Disclaimer: Everything recogniseable belongs to J.K. Rowling... The rest is from my own imagination.
Harry and Draco were dressed and eating breakfast in the kitchen when there was a tremendous banging at the door, followed by the unmistakable sound of Ron Weasley, swearing under his breath.
"Harry, what's your towel doing bunched up under the door?" He entered the kitchen, Harry's blue towel in his hand. "Hey, Malfoy," he added.
Harry and Draco shot each other embarrassed glances.
Ron looked back and forth between them before an expression of realisation crossed his features.
Harry watched his ears turn pink and he grinned. "Sorry," he said.
Ron shook his head, muttering, "I don't want to know," and sat down, helping himself to some orange juice.
"Listen, Harry," Ron's ears had become a deeper shade of pink, "Hermione wants me to go with her and her mum to this wedding planner bloke today to book our venue and start picking out colours et cetera. I'm not thrilled, but apparently I need to take on this 'doting husband-to-be' responsibility sooner than I thought."
"You poor soul," Harry said dryly. "Does this mean I have to get groceries this week?"
"Please?"
"Yeah, no worries mate; I'm going to have to do it by myself in a few months anyway."
"I'll go with you," Draco said. "I don't have much planned today."
Harry smiled at him in gratitude. He didn't hate grocery shopping, but it would be nice to have someone to talk to while rolling up and down the aisles. Nor was he especially keen to watch Draco leave since their reconciliation. He supposed they should talk about what had happened in the last week, too.
They walked slowly along the dairy aisle, picking up cheese, milk and cherry flavoured yogurt. Draco pushed the cart while Harry collected and checked off items on the list.
They began to speak at the same time.
"So, Har –"
"Draco, I –"
Laughing, Draco gestured for Harry to continue.
"I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for leaving and not telling you. I lost my cool in all the excitement, and by the time I remembered, it was too late to do anything."
"Apology accepted. Just, you know, don't let it happen again, alright? I don't like being worried sick," Draco said. "I'll forgive you this one time, Harry, but you've no excuse next time, alright?"
"Alright. Now I've got a question for you."
"Yes?"
"What were you on about with your 'happy birthday to me' comment last night?"
"Oh, that. Well, it's not big deal, really. My birthday was last Thursday and –"
"What? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think about it. Anyway, such as it was, I didn't have a great birthday, so I sort of took last night as my birthday present," Draco said, pushing the shopping cart along.
"Now I feel even worse," Harry said, hanging his head.
Draco placed a hand on Harry's arm in comfort. "Trust me; celebrating my birthday was the least of my worries. I haven't told you the best part yet."
Harry looked up, his eyebrow raised. "There's more?"
"Oh, yes. I had dinner at my parents' house, and they took the liberty of inviting a few friends over for the festivities. Mr and Mrs Louis de Chassole and their daughter, Estelle, have been good family friends for years; Estelle and I went to Beauxbatons together, and she was one of the first people I told that I was gay. However, since neither set of our parents know that I'm a shirt-lifter, they're constantly trying to convince the two of us to get married. Needless to say, Thursday night was a prime time for the jabs. Usually, Estelle and I find it all highly amusing, but since I was in such a bad mood, the humour was lost on me."
"Did I mention that I was sorry?" Harry said, the corner of his mouth quirking.
"Clearly you missed the memo that I've forgiven you. Anyway, such was my ire and exasperation by the end of the night, all sensible thought was erased from my conscious, and I came out to my parents. Do you need any of this cheese?" Draco leaned over and picked up a large block of sharp cheddar.
"You didn't!"
Draco had once told Harry that his father would probably fall down dead if he ever found out. Draco had to have been in a right state for him to say anything to his parents without any kind of warning.
"I did. Mother drank nearly the entire brandy decanter before Father could take it from her. Then, I told him seconds before I went back home. I haven't heard anything from them since."
"Oh, Draco." Harry had never liked Lucius Malfoy, former Death Eater or not, but he knew Draco, at least, still valued his father's opinions of him.
"Not much I can do about it, really."
"I know, but it's got to be a bit discomfiting. They're your family," Harry said.
"Don't worry about it, Harry, I'm fine," Draco said, smiling slightly. To distract them both, he grabbed the shopping list from Harry's hand and read through it. "What on earth are 'Jammy Dodgers'?"
Draco stopped the cart while Harry picked up a head of lettuce from the fresh produce section, and looked around at the other greens on the shelves. He spotted a very large cucumber and picked it up, holding it vertically, stroking it with his fingers, trying not to laugh.
"Hey, Potter, how does this compare?"
Harry turned towards him and burst into laughter. "Well, at least it's green." He grabbed the cucumber from Draco and picked up two tomatoes. "That's better, innit?"
They both snorted with laughter. Two older ladies, picking out some fruit nearby, shot disgusted looks at the two of them, only serving to increase their mirth.
