Beauty's Beast (Sequel to Blind Beauty) COMPLETE
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
24
Views:
20,841
Reviews:
110
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
24
Views:
20,841
Reviews:
110
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Second Chances
Chapter Number/Total: 17/24
Chapter Title: Second Chances
Words: 2383 Words
They had had to enlarge the door to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes to accommodate the wheelchair. But Fred and George had done it cheerfully thought Draco as he pushed the chair over the threshold.
"Hey, Fred, George," Harry greeted them with a smile.
"Harry, Malfoy!" Fred exclaimed, leaning over the counter. "Our favourite suppliers!"
Draco smiled. "Yes, we have another batch for you and some ideas for a new one," he said.
"Brilliant, brilliant," George said, walking past them with a large box. He set it down on a shelf and then turned around to look at the two of them, smiling brightly. "All right there, Harry?"
"I'm doing better," Harry replied, nodding. It had been four months since the attack and he was getting out more. Oddly enough, with Harry injured, Draco seemed more willing to go places now -- just so Harry would.
Draco set the potions on the counter and then handed Fred a scroll with the proposal for the new potion.
Fred quickly read over the list, laughing a few times at the ideas. George walked around the counter and looked as well, nodding in approval. "Never thought you'd ever be this good at jokes, Malfoy ...."
Draco snorted. "'Weasley is our King' was my idea, remember?" he said with a smirk.
Harry laughed, rolling his eyes. "That was so dumb," he teased, shaking his head.
"Hey, it almost worked," Draco responded in mock offence. "He was rattled."
"Ron gets rattled about everything," Harry said, glancing back at him.
"And yet he will be an Auror?" Draco drawled.
"Exactly," Harry said, grinning at him.
Draco was serious again. "He did well enough," he said softly, remembering that awful night.
Draco's sudden seriousness confused him, but Harry nodded slowly. "Yeah, he did."
"Well," Draco said. "Ron's waiting for us. We should get going."
Harry wanted Draco to explain what he meant, but he didn't ask, not yet. "Okay. See you both next week," he said to Fred and George, waving.
They said their goodbyes to the twins and then made their way out of the shop. Draco pushed the wheelchair to the Apothecary shop, which was still open, having been taken over by the shopkeeper's son.
Harry went completely still when his chair was pushed inside. He could remember coming in here the last time, and what had happened soon after.
The shop was cramped and it was hard to get the wheelchair inside. Draco had to lean over Harry in the chair to pass the list to the man behind the counter.
Harry cringed and made a small distressed sound, squeezing his eyes shut when he felt Draco brush against him from behind. That was how he was attacked, from behind.
Draco heard the sound and looked down, frowning. "Harry?"
Harry whimpered, shaking his head and whispering "no" over and over again.
"Harry," Draco whispered, one hand on his shoulder. "It's safe, I'm here."
Harry jerked, still lost in his memories when he felt Draco's hand on his shoulder.
The man behind the counter frowned, looking at Harry and Draco. "Just get the order," Draco growled at him and he moved away. Draco bent closer to Harry then, "Right beside you, love."
"It hurts," Harry whimpered, gripping the arms of his chair.
Draco's heart beat faster. He should have thought of this, that Harry would be upset being here. "We're leaving," he said, taking hold of the handles of the chair and backing up to the door.
Harry covered his face as he began to sob, shaking as Draco pulled him out. He couldn't even tell that they were outside.
Once they were out of the building, Draco knelt in front of Harry and reached to hold him.
Harry took a chance and opened his eyes, throwing his arms around Draco's neck once he saw him. "Draco ..." he said, burying his face in his neck. "They ... they were hurting me ...."
Draco shook, the memory of what he had seen in that room flashing in his mind. "No more," he said. "You are safe now. I have you."
Harry's sobs tapered down to sniffles and hiccups, his arms still tight around Draco's neck. "Don't leave me ...."
"Never," Draco said fiercely. "I will never leave you. I never want to be without you. I am beside you no matter what."
