What Shakes The Elephant

What Shakes The Elephant

Chapter 38 – Older Chests Reveal Themselves

If there was one thing, in that moment, which Harry and Draco could agree on, it was that their discomfort levels had just skyrocketed. They both shifted and glanced at one another in confusion at Rolf’s comment, all the while trying desperately not to look down. Neither of them was particularly uncomfortable with the idea of being naked, but that kind of thing was reserved for time alone or, perhaps, with an intimate partner. It was certainly NOT meant for greeting strangers to your home.

This kind of greeting was meant for very close friends with very interesting benefits.

The silence had quickly become awkward and Harry became painfully aware of it. His eyes had traveled everywhere that was natural and he the unpleasant urge to let his gaze roam further took him. He could not pretend not to notice Rolf’s nudity for much longer. He turned his attention to his finger as though suddenly engrossed in the little invisible piece of dirt that had stuck itself underneath his nail.

Draco, however, did not seem too averse to letting his eyes roam, something which greatly irritated Harry. He kept his gaze on his finger while Draco’s attention was stuck on Rolf. None of them said anything for quite a while and Harry decided that he needed to distract himself from the obvious, along with get Draco’s attention away from this man.

“So, Rolf…” Harry began, unsure of what he was going to say. “I can’t place your accent. Where are you from?”

It was a sad attempt at conversation but it seemed to adequately cover the numbing discomfort. Draco glanced away from Rolf for a moment and looked at him instead. This gave Harry an unexpected swell of satisfaction though he didn’t know why he should feel good. There is no reason that he should care if Draco offers attention to other people. All it did was serve to prove that the blond was not really interested in him at all…

A storm cloud rolled into Harry’s mind and darkened his thoughts. His spirits dampened and he sighed softly. Rolf had already started speaking when he realized that he should be listening to the naked man before him.

“I’m from Austria,” the less-perfect blond explained with his accent. Harry nodded immediately. That did seem to fit. “My grandfather moved there from England years ago and I was raised there.”

Harry continued nodding long after the sentence had ended, his thoughts back on Draco and why he couldn’t take his attention off Rolf. Soon he realized his mistake and sought to ask another question.

“Er, why did you move away from England?” Harry pressed on, wondering if Luna was ever going to join them and save them from this odd hell.

“My grandfather did not like the pressure his name left on him,” he explained sadly. Harry did not understand. “He couldn’t live up to the expectations and wanted to move away.”

Again, Harry began nodding though he didn’t understand the comment. Draco made a derisive noise and turned up his noise. Harry didn’t know whether to be pleased that Draco looked down on this man, or angry that he was being so arrogant.

“And who exactly is your grandfather?” Draco sneered, assuming that the name was nothing spectacular. His tone indicated his contempt and disbelief. This time, Rolf picked up on it and tilted his head to the side with a questioning look.

“Don’t worry about him, Rolf,” Luna’s voice suddenly came from the doorway. “That’s just Draco’s usual demeanour. He means nothing by it.” The comment was made in her usual light and airy tone with no hint of mockery. Draco frowned.

Harry looked up to see his old friend and immediately wished he hadn’t. Luna stepped out towards her husband, a brilliant smile on her face and her long blond hair glinting in the sunlight. She, too, was stark naked.

Harry found himself blushing again and tried very hard not to look at Luna though he realized that it did not take as much effort as it did to direct his attention elsewhere. He ground his teeth momentarily, almost willing himself to look back at Luna. He finally rolled his eyes and looked back up at the three of them. It was then that Harry realized that he was surrounded by blonds and felt very much the odd one out.

He ran a shifty hand through his hair as a distraction as he tried not to think about nakedness at all. Especially not a naked Draco. That was simply not acceptable.

Harry blinked several times.

“Lovely to… see you, Luna,” Draco said, his words holding a world-full of connotations. Harry cleared his throat softly.

“Yes, delightful,” Harry added with as little edge to his voice as possible. He gave her a winning smile and tried to ignore basically everything he saw. Draco’s attention was now on both of the naked people before them and Harry felt slighted.

“Wonderful to see you both,” she replied softly, smiling brightly at them both. There was something hidden in her smile. It was a subtle mischief that Harry didn’t know Luna could possess. He wondered.

“None of this answers my question,” Draco pressed on, annoyed. “Who is your grandfather?”

Luna’s wide eyes turned on Draco. Harry swallowed hard, knowing that there was more to her look today than the usual quirkiness.

“His grandfather was descendent,” she said softly. “Like he is, of Newt Scamander.”

Harry was rather amazed. He had never known anyone that was descendant of such a well known author and wizard. He nodded knowingly but Draco continued to stare in derision. Harry swallowed again. This was not the moment for the old Draco Malfoy to make an appearance.

“Is that why you took Luna’s name?” Draco went on asking with a prominent mocking tone. “Because you couldn’t deal with the pressure either?”

Rolf laughed it off as though he was used to Draco’s snarky comments and had known him a lifetime.

“Oh no,” he replied, bemused. “It’s just that Scamander is an unfortunate name. Rolf Scamanader, Luna Scamander… it just doesn’t ring quite true. I took Lovegood because it suited us both better.”

