Our Choices

Hello again! Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I’m glad everyone thought Draco’s ignorance of muggle appliances was believable, it’s a weight off my shoulders! Let me know what you think of this chapter!

To gorgeousbowneyes: I’m glad you agree with me on the Draco/muggle subject, though I’m not sure if you, or anyone else for that matter, will still feel that way once you read the chapter after this one. I think I’ve taken it to extremes in Chpt. Eight. Oh well, I’ll just have to wait and see.

No, Harry doesn’t live strictly muggle. He still uses the floo, apperates, and of course, has Dobby. Actually when he and Draco go shopping, he buys a couple enchanted objects for himself. That, and in a few chapters you’ll find that the bathroom connected to Harry’s room is magically operated. He lives with a mix of both worlds. I couldn’t see him living completely one way or the other.

Thanks for the review! Yours are beginning to become my favorites, lol. Let me know if you have any other questions!

On to Chapter Seven!


Chapter Seven
After supper Harry lead Draco into the sitting room. He watched as Malfoy took in everything from floor to ceiling, one wall to the opposite, as he had done every other room he'd been in so far. He briefly wondered what Malfoy Manor looked like to have Malfoy so entranced with Harry's home. He supposed it could have been all the muggle items. Malfoy seemed interested with anything that didn't use magic. His curiosity, Harry already knew, was going to drive him insane. As much as he'd enjoy the more intimate aspects of their agreement, Harry wasn't sure if he could handle the constant questions.

Irritation was settled in his gut. For someone who was terrified of his own shadow barely two weeks ago, Malfoy seemed awfully comfortable around Harry. He thought back briefly to when he'd found Malfoy in Greyback's tent. The pale body had been covered in cuts and bruises. His backside was almost black with the abuse he'd suffered. Harry wondered how Malfoy could be so at ease with him when he knew the other man would use his body the same way Greyback had. Not as cruelly, of course. The thought of abusing the once perfect body the way Greyback had made him sick.

Maybe that was the reason Malfoy was so comfortable. Harry had promised him he'd be treated like a human being. He trusted Harry to know, that as a human, he had limitations as to what his body could handle. Unlike Greyback, who treated him like one of his pack.

He looked over Malfoy. He was still beautiful. Gorgeous, really. He just didn't have the flare that he use to. His eyes were dull, even when they landed on an object that struck his interest. Which happened, at that point and time, to be the remote to the television. In fact, the man couldn't take his eyes off it. Amusement spread as he pictured Malfoy and Arthur Weasley together hunched over a rubber duck making guesses as to it's purpose.

A pang of sorrow hit him and he wondered what the Weasley family would have thought about him having a Malfoy living under his roof. Harry quickly pushed those thoughts to the side and sat down in the recliner off to one side of the couch. He gestured to Malfoy to do the same but realized the man still had not removed his gaze from the remote.

He sighed. "It's a remote control." Malfoy jumped and spun to face Harry. "It turns the television on and off, as well as changes the volume and channels."

Malfoy licked his lips and looked around the room. Although it seemed he'd taken to heart the 'no questions' request, Harry could see the question just bursting to come out.

"That," he pointed to the telly across from the couch, "is the television. You can play around with it later. For now, have a seat."

After giving the television a curious look, Draco seated himself on the far end of the couch. Harry waited until Malfoy got comfortable before speaking again. "Okay, I've already told you Dobby is only here on the weekends. That means Monday through Friday we'll have to clean up after ourselves. With just the two of us here, it shouldn't be too hard.

"Since you can't cook, I'll take care of breakfast and supper as long as you clean the dishes afterwards. As I said before, I spend my days working in the study, so if you want lunch you'll have to get it yourself. I'd prefer, though, that you try to remember it each day. Your healer said you need at least three meals a day as well as snacks between them to get you back to a healthy weight. I'm sure your capable of making a simple sandwich." He paused and gave Malfoy a thoughtful look.

"You know, cooking isn't that much different than potions. You could probably learn easily if I showed you how. Then we could trade off each day. You cook and I do dishes and vice versa."

Malfoy looked wary of the idea but nodded his head anyway. "Alright."

Harry snickered inwardly. He hated cooking. Most nights, he usually called out for chinese or pizza. Once Malfoy learned to cook a decent meal Harry saw no reason why he couldn't continue it on his nights. He was providing the food after all. It wasn't really cheating anyway... even though only he knew how to use the phone.

He gave Malfoy a bright smile that made the other man frown in confusion. "Great! We'll start tomorrow at supper." He settled back in his chair and cleared his throat.

"Anyway, back to the subject. Any dirty laundry you may have needs to be put in the laundry room by Friday so Dobby can get it washed. There's no reason he should have to go searching the house for it.

"Your welcome in any room of the house except for the study and my bedroom. If I want you in either, I'll invite you. If the door is closed, don't bother me unless it's an emergency. And when I say emergency I mean a sliced off limb, the house is on fire, Death Eaters at the door type of emergency. Are we clear?"

Malfoy gave a silent nod and Harry stood to stretch. Now was time to discuss what he really wanted to talk about. He walked casually over to the couch and sat next to Malfoy, Harry's thigh brushing his. He rested his legs on the coffee table and threw his arms across the back of the couch. Although he suddenly became stiff and his eyes snapped forward to stare at the wall, Malfoy remained where he was. At such a close proximity Harry could almost see the blondes heart thumping rapidly through a vein in his neck.

