FIC: Marguerite Wizarding Resort [Draco/Harry]
Title: Marguerite Wizarding Resort
Author: leontinabowie
Prompt: #46 by gracerene
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco
Word Count: 5170
Rating: PG-13
Warning(s): Alcohol use, pre-slash
Disclaimer:Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: I loved writing this. It brought back memories of my holiday in St Lucia, and was a fun story to write
Summary: Harry goes on holiday to St Lucia, and runs into Malfoy. Neither of them cope well in the heat, but at least they have each other for company
Marguerite Wizarding Resort
The International Portkey office was a relatively small building, with bright yellow walls and wide windows which had shutters - currently open - rather than glass, and which looked out onto lush green rainforest.
There were three fans spread across the ceiling, spinning their blades with jets of cool air.
But despite the fans, Harry could still feel the sweat beading on his forehead, even as he tried to fan himself with his passport.
The queue he was in thankfully moved fairly quickly, and it was soon his turn to be called to the welcome desk, where a woman with braided hair and a wide smile was waiting for him.
“Hello,” she greeted cheerfully, holding her hand out as Harry passed her his passport and wand. Her warm brown eyes looked him up and down critically before referring back to his passport photo, which she then tapped with his wand to ensure the magical signatures matched.
When she was satisfied that Harry was who he claimed he was, she handed him back his passport and wand.
“Welcome to St Lucia,” she beamed, levitating a pair of sunglasses onto the desk. “This Portkey will take you directly to your hotel. Reception will take it off you, and will provide you with a new one when you’re due to return. I hope you have a wonderful time here.”
“Thank you,” Harry smiled, reaching out to touch the sunglasses.
The familiar pulling feeling tugged at his stomach as he was magicked away, landing with a rough tumble in the reception of Marguerite Wizarding Resort.
It was the finest - and only - magical resort in St Lucia, offering an all-inclusive service, beautiful and private grounds and beaches, and - in the brochure’s words - an ‘unparalleled experience’.
From what Harry could see, they had the beauty side down to a tee. The room was cool, with smooth tile floors and a thatched, high ceiling which had several fans dangling from it. The shutter doors on three of the walls were wide open, looking out onto stunning grounds of lush green plants and vivid flowers of all different colours. At one side, Harry could just see a glimpse of the sparkling blue sea, hidden by the deep cream walls of the bungalows.
It would have been a true moment of bliss, had there not been angry clacking of shoes stomping across the tiles.
“The aircom in my room isn’t working,” said an angry voice, sounding suspiciously like Malfoy.
And when Harry turned, he discovered it was indeed Malfoy, dressed oddly in beige slacks and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbow. He looked incredibly sweaty.
“I demand this to be fixed at once,” Malfoy continued to complain to the apologetic looking receptionist. “It’s far too hot, and it’s impossible to relax.”
“The aircon,” the receptionist corrected subtly, “was checked prior to your arrival, however we will gladly send a workman round to look at it for you. I apologise for any inconvenience, sir.”
Malfoy made an unamused noise. “Make sure you see to it. Oh.”
Malfoy had turned around and seen Harry, but to his credit, Malfoy quickly managed to hide his surprised look. He didn’t say anything, instead offering Harry a slight nod before going on his way.
“Sorry about him,” Harry said to the man on reception. “We went to school together; he always was a bit upright.”
The receptionist chuckled, his laugh rich and deep. “It’s a good job he came here, then. This time next week and he’ll be a much happier man. Do you have your booking confirmation?”
Harry passed over the paperwork that had been delivered by a vibrant green, red, and blue parrot - Harry’s Muggle neighbour had left a notice in the post office alerting someone that their pet might have escaped.
The receptionist shuffled around in a drawer under his desk, making a sound of satisfaction as he pulled out a key attached to an orange plastic tag.
“Here you go; bungalow number seven. It’s right on the seafront - very beautiful,” he said as he slid the key across to Harry, swapping him for the Portkey sunglasses. “Any problems, please let us know. When you get to your room you’ll find a room service card; simply tap it with your wand and an attendant will come to your location. Please, enjoy your stay.”
Harry thanked him and went on his way, levitating his suitcase behind him.
The hotel grounds were beautiful. Harry followed a winding path surrounded by lush green foliage, smooth grass, and tall palm trees that towered above him, illuminated by the bright Caribbean sun. It was easily the most stunning place that Harry had ever been, and he knew that the camera he’d brought with him would definitely be full by the end of his holiday.
But as beautiful as the place was, by the time Harry had reached his bungalow he was sweating. The sun was beating down on him continuously, a constant heat, and the air was sticky and uncomfortable.
Hermione had warned Harry that August was the hottest month in St Lucia, but he had thought it wouldn’t be so bad. Besides, he was sure he’d be cool enough inside with the air conditioning on, or by the pool with a drink in his hand.
The door to the bungalow was bamboo, and a metal gecko painted in pink, orange, and yellow had a bright green number seven on it.
The door opened into a small lounge and kitchenette, with a sofa, coffee table, television, and very basic kitchen equipment - he had a microwave, a kettle, and a small fridge but no oven. There were two small doors to each side, leading to the bathroom and a store cupboard, but two large shutter doors took centre place.
Pushing them open, Harry had his breath taken away.
The view looked directly out towards the beach and the sea; soft white sand leading to the sparkling azure waters. The double bed faced towards the glass doors, giving Harry a breathtaking view to wake up to every morning.
There was a small deck out the back, with a small table and two chairs; the perfect place for sitting in the evening with a cocktail glass in hand.
Harry had had a busy five years, putting his Auror and Ginny plans aside in order to help Andromeda raise Teddy. Teddy would be starting primary school in September, though, and Harry had no idea what he was going to do with all his free time.
So to clear his head and give him a break before it came to deciding, Harry had followed Hermione’s suggestion of a holiday. He had never been abroad before, and St Lucia had seemed a lovely choice.
So far, it seemed that his choice had been right. Sure, it was hot, and Malfoy was around, but Harry was confident he’d get used to the heat, and what were the chances he’d run into Malfoy again? It was a large complex.
No, Harry wasn’t going to worry - his two weeks of relaxation had begun.
***
Harry had imagined waking up to a beautiful sunrise facing the Caribbean Sea, but he hadn’t counted on jetlag. He had presumed that travelling by Portkey would have countered that effect, but his body was apparently used to waking at eight am in British time, no matter if it was actually only three in the morning in St Lucia.
After failing miserably at trying to trick his body back into sleeping, Harry decided to get up and have a walk around the hotel grounds.