Draco stared now and Harry was sure that if he had less pride his mouth would be hanging open. He knew that talking to a Malfoy about things like this would surely bring about the end of the world or at least an argument to end a friendship but Draco went on and said nothing.

“I see,” he answered simply, glancing back at Harry. “In any case,” he quickly added, clearly wanting to move forward in the conversation. “We should get to business and see these Phoenixes before we lose the light, no?”

Luna and Rolf glanced at one another and smiled knowingly. Harry did not like this smile at all. Draco did not appear to notice the subtlety in the smirks, which frightened Harry more. Normally Draco was far more in tune with subtlety than he was.

“Yes of course,” Luna said quietly. “But before we can go you’ll have to give us your things to put back in the house.”

Harry and Draco glanced at one an other, wondering what this meant. They took off their outer robes and handed them to her, keeping only their wands and simple robes. Luna took the clothes and handed them to Rolf but they did not move.

“This means your clothes as well,” she said simply.

Harry and Draco blinked and cocked an identical eyebrow to the sky. She was joking. That made no sense. Why should they need to leave their clothes? Luna had simply gained an even more unusual sense of humour in her years after Hogwarts. It had to be it.

“Excuse me?” Draco demanded. He unconsciously tugged at his sleeves and Harry shoves his hands into his pockets to make sure they stayed there.

“I told you you wouldn’t like it, Draco,” she sighed smoothly. She folded their robes carefully. “The Phoenixes in the grove near here are very specific ones. They do not behave like most of their species as they live in a group. But, like all Phoenixes,” she explained. “They are weary of Wizards. The only way I’ve found that works to approach them is to shed all your inhibitions and make yourself completely vulnerable to scrutiny. Shedding your clothes makes you more at one with nature and allows you to fit in better. Humans are the only beast arrogant and insecure enough to cover themselves.”

Harry was sure that this logic was only rational to Luna or someone in her world, but he had to admire the way she delivered her beliefs. He had always been inclined to believe her when she told him of a new creature (whether it be real or fictional) because of the fervor with which she spoke. Nevertheless, none could make public nudity seem completely normal to him.

Least of all when the person he would have to be naked with was Draco Malfoy.

“I see,” Draco went on rather harshly. “So one day you simply decided to walk out naked and see if the birds would accept you?”

Luna smiled sweetly at him and Harry knew that it must have melted his smooth exterior.

“Rolf and I are naturalists,” she stated happily. “We wear clothes to go into work or when we are surrounded by other witches and wizards. In our own home and everywhere around it, however, we don’t need the confinement and we walk around nude all the time. It was by accident that we discovered the Pheonix grove and when we ventured back with clothing on, we were chased away.”

This time, Draco’s mouth was slightly open as he stared. Harry bit back a snicker. He knew that the only thing that could shake Draco’s seamless masks in this manner was the suggestion that he needed to be naked in broad daylight and outside. Naturally, Harry wasn’t too keen on the idea either, especially with his morphing thoughts about Draco and how he made him feel. The difference between the two of them, nevertheless, was that Harry was not a political figure hoping to one day take the position of Minister for Magic.

“I see,” Draco repeated, making no effort to find another expression. He stiffened slightly but the shock on his face disappeared and he replaced a sly smirk on his lips. He took a step forward after glancing back at Harry and addressed Luna once more. “Frankly you could have told me earlier, Luna. It would have been nice to be prepared for something like this but, nevertheless,” he went on calmly, giving his surroundings a more full look. “Is there anywhere I can disrobe? I’d prefer not to strip in front of you both, if that’s alright. Just a sense of dignity is all.”

It was now Harry’s turn to stare in bewilderment. His jaw slackened and his eyes widened as he watched Draco glance back at him once more with a bemused sneer. Was he serious? Was he about to strip??

Harry swallowed hard and found that his breathing was suddenly shallow. He couldn’t be the only one not to go. He wasn’t that cowardly; he wasn’t that foolish and he wouldn’t let Draco win this little game. He set his jaw and stepped forward too. Harry furrowed his brows and nodded to Luna. Anything that Draco could do he could do better.

Even if that entailed being naked in front of the man he was desperately attracted to, an old friend from his school days and a complete stranger. He quashed out the thoughts of Daily Prophet headlines if anyone ever found out.

POTTER GOES STARKERS

SAVIOUR’S BEST AND WORST ASSETS

HARRY POTTER: THE BOY WHO STRIPPED

The headlines roared in his head but he rolled his eyes at himself. It had been a long time since he had cared what the Prophet reported about him and he would be damned if he started caring now. He knew that this was only Draco’s way of challenging him and he would take it.

“Of course,” she agreed, taking their robes and moving towards the house. “Follow me.”

The both of them walked stiffly past Rolf and into the house. Luna led them down a corridor and into a large room separated by a sheer curtain. The whole of the décor was indefinable. There were more amulets and charms hanging on the walls. Paintings of all sorts of different people that Luna had met during her travels littered the ceiling and walls in no particular arrangement. Harry’s face was smiling back at him from the wall and right next to the portrait was another one, this time of Draco. They were separated only by the dividing line where the curtain hung. The portrait of him turned towards the curtain and smiled at the painted Draco that Harry could not see.

