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Playing Away From Home
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Chapter 5: Back To Earth With A Bump
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Everything snowballed so quickly that Harry could barely register what happened in what order. He was dimly aware, as he hurtled towards the ground with his broom no longer in his grasp, of a scream from one his team and a whip of floppy black hair as he was caught on another broom. He threw his arms around the figure in front of him and gripped a fistful of robes as the wind whistled past his ears. The way that Harry had landed on the broom, however, unbalanced them both and they hurtled towards the earth at lightning speed.
With tremendous skill, Jordan just about managed to dip out of the dive moments before they neared the ground and he and Harry slowed sufficiently before they both tumbled onto the grass. Harry landed hard, on top of Jordan, breathing heavily.
His face swam in Harry's vision, and the younger wizard heard him say "It seems that all we do is bump into each other" before he blacked out.
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Less than two hours later, Harry was propped in bed at St Mungo's. His broken wrist had been attended to by the Healer and he nodded and smiled to his coach as the older wizard left his room with a parting "Take care of that wrist, Harry, and don't let me see you training until it's properly healed." The Healer had informed Harry that a little over a week would be sufficient to mend the injury – a little longer than usual due to the way that Harry had fallen on his outstretched arm.
With the coach and the rest of the team gone, this left only one person remaining, perched on the chair next to Harry's bed. Harry turned to him once more and extended his thanks.
"Listen, I really can't tell you how grateful I am. I don't remember much myself, but from what everyone's told me I'd be in a much worse state if it wasn't for you."
Jordan waved his hand dismissively and shook his head. "No, honestly," he insisted.
"It's the least I could do…after all it was my fault you fell in the first place…."
Harry glanced at him sharply and felt his pulse rate increase. Had Jordan noticed him looking at him? He opened his mouth, ready to deny it, but the Chaser continued.
"…I mean if we hadn't been racing like that you would have seen the Bludger sooner. I'm sorry."
"Oh, no problem," Harry replied quickly, relieved. "It was my faul – "
But his sentence was cut short as a blonde whirlwind hurtled through the doorway in the form of an irate Draco. He rushed in, eyes flashing angrily and rushed to Harry's bedside.
"Are you alright?" He kissed his forehead and sat heavily on the edge of the bed. He looked furious. "What happened? How did you fall?"
"Draco, I'm fine," Harry said firmly, placing a calming hand on his husband's arm.
"Ten wizards on the pitch and they couldn't cast a simple slowing spell between them?" Draco ranted.
"Er, seven actually," Jordan interrupted, rising from his chair and stepping forward.
Draco snapped his head around and saw the dark-haired man for the first time. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, stony-faced.
"Er, Jordan Wright, Chaser," he said nervously, extending his hand to Draco.
Draco looked at his hand and raised his eyebrows, still clearly annoyed that no one had seemed to able to prevent Harry's injury.
"Draco!" Harry hissed hotly to his husband. "If it wasn't for Jordan I'd have been in worse shape than I am now – "
"Oh?" Draco sized up the stranger and suddenly noticed the bruise on his forehead.
"Jordan dived down quickly and caught me on his broom," Harry explained. "We would have been fine but we both fell off at the last minute. It could have been a lot worse, though. For both of us," he emphasised.
"Oh," Draco conceded, slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry…." He grudgingly shook Jordan's hand and nodded at him. "I'm grateful for what you did…thanks."
"No problem," Jordan replied. He smiled. "I'd have been protective too, if I was in your place…."
And what the hell is that supposed to mean? Draco thought, his eyes narrowing at the man.
Jordan must have felt the glare for he shifted a little uncomfortably. "Well, er – I'll get going. I'll pop by soon and see you again, Harry." He nodded at Draco and turned to leave. Draco's eyes followed him out of the room.
"Draco…." Harry said warningly, watching his husband.
"He's a good-looking guy," Draco commented absently.
"I hadn't noticed," Harry said quickly, shifting a little.
Draco didn't notice the abruptness of his reply. He took Harry's hand in his. "Good," he pretended to huff. "I might have got jealous there…."
"Well luckily for you," Harry whispered huskily, pulling him closer, "I prefer blondes."
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"Harry, hi!"
The dark-haired wizard whipped around at the sound of his name and smiled in surprise as his team mate jogged up towards him.
"Hello Jordan!"
