Disclaimer: I do not own any characters created by J.K. Rowling.

I am so sorry this update has taken so long ...

Chapter Forty-Four

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The foursome had left Remus and Sirius in Molly's cool, cluttered kitchen with George. All three men had been sat around the kitchen table and before the teenagers had left through the back door, Harry could've sworn he heard the words 'new product', 'tweak this spell', and 'we did it loads at school!' He could only assume that a year on from the war, George was going to start picking up his business again and invent new products, instead of just ordering-in the existing ones he and Fred had designed. Who better than to brainstorm new ideas with than two Marauders?

Draco and Harry had been given strict instructions to change into more suitable attire before they set out. Now everyone seemed to match in wearing denim cut-offs and t-shirts and, in Ron's case, a Chuddley Cannons vest. It showed off his long, muscular arms.

The blonde had taken some convincing by the idea of camping, and had seemingly only agreed to go if Harry carried one of the rucksacks. He declared that him wearing muggle attire and to sleep on the ground was punishment enough, despite Hermione tutting and reminding them all, 'We have magic you know!'

Draco wasn't sure what that had to do with anything, but he vowed to himself that Granger was going to pay if he so much as felt a bug crawling on his skin.

They walked for just over an hour in the afternoon heat, sharing bottles of water as the sun beat down on them in the valley. There was nothing but exposure where they were, and it felt Draco feeling vulnerable. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled but there was nothing around for ages. Despite being told that Luna Lovegood lived nearby, there was no way to see her house from his current vantage point. She must live at least three miles away, if not more.

By the time they came to a stop, the Burrow was considerably smaller in the distance. They must have still been within his perimeter restrictions though, because Draco still felt completely fine. He hadn't tested the boundary limits of his probation; however he was silently relieved that he wouldn't be finding out. From what Sirius had told him, the effects could be horrible.

"I think that's enough walking, 'Mione," Ron grunted, dumping his rucksack heavily onto a patch of dried, yellowing grass. "Didn't we do enough of this last year?"

Hermione gave a small, sad smile and nodded. "I was just trying to …"

"I know, I know," Ron reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I just think that's enough walking, yeah?"

"Yeah," she nodded, gave a quick sniff and then shrugged her own rucksack off her shoulders with more grace than her boyfriend. "Who wants to help me set-up the tents?"

Ron let out a groan, promptly dropping down onto a patch of grass and refused to budge. Harry looked over at Draco, as though seeking his own personal preference, before piping up, "I'll help you, 'Mione. It can't be too hard, right?"

Ron snorted.

"Draco do you want to help?"

Ron snorted again.

Draco shot the redhead a look that wasn't particularly scathing, before frowning over at Harry. "Not sure I'd be much to use, unfortunately. I've never pitched a tent before."

"Neither have I," Harry grinned with a shrug. "Can only be a laugh, right?"

"Yeah, making a right tit of myself is hilarious."

"Works for me," Ron sniggered.

Hermione tutted and started levitating the equipment they would be needing out of their bags. Setting everything down on the dry grass, she helped direct Harry in how to put up the first tent. Despite having his wand sticking out of his back pocket, Harry opted to do it manually with his hands.

"You know you have a wand, right mate?" Ron asked with an amused grin.

"Of course!" Harry rolled his eyes. "But who's to say I won't go camping among muggles? I can't just obliviate at them like everyone did at the Quidditch world cup now, can I? Besides, I'm shoddy at memory charms."

There was a bit of a tense silence, as Hermione ducked her head with pursed lips, catching Ron's eye over their friends' shoulder as he bent down to inspect the pegs. Draco stepped forward and cleared his throat loudly, directing Harry's attention to him. "So, how about you try and show me how to pitch a tent, Potter?" he smirked.

"The muggle way?" Harry perked up.

"… If we must."

As Harry gathered the equipment to pitch the second tent up, Draco caught the couple's eye. Hermione was tucked under Ron's chin, her eyes wide and pink with tears. Ron mouthed 'thanks' over her head at Draco. The blonde inclined his head, before turning away to allow Harry to suitably distract him with the using his hands to pitch a sodding tent in the middle of a field. The things he did to let the Boy Who Sodding Lived have a childhood.

'Still,' he thought, glancing over to where Hermione was murmuring incantations to the first tent. 'Perhaps I didn't have much time to lark about either. I've had more fun in recent months than in the last few years thanks to that monster.'

