SMOLDERING WITHIN

CHAPTER THREE - Cherries and Bathroom Stalls





On Wednesday morning, Harry woke by the buzz of his snitch clock at five. He slipped on jogging pants, a t-shirt, a headband and his sneakers. After about a five mile run, he came back and Molly was awake.



"Good morning," Molly said as she was starting to make breakfast. It was nearing six in the morning. "You're up early. Ron told me that you went running in the mornings for exercise. I think that's a good discipline to practice."



"Thank you," Harry said meekly. "Albus says physical conditioning makes mental conditioning stronger." Harry said. "But then he eats a bag of candy and sweets all the time." They shared a short laugh. "I think I'll have a shower. Could I come back down and assist with breakfast?"



"If you'd like to," Molly said. "I never turn down assistance, but you don't have to help."



"No. I'd like to," Harry said knowing it was difficult to prepare breakfast for so many.



"Bill and Stacy are coming for breakfast at eight along with Percy and Penelope," Molly said. "Fred and George may come by they said. So I'll be preparing enough food for the Weasley army." Harry grinned.



"Then I'll definitely come back down to help. Be back in a few minutes," Harry said. He took his nicest blue t-shirt and clean jeans and underwear to the bathroom.



After a fast shower, brushing teeth, hair, deodorant, and checking for non-existent facial hair, Harry came back down to assist the resident chef with breakfast. There was a ham in the oven for breakfast and then for sandwiches at lunch. Harry cracked all the eggs into a bowl to let them come to room temperature before whipping them for scrambled eggs. He peeled all of the potatoes and shredded them for hash browns and insisted that Molly go ahead and start her other things for meals for the day such as the chicken pies. The chicken was boiled in a large stew pot with the celery, carrots and onions Harry had peeled and cut for her. The dough was made for the pies and Harry peeled more whole potatoes and added them to the stock pot with the chicken for use in the pies. He helped start the Yorkshire pudding without being told and Molly was grateful for everything.



"Molly, you have three bags of oranges on the back steps," Harry said. "Would you like me to squeeze us all some fresh orange juice?"



"That would be lovely, Harry. Thank you," Molly said. Harryk thk the three bags of oranges and sat at the table with the squeezer and two pitchers. He only lacked three oranges being done with all three bags when Ron and Hermione came downstairs. Ron with wet hair from his shower.



"What are you doing?" Ron sat down next to Harry who had his hand on the orange.



"I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count," Harry said sarcastically squeezing the orange for the juice.



"You squeezed all those oranges by hand?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded. "There were three bags, Harry. How long have you been up?"



"Since five," Harry squeezed down. "I always get up at five and run. You know that." Harry squeezed the other slice half and then another and another quickly. "There. All done. Did you know Bill and Percy and the twins were coming this morning?"



"Yeah," Ron said. "I just can't wait." Sarcasm abounded.



"Ron, be nice to your brothers," Molly said as she wiped her hands on a towel and checked the ham. Harry left the pitchers of juice on the table and cleaned up all of his orange bits of mess with a wave of his hand. He took the bags of orange rinds outside and put them in the grass.



"Molly, if you plan on having tomatoes in your garden again, I can shred those orange peelings and put them on the soil to rot so that the soil will be more acidic for you in the spring. It's good for composting," Harry said to her.



"If you have time, Harry," Molly said. "You've done all the work this morning. I've hardly done anything."



"Nonsense," Harry said. "You'll need to show me where the tomatoes will go next year so that I can put the shreds on the right soil."



"Same place as last year, mum?" Ron asked.



"Yes. That will be fine," Molly said. "Thank you, Harry. You're such a good lad."



"Come on. I'll show you where it goes. Be back in a minute, Herm," Ron said. Hermione nodded from the sink where she had just run a sink of water and was going to wash the morning cooking pans. Ron took Harry out to the garden area with the bags of orange rinds and all of the other vegetable peelings he'd saved. Witwavewave of his hand, the bits were ground into fine shavings. "Right along here is where the tomato plants will be. Over there will be potatoes, cabbage, carrots, corn, peas and beans. She'll have turnips, too, but I hate them." Harry laughed softly at Ron's detest of turnips. He'd reach in the bag and shake the shavings all over the marked off plot for the tomatoes. As Ron watched Harry work, he sighed. "I can't help but wonder what you big secret is."



"You'll know later today," Harry said not bothering to look at him. The morning sun was bright so Ron sat on the small wooden fence there. "Can I ask you a personal question? It's sort of embarrassing."



"Like I never asked you any?" Ron asked as if it were stupid. "Go ahead. We're best buds. I'm not going to say nothing."



"Okay," Harry said as he sprinkled the shavings and cleared his throat. "Have you ever thought about like..." Harry paused. "You're with Hermione. And you kiss her and all that. Have you ever thought about what that would be like with another guy?"



"You mean like kissing another guy?" Ron asked. Harry nodded. Ron shrugged. "I've seen guys kissing. Seamus used to date that Chad guy in Hufflepuff. Remember that?"



"No," Harry said. "I don't remember that. When was that?"



"In fifth year," Ron said. "You don't' remember?"



"No," Harry stilled and thought. "Not at all. Where was I?"



"You were around," Ron said. "Not many people knew it, but I did. I saw them together all the time."



"What did you think about that?" Harry asked.



"Whatever Seamus wants to do is fine with me," Ron said. "They got along pretty good. I don't know if they ever had sex. Now that is gross." Harry winced inside.



"You think so?" Harry asked.



"Don't you?" Ron asked with a la "Yo "You know that has to hurt. Can you imagine some dick stuck up your ass? Hell. I'd never do that." Harry nodded and kept sprinkling the shavings over the tomato patch.



"You didn't answer my question," Harry started again.



"Which was what?" Ron asked.



"Have you ever thought about kissing a guy?" Harry asked.



"Well, yeah I thought about it before," Ron said. "But I'd never do that. I'm not gay or anything. Charlie and Bill both dated a guy before, though. I remember I was just little, but Bill dated this one guy for almost a year."



"How did Molly and Arthur react to that?" Harry asked as he slowed down his sprinkling to make it last while they talked.



"Well, dad was fine with it," Ron said. "Mum was a bit concerned that they'd have a hard time for people calling them fags and queers and stuff like that. I think she was mainly concerned that she would never get any grandkids out of that arrangement if they stayed together." Ron laughed and Harry grinned a bit uncomfortably. "But they broke up and I guess that was for the best."



"Why do you say that?" Harry asked. "You didn't like the guy Bill was seeing?"



"I don't remember him much," Ron said. "He was tall and had brown hair and laughed a lot. But you know with gay couples it usually never lasts."



"Really?" Harry asked. "I've never known a gay couple. Why do you thinkt?"


"Well, it's two guys," Ron said. "It just seems like they'd eventually get tired of each other or something. I don't know. I'm not gay so I can't say one way or the other. I don't have anything against gay people, really. I mean, Justin is gay and he's a great chaser and friendly and all that. I've never been attracted to another guy like that. Have you?"



"Well, I...there are certain guys that are good looking and all. Don't you think?" Harry tested further. Ron shrugged.



"I can see that some guys are good looking," Ron said. "I think you're good looking for a guy. I think that guy...um...Seth Deckley in Ravenclaw is very nice looking. I always wanted hair like his." The boys laughed a bit. "And we all know who thinks he's the hottest looking piece of ass on the planet." Harry nodded. "Malfoy. Oh man. I can't wait to kick their ass in Quidditch this year. They lost four players last year and we lost none. We're taking them down."



"We always beat Slytherin, Ron," Harry said. "And yeah. Malfoy, even though he's a total git, is very nice looking. You have to admit that."



"Yeah. It's just that he's so damn arrogant all the time making every body feel like they're shit and he's great because he's rich," Ron said.



"I wonder if Draco wasn't like that if we'd get along," Harry said finishing the composting. "Did you ever wonder that? What if he was like still rich and all, but wasn't such an ass? I wonder if he and I would get along at all as friends."



"I doubt it, Harry. Hell, he's practically a DE," Ron said. "His father is a DE and a dark wizard. You know Malfoy knows dark arts. He has to. And the apple never falls far from the tree." Harry considered those words and nodded slowly. "I'm thirsty. Let's go have some of that freshly squeezed orange juice that my new houself made for me." y lay laughed with Ron and they went inside. Bill and Stacy, Percy and Penelope, Fred and George arrived. The table was set and Harry helped with the French toast and one skillet of scrambled eggs while Molly did the hash browns and another skillet since there was so many of them. The ham was sliced by Arthur and Hermione and Ginny poured them all orange juice and water. Everyone was bringing the French toast, hash browns and other things to the table and soon everything was ready.



"What a spread," Bill said. "You did great, mum."



"Harry prepared all but half this," Molly said. "He's quite handy."



"Yeah, the idiot's good to have around in a crises," Ron said putting a generous helping of the hash browns on his plate.



"I think that's Harry's thing," Ginny said. "That was twice we were together and he was doing that defeating Voldemort deal."



"Maybe it's just you, Ginny," Fred said.



"Yeah. Maybe you draw dark lords to you," George said. Harry grinned to Ginny who slapped George's arm.



"Shut up. I do not," Ginny said.



"Maybe Michael will be a dark lord? Is that what you're suggesting, George?" Penelope asked with a teasing grin.



"No. Dark Lords are always from Slytherin," George said.



"That's not true," Harry said quietly and everyone stilled. "Grindelwald, the dark wizard that Dumbledore defeated in 1945 wasn't a Slytherin. He was a Raven." H." Harry noted everyone's stare and he tried to sink down in his seat as he ate quietly.



"I didn't know that," Arthur said with a mouthful. "How interesting. How do you know that, Harry?" Harry laughed softly.



"I sort of studied Dark Lords, Arthur," Harry said. "Know your enemy? It's job security for me, you know." Everyone at the table laughed with Harry over his humor. "I did honestly study all the evil power holders of the two thousand years. Since most were before Hogwarts and sorting of any kind, they were never technically sorted, but in my opinion, most were Ravenclaws and not Slytherins at all."



