What It Means

Disclaimer: I don’t own them








Disclaimer: I don’t own them

 

A/N: Alright people, let me get a few things out about this
story. This arc of it is a lot more character and emotion based, as opposed to
event based, therefore it may not see fas fast paced. I apologize if that
upsets any of you…but this is the way I tell the story. I can’t help it…I’m an
angst whore.

 

I was kind of conflicted about this chapter…I mean, it has
everything in it that I intended…but it just feels kind of…empty…to me. I
dunno…like maybe it’s not up to par with the others. It does have it’s own
place within the grand scheme though. So please review and let me know what
*you* think. It would be highly appreciated. Heh…I hope I’m not slipping….
*prays on hands and knees*

 

Thanks, as always, to Jasmine.

&;
;

 

 

Chapter 3…………It must be a sign.

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

 

“Oh hell no.”

 

Harry may have decided to let Draco make his own decisions,
but the blonde was obviously not in his right mind and Harry knew what went on
in that back room. He rushed down the first flight of stairs and lost sight of
the two men he was chasing. In his haste, he jumped over the railing of the
second flight, which roused a gasp from all those standing nearby. Dashing
through the dance floor en route towards the backroom, Harry somehow got caught
in between two rather large men who were gyrating off beat. The men seemed
pleased with their Harry sandwich and were reluctant to let him pass. Not in
any mood to negotiate, Harry lost his temper and shoved his way through, spitting
and swearing continually. He was fairly disoriented from his ordeal and it took
him a moment to remember which direction he was originally headed in. Finally
setting himself straight, Harry stalked into the backroom and immediately had
to throw off a random groping hand.

 

The sight was, if not familiar, not unexpected. David had
Draco pushed up against a wall, his face buried in the pale neck. Draco just
looked out of it. Harry knew how the former Slytherin reacted to such
attentions when in his right mind, and staring blankly into space was not the
norm. Harry tried to count to ten, but only got to three before he roughly
tapped his teammate on the shoulder. The chaser turned his head.

 

“Just what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

 

David snorted. “What does it look like?” And he turned his
attentions back to Draco’s adams apple.

 

Harry grabbed Draco’s arm, and he almost fell over.
“Draco…we’re leaving, come on.”

 

Draco smiled sweetly at him. “Okay, Harry”

 

David tugged Draco back underneath him and snapped angrily
at Harry. “Stop being so possessive. I asked him if you guys were together and
he said ‘not anymore’…that you didn’t want him. So if you don’t want him, and
you don’t want me…then what’s your problem?”

 

Harry was about to break about a million wizarding laws and
perform all three unforgivables in front of the muggles.

 

“First of all…it’s none of your business whether we’re
together or not. Secondly, you’re damn right I don’t want you, and lastly, this
is not about who does and doesn’t belong to anyone else…this is about Draco
obviously being less than lucid.”

 

As if on cue, Draco started to fall over and Harry just
managed to catch him and prop him back up. His eyes were drooping closed and
Harry slapped his cheeks trying to keep him awake, as there was no way he could
carry him home and levitating him might look strange to those unfamiliar with
the secret world beneath the surface.

 

“Jesus, David, what did you give him?”

 

David just shrugged. “Dunno…it won’t kill him though. It
looks like he’s ready for bed…you wanna take his place?” David turned back to
Draco to see if he was awake *enough*.

 

Harry very calmly pulled Draco slightly to the right, and
before David could turn around and ask any questions, Harry had a handful of
the sandy curls. He fisted the chaser’s hair from the back of his head and
slammed forward as hard as he could, cracking the wall with the skull of his
teammate. David was, shall we say, no longer up for arguing.

 

“C’mon Draco…lets go, now.”

 

Harry bent down and wrapped an arm around Draco to hoist him
up onto his feet. Draco laughed liy any and leaned his head against Harry’s
head.

 

“Where are we going?”

 

“Home”

 

The walk home was definitely one of the worst experiences of
Harry’s eighteen years. Having to support half of Draco’s weight while the
blonde rambled on and spoke to *everyone* they passed, made Harry a little more
than upset. When the duo finally made it upstairs and into the flat, Draco was
able, for the most part, to walk on his own. Harry rubbed his shoulder where it
would most likely be sore in the morning from the trek. He looked over at Draco
who was *far* too amused with the refrigerator magnets.

