Harry's Dirty Little Secrets Chapter 27/28
Author: chibidraco
Beta:
noscrubs12345*
Title: Harry's Dirty Little Secrets 27/28
Rating: R
Summary: Harry's a successful Quidditch player that enjoys a very casual love life.When sudden paternity suits arise and accusations are flying,an old fashioned Ministry decides to auction him off in Marriage to the highest bidder. HarryDraco slash AU no Voldie
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters do not belong to me.
Chapter 1/ Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4/ Chapter 5/ Chapter 6/ Chapter 7/ Chapter 8/ Chapter9/ Chapter 10/
Chapter 11/ Chapter 12/ Chapter 13/ Chapter 14/ Chapter 15/ Chapter 16/ Chapter 17/ Chapter 18 / Chapter 19 / Chapter 20 /Chapter 21/ Chapter 22 / Chapter 23 / Chapter 24/Chapter 25 / Chapter 26/
He’d sent the divorce papers before he’d gone to see Severus and meeting with him had only served to strengthen his resolve. He had gone about it the Slytherin way by taking advantage of the opportunity to actually be married to Harry. It had seemed so easy at the time: marry him, have Harry get to know him and learn to love him.
Harry’s rebellion should not have been all that surprising having known him for so many years and seeing the other man’s irritating habit of thinking before acting. Then after their bonding celebration and the horrible scene with the server in his father’s study, the pain had brought out the vindictiveness in Draco and he had resorted to tampering with the man’s libido.
Draco made himself see the memory when he felt like seeking Harry out and recanting his request for a divorce. He’d seen that memory enough times he could step into Harry’s role and recite the harsh words he had uttered so emphatically.
It also meant he had called it correctly. Harry was frightened. Scared of Draco, scared of himself, and Draco wasn’t sure who he feared more. What he did know was that he couldn’t keep exposing himself by handing over his long protected heart. It just left him feeling raw and defeated.
The saddest part was that he wasn’t horribly embarrassed or upset at his behaviour. It would have been worth it to have received his happily ever after in the end.
Draco scoffed, rubbing a hand down his face. He hadn’t obtained his fairy tale ending though. He had trapped an unwilling man and it was about time he moved on.
Which was why he was so taken aback by the sudden outpouring of letters and phone calls in the last two days. Harry had taken to calling him repeatedly and leaving messages where he simply asked Draco to call him back. He sent letters with the same message: ‘Please call me.”
He never picked them up, but he had taken to carrying his mobile around on silent tucked into his front pocket, only listening to the messages when he was alone and not daring to call back. He even started receiving letters from their friends asking him to call Harry, that he was sorry and wanted to see him.
He felt oversensitive to everything, confused about Harry’s persistence in seeking him out. Scared what he would say. What else did he want from him? Draco had finally given up.
He felt a reprieve with the twins because they never spoke of it, never pressured him to talk about anything except ideas for products or marketing.
Their business was flourishing, and Draco was going to look into a couple of locales for the opening of the third store in a wizarding village near Durmstrang.
It was easy to forget how his life was crumbling when he was with the twins. They both served as excellent distracters, which had to be the reason why he pulled his mobile out during one of their get-togethers and watched Harry’s name flashing on the display before tucking it back into his pocket.
A look back up at the twins froze him in his tracks. He didn’t know what kind of expression he’d made as he stared at the call screen, but for the first time he saw matching expressions of fondness and what could only be sympathy on the identical faces.
He couldn’t let this linger.
X x x X x x X
The ornate doors to his study blew open, cracking against the sides of the doorway. Did Draco really have to abuse the hardware?
“How dare you?” his son inquired between clenched teeth. “Wilkens has informed me they haven’t begun processing my request.”
Lucius knew it would only be a matter of time before Draco’s solicitor discovered that tidbit of information.
“The Ministry is not known for its speediness, I’m afraid,” he answered, resting his chin on his clasped hands. It was always good to play innocent.
“Don’t insult me.” Of course, playing innocent didn’t always work.
“I know that you met with Runcorn for lunch three days ago. It’s a little odd you happen to dine with the head of the Department of Magical Families and within hours the handling of my divorce was halted.” His son was in quite a state; his wand was at the ready, absently tapping it against his upper thigh as he spoke.
“Why? What do you want? Is this to protect your reputation? To avoid the blight of a divorce falling on your house?” The disappointed look in the silver eyes cut him to the quick. He really had done a disservice to his son if he thought so little of him.
“It would be a fabrication if I said I didn’t care about how our family is perceived, but that’s not why I asked him, Draco.” He looked over his son and recalled the expressive green eyes of his son-in-law and his unexpected request.
“I did it because Potter asked me to,” he finally replied.
