Note: It's been more than 3 years since I posted around the end of 2019. Lots happened. Around the time I had surgery, got a tumor removed. Then it was 2020…the pandemic, one family member died of covid, another got close to death. My youngest sister died in a traffic accident and left behind a 10 month old baby. I now raise him as my own. My business got hurt by the pandemic and had to finally close. For the first time in my life I had to swallow my pride and seek help financially: churches, foodstamps, erap - which I wound't have done if it wasn't for the fact that I had a kid to raise now and I have to do my best for him. And for my sister, now in Heaven. May her soul Rest In Peace.

Worst year of my life.

Also, my laptop had fried. Lost the notes and layout of this story. I can hardly remember where it was going now. Have some vague notion. I'm now outlying another version of what it would have been, based on the 8 chapters I posted and the overall idea I had for it back then.

Here we go again. I'm feeling stronger and more optimistic now with some time between now and 2020. And because heartache isn't hitting me hard every time I see something pre-2020, like this fic, I decided to get back to it. It really is fun to write. Sorry for the enormous wait.

Chapter 9 Fuck It

Draco

They stood near the water, barely anything could be seen with the fire from the lighter in Draco's hand. Draco chewed his lip. He was worried. It was pitch black. What if Harry couldn't swim back because he couldn't see which way was the surface.

What if there was a basilisk in there? Switzerland was filled with them! They were in muggle territory but magical creatures didn't care and crossed borders often. Muggles in rural areas caught sight of them regularly.

"Are you certain about this, Potter?"

The brave idiot nodded. Draco could barely see his eyes in the dark as he looked intently at the water.

"We've got no other option. As the Navy Seals say: only easy day was yesterday."

"What is with your obsession with those muggles?"

"They capture and kill terrorists. So do I." He sighed in resignation and took his clothes off. Draco turned away awkwardly.

"Here goes nothing," Potter said and just dove in like a maniac without warning.

Draco cried out, "Wait!" But Potter had already submerged himself. Draco stared at the water for a moment. "He really is mad," he spoke to himself. "Stupid idiot thinks he's one of those naval manatees or whatever."

To Draco's immense relief, Potter resurfaced seconds later. Harry cried, "Fuck this is cold!"

And just like that Draco's relief turned into aggravated scorn. "Yes. I could have told you that without diving in."

"You prat," Potter growled back, teeth clattering. "It's not too deep. Bottom's filled with some kind of glowing plants. Helps us see. Spotted a tunnel. It might lead somewhere."

With renewed hope, Draco said, "Then let's go!"

"Wait. Let me check first. What if it's too long before we find a surface? How long can you hold your breath?"

Out of patience with Potter's overprotectiveness, Draco snapped, "How long can you?! If it's a long tunnel, do you really think you can swim through it three times? You really think you're a…a special Navy walrus?!"

Despite Potter narrowing his eyes in an attempt to look wryly at Draco, there was a definite amused quirk to his lips. "Fine," he relented and got out of the water.

Draco averted his eyes again, briefly having glimpsed at all of Potter. Then, as if his eyes had a mind of their own, glanced back and took a peek of Potter's broad back and taut buttocks. The man definitely did weighted squats.

As Potter got dressed, he said, "Make sure you don't lose the flask. We're going to need it when we get out the other side."

Thankfully, Draco's coat pockets had zippers. Which is why Potter handed him the whisker, as well. Potter then put the Glock into his waistband and closed his jacket. "Ready," he asked Draco, who nodded and put away the lighter.

They were suddenly in absolute darkness. Draco felt the stirrings of a panic attack but then Potter's hand slid into his. It was shivering cold but strong in his own gloved one. Draco squeezed it and took a deep breath as Potter counted down to one, and they jumped in.

The temperature of the water shocked Draco's nerves. At first is was so dark and the swirling bubbly water disoriented him, but Potter pulled him down and as they swam deeper, Draco could see softly glowing, bulbous plants at the pool's floor. It lit up sufficiently for them to see around them. Indeed not far ahead there was a tunnel.

