No reason to celebrate

Harry went back to the study and sat down on the office chair in front of it and looked at the neat stacks of paper and the small tray with quills and small bottles of differently coloured ink. Trying to remember in which drawer the key was supposed to be in, Harry let his fingers dance across the papers on his right, by accident pushing them over the edge of the desk. Swearing he got off the chair and bent down to pick up the neatly folded papers and cards again.

He placed them back on the desk when he spotted something that made him hold his breath. It was Ron’s name and an address here in Paris. Picking up the card Harry chewed his lower lip and gingerly opened the card. His eyes grew wide. It was an invitation. An invitation to a large feast and meeting in honour of the defeat of Voldemort. Placing Ron’s card at the side, he picked up another one. He didn’t know the name on it but still it was the same invitation.

After a while he had checked all the cards, having found not only Ron’s name, but also Hermione’s, Snape’s and Colin Creevey. He was still sitting at the desk, his brow furrowed in annoyance when the front door opened and shortly after Draco walked into the study wearing a welcoming smile on his face.


As soon as Draco had stepped into his house a strange but nice feeling had come over him. There were lights on in several rooms, the sofa cushions were not in order, a used cereal bowl sitting on the coffee table and the smell of coffee hung in the air. It was …… nice. Somebody already home and …. waiting for him?

After a short search through the main rooms, Draco found Harry sitting at his desk. But the instant Draco stepped into the room, Harry looked up and his look was not one of welcome, it was one of anger and confusion.

“Harry.” Draco greeted him weakly.

“Draco.” Somehow Harry’s voice was not as pleasant as he it had been before.

Trying to get back to his usual self confident self, Draco smiled and walked over to the desk and half sat on the surface of his desk. “So, what have you been up to yourself today?”

Harry leaned back in the chair and eyed Draco carefully. “Well, at first I had a lovely lie in, then I took a long shower and had a bowl of Corn Flakes for breakfast. After that I sneaked through the house and looked at all the fancy stuff you have here. Then I decided to go our and went to fetch the key. You see, by accident I found these invitations and now I wonder what on earth I am doing here.”

Draco swallowed hard and cleared his throat. “You are wondering why I haven’t told you yet, right?”

“Mhm, you may have something there.”

“Harry, please. When I met you in Italy, you looked so sad and worn out. I just didn’t have the heart to tell you, that I had actually only come to invite you to the celebration. You…”

“I looked what? You felt sorry for me? So that is what is behind it all, isn’t it? I am here because you are sorry. Great. I will just pack my things and leave. I think it’s for the better, Malfoy!”

“No, wait!” Draco managed to get a hold on Harry’s arm before he could get to the door of the study.

Glaring the dark haired man turned back and scowled.

“Harry. Yes, I was feeling sorry for you. I mean you had so many possibilities and you were so well trained as a wizard, I couldn’t believe what had become of you. Maybe it was even a bit patronizingly of me, but to be honest, I found out that I do enjoy your company and like having you around.”

“I did not have too many possibilities and you have always been a better wizard than I will ever be. And yes, it was not only a bit patronizingly of you, but a lot.”

Draco felt a faint blush creeping across his face and was quite confused by it. But before he could continue this string of thought Harry interrupted him. “So, you enjoy having me around? As what? Give me some time, okay? I will think about it.”


Draco flinched when the door closed with a load bang. This hadn’t gone too well. Why on earth had he not told Harry about the celebration? He had forgotten. Totally forgotten. Only two days ago it had been the only reason for him to travel all the way to Italy and now, now he had forgotten? It was just Potter, damn it! Pushing himself up, Draco decided to tell Harry the truth. But what would that change? Nothing.

Annoyed about himself and his weird behaviour he longed for a fresh coffee and went to the kitchen to prepare some. The puttering around in the kitchen calmed his nerves and soon the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, relaxing its only occupant. Draco placed his feet on the chair next to him and unfolded the daily prophet. Even though he thoroughly loved his exclusive living room, this was the place were he felt most at peace. At the table in his kitchen reading the papers.

Of course peace wasn’t to last. Draco had not even finished the first article on the front page went the sound of feet only clad in socks shuffled into the kitchen.

“Mhm, fresh coffee. Great, just what I need now.”

