Title: Falls the Shadow
Chapter 6
Rating: M
Warnings: H/D SLASH
DISCLAIMER: We do not own Harry Potter! Characters (except those created by us) belong to the amazingly talented J.K. Rowling, WB, and the publishing companies.
Harry leaned against the stable door watching Charlie as he put the horses back in their pens. For the last week and a half, he and Charlie had continued their little romance, being careful that no one found out and meeting privately at times to talk and kiss.
Harry sighed. School was soon going to start and he didn't really want to go back. He was happy, he was sure he was. Charlie made him happy. Actually being loved made him happy, though sometimes he saw something in Charlie's eyes that looked sad, maybe even almost regretful. Those looks clenched at his heart and made him turn away, made him believe his relationship with Charlie was a complete mistake.
And then there was the matter of Draco. He didn't talk, and Harry didn't mind much because of the awkwardness it would have procured, but Draco did send looks his way. Suspicious looks. Hurt looks. And Harry was left even more wounded than before and contemplating his situation with Charlie once again.
"Alright there?" Charlie asked, looking down at Harry and picking up his head with his hands to make Harry look at him. Harry looked up and nodded in response, blushing slightly, something Charlie was still able to make him do.
"I was just thinking," Harry responded, forcing his previous thoughts away and focusing on Charlie. He didn't want Charlie to know his inner turmoil, and although Charlie was supposed to be the one holding all his secrets, he still hadn't told him a lot of things.
"Okay then," Charlie said, stepping visibly nearer and running his fingers slightly up and down Harry's arm. "So… what was it you wanted to tell me?" Charlie asked, staring at Harry with a questioning glance.
"Oh, right," Harry said, remembering why he had stayed in the stables in the first place. "I was going to ask… if you wanted to do anything this weekend?" Harry asked shyly.
Charlie fought a smile off his face as he caught Harry blushing again and instead replaced it with a worried expression. "Shouldn't you be packing to go back to Hogwarts? You leave next Monday," Charlie said, reminding Harry what he was dreading.
"Well… that's the reason why I want to meet with you," Harry stated. "I'll pack early."
"But… what about the race then? It's this Friday. You're surely going to be tired after it," Charlie said, gathering Harry's both hands in his and immediately becoming confused when Harry's eyes filled with hurt.
"If you don't want to meet with me, fine. Maybe we should just call this whole thing off," Harry said, anger and hurt apparent in his voice.
"No, Harry, it isn't that. I'm just worried," Charlie said. "But if you want to meet that's fine. I'm more than willing to go anywhere you want, though it will have to be Sunday. And you better promise me you'll have your packing done by then," Charlie said, changing his features into a mock glare which earned him a small smile from Harry.
"Thanks," Harry said, placing a kiss on Charlie's cheek before moving away and heading back towards the manor.
Charlie stared at him with a sad smile before turning back to his horse. "I'm sorry, Harry," Charlie whispered softly as he closed the stables for the night.
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"Good luck," Draco said, walking into Harry's room abruptly before the race and catching Harry at a bad timing. Draco was already dressed and ready whereas Harry was just about to pull on his birches.
"Draco," Harry said, surprise etched on his face when the words finally registered in his mind. "Thank you. Good luck to you as well," Harry muttered before realizing the half-naked state he was in and blushing. He lifted his gaze back to Draco, whose eyes, he noticed, were roaming him.
Draco lifted his gaze back and countered it with Harry's, before turning slightly pink and nodding in recognition and acceptance of what Harry had just said before turning around and exiting the room, leaving a confused and still blushing Harry inside.
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"You're ready, Harry, all you have to do is believe in yourself," Charlie said as he patted the horse Harry was mounted on.
Harry nodded, unable to open his mouth at the moment in fear that he would end up vomiting. He had skipped breakfast, blaming it on nausea, and now didn't seem to fare any better. The race was five minutes away and his stomach was in knots.
"Well then, let's get you ready," Charlie said, pulling Harry's horse forward and situating it in its appropriate place.
"You'll do fine, Harry, don't worry," Charlie said in a low voice, making his words for Harry's ears alone. "And I've got a surprise for you, a congratulations gift after the race, Harry," he said, placing his hand slightly on Harry's thigh.
Harry looked down at him, still nervous about the race. "Congratulations gift? Congratulations for what?" Harry asked, his voice slightly shaking.
"For winning first place," Charlie said, looking up at him with a sly smile before moving away from the stall. Harry looked after him before turning back around and met with Draco's cold stare looking straight at him.
