April Showers - R - HarryPotter/DracoMalfoy - oneshot
Title: April Showers
Rating: R
Pairing: Draco/Harry, Hermione/Ron, Ginny and Neville
Summary: Sometimes it takes the rug being pulled out from under you to realise you hated the damned rug to begin with. A wake up call was exactly what Harry needed to get his life back.
Warnings: EWE, slight DH compliant.
Word Count: 10000
Authors Note: Thank you to my ever lovely beta kcstories
This is probably the longest one shot fic I've ever written and I've been going back to it on and off for a year now. I have real issues with Ginny and I wanted to write a story in which I didn't hate her, I think she and I have an understanding now. Its just like my other fics, only longer.
There was nothing left to say as Harry packed his bag and hauled it onto his shoulder, astonished that after two years together there wasn’t more of his stuff littered around the house, but then he was used to living light.
Seamus stood in the bathroom doorway, staring at him silently, his arms crossed over his broad chest. He looked far angrier than he had any right to be. It was his fault after all that things were over. His and Dean’s, to be exact.
Harry had walked in on them kissing at Hermione and Ron’s anniversary party. They hadn’t locked the bathroom door behind them and it just so happened that Harry had been the one to find them.
Seamus’ arse was pressed tightly against the sink as Dean ground against him. It was obvious from the comfortable movements that this was not their first time or some innocent drunken fumble. They didn’t even notice Harry at first. It wasn’t until he accidentally bashed his elbow on the doorframe as he attempted to make a quick get away that the men broke apart and he met Seamus’ eyes. The Irishman didn’t even have the decency to blush.
“Harry mate, I can explain,” Dean quickly stammered.
“Well you’d certainly better try because I’m going to get Ginny,” Harry snapped and turned from the doorway, in search of Dean’s wife before anyone could protest. He could hear the two men behind him whispering harshly at one another and for a split second, Harry thought he should wait and let Dean tell his wife himself and not make a scene but he couldn’t stop himself.
He wasn’t as angry as he’d imagined he would be in this situation, however. As a matter of fact, his discovery made a lot of sense and answered a great deal of his questions about Seamus’ strange behaviour and mysterious disappearances of late.
Harry was angrier for Ginny. She and Dean had only been married a year and he knew that it had taken Ginny a long time to trust Dean enough to finally settle down, and now this was how he repaid her.
He spied Ginny across the room laughing with Fleur Weasley. Despite a tumultuous beginning, their relationship was a lot less frosty these days and Harry felt a pang of guilt as he watched her grinning. What he was about to tell her was going to change her and he knew it.
“Ginny, can we talk please, outside?” Harry touched Ginny’s forearm. Their gazes met, and she immediately frowned at his serious expression. Seamus and Dean bustled into the room behind him and she looked over Harry’s shoulder at her husband.
“Gin, please don’t,” Dean begged, not sure of what Harry had already said to her.
“Don’t what? What’s going on, boys?” She smiled nervously and Harry’s grip on her arm tightened.
“I need to talk to you, but we need to go outside. It’s Hermione and Ron’s night and I don’t want to make a scene,” Harry insisted and he began to lead Ginny from the room, glaring as he passed Dean, and not even bothering to look at Seamus. That one wasn’t worth the trouble.
They made it through the kitchen and stepped outside onto the patio. There were people littered around the top of the garden, enjoying the unseasonably warm spring night. They stared, enchanted by the fireflies charmed to dance in the air and light the dark garden.
Harry led Ginny through the throngs of people and down to the bench at the end of the garden. Neither of them sat.
“Harry, what’s going on? You’re scaring me a little.” Ginny wrapped her arms around herself, shivering in the tiny strapless dress she wore. Harry slipped off the light jacket he was wearing and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“I need to tell you something and you’re not going to like it,” Harry admitted solemnly, just as Dean, inevitably followed by Seamus, reached them.
“Ginny, don’t listen to him, please.” Dean grabbed at her arm and for some reason, Ginny pulled away and looked at Harry, desperate for an explanation.
“Gin, you know I would never hurt you on purpose, but I caught them in the bathroom,” Harry admitted, slowly.
“What do you mean caught them?” Ginny snapped, running out of patience.
“They were kissing,” Harry accused and turned to glare at his two former class mates.
“What? But Dean? We’re married?” Ginny frowned in confusion and looked back and forth between her husband and one of her closest friends. She wasn’t sure what to think and she was desperate for Harry’s face to crack into a grin and have all this be some kind of sick joke.
No smile came.
“Ginny, it wasn’t what it looked like,” Dean offered feebly. “Harry just came in at the wrong moment, that’s all.”
“If I’d come in later, would you have been fucking?” Harry snarled and Ginny looked up at him sharply.
“Fucking? Dean and Seamus fucking?” She looked as if the idea had not even entered her head; she was obviously struggling to process the information.
“Ginny, listen. It hasn’t been going on for long, I promise. And it means nothing.”
Harry felt Seamus stiffen beside him and he knew immediately that there was no question of their relationship being over. Harry was obviously not the one Seamus wanted.
“How long is not long, Dean Thomas? How long?” Ginny growled and jabbed him with a finger.
Harry was proud of her. He knew Ginny wasn’t the type of girl to cry and shriek. She was the type who’d get angry.
“A few-a few months,” Dean stuttered.
“How long?” Ginny all but screeched and Harry noticed that they had gotten the attention of several of the people standing around the patio. Not too surprising, really. No matter where Harry went, it always felt like someone was looking at him.
“Six months,” Dean admitted quietly and Harry felt the air around him practically crackle as Ginny’s anger turned to rage.
“You mean to tell me that half the time we’ve been married, six months after we exchanged wedding vows you were off fucking him?” Ginny looked at Seamus in disgust, as if noticing his presence for the first time. “How could you do that to me? How could you both do that to Harry?” she snapped and glared icily in Seamus’ direction once more.
“We couldn’t help it.” Dean sounded so utterly pathetic that Ginny simply sneered at him.
“Well, I won’t be able to help what I do to you if you don’t get out of my sight right this second,” Ginny growled, sounding every bit as fiery as her red hair implied.
“Ginny, please let me explain.” Dean sounded desperate.
“There is nothing to explain. Leave. I can’t even look at you right now,” Ginny seethed and shoved at Dean’s chest with both hands. He stumbled back and stared at her in shock. They stood there for a moment, suspended in loaded silence, before Dean turned and walked away. Seamus stood and stared at Harry, but Harry resolutely refused to look at him.
“Harry?”
“Fuck off, Seamus. I’ll pick up my stuff when I don’t feel like I’ll vomit just from the sight of you,” Harry snarled, barely even glancing towards his soon to be ex-boyfriend. He slipped an arm around Ginny’s shoulders, worried that she was shaking with poorly repressed rage.
After a few moments, Seamus got the message and walked away.
“Ginny?” Harry whispered as he stared at his friend’s face. It only took a second before it crumpled and fat tears began to collect in the corners of her eyes. Harry wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest.
“Oh god, Harry, will it never end? When am I going to just be happy?” Ginny sobbed into his shoulder and he had no words of wisdom. He had been asking himself the same thing for years and he still had no answers.
“Any day now. Any day,” Harry whispered and held her more tightly.
The following day Harry collected his stuff.
*
Two weeks had gone by since Hermione and Ron’s party and Harry sat at his kitchen table eating a sandwich and drinking juice from a teacup. He couldn’t believe how blindly he had gone about neglecting his house he had spent so much money on restoring.
Over the past few years he had thrown himself so far into his work and in some ways into his relationship with Seamus that he hadn’t even noticed that he was barely sleeping there anymore. He couldn’t remember the last time he had filled his fridge or really done anything around the place.
Godric’s Hollow was barely furnished. In fact, he didn’t think he had two plates that matched. He had meant to do things like buy a sofa, spend ages decorating the perfect room for Teddy to stay in at the weekends and wander around shops looking for the perfect mattress, but it had just never happened.
It had been almost a year since the renovations had been completely finished and there were still four mismatched chairs around the rickety kitchen table and the bed upstairs was one he had stolen from Grimmauld Place. He barely had a decent room for himself, let alone one that was good enough for his Godson.
Seamus had never wanted to live there. He had been horrified by the idea of living somewhere Harry’s parents had been murdered, no matter how much the builders had overhauled the place, and he much preferred living in trendy London than in a tiny rural village, thus the house had been mostly left to collect dust.
Harry looked around the kitchen, taking in his surroundings. He had never before noticed what a good job had been done to restore the house. Everything was just as he had wanted. The marble sideboards and well-carved cupboard doors made the kitchen look homely despite its lack of furnishings. It was beautiful and for once Harry was glad to be there.
Harry was also glad for the silence and tranquillity that being here afforded him. Between work and living in Seamus’ cramped house, he had barely had any time alone or time to think. He’d just got on with things. There had been too much to deal with, things he hadn’t been ready to deal with, and Seamus had been a convenient distraction.
Harry had barely seen anyone in the first few days after he’d gotten his things. He had called in sick to work and simply milled around the house, finally getting to know his family’s home.
For once, the silence didn’t feel oppressive and he allowed himself to think about what had happened here and all the things he’d experienced growing up.
He wandered in and out of every room, finding boxes of things he had forgotten he owned and whole rooms he’d forgotten were even there. He spent hours sitting in the doorway of what would have been his bedroom as a child wondering what else had happened there besides his parent’s untimely deaths. He would stare out into the hallway and imagine his mother carrying freshly washed linens and putting them into the cupboard at the end of the landing, and his father carrying him down the stairs as a baby while he tickled him. He imagined that there had been laughter and happiness here as well, not just screaming and terror. Harry wanted to fill this house with happiness again.
He found that he wanted to make his own memories here, not in some nondescript house with a man he barely loved. He wanted to make this place his own. He wanted to spend long weekends lying in bed in his own house for once. He wanted to spend more time with Teddy and let the little boy spend more weekends with him.
Seamus had never been completely happy about having Harry’s Godson around. At twenty-three, spending time with a little kid wasn’t exactly appealing to Harry’s ex-boyfriend.
Things were going to change. Harry had spent too long ignoring his dreams and trying to forget the things, no matter how horrible, that had shaped him as person. He had become so shut down that sometimes he forgot who he was.
He had made several trips into the village, visiting the final resting place of his parents and the new monument erected in their honour, which had been moved from the house now that he was living there. The more time he spent in his ancestral home, the more he felt connected with it. He wanted to spend his life here, in the place where he would have grown up.
Harry took a final bite off his sandwich and put the plate and teacup into the huge white porcelain sink, which sat in front of the kitchen window. From there he could see the entire garden, and it was a wonderful sight early in the morning.
Well, it would have been if it were not for all the weeds. He made a mental note to get in touch with Neville and ask his advice. Then he wandered through the rest of the house, looking for something else to discover and more memories he needed to deal with.
*
Draco Malfoy squeezed the aubergine; it was a gorgeous colour, large and firm. He wasn’t sure what he’d do with it when he bought it, but he had made it his goal to buy something new each week and attempt to make it edible. So far he had had a lot of fun with a star fruit, bok choy and fennel. He vaguely remembered being served something containing aubergine when he’d stayed with Blaise one summer, but he was completely at a loss as to what he was supposed to cook it with. So inevitably he bought it.
It was early Sunday morning and he was wandering around a local farmers’ market. It was filled with Muggles who had too much money and far too many children. Nevertheless, the smell of fresh basil, garlic and organic meat cooking on open grills lured him from his small house every week.
“I just don’t know what to do anymore, Harry. I’m trying to forget about him and move on, but it’s just so hard, especially when he won’t stop Owling me.”
Shocked to hear a very familiar voice, Draco looked up from the asparagus he was examining. Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter stood in line waiting to be served at an organic cheese stand across the little square, and they seemed to be having a rather heated discussion.
“He’s not worth it, Gin. He’ll do it again. He's not going to just stop being attracted to other men because he’s been caught out. He’s repressed and it’s sad, but you’re hurt enough already and I can’t watch you get even more upset and hurt because of him,” Harry said sternly.
