Two Lonely Hearts

WARNING: Same Draco/Blaise but mild.



Chapter 3



The man parked the motorcycle outside of the bar in a rundown part of town. Music blared as he parked his bike and put the kickstand down. He took off his helmet to reveal wild blonde hair that fell to his shoulders and his hazel eyes looked at the bar before him. Taking the key out of the ignition he pressed the safety lock and walked to the side of the building.



There was a set of stairs that lead into the basement of the bar and a hulk of a man sitting on a set of crates next to it, arms crossed and seemingly keeping warm by the barrel fire. He knew the large man was a gate guard.



“You Harrison,” asked the guard and the man nodded. “Pay McNair the gate guard a hundred and he’ll let you through.”



Taking out his wallet, “Harrison” pulled out a hundred dollar bill and handed it McNair. The other man pocketed it and allowed him to enter the basement.



And he walked into the underground gambling establishment. There was every known gambling game set up around the large basement. Roulette, poker, black jack, there was even a bet going for the football game on the television screen. On the wall next to him was the symbol of the owner of the gambling ring, and the club above, a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth.



Harrison quickly looked around and walked to the nearest poker table. There were few players at the table as they had just finished a hand.



“Need another player, asked Harrison as he wale dup and occupied the empty chair.



“Obviously we door,” said the man with the most chips. “Name’s Flint.”



“Quirrel.”



“Lestrange.”



“Rosier.”



“Harrison,” he said and took the chips handed to him.



Ain’t you a little young to play?” asked Rosier, shuffling the cards. Harrison took out a wad of cash ad tossed it on the pile.



“Old enough,” he said and sat down. Flint nodded and the game began. Harrison picked up his cards. Two Aces, a heart and a spade, a King of Spades, a Jack of Clubs and a Jack of Hears. He took out the Jacks and set them down. “Two.”



Flint nodded and handed Harrison two cards faced down. An Ace of Diamonds and a Queen of Clubs. Then the betting began.



“Twenty,” said Flint, throwing in a chip.



“I see your twenty,” said Quirrel, “and raise you fifty.”



And it went on. For the first few minutes the bets kept going higher. Then one by one a player folded out till it was only Harrison and Flint. Harrison spotted Flint reach in his sleeve to seeming scratch and itch, but the movement was too covered to be innocent



“You’ve got quite a poker face,” said Flint with a smile.



“You as well,” said Harrison.



“Maybe after this we can play some blackjack.”



“I don’t think so,” said Harrison. “I have a previous engagement.”



Flint smirked. “Then lets not keep your date waiting,” he said and set down his hand. It was three Kings. Harrison didn’t say anything as he set down his three Aces.



“I believe I win the pot,” he said. Flint’s eyes flashed.



“You can’t have won!” he yelled. “There was no way you could have won! I dealt!”



“Are you saying only you could have won because you dealt, or are you calling me a cheater,” asked Harrison calmly looking at him.



“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” said Flint. “You cheated, and I want my money now!”



“I don’t think so,” said Harrison, “because I didn’t cheat!”



Flint lunged at him from across the table, intending on punching Harrison, but the other man grabbed Flint by the wrist, spun Flint around and threw him on the table, locking Flint’s arm behind his back.



“I would suggest you not do that again,” said Harrison.



“Let go of me!” yelled Flint. “You’re breaking my arm.”



“No, if I was breaking your arm, you would know.” and Harrison threw him away. Taking up the pile of bills he put them in a bag he had in his jacket pocket and left. As soon as he left the establishment he reached for the collar of his jacket and placed an ear piece in his ear.



“You can head in now,” he said in his collar and left the alley.



“Get to the house,” said a voice in his ear. “I’ll talk to you later as soon as I get there.”



“Right, see you in the morning, Sirius,” said Harry taking the ear piece out and walked down the street to his bike, putting a cigarette in his mouth. ‘I’m running low,’ he thought as he light the death stick and took a drag. ‘Or I could just quit.’ Getting on his bike he started the engine and rode down the street to a convenience store, and sitting by the trash bins was a man wearing ragged clothes trying to keep warm by the heating vent.



