Here I am, back again, with the seventh chapter in this tale of mine ;)

Bit of a slow upload again, this time because it's gotten rather hot in England, meaning I spend most of the day feeling rather dopy, and far too hot. Also been generally rather busy with beta work and another little project of mine. Two projects, actually.

I must say a rather large thank you to Mysticalgems for your lovely review. Really made my day

Side note. The food mentioned in this chapter are things I've done myself, and am rather fond of. As for the wine mentioned, well, I happen to like a few glasses of wine ;)

Right then, onwards we go!

They stood before the Manor's floo point, stock still and wrapped in an embrace so tender and intimate, so all encompassing that everything else faded away, that many would mistake it for that of two long lost lovers, instead of two young men who'd found a certain comfort in each other's company, on an emotional and physical level.

Eventually, the pair parted reluctantly, both instantly missing the sensation of the embrace, grinning sheepishly at each other; silver eyes locked with emerald green ones. A comfortable silence had settled over the two of them, disturbed only by the faint crackling of flames dancing in the black sconces evenly spaced around the room, casting shadows that stretched and writhed along the walls like skeletal hands stretching for something just out of reach. The sconces must have been charmed, to so effectively illuminate a room so large.

"So, you..." Harry cocked his head to the side, a coy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, voice lilting with a teasing note "You missed me a lot, huh? If that hug is anything to go by"

"You seemed just as keen Harry" Draco drawled, his signature smirk quickly appearing "Unless I was imagining how tightly you were hugging back"

"Maybe I just like hugging my friends" Harry bit back playfully "Did you think of that?"

"No, never crossed my mind" He arched a blond eyebrow, silver eyes twinkling with amusement "I rather thought my natural good looks were the answer"

Harry bit his bottom lip slightly; eyes now travelling up and down Draco's clothed body. He really was exceptionally attractive; pale skin clashing with dark clothes and hair that sparkled like white gold. There was an almost ethereal quality to him; beauty mixed with strength and poise. He glanced at the floor for a moment, at Draco's black shoes; gleaming and spotless, perfectly complimenting the rest of his attire, and then moving back to Draco's eyes. Eyes that had so much depth, so much emotion to them, more than most would imagine.

"I've never met anyone as handsome as you Draco. You stood out at Hogwarts, and you stand out now, so far from the rest" The words were softly spoken, earnest and heartfelt.

"Harry...I..."

All of a sudden, Draco found himself lost for words; his heart hammering in his chest, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth and threatening to break forth. People had been complimenting him on his physical appearance all his life, yet now that it came from Harry Potter, his usual biting retorts or dry humoured responses failed him; not even a charming response that would evoke a blush or a giggle in so many came to him.

He was startled out of his thoughts when he felt a warm hand close around his, fingers interlocking as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He glanced down, seeing Harry's tanned skin pressed against his pale skin, a calloused hand against his own comparatively smooth, creating a stark contrast. Heart still racing, Draco looked at the emerald eyes before him that danced with warmth and excitement.

"Come on, show me the Manor" Harry grinned at Draco and made a move towards the door, pulling the blonde along with him, black cloak flaring out slightly as he went "I've never seen your home properly before"

"No, I suppose you haven't" A faint trace of regret had crept into his voice, his mind flashing back to the first time Harry had been to the Manor.

It hadn't been a visit of choice. Towards the war's end, Malfoy Manor had been occupied by Voldemort and what remained of the higher echelons of the Death Eater ranks, and had served as a prison for the Dark Lords victims. Harry had, for a time, been one such prisoner; though his identity had gone unnoticed, thanks to the blonde's reluctance to identify the bloated and deformed individual that was a slightly cursed Harry Potter. Had he been able to dwell on the memory, Draco's good mood would have faded; however, before he could, he found himself swept up in the enthusiasm and excitement that seemed to radiate from Harry with every second and every step within the Manor's halls. He was wide eyed with awe, taking in every detail, every painting, every piece of furniture, reminding Draco so much of Harry's first day at Hogwarts.

