Thank you so much for your kind reviews for the last chapter!

Chapter 11 for you all ^^

"Fuck!" Harry swore as he raced out behind the blond. Draco was walking faster now, clearly intending to put as much distance between them as possible. Harry winced as his cheek throbbed. Fuck, the little chit had an arm on him! He hadn't meant to get so carried away. Draco had just looked so damn pretty, and it was dark and… damn it! Now he had a furious fiancé on his hands, running headfirst into god knows what and it was pretty much his fault. He had to stop him before he got himself into any trouble.

"Draco! Damn it, wait up!"

The blond stiffened for a second and then took off running. Harry groaned and gave chase, catching up easily. He grabbed hold of Draco and twisted him around, wrapping his arms around him at once. "It seems all I do these days is chase you down," he quipped dryly.

"Let me go!" Draco snarled, struggling furiously. "You obnoxious, arrogant bastard! Leave me alone!" He managed to throw Harry off and pushed him away, glaring daggers at him. Harry winced as he noted the wetness of his eyes and the slight tremble of his frame. Damn, he really was a bastard. Belatedly, he took a step towards Draco, hoping to offer some form of comfort but the blond was implacable.

"I have a wand this time, Potter!" he snarled, backing away defensively. "I will hex you if you touch me, I mean it!"

"We can't do magic in front of muggles, remember?" Harry said reasonably.

"Didn't stop you, did it?" Draco howled, pushing at him again. Harry grabbed hold of his wrist, keeping a gentle but firm hold on his fuming fiancé.

"I'm sorry," he said, striving for sincerity. Honestly, he was not sorry at all. Draco had looked bloody gorgeous arching in his hands and Harry would do it again in a heartbeat. However, that was not what Draco needed to hear right now. "I got carried away," he attempted . "I did, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have… well…"

"Molested me in public?" Draco contributed shrilly. "Groped me in a room full of strangers? Completely mortified me?!"

"Well when you put it like that, it just sounds mean."

Draco snarled and stomped away, prompting Harry to chase him down again. He pulled the blond back. "At least let me take you home," he pleaded. It was close to begging, but he supposed he deserved to grovel a bit. Besides, there was no way he could let Draco loose on the general public in his current state of mind.

The blond glowered in silence for a few minutes. "Diagon Alley," he snapped finally. "You take me to Diagon Alley and then we're going our separate ways. This farce is over, do you understand?"

"Can't we just…" Harry began, trailing off at Draco's death glare. "Fine," he relented. "Diagon Alley and I'll leave you alone, okay?"

"Fine," Draco muttered, starting to walk away. Harry joined him and they walked in awkward silence. Draco stalked down the street like an angry cat and Harry despaired. There would be no talking to him like this. Maybe he could call in a few days and smooth things over. But somehow he doubted it.

They reached the Alley's entrance way too soon for Harry.

"You know the drill, Potter," Draco said, stepping aside. Harry sighed and tapped at the three bricks reluctantly, revealing the entrance. Draco walked in without a word and Harry followed.

The place was deserted, save for a few dim lights in the windows. The Leaky Cauldron was still open, no surprise there. Harry shuffled awkwardly, wondering what he could say to make this better. Only one thing seemed to come to mind. "For what it's worth, I really am sorry."

Draco sighed and rubbed his eyes wearily. "Potter, I…"

"There they are! That's them!"

Harry whirled around in alarm and drew his wand on instinct, vaguely aware that Draco was doing the same. His eyes widened as a crowd came out of nowhere, virtually descending on them. Draco gasped and grabbed hold of his arm. Harry pulled him closer without thinking.

Thudding footsteps rattled across the alley as people rushed in from every corner, converging at a single point towards them. People with notepads and cameras.

"Fuck," Harry cursed. "Papparazzi."

"How did they…" Draco began.

"I don't know. Word must have gotten out," Harry growled. "We should…"

His voice was immediately drowned out as the crowd surrounded them. For a second, he was overwhelmed by the sheer number of faces around them and then the questions started pouring out.

"Mr Potter! A quote for the Magical Inquirer!"

"What is your relationship with Mr Malfoy?"

"Is it true that you're eloping?"

"Mr Malfoy, over here!"

"Get a picture of them, damn it!"

"Mr Potter, are you aware that Draco Malfoy is a Death Eater?" That one was Rita Skeeter. She grinned gleefully at them, wearing robes of the most sickening shade of purple and holding her Quick Notes Quill aloft like a weapon.

