Ok guys! So Draco is introduced in this chapter!! I'm sorry it took so damned long, but like I said I wanted to pay respects to the character. So HOPEFULLY you'll love this chapter, or at least find it bearable! =). So please enjoy and please review, because I'd LOVE to know how I'm going so far. And also please review and let me know if I've made mistakes in my story cos that'd just be embarrassing for me lol! =).
HARRY'S POV
The lion in Harry was clawing at his chest. Harry gripped his wand, his eyes flashing from Dean's scared face to Ginny's guilt-ridden one. He clenched his teeth.
"Har-
"Get out. Get out Dean". Harry said relatively calmly, still clutching his wand like it was the remainder of his life. Dean hesitated slightly, glancing at Ginny which only served to anger Harry further.
"Now Dean. Now." Harry said through clenched teeth. Dean grabbed his clothes and fled past Harry, he could be heard running down the grand staircase.
It was only when Ginny moved a little did Harry realize his hands were shaking. He didn't want to look at her. He didn't want to see her betrayal etched on her body.
"Harry?" Ginny said insecurely. He could see her feet slowly making its way towards him. He finally tilted his head up and saw a face he once trusted. He felt so disappointed in her. He didn't want to see her. Harry didn't even have energy to be angry at her.
"Harry? Harry I-" she said as she reached out to try and touch him. He jerked away and stared at her.
"Ginny I think it's best I spend a couple of days away from here." Harry said as he stepped away and enchanted a bag to hover over to him. It opened and his clothes from his wardrobe flew and dropped in.
"Harry I'm so sorry, I tried to stop, I tried to ignore it; I knew it was wrong, I didn't mean to betray you." Ginny said so quickly Harry had trouble understanding it. But that didn't matter to him. All he knew was that he should leave before he does something he would regret. Harry shook his head, flicked his wand again, his bag clicked shut.
He walked over and picked it up. "You don't need to cook dinner for me tonight. Nor for the next week probably". He said softly, staring at her shaking face.
"Harry I-" Ginny said.
"Save it Ginny. But I would like to hear why. Just not now, I can't do this now." Harry said as he quickly grabbed his bag, gripped his wand harder and strode right past her.
On his way down the grand staircase he could still hear Ginny pleading. He ignored her, he really just wanted to leave the house.
"Harry wait, please!" Ginny said as she came running down the staircase, now in a robe. "Please Harry, wait!" Harry paused at the entrance to the door.
"Please just stay Harry, I can explain everything!" Ginny said slightly desperately. Harry turned around to face her.
"Ginny...unless he used Imperius on you or some form of magic to bind your actual movement then I really don't think I can bear to listen right now." Harry said solidly, this time staring at her face. His voice however was slightly broken. Ginny stared at him.
"You're serious aren't you?" Ginny whispered.
"Yeh. I am" Harry said with a final tone in his voice before turning around and exiting before Ginny could even react to that.
He quickly stumbled his way down the marble stairs and into the alleyway, breathing heavily and trying not to hyperventilate. He could hear Ginny exiting the house and he Disapparated to the first place he could think of.
As the squeezing sensation passed he found himself standing in the alleyway next to Three Broomsticks. Harry sighed and slowly walked out of the alleyway whilst shrinking his bag and placing it in his grungy robes. He entered the Three Broomsticks, chose a booth in the back and ordered two Butterbeers for himself. He was just about halfway through the first one and contemplating just going back to Grimmauld Place to be alone when he sensed someone standing behind him.
"Potter?" a voice said. Harry spun around and found himself staring into the face of his high-school rival; Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy." Harry said as a greeting before he sculled down the rest of his first Butterbeer. After the war Malfoy had done anything and everything to remove the Malfoy name out of dirt. Lucius simply now stayed in the Manor and helped his son with some Ministry work. But Harry had the feeling that Lucius was still a little ashamed to show his face. Narcissa however, was more outgoing, social and didn't mind showing her face in public, in all honesty Harry thought she was and had been very strong for her family. Draco had joined the Ministry as their head of Healer and Mediwizard Department. He was the youngest and most talented Head of Department the Ministry had seen in years. And for this, [which Draco was pleased about] the general public had taken a good side to the Malfoy's now.
Harry and Malfoy's relationship had come to a nice start when they found out they'd both be working for the ministry; occasionally going out to have lunch on their lunch breaks and playing mock quidditch games in the holidays.
"What are you doing here? I thought the Auror Department was training you guys for 6 full days all day?" Malfoy asked while inviting himself to sit opposite Harry.
"Yeh, Shaklebolt let me have the day off cos apparently I looked ill or something" Harry said as he reached for his second Butterbeer.
"I don't blame him. You look like a....a tired walking inferi." Malfoy said carefully while eyeing the Butterbeer dribbling down from the sides of Harry's mouth.
"Oh yeh, that's what Shaklebolt said." Harry said, not really listening while sculling the last bit of the Butterbeer down.
"Your table manners are atrocious Potter." Malfoy said, although his insult was betrayed by the lustful look in his eyes that were straying towards Harry's mouth. Harry's mind was still preoccupied by the faces of Dean and Ginny haunting him to realize Malfoy's gaze.
