Harry wandered out of the staff cottage, smiling to himself as the sound of careless laughter drifted out behind him. The rest of the staff were finishing another delicious Castello Moretti meal at the long staff table within.
It was a warm, muggy evening, probably the warmest so far in the two weeks that Harry had been at the vineyard. He wiped the beading sweat from his brow as he walked outside and stood underneath one of the garden's large overhanging trees, looking out at the seemingly endless landscape spread beneath a gold and pink-tinted sunset. He was counting on it being cooler outside than in the cottage, now that the sun was disappearing behind the hill, but the outside air was still thick and humid.
Harry leaned back against the rough bark of the tree and exhaled noisily - idly wondering if he could furtively cast a cooling charm on himself without anyone noticing - when his attention was suddenly snagged by movement to his right.
He squinted in the dwindling light as a tall figure disappeared into the vast orchard.
He would recognize that self-assured stride anywhere. Harry smirked and pushed off the tree, immediately following Malfoy into the rows of grape vines at a safe distance.
He'd hardly seen the Slytherin since that first day. Malfoy hadn't been to visit the staff quarters again and the only time they saw him was when he was escorting his guests on their daily tour of the operation.
Harry kept his distance as he followed him between the long rows, treading lightly over the dusty soil as his Auror reflexes kicked in and he automatically cast a wandless Notice-Me-Not.
Malfoy kept walking until he was out in the open and making his way down the long sloping hill beyond the last storage building.
Harry raised his brow as he remained on his tail, wondering where Malfoy was going all alone at this time of night. He tried to quell the juvenile voice in his head which whispered that he was 'up to something.'
Malfoy appeared to be heading for a large grove of willow trees at the rear of the immense property.
Harry frowned and absently wiped his brow on the sleeve of his t-shirt as he kept to the shadows and observed Malfoy disappearing into the trees.
He waited until he could no longer see the other man between the low-hanging willow branches and then darted out across the grounds to the outer edge of the wooded area. He slowly and quietly pushed his way through, squinting in the dim light to try to make out any sign of movement. He cursed the fact that Malfoy no longer had his trademark platinum hair to help Harry track him in the moonlight.
He hesitated a moment when he could see something sparkling just ahead of him between the leafy branches. Perhaps Malfoy was practicing magic down here in privacy. He couldn't remember if the Ministry had taken Malfoy's wand at the Death Eater trials or not; he distinctly remembered the Aurors destroying both Lucius and Narcissa's wands when they were sentenced.
Harry continued to slowly creep forward until he suddenly realised what he was looking at: it wasn't the sparkle of magic at work but the shimmer of a large body of water.
Harry ducked behind one of the large willow trees bordering the lake and peered around it.
The realisation that Malfoy had been hiding a secret swimming spot from everyone during this oppressive heatwave caused irritation to flare in Harry's chest.
"Selfish bastard," he muttered under his breath as he plucked his sweat-soaked t-shirt away from his skin, attempting to let some air up under the thin material to his over-heated skin.
He was trying to think of what he should say to the arrogant prat when Malfoy unexpectedly began to unbutton his shirt on the grassy bank next to the gently lapping water.
Harry's eyes widened as he suddenly realised that Malfoy was not carrying any swim wear. If he was going to step out and accuse him of… whatever it was he was going to accuse him of, then he'd better do it before the prat was naked.
Harry quickly stepped out into the moonlit clearing. "Just what do you think you're doing?" he called out and then immediately winced at his tone; he was an ex-Auror for fuck's sake, not a bloody school Prefect.
Malfoy's head jerked up in surprise, fingers freezing on his leather belt. His expression quickly hardened into one of resentment, grey eyes narrowing. "Is this an official interrogation Potter?"
Harry rolled his eyes and moved closer so that he wouldn't have to yell. "I already told you Malfoy, I'm not an Auror," he said, that familiar feeling of peevishness which only Malfoy seemed to evoke prickling all over his body.
"Then why are you stalking me?"
"I'm not stalking you," Harry refuted heatedly. "I was just… er, curious."
Malfoy sighed in exasperation. "Curious?" he repeated. "Or you thought I was up to something unscrupulous?"
Harry snorted. "Well… you are," he pointed out, "you're keeping this lake all to yourself. Selfish bastard," he added for good measure.
Malfoy pressed his lips together, unamused. "I own this property Potter," he said, "and I shall do as I wish. Now, if you do not have anything of significance to add, I am going for a swim in my lake."
Harry frowned as Malfoy continued to unbuckle his belt right in front of him.
"What are you doing?"
"I should think a clever Auror like yourself would be able to work that out."
