A Love So Belated
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
46,661
Reviews:
358
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
46,661
Reviews:
358
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 11: Who Would Have Thought?
Chapter Number/Total: 11/44
Chapter Title: Who Would Have Thought?
Words: 3316 Words
Draco called for Rusty and had the house-elf draw him a bath. He managed to get days of grime and sweat washed away and even got his hair shining again. Finally, clean, dry and feeling more normal, he put on his dressing gown and re-entered his bedroom.
Harry had mostly sat and thought rather than read, and he was only a few pages in when Draco came back. He stared at him for a moment, at the dressing gown, and then flushed. "I'll just let you get dressed," he said, making to stand up from the bed.
Draco wanted him to stay, but didn't know what Harry wanted. What did it mean that he was back? Draco shrugged, letting the other man decide.
Harry got to his feet and left the room, going to wait outside the door for Draco.
Draco quickly pulled clothes from his wardrobe and put them on, having to hold on to the bedposts not to fall over, but managing. "I'm ready," he called.
Harry peeked around the corner before he came back in. He walked over to Draco and stood staring at him. "Do you – do you want to eat or something now?" he asked.
"I suppose I should," Draco answered, one hand still holding the bedpost. "Do you want to eat here or with Mother?" His lips quirked after the question.
Harry let out a nervous laugh. "Erm, I think it would be best for all involved if I stay away from her for a bit."
Draco chuckled and gestured to the sofa. "We can sit here if you like," he suggested.
Harry nodded, taking a seat on the sofa indicated. He still felt sort of nervous, and he wasn't sure why he'd told Draco some of the things he'd said downstairs. He couldn't say those things. He had a girlfriend, but he'd said them, and meant them. He just didn't know what to do about it now.
Draco called Rusty again and told him they would eat in his room. The house-elf frowned but nodded. "And, yes, tell Mother I am fine and that Mr Potter and I just need time to talk."
The elf looked relieved then and it became clear he had orders from Narcissa to tell her what was going on.
Harry sighed when the elf had gone. He picked at his fingernails in his lap before he looked at Draco, unsure of what to say.
Draco sat back, one arm along the back of the sofa and the other on his knee. "What now?" he asked.
"I don't know," Harry admitted truthfully.
"You are the one who came back," Draco pointed out. "You said you were thinking of me ...." Rusty appeared then with a tray of food and set it on the coffee table in front of them before disappearing again.
Harry was silent for a few very long moments. "I was," he said finally, quietly. "I couldn't do anything but think of you." Merlin, and there was that same confession again. It just seemed such a huge thing to him, that he had really been unable to put Draco out of his mind for two whole weeks.
Draco sipped at some soup and regarded Harry. "How and what were you thinking about me?" he asked with a small smile.
Harry sighed. "You really want to know, don't you?" he said, feeling slightly awkward again.
"Yes," Draco whispered, setting the food down and turning to face him fully. "I really need to know."
"Well I – I -" Harry began, picking more furiously at his fingernails. "I thought of kissing you again, obviously," he said, not meeting Draco's eyes. "And I thought of, well, I thought of you .... Ugh, Merlin, Draco, this is embarrassing."
Draco actually smiled then. "Embarrassing to have liked kissing me? To want to do it again?"
"It's embarrassing to talk about it," Harry answered, blush brightening.
Draco reached a shaky hand out to gently cup Harry's chin and turn his face up to look at him. He looked into those emerald eyes and felt the same flutter inside him he always did. "If I kiss you now, will you run away?" he asked.
Harry swallowed. His mind immediately flashed to Ginny, Ginny's smiling face, what she would look like if she found out about this, but he was looking at Draco, and Draco's hand was warm on his skin, and Harry's heart was picking up speed. He didn't know what he was getting himself into. But even when he had left the Burrow to come to the Manor – truly – he had known what he was coming for. He shook his head no.
Draco trembled, but leaned forward, letting his lips barely graze Harry's.
And even that was ... perfection. Harry gently kissed Draco back, warmth spreading through every inch of him as he did, drowning out other thoughts.
