Pansy awoke with the feeling of Harry's hand under her t-shirt, shifting up and down over the bumps of her spine. The movements were smooth and careful, meant to soothe but not wake her, she guessed. She twisted her head up to look at Harry. "Hey."
"Hi," he returned.
She could tell he meant to move his hand off of her back, so she quickly said, "No, it's good. It feels nice."
"Okay," Harry said, and resumed the movements of his hand on the skin of her back. They lay in silence for several minutes as Pansy memorized the feel of his fingers on her skin, never straying from the path of her spine.
"I'm going to Diagon Alley today. I've got to stop by Draco's apothecary to pick up some lotions and oils he's been working on for me," Pansy said.
"Like the ones you use during your treatments?" Harry asked.
"Yes. He's been working on a formula to give a little extra help with my elderly patient's sore joints, and another lotion I'd like to use during your treatments."
"Oh, really?" Harry asked.
"It's going to be infused with a memory potion, if it works out. Just something that will hopefully dull unpleasant memories for a short period of time, to allow for other types of therapeutic work to have more of an impact."
"Interesting. Is this the first version he's made for you?"
"No, I think this will be the ninth? Tenth? We've been collaborating on it for a while. Anyway, I wanted to ask if you'll go with me."
"To Diagon Alley? No, I'd rather not," Harry said quickly.
"Why is that? Is it the attention? The pressure of being in public?"
Harry sighed. "I mean...yeah. Basically."
"I really think it would be good for you to get out more, start easing your way back into normal life."
"And you think going with you to Diagon Alley is the first step to me having a quote 'normal' life?" Harry asked skeptically.
"I think you know you need to start dealing with facing the public eventually, Harry. It's normal to be able to run errands, meet friends, go to appointments. There's nothing wrong with spending most of your time in muggle London. I just don't want you to keep cutting yourself off from people or places that you used to enjoy."
"Maybe I enjoy different people now," he said, adding a thumb to the fingers still dragging up and down her spine.
"And that's fine," Pansy said, pointedly not looking at Harry, not really letting herself consider his meaning. "But it's Monday, it's early, Hogwarts is still in session. It's probably quieter than it will be the rest of the week. And I was going to take Axel to the Magical Menagerie."
"Well, if Axel is going..." Harry said.
"So you'll come?" she asked brightly.
Harry sighed dramatically. He took one final swipe down her spine and then brought his hand to brush the loose strands of her dark hair away from her face. "Fine," he said. "Because you asked so nicely. But I don't promise it won't piss me off."
"Wouldn't dream of it," she said, and rolled her eyes.
Harry stood outside of Smithe's Apothecary, taking in the scent of the greenery Draco had hung around the shop's window. Pansy had been untrusting of Axel's ability to keep his wiggling rear from knocking into tables with glass jars and bottles, so Harry had volunteered to keep him outside while Pansy retrieved her package from Draco inside. He held Axel's leash and watched as the half-crup barked commentary at every person passing.
"Rude, Axel," Harry quipped after the crup let out a growling bark at a witch wearing extravagant silver robes lined with black fur. "First paintings, now real people. It's like you have no manners," Harry said as he heard the bells on the apothecary's door jangle.
Pansy bumped into Harry's side. "Hmm, just like someone else I know," she told him. "Draco says hello and asks you to owl him about flying again. He said he wants to make you weep in defeat next time," she told Harry as they started walking down the Alley, keeping pace with each other.
"Like that would happen," Harry snorted. "He said his eyes were watering from the cold last time, but I don't really believe him. I think he was just sad I caught more snitches than he did."
"Sure sounds like him. I can take Axel's lead, if you'd like," Pansy said.
"No, I don't mind," Harry told her as they passed the glittering display in the windows of Flourish and Blotts. Axel started to pull them in the direction of a stall selling gingerbread and warm, roasted and sugared nuts. "Come on, pup. You know you can't have that stuff." Axel whined a bit and directed his expressive eyes towards Pansy.
"Not even a little bit," she said. "We're going to the Menagerie to get you treats." They walked a few paces before Pansy said, "Not so bad so far, right?" as she looked up at Harry, struck by the brightness of the green of his eyes, reflecting the lights on the shops and stalls they passed.
He shrugged, brushed a hand through his hair, and twisted the loop at the end of the lead in his hand. "No, it's been okay."
