Hi everyone! Thanks for the reviews and favs, they make me very very ridiculously happy!
As usual, I don't own (most of) these characters, and I'm not making any money from this. I'm just enjoying taking the boys out for a good time ;)
Enjoy the next chapter!
HARRY'S DAY
"Harry," Pansy called gently, "Your coffee's here, and Jason's smothered it in an inappropriate amount of chocolate without even complaining once."
Harry made his way over to the counter to collect his coffee, and decided he couldn't quite bring himself to leave the cosy cafe just yet. That would mean heading to work and facing the rest of the world. He'd been moody and sour all week, ever since that encounter with Draco, and today was no exception.
"Harry," Pansy began again, scrutinising him. "I don't want to be blunt-..."
Harry snorted despite himself, breaking her off. "You make it sound like you're usually the paragon of tact and social grace."
Somewhere behind the screen separating the front counter from the kitchen, Harry heard Jason break out into laughter.
"Fuck off, both of you," she said loudly, a smile belying the words. "And if that's how we're playing I'll just come right out with it. Are you in love with Draco?"
"It is possible," Harry sighed. No point trying to keep it a secret now; he'd been moping for a week and he was sure Draco had spoken to Pansy, although the man hadn't deigned to speak to him yet. "Even though he can be a bastard at the best of times and an absolute prick at the worst. Yeah, I really think I love him."
Pansy just raised her eyebrows and hummed to herself. Not at all the explosion Harry had expected. What came next was even more unexpected.
"I think he loves you too, you know."
Harry stared at her incredulously. "Yes, definitely. What gave it away? The fact he's actually stopped coming home because he can't stand to be anywhere within 20 metres of me? Or the fact-"
"I'm serious. I think he's really struggling to come to terms with it, actually," Pansy cut him off. "I think he thinks you don't love him, and he feels like he's overexposed himself emotionally."
"His last name is Malfoy," Harry snapped unkindly, "every time he smiles I'm sure he feels like he's overexposed himself emotionally. And I call bullshit anyway, he knows exactly how I feel. Unless it was some other blonde Draco Malfoy I had up against the wall that night."
"Harry," Pansy sounded like she was properly pleading now. "Don't give up on him. Please don't give up."
Harry chuckled ruefully and met her dark eyes across the counter.
"I can't," he muttered, shaking his head. "I've tried. I wish I could. But I can't. I'm hopelessly, ridiculously, stupidly in love with him and I'm not sure there's anything he can do to stop it. So he should just face it." Harry scrubbed at his face with his hands. "I really miss him, Pansy. As a friend. Irrespective of what you just said, which is questionable at best, I don't expect anything of him. I won't ask for a repeat of the other night, I just want my best friend to fucking talk to me again because this is getting ridiculous. Tell him that, yeah?"
Harry made to leave when he felt a strong hand grasp his sleeve. Harry turned, and Jason exchanged Harry's near-empty coffee with a full one.
"On the house," he smiled. "And for the record, Harry, you're one of the best men I know." Jason looked at him seriously, and Harry was beyond flattered. "Now get out, shoo, and go grab life by the tits. Or the balls, in your particular case. Life's too short to spend being miserable," he finished with a wink, literally pushing Harry out the door.
That's more like him.
Harry waved at them both as he left, marginally cheered, and wrapped both hands around the steaming cup. Jason wasn't one for gossip or small talk, which made his and Pansy's continued relationship a small miracle, but it also meant he only ever spoke if he had something to say. His attempts at "pep talks" were few and far between, but carried more weight than anything anyone else could have said because of it.
I will, Jason, Harry thought firmly as he strolled to the station. I'm going to have a fucking great day, Draco be damned.
Harry watched as Herbie lazily curled himself around the spokes in the back of the chair.
Don't go far, he warned the adventurous snake, the parseltongue coming easily. I'm not even supposed to let you out of the enclosure, you know.
Would I leave you? the snake asked, all innocence. Harry snorted.
Only if you thought you could get away with it. Unfortunately you're a very large diamond python, and people would definitely notice you.
Although his boss didn't approve, it wasn't rare for Harry to chaperone the reptiles on excursions to his office. Mostly because he got terribly lonely doing paperwork by himself, and partly because he thought the slithering menaces would stop causing mischief if they were stimulated by a change in scenery every so often.
You shouldn't have tried to bite the trainee keeper, by the way, Harry admonised with nothing short of glee. He hated the woman, really; he'd never met a trainee so unwilling to listen to instruction or advice. And he had told her not to move Herbie's favourite log.
You're just upset I didn't actually manage to take a piece out of her.
