Sorry it's taken me so long to upload! I just didn't know what to write for this next chapter. Some of this is just me wanting to come up with cute pet names, so don't be too hard on me! There is some actual plot, don't worry. I actually deleted this chapter and had to start all over again, so… yup. Review and let me know what you think, please! DFTBA! Blair out.
Draco was more or less in awe at Harry's story. He had done very well for himself over the years, with only his animals and Luna for company.
"Pity you didn't come visit me during that time." Draco commented. "It got lonely in house arrest."
Harry grinned. "Would you have responded that way back then? I think not."
"You're probably right." Draco said. "Still, now we both have one more friend out there. I don't know if you've heard, but I don't have many people willing to talk to me after the war."
"Yes, I figured. Not even your mates from school?" Harry asked.
Draco tried to think. "Crabbe died in the fire in the Room of Lost Things-"
"Where you owed me your life." Harry coughed into his hand.
"Yes, I owe you a life debt. Let's move on." Draco glared. Harry looked at him curiously.
"Are you not sad about Crabbe's death?" He asked. "I thought you two were good friends."
"Well..." Draco tried to explain. "I was mournful, at first. A death is always sad. And we were friends, but he was more like a... a bodyguard. He wasn't terribly bright, but I did still miss him. But the war sort of made his death fade into the other casualties. Plus, five years of solitude hardens you, I suppose."
"I understand that." Harry agreed. "What about your other friends?"
"Goyle was... never the same after the war." Draco said. "I think he ended up in St. Mungo's after he tried to murder a muggleborn. Pansy and Blaise were arrested for being Deatheaters. Astoria... I heard from her once or twice after Voldemort's defeat, but her sister, Daphne, was killed, and she moved to Scotland to forget. Theodore Nott now runs a bookshop in Knockturn Alley, and Millicent Bode is an assistant poison maker in Eve Alley. I don't speak to them any more."
Harry nodded in sympathy. "Well, you have Graves and Feather, right?"
"How do you know about that?" Draco asked sharply. Harry grinned sheepishly.
"I did mention stalking you a bit?"
Draco shook his head. "Well, you must promise to stop. I won't get any sleep elsewise."
"Sure, Draco." Harry found that they had returned to the clearing where they had left the hippogriffs. "What do you say we go back to Gladstone and I introduce you to the animals? If you're going to be coming round often it would help so you don't spook them."
"Who said I would be coming round often?" Draco followed Harry as he called to Larkmoor and Bitterblue.
"I did." Harry winked as he climbed onto Larkmoor's back. Draco was a bit taken aback but got onto Bitterblue and launched into the air after Harry.
Once they had safely landed back at Gladstone, Harry held up his hand to his mouth and let out the loudest whistle Draco had ever heard. Several animals grunted. Harry laughed. "Sorry, folks!"
"What was that for?" Draco grumbled, rubbing out his ear.
"You'll see." Harry had an evil grin on. "How about I take you 'round and introduce you to the animals?"
Draco straightened up. "Really?" Then he thought about it. "Well, are you sure they'd like me? Like I said, I'm not good with animals."
"Yeah, it'll be great." Harry gestured to follow him. "I'll show you the equestrians first."
Just as Draco took a step towards Harry, he heard a quick, loud beating of wings. Ducking just in time to avoid being barreled over, he saw black wings fly overhead. Flailing a bit before finding his balance, he noticed Harry on the ground, being nibbled by a small dragon. Harry was laughing and scratching the dragon's scales.
"Draco, this is Anguis. He's my familiar." Harry knocked the dragon off of himself and stood up. Anguis, not in the least discouraged, clambered about Harry's feet, spouting flames. Harry tweaked his nose. "No fire near the boss." He scolded.
Draco watched the encounter with varying degrees of nervousness and amusement. "Anguis? I didn't believe you when you said you had domesticated a dragon. I thought it was impossible."
Harry chuckled, letting Anguis nip at his fingers. "Yep. Like I said, a recently discovered breed. Romanian Pixies are just as dangerous as any other dragon unless you get them young and you have some sort of touch with creatures. They're so rare, though, I doubt anyone else will be able to capture one alive. Anguis is the size of large dog and acts like one, too. Tries to curl up on me when I'm sleeping, he does. The brute."