"I am not!" Draco snarled, pointing his wand at her. Harry snatched it up at once before he did something he'd regret later. "Don't let her get to you," he muttered. Draco sneered but said nothing. Around them, the questions kept on coming.

"Mr Malfoy, is Harry Potter your mystery fiancé? Do you have anything to say to our readers?"

"Can you give us a quote?"

"Will someone take a damn picture!"

"We have to get out of here," Draco blurted. He was starting to feel suffocated and the press of bodies all around them was making him frantic. Harry was a rock solid presence next to him and Draco latched to him for comfort. Harry nodded firmly. "Start moving," he ordered. "Don't answer any questions. Don't even say 'No comment'. Just keep walking."

"But…"

"I'm right here. I won't leave you, I promise."

Draco nodded and obeyed. The crowd thrummed around him, bellowing questions and clicking pictures. The flashes stung his eyes but he focused himself on Harry's hand on the small of his back, guiding him gently but firmly. They managed to swamp their way over to the Leaky Cauldron.

"Inside. Now," Harry ordered, pushing him through and following at once. He had the good sense to lock the door behind him, but that would only give them a few minutes at most. The reporters were already banging frantically.

"We need to get out of here," Harry announced, as he barged up the stairs to the first floor.

"The Manor?" Draco offered. Harry shook his head. "That's the first place they'll look. My guess is your house is surrounded. My flat too. We'll be stranded for days. Where does Zabini live?"

"Our place or with whoever he's shagging," Draco answered. Harry swore and smacked his forehead. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"

"What about your friends?" Draco demanded.

"Ginny's out for the night and she doesn't have a Floo anyway. Ron and Hermione are out of the country. That leaves…" He went over a mental list before coming up with something. "Come on!" he ordered, taking Draco's hand. Draco followed him at once, running to keep up. The doors were open again and he could see the crowd pushing its way in. All he could hear was the thundering of footsteps and frantic yelling - it was chaos.

"Hurry!" he shouted.

"Incendio!" Harry shouted at the fireplace. It flared to life instantly. Frantically, he pulled out a bag of Floo powder from his pocket.

"You carry that around with you?" Draco demanded, flabbergasted. The reporters were running up the stairs now. He could hear them…

"I like to be prepared!" Harry belted back. "Now come on! We don't have much time!" He threw the powder in the flames and they turned a fiery green.

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" he bellowed, herding Draco towards the fire.

"We're going to make it," Draco cried. "We're actually … wait. Hogwarts?!"

"Go!" Harry howled, pushing him through.

Draco Malfoy was not amused. This was the second time in so many weeks that he had been kidnapped by his barking mad fiancé and it was starting to tell on his health. If he had bags under his eyes after this debacle, Potter was going to suffer.

At least McGonagall had been helpful. Say what you liked about the Hogwarts Headmistress, she was good in a crisis. Save for the odd twitch, she had been absolutely calm during Harry's brief retelling of their situation. She had then proceeded to congratulate them - much to Draco's annoyance - and informed them that as long as there was no trouble or mayhem of any sort (that particular warning had been delivered rather sternly to a sheepish looking Harry while Draco snickered), they were welcome to stay as long as they liked.

He sighed and threw himself on the four poster bed, noting with a grimace that it was clearly meant for two. McGonagall had graciously shifted them into a room at the first possible moment. A single room - clearly meant to be shared by a couple. He hadn't even known such rooms existed in Hogwarts. Personally Draco would have preferred a spot on the floor in the Great Hall to rooming with Potter, but he was in no mood for more scenes. Potter would probably drag him back anyway. He would just have to make the best of it.

All these thoughts of Potter were making him rather cranky. Since the git was not present to rail at - having chosen to drown himself in the shower - Draco had to make do with muttering to himself.

"Hogwarts," he muttered resentfully. "Of all the half arsed, hare brained, ridiculous things to say…"

"I panicked. And I didn't see you come up with any bright ideas."

Draco squeaked in alarm, then groaned and buried his head in a pillow. "One of these days I'm going to manage ten minutes without you sneaking up on me," he announced.

Potter chuckled. "Keep telling yourself that."

Draco turned around, readying himself for another round of bickering. Whatever he was going to say - and he was sure it had been something appropriately witty and scathing - was promptly forgotten as he took in the sight of Potter. The man had emerged from the shower, dripping wet and with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Potter seemed oblivious to his state of undress. He just walked around the room, all tanned skin and lean limbs and toned muscles. Draco's mouth promptly went dry and his mind drew a complete blank. Potter had done some dastardly things in the past but this was just unsportsmanlike behaviour. What was he thinking? Did he plan to walk around like this when they were married? Perhaps he'd discard the towel altogether and… and now he was voluntarily thinking about marriage to Potter. Fantasizing, as it turned out. Draco fought the urge to jump out the nearest window.

