So Far Away

Because AFF.net has been acting up again, you\'re getting 4 chapters at once!


So Far Away
By: Gwen
Rating: NC17 overall
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Warning: AU/Slash/Drama/Angst/Romance
Betas: Tracy & Dorothy
Feedback: Much appreciated
Disclaimer: The \"boys\" belong to JKR. I just borrow them on occasion. No money is being made from this little adventure.

Summary: Interesting things can happen when you\'re away from everyone and everything you know.

A special note to my faithful readers: I know I haven\'t taken the time to thank each one of you personally for reading and reviewing my first venture into the Harry Potter realm so I\'ll just send out a virtual hug to each of you ((HUG)). I also want to let you guys know that the story IS complete, which is why I\'m posting a new chapter each day. So don\'t worry about it being abandoned. Also, a few of you have mentioned the mpreg possibility. I can\'t do that to Blondie, so I\'ll leave that scenario to the other writers out there. Okay, enough jabbering ... on with the show!



Chapter 23 - A Debt Owed

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

\"I have a proposal for the game this Saturday,\" Harry said one evening while he snuggled Draco on a couch on the fourth-floor porch of their dorm, watching as snow flakes danced on the cold winter winds. Even though they had placed a warming charm around them, the winter scenery beyond made them huddle close together, their arms linked, fingers entwined.

\"Oh really?\" Draco asked as one blonde eyebrow rose towards the ceiling. \"And what brought this on?\"

Harry leaned to the right a bit, resting against his boyfriend. \"How about we put a wager on the outcome?\"

\"A wager?\" Draco asked. \"Why would you want to do that? You already know the outcome. You win, I lose. That’s the way it’s always been, and will always be. I can play my best, Merlin, I do play my best against you, but it’s never enough.\"

\"Draco, don’t say that. You’re the only Seeker who gives me a run for my money. Everyone else is just practice for my game with you,\" Harry said as he laid his head on the blonde’s shoulder. \"I seem to recall that you almost beat me once before. Who\'s to say that things won\'t change this weekend?\"

Draco unlaced their fingers and turned Harry’s hand so that it was laying palm up, and traced the various lines that he found. \"This is true. Things might finally go my way with Quidditch now that we’re away from Hogwarts. It seems to have worked with a few other things,\" he said as he traced a circle in the center of the sensitive flesh, his boyfriend shuddering from the chill that snaked its way through his body. \"So what kind of wager did you have in mind?\"

Harry grinned. He had been thinking about this for a few weeks and it had been hard not to say anything before now. \"The loser has to do anything the winner says, within reason, of course.\"

\"Oh, of course,\" came the reply from lips twisted into an evil grin as several erotic thoughts came to mind. \"And if the loser doesn’t comply with the rules?\"

\"He can’t. What the winner wants, the winner gets, as long as it’s not detrimental to anyone’s health.\"

Draco’s grin grew as he thought that some of his ideas could fit that description, but in a good way. Harry was going to regret the day he ever thought of this.

\"So if I win, I can make you, say, wear your clothes inside-out? Or maybe shave your head?\" Draco asked, knowing that what he wanted was nowhere close to those thoughts. He just didn’t want to tip his hand just yet.

Harry nodded. \"And if I win, I can make you write everyone at Hogwarts and let them know who your boyfriend is.\"

Draco shot forward, dislodging Harry from his comfortable position. \"You wouldn’t!\"

Jewel colored eyes met silver. \"I could, but I don’t think I will. That might be considered detrimental to your health if certain people were privy to that knowledge.\"

The blonde relaxed somewhat. \"Well, that’s good to know. I’ve become rather fond of breathing,\" he said as he settled himself against Harry.

\"So, do we have a deal?\" he asked, knowing that Draco was not about to let this opportunity pass him by.

\"Oh, I don’t know, Harry. Humiliating you in front of everyone would have had massive appeal at one time, but now, I’m not so sure,\" Draco teased.

