To Love A Lion
Chapter Nine
A.N – This is for all my faithful reviewers who have been very patient with me; I am so sorry that I haven't updated in so long. I'm sure you all know what it's like to get writers block and with me starting a new job and such I guess the story just sort of got away from me. But here I am back again and judging by the reviews you've all been leaving me then I guess you're after more!!! For all the people who wished to see Draco crack just a little, well this chapter is dedicated to you.
It was no use.
Draco tossed and turned but he could not find the thoughtless abandon that what sleep, it seemed that tonight like so many others before it would be out of his grasp.
Flinging the white satin sheets from his body he extracted himself from within the folds of his double bed and padded to his window. Opening the French doors he stepped out onto the balcony, there was a slight chill to the air but he paid it no mind.
The sky was as black as a raven's wing, dotted with stars that sparkled like diamonds amongst them sat a full moon that could outshine any pearl.
Sighing he contemplated his situation, a Malfoy never gave up on something that he wanted but for the first time in his life Draco's surety of this was wavering. For the first time in his life his resolve was not set in stone.
He was uncertain if he could get what he wanted.
People seemed to think it was all about winning, about proving that nothing was beyond his reach, that he could conquer anything that he set his mind too. That to him the thrill was in the chase alone and that the prize would be cast away as soon as it was won.
They were wrong.
This was so much more; this was about claiming back his soul. About gaining back the love and trust from the one person who had truly made him happy, who had shown him that he didn't have to always hide behind a carefully constructed mask.
A smile touched his lips.
He remembered the stupid things he and Harry had done, stupid yet wonderful things which to him had seemed so trivial back then. But now he realised just how much he missed the freedom that Harry had brought him.
Harry had a way about him that sort of drew you in, you couldn't help but be caught up in his whirlwind of enthusiasm. Harry had always been so full of life, energy, love, and once upon a time Draco had been able to call him his own…
Draco's Flashback
The sun had shone for what seemed like the first time in weeks, and Dumbledore had given the students of Hogwarts a day blessedly free of lessons to enjoy its return. It was small things such as this that allowed the headmaster to keep his favour.
Draco had taken the opportunity to sit and reflect sprawled beneath the shade of a tree right next to the lake.
His gaze however was drawn to his boyfriend who was playing what he referred to as football with his housemates. His robes had been discarded, his shirt un-tucked and his tie hanging limply about his neck.
(Have I told you how good it feels to be me, when I'm in you? I can only stay clean when you are around don't let me fall)
Just seeing Harry grin so widely as he frolicked about made Draco's face break into a smile he rarely ever showed.
He'd only been with him for two months but to Draco it felt as though there had never been a time that where he hadn't been with him. It was as if all the years of hostility had never taken place when those green eyes looked at him with so much love.
He hadn't realised just how much he would fall for him.
(If I close my eyes forever, would it ease the pain? Could I breathe again?)
Harry held so much trust and faith in him that it humbled Draco, in a way he supposed it had to do with what most people would call Harry's innocence. But when he whispered such words of trust and devotion to him he knew that it was more.
The way Harry spoke to him caressed him. The way he made him feel was something Draco would never have imagined feeling at all in his life.
All he knew was that he was vastly becoming lost in the other boy in a way that terrified and exhilarated him. It terrified him because as a Malfoy he had never experienced what he was now and experiencing, and it exhilarated him because it was such a new and wonderful feeling.
(Maybe I'm addicted, I'm out of control, but you're the drug that keeps me from dying)
For Harry Draco wanted to be a better man, to change his past and break away from everything he was meant to hold dear.
He caught the object of his thoughts laughing with his friends then he began to head his way. His eyes were still crinkled with the lines of mirth and his eyes dancing. Draco's gaze fell lower to the soft lips he so loved to kiss, then it roved over his body in slow appraisal.
His beauty and lazy grace simply took Draco's breath away.
(Maybe I'm a liar, but all I really know is you're the only reason I'm trying)
"Not enjoying the game love" Draco asked lightly as Harry stood over him his lips twitching and his hair ruffling slightly in the breeze. He was curious as to why Harry had decided to come to him.