Yes, Harry agreed easily. But I think she's going to bag you before she cleans your space next time, and I know how much you love that. The snake gave a deep hiss and moved slowly to drape himself over Harry's shoulders.
Don't let her. Herbie hissed softly.
Not my decision, chirped Harry back. He turned back to his paperwork, leaving the snake swaying gently from his shoulders.
You're trying to rile me up, Herbie scoffed. I can rile you up, too.
Harry just hummed and continued writing, ignoring the threat.
Leave the man in your past, hissed Herbie. He's causing you anguish you don't deserve.
Harry was shocked. Draco? I thought you liked him.
I like you better. Leave him.
Right, I'm flattered. said Harry grimly. He expected meddling from Jemima and even Smokey, but he'd chosen to take usually non-sentimental Herbie out today precisely because he didn't want this conversation. He didn't even want to think about Draco. The moment you start giving life advice is the moment you need to go home, he said with finality.
Harry scooped the snake up, which was not an insignificant feat in itself, and headed out into the corridor that joined the keeper's quarters with the backs of the enclosures.
I was just telling you what you needed to hear, hissed Herbie moodily, but didn't complain further when Harry unceremoniously dumped him into his fake-rainforest exhibit.
Harry walked back to his office with a scowl on his face. Leave Draco? It was laughable. Not least because Draco had pretty much left him. Damn it, Herbie, Harry thought irritably. I was having a good fucking day.
Every time he thought about Draco, the ache in his gut intensified. He missed the man with every ounce of his being, and was trying his very best to ignore it. He had moved from anger to despair. All Harry wanted was to be able to talk to the man again. He hadn't been lying to Pansy; if he could have Draco back as just a friend and nothing more, if they could forget whatever it was that transpired between them and caused Draco to flee with his his metaphorical tail between his legs, Harry would take it. That his completely non-platonic love for Draco was unrequited was obvious, despite what Pansy thought. Why else would Draco leave like that, unless he'd realised the extent of Harry's feelings that night, realised he'd facilitated part of Harry's fantasy which could never be repeated, and was trying to give Harry space to get over it? Harry knew he wasn't any good at hiding his feelings, so there was no way Draco could have not seen how much he'd enjoyed the kiss, right? So if Draco had felt the same way, there would have been no cause for either of them to go anywhere, except maybe the bedroom. Uuuugghhh, Harry groaned. Stop torturing yourself. It was painful to think about. But as long as Harry had some of Draco for himself, he thought it would be enough. But fuck, that kiss had been incredible. Harry nearly slapped himself, and quickened his pace. The sooner he was back in his office, the sooner work could distract him.
He passed the green tree python exhibit and, on a whim, stuck his head in.
Jemima? He called. Whimpered really, if he was honest.
Mmmmmmmmm Harry, came the soft response as her green head dipped down out of the fake canopy above.
Should I try to forget about Draco completely?
He refuses to love you still? She asked. Harry shook his head.
It's not about refusing to love me, he just doesn't love me. Harry moped.
Give him time, Jemima hissed sagely, her pretty head bobbing. He just needs time.
At that moment there was a rustling of leaves on the floor of the enclosure, and Smokey's head poked out, followed lithely by the rest of his slender body. You've got to go after the things you want, Smokey hissed forcefully, flicking his tail in distress. You can't let the things you love sssslip away.
Harry rolled his eyes, but managed a thanks, guys before heading back to his office properly and slumping in his chair. He drummed his fingers against the desk and jigged his leg in nervous agitation. He now had several differing opinions as to how he should deal with the Draco Situation, and was even more confused than he had been originally. I am legitimately taking my life advice from a bunch of neurotic snakes, he thought with a grimace. That's probably the first place I went wrong.
Harry sighed. He made himself a cup of instant swill that the admin ladies had the gall to call coffee, and idly thought to himself Draco would hate it here, if only because of the coffee, before mentally slapping himself. Stop thinking about him, he snarled at himself. He doesn't want anything to do with you. You let your feelings show, and this is how you knew it would end.
Harry stormed back to his desk and sat down with such force the wheely swivel chair nearly skidded halfway across the room, and he slammed his mug down so hard he nearly coated the desk with the "coffee". They'd run out of chocolate powder, too, which only served to sour Harry's mood further. At least it's not decaf, he tried, but he still felt foul. He plowed into his paperwork with determination, muttering unkindly under his breath about pesky serpents and people who wouldn't know coffee from dog shit.
It was going to be a long afternoon.
Next chapter will be the same day from Draco's point of view, which will be up very soon. And then there'll only be one chapter left! :D
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