Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Before You	By : VSBree Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 6294 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All rights are reserved to J.K. Rowling and company. I am not receiving compensation for this fiction.

Chapter List
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Chapter Two: Lies and Friendship
*
“You expect me to voluntarily eat this, Potter?” Malfoy emphasized the word ‘this’ with a pointed finger. “Who makes such horrid plates of food?”
Harry groaned for the second time that morning. “I made it, Malfoy. If you’re going to complain about it, you can eat out. Or starve. Whatever suits your particular fancy this fine morning.”
Malfoy scowled with insult before poking the food curiously. He hesitated before eating a small bit of the eggs and country potato mash. Harry almost smiled in triumph when a small spark of pleasure surfaced in the blue-gray eyes. He knew he could make a delicious breakfast hash. He was proud of it enough to cook it for this hard-to-please arrogant arsehole. Thankfully, it seemed he had been correct to assume it was worth a shot.
“I guess it will suffice for the moment,” Malfoy stated evenly before elegantly finishing his plate.
Harry shook his head. He was starting to figure Malfoy out a bit. After spending most of yesterday and this morning observing the taller wizard, he found that Malfoy wasn’t as complicated as he wanted others to believe he was.
A loud banging at the door startled Harry and his companion out of their silent regard. Harry stood before opening the door to his towering employee.
“Closed up shop for you yesterday,” the older man stated angrily. “Couldn’t even bother with a call, could you?”
Harry closed his eyes in guilt. “Sorry, Dakin. You can have today off as an apology.”
Dakin ignored him and invited himself in before glaring at Malfoy who sat at the table as if the man didn’t exist in the room. “I bet this bloody bastard was to blame,” he barked out before seating himself across from Malfoy. “Don’t think I won’t kick your snotty little arse if you so much as put a hand on Harry.”
“Who is this mountain troll of a man, Potter?” Malfoy inquired as if Dakin hadn’t been speaking to him.
Dakin’s face was becoming redder by the minute. Harry immediately corrected Malfoy with a glare. “This is Dakin McClain. He works at my bookshop and is one of few wizards in this area.”
“Oh,” Malfoy offered with a disinterested tone. “How charming. You make a fine couple.”
Dakin’s eyes darkened impossibly before he crossed his booted feet and regarded the wizard with amusement. “Ah. I see. Yes, Harry is quite the little minx in the bedroom. So if you understand it, don’t think you can impose on my boyfriend.”
Malfoy’s mouth nearly dropped at the statement. Harry was tempted to palm himself in the forehead as Dakin sat arrogantly amused at the other wizard’s reaction. Bloody Dakin.
“So you really are a poof, Potter?” Malfoy turned towards him with disbelieving stare. “And with this of all things.”
“This?” Dakin barked with the crossing of his arms. “I am quite pleasing in the bedroom. Although, I would never humor such a prissy piece of meat as yourself even if I was out right sloshed.”
“That’s enough,” Harry cut in angrily. “Dakin, I will talk with you later. However, I think it’s best if you leave now.”
“Why do I have to leave?” Dakin questioned angrily. “Why does prissy boy get to stay?!”
Malfoy’s lips tightened with contempt. “Run along you unintelligible brute.”
“I am assisting him with something,” Harry answered vaguely.
Dakin was aware of who Harry was. Had helped a time or two to keep that fact hidden where they lived, but Harry refused to involve him with the blackmail he now found himself in.
Dakin had assumed a sort of older brother persona over the years. He was very protective of Harry – though it was very evident that Harry could take care of himself. Even so, Dakin was never swayed away so easily if Harry was clearly uncomfortable. So, for the sake of not involving Dakin, Harry plastered a well-practiced smile on his face and regarded the older man.
“He’s a friend of mine,” Harry started. The small utterance of rebuttal from Malfoy was quickly cut off as Harry continued without hesitation. “He needed my help finding a book. Despite his clear lack of manners, he really is a nice bloke. He’ll be staying for a little while until I can find out information on the whereabouts.” He was able to keep the disgust at his own words from his face but with great effort.
It was mostly the truth, though the state of their relationship was false.
Dakin looked less than convinced but nodded anyway. “Then I’ll help too,” he started with a look of pure hatred at Malfoy who looked rather perplexed by Harry’s previous statement. “I would rather his stay be short and sweet. What’s the book called?”
“The Dead Man’s Boot,” Harry answered, slightly relieved he had calmed his older friend down so quickly. Dakin was quick to start and hard to slow. Thankfully, today he seemed rather willing to cool down.
“Got it,” the older man replied, standing with another pointed glare before coming to stand in front of Harry.
