It took Harry all week to convince Ginny that Draco wasn't pregnant, they weren't having sex, and to spend time with him again. With all of the drama between Draco and Ginny, Harry subconsciously started separating them. He spent time with Ginny at the pub and over at the Burrow, keeping her away from Grimmauld Place and Draco. He didn't even realize he was doing it. And he had other things to worry about, like Auror training and spending his weekends with Teddy and Leo, so he didn't have time to notice that he was slowly spending less and less time with Ginny, only seeing her on weekday evenings after training and Friday and Saturday nights.
It was a week later when Harry came home to find Draco in the drawing room, hysterically upset and crying. He'd gone out to the pub again with Ron, Ginny, and some of the other trainees from work and was already tipsy. "What's wrong?" he asked, instinctively stepping forward to comfort Draco, but his arms falling short in trepidation. They weren't familiar enough for that, were they?
"It's my father," Draco answered, his voice breaking, before another bout of sobs wracked his chest.
With alcohol on his brain, Harry turned to the drink now. He pulled a special bottle of mead down from a high shelf; the bottle was old and had probably belonged to Sirius, having been there since he could remember. He made Draco drink a shot with him, slightly too far gone to realize what a horrible idea that was. He tossed his own back easily, but Draco sputtered on his at first and then had to hold his breath to swallow it down, making a repulsed face. Draco wasn't used to shots and actually followed it down with a bit of water to clear his palette of the taste, but the drink did seem to calm him down.
Once Draco's breathing was somewhat under control, Harry requested, "Now tell me what's happened with your dad."
After Harry's drunken speech in Draco's bedroom, Draco thought it might be okay to have a drink with Harry and see where things led. He wasn't thinking along the lines of getting Harry in bed, because he thought too highly of himself to be the other man. He was going to have Harry for himself and for Leo without Ginny and he wouldn't consent to that sort of thing until there was a commitment and a ring on his finger. No, what he thought might happen was a bit more drunken conversation, because Harry's tongue loosened and Harry opened up when drunk. And Harry might just admit that he fancied Draco; possibly even kiss him.
Draco wasn't thinking about that now though, being too worked up about his father. If truth be told Lucius had done this sort of thing before, leaving him and his mother to wonder what had happened. Sometimes it was Aurors picking Lucius up for questioning, but there had also been angry business partners and the like who had decided to go after Lucius for money or revenge. Draco didn't know for certain which it was this time and with the post-war anti-Death Eater climate, he feared the worst.
"My mother fire-called. She was so worried. She said that my father went out hours ago and never came back. She sent our house elves after him. He'd been seen at the corner shop, but someone from the local Ministry was bothering him. They asked him to go in for questioning and then when he refused, hauled him in by force." At least that was what the elf said; elves were not the most reliable of witnesses and the Malfoy elf had had it secondhand from the shop owner's elf.
Draco stopped there to take another swig of the alcohol, which he gagged on before finally swallowing. Harry joined him, without the gagging. A few minutes later, Harry said, "Well if it's the Austrian Ministry, I can ask Kingsley to have someone talk to them for me. I'm sure they're already in contact; the Aurors probably just want more information."
Draco had exchanged at least a dozen owls with the British Aurors, listing Death Eaters and where they might be. Harry thought Draco was contributing enough that way and wasn't particularly keen on the idea of Draco and Leo being dragged into the Ministry. But, there were frequent occasions when some of the other Aurors suggested it and the possibility of getting Draco to bring in his old man. Lucius would be as good as gold if he came in and talked.
"But that's just it!" Draco wailed piteously. "Mother contacted the Austrian Ministry! They don't have him. They have no reports of his arrest and they issued no orders for him to be questioned. They don't cooperate with the British Ministry; that's why my father picked Austria in the first place. He's been kidnapped, don't you see?"
"Righ'," Harry slurred, passing over the border from tipsy to drunk. "I'm going to tell you what we're going to do. I'm going to go down to the Ministry and get whoever is on the night shift to go over there right now."