“Harry asked you to? And you obliged him because....” There was a look of joy that had briefly crossed Draco’s face before he glared at him.
“He wants to see you. He’s reaching out to you, but you’re not even giving him the chance to explain.” But Lucius knew there was so much happening he wasn’t privy to.
“I’ve given him a lot already,” Draco said softly, tucking away is wand.
‘Why would he bother and why do you care for me all of a sudden?’ was what Lucius knew he wasn’t asking him, but he couldn’t help but answer anyway.
“I’ve always cared about you. I know I’ve let my problems with your mother keep me at bay, but I do love you. That’s why I’m doing this.” He reached out to pat his son’s hand.
“I let my marriage break apart because I was too proud to apologise. It was the biggest mistake of my life, and instead of trying to make it right I fell back on my pride when she confronted me.” He had been so stupid then. Too many drinks had landed him in an unknown witch’s bed, and, in the aftermath, he could hear his father’s voice in his mind demanding that he not bend to Narcissa because he was the head of the household. All it had got him, he knew, was an empty bed and an empty life.
“I agreed to help Potter because you love him, and he is trying to fight for you as I should have done for your mother.”
X x x X x x X
Harry really hoped he found the place soon. He’d been barging into empty storefronts all morning. He was lucky they were open to any wizard and not attended by someone or else he would have been frightening a lot of people.
After speaking to Lucius he had gone to the twins prepared to ask them for help. It had been strange to be stared down so seriously by the two men who never seemed to take a pause from merrymaking and pranks. Harry explained he was desperate to see Draco, and that he had been avoiding all forms of communication so the only option would be to surprise him in person.
Fred and George had looked at him intently for a while before declaring they had no idea where he would be today but knew he was going to be researching storefronts. George handed him the property section of the newspaper. About fifteen of the entries were circled in red felt tip.
“He’s at one of those,” Fred shrugged when Harry asked where to go.
“I really hope you find him. He didn’t tell us not to tell you his whereabouts, but I’m pretty sure it was implied somewhere,” George added with crooked smile.
“Go get him, Harry,” they both encouraged, raising their fists in a manner reminiscent of their days as Beaters at Hogwarts.
By now he’d been halfway through the list and had not caught sight of Draco. He only hoped he had figured correctly what path Draco would most likely take. Harry thought that since he was so organised he would go to the locations from the top most entry and follow a left to right pattern down the paper.
At least the entries were centred in villages in what seemed to be Sweden and he was able to find transportation from one place to the other. Just when he had started to despair, he caught sight of Draco’s memorable blond hair entering his next destination.
The bus he rode did not stop for another block so he was forced to wait until the doors opened and released him. He ran back to where he had seen him enter and let himself in.
“Harry?” Draco set down the briefcase he carried on the counter of the only piece of furniture in the empty store.
“Hey, Draco.” Harry licked his lips nervously.
“How did you find me?” Draco asked, leaning back against the counter.
“Um, I asked...” he trailed off, unsure if the twins wanted him to reveal they assisted him.
“The Nines,” Draco answered, coming to the conclusion himself. He could probably read the guilt on Harry’s face.
“Actually, they just gave me the newspaper with possible choices.” He showed him the page where he had crossed off the places he’d visited. “I’ve been working my way through them. I thought I wouldn’t find you.”
“You almost didn’t.” Draco answered. “I was going to stop for the day but decided to survey this last one.”
Silence descended upon them and Harry took a moment to drink in the sight of Draco. He looked as perfectly put together as he always did, and Harry felt the familiar yearning to muss him up.
“You didn’t reply to my messages,” he said finally.
“I didn’t think there was anything to say.”
“Of course there is…. A lot happened and we didn’t even talk about it.”
“I thought you had been quite clear when you shouted at me in our bedroom.” Draco’s tone was even.
“I’m sorry about that. I was really confused and angry, but I want to explain.” He hoped Draco would listen to what he had to say. Every moment he didn’t say anything the fear that he wouldn’t grew.
“You’ve gone through the trouble of seeking me out.” Draco rubbed his temple briefly. “What is it you want to tell me?”
“Um… well, I guess the first thing I want to say is I’m sorry.” Harry fell quiet for a moment while he tried to formulate his words into actual sentences.
“I tried to prepare what I would say, but I’m kind of forgetting what I practiced. I guess I should start at the beginning. Well, Hermione says it’s the beginning.” Harry smiled nervously, but it didn’t chase away Draco’s guarded look.
“My aunt and uncle were horrible, as you saw.”
“I remember their less than stellar personalities from the party,” Draco agreed, fiddling with the latch on his briefcase.
“They always were horrible to me ever since I can remember. But even when they treated me like a servant I still loved them. I mean, I was supposed to, wasn’t I?