"But even the sorting hat says the snakes are bad," Ron said.



"It has never said that," Harry said. "And not every witch or wizard who has sought the dark has come from Slytherin. That's rubbish. There is dark in everyone. It's just that a trait of those in Slytherin is ambition and they use use their dark sides to try and become successful."



"And then it's Harry's job to go in and blast them," Bill said.



"I'm retired," Harry said. Everyone joined in his grinning at that statement. "Any more dark lords happen along, and you people are on your own. I can't take that again."



"You wouldn't go anywhere," Ron challenged with his elbows on the table and his fork dangling from his hand. "I know you wouldn't. You'd be on the front line, pal. I just know it."



"Only if I was bound and gagged and put there," Harry said. Everyone gave him the look. "Well, I'd...I might help, but I'm....you know. Not doing....that...whatever. Just shut up, Ron." Harry said in a huff. Ron grinned.



"See? I told you," Ron said. Harry gave the look to Ron and the tucked in with his plate and ate a hearty breakfast until he was full.



"Harry, can't you eat any more?" Molly asked at Harry being the first one finished. "You didn't eat much."



"I'm stuffed," Harry said holding his stomach.



"You're too thin," Molly said. "You should eat more at your age."



"Ron eats enough for both of them," Ginny said. "And Harry's not skinny. He's got a great body." Harry just knew he'd choke.



"Ginny," Harry whispered to her. "Don't say anything to embarrass me, please."



"Fine," Ginny said. "But you do. I just wanted to compliment you."



"Well, thanks," Harry said. "Molly, would you like me to clear away some of these dishes?"



"I would appreciate a bit of assistance if you don't mind," Molly said. "That way we can leave earlier to walk to Carsettes today for the street fair. It begins at lunchtime."



"Street fair?" Harry asked.



They explained that the anniversary of the closest village about two miles away was being celeed oed on that day and that there would be games, sweets, and general fun for a few hours. Everyone was talking about the previous years of fun at the fairs. Arthur related a lively tale about the year he entered the greased pig catching contest and they all laughed. There was a log rolling contest in the water, a pole climbing contest, a wood splitting contest, a spitting distance contest, pie judging, along with canned goods being judged. Many local artisans had their wares for demonstratind fnd for sale. Molly had even entered several jars of her home made prepared pears, beans and had prepared the dough for her fig and brandy bread which she planned to enter in the created recipe contest. Everything at the fair was to be done and made with no magic celebrating the fact that the first building in the village was a chapel used for a school and was build solely by hand with no magical assistance. Hermione and Harry couldn't wait to see all the things the wizards made without magic.



Breakfast was finished and everyone assisted with washing, rinsing, drying and putting away dishes, wrapping up leftovers, cleaning the table and floor, general sweeping and all sorts of duties. Molly was in heaven with all of the help. Harry was fast with washing dishes and putting them away magically and it took less than half of the time it would have had. By eleven they were done and ready to go. Harry and Ginny helped make sandwiches for everyone with four loaves of bread and the leftover ham. Molly had taken her two large picnic baskets and filled one with the canned goods, bread and two pieces of stitchery she'd sewn for judging at the festival. The other picnic basket was filled with the ham sandwiches and enough apples and pears for each of them along with a batch of cookies Molly had made the day before for this purpose. Beverages could be bought at the festival.



Harry made sure he had his wallet along with his trusty pocketknife he always kept with him. The knife was a very special gift from Sirius. The last thing his godfather had given him before he died. The knife had belonged to Sirius, but Harry's dad, James, had always admired it and had borrowed it almost daily from Sirius for some trivial meaningless cutting of something. It was now one of Harry's prized possessions. Fred and George had other plans and couldn't attend the festival with them, but they promised to come for dinner. Molly was delighted, Harry cringed at having more people present when he'd tell his secret.



Molly carried one picnic basket and Arthur the other and everyone followed them out of the house and to the dirt roadway where very seldom a carriage ever came. Harry always thought that wizards needed automobiles for non-apparation travel. As he was walking with the Weasley family who were all arguing over the latest professional Quidditch scores, games and player trivia, Harry was wandlessly playing with conjured coin which he'd spin and vanish and reconjure in an instant. He'd flip the coin and then roll it between his fingers as he walked last behind them all in deep thought.



Harry was thinking of Mark. He was naturally missing holding his hand, touching him in any way, being held in an embrace, and the kissing. Oh god the kissing. Harry grinned a bit to himself. Mark had said he was a good kisser which meant the world to Harry who had assumed he'd be awful at it with so little experience. In his 'gay guide' book which Harry had come to calling it in his mind, there was a brief summary of kissing and a few suggestions on improving the skill. Harry had tried to remember them along with the very, very interesting guide to giving a good blow job. Harry looked further down to the ground with a blush at even thinking he'd thought those words. But the fact remained that Mark had given him one and if honest, Harry was anxious to try that again but in the giving role. What would that be like? The feel of another person in his mouth? The taste of semen from Mark's body? Would Mark think he was inexperienced and hate it? Would Harry like giving it? Harry was silently running his tongue along his teen hin his mouth thinking of giving a blow job in the middle of the day with the Weasley family walking to a village fair. He scolded himself for such thoughts but he was silent and to himself still thinking of it. Would the pair of them have the opportunity on Saturday to get away for a bit from the others? Possibly in the movie theatre they could sneak to the bathroom stall again? Would Harry be brave enough to ask if he could try that? Harry almost stumbled on the rocky roadway at even having the thought of asking for such a thing. It seemed like a forbidden thing, but at the same time it was exciting to think about making him grin again.



"What is wrong with you, man?" Ron asked. "You keep looking down and grinning all the time. What are you thinking about?"



"I bet I could guess," Hermione grinned herself. "Maybe his date."



"You had a date, Harry?" Molly asked. Harry went wide eyed and almost felt sick but he nodded just a bit never looking up from his shoes. "Well, that's lovely. Who was this girl? Do we know her family?"



"It's a muggle, mum," Ginny said. "Harry met her in London recently."



"How nice," Molly complimented with a smile.



"I think Harry wanted her to come to the movies with us," Ron said. "I think. Right, Harry?"



"I...well, I was....possibly considering asking my date to meet us there," Harry said softly. "But I'm not sure yet."



"I think that's a wonderful idea," Arthur said. "I was going to ask you if there was anyone that you would like to take since Ron is taking Hermione and Ginny is taking Michael. You've saved me the embarrassment of asking." They all laughed and Harry tried to grin but it was more like a grin of dread. "What's her name?"



"He wont tell us," Ron said.



"Why not?" Bill asked. "She ugly?"



"Bill, that's impolite," Molly said. "I'm sure whoever it is, is very nice. Isn't that right, Harry?" Harry nodded.



"So how did you meet?" Penelope asked. Harry told the story of how he and Tonks had gone to the auror classes and then to a dance club. This time to add more to the story he told that Albus had wanted him to buy something appropriate for wearing and that he and Tonks had gone shopping and that she forced him to buy leather pants. They all laughed at ima image of Harry wearing leather pants. His story continued to tell of some of the songs played in the club and Hermione and Ginny knew many of them since they shared a good collection of CDs. Harry told of the auror classes and some of the moves and defensive casting and was made to show Ron and Bill a few of them when they stopped on the roadway for that purpose. Everyone complimented Harry on his casting and moves and he thanked them. Very little was actually said about his date and he was glad when the subject changed to aurors, Ministry policies and policing duties which could be strengthened.



Finally, they arrived at the village which was teaming with youth who were Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny's age. All the villagers had some type of ringlet of clover on their heads and when they went to enter Molly's wares for judging, they were all given the clover ringlets which they all took.



"This makes me feel stupid," Ron said of the flowers in his hair. "Look at me. Do I look like I need flowers in my hair?" Harry laughed at him.



"What about me?" Harry said smiling. Ron looked him over.



"It doesn't look bad on you at all," Ron said. "With your eyes and dark hair, it looks sort of sexy, really." Harry almost froze.



"Really?" Harry asked seriously.



"Yeah. I guess," Ron said with a shrug and then turned to watch some game with a sling shot and cans. Harry touched the clover ring on his head lightly and thought about what Ron had said. He'd never considered his appearance much until Albus had told him that he should always present himself in a pleasing manner and be kempt and tidy. That was when he'd first come to be in Albus' care. Harry wasn't offended by the remark at all because Albus had taken him to London on a shopping spree where they'd bought a wardrobe of new clothing, shoes, underwear, socks, and more personal things Harry had always wanted of his own like new glasses where he'd picked out his own frames for the first time. Albus treated him to a new haircut and even a manicure to help urge his tendency to bite his nails. He felt so loved that day and Albus had taken them to lunch and then after the shopping they'd had ice cream sundaes. It was a wonderful day years ago and Harry realized that he did look better with clothing that fit properly. It boosted his self esteem and made him more confident in his appearance, but he'd never felt like he was sexy in any way. Hermione had mentioned that he was sexy in an innocent sort of way a few times that he could remember, but when Ron told him just now it had meant more to him than when she had said it. It felt more believable. Was it because Ron was his best friend, or a male friend that thought he was sexy? Did Ron think he was sexy? Harry scowled with that thought knowing Ron was just being his best friend and thought nothing else of it.



Bill and Ron both entered the greased pig catching contest at Arthur's suggestion to his boys saying that they'd remember it for years to come. At urging Harry to find something to enter, Harry reluctantly agreed to the pole climbing event. Hagrid had showed Harry how to climb a tree with a strap last summer when there was moss in the trees that Professor Sprout had wanted for the classes of the year. The moss couldn't be touched with magic and had to be gathered by hand so Harry had climbed what felt like a hundred trees that week helping him get enough to last the year. The fair was a large event and there were all types of artisans sporting their wares.



"Harry, maybe you can get an idea of what you might like to do for the second half of the art class this year by looking at what others have done," Hermione suggested.