They walked slowly, hand and hand through the Manor's corridors, Draco answering the multitude of questions Harry asked; ranging from who chose the decor, to where a decorative vase came from. It was rather endearing, Draco thought, to watch Harry stare with unabashed amazement at the Manor's grandeur.

After turning into one of the manor's many corridors, the pair found themselves looking down a hallway brimming with portraits. So many, that there was barely any free space left. Harry took a breath, and began to slowly make his way down the corridor, examining each portrait as he went, unable to miss the resemblance between each individual. Hair so blonde it shone in the light, even on the canvas, and silver grey eyes.

"They're all related to you? Your family?" Harry turned to Draco, a trace of wonder in his voice.

"Every one of them. Generations worth of Malfoy's, all in the one room" Draco stood at Harry's side and gestured around himself, voice growing passionate as he spoke "The Malfoy's have lived here for hundreds of years. The land was given as a gift to Armand Malfoy by King William I, after he conquered England. Exactly what Armand did for the King has become lost to time, but it's an interesting fact"

"There's so many of them. I wish I knew this many of my family" Harry turned slightly, facing the blonde, voice developing a coy edge "So...you're family has always been involved with royalty and the important names in the wizard world?""

"Correct" Draco nodded, smiling down at the dark haired male before him "Well, it's unclear at the very start. How Armand came into contact with the King is as much a mystery as what he did. But, since then, the Malfoy name has always been associated with greatness and power. Though the actions of certain Malfoy's has tarnished the name somewhat"

"You're talking about Lucius?" Harry squeezed Draco's hand and smiled sadly.

"He supported a mad man, a homicidal maniac...and now, the Malfoy name means nothing" he sighed, the sound bitter and full of frustration "We've become social pariahs"

"You'll change that Draco" Harry grinned at Draco, squeezing his hand yet again, hoping to cheer the blonde up. They'd been so happy, so care free at the start of the evening, yet a simple change in the conversation had altered that "I know you will"

He blinked, surprise written plainly across his face. Harry had uttered the words with such certainty, such conviction, yet Draco could not figure out why.

"What makes you so sure of that?"

Draco had always prided himself on maintaining his cool and his confidence, but he could feel both slipping. He couldn't meet Harry's eyes, unsure what he'd see there, unsure why someone who'd once hated him so vehemently was now offering reassurance.

"Because I think you're a good man" Harry spoke softly, stepping slightly closer "The rest of the world will realise that"

It may only have been a few words, but Draco couldn't help the cacophony of sensations that rushed through his body when he heard them. Shock, pleasure, a hint of embarrassment...all of which were wiped from his mind when he felt a soft set of lips touch his own. Ever so lightly, and for just a split second, now hovering a mere few millimetres from his own. The blonde smiled and allowed his eyes to drift shut, revelling in the intimacy that had suddenly descended over them. He felt a rough hand close around his free one, felt the lips return but with more force, moving against his own. He felt himself being backed against the wall, barely registered the muffled grunt of annoyance from whichever portrait he found himself pressed against. At another point, the prospect of being kissed so sensually whilst pressed against the portrait of a long dead relative would have been somewhat embarrassing, but instead, he found himself far too wrapped up in the sensation of being forcefully kissed by one Harry Potter, and the undeniable fact that Harry's lips were oh so soft, and irresistible. The sensation of hot breath, of slick tongues slowly intertwining; the world faded for them both, leaving nothing but each other and the feeling of two bodies pressed tightly together.

The pair moved slowly, comfortably, though with a force and desire neither could miss, content with nothing more for the time being; though the noticeable tightening in each males trousers spoke of future possibilities, and a clear suggestion that more could happen.

However, that possibility was dismissed from their minds when a small popping sound echoed down the hall, followed by a slightly high pitched giggle.

Harry untangled himself from Draco and stepped away as fast as he could, stumbling over his own feet and nearly falling backwards into the wall opposite the blonde, generating yet another disgruntled grunt from a portrait. He could feel the heat in his cheeks, which were no doubt deep red with embarrassment, perfectly matching the shade of crimson Draco's face had turned. It was a cute look for the blonde, Harry decided. The pair turned towards the sound of the giggle, only to be met by the sight of Missy the house elf, clad in a bright green pillow case that almost resembled a dress, with a blue and orange wig.

