they took Harry home. After surreptitiously kissing Draco goodbye and promising to call him, he unlocked the door and went inside, heading straight for the kitchen, where he found his sister standing doing something at the counter.
"Hey Deb." She turned round, looking surprised and ever so slightly annoyed. Harry's curiosity stirred. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing," she answered shortly. He noticed that she was wrapping a bandage around her hand as she spoke. "Good time last night?"
Harry couldn't stop a slight blush, and cursed himself. "Yeah, not bad." God damn it, now she had the upper hand. Funnily enough, she didn't seem to care much. She was just about to leave when Lily came in carrying several grocery bags.
"Hey guys," she said brightly.
"Hi mom," Deb said quickly, and was halfway out the door when Harry spoke.
"Deb, wait. Um, while you're both here I want to say something. Mom, you know half of it already. But Deb, just so you understand this, I, ah, well I'm gay."
She shrugged. "Makes sense. Take it this means you got it together with the Dragon last night."
Harry gaped. "What is it with the women in this family?"
"We're just too smart for our own good," Lily smiled. "Congratulations sweetie."
"Well, I've got to go," Deb said, at last managing to leave. "Meeting Nadine on MSN."
Lily rolled her eyes. "God, tech-heads. I hope you haven't got any pressing online appointments; I need someone to help with these bags. That OK?"
"Yeah, sure." Harry grabbed the nearest bag and started unpacking it. "Um, mom, don't tell dad about this? Please?"
"My lips are sealed," she replied reassuringly.
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After dinner, Harry was leaving the kitchen when James stopped him. "Harry, could you take this up to your sister? She left it down here. I don't know how many times I've told her not to leave stuff lying around…"
Harry took the proffered magazine and headed out. When he reached the landing, he stopped outside Deb's door and knocked.
"What?" A muffled and slightly annoyed voice came from within. Harry took this to mean 'come in', and opened the door.
Deb, who was sitting at the desk, swivelled her chair round and looked at him questioningly. "Can I help you?"
"You left this downstairs," Harry said bluntly, dropping the magazine on the bed and turning to leave, not in the mood for a conversation with the chimaera that was, supposedly, his sister.
"Harry, wait!" He turned in surprise.
"Yeah?"
"Um, can I ask you something?" She fidgeted slightly.
"Sure." He shrugged, coming back in and pulling the door to behind him. "What?"
She took a deep breath and went straight to the point. "You know you and Draco? Well, um, when did you realise you like, liked him? I mean, like, really? How did you know it was, like, real? And not just a stupid passing thing?"
"I don't know really." Harry frowned. "I guess it just got kind of stronger until I started to feel like I had to do something. Why?"
"No reason," Deb said quickly, but her voice was fractionally higher than normal, and Harry began to guess that something was up.
"Seriously. There must be a reason!"
She glared at him venomously, and muttered so quietly Harry barely heard, "I think I fancy a girl."
"Hmm." He said in surprise. "Um, does she feel the same?"
"Holy crap! How the hell would I know?" She stared at him in amazement.
"Well are you going to do anything about it?"
Deb snorted. "Hell no!"
"O…K… Now can I ask you something?"
She nodded.
"What did you do to your hand?" Harry gestured to her bandage.
Deb's face immediately iced over and she said tonelessly, "None of your business. You can go now."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Seriously, what did you do?"
She snapped. "Fuck off Harry! It's none of your business!"
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A/N: So Harry has someone else's problems to deal with as well. Mwahaha. Review! Do you like the fluff (partially pinched from Bridget Jones's Diary) and the subplot? Tell me! (And do you like Melfin?)