Potter's lips moved and belatedly, Draco realized that he must have said something.

"What?" he blurted.

"I said we'll probably be here for a day or two," Potter repeated, rummaging around for the shirt he had discarded. He spotted it and bent down to retrieve it. If he heard Draco's sharp intake of breath, he ignored and blithely transfigured the shirt it into a pair of black pyjama bottoms. "Eventually, they'll get bored and go away. We can transfigure some clothes and stuff in the morning. Oh, and I already owled your father and explained everything."

"Lovely," Draco sneered, smothering himself with the pillow again. "It's a dream come true." He heard Potter sigh and there was a rustle of cloth as the man approached him. Draco stiffened when he felt a hand press down on his arm, pushing him on his back. He yielded reluctantly, glaring distrustfully at the man looming above him. Potter hovered uncertainly and stillundressed, damn it to hell. He was wearing the pyjama bottoms, and Draco tried very hard not to let his gaze linger on the broad shoulders and chest inches from him.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry about this," Potter said, sounding suspiciously sincere.

"I'm sorry too. Sorry you were born," Draco retorted pettily.

Potter rubbed his temples with his free hand and sat down next to him. "Can you stop fighting me for just a minute?"

"No!" Draco snapped, curling up defensively at once. He shook Potter's hand off and glared blearily at him. Mercifully, Potter let him go. "Why not?" he asked reasonably.

"Because you're confusing me!" Draco burst out. "You came out of nowhere and you messed up everything and I don't know why you're doing this! And now we're stuck here and…" He trailed off, unable to finish. Potter didn't respond. He just watched Draco quietly, with that intent, calculating look in his eyes. Draco hugged his legs to his chest, glaring sullenly at the floor. He just wanted Potter gone.

The prat refused to cooperate. He held his hand out. "Come here," he ordered softly. Draco scowled belligerently and stayed put, readying himself for another fight. But Potter didn't seem interested in a row. He just kept his hand extended in silent invitation, looking patient and collected and everything Draco wasn't at the moment.

"Make me," he challenged sulkily.

"I could, but that's not what you need right now. I'd much rather you came to me by choice," Potter replied.

"Shan't," Draco snapped at once, smirking as Potter visibly prayed for patience. But when he turned back, his eyes were soft.

"Just come here, Draco. Please. I won't hurt you, I swear."

Draco had half a mind to argue that claim, but he really was exhausted. All he wanted was for this to be over, and the best way to do that was to just do as Potter asked. The stubborn git was unlikely to give up anyway. So he crawled over to the edge of the bed where Potter was sitting. He sat on his haunches and crossed his arms defensively, keeping as much distance between himself and his fiancé as possible. Potter wasn't having it. He reached for Draco's arm and pulled him closer. Draco followed but stiffened when Potter tried to pull him onto his lap.

"It's okay," the man soothed immediately. "I'm just trying to get you to relax. Come on, you'll be fine."

Draco muttered under his breath but complied. He straddled Potter's lap, barely holding in a gasp as the warmth of skin pervaded the thin fabric of Potter's garment. Potter felt warm and strong and firm beneath him and the faint scent of aftershave wafted around Draco.

This was a very bad idea.

Then Potter wrapped his arms around him and pulled him closer. Draco gasped as he was pressed against Potter's chest. Pressed up against the man was torture, couldn't he see that? Potter hummed and started rubbing his tense back. Smooth motions that soothed the taut muscles and despite himself, Draco found himself relaxing into the broad frame. Before he could register it, his arms moving of their own accord and wrapping themselves around Potter's neck.

"That's it," Potter praised, stroking his hair now. "Doesn't that feel better?"

"No," Draco lied. "Rub my back again."

He could feel Potter's chest rumble as he laughed. "It's like owning a cat," he quipped dryly.

Draco flared up at once. "You do not own me…" he began but Potter cut him off, wrapping his arms around him again to cut off any escape attempts.

"You know I didn't mean it that way," he said sternly. "Why does everything have to be a battle with you?"

Draco didn't really know the answer to that. He'd been fighting Potter for so long. Was he expected to just stop? That didn't seem fair. "I can't just give in to everything you say," he finally replied.

