A/N: Hello, all! It has been a while, but I've been quite busy, and life is hectic, and at the moment more than unkind to me. Which results in me updating far later than I hoped to...
After his mate was on the bed, he stroked his cheek lovingly, before he moved forward to kiss his forehead. "Sweet dreams, Harry," he whispered, before he closed the door behind himself and moved downstairs to clean their glasses. He looked at the clock. Five past four. After humming through the rest of the dishes, he moved back to the couch and picked up the framed photograph. It showed Harry sitting down, while he tickled their daughter, who was obviously screaming with laughter. It stirred so many emotions in him, that he was unable to figure out where one began, and the other ended. Sadness, happiness, sorrow, he could easily pick a few.
After stirring himself, he got up to make some dinner. His stomach rumbled in agreement, too. He smiled, and made him and Harry some dinner.
A sleepy looking Harry was walking downstairs, just as dinner was put on the table. He woke up being a bit disorientated, but soon got his bearings back. Happiness had flown through his body, and he had to make sure Draco was still there, that it wasn't all a dream, that he wasn't alone in the house. So he had walked downstairs. Maybe the smell helped him to wake up, because he was most certainly hungry. Finally his eyes rested on the sight he was afraid never to see anymore. Draco was setting the table, highly focused on making sure everything was perfect. It always had to be perfect. Harry had nearly forgotten.
He shook himself and walked forward, smiling as he noticed Draco didn't even notice him entering. He tapped his blond on the shoulder, and nearly had to step back as Draco whirled around. Harry's hand stayed on the blond's shoulder, and their proximity was intoxicating to the dark haired man. Feelings he hadn't felt for years started to stir as he looked into the familiar grey eyes. Butterflies started to stir in his stomach, and his breath hitched. "Draco…"
Draco looked back with the same longing, but regretfully pulled away. "Come, dinner's ready. Have you slept well?"
The mood was broken, and Harry blinked when Draco tugged on his hand to lead him to the table. "I slept fine. Wonderful, even. It was different, waking up, but I knew soon enough where I was."
The blond nodded, and pulled out a chair. "Please, sit down. I'll put the last things on the table, and then we can eat. I was just about to call you."
Harry gently lowered himself in the chair, wondering what just happened. One moment he had the urge to kiss Draco, and he saw the same idea shining in the blond's eyes, and the next he had pulled away, telling him dinner was ready. The dark haired man nearly huffed in impatience. He just had to wait for Draco to make his move. It's the least he could do.
Dinner was served, and it was the most comfortable, yet awkward thing that Harry had ever witnessed. The dark haired man felt as relaxed as he could be, if it wasn't for the three year gap that loomed between them. Yet it didn't seem so big as he thought it would be. It was strange to say the least.
Draco couldn't stop fidgeting at the dinner table. He had seen the way Harry looked at him, the very same thing that was playing on his mind, now that he knew his mate was here. But he didn't think he deserved it. After all, how can he be forgiven in one day, when he'd been away for three years. Yes, of course it wasn't his fault, but it was still something he didn't know how to handle. In the past he might've been selfish, and taken what Harry could give him, but he wouldn't now. His mate deserved better, and inconsideration wasn't on his to-do list. No, he would just have to be patient. It was best that Harry would be leading him.
Eventually, though, he had calmed down and had stopped fidgeting. Dinner was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. It was strange, having company again. The only one who ever came to visit him was a neighbour, who was a wizard, too. He had found out quite by accident.
Draco had sat down on the bench in the front yard, two years ago on a sunny day, with sunglasses on. His neighbour was working in the garden, tending to the plants. Suddenly a pop was heard, and a man appeared. Draco had only raised his brows, while his neighbour straightened up and looked as white as a sheet.
"Verdomme, Peter! Wat heb ik je nou gezegd? Dit is een Dreuzelbuurt! Je kunt zoiets niet maken. Nu moet ik Amnesia over hem uitspreken! Weet je hoeveel problemen ik kan krijgen?" He glanced at Draco, and grabbed his wand.
