Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Tangled, which this story is kind of based on.
Oh, and thank you for the review, kind person! You have inspired me to get off my lazy ass and do this chapter!
"This is the place?" Draco asked warily as he stared at the run-down inn. The sign hanging from a tree branch seemed innocent enough; a bright yellow duckling that didn't look like it had some malicious intent.
"This is the place." Harry smirked with an evil gleam in the eye. "Come on, we'll grab a bite to eat and head off to see your lanterns." He pushed open the rickety front doors and walked inside confidently.
"He did promise that there would be no thugs," Draco whispered to Salazar uncertainly. "He wouldn't lie, right?" Salazar scoffed and gave him a disbelieving look.
"Well… he said he we were going to keep going after lunch, and I think he would keep his word."
Salazar sighed and settled down onto the blond's shoulder. He could already tell this was not going to end well. Draco slowly stepped into the inn, not at all as confidently as Harry did.
He stopped. He stared. He screamed.
Thugs. Thugs were everywhere. They were snarling and staring at him with distrustful eyes.
"Harry!" Draco shrieked, clutching his frying pan like a lifeline. The raven grinned and walked over to the small blond with a slight spring in his steps.
"Quaint, isn't it? Look around; a nice, safe environment and friendly people! I'll just go get us a drink, yeah?" Harry smiled, gesturing towards the bar. Draco whimpered and clung onto his hand before Harry could walk away.
"Don't leave," He begged.
"Me? Leave? I'll be right back, Blondie. Go and socialize. Don't worry, these folks won't bite." Harry patted Draco's shoulder reassuringly and walked off, leaving him to deal with the staring brutes. The blond gulped and eyed the thugs nervously.
"Um… uh… hi." Draco managed to squeak out.
"We don't get many pretty things like you around here," One of the thugs growled, advancing towards him. "Why're you here? And with Potter of all people?"
"I… he… he's taking me to see the lanterns." Draco stuttered, his gaze flicking anywhere but the thug's eyes.
"The lanterns! Ha! The lanterns! Hear that, boys? Potter's taking some puny little maid to see some stupid lanterns!" The thug chuckled, revealing yellow teeth.
The entire inn roared with laughter and Draco felt his cheeks heat with embarrassment.
"I'm not a maid!" Draco protested weakly. "I'm a boy! And besides, the lanterns mean a lot to me!"
"Oh, so we have a submissive male in the house, eh?" Another thug called out. "No wonder Potter's putting up with him; he needs a lay!"
"And look at that hair! Bet they can do some hair bondage, eh?"
Draco clutched his golden locks self-consciously and whimpered.
The thugs chortled again and raised their tankards at that comment. Draco sniffed and blinked back tears. He was mortified beyond belief and all he wanted was to get out of here.
"Harry…?" He called out hesitantly, wondering what was taking him so long. "Can we get out of here?" But as he swept his grey eyes over the entire inn, he couldn't find the familiar mop of black hair. Then he spotted someone with black hair leave the inn through the back door. Harry.
The bastard had left him in an inn full of thugs. Right after he had promised him that there would be no brutes.
"That… that little…" Draco snarled, seeing red. The thugs were still laughing at him and it was all Harry's fault.
"I get it! The little maid needs Potter to protect him 'cause he's so small and weak! Hahaha!" A thug sniggered.
"Haha, hey, what's the frying pan for? Oh yeah, that's right! You're a submissive so you need to go make us some lunch!" Another roared out, almost bent double from laughing so much.
"Yeah! Go on, kitchen's that way!" One of them shouted, waving a dismissive hand at him. That was the last straw. Draco hit him on the head with the frying pan with brutal force. The thug hit the floor unconscious. Draco roared and leapt onto the closest group of thugs.
Harry whistled as he sauntered into the pub an hour later. He pushed the front door open and smirked. Blondie had probably already left and was now running back to his tower. Then Harry would go to the tower himself to claim back his satchel, without having to bring Draco to see the lanterns. It was a genius idea and he knew it.
