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Rain was thick in the sky; the manor grounds and Wiltshire lay in a fine mist that coated the land in creeping plumes. The air was cold with a dampness that refused to dissipate, and in the distance Draco heard the hollow echo of a howl haunting across the moor. The world was most alive at night down here in the mist—between walls and stone there are reflective imprints of Draco’s entire families past. He can recall his grandparents out in the fields, guiding him by hand through the tall grass that brushed delicately against his sock clad knees. He remembers the weight of his Father's palm. Now all who remains is Draco himself.The peahens call nearby and Draco could see as Persimmon and Esmeralda began to peck at each other over who got to claim to best spot under a crumbling stone sculpture. He decided to pay them a visit, and ignored the dampness seeping into his wool trousers when he sat amongst the peahens in the grass, and allowed them to nibble at his ear and hair. He laughed under his breath, and reached out to give Esmeralda some strokes on her soft white neck. The ladies were getting old now, and they missed Father more than anyone else. “Poor darlings,” he breathed out, and Persimmon let out a heartbreaking cry. Mating season has been rough on his girls—they haven’t even ventured out to seek the company of the peacocks in months. It was concerning. Nothing excited them anymore. Draco had no idea what to do to persuade them—even the house elves failed to make the peafowl happy. Draco lay down on the grass and watched the dark grey clouds roll in. He could smell thunder in the atmosphere—crisp and electrifying. Lizzy, one of his younger peahens cooed and settled down beside him. He began to gently stroke her feathers, and then buried his cold nose in her warm coat. He would do anything to get the peafowl's feeling better—they were family.And he did not have much family left. The east wing glass parlour room was Draco’s favourite place to go to when a storm rolled in. He watched as rain drops pattered on the iron framed sills and raced down into the thick undergrowth. It reminded him often of the Slytherin dorms, and how he could watch the merpeople pass by under the lake.He lit the brass candelabras that sat in the centre of his paper strewn tea table, and reclined back on a chaise that was so old the springs did not retract. Draco sunk deep into the velvet cushioning with ease.So far all the books his Father had kept on raising and maintaining peafowl had failed him, and any alternate source of information proved useless as his peacocks wouldn’t even allow him to get near to them before they let out a shrill cry and attacked. He hadn’t seen behaviour from them like this since the war, and he wished so desperately that he could fix it somehow. A week ago he had attempted to separate the dominant peacocks from one another, in case it was an issue of territory, but such a deed turned out to be pointless as the fits the fowls threw only increased. It was at his wits end that he finally gave up and flooed Blaise.“Thought you’d never call, old bean.”Blaise’s face appeared in the green of the floo connected to the crumbling fireplace. Draco sat on the ground in front of the grate on a tasseled pillow, and plucked at its corners with fumbling fingers. He felt guilty.“I apologize Blaise, I truly do, but you know how busy I’ve been with upkeep on the manor.”Blaise rolled his eyes, “and that’s what house elves are for, yes? When my mother tried to remove Dimpy from the estate she began to wail and plead on her hands and knees, the poor thing.” Blaise frowned, "we immediately rehired her, of course."Draco could imagine it rather well. After the war when Grangers S.P.E.W set forth to free all house elves from their homes only a few agreed to follow along in her effort. Most of the elves were absolutely horrified at the idea of even setting foot off property grounds, unless it was to run errands. Draco had even tried himself to let the family elves go, but they refused now that Father was in Azkaban and Mother was in France. And so it was Draco, a manor full of house elves, and an army of unhappy peafowl.“The elves have tried, dear Blaise,” Draco moped, “but I’m afraid it’s hopeless. Trixx nearly got her ear nipped right off by Archibald.” Blaise winced and rubbed his jaw in thought. “Well old bean, have you tried to contact someone who works alongside creatures? Perhaps even an owlery could tell you something of value.” Draco bit his lip. There was a reason he’s yet to talk to anyone besides Blaise and Pansy, his two closest and only friends. The entire UK wizarding world despised him, and would be happy to string him up by his toes. Even going as far as to venture out in Diagon Ally was a suicide mission. He had Trixx do it all for him, lest he be brutally murdered and the Prophet run an expose about how he was scum of the Earth, and that a celebration would be held in favour of his death to all that came. Draco could imagine swarms of people attending, most of all the Golden Trio, all wearing party hats and dancing around his dangling body with cheer.He really must stop reading all of Mother's old fables.Blaise seemed to know what he was going to say even before Draco said it, and shot him a deeply sympathetic look with his dark brown eyes,“Don’t worry Draco, I’ll ask Pansy if she may have any idea on what to do. I’ll get her to owl you, yea?”Draco nodded, and with a smile that felt weak even to himself, he shut the connection to the floo.He sighed, and curled up on his side on the chaise after vacating his pillow to the ground. The manor was as silent as a crypt these days, and the chill from the stone walls seeped into the rooms, and into Draco’s bones, no matter how many warming charms he cast or fireplaces he lit. It felt often times that nothing was in his control, and that he was simply a spectre in his own home. While watching the raindrops race each other down into the growth he felt his eyes prickle and water and he angrily swiped at them. There was no point into giving up now. He had another chance at life—and he must make the best of it. He must.A week later Draco received an owl from Pansy while he was out for a morning stroll through the hedge maze. He sat down on a regal bench held up by two chipped stone swans, and opened the wax seal. 'Draco,How are you? Well, I hope. It's been much too long you tosspot! I miss your snotty little face.
I come bearing good news--I've come into contact with someone who is specialized in dealing with naughty fowl, and I think he's exactly the bloke you need for the job. He's told me that he was willing to meet with you on Saturday, and I took liberty of providing him with address. Don't bother thanking me; you can make it up to me with that delicious blue silk corset I told you about.I love you,Pansy'"Damned bint." Draco murmured, and hugged the letter to his chest with a sweet ache for his friend. He would be buying her that corset and more--a bouquet of the manors best flowers would do nicely. He would have Trixx arrange them neatly and send them out that very afternoon. He carried on his day in a lighter mood than he'd felt in weeks, and even the elves took notice. They watched him swagger to and from room with shared masks of confusion, and at dinner time he even managed to stomach all five courses. It wasn't until the next morning when he felt a disturbance in his wards that his good mood plummeted. When he got to the gates of Malfoy Manor, Harry Potter stood on the other side. He looked out of place amongst the gothic manor and its delicate ancestral white rosebushes. His hair is as mangy as ever, Draco noted, and he wore a red knit sweater tucked into a pair of faded denims--all held on by an old belt Draco remembered from their Hogwarts years. Not that he was paying attention to Potters belts, of course, nor Potter's groin area. Draco couldn't care less--truly."Of course it's you; it's just my luck that it would be."Potter shot Draco a blank look, and then raised an impervious brow, demanding entry. The cheek! Draco fumed.He grumbled as he waved his hand, "As master of the estate, I allow Harry Potter entry," and the gate swung open."Yeah, I'm not exactly jumping for joy at the sight of your pointed face either, Malfoy." Potter scowled as he brushed past him, and Draco could catch a whiff of wood smoke as well as Potter's own unique scent that he tried desperately to pretend didn't make his heart rate pick up in his chest, as that would be absolute madness and Draco was not mad despite what his dear old aunts and uncles would say. Potter's grim expression faded immediately when Lizzy strutted forward and began to inspect his denim cuffs, poking her head between his legs and tugging.Potter cooed, and Draco watched with pure bewilderment painted across his pale features as Potter bent down and began to talk in a high pitched voice to Lizzy whilst stroking her neck and back."How...?" he trailed off and shut his mouth.The peafowl's hardly let anyone go near to them unless it was Draco or Father. The fact that Lizzy willingly went up to Potter and accepted his touch was stunning, and hard for Draco to believe despite seeing it in front of him."You're just a sweetheart aren't you?" Cooed Potter with a bright smile, "A sweet little lady who has to deal with Malfoy, oh you poor thing you." Lizzy squawked."How dare you!" Draco gasped, "I'll have you know that the peahens adore me, thanks ever so." He tipped is nose high into the air and narrowed his eyes at the Golden Git, wishing to best show his displeasure. Potter snorted and looked at him through the cut of his fringe. His green eyes sparkled playfully through his spectacles, and Draco gulped."Is that why you need me then, Malfoy?""Nonsense. Pansy--that damned bint--is to blame for all of this." Draco made a shooing motion with his wrist towards Potter. "You are permitted to leave now, and do feel free to never return." He added brightly, hoping very much that he could save himself now if Potter simply stood up and walked away, and continued doing whatever it was that Potter did--tame and comfort birds apparently. It would explain the hair."Oh I'm permitted now am I?" Potter said in a gruff voice and stood up. It was to Draco's great satisfaction that he was still taller than Potter, who had seemed to not have grown since fifth year, unlike Draco who grew like a weed in their last year of schooling. "Well thanks Malfoy, but I think I'll stay; the peafowl need me after all." Potter smiled at Draco's dramatic sigh. There was nothing he could do to convince Potter to leave, and so it was his duty as host and master of the estate to at least not be a total tosspot--which was very difficult when Potter was involved. The man wasn't even all that handsome: he was still as short and knobbly as Draco remembered him, and his hair resembled a deranged kneazles nest. His arms were covered in faint scars from the battle, and his glasses were still the round lenses they've always been--no doubt since he was a baby. It was utterly unfair that Draco was so head over tits for him."Fine," Draco snarled and crossed his arms, fiddling with his signet ring anxiously. "I'll show you to your quarters then."The servant's quarters were a small cottage on the edge of the estate that looked into the Malfoy Dark Wood's. It was originally