“I know. I just wish he’d leave me alone, then maybe I could think straight!”
Harry wrapped an arm around Ginny’s shoulders and squeezed her tightly.
Draco’s eyebrows were so raised they had almost disappeared into his hairline. Now there was a juicy bit of gossip. Not only had she been jilted by a lover, he’d obviously been messing around with another bloke too. Draco knew what that was like, poor girl.
“Anyway, I’m sick of talking about him. How are you doing, Harry? Aren't you even the least bit upset about Seamus?” Ginny quizzed.
“Nope. I was more angry about it all on your behalf. I’m glad it’s over. I feel like I can have a fresh start, no more mediocre relationships.” Harry looked down at Ginny and smiled in a way that made Draco’s stomach flip. It was the first time he’d gotten a full look at Harry’s face since noticing him and Ginny there. Good Lord, but the man was gorgeous!
When had that happened? Sure, he hadn’t seen them in-What? Five years and he certainly hadn’t looked the same at eighteen as he did now, but Draco still couldn’t get over how fantastic Potter looked. It was sometimes difficult to remember that the people around you grew up while you did, even if you weren’t around to see them.
It was then that Draco tripped over the corner of the stall he’d been standing at; sending a crate of asparagus crashing to the ground. Everyone around him began gawping at him, including the two former Gryffindors he’d been spying on. After straightening his clothes and pointedly not looking at anyone, including the people behind the stall who’d rushed forward to recover the over priced vegetables, Draco attempted to make a quick getaway. He failed miserably.
“Malfoy?”
Draco groaned inwardly and turned to face his former schoolmates. “Potter, Weasley, what a coincidence,” he drawled, and tried desperately not to blush as the Muggle store holder babbled on and on about her Organic produce and tried to salvage as much as she could from the dusty ground.
“What on earth are you doing here?” Harry laughed and held out his hand to shake Draco’s, showing that despite the bluntness of the question there was no real malice behind it.
Draco tentatively took the proffered hand and smiled softly as he shook it. “I live just around the corner, near the park actually. I come here every week. What about you?”
“Oh. Well, Ginny lives not too far away and heard about this place. I'm having a dinner party tonight, so we thought we’d come and spend ridiculous amounts of money on herbs we won’t know what to do with.” Harry laughed almost flirtatiously, making Ginny look at him quizzically.
“That sounds lovely. How have you been? It’s been years, hasn’t it?” Draco said, and grinned back just as warmly.
“Well, I’ve just moved into my parents’ old house down south and Ginny…” Harry stopped short, not really sure whether to go on.
“I’m about to go through a divorce.” Ginny’s voice sounded choked and again Harry’s arm came up around her shoulder.
Draco smiled softly at her. “Sorry to hear that. Men are bastards, are they not?” Draco offered another sympathetic smile before they lapsed into a somewhat awkward silence, all pondering on how true that statement could be.
“Well, I should probably get going. It’ll take me all day to figure out how to cook half the things I’ve bought.” Draco indicated to the bags he was carrying.
“Don’t bother then. Why don’t you come to dinner tonight? I bought enough food for an army and it’d be a shame to have it go to waste. Besides, it’d be nice to catch up properly.”
Harry’s smile was entirely genuine and Draco didn’t know what to say. It felt as if the world had been tipped on its head. Not only had he stumbled upon Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley in his own little niche of London, but it also turned out that Potter had grown up to be an incredibly handsome and well mannered man. Who’d have thought after years of being a ball of teenage angst that he’d turn out so well?
“Are you sure?” Draco asked uncertainly.
“Of course I’m sure!” Harry smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small piece of parchment. “This is the floo address. I’ve told everyone else around seven o’clock. It’d be wonderful if you came.” Harry grinned. This time he was definitely flirting.
“Alright, I’ll do that.” Draco blushed and said his goodbyes before disappearing into the ever-growing crowd of Muggles, very aware of the two Gryffindor’s watching him leave through the mass of people.
“Harry, you do realise that you’ve just invited Draco Malfoy to dinner tonight, don’t you?” Ginny sounded aghast and it only made Harry smile even more widely.
“I’m perfectly aware of that, thank you, Gin.” Harry grinned and his tone was a little too smug for Ginny’s liking.
“I knew you were a bit hungover this morning, but I didn’t know you were still drunk!” Ginny couldn’t help but laugh; it was the first time Harry had seen her smile properly in weeks.
*
Harry couldn’t get Draco Malfoy’s face out of his mind. The man had certainly grown up since they had last seen one another, which had been five years ago when Harry had returned Draco’s wand to him. If he were truthful, Harry couldn’t honestly say he had thought of Draco Malfoy often since then. There had been a lot going and finding old school enemies hadn’t exactly been high on his list of priorities.
Saying that, seeing him again had brought back many familiar old memories of obsession. Harry had never been able to ignore Draco and he certainly hadn’t been able to this morning. Draco’s blonde hair was no longer slick and stiff, but longer and elegantly dishevelled. His eyes were as grey and stormy as they had ever been and Harry found himself wondering what they would look like when he was aroused.
“Harry, you know this means I’m going to get paired off with Neville.” Ginny pulled a face and Harry frowned as he was pulled out of his own, less than innocent, thoughts.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with Neville Longbottom, thank you very much, Ginevra Weasley,” Harry snapped as he continued laying out cutlery around his new dining table.
The house still looked sparsely furnished but he and Ginny had spent the weekend making it look at least presentable. There were actual sofas in the living room and wood in the fireplace, and a table for his guests to eat off of. Not to mention matching plates. He had also paid a visit to his parents’ Gringotts’ vault and had found numerous family heirlooms, which were now found dotted around the house. Paintings and photos of his friends and family finally made the place look like a home once more.
“I know, but he's not exactly a dish now, is he?” Ginny sighed as she polished a knife with a napkin and looked at her reflection in the steel.
“You could do a lot worse than Neville. In fact, I believe we both have. He did a lot for us during the war. He is brave and loyal and he’s certainly a lot better looking than he was when we were younger.” Harry winked at her and grinned. He had to duck to avoid the napkin she threw at him.
“You’re a pervert and that’s not the point. I don’t want to do anyone! My marriage just ended! I’m worried he’ll just talk about plants all evening. Oh Harry, why did you have to invite Malfoy?”
Ginny was incredibly annoying when she whinged and Harry cringed at the sound of her shrill tone.
“Are you going to go on about this all evening, Gin? It was an impulse, try new things and all that! Besides, didn’t you notice how amazing he looked? Not a pointy little ferret anymore.” Harry chuckled at Ginny’s once again aghast face. He loved winding her up.
“You’re not seriously considering shagging Malfoy are you? He's a… he's a…”
“What? Former Death Eater? Oh Ginny, you know he wasn’t even Marked!” Harry sighed exasperatedly.
“No. He’s a Slytherin!”
Harry stared at her as if she had grown another head. “Are you thirteen?”
Before Ginny could answer, the sound of the wards chiming signalled the arrival of their first guest.
Harry left Ginny to finish off the table and wandered into the living room to find Draco Malfoy standing in front of the fireplace looking over the few photos and trinkets that sat on the mantel.
“Malfoy, nice of you to come.” Harry once again held out his hand.
“It’s Draco, and thank you for inviting me. Are you sure it’s alright that I came? I don’t want to ruin anyone’s evening.”
Harry had never seen Draco Malfoy look unsure about anything and it was an endearing sight to witness.
“Don’t be silly. If anyone has a problem with it then they can leave. This is my house and I’ll invite who I like.”
Draco smiled shyly. “Well I bought this.” He held out a bottle of wine and Harry accepted it gratefully, looking at the label. It was obviously vintage and expensive. Draco was nervous and clearly trying to impress.
“Nobody else is here yet, besides Ginny, and well, she practically lives here at the moment, so she doesn’t count.” Harry placed the bottle on the coffee table before indicating that Draco should sit down.
“I couldn’t help but overhear you both talking earlier today. Her divorce, it sounds a bit… messy?” Draco hadn’t meant to pry, but he had been wondering about the details all day.
“Oh yeah. Well, it’s been hard. Seamus and Dean were cheating behind both our backs. We found out a few weeks ago at Hermione and Ron’s anniversary party.” Harry cleared his throat and shook his head. He was still mad at Dean and Seamus but didn’t mourn the loss of his relationship.
“Bastards. I thought you Gryffindors were meant to be all noble, not stabbing one another in the back. You’ll be making Slytherins obsolete soon.” Draco smiled a little sadly.
Harry was glad he’d made a joke about it rather than try and force sympathy upon him. Harry was so sick of people telling him that they were sorry, as if they had personally forced Seamus to cheat on him. People just didn’t seem to get that Harry was glad that relationship was over.
“I gave up thinking that those house stereotypes made sense a long time ago.” Harry chuckled warmly.
“Maybe you’re right, but in all seriousness, are you okay?” Draco suddenly sounded terribly solemn.
“Oh yeah. I’m fine. It was a wake up call. I wasn’t happy and it’s up to me to change that now. I’m not going to passively live my life anymore, and just settle for whatever comes along. I’m in control and it’s time I started to act like it.” Harry smiled brightly.
Ginny joined them, smiling tentatively at Draco. “Hello Malfoy. Glad you could come.”
Draco smiled. She almost sounded sincere. “Weasley.” He nodded curtly, and was saved from any awkward conversation by the wards chiming and the appearance of Neville Longbottom out of Harry’s fireplace.
“Neville! Great to see you, mate!” Harry stood from the sofa and hugged his taller, broader friend as fiercely as he could.
“Harry.” Neville grinned and hugged back just as hard. “It’s good to see you too! It’s been too long!” Neville stood back from their hug and Harry had to stop himself from snorting with laughter as his friend’s face lit up at the sight of Ginny.
“Ginny, how are you?” Neville asked almost shyly and despite her earlier reservations, Ginny had the good grace to smile back genuinely and accept the taller Gryffindor’s fierce embrace. “Am I the first one here?”
Harry shook his head and he stepped away from the sofa to reveal Draco.
“Malfoy? Well, hello, how are you?” Neville’s welcome was stilted at best.
Harry frowned and met Ginny’s gaze, grimacing. Maybe he hadn’t thought this through.
Draco got to his feet, shook Neville’s hand and smiled sincerely at the sandy haired man.
Neville looked at Harry in shock. Was this really the nasty little ferrety boy they had all been forced to endure during their school days?
Neville didn’t have time to consider the subject much longer before Ron and Hermione came tumbling out of the fireplace.
Harry’s closest friends had the good grace to look shocked and refrain from asking any questions. Even Ron seemed to keep his famous temper in check and soon all five of Harry’s guests were seated in his brand new sofas in his living room enjoying a glass of wine, be it in somewhat awkward silence.
Harry slipped from the room to check on the chicken roasting in the oven.
This gave Hermione an opportunity to corner him under the pretence of lending him a hand.
“You do realise that’s Malfoy out there?” she enquired casually as she leaned against the counter and attempted to gain Harry’s attention while he poked and prodded the chicken with a fork. “The same Malfoy who almost got us killed on numerous occasions, the same Malfoy…”
“Who didn’t turn us in to his parents and Voldemort at his house when it was obvious he knew who we were? Yes, Hermione, I had realised, and before you list all of his past indiscretions back to me like I don’t already know them, don’t you think you should remember that people change?”
Hermione snorted and Harry rolled his eyes.
“You’re friends with Pansy Parkinson now, aren’t you?” he asked pointedly and was mollified as he watched Hermione blush.
“That’s different!”
“Why? I’d never have taken you to be narrow minded, Hermione,” Harry said seriously.
“I’m not being narrow minded, and it’s different anyway because I’m not trying to get into her pants!” Hermione snapped and the sound of silence emanated from the living room. They had obviously all heard what she’d said.
Harry glared at her. She wasn’t normally this tactless, but maybe being married to Ron had rubbed off on her.
Harry grabbed her wrist and dragged her towards the larder.
“I am not trying to get into anyone’s pants!” he whispered furiously. He couldn’t believe she had even suggested it.