Despite his very loud cursing, and a lot of admonishments from Hermione, both tents were full pitched and enchanted within the hour. Ron helped unpack their basic belongings. Upon entering their tent, as they should be sharing, Draco noted that the space hadn't been enchanted to be huge. It was just tall enough so that he didn't have to stood so much, wide enough so that there was room for their camp beds and a very narrow space between towards the toilet and sink at the back. That had been one of Draco's conditions; he needed a working toilet and sink even if the ordeal was only for a night or two.

.

Once their little campsite was set-up and warded, Ron told them about a small wooded area just down the other side of the hill where there was a river with a pool deep enough to swim in. Draco had no intentions of swimming in the same water where who-knew-what pissed and drank from, but he was also keenly aware of his scarred chest. He knew that Hermione and Ron knew of the ordeal, even if it was one of those unspoken conversations they'd never broached. He didn't fancy putting Harry through the spectacle either. Their time in France had been overly energetic in the pool and whenever Harry had been still, next to Draco, he'd been too breathless and eager for Draco to have fun that he hadn't seemed to notice the blonde's scarred chest.

Now, though, Harry was a nosey little shit. Exactly as he had originally been at fifteen. The git.

He kept his opinion to himself, as he followed the Golden trio down into the wooded area, sighing loudly with relief as the cool shade fell over him. He hadn't realised just how hot the sun had been and now he was sure his skin was glowing pink.

Draco followed the others towards the large rocks overlooking the pool below. It wasn't a long drop down, and he could already feel the cold air hovering around the pool, making his skin rise in goosepimples. Ron made short work of kicking off his boots and stripping down to his t-shirt and boxers, Harry hastily following suit, and leaping over the edge and into the pool.

"Careful!" Hermione cried out with a smile.

Draco hurried to the ledge just in time to see Ron and Harry disappear beneath the surface. His heart lurched in his throat; how deep was the water? Had that hit rocks? What would he do is Harry hit his head? What would he tell Sirius? Sirius would kill him!

Thankfully, both boys resurfaced with a laugh and promptly started splashing each other.

Ignoring the jealous twinge in his gut, Draco huffed and sat down on the ledge next to Hermione and snarled, "Merlin, are they always so damn reckless?"

Hermione tilted her head back, laughing. "What you've just seen, Draco, is the literal rendition of how they handled any shitty scenario over the last eight years."

"See, I could probably forgive it up until the age of … thirteen perhaps. But this is ridiculous."

Hermione chuckled and tipped her head back, closing her eyes against the sunlight dappling across her face. The sounds of Ron and Harry laughing and splashing around was almost enticing enough for Draco to jump in after them. However, he was keenly aware that there wasn't much to distract anyone from gawping at his chest.

"Are you nervous?" he asked, picking idly at some weeds growing through the cracks on the rocky ledge.

"About results?"

"Yes."

"I'm always nervous," Hermione sighed. "My boggart in third year was Professor McGonagall telling me I'd failed everything."

Draco smirked. He remembered Remus' obstacle course. That man really was an unsung genius. No wonder his little group of friends got up to so much shit at school.

"I think I'm more just ready to move on. There are too many memories there. I just want to push forward and start taking control of the damage left behind. Make things better. Maybe even improve magical and muggle relations, as well as for magical creature relations, like with centaurs and werewolves."

"I might be willing to help you on that," Draco hummed thoughtfully.

"Oh?" Hermione turned her brown eyes towards him. "In what way?"

"Well, with Harry's help I'd be able to brew more Wolfbane and make it available by mail order for werewolves who are from low income households. I know how hard Remus had to work just to reach his thirties. No one else should have to struggle like he did. It's not fair."

Hermione blinked; her eyes shiny as she regarded the blonde man beside her with quiet awe. "Do you -what about you? Eventually you'd need money, right?"

"I'm Sirius would invest," Draco snorted. "And once I had access to what limited savings I have after the Ministry is done with mother and I, I'm sure it will easily help finance the scheme."

"You could always approach Kingsley about it? You've be saving the ministry a huge headache with having to keep track of every werewolf out there. Giving werewolves the chance to have a lucid full moon might decrease the use of the cells and werewolf mortality."

"Even so the transformations are traumatic enough, I'd wager," Draco sighed. "I don't know how Remus does it every month."

