I did something stupid, and it was all yours and Barnaby’s fault!
Draco
The clay formed as Draco’s fingers moved perfectly. Music played quietly in the background. It was one of the rare times that the potion master felt at ease. He hasn’t worked with clay since he was a child. His mother demanded that growing up, he had to study art. His father hated it because a growing pureblood didn’t need to do art. He needed to work on politics and connections. That is why art therapy meant so much to him.
Draco could remember painting, sculpting, and drawing with his mother. It was the happiest of his memories with his mother. Sometimes he could remember the smile on her face. How she would wipe the paint off of his cheeks before she kissed them.
*Flashback*
“My Dragon, Salvador Dali, an artist in the Surreal period, wasn't a muggle. He was a wizard from Spain. How about we paint something like Salvador.” Draco’s mother smiled down at him. The 8-year-old loved his time with his mother. Though he always wanted more time.
“Yes, Mummy!” Draco ran over to his easel where a canvas already sat with all the paint he needed. He watched as his mother walked over to the record player and started classical music. Draco picked up his paintbrush and started with the first stroke.
His mother's hums filled the room as he lost himself in his painting. Draco loved the sound of his mother’s voice. His father always said she had a voice of a siren but Draco didn’t agree. Sirens were beautiful, yes, but his mother was good. She would never harm anyone.
“DRACO!” His father's voice boomed into the room. Draco jumped, his hand moving across the canvas he worked so hard on. “Enough of this painting. It’s time to have your playdate with Theodore.” The older wizard stalked out of the room as Draco looked at his painting. Tears burned his eyes. He worked so hard on this painting. He wanted his mother to have it.
“It’s okay, My Dragon.” She flicked her wand and the line of paint disappeared from the canvas. Soft hands cupped his cheeks. “You are so very talented, my beautiful boy. Don’t let your father make you feel you aren’t. Let me clean your face before you go.” Her thumbs wiped away the tears and paint. “I love you, my dragon.” Draco smiled as she kissed each cheek.
“Love you too Mummy.”
He was so lost in memory he didn’t notice the bowl he was working on crumbled. The potion master grumbled silently before he started again. As he worked the clay into his hands, he felt like someone was watching him.
“Wow, I didn’t know you could do pottery as well.” The bowl folded again under his hands as he looked up and saw Justin, his curly hair falling onto his forehead.
With messy hands, he signed. *Yes, I can do a lot of things.* Draco watched a smile appear on Justin’s face.
*I know.* Justin rocked back on his heels. Draco thought about what Charlie said and exhaled.
*Sit.* Draco pointed to the chair next to him. Justin smiled brightly and sat down next to him. *I can’t really talk with my hands like this but you can.*
Justin
Justin stood at the door of the art room. He didn’t expect to see Draco here. The potion master had been avoiding him. Justin was worried because Draco hadn’t been going to therapy but Severus told him he was going to a different night.
The only reason Justin was here tonight was because he wanted to do some research on music therapy for Toby. Of course, his brother wouldn’t go into detail, but after a meeting with a music therapist, he understood how it would help Toby.
The blond sat in front of the potter’s wheel and was making something that looked like a bowl. Draco seemed to be lost in thought. There was a ghost of a smile on his lips. He looked relaxed, that was until his fingers flexed and the bowl folded.
Justin figured he should let himself be known. He wanted to talk to Draco and apologize.
“Wow, I didn’t know you could do pottery as well.” The bowl folded again and Draco looked over at him.
*Yes, I can do a lot of things* Draco signed with clay-covered hands. Was the blond flirting with him?
*I have no doubt.* Justin couldn’t sit still. He was talking with Draco. This was big.
*Sit.* Draco pointed to the chair next to him. Justin didn’t think twice as he sat down in the chair.
*I can’t really talk with my hands like this but you can.* The blond wanted him to talk. Okay, he could talk. But first things first.
“I’m happy that you want me to talk. I didn’t think that you would want to talk to me. I’m glad that you do, though.” Justin took a deep breath, and he had to get this right. “I wanted to first say that I’m sorry. I want you to know that Toby said nothing to me and I didn’t ask. He wouldn’t have told me, anyway. Actually, he told me I better really like you and not just want to fix you.” Justin pushed the curls off his forehead as Draco glanced over at him, then back to the bowl.
“I told him I really liked you. That I think you are gorgeous and talented. Then I asked him if you guys ever…” Draco moved his hands from the bowl and signed quickly.
*We never did anything!* Draco blushed and shook his head. *Not that he isn’t fit, we were just friends*
Justin chuckled. “I know he told me you were just friends. My brother doesn’t trust many people. So knowing that he trusts you and calls you a friend, that means a lot.”
*He was the one person I felt comfortable around.* Draco looked down at the bowl that spun around. *He didn’t tell you…* Justin placed a hand on the smaller man’s thigh.
“Of course not and I didn’t ask.” Draco’s cheeks flushed. “You would have told me if you wanted me to know. If you ever want me to know, I will listen. No judgment, but no pressure. I just wanted to spend time with you and get to know you, Draco.”
*Okay, Justin I believe you.*
*Good, because I want you to trust me. To see me as someone who you can be yourself around. Someone who will be there for you.*
The blond bit his lip and their eyes locked. Justin smiled and pointed to the bowl. *What are you making?”