Draco tilted his head, increasing the contact and opening his mouth slightly. He still held Harry's chin, cupping it now.
Harry moved closer to Draco on the sofa, one hand moving to lightly rest on the small of his back.
Draco slid his tongue forward, gently caressing the edge of Harry's lips.
Harry opened his mouth, allowing Draco access. He moved his free hand to Draco's face, sliding it along his jaw as he had done before.
Draco felt every point of contact as a tingling that spread through his body. He gasped, his tongue exploring the other man's mouth.
Harry let out an unintentional moan. It felt so bloody good. He moved even closer, at the same time pulling Draco against him.
That moan. Draco would have done anything to hear that and it made him shudder with pleasure.
Harry entwined his tongue with Draco's, twisting and licking as they kissed. It was better than he had imagined for those two weeks and better than the first.
Draco's hand on the back of the sofa slid around Harry's shoulders, holding him as he lost himself in the kiss.
Harry opened his mouth even wider, unable to get enough of Draco. His stomach swooped with the feeling of Draco's arm around him and he held him tightly in return, moaning quietly again.
Draco was sure that no other kiss he had experienced had ever been so good. It might have been a long time, but he would have remembered. He cradled the man's face and kissed him with everything he had.
Harry kissed back just as feverishly. He kissed Draco until his heart wasn't the only thing throbbing with blood. He could feel his arousal climbing and pulled back a bit, his glasses crooked. "Maybe we should – maybe we should slow down," he said between panting breaths, his voice husky without his being able to help it.
Draco didn't want to stop, slow down, or do anything else, but he paused, just holding Harry, fingers caressing his cheek as their foreheads rested together.
Harry pressed another little kiss to Draco's lips, just a little tiny one, and then one more before he pulled back completely, but he didn't release Draco. "I don't," he said, still panting slightly, "I don't want to -" But he didn't know what to say. He wanted to go back to kissing Draco – Merlin, he did, but he didn't want to go too fast. He didn't want to lose control and make things so ... heavy. Though they were quite heavy already.
"I do," Draco whispered with a small smile.
Harry bit his lip. "I know, I just – I just don't want to – rush," he explained.
Draco licked at the place where Harry was biting his lip. He had always wanted to do that.
Harry couldn't resist a little smile. "Perhaps you should eat," he said.
Draco blushed but sat back a bit, not yet wanting to let go of Harry.
Harry brought his legs up to the sofa, folding them under himself. He didn't feel particularly hungry, too full of butterflies for that, but he reached for a roll to encourage Draco.
Draco smirked and arched an eyebrow. "If I eat, will you kiss me again?" he asked.
Harry smiled again. "Yeah," he said quietly. "But you have to eat good first, not like a bird. As good as you can, anyway."
Draco reluctantly released Harry, turned, and picked up the soup. He ate it carefully, licking his lips and watching Harry as he did.
Harry stared back. "Well," he said quietly after a minute, "I fancy you."
"Good," Draco replied with amusement as he took another spoonful of soup.
Harry let out an amused breath, picking at the roll in his hands. "I take it you fancy me, too?" he inquired with a bit of a dry smile.
Draco actually ate much faster than normal, managing the bowl of soup and some bread. He set the empty bowl aside and then wiped his mouth with the cloth. "Yes, I do," he said. "You couldn't tell?"
"Not really until, well, until I kissed you before," Harry answered. "I guess I sort of thought a few times before that, but I wasn't – I wasn't sure."
"Yes, well, I didn't want you to know," Draco said softly.
"Mm," Harry acknowledged quietly with a little nod. He knew what he had promised after Draco finished eating, but he wasn't sure how to get back to it.
Draco sat back and smiled at him. "Do I get my reward now?"
"I'd hardly call it a reward," Harry said, his lips quirking up on one side. He moved closer to Draco, heart picking up again.
Draco waited, wanting Harry to initiate this time.
Harry closed the distance between them, sitting on his knees beside Draco. He began with another little kiss, but then pulled back to take his glasses off. He quickly moved to place them on the table, but then came back to Draco, letting his eyes fall shut as their lips met again.