Hermione curled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on top of them. A breeze ruffled her caramel coloured curls. "It doesn't help that there's nothing out there abut werewolves. Nothing factual or up-to-date. What wizards know is hardly any different to what muggles know and that alone is limited."

Draco grimaced, "You know, Remus is too proud to ever rely on anyone financially. Teaching is his whole life, and he's brilliant at it. Those textbooks have to come from somewhere."

Hermione turned to him, both eyebrows raised. "Are you suggesting that Remus should write a book on lycanthropy?"

"I mean … I just think it would help. He's an amazing Defence teacher, he's unbelievably strong and talented and sharp. It's just this one thing holding him back. I just think he should turn, what he feels is, his greatest weakness into his greatest strength."

Hermione snorted, blushing immediately at Draco's shocked expression. "Sorry, that was just so cheesy!"

"I was being sincere, Granger!"

"I know, I know!" she giggled, wiping at her eyes. "Sorry, sorry! It's not a bad idea though. Even if it doesn't end up being a very thick book, more updated knowledge can only be a good thing, especially as teaching progresses."

Draco felt a swell of pride in his chest. "I'll have to talk to Remus and Sirius about it when we get back."

"What're you going to talk to Dad and Remus about?" Harry asked, shaking water from his hair as he and Ron mounted the awkward slope to the flat ledge.

Draco and Hermione spun around to look up at them, squinting against the sunlight. "Nerd stuff," Draco said breezily. "You wouldn't be interested."

"Nerd stuff?!" Ron gasped. "Hermione! We JUST had exams! No more nerd stuff for the rest of the summer, okay? You need to relax!"

"Oh, honestly Ronald, you act as though all I do is march here, there and everywhere!"

Ron rolled his eyes, "Back me up here, Harry."

"Well, it was Hermione's idea to come camping …" he shrugged. "Besides, who else is she going to talk nerd with? Us?"

Draco snorted, "Oh, I'd love to see how long that lasts."

Harry ruffled Draco's hair roughly, earning a grunt of protest from the blonde as he batted the offending hands away. The young brunette gave him a long look, one that made Draco's insides do a funny, twisty thing, before they returned their attention to the matter at hand.

"Right, since we've got a few hours to kill before dinner, maybe we should go exploring!" Harry grinned, clawing n his t-shirt. It clung to his lithe muscles where the water hadn't absorbed into his skin. Draco had to look away.

"I still think swimming is the best idea," Ron shrugged. "It's at least thirty degrees out here."

Hermione glanced down at the water several meters below and had to admit that it looked enticing. "Okay," she eventually sighed. "But let's make it more exciting. Transfigure something into a ball -don't look at me like that, Harry, I know you're more than capable -and we can have a game or something. Shirts versus skins."

"I'll be skins!" Ron and Harry chimed together before laughing.

Draco caught Hermione's eye and mouthed a 'thank you.' She gave him a small smile in return.

~0~

Remus gazed out of the kitchen window that looked out onto the back garden. It was much too hot for him outside, if he wasn't going to subject himself to wearing a t-shirt. He could have asked to borrow one of Sirius', knowing that the man had at least a spare set brought over on his damned bike. Said bike was winking at him in the late afternoon sunshine, Sirius and Arthur crouched beside it as Sirius taught the older man how to adjust some of the gears. Grease already stained Sirius' flawless skin and Remus felt his mouth run dry at the mere sight of those muscular forearms flexing beneath the tight tee he wore.

It was moments like these that Remus was transported back to the garden behind the Potters cottage in Godric's Hollow some twenty years ago. Back when Sirius and James had been reading a book called 'Motorcycles for dummies' with a heavily pregnant Lily sitting in the shade with Remus, both judging their respective partners.

He smiled wistfully as Sirius rubbed his forearm against his brow, leaving a faint streak of grease in its wake.

"Oh, Remus, there you are!" Molly clambered down the staircase, her round cheeks ruddy with exertion. "I've just made up your room for the night."

"That's very kind of you Molly," Remus said.

"Think nothing of it," she waved him away as she came up to peer out the window. Upon seeing Sirius and Arthur and the bike, she tutted and shook her head. "Honestly, they're as bad as each other. When will they learn that tinkering with muggle objects is nothing but trouble?"

Remus chose to ignore her comment. "So where will we be staying?"