constructed in the mid seventeenth century when there was a decline in house elf's across the country, and groundskeepers were hired to maintain the fields. When Draco was a child he, Gregory, and Vincent, used to play in the wooden house and acted as the lords of the Wood. Now it was mostly empty save for a few dead pixies and moths. The bed was covered in an old white sheet as to protect the linens from disuse, and the floor had not been polished in years. The windows had yellowed, and ivy vines had taken over half of the cottage walls. Draco lit a candle and placed it on the centre table before looking around with his hands perched delicately on his hips. "It needs some tidying up, but you have the entire quarters to yourself. Call for Trixx or Breezy if you need assistance.""Er...where's the washing room?" Potter asked.Draco shot him a withering look and pursed his lips. "Potter, these quarters are from the seventeenth century. Wizarding folk did not have washing rooms. Either go outside and vanish it, or use the manors lavatory."Potter shook his head and rolled his eyes, "Fine, thanks I guess." He tossed his rucksack onto the thin single bed, and a cloud of dust rose up into the stuffy air.Draco nodded, pleased that Potter seemed to at least have some manners. "Meals will be served thrice a day inside the dining room at nine, twelve, and seven. It's up to you if you wish to join me in the smoking room for a nightcap or not. I obviously don't care what you do."For some reason, that made Potter laugh. "I think I'll join you at some point; wouldn't mind having a drink or two." Draco huffed. Of course he wouldn't be lucky enough to escape Potter's company. "Well then if that's all Potter, I'll leave you to settle in and make merry with the fowls." He smirked and tipped his nose up.Potter simply smiled and nodded his head, "will do, Malfoy. Will do."Draco had a very wordy letter awaiting Pansy.In the morning Draco awoke at sunrise and slipped on his black velvet slippers. He threw on a thick cotton nightgown with a collar that buttoned upwards to his chin with delicate pearls and lacy frills that worked to cover his chilled skin from the crisp morning air.Morning dew covered the manor's grounds and Draco stifled a loud yawn as he gathered the seed used to feed the peafowl's in the morning. He gathered handfuls of the seed, and tossed it in a wide shimmering arch across the grass. The sun was painting the horizon in a glistening gold, and Draco could see his body light up in a honeyed glow--warming him from the outside in. He took a grateful moment of peace to himself, shutting his eyes and allowing his mind to wander.It wasn't long until he was interrupted.He heard Potter's gruff voice before he saw the lumbering form approach. Draco felt his cheeks heat by the sight of Potter in his much too-tight striped pants and an old band shirt filled with holes and faded from one too many cleaning charms. Potters hair was a mess that curled up in every direction, as if it couldn't make up its mind on where it wanted to go. Draco scowled for affect, hoping to show Potter how utterly bothered his presence made him feel--rather than allowing him to take notice of his reddened cheeks. If only he weren't so dastardly pale."Hey," Potter said, breathlessly, when he had caught up to Draco.His glasses where lopsided and his eyes earnest; Draco felt his chest constrict. "Hello..." He replied; hand over his chest, rubbing away the ache."The peacocks were rather tetchy--I just passed by them this morning and thought to investigate a bit," Potter continued, oblivious to Draco's flustered behaviour. "Managed to settle the bunch down a bit and err..." Potter's mouth dipped down and his brows furrowed, "well it's weird yea? I mean...they seem healthy enough, and it's not an issue of territory--but there's definitely something that's aggravating them. Have you--have you sensed anything yourself?" Draco raised a brow and folded his arms, "If you mean to tell me that the Malfoy Manor grounds are cursed Potter, and that all its inhabitants are too slowly wither away due to our sordid acts during the Wizarding War then I'd say you're probably right."Potter blinked owlishly behind his spectacles and looked up at Draco with surprise. Merlin, thought Draco, he still looks so young. Like the war had been yesterday. Some days it felt like it had been. It made Draco want to do reckless things. Terribly, dreadfully, wretchedly, reckless things--like wrap Potter in his arms and kiss him until Potter fell apart and gasped for breath. "Well it doesn't feel like Dark Magic, in fact it feels like..." Potter bit his lip, and his eyes unfocused off into the distance as he thought, "It feels like they're lost."Draco let out a soft "oh," and clutched the bag of seed between his two hands, not having expected that answer.Potter shook his head and looked back up at Draco with determination written clearly in his eyes. "Don't worry Malfoy, I promised I would help them and I will."Draco couldn't stop his mouth from forming a traitorous smile, one that was much too soft and all to revealing in its longing. Of course Potter would treat the happiness of the peafowl as he would treat saving the world. Of course. "I know Potter. I trust you." Potter looked stunned--his lips parted as he stared. With his heart aching to the point of pain, Draco turned away from Potter and trailed along through the tall grass back towards the manor, only looking back once, and only to see Potter staring right back with something unrecognizable on his face. Draco spent the rest of the morning in the western wing of the manor, reading up on his favourite books in the library, and trying not to focus on how in an hour he's hardly turned a single page. His mind kept returning to Potter's mystified expression, and the way his eyes shone when Draco said that he trusted him. He let out a shaky breath from his lungs and threw the book down hopelessly on a chaise. At breakfast, Draco took a seat at the head of the long dining table and anxiously twisted his rings around his fingers. Every few moments his eyes would race back towards the entrance in hopes that Potter would join him--despite the memories the other man may have of the manor and his time spent in it. Like a cankerous root, sour disappointment filled his stomach when Potter had still not appeared by the time Trixx placed down a plate of lobster frittata, perched upon potatoes. "Thank you Trixx, it looks beautiful as always. You do know how to treat me." He shot her a thankful smile and began to cut into his food when he heard loud footfalls echo down the west corridor. Potter burst into the room with his shirt half untucked from his denims, "Sorry! Sorry!" He held his hands up and looked apologetically at Trixx, "I got lost, I've no idea how you don't Malfoy--this place is as big as the ministry!" Draco felt a wave of relief. Potter simply got lost, the fool, instead of summoning an elf for help.He peered down the long table at Potter, who was currently attempting to neaten his clothes and hair, and smiled. Draco crossed his legs and discreetly brushed his hair back so that it fell in the way he preferred. "I should've known you'd need assistance," Draco said snootily with a teasing lilt, "The great Harry Potter defeated by a few winding corridors. Whatever would the Prophet say?”
Potter darkened and took the seat directly beside Draco. Draco blushed and accidentally scraped his fork against the plate."You've had your fun Malfoy, laugh it up." Potter muttered and poked at his frittata. Draco swallowed his mouthful quickly, and then placed a cautious hand on Potters arm for a brief second. He was warm; it warmed Draco's hand from the shared contact. "I don't mean to be rude; it's simply my lovely personality. You should know that the Prophet is widely disliked here--I won't have any word of it."That seemed to brighten Potter up, and when Trixx brought in a miniature tray of fresh caviar and sliced baguette, he dug in excitedly and nearly ate the entire tray just in time for her to levitate out a fresh jug of hand squeezed lemonade. Draco leaned back in his seat and watched Potter stuff his face full of caviar like a madman."The peacocks are acting weird." Potter said, and covered his mouth with his hand while he spoke. "Archibald--Pansy told me their names--has been stalking Frederick and has been erm..." Potter blushed and swallowed his caviar with a gulp. "Yes?" Draco drawled and raised a curious brow. "Well they've all been trying to mate with each other." Potter blurted.Draco blinked several times. "Potter," he said slowly, "are you trying to tell me that I've got an entire pride of queer peacocks?" "Well makes sense that they call it a pride then yea?" Potter joked and stifled a laugh at Draco's blank face. "While that's perfectly fine," Draco said, and Potter seemed impressed by his accepting of Malfoy family gay peacocks, "I'm still quite confused. Previous mating seasons have run perfectly--the peacocks and the peahens got on rather well, but now they refuse to even look at each other." He began to fiddle and twist his rings, "there must be a reason for this. I mean, the peacocks even refuse to be near me." He could hear the sorrow in his own voice as soon as he said it. All his early memories of the grounds were spent alongside the peacocks. He missed them.Potter frowned and pushed his empty plate aside. "While it is odd, if the peafowl weren't magical I would say this is erm...odd-- but healthy behavior; but because the peafowl's are magical and connected to your family and its land--I'm wondering if they're somehow affected by it too." "How do you mean?" Draco asked."Well," Potter began, and took off his lenses to clean at them with his shirt, "If there were something wrong with the land--the magic binding the peafowl's to it would mean that it would reflect in their behaviour. If..." Potter shoved his specs back on, and bit his lip nervously as he looked at Draco."If there were something wrong with the lord of the manor, then that too could reflect in the peafowl." Draco felt the air deflate from his lungs. Potter waited patiently as Draco looked everywhere but at him."Malfoy...""Forget it Potter--it must be the land." Draco quickly stood up and narrowly avoided bumping into the table. He rushed out of the dining room before Potter could even get in another word, and Harry was left staring at the space he had just occupied in bewilderment. Wonderful, thought Draco bitterly not long after, 'a blasted pash on Potter has made the Malfoy peacocks act queer', what utter nonsense.He paced the length of his bedroom. It was a beautiful room from the older branch of the manor with a pale grey sky ceiling painted with rolling clouds that gave one the sense that a storm would appear. To the left was a large stone and gilded fireplace, as well as faded velvet green chaises that he, Pansy, and Blaise loved to have a good sulking lay across. Similarly, he had a large king sized four poster with a mountain of cushy beddings. The oldest was a white cotton lace bed trim that hung out from the rest of his bedding, and dated back to his Great Aunt Matilda from the fifteenth century. It was common practise to gift the sheets down the family line. His floors were a magnificent dark wood that never seemed to lose its lustre, and sconces lined the room with dripping yellow buttery candles.
