Story 3: Budding Romance

It was hot in the cellar. All of the lights were out except for the dim orange glow in the corner that may have been a lamp. I couldn't tell, blood pouring from my torso made my vision blurry. I felt the belt crack against my back again, a new wave of pain searing through me, the room spins and I clench my teeth, clamping my eye lids. If I throw up, he'll only beat me more. He'd been more violent recently, taking out every little thing on me.

"Maybe next time you try to talk to the Potter boy, you'll remember this and stop." He snarls.

"Father I. Was. Only trying to-to ask him. About, the-the homework." I gasp clenching my teeth again.

"I don't give a damn. I told you to make his life hell from the beginning." He sneers hitting me with enough force to make me cry out in pain. This results in another blow even harder.

I'm about the black out, he must notice that. He steps back opening the cellar door and calling for assistance. Two maids, one young and one old enter the room. They keep their faces blank, any displeasure in there gazes or voices would result in punishment. They hoist me up and drag me out of the room. I am unable to hold myself up, and my feet drag on the floor. My pants are shredded, my shirt gone. My blonde hair is stained with red. They take me to my room, sitting me down on the tile floor of the washroom.The maids start a bath, making sure the water is cold.

"Leave me." I hiss. They nod. The older one leaves, but the younger one stays. She looks terrified. She's pretty, maybe a few years older than me, with warm red-brown hair, and beautiful grey-blue eyes. I try to stop the question but my weak mind asks anyway.

"How?" I whisper.

"I have magic powers. They decided I would be helpful." She whispers.

I shake my head. "Why?"

"I didn't have a choice. They offered me a place in Hogwarts, and I took it. They don't beat me, i think they think I'm too valuable."

I nod once. I can't stand, I just sit there listening to the bath.

Her voice is shaky "why?" She asks. I raise a brow.

"Why don't you leave?" She clarifies.

"They'd find me. And I'm not exactly the nice guy at Hogwarts." I mumble. My throat hurts from screaming for hours.

She walks over, carefully helping me to stand. She walks me into the bath room, helping me to ease on the edge of the water basin. Now I'll be able to undress and slip in without help.

"Thank you." I whisper. She nods.

"I'll be at Hogwarts tomorrow. Starting late will be awkward. Perhaps we could be friends?"

I smile weakly and nod looking forward. "Perhaps." "Your name?" I ask.

"Flora." She says.

"I suppose you already know my name. How long have you been here?" I ask.

"A few weeks. I should leave."

She stands up waving goodbye and exiting before the other maid comes back to check for her. I wave back and carefully undress. It is agonizing. My trousers stick to the gashes in my legs, the blood dried to the fabric. After I'm able to undress I quickly slip into the ice cold water. A shiver rocks through me and I lean back. I let the water numb my pain. I look down at the red tinted water disgusted. The basin fills as it drains, more water replacing the red liquid. I know I won't be able to put soap over the cuts, and none of the gashes are big enough to need stitches. I sit for a while in the bath thinking of my conversation with Flora. I wonder if Potter will notice I'd made a real friend. I hoped he would. Anything to notice me.

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

I smile as I walk through the corridors. I wasn't sure why they had sent us home for only a day, but the escape to Ron's house was fun. Ron and Hermione walk on either side of me, laughing about our game of truth or dare. Ron had dared Hermione to scare Fred and George awake, I had dared Ron to run around the house, Hermione got Ron to admit that he missed home sometimes, she then got me to admit I had a crush on someone in our year. I had taken care the rest of the game to make sure they couldn't ask me who it was. The game had gone on for hours and we had all had a fun time before going to our desperate rooms to sleep. We are almost at the potions room, professor Snape waits in the hallway, greeting students with a frown and list of missing assignments. Draco rounds the corner with a girl. My heart kicks into fourth gear. The girl looks unsure and fearful. Draco is limping. Why is Draco limping? And who the hell was that girl. I see a cane in his hand, his weight is shifted so that not a step is taken without assistance from the cane. What on earth could have injured him so that he'd need a cane? His father? I needed to find out.We make eye contact. I quickly shift my gaze to my books. I walk into the classroom taking my usually seat by the door. Draco and the girl walk up to Snape. Draco points to the girl,

"Professor this is Flora Mayvins, she's new." Snape nods. This doesn't seem to fit the girl thought and instead of entering the class she grins,sticks out a gloved hand and smiles warmly.

"I look forward to being in your class sir! Here." She shakes his hand with one hand, and extends and black basket with the other.