When Harry felt the soft brush of lips to his forehead, he was suddenly aware of what just transpired. Dakin had kissed him. Albeit on the forehead, but the bloody bastard had actually kissed him in front of Malfoy!
“Goodbye sweetums,” Dakin said with a grin as Harry looked at the other wizard as if he had grown another head. “I’ll check on you soon.” This statement was said towards Malfoy before Dakin left just as loudly as he had come.
Harry heard the silky baritone as soon as the door shut musing arrogantly behind him. “While I may have no qualms with homosexuality, Potter, I am undoubtedly against interspecies dating of any sort.”
Harry sighed with frustration before turning towards Malfoy who sat with a small amused grin on his face. However, the wizard’s eyes looked a shade darker, but Harry hardly cared why. “We don’t have that kind of relationship, Malfoy. And stop it with the troll bit. If you expect my help in finding your precious book, you’ll leave Dakin out of this.”
“If memory serves, Potter, you are not helping me but under duress to assist should you hope to keep your secret a secret,” Malfoy responded conceitedly. “As long as that mountain troll is kept away from me, I could care little for how you find your information. Be it troll or muggle.”
Harry would’ve have sighed, but he was running late. Instead, he dashed off to quickly dress for the day and head to the shop to open. Malfoy grumbled behind them as they went.
“Must we walk like some sort of muggle everywhere, Potter?”
“If you forgot, I am a muggle here.” Malfoy scoffed at this, but Harry ignored me. “Besides, it’s beautiful in the morning.”
“Yes, a beauty that is accompanied heavily by the stench of manure, Potter,” Malfoy replied with a look of revulsion. “Do you not own any sort of motor vehicle?”
“Yes,” Harry said simply as he walked ahead.
He kept his hands to his pockets to stave off the cold air circling around them in the foggy morning. Mist blasted his already reddening face, but Harry enjoyed these simple mornings.
A couple of older men walking on the other side of the path waved energetically at Harry before continuing their conversation with one another. Harry smiled at the simplicity that life here afforded him.
Malfoy was brushing away the water from his suit before grumbling once more about poverty. Harry couldn’t help the smile. It must be the first time Malfoy was forced to live in any sort of way that didn’t keep the elements far from affecting him. At least not where it could be avoided.
When they reached the shop, it was already open, and Dakin was waiting for them with a smug grin. “Goes everywhere with you, does he?”
Harry could feel the prickling of Malfoy beside him. Hoping to keep their arguments at a minimum, he questioned the older man. “I thought I gave you the day off.”
“I had this sudden urge to work.”
“Sudden indeed,” Malfoy started beside him before Harry interjected.
“I’m quite capable of taking care of it today,” Harry said roughly. “You go on, Dakin. I’ll come by your flat later.”
Dakin and Malfoy were caught in some sort of glaring match which gave Harry this uncontrollable urge to roll his eyes in response, but instead he added again. “Go on home, Dakin. I’m sorted for today.”
“I don’t think you are,” Dakin responded childishly. “I don’t trust this prissy boy.”
“Well I do,” Harry stated clearly, causing Malfoy’s head to jerk towards him. “Mal—Draco, may be many things but a liar isn’t one of them. I can handle it, okay?”
Dakin stood up, his body taking up a great deal of space as it rounded the desk where the till was and came forward. Malfoy’s body had straightened, fully extending his height as well as his arrogance with the movement. They were eye-to-eye for a moment before Dakin pressed a friendly hand to Harry’s shoulder.
“Come by tonight then. If anything happens, call me,” Dakin ordered with a small look of reproach. Obviously, the older man wasn’t happy, but Harry refused to be caught between the two of them the entire day. “I may not use magic much anymore, prissy boy, but for you I would be willing to should you get any ideas about Harry here.”
“You would be quite dramatically outmatched, but I will strive not to get any ideas about your precious little lover.”
Dakin’s faced darkened momentarily, worrying Harry for a moment, before the usual smug grin replaced it. “Whatever you say, prissy boy.”
Harry groaned with relief before setting the till straight and tossing Malfoy a book. “Read that and be silent. I won’t forgive you if you scare away any business.”
Malfoy regarded the book with a sneer. “This is a muggle-written book, Potter.”
“And you might find you like it,” Harry stated coolly as he sorted through a few books at the register. “Or are you scared you might not understand some muggle-written novel?”
Malfoy scoffed contemptuously. “Unlike yourself, I am highly intelligent and capable of comprehending any material be it wizard or muggle.”
“Then you shouldn’t have a problem,” Harry said with a secret smile as he turned away from Malfoy and watched the world around him move at a slow pace.