Harry sighed. Well, he tried. \"Ok, then forget I said anything. I just wanted to make this weekend’s game a bit more interesting. I know we play harder against each other than we do against anyone else. I just thought that this might be fun, you know?\"

Yes, Draco knew exactly what Harry meant but wasn’t ready to give in just yet. \"Can I think about it? Maybe give you an answer before the game?\"

\"Sure. Whatever you want to do is fine with me,\" he said, wondering how long Draco was going to hold out on him. \"But you have until Saturday morning to give me an answer.\"

\"Great. That gives me plenty of time to come up with some things even Malfoy would be proud of,\" the blonde said with a grin. \"If I agree to it.\"

Harry laughed. \"Why don’t you just say you’ll do it now? You know you want to. It’s a chance to do something to me and I can’t stop you, Draco. Think about it,\" he teased.

That was the only thing that Draco was thinking about. He was thinking of all the ways he could take Harry, or have Harry take him. Either way they would both win, as far as he was concerned.

Now it was Draco’s turn to be dramatic. \"Fine,\" he said with a sigh. \"I’ll do it.\"

Harry smiled at his boyfriend. \"I knew you would. You can’t resist a challenge, especially if I’m involved.\"

Draco grinned for two reasons. The first - Harry was right, he loved competing with him. But the second and more rewarding reason was because Draco was finally going to have Harry the way he had been waiting for.

* * * *

Allen handed Chad the pair of omnioculars they had brought to watch the game. \"So, what are they doing?\" he asked as his boyfriend raised the object to his eyes and looked down to the center of the pitch where both teams had gathered.

\"Nothing right now, but the look Draco is giving Harry should be melting the snow on the ground. Merlin, could he be more obvious about what he wants if he wins this thing?\" Chad commented.

\"We’ve been around them longer than anyone else at this school so we know what their looks mean. To an outsider, Draco’s smirk is just that, a smirk. To us, we know that he’s ready to pounce on his prey. Here, let me see,\" Allen said as he scooted closer to Chad and took the omnioculars from him. After adjusting the focus a bit, he smiled. \"Yep, our Harry looks like he’s about to be devoured.\"

\"Yeah, but look at Harry, though. He’s acting as if nothing is going on,\" Chad commented, wondering how he was able to stand there and face his lover like that. If Allen looked at him on the open field like Draco was looking at Harry, everyone would be getting a free show because he wouldn\'t be able to resist the open invitation written across Allen\'s features.

\"But that’s just Harry. When he’s on that pitch, nothing, including a salivating Draco will interfere with what needs to be done,\" Allen said.

\"Well, no matter who wins the game today, there’s going to be some serious sex happening in one of the rooms tonight,\" Chad commented as he watched the teams prepare to take the air.

\"And how do you know that?\" Allen asked as his eyes slid to his boyfriend.

Chad’s shoulder lifted a bit. \"Harry might have mentioned a few things,\" he said with mischief filling his baby-blue orbs.

\"Don’t hold out on me, Sharpe,\" Allen said.

Chad leaned over and brushed a kiss to his boyfriend’s lips. \"I would never do that, but I think I’ll keep some of the ideas to myself and use them on you at some point,\" he breathed before sliding his lips to Allen’s ear. \"Trust me, you’ll be verrrry pleased,\" he whispered before turning his attention back to the center of the Quidditch pitch.

* * * * *

Harry stood with his team at the center of the pitch, his emerald gaze never leaving his lover’s. There were a few times that his mask of indifference slipped, but somehow he managed to hold it together. Draco’s eyes were ablaze with a lust so palpable Harry was sure that everyone around him knew what was going on. After quickly scanning the other players, he knew that they were safe. Everyone’s attention was on the referee, listening to the instructions that were being issued. Harry knew that he should also be listening, but at the moment, he found that he quite enjoyed throwing Draco off-kilter just a bit by not playing along.

\"Players, take the air,\" the referee ordered and once everyone was in their places, the Quaffle, two Bludgers, and the Golden Snitch were released from their case and the game began. Harry flew to his goal and hovered above it for a moment before starting his search for the snitch. What he found was his boyfriend leering at him.

\"I would suggest you stop looking at me like that and start looking for a little golden ball if you plan on winning,\" Harry said before flying in the opposite direction, followed by a confused Draco.

