Raei: FIRST THINGS FIRST! I'd like to shout out to my main HOMIE-GIRL/GUY... (shifts nervously) SILVERXSERPENT! Whenever we see the little "You've got a new Review" thing pop up in MSN – we squeal only to find out that you have reviewed the story. OH YES... you make us squeal. (titters with excitement) Epee! Epee! Epee! Righto...
September had arrived, and the weather had changed from hot and muggy, to rainy and cool. School had started, and Harry was back in work. He worked five days a week out of seven, leaving only weekends and evenings to spend with Draco. Though these days, most nights were spent marking various exams, or assignments.
That evening, Draco sat quietly flipping through the newspaper, Harry sitting at the desk in the study. Flipping another page, Draco put down the newspaper, resting it on his lap. "Are you almost finished?"
Harry turned to look at Draco then back at the stack of papers resting on the hardwood desk infront of him. "Err... no. I've still got tons left."
Draco folded the newspaper and stood up, dropping the paper on the chair he had just vacated. Walking towards Harry, he wrapped his arms around his neck. "You're so busy these days, I never get a chance to have you just to myself."
Harry put his hands over Draco's, replying in a soft tone, "I do miss spending time with you, but unless I get this done, well..." he trailed off with a sigh, "I promise you this weekend that we'll do something, just the two of us."
Draco pouted, but knew that Harry was right. If he didn't do his job, then he would get fired, and Draco knew that Harry loved teaching. Though that didn't mean Draco had to like it. "Promise?" he asked as he snuggled into Harry's neck.
Laughing as Draco licked his neck, Harry answered, "Yes! All right, I promise that it'll just be us. No paperwork."
"No paperwork, no phone calls, no students. Just me." Draco replied slipping into Harry's lap.
"Just you." Harry smiled as he lent forward kissing Draco. "Hey... can I ask you a question?"
"Mm... what is it?"
"Are you still having nightmares?"
Stiffening slightly, Draco looked down as he swayed his foot. "Yeah, sometimes. Why?"
"I see you thrashing about at night, and sometimes you cry. You never seem to remember that you've woken up to me shaking you awake though." Harry said softly as he lightly brushed his hand along Draco's thigh.
"Oh..." Draco forced a smile. "You don't need to worry though, I'm alright." He lied leaning forward and kissing Harry again, "Get your work done, I'm going to head to bed."
"Yeah. I'll be there in about an hour or so... is that alright?"
Standing up, Draco took Harry's hand in his and placed a kiss on his palm. "Yes."
"Alright."
Draco left the room and walked towards their bedroom, lying down on Harry's side of the bed, he became lost in thought. Breathing in Harry's scent from his pillow, Draco thought about what he had just told his boyfriend about the nightmares. It was true that he was still having them, but he was far from being all right. Every time he woke from one, he was terrified, for he now remembered them.
He was tired of going to sleep at night, knowing that he would wake up hours later after seeing Harry's dead body in his mind. It was bad enough that his love was dead, but he was becoming more torn apart with every dream. And with every dream, the dark figure standing over Harry's body became clearer. Draco was afraid to see who had murdered Harry, but at the same time he wanted to know, almost needed to know who it was.
Rolling over, Draco glanced towards the door. Harry had still not finished his work, as he could still hear his pen scratching on the papers. Heaving a sigh, he stood up and walked towards the closet. Pulling it open, he looked for his pajamas. As he reached for the pants, his eyes were caught on the ring, fitted on the thumb of his right hand. Draco furrowed his eyebrows, taking the ring off of his thumb; he placed it on his left hand, the heart facing out. He knew that he loved Harry, but he was still unable to bring himself to say it.
Draco changed quickly and closed the closet door, just a he heard Harry's footsteps descend on the doorway. Harry stood at the door, holding onto the doorknob. He smiled and walked forward, taking Draco in his arms.
"I thought I'd quit early."
Draco smiled, wrapping his arms around Harry's neck as the green-eyed man tightened his hold on Draco's waist. Without warning, Harry lifted Draco up off the floor, just high enough to walk with him over to their bed. Falling backwards, Draco pulled Harry with him swiftly taking off Harry's glasses and setting them on the quilt.
"You look tired," Draco said softly as Harry rested his head on Draco's chest, "really tired."
Harry nodded and closed his eyes, "Draco?"
"Yeah?" the blond asked as he ran his hands through Harry's hair.
"If it isn't too much trouble, can I have a back rub?" he asked.
"It's no trouble," Draco replied, "get on your stomach."
Harry complied, scooting up further on the mattress, ready to lie down until Draco stopped him. "Take off your shirt first." Draco said, helping Harry pull off his t-shirt. Once the cotton shirt was off, Draco threw it down on the floor and pushed Harry onto his front. Sitting beside him, Draco ran his hands up Harry's spine, feeling out all the sore-knotted muscles.
Harry let out a groan as Draco's hands found a particularly tender knot, his fingers gently kneading into the skin. It took almost an hour of massaging to loosen the muscles in Harry's back, and by the time he was finished, both Draco and Harry were utterly spent. Moving Harry's glasses to the bedside table, Draco crawled under the blankets and listened to Harry undressing. Turning off the lamp, Draco curled against Harry as they both fell asleep.
Draco woke up in a sweat, panting. He was glad that Harry hadn't woken up, considering Draco had sat straight up in bed and gasped. Looking around the room he rubbed his eyes, trying to remember he was. Draco lay down again, trying to calm himself. After 10 minutes of tossing and turning, he decided to get a glass of water and sit in the living room for a while. As he placed his cup on the glass coffee table, he pulled the blanket off of the back of the couch and sat on one side, his knees at his chest. Draco glanced towards the window - it was raining continually, as it had been since that evening.
