Thanks to:
Deedee: Thanks for my cookie. *YUM*
Romilly McAran: The Slytherins really are the best, aren't they? I want one of those Slytherin scarves. I love Slytherins. *grin* I love Snape. Okay. . .now you got me started on the Slytherin love.
Cassie: When you just discover something like Harry Potter, don't you feel overwhelmed and that's there's so much you've been missing? I get that feeling when I started in. *le sigh* It seems to be so many years ago. I'm glad you picked one of my stories. I'm flattered.
Coo: I don't usually like OC either but sometimes they can be done really well so I try to give them a chance. I'm glad you liked mine. I love them, too (especially Joel).
Evil Laughter: Oh my god, do you really talk about my story like that? *fans self* I am so flattered. Don't be mad? I'm thrilled. I love you, too!!!
Kelly: I've had people say nice things but I like to be reminded. I'm glad you love the story. I love my readers.
For anyone else, thank you for reading and reviewing. Every last comment makes my day and it's nice to know the workings inside my head are something other people can enjoy.
Not JK Rowling. I don't own Harry Potter or the entire world within. Anything you recognize would belong to her. Anything you don't would belong to me, including the crack!plot of this trifle of a story. I am (obviously) making no money off this though if you really want to sue me, I've got $10.00. Good day.
*~*~*~*~*
After much hugging, bonding, and Cherish getting to know Harry and vice versa, Cherish finally persuaded Draco to leave the solitary and safe confinements of apartment 1512. He complained, openly expressing his apprehension over visiting Joel and expressing any sentimentality on the subject of Harry before 'Granger and Weasley' but Cherish's persuasion prevailed. Both Harry and Cherish had worked together and even got so far as almost getting him to agree to disclosing the well-kept secret on his lineage. It was a lot of work and both Draco's daughter and boyfriend were exhausted when Cherish finally flung open the door to the apartment across the hall.
Finding the kitchen and living room areas empty, Cherish took a few paces around the apartment, Harry right behind her while Draco hung in the doorway, more than eager to return to his shelter of sanity.
"Well, now see, they aren't here. I suppose we should just saunter back home then. No use in hanging around if they're out and about."
"Now you just wait, Daddy," said Cherish, spotting a small contingent of people through the window. "They're out on the balcony. You come on." Slinking her arm around Harry's, she escorted him down the hall to the balcony door. Draco trudged behind, not about to disagree with the menacing little figure trotting along before him.
With the opening of the balcony door, a cool jet of air rushed in the warm apartment causing goose pimples to prick on Draco's flesh. The contrast chilled him, shivers skirting along the length of his spine, and Draco wrapped his arms around his torso, palm rubbing in a wild friction against his arm as Cherish stepped outside before him. Once submerged in the warm spring air, the hairs on Draco's arm began to calm. He could hear the door to the balcony close behind him and it was immediately followed by Harry's hands wrapping around his waist, palms left to rest flat against his hipbone.
"What are you doing?" asked Draco upon seeing Ron and Joel leaning over the balcony, heads bent toward the sidewalk below. Hermione and Samantha were seated on the concrete ledge jutting out from the building, their backs pressed flat against the brick. With Draco's words, all eyes turned to Cherish, Harry, and him, their sights especially glued to the placement of Harry's hands. Smirks simultaneously crossed all faces, strange task at hand temporarily forgotten.
Cocking an eyebrow and never taking his eyes away from Harry's hands, Joel snickered. "Looks like things went well between the two of you."
"Daddy and Harry are dating again," said Cherish, wide grin just big enough to show her tongue poking through her teeth and displaying a loose tooth that looked just about ready to come out.
"It's about damn time," said Joel. "It's been so long since I've seen Draco with a date that I think I'm going to go blind."
"Joel," reprimanded Samantha. "I think it's wonderful. Have you decided what your plans are over your vacation?"
"We just figured we'd work things out as we go. I'm on holiday and I intend to spend a good portion of my time here with Draco, if that's alright with you, Hermione, Ron."
"Of course, Harry. This holiday was about getting you out. Ron and I are more than capable of handling our children. You have fun."
"You can stay with us if you'd like," said Cherish, grinning at him.