"Good idea," Harry said. "Do you have any idea of what you're going to do? You used to paint those ceramic things."



"I gave that up years ago," Hermione said. "I can knit and sew. I wonder if that would work for a class?"



"I'm not sure what type of art was intended. Do we have to create it by hand or with magic?" Harry asked. "And does it have to be totally original or can we use pre-created supplies? Is the instructor wanting conventional forms rt srt such as painting, sculpting and music, or can we venture into other areas like this." Harry motioned to a wind chime made of forks and spoons which tinkled lightly as Hermione touched it. They all split up into groups. Ginny saw her friend Karen and went with her. Bill, Stacy, Percy and Penelope went off together. Arthur and Molly were speaking to old friends leaving Ron and Hermione together and thankfully leaving Harry to venture alone which he wanted anyway. The vil was was quite large and had five streets full of booths of wares, foods, potions to be bought along with ingredients for everything, fresh fruits, robes, jewelries, novelties and everything one could think of. There were several candy vendors there with home made candies and spun sugar crisps which Harry knew Albus loved. He mentally noted to buy his mentor some before they left.



"...and I didn't see none," a familiar voice sounded and Harry froze. He looked slowly in the direction of the voice and saw him. Vincent Crabbe and Greg Goyle. Harry panicked. Wherever they were, Malfoy was usually close by. With some maneuvering past them without being seen or recognized, Harry slid between two booths and looked around until he spotted those strands of sunlight which dared to be his hair. Harry's breath hitched at just seeing the top of his head from far away, but when the crowd moved and Harry saw the completed form of him, his heart rate shot up and his eyes went wide. Draco was in a pair of denim shorts and a sleeveless white t-shirt. He had on the clover ring in his hair and was in sneakers. He looked...normal. Like a normal teenager. But, Harry thought, so much sexier than in robes. Harry had seen Draco in short pants before, but not denim and the image was now emblazoned on his brain. Draco looked over several things on the tables of the sellers. He held a small bag and was picking into it eating whatever it was. Harry could not take his eyes off of him. He was...beautiful. Stunning. Gorgeous. Touchable but unapproachable. Totally hot...and fuckable. With a tremendous blush at even daring to think that word, Harry swallowed nervously and lay his head against the wall he was hiding behind. Harry scolded himself for thinking of the person who had made his life a living hell at school for the past six years in such a way. Harry looked at Draco's legs as he passed by and Harry flattened himself against the wall half hidden behind a curtain. Now Harry could see him from behind. Draco's perfect ass walking in tight denim. Harry banged his head back against the brick wall repeatedly and knew he was hard just from watching him.



"Dammit," Harry whispered to himself. Harry never swore unless the situation was dire enough to warrant it and this did. At knowing it was already hard and needy, he ventured to not take his eyes off Draco until he was completely out of sight and had turned the corner up the street. Wquicquickness, he asked the attendee of the booth where the nearest restroom was and he motioned that he could use the one in the store next door. Harry entered and store and asked the store owner.



"You're Harry Potter!" the man said loudly. "Helen! Come out here! You won't believe who's here!" Harry stood in complete humiliation with a hard on and having to meet the wife of a businessman. Thankfully the meeting was short and Harry took use of the bathroom which was for one. He cast a silencing ward quickly and pulled his almost painful erection out and in only moments had spilled his relief into tissue paper all the while thinking of Draco and his perfect body. Embarrassed that he'd had to do such a thing at the festival to get relief from the Slytherin prince, Harry cleaned up and left the store being certain to put the flowery clover over his head and forehead so that no one might recognize him since he kept his head down when he walked anyway.



Harry continued to look about and had ventured down two more streets when he came to the street which was filled with what looked like paintings and portraits. He entered the street and to his delight some were photographs. Most of the photography was of wizarding world scenes, landscapes, some odd lighting shots of people, and some very interesting still life shots of simply hands, feet and one very erotic photo of a woman's navel and thigh which took a moment to identify because of the position and the close up. There were no faces and they were paired with a solid black background with odd lighting to enhance the texture and feel of the pictures.



"Looking at porn, Potter?" Malfoy's voice sounded. Harry froze.



"This isn't pornography, Malfoy," Harry said. "This is art."



"And what, pray tell, would you happen to know of art?" Malfoy said coming to stand beside him. Harry never looked to him at all.



"Not as much as you do, I'm sure," Harry let him have the bait and as usual, Malfoy took it.



"I should think not," Draco drawled. "At the Manor we have a Michelangelo and two Monet's. Originals, of course."



"Of course," Harry said saticatically as he turned to walk slowly admiring more of the photography. Draco followed much to Harry's....dread? Delight? He scolded himself mentally again.



"I like this one," Draco said of one portrait of a child dressed in dress robes. It was a painting with oils and was very good.



"That is very nice," Harry said. "I like this use of the paint and color blends here." Harry pointed to the window in the background where the blue sky showed clouds but had a mix of pink and gold that was barely noticeable until it was viewed closer. Harry realized that they were each bent over looking at the portrait and were quite close in proximity so he moved away quickly. Draco followed again. They looked at several more booths and commented on the styles of the artists. Harry noticed that Draco had not said anything derogatory toward him and it was unnerving almost.



"Do you like things like this one?" Draco asked of a still shot of a nude male draped with a red cloth gazing pensively out a window into the dark night.



"Yeah," Harry said in a reflective way. "This photo makes me wonder what he's thinking sitting there staring out into the darkness."



"I can tell you what he's thinking," Draco said sadly. Harry turned to him for the answer as Draco stared at the portrait. "He's thinking that the night is full of lovers and he is alone. His pose suggests that he is longing for the touch of someone who cares genuinely for him and not just some meaningless one off. He's thinking of his life." Harry felt the heaviness of the situation and would try to lighten it.



"You think so? I was considering that he was thinking that there might be someone outdoors running equally as naked through his flower patch," Harry ginned and walked on to the next booth. To his delight, Draco actually laughed



"Good one," Draco said. Nothing could have made Harry happier. "What are you doing here anyway?"



"I'm staying with Ron's family until three days before term," Harry said. "Then I have to go home."



"To Surrey?" Draco asked in disbelief.



"No, to Hogwarts," Harry said. "I've lived at the school with Dumbledore for three years almost. I've not seen the Dursleys in years."



"Why not? Finally kick you out?" Draco asked.



"Something like that," Harry said. Draco looked in question. "My uncle Vernon is not a nice man. He literally beat me to within an inch of my life and I ended up in hosphospital the summer after fifth year right after I'd arrived at the end of term. Albus came to get me and now he's my guardian until I turn eighteen."



"You should have killed those damn muggles," Draco said. "Nobody would have questioned you on it anyway."



"They're my family," Harry said. "That was years ago and I'm over it now." Harry noticed that Draco seemed just a bit more nervous than his cool demeanor allowed. Surprisingly Harry felt calm is prs presence. "Dra...um...Malfoy, I don't mean to interrupt this nice conversation we're having, but...I can't help but wonder why you are even speaking to me civilly. It's almost frightening." Draco laughed again and popped one of the candies he had into his mouth.



"Nothing else to do today," Draco said. "Harry." Harry almost grinned at Malfoy's notice of him almost calling him by his given name. "I mean, it's sort of stupid now to treat you like shit when you killed Voldemort and all that. Isn't it?"



"What do you mean?" Harry asked.



"Come on, Harry. Get real," Draco said. "You know my father was a Death Eater. Everybody knows that now. Voldemort is dead and my father is no longer bound to serve that fucker." Harry looked to Draco in question. "And I never supported Voldemort, just for the record."



"But you said...on the train...that we were on the losing side?" Harry stammered. Draco shrugged.



"What would you have had me say?" Draco asked popping more candy into his mouth. "I couldn't go against what my father wanted. He'd have had me under the pain curse for hours for that." Harry froze and stared at Draco in disbelief. "Yeah. He did cast it on me before, okay? It's a common thing among families practicing dark magic. I know you know that." Harry nodded slightly.



"But I wasn't aware that the fathers cast the unforgivables onto their own children," Harry said. "I've had 'crucio' many times and it is not pleasant."



"Hurts like hell," Draco said. "Want one?" Draco held out his bag and Harry peered into it. "It's cherry snaps. Ehad had one?" Harry shook his head. "Try it. They're great and this is the only place I can find them." Harry took one of the tiny red drops and put it in his mouth. It was very good an after a few seconds the hard candy dissolved with a pop in his mouth giving a burst of flavor. "Good, huh?" Harry nodded with a grin.



"I've never heard of them. Where did you get those?" Harry asked. Draco looked down the street.



"Over on one of the other streets. I'll show you where if you want to get some," Draco said.



"Yeah. I would love to have some of those. Thanks," Harry said. Draco nodded with a grin and walked up a bit admiring more art work. Harry decided to tell him about the class upcoming. "Are you planning to attend a university after you graduate?" Draco had a mouthful of candy but nodded. "Since you are, you'll be required to take the newly created art classes at Hogwarts this year." Draco looked in disbelief and Harry nodded. "The new requirements for university admission require the credits in fine art." Harry explained the two halves of the class during the first and second semesters and that he was actually looking at the artisans' work at the fair to try and decide what he might like to do for the practical art semester. "Do you have any fine art interests?"



"I play the cello," Draco said. Harry smiled.



"You do?" Harry asked. Draco nodded. "I didn't know that. Wow. That's great. I always wanted to learn to play something. Dudley had piano lessons for about six months one time, but he quit. Thank god, he was awful." The pair laughed a bit. "How long have you played the cello?"



"Years," Draco said offering Harry another sweet which he took. "I started cello lessons when I was four and I still have advanced tutors occasionally."



"I bet you're very good at that," Harry said. "Your fingers are so long and slender." Draco held out his hand and then turned it over to show his calluses on the tips of his fingers from playing the strings. "See? I knew it."



"You know nothing. You haven't heard me play," Draco said.



"No, but I'd like to," Harry said shocking them both with a grin.



