Hey, everyone! I hope you're still with me! Here comes Harry and Draco on the town! Name arguments next chapter so stay tuned!
Lori
******** ******** Chapter 23 ******** ********
"Dinki?" Harry called.
"Master Harry is calling Dinki?" The elf said as she popped in.
"Could you fetch our cloaks, please, Dinki?" Harry asked. "Scarves and gloves would be helpful also."
"Is Dinki to be fetching-." the elf began.
Harry cut her off. "Yes, but please say no more about it."
She held her hand to her mouth in apology and popped out.
Draco frowned and narrowed his eyes at Harry. "Just what is she to 'say no more about'?"
"You're about to get one of your Christmas gifts a little early. That's all." Harry smirked until the elf returned with a small wrapped box and their cloaks. Harry took the box from her and handed it to the blond. "Merry Christmas, love."
Draco bit his lip and tore into the paper. Inside the box was a dragon pin. The dragon itself was silver and seemed to be curled up in slumber but its emerald eyes were open.
Harry watched Draco's face to see what he'd say.
"Harry, I-I love it. Is this one of the ones that growl when there's danger?" He asked with wide eyes.
Harry grinned. "You remembered! I'm glad."
"I like that he has emerald eyes like you..." Draco told him softly.
"You've mentioned my eyes a time or two..." Harry smirked and swung Draco's cloak over his shoulders and then took the pin from the blond. He placed the brooch and watched it magically seal the cloak.
Draco's breath caught. "Harry, it feels like..."
Harry frowned as his own cloak settled around him. "Like what?"
"This is going to sound so stupid and sappy..." Draco said softly. "It feels like I'm being hugged. When you placed the pin, I felt warmth and as if I was wrapped in the arms of someone who loves me."
Harry grinned and pulled his gloves on. "I like the sound of that."
Draco added his scarf and gloves to his ensemble before Harry led them out to the limousine.
They saw Big Ben and Buckingham Palace as well as the London Eye, Westminster Abbey and even Shakespeare's Globe Theater. Draco had seen several of these before but didn't mention it to Harry because he seemed to really be enjoying himself. "Let's see the Tower of London and the bridge as well, Harry."
"You can see the bridge, young sir, but the Tower is closed for the evening. I checked for you at all of these places because Madam Malfoy specifically said this was a sightseeing trip." The Muggle driver told them through the window. "I can take you there another day, if you'd like."
Harry smiled at the man who wasn't much older than himself and Draco. "We'd like that very much. Thank you! Have you any time free just after Christmas?"
"Yes, actually, I've nothing booked on the 27th." He said.
"Well, now you do." Draco nodded regally.
The man nodded back and made a note in his ledger before taking them past the Tower Bridge on their way back to the townhouse.
Pansy and Narcissa met them at the door.
"How did you like it, Harry?" Draco's mother asked.
"It was brilliant, Narcissa, really." Harry beamed. "We got to see most of the best known sights but the Tower of London was closed for the evening so we're going back on the 27th."
"Well, I'm glad you had fun, boys. Now, get upstairs so you'll be ready for dinner." The older woman smiled at them.
Pansy walked with them so they told her all about the things they'd seen. She sat reading a book while they showered and dressed. When they were all ready, Harry escorted them both down to the dining room and held both chairs. This dinner was much less eventful, as the elves had fully stocked the coffers.
"Harry, may I speak to you after dinner?" Narcissa asked as she delicately used her fork to cut a piece of the dessert on her plate.
"Of course, Narcissa." Harry nodded and took a bite of treacle tart into his mouth.
Lucius, Draco and Pansy looked curious but said nothing, choosing to continue eating. When Draco finished his sundae, Lucius took Pansy and his son into the drawing room while Harry and his mother-in-law went to the music room to talk.
"Harry, I want you to know that I've tried to reason with my husband." She said as she led him to a settee along the wall. "He is stubborn, though, and used to being in charge of everything."
