Fic: The Handsome Stranger (Part 7 of ?)
Summary An invitation to tea.
Warnings Fluff ... lots and lots of fluff ... and sweetness ... so much sweetness you'll need to clean your teeth. Oh, and later there will be smut, but not yet. Rating PG.
The Handsome Stranger
Chapter Seven ... Secrets and Lies
The tug on Harry’s sleeve had been so gentle that it hadn’t been until someone had spoken that he’d realised he wasn’t alone.
“Have you brought your owl today?”
He looked down at the little upturned face; framed with blond hair and with an expectant look in his blue/grey eyes. His heart did a double beat as it suddenly occurred to him that this was probably what Draco had looked like as a child.
Arlen’s fingers were still holding onto his sleeve and another deep emotion tugged at him, making his heart ache. He’d never have a child of his own.
He gave a little friendly smile. “No, sorry, not today.”
“Oh. Where is she?” The boy stared through eyes older than his years and Harry wanted to laugh at the look of annoyance there. Clearly Arlen was not happy to find out about Hedwig’s absence.
“She’d off delivering a message for me and will then probably go hunting. But I’ll see if I can bring her along on another day.”
Arlen gave a little shrug and moved to sit on the rug at Harry’s feet. None of the other children had arrived yet and Harry wondered why Arlen wasn’t out playing. Aware of the boy watching him, he turned to the bookshelves and looked for something to read. He had been on the verge of telling Hermione that he wasn’t going to be able to do his story-telling groups this week; the idea of running into Draco at some point was just too painful to think about. But then he had realised that if he let Draco chase him out of Ottery St Catchpole, he’d lose contact with most of his friends. He wasn’t sure what he’d do or say when he next saw the other man, but he was determined to be polite.
As for reading to the group Arlen was in, why should he stop that just because of who the child’s father was?
Aware of eyes following his every move, Harry ran his fingers along the book spines. He read to three groups on his Friday afternoon visits to the school and was halfway through “The Borrowers” with the older group and was going to read “Room on a Broom” to the younger group (he loved reading Muggle versions of the Wizarding world). It was Arlen’s group that he wasn’t sure of. Perhaps “Where the Wild Things Are”.
There was a tug at his sleeve again and Harry just knew it was Arlen. This was going to be harder than he’d thought and he steeled himself to look down at the child.
Arlen was holding out a book that had to be the copy of “How the Dragon got his Fire Back” that he’d given to Draco. Why hadn’t he noticed the boy had been carrying it before?
“Daddy said you could read this.”
“He did?” Harry took the book with slightly trembling fingers. “Did he read it to you?”
Arlen nodded and beckoned Harry down towards him, whispering in an overloud voice. “But you read much better.” With that he returned to his place on the rug just as the other children can rushing noisily in.
Harry stared at the book. Did this mean Draco wasn’t interested in reading it as a talking book? He was torn between being really pleased because now he wouldn’t have to deal with the other man as part of his publishing work and bitterly disappointed because ... well ... he wouldn’t have to deal with Draco as part of his publishing work.
Well, he’d worry about that later. For now he had to deal with six very impatient children.
He tapped the book with his wand, whispering a spell that would make the artwork in the book appear in the air beside him as he read each page, and opened the cover. Affixed to the first page was an envelope with his name printed on the front.
It was Draco’s handwriting.
****
The envelope stayed in Harry’s pocket until he’d read to all three of his groups and even then he couldn’t decide if he really wanted to open it. It made him think of kisses and how Draco had held him after their date last Sunday. He wanted to feel those hands on him again -- touching and caressing -- and warm breath on his skin.
Now sitting in the empty classroom, he pulled the crushed envelope out of his pocket and tried to smooth it flat between his fingers. Then, before he could change his mind, he opened it and read the letter inside.
Harry
I hope everything is okay. I’ve been trying to get up to London to talk to you about the book, but I’ve been busy. I know it’s short notice but I thought you might like to come to tea today because there’s someone I’d very much like you to meet.
Clutching the letter, Harry held his head in his hands and felt that he heart was going to break. Draco wanted to introduce him to someone. It had to be the woman he’d seen earlier in the week and she had to be Joukahainen, Draco’s wife.
How the hell could he go and make small talk with her after the way Draco had kissed him?
The letter vibrated with a burst of magic and he looked at it again to find out there was more to the message.
If you’d like to come, then perhaps you would walk Arlen home. He has a message key so he can let me know whether or not I need to collect him. I’m looking forward to talking to you again, Harry.