Draco rested his head on the palm of his hand as he watched the rain hit the window of the patio door. He knew that he needed to get his mind off of his nightmare, but he currently wasn't sure how. Then a thought struck him, Harry's job kept his mind occupied for hours on end – would it be possible for Draco to get a job, in turn bringing more muggle money into the household. Since he was living there, Draco felt guilty because he didn't help pay for any of the bills. He really only sat around the house, cleaning various rooms and searching through the things that Harry had coveted through the passing years – trying to find out what he had done during the two years they were separated.
'But where can I work...?' Draco thought as he picked at a loose piece of string fraying from the safety of the blanket. 'There isn't many things that I know about the muggle world...' he paused for a second, his heart lifted. 'Coffee! I know coffee! I should get a job in some coffee place or something. I'm sure it wouldn't be to difficult, I mean – how hard is it to make a cup of coffee for someone?'
Draco felt that he had at least accomplished something. He looked up at the window again, to find that the rain had stopped and the sun was rising. He glanced at the clock sitting on top of the fireplace. It read 6:16am. Standing up, Draco walked towards his bedroom to wake Harry, as he had to be at work in an hour and a half.
"Harry... wake up." Draco softly nudged his shoulder. "Come on! You wake up for the alarm but not for me?" He crossed his arms and shouted. "WAKE UP!"
Harry's arms and legs flailed as he sat up straight. "Okay... I'm up..." Harry rubbed his eyes and looked up at Draco. "Wha..."
"I need to ask you something."
Glancing at the clock Harry frowned. "At 6:17 in the morning?"
"Well you have to be up at 6:20, so I don't see how it's a problem."
"Fneh..." Harry lay down again, covering his eyes with his forearm.
"No! Harold James Potter! GET UP!" Draco yelled for a second time as he yanked Harry's pillow out from under his head, smacking Harry over the head with it repeatedly.
Harry tried in vain to grab the offending pillow, but to no avail. So he grabbed the next best thing. The person attached to the pillow. Bolting upright, Harry snatched Draco around his waist and hauled him onto the bed. Draco let out a cry of protest.
"Harry!"
Harry didn't hear him. Wrapping his arm around Draco more firmly, Harry nestled his head on Draco's chest, closing his eyes and purring. He was fully intent on going back to sleep.
Lying there with Harry over him, Draco rolled his eyes and smirked to himself. "If you don't get off me right now, and wake up, I'll never let you have your sweet, evil way with me."
Harry immediately jumped up wide-awake. "What was it that you wanted?"
Draco grinned as he sat up. "I need to know how to apply for a job."
"Well that's easy enough... just make a résumé and..." he yawned, "give it to the place you want to work at."
"Résumé?"
"Yeah it's that little piece of paper with the stuff on it..."
"Really? So not helping." Draco rolled his eyes and got off the bed. He stood at the foot of the bed, leaning on the mattress. "You suck during the morning."
"Well I could suck something else..."
"Only if you tell me what a resume is, and help me make it, will you ever be sucking anything else."
"Alrighty then..." Harry tossed back the covers and stood up. He stumbled towards the bathroom and motioned for Draco to follow him. Flipping on the bathroom radio, Harry jigged a little dance before strutting towards the toilet. Draco shook his head and laughed, soon finding himself tapping his foot to the beat of the song 'Staying Alive'.
He began to pee as he spoke, "A résumé is a sheet of paper with all your vital information on it that you would need for a job." He yawned slightly, still slightly swaying to the rhythm of the song. "You include your address, name, blah, blah, blah, and your past job experiences. You blather on for a while about why you are so qualified, and tada – you have a résumé." He turned around and put his hands on his hips as he was finished peeing. Harry motioned towards the radio as he walked to the sink. "This song is awesome."
Draco took a deep breath. "It's a good thing you're gay... that way the world is safe from more miniature people like you."
"I resent that." Harry glowered as he dried his hands. "Why did you want to know what a résumé was?"
"Because I want to get a job."
"What for?" Harry cocked an eyebrow as he rested his hip on the counter, crossing his arms.
"Because I want to be able to help with the groceries, bills and what have you." Draco spoke, "I want to feel like I actually live here and help out. I want to feel like I actually have a purpose."
"Draco, you do have a purpose."
"And what is that?"
Harry grinned as he walked forward, taking Draco in his arms. "Your purpose is to sit there and look pretty."
"Potter..." Draco lightly shoved Harry off of him. "Not that it isn't true... but still – I want to be able to help you."
"Oh fine. Make breakfast and I'll put together a quick résumé for you."
By the time Draco and Harry had finished breakfast, and Harry had finished the resume, it was time for Harry to leave. Draco stood at the door, holding Harry's jacket, messenger bag, and various tests.
"...I feel like a housewife."
Harry was about to laugh, but as he looked up, he noticed that tears stood in Draco's silver eyes. "Aww... Draco, you're not a housewife."
"I am so. I stay at home, I clean, I wake you up, I make you breakfast, I hold your things for you at the door." Draco's voice cracked, as tears fell from his eyes. "I'M A BLOODY HOUSEWIFE!"
Harry took his things from Draco's now trembling hands and set them on the ground, "Draco, you're not a housewife," he repeated, "tell you what. When you get a job, you can lay around in your underwear with a beer watching television, while I bring you fried chicken. How does that sound?" he asked as he lifted Draco's chin with his fingers.
Draco stared at him for a moment, sniffed loudly, then laughed, "Who's going to wash all those dishes you're bound to get dirty?" his voice cracked again as more tears fell from his eyes.
Harry flicked Draco's nose, "DRACO!"
"...What?" Draco sniffed loudly again, "I'm not joking, if it wasn't for me, you'd be living in a sty."
Shaking his head Harry cursed. "Jesus Draco, you are a housewife."
Draco cried more freely now, "I KNOWWW!" he covered his face with his hands, "And I'm a freaking Malfoy... all I'm missing is the apron and high heels."
