Chapter 45 Dudley
Chapter 45 Dudley
The next few days were a blur of contentment. Shared baths, cooked meals, evenings on the sofa reading. The days and nights bled into each other. Dudley was still recovering and exhaustion took him at strange times, as a result they were often awake at odd hours of the day and night. His wound was healing nicely, Dudley was able to walk short distances unaided and could get in and out of bed on his own now.
In the fog of his recovery Dudley half forgot the precarious position he and Draco were in. He had asked Draco if he could see the horcrux but Draco had instantly tensed and quickly dismissed him and then changed the subject. Dudley could tell the horcrux was bothering Draco, he would catch Draco daydreaming and staring in the direction of the bathroom. Dudley tried the bathroom handle once and found the door was locked.
Any mention of the horcrux put Draco into a foul mood and so Dudley had chosen to ignore it too, he didn’t want to ruin this stolen time they had been given, he wanted to soak it all up, it was fleeting, they both knew it had a fast approaching expiration date. They needed to return to Malfoy manor at some point, they needed killer’s venom in order to destroy the horcrux. They had an unspoken agreement that they were going to enjoy their time here while they could, shutting out the monsters that were waiting for them in the real world. The horcrux and their return to Malfoy manor became an unspoken elephant in the room, looming just outside their happiness waiting for the moment it could reenter.
They were laid in bed early in the morning, the first rays of sunlight starting to stream through the open window. Draco stretched next to Dudley and let out a groan, Dudley had been awake for a while, thinking about Draco and what might have happened to him if they hadn’t met. He’d be dead probably. Dudley was reminded of his parents, he still missed them, if he was honest with himself he probably hadn’t even begun to process their deaths, too much had been going on. He mused that it was probably for the best, he could process that grief properly later when they were safe, still a tear slowly trickled down his face at the memory of his mother’s lifeless body on cold hard tiles. He could see the image so clearly like it was a photograph inside his head.
‘How are you feeling?’ Draco asked, quietly turning towards him from where they had separated during the night, he nuzzled his head into Dudley’s side like a spoiled cat.
‘I’m good.’ Dudley replied ‘you?’
‘I’m good too... I want to take you somewhere today. If you’re feeling up to it? It’s a ten minute walk do you think you could manage it?’
‘I’ll manage. Where are we going?’
‘It’s a surprise, but you’ll like it.’
‘Intriguing.’ Dudley replied looking down at Draco. He had sleep in his eyes and his hair was a mess. Nothing like the perfect pureblood son he pretended to be for everyone else. This version of Draco was for Dudley’s eyes only. This was how Draco was supposed to look. Groggy and dishevelled and perfect.
They dressed slowly, between Dudley’s lingering immobility and Dracos’s missing hand it took them longer than it should have but Dudley didn’t mind, any excuse to watch Draco in a state of undress was nothing to complain about. They grabbed a couple of apples from the kitchen counter on their way out the door. Dudley almost asked if they should take the horcrux with them to ensure it stayed safe but Draco was buzzing with excitement and Dudley didn’t have the heart to ruin it. They were truly in the middle of nowhere, it was very unlikely anything would happen to it here. They left through the back door and emerged into the garden.
They walked with one of Dudley’s arms over Draco’s shoulders which gave him some extra support, walking was much easier for Dudley but by no means was it painless.
The lawn was empty and overgrown, it was sprinkled with clover and dandelions and enclosed by an untamed hedge. Draco led Dudley to the bottom of the garden where the ground dipped down into a valley. A broken rusted gate waited for them. Draco yanked it open, the lock having grown stiff after years of neglect.
Beyond the gate was a view that momentarily took Dudley’s breath away. Endless rolling hills undulating across the landscape to left. Wildflowers peppered the patchwork of meadows that were bathed in a warm yellow light that glittered and reflected off the crisp moisture that clung to the long grass. It looked like the grass was inlaid with gems the way the moisture sparkled in the morning sun.
To the right there was the beginnings of a forest. The trees weren’t crowded, large oaks and chestnuts stood apart from one another, each of them had room to breathe, their branches reaching out to each other further up creating a canopy. Heather grew beneath the trees creating a carpet of soft lilac. The clear stream was infront of them and extended both left and right. The sound of a sheep bleating cut through the silence of the early morning.
Draco nudged Dudley along the path towards the trees, as they walked further in to the forest the stream opened up into a river. They continued for a while walking parallel to the river, loosely holding hands now. Birds called to each other in clear melodic voices and their feet moved in unison as they made their way along the path. The trees didn’t grow any denser remaining sparse until they thinned into a clearing.
Here the sun was able to penetrate through the canopy and its warmth reached Dudley’s skin. The rays of light danced across the top of the glassy water and the heather gave way to small patches of grass. The river didn’t flow quickly it trickled gently off further into the forest.
Draco stopped walking indicating that this clearing was their destination. Dudley was relieved, not only was this place possibly the most beautiful place he had ever seen but his stomach was beginning to itch.