Six days had passed since the Quidditch practice and Harry had been peering into the shop window of a jewellers' in his local shopping centre, sizing up the various watches on display. He had to admit, he felt much more comfortable doing his shopping in Diagon Alley, but he very much doubted if the wizarding alley would sell something as Muggle as a watch.
"Shouldn't you be resting?" Jordan scolded him teasingly with a mock stern look as he slowed to a stop.
Harry rolled his eyes. "You sound just like Draco," he replied, smiling. "I managed to sneak out while he's at work, but if he knows I've been out there'll be hell to pay."
"Ah, your husband," Jordan acknowledged. He scratched his neck with slight embarrassment. "Something tells me I didn't exactly endear myself to him when he met me."
"Oh, don't be silly - his bark is worse than his bite."
"And you've experienced both, I suppose?" Jordan quipped slyly, raising an eyebrow.
Harry immediately reddened. "I – I don't know what – " he spluttered.
Jordan laughed and grinned at him, his hair falling into his eyes. "I'm only kidding!" he managed to say between chuckles.
"Oi you, any more of that and I'll do more than just give you a few bruises next practice," Harry snorted good-naturedly.
Jordan held his hands up in mock defeat. "Alright, alright, point taken," he accepted.
"So," he said, shifting his gaze to the shop window that Harry had been peering at. "What are you after?"
Harry sighed and narrowed his eyes at the selection on display. "Well I'm looking for a watch for Draco, a kind of 'thank you' for putting up with me this past week. He's really busy with his job but he's been popping in and out constantly to see if I need anything, with my wrist and everything – "
"I think that would drive me crazy," Jordan interrupted.
They both laughed.
"So do you need any help?"
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Oh, yeah that'd be good, thanks. I'm not brilliant at choosing gifts."
"Well don't worry, I'll help."
Why, are you good at picking out jewellery?
"No, rubbish," he said cheerily.
Harry chuckled in spite of himself and they entered the shop together.
After a few abandoned choices - no, too big…no, Draco hates gold…hmm it's a bit too fancy - Harry located a perfect watch that he was sure his husband would love. It had a plain dial adorned with simple studs to mark the numbers and the strap consisted of broad silver links.
Harry smiled at the assistant and pointed to it. "Hi, could I see that one, please?"
The woman smiled at him and reached into the cabinet to bring it out. "Of course, here you are - try it on."
"Oh, it's not for me," Harry replied quickly as she undid the clasp. "It's for my husband."
She promptly offered the watch to Jordan.
"Oh no, he's not my – I mean, we're not – " Harry stammered.
"Oh, I'm sorry," the lady chuckled. "I assumed – "
"No," Harry repeated, a little more firmly than was necessary.
Jordan snorted and smiled at her. "Unfortunately for me he prefers blondes…." He raised an eyebrow at Harry and the wizard reddened slightly, realising that Jordan had overheard his comment at the hospital the previous week. Harry turned his attention to the watch to cover his embarrassment but felt the heat rise in his cheeks as Jordan chuckled silently beside him.
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Later that same day, Draco lifted the watch from its box and looked at Harry in surprise. "What's this for?"
"Because I love you."
"Hmm…that's quite vague," Draco teased, sliding his arms around his husband's waist and drawing him closer. "Guilty conscience, eh? Did you scratch the side of my car again?"
Harry smirked and pecked him on the lips. "Nope, try again…."
"Let me see…." Draco pretended to think deeply. "You're really Ron but you've been taking Polyjuice all this time?"
Harry laughed. "Nowhere near…."
Draco clicked his fingers. "I've got it! You're having an affair with that what's-his-name aren't you?" His eyes darkened playfully.
Harry immediately spluttered. What? Had Draco seen him with Jordan? "Don't be silly, of course I'm not!" he argued hotly. "How can you even say that? Can't I even buy you a present without – "
"Harry!" Draco laughed and smacked him lightly on the arm. "I'm just teasing!"
Harry reddened in embarrassment.
"Oh, er, yes…." He smiled weakly.
Draco slipped the watch on his arm happily and twisted it, admiring the way in which the metal glinted in the light. He peered at the little numbers on the dial and wrinkled his nose a little. He turned to Harry. "So tell me…what does it do again?"
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A/N: Even though Draco is obviously familiar with lots of Muggle objects like telephones and cars I thought it would be cute of Draco still not to remember what a watch does.