Title: The Well 22/?
Author: eidheann
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~1,200 (~17,500 total)
Summary: Where there is a wish...
Warnings: angst.
A/N: Many thanks for the comments and support. As is probably obvious to those reading, the end is swiftly approaching. I'm keeping the final chapter count as ? just because it's always somewhat uncertain how much I'm able to progress the story each day.
They emerged from the Parkinson's floo to find the room empty except for an elf dressed in formal gilt-trimmed pillowcase. It snapped it's bony fingers at Draco, then Harry, and their robes were cleaned of ash and wrinkle free. "Has the wedding started yet?"
"No, Mister Draco Malfoy, Sir. The wedding not be started yet. You be last guests expected, Sirs. Niddy be telling Mistress Pansy that Mister Draco Malfoy Sir and Mister Harry Potter Sir be arrived." It bowed and disappeared with a pop.
"Well, on the bright side, not noticing I'm here is right out." Harry grinned at Draco's grimace, before firmly grasping his hand and leading him out of the entry. He looked up and down the hallway and glanced at Draco. "So... which way?"
"Heathen," Draco returned with a sigh, but turned to the right and headed for the Parkinson's large conservatory. Harry refused to free his hand, and when they entered, he could sense the moment when the stares of those present turned from shock at Harry Potter attending a Parkinson wedding, to shock that Harry Potter was quite firmly holding Draco Malfoy's hand. Those present were mainly former Slytherin's, however, so the whispering that would normally have followed such a sight was silence instead, as each decided how best to use the information. One woman in the back, wearing a set of red robes and carrying a scroll and quill looked like Christmas had come early, and visibly restrained herself from pouncing on them as they passed.
Draco could feel the tension ratcheting in his back and shoulders. He met a few stares with stares of his own, and the few raised eyebrows with a cool glare. Blaise Zabini, the bastard, seemed entirely too amused by the situation, and the smirk on his face promised years of taunting. Potter seemed oblivious to the stares, simply giving small nods and faint smiles to those who made eye contact, but his grasp on Draco's hand grew tighter as they walked. Finally taking seats midway down the aisle, Draco could only be glad Pansy missed the initial entrance, for her reaction would surely have given that Prophet reporter in the back something to write about. If the elf conveyed the message as stated to him, she would at least have time to get her reactions under control, so she probably wouldn't hex him... much.
He glanced up at Theo standing beside the officiant, meeting his gaze. Theo simply gave a faint shrug and small quirk of his lips. He knew quite well what to expect from Pansy's probable reaction and would be no help, not that Draco expected it. He admitted some relief that he wasn't going to face hexing from Theo, however, and could feel his shoulders relax slightly. They tensed right up again when the sound of the doors opening with a bang heralded Pansy's arrival. He noted Harry keeping his head firmly facing forward, and glanced back at Pansy. Her eyes were on him as she fixed him with a glare. Mouthing "later" she turned her attention to Theo and gave him a smile as warm as her look at Draco had been icy, and walked with her father up the aisle.
The wedding was brief and to the point, the contracts between both parties being already signed and filed with the Ministry and Gringotts. The cord was tied around their wrists to disappear with a flash. The everburning candles were lit. The kiss was chaste and brief. Draco and Harry received another glare as Pansy walked up the aisle on Theo's arm, Draco bit his lip and noticed Harry's neck and ears turning faintly pink. "Remember, no secrets was your idea, Potter." Draco's murmur was barely audible, but Harry squeezed his hand in acknowledgement.
"Ready?" Harry's expression was so full of love that Draco took a breath and nodded, standing and making his way towards the receiving line where Pansy and Theo were waiting to greet those on their way to the reception and dinner in the ballroom. The other guests seemed to be playing the situation calmly, giving no sign that Harry's presence was in any way untoward, and greeted them both with indifferent politeness.
"Congratulations, Pansy, Theo." Harry's smile was genuine and his arm firmly around Draco's waist when they finally reached the front of the line. Theo returned his smile, though Pansy's attempt was more of a grimace as she reached for Draco's arm and pulled him into a hug.
"You have some explaining to do," was all she said before giving him a push and turning to the elderly witch standing behind him. He gave another nod to Theo and allowed Harry to lead him down the hall.
"Well, that went better than expected." Draco stopped and stared at Harry's amused expression. "Well, neither of us is a frog. We're not injured, either." Harry gave Draco a tug to get him walking again. "Come on, let's go in there so I can say all the stuff I'm probably going to embarrass you by saying now, and we can get it over with."
"That reporter is going to jump on us as soon as we get inside."
"Let her." Harry gave a negligent wave of his hand, a gesture likely picked up from Draco.
"It's too late now, you know. I didn't think about the Prophet's society reporter being here. I thought you'd still have a chance-"
Harry growled quietly and steered them into an open archway. Draco glanced around and saw they were in one of the small family parlors before Potter backed him into the wall and filled his entire frame of vision. "For the last time, none of that. I'm not afraid. Well, I'm kind of afraid of Pansy, but I'm not afraid of the Prophet. I don't want to hide this. I want to hold your hand while walking down Diagon Alley. I want to have lunch with you at the Leaky. I want you to stay over at mine. I want to embarrass our friends by being caught snogging if they floo unexpectedly. Stop trying to push me away to protect me."
Draco bit his lip and nodded slightly, noting Potter's attention focusing on the action. He had only a moment to realize how close they were standing and that the heat radiating off Harry's body was making him dizzy before Harry leaned closer. His head hit the wall with a faint thud then he was once again kissing Harry.
Unlike in his flat, this time he felt hyper-aware of everything. Harry's hands were buried in his hair, clenching and releasing in time with his heartbeat. The faint vibration of Harry's moans into his mouth, too quiet to hear over the blood rushing in his ears. The warm familiar slide of tongue against tongue. The hard planes of Harry pressed against him, chest to knee. The soft feeling of Harry's hair clenched in his own hands as he pulled him closer, harder, pressed tighter between Harry and the wall.
The sound of a throat clearing pulled them apart enough to turn their heads and see Pansy watching them from the entry, her arms crossed and eyebrow cocked. "As much as I hate to break up such an impressive display... Draco, darling, dearest. Could I have a few moments alone, please?"