\"What in the bloody hell are you on about, Potter?\" he asked. \"I’m not doing anything out of the ordinary.\"

\"Oh, I hadn’t realized you look at me like that every time we play,\" the Wildcat’s Seeker stated as he lazily circled around the goal and made for the opposite end of the pitch.

Draco leaned over his broom and caught up. \"What? I don’t look at you like anything when we play. I’m too busy looking for the snitch.\"

\"Well then, I’d suggest you get your mind out of the gutter and focus on the skies then,\" he taunted as he took off quickly, as if he had caught sight of the little ball. As expected, Draco was right behind him. \"Go look somewhere else, Malfoy. I’ve got this end covered.\"

\"Oh no you don’t, Potter. I’m not leaving your side during this game,\" the Falcon’s Seeker replied.

Harry slowed his broom and hovered over the pitch for a moment. \"Some things never change, do they? Always trailing me in hopes that maybe one of these days I’ll somehow miss catching the snitch, and then you’ll be right there to do it,\" he taunted, knowing that Draco was about to become very angry. \"Well guess what, Blondie? It hasn’t happened before and it’s not about to happen now,\" he said as he flew off, leaving a very angry Slytherin glaring daggers at his retreating form.

\"Oh, we’ll see who comes out on top this time, Potter,\" he seethed. \"I hope you enjoyed your stay at the top, because you are going down,\" Draco said as he flew off in the opposite direction.

\"Oh hell, that didn’t look good,\" Chad commented from his place in the stands. \"They just had words and neither one looks happy.\"

\"I think the stakes just went up,\" Allen said as his gaze went from one end of the pitch to the other.

The two Seekers would circle the pitch, but never close to each other. Every now and then, Harry caught Malfoy, and yes it was Malfoy, not Draco, looking his way and the air seemed to turn colder than it already was. A few times, they had spotted the snitch and made a dash for it, but before they were close enough, it took off in a different direction and they slowed their pace, separating and flying away from each other.

The game continued like this for well over an hour, Draco’s rage fueling him, determined to bring the great Harry Potter to heel this time. He was watching Harry from his spot above the pitch when he caught sight of the golden ball and decided that it was going to end here and now.

He took off after it and within a few seconds, Harry was by his side, also in pursuit. They were flying as close as they could for it to still be safe, their knees and elbows brushing as one inched forward, only to be overtaken in the next second by his competitor. Malfoy knew that it was a perfect opportunity to take Potter completely out of the game, a well-timed arm across the chest would slow him down enough to grab the advantage, but Draco would not allow that. He wanted this to be fair to both of them.

They inched closer to their prize, and each held their brooms steady with one hand while the other stretched out in front of them, reaching.

The fluttering speck of gold was right in front of them when Harry spoke. \"Get ready, Draco. I’m gonna fuck you into the mattress tonight,\" he shouted to his lover.

Draco faltered for a split-second at hearing those words, but it was all the time Harry needed. As if in slow motion, the blonde watched as long, tanned fingers closed around the snitch, Draco’s hopes and desires shattering in that one act. He watched as Harry turned his broom back towards the stands, preparing to take his victory lap. Draco should be used to it by now; it had been happening for the past six years, so why would today be any different? Because today there was more at stake than just winning a stupid Quidditch match. Tonight could have been the night that he claimed Harry as his own, branded every inch of that body as his and his alone. But that wouldn’t happen because, yet again, he was second best to Harry Potter. Resigning himself to this fact, he slowly descended onto the pitch and stood with his teammates, waiting for Harry to land so the teams could congratulate each other.

The Seekers were last in line, and most of their team members had moved on when Harry and Draco shook hands.

\"Didn’t realize you had it in you, Harry,\" Draco commented as Harry’s hand slid into his.

\"What?\" Harry asked, knowing exactly what Draco was talking about, but wanting to hear it come from his lover’s lips.

\"Very Slytherin, if I must say so myself. An almost Malfoy-worthy trick you pulled up there, distracting me with the mention of sex,\" he whispered.

\"I know how you operate, Draco,\" Harry said as their hands separated. \"Enemies for years, remember? Sex is the only thing that will distract you from Quidditch, so sex is what I used,\" he said as they turned and went in the direction of the field house.