Draco, getting the gist of the story, just smiled. "No need, neighbour." He let his own wand fall out of his sleeve and held it up. "I'm just like you, so don't worry about Obliviating me."
"How'd you know what we said?" his neighbour just asked, genuine surprise crossing his face.
Draco shrugged. "I've been living here for over a year. Do you truly think I know nothing yet?" He gave an amused smile to get the sting off the words.
His neighbour nodded, and extended a hand over the small fence, and Draco got up to take it. "Fred at your service," he said with a mock grin.
"Hello, Fred, I'm Draco. Your handsome neighbour."
The other man laughed, and his guest couldn't help but grin. "How could it possibly be that I haven't discovered your quick wits yet? Could I come over later this afternoon? To catch up on lost time. I'm sure we'll be great friends."
Draco nodded. "I'll have a pot of tea ready."
The man grimaced. "I'd rather have coffee, if you don't mind."
Draco nodded. "And some coffee, too."
His neighbour nodded, before they moved inside, talking quickly. Draco just shook his head and moved inside. It was getting way too hot, and he didn't really want to get sunburned.
That was the start of a certain friendship. It was the only person Draco counted on. Especially since the other male was a year younger than he was. The man was a person who loved pranks, and helped Draco through hard times, by using one lame joke after another. It had kept him going, instead of worrying sick. It was all the support he needed.
Harry tried to cover a yawn, but failed miserably.
Draco shot a look at him, before a gentle smile curved his lips. "Come, let's get you into bed. I'm sure you haven't slept well in quite some time."
The dark haired man grimaced, and stood up, swaying a bit as he did so. "I guess so. But I'm sure you haven't, either, and the sleep I got this afternoon has been the best I have had in a while. I still want to thank you, Draco, for letting me stay."
The blond stood up, and offered his hand. "Harry, letting you stay here is the least that I can do for sending you on a goose chase. You deserve far more for what I have put you through."
Harry took his hand, and levelled his gaze at the blond, determination shining in his eyes when he stood up. "I don't care, Draco. Yes, at first I was bitter, but I guess part of it could be blamed on my hormones, but I have gotten over that. Yes, I have screamed and raged, and broken more things that I care to count, but I have calmed down and followed my heart. It led me back to you. I know we have to fix things, but we'll get there. Worse things have happened, and everyone is okay. I won't abandon you, simply because some one threatened to harm me, and you have fled. You're worth more than that."
Draco dropped his head, and nodded mutely, until Harry put his fingers under his chin. "Draco, you are worth more than that. Many would disagree, but then again, they don't know what I know now. I'm sure you feel the same way about me that I feel about you." He dared to lean forward and drop a kiss on Draco's cheek, before he let go of his hand and found his way upstairs to his bedroom, leaving Draco standing in the living room.
Eventually Draco shook himself out of his stupor, and slowly walked to his bedroom, a dazed smile plastered on his face. He was asleep before his head even hit the pillow.
A/N: That was it, again, I'm sorry to say... (Also, now you guys know a new swear word in Dutch! (I won't be hold responsible for that!))
"Verdomme, Peter! Wat heb ik je nou gezegd? Dit is een Dreuzelbuurt! Je kunt zoiets niet maken. Nu moet ik Amnesia over hem uitspreken! Weet je hoeveel problemen ik kan krijgen?" "Damn it, Peter! What have I told you? This is a Muggle neighbourhood! You can't possibly do that. Now I have to cast Obliviate on him! Do you know how much trouble I can get for this?"
Guest: Well, quite ironicallly, I'm stuck in a situation like that. Though there aren't any babies or death threats involved. My friend has ended our friendship, but I know her parents forced her to (long story, and I'm not really bothered to put it all here). If she ever came back to me, I would really welcome her back without much of a fuss, since I know it's not her choice, and it makes all the difference. Though it hasn't been three years (only a few months), it would still apply, because I care for her a lot. So I guess one could be forgiven with certain circumstances. Or maybe not, but that varies per person.