Harry Potter and The Dragon’s Treasure (BP6)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
43
Views:
24,545
Reviews:
198
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
43
Views:
24,545
Reviews:
198
Recommended:
0
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.
On the Edge
Chapter Number/Total: 24/42
Chapter Title: On the Edge
Words: 2597 Words
Harry was, indeed, going insane. An entire week had gone by and no one could find any answer to Harry and Draco's problem. Harry had taken to pacing, and itching, and sniffing, and playing with his fingernails. Anything to distract him from what he really wanted: to reach out and touch his husband. There had, of course, been a few slips, but Draco would yelp when they accidentally touched and then Harry would feel like screaming and ripping his hair out. They'd looked through tons of books already, but the problem was that what they'd done had never before been recorded. Why? Why did they have to get in these fucking messes? Harry didn't know. And it wasn't fair. Wasn't he supposed to be having a happily ever after? That had been what was supposed to happen. But no. Of course not. He was, after all, Harry Potter.
He sighed and downed his drink before giving the old woman sitting at the table across from him a rather fake smile. He really wanted to roll his eyes at all the fake. He and Draco were attending an evening party given by the Minister, an evening party mostly filled with the wizarding world's ancient, rich, uppity hags and hermits, who sat counting their money and over-pricing their products. He was only there because Draco, in the process of rebuilding investments, had wanted to come. Harry could understand why his husband had wanted to go, but it didn't mean that he was happy about being there. He was bored, and not in a very good mood, and sick of the whispering surrounding himself and Draco. It had to be about the article that had appeared in the paper and, to add to it all, they hadn't been able to touch.
Draco had been saved the struggle of not touching his husband by the fact that they weren't seated next to each other. He was seated across and two down from Harry. Draco was talking with Reginald Forblis, a man who had a "brilliant idea" to build a wizarding shopping centre. Personally, Draco wasn't too excited by the concept, but he made it a policy to keep an eye on new ideas that came into the rebuilding projects. The blond glanced up again to where his husband sat squirming and trying to be polite. Under normal circumstances, he would find an excuse to go to the loo, drag his lover into an empty room and give him a nice reward for his patience. In fact, Draco was so taken with the idea of sucking Harry off in Scrimgeour's house, that he completely missed part of what his dinner companion was saying while he had been staring, and nearly drooling, over his husband.
Harry looked up to see Draco staring at him like he was, and he wouldn't have been surprised if his eye began twitching. He couldn't remember ever having wanked as much as he had in the past week. Not even when he'd first discovered what wanking was.
Draco blushed when Harry looked back and looked down. He shouldn't have been embarrassed to look at his own husband like this but with not being able to touch him, it felt like teasing. He tried to at least pretend to follow the conversation with the contractor.
Harry sighed and looked away as well, shifting around in his seat again.
"Harry," said a loud, boisterous, important sort of voice from next to him. It was Griffin Skower, grandson to Mrs Skower and owner of Skower's cleaning supplies, who'd been trying to engage Harry in conversation since he and Draco had arrived.
"Yes?" Harry asked politely.
"Do you still play Quidditch at all?"
"Well, I haven't played a real game in a while, but, yeah, I suppose," Harry replied with a shrug. He didn't look over at Draco again, but Quidditch made him think of their match, which made him think of what had happened before and after that match, which only made him think of the frustrating fact that there would be no sex waiting for him when he got home.
Draco was used to being aroused by his husband, but the lack of ability to do anything about it was driving him insane. Dinner was over and it was time for the socialising to continue. This was often where he made some of his best deals, but he was doubtful of his own ability to concentrate tonight.
"Good man. Good man," Skower continued, smiling. "My son just turned ten, you know. We had a pitch built at our estate for his birthday. He just loves the thing, and I'm a bit of a fan myself."
Harry smiled vapidly and nodded, wondering if he was going to get to the point.
"Have you met my daughter?" Skower asked suddenly.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Erm ... no," he said, thrown by this.
"Well, she would just be so envious of my being here with you. She just finished school last year."
"Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"Oh, no," said Skower, sighing. "Her mother wanted her to attend Beauxbatons. It's where the Mrs went, after all."
Harry still had no idea what the point of this was.