"Ah, I've had to put you in G-George's old room," Molly clenched her jaw, almost like she was biting back tears. "He um … he prefers to stay in the flat? Above the shop, you know? He likes it there. So … their -his room is empty. Has been since they opened that damn place, really, but they always liked to come back and visit."

Remus gave her a tight lipped smile. They had both lost someone they loved during the war. Grief was everywhere you looked, there was just no avoiding it. "I appreciate all you've done for us, Molly," he gave her shoulder a consoling squeeze. "Sirius does too, even if he's too pig-headed to say so."

Giving a haughty sniff, Molly tossed her ginger curls from her eyes, "Always was, that one."

Remus ignored her. "Do you need any help with dinner?"

Her features softened into a smile, "That would be lovely, Remus, thank you."

.

By some miracle, the rest of the afternoon into early evening passed without incident. Remus helped Molly cook, even though the kitchen was a hundred degrees hotter than outside, and Remus was itching inside his long sleeved shirt. Logically, he knew he was in decent company, but he also knew that regardless of how polite they thought they were, people always ended up staring at his scars.

Not Sirius though. After the initial shock, Sirius had never acted any differently towards Remus, even if he dared to go topless in bed.

They ate dinner around the kitchen table, just the four of them. Remus was in awe that they were able to survive a meal, as long as the topic didn't stray towards the kids.

By the time the sun was setting, Molly and Arthur were retired to the living room, Molly with her knitting and Arthur with a copy of the Quibbler and a quill in his hands. Sirius caught Remus' eye across the kitchen table, before nodding his head towards the stairs. Remus nodded. He'd follow in a minute. Sirius scarpered off, taking the stairs two at a time, yelling a 'thanks for dinner!' over his shoulder. Remus shook his head and loitered in the doorway to the living-room, hands in his pockets.

"I think I might turn in," he said. "Been a bit of a long day. Thank you for dinner, though."

"Well, you helped cook half of it," Molly chuckled. "The beds are all made up for you. Have a good rest, Remus. Can't have you burning out now."

Remus gave a tight-lipped smile, even though Molly wasn't looking. "Sure thing. Thanks Molly."

He climbed the stairs at a more leisurely pace, his stomach flipping a little at the thought of Sirius stripping down to a t-shirt and his underwear. When he pushed the door open into the twins' room, he collided instantly with Sirius' shorter frame.

"Pads? What's wrong?"

Sirius didn't respond. Over his head, Remus saw the dilemma instantly and he groaned, dropping his forehead to lean against the top of Sirius' head. Molly had indeed made up the two -SEPARATE -beds in the twins' room. Even though there was a double wide nightstand in between the narrow beds, it still felt alien. Even when Remus had rented out a crappy flat for himself, he'd managed to snag a double bed. He grimaced, knowing that his feet would hang over the edge. There was simply no room to enlarge the bed further.

"Is she having a laugh?" Sirius groused; arms folded across his chest. "Two beds?! She does know we've been shagging for longer than we've known her?"

Remus suddenly felt weary. "You saying you don't want to sneak into my bed like we did back in the dorms?"

Sirius snorted. "We just about fit, even before your growth spurt. We're two adult men now!"

"Do you want to go and tell Molly that you need your nighttime snuggles?"

Sirius glared over his shoulder at him. "One of these days, Mr. Lupin, that sarcasm is going to bite you in the arse."

"Let it," Remus said, edging into the room. "It can join the ones you left on me the other night."

"Oh, Moony, you act as though you didn't enjoy it."

Remus rolled his eyes at Sirius' smirk. The shorter man closed the door, awkwardly minding the sloping ceiling, and started to get ready for bed. By the time Remus had returned from using the bathroom, donning a pair of loose linen trousers and a t-shirt, Sirius was sprawled across one of the bed an arm and leg hanging awkwardly over the edge. Remus leaned back against the door and grinned.

"Comfy?"

"Hardly."

Reclining down awkwardly on the neighbouring bed, Remus took in the room. It was an additional room built onto the already awkwardly proportioned Burrow, yet no one had accounted for the twins' having a growth spurt to rival their older brothers. Every single one of the Weasley's boys had hovered around the six foot mark. As predicted, Remus' feet rested awkwardly on the end of the bed, the blanket barely covering his ankles. With a flick of his wand, the light went out, only the light from the half moon in the sky illuminated the furniture.