"Missy is sorry for interrupting Sirs" her large amber eyes blinked at both wizards, an almost amused smile plastered across her face "But Missy was wanting to inform Master Draco and Mister Harry Potter that the food is being kept warm in the family dining room"

"Ah...yes, thank you Missy. Harry and I were...touring the manor" Draco cleared his throat, fighting to regain control of the slight shake in his voice, caused by a mix of embarrassment and excitement.

"Missy was noticing that, Master Draco" She bowed low, long nose and ears dragging across the carpeted floor before turning her gaze on Harry "Would Mister Harry Potter like Missy to take his cloak for him?"

Harry almost choked with embarrassment, having entirely forgotten he was wearing it.

"Yes, please. Thank you" Harry couldn't help but stutter his way through the sentence, heart still pounding with the realisation that he'd just been caught by a house elf with his tongue down someone's throat, more so when that someone was the house elves master.

"Missy is happy to serve" the small creature snapped her fingers, causing Harry's cloak to vanish, before she herself vanished, apparating to some other part of the manor, leaving a pair of embarrassed wizards in her wake.

"So..." Draco cleared his throat yet again, the mask of control falling back into place "Shall we eat?"

Harry quickly nodded in response and followed Draco down the corridor, back the way they'd come; taking the chance to deliver a hard slap to the blondes arse on the way, the sound echoing in the corridor. The move caused Draco to smirk slightly, thin platinum blonde eyebrows raised, grey eyes glancing at Harry.

"Just reminding you that we need to finish that properly" As if a flick had been switched, Harry's embarrassment had vanished, replaced by a sass and confidence, grinning as he walked next to the blonde "Maybe after dinner..."

xxx

Sometime later, they at last found themselves seated across from each other in one of the larger dining halls, which Missy had referred to as the 'family dining room', though Harry thought it was far too large and decorative to be reserved for family only. It was grand, impressive, exactly the type of room that would have been good for impressing guests.

They sat a dark wooden table long enough to seat twenty, plus an additional seat at each end, the respective heads of the table. It was covered in a deep burgundy table cloth, and the chairs, which were made of the same dark wood as the table, had matching burgundy cushions inlaid on the base and at the back, allowing people to sit and relax in comfort. They were perhaps some of the comfiest Harry had ever sat on. Charmed candles cast their glow along the walls whilst a crystal chandelier blazed above them, the light shimmering along the surface of the black glass placemats and matching coasters, pristine silver cutlery sparkling alongside them. It was a clash between modern and old, but it gave the room an almost chic look that could do nothing but work effortlessly, whilst retaining a class and warmth. Given how distant, how cold Lucius Malfoy had always seemed, Harry had always imagined that his home would reflect that, and found himself pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Despite its size, the manor had a homely feel to it, perhaps the influence of Narcissa Malfoy coming through. Though Harry had only interacted with her on a few occasions, their last meeting had shown the soft, motherly side of the woman, as well as a strength and dedication to her family.

Whilst Draco's home had proven to be a shock, what was dominating Harry's thoughts at this present moment happened to be the smell wafting its way throughout the dining hall, emanating from the selection of covered silver dished and plates that sat on the table between the two wizards. It was a warm, meaty smell mingled with the almost heady aroma Harry had come to associate with herbs, thanks to years toiling away in the Dursley's kitchen. The combination had set his stomach rumbling, earning a few amused looks from Draco. Alongside the dishes and plates, two wine glasses, each filled with a dark red wine, and a large crystal decanter filled with the same dark red liquid, completing the look.

Tentatively, Harry reached forwards, wrapping his fingers around the delicate stem of the wine glass, bringing it to his lips, sniffing the dark red beverage first. It was strong, and not unpleasant in the slightest. Slowly, he took a sip, grimacing slightly at the sudden explosion of flavour in his mouth. He'd never drunk much wine in the past, tending to stick with an array of ales or Firewhiskey, though periodically returning to Butterbeer when he felt the need for something comforting.