"Cherish has taken to Harry," said Draco. "I'm almost afraid to let them spend too much time together. If they bond anymore I'm going to lose Harry to my eight year old daughter."
"She is gorgeous," said Harry. Cherish beamed.
"I look like my daddy."
"I know. I told him the same thing."
"Well I'm glad to see you smiling again," said Joel. "I just can't believe that out of all the people to saunter into your diner today, it was the Harry Potter that we've all been hearing about for years."
"Years? Why, Malfoy, I'm flattered."
"Do try and keep your ego in check, Potter. You knew I loved you. No need for you to get a big head over it now."
"Harry deserves to have a big head," said Ron. "After you left him, he's been a self-loathing workaholic. I do hope you do something for each other. If I have to continue hearing about how awful your life has been, Malfoy, and think about how awful Harry's been feeling, I just may have to scream. It's hard to get enjoyment out of a Malfoy serving people when I have to hear about how said Malfoy came upon said career."
"I sympathize, Weasley. I do love being the object of disgrace. Please keep all comments that I know you're just dying to unleash on me in regards to my employment under wraps. You stiffed me on a tip and after the Joel fiasco, I'd say you owe me."
"Sorry, Malfoy, but I did help deliver Harry back into your arms. That should count for something."
"Yes, Weasley, I'm exhilarated to have the ever constant presence of Harry Potter back in my life. There's nothing like having the Boy-Who-Lived on your arm to say just how special you are."
"Boy-Who-Lived?" asked Joel, cocking an eyebrow. "That sounds like it came right out of one of my books."
"I'll explain all in due time."
"You haven't told him, Malfoy?" said Ron, smirking. "You've been friends for ten years, you help him write those books, and you still haven't told him?"
"I will all in due time. Don't go exposing the whole operation. I should have known that all it takes to divulge information on a well-kept secret is to have a Weasley around for more than ten minutes."
"Can someone explain?" said Joel, setting aside a balloon.
"All in due time. My first order of business, however. Answer my first question. What were you doing?"
"Dropping jam balloons onto pedestrians below. I think someone has already called the cops."
"Jam balloons?"
"Yeah." Samantha leaned over to hand Draco a purple balloon. The rubber squished out from beneath his fingers in weird lumps, the texture thick beneath the stretched material. Draco gave a gentle push with his thumb and the filling seethed out from beneath the pressure displacing itself in the area around his finger.
"What exactly is a jam balloon?"
"A balloon filled with strawberry jam," replied Joel, snatching one out of the bin sitting on the ground before Samantha and Hermione. "It took a lot of explaining and convincing but I eventually got Ron to go for it. Both Samantha and Hermione were highly disapproving but I told Sam that she's become an old maid since we got married so she caved. Wanna help?"
"No thank you," he replied, placing the balloon back in the bin. Cherish was leaning beside it, a yellow balloon clutched in her hand as she examined it. "It's a step up from bathtub gourmet, however."
"Well after the spaghetti incident, Sam won't allow me to cook in the bathtub any longer. I keep reminding her of her approval when I was cooking pudding-"
"But I then reminded him that it was not my bathtub, but his own. Can you imagine what Mr. Davis would do if he had to replace our bathtub because Joel ruined it with Bunsen burners, heating lamps, and a porcelain tub full of pasta?"
Draco and Cherish snickered. "I can only imagine Mr. Davis's face," said Cherish. "Daddy, can I go in and play with Devin and Harper while you tell Uncle Joel and Aunt Sam about the secret?"
"Go for it," he said, smiling at her and feeling Harry's arms tighten around his waist as she disappeared back into the apartment.
Draco leaned back into Harry, sighing as he felt his chest press against his back, and for a moment, he wanted to cry. It was as if the reality of the whole ordeal had suddenly hit him. The events of the ten years passed since Hogwarts came wafting through his mind. His father, New York, Melody, and Cherish. Joel, Samantha, pudding, cough drops, and Morgan Straker books. Coloring books, PTA meetings, doctor appointments, and pony rides. Birthday parties, little girls with little curls, ribbons, and rooms decorated in pink and purple. Jobs at diners, coffee houses, French men with bad attitudes, and failed attempts at college. So much to go through and now after all that, he was leaning back into Harry. It was so sudden, so unexpected, and so unlikely that he couldn't believe that it was coincidental. He wanted to believe it was fate and he grasped like mad to Harry's hands. It had been so much that Draco didn't want to go through any more alone. He lost Harry the first time. If this was destiny, Draco was not going to disappoint.
