Like Ripples In a Pond
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
5
Views:
3,681
Reviews:
11
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
2
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
5
Views:
3,681
Reviews:
11
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
2
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter Three
***
~ Chapter Three ~
September First, King’s Cross Station
‘Just walk right through, don’t be afraid.’
Harry recalled Draco’s words once again as he stared at the brick wall that marked the division between Platform 9 and Platform 10. A furtive look around showed that people were starting to ignore the strange little boy with the owl. Harry gulped, checked the straps holding his trunk on the cart, steadied Hedwig in her cage, took a deep breath, and plunged…
Right through.
He stood looking around at the scarlet train, the robe-clad people moving in all directions, and everywhere constant bustle and noise. After a moment of awe, he realized he should probably move away from the entrance in case someone else was about to come through.
Slowly, Harry made his way down the platform, trying not to be intimidated by the crowd and looking in the windows of the carriages for somewhere to sit. He was beginning to despair of finding an empty compartment when he heard a familiar voice.
“Harry!”
There were Draco and his father again, just up ahead. Draco was already outfitted in his school robes. He gave Harry’s oversized Dudley-cast-offs a single raise of his eyebrow, but did not comment.
“Harry! You made it!” Draco clasped both of his forearms like an old friend, quite glad to see him.
“Hey,” said Harry with a grin, “Thanks for the advice about the barrier. I might still be trapped out there if it weren’t for you!”
A curt chuckle came from above his head, though it did not sound mocking. “We certainly couldn’t have that, could we?”
Mildly startled, Harry looked up at Lucius Malfoy. “Oh, hello sir. Nice to see you again.”
Grey eyes danced with blue flecks of humor, looking as if Harry had said something particularly clever. Try as Harry might, he could see no ridicule in them.
“If I might say the same, Young Mr. Potter? I can see that things will always be quite unusual with you around.” Lucius gave him the customary polite nod, though to Harry it seemed slightly less distant than before.
Lucius turned his attention to Draco, who released his grip on Harry’s arms to face his father quite formally, standing very straight. Harry hadn’t even realized that Draco was still holding onto him, and the places where his hands had been now felt strangely cold.
“Draco, my son.” This was said solemnly, seeming to have a meaning beyond the words themselves.
“Father.”
“The house will seem quite empty without you.” Lucius reached out one hand to rest it on Draco’s shoulder.
“I shall write twice a week, I promise.”
Lucius trailed his hand upwards to cup Draco’s cheek in his palm, “I shall miss you.”
“And I you, father.” Two pairs of eyes were locked with each other, blocking out all their surroundings.
Here Harry averted his gaze, blushing slightly, though he couldn’t begin say why it was that he suddenly felt embarrassed. It wasn’t as if they were hugging and saying an emotional goodbye, but he almost felt like an intruder on a private moment between the two Malfoys. It was obvious that Lucius cared deeply for his son, and Draco cared deeply for his father in return.
Harry felt a pang of regret that he had no one to miss him save the Dursleys, who were probably still celebrating his departure. He could very easily find it in himself to become jealous of such a loving relationship.
Finally, with a clearing of his throat, Lucius reluctantly stepped back from Draco. “This is goodbye, I suppose.” He included Harry in his look. “A safe journey to you both.”
A sharp turn on his heel and Lucius began to walk back towards the entrance, only to pause a few feet away. He turned to look back at the two boys. “Learn,” he said, his eyes flicking briefly from Draco over to Harry. “Learn all that you can.”
With that, the man was gone.
Draco gave a very small sigh and then turned back to Harry, seeming to notice the luggage cart for the first time.
“Come along, I’ll help you with your trunk. You’ll be sitting with me, Harry.” It was a statement; made not as if it brooked no argument, but as if there was no conceivable alternative.
“Sure,” said Harry with a lopsided grin.
***
***
Draco helped Harry with his trunk, just as he promised, and the two of them settled comfortably into the empty compartment. They spoke of all sorts of things as the train pulled out of the station, and Draco attempted to explain the basics of the Wizarding sport of Quidditch to Harry.
“So there are four balls?” Harry was trying to understand.
“Yes, and they…” Draco trailed off and stared at the doorway.
In front of Harry’s eyes, the talkative boy of the last ten minutes seemed to change; his face abruptly becoming icy and reserved. Harry noticed Draco’s left hand reaching slowly into the cavern of his right sleeve.
“There you are, Drake!” A smiling dark-skinned* boy was revealed by the sliding door. He glanced over his shoulder at his companions. “I told you he would have a compartment all to himself.”
The boy who had spoken strode in as if he owned the place, followed by a short brunette girl and two large boys who loomed silent and threateningly in the background.
Harry, still watching Draco out of the corner of his eye, noticed the slight thawing of the blond’s expression.
“Blaise, don’t you ever wait to be invited?” The female brunette rebuked him.
The boy’s exotic slanted eyes* shone with amusement, though he affected a haughty expression. “Oh Pansy, I’ve always found that if I act as if I were already welcome, just such a thing will soon become the case.”
At this, the two laughed together, and Draco’s lips gave an involuntary twitch, like half of a smile. “You might as well sit down, since you’ve already come in. Close the door behind you so more miscreants won’t wander in after.”
