Toppers Wallow

Both boys woke with the sun and Monday’s dawn chorus. Harry gave Billy a series of delicious kisses and received equally delightful ones in return. They led to further amorous adventures, and two panting participants hugging each other in the aftermath. A joint shower cleaned them up and a loving drying had them ready for a cooked breakfast. They were washing up as the first workmen arrived. Harry had to go and shake their hands so the wards would recognise them. They saw him as being a bit quaint and old fashioned, but he didn’t care overmuch. Then they saw Billy in his overalls, paintbrush in hand.



“Whotcher Billy, where’s your tent?”



“It got washed out in that heavy rainstorm, so I’ve been sleeping in the house, just in case. My sleeping bag’s tucked away now.” Billy smiled at his workmate, repeating the truthful but slightly misleading statement that Harry and he had rehearsed.



“That was good of you Mr Potter. I’m not sure I’d let a young outdoor ruffian like him sleep in my house.”



Harry was about to protest, but then he saw the humour in the plumber’s eyes and realised he was pulling Billy’s leg. “Yes, well. I’ve counted the silver spoons and there aren’t any missing, so I reckon he can sleep inside again if he wants to. We got soaked saving his tent from the wind and I’d rather not do that again in a hurry, especially in the middle of the night. We had to have a sleep-in to recover on Saturday morning.”



“I see you’ve made friends then?”



“If I hadn’t got on with him he’d have been out on his ear.”



“Oh; he ain\'t that bad really,” said the plumber, ruffling Billy’s hair. “Despite living in a tent most of the time, he’s quite house-trained you know.”



“Hey you two, stop talking about me like that, you’d think I was a dog or something.”



“Will you wag your tail if I tickle you behind the ears, then?”



Billy gave Harry a mischievous little hidden smile whilst the chortling plumbers climbed the stairs. Harry realised he had nearly let the cat out of the bag and blushed as well. Next, he went down to his study, quietly ensuring he had privacy. Using the floo network he called the Burrow. Ron’s voice boomed out at him.



“Hello mate, how’re things going?”



“Very well at the moment; I’ve met a young man I like and he took me to church.”



“What? I’ve heard about fast gay marriages before; wasn’t that a bit quick though.”



“Shh-h-h. Let me finish. He’s very nice, we are not married, but he goes to church, so I went with him. We met this clued-up vicar who warned me about someone who very much sounds like a Death Eater, or at least a sympathiser. So I wanted to ask your dad if he could find out about him.”



“Right Oh.” Ron turned away and called out to the Elder Weasley.



“Hello Harry. Who’s this Death Eater chappie then?”



“He’s called Araxes Goodfellow and he lives at Woodyates Farm.”



“That name doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps he’s a bad one and using an alias. Can I come back to you on that, once I’ve looked something up?”



“Yes please. Could you use the telephone to ring me? Ron knows how to, and he has my number. Only I have Muggle workmen in and they might think its funny my talking to the fire.”



“Oh yes please. A Fellytone, how exciting; won’t the workmen think it’s odd?”



“No Mr Weasley, telephones are a normal part of the Muggle world.” Harry had his patient explaining voice switched on.



“Fascinating, you must tell me more when I see you. Ron wants to talk to you again. See you later.”



“Hey mate; Hermione and I were thinking we’d come and see you tomorrow. Will that be difficult with your new boyfriend?”



“Not really. He knows about my powers and we have discussed them a bit. My Apparation wards are in place, and the landing ground is very secluded, I’ve named it ‘Toppers Wallow’ so that’s what you think about. Imagine a grey circular paved area surrounded by green bushy hawthorn trees; you know the approximate location so you’ll get here all right and don’t forget to have a special galleon with you. Tell Hermione, but no one else, please. You’ll not get through my wards until I hand you in, you know, like we practiced.”



“I’m glad you’re taking our warnings seriously. Hermione won’t be as worried once she knows. I’m dying to meet your new mate. Can I tell her about him too?”



“Just keep it to yourselves please, I’d rather not have Rita Skeeter beetling into my life again and mucking it up.”



“No probs, I’ll not even tell my Mum. See ya for lunch tomorrow old chum.”



Harry put out the fire and unlocked the door, Billy was standing outside.