Malfoy said nothing more before the soft sounds of paper scraping against paper filled his ears. Harry crossed his arms and relaxed into his chair.
*
Malfoy had been rather engrossed in the novel Harry had tossed him most of the day. Only complaining once when he was hungry and another when he was in need of tea. Harry had obliged the other, feeling like some sort of mother obliging their child throwing a tantrum.
Even despite their current reason for being together, Harry found he couldn’t quite dislike Malfoy the more time they spent together. His arrogance and disregard for others was still very frustrating to Harry, but he was starting to understand the blonde wizard. Behind his words, there was something of a curiosity that Harry recognized similar to his own.
Every time he acted as though he would rather being doing something else, talking to someone different, his actions never truly lined up. He responded to his curiosities despite the joining of complaints about how muggle it was or how utterly poverish it seemed.
Harry was finding that it was somewhat humorous to him. Malfoy may act high and mighty, but maybe there was another just below the surface that craved to know things. Discover things. Be someone that he was not.
Harry could understand that himself. All those years, locked within a persona of strength and courage, never allowed to break it, crumble beneath pressure or become weak. It was all very exhausting. Here, he could be Harry. He didn’t have to be courageous. Or save a world. Or even smile if he didn’t want to. Here, he could be someone that was capable of faults and dislikes. Somewhat not all entirely perfect like a savior would have to be. Someone flawed and human. Someone happy.
Maybe Malfoy craved what he had. Maybe that was the reason that despite his complaining, he stayed.
Maybe…just maybe, Malfoy wanted to be different.
“That’s it?!” Malfoy cried as he tossed the book. “How could they possibly end such a story with an uncertainty as wide as an ocean?!” The wizard growled with impatience before standing. “I knew that nothing good would result of reading a muggle-written novel!”
Harry smiled to himself before picking up the second book in the series and offering it to the raging wizard. “Here’s the second book in the series,” he stated with a smug smile. “You know, in case you want to know what happens after that.”
Malfoy’s face, which had gone somewhat red with anger, regarded him with open mortification. “A second book?”
“Yeah,” Harry said with a smile. “Muggles like to write series of books. This one is a trilogy which means there is three in the series.”
“Oh,” Malfoy stated with the clearing of his throat before snatching the book out of Harry’s hands. “As I have nothing better to do with my time, I suppose I could read the next one.”
“Uh-huh,” Harry said with a small giggle as Malfoy resituated himself into the chair before quickly opening the book and reading once more.
It sort of reminded Harry of a child. Or maybe even a teenager where they said one thing but meant another. Guess Malfoy hadn’t matured much from Hogwarts despite his poised appearance and mannerisms.
*
As it neared his usual closing time, Harry began his normal closing routine, minding little of the curious glances that Malfoy was giving him, or even that the activity had piqued his interest enough to take him away from his novel which he was nearly finished with.
The man had an ability to read rapidly it would seem. Harry liked to leisurely take in each novel, taking great care to comprehend each and every detail. He would even reread over some pages as not to miss a singular detail in their design. It was this leisure reading that had first afforded him the bookshop.
When he had first moved to the small town, he kept mainly to himself as not to expose his identity. Fortunately, out in Ireland, there were very few wizards that frequented these parts and most that did knew little of what had occurred just months before he had come.
However, his one small piece of solace during that time was this bookstore and its owner. He spent two years coming to have idle conversation with the owner whom knew very little about the wizarding world except that his son was born a wizard.
Peter McCain had been his first friend. Had even assumed a fatherly-like demeanor towards Harry and eventually introduced him to Dakin McCain who was as he put it his “deadbeat wizard son with no aspirations in life and an inability to take care of himself.”
Two years ago, Peter McCain passed away in his sleep, willing his shop to Harry and asking that Harry keep an eye on his reject son. During the last six years, Harry had become a part of the McCain family much like he had with the Weasleys. Dakin may have his faults, but he treated him like family and continued to help him with the shop to this day.
Harry felt a little emotional as he thought about the late Peter McCain, finally turning the sign to end his closing duties. “Are you ready?” he asked the other wizard who had all but forgotten his book.
“Yes,” Malfoy nodded before setting his book aside.
Harry pointed at the discarded book. “You can take that with you,” he stated as he grabbed the final book in the series. “This is the third book. We can take it with us as well.”
“There is little else to do, I suppose,” Malfoy stated nonchalantly as he accepted the final novel and sized them down to fit into his pockets.
After they reached home, Harry led Malfoy inside before grabbing his car keys and once more heading to the door. “I’ll be back later. Try not to burn the house down while I’m gone. I should have some left over Shepard’s Pie in the fridge. You just warm it in the microwave for a minute or two.”