And in the centre of it all was Draco, who paced until his ankles ached and who flapped his hands with anxiety. While he raced to his window and sent an owl for Pansy demanding her utmost attention and sincere sympathy, he could only hope to Merlin that Potter was dull enough to not put two and two together and figure out Draco's unfortunate feelings for him. "Master Malfoy is a dramatic boy." Trixx said calmly, and gathered the empty plates in her thin arms. Harry turned to look at her. "Was it--do you think-""If there was something wrong with Malfoy land, Trixx would know." The elf said confidently and wiped her wrinkled hands on her apron, "the land is happy under Master Malfoy's care. It has been happier than it has been in thirty years Mister Potter." "Oh," Harry said, and scratched at the back of his head."Then...what about Malfoy?""Master Malfoy..." Trixx trailed off and held the plates tight to her chest, "has been lonely. You said manor was big, sir--it is. Too big for one person. Master Malfoy has dreams of love."Harry couldn't help the snort that escaped; Malfoy? Being a romantic? It was a right laugh.Trixx glared at him and whirled around to fix him a deadly glare. "You not be laughing! Master Malfoy is a good man! He's changed he has! Trixx remembers Lucius Malfoy, he was a bad man that hurt Trixx and the other elves. Trixx remembers Narcissa Malfoy--who has abandoned hope. Master Malfoy has apologized to Trixx and the elves. Has made better. Has been kind." Harry hung his head. He couldn't remember the last time he had been scolded--especially the last time he had been scolded by an elf. It made him feel twice as bad. "OK. I'm sorry." He said remorsefully. He didn't want to anger any of the elves. They seemed very protective of Malfoy; Trixx in particular. "So you think that the peacocks have been acting up because Malfoy is lonely? And err...dreams of love?" He said awkwardly, and tugged at a strand of curl half hoping he could escape the conversation, but also wanting to know everything there was about Malfoy--even his apparent dreams of love. Trixx nodded her head. "Yes, Trixx thinks' so."Harry still didn't understand why Malfoy ran out from the room so suddenly. Was it because he was embarrassed to admit that he was lonely? Though he laughed a little, Harry wasn't cruel enough to take joy out of someone else's misery--even if that someone was Malfoy. Trixx seemed to truly believe that Malfoy had changed ways, and Harry wanted to believe it. He was tired of fighting, and he knew the dark creeping sensation of loneliness uncomfortably well. Harry stood up, and stuffed his hands into his denim pockets."Thanks for the brekkie, it was delicious."Trixx smiled and nodded her head, "You be very welcome Harry Potter." After escaping the dining room Harry decided to explore around the manor a bit. All the corridors were rather similar, in the sense that they seemed unnecessarily large with gauzy curtains and tassel hangings. There were multiple white-haired and vivid oil paintings hanging along the walls, lit by flickering sconces. They all peered down at Harry with judgemental or curious eyes. The further he ventured the more the manor seemed to darken in on itself--and the furniture grew into dark torn upholstered couches, depressing archways, and pitch black corridors that gave Harry a creeping feeling of anxiety when he peered down them with no answering wall in sight. Harry realized after he had been walking for at least twenty minutes down one hall, that it quite reminded him of how the manor had looked when Harry had seen it during the war.
He let out a shudder and peered over his shoulder. The paintings had completely disappeared from the walls, or so he had thought, until he came upon a room with a grand portrait in the centre of what appeared to be an ancient drawing room. The Malfoy family stood arrogantly in the centre of the dark portrait. Narcissa Malfoy stood to the right of her son, with her hand gently resting on Draco Malfoy's shoulder. She looked serenely forward, and her figure did not move. Lucius Malfoy stood to the left, and his hand was gripping Draco's shoulders tightly--his knuckles whitening and tendons tense. His expression was hard and haunted, but proud. Draco sat between them, white and gaunt as a ghost. His spine was rigid and his hair slicked back from his face. He was dressed in harshly starched blacks from head to toe--so different from the jewel tone capes and lacy whites he seemed to don now--that made him appear pasty and in mourning. "Harry Potter...as he lives." A voice drawled, and Harry's eyes flickered back towards Lucius' grim expression. "Lucius." Harry said, after a moment's pause. "And here I'd begun to think I've been entirely forgotten," Lucius said conversationally, and let go of painting Draco's unmoving shoulder. "What great luck it is to have you stumble in here so oafishly. Lost are we, little Potter?" Harry smiled blankly, "I'd say you're the one who's lost, Lucius." Lucius' nostrils flared in silent anger and he glared downward at Harry full of hate. Harry was reminded of Draco, and how Draco's pale eyes looked at Harry much differently these days whenever they crossed paths during his stay; full of hope, full of...something. "Just what are you doing here, Potter?"Harry shrugged, and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Draco," Lucius scowled at the first name basis Harry seemed to have with his son, "called in my help." "And what would that be for?" Lucius spoke slowly as if he was speaking to someone particularly stupid, and Harry smiled smugly up at him as he stayed silent. Eventually Lucius must have grown tired of Harry and his behaviour, since he turned away from him and faded back into the painting once more.
Harry stared at the painting for a few minutes longer--memorizing the light captured in Draco's worrisome eyes and the tint of red on his lip, like a cut that would not heal but instead bled, bled, bled. "You're never going to win him over with that kind of display, mate." Harry snorted and shook his head as he watched Archibald stalk Frederick then scare the other peacock with a honking squawk--initiating the twelfth mating ritual of the hour. Frederick quickly scurried away, not pleased by Archibald's display, and Archibald's tail feathers drooped in utter dismay. The dejected bird let out a pained cry and swaggered back towards Harry. Archibald ignored the seed Harry tried to feed him, and Harry frowned. "C'mon mate, gotta keep your strength up if you're going to woo Freddy over there." Archibald honked and moped around the fountain where some of the other peacocks were laying about. Harry scattered the seeds freely around the ground and stood up with a sigh. He scanned the area again for any negative energy or dark magic in the land but came up blank for the fiftieth time. He threw his rucksack full of notes, seed, and Audubon guides over his shoulder and nudged his glasses back up his nose. He set on towards his quarters while trying to think about how he could possibly help the Malfoy peacocks feel more themselves when they seemed to be directly connected to Malfoy rather than the land. Harry pushed the heavy door to the old cottage open with a grunt, and hung his coat up on a small iron hanger. He kicked off his muddy field boots and pulled out a creaky wooden stool to sit down on; his legs were aching after all the exploring he had done. Harry peered out the yellowed window past the ivy vines to the dark Malfoy Woods. He knew the dangers of magical woods thanks to his time at Hogwarts and the unfortunate few in the Forbidden Forest, but wondered if venturing into them could possibly bring him closer to an answer on what to do; since Malfoy seemed very reluctant to broach the topic again. Malfoy has always been odd, Harry figured, but usually he ran towards attention rather than away--especially when that attention concerned Harry. He didn't know why this sudden change made his stomach queasy and his heart heavy. The more he thought about it the more it made Harry frown, and he raked his hand through his hair to disperse the feeling. Malfoy could do whatever he wanted and Harry couldn't care less. Draco was joined that evening in the men's smoking room by Harry for a nightcap as he had promised earlier, and was admittedly surprised considering he hadn't appeared the last few days. As he waited to see if Potter would be true to his word tonight, he pushed open one of the window latches and sat on the wooden sill, legs dangling freely. Draco let out a deep sigh that formed a puff of smoky air in the crisp evening. Autumn was in the atmosphere; he could smell when the seasons had begun to change. Fall always carried a distinct smell to it that was impossible to explain to anyone else. Below his feet twenty metres down under was Mothers shrubbery which has in recent times blossomed into heavily perfumed pink buds that filled his nose with sweet scents. When Potter entered the room he did so quietly and without a word--probably hoping to spy on him--thought Draco, and he smirked to himself in amusement. He mimed leaning dangerously out the window ledge and Potter quickly sprung forward and gripped his shoulder with a yelp."Won't you ever learn that it's rude to spy?" Draco taunted after righting himself. He turned his head to fix the other man with a glare and Potter had the heart to look guilty at having been caught. Draco shook his head and scoffed under his breath. He gripped the sill and scooted over slightly so that there was enough room for both of them. "Don't go pushing me off Potter," he muttered. Harry hesitated before swinging one of his legs over the ledge. He straddled the sill before he swung his other leg on without even a slight loss of balance. They were close enough that all Draco could focus on was the warm press of Potters thigh to his own. "Is it just you living here then?" Harry asked quietly, and rested his chin in his palm as he gazed out at the endless field before them. For some peculiar reason Draco felt himself fall silent from the question. It was obvious enough that he was the only other wix on the estate for miles around--but when he thought about it, about how alone he was, he felt his body close up tight as a steel gate and his defences strengthen as he was raised to do. Some days were easier than others to allow himself openness and vulnerability. Some days he wanted to bite anyone who came near, like a wild angry crup. It was as undignified as it was desperate. Those feelings always made him feel shameful--but he supposed that he had so much shame these days that he had nowhere else to put all of it. "Is this an interrogation then?" He sneered, and Potter bumped into his shoulders hard enough that Draco wobbled."No you prat, I'm just trying to have a normal conversation with you!" Harry glared and Draco's breath caught at the fierceness of his gaze, "why do you have to be such a rude arse?"Draco shrugged and looked down. Why did he have to be such a rude arse? Draco found himself asking this question often with no answer in sight. "Why do you have to be such a righteous tosspot?" Potter opened his mouth to argue but Draco cut him off quickly. He placed his hand over Potter's mouth, and that seemed to surprise him enough to silence if going by the dinner plate sized eyes and the way his brows shot up to his hairline. "I don't want to argue. Let's just both admit that I'm a rude arse and you're a righteous tosspot." Draco snorted and slid off the sill to stand on solid ground back in the smoking room. "Now let's have that nightcap, yes?" He held his head high as he strode across the room to the bar cart and poured them each a small glass of amber liquor.