“Who were you talking to Harry? I can’t see anyone inside.”



“It’s a sort of magical telephone Billy, only it uses the fire. I don’t mind you knowing but your workmates wouldn’t understand, would they?”



“No they wouldn’t. But you’ve got a telephone upstairs and one in your study.”



“They don’t work if the other person you want to speak to hasn’t got one.”



“Yes I can see that. How exciting!”



“That’s just what the other bloke said about using a telephone. By the way, we have visitors tomorrow, more of my specially gifted friends. They’re the two affianced ones I told you about.”



“Am I allowed to say ‘how exciting’, again, please?”



“Yes, if you really want to.” Harry’s pretended boredom did not fool Billy for a minute, so they both burst out giggling.



“Oh yes! Now I remember why I came down to find you. The Boss wants to see you, but I forestalled him coming down here in case you were waving something around.” Billy grinned wickedly.



Harry replied archly, “What could I have been waving around then?”



“Your wand; or maybe something much more delightful.”



“I think I’ll throw your ‘I’m not a whore’ remark right back in your face William.”



Billy looked momentarily alarmed, then realised the leg-pull and thumped Harry lightly on the shoulder.



“Thanks for the warning Lover, ask him to come down to see me. I’m used to hiding things magical and sexual from the people who would not appreciate them.”



“Like cloth overalls Harry?” Billy fled up the stairs before Harry could respond, bringing his boss down to see Harry, a few minutes later.



“Ah; Mr Potter. Could I speak to you privately for a few minutes, please?”



Harry made shooing signs at Billy, who nodded his acquiescence.



“How can I help you Mr Cartwright?” Harry looked at the man in his late fifties or perhaps he was even sixty. Mr Cartwright had a worried air about him, and Harry wondered if Uncle Vernon’s contract might be the cause.



“Well, to make things quite plain, this is my last contract as a builder.”



“I hope my Uncle wasn’t too harsh?”



“He’s a good businessman, and so am I, for that matter. No; it was a fair contract and I had allowed something for overrunning in any case. I intend to retire to the Algarve, away from our cold and damp. I’ve made provision for all my employees except one, young Billy. Some of them are retiring; others were doing piece-rate work for me and are virtually self-employed. Young Billy’s a bit of a problem though. He’s not had sufficient time to build up a clientele yet, he’s a good workman, but in our trade you need a fine reputation to get good remunerative work. So I was wondering if you could do me a favour and pay the remaining instalments to Billy instead of to me. I know he has some capital, and your regular payments over the next few months would keep him buoyant whilst he establishes himself.”



“You’re being very generous towards an employee?”



“Well it’s a debt I owe. When Billy’s great-uncle retired some forty years back, he did much the same for me and it started me off well enough. I would like to return the compliment to Billy’s family. Mind you, none of them know about it save you and I at the moment. There was a bit of a family squabble over the great-uncle’s will, so I deemed it best to keep quiet. I suppose I’m trying to salve my conscience somewhat too.”



“It appears to be an expensive way of salving your conscience. However, I seem to have developed a soft spot for Billy over the weekend, so I can hardly criticise you for having one as well. Can I?”



“No; not really; he does have an appealing personality, most of his workmates get on with him, even the perpetually grumpy ones. Do I take it that you’ll go along with my proposition, then?”



“Of course! I won’t stand in the way of anyone getting the chance to improve themselves or their position, especially on such generous terms.”



“Good that’s settled then. I’ll get my solicitor to draw up the necessary documents and we’ll sign them over later on this week.”



“Um … Have you told Billy yet?”



“No? I don’t think there’ll be any problem there, do you?”



“He might just be a little touchy about so much undeserved charity. Maybe you\'ll have to explain things to him in slightly greater detail than you did to me.”



“Mmm … Yes … I see. Oh well; I’d better grasp the nettle and sort it out with the young man. Might I use your study to talk to him?”



“Of course you may.” Harry carefully checked to see if anything incriminating was visible, under the pretence of tidying up slightly. “I’ll go and ask him to come down shall I.”



“If you wouldn’t mind, yes please.”



“Okay, I’ll give you quarter of an hour and then pop in with some coffee, in case you’re at an impasse, or hitting each other, or something.” Harry could see that Mr Cartwright was worried; he relaxed slightly when Harry offered the help.