"Hey, has anyone seen Blondie?" Harry called out. "I've been looking for him-" he stopped. His jaw hung open in the most unflattering fashion ever. For on the floor, dozens of thugs were lying there, moaning in pain and cradling their swollen injuries. Some were even whimpering for their mothers.
Then there was Draco. He was sitting daintily on the edge of a table, nibbling pieces of fruit and sipping delicately at his tea, completely unaware of the people groaning in pain around him.
"Hello, Harry." He smiled sweetly. "Care for a cup of tea? Some fruit perhaps?"
Harry could only stare slack-jawed at him. Finally, he managed to pull himself together and stammered slowly, "Did… did you take all of them on and win?"
Draco hummed and smiled pleasantly. "Well, they just wouldn't stop their rude comments and I… kind of lost my temper."
"Lost… your… temper?" Harry asked faintly. Draco nodded and stepped towards him with a menacing gleam in his eye.
"That's right. Shortly after you left me with those thugs." The small blond hissed, brandishing his surprisingly undented frying pan. Harry gulped and fumbled around his pocket for something to help him, anything.
"I… I left because I um… dropped the gift I was going to give you! I went out to find it! I swear!" He squeaked, thrusting his tightly clenched fist towards the angry blond. Harry glared at the smug looking snake on Draco's shoulder. The snake knew of his plan. He was sure of it.
"A gift?" Draco asked, calming down immediately. "You got me a gift? What for?"
"Um… um… for your birthday and uh… for your first time coming out of your tower!" Harry laughed nervously.
"What is it?" Draco gave a small, sweet smile and Harry forgot to breathe for a few moments.
"It's… a… uh, surprise." Harry stammered. Draco giggled and stepped forward, until he was directly in front of Harry. He gently pried the other's fist open and squealed in delight at the small butterfly brooch that lay in his palm.
"It's beautiful…" Draco breathed as took the brooch into his own hand. "Thank you." He smiled. "Nobody's ever given me such a nice present."
Harry grinned back, thinking he was off the hook. That was, until Draco socked him in the stomach. Harry wheezed and gasped in pain as he clutched his stomach in agony. The blond minx smirked at him and fluttered his long lashes innocently.
"But you still left me alone with a bunch of thugs."
Harry groaned.
Bellatrix snarled as she raced through the forest. Stupid Potter. She would get Draco back no matter how many people she had to destroy.
Thugs groaned and heaved themselves onto chairs as they were issued ice packs by Harry and Draco.
"Man, Potter, I wish I took back all those things I said about Blondie. He can pack a punch!" One thug groaned and rubbed his jaw. "Feisty thing, isn't he? Great cook, though." He dug into the bowl of stew in front of him eagerly.
"It's even better than what my mamma could make." Another commented, dunking freshly baked bread into his own stew.
One of them, Blaise, was too busy nursing his jaw to eat.
"Ugh, I regret everything I said. The boy knows how to use a frying pan." He groaned and pressed the ice pack firmly over his jaw.
"In what way? Cooking or fighting?" An amused voice asked from behind them. Draco had his hands on his hips and was raising an eyebrow.
"Both ways, ma'am!" Blaise grinned. Theo, another thug, picked his way over and winced as he sat down.
"You got me good, ma'am." He moaned. "Kicked me in the ass and followed it up with a knock to the head."
"Sorry." Draco giggled, flushing a slight pink. "I lost a bit of control."
The doors of the inn burst open and a man called Seamus hurtled in.
"Royal guards," he panted, "coming this way."
Harry paled and grabbed Draco, diving behind the counter. The blond gave a small squeak and Harry quickly covered his mouth.
"Ssh," Harry hissed. "You've got to help us," He said to Blaise, "We need to get out of here."
The dark-skinned man nodded and ushered them to the back door. "Get out of here," Blaise whispered hurriedly. "We'll cover for you. And Blondie?"
Draco turned and glanced at him with curious eyes.
"Thanks for showing us that not everything is how it seems. Go on, go see your precious lanterns."
Draco beamed and whispered 'thanks' before pecking Blaise quickly on the cheek. Blaise flushed and grinned awkwardly and Harry felt jealousy flare up in his body.