As they swam through is, Draco clung to Potter's hand like a lifeline - which it was. He didn't know how much time passed, but soon his lungs began to burn and the winding tunnel got confusing. His grip on Potter's hand grew more difficult to keep. He felt like he was drowning.

Panic would have set in if it wasn't for Potter's voice in his head, quoting him American militarisms. Three-foot world. Focus only on what you can control - and at the moment all that entailed was continue holding his breath and swim for his life. He survived Lestrange and a troll. And Harry was still gripping his hand securely leading the way. He would be fine.

Moments after that, the top opened up and they quickly swam to the surface. Once they broke out, the nippy air bit sharply into their faces as they gasped for dear breath. They we in another, much larger cavern chamber, but this one was lit by a large opening and the clouds had broken to reveal a full moon right above them illuminating the outline of an ancient looking, rickety building stood on the ground above them. And beside rocky platforms high above among the stalactites there were ladders and bridges connecting them.

It all looked abandoned and centuries old.

"What is this place," Draco whispered, barely able to utter anything through his clenching teeth.

Harry let go of his hand and said, "Come one," as he swam towards the rocks.

They climbed the slippery, wet rocks carefully until they reached solid ground. Draco had never been that cold in his life. He knelt down, hunched in on himself, teeth clattering. Harry grabbed him by the arm and helped him to his feet.

"Draco, we need to get warm quickly," said Harry gently as he guided him towards the building. The use of his first name came so naturally and in such a sweet tone that it made Draco's heart skip a few beats. He didn't think Harry had noticed.

The building was small, perfectly square and wooden. Ancient but clearly advanced architecture. There were crates and a few empty racks around it. Old braziers and torches hanging from the wooden scaffolds that held up the bridges above were scattered around the compound.

"Give me the lighter," Harry said as he opened the door.

Draco dug into his pockets and gave it to him. It took a few attempts, but Harry finally lit it and held it over his head as he peered inside. There was a table and a few chairs. Another brazier in a corner and at its feet a box of coal.

"Brilliant!" Harry cried and ran over to it.

Draco shivered in the doorway, the cold seeping into his bones and numbing his fingers and toes. But Harry quickly scrambled to get the brazier going. Soon enough the flames rose brilliantly, illuminating the interior and sending a blessed wave of warmth towards Draco.

"Draco, take your clothes off, hurry!"

As he did so, Draco muttered bitterly, "How are you not shriveling up like me?"

"I frequently take dives into icy water in the winter. To dominate it. Helps build up mental strength, willpower — good for muscle growth and a bunch of other health stuff too."

Despite rolling his eyes at Harry's flagrantly Griffyndor lifestyle choices, he couldn't help but be endeared by them as well. And that scared him. It's as if his heart had forgotten this was Harry Potter.

He removed the last of his clothes quietly, trying to calm whatever it was that was happening in the pit of his stomach. When it came to remove his underpants, he hesitated. Harry seemed to notice this and said, "Can't afford to be a prude right now, Draco. If it's such a big deal, I'll look away. But hurry and come dry yourself by the fire."

Heart hammering, Draco did as Harry suggested. Harry had turned his back to Draco and was staring at the flames in front of the brazier. This time Draco looked at him more closely.

Harry had bulked up. Wide shoulders, bulging triceps, narrow hips, powerful thighs, all muscle. And while that certainly was Draco's idea of masculine beauty, at the moment his attention was more focused on the scars. Down Harry's arms, his back. There was even what looked like a bullet scar on the back of his thigh.

Battle scars. Many of them post-war. Harry didn't seem to let up the fight. He was running just as Draco was. Harry from his own mind. Draco from the rest of the world.