"You tell a single soul that I play the cello and I'll serve your spleen to Hagrid's skrewts," Draco said. Harry nodded.



"Cello, speen, skrewts. Got it," Harry said. They looked over more landscape paintings and came to more of the photography nudes. "I like these portraits. See the lighting how it accentuates the curves of her back and each tiny vertebrae? The shadows here define the picture as a whole. That's a nice shot. Don't you think?"



"Yeah," Draco said studying "Yo "You've looked at all these photography shots. Why don't you pick photography as your art practical?" Harry considered it.



"That's a thought," Harry said. "I may do that. Thanks. But I don't have a camera and I'd need a muggle camera for still shots like these. I think I could do that though."



"I'd model for you," Draco said. Harry swallowed at such an erotic thought. "I need my picture taken often because I'm simply gorgeous."



"Yes, I know," Harry said. Draco gave Harry a grin. Harry noticed. "Oh don't look surprised. Hell, everybody knows you are. Even you which is the worst part." Harry teased.



"But I wasn't aware that you thought I was gorgeous," Draco kept grinning wider as he popped another cherry snap into his mouth and kept grinning. "That is what you said, right, Harry? That I was simply, irresistibly gorgeous?" Draco rubbed it in.



"It was temporary insanity," Harry said.



"So I drive you crazy, too?" Draco pushed.



"Draco?" Harry whined. "Just shut up."



"And now we're on a first named basis...Harry," Draco said. "What does that mean?"



"Hopefully that we won't be such jerks to each other this year," Harry said. "I'd really like my last year at Hogwarts before I go to college to be peaceful for a change."



"What college?" Draco asked.



"Oxford," Harry said as they walked. Draco stopped with a jerk and a wide eyed expression. Harry looked back. "What?"



"Oxford?" Draco asked. Harry nodded.



"What? Didn't think I could afford it?" Harry asked with a short laugh. Draco grinned.



"Well, I might be seeing you there since I have also been accepted at Oxford," Draco said. Harry lost his grin and went wide eyed. Draco nodded with a smirk.



"You're kidding me," Harry said. Draco shook his head. "Well, it's a huge school which spans for miles. We could be there for four years and never see each other. What's your major?"



"Administrative Business Law. You?" Draco asked popping another cherry snap into his mouth. Harry's jaw dropped and Draco froze. "No way." Harry nodded slowly. "You're taking Admin Business Law?" Harry nodded. "Oh my god. This is impossible. You have to be lying."



"I'm not. I swear it," Harry said. "I'll have twin majors of Admin Business Law and Anthropology. I'm working on college courses now. I had several last year."



"So did I," Draco said. "What courses did you have last year?" The pair were speaking of the courses which they had taken the previous year in combination with their other work. Harry had taken twice as many as Draco, however. "This year I'll have classic muggle literature. I've never had access to any muggle books so it will be a whole new experience for me. I just hope I can understand the concepts because I know absolutely nothing about muggles."



"I had that class last term," Harry said. "I passed with an 'A' and full credits. I enjoyed the literature. I'd be glad to help you if you want."



"Really?" Draco asked. Harry nodded. "I just don't understand muggles that much. They do odd things that I just don't get. I've never had any muggle literature at all. None."



"I have a book with several muggle classic literature pieces compiled into one edition at Ron's house," Harry said. "If you want, I could apparate there and get it for you and you could bring it back when you come to school in about two weeks. Two of the pieces in the book you'll be reading for this termk ank anyway."



"That would be absolutely great," Draco said. "Can you go get it now?"



"Sure," Harry said. "It's only two miles to Ron's house anyway."



"We could walk there then, if you want to," Draco said. "I mean if...listen, you don't have to do this."



"Don't be silly. You'll need to read this stuff," Harry said. "The earlier you start the easier it will be for you to grasp concepts of the works, the authors insights and the general feel of the muggle culture surrounding that era. It's just one book. No big deal. But I'm entered today in some contest thing. It's pole climbing." Draco laughed. "Arthur wanted us all to enter something and I have done that before, so I chose that. The contest starts at two."



"It's only a quarter past twelve now," Draco said. "Can you apparate with another person in tow?" Harry nodded. "Why don't you apparate us there and we'll get the book and then back." Harry stilled.



"Well, I...it's not my house," Harry said. "I'm not sure Arthur would approve."



"Oh," Draco said in realization but looked genuinely saddened. "Well, I'll stay here and wait then." Harry felt awful.



"But I guess nobody will ever know it. They're all here anyway," Harry said. "If you're ready we can walk out of the village a bit and then apparate out." Draco nodded and followed Harry from the street and out past a line of fencing and they were standing under a tree. "You'll have to um...take my hand to apparate with me." Draco nodded and they timidly touched hands and held on. "Here we go." Harry apparated them to the front entrance and Draco leaned to look in the window and was still holding Harry's hand.



"This place is a dump," Draco said looking inside the house. "But it's homely like. Sort of...cozy in a lackey sort of way, I guess."



"Yeah," Harry said almost fainting because they were still holding hands. Harry pulled his hand away slowly and they stood for a few moments. Harry was almost staring at Draco and could hardly pull his gaze away. The fluttering in his stomach wouldn't stop and his heart rate was quick and erratic. What is it about that pale skin that makes me want to...?



"The book?" Draco asked. Harry nodded, tried not to blush and felt stupid. He opened the door and Draco followed inside and up the stairs to Harry's room. Harry pulled out his bag and leaned over it so that there was no way Draco could see the 'gay guide' books he had. He took the literature compilation and shoved his bag under the bed again.



"Here it is," Harry handed the book to Draco who sat on his tiny twin bed. Harry stood as Draco flipped through the index and scowled.



"I've never heard of any of these particular works, Harry," Draco sounded worried. "I don't know if I can pass this course. What is this anyway?" Draco pointed and Harry tried to read it from upside down. "Sit down here a minute and tell me about this." Harry sat next to Draco and their thighs were touching.



"The course you'll have is works of classic literature from the Regency Era which was from 1812-1830," Harry said. "The authors covered are Lord Byron, William Blake, William Wordsworth, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Jane Austen. I think you'll like reading 'Pride and Prejudice' written by Austen. I liked it."



"I've heard of Keats, Lord Byron and Jane Austen before," Draco said. "Their names are mentioned in some wizarding texts as references to literary works."



"Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' is in this book," Harry tapped the page. "It's one of the first ones you'll need to read." Harry went on to explain what assignments he'd had to do regarding each literary work. Some were summaries on the entire work and some were character studies. Some were debating one side of an issue and some were even opinion based papers on the writings reflecting the era and times. Draco was interested in every word Harry said. As Harry spoke he couldn't help but look into Draco's eyes and even venturing to linger a stare his lips a few times. Harry had noticed that Draco had done the same. "...and I thought it was a very interesting topic."



"Yeah. I can see where that would be a good study endeavor," Draco said and then looked to the book again reading a few passages. Harry leisurely studied the curve of Draco's ear, the pulse point at his neck and his hair which glistened. The hair style was still that spikey loose look which fell over his forehead and into his eyes a bit. Harry yearned to touch it and before he knew it his hand had reached out and slid through the back of Draco's silken soft hair. Draco jerked away and Harry went wide eyed and swallowed. "What are you doing?"



"I...," Harry could hardly breathe or believe he'd done it. "I'm...sorry. I'm so sorry. I just...your hair is so..." Harry shrugged. "Different." Both were frozen for a few moments.



"Just tell me if you want to run your fingers through my hair next time,aco aco smirked. Harry blushed and looked away quickly.



"I guess we'd better go," Harry started to stand and Draco held him back. "What?"



"I thought you might like to run your fingers through my hair again," Draco said in that sexy coy way. Harry swallowed and almost couldn't breathe.



"We'd better go," Harry whispered not looking at him at all. Without warning Draco had slid his own fingers into Harry's hair several times. Harry stilled and closed his eyes just for a second to savor the feel of those hands touching him so intimately.



"Your hair is soft," Draco said. "I always thought it would feel wiry because it used to stick up everywhere all the time." Harry grinned in embarrassment and looked to his shoes.



"I had it cut," Harry said shyly.



"Yeah. I see that," Draco said taking his hand back and Harry missed the feel of it more than he should have. "Well, I guess we have what we came after then." Harry nodded.



"If you're ready," Harry said. Draco looked around the room noticing everything. "This is Ron's room."



"I noticed," Draco pointed to the nameplate on Ron's door which said 'Ron.' Harry laughed softly.



"Oh yeah," Harry said. "I never notice that anymore. This is always my bed when I'm here. I've stayed here for two weeks every summer since Ron and I met." Draco moved over and lay back on the bed behind Harry. Draco fluffed the pillow under his head. Harry turned a bit and propped his leg up on the bed watching Draco lie there in his spot.



"It's nothing like my bed," Draco said relaxing. "I have a huge king sized bed with green silk sheets and a black and green Alberina goose down crushed velvet duvet. I love it. It's so soft. Heavenly."



"This bed isn't too bad," Harry said. "It's actually more comfortable than my bed in the dorms. This summer Tonks was in my room and she commented on how lumpy my mattress was. I need to ask for a new one before term begins."



"Oh really?" Draco asked in that investigative way. "So you had an auror in your bed? Shagging the authorities, then, Potter?" For some reason that smirk on Draco's face was too much and put Harry on the defensive.



"You'll never know," Harry said. "And get out my bed."



"You're asking me to leave your bed?" Draco asked in that sexy way.



"You're asking to stay in it?" Harry asked boldly with raised eyebrows countering Draco at his own game. Draco smiled at the challenge.



"That depends," Draco said. "Would you like me to stay in it?" Harry was trying his best to think of a come back. When he could think of nothing, Draco raised his own eyebrows in question. "Well?"



"We need to go," Harry said. "The whole Weasley clan will be searching for me and be thinking some evil has befallen me."



"Yeah, right," Draco said with much too heavy sarcasm. "Like that will ever happen."