"I think we should talk about the goings between us now, yeah?" His voice was low and deep and it rumbled through the tense air.

Malfoy swallowed thickly but otherwise remained silent. Harry decided he really didn't need an answer anyway. He kept his voice the same tone and continued. "There's no need to worry. Nothing tonight, just a few questions, that's all." With his thumb, he lightly made small circles around the boney point of Malfoy's shoulder while keeping the rest of his hand on the couch. Harry could feel a fine tremor just under the shirt and skin that anyone but himself would not have detected. Malfoy was terrified.

"I won't force you Draco, but I'd like to remind you that you agreed to this the moment you signed the contract. I need to know now whether or not you're going to fight it."

For a moment Harry thought he wasn't going to reply. Then, in a voice that was barely there, he said, "I won't fight."

"Then relax. I only want to talk." No matter how tense the other man was at the moment, it felt good to have a warm body pressed against his. It had been at least six months since he'd last felt a soft curve next to him and that had been with a small Latin witch with dark hair and eyes. Fiery, that one was. Just the thought of the things they'd done together made his cock twitch.

Not that she mattered now though. Next to him, he had a tall wizard with pale hair and eyes that acted like a frightened little bunny just waiting for the opportune moment to run and hide. Oh, how he wanted to sample this one. But he would wait, if need be.

He reached over with his free hand and softly plucked Malfoys wrist from his lap. He turned it palm up to trace the lines etched through it and frowned.

"Did these form while you were with Greyback?" He asked while running his fingers over calloused skin.

Malfoy gave a curt nod, still staring at the wall.

"Do you know of any skin creams or potions that will remove them?" Harry could see the sudden confusion behind the other mans stony face.

"Yes."

He moved his fingers to the softer skin of Malfoy's wrist, rubbing the prominent veins. "We'll have to pick some up when I take you out shopping for clothes."

Harry envied the pink tongue that snuck out to moisten Malfoys pale lips. "They're expensive."

He chuckled and moved the hand at Malfoys shoulder to touch the clean hair behind one delicate ear. It might as well have been silk running through his fingers. "Coming from you, I have no doubt they are."

For the first time since he'd sat down, Malfoy turned and looked him in the eyes. The grey orbs that stared at him were filled with a desperation that Harry recognized as bordering on panic.

"Why would you do that? Your not suppose to. You said necessities, not expensive lotions for my hands."

He dropped the hair to slide his hand around the sharp curve of the other mans jaw. His thumb stroked the smooth bottom lip, pushing to test for its softness.

Almost absently he replied, "Then you don't listen nearly as well as I thought you did."

He tore his gaze away from the now quivering mouth back up to shining eyes. "I clearly remember two years ago telling you that you'd have everything you were already accustom to."

Malfoy shook his head. "I'm hardly accustom to such things now."

"You could be if you wanted. I told you at St. Mungo's, anything you desire is just a question away. All you have to do is ask.

Malfoy stared at him for a long moment before opening his mouth to speak. "And if I asked you to stop touching me?"

Harry cocked his head to the side. "Is that what you really want?" He paused but continued before Malfoy could give him an answer. "When was the last time you felt a gentle touch? The last time you were handled with kindness rather than cruelty?"

Malfoy let out a shuddering breath. "It's cruel now, what your doing."

"How?" Harry asked in confusion, his voice remaining low and soft.

"Because, I know the real reason behind your kindness."

"And what's that?"

Malfoy swallowed. "You want me to.. you want, well, that is, you want-" He stopped, his brows furrowed together and this breath coming in rapid bursts.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Sex," he finished for the other man.

"Yes, that." He choked out.

If it weren't for the disgust laced in the words, Harry thought Malfoy's floundering could have been endearing. He moved his hand away from the blonde's face to play with the nape of Malfoy's neck.

"Draco, any fool would jump for the chance to have sex with you. Your bloody gorgeous."

He chuckled at the shocked expression his blunt statement received. He was once again serious, however, when a sudden thought popped in his head.

"You know, I was once told that almost ninety percent of purebloods go into marriage with very little sexual experience. Before Greyback, would you have fallen in that category?"

Malfoy blinked at the quick change of subject. His lips parted, then snapped back shut and Harry received a small shake of his head.

"So you've had sex before?"

A nod.

"Was it with a man or a woman?" He asked softly.

"A woman."

Harry's brows rose. "Just one?"

Another nod.

"Did you enjoy it?"

At that, he got a blank stare. Malfoy seemed to be struggling with the answer and Harry waited with silent patients while his fingers still played with the softness of Malfoys neck.

"It was okay, I guess. I've never really thought much about it." His voice was hesitant and unsure.

Harry nodded. "Sounds to me that either this girl was very bad in bed or women just don't do it for you."

Malfoy bit his lip. "I've... I've-"

"Yes?" Harry urged him to open up a bit.

The other man took a deep breath. "Before Greyback, I had always appreciated both the female and male form. I just..." He trailed off, once again looking unsure of himself.

Harry quickly put the rest of the sentence together for him. "You just never acted on the urges towards men, yes?"

Malfoy nodded. He looked relieved for not having to say it himself.

"So," Harry started slowly, "you fell into Greybacks hands never knowing what it was really like with another man?"

Malfoy didn't respond and Harry didn't expect him to. A smile spread over his lips that he knew the other man would see as a leer.

"Draco, my beautiful bunny, I am going to have so much fun teaching you the pleasures two men can give each other."

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