“I shall come with you,” Malfoy started as he began to once more put on his coat. “Besides, I do not warm my food, Potter. I will only consume freshly made meals.”
“Then you can starve. And no, you will stay here,” Harry said with a stern glare. “I will come back. At least trust that much. I don’t need you and Dakin having it out while I’m there.”
“But—“
“No. I will go alone, and you will stay here. I’ll be back soon,” Harry said, leaving and shutting the door behind him as to put an end to the conversation. To be safe, he put up a few locking charms and barriers, hoping that their strength wouldn’t be broken by Malfoy. It had been a long time since he performed such spells but they were necessary.
*
“Harry!” Dakin greet with a smile that only grew wider when he noticed Harry had come alone. “Come in.”
“Your place is as messy as ever,” Harry said with a gentle smile as he navigated through the maze of filth.
Dakin was just as capable of magic as he was, but the older wizard seemed less inclined to use it. Harry never knew the real reason that Dakin retained an entirely magic-free lifestyle, but he didn’t judge it.
Over the years, it was evident that Dakin liked to live freely and without constraint. He was prone to random adventures to countries that he knew little about with very little planned beforehand. He was also capable of large purchases that often led to ruin. He dated random women that would come and go, sometimes a few at a time. Even so, Dakin was strongly loyal to those he cared about and surprisingly passionate about his friendship with Harry.
So despite the coming and going, Dakin had remained a constant over the years.
“Go ahead and take a seat,” the other wizard said with a small grin before pulling a couple of beers from the refrigerator that sat close to where the living room should be. “If you can, that is,” Dakin added with a small eyebrow waggle.
“I don’t even know where to begin or how you manage to entertain women here,” Harry started with a small sigh before brushing away some of the mess and managing a seat on a slightly soiled cushion. He would rather not contemplate how it had gotten to such a state. “So I wanted to talk to you,” Harry started, but the other wizard handed him an open beer can and clinked the aluminum together.
Taking a big gulp of beer, probably half the can, Dakin sighed with happiness as he regarded Harry curiously. “About prissy boy?”
“Draco,” Harry corrected. “And yes. He’ll be here for a little while, so I want you two to get along…if only for my sake.”
“I don’t like him,” Dakin stated clearly. “You might think the two of you are mates, but he doesn’t treat you that way. Besides,” Dakin stated with another gulp of his beer, “the way he looks at you isn’t the way a friend would.”
Harry was perplexed out of his speech momentarily by the statement. “What do you mean?”
“Just trust me, Harry. He’s got ulterior motives,” Dakin replied seriously.
You don’t know the half of it, Harry thought.
Although Harry felt guilty for lying to his large friend, he didn’t want to involve him any further with Malfoy. Once they found this book Malfoy was looking for, he would be rid of the tall prat.
However, that thought brought about a tightening in his stomach and sharp pain to his chest. Rubbing the offended area, Harry watched as Dakin finished the rest of his beer and retrieved another.
“Why is he staying with you anyway?” Dakin questioned. “Isn’t there an inn, or bed and breakfast he can impose on that would be more to his liking?”
“We aren’t sure how long it would take, so I told him not to waste the money.” The lies were growing. Harry wanted to bite his lip in shame.
“Prissy boy hardly looks like he has a lack of money,” Dakin recalled with a disdain. “Surely he could afford a few nights at an inn and let you have your home to yourself.”
“It’s just easier to have him stay,” Harry added with a soft sigh.
It was too bad that Dakin was intelligent enough to conclude so much. A lot of it wouldn’t make much sense to an outsider. Shouldn’t make sense. Harry was being blackmailed and the tall prat had negotiated his stay into it.
“Stay the night,” Dakin pleaded after he finished another beer. “You haven’t stayed over in a while. We can watch zombie movies and have nightmares together.”
Harry chuckled softly before running a hand nervously through his hair. “I promised I would be home tonight.”
“Oh who cares about that prissy boy,” Dakin growled as he came to sit beside Harry, throwing a large and heavily muscled arm around him. “Stay with me tonight. I promise I’ll explain it to prissy boy tomorrow.”
Harry crippled slightly under his friend’s weight, both physically and mentally, before recovering. “No, some other time, Dakin. I don’t break my promises like some of us. Also, this place is filthy, and I hardly believe you can find any of those zombie movies in this mess.”
“Just wave your magic wand, godmother, and the mess will be gone,” Dakin said with a high-pitched sweet voice before grinning mischievously at Harry.
“It’s a wonder why you never pursued acting with such skills as those.”
Dakin tousled Harry’s already messy locks. “You little brat.”