Harry got a plastic bag and put their creation into it. "The least we can do is to take them home for dinner."
"Brilliant idea," Draco said. He ran his finger down the front of the black t-shirt Harry was wearing, stopping at the waistband of his khaki-coloured pants. "Can I have you for dessert?"
The ladies were whispering behind their hands now, frowning.
"Let's hurry up here, shall we? The ice-cream is going to melt," he muttered. Draco was looking at him with the same predatory gaze he'd used that morning, and Harry's trousers were growing a little bit tighter.
"Whatever you say, darling," Draco sang, pushed the cart along, smiling at the ladies as he passed.
They dropped the bags of groceries on the floor as soon as they walked into the apartment, the melting ice-cream totally forgotten.
Draco lunged at Harry, pinning him against the kitchen counter with his body, pressing his burgeoning erection into his hip as he kissed him fiercely. There was no softness about this kiss; their tongues battled against the other's, teeth clicking together, their lips caught somewhere in between. Draco pushed Harry's black t-shirt up to his neck, running his hands over his chest, palming his nipples before dropping his head to Harry's neck.
"You're so hot," he whispered as he kissed along the soft flesh, his fingers dropping to the button at the top of Harry's pants, feeling the tip of his hardness grazing his hands. He worked at the zipper, brushing Harry with his fingertips. "I'm going to fuck you, Harry, right here against the counter. You're going to turn around and –"
Suddenly, Harry heard voices and the sound of a key in the doorknob. Fuck!
"They're back." He pushed Draco away and buttoned up his pants.
Draco yanked out his wand from his pocket and began levitating bags to the kitchen table, and not a moment to soon for in walked Ron, Hermione and another woman who had to be Hermione's mother.
Harry had opened the freezer section of the fridge and stuck his head in, trying desperately to cool off.
Draco was dying to laugh, but he managed to keep a straight face and began pulling things out of the bags and handing them to Harry, who was still buried in the freezer. Ron and Hermione regarded them suspiciously for a moment, and then Hermione introduced him to her mother, Kathryn.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs Granger," Draco said politely.
They made small talk while Harry and Ron took over putting away the groceries, both a little bit surprised that Draco could be so charming, especially to a Muggle.
"Ron, could you join us in the living room, please?" Hermione said eventually.
Ron paused in the unpacking of some Marks and Spencer frozen dinners and made a face to Harry. He muttered something under his breath that Harry didn't catch and followed Hermione's mother.
"Well, that was close," Harry said once the others were safely out of earshot.
"I vote that we stay at the Manor tonight; no one barges into my kitchen unannounced."
"A very good plan."
Harry stood in the doorway of the kitchen at Malfoy Manor and watched as Draco spelled the plates and glasses they'd used at dinner sparkling clean, and levitated them back into their cupboards. He licked his lips when Draco raised his arms in a stretch, and his flat belly was exposed beneath his t-shirt. His heart skipped a beat when he turned and swept his stormy grey eyes over Harry and smiled. Draco moved panther-like towards Harry and leaned in towards him, his arm resting on the doorframe above Harry's head.
"How do you manage to look so stunning by just standing?" Draco said huskily.
Feeling very much the schoolgirl moments before her first kiss with the sexy seventh year Quidditch star, (and liking it), Harry leaned back against the doorframe, propping his foot up behind him.
"I dunno, special talent I guess," he replied, shrugging.
Draco reached up and played with the ends of Harry's hair near his face, watching the green eyes sparkle with mischief.
"Got any more special talents you're willing to share with me?"
"Maybe."
"Yeah?"
Harry's answer was in the form of a pleasured sigh as Draco leaned in further and kissed him, his lips warm and tasting of wine. He was reminded of their first kiss and savoured a small moment of triumph that he'd be able to have Draco this time. Harry began to slide his hands under Draco's t-shirt, but his hands were batted away gently.
Oh, for God's sake! Harry opened his mouth to protest.
"Not here," Draco said. He took out his wand and waved it around the kitchen so all of the lights went out, save for three lamps that lit the staircase behind them. Draco reached for Harry's hand and began to lead him up the stairs.
"I seem to remember a certain someone fully intent on shagging in the kitchen just this afternoon. I wonder what happened to him," Harry said.
"Well, don't you think that that idea was better suited to the environment? We knew we could easily get walked in on, therefore it was more exciting, wasn't it?"
"Yes, there was that."
Draco led him along the landing to the last room down the corridor. He muttered something Harry couldn't hear, and the door swung open to admit them into the dark room. He gestured for Harry to go first and closed the door behind them.