Something caught in his throat and his stomach churned. Harry licked his lips and tried not to think about it all. He looked around the rest of the room and saw Ginny’s portrait next to Ron and Hermione’s but they were on the wall opposite him. He did not understand why.

“You can both undress in here,” she said airily, maintaining that odd smile. “You can stand behind the curtain if you are shy but I’m afraid this is the only room available.”

Then she left without a word and waited for them outside. Harry stood still, staring at Draco from through the sheer lilac curtain. Draco stared back at him, his face tinted purple, the brilliant blond of his locks suddenly not so platinum.

Their eyes were locked and Draco did not smile but he did not frown either. He simply began undoing his robes, letting them drop off of his frame so that he might move on to unbutton his shirt and trousers. Harry found himself staring and taking in every movement and every new area of skin revealed to him as though he might never see it again in his lifetime.

He gasped as Draco’s hands began to slide down his trousers and Harry turned abruptly. He began to remove his own clothes and stared resignedly at the ground as he did. His cheeks burned red and the heat of his sensations was far too strong.

He placed his robe and clothes neatly on the armchair in front of him, the image of Draco only partially clothes still burned brightly behind his eyes. He swallowed and shut his eyes, knowing that in a moment’s time he would turn around and that image would be gone only to be replaced by the picture of a completely naked Draco.

“Scared, Potter?” a low and sultry voice called to him. His heart skipped a beat and he ceased to breathe for a moment. His better half told him not to turn around, told him not to give in to the obvious ploy, but his better half was not his stronger half.

“You wish,” he answered in a hiss, turning around to see the Draco in all of his glory. His breath caught in his chest as he did and his eyes broke free of the control of his mind. His gaze wandered up, down and around to take in every part of Draco he could. His skin was smooth and evenly toned everywhere that Harry could see. His muscles were still taught as though he worked them all the time and the only scars that Draco had were the ones that Harry himself had given him. The Sectumsempra wound glinted hauntingly in the low light, interlacing over Draco’s chest.

There was no sign of the damage that Hydra had done to him at all. If he didn’t know any better, Harry might have imagined that Draco had never faced a battle before. He looked perfect and untainted. Harry’s eyes traveled along his collarbone, down into the dip and then traced a slow line down his torso. Softly scattered fine blond hairs drew a line down past his navel and grew denser until they reached –

“Nonesense,” Draco’s smooth reply came. “A frightened Harry Potter doesn’t do anyone any good.” He took a step forward, his icy blue eyes traveling over the expanse of Harry’s body and lingering for a few moments on each of the many scars that marred his figure. “You best not be scared of what lies ahead…”

They were only inches apart now. They did not touch in any way but Harry felt the familiar tug at the core of his being, demanding that he close the gap and feel as much of Draco as he could. His breath was shallow and slightly ragged. Their eyes were locked and they each clasped their wands. Harry urged his excitement away, knowing that there would be no way to hide it or play it off for something it was not. He couldn’t give Draco that satisfaction. He couldn’t let him know that he wanted him like this…

He couldn’t betray Ginny that way again…

Who was he kidding?

This was no longer about Ginny and it never really had been. He could no longer deny, he could no longer pretend that anyone had ever made him react this powerfully before. He couldn’t claim without lying in conscience that Ginny made him feel as alive as Draco did. This was not about not wanting to betray Ginny…

In all senses of the word he had already done that and they both knew it. Ginny must have known beforehand that Harry felt this way. She had always been adamant about Harry staying away from the Malfoys. He had mentioned the possibility of returning Draco’s wand in the past and she had refused. She had made excuses and given reasons that seemed logical then but meant nothing now. She knew from the start and she did everything in her power to stop it from happening.

She hid that from him as well.

No, this was not for Ginny’s sake.

This was for his own sake. He couldn’t give in to Draco because he couldn’t betray himself. He would not allow himself to get hurt if Draco was using him. Even if he wasn’t…

“We should go,” Harry whispered.

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A/N: Yes. A bit crack. But it’s NOT really I PROMISE. Please don’t think I’m mad. I’ve taken a few liberties with the Phoenixes, you’ll understand more when you see them as well. Or meet them. Or whatever. And yes, I’ve followed JK Rowling’s random comments as I pleased. She mentioned that Luna and Rolf were probably Naturalists and blahblahblah, so that’s what I went with. Sort of. It makes sense to me anyway, I hope you all agree.

I promise though, no foursomes are happening any time soon haha.

As for top/bottom… well alright. I’ve been weighing it out and I was really torn up about it but Draco is going to be top in the most singular sense of the word but there is not going to be any dom/sub. Harry is not submissive to Draco, he is just as dominant and just as aggressive. I hope you’ll all understand more of what I mean soon.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I’ve been having so much craziness going on lately, but if I’m lucky I’ll be able to post again tonight.

Love you all for reviews and support!