"Not a wine drinker Harry?" Draco drawled, barely suppressing a smirk and a chuckle, as he watched the dark haired man eye the drink as if it were going to grow three heads at any given moment.

"It's uh...just a little stronger than I thought" Harry replied, taking yet another sip, finding himself slowly growing accustomed to the flavour.

"I should hope so. It's full bodied" he blonde grinned, reaching for his own glass and taking what could only be called a generous gulp, evidently used to the strong flavour "My favourite kind of red. This one is a rather pleasant Chianti"

"It's good" Harry smiled, settling the glass back on the coaster, leaning over the table slightly, closer to the blonde, a faint trace of embarrassment creeping into his tone "I don't really know much about wine"

"Part of the pure blood upbringing, you might say. Culture, etiquette, family history; and a knowledge of the more refined drinks" Draco chuckled, setting his own glass down "My mother used to spend hours quizzing me on how certain grapes are grown, how they're blended with others, and the type of flavours they'll produce. All, of course, with the goal of a future marriage"

"Sooo...you've been raised to be the perfect husband?" Harry couldn't help but smirk, a sassiness entering his voice "Charming, suave, a true gentleman?"

"Exactly" Draco answered with a smirk of his own, grey eyes sparkling in the low light.

Harry grinned even more, his eyes gleaming playfully. Leaning back in his chair, he folded his arms across his chest, the green fabric bulging ever so slightly. He cocked his head to the side, a gesture that would have seemed appropriate on his animagus alter ego Marley.

"I'd never have guessed" The dark haired males grin seemed to grow wider with each word "I mean, you were such an arse"

Draco snorted, the sound completely mismatching with his usually so controlled and elegant persona. Try as he might, the blonde couldn't help but chuckle slightly, his normally pale features developing a slightly pink tinge.

"Yes, I suppose I was in those days" The blonde continued to grin, amused and accepting "I do regret the way I used to behave. So caught up in my father's rhetoric, in blood purity and being the very best of wizard society"

"It's like I've got to see a whole new side of you this past week" Harry dropped the teasing smirk, settling with a gentle, warm smile "Getting to know Draco, instead of Malfoy"

"Is there a difference?" Draco returned the smile, curios about what Harry's answer may be.

"Of course there is!" Harry said with force, eyes shining with affection "Draco's sweet and caring. A gentleman, and even after just a week, I wouldn't want to be without his company. Malfoy's..."

"A dick, right?" Draco grinned, though internally he was trying to fight the giddy feeling that those simple words had evoked. It was like his heart had skipped a beat, and his stomach had performed a somersault at the same time.

"Just a bit, yeah" Harry found himself unable to resist laughing, seeing the blonde willing make a joke about himself was refreshing "Also behaved like he had a ten inch wand stuck up his arse all day long"

"There may well be something else up there after dinner you know" The blonde drawled, a glint in his silver grey eyes.

The remark was made idly, though it had the exact effect Draco was hoping for, causing Harry to involuntarily open his mouth in shock, his green eyes suddenly wide with shock, and more than a hint of excitement. Draco watched with some amusement as the man sitting across from him blinked in rapid succession before fidgeting in his chair, as if trying to get comfortable; however, the blonde suspected the move was triggered by the need to relieve pressure, due to a particular part of Harry's anatomy getting larger.

"Speaking of dinner..." Continuing as if nothing had happened, Draco withdrew his wand from somewhere on his person and waved it over the table, the movement elegant and flowing.

Harry sat and watched in amazement as the various silver platters begin to hover around the table and rearranging themselves, gliding elegantly and leaving a trail of wonderful scents in their wake. When they'd settled back on the table top, the covers vanished, revealing the contents, and releasing the strong aroma of freshly cooked, piping hot food. The scent wafted around the room, filling every space with its strength, causing Harry's stomach to rumble loudly. He licked his lips, leaning forward and examining the contents, eyes raving over the various dishes. Mashed potatoes, stuffed pepper halves sitting in a sauce of some kind, something long and crispy covered in various herbs that Harry couldn't identify, and finally, large chunks of meat sitting in a thick sauce with vegetables; each dish complete with a large silver serving spoon.