“Hey ‘Dung,” greeted Harry taking off his helmet and walking over to the old man. Mundungus Fletcher was a homeless man with more layers of clothes then cash and was known to be a petty thief.



“ ‘Arry,” said Fletcher in his slurred drunken voice. “ ‘Ow are you been lately?”



“Allright,” said Harry with a shrug. “Still have some of the cash I gave you last time?”



Fletcher gave a theatrical laugh. “Ah, now you see, ‘Arry, times are ‘ard and I man like me don’t ‘ave much cash…”



But Harry had already reached into his pocket and pulled out the money he had just won. Taking out a fifty he handed it to Fletcher.



“You know which brand I like,” he said. “And I’ll give you another twenty afterward, but I need you to get me something extra.”



“And what would that be,” asked Fletcher and Harry told him. Fletcher raised and eyebrow and scratched his beard. “A could probably do that. I saw a real nice on in there one time that you might like.”



“Just get me one,” said Harry.



Fletcher smiled and went to enter the store which Harry left Harry waiting by his bike parked at the corner. He didn’t have to wait long hen Fletcher returned with his cigarettes and Harry paid him the promised twenty.



“Don’t spend it all at once,” said Harry taking the bag and put it in the storage compartment. He knew he’d be seeing Fletcher again sooner then he would like. Getting on the bike he started the engine and left, riding all the way to the house without stopping. He parked the bike in the garage, turned off the engine, covered the bike with the tarp and walked into the house, pocketing his keys and taking off the blonde wig.



“Tonks, I’m back,” he said.



“Wocher, Harry,” said Tonks from the living room. She was sitting in an arm chair with a single light and a crime novel in hand. Romulus lay on the floor next to her and his tail wagged at the sight of Harry, thumping on the floor rhythmically. “How was the trip?”



“Fruitful,” he said and gave Tonks a hundred. “Here you go.”



“Harry, I can’t….”



“Tonks, you and Remus don’t make as much as you should. And I know you’ve been planning to take Remus to Rome someday.”



“He always wanted to see the Coliseum,” said Tonks with a safe smile. “Oh, Harry, thank you. I’ll repay you someday, I swear.”



Harry smiled. “Just get me a souvenir when you get there, okay? I better get out of these clothes. These contacts are making my eyes itch.” And he walked toward the stairs. “How is Malfoy?”



“He hasn’t left the guest room, and I’ve been checking on him every half hour.”



Harry sighed. “I guess I’ll go check on him before I turn in,” he said and rapidly blinked his eyes when the lids stuck again. “After I get these contacts out.”



Tonks nodded and left, Romulus behind her. Harry walked up the stairs and went to the bathroom, stripping off his clubbing clothes and put on a plain white shirt and plaid pants for bed. Taking out the colored prescription contacts he placed them in their container and put back on his wire frame glasses and put everything back in the box he took out of the closet. When he placed the box back in his room he went to the guest room and politely knocked.



“Malfoy, you alive,” he asked. There was a scuffling on the other side of the door. “It’s past two, Malfoy. School’s tomorrow and you should be asleep.”



The door opened and Malfoy glared at the other boy. “So should you,” he said. “Where the hell have you been?! You’re my bodyguard and you left me with my insane cousin!”



“She’s hardly insane,” said Harry. “And I had a prior engagement.”



“Where?”



“None of your business,” said Harry and he shoved a pack of cigarettes and a metal lighter in Malfoy’s hands. The metal lighter had an etching of a green Chinese dragon on it. “So you don’t filch off me.”



“Like I want to,” said Malfoy as Harry went to his room. Sighing Harry closed his door, walked to his bed and immediately fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.



XXXXXXXX



The next morning Harry was greeted with Sirius lecturing him on staying out of bars and gambling the night before. Harry sighed and moved stiffly out of bed, heading to his closet.