"No, you can't go." Draco's arm shot out to grab Harry's wrist. He pulled the appendage closer and locked onto it with both hands. "You're too drunk to go anywhere in your state. It's not safe to floo or apparate while drunk. Don't you know that?" Maybe Harry could get away with it while tipsy, but Harry was fully intoxicated and due to fall down any moment now. Draco wanted Harry to jump right in and solve the problem, but not at all costs. He didn't want Leo to lose a parent due to foolish drunk flooing.
Harry blinked, looking at Draco. It didn't occur to him that this was oddly selfless behavior for Draco and that if Lucius was in serious trouble and Draco was so upset, it really shouldn't matter how drunk Harry was. He did, however, concede that Draco was right and that he really was too drunk to go anywhere. "Alright. I'll fire-call the Aurors while you make us the next round of drinks."
Draco agreed to that. He took the remainder of the mead to the kitchen, saying he was going to find some sort of mixer, so they wouldn't have to keep drinking it straight. He thought he'd vomit if he had to drink any more of it straight. He'd have to feed Leo from a bottle tonight and throw away his breast milk after this, but at least he had a bit of extra breast milk stored. Leo wouldn't go hungry.
Hating the burning taste, Draco didn't know how Harry enjoyed drinking. His father drank too, but never shared the hard stuff. He'd been offered wine and even champagne at the dinner table, but only half a glass, and never beer or hard liquor. But even the wine had dried up when he got pregnant, since it wasn't good for babies. Last time he'd asked, his father had said he shouldn't have gotten himself knocked up if he wanted a bit of wine and to go take care of the baby; Lucius was less enthusiastic about Leo's existence than Draco would've liked, but at least his mother adored the child.
Harry nodded a moment too late and then went to the fireplace. Being an Auror trainee, he knew the easiest and fastest means of getting patched straight through to the Aurors on night duty. He wasted no time in doing so and relaying what Draco had told him about Lucius. They informed him that they had nothing to do with it and hadn't heard anything about it, but to rest assured, because they would get to the bottom of it by morning.
Once the fire-call was complete, Harry ventured down to the kitchen, finding it easier to walk when he held onto the wall to maintain his balance. Draco was sitting at the old kitchen table, stirring two tall glasses of something.
"It's milk, honey, and mead; I didn't know what else to use," Draco explained, handing Harry a glass. He didn't know how to mix drinks, so he had to make do and he thought the milk and honey might calm his roiling stomach.
Harry took a sip and smiled at the deliciously sweet taste. It made his taste buds burst with flavor, which didn't typically happen when he was already this drunk. He smiled wider and looked over the rim of his glass to see Draco drinking the other glass. While they finished their drinks, Harry relayed the news that the sober Aurors were on the case.
Time and reality began to blur and skip after that. Inhibitions dangerously lowered, Draco kissed Harry first; a quick peck on the lips just to see how Harry would react. He only wanted to verify that Harry was as attracted to him as he thought Harry was. He didn't know that the kiss would turn into drunken snogging and get out of hand. There was the feel of a hot body pressed against his and of the wood table under his backside. He only moved to halt what was happening when he felt the strange sensation of a cloth covered erection pressing into his own. "What are ya doin'?" Draco slurred, his tongue unnaturally heavy.
Harry remembered feeling horny, the feel of lips against his, and the sight of his fingers sifting through blond hair. "Shush, relax. This is going to feel good," Harry said, silencing Draco with a kiss. This was new territory for him as well and he probably would have stopped if he wasn't so pissed.
Draco too would've stopped it, if he'd recalled that Harry was engaged to Ginny. But he had an even lower alcohol tolerance than Harry, so most coherent thoughts had left his brain. He even forgot about Leo sleeping in the room upstairs and the drama with his father had completely slipped his mind. He thought only of his desire, that he finally had Harry's attention, and that Harry wanted him too.