“They were the only family I had left. So I tried to do the chores and things they wanted and hoped that they would see how much I was willing to make them happy and love me back.” Harry pulled at a loose thread on his jumper.
“Except they never did. The first time I met Ron’s family, I realised it didn’t work that way. Arthur and Molly love all seven of their kids equally and my relatives couldn’t love two. They would never love me,” Harry finished, looking at him for a reaction, and, although his expression didn’t change, he could tell there was a softening in Draco’s eyes.
Harry thought he should continue while he could still reveal more of himself.
“Listen, I don’t want to blame the Dursleys or even Marietta. I was just scared,” he admitted, shrugging his shoulders helplessly.
“I know that,” Draco said softly.
“I had this plan, you know.” Harry let out a rueful laugh. “I was going to get you to hate me so much you would divorce me before I even knew it was you who won me. All I knew was that I was being forced to marry and I was going to make it end as soon as possible. Then all that stuff happened with the potion and our truce….” Harry grimaced, knowing he had to say this, had to be honest.
“I really did mean to try, but only because I felt I was safely unaffected. It was just so easy to get all the benefits of being with you and having your affection without the pressure to acknowledge any of my own emotions with you content with what we were.”
Draco nodded, biting the corner of his lip. Harry couldn’t tell what he was thinking; he had never been this hard to read.
“Then Oliver came along and he was so shiny eyed and glowing. You’ve see how he gets when he talks about Percy,” Harry stressed, remembering the burly man and his besotted expression.
“And he kept going on about our relationship and talking about love. He confronted me with something I had been hiding from and ignoring because… because I knew I didn’t want it to end.
“I want to keep trying. I’m not saying I’m not scared--I’m scared shitless, actually--but I know that I want this. I want you.
“So, can we start over?” he asked the same thing Draco had asked him what seemed like so long ago in the locker room. “Please?”
“Maybe this really is for the best,” Draco murmured, reaching for his briefcase, searching through the folds before he pulled out a parchment and a quill.
“But....Look, I know I may have not said it, but you get that I love you. I mean, apparently everyone knew except me. You understood what I was trying to say, right?” Harry tried, confused his revelation had not caused a different reaction. “I know I’m not the best speaker and I may not make sense, but I would like you to give this relationship another chance.”
“I understood. More than you know, Harry, and you’ve just confirmed that I’m making the right decision.” Draco’s voice was filled with resignation.
He held out the parchment he’d retrieved. “This statement confirms that our divorce is amicable and will require no further action.” Draco wore a shuttered expression and Harry didn’t know how it had all gone so wrong.
“I know that I have issues, but I am trying. Let me court you. Percy said there was this art thing opening tomorrow night. We could go to lunch and then go check it out if you want,” Harry proposed, desperately ignoring the papers.
But Draco said nothing. He kept his arm outstretched, offering him those damnable papers.
“Hey, you did pretty rotten things to me too and I forgave you. Why won’t you forgive me?” Harry asked, not understanding why he wouldn’t give him a chance to prove himself.
“Please just sign the papers, Harry,” Draco said softly, holding them back out, his expression so sorrowful Harry felt his heart drop. Although Draco did not seem happy, he could see he wasn’t wavering from his decision.
It was with a heavy heart that he accepted the document. He went to the counter to lay it across the surface, grabbed the quill and scrawled his name across the dotted line.
“Now all that’s left is a bit of your blood.” Draco’s voice seemed so loud in the silent room. Harry extended his hand and watched him silently as he warned that he would feel a light pinch from his spell. He cherished the feeling of Draco holding his hand to perform the spell but he let it go too soon.
He looked down at his thumb where a blood drop was welling on the surface. Just when it was about to overflow he pressed it next to his signature. The whole document shown red for a moment and Harry could feel the draw of magic in the air.
“It’s done.” The blond looked at him. “I will file it tomorrow morning. Once the Wizengamot seal is on it, the divorce will be final.”
“Yeah…. I’m sorry for bothering you,” Harry said, turning around, his lips tightening. He couldn’t be angry with Draco. Isn’t this is what he had been demanding from the beginning when he had first been bound to him?
“I’m sorry, Harry,” Draco apologised, lightly touching his shoulder.
“I was too late.” Harry shrugged, smiling bitterly and turning around to face him once more.
“No.” He shook his head. “I’m so sorry for putting you through all of this.” Harry could see him visibly swallow.
“What my father had done at your request, regardless of the noble intention, the result was still entrapment.” Draco’s smile was so sad that Harry had to restrain himself from reaching for him.
He waved the papers. “Just like what I had done to you beginning with Blaise’s intervention and my attempts to make you give me an opportunity. I was in love with the idea of you and I would have done anything to get you.” Draco laughed humourlessly.