Harry blushed and almost felt apologetic, but for what? He ignored Draco's stare and returned his gaze to the front, stomaching his nervousness and focusing on the race. He listened to the announcers until it was down to 3… 2… 1… and then he was off at the gunshot. He steered his horse around the trail, taking the lead at times before falling behind Draco and two other riders. He lowered himself in his seat and waited for the right moment. If he waited too long he wouldn't be able to catch up. He suddenly cracked his whip and his horse galloped with an unmistakable surge of sudden energy and he was at the lead once again, the finish line closing in on him. A few meters away. Then two meters away. And then his horse was passing the ribbon, bringing it down with him as he passed it.
Harry's heart beat wildly, the voices of praise dead in his ears as he slowed his horse to a stop. Dazed, he got off it and gave it a pat when he was suddenly pulled into a hug. "That was brilliant, Harry!" He heard Charlie's voice say in his ear before another voice erupted into his other ear.
"Great race, Harry. If I hadn't been here I wouldn't have believed it," Ron's voice said, but before Harry could turn, more figures had come up to him and were congratulating him. Lucius looked down at him with pride as did Narcissa. Draco looked at him both with a joyous yet sad look, which made Harry wonder if he was jealous, while other people, some he didn't know came up to him. He gave one man a short interview, and then he was ushered into a carriage and back towards Malfoy Manor, where Lucius had announced he would be holding a congratulatory dinner and everyone who supported Harry was welcome. Harry smiled at the open invitation and wondered if Ron would come. Too many feelings were in his chest and he felt overwhelmed. He felt disbelief that he had actually won the race, joy that he had actually won it, and felt happier than he had in years. He didn't notice Draco's glances directed his way as they rode.
He went up to his room and changed quickly before returning downstairs where guests were already beginning to pour. He saw Charlie and, to his delight, Ron standing off to the side and was about to walk up to them when he was pulled away in the other direction.
"Hello?" he said as he stopped in front of a boy and a girl, both his age. To his right he heard some giggling and turning, he saw a group of girls looking at him and blushing once they found Harry staring at them.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves," the girl spoke first while the boy seemed to just stare at Harry with a gaze Harry didn't like. "We just moved here. My name is Pansy Zabinson and this is my brother, Blaise Zabinson," she said, extending out her hand for Harry to take.
"How do you do?" Harry asked, bowing politely and taking Pansy's hand before nodding slightly at Blaise.
"Fine, thank you," Pansy said. "My brother really was interested in talking to you, though, and I say, there's Draco Malfoy. I'll be back later," she said before leaving Blaise in an uncomfortable silence with Harry.
"Great race," Blaise suddenly said in a cool, yet deep tone, making Harry look up, startled.
"Thanks," Harry said, offering him a smile.
"It really was great, I mean, the way you held out until the end, and then timing everything correctly right up to the exact moment," Blaise said, his eyes showing praise and something else Harry couldn't decipher.
"Well, thank you," Harry said, his smile growing slightly wider. "I didn't know anyone had noticed."
Blaise looked at him incredulously before giving him a smile of his own. "And humble too. Whatever will we do with you, Mr. Potter," Blaise said when they were suddenly interrupted by another guest, eager to meet Harry. Harry excused himself from Blaise, not missing the look Blaise sent his way, sending uneasy chills down Harry's back, and began to talk to other guests.
"Hello," Harry said, finally getting to Ron and Charlie.
"I was wondering when you'd be able to pull away from them," Charlie said, offering Harry a small smirk. Harry smiled and turned to look at Ron, who was pointedly looking off in another direction. That's when he caught sight of brown bushy hair and a blue dress.
"Hermione?" he asked, looking at the girl, who looked up at him with chocolate eyes that seemed to warm towards him.
"Harry, how nice to see you again," Hermione said, getting up and giving Harry a hug, which Harry returned, much to the incredulous eyes of a certain angry red head.
"Don't tell me you know - know... her," Ron said, anger and astonishment clear in his voice.
Harry nodded, looking from Hermione, who refused to look at Ron and who looked like she was trying to calm herself, to Ron, who seemed on the verge of an angry outburst.
"Don't worry about them," Charlie said, noticing Harry's confused gaze. "They're just having a small fight. Didn't start off on the right foot."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Why? What'd they say to each other?" he asked Charlie.
"He," Hermione said, answering Harry's question for Charlie, "simply didn't like the fact that I corrected him. He just has an over exaggerated ego and an overwhelming amount of pride that won't let anyone correct him. Heaven forbid he makes a mistake," Hermione said, rolling her eyes in the process.