"So what is this secret that Cherish speaks of? Does this have to do with the 'Boy Who Lived' comment? Is it due time?" asked Joel, wiggling his eyebrows.
"That's what I need to talk to you about. Perhaps we should go inside for this one."
"Perhaps," said Joel, a hint of teasing in his voice as he walked inside through the balcony door. Ron smirked as he followed inside.
"I'm sorry about Ron but you know how he is," said Hermione giving Draco a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder. "Congratulations you two. Don't screw this up or I'll never forgive you." Hermione wrapped her arms around both Harry in Draco in one hug before disappearing inside.
"That goes for me, too. Don't go purposely sabotaging this." Samantha smirked, following Hermione and leaving Draco and Harry to follow suit.
Draco didn't go in at first but instead, slid out of Harry's arms and approached the ledge. He dropped to the concrete in an unceremonious slump and picked up a green balloon filled with jaw. As the jam oozed out underneath the pressure of his fingertips, Draco watched with an unfaltering intensity. Harry leaned against the railing, watching Draco.
"It goes for me, too. I want this to work, Draco. I always have."
A small smile crept across Draco's lips. "You aren't the only one, Harry. It all depends on what happens during your holiday. We've been together before. We don't need all the niceties that are involved in the beginning of a relationship. What we do need is to prove to each other that our new lives can coincide in harmony."
"There's plenty of room for you in my life. The question lies in whether or not I'll fit into yours."
"That's why you're on a trial basis. Cherish's offer stands. If you want, you're more than welcome to live with us while you're in New York. I guess I want to see if, in your terms, you fit into my life. The most important thing to me is that you and Cherish can form a relationship. If not. . ."
"I know. Your daughter comes first. It's expected, Draco. I'm not about to try and come between you and Cherish. For now I propose that we just drift and I'll try to form a seamless relationship with her. When its time for me to go home, well, I guess that's when the final judgment is passed. I can do this. Can you?"
"You have no idea what I've been through, Harry. Don't patronize me."
"I wasn't. I love you, Draco. I want a fair chance. I want to clear that with you before I spend my holiday with you hoping that you haven't already made a decision in the back of your mind. Let me prove myself to you. Let me love you."
Harry could see Draco chewing gently on his bottom lip and he smiled. He was thinking it over. It was a sight out of the past, oddly familiar in the haunted caverns of his memories. There were many times during their seventh year, during their romance, when Harry would catch Draco deep in thought, his teeth nipping without menace at his bottom lip. When the action ceased and he caught the faint sight of pink trailing over his lip, massaging the flesh, Harry's grin broadened. It may have been ten years, but he was right. Different, definitely, but Draco was still Draco despite his protests and Harry could still read him like a book. He had come to a positive conclusion, the conclusion that Harry wanted to hear, and he knew what Draco's words were going to be even before they came out of his mouth.
"Okay, Harry. You win. I don't. . .you know I don't want to agree to this but. . ."
"You still love me. You can't get me out of your head. Even thought you don't want to concede you can't deny me because I still mean too much to you."
"Arrogance isn't flattering on you, Potter."
"I wasn't being arrogant, I was being accurate."
"Sod off, Potter."
"I love you, too, Malfoy." Draco tried to glare but looking at Harry, staring into those all too familiar emerald eyes, was doing a number on his thought process. He thought the message to his brain got intercepted somewhere along the way because the scowl he had been going for did not appear on his face. Instead, a smile had materialized before he could stop himself.
"I suppose Joel is waiting for us," said Draco, placing the balloon back into the container.