 

“Time for bed now.”

 

Draco turned around and pointed a finger at him. “You. Are
not my boss…I’m my boss…me…” He turned the finger around to point at his own
chest. “But I am sleepy…mnn…time for bed.”

 

Draco wandered over towards the bedrooms until he was
satisfied and opened the door before heading inside.

 

“Draco…that’s *my* room.”

 

No answer.

 

Harry sighed and pursued him into the room. Draco was
sprawled out face down on top of Harry’s bed mumbling in something that *might*
have been Swahili…but one can never be too sure. Harry moved over to sit on the
edge of the bed and proceeded to flip his roommate over.

 

“C’mon, I’m tired…you don’t have to go to bed, but I am.”

 

Much to Harry’s surprise, Draco managed to move quite
swiftly, if a bit wobbly. He sat up and knocked Harry backwards before planting
his hands on either side of Harry’s head to prop himself over the raven haired
boy.

 

“Draco…what are you doing?”

 

Draco smirked with a feral glint in his dilated eyes and
crashed his lips downwards onto Harry’s who, in his shock, remained
unresponsive. Draco seemed not to notice…until Harry shoved him off.

 

“What are you playing at?”

 

Draco looked somewhat hurt at being shoved away. “What’s the
matter, Harry, don’t you love me anymore?”

 

Harry wiggled out from under Draco and twisted around to lie
on his side. Draco, feeling rejected, turned over so that Harry was facing his
back.

 

Harry spoke anyway. “It’s not that simple…you of all people
know that. You have your business to take care of…and I’m so busy with
quidditch.”

 

Draco slid one hand underneath the pillow his head lie on
and pulled his knees up, almost to his chest. “I don’t see any papek ork or a
snitch in here…do you?”

 

There was a long moment of silence while Harry ideridered
this. In the end, it wasn’t that he had changed his mind about anything, but
simply that he found lying so close to Draco while the blonde asked for his
affection to be *the* hardest thing he’d ever done. He reached out a shaky hand
to run it up along the arm in front of him. From there, his hand embedded
itself in the impossibly soft blonde hair. Harry scooted closer to him so that
he was chest to back with the former Slytherin and slid his hand around Draco’s
waist, gripping loosely and without confidence. He ran his nose along the neck
he’d missed so much and when his lips reached the perfect ear, he whispered.

 

“Okay…”

 

He waited…no response.

 

“Draco?”

 

Still no response.

 

Propping himself up on one arm, he peered over into a
peaceful…sleeping…face. With a sigh, Harry flopped back down on the bed.

 

‘It must be a sign…’

 

Talking to himself and Draco at the same time, Harry began
to speak; confident Draco couldn’t hear him in his slumber.

 

“I worked re har hard…so that it wouldn’t hurt anymore. I
can’t go through it again…it’s too much. There’s just so much in the way…heh…I
sound like you did. Imagine that. I’m….I’m sorry.”

 

He brought the blanket up around Draco’s shoulders and,
certain that the other was well and truly asleep, placed a kiss to his forehead
before heading out to sleep in the spare bedroom.

 

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

 

The next morning, or afternoon rather, Harry looked up from
his book at a very unhappy Draco padding into the kitchen. The disheveled boy
plopped himself into the chair opposite Harry at the kitchen table and with a
groan, pressed his forehead to the cool surface. Harry smiled at him.

 

“You’re up.”

 

“Ugh…what time is it?”

 

“About one thirty”

 

“Oh god…why does my head feel like it’s been split in two
with an axe? I remember dancing with that David person, who is very grabby by
the way, and then he just shoved his tongue in my mouth for no apparent
reason…heathen….you’d think he would warn someone…anyways, after that is kind
of blurry…I can almost remember walking home, but the rest is just black.”

 

Harry slowly closed his eyes, thinking over the events of
the previous night. He opened the emerald orbs again and gave Draco a small
smile.

 

“There’s not much to tell…you just drank too much is all. I
had to practically carry you home…then you passed out.”

 

“I don’t remember drinking that much.”

