Chasing Harry

Chapter 18: Back Home

***

"Shouldn't you go talk to the Headmaster? They're very worried about you."

"Dumbledore knows. He brought me back here," Tom explained. He was staring intently at the tousled mess of Harry's hair as his hand played circles around the other boy's nipple.

"Oh, of course." Harry just remembered: it was impossible to floo in or Apparate inside Hogwarts. Talking through the fireplaces was possible, but one can't travel through them here for security reasons. "I bet Snape wasn't pleased."

"Tell me about it. He even blamed me for the state of his nose."

Harry laughed, remembering the chapped, Vaseline-coated skin of the Potions teacher at the Great Hall during dinner yesterday. "Well, you did send him off on a wild goose chase."

"Not intentionally," he said defensively. "How was I to know that I was a walking fifty-year-old life insurance plan?"

"You could have fooled me. At least I got something good out of it: a whole box of the finest Swiss Chocolate Frogs. Remus took a detour through Switzerland after tracking you for days. I'm starting to feel like I have two godfathers and not just one. They seem intent on spoiling me."

"You can add me to that list."

They were relaxing after an exhausting but satisfying reunion. Tom had told Harry everything while he held the smaller boy tightly under the down comforters. He had given the teachers a summarized and edited version; he didn't want to implicate the remaining Death Eaters any more than he already had. He knew they wouldn't do anything rash while he was alive.

He liked holding Harry like this--hugging him tight with the Gryffindor's back to his. Tom kissed the top of Harry's head fondly, inhaling his scent. He couldn't get enough of him. "I really, really missed you."

Harry turned his head and met his eyes. "So did I. I hated the wait. I didn't know whether you were dead or alive. I couldn't bear the thought of thinking that you were--"

"Shh..." he silenced him. "It's over."

Harry turned to face him. He stared at Tom as gently rubbed his pale cheek. That he had suffered much was evident as much as he tried to belittle his ordeal. He had lost a lot of weight. But it didn't matter. He'd be safe from now on, and Harry wouldn't let anything happen to him as long as they were together.

"I had the oddest dream last night," Harry started suddenly, reminded of something. "I dreamt Draco was trying to get into my pants. Isn't that crazy?"

Tom started. "You dreamt that?"

"Yes. In fact, he didn't have any clothes on. It almost seemed real." He stopped as he noticed the guilty flush that appeared on Tom's cheeks. Harry's eyes narrowed as a germ of suspicion entered his mind. "It was just a dream. Right, Tom? It didn't actually happen in real life, did it?"

"Nothing happened. I swear!" Tom declared. "We were both drunk. He tried to do it but nothing happened."

Harry glared at him. "Do you mean to say that you managed to kick a panting and naked Malfoy off your bed? That's highly unlikely, knowing you."

"Months ago I wouldn't have."

"But?" Harry pressed.

"You know." Tom looked away, embarrassed. He wasn't good with this kind of things. "You came along." He paused uncomfortably.

"Good." Harry nodded, satisfied. "I believe you. The next time you want to get drunk alone with someone in a bedroom, ask me."

"That scar is going to be the death of me." He rolled his eyes.

Then realizing just what he said, he started laughing. An instant later, Harry joined him. Tom wrapped his arms around the Gryffindor as their laughter winded down. "So I take it that we're official?"

"Tom, we're under my sheets with no clothes on and I have no plans of letting you go for the next few hours. In fact, you're going to stay chained to me for the rest of the year. Maybe even next year." He winked. "And if you're lucky and I still want you, I'd add the year after that."

Tom blinked.

"That means yes, you fool."

"Only you could honestly call me that without being socked on the chin. Or cursed."

"I like the privilege. Wait, this isn't my..." Harry paused as if he just realized something. "Oh crap. We're on Ron's bed!"

That started another spate of laughing.

***

She didn't cry.

As soon as she heard the words off Draco's mouth, all she thought of was revenge. How could he? How could he steal him from her? He had no right to have him! Was he here when Harry was at his lowest? No. She cared for him, she nurtured him, she looked after him. With a little more time he would have learned to love her.

But he came along took Harry for himself!

It was early afternoon and she had just come back from Hogsmeade. And just as she walked to the school's entrance, she caught sight of Tom leaving the building along with Hermione.

"There's nothing to explain," Hermione was saying. "I understood your need for privacy."