Draco sat on a patch of grass close to the river bank and gently pulled Dudley down next to him. They sat in silence for a few minutes, taking in the majesty of the place before Draco spoke.
‘I used to come here when we stayed at the cabin. I think it’s the place I felt the happiest my whole childhood. I wanted you to see it.’ Draco rested his head on Dudley’s shoulder.
‘It’s amazing.’ Dudley replied watching the clear water flowing lazily across the rocks beneath.
‘Were you lonely?’ Dudley asked.
Draco sighed
‘I’ve always been alone. I’ve been playing a part most of my life, pretending I was happy, pretending I hate muggleborns, pretending I love my parents. I think I thought that if I could fake it well enough that one day it might become real, that it would stop being an act and I would become the person I was pretending to be, but it never happened. I’m not alone now though.’ Draco smiled and laced his fingers in Dudley’s.
‘I don’t have to pretend to be anyone else when I’m with you.’ Draco finished.
‘I love you.’ Dudley replied. Now they had said it once Dudley couldn't help himself but repeat it as often as possible. The pleasure of the worlds rippling through him each time.
‘I love you more.’ Draco smiled as he kissed him. Draco didn’t pull away, instead his kiss became deeper. Their mouths suddenly competing for dominance. Dudley’s fingers slid to Draco’s throat Where he held on to him.
Draco’s good hand was in Dudley’s hair dragging and raking through his locks in that way that Dudley loved. Draco’s stump was pressed against Dudley’s chest carefully positioned high enough to avoid hurting him.
Dudley felt a panic rise in him and he pulled away turning his head.
Stop. He told himself. It’s Draco. Don’t ruin this, please don’t ruin this he begged himself. He wouldn’t allow this moment to be spoiled by Lucius. He would have this.
‘Dudley?’ Draco asked breathless.
‘Sorry. It’s my stomach.’ Dudley lied, I was breathing too fast I think.
Dudley pushed all thoughts of Lucius away. He would enjoy this. He would not let Lucius take this from him.
He leaned in again and kissed Draco, slower this time, carefully, less frantic and more precise. He drew out each kiss, lingering in Draco’s breath, drinking him in between kisses, breathing the same air. Draco responded by slowing down, matching Dudley’s pace. Their tongues touched and then retreated teasing each other. Draco gently pushed Dudley down so that he was laying on the grass. He kept kissing Dudley as he pushed peppering kisses along his jaw and down to his collarbone. Draco started to unbutton Dudley’s shirt. He struggled with only one hand so Dudley helped him. When they were finished Dudley’s torso was on full display. Dudley was suddenly conscious of his body, his patchwork of scars, the stretch marks on his hips.
‘Stunning.’ Draco whispered.
Draco continued to kiss Dudley moving lower and lower showering him in love, kissing all over his torso carefully avoiding anything sore.
Draco’s lithe body climbed carefully on top of Dudley, straddling his legs. Draco continued to place kisses randomly on Dudley’s chest. Then Draco’s hand stilled, hovering on the button of Dudley’s trousers Draco’s mouth paused too, but remained pressed to the skin just below Dudley’s belly button. Dudley was stiffening quickly in response. Draco hovered there a moment awaiting Dudley’s permission.
‘Yesss.’ Dudley nodded looking down at the mop of blonde hair above his crotch.
Draco looked up at him, eyes filled with wanting, tension visible in his brow. Draco moaned with anticipation.
Draco pulled Dudley’s trousers and underwear down, shimmying them off and pushing them down past Dudley’s knees. Dudley was hard and when Draco touched him it was electric. Bolts of pleasure almost painful in their intensity, shot through his body.
Draco hungrily used his hands and mouth and dragged moans from deep in Dudley’s chest.
It was exhilarating, Dudley could feel the blood pumping round his body, he could hear his own heartbeat in his ears as Draco pulled pleasure from him, it was unlike anything else Dudley had experienced. Waves of delight crashed over him, overwhelming in their intensity. The waves built again and again, pleasure stacked on pleasure until one last shattering crescendo of ecstasy pushed Dudley over the edge. He could barely remember his name, he couldn’t have said where he was in that moment, he was somewhere else, on a different plain of existence.
Draco came up for air when Dudley was finished, smug satisfaction on his face as he watched Dudley spasm with the aftershocks of the intense pleasure. He kissed his way up Dudley’s torso the same way he had kissed him on the way down until he reached Dudley’s mouth again. Dudley could taste himself as Draco pressed their lips together.
‘Fuck.’ Dudley breathed into Draco’s mouth.
‘That was…’ Dudley couldn’t think of a single adjective to finish the sentence, the words simply didn’t exist.
Draco finally pulled away from him and slid gently off Dudley’s body, Draco snuggled into Dudley’s side.
Dudley’s lower half was still exposed, trousers round his ankles. Dudley found that he didn’t care. It was just Draco here to see him, and he didn’t mind being laid bare in front of Draco.
They laid on their backs in the grass. The only sounds were the gently rushing water in the river at their feet and their own contented breathing. They laid for a long time, entangled with one another and basking in the utter joy that they had found in each other.