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Playing Away From Home
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Chapter 1: The Letter
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At the sound of scuffling Harry rushed towards the front doorway, practically falling over himself in his haste, his green eyes alight with anticipation –
Then he saw who it was.
"Oh, it's you." His face fell.
Draco quirked an amused eyebrow as he shut the front door behind him and slipped his outdoor robes off his broad shoulders. "Were you expecting your other, sexier husband?" he teased, leaning over to give him a quick kiss. He pulled away long enough to toss his keys aside onto the table then drew Harry closer, circling his arms around the dark-haired man's waist. Draco suddenly frowned a little, feeling the tension in his husband's body. "Hey – what's the matter?" he asked softly. He massaged the small of Harry's back and peered down into the subdued man's face with concern.
Harry exhaled softly and leaned his head on the taller man's shoulder. "It hasn't come yet," he mumbled into the soft cloth of Draco's shirt. He brought his hands up to rest on his husband's chest and sighed.
Draco kissed the top of his head and rubbed his back gently, a soothing up-and-down motion that seemed to calm him a little. "It'll come soon, stop worrying."
"But what's taking so long?" Harry murmured. "It should be here by now…."
"They said eight to ten days and it's only been nine so far," the blonde replied softly, trailing his hands gently down Harry's sides and resting them on his hips comfortingly. "You just have to be patient."
Harry turned his head to plant a kiss on his neck and sighed. "I suppose you're right," he conceded.
"Aren't I always?" Draco teased, brushing his lips against Harry's.
"Arrogant git," Harry murmured affectionately, relaxing into his embrace.
Draco smiled sexily and drew Harry closer, deepening the kiss as he wrapped his arms strongly around the dark-haired man's waist. Harry melted into his arms and his fingers travelled up Draco's neck to caress that silky blonde hair, slightly tousled from a long day at work. He moaned into his husband's mouth hungrily as he felt Draco slip a hand beneath his shirt, and pressed against him further. And as he felt that deliciously warm, musky scent wash over him and around him, he almost forgot what he had got so worked up about in the first place. It was always hard to concentrate when Draco touched him like that….
But mere seconds later, their embrace was cut short by the sound of fluttering wings getting louder. The noise was punctuated by the sudden rattle of the letter-box as a brown envelope shot trough the doorway, startling both men. They both whipped their heads around towards the source of the noise - and Harry suddenly felt his mouth go dry. He turned to look at Draco and bent to retrieve the envelope, his eyes quickly scanning the top line of the address.
Mr. Harry Malfoy-Potter.
Harry felt his stomach churn and he stared at the writing for a few seconds, running a shaky hand through his unruly hair. This is it. With trembling fingers he tore at the wax seal and thrust the letter at Draco. "You read it," he said shakily.
Draco took the letter and smiled reassuringly. "Are you ready?"
Harry covered his hands over his eyes and nodded dumbly, his heart in his mouth.
Draco inhaled a deep breath and, unfolding the parchment, started to read aloud.
"Dear Mr. Malfoy-Potter…."