"Remmy?"

"Mmm?"

"Do you think the boys are okay?"

Remus licked his lips, "I'm sure they're fine, Pads. I'm sure they'll be back by lunch."

"Yeah," Sirius sighed. "Yeah, you're right."

The silence drifted down around them, almost comforting in the ease with which they could be in one another's company, even after all this time. Remus let his thoughts clear away for now, his eyelids growing heavier as the darkness pressed around him. He was dimly aware of the rustling of bedclothes moving and thought nothing of it until the mattress beneath him dipped. He'd barely woken enough to question it, when he felt Sirius turn onto his side and nudge Remus' leg with his own, coaxing him sideways. Huffing a small laugh, Remus buried his nose against the nape of Sirius' neck, slipping his arm around the older man's waist and giving him a squeeze. The bed barely fit them both, but Remus would much prefer to spoon Sirius so that they could both sleep well. He knew Sirius was going to have a fitful night as it was, with both Harry and Draco out of reach. Pressing a kiss to the exposed skin at his collar, Remus silently prayed that Sirius would fall asleep without any trouble.

~0~

"I don't know how I feel about this Harry," Draco groused, glowering down at the little make-shift dining area the other three had made up around the campfire. Draco stood, hunched over himself with his arms and legs tense and pressed tightly together. "I'm not getting down on a log to eat my food! I'm already being bitten to death; I don't need bugs ruining my dinner!"

Harry looked up at the dishevelled blonde and felt his chest constrict. Guilt shot down his spine at the notions of all the things Draco was sacrificing for him, even if it was just one night. He was already strong-arming the blonde to sleeping on a barely-raised camp bed, dining outdoors without a table or proper utensils they were used to, as well as being devoured by all the creepy crawlies that lived in the woods and fields. It hadn't escaped his notice, either, that Draco had refused to take off his shirt while swimming.

"I promise it's not that bad," he bit his bottom lip. Draco wrinkled his nose in displeasure, but gingerly sat himself down on the log beside the brunette.

Harry silently thanked Hermione for bringing normal food with them. He didn't fancy wasting his time trying to fish in the river.

Despite his grumbling, having Draco sit beside him on the log, as the sun sank low over the hills, flooded Harry with a restlessness that he couldn't define. He felt electricity shock up through his thigh whenever his leg brushed against Draco's when reaching for a drink, or more sausages that sizzled over the fire. Ron and Hermione helped keep up the conversation, laughing about how long they out-smarted Umbridge, and Harry tried to ignore the prickle across his left hand where the now-white scar was.

The sky slowly grew darker around them, bathing everything in a hushed blue blanket.

"Oh, wow! Look!" Harry pointed across the meadow.

Squinting, the others followed his finger and through the darkness they saw tiny, twinkling lights.

"It's fireflies!" Hermione beamed. "I've never actually seen any before."

"You want to go and chase them?" Ron grinned. "We used to do it all the time at home."

"Sounds great! Let's go!" Harry hopped to his feet, hurrying after the tall redhead away from the firepit. Hermione stood and hurried to catch up with Ron. Harry faltered upon realising that Draco hadn't left the bubble of light around their campfire. "Draco? Aren't you coming?"

"I don't see the appeal of running around in the dark after insects," he drawled.

A chill ran up Harry's spine. Goosepimples broke out over his skin. Now that he was standing away from the fire, he felt uncertainty creeping up on him. "Draco?"

A sigh. "Yes, Harry?"

"Come and chase the fireflies with me?" Draco rolled his eyes. Even from this distance, Harry could see it, and it made him irrationally angry. He forced the emotion down as he gave a shrug, "Okay, fine. I'll go and have a good time with my friends. You can sit here and sulk."

"I am NOT sulking, Potter!"

"Prove it!" Harry called back over his shoulder, as he turned to make his further down the hill towards his friends. "Let's see who can catch the most!"

Draco was hurrying across the darkened field in a flash, his long legs letting him catch up with Harry within moments. Harry let himself laugh as Draco barged past him, nearly knocking him sideways. The blonde smirked at him, before sprinting off through the tall grass. Harry didn't care that he would barely see as the sky deepened to pitch black, the stars shining brilliantly above them. As they moved further into the meadow, by Ron and Hermione who were laughing and jumping around as high as they could, Harry started to see winking lights floating above his head.

