Warnings for mild slash (yay!)
Also, a slightly long chapter to make up for all the short ones I posted ;) Reviews are always appreciated, and thank you for reading!
Six months. It was hard to wrap his head around it. By the time Christmas had come around, Harry had actually been married for six whole months. To Draco.
It was baffling.
And yet, as he sat here with Bill still flipping through the pictures, it didn't feel that strange.
Somehow in that time, things had changed. All those fights and arguments, the mistrust and the resentment had given way to...something else.
Bickering over shopping lists and who would cook dinner next.
Movie nights with friends where Draco's snarky, unimpressed commentary had apparently become a feature. Once, Draco had been too busy with work to join in and Ginny had actually switched the telly off, declaring that it wasn't as much fun without Malfoy jabbering in the background.
Hermione and Draco engaging in spirited debates on the latest werewolf legislation at the Ministry while Harry and Ron gave each other long suffering looks.
Walks in the park that led to impromptu Seeker's games. Letting Draco win a game so he wouldn't sulk all day. Losing a game to Draco and sulking all day.
Quiet, lazy mornings where neither of them had much to say and Harry would just read a book while Draco sketched in comfortable silence.
Listening to Draco gripe about his job.
A hand on the shoulder and a quiet voice reminding Harry to get some sleep when he worked too late.
It was all here. No matter how many pages he turned, there were more.
Draco was everywhere he looked. He had left his mark all over Harry's life. And no matter how much he tried to deny it, Harry knew it had been a good life.
Harry gazed at the smiling people staring back at him from those pages. He looked...happy. Content.
When had that happened? He really didn't know.
And more importantly, why had he...let it end? He didn't think he knew that either.
"Oh look, Christmas snaps!" Bill announced suddenly. He grinned at Harry and tapped smartly at one of the pictures. "I'll bet you've got a few good stories for these ones too, eh?"
Harry followed the trail of his finger over to the picture. His throat clenched painfully.
That wasn't a story he wanted to remember.
"Noo Year! Noo Year!"
"Teddy, New Years is three days away. Can you hold still for me? Just a minute?"
"Fa fa la la la."
"That's not even…" Draco trailed off and put down his sketchbook, giving his baby cousin a flat look. "You're just messing with me now, aren't you?"
Teddy giggled and clambered off the stool, making a beeline for Harry. Harry grinned and held out his arms, just in time. A second later, he had an excited toddler wrapped around him. "Hey there, Teddy Bear," he cooed, kissing his godson affectionately. "Having fun?"
Teddy giggled and pointed at Draco, shooting him a naughty grin and promptly hiding in the crook of Harry's neck. Draco's lips twitched and he shook his head. "I rest my case."
Harry laughed. "He's a kid, Draco," he pointed out. "You can't expect him to sit still for that long."
"He would if you asked him to," Draco replied with a soft smile. "You've got a way with him."
Harry flushed at the semi-compliment. There seemed to be a lot of those floating around these days. He didn't think Draco even realised it, but every now and then he would slip something...nice about Harry in conversation. Sometimes he wondered if...was Draco flirting? But no...no, of course not. That was ridiculous. Why would he…? It was just the season, that was all. Peace on earth, goodwill to man, that sort of thing.
Come to think of it, Christmas had been brilliant this time around. As it turned out, Draco actually took the season very seriously. The flat was decked out, there was a tree, and for the first time in a long while, Harry had actually celebrated a traditional Christmas instead of lounging around by himself. They'd had their friends over for the evening and, defying all expectations, the assorted Gryffindors and Slytherins had actually behaved themselves. Harry had been rather amused to observe Ginny and Zabini smiling shyly at each other before deciding to take off early. The rest of the evening was a blur of carols and egg nog and festivity. It had been….well, pretty great, actually.
The way things were going, the New Year was shaping up to be just as good. There was no big party seeing that they were babysitting while Andromeda stayed with her sister for a few days, but Harry didn't mind. Having Teddy around definitely put a spin on things.
"Daco!" Teddy declared suddenly, grappling for his cousin with chubby arms.
"Well, look at that," Harry grinned as Teddy squirmed urgently in his arms.
Draco smirked and took the baby from Harry, cradling him with practiced ease. "Jealous?" he teased. Teddy batted at Draco's cheek and Draco smiled, kissing his forehead and murmuring affectionately. Harry smiled as he watched them together. Now that he was really looking at them, he could see the family resemblance — high cheekbones, sharp features, pale skin…
Well, either that or Teddy just wanted to look like Draco today. His hair was still dark and messy though, so he looked a bit like both of them.