Draco relaxed, opening his mouth to the other man. He brought his arm around his waist, hand on the small of his back.
Harry smiled against Draco's lips as he slipped his tongue into his mouth. "You taste like soup," he whispered, moving a hand to the back of Draco's head.
Draco didn't reply, sighing instead as he felt Harry's fingers in his hair.
Harry breathed in the sigh, gripping Draco's hair gently as he began to kiss him again.
Draco kissed and sucked on Harry's lips, hands running over his back, feeling his body under the fabric of the shirt.
"Mmm," Harry let out quietly. It was the exact sound to sum up what he was feeling right then, slow, and warm, and perfect. He explored Draco as much as Draco explored him, hands roaming lightly, fingers clutching hair with the barest pressure, tongues running over lips and teeth. Such sweet perfection.
After so long, this was almost too good to be true. Draco found himself both aroused and relaxed, just letting himself enjoy it.
Harry broke the kiss from Draco's lips, kissing along his jaw and then down to his throat, pressed even closer to him now.
Draco arched his neck, giving Harry access and permission. He slid one hand up to run his fingers along the back of Harry's skull, combing through the thick, dark hair.
Harry could feel himself getting aroused again – not that it had gone away at all, but it was getting stronger. He could feel Draco's pulse against his lips and sucked there.
Draco was very aroused, gasping at the way Harry sucked on him. His fingers tightened in his hair.
Harry stopped abruptly, pulling away. He saw that he had left a mark on Draco's neck. "Sorry," he apologised breathlessly. "I got too – I'm getting too ... carried away."
"No, carry away as you like," Draco insisted, smiling dreamily.
Harry let out a quiet snort. "Maybe we should stop," he said. He kissed Draco gently. "You couldn't even walk up the stairs."
"I could just lie back while you have your way with me," Draco suggested hopefully.
Harry flushed at that. "Right," he said, raising an eyebrow. "I would rather not kill you."
"Well, we finally have got past that, haven’t we?" Draco teased, pulling gently on Harry's hair.
Harry smiled. "I think so," he said, kissing quickly below Draco's ear.
"I want more," Draco said with a smirk.
"Selfish, are we?" Harry commented, smirking a bit himself.
"Very," Draco agreed, "and greedy."
"And apparently completely unconcerned about your own well-being," said Harry.
"You make me feel much better," Draco assured him.
Harry smiled. "Good," he replied, tucking a lock of blond hair back behind Draco's ear, "but I'm not actually a cure for not eating and whatever else you did for two weeks."
"Not much actually," Draco admitted. "I will eat better, but you need to come see me every day until I am well."
"You can hold me to it," Harry promised with a grin.
***
Harry turned to Draco as he neared the front door, his cloak in his hands. "Um, well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," he said with a slightly crooked smile. "If you'll still have me."
"Every day, you promised," Draco said, smiling.
"Every day," Harry agreed, taking a step up to Draco instead of toward the door. "I suppose a goodbye kiss is in order, if you like that sort of thing."
"Yes, I do," Draco answered, feeling himself tremble in anticipation.
Harry cupped Draco's face, closing the distance between them and kissing him gently again.
Draco sighed and closed his eyes, hands coming up to hold Harry again.
Harry smiled, kissing for several seconds before pulling back. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said again in a whisper.
"I will be waiting," Draco said, having difficulty letting him go.
Harry kissed Draco quickly one last time. "It won't be long," he assured, slipping gently from his arms and throwing his cloak over his own shoulders.
Draco watched him go, standing in the doorway, despite the cold, until Harry had Apparated away. As he stood there, quiet footsteps sounded behind him – the unmistakable clicks of his mother's shoes. He sighed and closed the door, turning to face her.
Her eyes took in Draco's appearance, his clean clothes and body, and the telltale slightly pink lips. She raised an eyebrow. "He just left?" she asked, though the answer was rather obvious.
"Yes, but he will be back tomorrow," Draco said, leaning back against the door.
Narcissa raised both eyebrows then. "Will he?"
Draco sighed. "I believe he will," he answered.
She looked at him for a moment. "Come here, Draco," she requested.