A wide smile plastered across his lightly tanned features, Harry raised his eyes, fixing them on the blonde seated across from him, who at this moment, had a broad smile upon his face, sitting tall and straight, proud, like the true master of the house.

"Draco...this looks amazing. And smells just as good" Harry gushed, his eager gaze flicking between the food and Draco "Your house elves must be brilliant. Better than Kreacher"

There was something akin to awe in Harry's eyes, an excitement that mirrored his feelings when he had his first meal at Hogwarts. Whilst this was nowhere near as large or extravagant, it still stood far above the meals he was used to having. Cooking and preparing food was not one of his strong suits, despite the years spent toiling in a kitchen, though he managed with simple meals and periodically eating out. London was full of restaurants and quiet pubs that he'd quickly grown fond of.

"Actually, I did this myself" For the briefest of moments, the usual confident grin vanished, replaced by a nervous smile, with a hint of subtle pride "Missy and the others weren't involved"

"I didn't know you could cook like this"

"I never used to. After leaving Hogwarts, I found myself with nothing to do" The blonde shrugged slightly "One day, I watched the house elves preparing my meal, and couldn't help but appreciate the art to it, the concentration. Really, there's not much difference between cooking a meal like this and preparing potions. The focus is still on how the components are prepared, how you cook them, and for how long"

"I think this is the first time I've heard someone compare cooking food to brewing a potion" Harry grinned, a playful twinkle in his eye "I'm not going to find any mandrake root or schisandra in this, am I?"

"My my Harry, I'm impressed you even remember the name schisandra" The blonde quirked an eyebrow in Harry's direction, a lopsided grin plastered across his face, his tone somewhere between lecturing and amused "Though as it's often used for dealing with erectile dysfunction, you won't be finding it in your meals, unless you have a problem I don't know about"

"I don't have a problem like that" Harry mumbled, squirming in his seat under the amused gaze of the host "So uh…what exactly did you cook?

If it were possible for Draco's eyebrow to travel up his forehead any further, it likely would have in response to the sudden shift in topic. Feeling more than slightly amused, his grin still in place; the blonde seemed to sit taller in his chair, back straight and rigid once again, every bit the proud host anyone would imagine a Malfoy to be, indicating each dish with a graceful inclination of one pale, fine boned hand.

"Peppers stuffed with taleggio cheese, with a walnut, garlic and lemon dressing; polenta cut into strips and lightly fried with a variety of herbs, a beef and red pepper stew; and mashed potatoes. Obviously"

Whilst the words may have been said with the old arrogance and smugness people had associated with Draco Malfoy, it was plain for any to see, or at least plain for Harry to see, that this was simply a mask to hide the pride and sense of achievement the host was truly feeling.

"It's like I'm been invited to eat at a five star restaurant" Harry smiled softly, still feeling a pang of embarrassment from Draco's earlier joke about getting hard, however accurate it may have been "Thank you. I think the only person who's ever gone to this much trouble for me before is Molly"

"I am truly proud to stand alongside the indomitable Mrs Weasley" Draco drawled, no malice in his cultured voice.

"You're such a dick sometimes" The brunette laughed, his mood lighter and more joyous than it had been all week.

"I'm being deadly serious. The woman defeated dearest Aunt Bella in a duel" Draco leant forwards, grasping the decorative silver serving spoon and transferring a large pepper half to his plate "That's no small accomplishment, believe me"

From that moment on, conversation dwindled away, replaced by contented sighs and the small sounds of pleasure uttered by those completely satisfied by a meal; the gentle clink of cutlery on plates and bowls echoing softly around the room.

xxx

Sometime later, both young men collapsed back in their seats, resting against the dark burgundy cushions, stomachs full of rich food and wine. They wore matching expressions of contentment and their eyes drooped slightly with the comfortable fatigue that so often sets in after a heavy meal. Gesturing faintly with his right hand, Draco caused a small bell to sound somewhere in the room, though Harry couldn't pinpoint its location. The sound it made was small, high, and surprisingly pleasant, unlike the often sharp ringing bells tended to make. A moment later, a group of four house elves, all unknown to Harry, appeared at various points around the table, collecting the remnants of the meal and the dirty plates, before vanishing with them.