It was just as beautiful at night, even with the vibrant colours of the flowers and plants shrouded in darkness.
All the sunloungers around the large swimming pool were empty, while the large pool had an eery but stunning glow to it, illuminated by underwater lights. Similarly, the tall palm trees sparsely spread around were coated in light from the nearby bar, making them look even taller than they really were.
The beach was Harry’s favourite find. The water wasn’t quite black but wasn’t quite blue either, with a beam of light cast across the calm waves by the moon.
Harry found a lounger and settled himself onto it, idly dropping his hand down to scoop up cool sand and let it trickle between his fingers, over and over again. It was breathtaking, watching the moon slowly disappear as the sky became lighter and lighter, turning incredible shades of orange before finally turning blue.
All things considered, Harry definitely considered watching sunrise on the beach to be far greater than waking up to a pretty view, no matter how stunning that view was.
Harry returned to his room for a shower, before dressing in a pair of beige cargo shorts and a white t-shirt, and a pair of sandals with an open back. When he emerged from his room he was thankful he had dressed for the weather, because even in the early morning it was still hotter than Harry was used to.
Breakfast was an exciting affair, bringing Harry back joyous memories of Hogwarts before all the bad times; when he had first seen the Welcoming Feast, full of delicious food.
But where Hogwarts had provided balanced but hearty fare, the hotel offered a bountiful and fresh collection. There were so many fruits - some Harry had never seen before - in all sorts of shapes and colours, hams and cheeses, pastries, and Harry’s favourite: the eggs.
As well as having eggs cooked in every way, there was an omelette station where they cooked a personalised one there and then, bringing a bit of entertainment to breakfast.
And then Harry discovered the waffle machine, where he could pour in the provided batter and make the waffle himself. He couldn’t help but wonder if he was slightly too old to be excited over such a thing, but then he decided that he was on holiday and he could do what he wanted.
After breakfast, Harry made his way to the pool after a quick stop back at his bungalow for a few things; mainly sunscreen. Hermione had drilled it into his head about safety in the sun, and she ended up buying him several Muggle bottles because she said the magical versions weren’t nearly as good.
Hermione had also bought Harry a book: Life of Pi, which was about a boy stuck at sea with a lone tiger for a companion.
But as Harry settled down on a sunlounger by the pool, sunglasses on and book in hand, he found that he couldn’t concentrate on it. It wasn’t even close to midday, but the sun was beating down on him constantly. And the closer it got to midday, the hotter it got, until eventually Harry couldn’t take it anymore.
He got up in a huff, shoving all of his things into his navy striped beach bag, and set off towards the beach. Once he took off his sandals, the sand was pleasantly cool on his feet, and the slight sea breeze was already much preferably to basking by the pool.
After a short walk down the beach, Harry found the perfect spot.
It was almost like a private alcove, tucked away from the main strip of sand in a cutaway part of the rainforest, with two sunloungers. The surrounding green leaves offered him protection from the relentless sun, while the sea gave him that little extra cool breeze.
That was much better. Without the unbearable heat, and with a good book, a glass of rum, and the inviting, salty scent, Harry was in heaven.
He soon found himself drifting off, until he became aware of someone standing over him. Harry blearily opened one eye and lifted his sunglasses, and was surprised to see Malfoy.
Malfoy was dressed similarly to yesterday, in slacks and a shirt, so it was no wonder he looked so hot. Almost his entire face was red, and he kept tugging at his collar uncomfortably.
“Merlin, Malfoy; don’t you have any other clothes?” Harry exclaimed, watching as Malfoy dropped into the sunlounger beside Harry.
“I need to look stylish at all times,” Malfoy retorted, though he didn’t sound convinced. “This is the shadiest patch I could find; I’m not here to talk to you. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just a stranger on the beach.”
“Sounds good to me,” Harry replied.
Malfoy was easy enough to ignore, and Harry easily lost himself in the book and the smell of the sea once more.
***
Harry had apparently found it a lot easier to ignore Malfoy than Malfoy had to ignore Harry.
“What in Merlin’s name are you drinking?” Malfoy exclaimed the following day when he turned up to the same patch on the beach.
Harry looked down at the drink in his hand: bright blue with a mountain of cream on top.
“It’s a Blue Russian,” Harry said, swirling the liquid around in the glass, clinking the ice on the sides. “Some blue coloured liqueur mixed with vodka, I think.”
Malfoy didn’t look any less confused. “Both together? Along with cream?”
“Yes,” Harry answered slowly, frowning at Malfoy. “It’s a cocktail.”
Malfoy’s eyes widened comically, bringing a smile to Harry’s lips as Malfoy spluttered, “a what tail?”
“It’s a Muggle thing - you mix alcohols and fruits and soda, or anything really - to make a special drink,” Harry explained. “I liked the look of this one because it’s blue.”
“It looks poncey,” Malfoy muttered, dropping into the sunlounger besides Harry’s. “I drink proper drinks: whiskey - scotch particularly - brandy, gin…”
“That all sounds boring,” Harry said with a shudder, not fond of the overly strong taste of those drinks straight up. “Why don’t you try a cocktail? How about, er, Sex on the Beach?”
Malfoy choked, jerking forwards and covering his mouth with his hands. “What? There’s people around!”
Harry squinted at Malfoy for a moment before he realised what Malfoy was getting at. “There’s people around; really, that’s your reason not to? No, Sex on the Beach is a cocktail.”
Malfoy pursed his lips. “I’ll try one, Potter. That’s all.”
Harry called for an attendant and asked for two Sex on the Beaches, along with a drinks menu.
The cocktails came in a tall glass, with orange liquid at the top gradually getting deeper and deeper into red at the bottom. The drink was sweet and fruity, and despite Malfoy’s earlier judgement, he seemed to enjoy it.
The next one they ordered was Malfoy’s pick - a Mojito, which was made of white rum, lime juice, sparkling water, sugar, and mint. It wasn’t as sweet as the Sex on the Beach, but it was cool and refreshing, and Malfoy expressed great fondness for it when they had finished.
Next came a Margarita; orange liqueur, tequila, and lime juice. The glasses came with the rims coated in salt, giving them a sour and salty tasting experience. The flavour of it was nice, but it was a bit too strong for Harry’s liking.
And then came the Piña Colada, made from rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice. It was served in an open pineapple with a straw, and with a paper umbrella stuck into the top of the fruit. It was somewhat tacky, but incredibly delicious.
Malfoy looked appalled at the sight of it, but he, too, drank it all greedily.
“You know, Malfoy,” Harry said, slurring his words just a little bit. “You’re hot. Not just sexy hot, but hot hot. Why don’t you wear proper holiday clothes?”