The moon cast soft silvery light on the dark wood floor through the window, soon joined by the flickering light from a few candles that sprung to life from brackets on the wall. Draco could see Harry's outline before him, and took a step forward so he stood directly behind him. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes as the mixture of detergent, cologne and a faint trace of shampoo appealed to his sense of smell. It was so Harry. He placed his hands on Harry's shoulders and let his fingers and palms trail softly down Harry's arms while he dipped his head and pressed his lips into the curve of Harry's neck.
Harry shivered when Draco breathed out against his skin; the soft caress of his lips moved up to his ear and his fingers found Harry's. He lifted Harry's arms up over his head.
"Hold your arms up for me," Draco whispered. He slid his hands back down Harry's arms and down his torso, lifting the hem of Harry's shirt and pushing it up slowly, allowing his fingertips to graze the skin. Goosebumps formed on Harry's body while a delicious heat pooled in his groin as Draco pulled the t-shirt over his head, still standing behind him.
Draco tossed Harry's garment to the side and moved to face him. He tried to keep his face impassive, but the sight of Harry's half-naked body, though shadowed, made him chew on his lower lip and his stomach flutter.
Harry noticed the subtle signs and smiled; he took a step forward so that he was chest to chest with Draco. He could feel his increased heart rate, as well as his erection which brushed against his hip. His hands returned to the bottom of Draco's t-shirt, and he began to pull it up.
"I suppose I'm allowed to undress you here?" Harry joked.
"Yes," Draco rasped, raising his arms as Harry took his shirt off and let it fall to the floor. He flinched when he felt Harry's fingertips move down his ribs, barely touching the skin, and came to rest on the front of his pants. He watched as the fingers deftly unbuttoned and unzipped his clothing, pushing the garment off his body, and relieving some of the pressure that had built up by its confinement. Draco stepped out of the material at his feet and flicked his eyes back up to Harry's face.
Harry took a small step backward and slowly removed his own trousers, kicking them gently to the side. His eyes raked his lover's body in the soft moonlight, taking in the slender figure and the pale expanse of skin, marred only by the underwear he still wore.
Not for long… Harry inclined his head to Draco's bed, grinning inwardly. It was going to be nice making love in such a big bed.
"Lie on your back," he instructed.
Draco walked backward toward his bed and sat down when the backs of his thighs hit the mattress. He moved further onto the bed and lay back on the pillows.
Harry approached him and shed his last article of clothing. He climbed onto the bed with Draco, kneeling between his parted legs. He enjoyed a furious fuck against the wall or the kitchen counter as much as the next bloke, but there was a little extra magic when there was no hurry, and he could take as much time as he wanted to tease, taste and feel his lover. He slid his fingertips up the pale thighs and took hold of the elastic securing the briefs to his lover's body and pulled down. Licking his lips at the sight of his lover's arousal, hard against his belly, Harry decided that it was well worth the wait for the little extra magic.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Draco groaned and rolled over.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
He felt Harry stir behind him.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Swearing under his breath, Draco opened his eyes. Morning sunlight was streaming through the windowpane, making him squint. But there wasn't only sunlight staring him in the face. A large eagle owl was perched outside the window, tapping impatiently on the glass. With great effort, Draco uncovered himself and left the warmth of his bed and his lover. He tiptoed across the room and opened the window. The owl hopped in and held out its leg for him to remove the attached scroll. It looked at his naked body and turned away with a dignified sort of hoot.
"Oh, shut up. We haven't all got feathers to cover up with," Draco whispered angrily. He unfurled the scroll and began to read.
Dear Draco,
I hope this note finds you well and in good time. Your father and I wish to remind you that lunch will be served on Sunday at one o' clock at Villa Malfoy, and we are expecting you to attend. If you have made other plans, we will understand, though I think it important that we all talk about your confession soon. Please owl us your reply as soon as possible.
Love,
Mother
Well that cleared things up. Draco sighed and re-read his mother's note before going over to the writing desk and picking up a quill and a piece of parchment.
Mother,
I will be at the house as requested, today for lunch. Give my regards to Father.
Draco
He rolled up his parchment and sealed it, sending it back off with the eagle owl, who was still avoiding looking at him.
"Discrimination will get you nowhere," Draco muttered as he watched the owl fly off with his answer.
He turned back to his bed and watched as Harry slept, his chest rising and falling placidly as he breathed, his long, dark eyelashes shadowing his cheeks, lips slightly parted. Pretty boy, Draco thought with a smile. He got back into bed and covered himself up again, curling his body, now slightly chilled, around Harry's very warm one. He placed his head on Harry's chest and listened to his heart beating slowly in his body. It felt good to just lie with Harry and not have to think about much. He wasn't looking forward to explaining to his parents why he had kept his choice of lifestyle from them for so long, and he was happy to put off thinking about it for a few more hours. He closed his eyes and drifted back into a doze.