Harry glared at the top of Malfoy's stupid brown head, trying to keep his cheeks from flushing as the other man dropped his trousers to the ground and stepped out of them; long, lean limbs bright in the moonlight.
Malfoy glanced up; one eyebrow arched. "Are you still trying to determine whether I have concealed weapons hidden beneath my clothes Auror Potter or can you take your leave now?" He paused, lips curling up on one side. "Or do you simply wish to watch me undress?"
"I'm not a fucking Auror," Harry muttered, clenching his teeth and refusing to take the bait.
Malfoy smirked then turned and waded into the dark water without another word, clearly expecting Harry to leave.
"Tough shit," Harry muttered under his breath.
He quickly toed off his trainers as he lifted his damp t-shirt over his head and tossed it to the ground. He unbuttoned his shorts as he began to walk towards the grassy shore of the lake, stumbling a little as they caught on his ankles before kicking them aside. He absently dropped his glasses onto his discarded clothing before proceeding into the water.
He glanced up to see Malfoy treading water in the centre of the lake, watching him closely. Harry splashed into the lake and then dove under; the cool water an immediate balm to his temper as well as to his sticky-hot skin.
He surfaced and swiped the wet hair out of his eyes with a smile; it felt like years since he'd last gone swimming just for the simple pleasure of it. He gently kicked off the soft, muddy bottom and slowly drifted onto his back as he stared up at the star-splattered sky.
The cool water was a welcome relief to the relentless heatwave of the past twenty-four hours. Every bit of tension in his body seemed to release as he lazily floated backwards, forgetting all about the vineyard and Malfoy and quitting his job without a sensible plan for the future…
He smiled to himself as he drifted, even going so far as to close his eyes as he gently kicked with his feet and smoothly glided back along the surface of the lake.
Harry opened his eyes when he heard a weary sigh nearby and glanced to his right.
"What are you doing Potter?"
Harry couldn't help but smile at the long-suffering look on Malfoy's face.
"I should think a clever Slytherin such as yourself would be able to work that out," Harry replied facetiously. Malfoy rolled his eyes and Harry grinned, halting his backwards motion to tread water. "It's hot and picking grapes is hard work, so I'm swimming. I'm sorry if I'm intruding on your private time Malfoy, but I was desperate."
"Clearly," was all he said, staring intently for a moment before turning away and swimming in the opposite direction.
Harry blinked; he didn't think he would ever figure out the inner workings of Malfoy's mind. But then, Hermione and Ron quite often said that about him, and it was probably best not to dwell on that comparison too closely.
Harry exhaled and then took a deep breath, allowing his whole body to drop beneath the surface of the lake, slowly dropping lower and lower in the dark water which steadily grew colder the further he sank. He opened his eyes and looked up, watching the moonlight-flickered surface above him getting farther and farther away. He looked down and could only see black, murky abyss.
When his lungs finally began to burn from the lack of oxygen, Harry reluctantly pushed out with his arms and legs and swam upwards.
He broke the surface, gasping and pushing his wet hair out of his eyes with a smile; a bubble of joyful delight fizzing in his stomach. It was something he hadn't felt in a very long time. Probably not since his Hogwarts days.
"What are you grinning at Potter?"
Harry looked over to see Malfoy standing in waist-deep water near the edge of the lake, watching him with an arched brow.
Even Malfoy couldn't dampen his mood in that moment and he smiled at the Slytherin. "I was just thinking that I've probably been miserable for the past decade and didn't even realise it until this very moment."
Malfoy blinked, caught off-guard by the blunt honesty. "And what is so special about this particular moment?" he asked.
Harry shrugged, the cool water splashing around his shoulders. "Maybe because it's suddenly dawned on me that I'm not spending all my waking hours buried under a mountain of dreary Ministry paperwork and I can actually experience joy again."
Malfoy snorted, lips twitching in unwilling amusement.
Harry grinned and swam closer, sitting on the soft, muddy bank not far from the other man. "I must admit, I'm rather jealous of you Malfoy."
"Of me?" he replied sceptically.
Harry laughed quietly and nodded, gazing out at the vast property bathed in moonlight and the dark outline of Moretti Castle in the distance, warm yellow light flickering in the stone windows.
"Yeah, look at what you've achieved," he said genuinely, turning back to him. "A successful business and a life for yourself here. I can't imagine packing up and moving to a new country all alone to start over… It's pretty fucking impressive to be honest."
Scrutinizing grey eyes narrowed at him.
"What?" Harry said, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"Was that a compliment?"
"Er yeah, I s'pose," Harry replied with an awkward shrug. "Why are you making this weird?"
Malfoy snorted. "Why are you making this weird? You've never had a good thing to say to me in the history of ever Potter."