"I suppose. Shall we?" He extended his arm, part of Harry thinking that maybe he was pushing his luck, but Draco's expression softened and he wrapped his arm around Harry's. The feeling was too familiar, almost eerie, but Harry refused to let go as his fingertips skimmed over the pale, milky flesh of Draco's arm. It was still as soft and silky as he had remembered and his fingers brushed just under the cuff of his t-shirt before meeting the steel grey of Draco's eyes. "I'm sorry. It's just. . .I've missed you so much. You have no idea."
"Actually, Harry, since I've been missing you to the point I've cut myself off from almost everything I held dear, I have some idea. I know I haven't been doing an extraordinary job of showing it, but I'm more than glad to see you. Honestly, this has to work between us because I don't think I can lose you again."
"Then that goes for two of us. Believe me, I still love you more than anything. Just ask Ron and Hermione. I've been burying myself in work so that I can't think about you. It hurts too much to remember losing you."
"Thinking isn't exactly my favorite pastime either. There is a reason I spend all of my time with Joel, Sam, and Cherish."
"I'll try very hard to get along with Cherish. I don't expect her to think of me like a father. She has one of those and a bloody good one, I imagine, but if she can find it in her heart to accept me as part of the family. . ."
"That's what I'm hoping for."
"Me too."
"I love you, Harry."
"I love you, too."
"I suppose we should go in. Joel must be getting very antsy since he knows I have some sort of secret to tell him."
"How ever do you put up with him?"
"You grow accustomed to him after some time," said Draco, pulling ahead of Harry and opening the door for both of them.
They wandered into the main part of the apartment where all four were sitting in the kitchen at the table. Joel was showing Ron an uncooked strand of spaghetti and the effects of lighting it on fire. He caught Samantha's voice whispering the word 'pyromaniac' as Joel dropped the smoldering piece of pasta into an ashtray, watching it burn, curl, and turn black before the flames diminished.
"Well it's about time you join us. I was going to go out and get you but Sam wouldn't let me. She said you were probably making out and that you deserved to be left alone."
"I did not. I said that you haven't seen each other in a very long time, deserved your privacy, and that there was probably a good reason you hadn't joined us yet. Hermione backed me up on that and then Joel said you were probably getting your freak on."
"Yes," said Draco in his old, familiar drawl, "Potter and I were shagging on your balcony. We originally intended just to get in a good, quick snog, but I couldn't resist."
"It's about time," said Joel, grinning. "I suppose that means it still works. Some of us thought that you would be having difficulties in getting it fully erect as it's been so long since you've worked the boys."
"Thank you, Joel. I did need that thought brought into my mind."
Harry snickered, taking a seat next to Ron. Draco leaned against the counter scowling at his friend.
"So what is this big secret that you wanted to tell us?"
Draco glanced uncertainly at Harry, Ron, and Hermione before going into the entire 'wizard' explanation. He spilled everything from Hogwarts, to his father, to Harry and his 'Boy-Who-Lived' status leaving both Joel and Samantha staring at him, gaping.
"What?" said Joel. "Nuh uh. You're. . ."
"A wizard," finished Draco. "Is this going to cause problems? You aren't going to call me a freak and kick me out of your apartment, are you?"
"No. Of course not. But you really are? Seriously? Like, do you really use owls for your mail?"
"What is this fascination with the owls?"
Joel shrugged. "Do you?"
"I did but not anymore as I've been living as a muggle for ten years."
"I know," said Ron, smirking before going into laughter. "Your father would die of shame if he knew. A Malfoy. A Malfoy living as a muggle and serving muggles. It's too priceless."
"Sod off, Weasley."
"I take it you come from one of those arrogant, pureblood families I write about."
"Yeah," said Draco, softly.
"So this whole time you've been helping me, you've really just been pushing me in the direction of the way things are where you come from."
"Yeah, I have."
"And when you told me all about your 'ideas' for Hogwarts, you were really just telling me about what the real Hogwarts is like?"
"Yeah."
"And when you started helping me come up with ideas for Morgan Straker's past, you were telling me about Harry's past."
"Yeah."
"What about wands? Do you really have wands like we use for my books?"
Draco slid his wand out of his pocket, brandished it at Joel, and then set it on the kitchen table. Samantha and Joel stared at it in awe as if it would start casting spells on its own.