It did feel good. Harry started a rhythm, rocking their still clothed bodies back and forth, which had Draco seeing stars and made his head go blank. From then on it was only about the feel of exquisite pleasure. Breathing hitched and hearts raced and they felt jolts of pleasure shoot up their spines. It was as if there had always been this urge inside that was now filled with ecstasy. The air was filled with breathy moans and the sound of cloth rubbing in rhythm against cloth.
Harry had no memories of making it to his bed that night. He woke up slowly, taking in the feel of the mattress underneath him. He wondered why his head was throbbing and if those were Ginny's arms wrapped around him. It wasn't until he opened his eyes that he realized he was not in his room or lying on his bed. This was Hermione's old room, now Draco's. He was lying in Draco's bed with Draco's arms around him, their bodies pressed against one another under the new comforter Draco had purchased. And if it wasn't obvious enough, his knickers were filled with dried cum. At least they were both still completely clothed.
It took a long moment for Harry to get his fuzzy brain to process his surroundings and figure out what had happened. When it finally clicked, he jumped out of bed, forcing Draco's limbs away from him, exclaiming in shocked horror, "What the fuck, Malfoy!?"
"Ssh, don't wake the baby," Draco mumbled, pulling the covers Harry had dislodged back to cover his body. His head already hurt, even in his sleep.
"Malfoy! Wake up!" Harry hissed, voice lowered in accordance with Draco's commandment.
"Hmmm?" Draco asked, one eye winking open, before closing again.
"I said wake up!" This time Harry punctuated his request with a punch to Draco's arm.
"Ow! What was that for?" Draco was awake now, sitting up and rubbing his sore arm, before cradling his aching head in his hands. He had never had anywhere near that amount of alcohol before. His misery pushed all thoughts of his father, the original instigator of the drinking, temporally out of his mind.
"What did we do last night?" Harry asked.
"What does it look like we did?" Draco's cheeks flushed at the memory. Despite wanting Harry for himself, he couldn't believe he'd actually done something like that. He'd never done that before with anyone.
"How? Why?" Harry asked. Draco hasn't answered the first question, but Harry knew the answer already, so it didn't matter.
Draco felt like he should've been the one asking the questions. It was after all Harry who had started it. Well Draco had kissed first, but the rest had all been initiated by Harry. Then Draco's stomach rolled and he was running to the toilette to empty his stomach contents. He felt horrible, but his cheeks flamed at the memory of last night. This turn of events meant that Harry was attracted to him too. He had a chance to actually snag Harry for himself. Now it wasn't just about getting rid of that annoying Weasley girl and making room in Harry's life for Leo, but making room for himself on Harry's arm.
Following Draco to the loo, Harry continued the argument, "I'm engaged to Ginny!" Harry's voice was a hiss, as if that fact excluded the reality of what had happened last night. Normally he would be concerned for someone who seemed so clearly ill, but he wasn't in the mood this morning. He was incredibly angry, at himself and at Draco, for what they had done together. Unconsciously, he decided to take it out on Draco.
When the heaving stopped, Draco wiped his mouth on his arm and looked up at Harry incredulously. "You are? I thought you two broke up weeks ago." He couldn't believe he felt this awful and Harry was doing this. And he had hoped that Ginny no longer coming around was a sign of a breakup looming.
"No, we never broke up. How could this happen? How could I have, you know, with you? You're a bloke."
"Very well spotted," Draco drawled, moving to rummage through the bathroom cabinet for something to make him feel better and earning a scowl from Harry. There was nothing but cleaning supplies, so he sat back on his bum against the wall and called Kreacher, who he ordered to fetch a vial of hangover potion. Harry happened to have some in the house, so the elf did as told, and Draco chugged the liquid down. He felt better a minute later, his head suddenly clearing and his stomach calming down. That was when he noticed Harry was still standing in the doorway waiting for an explanation, the unbelievable prick that he was.
Draco stood up, closed the distance between them, and glared down at Harry. "It's all very simple, Harry. You are gay. You like cock. I really don't know how you could have gone this long and not figured it out. Honestly, it's been obvious for years," Draco said harshly.
