CHAPTER TEN

Disclaimer: Neither the characters or locations are mine; they belong to J. K. Rowling and various affiliated companies. No plagiarism or copyright infringement is intended. All characters will be returned safe and sound with smiles on their faces and food in their bellies. :D

A/N: Poor Draco. Outcast, into the cold...but now he's in a nice warm pub. Bad things cannot happen there, can they?

Five beers later Draco was feeling much happier. He even foundd himself agreeing to go for pizza with the guy who had been buying him beer all night as he downed number six. But as he was slammed into a wall, a greasy boozy mouth pressed against his he knew something was wrong.

'N-no...shtop...' he slurred,

Laughter rang in his ears.

'You can't tease like you do.' a voice growled.

Draco cried out in pain before giving up an embracing the darkness swooping up on him.

--

Draco awoke slowly, painfully. He pulled on what remained of his clothes and limped back to the only place he knew. Slumped on Harry's porch he waited for morning. He'd decided to move to Italy. Blaise was there, he'd take him in. Everything would work out. Hell, maybe I'll even meet one of those cute Italian boys Blaise is always carrying on about in his letters, he thought wryly. His next coherent thought was that whoever was shaking him better bloody stop it if they knew what was good for them. He groaned and opened his eyes to see Harry staring at him with...concern? No, pity. It had to be pity. Draco stood, wobbling just a little.

'I just came to get my things.' he said as though he looked perfectly normal.

Harry followed him inside.

'Malfoy...what...what happened to you?'

Draco winced as he smelt beer. He could still feel that guy... Tears sprang to his eyes.

'You're getting your wish Potter. I'm leaving. Moving to Italy, in fact.' he said.

Harry flinched to realize he was back to "Potter", and that he had liked being "Harry".

'You'll burn.' was all he could think of to say.

'No. I'll tan and I'll dye my hair and Draco Malfoy will never have existed. Not in Italy, anyway.'

Harry made a strangled sort of sound. Beg him to stay with you, his subconscious cried.

'Draco, I...'

Draco pushed past him.

'I...'

The words wouldn't come. The door was opening and...

'Iwantyoutostay!' Harry cried in one breath.

Draco paused.

'No you don't.'

'I do...do you want to know why I kicked...uh...er...oh, I never got his fucking name. Who am I kidding? I kicked him out because he started to insult you and I got mad. I...I want us to be friends.'

And more, his subconscious whispered.

Just friends? Draco thought forlornly. He turned and smiled weakly.

'I would like that.' he whispered before passing out again.

--

He awoke to find his godfather staring at him with the peculiar mix of affection and aloofness he always had, only now concern was thrown into the mix.

'What happened?' Draco whispered.

'I think we should be asking you that.'

Draco shook his head, not wanting to relive it. Snape sighed.

'Severus...I...I would like to not sleep for a day or two...'

'Your body needs time to recover.'

'At the expense of my mind? Please, just a day or two.'

'Very well,' Snape sighed. 'I will make the potions. But you are not to do anything strenuous during the day. I'm sure Po- Harry here will see that you don't.'

Draco looked at Harry and grinned weakly. So he was staying then, at least for a couple of days. And then...who knew?

'Harry, would you mind giving me a moment with Draco?'

Harry nodded and left the room.

'Do you think it...prudent to stay here?'

'I do.'

'Your history indicates-'

'We've put all that aside. We're going to be friends.'

'Just friends?'

'That's all it can be...all he wants...'

Severus heard the sharp intake of breath that indicated Harry had been listening on the other side of the door. Silly boys, he thought.

--

Draco sat having a staring contest with the orange potion that would keep him awake. He was so tired, but every time he closed his eyes he could feel the guy pushing at him...in him. He knew Harry's eyes were on him, concerned. Draco hadn't told him what happeneed...he didn't know if he could. Harry had barely left Draco's side all day, so great was his concern. He hadn't even considered finding someone to share his bed, for the first time in a long time. And he was surprised at the next set of words out of his mouth.

'I'll stay up with you...well, as long as I can. If you want, that is.'

Draco's eyes widened in surprise.

'Ah, Saint Potter has returned.' he said, grinning cheekily.

'Don't call me that. Only call me Harry.'

Draco apologized softly, downing a potion.

'Well...' he said.

'Yes.' Harry responded.

'I...suppose, if you are going to stay up I should probably tell you what happened.'

