Tale As Old As Time

Chapter Three

"What?" Draco repeated. He tried to look into Harry's eyes, but the raven-haired boy looked down on the floor. Harry swallowed the tears, which came back after the memory of yesterday.

Draco lifted Harry's chin and saw the hurt in the other man's eyes. "Oh Baby, what happened?" he asked worried.

"Yesterday... my birthday... Ron...," he sobbed. He tried to hold the tears back, but he couldn't help but throw himself into Draco's arms, sobbing and crying outloud.

"Oh Draco, it was so awful!" he continued. Draco held his boyfriend's shaking body tightly and comforted him. "Shh... it's ok. Shh... calm down.".

"Can we sit?"

"Of course, love," Draco whispered, leading Harry to the big couch beside the window.

They both sat down and Harry leaned against Draco's shoulder, who in turn held him tightly and stroked his hair.

"Tell me what happened," he whispered gently, not wanting to make Harry feel uneasy.

The black-haired man nodded and sighed. "Yesterday," he started, "when I was preparing my birthday party-"

"Oh god, your birthday! I've completely forgotten. I'm so sorry! I have to get your present, I left it in the hallway," Draco interrupted, wanting to stand up.

"Please stay," Harry said, pulling him back to the couch. "It doesn't matter. You can get it later."

Draco was relieved and sat down again. "So, what are you saying again?" he asked.

"Okay. I told Ron that you'll come soon and suddenly he totally freaked out. He shouted why I've invited you even though I know that he doesn't like you and that he's sick of me and-"

He stopped. Tears began to trickle down his face again, wetting the poor brunette's flushed cheeks.

Draco sighed. "That Weasel can be such a prat."

Harry ignored his insult.

"...he said that he knows when he's unwanted and that I should 'go and fuck my little, perfect boyfriend' and I shouldn't crawl back to him, when you leave me, and..." he wailed, choking back his sob but failing in the attempt.

"You should have heard him, his voice was full of hatred. It was like he's disgusted of me."

The statement made Harry cry uncontrollably. His loose shirt was evidently yanked in all directions and his hair was even more unruly than before. Noticing this, Draco wiped the tears off his boyfriend's cheeks with his own shirt (no matter if it's a sixty-five Galleon Armani-Shirt) and kissed him reassuringly on the lips.

"I love you, Harry. I hope you know that. I love you more than everything and everybody I've ever loved. I love you more than my own life. "

Harry was all too stunned to hear this. Sure, he thought, Draco can be quite the sentimentalist sometimes, but..

"...and I swear by Merlin's sake that I'll never ever leave you, no matter what happens! I hope you believe me. I love you, Harry James Potter, and I..."

Harry stifled back an amused laugh, briefly forgetting about his not-so-good encounter with Ron. "Are getting too mushy for your own good, Drake. Now, scoot over and kiss me. "

He slid his tongue over Draco's parted lips.

"Whoa!" Draco said, surprised by the passion of his lover. He entwined his fingers in Harry's hair and kissed him back fiercely.

He moaned into Harry's mouth, feeling his heat and not wanting him to stop.

"Harry, I-," Draco gasped, not knowing what to say.

Harry chuckled at the puzzled expression on the blonde's face.

"Draco, I love you too. More than everything in the world. And I promise I'll never let anybody hurt you..."

"Would you like to live with me?" he asked suddenly.

Draco was taken aback. "What?!"

'Oh no. I shouldn't have taken him by surprise!'

"If you're not ready, that's okay. I understand. Somehow. I guess," Harry stuttered, wringing what's left of his shirttail.

Draco looked as if his brain was having difficulty processing the question.

"...did you just ask me to live with you?"

Harry cringed. "Uhm...yes?"

"Well...," Draco said, rubbing his chin.

Harry gulped.

Oh, fuck....I should have known...He doesn't want me. How could I be so stupid?

"Well?"

"Oh, what the heck," Draco said, rolling his eyes. He jumped into Harry's lap and snuggled close.

"Harry Potter, I'd love to live with you."

Harry smiled. "Thanks, Draco. "

Draco nodded. "Now that our living arrangements are settled, what about that Weasley? I think I'll go and kill him, that bastard!"

Harry frowned. Draco sounded so different with the anger in his voice.

The grey-eyed man saw Harry's frown and said encouragingly, "Oh love, it was a joke! I'm not going to kill him! Not now, that is, but...look, I'm going to talk to him. He's your best friend!"

"He was," Harry whispered grimly.

"No! Don't speak like that. I'll... go to him... immediately!" Draco said.

"No!" Harry jumped up to his feet, as if in the know of what his lover was thinking. "You won't! You would only make it worse. And it would be of no use going to his flat now. He's at work."

Draco pouted. He doesn't like not solving matters immediately.

"So please, calm down. Shall I make us lunch?" Harry said, trying to sound cheerful.

Draco saw the worried expression on his lover's face.

"Okay, but I won't let him hurt you like this next time. I'll do something. Maybe we should talk to Hermione. But you're right. We should have lunch first, I'm starving!" he moaned, suddenly feeling the emptiness in his stomach.

Harry smiled and slung his arms round Draco's waist. He kissed his lover softly on the lips.

"Me too. I'll try to forget about this, Draco. We would work things out. "

And with that, Harry grabbed Draco's hand and led him to the kitchen.