He went up to stand close to Harry, bringing his numbed, frozen hands up to the warmth of the fire. Something had changed in the water tunnel. Or maybe before that. But Draco couldn't stop thinking of Harry differently now. The things about his old rival that used to annoy him, no longer did. The things he used to hate about Harry - now made him feel other things.

"What is this place," Harry asked, almost to himself as he looked with contemplation at the flames.

"Looks Roman," answered Draco. "Military."

Harry turned to look at him and Draco flinched. He almost told Harry off but refused to look like some fragile snow flake. He allowed the stare. However, Harry seemed to sense his discomfort and looked away.

"An outpost of some sort?" Harry asked, as if Draco would know more.

He knew enough but he wasn't a history nut or anything. "Don't know. They looked to be mining something if the structures outside are anything to go by. Not a massive mining operation so maybe for self-reliance?"

"Surely there's an exit nearby. We lucked out finding this place."

Draco chuckled darkly. "Yeah. If I had known you were such a lucky charm I would have been nicer to you back in school."

Harry snorted. "I don't believe that for a second."

This brought a smile to Draco's face. Harry knew him too well. How did that ever happen?

He could feel a nervous energy about Harry. The man glanced at him, then seeming to remember that was a no for Draco, looked away again. It was almost as if he was fighting back the urge to keep his eyes on Draco.

Suddenly Harry gave a comically exaggerated sigh of lament and said, "I really stand by what I said before."

"What are you on about?"

Harry shot him a brief glance and said, "Brunet really doesn't suit you. As soon as I get my wand back I'm banishing that dye."

That made Draco's heart nearly stop and he turned his head towards Harry just to witness the man clearly coming to realize the implications of what he said. Harry turned away with a quick, "Gotta hang the clothes and dry out the gun. Stay here."

Maybe there was nothing behind those words. But why would a man care so much about another man's hair color? Draco didn't feel comfortable with Harry at his back. He turned a little so he could crane his head enough to see what Harry was up to.

Indeed he was scurrying about picking up the discarded wet clothes and hanging them on the chairs and table. The brazier lit the small room brightly enough that Draco could see everything. Even Harry's meaty prick dangling between his thighs as he moved about.

Draco's eyes widened as he felt the stirrings of lust. He slew back around quickly. Heart felt like it was about to break free of his rib cage.

Just to run away from what he felt, he blurted out, "Never would have guessed you preferred blonds, Potter. One would think I turned you off to them." No no no, Draco you absolute idiot! He chastised himself, scrunching his eyes shut as if to wish away those poor choice of words from memory.

He had intended it to be a taunt. It came out flirty instead. Much to Draco's mortification, the sounds of movement behind him seized. The silence was heavy. Draco felt his ears glow as if on fire. He couldn't let Harry see so he covered them.

The seconds dragged on by as if they were minutes until he finally heard Harry shuffle towards him. Draco dared not turn. Suddenly he felt the weight of a coat fall over his shoulders, covering his nudity.

Harry

The way Draco smiled in the firelight looked amazing. The bastard's smile was steadily becoming Harry's favorite thing. It didn't help that he now knew Draco was gay and capable of kindness, or that they were naked with mere inches of space between them. His pale, bare skin glowed in the firelight, and his gray eyes seemed lighter and softer under his black bangs. Draco had a fine figure. Foraging and hiking kept him slim and toned enough.

Then there was the pure trust he gave Harry in the water tunnel as he held on to his hand only stirred things inside him he didn't even know he was capable of feeling.

Harry very nearly blurted out, 'You should smile like that more often." Instead he scrambled for something to say that was far from emotional. Unfortunately the first thing that came to mind was still Draco-centric.

Harry went around picking up their clothes to hang them, silently cursing his lack of ability to think before he spoke. Banishing his dye, the fuck are you thinking dumbass? He made sure to keep his eyes down. The sight of Draco was strictly forbidden, he told himself, as he picked up the white parka.

As he was about to lay it on the table, he heard Draco say, "Never would have guessed you preferred blonds, Potter. One would think I turned you off to them."