"It's happened before," Harry said with a grin. "I'm like an evil magnet, I think."



"Like the evil Slytherin lying in your bed right now?" Draco asked. Harry looked to him in a thoughtful way.



"Are you?" Harry asked seriously. "Are you evil?"



"Do you think I am?" Draco asked equally as seriously.



"Can you not answer a question with a question?" Harry asked.

"Can you?" Draco teased and they laughed softly. "I am evil, I guess. If knowing dark arts and actually having used them is considered evil, then yes. I guess I am that." Harry nodded a bit. Draco looked away and thoughtful for a moment. "Can I tell you something?" Harry nodded again. "My father thinks I'm a disgrace to the Malfoy name."



"I don't believe that," Harry said flatly.



"Why not?" Draco asked.



"I think your father is very proud of you," Harry said. "He loves to show you off in Diagon Alley every year before school and he parades you around as the Malfoy prince heir to the family fortunes."



"Yeah. He does that," Draco said. "But he has to do that. I'm an only child, you idiot. But that doesn't mean that he's pleased with me."



"Why wouldn't he be?" Harry asked. "You're a great student, a wonderful flier, aneptieptional dueler, and a fierce competitor in anything. You have house loyalty and you epitomize a Malfoy, I would think."



"So you think I'm like him? Like Lucius?" Draco asked. Harry shrugged.



"I don't really know you, Draco," Harry said. "I mean, I've been to school with you for six years and I don't even know your me nae name."



"How ironic. It's Lucius," Draco said. Harry grinned at the humor. "So I guess that proves it then. I'm the exact duplicate of my father."



"No," Harry said. "You aren't a Death Eater. And you have proven that you are nothing like your father in the last hour because you've been in my company and not tried to kill me even once." Draco grinned.



"I don't want you dead," Draco said. "In horribly mangled pain maybe, but not dead.".



"How sweet. I bet you say that to all the guys," Harry teased.



"I do," Draco said. "I tell all the guys I want you in horribly mangled pain." The pair laughed together.



"Well, you've been with your share of guys. And girls for that matter," Harry said standing up to let Draco move also but he didn't. Harry turned to him.



"I guess I have," Draco said. "But you haven't. I've not seen you have a single date in the whole time I've known you. Hell, the only thing I've ever heard about you is with Ron's sister. That you two were doing it."



"That's not true either," Harry said. "Ginny is like a sister to me. We've been through some traumatic things together when I was in second year. All the Chamber of Secrets stuff?" Draco nodded.



"So if it wasn't her who was it?" Draco asked. Harry scowled in confusion.



"Who was who?" Harry asked.



"The girl," Draco asked.



"What girl?" Harry asked.



"The girl you were with," Draco said. "The girl you were shagging." Harry stilled and looked down.



"That's something I don't want to talk about if you don't mind," Harry said.



"I do mind," Draco said.



"Tough," Harry said. "We need to go before I upset a red headed clan of weasels." Draco laughed and rolled off Harry's bed. He picked up the book and took a step to be face to face with Harry and smirked.



"If you would have asked me to stay in your bed I would have," Draco said seductively.



"I may yet," Harry said with a smirk surprising himself with his boldness. "But not today." Draco gave a soft low laugh which came from deep in his chest. There was an something there and both knew it. But it was too weird. Too odd. Too...new. "After you." Harry gave a head motion to the door.



Draco left the room and Harry winced at what the hell he was saying and doing. He rolled his eyes at himself thinking that Draco would spread around the entire school that he had been in bed with Harry Potter. Harry almost fainted at the humiliation he'd face if that surfaced. Harry followed Draco downstairs and they went out of the door at the kitchen like they'd entered. Harry closed the door and Draco was looking out over the endless fields of wild green tufts of grass, daisies and yellowing strands of weeds. It was a wild natural beauty. Harry noticed the sun in that hair again.



"The sun is in your hair and it looks like spun gold with encrusted with diamonds," Harry said. "Why is that?"



"It just is," Draco said thoughtfully still looking out over the fields in some saddened way.



"Are you okay?" Harry asked sensing a foreboding and dread of going back to the festival in Draco's mind.



"Yeah. I'm fine," Draco said.



"Draco, I'm an Occlumens. I know when you're lying," Harry said. Draco flipped him off to his face and Harry grinned.



"Too late now. We were just in my bed," Harry said and Draco laughed still having never looked at him. "I'm serious. I get this feeling that you don't want to go back to the festival for some reason. Like you...you don't want to be there."



"Probably because I don't," Draco said. "My date is there." Harry's eyes grew wide.



"Oh crap. Why didn't you tell me? We would have left sooner," Harry said.



"You idiot. I don't want to be there with her," Draco said. Harry heard the her.



"It was inconsiderate for you to leave her there without telling her you were leaving," Harry said.



"Harry, it's just Pansy the dog," Draco said. "My mother and her mother are long-time friends and they have played matchmakers since I was in diapers. I don't like Pansy. I have never liked Pansy and I will continue to never like Pansy Parkinson. She's a pain. I can't stand her." Harry laughed softly. "And it's not funny. They think I'm going to marry her. Can you imagine that? I don't want to be anywhere near her."



"But you've dated her for three years," Harry said. Draco gave Harry the 'how-stupid-are-you' look.



"Have you not heard a word I said?" Draco asked. "I have to. I'm expected to officially date her because of my family. They don't care what I want."



"What do you want?" Harry asked softly.



"Not her," Draco said directly to Harry's eyes. There was a few moments of long drawn out silence.



"You've been with both females and males," Harry said. "Do you prefer one to the other?" Draco was looking over the grass again and smirked evilly.



"Why are you asking?" Draco asked. "Want to roll around in the sac with the Ice King? Slytherin sex god? Prince of Darkness?" Draco insulted himself.



"I didn't say that. I just asked if you...," Harry started. "Just forget it. Are you ready to go?"



"No," Draco said. "But I suppose I'll have to go back sometime. I'm sure the Weasleys don't have another room for me here and your bed is very small for us both to fit in it." Harry smirked and liked this sexually undertone banter they had going on.



"I don't know," Harry said. "I think we'd fit. But it would be...a tight squeeze." Draco laughed to Harry's dirty mind and Harry joined him.



"I never thought you'd say things like that," Draco said.



"Neither did I," Harry said in embarrassment. "I don't believe I actually said half of the things I've said to you today. This is totally out of character for me. I'm a shy person normally. I guess it's just that...well, you and I sort of try to one up the other and I have to play your game with you."



"You think this is a game then?" Draco asked turning to him at last.



"Isn't it?" Harry asked.



"Maybe," Draco said. "Maybe not."



"You never say anything definite," Harry said. "Did you know that?"



"Maybe. Maybe not," Draco repeated and Harry grinned.



"Evil person," Harry said.



"Boy who lived," Draco said. Harry snorted his disgust at the name and walked off the porch as Draco laughed softly and followed. Draco was right behind Harry who stopped and turned so suddenly Draco almost ran into him.



"Is that what you see when you look at me?" Harry asked seriously in some type of hurt way. Draco was taken off guard by the question but regained his composure in an instant and scowled in thought.



"I don't know," Draco said seriously. "I used to hate you so bad I wanted to kill you every single day. Then after a few years, I had no opinion of you at all. Then you killed Voldemort. Now, I have this repulsive type of...almost respect type thing for you and I hate that. I'm not used to it. You will always be 'The Boy Who Lived' in the minds of wizards no matter how much you hate to hear it. But don't hate that title. It's a testament to your strength of character and will to simply survive. It's an admirable thing as much as I simply loathe myself for saying that."



"But wizards don't know me," Harry said. "They read those stupid books and they think they do, but they don't know the real me. Do you know how many of those authors came to interview me and ask me questions for all twelve of those books on me?" Draco shook his head. "None. Not even one. So how do they know who I am to be able to write anything about me? I'm not that person they wrote about. I'm just me. One wizard teenager. That's it."



"That's not it," Draco said. "And you'll never understand it because you're not standing here looking at you. I can feel you here near me, Harry. You have a presence about you and you're....well....special."



"No, I'm not special. That's what you don't seem to grasp. I'm not special at all," Harry said. "I'm an orphan. A nothing. If everyone knew I was just as ordinary as they were, maybe they'd leave me alone. And I'm sick of talking about this crap. Do you want to apparate or walk?" Draco looked to his watch.



"It's already one," Draco said. "So we need to apparate." Harry nodded and they took hands. "Ready?" Harry nodded and they apparated back under the tree at the festival with Draco's book under his arm. "Oh shit. I left my cherry snaps on your bed." Harry smiled.



"Too bad. They're mine now," Harry said. Draco snarled. "I'll buy you some more. Come on." The pair let go of hands and walked through the other alleys speaking of the wares for sale all over. The arrived at the road with the vendors of foods.



"I'm starved," Draco said looking over the bratwursts with onions. "Doesn't that smell good?" Harry nodded with his mouth watering.



"Do you want a braut? I think I'll have one," Harry said. Draco nodded and reached for his wallet. "No. I'll get it for you. Two brauts loaded and two fizzy pops, please."



"Thanks," Draco said. The vendor put the two sausage dogs on a roll cut in half lengthwise and loaded it with onions and green and red peppers. Two fizzy pop, wizarding sodas were put next to them and Harry paid for it all stuffing his wallet in his back pocket. Draco took his and Harry his. "Would you like to go sit somewhere? There are some tables over there."



"How about we go down there?" Harry motioned past the end of the street where there was a small secluded spot near a stream. Draco nodded and they took seats on the grass and leaned up against the tree far away from the vendors and commotion enjoying their food and drinks.



"This has been a good day, huh?" Draco asked as he took a bite and the juice dribbled off his chin. He put his hand under his chin to catch the grease and Harry took a napkin and wiped off the drips and handed Draco the napkin to get the rest. "Thanks. These things are great, but they're messy."



