Summer Rain

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. JKR owns everything.

Chapter 14

The day after dinner with Ron and Hermione, Harry had made a very awkward floo call to Mrs Weasley to arrange to see her with Mr Weasley and Ginny in two days time for lunch.

The next forty eight hours dragged for Harry. He was a wreck. He was having difficulty sleeping, he couldn't eat and he found himself snapping at Draco for no reason. Draco never bit back, and gave Harry space when he needed it, or was there with a comforting hug when Harry was worrying.

It was now the evening before Harry was due to confront the Weasleys and Harry was curled up in a ball on the bed staring into space. Draco emerged from the bathroom and his heart plummeted at the sight of depressed boyfriend on the bed. Harry let out a long miserable sigh and looked up at Draco with sad eyes.

Harry had worked the night before and hadn't even bothered to change out of his pyjamas once he got out of bed that afternoon. He had drunk a cup of tea and a glass of orange juice that Draco had offered him, but refused any dinner, despite Draco trying to coax him with his favourite meal.

"Right, come on," Draco said firmly as he took Harry's hand and pulled him into a sitting position. "Put some clothes on. We're going out for a walk. I want ice cream and I'm not going out alone." Draco didn't really want ice cream, but he needed an excuse to get Harry at least out of bed, and preferably out of the house, even for just a little bit of fresh air.

"Don't, Draco," Harry said flatly and pulled his hand away. "I don't want to go anywhere."

"Tough. I do, and you're coming with me," Draco persisted and went over to the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of tracksuit pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt for Harry.

"You aren't going to get off my back, are you?" Harry asked with irritation. Draco just tossed the clothes Harry, folded his arms and shook his head. "I don't want fucking ice cream."

"Who said you did? I do. It's your loss if you just want to sit and watch me eat it." Draco smirked when Harry glared at him.

"You're a right pain in the arse," Harry grumbled, but pulled the clothes on anyway.

"Oh yes, haemorrhoid is my middle name," Draco said lightly and Harry snorted. "You still love me though."

"Can't you just go without me?" Harry pleaded.

"Nope," Draco shrugged, "sorry."

"You aren't sorry, you shit," Harry mumbled.

"You got me, I'm not sorry," Draco admitted with a laugh. "You know, this domestic abuse, I don't know that I should put with it. All this name calling, I may be forced not to share my ice cream with you."

"I don't want it," Harry said petulantly. He pulled his shoes out from under the bed and slipped them on.

"You say that now, but when I'm sitting there with a huge chocolate sundae covered in nuts and cream, with chocolate sauce dripping down my fingers... just waiting to be licked off..." Draco sniffed and studied his nails. Harry blinked, thinking of that imagery and then smacked his lips in annoyance.

"I know what you're trying to do," Harry muttered, "and any other time it would work. Come on. It you are dead set on this ice cream, let's get it over with so I can come back and feel sorry for myself again."

o o o o o

"Go on, just one lick! It's your favourite." Draco held the dripping ice cream cone out to Harry who screwed his nose up and turned his face away.

"I knew you only got that flavour to try and get me to eat it." Harry rolled his eyes. "You never were much of a choc mint fan."

"Says who?" Draco cried indignantly and Harry gave him a bemused looked. "Oh alright! I'm only trying to help, Harry." Draco sighed and went back to eating his ice cream as they walked slowly back to Harry's apartment. Harry had refused to stay at the ice cream parlour for Draco to sit and eat a full sundae, so Draco had relented and bought an ice cream cone to go knowing he was lucky enough to have gotten Harry out of the house in the first place.

"I know, baby," Harry replied softly and caught Draco by the arm to stop him. "It means a lot to me and I'm sorry for being a miserable arse. I'm just really dreading tomorrow."

"I wish you'd let me come with you," Draco told him.

"That would only make things worse, and I would get defensive immediately. They don't even know you're back yet, love and I'm still very angry with them. I want to confront them and see their reactions. I know it's screwed but I need to know if they are remorseful in any way," Harry said and bit the corner of his bottom lip.

"It's not screwed, Harry. Anyone in your position would want to do the same thing." Draco leaned in and gave Harry a kiss and Harry smiled softly at Draco's cold, sweet lips from his ice cream. "Is it their reactions you're worried about?"

"I suppose," Harry admitted. "It's going to be so much worse if they don't even show the slightest bit of remorse for hurting me. I'm also worried that things are going to go down the toilet and I end up having a huge falling out with them."

"You're worried it will affect your relationship with Ron and Hermione," Draco stated rather than questioned. Harry's features fell into a tiny frown.

"How did you know that was what I was thinking?" Harry asked and gazed intently in Draco's eyes.