Draco stretched out his hand. Anguis sniffed it, then puffed some hot smoke out onto his fingers. Draco flinched.
"It's okay. He did this with Luna, too. He's just sizing you up. He should stick by me most of the time, don't worry." Harry told him. "Now, how about that tour?"
"Okay. How many animals do you have?" Draco asked, following along side as Harry started walking.
"It's a very large sanctuary." Harry said. "Almost twenty hippogriffs and two herds of thestrals. The granian colt is around somewhere. In the Phoenix coop, we have some regular and some flitting in and out. It's pretty evenly divided between the Chinese, the Indian, and the Egyptian, with some augureys and a Golden nesting there. A few Jobberknolls, too. I'd say forty in all with nests, and then another forty who come but don't stay. Down at the lake there's maybe six hippocampi and a whole load of aquatic menaces. I can name each animal on this farm and that's an accomplishment I'm quite proud of." He beamed as they made they're way to the pens. Draco looked at him in amazement.
"That's quite a feat." He said. "Suppose I better get out flash cards."
Harry lightly punched his shoulder. "Here's the equine pens. I'll rattle off some names of the ones here at the moment." He hopped the fence and looked around.
"Over in that corner is part of a herd of Thestrels." He said. "The big one is the leader, I call him Vaeil. Next to him is his main female, Shadow. The one laying down is Cavern and the one that just finished eating is Darling. The two colts are twins, a rather remarkable feat, but their names are Twisted and Bones. Hey, Thestrals are scary looking beasts," He added, at Draco's look. "Gotta have names to match."
""Darling"?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Doesn't it just strike fear into your heart?" Harry joked. "And now onto the hippogriffs." He wandered over to lean on the fence. Anguis busied himself trying to sniff a pink hippogriff filly, who put up a fight. "That little girl is Spunky, she's got gall. Her mother, that red one, is Mistrun and I think the sire is Cloudpart, the grey one that towers over the others. Next to him is Churchill, the blue, and Ratha, the green. Hmm, that yellow one over there is Sunshine and the purple, mean-looking one is Kitshot. She's a sourpuss. Over there by Larkmoor and Bitterblue is Witherwings, see the smaller black one? He's Luna's favourite. In the corner is- Hey!" Harry broke off to split up a battle between a hippogriff colt and the Granian colt. The two were stabbing at each other with their hoofs and beating their wings. Harry drew his wand, casting noise crackers at their feet. Snapping his fingers at Anguis, he yelled, "Break it up!" Anguis leaped into the air, coming down right between the two. He drove the Granian away while Harry grabbed the hippogriff colt in a headlock.
"This little bugger is Mischief. Really should put him in his own pen." He panted. "That one over there sulking now is Loner, the only permanent Granian. Well, half one, anyway. Seems the others always pick on him. He's still young, maybe nine months? Poor thing."
Draco nodded. "Yeah. He looks quite regal."
"Oh yeah. Granians are even prouder than hippogriffs. Harder to train, too. He won't let me near him except to fill his trough every day." Harry released Mischief, who cried in indignation before galloping off to the others.
Draco walked towards the grey creature. It lifted its head and whinnied, a warning to stay back. Draco obliged, albeit reluctantly. Loner sniffed at the air, taking several steps towards Draco.
"I'd bow now." Harry suggested. Draco did so, remembering his lessons from Hogwarts. Loner regarded him quietly, tilting his head, then slowly bowed back. Draco hesitantly straightened up, then put out his hand to touch the beast. Loner shied away, then bolted.
"He's fast." Draco noted, watching him go. "Very fast."
"Yeah. All his kind are. I think he likes you." Harry pushed Anguis's head down from where it was sniffing his hand. "Would you like me to continue?"
"Please do. I love your ranch." Draco returned to Harry's side.
The raven-haired man smiled. "I'm glad. There are only four more hippogriffs here at the moment. Two of them are near the trough, the yellow and the white. They're mates, Gillywig and Avalanche. The pale yellow one is their daughter, Hatchwink and the green colt near her is her son, Fawnleap. I think his sire is Churchill. Shall we move on to the Phoenix coop?"