“Style,” Malfoy announced dramatically, fanning himself with the drinks menu. “I am hot, though.”
“Let’s go to the sea,” Harry suggested, despite the fact he couldn’t swim.
But Malfoy had nodded in agreement, and Harry couldn’t let himself look scared in front of Malfoy.
Malfoy rolled his trousers up to the knees, and fixed Harry with a grin. “Race you.”
They ran across the beach, kicking sand as they tore through it. Harry was just behind Malfoy, and he crashed into him when Malfoy stopped suddenly in the sea, almost sending them both toppling over.
“It’s wet,” Malfoy stated solemnly.
Harry nodded. “Very wet.”
The sea was pleasantly warm, and though the top half of his body was still subject to the sun, his legs were protected from the strong rays. The wet sand beneath his feet was soft and pliant, and he dug his toes into it, laughing as they were covered by the sand.
There were children and families playing in the waves, people snorkelling, and people surfing. Everyone was laughing and smiling, but none of them glinted in the sunlight the same way that Malfoy did.
He was distracted by the way Malfoy’s white-blond hair shone in the sunlight by a movement in the waters around his feet.
“Fish!” he declared, laughing as he spotted several fish around him. They came in all sorts of sizes and colours: red, silver, black, green, and blue. Harry was entranced as he watched them swim happily around him, darting quickly through the water.
When Harry looked back up, it was to find Malfoy staring at him.
“You look...do you like...fish?” Malfoy said.
Harry stared. “What?”
Malfoy sighed. “I think I’ve had too much to drink.”
“Me, too,” Harry agreed.
“Tomorrow, then?” Malfoy asked, clapping Harry on the shoulder.
“Tomorrow,” Harry promised.
***
Harry woke up the following day very late, and incredibly hungover.
After Malfoy had left him to go and have a lie down, Harry had stumbled across the resort until he came across an elderly lesbian couple from Germany. They ended up taking a shine to Harry, and invited him to the resort’s entertainment night.
Harry didn’t remember much of the night itself, other than singing karaoke with his new found friends, and repeatedly telling them that he only liked blond men.
Luckily, Harry had come on holiday prepared and had Hangover Relief potions in his suitcase. After taking that, quickly dressing and having a lunch made up entirely of french fries, Harry hurried to his and Malfoy’s patch on the beach.
But as Harry approached, he saw a miserable looking Malfoy sat on the sand a few yards away from it, his legs and arms both folded.
“There’s someone in our spot,” Malfoy said angrily as he saw Harry approach. “Why weren’t you here early this morning?”
“I was hungover,” Harry explained, not very apologetically. “Couldn’t you have found somewhere else to go?”
“I’m too hot to move,” Malfoy declared dramatically, flailing his arms and landed his hands in the sand. “Why is it so hot?”
“It’s the Caribbean,” Harry reasoned. “And you’re dressed ridiculously. What’s wrong with shorts? And please don’t tell me it’s for style, because there’s nothing wrong with shorts.”
“Not for people like you,” Malfoy said, looking Harry up and down. “But for people like me, we need to always present a high-class and elegant image.”
Harry scoffed. “You don’t look like that, though; you look like a hot and sweaty idiot who came to St Lucia with nothing but slacks and shirts.”
Malfoy avoided his eyes.
“You did come to St Lucia with nothing but slacks and shirts!” Harry hissed accusingly. “Why don’t you go to the shop and buy some clothes that are suitable for this weather?”
“They don’t look like they’re helping you much,” Malfoy commented, evidently having noticed Harry’s sweaty face.
Harry wasn’t deterred. “You’d be better off than you are now. But as you pointed out, it’s far too hot to be sat here so let’s go and find somewhere more sheltered.”
As they strolled down the beach they found similar alcoves to the one like theirs, but they were all filled with people. They finally came across one that was free, but it was obvious why.
“What in Merlin’s name is that?” Malfoy asked in shock.
“It’s called a hammock,” Harry explained, warily eyeing the white netting that was strung up between two palm trees. There were two pillows side-by-side at one end, and it was wide enough to clearly be aimed for two people to share.
Harry walked over to it, sat on the netting and laid down - and soon found himself falling to the ground, landing with a faceful of sand.
Harry had never heard Malfoy laugh so loudly.
“You’re hopeless, Potter,” Malfoy said affectionately, before beginning his attempt.
Malfoy also ended up in the sand.
“I think you maybe have to go slow, and let it balance,” Harry suggested, dusting himself off and doing as he had just said.
Harry kept his legs over the side as the hammock tilted unsteadily, and when it settled he lifted his legs up and laid back slowly, while Malfoy held the hammock steady.
“It’s working?” Malfoy asked as he kept hold of the netting. He was looking down at Harry, and something unexplainable made Harry blush at the situation. Something was definitely working, and it wasn’t just the hammock.
Malfoy slowly let go and walked to the other side of the hammock. He gently sat down and lowered himself into it, and as he did so the hammock - and Harry - tipped to Malfoy’s side.
Harry’s leg managed to stop them both from toppling over, but the resulting position left Harry on top of Malfoy, with his foot on the sand, meaning that certain areas were pressed together. Harry’s cheeks flushed, and it wasn’t because of the heat.
“I could really do with a Sex on the Beach about now,” Malfoy murmured.
“We’re not interrupting anything, are we?” came a woman’s voice.
Harry jumped at the sound of it, which unbalanced the hammock and sent both Harry and Malfoy toppling to the sand - this time with Malfoy on top of Harry.
Two amused faces came into view - Helga and Ingrid: the German couple from the night before.
“I see what you meant about blonds now,” Helga laughed, offering a hand down to help them up.
Harry and Malfoy both dusted the sand from their clothes; Harry was pleased to note that Malfoy was just as red in the face as he was.
“We’re here to remind you, Harry,” Ingrid said, smiling widely at him. “You signed your name up for the excursion tomorrow - and someone named Draco, who I’m presuming you are,” she added to Malfoy.
“Oh,” Harry murmured, biting his lip as he tried to remember putting his name down for anything.
“It’s going dolphin watching,” Helga explained, presumably having noticed their confused expressions. “We did it last year; very enjoyable.”
“I guess that could be fun,” Harry said with a shrug. “Malfoy?”
Malfoy pursed his lips “Won’t it be a bit…?”
“Hot?” Harry suggested. “Go and buy some proper holiday clothes, and you’ll be fine.”
“We can take you to the shop,” Ingrid said to Malfoy excitedly. “This time tomorrow, you’ll be less of a businessman and more of a tourist.”