“We had confirmation and location,” said Sirius. “You should have left.”



“Oh. right, that’s brilliant,” said Harry taking out his uniform. “Pay the guard, look around and leave. That just screams a raid. Besides, I needed the cash.”



Sirius looked at him in surprise. “Harry, we have money. If there’s anything you need….”



“It’s for the Weasleys,” said Harry, going to his desk and packed his homework. “Arthur crashed another computer.”



“Oh,” said Sirius as Harry went to the bathroom to shower and change. He stayed in for over half an hour, washing the night before off of him. When he was done he dried, dressed and opened the door to see an annoyed Draco.



“How the hell can I get ready for school if you’re hogging he bathroom,” asked Malfoy.



Harry smiled. “I would have said ladies first, but then I remembered take longer then a girl.”



Malfoy growled and lunged at Harry. Harry dodged, grabbed Malfoy’s neck and pressed on the nerves there, and held Malfoy at arm’s length. He held the arm Malfoy had tried to swing at him tightly in his fist.



“Potter, what the hell,” yelled Malfoy. “I can’t move!”



“Don’t ever do that again,” hissed Harry in an almost crazed voice, and it sent a chill down Malfoy’s spine.



“Harry, let Draco go,” said Sirius from outside his room. Harry looked at his godfather from the corner of his eye before letting go of Malfoy, grabbing his jacket, and when into the fourth door, quickly closing the door before anyone saw what was inside. Sirius turned back to Malfoy. “Word of advice, don’t attack Harry, not unless you’re ready for a beat down.”



“What the hell was up with that,” said Malfoy rubbing his neck. “Did he take karate or something?”



“Or something,” said Sirius. “Harry had studied every form of martial arts he could find and can hold his own over five to one.”



“Why?” asked Malfoy but Sirius just yawned.



“I’m heading to bed,” he said. “You have a half hour to get ready for school. I suggest you use it.”



Malfoy watched as Sirius yawned again and close the door to sleep.



“This is a strange household,” he said rubbing the back of his neck and went to shower. He walked out a few minutes later, angry that he didn’t have enough time to properly get ready. Sirius’ door was still closed and Harry was still behind the unmarked door. Malfoy could hear muffled sounds coming out of it. It sounded like music. He was half tempted to reach up and open the door but knew Harry would retaliate like he did before so he knocked instead.



“Potter, get your ass out of there and let’s head for school,” he said. The sound behind the door stopped and the door opened to reveal a very somber Harry. Harry had only opened the door long enough for him to slip through and close it without Malfoy seeing the contents behind it and locked the door.



“I’ll make you breakfast,” said Harry. Malfoy looked at him in surprise.



“You can cook,” asked Malfoy following Harry downstairs. Harry smirked at him over his shoulder.



“Unlike some people, Malfoy, I actually tried to pass cooking class,” he said and went into the kitchen. From there he proceeded to make an omelet for himself and Malfoy. When it was done he put the plates on a bar counter with a cup of orange juice each and sat opposite of Malfoy to eat.



“I didn’t poison it, you know,” said Harry when Malfoy stared at the plate for a minute. Malfoy glared at Harry before shoveling a large amount of omelet into his mouth. As soon as he swallowed his eyes widened with his mouth slightly opened. Harry looked at him curiously. “What? Too spicy?”



Malfoy’s surprise turned back into a glare. “I’ve had fast food that tasted better,” he said and continued to eat. But in fact, it was the best omelet he had, even better then the cook at his mansion. He didn’t think Harry could cook, but by seeing how his guardian was, Malfoy had guessed someone had to learn how, or it would have been take-out every night.



When Harry finished he washed and cleaned the dished and made Sirius’ lunch, placing a turkey-lettuce sandwich, apple, a bag of cheese crackers and a bag of cookies in the bag. He also placed a plastic container of the barbequed beef Molly Weasley had made them before putting it in the refrigerator. On the bag he placed a sticky note that read NO TAKE-OUT!