“Oh please! You think I haven’t noticed how he’s changed? Oh, I’ve noticed. He’s all broad shoulders and a pinched-in waist, and have you seen that arse?” Hermione leered and Harry stared at her incredulously. She had definitely been married to Ron for far too long.
“Hermione!” Harry practically screeched.
“Well, it’s true, and if you tell me you haven’t noticed, then you’re a liar!”
The sound of someone clearing their throat behind Harry made him stiffen in embarrassment. He knew exactly whose face he’d be seeing when he turned around.
“Draco? Is everything alright?” Harry plastered on a fake smile and watched as Malfoy’s insufferable smirk intensified.
“I was just wondering if you needed any help with the chicken?” Draco grinned and Harry swallowed hard at the way the blonde’s eyes travelled the length of his body, obviously checking him out.
“I think we have everything sorted, thanks!” Harry winced at the way his voice squeaked and he ushered both of his guests back into the living room.
*
Harry was so busy talking to Malfoy throughout the entire meal that he didn’t notice what a good time Ginny was having until he heard a snort of laughter coming from her end of the table. He hadn’t heard her laugh like that in such a long time and he watched as she and Neville fell about laughing over something he hadn’t caught. Ginny seemed to have forgotten how much the two of them had in common. During what would have been Harry’s seventh year at school, they’d fought against Voldemort together from inside Hogwarts. The two of them had shared experiences that would always bind them. It was just a matter of time before Ginny saw what a wonderful guy Neville could be.
“Harry?”
“Sorry, Draco. What did you say?” Harry’s gaze snapped back to the grey eyes that seemed far closer to his own than they had been moments ago.
“I was just asking what else you plan to do with the house. It’s beautiful. I’d be grateful of a tour later.” Harry didn’t miss the way Draco’s eyes sparkled mischievously.
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to give you one-um... a tour, I mean, before you leave.” Harry grabbed his glass of wine and took a large gulp of the cool clear liquid, ignoring Hermione’s snort of laughter from the other side of him.
“Thanks.” Draco grinned.
*
Hermione and Ron left not long after dessert. Hermione was feeling tired and said she wanted an early night before work the next day. Harry hadn’t missed the way she had ignored the wine in favour of juice the entire evening, but he’d wait for them to tell him when they were ready.
Neville and Ginny were sitting on the sofa sharing another bottle and laughing over something else Harry hadn’t heard, while he and Draco finished clearing the table.
“They seem to be getting on like a house on fire.” Draco smiled warmly as he carried the last dish into the kitchen and dumped it into the sink where an enchanted kitchen cloth and towel were already busy getting the rest of the dinnerware clean.
“And can you believe she’s whinged at me all day about inviting him? Silly cow.” Harry chuckled as he placed a dish of leftover food into the fridge. He turned to smile at Draco and was surprised to find the blonde standing right in front of him, close enough to share breath.
“I’d say it has been a day for surprising discoveries, wouldn’t you?” Draco’s voice had taken on a husky quality and Harry swallowed hard.
“You could say that, yes.” Harry licked his lips. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Draco’s whose pupils seemed to have dilated considerably.
“I think I’d like my tour now, Mr Potter.” Draco grinned and leaned in teasingly before stepping back and disappearing into the dining room. Harry paused a moment to compose himself before following him.
When they reached the living room, they found Ginny and Neville preparing to leave.
“Going so soon?” Harry asked.
“Some of us have work tomorrow, lazy bones.” Ginny grinned and staggered a little bit as she moved towards the fireplace.
“Sure you’ll be alright getting home?” Harry nodded at the almost empty bottle of wine.
“I’ll make sure she gets home okay.” Neville smiled shyly before they said their goodbyes and disappeared into the green flames.
“Well now, Mr Potter, you’ve got me all alone. What are you going to do with me?” Draco grinned cheekily and winked.
“I’m going to give you that tour you’ve been after,” Harry replied seriously before ushering Draco up the stairs.
Harry took his time showing Draco each of the upstairs rooms, making sure to brush against him at every available opportunity. When they finally reached the master bedroom that Harry had claimed as his own, the Gryffindor found himself pressed against a wall.
“Are you going to stop teasing me anytime soon?” Draco whispered hoarsely, his lips millimetres from Harry’s. Both men were panting and their chests heaved as the sexual tension crackled around them.
“I had planned on it, yes.” Harry grinned as he leaned forward and rubbed his nose against Draco’s. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so much passion for someone or the last time he had felt so desperate to feel someone else’s skin against his own.
“Then kiss me!” Draco growled before Harry sealed their mouths together and they fought for control over the passionate embrace. Draco pulled back for air several moments later and stared up at Harry with seeming awe. His grey eyes were dilated and glistening, and he gasped for breath. His lips were wet and swollen and Harry couldn’t stop himself from leaning in and sucking on his bottom lip which made Draco groan.
“I think the tour should end here,” Draco whispered hoarsely and Harry smiled smugly as he began to steer Draco back towards the bed.
*
The next morning was awkward, to say the least.
Although Harry didn’t regret sleeping with Draco, it was obvious the blonde felt differently. Draco seemed to want to leave as quickly as possible after they had woken up and Harry couldn’t suppress the hurt that bubbled up in him at the look of abject dismay all over Draco’s face as what they had done came back to him, so he let him leave. He was in no way going to force Draco to be around him when it was obvious how abhorrent he found the idea.
Harry spent the entire day pottering around the house, replaying the morning’s events and wondering what he had said or done to make Draco leave in such a way. He came up with nothing.
He didn’t see anyone until Ginny popped over after work on Thursday. He was unable to drag himself out of the funk he had gotten himself into after Draco had left.
Ginny chatted on happily about her week, about how obvious it was that Hermione was pregnant and about how surprisingly funny Neville had been on Sunday.
It wasn’t until they were halfway through their Singapore noodles that she noticed Harry was being unusually quiet. One side of their witty banter was certainly missing.
“Harry, you know, maybe you should get out of the house a little. Are you sure you don’t want to go back to work?” Ginny patted his hand and smiled softly.
“I’m not going back, Gin. I don’t know why I thought I wanted to be an Auror. I feel pretty much like a nervous wreck when I’m at work. It brings back too many memories. I’m just not happy there.” Harry sighed softly.
“Well, you don’t seem to be very happy here either,” Ginny pointed out.
“It’s not being here that’s making me unhappy. The house is fine, but everything else feels like a big mess!” Harry sighed and ran his hand through his hair, abandoning his chopsticks.
“Oh, you’re talking about Malfoy.” Ginny sounded unsure whether or not to approach the subject.
“Yes, we slept together and then on Monday morning when he woke up, he behaved as if it were the worst thing in the world. I was expecting sarcastic remarks or indifference maybe before that friendly banter we had going came back. Instead he looked at me as if I’d done something horrid to him. I don’t think anyone had ever looked at me quite like that before.” Harry was truly miserable. He couldn’t stop replaying the look on Draco’s face and every time he did, it got worse.
“Maybe you should go and talk to him?”
“And say what? Thanks for coming to dinner and the great fuck; can you explain why my chest hurts every time I think about you? Can you explain why all I do is spend time thinking about you and therefore have been aching for days?” Harry sighed wearily, seemingly worn out by his tirade. He flopped against the sofa and hung his head on the back. He stared up at the ceiling, waiting for Ginny’s response.
Ginny stared at Harry, aghast. Had she really heard all that correctly?
“Harry, you really need to go and see him, if that’s how you feel; it sounds like you might be...”
“Don’t even say it! It’s been four days. It’s absolutely not possible!”
“But Harry...”
“No, Ginny! This is Draco Malfoy we’re talking about!”
“That didn’t seem to matter on Sunday!”
“On Sunday it was just a shag, and now...”
“Now you’ve realised it might be so much more?”
“It could be, but I’m not going to say I’m in love with him, Ginny. I’m not some wide eyed fourteen-year-old girl!”
“But...”
“But I’ve never felt like that before, so connected with someone else. It was like he anticipated my every move and knew how to compliment it with another. And then we woke up and it was as if he had forgotten it all in the harsh light of day and was horrified to even be there with me.” Harry sighed. He sounded truly defeated.
“I’m sorry, Harry,” Ginny gripped his hand and squeezed.
“Well, you’ve shagged me, Ginny. It wasn’t that bad, was it?”
“Well...” Ginny winked at him. She was so unhelpful at times.
“Ginny!” Harry whined pitifully. They didn’t often talk about the short time they’d spent together after the Battle of Hogwarts. It hadn’t worked and Harry had soon realised it was because he spent more time checking out Ginny’s brother than he did her. They’d split amicably when Ginny had sat him down and told him that she didn’t want to compete with Percy for her boyfriend. They’d managed to laugh about it and although things had been awkward for a while, they had since moved on and become good friends again.
“I’m not answering, Harry. Me telling you whether or not you were good in bed isn’t going to solve this particular problem, is it?”
Harry stared into his food and sighed miserably.
She was right. It wouldn’t.
*
Neville stopped over on Saturday morning to have a look at Harry’s garden as agreed.
Together they formed a plan to have the entire thing ready for later in the year when it would hopefully get hot and sunny, and if that didn’t happen, Neville was going to make a sheltered area near the back door where Harry could come and sit and enjoy his garden anyway.
When there were finished, Harry made them sandwiches and they sat together in Harry’s kitchen on chairs that didn’t match.
“I’m taking Ginny out for dinner tonight,” Neville said softly.
“You are? That’s great, mate! Looking forward to it?” Harry grinned broadly. He wondered how long it would take the two of them to get together. Ginny so often got in her own way when it came to things like this. It had been the same with Dean in the beginning. Harry blamed himself that she found it hard to trust people and usually pushed them away instead. He hoped Neville would persevere.
“I’m absolutely terrified, Harry. This is Ginny!” Neville’s cheeks turned a delightful red. The man had retained a great deal of innocence in Harry’s eyes. He threw himself into everything like his life depended upon it and was passionate and exuberant in a way that hadn’t changed since he was fourteen. He was a good man and if he weren’t 100% straight and utterly in love with Ginny, Harry might have had a go himself.
“I know, but remember at the same time, it’s just Ginny, the girl you’ve known forever, the dorky kid that used to follow us around all the time.” Harry smiled, remembering the little girl that had been so in awe of him.
“Follow you around, you mean.” Neville laughed heartily.
“Well, what can I say? If she’s going out with you, her taste has certainly gotten better since.” Harry grinned. He was being completely sincere.
“I wouldn’t say that. I’d say I’m more like a last resort to her.” Neville stared pensively into his glass of juice.
“Neville, give yourself more credit, would you? You’re a catch and you’re comparing yourself to Dean, who broke her heart and me, well, I’m not the best...”
“But you are, Harry. I wish I could be half the man you are!” Neville cried with all that passion Harry was so fond of.
“Neville, you’re twice the man I am! You’re the kindest, most generous person I’ve ever met. Now, I won’t spend a second more listening to you doubting yourself. Ginny should feel honoured to be going out with you tonight and if she isn’t, then it’s entirely her loss.”
Neville stared at Harry, completely stunned. “Do you really mean that?”
“Every word.” Harry stared into Neville’s chocolate brown eyes until he was sure his friend was convinced.
“Thanks Harry.” Neville smiled, stood from the table and put his plate in the sink. He stared out of the window across the garden. “It really will look amazing when it’s done.” Neville grinned at Harry over his shoulder.
“Thanks for your help. I really appreciate everything.” Harry smiled softly and joined his friend to look out over the garden. They stood in amicable silence for a moment before Neville spoke again.
“I bumped into Malfoy the other day on Diagon Alley. He asked about you.” Neville grinned cheekily and Harry felt his stomach lurch.
“He did?” Harry’s obvious attempt at nonchalance failed miserably and he couldn’t hide the slightly desperate tinge to his voice.
“Yeah. He seemed a bit ‘off’ though, not like himself. He seemed nervous to ask about you. Did things end badly between the two of you?” Neville frowned in concern, and Harry avoided his gaze.