Draco stepped forward to his mother, unsure of how she would handle his relationship with Potter, or any man for that matter.
She reached out and cupped his face, staring at him intently. "It is what you want?" she asked.
"He is," Draco said softly, looking her in the eyes.
"You have to know why it worries me," she went on quietly. "He is Harry Potter. People will not take kindly to his being romantically involved with another ... man. I don't want you to get hurt in that. And I don't want you to get hurt if he remains with that Weasley girl. You are a much better catch, but I can't read his mind. You are my world, Draco. I cannot bear to see you again as you've been for the past two weeks."
Draco felt guilty about that. "I will try to do better, Mother."
She gave him a sad smile. "If you are sure he is what you want," she gave a reluctant sigh, "then I won't speak a word against him. But be careful, Draco. I know I sound absolutely daft, but promise me that?"
"I am always careful," Draco said. "And I will try to take care of myself."
She nodded. "All right," she relented, kissing his cheek.
***
As soon as Harry was out into the evening air, before he even Apparated, the warm fuzzies left over from Draco's kisses and touches disappeared immediately. He was going back to the Burrow, back to all those people who thought him good and great and wonderful. He'd just cheated on Ginny – several times if each kiss counted. He'd just cheated on Ginny with another man. How would she react to that? She would be so upset with him. He knew she would be.
He winced as he spun on the spot, Disapparating to appear in the Weasleys' backyard. He trudged into the kitchen, glad when no one was there, and went to the sink to get himself some water. He filled a glass up and then tipped the liquid into his mouth, draining it in one gulp. He felt shaky and transparent, like everyone would be able to see right through him and know what he had been doing. He nearly choked right then when two arms snaked around his waist. He spun around quickly, finding the last person he wanted to see.
Ginny smiled up at him and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "Merlin, Harry," she said. "You've been gone all bloody day. Did Kreacher blow something up?"
Harry laughed nervously. "No," he said. "I was actually just rearranging a few things before I move in. Didn't realise the time."
She sighed, still holding him. "Mum doesn't want you to leave here," she said. "And neither do I. Why have you got to move out?"
Harry sighed as well. "I can't stay here forever," he told her. "I think I'm starting to drive Ron barmy being in his room."
She rolled her eyes. "No, you're not," she argued. "You're his best mate."
"His best mate who's a slob," Harry said with a small smile. "That's what he says anyway. What, do you want me to be living here when I'm thirty?"
"Yes," Ginny answered promptly, "if I am."
Harry's stomach squirmed uncomfortably. "I'm moving to Grimmauld Place," he said. "And I'll still be over here all the time. You know that."
She sighed again, pressing her face into his chest and taking a big whiff of him, but then she stilled suddenly, taking an even deeper breath. "You smell different," she said, her brows lowering.
Harry's brows shot up. "Different?" he asked, stomach squirming again.
She took another sniff. "Yeah," she said. "Yeah like ... vanilla." One more sniff. "Yeah, you smell like vanilla."
"Vanilla?" Harry repeated, shifting out of Ginny's arms to put the glass in the sink.
"Yeah."
"Don't know why I would smell like that," Harry shrugged, but he knew exactly what the smell was from. "Oh, you know what?" he thought fast, turning back to her.
"What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Kreacher had this stuff. He was spraying it around the house. This cleaner stuff. I bet that's what it is."
She shrugged, apparently not suspicious of the answer. Not suspicious, period. She slipped her arms over his shoulders then. "You know, if you moved to number twelve we wouldn't get to do this ..." she pressed her leg between his two, "all the time."
Harry swallowed slightly. "Maybe that would make it better," he said, trying to waggle his eyebrows.
Ginny scoffed at him. "How so?" she questioned dubiously.
"The longer we go without it the more we'd want it," Harry replied simply. "Like food."
"Food?" Ginny arched a brow.
"Yeah," said Harry. "If you eat strawberry ice cream every day, it doesn't taste as good. It gets old. But if you haven't had it in a while, it's delicious."
She rolled her eyes at him. "You're really weird sometimes," she said, moving away from him with a final kiss.