Harry shook his head and took Draco in his arms. "Stop crying." He heard Draco sniff. "If you want the apron and heels it'll go very nicely with that dress you wanted."
"Harryyy..." Draco whined, but his voice was muffled with his hands. He looked up at Harry and wiped his eyes. "Go to work or you'll be late, get fired, and we'll have to live in your car."
"Or worse... with Cole and Luke."
"Oh Godd..." Draco whined again as he pushed Harry away from him picking up his things again. "Go! Go! Go!"
Laughing, Harry lent forward and kissed his housewife's lips. "I like having a little woman to come home to."
Draco sneered through his tears as his lip curled. "Keep that up and I won't be the only woman around here." He said pointedly as he looked down at Harry's crotch. "If you get my drift."
"Point taken... and I'm off!" He lent forward again, kissing Draco, glad to receive a kiss in return. "You're résumé is in the study!" He said before closing the door and locking it.
Draco wiped his eyes with his pajama sleeve and walked into the study. He picked up his resume and read it to himself, glancing at the clock when he was done. Figuring that if he left now and made copies of the résumé, he would have the time to hit a few places before Harry got home. He showered and changed quickly, picking up the folder of the copied resumes, heading for the door. He didn't bother to leave Harry a note, as he thought that he would be home long before Harry would be.
A few hours later, Draco had decided to stop for a cup of coffee. He remembered the coffee shop he had gone to the day he bought Harry's glasses, and found a seat inside. He pulled out his résum's, leafing through them to see how many he had left. A woman walked by his table, holding a container of used coffee cups. She glanced down at the stack of résum's before speaking up.
"Are those résum's?"
Draco raised his eyebrow as he looked up at her. "Yes."
"What kind of places are you applying to?" she asked as she set the container down on the table next to him, "if you don't mind me asking?"
Draco stared at her for a moment, "Just random places I guess. I just started looking today."
The woman thought about this, then smiled, "Well, do you want to work here? One of my girls just quit, and we're desperate for some help," she paused as Draco gaped at her, "well? What do you think?"
Draco was speechless, as he blinked at her, "You haven't even seen my résumé..." he protested.
Smiling at him, the woman picked up one of the résum's and glanced quickly over it, nodding, "Looks good to me. You're hired. If you want the job that is...?" "Yes!" Draco almost cried with joy, "I mean... yes, I would like very much to work here."
The woman laughed, "My name's Celia...Draco..." she added as she glanced down at the name on the sheet of paper she was holding, "come on, let's get you fitted for your uniform."
"Right now?" Draco asked, "You want me to start now?"
Celia grinned as she lead Draco into the staff room, "Well yeah, if it's alright with you."
Draco practically beamed, "No, that's fine!"
The uniform was just a pair of black slacks and a plain white collared shirt with a black apron. Draco grinned as he rolled the sleeves of his shirt up, looking down to read the little rectangular nametag that Celia had printed up when he was changing. It read 'Celia's Coffee Shoppe' over his name, both scribed in golden letters over a black background.
Walking to the front of the store, Celia placed a warm hand on Draco's shoulder. "Today is pretty slow, considering nearly everyone is working, so I'll get Patrick over there to train you." Draco smiled as Celia motioned Patrick over, who had a necklace made out of large wooden beads, his hair in dreadlocks. He smiled as he approached them wringing his hands together. "This is Patrick... Patrick, this is Draco – he's new."
"Draco? Cool... like Dragon right?" He made a gunlike gesture with his hand winking.
"...Sure." Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Excellent! Patrick you'll be in charge of his training, so I'm counting on you. Have fun!" She smiled as she walked into the backroom.
Patrick smacked his forehead as she disappeared around the corner. "Well I guess I better not screw this up then, huh?"
"... Sure."
"Do you say anything other than sure?"
"Uh-huh."
"Sure and Uh-huh... we're going to get along fabulously." He rolled his eyes smiling. "Follow me, I'll show you how to work the coffee machines."
By the end of his first shift, Draco had learned how to make simple coffee combinations – he now knew that he had to change the coffee every twenty minutes to make sure that it was always fresh. Patrick had shown Draco all of the machines, including the espresso and cappuccino machines – telling him he would learn how to make more complicated drinks in the coming days. Draco had received a crash course in how to use the till. Though all the buttons and combinations that could be created still confused the hell out of the Slytherin, he was again told to not worry about it, and that he would learn how to use the till in the coming days. Draco had never taken in so much information since his days at Hogwarts. Though he was now almost quicker than Patrick when he made coffees – he still didn't have enough skill to compare to him.
After Draco, Patrick, and a few of the other people on shift had all sat down in the dining room after finishing the clean up; they were all actively chatting with one another.
"So Draco, how long have you been here?" a girl named Skye with glasses and short bright red and black hair asked.
"... About 3 months or so?"
"Really? Where did you live before here?" Patrick said as he sipped a cup of tea.
"England."
"No way! I've always wanted to go to England... where abouts did you live?" Emma, the woman with frizzy brown hair asked.
"Hogsmeade."
"...Hogsmeade?" Emma cocked her head to the side, frowning. "I've never heard of Hogsmeade."
"Err..." Draco's mind frantically searched for an explanation. "It's a suburb of London... a very small suburb."
"Oh... Okay." She smiled stirring her coffee.
"What do you say we close up here and head to the bar?" Patrick questioned as he placed his teacup into the sink.
"Mmmm... I could go for a nice cold beer." Skye mused.
"I'd love to." Emma smiled. "Draco?"
Immediately he thought back to Harry, and how he should go home. But then his mind wandered to the fact that Harry had stayed out late for quite a few nights in the last few weeks, so he decided to do the same. "Sure. As long as I'm not out that late, my boyfriend won't appreciate me coming home inebriated and at a late hour."
"You're gay?" Patrick quirked an eyebrow. "Cool." He said quickly as he bobbed his head up and down smiling out of one corner of his mouth.
