At Your Doorstep

Chapter 6: Beneath the Lily Pads

Harry felt warm and cozy. He felt safe, a feeling he hadn’t felt for a long time. It’s as if he was floating around with the clouds… he was lying on something soft… A smile slowly formed on Harry’s serene face.

“’S nice…” Harry mumbled; he rolled over and was now face down on his bed. It was then he heard a small chuckle.

“Rise and shine sleepy head, it’s ten in the morning.” Draco said in a sing-song voice.

“No…” Was all Harry said; he searched around for his blanket and pulled it over his head, “Go away.”

“You know, if I was your mother I would’ve been yelling at you by now,” Draco smirked, “And maybe started strangling you just to wake you up.”

Harry made a noncommittal grunt. Draco sighed and reached down and pulled the blanket off of Harry’s prone body. The brunet whined at the sudden coldness.

“Leave me alone… ‘M tired,” Harry yawned and rolled onto his back; he opened his eyes and looked up at Draco blearily, “Why can’t you just…” Harry’s eyes widened once he realized Draco was standing over him; he was wide awake now, “Oh my god! What are you doing here?!”

“What am I doing here?” Draco asked, “I’ve been here for the past five minutes trying to wake you up.” Draco crossed his arms in front of his chest and sneered, “You, Potter, sleep like a rock.”

“I was… tired,” Harry mumbled lamely and sat up; he looked down and gasped when he found himself half naked. He looked up at the blond, “Where’s my shirt!?” Panicking Harry looked at his legs and let out a sigh of relief; he still had his pants on.

“Don’t you uh… remember what happened last night?” Draco frowned, “You sort of… blanked out.”

“Er… I remember me screaming,” Harry said meekly, his face flushed, “Then you and Severus came in and I—Oh.”

Bits of last night’s events came back into Harry’s mind. Him screaming. Then Draco and Severus ran in the bathroom and started to comfort Harry. The brunet also remembered how he started to cry again when Severus was drying his hair… Draco whispering soothing words all the while holding him like a baby… Harry asking the other two wizards to stay with him and not leaving him alone.

“I’m sorry for being a bother…” Harry blushed.

Draco waved his hand in the air; a wooden chair appeared and Draco sat down on it.

“We told you last night that you’re not a bother to us,” Draco said firmly; Harry didn’t’ meet Draco’s eyes and nodded. Sighing, Draco moved closer to the bed, “Care to tell me why you were screaming all of a sudden last night?”

Harry licked his chapped lips and fidgeted his fingers, “I was… relaxing in the tub like Severus told me to.”

Draco nodded for Harry to go on; the brunet stopped playing with his hands and looked into Draco’s grey eyes warily.

“Memories of the past flooded into my mind,” Harry said softly, “It was random but my thoughts wandered back to the time I was…”

“When you were what?” Draco prodded, “It’s during the time when you got hurt wasn’t it?”

Harry paled and Draco was afraid that the other man would faint once again. To Draco’s relieve, Harry didn’t.

“Yes… Yes it was,” Harry said slowly, color coming back to his face, “I relived the moment when I was strangled…” Harry finished and closed his eyes; his breathing slowed.

“What?!” Draco cried out, his grey eyes bugged out, “Strangled? Who was the fucker that strangled you?!”

Harry opened his eyes and blinked a few times at the blond; Draco was seething, his cheeks flushed.

“It doesn’t matter… It was long ago.” Harry murmured; he hung his head and let his shaggy brown hair fall into his face.

“What do you mean it doesn’t matter?” Draco spat, “Do you know who the person was?”

Harry shook his head slowly, “No. I never saw his face… I don’t recognize his voice either,” the green eyed man looked up again and Draco saw that his eyes were swimming with tears, “I was kept and tortured for months or possibly a year… I’m not sure. Lost track of time when I was there.”

Draco took a deep breath and let it out through his mouth. He was trying to keep his bubbling anger in check; there was no need to frighten Harry.

“You didn’t have your wand?” Draco asked. Harry blinked his eyes and sniffed. A single drop of tear made its way down his cheek.

“It’s gone. He snapped it.” Harry replied in monotone, “That was the first thing he did when he captured me.”