The tone in his voice had been soft, almost flirty. Harry was sure Draco probably meant to take the edge off the taunt, but it didn't escape either of them that Draco had acknowledged Harry's attraction to him.

It caused Harry to freeze. He looked over at Draco and instantly regretted it. Before averting his eyes, however, the image of Draco's bowed head with his hands covering his ears was imprinted on his mind. The short black tresses hugging his white nape, his long neck, the curve of his nicely developed shoulders. The slant of the small of his back. His long legs.

Harry looked back at the white parka and, holding his hand above it, whispered roughly the hot air charm. It worked. He was so intently focused on making the damn spell work because he couldn't bear another minute in that small room with Draco naked, only a few paces from him. Not with the memory of him so pliant in his arms earlier that day.

He drew close to Draco with some trepidation and gently, without touching him, placed the coat over his shoulders. "I'm gonna go get another brazier from outside…" He was about to explain why (to dry out the rest of the clothes faster), but his voice came out hoarse and deeper than he could control and he didn't want to speak any further.

Clearing his throat he stepped away. He stretched his shaking hand over his own trousers and tried the wandless charm again. But with his pounding heart, or just the fact that his intent wasn't as strong or focused this time, it failed. He sighed and went out into the cold cavern in the nude. Stared at a square, legged brazier near the door.

Fuck it.

Adrenaline coursing in his veins and more afraid than any battle ever made him feel, Harry strode back inside with purpose. Gently, he grabbed Draco's shoulder to turn him, and kissed him full on the lips. He felt the other man stiffen only momentarily, and for that split second Harry though he had made a grievous mistake. Then Draco threw his arms around him, his coat sliding from his shoulders and pooling at their feet. And kissed Harry back with even more fervor.

It shocked Harry, what they were doing. Confused him. But the more primal part of his brain didn't care. It only made him hyper aware of their naked bodies pressed together, Draco's warm belly against his, his semi pressing into Harry's thigh. Draco's soft lips against his, his tongue and breath. His hair in Harry's hands. It all felt so damn good.

Harry didn't know where he would have taken this, or where Draco would have allowed it to go, because suddenly a loud crash sounded outside. Harry was already in battle mode. He flung himself off of Draco and picked up the gun on the table. Good thing about Glocks was you could still shoot them after they've been submerged in water.

Harry flattened himself against the wall by the door and opened it slowly with the tip of the gun, peering into the darkness outside. The moon must have lowered, he could barely see the outline of things. He regretted not lighting the other braziers outside sooner - shouldn't have waited for the clothes to dry as if he couldn't take the cold for a few minutes.

Angry at himself, at Lestrange, and at whatever was outside that had interrupted their kiss, Harry closed the door, went over towards the clothes and blasted the drying spell at them. Not even holding his hand out. A wave of focused, controlled power rippled through the room and suddenly the clothes were fully dry. Even the puddles on the floor had disappeared.

"Merlin, Harry…"

Harry looked up at Draco, heart aching for a moment at the sight of him wrapped in his coat again. He shook it off, focusing. He whispered, "Get dressed quick."

Harry followed his own instructions. He didn't know if they'd have to make a run for it. Grabbing the lighter, and hoping it wasn't running out of gas, he turned back to the door and ordered Draco to stay inside. Then, gun and light in hand, went outside, ignoring Draco's calls.

Note: So I don't think this was the scene I originally had in mind. I think, if I can recall my notes correctly, there was going to be a hut and a magical creature living in it. Details are blurry. But we have enough magical creatures living in that cavern.

I definitely hadn't intended for things to have developed so soon between Harry and Draco. And they won't. I do love a slow burn. But having them in that room, naked together…how could I not put a kissing scene in there? I mean if I had been Harry I'd have done the same thing. Fuck it moments are my favorite moments in life.

Hope you guys think my decisions turned out well? Drop a line and let me know :)