"We shall." Draco agreed. Harry held out his arm with a challenging grin. Draco hesitated, then took it. Harry pulled him close. "Right this way." He breathed, smiling at Draco, who was glad he didn't blush, even though he felt one creeping up his face.
Harry pulled him in the direction of a large barn-type building. Flinging open the door with a flick of his wand, he showed Draco in. Anguis, very well trained, waited outside, whining. Draco was astounded. The entire interior of the barn was charmed to resemble mountaintops and cliffs, with sparse, scraggly trees and rocks. The ceiling was enchanted as in Hogwarts, with the sky showing instead of a roof. Harry showed Draco around.
"Over here are the Egyptian phoenixes," He said, "I keep their area a bit warmer and drier than the rest. Next are the Chinese, you may recognize Fawkes among them, although he appears to be out at the moment. Probably in the manor. He has his own special nook in the house. There are the Indian ones, personally, they're my favorite. See the silvers and blues in their feathers? Oh man, I just love them." He chuckled as one of the fledgling Indian phoenixes cried and nuzzled his finger. "Hello to you, too, Kipling."
Draco smiled at the young bird. Harry pointed out the Augureys and the Jobberknolls, before something caught Draco's eye. Turning his head, he saw a beautiful, golden bird with an astonishing plume of feathers on its tail, wings, and head. The phoenix was preening, and Draco swore he saw the sort of metallic glint of metal coming off it's back.
"What is that?" He asked, amazed. Harry looked where he was staring.
"That's Rarity, my only Golden phoenix." Harry said. "Here, I'll call her over." He whistled. The bird lifted her head. Upon seeing Harry, she cooed sweetly and fluttered over, landing on his shoulder. He scratched under her beak.
"See? She loves people. Or, at least, she likes me and Luna." Harry invited Draco to touch her, which he did so, stroking her plumage. "Golden phoenixes are super rare, maybe, a few hundred left in all existence. I was lucky to find her."
Draco laughed with glee when Rarity nudged his hand with her head, seeking affection. "She's gorgeous."
"I know. If you'd like, I can try and get her to think of you as master, instead of me." Harry offered.
"Master?" Draco didn't understand.
Harry tried to explain. "Well, you know how Dumbledore had Fawkes? Fawkes was his familiar. All of the students had a rat or a cat or a toad and those were just pets, with the exception of a few Kneazles as cats. A magical creature will sometimes adopt a wizard or witch with a special fondness, and think of that person as master. They'll be that person's special animal and always be by their side. Anguis is mine, of course. Hermione has Crookshanks, who is half-kneazel. A Phoenix makes an excellent familiar because of their power and mobility. Not to mention all of the magic they can do to help you out."
"Ah. That would be interesting." Draco acknowledged. "I would love to have Rarity as a familiar."
"Anything for you, love." Harry said. Draco looked at him sharply. He blushed, grinning as a way of passing off his embarrassment. "Shall we move on?"
"...Sure." Draco squinted at him suspiciously but nevertheless, followed Harry as he let Rarity go and exited the coop.
Harry showed him around the property, including the lake and gardens. Draco was astounded at the sheer size of the place. It stretched even farther than Malfoy Manor and was certainly groomed to perfection. Draco laughed at Harry's antics, creeping behind a Bowtruckle or pretending to be strangled by some vines. Harry sat up smiling and suggested they take a look in the manor itself. Draco agreed.
Anguis had found them again after they left the Phoenix coop, and he scrabbled after them, sometimes in the air, sometimes on land. When Harry opened the door, he pushed past the two and curled up on a sofa.
"Thirsty?" Harry asked.
"I'll take a Firewhisky, that I brought." Draco teased. Harry nodded and snapped his fingers. "Dobby!"
The elf appeared with a pop. "Yes Master Potter, sir?"
"Just Harry, Dobby, honestly. We're friends. And get us two firewhiskeys, please" Harry told the house elf. Dobby nodded.
"Yes sir, Master Harry. Coming right up!" He vanished again.
Harry looked at Draco, exasperated. "I just can't get him to call me Harry. It's always Master Potter or Master Harry or something."
"That's probably our fault." Draco admitted. "Father never let Dobby call us by anything less than formal, by way of threats. I never tried to contradict him, because it seemed harmless what our house elf called us."