Harry sighed, watching her leave the room with a frown on his face. "Yeah, I know," he said quietly
Chapter Title: Who Would Have Thought?
Words: 3316 Words
Draco called for Rusty and had the house-elf draw him a bath. He managed to get days of grime and sweat washed away and even got his hair shining again. Finally, clean, dry and feeling more normal, he put on his dressing gown and re-entered his bedroom.
Harry had mostly sat and thought rather than read, and he was only a few pages in when Draco came back. He stared at him for a moment, at the dressing gown, and then flushed. "I'll just let you get dressed," he said, making to stand up from the bed.
Draco wanted him to stay, but didn't know what Harry wanted. What did it mean that he was back? Draco shrugged, letting the other man decide.
Harry got to his feet and left the room, going to wait outside the door for Draco.
Draco quickly pulled clothes from his wardrobe and put them on, having to hold on to the bedposts not to fall over, but managing. "I'm ready," he called.
Harry peeked around the corner before he came back in. He walked over to Draco and stood staring at him. "Do you – do you want to eat or something now?" he asked.
"I suppose I should," Draco answered, one hand still holding the bedpost. "Do you want to eat here or with Mother?" His lips quirked after the question.
Harry let out a nervous laugh. "Erm, I think it would be best for all involved if I stay away from her for a bit."
Draco chuckled and gestured to the sofa. "We can sit here if you like," he suggested.
Harry nodded, taking a seat on the sofa indicated. He still felt sort of nervous, and he wasn't sure why he'd told Draco some of the things he'd said downstairs. He couldn't say those things. He had a girlfriend, but he'd said them, and meant them. He just didn't know what to do about it now.
Draco called Rusty again and told him they would eat in his room. The house-elf frowned but nodded. "And, yes, tell Mother I am fine and that Mr Potter and I just need time to talk."
The elf looked relieved then and it became clear he had orders from Narcissa to tell her what was going on.
Harry sighed when the elf had gone. He picked at his fingernails in his lap before he looked at Draco, unsure of what to say.
Draco sat back, one arm along the back of the sofa and the other on his knee. "What now?" he asked.
"I don't know," Harry admitted truthfully.
"You are the one who came back," Draco pointed out. "You said you were thinking of me ...." Rusty appeared then with a tray of food and set it on the coffee table in front of them before disappearing again.
Harry was silent for a few very long moments. "I was," he said finally, quietly. "I couldn't do anything but think of you." Merlin, and there was that same confession again. It just seemed such a huge thing to him, that he had really been unable to put Draco out of his mind for two whole weeks.
Draco sipped at some soup and regarded Harry. "How and what were you thinking about me?" he asked with a small smile.
Harry sighed. "You really want to know, don't you?" he said, feeling slightly awkward again.
"Yes," Draco whispered, setting the food down and turning to face him fully. "I really need to know."
"Well I – I -" Harry began, picking more furiously at his fingernails. "I thought of kissing you again, obviously," he said, not meeting Draco's eyes. "And I thought of, well, I thought of you .... Ugh, Merlin, Draco, this is embarrassing."
Draco actually smiled then. "Embarrassing to have liked kissing me? To want to do it again?"
"It's embarrassing to talk about it," Harry answered, blush brightening.
Draco reached a shaky hand out to gently cup Harry's chin and turn his face up to look at him. He looked into those emerald eyes and felt the same flutter inside him he always did. "If I kiss you now, will you run away?" he asked.
Harry swallowed. His mind immediately flashed to Ginny, Ginny's smiling face, what she would look like if she found out about this, but he was looking at Draco, and Draco's hand was warm on his skin, and Harry's heart was picking up speed. He didn't know what he was getting himself into. But even when he had left the Burrow to come to the Manor – truly – he had known what he was coming for. He shook his head no.
Draco trembled, but leaned forward, letting his lips barely graze Harry's.
And even that was ... perfection. Harry gently kissed Draco back, warmth spreading through every inch of him as he did, drowning out other thoughts.
Draco tilted his head, increasing the contact and opening his mouth slightly. He still held Harry's chin, cupping it now.