Malfoy nodded, though he looked too afraid to do anything but.
But it was good no matter what the reason; Harry was looking forward to seeing the result.
***
“Oh my God,” Harry said before he could help himself.
“Why? What’s wrong with this?” Malfoy asked in confusion, gesturing down at his outfit.
Malfoy was wearing blue shorts that fell mid-way down his thighs, and that should have been pleasantly distracting - but it wasn’t, because Harry was too preoccupied by Malfoy’s shirt. It was red, and covered in large flowers and palm leaves.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Harry answered, trying to hold in his laugh. “Hawaiian shirts are very…chic.” And while there was nothing wrong with Hawaiian shirts themselves, it was just the sight of Malfoy wearing one that was amusing to Harry.
“That’s what Helga and Ingrid said,” Malfoy murmured, not having picked up on Harry’s amusement. “I feel much better already though; I didn’t realise having your legs out could make such a difference.”
They walked together to the beach where the boat was waiting for them, white and fairly small, with an open deck for the passengers to go on, with low railings and a row of plastic seats to sit on.
“Hello! Welcome!” the helmsman said cheerfully as Harry and Malfoy handed their money to the attendant on the sand before clambering onto the boat. “I’m gonna try and get you lots of whale and dolphin viewing today!”
Once all of the small group was loaded onto the boat they set off, wind whipping through their hair as the boat cut through the waves. The breeze from the sea held off the worst of the heat from the sun, and it left Harry feeling pleasantly warm.
Malfoy was pressed close to him, their legs brushing against each other every time the boat jumped over a wave. Malfoy’s legs were a bit too pale - especially considering he’d been on holiday in the sun for so long - but they were well-defined and sleekly muscled.
Harry drew his eyes back to Malfoy’s face and found Malfoy watching him with an amused smile. Harry felt his cheeks flush but he smiled back, daring to fully press his leg against Malfoy’s.
They jumped apart when a little girl shouted, “Mummy! Look - a dolphin!”
“Those are bottlenose dolphins,” the helmsman called over the splashing of the waves. “Do you see the pod to the right of us?”
Harry twisted around, grinning as he caught sight of a dolphin leaping out of the water and diving back in, quickly followed by another. They were so graceful as they appeared and disappeared amongst the waves, looking almost like they were showing off for the people on the boat.
It was an incredible sight, like nothing Harry had ever seen before. He had seen plenty of magical creatures over time: dragons, Thestrals, and centaurs - but the dolphins were far more exciting than any of them, perhaps because dolphins had no magic but managed to be completely spell-binding.
There was another pod of dolphins close to the first, and it seemed like the sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean Sea was full of them. Harry imagined that snorkelling would be an amazing experience, and decided he’d put his name down for it when he returned to the hotel.
With the sea breeze keeping them cool from the sun, and the lush greenery of St Lucia on display for them, rising in peaks and falling into almost glowing white beaches, it was a truly captivating experience. The world around them was incredibly beautiful, idyllic and calm, and somehow Harry was glad that Malfoy was there with him to share the experience.
By the time they reached the end of the boat trip, they had seen several spotted and bottlenose dolphins, as well as some pilot whales, which were huge and round, and - in Harry’s opinion - rather cute with their wide mouths that looked like smiles.
It was a bit disappointing when they returned to shore, but he didn’t let his joy from the day itself fade away.
“That was great, wasn’t it?” Harry said animatedly as he and Malfoy walked back to their bungalows. “I’ve never seen animals like that before. And the island itself! It’s beautiful. What did you think?”
“It was alright,” Malfoy said quietly. In fact, he had been quiet for a while now. He had looked happy when he’d been watching the dolphins and whales, but returning to shore he had looked very solemn. “More than alright, actually. But the thing is, Potter, today was my last day; I’m booked to go home tomorrow.”
“Oh,” Harry said, understanding now the reason for Malfoy’s quieter mood. “Er, at least you had a nice last day.”
“But I could have had a lot more of them if I hadn’t wasted my days being miserable in the heat,” Malfoy muttered, shuffling his sandals against the ground.
Harry didn’t quite know what to say to that.
“I’m going to have to pack now,” Malfoy pressed on, refusing to look at Harry. “Thanks for finally making me realise what I was missing, Potter; I do appreciate it.”
As Malfoy walked away, Harry realised one thing; Malfoy had also made Harry aware of what he was missing, and that thing would soon be leaving him. And though it wasn’t like Harry wouldn’t be able to see Malfoy once they were back in Britain, it wouldn’t quite be the same.
But Harry would still sign up for snorkelling, and he’d go to see the Pitons, and go for a trek in the rainforest. Malfoy would have to wait another week.
***
Malfoy didn’t wait another week.
Harry had just showered and was getting ready for bed when he heard a knock on his bungalow door.
Wondering who it could be, and expecting housekeeping or a hotel attendant, Harry was surprised when he looked through the peephole in the door and saw Malfoy. Malfoy was still wearing the shorts and the Hawaiian shirt from earlier, and he had a rucksack hooked over one shoulder.
“Malfoy?” Harry exclaimed as he opened the door. “I thought you were leaving.”
“So did I,” Malfoy said.
Then he stepped up to Harry and leant in, pressing their lips together.
Harry instantly melted into the kiss, gripping Malfoy’s biceps to hold him tight. He opened his mouth for Malfoy’s tongue, smiling as he heard a satisfied groan come from Malfoy.
“I’ve added myself to your booking,” Malfoy said as he pulled back. “All the other bungalows were full but...I wanted to stay.”
“Alright,” Harry replied, not sure what else he could say. He didn’t know how Malfoy had managed to get into his booking without Harry’s permission, but that didn’t mean that Harry didn’t want him there. “I think things wouldn’t have been as fun without you here.”
“I want to do that snorkelling thing you mentioned,” Malfoy agreed. “And I want to spend time with you. You’re surprising bearable now, though I sometimes wonder if that’s the heat talking.” There was no malice in Malfoy’s voice, and his words made Harry laugh.
“We both picked badly for people who aren’t good in the heat,” Harry grinned. “It’s a beautiful place and I love it here, but still; very hot. I like you in that shirt a lot better, though, and I can’t believe I’d ever say that about a Hawaiian shirt.”
“What’s wrong with this shirt?” Malfoy asked in confusion, plucking at the fabric. “It’s high-style for tourists, Helga said.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it at all, Malfoy,” Harry said as he pulled Malfoy into another kiss.
They had one more week in St Lucia together, but who was to say they had to go home afterwards? The world was theirs to explore, but if Harry was going to see the world, he was going to see it with Draco.