"Well, if you'd have said it with another expression. Why do you have to be so... snobby?" Ron said to Hermione. "You didn't have to correct me as if you were talking to a child," Ron said, eyes gleaming with anger. "Oh, or was it because I'm lower than you? Is that why you had to refer to me in that slow and mocking voice. It's perfectly clear now," Ron said, his voice hurt and full of rage.
Hermione turned to look at him, stunned. Harry looked at his hurt friend and made his way over to him. "Come on then, I'll walk you back home," Harry said, looking around and noticing most of the guests were already gone. "You can tell me how brilliant I was then," Harry said, hoping to get a smile out of Ron but getting nothing.
"Sure," Ron said, standing and walking with Harry, pride hurt and not bothering to look in Hermione's direction. Charlie followed both of them out the doors and towards the woods when the door was suddenly slammed open and shut. Startled, they all turned around and found Hermione looking at them with a mixture of emotions running through her face.
"I just wanted... well... I wanted to...," Hermione began when Ron abruptly turned around.
"Can't even apologize to someone lower than her," Ron muttered, beginning to step away when Harry caught him by the arm.
"She's trying, Ron," Harry said, pleading with Ron. Ron looked at him and sighed before turning back around and meeting Hermione with his stare.
"I wanted to say I was sorry," Hermione said, lowering her head in shame as she said this, tears beginning to form in the corner of her eyes. "I just... well... I didn't mean to act the way I did. I'm sorry if my tone was in any way condescending," she said, looking back up fearfully.
Ron's expression softened somewhat at the sincerity with which Hermione had uttered this statement. "It's... fine," Ron said, and at Harry's nudging, continued. "I guess I owe you an apology, too... for making a scene... and for jumping to conclusions," Ron said, forcing the words out.
Hermione smiled at him and was about to say something else when her name was called out. She turned, saying she'd be right there, and then turned back to the three. "I'll see you all again, hopefully," she said, before giving each boy a kiss on the cheek.
Ron turned bright red at the gesture and neither Harry nor Charlie missed this, but both kept quiet. After a few minutes of walking, Ron spoke up again.
"She's alright... I guess," Ron said, blushing slightly as he said this. Both Harry and Charlie shared a knowing look before agreeing with Ron.
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"You know the way from here, Ron," Charlie said, stopping them once the Weasley's house was in sight.
Ron nodded, looking from Charlie to Harry and then back again. "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow," Ron said to Harry before running off. He sent one last curious look towards them as he continued walking at a fast pace towards his house.
Charlie and Harry had begun to head back once Ron had entered the house. They walked for a few minutes in silence when Charlie stopped Harry suddenly.
"Congratulations," Charlie said. The manor was in sight, but they were still hidden by the woods. Harry looked up at Charlie, smiling with happiness that seemed to pour over.
"If it wasn't for you I never would have been able to do that," Harry said, his voice soft.
Charlie gave him a smile before sitting down on the ground and motioning for Harry to sit down beside him. Harry sat down and turned to look at Charlie, who had a far away look on his face. The moonlight hit his face, making his hair glow in ethereal light, making it seem as if a ring of fire was dancing around Charlie's head. His blue eyes held a hazy look that Harry suddenly found looking back at him, hazy but full of emotion he didn't understand.
"You were great out there, you know. The way you rode the horse, the way you were able to manipulate its speed to your need, and the way you were able to make it give an extra burst of energy," Charlie said, his voice in awe. "It was marvelous," Charlie whispered, his face now inches away from Harry's face, making Harry wonder when he had drawn nearer.
"Thank you," Harry said, his throat tightening at the proximity they now found themselves in. He wasn't aware of how his green eyes were captivating Charlie at the moment, nor of the pull of attraction Charlie was feeling towards Harry. He wasn't aware of how the moonlight made him glow with a beauty reserved only for creatures of myth nor of how his cheeks were colored slightly. All he knew was that Charlie was getting nearer as seconds passed with that same hazy expression that made his heart stop and anticipation run through his veins.