"You're an open book to me, babe." Draco smiled and tossed the last of his ice cream in the nearby rubbish bin. He wrapped an arm around Harry's waist and they started walking slowly again. "I also know how much they all mean to you. Sure, the Weasleys are important to you and I don't doubt that you think of them as family, but losing them is not what you are worried about. Losing Ron and Hermione, however, is a completely different story. It's them who have been with you through thick and thin; who you go to when something is wrong; who know all about you, even if you sometimes don't want them to; and who will stick by you no matter what..." Harry gulped and reached up to brush away a few stray tears.

"I don't know what I'd do if I lost them because of this thing with the Weasleys..." Harry whispered and buried his face in Draco's shoulder. They stopped walking again and Draco hugged Harry soothingly. "They were the first people to give me the time of day and like me for just being me. But, I don't know if I have it in me to forgive the Weasleys. Not yet anyway. What if Ron and Hermione can't accept that?"

"Harry, you need to trust their word when they say they will support you in anything," Draco insisted. "They've been through a hell of a lot with you, and they're still right there for you whenever you need it -- and whenever you don't -- but that's entirely my point." Harry heaved a deep sigh.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens," Harry said resignedly. "I'm not going to not confront the Weasleys because I'm worried about what Ron and Hermione will think. I need to do this, for my sake and for yours. They need to know we belong with each other, and that they hurt me. Maybe even unforgivably so." Draco didn't have an answer for Harry that time, so he just gave him a soft kiss and took his hand. They walked the rest of the way back to the apartment in silence.

When they got back, Draco ran Harry a warm bath with relaxing oils, and lit scented candles around the bathroom so Harry could have a long soak. When Harry got out of the tub, before he even had the chance to put his pyjamas on, Draco led him to the bed and gave him a long, sensual, full body massage that got them both so aroused they ended the night with a long session of lovemaking.

Just as Draco had hoped, Harry slept right through the night after that, and Draco didn't wake him until an hour and a half before he was due at the Weasleys so he wouldn't have too long to get worked up.

Draco now sat on the unmade bed and watched Harry frantically try to pull on a pair of jeans and his shirt without falling on his arse.

"I'm going to puke," Harry muttered thickly as he tucked the shirt roughly into his jeans.

"No you aren't. You're going to try and calm down and come over here and give me a long kiss goodbye. I'd prefer that without vomit breath, thank you very much." Draco smirked and Harry laughed despite his mood.

"Just a kiss though. No groping. I'm not turning up to the Weasleys with a hard on," Harry insisted, pulling his belt through his jeans.

"Aw, why not?" Draco asked cheekily. "They'll see for themselves how happy you are to see me." Harry stopped abruptly and started biting his already well-bitten nails.

"I can't do this!" Harry cried.

"Shhh, yes you can." Draco pulled himself off the bed and wrapped his arms around Harry's waist from behind. "Are you sure you don't want me to drive you?" Harry had decided to drive to the nearest wizarding town out of the city to give him a chance to clear his head, and then Apparate to the Weasleys from there. He loathed floo travel and felt this was his best option.

"I'll be fine," Harry said shakily. "I won't be home any later than about four, ok? I've got work tonight."

"Yes, and I'm going to shag you silly before your shift," Draco promised and got a small smile from Harry. "Pure stress relief. That's my story and I'm sticking to it," Draco smirked.

"Good." Harry went back to biting his nails.

"Remember, you floo me straight away if you need me and I'll Apparate directly, ok? I don't care if Muggles see me," Draco said determinedly and spun Harry around and kissed him, their tongues meeting hungrily. Harry pulled out of the kiss prematurely, though Draco didn't mind.

"I need to go. You'll be here when I get back?" Harry asked fretfully.

"Absolutely," Draco said firmly, giving Harry another small kiss. "Please take care, babe. I love you."

"I love you too," Harry answered and left with a brief glance back at Draco before closing the door behind him.

o o o o o

"Harry dear! It's good to see you!" Mrs Weasley greeted Harry at the door and engulfed in him a tight hug. Harry felt himself stiffen in her embrace and he pulled away abruptly. She did not appear to notice.

"You too, Mrs Weasley," Harry lied.

"Come sit down and have some tea. Lunch will be a little while yet." Mrs Weasley led him through to their cluttered living room and pushed Harry down into one of the overstuffed armchairs.

"That's ok. I wanted to talk about something first anyway. Is Mr Weasley and Ginny here?" Harry got straight to the point. Mrs Weasley flinched very slightly before smiling brightly at him, but Harry didn't miss it. Ginny came barrelling into the room just then and hugged Harry tightly from behind.

"Oh, Harry! It's been so long! It's wonderful to see you! Last time I saw you, you were a pretty upset and didn't stick around. What was all that about that night?" Ginny asked as she plopped into the chair beside Harry. Harry looked coolly at Mrs Weasley and then shifted his gaze to Ginny.

"I'd seen something that shocked me; I got quite upset," Harry said cryptically.

"How's Lucas, dear?" Mrs Weasley asked cheerfully. "I expected him to come with you today." Mr Weasley came into the room and greeted Harry with a brief handshake and sat down next to Mrs Weasley on the couch.