"Wow …" he breathed, slowly to a stop, his eyes going wide.

Draco came to a stop not far from him, his own head tipped backwards to watch the fireflies winking in them. He had only ever seen fireflies from a distance; huddled in a blanket on his window seat at the manor and watching them as they drifted through the gardens. Yet, this -this was infinitely better. He felt as though he could reach out and touch one … the whisper of the bug against his fingertips sent a lightening bolt of excitement through him.

A hand took hold of his bicep and he quivered as Harry leaned against him, his head resting against Draco's shoulder. "They look amazing, don't they?" Harry whispered.

Draco nodded, "Amazing."

"Did you catch one yet?"

"Almost."

Harry looked up at Draco, breathing a smile as he gazed up at the blonde, admiring the way his pale hair glowed even with no lights around, how he had a small freckle at the base of his throat, how his hand ached to take Draco's, feel those long, pale fingers slip between his own.

"Draco …"

"What're you two standing up here for?" Ron called out, trudging back up the hill with his arm around Hermione's shoulders. "You won't catch shit if you stare at them."

Hermione smiled and spared Draco a curious look that Harry couldn't decipher. It made his stomach swoop. Draco ducked his head and stretched his arms over his head, arching his back and groaning as his spine popped. Harry bit back a smile; Sirius did the exact same thing. Seeing Draco Malfoy breaking all the etiquette and protocol he grew up with never ceased to amaze him.

"We should probably head back to the tents," Hermione nodded sagely. "It's getting quite late, and I can barely see where I'm going. Lumos!"

The tip of her wand glowed blue, shedding an eerie light across the dark field around them.

They walked up the hill, trailing behind the glow of Hermione's wand. Harry finally felt fatigue begin to weigh down on him, his muscles growing heavy as they climbed. Draco grunted and grumbled under his breath as bugs continued to buzz around him, and Harry watched on amused. Whenever Draco let his arm fall after swatting at a fly, his hand would brush against Harry's, and the younger teens heart would thump so loudly and suddenly in his chest it was like a claxon sounding off. He was surprised no one commented on the noise.

Upon reaching their little campsite, Draco ducked inside to do a sweep of their tent to make sure no bugs had gotten in while they'd chased fireflies. Harry hung back to say goodnight to his friends as Ron stamped out the campfire, sending embers flying up into the air. Hermione was still casting 'Lumos' as their little camp was swathed in darkness. She turned her attention to Harry and offered him a smile.

"Good day?" she asked.

"Yeah, it was great," he beamed. "Honestly, anything that requires hands-on stuff just makes me feel loads better."

"I'm glad," she looped an arm around his shoulders and squeezed. "It was a nice change of pace after all the revising and stress."

"You're telling me," Ron grinned, swinging an arm around both of them and squeezing tightly. "At least we can enjoy the summer. I know Mione's already anxious about results, but we've all needed a bit of a break."

"Yeah, maybe next year we can take a holiday or something?" Harry suggested. "If I hadn't gone to France for Easter, I don't think I'd have left the U.K. before my twenties."

"Yeah, even my family went to Egypt," Ron said.

"That must have been great. I'd love to go."

"Maybe go next year? Something to look forward to," Hermione said with a smile.

Harry opened his mouth to ask, 'but who would I go with?' as it became clear that his friends were not an option in this scenario, when Draco's voice called out from their tent. "Potter, if you don't get in here soon, I'm locking you out of the tent and you'll have to sleep with all those sodding ants!"

Ron snorted, "How does he still manage to be a prat, while wearing muggle clothes in a tent?"

Harry rolled his eyes with a grin, "Pretty sure it's his DNA at this point. Anyways, I'll let you two head to bed, clearly his highness has summoned me."

With a mocking bow to one another, another round of hugs and 'goodnights', the trio went to their separate tents.

Ducking inside, Harry quickly turned on the spot and pulled the zip down before casting a basic privacy charm just in case either one of them snored or had a bad dream in the middle of the night. Stretching, he noted that Draco had vanished into their little wet-room, no doubt to change into his pyjamas. Taking the opportunity, Harry stripped down to his boxers and pulled a t-shirt out from their rucksack. It was too humid to bother with wearing anything else, even with cooling charms at their disposal. There was barely half a foot between their camp beds. Harry settled onto his own and raked a hand through his hair. The small lamp hanging by the bathroom door gave off a warm, golden glow. It felt tranquil, just basking in the light.

