Draco sat cross-legged on the bed, nibbling on a croissant. Potter came out of the bath wearing only a towel and Draco nearly choked. He forced himself to finish chewing and coughed a couple of times while waving toward the table.
"Breakfast arrived with a wakeup call. We're to be in the Floo - or the fireplace, rather - at nine. Which gives us roughly thirty minutes."
Potter knelt down to dig through his rucksack, exposing a great deal of thigh with the movement. "Are you sure you can primp your hair in that little time?" he asked. Thankfully, his tone was teasing and he did not seem to be upset or annoyed.
"It will be a struggle, but I'll manage," Draco admitted. He had considered marching into the bathroom and confronting Potter in the shower, but despite the signals he hoped he hadn't been imagining, Draco admitted to the possibility of it ending very badly. He had indulged in a slow wank instead, breathing in Potter's scent that lingered on the bed.
The damned food basket had appeared on the table just as he had finished, along with a blaring alarm that nearly had him leaping out of his skin. Fucking Jordan. Draco had cast a quick Cleaning Charm to dispel the evidence of his activity and retrieved a pair of pants from his belongings before the shower shut off.
"Enjoy that water pressure," Potter said with a distinct smirk in his voice.
"Prat," Draco muttered as he tore his eyes away from Potter's half-clad body and escaped into the bathroom.
The fireplace transfer took them back to the Hermitage, spilling them into an ornate room from an oversized marble fireplace. Potter stumbled into Draco. The man was helpless at travel and waiting for the spell to trigger had been uncomfortable, standing inches from each other in the hotel fireplace while making inane small talk about the breakfast food.
Draco straightened Potter, who threw him an absent smile and then focussed on Lee Jordan and the collected group.
"We are sorry to say that Kimmy and Lisa, Best Friends Forever, were eliminated last night," Lee said in a sad tone.
"But they were right behind us!" Potter said.
Lee nodded. "They had difficulty with the vodka challenge. By the time Kimmy finished her glass, the other contestants had caught up. In the final footrace to the carpet, Rita and Gertrude put on a burst of speed and passed the girls, who never actually made it to the finish because Kimmy passed out just before reaching the stairs."
Draco frowned. The challenge seemed to have been unfairly skewed against those with lower body weights and minimal tolerance for alcohol. Then again, perhaps the vodka levels had been adjusted to account for such a thing. Fans of Kimmy and Lisa would likely demand an accounting.
"But enough with the sad news! Your challenge for today is to reach the St Petersburg Office of Global Travel and purchase Portkey jumps to your next destination, which is..." Lee paused dramatically. "Bora Bora!"
"Oh god," Draco said.
Potter looked at him curiously, but said nothing. The other teams looked just as unexcited.
"Please turn in your wands to Angelique and pick up a map with directions. Your challenge begins in five minutes."
Draco joined the queue and reluctantly handed over his wand. Potter already held the map and seemed to be puzzling out the best way to get there. The groups broke off and gathered into private huddles in different parts of the room.
"Muggle cab," Harry murmured. "It's more expensive than the bus, but quicker. I'm hoping speed is more important than frugality at this point."
Draco agreed. They hadn't dipped into their funds much, mainly because meals and lodging had largely been provided.
Lee clapped for attention. "Also, please be aware that this next round of challenges will involve a double elimination. In Bora Bora, two teams will be going home."
A collective mutter met Lee's words. Draco met Potter's determined stare and almost smiled. Their original plan to throw the contest and depart one another's company seemed ludicrous now.
ooOOooOOoo
"Bloody hell! I liked the girls!" Ron said.
"I'll bet," Hermione replied with a warning glare.
"More than Rita Skeeter!" Ron protested. "They should have been out!"
"Yeah, too bad Kimmy kept almost hurling at every sip of vodka," Neville said. "Poor thing."
"Yes, the poor little dear," Hermione said dryly.
Ron snorted. "Yeah, like you wouldn't be upset if the Dragon Tamers were out."