"Well," Harry said with a sigh, "perhaps we can change it."
After Dobby brought them their drinks, Harry continued to give Draco the grand tour. They passed several bedrooms, a living room, a sitting room, a dining room, a formal dining room, a breakfast nook off the side of the kitchen, a Potions lab, an ingredients cupboard that was more like an ingredients room, a dueling platform in a large hall, an observatory, the attic, and several large and small bathrooms.
"This is bigger than Malfoy Manor." Draco stated after they had finished the tour and returned to the sitting room.
Harry shrugged. "I had a lot of demands and the money to pay for it all."
"How did you come by that much money?" Draco asked.
"I had a large inheritance, also I earned some during my school years from various tournaments." Harry explained. I still have more than enough left over, enough to see me through to the end quite comfortably, if not luxuriously."
"Why would one person need so many bedroom?" Draco was curious. "There must be at least five.
Harry grew silent for a bit, then said, "I hoped that eventually it wouldn't just be one person living here. I had planned to return to the world sooner than this, and perhaps Ginny and I would come and stay here and maybe build a life and a family, but, like I told you, that dream sort of died. And maybe my friends would come and visit me, but it's been so long I don't think I have friends anymore."
Draco clasped his shoulder. "I'm your friends now."
Harry reached up and placed his hand over Draco's. "Thank you."
They didn't move for a while, until Kreacher came in to announce the time. "It's nearly seven o'clock, Master Black."
"Black?" Draco asked.
"I am the Black heir." Harry said. "It's easier for Kreacher to call me that since he's always served the Black family."
"Quite right, sir, and it's never been so fulfilling as now." Kreacher said with a sarcastic bow.
"Go on, Kreacher, enough of that." Harry said gently. "Your life here is undoubtedly better than at Grimmauld Place."
"Yes, Master Black." Kreacher snapped his fingers and Disapparated.
"I better go." Draco stood up. Harry pushed himself off the sofa as well. Anguis was sleeping next to him.
"Did you Apparate here?" Harry asked.
"I did, yes." Harry pointed to a fireplace nearby.
"We have a floo joint here." He told Draco. "It's private, only me, Luna, and you can use it. You can go home through that. The floo address for here is Gladstone Manor."
"Thanks, Harry." Draco smiled.
"Come back whenever you want." Harry told him. "I'll send you a letter soon."
"Alright then." Draco said farewell, then stepped into the floo, called out "Malfoy Manor!" and threw down a hand of floo powder. Harry watched him travel back to his home, then sat back down on the sofa.
Anguis raised his head. Puffing out two jets of smoke from his nostrils, he made a low whine and rested his head on Harry's lap. Harry stroked it, feeling the cool of the scales and spines. "I know, boy. He'll be back."
Draco, stepping out of the floo on the other end, was met with Knobby holding a platter or dinner. "For yous, sir, Master Draco."
"Thank you, Knobby. I'll take it in my room." He walked there and collapsed on his bed. Knobby set the tray on his dresser and raised his hand to Disapparate, when he saw his master's state. "Err... Master Draco? Yous being alright?"
"Of course, Knobby, I'm perfectly alright." Draco said. Knobby didn't recognize the emotions in his voice, so he Apparated down to the kitchen to make Draco a cup of hot cocoa. Going back up, he pushed it into Draco's hands.
"Yous not being alright. Knobby helps." Knobby said firmly, then hurriedly snapped his fingers and went back downstairs before Draco could say anything.
Draco sipped the cocoa. It had been quite an interesting day, and his feet hurt from so much walking, though he hadn't noticed until now. He tried to sort out his thoughts some, but kept coming back to realizing Harry fancied him.
He had seemed so cheerful when Draco met him today, but those moments when he seemed so lonely, Draco wanted to hug him. He laid back on his bed, setting the cocoa to the side. It didn't help that Draco was fixated on his eyes. They seemed even more like emeralds than when he knew him in Hogwarts, if that was possible. Draco could remember hating those brilliant green eyes back in school, but now he was just sort of... lost in them.
He shook his head, getting up and eating his dinner. When he was done he went down to his own potions lab, which he couldn't help but notice was smaller than Harry's, and brewed several mixes. Tired, he went up to bed, determined not to dream of those green eyes.