Draco glanced over at Harry who seemed to be socialising again and then turned back the contractor. He told the man to owl him a proposal and he would consider it. Forblis frowned, wanting to go into more details immediately.
"My daughter, Natalie, is a big Quidditch player as well," Skower continued still. "She's followed the Wasps since she was just a tiny thing." He chuckled. "She'll be having a game with a few of her school friends next weekend. Would you be interested in coming?"
"Er ..." Harry said, trailing off. What was he supposed to do?
"She would just love it if you were there. She really can't even pass up buying a magazine if you're in it, even just a mention of your name." He chuckled again. "Would you like to see a picture?"
Something about this felt very odd to Harry. It was as if Skower was trying to ... set him up with his daughter or something.
Draco finally got away and made his way closer to Harry. Normally, he would just walk up and put his arm around his husband's waist. Instead, he stood off to the side, trying to catch Harry's eye.
Skowers pulled the picture out before Harry could even reply and shoved it in his face. His daughter was a very pretty girl, who winked at him, but Harry looked back up at the man holding the photo, giving another fake smile. He noticed then that Draco wasn't in his seat and then he saw him standing a bit away.
"Perhaps we can talk later," Harry said, getting to his feet and making his escape.
Skower sighed. "I'll hold you to that, Harry," he said with a wink like his daughter's.
Harry laughed falsely and then gave Draco a raised-eyebrows look when he was sure Skowers couldn't see.
Draco had to cross his arms to keep from immediately reaching for Harry as he approached. He arched an eyebrow. "What was that about?" he whispered.
"I have no idea," Harry said. "He was trying to get me to meet his daughter or something."
Draco scowled, eyes narrowed.
Harry sighed. "You know it's because everyone here thinks we're getting a divorce," he muttered.
Draco's mood hadn't been good, but it was positively nasty now. "We are leaving," he hissed.
Harry reached to touch Draco's arm, but then stopped himself. "I'm not going to meet her, Draco," he said, though he really didn't have any qualms at all about leaving.
"We are still leaving," Draco said, voice low and harsh. He glanced over to where the Minister and his wife were. "We should say our goodbyes," he added, grinding his teeth in frustration.
Harry sighed, nodding. He made his way over to Scrimgeour with Draco.
Minister Scrimgeour frowned but thanked them for coming. "Nice to see you two out together," his wife added.
Harry twitched slightly at that, but nodded, smiling politely again.
When they were making their way back to leave, Skower grabbed Harry's arm. "Going off?" he asked.
Harry couldn't believe how determined this man was. "Er, yes," he said, glancing at Draco.
"Well, what about that weekend?"
Harry pretended to be disappointed. "I actually have something planned already, I'm afraid," he said.
Skower face fell. "Well, perhaps another time then."
"Perhaps," said Harry.
"Here. I'll give you my address so you can Floo over." He pulled his wand and used it to Transfigure his spoon and fork into quill and ink pot. He scrawled his address onto a napkin and handed it to Harry with another wink. He paid Draco no attention whatsoever. "Whenever you like then, Harry," he said.
Harry chuckled strangely and tucked the napkin in his pocket, stepping quickly away from the table.
Draco was seething mad by the time they made it out of the room and to the entrance hall where guests could Floo home. His arms were crossed over his chest and his fingers digging into his arms so hard the silver hand would no doubt leave bruises.
"I can't believe him," Harry said, eying Draco.
"Home, now," Draco growled, standing in front of the Floo and waiting for his husband to go through first.
Harry raised his eyebrows before he grabbed some powder from the mantle and threw it into the flames in the hearth. "Malfoy Manor," he called, and then began spinning in the fire to their entrance hall at home.
Draco followed immediately after, stepping out of the fire at the other end.
Harry stood waiting for Draco and then stepped back when he arrived, his eyebrows still raised.
Draco strode across the entrance hall, picked up a vase - a very expensive one - and hurled it at the wall, where it shattered into small pieces. One flew out, catching him on the cheek.
Harry gasped quietly, staring at the pieces on the floor and then up to Draco. He could see the cut on his cheek and closed his eyes, covering them with his hand a moment later. He would've healed that cut if he'd been able.
"Don't leave the Manor," Draco hissed and then Apparated out of the room.