When he turned around to hold the second glass out to Potter he found him recipient of a softer smile that he's never been lucky enough to have directed at himself, always having been the outsider. It made Potter's whole face lose its hardened edge and transform it into something that resembled innocence. It made him look a lot younger all of a sudden--more like his age and less like a man hardened by the weight of an entire world. He accepted the drink with a quiet "thanks," and held it cupped between his hands. Draco took a sip of his own and leaned against the wall. "Why birds then?""Huh?" Potter asked with confusion, "Oh, you mean why work with birds? It's...a bit of a story."He raised a brow with a patient look, and made a go-on motion with his hand. He was genuinely interested in what Potter had to say. He had always assumed that the saviour himself would go into the Auror business--that or perhaps becoming a professor for the Dark Arts. Draco hadn't forgotten that little club that Potter had fostered when Umbridge was in power. He was always secretly curious as to what happened during the meetings, if only he wasn't such a snivelling bastard, then he may have been able to join. Though, really, it was unlikely. Potter would've been more likely to sock him right between his eyes than to hold his waist and direct him into casting the perfect Patronus. Nonetheless Draco could dream; he was quite good at fantasizing. "...I had an owl named Hedwig." Harry said quietly, bringing Draco out from his memories. "She was my best friend. She kept me company all summer long outside Hogwarts, and whenever Ron and Hermione fought or stopped owling she would keep me from feeling less alone. She was such a good girl." Draco watched Potter reach up and rub at his eyes. He looked away to give him some privacy. He didn't like the way that Harry's tears made him feel. He threw his head back and swallowed the rest of his liquor with a gulp, cough, and shudder before sliding back on the sill facing Harry. Their knees pressed together and Draco bumped them until Potter let out an amused snicker and bumped back. "I'm sorry Potter. I am." "I still miss her so much." He said it calmly; as if Draco didn't know it still tore him up inside. Potter's always had a heart too big for his body. It's one of the things that made Draco mad for him. "The peafowl absolutely adore you," he said, in attempts to make Potter smile. He tilted his head and ducked down slightly so that he could catch Potter's eyes, "the only ones they've ever allowed to touch them have been Father and I; even Mother got her fingers nipped at, and they're not exactly gentle about it."
It must've worked because Potter did smile. Draco felt his chest fill with pride, and hooked his ankle to Potters, who kicked at his perfectly polished oxford with his mud stained red trainer. Draco let out a gasp and kicked back. "You'll get me all muddy you sod!" Potter let out a cheer and threw his arms up in victory, only to have his drink spill over his shirt. They both laughed and Draco shook his head as he cast a drying charm, "I'm wasting this on you aren't I?" Potter shrugged with a crooked grin. "I may not know my vintage, but at least my sweater and taste buds agree that it's alright.""I strive for alright." That seemed to make Potter laugh again and Draco smirked. He was practically a pro at this now, he thought. Making Potter laugh and smile because of his actions felt worlds better than making Potter fume and scowl--though he wouldn't mind making Potter a tad bit angry on the occasion that Draco was feeling a loss for his attention. After all, it was truly thrilling to be recipient of that frustration. Especially when Potter tackled him down and their bodies began to rub together in all sorts of exciting ways as they tussled.
Draco cleared his throat and pressed his cold hand to his quickly heating cheek."Well I'm honestly happy to say that you're alright Malfoy.""Thanks Potter. You're pretty alright too I'd say."They sat together for an hour or two longer on that sill, and Draco tried not to think too deeply about why Potter was stealing hidden glances at him every few moments. Instead, he watched the sky darken more and more until the stars filled the sky in a den of constellation, and imagined what Potter would look like early in the morning, when the world was still quiet and the mist crept the grounds, and if he would ever smile at Draco with cushioned inches between them. Later that week Draco surprised Harry by knocking on the door to his cottage just as the sun had begun to set. He had been searching under his cot in lookout for where he had misplaced one of his socks. He had tossed it off in a hurry the previous night, after a late dinner spent reminiscing about quidditch wins until he couldn't stand to talk anymore without slurring his words. A persistent knocking sounded on the front door, "Coming!" He yelled, and when he went to stand he bumped the top of his head on the bed springs with a deep groan of pain. Harry stood up and rubbed at the bump that would no doubt start forming and adjusted his glasses. The knocking started up again and he quickly jogged over to the entrance to open it with flourish. "Malfoy?"Draco brushed past him as he stepped aside and entered his quarters. "Potter," he greeted not unkindly, and surveyed the area. He was dressed in a sapphire blue robe that gathered at his waist in a bow and trailed past his boots, and the shoulders were rounded poufs the size of Harry's head. "I was just coming in for dinner.""Yes I know, but I thought we could do something different tonight."Harry's curiosity was piqued. "Different? What like--go somewhere to eat?" He wasn't much a fan of crowds, and he tried to avoid those best he could even before the war, but these days the Prophet wouldn't even let him use a public loo without a wave of paparazzi trying to capture a picture of the Chosen Ones Chosen Willy. Even thinking about Rita Skeeter's face gave Harry the chills.Malfoy gave a similar shudder."I don't fancy being plastered across the front page of the Prophet thank you very much." Malfoy shook his head and waved his hand towards the window. "The Woods; I thought we could go for a swim in the creek and then come back for a late dinner."Harry did even realize he was smiling until Malfoy's gaze was caught firmly on his mouth, and the fact that Malfoy seemed interested in his mouth pleased Harry enough into agreeing. He felt like preening at the fact that he, Harry, could get someone like Draco to fancy looking at his mouth. He hurried back towards his cot where he kept his rucksack and emptied what he wouldn't need into safe keeping under his pillow: his journal, quill, mirror shard, Audubon guide, and a smooshed chocolate frog, and instead threw in a change of pants.When he returned to the eating area Malfoy stood with his back to Harry and was brushing his fingertips along the edge of Harry's Barbour. A fervent look danced across his face as he rubbed his thumb against the frayed edge of Harry's cuff. "It's not that bad," Harry reasoned, assuming the less than perfect quality of his jacket was reason enough for Draco's out of place expression, but Draco simply shook his head and remained mysteriously silent on the matter."I would've thought the wood's to be dangerous," Harry said, wanting to continue conversation. He bent down to tug on his trainers and looked up at Draco who was watching his tie his laces. "They are, but you'll be safe so long as I accompany you.""You're not frightened?" Asked Harry, who couldn't help but remember how much of a coward Malfoy was when they were younger. The first time they were banished to the Forbidden Forest for detention Draco clung to him the entire time while sneering childish insults--then abandoned Harry screaming when they came across the dead unicorn. Not to mention that whole manner of problem with Buckbeak. Harry couldn't help but tease Malfoy a bit about it.Malfoy flicked his hair back with disdain and looked down his nose at Harry, "Potter these woods have been in my family for centuries; of course I'm not afraid.""Okay..." Harry hid his smile, "I mean--if you're positive.' With a sputtering scoff Draco gripped Harry's wrist and tugged him out of the cottage and towards the woods. Harry stumbled along--his legs weren't as long as Malfoy's, and didn't make for quick strides--and hurried down a grassy slope pressed against Malfoy's strong back. The grip on his wrist tightened and then Malfoy let go to reach into one of the small pouches attached to his sash that Harry didn't notice earlier. He pulled out an iron nail and pressed it into Harry's open palm carefully. "There; in case we're separated--though I doubt we will, never can be sure with you Potter." Malfoy tutted but his pink cheeks and expression betrayed his genuine concern.