"I wouldn't!" she protested, but her cheeks went pink.
"Double-standards," Ron muttered and nudged Neville. Hermione rolled her eyes, but did not bother to refute it.
ooOOooOOoo
The Portkey jumps were hell. From St Petersburg they travelled to Romania, where there was some confusion about International Apparition Licenses, which apparently were required even when travelling by Portkey, causing a four hour delay. From there they went to an obscure location in Pakistan, and then on to Singapore, where there was another delay. Draco spent it sleeping and speculated that the "travel glut" excuse was simply a way for the race crew to go sightseeing for a few hours. They finally reached Papeete, Tahiti. After the last jump, Draco was feeling nauseous and Potter wasn't looking much better.
"Fuck, one more to go. I think I'm going to crack apart on this one," Potter said.
"At least it's a short distance," Nigel said. He had once again attached himself to Potter. They had all arrived in Tahiti together. Draco, Harry and the Tea Shop girls had left St Petersburg first, but due to the delay in Romania, everyone else had caught up to them and they had travelled together from that point on.
The tropical heat was stifling, especially after the cool temperatures of Russia. The Portkey Office was an open-air affair stuck in the centre of a patch of sand in the middle of a scrubby jungle, from what Draco could see. He slapped at a buzzing insect.
"Welcome to paradise," Rita Skeeter said dryly.
"It is very much nicer where you are going," the Portkey agent said with a huge smile. Her face was round and friendly, much like the rest of her. Flowers bedecked her hair, wrists, ankles, and dress pattern. Her French accent seemed incongruous. "Five more minutes! Are you all ready?"
They all nodded or muttered in the affirmative. The Portkey device on the island was a large woven basket that they all stood around in a circle while holding the edge. This gave them the opportunity to stare each other down. Potter kept his glare fixed on Rita Skeeter while Draco shifted his from Nigel to the Tea Shop girls and back again.
"Cinq, quatre, troi, deux, Adieu!" the woman called and waved merrily as the Portkey basket took them away.
The jump was thankfully short. Draco staggered away from the Portkey, feeling queasy. Thankfully, the air was much less stifling and a sea-scented breeze washed over him. His eyes fixed on lazily lapping waves beyond a stretch of bone-white sand.
"Welcome to Bora Bora!" a man cried in yet another French accent. Draco turned just in time to have several flower leis dropped over his head to fall upon his shoulders, placed there by swarthy-skinned girls. He glanced at Potter, who caught his eye and grinned.
Draco cast his eye back toward the water and noticed an impressive peak jutting into the sky across a brilliant expanse of turquoise water. Several palm trees swayed in the breeze, reaching toward the cloudless sky from the white sand. A cluster of small thatched huts stood on the beach and a rope-lined wooden dock led out into the lagoon where several more huts stood on pilings, perched above the water like strange birds.
"Good afternoon, Incredible Race participants! There are only four teams left and before we leave this beautiful island paradise, there will be only two!" Lee Jordan sounded just as refreshed and cheerful as he had when they had left St Petersburg.
"I hate Gryffindors," Draco muttered. Potter heard him and gouged him with an elbow. Jordan was dressed in a red shirt with huge yellow flowers, and khaki shorts. His feet were bare and a wide-brimmed straw hat sat atop his head. He looked like a native.
"That's right, ladies and gentlemen!" Jordan continued. "Six of you will be spending the night in the beautiful over-water bungalows you see behind you, and the other two will be headed back to England, where it is currently thirteen degrees and raining."
Draco did not particularly care where he spent the night, as long as it involved a bed. International travel was wretched and exhausting and he was in no mood for another bloody challenge.
"The next elimination will take place tomorrow, so only one team will be unlucky enough to go home tonight. Now, if you will all follow me, this area has been specially set up for our challenge. We call it Diving for Pearls! Mostly because that's what you'll be doing."