Harry moved closer to Draco on the sofa, one hand moving to lightly rest on the small of his back.
Draco slid his tongue forward, gently caressing the edge of Harry's lips.
Harry opened his mouth, allowing Draco access. He moved his free hand to Draco's face, sliding it along his jaw as he had done before.
Draco felt every point of contact as a tingling that spread through his body. He gasped, his tongue exploring the other man's mouth.
Harry let out an unintentional moan. It felt so bloody good. He moved even closer, at the same time pulling Draco against him.
That moan. Draco would have done anything to hear that and it made him shudder with pleasure.
Harry entwined his tongue with Draco's, twisting and licking as they kissed. It was better than he had imagined for those two weeks and better than the first.
Draco's hand on the back of the sofa slid around Harry's shoulders, holding him as he lost himself in the kiss.
Harry opened his mouth even wider, unable to get enough of Draco. His stomach swooped with the feeling of Draco's arm around him and he held him tightly in return, moaning quietly again.
Draco was sure that no other kiss he had experienced had ever been so good. It might have been a long time, but he would have remembered. He cradled the man's face and kissed him with everything he had.
Harry kissed back just as feverishly. He kissed Draco until his heart wasn't the only thing throbbing with blood. He could feel his arousal climbing and pulled back a bit, his glasses crooked. "Maybe we should – maybe we should slow down," he said between panting breaths, his voice husky without his being able to help it.
Draco didn't want to stop, slow down, or do anything else, but he paused, just holding Harry, fingers caressing his cheek as their foreheads rested together.
Harry pressed another little kiss to Draco's lips, just a little tiny one, and then one more before he pulled back completely, but he didn't release Draco. "I don't," he said, still panting slightly, "I don't want to -" But he didn't know what to say. He wanted to go back to kissing Draco – Merlin, he did, but he didn't want to go too fast. He didn't want to lose control and make things so ... heavy. Though they were quite heavy already.
"I do," Draco whispered with a small smile.
Harry bit his lip. "I know, I just – I just don't want to – rush," he explained.
Draco licked at the place where Harry was biting his lip. He had always wanted to do that.
Harry couldn't resist a little smile. "Perhaps you should eat," he said.
Draco blushed but sat back a bit, not yet wanting to let go of Harry.
Harry brought his legs up to the sofa, folding them under himself. He didn't feel particularly hungry, too full of butterflies for that, but he reached for a roll to encourage Draco.
Draco smirked and arched an eyebrow. "If I eat, will you kiss me again?" he asked.
Harry smiled again. "Yeah," he said quietly. "But you have to eat good first, not like a bird. As good as you can, anyway."
Draco reluctantly released Harry, turned, and picked up the soup. He ate it carefully, licking his lips and watching Harry as he did.
Harry stared back. "Well," he said quietly after a minute, "I fancy you."
"Good," Draco replied with amusement as he took another spoonful of soup.
Harry let out an amused breath, picking at the roll in his hands. "I take it you fancy me, too?" he inquired with a bit of a dry smile.
Draco actually ate much faster than normal, managing the bowl of soup and some bread. He set the empty bowl aside and then wiped his mouth with the cloth. "Yes, I do," he said. "You couldn't tell?"
"Not really until, well, until I kissed you before," Harry answered. "I guess I sort of thought a few times before that, but I wasn't – I wasn't sure."
"Yes, well, I didn't want you to know," Draco said softly.
"Mm," Harry acknowledged quietly with a little nod. He knew what he had promised after Draco finished eating, but he wasn't sure how to get back to it.
Draco sat back and smiled at him. "Do I get my reward now?"
"I'd hardly call it a reward," Harry said, his lips quirking up on one side. He moved closer to Draco, heart picking up again.
Draco waited, wanting Harry to initiate this time.
Harry closed the distance between them, sitting on his knees beside Draco. He began with another little kiss, but then pulled back to take his glasses off. He quickly moved to place them on the table, but then came back to Draco, letting his eyes fall shut as their lips met again.
Draco relaxed, opening his mouth to the other man. He brought his arm around his waist, hand on the small of his back.