“You could say that, although I don’t really know what went wrong.” Harry sighed sadly and continued to stare out into the bright afternoon sunshine.
“Well, maybe you should ask him?” Neville knew Harry could be stubborn and it was unlikely he would just swallow his pride and go and speak to Malfoy, but it was worth the suggestion. Neville hadn’t seen his friendly so genuinely enraptured by someone’s company in such a long time that it seemed silly for him to let it all end over what sounded like a misunderstanding.
“Maybe,” Harry agreed distractedly, and snapped out of his introspection to turn and smile softly at Neville.
“Honestly, Harry, don’t you think it’s about time you were happy?” Neville patted Harry on the shoulder softly.
“With Malfoy?”
“With anyone! Second chances, Harry! I am starting to see that maybe they actually happen.” Neville smiled softly before grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair and slipping it on.
“I have to go, Harry, but think about what I said! Wish me luck for later!” Neville smiled brightly and disappeared from the room. Harry wished him luck as he whooshed through the green flames of the Floo.
Harry sat and pondered on what Neville had said for an hour before restlessness and curiosity got the best of him and he left the house. It didn’t take long to find out where Malfoy lived. A quick trip to the Auror office, and the help of a very eager first year trainee left him with the address in hand within twenty minutes.
Several moments later, Harry had Apparated to a street in West London. The street was lined with Georgian town houses and tall trees filled with budding blossoms. It was beginning to get dark and Harry shivered in the unseasonably cool weather. He looked at the address on the piece of parchment in his hand and found he had Apparated only few houses away.
He opened the gate and closed it quietly behind him. There was a light shining from the window on the first floor and he swallowed thickly, mustering up the courage to reach forward and knock. It had been a long week and he hoped that this would not be all for nothing.
He waited for several moments before the door opened and he frowned in confusion as a man close to his own age opened the door, his face mirroring Harry’s own confused expression at finding him there. The man had dark hair and dark eyes. He was gorgeous. He leaned casually against the door frame and smiled at Harry softly, waiting for him to speak.
“Sorry, I must have the wrong house. I was looking for someone else...” Harry frowned.
“Well, unlucky for me, but maybe I can help?” The gorgeous dark haired man stared at him approvingly.
“I’m looking for Draco Malfoy, but I must have been given the wrong address.” Harry stared at the parchment once more. This was the correct address.
“Oh. No, you’re at the right place. Do you want me to get him for you? He was just making us a spot of dinner and the silly thing cut his finger trying to slice up this soggy old aubergine.” The man laughed softly and looked fondly back into the house.
Harry felt himself go cold. Now it all made sense. The mortification because they had slept together had all been because Draco had cheated on his boyfriend. He hadn’t meant to sleep with Harry at all. That was why he hadn’t been quite himself with Neville when he’d seen him earlier that week. He had probably been worried about the rumour mill in such a small wizarding community.
Harry felt himself stagger backwards as he remembered the way it had felt to have Draco whimpering and writhing beneath him, staring up at him with those stormy grey eyes. He felt ten times worse now than he had all week, knowing it really had meant nothing to the other man; just some mistake.
“Are you alright there, mate?” The dark haired man stepped towards Harry as he staggered away.
“Yeah. Yeah, don’t worry. I really have made a mistake,” Harry said softly and tried to smile.
“No. It’s fine, I can...” The man gestured back into the warmly lit house.
“Marcus, who’re you talking to?” At the sound of Malfoy’s voice, Harry walked quickly to the gate, mumbling apologies as he went.
The last thing he wanted was for Malfoy to catch him standing at his doorstep like a lost needy puppy and making things awkward between him and his partner. He couldn’t help damning himself for actually believing that something could come from a one-night-stand with Malfoy, of all people. Maybe it was time he gave up on all of this. Nobody was as they seemed, and he was tired of the lies and mind games that seemed to go hand in hand with every relationship he had ever had.
“A friend of yours?” Marcus asked, obviously confused about the sudden appearance of a strange man at their doorstep. Draco stepped around Marcus and stood staring at Harry, who looked up briefly as he closed the gate behind him.
“Harry?” Draco seemed genuinely surprised to see Harry standing there at his front gate.
“Sorry to have bothered you, Malfoy. I can see I’m interrupting. I’ll be leaving now.” Harry couldn’t quite meet Draco’s eye, nor could he quite keep the bitterness from his voice.
“What are you doing here?” Malfoy stepped onto the front step, wrapping his arms around his shirt-covered torso and shivering slightly.
Harry finally looked up at him; Draco looked just as gorgeous as he remembered; his eyes were bright in the otherwise dull evening and his hair windswept. Harry’s stomach clenched
“I came looking for you, but I obviously made a mistake. I’m sorry. Go back inside and enjoy your evening.” Harry’s voice cracked and he stepped back, away from the gate, getting ready to Apparate.
“Harry, I...”
“You don’t have to say anything, Draco. I understand. I won’t bother you again. I just wanted you to know that, well, it was good seeing you on Sunday and I wish-Well, it doesn’t matter now...” Harry finally met Draco’s eyes and smiled sadly. “Bye,” Harry said softly before Apparating away.
Harry suddenly found himself in his rural back garden. He collapsed on the rickety old bench that was shoved up against the wall below the kitchen window. He took in great gulps of country air and tried to calm his nerves. His stomach roiled and he willed himself to not throw up.
He had been so wrong.
He had spent all week thinking he had had some kind of connection with Malfoy when the latter had in fact gone home to his lover he had cheated on.
Maybe Harry had been only one in a long line of one-night-stands. He sighed tiredly and couldn’t ignore the hurt bubbling up in him. His chest ached worse than it had all week. Seamus had never hurt him in this way.
Maybe mediocre relationships really were better. If you didn’t care then you wouldn’t get hurt and Harry definitely didn’t like feeling this way, and he’d only experienced a week of it. How would he feel if he ever became more invested in someone? Truly loved them only to have them pull the rug out from under him eventually?
*
Draco stood on the front steps for a moment after Harry left and stared at the empty space he’d left on the pavement. What had just happened?
“So that was the infamous Harry Potter?”
Draco had almost forgotten that Marcus was still there and he turned to find a concerned expression on his friend’s face.
“Yeah, that’s him,” Draco said softly and shivered again.
“I think he got the wrong idea about me, Draco,” Marcus said softly.
“What?” Draco frowned in confusion. He was still trying to process what had just happened. Why had Harry come looking for him? Why had he run away as soon as he’d seen him?
“Well, he came looking for you and what with me answering the door and all; it looks a bit suspect, doesn’t it?” Marcus stood back, letting the blonde enter the foyer and close the door behind him
“I don’t...”
“Draco, you fool! He thinks I’m your boyfriend and assumes that your little shagging session was just a sleazy one night stand!” Marcus sighed. Draco really was exasperating. He didn’t get anything, even the most obvious.
“But he said...”
“It doesn’t matter what he said last week. He obviously wanted to see you today! Now go!”
“I can’t just turn up there!”
“Draco, do you want the only man you’ve shagged in months to think that you’re some horrid prat that led him on?”
“He already thinks I’m a horrid prat!”
“Then go over there and change his mind!” Marcus had one hand around Draco’s wrist and was already opening the front door, ready to shove Draco outside.
Out on the front doorstep, Draco stared up at his friend with wide eyes, just in time to watch Marcus slam the door in his face. Marcus really could be a right twat when he wanted to be.
Draco shivered before he Apparated.
He found himself on the outskirts of a small village and realised he was wearing no shoes. He inwardly cursed Marcus before taking in his surroundings. He was definitely in Godric’s Hollow. He recognised the memorial that sat in the village square from the pictures in the Daily Prophet on the day of its unveiling.
He shivered again, more violently and turned around in search of his destination. He noticed a small cottage along a lane and headed towards it, vaguely recognising the place from every History book he had ever read about his world.
He hurried along the damp ground, wincing when he trod on a stone, and was determined to reach the little cottage, getting out of the cold and sorting out the mess he’d managed to get himself into.
He had woken on Monday morning with a hangover and sore in places he hadn’t expected and when he had rolled over and found Harry sleeping peacefully next to him a sudden feeling of regret had passed over him.
Harry had spent the entire evening talking about how happy he was that he wasn’t in some crap relationship he had just fallen into, and then he had fallen into bed with Draco. What if he woke up feeling like he was obligated to try and make something work between them? Draco wasn’t going to be Harry’s next-what had he called it? Mediocre relationship.
He had panicked and rushed out of there as soon as possible. He had spent every day since regretting it and wishing he could go back to find out what would have happened had he not bolted.
Draco arrived outside the Potter Cottage and wandered up the front door. He knocked twice, only to receive no answer. He was shivering on the spot and didn’t know where to begin looking for Harry if he wasn’t here. He had a sudden realisation that he knew nothing about the man’s life beyond what he had learned last Sunday and he felt desperate for a chance to learn more.
Draco noticed a path that wrapped around the house and he followed it until he found himself in the back garden. It was almost completely pitch black now, except for the dim glow of the moon and the light coming from the kitchen that illuminated the back porch and a lone figure sitting on a bench.
“Harry?” Draco couldn’t believe it had been that easy. There he was, sitting there in front of him just when he thought his trip had been for nothing.
“Malfoy? Shouldn’t you be eating aubergines with your boyfriend?” Harry’s voice was hoarse and gravelly and as Draco stepped into the light, he saw that Harry had a solemn look on his face.
“Marcus isn’t my boyfriend,” Draco stated plainly. He wanted to get right to the point; there had already been too much confusion between them.
“I don’t understand, why else would you have run out like that on Monday?” Harry couldn’t keep the hurt from his voice.
“I was scared. You’d just got out of a pretty shit relationship and you kept going on about how glad you were that you weren’t in it anymore, and how you weren’t going to settle for something mediocre! Then we shagged and I couldn’t bear the thought of waking up with you thinking it was a mistake but being too damned polite to say anything, so I left,” Draco babbled.
“I’m not that polite, Malfoy,” Harry deadpanned.
“I just didn’t want to get hurt when you inevitably threw me out on my ear.” Draco smiled sheepishly. He didn’t know what else to say. He’d been trying to protect himself from someone who obviously hadn’t been intending to hurt him.
“Walking out like that was pretty shitty, you know. I’ve spent most of this week remembering the way you looked at me when you left, like I’d done something awful to you.” Harry stared at his lap. He felt weary. This week had been too emotionally draining for him to handle.
“Harry, I’m sorry, but you’re not the only one who’s had a catastrophic relationship in their past, and things like that don’t happen to me. I thought it was too good to be true.”
Harry stood from the bench and walked towards the shorter blonde. “You felt it too?” He watched Draco shiver and blush, but whether that was just from the cold, he didn’t know.
“It’s never been like that for me before,” Draco admitted softly and stared up at Harry with determined eyes. He wanted this and he was finally going to be brave.
“Me neither,” Harry breathed and took another step towards Draco, who shivered again.
“You’re shivering.” Harry sighed as he stared into Draco’s eyes, wordlessly asking for permission to touch him. Draco gave the slightest of nods and in an instant Harry wrapped his arms around Draco, pulling the smaller man against his chest. Their eyes locked.
“You’re freezing.” Harry sighed and if possible pulled Draco even closer. He slid an arm up his back and splayed his fingers between Draco’s pointy shoulder blades.
Draco tipped his chin up and rubbed his nose affectionately against Harry’s. Harry could feel Draco’s warm breath across his cheek and he couldn’t hold off any longer. He sealed their lips together in a bruising kiss. The kiss he had longed to give the blonde all week. Draco’s hands were in his hair, holding him in place as they kissed passionately in the garden. Draco bit softly on Harry’s lower lip, making him moan as he pulled away slightly.
Harry stared down into Draco’s stormy grey eyes and smiled softly. “Thank you for coming and finding me.”
Draco grinned cheekily. “Why don’t you take me inside and show me exactly how grateful you are?”
“Sounds like a perfect plan to me.” Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around Draco before steering them both into the kitchen.
“Draco?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you know you’re not wearing any shoes?”
Draco smiled. “Can’t say I noticed.”