Charlie pushed his lips softly onto Harry's, placing his hand on Harry's back and caressing it slightly as he nipped at Harry's lower lip. Harry felt his heart pound louder than ever before and wondered if Charlie could hear him when hands on his chest sent a pleasing thrill through him. He felt himself slightly make a noise and blushed, wondering if Charlie had heard. Charlie looked up suddenly, dislodging his lips from Harry and looking at Harry with a teasing smirk. "Well, that was new," Charlie said, eyes hazy with lust but before could say any more Harry had placed his lips on Charlie's jaw, tracing kisses down his jawline to his neck. Images of Franz and Draco came up into his mind and he pushed them away, giving them a silent, yet sarcastic, thanks for the instruction they had given him. He felt Charlie under him become surprised before relaxing into the kiss.
Harry smiled slightly as he heard Charlie make noises very similar to the one he had made earlier on. He felt Charlie's body heating up and felt his own heat as well. He knew they were taking it farther than they had before, but he found he didn't really mind, though a small part of his mind nagged at him to stop. Pleasure soon overrode it though, and he followed his instinct, placing kisses on Charlie and running his hands over Charlie's chest, then stomach, letting them stray lower as he explored Charlie with his fingertips until Charlie pulled him back up and gave him a rather rough, but passionate kiss, bruising both their lips with the force of the kiss. Charlie pulled Harry's shirt slightly up and let his hands slide inside, roaming over Harry and stopping at the edge of Harry's pants. He ran his hand around the lining of the pants, pressing his body forward at the same time against Harry's when a voice suddenly interrupted them, springing them apart.
"Harry," a voice said clearly through the forest, anger obvious behind it. Draco Malfoy suddenly found himself in the clearing with a blushing and very flushed Harry staring straight back at him. A sudden shift of red told him everything he needed even before looking at the redhead. He turned and directed his cold glare at Charlie and found him in a state very similar to Harry's. Charlie bowed his head in the formal greeting before leaving. He cast a promising and sad look at Harry that Draco didn't miss before making his exit.
Harry lowered his eyes after a few minutes of intense staring from Draco. For some reason he felt like he had been caught, embarrassed, and wishing that Draco had never known about this. But then, why should he? He caught Franz kissing Draco, so why couldn't he kiss Charlie. Defiance slowly flooded through him and he stared back at Draco. "Are you going to tell me why you're here or should I guess?" Harry asked, anger obvious in his voice and taking Draco aback.
"I… They're waiting for you back at the manor," Draco said. "A few guests want to say their farewells," he said before turning around and walking stiffly back up to the manor.
Harry sighed and stood up, dusting himself off and tucking his shirt back in, before following Draco back towards the manor.
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"It was a great pleasure meeting you," Pansy said, her eyes on Draco the entire time. Draco nodded and didn't say anything, just held her hand and led her out to her carriage. The flirtatious look did not go unnoticed by either Harry or Draco.
"It was great meeting you, Harry," Blaise said, bowing slightly to Harry outside their coach.
"The pleasure was all mine," Harry said, unsure of what else to say and giving Blaise a similar bow in return. When he looked back up he found Blaise still staring at him with the same look he had giving him earlier, but shrugged it off. Blaise got into the carriage and gave him one last look before the carriage departed.
"Seems like you have a new admirer," Draco said, his voice full of cold vehemence and directing his angry gaze at the coach.
Harry, mistaking the tone to be meant for him, answered in the same angry tone. "Well, I didn't know I wasn't allowed to have any," he said, hurt obvious in his voice before turning around and leaving a confused and regretful Malfoy behind.
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Draco changed quickly out of his uniform, his thoughts still on Harry. His flustered state upon discovery had only added to his beauty and Draco had seen it all. Seen it and cursed at the Weasley for ruining his plans. He felt a vile hatred towards that man, not only because he was a Weasley, but because he had taken Harry away from him.
'But Harry was never yours to begin with,' a voice said in his head. He pushed it away but it kept coming forth with revelations that Draco had known but did not want to admit.
'You could make him yours, you want to make him yours,' the voice said, ending its series of revelations and bringing Draco to his decision. Earlier, he had been going into the woods in hopes of finding Harry, congratulating him, and clearing up any animosity still between them. Now though, his entire goal had changed. He wanted Harry as far away from the Weasley and as near to him as possibly. He wanted Harry to look at him the way he looked at Charlie, he wanted to be the one that would bring Harry to that flustered state.
He shook his mind, wondering where those thoughts had come from, but nevertheless glad that his mind was made up. He would go and try and appease things with Harry first, though, and then he would work on getting rid of the Weasel. He walked out of his own room and made his way towards Harry's, hoping everything would go as he had planned.
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"Who's there?" Harry asked, rising from his bed when he heard his door creak open. He was still very much awake and the sudden noise, compared to the silence from before, however small, was enough to startle him. "I know someone's there," Harry said, wondering who it could be that had entered his room.