"I love these," Harry said taking his own bite but being more careful not to make a mess. From somewhere in the festival the lively music began. It was Celtic fiddles and Gaelic tunes mixed with some Irish folk melodies and singing. They talked of Quidditch mainly during the time they ate. Draco was completely deflated over the upcoming season with four of his team having graduated the year previous. Harry suggested a few things that may help the Slytherins such as moving Montley and Higgs to the starting chasers and Raush to the keeper position from the beater position. He lightly suggested that Talbott, even though he would only be a third year would make a good starting beater because he was quick and strong. Draco liked the suggestions and told Harry he'd consider it when they got on the pitch for practice in a month. Their meal was finished and their soda cans empty. Harry threw his up and vanished it into thin air.



"Impressive," Draco said. To Harry's astonishment, Draco threw his up the same way an it vanished. Harry's eyes went wide.



"You know wandless?" Harry asked with a delighted smile.



"Just a little bit," Draco said. "My uncle, my mother's brother showed me how to summon and vanish things because that's all he knew and it took me two years to learn it. I can't cast at all. Nobody knows I know how to do that, so don't say anything."



"I won't," Harry said.



"I knew you that knew wandless magic," Draco said. "I saw you and Dumbledore one morning doing casting at the lake."



"You did?" Harry asked. "We only did that a few times."



"I know you run in the mornings, too," Draco said. "You run like three miles or something every day."



"Five miles at five in the morning," Harry said. "How did you know that?"



"Harry, everybody knows that," Draco said as if it were obvious.



"They do?" Harry asked seriously.



"Of course, stupid," Draco said. "People watch you all the time. You never noticed?"



"I notice people stare at me a lot because of this," Harry pointed with revulsion to his scar.



"You are just so clueless," Draco said. "I swear it's like you have no idea what's going on most of the time."



"I don't," Harry said. "I don't care what's going on. I speak as little as possible and try to stay away from everybody. That way people leave me alone."



"You want to be left alone?" Draco asked. "Why? It's no fun being alone."



"There is a certain solitude and peace I have when I'm alone," Harry said. "You just can't imagine the agony of my life when I'm thrown into that spotlight and media circus thing. It's awful. I hate it. And everywhere I go people staring all the time...? So I just keep to myself to keep the questions from coming."



"Questions like what?" Draco asked.



"Anything and everything to do with Voldemort," Harry said. "I'm supposed to be the authority on him or something. I do know him better than anyone on the planet could possibly ever guess, but I'm sick of him. I'm sick of hearing his name every single day. I'm so over it. And his name will follow me and haunt me the rest of my life. I can't stand it."



"I can understand that," Draco said. "It's the association between you and him. The standoff thing for so many years. I'm the same way with being compared to my father. Whenever my name is mentioned I promise you that the word Death Eater will either have been mentioned or follow in the next three sentences."



"I agree with you," Harry said. "Whenever your name is mentioned in Gryffindor, Lucius' name always follows and then DE is mentioned. But then Voldemort's name is mentioned and then my own. So, we're in the same situation. That's part of the reason I like being in muggle society. I'm just an ordinary guy there. I blend in and nobody pays any attention to me at all. It's great. Makes me feel normal when I'm with muggles."



"Are you with muggles often?" Draco asked. "You said you lived at Hogwarts for the past three years. When do you get to be with muggles?"



"Well, I go with Tonks to London to her apartment," Harry said. Draco smirked. "Just shut up."



"I can't help but wonder," Draco said. "She's not bad looking. Sort of dresses funky and has weird hair, but...." Draco looked to Harry's hair and they both laughed.



"She's great," Harry said. "We always have a great time together. She's a good dancer, too." Draco just nodded. "Oh crap. I have to go climb a pole."



"You have to buy me some cherry snaps," Draco said.



"Oh yeah. I forgot," Harry said. "Let's go then." The pair stood and made their ways through the first street as they talked on until Draco saw Goyle directly ahead coming in their direction. He grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him over to the side and pushed Harry back into a tiny space between the brick wall and the back of one of the vendor boards so that they were smooshed together chest to chest in the very tiny hiding space. Draco leaned back a bit to take a look as to Goyle's whereabouts and then pushed Harry forward to squeeze in the hiding place with him. Harry's eyes were wide and he could hardly breathe from the direct full bodily contact. "What the hell are you doing?"



"Shh," Draco said taking a peek out and ducking back into their tiny space. Draco was whispering. "Goyle is right there. I don't want him to see me."



"You mean with me?" Harry asked.



"Um...no, I mean at all," Draco said taking another tiny peek and squishing as hard as he could to Harry as Goyle was right outside. Harry was a nervous wreck. Draco looked to Harry eye to eye and Harry could feel Draco's breath on his cheek. Harry averted his eyes anywhere else and Draco grinned evilly. "Am I making you uncomfortable?" Harry still looking at the wall shook his head lightly and tried to control his rapid breathing to keep from passing out. "Really?" Harry nodded and bit his lip on the inside just a bit. "Look at me, Harry." Draco whispered and Harry knew that if he did, Draco would know so he shook his head. Draco chuckled softly. "Look at me."



Draco reached up and turned Harry's head toward him and their eyes locked. Harry was lost into the soft look of Draco's eyes which were like icy frozen rivers in winter and sparkling silver lightening. His breath hitched and he held his breath for a moment. The contact was too close and Draco tilted his head slightly. Before he knew it Harry felt the lightest touch of Draco's lips on his own just for a second. Harry closed his eyes in anticipation of more and tilted his head into what he thought was happening but Draco pulled away. Harry's eyes fluttered opened to see Draco with the look of what looked like total triumph over him which for some reason fueled Harry to anger. Harry shoved him back and walked out into the walkway quickly in his angered walking gaited style with a scowl of irritation. Draco looked to see Goyle down the other way and followed Harry.



"Come on, Harry. Wait up," Draco said finally catching up as Harry never slowed. "Look, I'm...I'm sorry."



"No, you're not," Harry spat as he walked. Draco pulled his arm to stop him.



"I said I was and I meant it," Draco said harshly.



"I'm not some plaything of yours," Harry said.



"Oh. Is that what you think I was doing? Playing with you?" Draco asked. Harry stilled and didn't know what it was so he shrugged. "I guess you would think that about me. I am the snake whore of the dungeon, aren't I?"



"You said it. Not me," Harry said. Draco was immediately angry.



"Well, fuck you," Draco said. "Just because you're not getting any doesn't mean the rest of us want to be like Saint Potter. Hell, you probably never had any."



"Sod off," Harry said. "I actually thought you were being genuinely nice today, Malfoy. I am such a fool. You really got me with this one. Great joke. You win. I'm over it." Draco wanted to speak but the hurt look on Harry's face prevented it. After Harry had waited for a few moments for Draco to say anything to retort the accusation he'd made and it never came, Harry walked away leaving Draco there watching him go. Draco's gut wrenched knowing he'd done something so stupid. Harry was angered and irritated, but mostly...hurt that Draco would do something so vile and cruel. He did feel like a genuine fool but the pain came in knowing he would have done anything to have had that kiss more than what it was. It angered him further that he was still thinking of going to apologize. "I will not. I will not apologize. I did nothing wrong other than think he could even attempt civility. I'm so damn stupid." Harry was walking in his defiant way and saw Arthur up ahead near the lin lig light colored wooden poles.



"Where have you been?" Hermione asked in a huff. "You missed lunch and we've looked everywhere for you! The pole climbing starts in two minutes. Get up there." Harry groaned and went up to the man assigning the poles. Each contestant was given a strap and Harry affixed his around his pole and then around his arms with one foot on the front of the pole. He waited until the gun start. When he heard the firing, he started to climb up the forty foot pole with ease. The race was to the top and back down. He was easily the youngest competitor and there was only one man on the far left end who was close to his speed. Harry grabbed the red flag and instead of climbing back down he put one foot against the pole front and with the strap loose, he slid all the way down with a very cool style and was the first one down. The gun sounded when he landed and everyone clapped. Harry stood emotionless still thinking of what Draco had done and the gnawing in his own gut. He handed back the strap to the man and without even taking his prize he turned with a snort of revulsion at himself that he was actually going to buy cherry snaps. The other Weasleys looked to each other.



"Do you know that boy, Weasley?" the man who was announcing and starting the gun asked Arthur.



"I think everyone knows that boy, Rob," Arthur said. "That was Harry Potter." The crowd all mumbled to themselves about the celebrity in their midst.



"Did you hear that folks?" Rob asked the crowd. "That was Harry Potter who won our pole climbing feat. Arthur Weasley, could you take Potter his prize?" Arthur nodded and took the tiny glass prism with the number one engraved on it.



"What is with him today?" Percy asked Ron who shrugged.



"Who knows?" Ron asked. "He just gets like that sometimes."



"Which direction did he go, Ron?" Hermione asked Ron who was tall and could see over the crowd a bit.



"I think he went toward the food," Ron said. "Down there where the candy is."



"Let's go down there and see what's going on with him," Hermione said.



"I can't. I have the pig chasing here in a few minutes," Ron said.



"I think I'llafteafter Harry," Hermione said.



"You're not going to watch me?" Ron asked with a tiny hurt evident. Hermione smiled.



"Of course I will, honey," Hermione said kindly to her boyfriend. "Then we can go look for him." Ron nodded with a smile and they followed the others to the mud pits where the hogs were being greased. Hermione grimaced at the smell.



Harry walked quickly away from the crowds as much as possible but people were everywhere. He turned down the roadway where the vendors were all serving balloons, candies, confections of every kind. There were cakes, pies, breads, cookies and treats at every booth. Harry looked at each one until he finally found the vendor with the cherry snaps. He bought three bags with one pound of the candies in each and paid for them. While he was in this vending section, he bought the spun sugar crisps for Albus along with some sugar coated blueberry hard candies, some horehound sticks, some maple wafers and some crunchy peanut butter bites all of which Albus was quite fond and that weren't offered at Honeydukes. These treats were all homemade and very good quality so he bought enough for two or three weeks. Harry was loaded with about ten bags of candy and he thought how stupid he must look carrying around so many bags of treats. He finally took a moment to put all the smaller bags into the large one so it would be easier to carry.



