Protected

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Malfoy scoffed, when we exited the cab and stood in front of a very rundown hotel we were to stay in for the next couple of days.

I rolled my eyes, as I paid the cab driver and turned back around. “It’s only for a couple of days, Malfoy, until we move into the other place,” I explained.

“I really hope that no one I know sees me enter this place,” he commented, before lifting his luggage and moving toward the building.

“Considering you’re a protected witness, I’m hoping the same,” I muttered, following behind him with my own bags.

Once inside, I neared the front desk, spotting an older gentleman standing behind it. “Reservations for McGinty,” I said, pulling out my fake ID and credit card that Kingsley gave me before I left, and handing it to the man.

The old man nodded and began typing on the computer, as I stood there drumming my fingers on the counter, suddenly recalling the dream I had earlier, still a bit fazed why I would dream something like that. I heard the man slightly cough, breaking me from my thoughts, as he handed me our room key.

“Thanks,” I said, turning around and finding Malfoy talking to some woman wearing very tight clothing, not to mention, fishnet stockings. I cringed at the sight of her, before yelling, “Hey, Romeo, let’s go.”

Malfoy furrowed his eyebrows at me, before saying goodbye to the woman and following me toward the stairs. “Who’s Romeo?” he asked, as we began climbing up the steps.

“No one,” I sighed, not wanting to explain it to him.

We walked a few more steps in silence, before finally coming to our floor. Once we reached our room, I opened the door and entered, Malfoy in tow. I suddenly dropped my bags on the ground, noticing only one bed in our room. “Fuck,” I softly cursed, closing my eyes and clenching my teeth, when I heard Malfoy chuckle.

“Aw. What, are there no chocolates on the bed for us, sweetie?” he teased, moving further inside the room, placing his suitcases on the bed.

“Just perfect,” I huffed, as I closed the door.

“Are you really that daft, Potter?” Malfoy snorted, while shaking his head. “We’re wizards. Or did you not get that memo?”

He flicked his wand over toward the two chairs near the window, transfiguring them into a bed. He turned and rolled his eyes at me, before dropping his wand on the bed, and opening his bags to unpack.

I stormed over toward the newly transfigured bed, throwing my luggage on top, hating that I was outsmarted by the stupid git. I furiously opened my bags, carelessly throwing my belongings onto the bed, while mumbling to myself.

“Why are you so upset?” Malfoy suddenly asked.

I angrily threw down the trousers I had in my hands, staring into my now empty bag. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself, before I finally spoke. “Malfoy, do you even know what that woman was downstairs?”

“Crystal?”

I immediately looked over at him, not surprised to find a smirk lingering on his face. “You got her name?” I gasped.

“And phone number,” he grinned, pulling out a cocktail napkin from his pants, holding it up for me to see.

“Malfoy, she’s a prostitute!” I exclaimed.

“You don’t think I know that?” he laughed, stuffing the napkin back in his pants.

I ran my hands through my hair, grunting, before turning back around.

“What’s the matter with you?” he inquired.

“You talk to a prostitute, get her phone number, and then ask what’s the matter with me?” I snapped, turning back toward him.

“It’s not like I’m going to call her,” he said.

“Then why did you get her number?” I yelled.

“Because I could,” he shrugged, placing his empty bag on the floor, before lying on the bed and crossing his legs.

“I don’t understand,” I murmured, shaking my head, as I turned back around to straighten my clothes that I had thrown haphazardly around before.

“Look, it’s just a game I play, okay?” Malfoy explained.

“No, it’s not okay,” I snapped, turning toward him. “You can’t do that to people.”

Malfoy sat up in his bed, crossing his arms over his chest, as he stared at me. “Seriously, what is your problem?”

“Just forget it,” I mumbled, as I sat down on my bed, staring at the floor.

I started fidgeting with my hands, not able to look up, still feeling his eyes on me. I honestly didn’t know what my problem was. So what if he led those people on. Why is that any of my business? Who cares what the prat does in his personal life.

“You’re jealous,” he said, more as a statement than a question.

“Piss off, Malfoy,” I whispered, still not able to look up.

“Shit. I’m right, aren’t I?” he laughed.

I could feel my face turn a deep shade of red. There was no way I could look at him now. It was too embarrassing. I heard his bed squeak and knew he had rolled off, probably just standing there smirking down at me.

“Come on, Potter, level with me,” he said.

I took a deep breath, before finally looking up. Sure enough, he was standing just in front of me, with that stupid little grin on his face. “I just don’t know how you do it, Malfoy,” I admitted.

“Do what?”

“Walk up to somebody so casually and just start flirting,” I answered. “I mean aren’t you at all scared of rejection?”

Malfoy quietly stood there, as he pondered my question. After a few more seconds, he finally spoke up. “Of course I am, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop going after someone I may actually like. I’d rather be rejected a million times, than have one single moment of what if?”

I nodded in understanding. He did have a point. I can’t tell you how many people I have met, and have also known, in my life that I still wonder, what if? To this day, I still wonder what would have happened if I had pursued Hermione back in fourth year. Okay, so I was a little hung up on Cho at the time, but seeing my best friend walk down those stairs at the Yule Ball just took my breath away. It was at that moment when I realized our friendship would never be the same, for I no longer viewed her as my friend, but as a potential love interest, and competition amid the rest.

