Once he reminded the guests that it was their last night in town they agreed that they should go somewhere nice for the evening meal. Harry called up the list of restaurant selections Dean had sent to his phone and identified a lovely option that was nearby and had a beautiful view of a public garden. Everyone took a pass through the dressing room to select something worthy of a nice meal. Lucius, Draco and Harry all wore traditional suits with ties, and Narcissa and Gliese selected long summery dresses.
There was no discussion of the football incident, in fact they talked in a circle around the event, only touching on subjects that happened before or after. As the meal wound down Harry asked each of the wizards which part of the trip they had enjoyed the most.
"The London Seer," Narcissa said.
"The London Eye," Draco corrected her.
"Parliament," Lucius said predictably.
"Tesco!" Gliese said with a grin. "I'm going to have some ice cream when we get back."
"Draco?" Harry asked the boy next to him.
"Well," Draco looked down at his plate thoughtfully. Beneath the table he slid his hand over Harry's knee. "All of it."
"Darling," Gliese reached across the table and patted his face, blinking back tears. "It fills my heart to know you had a good time. I'm so proud of all of you," she said, smiling warmly at the senior Malfoys.
After supper they decided to take a stroll through the public garden. Harry and Draco hung back as the elder members of their group walked ahead to inspect the fountain at its center. Draco held Harry's hand and couldn't stop looking at him.
"Is this strange?" Harry asked suddenly.
"What, specifically?"
"You and me."
"Off course it's strange," Draco said as though there were no question about it. "You're Harry fucking Potter, the sodding Boy who Lived. You nearly killed me in the girl's washroom, for Merlin's sake. And I broke your bloody nose, if I remember correctly."
"That's hardly the worst thing you ever did," Harry reminded him. "You hate me. How can you like me?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
They walked in silence for a moment. They kept an eye on the rest of their group up ahead. Suddenly Draco pushed Harry down a side path and pressed him up against the trunk of a shade tree. He glanced through the branches to make sure they were hidden, then pressed himself against Harry's body. He kissed him roughly, angrily, his hands suddenly insistent and pressing sharply into Harry's skin. Harry stiffened, surprised by the sudden turn in his mood.
Draco released him just as suddenly and glared at Harry. "I don't care about any of that," he said, his voice unsteady. "I don't care."
"I don't care either," Harry said firmly. He reached up and caressed Draco's neck. "Let's just forget it all, okay? Can we do that?"
Draco smiled sadly, "I don't think we can forget it," he said, his voice softening.
"Then can we start again?" Harry asked.
Draco leaned to the side and checked the position of his family again. He looked thoughtfully at Harry sighed. Then he straightened his shoulders and thrust his hand out, "Hi," he said. "Draco Malfoy."
Harry grinned and shook his hand, "Harry Potter, nice to meet you."
"Potter, eh?" Draco raised one eyebrow pompously. "I have a feeling we're going to get along famously."
They both laughed and Harry tugged Draco in for another kiss. He was desperate for more, but until they could arrange some time alone snogging whenever possible would have to suffice. Even at that moment Draco's mother was calling for him, inviting him to sit by the fountain with the family. He rolled his eyes tolerantly and released Harry from his grip and went to join his parents.
It was well past dark by the time they arrived back at twelve Grimmauld Place. They watched a bit of telly, Harry served brandy all around, and eventually everyone decided to turn in. Lucius declared no outings, and stubbornly insisted that Draco turn in like the rest of them. Once again Harry settled the house for the night and ascended to the fourth floor by himself. It was the last night of the trip, and it was ending not with a bang but a whimper.
It was well past midnight when Harry awoke to the sound of feet padding down the hall. He wasn't sure why he had awoken to such a small noise, but one minute he was asleep and the next he was looking at the ceiling, listening to the sound of feet. His heartbeat quickened as the sound drew near. The door handle turned slowly and as Harry slipped his glasses onto his face the door swung open, just enough for a slim body to squeeze through. Harry pushed himself up on his elbows and watched as Draco raised a finger to his lips and quietly closed the door behind him.
The blond boy darted lightly across the room and slipped under the covers, immediately rolling on top of Harry and pressing him into the mattress.
"What time-" Harry's question was cut off as Draco dove in for a deep kiss, his tongue exploring Harry's mouth eagerly.
His cock immediately responded. He wrapped his arms around Draco's waist and kissed him back as his knob pushed insistently against Draco's satiny pyjama bottoms. Draco reached down and swept the trousers off, then yanked Harry's underpants off and tossed them onto the floor.
Sweet mother of Merlin.