"It's just me," a familiar voice said, and soon familiar blonde hair could be seen through the door's light, though that was quickly extinguished once Draco closed the door. "Do you have a lamp?" Draco asked, looking around and not moving forward in fear of hitting something in the dark.
"No, all my matches ran out on Wednesday. I've yet to get some more," Harry said, wondering what Draco was doing in his room. The sudden heat he felt and the constriction in his throat, along with the violent pounds his heart was beginning to make did not help the situation at all. After all, it was only Draco. A former friend and nothing more. "What are you doing in my room?" Harry asked after a few minutes of silence, staring at Draco with help from the moonlight entering from the window.
"I... well, I...," Draco began awkwardly before moving forwards, then stopping, then moving forwards again. Harry immediately sat up as Draco walked over to the bed and sat down near him, surprising Harry who only wanted to get as far away from Draco as possible.
"What do you want?" Harry asked once again, surprising himself with the amount of anger and fear that could be heard in his voice.
Draco seemed surprise as well and turned his head around, facing Harry and staring at him with his cold grey glare once again. Harry stared at him then turned away, not able to stand the glare once again. "If you're not going to say anything then I think you should go," Harry said softly, turning his back on Draco and indicating that their conversation was over.
"What happened?" Draco asked suddenly, shocking Harry into turning back around to look at Draco. "I want to know what happened between us... what brought about this behavior?" Draco asked, surprising himself and Harry with the desperateness of his voice.
Harry looked at him, held that gaze once again, before turning away and shrugging. "Maybe you should ask yourself that question," Harry answered unsurely.
"If you won't talk to me then how am I supposed to know how to fix things?" Draco demanded in a loud voice.
"You're going to wake up someone if you continue talking that loudly," Harry muttered, still not meeting Draco's gaze.
"Look at me, Harry. Damn you, I want you to look at me," Draco said, putting his fingers on Harry's chin and forcing Harry to look at him. Harry struggled away, feeling Draco's fingers searing his skin with their heat, and when he found he couldn't he only got angry.
"Why?" Harry asked. "So you can look at me with that cold glare? So that you can look at me with that same gaze you have for everyone? Oh wait, I forgot. Your dear Franz has another look reserved for him, doesn't he? All we get is that same cold and indifferent stare. Well, Draco, let me tell you, I'm tired of that stare. Maybe that's why I've stopped looking at you. I'm tired of that cold gaze. When I need support and I turn to you, all I find is that cold, indifferent gaze. Maybe that's why - " Harry said before stopping, unsure of where this was going and what to say next, words jumbling in his mind as he struggled to put them in order.
Draco, meanwhile, was looking at Harry, jaw slightly opened in surprise at what Harry had just said and in even more surprise at whom Harry had mentioned. "You know... about Franz?" Draco asked.
"I bloody know about Franz, Draco! Draco don't you pride yourself with being sharp? You must know the history Franz has. Everybody knows about that boy and his ways. I definitely thought you were much brighter than that! And to this….piece of scum…you treat him better than you do your real friends!"
Trying to think of something to say to cover his shock, he said before he could stop himself, "I treat my friends equally, I am not sorry that you can not understand that."
Harry got up from the bed and gave his back to Draco. "How can you even say such a thing? At Hogwarts, your snobbish friends hang on your every whim, and you take advantage of it, making them do what you want!"
"I do not!" Draco said, fuming. He got up from the bed and turned Harry around. "I told you I treat everyone the same, and I do not treat you that way," he said pointing a finger at Harry.
Harry gave a hollow laugh, "Ignoring the one person you can really trust is not something a person does. Then again, you are Draco Malfoy, and you can do whatever you desire. Not caring whom he hurts in the process, as long as he gets sex on time from a person who is the worst individual in existence!" Harry yelled, not caring if anyone would wake up and find him and Draco in a shouting match.
"Harry, with whom I am with, is none of your business!"
"Then why do you care that I am with Charlie?" countered Harry. Both of them looked at each other, catching their breath. Harry cursed himself for bringing that question out, if nothing, things would get worse.
"Weasley is from a low, unrespectable family. You have no business with him. Younger Weasley…is your friend, but your instructor…cannot be your lover." He spat the last word and glared at Harry, fury evident in his eyes.
"Franz is unrespectable. Not Charlie," said Harry with gritted teeth. "Say no such thing about him."