Harry felt his breath leave him. “Then I got to know you and the more time we spent together the more certain I became what I felt was love.”
“Then why…” Harry motioned desperately to the divorce papers where his bloody mark taunted him.
Harry froze in surprise when Draco pulled him in for a tight hug, and he could only relish his familiar scent and melt in the warmth of their embrace. “Because it was a prison for you, held together by lies and manipulation. We just managed to cause each other pain and it’s time I let you go,” Draco whispered in his ear.
Harry felt the wetness on his face from where Draco’s was pressed against it and felt his own tears slide down his face. With one last squeeze and a discreet sniff, Draco moved away, tucking those dreaded documents away in his briefcase and starting toward the front door.
He had been too late. It had not mattered that Harry had confronted his fears and made the attempt to move forward. They were divorced and it was all over. He had lost Draco. Sure, their relationship had started off on the wrong foot, but it had turned into so much more.
“I don’t want you to let me go,” Harry said finally, hurrying his steps and catching Draco at the front door.
When he turned away from the door the blond’s eyes were red and glistening with unshed tears.
“Harry?”
He didn’t bother to wipe his own tears, just looked intently at the man who was trying to walk away with his heart.
“Yeah?” he replied with a croak.
“After I leave the Ministry I’m going to be at the Three Broomsticks. If you mean what you say--” Draco’s smile was heartbreakingly beautiful “--I may let you buy me a drink.” And with that last statement he opened the door and he was gone.
Harry’s joyous laughter was obscenely loud bouncing off the vaulted ceilings.
X x x X x x X
Shortly after winning the Quidditch World Cup semi-finals, Potter loses…
By Daniel Little
Dear readers, I have some very important and not all surprising news regarding famous Quidditch player Harry Potter. Just yesterday it became public record that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy have filed and were granted a divorce.
Your esteemed reporter has had quite a history reporting on their marriage, and I’m remembering the strange whispers that the marriage may have been coerced. Again, the Ministry is not available for comment, but I think it’s a little odd that this news is on the coattails of the recent announcement that declared Harry Potter free of all paternity charges.
What’s even stranger is that I spotted the pair at the Three Broomsticks enjoying a pint together on what had to be the afternoon after the filing. They certainly didn’t look like any divorced couple I know. If I didn’t know better I would say they looked like they were on a date. Potter was certainly chivalrous enough to pay the bill and seemed to be glaring daggers at a few admiring looks that Mr Malfoy drew his way.
This reporter will do what he can to find out more and, as always, keep my readers informed. It would not shock me if the reasons behind the divorce were Potter’s fault. After all, he’s known to be quite the wanker.
“Is this true?” Narcissa was aghast, looking from the newspaper to her son across the table. Lucius looked on without saying a word.
“I think it’s because Mr Little is still upset at being rejected. Harry is not a wanker all of the time.” Draco smiled softly, reaching to pour himself another cup of coffee.
“Draco Lucius Malfoy, you know perfectly well what I’m asking. Did you really have lunch with Potter? Was it an assignation?” She pushed aside her breakfast.
“It was lunch, Mother, but if Harry extends a proper invitation in the near future for a date I am quite sure I’ll say yes,” Draco replied, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
“After all he’s done? Now that you are free of him you’re going back?” Her fair face was starting to take on an angry red flush.
“Yes, after all he’s done. After all I’ve done to him, we are starting anew without Ministry intervention or well meaning plotters.” He gave his father a brief look that Narcissa caught.
“I still love him and I want him around,” Draco said, arranging his used utensils neatly on his empty plate. He turned to look out of the dining room window “I don’t want to be staring out that window longing for him in twenty-five years because I was held down by pride or by past hurts. Please trust that I know what I’m doing.
“If you’ll excuse me,” he said, standing from the table and pushing his chair in. He went to his silent mother’s side and kissed her forehead. “Also, I will be moving into my new flat this weekend.”
“What?”
“I know it’s sudden, Mother, but the perfect property became available recently and it’s exactly what I was looking for. It’s time I stopped living between you.” He paused, looking between her and his father. “I think it’s time for me to be out on my own.
A/N:
I am happy with this chapter, I hope the readers are as well. I never thought that Harry was the bad guy, or blamed Draco for taking his chance. Love gets the better of us and I don't think I would have taken a forced bonding laying down either. But I hope you'll agree that they have come a long way from the people they were at the beginning and have truly come to care for one another. Draco knew that he had to let go, but I could not stand to do that without giving them a new beginning.
The final chapter will be posted before the end of the year, I am currently putting the final touches on this and the epilogue. As soon as it's ready I will send it to my beta.
