Title: A Most Unlikely Partnership – Chapter 3
Authors: Dark Nuriko and Mayhem's Angel
Disclaimers: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy do not belong to us. The character of Bernard Strongshack however, DOES belong to Mayhem.
Warnings: Future Yaoi. Slash. Stuff.
Mayhem: … ? Thanks to the people who've reviewed so far.
Nuriko: Thank you for the wonderful reviews. They've made me want to post this chapter up just for you faithful few. Also, the lemons coming soon, for all those eager. Draco and Harry can't resist each other much longer... but it won't be in this chapter.
Chapter Three:
Two days later, Draco was finally released. He hadn't seen Harry since the day they had lost their tempers toward one another and he was really worried he would have him as a partner once he returned to the office.
Anyway he looked at it, he had to face facts. He was in love with his partner. There was nothing else to it.
Harry was working in the office he shared with his partner, when he glanced up at the clock and realized that Draco would be back anytime now. He hadn't been able to face going back to St. Mungo's to see him, and he was regretting it more than a little. It seemed that he felt more for the blond than he first realized.
He stood and apparated himself to the hospital. Draco had to have someone there when he got out. He told a nurse that he was here to check out his partner, and waited while she informed the doctor. He signed the release forms the witch brought back with her, and tapped his fingers impatiently on the counter while he waited for Draco to appear.
Some sixth sense told him to look up then, and he saw the blond standing just up the hallway.
Draco stood straight and tall, his gray eyes not as bright as they had been. He bowed his head to the witch who had helped him out before heading over toward Harry. He simply nodded his head to him. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
Not wanting to be questioned about those words, he spoke again swiftly. "I'll meet you in the office." That said, he apparated back to their office. By passing all the welcome back wishes from his other co-workers.
Harry frowned. Well, that hadn't gone as planned. He sighed and apparated back to their office. The second his feet were in the ground, he was marching over to where his partner was already back at work. "What was all that about?" He hissed, "And shouldn't you be at home?"
Without thinking, Draco snapped back with the first thing that came to mind. "Well, I don't want to be alone! And I said I was sorry because I shouldn't have snapped at you in the hospital!" He then paused and blinked, before sighing. "Look, I'm sorry. Again."
Harry's gaze softened. "It's alright. I don't mind. And if you don't want to be alone, you could stay at my place for a bit. Wouldn't mind the company myself."
Draco flushed and looked away. "I... I wouldn't know what to do in a muggle home. I... I've never been without magic."
Harry laughed. "You can still use your magic there. Just not in front of the muggles."
He looked away. "I... I'm more comfortable where I know I can't be found."
"Well, who would think to look for you in the muggle world? Much less living with your former enemy. Unless you're really against the idea."
"How about we still share a place... but we do it at my home?"
"Hmm. Alright. The rent would certainly be cheaper... You don't have cats do you?"
"I have a house elf... that's it."
"Good. Okay then. You've got a deal. We'll live together." He smiled, and held out his hand to seal it.
Draco blinked, even as he shook his hand. "What do you have against cats?"
"All my neighbors seem to have them. They piss all over the place, and howl at night, so I end up sleeping at work." he explained, sitting down across from Draco
Draco smirked. "Well, I've got no cats, and it's rather silent at my place... so... I'd say all will be all right." He then smiled softly. "When do you plan to move in?"
"Is today okay with you? I don't have a lot to pack up. Shouldn't take long."
"That's fine." He wrote down his address and handed the paper to Harry, knowing it would be the only way he could find the place. "Burn it once you memorize that."
He read it over until he had it memorized, and then burned it with a flame from his wand. "Done."
Draco nodded. "I'll let Dorry know to expect you."
"Alright. I'm heading out to lunch. You want anything?" He stood and pulled on his cape.
"Anything that isn't hospital food?"
He snickered. "Sure thing." Harry apparated out, heading to the restaurant they'd first had lunch at.
Draco sighed and looked through the paperwork, realizing Harry hadn't done any of it since he went into the hospital. He sighed and got to work on it, wondering why he had to get stuck with the lazy one.
Twenty minutes later, Harry reappeared with their food. "Got you some real food." He said; setting a sandwich and tea cup down in front of Draco. A tap of the wand, and it was filled to the brim with steaming tea.
He sniffed the tea and moaned. "Mm... looks wonderful. Thanks Harry." He opened the sandwich and took a bite, savoring the taste of something that didn't seem fabricated in a lab.