"Merlin…that was good. So fucking good" Harry shut his eyes, breathing heavily, feeling slightly bloated "I haven't had a meal like that in so long"

"And I haven't had someone to cook for in a long time" Draco grinned back, rolling his head from side to side, sighing contently "I'm glad you enjoyed it, but I hope you have room for more"

"I don't know if I can eat any more….." Laughing, Harry shook his head, truly feeling as if he couldn't eat a single bit more.

"But I went to so much effort Harry" Draco drawled, an almost cheeky smile adorning his pale, aristocratic visage "And it's dessert. Who wants to miss dessert?"

Gesturing once again with his right hand, the small bell sounded its high pitched tone once again, this time causing three house elves to appear, Harry recognising each of them from the last summons. Two of them bore large crystal glasses filled with what resembled a layered dessert, whilst the third carried a silver tray. Two small crystal glasses with long stems sat atop it, a bottle of red liquid next to them. The desserts were placed in front of the two men, as were the glasses, which were quickly filled with by an elf with the contents of the bottle. Inclining his head slightly, Harry caught a brief whiff of the red liquid, it smelt sweet.

"Cherry tiramisu, with a glass of Mavrodaphne" Once again, the look of pride and confidence had resurfaced "A Greek dessert wine. Sweet, but not overpoweringly so"

Licking his lips, Harry eyed the new offering, suddenly finding the desire to consume more had returned when the sweet aroma of cherries, mingled with the delicate, nutty scent he immediately new to be almonds reached his nostrils.

"I'll be as large as Uncle Vernon at the end of this" Harry muttered, a faint smiling tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Taking a deep breath, the dark haired male grasped the small glass, the surface cool and firm beneath his heated skin. Raising the glass to his lips, he took a sip of the red liquid, enjoying the blend of strength and fortified sweetness. As the alcohol induced warmth spread around Harry's body, he set the glass aside in favour of the long handled silver spoon sitting next to the dessert, grasping the cool metal and almost visibly salivating as the spoon sunk into the smooth cream, cutting its way through a soaked cherry and into the soft biscuit base

"I guess I've got a little bit more room….."

xxx

With the meal now ended, and both males officially full beyond any hope of eating anything more, they found themselves sitting in the Manor's expansive gardens on a cushioned wooden bench. The bench was overlooking a small pond surrounded by some of the prettiest flowers Harry has ever seen; bright green stems ending in vibrant blues, deep reds, and yellows that would rival an abba costume, all neatly trimmed and arranged.

Though night had descended on the land, the type of all consuming night that one only ever found when it was November, the garden remained faintly illuminated. Balls of orange light hung in the air, casting their faint glow over the neatly trimmed, vibrant green grass and the rows upon rows of orderly plant life, each row more colourful than the next. The black sky was filled with brightly twinkling stars, each like a shining diamond, not a trace of the previous weeks heavy clouds anywhere it sight. It should have been cold, yet the garden remained comfortably warm, an additional effect of the balls of light, as Draco had explained earlier in the evening. All around them, they could hear the gentle chirping of crickets, the occasional whisper of the wind, and the faint hooting of an owl somewhere in the distance.

"It's so peaceful here" Leaning back against the bench; Harry took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh, slightly sweet air that filled his lungs.

"My mother used to spend hours out here, sitting and reading" Draco smiled softly, remembering a time before war, before loss and death "I'd sit out here with her, listening to a story, or just watching the world"

Tilting his head towards the blonde, Harry tried his best to imagine the scene. A young Draco, bright blonde hair long and falling around his ears, whilst the ever aristocratic and perfectly poised Narcissa Malfoy sat perched on the bench in a long dress, no doubt made of the finest materials, a book delicately clutched between her hands as she read to her young son, the sun beating down on them. It was an image of childish innocence, of a peaceful family, and seemed so far from the young Malfoy Harry had encountered for the first time all those years ago at Hogwarts. From the very start, he'd seemed hard, fully of arrogance and self entitlement, no trace of a child in sight.

