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July 20th, 2011
| 08:12 am - [FIC] Teach Me, Life; Guide Me, Love (2/29)
Title: Teach Me, Life; Guide Me, Love
Author: Kira O’Hara
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Draco/Astoria, Neville/Pansy; mentions of: Ron/Hermione, Greg/Millicent, Harry/Ginny, teeeeeeeensy Draco/Pansy moment *giggle*
Word Count: A bajillion. Seriously: 79,417. 8|
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Largely Draco-centric; sappiness; angst; denial; cluelessness; infidelity (not by H or D, don’t worry!); swearing; child trauma; not-good-people!Astoria&Ginny; some Weasley- and H-bashing from D early on; mature sexual content of the solo and slashy kind; mentions of het. It might make you cry at one point, but I promise it all works out!
Epilogue Compliant? Partly. The marriages and the kids happen, but the train scene won’t. I also twisted a few bits and pieces from the whole series here and there.
Summary: Revelations both painful and joyous set the markers in the path of every life. Thankfully, Draco has spectacular company for the journey.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter One
Chapter Two:
At eight, Draco Lucius Malfoy first learned about Compromise.
It was a wonderful Spring morning, and Draco could hardly contain his excitement. It was warm and sunny and dry, and he couldn’t wait to get outside and down to the lake. Gathering up the various odds and ends of art supplies, he hurriedly tossed them into a rucksack to take with him.
The only things left to pack up to take with him were his book-friends. The only problem with this was that they refused to be packed.
“No.”
Draco let out a small growl of frustration, then attempted to shove the book in his bag again. “You need to go in the bag!”
Pages fluttered and Penha’s covers spread as he made it impossible to fit him into the mouth of the rucksack. “I patently refuse!”
“Why?! I need to carry you down there, and it’s a long way! You’re heavy!” he pouted.
“Then we can take breaks to rest your arms. I will not be shoved into that sack and tousled all about!” came the heated retort.
Eshe was laid off to the side, laughing quietly as the two struggled. She had also refused, but Draco had thought dealing with Penha first would be easier. At least Penha didn’t snap shut on his fingers or give him papercuts. He wasn’t still certain if it was easier, but it certainly hadn’t turned out to be easy.
“I want to go to the lake!” he whined, flopping back to sulk at the stubborn books.
“That’s lovely. And we can go. You’re just not shoving us in that bag.”
After another ten minutes of bickering, Draco relented. It was far too beautiful outside to waste any more time inside. Hefting the heavy books, he set out at a decent pace to his favorite spot. He got about halfway there before he had to readjust his arms for fear they’d fall off. The air was fresh and tinted just slightly with the lingering scent of rain, and the sun was warm on his face. It would have been a perfect stroll if he could have just carried the books in his bag instead.
As he worked to reposition the large books, he was oblivious to the plotting going on a scant few feet away. Stepping along, his foot slid into a hole caused by that bit of mischief and the books went flying from his arms. A handful of garden gnomes gave themselves away with a chorus of delighted squeaks as he went down. As he fought to right himself, he saw the blasted creatures running off with their captured treasures, hoping for a good chase.
Draco snarled in outrage, then launched himself after the stupid potatoes-with-legs. Jumping in ecstatic fright, they tittered and raced faster ahead of him. The chase led them through flowerbeds, under bramble bushes, around trees, and across swathes of bright green grass that Draco would slip on every time the gnomes changed direction.
Finally, he managed to pounce on the dimwitted group of creatures and wrestle his books back away from them. Lashing out and kicking, he managed to scatter those who tried to foil him. When they had all taken off again, he groaned and flopped back with the books clutched tightly to his chest. His ankle hurt from where he’d twisted it in the hole, he had scratches from the bushes, he had bruises from running into a few trees, and his bag full of art supplies was digging into his back where he laid on it.
He didn’t care.
He hugged the books tighter, bending his head to rest against them, then let out a little sob. “That can’t ever happen again. I won’t lose you.” He let the tears prick at his eyes as the blind panic he’d felt faded, holding his two dearest friends tightly.
Books or not, these two knew the secrets of his soul and the content of his dreams. They were better teachers than most of his tutors. Most importantly, they were his friends, and he didn’t know what he’d do without them to talk to. “Next time, you’re just going in the bloody bag, okay?” he said between harsh sniffs.
Eventually he picked himself up and dusted them off. The trudge to the lake was a quiet one, the books silently accepting his demand. Once they were there and Draco could relax, they slowly began to chatter again, trading questions with the boy and telling him their own secrets.
.o0O0o.
A week and a half later, the rains had stopped again and it was dry enough to go out and play in the grass. Draco approached the books carefully, rocking on his heels and holding a large package wrapped in brown paper behind his back.
“I want to go down to the lake again,” he stated, waiting for their reaction. He was rather certain he now knew what it looked like for a book to cringe. “I have something for you, though.”
He’d spent a lot of time thinking while they were cooped up inside due to the rains. He knew that he surely didn’t like being jostled, and it was indeed annoying when pages got bent and covers got scratched when he put other books in his bags. And these two were always listening to his problems and worries, but so rarely would they ever demand anything in return. It had hit him a couple days prior, and he had been able to make a request to the House Elves to acquire him a particular object. Thankfully, it had arrived that morning.
Both books perked up as he set the package down and began to unwrap it. Inside was a beautiful wooden case. There were dragons etched along the cover and sides, and it had a lovely dark stain on the wood. The fastenings were a dark metal that accented the wood nicely. When he lifted the lid, the inside of the box was lined with a dark red velvet, gorgeous and unbelievably soft to the touch. The best feature, though, was that it was just large enough to comfortably fit his two books.
Draco smiled, reaching out for one and then the other of his friends. “You don’t have to get all tousled now,” he explained. He could feel them vibrating happily as he gingerly placed them in the case and closed it. He carefully arranged the case in his bag, taking more care with the other things he added to it as well now. Sure, the brushes and bottles of ink and pigment might not be as magical as the books, but he figured that perhaps he should take better care of his other possessions as well.
As he quickly made his way down to the lake, there was a spring in his step and a smile on his face. Of course, he also made sure to not step in any more gnome-holes, but he liked the idea that even if he did, his friends were safe – and, more importantly, happy.
Chapter Three
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