Chapter Seven
Dear Draco,
What in the world did you do? I feel so bad, it's my entire fault, and you got me out of it. I hope you didn't work too hard on my behalf. I don't deserve it, after the way I slapped you in the face. Thank you, it's taken a huge weight off my shoulders. I miss you; I'm stuck here in this house until I go to Diagon Alley on the day I was supposed to have my trial. I'll probably be there all day. I hope I get to see you soon. I'll find someway to pay you back, for my stupidity and getting me out of it.
Love,
Harry
Harry had been sitting in the now clean drawing room of Grimmauld at the now, very boggart-free desk, with an inky quill in his right hand. He was overwhelmed, but he still felt a twinge of guilt. Then again, who wouldn't?
"Harry?" said the voice of Hermione.
The teen jerked his head up, and saw Hermione and Ron standing there. "What are you doing, up here Harry?" asked Hermione, curiously.
"You should be downstairs, celebrating." declared Ron, with a bright smile.
"I was just finishing a letter."
"To whom?" asked Hermione curiously.
"No one." said Harry, folding it, and placing it in an envelope. "Just a friend." He lied casually.
"Friend? Neville?" asked Ron, nosily.
"Nope."
"Seamus?"
"Nope. Just a friend. Don't worry about it." insisted Harry, trying not to grin. He could see it was killing the two of them, not knowing. Hermione looked pained at not being told, and Ron looked very curious. "Seriously, it's nothing you two need to be concerned over."
"But, who would you have to write, when all your friends are here?" asked Hermione, sinking down into the chair opposite of Harry.
"Why is it so important?"
Hermione looked baffled.
Ron didn't look any different, "We just want to know. Do we know them?"
"You might." said Harry casually. "It's just a friend-"
"Does this have anything to do with the letter you received in June, with the rose in it?" asked Hermione.
Harry grinned, "Smart of you."
Ron's mouth opened, "D- do you have a girlfriend, which we dun know about?"
Harry laughed lightly at Hermione's puzzled look. They were just dieing to know who.
Hermione just stared at him. "Harry - who is it?" she said, almost breathless.
The teen was getting a strange pleasure at seeing his two best friends looking anxious. He grinned widely and sank back, pushing the chair up on two legs balancing himself. "If I say nobody, will you leave it alone?"
Ron scowled, "Come on mate! Who are you seeing? How did you start seeing someone and we didn't know?"
"It just happened." said Harry. "I'll say no more, I don't feel like it. Now, I have a letter to send off." He levelled his chair, stood, and walked to the door, leaving Ron and Hermione to turn and look at him.
"HARRY!!" They announced at the same time.
Harry looked over his shoulder, half of his black hair fell into his face, concealing one of his eyes, "I don't feel like sharing at the moment. All last year, my personal life was everyone else's life, and now I have the chance to be a little more secretive. So - bear with me. When I tell you, you'll be - er - first to know." He decided to keep to himself, which Remus and Sirius already knew. He smiled and walked away.
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On the morning of Diagon Alley, Harry was literally the first one awake, showered, and dressed. He was so restless, that getting out was a must. He looked himself over twice in the mirror. He was wearing muggle clothes, finding them much more relaxing than robes, not to mention just a bit more tasteful. He had on a pair of jet black jeans, that were much baggier than usual in the leg and knee area, however, it fit him around the waist just right; along the seem was pure white thick stripes and around the bottom cuff of the jeans. He had a black silk button up, that was made bigger, with the same affect, thick white edges. It was short sleeved all the buttons were up except for three, black boots finished his attire, his hair long and laying flat against his shoulders.
He peered closer into the mirror, and touched his ear; hopefully, he'd find the ear piercing place to get his ear done. He smiled, with entertainment, as he remembered Draco offering to do it for him. It might, not be in his best interest to allow Draco to pierce his ear. He wondered if wizard's had a different way. Couldn't be very painful, he suspected, definitely not worse than the Cruciatus.