Harry's head swam as he realized they were both naked, naked in his bed, naked and hard in his bed. He spread his knees apart and let Draco drop neatly into the space between them. He angled his hips invitingly and guided Draco's hand down. Draco kissed him eagerly and obediently stroked Harry's bollocks, then worked his way down to his entrance. He traced his fingers around Harry's arse, and then gently slipped one inside.
Fireworks went off in Harry's brain, as much an effect of his excitement as the sensation. Oh Merlin, it was really about to happen. He swallowed a moan of pleasure as Draco gently stroked his prostate and rubbed their cocks together. A second finger made its arrival known and Harry gasped as the sensation shot straight up his spine. Draco leaned back and looked into Harry's eyes with concern, but Harry nodded encouragingly and pulled him back down to his mouth. Draco slipped in a third finger and worked gently as Harry's muscles relaxed and permitted the intrusion.
He heard Draco whisper two spells, one for protection and the other for lubrication. He nodded eagerly again and Draco pushed forward, entering smoothly. Harry grunted, then bit his lip to suppress the noise. Draco exhaled and butted his forehead against Harry's, his expression exquisite in the moonlight. His eyelids fluttered and opened and he smiled beatifically down at Harry. He raised a hand to Harry's face as though to remove his glasses, but Harry grasped his wrist to stop him.
"I want to see you," Harry whispered, his breath catching in his throat as Draco pushed into him.
Draco leaned down and kissed him. "Okay," he whispered, then started to move a bit more. He reached between them and grasped Harry's cock as he pushed, his other arm bracing Harry's raised knee. Harry reached up and raked his fingers through Draco's hair, completely enthralled by the radiant boy inside of him.
Their breathing became ragged as Draco pushed deeper, thrust quicker now. Harry pressed his hand over his mouth to muffle a moan as the other boy stroked and pushed and brought him to the brink of climax. Draco's forelock swung over his eyes in rhythm as their bodies moved together, their thighs slick with the sweat of exertion. Harry pulled Draco down for another kiss and held his lower lip between his teeth before releasing him.
He could feel the crest curling up from deep inside his groin and then suddenly it peaked with the manic flush of orgasm. He gasped and dug his fingers into Draco's back as the storm broke over him and roared through his body, sending lightning shocks from his spine to his fingertips and toes. Draco's back arched suddenly as he came like a whipcrack, his hips pumping urgently as he convulsed. His mouth was agape and his breath hung in the air for a long second, and just as suddenly released, leaving him gasping and clinging to Harry for support.
He slowly withdrew and collapsed onto the mattress next to Harry, his arm slung over the edge of the bed and his chest heaving. They pawed limply at each other, desiring contact but totally drained. Harry had never experienced anything quite like that before. He'd had sex, but never like that. He hadn't even imagined anything like that. If he had been a cartoon, there would have been stars and twittering birds zooming around his head.
Very mature, he thought.
Draco's eyelids were fluttering again, this time from the overwhelming urge to sleep. Harry checked his clock to make sure they would rise before the other guests, to make sure Draco could escape down the stairs before anyone was the wiser. Once assured, he closed his eyes and fell asleep, too.
The alarm went off at exactly six thirty, sending Draco flying out of the bed in a panic. Harry fumbled to silence the beeping as the other boy struggled between fight and flight, half crouched in the middle if the room, naked with wild eyes.
"Its okay," Harry held his hand up reassuringly. "It's just the clock."
Draco's chest was heaving as he finally focused on Harry and heard his words. He straightened up slowly and glanced past him at the glowing digital clock face. He scowled angrily and pointed. "In-fucking-elegant, Potter!"
They showered quickly, together, commending each other between thrusts for saving time and water. Harry had never showered with anyone before. He quickly decided it would go right to the top of his list of favorite things. He dressed as Draco crept downstairs to his room, managing to make it before any of his family awoke. They reconvened in the kitchen and christened the oversized table while the kettle came to a boil. After they finished eating and the cleaning spells were set in motion, Draco pushed Harry up against the pantry door and unbuttoned his trousers again.
"Every step you take today," he said as he sank gracefully to his knees, "I want to remind you that Draco Malfoy was here."
Harry didn't have the heart to tell him that that would have happened even without the blowie. Because who's going to turn down a blowie?
They were both keenly aware that it was the last day of the trip. They neatly avoided talking about it, because talking about it would mean staring into the great void of the future and trying to figure out how their very different lives could stitch together. Harry spent much of his time in London with holiday travelers, and Draco had his second year of law school ahead of him. Not particularly compatible.