"Awww!" Both girls chimed in together.
"What's he like?" Emma asked.
"What's his name?" Skye prodded, poking Draco in the side causing him to jerk sideways a slight smile on his lips.
"He's an insufferable git, who calls me a housewife. His name is Harry."
"Harry...?" Skye furrowed her eyebrows, "Harry...Po-Potter?"
"Er...Yes?"
"He teaches my brother, Vance, English." Skye was suddenly struck with a thought. "No wonder my brother said he liked him! He's gay!"
"That's... nice." He offered a quick smile as he walked towards the back room. "I'm going to change – and then we should get going."
The four new friends had locked up the coffee shop, and headed noisily down to the local bar. Once inside, Patrick grabbed them a corner booth as Skye went to get them drinks. Draco sat down on the worn red leather cushion and looked around him. There were couples of all types out on the small dance floor, and when Skye came back, he found himself being dragged against his will into the middle of it all.
"No! No! No!" he yelled over the noise of the bar as she swayed to the loud music, "I don't dance!"
Grinning, Skye put her hands on his shoulders and yelled back, "Of course you do!"
There would be no arguing with her. They stayed on the dance floor for a few more songs; Draco feeling more relaxed than he had been in a while, before heading back to their table. Patrick and Emma were currently having a drinking contest, seeing which of them could down the most amounts of shots in five minutes. Draco looked at Patrick, who looked ready to pass out under the table. Emma on the other hand, was still grinning as if she could go on for another couple of hours.
"Are you okay?" Draco asked her, hoping that she really was okay, seeing how she had ten small shooters in front of her.
Waving at him, "Oh yeah!! I'm fine!" she replied, still grinning as she eyed him. Pointing at his chest, she said, "it's your turn little man. Since Pat here is way too tanked to go much further, you can take his place!"
Beside him Skye laughed and pushed him forwards into the booth with both hands, "Come on Draco! Show her how macho you are!"
Shrugging, Draco put a grin on his face and settled into the leather seat, "Bring. It. On."
Seven straight up shots of tequila, and one shot of Jack Daniels later, Draco was seeing doubles of everything and having the time of his life. Skye opted to take drop Draco off at home, as she was the designated driver. The three very intoxicated people agreed, all stumbling to the door, launching into a horrid rendition of 'I'm Henry the 8th I am'.
Once Patrick and Emma had been deposited off at their houses, Skye drove Draco back to Harry's, walking with him to the door and ringing the bell as Draco could not for the life of him find his key.
"You sure this is the place?" she asked as she eyed the large wooden doors, "seems kinda big for a teacher..."
Draco grunted, "... Yep. This is the place." He beamed suddenly, "Harry's loaded!"
"And so are you, I hope he comes to the door soon..."
Just a she spoke, the door opened, and Harry stood infront of them in nothing but pajama pants. He jumped forward as Draco nearly fell to the ground. "Jesus! What's..." He then groaned as the smell of alcohol filled his nostrils. "Oh God... how much did he drink?" He looked up at Skye grasping Draco under his armpits holding him close to his chest.
"Errm... seven shots of tequila and one shot of Jack Daniels."
"...Wow. That's more than I can handle." He looked down at Draco again, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Thanks for bringing him home... I hate to be rude – but I need to get him taken care of."
"Not a problem. See you." Skye smiled and turned, walking back towards her car. Harry made sure that her car was out of sight before closing the door and literally dragging Draco into the kitchen.
"Sit." He lightly shoved Draco into a chair.
"I don't want to sit." Draco slurred as he stood again, nearly collapsing to the floor. He was caught just in the nick of time as Harry jumped forward for the second time that night.
"Well you're damn well going to sit." He pushed Draco back into the chair. "Stay."
"Nhehh..." Draco made a face at Harry sticking out his tongue.
"Nice." Harry shook his head turning towards the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water. He handed Draco the opened bottle before asking the question that he had been asking himself all night. "Where have you been?"
"Drinking... working... what's it look like?"
"Working? You got a job?"
"At a coffee place somewhere in the marketplace..." Draco sipped at the water. "Did you think that I spent all afternoon and night with some gorgeous Italian boy?" He grinned at his question.
"Yeah I did... and if you ever do that to me again..."
"Excuse me?" Draco felt himself sober up a little. He stood and walked towards Harry. "Just what is it that I did?" He narrowed his eyes.
"Stayed out late and didn't tell me where you were."
"Gee... You're one to talk. Staying at work until all hours of the night! No phone call to tell me if you're going to be late – what time you'll be home – or where you are!" He jabbed Harry's chest, feeling the effects of the alcohol wear of greatly. "If anything, Potter, you should be the one apologizing to me."
"What?" Harry stepped back quickly, "I'm not the one who came home drunk!"
"Oh so now you're berating me for actually having a life?!" Draco scoffed. "Some boyfriend you are."
"I never said anything about you not having a life, I stated that you were being irresponsible tonight by staying out with people that you hardly know." He felt his voice rising in anger.
"That's what you do POTTER! That's how you make friends! You go out with people that you hardly know and get to be acquainted with them!" Draco screamed, now completely sober, "Why are you being so fucking defensive?!"
"Because I love you!" came the strong response.
Draco felt his cheeks pale, and his body became numb. "No... No you can't love me. You d-don't love me..." He pushed roughly past Harry and out the door, slamming it behind him.
He didn't know at first where he was heading, but soon found himself on Cole and Luke's street. The sky had just opened up – and rain began to pour down on him. The rain mixed with the tears already running down Draco's cheeks. He had all but ran towards his friend's apartment buildings – stepping on a small purple and while flower as he went. He managed to make it up the stairwell to their floor, and he pounded on the door, shivering violently from the cold and shock.
Cole yawned as he opened the door, his face soon turning from a slight smile to one of grave concern.