CHAPTER 28
Beta:
noscrubs12345*
Title: Harry's Dirty Little Secrets 27/28
Rating: R
Summary: Harry's a successful Quidditch player that enjoys a very casual love life.When sudden paternity suits arise and accusations are flying,an old fashioned Ministry decides to auction him off in Marriage to the highest bidder. HarryDraco slash AU no Voldie
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters do not belong to me.
Chapter 1/ Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4/ Chapter 5/ Chapter 6/ Chapter 7/ Chapter 8/ Chapter9/ Chapter 10/
Chapter 11/ Chapter 12/ Chapter 13/ Chapter 14/ Chapter 15/ Chapter 16/ Chapter 17/ Chapter 18 / Chapter 19 / Chapter 20 /Chapter 21/ Chapter 22 / Chapter 23 / Chapter 24/Chapter 25 / Chapter 26/
He’d sent the divorce papers before he’d gone to see Severus and meeting with him had only served to strengthen his resolve. He had gone about it the Slytherin way by taking advantage of the opportunity to actually be married to Harry. It had seemed so easy at the time: marry him, have Harry get to know him and learn to love him.
Harry’s rebellion should not have been all that surprising having known him for so many years and seeing the other man’s irritating habit of thinking before acting. Then after their bonding celebration and the horrible scene with the server in his father’s study, the pain had brought out the vindictiveness in Draco and he had resorted to tampering with the man’s libido.
Draco made himself see the memory when he felt like seeking Harry out and recanting his request for a divorce. He’d seen that memory enough times he could step into Harry’s role and recite the harsh words he had uttered so emphatically.
It also meant he had called it correctly. Harry was frightened. Scared of Draco, scared of himself, and Draco wasn’t sure who he feared more. What he did know was that he couldn’t keep exposing himself by handing over his long protected heart. It just left him feeling raw and defeated.
The saddest part was that he wasn’t horribly embarrassed or upset at his behaviour. It would have been worth it to have received his happily ever after in the end.
Draco scoffed, rubbing a hand down his face. He hadn’t obtained his fairy tale ending though. He had trapped an unwilling man and it was about time he moved on.
Which was why he was so taken aback by the sudden outpouring of letters and phone calls in the last two days. Harry had taken to calling him repeatedly and leaving messages where he simply asked Draco to call him back. He sent letters with the same message: ‘Please call me.”
He never picked them up, but he had taken to carrying his mobile around on silent tucked into his front pocket, only listening to the messages when he was alone and not daring to call back. He even started receiving letters from their friends asking him to call Harry, that he was sorry and wanted to see him.
He felt oversensitive to everything, confused about Harry’s persistence in seeking him out. Scared what he would say. What else did he want from him? Draco had finally given up.
He felt a reprieve with the twins because they never spoke of it, never pressured him to talk about anything except ideas for products or marketing.
Their business was flourishing, and Draco was going to look into a couple of locales for the opening of the third store in a wizarding village near Durmstrang.
It was easy to forget how his life was crumbling when he was with the twins. They both served as excellent distracters, which had to be the reason why he pulled his mobile out during one of their get-togethers and watched Harry’s name flashing on the display before tucking it back into his pocket.
A look back up at the twins froze him in his tracks. He didn’t know what kind of expression he’d made as he stared at the call screen, but for the first time he saw matching expressions of fondness and what could only be sympathy on the identical faces.
He couldn’t let this linger.
X x x X x x X
The ornate doors to his study blew open, cracking against the sides of the doorway. Did Draco really have to abuse the hardware?
“How dare you?” his son inquired between clenched teeth. “Wilkens has informed me they haven’t begun processing my request.”
Lucius knew it would only be a matter of time before Draco’s solicitor discovered that tidbit of information.
“The Ministry is not known for its speediness, I’m afraid,” he answered, resting his chin on his clasped hands. It was always good to play innocent.
“Don’t insult me.” Of course, playing innocent didn’t always work.
“I know that you met with Runcorn for lunch three days ago. It’s a little odd you happen to dine with the head of the Department of Magical Families and within hours the handling of my divorce was halted.” His son was in quite a state; his wand was at the ready, absently tapping it against his upper thigh as he spoke.
“Why? What do you want? Is this to protect your reputation? To avoid the blight of a divorce falling on your house?” The disappointed look in the silver eyes cut him to the quick. He really had done a disservice to his son if he thought so little of him.
“It would be a fabrication if I said I didn’t care about how our family is perceived, but that’s not why I asked him, Draco.” He looked over his son and recalled the expressive green eyes of his son-in-law and his unexpected request.
“I did it because Potter asked me to,” he finally replied.
