Chapter Eight
Chasing Down Harry

"Where could he have gone?!" Draco roared into the ceiling, furious for a reason he couldn't explain.

"I'm sure I don't know, Master Malfoy." Cook said calmly as she and Sally watched him pace the length of the front hall.

"I can't believe he just up and left like that! After he knew about the—" Draco stopped himself, covering his mouth with his hand, choking back the sob that fought to surface. What if Harry had left because of the prophecy of love?

"Don't be silly, Master Malfoy," Sally cut into his thoughts, brushing imaginary dust from her canary-yellow skirts. "He left because she blamed him, and in his mind, she was right."

"But he was wrong!" Draco resumed his pacing, not even bothering to wonder how Sally had known what he was thinking. Cook and Sally had been with him ever since he had found them on the streets, and they probably knew him better than his parents did.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy suddenly appeared in the room with a loud cracking sound and stalked furiously towards Draco.

"Son, what is the meaning of this?" His father's voice was low, dangerous, but he looked as immaculate as always, not a hair out of place.

"Draco, Jenny has been spouting the most ridiculous of accusations—" His mother sounded worried, but his father interrupted.

"Our Irish connections are ruined because of this—" And then his mother interrupted him.

"—I just want to hear your side of the story, dear—"

And they just kept going.

"So help me, boy, if you were really messing around with some other man—"

"—If you hadn't found her to your liking, there are other ways—"

On and on they talked, but eventually their flood of noise began to slow, until…

"—so you had better have a good explanation of this, boy." His father crossed his arms and waited expectantly as his wife wrung her hands together nervously.

"Just please tell me you don't have a…boyfriend."

And then they were silent, waiting.

"Are you two done?" Draco said calmly, gazing at them with what one could call disdain. When his mother nodded, Draco attempted to explain. "Look, me and Jenny never really got along that way, so it was only a matter of which one of us found something unsuitable about the other first. I would like to also point out that I am no longer a child, and therefore should not be treated as one. I can make my own decisions, and I don't appreciate you two deciding whom I am to marry for me. If you feel like lecturing me more in my choices of who to love, feel free to do so after I find Harry. Goodbye." And with that, he cast a quick wandless spell and sent his parents back home, turning desperately to his two female employees.

"Now quickly, I know you two read his diary or something. You must have some idea of where he might have gone." It was important that he leave before they came back.

"Well…" Sally frowned and glanced at Cook, who finished for her.

"It's possible that he's at his old apartment. He never canceled the rent, so…Here, I'll write down the address."

"Thank you so much, girls. Oh, and Sally?"

"Yes, Master Malfoy?"

"Cancel my appointment with the accountant."

"Yes, Master Malfoy.

Hot, soapy water, slicked flesh, alabaster skin and golden locks against burnt-sugar skin and a sopping black mane. Clashing mouths, warring for dominance, tasting, teasing, sharing this undeniable, inescapable feeling…

Harry shivered and took a deep, shuddering breath. No matter how hard he tried not to think about it, his memories of Draco kept coming back to haunt him.

That's because you don't really want to forget..

Shut up!

No! You idiot! He was perfect! You left the PERFECT MAN because some frilly little skirt got upset!

That 'frilly little skirt' was his fiancée!

WAS! Not anymore, she's not! Now she's just another dame…and Draco is all yours for the taking!

Draco is NOT just some thing to give and take!

And THAT way of thinking is why you are perfect for him.

BANGBANGBANG

"Oh, the door…"

Maybe it's Draco.

Harry furiously crushed the stubborn swell of hope that rose within him. "I doubt it."

Draco stood in front of Harry's ugly green apartment door and waited for it to open.

Move away from me will he? I'll show him…nobody leaves a Malfoy.

The door handle clicked and swung inward, and Harry's striking green eyes met cold gray.

And then Draco shoved his hand and foot out to stop the door as Harry tried desperately to push it closed. Harry was strengthened by panic, but Draco was fueled by his anger and pure determination, and he soon pushed into the house.

He faced Harry, who had gone pale from fear of what Draco might do to him, and his fists clenched.

"I never gave you permission to fucking leave."

Draco pounced, knocking them both down to the soft carpeted floor.

Draco's soft fingers played against Harry's chest and the tanned man sighed contentedly, unable to recall why he had been so resistant to this at first.

"My parents are most likely beating down my door this very moment, so we'll be staying here for now."

Harry smiled dreamily as Draco pulled him up by his wrists, leading him slowly into his own bedroom and laying him down in his own bed.

Draco leaned over him and kissed him softly, whispering sweet nothings in his ear. He told him how much he missed him and how much he worried when Harry disappeared. Harry smiled sleepily and tugged him closer, wrapping his arms around the pale man.

They fell asleep in each others arms with Draco still whispering his love.

When Draco awoke, he was alone. Harry's soft white-cotton sheets lay tangled about him and his clothes were sitting on top of Harry's dresser, already cleaned and neatly folded. His wand rested on top.

He felt well rested and content with finding his dearest employee, but his skin felt slightly sticky—a quick wandless spell fixed that. Draco quickly dressed and them gazed about the room.

Harry's bedroom was bare, impersonal, but at the same time it was homey, the edges of the furniture worn down slightly with use. There was a mirror set in the corner, which Draco used to quickly fix his hair into it's usual slicked-back style.

This room was very comfortable. But drab.

And it was missing the most important centerpiece.

Where was Harry?

Harry stood at the stove preparing scrambled eggs, bacon, and waffles.

Draco was going to wake up any moment and he wanted to have breakfast ready when he got up.

Not because he felt obligated or anything.

Because he wanted to.

No, it's because you like him.

Do not!

Tch, whatever.

Suddenly warm, pale arms wrapped around Harry's waist and warm breath caressed his neck.

"Good morning, Harry."

"Good morning, Draco." Harry smiled slightly as he felt soft lips kiss up his neck. "I see you're feeling as good as ever."

"Mm-hm. That smells really good." Draco buried his face in Harry's hair and breathed deeply. "Mm, but you smell even better…"

Harry gasped as Draco's hands began wandering down his stomach to the edge of his shirt. "Draco!"

"Yes, Harry?" Draco smirked, pushing one hand up underneath the shirt and caressing the skin above the jeans with the other.

"Draco, y-you cut that out right now!" Harry shivered as Draco bit softly into his ear.

"Cut what out?" A pale hand found it's way beneath the dark denim and Harry gasped loudly.

"Draco, I'm cooking!"

Draco grinned and mashed his front to Harry's back. "So turn the oven off."

"But the pans will still be hot and—"

Grinning evilly, Draco gripped the hardness beneath his hand and relished the choking cry that Harry made. "I want you now, Harry…not when breakfast is done."

Harry moaned and gave in, fumbling to turn off the burners before he was spun around and kissed—thoroughly.

Harry sat at his dining table across from Draco, scowling at his breakfast.

He was so easy to manipulate…His hormones were so out of control…

There's no hope of control around a creature like that, Harry.

Harry sighed and Draco ate silently for a bit before smiling at Harry.

"For some reason, I expected you to be a brilliant chef. But the bacon's a little burnt." He placed his hand dramatically over his heart. "Oh, my shattered expectations."

"Well, it would have been perfect if you hadn't started MOLESTING me." Harry growled, angry for some unidentifiable reason.

Draco looked up from his plate and stared at him until Harry turned a deep shade of red from the intense attention. "It was worth it." Draco ate the rest of his meal without comment, and, after his heated face cooled, so did Harry.

And then they began to discuss the future.