Harry looked over, unable to suppress a smile. "That's not true, I was nice in your trial with the Ministry."
Malfoy rolled his eyes and turned away, expression turning guarded once more.
Harry continued to stare at Malfoy's profile, wondering at the man's stony defences when there was nothing for him to be so carefully vigilant about anymore. Perhaps it was merely habit now.
"You look odd with brown hair." Harry felt his cheeks flush as soon as the words were out of his mouth; he had an unfortunate habit of frequently voicing idle thoughts with no control.
Malfoy turned back to him, one brow raised and a funny little smirk on his face. He lifted a hand and slowly combed it through his damp hair, the strands immediately melting from a bland brown to shining platinum.
Harry blinked; suddenly confronted with the Draco Malfoy from his past.
"That's some nifty charm-work," he finally responded, feeling disconcerted for no good reason that he could see.
"Practice," Malfoy replied with a shrug, strands of newly blond hair falling over one eye.
"Why don't you just dye it the Muggle way?" Harry asked, part of him wondering why the hell he was still talking about Malfoy's hair.
Harry couldn't help but laugh at Malfoy's faux-horrified expression.
The Slytherin let a smile slip through as he turned back to look out across the shimmering lake.
Harry smiled, amazed at the easy conversation. It was little more than small talk, but it was still a vast improvement on every stilted or anger-fuelled exchange they'd had before.
"If you're so envious Potter, perhaps you should make some changes in your life."
Harry turned at the softly uttered words. Malfoy was looking out over the lake with a pensive expression.
"That's sort of why I'm here," Harry replied, sinking his hands into the soft mud beneath him and gripping the warm, wet earth until it squashed between his fingers.
"Bit early for a mid-life crisis."
"It's so odd to hear Muggle phrases from you." Harry smiled a little as he continued to grip and release the comforting mud beneath the water. "It's not a mid-life crisis - or a quarter life crisis - it's just…" Harry frowned, unsure how to put it into words. "I think it's just me figuring out what I want to do with my life instead of what everyone expects me to do. I guess I finally worked out that there's a difference, and that meeting expectations doesn't necessarily make me happy, even if it satisfies everyone else."
Malfoy turned to him. "It's taken you a long time to figure that out," he replied wryly, but his tone was gentle and perhaps even a little empathetic.
Harry flopped back onto the warm mud with a laugh, one arm under his head as he stared up at the night sky. "Yeah, I know. Better late than never though."
"And what is your plan once you've finished with this current career of manual labour?"
Harry glanced over as Malfoy sat on the bank beside him, grey eyes curious as he looked back at him over his shoulder.
"Not sure yet…" Harry replied, trying, and failing, to not sound embarrassed about it.
Malfoy scoffed and leaned back on one hand in order to turn towards him. "You have no ideas?"
Harry smiled ruefully back at him. "Not really, no."
Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"I know I don't want to work for the Ministry."
"Well, that's a start."
Harry grinned. "And I know I don't want to play professional Quidditch."
"Much too out of shape for that," Malfoy agreed with a nod.
Harry laughed and threw a bit of mud towards the other man, missing him by a mile as it splashed into the lake.
"You should also reject private investigator," Malfoy added thoughtfully. "I spotted you immediately."
"No, you didn't!" Harry laughed. "And I wasn't even trying-"
"And wine connoisseur," he continued blithely.
"Hey, what makes you think I don't know anything about wine?"
Malfoy levelled him with a look. "Have you even tasted the wine here yet Potter?"
Harry sat up, biting his bottom lip as he tried to think of a way to respond to that without offending the other man. "I… I just don't really like wine."
Malfoy stared at him and then laughed, blond strands of hair falling into his eyes before he pushed them away again. "You came to work at a vineyard and you don't like wine?"
"I don't really like any alcohol," Harry shrugged, cheeks heating and feeling very unsophisticated. "At least you know I'm not stealing the product."
Malfoy smirked before turning away to stare back at the castle in the distance.
Harry turned to look back up at the night sky as the two former adversaries fell into a relaxed silence. The night was still quite warm and humid and, just as Harry was thinking about taking another dip in the lake, Malfoy suddenly got to his feet beside him.
"Same time tomorrow, Potter?"
Harry blinked, taken by surprise, before slowly smiling up at him. "Sure, why not?"
Malfoy nodded once and then he was walking off to collect his clothes on the far bank before heading back up to the castle in just his pants.
Harry flopped back down onto his back on the warm earth with a heavy exhalation. For some reason, he couldn't help but feel like meeting Malfoy for clandestine night swims in his secret lake was crossing a line into something he wasn't quite ready for.