Comments are very welcome, as always.
Rating: R
Pairing: Draco/Harry, Hermione/Ron, Ginny and Neville
Summary: Sometimes it takes the rug being pulled out from under you to realise you hated the damned rug to begin with. A wake up call was exactly what Harry needed to get his life back.
Warnings: EWE, slight DH compliant.
Word Count: 10000
Authors Note: Thank you to my ever lovely beta kcstories
This is probably the longest one shot fic I've ever written and I've been going back to it on and off for a year now. I have real issues with Ginny and I wanted to write a story in which I didn't hate her, I think she and I have an understanding now. Its just like my other fics, only longer.
There was nothing left to say as Harry packed his bag and hauled it onto his shoulder, astonished that after two years together there wasn’t more of his stuff littered around the house, but then he was used to living light.
Seamus stood in the bathroom doorway, staring at him silently, his arms crossed over his broad chest. He looked far angrier than he had any right to be. It was his fault after all that things were over. His and Dean’s, to be exact.
Harry had walked in on them kissing at Hermione and Ron’s anniversary party. They hadn’t locked the bathroom door behind them and it just so happened that Harry had been the one to find them.
Seamus’ arse was pressed tightly against the sink as Dean ground against him. It was obvious from the comfortable movements that this was not their first time or some innocent drunken fumble. They didn’t even notice Harry at first. It wasn’t until he accidentally bashed his elbow on the doorframe as he attempted to make a quick get away that the men broke apart and he met Seamus’ eyes. The Irishman didn’t even have the decency to blush.
“Harry mate, I can explain,” Dean quickly stammered.
“Well you’d certainly better try because I’m going to get Ginny,” Harry snapped and turned from the doorway, in search of Dean’s wife before anyone could protest. He could hear the two men behind him whispering harshly at one another and for a split second, Harry thought he should wait and let Dean tell his wife himself and not make a scene but he couldn’t stop himself.
He wasn’t as angry as he’d imagined he would be in this situation, however. As a matter of fact, his discovery made a lot of sense and answered a great deal of his questions about Seamus’ strange behaviour and mysterious disappearances of late.
Harry was angrier for Ginny. She and Dean had only been married a year and he knew that it had taken Ginny a long time to trust Dean enough to finally settle down, and now this was how he repaid her.
He spied Ginny across the room laughing with Fleur Weasley. Despite a tumultuous beginning, their relationship was a lot less frosty these days and Harry felt a pang of guilt as he watched her grinning. What he was about to tell her was going to change her and he knew it.
“Ginny, can we talk please, outside?” Harry touched Ginny’s forearm. Their gazes met, and she immediately frowned at his serious expression. Seamus and Dean bustled into the room behind him and she looked over Harry’s shoulder at her husband.
“Gin, please don’t,” Dean begged, not sure of what Harry had already said to her.
“Don’t what? What’s going on, boys?” She smiled nervously and Harry’s grip on her arm tightened.
“I need to talk to you, but we need to go outside. It’s Hermione and Ron’s night and I don’t want to make a scene,” Harry insisted and he began to lead Ginny from the room, glaring as he passed Dean, and not even bothering to look at Seamus. That one wasn’t worth the trouble.
They made it through the kitchen and stepped outside onto the patio. There were people littered around the top of the garden, enjoying the unseasonably warm spring night. They stared, enchanted by the fireflies charmed to dance in the air and light the dark garden.
Harry led Ginny through the throngs of people and down to the bench at the end of the garden. Neither of them sat.
“Harry, what’s going on? You’re scaring me a little.” Ginny wrapped her arms around herself, shivering in the tiny strapless dress she wore. Harry slipped off the light jacket he was wearing and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“I need to tell you something and you’re not going to like it,” Harry admitted solemnly, just as Dean, inevitably followed by Seamus, reached them.
“Ginny, don’t listen to him, please.” Dean grabbed at her arm and for some reason, Ginny pulled away and looked at Harry, desperate for an explanation.
“Gin, you know I would never hurt you on purpose, but I caught them in the bathroom,” Harry admitted, slowly.
“What do you mean caught them?” Ginny snapped, running out of patience.
“They were kissing,” Harry accused and turned to glare at his two former class mates.
“What? But Dean? We’re married?” Ginny frowned in confusion and looked back and forth between her husband and one of her closest friends. She wasn’t sure what to think and she was desperate for Harry’s face to crack into a grin and have all this be some kind of sick joke.
No smile came.
“Ginny, it wasn’t what it looked like,” Dean offered feebly. “Harry just came in at the wrong moment, that’s all.”
“If I’d come in later, would you have been fucking?” Harry snarled and Ginny looked up at him sharply.
“Fucking? Dean and Seamus fucking?” She looked as if the idea had not even entered her head; she was obviously struggling to process the information.
“Ginny, listen. It hasn’t been going on for long, I promise. And it means nothing.”
Harry felt Seamus stiffen beside him and he knew immediately that there was no question of their relationship being over. Harry was obviously not the one Seamus wanted.
“How long is not long, Dean Thomas? How long?” Ginny growled and jabbed him with a finger.
Harry was proud of her. He knew Ginny wasn’t the type of girl to cry and shriek. She was the type who’d get angry.
“A few-a few months,” Dean stuttered.
“How long?” Ginny all but screeched and Harry noticed that they had gotten the attention of several of the people standing around the patio. Not too surprising, really. No matter where Harry went, it always felt like someone was looking at him.
“Six months,” Dean admitted quietly and Harry felt the air around him practically crackle as Ginny’s anger turned to rage.
“You mean to tell me that half the time we’ve been married, six months after we exchanged wedding vows you were off fucking him?” Ginny looked at Seamus in disgust, as if noticing his presence for the first time. “How could you do that to me? How could you both do that to Harry?” she snapped and glared icily in Seamus’ direction once more.
“We couldn’t help it.” Dean sounded so utterly pathetic that Ginny simply sneered at him.
“Well, I won’t be able to help what I do to you if you don’t get out of my sight right this second,” Ginny growled, sounding every bit as fiery as her red hair implied.
“Ginny, please let me explain.” Dean sounded desperate.
“There is nothing to explain. Leave. I can’t even look at you right now,” Ginny seethed and shoved at Dean’s chest with both hands. He stumbled back and stared at her in shock. They stood there for a moment, suspended in loaded silence, before Dean turned and walked away. Seamus stood and stared at Harry, but Harry resolutely refused to look at him.
“Harry?”
“Fuck off, Seamus. I’ll pick up my stuff when I don’t feel like I’ll vomit just from the sight of you,” Harry snarled, barely even glancing towards his soon to be ex-boyfriend. He slipped an arm around Ginny’s shoulders, worried that she was shaking with poorly repressed rage.
After a few moments, Seamus got the message and walked away.
“Ginny?” Harry whispered as he stared at his friend’s face. It only took a second before it crumpled and fat tears began to collect in the corners of her eyes. Harry wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest.
“Oh god, Harry, will it never end? When am I going to just be happy?” Ginny sobbed into his shoulder and he had no words of wisdom. He had been asking himself the same thing for years and he still had no answers.
“Any day now. Any day,” Harry whispered and held her more tightly.
The following day Harry collected his stuff.
*
Two weeks had gone by since Hermione and Ron’s party and Harry sat at his kitchen table eating a sandwich and drinking juice from a teacup. He couldn’t believe how blindly he had gone about neglecting his house he had spent so much money on restoring.
Over the past few years he had thrown himself so far into his work and in some ways into his relationship with Seamus that he hadn’t even noticed that he was barely sleeping there anymore. He couldn’t remember the last time he had filled his fridge or really done anything around the place.
Godric’s Hollow was barely furnished. In fact, he didn’t think he had two plates that matched. He had meant to do things like buy a sofa, spend ages decorating the perfect room for Teddy to stay in at the weekends and wander around shops looking for the perfect mattress, but it had just never happened.
It had been almost a year since the renovations had been completely finished and there were still four mismatched chairs around the rickety kitchen table and the bed upstairs was one he had stolen from Grimmauld Place. He barely had a decent room for himself, let alone one that was good enough for his Godson.
Seamus had never wanted to live there. He had been horrified by the idea of living somewhere Harry’s parents had been murdered, no matter how much the builders had overhauled the place, and he much preferred living in trendy London than in a tiny rural village, thus the house had been mostly left to collect dust.
Harry looked around the kitchen, taking in his surroundings. He had never before noticed what a good job had been done to restore the house. Everything was just as he had wanted. The marble sideboards and well-carved cupboard doors made the kitchen look homely despite its lack of furnishings. It was beautiful and for once Harry was glad to be there.
Harry was also glad for the silence and tranquillity that being here afforded him. Between work and living in Seamus’ cramped house, he had barely had any time alone or time to think. He’d just got on with things. There had been too much to deal with, things he hadn’t been ready to deal with, and Seamus had been a convenient distraction.
Harry had barely seen anyone in the first few days after he’d gotten his things. He had called in sick to work and simply milled around the house, finally getting to know his family’s home.
For once, the silence didn’t feel oppressive and he allowed himself to think about what had happened here and all the things he’d experienced growing up.
He wandered in and out of every room, finding boxes of things he had forgotten he owned and whole rooms he’d forgotten were even there. He spent hours sitting in the doorway of what would have been his bedroom as a child wondering what else had happened there besides his parent’s untimely deaths. He would stare out into the hallway and imagine his mother carrying freshly washed linens and putting them into the cupboard at the end of the landing, and his father carrying him down the stairs as a baby while he tickled him. He imagined that there had been laughter and happiness here as well, not just screaming and terror. Harry wanted to fill this house with happiness again.
He found that he wanted to make his own memories here, not in some nondescript house with a man he barely loved. He wanted to make this place his own. He wanted to spend long weekends lying in bed in his own house for once. He wanted to spend more time with Teddy and let the little boy spend more weekends with him.
Seamus had never been completely happy about having Harry’s Godson around. At twenty-three, spending time with a little kid wasn’t exactly appealing to Harry’s ex-boyfriend.
Things were going to change. Harry had spent too long ignoring his dreams and trying to forget the things, no matter how horrible, that had shaped him as person. He had become so shut down that sometimes he forgot who he was.
He had made several trips into the village, visiting the final resting place of his parents and the new monument erected in their honour, which had been moved from the house now that he was living there. The more time he spent in his ancestral home, the more he felt connected with it. He wanted to spend his life here, in the place where he would have grown up.
Harry took a final bite off his sandwich and put the plate and teacup into the huge white porcelain sink, which sat in front of the kitchen window. From there he could see the entire garden, and it was a wonderful sight early in the morning.
Well, it would have been if it were not for all the weeds. He made a mental note to get in touch with Neville and ask his advice. Then he wandered through the rest of the house, looking for something else to discover and more memories he needed to deal with.
*
Draco Malfoy squeezed the aubergine; it was a gorgeous colour, large and firm. He wasn’t sure what he’d do with it when he bought it, but he had made it his goal to buy something new each week and attempt to make it edible. So far he had had a lot of fun with a star fruit, bok choy and fennel. He vaguely remembered being served something containing aubergine when he’d stayed with Blaise one summer, but he was completely at a loss as to what he was supposed to cook it with. So inevitably he bought it.
It was early Sunday morning and he was wandering around a local farmers’ market. It was filled with Muggles who had too much money and far too many children. Nevertheless, the smell of fresh basil, garlic and organic meat cooking on open grills lured him from his small house every week.
“I just don’t know what to do anymore, Harry. I’m trying to forget about him and move on, but it’s just so hard, especially when he won’t stop Owling me.”
Shocked to hear a very familiar voice, Draco looked up from the asparagus he was examining. Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter stood in line waiting to be served at an organic cheese stand across the little square, and they seemed to be having a rather heated discussion.
“He’s not worth it, Gin. He’ll do it again. He's not going to just stop being attracted to other men because he’s been caught out. He’s repressed and it’s sad, but you’re hurt enough already and I can’t watch you get even more upset and hurt because of him,” Harry said sternly.