Shrugging unconsciously to himself, he headed down for breakfast. Mrs. Weasley was already up and Mr. Weasley was nearby with a cup of strong coffee in one hand and the Daily Prophet in the other.
"Morning, Harry, you're up quite early." said Mr. Weasley, fondly.
Mrs. Weasley beamed and wrapped him in a hug, before he took up a seat next to the eldest Weasley.
"Yeah, I really want to go to Diagon Alley." said Harry, as he helped himself to some biscuits.
With a kind smile, Mrs. Weasley rubbed his shoulders and then moved on into the pantry looking for something. Mr. Weasley amused him with questions of muggle items and the world. Harry was only too happy to amuse him.
Before long, Harry was standing just behind the Leaky Cauldron; a refreshing smile graced his youthful features. He felt the warm air sweep across his skin and through his hair. It sunk down into his lungs, leaving him carefree for one of the first times.
He felt as if he were eleven-years-old all over again, standing next to the massive form of Hagrid, staring around him his eyes wide and his breath being held, afraid of waking up and finding it all a dream.
Between Ron and Hermione, Harry set off down the cobblestone walk, his eyes searching the sides of the street with abundant interest. The first stop was Gringotts, where everyone got their moneybags refilled, and then to the shops.
He was in the robe shop, getting resized for his school robes. Ron had been dragged off by his mother to get his trunk repaired, while Hermione was in another room of Madam Malkins. He was flipping through the racks of colours, trying to decide whether he should place an order for them or not. He wondered if it would make it to Grimmauld, or maybe he should have them sent to Hogwarts?
"Pure white would set off your eyes, spectacularly." breathed a familiar voice along Harry's neck, and before Harry could turn around hands gently ran up and down his back before curling around him.
Harry's heart began to do cartwheels; he grinned widely, dropping the fabric, and taking the hands that locked around him. "Hi, Draco." He looked up over his shoulder, and into the brilliant blue eyes of the Slytherin, who had done so much for him.
"Fancy seeing you here?" teased Draco, gently nudging Harry's black hair out of the way and kissing him once beside his ear.
"Yeah - thank you!" He then exclaimed, turning around in Draco's arms and planted a warm kiss along his lips. Luckily, there wasn't anyone in the room where Harry and Draco were at the moment, otherwise, it would have been quite the scene.
Draco pressed into him; Harry's back pushed up against the clothes rack, his mouth never leaving Draco's lips. A craving sensation enveloped Harry, along with about a hundred different feelings at once rushed upon him, swirling antagonizing against his heart and body. Harry breathed in deeply, hands moving in between Draco's robes, hoping to find some skin to touch.
"Enough, I did it for you." He hissed, hands coming up and touching Harry's just beyond the ears. Draco kissed him again, his tongue flickering along the bottom of Harry's pouting lip, and then invading his mouth and taking full control.
Harry felt as if he were melting. He didn't want to let go. He wanted to just hold on, for as long his arms and body would let him.
"Where are your friends?" breathed Draco, when he reluctantly parted.
Harry pressed his cheek against Draco's chest. "Ron's getting his trunk repaired and Hermione is in the other room." He said, softly. Draco grinned, and ran his hands through the ends of Harry's black hair. "What did you do?"
"I'll tell you later." He replied, his chin pressing against the top of Harry's head. "The only thing that matters is you're not going to be expelled."
"For my own stupidity." muttered Harry, "Do you know - how guilty I feel?" He looked up at his partner, who kissed him on the forehead.
"Don't be." As he spoke, his eyes began to shine and a sly smile spread across his striking features, an idea popping into his mind.
Harry reading his look, arched an eyebrow, "What?" He asked, curiously.
Draco didn't respond just then, he looked over at the door, and when he saw that no one was going to enter, he let go of Harry all but his hand, and then lead him toward dressing rooms. They got to the one at the very end.
Harry blinked, "Draco?"