"Yeah, yeah. Come on," He grunted, dragging Draco out of the door. He didn't see Blaise's knowing smile.
Draco, Harry and Salazar sat by a crackling fire in silence. Salazar had fallen asleep and Draco was staring into the fire dreamily. The clearing they had decided to camp in was silent.
"So… uh, do you like Blaise?" Harry asked, breaking the silence. Draco looked up with amused eyes and tried to hide a smile.
"I only like him as a friend. Jealous?" He teased.
"No! Of course not!" Harry grunted, glaring at the ground. He heard Draco giggle softly and sighed, why was he feeling jealous in the first place, anyway?
"How did you become a thief?" Draco's soft voice asked. Harry glanced at him and shrugged.
"It's a long story."
"We've got time." Draco murmured, placing a small hand onto Harry's knee.
"Well… it began with a book." Harry admitted, staring into Draco's grey eyes with his green ones.
"A book?"
"Yeah. My dad died when my mum was five months pregnant. My mum died giving birth to me. Doctors think she didn't have enough strength to keep both of us alive after my dad died." Harry muttered, staring into the fire sadly. He felt Draco hold his hand in support.
"Thanks." Harry whispered.
"Whatever for?" the blond asked.
"You're the first person who didn't say sorry or ask questions or anything like that." Harry smiled. Draco gave a hesitant smile back.
"Anyway, I was brought up in an orphanage. There was this book I loved reading. I read it to the other kids before bedtime. It was about a thief. He went on all sorts of adventures. I would imagine myself doing the same so when I turned seventeen, I decided to follow my fantasies."
"You didn't want to do anything else?" Draco asked.
"No," Harry replied. "But maybe… maybe my dreams will change in the future." Draco nodded and slowly reached up to cup Harry's face.
"That's really brave of you." Draco whispered. "Just walking away to fulfil your dreams; leaving your worries behind."
"It wasn't easy," Harry confessed. He then noticed how close he and Draco were and fumbled for an excuse.
"I uh, I should go get some more firewood."
Draco nodded and removed his hand from Harry's cheek. Harry gave an awkward smile and walked off towards some trees. Draco smiled and stared at the man's broad back.
"Well wasn't that sweet?" A familiar voice behind him cooed. Draco gasped and turned around.
"M-Mother… I…" The blond stammered.
"It's okay, sweetheart, no need to explain. So, you and Potter, huh?" Bellatrix sneered. "Nevermind. Come on, dear. Let's go home."
Draco shook his head furiously. "No, mother. Please, I want to see the lanterns."
"Draco, you can go once you're older. For now you have to come home with me. That Potter boy will only corrupt your mind. He doesn't want to take you to see the lanterns. He probably doesn't even like you." Bellatrix sighed.
"Mother, please, you're wrong. He does like me. I think he… like likes me. Honest." Draco whispered. Bellatrix shook her head.
"If he does… then give him this." She shoved Harry's satchel in Draco's arms.
"How… how…?" The blond gasped.
"Dear, you'll see. Potter only wants the satchel. And once you find out, you'll come home with me willingly." Bellatrix smiled in a sickeningly sweet way and stepped back into the shadows.
"Mother… no…" Draco whispered. But Bellatrix was already gone.
Harry picked up the armload of sticks he managed to gather and sighed. He had never shared his personal life with anyone. What made Draco so special?
"Hey, I'm back." Harry called out to the blond, who was standing with his back facing him. He saw Draco's petite form shivering and he frowned.
"Are you alright? Are you cold?" He asked as he dropped the firewood.
"N-no, I'm fine." Draco forced a smile onto his face. "I was just thinking"
Harry raised an eyebrow but decided to not press the matter.
"Okay. Better get some sleep, Blondie. We'll be heading going into the kingdom tomorrow. Long day ahead of us, better sleep while we can."
Draco nodded, but his eyes were distant.
"Okay. Goodnight." He whispered, curling onto the ground and wrapping his hair around him like a blanket. Harry yawned and nodded.
"Goodnight."
People, please review. Thanks.