“I know. I just wish he’d leave me alone, then maybe I could think straight!”
Harry wrapped an arm around Ginny’s shoulders and squeezed her tightly.
Draco’s eyebrows were so raised they had almost disappeared into his hairline. Now there was a juicy bit of gossip. Not only had she been jilted by a lover, he’d obviously been messing around with another bloke too. Draco knew what that was like, poor girl.
“Anyway, I’m sick of talking about him. How are you doing, Harry? Aren't you even the least bit upset about Seamus?” Ginny quizzed.
“Nope. I was more angry about it all on your behalf. I’m glad it’s over. I feel like I can have a fresh start, no more mediocre relationships.” Harry looked down at Ginny and smiled in a way that made Draco’s stomach flip. It was the first time he’d gotten a full look at Harry’s face since noticing him and Ginny there. Good Lord, but the man was gorgeous!
When had that happened? Sure, he hadn’t seen them in-What? Five years and he certainly hadn’t looked the same at eighteen as he did now, but Draco still couldn’t get over how fantastic Potter looked. It was sometimes difficult to remember that the people around you grew up while you did, even if you weren’t around to see them.
It was then that Draco tripped over the corner of the stall he’d been standing at; sending a crate of asparagus crashing to the ground. Everyone around him began gawping at him, including the two former Gryffindors he’d been spying on. After straightening his clothes and pointedly not looking at anyone, including the people behind the stall who’d rushed forward to recover the over priced vegetables, Draco attempted to make a quick getaway. He failed miserably.
“Malfoy?”
Draco groaned inwardly and turned to face his former schoolmates. “Potter, Weasley, what a coincidence,” he drawled, and tried desperately not to blush as the Muggle store holder babbled on and on about her Organic produce and tried to salvage as much as she could from the dusty ground.
“What on earth are you doing here?” Harry laughed and held out his hand to shake Draco’s, showing that despite the bluntness of the question there was no real malice behind it.
Draco tentatively took the proffered hand and smiled softly as he shook it. “I live just around the corner, near the park actually. I come here every week. What about you?”
“Oh. Well, Ginny lives not too far away and heard about this place. I'm having a dinner party tonight, so we thought we’d come and spend ridiculous amounts of money on herbs we won’t know what to do with.” Harry laughed almost flirtatiously, making Ginny look at him quizzically.
“That sounds lovely. How have you been? It’s been years, hasn’t it?” Draco said, and grinned back just as warmly.
“Well, I’ve just moved into my parents’ old house down south and Ginny…” Harry stopped short, not really sure whether to go on.
“I’m about to go through a divorce.” Ginny’s voice sounded choked and again Harry’s arm came up around her shoulder.
Draco smiled softly at her. “Sorry to hear that. Men are bastards, are they not?” Draco offered another sympathetic smile before they lapsed into a somewhat awkward silence, all pondering on how true that statement could be.
“Well, I should probably get going. It’ll take me all day to figure out how to cook half the things I’ve bought.” Draco indicated to the bags he was carrying.
“Don’t bother then. Why don’t you come to dinner tonight? I bought enough food for an army and it’d be a shame to have it go to waste. Besides, it’d be nice to catch up properly.”
Harry’s smile was entirely genuine and Draco didn’t know what to say. It felt as if the world had been tipped on its head. Not only had he stumbled upon Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley in his own little niche of London, but it also turned out that Potter had grown up to be an incredibly handsome and well mannered man. Who’d have thought after years of being a ball of teenage angst that he’d turn out so well?
“Are you sure?” Draco asked uncertainly.
“Of course I’m sure!” Harry smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small piece of parchment. “This is the floo address. I’ve told everyone else around seven o’clock. It’d be wonderful if you came.” Harry grinned. This time he was definitely flirting.
“Alright, I’ll do that.” Draco blushed and said his goodbyes before disappearing into the ever-growing crowd of Muggles, very aware of the two Gryffindor’s watching him leave through the mass of people.
“Harry, you do realise that you’ve just invited Draco Malfoy to dinner tonight, don’t you?” Ginny sounded aghast and it only made Harry smile even more widely.
“I’m perfectly aware of that, thank you, Gin.” Harry grinned and his tone was a little too smug for Ginny’s liking.
“I knew you were a bit hungover this morning, but I didn’t know you were still drunk!” Ginny couldn’t help but laugh; it was the first time Harry had seen her smile properly in weeks.
*
Harry couldn’t get Draco Malfoy’s face out of his mind. The man had certainly grown up since they had last seen one another, which had been five years ago when Harry had returned Draco’s wand to him. If he were truthful, Harry couldn’t honestly say he had thought of Draco Malfoy often since then. There had been a lot going and finding old school enemies hadn’t exactly been high on his list of priorities.
Saying that, seeing him again had brought back many familiar old memories of obsession. Harry had never been able to ignore Draco and he certainly hadn’t been able to this morning. Draco’s blonde hair was no longer slick and stiff, but longer and elegantly dishevelled. His eyes were as grey and stormy as they had ever been and Harry found himself wondering what they would look like when he was aroused.
“Harry, you know this means I’m going to get paired off with Neville.” Ginny pulled a face and Harry frowned as he was pulled out of his own, less than innocent, thoughts.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with Neville Longbottom, thank you very much, Ginevra Weasley,” Harry snapped as he continued laying out cutlery around his new dining table.
The house still looked sparsely furnished but he and Ginny had spent the weekend making it look at least presentable. There were actual sofas in the living room and wood in the fireplace, and a table for his guests to eat off of. Not to mention matching plates. He had also paid a visit to his parents’ Gringotts’ vault and had found numerous family heirlooms, which were now found dotted around the house. Paintings and photos of his friends and family finally made the place look like a home once more.
“I know, but he's not exactly a dish now, is he?” Ginny sighed as she polished a knife with a napkin and looked at her reflection in the steel.
“You could do a lot worse than Neville. In fact, I believe we both have. He did a lot for us during the war. He is brave and loyal and he’s certainly a lot better looking than he was when we were younger.” Harry winked at her and grinned. He had to duck to avoid the napkin she threw at him.
“You’re a pervert and that’s not the point. I don’t want to do anyone! My marriage just ended! I’m worried he’ll just talk about plants all evening. Oh Harry, why did you have to invite Malfoy?”
Ginny was incredibly annoying when she whinged and Harry cringed at the sound of her shrill tone.
“Are you going to go on about this all evening, Gin? It was an impulse, try new things and all that! Besides, didn’t you notice how amazing he looked? Not a pointy little ferret anymore.” Harry chuckled at Ginny’s once again aghast face. He loved winding her up.
“You’re not seriously considering shagging Malfoy are you? He's a… he's a…”
“What? Former Death Eater? Oh Ginny, you know he wasn’t even Marked!” Harry sighed exasperatedly.
“No. He’s a Slytherin!”
Harry stared at her as if she had grown another head. “Are you thirteen?”
Before Ginny could answer, the sound of the wards chiming signalled the arrival of their first guest.
Harry left Ginny to finish off the table and wandered into the living room to find Draco Malfoy standing in front of the fireplace looking over the few photos and trinkets that sat on the mantel.
“Malfoy, nice of you to come.” Harry once again held out his hand.
“It’s Draco, and thank you for inviting me. Are you sure it’s alright that I came? I don’t want to ruin anyone’s evening.”
Harry had never seen Draco Malfoy look unsure about anything and it was an endearing sight to witness.
“Don’t be silly. If anyone has a problem with it then they can leave. This is my house and I’ll invite who I like.”
Draco smiled shyly. “Well I bought this.” He held out a bottle of wine and Harry accepted it gratefully, looking at the label. It was obviously vintage and expensive. Draco was nervous and clearly trying to impress.
“Nobody else is here yet, besides Ginny, and well, she practically lives here at the moment, so she doesn’t count.” Harry placed the bottle on the coffee table before indicating that Draco should sit down.
“I couldn’t help but overhear you both talking earlier today. Her divorce, it sounds a bit… messy?” Draco hadn’t meant to pry, but he had been wondering about the details all day.
“Oh yeah. Well, it’s been hard. Seamus and Dean were cheating behind both our backs. We found out a few weeks ago at Hermione and Ron’s anniversary party.” Harry cleared his throat and shook his head. He was still mad at Dean and Seamus but didn’t mourn the loss of his relationship.
“Bastards. I thought you Gryffindors were meant to be all noble, not stabbing one another in the back. You’ll be making Slytherins obsolete soon.” Draco smiled a little sadly.
Harry was glad he’d made a joke about it rather than try and force sympathy upon him. Harry was so sick of people telling him that they were sorry, as if they had personally forced Seamus to cheat on him. People just didn’t seem to get that Harry was glad that relationship was over.
“I gave up thinking that those house stereotypes made sense a long time ago.” Harry chuckled warmly.
“Maybe you’re right, but in all seriousness, are you okay?” Draco suddenly sounded terribly solemn.
“Oh yeah. I’m fine. It was a wake up call. I wasn’t happy and it’s up to me to change that now. I’m not going to passively live my life anymore, and just settle for whatever comes along. I’m in control and it’s time I started to act like it.” Harry smiled brightly.
Ginny joined them, smiling tentatively at Draco. “Hello Malfoy. Glad you could come.”
Draco smiled. She almost sounded sincere. “Weasley.” He nodded curtly, and was saved from any awkward conversation by the wards chiming and the appearance of Neville Longbottom out of Harry’s fireplace.
“Neville! Great to see you, mate!” Harry stood from the sofa and hugged his taller, broader friend as fiercely as he could.
“Harry.” Neville grinned and hugged back just as hard. “It’s good to see you too! It’s been too long!” Neville stood back from their hug and Harry had to stop himself from snorting with laughter as his friend’s face lit up at the sight of Ginny.
“Ginny, how are you?” Neville asked almost shyly and despite her earlier reservations, Ginny had the good grace to smile back genuinely and accept the taller Gryffindor’s fierce embrace. “Am I the first one here?”
Harry shook his head and he stepped away from the sofa to reveal Draco.
“Malfoy? Well, hello, how are you?” Neville’s welcome was stilted at best.
Harry frowned and met Ginny’s gaze, grimacing. Maybe he hadn’t thought this through.
Draco got to his feet, shook Neville’s hand and smiled sincerely at the sandy haired man.
Neville looked at Harry in shock. Was this really the nasty little ferrety boy they had all been forced to endure during their school days?
Neville didn’t have time to consider the subject much longer before Ron and Hermione came tumbling out of the fireplace.
Harry’s closest friends had the good grace to look shocked and refrain from asking any questions. Even Ron seemed to keep his famous temper in check and soon all five of Harry’s guests were seated in his brand new sofas in his living room enjoying a glass of wine, be it in somewhat awkward silence.
Harry slipped from the room to check on the chicken roasting in the oven.
This gave Hermione an opportunity to corner him under the pretence of lending him a hand.
“You do realise that’s Malfoy out there?” she enquired casually as she leaned against the counter and attempted to gain Harry’s attention while he poked and prodded the chicken with a fork. “The same Malfoy who almost got us killed on numerous occasions, the same Malfoy…”
“Who didn’t turn us in to his parents and Voldemort at his house when it was obvious he knew who we were? Yes, Hermione, I had realised, and before you list all of his past indiscretions back to me like I don’t already know them, don’t you think you should remember that people change?”
Hermione snorted and Harry rolled his eyes.
“You’re friends with Pansy Parkinson now, aren’t you?” he asked pointedly and was mollified as he watched Hermione blush.
“That’s different!”
“Why? I’d never have taken you to be narrow minded, Hermione,” Harry said seriously.
“I’m not being narrow minded, and it’s different anyway because I’m not trying to get into her pants!” Hermione snapped and the sound of silence emanated from the living room. They had obviously all heard what she’d said.
Harry glared at her. She wasn’t normally this tactless, but maybe being married to Ron had rubbed off on her.
Harry grabbed her wrist and dragged her towards the larder.
“I am not trying to get into anyone’s pants!” he whispered furiously. He couldn’t believe she had even suggested it.