"I went out to the market near my home and bought you some rare potions and other things.I put a spell on them too, so they replenish magically." She grins as he takes the basket.

"Thank you. Please take an empty seat." For a second Snape looks pleased with his new student. Malfoy has to lower himself slowly into his seat, a grimace on his face. He rests the cane on the edge of the desk. How did he hurt himself?! The girl sits beside him. She whispers something and I feel her gaze on the side of my head. He mutters back glancing to me for a second before turning away. Hermione nudges me, slipping a small folded note. It's a magic note and can only be opened with my DNA or her's. I didn't understand where Hermione found these spells but I was grateful. It has a note, and a dialogue It reads:

Harry! What aren't you telling me?? Are they talking about you!?

F: is that him

D: yes keep your voice down.I'm already in bad enough shape.

F: how on earth would he hear about this from the manor?

D: he has his ways. Why do you think he beat me so bad last night?

F: fair point.

D: class is starting.

I'm stunned. She had written a dialogue down. They had said this. She had heard it and told me.

I scribble on the note.

How should I know?

She tears it up tossing it in the trash. She shrugs her shoulder and then quickly focuses on Snape as he enters the room and begins to talk.

"Quiet please. We have with us a new student." He waves one hand to the Flora girl. She stands waves a hand a smiles.

"Hello! I'm Flora Mayvins, I was brought to the Wizarding world by my mother, my father was a muggle. They both passed a while ago, so I don't remember them much, but my mother had powers, that she didn't need a wand for, and I got those powers." She smile pulling off a glove. She flicks her finger and flashes of blue light zip out of her fingers. The light implodes into little clouds, and a tiny snow flurry dances around her head. The whole class seems to be quite impressed but I cannot get what she said out of my head. Her father was muggle born, yet Draco hangs out with her. Why? And how did they know each other? I pondered this for the rest of class. Perhaps she works at the manor? It would make since. Why would he be beaten for me? Or had I misunderstood. Confusion floods my mind and I can't focus at all. I'll have to get Hermione to help me on the homework.When class is almost over, Snape gives us all ten minutes of free time. Flora gets up and walks straight over to our table. Draco jerks in his chair, he tries to get up but sits back down and clutches his side, pain written all over his face. Flora smiles and shakes hands with Hermione.

"So lovely to know there is someone else with non-wizard born parents." She says with a smile.

Hermione grins as well.

"No one has made fun of you for it?" She asks with wonder, letting her eyes flit to malfoy.

"Well." Flora says. "I just think that some people were raised to believe certain things, and then maybe they were told to enforce them."

Hermione nods. She looks to me. Flora gasp and closes the distance with me.

"So sorry for my rudeness." She quickly grabs my hand shaking it firmly and smiling.

"Flora." She says looking into my eyes.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Harry." I say. She nods. "Lovely to meet you!" She says with a smile. I look at her outfit and I'm surprised when I see that she's a Gryffindor. I had figured she'd have been a hufflepuff with her bubbly personality. She snickers, then quickly covers her mouth. Her eyes had changed color. They were orange now. As soon as I think that, they flash back to blue.

"How'd you do that!?" I gasp. She frowns.

"Well damn I thought I'd be able to hide it better." She says frustrated.

I raise a brow, confused. "Sorry?"

"If I try really hard I can hear a persons thoughts, when I hear them my eyes change color." She frowns looking embarrassed.

"I'm really sorry, I only wanted to see what you thought of me." She says. I shake my head

"That's ok. Just-Um-maybe don't read my mind without my permission?" I say

"Of course!" She laughs.

Snape claps his hands together.

"Please remember you have an exam next class, you need to be studying. Class is dismissed." He says.

We walk out of the class. Ron runs up.

"You guys do know that she should be with Fred and George right? She's a genius, and the only reason she's not in a different year is because she's too young. She's a year younger than Fred and George are." He mumbles as we walk out of class. He glances to Hermione. Hermione laughs.

"Yes I've heard that Ron, if you were trying to make me jealous nice try. She's a lovely person."

"Damn." He grumbles. We laugh. Draco hobbles past us, Flora right beside him. She's helping him carry his books. I look down. Hermione nudges me, whispering in my ear.

"Crush on the new girl?" She asks giggling. I wish I could shut my mouth and say yes. Why can't I? It's not that hard.

"No actually." I whisper back. I see a couple seventh years walking towards us, one sticks out his leg, kicking Draco's cane aside and knocking his leg so he falls over. He stumbles backwards tripping over his shoe. He's going to hit me. I hold out my arms grabbing his torso.