Harry smiled against Draco's lips as he slipped his tongue into his mouth. "You taste like soup," he whispered, moving a hand to the back of Draco's head.
Draco didn't reply, sighing instead as he felt Harry's fingers in his hair.
Harry breathed in the sigh, gripping Draco's hair gently as he began to kiss him again.
Draco kissed and sucked on Harry's lips, hands running over his back, feeling his body under the fabric of the shirt.
"Mmm," Harry let out quietly. It was the exact sound to sum up what he was feeling right then, slow, and warm, and perfect. He explored Draco as much as Draco explored him, hands roaming lightly, fingers clutching hair with the barest pressure, tongues running over lips and teeth. Such sweet perfection.
After so long, this was almost too good to be true. Draco found himself both aroused and relaxed, just letting himself enjoy it.
Harry broke the kiss from Draco's lips, kissing along his jaw and then down to his throat, pressed even closer to him now.
Draco arched his neck, giving Harry access and permission. He slid one hand up to run his fingers along the back of Harry's skull, combing through the thick, dark hair.
Harry could feel himself getting aroused again – not that it had gone away at all, but it was getting stronger. He could feel Draco's pulse against his lips and sucked there.
Draco was very aroused, gasping at the way Harry sucked on him. His fingers tightened in his hair.
Harry stopped abruptly, pulling away. He saw that he had left a mark on Draco's neck. "Sorry," he apologised breathlessly. "I got too – I'm getting too ... carried away."
"No, carry away as you like," Draco insisted, smiling dreamily.
Harry let out a quiet snort. "Maybe we should stop," he said. He kissed Draco gently. "You couldn't even walk up the stairs."
"I could just lie back while you have your way with me," Draco suggested hopefully.
Harry flushed at that. "Right," he said, raising an eyebrow. "I would rather not kill you."
"Well, we finally have got past that, haven’t we?" Draco teased, pulling gently on Harry's hair.
Harry smiled. "I think so," he said, kissing quickly below Draco's ear.
"I want more," Draco said with a smirk.
"Selfish, are we?" Harry commented, smirking a bit himself.
"Very," Draco agreed, "and greedy."
"And apparently completely unconcerned about your own well-being," said Harry.
"You make me feel much better," Draco assured him.
Harry smiled. "Good," he replied, tucking a lock of blond hair back behind Draco's ear, "but I'm not actually a cure for not eating and whatever else you did for two weeks."
"Not much actually," Draco admitted. "I will eat better, but you need to come see me every day until I am well."
"You can hold me to it," Harry promised with a grin.
***
Harry turned to Draco as he neared the front door, his cloak in his hands. "Um, well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," he said with a slightly crooked smile. "If you'll still have me."
"Every day, you promised," Draco said, smiling.
"Every day," Harry agreed, taking a step up to Draco instead of toward the door. "I suppose a goodbye kiss is in order, if you like that sort of thing."
"Yes, I do," Draco answered, feeling himself tremble in anticipation.
Harry cupped Draco's face, closing the distance between them and kissing him gently again.
Draco sighed and closed his eyes, hands coming up to hold Harry again.
Harry smiled, kissing for several seconds before pulling back. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said again in a whisper.
"I will be waiting," Draco said, having difficulty letting him go.
Harry kissed Draco quickly one last time. "It won't be long," he assured, slipping gently from his arms and throwing his cloak over his own shoulders.
Draco watched him go, standing in the doorway, despite the cold, until Harry had Apparated away. As he stood there, quiet footsteps sounded behind him – the unmistakable clicks of his mother's shoes. He sighed and closed the door, turning to face her.
Her eyes took in Draco's appearance, his clean clothes and body, and the telltale slightly pink lips. She raised an eyebrow. "He just left?" she asked, though the answer was rather obvious.
"Yes, but he will be back tomorrow," Draco said, leaning back against the door.
Narcissa raised both eyebrows then. "Will he?"
Draco sighed. "I believe he will," he answered.
She looked at him for a moment. "Come here, Draco," she requested.
Draco stepped forward to his mother, unsure of how she would handle his relationship with Potter, or any man for that matter.