“Harry asked you to? And you obliged him because....” There was a look of joy that had briefly crossed Draco’s face before he glared at him.
“He wants to see you. He’s reaching out to you, but you’re not even giving him the chance to explain.” But Lucius knew there was so much happening he wasn’t privy to.
“I’ve given him a lot already,” Draco said softly, tucking away is wand.
‘Why would he bother and why do you care for me all of a sudden?’ was what Lucius knew he wasn’t asking him, but he couldn’t help but answer anyway.
“I’ve always cared about you. I know I’ve let my problems with your mother keep me at bay, but I do love you. That’s why I’m doing this.” He reached out to pat his son’s hand.
“I let my marriage break apart because I was too proud to apologise. It was the biggest mistake of my life, and instead of trying to make it right I fell back on my pride when she confronted me.” He had been so stupid then. Too many drinks had landed him in an unknown witch’s bed, and, in the aftermath, he could hear his father’s voice in his mind demanding that he not bend to Narcissa because he was the head of the household. All it had got him, he knew, was an empty bed and an empty life.
“I agreed to help Potter because you love him, and he is trying to fight for you as I should have done for your mother.”
X x x X x x X
Harry really hoped he found the place soon. He’d been barging into empty storefronts all morning. He was lucky they were open to any wizard and not attended by someone or else he would have been frightening a lot of people.
After speaking to Lucius he had gone to the twins prepared to ask them for help. It had been strange to be stared down so seriously by the two men who never seemed to take a pause from merrymaking and pranks. Harry explained he was desperate to see Draco, and that he had been avoiding all forms of communication so the only option would be to surprise him in person.
Fred and George had looked at him intently for a while before declaring they had no idea where he would be today but knew he was going to be researching storefronts. George handed him the property section of the newspaper. About fifteen of the entries were circled in red felt tip.
“He’s at one of those,” Fred shrugged when Harry asked where to go.
“I really hope you find him. He didn’t tell us not to tell you his whereabouts, but I’m pretty sure it was implied somewhere,” George added with crooked smile.
“Go get him, Harry,” they both encouraged, raising their fists in a manner reminiscent of their days as Beaters at Hogwarts.
By now he’d been halfway through the list and had not caught sight of Draco. He only hoped he had figured correctly what path Draco would most likely take. Harry thought that since he was so organised he would go to the locations from the top most entry and follow a left to right pattern down the paper.
At least the entries were centred in villages in what seemed to be Sweden and he was able to find transportation from one place to the other. Just when he had started to despair, he caught sight of Draco’s memorable blond hair entering his next destination.
The bus he rode did not stop for another block so he was forced to wait until the doors opened and released him. He ran back to where he had seen him enter and let himself in.
“Harry?” Draco set down the briefcase he carried on the counter of the only piece of furniture in the empty store.
“Hey, Draco.” Harry licked his lips nervously.
“How did you find me?” Draco asked, leaning back against the counter.
“Um, I asked...” he trailed off, unsure if the twins wanted him to reveal they assisted him.
“The Nines,” Draco answered, coming to the conclusion himself. He could probably read the guilt on Harry’s face.
“Actually, they just gave me the newspaper with possible choices.” He showed him the page where he had crossed off the places he’d visited. “I’ve been working my way through them. I thought I wouldn’t find you.”
“You almost didn’t.” Draco answered. “I was going to stop for the day but decided to survey this last one.”
Silence descended upon them and Harry took a moment to drink in the sight of Draco. He looked as perfectly put together as he always did, and Harry felt the familiar yearning to muss him up.
“You didn’t reply to my messages,” he said finally.
“I didn’t think there was anything to say.”
“Of course there is…. A lot happened and we didn’t even talk about it.”
“I thought you had been quite clear when you shouted at me in our bedroom.” Draco’s tone was even.
“I’m sorry about that. I was really confused and angry, but I want to explain.” He hoped Draco would listen to what he had to say. Every moment he didn’t say anything the fear that he wouldn’t grew.
“You’ve gone through the trouble of seeking me out.” Draco rubbed his temple briefly. “What is it you want to tell me?”
“Um… well, I guess the first thing I want to say is I’m sorry.” Harry fell quiet for a moment while he tried to formulate his words into actual sentences.
“I tried to prepare what I would say, but I’m kind of forgetting what I practiced. I guess I should start at the beginning. Well, Hermione says it’s the beginning.” Harry smiled nervously, but it didn’t chase away Draco’s guarded look.
“My aunt and uncle were horrible, as you saw.”
“I remember their less than stellar personalities from the party,” Draco agreed, fiddling with the latch on his briefcase.
“They always were horrible to me ever since I can remember. But even when they treated me like a servant I still loved them. I mean, I was supposed to, wasn’t I?