" Well it never really mattered in my life, don't see why I need to care too much. Besides, I need to indulge right now." Harry mumbled while trying to find Rosmerta to order something stronger; a Firewhiskey. Malfoy sighed.
"What's wrong with you Potter? What happened?" Malfoy said eyeing Harry suspiciously. Harry stubbornly glared at the wall above Malfoy's head. Malfoy always had a knack for knowing something was drastically wrong with himself. Or, it could've been that he was randomly waving his arm frantically in the air so Rosmerta could notice...either one.
"Nothing much...just tired I guess" Harry mumbled avoiding Malfoy's gaze with determination, arm still waving in the air.
"You know you were always a crap liar Potter...well to me you definitely were." Malfoy said, gazing at him with a golden eyebrow raised. Harry gulped a little.
"Malfoy, I don't really wanna talk about this, I mean –" Harry said.
"Hey, you don't HAVE to tell me, I was just curious because you look like...you're in pain or something. I was just worrying alright?" Malfoy interrupted, leaning back and looking non-chalant.
Harry sighed again. "Ginny slept with Dean." He said softly, his frantic hand now resting on the table next to the empty Butterbeer bottles. He looked over at Malfoy. He was staring at him as though Voldermort was right behind him. Harry couldn't blame him. It was Ginny, it was never expected on anyone's standards.
"Bloody hell Potter." Malfoy said, still staring at him. "Is that why you're dressed like that?" he added, staring at the grungy robes.
"No. I dress like this all the time. It's to avoid being noticed." Harry said, although he found his comment quite humorous.
"But it IS why you were drinking Butterbeers like they were water and the reason why you were waving your hand around like you've had a tickling charm on it?" he said, staring at Harry's impassive face.
"Yeh, sure is". Harry said. "Look, Malfoy I have to go, I don't feel too good. And I gotta find a place to stay, can't stay at Ron's; be too awkward. I think I'll just have to go back to my godfather's house or something...or-"
"You can stay with me." Malfoy said interrupting him. Harry jerked his head up. Malfoy is inviting him to his house. "I live across the street; it'd be convenient if you forgot something from your house." Malfoy said, shrugging his shoulders. "Only if you want" he added.
Harry hesitated for a second. "Yeh. Alright. I'd like to." He said, surprised at his own spontaneity. Malfoy smirked at him.
"Well let's go Potter, I've got food cooking". Malfoy said while dumping some galleons on the table before strolling out, leaving Harry to hurry after him.
They walked to the side of the street before Disapparating. Upon appearing in Belgravia Harry felt the usual queasiness wash over him with twice the strength as he stood on the opposite side of the street to where he lived. His house showed no sign of any presence. That only served to make him more nauseous.
"Potter!" Malfoy snapped. Harry spun around to see Malfoy frowning and tapping his fingers on his hip. "Come inside" he added, surprisingly softer. Harry rushed inside, not glancing back at his deserted house.
"This way Potter." Malfoy said, leading the way down a wide hallway with shiny newly-waxed wooden floors. If Harry thought his house was rather magnificent, then his opinion had been rather altered. Malfoy's house; manor really had such a classy atmosphere that Harry felt rather ashamed to be walking down the hallway with such grungy robes. There were glamorous gold-encrusted oak pillars on each side. Similarly to Harry's, Malfoy also had a magnificent circular staircase that led to the upper level. They walked to the right side of the staircase; almost behind it. Malfoy opened the wooden door to lead into huge kitchen filled with house elves.
"Diddy!" Malfoy yelled. A little house elf wearing blue overalls hurried over. His ears flapping almost comically, he was holding a spatula covered with what appeared to be burnt eggs.
"Yes Master Draco?" he replied, bowing low.
"Harry Potter will be staying with me for a few days. You must serve him as though you serve me". Malfoy said while gently taking the spatula, waving his wand and the burnt eggs disappeared. He handed the spatula back to the elf as Diddy bowed low to Malfoy.
"Yes Master Draco." He replied, now bowing low to Harry. Malfoy smiled and nodded at Diddy before gesturing to Harry as he left the kitchens.
"House elves? You haven't changed a bit Malfoy" Harry said as began climbing the magnificent staircase.
"Just because I know how to have a few pleasures doesn't make me posh". Malfoy said with a smirk on his face. Harry shook his head.
"Here's your room" he said as he opened the large oak door. "You can stay for as long as you want" Malfoy added as he stared at Harry's face.
"Thanks Malfoy but I dont' want to be in your hair for too long I-"
"Potter, I invited you. It's fine. There's a bathroom to the side as well so if you wanted to shower up go ahead. Dinner's served at 7:30, in about two hours." Malfoy said as he strolled in and showed Harry around. Harry nodded. Malfoy returned the nod and headed out of the room.
"Malfoy!...uh...thanks for this. I mean you didn't have to or anything and really-"
"Harry!" Malfoy said loudly. Harry jerked his head up in surprise to hearing his first name. "It's fine, alright?" he added. Harry nodded slowly, still a little surprised. Malfoy sent him a brilliant smile before walking out. Harry's stomach lurched in an odd uncomfortable feeling, he shook his head and went to go shower.
OK! So there it is guys! Hope you liked that chapter! It took me a while for some reason. But i really hope you like it. And plleeassee review! =).