Pansy subtly bumped her body into his. "Just tell me if it isn't," as Axel started to drag them towards the door of the shop.
"Now Ax," Pansy said sternly, leaning down to face her crup. "Behave. If you don't, you won't get to come back." Axel wiggled in spite of himself, but nuzzled her hand to let her know he understood, and then followed Harry inside.
The Magical Menagerie was as crowded as it had been the first time Harry went in there as a boy, full of unusual creatures and tilting stacks of supplies. Axel dragged them over to the section with cats and kneazels of many colors, and initiated a barking conversation met with an orchestra of hissing.
"Sorry, Axel," Pansy told him, nudging him away. "Looks like you struck out with the felines of the store again." She led Harry and the crup over to the section with treats for him, and let Axel smell all of the boxes and packages lining the low shelves. Axel used his stubby paws to knock a few items off the shelf, and then looked up at Pansy longingly.
"All right," she sighed, and gathered up Axel's selections and brought them to the counter.
"Ms. Parkinson, Axel," the storekeeper greeted them. Axel barked a friendly greeting. "Good to see you again."
"Hello, Mr. Tweddle," Pansy said.
"Mr. Potter," Tweddle said. "Keeping different company now, I see," he said as he used his wand to magically fill out the bill of sale.
Pansy's back stiffened immediately as Harry shrunk back. "What is that supposed to mean, Mr. Tweddle?" Pansy asked with her hand fisted on her jutted hip.
"Nothing, of course," Mr. Tweddle replied. "Just interesting that Mr. Potter here has barely been seen in public for months and now he turns up with you and your crup, and not with any of his devoted friends who have been at his side for years, like that Mr. Weasley, or the...muggleborn," adding the boxes and bags Axel had selected to a sack embossed with the store's logo.
"And what about me makes that interesting?" Pansy sneered.
"Not a thing, not a thing," he replied obtusely. "That will be three galleons, five sickles."
Pansy pushed the coins across the counter. "And I will thank you to keep your opinions to yourself," she huffed, taking the handles of the bag.
"Good day, Ms. Parkinson, Mr. Potter," Mr. Tweddle said, a curious look on his face, as Pansy led Harry and Axel from the shop.
"What an utter arsehole," she said, as door jingled shut behind them. "I don't know what he was fucking insinuating…" Pansy's voice dropped off when she saw Harry turning in on himself in front her.
"Hey," she said as she stepped in front of him to face him. "Harry, are you okay?" Pansy pulled Axel's lead loose from Harry's hands and threaded it over her wrist. "For Merlin's sake, sit, Axel," she commanded and his rump dropped on the stone street.
She reached up and threaded her hands across the back of Harry's neck, kneading gently and watching his face as he looked at the ground below.
"Always a fucking comment about me, always an insinuation," Harry mumbled. "As if I owe that areshole anything. I can't stand this," he said, bringing his eyes up to meet hers. "And fuck him for whatever he was trying to say about you. Happy enough to take your money but still thinks he can say shite. I should've…"
"Let me handle it. I can handle myself," Pansy told him, still working her hands across his neck, her forearms pressed against his chest. "Seems like we've had quite enough of Diagon Alley for today. We could drop Ax off and go get some lunch? Curry?"
"Nah," Harry said, shaking his head, pressing himself into her touch. "Let's just go home. I'll make soup."
Pansy pulled her head back in surprise. "You cook?" she asked, not letting go of his neck.
"Yeah. My aunt and uncle made me cook for them a lot growing up," he told her, moving to rest his forehead against hers. "Don't mind cooking, though."
"Sounds like a story," Pansy said. "Maybe you could tell me while you make soup." She released her hands from his neck and threaded her fingers through his, letting Axel's lead dangle between their connected hands.
Harry squeezed her fingers. "I'd like that," he told her. "Floo from the Leaky?"
"Yeah. Tom complains about Axel every time but sneaks him bits of food anyway," she told Harry, and he smiled, and they walked hand in hand towards the Leaky Cauldron.
Neither Harry nor Pansy had noticed the eyes, or the magical camera lens, tracking their movements in Diagon Alley, or the swirl of a figure apparating just after they'd passed.
A/N: I know I say it every day, but thank you so much for reading and following and reviewing. I'm so pleased people seem to be enjoying this story!
Guest reviewer Mon - I'm sorry about your train strikes. You have no idea how thrilled I am that my little story helped make that even a little more bearable!