Ok.. has anyone else been having trouble with the FF website?! I can't reply to reviews and sometimes I can't even log in -_-

lol just wondering ^_^

Chapter Twenty One

Harry's POV

Harry felt the horrible sickening feeling as he Disapparated with Lucius, one hand holding onto the man's wide bicep for support, the other grasping his trunk.

Lucius had surprised Harry a great deal in saying that they were going on holiday; Harry had never been away with anyone before, especially abroad, and he found it odd that his first holiday would be with Lucius Malfoy.

The man hadn't told Harry where they were going, he just said "out of the country". Harry didn't know what to expect seeing as he'd never seen another country properly before, but he knew Lucius would want to impress him.

So, when they came to a halt from the twisting, dizzying sensation, Harry felt like he should have anticipated the white sands that were beneath his feet and the turquoise sea in his eyeline.

"Woah," breathed Harry looking around. He felt the warm air from the setting sun caress his skin along with the sea breeze that was ruffling his hair.

"Where-?"

"An island just off Barbados," said Lucius smugly. "I have a holiday home here."

Harry didn't reply; he was trying to absorb every detail of the beach he could and he felt annoyed at himself for blinking as it stole away precious time.

"Shall we?" said Lucius, his voice reminding Harry he had other senses than just sight.

Harry heard the man's voice but his legs didn't want to move.

Malfoy sighed and, placing his hand on the small of Harry's back, guided him across the beach.

Harry was looking around so much he missed the cottage they were walking towards. However, when Lucius stopped walking and grabbed Harry by the collar to stop him from walking into the house, Harry stopped his gazing and looked in front him.

There was a beautiful little cottage with white stone walls. It was under a cliff and just off the sand with a perfect view of the ocean.

He looked at the cottage, then back at Lucius, then at the cottage again.

"What?" asked Lucius looking slightly confused.

"It's not very... you," said Harry quietly with a small smile.

"How so?"

"Well, you live in a mansion and like the finer things in life. This," he gestured towards the cottage, "seems a bit too... small."

"Can't a man take a break from his life?" Lucius snapped.

"Why would you want a break? You're life must be perfect; a well paid job, an amazing house, a family..." Harry trailed off and, with a guilty lurch, thought of Narcissa.

However, Lucius either didn't think of Narcissa as family, or didn't say anything just to spare Harry's feelings.

"True, I have Draco and I have a lot of money," even now Harry could still hear the pride in his tone, "but it's such a strain keeping up the reputation of a powerful, well-thought-of wizard as well as a supposed loyal Death Eater. With you I can escape that, just like this island."

Harry didn't know what to say. He never knew this was how Lucius Malfoy felt; the man did an awfully good job of hiding it.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise..."

"It's nothing," said Lucius shrugging it away. "Let me show you the inside."

He walked to the front door, unlocked the enchantments and opened the small wooden door.

Obeying Lucius' gesture, Harry walked in and stared at the cosy living room to the left which was glowing a soft orange colour from the sunset outside, to the right was a basic kitchen and separating the two rooms was a flight of stairs.

The living room walls were made of brick and the floor was made up of dark wooden planks with a big deep-red carpet covering most of it. There was only one sofa which was brown leather facing the open fireplace.

The kitchen was very simple: white walls, a fridge, a cooker and stove, some surfaces, a sink and a round oak table.

Realising he must have been standing still, gazing gormlessly around the house, Harry shook his head and looked at Lucius who was staring at him.

"Well?"

"It's...cosy," said Harry smiling.

"I suppose it is," Lucius said looking around. "I hardly ever come here now."

"Why?"

"I... I don't have a reason. I used to come here with Draco when he was a child. Narcissa never came; probably staying at home to please all the men she could while I was away," he said bitterly.

Lucius must have realised how uncomfortable Harry felt because he changed the subject.

"Let me take your trunk upstairs. You look around."

Lucius grabbed Harry's trunk and heaved it up the stairs leaving Harry to marvel in the glorious simplicity of the little house.

Lucius' POV

As Lucius hauled Harry's trunk up the stairs he tried to prevent his tears from falling. Finally he reached the top of the stairs and pulled the case into his room. There he perched on his bed and let his tears drop.

His life was so messed up. Did his life really seem that grand to Harry? Then again, Harry would probably prefer anyone's life other than his own.

The thing that had caused him to cry was this house. He hadn't been here in a while, the last time was with Draco just before he'd gone to Hogwarts... before he'd been unveiled to the true Dark Arts... before he'd grown so cold... But Lucius couldn't help but love his heir, even though Draco only loved Lucius through the blood ties.

That was why Harry was so important to him. That black-haired boy was the answer to Lucius' muddled up life.

Lucius hoisted himself up and left for downstairs.

There he saw Harry kneeling by the fireplace examining some of the Latin words that were engraved there.

After a creak on the stairs, the boy whipped around to face Lucius.

"This place is also rather old, as you may have gathered," said Lucius smirking.

"Pretereo Animadverto = Libertas..." muttered Harry, struggling to read the words correctly. "What do they mean?" he asked, fingering the carvings.

"Escape from reality is freedom," Lucius said slightly arrogantly. "Would you like to take a walk?"

"Yeah!" said Harry enthusiastically, jumping to his feet.

Lucius smiled to himself. He was going to show Harry his favourite place.

"After you, then, Mr Potter," said Lucius holding the old door open. He followed Harry out, ducking under the door frame as it was too small.

The evening was cooler now and the sea breeze was cold and bitter.

"You're not too cold are you?" asked Lucius as he locked up.

"No, I like it," said Harry slowly. "I've never felt anything like it."

"Come, I want to show you something." Lucius wrapped his arm around Harry's slender waist and made their way towards the sea.

"Ah, we're in luck; the tide's out," Lucius murmured. "You won't object to a bit of climbing, I hope?"

"No, where are we going?" Harry asked eagerly.

"You'll see. Follow me."

Lucius led the way, over the rocks and pebbles towards the side of a cliff where a beautiful little cave resided.

The boy didn't need any assistance even though Lucius offered to help him across the slippery rocks.

Eventually, after a few grazes and splashes, they reached the cave.

There was a gap between the rock and the cave which Lucius could make easily with his long legs but for Harry it was a different matter.

"Not so independent now, are we?" Lucius asked slyly.

Harry scowled.

"Trust yourself, jump and I'll catch you," Lucius reassured.

"Okay..." Harry mumbled uncertainly. He took a small run up and leaped – very gracefully, Lucius noticed – and landed straight into Lucius' awaiting arms.

"Well done, Potter," chuckled Lucius.

"Haha," said Harry bitterly.

He pulled away and stared around at the cavernous grotto with wide eyes.

"Quite something, isn't it?" Lucius whispered, hugging Harry from behind.

"Yeah," he croaked.

"Sit down with me," Lucius said, letting go of Harry and sitting on the – surprisingly – dry floor.

Harry sat next to Lucius and they both stared out at the crashing sea and the moon that was now in the sky.

"It's... beautiful," said Harry softly.

Lucius looked at Harry's stunned profile and couldn't resist.

He grabbed Harry from behind and pulled Harry to rest on him, tilting his head up to kiss the soft lips.

For those moments where he and Harry were connected, nothing else existed. Not the crashing of the waves, not the moon in the sky and not the world outside of this paradise.

Yeah... a bit cliche... but ah well ^_^