Harry tilted his head as he looked at the nail. "Err--thanks?" he was confused on why Malfoy thought it important to give Harry an old rusty nail, but tucked it into his pocket anyway. Draco rolled his eyes so strongly that Harry feared they would roll out his head. "Iron is used as protection and warding against mythical creatures you dolt, specifically fae." The nail made more sense then, but still Harry was curious: "They're just like pixies aren't they?" Pixies were pretty harmless if annoying. A few summers ago when Harry fixed up Grimmauld Place he had found a couple pixie nests in the mattresses and ceiling. It was disgusting--Kreacher wanted to keep their shrivelled little corpses but Harry wouldn't allow it, just as he wouldn't allow Kreacher to keep the severed house elf heads. Harry never wanted to see a pixie again after that affair."Though pixies are in the fae family they're world's friendlier." Draco leaned in as he spoke, whispering the words into Harry's ear like a secret. Harry shivered and leaned in a bit closer until Draco's robes brushed Harry's arm and his brain went a bit fuzzy at that point."Right so stick close, carry iron, and err...don't use insults?" Draco pulled away and nodded his head. "You'll be fine, now come on." They reached the bottom of the slope and Draco held his arm to catch Harry as he nearly tripped over a stone. Harry thanked him with a flush and wished he would hold his wrist again. Malfoy started walking into the forest and Harry quickly followed before he could be left behind. The forest was dark--just a few metres in it were as if the sun had disappeared and the air was eerily stagnating with lack of wind or noise. The trees were gigantic things, tall as monuments and as wide as the night bus. "Impressive aren't they?" Malfoy asked serenely, completely at ease. Harry whistled and nodded, "Yea, lot different from the forbidden forest." "It's because the trees are much older." Malfoy smiled proudly and held his hands behind his back. He walked gracefully despite all the roots and stones in the road, and Harry couldn't help but stare at the way Malfoy seemed to glow in all the darkness. Eventually they came across a small creek with a small riverbed, surrounded by different flora and shaded with a large willow tree. It was a tad bit lighter here, Harry noticed, and hung his rucksack on a branch. Malfoy came up beside him and closed his eyes as he breathed in the air. Harry's eyes traced the slope of his nose down to his lips and jaw--before they got caught on Malfoy's throat as he swallowed. He looked away with a shaky breath and quickly threw his shirt and glasses off. He reached down to tug off his denims, wobbling and almost falling forward in the water before catching himself. When his eyes found Draco again he saw that Malfoy's blurry eyes were already on him; he was staring at Harry's thin bare chest and the scars he carried. Harry folded his arms in front of himself, feeling more conscious of the cold air hitting his body and all his imperfections more than ever before, and then he leapt into the water. When he went below the surface and opened his eyes all that greeted him was a green so dark it was nearly black. He opened his mouth slightly and let bubbles of oxygen float to the surface. His hair brushed against his cheeks and he stayed unmoving for a few moments before pushing up to the surface. Malfoy had taken off his robe and was in wizarding undergarments. The white trim of the pants ended at his knees, and he was slowly wading into the water with his arms held out above it. When he got in to his chin he swam over to Harry with chattering teeth. Harry laughed and started to tread the water, "Cold?" "Shut it," Malfoy chattered past a grin and splashed him. Harry whooped and splashed back with twice as much force. He burst out in laughter when Malfoy cried out and was soaked by the wave, glaring at Harry through his dripping strands of hair. He raised his hand up in surrender and when Harry attempted to swim over and accept a truce Malfoy grabbed a hold of him and dragged him under. In the murky water Harry could barely make out Malfoy's face besides a white blur that slowly got closer and closer, until his vision was cross eyed and he felt at a loss for air. Their noses bumped together and lingered until Harry let out a gasping cough that had him hurrying to the surface while hacking up the water he had accidentally inhaled. Malfoy broke the water next and swam over to Harry, concern making his brows furrow inward. "Are you alright?"Harry coughed again while nodding his head rapidly. He didn't want to think that Malfoy scared him off--accept, well, he sort of did. He pounded his chest a few more times and Malfoy frowned. He paddled away from Harry and then pushed himself up onto the surface. "We should head back now before it gets too dark and we miss dinner." He bent down and rung out the soaked ends of his bloomers and picked up his robes."Oh okay," Harry blinked at their sudden departure but gave in when his stomach grumbled hungrily at the thought of food. "This was nice."He gathered his rucksack and blushed as he looked at Malfoy. "Can you turn around? I've got to change into something dry."Draco gave Harry an unreadable look and then slowly turned around so he faced the opposite direction. As Harry began to change he watched Draco's back and half hoped he would try and peek, but he didn't. Harry's stomach rumbled again, reminding him of their soon to be meal, and he tapped Draco's shoulder. "Come on, let's go." They walked back towards the manor with their shoulders bumping or hands brushing every few moments. Just before they were about to leave Harry could have sworn he heard someone who wasn't Malfoy calling his name, and looked back; but all that greeted him was the woods. He felt a tug on his hand and looked down to see that Draco had grabbed a hold of it. He gave Harry a searching look and then without another word, held Harry's hand the whole way back. It was Harry's turn to initiate an excursion next, and he did it after dinner the next day when Malfoy was feeling giggly from a good meal and one of Harry's stories about work involving a particularly feisty duckling. "Do you fancy going to a pub?" He blurted out, feeling not the least bit smooth, and winced.Draco's giggling died down and he cleared his throat with an odd smile. He picked up his water chalice and look at his reflection in it rather than at Harry. "We don't have to." he said, and Malfoy seemed to come to a decision. He stood up with a deep breath and strode over to Harry who sat frozen in place with wide eyes. "Let's go to the pub, Potter.""Really?" Harry asked with a growing grin. He hurried to stand up and held Draco's elbow. "We don't have to; I just think it would be nice is all.""Do you like going to the pub?" Draco asked instead and smiled faintly at Harry's nod. "Then we shall go to the pub. Just let me get dressed for going out." Harry was about to reassure Draco that he looked brilliant actually; with his wizarding trousers tucked into his long socks that did not make Harry stare at his bony ankles through the fabric--thank you very much--and his near sheer blouse that got Harry feeling a bit light headed when he caught sight of, Merlin help him—nipples—But he ran off and up the stairs before he could say a word. Draco entered his bedroom and collapsed on his bed with a groan. He raised his hand up to his face and covered it until darkness enveloped his vision. He had to remind himself that Harry was only here until the fowl were feeling better, and then he would be leaving Draco, and Draco would remain standing behind the door pretending he hadn't watched him go. He rolled over onto his stomach and tugged a pillow to his chest to hold on tightly to and allowed a few tears to escape. Once his minor break in fortitude was over and dealt with, Draco quickly searched his expansive closet for the right robes and because he was weak and utterly besotted he threw on his only pair of scarlet. He had secretly hoped that the red would catch Harry's attention, and was not disappointed when Harry turned to say something and instead stammered. "You're-""Yes, yes, I'm wearing red. Honestly Potter it's not a big deal." He tried to hide his smugness but promptly failed if going by the look Harry gave him. He tugged him near by his hand, as he found himself doing often of late, and summoned Trixx.The elf appeared with a loud pop and clasped her wrinkled hands together. "Is Master Malfoy going out?" She asked excitedly and bounced from foot to foot.
Harry chuckled and looked up at Draco, which made his heart swoop. "Yes, Potter and I plan to go out to get a drink. You're in charge while I'm away. Please feed the fowl while we're off. Thank you, Trixx." Trixx saluted him and he shared a laugh with Potter. "Off we go then." Harry said, and quickly held open the door for Draco who smiled at him as he passed. The door shut behind them. Draco felt Potter hook his arm through his before they apparated away with a bang and landed in what appeared to be a small wizarding town, if going by the pointed hats passing them by. Draco looked around nervously and tightened his grip on Potter's hand, feeling his neck prickle with the stares of people looking their way through the dark. "Lead the way Potter." He mumbled, hoping to get out of sight as soon as possible. Harry didn't seem to mind, and quickly sped off in the direction of the pub as Draco followed right beside him. It was an unremarkable stone building from the outside that Draco would've missed had it not been lit by lantern. Harry pushed open the door and they entered the warm pub to a barkeep polishing the glasses and a few meandering patrons surrounding a table and an ensuing card game. He let out a quiet breath of relief at how empty the place appeared to be, and let go of Potter's warm and grounding hand. "Shall I find us a table and you get the drinks?" He enquired, and Harry nodded. "At the back, if you don't mind."Draco shrugged and hurried past the table of card players to go find a table at the back of the pub where they were better secluded. He slid into the cushioned seat and peered out the wrought iron window into the peaceful night outside. Some pixies were fluttering around a lit lantern and Draco snickered when one got too close. Harry reappeared with a pint in his left hand and a glass of red wine in the other. "How did you ever guess?" Draco joked, and accepted his glass of wine while Harry sat down and grinned into his pint. He took a sip of the burgundy liquid and was pleased to find that it was actually a delightful vintage. Harry's smile was bashful while he picked at the chipped table and Draco wet his lips, noticing Harry's eyes follow the movement. "I haven't been to a pub in awhile." Draco said eventually, when the silence started to feel too loud. "No? Not even with Pansy and er--Blaise?" "No, not even with them." It's not like Draco didn't want to exactly. It's just that there were many complications to going out, and Draco really didn't want to cause any complications, and so he reasoned it was better to avoid them entirely. He cleared his throat nervously and shifted in his seat when he noticed some of the patrons glance surreptitiously over their shoulder to catch a glimpse at them. Harry hummed and then hooked his ankle over Draco's when he noticed his attention was focused elsewhere entirely after ten or so minutes. "Hey, you okay? We really don't have to be here if you don't want to. Trust me--I know how much crowds and people can bloody suck sometimes." Harry looked so caring while he said it and with his foot bumping against Draco's own that he let out a breath he had been holding and shut his eyes. "Yes sorry I'm-perhaps you're right-I had just thought-.""No worries Draco, I'd much rather you be comfortable than sit here drinking a pint while you're wishing you were anywhere else." Harry held out his arm for Draco who stood up when he felt his throat constrict at how decent a person Harry bloody Potter was. They paid for their drinks and then hurried out with shared laughter at their own foolish behaviour. "All this way for naught, I'm sorry Potter. I know you were looking forward to going to a pub." Harry bumped into Draco and in retaliation he rested his arm on Harry's shoulder with a smirk aimed at his height, and how he was now Draco's personal walking armrest, "Sod." Harry scolded and pinched Draco's side, laughing when he yelped and sprung away. In the end Harry truly didn't mind that they couldn't stay at the pub, and instead they entertained themselves by running as fast as they could down the