It was a good look, Harry thought.
He wondered if…
"Harry."
Draco's voice startled him and Harry blinked. Draco grinned at him, sitting on the rug with Teddy and sifting through a pile of blocks.
"Are you going to stand there all day? Come on, we're building Hogwarts."
Harry smiled back and settled down to join them. His train of thought was taking some strange turns these days. He should probably look into that.
But for now, he had more important things to worry about. There was absolutely no way he was going to let Draco build the Gryffindor Tower out of green blocks.
Twenty minutes to midnight. Twenty minutes and he would be bidding farewell to the strangest year of his life. Although, if life with Draco was anything to go by, the New Year would be just as crazy. Harry found himself grinning in anticipation as he padded off in search of the blond. Was he still putting Teddy to bed? They'd been gone for ages...
Harry made his way to the little room quietly, stopping in his tracks as he spotted Draco hovering over a sleeping Teddy, sketchbook in hand and brow drawn in concentration. Harry shook his head in amused exasperation.
"You don't give up, do you?" he whispered as he moved to stand alongside Draco.
Draco didn't look up but a faint smile tugged at his lips. "He's an interesting subject," he replied. "Besides, he's finally staying put for over a minute and a half. I'm taking my shot, thanks very much."
Point taken. Harry stood by in silence, watching Draco work. His hands moved quickly and efficiently over the parchment, sketching, smudging, drawing and redrawing the lines. His brow was furrowed and his eyes held an expression of immense focus. Harry got the impression that if the house collapsed around them at this very moment, Draco probably wouldn't notice.
"You really like that, don't you?"
"Hm?" Draco mumbled, obviously distracted.
"Sketching. Drawing. The whole art thing."
"Oh, this? It's just a hobby."
Harry gaped incredulously at Draco's careless shrug. "Just a hobby?" he blurted. Teddy immediately stirred, mumbling in his sleep.
"Potter, shh!" Draco hissed. "You'll wake him and then I'll never finish this."
"Sorry," Harry whispered back. "But see, that...that right there's what I'm talking about. You put your all into this. I hardly ever see you doing anything else."
"So?" Draco sounded a bit defensive now. His mouth tightened and his shoulders went back. "I like sketching. Is that so wrong?"
"Of course not," Harry placated. "I'm just saying...well, you're really passionate about it. Aren't you?"
"I…" Draco faltered for a second. He sighed and shook his head. "It's just a hobby, Potter. That's all."
"Will you show me?" He had no idea why he asked. Draco obviously didn't want to share this part of his life. But Harry was oddly curious. What was there in the pages of that elusive sketchbook that never left Draco's side? He couldn't explain it but a part of him desperately wanted to know.
Draco however, went stiff as a board. "You...what?" He sounded incredulous. As if he couldn't believe what Harry had just said. That Harry, thatanyone would be interested in his sketches.
"Show me," Harry repeated quietly but firmly. "I want to see them."
The tense silence lasted a whole minute. Finally, Draco shut the book with a snap and turned to him. His eyes were guarded and wary, and Harry was half expecting him to yell or at the very least, refuse vehemently. So he was rather surprised when Draco started walking away with a quiet "Come with me" thrown over his shoulder.
The library. They were going to the library. Draco stopped in front of the closed door, his fingers lingering on the doorknob. Harry strove to keep a neutral expression. He had never set foot in the library once Draco had 'appropriated' it. It was one of those unspoken rules. Draco had wanted that space just for himself and Harry had respected that. Except now, Draco was going to let him in. It was hard to pretend it wasn't a big deal, but he suspected that if he said so much as a word about it Draco would put up a Locking Charm and bar the door shut for good measure.
And Harry really, really didn't want that. He had to see what was on the other side of the door.
"I've never shown them to anyone before," Draco whispered. His voice was quiet but the tremor of uncertainty was unmistakable.
"I know," Harry replied softly.
"They're not very good," Draco insisted. "So don't expect too much…"
"Draco," His voice was soft but resolute. A firm, solid presence for Draco's benefit. "Open the door."
Draco took a deep breath and obeyed. Harry stepped in and cast a Lumos.
His first impression was complete and total chaos. Harry actually took a step back. The light from his wand settled a bit and he realised the paintings in front of him weren't actually moving. They just... looked like it.