But when they rejoined the other members of their party the subject had to come up. Harry had to ask them what their preferences were for the day. It meant asking the question he didn't want to ask.
"The house is at your disposal for the day," Harry said. "You may either check out right away if you've had it up to your eyeballs with muggles and me," he smiled, "or we can do a bit more sightseeing and check out later." Inside his heart was pounding. If they said they wanted to check out now, that would be it. They would leave and Draco would be obligated to go with them and they hadn't talked at all about what was next.
"Cissy," Gliese said thoughtfully, "you never got to see the art museum."
"We could do that," Narcissa nodded brightly. "And then after lunch we could check out and be home before supper." Lucius sighed laboriously, but nodded in concession.
Spared the immediate departure, Harry herded them down the stairs with a rush of relief. They taxied over to the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, and Harry was pleased with their appropriately awed reaction to the beautiful monuments and architecture. He reminded himself to prioritize this stop before Tesco and B&Q next time. For Merlin's sake, they'd almost missed out.
Once inside they shuffled together past a number of paintings before Lucius finally halted in frustration. "I will not have you rushing your mother along," he said sternly. "Stop nipping at our heels every time she stops."
"Do you have a pocket watch?" Harry asked. "We could meet back here in an hour if that would be more enjoyable for you."
"Excellent idea," Lucius said tersely and glowered at his son. "Go make yourselves busy elsewhere."
Draco and Harry didn't have to be told twice. They excused themselves and darted off to find some privacy. Unfortunately the popularity of the venue made privacy difficult to find, so they had to make due with holding hands and talking quietly, rather than the quick, secret backroom shag they'd both envisioned.
They made their way to the Sainsbury Wing, purely for the distance it put between themselves and the rest of their party. They passed through each room, eyeballing the old paintings with the mildest of interest. Harry noticed that Draco was becoming quieter and more withdrawn with every passing room. Finally he stopped in front of a painting of Saint Jerome and tugged Draco's hand.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," Draco lied poorly, which he didn't usually do.
"Talk to me," Harry sat on a bench and drew Draco down next to him.
Draco sat and avoided his eyes. He looked around at the artwork and frowned disapprovingly. "These muggles were obsessed with religion," he said disapprovingly. Harry didn't respond to the deflection. Finally Draco sighed and looked down at their hands. "There's something I haven't told you," he said.
Harry's heart dropped into his stomach with an artless thud. No good conversation ever started this way.
"School starts up next week," Draco said slowly. "and I've arranged to participate in a program that focuses on Continental wizarding law. Which means I'm leaving for Paris in a few days."
"Okay,' Harry waited for the other shoe to drop.
"It's a month in Paris, a month in Madrid and a month and a half in Munich," Draco added. He swallowed hard, "It's too far to Apparate so I won't be home until December."
"Oh," Harry didn't know what to say.
"It's a long time," Draco continued. "It's almost four full months I'll be away. I'll be back by Christmas, but," he faltered, "I don't want you to feel like you have to wait for me."
"Oh," Harry suddenly understood. The bitter taste of bile rose in his throat. "I get it."
"I'm not saying I don't want to be with you," Draco tried to make eye contact with him, but Harry couldn't look up.
"No, I get it," Harry struggled to keep his voice even. "Nothing wrong with a bit of a holiday fling."
"That's not what I'm saying," Draco clutched his hands tighter.
"It's okay, really," Harry pulled his fingers free and stood. "We're only nineteen, there's no reason to be tied down now, anyway." He felt a fluttering panic building in his chest. He backed away from Draco, unable to look at him. "Your Auntie Gliese was right, I should charge more for my services," he laughed, on the verge of hysteria.
"Harry," Draco's voice was hurt.
"Besides, you helped me out with the whole Colin situation," Harry added, scratching his head and fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "He was so jealous, I'm sure he'll want to make up now."
"Harry," Draco stood, and Harry finally looked at him. His eyes were shadowed, injured.
Harry wished he hadn't mentioned Colin. The whole thing seemed so sordid and frivolous now, like little more than a hookup. But what was he supposed to do, let Draco fucking Malfoy break his heart? Not bloody likely. He didn't need Draco fucking Malfoy, that bloody tosser. Draco fucking Malfoy. Who needed him?
He looked up at Draco guiltily and saw the hurt behind his soft gray eyes. But he was the one who said he was leaving for four months, he was the one who said Harry shouldn't wait on him. He was the one who'd had days to bring it up, and instead crawled into Harry's bed, knowing Harry was falling for him. Or did he know that? Suddenly Harry felt stupid. Maybe it was his own fault. He assumed they were on the same page. But maybe Harry was just sap, the kind of boy who thought every kiss meant something, unless it was toilet-adjacent.