He read the letter again and once more, by which time he’d made his decision. If he’d been brave enough to fight Voldemort and win, then he as sure as hell could face being introduced to Draco’s wife. After all, wasn’t he a brave Gryffindor?
Better to do it now than at some dinner party surrounded by hundreds of people.
****
Arlen was more than happy to show Harry where he lived. The little boy was quiet to start with but was happy to hold Harry’s hand as they made the short journey. Then he’d seen a rabbit in one of the fields and from that moment had pointed out just about everything, including asking if Harry knew there were fish in the river at the end of his garden and would Harry like to help him catch one?
Draco was waiting by the front door when they arrived and Harry felt a shiver go through him at the sight of the man. Trying to push the feeling aside (and remembering it was just caused by Draco being a Veela) he watched Arlen chatter about his day with his father and finally ask if he could go play in the garden.
The cottage was suddenly very quiet and for a moment he and Draco just looked each other. Then Draco held out his hand. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Harry stared at the hand but made no move to take it. He thought there was a flash of disappointment on Draco’s face, but the man turned away and walked from the hall into the living room.
The woman with the long blonde hair was sitting in an armchair, an open book on her lap. She looked up as they came into the room, put the book to one side and came to her feet. “So this is Harry.” Her voice was soft and accented and seemed to vibrate within him. Was this how it felt to be close to a full-blood Veela?
Draco had taken his elbow and Harry was tempted to pull away but instead just stood his ground as the woman crossed towards them.
“Yes, this is Harry.” Draco smiled at him as he reached for the woman’s hand. “And this is....”
“I know.” Harry took a deep breath and held out his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Joukahainen.”
The look Draco and the woman gave each other was one of confusion and at first Harry assumed it was his poor pronunciation.
“This isn’t Joukahainen.” Draco stared at him. Harry was quite pleased that he’d almost said the name correctly. “This is Joukahaien’s sister, Aino.”
“Oh, I....” Harry felt his face colour. “I’m sorry, I thought.... Sorry. I....” He shut up as he recognised the way Draco was glaring at him. He’d seen that look more than once during the war and knew it was a prelude to an outburst of Draco’s normally very controlled temper.
“How do you know about Joukahainen?”
---
Chapter Eight ... Rescue
Warnings Fluff ... lots and lots of fluff ... and sweetness ... so much sweetness you'll need to clean your teeth. Oh, and later there will be smut, but not yet. Rating PG.
The Handsome Stranger
Chapter Seven ... Secrets and Lies
The tug on Harry’s sleeve had been so gentle that it hadn’t been until someone had spoken that he’d realised he wasn’t alone.
“Have you brought your owl today?”
He looked down at the little upturned face; framed with blond hair and with an expectant look in his blue/grey eyes. His heart did a double beat as it suddenly occurred to him that this was probably what Draco had looked like as a child.
Arlen’s fingers were still holding onto his sleeve and another deep emotion tugged at him, making his heart ache. He’d never have a child of his own.
He gave a little friendly smile. “No, sorry, not today.”
“Oh. Where is she?” The boy stared through eyes older than his years and Harry wanted to laugh at the look of annoyance there. Clearly Arlen was not happy to find out about Hedwig’s absence.
“She’d off delivering a message for me and will then probably go hunting. But I’ll see if I can bring her along on another day.”
Arlen gave a little shrug and moved to sit on the rug at Harry’s feet. None of the other children had arrived yet and Harry wondered why Arlen wasn’t out playing. Aware of the boy watching him, he turned to the bookshelves and looked for something to read. He had been on the verge of telling Hermione that he wasn’t going to be able to do his story-telling groups this week; the idea of running into Draco at some point was just too painful to think about. But then he had realised that if he let Draco chase him out of Ottery St Catchpole, he’d lose contact with most of his friends. He wasn’t sure what he’d do or say when he next saw the other man, but he was determined to be polite.
As for reading to the group Arlen was in, why should he stop that just because of who the child’s father was?
Aware of eyes following his every move, Harry ran his fingers along the book spines. He read to three groups on his Friday afternoon visits to the school and was halfway through “The Borrowers” with the older group and was going to read “Room on a Broom” to the younger group (he loved reading Muggle versions of the Wizarding world). It was Arlen’s group that he wasn’t sure of. Perhaps “Where the Wild Things Are”.
There was a tug at his sleeve again and Harry just knew it was Arlen. This was going to be harder than he’d thought and he steeled himself to look down at the child.