Harry swallowed and leaned back a little, just so he could look into Draco's eyes. "I love you ... and I'm sorry."
"No apologies needed," Draco said. He smiled softly. "Though the 'I love you' part is always welcome."
"I love you, I love you," Harry repeated, nuzzling Draco before he slowly pulled his arms back. He gripped the arms of the chair and used them to pull himself back on the seat. That's when he noticed that they were really outside in Diagon Alley, where there were other people around.
Draco hadn't even noticed the people staring until Harry looked up. He blushed. "Maybe we should go meet Ron now?" he asked.
Harry nodded, not even bothering to look around them. He wondered what people would think once they recognised him. "Yeah, he worries faster now."
Draco smiled and got back to his feet. He pushed Harry up the street, ignoring the stares and mutters they received. They found Ron waiting for them in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Ron," Harry said, nodding at him and hoping he wouldn't notice the redness of Harry's eyes from crying before.
Ron released a breath, smiling at the both of them. "Mate, Malfoy."
Draco nodded to him. "Harry, will you be all right with Ron while I go back to the shop to get our order?"
Harry looked up at him and slowly nodded. "I'll be fine."
"Yeah, we'll be fine," Ron said, walking around behind the wheelchair.
Draco stepped to Harry's side. He blushed but still bent to kiss Harry's cheek before leaving.
Harry closed his eyes and sighed, as if he were trying to remember the simple kiss forever.
Ron flushed too, but smiled as well. He gripped the handles of the wheelchair and began to push Harry toward a table.
***
Ron settled Harry at a table and went to get them both butterbeers. He set the mugs down and settled back into his own chair. "It's great to see you out," he said.
"It's great to do this again," Harry replied, reaching for his mug. "I missed it. Missed you, Ron."
Ron smiled, sipping his butterbeer. "Where'd he run off to?" he asked, then flushed, "Not that I mind him here or anything."
"Went to get the ingredients for a few potions," Harry answered, glancing back at the door. "I wanted to stay here."
Ron glanced uncomfortably at the wheelchair. "Is it ... um ... I mean, getting better?"
Harry looked down at the chair, and then back up at Ron, slowly shaking his head. "No, it's not."
Ron frowned. "Sorry, mate," he said softly and looking guilty again. "I should have gotten Draco sooner ...."
"What? Don't blame anything on yourself, Ron," Harry said, looking at him seriously.
"Can't help it," Ron admitted. "If we had just gotten there sooner ...."
"Please don't blame yourself," Harry repeated softly, looking down in his mug.
Ron was silent for a minute. "So I have news," he said, clearly changing the topic.
"Yeah?" Harry asked, glad for the change himself.
"Well, um, Hermione and I ..." Ron blushed. "We're going to be parents."
Harry's eyes went wide in surprise. "Really? That's brilliant, Ron! I was wondering when you two would." He grinned brightly at him.
That just made Ron blush brighter. "Hermione wanted to wait for a bit after the wedding," he said, grinning.
"And you definitely did," Harry laughed. "I'm happy for you, Ron. I really am."
Ron raised his glass. "To family," he said.
Harry realised that everyone around him did have their own family, something that he had always wanted for himself. But at the same time they were his family. "To family," he said softly, raising his mug as well.
Draco made his way back through the main room of the Leaky Cauldron, coming up to stand by the table.
Ron nodded up at him.
Harry glanced up at Draco with a small smile. "Get a seat," he said.
Draco cocked his head. "Let me get a drink first," he said and then went to the bar, returning with his own glass. He settled into the chair beside Harry, actually moving it closer to the wheelchair. "So what are we toasting?"
"Hermione's having a baby," Harry replied, grinning at Draco.
Ron blushed again, nodding.
Draco's eyes widened and then he smiled. "Well, congratulations," he said, lifting his glass before taking a sip.
"Promise you'll visit us? Especially after the baby's born. Elise'll have another playmate," Harry said, drinking from his mug.