"Bloody hell." He growls. He stands up. Nods his head to me and grabs his cane from Flora. Hermione and Ron have his books, they hand them to Flora.

"Thank you." He mumbles. His expression is pained.

"Do you need any more help?" I blurt out. Damnit Harry! I scold myself.

"No thanks." He mumbles. Red is leaking through his shirt, and he clutches the cane harder.

He grabs my shoulder, steadying himself. I hand my books to Hermione.

"I'll help you to the hospital wing." I mumble. I let an arm wrap around his waist. Taking his cane in the other hand.

"Thank you." Flora says. She catches up to Hermione. I bet she needs help finding her next class. Draco can hardly walk on his own. He leans into me, the blood is increasing. I frown.

"Why on earth would you come to school so beaten up?" I ask.

"At the very least you should have stayed in your dorm." I say.

"It wasn't this bad." He grumbles. His foot catches and he grasps my shoulder. The blood stain is growing. I stop, I lean him against the wall, pulling my robe off. I hand it to him.

"What do you want me to do with this Potter?" He seethes.

"Well unless you'd like the whole school talking about Draco Malfoy being injured then you should put that over your head and hide your face." I mumble. He does, and I wrap my arm around his waist again. He puts his arm over my shoulder,steadying himself. I can feel heat flushing my face. I look to him, surprised to see blush hinting at his cheeks as well.

"Thanks Potter." He mumbles. He gasps and clutches his side.

"Ahhh." Draco Stops. "I don't want to go, I just want to stay here." He grits his teeth tightly, crumbling. I hold him up.

"Come on Draco, we're almost there." I say wrapping his arm around my waist and putting my arms around his torso. He gasps, trying to stand. His entire body shifts, leaning against me.his grip tightens around me, and he can't hold himself. I pull him against my side.

"It's ok Draco. We're so close."

"No I don't want to go, just take me to my dorm so I can get a new shirt. I just want to go to class." He looks at me pleading.

"Alright fine." I mumble. We walk down the hallway down several staircases all the way down to the dungeons. Slytherin's entry point is behind a well concealed wall.

"Tell anyone and I'll kill you." He growls. He mutters the password, and we slip into the slytherin commons. He goes to his room, digging around for a while before he finds a white shirt. He tosses my robe aside, peeling off his shirt. Red flushes my face. The muscle that protrudes from his body is unreal. But then I see the scars. Bright pink, in all different sizes. There are tons of them. Who did this to him? He doesn't notice me staring.Blood is leaking out of gashes in his skin.

He looks at me.

"Well damnit Potter, I need your help." He growls. He digs around even more and finds some bandages and what looks like some kind of cleaner. He sits on the edge of the bed tossing the supplies on the covers. I grab the sterile cleaner and pour some on a bandage, gently I wipe the skin around the cuts, and then I clean out the gashed themselves. He gasps grabbing my hand.

"Bloody hell be more gentle!" He yells.

I look on his back to see even more cuts. I wipe those down as well, gently cleaning them before wrapping his whole torso in bandages.

"May I ask a question?" I say while I work.

"That depends." He mutters.

"Who did this to you?" I whisper. He remains quiet.

"That's none of your business."

"Your right. It's not." I mumble. I wrap the rest of it, being careful not to press too hard.

"Was it your father?" My voice is so quiet I'm almost sure he couldn't here me. He signs rubbing his forehead.

"Yes Potter. It was." He looks at me, grabbing my hand. "And it was because of you." He whispers. I choke jerking backwards.

"H-h-how!? What did I do? How do I fix it?" I gasp. How could I have hurt Draco? I needed to know so I could fix it.

"You didn't do it directly. My father hates you. Thinks your weak or something. He found out I liked you and beat the hell out of me." He turns red covering his mouth.

"L-like me?" I whisper, blushing.

"Yeah Potter." He says defeated. "Yeah I like you. A lot." He says looking at me.

"I like you too." I blurt. "I have for a while."

He smiles. "That's quite fortunate." I help him put his shirt on, making sure to be gentle around his waist.

"You know if you didn't want to go to the manor, you could just come and stay at Ron's house. He'd be glad to have you. You could come over for the Christmas break." I say smiling helping him to stand. He's holding back tears. A bright smile lights up his face. "I'd like that." He says. "I'd like that a lot."

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

"So Potter. Who's the girlfriend?" Ron asks.

Harry blushes, gripping the letter tightly.

"It's not my girlfriend." He grumbles. I smile.

"C'mon harry we all know. Ron's only messing." I laugh. He reddens even more. We all knew he was gay. Hell the whole school new.