Draco suppressed a groan. They trekked across the white sand toward a set of four brightly striped tents. Jordan said, "If you will all please enter the tents and change into appropriate swimwear, we will begin. You may leave your gear inside the tents."
The tents were tiny, simply four fabric walls barely large enough to stand in. Potter dropped the knapsack and rooted through it until he found the shorts they had purchased in Arizona. "These will work, yeah?"
"Fine," Draco said. He didn't care. He especially didn't care when Potter yanked his t-shirt over his head and dropped it into the knapsack, exposing his extraordinary back muscles to Draco's riveted gaze. He remembered running his hands over Potter's smooth skin in Finland.
Potter kicked off his trainers and then unfastened his jeans before throwing Draco a look over his shoulder. "Planning to change, or are you going to swim in your designer trousers and Italian loafers?" Potter smirked.
Draco rolled his eyes and quickly unbuttoned his white shirt, watching Potter all the while. The jeans slid down over his lean legs and Potter stepped free of them before yanking off his socks. "Bloody hell, we're going to have sand in everything. I hate the beach."
Draco was surprised to hear his own sentiments echoed by the Gryffindor. He paused with his shirt halfway off when Potter shucked his pants to stand completely naked before Draco, obliviously holding up his Muggle shorts for inspection.
Draco's eyes travelled over Potter's firm arse, deliciously dimpled on the sides and rounded just enough to be classified as practically perfect.
"Did I have these cleaned in Finland?"
The question thankfully shook Draco out of his trance and he tore at his shirt before he realized he hadn't unbuttoned his sleeves. "I had them cleaned in Finland," Draco said, easing the sleeves back up and removing the buttons. He tossed the shirt toward Potter's.
"Oh, good! Thanks!" Potter bent and stepped into the shorts, shaking them a bit to remove any sand as he pulled them up. Draco watched the process avidly and mourned the loss of the view, even though the Muggle shorts were clingy enough that the shape of Potter's arse was still easily discerned.
Draco kicked off his shoes and unfastened his trousers. Potter coughed as he turned around to face Draco. "I'll just... ah, wait for you outside." The flap fell back into place as he left.
Oddly enough, Draco felt more comfortable once Potter had departed. He had feared he would start blushing, for fuck's sake. He finished stripping and put on his Muggle shorts. They were surprisingly comfortable and were far more appropriate than trousers in the heat.
Draco hurried outside just as Edna exited one of the other tents. She glared at him, as though daring him to comment on her girlish swimsuit, which was pale pink and bedecked with tiny sparkles and a multitude of white ruffles.
Brendan wore a pair of loose-looking tan shorts and was flexing his muscles toward a group of giggling native girls. Nigel was shockingly dressed in tiny red pants that only needed lace trim to look perfectly normal on Pansy. He was chatting of Potter, of course, and smiled nervously at Draco's venomous glare.
Rita Skeeter wore a bright purple two-piece suit most likely inspired by some Muggle fashion. It showed off entirely too much skin and Draco looked away with a shudder. Gertrude's outfit looked like it had been originally worn in 1947. To a funeral.
"Now that we're all here, we can begin. This challenge will be a test of stamina - and luck! Please follow me out upon this lovely dock so that I may explain the rules." Jordan marched out onto the wooden platform and waited expectantly.
Draco sighed and joined the others as they clustered around Jordan on the slatted boards. Potter stood next to Draco and their bare elbows brushed. Draco didn't move away.
ooOOooOOoo
"Budge over!" Ginny said and gouged Ron in the ribs with an index finger.
"Ouch! Bloody hell, do you sharpen those things?" He glared at her.
"You're hogging the whole sofa. Move your arse."
Luna laughed and shook her head at their antics. Ron envied her for a moment - she was an only child. "I'm telling Mum you've grown a terrible case of potty-mouth," he grumbled, but moved over to avoid another attack from her talons.
"I'm twenty-four years old. Somehow I think that will be less than effective."