"I saw something else that tweaked my interest" was the amused reply as the raven haired teen fell to his knees beside him never once breaking eye contact.
Draco felt his insides jolt at the closeness of him; he could smell his unique fragrance of vanilla underlined with what Draco always likened to cinnamon. He felt his fingers itch to bury themselves in that messy tumble of dark hair, and restrained himself remarkably.
"People will talk if you sit here with me" Draco stated, they had yet to announce there relationship so openly and only a small group of close friends knew. It was the first time Harry had openly approached him in the public eye of their many other peers.
"Let them" Harry returned and lowering his head he captured the shocked blonde's lips in a searing kiss.
(I am wasted away, I made a million mistakes. Am I too late?)
Pulling away Draco just stared at his boyfriend, his face asking a question that his lips did not know to ask.
"I love you Draco, I don't care if the whole school knows it. You're one of the most beautiful people to enter my life and I want everyone to see" Harry answered, his voice was so open and honest that Draco knew he meant every word.
And that was it, Harry had cast aside everything. He had risked the possibly of being mocked maybe ridiculed, but he had thrown caution to the winds and followed his instincts.
"I don't know what to say" Draco whispered only to be silences by calloused fingertips stilling his lips.
(There is a storm in my head; it rains on my bed when you are not here)
"You don't have to say anything, just feel"
Draco did feel, he felt so much that it threatened to consume every inch of him. He felt a smile form and was for the first time in his life not afraid who saw the emotions he knew would be clearly etched on his face.
(I'm not afraid of dying, but I am afraid of losing you)
This amazing beautiful person had let him into his heart, had shown him a carefree way that was so refreshing that he knew he would not want to give it up. Harry was for lack of a better word addictive and Draco would always want more of him.
Words were not needed as he moved to a sitting position, raising his hand he clasped the fingers which were soothing the planes of his lips.
Even if he were capable of words he did not think any would sum up just what he was feeling.
He'd fallen so quickly, so soundlessly that he had not felt the fall. All he knew was that he had found someone he could let into his heart with a certainty that had the ability to astound him.
(Maybe I'm addicted, I'm out of control, but you're the drug that keeps me from dying)
He felt words of love and laughter flow from within him as he showered butterfly kisses all over the face of the man he loved. He was revelling in the feeling that he didn't have to care who was watching.
(Maybe I'm a liar, but all I really know is you're the only reason I'm trying)
He ran his hands through the hair he had ached to tousle but had been afraid of touching for fear of public rejection.
For once in his life Draco was allowed to feel, and he felt everything.
His lips sought out Harry's in a kiss so achingly sweet that he lost himself in it; he gave himself completely to what was swirling within him. It didn't matter who saw any more, it didn't matter that he was meant to be the ice prince of school…he would be fire as long as he could touch the boy he loved.
His hands roamed everywhere; they raked a trail down Harry's back, grasped at broad shoulders and caressed the smooth of contours of his lovers face.
(When you're lying next to me love is going through to me. Oh it's beautiful everything is clear to me 'till I hit reality and I lose it all)
He knew then that he couldn't have Harry leave his life, he'd found his salvation in the arms of the one person he had never thought he would receive it.
He felt those arms move to hold him, lips kiss him back with a passion that could not be denied and gave everything he was to it.
(You're the only reason, Yeah, you're the only reason I'm trying, Oh, I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying)
For Harry he would become a better man.
He would show him that he was worthy of his love, that he could be everything that he wanted him to be. He could change; he would show the world that there was a Malfoy out there willing to break the stoic mould they usually held themselves in.
"You're perfect" Harry whispered against his lips and Draco smiled into the kiss.
"No my love, you are and I never plan on letting you go" he whispered back. It was a forgone conclusion really, now that everyone knew they had nothing to fear and Draco was determined to be with Harry for a very long time.
(Yeah, you know I'm addicted)
End Draco's Flash Back
But Draco hadn't kept his word; he had forgotten just why he made that promise to himself and had so callously broken his lovers' heart. In the end he had turned out to be just like every other Malfoy before him…including his father.
The pain of it still tore at him, every night he would see the face of Harry Potter looking up at him brokenly. He could still hear the harsh words that he had uttered and his heart broke just that little bit more.
