Hi people! Me again. I want to thank all you people who reviewed.
Also, a little warning, I, for some weird, unknown reason, put a copious amount of Lucius/Tom flirting. Like I said, I don't know why, but it's there anyway.
Now I'll let you read.
Chapter 4
It's Love
In the village, Tom and Peter were putting their demented little plan into action. At the moment, they were bargaining with Lucius Malfoy, the owner of the town's insane asylum.
"Good evening Mr. Malfoy. I hope this visit hasn't inconvenienced you."
"No problem at all Tom. Anything for you. And please, call me Lucius," he said, batting his eyelashes. (Somebody kill me now.)
"Of course. Lucius."
"Now what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"I need you to help me. Will you?"
"That depends. What's in this for me? I don't make midnight visits for nothing," Lucius said slyly while inching himself closer to Tom.
Tom smirked at him then pulled out a wad of cash. Lucius's interest peaked.
"I'm listening."
"Good. Now, you see, I have my heart set on banging Harry, but the boy needs some…persuasion."
Peter scoffed, "Some? He turned you down flat!" then he broke into a fit of hysterical giggles. "Ow!" He stopped abruptly when Tom whacked him upside the head and knocked his face into his mug of beer.
"Tell me, Lucius, have you ever heard of Sirius Black?"
"Yes. I know Black. Was my late ex-wife's cousin. But as loony as he can be, he's harmless. Wouldn't hurt a fly."
"That doesn't matter. Everyone knows Black's crazy. He came in here yesterday ranting and raving about gigantic ten-foot tall beasts. My point is that Harry would do anything and everything to protect his dear sweet godfather."
"Including marrying him." Tom lifted his arm up in warning and Peter ducked under his mug.
Lucius butted in, "So you want me to put Black into the asylum unless Harry agrees to marry you?"
They both nodded.
"That's just despicable." He grinned evilly. "I like that in a man. You got yourself a deal."
In the cottage, Sirius was running wild, hurriedly packing up maps and compasses, muttering under his breath all the while.
"If no one's going to help me find him, then I'll do it myself! I'll find the creepy castle and get Harry out of there!"
He slammed the door and walked into the woods.
Tom and Peter missed him by mere minutes.
They walked right to the door and pounded on it. "Harry? Black? Is anybody there?"
"Oh well. Guess no one's here. Let's go home and try another day." Peter tried to walk away, before Tom picked him up by the collar and dropped him in the snow.
"Stay here and don't move a muscle until they get home. Got it?"
"Oh fine," he grumbled.
Peter sputtered from his spot in the snow. "But…but…ugh!"
He hit the tree in his frustration and he was covered in snow.
Draco watched Harry play in the snow with Hedwig, a small smile on his face all the while.
After his little heroic rescue, the two had started to warm up to each other. The change was noticeable to all.
Which leads us to this little fluff fest going on right now.
"There's something about him. I've never felt like this before."
"Me thinks Malfoy has a teeny crush on our Harry there."
"Shut it Weasley. But I do want to do something for him. Something big. Something romantic. Something he'll just love…but what?"
"Well you could give him the usual things. Flowers…chocolates…and of course, a popular favorite, promises you don't intend to keep."
"Ron! It has to be something special. Something that interests him. I know!"
"Where are we going?
"You'll see. Harry, there's something I want to show you. But I need you to close your eyes first."
He gave him a hesitant look.
"Please? It's a surprise."
Harry sighed and complied. Then Draco took him by the hand, leading him into the room.
"Can I open them yet?"
"Not yet. Wait here."
He let go and left Harry standing there. Draco opened the curtains, letting light flood into the room, and then he said, "Okay. Now open them."
He did.
Harry gasped. "It's…it's wonderful. I've never…I've never seen so many books in my life!"
He looked around the grand library and started looking through shelves.
"Do you like it Harry?" he asked softly.
"Like it? I love it!" he shouted before hugging Draco tightly. "It's wonderful!" Absolutely wonderful!"
"Then it's all yours."
"Mine?"
Draco nodded.
Harry screamed again before glomping Draco.
"Did you just see that? Did you just see that?"
"I knew it'd work," Hermione said smugly.
"So? The library might have been your idea, but I'm the one who let him in!"
"You two quit arguing. You'll spoil the moment. Besides, things are starting to look up for all of us."
"What is?"
"Zis I so exciting!"
Ginny kept pouting, "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing dear. Now come along. We have to get back to work."
"But what's going on!"
The next morning they were all eating oatmeal for breakfast. Harry watched in semi-horror at Draco's nonexistent table manners. Ginny nudged the spoon towards him and he tried to use it, slurping noisily all the while.
Harry had an idea. He picked up his bowl, and Draco did the same. They raised them in a toast and sipped their oatmeal.
Later that day, Harry was showing Draco how to feed the birds.
Harry: There's something sweet
And almost kind
But he was mean and he was coarse and unrefined
And now he's dear
And so I'm sure
I wonder why I didn't see it there before
He placed some birdseed in his hand and watched as the birds all flew to Draco, nesting in his fur, then he collapsed into giggles before falling into the snow.
Draco: He glanced this way
I thought I saw
And when we touched he didn't shudder at my paw
No it can't be
I'll just ignore
But then he's never looked at me that way before
Harry used Draco to steady himself as he got up and then span around in the snow.
Harry: New and a bit alarming
Who'd have ever thought that this could be?
True that he's no Prince Charming
But there's something in him that I simply didn't see
Unaware to the 'happy couple', Ron, Hermione, Mrs. Weasley, and Ginny were watching from inside.