"But seriously harry. Who's the boyfriend?" Ron asks. Harry had been exasperated when he had came out to us last month. He had thought we would be dissatisfied and angry,but we only welcomed it.Mrs. Weasley had even thrown a party. It had been lovely. Draco walks by, a small slip of parchment dropping from his hand to the table. Harry unfolds it smiling.

Ron elbows mouthing the words: there's no way! I only smile and shrug.

"Oi malfoy! You dropped somethin!" He yells flicking the note to the slytherin table. Draco turns grabs the note and looks the other way. Pansy had thought they were dating. Damn. Ron and I had bet against it.Pansy walks up.

"Ok Draco admitted it, Ron you owe me 5 galleons and Hermione you own me 7." She smiles.

"Damnit malfoy!" Harry yells,standing up. Draco is standing behind him, smiling.

"Yes." Harry turns around, only to be two inches from malfoys head, he's bent over smiling. Harry blushes momentarily taken aback by Draco's closeness.

Harry grabs his tie. "You told everyone you bloody-" his sentence cuts off as Draco kisses him smiling. Ron and I applaud and pansy sticks her hand out. I press the coins into her hand frowning. The Gryffindors mostly applaud, though some stay silent and shocked at the sight of a slytherin kissing a Gryffindor and not only that but they were sworn enemies. We all walk down the hall laughing. Draco's arm is slung around Harry's and Harry is smiling. They look so happy. It's ridiculous.

"Hey Flora!" We turn around and see Fred jogging up.

"You wanna grab some dinner? Maybe at the leaky cauldron? You could all come." He says smiling. She nods, sticking her hand out.

"Shall we shake on it Mr. Weasley?" She asks extending a hand with a smile. He sticks his hand down reaching for her hand, their fingers touch and Fred jerks his hand back. She laughs turning her hand around to reveal a hand buzzer from he and George's shop. She drops it into his hand and walks off. We all stay there watching Fred and laughing.

"She's my soul mate." Fred gasps open jawed.

He runs after her, and we all crack up again.

George comes up behind us.

"Did he ask her out?"

"Yes." I say.

"She said yes?" He asks again.

"Yup." Harry laughs.

"And let me guess, she's a jokester?"

"Precisely." Draco says.

"Well I mean if he's paying for the dinner then I guess it's not a waste of time." Fred laughs. We continue to walk in a merry bunch down the hallways. Draco stops, and with him Harry. Harry gasps causing us all to look at where their staring. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy stand there, less that 10 meters away gaping at Draco with his arm around Harry. Lucius Malfoy walks up anger written all over his face. Draco shoves Harry behind him.

"What are you doing? Disgracing the family name! Hanging out with Gryffindors." He looks disgusted.

"I'm not like you." Draco whispers. "I don't want to hurt anyone." Lucius grabs him by the hair, punching him so hard in the stomach he doubles over. Harry leaps forward, angry.

"Stupefy!" He yells flicking his wand. Lucius flips backwards. Professor Snape and McGonagall round the corner.

"What on heavens earth is going on?!" Professor McGonagall gasps.

"Draco's father came in and punched him, Harry used a spell to defend him." I say. Lucius is standing now, walking back to Harry.

He grabs Harry smashing him into a wall.

"Mr. Malfoy!" McGonagall yells. "Unhand him now!"

Draco darts forward with his wand. Snape grabs his arm.

"Fighting Fire with Fire only makes more Fire." Snape says.

"Yes." Draco growls. "I want him to set on fire." Snape takes his wand.

Luscious punches Harry in the face, his ring catches against Harry's cheek, cutting the skin. Draco launches forward ripping his father from Harry and throwing him back.

"Get out." Draco snarls. "Get out now."

"Who in the hell, do you think your talking to?" Lucius hisses.

Flora and Fred came when they heard the commotion and now Flora's hands are bright orange.

"Step back Draco." She says angry.

Draco steps away from his dad, Lucius glares at her, holding up his wand.

Her hands are glowing. "Mr. Malfoy you need to leave." She says going closer. He shoots off a spell. Fred jumps forward and shoots one back, they ricochet off each other, the shot from Fred hits a wall while the shot from Mr. Malfoy hits Fred's arm. It's only a minor burn but this makes Flora mad.

"Leave!" She yells.

He fires another shot but this time she waves her hands into a circle and a bright orange shield braces in front of her. Lucius hurries his wife out of the hallway.

"Children! What happened." McGonagall runs to Flora. Draco is with Harry.