“They were the only family I had left. So I tried to do the chores and things they wanted and hoped that they would see how much I was willing to make them happy and love me back.” Harry pulled at a loose thread on his jumper.
“Except they never did. The first time I met Ron’s family, I realised it didn’t work that way. Arthur and Molly love all seven of their kids equally and my relatives couldn’t love two. They would never love me,” Harry finished, looking at him for a reaction, and, although his expression didn’t change, he could tell there was a softening in Draco’s eyes.
Harry thought he should continue while he could still reveal more of himself.
“Listen, I don’t want to blame the Dursleys or even Marietta. I was just scared,” he admitted, shrugging his shoulders helplessly.
“I know that,” Draco said softly.
“I had this plan, you know.” Harry let out a rueful laugh. “I was going to get you to hate me so much you would divorce me before I even knew it was you who won me. All I knew was that I was being forced to marry and I was going to make it end as soon as possible. Then all that stuff happened with the potion and our truce….” Harry grimaced, knowing he had to say this, had to be honest.
“I really did mean to try, but only because I felt I was safely unaffected. It was just so easy to get all the benefits of being with you and having your affection without the pressure to acknowledge any of my own emotions with you content with what we were.”
Draco nodded, biting the corner of his lip. Harry couldn’t tell what he was thinking; he had never been this hard to read.
“Then Oliver came along and he was so shiny eyed and glowing. You’ve see how he gets when he talks about Percy,” Harry stressed, remembering the burly man and his besotted expression.
“And he kept going on about our relationship and talking about love. He confronted me with something I had been hiding from and ignoring because… because I knew I didn’t want it to end.
“I want to keep trying. I’m not saying I’m not scared--I’m scared shitless, actually--but I know that I want this. I want you.
“So, can we start over?” he asked the same thing Draco had asked him what seemed like so long ago in the locker room. “Please?”
“Maybe this really is for the best,” Draco murmured, reaching for his briefcase, searching through the folds before he pulled out a parchment and a quill.
“But....Look, I know I may have not said it, but you get that I love you. I mean, apparently everyone knew except me. You understood what I was trying to say, right?” Harry tried, confused his revelation had not caused a different reaction. “I know I’m not the best speaker and I may not make sense, but I would like you to give this relationship another chance.”
“I understood. More than you know, Harry, and you’ve just confirmed that I’m making the right decision.” Draco’s voice was filled with resignation.
He held out the parchment he’d retrieved. “This statement confirms that our divorce is amicable and will require no further action.” Draco wore a shuttered expression and Harry didn’t know how it had all gone so wrong.
“I know that I have issues, but I am trying. Let me court you. Percy said there was this art thing opening tomorrow night. We could go to lunch and then go check it out if you want,” Harry proposed, desperately ignoring the papers.
But Draco said nothing. He kept his arm outstretched, offering him those damnable papers.
“Hey, you did pretty rotten things to me too and I forgave you. Why won’t you forgive me?” Harry asked, not understanding why he wouldn’t give him a chance to prove himself.
“Please just sign the papers, Harry,” Draco said softly, holding them back out, his expression so sorrowful Harry felt his heart drop. Although Draco did not seem happy, he could see he wasn’t wavering from his decision.
It was with a heavy heart that he accepted the document. He went to the counter to lay it across the surface, grabbed the quill and scrawled his name across the dotted line.
“Now all that’s left is a bit of your blood.” Draco’s voice seemed so loud in the silent room. Harry extended his hand and watched him silently as he warned that he would feel a light pinch from his spell. He cherished the feeling of Draco holding his hand to perform the spell but he let it go too soon.
He looked down at his thumb where a blood drop was welling on the surface. Just when it was about to overflow he pressed it next to his signature. The whole document shown red for a moment and Harry could feel the draw of magic in the air.
“It’s done.” The blond looked at him. “I will file it tomorrow morning. Once the Wizengamot seal is on it, the divorce will be final.”
“Yeah…. I’m sorry for bothering you,” Harry said, turning around, his lips tightening. He couldn’t be angry with Draco. Isn’t this is what he had been demanding from the beginning when he had first been bound to him?
“I’m sorry, Harry,” Draco apologised, lightly touching his shoulder.
“I was too late.” Harry shrugged, smiling bitterly and turning around to face him once more.
“No.” He shook his head. “I’m so sorry for putting you through all of this.” Harry could see him visibly swallow.
“What my father had done at your request, regardless of the noble intention, the result was still entrapment.” Draco’s smile was so sad that Harry had to restrain himself from reaching for him.
He waved the papers. “Just like what I had done to you beginning with Blaise’s intervention and my attempts to make you give me an opportunity. I was in love with the idea of you and I would have done anything to get you.” Draco laughed humourlessly.
