DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
ATTENTION: Two chapters were posted during the alert systems failure, please make sure you've read chapter 21 before reading this chapter. This chapter was originally supposed to be posted Sunday night but I hadn't finished writing it. I actually was afraid it wasn't good enough to end this story so had to rewrite it. My apologies to everyone for the lateness and I hope you enjoy the last chapter of Guarding the Dragon.
Chapter Twenty-Two - Guard My Body
The chair Harry sat on toppled backwards as he rose swiftly to his feet, the wood crashing loudly against the floor in the silence of the pub. He whirled around and managed to tangle his legs with the chair's spindly ones, tripping himself clumsily. Several snorts of amusement and choked back chortles had him snarling unhappily as he slammed into the ground, scraping his hands as he tried to catch himself. Under his weight, the chair splintered, completing his embarrassment.
"Are you alright?" Sirius asked from behind him, the words slightly muffled.
Blinking, Harry stared at the tips of the boots resting to either side of his face, the dark leather shining brightly. Inhaling deeply, he ran his gaze up the tall boots and long legs, past the lean hips and the hands braced arrogantly upon them. "Draco?" He asked, stunned at finding the blond standing so close behind him.
"You're alright?" Draco asked softly, his pale eyes wide as he stepped back and dropped carefully to his knees. He cupped Harry's chin in his hands, thumbs brushing the tanned cheeks in an absent caress. A smile slid over his lips as the raven-haired wizard blinked slowly and lifted a tentative hand to touch his pale cheek.
"What are you doing here?" Harry murmured, the tip of his finger sliding over the fine skin of Draco's face. His breath left him in a rush as the blond nuzzled his hand, lips brushing gently along the side of his thumb.
"I came to get you," Draco whispered, blond locks tumbling over his forehead as he tipped his face down. Behind him the door creaked open, drawing the shining emerald orbs up and over his shoulder. His brow drew down as Harry rose abruptly, pushing past him and through the crowd of guards who'd entered quietly. Slack-jawed, he watched the dark-haired guard storm out of the pub, slamming the door so hard behind him that it rattled the little window above the kitchen sink.
"Surprise?" Ron murmured into the silence, his breath leaving him in a gasp when Hermione elbowed him in the side. Pressing his hand to the injury, the redhead groaned and doubled over. "Sorry."
"You'd best go after him," Sirius rumbled, fork resuming its path to his mouth. Arching his eyebrows, he flicked his gaze over the blond's shoulder, "before he starts tearing Remus' stable apart."
Face reddening in a combination of humiliation and anger, Draco clambered to his feet and stalked after Harry. His hands balled into fists as he tore the door open and stepped out into the courtyard, the gentle wind pulling at his already mussed hair. "Potter!" He shrieked, stomping across the cobblestone toward the small barn. In the doorway he paused, allowing his eyes to adjust to the shadowed interior.
"What are you doing here, Draco?" Harry snapped from within BlackHeart's stall. Beside him the hippogriff lashed its tail and hissed, threatening the raven-haired wizard with a raised hoof. Settling a calming hand on the animal's withers, he observed the wizard standing just within the stable doors.
"I didn't peg you for a coward, Harry." Draco murmured, gliding into the barn. Dust motes danced in the rays of sunlight shining in through the open door, stirred by the faint breeze caused by the blond's passing. Horses shifted within their stalls, straw and hay crunching under their shod hooves. "Yet here you are, hiding behind an animal."
"You and I are from different worlds, Draco." Harry stated, sliding around BlackHeart so it would appear less like he was cowering behind the large hippogriff. He placed his forearms along the top board of the stall wall, fingers drumming nervously.
"I don't care, and neither should you." Draco exclaimed, pacing deeper into the barn. Frowning, he pursed his lips and stopped before Midnight's stall, sliding a hand over the gelding's velvety muzzle. Tipping his head, he absently straightened the dark horse's halter. "Do you love me?"
"What kind of a question is that?" Snapped the raven-haired wizard, hands clenching in frustration.
"Just answer me!" Draco snarled, whipping around. His sudden movement startled the black gelding, sending him reeling back into the corner of the stall with his ears pinned. Curling his lip, he turned around and whispered soothingly to the horse, his voice lilting as he coaxed the animal forward.
Harry tangled his fingers in his hair, combing the dark locks ruthlessly as he heaved a deep sigh and tipped his head back. "Yes," he murmured to the stable ceiling.
Smirking to himself, Draco smiled and tickled Midnight's nose, grinning foolishly as the gelding lipped at his fingers. "So what's the problem?"
"Your father-"
"My father doesn't care who I love, only that I am loved in return and well protected!" Draco cried in frustration, whirling around to face the raven-haired wizard. Kicking at the floor angrily, he drew a deep breath and walked slowly back to stand across from Harry.
"Tell me, Draco, how would I support us?" Harry bit out harshly, slamming his hands against the wall of the stall. "I don't have a job and it's highly unlikely that I'll be getting one anytime soon."
Tired of the raven-haired wizard's dramatics, BlackHeart screamed and snapped wildly. Sharp talons carved lines in the wood under the guard's right arm, forcing him to lurch away and stumble out the door. Grunting unhappily, the animal hissed before lowering its beak back to the bucket of water it had been drinking from.