 

“Well you wouldn’t after a certain point, now would you?

 

 

“Why did I wake up in your room?”

 

“Like I said…you had too much to drink, when we got home you
just went in there and racked out. I slept in the spare room.”

 

“Oh…sorry about that I suppose.”

 

“It’s alright…here…” Harry got up and grabbed his wand which
he pointed at Draco’s temple and murmured a spell. Draco noticed that the pain
wasn’t gone, but lessened greatly.

 

“Thanks…how do you know that and I don’t?”

 

“Dumbledore taught me to help me deal with the pain in my
scar.”

 

The rest of the lazy Saturday and all day Sunday, the two
sat around on the sofa watching television or reading. Draco was beginning to
go a bit stir crazy, but still felt too ill to actually bring himself to dress
and leave the flat. He tried his best to make conversation with the only other
person who seemed to understand him, but Harry was unusually quiet, seemingly
in deep thought at all times. After awhile, Draco elected to just let him be.
Sunday night, when the weekend came to a close, Draco gave Harry a smile and a
goodnight to which Harry only nd bed be the they parted ways to sleep in beds
far too large for one person.

 

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

 

The next morning, being a Monday, Harry was surprised to
find Draco already up and drinking a cup of coffee when he dazedly arose to
take his shower and head out to practice. It was obvious that Draco did not
notice him, as the blonde sat at the table perusing over the newspaper and
making snide comments every now and then about how he would never fully
understand the muggles. Harry decided to just stand back a moment and watch
him. He was thinking about how handsome the former Slytherin looked when being
himself…thinking no one was watching, and how for all his spoiling growing up, the
boy definitely knew how to dress himself. Draco was currently attired in black
slacks with a white dress shirt and a black sweater vest pulled over the top.
Harry smiled, thinking about how nice it was to just be around Draco again, and
how glad he was to have him back. Draco started talking to himself again.

 

“Hmmm….let me see…ah yes, the classifieds…I think this is
what Michael said to look at…yes, there it is…flats…”

 

Harry’s smile faltered. He now realized Draco’s reasons for
reading the paper…he was looking for an apartment. Without a word to his pseudo
roommate, Harry stepped into the bathroom and closed the door so that he could
take his shower and remind himself that Draco was doing what was important to
him, and that he should be happy for him and proud that he was doing on his own
terms.

 

Draco, hearing the bathroom door close, looked up from the
table. His expression changed to one of confusion and worry.

 

“Well good morning to you too…” he voiced aloud in his
frustration.

 

Even though he was irritated with Harry’s indifferent
behavior over the weekend and this morning, Draco decided to wait until he got
out of the shower to leave. So when Harry stepped out of the bathroom and made
way towards his bedroom, again with no word to Draco, he was stopped by a voice
from the kitchen.

 

“Harry?”

 

Harry turned, trying to be nonchalant, as if maybe he hadn’t
seen Draco there. “Hm? Oh…good morning.”

 

“Is everything okay, Harry?”

 

“S’fine…just tired. Was there something you wanted?”

 

“Well…no, not particul. I . I just wanted to let you know I
get to hire my staff today. My very own staff…of *people*, not elves…can you
believe it?”

 

Still without eye contact, Harry spoke to Draco, although wou would appear that he was speaking to someone slightly to Draco’s left. “So
you’re off then?”

 

“Well yes, I have to meet Michael in about 15 minutes…are
you sure you’re okay?”

 

“I’m fine.” Harry turned and waved his hand dismissively
from behind him. “See you later then.” And he entered his bedroom, closing the
door behind him and ending any conversation.

 

With many concerns but no time to act on them, Draco swept
his key from its usual place on the counter and left to kick off his days as
Mr. Malfoy.

 

From inside his bedroom, Harry leaned his forehead against
his side of the door, with one hand still on the doorknob and the other palmed
against the surface. He made silent apologies to his guest. He didn’t want to
hurt Draco’s feelings; even though doing so did give him a pleasant tingle of
satisfaction after all he’d been put through. Even so, he saw it as best that
he not get attached to something that was so obviously destined to leave him no
matter what he did or said.