A a w a while he ventured back to the walkway where the art was and he stood to look at the still life portraits again. Draco had suggested that he use photography as his art practical. But to be any good with photography he'd have to have a camera. Perhaps he would buy one when in London with Tonks soon. Draco had thought he and Tonks were dating. A wave of relief flooded over Harry who was very close to telling Draco that he'd never had sex at all and that he and Tonks were nothing but friends. Harry was glad now that he hadn't said anything. Knowing he was so close to telling Draco of his virginity gave Harry a shudder. That would have been a nightmare and all over the school as well as the entire wizarding world by the first day of term.



Harry made a promise to himself that from now on he would be more careful about being swept away by his emotions and feelings in such situations with anyone. Especially Draco Malfoy. He said himself that he was evil. As far as Harry was concerned, he was right. Harry felt like a complete imbecile. The more he looked at the photography and portraits the more he was thinking of what had happened with Malfoy, yes, Malfoy, not Draco. Harry couldn't believe he was swayed so easily by his charms and manner. Harry felt that he'd all but stripped naked and laid on the ground begging to be taken like some cheap whore for the Slytherin prince to do as he pleased. Harry felt ashamed and dirty that he could be so fooled and bent to Dra...um...Malfoy's will. Just like all the others he's been with. One look and a little attention from his pureblood highness and Harry had felt special. Harry mentally cursed himself for being so weak minded. But not anymore.



Harry would be solid and in charge. He knew Malfoy's game now. Maybe Harry was naïve in matters of sexual relations and seductions, but he'd learned an important lesson today and he'd never forget it. Malfoy was the enemy and would always be. The thought hurt but Harry refused to let it. He was determined to be the only one in the school Malfoy would never have. Never. Let him try, Harry thought. Maybe he'd play that game and teasingly torment Dra...Malfoy all year. Harry's harsh thinking eventually softened and he knew he'd never try anything like that. It wasn't his way and he was much too quiet and shy to even attempt it anyway. They'd just ignore each other and hopefully never have a single class together all year. That was the only answer.



"Harry?" Ginny's voice called and he turned. "Hey. We were looking for you. It's time for the judging on the canned stuff mum entered. Are you coming?" Harry nodded slowly and took a final look at the artwork with the sensual body parts. Why was it that he could almost envision soft lighting on pale skin lying on a black and green Alberina goose down crushed velvet duvet?



"Yeah. On my way," Harry turned from the images and followed Ginny through the crowds. Ginny's friend Karen was a talkative girl who never shut her mouth the entire walk. They arrived at the judging where all of the home made and canned wares had been tasted and tried. Molly's beans won a second prize, her pears a second prize and her stitchery won an honorable mention. All were commendable considering the number of entrants in each contest. Molly was absolutely thrilled and kept covering her mouth threatening tears. Hermione and Ginny giggled at her being so sensitive. Ron and Bill had neither won at the greased pig catching. Percy and Penelope were nowhere to be found and Ginny mentioned that Penelope had a headache and that they'd gone back to the Burrow early. Bill's wife, Stacy had a few bags of different purchases and Hermione had one tiny bag which she held tightly. Harry didn't ask it's contents. They walked around and Harry kept in the middle of the Weasley clan with his head down as much as possible.



"There he is," one lady saiietlietly.



"That's him," the man said to his wife.



"Hey, mLookLook, it's Harry Potter!" one young boy said excitedly. Harry looked to Hermione who had heard the comment.



"Don't worry about it, Harry," Hermione said. "Just ignore it." Ginny leaned into Harry's ear.



"Just tell them to fuck off," Ginny whispered. Harry grinned to her and kept looking down at his shoes when he walked silently with them all



"Well, go on. Ask him," the lady said to her young daughter.



"That's him right there," the other boy said. Harry winced inside at knowing they were all staring. At hearing at least ten more comments of the same. He stopped and all the Weasleys stopped and looked at him with knowing looks.



"What should I do?" Harry asked them all. "Ignore it?"



"I don't know," Ron said. "Sign autographs or something." Harry gave Ron the irritated look.



"I will hex you into oblivion if you say that again," Harry said softly.



"I think this crowd would love that, man," Bill grinned. Harry couldn't help but grin.



"Shut up," Harry said. "What are they doing?"



"They're all staring at your back," Ginny said. "Totally still and waiting on you to do something."



"Should I apparate out of here?" Harry asked.



"No," Arthur said. "Just turn and hel hello." Harry winced.



"Go on, Harry. These people simply want to see you," Molly said. "To them you're a celebrity."



"Yeah. But to us you're just some idiot with a scar," Ron teased. Harry looked down, took a deep breath and turned around to see an entire crowd looking a him. He just stood and looked at each of them.



"Hi," one little boy on the front with wide eyes and a smile said.



"Hi," Harry said calmly.



"You're Harry Potter," the little blond said with an excited expression.



"Unfortunately," Harry said and everyone grinned. Harry looked to them all. "Um...nice festival you have here." No one spoke at all as they stared. There was a few long silent moments and then a burst of laughter from the far right corner. Draco was laughing and Harry tried to hold in a grin.



"Hey there, Potter!" Draco called. Harry nodded and didn't look to him.



"Oh my god. Look at him. It's Malfoy," Ginny whispered to Hermione. "What is he doing here?"



"Irritating bastard," Ron said softly.



"Can you um...can I have my picture made with you?" one small girl asked. Harry winced inside but then nodded just a bit. The girl ran over and stood beside him. Harry plastered his fake grin on and the cameras flashed. Harry heard Draco almost choking he was laughing so hard. It was embarrassing but Harry took a deep breath and remembered what Albus had said about being polite in public and not defacing the side of light with an attitude of indifference. Harry spoke to many people and was kind and pleasant as possible shaking their hands and answering their questions in a calm and collected way. He had many pictures made with children and equally as many with adults and groups. Luckily, Harry had asked Albus what to say to people and they'd practiced his social skills as a celebrity figure. Molly, Arthur, Bill, Stacy, Ron, Hermione and Ginny stood behind him and listened to him be perfect in every way. Every answer was given in a professional and courteous manner. After a half hour, it was waning off and Harry turned to his adopted red-headed family.



"You are so smooth, man," Ron said. "Good job, buddy."


am am a highly trained professional, if you please," Harry said as an insult and they all snickered.



"Job security?" Arthur teased and Harry nodded sourly.



"Get me out of here, sir," Harry said. "I've done the public service for the day. I'm ready to go."



"There's just one more thing I wanted to get before we go," Molly said. "There are some fresh raspberries and vegetables on the last street. I'd like to stop and...."



"Hey, Potter," Draco said walking in Harry's direction. Harry casually looked over to see Draco walking with Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle in his direction. Pansy had her arm around Draco's waist in some type of possessive gestuHarrHarry noted it briefly as he turned and took a few steps and stopped in front of the small group.



"Malfoy," Harry greeted kindly.



"Nice suck up job," Draco said. "Can't deny the worshipping masses, can you?"



"Am I to assume that you wish to be included in that number?" Harry asked.



"I think not," Draco drawled. "I'd like to see you horribly mangled in pain and then dead." Harry almost grinned to the words he'd heard earlier that day on his bed.



"Take your best shot. I'm not that easy to kill," Harry said. "But I, unlike you, have a license to kill any wizard who I personally feel is a danger. My license is signed by the Minister of Magic, the whole of the Wizangamot Council and the Wizard Consortium of which I am a member." Draco laughed.



"Right," Draco said sarcastically. Harry reached for his wallet and pulled out a piece of parchment, unfolded it and held it up to Draco's face. Draco snatched it away and looked over the document which was indeed a pardon to destroy wizard threats along with the membership seal to the Wizard Consortium. Harry put his wallet back. "Impressive."



"Isn't it?" Harskedsked taking the parchment back, folding it and then casually throwing it in the air to vanish it. The two faced off. Crabbe and Goyle looked to each other slowly in dread and then back to the stand off. "Is there something you wanted? An autograph perhaps?"



"I want nothing from you," Draco spat.



"Good thing because that's exactly what you're going to get," Harry said and then turned to motion the Weasley family onward leaving Draco smirking with a silent laugh at Harry's choice of words and his courageous display.



"We'll see," Draco whispered to himself. Harry ignored never looked back. The Weasleys all left the covered judging area.



"You told him off good. You really have a killing license?" Ron asked. Harry nodded. "That rules, man! That is so cool."



"No, it's not," Harry said. "But quite necessary for me, unfortunately. I had to have fifteen phyche exams before getting approved for it. They wanted to make sure I wasn't some revengeful angered teen with a death wish."



"Are you?" Bill asked in his no nonsense way.



"No," Harry said quietly.



"I didn't mean it like that, Harry. I was teasing you, man," Bill said kindly. Harry nodded to him.



"You're now a member of the Wizard Consortium?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded. "How exciting, Harry. You didn't tell us that. When did that happen?"



"Last February," Harry said. "It's no big deal."



"No big deal?" Ginny asked. "Yes, it's a big deal. The consortium is even above the Ministry. They make the laws."



"And Harry breaks them," Ron laughed. Harry said nothing as they were all rambling on about the consortium, the honor of being selected for a position on the board, and how Harry had to be the youngest member ever selected. Molly took her time in selecting and purchasing the vegetables she wanted and it was nearing four when they all started walking back to the Burrow. They'd just reached the edge of the last building walking on their way back home.



"Potter!" Draco called from the walkway they'd just left.



"Oh god. What now?" Hermione asked. "What does he want?"



"Who knows," Ron said. "Probably just to be a pain in the ass." Harry tried to not associate those words with what he was thinking they could mean.



"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry asked in his irritated tone turning back to him.



"A word," Malfoy said.



"Ferret. There's a word," Ron said.



"Ron, please. Don't start with him," Harry pleaded lightly. "I'll be right back. You go on ahead." The Weasleys started walking but Ron kept watching back as Harry walked to Draco. "Where's your faithful groveling and publicly possessive entourage?"