\"And now I’m in your debt. What horrible punishment have you decided on?\" Draco asked, honestly afraid of the answer that was forthcoming.

Harry shook his head. \"Don’t worry about that right now, Draco. Let’s go get cleaned up and have dinner. Then I might decide to tell you, but then again, maybe not,\" Harry said with a grin.

\"Harrrrrryyyyy,\" Draco whined. \"Please, tell me now so I can prepare myself for it,\" he pleaded, his silver eyes seeking pity from his lover’s own.

\"After dinner, Draco,\" Harry stated as they arrived at the locker room. \"Now go change because I’m hungry,\" he said before heading into the Wildcat’s section, leaving Draco to wonder exactly how humiliated he would be after dinner.

* * * * *

Harry took one last bite of his meal, leaned over to his boyfriend and whispered, \"My room, half an hour, and don’t be late.\"

Draco froze and his stomach clenched from the tone that Harry used to issue his summons. And a summons it was … not a request. It was a command. The tone was one that Draco had only heard once before, the night they went to the cinema and was told to strip afterwards. It sounded sensual, but it also held a bit of a veiled threat in it as well.

During their match earlier, Harry was acting so indifferent towards Draco that he thought he had done something to make his boyfriend angry. It was entirely possible, Draco thought to himself. He should have had more control over his emotions before the game and not looked at Harry the way he had, as if he were his next meal. But Merlin, the things he had wanted to do to his lover if he had won the game were enough to set his blood afire. How many times had he dreamt of them finally taking the last step in their new relationship?

Draco was extremely proud of himself for not forcing the issue sooner, which was a definite first for the blonde. If it had been anyone other than Harry Potter, he would have already taken him.

In a few of his past relationships, he had shagged first and talked later. But with Harry, it was different. They had become friends first, something he valued more than anything, and lovers second. And if it hadn’t been for Potter’s little trick at the end of the match today, they would have become lovers in every sense of the word tonight. But he hadn’t caught the snitch and was now at Harry’s mercy. Draco only hoped that the embarrassment was swift and painless, but from the sound of Harry’s voice, he didn’t think he would get off that easy.

By the time he had recovered his composure, his raven-haired boyfriend was striding from the Great Hall, his steps determined. Yes, Draco admitted to himself as he pushed his plate away, he was probably in for something very humiliating tonight. He would never, never make wagers against Harry again, no matter what.

\"You look like you’re ready to make a run for it,\" Chad commented from his place across the table. His suitemate’s color was more pale than usual, and his gray eyes looked frightened. His normally calm composure had left when Harry did.

\"Wouldn’t you if you were in my place? Whatever he’s planning, he’s had six long years to think about it,\" Draco said, his voice unnaturally quiet. \"Here is his one chance to get back at me for every horrible thing Malfoy ever did to him. Why wouldn’t he take it? I can’t deny his request, which would only make it worse.\"

Allen leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the table. \"But wasn’t there another part of the debt, Draco? Didn’t he say that whatever was chosen as repayment wouldn’t be detrimental to your health?\" Draco nodded. \"So look at it this way - you might be humiliated, but at least you’ll still be alive.\"

Draco huffed. \"And what is so great about that?\"

\"You live to fight another day,\" he said. \"Why not make this an ongoing bet for when you play each other?\"

Silver eyes squinted. \"And why, exactly, would I want to subject myself to public humiliation more than is absolutely necessary?\"

\"One of these days you might actually beat him, Draco,\" Chad offered.

\"Yes, and monkeys might fly out my arse,\" the blonde quipped and then noticed the huge smiles on the American wizard’s faces. \"If you tell anyone I said something so ‘American’, I’ll hex you in your sleep,\" he said with a grin.

\"No worries there, mate,\" Allen teased. \"I guess we need to get back to our rooms so Chad and I can get ready. We’re going into Fairfield for a little while, check out the Christmas decorations, do a bit of shopping,\" he said as the three rose from the table.

\"Too bad I can’t go with you. Being a third wheel has more appeal than being at Potter’s mercy,\" Draco commented. \"Merlin, how could I have been so stupid to agree to this?\" he asked, running his hand through his blonde mane in frustration. \"He’s not going to go easy on me, I just know it.\"

Allen put his arm around his roommate. \"You’ll be fine, Draco. I don’t think Harry will do anything as drastic as what you’re imagining,\" he said as a smile threatened to break through the serious look he was sporting.