The boy who had been identified as Blaise sat down beside them, sitting on the other side of Draco since Harry was closest to the window. The girl, Pansy, sat across from them. She was flanked on either side by the quiet, thickset boys who Harry felt looked a little mean.
Draco gave an exaggerated world-weary sigh. “I suppose that it falls upon me, as the polite host, to do the introductions. Harry, I’d like you to meet some of my closest friends-- Blaise Zabini,” here Blaise peered around Draco and grinned at Harry, “Pansy Parkinson,” the girl crossed her legs, and inclined her head with its short-bobbed brown hair, “Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle.” The two boys grunted wordlessly and eyed Harry with distrust. Harry tried to figure out which boy Draco had indicated as which, and thought maybe Gregory was the taller of the two on the left.
Draco paused, ever with the flair for the dramatic, and smirked knowingly at his audience. “And may I present to you all-- my newest friend, Harry Potter!”
Harry ducked his head and tried to sink back into the corner of the seat, knowing he must be blushing furiously. He mentally steeled himself for the coming explosion, but it never came. After a minute of silence, he looked up to find that he was being quietly appraised by the newcomers. Even the two hulking boys were giving him looks of curiosity. Harry still didn’t relax in full. Would they ask to see his scar? He hoped not.
Finally, after an eternity, Blaise smiled. “Pleasure to meet you, Harry.”
“Hullo, glad to meet you all,” replied Harry, gracing everyone with a hesitant smile.
Pansy’s brown eyes gleamed. “Perhaps this year will be an exciting one.”
The other two boys spoke for the first time. “You can call me Greg,” said the tallest one, as Harry had guessed.
“Vince,” supplied the other. “Sorry about being a bit rude, only we weren’t sure about you. We try and look after Draco.”
The blond boy in question made a dismissive gesture. “As if I needed looking after by some kind of honorary bodyguards!”
Pansy snorted derisively, rolling her eyes. “Of course you do! One of these days that sharp tongue of yours will get you in trouble when Vince and Greg aren’t around, and then where will you be?”
“Getting his arse kicked, that’s where!” Blaise supplied.
Draco turned, sporting a little mock pout that made Harry’s chest thump in a strange way.
“Don’t pay any attention to these two, Harry; they insult my character at every turn out of sheer jealousy. I have no idea why I put up with them!”
Harry couldn’t help the uproarious laughter that burst from him. His chuckling was infectious, and soon everyone, including Draco, joined in.
Harry wondered if this was what it felt like to belong.
*These descriptions of Blaise are taken from the Harry Potter Lexicon, www.hp-lexicon.org
***
~ Chapter Three ~
September First, King’s Cross Station
‘Just walk right through, don’t be afraid.’
Harry recalled Draco’s words once again as he stared at the brick wall that marked the division between Platform 9 and Platform 10. A furtive look around showed that people were starting to ignore the strange little boy with the owl. Harry gulped, checked the straps holding his trunk on the cart, steadied Hedwig in her cage, took a deep breath, and plunged…
Right through.
He stood looking around at the scarlet train, the robe-clad people moving in all directions, and everywhere constant bustle and noise. After a moment of awe, he realized he should probably move away from the entrance in case someone else was about to come through.
Slowly, Harry made his way down the platform, trying not to be intimidated by the crowd and looking in the windows of the carriages for somewhere to sit. He was beginning to despair of finding an empty compartment when he heard a familiar voice.
“Harry!”
There were Draco and his father again, just up ahead. Draco was already outfitted in his school robes. He gave Harry’s oversized Dudley-cast-offs a single raise of his eyebrow, but did not comment.
“Harry! You made it!” Draco clasped both of his forearms like an old friend, quite glad to see him.
“Hey,” said Harry with a grin, “Thanks for the advice about the barrier. I might still be trapped out there if it weren’t for you!”
A curt chuckle came from above his head, though it did not sound mocking. “We certainly couldn’t have that, could we?”
Mildly startled, Harry looked up at Lucius Malfoy. “Oh, hello sir. Nice to see you again.”
Grey eyes danced with blue flecks of humor, looking as if Harry had said something particularly clever. Try as Harry might, he could see no ridicule in them.
“If I might say the same, Young Mr. Potter? I can see that things will always be quite unusual with you around.” Lucius gave him the customary polite nod, though to Harry it seemed slightly less distant than before.
Lucius turned his attention to Draco, who released his grip on Harry’s arms to face his father quite formally, standing very straight. Harry hadn’t even realized that Draco was still holding onto him, and the places where his hands had been now felt strangely cold.
“Draco, my son.” This was said solemnly, seeming to have a meaning beyond the words themselves.
“Father.”
“The house will seem quite empty without you.” Lucius reached out one hand to rest it on Draco’s shoulder.
“I shall write twice a week, I promise.”
Lucius trailed his hand upwards to cup Draco’s cheek in his palm, “I shall miss you.”
“And I you, father.” Two pairs of eyes were locked with each other, blocking out all their surroundings.