"Being a bit careless with your wand?" said Ron. "You'd've never done that in Hogwarts."
"There were too many people at Hogwarts that wanted to hex me. Joel could start swish and flicking that at me, screaming Avada Kedavra at the top of his lungs, and I highly doubt even gold sparks would shoot out the end of it. He's not a wizard, much less a trained one."
"This is true. I could, though, you know."
"Yes, but you have your own wand, and I imagine you have it on you as well."
"I do."
"Can you do something with it?" asked Samantha, reaching out with a tentative hand to brush her fingertips over the wood.
"Yeah! Do something cool!" said Joel, grasping it and shoving it back at Draco.
Draco sighed, looking around the kitchen, and with a flick of his wrist, he said, "Wingardium Leviosa!" causing the salt and pepper shakers to levitate.
"Wow," said Joel, both he and Samantha staring in awe, but Harry clicked his tongue in disapproval. "What? I thought it was pretty cool."
"Any first year could do that. Pathetic, Malfoy. You were Head Boy, I'm sure you can do something more impressive than that."
"You were Head Boy?" asked Joel. Draco nodded. "Is that the same thing as being Head Boy in my books?"
"Yeah."
"Well what else were you. Come on, indulge me. You've been guiding me in my books all these years. Tell me about your real history in terms of my books. I want to know everything."
"Really? You don't think I'm a freak or a tool of Satan?"
"What about a tool of Satan?" asked Hermione but Draco ignored her as he noticed a cloud of recognition cover Joel's eyes.
"Is that what that huge fight all stemmed from?" he asked and Draco shrugged, nodding. "Because Melody said that magic was evil? You were personally offended!"
"Well, yeah. I was."
"After all these years, that part's finally starting to make sense. Of course you got up in arms about her tool of Satan comment. You're a wizard!"
"Well, yeah. She just started saying that magic was evil and that everyone who used magic was evil."
"Uh oh," said Ron.
"Exactly my sentiments," replied Draco. "I wasn't evil. I left, got disowned by my father because I didn't want to be evil. I wasn't going to have her tell me I was."
"So your father was evil. That was the matter you disagreed on. It wasn't the homosexual issue," said Joel. "Tell me everything, Draco. The wizard thing is out, now. Tell us everything. Give us long awaited details. Tell me in terms of my books so I can understand."
"You'll understand even if I didn't talk in 'terms of your books'. Everything I helped you develop is the truth. There are Death Eaters, mail is delivered by owls, and Howlers are really unpleasant to receive."
"Howlers are real?"
"Yes," muttered Ron and the other three former students of Hogwarts smirked at him, clearly remembering the Howler he had received in his second year.
"Harry is like Morgan," explained Draco, "and these two," he motioned between Ron and Hermione, "are like Diana and Alex."
"I see. You're the Gryffindor trio that gets into trouble," said Joel. "Are the houses like you said?"
"Yeah. They were Gryffindors."
"Gryffindor pride," said Ron and he and Harry took on proud, haughty looks before breaking out into chuckles. Hermione rolled her eyes but there was a hint of smile on her lips. Draco scowled at them.
"I don't see what's so great about being a Gryffindor."
"You wouldn't, Malfoy, you slimy, Slytherin git."
"You were a Slytherin?" said Joel, smirking. "I didn't see that one coming."
"I've read your books," said Hermione, noticing Draco's pink tinge. "Albus Dumbledore, our headmaster and the real version of Professor King in your books, sent them to me. Believe me, we've all noticed the parallels between them and our years at Hogwarts. We've been wondering who you really were or who was slipping you information. We didn't think it was Malfoy because he was there, too, causing just as many problems as ever."
"I have a Draco parallel in my book?" asked Joel, amused.
"No you do not," said Draco but Hermione silenced him.
"Now, Draco, if you were going to tell him about what a git you were than you had better be ready to stand up to it. Draco would better be known to you and your readers as Tom Malloy."
Joel left out a snort of laughter but Draco scowled, not finding it at all funny. Samantha hid her face in the crook of her arm, clearly trying to conceal her obvious amusement. "Malloy!? He's such a brat!"