The blond growled and clenched his fists tightly on top of his thighs; his trousers were getting wrinkly from his clutches.

“The bastard snapped your wand,” Draco said with an eerie calm. It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. “That explains why we didn’t find your wand that night… when we healed your wounds.”

Harry nodded mutely. He saw, from the corner of his eye, when Draco curled his fingers into a fist. Harry didn’t understand why Draco cared about what happened to him. Hell, even Harry didn’t really care; it was in the past and he wanted it to stay that way. What was done, was done.

“Harry…” Draco started; Harry looked at the blond and waited for Draco to continue, “What was the last thing you did before you were captured by the man? Do you remember?”

Harry swallowed. Of course he remembered. How could he not? It was his first time—since school years—celebrating his twentieth birthday.

Alone.

“Yes… I remembered,” Harry croaked; Draco scowled and leaned closer to the bed. Harry was speaking softly, it was hard for him to hear.

“So… What were you doing?”

“In Muggle London celebrating my birthday,”

“With Granger and Weasley? With your girlfriend?” Draco asked. Harry shook his head to both questions.

“Hermione went to America to further her studies, Ron went with her. They got together during out seventh year in Hogwarts.” Harry explained; Draco nodded and didn’t add any comments. “As for the girlfriend thing… I don’t fancy girls…”

“You-you mean…?” Draco trailed off. Harry, again, nodded.

“I met a guy not long after we graduated,” Harry told the blond, “He was two years older and was a Muggle and lived right next to my flat in London. I bought it once I turned seventeen so that I wouldn’t have to live with my relatives. Anyway, his name was Felix… he was a nice, happy, caring guy. I guess I can say that I fell in love with him at first sight. I was worried about letting Felix know my feelings so I didn’t tell him. Two months after I moved into my flat, he asked me out, as a date. After that, we started going out and he asked me to be his boyfriend.”

“Ah, I see…” Draco murmured; the fact that Harry liked guys still shocked Draco.

“Our relationship was going quite well,” Harry continued on; Draco listened. He knew talking would do Harry good. “Until three years later, on my birthday.” Harry furrowed his eyebrows; Draco looked into Harry’s emerald orbs and found slow anger swirling around.

“What happened Harry?” Draco asked quietly; Harry looked up sharply at the blond, “If you don’t mind me asking…” Draco added. Harry sighed and shook his head in the negative.

“We made plans earlier that day… Well I made plans. Felix worked as an accountant in an office building so he told me he would meet me at the restaurant I planned to go after he got off from work. I waited for him for hours… I left the restaurant when he failed to show up. I took a taxi and went to his flat; we didn’t live together, there was no need. I went in and found Felix…”

“What was he doing?” Draco asked, his voice laced with concern.

Harry rubbed his temples; he was forcing himself not to cry. But it hurts. Remembering what happened that day hurts. His heart was shattered that night, shattered beyond repair.

“I found him kissing another man… around his age. I’ve never saw the guy…”

Draco snarled; his hands were on Harry’s bed and were now, once again, curled into fists. Harry looked down at Draco’s hands and softly patted them. Draco looked at Harry and the brunet gave him a watery smile.

“Did you hex him? Slap him? That bastard deserved to be cursed,” Draco spat; Harry’s smaller hand wrapped around one of Draco’s fists.

“No, I didn’t hex him. Didn’t have the heart to do it; I did love him for three years,” Harry squeezed Draco’s hand and let go, “I walked out of his flat quietly, he probably didn’t’ notice.”

“Then what did you do Harry?”

“I-I walked around London aimlessly after that,” Harry sighed, “Until I wandered into a bar and drank until I didn’t know my own name. I was pissed, heart broken, and felt utterly worthless that night. Worthless because I couldn’t even keep a boyfriend.” Harry let out a shaky breath.

Draco reached out and held Harry’s cold hand between his, “You are not worthless, Harry Potter.”

Harry looked down at their intertwined fingers but didn’t pull away. Draco’s hands felt warm around his. It felt nice.

“I walked out of that bar, feeling lightheaded, everything spun around me. The road was tilted and I couldn’t walk straight. Somehow… I ended up turning into a dark alleyway.”