"Of course," Ron answered.
Harry will have another playmate, Draco thought. He watched his lover, not showing how worried he was about Harry. He also didn't tell him that some of the supplies he had gotten that day were for a new potion he was working on. He wouldn't tell him unless he had an idea that it would work.
***
Draco sat beside Harry on the stage erected in the Atrium. There was a crowd facing them. It wasn't as large a crowd as the one when Harry had gotten his medal but that suited Draco. It was nerve-wracking enough. He had, of course, insisted that Harry cast the Disguise Spell on him, but people still stared. He supposed they had a new reason now as well. Minister Scrimgeour was giving another speech about heroism. Draco had to clench his teeth not to make some kind of snarky comment.
Harry had never been a fan of these events, especially when he was the one everyone was there for. But today it was Draco, and he did owe him his life ... and more. Harry glanced at the man he loved, knowing that if he couldn't have anything else but him, he'd still be the happiest person in the world. He reached for Draco's hand, lacing their fingers together with a smile.
Draco held his lover's hand, blushing a bit at doing so in front of all these people. He was so distracted that he jumped when the Minister called his name.
Harry stifled a small laugh, stroking his thumb over Draco's hand. "Go on," he whispered.
Draco bent his head, closing the short distance between them and kissing Harry, blushing even more at doing that in public.
Harry's eyes closed slowly, one hand reaching up to cup Draco's cheek as he kissed him back gently, forgetting about the crowd.
Draco released him then, panting a bit and getting to his feet. The Minister presented the medal, pinning it to his robe front, and the audience clapped. He had told the Minister flat out that he was not giving a speech and he was glad to step back quickly.
Ron was called next and he got up to accept the award. To Draco's surprise, Weasley did take his wand and cast Sonorus.
"Thanks," Ron said, "but I wanted to say that I was just doing my job and helping my friend. It's Draco who really deserves this. Not only was he the one to find Harry, but he really should have gotten one of these back when we all did after the war. He was as much responsible for the defeat of Voldemort as anyone. Now maybe people will get that."
Ron took a deep breath, glancing at the Minister who looked like he wanted Ron to shut up. "And more than a medal, he deserves his wand back. Just 'cause his father forced him to take the mark doesn't mean he should be punished for the rest of his life."
Harry was sure that he clapped the loudest for Ron and Draco, a huge grin on his face. Ron's speech made him so proud to see how far Ron had come since they were in school. Years ago, he would've never done that. He looked at the Minister, wondering how he would reply to that. It was true, after everything that Draco had done, he did deserve a wand.
The audience clapped and the Minister stepped up, thanking everyone for attending. He didn't address the issue Ron had brought up.
"Minister," Harry said, after whispering Sonorus and holding the wand up to his throat. "I'd like to say something as well. If you'll let me."
The Minister frowned. "Well, I ... I suppose ..." he answered, clearly unable to come up with a good excuse in front of the crowd of people.
Harry nodded in thanks and then turned to look at the crowd. "I owe Draco my life. He saved me, and more than once. I'll admit that I never thought I could fall in love with someone like him, but all I can say is that things change. Nothing is set in stone. Draco's a good man. He's made mistakes; I've made mistakes. Haven't we all made mistakes? The most important part is to learn from them," Harry took a deep breath.
"I don't believe he should be punished for something that I wouldn't even consider his fault, but another's. It isn't fair. I understand the laws, trust me, I've read them over and over and there is a point to it all. I don't mean to say that Draco is special, that he's the only one who can get his wand back, because I'm sure there are others. Others who wish they never made that mistake of turning to Voldemort." Harry paused then, looking back toward the Minister.
"So I want you to think about that, Minister. Think about your own mistakes and if you would've liked a second chance." Harry nodded, looking back toward the crowd. "And thank you all for your support." He ended the spell and lowered his wand, feeling like a small weight had been lifted off his chest. Now it was honestly up to the Minister and the Wizengamot. Harry could only hope they listened.