He grinned, and pushed the black curtain aside, revealing the square cubicle. "Come on."
"Wha-?" He laughed, when Draco turned around and pulled him all the way in, then wrapped the curtain around them, concealing them.
Draco pulled Harry into him, and forced their lips together. The Gryffindor's hands took full advantage of the situation, only muttering once about, 'what if we get caught?' However, even that mild logic slipped Harry's brain, as Draco demanded his full attention with his mouth and hands.
Draco's finger's were already undoing his shirt buttons, and were soon running along the bareness of Harry's chest, as he placed tender and wanton kisses along his thirsty lips.
Emotions mingled with sensational passion burned through the young lovers' veins. It was hot and spine tingling. Draco soon had Harry's back against the wall, his mouth once again claiming the teen's neck as his, with every nibble and suck.
As the kisses became more furious and air tight, Draco's fingers slipped downward, just like they had when they first found themselves in this same situation. But this time, Draco took it to a whole new level, as he played against the zipper to Harry's jeans, teasing him and the hormones that rushed straight down into him. He felt his body react when Draco made his trousers drop to his knees and his boxers were exposed. Harry was breathing erratically into Draco's mouth, trying to allow his mind a moment to think, but there was no time for thinking or no chance, especially, when Draco decided to do the most pleasurable thing, Harry had ever felt in his life. Draco gracefully dropped to his knees, and turned Harry's small tense world into a sea span of bliss.
0000
Harry found himself curled up on Draco's lap, holding onto the Slytherin, who fingered his black hair affectionately. He had no idea, how long they were in the fitting rooms, but Harry knew it had been longer than ten minutes. He should get up, he ought to move and let the others know that he was alright, but as he lay there in the warmest of arms, he could not get himself to care in the least little bit.
"I should get up." said Harry, lazily.
Draco grinned, and pushed his black hair back so that he could see Harry's smile. "You don't want to though do you?"
"Nope."
"I don't want you to either." he said, brushing his fingers along Harry's cheek.
"Good."
"However-"
"No!" protested Harry, with a pout.
Draco laughed, and ran his finger along Harry's pouty bottom lip, "No, no, listen. I do not know how much longer we can sit in this fitting room on the floor, until someone opens it up."
Harry laughed, and raised his head, up and kissed Draco along the lips, "Wouldn't look good, huh?"
"Not in the slightest." He said, pushing the boy's hair out of the way. "Not to mention, you need that ear pierced." He said, sliding black strands behind Harry's ear.
"Oh, yeah." said Harry, only remembering. "You made me forget." He leaned in and placed quick kisses along Draco's lips, "I want to make you forget."
"Later." Whispered Draco. "I promise." He grinned, "And now - let's sneak our arses out of here, before someone pull's that fitting room curtain and think I'm ravaging you."
"You did though - didn't you?" asked Harry, reluctantly sliding off Draco's lap and standing, with a smile.
Draco looked up at him, from his position on the floor, "I may have-" He said, staring at Harry's lower half. The teen blushed and laughed to himself, before holding out a hand for the blond who accepted. "But, I don't hear you complaining."
"Oh no," said Harry, a devilish smile along his features. Draco came up to him passing his height. "No complaints here."
It was Draco's turn to respond, "Good."
"Now, I have a question for you, how will I be able to walk around with you, without the whole world knowing?"
"Good question! Cherity?"
Harry laughed, "When in doubt, call your elf." he said, as she popped into the fitting room out of nowhere. "What a crowd." mumbled Harry, as Draco smirked.
"You know what they say, the more the merrier."
"Ew!"
Draco laughed and gave his elf instructions, and then Harry scribbled a letter to his friends, Remus and Sirius, saying that he was going off with a friend for a little while. He hoped no one would get mad, or get worried about him. He handed the letter to Cherity.
She then flicked her fingers; Harry felt a strange sensation of hot heat, wrap around his body, and blinked, as he looked at Draco who smirked. "There - Harry Potter is no longer in this fitting room."