Some part of him, the part Harry tried his best to ignore, wished that he'd been able to experience something similar in his childhood. Of course, it was nothing but a faint itch, a desire for history to have played out differently. He used to indulge it at every opportunity; now though, he rarely gave it a thought, unless something sparked that desire once again, instead contenting himself with what he had, and those he'd known.

"That sounds lovely" Still looking at the blonde, Harry shifted closer, ever so slightly "Growing up here must have been so…wonderful. So much space, tranquillity….it must have been perfect"

"It had its charms, though growing up a Pureblood isn't easy. The pressure of expectance and family honour is on you from the moment you're born" Draco turned his head, his silver eyes now locked on Harry's green ones "What about your childhood? You were raised by muggles, correct? Was this Uncle Vernon one of them?"

"Yeah, I lived with my aunt and uncle, and their son Dudley. Aunt Petunia was my mum's sister, but they weren't close" Harry let his head fall to the side slightly, bringing it closer to the blonde, a wave of exhaustion washing through him "They hated anything to do with magic, anything that wasn't completely and utterly normal. They couldn't have been more boring if they tried"

"What was it like?" Draco's voice was soft, inquisitive but undemanding.

"Fucking awful. Hogwarts was my escape, my real home" He paused, unaccustomed to sharing those experiences with other people, but he continued speaking none the less "They treated me like a house elf, forced me to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. Bullied me, starved me, pretended I didn't exist and treated me like shit…..just because I was born a wizard"

"I'm sorry, truly" Deep down, the blonde felt a simple sorry was inadequate; hardly enough to make up for years of misery, but it was all he could offer. Internally, he was shocked that Harry Potter had lived through so much, and had somehow remained so good, so noble. The other part of him, the part that had reared its head so often at Hogwarts, wanted to do nothing but hunt the muggles in question down and show them exactly what a real wizard could do, especially one whose entire life had been spend steeped in dark, forbidden magic.

As the years had gone by, Draco had come to realise that the anger and bitterness he was at times so well known for, and delighted at hurling at others, was the product of his upbringing. A by-product of being raised to believe that he, as a Malfoy, was superior to everyone else in the world.

"I used to hate them…..now though…..they were just scared, forced into dealing with something they weren't ready for and knew nothing about. I forgave them years ago" Harry laughed, and turned back to the pond "There were some good points growing up though. Meeting Lupin, my godfather Sirius, everyone in the order….Hermione and the Weasley's"

"I never met Sirius" The blonde mirrored Harry's posture, turning to the pond as well "I heard a lot about him from my mother though"

"She knew Sirius?" Harry glanced to his side, curiosity evident in his voice, so eager all of a sudden.

"They were related. My mother was born a Black; cousins, I think she said" As if by instinct, Draco moved his hand to the side, finding the heated skin or Harry's hand, and lacing their fingers together, hot and cold fitting together perfectly "I never met him. As you probably know, he wasn't popular among the Blacks, and by extension, the Malfoy's. Or the LeStrange's"

"I know. Disinherited because he didn't hold the traditional pureblood beliefs"

"He sounded like a good man. Brave. Braver than so many others, my father included" Draco squeezed Harry's hand, shuffling to the side so their bodies were nearly touching "I can ask my mother if any of his belongs are stored in the Manor, if you like"

"Thank you, I'd like that" His voice was soft, and filled with gratitude, more than Draco would have thought a simple gesture would warrant "I don't really have anything of his, just a few pictures. And the house…."