"Your welcome." He opened up his own sandwich, and they sat in silence for the next few moments, lost in thoughts of one another.
Once he was done, waved his wand over the trash, causing it to vanish.
Harry left after work, promising Draco that it wouldn't be long to get everything settled in the muggle world. He stepped off the train and walked the short distance to his flat. Letting himself in, he began the long walk up the stairs, passing two of his neighbor's cats on the way.
"You there! Potter!" A little old lady called to him. He looked around and recognized her, yet couldn't quite recall her name. "Yes ma'am?"
"Give an old woman a hand would you?" she said, indicating the many bags resting on the ground at the foot of the stairs. He sighed and turned around, going back down to help. "Glad to help ma'am. Which one is yours again?" He asked, wondering if he had ever known.
After helping the woman and declining to stay for tea, he slumped onto his old ratted couch. Maybe it was a good thing Malfoy had declined his offer. Wouldn't want him to see this place. He started, remembering that he needed to be packing. A careless flick of the wand, and the living room was packed into cardboard cartons that many groceries would be missing.
A couple more spells had the kitchen and his bedroom packed up. He sighed, looking around to make sure he had everything. Satisfied, he apparated everything to the address Malfoy had given him earlier.
Once there, Dorry magiked everything to his room and other places they need to go. Malfoy made certain the home didn't appear old and drab. He had tried to lighten it up. But he wasn't much help.
Harry wandered around the dark manor, knowing that no matter how much anyone tried, it would be a very bright and happy place without much work. Maybe with the two of them could make it a happier place
As he wandered, he thought of Draco and where he was. He had thought that he would be here, but maybe he had had something else to do after work.
Placing the finishing touches on his room, he smiled. Hopefully, Harry would like it. Half-moon glasses rested over his eyes, something he only wore at home when he needed them. He sighed. 'Please let him like this,' he thought.
Dorry came up to Harry a small smile on his face. "Mr. Potter, sir. Dorry is to show you to your room."
"My room? Oh. Yes. Alright." He stuttered a bit, and then followed Dorry up the stairs.
Dorry looked back at him as they walked. "Surly you didn't think master would leave you to sleep on the couch," he grumbled.
"Um. well, no. I suppose not." he blushed, and looked down at the carpet.
Dorry sighed and shook his head. "Sometimes, Dorry believes wizards are becoming a bit balmy, they is," he complained. Draco poked his head out the door at that.
"Dorry! What have I told you!"
"Careful of what Dorry says in front of company!" he said instantly. Draco nodded.
"Exactly." He then looked at Harry, half-moon glasses slipping down his nose. "Sorry about that."
"That's fine. He has a bit of a point. Nice glasses." He commented, walking towards the doorway where the blond stood
He blushed and pulled them off his face. "Um, yeah, but he's not supposed to speak his mind around others. Not every one accepts house-elves like that."
"True, I suppose. I don't mind really. Everyone should be free to speak their minds
Draco sighed. "Fine, then Dorry, you may speak freely around Harry and myself. In a way, Harry will be your master as well, understood?"
Dorry nodded. "Yes sir," he said. He then looked back at Harry. "What shall Dorry call you, Sir?"
"Er, Harry is just fine, I guess." he told the house elf awkwardly.
Dorry nodded. "Fine. As Master Draco has come from your new room, I will leave you here." That said, he vanished. Draco smiled slightly. "I tried to make it more livable. I hope you like it. It's a second largest room in the place."
"I'll be happy with anything. I'm sure it's livable." He told Draco, following him into the room.
Draco nodded and stepped aside, showing the world's largest room. All the while, he smiled as he was certain it was the most different from the rest of the house. It was in soft green tones, even with the bed sheets a nice dark forest green. "Well, do you like it?"
Harry's jaw dropped in surprise. "Like it? It's as big as my whole apartment! I love it!" He walked over to the bed, running his hand over the smooth green silk covers, his mind immediately picturing Draco sprawled out on top, wearing nothing but his soft skin. Harry jerked his hand away, shaking his head, wondering were those thoughts had come from.
Draco looked at him, not missing the action. "Is it the wrong color? I can change it."
"N-no. The color's fine. I like it. The green looks nice." He stuttered, and blushed, looking anywhere than at the bed or at Draco.