'Only if you want to.' Harry whispered, all of a sudden unsure if he wanted to hear it.

Draco didn't particularly want to...but Harry had been so patient, missing work and staying home with him. He obviously was genuine about developing a friendship. Or something more, his traitorous subconscious whispered. Draco took a shaky breath.

'I suppose I asked for it really.' he whispered, looking at anything but Harry. 'I mean...I was just so... Everyone knows you shouldn't lead people on like that. It's asking for trouble.'

Harry realized what had happened even though Draco never actually said it. He wanted desperately to hold the trembling boy tightly but instead placed a hand on his shoulder. Grey eyes locked with his own.

'Every time I close my eyes I can see him, hear him, smell him, taste him...feel him.'

Harry watched, astounded, as tears fell from Draco's eyes. He felt he should do something...but didn't know the appropriate response. What would you do if it were anyone else? he asked himself, knowing full well that he would normally lie and tell them everything would be ok. But he didn't want to lie to Draco. So what? It was rare times like this he missed the expectations; at least then he always knew what to do. He sighed, squeezing Draco's hand in what he hoped was a comforting manner.

'It wasn't your fault.' he whispered.

'I led him on.'

'Perhaps. But did you ask him to stop?'

Draco nodded slowly.

'Well, then it's his fault for not listening.'

Harry smiled softly as Draco wiped his eyes, mumbling an apology forr having broken down.

'Well...now what? We have the whole night ahead of us.' Harry said.

Draco shrugged.

'You know...you don't have to...' he whispered.

'But I want to.' Harry responded firmly.

Draco shivered a little before reminding himself not to read too much into things. He just wants to be friends. Draco sighed, not knowing what to do.

'I know.' Harry said cheerfully.

'What?'

Draco watched as Harry put on a muggle movie, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". Draco grinned inwardly; it was one of his favorites...and you had to admit that Tim Curry was rather fetching for a man in lingerie. Draco was surprised to find himself singing along with Harry as the movie progressed. Harry was surprised at the melodic tones of Draco's voice. By the end of "Hot Patootie" Harry's head had dropped to Draco's shoulder. Draco tensed but realized that Harry had merely fallen asleep. He still didn't want to move just in case it woke him; he found Harry's proximity, his touch, soothing. They stayed like that all night Draco didn't even move when Harry's arm slung across his waist. The ache he felt that this wasn;t real tormented him, but for now he relished the touch.

--

Harry awoke slowly, strangely comforted by whatever it was he was pressed against. He drummed his fingers against what he discovered was a hip bone and hears a sharp intake of breath. Shit, Draco. Hopefully I wasn't like this all night, he thought. I can't have been...he wouldn't have let me. He extricated himself from Draco's grasp, grinning sheepishly.

'I...sorry...I guess I fell asleep.'

'S'ok.' Draco muttered, not wanting to meet his eyes.

Draco tried to stretch but his neck had seized up from being in the same position all night and he couldn't stop from crying out. Harry responded unthinkingly, kneading the sore muscles with his fingers.

'Didn't you move all night?' he asked softly.

The silence gave Harry his answer.

'Why?'

'I didn't want to wake you...'

Harry swallowed heavily as Draco moaned involuntarily, the tension relieved. Harry loved the sound...wanted to hear it over and over again. He then admonished himself and headed for the kitchen.

'Hungry?' he asked.

'Mm...yeah...' Draco responded softly.

Stupid stupid stupid! Harry's brain screamed at him. He stood in front of the fridge wondering when all the booze had been replaced with food. Draco stood silently in the doorway, wanting so much to go up to Harry and take him in his arms. What's stopping you? his subconscious asked. He growled at it and, since Harry turned questioning eyes to him, realized he had done it aloud.

'Er...pain...neck...uh, yeah.' Draco muttered, distracted by Harry's eyes.

Knowing that it would most likely be a mistake but not really caring, Harry indicated for Draco to sit at the kitchen table. He rubbed Draco's neck gently, still confused about why Draco Malfoy would remain in the same position for hours just so he wouldn't wake him. Suddenly Harry realized his lips were trailing Draco's neck. He stopped and looked at Draco, and then their lips pressed together violently. Harry was shocked by the longing in Draco's kiss and pulled away, a horrified expression on his face.

'Merlin...how could I?' he whispered before fleeing.

As Draco heard the front door slam he realized he had never before felt such agony or bewilderment...nor had he known they could be felt together.