“You were attacked there weren’t you?!” Draco asked, his hand tensed around Harry’s.

“I was too drunk to do anything… I couldn’t see his face; he was wearing a hood. I know I screamed but the man must’ve put a Silence Barrier around us. He searched for my wand, found it, and snapped it in half. I was sober enough to see that much. Then I heard him mutter a spell… and I blacked out. Next thing I knew, I woke up in a dark cellar and was trapped there since.”

“Your birthday… It’s November now; you’ve been trapped for four months Harry,” Draco murmured; Harry didn’t reply, his body was shaking.

Draco looked at the younger man sadly; he knew Harry was trying hard not to cry. He stood up, hands still holding Harry’s.

“Can I sit on the bed with you?”

Harry scooted over and Draco sat down next to the brunet. He crossed his legs under him and untangled his fingers from Harry’s hand. Draco patted his shoulder and Harry looked at him quizzically. Harry’s eyes were red and swollen.

“I’m lending my shoulder for you to cry on Harry,” Draco smirked; Harry’s eyes widened. “Don’t think I do this to everybody, but I know you’re holding back your tears. Sometimes you’ll feel better when you cry and scream and let all your sorrow and frustration out.”

“But-but I--”

“But nothing Harry,” Draco interrupted, “It’s alright to cry. Crying does not make you weak. Actually it means you are brave to let others see you show your emotions.” Draco’s expression softened and patted his shoulder again, “Let it out Harry.”

Harry let out a sob and laid his head on Draco’s broad shoulder, his arm went around Draco’s neck. The blond slowly wrapped his arms around the slim waist and rubbed Harry’s back soothingly. The brunet cried and wailed; Draco didn’t give a damn. Harry needed comfort, and he was here to give it.

“When you asked me and Severus to be here with you and I said we will be, I wasn't lying to you,” Draco spoke as Harry continued to sob on his shoulder, “We talked last night and Severus said you can stay here with us as long as you want. As long as you’re here Harry, you’ll be safe. No harm will ever come to you. We promise.”

Harry hiccupped and brought his head up and looked at Draco with puffy eyes.

“You promise?” Harry sniffed, “I don’t want to be alone… What if that man comes back for me?”

“We’ll kill him if he somehow did track you down,” Draco snarled, “I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

“I don’t want you or Severus to be murderers… You both are the only friends I have here… Now…” Harry said softly.

Draco smiled and held Harry’s head in his hands; he used his thumbs and wiped the tear trails away, “You’ll make plenty of friends here. The villagers are such nice people; they’ll like you.”

Harry returned Draco’s smile and nodded.

Realizing he was still caressing Harry’s face, Draco blushed and dropped his hand. Harry wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand.

“Do… do you know why the man wanted you?”

Harry stiffened and looked away, “I do, but I don’t want to talk about it. For now.”

Draco understood; Harry told him so much already.

“Severus said you are more than welcome to work with him in the flower shop if you want to,” Draco said, changing the subject.

Harry relaxed and looked at the blond, “If you both don’t mind me there. I really want to learn more about flowers. I saw the greenhouse yesterday… it was beautiful.” Harry had a dreamy look on his face.

Draco chuckled and hooked his arm with Harry, “I can teach you if you want, I’m more patient than Severus will ever be.” Draco threw his legs over the bed and stood up, dragging Harry with him.

Harry laughed, for the first time since waking up, and got off the bed. “You’re right about that. He’ll probably yell at me for being slow in taking information into my brain.” Harry grinned and rapped his head with his knuckles.

“I might lose my patience with you as well then,” Draco smirked; Harry mock pouted. “Come on you, I left breakfast outside and it’s all cold now.”

“Well, you just have to cook it again for me,” Harry said; Draco rolled his eyes and guided Harry out of the bedroom.

“Did you know that there are frogs under the lily pads in the small pond you have in the greenhouse?” Harry babbled as they walked to the kitchen, “I was looking at the flowers and one jumped onto the pads! They were big enough to hide a frog. Severus laughed at me for being afraid of a tiny frog. And then…”

Harry continued on about the frog with hand gestures; he also mentioned more about the lily pads. Draco chuckled and shook his head.

“Yes Harry dear, lily pads DO float…”

HPDMSS