“Oh please! You think I haven’t noticed how he’s changed? Oh, I’ve noticed. He’s all broad shoulders and a pinched-in waist, and have you seen that arse?” Hermione leered and Harry stared at her incredulously. She had definitely been married to Ron for far too long.
“Hermione!” Harry practically screeched.
“Well, it’s true, and if you tell me you haven’t noticed, then you’re a liar!”
The sound of someone clearing their throat behind Harry made him stiffen in embarrassment. He knew exactly whose face he’d be seeing when he turned around.
“Draco? Is everything alright?” Harry plastered on a fake smile and watched as Malfoy’s insufferable smirk intensified.
“I was just wondering if you needed any help with the chicken?” Draco grinned and Harry swallowed hard at the way the blonde’s eyes travelled the length of his body, obviously checking him out.
“I think we have everything sorted, thanks!” Harry winced at the way his voice squeaked and he ushered both of his guests back into the living room.
*
Harry was so busy talking to Malfoy throughout the entire meal that he didn’t notice what a good time Ginny was having until he heard a snort of laughter coming from her end of the table. He hadn’t heard her laugh like that in such a long time and he watched as she and Neville fell about laughing over something he hadn’t caught. Ginny seemed to have forgotten how much the two of them had in common. During what would have been Harry’s seventh year at school, they’d fought against Voldemort together from inside Hogwarts. The two of them had shared experiences that would always bind them. It was just a matter of time before Ginny saw what a wonderful guy Neville could be.
“Harry?”
“Sorry, Draco. What did you say?” Harry’s gaze snapped back to the grey eyes that seemed far closer to his own than they had been moments ago.
“I was just asking what else you plan to do with the house. It’s beautiful. I’d be grateful of a tour later.” Harry didn’t miss the way Draco’s eyes sparkled mischievously.
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to give you one-um... a tour, I mean, before you leave.” Harry grabbed his glass of wine and took a large gulp of the cool clear liquid, ignoring Hermione’s snort of laughter from the other side of him.
“Thanks.” Draco grinned.
*
Hermione and Ron left not long after dessert. Hermione was feeling tired and said she wanted an early night before work the next day. Harry hadn’t missed the way she had ignored the wine in favour of juice the entire evening, but he’d wait for them to tell him when they were ready.
Neville and Ginny were sitting on the sofa sharing another bottle and laughing over something else Harry hadn’t heard, while he and Draco finished clearing the table.
“They seem to be getting on like a house on fire.” Draco smiled warmly as he carried the last dish into the kitchen and dumped it into the sink where an enchanted kitchen cloth and towel were already busy getting the rest of the dinnerware clean.
“And can you believe she’s whinged at me all day about inviting him? Silly cow.” Harry chuckled as he placed a dish of leftover food into the fridge. He turned to smile at Draco and was surprised to find the blonde standing right in front of him, close enough to share breath.
“I’d say it has been a day for surprising discoveries, wouldn’t you?” Draco’s voice had taken on a husky quality and Harry swallowed hard.
“You could say that, yes.” Harry licked his lips. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Draco’s whose pupils seemed to have dilated considerably.
“I think I’d like my tour now, Mr Potter.” Draco grinned and leaned in teasingly before stepping back and disappearing into the dining room. Harry paused a moment to compose himself before following him.
When they reached the living room, they found Ginny and Neville preparing to leave.
“Going so soon?” Harry asked.
“Some of us have work tomorrow, lazy bones.” Ginny grinned and staggered a little bit as she moved towards the fireplace.
“Sure you’ll be alright getting home?” Harry nodded at the almost empty bottle of wine.
“I’ll make sure she gets home okay.” Neville smiled shyly before they said their goodbyes and disappeared into the green flames.
“Well now, Mr Potter, you’ve got me all alone. What are you going to do with me?” Draco grinned cheekily and winked.
“I’m going to give you that tour you’ve been after,” Harry replied seriously before ushering Draco up the stairs.
Harry took his time showing Draco each of the upstairs rooms, making sure to brush against him at every available opportunity. When they finally reached the master bedroom that Harry had claimed as his own, the Gryffindor found himself pressed against a wall.
“Are you going to stop teasing me anytime soon?” Draco whispered hoarsely, his lips millimetres from Harry’s. Both men were panting and their chests heaved as the sexual tension crackled around them.
“I had planned on it, yes.” Harry grinned as he leaned forward and rubbed his nose against Draco’s. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so much passion for someone or the last time he had felt so desperate to feel someone else’s skin against his own.
“Then kiss me!” Draco growled before Harry sealed their mouths together and they fought for control over the passionate embrace. Draco pulled back for air several moments later and stared up at Harry with seeming awe. His grey eyes were dilated and glistening, and he gasped for breath. His lips were wet and swollen and Harry couldn’t stop himself from leaning in and sucking on his bottom lip which made Draco groan.
“I think the tour should end here,” Draco whispered hoarsely and Harry smiled smugly as he began to steer Draco back towards the bed.
*
The next morning was awkward, to say the least.
Although Harry didn’t regret sleeping with Draco, it was obvious the blonde felt differently. Draco seemed to want to leave as quickly as possible after they had woken up and Harry couldn’t suppress the hurt that bubbled up in him at the look of abject dismay all over Draco’s face as what they had done came back to him, so he let him leave. He was in no way going to force Draco to be around him when it was obvious how abhorrent he found the idea.
Harry spent the entire day pottering around the house, replaying the morning’s events and wondering what he had said or done to make Draco leave in such a way. He came up with nothing.
He didn’t see anyone until Ginny popped over after work on Thursday. He was unable to drag himself out of the funk he had gotten himself into after Draco had left.
Ginny chatted on happily about her week, about how obvious it was that Hermione was pregnant and about how surprisingly funny Neville had been on Sunday.
It wasn’t until they were halfway through their Singapore noodles that she noticed Harry was being unusually quiet. One side of their witty banter was certainly missing.
“Harry, you know, maybe you should get out of the house a little. Are you sure you don’t want to go back to work?” Ginny patted his hand and smiled softly.
“I’m not going back, Gin. I don’t know why I thought I wanted to be an Auror. I feel pretty much like a nervous wreck when I’m at work. It brings back too many memories. I’m just not happy there.” Harry sighed softly.
“Well, you don’t seem to be very happy here either,” Ginny pointed out.
“It’s not being here that’s making me unhappy. The house is fine, but everything else feels like a big mess!” Harry sighed and ran his hand through his hair, abandoning his chopsticks.
“Oh, you’re talking about Malfoy.” Ginny sounded unsure whether or not to approach the subject.
“Yes, we slept together and then on Monday morning when he woke up, he behaved as if it were the worst thing in the world. I was expecting sarcastic remarks or indifference maybe before that friendly banter we had going came back. Instead he looked at me as if I’d done something horrid to him. I don’t think anyone had ever looked at me quite like that before.” Harry was truly miserable. He couldn’t stop replaying the look on Draco’s face and every time he did, it got worse.
“Maybe you should go and talk to him?”
“And say what? Thanks for coming to dinner and the great fuck; can you explain why my chest hurts every time I think about you? Can you explain why all I do is spend time thinking about you and therefore have been aching for days?” Harry sighed wearily, seemingly worn out by his tirade. He flopped against the sofa and hung his head on the back. He stared up at the ceiling, waiting for Ginny’s response.
Ginny stared at Harry, aghast. Had she really heard all that correctly?
“Harry, you really need to go and see him, if that’s how you feel; it sounds like you might be...”
“Don’t even say it! It’s been four days. It’s absolutely not possible!”
“But Harry...”
“No, Ginny! This is Draco Malfoy we’re talking about!”
“That didn’t seem to matter on Sunday!”
“On Sunday it was just a shag, and now...”
“Now you’ve realised it might be so much more?”
“It could be, but I’m not going to say I’m in love with him, Ginny. I’m not some wide eyed fourteen-year-old girl!”
“But...”
“But I’ve never felt like that before, so connected with someone else. It was like he anticipated my every move and knew how to compliment it with another. And then we woke up and it was as if he had forgotten it all in the harsh light of day and was horrified to even be there with me.” Harry sighed. He sounded truly defeated.
“I’m sorry, Harry,” Ginny gripped his hand and squeezed.
“Well, you’ve shagged me, Ginny. It wasn’t that bad, was it?”
“Well...” Ginny winked at him. She was so unhelpful at times.
“Ginny!” Harry whined pitifully. They didn’t often talk about the short time they’d spent together after the Battle of Hogwarts. It hadn’t worked and Harry had soon realised it was because he spent more time checking out Ginny’s brother than he did her. They’d split amicably when Ginny had sat him down and told him that she didn’t want to compete with Percy for her boyfriend. They’d managed to laugh about it and although things had been awkward for a while, they had since moved on and become good friends again.
“I’m not answering, Harry. Me telling you whether or not you were good in bed isn’t going to solve this particular problem, is it?”
Harry stared into his food and sighed miserably.
She was right. It wouldn’t.
*
Neville stopped over on Saturday morning to have a look at Harry’s garden as agreed.
Together they formed a plan to have the entire thing ready for later in the year when it would hopefully get hot and sunny, and if that didn’t happen, Neville was going to make a sheltered area near the back door where Harry could come and sit and enjoy his garden anyway.
When there were finished, Harry made them sandwiches and they sat together in Harry’s kitchen on chairs that didn’t match.
“I’m taking Ginny out for dinner tonight,” Neville said softly.
“You are? That’s great, mate! Looking forward to it?” Harry grinned broadly. He wondered how long it would take the two of them to get together. Ginny so often got in her own way when it came to things like this. It had been the same with Dean in the beginning. Harry blamed himself that she found it hard to trust people and usually pushed them away instead. He hoped Neville would persevere.
“I’m absolutely terrified, Harry. This is Ginny!” Neville’s cheeks turned a delightful red. The man had retained a great deal of innocence in Harry’s eyes. He threw himself into everything like his life depended upon it and was passionate and exuberant in a way that hadn’t changed since he was fourteen. He was a good man and if he weren’t 100% straight and utterly in love with Ginny, Harry might have had a go himself.
“I know, but remember at the same time, it’s just Ginny, the girl you’ve known forever, the dorky kid that used to follow us around all the time.” Harry smiled, remembering the little girl that had been so in awe of him.
“Follow you around, you mean.” Neville laughed heartily.
“Well, what can I say? If she’s going out with you, her taste has certainly gotten better since.” Harry grinned. He was being completely sincere.
“I wouldn’t say that. I’d say I’m more like a last resort to her.” Neville stared pensively into his glass of juice.
“Neville, give yourself more credit, would you? You’re a catch and you’re comparing yourself to Dean, who broke her heart and me, well, I’m not the best...”
“But you are, Harry. I wish I could be half the man you are!” Neville cried with all that passion Harry was so fond of.
“Neville, you’re twice the man I am! You’re the kindest, most generous person I’ve ever met. Now, I won’t spend a second more listening to you doubting yourself. Ginny should feel honoured to be going out with you tonight and if she isn’t, then it’s entirely her loss.”
Neville stared at Harry, completely stunned. “Do you really mean that?”
“Every word.” Harry stared into Neville’s chocolate brown eyes until he was sure his friend was convinced.
“Thanks Harry.” Neville smiled, stood from the table and put his plate in the sink. He stared out of the window across the garden. “It really will look amazing when it’s done.” Neville grinned at Harry over his shoulder.
“Thanks for your help. I really appreciate everything.” Harry smiled softly and joined his friend to look out over the garden. They stood in amicable silence for a moment before Neville spoke again.
“I bumped into Malfoy the other day on Diagon Alley. He asked about you.” Neville grinned cheekily and Harry felt his stomach lurch.
“He did?” Harry’s obvious attempt at nonchalance failed miserably and he couldn’t hide the slightly desperate tinge to his voice.
“Yeah. He seemed a bit ‘off’ though, not like himself. He seemed nervous to ask about you. Did things end badly between the two of you?” Neville frowned in concern, and Harry avoided his gaze.
“You could say that, although I don’t really know what went wrong.” Harry sighed sadly and continued to stare out into the bright afternoon sunshine.