The sound of the toilet flushing and the door clicking shut alerted Harry to Draco's presence.

"Have fun today?" the blonde asked as he settled down onto the bed opposite, wearing only a green-and-white t-shirt and loose boxers.

Harry thought he caught a peek of Draco's hipbone as the shirt rode up a little, and felt his throat run dry. "Uh … yeah, yeah, it was great! I enjoyed myself! I've missed swimming. Maybe I could find somewhere that does it, when we get back."

"No harm in looking," Draco said, his shoulders tense.

Harry frowned. "Are you okay? Shit, did you have a bad day? I'm so sorry, it was just nice spending time with you and my friends all together, and then I went off swimming with Ron and left you alone. Shit!"

Draco quirked an eyebrow, "Are you quite done?"

Harry bit his lip.

"I enjoyed today more than I thought I would, but that's not to say I'm in a hurry to go camping again, muggle or otherwise," he clicked his tongue. "I came to spend time with you. You enjoyed yourself, and I … well, I liked that."

Harry felt his cheeks heat up. "You came out here … endured bugs, and ants and heatstroke … so I could enjoy myself?"

"Yes."

"You did this … for me?"

"Yes."

"The man who before this year refused to step out in anything less than a three piece suit, slummed it for me?"

"Yes, Merlin's fucking balls, what's your point, Potter?!" Draco snapped, his own cheeks pinking slightly.

There was no conceivable way for him to hide his grin, so he let it spread across his face with abandon. He wanted to tease Draco, to get under his skin a little and press him for a more concise answer, but Draco cut across him tutting loudly.

"Honestly, Harry, you'd best get to sleep because you just know that Hermione has set a bloody alarm for tomorrow."

Still smiling, Harry pulled back the thin blanket burrowed from Mrs. Weasley and wriggled down onto his bunk. Draco did the same, stretching out and sighing softly as he finally relaxed and let himself sink down into the pillows of the camp bed. Harry rested on his side; an arm curled under his head. He took his glasses off and set them above his pillow, praying that they didn't slide off during the night. He felt restless, wanting to keep talking, to keep enjoying Draco's company for as long as he could, but he could also see the blonde's eyelids drooping.

"Psst, Draco?"

"Mmm?" he groaned sleepily.

"Can I push my bed over? I feel a bit … exposed?"

A soft sigh. Draco didn't bother to open his eyes. "Fine, just make it quick so I can sleep."

Harry's heart leapt so hard into his throat he was worried he'd choke on it. Excitement fizzed through his veins as he hurriedly shoved his cot up alongside Draco's and settled back down under the thin, soft blanket. He tried to calm his mind down as he watched Draco fall asleep. He watched with slightly blurred vision, how the lamplight caught the pale strands of Draco's hair and set it alight, making him appear otherworldly, how he had felt comfortable to have his forearm exposed all day as though silently daring anyone -namely Ron -to make any Death Eater remarks. None had; it was progress on all counts.

'He's so brave,' Harry thought as Draco shifted a little, turning to face him. 'Maybe I could be a little braver too?'

Heart quickening, Harry slid his hand over the blankets, reaching for Draco's left hand that was resting across his stomach. Draco was warm to the touch, his skin soft despite the small callouses on his fingers and thumbs from chopping ingredients for hours on end. Harry slid his hand completely into Draco's, stroking along his long fingers, his bony knuckles and feeling sick with giddiness as he gazed across at the blonde boy. There was a feeling resonating within him that he refused to name. If he named it, admitted to it, then things would get complicated and awkward, and he hated complicated. Right now, he wanted things to be simple.

Holding a boy's hand after he'd spent all day doing things that he hated, just so that Harry could enjoy himself outdoors and doing things he loved? He wanted it to be as simple as that, for as long as possible.

Taking a deep breath, he allowed himself to relax against his pillows, wriggling a little closer. The relief he felt that Draco didn't pull away was encouraging, but the wave of affection he felt when Draco lazily squeezed his hand back? It was insurmountable.

Harry drifted off to sleep feeling utterly content with his life.

A/N: Please leave some lovely reviews! I hope you liked the update! Link to fanart is nagisa2345/art/Saviors-Salvation-Chapter-44-Scene-891017319

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