"Unlikely, as we broke up," Harry said flatly. Mrs Weasley gasped and Harry saw Ginny's lips fall into smug smirk.

"Oh, how did that happen? You were so wonderful together!" Mrs Weasley cried.

"Really?" Harry said with a bored, sarcastic tone. Something in Harry snapped and he could almost feel the anger starting to tingle under his skin. All intentions of having a rational conversation with them flew out the window.

"Such a shame!" Ginny commented with a wry smile and Harry's eyes narrowed. "He was a sweet guy. Why did you break up?

"Didn't Ron and Hermione tell you?" Harry asked lightly. "Draco came back." Mrs Weasley's mouth dropped open, and Ginny visibly stiffened. Mr Weasley cleared his throat nervously and gave a small sigh, which Harry read as meaning that it had been Mrs Weasley and Ginny who were the brains behind the threats.

"So yeah, my curiosity wasn't satisfied in my dabbling with Lucas." Harry's eyes flashed angrily. "What do you think, Gin? Ready to jump me right here and now so I get over my phase and we can run off happily into the sunset together with a kid on each hip? Isn't that what you all wanted? Ready to Obliviate me to forget I FUCK MEN!"

"We - " Ginny started.

"And now we come to the reason for my visit," Harry interrupted rudely.

"Harry, it's not what you think," Mrs Weasley said anxiously and tried to reach out and take Harry's hand but he pulled away forcefully.

"Do not presume to know what I am thinking," Harry sneered. "I may not have grown up with a mother but I definitely have my own brain. Draco told me everything and there is no reason for him to lie to me."

"We did it for your own good, Harry!" Ginny insisted and Harry glared hatefully at her.

"For your own good, you mean?" he spat, standing up to tower over them. "When you forced Draco away, you took away the only thing I had ever learnt to love unconditionally! HE WAS MY LIFE! I LOVED HIM! HOW COULD YOU THINK TAKING HIM AWAY WOULD BE FOR MY OWN GOOD?!" Harry was screaming now and Mrs Weasley was gaping at him, frightened. Ginny had started crying and Mr Weasley sat looking regretful. "I NEVER WANTED YOU GINNY! YOU WERE A SCHOOL CRUSH AND NOTHING MORE! YOU RUINED MY LIFE FOR YOUR OWN GAIN AND I HATE YOU ALL FOR IT!"

"Harry, please calm down, son," Mr Weasley said softly. "I don't want you to get sick with a panic attack." Harry stopped and sat down. He didn't know why he was listening to Mr Weasley, but there was still a tiny voice inside him telling him Mr Weasley had just been dragged along for the ride and it was really all Mrs Weasley's and Ginny's doing.

"He wasn't right for you!" Ginny sobbed. "YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME!"

"YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR ME! EVEN IF HE WASN'T GOOD FOR ME, I LOVED HIM! NOTHING ELSE MATTERED! I DIDN'T WANT YOU! WE WERE NEVER. GOING. TO. GET. BACK. TOGETHER! " Harry shouted, punctuating the last sentence to Ron's sister and causing her to sob louder.

"Harry, dear, you have to understand that we did this for you. You needed to settle down and have a family and children of your own! He was the son of a Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy's own blood, you deserved better," Mrs Weasley tried to reason but Harry turned to her and his face was pure anger.

"I loved him. He loved me. How could you think I deserved 'better'?" Harry sneered, his voice dripping with ice. "DRACO MALFOY IS A BETTER PERSON THAN ANY OF YOU WILL EVER BE!" Harry stood up again and looked at each of them, the fury and hurt bubbling to the forefront. "I will never forgive you all for this," Harry whispered harshly as the tears started to fall. He spun on his heel and fled from their house, Apparating as soon as he reached their back lawn.

Harry arrived right next to his car and fumbled with the keys to open the door. He flung himself into the driver's seat and started crying forcefully. Hurt, anger and regret coursed through him. He felt like had just lost his whole family all over again, and the thought made him feel sick.

Without thinking, Harry shoved the keys into the ignition and started the car. He had to get home to Draco. Draco would make it all better. He pulled forcefully out onto the road and sped off towards home.

o o o o o

Draco closed the book that he was reading in his lap and took off his glasses and placed them both on the coffee table. He glanced at the clock again for about the twentieth time in the last ten minutes. It was nearing five o'clock and Harry still hadn't returned, despite his promises he would be home by four.

Draco considered trying Harry's mobile again, but each time he had tried it had rung off. It was possible Harry was still talking with the Weasleys, but Draco was confident that Harry would call him if he was going to be late. He grabbed the cordless phone again and was just pushing in the numbers when there was a knock at the door.

Oh thank god, Draco thought, not even thinking it was strange for Harry to be knocking on his own door. Draco hurried over and flung the door open.

Hermione was standing there with tears streaming down her face, hugging herself as if she was cold. "Draco," she choked out. "It's Harry. He's been in a car accident."