manor halls, sliding into walls and racing each other across invisible lines drawn across archways and turns while ignoring the shocked gasps and scoldings of the portraits. He won most of the races, but Harry accused him of cheating because Draco knew the halls better and his legs were longer."Sharp turn! Sharp turn! Sharp turn!" Draco cried out through bright laughter as he fell on his hands against the wall. Harry slammed in behind him, unable to slow down until the last second, and they tumbled down through gasping laughter. They lay on their backs staring up at the high gilded ceilings panting, letting escape weak chuckles. "Merlin, my parents would have killed me for that." Draco said after regaining his breath. He pushed himself up on his elbows to look down at Harry's heaving chest and red face. "My aunt and uncle would've done the same.""How lucky are we that it's just us." Draco said slyly and shared Harry's grin. Above them a chandelier glimmered with glass shards and amber candles. Draco lay back down and stared upward at their shimmering lights flicker and shine, and felt Harry move his head to watch him more so than he saw it. "Draco...I'm really happy that Pansy hired me to work for you." He had to focus hard on maintaining his composure as he turned his head to face Harry. His expression was honest and searching, and Draco folded his hands over his chest to feel the racing beat of his own heart. It was likely a manner of one more week at the most that he would have time to spend with Harry, and already Draco missed him terribly. He feared that his desperation for the man next to him would carry on inside him forever if it's stuck around this long already. There was no possible way that he wasn't completely and utterly in love with Harry. "I'm really happy that you agreed."Harry turned his head away once more, and Draco was the one left staring. With the sun beginning to set on the horizon, storm clouds rolling in, and having missed breakfast, Harry's stomach was grumbling with hunger fueled exhaustion. He had managed to take a quick nap on the bed that was housed in his quarters and found it to be surprisingly comfortable after he got one of the elves, Breezy, to fix the springs in it for him. Breezy seemed happy enough to do so, and even sounded excited when she exclaimed to Harry that the linens would be laundered in the best soaps and run through with the best bluing too. Harry did not know what bluing meant--and he was afraid to ask. As he meandered up the long cobblestone pathway towards the manor Harry was surprised to find that the manor no longer filled him with a pit full of dread whenever he saw it, but rather lately had begun to fill him with warmth at the promise of Malfoy's company and delicious food. Sometimes he felt bad for thinking this way. So many people were kept prisoner during the war in the manors cellars, and Hermione was tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange in the drawing room that painting-Lucius now inhabited. How could a place of such hatred stand tall once more and resonate with care? Perhaps Trixx was right, thought Harry, the land under Malfoy's care felt different. It felt happy. Harry himself knew now that Malfoy has changed.When Harry was ushered into the manor the first thing he heard was the tinkling laugh of a woman. He stopped and tried to make out some words, but the voices were muffled through the walls. While running his hands through his damp hair he trailed after the noise and came to in the boudoir room. The boudoir room was a gilded yellow room made of multiple plated mirrors and filled with decorative vases that were probably worth more than Harry himself. A chandelier lit up the room in a comforting glow, and Blaise Zabini sat in the centre of it all on a piano bench nursing a glass of port wine. He was handsomely dressed in a gentleman's day tuxedo, and his dark skin seemingly glowed in the light.Pansy Parkinson sat nearby draped across a cream and red striped lounge chair. She was smoking a long rose cigarette and also cut an impressive figure with her sharp black bob and red lips, and when she saw Harry her eyes zeroed in on him like a hawk spotting a field mouse. "Potter." He turned to see Draco, who was standing by an open window that had view to the light drizzle of rain.Malfoy's hair had been neatly combed back to fall in a light wave over and behind his ear. He wore a starched white dress shirt with regal sleeves, and a plum coloured cloak that laced up at his neckline. It was layered with caplets across the shoulders that ruffles and gave him the romantic appearance of a maiden. Even Malfoy's black oxfords were shining and laced up with matching plum silk ribbon. Harry's heart picked up speed in his chest and he rubbed at it awkwardly, feeling like he had just intruded on conversation. Everyone was dressed so fancifully, so impressive and gorgeous--and there was Harry.Draco turned his head as soon as he heard Potter's steps resonate down the hall, and quickly waved his hands in Pansy's direction to get her to shut her mouth about the topic of his ill conceived pash on the wizard in question. Pansy cackled when she realized who it was, and Draco let out a whine. She was terribly cruel to him. Harry entered the room and immediately his eyes flickered between Pansy and Blaise. He dripped rain water onto the carpet and his hair stuck to his forehead in seaweed-like strands. Draco couldn't help but feel endeared. How was it that Potter could look so adorable even when he appeared so different from the world Draco was used to? He was utterly uncouth, rude, and ill mannered--but if Draco didn't want him desperately anyway. "Merlin Potter, you're soaked to the bone and dripping over the tile." Draco exclaimed.Potter looked down at his soggy spongy shoes and gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry Malfoy—got caught in the rain.""It's as if he didn't know he were a wizard." Blaise said offhandedly and sipped at his glass of wine while eying Harry with curiosity.
Draco watched as a delicate blush formed on Harry's brown skin, and felt his chest expand in delight. He brushed past Blaise and stepped away from the window to cast a drying charm on Harry, and then draped his heavy cloak around his shoulders.Harry's big green eyes peered up at him as he did so. He seemed stunned that Draco would give him his cloak in front of his friends; as if Draco wouldn't give Harry all the cloaks in the world to make him look Draco's way."You'll catch flies Potter," Draco murmured and spared a glance up. They stared at each other for an intimate moment and then Draco stepped aside. "There, now you won't have a chill."Pansy smirked and Draco. "Rather suits him Draco dear, perhaps you should gift it to Potter so he expands his wardrobe from old denims and boyhood tees to actual wizarding garbs." Potter seemed to swagger the rest of the way into the boudoir with newfound confidence. The purple of the cloak brought out the green of his eyes, and Draco found that he was unable to look away. Potter was too entirely captivating. Draco could feel his hands tremble, and his heart rate pick up. He twisted his rings around his fingers and hid his glances behind the white of his fringe."Maybe I will--if you ever change that lip shade, Parkinson." Potter shot back with an innocent look. Blaise let out a loud laugh while Pansy pinkened. "Fair enough Potter." Pansy said and tipped her chin up high before turning to face Draco, "Oh Draco-"A bright white light cut her off, and the entire room lit up. Draco immediately looked to Potter who lit up with excitement as he ran towards the open window Draco had vacated. "Merlin! Did you see that lightning?" He asked excitedly, and Draco came up behind him to watch as the light rain quickly turned into a torrential downpour. The sky was a dark grey and the clouds ominous with no clearing in sight. Soon an earth shattering thunder boom rolled out over the land that was so loud it hurt their ears and made the tables vibrate. "Quick!" Said Blaise, and hurried to put out the candles.They all crowded together against the window, elbows and shoulders bumping. Harry gasped once more then gripped Draco's arm as he pointed towards Lizzy. The littlest peahen was running quickly across the grounds and looked rather frightened.
"Where do the peafowl go when there's a storm like this, Malfoy?" Harry asked, and pressed closer. Draco could feel his warmth soak through to Draco's arm, and it filled his stomach with a not entirely unpleasant wriggling sensation."You needn't worry; they have multiple hideaways to avoid the storm in--including the stables and the old barn. They're simply dramatic." Harry nodded his head, and Blaise leaned in closer to Draco."That old barn is still standing, old bean?" He grinned widely, "Remember how we used to play in there all the time as children, Draco? Mother always got so upset when I returned to the manor doused in mud." Draco smiled fondly at the memory, silver eyes sparkling, and Harry looked back and forth between Draco and Blaise out of the corners of his eye as they continued their conversation. Would Zabini be a good candidate for his mission of finding Malfoy period-drama worthy romance to put an end to his dreams of love? Harry was unsure. Blaise had hung around Malfoy since before Hogwarts--and Harry figured that if romance were to bloom between the two close friends it would have been done so by now. Also, the thought of Draco and Blaise kissing made Harry's mouth pitch down and his chest squeeze unpleasantly for some reason, and the squeezing only got worse when he imagined Draco swimming in creeks with Blaise and running down empty corridors hand in hand, and all the other precious moments Harry had spent together with Draco at his side during his stay.He looked down at Parkinson, who had her face pressed close to the window and was breathing in big lungful of the fresh air brought in by the raging storm. She was rather beautiful, he could admit, and with a snarky tongue that rivalled Draco's; but Harry was sure they've already tried dating back in their sixth year of schooling--and obviously it didn't work out if Malfoy was so lonely that his fowl were acting up.Suddenly, Draco leaned down and spoke near to his ear. His warmth breath danced across Harry's sensitive skin and made his flesh break out in goosebumps. He shivered."How have you been finding your quarters, Harry? Well, I hope. I've been meaning to ask."Harry felt his cheeks heat up and his body become increasingly flustered to how close Draco was, as well as his posh voice whispered so close to his ear. Draco had never called him Harry, all week he had continued to call him only by Potter. When Draco said it now it was tenderly whispered, like a declaration of something.Harry pressed in closer to Draco, as much as he would dare, and felt his hands go clammy. When he turned his head to answer Draco he sucked in a sudden lungful of air--startled at how close the other man's face was to his own. He thought back to the creek and how their noses had bumped together when they had dunked under the water, and the memory made a sheen of sweat break out over his palms.Draco was looking down at him and every few moments a bright flash of lightning would light up the sides of his face. Harry felt like his chest was going to explode. He felt as if he had eaten too many exploding rocket pops and would with upmost certainty combust. Merlin."I-its great." Draco's smile was pleased. "Oh stop making eyes at each other." Pansy said loudly to Harry's right, and he quickly shot his eyes forward with a deep blush. Draco's face also began to appear splotchy with pink."What would your mother say," Blaise teased slyly, "why Draco, you should have a valet. Goo-goo eyes are dreadfully undignified."Draco slapped Blaise's arm and huffed. "You are all beastly and I've no idea why we are friends." He pouted, and Harry found himself caught staring at his lips."Because we've been alongside you since we were all in nappies, and you'd perish without us?" Pansy said innocently, batting her eyes.Draco hated to admit that she was right. The storm continued on all night long and well into morning. Pansy and Blaise decided to stay until midnight, and the four of them sat together along the lounge chairs and wingbacks in the boudoir room. Pansy shared the latest gossip between her and some of the women she was working with at her tailoring shop: Wixes Fixes, though Harry wasn't listening that well. His gaze was plastered on Draco, who was curled up in a regal wingback chair hugging a tasselled pillow to his chest as he nodded along to Pansy's gossip.