"Well so's Malfoy," said Ron. "The parallels go on forever. Malfoy is a pureblood, Slytherin, and his father is every bit as bad as he is in your books."
"Does that mean your father is a Death Eater?" he asked.
"He was," said Harry before Draco had a chance to interrupt. "That's why we broke up. Draco was going to become a Death Eater but he faked out and came to New York instead. Lucius is in Azkaban now."
"The wizard prison?" Harry nodded. "Your father's name is Lucius?"
"Yes," snapped Draco. "Can we please stop talking about me?"
"Okay, Malloy," said Joel with a snicker.
"It's Malfoy," said Draco.
"That's not much better," said Ron.
"Oh you two are impossible." Draco left the kitchen area to drop into the couch and flipped on the television, ignoring the sounds of Harry, Ron, and Hermione filling them in on what Draco was like at school. Every so often a snort would sound over in his direction and Draco figured that Joel and Samantha had just heard something especially embarrassing for him, amusing for them.
It was only after hours of torment when Joel suggested going out on the balcony. With alcohol bottles in hand, Samantha followed Joel out with the blender plugged into the outlet just inside the balcony door. Hermione carried out the glasses, Draco reluctantly following. Harry wrapped his arms around Draco's waist, kissing the spot just behind his ear and nuzzling his nose against Draco's cheek.
"You know, this is really kind of creepy to watch," said Joel. "I know that Draco's been helping me with the books, that Harry's Morgan and Draco's Tom, and I know that Draco and Harry are together. It's like thinking of my characters being together."
"Well we came first, not your characters."
"I can't believe you're Tom," he said, snickering. "Tom's such a pain. No one likes him. He's annoying and whiny and thinks he's being a badass when he's really a pansy, fairy boy."
"The insults can stop now," snapped Draco. Harry gave a soft laugh before tightening his arms around Draco's waist and letting his lips brush over the back of Draco's neck.
"I can't believe you've been living here for ten years, Malfoy," said Ron, staring down at the streets. "Look at how strange these muggles are. A girl with a purple spiked Mohawk just walked by."
"People who look like that make me look less odd."
"And Draco is odd-looking with his platinum hair and vampire skin."
"Vampire skin?" asked Draco as Joel downed a shot of tequila. Hermione and Samantha were sipping at margueritas but both Joel and Ron were taking their shots of tequila straight. Both Harry and Draco had refused alcohol and everyone was looking at Joel and Ron just waiting for them to get piss drunk.
"Yeah. You have this really white skin that makes you look like a vampire."
"I always thought you were more veela-like than a vampire," said Harry, brushing his fingers through Draco's hair. "You wear it down now. You always used to slick it back."
"Yeah," said Draco, shifting.
"I like it better this way. You look beautiful."
"Now this is sweet," said Joel, leaning back against the building. "Draco, we should have gone and found Harry a long time ago. Look at him. Can't keep his hands off of you. Melody never looked at you like that."
"And how, exactly, does Harry look at me?"
"With love," Harry whispered into his ear, his comment going unnoticed by the others. Draco felt his eyelids flutter upon feeling the words brushing across his skin in the form of hot breaths.
"I don't know. It's this sweet, sappy, in love look."
"Yeah. Its kind of gross," said Ron, taking another shot and teetering as he looked through the bars on the balcony. "Look at this muggle girl. Her clothing doesn't even match and her head is shaved."
"New York has some colorful characters," said Samantha pulling a flannel blanket around her. "Are you sure you don't want anything to drink, Harry?"
"No. I want to be perfectly sober on my first night back with Draco. He intoxicates me enough."
"Harry, you're going to embarrass me."
"I think it's sweet," said Hermione. Samantha grinned at him in that way that girls do when they think something is cute.
"It's sappy and corny," said Joel, tipping the alcohol down his throat and wincing at the burn. "Aw, man, look at that guy." He pointed across the street to a neighboring apartment building. Through the window they could see a large, grossly overweight man doing aerobics in bright blue spandex. "Doesn't he know that some people have eyes and can see that shit? Ew, nasty!"
"At least he's exercising," said Samantha, snickering.