Author: leontinabowie
Prompt: #46 by gracerene
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco
Word Count: 5170
Rating: PG-13
Warning(s): Alcohol use, pre-slash
Disclaimer:Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: I loved writing this. It brought back memories of my holiday in St Lucia, and was a fun story to write
Summary: Harry goes on holiday to St Lucia, and runs into Malfoy. Neither of them cope well in the heat, but at least they have each other for company
Marguerite Wizarding Resort
The International Portkey office was a relatively small building, with bright yellow walls and wide windows which had shutters - currently open - rather than glass, and which looked out onto lush green rainforest.
There were three fans spread across the ceiling, spinning their blades with jets of cool air.
But despite the fans, Harry could still feel the sweat beading on his forehead, even as he tried to fan himself with his passport.
The queue he was in thankfully moved fairly quickly, and it was soon his turn to be called to the welcome desk, where a woman with braided hair and a wide smile was waiting for him.
“Hello,” she greeted cheerfully, holding her hand out as Harry passed her his passport and wand. Her warm brown eyes looked him up and down critically before referring back to his passport photo, which she then tapped with his wand to ensure the magical signatures matched.
When she was satisfied that Harry was who he claimed he was, she handed him back his passport and wand.
“Welcome to St Lucia,” she beamed, levitating a pair of sunglasses onto the desk. “This Portkey will take you directly to your hotel. Reception will take it off you, and will provide you with a new one when you’re due to return. I hope you have a wonderful time here.”
“Thank you,” Harry smiled, reaching out to touch the sunglasses.
The familiar pulling feeling tugged at his stomach as he was magicked away, landing with a rough tumble in the reception of Marguerite Wizarding Resort.
It was the finest - and only - magical resort in St Lucia, offering an all-inclusive service, beautiful and private grounds and beaches, and - in the brochure’s words - an ‘unparalleled experience’.
From what Harry could see, they had the beauty side down to a tee. The room was cool, with smooth tile floors and a thatched, high ceiling which had several fans dangling from it. The shutter doors on three of the walls were wide open, looking out onto stunning grounds of lush green plants and vivid flowers of all different colours. At one side, Harry could just see a glimpse of the sparkling blue sea, hidden by the deep cream walls of the bungalows.
It would have been a true moment of bliss, had there not been angry clacking of shoes stomping across the tiles.
“The aircom in my room isn’t working,” said an angry voice, sounding suspiciously like Malfoy.
And when Harry turned, he discovered it was indeed Malfoy, dressed oddly in beige slacks and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbow. He looked incredibly sweaty.
“I demand this to be fixed at once,” Malfoy continued to complain to the apologetic looking receptionist. “It’s far too hot, and it’s impossible to relax.”
“The aircon,” the receptionist corrected subtly, “was checked prior to your arrival, however we will gladly send a workman round to look at it for you. I apologise for any inconvenience, sir.”
Malfoy made an unamused noise. “Make sure you see to it. Oh.”
Malfoy had turned around and seen Harry, but to his credit, Malfoy quickly managed to hide his surprised look. He didn’t say anything, instead offering Harry a slight nod before going on his way.
“Sorry about him,” Harry said to the man on reception. “We went to school together; he always was a bit upright.”
The receptionist chuckled, his laugh rich and deep. “It’s a good job he came here, then. This time next week and he’ll be a much happier man. Do you have your booking confirmation?”
Harry passed over the paperwork that had been delivered by a vibrant green, red, and blue parrot - Harry’s Muggle neighbour had left a notice in the post office alerting someone that their pet might have escaped.
The receptionist shuffled around in a drawer under his desk, making a sound of satisfaction as he pulled out a key attached to an orange plastic tag.
“Here you go; bungalow number seven. It’s right on the seafront - very beautiful,” he said as he slid the key across to Harry, swapping him for the Portkey sunglasses. “Any problems, please let us know. When you get to your room you’ll find a room service card; simply tap it with your wand and an attendant will come to your location. Please, enjoy your stay.”
Harry thanked him and went on his way, levitating his suitcase behind him.
The hotel grounds were beautiful. Harry followed a winding path surrounded by lush green foliage, smooth grass, and tall palm trees that towered above him, illuminated by the bright Caribbean sun. It was easily the most stunning place that Harry had ever been, and he knew that the camera he’d brought with him would definitely be full by the end of his holiday.
But as beautiful as the place was, by the time Harry had reached his bungalow he was sweating. The sun was beating down on him continuously, a constant heat, and the air was sticky and uncomfortable.
Hermione had warned Harry that August was the hottest month in St Lucia, but he had thought it wouldn’t be so bad. Besides, he was sure he’d be cool enough inside with the air conditioning on, or by the pool with a drink in his hand.
The door to the bungalow was bamboo, and a metal gecko painted in pink, orange, and yellow had a bright green number seven on it.
The door opened into a small lounge and kitchenette, with a sofa, coffee table, television, and very basic kitchen equipment - he had a microwave, a kettle, and a small fridge but no oven. There were two small doors to each side, leading to the bathroom and a store cupboard, but two large shutter doors took centre place.
Pushing them open, Harry had his breath taken away.
The view looked directly out towards the beach and the sea; soft white sand leading to the sparkling azure waters. The double bed faced towards the glass doors, giving Harry a breathtaking view to wake up to every morning.
There was a small deck out the back, with a small table and two chairs; the perfect place for sitting in the evening with a cocktail glass in hand.
Harry had had a busy five years, putting his Auror and Ginny plans aside in order to help Andromeda raise Teddy. Teddy would be starting primary school in September, though, and Harry had no idea what he was going to do with all his free time.
So to clear his head and give him a break before it came to deciding, Harry had followed Hermione’s suggestion of a holiday. He had never been abroad before, and St Lucia had seemed a lovely choice.
So far, it seemed that his choice had been right. Sure, it was hot, and Malfoy was around, but Harry was confident he’d get used to the heat, and what were the chances he’d run into Malfoy again? It was a large complex.
No, Harry wasn’t going to worry - his two weeks of relaxation had begun.
***
Harry had imagined waking up to a beautiful sunrise facing the Caribbean Sea, but he hadn’t counted on jetlag. He had presumed that travelling by Portkey would have countered that effect, but his body was apparently used to waking at eight am in British time, no matter if it was actually only three in the morning in St Lucia.
After failing miserably at trying to trick his body back into sleeping, Harry decided to get up and have a walk around the hotel grounds.
It was just as beautiful at night, even with the vibrant colours of the flowers and plants shrouded in darkness.