Billy looked at Harry quizzically when he acted at a messenger boy.



“Try to hold in your temper, and think how to use the money,” Harry whispered as Billy started to descend the stairs. Billy almost turned round, but Harry patted his shoulder and pushed him slightly.



Harry took his time making coffee for all the workers, lastly taking three mugs towards his study. Billy was looking stunned when Harry walked in.



“Let me get this straight Mr Cartwright. In just over a week’s time I’ll no longer have a job. However Mr Potter here, will be paying the remainder of the money he owes for the conversion of the house, to me, as income.”



“Yes that’s right. As I pointed out before it’s a way of paying your family back for your Great Uncle’s generosity in setting me up in business.”



Billy turned to Harry, looking at him suspiciously. “Has this anything to do with that inauspicious conversation we had earlier on?”



“Nothing at all Billy; Mr Cartwright came and asked me to sign over the money, just an hour ago.”



“Oh I see, Okay then. I can see the common sense in the proposition, and it would give me a good start. All I need are some premises to rent and some clients.”



“I have a list of clients, three of whom would like you to contact them, as they already know of your excellent paint-work. One of them wants some minor repairs doing as well, and I know you are capable of doing those. I’m not sure I would recommend Mr Goodfellow though, there’s something rather dodgy about him.”



Billy gave Harry a quick look, and drew a clergyman’s collar round his neck with his finger.



“Was that the gent from Woodyates Farm, Mr Cartwright?”



“The very same Mr Potter, why, do you know something about him?”



“Nothing specific, but I’d be inclined to be wary of him, myself.”



“Okay I’ve got two prospective clients, but no base to work from.”



“Billy; how about using the old barn next door? I have already obtained planning permission to make it into a workshop. Perhaps you could camp out there,” Harry winked at Billy, “and then convert part of it into something more habitable. In return you could look after this cottage when I’m away; making sure it’s habitable and keeping the weeds at bay, etc.”



“That’s a feasible proposition young man, especially as all of your would-be clients live locally. In fact, I’ve got various household items knocking around the yard, which clients rejected for one reason or another, size, shape or colour usually. I’ll give you those as a leaving present, plus the remains of the timber stack, there’ll be enough lumber to build a small flat there and some over, if it’s handled properly. If you like I’ll get old George to put it through the planer for you. I\'ve promised him the woodworking machinery, and he’s already taken what timber he needs for his purposes, so the rest’s yours.”



Billy watched in amazement as the two people he most admired made sure he was set up in a business that he felt he could have a go at. “Are you two quite finished? Do I get a say?”



Messrs Cartwright and Potter peered at him over their coffee mugs, hoping that they hadn’t pushed him too far, one out of conscience and the other out of lust.



“Okay, okay. It is too good an opportunity to miss and your arguments are sound, why do I feel somewhat argumentative about it. I know you both are trying to do the best for me, and I’m happy about that, but then again I thought I was in charge of my own life.”



“Tell me about it Billy. I’ve been using those arguments since my Guardians sent me to college. You’ve heard what I told you and how I felt, I’m rather enjoying being on the other end of the stick.”



“I think, Mr Potter, that our young friend has a very warped sense of humour. He’s just trying to make us sweat, while he has the power. Look at his eyes.”



“Okay guys, I accept, still with slight reservations. Like the Mafia say, ‘It’s an offer I can’t refuse,’ and I’d be bloody silly if I did refuse it, too.”



The tension was released, and all three shook hands on the deal. A relieved Mr Cartwright left to see his solicitors. Once they were alone Billy asked.



“Harry, are you sure you not buying my services, but by another means?”



“Yes I’m quite sure. I am buying your services, as a caretaker and that part of the deal will be strictly commercial. However what I cannot buy is your continued presence in my bed. If I bought that it wouldn’t be worth anything. Love is beyond price and I’ll not cheapen it by having you suggest anything different. If you want to set up your tent next door, go ahead, I’ll not stop you. However, I will cry into my pillow every night that you aren’t there. I cannot, and will not, force you to do anything that you don’t want to do. I suppose I could use certain magical persuasions, but I won’t. Your regard for me makes my heart leap, and I hope my regard for you does the same.”