“That’s hardly insulting coming from you,” Harry pointed out, fighting off the other wizard’s hand.
Dakin poked relentlessly at his side, causing him to desperately try to escape. “I can hardly understand how this little brat became my boss of all things.”
Dakin mused as he continued his assault. Harry fought off the touch and managed to escape the other wizard finally.
“If you father had left that bookshop to you it would have no doubt failed to survive this long,” Harry stated with a small smirk.
“You injure me,” Dakin said in mock insult.
Harry sighed with a small smile before looking over at the time. “It’s probably time for me to head back. I would really appreciate you attempting to be courteous to Draco. I’m not telling you to be his friend, but at least refrain from calling him prissy boy.”
Dakin crossed his arms contemplatively over his chest. “And what do I get in return?”
“I’ll make those walnut brownies you like,” Harry returned with a grin.
Dakin’s eyes lit up. “You mean the ones with that what-do-you-call-it glaze over the top and double chocolate chip filled goodness?” The man was practically drooling.
“Yes, those.”
“Deal,” the other wizard asserted with a nod. Easily won over as always.
Harry pointed at the older man sternly. “That means you aren’t allowed to call him names anymore. You will also have to appear…nice.”
Dakin’s face dropped with disgust. “Oh, come on.”
“No double chocolate chip brownies if you aren’t.”
Dakin bit his lip, jaw tightening slightly before he nodded again. “Fine.”
“See you tomorrow then,” Harry said as he waved goodbye and left.
*
When he came home, Malfoy looked less than welcoming. The taller wizard sat in a chair near the fire hearth, book situated into one hand and small cup of tea in another. It seemed that Malfoy had at least managed tea while he was gone.
“You are late, Potter.”
Harry gave the other wizard a small look of reproach. “I never said when I’d be home. Did you eat?” he asked as a way of derailing some of the anger boiling in the blonde wizard’s eyes.
“I cannot contrive that contraption you refer to as a microwave. It was simply unmanageable.”
“So no then,” Harry concluded with an amused grin.
Malfoy didn’t answer, merely huffed in frustration as he once more directed his eyes to his book.
“I’ll make a little something,” Harry offered before heading to the kitchen. “Tomorrow is a holiday, so the bookshop will be closed. I figured we could go to town to see what we can manage to find out about this book you’re seeking.”
“How thoughtful of you,” Malfoy replied from beyond. Harry could hear the sarcasm dripping from every word but ignored it all the same. “Do you intend to have that mountain troll join us?”
“Yeah,” Harry said, knowing it wasn’t what the blonde wizard wanted to hear. “He’ll meet us in town. I’ll call him in the morning.”
“On that infernal device you refer to as a mobile phone?”
Harry chuckled softly as he prepared the meal. “Yes. It is actually quite useful. You can take it anywhere with you. I am surprised such a device isn’t used in the wizarding world.”
“Do you speak with that mountain troll frequently?” he heard the other questioned almost hesitantly.
Harry mused over his answer. It seemed a little off to have Malfoy inquiring after his relationship with Dakin, and he had made it clear that they were not, in fact, dating, but it would seem that Malfoy had his doubts.
“We’re not like that,” Harry stated clearly. “Not in the way you think. His father owned the bookshop and willed it to me when he passed away. Dakin and I have just been very close since his father introduced us. He’s kind of like an older brother I never had.”
“So the feeling towards him is…familial?”
“I guess you could say that,” Harry responded thoughtfully. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
“I was merely curious, Potter. No need to get your knickers in a twist about it.”
It was the first time he had heard Malfoy joke since he had gotten here. Harry had half wondered if Malfoy was capable of jesting anymore. Sure, he had been on the receiving end of some rather unkind jokes at his expense from Malfoy, but this was different. This was similar to a joke one friend would say to another.
“Believe me, Malfoy, you couldn’t possibly get my knickers in a twist with those questions. I’ve had a lot worse assumptions about my sexual orientation or raising over the years. I doubt there is anything you could say that has not already been said to me.”
“Are you attracted to wizards then?”
The question jolted Harry out of his plating the food. It wasn’t something that he expected Malfoy to ask or even to want to know.
In jest, Harry asked: “Are you?”
There was a short period of silence. Harry had started to believe that Malfoy was intentionally ignoring him, so he had resume plating the food. However, the other voice carried clearly into the room as he replied: “Yes, I am.”
*
TBC…
Oh whoa, Drake…oh no you didn’!
Well I decided to post another chapter for those of you scared I wasn’t continuing. I am quite happy with the way this story is unfolding. Hopefully you are satisfied as well. I appreciated those of you that reviewed and hope that you continued to read and review. Until next time!
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Before You