Thanks to reviewers:-
driven to insanity – calm yourself, I only wrote chapter 18 today, it's taken a while though
TanisaFyre – thank you v. much – I love being called talented
Yana5 – lol , sev rocks
silverblueeyes – thanks, I know the last chapter wasn't the best but...there you go
Lady.of.the.stars1 – lol well your feeling was right – and about the movie, they changed loads, like since wen where harry and co. havin wot looks like a wizards piss up on the 1st day of term?
Yuki Kurai – thank you, I too am glad you found this fic
Andromeda Summer – lol poor poor sev, and, sure, tickling is fun, unless your incredibly ticklish like me so all your friends tickle you
Sen-Tay – loving the word dudieo – well done on that
TheForbiddenChild22 – they weren't actually doing anything – they were just naked and harry was on top of draco..innocent really
SpazMcG7 – no sev yelling – sowwie
theboxthatalwaysrox – thanks, the pumpkins rock and draco's always cuddly
ura – more kissing and snuggling on the way
Amy – I know, I'll stop one day
Reese Craven – aww thank you
Marie Falcon – I know they got together a little fast but...I bent reality. Also all the stuff about harrys relationships and dracos london friends will all come in later chapters
WARNING:- Character death in this chapter
19. Death of a Salesman
"Push it Harry."
"I am."
"Oh, right. Little further, little further, little further-"
"Dray, it's only gonna go so far."
"Well, it can go a little further I'm sure."
"It's alright for you, but this is really hurting me."
"You're such a wimp. No, wait, back a bit."
"I told you you didn't want it that far."
"Oh shut up."
Harry stood up and rubbed the small of his back. "You want to move that bloody TV any more you do it yourself."
Draco rolled his eyes from his seat on the sofa. "But you're so much stronger than me." He raised his eyebrows suggestively and blew Harry a kiss.
Harry grinned and flopped on the sofa next to Draco, pulling the blond into his arms. "You're just a lazy git."
Draco smiled languidly as Harry wrapped his arms around his chest. "Probably."
The living room door opened and Severus walked in, carrying a bowl of popcorn and a few cans of coke.
"I brought these for you," he explained, placing them on the table.
"Thank you," replied Harry politely.
"Yea, thanks Uncle Sev. You wanna sit and watch with us?"
"What are you watching?"
"Silence of the Lambs," answered Draco, grinning.
Severus shuddered. "No thanks, can't be dealing with that."
A phone could be heard ringing in the kitchen.
"I'll go get that. Enjoy your film."
The tall, dark haired man left the room and Draco kissed Harry's chin.
"See, he's not that bad."
"I'll admit he's an okay guy, but I still have a fear of teachers."
"What about Mr Lupin?"
"Remus isn't my teacher."
"Hmm."
They settled down to watch the film, but had only got as far as the opening titles when Severus called Draco into the kitchen. Usually Draco would've ignored this, but there was something in Severus' voice that sounded so urgent that he got himself up off the sofa and went into the kitchen.
"Yea?"
Severus sat at the table looking incredibly sombre. "I think you should sit down Draco."
Draco sat at the table. "What's going on?"
"That was Marie on the phone."
Marie was Draco's parents and his old housekeeper.
"Oh?"
"Draco, your father has had a heart attack."
"What? But he was fine when I last spoke to him. I – he – is he okay?"
But by the look on his uncle's face, Draco already knew the answer.
"He died Draco."
There was a rushing in Draco's ears and Severus' voice was muffled to him. He was suddenly very cold, very unsure of himself. His stomach churned and he felt hot spit in his mouth.
"No, no, no, no. He can't be. He's too young. He's only forty-three."
"These things happen," Severus said softly. "He was awake for a while before he.... He told your mother how much he loved her. And how much he loved you, and how he wanted you to know that he loved you more than anything."
Draco was now shaking his head, barely listening to Severus. The coldness was surrounding him; he could almost feel his insides becoming ice. Suddenly, he stood up and ran up the stairs, taking two at a time, dashing into his room and slamming the door behind him.
Severus snapped his head up as he heard someone enter the kitchen, thinking that Draco had come back, but instead if a blond in the doorway, Harry stood nervously, biting his thumbnail.
"Hello Harry," said Severus, in a world-weary voice.
"Hi." Harry shuffled his feet. "I just wondered...what's going on? I mean...I heard Draco run upstairs but..."
"His father had a heart attack."
"Oh my god," gasped Harry. "Is he okay?"
"No."
"Oh. Are you okay?"
Severus smiled at Harry's concern for him. "I'll be just fine."
"Can I go up and see Draco?"
"Of course."
Harry turned and jogged up the stairs, going straight into Draco's room. The blond was sat on the bed, his pale skin now a shocking ivory, his hair hanging over his face, his eyes fixed ahead.
"Dray?"
When he got no reply, Harry ventured further into the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Your uncle told me what happened."
"Come to gloat then?" sneered Draco, his voice cold.
"What? Why would I want to gloat? I came to see if you needed someone."
"Yea, thanks, but I'd rather you just go."
Harry frowned, confused and hurt. He stepped closer to the bed. "Dray-"
Draco stood up, his face furious. "Look, you can come and tell me how sorry you are and how it's all gonna be okay, but it'd be better if you save us both some time and just don't."
Harry shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere."
Draco growled deep in his throat, glaring at Harry. "Why the fuck not?"
"Because your dad has just died and you're obviously going through hell."
"No! That's where you're wrong. No hell."
"Draco-"
"Get out!" yelled Draco.
"No."
"Get out or I'll make you."
"I'm staying here."
Growling again, Draco pulled his fist back and punched Harry in the jaw. Hard. Harry swayed slightly on his feet but remained standing.
"Hit me all you like Dray, but I'm not going anywhere."
Fighting back tears, Draco hit Harry again in the eye, still not knocking down the dark haired boy.
Again and again Draco hit the other boy, yelling as he did so, biting his teeth together, preventing the tears from falling.
Again and again Harry stood and let Draco hit him, not feeling any pain, just wanting to help the blond in any way he could.
As Draco pummelled Harry, the tears began to fall, the liquid hot against his face. Suddenly, it was as if he'd lost all his strength and energy and he crumpled to the floor, his shoulders shaking with sobs.
Collapsing to the floor as well, Harry crawled over to the Draco and wrapped his arms around the blond.
Draco fell into the raven-haired boy's arms, now crying uncontrollably. "Oh god, Harry."
"Ssh baby," soothed Harry, stroking Draco's back.
Draco raised his head, looking at Harry's bruised and bloodied face. "Oh god. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
"It's okay."
Draco shook his head and kissed Harry's face, all the cuts and marks he had caused. "No. It's not."
"Dray, you're very upset. I don't care. I can't feel anything."
Relaxing into Harry's arms, Draco took a few deep breaths. "I just can't believe he's gone."
"I know."
"We never got on. And then Sev said that before he died he wanted someone to tell me how much he loved me, and to know that he loved me more than anything."
"Hmm."
"But I only ever told him I hated him and I was ungrateful and selfish. And now I'll never get to tell him I love him so much."
"He knows." Harry lay back on the floor and let Draco lay his head on his stomach. "Wherever he is, he knows that you love him."
"How do you know that?"
Harry shrugged. "Just do."
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