Harry brought his hand down from his face quickly, frowning. Just then, Ron came running into the room.
"What hap-" He stopped short, seeing the broken vase on the floor.
Harry didn't tell Ron why the vase was shattered, even though he looked confused. "Where's Valen?" he asked, and the worry must have been showing on his face, because Ron's face suddenly looked worried.
"With Hermione in the library," he said. "Where's Dra-"
Harry cut him off. "Is Valen all right for now?" he asked.
"Yeah ..." said Ron slowly.
Harry nodded. "We'll be down later," he said, Apparating to their bedroom.
Harry didn't see Draco around anywhere. He wasn't in the sitting room either, or the bathroom, or his lab. Harry sighed, remembering that one time before when he'd been unable to find Draco, after they'd realised that Draco couldn't fly with his old construct hand. He Apparated again, heading for the east turret.
Draco was standing in the space between two merlons, looking out into the night. He heard the pop behind him but didn't turn.
Harry's eyes widened. "I thought you would be here," he said very quietly.
Draco shivered and he wasn't sure if it was from the cool night air. "I can't take it," he said, voice low so he wasn't even sure if Harry could hear him.
"It's only been a week," Harry said, still quiet but stepping a little closer. "We'll find a way," he insisted.
"I meant it, you know," Draco said. "That I couldn't live if I couldn't have you."
"But I'm right here," Harry said nervously. "You still have me."
Draco trembled again, looking down at the concrete walkway below. The walkway where the moat would have been in previous generations. He still hadn't turned around to look at his husband.
"Draco," Harry said, stepping even closer. "I'm right here."
"Right there, but out of reach," Draco said. Anger flooded him again and he was shaking once more.
"Then we'll find the way to reverse what we did," Harry continued. "Draco, we will. I promise we will."
"And if we can't?" Draco asked, voice shaking, too.
"But we will," Harry said, a violent shiver going through him with the possibility of Draco's words.
Draco was shaking so bad now that if he stayed on the edge of the tower, he was likely to fall by accident if not on purpose. "Promise?" he asked.
"Yes," Harry breathed, nearly overwhelmed with the need to pull Draco into his arms again.
"And Harry Potter always keeps his promises," Draco said, trying to reassure himself. He stepped back from between the merlons, losing his footing and falling to his arse on the stone floor of the tower.
Harry leapt forward in panic as Draco got down but then sighed with relief. "Are you okay?" he asked, unable to help him up.
Draco was crying now, tears falling quietly as he looked up at Harry. "No," he said.
Harry sunk to the ground with him, getting as close as he dared. "Merlin, Draco, this hurts so much," he whispered, fighting to keep his own tears away. "Because I don't want to watch you like this. I don't want you to cry and feel like you have to throw yourself off a tower. Draco, I love you. I love you more than anything in the entire world. And I promise that all of this will be okay. I promise."
"Kiss me," Draco whispered.
Harry was silent for a moment. "But I ... I don't want to hurt you," he whispered back.
"I don't care if it hurts," Draco said.
Harry swallowed and licked his lips, frowning as he leant forward and pressed his lips to his husband's.
Draco grabbed Harry's face with both hands, holding tight as the pain shot through his body. He couldn't hold on for even an entire minute but he forced himself to try. Then he fell back, writhing on the ground and shuddering.
Harry began to cry, shuddering himself as he watched Draco. He had thought, for a fleeting instant, that that kiss wouldn't hurt him.
Draco breathed deeply, trying to get himself back under control. The pain was like Cruciatus. He could have handled anything less, he told himself. He would have, if it meant he got to touch Harry. He had tried but failed.
Harry continued to cry, burying his face in his hands.
Draco wiped his tears away and looked at Harry. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't have made you do that."
"Oh, God," Harry groaned through his sobs. "I'm going to the library," he said through his uneven breathing, lifting his tear-streaked face. "I'm not leaving there until I find something."
"No, go feed our son," Draco said, managing to get to his feet. "I'll go to the library."
"I'll feed him in the library," Harry said, sniffing as he stood as well.
"I love you, no matter what happens, I love you," Draco said.
Harry wiped the sleeve of his expensive robes across his eyes. "I know," he said thickly. "And Griffin Skower's daughter can kiss my arse."