The applause was louder then and the Minister's face had turned bright red. Draco reached and took his lover's hand again.
Chapter Title: Second Chances
Words: 2383 Words
They had had to enlarge the door to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes to accommodate the wheelchair. But Fred and George had done it cheerfully thought Draco as he pushed the chair over the threshold.
"Hey, Fred, George," Harry greeted them with a smile.
"Harry, Malfoy!" Fred exclaimed, leaning over the counter. "Our favourite suppliers!"
Draco smiled. "Yes, we have another batch for you and some ideas for a new one," he said.
"Brilliant, brilliant," George said, walking past them with a large box. He set it down on a shelf and then turned around to look at the two of them, smiling brightly. "All right there, Harry?"
"I'm doing better," Harry replied, nodding. It had been four months since the attack and he was getting out more. Oddly enough, with Harry injured, Draco seemed more willing to go places now -- just so Harry would.
Draco set the potions on the counter and then handed Fred a scroll with the proposal for the new potion.
Fred quickly read over the list, laughing a few times at the ideas. George walked around the counter and looked as well, nodding in approval. "Never thought you'd ever be this good at jokes, Malfoy ...."
Draco snorted. "'Weasley is our King' was my idea, remember?" he said with a smirk.
Harry laughed, rolling his eyes. "That was so dumb," he teased, shaking his head.
"Hey, it almost worked," Draco responded in mock offence. "He was rattled."
"Ron gets rattled about everything," Harry said, glancing back at him.
"And yet he will be an Auror?" Draco drawled.
"Exactly," Harry said, grinning at him.
Draco was serious again. "He did well enough," he said softly, remembering that awful night.
Draco's sudden seriousness confused him, but Harry nodded slowly. "Yeah, he did."
"Well," Draco said. "Ron's waiting for us. We should get going."
Harry wanted Draco to explain what he meant, but he didn't ask, not yet. "Okay. See you both next week," he said to Fred and George, waving.
They said their goodbyes to the twins and then made their way out of the shop. Draco pushed the wheelchair to the Apothecary shop, which was still open, having been taken over by the shopkeeper's son.
Harry went completely still when his chair was pushed inside. He could remember coming in here the last time, and what had happened soon after.
The shop was cramped and it was hard to get the wheelchair inside. Draco had to lean over Harry in the chair to pass the list to the man behind the counter.
Harry cringed and made a small distressed sound, squeezing his eyes shut when he felt Draco brush against him from behind. That was how he was attacked, from behind.
Draco heard the sound and looked down, frowning. "Harry?"
Harry whimpered, shaking his head and whispering "no" over and over again.
"Harry," Draco whispered, one hand on his shoulder. "It's safe, I'm here."
Harry jerked, still lost in his memories when he felt Draco's hand on his shoulder.
The man behind the counter frowned, looking at Harry and Draco. "Just get the order," Draco growled at him and he moved away. Draco bent closer to Harry then, "Right beside you, love."
"It hurts," Harry whimpered, gripping the arms of his chair.
Draco's heart beat faster. He should have thought of this, that Harry would be upset being here. "We're leaving," he said, taking hold of the handles of the chair and backing up to the door.
Harry covered his face as he began to sob, shaking as Draco pulled him out. He couldn't even tell that they were outside.
Once they were out of the building, Draco knelt in front of Harry and reached to hold him.
Harry took a chance and opened his eyes, throwing his arms around Draco's neck once he saw him. "Draco ..." he said, burying his face in his neck. "They ... they were hurting me ...."
Draco shook, the memory of what he had seen in that room flashing in his mind. "No more," he said. "You are safe now. I have you."
Harry's sobs tapered down to sniffles and hiccups, his arms still tight around Draco's neck. "Don't leave me ...."
"Never," Draco said fiercely. "I will never leave you. I never want to be without you. I am beside you no matter what."
Harry swallowed and leaned back a little, just so he could look into Draco's eyes. "I love you ... and I'm sorry."