All the sunloungers around the large swimming pool were empty, while the large pool had an eery but stunning glow to it, illuminated by underwater lights. Similarly, the tall palm trees sparsely spread around were coated in light from the nearby bar, making them look even taller than they really were.
The beach was Harry’s favourite find. The water wasn’t quite black but wasn’t quite blue either, with a beam of light cast across the calm waves by the moon.
Harry found a lounger and settled himself onto it, idly dropping his hand down to scoop up cool sand and let it trickle between his fingers, over and over again. It was breathtaking, watching the moon slowly disappear as the sky became lighter and lighter, turning incredible shades of orange before finally turning blue.
All things considered, Harry definitely considered watching sunrise on the beach to be far greater than waking up to a pretty view, no matter how stunning that view was.
Harry returned to his room for a shower, before dressing in a pair of beige cargo shorts and a white t-shirt, and a pair of sandals with an open back. When he emerged from his room he was thankful he had dressed for the weather, because even in the early morning it was still hotter than Harry was used to.
Breakfast was an exciting affair, bringing Harry back joyous memories of Hogwarts before all the bad times; when he had first seen the Welcoming Feast, full of delicious food.
But where Hogwarts had provided balanced but hearty fare, the hotel offered a bountiful and fresh collection. There were so many fruits - some Harry had never seen before - in all sorts of shapes and colours, hams and cheeses, pastries, and Harry’s favourite: the eggs.
As well as having eggs cooked in every way, there was an omelette station where they cooked a personalised one there and then, bringing a bit of entertainment to breakfast.
And then Harry discovered the waffle machine, where he could pour in the provided batter and make the waffle himself. He couldn’t help but wonder if he was slightly too old to be excited over such a thing, but then he decided that he was on holiday and he could do what he wanted.
After breakfast, Harry made his way to the pool after a quick stop back at his bungalow for a few things; mainly sunscreen. Hermione had drilled it into his head about safety in the sun, and she ended up buying him several Muggle bottles because she said the magical versions weren’t nearly as good.
Hermione had also bought Harry a book: Life of Pi, which was about a boy stuck at sea with a lone tiger for a companion.
But as Harry settled down on a sunlounger by the pool, sunglasses on and book in hand, he found that he couldn’t concentrate on it. It wasn’t even close to midday, but the sun was beating down on him constantly. And the closer it got to midday, the hotter it got, until eventually Harry couldn’t take it anymore.
He got up in a huff, shoving all of his things into his navy striped beach bag, and set off towards the beach. Once he took off his sandals, the sand was pleasantly cool on his feet, and the slight sea breeze was already much preferably to basking by the pool.
After a short walk down the beach, Harry found the perfect spot.
It was almost like a private alcove, tucked away from the main strip of sand in a cutaway part of the rainforest, with two sunloungers. The surrounding green leaves offered him protection from the relentless sun, while the sea gave him that little extra cool breeze.
That was much better. Without the unbearable heat, and with a good book, a glass of rum, and the inviting, salty scent, Harry was in heaven.
He soon found himself drifting off, until he became aware of someone standing over him. Harry blearily opened one eye and lifted his sunglasses, and was surprised to see Malfoy.
Malfoy was dressed similarly to yesterday, in slacks and a shirt, so it was no wonder he looked so hot. Almost his entire face was red, and he kept tugging at his collar uncomfortably.
“Merlin, Malfoy; don’t you have any other clothes?” Harry exclaimed, watching as Malfoy dropped into the sunlounger beside Harry.
“I need to look stylish at all times,” Malfoy retorted, though he didn’t sound convinced. “This is the shadiest patch I could find; I’m not here to talk to you. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just a stranger on the beach.”
“Sounds good to me,” Harry replied.
Malfoy was easy enough to ignore, and Harry easily lost himself in the book and the smell of the sea once more.
***
Harry had apparently found it a lot easier to ignore Malfoy than Malfoy had to ignore Harry.
“What in Merlin’s name are you drinking?” Malfoy exclaimed the following day when he turned up to the same patch on the beach.
Harry looked down at the drink in his hand: bright blue with a mountain of cream on top.
“It’s a Blue Russian,” Harry said, swirling the liquid around in the glass, clinking the ice on the sides. “Some blue coloured liqueur mixed with vodka, I think.”
Malfoy didn’t look any less confused. “Both together? Along with cream?”
“Yes,” Harry answered slowly, frowning at Malfoy. “It’s a cocktail.”
Malfoy’s eyes widened comically, bringing a smile to Harry’s lips as Malfoy spluttered, “a what tail?”
“It’s a Muggle thing - you mix alcohols and fruits and soda, or anything really - to make a special drink,” Harry explained. “I liked the look of this one because it’s blue.”
“It looks poncey,” Malfoy muttered, dropping into the sunlounger besides Harry’s. “I drink proper drinks: whiskey - scotch particularly - brandy, gin…”
“That all sounds boring,” Harry said with a shudder, not fond of the overly strong taste of those drinks straight up. “Why don’t you try a cocktail? How about, er, Sex on the Beach?”
Malfoy choked, jerking forwards and covering his mouth with his hands. “What? There’s people around!”
Harry squinted at Malfoy for a moment before he realised what Malfoy was getting at. “There’s people around; really, that’s your reason not to? No, Sex on the Beach is a cocktail.”
Malfoy pursed his lips. “I’ll try one, Potter. That’s all.”
Harry called for an attendant and asked for two Sex on the Beaches, along with a drinks menu.
The cocktails came in a tall glass, with orange liquid at the top gradually getting deeper and deeper into red at the bottom. The drink was sweet and fruity, and despite Malfoy’s earlier judgement, he seemed to enjoy it.
The next one they ordered was Malfoy’s pick - a Mojito, which was made of white rum, lime juice, sparkling water, sugar, and mint. It wasn’t as sweet as the Sex on the Beach, but it was cool and refreshing, and Malfoy expressed great fondness for it when they had finished.
Next came a Margarita; orange liqueur, tequila, and lime juice. The glasses came with the rims coated in salt, giving them a sour and salty tasting experience. The flavour of it was nice, but it was a bit too strong for Harry’s liking.
And then came the Piña Colada, made from rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice. It was served in an open pineapple with a straw, and with a paper umbrella stuck into the top of the fruit. It was somewhat tacky, but incredibly delicious.
Malfoy looked appalled at the sight of it, but he, too, drank it all greedily.
“You know, Malfoy,” Harry said, slurring his words just a little bit. “You’re hot. Not just sexy hot, but hot hot. Why don’t you wear proper holiday clothes?”
