Not Your Usual Love Story

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything from the Potter canon. Any OCs are mine, as is the story portrayed herein. Anything copyrighted to the name of JK Rowling or and of her publishers have simply been borrowed. I make no money from this story or any of my others.

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Harry James Potter walked towards the entrance to The Leaky Cauldron with a lump of trepidation lodged in his chest. After the events of the previous June, he was nervous about returning to the Wizarding world. However, this summer had been a million times easier than those which had preceded it. Now he no longer needed protection by Petunia Dursley\'s blood-magic, this year he had been allowed to spend the entire eight weeks with Ron and Hermione at The Burrow. For once in his life he was not returning to school ignorant of what had occurred in the two months of July and August. He knew full well what had happened, and every bit of it had been good.

In June, Harry had defeated Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort, in an epic battle on the nineteenth of June. It seemed that Riddle’s return to a human form had been the first step towards his downfall. Harry’s adjustment of a well-known killing spell, Avada Kedavra, to make it something which could affect more than simply the human form, had sent a jet of black light at the Dark Lord, and had ended his rule of terror.

The Wizarding world no longer feared a great and powerful terror which could take over at any time. The Ministry had finally accepted what Harry had been saying for the past two years; that the Dark Lord had returned to a human form. They also accepted, when Fudge was brutally murdered by Lucius Malfoy, that The Death Eaters really had returned to their master.

The final battle occurred outside a wreck of a house in Godrics Hollow. Harry stood on the spot where his life had changed so long ago, and fought the Dark Lord for the very last time. In doing so, and in using the words which he did, he accepted a part of Voldemort into himself, in the same way he had taken a part of the Wizard as a baby. This time, he took the latent power and made it a part of himself and, in a way, became the most powerful wizard of their time. Voldemort fell where Harry’s parents had perished all those years ago, and Harry had stood over his body and cried for what he had lost for this man. Harry cried for what he had been through and suffered at the hands of Voldemort\'s evil. Harry cried for the love he had lost, his parents and Sirius, the three people who could have cared for him through his childhood and given him what he deserved.

In a twist of irony, Voldemort’s was the only life Harry took during the course of the war. His friends, teachers and enemies took hundreds more. In a subtle twist of fate and revenge, Remus Lupin had been the one to finally put both Peter Pettigrew and Bellatrix Lestrange to rest. He exacted judgement on those who ruined the life of, and eventually killed his beloved Padfoot.

During the last few weeks of the war, there had been hundreds of defections from both light and dark. Of course all those in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had stayed on Harry\'s side - fighting valiantly for the light, and some of them losing their lives for the cause. There were even some Slytherins who had also turned away from their parents. Some had joined the Death Eaters and defected, or had become spies like Snape. One particular Slytherin had vehemently denounced his family before the War, and fought for the Light throughout.

Draco Malfoy. It was Draco Malfoy who had ignored Harry in every Order meeting throughout the war. It was Draco Malfoy who had hardly spoken to Harry after the battle. It was Draco Malfoy who had killed both his parents when they had raised their wands against Harry in the final few moments of Voldemort’s life. Draco Malfoy who had, therefore, effectively finished the war. He had saved Harry, and protected the so called Golden Boy as he murdered his nemesis. It was Draco Malfoy who had inspired this fear which was beginning to possess Harry as he prepared to return to school this year, his final year at the place which had been his home for so long.

Harry was scared, no, terrified, that the almost companionable silence which had come to be the norm between himself and Malfoy at the end of the war would be gone, and the Malfoy whom he had always known would be back. Spiteful, teasing, cruel Malfoy was not a companion of Harry’s, and he had no desire to be associated with him. Harry would rather throw himself from the Astronomy Tower than have to see Malfoy sneer at him when they saw each other on the train the following morning.

Gryffindor’s Golden Trio walked arm in arm into the Leaky Cauldron. At first, there were simply murmurs, but suddenly an ageing witch stood up and cried “By Gods, that’s Harry Potter!” The room went insane. Harry, Hermione and Ron simply stood there, a united front, letting the craziness wash over them. After about half an hour of receiving little response, people began to return to their previous activities. The trio walked up to Tom, the Innkeeper and requested the keys for their two rooms. As previously planned, Harry would have a room to himself, and Ron and Hermione would be sharing so that they could have a final night together before returning to dormitory life.

The two followed Harry upstairs at a distance, wanting to give him some time to remember that he really was the Saviour of the Wizarding world, not just a guest at the Weasley’s. No matter what course his life took from here on, he would be recognised every time he left the house, and would be acclaimed forever. I might not have been his ideal, but it was his duty.

Harry walked into the small but comfortable room and threw himself back onto the bed. He looked up, realising what he was, and who he was, and he laughed out loud. He couldn’t believe it had been seven years since he had found out he was a wizard. Seven years of fearing the man he had now vanquished. The laughter rose in Harry’s chest again as he realised he was free. He, Harry James Potter, was finally free, totally and utterly free.

There was a knock at the door. Harry stood, remembering he had locked the door after entering. It was a habit he was inclined to forget now there was not madman after his life. He walked to the door and opened it with a smile on his face.

“Where have you been, Harry?” shouted Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas in unison.

Harry paused for a moment.

“At Ron’s, of course. I needed a little ‘recuperation time’ after murdering an evil Dark Lord who was hell-bent on murdering me. But I’m back now!”

“Malfoy’s been wondering where you are. He’s staying here apparently.”

“Malfoy? What did he want?”