Tom shook his head, embarrassed. "I should thank you. We've been careless, and it was my fault. I lost control for a while. If someone else walked in he or she would have reacted differently. But I'm grateful that you took it so calmly."

"Calmly?" She smiled mysteriously. "I don't think so. The two of you were rather inspiring."

Before he could ask her what she meant, Ginny suddenly appeared before him. She slapped him hard on the cheek as she gasped, "How could you?"

Surprised, Tom merely stared at her.

After the initial shock, Hermione tried to pull Ginny away. "Gin, you're drunk."

"Of course I'm drunk! That... that idiot just stole Harry away from me!" she shouted as she took an unsteady step backward.

"Ginny, not here, please." She tried to soothe the other girl in an attempt to calm her down. "Does Ron know about this?"

"I'm sorry," Tom said, stricken. "I didn't know..."

Ginny suddenly stopped beating her fists on his chest and just stared at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Couldn't you tell?" she whispered sadly. And then, tearing herself away from Hermione, she ran inside the school, her hand over her mouth.

"Oh no," Hermione said, distressed. "I didn't know it would come to this."

"I thought they were just friends." Tom turned to her, visibly upset. "Harry didn't tell me they were together."

"They weren't," she said simply. "But that didn't stop her from loving him."

She sighed. "Maybe it wouldn't have hurt as much if she took the risk of telling him herself early on. It wouldn't have lasted so long then."

"Harry doesn't know?"

"No. You know Harry, he's not exactly sensitive when it comes to girls. Oh, this is all my fault." Hermione wrung her hands. "I knew and I did nothing."

"It isn't your fault," he murmured, taking her hand. "Where could she have run to?"

***

A door opened in the darkened room. Heavy drapes covered the wide windows and hid the last remaining sunlight. A lone figure lay on one of the beds, sprawled across the sheets like a broken doll.

"How did you get here?" she whispered dully. "I thought boys couldn't get into the girls' dorms through the stairs."

"I climbed the banister."

She looked away. "Please leave."

"I can't."

"Why are you doing this?" she asked quietly. She was spent. The tears had long dried from her cheeks. She couldn't possibly cry any more. All that was left was a hollow pain where previously, there was hope.

"I'm sorry." He sounded closer now. He was standing right beside her, and if she would only look, she would see just how sincere he was.

"Go away." She swallowed. Her voice was hoarse with her weeping. "Can't you see you're making it worse?"

He ignored her plea and, instead, sat beside her prone figure. Harry took the small hand into his own and held it tightly. She didn't even try to resist. She raised her head.

To her surprise, he held out his arms and smiled. "Come."

And, just like that, she complied. She climbed on his lap, into his arms, and wept like a little girl. She cried until his shoulder was soaked with her tears while he murmured soft unintelligible words to her ear. He patted her back awkwardly at first as he let her settle comfortably. They stayed that way for a long time, and he rocked her in his embrace while the sun set behind the drapes of the little room.

"Do you love him, Harry?" she dared to ask after a while.

He didn't even hesitate. "Yes. Yes I do."

She wiped her eyes with her sleeves and lifted her head, meeting his eyes. "I hope he knows how lucky he is."

He said nothing. He just smiled at her as he kissed her fingertips. "Will you be all right?"

"Yes, I'm sure I will. Not now, though." She laughed. "God... look at me! I'm such a mess. I didn't want you to see me like this."

"Someday you'll meet someone a lot more worthy than me," he told her. "Maybe you already did and just don't realize it."

"I doubt that."

"Oh, but I'm sure of it," he said confidently. He grinned at her in that beautiful, gentle way that broke her heart all over again. "I really do love you, Gin."

"I know," she answered. Just in a very different way. "Please tell him I'm sorry for hurting him," she said in a small voice.

"You can tell him later. For you, young lady, are walking to dinner with me."

She would do it for him. Maybe it could make things a little better. She just hoped she could bear the pain before it disappeared completely--but she had a feeling that it would be a long way off.

***

Later that night, Tom held the wand in his hand as he stood before Draco's study table. He didn't think anyone could miss a material thing as much as he did his wand. Of course, he was luckier than most. He could at least survive without one.

At that moment, Draco swaggered into the room, smelling like a foul mix of firewhiskey and everything else they had in the Hog's Head. He took one look at Tom and sniffed arrogantly. "You're here."