“Never thought I’d see you play house-maid,” said Malfoy. Harry glared at him as he left the kitchen.



“Shut up, Malfoy,” he said irritated. He grabbed his school jacket and keys before walking out of the kitchen, throwing his jacket on but not buttoning it. He opened a drawer in the foyer, took out an object and quickly hid it under his large jacket. Malfoy caught a flash of metal before Harry hid it and reached into the drawer again.



“What are you hiding, Potter,” asked Malfoy.



“Have you always been this curious, Malfoy,” asked Harry without looking at the blonde and pulled out a pocket knife. It was as long as Harry’s forefinger and had a polished wooden handle. The blade was safely secured in the handle. Malfoy could clearly see the initials J.P. on the handle.



“That’s not allowed in school,” said Malfoy with a smirk. Harry just smirked back.



“Only if I’m caught with it,” he said putting it in his pocket and picked up his keys. “Let’s go.”



Walking outside he lead Malfoy to his white car and drove to Hogwarts. Harry parked in his usual spot at the farthest end of the parking lot. It was easier then explaining why he parked so close and no one would see him and Malfoy arriving together. Malfoy left first and hastily walked away from the car towards the school as Harry leaned against his car and waited for his friends to arrive.



Hermione arrived first in a sky blue car and parked next to Harry. Harry smiled and moved to greet her as a rusted beat up truck drove in, the tail pipe backfiring once before the engine died.



“I swear, Ron,” said Ginny getting out of the car. “If you don’t have Charlie look at that engine I’m having Mum trash it! That’s the second time it stilled this week!”



“Charlie’s too busy at the zoo,” said Ron. “And we don’t have the money for a mechanic.”



“Charlie worked for one at his summer job when he was sixteen! He can fix it for free!” Ginny stopped the rant long enough to spot Harry and Hermione watching amusingly. “Hi, Hermione. Hey, Harry.”



“Ol’ Red stalled again,” asked Harry walking over to greet his friends.



“Yeah,” said Ron scratching his head. “I would get a new one, but we don’t have the money for it.”



“I know. Ron, Hermione why don’t you go on ahead. I need to talk to Ginny.” They gave him a surprised look. “Not like that. I just need to ask her something. Now go.”



“Sure,” said Hermione as Ron just shrugged. He wrapped and arm around Hermione’s shoulder and led her to school.



“What’s up, Harry,” asked Ginny. He reached into his pocket and took out the envelope that held the money he won. “What’s this?”



“I hear about what happened with your dad,” he said. “I scrounged around and managed to get up a bit of cash.”



Ginny looked at him in surprise, looked inside the envelope and shrieked in surprise. “Harry, this is more then a bit!” she yelled. “There must be two thousand dollars in here!”



“Pretty much,” said Harry with a nervous smile.



“I can’t take this.” She attempted to hand the envelope back but Harry stopped her.



“Yes, you can,” he said. “Give it to Molly in little bits, give it to the poor or, hell, help Tonks have that second honeymoon in Greece, but just take it. I sure as hell don’t need it.”



“Oh, Harry,” said Ginny close to tears. “Thank you.” And she threw her arms around him in a fierce hug, which Harry returned. Still smiling they walked up to the school.



XXXXXXXX



“Draco!” yelled a voice before Pansy attached herself to Draco’s arm. Draco groaned and looked down at her.



“Hello, Pansy,” he said solemnly.



“I’ve missed you,” said Pansy smiling up at Draco who rolled his eyes.



“You saw me yesterday,” said the blonde. He looked over to see his best friend walk toward him.



“How have you been doing, Draco,” asked Blaise, looking over at Draco. It was a look that told Draco that they needed to talk. Draco nodded.



“I’m all right,” he said. “Pansy, can you save Blaise and I a seat in homeroom. Blaise and I have to talk.”



“About what?” asked Pansy in a pout. Draco knew she thought it made her look cute, but it only made her pudgy face pudgier.