"I'll send a letter tomorrow and ask" Releasing Harry's hand, the blonde slipped his arm around his shoulders, drawing Harry closer to him "12 Grimmauld Place. The seat of the Noble Black family. I remember Aunt Bella talking about it….sounded like a dark, miserable place to live"

"It is. Kreacher keeps things in check, but I don't like going there" Harry nestled into the blondes side, finding a level of comfort in the physical contact "Too many bad memories, and despite the damn thing being in the loft, you can still hear Walburga's portrait screaming about mudbloods"

"That's a sensation I understand" Draco shifted slightly, bringing his head to rest against Harry's mass of soft black curls; his hair, Draco noticed, smelt fresh, like the sea "There are parts of the Manor that I don't set foot in. My father's study, some of the lower levels…..because those were the places that You Know Who spent his time. Or his prisoners"

"What was it like, living with Voldemort under the same roof as you?" Hearing the name spoken aloud still caused Draco to shiver, the old fear response still present; he wasn't surprised to notice Harry's lack of response to what most wizards and witches had spent their lives fearing.

"To use an old muggle phrase, it was like walking on egg shells" The blonde sighed slightly, almost instinctively nuzzling Harry's soft mass of hair "Living one moment to the next, not knowing if you'll suffer a Cruciatus because he's bored, not knowing if he'll hurl a killing curse at you for not showing the correct level of respect…."

"I think we've both had our fair share of shit in this life"

Gently, Harry sat up, bringing him eye to eye with Draco. He looked at the blonde, looked at the silver grey eyes that expressed so much more than people assumed, the flawless blonde hair that was almost white, tied back into a neat ponytail; the sharp angles of his jaw, the contrastingly vibrant pink of his lips.

Taking a brief breath, dispelling any vestigial nerves, Harry closed the gap between them, pressing his lips against Draco's for the second time that night, his hand slowly trailing up Draco's clothed chest, before finally resting against the blondes face, his thumb gently stroking Draco's cool skin. Their lips moved against each other slowly, gently, in a kiss that was as much comfort as it was desire, both men settling against the bench, gradually wrapping each other in an embrace against the world.

xxx

The moon shone down on the Wiltshire countryside, illuminating all with its pale, ethereal glow. It was a still, silent night, the light breeze having died down hours ago, leaving everything at a standstill, as if it were a moment captured in time, destined to live on for a thousand years, there for the world to see. Never changing, never altering.

That is, all except for a dark shape barely visible against the night sky, seeming to deflect the moonlight. The shape moved quickly, angling down and banking west, towards a magnificent Manor House that sat in the distance, the only sign of habitation in the area.

As the shape approached the Manor house, it began to swoop down, close enough to the ground that if anyone had been there, they'd have been able to identify it is a large bird of prey, a magnificent eagle, sweeping over the wrought iron gates that separated the Manor grounds from the outside world, a large letter 'M' boldly standing atop the entryway. Moving without a sound, the bird glided across the grounds, heading directly for an upstairs window.

As the bird grew closer to the window, the creature seemed to change, almost imperceptibly, to all but those with the keenest eyes. Where once the moonlight seemed to bounce off its body, now, it streamed through the bird, as if it were nothing but a translucent illusion. The bird passed through the glass of the window as if it were a ghost, circling the dark room it found itself in, before settling on the floor at the foot of the king size four poster bed.

The bird began to shimmer, its shape becoming uncertain, quickly growing taller, wider…..until it no longer resembled a bird, but a man. A man with a sword clasped at his hip, a tall dark staff topped by a large red jewel clasped in his left hand, moonlight gently reflecting off a gold ring with a black stone at its centre.

The figure stood, staring at the bed for a few minutes, contemplating the occupants. Two men, shirtless, one with dark hair, the other long platinum blonde, wrapped in a tight embrace, fast asleep.

The figure smiled a small, sad smile, before turning on his heel and slowly walking across the carpeted floor to a chair in the corner, his knee length boots generating no sound. The figure sat down on the chair; back rigidly straight, a stray strand of black hair falling across his face.

"At last Mr Potter, we meet in the flesh"

As a note, Schisandra is a real thing. I did a little research before hand, looking for something like this (thought it would be a humorous little section of text). It's a type of Asian berry used in a number of traditional Chinese remedies. Apparently.

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Till next time!