Harry felt a nudge against his foot and turned his head to see Blaise smirking at him knowingly. His dark eyes flickered between Draco and then back at Harry, as if asking him what he was doing. But that was the problem: Harry didn't know what he was doing. All his life he had been keeping a close eye on Malfoy. Either because Malfoy was fascinating and otherworldly compared to the life Harry had known at Privet Drive, or because Harry suspected him of Dark Arts. Malfoy was always in his peripherals. Somehow in his stay at Malfoy Manor and hanging out with Draco, seeing him as Harry has, that staring had gone from curiosity and fascination to ...want.
Harry gulped as he came to realize that he had grown feelings for Malfoy--feelings that were possibly there for a very long time, and were never realized. Feelings that have been plaguing him since he first saw Malfoy again--and it all came rushing back to him. With that realization came a heart gripping panic. He stood up quickly and Pansy stopped talking as three pairs of eyes fell on him. "I-err-bathroom!" Harry blurted out.He quickly made his way out of the boudoir room, and when he entered the hall he began a quick half jog-half walk away from the sound of the questioning voices. His heart was hammering in his chest, and he couldn't stop blinking with the shock of realization. "Potter!" He heard a voice yell, and quickly turned a corner. Quick footsteps hurried after him, and then Blaise Zabini appeared. "Merlin, did you really just run away from us?" he asked with wide eyes, "and here I thought you were the epitome of bravery."Harry was breathing rapidly, and he clenched his hands at his side. "I'm no braver than anyone else Blaise. I've just always done what needed to be done."Blaise looked pityingly down at Harry, a small frown of sorrow painted across his dark features. "You fancy him, don't you? And you've just realized it now." Harry breath caught. How obvious was he? He had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that Pansy knew as well--but did Draco? He felt sick with anxiety at the thought. The only other time he had ever fancied another boy had been Cedric, but his death had hurt Harry terribly, and so did the summer spent at Privet Drive where Dudley constantly teased him and beat him up over his sobbing nightmares about the Hufflepuff boy. "No," Harry lied, but it was weak to his own ears.Blaise shook his head and clasped Harry's shoulder."Listen Potter, I don't know you that well. Everything I've heard has been from the papers or from Draco's mouth and Merlin knows that those two love to exaggerate." He rolled his eyes with a soft laugh, "anyway--though I don't know you that well, I can see you're an alright bloke, and that you've been eying Draco all day. I can also see that nobody has ever told you that it's alright to fancy whoever the hell you'd like to fancy--Draco included."Harry felt his emotions overwhelm him and pressed his lips together to hide it. Blaise's words struck him deeply--they were the truth after all. Even Hermione and Ron didn't know about his short lived pash on Cedric."You two have always been circling each other's orbits ever since you were both eleven. Don't you think that means something incredible? How often are two people drawn to each other like you both are to each other?" Harry looked down at his beat up trainers as he thought about what Blaise said. His mind went to Ron and Hermione again, and how they both bickered constantly when they were in Hogwarts, until eventually they got together and have been inseparable since. His two best mates were so deeply in love that when Harry came around to visit he couldn't help but feel as if he were intruding on something intimate, and sometimes in his darkest moments Harry would curl up on his four poster back at Grimmauld Place and allow himself to be filled with envy. He wanted someone to love him, and to love someone in return. Harry had spent too much of his life feeling lonely. Feeling unwanted. Feeling used. Was it truly selfish to be the one in need of wanting sometimes? Blaise squeezed his shoulder. "I think you should tell Draco how you feel." Harry's head shot up, "No!" he cried out. He couldn't imagine a worse fate, unless it was losing the war, but at least then Harry would be dead and wouldn't have to feel bad about much at that point, really. If he told Draco how he felt, and was rejected--or worse, humiliated-- Harry doesn't know what he would do. It would haunt him for the rest of his life. He had felt like even when he left the manor he and Draco could maybe remain mates, and didn't want to ruin that chance. After all--why would Draco like him? Friendship was different from romance, and with their volatile history it just seemed too farfetched from reality to be possible."Pot-""No Blaise I can't, I just can't," Harry said miserably, "If he started to hate me again--if he found me disgusting I-" Harry's voice broke and he turned away to clear his throat. He had to calm down and regain some control. He cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. He was brave. "I can't tell him. Promise me you won't say anything."
Blaise looked unhappy and like he wished to say more, but Harry shook his head, and that was that. "Well that was odd." Pansy said conversationally and looked down at her nails. Draco stared at the arched doorway Harry had raced out from as if fire were licking his heels, and frowned. He had done something similar when Harry had shown up for breakfast the day after he'd arrived, but he was unsure of why Harry felt the need to escape now. He had never seen Potter run away from something before. The man had faced death itself before he could even button his own trousers. "It was odd." Draco agreed, and stood up. He trailed over to the glass cart that he kept his snifters and cut glass decanter. He poured Pansy another glass of brandy and she accepted it with a kiss to his cheek. "Why don't you see what your boy is up to?""My boy?" Draco asked in bewilderment, eyes wide and hand caught on his chest. Pansy smirked and said nothing as she eyed him through the amber glass of her snifter. She looked delightfully amused and Draco crossed his arms with a sneer. Pansy liked to act all knowing--the unfair part was that she usually was. "He's been staring at you all evening darling, as if you were a ten course meal and he were a man starved." Draco looked away and swallowed with difficulty. "I doubt that very much Pansy. He's simply here because the peafowl need help, and I'm sure he's staring no more than he always did back in school. Besides, even if he was...looking...nothing would come out of it." Draco heard a clink of glass and then Pansy's hand was on his arm. "I do believe that Potter is utterly smitten." "Your beliefs are fairy tale." "And so are we; to some." Pansy rebuked with a smirk. Draco let out a loud withering sigh and threw himself down for a good sulk. "Why are you always right?" he asked the cushions, and buried his face within the upholstery. He wished so desperately that Harry was his boy, as Pansy had called him. But if there were even the slightest chance of Pansy being wrong then Draco would be utterly humiliated. He would go from barely leaving the manor save once or twice every few months for a jaunt, to hiding in his bedroom for the rest of his miserable life. Pansy began to gently stroke his hair and he felt the tension in his shoulders dissipate. Eventually midnight came and his friends left. Draco wished them a good night's rest as they left through the floo. Blaise pulled him close and pat his back, "Until next time, old bean." and Pansy stepped up to give him a kiss on his cheek before hooking her arm through Blaise's. They disappeared in a swirl of green and Draco rubbed his forehead with exhaustion once they were out of sight. "They've left then?"Draco looked over his shoulder to see Potter standing in the doorway awkwardly shuffling back and forth. The halls were dark both from the hour and the storm, and Draco could barely make out Harry's expression. "Yes, and I do hope they weren't the reason you ran off. They're good people Harry, and I won't have you treating them undeserving." Draco was protective of those who he considered close. At one point in time he would've done anything his family had asked of him--Potter had seen that side of him. He only wished it hadn't been so rooted in hatred. Draco regrets so many things, sometimes he felt like his whole life was a series of mistakes one after the other; of poorly made choices and ignorance. Even now it was hard to come to terms with."No! They're brilliant, really," Harry added when he saw Draco's reproachful expression, "They are." Draco looked down and shied from Harry's intense eyes. He traced his finger along the lining of his fireplace, and then looked forward into the murky reflection of himself in the mirror in front of him. He looked pale and drawn back, and to the right of him Harry stepped closer. "Draco...how long have you been..."Draco watched Potters figure sway a bit and then come up behind him. His heart galloped in his chest--he felt slightly off balance in the way Potter seemed to always make him feel."Have I been what?" He whispered. "Been punishing yourself. The peafowl: I've checked the entire estate top to bottom and there's nothing in the land that's affecting their behaviour. Draco--I know it's something to do with you. Trixx told me it's because-because you're lonely," Potter straightened, expecting Draco to be defensive.When he turned around to finally face Potter's earnest expression he nearly couldn't take it. "As long as I must." he said quietly, defeated. "I have the manor, I have Pansy and Blaise, the elves, and I have the peafowl. Its more than..." he could feel his traitorous throat close up and his eyes sting. He looked upwards and tried to force his emotions down; the fact that they were shrouded by the dark helped, if only slightly. "Than I deserve." he could hear the own cracks in his voice, but prayed that Harry couldn't. This week has been much too emotional in his fair opinion.Harry shook his head, "That's not enough!" he sounded almost angry, and Draco had feared that Potter was right—that Draco deserved worse. But he continued his spew, "You deserve to learn from the past and make the right choices! If you hide yourself away and-and never do anything to change then what good does that do?"Draco felt a wave of indignation pass over him, "I'm not hiding you muppet! Don't you think I would love to leave the estate? Love to meet new people? Love to find someone who maybe-who might-" He wiped at his eyes in frustration, "who might just love me? I want all of that and more! I've always been spoiled--that has never changed. I want desperately--I want to gorge myself on life--I want so much that sometimes I can barely stand it." He croaked out. "It hurts Potter. I'm