"Who invited you?" Just because his sister was a renowned Quidditch star didn't mean she had to invade his house and take it over like the goblins invading that one town back in... that date he couldn't remember. He frowned, thinking he should have paid more attention in History of Magic.
"Um, I did," Neville said with a nervous grin and a raised hand. "I saw her in Diagon Alley and didn't think you'd mind."
"Thank you, Neville. You're such a prat, Ronald, you can't even invite your own sister to watch The Incredible Race. Now, be quiet! Lee is going to announce the challenge."
Hermione had been strangely quiet and Ron glanced at the screen to see it filled with mostly bare man-flesh. "What is he wearing?" Ron cried when he spied Nigel's tiny swimsuit. Four mouths shushed him in unison. Ron crossed his arms and pouted.
"In this challenge our contestants will be diving for pearls! Literally! Although they are still encased in the oysters at this point. Hundreds of black pearl oysters have been planted twenty feet down, requiring you to dive down and collect them. Your job is to fetch as many oysters as you can and toss them into the baskets here. Only oysters inside the baskets will count, so throw carefully!"
A row of large woven baskets filled the screen, each labelled with the names of the team members.
"You will have only ten minutes to collect as many oysters as possible. That is the stamina portion of the challenge. Once collected, you will take your baskets to the pearl merchants and we will all watch as the pearls are extracted and weighed. The team with the greatest weight in pearls will win the challenge and a fabulous prize! The team with the least will be going home... tonight."
"It would be horrible to be sent home from Tahiti when they only just got there," Hermione said.
"Harry won't be coming home," Ron said confidently. "I'll bet Rita Skeeter can't even swim!"
"She and Gertrude swam in the Grand Canyon challenge," Hermione said dryly.
"Yeah, but they didn't swim very well."
"Do you think Harry and Draco are shagging?" Ginny asked.
"What?" Ron burst out. The others goggled at her.
She shrugged. "Well, look at them. The sexual tension is practically illuminating the island. I think Harry always had a thing for him." She popped a crisp in her mouth and chewed before blinking at Ron and mumbling, "What?"
"Harry isn't... And Malfoy? I mean... Malfoy? Even if Harry was... was..." Ron shut his jaw with effort. Oh god, Harry was. It was so obvious. Ron turned back to the screen, mind whirling.
Ginny giggled. "Honestly, Ron, how could you not know? Why do you think we broke up? I caught him snogging Bertram Haversham outside the Quidditch locker room in Devon. Of course, Bertram practically attacked poor Harry, but Harry certainly wasn't fighting him off - "
"Stop it!" Ron wailed and lifted his hands to his ears.
Hermione grabbed the hand closest to her and dragged it down. "Knock it off, Ron. Lee is talking."
"Does everyone understand the rules? Yes? Then on your mark, get set... GO!"
Harry and Malfoy dove into the water simultaneously, as did Nigel. Brendan leaped into the air, grabbed his knees, and shot downward like a stone. Flora flopped forward on her belly with a loud splash while the remaining girls simply stepped off the pier and disappeared into the clear water.
"It's so beautiful," Luna said dreamily. "I do hope they watch for the moonskippers, though."
No one bothered to ask what she meant.
ooOOooOOoo
The oysters were easy to spot, clustered on the bottom of the sea floor in a gigantic heap. The water was brilliantly clear, making it simple to swim down and grasp a couple of the rough molluscs. Malfoy's hand reached out and snagged Harry's arm. Harry looked at him and knew he would make a merman jealous, with his silver blond hair floating around his head in delicate strands.
Malfoy began to pile oysters into Harry's arms and Harry quickly drew them closer to his body to create a sort of shelf. When they were stacked to his chin and his lungs were screaming for air, he pushed off the bottom and shot to the surface. It was bloody hard to swim with his arms full of molluscs.
Malfoy's head breached the water and they both gasped. Malfoy reached for the oysters in Harry's arms - he had lost a couple on the way up - and began to throw them into the basket, which sat on the pier a few feet above their heads.