"No, she can't," Draco said, half growl, half laugh.
Harry managed a tearful laugh, too.
Chapter Title: On the Edge
Words: 2597 Words
Harry was, indeed, going insane. An entire week had gone by and no one could find any answer to Harry and Draco's problem. Harry had taken to pacing, and itching, and sniffing, and playing with his fingernails. Anything to distract him from what he really wanted: to reach out and touch his husband. There had, of course, been a few slips, but Draco would yelp when they accidentally touched and then Harry would feel like screaming and ripping his hair out. They'd looked through tons of books already, but the problem was that what they'd done had never before been recorded. Why? Why did they have to get in these fucking messes? Harry didn't know. And it wasn't fair. Wasn't he supposed to be having a happily ever after? That had been what was supposed to happen. But no. Of course not. He was, after all, Harry Potter.
He sighed and downed his drink before giving the old woman sitting at the table across from him a rather fake smile. He really wanted to roll his eyes at all the fake. He and Draco were attending an evening party given by the Minister, an evening party mostly filled with the wizarding world's ancient, rich, uppity hags and hermits, who sat counting their money and over-pricing their products. He was only there because Draco, in the process of rebuilding investments, had wanted to come. Harry could understand why his husband had wanted to go, but it didn't mean that he was happy about being there. He was bored, and not in a very good mood, and sick of the whispering surrounding himself and Draco. It had to be about the article that had appeared in the paper and, to add to it all, they hadn't been able to touch.
Draco had been saved the struggle of not touching his husband by the fact that they weren't seated next to each other. He was seated across and two down from Harry. Draco was talking with Reginald Forblis, a man who had a "brilliant idea" to build a wizarding shopping centre. Personally, Draco wasn't too excited by the concept, but he made it a policy to keep an eye on new ideas that came into the rebuilding projects. The blond glanced up again to where his husband sat squirming and trying to be polite. Under normal circumstances, he would find an excuse to go to the loo, drag his lover into an empty room and give him a nice reward for his patience. In fact, Draco was so taken with the idea of sucking Harry off in Scrimgeour's house, that he completely missed part of what his dinner companion was saying while he had been staring, and nearly drooling, over his husband.
Harry looked up to see Draco staring at him like he was, and he wouldn't have been surprised if his eye began twitching. He couldn't remember ever having wanked as much as he had in the past week. Not even when he'd first discovered what wanking was.
Draco blushed when Harry looked back and looked down. He shouldn't have been embarrassed to look at his own husband like this but with not being able to touch him, it felt like teasing. He tried to at least pretend to follow the conversation with the contractor.
Harry sighed and looked away as well, shifting around in his seat again.
"Harry," said a loud, boisterous, important sort of voice from next to him. It was Griffin Skower, grandson to Mrs Skower and owner of Skower's cleaning supplies, who'd been trying to engage Harry in conversation since he and Draco had arrived.
"Yes?" Harry asked politely.
"Do you still play Quidditch at all?"
"Well, I haven't played a real game in a while, but, yeah, I suppose," Harry replied with a shrug. He didn't look over at Draco again, but Quidditch made him think of their match, which made him think of what had happened before and after that match, which only made him think of the frustrating fact that there would be no sex waiting for him when he got home.
Draco was used to being aroused by his husband, but the lack of ability to do anything about it was driving him insane. Dinner was over and it was time for the socialising to continue. This was often where he made some of his best deals, but he was doubtful of his own ability to concentrate tonight.
"Good man. Good man," Skower continued, smiling. "My son just turned ten, you know. We had a pitch built at our estate for his birthday. He just loves the thing, and I'm a bit of a fan myself."
Harry smiled vapidly and nodded, wondering if he was going to get to the point.
"Have you met my daughter?" Skower asked suddenly.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Erm ... no," he said, thrown by this.
"Well, she would just be so envious of my being here with you. She just finished school last year."
"Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"Oh, no," said Skower, sighing. "Her mother wanted her to attend Beauxbatons. It's where the Mrs went, after all."
Harry still had no idea what the point of this was.
Draco glanced over at Harry who seemed to be socialising again and then turned back the contractor. He told the man to owl him a proposal and he would consider it. Forblis frowned, wanting to go into more details immediately.