Neville giggled “We weren’t sure. We said we’d tell you we saw him. He said can you find him at some point. Anyway, he said he’s staying here for tonight. We’re here for a reason, Harry, we brought you a ‘well done for kicking the shit out of Voldemort’ present!”

The three young wizards bundled Harry onto the bed, and thrust a hastily wrapped and slightly lumpy gift into his arms.

Harry looked at the gift, curious about what it could possibly be.

Neville squeaked excitedly, “Open it Harry, quickly!”

Harry took the present, and unwrapped it quickly; not wanting Neville to explode messily all over his bedroom through excitement, or the present to explode from tension of not having been opened.

Inside the wrapping was a bright green T-shirt. Harry held it up. Across the front, in a shimmery silver colour, was scrawled, in Seamus’ distinctive handwriting “I defeated the Dark Lord – so I could defeat you!” Harry couldn’t help himself. The laughter bubbled up again and he impulsively hugged his three dorm mates tightly.

“Thanks guys. This means a lot. Now no one can be excused for not knowing how simply great I am,” smiled the Gryffindor.

“You’re welcome, Harry” said Dean, speaking for all three of the other boys. He checked his watch. “We’d better be off; got to catch the shops for some supplies, but we’ll see you tonight for a few Butterbeers in the Cauldron.”

“I’ll be the one in the corner with a Strawberry Daquiri,” joked Harry.

Seamus, Neville and Dean rose and left Harry’s room with simply a backward slung ‘Bye Harry’ and ‘Laters, mate!’ from Neville and Seamus.

Harry looked at the t-shirt. He quickly decided it needed to be worn. Pulling off his battered black shirt in one smooth movement, he yanked it over his head. Tighter than what he’d normally wear, it looked pretty sexy. He looked in the magical mirror, which made a dejected swooning noise.


Harry James Potter, vanquisher of the ubiquitous Dark Lord, Voldemort, wandered aimlessly down to Diagon Alley. He had a lot of money, and fancied spending a bit. His first stop was Quality Quidditch Supplies. He stocked up on Handle Polishing Serum and twig fixing glue, as well as purchasing a luxurious suede cover for his leg rest and a new pair of dragon hide and suede flying gloves. They were marketed especially for Seekers, because of “that ‘extra grip’ for holding onto a wriggly snitch”.

Harry had noticed at the end of last year, before the whole ‘Dark Lord Vanquishing’ malarkey, that his robes were getting a little short in the leg, so his next stop was Madam Malkins, to kit himself out with an entire new Wizard uniform. He walked in, and was met by Madam Malkin herself. She greeted him effusively and waved him onto one of the two podiums in the middle of the shop. ‘Oh well’, thought Harry, ‘nothing quite like being the centre of attention.’

He was surprised by what happened next. He heard Madam Malkin greeting another customer at the door of the shop. She ushered the newcomer onto the other podium. Harry, who still had his back to the other customer as the assistant measured every part of him from head to foot, almost fell off the podium at what he heard next.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the man widely acclaimed as being the Saviour of the Wizarding world. Good summer?”

Harry turned sharply and came face to face with Draco Malfoy, who was, to his amazement, not sneering, but smiling.

“Malfoy.” Harry couldn’t help letting the corners of his mouth curve up to smile back at the blonde. “Well, after having to defeat a madman, my summer was wonderful. I spent the entire time doing shit-all. How was yours?”

He decided to play Malfoy at his own game and be nice, while he tried to figure out exactly what Malfoy’s game was.

“What, having an entire Manor to myself? Peaceful.” He paused, “Finally buying some new robes then?”

Harry watched curiously as Malfoy surveyed him from head to foot. Almost like he was…no, he wouldn’t. Malfoy was just telling him in is own special way that new robes were definitely called for. Continuing with the ‘being nice to Malfoy’ thing, Harry smiled. What Draco saw was a real, genuine smile. It was probably the first of that kind that Draco Lucius Malfoy had ever seen grace the black haired teen’s face.

“I felt I may as well leave Hogwarts in style, no matter in what state I may have conducted the past six years. I can finally think about something other than defending the world, and I decided to start with the way I look.”

“Well I’m not entirely sure about the T-Shirt, but the smile certainly suits you.”

Harry then did something he didn’t think he even could, and definitely not in front of Draco Malfoy. He blushed.

Draco burst out laughing.

“Some things will never change Potter, but I never thought I’d see you blush! Quite the little boy at heart, aren’t we?”

Harry tipped his head forwards, trying to let his unruly black hair cover the blush. Feeling Draco’s eyes still following the red which highlighted his not quite hidden cheekbones, he gave up and raised his head, brushing the black curls from his forehead, giving Draco a rare glimpse of that infamous scar. To Draco, it almost looked like a self conscious bow. He decided not to mention that to the already flame red brunette.

The robe maker finished Harry’s measurements, and helped him down from the podium.

“We’ll have your robes delivered to your room at the Leaky Cauldron Mr. Potter, sir,” she said quietly. “If you could come and choose the materials and pay, then you’re all finished.”

Harry looked up at Draco. He decided to bite the bullet and see what happened if he tried something really crazy.

“Leaky Cauldron, half an hour? The drinks are on the ‘Prophet’”

“Sure. I’ll be the one with a pink umbrella in his butter beer,” replied the blonde.

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PLEASE REVIEW! This is my first story on AFF, so let me know how wonderful all you people on here are! (PS If you’re really nice, daily updates might be in order.) Leave an email address and you’ll know when I update.

Love you all, Lily x x x

PS Yes, I’d love to thank the best beta in the world – tashasaphi. She also writes rather good fiction.