"Franz happens to come from a high class, wealthy family."
"Unlike Charlie, Franz has no class. I have never thought you would stoop so low…the grand Draco Malfoy."
Without thinking, Draco threw a punch at Harry's face, and Harry not expecting it, fell back instantly. Harry looked up at Draco with wide green eyes and Draco his chest heaving, looked at Harry with disgust but disgust for himself and his action.
"Get out of my room, Malfoy," said Harry quietly.
None of them moved for some time. They stared at each other, each not backing out from the cold glares and the fury that was evident in both of their eyes.
Draco dropped to the floor and looked at Harry, his eyes changing from a cold glare, to a look of remorse and hurt. "I'm sorry."
"Why?" whispered Harry, one of his hands still covering the side of his face. He noticed the change in Draco's eyes, and the intensity of the gaze directed at him rooted him to his spot. It was as intense as…but no he must not think of that.
"I did not…look Harry, I view you as my greatest friend. You were ignoring me, and it hurt. A lot. Now, I can understand why you did not talk to me after you saw me with Franz. I highly value our friendship, believe it or not."
"Apparently, we do not have the same ideals," said Harry coldly.
Draco shook his head, "Maybe not, but you are the person I trust the most."
"You did not tell me about the situation with Franz nor did you tell me you liked boys, if you had some trust in me you would have said something."
"I was scared, Harry!" yelled Draco, trying to take Harry's hand, but Harry immediately pulled back. "I did not want to scare you when I would tell you about Franz. We were already not speaking with each other, and that would have aggravated the situation more."
"I did not know what to think when I saw you with him…I was shocked. That was why I kept my distance," admitted Harry quietly.
"Is that it, Harry?" whispered Draco.
Harry dropped his eyes. "Yes." He could not tell Draco how much it had really affected him, and how the intense and passionate look would make an appearance in his dreams. He was too tired to continue fighting with Draco, it was leading to nowhere and would only create more problems.
Draco got up and offered his hand to Harry who was still on the floor. Draco looked at the boy beneath him. Harry looked so confused and so vulnerable, and he felt something constrict in his chest. How can he stay only friends with him?
Harry took Draco's hand and he was pulled up. They silently looked at each other until Draco muttered a soft "good night" and left the room.
Draco did not sleep that night.
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Harry sat down to eat breakfast the next morning when a gasp was heard across the table.
"Harry, why do you have a bruise on your cheek?" demanded Narcissa.
Draco looked up. "Mother, I…"
Harry gave Draco a sharp look. "I fell yesterday before going to bed. I ran out of matches on Wednesday and could not see where I was going."
"You should have told a servant, Harry. Although, they should have kept a supply of them in your room. I will have a talk with Dobby about that today," said Lucius in his cold voice.
"No need, sir, I will ask for them."
The rest of breakfast was an awkward affair, but Harry and Draco were now speaking politely to each other instead of ignoring one another. Progress was slowly being made.
Harry excused himself and left to find Charlie. He needed Draco out of his thoughts, and he found that Charlie was the only one that came close in not reminding Harry of anything Draco related. He had thought over the events of last night, and although he could not tell Draco what was exactly bothering him, he felt that Draco was hiding something from him. Both of them had their secrets and it seemed that neither wanted to part with them. It was too much to hope that everything will be fine with Draco, because that would be a long process that could not be resolved in one day. Maybe things would go back to the days before Hogwarts but he seriously doubted it. Draco was just so different from him that he could not imagine ever having a peaceful friendship with him.
"Harry!"
Harry turned and waved at Charlie who was coming closer to him.
"I've been calling for you for some time, are you thinking of something? You barely heard me."
"No, Charlie. It was nothing, just in my own thoughts. But…where are you taking those sacks to?" he asked, pointing to three sacks that Charlie was carrying.
Charlie averted his eyes and dropped the sacks to the ground. "I wanted to speak with you, Harry."
Harry noticed Charlie's serious tone and immediately became worried.
"Is anything wrong with your family? Are they alright?"
"Everyone is fine."
"Charlie, please tell me, what is wrong?" Harry was beginning to feel scared at hearing Charlie's tone of voice and his short sentences. 'What is wrong with him?' he thought as Charlie led him to the stables and sat down on a stool.
Charlie looked at him and shifted uncomfortably. He opened his mouth several times but closed it, his brows furrowed and his eyes looked everywhere but at Harry.
"Charlie?"
"Yes, Wilkes?"
Harry cursed at the interruption and glared at the stable hand.