not hiding--I've been educating myself. I have been abolishing what I once knew, and trying to be a better man for it. But the rest of the wizarding world doesn't understand that, and I doubt they ever will. Terrible, horrible things happened, things that I can never forget--and I won't allow myself to." By the time Draco finished his head was pounding, and yet he felt a strange sort of catharsis. "I don't deserve to make merry and date in the public eye, I don't want to be a reminder for people of all they have lost. I'm tired of causing pain Harry, I'm so very tired of it. If all that means I'm to stay in the estate then so be it. There are worse places to stay. I consider myself lucky."He fell like lead into one of the loveseats and covered his eyes with his hand. He felt as if he had bared his entire heart and soul to Harry and was waiting for judgement upon it. He heard the floor creak before Harry crouched down in front of his knees. He said nothing as he waited for Draco to look at him, and when he did the other mans doleful eyes were caught on his own. "I'm sorry I thought otherwise." he whispered. He was so close that Draco could feel his warmth. The cloak that he had given him to prevent a chill was puddled at their feet. He looked like a prince, he thought; Draco's boy."It's alright. If I were you I would have made similar assumptions." Harry frowned and then slowly leaned in to rest his cheek against Draco's knee. His breath caught as he stared down at Potter before him. His hands were held aloft, unsure of what to do or where to put them. Cautiously, he lowered one down into Harry's mess of curls and let it rest there. Potter let out a quiet huff, and he began to thread his fingers through the soft curls and stroke, trying to imitate what best soothed him.Draco lost track of time--unsure of how long he sat there with Potter's head in his lap as he stroked his hair. Neither of them moved, even when Draco felt like he was about to fall asleep. Being able to do this for Potter overwhelmed Draco entirely. He had expected scorn when Harry had arrived at the manor to help, but Harry has been anything but. He was darling, and he made Draco's heart ache like nothing else. Every time he caught Harry's eye as they passed in the halls, every time he caught Harry staring across the table at mealtimes, every time he caught Harry's smile when he played with the peahen, Draco grew more and more smitten."I don't want you to keep punishing yourself." Harry said quietly, just when Draco thought he had drifted off to sleep. "I want you to be happy. I want you to find someone who loves you--who could love you." Draco stopped stroking his hair, and watched with his breath held in his lungs as Harry turned his head and looked up at him with sorrowful want. "And I want that too.""What are you saying?" Draco hoped with every ounce of his body that Harry was saying what he wished he were. That Harry had started to desire Draco in return.Harry captured the hand that Draco was using to stroke his hair, and brought it to his mouth. His brows furrowed with emotion as he pressed lingering kisses to his palm and wrist. His lips were dry and chapped, but Draco paid no mind. He wanted Harry to continue kissing him, all the way up his body and to his parted lips."That I think I could be that someone?" Draco's breath was coming out shaky and uneven as he watched in awe and disbelief, "You can't mean that." "I do Draco," he sounded so sincere as he said it, and Draco wanted to believe him terribly. "You're not the only one who feels alone--who wants, when everything else has been taken."Harry's eyes shone in the dark, and Draco couldn't stand the doleful look in them any longer. He tugged Harry up until he sat in his lap with his thighs framing Draco's own, and cradled him within his arms. The cloak acted as a cocoon, shielding their bodies from the rest of the world. Harry let out a shudder then tucked his face away in Draco's neck, not bothering to remove his specs. "Oh Harry," he breathed out, and pressed kisses to the crown of his head. Draco never imagined that Potter was just as alone as he was. Harry let out a whimper that sounded torn from his chest, and Draco held him tighter before he apparated them to his room. They landed with a loud bang above Draco's excessively large four-poster and crashed down into the cushions below. It felt almost like a dream, or another reality that he woke up into, one where Harry smiled at him like this every day, and clung to him with strong arms that hesitated to let go.He delicately brushed the hair away from Harry's face, and watched the way his eyes glided across Draco's face, mapping it out, as he did the same. "I've known you all my life and I finally get to touch you." Draco breathed out and tilted his head slightly so that their lips nearly brushed together. "You're so beautiful Harry...when I saw you again through the gates I nearly couldn't stand it." Even now it was hard to tear his sight away from the glorious expressions painted across Potter's face.
Potter squirmed and pulled him closer by his shirt, "God Malfoy you've been driving me mental." He gasped out, hair wild and eyes even wilder. “The things you say—the way you look—I-“ He let out a keen when Draco began to press a trail of barely-there kisses down the curve of his neck to his shoulder. "Yea?""Yea," Potter uttered throatily and captured Draco's face in his hands. He drew him back up, and before Draco could react, Potter kissed him desperately with a loud groan. Circe Potter was loud--and slightly needy--it all made Draco's head spin. He brought his hand down to grip Harry's thin waist and smoothed his thumb over the ridge of his hip bone. Potter had always been a bit too knobbly, but Draco didn't mind one bit. He snaked his way down Harry's body, and admired him with as much adoration as he could manage to fit in one look. Potter lifted his shirt up shyly and tossed it to the ground. He looked unsure of himself as he lay there without it on. His chest was covered in scars, one from what appeared to be a necklace of some sort and the other a lightning shaped bolt that mirrored the one on his forehead. Draco pushed himself up on his elbows and kissed each mark as Harry shuddered above him, his rough hands finding a place in Draco's hair. "There you are my darling," Draco whispered and stroked his sternum, "I'm going to take care of you."He had never felt so fulfilled and honoured in his life than in this moment: being able to see Harry like this, being trusted and cared for enough to be able to witness him. He was the most beautiful man Draco had ever known, it was almost poetic that they came together like this. "My darling boy," Draco murmured and pulled Harry closer, until their chests touched and they fell asleep exhausted but satiated, tangled legs pressed together and hearts endlessly full. Draco tucked his chin over Harry's shoulder as he drifted off, and felt Harry's hand close over his own. When Harry woke up the first thing that greeted him was Draco, who was watching him as he slept with a faint smile on his thin lips. "That's creepy." Harry said through a yawn and Draco snickered before pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Idiot."Harry grumbled when he felt a wave of cool air, and watched as Draco threw the sheets back and rose to get dressed. He put on what looked like the ruffled nightgown he wore earlier over his nude body and his slippers. Harry couldn't help but feel endeared to the sight--it was just so Malfoy. He continued to watch Draco brush his hair until it was sleek and shiny, and then apply a potion to his face of unknown origin; Harry was hesitant in asking what made it look so bright and glittery, lest he get Draco started on a potions rant like Harry remembered from school. "You're staring." Harry could hear the smile in Draco's voice as he said it, and he had a moment of awe as he realized this could be his life now. "I can't help it.""You're lucky I like the attention." "You've always been such a ponce, Malfoy."Harry stood up and looped his arm around Malfoy's waist, and drew him near so he could press a kiss to his shoulder. He was so pointy still--like Harry could bruise himself on him. Harry wanted to."Harry!" Draco gasped in outrage, and Harry smothered his oncoming dramatics with bubbling laughter and a kiss. "C'mon you know how I meant it--you're so cute.""You're on bloody thin ice." Draco's mouth wobbled with a suppressed smile through the glare of anger. It made his face scrunch up, and Harry couldn't help it but to kiss him once again. Eventually, they finally made it down to the barn after tumbling into bed once more. Trixx accompanied them as they walked down the estate to the northeast where the peacocks usually spent their time in the old barn. She spelled the door open and immediately a swarm of colourful peafowl scurried out, poking at each other and weaving around Draco's feet. Malfoy let out a cry of joy and Harry's heart filled with fierce affection as he crouched down and Esmeralda tucked her face against Draco's neck in an embrace.
He turned away from the sight to look back in the dimly lit barn which housed other animals besides the fowl--a white stallion stood in the back roaming around in its extended stable, munching on hay. Its hair was braided neatly in tens of strands, and its coat gleaming smooth. A few barn owls peeped their eyes open before shutting them once more, and just when Harry thought to look away his eye caught on the figure of two peacocks nestled together shaded in the back, beaks tucked in close and bodies pressed together. "I can't believe it." Draco said from behind him, voice in clear surprise. "It's Archibald and Frederick." Harry laughed in astonishment and shook his head. He put his hands on his hips and grinned up at the sky, feeling suddenly very very happy for two damn peacocks. "The fowl are so happy Sir!" Trixx bellowed out with a sob. She covered her wet eyes with her long ears and sniffled. "Trixx is so happy! Thank you Mister Potter! You has made Master Malfoy happy when Trixx could not!"Harry bent down and gave Trixx a hug, and smiled when her small arms wrapped around him. "Oh Trixx," Draco said and rubbed her back, "I'm terribly happy with you. You're family." She let out another wail and Persimmon nudged her with a coo.Over her shoulder Draco's eyes found his, and Harry was unable to look away from the all encompassing warmth and affection he saw in them. Somehow against all odds, an army of stubborn prideful peafowl had brought him back to Draco and Draco back to him. As Harry lay down in bed that night it was in the arms of the man he had begun to fall in love with. With all the years of their past between them, the future bright ahead in Draco's warm hand clasped tight to his, and the knowledge nestled safely in his heart that everything would be okay.