Harry felt his breath leave him. “Then I got to know you and the more time we spent together the more certain I became what I felt was love.”
“Then why…” Harry motioned desperately to the divorce papers where his bloody mark taunted him.
Harry froze in surprise when Draco pulled him in for a tight hug, and he could only relish his familiar scent and melt in the warmth of their embrace. “Because it was a prison for you, held together by lies and manipulation. We just managed to cause each other pain and it’s time I let you go,” Draco whispered in his ear.
Harry felt the wetness on his face from where Draco’s was pressed against it and felt his own tears slide down his face. With one last squeeze and a discreet sniff, Draco moved away, tucking those dreaded documents away in his briefcase and starting toward the front door.
He had been too late. It had not mattered that Harry had confronted his fears and made the attempt to move forward. They were divorced and it was all over. He had lost Draco. Sure, their relationship had started off on the wrong foot, but it had turned into so much more.
“I don’t want you to let me go,” Harry said finally, hurrying his steps and catching Draco at the front door.
When he turned away from the door the blond’s eyes were red and glistening with unshed tears.
“Harry?”
He didn’t bother to wipe his own tears, just looked intently at the man who was trying to walk away with his heart.
“Yeah?” he replied with a croak.
“After I leave the Ministry I’m going to be at the Three Broomsticks. If you mean what you say--” Draco’s smile was heartbreakingly beautiful “--I may let you buy me a drink.” And with that last statement he opened the door and he was gone.
Harry’s joyous laughter was obscenely loud bouncing off the vaulted ceilings.
X x x X x x X
Shortly after winning the Quidditch World Cup semi-finals, Potter loses…
By Daniel Little
Dear readers, I have some very important and not all surprising news regarding famous Quidditch player Harry Potter. Just yesterday it became public record that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy have filed and were granted a divorce.
Your esteemed reporter has had quite a history reporting on their marriage, and I’m remembering the strange whispers that the marriage may have been coerced. Again, the Ministry is not available for comment, but I think it’s a little odd that this news is on the coattails of the recent announcement that declared Harry Potter free of all paternity charges.
What’s even stranger is that I spotted the pair at the Three Broomsticks enjoying a pint together on what had to be the afternoon after the filing. They certainly didn’t look like any divorced couple I know. If I didn’t know better I would say they looked like they were on a date. Potter was certainly chivalrous enough to pay the bill and seemed to be glaring daggers at a few admiring looks that Mr Malfoy drew his way.
This reporter will do what he can to find out more and, as always, keep my readers informed. It would not shock me if the reasons behind the divorce were Potter’s fault. After all, he’s known to be quite the wanker.
“Is this true?” Narcissa was aghast, looking from the newspaper to her son across the table. Lucius looked on without saying a word.
“I think it’s because Mr Little is still upset at being rejected. Harry is not a wanker all of the time.” Draco smiled softly, reaching to pour himself another cup of coffee.
“Draco Lucius Malfoy, you know perfectly well what I’m asking. Did you really have lunch with Potter? Was it an assignation?” She pushed aside her breakfast.
“It was lunch, Mother, but if Harry extends a proper invitation in the near future for a date I am quite sure I’ll say yes,” Draco replied, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
“After all he’s done? Now that you are free of him you’re going back?” Her fair face was starting to take on an angry red flush.
“Yes, after all he’s done. After all I’ve done to him, we are starting anew without Ministry intervention or well meaning plotters.” He gave his father a brief look that Narcissa caught.
“I still love him and I want him around,” Draco said, arranging his used utensils neatly on his empty plate. He turned to look out of the dining room window “I don’t want to be staring out that window longing for him in twenty-five years because I was held down by pride or by past hurts. Please trust that I know what I’m doing.
“If you’ll excuse me,” he said, standing from the table and pushing his chair in. He went to his silent mother’s side and kissed her forehead. “Also, I will be moving into my new flat this weekend.”
“What?”
“I know it’s sudden, Mother, but the perfect property became available recently and it’s exactly what I was looking for. It’s time I stopped living between you.” He paused, looking between her and his father. “I think it’s time for me to be out on my own.
A/N:
I am happy with this chapter, I hope the readers are as well. I never thought that Harry was the bad guy, or blamed Draco for taking his chance. Love gets the better of us and I don't think I would have taken a forced bonding laying down either. But I hope you'll agree that they have come a long way from the people they were at the beginning and have truly come to care for one another. Draco knew that he had to let go, but I could not stand to do that without giving them a new beginning.
The final chapter will be posted before the end of the year, I am currently putting the final touches on this and the epilogue. As soon as it's ready I will send it to my beta.
CHAPTER 28