"My father came. He hit me, Harry used a stupefy spell, he punched Harry." Draco is red with rage.

"Go to your classes please." She says.

Snape walks towards us after McGonagall leaves.

"That was a very nice job you've all done." Snape says. "You had better get a good grade on this exam." He walks away.

Draco walks away.

"Draco!" Harry says. Draco ignores him and walks down the hall.

"This is over." Draco says. "I'm not going to hurt you anymore." He walks away. Harry tears up.

"He isn't serious." He whispers. "Right?"

We go to class. At the end of the night, when we walk back to the Gryffindor commons, there is a small box. Wrapped with Red paper, and tied off horribly with green ribbon. Harry grabs it.

"Yes. It's for me." He says rushing into the commons. He tears the paper. In it is a shirt and a note. Harry falls back with a sigh of relief after reading the note. He pulls the shirt out smiling. It's just a plain white shirt, I don't get the importance.

I let it slide and head to bed glad they are back together.

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

My eyes jolt awake, I can hear someone moving. I look down to see Harry pulling on the invisibility cloak he got. I rush to the girls dorms the second he leaves. I shake Hermione violently. She jerks awake and I point to the commons. She frowns but follows me. She sees the shadow footprints and knows it's Harry. We sneak around Hermione uses some kind of spell that makes us appear invisible too. The spell won't last long though. We hurry to catch up, Harry goes into the library. Suddenly Draco appears, he had been using the same spell as us. Harry laughs quietly.

"I can't believe you." Harry whispers. Draco draws him in, pressing his lips to Harry's.

"I missed you." Draco whispers. His lips touch Harry's again. Harry's hands wrap around Draco's neck, and he jumps up, wrapping his legs around Draco's waist. They both laugh quietly, kissing warmly. Harry pulls the cloak over them and they disappear. We hear a thunk and the wall beside us shutters.

"Shhhh!" Harry hisses. "Your gonna break something!"

Draco's laughter is quiet, and interrupted with gaps where he must be kissing Harry.

We speed walk out of the library holding our mouths so we don't laugh. We quickly go back to the commons.

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

It was like a dream. Well no, it wasn't a dream, it was better it had really happened. I remember it vividly.

"Shhhh! Your gonna break something."

"Haha yeah you."

I choked. His lips were on my neck. His breath washing over my face.

His lips were back to mine, kissing me hungrily.

"Mmmmm." I'm trying to be as quiet as possible. His fingers gently slide down my chest to my pants. They slip under my waistband, touching my hip bones.

"Agh Draco." I gasp. He kisses me harder, with more force. I feel his tongue in my mouth, mine joins it. He smiles, his tongue surfing over mine, his hands explore my chest, back, arms, hips. My hands slide under his shirt, we fall to the ground. Draco rises on his knees, I try to join him but he doesn't let me. He pulls my head back to get a better angle kissing. His tongue slides deeper in my mouth, the other hand clutches my waist to his.

Draco falls over me. He smiles, kissing me harder. His hands tighten in my hair.

"Harry!" I snap back to reality.

"Huh?" I ask.

"We've been saying your for almost five minutes now. What the hell were you thinking about?"Ron asks.

"Oh sorry, just the quiz for Snape."

They all mumble in acknowledgement of the horrid quiz.

"So." Hermione says. I take a sip of pumpkin juice "How'd you sleep?" I choke, pumpkin juice spraying all over my plate.

"Come again?" I say using a napkin to clean it up.

"How did you sleep last night?" She asks again.

"Well, thanks." I mumble. I see Draco walking towards our table.

"Hey stranger." He says with a smile. He kisses me once gently.

"I missed you, did you get my note?" He asks. I nod, trying to play along convincingly.

"I did. I forgive you." I say with a smile.

"I'm glad. I'll see you later." He says smiling, and walking off.

Flora grins. "I slept quite well."

"Good." Hermione says.

"So. What are you guys doing for the Christmas break?"

I smile. I could answer that.

"I'm going to rot in a broom closet." I say, smile gone.

"No your not! Your coming to my house." Ron laughs.

"Thanks!" I say smiling.

"I'm going to my parents house." Hermione says with a grin.

"I think I'm staying at a hotel?" Flora says.

"Yeah right." Ron laughs. "Wait til I tell Fred, he won't shut up about his perfect girlfriend, you'll probably be staying at the Weasley's too." He laughs. She smiles and thanks Ron.

We sit around laughing and talking, and I can't help but thinking about how happy we all are.

*part two coming soon!!!*

P.S. if you guys have anything you want me to write about just comment it!!!