"No apologies needed," Draco said. He smiled softly. "Though the 'I love you' part is always welcome."
"I love you, I love you," Harry repeated, nuzzling Draco before he slowly pulled his arms back. He gripped the arms of the chair and used them to pull himself back on the seat. That's when he noticed that they were really outside in Diagon Alley, where there were other people around.
Draco hadn't even noticed the people staring until Harry looked up. He blushed. "Maybe we should go meet Ron now?" he asked.
Harry nodded, not even bothering to look around them. He wondered what people would think once they recognised him. "Yeah, he worries faster now."
Draco smiled and got back to his feet. He pushed Harry up the street, ignoring the stares and mutters they received. They found Ron waiting for them in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Ron," Harry said, nodding at him and hoping he wouldn't notice the redness of Harry's eyes from crying before.
Ron released a breath, smiling at the both of them. "Mate, Malfoy."
Draco nodded to him. "Harry, will you be all right with Ron while I go back to the shop to get our order?"
Harry looked up at him and slowly nodded. "I'll be fine."
"Yeah, we'll be fine," Ron said, walking around behind the wheelchair.
Draco stepped to Harry's side. He blushed but still bent to kiss Harry's cheek before leaving.
Harry closed his eyes and sighed, as if he were trying to remember the simple kiss forever.
Ron flushed too, but smiled as well. He gripped the handles of the wheelchair and began to push Harry toward a table.
***
Ron settled Harry at a table and went to get them both butterbeers. He set the mugs down and settled back into his own chair. "It's great to see you out," he said.
"It's great to do this again," Harry replied, reaching for his mug. "I missed it. Missed you, Ron."
Ron smiled, sipping his butterbeer. "Where'd he run off to?" he asked, then flushed, "Not that I mind him here or anything."
"Went to get the ingredients for a few potions," Harry answered, glancing back at the door. "I wanted to stay here."
Ron glanced uncomfortably at the wheelchair. "Is it ... um ... I mean, getting better?"
Harry looked down at the chair, and then back up at Ron, slowly shaking his head. "No, it's not."
Ron frowned. "Sorry, mate," he said softly and looking guilty again. "I should have gotten Draco sooner ...."
"What? Don't blame anything on yourself, Ron," Harry said, looking at him seriously.
"Can't help it," Ron admitted. "If we had just gotten there sooner ...."
"Please don't blame yourself," Harry repeated softly, looking down in his mug.
Ron was silent for a minute. "So I have news," he said, clearly changing the topic.
"Yeah?" Harry asked, glad for the change himself.
"Well, um, Hermione and I ..." Ron blushed. "We're going to be parents."
Harry's eyes went wide in surprise. "Really? That's brilliant, Ron! I was wondering when you two would." He grinned brightly at him.
That just made Ron blush brighter. "Hermione wanted to wait for a bit after the wedding," he said, grinning.
"And you definitely did," Harry laughed. "I'm happy for you, Ron. I really am."
Ron raised his glass. "To family," he said.
Harry realised that everyone around him did have their own family, something that he had always wanted for himself. But at the same time they were his family. "To family," he said softly, raising his mug as well.
Draco made his way back through the main room of the Leaky Cauldron, coming up to stand by the table.
Ron nodded up at him.
Harry glanced up at Draco with a small smile. "Get a seat," he said.
Draco cocked his head. "Let me get a drink first," he said and then went to the bar, returning with his own glass. He settled into the chair beside Harry, actually moving it closer to the wheelchair. "So what are we toasting?"
"Hermione's having a baby," Harry replied, grinning at Draco.
Ron blushed again, nodding.
Draco's eyes widened and then he smiled. "Well, congratulations," he said, lifting his glass before taking a sip.
"Promise you'll visit us? Especially after the baby's born. Elise'll have another playmate," Harry said, drinking from his mug.
"Of course," Ron answered.