Oh Merlin, that was exactly it. It was Colin all over again. He'd met a boy, or in this case re-met a boy who just wanted some fun and Harry had taken it for a statement of commitment. While Draco was messing about, Harry was planning their honeymoon. He felt foolish. Why did this keep happening? What was so wrong with him that no one wanted to have a relationship with him? Why was he so disposable?
That last thought was the limit. He turned and dashed from the room, running as fast as he could for the stairs. There were tears burning his eyes and he would be damned if Draco fucking Malfoy would have the pleasure of witnessing him cry. He felt used, he felt dirty, he felt worthless, and there was no way he was going to let Draco fucking Malfoy have the victory this time.
He found an empty room near the education centre and sat in silence, willing the tears back into his eyes. He wouldn't let one fall, not a single one. He would suck them back in by sheer will if he had to. He took deep, calming breaths, pushing back the anxiety, talking himself back down. He was being silly, he told himself. This whole thing was, what, two days old? Whoever heard of getting worked up to tears over a two-day fling? It was a holiday romance, nothing more and nothing less. It wouldn't have worked anyway. They were too different.
He hid out in the empty room, fiddling with his mobile until it was time to meet up with the others. He arrived in the main gallery just as Draco entered from the other end of the room. Gliese seemed surprised to see them enter separately, but she said nothing. Draco's eyes were dark, and he glowered at his feet as though angry at them. Harry put on his customer service face and led the group outside.
They found a nearby restaurant for lunch, and Draco and Harry avoided looking at each other or speaking the whole time. Finally it was over and they piled into their last taxi to return to Grimmauld Place. Harry made the tea while the guests packed. He listened for feet on the stairs but they didn't come. He loaded the tray into the dumbwaiter and paused before pressing the button, his first chance to do so in five days.
It was moving faster now, tea was poured and drunk, biscuits were nibbled, dishes were swept away. And then it was time to go. Harry passed around the velvet lined box and returned the wands to their owners. He pocketed his own, and then held out the jar of floo powder. Draco didn't look up as he took his handful.
"P&T Muggle Adventures," Harry said clearly and tossed his power into the fireplace. It glowed emerald and he stepped through, then Gliese, Narcissa, Lucius and finally Draco followed behind.
Dean was waiting behind the desk as they stepped out into the narrow, crowded office. Harry helped the guests bring their luggage to the front and then settled up with Gliese. She paid the tab for incidentals and Harry knew Dean would call for a celebration later. They had made a lot of money from this trip. It would go a long way towards putting their business on the map. Strange that they should have the Malfoys to thank for that.
Harry walked them to the door and shook each of their hands. Lucius looked down his nose at Harry and nodded with the world's smallest smile. It wasn't much, but it said a lot. He had enjoyed himself and seen some value in the muggle world. And perhaps he could let go of his hatred for Harry Potter. It was a lot to interpret from one nod and a small smile, but Harry would stand by his interpretation.
Narcissa hugged him warmly and thanked him for his service. Gliese swept him up in a motherly hug and wept into his hair, thanking him for a tremendous adventure. She planted a kiss on his cheek before turning to leave.
And then there was Draco. Harry extended his hand with a professional demeanor. Not warm, not friendly, but businesslike. Draco's eyes were still hurt. Harry didn't know what business he had feeling hurt about it, he was the one breaking it off. Or rather, not breaking it off because that implied a relationship in the first place.
"Thanks," Draco said, holding Harry's hand without shaking or letting go.
"Thank you," Harry said politely.
"Harry," Draco's brow furrowed and his eyes reddened.
"It's fine," Harry shook his head. He needed to cut this short. If he saw one tear in Draco's eye his carefully assembled composure would crack and it would be over. "Have fun in Paris."
"I'll send an owl," Draco said softly, still holding his hand.
"If you want to," Harry shrugged. A massive lump was threatening to close his throat. He needed to get upstairs before anything happened.
Draco pressed his lips together and nodded as though defeated. He darted his hand out and caressed Harry's cheek with his thumb, and then turned and walked away. For a split second Harry considered calling him back, begging him to stay, begging him to say four months was nothing, to please please wait for him. But he said nothing, and he watched the three blond Malfoys and their aging Auntie retreat down Diagon Alley. And then they were gone, around the corner and out of sight.
"How did it go?" Dean asked when they were finally alone.
"Fine," Harry choked on the rest of his sentence. He ducked his head and ran up the stairs to his room.