\"Yeah, easy for you to say,\" Draco said as they walked up the stairs towards their floor. \"You’re not the one at Harry Potter’s mercy tonight.\"

\"I’d have to say that’s a good thing for us then,\" Chad offered from the other side of Allen. \"He didn’t look too happy when he left earlier.\"

Draco’s groan could be heard two floors away.

* * * * *

\"Half an hour and don’t be late.\"

The command repeated itself in Draco’s mind as he watched the minutes tick away on his bedside clock. When he had no time left, he slowly went to the door that separated the shared bathroom from Harry and Chad’s room. Lifting a nervous hand, he knocked.

\"Harry?\" he called.

There was no answer, which caused Draco to become even more nervous. He knocked again and same as before, he received no acknowledgement. Taking a deep breath, he slowly turned the knob and stepped into the room, fully expecting to feel a hex or two being hurled his way.

What he found almost sent him to his knees.

The room was alit with a golden glow given off by dozens of magically floating candles, as well as a few that were sitting on the bedside table and desks. The two twin size beds had been transfigured into one king size adorned with a crimson duvet pulled back to reveal black silk sheets. And if that wasn’t enough, Harry was lying on the bed, a pair of emerald green sleep pants riding low on his hips the only item of clothing gracing his tanned and toned body. His glasses had been removed and Draco could clearly see the emerald orbs staring at him.

\"Ha … Harry,\" Draco finally managed to croak as his mouth had suddenly become as dry as a desert. \"What … what is all of this?\" he asked.

Again, no answer was forthcoming, just Harry’s unnerving stare.

\"I thought,\" he started, only to have the rest of his words lodge in his throat as Harry finally moved. No, moved wasn’t the correct word to describe his action, because Harry was not moving. He was stalking. His muscled limbs and torso were shining in the candlelight as he slid from the bed.

\"You thought what?\" his quiet voice cut through the silence as his feet touched the floor and he stood, the waist of his pants settling in place, allowing more of the fine trail of dark hair below his navel to be exposed to Draco’s gaze.

Draco could not think as his brain had ceased to function. Actually, there was a very good reason for that, because all of the blood had just rushed south to a certain area of his body. His skin suddenly felt clammy, his stomach clenched with desire. He had never seen Harry like this, this focused, on anything before, including Quidditch. He could not move. He was paralyzed, not by fear, but by desire.

\"It seems that I’ve found yet another way to keep the great Draco Malfoy quiet,\" Harry commented, his voice a bit more husky than the blonde had ever heard it. He slowly approached his boyfriend and stood just inches away, his jewel-colored eyes taking everything in. \"You’re not afraid, are you Draco?\" he asked as he raised his hand and slid his fingers into the soft tresses that were begging to be touched.

\"Should I be?\" he queried.

Harry’s thumb caressed a flushed cheek. \"No, my dragon. I would never do anything to hurt you. Actually, I plan to do quite the opposite,\" he said as he slid the other hand into Draco’s hair, his eyes searching his lover’s. \"If you will allow it,\" he said as he brushed a gentle kiss to parted lips.

Draco’s hands moved to settle on Harry’s arms as he leaned in and deepened the kiss. When he finally broke away, he touched his forehead to Harry’s. \"What do you mean, if I will allow it? You’re the one who said that the loser could not deny the winner his debt.\"

Green eyes bore into silver. \"I want you, Draco. All of you,\" Harry said. \"I want to be inside of you, become part of you, lose myself in you. But I will not take what is not freely given. You have to want this too.\"

Draco’s heart felt as if it were about to burst. All this time he had been thinking of the most horrific things that Harry could do when all along he had planned what Draco had wanted. It was almost too much to comprehend. He looked deep into Harry’s eyes and gave the only answer he could.

\"Yes, Harry,\" he panted. \"Make me yours,\" he said as he captured his lover’s lips. Harry allowed Draco to dictate this kiss, secure in the knowledge that tonight he would finally claim the blonde as his own.

TBC