"I... I need a place to stay." Draco managed to sputter before tears began to fall down his cheeks again.
Raei and Kylia: END OF CHAPTER!
-FADE TO BLACK-
Review please!!!
September had arrived, and the weather had changed from hot and muggy, to rainy and cool. School had started, and Harry was back in work. He worked five days a week out of seven, leaving only weekends and evenings to spend with Draco. Though these days, most nights were spent marking various exams, or assignments.
That evening, Draco sat quietly flipping through the newspaper, Harry sitting at the desk in the study. Flipping another page, Draco put down the newspaper, resting it on his lap. "Are you almost finished?"
Harry turned to look at Draco then back at the stack of papers resting on the hardwood desk infront of him. "Err... no. I've still got tons left."
Draco folded the newspaper and stood up, dropping the paper on the chair he had just vacated. Walking towards Harry, he wrapped his arms around his neck. "You're so busy these days, I never get a chance to have you just to myself."
Harry put his hands over Draco's, replying in a soft tone, "I do miss spending time with you, but unless I get this done, well..." he trailed off with a sigh, "I promise you this weekend that we'll do something, just the two of us."
Draco pouted, but knew that Harry was right. If he didn't do his job, then he would get fired, and Draco knew that Harry loved teaching. Though that didn't mean Draco had to like it. "Promise?" he asked as he snuggled into Harry's neck.
Laughing as Draco licked his neck, Harry answered, "Yes! All right, I promise that it'll just be us. No paperwork."
"No paperwork, no phone calls, no students. Just me." Draco replied slipping into Harry's lap.
"Just you." Harry smiled as he lent forward kissing Draco. "Hey... can I ask you a question?"
"Mm... what is it?"
"Are you still having nightmares?"
Stiffening slightly, Draco looked down as he swayed his foot. "Yeah, sometimes. Why?"
"I see you thrashing about at night, and sometimes you cry. You never seem to remember that you've woken up to me shaking you awake though." Harry said softly as he lightly brushed his hand along Draco's thigh.
"Oh..." Draco forced a smile. "You don't need to worry though, I'm alright." He lied leaning forward and kissing Harry again, "Get your work done, I'm going to head to bed."
"Yeah. I'll be there in about an hour or so... is that alright?"
Standing up, Draco took Harry's hand in his and placed a kiss on his palm. "Yes."
"Alright."
Draco left the room and walked towards their bedroom, lying down on Harry's side of the bed, he became lost in thought. Breathing in Harry's scent from his pillow, Draco thought about what he had just told his boyfriend about the nightmares. It was true that he was still having them, but he was far from being all right. Every time he woke from one, he was terrified, for he now remembered them.
He was tired of going to sleep at night, knowing that he would wake up hours later after seeing Harry's dead body in his mind. It was bad enough that his love was dead, but he was becoming more torn apart with every dream. And with every dream, the dark figure standing over Harry's body became clearer. Draco was afraid to see who had murdered Harry, but at the same time he wanted to know, almost needed to know who it was.
Rolling over, Draco glanced towards the door. Harry had still not finished his work, as he could still hear his pen scratching on the papers. Heaving a sigh, he stood up and walked towards the closet. Pulling it open, he looked for his pajamas. As he reached for the pants, his eyes were caught on the ring, fitted on the thumb of his right hand. Draco furrowed his eyebrows, taking the ring off of his thumb; he placed it on his left hand, the heart facing out. He knew that he loved Harry, but he was still unable to bring himself to say it.
Draco changed quickly and closed the closet door, just a he heard Harry's footsteps descend on the doorway. Harry stood at the door, holding onto the doorknob. He smiled and walked forward, taking Draco in his arms.
"I thought I'd quit early."
Draco smiled, wrapping his arms around Harry's neck as the green-eyed man tightened his hold on Draco's waist. Without warning, Harry lifted Draco up off the floor, just high enough to walk with him over to their bed. Falling backwards, Draco pulled Harry with him swiftly taking off Harry's glasses and setting them on the quilt.
"You look tired," Draco said softly as Harry rested his head on Draco's chest, "really tired."
Harry nodded and closed his eyes, "Draco?"
"Yeah?" the blond asked as he ran his hands through Harry's hair.
"If it isn't too much trouble, can I have a back rub?" he asked.
"It's no trouble," Draco replied, "get on your stomach."
Harry complied, scooting up further on the mattress, ready to lie down until Draco stopped him. "Take off your shirt first." Draco said, helping Harry pull off his t-shirt. Once the cotton shirt was off, Draco threw it down on the floor and pushed Harry onto his front. Sitting beside him, Draco ran his hands up Harry's spine, feeling out all the sore-knotted muscles.
Harry let out a groan as Draco's hands found a particularly tender knot, his fingers gently kneading into the skin. It took almost an hour of massaging to loosen the muscles in Harry's back, and by the time he was finished, both Draco and Harry were utterly spent. Moving Harry's glasses to the bedside table, Draco crawled under the blankets and listened to Harry undressing. Turning off the lamp, Draco curled against Harry as they both fell asleep.
Draco woke up in a sweat, panting. He was glad that Harry hadn't woken up, considering Draco had sat straight up in bed and gasped. Looking around the room he rubbed his eyes, trying to remember he was. Draco lay down again, trying to calm himself. After 10 minutes of tossing and turning, he decided to get a glass of water and sit in the living room for a while. As he placed his cup on the glass coffee table, he pulled the blanket off of the back of the couch and sat on one side, his knees at his chest. Draco glanced towards the window - it was raining continually, as it had been since that evening.
Draco rested his head on the palm of his hand as he watched the rain hit the window of the patio door. He knew that he needed to get his mind off of his nightmare, but he currently wasn't sure how. Then a thought struck him, Harry's job kept his mind occupied for hours on end – would it be possible for Draco to get a job, in turn bringing more muggle money into the household. Since he was living there, Draco felt guilty because he didn't help pay for any of the bills. He really only sat around the house, cleaning various rooms and searching through the things that Harry had coveted through the passing years – trying to find out what he had done during the two years they were separated.
