To Love A Lion
Chapter Two
Harry was not surprised to see that Hogsmead was practically deserted. It was a working day but due to his newly acquired status at the Ministry of Magic he was now able to come and go to work as he pleased.
He needed time to think, more importantly to put his jumbled confused thoughts in order.
His reflection in a nearby window stopped him and he turned emerald eyes to look at it. He noted that it was so much different to the reflection that had peered back at him so many years ago.
He had grown over the years, his once skinny body filling out into a well muscled package honed by years of Quiditch and seeker reflexes. His hair was still as shabby as ever but gone where the glasses due to an eye repairing spell Hermione had used on him, now he only needed them for heavy reading.
In short he thought he'd turned out quite nicely.
He found his feet turning towards Jacobs Bookstore and he grimaced, he always felt the urge to go there when he was in Hogsmead. It wasn't as though it held any good memories for him…no matter how well he got on with the owner.
He closed his eyes against the brief flash of pain that flickered across them.
Think about something else he scolded himself. Taking a trip down memory lane was undoubtedly not what he wanted to do; he had other things to sort out on his mind without getting caught up in nostalgia.
But he remembered his trip here with Draco. How the blonde had helped him pick out a book for Ron's birthday and shared a chocolate milkshake with him in the café above… how he'd stared into his eyes whilst caressing his hand.
It had been their first date.
Harry tasted salt on his lips, his eyes searched the heavens for rain but the sun shone with all of its might. He knew that it was tears he tasted with all the bitter heartache he festered flavouring them.
"Ah Mr Potter not seen you in years my boy" Mr Jacob came hobbling out of his book-shop. His craggy face lit up in a smile that drew Harry into producing a smile of his own.
"Afternoon Lou" Harry responded his hand reaching out to clasp the wrinkly old ones in a gesture of greeting.
"You must come in Harry; I've recently put your new book on my shelves. I have to say that it is fantastic, so full of emotion and heartache" Lou commented not noticing how the light in Harry's eyes suddenly went out.
"What I don't understand Harry is why you won't publish them under your own name? I mean I know that their best sellers now but wouldn't they be even hotter if it was known that the famous Harry Potter published them" Lou asked questionably.
Harry was not surprised by the question having been asked by the select few other people who knew that he had published books the same thing…he was tired of explaining himself over the matter.
"You know my reasons Lou" Harry replied shrugging his shoulders.
"But surely he has a right to know how you still feel about him" Lou put in gently and Harry stilled. Lou had been the only one to verbally make the connection with the main character in his book and the living person who had given Harry inspiration for his role.
Although he was sure that the others were well aware of it.
"Lou it's hard, surely you must understand that" Harry said his voice barely above a whisper. He didn't want to talk about it and he most especially didn't want to talk about it here.
"But maybe Draco loves you too" Lou edged as Harry turned to walk away. He stopped in his track directed a sad look to the old man over his shoulder and gave a bitter laugh.
"Lou Draco has no heart, he's no more capable of loving anybody than I am of making hell freeze over" Harry said waspishly and walked away. He didn't see the figure that had stepped out of a nearby shop to hear the acid dripping words that had poured from a soul filled with a lingering hate
Draco Malfoy was utterly stunned.
He had been walking out of the Quiditch shop and had cast a glace over at one of his favourite places, Jacobs's bookshop. The one place in Hogsmead that could always put a smile on his face no matter his mood.
It had been where he and Harry had had their first date.
Only to do a double take at what he saw. His eyes ate up every angle of his physique because they had been starved of it for so long. His mouth went dry and his body instantly began to warm.
Harry Potter was stood no less than three feet away from him.
But it was the speech that had caused Draco's heart to clench in pain. Never had he ever dreamed that someone could project so much venom into the words they spoke…until now.
"Lou Draco has no heart; he's no more capable of loving anybody than I am of making hell freeze over" the voice, one which he had never forgotten, which had haunted his dreams was now pouring out words of acid instead of honey.
He closed his eyes and bit back a sob that threatened to break past his lips.
"Are you ok sir" the shop assistant asked when she had noticed he'd paused for an awfully long time in the doorway. He closed his eyes momentarily as he reigned in his emotions, when they blinked open he was the perfected Draco Malfoy once again.
"Just fine" he snapped sending her scurrying back indoors.
God he felt as though the fragments of his heart were shattering through the very foundation of his soul and he was dying so slowly. How could Harry hold such contempt for him?
He hiked his chin up and let his silver-grey eyes follow his ex until he disappeared out of sight.
"You loved me once Harry and heaven help me I'll make you love me again" he vowed before walking determinedly towards the Three Broomsticks intent on getting stinking drunk.