Draco got out of his parents' fireplace and dusted himself off. Both of his parents stood up to greet him. His mother was smiling a little bit sadly at him, but she moved forward to envelop him in her arms. He and his father shook hands, and the three made their way into the dining room. Well, at least they're being reasonable… so far.
Halfway through their dessert, the real conversation began.
"You know, Draco, I can't truthfully say that I was completely shocked by what you told me on Thursday," Lucius said.
Both Narcissa and Draco looked at him incredulously.
"What on earth are you talking about?" Narcissa said.
"Well, he's twenty-three years old, and never once has he brought a young lady home for us to meet. So I thought, surely he can't be ashamed of his family, and there was something else behind it; perhaps he was in fact, ashamed of himself."
"I am not ashamed of myself!" Draco exploded.
"But yet it took you this long to decide to tell us, and only after you'd been provoked into anger at us for trying to make your future easier?"
"Oh, yeah, it would be a hell of a lot easier to make me do something I could never be happy doing," Draco said sarcastically.
"Draco, please watch your tone at the table," Narcissa reprimanded.
"Son, I'm not saying that this kind of thing doesn't happen to even the best of people; when you're in boarding school and your selection is limited, your mind plays tricks on you. I understand; it happened to quite a few of my housemates while I was at Hogwarts, but you need to understand that you cannot fail to uphold this family's name."
"This is precisely why I didn't say anything to you before. And in case you've forgotten, Father, the Malfoy name has been sullied by your own choices," Draco snapped. "My sexual preference has nothing to do with it."
He could see his father trying desperately to control his temper, knowing that there was no way he could get Draco to agree to anything if he lost it.
"I admit to you, as I have done several times before, that I have made less than honourable decisions for our family. But that does not mean I want the same for you and your own future family. I'm trying to explain to you that the choices that you make now will affect you later in life. Do you really want to have to swallow bitter regret?"
"Regret for what? I'm happy with my life, Father, if you haven't realised."
"Draco, we only want the best for you," Narcissa interjected soothingly. "Please just listen to what he has to say."
"You mean listen to him tell me that my choices in life aren't good enough, as usual? When his were far worse for us than mine? I'm sick of it! Don't you even care if I'm happy or not?"
"Darling, of course we care about your happiness, we're just trying to impress upon you that some things have to be temporarily sacrificed in order to make a good future for yourself," Narcissa said.
"And what if my idea of a good future is completely different to yours?"
"You are young, Draco, there are things that, in time, you will come to understand. People know your face, son. We can't afford to have another scandal placed upon this family."
"What scandal? You act like there are paparazzi teeming outside my house waiting for a glimpse of me. It's not like I'm the Minister for Magic." Thank Merlin.
"If you keep your nose clean now, you could be."
Draco gave a mirthless bark of laughter.
"I would prefer to live the rest of my life as a Muggle than to be the Minister for Magic," he said.
"You know what? Fine. Openly express yourself in any way you feel necessary, son, just don't think to come crying to me when it blows up in your face."
Draco and Lucius glared at each other, identical cold, grey eyes flashing.
"May I be excused?" Draco said.
Narcissa nodded, and he got up and stormed out of the dining room, flinging the doors open to the gardens outside. He dug deep in the pockets of his robes and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. He had envisioned the day going like this and he'd arrived prepared. Draco didn't smoke as often as he used to anymore, but under times of great pressure, he found it helpful. He lit a cigarette with his wand and inhaled deeply. Was it really so hard for his parents to be proud of him, just once? It wasn't as though he was some layabout; he had a respectable, very well-paying job, he had friends, he got out of the house for leisure time.
He took another pull on his cigarette. Why couldn't he have had a brother or four to take this burden from him? He used to love being an only child when he was young, but now he'd kill for a few siblings to help him out. That was what siblings did, right? They made sure there was a healthy rivalry, and if one just so happened to be gay, there would be others to take up the slack.
"Fuck it," Draco muttered. He couldn't deal with this. He never should have gotten out of bed. If he hadn't, he and Harry could be doing something completely normal like taking a swim in the pool at the Manor and talking about how nice it was to be lazy on a Sunday, instead of standing alone in Villa Malfoy, smoking a cigarette and feeling sorry for himself. Vanishing his cigarette, Draco went back inside the house to say goodbye to his parents before things got too nasty.
"Mother, I'm going now. I'll owl you about next week," Draco said, giving his mother a kiss on the cheek.
"Please think about what your father said. I know this is hard for you, but we're only looking out for your well-being."
"My being was very well until I made the mistake to open my mouth," Draco said bitterly, encountering a reproving look from Narcissa.
Lucius was nowhere in sight.
"Tell him I've left, will you?"
"Of course. We love you, Draco; please don't forget that."
"I love you too, Mum. I'll talk to you soon." Draco collected a pinch of Floo powder and threw it into the fireplace, stepping into the warm flames that returned him to England.