Most of them seemed to be going into the basket and when there were only a couple left, Harry tossed them up. "Switch this time," Malfoy said breathlessly. "We'll see who can carry more."
Harry nodded, took a great gulp of air, and went under.
Ten minutes seemed to take forever and Harry was exhausted by the time Jordan's annoying gong called a halt. Malfoy was in mid-throw and the oyster bounced off the basket and fell down to hit Harry on the shoulder, leaving a jagged gash behind.
"Sorry," Malfoy said to Harry's glare.
All of the competitors were too tired to use the ladders to climb back onto the pier. Instead, they paddled to shore and waded out of the water, shivering as the breeze hit their wet skin. Assorted small children hurried forward, holding out thick white towels. Harry took one gratefully and wrapped it around himself.
Four tables had been set up beneath shady overhangs. Large metal scales rested on each table and fierce-looking Polynesian men sat behind them. He helped Draco carry their basket of oysters to one of the tables, followed by one of Lee's assistants, possibly to ascertain they hadn't stuffed an extra oyster down their pants. Harry grinned at the thought.
"These scales were all calibrated this morning by the Ministry of Magic's Department of International Games and Sports. The certification is available upon request," Lee announced. "Our professional jewellers will now extract the pearls from the oysters."
They all moved closer. It was a fascinating process. The wizard would heft an oyster and cast a Nacre Detection Spell. They soon learned that a blue glow around the oyster was good and a pinkish glow was bad. The pink-labelled oysters were tossed aside. Those that glowed blue were given two additional spells: one to open the shell and the other to extract the pearl. Each darkish bit was dropped onto the scale.
Harry kept a close eye on the others. Flora and Edna had retrieved the most oysters, as far as he could tell. They had stuffed their suits full of oyster shells, as well as their arms, a practice Rita Skeeter and Gertrude Acrimony had taken up once they had spotted the manoeuvre. Despite the number of shells, it was the tiny clink of pearl on metal that kept them all riveted.
Rita and Gertrude ran out of shells first. "Twelve point six grams!" announced the man counting the Reporter Team's pearls.
Harry and Malfoy were next. Malfoy jaw set as their total came to "Thirteen point three!"
Directly on the heels of that announcement, Brendan and Nigel's counter finished. "Fifteen point one!"
Malfoy growled. Harry wondered if he was more upset about losing or about the fact that Nigel and Brendan had won. Malfoy certainly seemed to have more than normal animosity in regards to poor Nigel. Harry was pleased that they did not have to quit the competition, as well as the fact that it seemed Rita Skeeter and her evil sidekick would be the ones going home. He tried not to look smug.
It took another three minutes for the final count. When "Eleven point eight!" was announced, Harry gasped. The Tea Shop girls had lost!
ooOOooOOoo
"Congratulations, Brendan and Nigel! You are the winners of this leg of the challenge!"
"Poor Flora and Edna," Luna said. "They had more oysters than anyone."
"Yeah, bad luck. Most were empty." Neville's voice sounded only partially commiserating.
"Harry is still in, though."
"And Draco," Ginny said in a teasing tone. Ron glared at her.
"The winning prize for our Dragon Tamer team is a special Polynesian feast in their honour, complete with entertaining displays from fabulous Bora Bora dancers. Enjoy, boys! The rest of you will be treated to a special meal and then may retire to your quarters for the evening. Except for you, Flora and Edna. I'm afraid it's time for you to bid adieu to the fair islands and return to England. That is it for The Incredible Race for tonight! Stay tuned for exciting previews of the next episode when our remaining three teams battle it out for the final two positions! I'm Lee Jordan. Goodnight!"
~TBC
Author's Note: I know this chapter is shorter than most, but the next one will make up for it, I promise! Anyway, Bora Bora is famous for its pearls and some of them are just incredible. Also, I spent ages looking at photos and this is one place in the world I've been dying to visit since I was a teenager. It definitely seems like paradise. Nothing like a tropical paradise to spark the fires of romance in our boys, maybe? :D