 

‘Better to push him
away now than let him in and allow him to take my heart with him when he
leaves…’

 

Quidditch practice was not going to be a fun and carefree
event, Harry knew. This would be the first of David he had seen since bashing
his head into a wall at Babylon.
Having chosen to ignore the chaser, Harry was quite irate when the sandy haired
man approached him.

 

“Potter…I…um…”

 

“*what*?”

 

“Well…please don’t hit me….I just wanted to say…sorry…”

 

Harry was not won over by the apology. Although he did find
David’s broken nose quite humorous. “There…you said it. Goodbye.”

 

The chaser was not so keen to let the subject drop and
grabbed Harry by the arm when he attempted to pass. His sudden actions caused
Harry to trip and fall into his arms. David, not one to miss an opportunity,
flashed what (under less….broken…circumstances) would be his most charming
smile.

 

“So you’re not mad at me then….”

 

Harry shoved him off and stood straightening himself and swearing
under his breath. “God, I’ve seen whores with sha shame than you…”

 

As grueling as it was, Harry managed to live through his
practice. During the day he was reminded on several occasions that the season
would be starting soon and that he would be gone from home for many nights
during that time. When he returned home at his usual time, he wasn’t surprised
to find the flat empty. He went through his normal ritual of showering and
changing his clothes, although tonight, he actually dressed, figuring he’d go
out for food…with or without Draco. Just as he was about to leave, though, he
heard someone floo into his living room.

 

“Harry! We’re so glad we caught you! I said we should have
called first, but then with all the explaining to Ron about phones and what
not…gah!, well anyways…here we are and we’re so glad we caught you!”

 

Harry smiled, very happy to see his two best friends, Ron
and Hermione. Hermione was rattling on as per usual, while Ron just rolled his
eyes and waved at Harry. Harry gave them both a hug and enquired to their
reasons for visiting; to which Hermione looked offended.

 

“You mean we need reasons now?”

 

Harry laughed and was about to answer her when a though
occurred to him. ‘Draco…shit…’

 

“Harry?....you okay?”

 

Shaking his head and trying to figure out how to politely
usher the two of them from his home before his flat mate returned, Harry threw
his arms around both their shoulders.

 

“Of course you don’t need a reason Mione, I was just headed
out to dinner. Would you guys like to join me?”

 

Ron raised an eyebrow at his friend. “*You* are going out?
What’s the occasion…you’ve a date or something?”

 

Harry stuttered a bit, seeing as how close to accurate Ron’s
accusation was. Harry’s two companions however, took this as a ‘yes’. Hermione
immediately hugged him while Ron just slapped him he bhe back.

 

“Harry, we’re so happy for you! It’s about time, right Ron?”

 

Ron nodded.

 

Waving his hands, Harry tried to squirm out of Hermione’s
famous death grip. “No…look guys…it’s nothing like that. Let’s just go to
dinner okay?”

 

“But Ha…”

 

Whatever it was that Ron wanted to say would have to wait,
as the front door was opening and a very male voice could be heard from the
intrusion.

 

“Harry, you’ll never bee ite it…it was absolutely amazing, I
have a staff of 40 people right now, most of them are muggle familiar wiz….what
are….oh….it’s you.” Draco stopped speaking in favor of glaring at Ron, who gaped
in shock at his presence in Harry’s flat.

 

Ron closed his eyes and directed his attention to Harry.
“Harry, tell me I’m hallucinating and that Malfoy is *not* in your house.”

 

“You’re hallucinating and Malfoy is not in my house.”

 

“Are you lying?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Ron’s eyes shot open. “Bloody hell, Harry? Have you
forgotten what that git did to you? Do I need to remind you?”

 

Harry sighed, feeling sorry for himself that he always had
to play peacekeeper it seemed. “No Ron…I don’t need reminding. It’s a long story,
and it’s my house. I’d appreciate it if you two could at least *try* to get
along while here…”

 

Draco scoffed at this suggestion. “Yes yes…I’ll get along
with Weasley, and after that why don’t we all build a campfire and sing?”

 

Ron made to lunge at Draco, but was caught by Hermione and
Harry. “You know, Malfoy, I still owe you one for what you pulled graduation
day!”