'But where can I work...?' Draco thought as he picked at a loose piece of string fraying from the safety of the blanket. 'There isn't many things that I know about the muggle world...' he paused for a second, his heart lifted. 'Coffee! I know coffee! I should get a job in some coffee place or something. I'm sure it wouldn't be to difficult, I mean – how hard is it to make a cup of coffee for someone?'
Draco felt that he had at least accomplished something. He looked up at the window again, to find that the rain had stopped and the sun was rising. He glanced at the clock sitting on top of the fireplace. It read 6:16am. Standing up, Draco walked towards his bedroom to wake Harry, as he had to be at work in an hour and a half.
"Harry... wake up." Draco softly nudged his shoulder. "Come on! You wake up for the alarm but not for me?" He crossed his arms and shouted. "WAKE UP!"
Harry's arms and legs flailed as he sat up straight. "Okay... I'm up..." Harry rubbed his eyes and looked up at Draco. "Wha..."
"I need to ask you something."
Glancing at the clock Harry frowned. "At 6:17 in the morning?"
"Well you have to be up at 6:20, so I don't see how it's a problem."
"Fneh..." Harry lay down again, covering his eyes with his forearm.
"No! Harold James Potter! GET UP!" Draco yelled for a second time as he yanked Harry's pillow out from under his head, smacking Harry over the head with it repeatedly.
Harry tried in vain to grab the offending pillow, but to no avail. So he grabbed the next best thing. The person attached to the pillow. Bolting upright, Harry snatched Draco around his waist and hauled him onto the bed. Draco let out a cry of protest.
"Harry!"
Harry didn't hear him. Wrapping his arm around Draco more firmly, Harry nestled his head on Draco's chest, closing his eyes and purring. He was fully intent on going back to sleep.
Lying there with Harry over him, Draco rolled his eyes and smirked to himself. "If you don't get off me right now, and wake up, I'll never let you have your sweet, evil way with me."
Harry immediately jumped up wide-awake. "What was it that you wanted?"
Draco grinned as he sat up. "I need to know how to apply for a job."
"Well that's easy enough... just make a résumé and..." he yawned, "give it to the place you want to work at."
"Résumé?"
"Yeah it's that little piece of paper with the stuff on it..."
"Really? So not helping." Draco rolled his eyes and got off the bed. He stood at the foot of the bed, leaning on the mattress. "You suck during the morning."
"Well I could suck something else..."
"Only if you tell me what a resume is, and help me make it, will you ever be sucking anything else."
"Alrighty then..." Harry tossed back the covers and stood up. He stumbled towards the bathroom and motioned for Draco to follow him. Flipping on the bathroom radio, Harry jigged a little dance before strutting towards the toilet. Draco shook his head and laughed, soon finding himself tapping his foot to the beat of the song 'Staying Alive'.
He began to pee as he spoke, "A résumé is a sheet of paper with all your vital information on it that you would need for a job." He yawned slightly, still slightly swaying to the rhythm of the song. "You include your address, name, blah, blah, blah, and your past job experiences. You blather on for a while about why you are so qualified, and tada – you have a résumé." He turned around and put his hands on his hips as he was finished peeing. Harry motioned towards the radio as he walked to the sink. "This song is awesome."
Draco took a deep breath. "It's a good thing you're gay... that way the world is safe from more miniature people like you."
"I resent that." Harry glowered as he dried his hands. "Why did you want to know what a résumé was?"
"Because I want to get a job."
"What for?" Harry cocked an eyebrow as he rested his hip on the counter, crossing his arms.
"Because I want to be able to help with the groceries, bills and what have you." Draco spoke, "I want to feel like I actually live here and help out. I want to feel like I actually have a purpose."
"Draco, you do have a purpose."
"And what is that?"
Harry grinned as he walked forward, taking Draco in his arms. "Your purpose is to sit there and look pretty."
"Potter..." Draco lightly shoved Harry off of him. "Not that it isn't true... but still – I want to be able to help you."
"Oh fine. Make breakfast and I'll put together a quick résumé for you."
By the time Draco and Harry had finished breakfast, and Harry had finished the resume, it was time for Harry to leave. Draco stood at the door, holding Harry's jacket, messenger bag, and various tests.
"...I feel like a housewife."
Harry was about to laugh, but as he looked up, he noticed that tears stood in Draco's silver eyes. "Aww... Draco, you're not a housewife."
"I am so. I stay at home, I clean, I wake you up, I make you breakfast, I hold your things for you at the door." Draco's voice cracked, as tears fell from his eyes. "I'M A BLOODY HOUSEWIFE!"
Harry took his things from Draco's now trembling hands and set them on the ground, "Draco, you're not a housewife," he repeated, "tell you what. When you get a job, you can lay around in your underwear with a beer watching television, while I bring you fried chicken. How does that sound?" he asked as he lifted Draco's chin with his fingers.
Draco stared at him for a moment, sniffed loudly, then laughed, "Who's going to wash all those dishes you're bound to get dirty?" his voice cracked again as more tears fell from his eyes.
Harry flicked Draco's nose, "DRACO!"
"...What?" Draco sniffed loudly again, "I'm not joking, if it wasn't for me, you'd be living in a sty."
Shaking his head Harry cursed. "Jesus Draco, you are a housewife."
Draco cried more freely now, "I KNOWWW!" he covered his face with his hands, "And I'm a freaking Malfoy... all I'm missing is the apron and high heels."
Harry shook his head and took Draco in his arms. "Stop crying." He heard Draco sniff. "If you want the apron and heels it'll go very nicely with that dress you wanted."