"I don't want that," Potter stated, moving to stroke his hair again. "I just want you to stop seeing me as someone you need to protect yourself from. I want you to trust me."

"Why?" Draco demanded. "That's what I want to know. Why this? Why now? What do youwant, Potter?"

Potter's hands trailed down his sides and Draco shivered against the touch. They rested on his hips and Potter's fingers flexed against his skin, almost if he was trying to restrain himself. "Look at you, Draco" he whispered huskily. "Is it really so difficult to understand what I want from you?"

Draco's stomach twisted uncomfortably at Potter's words. "So that's it then," he said quietly. "You're looking for an easy lay."

Potter snorted. "I'd hardly call it easy." Draco scowled and pulled away. He glared at Potter and the man responded with a cheeky grin and tucked a wayward strand of blond hair behind Draco's ear. "You know if you're going to sit in my lap and pout like that, I really can't be held responsible for the consequences," he warned. Draco huffed and made to get up and immediately found a hand clamped down on his arm. "Stop that," Potter chided. "You're being ridiculous. If all I wanted from you was a quick shag, don't you think I'd have done things a little differently? In case you haven't noticed, I am trying court you."

"And doing a fine job of it," Draco muttered resentfully. "You keep pushing me around."

"If I didn't, I wouldn't stand a chance with you," Potter argued. "You'd destroy me."

Draco snickered at that happy thought and Potter rolled his eyes. "Prat," he scolded, pushing the blond back against his chest. Draco curled up obediently. He felt a bit better… less murderous, at any rate. All this talking was making him sleepy. And Potter was so comfortable. "Too tired right now," he yawned. "I'll… destroy you in the morning."

"You probably will," Potter muttered, as he shifted. Draco groaned in complaint as he felt himself being hauled up and laid down on the bed. He tumbled in the sheets, grumbling as Potter's warmth retreated. "Stay," Draco whined. It was cold. He reached out and pulled at his hand, trying to tug him down.

"And have you stab me the second you're thinking coherently again?" Potter asked dryly. "I don't think so. I'll transfigure a couch." He gently detached himself from Draco who scowled resentfully at him. Potter grinned and bent down, pressing a kiss against his forehead. "Good night, beautiful."

Draco listened, half asleep as Harry's footsteps faded away. He curled into the blankets and fell into slumber, trying to ignore the small part of him that wished Harry had stayed anyway.

Lucius smirked as he glanced through Potter's hurried scrawl. He scribbled back a note for the owl and watched it fly off, before turning away from the window. A disapproving set of brown eyes stopped him in his tracks.

"What?" Lucius asked.

"What did you do?" Andromeda asked sternly.

"Why my dear, I have no idea what you mean," Lucius protested. "I just received a note from Potter. They were regrettably waylaid by some rogue reporters and decided to take an impromptu trip to Hogwarts."

"I see," Andromeda drawled. "Interesting how those reporters knew exactly where to find them, isn't it?"

"A strange occurrence, indeed."

"Very strange. It's almost as if someone tipped them off. Someone who knew where Draco would be this evening."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Do you know something I don't, Andromeda?"

"I'm not sure, Lucius. What I do know is that tomorrow there will be an announcement in the papers about Draco's engagement to Harry. Everyone will know which will naturally make this a formal engagement, rather than a standard courtship. And of course there's that little matter of them being stranded together with only each other for company. That's rather convenient. Oh, and I also happen to know that the Prophet descended on Diagon Alley within minutes of an owl that you sent to one Rita Skeeter."

Lucius chuckled. "I've always admired your admirable sense of logic, Andromeda. Now don't be like that," he chuckled as she glared at him. "I merely… arranged for Draco to spend some extended time with his fiancé. Surely, that doesn't classify as evil."

"I just hope you know what you're doing," she replied. "Love can't be orchestrated."

"But marriages can," Lucius smirked. "Oh now, calm down. Love is a possibility. Marriages are certain. I am simply trying to assure the best for Draco's future."

"Well you know best, I'm sure," she replied stiffly. "But if this blows up in your face - which itwill, mind you - I reserve the right to say I told you so."

"As if you wouldn't anyway," Lucius replied, allowing a grin to break out on his visage. Andromeda huffed indignantly and marched back to her room. Lucius chuckled fondly as he watched her stomp off. Belatedly, he decided to send out an owl out to Ferguson's Flowers.

A dozen roses were hardly going to get him back in her good graces. But it was definitely a start.

Harry and Draco's adventures continue in Hogwarts...what will happen next? *looks mysterious*

Reviews are brilliant, as always