“Men stuff,” said Draco disengaging himself from her and walked away. Pansy watched in shocked surprise before turning in irritation and walked toward homeroom. Draco lead Blaise to the boy’s locker room, deserted till third period gym.



“What do you want to talk about, Blaise,” asked Draco locking the door and leaning against it, turning to his friend.



“Pansy had called last night to ask where you were,” said Blaise irritably.



“And you said?”



“That you were out and wouldn’t be there till later.”



“And then she called me,” said Draco rubbing h is neck. “Good thing she’s not very smart.”



“Yeah, if she was she would have taken the hint long ago that you’re not into her,” said Blaise with a smile.



Draco sighed. “Thanks, Blaise. I just needed to go somewhere last night without anyone knowing.”



“Draco, you were in a strange mood yesterday when you asked me to cover for you, and you didn’t tell me a whole lot. What are you hiding?”



“‘Who am I hiding from’ is the more accurate term,” said Draco. “My father.”



Blaise looked at him in surprise. “Are you crazy?!” he celled. “If your father found out you were running….”



“It would be no different if he found out I was gay,” said Draco. “I don’t want to be like him. I don’t want to be a killer.”



“Draco, what if your father calls and you’re not there? What do I say to him?”



“The truth,” said Draco looking up at Blaise with a fierce serious gaze. “You don’t know where I am or what I am doing.”



Blaise smirked. “Ask me no questions and I will spell you no lies.” He nodded. “All right, I’ll do, but for a price.”



The look Blaise was sending Draco was all he needed. Draco walked up to his friend and put a hand on the back of Blaise’s neck.



“I think we can settle on a price,” said Draco before kissing Blaise. Blaise kissed back.



Draco and Blaise found out their sexual preferences around the same time, Draco swinging towards blokes and Blaise both ways, but preferred girls, and both experimented together. They weren’t exactly dating. They just went to each other to unwind and forget the outside world for a while. They were done a short time later, washing off the evidence of their passion before dressing and walking into homeroom. The bell rang just as they sat in the seats Pansy procured for them.



“Cutting it close, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini,” said McGonagall, their homeroom teacher and Vice Principle.



“Sorry, Ms. McGonagall,” said both students in their seats. Draco glanced over at Potter who watched the blonde intently and Draco knew his face was still flushed from his recent activities. Draco quickly turned is head away.



XXXXXXXX



“Where the hell were you?” hissed Harry as he cornered Malfoy after school. He had pulled Malfoy in a janitor’s closet to talk without being seen.



“Interesting place to meet,” said Malfoy humorously. “Was it purpose or accidental?’



“Just shut up and answer the question!”



“I’m in school, Potter, not out on the streets,” said Malfoy. “I won’t get kidnapped easily here.”



“You were talking to Zabini for a half hour. If you told him anything….”



Malfoy scoffed. “Trust me, Potter. I am more then capable of keeping a secret.”



“Sorry if my trust in you is a little faulty,” growled Harry as Malfoy smirked.



“And I try so hard to keep it that way,” said Malfoy and walked away.



“Mr. Potter,” growled a voice and Harry turned to glare at Snape. “You will refrain from pestering Mr. Malfoy.”



“Yes, professor,” Harry through gritted teeth. He knew any further argument would get him into trouble.



“Mr. Malfoy, you may go. Mr. Potter, I wish to speak with you.”



“Yes, sir,” said Malfoy, turning to walk away. He turned to smirk at Harry over his shoulder and Harry gave him a not too friendly gesture behind his back to Snape wouldn’t see. Malfoy’s face flushed and he walked away more quickly.



“Has your guardian answered my request to see him?” asked Snape and Harry crossed his arms.



“Yes, sir,” he said not too politely. Snape eyes narrowed slightly at the tone.



“Have him call me at his earliest convenius,” he said before walking away. Harry gave Snape a not too friendly gesture before walking to his car. The last he saw of Malfoy was of the blonde getting into his car and driving away.



TBC