Draco's eyebrow rose, watching Harry. He must truly hate being in a new place. His stutter was awful. "Well, I'll leave you to get better acquainted with your room. Dorry put things away, but you might want to re - arrange. When you're done, lunch will be in the kitchen. Just call for Dorry and he'll lead you to it." That said he turned and left the room, not wanting to unsettle him more.
Harry stood there a moment. Then decided he'd rather not be there anymore. Rushing to the door, he threw it open and found Draco still at the top of the stairs. "Wait! I...uh..."
Draco turned and looked at him. "What the devil is wrong with you Potter? Would you rather not be here?"
"Nothing's wrong! I just wanted to... to say thanks. I mean, you didn't have to do all this. In fact, I'm wondering why you're even bothering."
Draco looked away, a soft blush on his cheeks. "Because I wanted to. Leave it at that."
Harry just watched him a moment before agreeing. "Alright, you're just doing it out of the goodness of your heart." He paused. "I'm sorry for acting all weird back there. I really do like it, and I appreciate what you've done with it."
He nodded. "As I said, once your settled and certain you can find everything, come down to the kitchen with Dorry's help. Food will be waiting." That said; he headed on down the stairs, trying not to remember his wild imagination as he had been making the bed. Potter, naked and wanting, sprawled on the bed, had almost been too much for him.
Harry just stood there, watching him leave. After a moment, he turned away, going to acquaint himself with his room, with a heavy sigh.
Draco arrived in the kitchen and pulled on a plain gray apron. Once it was one he began to cook up something. All the while, Dorry stood off to the side, his eyes wider than normal.
"Please master, let me handle this," he begged. "You shouldn't bother with such things."
Draco waved him off. "I've never had you cook for me, Dorry, and I won't begin now. So deal with it." Dorry fell silent, even as he watched his master do things a Malfoy would have never done. He was cooking, without the use of magic.
Harry wasted what he thought was an appropriate amount of time discovering where everything was in the room, which was much larger than first expected when you added in the huge walk in closet and bathroom. Then he just flopped on his back on the bed, staring at the ceiling until his mind began picturing Draco in several different positions on the bed with him.
Deciding that that was quite enough, he decided to find the kitchen on his own. This is how he learned that Draco could cook without magic.
Draco was softly humming; all the while he made blueberry pancakes with ease. Even as he worked on homemade hash browns and eggs. Noticing Harry, with a pair of half-moon glasses resting on Draco's nose he smiled.
"How do you prefer your eggs, Harry? I know it's early, but I thought breakfast for dinner would be a good idea."
"Sounds interesting. I like them sunny - side up." He took a seat on a stool at the island in the center, and watched attentively as his new house mate worked.
He cooked diligently and once they were done, he set everything on a plate before Harry, before beginning work on his own.
He waited while Draco cooked his own, the delicious smells making his mouth water and his stomach growl.
"Need butter? Syrup? Anything?" he asked as he placed toast before him and then his own plate. He then took it over to sit beside Harry, summoning the aforementioned items to the table.
"Thanks." He told Draco, spreading some of the butter on his pancakes.
Draco did the same, before summoning jelly for his toast. He also put syrup on his pancakes and a small bit on his hash browns. He then smiled. "Let me know honestly if I did all right," he said, before digging into his own meal.
Smothering everything in syrup, he took a bite of his pancake and had to hold in his moan of pleasure. They were so good; the best he had tasted. He hadn't had anything like this in a long while, and was really enjoying it now.
Draco smiled at his barley held back sounds and while he was finding himself wishing those moans were for other reasons than good food, he kept those thoughts to himself. "So, I take it its good, seeing you are demolishing it."
He swallowed, cheeks coloring slightly. "Yeah, it's really good." He complimented the chef, taking another bite.
He laughed. "Well, I hated having Dorry cook for me when it was just me. I mean, I can't cook large meals, so he handles those. But ones for myself or one more person, I handle."
"Makes sense. I'd feel awkward having someone else cook when it was just me. Then again, I'm glad you can, because I'm not that great in the kitchen."
Draco laughed. "I see. I suppose then that it is a good thing I can cook."
"Yeah. A very good thing."
Draco smirked. "So, what do you want for breakfast tomorrow? I'll make whatever you can think of."
"Waffles. With strawberries and cream." He answered immediately.
He smiled. "Oh, and here I thought you were going to give me a challenge."
"I could, but I don't feel like it. And because I love waffles like that."