“Style,” Malfoy announced dramatically, fanning himself with the drinks menu. “I am hot, though.”
“Let’s go to the sea,” Harry suggested, despite the fact he couldn’t swim.
But Malfoy had nodded in agreement, and Harry couldn’t let himself look scared in front of Malfoy.
Malfoy rolled his trousers up to the knees, and fixed Harry with a grin. “Race you.”
They ran across the beach, kicking sand as they tore through it. Harry was just behind Malfoy, and he crashed into him when Malfoy stopped suddenly in the sea, almost sending them both toppling over.
“It’s wet,” Malfoy stated solemnly.
Harry nodded. “Very wet.”
The sea was pleasantly warm, and though the top half of his body was still subject to the sun, his legs were protected from the strong rays. The wet sand beneath his feet was soft and pliant, and he dug his toes into it, laughing as they were covered by the sand.
There were children and families playing in the waves, people snorkelling, and people surfing. Everyone was laughing and smiling, but none of them glinted in the sunlight the same way that Malfoy did.
He was distracted by the way Malfoy’s white-blond hair shone in the sunlight by a movement in the waters around his feet.
“Fish!” he declared, laughing as he spotted several fish around him. They came in all sorts of sizes and colours: red, silver, black, green, and blue. Harry was entranced as he watched them swim happily around him, darting quickly through the water.
When Harry looked back up, it was to find Malfoy staring at him.
“You look...do you like...fish?” Malfoy said.
Harry stared. “What?”
Malfoy sighed. “I think I’ve had too much to drink.”
“Me, too,” Harry agreed.
“Tomorrow, then?” Malfoy asked, clapping Harry on the shoulder.
“Tomorrow,” Harry promised.
***
Harry woke up the following day very late, and incredibly hungover.
After Malfoy had left him to go and have a lie down, Harry had stumbled across the resort until he came across an elderly lesbian couple from Germany. They ended up taking a shine to Harry, and invited him to the resort’s entertainment night.
Harry didn’t remember much of the night itself, other than singing karaoke with his new found friends, and repeatedly telling them that he only liked blond men.
Luckily, Harry had come on holiday prepared and had Hangover Relief potions in his suitcase. After taking that, quickly dressing and having a lunch made up entirely of french fries, Harry hurried to his and Malfoy’s patch on the beach.
But as Harry approached, he saw a miserable looking Malfoy sat on the sand a few yards away from it, his legs and arms both folded.
“There’s someone in our spot,” Malfoy said angrily as he saw Harry approach. “Why weren’t you here early this morning?”
“I was hungover,” Harry explained, not very apologetically. “Couldn’t you have found somewhere else to go?”
“I’m too hot to move,” Malfoy declared dramatically, flailing his arms and landed his hands in the sand. “Why is it so hot?”
“It’s the Caribbean,” Harry reasoned. “And you’re dressed ridiculously. What’s wrong with shorts? And please don’t tell me it’s for style, because there’s nothing wrong with shorts.”
“Not for people like you,” Malfoy said, looking Harry up and down. “But for people like me, we need to always present a high-class and elegant image.”
Harry scoffed. “You don’t look like that, though; you look like a hot and sweaty idiot who came to St Lucia with nothing but slacks and shirts.”
Malfoy avoided his eyes.
“You did come to St Lucia with nothing but slacks and shirts!” Harry hissed accusingly. “Why don’t you go to the shop and buy some clothes that are suitable for this weather?”
“They don’t look like they’re helping you much,” Malfoy commented, evidently having noticed Harry’s sweaty face.
Harry wasn’t deterred. “You’d be better off than you are now. But as you pointed out, it’s far too hot to be sat here so let’s go and find somewhere more sheltered.”
As they strolled down the beach they found similar alcoves to the one like theirs, but they were all filled with people. They finally came across one that was free, but it was obvious why.
“What in Merlin’s name is that?” Malfoy asked in shock.
“It’s called a hammock,” Harry explained, warily eyeing the white netting that was strung up between two palm trees. There were two pillows side-by-side at one end, and it was wide enough to clearly be aimed for two people to share.
Harry walked over to it, sat on the netting and laid down - and soon found himself falling to the ground, landing with a faceful of sand.
Harry had never heard Malfoy laugh so loudly.
“You’re hopeless, Potter,” Malfoy said affectionately, before beginning his attempt.
Malfoy also ended up in the sand.
“I think you maybe have to go slow, and let it balance,” Harry suggested, dusting himself off and doing as he had just said.
Harry kept his legs over the side as the hammock tilted unsteadily, and when it settled he lifted his legs up and laid back slowly, while Malfoy held the hammock steady.
“It’s working?” Malfoy asked as he kept hold of the netting. He was looking down at Harry, and something unexplainable made Harry blush at the situation. Something was definitely working, and it wasn’t just the hammock.
Malfoy slowly let go and walked to the other side of the hammock. He gently sat down and lowered himself into it, and as he did so the hammock - and Harry - tipped to Malfoy’s side.
Harry’s leg managed to stop them both from toppling over, but the resulting position left Harry on top of Malfoy, with his foot on the sand, meaning that certain areas were pressed together. Harry’s cheeks flushed, and it wasn’t because of the heat.
“I could really do with a Sex on the Beach about now,” Malfoy murmured.
“We’re not interrupting anything, are we?” came a woman’s voice.
Harry jumped at the sound of it, which unbalanced the hammock and sent both Harry and Malfoy toppling to the sand - this time with Malfoy on top of Harry.
Two amused faces came into view - Helga and Ingrid: the German couple from the night before.
“I see what you meant about blonds now,” Helga laughed, offering a hand down to help them up.
Harry and Malfoy both dusted the sand from their clothes; Harry was pleased to note that Malfoy was just as red in the face as he was.
“We’re here to remind you, Harry,” Ingrid said, smiling widely at him. “You signed your name up for the excursion tomorrow - and someone named Draco, who I’m presuming you are,” she added to Malfoy.
“Oh,” Harry murmured, biting his lip as he tried to remember putting his name down for anything.
“It’s going dolphin watching,” Helga explained, presumably having noticed their confused expressions. “We did it last year; very enjoyable.”
“I guess that could be fun,” Harry said with a shrug. “Malfoy?”
Malfoy pursed his lips “Won’t it be a bit…?”
“Hot?” Harry suggested. “Go and buy some proper holiday clothes, and you’ll be fine.”
“We can take you to the shop,” Ingrid said to Malfoy excitedly. “This time tomorrow, you’ll be less of a businessman and more of a tourist.”