"Harryyy..." Draco whined, but his voice was muffled with his hands. He looked up at Harry and wiped his eyes. "Go to work or you'll be late, get fired, and we'll have to live in your car."
"Or worse... with Cole and Luke."
"Oh Godd..." Draco whined again as he pushed Harry away from him picking up his things again. "Go! Go! Go!"
Laughing, Harry lent forward and kissed his housewife's lips. "I like having a little woman to come home to."
Draco sneered through his tears as his lip curled. "Keep that up and I won't be the only woman around here." He said pointedly as he looked down at Harry's crotch. "If you get my drift."
"Point taken... and I'm off!" He lent forward again, kissing Draco, glad to receive a kiss in return. "You're résumé is in the study!" He said before closing the door and locking it.
Draco wiped his eyes with his pajama sleeve and walked into the study. He picked up his resume and read it to himself, glancing at the clock when he was done. Figuring that if he left now and made copies of the résumé, he would have the time to hit a few places before Harry got home. He showered and changed quickly, picking up the folder of the copied resumes, heading for the door. He didn't bother to leave Harry a note, as he thought that he would be home long before Harry would be.
A few hours later, Draco had decided to stop for a cup of coffee. He remembered the coffee shop he had gone to the day he bought Harry's glasses, and found a seat inside. He pulled out his résum's, leafing through them to see how many he had left. A woman walked by his table, holding a container of used coffee cups. She glanced down at the stack of résum's before speaking up.
"Are those résum's?"
Draco raised his eyebrow as he looked up at her. "Yes."
"What kind of places are you applying to?" she asked as she set the container down on the table next to him, "if you don't mind me asking?"
Draco stared at her for a moment, "Just random places I guess. I just started looking today."
The woman thought about this, then smiled, "Well, do you want to work here? One of my girls just quit, and we're desperate for some help," she paused as Draco gaped at her, "well? What do you think?"
Draco was speechless, as he blinked at her, "You haven't even seen my résumé..." he protested.
Smiling at him, the woman picked up one of the résum's and glanced quickly over it, nodding, "Looks good to me. You're hired. If you want the job that is...?" "Yes!" Draco almost cried with joy, "I mean... yes, I would like very much to work here."
The woman laughed, "My name's Celia...Draco..." she added as she glanced down at the name on the sheet of paper she was holding, "come on, let's get you fitted for your uniform."
"Right now?" Draco asked, "You want me to start now?"
Celia grinned as she lead Draco into the staff room, "Well yeah, if it's alright with you."
Draco practically beamed, "No, that's fine!"
The uniform was just a pair of black slacks and a plain white collared shirt with a black apron. Draco grinned as he rolled the sleeves of his shirt up, looking down to read the little rectangular nametag that Celia had printed up when he was changing. It read 'Celia's Coffee Shoppe' over his name, both scribed in golden letters over a black background.
Walking to the front of the store, Celia placed a warm hand on Draco's shoulder. "Today is pretty slow, considering nearly everyone is working, so I'll get Patrick over there to train you." Draco smiled as Celia motioned Patrick over, who had a necklace made out of large wooden beads, his hair in dreadlocks. He smiled as he approached them wringing his hands together. "This is Patrick... Patrick, this is Draco – he's new."
"Draco? Cool... like Dragon right?" He made a gunlike gesture with his hand winking.
"...Sure." Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Excellent! Patrick you'll be in charge of his training, so I'm counting on you. Have fun!" She smiled as she walked into the backroom.
Patrick smacked his forehead as she disappeared around the corner. "Well I guess I better not screw this up then, huh?"
"... Sure."
"Do you say anything other than sure?"
"Uh-huh."
"Sure and Uh-huh... we're going to get along fabulously." He rolled his eyes smiling. "Follow me, I'll show you how to work the coffee machines."
By the end of his first shift, Draco had learned how to make simple coffee combinations – he now knew that he had to change the coffee every twenty minutes to make sure that it was always fresh. Patrick had shown Draco all of the machines, including the espresso and cappuccino machines – telling him he would learn how to make more complicated drinks in the coming days. Draco had received a crash course in how to use the till. Though all the buttons and combinations that could be created still confused the hell out of the Slytherin, he was again told to not worry about it, and that he would learn how to use the till in the coming days. Draco had never taken in so much information since his days at Hogwarts. Though he was now almost quicker than Patrick when he made coffees – he still didn't have enough skill to compare to him.
After Draco, Patrick, and a few of the other people on shift had all sat down in the dining room after finishing the clean up; they were all actively chatting with one another.
"So Draco, how long have you been here?" a girl named Skye with glasses and short bright red and black hair asked.
"... About 3 months or so?"
"Really? Where did you live before here?" Patrick said as he sipped a cup of tea.
"England."
"No way! I've always wanted to go to England... where abouts did you live?" Emma, the woman with frizzy brown hair asked.
"Hogsmeade."
"...Hogsmeade?" Emma cocked her head to the side, frowning. "I've never heard of Hogsmeade."
"Err..." Draco's mind frantically searched for an explanation. "It's a suburb of London... a very small suburb."
"Oh... Okay." She smiled stirring her coffee.
"What do you say we close up here and head to the bar?" Patrick questioned as he placed his teacup into the sink.
"Mmmm... I could go for a nice cold beer." Skye mused.
"I'd love to." Emma smiled. "Draco?"
Immediately he thought back to Harry, and how he should go home. But then his mind wandered to the fact that Harry had stayed out late for quite a few nights in the last few weeks, so he decided to do the same. "Sure. As long as I'm not out that late, my boyfriend won't appreciate me coming home inebriated and at a late hour."
"You're gay?" Patrick quirked an eyebrow. "Cool." He said quickly as he bobbed his head up and down smiling out of one corner of his mouth.
"Awww!" Both girls chimed in together.
"What's he like?" Emma asked.
"What's his name?" Skye prodded, poking Draco in the side causing him to jerk sideways a slight smile on his lips.