She reached out and cupped his face, staring at him intently. "It is what you want?" she asked.
"He is," Draco said softly, looking her in the eyes.
"You have to know why it worries me," she went on quietly. "He is Harry Potter. People will not take kindly to his being romantically involved with another ... man. I don't want you to get hurt in that. And I don't want you to get hurt if he remains with that Weasley girl. You are a much better catch, but I can't read his mind. You are my world, Draco. I cannot bear to see you again as you've been for the past two weeks."
Draco felt guilty about that. "I will try to do better, Mother."
She gave him a sad smile. "If you are sure he is what you want," she gave a reluctant sigh, "then I won't speak a word against him. But be careful, Draco. I know I sound absolutely daft, but promise me that?"
"I am always careful," Draco said. "And I will try to take care of myself."
She nodded. "All right," she relented, kissing his cheek.
***
As soon as Harry was out into the evening air, before he even Apparated, the warm fuzzies left over from Draco's kisses and touches disappeared immediately. He was going back to the Burrow, back to all those people who thought him good and great and wonderful. He'd just cheated on Ginny – several times if each kiss counted. He'd just cheated on Ginny with another man. How would she react to that? She would be so upset with him. He knew she would be.
He winced as he spun on the spot, Disapparating to appear in the Weasleys' backyard. He trudged into the kitchen, glad when no one was there, and went to the sink to get himself some water. He filled a glass up and then tipped the liquid into his mouth, draining it in one gulp. He felt shaky and transparent, like everyone would be able to see right through him and know what he had been doing. He nearly choked right then when two arms snaked around his waist. He spun around quickly, finding the last person he wanted to see.
Ginny smiled up at him and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "Merlin, Harry," she said. "You've been gone all bloody day. Did Kreacher blow something up?"
Harry laughed nervously. "No," he said. "I was actually just rearranging a few things before I move in. Didn't realise the time."
She sighed, still holding him. "Mum doesn't want you to leave here," she said. "And neither do I. Why have you got to move out?"
Harry sighed as well. "I can't stay here forever," he told her. "I think I'm starting to drive Ron barmy being in his room."
She rolled her eyes. "No, you're not," she argued. "You're his best mate."
"His best mate who's a slob," Harry said with a small smile. "That's what he says anyway. What, do you want me to be living here when I'm thirty?"
"Yes," Ginny answered promptly, "if I am."
Harry's stomach squirmed uncomfortably. "I'm moving to Grimmauld Place," he said. "And I'll still be over here all the time. You know that."
She sighed again, pressing her face into his chest and taking a big whiff of him, but then she stilled suddenly, taking an even deeper breath. "You smell different," she said, her brows lowering.
Harry's brows shot up. "Different?" he asked, stomach squirming again.
She took another sniff. "Yeah," she said. "Yeah like ... vanilla." One more sniff. "Yeah, you smell like vanilla."
"Vanilla?" Harry repeated, shifting out of Ginny's arms to put the glass in the sink.
"Yeah."
"Don't know why I would smell like that," Harry shrugged, but he knew exactly what the smell was from. "Oh, you know what?" he thought fast, turning back to her.
"What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Kreacher had this stuff. He was spraying it around the house. This cleaner stuff. I bet that's what it is."
She shrugged, apparently not suspicious of the answer. Not suspicious, period. She slipped her arms over his shoulders then. "You know, if you moved to number twelve we wouldn't get to do this ..." she pressed her leg between his two, "all the time."
Harry swallowed slightly. "Maybe that would make it better," he said, trying to waggle his eyebrows.
Ginny scoffed at him. "How so?" she questioned dubiously.
"The longer we go without it the more we'd want it," Harry replied simply. "Like food."
"Food?" Ginny arched a brow.
"Yeah," said Harry. "If you eat strawberry ice cream every day, it doesn't taste as good. It gets old. But if you haven't had it in a while, it's delicious."
She rolled her eyes at him. "You're really weird sometimes," she said, moving away from him with a final kiss.
Harry sighed, watching her leave the room with a frown on his face. "Yeah, I know," he said quietly