"You are wanted in the stable on the east side of the manor."
"For what?"
"I don't know, Charlie."
Charlie let out his breath. "Harry, I will speak with you later. I have business to attend to."
With those words he left, and Harry felt lonely and confused. What was happening with Charlie?
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"Weasley?"
"Mr. Malfoy? You called me?" asked Charlie in a barely restrained voice.
"Yes, I did. I need to speak with you."
"Regarding what?"
"I will get to the matter quickly. I want you to stay away from Harry," said Draco quietly, with a look in his eyes that promised he would hear no other answer rather than yes.
"Excuse me?" said Charlie, raising one eyebrow. "You are asking me to stay away from Harry? This matter does not involve you, so I would give you the advice to not dwell on other's business."
"Look Weasley, you are not right for him, and Harry being involved with you will not end in good terms!" snapped Draco taking a step forward.
"I have seen you, Malfoy. I have seen the looks you send his way. This is nothing but a fit of jealousy on your part. For the first time, you cannot have what you want, and that angers you."
Draco looked at Charlie furiously, "I do not view Harry as a play thing, if that is what you are insinuating. I am his friend…and I care for his well-being, this has nothing to do with me liking him."
"Do not fool yourself, Malfoy!"
"Do not speak to me in that tone!"
"I will speak to you in which ever tone I desire!"
"Stay away from him, Weasel, or I will make sure you will never get a stable job once again!" spat Draco.
Charlie took a step forward and was aiming a throw at Draco when a voice interrupted him.
"Charlie!"
Harry came running to his side and glared at Draco.
"I thought I told you to stay away from my business. I thought we had an understanding," said Harry angrily. "I see I was mistaken."
"Harry…"
"Harry, what is this on your cheek?" asked Charlie, taking Harry's face and turning it slightly.
Harry hesitated but that is all Charlie needed.
"You did this to him, didn't you?" he asked turning to Draco. "Harry had not told me about any understandings between the both of you, so I gathered this just happened. Did you hit him, Malfoy?" asked Charlie in a low voice.
Draco's cold eyes flashed but he remained silent, and Charlie lunged at him.
"No! Charlie!"
Harry grabbed Charlie's hand and pulled him away, but not before Harry heard Charlie throw a punch at Draco.
Draco stayed on the ground, and looked up at Harry and Charlie. Harry gave him a last glare, "How could you, Draco?" he asked coldly before leaving with his hand still on Charlie.
Draco groaned. He had royally made things worse than how they were.
XXXX
"I came looking for you when you did not come back. You wanted to tell me something," said Harry as he walked with Charlie. "What was it?"
"Harry, I will talk to you tomorrow. I must head home, my mother will be worried."
Harry nodded but he was not convinced. He had a bad feeling about what Charlie was going to tell him.
"Goodnight, Harry" said Charlie, giving him a slight kiss.
"'Night, Charlie."
Harry walked to the manor alone with more questions that what he originally had. He found himself thinking of Draco. Draco had gone and done what their argument was about. Did he not understand? He could handle himself and he did not need anyone looking out for him. He only heard the last part of Charlie's and Draco's argument but he had heard enough.
XXXX
He did not see Draco at all the following morning. Good thing to, for he was furious with him. A tight knot formed in his stomach as he walked outside to look for Charlie. He highly doubted the night he wanted to spend with Charlie would go as he planned before the race. He found Charlie waiting for him at the edge of the clearing.
"Charlie, what is it that you need to tell me? It has been worrying me. Just tell me."
Charlie looked uncomfortable, before taking in a deep breath.
"Harry, I'm leaving."
The words hit Harry like a punch to his stomach. "Wha…What?"
"I am leaving to Eastern Europe."
Harry looked at Charlie for several seconds in silence before he exploded.
"It was Draco, was it not? He is making you leave! The bastard did this, did he not?" he yelled, his eyes flashing furiously.
Charlie shook his head. "No, it was not him. His threats do not scare me. I had planned on leaving for some time now. I am leaving sooner than I thought."
"You knew all along?" cried Harry, astonished.
"Yes," said Charlie. "I am sorry."
"Why did you not tell me, Charlie? You…You could have told me! What was I then? I cared for you and you repay me by leaving suddenly?"
"Harry, I really like you! I enjoy your company!"
"So that is all. You enjoy my company?" asked Harry bitterly.
"Harry, I care about you too. I am sorry that I never told you. I just wanted to spend time with you; I could not wait until I would come back from the trip."