"My daughter, Natalie, is a big Quidditch player as well," Skower continued still. "She's followed the Wasps since she was just a tiny thing." He chuckled. "She'll be having a game with a few of her school friends next weekend. Would you be interested in coming?"
"Er ..." Harry said, trailing off. What was he supposed to do?
"She would just love it if you were there. She really can't even pass up buying a magazine if you're in it, even just a mention of your name." He chuckled again. "Would you like to see a picture?"
Something about this felt very odd to Harry. It was as if Skower was trying to ... set him up with his daughter or something.
Draco finally got away and made his way closer to Harry. Normally, he would just walk up and put his arm around his husband's waist. Instead, he stood off to the side, trying to catch Harry's eye.
Skowers pulled the picture out before Harry could even reply and shoved it in his face. His daughter was a very pretty girl, who winked at him, but Harry looked back up at the man holding the photo, giving another fake smile. He noticed then that Draco wasn't in his seat and then he saw him standing a bit away.
"Perhaps we can talk later," Harry said, getting to his feet and making his escape.
Skower sighed. "I'll hold you to that, Harry," he said with a wink like his daughter's.
Harry laughed falsely and then gave Draco a raised-eyebrows look when he was sure Skowers couldn't see.
Draco had to cross his arms to keep from immediately reaching for Harry as he approached. He arched an eyebrow. "What was that about?" he whispered.
"I have no idea," Harry said. "He was trying to get me to meet his daughter or something."
Draco scowled, eyes narrowed.
Harry sighed. "You know it's because everyone here thinks we're getting a divorce," he muttered.
Draco's mood hadn't been good, but it was positively nasty now. "We are leaving," he hissed.
Harry reached to touch Draco's arm, but then stopped himself. "I'm not going to meet her, Draco," he said, though he really didn't have any qualms at all about leaving.
"We are still leaving," Draco said, voice low and harsh. He glanced over to where the Minister and his wife were. "We should say our goodbyes," he added, grinding his teeth in frustration.
Harry sighed, nodding. He made his way over to Scrimgeour with Draco.
Minister Scrimgeour frowned but thanked them for coming. "Nice to see you two out together," his wife added.
Harry twitched slightly at that, but nodded, smiling politely again.
When they were making their way back to leave, Skower grabbed Harry's arm. "Going off?" he asked.
Harry couldn't believe how determined this man was. "Er, yes," he said, glancing at Draco.
"Well, what about that weekend?"
Harry pretended to be disappointed. "I actually have something planned already, I'm afraid," he said.
Skower face fell. "Well, perhaps another time then."
"Perhaps," said Harry.
"Here. I'll give you my address so you can Floo over." He pulled his wand and used it to Transfigure his spoon and fork into quill and ink pot. He scrawled his address onto a napkin and handed it to Harry with another wink. He paid Draco no attention whatsoever. "Whenever you like then, Harry," he said.
Harry chuckled strangely and tucked the napkin in his pocket, stepping quickly away from the table.
Draco was seething mad by the time they made it out of the room and to the entrance hall where guests could Floo home. His arms were crossed over his chest and his fingers digging into his arms so hard the silver hand would no doubt leave bruises.
"I can't believe him," Harry said, eying Draco.
"Home, now," Draco growled, standing in front of the Floo and waiting for his husband to go through first.
Harry raised his eyebrows before he grabbed some powder from the mantle and threw it into the flames in the hearth. "Malfoy Manor," he called, and then began spinning in the fire to their entrance hall at home.
Draco followed immediately after, stepping out of the fire at the other end.
Harry stood waiting for Draco and then stepped back when he arrived, his eyebrows still raised.
Draco strode across the entrance hall, picked up a vase - a very expensive one - and hurled it at the wall, where it shattered into small pieces. One flew out, catching him on the cheek.
Harry gasped quietly, staring at the pieces on the floor and then up to Draco. He could see the cut on his cheek and closed his eyes, covering them with his hand a moment later. He would've healed that cut if he'd been able.
"Don't leave the Manor," Draco hissed and then Apparated out of the room.
Harry brought his hand down from his face quickly, frowning. Just then, Ron came running into the room.
"What hap-" He stopped short, seeing the broken vase on the floor.