Ron: Well, who'd have thought?
Mrs. Weasley: Well, bless my soul
Hermione: Well, who'd have known?
Mrs. Weasley: Well, who indeed?
Ron: And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?
Mrs. Weasley: It's so peculiar. Wait and see
Ron and Hermione: We'll wait and see
All three: A few days more
There may be something there that wasn't there before
Later Harry and Draco were by the fireplace, Harry reading to him while Draco just grinned stupidly while gazing at Harry with adoration.
Hermione: You know, perhaps there's something there that wasn't
there before
Ginny: What?
Mrs. Weasley: There may be something there that wasn't there before
Ginny: What's there mum?
Mrs. Weasley: I'll tell you when you're a bit older dear.
That evening, Draco was getting prepared for his 'big date' with Harry. At the moment, he was having a bath while servants flitted about and scrubbed him, groomed him. Rubbed his skin raw. The usual you know.
"I don't think I can do this."
"But you have to Malfoy! Tonight is the night. I can feel it! Today, you must be bold. Daring."
"Bold and daring?" he asked while shaking himself dry, "I need real advice, not stupid things like 'bold and daring', Weasley."
Ron continued, ignoring Draco's barb, "Tonight, there will be soft music, romantic candlelight, provided by me of course, and then at the opportune moment, you will confess your love and we'll all be human again!"
"I can do that," Draco scoffed. "Can't I?"
"You do care for Harry don't you?"
"I don't know! I guess I do…sort of."
"Then tell him damn it! You can't waste more time then you already have!"
They stayed in silence as Draco's fur was trimmed and snipped and put into ridiculous styles.
"Voila! You look so…so…um…"
"Stupid."
"Not the exact word I'd use…well, actually it is."
"Not helping Weasley."
"Maybe a bit more off the top?"
More clipping and snipping then it stopped.
"That's more like it!"
Hermione appeared at the door. "Draco, your, ahem, 'lady', awaits you."
Harry enters in a emerald green shirt and black pants (Still wish I could've put him in the gown.)
Draco enters from the other side, more or less wearing the same thing, then straightens his tie and clearing his throat.
Harry enters in a emerald green shirt and black pants (As much as I would have LOVED to put him that gown.)
Draco enters from the other side and is more or less wearing the same thing. He straightened his tie and then cleared his throat.
Mrs. Weasley: Tale as old as time
They met in the middle of the grand staircase and started to walk down it arm in arm.
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
Harry and Draco sat down to a lovely candlelit dinner, romantic lighting courtesy of Ron, and both were using the silverware correctly.
Just a little change
They finished eating then Harry stood up, walking to Draco's side and pulling him up.
"Dance with me Draco."
"I couldn't," he replied, uncharacteristically nervous.
"Please?"
"Alright. I'll dance. But just this once."
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast.
They start to dance and Draco gulps nervously.
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise.
They seem oblivious to the rest of the world as they gazed into each other's eyes.
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong.
Slowly, Harry laid his head down on Draco's chest and closed his eyes, savoring the moment while Draco smiled.
Off to the side, Ron and Hermione were cheering quietly…well trying to anyway.
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
The lights dim slightly.
Beauty and the Beast.
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast
The both walked out to the balcony, the dance over.
Off to the cupboard with you now, Ginny.
It's past your bedtime. Good night, love.
Ron, Hermione, Mrs. Weasley, and Ginny left the ballroom. Before Ginny leaves, she takes a peek at the balcony where Harry and Draco are. She grins brightly.
They sat down on a bench together and just stayed in a companionable silence. Draco broke it by asking, "Harry, are you…happy here with me?"
"Of course! But…" he said the first part firmly, but there was a wistful tone to it.
"What is it?"
"It's just that I…I want to see Sirius. See how he is. Even if it's just for a moment."
"I can help you," Draco said while picking up the magic mirror, then handed it to Harry, "Tell it what you want to see."
"I'd like to see my godfather please."
It glowed fiercely, stunning him for a few moments, then it died down and he gasped. Sirius was lying in the snow, half-dead.
"Oh God. Sirius. He's sick. He could die out there!"
Draco glanced at the rose then sighed sadly without Harry noticing. "Then go to him Harry."
He turned to him incredulously, "What?"
"Go. I release you. You are no longer my prisoner here."
"I can go?"
"Yes. You can."
"Maybe if I hurry I can save him!" Harry turned to go to his room when he remembered the mirror in his hand. He held it out to Draco who shook his head firmly.
"No. You keep it. Think of it as a way of looking back and remembering your time here. Remembering me," he said tenderly, gently stroking his hair and giving him a small, sad smile.
"Thank you. Thank you Draco. For understanding. For everything," he whispered under his breath, then left without looking back.
Draco was left alone to brood and a while later Hermione appeared.
"This is going so wonderfully Draco! I always knew you had it in you!"
"I let him go."
"That's just great-what? What do you mean you let him go?"
"Why?"
"Because Hermione. Because I love him."
"HE DID WHAT!"
"He let him go," Hermione answered dejectedly.
"After all these years. He's finally learned how to truly love someone."
"But we were so close! He could've broken the spell!"
"But Malfoy's in love with Harry isn't he? That should be enough to break the spell."
"There's still the fact that Harry must return that love."
"So it's all over now?"
"I'm afraid it is."
Through all their arguing, they didn't notice Ginny sneaking away.
From his wing of the castle, Draco let out a heartbroken roar that was heard throughout the forest. Harry's eyes started to tear when he wiped them away hastily, unaware of the surprise that awaited him in him saddlebag.