Harry shook his head. "This cannot be happening to me."
"Look, Harry. These past few weeks have been great, but I know that your heart is not all into this."
"Now you are telling me that it is my fault? That I was never "in this" to begin with? Do not try to blame me!" yelled Harry.
"Think about it and you will know I am right," pleaded Charlie. "I know you like me, but I am afraid this cannot escalate further. I want to be with you, but maybe the trip is a good thing."
"What do you mean this cannot escalate further?"
"I really tried with you, Harry. I just do not think that your heart will be entirely in this relationship."
"That is rich coming from you!" said Harry. "You are not even willing to try anymore!"
"Harry…please…understand…"
"I expected better of you, Charlie. Please leave."
"Harry…"
"Leave me alone," he snarled.
"I do not want us to part like this," said Charlie desperately.
"Leave me alone."
Charlie gave him a sad look and left him standing alone in the clearing.
Harry's vision swam with unshed tears, and he cursed himself for being so idiotic and so vulnerable. He thought Charlie cared for him, but he did not. Charlie was not willing to try anymore. If he had wanted, Charlie would have told him that he would come back soon to be with him once again. He did something he had not done since he was eleven years old; he cursed the day he came to Malfoy Manor for that had starting everything.
He was in no mood to return to the Manor, and so he walked towards the forest. He came to a view of trees and he sat down in a tree stump. He thought he had discovered something wonderful, but like always, things never turned out right for him. First, he was abnormal for he realized that he did not like girls. He could always ignore that and marry anyways, but for what? 'I am not destined to happiness, anyways' he thought to himself as he kicked some rocks that were beneath his feet. Yesterday, he had told Draco that Charlie had class, but everything had blown up in his face. He really did like Charlie; he had no idea what he had done to make Charlie feel that way. 'Maybe he never liked me in the first place' he thought angrily.
His shoulders slumped and he took a look around. Everything seemed so peaceful. How can life be its total opposite? He got off the tree stump and laid down on the leaves that were scattered throughout. He sighed and went into an uneasy sleep.
The snapping of a branch suddenly woke him up. He looked around and noticed that it was quite late. The rays of the sunset were slowly fading. He heard footsteps, and he got up, nearing the source of the noise.
"Draco?" he said uncertainly as a figure around Draco's height came into view.
"Yes, it is me."
Draco's face came into view and he looked closely at Harry as if he was assessing him. "Are you alright?"
"Why do you care?" asked Harry venomously.
"I heard that Weasley is leaving."
"Yes, and you must be absolutely delighted!"
"Harry, I am not delighted if you will be in this state. I do not like to see you like this."
"Well you do not care about me if you were telling Charlie to leave me. You betrayed the small amount of trust I had put in you last night."
"I apologize. I just wanted you away from him, it did not feel right to me."
"Looks like you won, then. Charlie told me I had no heart in the relationship. What does he know about that?" he said bitterly.
"Oh Harry, you give yourself so easily."
Harry threw him a sharp look. "Just like I did with you, and you do not even trust me."
"Harry…"
"No, Draco! I am tired of this. I gave you my friendship and you treated me like if we did not know each other! You ignored me! I am tired of giving myself to people and they throw me out like trash. I tried with Charlie, I really liked him, and he leaves me!"
"I already said I am sorry!"
"That does not change things, Draco!" he said passionately. "You cannot think an 'I'm sorry' will fix things. It does not work that way! Life does not work that way!"
Harry put his hands on his face and sat down with his head on the tree stump. "You got what you wanted. Charlie and I are not together. That is it, we are done."
Harry felt Draco sit next to him. He felt Draco's hands moving his hands away from his face. He looked at Draco with watery eyes, and Draco felt anguish at seeing those beautiful green eyes looking sad and dull.
"No we are not done, Harry," he said softly. "You have gone through so much, and people have done many things to you. They have thrown you aside. I do not like seeing those eyes of yours filled with hurt."
Harry opened his mouth but Draco quieted him. "I will always respect you, Harry. Remember that if I ever do anything it is for your own good. Before you say anything, I know that you are old enough to take care of yourself, but this is what great friends are for. We are going back to Hogwarts tomorrow and I promise you it will not be the same."
Draco took Harry's hands in his and looked directly into his eyes. "This is not the end, Harry. This is the beginning."
A/N: WOO we are on a ROLL! That was a fast update, was it not? Both of us are leaving for a week so we decided to write the chapter before we left. So what do you think? Do you think Draco and Harry will finally get together? Hmmmmm?