But alas, I was never able to get the courage to ask her out, for fear that she only saw me as a friend. And it definitely would never have been the same between us if that had happened. She would have then known my true feelings for her and our friendship would have been ruined. Still. What if I did make my feelings known to her? What if she said yes? Would we have married, instead of her marrying Ron, and me marrying Ginny? Oh bugger. Why did I have to go and bring her up?

“Looks like you’ve had a few what ifs in your own life,” Malfoy suddenly said.

I took a deep breath, as I returned my attention to the floor. Merlin, it is true what they say about us Gryffindors. We really do wear our hearts on our sleeves. “A few,” I responded, a few seconds later.

“Granger?”

I snapped my head up, widening my eyes. “H…how did you know that?” I gulped.

“How could I not?” he laughed, shaking his head. “Fourth year, right? Yule Ball?”

I remained speechless, as I continued to stare up at him, with my mouth slightly open. He rolled his eyes, before speaking again. “It was so obvious, Potter. Why didn’t you ever chase after her?”

I shrugged, finally closing my mouth and turning away from him. “It would never have worked out,” I whispered.

“So you just gave up?”

“Basically,” I sighed.

“And now you have to live with the constant what if,” he remarked.

I silently nodded, before lying back on my bed and closing my eyes. I could feel my head aching, and I just wanted it to stop. How did we start talking about her all of a sudden, anyway?

“See, that’s why I do what I do,” Malfoy explained. “I would just hate to wonder all the time.”

“You get used to it,” I answered, with a shrug. “It’s really only when I see them again, or start talking about them, when those questions start to come up in my mind. I just wish I had more confidence in myself and be able to approach someone without that constant fear of rejection.”

“Potter, how many people have you actually been with?” he suddenly asked.

Damn, I should have seen that one coming. I sighed, as I opened my eyes and slowly sat up, looking at him. “That’s really none of your business, Malfoy,” I answered.

Malfoy rolled his eyes, as he sat down next to me on the bed. “Humor me?” he said.

I don’t know how or why, but I somehow agreed. “Four,” I whispered very softly, knowing Malfoy more than likely didn’t hear.

“Pardon?”

“Four,” I repeated, a little louder this time, staring into Malfoy’s gray eyes.

To say he looked completely shocked would be an understatement. He quickly stood up, staring down at me in disbelief. “Four?” he gasped. “Are you frigging kidding me?”

I shrugged, looking away from his judgmental eyes. Damn it, why were we still having this conversation? Okay, so I’ve only been with four people. Was that such a crime?

“So you’re telling me that you, Harry Potter, has only slept with four people?”

“You’re talking about people I’ve slept with?” I suddenly asked, returning my attention back to him.

He furrowed his eyebrows and slowly nodded, looking a bit hesitant.

“Oh, then I’ve only been with two,” I answered, seeing Malfoy suddenly choke back on his saliva. Yeah, okay. And my need for sharing that was what? Fuck. Why can’t I bloody remember to think before speaking?

“Two?!” Malfoy exclaimed, after clearing his throat. “Okay, how is that even possible? You’re the savior of the bloody frigging world, Potter. I mean you have the fame, the fortune, and…damn it, I’ll fucking say it…the looks, to get anyone you could ever want,” he continued. “How could you have only slept with two people?”

“I married young,” I said, with a shrug.

“And have been separated for nearly three months,” he stated.

“Oh really? I wasn’t bloody aware of how long it’s been,” I snapped at him. Yeah, my recent separation from Ginny is still a touchy subject for me.

Malfoy just shook his head in response, still amazed by my confession. He suddenly moved toward the dresser, pulling out one of the drawers he had packed his clothes in. I curiously watched, not sure what he was up to. He pulled out a buttoned down shirt and some slacks, laying them out on his bed. He moved his wand over the clothes, instantly removing the wrinkles.

“What are you doing?” I finally asked.

“You and I are going out,” he simply replied, raising an eyebrow at me, as if waiting for me to argue.

As soon as I opened my mouth to speak, he hastily interrupted, already aware of what I was about to say. “Potter, nobody even knows I’m here. I know you’re here to protect me, but I will not be kept hidden here.”

“Malfoy, you’re my responsibility. If anything happens to you,” I started to say.

“You’d be devastated, I know,” he smirked.

“Malfoy, I-”

“Look, nothing’s going to happen to me, okay?” he explained. “You just need to get out there again, Potter. I mean you’ve missed out on so much already. And with me there to guide you, you’ll soon forget all about those anxieties you have when approaching people,” he finished, with a hint of glee in his voice.

“Fine, but Malfoy, I’m serious when I say that I’m not going to sleep with anyone tonight,” I stressed.

“Of course you’re not,” he scoffed. “You’re clearly not ready for that,” he added, as he grabbed his clothes off the bed and moved toward the loo to get changed.

I nervously chewed on my lower lip, feeling a bit scared about what the night would bring. I started to feel a bit light headed, realizing what I was getting myself into. I closed my eyes and shivered, suddenly aware of what I had just done. I somehow agreed to let Malfoy run my personal life. What the bloody hell was I thinking?

*****


paigeey07: Thanks! And I hope you will continue to like it.

BennyPeace: I'm glad you found the mile high club funny. I thought it would definitely be perfect there. :)

hieisdragoness18: haha Yes, poor Harry. I think we'll be saying that a few times about him. :) haha I'm glad you liked the mile high club, too! It was definitely fitting there.