Long Strides to a Short Walk

Long Strides to a Short Walk

A HP/DM slash fiction

MPG

Rated PG-13 to NC-17

By: Emerald Grey

Disclaimers: Don't own, don't sue. All that is mine are my OC's my plot, and that's it. The rest is JKR's.

Warnings: AU SLASH, M/M fiction, MALE PREGNANCY

A/N: The main and secondary and OC Characters are 16, (it's the end of 6th year) some brief mentions of them as younger in Chapters 5 & 6 but not in a sexually squicky way, and it's only to establish plot, further the story, and introduce the OC's. There will be song references, be forewarned I am an Angst Ho.

In places, there will be a need for Kleenex.

Pairings: HP/DM, RW/BZ, OC/OC, OC/??, with past references to JP/LM

Dedications go out to: LunaDeath, after reading her *squick fic* her drunk Harry kissed my muse Serendipity, made her giggle, and a story was born!

To my Beta, Cassy, AKA Jameschick, for her friendship, and special support in my writings, without her my baby and OC names would of never been found.

To my Site Mummy, Kiwileesa, for her friendship, for her KICK-ARSE site, and it's little slice of Heaven she has shared with me, so my lil' BTVS and now HP stories have a home!

Find me there, here: http://www.geocitites.com/kiwileesa2000/ashley.html

oh and at: http://www.nfiction.com/user.php?userid=1064&search=1

& at: http://adultfan.nexcess.net/aff/authors.php?no=18918

And for those of you that already know of me and my work, please see Chapter 11 of this story for information concerning my previous absence.

To former members of my Yahoo group that I share with Jameschick and Hope, &

for any new and old story updates, come & join us!

But only if you're old enough, SO 18+ up ONLY PLEASE INQUIRE!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Phoenix_Jewels_O_S/

Summary: A bet gone wrong,

a love gone sour,

a mistake made right,

and a right wronged.

**~~**Chapter One**~~**

The periwinkle & mauve sky was kissing farewell to the edges of the now setting reddish- golden orb.

Heads bent, hands deep in their school robe pockets lost in private thoughts, the beauty above them went un-noticed as two people made their way down the dusty short well- traveled path.

Long strides, from seemingly endless lean, black leather clad legs, were taking them to their mutual destination.

"Dammit Potter, I said slow down."

"I. Just. Want. To. Get. This. Done. and OVER." Came the growled reply.

"Psht! Potter don't be such a poor sport, it's Friday, the weekend, even bloody Heroes need a break, and, and stop sulking, it'll give you wrinkles. You just need,"

Suddenly stopping, Harry Potter whirled, (doing a bang up job of impersonating a certain Potions Professor) and before the other could finish his sentence, Draco Malfoy found himself looking cross-eyed eyed at the glowing tip of a wand, and deep into Avada Kedavra eyes.

"What I NEED Malfoy," Harry spat, " is to have myself apparated to St. Mungo’s for even agreeing to this, this" he sputtered, words failing him, as he lowered his head, and wand, too frustrated to continue.

Swallowing down the hurt, Draco turned to continue on his way.

Stopping, he resumed his 'who gives a fuck', attitude. A cover he'd worn for years, the cold Malfoy mask. Handed down to him, shaping him into what he was to this day. Its legacy of a loveless, and lonely life was a certain, because hidden inside was the lonely little boy.

Harry felt a cool chill slide up his spine as words layered in ice rang out in the falling twilight.

"We had a bet, Potter. A Wizards oath. We both took it. With witnesses. No one forced you. It's a Hogwarts tradition! Every last game of the season, The Captains bet. I am Captain of Slytherin, you are Captain of Gryffindor. Gryffindor lost to Slytherin, ergo YOU lost to ME."

Shaking with a mixture of rage, embarrassment, and some unknown emotion, a seething Draco spun sharply on his booted heel, then resumed walking, blonde head bowed muttering hotly to himself out loud.

"How dare he! Treating this as if, as if it were a fate worse than death, or, or even facing Voldemort! BLOODY HELL!!! I, I am the fucking Sex God of Slytherin for Merlin’s sake! I, I'm also sole BLOODY Heir to one of the wealthiest, ONE of the oldest PURE-BLOODED Wizarding families, and dammit, Anyone, ANY BLOODY ONE would kill to be in HIS boots tonight! What, WHAT a bloody prat!! Ohhhhhhhh that four eyed git! He's gone TOO bloody far this time! TOO. BLOODY FAR! Why I oughta hex him so hard his GREAT-GREAT Grandchildren fucking feel it! Stupid bloody tradition! A Captains bet, oh how rich is that? No bloody wonder Wood and Flint were smirking at Potter and me last year! Hmm, wonder what their bet was? OH, and that damn bloody Blaise! Letting him pick the bet was just, ahhhhhhhh, BOLLOCKS! Fuck the LOT of them! And Weasley? Shit, didn't see that coming! Good God but that bet of HIS was scary! I'd rather kiss a Dementor! I'm SO glad Slytherin won."

Soft footfalls, and a tentative hand on his shoulder stopped him.

Taking a deep shuddering breath, he turned only to have that breath taken suddenly away.

Harry Potter was looking up at Draco Malfoy, his cheeks tinted pink, nibbling on his full lower lip.

As he stared at the other boy in silent contemplation the setting suns rays caressed his face, gracing him with an unearthly glow.

Beautiful emerald eyes expressive behind wire-rimmed frames looked deeply into Draco’s own.

Blushing, Harry bent his dark head, causing silky black hair to fall forward, covering his instant embarrassment as softly he mumbled, " I um, I heard what you were, ah, saying, and, um, you're right, but, look, I've never, um,"

Shrugging, and stuffing his hands deeper into his robe pockets he seemed very interested in the toes of his black boots.

Smirking, Draco drawled, "Honestly Potter, you're what, nearly 17 bloody years old?"

The young mans handsome face was creased in surprise as something suddenly dawned on him.

" Wait, you expect me to believe you've never?"

Snickering as he watched the smaller boy squirm, when he continued on relentlessly, as he drawled, "PLEASE! not even in the Muggle world?"

Squaring his shoulders, Harry looked him right in the eyes. " I have nothing to gain by lying Malfoy, now, lets go, but, I refuse to step inside any place fancy, er, or any place that uses menus. Fair enough?"

Draco snorted. "Fine."

Harry echoed, "Fine." And as he looked at Draco again, Draco had to smother a laugh.

Perplexed, Harry quirked an ebony brow, "What now Malfoy?"

Still chuckling inside, he replied, ' I know JUST the place, come on Potter."

And, both young men continued on their way, once again deep in thoughts better left unsaid.

At the end of the road to Hogsmead, Smirking, Draco holds up his wand hand.

Harry rolls his eyes as the big purple monstrosity AKA The Knight Bus, flies around the corner, screeching to a hard stop.

After Stan greets both boys, making sure they are safely aboard, while Draco pays the fare, Harry walks to the back of the bus, and sits down on one of the many beds,

his thoughts are filled with more questions than answers.