*I’m making Severus and Neville’s wedding gift. Have you ever done this?* Draco signed and then removed the bowl. Justin watched as Draco put more clay on the potter’s wheel.
The blond moved back on the bench where he sat. *Sit* Draco signed and pointed in front of him.
Justin raised his eyebrow. He couldn’t mean. *Sit* Draco signed again.
The mind healer sat in front of Draco. The blond scooted up behind him.
Draco
What was he doing? Draco should not be this close behind Justin. Why did he have him sit in front of him? Was he really going to build something with him? He blamed Barnaby and Harry. This was just like that muggle movie that they watched.
“So… umm, what am I?” Justin asked. He sounded nervous. The potion master smiled. At least he knew he could make the man nervous.
Draco moved even closer as he took the larger hands into his. He felt his magic sing under his skin. Justin’s breath hitched. He must have felt it, too.
“Wow. This is so wicked.” Draco blushed. It was a good thing that Justin couldn’t see it. He moved their hands to build the bowl. The potion master moved closer to Justin. This was so bad, but he couldn’t help it. It has been a long time since he has been this close to someone. “I’m really doing it.”
The blond laughed silently. He reminds him of Toby. Though Toby never made him feel this way. It would be even better if it was reversed, and he was in Justin’s arms. Though he couldn’t do that. Not yet, being in someone’s arms, then being able to see the scars on his face. Not to mention under his shirt.
Draco shook his head; he couldn’t think about that. He couldn’t. , after a few more minutes of Justin's hands in his, the bowl was done. The potion master tapped his hand and pulled them away from the clay.
Justin
Justin couldn’t believe that this was happening. Draco had his arms around him. Their bodies touched, magic connected. He wondered if the blond felt what he felt. All too soon, Draco stood up and Justin felt cold instantly.
He turned and saw that beautiful face. *Thank you. I’ve never done that before. What do you think? Did I do a good job?* He couldn’t focus on what they were doing for the first few minutes because of the blond being so close to him.
*Not bad. This one can be yours once it gets fired.* Draco flicked his wand and the bowls that he had been working on floated over to a shelf.
*I will use it to eat my cereal each morning. We can make you one next time so when you eat out of yours, you can think of me.* Justin wanted to say they could eat it each morning together. Baby steps Justin, he allowed you to be this close don’t push.
*Sure next time. Maybe after therapy next week we can make more. Their wedding is coming up soon and I need to make sure I get this done.* Draco pushed his hair out of his eyes. What the mind healer noticed is the other man liked to have his hair covering his scars as much as they could.
*Sounds great! I’d like that.* He might have said too eagerly.
*Just as friends.* Draco signed, Justin nodded with a huge smile. That was progress!
*Of course, friends! I am a great friend!* Draco rolled his eyes when the mind healer heard the blond’s stomach growl.
*Sorry I should get going. Forgot to eat. I’ll see you at therapy Justin.* He was about to ask Draco if he wanted to grab something together when the potion master popped away.
Draco
Potion-stained fingers knocked on the cabin door in front of him. It opened and there stood a ball of sunshine.
*Draco! I wasn’t expecting you! Is everything okay?* Harry signed and pulled him through the door. *I just put the babies to bed! Charlie is helping Pops, so it’s just me tonight.* Harry half signed, half spoke.
Draco pulled out the small journal he kept in his back pocket. ‘I did something stupid, and it was all yours and Barnaby’s fault!’ Harry read what he wrote and raised his eyebrow.
“Okay, you did something stupid, and it was our fault. There is a hint of a smile on your face, Draco, so it couldn’t be that bad,” Harry teased. Draco rolled his eyes.
‘It was your fault because of that muggle movie that you made us watch. The one with the ghost!’ Draco scribbled and passed the journal over to Harry, then sat on the couch with his arms crossed.
Harry sat down beside him. “Draco, I love you, I do. I’m still confused. What could you have done that has to do with Ghost? Did you go to a no-mag psychic? Did she say something was going to happen?”
Draco shook his head; it was much worse. He could tell when Harry figured it out. The other wizard’s green eyes took in what he was wearing and what was all over him.
“Oh, gods! Who did you make pottery with? Are you with someone? Oh, poor Justin, but yay you, I’m so glad that you found someone! When can we meet them?!”
Draco took the journal from Harry and wrote three words. ‘It was Justin.’ Harry’s mouth fell open. ‘It wasn’t like the movie in all ways. I was just making something for someone. He caught me off guard and then before I knew it I asked him to sit down and we made a bowl.’
“Please tell me you were behind him and showing him how to hold his hands,” Harry asked dreamily. Draco felt his cheeks burn as he nodded yes.
“Don’t feel embarrassed. Before Charlie and I were dating, I asked him to ride a Hippogriff. I’m pretty sure Charlie still pretended to hate me then. My sweet grumpy bear. I don’t know what I was thinking, but it was perfect. I love the feeling of his arms around me.”
Draco huffed and wrote, ‘I’m not embarrassed. I just don’t know if I can be the person Justin deserves.’ Harry looked as if he was going to say something, and Draco held up his hands. ‘I know… I’ll work on it. I’m going to go, it's getting late.’ The potion master stood and popped away.