It wasn't in fact all that obvious, but Draco thought he'd seen Harry checking his arse out a few too many times sixth year. If only he hadn't been so busy with that blasted cabinet and his orders, he might've had time to use Harry's obsession to his advantage and play a hilarious prank or three. Back then he didn't have Leo and never would've considered a relationship with the Boy Who Lived, because his father would've killed him for it. But now he did have Leo, so he had his excuse for doing what he was doing. Plus, it would help his family's reputation after coming out of the war on the losing side.
Harry didn't try denying that he liked cock; he'd considered the possibility before when he'd found himself checking out a male muggle's arse while on the run during the war. He did lie to himself and try to pretend that he hadn't liked what he'd done with Draco more than sex with Ginny, but he couldn't lie about having liked it at all. "But with you!?" he asked incredulously.
"Is that the only objection you have?"
Harry nodded, but amended, "And that I was drunk."
"I am very beautiful; you told me so yourself over and over again." Draco may have been the one who woke up the most hung over, but he still remembered the things Harry had said to him in the heat of the moment. Later, the rest of the night would come back to him too.
"Shut up." Harry began to blush. He'd had about twice as much to drink as Draco, since he'd already been tipsy from the bar when he came home. As a result, his memory of the night was blurry and sluggish at best.
"You said I'm the most beautiful person you have ever seen, witch or wizard."
"Shut up!" Harry repeated and threw a pillow from the bed at Draco, who dodged it.
"You said I am more beautiful than your Weasley."
Harry didn't actually remember saying that, although he did concede that Draco had a very beautiful face. Draco's face was all harsh angles of the type that could only be described as ethereal. Ginny's face was square and strong, lending an air of handsomeness. They were opposites, but he was attracted to them both.
"No, I didn't," Harry denied.
"Go ahead, keep telling yourself that."
"I didn't." Eyes darting around the room, Harry added, "And this never happened."
"Don't tell me you are still going to marry the Weasley girl now that you have admitted to yourself that you are gay."
"I'm not gay; I'm bi. And yes, I'm still going to marry her, so keep your mouth shut."
Harry thought for sure that Draco wouldn't agree and that he'd somehow have to bribe Draco. What he didn't see coming was Draco's easy surrender.
"Alright, it's your life. If you want to build it on top of a web of lies, why should I care?" Draco asked rhetorically. He didn't want to be the scape goat for what had happened. He wanted Harry to end it with Ginny, because Ginny was all wrong for Harry. Draco didn't want to be blamed for breaking them up.
Taken aback, Harry blinked, his mouth hanging open. "You won't tell Ginny?" he asked, just to make sure.
"Why would I tell her? I think it'll be a laugh when the divorce comes around." That there would be a divorce, if there was ever a marriage, seemed inevitable to Draco.
"Alright then, as long as you don't tell." Only then did it occur to Harry that he was planning on lying to his fiancé. He felt bad about it, but what choice did he have? Ginny would freak if she ever found out; she hated Draco.
Draco nodded, as if Harry had any right to demand his silence.
Head hurting, Harry then went off in search of a hangover potion of his own. He found his supply in a cupboard in the kitchen. He downed a vial, before fixing himself a soothing cup of tea. He sat at the table, mug in hand, contemplating the previous night. It wasn't until the floo roared to life that he realized that it was a weekday and he was late for training.
The head in the fireplace belonged to Lieutenant Stevenson, which was odd, because he wasn't the one in charge of Auror training; Lieutenant Grubbly-Plank was. He exchanged greetings with Harry in a tone that conveyed seriousness, but not in the stern voice that would indicate Harry was in trouble.
"Look, I know I'm late. I'll get dressed and come in right now," Harry said.
"No need; you called last night and reported your family emergency. You can have the day off. I was calling to keep you up to date on the situation. So far we've found no one with information on Lucius Malfoy. Even more disturbing, the Austrian Ministry did not bother investigating. They took the report on Narcissa Malfoy's contact with them and left it at that. They don't care, because Lucius is one of our citizens, not one of theirs. They don't want him there, due to his role in the war, but aren't willing to bother extraditing him either," Stevenson replied.