"What's with the outfit?" Tom blurted out, staring at the stained, ill-fitting robe. "I didn't know you owned that."

"I don't." Draco looked down. "I swapped clothes with a hag. Lost a drinking game."

"I took my wand from your desk. I hope you don't mind."

"No, it's yours." He waved the matter away. He then dug around his pockets and produced a beautifully wrapped package. "Here's your overdue present. I got you a different one. I figured you'd need this more if you're keen on getting it on with Potter."

"What the--" Tom couldn't help laughing as he held a large bottle of, "industrial size lubricant?"

"Always remember that lubricant is your friend," Draco said wisely. "And that's the best money can buy. The formula was made by Professor Snape himself."

He nearly fainted. "Snape makes lubricant?"

"Don't you know? He has a whole line of beauty products under his name. It's his side-business apart from teaching. I even heard that they released a new kind of shampoo." Draco paused. "Though I'm not sure if he tests them himself."

Tom's eyes slid to the lubricant and he muttered, "I'd rather not think about it. And you better take that 'clothing' off you if you don't want Blaise to catch you dirtying his bed."

"With all this mess?" Draco looked at the pile of unmentionables strewn across the green comforter. "I doubt if he'd even notice."

"Seriously, Draco, you're drunk and you stink. Go take a shower," Tom ordered.

"You're so damn bossy," Draco sulked. "What did I ever see in you, Riddle?" He swept into the adjoining bathroom, still complaining loudly.

"So I take it I'm forgiven?" Tom yelled over the sound of rushing water.

"What's to forgive?" Draco yelled back. "Besides, how can I scare a new generation of Hufflepuffs without your help?"

"Probably got laid," Tom added more quietly, knowing that Draco would never hear him. He just hoped it wasn't the hag. He shook his head, musing. There would never be anyone else quite like Draco Malfoy.

***

"Sir, I hope you wouldn't mind answering a few questions."

Lucius looked appraisingly at the young wizard sitting across his desk. A young Auror, fresh from the Academy. The green ones were always the most eager.

"Regarding?" he asked coolly.

The young man fidgeted, uncomfortable with the atmosphere in the imposing room. His colleagues had warned him well: Malfoy was a cool customer. But he had not expected the man to exude an aura that was almost larger than life. He was, to make things short, greatly intimidated, and quite irresistibly drawn.

"Your son's sudden absence from school and your corresponding disappearance. Headmaster Dumbledore asked our department to look into it--"

"As you can see, I'm quite safe here in my office." He smiled enigmatically. "And my son just probably forgot that a weekend only lasts for two days. I'll ensure that he'll be present by tomorrow."

The Auror nodded. "I just need to ask some information about your whereabouts when--"

"In Africa," Lucius cut in. "I have kryptonite mines that needed overseeing."

"I see."

The door opened and a man who was even taller and similarly commanding as Malfoy entered. He nodded formally at the young officer before turning to the blond, "The train will be leaving in thirty minutes. We have to leave now or we'll never make it on time."

Lucius stood and offered his hand to the Auror. "Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to come. You can stay for a while. My secretary will attend to you in a few minutes. Now if you'll excuse me." He walked out of the door with Taylor and shut it behind them.

The Auror blinked at the sound of the door closing. He hoped that the crime Malfoy was accused of wasn't that serious because he doubted if they even had enough to make the case hold. That was one other description to add to the list: slippery. Very slippery.

***

Outside, the two wizards stopped beside a red BMW.

"How many of these Muggle contraptions do you have?" Taylor asked.

"In Britain? Three, I think," Lucius answered indifferently. He sighed as he checked the trunk. "Yes, the luggage is here. I really need this vacation. Thank you for setting it up."

"It's no problem. Do you think he meant what he said about dissolving the organization?"

"Maybe. But he might need us again in a few years. Why do we hold on to him?" He couldn't help asking, frustrated. It was a question that he had asked himself throughout the years but never really found an answer that came close to satisfying him.

"Do you think that we'd be here now--alive--without him?"

"How could I have forgotten? Although..." He suddenly smiled. "I do like calm periods. At least we aren't getting chased by the Ministry dogs all the time."

"Ministry dogs." Taylor Goyle shook his head, amused. "I suppose that's another way to put it."

In a few minutes, the bright red car left the driveway of the Malfoy estate. Perhaps, it was in search for another place to rest.

(tbc)