These were scenes from Quidditch. Aidan Kieley from the Kenmare Kestrels, just seconds before he caught the Snitch. And that was Wilda Griffiths aiming the Quaffle. Oh, and that was definitely Viktor Krum dodging a Bludger. Draco had managed to capture Krum's look of absolute concentration, right down to the pursed lips and strained tic in his jaw. Not one of them was moving, and yet he felt like they would at any moment. Harry actually winced in sympathy. That Bludger was definitely going to knock Krum off his broom.
There were others that drew Harry's attention. A centaur in the forest, his expression stern and guarded — on the lookout for trespassers. A steely eyed hippogriff, wings flared and poised for attack. Harry had to suppress a smile at that. Evidently, someone was still a bit miffed at Buckbeak. A unicorn in a forest glade, shimmering and ethereal, but the dark, murky background seemed to suggest another presence, an element of danger. Harry shivered. He had a feeling he knew where Draco got the inspiration for that particular piece.
He certainly found some of them...unsettling, but it didn't turn him off as much as it intrigued him. They just drew him in. It was all in the details, the painstaking effort that Draco had put into recreating these images in his own hand.
They were amazing. All of them. They were just…
"So?"
Draco's quiet question broke into the silence, startling Harry. He tore his gaze from the wall and turned around. Draco watched him carefully, gauging his reaction. "What do you think?" he asked again, insistently this time.
"It doesn't matter what I think," Harry replied.
"It does." Draco crossed his arms, looking defensive and strangely vulnerable all of a sudden. Something about the sight sent a pang through Harry's heart. "Please, Harry," Draco insisted. "Just be honest, okay?"
Harry reached out and pulled Draco closer, wrapping an arm around his waist. The sensation of Draco's slim body against his own sent a frisson of excitement through him. Harry would have liked to think it was just the bond playing up again. But somehow, he knew that wasn't it. Not now, not here — with Draco leaning against him, the dim light playing against his sharp features, sharing something so personal and intimate with Harry — this was...something else. It was...
"Beautiful," Harry said softly. "All of them."
"You're just saying that."
Harry's grip tightened. "I wouldn't lie to you," he said firmly. "Not about this."
Draco relaxed slightly, leaning into him. From the corner of his eye, Harry saw a slight smile tug at his lips. "You're not exactly an expert," he said finally. "A trained artist would be more critical."
"Maybe," Harry conceded. "I just know what I like, that's all."
Draco smirked. "You, Potter, are ridiculously simplistic."
"And you're the most complicated person I know," Harry chuckled. "I don't understand you at all. Why are you even wasting your time at the Ministry when you can do something like this?"
"That's my job."
"You hate it there," Harry pointed out. "Sometimes, I think this is the only thing that keeps you going."
Draco considered that. "It is," he replied thoughtfully. "But this is just a hobby, Harry. I can't...I can't quit my job and paint all day."
"Why not?" Harry turned Draco around to face him, his hands resting comfortably on Draco's shoulders. Draco didn't resist but Harry could see the hesitance in his eyes. Honestly, he just didn't get Draco sometimes. How could someone so self assured and confident be this unsure of himself? It was baffling, really. Harry smiled in fond exasperation and traced his thumb against Draco's cheek. "Look," he said, meeting Draco's doubtful gaze steadily. "This...this has been a weird year for me. A really, really weird year."
Draco grinned at that. "You don't say," he drawled, nudging Harry gently.
"And I'm not going to lie, you're a nightmare to live with. The worst, actually. In fact, I...ouch!" He squawked in pain as Draco punched his shoulder. "Don't hit… Draco, I wasn't finished!"
Draco responded with a rather impressive death glare but he subsided. "Go on," he growled, almost daring Harry to finish that train of thought.
Harry grinned and rubbed his shoulder before obliging him. "As I was saying, you're tough. And weird. And you do this really annoying foot tapping thing when you sit still for too long. But all of that is okay, because there's more." His hand shifted to Draco's waist and he pulled him closer. "You're also ridiculously smart. And passionate. And you've got this...this unique way of looking at things that's just amazing. It's all right here on these walls. This works for you, and I just think you should do what works for you. I don't want you to look back twenty years down the line and wish you'd done things differently."
"It's not that simple," Draco whispered. His arms wrapped around Harry and he moved in, resting his head against Harry's chest. "It's…not just me I have to think about."
"What do you mean?"