 

“Enough!” Harry stepped in between the two. “Look, god
damnit, this is ouseouse and I don’t like being the referee here. Draco, shut your
smart ass mouth for five minutes, and Ron, don’t make judgments when you don’t
know what you’re talking about, okay?”

 

The blond and the red head looked like scolded children both
sneering at each other and mumbling under their breath. Hermione, ever the
voice of reason, used this moment to speak up.

 

“Look, Harry, maybe we should come back another time?”

 

“Yeah…I think that might be a good idea.

 

Ron jumped in. “Mione, we can’t just leave Harry here with
*him*!”

 

Hermione started to drag Ron by the arm back to the
fireplace. “Yes we can Ron, H’s a’s a big boy. Goodbye Malfoy, and Harry…take
care of yourself, *please*?”
bsp;bsp;

“Sure…bye Mione…bye Ron…”

 

After his two best friends left, Harry turned on Draco.
“Just what is your problem?”

 

Draco looked like some one had accused him of being a
Weasley himself. “Excuse me? What’s *my* problem? I was just *standing* here
and he opened his painfully ignorant mouth…don’t blame this on me.”

 

Harrrew rew his hands up in irritation. “You always have to
take an already volatile situation and just exploit it don’t you?”

 

“What are you talking about?! All I wanted to do was come
home and tell you that I had a good day, that I got started, and I set one foot
in here and get insulted. Does it not matter that I live here too?”

 

Harry glared at him. “You *don’t* live here…you were
supposed to find a flat.”

 

Draco looked both shocked at hurt at Harry’s words. “You’re
right…you know what, I’ll just get my things and go now.” He picked up the
phone and dug a scrap of paper out of his pocket. After staring at the phone
for a solid minute, not sure which button to push to get started he gave in and
asked Harry to help him.

 

“Which of these buttons starts the call?”

 

“That one.” Harry pointed to the ‘talk’ button and assumed
Draco could handle the rest, as simple as it was. “Who are you calling?”

 

“Michael.”

 

“Of course.” Harry’s voice was cutting and hard.

 

Draco hit the talk button again to turn off the phone and
threw it onto the sofa. “Just what does that mean?”

 

Harry remained cold. “Nothing…why?”

 

Draco crossed the small space between them so that he was
practically in Harry’s face. “That is a blatant lie. For an honest Gryffindor,
you can be pretty malicious, do you know that?” He poked Harrythe the chest as
he spoke.

 

Harry batted the finger poking him away. “I just meant ‘of
course’…as in of ce yoe you would call Michael…who the hell else sees you these
days anyways?”

 

The finger was back as Draco retorted. “That is completely
unfair Harry. You’ve seen his god damned boyfriend, they’re happy! And even so,
what right of yours is it to get upset? You’ve done nothing but push me away
since I got here. I get the picture okay, I understand that you don’t want me,
and honestly that’s okay, I probably deserve it, but enough with the jealous
lover act!”

 

Slapping the finger away with more force this time Harry
looked Draco in the eyes. “What is it that you want from me?”

 

There was but a moment of silence, although it felt more
like a century before Draco reached his hand out and grabbed Harry by the back
of the neck, pulling him forward into a rather rough and intense kiss. Harry
relento tho the kiss almost instantly and for a moment all that seemed to exist
were the Dragon and the Hero.

 

Ultimately, Harry broke the kiss and pushed Draco back a
bit. He had to collect himself before meeting the stormy eyes he so often found
himself lost in.

 

“No”

 

Draco held his gaze. “That didn’t feel like a no.”

 

“Well…it is. My season starts soon…I hardly see you now. It
won’t work. I should have realized that before it ever began…” Harry headed for
his bedroom, but turned back to Draco before disappearing from view. “You don’t
have to leave…I’m sorry about all that…”

 

Draco just swore and stormed into his room to dig through
one of his drawers. Finding the pack of cigarettes he was looking for, the
incensed entrepreneur went out on the balcony and smoked his first cigarette in
three months while leaning halfway over the balcony and questioning every
recent decision he had made.

 

Meanwhile in the master bedroom, a dark haired boy with a very
interesting scar on his forehead peered through his curtains at the only person
he ever loved enough to let go.

 

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

 

TBC