"He's an insufferable git, who calls me a housewife. His name is Harry."
"Harry...?" Skye furrowed her eyebrows, "Harry...Po-Potter?"
"Er...Yes?"
"He teaches my brother, Vance, English." Skye was suddenly struck with a thought. "No wonder my brother said he liked him! He's gay!"
"That's... nice." He offered a quick smile as he walked towards the back room. "I'm going to change – and then we should get going."
The four new friends had locked up the coffee shop, and headed noisily down to the local bar. Once inside, Patrick grabbed them a corner booth as Skye went to get them drinks. Draco sat down on the worn red leather cushion and looked around him. There were couples of all types out on the small dance floor, and when Skye came back, he found himself being dragged against his will into the middle of it all.
"No! No! No!" he yelled over the noise of the bar as she swayed to the loud music, "I don't dance!"
Grinning, Skye put her hands on his shoulders and yelled back, "Of course you do!"
There would be no arguing with her. They stayed on the dance floor for a few more songs; Draco feeling more relaxed than he had been in a while, before heading back to their table. Patrick and Emma were currently having a drinking contest, seeing which of them could down the most amounts of shots in five minutes. Draco looked at Patrick, who looked ready to pass out under the table. Emma on the other hand, was still grinning as if she could go on for another couple of hours.
"Are you okay?" Draco asked her, hoping that she really was okay, seeing how she had ten small shooters in front of her.
Waving at him, "Oh yeah!! I'm fine!" she replied, still grinning as she eyed him. Pointing at his chest, she said, "it's your turn little man. Since Pat here is way too tanked to go much further, you can take his place!"
Beside him Skye laughed and pushed him forwards into the booth with both hands, "Come on Draco! Show her how macho you are!"
Shrugging, Draco put a grin on his face and settled into the leather seat, "Bring. It. On."
Seven straight up shots of tequila, and one shot of Jack Daniels later, Draco was seeing doubles of everything and having the time of his life. Skye opted to take drop Draco off at home, as she was the designated driver. The three very intoxicated people agreed, all stumbling to the door, launching into a horrid rendition of 'I'm Henry the 8th I am'.
Once Patrick and Emma had been deposited off at their houses, Skye drove Draco back to Harry's, walking with him to the door and ringing the bell as Draco could not for the life of him find his key.
"You sure this is the place?" she asked as she eyed the large wooden doors, "seems kinda big for a teacher..."
Draco grunted, "... Yep. This is the place." He beamed suddenly, "Harry's loaded!"
"And so are you, I hope he comes to the door soon..."
Just a she spoke, the door opened, and Harry stood infront of them in nothing but pajama pants. He jumped forward as Draco nearly fell to the ground. "Jesus! What's..." He then groaned as the smell of alcohol filled his nostrils. "Oh God... how much did he drink?" He looked up at Skye grasping Draco under his armpits holding him close to his chest.
"Errm... seven shots of tequila and one shot of Jack Daniels."
"...Wow. That's more than I can handle." He looked down at Draco again, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Thanks for bringing him home... I hate to be rude – but I need to get him taken care of."
"Not a problem. See you." Skye smiled and turned, walking back towards her car. Harry made sure that her car was out of sight before closing the door and literally dragging Draco into the kitchen.
"Sit." He lightly shoved Draco into a chair.
"I don't want to sit." Draco slurred as he stood again, nearly collapsing to the floor. He was caught just in the nick of time as Harry jumped forward for the second time that night.
"Well you're damn well going to sit." He pushed Draco back into the chair. "Stay."
"Nhehh..." Draco made a face at Harry sticking out his tongue.
"Nice." Harry shook his head turning towards the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water. He handed Draco the opened bottle before asking the question that he had been asking himself all night. "Where have you been?"
"Drinking... working... what's it look like?"
"Working? You got a job?"
"At a coffee place somewhere in the marketplace..." Draco sipped at the water. "Did you think that I spent all afternoon and night with some gorgeous Italian boy?" He grinned at his question.
"Yeah I did... and if you ever do that to me again..."
"Excuse me?" Draco felt himself sober up a little. He stood and walked towards Harry. "Just what is it that I did?" He narrowed his eyes.
"Stayed out late and didn't tell me where you were."
"Gee... You're one to talk. Staying at work until all hours of the night! No phone call to tell me if you're going to be late – what time you'll be home – or where you are!" He jabbed Harry's chest, feeling the effects of the alcohol wear of greatly. "If anything, Potter, you should be the one apologizing to me."
"What?" Harry stepped back quickly, "I'm not the one who came home drunk!"
"Oh so now you're berating me for actually having a life?!" Draco scoffed. "Some boyfriend you are."
"I never said anything about you not having a life, I stated that you were being irresponsible tonight by staying out with people that you hardly know." He felt his voice rising in anger.
"That's what you do POTTER! That's how you make friends! You go out with people that you hardly know and get to be acquainted with them!" Draco screamed, now completely sober, "Why are you being so fucking defensive?!"
"Because I love you!" came the strong response.
Draco felt his cheeks pale, and his body became numb. "No... No you can't love me. You d-don't love me..." He pushed roughly past Harry and out the door, slamming it behind him.
He didn't know at first where he was heading, but soon found himself on Cole and Luke's street. The sky had just opened up – and rain began to pour down on him. The rain mixed with the tears already running down Draco's cheeks. He had all but ran towards his friend's apartment buildings – stepping on a small purple and while flower as he went. He managed to make it up the stairwell to their floor, and he pounded on the door, shivering violently from the cold and shock.
Cole yawned as he opened the door, his face soon turning from a slight smile to one of grave concern.
"I... I need a place to stay." Draco managed to sputter before tears began to fall down his cheeks again.
Raei and Kylia: END OF CHAPTER!
-FADE TO BLACK-
Review please!!!