Harry didn't tell Ron why the vase was shattered, even though he looked confused. "Where's Valen?" he asked, and the worry must have been showing on his face, because Ron's face suddenly looked worried.
"With Hermione in the library," he said. "Where's Dra-"
Harry cut him off. "Is Valen all right for now?" he asked.
"Yeah ..." said Ron slowly.
Harry nodded. "We'll be down later," he said, Apparating to their bedroom.
Harry didn't see Draco around anywhere. He wasn't in the sitting room either, or the bathroom, or his lab. Harry sighed, remembering that one time before when he'd been unable to find Draco, after they'd realised that Draco couldn't fly with his old construct hand. He Apparated again, heading for the east turret.
Draco was standing in the space between two merlons, looking out into the night. He heard the pop behind him but didn't turn.
Harry's eyes widened. "I thought you would be here," he said very quietly.
Draco shivered and he wasn't sure if it was from the cool night air. "I can't take it," he said, voice low so he wasn't even sure if Harry could hear him.
"It's only been a week," Harry said, still quiet but stepping a little closer. "We'll find a way," he insisted.
"I meant it, you know," Draco said. "That I couldn't live if I couldn't have you."
"But I'm right here," Harry said nervously. "You still have me."
Draco trembled again, looking down at the concrete walkway below. The walkway where the moat would have been in previous generations. He still hadn't turned around to look at his husband.
"Draco," Harry said, stepping even closer. "I'm right here."
"Right there, but out of reach," Draco said. Anger flooded him again and he was shaking once more.
"Then we'll find the way to reverse what we did," Harry continued. "Draco, we will. I promise we will."
"And if we can't?" Draco asked, voice shaking, too.
"But we will," Harry said, a violent shiver going through him with the possibility of Draco's words.
Draco was shaking so bad now that if he stayed on the edge of the tower, he was likely to fall by accident if not on purpose. "Promise?" he asked.
"Yes," Harry breathed, nearly overwhelmed with the need to pull Draco into his arms again.
"And Harry Potter always keeps his promises," Draco said, trying to reassure himself. He stepped back from between the merlons, losing his footing and falling to his arse on the stone floor of the tower.
Harry leapt forward in panic as Draco got down but then sighed with relief. "Are you okay?" he asked, unable to help him up.
Draco was crying now, tears falling quietly as he looked up at Harry. "No," he said.
Harry sunk to the ground with him, getting as close as he dared. "Merlin, Draco, this hurts so much," he whispered, fighting to keep his own tears away. "Because I don't want to watch you like this. I don't want you to cry and feel like you have to throw yourself off a tower. Draco, I love you. I love you more than anything in the entire world. And I promise that all of this will be okay. I promise."
"Kiss me," Draco whispered.
Harry was silent for a moment. "But I ... I don't want to hurt you," he whispered back.
"I don't care if it hurts," Draco said.
Harry swallowed and licked his lips, frowning as he leant forward and pressed his lips to his husband's.
Draco grabbed Harry's face with both hands, holding tight as the pain shot through his body. He couldn't hold on for even an entire minute but he forced himself to try. Then he fell back, writhing on the ground and shuddering.
Harry began to cry, shuddering himself as he watched Draco. He had thought, for a fleeting instant, that that kiss wouldn't hurt him.
Draco breathed deeply, trying to get himself back under control. The pain was like Cruciatus. He could have handled anything less, he told himself. He would have, if it meant he got to touch Harry. He had tried but failed.
Harry continued to cry, burying his face in his hands.
Draco wiped his tears away and looked at Harry. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't have made you do that."
"Oh, God," Harry groaned through his sobs. "I'm going to the library," he said through his uneven breathing, lifting his tear-streaked face. "I'm not leaving there until I find something."
"No, go feed our son," Draco said, managing to get to his feet. "I'll go to the library."
"I'll feed him in the library," Harry said, sniffing as he stood as well.
"I love you, no matter what happens, I love you," Draco said.
Harry wiped the sleeve of his expensive robes across his eyes. "I know," he said thickly. "And Griffin Skower's daughter can kiss my arse."
"No, she can't," Draco said, half growl, half laugh.
Harry managed a tearful laugh, too.