Malfoy nodded, though he looked too afraid to do anything but.
But it was good no matter what the reason; Harry was looking forward to seeing the result.
***
“Oh my God,” Harry said before he could help himself.
“Why? What’s wrong with this?” Malfoy asked in confusion, gesturing down at his outfit.
Malfoy was wearing blue shorts that fell mid-way down his thighs, and that should have been pleasantly distracting - but it wasn’t, because Harry was too preoccupied by Malfoy’s shirt. It was red, and covered in large flowers and palm leaves.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Harry answered, trying to hold in his laugh. “Hawaiian shirts are very…chic.” And while there was nothing wrong with Hawaiian shirts themselves, it was just the sight of Malfoy wearing one that was amusing to Harry.
“That’s what Helga and Ingrid said,” Malfoy murmured, not having picked up on Harry’s amusement. “I feel much better already though; I didn’t realise having your legs out could make such a difference.”
They walked together to the beach where the boat was waiting for them, white and fairly small, with an open deck for the passengers to go on, with low railings and a row of plastic seats to sit on.
“Hello! Welcome!” the helmsman said cheerfully as Harry and Malfoy handed their money to the attendant on the sand before clambering onto the boat. “I’m gonna try and get you lots of whale and dolphin viewing today!”
Once all of the small group was loaded onto the boat they set off, wind whipping through their hair as the boat cut through the waves. The breeze from the sea held off the worst of the heat from the sun, and it left Harry feeling pleasantly warm.
Malfoy was pressed close to him, their legs brushing against each other every time the boat jumped over a wave. Malfoy’s legs were a bit too pale - especially considering he’d been on holiday in the sun for so long - but they were well-defined and sleekly muscled.
Harry drew his eyes back to Malfoy’s face and found Malfoy watching him with an amused smile. Harry felt his cheeks flush but he smiled back, daring to fully press his leg against Malfoy’s.
They jumped apart when a little girl shouted, “Mummy! Look - a dolphin!”
“Those are bottlenose dolphins,” the helmsman called over the splashing of the waves. “Do you see the pod to the right of us?”
Harry twisted around, grinning as he caught sight of a dolphin leaping out of the water and diving back in, quickly followed by another. They were so graceful as they appeared and disappeared amongst the waves, looking almost like they were showing off for the people on the boat.
It was an incredible sight, like nothing Harry had ever seen before. He had seen plenty of magical creatures over time: dragons, Thestrals, and centaurs - but the dolphins were far more exciting than any of them, perhaps because dolphins had no magic but managed to be completely spell-binding.
There was another pod of dolphins close to the first, and it seemed like the sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean Sea was full of them. Harry imagined that snorkelling would be an amazing experience, and decided he’d put his name down for it when he returned to the hotel.
With the sea breeze keeping them cool from the sun, and the lush greenery of St Lucia on display for them, rising in peaks and falling into almost glowing white beaches, it was a truly captivating experience. The world around them was incredibly beautiful, idyllic and calm, and somehow Harry was glad that Malfoy was there with him to share the experience.
By the time they reached the end of the boat trip, they had seen several spotted and bottlenose dolphins, as well as some pilot whales, which were huge and round, and - in Harry’s opinion - rather cute with their wide mouths that looked like smiles.
It was a bit disappointing when they returned to shore, but he didn’t let his joy from the day itself fade away.
“That was great, wasn’t it?” Harry said animatedly as he and Malfoy walked back to their bungalows. “I’ve never seen animals like that before. And the island itself! It’s beautiful. What did you think?”
“It was alright,” Malfoy said quietly. In fact, he had been quiet for a while now. He had looked happy when he’d been watching the dolphins and whales, but returning to shore he had looked very solemn. “More than alright, actually. But the thing is, Potter, today was my last day; I’m booked to go home tomorrow.”
“Oh,” Harry said, understanding now the reason for Malfoy’s quieter mood. “Er, at least you had a nice last day.”
“But I could have had a lot more of them if I hadn’t wasted my days being miserable in the heat,” Malfoy muttered, shuffling his sandals against the ground.
Harry didn’t quite know what to say to that.
“I’m going to have to pack now,” Malfoy pressed on, refusing to look at Harry. “Thanks for finally making me realise what I was missing, Potter; I do appreciate it.”
As Malfoy walked away, Harry realised one thing; Malfoy had also made Harry aware of what he was missing, and that thing would soon be leaving him. And though it wasn’t like Harry wouldn’t be able to see Malfoy once they were back in Britain, it wouldn’t quite be the same.
But Harry would still sign up for snorkelling, and he’d go to see the Pitons, and go for a trek in the rainforest. Malfoy would have to wait another week.
***
Malfoy didn’t wait another week.
Harry had just showered and was getting ready for bed when he heard a knock on his bungalow door.
Wondering who it could be, and expecting housekeeping or a hotel attendant, Harry was surprised when he looked through the peephole in the door and saw Malfoy. Malfoy was still wearing the shorts and the Hawaiian shirt from earlier, and he had a rucksack hooked over one shoulder.
“Malfoy?” Harry exclaimed as he opened the door. “I thought you were leaving.”
“So did I,” Malfoy said.
Then he stepped up to Harry and leant in, pressing their lips together.
Harry instantly melted into the kiss, gripping Malfoy’s biceps to hold him tight. He opened his mouth for Malfoy’s tongue, smiling as he heard a satisfied groan come from Malfoy.
“I’ve added myself to your booking,” Malfoy said as he pulled back. “All the other bungalows were full but...I wanted to stay.”
“Alright,” Harry replied, not sure what else he could say. He didn’t know how Malfoy had managed to get into his booking without Harry’s permission, but that didn’t mean that Harry didn’t want him there. “I think things wouldn’t have been as fun without you here.”
“I want to do that snorkelling thing you mentioned,” Malfoy agreed. “And I want to spend time with you. You’re surprising bearable now, though I sometimes wonder if that’s the heat talking.” There was no malice in Malfoy’s voice, and his words made Harry laugh.
“We both picked badly for people who aren’t good in the heat,” Harry grinned. “It’s a beautiful place and I love it here, but still; very hot. I like you in that shirt a lot better, though, and I can’t believe I’d ever say that about a Hawaiian shirt.”
“What’s wrong with this shirt?” Malfoy asked in confusion, plucking at the fabric. “It’s high-style for tourists, Helga said.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it at all, Malfoy,” Harry said as he pulled Malfoy into another kiss.
They had one more week in St Lucia together, but who was to say they had to go home afterwards? The world was theirs to explore, but if Harry was going to see the world, he was going to see it with Draco.