"I have a suggestion for you, Harry." Draco stated, propping himself up on the stable wall. "Let me be your purpose; guard my body." The words were spoken quietly and accompanied with a seductive smile, pale blue eyes glowing with promise.
Swallowing loudly, Harry tipped his head to the side and blew out a deep breath. "What exactly would this job entail?" He queried softly, emerald eyes running the length of the other wizard's body appreciatively. Pushing down the urge to lunge across the short distance, he crossed his arms and waited.
"Well, it would require you to remain with me at all times. You'd have to follow my every whim and obey all my commands. And, of course, you'd have to stay terribly close." Draco whispered suggestively, lashes dipping down to cover his gleaming blue eyes. He couldn't repress the inviting smile that crept across his lips as he leaned back against the stable wall, hands held slightly out before him in a come hither gesture.
Harry ran his tongue over his lips as he straightened, brows arching as he strolled calmly toward the blond. He continued his forward glide until his chest was pressed against Draco's, his right foot inserted between the blond's. "How's this?" He asked softly, his lips brushing the tip of the noble's ear.
Biting back the moan that rose in his throat, Draco ran his hands down Harry's arms and slid them around his waist. "Perhaps just a little closer," he breathed, shivering as the raven-haired wizard's breath tickled the side of his neck. His eyes drifted shut as the guard's arms slipped around his waist and dragged him closer, fingers stroking the small of his back through the cloak and shirt he wore in a tantalizing preview of what was to come.
"That can be arranged." Harry purred, bending over quickly and hefting the blond over his shoulder. With a quick glance out the open barn doors, he carried Draco deeper into the shadowed interior, the palm of his left hand resting firmly on the noble's bottom.
XxXxX
"Are you guys staying for dinner tonight?" Remus asked conversationally as he picked up Sirius' empty plate and carried it toward the sink. He glanced over his shoulder as he waited for one of the Red Lions' to respond, rolling his eyes as he noticed Seamus sniffing the mouth of the Rouge Rum bottle.
Fred shook his head and leaned back against the wall beside the door. "Dumbledore mentioned something about needing us later in the week. Also, we left without telling anyone, which is probably gonna piss Moody right off." The other guards nodded in agreement, although none of them moved from their comfortable positions.
It was the muffled giggles that announced the return of Hermione and Ginny. Both witches came flying through the back door, their faces blazing red as they slammed the portal closed and leaned against it, panting for breath.
"You'll all be heading out then?" Sirius asked, staring at the pair with his eyebrows arched.
"Yeah, we just have to get our horses from the barn." George said slowly, rubbing the side of his face. His hand dropped to the pommel of his sword, fingers smoothing the metal in a comforting gesture.
"Harry and Draco are in the barn." Hermione said, drawing everyone's eyes. Her cheeks flooded with colour almost instantly, one of her hands rising to press against her chest.
"Are they still arguing?" Ron asked, arching an eyebrow as he peered at his girlfriend.
"Well, not exactly." Hermione mumbled, fiddling with the clasp of her cloak.
"Then they won't mind us getting our horses."
"But they're still in the barn!" Ginny hissed, her face flaming red as she waggled her head back and forth in protest. She fisted her hands in the folds of her cloak and exchanged a look with Hermione, her face flushing as she met the bushy-haired witch's eyes.
"Hermione said they're not arguing anymore." Seamus mumbled in confusion, glancing back and forth between the witches.
"They're not arguing anymore . . . but I still don't think they want to be disturbed." The bushy haired witch whispered, glancing at Ginny who nodded frantically in agreement.
"What the hell is going on with you two?" Ron queried in exasperation, he rolled his eyes as Hermione's face flushed and she shook her head. Shaking his own head, he shouldered the pair aside and marched out the door.
"Poor Ron," Hermione mumbled, tipping her head slightly and straining her ears.
"He'll never learn," Ginny added, tilting her chin upwards. A grin spread across her face as her ears picked up an angered roar and a squeal of fear, which was quickly followed by the pounding of feet.
"We'll be staying for dinner." Ron barked as he shot back through the door, his face almost as red as his hair. Ignoring the questions his fellow guard's tossed at him, the redhead fled toward the front of the pub and the shelves of alcohol located there.
XxXxX
Sprawled in an empty stall atop hastily discarded clothes and the blanket Harry had tossed onto the clean straw, Draco let out a long sigh and smoothed his hand over the raven-haired guard's bare chest. Opening his eyes, he lifted his gaze and met the shining emerald orbs that had been focused on the top of his head. "Well?" He asked softly, arching an eyebrow as the taller wizard smiled slowly.
"Job offer accepted; the benefits are just too good to turn down." Harry purred lazily, plucking a piece of straw from among the blond's sweat-dampened hair. Allowing his head to fall back, he dragged Draco tighter to his side and closed his eyes.
"Good, we'll discuss salary later," Draco murmured playfully, tucking himself closer to Harry's warmth and closing his eyes. Yawning, he threw an arm across the guard's chest and allowed himself to drift, comforted by the knowledge that when he woke up; Harry would still be with him.
- THE END -
A/N: Well, I guess that's it. I'd like to thank everyone who followed this story and reviewed. Your suggestions, opinions, and comments are always helpful and very much appreciated. For this being my first AU fic, I really don't think it went all that bad and I hope everyone agrees with me. Sadly, there will be no sequel. Thanks again everyone, and I wish you all good reading and writing.