"I ditched them. Finally," Draco said.



"I'm flattered. Really," Harry said heavy on the sarcasm. "What do you want?"



"I didn't mean to upset you today," Draco said. Harry sighed a great sigh.



"Fine," Harry said. "Is that it?" Draco looked nervous a bit.



"I just...," Draco stammered. "You know, I just wanted to make sure you'd still help me with the literature thing." Harry nodded reluctantly.



"We'll set up a time when we get our class schedules," Harry said. "Probably in the library or something."



"The library?" Draco asked in dread. "That's a bit...public, isn't it?" Harry gave him the look of amused disggn}ef.



"That is the place to study. It's not like I can saunter down to the snake pit and you'd be flogged if you showed up in our common room," Harry said.



"There has to be somewhere else," Draco said. There were a few moments of silence and the light dawned. Harry got the message.



"You don't want to be seen with me," Harry grinned but was hurt.



"No. It's not that," Draco said shaking his head with a scowl.



"Yes, it is," Harry said. "That's exactly what it is. That's why you didn't bring your fan club with you now."



"It's not like that," Draco said. Harry nodded with a roll of his eyes. "I can't be seen with you. I'd be...well, you don't know what my father is like."



"Oh, I think I know exactly. The man has tried to kill me four times," Harry said. "Try again."



"Listen. This isn't easy for me, okay?" Draco said in irritation. "I'm just saying that there has to be somewhere that we can meet that's not so...public."



"Oh, I see. I've got it! Like maybe we could be secret friends," Harry said in his excited way but it was all mockery. Draco's face lit.



"Yeah. Something like that," Draco said with a bright expression. Harry nodded seemingly thoughtful. "See? That's great. You knew exactly what I was thinking."



"Well, maybe you can tell what I'm thinking," Harry smiled and then gave Draco the harsh look that melted into a hurt, disappointed and then disgusted one before he turned and walked away before jogging to reach the Weasleys up ahead. Draco sighed and looked up to the sky as he cursed himself for saying something so stupid. At least he had Harry's book and that was a start. He'd see him again at school. Draco took one last look at Harry walking with his head down and Draco felt the twinge of guilt and he took a swearing mumbling fit at himself.



"What did he say?" Ron asked.



"He was just being himself," Harry said.



"How delightful," Hermione said. "I hope he doesn't start anything at school this year. I'm so sick of hearing it."



"He won't," Harry said. They looked to him. "I just know it. He won't. We sort of have an understanding."



"Really? Like what?" Ron asked. Harry just shook his head and it was known that he wasn't saying anything else about it. The subject was dropped and they all talked about other pleasant things almost all the way back.



"Isn't Albus coming for dinner?" Arthur asked.



"Yeah. And then we get to hear about Harry's date," Hermione smiled. Harry cringed inside and then the fear started creeping in. "I can't wait to hear about this girl." Harry wanted to grin but the dread kept him from it.



"You got a girlfriend?" Bill asked. Harry shook his head.



"He had two dates," Ron said. "But he won't say anything about it. We tried to get him to talk and he won't. He said he was waiting until Albus came for dinner to say anything."



"Well, that's only two hours," Bill said. "We can wait until then."



"I want to know now," Ginny said. "This M. Hoffman person with brown hair and blue eyes is driving me batty. I can't imagine what she's like." Harry never said a word the rest of the way back to the Burrow. When everyone arrived each took turns in the bathroom and they all put their things they'd bought away. Harry went into Ron's room where he was staying and saw Draco's bag of cherry snaps there. The outline of where Draco had lain on his bed was painfully evident and Harry remembered it with deadly accuracy. How delicious he'd looked lying there. How easy it would have been to have given in. But that's exactly what Draco had wanted. Malfoy wanted the unattainable Harry Potter just to conquer him. Malfoy would have wasted no time in telling the world that he'd had and deflowered the golden boy. Malfoy wanted everyone to think he'd finally taken what everyone else was trying to get but couldn't. That would be letting him live up to his reputation as the charmer who could get anyone in bed he wanted. Harry would never give in to him. So what if Harry still had his own private fantasies of having him. That was his private thoughts and no one would ever know of his secret desire except him, Albus and Tonks. But he couldn't help but be saddened just a bit that it was even more of a non possibility now that his fantasy would ever be. But on the bright side, Harry had Mark. He was surprised that he'd not thought of him all day. But then again he'd been busy fighting with the snake charmer.



The family worked together as a unit to fix dinner for them all. Within the hour Fred and George had arrived and joined in the fun. Harry was unusually quiet as he started on the tableware that everyone was using to prepare various dishes. The kitchen was filled with the smell of the chicken pies which were prepared earlier in the day. The Yorkshire pudding was prepared, the fresh greens salad, some corn on the cob, fresh baked bread, a bean salad, and some type of rice dish. Harry turned around quickly and stood in the middle of the kitchen and stared at the door. Everyone else watched Harry and then the door and back a few times. Within a few seconds Albus came in.



"How did you do that?" Fred asked Harry.



"How did you do what, Harry?" Albus asked closing the door behind him.



"He knew you were right outside the door and he turned to the door right before you came in," George said. Harry and Albus grinned to each other. Harry went back to the dishes without a word.



"So? How did you do it?" Fred asked.



"Harry is aware of my presence as always," Albus said. "Everything smells wonderful, Molly." Albus changed the subject.



"Thank you, Albus. Ginny serve Albus a cup of tea or whatever he wants to drink. Would you, dear?" Molly asked. Albus opted to wait until dinner and then preferred milk with his meal.



"Okay. He's here. Tell us," Ron said. Harry shook his head. "But you promised."



"You did promise, Harry," Hermione said. "Just her name." Harry shook his head slowly as he washed the pans.



"Whose name?" Albus asked.



"His date he had, sir," Ginny said. "He won't tell us her name."



"I see," Albus said.



"Do you know?" Hermione asked with a grin. Albus nodded. Harry snickered to himself. "I hate you, Harry." Hermione teased. "You never say anything."



"I think Harry will tell you what you need to know over the meal when he's ready," Albus said wisely. "How are you, Arthur?" Albus went to sit with Arthur, Bill, Percy and the twins in the living area. Harry was with the females in the kitchen. He said not a word as he washed each dish he was given. Everything was prepared and put on the table and everyone came to the table except Harry who was drying a pan.



"Come on," Ron said. "You're not getting out of this." Harry said nothing as he put the pan away and folded the towel neatly putting it on the towel bar and straightening up the sink area. "Hurry." Harry had their back to them all and then he turned and walked to his seat silently.



"This looks delicious," Albus said of the chicken pie. "May we begin?" Molly nodded and everyone began taking food tot heir plates.



"Name, please," Ginny reminded. Harry shook his head slightly.



"Did you tell everyone here of your trip to London and of your auror classes recently?" Albus asked trying to help ease the conversation along at a pace Harry might want. Harry nodded.



"Can you say anything at all?" George asked.



"Yes," Harry said quietly taking only a single roll and picking at it as everyone else had arms all over the table reach for this and that asking each other to pass the beans or the potatoes.



"Arthur said you had quite a time at the festival, Harry," Albus said. "I was pleased to hear of your public service endeavors." Harry looked to Albus with an amused look and then back to his bread. "I also heard that you won the pole climbing contest." Harry nodded.



"Say something," Hermione said. "You're irritating." Harry said not a word but stared at her and a l a large hunk of bread in his mouth to prevent him from saying anything.



"Oh god. You're so stubborn," Ron said.



"If Harry feels like sharing something, he will, Ron. That's enough," Arthur said firmly but kindly. "Ginny, why don't you show us what you got at the festival?" Ginny showed her bangle bracelets and the hand made hair bauble in her hair. Hermione showed her purchase of a wizarding cookbook that she got for her mother. Stacy had several things in her room and she told about each. Everyone was sharing about he festival except one who sat in complete silence. Albus looked to Harry a few times.



"And what did you get at the festival, Harry? Did you buy yourself anything?" Albus asked.



"No," Harry said. "But I got you several things. There were all kinds of those spun sugar crisp candy things you like, and some blueberry candy, horehound sticks, maple wafers and some of those peanut butter crunchy things that Jarrett's wife made us when we had that luncheon for the consortium last May. Remember you liked them? I got you some of those."



"Thank you. That was very kind of you to think of me," Albus said. "Did you happen to see Yelemen Fickerly at the festival? We correspond occasionally and he mentioned that he'd be in attendance." Harry nodded with a grin.



"Yes, sir," Harry said. "I spoke to him briefly and he mentioned the incident with the cat like I knew he would." Albus and Harry both shared a laugh between them.



"What cat?" Ron asked. Albus told a lively tale of the cat incident which they'd termed it. At one formal banquet of the WLS, or Wizarding Leader Society of which Harry and Albus had been in attendance, Yelemen Fickerly had a run in with a cat. It was hilarious leaving everyone in laughter around the table.



"...and then he had to go back to London," Stacy was telling of her father's business dealings. Harry took a deep breath and cleared his throat.



"I like London," Harry said. "I wouldn't mind living there."



"You plan to live with muggles after you do your college thing?" Bill asked.



"I'm not sure," Harry said. "Probably. I get more dates there it seems." Albus knew that Harry was ready.



"Tell us about your date, Harry," Albus said.



"How about a name for this girl," Hermione said. "What's she like?" Harry put down his roll very slowly and swallowed nervously.



"It's not a she," Harryd gid giving them all the serious look. Everyone lowered their forks. Ron looked aghast.



"You mean...? You had a date with ....," Ron swallowed his bite. "With a guy?" Harry nodded slowly looking at him. Ron shook his head. Harry nodded again.



"You're lying," Ginny said in awe.ry sry shook his head.



"M. Hoffman is Mark Hoffman," Harry said. "I'm..." Harry swallowed. "I'm gay."







******************************

Having a nightmare trying to post all my long chapters to AFF.



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