His vision blurred and he let the tears fall freely.
"I never stopped loving you" he whispered suddenly the tears falling more fiercely now. It had been so long since he had indulged himself and allowed his emotions free reign, he'd been impassive for far too long.
"Even when I handed your heart back to you I never stopped loving you" he added a look of pained anguish flashing across his features as the pale moonlight reflected over his face.
"Forgive me Harry" he sobbed, and in a way that would have shocked anyone that knew him Draco Malfoy sank to his knees and cried from the depths of his very soul beneath the moon.
"He doesn't seem to be getting any better" a voice drawled down the line and Alexis sighed conceding to the fact that he was indeed right. Even her best efforts had been met with a barrier that was impenetrable.
"I don't know what to do Severus, you know that I'm trying my very best but Harry can be very stubborn" she said lightly and was rewarded with a slight chuckle.
"He still loves the brat, but he's determined to ignore it" Severus Snape stated and Alexis rolled her eyes. Oh yes she was well aware that Harry still wanted Draco no matter how much he tried to refute it, one day he would look back on this and thank the people that helped him.
"A blind fool could see that those two are still crazy about each other. It took me a while to get Harry out of the pit he had fallen in especially the drinking, it's going to take more to fix this" she added keeping an eye on the door in case Harry was close by.
"He will come round eventually pet, remember all good things come to those who wait" Snape said and Alexis felt herself grinning in response to the remark.
"Yes it does" she murmured softly and in her minds eye she could picture Severus smiling at her reply. Severus hardly ever smiled, he would smirk but a true smile was gifted very rarely and only to those he cared for…she felt privileged to have been one of so few to see him with his guard down.
"Does he know where the night out is going to be held" Snape asked and she laughed.
"Oh no that hasn't been sprung on him yet, he thinks that it's being held at the three broomsticks" she wrinkled her nose in amusement. She knew that if Harry was truly aware of where the stag party was really going then he would definitely not be going.
"If he was aware that it's really being held at one of the raciest gay clubs on both the Wizarding and muggle continent I think it would be safe to say that Harry would well and truly make sure he was unavailable" she shared a laugh with Severus and they both mentally pictured what she has just described.
"Does he know what he's going to be wearing; have you sprung your little design on him yet?"
Alexis eyed the outfit that was almost complete hanging on her bedroom door and felt a sly grin forming on her face. It had been the first time she had created an outfit for Harry and she was very pleased with the results thus far.
"Now Severus do you really think I wouldn't have told Harry about his outfit yet" she said sweetly and was rewarded with a laugh. The sound was like music to her ears and she smiled at it whilst ignoring the slight pang in her heart.
"Yes, you forget I know you very well and I also know that you're probably plotting some scheme to get Harry wearing it as well" he added.
She eyed the bottle that she held in her hand, it never ceased to amaze her just how well Severus really did know her.
"Don't worry, Hermione took care if that particular problem for me which will be executed via a cup of coffee. So on my end it's pretty safe to say that all systems are go" she replied.
"How's it going with Draco" she asked and heard Severus's frustrated sigh. She easily pictured him running a hand through his hair as he was prone to do when frustration set in and waited to see what he had to say.
"I went to see him this morning, judging by his unconscious state and the half empty bar I'm assuming that he is fairing any better. Its behaviour most mysterious for Draco, he's not one to drown his sorrows…at least not the Draco I know at any rate"
Alexis nodded to herself.
"Well then I guess we're doing them a favour by helping out, I'll have to go now Severus but I enjoying talking to you" she murmured. She didn't want to go just yet but there were things that they both needed to do.
"The pleasure was all mine Alexis" was the smooth drawl then the line clicked indicating that Severus had hung up.
"Maybe we can all have a happy ending" Alexis said softly and she replaced the phone on its hook and smiled at the thought.
I know I know not very long but hey I'm quite ill at the moment so you got to give me sympathy points!! Anywho I hope that you all liked the new instalment, you all know the drill so get reviewing or you know whatever, and I'll update as soon as I can, start a new shift soon four days in three off so I'll have more time to devote to my stories and you guys bring on the happy dance love to you all!!!!!
Angel – Wings6 XxXxXxXxX