"No, seriously, look at his fat jiggle! That shit is nasty. Draco, can't you do some fancy shit with your wand so that we don't have to look at that?"
"I'm not using my wand anymore, remember?"
"But you did that cool levitating floating salt and pepper shaker thing."
"Well I can't use magic in front of muggles anyway. The ministry would have a fit if half of New York saw me use magic."
"Yes but they'd have some word from you," said Ron.
"Oh don't you go and try to encourage him, Ron Weasley," said Hermione. "You know how much trouble he would be in if a whole bunch of muggles found out about wizards."
"Speaking of having some word from you, I think we should write Dumbledore," said Harry, brushing his fingers over Draco's naked forearms. "Let him know where you are. That you're safe. No one's heard anything about you since your father went to Azkaban."
"Are you going to write with an owl?" asked Joel with sudden interest.
"Of course. I believe Hermione and Ron brought one of their owls with on the holiday to have contact with the wizarding world. Updates on Hogwarts and the bookshop."
"The bookshop?" asked Draco. "Hogwarts?"
"Yes. Ron, Hermione, and I all co-own a bookshop in Hogsmeade. Hermione teaches Charms at Hogwarts. Dumbledore gave her leave to get me out of Hogsmeade."
"Bugger. That crackpot old codger sending you to New York," muttered Draco.
"This is so weird," said Joel. "Hogsmeade. You actually live in Hogsmeade."
"Did he say you teach Charms, Hermione?" She nodded. "What happened to Flitwick?"
"He retired so I was given his job."
"I see. Snape still work there?"
"Yeah. We're on civil terms since we're both professors now."
"I see. That must be wonderful."
"It is."
"To wizards and the Owl Post and gay sex," said Joel, holding up his shot glass.
"I'll drink to that," said Ron and they tapped their glasses together before pouring the shots down their throats.
"He's going to be drunk out of his skull in ten minutes," Harry whispered to Draco. He placed his palms flat against Draco's stomach, one of top of the other, and he applied a light pressure as he nuzzled his nose against the back of Draco's neck. "Maybe we should be going back to your apartment."
"Our apartment," said Draco, his voice airy and breathless. Hermione caught their exchange of words and nudged Samantha in the ribs, directing her attention to Draco and Harry.
"Our apartment. I like the sound of that. I know your daughter comes first but does she have to come back tonight? I would rather enjoy being alone with you for a night." Harry trailed his tongue over the back of Draco's neck and flicked it into the cavern just behind Draco's ear.
Draco's inhalation came in a quick intake, his breath hissing through his teeth. "I think. . .I think that could be arranged. She could - spend the night - with Devin. Gods, Harry, knock that off until we're alone."
Harry smirked against Draco's neck causing the shivers to return to Draco's spine. When he turned to look at Samantha, he saw her already staring at him, an amused and knowing smile on his face.
"Er- Sam. . ."
"She can spend the night here."
"That's right, buddy," said Joel, pointing at Draco and in the process, dropping his shotglass. It shattered on the concrete and he looked down at it, staring in confusion before his gaze returned to Draco. "Cher can stay here. We believe in life after love. You go get laid." He faltered in his step, grasped onto Ron's wavering shoulder for support, and hoisted himself up onto the ledge. "If I could turn back time," he started to bellow out before Samantha was on her feet and coaxing Joel down.
"He's just a little drunk," said Samantha, leading him to the door. "I'm going to make him lay down and then I'll tell Cher she's staying the night. You go back with Harry and have fun." She winked, walking back inside, and Hermione followed, leading a tipsy Ron. He could hear Samantha giving them permission to spend the night as Hermione didn't want to lead a drunken Ron through the streets of New York babbling about muggles and spandex.
"Let's go back, then," said Harry, standing up and winking at Draco before they, too, left the balcony.
*~*~*~*~*
Loved something? Hated something? Tell me in a REVIEW or email me at angeldlsm00@hotmail.com
On another note, I need a beta for a new story I'm writing. If interested, email me privately and I'll send you the plot synopsis so you can decide whether you want to do it or not. It will eventually be Draco/Harry and will be rated 'R' for some disturbing themes (will be explained in the email). Thanks to anyone who responds to my shameless advertising.