“In the pot on the counter.” Draco didn’t glance up from his paper, but reading was out of the question now. All too sure the well known long and annoying Potter tirade would start. How Draco had been selfish and ignorant, that he shouldn’t pry into Potter’s life and so on. But to his mild astonishment, nothing happened. Instead a mumbled excused came from somewhere on the other side of the table.

“What?” the paper dropped down on the table’s surface.

“I said sorry. I mean I still think it was daft of you not to tell me about the invitation, but then again it is not my place to tell you when and where you are supposed to deliver the invitations. From the looks of it, you haven’t even sent any out, am I right?”

Draco only shook his head. “Only Hermione’s, I am still trying to get hold of a lot of the addresses.”

“Well, since I am staying here, that is if you are still willing to put up with me, I could help you find some of the addresses. What do you say?”

“Of course you can stay.”

Harry grinned “Oh good. I would really miss the terrific bed.”

With an expression of mock pity Draco took a few pages of the Daily Prophet and offered them to Harry. “You want some of the papers?”

Only minutes later the two men sat lost in their reading in the kitchen enjoying the quiet company.


They had ventured into the living room as the evening drew near and had settled on opposite ends of the large couch. Draco was reading some old book again, while Harry was staring into the fire in the fireside, from time to time sneaking a look at the bookshelf that would give way to the hidden staircase and to the secret library.

Draco could see Harry wriggling on the couch, obviously trying to find a more comfortable position every five to ten seconds. He looked over the edge of his book and was about to voice his irritation when he noticed Harry glancing to the bookshelves every time he moved. A grin spread across his face and he ducked behind his book again. He knew that Harry was itching to get his hands on the books in his library, wanting to know more about the dark arts. But it seemed like he was afraid to say so.

Crossing his legs the other way around again, Harry leaned a bit further to his left, getting a better look at the bookshelf of his interest. Maybe he was able to make out the little button Draco had pressed the other night.

“Third shelf from the top, right beside the Ancient Greek Dictionary.” The all too well known sneer sounded a tad bit muffled coming from behind the book.

Harry blushed and looked up in fright at Draco, but all he saw was the cover of the book. He didn’t dare to jump up immediately and head for the shelf, it might look too desperate. But after a few minutes he got up slowly and leisurely walked over to the place of his interest, whistling a bit to himself trying to appear slightly bored.

Knowing that Harry couldn’t see him right now, Draco looked up from his book and watched his former rival searching for the Ancient Greek Dictionary. When he had found it, he pressed the small button and the shelf slid noiselessly open. Just then Harry turned around and his eyes locked with Draco’s before he smiled and slowly descended the stairs.


Harry stopped before the iron door and slapped his forehead. Fantastic! Of course! He needed the spell that would open the door. Reluctantly he walked up the stairs again, to find Draco still sitting on the couch, the book in his lap, grinning from ear to ear.

“I need your help.” Harry stated.

Draco threw his arms up in the air in mock shock “Hear ye, hear ye! The great Harry Potter needs the help of a Malfoy. The world is coming to an end.”

“Twat!”

“Thank you, same to you!” Draco heaved himself up from the couch and strolled over to Harry and brushed passed him gracefully descending the stairs. Harry followed with a smile of excitement on his face.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs the door was open and the candles and torches lit. Draco was standing before the shelf with the ingredients and Harry watched him for a few seconds. The elegant movements, the aristocratic stance and the slim hips. Was he looking at Draco’s hips? He shook his head and walked over the books. But all the time while he tried to read the titles his thoughts went back to Draco’s bedroom and what he had seen there. As if it had a life of his own, his imagination took its liberties and sent pictures of Draco lying naked on his bed, amidst the crumpled satin covers, buggering himself with his dildo, stroking his cock and softly moaning.

He cleared his throat nervously and stole a further glance at Draco who was still standing at the cauldron. ‘Come on, pull yourself together!’ Harry mumbled quietly to himself and once again turned to the titles of the books.

After a while Draco left the library and smiled knowingly at Harry when he walked out the door, Draco knew well just how much fascination these books held, but he was sure that he could grant Harry further access without having to worry about consequences. The Griffindor was too steadfast to fall for any ‘darkness’ he might find.