Sorry it took so long I've been away, or sick, or swamped with homework
Chapter 13 The Cottage
Dawn yet again, and another days hard riding, stopping for the mid-day meal, Draco estimated they were perhaps two, maybe three hundred miles from the road and about the same distance way from any other town or settlement.
Harry was antsy when they dismounted, Draco watched him curiously while doing his now routine stretches.
Harry paced well aware of the adorable blonds eyes following him as he paced back and forth several times 'we need to find a safe place to live,' Harry pictured a large garden filled with many plants, herbs, flowers, trees covered with ripe tasty fruit, a barn for several animals running around the yard, and a cozy looking cottage house.
"H…Harry," came Draco's voice looking behind him, Harry turned to see that the wild bushes they had stopped to eat lunch by, had parted to reveal what he imagined.
"I love magic," replied Harry in a hushed tone "Draco is this forest magic?"
"Yes," replied Draco his face breaking into a large smile that made Harry want to kiss him "the forest created this because you wanted it?"
Harry nodded "it would seem so."
The yard was covered in soft green grass, with a smooth red-brown stone path leading up to a beautiful cottage that looked large enough to house them both spaciously but still cozy. Outside the house were gardens of flowers, plants, like beans, tomato's, ground plants like carrots and potato's, tree's native and non-native to the area ranging from simple apple tree's to banana and pineapple. And several chickens, a rooster, a bull, and two cows, stayed in there respective pens, eating graciously.
"Perfect," whispered Draco looking around wide eyed, Harry smiled as he scooped him up and spun him around.
Draco squeaked in surprise, and Harry laughed "this is what I've always imagined."
Draco smiled wider as Harry put him down, placing a sound kiss on his pink lips, loving the taste, "Let's explore," suggested Draco once the kiss was broken for much needed air.
Harry nodded a bit crest fallen, he wanted to kiss him more, but the blond was already leading Syfron up the path towards the stables.
Harry grasped Shadowfax's reins and followed Draco, entering the stables he deemed it large enough to house six horses nicely, his eyes scanning around for Draco.
Draco entered one of the stalls and removed Syfron's saddle, "there you go girl," he kissed her nose and turned around to see Harry in the stall across from him, Shadowfax look quite pleased with himself as Harry bathed and brushed his deep black coat.
Draco smiled turning his attention to the feeding Syfron, muttering a spell warm water squirted from the end of his wand, it took Draco an hour to bath and brush a now beautiful looking mare.
"She's quite a beauty," came Harry's voice from behind.
Draco agreed kissing her nose, "she's been wonderful to me on my travels," he turned to look at Harry as his eyes flicked over to Shadowfax "how long have you been companions?"
"Almost three years," replied Harry checking Syfron's food and water buckets and filling them like he had done for Shadowfax a moment before.
Syfron neighed her thanks and began to indulge in her meal of sweet hay and barley.
Harry stashed his wand up his sleeve and looked up to find Draco missing, nearly running out of the stale he shouted "DRACO? DRACO WHERE ARE YOU?"
"Why are you yelling?" came Draco's voice from the stable rafters, Harry looked up to see Draco lounging comfortably on a stack of hay.
"I was just wondering where you went," replied Harry sheepishly, as he climbed the small stair case up to the rafters and plopped down beside Draco, wasting no time gathering him in his arms.
"Your certainly clingy today," smiled Draco leaning into Harry's embrace.
"Well your extra cute today," replied Harry kissing him, Draco moaned as he arched up a bit to reach Harry better.
Harry's body reacted almost instantly at the light moan as his hands wandered under Draco's shirt loving the feel of his pale silk skin, but much to Harry's disappointment Draco pulled away and moved to the edge of the platform, he sat silently his legs falling over the edge.
"Draco? Angel?" asked Harry "what's been bothering you?" Harry sat beside him, keeping a respectable distance away this time.
Draco shrugged and looked down, for a second Harry was worried he might jump, that fall was a bit much for someone so delicate, "I've just been thinking about home far too much," Draco looked at Harry with an unreadable look, yet inside Draco was feeling pain, sadness, anger and love, creating such a confused emotion he found it hard to voice what he wanted to say.
"You know you can talk to me," assured Harry reaching out his hand to hold Draco's, he was relived when his Angel didn't pull away.
"Harry…do you…what do you think of me?" asked Draco unsure of how he was too word his question.
"I think you're the most gorgeous man I've ever met," Harry spoke with such sincerity, and his eyes shone with proof of his words that Draco felt touched.
"Would you ever leave me?" asked Draco his voice almost a whisper.
Harry was stunned as he took Draco's other hand and held both of them close, "Never, I love you Draco, I'm more concerned about you leaving me, the thought never crossed my mind, I never want to be apart from you."
Draco smiled as he lept into Harry's arms, causing Harry to fall back onto the platform, Draco lying on top of him hugging him tightly "you promise?"
"I promise you, I'll love you forever and never leave you," replied Harry, and for the first time Draco kissed Harry first, he kissed him deep and Harry was immediately aroused by the passion and love Draco was sending through it.
They broke away gasping for air, and Draco with a sly grin slid off Harry and raced down the stairs and out of the stables, with a smirk Harry raced after his Angel and caught him just as he reached the door to their cottage house.
Draco squealed as Harry's strong arms encircled in his waist, and gave off a light moan when his neck was nipped playfully.