"Huh?" Harry turned around and peered into the full length mirror. He gasped, and jumped when he saw his reflection. "Whoa!!" He was staring back at himself - or - was it him? Harry didn't know but his hair was long and pale blonde to his shoulders and his eyes were a dark chocolate brown, his skin was lightly tanned and the most prominent thing missing was his scar. He touched it gently.
Draco shrugged, "I like the real you better, but you need to hide your look. It'll last until I have Cherity remove it."
"I'd like to keep the scar hidden." He said, shrugging. "I could be your cousin." he looked at Draco who scowled.
"I'd rather you not." stated Draco, adjusting the boy's new robes, which were a crimson red with a black raven upon the back. Cherity went to check if the coast was clear.
"I doubt I am."
"No Potter and Malfoy have ever married." Draco informed.
This remark caused it to get quiet; Harry busied his hands needlessly with the hem of his robes. Draco was unconsciously, raking his fingers through the ends of Harry's now, blond hair.
Cherity came back, and told them that the coast was clear, with that, both Harry and Draco manoeuvred themselves from behind the fitting rooms. "I'll order your robes." said Draco; his hand came to rest at the small of Harry's back. "Where do I need to send them?"
Harry shrugged, "I -" He blinked, and tried to tell Draco, several times, but the words failed him. "I -"
"Ah." said Draco, with a firm nod. "I see, secret. I should have expected it."
Harry winced, "I -? That's weird…" said Harry, scratching his head.
Draco smiled, and leaned closer into Harry, "Don't worry, I understand. You can't tell me, you're not the keeper."
Harry smiled, "Thanks, Draco." He said, feeling relief.
He kissed, Harry against the side of the mouth, before they walked out of Madam Malkins and into the brightly lit Diagon alley street. For one moment, Harry tensed, he was afraid people would glance their way, but instead, they just kept right on walking. No eyes flickering over at him, no looks of surprise and no one whispering falsely in his presence. He smiled, and relaxed; "I like this." None of his friend's were in the alley, or at least, out in the open, as far as he could tell. "I hope they don't get mad at me." He said, slightly pessimistic.
"I'm sure, they can go two hours without your presence." murmured Draco, "What do you have left?"
"Everything." He laughed, "I only ever made it to Madam Malkins."
Draco smirked, "Alright then."
Harry found himself, running his fingers through his pale blond hair, and looking at it several times, trying to understand that he was disguised. Draco found it amusing.
They went through the shops one at a time, and collected their school belongings. Everyone in the strip seemed to treat Draco with a sense of respect, especially the shop owners, who were quick on their feet to retrieve anything the Malfoy Heir desired.
That was one thing that the two had in common. He thought to himself, but Draco was used to it, and it didn't bother him like it did Harry. He absolutely hated anyone fawning over him like he was something special, but now - since the Daily Prophet had come out, he was sure, that most of the shop owners, wanted to keep him out. It was never a normal attitude, where Harry was concerned, one or the other.
He was in the stationary shop, refilling his parchment notebooks, ink, and the quills that had been shredded from feather to feather in the year previous. He was picking up a couple things for Hermione's birthday, which was in September, and he doubted he would ever get out to Hogsmeade, to retrieve her gift. He was just picking up the stationary kit when he saw Hermione and Ginny. He winced, and instinctively slipped behind Draco, who arched an eyebrow and leaned around.
"Ah." He gave a smirk, when he saw Hermione and Ginny.
"No, please don't confront them." begged Harry, turning and sliding his arm through Draco's. "Please, if I am going to eventually tell them about you-"
"Sssh!" whispered Draco, with a light laugh. He delicately kissed Harry on the lips, "I'm not going to say a word out of the way to them. I stopped doing that the moment, I saw you crying."
Harry smiled, and kissed him on the cheek, in response. He still stood behind Draco, and casually picked up neon yellow and lime green quills. "Watchya think? My colour?" He teased.