“Well, maybe you should ask him?” Neville knew Harry could be stubborn and it was unlikely he would just swallow his pride and go and speak to Malfoy, but it was worth the suggestion. Neville hadn’t seen his friendly so genuinely enraptured by someone’s company in such a long time that it seemed silly for him to let it all end over what sounded like a misunderstanding.
“Maybe,” Harry agreed distractedly, and snapped out of his introspection to turn and smile softly at Neville.
“Honestly, Harry, don’t you think it’s about time you were happy?” Neville patted Harry on the shoulder softly.
“With Malfoy?”
“With anyone! Second chances, Harry! I am starting to see that maybe they actually happen.” Neville smiled softly before grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair and slipping it on.
“I have to go, Harry, but think about what I said! Wish me luck for later!” Neville smiled brightly and disappeared from the room. Harry wished him luck as he whooshed through the green flames of the Floo.
Harry sat and pondered on what Neville had said for an hour before restlessness and curiosity got the best of him and he left the house. It didn’t take long to find out where Malfoy lived. A quick trip to the Auror office, and the help of a very eager first year trainee left him with the address in hand within twenty minutes.
Several moments later, Harry had Apparated to a street in West London. The street was lined with Georgian town houses and tall trees filled with budding blossoms. It was beginning to get dark and Harry shivered in the unseasonably cool weather. He looked at the address on the piece of parchment in his hand and found he had Apparated only few houses away.
He opened the gate and closed it quietly behind him. There was a light shining from the window on the first floor and he swallowed thickly, mustering up the courage to reach forward and knock. It had been a long week and he hoped that this would not be all for nothing.
He waited for several moments before the door opened and he frowned in confusion as a man close to his own age opened the door, his face mirroring Harry’s own confused expression at finding him there. The man had dark hair and dark eyes. He was gorgeous. He leaned casually against the door frame and smiled at Harry softly, waiting for him to speak.
“Sorry, I must have the wrong house. I was looking for someone else...” Harry frowned.
“Well, unlucky for me, but maybe I can help?” The gorgeous dark haired man stared at him approvingly.
“I’m looking for Draco Malfoy, but I must have been given the wrong address.” Harry stared at the parchment once more. This was the correct address.
“Oh. No, you’re at the right place. Do you want me to get him for you? He was just making us a spot of dinner and the silly thing cut his finger trying to slice up this soggy old aubergine.” The man laughed softly and looked fondly back into the house.
Harry felt himself go cold. Now it all made sense. The mortification because they had slept together had all been because Draco had cheated on his boyfriend. He hadn’t meant to sleep with Harry at all. That was why he hadn’t been quite himself with Neville when he’d seen him earlier that week. He had probably been worried about the rumour mill in such a small wizarding community.
Harry felt himself stagger backwards as he remembered the way it had felt to have Draco whimpering and writhing beneath him, staring up at him with those stormy grey eyes. He felt ten times worse now than he had all week, knowing it really had meant nothing to the other man; just some mistake.
“Are you alright there, mate?” The dark haired man stepped towards Harry as he staggered away.
“Yeah. Yeah, don’t worry. I really have made a mistake,” Harry said softly and tried to smile.
“No. It’s fine, I can...” The man gestured back into the warmly lit house.
“Marcus, who’re you talking to?” At the sound of Malfoy’s voice, Harry walked quickly to the gate, mumbling apologies as he went.
The last thing he wanted was for Malfoy to catch him standing at his doorstep like a lost needy puppy and making things awkward between him and his partner. He couldn’t help damning himself for actually believing that something could come from a one-night-stand with Malfoy, of all people. Maybe it was time he gave up on all of this. Nobody was as they seemed, and he was tired of the lies and mind games that seemed to go hand in hand with every relationship he had ever had.
“A friend of yours?” Marcus asked, obviously confused about the sudden appearance of a strange man at their doorstep. Draco stepped around Marcus and stood staring at Harry, who looked up briefly as he closed the gate behind him.
“Harry?” Draco seemed genuinely surprised to see Harry standing there at his front gate.
“Sorry to have bothered you, Malfoy. I can see I’m interrupting. I’ll be leaving now.” Harry couldn’t quite meet Draco’s eye, nor could he quite keep the bitterness from his voice.
“What are you doing here?” Malfoy stepped onto the front step, wrapping his arms around his shirt-covered torso and shivering slightly.
Harry finally looked up at him; Draco looked just as gorgeous as he remembered; his eyes were bright in the otherwise dull evening and his hair windswept. Harry’s stomach clenched
“I came looking for you, but I obviously made a mistake. I’m sorry. Go back inside and enjoy your evening.” Harry’s voice cracked and he stepped back, away from the gate, getting ready to Apparate.
“Harry, I...”
“You don’t have to say anything, Draco. I understand. I won’t bother you again. I just wanted you to know that, well, it was good seeing you on Sunday and I wish-Well, it doesn’t matter now...” Harry finally met Draco’s eyes and smiled sadly. “Bye,” Harry said softly before Apparating away.
Harry suddenly found himself in his rural back garden. He collapsed on the rickety old bench that was shoved up against the wall below the kitchen window. He took in great gulps of country air and tried to calm his nerves. His stomach roiled and he willed himself to not throw up.
He had been so wrong.
He had spent all week thinking he had had some kind of connection with Malfoy when the latter had in fact gone home to his lover he had cheated on.
Maybe Harry had been only one in a long line of one-night-stands. He sighed tiredly and couldn’t ignore the hurt bubbling up in him. His chest ached worse than it had all week. Seamus had never hurt him in this way.
Maybe mediocre relationships really were better. If you didn’t care then you wouldn’t get hurt and Harry definitely didn’t like feeling this way, and he’d only experienced a week of it. How would he feel if he ever became more invested in someone? Truly loved them only to have them pull the rug out from under him eventually?
*
Draco stood on the front steps for a moment after Harry left and stared at the empty space he’d left on the pavement. What had just happened?
“So that was the infamous Harry Potter?”
Draco had almost forgotten that Marcus was still there and he turned to find a concerned expression on his friend’s face.
“Yeah, that’s him,” Draco said softly and shivered again.
“I think he got the wrong idea about me, Draco,” Marcus said softly.
“What?” Draco frowned in confusion. He was still trying to process what had just happened. Why had Harry come looking for him? Why had he run away as soon as he’d seen him?
“Well, he came looking for you and what with me answering the door and all; it looks a bit suspect, doesn’t it?” Marcus stood back, letting the blonde enter the foyer and close the door behind him
“I don’t...”
“Draco, you fool! He thinks I’m your boyfriend and assumes that your little shagging session was just a sleazy one night stand!” Marcus sighed. Draco really was exasperating. He didn’t get anything, even the most obvious.
“But he said...”
“It doesn’t matter what he said last week. He obviously wanted to see you today! Now go!”
“I can’t just turn up there!”
“Draco, do you want the only man you’ve shagged in months to think that you’re some horrid prat that led him on?”
“He already thinks I’m a horrid prat!”
“Then go over there and change his mind!” Marcus had one hand around Draco’s wrist and was already opening the front door, ready to shove Draco outside.
Out on the front doorstep, Draco stared up at his friend with wide eyes, just in time to watch Marcus slam the door in his face. Marcus really could be a right twat when he wanted to be.
Draco shivered before he Apparated.
He found himself on the outskirts of a small village and realised he was wearing no shoes. He inwardly cursed Marcus before taking in his surroundings. He was definitely in Godric’s Hollow. He recognised the memorial that sat in the village square from the pictures in the Daily Prophet on the day of its unveiling.
He shivered again, more violently and turned around in search of his destination. He noticed a small cottage along a lane and headed towards it, vaguely recognising the place from every History book he had ever read about his world.
He hurried along the damp ground, wincing when he trod on a stone, and was determined to reach the little cottage, getting out of the cold and sorting out the mess he’d managed to get himself into.
He had woken on Monday morning with a hangover and sore in places he hadn’t expected and when he had rolled over and found Harry sleeping peacefully next to him a sudden feeling of regret had passed over him.
Harry had spent the entire evening talking about how happy he was that he wasn’t in some crap relationship he had just fallen into, and then he had fallen into bed with Draco. What if he woke up feeling like he was obligated to try and make something work between them? Draco wasn’t going to be Harry’s next-what had he called it? Mediocre relationship.
He had panicked and rushed out of there as soon as possible. He had spent every day since regretting it and wishing he could go back to find out what would have happened had he not bolted.
Draco arrived outside the Potter Cottage and wandered up the front door. He knocked twice, only to receive no answer. He was shivering on the spot and didn’t know where to begin looking for Harry if he wasn’t here. He had a sudden realisation that he knew nothing about the man’s life beyond what he had learned last Sunday and he felt desperate for a chance to learn more.
Draco noticed a path that wrapped around the house and he followed it until he found himself in the back garden. It was almost completely pitch black now, except for the dim glow of the moon and the light coming from the kitchen that illuminated the back porch and a lone figure sitting on a bench.
“Harry?” Draco couldn’t believe it had been that easy. There he was, sitting there in front of him just when he thought his trip had been for nothing.
“Malfoy? Shouldn’t you be eating aubergines with your boyfriend?” Harry’s voice was hoarse and gravelly and as Draco stepped into the light, he saw that Harry had a solemn look on his face.
“Marcus isn’t my boyfriend,” Draco stated plainly. He wanted to get right to the point; there had already been too much confusion between them.
“I don’t understand, why else would you have run out like that on Monday?” Harry couldn’t keep the hurt from his voice.
“I was scared. You’d just got out of a pretty shit relationship and you kept going on about how glad you were that you weren’t in it anymore, and how you weren’t going to settle for something mediocre! Then we shagged and I couldn’t bear the thought of waking up with you thinking it was a mistake but being too damned polite to say anything, so I left,” Draco babbled.
“I’m not that polite, Malfoy,” Harry deadpanned.
“I just didn’t want to get hurt when you inevitably threw me out on my ear.” Draco smiled sheepishly. He didn’t know what else to say. He’d been trying to protect himself from someone who obviously hadn’t been intending to hurt him.
“Walking out like that was pretty shitty, you know. I’ve spent most of this week remembering the way you looked at me when you left, like I’d done something awful to you.” Harry stared at his lap. He felt weary. This week had been too emotionally draining for him to handle.
“Harry, I’m sorry, but you’re not the only one who’s had a catastrophic relationship in their past, and things like that don’t happen to me. I thought it was too good to be true.”
Harry stood from the bench and walked towards the shorter blonde. “You felt it too?” He watched Draco shiver and blush, but whether that was just from the cold, he didn’t know.
“It’s never been like that for me before,” Draco admitted softly and stared up at Harry with determined eyes. He wanted this and he was finally going to be brave.
“Me neither,” Harry breathed and took another step towards Draco, who shivered again.
“You’re shivering.” Harry sighed as he stared into Draco’s eyes, wordlessly asking for permission to touch him. Draco gave the slightest of nods and in an instant Harry wrapped his arms around Draco, pulling the smaller man against his chest. Their eyes locked.
“You’re freezing.” Harry sighed and if possible pulled Draco even closer. He slid an arm up his back and splayed his fingers between Draco’s pointy shoulder blades.
Draco tipped his chin up and rubbed his nose affectionately against Harry’s. Harry could feel Draco’s warm breath across his cheek and he couldn’t hold off any longer. He sealed their lips together in a bruising kiss. The kiss he had longed to give the blonde all week. Draco’s hands were in his hair, holding him in place as they kissed passionately in the garden. Draco bit softly on Harry’s lower lip, making him moan as he pulled away slightly.
Harry stared down into Draco’s stormy grey eyes and smiled softly. “Thank you for coming and finding me.”
Draco grinned cheekily. “Why don’t you take me inside and show me exactly how grateful you are?”
“Sounds like a perfect plan to me.” Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around Draco before steering them both into the kitchen.
“Draco?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you know you’re not wearing any shoes?”
Draco smiled. “Can’t say I noticed.”
Comments are very welcome, as always.