Here Harry averted his gaze, blushing slightly, though he couldn’t begin say why it was that he suddenly felt embarrassed. It wasn’t as if they were hugging and saying an emotional goodbye, but he almost felt like an intruder on a private moment between the two Malfoys. It was obvious that Lucius cared deeply for his son, and Draco cared deeply for his father in return.
Harry felt a pang of regret that he had no one to miss him save the Dursleys, who were probably still celebrating his departure. He could very easily find it in himself to become jealous of such a loving relationship.
Finally, with a clearing of his throat, Lucius reluctantly stepped back from Draco. “This is goodbye, I suppose.” He included Harry in his look. “A safe journey to you both.”
A sharp turn on his heel and Lucius began to walk back towards the entrance, only to pause a few feet away. He turned to look back at the two boys. “Learn,” he said, his eyes flicking briefly from Draco over to Harry. “Learn all that you can.”
With that, the man was gone.
Draco gave a very small sigh and then turned back to Harry, seeming to notice the luggage cart for the first time.
“Come along, I’ll help you with your trunk. You’ll be sitting with me, Harry.” It was a statement; made not as if it brooked no argument, but as if there was no conceivable alternative.
“Sure,” said Harry with a lopsided grin.
***
***
Draco helped Harry with his trunk, just as he promised, and the two of them settled comfortably into the empty compartment. They spoke of all sorts of things as the train pulled out of the station, and Draco attempted to explain the basics of the Wizarding sport of Quidditch to Harry.
“So there are four balls?” Harry was trying to understand.
“Yes, and they…” Draco trailed off and stared at the doorway.
In front of Harry’s eyes, the talkative boy of the last ten minutes seemed to change; his face abruptly becoming icy and reserved. Harry noticed Draco’s left hand reaching slowly into the cavern of his right sleeve.
“There you are, Drake!” A smiling dark-skinned* boy was revealed by the sliding door. He glanced over his shoulder at his companions. “I told you he would have a compartment all to himself.”
The boy who had spoken strode in as if he owned the place, followed by a short brunette girl and two large boys who loomed silent and threateningly in the background.
Harry, still watching Draco out of the corner of his eye, noticed the slight thawing of the blond’s expression.
“Blaise, don’t you ever wait to be invited?” The female brunette rebuked him.
The boy’s exotic slanted eyes* shone with amusement, though he affected a haughty expression. “Oh Pansy, I’ve always found that if I act as if I were already welcome, just such a thing will soon become the case.”
At this, the two laughed together, and Draco’s lips gave an involuntary twitch, like half of a smile. “You might as well sit down, since you’ve already come in. Close the door behind you so more miscreants won’t wander in after.”
The boy who had been identified as Blaise sat down beside them, sitting on the other side of Draco since Harry was closest to the window. The girl, Pansy, sat across from them. She was flanked on either side by the quiet, thickset boys who Harry felt looked a little mean.
Draco gave an exaggerated world-weary sigh. “I suppose that it falls upon me, as the polite host, to do the introductions. Harry, I’d like you to meet some of my closest friends-- Blaise Zabini,” here Blaise peered around Draco and grinned at Harry, “Pansy Parkinson,” the girl crossed her legs, and inclined her head with its short-bobbed brown hair, “Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle.” The two boys grunted wordlessly and eyed Harry with distrust. Harry tried to figure out which boy Draco had indicated as which, and thought maybe Gregory was the taller of the two on the left.
Draco paused, ever with the flair for the dramatic, and smirked knowingly at his audience. “And may I present to you all-- my newest friend, Harry Potter!”
Harry ducked his head and tried to sink back into the corner of the seat, knowing he must be blushing furiously. He mentally steeled himself for the coming explosion, but it never came. After a minute of silence, he looked up to find that he was being quietly appraised by the newcomers. Even the two hulking boys were giving him looks of curiosity. Harry still didn’t relax in full. Would they ask to see his scar? He hoped not.
Finally, after an eternity, Blaise smiled. “Pleasure to meet you, Harry.”
“Hullo, glad to meet you all,” replied Harry, gracing everyone with a hesitant smile.
Pansy’s brown eyes gleamed. “Perhaps this year will be an exciting one.”
The other two boys spoke for the first time. “You can call me Greg,” said the tallest one, as Harry had guessed.
“Vince,” supplied the other. “Sorry about being a bit rude, only we weren’t sure about you. We try and look after Draco.”
The blond boy in question made a dismissive gesture. “As if I needed looking after by some kind of honorary bodyguards!”
Pansy snorted derisively, rolling her eyes. “Of course you do! One of these days that sharp tongue of yours will get you in trouble when Vince and Greg aren’t around, and then where will you be?”
“Getting his arse kicked, that’s where!” Blaise supplied.
Draco turned, sporting a little mock pout that made Harry’s chest thump in a strange way.
“Don’t pay any attention to these two, Harry; they insult my character at every turn out of sheer jealousy. I have no idea why I put up with them!”
Harry couldn’t help the uproarious laughter that burst from him. His chuckling was infectious, and soon everyone, including Draco, joined in.
Harry wondered if this was what it felt like to belong.
*These descriptions of Blaise are taken from the Harry Potter Lexicon, www.hp-lexicon.org
***