"That's understandable, I suppose." Harry commented hiding his smirk as he sat beside her.
"I saw you speaking to Abraxas' painting last evening, Harry..." Narcissa began. "You've gained his trust... his respect. That was always a difficult thing to do."
"We got on so well because I was respectful in dealing with him and because of my role in the war against Voldemort. See, he didn't like Lucius' position on the matter." Harry informed her. "He also approved of my behavior towards Draco and the future of both our families."
"I see..." She said softly. "I'd like to thank you for that, by the way."
"For what, exactly?" Harry frowned suspiciously.
"Being so good to Draco..." Narcissa said. "We love him...we do, but I now realize that our love always came with conditions. Yours doesn't seem to and I'm glad of that."
"I honestly didn't think we'd be getting along this well myself...That first day...I guess my words made a lasting impression..." Harry told her.
"Draco has always done well under strict control, Harry." She replied.
"I only control him when it's necessary, not every second." Harry said smirking. "I've found that he does best with gentle coaxing. Take this morning: he woke up in a terrible mood and I directed Dinki to have our meals brought to our room. He took offence but then I suggested that he wasn't letting his Dominant take proper care of him so he saw my point and relented. In the end, he ate properly, slept a bit more and then we had a lovely outing."
She stared at him. "Lucius would've dragged him to the table and told him to stop being a brat."
"If I'd done that, would Draco have just gone along with me and been pleasant for the rest of the day?" He asked. "No... He would likely have pouted and refused to do anything else that I suggested."
Narcissa sighed. "I guess you know my son a bit better than I'd thought..."
"I've been married to him and living with him for almost two months... I'd watched him very closely for the last several years..." He told his mother-in-law. "I'd analyzed him... and took note of his moods. I know how to deal with him because of all our previous interaction. It's not that he's opening up to me more than he did with you and Lucius."
"I suppose you're right, Harry. We really only see him at the holidays. We knew he'd grown up but maybe we didn't see the implications of that." She said. "The seventeen year old man doesn't react the same way that our ten or eleven year old child would... He doesn't need the same things."
The brunette smiled. Narcissa was truly trying to understand.
"I've also noted that when he starts getting stubborn or annoyed, you can calm him with a touch and a word. He seems to respond well to that." She frowned.
Harry's face flushed pink. "Yes, usually a little extra affection or the promise of something happening later on…in private…will persuade him to cooperate. I try to avoid public scenes."
Narcissa caught on quickly. "Oh...I see...Draco did mention that your mutual attraction was intense and rather - er - enjoyable...I'm quite glad of that as well. Anyway, the others will be wondering where we've gotten off to..."
Harry stood and helped her up before allowing her to lead the way to the drawing room.
Draco met them at the door. "Harry, take me back to our room? I'm still a bit tired..."
Harry caught the glint in his silver eyes. His husband wasn't tired at all; he was curious and perhaps a little randy.
"You were gone for quite a while with my mother, Harry." Draco said softly as they walked down the hall.
"Yes…We had an interesting conversation…" Harry commented. "She told me that she's spoken to your father and there won't be much more interference from him…and then she thanked me for being so good to you."
"She did?" Draco smirked.
"Yeah…she also tried to tell me to be stricter with you…" Harry grinned and pulled Draco to a stop next to him. "So I told her that I've found subtle control to be more effective…which do you prefer?"
Draco ducked his head. "Perhaps it depends on the situation…"
"I see…" Harry turned to face Draco and took his waist with both hands. He pressed the blond against the wall and leaned in close for a kiss. Draco moaned and relaxed into Harry. "You like that…don't you?"
"Yes…oh, yes, Harry!" Draco whimpered.
Harry slid his leg between Draco's thighs and brushed his balls.
"Harry! Oh, Merlin!" Draco moaned. "Please, Harry…our room is just there!"
Harry scooped his husband up, hurried into the bedroom area and made love to Draco all night long.