He nodded. "I was thinking, for the Christmas party at the office, that I'd make miniature scones with strawberries and cream in them. What do you think?"
Harry just stared at him. "I think. That would be really good, and make everyone fall in love with you."
He snorted. "There's only one person I want... and I don't think that will happen... but, maybe something a little less extravagant then?"
"I think its fine, but yeah, it mite be a little much for the office. Can't go wrong with a pie though."
"What kind? I can make whatever is asked for... but which one?"
"Hmmm... people seem to like cheery, don't know why, it's not that great. Always got apple or pumpkin
"How about one of each?" he stood, cleaning the dishes and putting them away with a wave of his wand. He then pulled out a flat pan and other ingredients before beginning to make something else.
"Sounds fine with me." Harry watched what his partner was doing. "What are you making now?"
He smiled. "Something special." He made a thin pastry before adding sliced strawberries and cream on top of it. He then rolled it once it had thickened slightly and hardened. He then placed it on a plate and handed it over to Harry, after adding extra whip cream to the top. "Here."
"What is it?" He asked, barely before he had sunk his teeth into it.
"A strawberries and cream scone, large size."
"It's really, really excellent. Brilliant." He took another bite, letting it practically melt in his mouth.
He grinned, beginning to clean this mess up by hand this time, seeing as it wasn't much.
Suddenly, it clicked in Harry's brain. He had said that people would fall in love with his talent for scones... and then Draco had made one for him. Did that mean...? He looked at the blond out of the corner of his eye. No, it couldn't. But... maybe it did.
Draco sighed. He had hoped, by doing what he did, that Harry would have come out with that old Gryffindor candor and straight out asked him if he had intended for him to declare he was in love with him. That way, Draco could have at least replied in kind, and if taken wrong, could call it all as a joke. But Harry hadn't said anything... and that was beginning to hurt worse.
Harry set down the scone. "Are you telling me you love me or something with this?" He asked. Harry had seen the slightly pained expression pass over Draco's face, and figured he was reasonably safe asking.
Draco, feeling like he was at his breaking point, let Slytherin cunning take control. "So what if I was?" he asked, turning away from him to begin putting dishes away.
"Nothing. I was only wondering." He muttered. He hated when he couldn't read Draco. One moment everything was fine, the next everything was so tense, it choked him. "I'm just going to go up to bed early then. Good Night." he stood and swept out of the room. Slumping against the wall the moment he was out, he heaved a sigh. Would he ever be able to tell Draco how he felt? That he loved him? He sure hoped so, because it really hurt keeping all this inside
Draco sighed and looked at Dorry. "Well, that went well, didn't it," he said, not realizing Harry was still within hearing distance. "Tell a man you love him, and it backhands you like a vindictive Slytherin at an all night stag party."
Dorry frowned. "Master Draco, perhaps... you weren't using the right words?" Draco sighed.
"Perhaps not. But I could never just come out and say 'Potter, I love you'. He'd look as me as if I had gone daft or something." He finished the dishes. "Anything you'd like before I go read in the study, Dorry?" Dorry smiled.
"A strawberry banana smoothie, as you called it, would be nice." Draco nodded, pulling out stuff for it.
Harry gasped, hearing those words come from Draco's lips. He loved him? He wanted to rush back and tell Draco that he loved him too, but that would mean letting him know that he had been listening in on his conversation. Besides, with the way he had just acted, he doubted itwould go over well. He heard Draco say he was going to the study. He quickly raced, up the stairs, not wanting to be found and make things worse.
After making a smoothie for the two of them, he left clean up for Dorry and headed off to the study. He had plenty of books he could read, seeing as he wasn't tired. And while he couldn't get images of Harry writhing and moaning above him out of his head, he'd have to settle for books that could take him mind elsewhere.
Harry changed into an old and comfortable pair of pajama pants, crawling underneath the sheets with a heavy mind. He found a book of Draco's but couldn't concentrate, his mind wandering to thoughts of Draco spread out and yelling his name in pleasure below him. Tossing the book aside, he turned off the lamp and tried to sleep. He found no rest there, as the images became clearer.
Giving up, he got up. Wandering down the stairs, he went to get a glass of water. He noticed a light shining from underneath a door. Going to investigate, he found Draco fast asleep in a chair by the fireplace. He smiled, brushing the long blond strands out of his face. He bent down to his level, pressing a small kiss to his forehead. He left his love there sleeping, his mind now calmed to let him sleep.