Harry will have another playmate, Draco thought. He watched his lover, not showing how worried he was about Harry. He also didn't tell him that some of the supplies he had gotten that day were for a new potion he was working on. He wouldn't tell him unless he had an idea that it would work.
***
Draco sat beside Harry on the stage erected in the Atrium. There was a crowd facing them. It wasn't as large a crowd as the one when Harry had gotten his medal but that suited Draco. It was nerve-wracking enough. He had, of course, insisted that Harry cast the Disguise Spell on him, but people still stared. He supposed they had a new reason now as well. Minister Scrimgeour was giving another speech about heroism. Draco had to clench his teeth not to make some kind of snarky comment.
Harry had never been a fan of these events, especially when he was the one everyone was there for. But today it was Draco, and he did owe him his life ... and more. Harry glanced at the man he loved, knowing that if he couldn't have anything else but him, he'd still be the happiest person in the world. He reached for Draco's hand, lacing their fingers together with a smile.
Draco held his lover's hand, blushing a bit at doing so in front of all these people. He was so distracted that he jumped when the Minister called his name.
Harry stifled a small laugh, stroking his thumb over Draco's hand. "Go on," he whispered.
Draco bent his head, closing the short distance between them and kissing Harry, blushing even more at doing that in public.
Harry's eyes closed slowly, one hand reaching up to cup Draco's cheek as he kissed him back gently, forgetting about the crowd.
Draco released him then, panting a bit and getting to his feet. The Minister presented the medal, pinning it to his robe front, and the audience clapped. He had told the Minister flat out that he was not giving a speech and he was glad to step back quickly.
Ron was called next and he got up to accept the award. To Draco's surprise, Weasley did take his wand and cast Sonorus.
"Thanks," Ron said, "but I wanted to say that I was just doing my job and helping my friend. It's Draco who really deserves this. Not only was he the one to find Harry, but he really should have gotten one of these back when we all did after the war. He was as much responsible for the defeat of Voldemort as anyone. Now maybe people will get that."
Ron took a deep breath, glancing at the Minister who looked like he wanted Ron to shut up. "And more than a medal, he deserves his wand back. Just 'cause his father forced him to take the mark doesn't mean he should be punished for the rest of his life."
Harry was sure that he clapped the loudest for Ron and Draco, a huge grin on his face. Ron's speech made him so proud to see how far Ron had come since they were in school. Years ago, he would've never done that. He looked at the Minister, wondering how he would reply to that. It was true, after everything that Draco had done, he did deserve a wand.
The audience clapped and the Minister stepped up, thanking everyone for attending. He didn't address the issue Ron had brought up.
"Minister," Harry said, after whispering Sonorus and holding the wand up to his throat. "I'd like to say something as well. If you'll let me."
The Minister frowned. "Well, I ... I suppose ..." he answered, clearly unable to come up with a good excuse in front of the crowd of people.
Harry nodded in thanks and then turned to look at the crowd. "I owe Draco my life. He saved me, and more than once. I'll admit that I never thought I could fall in love with someone like him, but all I can say is that things change. Nothing is set in stone. Draco's a good man. He's made mistakes; I've made mistakes. Haven't we all made mistakes? The most important part is to learn from them," Harry took a deep breath.
"I don't believe he should be punished for something that I wouldn't even consider his fault, but another's. It isn't fair. I understand the laws, trust me, I've read them over and over and there is a point to it all. I don't mean to say that Draco is special, that he's the only one who can get his wand back, because I'm sure there are others. Others who wish they never made that mistake of turning to Voldemort." Harry paused then, looking back toward the Minister.
"So I want you to think about that, Minister. Think about your own mistakes and if you would've liked a second chance." Harry nodded, looking back toward the crowd. "And thank you all for your support." He ended the spell and lowered his wand, feeling like a small weight had been lifted off his chest. Now it was honestly up to the Minister and the Wizengamot. Harry could only hope they listened.
The applause was louder then and the Minister's face had turned bright red. Draco reached and took his lover's hand again.