"You're such a tease," Harry whispered naughtily into Draco's ear.
Draco smirked at him "well you're just too easy to tease."
Harry growled playfully as Draco's hand found the door handle, turning it sharply he slipped in, shutting it quickly, a dull thud was heard before Harry bursted into the room causing Draco to jump a bit scared.
Harry's eyes turned to him burning with lust and Draco was certain of his fear, he was all alone in the middle of the forest with a man he hardly knew.
"Har-Harry," came the light frightened voice that was Draco, as he backed away slowly hoping not to be noticed.
Harry looked at him taking several quick steps too him, and grabbing his wrists just as he was about to fall over a table, "Draco," the smaller boy struggled against him "Draco I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, I'm just used to playing ruff with other men."
Draco timidly looked up and Harry released his arms, feeling immediately guilty at the two forming bruises on both his wrists.
"Angel I'm sorry," started Harry.
Draco raised his eyes to him "don't worry about it," Harry opened his mouth to say something "no don't speak, just…lets explore."
Harry just nodded not sure what else to do, he hurt his angel and all because he got a little horny, silently he followed Draco room to room exploring the contents.
There was a reasonable sized kitchen with a table that could seat maybe six if you squeezed in. A sitting room with two comfy armchairs, a large L shaped couch, fireplace, table, a desk and a desk chair. There were also three bed rooms with a large king sized bed, foot chest, desk, chair, fireplace, and bed side table, with large closets to each room and a bathroom attached to the master, while the other two rooms shared a split bathroom. There was also a pantry with a meat storage room, Harry explaining what the hanging hooks were for when Draco got a bit freaked out.
After exploring every nook and cranny of the cottage Draco raced outside towards the barn, leaving Harry slightly behind wondering if his Angel would ever tire-out.
"Harry we should name them," suggested Draco reaching out his hand to pet one of the caramel coloured cows.
Harry chuckled "your acting like such a kid."
Draco looked up at him with hurt eyes "I was merely having some fun."
"Dray I'm sorry…I'm such a screw up today, go ahead name if you like," it was now Harry's turn to be upset, Draco walked over to him and gave him a hug.
"You can help me name some, come on lets start with the cow with the dark brown spot on her forehead," Draco pointed at the cow he had been petting moments before "any suggestions?"
"Bessie?" suggested Harry hearing the name before from a passing farmer.
"Bessie the cow with the dark brown spot," Draco smiled "let's name the other Kali?"
Harry nodded as they proceed to name each animal on their farm.
By the time the sun painted the sky in pastel they had named every animal, the two cows, Bessie and Kali, the bull Antonio, the rooster Sir, and the six hens Chiki, Nugget, Kieko, Petrie, Shivers and Cyrano.
Draco leaned against the fence post and allowed Harry's arm to be wrapped lovingly around him "I'm hungry," Draco said before running to the mini forest of magic trees, he found a basket near the gate, picking it up he began harvesting some of the ripe and tasty fruit.
Harry smiled as he watched him, in may ways Draco seemed like a child trapped in an adult body, while his eyes had seen hunting games and pretend war play…his Angel just seemed to surreal.
They both walked into the cottage after Draco finished gathering a large assortment of fruits and vegetables, and Draco set to washing them while Harry sliced them and made a vegetable salad and a fruit salad, making a mental note to start teaching Draco to hunt tomorrow so they would have meat. Sitting down to there meals and cups of water curtsy of the well Draco had found outside, they did not speak much at supper and silently parted ways after the table cleared and dishes washed.
Draco yawned near the end of supper and silently made his way to the master bed room, Harry wondering if he should take another room or follow Draco to the massive bed inside the master room, settling for another room for now he fell into a restless sleep, nightmares of his Angel leaving because of his carelessness and accidental hurtful behaviour.
Harry awoke to himself being shaken and years of defensive training kicked in, within seconds he had the intruder on their knees.
Draco yelped as Harry grabbed him and pushed him down "Owwww, Harry," he whimpered wondering if it was a good idea to awake him.
Harry released Draco the moment he spoke and pulled him into his arms, Draco curled into him a few silent tears running down his face soaked into Harry's shirt.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Harry kept repeating as he clung to Draco for dear life.
"Shhh, Harry it's alright," soothed Draco blinking back tears, he could feel his back bruising but there was no way he was tell Harry, "I'm alright, Shhh, don't worry I'm not going anywhere."
Harry calmed a short while later all the while not letting go of Draco "I'm sorry," he repeated once again.
"Don't worry I'm fine, why were you yelling before?" asked Draco pulling away from Harry slightly so he could see his face better.
"Yelling? I wasn't yelling was I?" asked Harry looking confused.
"Yes, you were having a nightmare I think, do you want to talk about it?" asked Draco as both his hands slipped into Harry's.
"It's nothing really," Harry tried to assure, Draco's warm hands left his.
"If your sure," replied Draco rising from the bed, "do you want company for tonight?" inside Draco knew his fears, Harry had already told him, and both his inner and outer smile grew when Harry nodded so tiny Draco almost missed it "come on then the masters room is bigger."
Harry and Draco walked to the master's room, where Draco had lit a large fire in the fireplace making the room cozy, warmth; they both slid under the warm sheets…Draco forgetting this time to put up the pillow wall.