Up until now, Harry hadn't remembered what had started last night's drinking binge. Now he felt like an arse for not being more considerate of Draco's feelings. Here Harry was concerned with Ginny not finding out, when Draco's father was missing.
Harry nodded, urging Stevenson to continue.
"With the Fidelius on the Malfoy estate in Austria, we can't fire-call anyone in the Malfoy family for additional information. We've sent out owls, but they might take days to make the trip. Would it be possible for you to contact Narcissa Malfoy and ask her to fire-call me?"
That didn't seem like a difficult task, given that Narcissa was probably as eager as Draco to have Lucius back. Harry himself didn't know how to get a hold of Narcissa, but he was certain Draco would. Thus he agreed and quickly ended the call.
Draco was back in his room, in the middle of getting dressed in fresh robes. He'd forgotten his fears for his father, with it all coming back to him upon hearing Harry's request. He sagged back onto the bed, fresh worry on his face, and agreed to make the call to his mother.
Harry followed Draco into the drawing room and tried to eavesdrop on the conversation, but it wasn't in English and a firecall was harder to follow from this end. They spoke in that other language Draco had a habit of slipping into when talking to Leo. Narcissa's voice could be heard coming out of the fireplace, short and clipped, but not hysterical or obviously worried. There was a bit from Draco that sounded like an angry shout and then a softer apology, followed by some indignation on Draco's part. Harry didn't know the words, but Draco was very expressive when talking with Narcissa, and neither worry nor concern for Lucius seemed to be the focus of this conversation.
"Well? What did she say?" Harry prompted, when Draco ended the floo connection.
"It was all a misunderstanding," Draco said with a sigh, sitting back on his knees on the floor with his weight resting on his arms.
"What? No. What happened?"
"It wasn't an Auror who took my father away from his shopping, but the bookie he owed. The elf was mistaken."
"So a bookie kidnapped your father?"
"Not exactly. There's a card club he likes to frequent and apparently he got ahead of himself and bet more money than he had on him at the time. The bookie saw him and insisted he return right then to pay it off. And Father being Father, decided to play a few hands before leaving. He lost track of time and forgot to tell mother where he'd gone."
"What about the witness who said he was kidnapped?"
"The witness was just the shop keeper's elf, who told our elf. He was overexcited and didn't know what he had seen. Father is home now and says he wasn't kidnapped, only asked forcibly to go."
"Forcibly?"
"At wand point," Draco clarified. "But he won't press charges."
"Why not? You can't just force someone to go with you at wand point."
Draco just shrugged and said, "Father likes his club." He didn't like it, but he couldn't control his father. If truth be told, he was rather sick of the wizard, which was one of the reasons he'd left the safe house in Austria. The other reasons being that the house was too small and that they'd had too many arguments about Leo. Draco loved his son unconditionally, but Leo looked too much like Harry for Lucius to do the same. Lucius wanted a blond haired, grey eyed, pointy faced, pureblooded heir, not the grandson he'd gotten. Leo was still a Malfoy though, and that at least meant a certain level of entitlement, which was why Lucius tolerated the child as much as he did.
Harry sighed in frustration, but he could see no point wasting further time and effort on Lucius Malfoy. Thus he gave up and fire-called in to Stevenson to pass along the news, before getting ready for work. He was late, but he wasn't in trouble, because it was blamed on Lucius' sort-of kidnapping. He did, however, receive shit for it all day from the other trainees, especially Ron. At least they didn't know about the gay almost-sex.
Author's Note: At first I thought Draco was making the whole thing with his father up. But then I thought that Draco was getting a bit too manipulative and that Lucius is certainly capable of getting his arse in trouble all on his own. It's time for Draco and Harry's relationship to start moving in a healthier direction. Although Harry cheating on Ginny isn't exactly healthy. What do you think?
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