Draco's grip tightened on his shirt. "Father always wanted me to…" He was struggling to put it into words. Harry waited patiently. He could wait. Draco took a minute or two before trying again. "Before he...passed away, he made me promise I'd do whatever I could to restore the family name. The Ministry isn't perfect but if I stick around long enough..."
"If you stick around long enough, you'll be miserable. Is that what you want?"
"Of course not. But…"
"Draco…" Harry hesitated. How on earth was he supposed to argue with that without sounding like an insensitive arse? Finally, he decided to just go for it. "Lucius has been gone a really long time. You've done right by him. I think...I think he would have understood."
"No, he wouldn't. And I'd like to think I knew my own Father better than you."
"I'm just saying, your entire life is a lot to ask for. Lucius knew when to cut a deal. I think he'd be okay if you did something just for you after all this time. I really do."
"But…"
"No. Don't do this. In two minutes, we'll be ringing in the New Year. New year, new beginnings. All of this will be behind us soon. You won't be stuck here forever in this little flat with me messing up your stuff and stealing your magazines. Just promise me you'll think about it, okay?"
Draco said nothing for a while, but he didn't move away or storm off. Good enough, Harry supposed. He traced a hand down Draco's back, reassuring him the only way he knew how. It seemed to help a bit. Draco relaxed slightly under his touch.
"Do you really think I can do it?" he asked finally.
Harry smiled. "It doesn't matter what I think. But for what it's worth, yes. Yes, I do. I..."
Draco's head lifted off his chest and the rest of Harry's speech fizzled out as stormy silver eyes stared right into his. Draco's tongue darted out to lick at his bottom lip, and he leaned forward. Harry's breath hitched. Draco was so close that Harry could see the faint dusting of freckles on his nose and cheekbones. Gods, he was beautiful...
"It has always mattered," Draco whispered. And then he closed the distance between them and his lips pressed against Harry's.
Harry's eyes widened and he stumbled. His arm automatically tightened against Draco, pulling him closer. All the while, Draco's soft lips plied his mouth in a manner that could almost be considered innocent— if it wasn't for the decidedly not innocent reactions Harry was experiencing. Sparks flew down his spine and his entire body thrummed with sudden awakened arousal. All this from a simple, barely there brush of the lips?
Bloody hell.
And then Draco faltered, apparently unsure of Harry's reaction. He drew back slightly, breaking the kiss and trying to pull out of Harry's reach.
Harry moved instinctively. His fingers threaded through Draco's hair, drawing him back. Draco managed a small gasp of surprise as their lips met for the second time and Harry pushed a little harder, letting his tongue trace Draco's bottom lip. It was stupid, he knew it was. In their situation, it was just mental. But Harry couldn't think about that right now. Not now that he finally had Draco here, just the way he'd wanted him for so damn long…
Draco's fingers worked nimbly, slipping under his shirt. Harry hissed as long fingers traced against his skin. His own hands crept down to cup Draco's arse. Harry groaned and squeezed gently. Fuck, Draco's arse felt as good as it looked. And Merlin, they really, really needed to stop before they did something they regretted. Well, Harry didn't think he'd regret any of it but Draco…
"Draco." It took every Gryffindor bone in his body but he managed to dredge up the remains of his self restraint. "We shouldn't…"
Draco however, wasn't having it. "You said it yourself," he cut in impatiently, his hands working Harry's trousers now. "We don't have much time left. This...it doesn't have to mean anything. We're just making it easier on ourselves." Harry wanted to protest, to say that he didn't think this was the bond at all but Draco was staring right at him now— all kiss swollen lips and pleasure blown pupils and Merlin, why was he fighting this?
"Harry." Draco's voice was harsh with arousal. "Right now, all I know is that I want this. I want you. Do you want me?"
As he spoke, his hand dipped into Harry's pants and wrapped around his cock. One light squeeze and Harry's blood surged. If Draco was going to play it like that, there was no way he was winning this one. Besides, he made a good point. Wasn't this the whole point of the bond? This was just one more thing they were doing. It would be fine.
That night, with Draco's moans echoing in his ears and soft, smooth skin slipping under his own, he believed it. It was just the bond, just one more thing. It would be easier, better like this. And if a small part of him insisted that he was missing something important here, Harry didn't bother with it.
Someday the bond would end, and they would go their separate ways just like they were supposed to. But until then, they had this.
That was okay.
It was.
Thank you all for your lovely reviews. I'm just caught up like crazy in RL and haven't had a second to reply but please know that I adore every single one. You guys are brilliant!