Billy stopped Harry’s tirade with a big wet kiss, then shuffled away as they heard someone coming down the stairs. It was the mischievous plumber; he had a twinkle in his eye when he saw them.



“You two look like two guilty lovers; at least Billy does. Then I suppose I’d look a bit shocked in his position. A nice guaranteed income while I sort myself out, I should be so lucky. Still I can’t complain, I’m retiring too and the boss has given me a nice bonus. What I really came down to say is that we’ve fixed all the plumbing upstairs, so Billy can do the flooring now. Mr Potter, perhaps if you would show us how exactly you want your loo down here we could do that and be gone by the end of the day?”



“Yes of course I will.”



Billy ran upstairs to start on the flooring, and Harry took the plumber under the stairs to show him what was required.



As it was fine, everyone ate lunch out on the patio.



“Mr Potter, what you need is a proper roof over your pool. My next job is to salvage some old greenhouses; I reckon I could find enough metalwork and glasswork to do that. Mind you it will be September before we’ll know exactly what we’ve got for certain.”



“That sounds a good idea, talk it over with Billy, he’ll be acting as my caretaker/agent when I’m away. If he thinks the price and materials are up to scratch, I’ll back his judgement with cash. If there isn’t enough material just do the patio, if there’s more than enough do the swimming area as well. What do you think Billy?”



“Gosh! Err … Well … Let me measure up, but I think, if we include the barn as part of the dwelling, we will not need extra planning permission, as it will be regarded as a minor alteration, or some such wording. As Mr Potter’s agent I shall have to look into it properly, make sure it’s structurally sound etc. I have a feeling that the standard I set here will be the standard I’m judged by, at least for the next few years, therefore I’m determined to get it right.”



This brought forth some derisive clapping from his mates, a look of admiration from Mr Cartwright, and a twinge of conscience from Harry; who promised to have a serious talk with Billy before things got too far out hand.



At the end of the day Billy moved his things into a now habitable spare room, thus scotching any suspicions that his mates might have, before they started. Harry and Billy shared a quiet dinner together after all the hullabaloo of the day was gone.



“Harry are you sure your not just buying my body?” asked Billy over the washing up.



“Quite sure, Billy. However there is something I must bring out into the open before we get too much entangled.”



“This sounds serious, had I better sit down with a stiff drink to fortify me?”



“Possibly! It concerns my arch-enemy at school. A sleek fair-haired boy, who seemed, over the last year or so, to fill my impure dreams until you came along. Only when you behaved all perfect and prissy this afternoon, you reminded me of him. Not in looks but in that very precise attitude both of you have.”



“So! I have a rival then?” The question was asked not out of hate, more in jocular inquisitiveness on Billy’s part.



“Not when you’re here and he isn’t. I am a little worried about what might happen when I return to my studies and you aren’t around all the time and he is. Not that he knows of my infatuation with him. He probably would scorn it and use it to put me down yet again. However I have one slight niggle. He seems to have changed sides, and I might have to make friends with him, and I think I would definitely be tempted if he was willing. There I’ve told you.”



“So! At the moment it’s all if’s and but’s. Therefore I can enjoy giving and receiving your complete attention until you go back to college. Next, I’m a little older than you and possibly a little more worldly wise, so I’ll enjoy what I’ve got while I’ve got it. Lastly I was part of a threesome when I was at college and we lasted reasonably amicably for just over three years. Like you I dreamt of them lustily, until I met you. So where’s the big deal.”



“Oh … Um … Well … I was dreading telling you in case we broke up …”



“Not while I’ve got you this close, we won’t.” Billy demonstrated the fact by deep kissing Harry thoroughly.



Billy paused, “Hey Mr Potter, who says I might not lust after the same bloke, too? I have a thing about fair hair. One of our trio was ash blond, I regret our threesome breaking up; maybe we can make another one, eh?”



Harry looked into Billy’s eyes expecting to find mockery there. If there were any, love and concern certainly well overshadowed it. Harry sighed, relaxed and was soon aflame with a sexual desire which Billy equally matched. Then they set about the real business of the evening, most of which was achieved by loud sucking noises in the sixty-nine position, occasionally interspersed with long snogging and hair-stroking sessions. Two very exhausted lovers hugged each other to sleep.