Arlen was holding out a book that had to be the copy of “How the Dragon got his Fire Back” that he’d given to Draco. Why hadn’t he noticed the boy had been carrying it before?
“Daddy said you could read this.”
“He did?” Harry took the book with slightly trembling fingers. “Did he read it to you?”
Arlen nodded and beckoned Harry down towards him, whispering in an overloud voice. “But you read much better.” With that he returned to his place on the rug just as the other children can rushing noisily in.
Harry stared at the book. Did this mean Draco wasn’t interested in reading it as a talking book? He was torn between being really pleased because now he wouldn’t have to deal with the other man as part of his publishing work and bitterly disappointed because ... well ... he wouldn’t have to deal with Draco as part of his publishing work.
Well, he’d worry about that later. For now he had to deal with six very impatient children.
He tapped the book with his wand, whispering a spell that would make the artwork in the book appear in the air beside him as he read each page, and opened the cover. Affixed to the first page was an envelope with his name printed on the front.
It was Draco’s handwriting.
****
The envelope stayed in Harry’s pocket until he’d read to all three of his groups and even then he couldn’t decide if he really wanted to open it. It made him think of kisses and how Draco had held him after their date last Sunday. He wanted to feel those hands on him again -- touching and caressing -- and warm breath on his skin.
Now sitting in the empty classroom, he pulled the crushed envelope out of his pocket and tried to smooth it flat between his fingers. Then, before he could change his mind, he opened it and read the letter inside.
Harry
I hope everything is okay. I’ve been trying to get up to London to talk to you about the book, but I’ve been busy. I know it’s short notice but I thought you might like to come to tea today because there’s someone I’d very much like you to meet.
Clutching the letter, Harry held his head in his hands and felt that he heart was going to break. Draco wanted to introduce him to someone. It had to be the woman he’d seen earlier in the week and she had to be Joukahainen, Draco’s wife.
How the hell could he go and make small talk with her after the way Draco had kissed him?
The letter vibrated with a burst of magic and he looked at it again to find out there was more to the message.
If you’d like to come, then perhaps you would walk Arlen home. He has a message key so he can let me know whether or not I need to collect him. I’m looking forward to talking to you again, Harry.
He read the letter again and once more, by which time he’d made his decision. If he’d been brave enough to fight Voldemort and win, then he as sure as hell could face being introduced to Draco’s wife. After all, wasn’t he a brave Gryffindor?
Better to do it now than at some dinner party surrounded by hundreds of people.
****
Arlen was more than happy to show Harry where he lived. The little boy was quiet to start with but was happy to hold Harry’s hand as they made the short journey. Then he’d seen a rabbit in one of the fields and from that moment had pointed out just about everything, including asking if Harry knew there were fish in the river at the end of his garden and would Harry like to help him catch one?
Draco was waiting by the front door when they arrived and Harry felt a shiver go through him at the sight of the man. Trying to push the feeling aside (and remembering it was just caused by Draco being a Veela) he watched Arlen chatter about his day with his father and finally ask if he could go play in the garden.
The cottage was suddenly very quiet and for a moment he and Draco just looked each other. Then Draco held out his hand. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Harry stared at the hand but made no move to take it. He thought there was a flash of disappointment on Draco’s face, but the man turned away and walked from the hall into the living room.
The woman with the long blonde hair was sitting in an armchair, an open book on her lap. She looked up as they came into the room, put the book to one side and came to her feet. “So this is Harry.” Her voice was soft and accented and seemed to vibrate within him. Was this how it felt to be close to a full-blood Veela?
Draco had taken his elbow and Harry was tempted to pull away but instead just stood his ground as the woman crossed towards them.
“Yes, this is Harry.” Draco smiled at him as he reached for the woman’s hand. “And this is....”
“I know.” Harry took a deep breath and held out his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Joukahainen.”
The look Draco and the woman gave each other was one of confusion and at first Harry assumed it was his poor pronunciation.
“This isn’t Joukahainen.” Draco stared at him. Harry was quite pleased that he’d almost said the name correctly. “This is Joukahaien’s sister, Aino.”
“Oh, I....” Harry felt his face colour. “I’m sorry, I thought.... Sorry. I....” He shut up as he recognised the way Draco was glaring at him. He’d seen that look more than once during the war and knew it was a prelude to an outburst of Draco’s normally very controlled temper.
“How do you know about Joukahainen?”
---
Chapter Eight ... Rescue