Draco snorted, "Only if you're blind."
Harry playfully pouted, "Oye! They're neat." He said, wiggling the feather at Draco's nose.
Chuckling, Draco shook his head and took the quill, and made a face, "Really like these?"
"Yeah! They're - happy."
"And blinding…" Draco snorted and tossed them in their basket. "Fine, but - please - use with caution."
Laughing Harry unconsciously kissed him on the lips in thanks and then picked up a set of bright pink ones, with a teasing smile, "How about these for you?"
"….." Draco stared at him. "Tell me you're joking-"
Trying to keep a straight face Harry asked, "What if I wasn't?"
Draco shook his head, "If you like these - I'll be concerned."
Harry laughed, "I'm gay, not a girl, not to mention I'm not that insane! I just - thought it'd match your eyes." he teased, tossing them back into the bin. They were really pretty hideous looking, thought Harry, mildly, as he picked up a stack of orange ones for Ron.
Unable to stop smiling, Draco turned his focus on something else. He was trying to stop the annoying glitter that he knew was set in his eyes. Damn, Harry for making him go soft. Especially, in public.
Harry made it to the cash register, before Hermione and Ginny could spot them. The teen was still standing on the opposite side of Draco, trying hard not to be noticed and to conceal himself, when he heard Hermione's voice.
"I wonder where he went off too?" This was Hermione's voice. Harry shuffled closer to Draco, fingering the teen's sleeve, while hiding his face and features.
"How am I to know? He doesn't even notice me." said Ginny, as a matter of fact.
"He's seeing someone." said Hermione, quietly.
"Is he? Who?" asked Ginny incredulous. The two girls had stepped up in line, and Harry was tense next to Draco, who laced his arm around Harry.
"I have no idea. He won't talk."
"How do you know, he's seeing someone then?"
"Last year, he got a letter with a white rose in it, and the other day; Ron and I walked in on him finishing a letter, and he wouldn't tell us who it was too."
"Why not tell you two?"
Hermione paused a moment, "I don't know. He was really amused by it though. Whoever it is - made him utterly happy. I wish we knew." Draco smiled at this, as Harry blushed.
"Ask again?"
"He'll say the same thing. He's stubborn. But, I 'spect Snuffles and Remus know."
Draco looked to Harry, questionably, but the teen was looking away.
"How do you know that?"
"Remus was the one who calmed your mum down about Harry running off."
"Oh, yeah, right." said Ginny in a voice of understanding.
Draco took the change from the man at the register, and Harry ducked his head, and raced out of the shop, Draco following behind.
"Whose Snuffles?" asked Draco, when they were standing in the bustling crowd of Diagon Alley. "And, since when did you tell anyone about us?"
Harry winced, and looked up at him, "I thought, it was best I tell someone, get them on my side. Remus was the best person."
"Snuffles?" asked Draco suspiciously.
Harry looked at him for a moment, as if thinking of what to say; he looked around him at all the passerbyers. "Can we go somewhere and talk quietly about this? I can't say this out loud."
Draco nodded, his arm still around Harry, he lead them to the Leaky Cauldron and then to a private booth where he had Cherity silence the booth. Harry slipped in to the edge, Draco next to him. Shifting, he placed his back against the wall, and knee up, and began to chew on the back of his nail, until Draco took it away.
"Snuffles is code name for Sirius Black." whispered Harry, his heart hammering.
Draco blinked, he hadn't expected that. "Really?"
"He's my godfather, and he's innocent."
"I knew he was your godfather. Mum talked about him a bit, not much, mind you."
"I know, you're related to him." said Harry quietly.
Draco shifted, to face Harry, "I won't say anything. Looks are deceiving."
"You - don't want to ask how I know?" asked Harry surprised.
"I trust you Harry. Do you want to tell me?"
Harry shrugged, "I don't know how." He admitted, touching his left forearm unconsciously.
