Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Bruises & Embraces	By : Raistlin_The_Wizard Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 2545 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Shopping Blues
Harry strolled through Diagon Alley. It had been seven years since he had first been there after he first discovered he was a wizard. Back then, Hagrid had been with him, showing him where to go and where to buy all the things he needed for Hogwarts. After all this time, the feeling of amazement hadn’t faded away; Harry still felt as the little boy he once was, wanting to see and buy everything, enchanted by all the surrounding wonders.

Christmas was just around the corner and he was there to purchase all the gifts he needed for his loved ones. This year he’d spend big. After all, they had much to celebrate after having defeated Voldemort once and for all. This year they could openly celebrate Christmas, inviting friends over with no fear of being attacked at any moment or having to wonder whether someone was under the Imperius Curse.

Harry stopped outside Amanuensis Quills. The shop window had an array of several very interesting quills and inks. Harry got inside the shop and was overwhelmed by the thousands of quills stacked in the walls. There were quills made of Phoenix feathers, Hippogriffs feathers, Augurey feathers, Eagles, Owls and every other bird imaginable. He spotted the infamous quick-quill notes used by Rita Skeeter and twisted his nose. On the opposite wall of the shop there were thousands of ink bottles, from tiny ones to some as big as bowling balls.

“Excuse me, young sir, may I be of assistance?”

Harry turned to face a middle-aged wizard with ink stains all over his sleeves and hands. He was about to say what he wanted when the man’s eyebrows shot into this forehead in delight.
“Harry Potter! What a great honour, sir! Please, feel free to pick anything you want, it’s on the house, sir! Bless your soul!”
Ever since the Voldemort's defeat, people were even more enthusiastic at the sight of him; more than when he had defeated the dark wizard when he was young.

“No need for that, please. I’m looking for something special to give my friend, Hermione Granger. She’s a brilliant witch, top of our class, and she’s always in need of good quills. What do you recommend?”
“I have the perfect gift, sir! Come, take a look.”
Harry followed him to the counter. The man dropped out of sight and returned with an engraved golden rectangular box. The golden embossing on the outside depicted a Phoenix soaring into the sky, leaving a trail of fire underneath.
“This is every scholar’s dream.”
Opening the box, he took a long Phoenix feather. Harry didn’t know much about quills, but it was obvious that was no ordinary quill. It had a magical glow about it, and it gave a sense of power to the beholder. It had been dyed a rich, deep purple.

“That is stunning!”

“Wait, good sir, there’s more.”
He opened the box completely and Harry could see six more feathers just like that inside. All had a different colour.
“Each colour represents a different strength. Take this purple one for example. If you’re writing a very important paper, this will help you not only to write with no errors, but it will empower your words with a sense of importance. It is used, for example, by the Ministry to write decrees, so that when the people read it, they know that it's an official document and that it must be complied with.”
“This is just perfect! I’ll take it. How much does it cost?”

The Amanuensis gave him a big smile and started to wrap the box.
“As I said before, for you it’s free. A small token of appreciation for all you’ve done, sir.”

“I can’t take it. This is too valuable to give away.”
“I won’t accept a refusal. Here you go, all wrapped up. Have a very Merry Christmas, Harry Potter!”
And with that he left to the back of the shop to resume his writing works, leaving an embarrassed Harry standing at the counter. Harry waited a few moments, but when it was clear the man wasn’t coming back he dropped one Galleon on the counter and left the shop.

The quills shop was right next to Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. Harry decided to stop by to get new robes, since he was redoing his seventh year at Hogwarts and his robes of two years ago were now too small for him. Even though Madam Malkin had seen Harry before and was a little more low profile than the Amanuensis, she also insisted that Harry left with the new robes free of charge and became very angry when Harry tried to pay anyway.

Harry decided he needed a break from shopping, so he headed towards the Leaky Cauldron to get a drink. That also happened to be where he had agreed to meet Ron and Hermione. They had decided to split so they could buy each other’s gifts. Tom greeted Harry eagerly. Harry asked for a Butterbeer and sat in a dark corner. All of that worshipping was leaving him grumpy. What he wanted more than anything was to have a normal life, and while people kept treating him as hero he’d never be able to get that.

After an hour and a half, a flustered Hermione entered the pub carrying several bags. She spotted Harry and headed towards the table, dropping the bags in a nearby chair.

“Hi, Harry. How did your shopping go?”
Harry gestured towards his only two bags.
“Not well. People kept offering me things; they won’t let me buy anything. I got fed up so I came here. So far I only got yours.”

“Oh, Harry. It’s still too fresh in people’s minds. I know you don’t like to draw attention to yourself, but you need to woo people for a bit. Eventually the interest will fade way. They had so little to celebrate last year; let them thank you in the way they know.”
A shadow crossed Harry’s face.
“I know that. It’s just that with Voldemort gone--” A witch sitting at the next table let her glass fall and break at the mention of the Dark Lord’s name, implying she had been eavesdropping on the conversation. Harry tried to breathe in deeply and keep his temper down. “As I was saying, with Voldemort gone--” The witch let out a small gasp, making Harry lose it.

“Excuse me, madam, is there something bothering you? Do you want me to stop saying Voldemort? Is the word Voldermort hurting you? I faced him, he’s not that big of a deal, old pal VOLDEMORT!”
The witch turned a sickly pale green and left the bar running, clutching her hand to her heart as if it’d jump right out of her chest.

“Harry! That wasn’t nice! People are still afraid. You should be more thoughtful.”
“I should be more thoughtful? It’s her fault for eavesdropping on somebody else’s conversation. When will this be over, huh? When will I be able to walk the streets without being stopped a dozen of times to shake hands? When will I be able to buy something without it being shoved down my throat? Hang out with my friends anonymous, unknown, normal!”

Hermione bit her lip.

“I’m sorry Harry, but to a certain extent I don’t think that will ever happen. You changed the lives of everyone when you defeated him. Your name is part of History. You won’t ever be able to escape that. Just try to handle it the best as you can. We’re here for you, Ron and I.”
Hermione suddenly blushed before asking.

“How are you doing, anyway? After… you know what…”
Harry’s face became even more sullen. He definitely didn’t want to talk about that. But before he was forced to answer, Ron arrived holding only one bag.

“Hey, guys. What’s up?”
“Ron, why do you have only one bag?!”

Ron’s face became redder than Hermione’s shirt.
“Well… you see… I was out there shopping, but then I got in Broomstix and they were having this autograph session with Chuddley Cannon members. Of course I couldn’t miss it, so I bought a calendar and had them sign it. By the time I was done, it was getting late so I just came back here.”
“Well done, Ron, brilliant. Now we’ll have to spend tomorrow in Hogsmeade for you to buy the rest of your stuff!”
Ron was cowering under Hermione’s rant, but the scene only made Harry’s heart twist. Overwhelmed by a sudden sense of longing, he got up.
“I’m sorry guys; there’s something I need to do before going back to Hogwarts. I will see you back at school.”

Harry got out of the Leaky Cauldron, leaving Ron and Hermione to bicker about the merits of Quidditch merchandize. It was still early afternoon, so he had plenty of time before having to return back to Hogwarts. Deciding on a destination, he turned on the spot and Disapparated with a loud crack.
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Bruises & Embraces