He had a party to go to later, one which he knew Harry was invited to. He was determined to show the raven haired man that he had changed, that he had made a mistake which he truly regretted and was sorry for.
He only hoped that Harry would be willing to hear him out.
"Harry, you sure you feel up to this tonight?" Alexis asked as she helped him tie his bow-tie. She looked into his green eyes and he knew that she would see the shimmer of panic he imagined to be within their depths.
"And how do you propose I get out of this" he asked a tone of annoyance in his voice that he wished wasn't there. After his earlier conversation with Lou he wasn't in the mood for any pleasantries, the craggy old bookkeeper had revived many old memories and questions deep within him.
"I'll make up something" she replied pulling off the bow-tie evidently having made his mind up for him.
"Draco will be there Harry and I know you would rather have more time to compose yourself when you see him again. I'll just tell Greg and Hermione that you have one of those 24 hour bugs that have been going round I'm sure they will understand" she smiled and ushered him out of the bathroom so she could continue to get ready.
Harry shed his shirt and slumped down on the bed. His tanned limbs contrasted greatly with the pristine whiteness of the sheets, he fisted his hands into the duvet and fought for inner composure…he was so confused.
An image of his younger self and Draco Malfoy manifested behind his closed lids and his eyes sprang open.
He didn't want to be thinking of his days with his blonde ex lover, when Draco had walked away from him it had nearly killed him. He had thought himself beyond hope; it had taken years before he had picked himself up and dusted himself off.
The bathroom door opened abruptly cutting his thoughts and Alexis walked out. Harry had to concede she looked positively breathtaking.
Her body was sheathed in a pale blue ball gown that clung to her womanly bust before billowing out at her delicate waist. Her white-blonde hair had been tamed to a perfection of curls that cascaded just below her waist.
"You look beautiful" Harry said huskily and she dropped a friendly kiss on lips.
"Thank you Harry, I'll see you in the morning my advice to you is to go to bed and rest you'll need your strength" she replied a strange gleam lighting her eyes.
But before Harry could ask her what she meant she was gone, her light perfume still scenting the air.
Draco glowered into his drink while pretending not to look at the large grandfather clock that decorated one side of the ballroom.
It all looked beautiful. The ceiling a picture of cherub perfection, the rest of the room in soft gold and shimmering white; it truly was a work of art and it had all been done by Hermione Granger
She really did know her styles.
But his mind was more on the apparent absence of one Harry Potter. He was beginning to wonder if the other man made a habit of being fashionably late to events such as these.
He'd been keeping an eye on the door all night but still no Harry. He was just about to go in search of someone to converse with when a late arrival caught his attention
Ugh it was her...that Alexis woman.
Draco eyed up the woman married to his ex and conceded she was indeed a creature of beauty and perfection. Her skin was as flawless as his own, her hair well tended and she held herself well.
He watched her walk up to Hermione and Gregory whispering something to them each in turn. Judging by the crestfallen look on their faces and the lack of any other arrivals it was that Harry Potter would not be coming.
Walking out onto the veranda he looked up at the night sky with its stars twinkling back at him and wondered why nothing ever went his way. He really should have known that Harry wouldn't come tonight; if only for the fact that Draco had wanted him to.
"Draco Malfoy I assume" a soft voice questioned and he turned round to look into a pair of grey eyes so like his own.
"Alexis Potter" he replied no hint of warmth in his tone. For all her fine trimmings and noticeable qualities, this woman stood in his way to reclaiming Harry's heart.
She walked to stand beside him casting her gaze heavenwards; she was silent for a few moments before she finally spoke.
"He dreams of you, you know" she whispered so lightly that Draco was sure that he had misheard, he turned to regard her slowly his face blank as he really took her in.
"Excuse me" he finally asked.
She turned to focus on him giving him a quick once over much like he had with her. He couldn't help but feel smug when her eyes sparked with a hint of appraisal.
"He dreams of you Draco. When he sleeps in his room at night I can hear him how he whimpers your name in the darkness, like it's the only thing he can take comfort in" her eyes had hardened now.
"I saw the hurt you inflicted on him once and I won't stand by to let you do it again. Harry is very dear to me so if you plan on hurting him in any way shape or form I just want you to know one thing."
She stepped towards him and placed her lips next to his ear to whisper her words of wisdom.
"I make a deadly enemy even for a Malfoy."
Then she was gone, he never saw the regret etched on her face at having interfered and being so abrupt about it. Only knowing that she couldn't stand the thought of Harry hurt again, that she didn't want to see him as he had been so long ago.
But none of this crossed Draco's mind, it was too busy filling up with jealousy and a very very black anger.
This was war!