"Harry, are you saying that because you can't fully trust me?"
Harry jerked up, and looked at Draco, who was serious. "No!" He exclaimed, "No, no! Seriously, Draco, there's so many pieces. Those pieces, I have yet to understand fully."
"What can you tell me?"
"Peter Pettigrew." said Harry, quietly. He knew that the booth was silenced, but he was still wary. He looked down at his knee, and scratched it for no reason. "He's alive."
Draco's eyebrows went up, "Really?"
"Hmm, he was my mother and father's secret keeper - Sirius and my and my dad changed it at the last moment. Sirius means a lot to me Draco. He's the closest I have."
Draco smirked, "You don't have to tell me that." he stated firmly. "I already know that. The look in your - would be green eyes - tell me so."
Harry smiled, and picked at Draco's sleeve, "I told them - I thought it was best that I tell someone. I decided to try it on them first."
"How'd they take it?"
"Good, actually. Remus asked if I was serious; Sirius was crowing and cheering about a scandal and in the end the both said they trusted my judgement."
"Well, then - the last thing I have to say to this discussion," said Draco with a tilt of his head, "Is, I am very happy that I make you happy."
The Gryffindor grinned ever so widely, leaned up and gave Draco a butterfly kiss, "You have no idea."
They were about an inch from one another, when Draco said, "I believe, it's time we get that ear pierced." he said, brushing his finger's against Harry's ear, making him laugh and bring his shoulder up.
"Ack."
Draco laughed, let go, and then slid out of the booth, Harry followed.
Harry bit his lower lip, when he was dragged into the shop just adjacent from Knockturn Alley. It was a piercing and magical tattoo shop. Harry's eyes flashed on all the art that moved along the white walls. They were pretty, but he didn't really want one. The ring was about all he would go for, at the moment.
"I thought about the serpent." he told Harry, pointing to the wall. "Not that colour of course." He said, eyeing the black coiling serpent with bright yellow eyes. "I thought more along the lines of blood red and black."
Harry looked at Draco, assessing him and then back at the wall. It would suit him. He thought to himself. "Where at?"
"Probably, coiled around my upper arm."
"Don't get it on your chest." said Harry, softly. "I like it the way it is."
Smirking Draco leaned into Harry, the two were very close into each other's personal space. Harry enjoyed the intrusion, it was nice. "Now, enough about me, we're here for you."
They got to the earrings; they were simple muggle like earrings, nothing different to them, except a phoenix for one, a Griffin for another, and even a dangling spider. Harry could imagine the look on Ron's face at that. In the end, he went with the obvious choice; the phoenix, however, he did pick up a few others, like a snake, a skull, several crosses with styles, and even just a plain diamond. He was sure; he'd get tired of the phoenix after a while.
They left the shop, and Harry was touching his ear. It didn't hurt a bit, not even a twinge of pain. He could feel the dangling jewel. "This is going to take some time getting used too."
"Don't mess with it too much, don't want it to get infected." insisted Draco, keeping Harry's hair behind his ear, so that the earring was exposed. "I want your hair back black."
Harry smiled, and leaned into Draco, wrist curling around his forearm. "Do we have everything?" asked Harry, looking up.
"Er - I believe so. We need to swing back by for your robes, but otherwise - we're done."
"Darn." said Harry, childishly. "Time is it?"
"After three."
"Hmm… we've been at this for three hours." said Harry, cheerfully. Personally, it was the three most fun hours, of Harry's entire life. He could not tell you how many times he frowned; for the smile on his face had remained, never faulting or breaking.
It was nice, to feel such happiness.
A.N. Hello! waves My updates may not be as swift as they used to be, because of school and I have other fics in the works, which I have no idea, if they'll ever be posted, but, I'd like to think once they're good they could be. shrugs I dunno. I kept sexually explicit scenes out of this, just in case someone decides to hit the old, 'report' button. :P I'm not taking chances. Thank you to all the reviewers. :)